Be thankful even on terrible days

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 18 November 2008 14:46

About a month ago, Oct. 22 to be exact, I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Just like Alexander in Judith Viorst’s children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” nothing worked in my favor. And while I didn’t wake up with gum in my hair and no one forced me to buy ugly shoes, I did contemplate moving to Australia.

The day ended with me fighting tears and a monstrous headache. To try to unwind, I opened my new copy of Real Simple magazine and came across an article about thankfulness.

Although not a new concept, the article suggested making a daily gratitude list. Even though I didn’t expect to have much of a list at the end of my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, I...

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We're in need of a (diaper) change

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 14 October 2008 14:17

Change: to make the form, nature or content of something different.

Reform: to change to a better state or form; to improve by alteration.

Do these words sound familiar? If not, you’ve been successful at ignoring the slew of presidential advertisements flooding the airwaves. To catch you up, “change” is to Barack Obama’s campaign as “reform” is to John McCain’s.

* * *

I guess I will have to vote in line with the change campaign, as I change at least 10 per day... diapers that is.

On the other hand, maybe McCain’s plan of reformation is a better choice, as my husband and I just “reformed” our kitchen floor. And it’s definitely in a better state.

* * *

After the election, it will be easy for either candidate...

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Beyond the block: ideas in sight

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 16 September 2008 14:42

I have writer’s block. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, disaster obviously ensues. For the past two weeks, this column has been at the back of my mind. I’ve been observant, trying to find the perfect topic to write about, but to no avail.

At first I tried writing about sleep deprivation. For nearly two months, my daughter went from sleeping six- or seven-hour stretches to getting up every one to three hours. And she wanted to eat every time.

After doing some online research, I discovered a book called “The Wonder Weeks: How to Turn Your Baby’s 8 Great Fussy Phases into Magical Leaps Forward.” The book says that every baby (EVERY BABY) experiences fussy periods when big developmental changes occur.

The older...

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Olympic dreams change with age

Written by Malinda Just Tuesday, 19 August 2008 13:50

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I remember my junior high physical education teacher asking that token question.

Before reaching that point, my answer had varied—ballerina, optometrist, lawyer—the options were endless. But in that moment, my answer was an Olympian. It was my young dream to play volleyball or compete in track and field for the USA.

But the closest I came to my Olympic moment was a two-time stint competing at the state track and field meet at Cessna Stadium in Wichita—in two events as a sophomore and four events as a junior. Even now, I clearly remember the butterflies in my stomach as my coach drove our team into the stadium parking lot and I caught a glimpse of the large arena filled with people...

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