Big Brother Blog: July 2010

Saturday, July 31, 2010

shitmydadsays (shitmydadsays) - shitmydadsays

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Will You Help, Too? | The BridgeMaker

Will You Help, Too?

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 03:13 AM PDT

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. - Dr. Seuss

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

Opportunities to help one other appear every day. We either acknowledge them, or we don't.

During a recent trip to Minneapolis, my family and I visited The Basilica of Saint Mary. The Basilica's beauty is matched only by its reverence. The white granite exterior welcomed us as we opened the massive wooden door to enter. Once inside, its architecture was simply amazing. Long rows of pews lead to an altar perfectly positioned under a stunning copper dome.

In one those pews was a man, alone and seemingly distraught. Sitting on the edge of the wooden bench, he grasped the pew in front on him. He buried his head between his hands and appeared to be praying.

I walked by him on my way to get a better look at the altar. Stopping for a moment, I considered sitting next to him. He was clearly in pain and maybe I could offer some relief. Instead, I continued to the altar. He wanted to be alone, I reasoned. But I knew better. He needed some comfort and I didn't help.

After returning to the back of the church, I waited for Mary Beth to light a candle in memory of her father. When she finished, we stood together and admired the church. That's when I noticed someone had taken the spot next to the grieving man.

I rationalized he was probably a priest, or a trained layperson who was on staff to help with these situations. But really, I think he was someone who made a choice different than mine – he made the choice to help.

At that moment, I re-committed to listening to my inner wisdom and offering to help when I know it's needed – no matter how uncertain or inconvenient it may seem. God gives us special radar to use. When we pay attention to the readings our radars provide, we will know if our help is needed, or not.

So my question, my challenge, to you is, "When someone needs help, will you help, too?"

The Starfish Story

Your choice to help – one person at a time – does make a difference. The Starfish Story illustrates the power one simple action can have:

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.” – Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

I regret not being a starfish thrower the day I visited The Basilica of Saint Mary. In that Holy place, I felt His nudge and forgiveness. I left Minneapolis and returned home looking for starfish who need my help. When I find them, I will do my best against the receding tides.

I can't do it alone. Will you help, too?

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Muhammad in the Bible [2/2] الحقيقة الصارخة حول محمد في الإنجيل

The absolute truth about Muhammad in the bible.Part1 مترجم

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

4 Vitamins That Can Save Your Life

Monday, July 26, 2010

A Road Map to Living an Awesome Life | The BridgeMaker

A Road Map to Living an Awesome Life

Posted: 26 Jul 2010 04:54 AM PDT

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination. - Don Williams Jr.

Article by BridgeMaker contributor Ralph Jean-Paul. Please visit Ralph at Potential2Success.com.

I've been feeling very nostalgic lately and I'm not sure why. Perhaps it is because I celebrated a birthday recently where I spent time reflecting on my past. Or maybe it's because of all of my high school friends that have been sending friend requests on Facebook. Whatever the reason, memories from my childhood have been on my mind.

Those memories led me to visit my old neighborhood. As I was driving down the familiar street on the way to our old apartment complex, I glanced at an office park. I was unable to look at the parking lot of this park without memories of year 15 of my life rushing back to me. It looked like any normal office park around town but to me, it had a special meaning.

This particular office park was where I first learned how to drive. One day when the businesses closed, my sister drove the short distance to the office park and sat in the passenger seat while I navigated my way around the turns and speed bumps. I got the hang of driving fairly quickly and I was driving on the state roads and highways just a few weeks later.

Revisiting my past made me think about the different paths my life has taken. I began to about think how far I have come. I began feeling very blessed that I have been able to experience and do the things I have done with my life so far. Even though it's not always perfect, I truly feel that I'm living an extraordinary life.

Living an awesome life can be accomplished by anyone. But you must know what roads to take and what roads to avoid. Here are some of the major roads you will encounter in your life's journey that will lead to awesome living.

