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1. Everyone gets a say.
2. Start by sharing the best thing that happened to you all week.
3. Meetings should be brief, with a brisk and businesslike pace.
4. Go over the week’s events with the family calendar on the table.
5. Take turns being the leader.
6. State problems without blaming, then brainstorm together.
7. Take five minutes to discuss big-picture questions, such as “Where should we go for summer vacation? Is it time to get a dog?”
8. End with a fun activity or dessert treat.
9. Keep next week’s agenda on the refrigerator so anyone can add to it.
10. Use questions that encourage discussion: “Why do you think it is important to…”, “How do you feel when…”, etc.
11. Think about key issues you want to discuss beforehand. Do research on topics such as drugs or sexuality, if necessary. Be prepared with written notes to make sure certain issues are covered and to keep the talk on track.
12. Use resource materials. Find a video, book or article that can be used during the huddle to facilitate the discussion and educate all.
13. Remind everyone of the family agreements, such as speaking respectfully, complimenting others, not interrupting others, not making fun of others’ ideas, no name-calling, etc.

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Lack of time is a major reason why many people forego healthy eating. Fast food is readily available and it’s just too tempting, and it’s cheap and filling. While eating fast food is never as healthy as a well-planned, balanced diet, if you must eat fast food, you can easily take steps to improve the quality of your nutrition when on the run.
1. Watch portion sizes. Your craving will likely be satisfied after you have finished a small order of fries, and you’ll save over 100 calories when compared with the super-sized order. The same holds true for sandwiches. Order the regular version or even a kid’s meal for yourself.
2. Seek out deli-style fast food chains where you can order a sub or sandwich on whole wheat bread or a wrap, a lower-fat and lower-calorie option than fried food.

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3. Many fast food chains now offer healthy sides in place of the ubiquitous French fries. Take the healthy option. Or, if you can’t bear to give up the grease and salt, get the healthy side order too.
4. Always order a side salad when eating at traditional fast-food outlets. You will be less likely to fill up on only the unhealthy items, and the salad will provide some fiber and vitamins to balance an otherwise unhealthy meal.
5. Remember that chicken isn’t always a healthy choice. Many fast food chains offer fried breaded chicken sandwiches on white bread that are actually richer in fat and calories than a burger. Grilled chicken is a better option.
6. Make it a habit to eat a piece of fruit, a bowl of cereal, or some lowfat yogurt before you set out to run errands. Regular eating can help you feel full and avoid temptation.
7. Stock your car with bottled water and healthy snacks. Have a small snack before the cravings hit, and you’re less likely to pull into that drive-through fast food outlet.
8. Consider a supermarket for your fast food break. You can pick up precut and washed fresh fruit or vegetables, yogurt, or lowfat cheese. Many supermarkets also offer sushi or other healthy prepared items.
9. Hold the mayo. A tablespoon of regular mayonnaise has almost 100 calories!
10. Don’t add a sugary, calorie-rich drink to an already unhealthy meal. Water is available everywhere and is good for you. Drinking a large glass of water with your meal will help you feel fuller earlier.

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Setting goals and achieving them requires a strong sense of confidence and lack of doubt in yourself. You must know deep down inside that what you want and desire is going to happen and that you will succeed. Expect it to happen and know there is no other way.

Below are some great quotes on how to achieve your goals:

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.”-Fitzhugh Dodson

“Aim for the top.  There is plenty of room there.  There are so few at the top it is almost lonely there.”-Samuel Insull

“If I’ve got correct goals, and if I keep pursuing them the best way I know how, everything falls into line.  If I do the right thing right, I’m going to succeed.”-Dan Dierdorf

“An average person with average talent,ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society,if that person has clear,focused goals.”- Brian Tracy

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”-Anonymous

In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.”-Author Unknown

“Goals.There’s not telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them.”-Jim Rohn

“The goal you set must be challenging. At the same time, it should be realistic and attainable, not impossible to reach. It should be challenging enough to make you stretch, but not so far that you break.”-Rick Hansen

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Most people don’t like their jobs. We all want to have work that is meaningful to us and to enjoy going to work every day. One of the major reasons why so many people are unhappy with their jobs is because they aren’t passionate about what they do. They simply get up and go to work every day. It’s all work and no play. Doing what you love, however, can create a pain-free life. You won’t be miserable. You won’t be unhappy. You won’t hate waking up every morning.

The absolute best thing for anyone is to be able to say, “I love my job.” When you are able to say this, work isn’t work for you anymore. Work is fun. Work is almost “play” because you adore your job. Many people who have worked an entire lifetime in one career, but remained miserable, often chose to segue into a dream career late in life. Nearly 100% of those people say, “I wish I would have done this years ago.”

If you don’t love what you do, what’s holding you back? What’s stopping you from moving to a different career? Like most, you probably think you’re too old, or that you have too much time invested in your current position to just give it all away. While that may be true, the choice you have to make is simple: Will you continue living a miserable existence? Or will you choose to do what you love and be happier?

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• Lo the Baker: I love my job. LOVE IT. If you don’t love your job, don’t despair. I thought I’d never figure out what I’d enjoy doing for pay, but kept doing different stuff the best I could. By the time I found it, I had lots of different skills – not obv (friendfeed.com)
• Susanne Goldstein: The Difference Between Needing to Get a Job and Wanting to Get a Job (huffingtonpost.com)

                                 ”I started feeling a bit uneasy about this blog today. Who will ever read it and what will those who do think?”