Urnieta asistencia domiciliaria servicio domestico: septiembre 2011

viernes, 30 de septiembre de 2011

Two Choices That can Make Next Year The Best Year of Your Life

Word Count:
784

Summary:
What if there were just two choices you could make to insure that next year would be wonderful? There actually are, and these choices are quite simple in concept, yet not easy to do. They are not things you do on the outside, such as exercising your body (which is always a good thing to do!) but ways of thinking and being on the inside. These have to do with your attitude and your intent.

Keywords:
choices, self improvement, inspiration, success, happiness

Article Body:
What if there were just two choices you could make to insure that next year would be wonderful? There actually are, and these choices are quite simple in concept, yet not easy to do. They are not things you do on the outside, such as exercising your body (which is always a good thing to do!) but ways of thinking and being on the inside. These have to do with your attitude and your intent.

GRATITUDE

I'm sure you've all heard of the "attitude of gratitude." Studies show that the happiest and most successful people in the world are those who consistently live their lives with an attitude of gratitude, who see their cup as half full rather than half empty. Let's take an example.

Alan and Martin are both firemen. They are both married with children, but this is where the similarities stop. Alan's life seems to always be filled with joy and success, while Martin's life always seems to be in turmoil. What is the difference?

Alan is a very upbeat person who always sees the good in everything and is always in gratitude for what he has. He is thankful for his work, his health, his family and his friends. When difficulties arise, he faces them head-on with an attitude of gratitude for the opportunity to learn and to help others. He believes he is spiritually guided and accepts challenges as opportunities for learning and serving. As a result of his openness and caring, people trust him and have come to him with opportunities to invest his money in ways that have created a passive income for his family. He continues to work because he likes it, not because he has to financially.

Martin, on the other hand, is a person who is constantly complaining about everything. Nothing is ever good enough for him. He blames others for his circumstances, takes no responsibility for his own feelings, and has no belief that he is being spiritually guided. He feels like a victim most of the time. As a result of the stress he causes himself due to his negative thinking, he is often ill, and experiences many family problems. He plods along in his work, resentful that he even has to work. He often feels like life is passing him by.

INTENT TO LEARN

God has given is the free will to choose our intention, to choose is what is most important to us in any given moment. In our relationship with ourselves and others, we have only two intentions to choose from:

1) The intent to learn, with our spiritual Guidance, about what is most loving to ourselves and others; 2) The intent to protect against the pain of rejection, abandonment, engulfment, or failure through some form of controlling behavior.

Our intent to learn or protect determines our experience in any given moment.

Hilary and Alice are both married with children. Both women work as nurses, but, as with Alan and Martin, this is where the similarity ends. Hilary and Alice have similar life challenges in both work and family, yet to look at Hilary you would think she doesn't have a care in the world.

Hilary embraces all of life's challenges from a solid knowing that she is on a spiritual journey of the soul – a journey of learning to be the most loving person she can be, both with herself and with others. She accepts responsibility for her own feelings and behavior, and opens to learning with Spirit and others when conflict occurs. Rather than shying away from conflict, she welcomes it as an opportunity for learning about herself and for healing any blocks to being a pure instrument of God's work upon the planet. Hilary feels much peace and joy in her life.

Alice, on the other hand, is locked into the earthly journey of control. Instead of learning from conflicts, she avoids them with giving herself up or getting angry to have control over the outcome. Rather than taking responsibility for her own feelings, she often numbs out with food and wine. Control is her God. Alice is often anxious and depressed as a result of her intent to protect, and is on medication to deal with the resulting anxiety and depression.

It is not life's circumstances that are causing Alan and Hilary to have so much more peace and joy than Alice and Martin. Choosing gratitude and the intent to learn, as opposed to complaining and the intent to protect makes all the difference in the world.

Make this coming year the best year of your life by making these two choices – gratitude and the intent to learn.

Tithing: The Active Ingredient in Living a Prosperous Life

Word Count:
915

Summary:
So many of the plans for becoming wealthy and rich focus on "getting" and forget about "giving." These schemes are not based on a spiritual foundation. When God is in the equation, wealth (meaning well-being and wholeness) is assured.

Keywords:
tithing, prosperity, wealth, spirituality, God, well-being, wholeness, giving money, philanthropy

Article Body:
True prosperity has a spiritual basis. "God is the Source of your supply." So states Catherine Ponder in her wonderful book The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity. Just as we engage God through prayer for that which we claim to be true, and we connect with God spiritually through the practice of meditation, so too do we give the GIFT of Tithing to consistently keep in touch with the Infinite Source of our supply, God.

"Systematic giving opens the way to systematic receiving," according to Dr. Ponder. Giving to God 10% of that which we have received to persons or places where you are receiving your spiritual nourishment allows you to enjoy true prosperity with wondrous results.

The practice of the ancient law of prosperity is as old as we are as a species. From primitive man who offered sacrifices to his gods to evolving civilizations of Egyptians, Babylonians and Arabians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese, tithing (the word "tithe" means "tenth") was a way of life. "The ancients intuitively knew that giving, sharing and putting God first financially was the first step to permanent, enduring prosperity," writes author Ponder. They felt that ten was the magic number of increase.

Some of the most prominent millionaires of the twentieth century attributed their extraordinary success to the practice of tithing. Catherine Ponder reports, "In 1855, as a young man, John D. Rockefeller began tithing. His total income for that year was $95.00 from which he tithed $9.50 to his church." However, she goes on to say, "between 1855 and 1934, he gave away $531 million dollars. His standard reply to critics of his generosity was 'God gave me my money.'"

So many of the plans for becoming wealthy and rich focus on "getting" and forget about "giving." These schemes are not based on a spiritual foundation. When God is in the equation, wealth (meaning well-being and wholeness) is assured.

So what are we really doing when we are giving the GIFT of Tithing? We are saying, "Thank you, God" for the generous bounty that we have received. I recently read the most revealing paragraph in Joel Goldsmith's book, Consciousness Transformed. In it he states: "A mistake has been made on the subject of tithing. Since it was discovered that those who tithe never know lack or limitation, it was believed that if you would teach this to people, they would always be prosperous," writes the founder of the Infinite Way. "This is not true," he continues. "Tithing is something that can only take place when individuals receive inwardly the realization of what great gifts of God they have received, and in gratitude decide to share some part of it," Joel says. "This sharing is just with the idea of thankfulness for the realization of God's grace, and it is for this reason that those who spontaneously come to tithe are always generously and abundantly provided for," Mr. Goldsmith concludes. Tithing is the active ingredient of Gratitude that prospers not only the tither but the recipient of the tithe as well.

Tithing is the act of giving gratitude for the 100% we received by leaving 10% with our Source-that is, the person(s) or place(s) where we realize the Presence of God in our lives. Traditionally tithing has been associated with giving to the place of worship to which we belong. Often, "theologians have tended to stress what tithing would do for the church, instead of what it could do for the tither," says Dr. Catherine Ponder. Yet, upon closer examination of Tithing as a spiritual practice (not a mechanical one of obligation), we can only conclude that it is the individual who will be prospered and blessed through tithing. Naturally, the recipient will be too, since it's all God.

