If you can't seem to stay busy, start a hobby. From skydiving to scrapbooking, tons of hobbies exist. If you find a hobby that really excites you, it can even form thebasisof a career! Keep reading for some expert hobby tips.
A great hobby is music. You simply need to know the instrument you want to play. Then, find lessons. Begin slowly and build up to the level you wish to attain.
Exchange tips with other like-minded hobby enthusiasts. Keep in mind that everyone likes different things. When your family is fed up with hearing about everything you love about your hobby, then get out there and meet new people!Join onlineforums and offline support groups for people who love what you love.
Let other people know about your hobbies. It's the little random things about people thatmake lifeso special. These things could be a part of your hobby.Allowothers to experience your hobby. Let everyone know what takes up some of your time. It may open up doors thatleadto new friendships.
How about getting outside and riding your bike? Hobbyist riders find new trails to ride throughout the months. You can ride your bike all year long if you dress according to the weather. This hobby can better your life with itshealth benefitsand the amount of fun you can have.
Let other people know about your hobbies. This can make each day a little more special. For example, your hobbies. Share your hobby with others for maximumenjoyment. Show your friends and family members your hobby. You can create new opportunities and friendships this way.
You do not need to restrict yourself to just one hobby. Having different hobbies will make you more diverse. Choose wisely, and you will always have a hobby to enjoy.
Seashell collecting is a great hobby that can give you fond memories of seaside vacations. You can teach your kids with the shells, about different things that live underthe sea. You can also showcase your shells in different ways, so you have alotof fun projects for home.
There are many great things you can do if you take up sewing. Sewing is a hobby that can add beautifulclothesto your wardrobe, or add decorating spice to your home with curtains and pillows. Many people enjoy sewing.
Boost your handwriting skills by learningcalligraphy. The basic materials are easy to get, and the graceful glide of pen on paper is very relaxing. You can take aclassor do it yourself. No matter how you get started, you can enjoy the satisfaction of having beautiful handwriting.
What are the benefits of choosing a hobby? Hobbies give you a sense ofenjoyment. Life feels whole when you're enjoying a hobby. Great hobbies will alsoallowyou to be in a better mood while keeping away too much stress.
Hobbies are a great way to add a little zest to your life. Use the advice shared here to help make your hobby more fun. Put your time to good use and maximize your success with your hobby.
You Can Learn to Recite a Powerful Speech
with Confidence
It is normal to experience anxiety before giving a speech. It takes practice to present a good speech with confidence. Remember that even the best public speakers had to start somewhere and at one time, they were just as nervous as you are. Here are some tips that will help you control your anxiety and deliver a great speech.
1. Prepare yourself thoroughly. Knowing your material is one of the most powerful ways to increase your confidence and calm your nerves before giving a speech. Research your subject matter well and then write it out. Once you have written it, practice speaking it aloud to a small audience. As you read it aloud, check it for proper flow and a normal conversational tone. As you make changes to the speech, write them down. This will help you commit the material to memory.
2. Engage in rigorous exercise on the morning of the speech. This little known tip can make a big difference. Exercise releases powerful endorphins that will help you feel strong and relaxed. Exerting yourself physically will also help you burn off some of that excess mental energy and reduce your anxiety.
3. Begin your speech by briefly greeting your audience. Then place your notes in front where you can easily refer to them and begin your introduction. Resist the temptation to read directly from your notes. As you speak to the crowd, remember to maintain eye contact with only brief references to your notes. If direct eye contact makes you nervous, you can focus on the tops of people's heads and no one will be the wiser.
4. Stand up straight and tall. Your posture will say a lot about your level of confidence. Hold your head high and speak clearly to the audience. Many inexperienced speakers have a tendency to look down at their notes while they speak and lean on or crouch behind the podium. Resist the urge to do these things because they will make you appear timid or afraid. The audience will notice.
5. Do not focus too much attention on yourself. Focus on your audience. Paying too much attention to yourself and your performance will increase your anxiety. The audience is on your side. Understand that they want you to succeed rather than fail. Remember also that the audience is not special. They are people just like you. If they stood in your shoes, they would experience anxiety just as you do. Your audience wants to hear what you have to say so be direct and to-the-point.
6. Be positive, never negative. Continue through your material knowing that you will do well. Smile as you speak. The process can be enjoyable. You will notice that as you progress through your presentation, your anxiety will begin to slip away. When you have finished, you can sigh a great big sigh of relief. Know that each successive speech will be easier than the last. Practice these techniques and soon you will be delivering powerful speeches just like a professional public speaker.
For more information about controlling anxiety or building confidence, visit my site: How To Be Confident
The End of Her Patience
By
Olivia Argon | Submitted On July 12, 2018
This was it. She couldn't take it anymore. Sarah looked down at the tear-stained pillow as she wondered why her life was such a mess. Why couldn't she have a mom who actually cared or a dad who wasn't a drug addict and actually had time for his kids?
Sarah was 14. Doing online school whenever she got time from caring for the two younger siblings she had. With her mom busy with her 9-5 job and a dad who barely ever came home, she had given up on even hoping that her family would ever be like it was before. Everyday was a struggle. She woke up at 6 as soon as the youngest, John who was one, woke up. Making breakfast, sweeping floors, doing the dishes took most of her day. By the time she got time to sit down for school work, she was so exhausted that eyes would close the minute she sat down.
So her grades dropped, from a 96 to a 85. She stopped eating, from three helpings to only one. Struggling with insomnia which along with depression made it impossible to sleep for more than an hour each night. All these changes were subtle but they were there all along and she fell apart, piece by piece.
One extremely hot day while washing the dishes with a 2 year old clung to her leg, Sarah felt light-headed. Putting down the plate she was washing she tried to reach for the counter but before she was able to hold on to it, she passed out and fell to the ground.
Sarah woke up in a hospital very near to her house. It was neither big, nor welcoming. Stuffed in a small room with three other patients and only as much as a curtain to separate them, Sarah found herself with an iv attached to a saline drip. It soon came to her knowledge that her mother had admitted her to the hospital but had quickly left due to work. As she sat alone pondering over her miserable life, she saw the girl next to her who also, had no family member beside her. She seemed not much older than Sarah but had skin filled with bruises and slap marks on her bony arms and legs.
Sarah had a condition known as hypertonic cardiomyopathy which had not come to be seen in previous scans and X-rays taken during her childhood. The condition worsened with stress, hence being the cause of her breakdown earlier that day.
Living in a poor hospital with no electronics, no family all Sarah could do was talk to other patients. The girl next to her named Emily and Sarah soon became firm friends and Emily let Sarah into the deepest and darkest secret of her existence.
Emily lived in a large family, something Sarah had often wished for. She had loving parents and a dog. However two years after Emily moved to California, her parents both lost their lives in a car accident leaving her to her aunt and uncle as per their will. Every night after her aunt slept her uncle would come up to her room and try to sexually force her. Sarah was mentally so scarred that she couldn't bring up the courage to tell a single soul. However when she finally warned her uncle that she could tell, he started beating her. He broke two of her ribs, fractured her femur and left her with marks that would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Listening to this, Sarah was on the verge of tears. Words were unable to describe the great deal of pain and sympathy she was feeling.
Sarah thought that even though her parents weren't really very actively involved in her life, she was never raped or even laid a hand upon. It truly made her realize that you should never be ungrateful.
Even if you have nothing, that nothingness means the world to someone else!
Hi! I'm Olivia and I recently started writing short stories! I hope you enjoyed the story and don't forget to ask me if you need anything else I can do.
There has been so much in the news, worldwide regarding refugees. The ones that are called 'legal' and those who are called 'illegal'. I would remind you and your loved ones, teachers, and clergy that America and most every other country was built and strengthened by refugees. 'Legal' and otherwise.
There is a basic truth: That there is 'good' and 'bad' in every group. Every group!
It is easy to blame those who are 'outsiders' or different than they are, for their problems. Instead of taking responsibility for one's one actions and to acknowledge that people, overall, are good. That it is easy to say that they would never do what others do for survival. But that is probably wrong.
And, as DC Comics so honestly stated, today, Superman was a refugee and illegal immigrant. While fictional, Superman has stood for decades, for Truth, Honesty, and the American Way.
May we all 'Stand on the right side of history'.
Check Out Your Knowledge of the U.S. Presidents
We might learn some things about them in school or at home. But the odds are that there is so much more that you could learn about them! So, check this out. (I know a lot about them, in general. But I only chose 5 correctanswesr out of 15!)
Americans should know more about their past Presidents than is often taught in schools. Even if only a 'thumbnail' as to who they were, a major defining event, accomplishment, or...
The Washington Post is offering a series of 44 podcasts, each focusing on a U.S.President, featuring an award-winning/famous historian or journalist. Hopefully, it remains available well past the 2016 elections.
Each year in Austin, Texas, people of all ages come together to celebrate Winnie the Pooh's best friend. People dress up as the gloomy, yet lovable character and enjoy drum circles, live music, face painting, belly dancing, and pictures with Eeyore himself! The celebration is free to get into, and all proceeds go to local charities. You're never too old to be a kid!
Slug Fest
Held at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park outside of Eatonville, Washington, this annual event is a weekend dedicated to celebrating the banana slug. There are human slug races, slug observations, arts and crafts, and other activities for children. As the second-largest species of slug in the world and an important part of the Pacific Northwest ecology, this event offers valuable information for people of all ages.
National Hollerin' Contest
Spivey's Corner, North Carolina has hosted this epic competition ever year since 1969. Originally founded in order to save the endangered form of communication from extinction, the event now includes live music and a barbecue cook-off. The event also offers antique farm equipment displays and demonstrations, living history exhibits, and a classic car show.
Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw and Festival
The greatest draw for this annual event, held in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, is the Cow Chip Throw. Cow chips, in case you didn't know, are dried pieces of cow dung. Approximately 40,000 people turn out each year to watch the competition and enjoy the cow chip parade, crafts, food and drinks. Local businesses are even allowed to register as a team for the Corporate Throw. What a great way to bond with your coworkers!
Interstate Mullet Toss
Traditionally held on the last weekend of April, this event brings thousands of visitors to the Gulf Coast every year for the chance to toss a mullet fish over the Alabama/Florida state line. The festival is held on the beach and hosted by the famous oyster bar and music venue the Flora-bama. There is also a triathlon, golf contest, live music, food, and tons of beach games. This is one celebration that is sure to be a party.
Whether you'd rather attend a more traditional state fair or one of the stranger events mentioned above, there is certainly the perfect festival somewhere in the United States for you and your family. There's no better way to pass a warm summer weekend than outside sharing a new experience with the people you care about.
Emergency situations arise, whether or not we want them to or we are prepared to handle them. The following are some apps that prport to help you during these types of situations. We strongly advise you to check these out with your parent/guardian before a crisis occurs.
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency app for Android and iOS
The Red Cross Emergency App
The Red Cross Earthquake App
The Red Cross Hurricane App
The Red Cross Pocket First Aid & CPR
The Red Cross Shelter Finder App
The Red Cross Flood App
The Red Cross Monster Guard App
The Red Cross Tornado App
ReUnite - A family reunification app from the U.S. government
FluView - Tracks influenza-like illness activity levels across the U.S. from the U.S. government
National Weather Service - From the U.S. government
When Is Cheryl's Birthday? Viral Logic Puzzle
A Chinese math/logic puzzle has gone viral! Check out the puzzle, answer, and more at this New York Times article. Click here for the article.
Note: While we believe that the information in the following piece is valuable,
we are not making any assurances regarding the author's business.
Your Personal Guide to Figuring out Organic Food Tags
We're regularly encouraged by nutrition experts to always buy organic foods. But what exactly does that mean, and will we be positive just how well it will be regulated? And just how about those other terms there are on product labels in the supermarket such as local, free range as well as natural? We're going to attempt here to convey some logic to the subject, however as we'll see there are no clear-cut regulations.
Even the USDA, which we think is the last word in food product health safety, often issue a few regulations that can cause one to scratch their head in wonder.
When we purchase eggs, for example, we now have the choices of conventional, cage free, free range, organic or vegetarian. The first three don't tell us much regarding the chickens except for the ranging degrees that they can move about. Even free range does not imply grassy green pastures, but they have actually accessibility to an exterior spot as long as they decide to use it. Organic, however, states these hens were
raised on organic feed and vegetarian eggs as well mean the hens have a specific food regimen. Reality is, often labels have import, plus others are there for marketing.
But the USDA will essentially tell us that these eggs, if organic or not, comprise very similar nutritional value. It's been seen in tests hens produced in a more natural environment while it ate their natural diet produced eggs much more nourishing than from chickens cooped up within an unnatural situation.
So let's analyze 3 terms that you will observe on the grocery display units that will give you an idea of whether it offers nutritional value or possibly is there to sell additional products.
1. Certified organic. When you notice a food item that has this tag, this in essence means it is strictly government regulated. Any farm from which these products are must remain herbicide as well as pesticide free for a minimum of 3 years. The animals that produce the food must have not been given antibiotics or growth hormones, as well as businesses that handle the goods between origin and end use will also have
to become certified.
The way it is applicable to the term organic food product will be loosely applied to food produced in naturally-occurring environments without the use of synthetics. In the United States to get legally branded organic the food has to have a minimum of 95% organic products. Unfortunately, the term "organic" most of the time isn't much more than the selling name.
2. Natural food. The Food and Drug Administration has no recognized definition of this term, so basically anyone can slap the term "natural" on the tag and it's at liberty to do so. The exception will be meats and poultry, wherein the FDA prohibits those food products to include any synthetic food dyes, synthetic substances or artificial flavors.
3. Local food. The concept of "local", theoretically meaning it had been grown in the region, has virtually no meaning. A part of the Farm Bill in 2008 said that in case an item is labeled so it must be grown within 400 miles of wherever it goes to market. Maybe the only advantage from fruits and vegetables labeled "local" may be permitted to ripen longer and consequently will taste superior and
perhaps be more nutritious.
Finding foods that are truly organic take some research, you have to look at the facts. On our website we will not only will we tell you which foods will help in aging in a healthy way, but but also how to exercise. Diets with Mediterranean food fit this agenda. Find out more about this and other healthy foods on our website http://losethatbellyfat.info/. Jim O'Connell is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.
