Thursday, June 25, 2009

Beliefs

Do you realize that what we believe about ourselves, affects us so much
more than what is actually true about ourselves? Let me give you an example of what I mean.

Let's say you attend a music concert and are completely blown away by
someone's piano playing. You walk out of the concert and say to yourself,
I would love to play the piano like that, and move people in the way I
was moved. Now, does the fact that you cannot currently play the piano
mean you can never accomplish that desire?

The current truth about yourself is, you cannot play the piano. But, what
you believe about yourself will determine if that will remain your reality or if you will become an excellent pianist.

Do you know what people like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziggler, Og Mandino and
Napoleon Hill have in common? They are all people from humble beginnings,
they all had many set backs in life, and they all later became very
successful. How did they do this? They learned to believe in themselves.

If you find in your current state that you are over weight, deep in debt,
lonely, or unsuccessful in any area of your life, does that mean you are
stuck in that reality? I don't think so. I'm sure you've heard the saying
birds of a feather flock together. Well, negative people tend to hang out
with other negative people, religious people tend to hang out with other
religious people, and entrepreneurs tend to hang out with other entrepreneurs. Who do you hang out with? We all tend to gravitate toward people or groups
of people that we believe to be like us, or people we would like to be like.

There are people who were born into great privilege, yet they threw their
lives away and died miserable and alone. Then there have been many people born into this world dirt poor, yet went on to accomplish many great
things for themselves and society in general. Why such different outcomes?
Much of it has to do with their beliefs. You see we all get thrown curve balls in life; we all hit the wall from time to time, and circumstances are sometimes beyond our control. But what we believe about ourselves has a great deal to do with how we respond to, or deal with these situations.

If you have a poor self image and never do anything to change it, you will have exiled yourself to a life of mediocrity at best, no matter what
advantages you may have been born with. Yet, if you will just believe in
yourself, and realize the God given abilities that lie in each one of us,
you can aspire to great heights in your life no matter what adversity may
come your way.

We're not all dealt the same cards in life, but unless we are stricken
with a handicap beyond our control, we have the ability to achieve just
about anything we wish. In fact, many people with great disabilities go on
to do amazing things in their lives.

It all begins with believing in ourselves, and visualizing our lives the way we want them to be. That is why setting goals, as well as, writing
down and reviewing affirmations are so important. We need a road map to
follow, and a vision to keep us heading in the right direction on that
map.

If we will only believe in ourselves, and keep visualizing ourselves the
way we want to be, it is only a matter of time before we achieve that which we most desire.

About the Author

Mike Shanta is a student of success who resides in Branson, Missouri. He is editor and publisher of a Free Newsletter All-Round Success which you can receive by going to his
website http://www.on-lineopportunities.com, He also publishes a Success Blog called All-Round Success http://www.all-roundsuccess.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Awareness is Serious Business


Let's talk about AwDD. This is not the same as AD/HD. You may have Awareness Deficit Disorder - you just may not be aware of it. Pun intended.

Ever stand in your own living room; hold an item in your hand; put it down; turn to do something and then spend two hours looking for it. Hands up those whose most memorable searches have stretched into days?

How about those of you who live in large towns which have stores with big parking lots. Ever spend an unproductive half hour wandering up and down rows of cars with heavy shopping bags in your arms trying hard to look nonchalant but feeling like an idiot? How is it possible that you have absolutely no idea where your car is when you yourself parked and locked it and strolled away from it less than an hour ago?

It does get worse as you get older but it can strike at any age. In fact young children can be fabulously, intensely unaware of reality.

This year we have all been made aware (there's that word again) of just how devastating AwDD can be. A well-educated sophisticated college professor parked his car and strolled away from it leaving his 10-month-old child securely strapped in the back seat. Four hours later the child was discovered dead. Just to show that AwDD is not gender-specific a pre-school teacher parked her SUV and strolled into her own school leaving two of her little charges baking in the back seat.

Recently, I opened my paper and read about a local man who went to work leaving his sweltering 5 month old securely strapped into her car seat. He was arrested five hours later on suspicious of negligent homicide. Authorities later decided not to press charges stating that the incident was an accident and the man was not at fault. Which is interesting because it implies that we have no control over our awareness. We are not accountable for being present in our own lives.

This same man held a news conference to state that he was going to lobby auto manufacturers to be required to put safety devices in all cars to remind parents that their children are in the car with them. Let me repeat that. There is a proposal for legislation to require auto manufacturers to install devices in all vehicles to remind parents to be aware that their children may be in the car with them.

These heartbreaking stories bring awareness to our awareness. Something we take for granted, like breathing, becomes a precious commodity.

We realize how much we live in our heads and how little we live in our visual field.

Of course, awareness is always a matter of life or death. Like love or wellness, however, we don't value it until we experience the consequences of its absence.

You can practice awareness at any moment of the day. When you're waiting at a car wash instead of daydreaming or obsessing on work pay attention to the people around you or the worker drying your car. Does he have a system? Does he dry the glass first or the body? How old is he?

If you find yourself living too much inside your head take a walk. Don't come back until you've counted 30 red cars. Why? No reason. It'll put you in motion and you'll be surprised what you notice about your neighborhood while you're peering down side streets and driveways.

Life is a great adventure and sleepwalking through it is not an option. Pay attention to your attention. If you want to realize your dream in life you're going to have to stay awake to do it.


About the Author

Mary is the proud Mama of The Constructed Life - a Holistic Life Coaching service rooted in Buddhist psychology.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Are you buying counterfeit emu oil?

According to FDA, there has been an increase in drug counterfeiting activities in recent years. This counterfeiting represents a threat to public health because the finished drug products may closely resemble legitimate drugs, yet contain inactive ingredients, incorrect combinations of ingredients, improper dosages, erratic potencies or be contaminated. Although emu oil is not classified as a drug, there have been cases where the oil has been adulterated or cut with other ingredients and then an attempt has been made to pass the resulting product off as pure. I'm afraid it is true, said Gerald Edwards, president of the American Emu Association. We have heard of cases where unscrupulous dealers have cut the emu oil with vegetable oil or some other ingredient and then tried to sell it to an unsuspecting products company. This concern was one reason that the American Emu Association sought guidance from the American Oil Chemist Society to establish the Emu Oil Trade Rules. According to the Emu Oil Trade Rules, there are three grades of emu oil accepted in the United States: Crude, Once Refined and Fully Refined. AEA has taken this a step further by issuing an AEA Certified Fully Refined Seal to be used on products made from registered batches. In order to register a batch with AEA, the processor must provide proof that an AOCS chemist tested the batch and that it met the criteria established by the emu oil trade rules for Fully Refined at the time of processing. A sample is held in storage from each batch and can be pulled for testing if there is any question of product purity. The approved batch numbers are kept on file at the AEA office.

For product companies purchasing oil in bulk, seeing the seal, batch number and reviewing the Certificate of Analysis assures them that they are purchasing a pure, safe product to use in their health and beauty formulations. They can then pass this assurance on to their customers through use of the seal and batch number on their packaging.

Now in it's 5th year, the AEA Certified Fully Refined Emu Oil program is considered a success, with additional product companies registering for use of the seal each month.


About the Author

The American Emu Association represents an alternative agriculture industry, dominated by the small farmer, who is devoted to humane and environmentally positive practices that will produce beneficial products for society. Visit http://www.aea-emu.org for more information on emu oil and other emu related products.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Are You Too Snoring Like A Running Train?

Sleeping Position and Sleep Factors

Snoring is widely considered a sleep disorder; both for the trouble that it (potentially) causes the snorer, and the trouble that (almost always!) causes those around the snorer. Therefore, an effective target in the battle against snoring is sleep itself.

There are two areas that can be focused upon to potentially help prevent (or lessen) snoring: sleep position, and sleep factors.

Sleep Position

Many snorers have found surprising relief from simply putting something under their chin as they sleep; either their hand, or a pillow, or even a rolled up sock.
This can help firm up the neck muscles; or at least, give the impression that this is happening. The bottom line is that since there is less loose skin (and thus tissue) that can vibrate against air in the trachea, there is less snoring.

Putting a pillow beneath the small of the back, and thus propping up the abdomen, is both extremely comfortable, and also an effective remedy for some snorers. This position helps open up the airway, and expand the lungs.

For those snorers who snore predominantly through their mouth, it might be helpful to learn that sleeping on one's side helps keep the mouth closed. However, many snorers actually snore out of both their mouth and nose, and this may not solve the problem. It may, however, lessen it somewhat; which, at least in the big picture, is a positive step!

About the Author

If you're interested in learning more about how you can stop snoring once and for all, check out my website http://www.how-you-can-stop-snoring.com for more information.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Bachelor uses Billboard to Get Dates!



SALT LAKE CITY - Friends say Lance Archibald is a tall, handsome former college basketball player and graduate of Harvard business school.
He's also still single at 31, and so they're hoping to speed things up with a billboard and Web site.
I'm Lance, Let's go out! reads the billboard on an interstate near Lindon, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Not a bad marketing strategy. I am in favor of anything that can speed up the numbers of girls in the sack. I am Elvis Preston King, the world's number 1 pick up artist.

If Lance were to get a hold of the king he would never need to sort through the leads from his billboard again. I pick up and seduce more hot young 18 year old girls than any man alive I have talent and will travel. I am for hire to pick up girls for the wealthy man who has everything but a bus load full of hot playmates sweet enough to take home to Mom. As you might have heard Elvis does not do dancers, pros or sleazy women!