There are countless stories about the financial, prosperous success that comes from giving the GIFT of Tithing. "Since I have been tithing, I have more money to spend, not less," reports one student of this class. "I put in my tithe last week and suddenly the check that I have been expecting for months came in the mail." "Since the start of this class and my stepping into giving the GIFT of Tithing, my house sold." The stories go on and on. I have also heard this one repeated: "I was thriving financially and in so many ways when I was in class, but I stopped Tithing after it was over and I'm back in the same 'soup' I was in before."

So what can you expect when you begin to give the GIFT of Tithing?

• Fear usually shows up. I don't have enough now. How can I possibly...?

• Memories of previous associations with the word "tithe" may surface.

• Trust will become the plank to walk when beginning this practice.

• Surprise may ensue when you notice the amount of money you have to use after giving 10% to God.

• Doubt may surface when the above is not the immediate experience or when unexpected expenses show up instead.

• You may be surprised at the wisdom and judgment you are using to manage the money you have been given.

• You will enjoy the ease with which you are able to meet your financial obligations.

• You will notice that your connection in God deepens and thus your spiritual life expands and your consciousness of wealth grows.

• You will find that you want to give more than 10% to a variety of places of spiritual nourishment.

• You'll wonder how you ever managed to live without giving the GIFT of Tithing.

jueves, 29 de septiembre de 2011

This I Believe as to How and Why Some Patients Refuse to Die

Word Count:
995

Summary:
In my experience as a nurse, some patients with all odds against them survive. Others with everything going for them die. This inspirational speech example explores the reason why from my scientific view as a nurse. I believe the power these patients have is something we all can tap into.

Keywords:
This I Believe, Inspirational speech example, Refuse to Die, patient, spirit

Article Body:
I believe the spirit of man, rather than being something ethereal we possess, is the life force within us. From a scientific standpoint, it is the force that actuates our mind and body and all the billions of cells to interact in a symphonic harmony we call life.

Like the fire burning on a match, as long as there is fuel and oxygen there is life. So to with us, as long as there is spirit sustained by breathing, we keep living. As a match running out of fuel into the mere glow of the final flicker of a flame, so too, the spirit or life force comes to an end.

But that is merely the end of the force that actuates the whole of the biological organism that we call alive. There are never flat lines as TV would have us believe. There is always a transient beat of the heart, twitch of a muscle, rarely a patient might sit up. What ever may come to be, the life force that made the patient a person is no more. It comes to an end.

Life doesn't completely come to an end however. The heart continues to live although absent of spirit, if for only a few hours. Placed in someone with a strong spirit but defective parts, it is assimilated to become part of the collective of an entirely different spirit. The liver has life for several hours.

The cornea of our eyes continues ready for life, in another host for 1 week. That is unless you live in a third world country where they are considered viable for 2 weeks.

This miraculous thing we call life, within the cells of that organ to be transplanted, become part of the life we call our father, mother, sister, brother, daughter or son. My belief is based on the life I have seen and observed as a scientist.

Life can and does at times extinguish itself like a match that prematurely goes out.

Some diseases for no apparent reason cause the body to self destruct. Here in can be seen a beautiful and yet powerful attribute of our spirit or life force has. Patients with the best chances fail and those with the worse prognosis survive. Anecdotal reports of the elderly in agrarian Russia showed death rates declined prior to and increased after harvest. This life force is indeed powerful...that is if we choose to use it. As a nurse this I have seen first hand with my patients and I believe.

One evening a patient on another floor from where I was working requested that I see her. Like the many before, she thanked me for my care on her previous hospital stay. Unlike the others, she was also saying good bye. She indicated she was going to be leaving.

A physical assessment was started along with the assurance she wasn't dieing. However to my horror she was. She had an awareness that her life force was slowly starting to become that flicker and was soon going out. She was dying right there in front of my eyes, in my hands. She knew it. Now I did too.

A call for assistance resulted in the night shift nurses going to work to keep that flame of life burning. They cared for her physiological needs. I cared for her spiritual need. Not religiously, rather a scientific psychological empowerment of that force. Asking if there was any job yet to be done, anything to live for, she faintly uttered, "Yes! I want to see my Granddaughter graduate from high school."

Encouraging her to tap into that force that actuates the mind and body, I suggested she think and see herself in the audience watching that ceremony. "See yourself living, see your self there," was the fuel to keep that flame from becoming a flicker and going out.

With death threatening, emergency surgery sealed her fate.

Commendation for observing the unusual life threatening condition and saving her life came from the surgeon the next day. Later, the daughter, a bed side witness, came up hugging me, crying, and thanking me for saving her mom's life.

Yet who really was it that saved her. The nurses who, with the precision of a pro-sports team went into action? The skilled surgical staff? Should Mrs. Sereno, My Orthopedic Instructor in nursing school who told us, if we forgot everything else that she taught, remember this one unusual, rare, and sometimes difficult to recognize syndrome.

And what about the patient, or rather her spirit. Should not some credit go to that life force that was her.

Her life force, her spirit, kept the flame burning long enough for her physical needs to be met by the health care team. Clinically speaking, she was in a condition that was not compatible with life. That this is possible, in spite of scientific data that suggests otherwise, tells me that there is a power beyond what humans can study or measure.

Was this anything more than the life force or spirit helping to continue in possession of one of its most precious possessions, its ability to be? What things any of us can accomplish, be they great or small, if even maintaining our own existence, is because of this remarkable power.

This power or force that actuates our mind and body, I believe to be the spirit of man. It makes all of us whoever or what ever we are. If we chose to, it is ours to control until we give it up or are too tired to hold on any longer.

Whether helping cheat death a little longer or being there for the few who became the flicker and then no more, I believe the spirit of man is only the life force within us. Yet what a truly marvelous, incredibly powerful, beautiful force it is.

May all of us use that force to create, build and benefit our fellow man.

Thinking of migrating to Australia?

Word Count:
390

Summary:
If you need convincing that a move to Australia may suity you then this article will convine.

Keywords:
australia migration migrating moving western oz

Article Body:
Australia is often described as ' The Lucky Country ', it has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty, high standards of living and a prosperous, growing economy and enjoys the status of being the "most preferred migration destination in the world".

The Australian government migration program for 2004-05 has 120,000 places available for migrants, with a strong focus on attracting skilled people who agree to live in regional areas of Australia.

Migration is not all so simple, the use of a Migration Agent is certainly a positive step to success. The forms and advice booklets are available for all to read, but understanding these forms and procedures can be very difficult, which is where a migration agent can be particularly useful as they can guide you through the whole process.

Many agents offer a FREE service of information / advice regarding any matter on Migration; you usually just need to ask.

Reasons to move to Australia

• Jobs / Employment - Australia is the land of opportunity with over 100,000 vacancies being advertised each week and relatively low unemployment, currently around 5%.

• Cost of Living - The cost of living in Australia is relatively cheap when compared to other developed countries. It is estimated that UK and US residents would need to earn roughly twice as much to enjoy the same standard of living as those in Australia.

