Thursday, April 30, 2009

The One Great Sermon That Got Away


Most people don't realize ministers are obligated to prepare and preach one great sermon in their career. In looking over my record of sermons, I noticed many good sermons, but an obvious lack in the list of a single great sermon.

Perusing my list brought back some marvelous memories. I smiled as I remembered each sermon and where I preached it. Of course, I'm at that stage of life where the old memory juices don't flow as deep as they once did.

Occasionally, I ran across the odd sermon that didn't really look familiar. I must have preached them because they were on my list, but I had no recollection of them.

Every minister has three kinds of sermons in his repertoire.

(1) Sermons that hold wonderful memories as he reflects back on them. The preacher's main occupation, of course, is preaching. And nothing delights him more than pursuing his occupation with all his might.

When a sermon comes together, it is a magnificent thing. I grant you this doesn't happen often, but when it does it's wonderful.

The bad thing about a really wonderful sermon is you can only preach it one time. To me, this is not fair.

A singer, for example, can sing the same song over and over and over. If it's a really good song, people in the audience will even request it.

My idea of heaven is having people request that I repeat one of my good sermons. To date, no one has made such a request of me, which may mean none are worth repeating.

(2) Sermons he wishes he could forget and hopes everyone else has. Looking over my list of sermons, I was surprised by how many fit this category.

Here's a good example, How to Give in To Your Wife Without Giving Up Your Manhood?

I was 28 at the time and had been married for about seven years. I thought I had a good grasp on this thing called marriage. Also, I thought I had some wisdom to share along this line. If memory serves me correctly, what I thought I knew I didn't.

I do remember the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage setting me straight on that sermon. My manhood was severely challenged and I have never repeated that sermon since.

Here's another sermon I wish I could forget. When Your Get-up and Go Got up and Went, Where Do You Go? I have no idea what I was trying to get at. I sure hope I never run into any former parishioner who remembers this one.

(3) Finally, sermons long forgotten even by the preacher himself. I noted that in 35 years of preaching I had quite a few belonging in this category. As I tried to remember some of these long forgotten sermons one thought struck me.

Where do forgotten sermons go? Is there some holding tank somewhere, filled with forgotten sermons? Is there a sermontoruim for these homiletically-challenged productions?

Still missing from my list was anything resembling a great sermon. Then it hit me.

One sermon got away. How sermons get away from a person varies with each minister. With computers these days, it is not difficult to lose a great sermon. But the sermon I'm thinking of was B.C. (before computers).

It's hard to believe there was a time before computers. Everything had to be written by hand and stored in some filing system. My filing system, before my computer, left much to be desired.

My system did not so much leave much to be desired as to be nonexistent.

I remember this sermon now. It was a special Sunday in our church and the worship program was filled with guests, including a group of singers who were to perform at our service.

I worked for weeks on this sermon and had it worked out pretty good. Everything that belonged to a great sermon was in this sermon. I reworked it until it was as close to perfect as I could possibly make it.

The Sunday arrived and I anxiously anticipated delivering my great sermon. Everything seemed to go right that Sunday. Even the weather cooperated by delivering a splendid day.

Looking back, however, I overlooked one thing. Concentrating so much time in preparing my sermon, I forgot others were participating in the service.

My sermon, as is usually the case, was the last thing on the program. The service started on time and everything progressed very nicely.

Then the musical group got up to sing. They were simply marvelous and the harmony was heavenly. In fact, they were so good they received a standing ovation.

As the custom is, they responded appropriately by singing another song. Again, they received a standing ovation, which in turn resulted in another song ... and another song ... and another song.

By this time, I was nervous. Time to preach my great sermon started 20 minutes ago and there was no indication the musical group sensed the time.

When the last strain of music faded and I stepped to the pulpit, it was time to give the benediction. With as much graciousness as I could command, I pronounced the benediction and dismissed the people.

To this day, nobody knows (except you) that my great sermon got away.

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15 KJV.)





About The Author


James L. Snyder is an award winning author and popular columnist living in Ocala, FL with his wife, Martha.

jamessnyder2@att.net

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

ArthritisFighting Drugs: The Ulcer Connection

If you read these chronicles, you know that I have constantly warned about the dangers of using NSAID's to tackle arthritis pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause serious problems and ulcers are one of them.

When we talk about NSAID's, we can include products like aspirin, Advil, Aleve, Motrin and many more. The newer group of NSAID's is also implicated. I am talking about Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra.

The risk factor for ulcer complications is lower with the last group of prescription drugs but as most of you know, Vioxx was recently pulled from the market because of possible cardiac implications. Of course, the drug companies and the government are taking a closer look at the other two drugs in that category.

Ulcers: No Fun and They can be Yours
Our stomachs have natural bicarbonate that protects us from ulcers. However, the amount of bicarbonate is controlled by prostaglandins and in some parts of your body, they can cause inflammatory responses.
When you listen to television commercials, they talk about Cox-I and Cox-II inhibitors. I am referring to ads for products like Celebrex and Bextra. Now, these two enzymes are in charge of manufacturing prostaglandins. The one that protect your stomach is of the Cox-I type. They control the amount of bicarbonate released into your stomach. The Cox-II type deals with inflammation through prostaglandin production.

The Bextra and Celebrex Connection
This is what I call high-end NSAID's. They are prescription drugs and very expensive. Supposedly, these drugs control inflammation with less stomach irritation or complications. Of course if they follow the course of Vioxx, they will not be on the market much longer either. The point is, these drugs were touted for their ability to control inflammation from arthritis with less stomach complications.

The Use of NSAID's and the Stomach
When you are using an NSAID of any kind, it holds back the ability of your body to produce prostaglandins that protect both your stomach and inflammation. In short, it inhibits your body's ability to offer this protection. So, do you have to suffer with arthritis pain or risk the ulcer?

You have Two Options Available
If you feel you must use an NSAID, and I caution against them, then you should use a product like Prilosec (an over-the-counter antacid); or, Prevacid or Nexium (prescription). These drugs reduce the production of acids and if taken at the same time as an NSAID, reduce the ulcer risk.

Frankly, I am a strong advocate of using a pharmaceutical quality liquid glucosamine. Most osteoarthritis sufferers get great results and there is absolutely no ulcer risk involved. Certainly, there is no risk of cardiac problems associated with using liquid glucosamine.

The choice seems easy to me.

JR Rogers is the owner of Synflex America Inc. makers of Syn-flex, a premium glucosamine arthritis formula for humans and household pets.

The author's statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not provided to diagnose or to suggest that liquid glucosamine and chondroitin will treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author

None

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

If Not Now When?


Copyright 2005 Elisha Burke

How many times have you made excuses for putting off something you really needed or wanted to do? Probably too many times to count. It is all too easy to get in the habit of putting the desires of your heart on hold. You may have been taught to put the needs of others first or that it is selfish to think of your own desires.

Mind you, there is times when it is appropriate and right to put the needs of others first, i.e., children, and others who have a right to depend on you.

Yet, even with that you must not always put yourself last and deny yourself the happiness that comes from doing something for yourself. The truth is, when we do something that brings us fulfillment, it has a positive impact on every area of our lives.Another truth is that if we don't do certain things we greatly desire for ourselves, that feeling of failure and disappointment often negatively impacts our lives. It doesn't have to be that way.

Now is the time to begin a new journey of personal and, perhaps even financial fulfillment. You have within you the ability to change your circumstances. The change begins when you make up your mind to stop putting off those things your really want, and ought to doing for yourself.

Recently, I watched the local news as they featured the story of an 80 year-old man who had just received his high school diploma.This elderly man, now slowed by age walked slowly with his hand outstretched to receive his diploma. The look in his time-worn face was one of sheer joy. It was the joy of at last accomplishing this goal that was obviously of utmost importance to him. This man's high school education had been interrupted by World War II,and later by providing for a family.

Apparently,for decades he held on to that desire. This man had situations in his life the held him back, but they did not stop him.

When it comes to your dreams, your hopes and your desires,what's holding you back?

I don't know what prompted the man in the story to finally do it, but he helps us see the importance of going after our dreams,even if it is a dream delayed. Why don't you take a few moments right now to think about what you want that you have not yet achieved?

It may be a short or long list. In either case, you must decide where to begin. If there is only one thing on the list, then make a decision today to begin the process of reaching that goal.If there are several, then assign each item a number with the most important goal being listed as number one.

One of the goals many of us put off is that of starting a business as a means of achieving financial independence. If having your own home-based online business, getting a new job, losing weight, or whatever is on your agenda I encourage you to start now. If not now, when?





About the author:


Dr. J. E. Burke, a college instructor, has been involved in various business enterprises via his business, Burke Publications for 11 years. Dr. Burke is an educator, writer and motivational speaker on a variety of topics. He is also known for his expertise on nonprofit organizations and grant proposal writing.
Burke Publications
http://burkepublications.com
jeb@burkepublications.com
Copyright 2005 Burke Publications All Rights Reserved






Monday, April 27, 2009

Attitude In Business


Is your attitude pulling you down? Are you an optimist, glass half full, or a pessimist, glass half empty?

We have all experienced ups and downs in life. How we deal with them is what is important. How do you handle them? Do you say this business is not going to work? If so, you're letting your attitude get in the way! When we set our minds to the negative side, we are bound for failure.

