The purpose of this blog is to inform, educate and influence readers about mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well being. We might call this bloc, Hope for Life!

The keys to a healthy and vibrant life are not difficult to understand nor do they require an advanced education. In fact, a graduate education can be harmful to your health and welfare. We will tell you why.

The essence of a vibrant life is found in the ways we think and act.

We cannot feel our way out of bad behavior but we can think our way out of bad behavior. At the anniversary month of the Columbine tragedy we need to examine what kind of education and parenting led two kids from wealthy homes to ACT so brutally.

We cannot feel our way out of bad feelings but we can think our way out of bad feelings.

A child born today is ten times more likely to suffer from a case of very bad depression than those born before WWI. A child born today, however, will have ten times the social and economic benefits of their great grandparents.

Parents and grandparents, teachers and Sunday school leaders can learn simple ways to vaccinate kids against depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders. This bloc will tell you how to nurture healthy kids.

We will post some simple research and tell you about its implications. We will not post junk science or scary junk science. We will make it easy to understand and fairly easy to apply.

For example, one of the best ways to develop healthy children is to play board games at home. Monoploy, Old Maid, Candy Land and dominoes will all teach a family several critical skills.

1. How to take turns
2. How to listen and watch as others talk and act
3. How to win well and be a good sport
4. How to come back after losing
5. Winning and losing are skill as well as luck
6. How to take responsibility for my own behavior
7. How to keep trying
8. How to have fun!

I founded a uniquely holistic, in-patient psychiatric hospital and discovered many of our residents had never played games at home. So, we bought some games and taught them how to play. It was a very successful way to promote healthy thinking and behaving.

I suggest that you read, The Optimistic Child by Martin Seligman for many more simple ways to develop healthy children.