• Business - Australia has a booming economy and is one of the world's biggest exporters. The high standard of living that most Australians enjoy ensures that consumer spending is also high. In short, Australia is an excellent country to base your business.

• Education - Australia has an excellent education system and its schools, colleges and universities are considered amongst the best in the world.

• Health Care - Australia has one of the best health care systems in the world and is internationally recognised for its high standards. All permanent residents pay a Medicare levy which entitles them to free or subsidised services.

• Multicultural society - Australia's is ethnically diverse and approximately half of the population has either been born outside the country or have at least one parent who was born overseas. Australian society is very tolerant and ethnic groups live together in harmony.

At the end of the day you may just be interested in living the dream. It's well worth looking into.

martes, 27 de septiembre de 2011

Think positive when you reach your lowest point

Word Count:
578

Summary:
We all face problems or hurdles as we travel along the road of life, this article gives my viewpoint on how to deal with these issues. I have personally taken inspiration from my favourite football team, Birmingham City. They have a famous song which their supporters regularly sing, it is called, keep right on to the end of the road.

Keywords:
Birmingham City, football, team, club, supporters, fans, relegation, premier league

Article Body:
We all face problems or hurdles as we travel along the road of life, this article gives my viewpoint on how to deal with these issues. I have personally taken inspiration from my favourite football team, Birmingham City. They have a famous song which their supporters regularly sing, it is called, keep right on to the end of the road.

Birmingham City are not exactly a successful football team and have won very few trophies in their one hundred and twenty year existence. I have been watching and supporting the team since the age of four. Despite many poor results and seasons, the fans always try to remain positive and in good humour. The song is basically telling the players to keep going and hopefully showing them that whatever happens the supporters will always remain true and loyal.

I have often been amazed by the passion and the buzz that I get when going to watch them, and also the passion of the rest of the crowd. During one season, these supporters without knowing it, taught me a huge lesson. The season in question had been a very poor one for Birmingham and it resulted in the team being relegated to the then second division (the leagues have been reformed since then and this division is now known as the first division). This was the lowest point the club had ever reached.

With two games remaining the club was already doomed and the next match was the final home game of the season. At most clubs the fans would no doubt give the players some stick and would make it an uncomfortable afternoon for them. Not so at Birmingham, the fans were as passionate as ever and continued to support and cheer them on. At one point a leaflet was sent round the Birmingham supporters which had been produced by the supporters club members. It stated on this leaflet that despite the club reaching its lowest point, that they wanted as many fans as possible to travel to the last match of the season, which would be in London. This was to show the team that we still supported them and that we would be back the next season. I went to that match as did around six thousand other Birmingham fans. One song was sang throughout the whole match, keep right on to the end of the road. It was an amazing experience for me and one that I will never forget. The team still lost but that did not matter one bit.

Later I thought about what had happened. I realised that when I felt a bit depressed, I needed to think of that day and to quickly pick myself up. I was a very negative thinker and realised I needed to think in a far more positive way. This is not easy however but is something that I try hard to do. My belief is that positive people have positive and happy lives. This is what I want and the above example has helped me to get back onto my feet many times.

Birmingham City have recently managed to progress back up through the leagues and three years ago reached the promised land of the premier league. This season has not gone so well and the team yet again are facing a relegation. Guess what, I and many thousands will still be supporting them next year whichever league they are playing in. Keep right on!

The Words Do Matter

Word Count:
613

Summary:
Words can make a big difference in the lives of others and in our lives as well. It is important to remember the words we choose do matter.

Keywords:
word choices, words and communication, positive difference

Article Body:
Air Canada Flight 154

I was boarding a flight in Edmonton, Alberta, bound for Toronto after a long day. As I handed my boarding pass to the Air Canada gate agent, I asked her if she was having a good day. Her response has been in my mind for nearly two weeks. She looked at me, smiled, and said, "All the better for you asking me, thanks."

As I literally skipped down the jetway, I smiled. I have asked hundreds of people if they are having a good day. Never have I received that response. I've heard, "It's ok.", "No not really," and "Fine, thanks." But never, until now, have I heard "All the better for you asking me, thanks."

Her response was gracious and warm. It wowed me as a Customer – giving me a very positive experience with Air Canada (even before I was on the plane!) More importantly, it made me feel special as a human being. Perhaps she was taught to say this by a parent at a young age and it was an automatic response. Even if this were true, her genuine response makes that irrelevant.
What would have been a normal flight was changed by eight words – eight words I am sure I will never forget.

The Internet Essay

Recently I read an essay from one of my favorite writers. Scott Ringwelski writes an essay each week called Positive Pause. Last week's issue starts . . .

" No Problem…actually is.

' No problem.' It seems natural, easy going, off the cuff, casual.

It's a throwaway line for a disposable world.

However, how does your throwaway line and casual attitude translate to those you say it to?"

Scott goes on to say that the two words are actually two negatives, no and problem. Through a wonderful personal story he relates that rather than answering a request with "no problem," it would be much more meaningful and powerful to say "It would be my pleasure." Scott knows, as does my Edmonton friend, that choosing these words can make a huge difference.

Rhea

A few hours ago my step mother passed away. While there are many ways she blessed my life and there will be many things I will remember about her, the thing that strikes me now is one of her favorite phrases. "Terrific!" Ask Rhea how she was, and she, more often than not, would say "Terrific!" Even over the last few months when she was very ill. When you saw her, or spoke to her on the phone, if you asked how she was, she would say, "Terrific!"

Certainly in these last few months she hasn't always been terrific, at least by most people's standards. Her optimistic reply though, always lifted my day – even if I were calling to try and lift hers.

The Common Thread

In all of these cases, the words chosen by people have made a positive difference to those around them. As a consultant if I think about these word choices, I could easily make a case that using these phrases would be powerful in terms of Customer Service, and internal communications.

Most importantly though is that choosing these words transforms the people who say the words. Think about my Air Canada friend saying, "All the better for you asking me, thanks!", or anyone saying "It's been a pleasure," or "Terrific!"
These phrases recast our thinking and our self talk in a more positive, focused, and accountable way. Indeed, these words can make a big difference in the lives of others, and in our lives as well.

The words do matter. To everyone.

lunes, 26 de septiembre de 2011

The Value of the Individual

Word Count:
405

Summary:
How can we, as individuals, participate in waste management? Because some of us are so overwhelmed with Earth's problems, we feel that our contributions have no real consequence in the end. For others, social barriers can be an issue...

Keywords:
Waste Reduction, Environment, book, individual

Article Body:
How can we, as individuals, participate in waste management? Because some of us are so overwhelmed with Earth's problems, we feel that our contributions have no real consequence in the end. For others, social barriers can be an issue. A lady we once knew confessed that she did not want to be seen buying used items or being concerned with power use. She was worried people would see her as cheap – a scrooge – when the family was so affluent. Yet, she was very careful to be seen with recycling bins out on the curb on pick-up day, because that was thought to be the thing to do socially. Now is a good time to put an end to these negative thoughts and feelings of false pride. Waste reduction is not about ego - it is about the health of the planet and of our nation.

