What’s a “Cool Resource?” It’s cool (and very useful) because it does one or more of these things: it makes you think, helps you plan, provides you with new and unique information, helps assist you with solving problems, or simply makes you smile.
We’re always looking for useful and interesting articles, materials, lists, worksheets, and information to put in front of you. You need not have Personal Safety Net expertise or knowledge to enjoy a Resource – our aim is to cover the bases of life’s challenges.
Download Resources
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10 Things We Can Do to Encourage Nonviolent Communications
Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a way of interacting that facilitates the flow of communication needed to exchange information and resolve differences peacefully. It focuses on sharing human values and needs, and encourages the use of language that increases good will – and avoidance of language that contributes to resentment or lowered self-esteem.
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10 Ways for Families to Foster Hope
Here’s a simple set of items to help you and your family build very positive skills. You can take one and make it the family activity for the week, or you can provide positive feedback every time your family hits on one of these methods. In any case, you’ll be better for following along.
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6 Steps for Keeping Balanced While Helping Others
When you’re helping someone else – friend, child, family member, care partner, whomever, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the tasks you and they have agreed upon. Helping others often necessitates paperwork, follow-up and follow-through – work that puts your own needs on the back burner. So we’re here to remind you of 6…
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8,000 College Courses for FREE – Tips On Lifelong Learning
No matter what your age – it’s never too late to take a college course – one that truly interests you (not one that’s required). And the great news is that you can take any of 8,000 college courses at the very best universities, with professors handpicked for their good teaching, at the time and…
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A Checklist to Get You Started – FREE
Readers and workshops attendees often say, “If you’d just put a list together of all the things I need to do and need to have, my life would be much easier, and part of my personal safety net would be much closer to complete.” Well, it takes more than a list, although it is a way…
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Am I prepared? (Pdf)
In our book, Personal Safety Nets, we present stories of how life happens to people from ages 8 to 80+. Experiencing unexpected and unwanted challenges and changes happens to all of us. Are you prepared?
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Attitudes on Health & Hope
Continuing on with their research, we follow the Hope Foundation as it tests if there is even a link between health and hope. And what is the definition of hope as defined by those of differing degrees of health. This is interesting reading.
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Before Heading to College #1 – For Parents & Students
What support will your student need to have an adequate Personal Safety Net in place for when they are away at college and the unexpected turns up in her/his life? Most often you can’t be available in person, and answers on the phone may not be enough. Parents and students should sit down and discuss…
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Cardiac Rehab – The Gym & Health Benefits for Your Heart
A new study on cardiac rehab tells us that “more is better.” Patients who suffered heart attacks, or undergone bypass graft surgery, or been hospitalized for chronic stable angina (chest pain after exertion) lived longer and had fewer subsequent heart attacks when they had more rehab sessions. Check out the research and PSN’s take on…
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Clone Happiness & Health: Yours & Those Around You
A new survey on aging by the Pew Research Center finds, as expected, that good health contributes to one’s contentment, but it also goes on to find the reverse is also true – happiness leads to good health. Findings also lead scientists to suspect that expectations and the ability to adapt to changing life circumstances…
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Dieters Beware: Calorie Counts May Not Be Real
A new study that we follow tells us that prepared foods contain an average of 8% more calories than what their packaging label says. And restaurant meals can contain up to 18% more calories than what the menu claims. And perhaps the worst news is that the Food and Drug Administration says these margins of…
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Early Parenting: Start With Humor Not Commands
When it comes to parenting, it’s funny how humor can motivate children when more negative tactics do not. Parenting guru Jane Nelsen, EdD, the author of dozens of books, including Positive Discipline and, with H. Stephen Glenn, Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World, says humor is a key tool to successful discipline. When moms…
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Exercising Your Asking Muscles
Your goal is to build a dependable support network by communicating clearly and effectively. A kind of knowledge that goes into “strength” is knowing when and how to ask for help . . . and being able to just do it. Ask! Good (Effective) Communicators: Begin improving your control by gaining strength through asking – try…
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Explaining the New Health Care Reform
So much information about Health Care – what’s true and what’s not? We’re not here to comment on the legislation but rather to help you gather the facts. We’ve found great sources of information that will tell you the truth, along with an excellent timeline for the legislation. A PDF is attached that gives you a…
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Food Packaging Traps – 5 Nutrition-Savvy Tips
When we walk into a store, emblazoned on nearly everry box, bag and bottle on every shelf is a multitude of nutritional claims – screaming, “Buy me! Buy me!” But remember: claims are marketing ploys, pure and simple! So we’ve provided some rules to follow to make you a truly savvy shopper.
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Foods You Should Eat Every Day
Arm yourself with information you need to make smart choices when you decide what to eat. How can you make good nutrition certain? Here’s the simple answer: Just eat these eight foods–along with a little protein such as salmon, turkey, or lean beef–every day. We’ve even supplied some menu ideas, along with some substitutes for…
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For Some, Laughter Is the Best Medicine
Feeling rundown? Try laughing more. Some researchers think laughter just might be the best medicine, helping you feel better and putting that spring back in your step. Join with us to read why, for some, laughter is the best medicine. Read the latest evidence: Laughter Therapy: What Happens When We Laugh? Laughter’s Effects on the…
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Friends Make Your Life Better
This download discusses a variety of new research focusing upon the role of friendship and health. We’ve come to find out “The Beatles Were Right!” You do need friends – and do much better when surrounded by them. The download also focuses on the story of 11 childhood friends and their 40-year friendship and what…
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Getting Your Winter Survival Kit Ready
Who knows what winter will bring. In the Northwest, loads of rain, flooding, and possible power outages – we may even have snow, and all the trouble that brings. Around the country citizens will see a variety of weather-related troubles. For instance, the National Weather Service tells us about 800 tornadoes touch down in the…
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Giving Helps – YOU!
There’s a deep grassroots “giving back” (or “paying it forward”) movement sweeping the country. People across all age groups are volunteering like never before. But giving back doesn’t mean that you don’t get anything in return.Helping others rejuvenates us in ways that another margarita-soaked vacation, more stuff, a fatter resume, or a supersized house can’t begin…