Impressing teachers and getting good grades on term papers requires a lot of hard work and is a tedious job. During student life term paper writing is the most dreaded item on the to-do list. And when it comes to writing compare and contrast essays words seem to fly hither and thither. Before I suggest any tips to overcome this difficulty let us first discuss what compare and contrast term papers actually
are. In compare term papers students are required to compare two objects, items, subjects etc.; they must state both similarities and differences however they should stay focused on the similarities. On the contrary, in contrast term papers students must stay focused on the differences while also stating the similarities between the two objects, items or subjects of their term paper.
Now here is what we can do to overcome this difficulty of writing compare and contrast term papers:
1. Jot all the points of similarity and differences before actually writing the paper.
2. For a compare term paper structure sentences in a manner that emphasis shows on similarities rather on differences.
3. Similarly for a contrast term structure sentences in a manner which exhibits emphasis on differences rather on similarities.
4. For both the papers make sure to state the topic sentence very clearly. The topic sentence is an overall assessment of your comparison or contrast.
5. If allowed by the teacher it is better to work in teams; points of differences and similarities increase with an increment in the number of heads.
6. While writing a contrast term paper its better to move ahead feature by feature, while it is better to follow the block style in a compare term paper.
7. Since you need a couple of similarities and differences you must thoroughly research you topics and select the one for which most material is available rather than the one with less availability of material.
8. Similarly you must project your points well to make a lasting impact. This means that you must support your points with thorough explanations; including some examples will be better.
9. Show your teacher a rough draft and listen to their suggestions carefully; take criticism wisely.
10. It is always good to check and recheck your draft before finalizing it; you can include or exclude some points where you fell necessary, also rechecking may pop certain more points that you have neglected.
Writing compare and contrast term papers is not as difficult as students' feel it is; however getting the right material and using it rightly does the trick. This suggests that before writing a compare and contrast term paper we should thoroughly research the topic. We must keep our ears open to suggestions and we must patiently accept criticism. Compare and contrast term papers must be detailed yet they must
have a hook to keep readers glued to the paper. Similarly a synthetic conclusion is sure to win over readers and make a lasting impression. There are endless possibilities when it comes to writing compare and contrast term papers and they must be explored as well as exploited.
Flash Term Papers provides custom term paper and research paper writing services.
Life Provides Lessons for Home Schoolers By Codie Brenner
As home school moms it is important to look for ways to incorporate learning into activities we already have planned. Infusing everyday life with lessons is not difficult. God has created the world to speak of Him, even the rocks and plants would cry out about Him if we did not. Since our heavenly designer created all things, there are discoveries to be found and knowledge to gain built into
life itself and the way we live it.
Let me give an example of what I mean.
My daughter loves horses and takes riding lessons each week. Her journey is an opportunity to learn not only about how to ride horses and care for them, a unit study on its own, but also one in character development, service, and responsibility. Everything associated with her venture is educational so why not make it a part of her education.
I suggest beginning with a mind map or brainstorm of the activities and interests already on your child's agenda. Follow these steps:
1. Write "activities and interests" at the center of a clean piece of paper (horizontal). Draw a circle around it.
2. Begin to draw legs out from the center circle listing off your interests and extracurricular activities. This can include lessons, sports, arts & crafts, church, play dates, class days, ISP meetings, etc. Include anything you do.
3. It would be helpful for both the parent and the child to complete their own brainstorm.
4. Compare mind maps when finished.
5. Take out a piece of lined paper, or if you like using the computer, open up your favorite word processor. Create a list using the information from the mind maps. (Keep in mind that not all the information on the mind map will be useful. Mind maps help sort through information to help you find the most important items associated with the topic.)
Once you have completed the brainstorm and list, you can begin to develop lessons. We have been able to use our daughter's horseback riding for lessons in creative writing, character development - responsibility, technology - blogging, physical education, and reading. Use the brainstorm exercise and get started capturing lessons from your life today.
We all have goals in life. We have something beyond us to look forward to or to work for every time we do a task or we begin the day.
Very few of us have achieved what we wanted. At times, some can get it simply by having lady luck on your side. However, most people get what they want when they work hard to achieve it.
Still, there are times that working too hard can't get you what you want. This applies when there are many people who work just as hard as you do to get what you are aiming for. In these cases, you have to stand out from the rest.
Let take for example an employee who wants to be promoted to a supervisory position since his current supervisor will be elevated to be a manager in a different department. Almost everyone in the team will work hard to make the management choose them for the vacant position. Since everyone will be doing his or her own job excellently, what will give a person the edge to be chosen?
Therefore, simply doing your job well is not enough proof that you are capable of handling a leadership post. One has to strive to be a better person.
Improving oneself cannot be compared with the progress one's co-workers are making. Unlike the performance statistics that can be compared among the workers, you can only determine how much you have improved by only gauging what new skills have you learned or can you perform. In short, you compare your "present self" with your "old self," and not with your co-workers.
Consequently, how far you go or how much you improve depends on you, too. Usually, nobody tells you what you should do to make yourself better. You have to assess what new skills you needed to improve yourself or to make yourself qualified for your dream job.
Making yourself better is not a difficult task. You may choose to enroll in a course. If you don't have that much time and resources, just attending seminars, reading books and learning new skills or methods to do things will do. Just make sure that you practice it everyday. In fact, if you get used to doing it everyday, you will not notice the effort that you are making. Or, it will not take that much time and effort anymore. Here are some simple ways to give you several ideas on how to start.
* Be creative
When you start doing creative things, you release stress. Being creative may be practiced at work where you can experiment on other methods to do your job, or by having a hobby that you enjoy doing or that has just caught your interest.
Practicing your hobby may not directly mean your professional growth. However, just keeping your creative juices flowing means that you are prepared in case your work requires variations that need your creative skills.
* Keep on reading Reading shouldn't stop when you graduate from school. In fact you should read more when you're no longer attending a school to refresh your knowledge and gain more information. Moreover, do not confine your reading in your work-related materials. Read anything - newspapers, books, advertisements, flyers, and even street signs. You don't know when the information will be handy.
* Meet people. Apart from being sources of information or from having a mutually beneficial professional relationship, the people you meet and associate with help you know yourself better. When you meet different types of people in various situations, you learn what skills you may need to develop in yourself, what is really important for you and what direction you are taking.
* Prepare yourself.
While many people rely on fate or are dependent on the company's outlined contingency plans, you can also prepare yourself by checking what other areas have been overlooked in the contingency plans. When you get the opportunity, you may present your suggestions to the administration or implement the plan yourself. Also, managers prefer that their employees can look at the situation from outside the box. They value people who are observant, creative, and well organized to know what they needed to do when
things are not as they should be.
These are just the basics. From these you can devise your own ways to improve yourself. Just don't forget to share what you have learned especially those who are just at the beginning of their careers.
Article source: Articlecat.com
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Leadership : How to Become an Ideal Leader By: Sulamita Berrezi
When you are at work, do you get frustrated because things don't seem to be happening the way they’re supposed to be? You see people milling around but nothing gets accomplished. And in the daily hustle and bustle, do you feel that your goals remain just that – goals. Then maybe its time for you to stand up and do something about it.
Most people are content just to stand around listening for orders. And it isn't unusual to adopt a follow-the-leader mentality. But maybe, somewhere inside of you, you feel the desire to make things happen – to be the head, not the tail. Then maybe leadership just suits you fine.
Some people believe that great leaders are made, not born. Yes, it may be true that some people are born with natural talents. However, without practice, without drive, without enthusiasm, and without experience, there can be no true development in leadership. You must also remember that good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their natural skills. This takes a commitment to constantly improve in whatever endeavor a person chooses. First of all, let's define leadership. To be a
leader, one must be able to influence others to accomplish a goal, or an objective. He contributes to the organization and cohesion of a group. Contrary to what most people believe, leadership is not about power. It is not about harassing people or driving them using fear. It is about encouraging others towards the goal of the organization. It is putting everyone on the same page and helping them see the big picture of the organization. You must be a leader not a boss. First of all, you have to get people
to follow you. How is this accomplished? People follow others when they see a clear sense of purpose. People will only follow you if they see that you know where you are going. Remember that bumper sticker? The one that says, don't follow me, I'm lost too? The same holds true for leadership. If you yourself do not know where you're headed to, chances are people will not follow you at all. You yourself must know the vision of the organization. Having a clear sense of hierarchy, knowing who the bosses are,
who to talk to, the organization's goals and objectives, and how the organization works is the only way to show others you know what you are doing. Being a leader is not about what you make others do. It's about who you are, what you know, and what you do. You are a reflection of what you're subordinates must be. Studies have shown that one other bases of good leadership is the trust and confidence your subordinates have of you. If they trust you they will go through hell and high water for you and for
the organization. Trust and confidence is built on good relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethics. The way you deal with your people, and the relationships you build will lay the foundation for the strength of your group. The stronger your relationship, the stronger their trust and confidence is in your capabilities. Once you have their trust and confidence, you may now proceed to communicate the goals and objectives you are to undertake. Communication is a very important key to good leadership.
Without this you can not be a good leader. The knowledge and technical expertise you have must be clearly imparted to other people. Also, you can not be a good leader and unless you have good judgment. You must be able to assess situations, weigh the pros and cons of any decision, and actively seek out a solution. It is this judgment that your subordinates will come to rely upon. Therefore, good decision-making is vital to the success of your organization. Leaders are not do-it-all heroes. You should
not claim to know everything, and you should not rely upon your skills alone. You should recognize and take advantage of the skills and talents your subordinates have. Only when you come to this realization will you be able to work as one cohesive unit. Remember being a leader takes a good deal of work and time. It is not learned overnight. Remember, also, that it is not about just you. It is about you and the people around you. So, do you have the drive and the desire to serve required of leaders? Do
you have the desire to work cooperatively with other people? Then start now. Take your stand and be leader today.
Challenges And The Power Of Acceptance By: Wendy Betterini
Inevitably in life we will have to face disappointment from time to time. Sometimes they may be little disappointments, and other times they may be great, big, heart wrenching disappointments. When this happens to us, we have a choice in how we react. Some of us may give up on our dreams, others may keep fighting stubbornly against the tide, and still others may choose another path to travel.
One important aspect of dealing with disappointment is acceptance. When we keep fighting against our circumstances and disappointments, it can leave us feeling frustrated, bitter and exhausted. Especially during those times in life when everything seems to keep going wrong for us, we get more and more stressed as we try to resist the undesirable circumstances. Practicing acceptance can help ease that inner tension and allow us to see our situation more clearly. Accepting your circumstances does not mean
giving up! It does not mean that you have to be 100% happy with your current situation. Acceptance means that you acknowledge and accept where you are in your life at this moment, even though it may not be ideal.
Maybe you hate your job or your marriage is faltering. Maybe you are struggling to lose weight and can't seem to get anywhere with it. Whatever it is that is causing you stress, try accepting it instead of fighting against it. Repeat the following to yourself: "I may not be thrilled with the way things are in my life right now, but I accept it. I will do what I can and give the rest to God. I am thankful for the blessings I do have right now, and I know that more are on the way."
It may take alot of practice at the beginning, but as you continue to do this, something amazing happens. The struggles suddenly don't seem so large anymore. They won't magically dissolve before your eyes, but the edges seem to soften a bit. Life doesn't seem quite so harsh anymore. Solutions to the problems may even begin to appear. If that doesn't happen right away, that's okay! Know that they will eventually. Just keep practicing acceptance and have faith that things will turn around.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. We are where we are in our lives right now because we are meant to be here. Several factors may have contributed to our current circumstances, such as choices we made in the past, or outside influences we have no control over. The questions to ask yourself are: What is the lesson here? What do I need to learn about this situation? Though you may not be happy with your current situation, there IS a reason you are there right now.
This is especially true if you continuously find yourself in similar situations! For example, if you keep choosing unhealthy relationships, you might want to take some time to discover why. If you are always struggling financially, there may be a message for you there. If you can't seem to figure it out on your own, you might consider seeking professional help. Sometimes an outside party can see things that we can't.
No matter what difficulties you are struggling with right now, know that this too shall pass. Difficulties do not last forever. Sometimes struggles are opportunities in disguise . . .
Article source: Articlecat.com
Author: Wendy Betterini is a freelance writer who strives to motivate, uplift, and inspire you to make your dreams a reality. Visit her website, http://www.WingsForTheHeart.com for more positive thoughts to help you on your journey.
Teenage Stress
By: Trevor Dumbleton
It has often been said that the teenage years are the "best years of your life". However, anyone who says that does not remember what it is like being a teenager. Between school, life, parents, friends, and the fact that all of them want all of your time, there is no way to get away from the petty concerns and strains that can lead to serious stress. However, nobody
seems willing to give up any of the time they demand from you, so you find yourself torn in a thousand different directions with nowhere to turn to for help. Fortunately, you do not need to deal with stress all on your own. Rather, you can find plenty of help, just as long as you look for it. Unfortunately, teenagers rarely look for help and many of the assets available to them are simply ignored. Thus, your teen stress keeps getting worse.
The first place to look for relief from teen stress is at school. There is a certain class of people who desperately want to help teens get through their problems and find solutions, but they usually sit in their offices waiting in vain for someone to talk to them. These people are guidance counselors and they are there to help you. However, it is very rare for someone to
avail themselves of this prime opportunity for assistance, so actually sitting down with somebody is a treat for them and they will do all they can to help. True, most people think that guidance counselors are really just lost souls who can't seem to get out of school, but that is not the case. Guidance counselors decided on their career because they want to help others. Which means that they want to help you.
As well, you can get help for teen stress through your teachers. True, most of the help you get will probably be for your work in the classroom but, strange as it may seem, teachers are actually human beings. They want to connect with their students so that, when you go to see them, they will be happy to help you. If you go to them in order to get help with your schoolwork,
they will happily give you assistance. They can help you through any issues or difficulties that you may be having and you will can learn more from them after class than you will during class. Such one-on-one sessions can help them narrow down issues in a way that they cannot while they are lecturing to a room full of students.
Additionally, once you sit down with your teachers, you may actually discover that you enjoy talking to them. After all, to repeat a point, they are people. And because they spend so much time in the company of teenagers, they understand teen stress. However, they also understand it from a philosophical perspective that can breathe some fresh air into the problems that you
are confronting. Though you may not always enjoy the answers they can provide, they will be worth thinking about and, in the fullness of time, you will probably discover that they provided a very good insight into your problems.
