What people are saying about Take Good Care of Yourself! Simple Things You Can Do Right Now! I Love This Book! It s full of important information that we need every day. Tim Janis American Composer and Musician I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be very helpful! Pam Iorio, Mayor Tampa, Florida Ron and I really enjoyed your book - just filled with practical wisdom and tools, presented in such a reader friendly way. Mary Hulnick, PhD, Vice President University of Santa Monica I loved your book! You made it all so clear and do-able. Pam Lontos, President PR/PR This is a great book so good for those starting out to take care of themselves. This is a much needed manual. Ani Crane Radio Talk Host
This book sits on my coffee table and I read it virtually every day. It has made a positive difference in my life. Shelley Williams TBO.com Take Good Care of Yourself! is unique among books of this ilk. It is actually written by a person who has done everything suggested in the book. It takes a subject that is basically simple (helping yourself) and treats it without all the pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo that is so commonly seen. When Karen tells you to visit a spa, she details her experience and what it did for her. Simple, impactful, meaningful. So, take good care of yourself; read this book. Rick Dudnick Entrepreneur Karen Rose has written a delightful book that easily makes the reader smile! Her tone is down-to-earth as she shares simple ways to Take Good Care of Yourself! This book is a perfect gift that can be enjoyed time and time again. Linda Burhans Entrepreneur
Take Good Care Of Yourself! Simple Things You Can Do Right Now! Karen L. Rose Blossoming Rose Press
Take Good Care Of Yourself! Simple Things You Can Do Right Now! Copyright 2007 by Karen L. Rose All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without permission in writing from the author. ISBN 9780974818115 Library of Congress Control Number: 2003099334 Second Edition 2007 Originally published in 2004 www.karenlrose.com Edited by Denise McCabe Front Cover Photo by John Drockus Back Cover Photo by Laura Potter Wilson Cover Design by Stephen R. Spreadbury 4
This is the second edition of my book, and it is dedicated to the loving memory of my dear uncle, Jack Rose (1929-2006), one of the most supportive people in my life. Uncle Jack was always one of my biggest fans and was thrilled to hear about my success with this book. I am very grateful for all that I learned from Uncle Jack. He was a major influence in shaping the person I ve become. This second edition of my book is also dedicated to the loving memory of my cousin Greg Rose (1956-2006). Greg brought so much joy to our family with his brilliant mind, great sense of humor and his sweet and peaceful spirit. In addition, my book is dedicated to all of my family and friends for their loving support and guidance. 5
Acknowledgements Thank you to my speaker buddies from the National Speakers Association for sharing their ideas and expertise in writing and publishing books. I am especially grateful to Greg Godek. His encouragement and support is the reason this book exists. Thank you to Rosita Perez, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame and Cavett Award Winner; Willie Jolley, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame; and Bill Cates, CSP, who believed in my talent as a speaker and author long before I believed in myself. Thank you to my mother, Sarah E. Rose, and my brother, David J. Rose, for their constant loving support and belief in me. Thank you to my cousin Kathy Rose Cover for her constant loving support, seeing my dreams with me, cheering me on and being the person who first encouraged me to write this book. 6
Thank you to my cousin Geoff Rose and his wife, Eleanor, for their loving support and enthusiasm for my book. Thank you to my nephews, Geoff, Chris, and Michael Cover and John Rose for their loving support and all the joy they bring to my life. I m so proud of them. Thank you to my girlfriends who have constantly cheered me on: Debbie Ronning, Lynnette Hefley, Maryann Murphree, Maryellen Rachwalski, Karin Rickard, Susan Barbour, Venus Jones, Vicki Flores, Barbara Glanz, Michelle Neujahr, Kim Goddard, Wendy Warman and Sheryl Nicholson. Thank you to my editor, Denise McCabe, for her devotion and support of this book. I am grateful for all that I have learned from her. I am blessed to have so many amazing people in my life! My heart is full of gratitude. 7
Take Good Care of Yourself! Simple Things You Can Do Right Now! Table of Contents Foreword 14 Introduction 16 8
Well-Being Pray 20 Meditate 23 Write in Your Journal 25 Slow Down 27 Take Control 29 Love Yourself 31 Be Patient 34 Create a Gratitude Log 36 Forgive 38 Go to Church 40 See the Blessings 41 Counselor/Support Group 43 Reflect, Remember, Tribute 45 Sacred Home Environment 49 9
Pamper Yourself Take a Bubble Bath 52 Dress Up 54 Go on a Retreat 57 Plant a Garden 59 Listen to Uplifting Music 61 Read Good Books 65 10