Communities would be wise to look at Nova Scotia's waste reduction success and try to emulate it in their area. With the highest waste reduction rates in Canada, Nova Scotia has reduced landfill contributions by 46% - saving about $31 million per year - simply by making the most of the organic and recyclable materials. Curbside recycling service (Blue Box) is available to 99% of its residents and 76% now enjoy curbside organic service (a.k.a. Green Box).

With better management of organic and recyclable waste, we will find we do not have to put the trash out as often because the odors and volume are greatly decreased. As a fiscal incentive, many garbage collection companies offer discounts to homes with reduced waste.

We can also help the waste management industry run more efficiently. For instance, when only full garbage bags and Blue or Green boxes are put out on the curb, the garbage truck does not have to stop as often and burn fossil fuels inefficiently while idling. (Incidentally, vehicle idling is responsible for 3% of the air pollution problem.) Similarly, by collapsing boxes before recycling we are ensuring that space is used more efficiently, thereby reducing the number of bins needed for transporting materials.

Recycling, alone, has a huge impact on the environment. A study of a 100-unit apartment building practicing maximum recycling found it would save 21.93 thirty-foot trees, 26.86 cubic yards of landfill space, 8,389 kilowatts of electricity, and 77.4 pounds of air pollution in just one year!

So you see, these seemingly small choices and efforts towards waste management really do make a difference.

The solution WITHIN

Word Count:
842

Summary:
It's quite amazing how many people go through their lives with very little thought as to where they are heading with it.

Keywords:
life,happiness,sorrow,confusion,solution,self help,inspiration,self harm,suicide

Article Body:
It's quite amazing how many people go through their lives with very little thought as to where they are heading with it.

There is an accepted lifecycle assigned to everyone and most of us seem to just fall into it and 'live' it out as if there was no alternative.

There are some truly disturbing statistics about people's lives, most of it relates to their financial status at retirement time but I won't scare you with that, you can research it by yourself if you have not heard it all before. But what is even more disturbing is the quality and 'purposeless-ness' of their lives which is difficult to measure or put into statistics, yet is all around us.

I don't want to point fingers at anyone, all you have to do is look around and you'll see what I mean. I often look at people with drug and alcohol problems or even history of selfharm, suicide. I think it is getting worse and I just couldn't help myself from wondering why that is.

I don't claim to know all the reasons for it or be an expert in this field, however, I have a keen eye and lived enough, both in years and experience, to have found some of the common reasons why that is and what some of the solutions might be to this problem.

But the way I see it, one of the biggest problems is this lack of purpose people find in their lives. The other is the lack of time or, for one reason or another, commitment to finding out about it.

It is not easy to stop and look at one's life and it is even more difficult to face up to the reasons why someone's life may have no purpose or is 'in a mess'. The lack of unbiased, friendly and in some cases anonymous help make this even more difficult. I haven't done any research (yet) on how good free, anonymous phone-in help lines are. But I would not be surprised if they were very, very busy. I say this because of a personal experience I had as a young university student.

I had some problems in my life and thought there was no one I could talk to. So, after some struggle within myself I decided to drop in at the university's own counseling service. I'd explained that I had some problems I really needed to discuss with someone. They started asking my name, address, what course I was attending etc, etc, etc. Two minutes into this 'conversation' I thought to myself "hang on, I don't want to be a statistic, I just need someone to talk to... now." It was hard enough to come up with the courage and come to a complete stranger and own up that I do have a problem that I don't think I can solve on my own and need some else's help, let alone being quizzed about things which should not really matter, not just now anyway.

So, I promptly turned around and left without saying much. I don't think they'd kept my record, need to keep the paperwork down, you know... Anyway, I got myself an ice cream, two scoops just to be on the safe side and had a loooong walk in the city churning over thoughts after thoughts in my head. It was one of the worst and best days of my life. The worst because I realized I was only a number at the university and I did not get the help I needed so very much and I also realised I did not have anyone close enough to talk to about my problems. And the best because in the long walk I'd allowed myself some 'time-out'. Allowed myself to stop and think about what was happening to me, why I was having the problems I was so desperately seeking solution to and why I felt so alone. I'd found time enough to clear my head and find the solution from within... I can't remember what route I took, where I ended up walking to. But I can clearly remember every thought I had on that day and this was more than 20 years ago...

Since then I've learnt to rely more on my own abilities and realised that all solutions have to come from within. You are the only person who knows everything about yourself and this makes you the only person qualified to find the right solution for your problems. Sometimes it seems easier to try and find someone to help you, in a sense put the responsibility on them. But to be as blunt as I can, you are the only person to whom your problems matters the most. It is good and you should discuss things with others, use as them as sounding boards, source for inspiration and encouragement but at the end of the day you have to solve your problems from within. You have to look at your life and find a direction and purpose for it.

The Power of Imagination

Word Count:
312

Summary:
Having infinite new combinations or ideas is, without debate, one of the most valuable tools a person can possess in their business.

Keywords:
business, sales, marketing, success, entrepreneur, profit

Article Body:
Dear fellow entrepreneurs, while reading some very informative information on the internet, I came across a really intriguing concept of creativity and imagination. In it's application to marketing strategies, imagination is often one of the most powerful aspects that can be applied to internet business ventures. In just a few words, I'll explain the power that lies within the use of creativity and imagination. Keep in mind that nothing "under the sun" is new. Everything in existence has always existed, and facts and substances are continually changing and shifting. All that is necessary to exercise creativity is to borrow from what already exists and rearrange the material into new combinations. This process is called Imagination. Now imagination in it's nature is both interpretative and creative. This means that it can receive impressions and ideas, and it can also use these impressions and ideas to form new combinations of the same. So, any person of average intelligence can take information from endless sources and transform this information into endless new combinations. Having infinite new combinations or ideas is, without debate, one of the most valuable tools a person can possess in their business. A remarkable example of how this concept has been applied, can be found by examining the efforts of Thomas Edison. The invention of the incandescent electric light bulb was nothing more than a combination of two old, well-known principles. He then simply arranged the two principles into a new combination. So you can see, both the simplicity and the power in the concept of creativity and imagination. Therefore, in each of your business transactions, it is very important for you to apply this powerful concept by prompting your imagination to make new connections between multiple principles and apply them to things that are unique to your situation.

I hope this information helps you to create new business heights.
Joe Clinton.

The Inspiring Dance of Clouds

Word Count:
346

Summary:
The clouds in the sky are as usual for all of us as the sun rising and the sun setting. We pay no attention to the beautiful dance of the clouds that can inspire us to live a pleasant life.

Keywords:
clouds,nature,skies,dance,inspiring,motivating,innocence

Article Body:
The clouds in the sky are as usual for all of us as the sun rising and the sun setting. We pay no attention to the beautiful dance of the clouds that can inspire us to live a pleasant life. Have you ever thought of the clouds? From where do they come? Where do they go? What do they do in the sky? How can they bear the harsh sun directly?

As I said, where do the clouds come from? Think about it? It is as if they come from nowhere. And it is as if go to a place unknown to all of us. None of us thinks about them. But they stay peacefully in the sky moving slowly with the wind. Some clouds have beautiful shapes, some are in a cluster and sometimes we see a lone cloud in the sky. They all look so peaceful and serene. As if they are the masters of peace, showing no disturbance at all.

