Newark Nottinghamshire Vacation of Dreams » Self Improvement

Embracing Excellence

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:01:48 +0000

Author: Judy Rushfeldt
Source: articleage.com

Joey rises before dawn to pack his lunch, eager for morning to arrive so he can board the city bus that transports him to his job at a souvenir production facility. From 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Joey applies decals to souvenir collector spoons. Much like an artist applying brush to canvas, Joey peels a self-sticking decal from its wrapper, painstakingly centers it over the base of the spoon and slowly presses it on the metal. If the decal is not perfectly centered, he peels it off and starts over. Joey glows with pride over the racks of completed spoons, ready to be packaged for shipping to retail stores.
Joey has Down Syndrome. Though he will never become the chairman of a Fortune 500 company and it’s unlikely he will ever win an Academy Award or a Pulitzer prize, Joey is an outstanding sucess and a source of continual pride and joy to his heavenly Father.
When I think of Joey, I feel shame for all the times when I have given less than my best. I’m also inspired to re-commit myself to the pursuit of excellence in everything that I do.
In the parable of the five talents, Jesus taught the importance of investing our gifts and resources to the best of our ability. Three people received three different amounts of money, “each according to his ability.” Later, each was asked to account for what they did with their money.
Two of the three that doubled their money through wise investments were commended by the master, “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” The one who buried his money was called a, “wicked and lazy servant.” Worse, the master took away what little he had and gave it to one of the faithful servants (Mat. 25:14-28).
Shun Mediocrity
To embrace excellence, we must shun mediocrity, despising it as a sinister enemy and guarding against its intrusion into our attitudes and endeavors. As the late Jamie Buckingham wrote, “The risk-free life is a victory-free life. It means lifelong surrender to the mediocre. And that is the worst of all defeats.”
Anyone determined to shun mediocrity will, at times, need the courage to stand alone. Many people feel threatened by visionaries; they may intentionally or unintentionally discourage you. They may undermine your dreams. Seek out friends who are also visionaries so you can share mutual encouragement and support.
Another key to shunning mediocrity is to never compare ourselves with others. At the end of my life, I will not be asked, “Why were you not Sara, or Jennifer, or Candace?” I will be asked, “Were you Judy? Were you faithful to be the woman I created you to be.”
Know Your Purpose
To achieve excellence, we must clarify our purpose. It’s difficult to give our best when we lack vision.
My grades were ho-hum during high school and the first two years of my post-secondary education. I could have achieved honors with minimal effort, but I rarely studied. It wasn’t until I discovered my passion – writing – and transferred to journalism studies that I exerted effort and strived for excellence. My grades soared and I achieved honors. Once I discovered my passion, it was easy to give my best.
I’m not trying to excuse my poor study habits — I admit they reflected laziness and immature character. Nevertheless, discovering your purpose will have a catalytic impact on motivating you to a greater commitment to excellence.
Purpose is often revealed through our passions, for God places desires in our hearts. What excites you? What stirs joy in your heart? What motivates you? What inspires creativity and ideas and vision? The answers to these questions will provide key clues to understanding your purpose. Most important, pray and ask God to help you understand your purpose.
Know Your Source
Embracing excellence means we must know our source. Even before we were born, we were impregnated with the seeds of divine potential. Yet those seeds can remain dormant.
Consider the majestic oak tree. It’s hard to believe it all started with a tiny seed. It’s even more amazing to realize that seed contained all the genetic material necessary to develop into a mature tree. Still, for that seed to germinate and grow it required the right environmental conditions, including moisture and nutrients from the soil, and sunshine.
Our life purpose operates on a similar principle. Though God places seeds of potential in each one of us, those seeds require the right spiritual environment in order to germinate and grow.
The Bible says, “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Dan. 11:32)
By far the most important key to excellence and fulfilled potential is to develop a more intimate relationship with God. As we draw closer to Him, we receive clearer vision and understanding of our unique purpose. Vision ignites a passion to fulfill our purpose; from that passion flows the commitment to invest our gifts and resources in serving others.
As God’s image-bearers, let’s despise mediocrity. Let’s seek to be more passionate, creative and excellent in everything we do. Let’s refuse the well-travelled path of mediocrity, predictability and conformity; instead choosing the less-travelled path of faith, courage and risk.
Shun mediocrity, discover your purpose and remain connected to your Source – and everything you do will reflect the excellence of our Creator.
Judy Rushfeldt is an author, speaker, and online magazine publisher (http://www.LifeToolsforWomen.com) whose passion is to help women reach their dreams. Her latest book, Making Your Dreams Your Destiny – a woman’s guide to awakening your passions and fulfilling your purpose, is available in quality bookstores in Canada and the United States. To read more about this book or to order online, visit http://www.MakingYourDreams.com

How To Be A Jack Of Many Trades – And Why It Can Make You Succeed More Often!