Another excellent source for teen stress is with your parents. This is because of a simple fact that you may not want to accept. This is the simple fact that parents tend to have children who are very similar to them. No, it's really not pleasant to think about, since that means that you may turn out to be like your parents. But, let us put that aside for now.
Your parents were once your age (strange as that may seem) and teens often have to go through very similar problems. Thus, your parents have felt teen stress and they know what it is like. Sure, they may not want to admit that it was anything special, but they will, hopefully, remember that it was not easy at the time. So if you really need to get some sort of advice or help,
sit down and talk to your parents. Not only will you get some sort of help, but you will also make their day. After all, how many parents get the chance to really connect with their teenage children?
Teen stress is one of the hardest things to get through, but you can rest assured that it has been done. Billions of people in the world have all had to go through the travails of the teenage years and they have through to the other side. So prepare yourself, get help when you need it, and look for help when you can. By relying on people who have "been there, done that"
you can see your way clear to the other side. Then, you can safely look back on your teen stress and say stupid things like, "the teenage years are the best years of your life!"
What is this guy
talking about? He wants us to fail? Every adult I know has pounded
SUCCESS into my head!... What is he talking About?... "
Well, I do mean what
I said in this piece's title!
For far too many years now,
many of your parents and grandparents applauded almost everything you
did. You learned how to potty. They clapped and rewarded you. Your
artwork? Great, good, or like mine, awful, they hung it up for the
world to see. You played sports? Well every team's players got some
sort of trophy or certificate. You took tests, and the teacher graded
everyone on a curve so that no one flunked. You did something wrong
at home and you weren't punished, you were simply asked not to do it
again.
Yes, it's been sort of nice,
hasn't it? And, I certainly don't question that these adults have
meant well. But, the fact of the matter is, that not everyone is good
at everything. And, that's okay. In fact, it's more than okay. It's
super! Why? Well, hang in there for a minute and I'll explain it to
you.
Another reality of life is
that no matter how good or talented you are at something, there will
be someone who is better than you. Smarter, funnier, tougher, more
eloquent, more beautiful, handsomer, wittier, more athletic, more
artistic, more logical, a better leader,...
And, in 'real life', good or
bad, there are 'winners' and if not 'losers', 'non-winners'.
"If you're trying to
scare me or burst my bubble, here, you might be doing a good job of
it. But, why would you do this to me?"
My point is not to do any of
the above. It is to help prepare you for the real world.
When kids or teens have
always been told that everything they did was successful. That they
have no limits in life. That they can never lose by trying
something... Then they are in for huge disappointments as they spend
more time away from an artificial world and enter the real world.
If you never fail, you can
never truly know the sweetness of a great win. If you are told that
you can do anything, then what disappointment when you try out for
your college or local club's basketball team and discover that you're
a lousy shot. Or that you are too tall to be a horse racing jockey.
Or that while you enjoy your singing, you will never make it to the
finals of American Idol or perform at Carnegie Hall. (What's that?...
Trust me, it's a big deal for many folks.)
If you only ever had
'Passing' grades or even all A's, then what happens when you take a
course and get a C or even a D, as can happen to the best of you. - I
remember reading how some of a college's professors quit rather than
retroactively scale students' grades so that they and prospective
employers would believe that they were better students than they
were. - I know that many colleges now find themselves requiring
students to take remedial English or Math classes because they might
have graduated from high school, but they lack the skills to do well
in college. Quite a surprise to these students who thought that they
always did such fine work.
Then, of course, you have
those who were great inventors. Thomas Edison failed countless times
before his light bulbs worked as hoped for. The inventor of the Dyson
vacuums failed more than times than one would care to count. Yet,
each failure led him closer to success.
The same theory applies to
so many areas of life.
As important as all this is,
you will gain something else very important after you have failed at
something. You will know how those whom you always did do better than
in areas, always felt when you bested them.
Why is this important?
Because you will gain empathy. You will achieve a better sense of
compassion for your fellow student.
And, you will be able to
observe how the 'Winners' treat you. Are they respectful? Or, do they
rub your nose in your defeat? Are they cocky? Or, simply confident?
And, you will be able to
think back on how you have treated those who were not as talented or
successful as you.
For better or for worse,
failure and a lack of winning (the 2 are not the same thing)
come with the territory of being human. And, when you know that you
have done your best, you will develop a sense of inner pride, that
cannot be taken away from you simply because you did not succeed at
the task or do as well as someone else.
Oh, and there is another
thing to remember. Just as there is always someone who can do better
than you. There will be those who cannot. And those who do as well as
you.
And, no one is a failure at
everything. No one!
The important things are to
stretch your limits, know what they are (when it is appropriate to do
so), and to be a compassionate person.
So while you should always
strive to do your best and succeed, don't fear failure. It is one
of the true stepping stones toward becoming a great adult!
'Nuff said!
The Pursuit Of Happiness By Ricky Powell
By the same token, guess what… most everyone else feels the same way! So, ask yourself, “Am I a joy to be around?” “Do I present an aurora of happiness and well being for my kids, parents, spouse, friends, and co-workers?” If not, I strongly recommend you take a good, long, deep look within. If you haven’t heard it yet, “Life is 5% what happens to you and 95% how you react to it.”
On my website, one lady took my happiness survey and wrote some rather critical words about this topic. I only wish she would have left her contact information so that I could have written her back and started a dialogue about her comments. Although I was unable to do that, I am pleased to be able to respond in this article instead.
Allow me to paraphrase. First, she wrote that life is never this simplistic. She claimed that criminals are happy when they are committing their crimes. I have to disagree. While I am no expert on the criminal mind, my guess is that most of them are actually miserable. I dare say that the evil forces in the world, murderers, rapists, even terrorists, are actually not happy. This may be a generalization but I would bet in the majority of cases, it’s
true. Overall, I would say that happy people do not rape, pillage and murder.
Next, she wrote that happiness may well be a choice for some people, but not for everyone. She continued, “Environment, genetics and a number of other things have to be factored in and it appears you, (meaning me), ignored them. Perhaps it is because you have never known unhappiness, stress, genes with glitches, etc. If everyone were always happy, we would still be living in caves. Unhappiness with something or someone is a great motivator for change.” She went on to talk about the state of the world and how we should all be unhappy with it.
I am actually very grateful she took the time to submit the survey because until I read it, quite frankly I was completely remiss in addressing these extremely important points that need to be tackled. First, let me just say that I have had plenty of sadness and stress in my life. Haven’t we all? Yet, I believe there is a difference between feeling sad over particular events taking place, versus an overall attitude of unhappiness.
At age 4, I had an older brother who ran away from home and disappeared for the next 18 years, only to show up years later for just a few fleeting moments until he left again for good. Unfortunately for my family, he was a very unhappy person.
At age 23, I lost my very best friend suddenly due to congenital heart defect. We had gone through High School and College together, and I actually attribute my entire post graduate career in Entertainment to him as he was responsible for helping me land my first job out of school where we worked together side by side. He was such a powerful, positive force in my life, and touched so many others’ lives, that to this day, 21 years later, not a day goes by when I don’t think about and miss him terribly. He was one of the happiest people I knew and was a great inspiration in my creating a website
about happiness.
Five years ago, I lost my mother prematurely. She was just 73. We were so close my entire life and after my kids came along, she was absolutely overjoyed to spoil them as much and for as long as she could. I felt horrible about losing her, and even worse that my kids would never again be able to spend time with her. As young as they were when she passed, fortunately they have nothing but wonderful memories of her and thank goodness we captured many
happy events on video so that her memory can live on for generations to come. My mom, despite a very difficult life, was also one of the happiest people I have ever known.
I share all of this for no other reason than to help my anonymous visitor understand that we all have bad things happen to us. The world is full of horrible people, places and things that go on each and every day. For one to choose happiness does not mean that they are ignoring or condoning all of these atrocities. Imagine what doctors and lawyers and morticians go through every day. If they let what they see each and every day affect their ability
to be happy, none of them would stand a chance.
I believe also, that she may have misunderstood the difference between ‘unhappiness’ and ‘dissatisfied’. Human nature itself is insatiable. From the moment we are born, we are never satisfied. Radio talk show host and author of Happiness is a Serious Problem, Dennis Prager, recalled that his son’s third word was “more”. His order of speaking was mama, dada and more! I am sure that is something to which all of us can relate. It is this dissatisfaction that drives us to constantly improve. The caveman was not satisfied with the way things were, and thus invented the wheel. Then came the discovery of fire, and so on it goes. Did Bill Gates stop with Windows XP? No, here comes Vista. Today, the i-phone… tomorrow, the i-world! None of this has anything to do with being unhappy. That is an entirely different animal. We can be dissatisfied with the way things are and strive to make them better, but we can still enjoy inner peace and happiness while working on making the world a better place.
Genetics is a completely separate issue. There are people who suffer from chemical imbalances and other physiological anomalies, which can lead to depression, anxiety and other problems, all possible contributors to unhappiness, (some members of my family included… remember my brother?) Thankfully, there are medications that can help people in these situations. Drugs are only part of the answer though. From what I understand, these medications
are only meant to enable the patient to feel better.
To summarize for now though, I emphatically believe that happiness is absolutely a choice. It is the very reason that I created LifelongHappiness.com. It is truly your personal responsibility to be as happy as you possibly can. The world will be a much better place when the majority of its inhabitants are a just a little happier!
Ricky Powell is the man behind the curtain at Lifelonghappiness.comYou may think the pursuit of happiness, as our forefathers mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, is that of a selfish search. However, quite to the contrary, it is one of the most selfless quests an individual can undertake.
Although you may not realize it, being happy or at the very least acting happy, is the ultimate win-win feeling. Why? Think about it. When you reflect on all of the people in your life, which folks tend to make you feel good? The miserable ones? Of course not, happy people tend to make us feel better. When you are at work, do you like being around others who do nothing but criticize, complain and belittle others? Most likely, you enjoy working side by side with people who have a positive outlook on life and are
able to find the good in others and in most situations.
Study Skills Guide for Students
Author: Andre Thunestvedt
Have you read about some standard memorization techniques? (Can you even remember those memory techniques?) Here are a couple of studies habits that help you retain information— and recall it when you need it. The information sticks! These study techniques also help you improve your overall memory function.
First, Timing is everything.
Choosing the right timing will be the first step to improving your grades. Believe it! It turns out that your memory is geared to work better by using certain intervals of study and rest. Once you understand this timing—and use it--you'll put your brain in the best position to learn. Super memory, here you come!
Here's the deal. If you follow the time table below, success will follow: · Review a small chunk of your test information . Don't tackle more than a page or two, and don't review for more than half an hour—even if you're tempted. · Take a break, but come back to the task in five minutes. · Review for another half an hour. · Take another break. · Come back to studying an hour later. Yes, rest that brain for an hour. · Come
back to the information after an hour and review it for 15 minutes. · Repeat the 15 minute review for the next 24 hours.
Congratulations! When you use this routine, you make a transformation. Your short term memory has become long term memory! Your reward will be better grades.
Second, Tell Yourself a Story
Oh, you know how boring it is to memorize lists! You feel sleepy even though it's the middle of the day. Surely there's a better way.
There is! If you turn the information into a story, things change. This study technique helps you stay awake and interested in the information. It helps you get better grades because it's easier to recall the information during the actual test.
Here's an example. Say you've got a list of vocabulary words. Instead of staring at those words until you zone out, try using the words to make up a story. Write the story down. Use the words appropriately, with their meanings. Don't worry if the story seems silly or doesn't make a lot of sense. It will take some work, and you'll laugh because the story will probably be goofy.
But guess what? Come exam time, you'll be surprised how well you remember the words' meaning and spelling. This is a study tip that works on your memory and pays off with better grades.
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Andre Thunestvedt has been studying the human memory for years, and has written many articles on the subject. He is well-versed in ways to improve memory and is the creator of
How-Improve-Memory.com Go to his website now and get ten expert tips on improving memory.
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/http://andrethunestvedt.articlealley.com/study-skills-guide-for-students-2012856.html About the Author:
Major bookstores, and libraries are now able to order the book, Improve Your Marriage - Don't Overlook The Obvious ! If you do not see it on their shelves, simply request that they stock it!
You can also order it directly from this site or from Amazon.com
Discover How Teenagers Can Start Their Own Businesses...
Author: 28sm54
Teen Preneur
How Teenagers Can Start their own Businesses
Become profitable in Life, and Have a Ball Doing It
The first section of the book focuses on teens who have started up their own businesses and have been successful. The range of success is from those who are "merely" earning above minimum wages to those who have CEO-type incomes. The author uses real life examples of teenagers who have started up businesses. There is information on the pros and cons of adverting; what helped them get started; the information and
tools they need to be profitable; and links to websites for examples.
The next chapter is dedicated to "how to" become a successful entrepreneur. Today nearly 41% of all teens surveyed believe in owning your own business and believe it provides greater security than working for a company. The author sites his resources for any statically information provided in the book. There is examples on how to change your mind set in order to began a organization; what is the importance of "adding
value" to your service such as: Equipment, skills, etc.
Chapter three provides valuable information regarding land, labor, capital and knowledge and the importance each plays in developing a successful business. There are suggestions and examples on marketing, how to raise capital, how to get the information you need; and the winning business formula.
The next chapter focuses on buying and selling goods, and services. How do you define your customer base, what do they need and/or want, and the difference between products and services.
The following chapter discusses why it is of great consequence to consider being a teenage entrepreneur. The author points out the pros and cons of working for your self rather than someone else. Lets say you do not have a drivers licenses or are not old enough to drive, does this mean you can not earn money? According to the author the answer is clearly "no" you can earn money right from the convenience of your
own home. The author points out the primary motivation for young business people is money and the advantages of having your own money brings. Again using real life examples the author highlights the import factors. There is information regarding possible barriers and obstacle which might come your way. The author points out the advantages of owning your own business, such as flexible hours, the development of leadership skills, and the importance of commitment. The author discusses the significance of pacing
yourself in order to get to your dream and the "value added" by product of learning this skills. Interested in college bonus points, well opening your own business can assist in reaching this goal; teens running there own business are more interesting; demonstrates you can balance work and education; highlights your creativity; and follow through on idea setting. Additional information on how to take your business with you when you go to college. Just think no more working in the cafeteria, or student
books store.
This section is followed by a chapter identifying strategies on how to fund your business ideas: Through gifts, allowances and savings accounts, just to name a few possible funding streams. There are suggestions on how to build capital as you go in order to expanded your business and customer base such as: Loans from relatives and family members and other investors. In conclusion there are two lessons the author points out
opening a business does not have to be expensive and there are many ways to finance your business ideas.