And look at the colors of the clouds. Most of them are white as if someone has spread pure white cotton in the sky. Soft and silky in texture, white in color - innocence personified. The birds do know something about the clouds, because they meet the clouds often. What must they all be talking with each other? All mysteries of the world that we refuse to admire.

And what is the chief objective of the clouds? Either to bring rain to the parched earth or give shade to the needy. That is the lesson we can get inspiration from. Innocent and pure clouds expect nothing, but give what all they can. What a meaningful lesson.

If some of us learn this lesson of remaining pure and unselfish in thought, with no anger towards anyone and compassion towards all irrespective of any differences, our living would become so much better. Good deeds are not meant only for the saints, but all of us can act in our own way to give more and expect less in return and create a peaceful life for ourselves.

domingo, 25 de septiembre de 2011

The Inspiration of Business

Word Count:
739

Summary:
Read about one woman's journey to healing and her inspiration to begin her own business. Her desire to design, her determination to succeed and the struggles she overcame will inspire and encourage you.

Keywords:
The Angel Stop, Christian gifts, angel pins, framed pictures, business, God, Christian, inspiration, Entrepreneur, women, mothers, stay-at-home moms

Article Body:
Kathy was sitting in her recliner at her home in California with 3-year-old daughter Lindsay cuddled at her side. Both were watching a show featuring an actress who had designed a line of Victorian jewelry. "I would love to design jewelry," Kathy thought. But immediately, the all-too-familiar lack of self-esteem whispered, "You could never do that," and she promptly shoved the desire aside.

The desire lay forgotten through several years, the addition of two more children to the family, and two more moves that ended just outside of Houston, Texas. But fifteen years later, Kathy has four children ages 24, 18, 13 and 11, and is the owner of , a Christian retail jewelry and home decor company based in Sugar Land, Texas. When Kathy talks about how the company began years ago, she leaves out the business jargon she has recently been forced to learn as a former nurse and stay-at-home mother. Instead, she focuses on the God whom she says has been in the business of healing her life and the lives of others through the company.

"The whole process of this company has been healing. I didn't intend to have a company, but God had intentions for the company," Kathy said.

The retail site began as a hobby for Kathy in 1996. She said she had a need to create, but after having four children, two of which were still toddlers, there was little time to finish projects. So she was delighted to find that she could design brass and silver-plated angel pins in one sitting. Kathy began to give her pins to family members and friends, and one relative suggested she send the designs to someone involved in the Atlanta Gift Mart. By January of 1998, the angel pin line was in one of the top showrooms in the Atlanta Gift Mart. Today, Kathy's hobby has grown into The Angel Stop - Christian Gifts: Angel Pins, Framed Pictures found at the business' growth Kathy says that God was doing a greater work in her life personally. There was a need for healing in her life because of events that stretched back into her childhood, and God began to mend her heart as He began to grow the company.

"I had shame, low self-esteem, the urge to hide or run or both. As Christ began working in my life, I would ask for healing and the forgiveness needed to get rid of the bitterness. But every time He started moving me in that direction, the pain would rear its ugly head and I would retreat back to my prison cell. It was the only secure place I thought I knew.

"God took me to rock bottom in 1997, and through a period of great emotional pain, God gave me Isaiah 61:3. From outward appearances, I had everything, but inside my life was in ashes. Over the next few years God created beauty from those ashes and led me to the place where I could be planted firm in Him, and His glory could be displayed."

"The company became part of the healing because through the process of growing a company, He pushed me out of my corner where I wanted to stay - the place I was most comfortable in. And to survive, I had to rely on Him. Through the process of Him forcing me out to the world, I found out life was all about Him and that my sufficiency was in Him. I want my life to be about the display of His glory, and my desire is that The Angel Stop be a company that glorifies God and a vessel through which He ministers."

Today, Kathy's desire is to inspire women to step out with confidence and boldness into whatever God has set in front of them. She says that she has learned through her own journey of healing that faith doesn't mean the absence of fear, but the courage to take steps in the midst of fear.

The path Kathy has taken since the desire to design was sparked eleven years ago has been marked with fear at times, but Kathy says it's been well-worth the struggle.

"A few years ago the Lord reminded me of when I was sitting in San Jose, California with my daughter, and I said I couldn't design jewelry. But He has shown me that He can achieve anything through me."

The Eye Of The Storm

Word Count:
421

Summary:
Sometimes when you are in the middle of a problem you can't see the wood for the trees. Discover how you can give yourself a virtual slap round the face and enter a more resourceful state quickly and easily.

Keywords:
goals, goal setting, motivation, success, living motivation, jason johns, sanjo, hypnosis, achieving your goals

Article Body:
Do you remember a time when everything appeared to overwhelm you? Things were way too much for you and you just couldn't cope.

What did you do? Were you calm and collecting or wildly flailing around?

When I was in my teens, I enjoyed swimming and attended a life savers class. One thing that was impressed upon me is that if you are rescuing a drowning man then they have to be calm. If they are flailing around and panicking then attempting a rescue will not only endanger them, but you too.

It occurred to me recently that it's not just drowning people who flail around. When you are dealing with major issues in your life you have a tendency to flail around wildly too.

Trouble is, as you are doing this, you are slapping away the hands that are trying to help you.

When you are in the midst of a crises, of any sort, take deep breaths from your stomach and stop. Stop worrying, stop panicking, stop trying to work out a solution and just be for a while.

From this vantage point in the eye of the storm, you will be able see the helping hands around you. You'll be able to see the people who want to help and are trying to help who you've been pushing away. You'll be able to see new ideas and opportunities that can help you out of it.

If someone you know is in this unresourceful state of panic, then, just as in the movies, you need to give them a slap to break their state so they can be more resourceful. This is usually, by the way, a metaphorical slap not a physical one. This could be through words, actions or showing them something. Do something outrageous and shocking that brings them to their senses.

I have one particular friend who recently entered this state. When he did he pushed everyone away who was trying to help.

I chose to give him a slap. I went to see him and told him the truth, unencumbered by niceties. I told him things exactly as they were, exactly how he was behaving.

Oddly enough he stopped in his tracks and looked stunned. Then suddenly his face changed and he hugged me and said, "Thank you, I've been such an ass".

(For those that are interested, he then went on to deal with his problems and accept help from the people around him who cared for him).

The Embarrassment of Self Development

Word Count:
895

Summary:
For a long time I yearned to improve myself; my true inner self, but something was holding me back. I made a lot of excuses back then; I didn't have time; I was too tired; I wasn't sure what direction my search should take. However, the truth was I felt embarrassed about opening myself up, especially to those close to me. All that changed when I went for a stroll along a Danish beach.

Keywords:
Self development, fear, embarrassment, embarrassed, anxious, self improvement, shyness

Article Body:
For a long time I yearned to improve myself; my true inner self, but something was holding me back. I made a lot of excuses back then; I didn't have time; I was too tired; I wasn't sure what direction my search should take. However, the truth was I felt embarrassed about opening myself up, especially to those close to me. All that changed when I went for a stroll along a Danish beach.