Think about the most successful person you know! Ask yourself this, how did that person become successful. Was it because they took every failure and said, I quit, this will never work. Of course not, they analyzed what went wrong, learned from it, and made sure they did not make that same mistake twice. There attitude was not to fail!

The satisfaction and happiness you derive from life depends on your aims, attitude, and actions. Those who wait for life to supply satisfaction and happiness usually end up with boredom and sorrow instead.


Dennis Gaskill

Take a moment and answer these questions.

1.Do you believe the only way to prosperity is to work harder?

2.Do you believe I cannot be my own boss? It will never work for me.

3.Do you believe that others are to blame for your failures?

When I was young, my Dad drilled into my head that there is no such word as can't. He taught me a valuable lesson.

1.When I have a positive attitude, I can be successful in anything I desire to do. Positive any thing is better than negative nothing. Elbert Hubbard

2.Take responsibility for my own actions.

3.Do not blame others for my failures, learn from them, and then try again.

So, how can you change your attitude?

Be aware of your thoughts at all times. Concentration is the power to over come those negative thoughts. Your feelings are what you make them. If you focus on what is missing in your life, you will prolong that lack. Instead switch your thoughts to something positive, reflect about some thing good in your life. Be positive! Be definite!

Just by changing your thoughts, you can change your attitude. Realize that you already have the power in within you to change.

What you can visualize you can achieve! Imagination is one more key to changing your attitude. In the book, Your Psychic Potential, M. J. Abadie states, By understanding you have no limits, and by letting your imagination soar, you contact that part of you that knows you lack absolutely nothing, that all things are possible to you.

Believe in your ability to change! Need I say more?

To change your attitude it will take toil and endurance. YOU CAN DO IT!

I am sure we have heard that adage, Life is what we make it. It is true, life is what we make it! To succeed in any part of our lives, whether it is in business or your personal life, we have to have a positive outlook, no matter what might come! Being negative will pull you down into despair! Which one will you chose?

You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.


Ziggy Marley


William C. Wilson Sr.


Is an Independent SFI Marketing Group Representative


http://www.great-homebusiness.com


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Banishing Hannibal Lecter Personalities From Your Life

We all know them. We all have somebody like them at our workplace. Some of us have them as our neighbor. Some are related to them. Gosh - some poor souls even live with them. So who are these people I speak of?

What I am talking about are the Hannibal Lecters of society. Toxic people.

Toxic people enjoy telling you every reason why you can't or shouldn't do something. Tell them an idea and they will tell you it's no good. They hope that you won't achieve more than they can and really don't want you to succeed. They whine, they complain, they spread rumors, they are prone to ugly moods - a thundercloud follows their every move. They are the doomsayers. I'll bet you already have someone like this in mind as you read these very words.

Unlike the Hannibal Lecter of Silence of the Lambs fame, toxic people are not trying to eat your flesh. No. Toxic people want to consume other things - your confidence, your self-esteem, your dreams, your ambitions, your goals, your desires. I think you get the picture.

The best thing you can do if you find yourself in the presence of one of these people is to run, hide, make other plans. Just get away from them as fast as you can. The least amount of time you spend with them the better.

Toxic people will attempt to indoctrinate you with huge amounts of negative input in a very short space of time, so it is imperative that you limit your time with them. They are easy to recognize. Their language gives them away. Every time they open their mouth out comes a litany of everything that is wrong with them, you, the world and other people.

Recognizing positive and negative personality traits is one of the skills of personal development. Many excellent books exist on this subject but there are none better than Personality Plus written by Florence Littauer.

In her book, Florence Littauer defines personality traits. In it you will learn how to get along with the four main personality types, and the multiple combinations of them. I have had the privilege of hearing Florence speak and she is a truly gifted author and presenter.

By understanding your own personality traits and those of other people you will enhance your ability to get along with those who are important to you. If you are a Human Resource Officer, a General Manager, a salesperson, or just somebody who likes to get along with other people, what would this skill be worth to you?

Guard yourself against the Hannibal Lecter's of this world. Your life will be so much more fulfilling without their destructive influence.

About the author: Gary Simpson is the Course Co-ordinator for the Life, Journey, Destiny - Personal Development Home Study Course and the author of How to Stop Wasting Your Life and Start Getting What You Want. His email address is budo@iinet.net.au. The website containing this article and others is located at Motivation & Self Esteem for Success.

[If you like this article and would like to use it on your own website or ezine you may do so ONLY if the article is not changed in any way and the final paragraph: About the author, with all links intact, is included.

About the Author

Gary Simpson is the Course Co-ordinator for the Life, Journey, Destiny - Personal Development Home Study Course and the author of How to Stop Wasting Your Life and Start Getting What You Want. His email address is budo@iinet.net.au. The website containing this article and others is located at Motivation & Self Esteem for Success.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Battling cancer


Battling Cancer is a tough time in anyone's life. Perhaps the toughest. That's why we've decided to write this article on how to care for yourself during radiation for Breast Cancer.



It very important to properly care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer. Keep in mind that after radiation you could feel fatigued for up to six weeks. Sleep as much as you like during this time - one thing you really need is your rest.



Also, make sure after radiation that you wear a comfortable bra. Making sure your bra fits properly and doesn't rub in any way is all part of good care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer. If a part of your bra rubs place a soft cloth between the bra and your skin.



Weight loss can be a problem after radiation treatment. In order to properly care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer make sure you eat a balanced diet. This will help you to avoid weight loss and keep your energy levels as high as possible.



Keep the skin fold area under your breast clean and talk to your doctor before using any powders, lotions, deodorants or perfumes. As part of your care for yourself during breast cancer radiation you need to make sure you are not using any products that might react with your skin at this time or do something to affect the radiation treatment in any way. Because of this it is best to avoid deodorants. Deodorants contain magnesium, and this can inhibit the effectiveness of the radiation treatment. To avoid reactions with the treated area, also avoid starching your clothes.



As part of care for yourself during radiation for breast cancer bathe the treated area in lukewarm water. This is because hot and cold water can damage your skin.




Article by health writer Kate Wiley of http://www.healthy-shopper.com Health in 1 http://www.health-in-1.com

and Advice on Health http://www.advice-on-health.com




You may use this article on your website providing you include the above

author bio and active link to our health sites.



About the author:



Kate and Phil Wiley run the popular health sites http://www.healthy-shopper.com Health in 1 http://www.health-in-1.com

and Advice on Health http://www.advice-on-health.com





Friday, April 24, 2009

Ten healthcare fields that can't wait to hire you.


Healthcare is one of the hottest career fields in America today. The aging and retiring of the largest population segment in the country, known as aby boomers, has left the healthcare industry racing to find enough employees to fill the void. Advances in medical technology and treatment are causing people to live longer as well. Add the fact many universities and colleges don't have enough teachers to train new employees; there becomes a ripe market for healthcare careers.

You would be amazed how many types of healthcare careers there are available. This article will discuss three main categories; patient care, non-patient care and operations. We'll also discuss an amazing new trend with tremendous opportunity - home health.

Three main healthcare jobs in the category of patient care are nursing, medical assisting and dental hygiene.

Nursing consists mainly of direct patient care, but this can take place in a hospital, private doctor's office, or an institution like a school, ski resort or cruise ship. With additional education or experience, some nurses become nurse managers, shift supervisors, epidemiologists, or counsel to insurance companies and law offices.

Medical assistants primarily provide patient care; performing routine medical functions to free up the time of the doctor. In the past, some of these medical services could only be provided by doctors. Medical assistants administer medication, take vital signs and update medical history.

Dental hygienists perform a similar function to medical assistants, only in a dentist's office. A hygienist will clean teeth, advise patients on proper dental health and assist dentists with more complex procedures. The outlook for this profession is excellent, with demand far outpacing supply.

Many non-patient care positions also exist in the healthcare field.

Medical coding is one such profession. Medical coders must know terminology and how to read a patient's chart. They update medical records every time a patient receives healthcare. Some upward mobility is available in management. Many people secure a job as a coder as a way to subsidize further medical education.

Medical office administration is another healthcare position that doesn't involve patient care. These positions answer phones, coordinate with hospitals and check in/out patients. Moves to office management or medical coding/billing are advancement opportunities. Some people also use this position to further their education.

Healthcare institutions are a large employer of operational positions as well.

Information technology professionals are in strong demand since hospitals utilize state of the art databases to store patient's medical and billing records. Database administrators and web programmers are a vital part of a hospital's daily operations.

Medical billing and administration is another key component of healthcare operations. Medical facilities hire for billing positions, collections and administrative support. Special courses / experience are required in medical terminology and billing to obtain these types of jobs.

A rapidly growing sector of healthcare where all of these positions are required is that of home health. In the next six years, Medicare funding of home healthcare is expected to double. Over 7.6 million patients are being treated at home for both long term and short term care. Home healthcare is considered by the medical field and health insurers to be the most cost effective, humane and compassionate method of care.

The shortage of experienced healthcare workers in the United States is creating a boom for people who want to enter this field. There are many career options including positions that involve patient care and those that don't. The current shortage of employees has created excellent starting salaries, generous benefits and signing bonuses.

For more information on how you can get the proper training, go here www.top-colleges.com.


Max Stein, Salt Lake City, UT, USA


http://www.degreesource.com/articles


Max Stein is a freelance writer who writes about business, education and marketing.