Good luck to Lance and his billboard but it is highly suggested that he email the king of seduction and the top ladies man in the world. Elvis Preston Kingloverboybachelor@yahoo.com


About the Author

Elvis Preston King is the world's most renowned and respected playboy. His job is picking up and seducing classy young women globally for the gentleman conoseiur who realizes that there is more to life than just accumulating money and the same old same old boring wife. You can email him at loverboybachelor@yahoo.com or visit http://bachelortours.blogspot.com and http:www.msnusers.com/BachelorDreamTours

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Arrest the Aging

Arrest the Aging Process
by Bette L. Hall CMA, NHC

The word aging conjures up negative images in our minds of forgetfulness, restlessness and sleepless nights, and wrinkled skin with dark spots on the face and hands. We no longer need to stand by and accept these things as part of the natural aging process. Scientific studies show us that it is possible to enhance both the length and the quality of life.

The length of our life or the number of years we live is not important if we cannot have quality of life also. Who would want to live to be eighty or ninety years old if we cannot sleep or think right and you don't even know the names of your family members? So what we need to do is to arrest the aging process.

A specific amino acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, can sharpen the mental abilities and stimulate the growth of new neuritis. Robert Crayhon, M. S. recommends that we take carnitine and acetyl-Lcarnitine along with Co-Q10 and folic acid for improved cognitive function.

Restless nights and insomnia are often associated with aging. Lack of sleep has been associated with cytokines which have been linked to degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and controls our wake/sleep cycle. As we age, the body's natural production of melatonin is slowed. Supplementation with melatonin has shown to regulate sleep as well as slow brain aging.

Hyaluronic Acid (HLA) is a vital component of our skin's structure that diminishes as we age. HLA is responsible for moisture, suppleness, and elasticity of the skin and will improve the appearance of the skin when HLA is used both internally and externally.

In summary, the use of acetyl-L-carnitine, carnitine, Co-Q10, omega 3 fatty acid, melatonin, and hyaluronic acid can help you arrest the aging process. You can be mentally alert, cognitive, rested, attractive and full of life at any age.

About the Author

Writing health and weight loss articles for over twenty years, Bette has become an author in demand.

Bette is a Certified Medical Assistant and Natural Health Consultant with
special studies in Nutrition. For more information on walking, hiking,
running, bicycling or nutrition visit http://www.slimmer-fitness.com

Friday, June 19, 2009

Bariatric Surgery Centers in the U.S.

According to the American College of Surgeons, most severely obese patients fail to maintain a normal, healthy weight without non-surgical means. Because surgery holds the key to success for so many obese Americans, it is helpful to learn about prominent bariatric surgery centers.

Many hospitals and medical centers now have bariatric surgery centers onsite. These centers do more than just perform surgeries; many offer a multidisciplinary approach, including the expertise of surgeons, psychologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, exercise physiologist, meditation specialists, and others. Some centers will also communicate with the patient's insurance company for the pre-approval and appeal process. Most provide ongoing medical check-ups to monitor patient health and weight-loss post-operatively.

On occasion, bariatric surgical centers will partner with others to form a cooperative, essentially doubling the services they can provide and the number of patients they can assist. Many also contract with contract with financial institutions to offer financial assistance to patients who do not have insurance but who still want bariatric surgery.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) recommends choosing a bariatric center that completes at least 125 bariatric surgeries per year. According to the ACS, well-equipped centers will typically have two or more bariatric surgeons on staff, and highly experienced surgeons would be certified by the American Board of Surgery and complete at least fifty bariatric operations per year.

There are bariatric surgery centers located across the entire country. Prominent bariatric surgery centers include the Alsam Bariatric Center, the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence P.C., the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Hackensack Bariatric Surgery Center, the Bariatric Institute of Kentucky, and the California Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery's Advanced Bariatric Surgery Center of Fresno, among many others.

About the Author

Bariatric Surgery Info provides detailed information on bariatric surgery, including cost, patients, centers, diet, financing, and complications, as well as specific procedures like laparoscopic and bypass surgery. Bariatric Surgery Info is the sister site of Gastric Bypass Surgery Web.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Are you prepared for your big break?

What I do is prepare myself until I know I can do what I have to do.
Joe Namath

How prepared are you for that big break you are anxiously waiting for?
How prepared are you to begin the journey to achieve your dream?
What opportunities have you missed because you were not prepared?
Have your job interviews been unsuccessful because you were not
adequately prepared?

If you want to be successful, you have to spend some time educating
yourself, researching and understanding the relevant area that you are
looking to pursue. For instance, if you want to start a business, you
must commit to and invest your time and resources in finding out about
what it would take to run a business in every sense of the word!

This is a very competitive society and if you have to get an edge over the
others, you must have something more than just a rough idea of the area
you want to pursue.

If you are suddenly called upon and asked to provide a service in an area
of your expertise, you must in deed and not in theory be able to provide
answers and solutions in a confident, professional and excellent fashion.
If you have to perform a task, which you claim you are qualified to do,
you have to prepare to deliver the required results.

When you are prepared for your big break, you will always confidently
rise to the occasion!

The more you prepare, the luckier you appear Terry Josephson
As you wait for your opportunity, prepare, prepare, prepare!
Begin to lay the groundwork, commit yourself to your success,
constantly refresh your memory and research the latest developments
in your field of interest. Saturate yourself with knowledge about your
product or service so that when opportunity knocks on your door,
you will recognize it.

Most people miss opportunities because they are not prepared for it.
Even if they recognize it, they cannot respond to it or answer the call.

One of life's painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do
our homework, that we were not prepared.
Merlin Olsen

Preparation gives you a greater level of confidence, eliminates hesitation and gives you an upper hand in competition.
Therefore, Be prepared
Baden Powell

About the Author

Caroline Jalango is a life coach for unstoppable women who are willing to step up to the plate and take a shot at living exceptional lives wherever they are. caroline@motivationzone.com
www.motivationzone.com

Why Should You Tip?

Why should you tip? It is amazing how often this question is asked and debated. To me the answer is painfully obvious. When someone asks me why people should tip, I answer their question with a few of my own. Do you want hot food? Do you want your drink refilled? Do you want the person taking your order to care about the quality of food you are going to eat? The answer to these questions is always yes. So why would a person that is getting paid hourly whether you eat there or not care about any of those things if there is nothing extra in it for them?

T.I.P.S. - Tipping Insures Prompt (or Proper) Service. The argument above is usually very hard to argue against because there is no doubt that servers give good service based on what they perceive to be a carrot on the end of a stick. They will work hard for you and you will reward them at the end for a job well done. So to me, the question is not really to tip or not, but rather how much to tip.

Tipping standards vary greatly from region to region and country to country. To complicate matters, tipping standards change over time and what services require a tip also change. Back in high school I had a friend who believed that tipping on drinks was not necessary. I never did figure out his logic on that one but it does go to show that there are many ideas about tipping.

When figuring your tip, you should consider the following circumstances that may or may not apply to the server depending on which state you are in.

*Hourly wages are typically significantly less in the service industry, because tips are considered part of the servers income.

*Your server is likely being taxed 8% to 10% of your bill weather you tip them or not. Many restaurants automatically deduct this percent from the servers pay check to keep the server in the right ball park at tax time. This is not the only income tax that the server must claim. So if you do not tip the server, it has actually cost the server money to serve you. This also means that the first 8% of a 10% tip goes to the government and not the server.

*Believe it or not, servers do not always get a paycheck. Sometimes, because of the taxes they pay and/or deductions, servers must pay in to the company rather than get a check.

*Your server has to tip too. It is very common for a waiter or waitress to have to tip out their supporting staff, ie; the bartender, buss person, food runners and others. Bartenders may have to tip out their bar backs. These tips are based often on the sales of the server, so if you don't tip them, in addition to the 8% the government gets they often have to shell out money to the support staff putting them further in the hole. Sometimes the support staff is tipped a percent of the servers tips. So not tipping the server is the same as not tipping any of the hard working support staff in the restaurant.

*Servers do a lot of work that they are not tipped on also. It is called side work and it is work that is done for no more than their hourly rate. Side work usually involves cleaning the restaurant, stocking supplies and getting the store ready for the next shifts business. Side work can be time consuming and at times physically straining.

The most common argument (and frankly the most annoying and ignorant) against tipping is that by not tipping you are helping the servers cause for better hourly rates. For starters, hurting one server here and there on any given day is not going to further any cause. Second there is no cause. Most servers do not rely on their hourly income. Serving is hard, fast paced work. Servers can earn a good living from the tips they get. If servers were going to work for a strictly hourly rate, I can assure you that rate would be high. If the hourly rate were high, guess what would happen to the prices you pay when you go out to eat or drink? That money would have to come from somewhere.

Do you legally have to tip? No. Occasionally, you will have a situation where gratuity has been automatically been added to your bill. This is usually on larger groups or parties. This gratuity has been added because it is easy for the server to get a tip that is far less than they deserve, because in a group setting it is easy for one or two people to under pay causing the rest of the group to fall short. Again, you do not legally have to pay this gratuity, but if you don't you should have a talk with the server and/or manager and explain why. Remember, just because a gratuity has been added, it may still be less than a good tip for the server. For example, a gratuity may have been added at 15%. This is a tip for average service. If your server did a great job it is good to add in the difference to make up to 20% or more. Many times the server had to give up several other smaller tables to take your party, so even with automatic gratuity they end up making less on their shift.