I went to Denmark for a short camping holiday. I stayed on a small island in the North Sea. It was beautiful, very peaceful; just what I was looking for. On about the third or fourth morning I went for a stroll along the beach. The beach stretched the entire length of the island, about 20km and it was about 2km wide!

After about an hour or so, I came across a young woman who was doing some type of oriental martial art. She was all by herself and seemed totally absorbed in what she was doing. Maybe this is not so strange, but what really seemed incongruous (and darn right silly to me) was that she was wielding a Samurai sword. I really did find myself thinking how silly she looked and actually became a little annoyed. My first thought was: "What a poser". Did she really love herself so much she thought other people would want to see her performance with a sword? I found myself wishing she would lose her footing and fall down, and then I could say: "that's what happens when you think so highly of yourself". But she didn't fall over; she kept moving, slowly and gracefully.

I continued walking along the beach. I tried to enjoy the remainder of my stroll but I kept thinking about the young woman and her sword! "Why are some people such exhibitionists?" I kept muttering to myself. I was no longer casually strolling along the beach, looking out to sea; I was marching, hunched over, looking at the sand beneath my shoes. I had become self-absorbed; lost in my not-too-pleasant thoughts. I was brought back to this world when I almost walked into an elderly couple. I apologised profusely. They smiled back and said not to worry; they hadn't been looking where they were going either. They were a sweet old couple, with weather beaten but healthy looking faces with open smiles. It was clear that they were very much in love with one another; they each had a hand resting on the other's waist. I don't see too many elderly couples who still walk together with their arms about each and so they appeared a little odd. But what was really strange was that neither of them was wearing any clothes!

I was embarrassed, naturally. But the elderly couple weren't. They were in no hurry to move on and they began to talk to me. They told me they were Danish and came often to the island. They asked where I was from and had I been before. They went on to tell me that they had been together 42 years and had 2 children. They also told me many things about themselves and asked many questions about myself. And soon, I forgot about their nakedness and felt at ease, and enjoyed our little conversation.

After a time, the old man said that they must be getting on their way and so we said our goodbyes and continued our separate walks; not once did they make any attempt to explain why they were naked. As I thought about the old couple I couldn't help but smile. They were so gentle and at ease with the world. I knew that they were what I wanted to be; free. Totally free from what others may think of them, totally free of any inhibitions to live the life they wanted. My mind then turned toward the young woman I had seen earlier. I knew, of course, that she was not an exhibitionist seeking attention. She was also free. She was doing what she wanted because it made her content. In truth, the annoyance I felt when I first saw her was not for her but for me. Annoyed because I was embarrassed, about what others might think, to do what I really wanted in life.

I came to a stop and stared out to the grey North Sea. I knew that I must break free, not from the world or people around me, but from me; myself. Without the thought crossing my mind I began to undress. I can honestly say I felt no shyness that day when I removed my last garment. I felt no different than when I undress to take a shower. I left my clothes behind and walked into the sea. I didn't stay long, less than a minute, the water was freezing. But the dip had felt like a baptism. I walked back out and picked up my clothes. I did not dress but made my way back down the beach from where I had come from.

A while later I passed the young woman. She was sitting crossed legged with the sword across her lap, looking out to sea. When I stepped across her line of vision she looked at me and smiled.

I smiled back.

THE CONCEPT OF POSITIVE THINKING

Word Count:
689

Summary:
Everything in the world of form is preceded by a thought. Thoughts are not in the world of form, form is not in the world of thought. But one actually precedes the other in all cases. If one wishes to affect form, one must work with cause, not effect. Thought is cause, form is effect. And when we work in the realm of thought, choosing a negative one or a positive one will influence the outcome.

Simply put, we live in a world of cause and effect i.e. for every cause there is an effect and every effect has to have a cause. Everything that happens in this world (form) is an effect, the cause being thoughts. These thoughts affect the whole universe. And each thought once generated and sent out becomes independent of the brain and mind and will live upon its own energy depending upon its intensity.

Keywords:
positive thinking,power of positive thinking,positive thinking concept

Article Body:
THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
In todays world, more and more people speak about the power of positive thinking. It is a concept that has a very high view of human nature and ability. Its advocates teach that the human mind has the power to turn wishes into reality through optimism. In other words The Power Of Positive thinking refers to the power of creating thoughts, which create and focus energy into reality. To bring into creation a positive outcome, which you see as a benefit to yourself or others.

Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favourable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds. This is a powerful tool that everybody has, but a lot of people are not aware of it.

1. Our innate capability to produce desired outcomes with positive thoughts.
2. Having belief in possibilities even when the facts seem to indicate otherwise.
3. Making creative choices.
4. Meeting problems head on.

Concept of Positive Thinking Explained

Everything in the world of form is preceded by a thought. Thoughts are not in the world of form, form is not in the world of thought. But one actually precedes the other in all cases. If one wishes to affect form, one must work with cause, not effect. Thought is cause, form is effect. And when we work in the realm of thought, choosing a negative one or a positive one will influence the outcome.

All of our feelings, beliefs and knowledge are based on our internal thoughts, both conscious and subconscious. We are in control, whether we know it or not. We can be positive or negative, enthusiastic or dull, active or passive. These attitudes are maintained by the inner conversations we constantly have with ourselves, both consciously and subconsciously.

Mystics have long held that we do, in fact, control our reality; not just the little things in life, but everything. We create our entire world by the way we think. Thoughts are the causes and conditions are the effects. Our circumstances and conditions are not dictated by the world outside; it is the world inside us that creates the outside. They have maintained that regardless of our circumstances, each person has the innate, Universe or God given ability to create or alter reality to our choosing. This is done by using the power of positive thinking. They say that we are not here to suffer or to live a life of misery but rather, each conflict or problem that we confront is merely an opportunity to express our higher selves, to evolve and to alter the circumstances to our liking. They claim that there is no such thing as a God who seeks to punish and that so called errors are merely opportunities to grow.

These concepts on the power of the positive thinking, once restricted to the initiated few, came to light in the so called New Age. Voices from people such as Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, Joel Goldsmith, John Price, L. Ron Hubbard, Dr. Hew Len and countless others expressed the notion that reality is of our own making and choosing, regardless of appearances to the contrary. The basic premise is that our past conditioning should be re-evaluated and that we should consciously determine the way in which we wish to live. We should use the power of positive thinking to create things (reality) which are good for us and for others.

sábado, 24 de septiembre de 2011

The Biggest Secret

Word Count:
719

Summary:
I have a secret to share with you. It's a big secret that few people realise. If you have had therapy, are in therapy or considering therapy then you need to understand this secret to lasting and effective change.

Keywords:
goals, goal setting, motivation, success, living motivation, jason johns, sanjo, hypnosis, achieving your goals

Article Body:
I'm going to share a secret with you now, so just come a little bit closer.

It's a big secret and I'm going to have to ask you to not tell anyone though, please. I know I can trust you on this.

