Dear Friend,

Happy autumn from beautiful snow-capped Colorado! Welcome back to Sip of Soup, my free bi-monthly E-sip offering a taste of insight, and lessons to help you keep caring while living a more balanced life.

Sip of Soup - September/October 2006

Positivity TM Power I realized Thanksgiving is less than a month away! Who knew? How many of us, as we anticipate the holidays, already feel overwhelmed? As we collectively chant, "There's so much to do!" we wonder how we can tackle all the season's preparations while continuing all our other activities. The answer is, we can't. Whenever we take on a new commitment, we need to let go of another. If we don't, our lives become frazzled and chaotic. We cheat ourselves of our self-care time and end up overstressed and unhappy. To avoid this, there are times we need to just say, "No." This is hard for many of us to do, since we are certain we need to be all things to all people. Dear Abby gave me great advice on that once, long ago. I was relieved to read that I didn't have to give a reason for why I couldn't help whenever asked. (I thought I had to explain that I was already chairing the church bazaar and collecting money for the cancer drive and managing thirty kids and 100 horses as a 4H leader! I didn't have time to bake cookies for the class Christmas party.) Abby told me I didn't have to give a reason. All I had to do was say, "I'm sorry I can't, I have another commitment." What a relief! That commitment can be taking care of yourself, your family, your priorities. Try it next time.

Lessons from LeAnn It's hard to say no, though, when others are pleading and counting on you, isn't it? In those situations, consider this. It's only when you step back that others can step forward. Every time you say yes, it deprives another person of an opportunity. When you decline, it gives them a chance to serve, to learn, to grow. Saying no can be good for you, and good for others.

Soup for the Day; a healthy quote: True balance requires assigning realistic performance expectations to each of our roles. True balance requires us to acknowledge that our performance in some areas is more important than in others. True balance demands that we determine what accomplishments give us honest satisfaction as well as what failures cause us intolerable grief. - Melinda M. Marshall To order signed copies of my books for the holidays, click the "online shopping" link. Online Shopping

Positively yours,

A Sip of Soup is written by LeAnn Thieman; nurse, certified speaking professional and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul, and also Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Father and Daughter Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2 and Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul. To have her inspire your team members, or to order her books, CD's and DVD's contact LeAnn at 1-877-THIEMAN or www.LeAnnThieman.com.