Build a Child's Self Esteem: An article written for CharityGuide.org

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Excerpt from: The 20 Best Secrets To Live 20 Years Longer (A promotional giveaway)

Do you want to feel good physically, and good about yourself?

Do you want to wake up smiling each day, knowing that you are valued and loved by others?

Do you want the satisfaction of knowing that you are living your life exactly the way you want?

Of course you do!

The greatest gift you can give yourself, and those you love, is to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Yet too many people think they simply don't have a say in the matter -- that living longer, healthier, and happier is a matter of money, genetics, or just "the luck of the draw."

The truth is, you not only have a say in your own health and happiness -- your say is the one that really counts. Science is now proving what spiritual masters have been teaching for centuries: that your physical health and your state of mind are so closely linked that they actually have a profound and sometimes immediate effect on one another.

This is good news because it means that you can help yourself achieve long-term good health by using both your body and mind. It's not just a matter of exercise; you really can bring about miraculous changes in the way you feel with your thoughts, words, and actions, no matter how old you are or what physical condition you may be in.

There are thousands of ways to generate life-extending positive feelings for yourself and those around you every single day. That's why I've compiled these 20 Best Secrets To Live 20 Years Longer. These are my top favorite tips for making your everyday life the best it can be. Most of these ideas cost nothing and require very little in the way of effort, but the returns are magnificent! I hope you'll give yourself the chance to try them all. I firmly believe they will bring more peace and relaxation to your mind and body, and greater happiness to everything you do.

1. CONNECT WITH PEOPLE
Friends bring so much to our lives. I have a few close friends who I've known for years and trust completely. There are other friends I've met through work, volunteering, classes I've taken or given, and hobbies such as gardening. Take a moment to think about the good people in your life. Do you have one who is always willing to help out in a pinch, or reminds you how special you are when you lose sight of it yourself? Is there a person you'd like to get to know better? Jot down a few names, then pick up the phone! No matter how long it's been, the people in your life are always glad to hear from you. Make a point of calling at least one friend every week, just to say hi and see how he or she is doing. Keeping your friendships "up to date" lets you both know that you value each other, and makes it easier to reach out if you really need help or support. And if you find you can't think of anyone you want to call, maybe it's time to start making some new friends!

2. SMILE
Nothing makes you feel better faster than simply to smile. Tibetan Buddhists teach that smiling stimulates the flow of vital energy in the body that creates a positive, confident state of mind. So even if you don't feel like it, just smile and see what a difference it makes. Giving a smile to a loved one, neighbor, child, or passerby on the street and seeing the pleasure in their face will lift your spirits, lighten your heart -- and lengthen your life!

4. DON'T COMPARE
One of the easiest ways to bring yourself down is by "comparing your insides with someone else's outsides." We often tend to think other people are doing better than we are because we see only the end result -- the "outsides" -- and not the struggles, setbacks, difficulties, doubts and other "insides" that they have in common with us. When it seems that other people have it much easier or better than you, remember that you probably don't know the whole story. What's more, you are on your own special journey through life, with abilities, talents and advantages that many others do not have. Keep the focus on whatever is good in your life, and how you can best use, share or enjoy it.

Excerpt from: Create! It's Easier Than You Think (An article written for Oxygen.com)

The greatest compliment I ever received did not linger on the lips of my soul mate. Nor did it come from a guru applauding my merits as a writer. It certainly didn't come from my agent, and my mom doesn't count. It came one sunny day at Jones Beach while I was building a sandcastle and discussing ocean-wave barricade techniques with my friend's five-year-old daughter. I was squeezing wet sand through my fingers to put the finishing touches on the outer castle wall when she looked up at me hard, her face squinting in the sun, and asked, "Are you a grownup or a kid?"

I didn't think she was saying that I looked so incredibly young for my age, mind you. She was truly baffled at my behavior because most adults do not fully exist in the moment, play freely and create. Think about it: When was the last time you listened without contemplating what you were going to say next? The last time you had a creative idea pop into your head that you didn't squash before you even set out to try it? The last time you danced around your living room and sang "Build Me Up Buttercup" at the top of your lungs? Wow, that long, huh?