After all that, why do servers do it? Well in the end, there are enough people out there that understand that a good tip is a kind reward for a job well done. And waiting tables can be quite profitable. It is no surprise that the most financially successful servers are typically the most friendly, efficient and entertaining. These servers are rewarded for exhibiting those behaviors. And we all want to encourage those behaviors. Don't we?


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Thomas A. Mason is the founder of Tip20!
The Tip20! website http://www.Tip20.com is a useful resource for service industry professionals of all kinds and a greater educational tool for the consumer on the dining experience in total.
Tip20!, Tip20.com




Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Apologize for what?

Apologize for What

Terry DashnerFaith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013

Why should we apologize for being America?

Capitol Reader Political Book Summaries writes in review of T.R. Reid's book entitled, The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy. The rise of a united Europe is one of the great geopolitical events of our time. The nations of this diverse and once fractious continent are pulling together to create a common economic system, currency and social identity. The European Union now eclipses the United States in terms of population, economic output and it is the largest consumer market in the world. In short, the European Union is fast becoming a superpower capable of rivaling the United States on every measure, except militarily.

The emergence of the European Union as a major global force has gone largely unnoticed by the American public. Most Americans do not realize, for instance, the sheer number of products and services they purchase which are made or controlled by European concerns. With America's huge account and trade deficits, Europe is essentially lending America money to buy European products. This arrangement offers something for both sides, but America's lack of fiscal responsibility is reflected in the rise of the euro versus the dollar. The euro is poised to replace the dollar as the world's currency of choice. A unified Europe is becoming an economic powerhouse that is increasingly setting the rules of global commerce. The sooner America wakes us to this fact, the better for all concerned.

America isn't sleeping, she's at war with the extremists that the European Union, save Britain, has refused to act against militarily. America could set back and count her money too if somebody else fought her battles and funded militaries, comparable to hers, which are capable of policing the whole world against terrorists. Pardon me for being pro Americaof course that's what Europeans detest about me to begin withbut I must demur. America is not the bad guy, nor the school-yard bully. America is ordained and carrying out her world calling. Let me explain.

America was founded on the principle of freedom. Her early settlers were religious refugees seeking freedom from religious tyranny. They were willing to die for the liberties they were denied in Europe. Many of the brave and bold men, women and children died from exposure, disease, starvation, and even the hostile actions by the indigenous peoples. This desire for liberty, freedom, and non-governmental sponsorship of one religion over another is still in our blood. And America, as she has proven in the past and demonstrates today, will go to war anywhere in the world to uphold these precious principles. Without apologies I might add.

If the European Union thinks she can lecture America for being jingoistic or gun totting cowboys then she is guilty of the very patronizing she is using to shame us. The European Union can not denounce America for being war dogs and then itself refuse to acknowledge the immorality in her camp. The European Union has failed to denounce terrorist's organizations in Lebanon. The European Union has refused to acknowledge that the United StatesBush administration particularlyhas had some good successes in Afghanistan and Iraq (free elections). The European Union has failed to act jointly against Iran's nuclear threat. The European Union might have its euro and trade power, but it isn't perfect either.

As a matter of fact let me predict where this is going. The European Union wants nothing more than what China or Russia wantto be the leading world power. To do that, she must eclipse the United States in the world spot light. Will this happen? Eventually the European Union will eclipse all nations. There is coming a restoration, a revival of the Roman Empire. In the last days in which we live currently, the nations of the world will move into positions to dominate the world in trade, prestige, religious and military might. The only missing link for this to happen in the European Union is a human leader that consolidates its power and leads it forward to world domination.
There is coming soon a world leader who will fill this tall order for the European Union. He will capitalize on Europe's secular platformno semblances of God. He will unify trade, secularism, and militaries. He is called the Anti-Christ in the book of Revelation.

You might keep this in mind as the world continues to throw mind in the eyes of America. But America is not going away, nor will she cower under the pressures of her oppressors. Currently America is experiencing spiritual revival. God is revisiting His covenant which He made with her early fore-fathers of faith. He is blessing America one more time because she is humbling herself before God and calling out to Him. God said, If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray (II Chron. 7:14). America wants more than what money and prestige alone can give. America wants God's blessing on her. As long as she wants this and cries out for it, she will have it.

The European Union is playing into the hands of God whether she cares to admit this or not. She will serve God's purpose either willingly or by His Sovereignty. And for that matter, every nation in the world belongs to Him and is created for His glory (Isa. 43:7). God watches over His footstool which according to the Psalmist is the world. If the nations of this world humble themselves before God, they will prosper. If the nations defy Himwell stick around and watch what happens. God will have the last word!

Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus rules over all. He is coming again one day soon. Get ready and stay ready.

Pastor Tdash


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. He is a retired police officer and veteran of the United States Navy. He currently serves his community as a minister of a church that his father founded 23 years ago.




Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Are You Gambling With Your Life By Self Medicating?

Many people self-medicate because they feel they can't afford the medications that are commonly used to treat bipolar disorder; however, in nearly all cases there is aid available to those with mental illness who need reduced price or free medications.

Others who are bipolar may self-medicate after years of medical care because of frustration stemming from the need to periodically readjust medications - they may feel that since the doctors can't seem to get it right, they can probably experiment with it just as well themselves. This is extremely dangerous, though, because even small changes in drugs like Lithium and other drugs can lead to serious episodes or worse. With Lithium, small changes in dosage can lead to hallucinations, severe illness and even death. For this reason Lithium use should always be carefully monitored by a doctor with regular blood tests. If you self medicate incorrectly, you risk your life and you risk your health.

Others self medicate by using alcohol or drugs as a way to temporarily relieve their symptoms when they are in the grips of an episode of either mania or depression. Both of these are common responses that can have dangerous or fatal results.

When using drugs or alcohol while suffering a manic or depressive episode, you may temporarily feel better or at least feel like you are umbing yourself, but this is only an illusion. In reality you are blurring your sense of reality even further and inhibiting your ability to react properly to the world around even more. Your judgment is severely damaged. Combine this with the lack of common sense found in mania or the sorrow and lack of self-preservation found in depression and you have a recipe for disaster.

In fact, many people who have bipolar disorder aren't diagnosed for years because they are too busy self-medicating with alcohol or drugs and don't seek medical advice. In the meantime, since they aren't being properly regulated, their manic phases aren't being controlled. They are medicating themselves with booze and pills and still going into episodes of wild spending, promiscuous sexual activity and bizarre, risky behavior. They may lose spouses, friends, jobs and their life savings.

People who are depressed and bipolar will self-medicate to keep the depression at bay, but this actually only pushes the depression back temporarily. When it returns it can feel even worse, and will sometimes result in a suicide attempt or, in some instances, a successful suicide.

Obviously, self-medicating with drugs and/or alcohol doesn't work. It doesn't get rid of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and in many cases they actually make the characteristics of an episode much worse, causing the extremes to be more violent or explosive.

If you don't believe this, take a look at some examples of individuals who were not properly medicated who ended up in extremely bad situations. Some actual stories can be found at http://www.leverageteamllc.com/bipolarnews19/ . These include one where a woman in Palm Desert, CA ran over a man she referred to as, oad kill, during a manic episode. In other stories, two unrelated shootings (one in Portland, ME and the other in Philadelphia, PA) were both tied to bipolar sufferers who weren't properly medicated.

Please don't take your situation into your own hands - you'll be gambling with your own life and the life of others. Self medicating isn't the answer. A licensed, professional doctor's supervision and prescription medication is the only way to adequately control bipolar disorder effectively.

About the Author

David Oliver is the founder of BipolarCentral.com a one stop source of information on how to cope and deal with bipolar disorder. Sign up for one of his FREE Mini Courses on Bipolar by visiting FreeBipolarCourse.com.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Atherosclerosis The Silent Killer

Just what is atherosclerosis anyway?
A very common question - what is atherosclerosis? Just the fact that so many people ask this question is alarming in itself; however, the consequences of this disease cause millions of deaths across the world each year.
The actual name atherosclerosis derives from the Greek words athero, which means gruel or paste, and sclerosis meaning hardening or hardness.
Atherosclerosis is the result of deposits of fatty wax like materials, cholesterol, our body's waste products, calcium and other substances. These deposits accumulate and build up along the inside of our arteries. This build-up is commonly referred to as plaque.
What causes atherosclerosis?
One of the frightening things about atherosclerosis is that it is an asymptomatic disease, meaning without any symptoms. Often the first symptom may be a heart attack or stroke. It is a slow, long, complex disease that often starts in childhood years and progresses through the years. In others, the progress is much more rapid. Some scientists believe its onset is caused by damage to the inner layer of the artery. But how can the inner layer of an artery become damaged?
There are three proven ways in which the inner most layer of an artery can become damaged
high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood
high blood pressure
smoking
With damage the artery wall, fatty deposits, calcium, cholesterol and other substances accumulate over the injured area. These deposits, together with other substances produced by the body as a consequence, may become large enough to thicken the innermost lining of the artery. This in turn will reduce the internal diameter of the artery through which blood flows, thus causing a decrease and a reduction of oxygen supply.
What is atherosclerosis and what are its consequences?
As we have seen, with atherosclerosis plaques form along the inner lining of the arteries. Sometimes the plaques may weaken and become unstable and eventually rupture. When this occurs, the contents of the plaque, when coming into contact with the blood flow within the artery, form a clot or thrombus. Such clot may totally block the blood flow. If the clot breaks off and travels through the artery to another part of the body, this is called an embolus. If the clot blocks an artery to the heart, a heart attack will be the result. If the clot blocks an artery that supplies the brain the result will be a stroke. Finally if the clot blocks a peripheral artery of the leg, walking may become and difficult and gangrene
There is much debate just lately as to whether diet, in particular our intake of fats and cholesterol, is such an important issue. We have the big medical establishments saying we should limit eating foods such as red meat, eggs and cheese and on the other hand apparently healthy people eating a high protein, low carb diet. Such diets are frequently based on meat, fish, cheese and eggs.