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:07:36 +0000

Author: Tayo Solagbadebr
Source: articleage.combr
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Not many people have the ability to competently carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, and deliver satisfactory results on each task – consistently. Fewer still are comfortable with continually learning to do many things at the same time. Yet, in every society we find there are always a select few who seem to thrive doing just that.
Expressions in daily conversation coined to describe such persons include man-of-many-parts, one-who-wears-many-hats, multi-talented, multi-skilled, versatile etc. This article describes an unusual – but well established – practice in which certain individuals intelligently combine their(sometimes self-taught) skills in a variety of related fields to successfully – and repeatedly – deliver desired results( to employers), or products and services(to clients/ customers).
Below, I describe my personal experiences as a Multipreneurial Employee in Guinness between 1995 and 2001.
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I recall vividly that as a fresh Graduate Management Trainee in the large corporate multinational(Guinness Nigeria Plc) where I worked, my keen interest in computers initially attracted plenty of criticism from some of my peers and senior colleagues.
On numerous occasions, they seized the opportunity of little shortcomings I displayed in doing my job as a Shift Brewer, to insinuate that the time I spent working on the computer (something not at that time in widespread use) prevented me from mastering the essential practical requirements to successfully function as a brewer.
In time, I was of course able to demonstrate beyond any shred of doubt that their assumptions were wrong. Not only did I mature into a competent brewer/Packaging shift manager (one who got repeated secondments to other departments to fill sudden vacancies while replacements were sought), I also went on to use my spreadsheet programming skills to develop over five customised spreadsheet applications – which were formally adopted for use.
My abilities got me noticed early by senior management, so that within two years of joining the company, I was already actively involved, and even responsible for collation/preparation of brewery-level reports. These were activities which required a good understanding of key manufacturing performance parameters, as well as sound knowledge of various calculations used to estimate monetary gains/losses in brewing, for decision-making. In the process, I got to know/work closely with senior managers in my function, well ahead of my peers.
All of that would go a long way to prepare me for later achievements like challenging existing brewing performance parameters calculations; proposing modifications to some, and even developing my own formula for – what I considered – better estimation of brewing performances, which I called % Brewhouse Efficiency formula. This formula was given consideration by the companys senior management for 6 months, with brewery tests being done using it. (You can learn more about how I was able to record these achievements in my article titled Achieve Recognition and Attract Career Advancement Opportunities By Being A Change Agent).
Yet I did all this while still doing my regular job as a brewer. I was so proficient in doing them, that I felt no strain combining them with my normal job. Looking back, and even considering the sources from which criticism for my multidisciplinary approach came, I have come to the conclusion that many times people assess the workability of what another person is trying to achieve from their own mind frame.
If they think it be difficult for them to do, then they believe it would be so for the other person. What they forget is that we are not all alike. In fact there are certain people who cannot stay doing just one single thing for long. They would actually become demotivated, inefficient, and even bored. As one Multipreneur – Gary Havener – put it, I guess I just have a short attention span.
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Multipreneurs Are Everywhere – Even YOU Could Be One( Not Know It)!
1. Multipreneurs In Sports: We cannot all be the same. It is true that when you chase two rats at the same time, you could end up losing both. But in life, the fact is that there will be some people who can learn how to chase and catch both rats .
An event like the Decathlon(and the Heptathlon!) gives the few amongst us who fail to fit into the normal profile expected, a place to belong. As I said previously, not everyone will like to stick with just one sport. Some people get their greatest satisfaction – and are even at their productive best – when they are able to switch from one activity to another, uninhibited.
Daley Thompson was Decathlon champion for more than a decade, but he was not a Jack of all trades. He was instead what I call a Jack of Many Trades? or an Intelligent Multipreneur. Young Daley had an aptitude for combining many activities – and tended not to really be fully engaged if he had to focus on just one. His teachers in school thought this meant he had ADD(Attention Deficit Disorder), but the parents(thankfully) refused to accept that and challenged the school to engage the young childs energies appropriately. The rest is history.
2. YOU as an Involuntary Multipreneur: Now, what about you? Did you not have to study up to ten or twelve different subjects in school before you could finish and move to University? Subjects you did not like, and knew you would not continue after school! Why doesnt someone ask what the point of having children study subjects they are not likely to use after they leave school is about? If it had been a pleasant one, that experience in school could probably have caused you to develop an interest in multipreneuring.
3. How much should YOUR President know?: Would you vote for a Presidential aspirant who demonstrates knowledge of only one or two areas of the economy/government claiming he cannot afford to take active interest in learning about the others because he is a specialist? I doubt it. Citizens of a country rightly expect that their president will be able to answer questions on ANY issue concerning the government or economy of the country. Thats why Presidential debates between aspirants are such a crucial part of the elections process in many societies.
Presidents of countries, by the nature of their jobs, need to be multipreneurial in their mental dispositions. This is because they are answerable to an entire nation comprising widely differing groups of people with varying – and constantly changing – levels of unique interests and needs.
4. Multipreneurs in Entertainment: John Travolta (as I learnt from watching an episode of Oprah Winfreys show) is a licensed airline pilot. But apart from that, he is proficient at a wide variety of other things. His job as an actor frequently requires him to acquire new knowledge/skills in order to successfully portray a character. Away from acting, those he meets in life will find him adept at doing many things – and consider him quite cool, and potentially useful to have/be around!
A quick example. Imagine John is on a plane whose pilot suddenly has a coronary, and the co-pilots nerves fail him. With John around, there would still be hope for everyone on board! I know actors sometimes have stunt doubles who cover for them, but many times, they have to do it themselves.
Steps To Becoming An Intelligent Jack Of Many Trades?(or Multipreneur)
But how does one draw the line here. At what point does doing something like this become a case of Jack of all trades, master of none?
My answer is in two folds i.e. it depends. Firstly, if your objective is not to be a master, and only that you wish to achieve reasonably good proficiency in the disciplines you venture into, then the adage just mentioned should not bother you.
For instance, when you decide to learn how to type your own letters/use the PC better, it does not mean that you will decide to become better than your secretary. What it could mean is that in the event that your secretary is unexpectedly absent from work, you will not be at a loss as to how to locate (for instance) the important memo she was typing yesterday on her PC, so as to finish it off, and send it out to those concerned on time.
Secondly, you should not aim to become a Jack of all trades. That would be unwise, as it is not humanly possible to do so, and maintain efficiency in all at the same time. But, you can successfully become a Jack Of Many Trades?, and be better of for it.
To do the latter(i.e. become a Jack Of Many Trades?), the simple steps below can be followed:
1. Do some deep thinking/soul-searching about what exactly your personal goal(s) is(are) regarding your job or business interest(s).
2. Decide what competencies (knowledge, attitudes and skills) you need to develop to achieve your chosen goal(s).
3. Once youve done that, you then need to write out (and I do mean write!!) your PLAN to acquire, and productively use, the various competencies that youve identified.
4. Next, you put the plan to work. Do whatever it is you have decided you need to do, in order to achieve the goal(s) you have chosen to pursue.
Note: Since becoming a multipreneur will require you to progressively acquire new knowledge and skills about different activities, you can expect to routinely run through steps 1 to 4 every now and then.
How Multipreneuring Can Make You Succeed More Often
The following are some specific ways that Multipreneuring can help you.
1. You fit more easily into different groups: Think back to many of the social events you have attended. How easily did you fit into a group of people who were as excited as you were about football or politics for instance? Very easily, Im sure youll agree. A sound knowledge of key aspects of a specific area of interest can help you get the respect, admiration, and friendship/cooperation of others. You get instant empathy. People feel they know you.
Now, imagine you were able to learn relevant things or acquire skills important to varied groups of people. Once you find yourself among each group, you can put your knowledge/skill to use. Very often, the effect would be instant. People would be drawn to you! How excited would you be if you were in Bulgaria to attend a conference, and met a delegate from France who spoke your language, having spent ten years in your country?
Now think about it the other way round. What if YOU could learn to speak, read and write fluent French? What do you think would happen if you ran into an expatriate French couple just arrived in your country having difficulty communicating their intended destination to an Airport taxi driver? Chances are high that they would instantly engage you to help them out, and it is likely to be the beginning of a lasting friendship!
