Well, later has arrived and my thoughts and feelings, the truth is, are not quite the same as when I sat down to write last time. That's the way it goes. We must go with what we have do deal with in the present.

In this light, I will share with you as I had tried to a few days ago, that Eilat was a blast!
In my opinion it is a bit like a combination of Miami beach and Vegas---Israeli style of course.
We did the customary (most Israeli's hike trails on vacation time) hike. Which, I'm proud to say, I've become a better sport about. The climbing no longer intimidates me like it used to(I'm a little afraid of heights) and I really did enjoy the walk and DEFINATELY the view--the Negev.

We also did a camel ride. We drove about 1 hour outside of Eilat and seemingly in the middle of nowhere, there is a tourist "attraction". That is, it isn't very attractive--bare minimum for the camels and a beduin tent and very nice clean bathrooms at the top of the mountain. But, this time we did the 4 hour tour.
I have to say, it was a blast. We had prepared food for a picnic and the tour guides brought along wood for fire, a kettle and made us tea straight from a local bush where we stopped to picnic and served it with Halvah in shot glasses on a metal platter---yep!--right there in the middle of the Negev! For me, that was over the top cool! What fun!
The next two days were spent at the pier/boardwalk in Eilat. There are many water sports to enjoy there. We did banana boating---YES---even ME! and motor boating(only goes up to 10/15mph), paddle boating--that was a hoot--and kayaking. One of the things I enjoyed most was being on the water and seeing all of the other people out jet skiing, speed boating, wind surfing. And the view with the Egyptian mountains as a backdrop, not too shabby.
I didn't go kayaking, as my 7 year old decided he needed a nap in the nearby hammok. As it was a beautiful day with sunny weather, who was I to refuse that he wanted my company!? 
Overall, being there was a wonderful break--warm weather and a nice change of scenery.
It was good to come home.
And now, back to reality.
We are in a "formal" war again--as opposed to terror attacks and rockets raining down on Sderot and Ashdod with no reaction from the ones sitting in the government positions because it might upset other countries.
War and violence is a harsh reality of life here. On one hand this LONG awaited response is a very good thing because it is necessary to defend the people, the country as a whole.

On the other hand, it is a very painful necessity because sons and fathers will be in even more direct danger. 
The draft here is not optional. 
And so, as I conclude this post, I reach out to each of you to encourage your connectedness to Israel,
her people, her soldiers and to make an effort to send positive energy, thoughts, prayers, good deeds, charity, directly or indirectly on behalf of the soldiers putting their lives in direct danger to protect this holy land and her people.

Warmly and with gratitude,

Yehudit 

That is a blessing. Living here in Israel we walk a fine line on adaily basis.This is acountrybeseiged
by strife and violence. Yet, miraculously, most people, continue with daily living, even those whom have been touched personally by terror or closely felt the effects in friends and loved ones(that encompasses just about everyone). Some of the most amazing human beings one can find are "simple" folk here.
The internal strength and fortitude displayed by these quiet, unassuming, "regular" citizens is truly to be admired and aspired to.

The events, the tragedy, waste and destruction experienced in Mumbai this last week is yet another example to those of us who have become desensitized, reminding us how important it is not to tune these things out. We become so entrenched in our daily routines that we forget the importance of "making it count"--life, that is and our efforts towards our individual missions in this world --forgiving others for slights that are truly unimportant, reaching out to the elderly,the lonely, the sick, the needy, not allowing ourselves to sink into the satisfaction of being angry over unimportant nonsense which just wastes time.

Each one of us has the capacity to be one of the amazing "simple" folk who inspire others.
Let's learn from the pain and the loss incurred in Mumbai this past week and strive to be just a little better.

As always, please write and leave your thoughts

Studies in Positive Psychology have shown that "will power" is VERY short lived. That is, we have the and ability to withstand one difficult temptation, maybe two, but, we are only human.

So, the tendancy is to "fall" or give in after more than that.

While it is also true that when we stick to something long enough, for the most part we have actually formed a habit. However, when we are speaking of eating, most people who over eat, or eat when not hungry, out of bordom, or to sooth nerves, or as a reward(I did the kitchen, now I deserve....), the formation of a habit is not all that is at play here.

We all have messages and tapes in our head which we play at any given moment when we experience an association with those stored memories.  Negative memories tend to cause us anxiety on some level.

It is this anxiety, which, motivates us, propels us, pushes us towards the cupboards or the refrigerator.