For daily updates, read our blog at http://degreesource.blogspot.com


Are you in search of the most informative help with referenc


Are you in search of the most informative help with reference to echinacea.
Sometimes when you're trying to find high-class information on echinacea, you'll find it's complex extricating the best information from unprofessional echinacea suggestions and directions so it's best to know ways of moderating the information presented to you.

Find echinacea
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Here's a few tips that we think you should use when you're searching for information about echinacea. Understand that the guidance we offer you is only applicable to internet advice about echinacea. We are unable to offer any guidance or advice when you are also conducting research offline.

Look for echinacea
Find echinacea at one of the best sites the Internet has to offer!



A great tip to pursue when you're presented with help and advice regarding a echinacea web site is to find out who owns the site. This may reveal the operators echinacea identifications The easiest way to work out who is at the back of the echinacea site is to look for the 'about' page.

Any reputable site providing information concerning echinacea, will nearly always have a 'contact', or an 'about', page which will list the people behind the site. The details should let you know some indication about the website owner's expertise. This enables you to make an assessment about the webmaster's depth of experience, to give recommendations about echinacea.




About the author:



Kevin Temp is the webmaster for http://www.eczema-cures.info






Thursday, April 23, 2009

Ten Ways To Make Peace With The Past And Create A New Future


Everyone comes into life with a purpose. You are a unique expression of the universal life force at the foundation of your physical form. Spirit guides you from the moment your life begins, and the people and events of your life reflect your spirit's journey. No one else ever has or will affect the world as you do. With every act, word or thought, you are adding to All-That-Is.

Your family is your first and most influential bond. What you learn from them colors the the way you see yourself and the world. As a child, your physical helplessness makes you dependent on the people closest to you for survival. Too often those relationships are destructive instead of supportive. The family you join already has tendencies: patterns, beliefs, and attitudes which they expect you to share. Going along gets you what you need, so you adapt to fit in. But when you ignore your instincts, you don't feel right. You create the opposite of what you intend.

The good news is you don't have to be a victim of your upbringing. Although a dysfunctional family can crush your self-esteem, confuse you, and wreck your relationships, the distortion of your natural instincts can be reversed. Your problems can show you what you don't want and inspire you to go after what you'd rather have, so you can set yourself free to become the person you want to be and create the life you dream of.

Surviving a dysfunctional family doesn't necessarily mean getting along better with your relatives. You make peace with the past by treating difficult situations, thoughts, and feelings as opportunities to unravel the knots in your heart and mind that keep you from realizing your dreams. You create a new future by drawing on your innate wisdom to help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. When you do your best, you tap into a power that's been within you all along, in even the worst circumstances, even when you weren't aware of it.

No matter what happens, trust that what you go through will enlighten you. Don't be discouraged. The most important thing is dedication to trying new things and learning from your experience. Change doesn't happen overnightit comes little by little, more and more, deepening your ability to love, create, and make a difference personally and in society.

So how do you go about doing this? Here are ten ways to spark change in your life and relationships:

1. SET A NEW COURSE

Finding your own preferences

Your new course is first an internal one, which paves the way for external changes. If you're not satisfied with your life as it is, start by imagining that it can get better. What happens in your life is largely up to you, so make it a priority to figure out how to create what you want.

Take time every day to think about what you want. Be willing to try new things. Pay close attention to ideas and feelings that light you up. Courage is accepting reality as it is and working with it to create what you want. Allow yourself to feel excited about your possibilities. What you dedicate yourself to, you can create.

2. TRUST YOUR INTUITION

Tapping into your inner wisdom

When you hear the little voice of wisdom inside, listen. Within you is a guidance system that makes itself known through your ideas and emotions. Trust it. Life can be confusing, and some people do try to manipulate you in devious ways. If something doesn't feel right, it may mean that it's not for you.

Wonder about why not, and what you'd like instead. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Your instinct leads you to where you need to go at the perfect moment for the best results. Stand your ground. Believe in yourself in the face of criticism. No one else can tell you what you need or want. Have good intentions. Don't second-guess yourself. Do what you think is best at the moment.

3. LOOK FOR A SILVER LINING

Developing a positive attitude

Spirit underlies everything. You are part of the universal creative energy. You didn't come here to prove your worth or to find a problem and fix it. You came to express your talents and abilities, to realize your dreams. What you experience depends on how you look at it. How you interpret things plays a large part in shaping your behavior and how others treat you. Search for the positive. Focusing on the negative dulls your energy and ability to cope.

No matter how bad a situation seems, find something in it to appreciate. Ask yourself, what good could come from this? What can I learn here? The answers you get show you what to do next. You already have inside you the resources to make peace with the past and create a new future. You just have to learn how to use them.

4. TAKE A STEP BACK

Separating motivation from unconscious patterns

Be on the lookout for destructive habitual patterns. Noticing is the first step to breaking them. Don't fight them, just observe your thoughts and feelings. The deeper you go, the more you unravel the stuck places in your heart and mind. Bring spirit into the process by inviting metaphysical help in any form that works for you.

Be influenced by others' opinions only if they inspire you. Criticism may be only an automatic response based in the critic's own fears. You don't have to convince anyone of your right to have your life as you want it.

5. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

Developing effective communication

Tell the truth. Be kind. A little goes a long way. Speak carefully. Emphasize the positive. Say good things, especially to yourself. Be aware of your effect on others. Don't assume you're being understoodcheck it out. When you realize you've made a mistake, apologize, face to face if possible so you can look the other person in the eye. Don't interrupt. Don't give advice unless you're asked. Don't gossip. It wastes time you could be using to empower yourself.

Choose your battles. If someone gets angry at you, stop doing whatever triggers them no matter how right you think you are, until you can find a better way to communicate. Why make yourself a target? Know when to shut up or decline to answer. Watch what you listen to. Don't dismiss different points of view. Pay attention not only to what someone saystry to understand why they're saying it. Don't put up with disrespect, manipulation or negative thinking from anyone, including yourself.

6. DON'T KEEP SCORE

Setting your own standards

Life isn't about success or failure. Although both teach valuable lessons, fulfilling your potential is the essential goal. Adversity can develop strength. If a dream sours, let it go without judgment or remorse. Assume it's no longer relevant, and look for new options. Even a losing battle can be a stepping-stone to a better situation. Accepting change brings peace of mind.

7. NO VICTIMS, NO VILLAINS

Every situation brings exactly what you need to wake up

Relationships are like jigsaw puzzles. All the pieces fit together to create the whole. You are not responsible for anyone else, nor are they for you. There's no guilt, no blame, no shame. Allow things to be as they are. Accept each moment as if you'd chosen it.

If someone hurts you, look for what you can learn from it. Holding a grudge drains your energy. Forgiveness doesn't mean it was okay with you; it means releasing the person's power to upset you. You may never forget, but letting go of resentment is more productive. This goes double for forgiving yourself.

8. MEDITATE AND TREAT YOURSELF WELL

Nurture yourself

Make time to have fun and enjoy life. Take walks in nature. Spend time alone. Exercise, rest and eat when you need to, and drink lots of water. Something as simple as a warm bath or good stretch can do wonders in improving your perspective. Laugh. Let yourself dream your fondest dreams.

Celebrate your successes, big and small. Meditation calms your conscious thinking mind, and helps you access your inner wisdom. Counting your breaths is the basic form, or you can silently repeat a soothing word or phrase like peace or well-being. When your mind wanders, and it will, just bring your focus back and start over. Even ten minutes a day can make a difference.

9. GET OUTSIDE HELP

See beyond your blind spots

Get counseling, either by yourself or with family members. It helps to talk about your feelings, no matter how embarrassing, strange or awful they seem to you. Find someone you trust and feel compatible with, and be willing to pour your heart out. An objective outsider can clear up confusion and help you set your creative energy free.

Examine both sides of any issue. Don't follow advice blindly, but do explore ideas that make sense to you to see what happens. Join a group of people with similar interests or circumstances to yours. Try art, sports, music, or dance for fun and/or therapy. Read self-help books. Most have at least some helpful nuggets, and can reassure you that you're not alone. Don't expect The Answer, but serve yourself a variety of ideas to take or leave as you like.

10. MOVE ON

Graduate to living fully

Respect your own boundaries. Your first commitment should be to yourself and to learning as much as possible from what happens to you. Only when you're at peace with yourself can you make a real contribution to anyone. Live your own truth, be honorable, and intend the best for everyone, including yourself. Trying to change someone is futile, no matter how much you care, or how badly you think they need it. You have no control over what anyone else feels or thinks. Do what you can, and do your best, but not at your own expense.

Working things through can be healing when there's mutual respect, but if you feel hopeless, scapegoated, threatened or frantic, retreat may be the only appropriate choice, at least for the moment. It could be as basic as leaving the room briefly, or as extreme as ending the relationship or moving away. But be open to the possibility that the problem person may surprise you. Your changes alter the context of the relationship, so eventually they may come to treat you differently. If so, you may want to renew the relationship, but don't rush into it until you're confident that things have changed. To leave your mark on future generations, pass along what you learn.

I wish you healing, faith and the courage to make your dreams come true.





