Recently, we launched a new website called The Motivational Speaker, where organizations from all around the world can find out about Ronit's powerful, educational and inspiring presentations. The range of presentations and workshops includes (but is not limited to):

Self Esteem and Personal Development

• Against All Odds
• Winning Attitude
• Sickness to Health
• The Golden Rush for Goals
• Be Special Be Yourself
• Time Flies - How to Be the Pilot
• Life is a Balancing Act
• Freedom Within
• Projection!
• Regain Control over Your Life

Education, Leaning and Creativity

• Unlock the Creative Mind
• Diagnosing Learning Difficulties and Gifts in Children

Cultural Awareness and Diversity

• Language of the Heart
• Across the Cultural Divide
• We Are Australia
• Gentle Men and Strong Women

Communication and Relationships

• Just the Two of Us
• Different Strokes for Different Folks
• Better Parenting Skills

Wealth Mindset and Business

• Think Like a Millionaire
• Fast Track to Success
• Different Strokes for Different Folks
• Time Flies - How to Be the Pilot
• Life is a Balancing Act

Ronit's mission is to touch the hearts of millions of people worldwide through her public appearances, blogging and books. The Motivational Speaker is a major milestone on her journey.

What's in it for you?

As a parent, you can get a group of parents together through your school, parent association or community and invite Ronit for a full day of parenting skills. Wherever you are, you and your friends can boost the quality of life for yourself, your kids and others around you by learning down-to-earth, practical and highly effective ways to do things better at home.

As a leader or member of an organization, you can help improve teamwork, customer relations, workplace culture, level of service and many other things by leveraging the right presentation for your organization.

Ronit has already been invited to speak for various initiatives of the Queensland government, schools, parent associations, the University of Queensland and businesses.

I would like to invite you to visit The Motivational Speaker and find a presentation or workshop for your own organization, school or community. If you can make the decision yourself, please send a booking inquiry. If it has to be somebody else, please let them know about the site and what you have found there that will be interesting, or just send them this post.

Thank you for your support,
Gal

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If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know that the motto "Happy parents raise happy kids" is a good slogan for our philosophy. We want to empower and inspire all our parent readers to raise happy kids by focusing on themselves, while learning techniques, being exposed to theories, opinions and ideas regarding parenting and kids' development and leading a happy, healthy and loving family life.

There, I have written it down - a vision and mission statement in less than 1,500 words…

I believe that every day in the last two years, I have focused on this vision and this mission and I hope you can read this on and between the lines in every post on this blog. As funny as this may seem, I have used much of my own advice after writing it, because teaching is also a great learning opportunity.

Today, to celebrate the second birthday of the blog, I would like to know which topics you, the reader, would like to read more about. What are your challenges as a parent? What are the things you would like to be better in your own family? What are the things you would like to know how to give your kids or get them to do (well)? What are some things you wish you could send to someone you know, if only an expert explained them well?

Here is a list of topics I have been covering so far. Please choose the topic you most like reading about.

If there are other topics you would like to read about, please add them in the comment box below.

Thank you for joining the "Family Matters" community and we would like to encourage you to participate, share your views and add your opinion about topics relevant to the site. We promise to post them here for everyone to enjoy and get inspired.

Thank you and happy parenting!
Ronit

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1. I am now on Minti. Please view my profile and connect with me on RonitBaras.minti.com .
2. The 19^th of October (my birthday, how exciting) has been declared "Global Hugs Day". Free huggers will be going out to streets around the world from 11am to 1pm local time, offering free hugs to all and spreading human warmth.Free hugs are great for kids, so make some signs with your kids, color them in and go out to a public place - shopping mall, library, town square  - hold up your signs and hug people. You may be shy at first and it may feel strange, but once you have given your first hug and heard the first words of thanks from the person you have hugged, your life will be changed forever.To read about the Be Happy in LIFE free hug campaigns, click this link or type "free hugs" into the search box on the top right, then read, watch our videos and be inspired!

   Please check out the announcement at Positive Focus and in the video below.

   The video above mentions Humanity's Team, where you can connect with other global projects for having a better world. Please check it out and get into the spirit of togetherness.

3. If you live in the Brisbane area, please come and meet me next week. I will be presenting during the 2008 Queensland Multicultural Festival at Roma Street Parklands on behalf of the Together for Humanity Foundation. The presentation is thought-provoking, so come and watch and then visit our stall and say hi. You are very likely to get a free hug!

Since we are on the topic of connecting, you may want to visit my other online profiles and make me your friend:

• StumbleUpon: http://ronitbaras.stumbleupon.com/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=666970997&ref=name

See you again shortly for today's parenting post,
Ronit

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I remember, when we first arrived here, we were very surprised at the holidays Australians have.

The birthday of the Queen, who is only officially the queen of Australia, but has no role in daily life here, is still a good reason for a public holiday.

Horse racing is another good reason for a public holiday.

If Easter, Christmas or New Year's Eve fall on a weekend, the Australians move it to the following weekday, so they can celebrate it again.

Not that I am complaining. I like it this way, and today, I am taking the day off to spend time with my family.

Wherever you are, why not do what the Australians do? Adopt a queen for another day off every year. But hurry up, because there are not many queens left in the world. Pick one and go for it!

Happy Queens Birthday,
Ronit

(From the beaches of Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia)

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