I speak, read and write French having learnt it the hard way some years back(read my story in the article titled Achieving YOUR Goals IN SPITE OF Adversity – Two Short But True Stories That Tell HOW to learn how I did it). The benefits accruing to me from acquiring this skill since then convince me that what I have said here is correct.
Also, my proficiency in developing automated spreadsheet solutions for use in the various departments I worked as a manager in Guinness, over time made me become close to key members of the brewerys Information Technology team. This friendship got so good to the point that I often spent my free time in their offices, and at a point, some newcomers to the brewery even assumed I was an IT personnel.
To top it, I often successfully secured the cooperation of the IT team to implement many of the spreadsheet solutions I developed. The automated spreadsheet-based Brewery training records database that I developed towards the ISO 9001 certification audits conducted by Standards Organisation of Nigeria – SON (in my capacity as Technical Training and Development Manager) was made accessible across the brewery intranet with the cooperation of my IT department friends.
2. You are able to understand others in or outside the workplace: Too many instances have occurred in society, where people engaged in conflict simply because they did not understand each others points of view. One of the best ways to guard against this problem is by going out of your way to learn about the unique circumstances and challenges surrounding the next person.
For instance back in Guinness, because I had a very strong background in Packaging and Brewing operations, having worked many times in both departments, I was frequently able to avert potential confrontations. For one thing, I knew many of the shift managers, shop floor operators and operations fairly well. So, when for instance, beer supply from my end (brewing) was short, I was often able to persuade the packaging operator/manager to send beer from the only remaining bottling tank to both bottling lines, till I and my men were able to solve the supply problem at our end. This helped us avert lost production hours, which often occurred when parties concerned remained intransigent.
Incidentally, my understanding of the packaging operations enabled me diplomatically punch holes in initial objections to the workability of my proposal. We would all then laughingly agree to implement it, or a modified version. The book How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie provides excellent advice on how to successfully get people to do what you want, and have them feeling good about it in the end. Buy and read it.
3. Your perspective and horizon broadens : Your mind opens up. By the time you have successfully become a Multipreneur, your personal beliefs about what is impossible will have changed. As I like to joke in my talks, some people at this stage will be like the young boy who had always thought his fathers farm was the biggest there was – until he travelled to other places and discovered otherwise. You will be less willing to discourage others from challenging existing ways of doing things, and more disposed to exploring new possibilities.
4. Your usefulness to your organisation(or clients) increases : So long as you have invested your time and energy in acquiring the right mix of knowledge and skills, its only a matter of time before your companys decision makers(or current/prospective clients) begin to notice you. I say this however in the expectation that you will now not go and hide your lamp under a bushel.
For instance, as a young brewer I (really) hated the various manual calculations (e.g. weighted averages to determine beer blending ratios for sometimes up to four bottling tanks!) so badly, that I developed an automated spreadsheet application to do the same thing. Not only did this solution lead to quicker estimation of needed beer blending volumes by the brewer, but the computer-generated beer parameters also showed significant positive correlation with the laboratory results obtained!
As soon as my boss found out about the existence of that application, he promptly announced at a departmental meeting that it was to be formally adopted for use, and instructed that I train others to use it. (Read my article titled How To Turn A Major Blunder At Work Into A Career Advancement Opportunity to learn about the bad first night shift duty experience I had, which forced me to develop that spreadsheet solution).
This happened for other solutions I developed for use in the brewery. Many times I actually started out to solve a personal problem I disliked about my job, but in the process, those doing that same job with me, (who had also been struggling with the problem) naturally found the solution I developed useful to themselves too – hence they adopted it readily. And I got acknowledged for it – via good appraisals, and many career advancement opportunities that subsequently followed.
How Long Will Success Achievement Take?
Now, this brings us to a reality that some people never want to accept. To achieve success, one must be ready to do what is required. In practicing multipreneuring, whether in business or paid employment, the person concerned must decide up front, that s/he will apply the principle of persistence.
It would be naive for anyone to expect that as soon as s/he commences learning or doing something, success will immediately follow. If the world worked that way, then EVERY ONE of us would be a millionaire today!
So, lets be honest with ourselves here – it wont be easy!!
The fact is that you must follow the earlier enumerated steps to becoming a successful Jack Of Many Trades?. Select the vocations you wish to become proficient in. Study them. Practice what you learn. THEN apply them persistently (constantly reviewing/making needed adjustments), till you get the result(s) you desire.
I spent many night shifts as a brewer combining supervision of the brewing plant operations with improving my typing speed using a Typing Tutor, and also working on different spreadsheet solutions on the office computer. One afternoon, the Brewery Mangers secretary saw me typing and exclaimed: Solagbade, you type so fast! What is your speed? Neither she, nor a senior manager who made a habit of calling me TK Computer really knew how many hours of hard work I had put in, in my personal time, to become that good at those things.
And if you recall, from my story, I made many blunders at work initially that caused others to criticise me for lacking mastery of my primary job because I spent(they felt) too much time on the computer.
What they did not know was that even after they had gone home, I would often stay back in the brewery to learn directly from the process operators on duty, the rudiments of successfully managing the brewing process. Many times I would leave the brewery for my house as late as 1.00am in the morning, even though I had actually worked on morning shift, and closed at 2.00pm the previous day. You may not have to do what I did. But, you MUST pay your dues. If you do, you will get to a level of mastery that will make others marvel.
Is It Not Better To Be Known For One Particular Thing?
Someone once asked me if it would not be better to be known for one particular thing. My answer was that I do actually intend to be known for ONE thing which is my ability to engage in multiple, complementary vocations simultaneously and successfully, so long as I remain effective and efficient in doing them.
I was able to do my job as brewer, and later Training and Technical Development Manager, then acting Production Manager, while continuing to utilise my proficiency in spreadsheets solutions development, to develop lasting solutions for data management and reporting problems everywhere I worked.
I was so good at it, that I effortlessly implemented solutions to major problems in a way that surprised many others. For me, because I had spent so much of my free time(unknown to many) doing it, it was easy. For others, it looked like a lot of work. So, they were thinking about it from their perspective as people who were not as adept as I was. Of course, it felt like it would be difficult to combine such with a regular job – especially when one did not get to take time off to do it.
I once watched an edition of Oprah Winfreys show in which Venus Williams was interviewed along with her sister, Serena. Both ladies were questioned about criticisms levelled against them by other Tennis stars for engaging in other vocations while still active in top-flight tennis. Venus owns her own fashion design company, and actually designs her own clothes. Serena had been appearing in some new films/movies playing leading roles.
According to Oprah, Martina Navratilova had stated that the sisters were being arrogant by doing that, since it was expected that they, as professional tennis players, would concentrate on playing tennis – like all others. In response, Venus said (quite sensibly), that they believed it would be unwise to assume they would continue to do well in tennis indefinitely, and following their parents advice, decided to explore other vocations early on.
Summary
So long as you are not getting inefficient from doing multiple tasks or acquiring multiple competencies, dont let people tell you youre a Jack-of-all-trades.
I once read an article on career development, which advised people in paid employment to Know A Little About Everything, if they wish to get ahead on their jobs. In fact, most start-up entrepreneurs HAVE TO be that way for a major part of their start-up life, because they cannot afford(due to limited capital) to do otherwise! Companies – and even individuals – will in the future be looking for a one-stop solution to their needs, and will tend to settle for entrepreneurs(or employees) with proven multiple competencies.
You can be a successful Jack Of Many Trades?, so long as you avoid crossing the not-so-thin line that leads to becoming a Jack of all trades. All you need do is intelligently decide on relevant competencies that will help you attain your personal/career advancement goals. Then acquire and put them to use in ways that benefit you, people around you, or the client/organisation you work for. The results you get will excite you perpetually!
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This article is one of twenty-five(25) contained in Tayo Solagbades Ebook titled 25 Articles/True Stories On Self-Development, Entrepeneuring Web Marketing To Help You Succeed More Often.
Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably. Download your copy of his 25 Articles Ebook from http://www.lulu.com/content/268555. You get full reprint rights for each article.
Visit Tayos Creative Business Solutions(CB Solutions) mini-site – http://www.cbsolutions.v27.net – to learn how you can get affordable Freelance Writing, Rapid Website Design/CGI Automation, Website Marketing Strategy Development and Custom MS Excel VB Spreadsheet Automation Services.br
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Dreams