Main Street

Every major city has a major road that acts as the center attraction of that city. The road helps to define the city and the people in it. In Paris, its Avenue des Champs-Elysees where the mile long road displays a variety of boutiques, cafes and restaurants. In New York, it may be Broadway or 7th Ave which are at the heart of the never ending excitement and entertainment the city is known for.

Your life's Main Street is your center. It is what represents who you are. Instead of cafes and dinner shows, your life's Main Street may be represented by your faith, family, talents and purpose. To live an exceptional life, you must start with your core. Find your Main Streets and you'll find your motivation and drive.

The Winding Road

There is nothing like driving on a winding road. Whether the road is located in a midst of a lush forest or hugging the curves of a hilly countryside, driving on a winding road is an exciting experience. The best part about driving on these roads is the opportunity to enjoy the ride while surrounded by beauty.

Awesome living means enjoying the ride. On route to your destination, life offers the opportunity to see and experience great things. Life brings new experiences everyday. We may be tempted to hit the gas and speed through them but if we do, we may miss out on something great.

Nightmares on Elm Street

On your journey to an awesome life, you will inevitably cross Elm Street-where the nightmares are. The nightmares may be financial, physical, or even emotional. Although it may seem that being on Elm Street is the opposite of living an extraordinary life, the nightmares on Elm are an important part of awesome living. You may not be able to appreciate the other wonderful roads you will encounter unless you have journeyed through the difficult ones.

Going through tough times in your life makes it possible to be grateful for the good times. You will not appreciate a great relationship unless you've experienced a bad one. You will not be able to truly appreciate your material possessions unless you have struggled financially at some point in your life. Remember that Elm Street does not go on forever and eventually the nightmares will end.

Avoid Easy Street

You may be tempted to take Easy Street which looks like a quicker way to get to your destination. But be careful, most shortcuts lead to a dead end. Easy Street is the path of least resistance but also offers the least rewards. There will be no pot-holes in the road, no curves to take, and no hills to drive up – just a smooth ride with no risk, no challenge, no growth.

In life, you will have many opportunities to take the easy way out or the "quick-fix". It may come as an easy way to get rich, lose weight, or become famous. But when you take the easy road, you have not taken a road that will produce lasting results. To live an amazing life you must be willing to do things that expand your comfort zone and challenge you.

Getting on the Highway's Fast Lane

If you really want to avoid congested road traffic, you can always get on the highway and merge onto the fast lane. Since you will be driving at high speeds, you will have to be extra focused, disciplined and alert.

In life there are some things we can do that will have an immediate impact on the way we live our lives. These things can be done today and can change the direction of your life.

Changing Your Thoughts – Altering your thinking is the first step to changing your life. By changing your perspectives you will become more aware of opportunities when they present themselves.

Changing Your Habits – Once you've altered your thinking, it's time to align your actions with your thoughts. Changing the things you do daily will eventually change the way you live daily.

Take on a New Challenge – Taking on challenges where you can gain an experience that may add value to your life will dramatically improve the quality of your life.

If you feel like your life is lacking in experience, excitement and passion, it may be that you are driving in the wrong direction. It's never too late to make a U-turn and find the roads that lead to awesome living.

Ralph Jean-Paul is not only committed to his own personal development, but he is also committed to the personal development of everyone he comes in contact with. To learn more about Ralph, please visit Potential2Success.com.

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Sunday, July 25, 2010

Horses - photo stock, Horse pictures, horses.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Unbelievable Photos | Barnorama

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Isn’t Life Beautiful? | The BridgeMaker

Isn’t Life Beautiful?

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 05:38 AM PDT

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. - Frank Lloyd Wright

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

The early-morning quiet is my time for reflection and prayer. The silence provides a suitable tabernacle for my soul. In the stillness, I consider the day to come.

My thoughts drift from the necessary and to the spectacular. I consider my day's schedule, the tasks to accomplish and the appointments to keep. After checking off the must-dos, my mind goes deeper. It goes to a place absent of urgency – it goes to a beautiful place.

Our lives can be anything we choose to make them. We can struggle with the complexity or we can delight in the simplicity. We can be overwhelmed by the ugliness or we can celebrate the beauty. I choose to look for the beauty.

