When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers taught us the American Sign Language alphabet.  That got me really interested in this unique way of communicating.  American Sign Language is the primary language of the Deaf in the United States, but it is not the only communication system that is used.  It is such a universal language, and it makes so much sense for learn it.  There is even a trend towards teaching babies sign language, because they can understand things and move their hands before their can effectively vocalize.  In this way they can be better understood and get their needs met.  What an amazing second language this would be for all of us to know!

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Nature provides us with examples of miracles everywhere.  One such marvel is the humble hummingbird.  Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, yet this little bird can be mighty!  The Ruby-throated Hummingbird migrates about 600 miles across the Gulf of Mexico.  Their wings beat 60 to 200 times per second, and they can fly up to 60 miles per hour.  Hummingbirds use up a lot of energy flying forward, backward, sideways or stopped in midair.  They refuel by consuming half their weight in sugar each day.  To attract hummingbirds to your garden, plant red flowers and put up a hummingbird feeder.  For the nectar solution, use four parts water to one part sugar to fill the feeder.  Don’t use food coloring or vitamins; it’s not necessary.  Make sure to clean the feeder every three to four days with warm or hot water and a soft brush.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

I took a class in Feng Shui back in 1992.  I remember because I was writing and recording songs at the time and I remember sitting in class and getting an idea and writing the lyrics on the back of one of our worksheets.  14 years ago Feng Shui was a foreign concept – and now it’s totally a part of our vernacular.  Feng Shui literally means wind and water.  It is the ancient Chinese science of placement, of working with the energies in your environment to make them conducive to your living space.  With Feng Shui in place you feel more comfortable, and things come more easily to you.  When I do Dosha Design on homes, I implement Feng Shui, Vastu, (the Indian science upon which Feng Shui is based) and interior design.  I have written an e-book about Feng Shui called “Feng Shui Every Day” – it’s really simple, and it shows you all kinds of things you can do on your own, in your home, to bring more love, health, and prosperity into your environment.  You don’t need any special tools, either.  You can get red ribbon at any crafts store.  You can move furniture around and de-clutter without spending any money.  This book makes Feng Shui simple.  And isn’t that how we all want life to be?
http://www.DoshaDesign.com

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

I’ve said it before, and I’m not ashamed to admit it, I am a soap fan.  Susan Lucci is my hero.  I loved Michael and Lauren’s wedding.  Sonny Corinthos is the sexiest man on TV.  I think it’s great that we can learn about life and relationships and watch these characters learn and grow through all these outrageous, dramatic situations.  I know there are others like me out there, soap fans and proud.  So I created a new site just for us: www.SoapsRock.com.  Do you ever feel like: “I’d Rather Be in Pine Valley” or “Mrs. Buchanan” or “My life is a soap opera”?  Now you can show the world exactly what is on your mind.  Oscar Wilde once said: “Life is too important to be taken so seriously.”  I heartily agree!
http://www.SoapsRock.com

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

If you’ve ever picked up a women’s magazine, you know that the tantalizing headlines are meant to be attention-getting, but that the article within is usually pretty tame.  I just want you to know that is exactly the case in the March ’06 issue of Redbook magazine, in which I am featured as a “sex expert!”  Okay, it is a little bit of a stretch, but as the author of a relationship book that talks about sex, you can see how the editors have come to that conclusion.  It’s very flattering, actually, to be in the same article as Laura Berman and Candida Royalle.  You’ll see me and my handsome hubby Greg (including our photo) on page 153 in an article entitled: “Amazing, mind-blowing, out-of-this-world sex secrets.”  Now, don’t get too excited.  Magazines love the words “amazing” and “secrets” and when they can string them together they’re sure to sell more issues.  In the article, Greg is quoted as saying that I was filming an “instructional video” in our bedroom.  The video sounds quite racy the way this was all phrased, but let me assure you that the video in question was actually our “Dosha Yoga” DVD.  So if this piques your curiosity and you want to see me in our bedroom, in my pajamas, get the Dosha Yoga DVD on amazon.  Now you know my secret!

http://www.DoshaYoga.com

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

There are so many silly things going around the internet – but every once in awhile I come across something that’s really special.  I love it when people take the time, and the creativity, to come up with something really good, really meaningful, and then share it with others.  It’s such a gift!  I got this one from my dear friend Michele, who seems to have her pulse on these kinds of things.  It’s called “The Wombat” and it’s from the Foundation for Global Community.  Great message, and I’m happy to share it with you.

http://www.globalcommunity.org/flash/wombat.shtml

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

The most popular Valentine’s Day gift, chocolate, may also be one of the more healthy gifts to give!  One of the latest studies has found that eating 3.5 ounces a day of dark chocolate lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension.  So chocolate, in moderation of course, is good for your cardiovascular health.  It’s also good for your libido, evidently!  Italian researchers have found that women who eat chocolate regularly have higher levels of sexual desire than women who don’t indulge.  When you cook together this Valentine’s Day, remember the dessert, and make it chocolate, something saucy!

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Our body is an instrument that sends us signals all the time.  The body is our friend, and it’s trying to help us.  When we pay attention to its little messages things go easier for us.  These messages are subtle, so we need to tune in to pick up on them.  The vibrations are there.  We know a kitten is happy because we can feel it purr.  And then we know something has startled her when the purring stops and her ears flick.  When we’re happy our body is relaxed and we feel good.  But when we get stressed, we tense up, our stomach might ache or our head might hurt.  We can use these signs to gauge the situations around us and make better decisions.  Tune into the vibrations and see what happens.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

I can imagine that many of the world’s problems are solved over a simple cup of tea. When someone wants to talk, we say:

“sit down, I’ll make us a cup of tea,” meaning that we are here to listen, and help.

Tea is comforting, warm and often sweet. There is such a history to the tea tradition, and in many cultures, tea is a ritual that evokes spirituality and mindfulness. Besides the standard black tea, there are so many exotic varieties of tea, and also herbal teas, and teas that can be used medicinally. Afternoon tea can be a lifestyle, a time-out from the hectic pace of the workday, a mini-break to rejuvenate our mind and spirit.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)

Last week we talked about change and it got me to thinking about all the change we see right in front of us all the time. Of course, there are the change of seasons, and the change in the landscape as buildings go up and down. Some changes could be called improvements, as recordings went from vinyl to 8-track to cassette to CD and now the whole iPod generation. But we can see the change in people, too.

We’re watching Harry Potter grow up before our very eyes! And we’re on the 4th new James Bond since I’ve been watching the movies. People change hairstyles, and fashion, and addresses. Change is constant, and it’s not like we can, or would want to, do anything to stop it. There are changes that just happen, and then there are changes that we create for ourselves.

As we learn and grow, we become more compassionate, more wise, more loving and accepting, more open-minded, and more open-hearted. As we incorporate these qualities into our lives, we really do change the world.

Lissa Coffey’s online newsletters and article content may be reprinted provided the following credit line is included:

Lissa Coffey is an author, media personality, and the founder of CoffeyTalk.com (Reprinted with permission Copyright © Bamboo Entertainment, Inc.)