[I don't have a BA in Creativity, but I do feel uniquely qualified from my artistic pursuits to pass along useful ideas that will allow you to explore and deepen your creative nature.] One of the most rewarding experiences I ever had was my improvisational training with Gotham City Improv. It was there I reconnected with the power of "play" and tapped into my unique individuality.

What exactly is improv? Improvisation, or "improv," is discovering your creative imagination by listening, reacting truthfully, and being in the moment. It has a rich history that includes the brilliance of Elaine May and Mike Nichols and, of course, the famed teachings of Del Close that led to the creation of Second City. But don't think you need to be on the performance path to reap its rewards. Whether you're a coworker, a parent, a teacher, a friend, or a plumber…you can benefit from the teachings of improv.

If you're in NYC, I highly recommend the classes at Gotham City Improv. Can't get to an improv class? Here are three exercises that make great party games that will free your mind while providing tremendous fun. So grab some friends and let's begin.

Excerpt from: The 24/7 Fitness Miracle, Volume 1, Energy (Book)

CHAPTER 6: Living Well: Eating for Good Health

LIVING WELL is something we all hope for, and you're off to a great start by making the "24/7 Fitness Miracle" part of your life! As we have seen, bringing more movement to your daily routine not only makes you feel younger, more flexible, and more energetic, it also helps strengthen your heart, lungs, and immune system, calms your mind, and keeps your mood optimistic and joyful.

Of course, good nutrition is just as important to good health as exercise. Eating properly gives us the physical and mental energy we need for all our daily tasks. It also helps keep us free of disease and even affects how we feel. In this chapter, we'll look at how you can change your diet to increase your energy level and add to your complete health-body, mind, and spirit.

It Works for You, 24/7!
Just as you look for ways to add movement to your daily activities, you can find ways to bring more health to your daily eating habits. Awareness is the first step. Start paying attention to what you eat and when you eat. This will give you a good idea of what you're doing right and where you might need to make changes.

WHAT IS HEALTHY EATING?
Healthy eating is the single most important thing you can do to bring wellness to your life. The foods you choose to eat (or not eat) directly influence your health, your energy level, and your state of mind. Dozens of studies have shown that a healthy diet can prevent, reduce, or help you avoid completely a whole array of health problems, from heart disease and high cholesterol to the common cold.

But what is healthy eating? It seems like one day we're told something is good for us, and the next day we hear it's terrible. How can you know for sure if the foods you eat are good for you? And if they're not, how can you start making healthier choices without feeling deprived?

The best rule of thumb for healthy eating is: Keep it simple. Always eat food that is in as natural a state as possible-fresh carrots rather than canned, for example. Forget the processed, prepared, and easy-cook foods and go back to your cookbooks! It's more fun, safer, and more rewarding in every way to make your food from scratch, even though it takes a little planning. Always start with the freshest, best ingredients you can find, and stick to whole-grain breads, pastas, rice, and cereals. They provide more nutrients than the heavily refined "white" types and convert to sugar much more slowly in your body, giving you a more sustained energy level. To keep vitamins in and fats out, try baking, broiling, sauteéing, and stir-frying rather than deep-fat frying, boiling or cooking. The less heat you use, the more nutrient value your food will have.

The Two "Magic Words" for Healthy Eating
To start feeling better, looking better, and getting healthier from the foods you eat, keep these two magic words in mind…

1. Variety! No one food or type of food can give you everything you need-that's why "fad diets" can be dangerous, and why they usually don't work. Eating a variety of different good foods ensures that you're getting all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you need to get or stay healthy.

Make A Note
The National Cancer Institute suggests that we eat five servings of fresh fruit and/or vegetables every day. Keep your taste buds interested by adding unusual fruits to the mix, like fresh pineapple, kiwi, mangoes, gooseberries, currants or star fruit.

Often we get into bad eating habits simply because it's fast and easy to grab the same snack or meal from the same place every day. Making your food more interesting is a great way to get yourself out of this rut. Begin by adding or substituting one new item each day-for instance, have some fresh pineapple instead of a danish or muffin with your morning coffee. If time is the problem, it takes just a few minutes to prepare a sandwich or slice some fruit in advance and carry it with you in a ziplock baggie or plastic container. For example, I always carry a small sandwich made with whole-grain bread, sliced tomatoes, spinach, goat cheese, and walnuts. It's a delicious pick-me-up and an easy way to avoid fast food and sugary snacks.