As the day begins, I pause and remind myself that what I have today can be taken away tomorrow. This is my life complete with setbacks and disappointments, but it's also full of love and beauty. Gripping my coffee mug with both hands, I close my eyes and say a prayer of thankfulness.

I open my eyes to see our guest rising in the eastern sky and before starting my day I ask myself, "Isn't life beautiful?"

Finding beauty

Making the choice to see beauty gives me an unfair advantage. My choice allows the opportunity to see life's subtleties along with the obvious. This perspective gives me the power to appreciate every detail I care to acknowledge. This power is the perfect conduit to happiness. It's the small things, as well as the large, that create my beautiful life.

Here's a properly-sized window for you to look through. Perhaps if you do, you will become reacquainted with the beauty that is already a part of your life:

The sound of my heart beating after the four-mile run tells me my body is still strong and capable of enduring just about anything. The rhythmic vibration feels beautiful.

After showering and dressing for work, I walk back into the bedroom to wake my wife. For a brief moment, I get to see her see like no one else does. And in that moment, my wife is simply beautiful.

Driving to the office is my chance to listen to any song I want. I select a song and then allow the words to go deep inside so I can take in their beautiful melody.

At work, my time is typically spent solving problems. Behind each problem is a person trying to correct a mistake or someone just trying to get it right. Either way, problems have a way of bringing out a person's best and revealing their amazing beauty.

As my children grow older I'm finding more pleasure in being their father. A telephone call from Brandon telling me about a new business opportunity, receiving a text from Caitlin with a grammar question, talking baseball with Andrew or getting a hug from Emily are the most beautiful things that happen to me during the day.

Returning home, I flip on the news and start preparing dinner. The warmth of my home fills my spirit with beautiful comfort.

When it's time to write, I grab my laptop computer and find a quiet spot. Some evenings the words surprise me and on other evenings the words frighten me, but on all evenings I experience the beautiful healing the words bring me.

As the day draws to an end, I find myself in a beautiful place. Falling asleep next to my wife, the question swells inside me again, "Isn't life beautiful?"

Before I drift to sleep, I hear my answer. It is clear, confident and full of promise. My answer roars in my head to the point it can sometimes startle me. My answer is my choice. It is based on how I choose to see my life.

My answer is yes.

Life is beautiful.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Babelgum: Egypt - Resurrection Machine, Episode 2

10 Biggest Misconceptions We Learn in School | SmilePanic

20 Amazing Tree Sculptures For Nature Lovers - Green Diary

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

19 Hand Picked Raining Photos | PinkOnHead

Animated Psychedelic Art - Web420.com

Wallpaper Tadka: women

34 Fantastic Macro Showcase By Joakim Kraemer | bigpicture.in

Monday, July 19, 2010

7 Incredibly Important Links | The BridgeMaker

7 Incredibly Important Links

Posted: 18 Jul 2010 03:43 PM PDT

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the music the words make. – Truman Capote

Article written by Alex Blackwell. Connect with me on Facebook.

Darren Rowse of Problogger.net recently issued a challenge to other bloggers. His idea is to create list posts that highlight important archived posts. He calls this the 7 Link Challenge (posts, or articles, have unique links that associate the name of the post to the writer’s blog) – I'm in Darren!

The BridgeMaker is approaching 200 posts. When the blog launched in September, 2008 it never occurred to me it would make it to 200. Each post means something special to me (you can read them all by visiting the Archives) and represent moments of faith, inspiration and change in my life. I would not take back one word I have written.

