by Vicki Burg | Nov 12, 2018 | Fertility
Are the holidays a tough time for you?
Are your around family and friends that are pregnant or just had babies?
Do you try to avoid gatherings so you don’t have to answer the tough questions?
I am here to offer support and encouragement throughout the holidays because I have been there too.
Topics being discussed
Week 1 – Emotional Stability
Week 2 – Setting Boundaries
Week 3 – Fertility Questions
Week 4 – Things we wish people knew
Week 5 – It’s ok
Week 6 – Preparing your body
Week 7 – You got this
by Vicki Burg | Nov 12, 2018 | Leadership
After a long walk through the woods and some fun inspecting trees and weeds, I learned far more than I expected.
T
he fight between the oak tree and the poison ivy.
Have you ever really looked at an oak tree?
They are tall, strong and deeply rooted in their purpose. They offer fresh air and the most amazing shade to all that pass by them.
Poison ivy on the other hand is low to the ground. I always remember the words, leaves of three let them be. It is a plant that can easily cause a lot of misery to almost everyone it comes in contact with. It offers a bit of color to the world but those little red/green leaves can be deceiving.
Are you like a tree that is deeply rooted with strength and constantly bending and growing? Do you offer fresh air and help to others like that beautiful oak tree?
Or, are you poison ivy? Are you low to the ground, always looking down and offering nothing but negativity to those around you? Do you have a poisonous attitude?
Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment. Which part of nature do you imitate?
You can have an impact on others like poison ivy and alway leave a negative impact. People will remember you but not for the good.
Or, you could choose to impact others like the oak tree. Offer a breath of fresh air to family and friends. Reach out your limbs and offer shelter, love and support to others any chance you get.
People always remember how you made them feel.
by Vicki Burg | Sep 1, 2018 | Parenting
It is such a debilitating thing. I seem to struggle with knowing whether these situations are presenting themselves so I can learn not to be afraid of it or if it is trying to teach me to be more careful.
This weekend we were camping and the kids were biking around camp and play at the park together. We camp a lot and usually have a lot of kids with us. Our entire groups usually consists of 4-15 kids. It has taken me a lot of time to get even a little bit comfortable with the kids going off biking or to the park with a big group of kids and no adult. I felt like I was the only crazy parent worrying about the safety of my kids, including my husband thinking I am crazy. I just really think they should be with adults for several reasons. Kids almost always go a little farther than where they are supposed to and try to push the limits, it is completely natural. I really do want my kids to be independent children that understand safety but are also able to be kids and have fun. I have been dealing with this same issue year after year. I have honestly started dreading some camping trips. So, this weekend I decided to give the kids a little more space and to hover less. Ahhh, that is hard. They know the rules, stay together, don’t talk to strangers and come get us if you need help. We had been watching them bike and go to the park all day. They would bike by and I would count my kids. Yup, got them all. If they were gone a little too long, I went for a walk and found them in deep discussion of their next plan. They were having fun which is what is important, right? Well, all of a sudden two of the kids comes back with $5.00 in their hand. Now, these two boys are fully aware of strangers, taking things from strangers and talking to strangers. They are 12 and 11 years old. One of course was my son. He knew immediately he had done something wrong. We started asking questions as to where the money came from. We come to find out that an adult ( 2 to be exact) paid one of the kids $5.00 to drive through a mud puddle. So, not only did they stop and talk to strangers, they did what they asked them to do and got close enough to willingly take the money. I was so smoking mad at this point. We have drilled this stuff into our kids heads and I really started to question my parenting at this point. I have talked, we have read books, we have watched videos and they have heard it in school. What am I missing that my 12 year old doesn’t understand how dangerous this situation was. So, our son is grounded and very quiet. He knows I was upset. I talked to him briefly to explain his punishment but I was honestly too upset to even help him to understand. The questions running through my head is ok, now they cannot bike at all without us, but them that also means no park without us, no quick bathroom trip without us, nothing, nada, zippo, zilch. Do I really want to do this to my kids? Hell yes is what I said. I have to keep them safe.
Before bed I sat all the kids down and explained the situation and what happened. I told they that there are going to be some new rules when we are camping. I helped them to understand why I was so upset. I could have vomited because I was so upset and worried and the kids knew that. I just want them to stay safe. So, I told the kids exactly that. I told them how much they mean to us and how we could never go on without them. I reminded them that people that steal little kids don’t give them back. I explained in more detail what happens to most kids that are abducted and that they don’t usually live to tell about it. My words were harsh and they were scary but they were filled with love and worry. My kids understood at that moment but now what? Do I put them in a bubble and never let them out of my sight? I would love to but I don’t think is the ultimate plan. So, in the morning the kids want to go biking and to the park. I was hard core, only with an adult! There was a lot of complaining but I didn’t care. As the morning went on, these events just kept playing in my head. How do I teach them to be safe instead of teaching them to be afraid. So with a very heavy heart and a spinning head, I told my oldest he could bike with his siblings if they stayed together. I reminded them of the rules and they understood.
