Happiness

A Beautiful Winter

For her 8th birthday, Winter Slade decided that she wanted to do something different. Instead of presents, she decided that she wanted to help protect the pine marten, a relative of the ferret whose habitat is being threatened. Though her birthday isn’t until November, Winter can’t stop talking about it.
But the road to victory hasn’t been easy. When she first started telling her friends about it, their parents effectively shut her down, openly talking about her “stupid idea” right in front of her. Their skepticism is definitely understandable, we’ve all been around long enough to see examples of bad charities and over-hyped promises, but poor Winter was crushed. On her way home from school, she openly started crying, asking her mom why her friend’s parents “said I was stupid.” Her excitement was crushed by jaded adults.
Realizing that they needed to shift gears, Winter’s mom, Michelle, took to Reddit on a Thursday night. There, she put out a simple plea, “Please help me restore her faith in humanity.” When she awoke the next morning, she’d started to see some results. People had responded to her plea, and Winter had almost $100 donated to her name. As the day progressed, more and more people contributed – praising Winter’s kindness and sharing how Winter had inspired them as well. Overnight, Winter’s dream was coming true. By Saturday, Winter had nearly $2,500 raised and a beaming smile.
There’s one important detail that makes this story stand out, but that Winter’s mom intentionally kept a secret in her plea to ensure that Winter got the spotlight. You see, Winter needed this excitement. Her mother has been fighting a long battle with cancer, which consumes much of their lives. Michelle shares that Winter is “my oldest and most concerned. She thinks about it a lot and cries about it a lot.”
For Michelle, the most important part of this journey is seeing her daughter happy again. It gives her something to be excited about instead of worrying about what might happen tomorrow.
http://www.changeathought.com/family-friends/children/beautiful-winter/

Forgiveness

Being understanding of another person's feelings, and really LISTENING to them, can preserve a relationship.

Secret Hero

A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares.
Debi Mazar

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/hero.html#xiEyjRzOzfVGgsJl.99

Please grab a box of tissues and watch the following clip.
http://www.wimp.com/secrethero/
Class discussion:  Why didn't he tell anyone about what he did?
Do you have someone in your life that you should thank for something they did?
Is there one individual who has forever changed your life?

Class Activity:
Write a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life.  Tell them what they did and how it has affected you. 

Healthy Love vs. Unhealthy or Toxic Love

Healthy Love- Development of self first (you know who YOU are and what you  are about).
Unhealthy Love-Obsession with relationship.

Healthy- Room to grow, expand; desire for the other person to grow.
Unhealthy- Security, comfort in sameness; intensity of need seen as proof of love (may really be fear, insecurity, loneliness).

Healthy-Separate interests; other friends; maintain other meaningful relationships.
Unhealthy-Total involvement; limited social life; neglected old friends, neglected interests and hobbies.

Healthy-Encouragement of each other's expanding; secure in own worth.
Unhealthy- Preoccupation with other's behavior; fear of other person changing.

Healthy- Appropriate trust
Unhealthy- Jealousy; possessiveness; fear of competition.

Healthy- Compromise, negotiation, or taking turns at leading.  Problem solving together.
Unhealthy- power plays for control; blaming; passive aggressive manipulation.

Healthy- Embracing each other's individuality.
Unhealthy- Trying to change other to own image.

Healthy- Relationship deals with all aspects of reality.
Unhealthy- Relationship is based on delusion and avoidance of the unpleasant.

Healthy- Self-care by both partners; emotional state not dependant on other's mood.
Unhealthy-Expectation that one partner will fix and rescue the other.

Healthy- Loving detachment (healthy concern about partner, while letting go)
Unhealthy- Fusion (being obsessed with each other's problems and feelings).

Healthy- Ability to enjoy being alone.
Unhealthy- Unable to endure separation; clinging.

Healthy- Cycle of comfort and contentment.
Unhealthy- Cycle of pain and despair.