About The Author


Suzanne Gold (MA, Psychology), The Family Fixer, (Pacific Sun) is a life counselor, spiritual coach, teacher, and author of Daddy's Girls, Gold Medal winner in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards. A survivor of a dysfunctional family, Suzanne teaches workshops, college seminars, and in private practice. For more information, go to http://www.SuzanneGold.com or email Suzanne@SuzanneGold.com

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as it is kept intact, including the brief bio, website information, and this copyright line (c)2005 Suzanne Gold. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Catnip

ADDICTION: - There are numerous obsessions and addictions which prevent the soul from healing or achieving its potential. Father Leo Booth and John Bradshaw have written a book on religion as an addiction that I have quoted in many other books so I will present another side to the issue here.

A Priest's Confession

Over the years I've had a number of different opportunities to visit the Province of Quebec in eastern Canada. In fact, at one time I was betrothed to a woman named Louise from Sherbrooke, but the marriage never took place because of our sharp differences regarding birth control (she was for it, and I was very much opposed to it). No doubt more control and macho issues were involved. If the Churchians actually believed in the soul they would want to make sure every soul had a good basis for this life development. They would know the soul is immortal and the flesh is just matter. If they thought we all are part of God rather than the Pope being the Lord's sole representative they would know the collective or Divine Providence requires all soul's to help. Please refer to Jesus in John 10:34.

During one particular trip to Montreal, I visited in the company of a Quebecois friend of mine at the Catholic parochial school. Our Lady of Pompeii Elementary on the city's north side. I can still recall the numerous crucifixes on the wall of every classroom Fear mongering abounds and few if any priests know about mandalas and the antiquity of the cross. and the statues of the patron saint in the corridors. When the principal entered a classroom with my friend and me, every student would stand and bid us good morning in unison (in French, of course). How about that? Talk about robots?! The Family Compact would be proud. Twice a week, we were informed, homeroom teachers, all of them good Catholics, set aside multiplication tables and the study of vertebrates and turned their attention to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Father Jean-Pierre Morin, the priest who then presided over this private parochial school, was an amiable host and quite friendly. We took lunch with him in the school cafeteria and visited in his private office for several hours afterwards. Ever on the prowl for useful and effective remedies, I asked him at some point in our lengthy conversations if he knew anything on this subject.

The good father folded his hands out of habit (probably from the frequent praying) Could be spelt 'preying'. and soberly mused on the subject for a minute or two before responding. 'Yes,' he finally said with a sift smile, 'I have one for you that is very personal and that I know, for a fact, works!' He then proceeded to share with us the following story.

'When I was a young man I became addicted to some very bad substances, which I found myself unable of shaking.' He wouldn't even say what they were. 'When I would try to quit them for a few days or even a week, it just seemed as if my body gave in to these wicked appetites and I went right back to using them again.
'About this time I determined to enter the priesthood, Thus it was not an alcohol addiction and one might suggest a form of hallucinogen. take my vows with the church, and live the rest of my life serving God. I went down to the Immaculate Conception Church in the heart of this city and there knelt before the statues of the Virgin Mary and Christ and pleaded for their assistance. It seemed as if the Virgin Mother spoke to my mind, for I heard a female voice say ever so quietly in my head, 'Go use catnip and you will be cured of this affliction.'

'To be honest with you. I didn't even know at the time what this was. But upon making some inquiries, I soon learned it was an herb. But I was faced with another dilemma. Even though I knew which herb was right for my problem, I didn't know how to use it. Was I to eat it raw? Was I to make a tea out of it? Was I to soak it in alcohol and use it as a tincture that way? Or were gelatin capsules of the dried powder the way to go?

I tried each and every possibility and soon discovered that the hot tea was the best course to follow. In about a quart of boiling water I would put one good-sized handful of the cut fresh catnip Contains acetic acid, biotin, buteric acid, choline, citral, folic acid and vitamin A as well as many B vitamins including B6 and 12 which are useful in dealing with lycanthropy and other obsessive hallucinatory events. herb and let it simmer for a few minutes before setting it aside to steep a while. I would then pour myself a couple of cups of this brew while it was still quite warm and sip it down whenever the craving came over me for more of these addictive substances.

'I was amazed, quite frankly, at just how well this tea worked. My withdrawal symptoms were nowhere near what they used to be before. I sincerely believe that the good Virgin Mother used this common herb to help me overcome my addiction. I then entered the priesthood where I've served with honor and distinction ever since.' He concluded.

I looked up at him from my note-taking and asked with a smile, 'I believe this is the first time I've ever heard a priest confess to a commoner and non-Catholic.' All three of us enjoyed a hearty laugh following this remark. (1)

For people who do not know the extent of control exerted by the Catholic Church in Canada and especially Quebec I highly recommend looking into the Pauline Principle as detailed in the Catholic Encyclopedia before checking out arranged marriages and all the man ways they get money from companies and force people to act according to their materialistic designs. My father was with the Judge-Advocate General Corps after the cessation of hostilities in Europe and stayed for the Nuremberg Trial of Kurt Mayer. He told of many stories where men sending all their pay back to the wife in Quebec or other Eastern Provinces had found the church had taken the children away from the mother and were using these funds (Often augmented by Black Market efforts headed by the later Governor-General and including my father.). The church would say the woman was 'running around' and in one case the man went AWOL and was up on charges because he tried to free his children and his wife who he had an understanding with about the so-called 'running around'. Of course now we know, and the courts have shown - the church was mightily involved in many other serious and immoral acts.

About the Author

Weak people leading weak people to ddo bad things in the name of God are the most significnt cause of the War on Terra.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Be A Star In Your Own Life

Do you have the charactertics to be star in your own life?
What characteristics below do you have or don't have
already? Give each item a rating from 1 to 10 with 10 being
you have these charactertics 100%.



1. Believe anything is possible. The universe is your
oasis, see everything as vast within a reachable horizon.
Keep raising your ceiling every day. Believe in yourself and
others will believe in you. Everything is a mirror and
others can only be a reflection back of that mirror. When
you think it will work, then it will work. Who do you want
people to see when they look into your mirror?



2. Know your talents and focus on them in order to be star.
Talent is not ability or skill. Talent are your gifts from
God. Look up the words talent, ability, and skill in a
dictionary and learn the difference. You need to name it in
order to claim it. To find your talent, find the consistent
patterns that have yearned throughout your life, the things
you have always gravitated to. Define yourself in terms of
potential value you bring to the world. Ask, What gives me
a burning sense of fulfillment?



3. Just like a star in the sky, gas and dust built that
star and made it shine. The star chooses only the right
gas, the right dust to bring into its building process.
There are tons of choices (gas) and elements (dust) that are
swirling all around you. Use only the specific types that
will help you form your star.



4. Be selfish when it comes to fueling your talents and
your dreams. Do things that please you. Have daily call to
actions that make you tingle and smile.



5. The smallest participles deliver big results. Big
things emerge from the smallest actions. Focus on the
little things whenever the big things aren't apparent.



6. Trust and use your instincts fully. Use heavy
discernment regarding comments from others. Never under
estimate your competition.



7. Burning rage is the difference in saying you want
something and continually acting as if you do. You succeed
only to the level of your hottest burning rage. Anger is not
burning rage. Rage provides a sense of fulfillment when
accomplished, it makes you happy and smile. Rage is one
click past passion and desire. Rage has no fear and failure
isn't an option. Rage propels you out of your comfort zone.
Rage is a level of continual commitment that makes a
superstar. Rage keeps you alert, highly aware. It keeps
you looking for a new path, especially one that isn't
blocked. Rage attracts like-minded positive people. It
should propel you into action.



8. Make and bake your own breaks. Be ready for the
audition at any moment. Be the President of your own fan
club. Who is drawn to you -- who are your biggest fans and
why? Be the last one standing. Be a great pitcher. Work
smart and hard, be prepared, and be available.



9. Be comfortable with change. Choose to be comfortable
with being uncomfortable. It's hard to stand out when
you're fitting in.



10. Turn any disadvantage in an advantage. Setbacks are
only setups for something else.



(c) Copyright Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.


About the Author: Catherine Franz is a trained life and business coach veteran
with experience in a variety type of businesses. Other
articles: http://www.abundancecenter.com. Or blog, Out of
the Blog, Into the Light http://abundance.blogs.com. She is
a columnist, author, speaker and trainer.


Source: www.isnare.com

Monday, April 20, 2009

Attitude Positive!

In his book The Winning Attitude, John C. Maxwell, noted author and speaker tells us that attitude is:

The advance man of our true selves
Has inward roots but outward fruits
Is our best friend or worst enemy
Is more honest and more consistent than our words
Is an outward look based on past experiences
Is a think which draws people to us or repels them
Is never content until it is expressed
Is the librarian of our past
Is the speaker of our present
Is the prophet of our future

Your attitude, or your willingness to think positively, affects many peoplefrom your family to the stranger you smile at in the grocery store. An optimist will see opportunity in difficulties, while a pessimist will see difficulty in opportunities.

You must choose which you will focus on: if you choose poorly, you will doom yourself to never achieving your goals and being successful. Count on that.

So how do you begin to think positively if you're a natural pessimist? I don't really believe there ARE natural pessimists, just people who have been taught how to consider the darkest side of every cloud.

You cannot change the fact that a problem exists, but you can do a lot to determine what opportunity is within that problem. Begin to see that problems are a fact of life and that your job is to find a way over, around, under, or through themas quickly as possible. When you're upbeat and consider how quickly a problem will be behind you, it's easy to be optimistic.

Cynicism is another killer when it comes to attitude. It's a cousin of pessimismit considers everything suspect and everyone as having an ulterior motive. It never looks at someone handing you a piece of candy just to be nice, it always considers that there is a reason you're being handed the candy and the motivation of the person who's giving it.