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:13:10 +0000

Author: David Triletybr
Source: articleage.combr
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When I was a kid sitting in school I can remember looking out the window daydreaming of mountains, and skiing. These were just a few things I dreamed of doing. Over the years the daydreams have continued.
Do you have daydreams. Silly question to be asking
right. But when was the last time you stopped to think
about that daydream. Think right now about how your
life would be if you had the freedom to do whatever
you dreamed of. I am often reminded of the movie
Cinderella when Leslie Ann Warren sang the words
In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can
be whatever I want to be.
How about Judy Garland when she was on a quest
to know what life was like outside the farm in The
Wizard of OZ. when she sang Somewhere over the
rainbow, way up high, theres a land that I dreamed of,
once in a lullaby
We all have dreams that we hold onto. Pictures of how
we know it can be, that give us the hope that keeps us
moving forward.
Why though do we only dream, and continue to, for 95%
of people, drudge along doing the same thing day in day
out, week in week out, year in year out. My profession
for the last 21 years except for a short break has been
Law Enforcement. I have seen what people do, not only
to themselves to self destruct, but to the ones they care
about most. Frustration and the feeling of futility are like
the constant drip, drip, drip like a kind of daily water torture
without the water.
People drone along day after day on a quest for the week-
End. Two days of a chance physically and mentally to get
away from whatever box that holds them from what they
truly desire.
Its sad to hear what people say when you really stop and
Listen. I recently heard someone say, Oh, so and so is
having a good day. Then the person being referred to
said I must be nuts as if its some kind of a sickness
to be happy.
Its been said the average person only stops to think 3 or
4 times in their lifetime. A close family member gets sick,
a disaster like 9/11 happens and for a brief period we stop
and think and say to ourselves, what am I doing. However
in a day or so the shock wears off and they fall hopelessly
back into the safety of the rut.
When you were learning to walk did you just hope right up
and truck across the room, I would venture to say you didnt.
I would guess you fell, stumbled, got back up. Inch by inch,
step by step, with sore knees and some tears you made it.
Even after your first success you still had to try, but once
you learned you could do it, your little legs could scoot you
across the floor so fast at times, full grown mom had to run
to catch you.
I have great news for you. If this article has sturred you,
and I sincerely hope that it has, I am here to tell you, that
as for your long lost dreams, there is hope. I can hear
you saying, Dave I have tried everything already. This is the
same response I had until the true secret was shared with
me several years ago.
The answer is not in a program, article, tape series, or
hot deal. The answer to your dreams, the places you have
longed to see, time you desire to spend with the ones you
love, freedom to travel, all you truly want I will show you in
the next two paragraphs.
If you are not at home put this article away until you are,
and can follow these instructions to the letter. Trust me, the
life you live and the dreams you hold dear are worth the wait.
If you are I want you to get up right now and walk into your
bathroom. Yes I know, this is a strange place to find the
answer to your dreams but you will see why in just a minute.
Look in the mirror at the person looking back at you. There
is the answer to all that you have ever dreamed of, ITS YOU.
No one knows you like you know you.
I can hear you saying, Ive tried on my own before and failed.
Im here to tell you, you can make it, and not just make it, but
You can make it in a big, big way. Everything you need to get
your dreams back is within reach. The tools are all available
to help you. As my friend Jim Rohn says All the books you
need, all the training you need, all the money you need, all
the classes you need, its all here.
One place you can start is to begin to put the right things
into your mind. We live in a negative world, and you need to
guard against the negative voice. One way you can guard
against them is to eliminate the newspaper and nightly
news. You may be saying Oh but how will I know what
is going on. If it is important enough for you to know it
someone will tell you.
To begin with the good things start with your car. The
average American drives 12 thousand miles to and from
work each year. This comes to somewhere between
500 and 1000 hours on the road each year. Turn your car
into a mobile classroom. Bob and Tom in the morning
might be funny, but your future success is no laughing
matter.
Pull the dreams of the past out and blow the dust off
of them. Write them down. Go through some magazines
and cut out pictures that represent what you want and see
for your future. Get started today.
Dave Trilety is a Deputy Sheriff and Entrepreneur. He has helped many people through trainings on Leadership, and Self Development. He is currently assisting people in the development of Retirement Income. For more information go to the link below. Dave lives in the Cincinnati area with his wife Tammy and their daughter Tara.br
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Interview for The Path: A Spiritual Journey Authors Heather and Verne Thomas

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:02:29 +0000

Author: Juanita Watsonbr
Source: downloadbr
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Reader Views is very excited to talk with Heather and Verne Thomas, co-authors of The Path: A Spiritual Journey. Their novel explores some the worlds great religions within the context of a great adventure story. Thank you for talking with us today.
Heather and Verne Thomas are being interviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views.
Juanita: You have co-written a very unique story in The Path: A Spiritual Journey. What was your inspiration for writing this book?
Verne: I taught Comparative Religion at the high school level for fifteen years, and it was always one of my favorite subjects. Then, when I first got involved in writers groups, I always heard that your first novel should be about something you know. So it just seemed natural to weave a story about different religions. But Im a textbook writer?my previous book was a best selling textbook on sociology, which is really my field. So this new book was sounding more and more like a textbook, even though I was trying to write a novel. So I asked Heather for some help, and thats what started our collaboration.
Heather: Im the novel reader in the family. I love mysteries, romances, historical novels, literary fiction, science fiction, whatever. Plotting, character development and dialogue come naturally to me. I am also interested in the local color authors put into their novels, so I was thrilled to research the ancient towns, countries and customs our character, Nathan, was exposed to. Essentially our collaboration ended up being with Verne setting the stage with his knowledge of world religions, and me developing the story line.
Juanita: Tell us, in your words, the storyline of The Path.
Heather: The story opens with Nathan as a devout, ten year old Jewish boy, living in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. His only living relative, his father, dies saving the life of a visiting Indian merchant, and in gratitude the merchant takes a reluctant Nathan on an adventurous journey on the old Silk Road back to India. He promises to provide for Nathan and give him a fine education, but Nathan vows to remember his Jewish identity and to return to Jerusalem one day. He meets a Confucian cook, studies with a Hindu guru, enters a Buddhist monastery, works for a Taoist inn-keeper, and meets Zoroastrian magi. Finally, as a young man, he struggles back to the land of Israel. There he finds refuge in the Essene monastery at Qumran, meets John the Baptist and encounters Jesus of Nazareth. The final chapter sees Nathans family active in the different factions of the early Christian church. What Nathan learns from his long journey is that there is truth and beauty in all the religions he studied, and that their ethical teachings have much in common.
Juanita: How similar is the journey of Nathan, in comparison to what any of us may personally face in our lives?
Verne: We live in a very different culture from Nathan, and to compare his time and ours is to compare apples and oranges. But we each meet people who belong to different religious and cultural traditions, and it helps us relate to them if we understand something of what they believe. Also, Nathan lived in Jerusalem, which was a crossroad of many early trade routes, and he traveled through many different cultures. So he was exposed to many religions, just as we are in the United States today.
Heather: Another similarity is that all of us, like Nathan, are on some kind of spiritual journey. I believe this is true for people who are convinced of the truth of their religion, or people who are seeking answers, or people who deny their spirituality altogether. There are many different paths, but I believe they are all spiritual journeys, and we must honor their importance in our lives.
Juanita: The depth of knowledge you have for so many different religions really comes across in The Path. What are the religions that Nathan encounters and what kind of research did you do in preparation for writing your novel?
Verne: Well, of course, the religions include Judaism, then Confucianism, which some people regard as a philosophy rather than a religion. Hinduism and Buddhism, which have millions of adherents in the East. Taoism, which has fascinating and enigmatic teachings. The ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, which greatly influenced Judaism and Christianity. And finally, Christianity, which branched in different directions even in its early years.
We were unable to include Islam, since the Prophet Mohammed was not even born till about six centuries after the time of our novel. However I am in the process of writing a supplement to the book which will have a summary of Mohammeds life and teachings, and a history of the development of Islam. This will be on our web site at www.thepathbook.com.
Heather: You asked about research for the book. Well, I hung out a lot listening to Verne, who after all taught this subject for fifteen years and is keenly interested in all things religious. I also read a lot?you can see a partial list of the books in the bibliography at the end of the novel. I found some fascinating stuff in libraries?did you know there is a book on fashions and hair styles in India in the first century CE? And I browsed on the internet a lot?youll find a short list of helpful links on our web site.
One of the most important things we did was to ask representatives of the religions covered in the book to read selected passages or the whole book and to comment from the perspective of their religion. That led to some very insightful and illuminating discussions, and we are profoundly thankful to our Readers, who are listed in the book.
You will find a summary of a lot of our research in the History Lovers section that follows the end of the novel.
Juanita: What did you want to suggest to your readers by including so many different religions into Nathans journey?
Verne: Basically we wanted to point out that the ethical teachings of many of the worlds great religions are very similar. For example, each religion covered in the book has its own version of the Golden Rule. Christians quote Jesus as saying, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you . . . In Judaism, the teaching is, What is hurtful to yourself do not to your fellow man . . . Buddhists say, Hurt not others with that which pains yourself. And so on.
Heather: We are also great believers in the old saying that knowledge and understanding are antidotes to fear and hatred. We hoped that if people read about these different religions, and understood them better, they would be less afraid of them and less likely to view them with hatred and suspicion.
Juanita: Who is the reading audience for The Path?
Heather: Individuals who are quietly seeking their own spiritual path. People who want to understand their neighbors better. One person, a librarian, said, I wish everyone would read The Path. We should all have read this when we were young and open. Weve heard comments that the novel appeals to both high school age and adult readers, because it combines a compelling and fast moving story line with an introduction to the various religions.
Verne: The book has been very popular with groups, too. There are four church groups currently involved in studying world religions, in courses based on The Path. And the book has been discussed by book clubs.
Juanita: For your readers that have not heard of the Silk Road, please elaborate about this historical trade route.
Heather: By tradition, the Silk Road was in operation as early as 200BCE (Before the Common Era). The production of silk was then a secret closely guarded by China, and the story of how that secret gradually spread to the West is a drama in itself. The old stories say the Romans first saw the fabric about 53 BCE, on one of their campaigns against the Parthians. The Parthian troops carried bright silken banners, which so awed the Roman soldiers that they fled in panic. On closer inspection, the Romans were amazed at the fabrics softness and strength. Demand for silk skyrocketed in the west and accelerated the existing trade with China.
However the trade routes did not come to be called the Silk Road until the nineteenth century CE (Common Era), when a German geographer coined the name. We tend to think of one single road that stretched from eastern China to the Mediterranean Sea, and of caravans that traveled the whole way. In fact, there were many different trade routes and usually caravans traveled only one section of the whole distance, trading their goods to the next caravan, which would carry them to the next market city. In The Path, Mohan conceives the idea of personally escorting his caravan the whole distance from India to Jerusalem, and setting up a system of contacts with the officials of territories he passed through—a man ahead of his time! Ancient records show that caravans traveling from east to west carried such goods as silk, furs, ceramics, jade, lacquer work, bronze and iron. From west to east, caravans might carry gold and other metals, ivory, gemstones and glass.
Verne: Dont forget the Silk Road was also the way religion spread in those days. Buddhist missionaries traveled from India to China, and Christian missionaries traveled east from Judea.
Heather: What brought the Silk Road era to a close was the discovery of sea routes from Europe to Asia. Merchants found that transporting goods by sea was generally easier and cheaper than the long routes by land. By the seventh century CE, many of the stopping places along the Silk Road fell into disuse, and were gradually covered by sand. Imagine the amazement of nineteenth century archaeologists when they uncovered these ancient ruins, and began to understand the vibrant commercial life that once existed there.
Juanita: It is so interesting that The Path: A Spiritual Journey, a story set in an era long ago, can be so relevant to the times in which we live. Can you speak on religious intolerance happening today, and what your book may teach us about the world we now find ourselves in?
Verne: We used to live in little homogeneous neighborhoods, where everyone believed the same thing. For most people, thats not true anymore. Our world?our country?our neighborhood, contain Christians, Jews, Moslems, and people from other faiths and cultures. Even within each religion, ideas differ markedly. People in different groups of the Christian church, for example, may have decidedly different beliefs. The Path raises the possibility that no one has the absolute answer, that we can learn from each other, that we can respect and tolerate those who have different ideas.
Heather: The Path teaches us that many religions have great value, and that many religions have similar ethical teachings. This is a difficult concept for people who believe their religion has the one and only truth. But believing that your version of religion is the only true version leads you onto dangerous ground. It can take you to a place where other people are condemned to hell for not believing as you do, or even to a place where you are justified in killing them because of what they believe.
Verne: When you read The Path, I encourage you to ask yourself: how long do you expect to live? Fifty more years? Thirty? Ten? The question is, what are you going to do with those years? The Path shows us what some great religions have taught about the meaning of life, how you can live the years remaining to you, how you can relate to other people and to your concept of God.
Juanita: You have very clearly conveyed an in-depth and educational story to your readers. What is the underlying message/s in The Path?
Heather: Tolerance. Respect for others beliefs. Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Its as simple as that.
Juanita: Your book The Path: A Spiritual Journey carries such profound yet simple statements that are very relevant to our times. This is truly a great novel with a significant message. We would like to thank you for talking with us today. Reader Views wishes much success for you and The Path. Please tell your readers once again how they may find our more of The Path and your endeavors, and please share any last thoughts?
Heather: You can read more about The Path on our web site, www.thepathbook.com. And of course churches, reading groups and other organizations can order multiple copies at a substantial discount by e-mailing us at info@thepathbook.com.
Verne: We are always happy to hear from readers, whether they agree, disagree, have questions, or would just like to talk about some of the things mentioned in The Path. We invite you to add comments to the Our Blog section of our web site, to post reviews on The Path site on www.Amazon.com. Thank you for interviewing us for Reader Views.
Juanita Watson is the Assistant Editor for Reader Views.

