My book, The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and I know everything) is about to be published in a Chinese version in China. For me, as a woman, and a psychologist, this is my contribution to making the world a better place, particularly for women and girls. Everywhere in the world girls need to feel good about themselves and figure out ways to hold on to their talents, passions and potential as they grow up. Here, in China and everywhere. My book helps them do that. The book is in both Chinese and English. And is in an expanded version with more diary pages that cover other subjects. For example there are more pages about school work and school activities in the Chinese version. That decision was made in part to give people in China a fuller sense of what it is like to grow up in the United States.

Still the book has within all the text that make it a charming, fun diary full of wisdom written by a kid. However, many of you may not realize that within the book, both the American version and the Chinese version are many of the core Enchanted Self concepts developed carefully by me, as a positive psychologist, over the last 20 years. These concepts are designed to help women of all ages, whether she is 11 or 75. We all need a positive sense of ourselves that is reinforced from within and from without. As we identify with the girl and her fictional diary, we are give a large dose of encouragement to be true to ourselves, no matter at what stage of life we are.

For me, the book being published in China is a dream coming true. I had always wanted penpals in other parts of the world. Now, I will be sure to have lots from China. I guess I had better start learning some Chinese and planing a trip to China. The girl inside of me is happy. I didn’t let her down. It took many years to connect some of my girlhood dreams into a life event that I helped to create as an adult. I didn’t give up. I hope you will also stay true to as many of your dreams as you can also.

For more on the core concepts of THE ENCHANTED SELF go to my other two websites:

www.enchantedself.com or www.positivepsychologyforwomen.com

 Please Help ‘Sunny’ with information, prayers and maybe a small miracle that it turns out you should be Sunny’s owner. A stray somewhat feral cat came to our back porch in the early autumn.  His body was practically a skeleton.  I started to feed him.  He blossomed.  He gave up growling as he ate.  He let me pick him up.  He wanted to sleep on the bed!

Being with the 5th and 6th grade girls was such fun.  They had such great ideas for the second book in The Truth Series and so many real issues to discuss.  Bullying is a real issue, as is being ignored or put down by a teacher.  Both of these issues were included in the first book.  I will make certain they reappear again in the second book.  These are topics that need to be discussed.  Another topic that all the girls seem to want in the next book is another crush.  This time, they suggested it could be a bit more real, rather than mostly in the girl’s head.  That makes sense to me, as the girl will be a year older.  One girl suggested that she is at a school dance and she sees her best friend kissing the boy she likes.  The other girl is so ashamed or embarrassed when the girl confronts her that at first she tries to lie and claims that she wasn’t at the dance.  Of course the truth comes out and the girls have to deal with all the emotions sparked by the kiss.

Another topic discussed was best friends in general.  Perhaps the girl could find a new best friend who was originally a bully, but now they get along.

Such great ideas!  I am so happy that I have such wise girls to advise me, the psychologist!