Cynicism comes from having unrealistic expectations. Many people expect great and wonderful things to happen to them with little-to-no work on their parts. They expect things to fall from the sky in to their laps. When it doesn't happen as they expect, they become suspicious of others who have achieved success and ultimately, cynical.

You must harness the power of your thoughts and words when setting your course for success. Use positive affirmations daily: remind yourself that a stumbling block is temporary and that you will overcome it; admit to yourself that you are courageous and able to move on when others cannot; agree with your vision for your life and your goals.

As you discipline yourself to do this, you will find optimism and positive thinking chasing you down the street. And who couldn't use these two friends when we're aiming for success?
To learn other ways to improve yourself visit the
http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com site.
Help Yourself While Helping Others In Need. 10% Of All Proceeds Are Donated To Help Support The National Children's Cancer Society.

About the Author

Willie Krut is the core provider of selection of self help products that truly help people to improve their life, health and career. Subscribe to a free Willie's Newsletter, visit the
http://www.welcome-to-self-improvement.com site.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Sticky Facts About Minor Wound Care


(NC)-You probably think you know all the facts when it comes to the topic of minor wound care - if you cut your finger, just dab a tissue on it and you're ready to go! Unfortunately it is not as simple as that. Minor wounds deserve special treatment in order to heal most efficiently and minimize the appearance of scars. So before you peel off that bandage make sure you know the difference between the facts and the misconceptions on minor wound care.

Misconception: It is best to let a minor wound heal over with a scab.

Fact: Scabs actually impede the healing process by creating a barrier between healthy skin cells. The cells have to work their way under the scab in order to form new tissue and heal. Scabs can also be easily torn or scratched, causing re-injury.

Misconception: It is best to let a wound reathe or air out.

Fact: The best way to protect a wound is to cover it with a bandage until fully healed. Bandages that absorb a wounds fluid and maintain a natural moisture balance are ideal for healing and enables skin cells to migrate together to form new tissue.

Misconception: It is best to leave a wound uncovered.

Fact: Covering a wound with bandages is essential to wound care: a bandage provides extra cushioning and protection from any re-injury that may occur, as well as preventing exposure to water, germs and dirt.

With Canadians' safety in mind, a variety of advanced care products have been created to treat all minor wounds, including BAND-AID Brand Hurt-Free™ Antiseptic Wash - a cleanser featuring an anesthetic to help ease the throbbing of minor wounds - and BAND-AID Brand Water Block Plus™ Finger-Wrap - designed to stay on fingers when wet. For more information on first care contact the BAND-AID Brand website at www.bandaid.com.

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial fill items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.





Saturday, April 18, 2009

Concepts Of Skin Care


The concept of beauty itself has undergone such a transformation, that it is little wonder that the change has been felt in the field of cosmetology as well. The emphasis has gradually shifted from camouflage of defects, to a more comprehensive art, which involves both preventive and corrective care of the skin.



It is founded on the idea that many skin problems can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions; believing in other words, in the maxim that 'prevention is better than cure.' Attention is also being paid to the ingredients in cosmetics, to achieve the best results. Refer http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-care.htm for complete skin care routine and tips.



Skin care concept #1. Growing old, Staying young



One factor that has influenced the modern approach to beauty is the human desire to delay all signs of ageing for as long as possible. And no other organ of the body reveals age as much as the skin does. For complete detail on dry skin (see http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/dry-skin-remedy.htm) , for oily skin ( http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/oily-skin-remedy.htm ) , for sensitive skin ( http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/sensitive-skin-care.htm ) . Modern skin has changed all this. Today, a person whose good looks have proved durable, need not depend on heredity or a substantial bank balance. Skin care is now within the reach of everyone. All one needs is an awareness of the methods and products that are available, and relate them to individual needs.



Skin care concept #2. Moisture is Life



As knowledge about the skin and its cosmetic needs have grown, it has been found that aged and prematurely aged skins have one thing in common - a lack of moisture. A youthful skin, on the other hand, is soft and moist, proving how important moisture is to the skin. The amount of moisture that the skin holds determines its texture to a great extent - weather it is soft and smooth, or dry, rough, creepy and covered with fine lines. The skin loses moisture to the environment, when humidity is low, or is lowered by artificial means. Make your own homemade moisturizers easily learn how - http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/homemade-moisturizer.htm



Skin care concept #3. Essential 4-step Skin care routine



Learn it here http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-step.htm



Skin care concept #4. Prevention is better than Cure



Between prevention and corrective care, the former is much simpler and less time-consuming. Corrective skin-care, of course, spells hope for people with specific problems that detract from beauty. With preventive care, the earlier you start, the better and longer lasting are the results. The texture of one skin is different form another and so are its other characteristics. Get all information on skin types at http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-type.htm . Therefore, its needs are also different.



For the detail and depth knowledge of all skin problems and their treatments refer http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/skin-disorders.htm . Cosmetics Diary - http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com is comprehensive guide to skin care and skin disorders information.



Garima Jain

For http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website.



Copyright Garima Jain - http://www.cosmetiocsdiary.com



Friday, April 17, 2009

What's the Difference Between an Auto Mechanic and a Medical

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reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,
offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long
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resource box below is included.
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What's the Difference Between an Auto Mechanic and a
Medical Surgeon?

By Stephen Bucaro

Doctors in West Virginia refused to treat patients because
of rising medical malpractice insurance premiums. A
majority of doctors in most other states are cutting back
on patient care because of rising malpractice insurance
premiums. I have a riddle for those doctors: What's the
difference between an auto mechanic and a medical surgeon?
Answer: An auto mechanic doesn't leave his tools inside
the object he worked on!

A study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and
Harvard School of Public Health found that surgeons ignore
the standard practice of counting the surgical tools before
and after an operation, resulting in tools being left
inside the bodies of 1,500 people each year. The actual
number of people with surgical tools left inside their
bodies is much higher because hospitals are not required to
report mistakes.

Surgeons leave clamps, electrodes, sponges and other
surgical tools inside the bodies of people. In several
cases, 11 inch metal retractors where left inside people.
Sometimes the people didn't know that a surgical tool had
been left inside their body. Many of the tools where found
in later surgeries.

The surgical tools left inside people often cause
obstructions, tissue damage, or cause infections. The
individuals are then required to endure additional surgery
to remove the surgical tools. Claiming easons of privacy,
researchers withheld information about people that died
from complications caused by surgical tools left inside
their bodies.

Maybe medical malpractice insurance premiums wouldn't be so
high if the doctors stayed awake and alert during surgery,
or if they at least followed the standard medical practice
of counting the surgical tools before and after an
operation. I think the doctors are correct to refuse to
treat patients. If they don't treat any patients, they can't
leave their surgical tools inside peoples bodies!
----------------------------------------------------------
Resource Box:
Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain
your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web
site and make money on the Web visit
http://bucarotechelp.com
To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank
email to bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com
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About the Author

None

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Creating Balance Form the Inside Out


When I was younger, my mother and other adults used to say The older you get, the faster life will go, and my younger self would think, Maybe for some people, but not for me. But, as much as I thought I would be immune from this route, they were right, life is moving faster and faster the older I get. As an adult and as a life coach, I often hear the exclamation I just want to slow my life down so I can figure out what I really want and maybe smell the roses a bit more along the way.

As we get older, we tend to get caught up in all our grown up responsibilities. Kids, career, significant other, friends, housework, holidays, taking care of the yard, volunteer work, meetings, appointments, changing the oil on the car, etc All leaving us so tapped that it's hard to imagine fitting in any time for ourselves. Or when we do, we're too tired and settle for vegging out in front of the TV. Before we know it, another year has passed and we never got around to living that great life we are always hoping for.

Then we hear about this thing called life balance and wonder if that could be the ticket out of this chaotic life and into a life that more resembles our own deepest desires, hopes and dreams from years ago.

When thinking about this topic, I realized that many of my clients come to me to create more balance in their lives, or with issues that are symptoms of an unbalanced life, like job dissatisfaction, time management, stress reduction, lack of motivation, no time for self, a search for meaning, etc

I have found through research and discovery that there are essentially two ways to approach having a balanced life. We can choose to approach life balance from the outside in or from the inside out. The first approach is to drive yourself even crazier by trying to achieve an illusive, mythical, and societal ideal of balance. You might recognize this one. It's the approach where you take a certain amount of time each day or week and allot it to each area of life (e.g., work =8 hours, exercise= 0.45 hours, family=2.6 hours, etc). This works for a day or two until something unexpected comes up and takes you completely out of your routine and back to feeling out of balance. It's the approach where we really believe the influences of the media and our culture that we can do it all-work, home, family and get enough sleep! This approach is also the one where our culture demands that women be both professional high achievers and traditional June Cleaver moms/wives and makes you feel as if at any moment, if we do something wrong, we are judged as inadequate and once again a complete failure in either department.

Wow, it makes you despise the words life balance doesn't it? This approach is surprisingly touted by many well-meaning self-help professionals. It is an approach based on shoulds (things you think you ought to want), judgment (from self and others), and ignores the fact that the achievement of a whole picture perfect life is entirely unrealistic.

The second, more sane approach to life balance, is to not let ourselves be influenced by cultural ideals and social pressures, to stop comparing ourselves to others with unequal situations, and to recognize that balance is not static, but dynamic and constantly in motion, like our lives. That it's a process, not an accomplishment, and it requires some flexibility!