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Attitude Counts

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:59:14 +0000

Author: Elaine Lovebr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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Saying early morning would be an understatement. In order to drive to the airport and catch my oh dark thirty flight this morning; it required getting up at 2:30 am. Normally I am testing my eyelids for light leaks at that hour.

Yawn, stretch, jump in the shower and proceed. I answered a few last minute emails, packed up the computer, zipped the suitcases and headed for the airport. Even though I live in a suburb of Denver, the normal freeway traffic was non-existent. Driving to Denver International Airport was smooth and uncongested. Other than a few 18 wheelers, very few vehicles travel the freeways in the wee hours of the morning.

DIA frequently resembles a mob scene, but not at 4:30 am. Security was a breeze, and the staff of Frontier airlines were not only alert and smiling, but extremely congenial. Very impressive customer service. Kudos to Frontier Airlines not only for excellent service but also for the excellent attitudes of the staff.

Attitude makes a tremendous difference in everything we do. Our attitude transmits through our words and actions. Every challenge we encounter flows more smoothly with a great attitude.

My standard line for years has been Life is an attitude; choose to have a good one.

If you knew that something wonderful was waiting for you when you returned home tonight, wouldnt it make all of the little things which happen throughout the day a little easier to handle? The incident has not changed. The length of the day has not changed. The only change resided in your attitude.

Today was a perfect example. Travel can be hectic. I am a morning person but starting at 2:30 am was really early even for me. Add to the early start, driving to the airport, normal airport lines and procedures and all the luggage juggling; depending on my attitude, it could be a challenge or a hassle.

I travel with a laptop. When I first started carrying the laptop on planes, we had to actually turn them on to prove they worked. Remember those days? That is no longer a requirement, but I still have to remove it from its case. Remove the coat. It was snowy in Colorado this morning. Remove the shoes.

As I was undressing – coat, shoes, jewelry, and belt – I jokingly commented on undressing. The man one lane over perked up his ears, smiled and said; Now Im awake. You have my attention. The security guard at the scanner grinned and said, And the panty hose, lady. Of course he was not serious, but we all had a laugh. A few fun words and the day brightened for all of us.

What can you do today to brighten someones day? Kind little words mean so much. Tell someone they look nice. Say an extra appreciative thank you to someone who held the door for you. Say good morning or have a nice day and really mean it. Just giving a warm genuine smile to a passerby can brighten a day. There are so many easy little things each and every one of us can do to make life more enjoyable for others. Your attitude about yourself and your life either lightens the day for those around you or throws a dark rain cloud over them.

Remember the old lil Abner cartoon? Was it Joe Btsfplk who had a black cloud over his head? Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh, Hardy Har Har from Lippy The Lion Hardy Har Har (Poor, poor hyena…), Pedro from Excel Saga, (NOOOOOOO!!!!!!) and Marvin The Paranoid Android from the Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy all poked fun at negative attitudes. Why have a rotten attitude or a grumpy attitude? It is not fun.

Do something good for someone today just for the fun of making someone happy. Spread the joy of a good attitude. Your life and the lives of everyone around you will smile just a little brighter.