To avoid any confusion, it is a safe approach to eat a healthy well balanced diet and pay particular attention to the way in which the food is prepared. Limit frying and opt for steaming or broiling. Regular exercise is also highly recommended and if you smoke: stop. These measures will greatly help to keep your cholesterol under control and make the progression of atherosclerosis less of an issue.

About the Author

www.allabout-heart-disease.com the site that tells you how it is! Articles, tips, advice and the latest news on how to take care of your heart. You can get articles like this in your mailbox each month by submitting to our eZine The Web's Heart

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Aromatherapy a world of fragrance



Aromatherapy - a world of fragrance.

The ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy thousands of years ago. Aromatherapy, a word that derives from ‘aroma' meaning fragrance or smell and ‘therapy' meaning treatment is based on an ancient principle that the spirit and the body should be in harmony. Hippocrates claimed that the secret to good health was to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage each day.

Aromatherapy, the healing art of using essential oils extracted from aromatic plants for therapeutic purposes is enjoying a modern-day revival. Extracted from fruit, flowers and tress, blends of these essentials oils can be incorporated for their healing properties and create a particular aroma.

Each essential oil used in Aromatherapy can be used either alone or in combination with other oils to promote health and a sense of emotional well-being. A full Aromatherapy treatment combines the beneficial properties of essential oils with a warm relaxing massage

While essential oils are considered to be safe to use, they are very powerful, highly concentrated substances which should be treated with a great deal of respect.

Some of the most common essential oils and their effects:

Chamomile: Soothing and harmonizing
Clove: Warming
Fennel: Clearing
Eucalyptus: Balancing and stimulating
Grapefruit: Refreshing
Jasmine: Soothing
Lavender: Calming and healing
Lemon: Cleansing and stimulating
Orange: Calming and energizing

Before beginning any Aromatherapy treatment, it is important to understand how each essential oil works. Do not use any oil that you are not familiar with. Certain oils should be used during pregnancy or when brest feeding. Always consult a professional for advice on which Aromatherapy treatment best suits your needs.

Spas in Canada Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved

Canadian health and wellness spas offer a wide range of great spa experiences. For more information on Aromatherapy contact the spa team by email: spas@spasincanada.ca



About the Author

Angie Kocsi is co-founder of Spas in Canada. After many years enjoying the great spas in Europe and drawing upon her knowledge of the corporate world and a successful career in Public Relations and International Marketing www.spasincanada.ca was created.
Contact the spa team email: spas@spasincanada.ca


Friday, June 12, 2009

Atkins Diet Simple Advice


Just like any other diet, the Atkins diet can become boring and for some very dangerous. Before you get into the plan make sure you get a physical and talk to your doctor. We already know that the diet works but how do you work the diet? There is plenty of advice and information available online and in the library.

The Atkins Diet is an attempt to trick your body into burning stored fat rather than the carbohydrates you consume for energy. In the process you might have some physical reactions that are important to know about. The good news is that there are things you can do to combat some of the side effects.

Some people experience dizziness or cramps or other physical effects from the changes you are making in your diet. There are things you can do to prevent or alleviate these things. Be aware that you could experience dizziness, leg cramps, or brain fog. Remember that the mineral potassium is washed out of your system fairly quickly. Do not eat a banana instead take 90 milligrams of a potassium supplement. It should start working to relieve your symptoms in about an hour.

Below are some suggestions that will help keep you healthy while on the Atkins Diet Plan. These are suggestions to help you combat the symptoms while your body adjusts to the changes.


  • Eat enough calories. For most people eight to ten calories for every pound of current weight. Too few calories will cause your body to go into starvation mode and weight loss will either slowdown or stop completely.

  • Drink enough water. You must drink at least 68 ounces of water a day. Some believe that you should drink half of your weight in water daily. Water helps lipolysis and in getting rid of keytones.

  • Weigh and measure yourself once a week only while on the Atkins plan. You should see a decrease in inches and even if you don't, you will see it in weight.

  • Eat the amount of carbs that make you feel your best.

  • Eat only natural, unprocessed, nutrient dense carbohydrates. Stay away from sugar.

  • Exercise regularly. If you are told you can lose weight without exercise, run don't walk in the opposite direction. Physical exercise helps your body to use the food you consume appropriately. Too little exercise can do as much damage as too much exercise. Your doctor can help you determine what your activity level should be. Start off really slow and build up so that you will gain more benefit from your food plan and exercise.

  • Continue to take nutrient supplements according to your needs and under a doctor's supervision.

  • Keep a weight loss and food journal. If a significant event happens like the death of someone close, the loss of a job, or too many bills you might want to note that. These events could affect how you eat. Actually anything significant that happens should be noted because good stuff can also affect you. In this journal you should also note exactly what you eat at each meal, and if you are a diabetic you will be able to understand how certain foods affect your blood sugar levels negatively or positively. Obviously you will be noting your daily testing results. By doing this you will be able to recognize patterns. When are your levels the highest or the lowest? Be sure to share these things with your physician, as he or she will be able to help you determine what to do.

  • Read the labels on everything. Look for any hidden sugars like syrups and look for anything that ends in ...ose, such as lactose, fructose, sucrose, maltose and dextrose.

  • Lose weight faster. In order to accomplish this try reducing your caffeine intake.

  • Set realistic goals. A healthy weight loss typically is not much more than one to three pounds a week. Any more than that could be unsafe. Losing weight too quickly can trick your body into thinking that it is starving and rather than losing weight your body will stop losing weight and try to hang on to what it can to survive. Aside from all of that, note that any large initial weight loss will likely return if you return to normal eating habits.

If a diet seems too good to be true, It probably is. The best kind of diet is one that encourages balanced meals, moderate activity, and supplements as needed. Before taking any kind of supplement make sure that it is appropriate for you. Although they may be all natural, they are not necessarily safe. They can still negatively interact with any medications and you could still develop allergic reactions to it. Bear in mind that nothing should be take with out your doctor's input.

(c) www.atkins-diet-plan-n-books.com

Reprint Rights feel free to publish this article on your website but you must agree to leave all active links contained within 'About The Author' intact and as is and NOT hidden behind a java or redirect script.





About The Author


Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects. For more information on Atkins diet plan or Low carb diet plans, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information. Visit http://www.atkins-diet-plan-n-books.com.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Ancient Antitdote To Modern Stress


Anyone who has ever taken a yoga class will tell you that perhaps the most important as well as the most enjoyable posture is the final relaxation pose at the end of class which is known as Shavasana. Shavasana, which translates to corpse pose is a time when the body and mind quiet and the door to stillness, peace and inner healing is opened. The benefits of Shavasana are many including reduced stress, deep relaxation, balanced emotions, lower blood pressure, helpful for insomnia and leaves the practitioner feeling renewed and refreshed as if they have had a min-vacation for body and mind. And I would be remiss if I didn't say Shavasana just feels good! It is here - in this deep state of relaxation, where natural healing on all levels can occur.

The stresses of modern civilization are a strain on the nerves for which Shavasana is the best antidote. BKS Iyengar in Light on Yoga.

To experience shavasana come onto your back - preferably on the floor but a firm bed can work as well. Your legs should be approximately hip width apart, allowing your feet to drop to the sides. Bring your arms to 45o your body with the palms facing up and your head neck and spine into one line. Let your breath deepen and feel the support of the floor under you - releasing into it. Draw your consciousness deep inside. Remain here for ten to twenty minutes. To come out of the posture take a few deep breaths and then begin to wiggle your fingers and toes. Gently roll your head from side to side. Feel free to stretch your body in anyway that might feel good to you now. Then roll to your right side into a fetal position. Rest here for a moment. Then very slowly press up to a seated position with the help of your right and left hands. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed and then slowly open your eyes looking down at the floor. Before beginning shavasana, please read the rest of this article for helpful tips to enrich your experience.

The more relaxed your body is the quieter your mind can become. To deepen your experience of Shavasana, I have listed a few suggestions for deepening your comfort, quieting your mind and for addressing special challenges.

For deepening your comfort:

Eye Pillows: Placing an eye pillow over your eyes is soothing, helps to relax the muscles around your eyes, and sends a strong message to your brain to relax. Eye pillows can also be placed on your forehead or into your hands, which gives a feeling of grounding and relaxation.

Blankets: Essentially anywhere your body touches the floor is a candidate for support and as a result will help you relax. You might wish to experiment with the following suggestions:

Arms: Place folded blankets under the length of your arms.

Back: Fold a blanket the length of your spine and place a second blanket horizontally across one end of the blanket making a letter T. Sit a the edge of the vertical blanket so that when you lay back your sacrum (the bony part of your spine between your hips) is on the floor, your lower back and spine on the blanket, and your head supported by the horizontal blanket.

Heels: Slightly rolled blanket can be placed under your Achilles tendons.

Suggestions for special challenges in Shavasana:

Lower back challenges: Place a rolled blanket, pillow or bolster under your knees.

Neck challenges: Place a folded blanket under your head or a rolled towel under your neck.

