January 2010 Cover
Features
Skiing Las Vegas
Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution First Begins in the Mind
Clark County School District Winter Sports Paralympic Academy
Parenting New Year’s Resolutions!
Get Ready for the Second Semester
Departments
Publisher’s Letter
10 Books for 2010
Kids Dining Out Calendar
Nevada PEP
LibraryGuide
DaycarePreschoolDirectory
Publisher’s Letter
I know it’s cliché to talk about New Year’s resolutions in the January issue of a magazine, but in as much as becoming a better person is a prerequisite to becoming a better parent, I feel compelled to be cliché. There is a poem I would like to quote which may help you keep the resolve to follow through on the worthwhile goals that you set for yourself at the beginning of the New Year. The poem is called ‘The Art of Living Each Day’, by Wilfred A. Peterson.
Each day is a lifetime in miniature.
To awaken each morning is to be born again,
to fall asleep at night is to die to the day.
In between waking and sleeping are the golden hours of the day.
What we cannot do for a lifetime we can do for a daytime.
“Anyone,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson, “can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, _purely, till the sun goes down.”
Anyone can hold his temper for a day and
guard the words he speaks.
Anyone can carry his burden heroically for one day.
Anyone can strive to be happy for a day and
to spread happiness around.
Anyone can radiate love for a day.
Anyone can rise above fear for a day and
meet each new situation with courage.
Anyone can be kind and thoughtful and considerate for a day.
Anyone can endeavor to learn something new
each day and mark some growth.
The supreme art of living is to strive to live each day well.
When we fail and fall short, let us forgive ourselves and
consider the words of Emerson: “Finish every day and
be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day; you will
begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit
to be cumbered by your old nonsense.”
Live a day at a time and remember that tomorrow is another day.
Mark Sherwood, Publisher
Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution First Begins in the Mind
By Dr. Sabra R. Smith
It is no surprise that of those resolutions made by many of us at the start of each year, more than half of them are broken within 6 months. Ironically, many of us break New Year’s resolutions well before the start of the subsequent year – year after year after year – and continue to engage in a repeated cycle of start, stop, start, and stop, oftentimes of the same goal. We all know that perpetual starts lead to unsuccessful finishes, so what does it really take to see a New Year’s resolution to completion?
If you are like most, you have already resolved to “stop,” “start,” and/or “do,” something different this year. You probably have thoughts of, “This year I will do better in…” or “This year I will do more of…” whether it is to start exercising, to stop smoking, to recover from a major loss, to start that new business or to return to school. The mere fact that you have entertained thoughts of change indicates that you have given yourself mental permission to do something different and this is where it all starts – in the mind. Congratulations on taking the first step!
From the mind, thoughts of change must proceed to the heart and be met by a firm belief that it is indeed possible for you. Unfortunately, this is where many of us err. While we mentally entertain thoughts of what we want to do, we often fail to take such ideas to heart. True, heart-felt commitment allows us to begin to behave as if change has already occurred. It affords us the ability to see ourselves differently and to become dedicated to making it happen no matter what. To cultivate such level of commitment you must see it, say it and do it on a daily basis; it must become habit.
Begin by writing your goals down on paper, as specifically as possible, in 3 month increments, and maintain copies of it before you at all times. Tape a copy of it to your bathroom mirror, secure a copy of it to your refrigerator door, place a copy of it in your car, and keep a copy of it at work. Beyond just seeing your goals, you must also vocalize them. Thus, every time you see the goal, say it aloud. Seeing it and saying it over and over is the process whereby your subconscious mind will begin to program the change you so desire. Lastly, you must take massive action to bring your goals to fruition. Undergoing incremental steps on a daily basis will allow you to focus on one step at a time; whereas, looking at a goal in its entirety may cause anxiety abandonment.
Since change is an inevitable process, commit to programming your thoughts, words and actions for success. Create the year you want with the end in mind. By seeing, saying, and taking action towards what you want, you will be positioned to win in 2010!
Dr. Sabra R. Smith is the author of the book, Innermost Parts: Theory of Spiritual Relativity, Law of the Abundant Life. To contact Dr. Smith call: (702) 429-7487.
Skiing Las Vegas
Las Vegas isn’t usually associated with snow or winter, let alone skiing and snowboarding. Despite the fact we live in a desert, there is a fantastic ski resort for kids and adults just up the road at Mt. Charleston. Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort has been operating on Mt. Charleston inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest since the mid 1990’s.
Craig Baldwin, the base operations manager of the resort, has been working there since before it was even called Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort. He started as a seasonal employee in 1982. As a lifelong hockey player, skiing made sense to Baldwin and he fell in love with the job. He has seen the resort grow to encompass eleven trails with two double chair lifts, one triple chair lift and one surface lift. Baldwin says, “Since we’re so close to an urban center, we have many young skiers and snowboarders who love to jib on our freestyle terrain features and, we also see many families taking advantage of the opportunity to learn the sport and have fun together.”
If your child (or you) have never had the chance to go skiing, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort offers great instruction. The program for children is called “Snow Kids”. Snow Kids is a fun and simple way to teach kids of all abilities (Skiing ages 4–12 years. Snowboarding ages 6–12 years). The Snow Kids program is offered on weekends, holidays and during winter break. All skiers and riders are grouped according to ability and age. Snow Kids explore the mountain according to their skill level, this includes a ‘magic carpet’ for new skiers that is kind of like a giant treadmill.
Once the kids learn how to ski, they may want to go regularly. Fortunately that can be accommodated via the charter bus that picks up and drops off at two convenient locations in Las Vegas. The bus ride is only $20 and includes an assigned contact for young skiers who are headed skiing without their parents.
For specifics, including hours of operation and pricing go to www.SkiLasVegas.com
If You Go
Traveling 40 minutes to Mt. Charleston from Las Vegas can be like going to a different planet. If you aren’t prepared for the decrease in temperature and increase in altitude you may end up having a less enjoyable experience. Keep in mind the elevation at Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is between 8,510 feet above to 9,370 feet, that’s three and half times higher than the elevation of Las Vegas. Coming from this lower elevation one may experience symptoms of altitude sickness, including headache, nausea, insomnia, and loss of appetite. To help avoid these symptoms make sure to increase fluid intake, decrease salt, alcohol and caffeine intake, and eat high-carbohydrate, low-fat foods prior to making the trip.
Another bit of advice is wear proper clothing. The best way to dress for winter is to wear layers. This gives you flexibility to add or remove layers. The outside layer should be snow proof and water resistant. If you don’t have a ski bib you can rent one at the resort. Modern ski equipment is also available for rent.