When I was young, I had a unicycle. In order to balance in one spot I had to make continual adjustments and compensations to keep from falling over. Balance in our lives is the same way. Sometimes we need to devote a lot of attention to one area of our life (a sick family member, a special project at work, a vacation), and sometimes we need to pull back, re-direct our attention or make a different decision before we fall over. When I would lose my balance, did that mean I couldn't get back on and resume balancing? Of course not. Life is like this. We just keep adjusting, redirecting and making better decisions. If we don't-we fall and crash, and then we are forced to make a change.

We can't judge how balanced our lives are by looking at one day, or even one week. We have to keep the big picture in mind and seek balance from within. On the whole, are you achieving what you want in each area of your life? If not, what kind of adjustments are you willing to make? What expectations are you trying to fulfill that are not your own? Ask yourself, What is the best use of my time today?, and decide to go for a walk instead of watching another reality show on TV.

Balance is not cookie cutter in any way. What is a balanced life for one person might be completely unacceptable to another. When we find balance on our own terms, from within, we replace conformity with honesty, judgment with kindness, turn shoulds into wants, and create a joyful, unconventional kind of balance that is perfect for us.






About The Author


Debra Betterly, Ph.D. is a Life Coach whose specialty is midlife mastery. This article is derived from her newsletter, Second Acts, a spirit-mind-body approach for women re-inventing the second half of life. Please visit www.amazingjouneycoach.com to subscribe to this free monthly eZine and also to learn more about her program Put Your Dream to Work and her eBook Awakening the Spirit Within to Create Your Best Life. You can also email her at amazingjourney@charter.net.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Getting The Best Price On A Car Rental

Vacations are expensive; there is no doubt about it. But, when we have the opportunity to save money, we should jump at it. Car rentals are just the right way to save some money this vacation season. Sure, we all want to get off the plane and grab a great looking car, but if you can do this and save some money, who's going to complain? Here are some hints and tips to keep you saving money on your next trip or whenever you need a car rental.

Book them ahead of time. This is essential to saving money. If you plan to get off the plane and into a car, you will pay more, much more. Instead, get online and simply look for the best deal available. No more hassle than waiting in line at the car rental shop. You can choose just what you want and get a better price.

Consider your need. There isn't one of us that wouldn't want to drive around all day in a luxury car, but if you plan to go sight seeing in that, how much time will you spend in the car in all reality? Most likely, you'll be out of the car most of the time. It just makes sense to get an affordable car and pocket the extra money. A luxury car is just prone to be stolen too.

The best way to get the best price on your car rental is to book online. Not just in advance, but online. Here's the reason. When you book online, there are less people involved, less mistakes made and less overhead for the company. That helps to keep prices low. This savings can be passed on to you.

Car rentals are just one aspect of vacationing. They can be quite costly, but, they don't have to be such a burden. You can drive around in a great looking car at a great price. Save that money for the vacation itself!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Find more information and tips about car rental by visiting http://www.dailycarrentalnews.info




Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Be an Effective Communicator

Humans are not the only species to have some form of communication. Yet we do have the most complex forms of communication extant. Hundreds of differing spoken languages and dialects, several visual languages, and several different alphabets, not to mention the various codes based on tones, beats etc, exist all of which are there for the purpose of communicating with other people. Human beings are social creatures - communication amongst ourselves is part and parcel of everyday life. Yet many people have poor communication skills. Why is this so, when we seem to have developed an extraordinarily complex system able to convey a multitude of different purposes?

The Purpose of each Communication - Differences in Style

All communication has a purpose, be that talking to clients over the phone, chatting with friends or presenting a report. What are the purposes here? In all cases there are a variety at work: maintaining or building relationships, answering specific questions, giving an expert opinion, reframing events in light of previous experience to make them seem more normal, exchanging news to satisfy curiosity, teaching others by grouping seemingly separate pieces of information into a cohesive whole, the list could go on for a very long time from just three different situations in which communication is the main part. The important thing to realise here is the differing variables of communication depending on the situation. The main variables are: amount and mode of information received (voice, body language etc), role being played, number of people being communicated with at once (and thus the amount of differing sets of information being received), vocabulary set being used.

This all seems very complicated: so how are we meant to learn this so subtle skill of communicating effectively? In actuality there are a few separate skills, all of which can improve your communication abilities and that are relevant to all situations you can possibly face. It is not some strange and unintelligible science that is out of reach of most people, but rather it is accepting that to be an effective communicator you must change your communicating style to match that of the person you are communicating with: it is no use expecting them to change for you.

Communication Part 1: Listening/Observing

Communication can be separated into two parts: the first part is being able to listen and observe. People speak at 100 to 175 words per minute (wpm), but they can listen intelligently at 600 to 800 wpm. Since only a part of the mind is paying attention, it is easy to let the mind drift. The cure for this is active and effective listening - which involves listening with a purpose such as to gain information, obtain directions, understand others, solve problems, share interest, show support, etc. By defining your purpose in listening you can moderate your responses to accomplish your purpose.

Active & Effective Listening

So how do you listen actively? First of all, you must be able to yank your mind back from wherever it might drift during a conversation: being able to concentrate exclusively on someone else can be quite difficult for any length of time. With practice you can listen to others without having random thoughts intrude - many people find that meditation helps with this skill as it trains the mind in exactly this fashion. The second way people are distracted during a conversation is by thinking up the reply while the other person is still speaking - a really easy way to miss the point of what another person is saying! Thirdly, you can focus on many different things to make this more interesting so as to prevent your mind from wandering. Concentrating on body language can do this: see how your correspondent is sitting/standing - is it closed or open (closed is turned away or blocked by another part of the body, such as crossing the arms, open is facing you and arms and legs not blocking the body). Are they looking at you or are they avoiding eye contact? If it is the latter, they may not be interested in the conversation, they may be lying, and they may be uncomfortable. Are they acting nervously by tapping, twitching or fiddling with something? Are they appearing happy/sad/emotionless? Are their facial behaviours matching or contradicting their bodily behaviours (e.g. nervous tapping of the foot yet open body language and happy appearance)?

Build Rapport through Mirroring

Building rapport is vital in ensuring effective communication and while you are listening you are able to do this by mirroring or matching what your correspondent is doing. For example you cross your legs in the same way as them, and put your arms in a similar way, this puts you on the same wavelength as your correspondent and will make them be more receptive to what you have to say when you do get around to saying it. Mirroring can also be done through the use of the specific NLP type vocabulary. Notice any clues for NLP type, for later use in responding. An abbreviated explanation of NLP types: the visual type uses the words I see what you mean and similar, while the auditory type uses the words I hear what you're saying, and the kinaesthetic will use the words I feel I understand this. If you note down what kind of vocabulary is being used, and then use this with them you are more likely to be understood, as well as being more able to be in rapport with them. Try noting down what types your colleagues or your family are: then try deliberately using the wrong type of vocabulary in what you are saying and seeing (visual vocab) what the difference can be to when you use the correct type for the person you are talking to, it flows (kinaesthetic vocab) very differently and you can hear (auditory vocab) the discord.

Communication Part 2: Responding

The first thing to learn in this part is that you will find communication much easier if you are speaking in the same way (tone, tempo and rhythm) as your correspondent: if you usually speak fast, find someone who speaks slowly (or vice versa) and match their tempo when you are talking with them, and then measure how successful that conversation was in comparison to a conversation with them which was entirely on your natural tempo. Be sure you are matching all three (tone, tempo and rhythm) though as most people who say that this doesn't work are not matching all three correctly! Usually this sort of thing is natural: if you've ever been to the US, you may have noticed that you started ending sentences on an upward inflection automatically: not a typically British way of speaking. You just picked it up from others and naturally matched it. But if you are to be a highly successful communicator you need to be aware of what actually works rather than just stabbing in the dark and going with what comes out of your mouth without you thinking about it.

Use Positive Directions

The second thing that is most important to learn about responding to others is to use positive sentences - I don't mean being nice to people, although that is all to the good, but by expressing your purpose in a specific way: do this rather than do not do this. The brain works extra hard to create the representation of the thing not to be done and superimposes some kind of negative - and in all the brain processing that happens afterwards the negative frequently gets lost so leaving an extra strong impression of the thing not to be done - without its negative. For example: if I were to say, Do NOT think of a bright red cat, what are you thinking of? Most of you will honestly admit to having had some kind of representation of a red cat flash across the mind, furthermore this representation of a red cat will be something you remember more readily than something I say in the positive sense. Also, there is the whole contrary nature of the mind to contend with: there is always the fascination and compulsion with what we are told not to do, why else does negative psychology work so well with teenagers?

Take a Meta-View

The last important thing to learn about communication skills is the goal of the communication: you must keep this in mind when entering into any communication for you to be able to measure it's success and thus moderate your future attempts to achieve your goals through communication. If your goal is to cheer up a friend, you will be able to tell if you have been successful by comparing the tone of the friend at the beginning and at the end of the conversation. Or if your goal is to build a relationship more solidly, then you can compare your correspondent's mood before and after each communication: and the attitude with which they receive you. If they are happy to see you all the better, but you can tell something is wrong if they are consistently displeased to see you. For positive proof you need several communications to base your conclusion on: there are other factors at work as well, such as your correspondent's internal mood state - which frequently has very little to do with you - take a meta-view stance and see what the overall picture is before coming to any conclusions about your communication skills.