The thing is, if you did tell anyone, particularly a therapist you might shatter their ego and perhaps they are not as ready as you are to be let in on this little secret.

I do a lot of work one to one with people, and after a session, or some times later, they will say to me, "I can't believe you made me do …" or "I can't believe you made me change …"

And this is in spite of me telling them before a session, "I can't make you do anything you don't want to do, you are the one that does all the work here."

In fact, it's not just in therapy session, but it's in life you hear people say, "You made me …"

You must have heard people saying it, "You made me drop that" "You made me lose that" "You made me feel that." I know I have. In fact, I know I have even said things like this, I probably still do on occasion!

See, as a therapist, I don't actually make you do anything. I can't make you do anything you don't want to do. If I could then I'd be retired by now as the most famous therapist on the planet!

I just act as a guide; a facilitator if you like, helping to get you to your chosen destination.

When you go on a car journey somewhere unfamiliar you take a map book right? (And yes, for our more modern and technically astute readers you may be using Satellite Navigation, but some of us still use maps, so just substitute Sat Nav for map here.:) )

Does the map book get you there?

No. It does not.

You use the map book and it guides you there. It tells you the route to take, but you actually get yourself there.

You could ditch the map and just go by gut instinct, but it'll probably take you much longer to get there, if you got there at all. And who knows where you would end up on route!

This is how it works with therapy sessions.

The therapist is the map, and you are the driver.

As a therapist, I use my skills, my knowledge and my experience to guide you safely through the quagmire to your chosen destination. You could make the journey yourself, and some people do, but it can take longer and be a much more treacherous route.

Of course, this doesn't just apply to therapists though; it can apply to any area of your life. You can use the knowledge and experience of experts to get you to your goal quicker.

If you take up a new hobby or sport, you don't tend to sit in a corner and try to work it all out yourself. You will normally go for lessons or at the very least get a book by an expert. When you start a new job, you are generally taught by an "expert"; someone who already knows the ropes.

In effect, you model the expert, learn how they do it and then do the same. Kids do it all the time. It's how they learn. Ever noticed how your kids always pick up those annoying habits from you; the ones you really didn't want them to have?

For modelling to be truly effective, instead of just copying what a person is doing, you must learn what is going on in their heads and copy that too. You need to understand their mental processes in order to effectively model their results.

If you are learning to break a wooden plank with your bare hands, it's no good thinking about your shopping list whilst going through the motions. You have to copy the mental processes and then you will shatter the wood.

Whatever your goals in life, use a "map book" to help you get there. Model an expert and your journey will be much easier and safer.

The Beauty Within....

Word Count:
532

Summary:
It's not easy in today's society to truly feel beautiful. We as women are bombarded everywhere we turn by images and voices telling us we are imperfect creatures. Millions of dollars are made by various companies and advertisers telling us WE can achieve perfection via the purchase of some "beauty" product; eating or NOT eating certain foods, exercising with this piece of equipment or that one, camouflaging or uncovering certain body parts…Lord, it never ends.

Unfortunately, for a vast num

Keywords:
beauty, women, face, money, love,plastic surgery, images, mirror, daughter, mother, child,hair, body, clothes,altar, beautiful, pretty, ugly , shaving, plucked, happy, family, husband, wife,married

Article Body:
It's not easy in today's society to truly feel beautiful. We as women are bombarded everywhere we turn by images and voices telling us we are imperfect creatures. Millions of dollars are made by various companies and advertisers telling us WE can achieve perfection via the purchase of some "beauty" product; eating or NOT eating certain foods, exercising with this piece of equipment or that one, camouflaging or uncovering certain body parts…Lord, it never ends.

Unfortunately, for a vast number of women we 'buy' into it, literally. We spend dollar after dollar on cosmetic products that one by one pile up in our "make-up" drawer, exercise videos and exercise equipment by one 'perfect' physical specimen after another (who because of our hard-earned money can now afford liposuction), chemical processes and extensions in our hair to achieve the most "flattering' styles, we offer bodies up to the sacrificial alter of beauty to be plucked, waxed, shaved , exfoliated, nipped, tucked and for what? So we can continue to chase the always unattainable beauty ideal?

Don't get me wrong, I prefer to shave my legs, I wear nail polish and lipstick and make-up (when I know I'm going somewhere groovier than the grocery store), and I don't wear socks with sandals. But I'd like to think that if one day I awoke and couldn't wear one cosmetic product, relax my ethnic hair or lose that extra 5 lbs; I would know that I was still a beautiful woman. And extraneous physical accouterment's aside, I would not cease to be a lovely unique human being.

This is what concerns me now that I have a daughter. I look into the future and dread the day when she will come home crying (as many kids do) because someone at school told her she was ugly. As we all know kids can be cruel and most times they are repeating the things they hear and learn at home.

I would like to be able to not just tell her with my loving words but also show her by my life example that she is a beautiful girl. I want her to see that she is beautiful; not because of what she wears on her body, applies to her face or hair or by how much she weighs. I want my daughter to grow up with the knowledge that true beauty is what comes from inside and radiates outside in the acts of kindness and consideration you give to others, the way you love and respect yourself, the joy you take in sharing time with family and friends, and the sacrifices you make so that others can be happy. True beauty is loving yourself no matter what your shade, size, financial or educational situation. I hope as she grows up in this increasingly appearance obsessed world, that she can pass every reflection of herself with a smile of security and peace. I am only just reaching that place myself.

It has taken me many years of spending and self-doubt to finally realize that you cannot find in a bottle that which can only come from within.

Written by Felica D. DLP

The Art of Self Improvement

Word Count:
776

Summary:
Why does no one mention Art when talking about Self Improvement? Why do we seek inner understanding from 'gurus' and not artists? Maybe it's time for change.

Keywords:
art and self improvement, art and self development, inspiration from art, aid in self development, self development inspiration, power of art, art

Article Body:
There's no doubt about it: Self Improvement is big business. No matter where we look we seem to see men attired in business suits and fancy haircuts. Sporting dinky little ear-piece microphones, they speak to us as though we were attending the annual general meeting of their multi-national self-development business which, I suppose, isn't that far from the truth. They speak to us in sound-bites; "I'm gunna show you how…", "you just need to follow my plan: no thought required; just follow the plan". Success and winning, they preach to the audience, are a sure thing.

But is self development a sure thing? If, like me, you believe self development is a life journey that is never completed, you know that the only sure thing is that the search for self development is far from being a sure thing. The journey will entail more failures than successes, more loss than gain and more self-doubt than we think we can endure. The only way to improve one's self is to challenge the habits and assumptions we have gathered along the way. To go out on a limb with no guarantee of finding what we want takes courage. No 'success plan' would contemplate such a course of action!

So, if we can't get succor from the self improvement 'gurus', who can we turn to?

The answer, I believe, is to look to the people who have always explored every single aspect of the human condition. They did not always find the answer, but they all had courage. They are of course, the world's artists.

How can a painting help us toward our goal of self improvement you might ask? Well, some paintings help to bring serenity and a feeling of inner peace; I feel this whenever I look at an Impressionist painting, especially paintings by Berthe Morisot. She was never recognized as a great artist during her lifetime; she was relegated to the category of "feminine" artists because of her usual subject matter — women, children, and domestic scenes. Her paintings are intensely intimate. She is an example of someone who never gave up on pursuing what she thought was worth while despite being largely ignored.