Pregnancy: Raise your torso by placing a bolster, pillows or two to three folded blankets under your back and be sure to support your head with another folded blanket. (If you are using blankets under your back should run the length of your spine from your lower back to the tip of your head) Another option is lay on your right side in fetal position with a folded blanket between your knees. Place a folded blanket under your head for support.

For an agitated/active mind: Place a yoga block or a thick book behind your head and put a sandbag on it so that 1/3 of the sandbag is on your forehead. This helps to quiet your mind. Also focus on making your exhalations longer than your inhalations. (Note: a homemade sandbag can be made by filling a soft pillow case with rice approximately way and tying it off.)

You may also wish to place a blanket over you, as you body will cool down when relaxed.




About the author:


Howard VanEs, M.A. has been studying and practicing yoga for over thirteen years and is a certified yoga instructor teaching in the East Bay area of San Francisco. He is author of Beginning Yoga: A Practice Manual, co-creator of the audio CD Shavasana / Deep Relaxation. http://www.letsdoyoga.cominfo@letsdoyoga.com 510-587-3399






Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Attention! Thought Crossing! Or The Secret of What's Betw


What are you thinking - right now? 'I'm reading your article!' you say. Well, take a little bit of a closer look. What's spinning in the back of your mind? Is it that big deadline that's looming at the end of the week? Or how you're going to deal with your mother-in-law this weekend? Or maybe you're worrying about your finances?

Are you even aware of the thoughts going through your head right now? What about... now?

Some Bad News From the Thought Police

Scientists estimate that an average person will think at a rate of roughly between 1 and 4 thoughts per second while awake. That's well over 60,000 thoughts during a typical day! And, of all this jabbering going on in your head, it's estimated that you've thought over 95% of your thoughts before. So, not only is your mind generally on a constant hamster wheel, but it's also doing this spinning continuously, unproductively - and unoriginally.

The Power Between Your Ears - It's Not What You Think

Enough bad news? Ok - now here's the other side of the story. You have within you the greatest, simplest, and most powerful tool imaginable. It can lead you to great prosperity, joy, and fulfillment - or it can drop you instantly into the depths of despair and negativity.

No, I'm not talking simply about the power of thought - not even a fraction of those thousands of stale, repeat thoughts running through your head right now will be of much use to you. (Trust me; nope, not even the one wondering for the tenth time whether you turned the stove off this morning). But what is powerful is where you put your attention within all this clatter.

Mr. Webster Says:

'Attention: Concentration of the mental powers; a close or careful observing or listening'. So how does that apply to you? 'Concentration of the mental powers' - all too often, we give away the concentration part of our attention to things utterly undeserving. Thoughts of worry, negative predictions, minor irritations, and daily minutiae are hardly productive, and take up too much room in your head.

And this leaves very little space for the second, critical, aspect of attention: 'a close or careful observing or listening'. We, as a culture, don't like to sit back and listen. We prefer to be constantly inundated with forceful messages which grab our attention and don't let go. We too often forget to sit back and actually listen to the small voice of intuition. You know, the one that already has the answers that we're trying so hard to figure out.

Try It Now

Give it a shot. Really. Stop for a minute, and focus actively on your thoughts - concentrate. What are you thinking? You know, that quiet and incessant little buzz behind your eyes; that unsettled feeling - what's behind that? Now shift your attention to listening, see if there's a message waiting for you. Just below the surface, what is it saying? Listen... You're now learning to distinguish the noise of your mind from the voice of your intuition, your inner knowing - all through the tool of attention.

You Are Not Your Thoughts

There's huge power in putting your attention actively on your thoughts. This helps you to separate the you from the thought. You are not your thoughts, you are having thoughts, they are passing through your head. You are bigger than your thoughts, and you can choose whether or not you want to give them power. And you do this by either giving them your attention, or by allowing them to just float on by.

Head and Heart

And it's not just thoughts that you can focus your attention on. As cognitive psychologists and holistic healers have known for years, emotions and thoughts are deeply intertwined. One influences the other, and both influence your physical biochemistry. So learning to actively focus your attention on the thoughts and feelings you want, while letting go of those you don't want, could be the best thing you'll ever do for your health, your well being, and your happiness.

Oy Vey

'Great', you may say. 'But it isn't so easy to catch my thoughts and feelings, or to do something about them. I don't even know how I feel half of the time, and the thoughts go by so quickly!' Fear not - here's are a few simple exercises.

Use Your Words

One way to 'catch' your fleeting thoughts and feelings and to focus your attention on them is to 'use your words'. Just like a parent may tell an unruly and whining child who is about to pick a fight to 'use your words' to explain what's bothering him, so can you gently nudge yourself to discipline. This may seem silly, but it's remarkably powerful. Write down or speak out loud (or into a tape recorder) exactly what the thoughts and feelings are. Articulating them clearly gives them shape and focus, and allows you much more freedom to act in a way that supports your growth.

Thanks For Sharing

Now, as for how to manage the spinning and repeating thoughts, here's a very simple and effective trick. Just like a parent knows not to take everything their child says too seriously, you can also learn to distinguish helpful thoughts and feelings from destructive ones. You can simply tell your thinker - 'thanks for sharing. I will take your comments under advisement. Now, please move along'.

So What?

So how does all this relate to helping you find 'what's next', or guiding you to 'a you-er you'? Very directly, actually. If you practice putting your direct attention on the jabbering of your mind, articulating those slippery thoughts, and consciously and purposefully telling them 'thanks for sharing!' and then purposefully re-focusing your attention where YOU choose, you will begin to create the space for your true inner voice to come through.

Plant the Seeds:

Now it's your turn. Take a couple of minutes and try these exercises. Really. Try it now. You never know - hey, what's next...?

1. Practice noticing your thoughts. Try the exercise in the 'Try it Now' section above. Really.

2. Use your words. Get over feeling silly, and actually write down what your thoughts are. Try speaking, try using a tape recorder. Experiment. Notice which thoughts show up over and over. Note your top 5 - make friends with them, and thank them profusely for sharing. And remember - attention is power. What thoughts are you giving your power to?

3. Choose consciously. Once you become aware of the thoughts going through your head, you can begin to make choices. For example: 'Hm, I've been thinking a lot about how unhappy I am in my job. Thanks for sharing. Duly noted. I think I'll choose to focus my attention elsewhere right now, thanks.'

P.S. So - what are you thinking... now?

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, and insights. Drop me a line at mailto:in@heyWhatsNext.com.

© 2004 Inna Nirenburg


Inna Nirenburg is a powerful life coach and workshop leader. She uses her deep wisdom and intuition, as well as a concrete actionable process, to help you answer the question 'What's Next?' in all areas of your life. See http://www.heyWhatsNext.com for more information, or to subscribe to her monthly newsletter, 'Inklings: Your Guide to a You-er You'.


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Are You Suffering From Chronic Constipation?

Embarrassing as it may be, we have all suffered from constipation at one time in our life or another. According to the National Health Interview Survey as many as 3 million Americans suffer from frequent if not chronic constipation. While constipation is not recognized as a degenerative disease or serious disorder, people who are constipated often feel bloated, uncomfortable and even sluggish. Constipation by itself is miserable enough, but sufferers often experience painful bowel movements that can become compounded by hemorrhoids that form due to straining.

To understand constipation, it is important to understand how our digestive system works. When we eat, food is ground up in our stomachs so it can be digested. This liquid food passes into the small intestine where nutrients are extracted. It then moves on to the colon, where water is removed, allowing a stool to form. If too much water is extracted from the stool as it passes through the colon, it can become hard and difficult to pass leaving you constipated.

There are a number of reasons why people get constipated. These include not eating enough dietary fiber, not drinking enough liquids (water), lack of exercise, ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement and plain old stress. Other causes can include having a lazy colon that does not contract properly, causing waste materials to pass through the colon slowly, food allergies that can cause the colon to contract, or mechanical obstructions that inhibit the movement of waste materials. Many prescription drugs and certain neurological disorders can also slow down the movement of waste materials through the colon. Constipation can also be brought on by an abuse of laxatives that over time can damage the nerve cells in the colon and interfere with its ability to contract properly.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to relieve chronic constipation naturally.

Recommendations For Wellness

Consume a high fiber diet made up of lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If that is not possible, incorporate a dietary fiber supplement such as psyllium hulls, Natures Sunshine's Nature's Three or their Irritable Bowel Fiber into your daily health routine. Dietary fiber holds water and help to keep the stool soft, while added bulk help to move the stool through the colon.

If other fiber supplements fail in your attempt to become regular, try taking Chitosan (a form of dietary fiber) along with vitamin C. The chitosan binds to fats from the foods we eat making the stool soft and smooth. The vitamin C helps to activate the chitosan in the stomach.

Drink plenty of water, especially if you are taking supplemental fiber.

Try eating a few dried prunes or drinking some prune juice. In addition to adding fiber, prunes have a mild laxative effect.

Avoid sugar and other processed foods.

Begin a regular exercise program to help promote normal bowel movements.

If you think allergies are the cause of your constipation, try an elimination diet to help you to identify what may be triggering your body and causing your colon to contract.

Meditate, do yoga, go for a walk. Do things that will allow you to reduce your stress levels and help your body to relax. This can help relax your colon.

Get a colonic to flush out any old fecal matter that may be trapped within the colon or try a colon cleanse.

Take a good probiotic such as acidopholis or bifidophilus to help promote a healthy environment within the colon.

Peppermint (3910-9) has a long history of helping relax the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.