Later that morning, I got a little alone time with our 12 year old. I asked him a little bit about the situation. He said that they thought at first that they would just laugh if they drove through the mud puddle. Our son and this other boy were not prepared for these people to come over by them. Our son said he started to get a little worried and stayed back farther than the other boy. Ok, so he felt the gut instinct that something wasn’t right and he partially listened to it. Now I get to help him understand how to listen to that feeling more and to trust that feeling. You gut is your compass. If you are not comfortable with a decision, don’t make it. If the action doesn’t seem safe or doesn’t make you comfortable don’t do it. I am looking forward to learning from this experience and helping my kids to learn from it, even though I just want to lock them up so I can keep them safe.
by Vicki Burg | Aug 18, 2018 | Health
When spending the week/ weekend doing things you love that fills your soul and helps you refocus your mind, life is good. Fishing, swimming, or just simply relaxing, it doesn’t matter. Yes, kids will still fight like normal, whine and argue but what we focus on is the smiles, the giggles, the laughter and the memories that comes from everyone being completely relaxed and having fun. No agenda, no plans, just being. I think this breathes a lot of fresh air and soul building into all of our bodies. It is much needed in this technical, tv watching, hustle of life. It is still the simple things that fill the soul. The friendly glances with a giant smile on the kids face, the warm smile or grin from your spouse which all show the true and genuine comfort of just being. It is moments like these that we treasure and our children will always remember. They don’t remember the fighting or the arguing, they remember the laughter, the joy and the fun.
I often wonder why people don’t do more of this. This is something that doesn’t cost money and can actually be a fraction of time or your whole weekend. You get to decide how much time your body and soul is needing to recharge. I feel that recharging should be a daily goal along with a longer weekend recharge. For me, a daily recharge is usually coffee on the porch with a good book or my journal. Sometimes it is a late night motivational video in my office when the house is quiet and everyone is sleeping peacefully. Everyone recharges differently, maybe yours is a run, a hike or a great movie. It doesn’t matter what it is, all that matters is that you are honoring that recharge. It makes the weeks, months and years long if you skip this very important part. Your vehicle cannot run on empty and neither can you. Fill your soul daily with little things. It will recharge your body, mind and soul, I promise!
by Vicki Burg | Aug 2, 2018 | Health
Do you ever look at the back of the shampoo bottle and research those ingredients? This is a loaded question for all of us. The average woman applies approximately 168 chemicals to her body daily. Some women are even as high as 515 chemicals a day. Most people are not aware of the dangers of this. We think we are using safe products that are keeping us looking younger, getting rid of the cellulite, the stretch marks and covering up those big old bags under our eyes to hide the lack of sleep we are getting. Well, I am here to help you understand that those products are often filled with the most dangerous chemicals and applied to the largest organ on our body, our skin. It only takes 26 seconds for the chemicals in your skin care products to enter your bloodstream. Here is a list of the top 10 chemicals to stay away from;
- DEA (Diethanolmine) – found in over 600 home and body care products and is a possible carcinogenic to humans.
- Nonylphenols – used in cleaners and shown to disrupt hormones
- Petrolatum – found in lotions and lip products – it is a known carcinogen and endocrine disruptor.
- Triclosan (abbreviated TCS) – it is found in antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers and also in toothpaste. It has been found to affect the male and female hormones and also has an impact on the thyroid. They have also found that it may contribute to antibiotic resistant germs.
- Propylene Glycol – found in cleaners, shampoos, lotions, deodorants and toothpastes. It is linked to kidney disease, liver disease, dermatitis and can damage the cell membranes causing rashes and dry skin.
- Parabens – used as a preservative and germicide. It is found in skin care products, lotions, creams and deodorants. It is often found in breast cancer tumors and is banned in Japan and Sweden.
- Fragrance – found in soaps, cleaners, perfumes, lotions and shampoos. Chemicals found under the name fragrance can lead to loss of muscle control, brain damage, headaches, memory loss, speech, hearing and vision problems.
- Alcohol – most mouthwashes have a higher alcohol content than most alcoholic beverages. It is linked to cancer of the mouth, tongue and throat.
- Phthalates – found in cleaners, lotions, body sprays and deodorants. It is a known carcinogen and has a long list of health ills ranging from infertility, trouble losing weight, birth defects and yes even certain cancers.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – found in shampoos, soaps, conditioners, cleaners and toothpaste. It is often used to degrease engines and floors. It is banned in Europe and Canada and can cause hair loss, cataracts and rashes.
I know this all sounds overwhelming and I remember thinking, Where do I start? I started in the easiest place first. My bathroom, which contained my lotions, perfumes and body care products and then I continued to eliminate these chemicals from our home one by one. It is a slow process but the wonderful effects you start to feel will change your life forever and could change the course of your family and friends lives as well. Now is the time and you have a choice. Know better, do better. Choosing Young Living helps me to know we are living without all of these terrible chemicals in our home. It all adds up over the course of a lifetime!
