The Enchantress Within Each of Us Returns?Making Potholders, One Stitch at a Time!

When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine most little girls are. At six years of age I had my toys, my fire station with a real bell, my fire trucks and other cars, my paper dolls, my coloring books and large box of Crayola assorted crayons, my picture books and stuffed animals. One of my most important possessions was a 'working' toy which was my ceramic pig that served as my personal banker. This pig controlled my destiny to some extent, because when there was enough change inside of him, I got to go downtown Bridgeport with my mother and guess what? I picked out a new toy! Now I was going on seven and saving every penny toward a Toni doll. Did you know you could perm her hair? I couldn't wait!

And then, as if in a flash, I was no longer going on seven, but turning 10. A different house, a different town, but still so many interests and passions! I had my hand held sewing machine and spent hours creating outfits for my dolls. The Toni doll was still around, but unimportant-small vogue dolls were my passion. I figured out a way to make my own paper patterns for their clothing. I liked my patterns because they involved less sewing than the store bought doll patterns. That was good for me as I was more interested in adding details such as lace trim, rather than doing a lot of sewing. The exception to my own rule was the bridal gown for my large Vogue doll. I went all out and sewed feverishly, dreaming of a day when ...

I was incredibly busy. I had to practice my violin. I had to read my latest Little Lulu comic. I was in the middle of the Nancy Drew Mystery Book that I had convinced my mom to buy me. Oh-I had to work on my next Girl Scout Badge by next Thursday. Yes, so much to do and so little time. I'm always at least three days behind in my diary, but I must keep recording my life!

Wash up fast! I Love Lucy is on. Everything stops for I Love Lucy!

Can you feel the energy-the passion and determination of the child? It might surprise you to realize that within each of us, the child, with her energy, her passions, her potential for greatness, is still alive. It may take a trip back in time to find what really sparked us. It may take some creative re-inventing to figure out how we can use the wonderment of our younger self in a form that will work now. Let me now share with you how I further explored childhood positive energies and their retrieval with a colleague.

I was talking to Nancy Fredericks. She is a corporate consultant and the co-author of a wonderful, empowering book for women, entitled DANCING ON THE GLASS CEILING. As we shared our passion to encourage women to find their strengths and potential (what I call The Song of Your Soul), she shared with me how often she finds that the secret to this personal essence resides in our past.

She remembered herself as a child making potholders. She loved making them, but after awhile she had an awfully lot of potholders. She gave some away and still made them. Then she began to think that there had to be a reason for all these potholders! She started selling them to neighbors. They sold! She made more. She got the idea of enrolling her girlfriends in making potholders. It worked. Suddenly she had a big booming business.

Here she was-a third grader with "the first pot holder mass-production line in her neighborhood." She began to make a profit.

In her book, Nancy goes on to say that through recalling this aspect of her childhood she came in contact with a clue about her Heart's Purpose: "a love of business and a talent for managing people and achieving results."

Nancy's child is so clear. A business entrepreneur in the making! I will have to play with my child and tease out some of the energy that still asks to be cherished in this part of my life. That's OK. I'm not in a rush and part of recovering our earlier passions-to now live a life that Nancy labels: "Fully Passionate, Fully Alive"- involves time and nurturing.

Why don't you 'play' with your child for awhile also? Pick an age or a couple of ages and get to know that priceless human being again. I suggest that you keep a list of all the talents, strengths and potential you find as you revisit your younger selves.

About The Author

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein , originator of THE ENCHANTED SELF?, a method of bringing delight and meaning into everyday living, invites you to view her new line of ENCHANTED WOMAN products, downloadable e-books, and free gifts at http://www.enchantedself.com. Chat with others in Dr. Holstein's e-group, http://www.enchantedself.com, and sign up for her free e-group at http://www.enchantedself.com. Order her book, THE ENCHANTED SELF: A Positive Therapy, or the CD-rom or tape version and her book RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT: The Secret Ingredient is YOU!, or the ED-rom version, at her webiste. http://www.enchantedself.com

best cleaning company Highland Park ..
In The News:

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.
Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

Dissolving Stereotypes through Personal Individuality

The other evening, I was meticulously assembling and painting one... Read More

Having the Attitude I am the Greatest!

While trying to ignore my teen daughters rap music a... Read More

Life as a Burden Vs. Live as a Privilege

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Is the glass... Read More

Mastering Mindfulness: A Thinkers Ode to Meditation

I'm lucky.When I was fifteen, I was the sole survivor... Read More

The Illusion of Failure

The most dangerous thing is illusion. ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonFailure... Read More

Thoughts are Things

You've probably heard this idea at one time or another.... Read More

Do You Neglect The Power Of Your Mind?

James Allen, who wrote the masterpiece, As a Man Thinketh,... Read More

Anger: The Power is On!

When you feel lost and confused, it is easy to... Read More

Im Loving Me... Right Where I Am

I heard these words from a client who had been... Read More

A Major Block to Constructive Change

A Yale University study a few years ago revealed that... Read More

Stepping Into Possibility Thinking

Our thoughts really belong to the collective consciousness of the... Read More

How to Deal With No

No one likes rejection. And yet it happens. Here's how... Read More

Surrounding Yourself With Positive Energy

Our lives are busy. We rush here only to remember... Read More

Reality Exposed

Did you know that our thoughts may be influencing our... Read More

Change and Transition - 10 Steps to Surviving Change Elegantly

If I say the word "CHANGE" how do you feel?... Read More

10 Tips to Improve Your Self Esteem

Striving to improve our self esteem is on everybody's mind.... Read More

Life Changing Attitude

Do you really believe that there is anything in this... Read More

Let Your Subconscious Be Your Guide... Oh Really? Not!

Do you ever feel sorry for yourself? Do you ever... Read More

In The Midst Of A Storm, Theres Something More!

Have you truly tried and still failed? Have you pushed... Read More

Optimism: The Tremendous Benefits of a Positive Attitude

How many times have you heard someone say, "Hey, cheer... Read More

Oh for a Really Good Day!

What's wrong with me? When I'm sick I get grumpy... Read More

Changing Stumbling Blocks To Stepping Stones?

"The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone... Read More

Are You A Prisoner of Your Own Making?

There is a wonderful story about the famous escape artist,... Read More

Does Lack of Confidence Stop You?

Ever had the sense that there is more to life... Read More

Motivate To Activate A Positive Lifestyle

What do you do when things in your life don't... Read More

high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..