Wearing a TuTu is Empowering.  I was instantly transformed into the most beautiful ballerina ever... and I just couldn't stop twirling!...

This was an old assignment I have found among my paper piles… It was written when I was only 14 years old, um, that would be 20 years ago, when I couldn’t even fathom ever being 34 years old!

I am Nikki, but really Nicola.
I am exactly 14 years old (plus one day). 
I am a student in my ninth year, 
at Sir Allan MacNab High School. 

At my tallest, I am five foot seven.
My eyes are greyish-blue
And my hair is blond but almost brown. 
I am older than Mali, Tara and Darryl,
Younger than Lisa, Shauna, Cindy and Lori.
My birthday is in March,
Almost April.

I love warm weather 
and fluffy, white snow
And Christmas and summer.
When I was little, 
I watched Sesame Street and cartoons.
I still watch cartoons, 
but not Sesame Street- very often. 

My room is a mess
Because I like it that way.
Books and clothes are all over the floor,
But what else are floors for?
It’s organized chaos. 

I wish I were rich,
And if I were 
I’d have a bigger house,
More clothes,
And an expensive sports car.
I’d travel all over the world 
in my very own private jet.
But I’m not rich.
Dreams are free.

I love my psycho mother,
My brother, who is my friend,
And Coffee, my cat.

My name is Nikki.

(Written, April 1st, 1991)

… And I am Excited.

That’s not to say I won’t miss Summer Holidays because they were Awesome!

This summer, I have climbed many of the world’s famous monuments with MeYou Health’s Monumental App. for iphone,  http://monumental.meyouhealth.com/…

With Monumental, you can explore the monuments of the world, as you seek out and climb stairs in the real one. This iPhone game uses the internal accelerometer to track your stair climbing. When you reach the top of a monument, check out the view and collect souvenirs. EVERY STEP MATTERS:

This summer, I have unlocked my fitness/exercise potential.  I have been a sporadic exercise-doer this since I was 17 years old.  That Summer – I was Super Skinny, I might point out, though I thought I was a huge, gross fatty, and boy, could my 34 year old self kick that young stupid skinny cow’s butt right now – anyway, I discovered Cindy Crawford’s First Workout Video, on VHS!  I did that video each and everyday that Summer.  Why?  Because I enjoyed doing the video; I enjoyed the work out.   Then, there was the  Roller Blading phase, that lasted about a Summer and the Elliptical Trainer Phase that lasted about the first few months after that one Christmas that I got it.  And, the Gym that I visited sporadically for a year.

It seems that my Challenge is now to continue with the Exercise Routine; to focus on how good it actually makes me feel, and not to mention the sense of accomplishment I feel for having committed to Exercise.  The other things I have been doing is Zumba – Feel the Music!  It truly is a fun workout that doesn’t even seem like work, well, except for all the sweat!

The great thing about running up and down the stairs, aside from it being a FREE workout, is the Nature – birds and bugs and neighbourhood cats, AND a Stair Climbing Coach, thanks Mr. Cicada.  Though, I totally woulda gone a whole lot faster if he had chased me!

Here is a tremendous gift that has been passed from somebody’s parents to their child upon embarking upon his future:

Whenever you have to make a tough decision or you are in a challenging predicament, read this list of words. Then close your eyes, be quiet and something amazing will happen. One of these words will jump out and steer you in the right direction…
Prepare
Listen
Smile
Care
Choose
Focus
Believe
Relax
Act
Forgive
Pray
Trust
Change
Persist
Accept
Risk
Wait

Now, I am passing the Magic of these words to you:)

(Original Author Unknown)

I urge everyone & anyone to check out MeYou Health and participate in the Daily Challenge.  Each day comes with a simple challenge to improve well-being, one small and manageable step at a time.  For example,

DAILY CHALLENGE – THURSDAY JUN. 16, 2011, FROM MEYOU HEALTH has an Emotional Health focuses on daily experiences related to happiness, enjoyment, sadness, and stress in evaluating overall well-being....

HOW TO DO IT:  LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE, CROSS YOUR EYES, FLARE YOUR NOSTRILS – MAKE ANY RIDICULOUS FACES UNTIL YOU START TO LAUGH.

WHY IT MATTERS: LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOUR BODY AND MIND. IT INCREASES ENDORPHINS, THE BRAIN’S FEEL-GOOD CHEMICALS, AND IT ALSO STIMULATES YOUR HEART, LUNGS, AND MUSCLES. A GOOD, LONG GIGGLE ALSO RELIEVES STRESS AND HELPS YOU RELAX. MAKING FUNNY FACES IN THE MIRROR WILL TAKE YOUR MIND OFF ANY WORRIES YOU MIGHT HAVE, AT LEAST FOR A FEW MINUTES.

FUN FACT: THERE ARE 357 MIRRORS IN THE HALL OF MIRRORS AT THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES IN PARIS, FRANCE.
(Taken directly from:  https://challenge.meyouhealth.com/2011/6/16/make-funny-faces-in-the-mirror-until-you-laugh#)

Eek… that is a lot of Mirrors in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France! Hopefully they are the kind they have in dressing rooms… that make you look thinner – positive Self Esteem mirrors!!!

I know I make funny faces because every time I get my picture taken, I seem to make one of them… and that’s why digital cameras are great… I can delete the ones I don’t approve of, i.e., where I don’t look my cutest!

I also make funny faces getting ready for the day… putting my contacts in, moisturizing, mascara (if I wore it)!

Trouble is, I can’t seem to make a really good ‘n’ Funny face on purpose:( But, I will ask a bunch of 7 year olds and some 11 year olds today, while I am working. Maybe we will even have a funny face contest… Thanks for the idea DC! Except it will not be called ‘Funny Face Contest’ because that promotes competition and silliness, soo… I shall call it a Social Health & Wellbeing Break, yeah!

It actually has great potential to be a learning opportunity. It could teach that sometimes it is ok if someone laughs at you… as opposed to most of the time when the kids make fun of other people and treat them poorly and then come a’tattling the second someone does it back… I really try to get them to understand the Golden Rule and Empathy (they all get it in theory but not its application). And Name-calling… yikes… young ones think anything other than their names is bad… they just can’t seem to shrug it off when someone calls them ridiculous things that aren’t even insulting, like “Salami”… it would be in the tone and how the person says it… so, I always give my “Name Lecture”: We all have a name and if you are calling anyone ANYTHING else other than the name they use, and they tell you to stop, and you do not, then you are bullying them!