Good Health Exercise 68 Eat Nutritiously 70 Get Lots of Rest 73 Take Good Care of Your Body 75 Get a Massage 77 Go to the Chiropractor 79 Take a Walk in Nature 82 Treat Yourself to a Day Spa 84 Establish a Routine 87 Walk Tall 90 Breathe Well 92 11
Have Fun! Blow Bubbles 95 Let Laughter Heal Your Soul 96 See a Show, Concert or Movie 98 Build a Sand Castle 99 Celebrate 100 12
Professional/Career Get Organized 104 Re-evaluate Your Priorities 106 Delegate 108 Ask for Support 109 Create Success Strategies 111 13
FOREWORD If you are reading this right now, chances are pretty good that you re into health and well-being. And maybe you ve been bitten by the self-help bug, too. Well, good for you. But which book, you may wonder, and whose advice will benefit you the most? I certainly can t tell you very much about most of the self-help books out there. What I can do, though, is tell you that this book in your hand, Karen Rose s Take Good Care of Yourself! Simple Things You Can Do Right Now! can positively and profoundly affect your life. You ve noticed, I m sure, how small this book is. So small that it can easily fit into a glove compartment, a purse or, doubled over, in the back pocket of a pair of pants. However, you will see, after reading this positive and uplifting reminder of how to live life to the very fullest, that its impact is anything but small. If you follow the straightforward advice Karen offers here, you will definitely live a more peaceful, healthy and happy life. What makes this self-help book different from all the rest and ultimately worth reading? First of all, it was conceived and born through illness and suffering. The author, though believing she 14
was taking good care of herself, contracted Epstein Barr virus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The advice in her book is how she recovered. In other words, the medicine here has not only been approved by the administration, it has actually worked miracles! Second, Karen gives us more than the typical self-help book: there is more than just common sense between these covers. For instance, she talks about the benefits of eating an alkaline diet instead of an acidic one (something I hadn t heard of before), of seeing a chiropractor, of paying tribute to other people, of dressing up, and of simply noticing the rhythm of the breaths you take. Overall, the message Karen extends to us through the book is this. Love yourself. Yes, it s short; yes, it s simple; yes, it s even small. But it s also abundant, it s also powerful, and it s also very, very big. Simon T. Bailey Professional Speaker and Author of Release Your Brilliance 15
Introduction Because I am the only person I will have a relationship with all of my life, I choose To love myself the way I am now To always acknowledge that I am enough just the way I am To love, honor, and cherish myself To be my own best friend To be the person I would like to spend the rest of my life with To always take care of myself so that I can take care of others To always grow, develop, and share my love and life. -- Unknown 16
Self care has become very popular for good reason. As our lives continue to get more hectic, we often forget to put ourselves on our own priority list. Many people are learning that if they don t take good care of themselves first, they don t have anything left to give to anyone else, and they aren t able to accomplish the important things in their own lives as efficiently as they can when they do take good care of themselves. Throughout my adult life, I thought I did a good job taking good care of myself. Since my early twenties, I have enjoyed working out a few times a week, eating mostly healthy foods, taking vitamins, meditating, and praying daily. Even chronic sinus and allergy irritation never slowed me down for more than a few days at a time. Then one day everything started to spin out of control. I started consistently getting more tired at the end of July 2001. I came home from work 2-3 days a week and fell asleep by 6:00 p.m. Then the fatigue started to take over my weekends, too. By the end of September I had migraine headaches almost everyday. By the end of October I could 17
barely function. I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr virus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. From the time I was diagnosed, it took a month to figure out the best vitamin and herbal combination to help me get back on track. In addition, I changed my diet to be more alkaline. Then I started to bounce back. It has been quite a while since this illness first hit me. Now fully recovered, I stay more in tune to my body, to get proper rest and to nurture myself. This book is a compilation of activities that have helped me to get back on track. These are simple things that you too can do right now to take good care of your precious self. Do as many or as few things as fit your schedule. As you start to experience positive changes, you ll want to do more to nurture your mind, body and spirit. 18
Well-Being 19
Pray Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying to self that we are born to eternal light. -- St. Francis of Assisi 20