My first post
The first post was 10 Things You Wish You Had Never Learned. It was published on September 14, 2008 and takes a different approach to personal development. At first glance this idea, to identity 10 things you wish you had never learned, may seem like negative thinking. However, you must first acknowledge what you want to change or heal before real growth can occur. My list of 10 things contains some painful reminders of the past, but writing it provided the way to healing. I'm also humbled by the lists others share in the Comments area. Read it here
A post I enjoyed writing the most
Tracing Life Every Other Wednesday is the most transparent post I have written. This post gave me the opportunity to identify 10 positive things I am learning about myself and the new-found power (and courage) they are giving me. Read it here
A post which has a great discussion
How to Love Consciously has generated 211 comments, however, the spirited discussion started early with the second comment. The reader suggested I was talking myself into loving my wife. He went on to say once "rules" were placed around love, then it was no longer love. The discussion took off from there. Read it here
A post on someone else's blog I wish I had written
10 Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn from Albert Einstein published on Jay White's Dumb Little Man is almost the perfect post. It contains ten irrefutable lessons from a man considered to be a genius – a wonderful combination. Read it here
My most helpful post
I provide five strategies for the times when we try a little too hard in life in How to Stop Trying So Hard (or Just Be Who You Are). The post contains a healthy measure of hope, too. Read it here
A post title I'm most proud of
Sometimes it's the ordinary things in life that make the biggest difference. In How to Find More than Dinner in the Frozen Food Aisle, I recount the Saturdays Mary Beth plan more than our weekly meals in the grocery store's frozen food aisle. Read it here
A post I wish more people had read
The death of my 18-year-old son's friend inspired The Point of Being Human. It attempts to answer why some people are taken so soon. The post also explores the mystery of why we come into this world in the first place. Read it here

Thank you for allowing me to share these links with you. I'm looking forward to writing 200 more.

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Friday, July 16, 2010

33 Stunning and Beautiful Photoshop Photos Effects Tutorials

Top Ten Most Famous Cartoon Animals | Animals Zone

45 Stunning Infrared Photography | AcrisDesign

Thursday, July 15, 2010

75 Inspiring Coca-Cola Advertisements and Posters | Presidia Creative

World’s 20 Craziest Hotels | Weird Pictures, Wonderful Things

Even in the Struggle | The BridgeMaker

Even in the Struggle

Posted: 15 Jul 2010 03:43 AM PDT

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand. – Emily Kimbrough

Article written by guest contributor Tara Mohr. Visit her at Wise Living.

Even in the struggle, you are loved
You are being loved not in spite of the hardship, but through it.
The thing you see as wrenching, intolerable, life's attack on you,
is an expression of love.

There is the part of us that fears and protects and defends and expects,
and has a story of the way it's supposed to turn out.
That part clenches in fear, feels abandoned and cursed.

There is another part, resting at the floor of the well within, that understands:
this is how I am being graced, called, refined, by fire.

The secret is, it's all love.
It's all doorways to truth.
It's all opportunity to merge with what is.

Most of us don't step through the doorframe.
We stay on the known side.
We fight the door, we fight the frame, we scream and hang on.

On the other side, you are one with the earth, like the mountain.
You hum with life, like the moss.
On the other side, you are more beautiful:
wholeness in your bones, wisdom in your gaze,
the sage-self and the surrendered heart alive.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Wise Living Blog. Tara requested to share her article with the readers of this blog.

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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Steve Highfield British landscapes | Travel Guides, Luxury Travel and Travel Info

Monday, July 12, 2010

50 Extreme Guinness World Records | Weird Pictures, Wonderful Things

44 National Geographic Landscape Wallpapers | Cool Pictures | Cool Stuff

10+ Most Beautiful Island Photography on Earth | DevSnippets

7 Essentials to Living a Happy Life | The BridgeMaker

7 Essentials to Living a Happy Life

Posted: 12 Jul 2010 03:09 AM PDT

Happiness is an inner state of well-being that enables you to profit from your highest thoughts, intelligence, wisdom, awareness, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values. – Lionel Ketchian

Article written by BridgeMaker contributor Lorraine Cohen. Please visit her at Powerfull Living.

How many people do you know who are unhappy with their careers, their jobs, their relationships, their …LIFE?

People stay in situations for a variety of reasons: money, prestige, family obligations, the uncertain economy, they are afraid to try something new, habit, fear, shoulds……

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a special evening at a local church that has brought in some amazing speakers for special events. When I heard the speaker was James Twyman, aka the international peace troubadour, acclaimed musician, and author of several best-selling books, I immediately said YES.