Supplementation with magnesium and large doses of vitamin C, have a mild laxative effect on the body.

If all else fails, herbs such as casgara segrada, turkey rhubarb or herbal combinations such as Natures Sunshine's LBS II and LB-X can be used to evacuate the colon. While these should be used with caution, they are less aggressive than many commercial laxatives that are available at the supermarket.

About the Author

Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2005. All rights reserved.
Dr. Rita Louise, PhD, author of the books Avoiding the Cosmic 2x4 and The Power Within, Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. a can help you identify what is really going on and provide you with straightforward guidance and advice. She can be reached by calling 972-475-3393 or visiting her website at http://www.soulhealer.com.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Auto Lemon Laws Do You Need a Lawyer?



Buying a new automobile is usually a bid decision for most people, and it involves a lot of time, research and most of all, money. If you are going to be paying for something for five years or more, you will generally take your time, do your research, and make sure that you are spending your money wisely on a vehicle that will last for years. Unfortunately, some new cars, like all manufactured products, do not perform as they should and are defective in some way. For reasons lost to antiquity, defective cars are known as lemons.

California became the first state to enact legislation that provided recourse to purchasers of defective vehicles in 1982; since then, every state has enacted similar legislation. Consumers all over the country may now seek either a replacement vehicle or a refund should they find themselves the owner of a defective automobile.



Even though legislation exists to protect you if you should find yourself the owner of a lemon, most people are not familiar with their state's lemon law. Is it necessary to file a lawsuit? Do you need a lawyer? Can you go through the process yourself?

While lemon laws vary from state to state, you can generally file a lemon law claim yourself. The process usually involves writing letters to the manufacturer that state your problem and filing a claim with your state's Attorney General's office. You must also submit your vehicle for repair of the problem; each state requires that the manufacturer have a easonable opportunity to repair your vehicle. The next step is probably arbitration, in which you and the manufacturer present your respective arguments to an arbitration panel that will rule in favor of either you ore the manufacturer. In many states, arbitration is mandatory; in others, you may opt out.

While you may represent yourself during the arbitration process, you may feel more comfortable hiring an attorney. There are many attorneys who specialize in lemon law cases, and they may be able to expedite the process. The presence of an attorney may also make you feel more comfortable if you have little or no experience with this sort of procedure. If the of the arbitration panel does not rule in your favor, or if your state allows you to opt out of arbitration by choice, you may elect to sue the manufacturer yourself. This is often a last resort, as arbitration is often a simpler and faster alternative to lawsuits involving auto Lemon Law claims. Should you decide to sue, an attorney will almost certainly be necessary. Many states will allow you to collect attorney fees in a lemon law-related lawsuit.

Should you find yourself the owner of a defective automobile, you can certainly file a lemon law claim yourself, but many people will find that the process goes more smoothly with the aid of an attorney who is experienced in lemon law cases. If you think your car is a lemon and you might need to file a claim under your state's Lemon Law, you should first check with your state's Website, or contact your state's Attorney General's office.


Copyright 2005 Retro Marketing


About Charles: Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing. Retro Marketing, established in 1978, is a firm devoted to informational Websites, including LemonLawHelp.net, a site devoted to automobile lemon laws, and End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to information about debt consolidation and credit counseling.




Sunday, June 7, 2009

Are You Inviting Misery into Your Life?

Are You Inviting Misery into Your Life?

Often, I've come across individuals who, while in conversation, will stumble into a rendition about 'how miserable life is.' The adult children are wrecking havoc in the home, the job's not going well, money is short, and a whole other slew of treacherous stories. During the conversation, I would interject, 'but how does this effect you personally?'

Much to my dismay, that query is usually left unanswered. Clearly we have all been in similar communication and being the compassionate persons we are, we might ask, 'so what are you going to do about it?' The most common response, 'I don't know...' or '...I can't do anything about it...'

That's when the conversation get's sticky. Now that the other person has literally poured out his heart to you about all the demons in his life, we human beings are compelled to offer our intricate advice on how to deal with their problems. Though well intended, most of our advisement will fall on deaf ears when the individual in question, is inviting misery in her life.

What do I mean by 'inviting misery?' Who would invite misery into his life? We are all guilty of inviting misery into our lives at one time or another. Suddenly, we are faced with a problem and because the problem has clouded our logic, we can not and will not accept helpful advice. Instead, we harp on the problem. We permit the problem or problems to rule our individual lives and lifestyles. Because we succomb to the problem, we begin to 'live' the problem. How does that happen? We begin to live the problem when all we can do is rant and rave about it, but subsequently, do nothing about it.

So now we're back to square one.

Here is a hypothetical example:

Joe is no one in particular - he could be your best friend, co-worker or brother. He is a divorced man in his mid-40s, works in a factory or office, and has raised two children by himself. His son is a narcissist who has a devil-may-care attitude and neglects his child. You're in mid-conversation and now you're faced with Joe's married son's issues. Joe begins to tell you all about how his son leaches off of him, brings his dirty laundry for him to wash, neglects his grandson, and doesn't listen to him for any parental advice. Joe has become so consumed by his son's wreckless behavior and unwillingness to modify his lifestyle that Joe himself has become a nervous wreck. So what do you do? You offer your friend your 'helpful' advice: 'Stop letting your son run your life...if he's not taking care of his child, turn him in...' What happens next is inevitable: I CAN'T do that!

Now this is where we are ultimately faced with a critical dilemma. We have now invaded Joe's private space and have warranted retalliation because Joe doesn't really want to solve his problems. Joe just wants to complain about problems that aren't his. It's his son - of course they're his problems - wrong.

But how does that invite misery? Well, it doesn't invite misery into our own lives, but it does in Joe's case. Joe knows that he has all the tools at his disposal to fix part or all of the situation. It's not that Joe can't fix the problem, it's that he doesn't want to fix the problem. Repairing situations takes effort, dedication and sometimes, sacrifice - it is much easier to complain about it. In Joe's case, turning his son in for neglect may sever the ties of his complex father-son relationship. He feels instant guilt and betrayal should he file a report. He doesn't want to stop his son from using him because he may sever ties of communication with him. Instead, he would rather uphold an abusive relationship with his own grown son, knowing that his grandson is in harm's way for the sake of preserving his relationship with him. This is a classical example of inviting misery into one's life.

Joe has subconsciously invited misery to become his partner in everyday life. He lives in constant debate on whether he's doing the 'right thing.' He is angry that his son has grown into a volatile person, and he is scared for his grandson's health. But still, he accepts this self-induced fate. Joe cannot control the actions of his son, but, he can control his own actions. If he permits his son to burden him with his behavior, dirty laundry and leaching, then he has invariably created his own problem. If Joe has knowledge that his grandson is being neglected, it is by choice that he allows the neglect to continue. Only Joe has the power to choose.

As human beings, we are often faced with difficult choices in life. And many times, it is much easier to worry and complain. Though difficult decisions may arise, we still have the option to create more livable environments by directing ourselves in more constructive pattens. There are many 'Joes' out there with lesser or more complex problems than the fictional Joe in this article; however, you - nor I - can help him. Joe has to help himself first.

*If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis and needs help resolving personal issues, please feel free to review our holistic and consumer resources directories at HolisticJunction.com for counseling help today.

To see this and other articles like this one, feel free to visit Holistic Junction today.

2005 - Are You Inviting Misery into Your Life?
by C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot

Disclaimer: Literature provided by HolisticJunction.com is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the advice provided by a licensed health professional

About the Author

C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director &
Staff Writer
www.holisticjunction.com
www.mediapositiveradio.com

Axillary Hyperhidrosis Treatment


Excessive underarm sweating can become an annoying problem for those suffering from this condition. Axillary hyperhidrosis manifests itself through an increased underarm sweat production and this is triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. A malfunction in the nerves controlling underarm sweat glands leads to excessive sweat production, resulting in constantly moist armpits. Often associated with the negative effects of palmar hyperhidrosis, axillary hyperhidrosis is sometimes triggered by exterior factors such as anxiety, psychological stress and tiredness. This is not a rule, however, and there may be no clearly identified stimuli that trigger excessive underarm sweat.

Treatment for Sweaty Underarms

There are several methods of reducing the effects of axillary hyperhidrosis. Antiperspirants are among the most commonly used treatments for sweaty underarms, and they work well for reducing milder cases of this condition. Deodorants are succesfuly used to relieve patients of some of the worries caused by excessive sweat. When the effects of antiperspirants are not strong enough, some consider surgical procedures to eliminate the problem. The underarm sweat glands can be surgically cut so that their production doesn't exceed regular limits, but this si a complicated and costly procedure. However, sinc antiperspirants are the most common choice for patients, we will have a detailed look at their effects.

The Efficiency of Antiperspirants in Combating Hyperhidrosis

Antiperspirants are useful for treating milder cases of hyperhidrosis, as they can diminsih the negative effects of excessive sweating. By targeting specific sweat glands, antiperspirants significantly reduce the sweat production and increase the dryness of the skin in the areas where they are applied. Various products come in different forms, such as deodorants and medication. Deodorants are the most widespread form of antiperspirants, as they are easy to use and producce very little or no discomfort.

Axillary hyperhidrosis

One of the most effective chemical compounds used for hyperhidrosis treatment is Aluminum Chloride. Used in higher concentrations, Aluminum Chloride has a faster impact on the sweat glands, reducing their excessive production. Aluminum Chloride products work best at night time, when the sweat glands show a reduced activity, and long term results may show some improvement concerning excessive sweating of the armpits.