About the Author

Charlotte Burton is a Licensed Career Coach & Psychometric Assessor. For more information and to sign up for the ezine, view the website at www.lifeisvital.com or email charlotte@lifeisvital.com to request your complimentary consultation.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Are Your Intentions Clear in Your Job Search?


1. Do you REALLY know what you want?

2. Do you know yourself well? What your interests, talents, and transferable skills are?

3. Are you articulate? Can you explain what you want and do it clearly?

4. Do you have supportive people interested in you and your welfare? If not, find some, NOW!

5. Do you have a network of contacts? Start with your friends.

6. Do you rely too much on the want ads. Don't.

7. Do you have an agenda of who to see, who to talk to, who to network with, every day of your job search?

8. Do you have good job skills?

9. Do you practice gratitude? It works, especially with thank-you notes.

10. Are your intentions good ones? Make them known to all.


Marilyn J. Tellez, M.A.


Certified Job & Career Transition Coach


Email: doitnow@nwinfo.net


Web: www.doitnowcareers.info


Are you an excareer woman living in a new country?


Were you once a successful, professional woman who had a significant status level and received adequate remuneration for your work?

Have you re-located to a new country where the educational degree you worked so hard to achieve is neither recognized nor considered valid?

As a result, have you now settled for a job for which you are overqualified and living paycheck to paycheck?

If you once had a successful professional career and answered yes to the above, you probaby understand how frustrating it is, to be unable to practice your profession in a new country.

The decision to immigrate to another country is a courageous act which involves leaving everything that you know and everything that makes up who you are. It usually means starting over, making changes and finding a new job or career.

As a skilled professional woman, you already have a unique combination of marketable skills and experiences, optimism about your future prospects in the new country, education, commitment and motivation to work in your field of expertise, language ability and a desire to learn new things expertise...so, it's really puzzling and shocking when you suddenly find yourself unemployed or unable to find a job in your field.

It is therefore important that you wake up from your slumber and do something about making your life a success.

To start making something of your life in a new country, you need to:

1. Stop being in denial.

Accept change and be ready to change! Your past successful life is always going to be a part of you and no one can take that away from you. However, the rules of the game in the new country may mean that you may no longer be the successful, lawyer, doctor, CEO or professional you once were.

As painful as it may be to acceptdon't spend your days talking about who you were in the past and dwelling in the glory of your past success. Don't live in denial any longer than you must. Accept the fact that your circumstances have changed and start looking for constructive ways to make the best of your life in the new country.

2. Take a stand for your life.

When people move to a new country, they usually want to live in a place where they have some contacts, relatives or friends. However, some of these people you know, may have resigned themselves to living unfulfilled lives and may try to prevent you (by their comments or actions) from expecting more for yourself.

If you want to make a success of your life, you must take a risk, go against the negative majority, choose to be different and take a stand for a positive future. The decision to get out from among people, who will hold you back from doing something with your life, is worth it!

3. Don't lose your sense of self-worth.

Your professional occupation is a large part of your identity and an integral part of your life. However if you have settled for less and are now overqualified for your job, you may feel that the work you are doing is not a valuable contribution to society. As a result, you may start questioning yourself and feeling worthless.

You are not worthless! Find meaning and purpose in what you want to do and begin to pursue it with vigor. After counting the cost, make the decision to do what you have to do to make your life a success. Stop settling for less than you deserve, start standing up for yourself and for your dignity.

4. Stop being invisible.

If you were used to being recognized by members of your community who were aware of your professional merits, you may be feeling very anonymous in the new country.

If you were previously a highly active, social and professional woman, don't chose jobs that will relegate you to the back office and hide you behind a pile of meaningless paperwork. Look for a job that projects your social qualities and allows you to interact more visibly.

Find a career that allows you to fully utilize your skills. This could mean starting your own business, finding a new career, going back to school or finding means and ways to become actively involved with people in your profession in the new country or abroad.

5. Be informed about the work culture of the new country.

This may seem pretty basic but it should not be taken for granted. If you want to get ahead you must stop running around like a headless chicken and begin to familiarize yourself with the lifestyle, culture and work ethics of the new country. For instance, do you understand the work place terminology? What kind of transferable/employable skills do you need? Do employers require curriculum vitae or resumes? What is the academic equivalent of the professional qualification you hold?

Sometimes the hardship you are facing is not brought about by you as a person but by your lack of research on the basics. Make the adjustment easier for yourself by tailoring your life to fit into the new place and not vice versa.

6. Increase your social networks.

There is always a close connection between one's occupation and social status. When you are unable to transfer the occupation that you once held to the new country you now live in, you also lose social status. It is therefore important to have a network of people that you can trust and depend on.

You can have personal networks like friendship groups and social organizations and also join and actively participate in professional associations, community networks and support groups that are involved with issues that interest you. These networks also play a useful role in combating the feeling of being alone in a new place and can also be good idea or lead generators for a new job.

7. Don't be complacentdo something!

Don't wallow in self-pity. Hold on to your dreams and your goals. Work steadily and take risks to achieve them. Persevere and be resilient. Do what you have to do, to ensure that you make a success of your new life.

Be strong! Although there are many barriers to be overcome in a new country, let not your spirit be tarnished. Look within yourself for the strength to move forward with your life. With a positive attitude, you will find that there are a lot of things that can bring you ultimate success.


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.


www.motivationzone.com


Caroline@motivationzone.com


Sunday, April 12, 2009

B vitamins: Unleash the Beast

This is another vitamin article that I have written, but the only difference is that this one goes into more detail about specific vitamins. My previous articles do not do that. Those articles were more of a short introduction into vitamins their role and their best food source. I'll start with 2 water Soluble Vitamins and 1 fat soluble vitamins.



Water Soluble Vitamins: These are water-soluble vitamins that are not stored in the body and must be replaced each day. These vitamins are Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, Folic Aid, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin and vitamin C.



Lets start with the b vitamins: Vitamin B1 is needed to process carbs, fats, and proteins. Vitamin b1 is required by everybody to form the fuel the body runs on. Every nerve cell requires vitamin b1 to function properly. Wheat germ, peas, beans, enriched flour, fish, peanuts, and meat are all excellent sources of vitamin b1. People with advancing age, a poor diet and too much alcohol consumption may result in vitamin b1 deficiency. The suggested RDA for vitamin b1 is unclear but The amount found in most multivitamin supplements is more than enough. Vitamin b1 works hand in hand with vitamin b2 and vitamin b3.



Vitamin b2: Helps release energy from foods. Essential for healthy eyes, skin, nails and hair. Their sources are: Whole grains, brewer's yeast, torula yeast, wheat germ, almonds, sunflower seeds,cooked leafy vegetables. The suggested RDA for vitamin b2 is unclear but The amount found in most multivitamin supplements is more than enough.



Please note, be aware that vitamin b3 or Niacin, as its commonly known as, may cause a reaction in some people. Itching and or burning are two of the symptoms. The author of this article found that out the hard way.


Fat-soluble vitamins: Theses vitamins are A, D, E and K. These vitamins are dissolved in fat and stored, therefore they are not needed every day in the diet. Over consumption of fat soluble vitamins may pose a risk of toxicity.



Vitamin A: Vitamin a is a fat soluble vitamin and as mentioned before, should not be consumed in excess. For the maintenance of skin, mucous membranes, bones, teeth, and hair; eye sight. Their sources are: green vegetables,
melon, squash, tomatoes.



Well that's it for this article. Look for more of my vitamin articles coming soon.



The information presented in this article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or condition. This article is not a substitute for a health care professional. Please consult a medical professional before beginning any vitamin program.



About the Author

Mr. Andy Casasanta Has devoted a portion of his life to health and well being for himself and others. Which has inspired him to create a tremendous health and pharmacy website. In this site you will find up to 40 health articles and growing, and a 11000 reciprocal link exchange page. Save on all popular drugs such as Viagra, Lipitor, meridia, and hundreds more al

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Babel Vs. the PC

Babel vs. the PC
by Lady Camelot

Imagine a time when mankind was young. Migration led many to the land of Shinar. It was during that time, that man came together and decided to build not only a city but a tower that would reach the heavens. Seeing the structure, the Lord was not very pleased. In fact, He knew what trouble this could lead to, so He confused mankind with different languages and scattered them across the face of the earth. Thus, is the story of Babel. (Babylon, the remains of an ancient city, is now located in Iraq.)

Eerily, times of a rich, historical past parallel today's society. The familiarity to modern civilization is uncanny. In the biblical tale of the tower of Babel, men came together with one language and one common goal: the desire to control the land and all that lay beneath the tower. Making the impossible - possible to Human nature.

The construction of the tower of Babel tells a story of man and its amorous lust for greed and power. To build such a massive structure that led directly to the heavens, what a marvel it must have been. Though the tale is simple, its meaning is vast. Herein lies the virtue of society itself. With the industrialized world at its peak and infinite computerized technological advances, we have reached the brink of Babel. In this day and age, mankind has the means to communicate to the far outreaches of all the earth. With mere strokes upon a keyboard, we can speak with persons of different languages, cultures, race, religion and region. There are no boundaries to the human initiative.