Jackson Pollock instills different but equally powerful feelings. I used to believe all modern artists "just throw a bit of paint on a canvas and call it art". My preconceptions were swept away when I was lucky enough to attend an exhibition devoted to his work. His paintings were beautiful and challenged the way I look at a painting. The search for your inner self is all about challenging your currently held notions.

Music is probably the easiest of the arts for us to accept as an aid toward our search for self development. How often does a certain piece of music make us feel happy, relaxed, romantic, hopeful, fulfilled? You name it, music hits all the buttons. My favourite music is anything by Beethoven. His music makes me feel all of the aforementioned. He was a man who accepted nothing less than perfection. He sort redemption through his music. Ultimately, he didn't find it and he spent much of his life feeling alone. But his courage of conviction made his life, and countless others, a better thing. His last words were "Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over."

Perhaps our greatest inspiration comes from writers. They have helped me, and millions of others, to find the inner self. Life would be a much poorer experience without our great writers. I won't name all the writers that have inspired me; there are too many. But if there was one thing I would urge you to do, it is to read. If you're not sure who to read then go to a library and ask! Tell the librarian what it is that you want to experience, feel or learn when you read a book. They'll help you; don't let shyness defeat you. If you can't get to a library then join a reading club on the internet. The one thing I have found is that people, who love to read, love to help others to read books.

So, forget about buying into those testosterone, succeed-at-all-costs seminars, ebooks and DVDs. Go and look at a painting; or lie on the sofa and listen to music, maybe dance wildly to it, cry with it, make love in time to it; or curl up and read a book that will take you where you never thought possible.

You may not get to where you wished, but Art will accompany you every single step of the way.

The 5 important life lessons I learned from my dog

Word Count:
1201

Summary:
You can learn a lot from being a pet owner and the lessons begin from the first day your furry family member steps into your life and continue after you say your final farewell.

Keywords:
inspiration, motivation, success, dream, fire, pet, loss, grief, dog, lessons, learn

Article Body:
The 5 important life lessons I learned from my dog

Our son has been on a long, arduous campaign for our family to adopt a dog. I have to admit we are weakening.

I have always loved dogs and I can well remember my own beloved childhood friends as well as that desperate desire for my very own canine companion. Plus he is an active child who loves the outdoors and he is an only child with no children his age living nearby so a dog could be a wonderful playmate and friend.

But I also feel in my heart it is simply too soon for me to open my heart to another dog. It has only been a year since I lost my beloved labrador Shamus and I still miss her terribly. Friends have told me to get another dog, but I find that rather hard-hearted. If my husband died people wouldn't send me right out to pick a new one and if my son died people wouldn't simply suggest I get pregnant again. Yes I will eventually adopt another dog to join our family, just as many people do remarry or have other children, but I am not done grieving for the loss of Shamus. You see she was a special dog and she was a very large part of my life.

Shamus joined our family during the first year of our marriage, more than a decade before our son made an appearance, and moved from New York to Kentucky with us.

She was the sweetest, most loving dog imaginable but then she was a lab and we know that is part of their nature. When she was younger my husband would take her hunting and she loved to hunt so much despite being lazy. However, I always swore that made her a better retriever because she didn't want to waste a step! She was such an agreeable dog that my husband said she was the best dog he'd ever had; she was so eager-to-please (another lab trait) that she was a joy to train.

During the last years of her life she steadily grew weaker and struggled with many health issues but she was still so loving and uncomplaining. It was very difficult for us as we watched her decline and I dreaded being forced to make a decision, but in the end she made that decision on her own. Despite the many months of knowing her death was coming it was still so very hard to say good-bye. It was even more difficult to know that the world contains one less gentle heart and one less being that loves me.

But the lessons she taught me live on:

The 5 important life lessons I learned from my dog…

You can learn a lot from being a pet owner and the lessons begin from the first day your furry family member steps into your life and continue after you say your final farewell. In many ways, my dog was a far better person than I can ever hope to become.

1. Stay in touch with your loved ones

And I mean really in touch! Every pet owner knows what I mean. We humans don't touch each other enough. Sure, we cuddle our babies, and fondle our new lovers, but in every relationship there comes a point when kisses are perfunctory farewells and hugs are doled out sparingly.

Dogs know that a simple touch from someone you love can make any situation better and sometimes make all the difference in the world. They appreciate the wonder and magic of a kiss (or lick) just because they love you and know that sometimes just sitting close enough to touch frequently keeps the cold, dark nights at bay.

2. Never overlook the chance for a nap

While most of us can't work into our schedules the 20-hours of sleep time that dogs enjoy, we could all benefit from taking advantage of some down time to relax and rejuvenate. There are few of us who are getting enough rest and many are subsisting on far less sleep than is really adequate. This is no way to live let alone thrive. Your dog knows how to relax, just roll on your back and let your tongue loll out. You'd be surprised how wonderful it feels!

Dogs know that sleep should be high on your priority list-surely higher than laundry and cleaning although not higher than any food-related activity. Give yourself some down time and you'll feel the better for it.

3. Jealousy is a waste of time

It would have been understandable if our dog took an instant dislike to our newborn. After all, for 11 years she had been the "baby" of the family. Even more than that, during the nine months of my pregnancy I'd been very sick and she'd been my constant companion on couch and bed. Now suddenly that was over and there was precious little time for grooming, walks, or cuddling. All our attention was focused on someone else. Jealous? Not our Shamus. She instantly bonded with the little screamer even though we didn't let her get too close while we sussed the situation out.

She was better than any baby monitor available as she would come find us at the first sign of stirring and distress. She was the best nursemaid as she carefully investigated any visitors approaching the baby and always slept by his bed to guard against intruders and be vigilante for his every need. Then as the baby grew and became more mobile she was the epitome of patience with all his hair-gripping, lip-tugging, ear-pulling explorations.

She was his his guardian angel, playmate, and furry walker and she loved every minute of it.

4. The best toys are found not bought

Expensive squeaky toy? Shredded in minutes. Knobby ball? Lost in the bushes. Rubber bone? Shoved under couch. Frisbee found by the side of the road? Played with every day and stowed carefully on bed when not in use. A person's hand? Endless play opportunities.

Dogs and young children teach us an important lesson about gifts. Your time and attention are the greatest gift of all and with a little imagination and energy you don't need any toys at all, let alone expensive, electronic gadgets.

5. You are never too old to play

Arthritis and muscular atrophy sometimes make it a challenge for Shamus to get around, but she still loves to wrestle and will even romp for a little while. Although she can't be as active and play fetch for hours as she once did, she still wants to be in the center of the action and participate as much as she can.

We humans forget that the need for play and fellowship does not disappear when we leave childhood. There is no such thing as being too old to play. Perhaps we need to revise our choice of game and venue, but no matter what our age, there should be no limit to our ability to join in the fun!

What lessons has your dog taught you? What role does your dog play in your home?