Marketing your business section provides step by step suggestions through defining our customer base and audience; how to use the internet for marketing; how to develop and use flyers; and the importance of canvassing in order to develop a customer base.
This section is followed with one committed to the parent's role in their son or daughter's business. This chapter speaks to the parents about how to deal with your youth's developing individualism; should you be a silent partner; or should you be a vocal partner.
As you know most teens are experts at using the internet to gain information, networking and developing friendships, and research. Now lets discuss how to use the internet to develop a web based business. The author identifies things you will need: Technical skills, content generation, traffic and monetization. There is specific steps, definitions and suggestion for each of these important elements. The author also includes
links to web sites for the readers review and use.
What about Ebay businesses? The next chapter focuses on how to start up an Ebay business; provides links for the reader to gather additional information; and suggest possible software to assist in developing an Ebay business.
In the next section the author turns his attention to building websites for small businesses; there information on site building with links; how to find information on your city and how to list your business; how to build and repair computers, Ipods, PSP, and Xbox.
The following chapter provides examples of possible needed services for teens such as elder errand services; support for retirement centers; support for child care; tutoring; event planning; house and office cleaning; lawn care; selling cosmetics and jewelry to your peers. This chapter provides detail information for each of these possible services.
Good Luck!
I have 3 teenage children and have nurtured them to a point that they have found independance and are seeking business opportunities, internet marketing and affiliate links. It has been a hard but a satisfying road. Http://teenpreneur.Dropindeal.Com
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About the Author:
True Kindness is Helping Someone Who Cannot Pay You Back!
Author: Anthony K. Wilson, Sr.
You will have many situations in life to help those who can never compensate you in some way, but compassion has a greater reward than any payback ever could...
I often marvel at how the holiday season seems to bring out a level of kindness that never seems to be as intense or consistent in the earlier parts of the year? Why does society seem to ramp up its receptive nature to perform these random acts of kindness at such a limited window when compared to the entire year as a whole?
Think about the last time you did something nice for someone. Did you expect, or receive, something in return? While there is nothing negative about being paid back or about receiving some other form of appreciation, there is a special way of kindness that is much better.
When you show kindness to someone who cannot give nor do anything for you in return, you are expressing a wonderful kind of compassion. It is doing something for a fellow human being, without any expectations. There are no strings attached to compassion, nor are there any conditions. This makes compassion the purest form of kindness that exists.
If you consider all the people who are in your daily life, you will see that you have many opportunities to show kindness every day. There are also many people whom you do not see very often, and even strangers. Each and every person in the world needs, deserves, and appreciates kindness. You will not need to look very far to find plenty of them every day.
When you show that you are a compassionate individual by extending kindness, you will deepen your respect for yourself. Other people will soon learn to respect you as well. The reason for this is that expressing kindness shows that you are a person who cares about others.
In today's world, especially, there is a great need for kindness and compassion. Many people feel empty and alone. It is not difficult to find many opportunities to show friends, family members, and even strangers, that each one does count. You may not have considered it this way before. The simple fact remains that whenever you show kindness to a person, you are letting him know that he matters.
Even the smallest act of kindness can truly make a difference in a person's life. When it is sincere and unconditional, you may even be helping him to believe in himself. The tiniest act of kindness can be a blessing that he will always remember. You have the gift to make such an impact in a person's life!
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Speak your dreams into existence. If you found this article inspiring, go to Anthony's website and find out more concerning the power of affirmations=> http://create-sun.com
Motivating assists us with discovering the soul and self. It gives us inner strengths, which helps us to complete our daily tasks. Instead of looking at a job as something negative, when we develop motivation, it helps us to see that jobs can become rewarding. Thus, we take control of our life. We also need self-control to find our self and soul. Control can hamper us, since we may let it go to
our head and
indulge in doing wrong. We must have balance with self-control.
To find soul and self, one must endeavor. Once we embalm our skills to find self and soul, we see the need to consider our behaviors and thinking patterns. What is in my thoughts? Why do I think in such way? What makes me tick?
One can achieve finding soul and self by developing a quick-witted insight and a physically and mentally powerful will to set unchanging boundaries. The fixed boundaries help us by not allowing us to take the control we gain to our head.
The soul and self is a broad term in which it encompasses both steadfastness and regard. The soul and self plays a fundamental role in assisting an entity with working out control over their chagrin or mortification.
We all need the ability to control the self. It takes strong willpower to enable us to take this control. Some individuals have heightened aptitude to exercise control in comparison to others. The aptitude to exercise control over the self could slow down however, when disagreeable knowledge from the past emerge.
We need to develop motivation by using optimistic affirmations. It will enhance our process in finding the soul and self. This task is accomplished by learning to encode messages that stream from the subconscious mind. We can develop constructive energy that allots us to absorb positive thoughts.
Our actions originate from our thoughts. What time an entity is highly focusing on positive energy, he then is prone to think and act positive despite what situations he encounters. Developing a keen insight while managing particular tasks drives one to feel the optimistic vibrations within self and it plays a substantial role in helping one to overcome his impediments.
By developing positive affirmations it assists one with achieving control by facilitating him to breakout away from mentally challenging situations, e.g. exaggerated suffering, fretfulness and phobias.
Affirmatives assist one with overcoming obstacles that get in the way of our journey to find the soul and self. We develop respect for self by maintaining positive affirmatives.
These affirmatives serve to channel our energy cells giving us the aptitude to manage our performance in a number of areas. Motivation will allot us room to grow healthy and strong and we will enjoy enduring relationships with self and others. It enhances our memory by altering dysfunctional attitudes towards self and others.
Self-development process is noted by tests conducted by Mischel. He made some good points when he discovered that development serves to control altering responses. During his testing, he spoke with a small child, asking him to restrain self. The child was asked to control his desire to eat a marshmallow. He was given fifteen minutes. If he were capable of controlling self, he would receive the marshmallow as the reward. The child maintained for the fifteen minutes, which Mischel predicted that the child would
develop healthy skills. In short, we must control our impulses throughout the development stage to discover self and the soul without losing control.
We must endeavor and develop motivation in order to become strong and willfully capable of finding this soul and self.
Life is a continuous journey filled with endless future possibilities and future accomplishments. Yet many people think life is a destination, they achieve a certain plateau of success in their lives and begin to rest on their laurels. In other words they become complacent or content which is the foundation of mental, physical, spiritual, and professional atrophy and stagnation. They began to allow themselves to be stuck in a quagmire of mediocrity and
self absorption. I have stated a few reasons why your comfort zone can completely stifle your personal growth, and your unlimited potential (the problem). In this article I will offer you several viable solutions to this problem, which you can place into practice starting today.
Be in a state of perpetual self development and life exploration. Never have the mindset that you know, all there is to know about yourself or your fields of expertise, there will always something new and exciting to discover. Approach life as if you were a young child again, constantly exploring, learning, and doing. Don’t be afraid or intimidated by trial and error. Many of humanity’s greatest triumphs and achievements have occurred because of it. Don’t
be afraid to be a risk taker, and remember “the greater the risk the greater the reward”.
Embrace change with an open mind. It has been stated that most people resist change. I believe the reasons are many why humans fight change. I feel the three most prevalent ones are fear of the unknown, acceptance of the status quo or conformity, and the fear of failure. Think back to situations or circumstances in your life where change was needed in your life and you constantly fought against it, whether it were personal, professional or otherwise. Finally
you decided you did not have a choice but to change, or face dire consequences you did not want or desired if you did not change. More times than not, you emerged as a better person, and the transformation enriched your life’s experiences in some fashion or form.
Give even though you feel you’ve given all you had to give. In other words, when you feel you are completely exhausted from giving do even more. Regardless if your giving efforts are relating to your professional life, your personal life, your marriage, or any other relationship or endeavor you deem important in your life. You will be pleasantly surprised and impressed by your limitless potential to give and achieve. You will grow exponentially as
a human being and many others will greatly benefit from your inexhaustible focus and tireless effort. I am sure you know some individuals personally, or heard of people universally famous for their endless giving and monumental achievements regardless of their age or background.
Set high standards for yourself. Continuously reach for the stars and beyond, you owe to yourself, and others you love and cherish. Having high standards in any progressive relationship will elicit the best in you. You talents and skills will constantly be tested, and most certainly arise to overcome any challenge. You will be amazed of what you can accomplish when once you continuously raise the bar and upping the ante.
In summary if you want to continuously grow and live a constantly enriching life, avoid staying in your comfort zone as if it were some type of deadly contagious disease. Continue to be curious about what life can offer you, once you decide to constantly develop your talents and skills. Give until you are exhausted, and then give some more. Have an inexhaustible lust and zeal life. Set high standards, and always continue to raise the bar for achievement.
About the AuthorPaul is also an experienced personal online marketing mentor and leader. For more info visit http://www.entrepreneur2day.com You can follow Paul on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PaullBrooks
(NOTE: Do not take the publication of these articles as an endorsement of the businesses promoted by them or their authors. Use your own judgement when deciding whether or not to give them your businesse.)
Luck has nothing to do with it
By: Andy Kay
That’s right: Luck has nothing to do with it, as some allegedly "fortunate" people say. And in this case, "it" doesn’t just mean confidence.
It means life. Life as you'd like it to be. And the life that we see someone leading, when we immediately consider them "lucky".
See, whenever someone seems to reap all the rewards in life, we tend to think of them as "fortunate" or "lucky", yeah?
Well, would you believe me if I told you that ascribing "luck" to anyone or anything is potentially harmful to us?
What exactly is luck anyway? Many people would probably define it as something like, "when things coincidentally fall out to your advantage". But is it really just that?
And more importantly, would we need more than merely coincidence to receive the gifts of life?
(SPOILER ALERT: Yes. Yes it does.)
When Michael Jackson recorded the "Thriller" album, did it sell millions because of "luck"? Or was it because he had spent his entire childhood and adolescence working his derrière off, meticulously honing his craft and gathering a hugely talented team of producers, songwriters and A&R people behind him?
When Steve Jobs released the first iPhone, did it become hugely successful because of "luck"? Or was it because he dared to take chances, push the envelope, fulfil the needs that his customers had -- even ones they didn’t realize they had -- and amass an army of professional developers and marketers behind him?
Sure, Michael Jackson was probably as close to being the proverbial natural talent as they come. And Steve Jobs, according to many, was a natural visionary who simply thought outside the box and dreamt big.
But what good would that have done them if they hadn’t put in the work, insisted upon their dreams, and kept at it for years and years? Luck has nothing to do with it because "it"doesn’t happen without taking action.
Here’s another thing:
Have you ever seen "Forrest Gump"? If not, it’s a fine movie, and you should see it at least once.*
Forrest Gump, our titular protagonist, is clearly slow-witted, but likeable. And he somehow manages to walk through life and attract all kinds of success and fortune as he cluelessly goes along. Only he never realizes it. Because success and fortune simply doesn’t resonate with his humble mind.
Let’s pause here for a moment. Now, think about your own life.
Have you ever learned a new word, and then in the following days and weeks you saw and heard that word everywhere?
Or have you ever been unemployed and looked for jobs, and all of a sudden job applications are everywhere?
I know, right?
The key word here is awareness.
Forrest Gump doesn’t consciously experience fame and fortune, because his awareness is on a different level. When we’re consciously aware of something, we’re gonna find it.
Not because there’s more of it, but simply because we’ve become aware of it. Like a hunter who deliberately ignores anything but the potential sights and sounds of his prey. Luck has nothing to do with it, because what good would all the coincidence in the world do us if we weren’t aware of it?
"But wait a minute! What was that thing you said about how ascribing luck to anyone could be "harmful"??"
Yeah, see, that’s because it’s something that non-fident people tend to do. Which is rarely beneficial.
It’s when we’re non-fident that we tend to think in terms of "luck" — and "bad luck". Specifically, we tend to think that other people get all the luck, and that we’re victims of unfortunate circumstances.
This is a conveniently easy way of thinking, because it takes the responsibility for our lives out of our hands. And for the same reason, it’s also a dangerous way of thinking.
But when we allow ourselves to go for the life we want, consistently taking action and raising our awareness will make sure that we get it.
Some people might be born with certain advantages, yes. But imagine how many people never put that advantage to any use. Either because they never see the possibilities and/or because they’re simply too shy to act on it.
And now, think of all the famous media persons who obviously wouldn’t recognize talent even if it came out of nowhere and took away all their limelight.
Think of all the wealthy corporate leaders who got where they are by being uncompromising, cold as ice, playing the game and doing what’s best for the company no matter what.
Think of all the powerful politicians, all the Frank Underwood’s of the world, who got to where they are by lying, manipulating, and probably worse. Really, luck has nothing to do with it. But being aware of our opportunities, and taking consistent action towards them has everything to do with it.
ACTION ITEM:
This week, take up learning something new. Something you've been wanting to get into, only you couldn't find the time (or whatever excuse you made for yourself).
Set aside 1/2 hour every night, monday through friday, for working on that thing only. Nothing else. This means, turn off your phone. No phone; no social media or other distractions. Just you and your new challenge.
Getting into this sort of habit will eventually prove to us that luck has nothing to do with it. -- And that practice, consistency, and focus are the keys to accomplishing pretty much anything.
* Yes, I know it’s originally a book. So are a lot of great movies.
Andy Kay helps people who are held back -- by fear, overwhelm, anxiety, indecisiveness, anything. He knows what works and what doesn't, and he doesn't tolerate "spiritual" BS about "higher powers" and "purposes". -- We have access to all the power we need to achieve our own purposes; period. Visit https://www.getconfidencecoaching.com and get confidence and empowerment for free!
Cooking is a great way to show creativity and have fun. It could also lead to a great career. If you watch the Food Network and other networks, you can find cooking challenges finding young people, like yourself, learning skills and earning money or other prizes.
There are many sources of recipes that are free to use or even print out. Here is one of these. Try some recipes with an adult to help you and enjoy this great summer pastime!
Most adults do not understand what websites' Terms of
Service or Privacy Policies mean. In general or for them, personally. And, they
would be shocked if they understood what they have agreed to.
So, don't be surprised by what you might not understand,
yourself, regarding these policies.