What began as an oversized rain made of wires, metal and countless conductor boards, has evolved into the modern PC. We have at last designed the perfect mechanism to do our bidding. It thinks for us, supplies and stores information, and now with more and more technology, we can even speak to other peoples by means of a computer translator. The small screen that sits atop our office counters, our workbenches and our personal desks at home has become the brainchild of society's modernization, and has revolutionized the way we do and encounter most things.

Although it is just a machine, it has served a wonderful purpose. Through the use of computer equipment, time is no longer a challenge. Messages, tests and reports can come back to us in a matter of seconds. Physicians, technologists, mechanics, archeologists, biologists, and so many other career paths have endless uses for this manmade tool. It has rewarded us richly with its knowledge, as we have enriched it with ours.

But, the question still remains: At what point does the tower of Babel (figuratively speaking) collapse? When has humankind reached its boundaries and at what interval will all be lost because of modern technology? The world is our oyster - but what we must never forget is that the pearl of an oyster is created by disease. Just a thought to ponder.

LadyCamelot 2003


About the Author


LadyCamelot currently serves as the Public Relations' Director for Holistic Junction.com - Your Pathway to Discovery - A community of people interested in all things holistic. Here, you will find what you need; share what you know; discuss what you're not sure about. Create your own web site, participate in online forums (over 80 categories), peruse the Business Directory, publish your original articles, opinions, artwork, and so much more.


Friday, April 10, 2009

Are you Moving etc...?

With Christmas fast approaching, it's not only the shops and retail outfits that are getting ready for the sudden onslaught of customers.

As well as Estate and Lettings Agents, Removal and Shipping companies are getting ready for Christmas as well. After the Summer and Easter holidays, this is one of the busiest times of the year for moving home.

Anyone that was unlucky enough not to complete their house sale in the summer months is now desperately trying to make sure that they move this side of Christmas, so that all the loose ends are tied up before the New Year. Also Christmas and the New Year see the end of many tenancy agreements, so therefore the renting market becomes saturated with vacant properties to let.

Being a tenant at this time of year is great, due to the extensive range of properties that are available. And if you're lucky, you may even get a discount on the monthly rent or deposit due to the fact that the landlord is having trouble letting it out.

However, if you're a landlord at this time of year, you will have to make sure that the property you are letting is picture perfect so that you get the right kind of tenant and the right price for your property. With so many people taking advantage of the Buy to Let market, you cannot afford for your property to be on the bottom rung of the ladder right now.

Although, the actual moving day may not be top priority for many people relocating, it should not be forgotten and left till the end.

You see, many people think that booking a removal company is like booking a taxi - Quick and easy.

What many people don't realise is that removal companies can be fully booked for days and weeks in advance. So if you don't want to be left with the really expensive companies or on the other hand, the cowboy firms, contact your movers well in advance.

Don't get me wrong, it is not always that everyone leaves it late to book, but sometimes the exchange on their property does not go through until a few days before completion. And if you're renting, you can find a property and be accepted within just a few days if your credit check goes through straight away.

One major piece of advice that I give to all my clients is to make sure that you get quotes from Removal or Shipping companies as early as possible. If you contact them at least 6-8 weeks in advance of your proposed move date then you are more likely to be prepared for short notice completions. Also, the removal companies will be more patient and understanding of your situation if things do get delayed.

This is also a good idea so that you know exactly how much your removal is going to cost you well in advance. Moving with a professional company may be less hassle, but it can also be expensive. So Be Prepared!

And don't think that just because you are moving yourself, you have it easier either. Moving at any time of year is hard work, let alone in the cold and wet winter months, so make sure you have prepared yourself for the worse.

Check out Jane's website, www.movingetc.co.uk for more information on moving home, as well as free advice on which removal company to use for your stress free move.


About the Author

Jane is an Independent Relocation Consultant with many years experience within the moving industry.

She has worked for both small family removal companies as well as large multinational shipping firms and set up her own company in order to reduce the stress of moving home.

Jane has been with her partner for eight years and they are expecting their first child at the beginning of the New Year.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

In Defence of Moralizing High Technology


Modern societies are more and more becoming technical. The revolution in computer usage is a major contributor to this state of affairs. But this technicality has its demerits despite its huge advantages. While technical societies confer the enormous benefits of modernity and admirable sophistication on life, they also bring about the doubtful benefit of restructuring individual and group psyche in a technical fashion. The habit of echnicalizing ways of doing things may ease work, access to information, and social goods - as we can see with information technology. Nevertheless, the psyche does not sustain its privileged independence when technology pervades the society. The psyche, indeed, tends to lose such independence on matters that include its comprehension of what ought to constitute the most appropriate education for the individual. Due to the excessive and unrestrained barrage of technical phenomena on the sensory receptacles, the psyche, thereby, registers new information on its structure, a kind of information that happens to succumb to the all-too-powerful technical structure of the external environment. Once the psyche is restructured in such fashion, it impinges on the movement of life in general.

Thus, a vigorous conditioning of the psyche can easily arise from the psyche's constant interaction with an external environment that is itself being progressively conditioned in an unduly technical way.

For example, a man can feel that his prized talent is being wasted because pursuing it would not land him a secured success in life. Deep down the structure of his psyche, he can realize that an academic pursuit in world religions is what can grant him the best performance. Yet, he quenches any hope of studying such subject(s), mindful of how a technical society such as his has very little use for religions compared to, say, information technology, engineering, medicine, law, accounting, and such like. He strives to enroll in an information technology program whereupon his competitive advantage happens to be weak. What he has done is not personal carelessness. He has been compelled to pursue this line of action; otherwise, his future financial survival could be put at risk.

The matrix of formal education gets revised whenever marked technological changes permeate the society, and one has no choice but to program one's sense or understanding of academic pursuit in a direction that may not have any bearing on one's identifiable talent. But formal education does not have to be technical, nor does it have to focus on the arts or social sciences. Formal education has to offer the individual the full opportunity to choose for himself/herself what can project the spirit of genuine advancement without needless societal constraints. This can bring the best in each person and, at the same time, update stakeholders about the desirable programs that can be established or revised to further enhance the quality of formal education.

The practice (by stakeholders) of letting individuals restructure their educational choices in line with prioritized programs imperils academic democracy. It hints that a technical society is overtly prejudicial in its grasp of what is productive formal education. Yet, it is the unbridled educational choices of individuals that have to decide the structure of programs stakeholders wish or want to establish. Plurality of ideas are spawned from a people who are capable of demonstrating, in a corresponding fashion, plurality of choices in the fields of science and technology, the human sciences, the liberal arts, and other forms of education. Unless this kind of academic democracy is respected, whatever is construed as democracy tends to lose not only its conceptual clarity but, also, its practical efficacy.

The mainstream thinking that technical expertise has to be rewarded far more than other kinds of expertise undermines the free, far more comfortable choices, which, otherwise, a large class of individuals would have preferred to channel their untapped skills. A technical mindset, much as it promotes technical sophistication in the doing of things, may fall into the trap of viewing reality in a regimented fashion if such mindset is not ready and capable of appraising a kinship with, at least, the human sciences or/and liberal arts. Technicalities are great, but they have weak points when valued from the perspective of humanism.

I have grown to derive a new kind of pleasure from my technical society. I can access all kinds of information around the world from my unrestrained, privileged access to my personal computer's internet. I see a special connection between myself and my computer, a connection as strong as can be compared to the inseparable bond between glorious married couples. Indeed, my computer has become my best friend even though a computer does not possess the moralized charm that a human being, filled with a psyche, a body, and continuous physical movement in space and time does possess. But this is where the problem resides: I have abandoned the once wide social field from which I could physically connect with numerous friends and enhance my understanding of all kinds of people as a means to humanize my moral fiber. I have become a technical agent squeezed of much of the moral dross that used to connect me to others in a wide social field. In short, my social vision has been badly truncated while my technical vision has been gladly amplified. Life fashioned in this way is not proper since one of the essential attributes of a person - indeed a dominant attribute - is his/her being a social entity.

High technology keeps isolating a large class of human beings from engaging in wide physical relationships crucial for sensitizing - especially - the social aspects of life. One can prefer to shut oneself from the social field of human agents and artificially create one's own microcosmic world. But this is a fundamental weakness of high technology since it tends to hack into pieces the communitarian spirit so important for understanding diverse human beings and developing measures from time to time that can bridge the unpalatable chasm between different cultures. As humans, we appear to be far more programmed in our lifestyles and thinking than before; and we also appear to be rejecting our moralizing role as social architects who have to proceed in life with godly consciences even as we continually devise advanced technological strategies to cope with the growing pressures of a shrinking natural environment.

High technology is not the issue. We need high technology to live within the limits of the natural environment; but we cannot live properly if high technology severs the moral foundations of societies. In any field of human endeavour - formal education, social, economic, political, and moral life - the ease with which high technology has penetrated marks a decisive point in the progress of humanity.

Progress has to be sound in all possible respects; and stakeholders have to devise inexorable policies couched in the statement that there ought to be a logical connection between high technology and morality in all spheres of life. And on the strength of this logic, one can also claim that the craving for universal high technology necessitates a craving for universal morality.





About The Author


Mr. Ainsah-Mensah has worked in various capacities, mostly in Canada and now in China. He is an education consultant, race relations consultant, projects coordinator, writer, post-secondary instructor in business courses and life skills, and critical thinking. He is currently the principal of Handan-Lilac Education Group in China.

kamch22@yahoo.ca