I heard James last year at a conference in LA and his presentation was electric. One of the things he spoke about was that when he was younger, he used to be a Craftmatic adjustable bed salesman. Hard to imagine James Twyman selling Craftmatic beds, right?

He said he was very good at it. He also shared that he was miserable doing that work and he came to realize that he was being called to do something else with his life.

So, with a wife and a child to support, he quit his job and said YES to follow his heart. He has touched people worldwide with his music, his messages of peace, and the materials he creates to support global transformation, healing, through love, and the creation of a one-world community by reminding us that we are all ONE. I'm sure glad he had the guts to listen to his inspiration and the voice of his soul.

The most inspirational teachers and leaders I know have all had life-defining moments and experiences that shaped who they have become. It is through our hardships and challenges that we can summon the faith, trust and courage needed to allow our own Divinity to shine through. We either dance with the Universe or walk alone.

We are living during incredible times of change on the planet today. You might be experiencing turmoil or excitement, or both with some of the changes that are happening in the world as well as within your own life.

I know I am!

We're on the threshold on a world age coming to an end and a new one beginning. And each of us is a key player in creating a new history for ourselves, the world, and future generations to come!

How exciting is that!

So, in my own self-reflection of riding this enormous wave of change, I have been considering, "What elements are essential to living a happy, prosperous and inspired life?"

Passion. My friends Chris and Janet Attwood, who are internationally known for helping people to live a passionate life, say, "Passion is your love in motion. It is the connection to your heart’s truest desires. That’s why it is the path to a successful life". My passions come alive through the spiritual coaching work I do, the wealth of quality relationships I have developed, all the beauty I see in the world that lights up my heart, and the ways I am able to serve others to live the life they were born to.

What are you passionate about and how are you allowing those passions to express through your life?
Love. Our essential nature is love. And you've probably heard that our soul purpose is to be the embodiment of love – to share and receive love. I've been very blessed to have incredible clients, colleagues, close friends, and my sweet cats who continually share love with me. One of the pathways to love is gratitude and appreciation for all the gifts, blessings and miracles in your life rather than focusing on what is wrong.
To be a great giver, you must also be a great receiver. At times, the biggest challenge for me is to really let the love into my heart without blocking it.

Are you letting love into your life and how loving are you with YOU?
Courage. I write and teach people about courage because I believe that to be fully alive and experience the richness that life has to offer, we must have the guts to say YES to who we are being called to be.
Have you ever felt conflicted by what you think you should be doing and your burning desires, passions, and calling? So often people sacrifice their lives to satisfy others or ignore their soul's yearnings and wonder why they feel unhappy and empty.
We are all here for a purpose and to have life experiences that enhance our own soul evolution as well as the expansion of all Creation. James' story is just one reminder that when we align with our life path, listen to our inner yearnings, and take inspired action with faith, trust, and courage, The Universe lines up with us to bring us all we want and need to have happy and prosperous lives.

What are you ready to stop resisting and begin saying YES to?
Spirituality. Personally, I think the most important relationship we have is our relationship with GOD/Source/The Divine. I admit I have not always prioritized time to be still and quite so I can tune into the guidance and direction that comes through me from God because I allow myself to get caught up in my self-importance of busyness and drama. What I have continually found is that as my connection to the Divine has deepened and I take inspired action, my life flows with more grace and prosperity than when I follow my self-initiated plans. Have you heard, "If you want to make God laugh, make a plan?" That's why I have committed to doing two meditations daily as part of my daily practices.
What spiritual practices do you love to do that deepens your connection with Source?
Helping Others. One of the fastest ways to raise your vibration from pain, anger, fear… is to help another. And I don't mean helping others out of guilt, a sense of obligation, or fear. I'm talking about that wonderful heart-warming feeling that comes from knowing you have positively served another by sharing your time, wisdom, love, money… whatever you freely and joyfully offered out of love.
In what ways do you love to be of support to others? Do you invite others to be of service to you? (that's the letting the love in thing, ya know?)
Optimistic perspective. No matter what is happening in your life, one power you always retain is your attitude. Being able to see problems and challenges as possibilities and opportunities can dramatically change your experience. Recognizing people and situations as being in service to your healing and growth can help you shift from feeling like a victim of circumstance to the hero of your life story.
For example: A job loss can be a blessing in disguise to redirect you to a different path that is more aligned with your life purpose. A financial challenge might cause you to reassess what you really value in your life. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