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pFor more inspiration and positive mindset, join me at a target=_new href=http://www.Elaine4Success.com rel=nofollowhttp://www.Elaine4Success.com/a/pp28 years experience as a successful entrepreneur, post-graduate degrees in Communication and Alternate Dispute Resolution, and a proven track record as a teacher, coach and mentor, revealed the success formula. Network marketing achievements for the last 4 years. Executive Committee, Ethics Committee, Certified Consultant Seminar Program, Leadership Support Team, Leadership Award Synergy Saturday, Empower Magazine, Millionaire Mastermind Group and selected as Consultant of the Month by Network Marketing Magazine in July 2007./ppElaine Love, Owner – Results For Life LLC – Certified Master M3 ConsultantbR 303-284-0514 : a href=mailto:resultsforlife@gmail.com rel=nofollowresultsforlife@gmail.com/abr a target=_new href=http://www.Elaine4Success.com rel=nofollowhttp://www.Elaine4Success.com/a/pbr
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Alcoholism: An Insight From A Clear Mind With Both Eyes Focused

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:59:52 +0000

Author: Earl Ericksonbr
Source: downloadbr
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When I tried getting clean and sober, I knew I had to give up the friends that I partied with for years. That didnt sound so easy. I knew what my friends would say. Some of their comments would be, you can just have a couple, you dont have to get drunk or you can still hang out with us
and you dont have to drink alcohol, you can drink pop or coffee and you can be our designated driver. Their ideas arent going to work for me and a lot of other alcoholics. Recovering alcoholics are going to have to hang out with people who dont drink. Hanging out with your friends that drink usually only last a short while. Relapses are quite real.
Like in my case, some friends will taunt you and think youre too good for them. I had a childhood friend that would hoist his bottle to his mouth and drink it right in front of me as close as he could get, then making a gesture to give me his bottle to share. He knew I was in my early stage of sobriety and that I was vulnerable. Needless to say, he is no longer my friend–and I knew him all of my life. Friends and acquaintances will be cruel, so a person must be on his guard.
Then there are some real friends that care. I have a friend that drinks but he is not an alcoholic. I dont think Ive ever seen him drunk. He drinks responsibly. He knows I stock my refrigerator with a few beers, but he also is considerate enough not to get drunk and obnoxious around me. He usually
reclines my offer of a beer. Hell drink bottled water with me. These are the kind of friends to keep. The beer I keep around the house no longer is a temptation, so I keep it for responsible guests.
I was devastated when I made a commitment to myself to stop drinking. I dont even know myself. What if I dont like myself? I was scared to death at the thought of getting clean and sober. I wondered how boring my social life would become. I thought of the friends I wouldnt have any longer. I thought of the fun I wouldnt have any longer. I dreaded the thought of socializing with sober people. I dreaded the thought of attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and being truthful about myself. I was scared to death of sobriety.
I think most alcoholics, early in their recovery, are frightened of the notion to get clean and sober. It was the ultimate culture shock to me. I drank since age 14. I was an alcoholic by age 22. Then I continued drinking until age 50. During all those years of drinking, I probably stopped drinking only three or four times. The longest period of abstinence was only 60 days?-and 30 of them were spent in jail or in an inpatient treatment center.
The story of my life, as an alcoholic, is no different than most other alcoholics. We all have a lot in common–some are more severe than others. We are not unique. To put it mildly, we all are short- sighted and we create our own problems. We blame other people and dwell on the past. We hate ourselves as we hate other people. We hate our addiction and do nothing about it. We abuse our health and laugh about it. We complain like there is no tomorrow. Our life sucks, the law stinks, our boss is an idiot and our girlfriend or wife are driving us to an early grave.
It wasnt until age 50–and eleven DUIs later–that I finally looked hard at my life and wondered where I am going. I focused my cloudy lens. It was on the 4th of July, in 2003, that I set out on a solo mission to go camping. I chose a spot by a lake. I always feel serene when there is a lake, a river, a stream, an ocean or mountains nearby. I did my usual habit. I searched and found myself a bar nearby my campground. My rule of thumb, was that there has to be a drinking establishment nearby. I very seldom drank alone. I never quite understood why people would want to drink alone. Getting drunk by myself wasnt my cup of tea–or booze.
As I was drinking my beer at the bar, I noticed there was nobody else but me in the bar. I thought to myself how many times this has happened. Its a holiday again–another reason to drink. The setting was no different than before–a bartender watching television in this dark, quiet barroom. Here I am again–drinking beer to get drunk and be stupid. Outside its a beautiful day–warm and sunshiny. Other people are enjoying the weather and Im in a dark, stinky tavern. I was thinking how stupid this really is. I reminded myself of a song by the Charlie Daniels Band. The lyrics went like this,
Sittin on a barstool, acting like a darn fool, thats what Im doin today. Sittin here drinkin and tryin
to keep a thinkin Im boozing my troubles away. Pour me another one, I think Im finished with the other one. Im drinkin my baby goodbye.
I had been drinking more than ever, since my last DUI about two months ago. I hadnt been sentenced yet and I was awaiting my day in court real soon. I had been daring the law to bust me again. I was way out of control and I could care less. I had been driving drunk every weekend and passing out. I could hardly remember anything.
Today seemed much different than ever before. I didnt plan on this day to quit drinking–it actually just happened that way. I left the bar, near my campground, after only drinking one beer. I thought I might return later in the evening to party–but I didnt. I stayed at the campground and I prayed and hoped that some day soon I would quit drinking. I never thought this would be the day. I never was one to pray that often. But today, I felt like the ever-so-popular clich? belonged to me–I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I never drank another drink of alcohol that day–and I havent had one since. This was a 4th of July to remember–Independence Day, my independence from alcohol.
As days led to weeks and weeks led to months–then years, I felt I had put my demons to rest. I enjoyed feeling healthy. Gone were the days of being sick and hung over for four days–the reward for one day of getting smashed. It was getting to that point–one day drinking, four days sick. Alcoholism had taken a major toll on me.
I looked back at my prior behavioral pattern and made sure not to fall or fail–like I did so many times before. I made it a point, not to preach and boast to everyone that I knew, telling them I kicked the habit. I humbled myself by moving forward one day at a time–day by day. My thoughts were clear now and my priorities straight.
I quit drinking at the right time, but many years were overdue. The laws were changing. There was no smoking in the bars. The alternative was to smoke outside or go to the Indian-controlled casinos. When I stopped drinking, I also stopped smoking. Drinking and smoking went hand-to-hand with me. I relapsed in my no-smoking quest–twice. I cant believe how stinky the bars and taverns were. I never was one to smoke in my house or in my car, but my clothes still reeked of smoke. I had been spraying my clothes with Febreeze–it was the only answer for stinky clothes.
If a person believes getting clean and sober will change their world for the good completely–they are foolish. Arguments with their significant others will remain. When I sobered up, I realized what my girlfriend was really like–so we split and I went my separate way. That was the first and only time sobriety was to blame. My other relationships through the years of drinking, always ended up my fault–every one of them.
After about a year-and-a-half in my sobriety, I was involved in a car accident–my fault. I turned in front of a car I didnt see. I failed to yield the right-of-way. Accidents still happen when you are sober. This time, my old stinkin-thinkin attitude wasnt there. If I had been drinking, I would have been arrested for a DUI and taxied off to jail. Then, when I would be released, it meant getting drunk and staying on a bender, drinking my problems away in a sea of illusions. Shit still happens when you dont drink. Of course, back in my drinking days, I would have confessed I drove better drunk–rather than driving straight.
When I drank, my pattern was precise and it was demonstrated to the hilt. If I had to go out to launder my clothes, I made damn sure a Laundromat was next door to a tavern or bar. When I had to have my car serviced, there had better be a bar next door or across the street. I couldnt imagine attending a sports event or a concert without drinking alcohol. There were times I couldnt remember any of them. How stupid is that? Then, of course, my intention to have a couple led to sometimes 8 hours or more of drinking. All the bars and taverns I frequented, might as well have had a time clock for me to punch. Thats how I made up my rules. It was my second job.
When I quit drinking, my social life became reclusive. I felt alone in the beginning. This time I didnt want to get into a relationship. It seemed I was only eating, working and sleeping–24/7. It seemed very strange. If I was to make this life of mine sober, it would be on my own terms–and it has worked. The more days I achieved sobriety, the better it was.
When my wife, Bobbie, died of cancer, in 2001, I sank into a deep, dark depression. The grief
of my loss was too hard to handle. I began to drink hard to forget the heartache and pain. She was my whole world. How could this happen? Am I doomed to the bottle for life? If there is a God, why did he allow this to happen? God surely knew what an improvement she made in my life. When I was married to her, I kept my drinking in check–but not all the time. Bobbie did not approve of drinking and driving. She despised anybody that did. Bobbie was the best thing that happened to me. I always chose my women I became involved in that didnt drink at all or who drank responsibly. I could not stand a woman drunk. I would talk small talk at the bar, but thats it.
On November 13, 2005, my older brother, Mark, passed away very slowly and painfully–from alcoholism. He kept on drinking, despite his doctors orders. He had full -blown cirrhosis of the liver.
His last drink was five days before he bled to death. He was only 55 years old.
On August 1, 1975, my oldest brother, Donald, put a gun to his mouth and pulled the trigger.
I was the one who found him. He was intoxicated and depressed on the day of his death.
He was a full-blown alcoholic. He was only 36 years old.
There are wonderful things that have happened to me since I stopped drinking. My attendance at work improved greatly. My quality and quantity of work excelled. I felt I didnt need to smoke. I slept better. I looked better. My health was restored. My depression improved. I went on real vacations by myself. I never had done that before. I have discovered many good things about myself. My hobbies became more important to me. I suddenly took a renewed interest in writing, photography, gardening, camping
and fishing. I have enjoyed listening to music and organizing my library of music, books and movies. I learned how to use a computer, now I cant stay off of it. I bought three guitars and a keyboard to learn how to play and write songs. I own and manage three websites. And last–but not least, I am writing articles on the internet and I am writing a book about my life and my struggles with alcoholism,
depression and grief.
There are so many positive things about being a recovering alcoholic. The world around me seems so much better. I feel at peace with myself. I no longer hate myself and others around me. I enjoy the easy and simple ways of living. I will continue to enjoy the serenity of sobriety, with a clear mind and with both eyes focused.
Earl D. Erickson is a recovering alcoholic. He loves writing, photography, watching old classic television and films and listening to music. He also loves to travel and do gardening in his spare time. He is an
internet author and has written for Ezine Articles in the past. He is currently writing a book
on his turbulent life and his struggles with alcoholism, depression and grief. His book is entitled,
Abstinence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder. He hopes to be finished with that project by
early next year. He owns and manages two websites. They are http://BobbiesMountain.com,
dedicated to his late wife, Bobbie, and to cancer research. His other website is http://sqwearlenterprises.com. He hopes his stories help readers identify the struggles they have encountered in similar events of their lives. Earl is a native and resident of Tacoma, Washington.br
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How To Make a Leo Fall in Love With You