Axillary Hyperhidrosis and Its Social Implications

While from a medical point of view, sweaty underarms do not represent a health risk, they are hard to deal with in society. The discomfort of constantly having damp underams is increased by the fear that clothing accessories will become sweaty. Axillary hyperhidrosis treatment is seen as a necessary thing by many who suffer from this condition, as they feel this problem is affecting their social interactions. People who suffer from any form of excessive sweat are faced with some difficult social and psychological issues. Many are overwhelmed by these problems and become somewhat anti social and have difficulties integrating in groups. Career plans are also placed under the negative shadow of axillary hyperhidrosis, as self confidence and self esteem levels tend to drop.

Anyone suffering from hyperhidrosis should accept the condition, rather than deny it, and try to find a positive solution to solving the problem. There is no easy way to get rid of excessive sweat, but there are medical drugs and methods that can help you reduce its negative effects. For more info please visit http://www.hidrosiscure.com/index.htm or go stright to the following page for efficient sweat treament methods:
http://www.hidrosiscure.com/medication.htm





About The Author


Michale Rad - http://www.hidrosiscure.com/whatis.htm

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Balance what does it really mean?


Balance- what a popular topic these days! Finding a work-life balance, being balanced in body, mind and soul, eating a balanced meal, balancing work, play and learning. But what does it really mean? When I ask my clients what balance means to them, most have no idea initially, and find it a good exercise to reflect on. For some it means spending more time with family and/or fun and less time on work, for others it means starting a physical activity. For some it means doing some emotional healing, for others starting a spiritual path. The truth is, we are all individuals, and we each have our unique definition of what balance is. If we take the time to ask ourselves what a balanced life looks like, we'll find the answer. Or we'll at least be shown what is not in balance so we can start there!

I lived a large part of my life out of balance. As a mother, daughter, wife, many times I let my needs go to take care of others. Later when the boys left home I let my job consume my life, letting go of the things I knew were good for me because I was 'too tired'. First went the exercise, then my eating got off track, I stopped meditating, stopped socializing and having fun and isolated myself. It was a cycle of overwhelm, then frustration, then isolation, leading to depression. Now that's a life really out of balance, I wasn't taking care of myself physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually! It was a huge wake-up call to me that I needed to make some major lifestyle changes if I wanted a fulfilling life, and for that I am truly grateful.

As I was recovering from my depression, I started taking care of my body, mind and spirit. As I started leading a more balanced life, I was amazed at the overlap- how when I do something for my physical self for instance, it benefits me in the other areas. Running for example is an exercise for my physical body that has ripple effects mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. Running down a trail and seeing a deer or the sunset is spiritual, filling my heart with gratitude, emotionally I sometimes start out feeling upset about something, then find my mind clears as I run through the situation and come to understanding, mentally I often work out my agenda for the week, or what my newsletter article will be on or other business items. What I eat affects me physically, mentally and emotionally, which in turn affects me spiritually. What I think creates my emotions which in turn create my actions and results. A good reminder if I am to be healthy in all ways, I need to take care of all parts of me.

Are you paying attention to all parts of your life? Is there an area that needs improvement- career, finances, recreation/fun, family, relationships, personal/spiritual development, environment, physical health or? If not, congratulations! If so, take a look at where you're at, what you could do to improve your situation and go for it! Change doesn't have to be big. Do one thing to improve one area of your life and you create more balance? Enjoy the life we are meant to live, a life of prosperity and abundance in all areas! Cheers to you!


Norma Reid, CEC, is the owner of From Dreams to Reality Success Coaching. She is passionate about helping others realize their potential, turning their professional and personal dreams into reality. For more info: http://www.fromdreamstoreality.ca or mailto: norma@fromdreamstoreality.ca.


Friday, June 5, 2009

Collecting Post Cards of Your City or Area


From LAND OF ODDS




We at Land of Odds get many questions about what glue to use with rhinestones and other beading and jewelry-making projects. We're craftspersons and silversmiths, and we have a shop where we sell rhinestones, beads, jewelry findings, cabochons and the like.



Nothing is perfect, but based on our experiences, here are some good tips:




  • Always experiment with your adhesives first, before you use an adhesive on your final project.



  • Glues vary widely in terms of which materials they stick to, how well they form a bond between two smooth surfaces, and how the glue bond ages, both in terms of durability and color.



  • Clean the excess glue off your piece before you display or sell it.



  • You will probably have to rely on more than one type of glue to accommodate all your types of projects.




    Superglue



    Superglue is not our favorite! It often ruins rhinestones and other pieces we use in jewelry-making. It's bond is tough, but it breaks easily. Superglue dries like glass, and breaks like glass.



    We do, however, use superglue occasionally. We often use it seal end knots, or coat a frayed strand of cord. We sometimes use it on crimp beads to enhance the closure.



    Hot Glue Guns



    Hot glue guns are fun to use. When the materials you are using are large and bulky, hot glue guns make the projects go faster.



    The glue's bond will not last forever. The glue will yellow with age.



    There is a wide variation in the types of pieces called hinestones. Basically, rhinestones are mirror- or foil-backed pieces of clear glass crystal, glass or plastic.



    Sometimes they are faceted; othertimes they are not. Some rhinestones have a flat back so they can be glued directly to the piece; others have a pointed back so they can fit into a cup or bezel. Each design element in the architecture of the rhinestone -- base material, overall shape, faceting, foil, and effect -- adds to its shine, sparkle and brilliance. The mirror or foil reflects and refracts light. Sometimes, the mirror or foil itself has a special color, effect or treatment applied to it. The clear glass can range from, at the most brilliant end, very-leaded glass to somewhat leaded glass to glass to acrylic at the least brilliant end. Sometimes the glass is coated with an effect or treatment.



    Your goals for gluing rhinestones into a piece of jewelry or onto a piece of clothing are simple:




  • You want a bond that sticks and is durable

  • You don't want the adhesive to ruin the rhinestone

  • You want the glue to dry clear and age clear

  • You don't want the glue to show outside or over the edges of the stone

  • If you've gotten glue on the stone, you want to be able to get it off easily




    Never use superglue with rhinestones! Superglue clouds the stone. Superglue dries like glass, so its bond shatters like glass when the bond is disturbed.



    E6000, or any other brand of epoxy, works best with glass crystal and glass rhinestones, as well as gemstones. Epoxy is a plastic, and sometimes will dissolve or disturb the foils on the backs of acrylic rhinestones, although it is fine for acrylic cabochons or beads which do not have a foil backing. E6000 dries like rubber, so its bond acts like a shock absorber when the piece is hit, dropped, banged or otherwise disturbed. E6000 is great for gluing stones on cloth material, as well, and the bond will withstand several machine washings.



    A rhinestone glue or Elmer's glue works OK for acrylic rhinestones.



    Hot glue guns will work with the stones, but the glue doesn't age well. The bond weakens relatively quickly. The glue yellows somewhat.



    When we use E6000 with rhinestones, we put a little drop of glue on the end of a pin. Then we touch the glue to the back of the rhinestone. We maneuver the pin-glue-rhinestone over the place where we want the stone to be. Then we push the rhinestone in place, and simultaneously pull the pin away from the stone. We rub the stone and around the stone with our finger or the pin to get any excess glue off. Before it dries, E6000 rubs off like rubber cement.



    About E6000



    E-6000 is the jeweler's glue of choice, and our favorite. It is a one-part epoxy, (meaning you don't have to mix anything to make the glue -- it just comes out of a tube).



    Perfect for attaching findings to base metal and costume jewelry pieces.



    Also, use E-6000 on bead strands to seal end knots and to provide a strong, flexible seal that won't become brittle or damage the bead cord.



    E-6000 is safe for use with virtually every type of gemstone and works on wood, leather, vinyl, and canvas.



    Non-corrosive and self-leveling, E-6000 adheres in 5 to 10 minutes, and hardens to a clear, waterproof cure in 24 hours. This means you have about 10 minutes to position and reposition whatever you are gluing. If you are making jewelry, you should let the piece dry hard overnight, before you wear it.



    We advise against using superglue for most jewelry-making projects. Superglue discolors stones.



    Superglue dries like glass, so its seal shatters like glass when piece is dropped.



    E6000 dries like rubber, so its seal acts like a shock absorber when a piece is dropped.



    E6000 dries clear.



    Two things E6000 won't do:


  • Bond two pieces of smooth glass together, like two glass disks.

  • Sometimes, it will pull the foil back away from acrylic rhinestones.




    Gluing Marcasites

    With marcasites, we always use E6000 (or similar epoxy). This creates the strongest bond.



    While this is not foolproof, it is the best and longest lasting solution.



    Again, never use superglue.



    Also, take off your marcasite jewelry before you wash your hands, or before you attempt to wash the dishes. The hand-soap and dish-detergent dissolve most glues. E6000 will withstand this for awhile, but not forever.



    Silver Information Website: Find answers to questions about silver flatware that you need. http://www.silverinfo.com



    Brought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.



    LAND OF ODDS - The South's Most Unusual Shop

    150 Second Avenue North, Ste. 110, Nashville, TN 37201

    PHONE: 615/254-4341, 726-1665

    FAX: 615/254-4341

    http://www.landofodds.com

    oddsian@landofodds.com





  • Thursday, June 4, 2009

    Victoria's Secret DISCLOSED

    SHHHHHH, don't tell anybody, but, I know the secret.

    It all started with a simple shopping spree. I had decided to surprise my wife with a new purchase of special clothing essentials from every man's dreamiest of feminine wardrobe stores.