What helps you to see the gifts and blessings in any situation?
Continually growing. To me this is one of my core values and a no-brainer to living a happy and inspired life. Part of our nature is a desire to fulfill our potential by stretching out of our comfort zones to be more than we are; to evolve into the highest and next version of who we are meant to be. We are not here to hide out and play small in the world. I know when I show up and step out in ways that align with my heart I can sense my soul smiling with joy. Love it!
Are you living a happy and inspired life?

Ready to take the next step in creating an exciting future?

Join me for the biggest online conference I have ever hosted! Say YES to the life you were born to and register for a three week life-changing tele-event, Your Powerfull YES: Courageously Living An Inspired Life, July 27- August 12, 2010 with some of the most influential and inspirational teachers of our time including: Neale Donald Walsch, James Twyman, Marci Shimoff, and Dr. Bernie Siegel to name a few.

Signup now for this FREE event and learn critical tools to thrive in any situation. You might experience healings right on the call!

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The Most Beautiful Watermelon | lovecoolest.com

Show The World !!! ... Please Copy. Please Share.

funniez.net - offbeat funny news, design, art, graffiti, funny history, funny stuff from all over the world...

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Portrait Photography Blonde Models Red Hot Look - Photo - Portrait Photography Album - Album - SUGRAPHIC

Touching Photographs of Animal-Human Bonds: Ashes and Snow - Chill Out Point

35 Beautiful StandAlone Photography That Never seen Before

Friday, July 9, 2010

99 Stunning Images That Refresh Your Mood | bigpicture.in

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Living Life to the Full: 10 Principles | The BridgeMaker

Living Life to the Full: 10 Principles

Posted: 08 Jul 2010 03:08 AM PDT

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. – Albert Einstein

Article written by BridgeMaker contributor Ali Hale. Please visit her at Aliventures.com.

My blog Aliventures has the tagline "getting more from life" so I've got a fair few thoughts on how to do just that.

I'm going to start with five key principles that – so far – have helped me feel happy and secure, and which have led me to where I currently am in life, doing what I love, with strong relationships with my fiancé, my family and my friends.

1. Value freedom over money

When I left my day job a couple of years ago, it was because I'd learnt to value my freedom – of time, of creativity – over money. I found myself much happier with a significantly lower income and loads more time to do things which I loved.

Valuing freedom has also meant that I've never had a credit card: I hate the idea of being stuck paying off loans, and I'd rather save up for a few months than buy something right now and end up paying a lot more in the long term.

Are freedom and money in conflict in your own life?

2. Give others the benefit of the doubt

It's so easy to get frustrated by the actions of others. Perhaps someone leaves a nasty comment on one of my blog posts, or bumps into me in the street, or is snappy with me on the phone. I could react by getting angry.

I prefer to attribute the best possible motives to other people. Maybe that person who sent the cranky email had just had a really awful day. Maybe that thoughtless man running through a train station – and knocking me with his case – was in a tearing hurry to catch a train to be with his dying grandmother. I'll never really know. And regardless of whether or not I'm right (most of the time I'm probably not!) – I definitely feel better when I assume that other people have a good reason to behave as they do.

Next time you get het up about someone's "appalling" behaviour, think of an alternative explanation.

3. Eat well

I used to eat a lot of junk food – and food which wasn't particularly tasty or satisfying. After losing weight in my late teens, I've become more focused on eating healthy (and nice!) food.

We have to eat to survive, but I think that seeing food as mere fuel is a mistake. Sure, you could live on rice and beans, or soggy takeaway sandwiches, or burgers and fries – but you probably won't be enjoying it much.