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:59:44 +0000

Author: howcastmediabr
Source: articlesbase.combr
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Check out the video version of this guide on Howcast.com:How to Make a Leo Fall in Love With YouGet more great outdoor game and party ideas at Howcast.com:Astrology You Will Need: Flattery An uncritical nature Step 1: Admire them Admire them. Leos have a very healthy self-image, to say the least, so the first step to ingratiating yourself is to flatter them shamelessly. Trust us: You cannot overdo this. Step 2: Invite them to a pricey restaurant Invite them to a pricey restaurant � the more expensive and exclusive, the better. The only thing Leos love more than spending money on themselves is having someone else do it. Step 3: Let them talk Let them talk. And talk. And talk some more. Leos love to talk. So ask lots of questions and, above all, do not interrupt them. Never steal a Leo’s thunder in any way; they’ll resent you for it. Step 4: Make them laugh Make them laugh. Leos have a great sense of humor and love to laugh � as long as the joke is not on them. Expect dire consequences if you dare to make them the butt of a joke. Step 5: Give extravagant gifts Give them extravagant gifts, because Leos adore luxury. If you’re a cheapskate at heart, don’t even think about wooing a Leo. Airline tickets to faraway places and adventure travel packages make fine gifts for Leos, who love the exotic. Step 6: Throw them a party Throw them a party, especially if it’s to celebrate one of their accomplishments. Leos like nothing more than to be the center of attention, though they’d rather be in the spotlight for getting a big promotion than for turning 40. Step 7: Give them space Give them space. Leos need freedom and hate routine, so expecting them to meet you at the same place for sushi every Friday night is a quick way to alienate them. Step 8: Never let your guard down When it comes to massaging Leo’s ego, never let your guard down. A good-natured jibe about budding love handles will not be appreciated. Keep the flattery up and the criticism to yourself, and you have a good chance of winning Leo’s famed loyalty. Did you know? Madonna and Bill Clinton are both Leos. And Dan Evins, co-founder of Cracker Barrel.br
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7 Sure Fire Ways to Sabotage Your Life

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:02:08 +0000

Author: Sharon Marquart
Source: articleage.com

We all begin life traveling on the “road to happiness.” At some
point during this journey we may come to realize we turned left
when we meant to turn right; which sidetracks us and puts us on
plan “D” instead of plan “A”. Life’s not exactly “unhappy” -
it’s just not as fulfilling as we know it can be. We begin to
feel as if life became” sabotaged” somewhere along the way. Now
it’s time to regain control and get back on track. You just need
to readjust the road map!

That said, you are at “choice point.” Maybe your choice is to
continue what you’re doing. OK. Just don’t expect different
results. Maybe your choice is to do something different to get
different results. Once we set a direction in life, all our
habits, behaviors, and choices either support or sabotage us in
reaching that destination.

Let’s take a look at some choices that may be sabotaging your
life and solutions that will support getting you back on track.

Sabotaging Choice #1 – Hit the floor running and don’t stop
’til you drop. Fill your schedule to overflowing so that even
taking a moment to catch your breath leaves you
hyperventilating! #1 Supporting Choice – Follow the airplane
rule, “put your oxygen mask on first.” Before you wake each
morning, give yourself a moment to be still with yourself.
Consciously take a few deep breaths. Visualize your day flowing
smoothly and easily as you continue to consciously breathe. On
today’s calendar, block out 15 minutes and write your name in
“pen.” Set your cell phone alarm. When the time arrives, use it
to sit and do nothing but consciously breathe. Doing this
ensures that you put on your oxygen mask first.

#2 – Sabotaging Choice – Hang out with toxic people who
criticize, judge and carry around all their emotional baggage.
For added effect and drama, make sure you unpack these people
often. #2 Supporting Choice – Find the “balcony people” of your
life. The people who always have “the best seats in the house”-
those who make sure to see things “from the top.” There is at
least one person who sees the best in you. Make contact with
them frequently. Let them cheer you on, inspire, motivate and
support you. Begin to create your “team” of balcony people- your
own cheering section! (Keep in mind these people are different
from the “nosebleed section people.” – those who can’t see
anything beyond the tips of their own noses and are committed to
sabotaging anyone who attempts to get better seats than them.)

#3 Sabotaging Choice – Procrastinate! – Why do today what you
can put off until tomorrow!? Let’s face it, if you let something
go long enough, it may just disappear altogether and you’ll be
“off the hook,” right? #3 Supporting Choice – Procrastination is
a symptom of a deeper issue and instead of being “let off the
hook,” you’re often left “hanging” your head in guilt. Why would
you need to feel guilty? You don’t, but you probably have a fear
of succeeding and guilt guards you from this fear. (And those
guards have some pretty hefty armor, don’t they!?) Instead of
lugging around all that heavy guilt, break free, connect with
your “balcony people” and let them cheer you on to victory each
and every time you follow through! Count all these victories and
as they add up, let them empower you to take the next step to
success.

#4 Sabotaging Choice – Hold onto the “right” attitude and make
sure you’re never wrong. It will keep you feeling like you’re in
control. #4 Supporting Choice – It takes so much energy to be
right all the time. Plus you really miss out on other ideas that
can enhance your life. Learn to apologize. Learn to forgive.
Learn to receive. Learn how to listen. (I could be wrong, but my
guess is that there will be many treasures waiting for you when
you give yourself permission to not always be right!)