In an effort to combine the wisdom found in the 12 step programs with the energetic "majic" and potential with using EFT/tapping, I believe this offers an extraordinary combination and opportunity!

 Have any of you tried this? What are YOUR thoughts?

I'm very excited to share with you my new podcast(with Ruth)!

Please visit the Group Coaching page and you will find it at the bottom of the page.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Warmly

Yehudit

--how am I spending my time?  

--what do I need to change?

In order to endure these times it will be important for each of us to examine the above questions
as well as others. What has come up for you? Have you already found yourself making changes or
choosing to approach things in your life differently?

Please write and share.
Yehudit

Well, this is another example of learning something new everyday!
I was browsing thru Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, and one of my favorite blogs is Batya Medad's--"Shiloh Musings".
Well, I want to refer you all to this post from her blog:

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2008/09/back-in-saddle-hh-rides-again.html

For me, this is a wonderful example of Jewish unity! Here we have a cyber opportunity to connect, link,
share, etc. with other bloggers and to show everyone blog hopping, just who and what blogs are out there!

So, please go and visit Batya's blog and get a glimpse of the shmorgasbord of talent and of course, opinions,
there are to choose from!

Happy hopping!

Yehudit

Hi all!

Well everyone seems to be back into school, carpool, and after school activities mode.
Schedule and regularity are important and provide a sense of consistency.
That's not what I'm writing about right now. Instead, I'd like to share with you a wonderful story.

You have all heard me carrying on about EFT. And I post to this blog and send my newsletter
in the hope that some of you will write and share your thoughts with me and/or all of us.
Stories are powerful. So, I'd like to tell you about Sarah(not real name).

Sarah was somewhat resistant to EFT when I introduced the idea.
But, she said that she was willing to try, not wanting to be closed minded.
Little by little we did EFT on a variety of issues.  We then began to work more specifically
on her relationship with her daughter. She wanted very much for her daughter to have a good
program to participate in for the year and one that she (Sarah) would agree to.
As the session was nearing the end we tapped one time together and she agreed to tap on her
own for a "program to present itself to them immediately"....
In her midweek report to me, Sarah wrote excitedly that she was absolutedly astounded
that one day she found her daughter looking over materials for a program that they had 
never even mentioned to her! In addition, the daughter had found a new job where she was very happy working.
This is just one of many examples of EFT successes. If you have one you would like to share, please write and either leave a comment or send me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! O.k., time to do carpool!
warmly

Yehudit 

Although I have a few projects in the works which I look forward to sharing with you as they become available,
at this moment I am excited to share with you a new website of which I am proud to be a part.

www.Israelchai.co.il     and it's partner www.Israel-coupons.co.il

For those of you not necessarily seeking Aliyah, the coupon is good for you too!
So, go visit the site, use the coupon and let's get everyone's goals and dreams accomplished!
Warmly

Yehudit
PS---Please DO write and share with everyone your impressions of these great new websites!

Well, as summer is progressing along, I find myself planning for the fall.
Looking into extra curricular activities for the kids in the fall and my own continuing education.
My ongoing need to improve my Hebrew is a continuous source of frustration for me.
So, I have been presented with yet another opportunity to work on it--yes, another ulpan class, and I
do believe I will dive in, once again.
Even just knowing that I intend to jump into that growth experience again, gives me another boost of hope.
Hope that, for me too, I can conquer this, my personal challenge.

So, my thought here is simply, that, again, if I can do THIS--you too can take small steps to conquer your personal/professional challenge(s) too!
Furthermore, we can garner inspiration from the simple knowledge that each step each one of us takes inspires
those around us.
Please write and share your stories, thoughts, challenges, and/or opinions with me/all!
We all benefit from one another's experiences!
warmly

Yehudit

Last week was an interesting one.  A lovely neighbor of ours, from 8 years ago, passed away very young.
A couple of days later, I got a call I've been waiting for for a few years---a cousin of mine is engaged!

That definately took the sting out of the sadness about the neighbor.
Life is precious. A few short weeks ago my daughters went on vacation to visit with their cousin in another city.
They are scheduled to arrive back home tomorrow.
Things roll along. Soon enough it will be Tisha B' Av. Then the holidays.
It is important to enjoy sharing a chat with a kid before they run out of the house.
It is important to tell our spouses that we appreciate all their efforts.
It is important to really sit and be with our little one when we read a story together.
It is important for us to not only write about doing these things and read about doing
these things, but, rather, to pick one and do it.

Thanks for visiting!