Eating well also means taking time to enjoy meals, and eating lunch and dinner with my fiancé as often as possible.

Do you take the time to buy, prepare and eat food which you really enjoy – and which makes you feel good?

4. Resist advertising

I've been keenly interested in words all my life – and I'm very aware of how marketers can manipulate us by clever use of language. I've also seen friends and colleagues spend a lot of money on the latest, greatest gadgets and similar.

It's well worth learning to cut through the hype and consider things coolly. Adverts often plant thoughts in my mind – ooh, wouldn't it be great to have that? – but in all honesty, if I really wanted or needed something, I'd get it regardless of whether or not I'd seen an ad. Buying more stuff doesn't make me happier.

What tricks do you see adverts using to pull you in? (Being able to spot these is a real help to resisting.)

5. Use and celebrate your gifts

I've always loved writing. I enjoyed writing essays in school (weird kid, I know), and I attempted my first novel when I was 15. For the past couple of years, I've been making a living from my writing – and this is a huge part of me enjoying my life! It's great to be able to use my gifts (not just writing but also an aptitude for technology) in my daily life.

What are your gifts? How could you make fuller use of them (perhaps in a voluntary capacity)?

The next five are areas where I'm trying to grow – habits which I haven't quite built yet. I'm getting there, but I'm aware that there's still considerable work to do!

1. Be patient

I like everything to happen fast. I'm struggling with patience particularly at the moment, as we've just moved house, and the whole process has been more frustrating and time-consuming than I wanted.

(We've got to wait another nine days to get our broadband connection up and running – I'd like to say I was taking this with good grace… alas, I'm finding it very hard!)
Would more patience make your life run more smoothly?

2. First things first

In Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey writes about the importance of "first things first" – putting the important stuff in its rightful place. I'm definitely getting better at this, and I try to preserve my morning hours (when I'm focused) for writing – but I've noticed a tendency recently to backslide…

What's your "great work"? Is it getting a prime position in your life?

3. Say "No" more often

This is an area I've struggled with for many years. I hate to say "no" – not just to other people's requests, but also to my own whims and desires. I'm slowly but surely getting better at turning down new commitments, and focusing on doing a few things well rather than trying to unsuccessfully juggle far too much.

Who – or what – do you need to say "no" to this week?

4. Value your creativity

When I was a student and when I was working in my "proper" job after university, my creative activity tended to come last. It was squeezed into corners of the day, or put aside for months on end.

I've learnt that I'm happiest when I write fiction on a regular basis. I tend to go through fits and starts with this – sometimes I'll spend a huge amount of time on fiction for weeks on end, other times I'll do none – but I'm gradually learning to find a balance.

Do you treat your own creativity as something life-giving and joyful – or something which you brush aside?

5. Accept help from others

I hung out on my own a lot as a child and teen, and became proud of doing things my own way, without help. Even as a young adult, I felt that I should stand on my own feet and make my own way in life.

Over the past few years, I've become much more accepting of help from other people – my parents especially, but also the advice and support of friends. I've realised that a lot of my old attitude was about pride, and that I can grow faster and achieve more by accepting the abundant help which I'm offered.

Who would love to help you, given the chance?

It'd be great to hear your thoughts on any of these ten points in Comments below – or further principles which you're living by, or trying to!

Ali Hale is a freelance writer from London in the UK, and is currently taking an MA in creative writing. She writes for a number of sites, including her own Aliventures blog which focuses on getting more from life.

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About Me

Saturday, July 31, 2010

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The Starfish Story

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Main Street

The Winding Road

Nightmares on Elm Street

Avoid Easy Street

Getting on the Highway's Fast Lane

Sunday, July 25, 2010

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Finding beauty

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Ready to take the next step in creating an exciting future?

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1. Value freedom over money

2. Give others the benefit of the doubt

3. Eat well

4. Resist advertising

5. Use and celebrate your gifts

1. Be patient

2. First things first

3. Say "No" more often

4. Value your creativity

5. Accept help from others