#5 Sabotaging Choice – Fill your life with clutter, stuff and
mountains of paperwork. Keep all the drawers empty and the
tabletops full! #5 Supporting Choice – Clutter creates
confusion. Confusion clogs your life’s energy flow, your ability
to think clearly and to be creative. Clear your space. Begin
small. Sometimes it helps to set an alarm for 15 minutes and
begin. Take in small bites. As you clear the clutter, even a
small corner, allow yourself to feel good. Exhale. Let that good
feeling motivate you for another 15 minutes. You’ll be amazed at
how quickly de-cluttering clears the mind.

#6 Sabotaging Choice – Ignore self-care. After all, your mind
and body are only the mechanics that keep your life running. You
put gas in your car and send it for six month tune-ups; why is
extending the mileage on a heap of metal and glass more
important than extending the mileage on your life’s journey? #6
Supporting Choice – Taking care of the “self” is a number 1
priority. It is important to remember all areas of self: mind,
body and spirit. To begin, make one change in one area. For the
body: eat a piece of fruit every day, drink a glass of water,
and say one nice thing about yourself when you look in the
mirror. For the mind: have an intellectually stimulating
conversation with someone; read a book; watch a group of
children discovering the world at a playground during your lunch
break. For the spirit: sit quietly every day, subscribe to a
daily inspiration, and share your gratitude daily. You’ll be
amazed at how much more mileage you get with just a little self
care.

#7 Sabotaging Choice – Expect perfection or “black and white”
solutions for everything. – If it’s perfect, there’s no room for
option or choice, which means you don’t have to deal with it! #7
Supporting Choice – There is no such thing as “perfect.” Perfect
is a relative term. Striving to be perfect fits into the
category of needing to be right. Redefine your standards.
Consider the option of making gray the “new black” when it comes
to savvy thinking!

In reality, each of us practice all 7 of these sabotaging
behaviors, so you’re not alone. But you’re also not necessarily
in the best of company, either. These alternate ways of thinking
and problem solving solutions allow you to begin to make a shift
in the way you live your life, make the right turn and get back
on track. Choose one solution and begin to put it into practice.
You can make a change to empower yourself; and you can ask for
help in creating a new pattern. Be inspired this week to stop
sabotaging your life and get back on the road to happiness.

Stonehenge A Monument To New Year Idea

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:59:59 +0000

Author: Lindsey Williams
Source: articleage.com

The power and persistence of a good idea constantly amazes me. Once an inspired perception of human activity takes root it is impossible to wipe it out and only with difficulty modified.
It is this quality of man’s mind that makes the study of ancient history so fascinating. Most of what we accept as modern had its beginning thousands of years ago. Much of what puzzles us today is understandable when we know how it started and how it reached us.
A case in point is the celebration of New Years Day. It began before there was writing, but it has changed little over the centuries. It is an important holiday to all civilized peoples because it embodies the important idea of a new start, of trying main to do better. It’s human and it’s important, thus it persists.
I have been led to these somewhat philosophical observations during the closing hours of 1968 by a Christmas gift book, “Stonehenge Decoded,” by Professor Gerald S. Hawkins.
Stonehenge is that mysterious circle of giant stones in southern England which was erected by an unknown people for an hitherto unknown purpose.
Dr. Hawkins, professor of astronomy at Boston University and research associate at the Harvard College Observatory, has proven to my satisfaction that Stonehenge was a stone age astronomical observatory and the world’s first computer.
I became acquainted with Stonehenge a little over a year ago during a visit to England. I arrived at Amesbury, nearest village to the famous monument, in midmorning. No taxis were available and the only bus of the day did not leave until mid-afternoon. As Stonehenge was only four miles away by well marked path I decided to walk.
In retrospect I recommend this approach to the ancient circle. Amesbury is the kind of British village you see in travel folders. Little shops crowding the sidewalk, cottages with well tended lawns and flower beds, a low bridge over the gently flowing Avon River then a long slope up Lark Hill to Salisbury plain.
As I reached the open countryside it started to rain softly. The wet grass soaked my feet but otherwise I was adequately protected by a rain coat and hat. On the horizon I could just make out the grey clump that was Stonehenge. The slow, silent walk in a drizzle, through a strange land, conditioned me to a proper awe by the time I arrived at Stonehenge.
Because of the rain there were only two other visitors at the site and they soon fled to their car and departed. I walked around and under the huge, glistening rocks, each up to 50 tons bulk. How had men with only their own power and primitive tools raised these giant stones? Why?
I stood motionless in the center of the ghost-like stones to absorb the mood of mystery and desolation. After awhile the guard at the gate left his little ticket house and squished toward me. “Like me to show you around a bit?” he said.
It was obvious to the guide that I was more interested in Stonehenge than the average tourist for he braved the rain with me for nearly an hour explaining as much about the stones as now is known.
A horse shoe of head-high stones is encompassed by another horse shoe of 24-foot trilothons — two upright stones capped by a horizontal stone. These are enclosed by a circle of slightly smaller uprights originally consisting of 30 stones and a continuous lintel across their tops. Next are two rows of postholes, then a ring of 56 white chalk spots. Finally around the whole is a low mound.
In all, the arrangement is some 300 feet in diameter.
The white spots, called Aubrey holes after their discoverer, are four-foot holes packed with chalk and—in many instances—cremated human bones.
By radiocarbon dating of the charred bones, and a piece of deer antler found under one of the upright stones, Stonehenge has been accurately dated. It was built over a three hundred-year period from 1900 B.C. to 1600 B.C. This was a thousand years after the building of the great pyramid of Egypt, Troy had not yet fallen to the Greeks and Abraham was still living in Mesopotamia.
The predominant people in Britain at that time were the “Beaker People” but no one today knows where they came from or what happened to them. They left no other monuments or records, and their numerous burial mounds reveal only a primitive culture.
Was Stonehenge their single, supreme example of a superior intelligence, or were wise foreigners living amongst them to supervise the erection and operation of a holy temple?
It is probably significant, said the guide, that the altar stone and the heel stone alignment point to the mid-summer sunrise or solstice. For this reason the monument was thought for hundreds of years to be a Druid temple. However Stonehenge was ancient and deserted when the Druids came over from the European continent. I finally ran out of questions so the guard gave me a lift back to town. We shook hands solemnly, he appreciative of my respect for his ancient monument, I appreciative of his time and courtesy.
It is easy to see how Professor Hawkins — who grew up near Stonehenge — would apply his astronomical knowledge to the mystery. He returned to his birth land to make measurements and sightings of the Stonehenge stones.
Back at Harvard, members of the computer staff programmed Hawkins’s measurements into an IBM 7090 then reversed the sky electronically —and in less than a minute — to the stone age. The alignments of paired stones pointed unerringly to every extreme movement of the sun and moon.
For more details I suggest you get the book published by Doubleday. It’s better than a detective story.
Which brings us back to New Year’s Day.
Hawkins points out that the June 24 summer solstice alignment also points in the reverse direction to the December 22 winter solstice — the time when the days start to get longer. This was the beginning of the new year to the ancient sun worshippers.
Stonehenge was likely a ritual tomb for the sun and a temple to its rebirth. Elsewhere it is known that this was the beginning of a four-day festival ending Dec. 25. It was a time or rekindling the hearth fire, gift giving, merry making and resolutions to live a better life.
Whether your present remembrance of Jan. 1 is a throbbing head or a glowing heart, the idea has been handed down from your ancestors with the unspoken wish you will resolve to improve. After four thousand years of trying, we must be making progress, aren’t we? I mean, we are!
January 1, 1969
Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:
LinWms@earthlink.net
LinWms@lindseywilliams.org
Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org with several hundred of Lin’s articles written over 40 years, and his book “Boldly Onward,” about the original explorers of America.