Jenny Afia, a lawyer based in London, has decided to
help Tweens and Teens to understand at least one of the most popular website's
Terms of Service. The policy is over 5,000 words long!
Check out Ms. Afia's explanation of these terms
here.
Since kids, we are always reminded to reuse and recycle if we get the chance to. With every ton of paper we reuse, we are saving a few trees from dying. Everyone knows how important trees are and how the world will crumble if these precious creations will go extinct. So let’s reuse and recycle.
Recycling of paper is often done by some government agencies and what you need to do is just to segregate them and wait for the collectors. For newspapers, you can sell them in bulk in junk shops. You’re not only helping the trees and the world but you are also earning a few bucks from it. Instant money from paper!
However if you are creative enough, you can do your own recycling of these papers. Turn these old papers into newer ones which you can use as greeting card. That card which you buy in bookshops can be a bit expensive depending on the quality but you can come up with something like those at no expense.
What you need are old papers (not the glossy ones), some laundry starch, water, sponge, a mould and a blender. If you don’t have a blender you can manually pound the paper and soak it for a day; which would take longer but still gives you the same results. Just tear the paper in ½ square inch or shred it. Put 1/3 full of paper inside the blender and add some water. The consistency should be every 1 cup of paper is 2 cups of water. Blend it for 3 seconds. Pour the slurry of pulp and water in a basin and keep on making a lot of the mixture until you get the desired amount.
The laundry starch will serve as the binder of the paper so make sure to add those in with a ratio of 1 tbsp of starch for every 1 basin. Using your paper mould, dip it in the basin and scoop up pulp. Make sure that your mould has very fine screen attached to it so that water will be drained but the pulp won’t go out. You are now this close to making your card! If you wish to put more texture on your paper, you can add dried leaves or thin stalks while blending the paper.
Once you are sure that you have drained the water out of the pulp, lay the mould upside down on folded newspapers. Using the sponge, soak up the excess water by pressing it on the pulp. If by the time you try removing the mould and the paper would still stick, that would mean that there’s still a lot of water in it and you have to keep on pressing the sponge to remove it.
Once removed, you can then lay them outside to dry under the sun. Drying the paper would usually take a day depending on the weather condition. You can then slowly remove the pulp from the newspaper and voila you have your material for your greeting card!
Frogs are one of the most useful, tricky and essential to the ecosystem organisms in the whole world. This is because they maintain the delicate balance of the ecosystem and the food chain by controlling the population of gnats, mosquitoes and other insects. Therefore, one amazing way of developing a hobby as well as giving back to the planetary ecosystem would be to rear live tadpoles.
In order to do this, you need not go out into the wild and get yourself into waist deep dirty water just to get your hands on some tiny frog eggs. Instead, to make things better you can get yourself a live tadpoles kit at any store where you already get tadpoles, developed from their egg stage, and also few tricks and tools for the trade to help you rear them better.
The first step to caring for live tadpoles is to find a suitable contained where they can grow and which can hold a large amount of water for their free movement. Keeping them outside is the best option, because that way, they will find enough insect larvae to eat. However, you do not need to bother yourself with this if you get a live tadpoles kit because they generally come with a suitable container space.
Just like you need a homely place with suitable shade, so do the tadpoles. This ensures that you need to cover the base of the container with rocks or sand for shade and plant some weeds and grass so that not only can the tadpoles feed on them, but also attach themselves to the roots while feeding. Also, this protects them from direct sunlight. Besides this, be very very careful that the plants and weeds you use are free from any pesticides or other harmful chemicals because if they are, your tadpoles will die in a matter of hours.
You should never keep more than five to seven tadpoles in one liter of water because if your do, they may either die, or become competitive and start feeding on each other, and that is something best not witnessed.
When changing the water of the container, which you should do quite regularly otherwise the tadpoles will die, change half of the water at a time. This means that if you have one liter of water, take away half a liter and add fresh water to the remaining half. This is to make sure that the pH level of the water does not change abruptly and that the tadpoles do not die.
When the tadpoles change into the next stage, that is, when they develop tiny spindle like legs, they start to crawl. This means that you either have to shift them into another container which has a large amount of dirt at its base or add some dirt to the container that is housing the tadpoles, since they will start to crawl. If this is not done, the tadpoles will drown and die within a matter of days.
Rearing tadpoles from that stage to full-grown frogs needs serious commitment and a ton of patience because they require a very long time to mature. Therefore, do not get frustrated and throw them away and do not get them in the first place if you are not ready for a full time commitment. You can make a purchase of Live Tadpole kit to take proper care of the Live tadpoles .
Study? Yes! Study! Believe it or not that's how you get ahead in life. Think about this for a moment. Most people are not eager to study or do homework. Us humans, sitting there comfortably on the top of the food chain tend to struggle with doing extra things like studying or doing homework. If we carefully consider this simple truth that so few people want to go the extra mile, then doesn't it just make sense that going the extra mile is exactly what we want to do to get ahead of our competition?
Now I hear you. I was once a teen and I know some of you find this extra studying and extra homework so foreign that you can't quite get your head around it yet. Some of you think that it's crazy to assign yourself additional work beyond everything else that you already do. Well, my answer to that is... EXACTLY!
You are exactly right! It is crazy! And that is why this is such a powerful secret weapon of successful people. This tactic of doing extra is so potent and effective because so few are willing to do it. Sadly, because this is so rare, some can't even think of it. And since this concept of doing extra is so far off the main path, we now have a golden opportunity to tap into a resource that others aren't even aware of. We can get ourselves a huge advantage if we just do extra. Come on... if we want our lives to be something different than what it presently is, then don't we have to start thinking and acting differently than we presently are?
Now teens and even tweens, go learn, lead, and lay the way to a better world for all of us. Remember to study and then study some more through additional self-assigned homework. If we do this little bit of extra then it can only add up to us doing a little better in school and in life. And once again, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do...
Award-Winning Author, Speaker, and Educator Dan Blanchard wants you to study more! For more great leadership tips be sure to visit Dan's website at: http://www.GranddaddysSecrets.com. Thanks.
As a student, one is required to take notes during lectures or even while self-studying. Research studies have proven that taking notes not only makes the concept clear then-and-there but also facilitates recall during examinations. One of the main study tips, thus includes taking notes. Notes are taken either while listening to a lecture or while referring several books and accumulating them to prepare a comprehensive answer. Before exams, a review of these notes makes recall much simpler and faster! But taking notes is a skill that a student must develop and mind mapping is one of the excellent methods of taking notes.
Mind mapping is a diagrammatic method of organizing the key concepts or ideas from textbooks or lesson notes. In this method, a student is required to pull out the essential elements from linear material (i.e. lesson notes/ textbooks) to generate a mind map; this enables the capture of the gist on one screen which provides a movie-type insight into all the interconnected ideas. Moreover, mind mapping also encourages one to use the power of imagery to lay stress and association to your notes! Utilizing more of the visual mode in this method fosters the memory's capacity to store and recall information.
Tips While Making Notes Using Mind Maps
There are several study tips that can be kept in mind while making notes using mind maps. Here are a few of them. Firstly, do not worry on how to pull out vital information from textbooks; most of them are well structured with headings and subheadings providing an easy framework in creating mind map branches. Secondly, let the mind maps build on themselves progressively through the study text; visualize your map expanding with more input. Adding details such as preferred shapes, images, colors and highlights helps a great deal in recollection of that information. Once you have finished reading, there is already a single mind map prepared in your mind, revealing all the vital information about the read topic. Thus, mind mapping not only helps increase volume of information but also ensures their clarity.
Remember, one never needs pages and pages together for effective study. Using the mind mapping technique, students can also summarize a lecture or lesson recently learnt; this in a way reinforces the learnt information. One can start by entering into the subject matter in the middle of the mind map with a central image. From here, main branches of the topic can be visualized with single keywords. Next step is draw sub braches from the main topics and label them. One of the study tips includes the addition to imagery to generate mind maps for a quicker recall.
Note that mind mapping involves the diagrammatic representation of the gist of the subject but you could include more notes. Interestingly, there are several mind mapping software available these days with the help of which a link to an external file can be given and after studying from that file, only the keywords would be required. Mind mapping is such a brilliant way to enhance learning and recall methods that it can be practically applied to any learning forms. It is effective not only for exam preparation, but also for essays and project works, brainstorming, presentation making, group study support, etc!
About the Author
conciselearning
For more information on mind mapping and study tips , Please visit http://conciselearning.com/ (show bio)
41) Watch Telenovelas or in other words Spanish soap operas
42) Do as many Spanish language lessons for free online as you can.
43) Listen to Spanish songs – make sure you know what they're singing though.
44) Listen to the Spanish radio.
45) Listen to the Notes in Spanish podcasts on iTunes
46) Listen to other podcasts in Spanish
47) Watch random videos in Spanish on YouTube
48) Watch Disney movies in Spanish on YouTube – see my article on the Top 10 available
49) Watch Spanish movies – there are loads of great movies out there on DVD and some are available for download.
Improving your Spanish Writing
50) Read as much as you possibly can.
51) Learn some Spanish idioms to make you sound like more of a native.
52) Make notes of good Spanish phrases you come across
53) Learn some useful essay phrases – see my article "useful Spanish essay phrases" on Ezine Articles.
54) Try to include the subjunctive – this is a sure fire way to boost your writing grades.
55) Be careful – check over your writing to remove stupid mistakes
56) Don't stretch yourself too far – don't use tenses and structures you don't fully understand.
57) Try to get your work marked by a teacher or on a Spanish forum online.
Improving and Practicing your Spanish Speaking
58) Try a language exchange website like LiveMocha and find someone to speak to online.
59) Find a Spanish practice partner (non virtual!)
60) Talk to yourself – speaking out loud will help your pronunciation.
61) Translate things you see and phrases you hear in your head.
62) Make the most of your speaking opportunities especially in class time.
And finally some general advice
63) Practice, practice, practice.
64) Put the hours in
65) Challenge yourself but don't bite off more than you can chew.
66) Stick at it and bit by bit you'll get there in the end.
Addressing The Problem Of Traumatized Youth In America
The level of violence among youths has risen to alarming proportions over the last few decades. The inner cities have become breeding grounds for youths committing felony crimes and grave yards for those being killed.
The conditions that contribute to the delinquency among our youths are widely studied, documented and reported. Our juvenile systems are now bulging and growing as rapidly as adult jails. Speaking with inner city youths, they know that "Juvenile Hall" is jail for kids and they report having many friends and peers who have gone there, or are still there. As a psychotherapist trained in trauma resolution, I have worked with children ages three through eighteen, resolving trauma triggered by many types of occurrences. These include death of parents through illness, sudden and traumatic death of parents, relatives and friends, rape and sexual molestation and through separation from their parents and family.
Great empathy is extended to the young child who cannot understand the absence of a mother due to untimely death. Most family members are not appropriately trained to handle trauma in their children. Youths, age seven to twelve, may be left alone to grieve, or ignored and avoided by the adults in the family, school and community. Children thirteen through eighteen normally isolate themselves in sadness, loneliness and depression. Some youths act-out in defiance and aggression, secretly yearning for help and understanding to cope with their loss, pain and sadness.
A large percent of the violence among our youths stems from unresolved trauma. Youths today are very familiar with death, they are witnesses to violent and traumatic incidences. Most of the deaths of their peers are from violence and the rest from suicide, illness and accidents. Particularly in the inner cities, children are confronted with deaths at an early age, especially traumatic death of family members, friends and peers. These children are highly exposed to shootings and killings in their neighborhoods attributed to drugs and the drug related culture. They are traumatized by incestuous relations by fathers, sexual molestation at the hands of family members, friends of the family and frequently from the boyfriends of their drug using mothers.
Our systems are ill equipped to address the needs of children in trauma. The census of traumatized children in our communities will be greatly under assessed, as many of the crimes go unreported. Many school systems are oblivious to the problem of trauma among the children. Principals and teachers report as defiant and bad behavior the 'acting out' children engage in as defense mechanisms to mask the pain, shame and confusion of traumatic events. On many occasions, I have arrived at a school to counsel a child reported to be bad, fighting and defying authority, only to uncover a traumatized child camouflaging the impact of the loss of a parent, relative, friend or peer.
When assessing changes in behavior patterns and academic performance in children, I observed that in most cases a traumatic event preceded the onset of the problems. Consequently, our jails, foster homes, schools and communities are filled with children with unresolved trauma. Consider the young child who, after loosing a parent or relative, is suddenly placed in foster care. As this child struggles to adjust and cope, he or she is labeled "bad" and is shuffled from one foster home to the next. Pain, frustration and anger are piled on each time that child is removed. As the trauma is compounded and goes unresolved, the child is labeled and rejected as a bad child, gets lost in the system, or ends up in the juvenile system or dead.
The problem of the millions of traumatized youths in our communities must be addressed. While we linger in ignorance and confusion as a society, our young people are being criminalized and killed by the thousands. We have seen the blank stares and frightened responses of adults in trauma. Children in trauma act differently, they might laugh or act-out to cover their emotions. Some turn to anger, defiance and maybe drugs; still others engage in truancy in the home and school, drop out of school and run away from home. Always their defense mechanisms are focused upon as the problems while the underlying cause of the problem goes untreated.
The shootings, death and trauma in our inner cities grow daily. If our traumatized youths are not given urgent attention, the headlines and news casts will continue to report increased violence and deaths. Social and educational systems, especially in states with large urban communities, must allocate budgets to provide treatment for our traumatized youths. This group of children has gone unnoticed and unattended for far too long. The time is now to address the problem. Yesterday is a terrible memory and tomorrow a dreaded reality. Let us not forget that today's youths are the adults of tomorrow, future parents and heads of families, leaders of our communities, governments and our world.
Learning addition, subtraction, and even multiplication for a child is somewhat natural. Division on the other hand is the least natural arithmetic operation to learn. So learning to divide numbers between 1 and 12 can be painfully frustrating for a child. It does not have to be. Once the child learns multiplication, division becomes natural and easy to learn.
Why is learning division so much easier after learning multiplication? There are three reasons: (1) The division table looks exactly like the multiplication table; (2) The difference is how to interpret it; (3) Division is the reciprocal of multiplication. Let us look at division table. See division table below:
If we use this as a multiplication table, we multiply the row number by the column number and get the answer. Try multiplying 3 times 5 with a result of 15 (3 x 5 = 15); move the cursor to row 3 and column 5 and we see 15 highlighted in the table. OK, let us flip it around, and use it as a division table. What is 15 divided by 3? The answer, as we can see from the table is, five (15 ÷ 3 = 5). To do division, take the highlighted number in the table and divide it by the row number 3 and the corresponding column number 5 is the answer to the division problem. Validate the problem answer using multiplication: 3 x 5 = 15. After learning multiplication and understanding the relationship between multiplication and division, division will be easier and more intuitive to learn.
Where do we begin learning division?
1) First, get familiar with the table.
2) Start with division by one. Find the number one in the table, divide by the row number, one, and get the answer - the column number one.
3) Repeat these steps for division by one, which is row one and columns one to twelve.
4) Repeat these steps for division by two, which is row two and columns one to twelve.
5) Repeat these steps for division by three, which is row three and columns one to twelve.
6) If you are comfortable with division so far, let us try a test. Solve the following division problems in your head and then compare your answers to the division table: 4 ÷ 2 =?, 15 ÷ 3 =?, 27 ÷ 3 =?, 16 ÷ 2 =?, and 10 ÷ 1 =?. The problem answers are 2, 5, 9, 8, and 10 respectively. If you got four out of five problems correct, move to the next step.
7) You are ready to start learn the entire division table.
Math K-Plus is a free service that provides arithmetic homework study tools to help children learn arithmetic. Our goal is to help students help themselves build a clear understanding of arithmetic. Come visit us at http://www.mathkplus.com and see our collection of tools and lessons.
About the Author
Kazumi Kopecki, Owner Marlton, NJ, USA mathkplus@gmail.com Website: http://www.mathkplus.com
Ultimate Mental Math Trick – How to Tell the Day for Any Date by Stephen Tan
Can you tell the day for any date without a calendar at hand? Is that really possible?
It is actually a simple skill that any one can learn. It is also very practical as you may always consider your availability for an activity or an event or you just need to know the day of anyone's birthday. All you need is a little bit of practice, then you can quickly and easily tell the day of the week of practically any date in history or in the future.
Here's the Secret
You may need to memorize some codes to learn this trick, but they are very easy to remember.
First, we assign a code number to every day of the week.
Monday - 1
Tuesday - 2
Wednesday - 3
Thursday - 4
Friday - 5
Saturday - 6
Sunday - 7 or 0
Second, we assign a code number for every month of the year. These month codes are used for every year with two exceptions. In a leap year, the month code for January is 5* and for February is 1*. The month codes with the corresponding mnemonics are as follows:
January - 6* (WINTER has 6 letters)
February - 2* (2nd month)
March - 2 (You march with 2 feet)
April - 5 (APRIL has 5 letters)
May - 0 (May0 for mayonnaise)
June - 3 (JUN has 3 letters)
July - 5 (JULIE has 5 letters)
August - 1 (August begins with an A, the 1st letter)
September - 4 (SEPT has 4 letters)
October - 6 (Halloween TRICKS or TREATS have 6 letters each)
November - 2 (2nd last month)
December - 4 (XMAS has 4 letters)
Third, we assign a code number for every year. For example, the year code for 2011 is 6.
The Formula
Day of the week = (Month code + Date + Year Code) mod 7
Note: mod 7 indicates the remainder you get when you divide by 7.
Examples
What is the day for July 16, 2011?
Day of the week = (Month code + Date + Year Code) mod 7
Day of the week = (5 + 16 + 6) mod 7 = 27 mod 7 = 6 (Therefore, it's a Saturday)
What is the day for December 25, 2011?
Day of the week = (Month code + Date + Year Code) mod 7
Day of the week = (4 + 25 + 6) mod 7 = 35 mod 7 = 0 (Therefore, it's a Sunday)
Hooray! With constant practice, you are now ready to be the walking calendar. Amaze your friends, colleagues, students, teachers and everyone else.
Stephen Tan has been teaching mathematics for almost ten years now. He has coached and trained students to compete in mathematics competition and through his leadership has won various mathematics awards. His teaching of mathematics is fun and very logical according to many students. He also teaches students to solve mathematics problems the shortest and easiest way. And now he reveals his secret on how to tell the day for any date without
the aid of a calendar.
Have you ever felt the need to conform just to be with the "in" crowd? How about feeling an overwhelming desire to belong to a group that you'll do anything they tell you just to be accepted? Have you ever been forced to prove yourself worthy of getting into a group? You may be under peer pressure.
Peer pressure has been described as the pressure exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change their attitude,
behavior and/or morals. It can be as little as dressing the same way as the rest of the group or hanging out at the same places, to forcing you to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, or worse, break laws. Peer pressure may come from people who wouldn't associate with you except for times when they need you, as well as from your closest friends.
As one grows older, people are faced with situations that require a decision. Some people have a clear idea of what choices they should take. However, there
are some who remain undecided. During the teenage years, a part of the brain is being developed. This is the part that is specifically for thought process and judgment. This is the time when kids start developing their own ideas and ideals. Having someone asserting their personal ideals may affect a person's decision-making ability. It's difficult enough to make decisions on your own, let alone to have people pressuring you to do things their way.
Being subjected to this kind of pressure causes
anxiety to everybody, kids and adults alike. It produces a paranoid feeling that they should keep pleasing other people just to belong. These people might show signs of negativism, lying or excessive shyness. They would start second-guessing themselves, thinking that they're not good enough to be in the group. They would also start lying about where they've been, who they were with, or what they've been doing; they can also develop a very low self-esteem, making them extremely shy and distant.
However,
not all peer pressure is negative. Good peer pressure is when you are pushed to do something good that you didn't have the courage to do or have never crossed your mind. Positive peer pressure may result to close friendships. This is where one meets people who are positive role models, receive good feedbacks and sound advices, practice clean socializing skills, gain new learning experiences, and get encouragement and support. All of these would come from true friends that know you and have only your best
interest at heart.
If you feel the need to conform just to be part of the "in" crowd, ask yourself: "Do I really want to do it, or am I just going to do it because everybody else is doing it? Or just because they're telling me to do it?" Not everything people say or do is right. The key is to understand one's self better to know if this is what you really want or if you're ready. Friends will always be there to give you a piece of their mind and give you a little push to whatever
direction. Responding to peer pressure is a natural thing, but knowing who to listen to is the biggest decision to make.
Top 10 Essential Things to Bring to Your College Dorm Room By John Stone
Shopping for your dorm room can be a hassle, especially considering that you know you're probably going to forget something. Well, as a college student and someone who has gone through this process not so long ago, I can tell you it can be pretty stressful. The best thing to remember is that even if you do forget something, you can always pick it up at the local mall or store by the University, or have your parents or guardians
ship one to you. I have compiled a list to help you move into your dorm with everything you need to get the year started for academic success.
1) Sheets - This seems like a no brainer, but you wouldn't believe how someone could forget something as simple as this. Be prepared for both warm and cold weather, so make sure you have a comforter and sheet set. Most colleges offer twin extra long mattresses, so be sure that your sheets will match the mattress provided by the college. Another big one, which is actually something I forgot but is fairly important, is a mattress
pad. I was actually the only person in my suite to forget one, which made me feel quite dumb. It really does help though if you can get one of the mattress pads with foam, as the mattresses at college are probably not very comfortable, and getting proper amounts of sleep is incredibly important at college. These can be bought at stores such as Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, and I'd highly recommend them. Also, don't forget a comfortable pillow! Multiple pillows are probably a good idea as well, especially if
you ever have a friend stay the night, he or she will need a pillow.
2) Hygiene Essentials - Make sure that when you move in that you have a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap or body wash, and much more. You'll also need deodorant, laundry detergent, and more. Don't forget laundry bags also, because you'll need a way to cart your clothes to and from the laundry services room. A shower caddy is probably also a good idea, especially if your bathroom is communal, as you'll need an easy way
to carry all your essentials to and from the bathroom. If laundry isn't free at your campus, be sure to bring a lot of quarters or money on your student ID card so that you can wash your clothes.
3) Towels - You can't really take a shower without a towel, so make sure you have plenty of these. Although you don't need to wash your towels after just one use necessarily, it's important to have enough of them to keep you tided over.
4) Desk and School Supplies - This sounds fairly simple as well, but make sure you have everything you need here. Scissors is probably the most likely thing to be forgotten, as well as maybe a hole puncher. On top of these, don't forget the usual items such as notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, and more. You may also need markers as well, so be sure not to forget those. A Pencil sharpener is also often forgotten, so make
sure you bring one of those as well. Also, don't forget a calendar or daily planner, as this can really come in handy when writing down school work and other things that need to get done, and help you easily keep track of your schedule.
5) Clothes - This may seem like a silly thing to have on the list, but make sure you're prepared, especially if you're attending a college out of the area. You are probably unfamiliar with the weather patterns in the area, so make sure you are prepared for both warm and cold weather, as you never know what might hit you.
6) Cups - This seems like something a lot of people tend to forget. Cups can be very important, especially if you have your own bathroom in your room. Although many people are afraid to drink water out of the tap, cups can really help for a free drink, or if you want to poor a 2 liter soda or any other drink into multiple cups for sharing is when these can also come in handy.
7) Snacks - Chances are you're going to get hungry at times when the dining hall isn't open, so rather than ordering out or going to the vending machines, it's easier and cheaper just to keep some snacks on hand. Don't be afraid to share with your roommates, as chances are they're going to want some of your food. If you're not the type to share, I recommend hiding your food as often times my suite-mates would steal food
from each other, which actually caused fights throughout my suite in the beginning of the year.
8) Laptop And Printer - Although I realize not everyone can afford a brand new laptop and printer, especially when they are paying for college, it is a very useful tool. Having your own laptop and printer avoids you having to go to the library every time you need to use a computer or print something out. Not to mention, most colleges including mine charge around .10 everything you want to print something out, and you probably
have to have the money loaded on your prepaid student ID card, which can be difficult to do (you can't just use dimes, at least in my school). If you can't afford it, find out if your roommate would be willing to let him or her use their laptop or printer, of course it'd be nice to offer them something in return.
9) Refrigerator and Microwave - Find out what your college allows in terms of microwaves and refrigerators, but they can come in handy in heating up and storing leftovers, snacks, and keeping drinks cool for your room. After all, if you have a guest it'd be nice to be able to offer them something to eat or drink.
10) Chair and Furniture - The chair the college gives you probably isn't going to be very comfortable, so if you have room make sure to bring your own chairs for sitting around the television or relaxing in. This is primarily only used by people who have suites and common rooms among their roommates, as many dorm rooms are too small to have multiple chairs in. be sure to check this out before moving multiple chairs in your
dorm room, which may or may not have enough space for it. Also be sure to have things to decorate your room with. The most popular of course being posters of musicians, movie stars, etc but also pictures of families and things that are important to you are good ideas as well.
These are some of the top 10 most essential things to make sure you bring to college. Although I wasn't too picky about my living conditions in college, I made sure I had all of the things listed above and I was very comfortable living the way I was. I would recommend also checking out what your college recommends, and what they allow and don't allow in their dorms.
5 Quick Tips to Bless Your Life Through the Power of ForgivenessAuthor: John
#1 – Make it unnecessary
Where there is no offence taken, the need for forgiveness would not arise. So the foremost strategy for avoiding the stress of having to forgive is to make ourselves inaccessible to hurt. We can do this by being more mindful of our words and actions – choosing to desist from speaking or acting if we sense that such would demean ourselves or hurt others. We also need to guard against taking
ourselves too seriously, though, so as not to open ourselves wide to many real and imagined hurts.
#2 – Take a humorous view.
A favorite teacher often told me, "Don't be annoyed - be amused!" Taking a humorous view of an otherwise exasperating situation often defuses tensions and may provide the added benefit of allowing you to have an insight into the most appropriate response to make.
This verse from Shakespeare's "As You Like It" has many a time assisted me to see the funny picture:
"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts…"
Needless to say, if you succeed in finding amusement in a situation you'll be more willing to forgive all parties involved, if at all such is still needed.
#3 – Maintain your peace
You may not be able to determine what other people do, but you can decide how you would react. You can simply refuse to be offended. Just reword the famous quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, former American First Lady: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" to read "No one can make you feel hurt without your consent" It boils down to the same formula,
really - just let it go.
St Paul expressed a similar idea thus, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18
While all the forgoing strategies have been aimed at avoiding having to task our power of forgiveness, the next two would aim at transmuting feelings of hurt into forgiveness.
#4 – Out of evil comes good
You can choose to see the good that has come out of what was directed at you with evil intent. Did they make you toil – well they may have made your tougher thereby; did they expose you to ridicule – well, maybe they've succeeded in strengthening your character. Life has a way of balancing misfortunes with benefits. The old saying goes "It's an ill wind that blows no one any good."
Said Napoleon Hill, "Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the Seed of an equivalent or greater Benefit".
Painful though it may be, try to see the good that has come out of the evil intentions of others and move on. Realize that the important thing is what the experience has made of you. Above all, know that you can only radiate the splendour that the experience has bestowed on you when you wash off the bitterness with the balm of forgiveness.
#5 – Take it as redemptive
Choose not to see the scenarios of your life as concluded chapters. Exercise your imagination - and hope – to see a happy ending to each episode that hurt you deeply. It is said that what was hard to bear often turns out sweet to recount. Know too that those who hurt you the most may yet see the wrongness of their acts and seek to make amends.
But then, even if the perpetrators never come to make amends, Nature, through her spiritual laws of compensation, does so anyway. For as you choose to forgive, so would you be forgiven and granted the privileges of divine grace.
In the words of the Rev. (Dr). Martin Luther King Jr:
"My personal trials have also taught me the value of unmerited suffering. As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways that I could respond to my situation: either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course. Recognizing the necessity for suffering I have tried to make of it a virtue.
If only to save myself from bitterness, I have attempted to see my personal ordeals as an opportunity to transform myself and heal the people involved in the tragic situation which now obtains. I have lived these last few years with the conviction that unearned suffering is redemptive…"
What is the ultimate approach to excellence? Of what relevance is spirituality in your quest for fulfillment and bliss? John D'Silva's effective-spirituality.com offers insights that would surprise and refresh you. John is happily devoted to helping You unleash Your Spirit of Excellence. Intelligence directs the universe, not chance...
How to Write Short Stories That Sell
by markbeton
Almost every aspiring author writes with the expectation of eventually getting published. But to get published these days, a short story writer needs to jump past an almost insurmountable cascade of barriers - from the query letter stage to the submission stage, from literary agents to publishers, and then on to the general reading public, all in the hopes of one day selling
your short story and earning an amount of money sufficient to pay down the mortgage.
Following are a number of handy tips for short fiction writers to keep in mind when seeking to make money by selling short stories:
EVERY STORY HAS A BEGINNING, A MIDDLE, AND AN END
This might seem like an elementary observation, yet many novice short story writers fail to plan their tales with a basic three-part structure. Where you begin the beginning of your story depends on what follows
later in the middle and end parts. The key here is that you must integrate all three parts of your tale so that each part fits snugly like a puzzle piece with the others. Knowing where to begin depends on where your story is going, and knowing at what point to exactly end it depends on what has gone before. Too many beginners start far too early in their tale or end it far too late. So long as you don't sacrifice the reader's orientation as to what's going on, the best strategy is to start as late as possible
in your tale and get into the "meat" of it before your reader's attention lags. And then end it as soon as your basic character, plot, and theme elements have truly played themselves out. Start late, leave early, engage, and don't confuse. Serve those four goals in planning your three-part structure, and you're on steady ground.
UNITE ALL YOUR STORY ELEMENTS
Most basic short stories contain elements of plot, character, theme, and setting. Novice short story writers have
a habit of randomly dreaming up each element in isolation and then packing all of them together in a kind of forced marriage. The best strategy for your short story is first to settle on which of the elements is the primary driver of your short story. If it's the plot, then make sure the characters, theme, and settings all work together in servicing that plot in the most engaging, sensible manner. If it's character-driven, the plot, setting, and theme must all be chosen to highlight and reveal the kinds of character
interactions you want to unveil. And so on with theme and setting. Okay, scratch that last element - you should avoid at all costs writing a short story that's driven by setting, unless your aim is to write an engaging travelogue.
SHOW, DON'T TELL
Too many amateur writers make the mistake of summarizing a key character reaction or series of events when greater emotional impact demands that a character reaction or event be dramatized. In other words, play them out as full scenes for
greater effect. But of course, the key here is to employ this strategy only for unveiling those key character reactions or events that play a crucial role in the unfolding of your (unified) story elements. All of which brings us to...
CUT! CUT! CUT! (AND CUT SOME MORE...)
If any word, sentence, paragraph, piece of dialogue, or setting and action description does not advance your primary chosen story element(s), then cut, cut, cut them out! Do we really need to read extended descriptions
about leaf texture, shoe brands, and the way the sun casts its rays on one's coffee table in a scene where you're advancing the plot or building toward a key character interaction?
Extraneous random descriptions will expose you as a card-carrying novice writer whose short story submission will go straight into a literary agent's slush pile. Don't be fooled by all those classic short stories that are filled with wonderfully descriptive asides about leaf texture and sun-cast highlights. In all likelihood,
you're not Charles Dickens or Steinbeck or Chekhov. You're writing in an age of low attention spans, and you're not working to be paid by word length. If you can cut out any and all portions of your short story that do not advance all or most of your story elements (and remember, setting should always be the servant to the other three story elements), then cut, cut, cut them out!
START STRONG
The sad fact is that the vast, vast majority of readers will make their decision about the
quality of your short story inside of one paragraph (two, tops). So, put all the blood, sweat, and tears you can muster into crafting those first two paragraphs that will keep them reading on. In an age where time is money, don't assume that there are masses of readers, literary agents, and publishers willing to stick with you for ten or fifteen more pages as you slowly build your short story to make its grand case. By the time your short story hits its stride after a mundane beginning, your only audience will
likely be a chorus of chirping crickets.
DON'T COURT A DEATH BY TYPO
There is a reason why publishers are still in business, even in this age of so-called "self-publishing." The fact is, readers depend on professionals to ensure that well-edited novels and short stories make it on to the book store shelves. That's where literary agents, editors, and publishers come in. Yet novice writers often make the fatal error of assuming that literary agents and publishers will overlook
short story submissions littered with typos, bad grammar, and poor spelling - so long as the gatekeepers are blown away by the writer's great storytelling ability (embodied in those story elements mentioned above). But again, in an age where time is money, the gatekeepers employ the rule of thumb that typos are the mark of a sloppy craftsman. No matter how great your short story truly is, you will court a death by typo if you attempt to sell your short story with a poorly edited submission.
CHOOSE
AN INTERESTING SUBJECT
If you're reading this far into the article, chances are you're truly looking for helpful tips to write short stories that sell. Writing short stories for self-expression is nice therapy, so long as you're sane enough to realize that probably only a very limited audience is interested in reading a short story about the joys of fly-fishing among elderly villagers in Latvia. On the other hand, writing about pistol-packing, death-dealing mamas is not exactly guaranteed to spark
reader interest, either. The key is to be interesting and different at the same time. Having your character take out a gun and blow someone away is not all that interesting or different. You need not always fall back on the Dead Body Strategy For Engaging Reader Interest.
The key to picking an interesting subject is to find an organically satisfying and engaging unity of all your story elements - a combination of plot, character, theme and setting that comes off as fresh and exciting at the same time.
The interest will come from the manner in which you weave these story elements together.
Coming back to the joys of fly-fishing among elderly villagers in Latvia, you might very well pull this one off if it is a backdrop for a plot with an unexpected turn - one that unveils fresh character interactions while highlighting a theme that, say, provides us a new thematic perspective on, say, our common mortality fears. Not sure how the Latvian part fits in, though. But that, perhaps, is a lesson for another
day.
About the Author
J Leland Kupferberg is the founder of http://PatronQuo.com, a recently launched free website for fiction writers seeking to make money by posting their novel excerpts and short story submissions online. PatronQuo is set up primarily to assist fiction authors in selling their books and short stories online through an innovative patronage model. Writers are furnished with customized story banners to market their submissions, and are able to obtain valuable feedback on the quality of their literary submissions through
a series of highly unique stats, rankings, and Literary Match Bout Record charts. Just a few months out on the market, PatronQuo.com has proven itself a trailblazer among book and short story submission websites.
TOP TEN REASONS NOT TO BE ASSERTIVE by Steven Griggs
in Self Help (submitted 2011-02-26)
TOP TEN REASONS NOT TO BE ASSERTIVE In my outpatient practice in psychology, I hear lots and lots of reasons for not being assertive. I've defined and written about assertiveness extensively in my ebook on The Five Steps of Assertiveness, but in this article I want to focus more on why people are not assertive. We all know it is a skill that facilitates effective communication,
reduces intrapersonal anxiety and increases ones self-esteem. It also contributes to reducing depression. I am not trying to sell the idea of being assertive, because in my mind, the idea is self-evident. But many people do not share my view. Instead, a lot of people think assertiveness is a bad thing and therefore avoid it. Here are the most common reasons why, not necessarily in any particular order. 1) I am afraid people will get mad at me. This is the fear of reprisal.
The thinking goes something like this, "If I'm assertive this person will get mad." Of course, when someone is mad, all kinds of bad things are likely to happen, so, do not make people mad. The assumption is is that assertiveness makes people mad, not that I make people mad. Wrong. 2) Bad things will happen to others. The thinking is that if I'm assertive, others will fall apart or even do themselves in. This is about guilt--yours not theirs. 3) People won't
like me. "If I speak up, I'm bugging people. It's nagging. It's better to shut up." Nagging is irritating because it is not very direct. It is more akin to passive aggressiveness, so yes, it will cause others to dislike us. However, assuming people will think negatively of us and that we'll be ostracized for speaking up is incorrect. In this case passive aggressiveness is the culprit, not assertiveness. 4) I talk too much already, so why not just be quiet?
Saying a lot doesn't mean we are assertive, nor does saying little mean we are non-assertive, or worse, passive. Quantity of speech has little to do with quality, i.e., whether it is assertive or not. 5) If you do not have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all. This is the voice of your parents who probably weren't too assertive? Who says being assertive is just about saying not nice things? Oh, by the way, if we must say something negative, assertiveness is THE
tool that best expresses this. Try saying something negative with an aggressive tinge and see what happens. If we are assertive, "things" don't build up to be negative, or at least we can catch "things" sooner and deal better with them assertively. 6) It is no big deal. This is minimization, avoidance, intellectualization, rationalization and/or suppression. It is what we do when we don't want do deal with something, so suddenly it's not important.
7) It is stupid. I don't need to be assertive because I already get what I want now. For most of this article, I've been writing for people who are not assertive who want or need to be. These people need to power up or at least refine their communication. Point seven is for people who are aggressive and need to power down. These are the bullies or immature types who don't care about others, just as long as they get their way. Impulsive types sometimes fall into this category.
It is important to get enough control over ourselves to try different, assertive vs. aggressive ways of relating to others. And, just because you are getting what you want now does not mean you are doing so in a good way. 8) People should know what I think or what I want. More often than not, they don't. People are not psychic. We have to spell things out for most people, usually verbally, preferably directly. Expecting others to know what we think or want is a recipe
for disaster. At the very least we are setting ourselves up for frustration. It irritates others because it is narcissistic. In my ebook I next write about "deeper stuff," which touches on self-esteem, being independent of others, thinking for yourself vs. pleasing others, etc. These are numbers 9) and 10). For more in-depth information and a discussion of all the ins and outs of being assertive, read my publication. -Dr. Griggs http://www.psychologyproductsandservices.com/page3.html
How Internships Help Students Prepare For After Graduation? by Sue Bird
For many, your entire point of college is to prepare for the working world once they graduate. While there's lots of truth and validity to that notion, college also need to be a time for growing and developing as a person. Open yourself to new ideas and experiences such as taking an internship, which not only prepares you for life after graduation, but can also be a terrific way to meet new people and try interesting things.
Students who focus solely on one goal the other goal only might be ready to tackle the next part of their career upon graduation, however they may not be as well-rounded as an individual that takes enough time to open themselves up to other experiences yet still time remaining devoted to their major or academic objectives.
An internship allows students to get a taste of the real world without being a full-fledged member of the workforce. It's often a small taste of what's to come and gives students the chance to network and dip their toe into the real world. There's really no substitute for experience, which is why internships are so popular and and that's why employers often appreciate students who can talk about their experiences
as an intern on a job interview. It not only shows commitment to developing one's skills, but allows the individual somewhat of a running start when entering the workforce full-time after graduating.
If you're looking for an internship, make sure that you find one that best suits you and allows you to develop as a person and potential employee. Learn as much as you can during your time as an intern and soak up whatever information and experiences that you can. Take the an opportunity to pick the brains of those around you and never settle for an internship that relegates you to doing menial tasks.
You will find internship opportunities that allow interns to take a hands-on approach in their duties and delve deeper into the business than simply juggling cups of coffee and restocking the office supply closet. You may find yourself performing these tasks, but if they're the only tasks you're performing, you might be better off looking for another opportunity.
Learning To Improve Your Memory Information by: Timothy Romano
Have you experienced the embarrassment of forgetting a family member's birthday
or an important assignment? Are you in school and are finding it toilsome to
study successfully for exams and tests? It's not just you! Thousands and
thousands of individuals out there have the same challenge, and it doesn't just
affect senior citizens. In school, they never teach you improve your memory
information, or the time-tested strategies for successful memorization.
Your brain is a very able piece of machinery. The organ collects data
and thoughts, and then categorizes and stores them. For the information in the
brain to be used beneficially, it must be available for quick retrieval. One
such case of quick recall would be answering a question like, "how old are you,"
or "what is your address?" How many of you have searched high and low for a pair
of eyeglasses, and found them right on your head? Maybe you have forgotten
something more important like a project at work, or a homework assignment. The
good news is that you don't have to keep worrying about your memory. Regardless
of age or ability, there are lots of things you can do to exercise, and improve
the performance of your memory.
Sometimes the best "improve your memory
information" can be found by asking someone who's got a lot of experience under
her belt. My grandmother used to tell me about an old trick to help remind
myself of something I had to remember. The technique is to tie a piece of yarn
on your finger, or put some tape on your hand to serve as a reminder that you
had to remember to do something. Since the string or tape is out of the
ordinary, it will help you remember what you were supposed to do. You could tie
a string on your thumb, wear your watch upside down, or even set an alarm on
your mobile phone. The secret is to mix up your normal environment just enough
to tune you in to the fact that something is wrong and you have something to
remember.
You can also try creating a picture to help improve the
effectiveness of your memory. The easiest way to accomplish this is to create a
scene in your mind of what you are trying to remember. In my language learning
hobby, I have found this technique very effective in learning new vocabulary.
This is how it works. "Potato," in the German language, is pronounced
cart-awfol, which is in no way like to the word potato in English. Try to form
the following image in your mind. You're shopping for groceries at a store in
Berlin and see a gigantic cart of rotten potatoes. Your buddy exclaims, "That is
a cart of awful potatoes!" Implant the image in your mind and think about how
bad that smells. I'll bet that you'll remember the German word! If your image is
wild and imaginative, even a little dirty, you are much more likely to remember
your vocabulary word. It works, believe it! This is a system I have employed
over many hundreds of words in several languages. Try it! You can use this
helpful trick to remember far more things than German vocabulary!
These
are just a few ways you can supercharge your brain. The improve your memory
information that I've shown you here is easy enough that you can start
practicing right away! In no time, your memory will be much improved, thanks to
the new techniques you've learned and practiced.
About The Author
Timothy Romano is a memory expert. For more great
information on improve your memory,
Khadijah Williams, 18, overcomes a lifetime in shelters
and on skid row
Author: lucygilbert
Khadijah Williams stepped into chemistry class and instantly tuned out the commotion. She walked past students laughing, gossiping, napping and combing one another's hair. Past a cellphone blaring rap songs. And past a substitute teacher sitting in a near-daze.
Quietly, the 18-year-old settled into an empty table, flipped open her physics book and focused. Nothing mattered now except homework.
"No wonder you're going to Harvard," a girl teased her.
Around here, Khadijah is known as "Harvard girl," the "smart girl" and the girl with the contagious smile who landed at Jefferson High School only 18 months ago.
What students don't know is that she is also a homeless girl.
As long as she can remember, Khadijah has floated from shelters to motels to armories along the West Coast with her mother. She has attended 12 schools in 12 years; lived out of garbage bags among pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers. Every morning, she upheld her dignity, making sure she didn't smell or look disheveled.
On the streets, she learned how to hunt for their next meal, plot the next bus route and help choose a secure place to sleep -- survival skills she applied with passion to her education.
Only a few mentors and Harvard officials know her background. She never wanted other students to know her secret -- not until her plane left for the East Coast hours after her Friday evening graduation.
"I was so proud of being smart I never wanted people to say, 'You got the easy way out because you're homeless,' " she said. "I never saw it as an excuse."
A drive to succeed
"I have felt the anger at having to catch up in school . . . being bullied because they knew I was poor, different, and read too much," she wrote in her college essays. "I knew that if I wanted to become a smart, successful scholar, I should talk to other smart people."
Khadijah was in third grade when she first realized the power of test scores, placing in the 99th percentile on a state exam. Her teachers marked the 9-year-old as gifted, a special category that Khadijah, even at that early age, vowed to keep.
"I still remember that exact number," Khadijah said. "It meant only 0.01 students tested better than I did."
In the years that followed, her mother, Chantwuan Williams, pulled her out of school eight more times. When shelters closed, money ran out or her mother didn't feel safe, they packed what little they carried and boarded buses to find housing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino and Orange County, staying for months, at most, in one place.
She finished only half of fourth grade, half of fifth and skipped sixth. Seventh grade was split between Los Angeles and San Diego. Eighth grade consisted of two weeks in San Bernardino.
At every stop, Khadijah pushed to keep herself in each school's gifted program. She read nutrition charts, newspapers and four to five books a month, anything to transport her mind away from the chaos and the sour smell.
At school, she was the outsider. At the shelter, she was often bullied. "You ain't college-bound," the pimps barked. "You live in skid row!"
In 10th grade, Khadijah realized that if she wanted to succeed, she couldn't do it alone. She began to reach out to organizations and mentors: the Upward Bound Program, Higher Edge L.A., Experience Berkeley and South Central Scholars; teachers, counselors and college alumni networks. They helped her enroll in summer community college classes, gave her access to computers and scholarship applications and taught her about networking.
When she enrolled in the fall of her junior year at Jefferson High School, she was determined to stay put, regardless of where her mother moved. Graduation was not far off and she needed strong college letters of recommendation from teachers who were familiar with her work.
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/http://lucygilbert.articlealley.com/khadijah-williams-18-overcomes-a-lifetime-in-shelters-and-on-skid-row-947522.html
About the Author: Professional news writer
The Locker Lesson By: Debbie Friedman
My 13-year old son had started at one of the most prestigious private schools in the nation - an honor that we were paying $20,000 a year for and at a school that had 100 applications for each spot! When he came home the second month with a horrified look on his face, telling me that he'd done something awful, I was more than a little concerned. He explained that, as a prank, he had given a boy's locker combination
to someone else. That person had opened the locker, and trashed all the books and belongings inside. He didn't know what to do, so he asked for my advice.
Here's what I guided him to do: He called the boy whose locker was trashed, told him that he was responsible, and that he would do whatever it took to make things right. He called the boy's parents, told them he was sorry and would do whatever it took to make things right. Even though the mother was yelling at him and calling him names, I stood by his side, and he continued to apologize. The next morning,
he went to the Dean's office before his first class, told the Dean what he had done, and said he would do whatever it took to make things right.
This was one of the most terrifying moments of my son's life up until that time. I can remember the look of horror on his face as the mother cursed him and called him names. I also remember that he was able to stand up tall, with dignity and with self-esteem, as he went to school the next morning to talk with the Dean. He felt good about himself, not because he had made a mistake (as everyone is going to
do in life!), but because he had the courage to stand up and admit it. He had the integrity to take responsibility for his actions and the inner strength to do whatever it took to make things right.
Now, you may be wondering what happened in all of this. My son had to pay for a new lock for the boy's locker. The Dean called me to tell me he had never in his entire career seen a student carry himself with such dignity and such integrity. He was truly impressed and thanked me for the guidance I'd given him, and for raising such an incredible son with clear values.
The boy whose locker had been trashed barely talked to my son for four years. And yet, when they were graduating from high school and went to their elementary school reunion, it was as if nothing had ever happened. Yes, it took some time for the wounds to heal, but in the end everything turned out fine.
What happened to the boy who actually opened the locker and trashed it? He refused to apologize and his parents refused to make him apologize. He was put on detention for weeks and was asked to leave the school at the end of the year.
We all make mistakes, some of them are big ones, some of them are small. My son made a mistake, and in the process got to learn a very valuable lesson.
Honesty is always the best policy. Taking responsibility for what you say and do is essential if you want to feel good about yourself. It's important to be willing to go to any length to make things right when you breach your integrity. It may not be easy. It may feel crummy and uncomfortable. You may get yelled at. In the end, though, you'll be able to walk with your head held high, you
will be able to go to sleep in peace at night, and you will be respected.
Most important, you will respect yourself. That may be the greatest gift of all.
Author Bio
Debbie Friedman, M.S., C.Ht., is the Manifesting Maven who helps people consciously create the life they love to live. She is the creator of the popular Cleaning Out the Closet of Your Mind for Wealth series. www.CleaningOutTheCloset.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content
http://www.articlegeek.com/selfimprovement/self_improvement/making_things_right.htm
High School to College
Author: Lawrence Reaves
If you have just started high school or maybe are about to the chances are your mind isn't really concentrating on college. After all, you have four long years of high school, so what's the rush.
Well there's isn't really a rush, but you will be amazed at just how fast these four years go; before you know it you've taken your exams, done the ACT or SAT test and have chosen your college.
Making plans for your future college attendance is something you need to start thinking about as early as your freshman year a high school. This is when you need to make the most of high school and it's the time when you need to settle down and take on challenging courses. Along with other aspects, colleges look closely at the type of academic courses you chose to do at high school. The more challenging the courses the more
likely to are to get admitted to the college of your choice.
Take a look at past ACT or SAT test papers. The results from the ACT or SAT are important and could determine whether you get admitted to the college you would prefer to attend. While the tests obviously change regularly the layout and the type of subjects remain the same. By looking at previous test papers you can get an insight into the type of things you will get asked. If you choose subjects at high school that will help
you both with passing the ACT or SAT and getting you ready to further your education in college then you have covered the ground wisely.
When you move into your second year at high school you will have become familiar with everything. The second year is often the year that students can get a bit casual about things. They are no longer the youngest, they don't feel they need to make an impression and they still have over two years to go before college.
Your second year a high school is a year to concentrate hard on the subjects you have chosen. It's also time to start consolidating what you are thinking of doing as a profession once your education is complete. Agreed, it's still a long way off, but these high school years are modelling you for the future; waste then now and you can never have a second chance.
When you get into your junior year it's time to buckle down. You should be considering registering for your ACT or SAT. If you are finding any of the courses difficult, or you think you are falling behind, make sure you take to your tutor and your parents. It may be that you would get some benefit by having a private tutor for a while to get to back up to speed.
Once you are in your final year you have to really prepare for college. You should have registered for your SAT or ACT by now and know the dates of the tests, so you can revise. You should have a short list of colleges and now it's time to visit them to find out which one will suit you best.
Four years ago you thought you had ages before college; the time flew past and now college is around the corner. Hopefully you prepared throughout your high school years.
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Written by Lawrence Reaves for SchoolTutoring.com - providing tutoring services online for students on all subjects including, Math, English and Science. In-depth tutoring for specialized courses such as chemistry, physics and biology are also available. Call 1-877-452-6669 to see how SchoolTutoring Academy can help.
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Motivational Strategies For Your Workouts
So You Finish Every Time
Author: Derek Manuel
Staying motivated is a key factor to having success in the gym. As they say, most people are good starters but poor finishers. This is because it is easy to get fired up and excited about a future goal you want to attain, such as trying to get in shape and build muscle fast, especially when you flip through a bodybuilding magazine or see a role model with a body like the one you want.
For the first couple days, we are all excited and ready to hit the gym and train with more intensity then ever. After the workout, we feel good and can't wait until the next training day. This goes on for a few more days, for some even a few weeks. Then suddenly, our motivation level drops. All of the sudden doing something else like watching T.V. or going out with your buddies to the beach sounds much more appealing. On our
next workout day, we're just not that eager to hit the gym hard and punish our bodies. We tend to even think about working out less and less.
Let me just say that at this point, and if you ever experienced this before, your goals for that particular workout are pretty much toast - unless you do something about it fast. Think about it. What got you all pumped up to begin the workout in the first place? What was different about the beginning of the workout that changed later on that kept you from continuing your workouts in the future? One word: Motivation.
What exactly is motivation? The actual definition of motivate is "to provide with a motive or motives." So if motivation is what provides you with a motive, a reason to workout, how do you maintain motivation until your reach your goals? Figure out your reasons why and how to constantly remind yourself on a daily basis. In other words, figure out "what" motivates you and "why" it motivates you
and implement them into your daily thoughts and you will always be motivated!
Obviously this is much harder then it sounds, but there is a logical way to go about doing this. My mentor always used to tell me, "when you know your reason why, you will overcome any how." So the first step to keep you motivated throughout your whole workout program until you complete it is to figure out your reason why and make sure it is big enough to compel you to action and keep your desire for its attainment
a burning obsession.
Write it out on a piece of paper in one or two sentences and place it somewhere where you will see it every morning and every night. Write it on a smaller note card and carry it around in your pocket everywhere you go to constantly remind yourself of it.
This step is so important that I can't stress it enough. Ask anybody who has had great success in any endeavor and they will tell you that their goal or dream was never two sentences away from their thoughts. They thought about it every minute of every day. They were in the zone. They knew exactly what they wanted and never took their mind off of it until it was achieved. Adapt this kind of thinking and attitude and motivation
will follow you like a shadow.
The second approach to maintaining motivation and to keep it habitually in your thoughts is to set yourself up to where you are constantly reminded and fired up about working out. This can and should be done in several ways. The most effective way is to set up a series of ways in which you can be reminded all the time through literary, audio, visual, as well as face-to-face learning and training.
When you are constantly reading new workout material, listening to audio recordings that motivate you, watching videos or movies about working out and bodybuilding, and are associating with other like-minded people with the same or similar goals, you will have a steady and constant flow of motivation.
One of my favorite quotes is, "you will be the same person today in five years except for the books you read and the people whom you most associate with." The truism in this quote cannot be denied. If "birds of a feather flock together," what can you tell about your motivation and results based on the people whom you most hang around? How often are you reading new material on weight training and bodybuilding?
These questions can often present the reason why you may be losing motivation every time you start a new workout program.
Begin today before anything else by finding your reason why you workout and ingrain it in your brain until it becomes a burning obsession. Then make sure you are always around information and people that support your goals. By just making a habit of these two things will not only jump start your motivation but also gives it the long lasting vitality and lifeblood it needs to continue to compel you all the way to the finish
line.
Derek Manuel is the author of the best-selling, How to Gain Weight and Build Muscle for Hardgainers. If you want to learn how you too can gain 20 to 30 pounds of solid muscle in as short as 8 weeks, or if you just want more quality information on how to gain weight and build muscle, please visit http://www.hardgainers-weight-tips.com
According to recent conclusions from a decade-long study by the Center for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente Hospital, 60% of American adults were affected in some way by adverse childhood experiences. ACE's were defined as dysfunctional behaviors displayed by parents, such as emotional and physical abuse or neglect. ACE's leave an imprint on children and impact their ability to cope effectively in adulthood.
Negative childhood experiences leave scars in need of healing. Some adults are capable of processing their past more adaptively than others. Often, adults will cling to childhood scripts that no longer are necessary or helpful. Some of these basic childhood assumptions that get activated are:
I must perform admirably at all times.
I am responsible for all the bad things that happened to me and I should be blamed for them.
I must avoid conflict at all costs because it is risky.
Other people's opinions and beliefs are more important and convincing than my own.
Adults from troubled childhoods need to learn how to process the perils of their past as opposed to denying one's story or ruminating about it. This search to heal from the vestiges of worn out thinking and behavior takes courage and persistence. Here are 10 strategies to assist adults in leaving behind the negative interpretations of childhood:
Give up the magical illusion that somehow your parents will morph and become the loving, caring adults you have always yearned for.
Write a letter to the abusive parent. Share your deepest feelings about what you experienced as a child. Don't hold back. Do not deliver the letter. This exercise is designed to therapeutically assist you in releasing pain from the past.
Consider your earliest childhood recollection. Where were you located? Who was with you? What were you wearing? How did you feel? What beliefs about your life are captured in your story.
Listen to your inner critic. This is the voice (derived from a parent) that speaks in harsh tones and provides disparaging messages. Let it speak and learn to understand the nature of its noise. Learn to detach from its contents.
Rationally respond to the inner critic. If it says, "How could you do such a stupid thing," respond by exclaiming, "We all make mistakes. This experience doesn't define who I am. I will do better next time."
Learn to make realistic appraisals about who you are and what you do. Leave behind, the tyranny of the, I should have, I ought to, I must not, and so on. Think in terms of preferences rather than absolutes. For example, "It would be nice if my business partner thanked me for a job well done, but is not essential." Another realistic, thoughtful appraisal might be, "What role did I play in this problem, if any?"
Get out of self-blame because it is not helpful in solving problems and only serves to victimize you.
Learn to set more realistic boundaries. Quit giving your power away to other people. Start asserting yourself, telling others what you need and want. If you confront potential conflict, people will respect you, not abandon you.
Your troubled childhood was not your fault. Let go of the need to blame yourself for a problem you didn't create. It never was about you!
Find supportive friends that you trust that can help you role-model more intimate, connected behavior. Understand that your past doesn't need to have power over you in the present. Remember, your friends are not your parents. You can learn to selectively disclose information to others, letting yourself be more emotionally transparent.
Forgiveness is a process, not an act. Hopefully, at some point, you will be able to forgive your parents for being less than perfect and causing you harm.
Overcoming a troubled past and learning to live a triumphant life takes time and patience. Seek counseling support if you feel stuck in trying to handle your thoughts, feelings and relationship issues. There is hope and healing for those who courageously seek to transcend the difficulties of a troubled childhood.
About the Author
James P. Krehbiel is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist. His first book, Stepping Out of the Bubble is available at www.booklocker.com. His latest book, Troubled Childhood, Triumphant LIfe (New Horizon Press) is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and other book stores. James specializes in working with children and adults experiencing anxiety and depressive disorders. He has published numerous counseling-related articles, most available via Google
searches. He can be reached at jkboardroomsuites@yahoo.com.
