Greetings!

Now available to interested persons is the "Fitness of the Mind and Spirit" (FOTMAS) Newsletter brought to you by Michele O'Mara, LCSW. This newsletter is intended to encourage, motivate and support you in your efforts to achieve your individual potential. If you have received this in error, or choose to not continue receiving this, please click on the "safe unsubscribe" link below for a quick, easy, and permanent removal of your name from this list.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM FOTMAS Each month you can expect to find information on various topics that I hope will motivate and inspire you to maximize your happiness and well-being. The focus of this newsletter is directed toward persons who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, or those questioning their sexual orientation. FOTMAS will offer information that encourages and challenges you to be your personal best, while offering you tools and information to move you closer to your goals. FOTMAS will include information on how to improve your self-awareness, personal growth and offer you tools to improve your communication, your relationships, and your sense of comfort in your own skin. Visit my site for more information about me... »

RELATING TO YOUR VALENTINE Many people seek counseling to deal with relationship issues. What better day than Valentine's Day to reflect on key strategies for improving our relationships! This information will benefit you whether you are currently in a relationship or not, so read on, Valentine or no Valentine. According to Harville Hendrix, author of "Getting the Love You Want," we are drawn to partners who represent characteristics (both positive and negative) of our primary caregivers. When we discover these characteristics in another person we often find ourselves saying "I feel like I've known you forever." Initially, we focus on all of the familiar positive characteristics, without noticing the negative characteristics. When we first find someone attractive our body naturally produces a feel-good chemical called Phenyethylaline (PEA). Once the PEA wears off we begin to notice the negative characteristics our partner has always possessed but previously went unnoticed. This period of the relationship is generally called the "Power Struggle" and it tends to occur once we decide to commit more deeply to the relationship. The power struggle signals red flags for many couples, and unfortunately many couples either get stuck in this stage - causing significant stress and unhappiness for both partners - or they choose to separate. Relationships take effort. It is a myth that good relationships come easily. If we choose to not do the work in our relationship today, the work will not disappear - it will resurface in each new relationship we have. Sometimes the "issues" will look different on the surface, but deep down they always come back to the center of who we are. Relationship issues reside within us, not outside of us. Once we uncover our own obstacles to happiness in relationships we can begin to create the relationship that we have always wanted. If it is your goal to maintain a long- term, permanent relationship, keep reading for a complete article titled "Relationships: What we don't know can hurt us." Full Article... »

ASK MICHELE To personalize this newsletter, I invite you to submit questions that I will include along with an answer in future newsletters. Sign these the way you would like them to be viewed by others - do not include your name if you would like to remain anonymous. For each newsletter I will select one question along with my response to include in the next FOTMAS newsletter. What questions do you have? Whether it is specific to a situation in your life, a general question about relationships, a mental health issue, or any other topic, feel free to submit your questions to me at: omaram@aol.com NEW SUPPORT GROUP STARTING FOR TRANSGENDERED (MTF) For more info on Transgendered Support Group »

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends or family by simply clicking "forward email" at the bottom of this page. Thank you for reading FOTMAS, and stay tuned for more in the near future!

Warmest Regards,

Michele O'Mara, LCSW
O'Mara Counseling & Life Coaching