    Yes, it was Victoria's Secret.

    After spending a few hours there, I mean, a few minutes, something became very apparent to me. It was very obvious to anyone with a trained eye and the gift of observance. It became very apparent that I was the only man in a store mainly comprised of women who was shopping alone.

    At that moment, I could sense it. Obviously, I was Ted Bundy, Osama Bin Ladin and Sadam Hussein, all rolled into one.

    Now, I'm being humorous, but every man who has embarked upon a shopping mission such as this can empathize with me.

    Should I get cotton? Should I get satin? Should I get silk? What about lace? Of course, you have to touch the cloth and check the size to find just the right purchase, which causes even more feelings of suspicion as you lift each garment from the table it is displayed on. I sure hope they don't think I'm some kind of pervert, I remember thinking.

    After several, seemingly unapproachable moments, a young lady decided she would close the chasm that existed between us and, sheepishly I might add, ask if I needed some help. In this store where every piece of clothing is practically of an intimate nature, she assisted me in finding the sizes I needed.

    Through all my humorous discomfort something began to dawn on me. While I didn't go in on a mission of finding out what Victoria's Secret secret is, I think this experience may have disclosed it.

    Stay with me a few minutes and I will share with you what I think.

    It is something that seems to have been misplaced in our desensitized sexually liberated culture.

    THE SECRET

    Let's say that someone walks up to you and hands you the keys to two different cars. One of those cars is an old Subaru Justy and the other a brand new Ferrari. Do you think you might handle the Ferrari a little different than you would the Justy?

    Of course you would, we all would.

    We would probably wash the Ferrari a lot more. We would probably make sure the Ferrari was garage kept. While we may let just anybody drive the Justy, the Ferrari would be virtually unattainable for anyone to drive.

    What's the difference?

    VALUE!

    We always treat differently what we value.

    That, I believe is Victoria's Secret, secret. For years this franchise has made a living by placing high value on the female anatomy. You can't experience a shopping escapade like the one mentioned above, see all the colors and the different fabrics designed to help a woman feel special, without seeing it.

    THE APPLICATION

    I wonder, have we cheapened the human sexual experience and personally lost the proper placement of value our creator has given our bodies?

    When we show little concern about how we place our bodies on display. When we could care less about leaving anything to the imagination. When our mentors are the people showing the most skin.

    Have we lost the issue of VALUE?

    When program after program on TV reports teenagers engaging in sexual conduct with multiple partners on the back of a school bus. When high-school age kids are admitting to sexual encounters in the double digits before they graduate. When human sexuality is considered little different than an amusement park scream machine that anyone and everyone can ride if they wish.

    Have we lost the issue of VALUE?

    Remember, we always treat differently what we value.

    Are we failing to value sexual intimacy and the bonding it brings to relationships? Are we failing to value the sacredness and oneness such an act produces? Are we failing to realize the lofty value our creator has given our bodies to be able to anatomically take part in the creation process?

    The next time somebody who belongs in a kennel (Snoop Dog) or someone who belongs in a bag (Eminem), through music or actions tries to impress upon you that Girl's Gone Wild actions are where body dignity is found, remember Victoria's Secret. Your body has value, period.

    The value you place on your body will be reflected in how you use it.

    Copyright 2004 by Stanley J. Leffew

    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


    ABOUT THE AUTHOR


    Stanley J. Leffew is the Author of, How To Be Wanted For a Lifetime of Nights and Not Just a Night of a Lifetime. His website is based on this same theme. His site's unique Newsletter takes it's subscriber into The Coffee Shop Of Make-Believe for life and relationship empowerment. The Coffee Shop is OPEN at http://advice-for-lifetime-relationships.com.




    Wednesday, June 3, 2009

    Attract Your Ideal Relationship Using the Law of Attraction

    Michael Losier 2004. You may include this article in your ezine or on your website or distribute it to others, provided you include the copyright statement and the bio information tag line found at the end of this article.

    First, I'll need to explain what Law of Attraction is and how it works. You see, the Law of Attraction states that you'll attract to your life whatever you give your attention, energy and focus to, whether wanted or unwanted--emphasis on the unwanted. The vibes that you put out (also called vibrations) are either negative vibes or positive vibes, and at every moment, the Law of Attraction is responding to the vibes you are offering by giving you more of the same, whether wanted or unwanted.

    If you are curious about what it is that you are offering vibrationally in any area of your life, you simply need to take a look at that area and see what you're getting it's a perfect match. Mentally take a brief inventory of different relationships that you have in your life. For some people, there is a mixture of the kinds of people they have in their lives; some who support and uplift them, and others who are negative. So why do you attract negative people?

    In both of these cases, you're already experiencing the Law of Attraction. As you enjoy and appreciate certain people in your life, in that moment, you are offering positive vibrations. The Law of Attraction is unfolding and orchestrating whatever needs to happen to bring you more of the same. And as you notice and pay attention to the negative people in your life and the things that irritate you about them, you'll see the Law of Attraction unfold to bring you more of the same. By shifting your focus and attention to what you do want, then you'll change the results accordingly.

    Want to know how to attract your ideal mate? Build a list of all the things you didn't like about your current or last mate/partner. This list, we'll call contrast, will help you understand. For example, if your list of negative things about 'past mates' includes someone that doesn't take you to dinner, spend time with you, doesn't uplift you, or spends too much time away travelling, now you'll be able to see why you're attracting this. Your list makes it clear, remembering that whatever you place your attention to, you'll get more of it.

    The Law of Attraction can only bring to you what you give your attention, energy and focus to, so change what you're focusing your attention on by asking yourself, 'What do I want?' When you catch yourself thinking or saying what you don't want, in that very moment, state what you do want. The words and the vibration will change. Remember, you can only hold one vibration at a time, so make it a good one!

    In the example above, if we were to ask, What do you want? after each of those negative statements, our new list would bring us clarity about our ideal mate and would sound like: My ideal mate takes me to dinner often, spends ample time with me, uplifts me, and spends a pleasing amount of time at home. Can you feel the difference? It's this feeling, or vibe that the Law of Attraction is responding to. Make sense? Go ahead and try it. Shift your attention to what you do want and know in that moment the Law of Attraction is responding to your vibration. The results will astonish you.

    For more articles by Michael Losier, Teleclass information or to purchase the book, Law of Attraction, The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't, visit www.LawOfAttractionBook.com.

    About the Author

    Michael Losier, a Law of Attraction Trainer and author, supports people in understanding and practicing the Art of Deliberate Attraction, so they can have more of what they want and less of what they don't. Michael has been applying the principles of Law of Attraction for many years and enjoys a wonderful and rewarding life in the city of Victoria, BC

    Tuesday, June 2, 2009

    Just Thinking


    about thinking. Have you ever thought of that? Thinking about thinking I mean. How do we do that? We humans are absolutely amazing. Heck, I think I could even think about thinking about thinking. Wow! I wonder if nah, I'll let it go at that

    But it is pretty amazing, isn't it? How we can do so many neat, creative things with our minds? We can think about anything we want to. Want to think about an elephant - see an elephant in your head? All we need to do is just let it happen. Hardly any effort at all. In fact, no effort at all when you get right down to it. We don't need to eat any special diet. We don't need to do warm-ups. We don't need to take classes on how to think about an elephant. If we've seen an elephant - real or in pictures - just once with our eyes, we can see it again in our head. Wow!

    What else do you want to think about? OK guys and gals - go ahead. After all it's your thoughts in your heads. (Short pause for purposes of full enjoyment ) Neat, huh? And yeah, I DO know what you were thinking about

    What else? Aw, come on - there must be something else you'd like to think about. Seriously, we can't think about that other stuff all the time. Why? Because we'd hurt ourselves, that's why. We'd be falling off the couch, walking into walls and crashing into other cars. Actually, it's good that our thinkers sort of go on automatic pilot sometimes. Like when we're actually trying to accomplish something like walking or driving. Or maybe eating. It's good that we don't have to think about breathing either. Most of us would forget to do it. Why? Well, probably because we would be thinking about that other stuff. Know what I mean?

    What else? I know. How about going on a thinking vacation? Pick where you want to go. Well go there - in your head, I mean. Do whatever you want to do. See what you want to see. Be with whoever you want to be with. Would it work better if I moved that last sentence back to just before the Do whatever one? OK, help yourself. Better now? (Man, we're never going to move very far away from that other stuff, are we?)

    What else? No, you don't need a pause here. You can go back to your personal thinking vacation later - in fact, any time you want. We'll just move on.

    Here's a suggestion. Since this thinking stuff is pretty cool, why don't you make it a point to set aside some time for you every day to do just that? To just kick back and think. You can think about thinking if you want. Or you can think about your personal vacation. Or yeah, you can think about the other stuff too, if you want. Anything you want to think about. You might even try thinking about who you are and how you got to be where you are and what you'd like to accomplish as you cruise on down life's road. What the heck - give it a shot. You never know what you might come up with. Maybe it could turn out to be something really special. You just never know

    Think about it





    About The Author


    Gene Simmons, through NuPathz.com, provides an easy reading self-help blog, articles, quotations, thoughts and links along with affordable self-help and self improvement books & materials - all designed to help folks find the road to a more enjoyable lifestyle, to pass on some of life's secrets for survival in a chaotic world & offer a few smiles along the way. It's a down-to-earth, simple approach to discovering a better life. You can visit Gene at http://www.nupathz.com/.

    gene@nupathz.com