It's my last contribution to Self-Improvement Month. I hope y'all enjoyed it and plan to use some of it to improve your own life.

I'm just going to leave this infograph here as a reminder for y'all.

Text Transcript:
Be Yourself
Accept Yourself
Value Yourself
Bless Yourself
Trust Yourself
Love Yourself

Day 22!!

Another reader suggested more topics on Exercise, so I am going to finish the week on Exercise and Motivation.

Also this will be the last week of Self-Motivation  (even though September isn't over). Next week is the National Week of the Deaf so I want to concentrate on that.

Now onto Exercise!!
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The best and easiest exercise to start for any beginner or weight loss is Walking.

​If you read my Post on Day 15 that I eliminated "white" food and stopped drinking Pop and drinking more water. I noticed I lost a few pounds by doing this alone. The next easiest thing to do is to walk more.

At our old house I would walk everywhere because we were situated close to "downtown" and the bank, grocery store and the school. That was until my Chronic Kidney Disease got worse and it was too tiring to do so.

Now our current place is further out of the way and the road going to the main part of town is pretty dangerous for pedestrians. But there's a lot of interlinking neighborhood streets with very little traffic so since my Transplant my fatigue has lessen and I want to start walking more.

So here'a a plan:

1. Just walk everywhere
Need something from the corner store? Walk there instead of driving. If you take Public Transit to get around, start walking to the next stop over & get off one stop earlier and walk. Your appointment's on the second floor? Forgo the elevator and take the stairs. Start strolling around the block after dinner with the family. Start walking around your work building during a break.

2. Start Speeding Up
Once you're comfortable doing Step 1 and don't get too winded/tired from it, start upping your pace. Walk a little faster everywhere.

3. Start on a Treadmill
Once you've upped your pace and it's easy to do without effort. It's time to start on a treadmill, whether it's your own or a Gym's. Start at your normal pace, then start increasing the incline each week. Keep increasing the incline and time each step.

4. Add other Exercises
By this time walking should be easy and you've notice some healthy changes. Start adding more exercises to your program. Look at your Gym, YMCA, or local churches or groups that offer them and if you can, walk there.

5. Add Running
 After your exercises, you may want to add jogging/running to the regime. I don't know if I'll ever start jogging or running. I'm Deafblind and have trouble with balance and walking alone as is. If you ever see me running, you can bet your ass something is after me LOL!! Who knows maybe down the road I'll look for a running "guide" to help avoid obstacles etc.

Remember:

• Get a Doctor's Permission before starting!
• Always have plenty of water with you!
• Stretch, Warm up and Cool Down!
  
• Have fun!!

Yesterday I covered how to improve your relationships with your partner or spouse. Today I'm going to cover "public" relationships (for lack of a better word). 

How to improve your People Skills

1. Smile
If you're happy and have an upbeat attitude, people will be more drawn to you.

2. Care
Show that you care about others. Appreciate and care about others and they'll likely return the favor and everyone starts giving their best work.

3. Be Considerate
Take note of what's happening in other's lives. Look people in the eye when you speak to them, and use their names.

4. Listen
Listening shows that you're paying attention to another’s perspective. Using your own words, repeat what they said. When you do this, you’ll know that you’ve heard them right and they’ll know they're being heard.

5. Make them Laugh
Humor can be a great way to break down barriers. Just stay away from inappropriate terms and serious subjects. 

6. Be Empathetic
Put yourself in their shoes and envision the situation from their side. What may seem like the obvious answer to you might have totally different implications to someone else.

7. Don't Whine
If you constantly whine about things, your negativity will push people away from you. If you have something legit to complain about, go direct to the source and discuss it with them there.

8. Read Body Language
Deaf people know that 3/4th of the message is expressed in facial and body language. Learn how to read other's body language and interpret it to match what they're saying. Watch your own body language as well.

9. Remember Names
Remember people's names and say them when you meet them again. People will be impressed that you remember them.

10. Relax
You'll be able to do all the above and interact better when you're relaxed. Also being relaxed yourself will help others around you relax too.

Good Morning!

​Thank you to those who responded to my questionnaire yesterday I've got a few more subject areas I can work with.

​Tips for Healthy Relationships:

1. Keep Expectations Realistic.
No one can be everything we might want them to be, accept people for who they are.

2. Talk with Each Other.
It can't be said enough! Communication is essential in healthy relationships.

3. Be Flexible.
Healthy relationships mean change and growth is allowed.

4. Take Care of You.
Don't forget to please yourself. Healthy relationships are mutual.

5. Be Dependable.
If you make plans with someone, follow through. Healthy relationships are trustworthy.

6. Fight Fair.
Don't criticize, stay with the topic, say "I'm sorry" when you're wrong, don't assume things, ask for help when you need it.

7. Show Emotional Warmth.
No one likes cold emotionless people. Period.

8. Keep Your Life Balanced.
Don't overload on activities, but do use your time to try new things with them.

9. It's a Process.
Healthy relationships can be learned and practiced and keep getting better.

10. Be Yourself.
Healthy relationships are made of real people, not images.

No Day 18 - I've decided not to "work" Sundays and spend it with family (or in yesterday's case - recovering from loopy allergy meds).

Hmmm.... to be honest I'm running out of things to post for Self-Improvement Month.

So, tell me what you'd like to see please.
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Welcome to a lazy Saturday here.....

That's what we all need to do once in a while, just have a lazy day to unwind, decompress and just relax.

So if you pick "Netflix & Chill", a quiet day reading a book on the deck, a day fishing, or whatever relaxes you, We all need a day for that.

It helps mentally, physically and emotionally to detach from our everyday schedule and spen time on ourselves.
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Have a great weekend,
Tracy
 ​​"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon