Archive for January, 2008

The Relationship Tripod

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

By Ken Donaldson Your Life has one constant dynamic: Relationships. This is a actually a threefold dynamic that includes your intrapersonal relationship with yourself; the interpersonal relationships with your friends, family, and/or romantic partner; and the spiritual relationship with your Higher Power. Therefore, improving your relational intelligence makes perfect sense. This is The Relationship Tripod with each of the three tripod legs being represented by your relationship with yourself, your relationship with others, and your relationship with your Higher Power. The tripod works best at stabilizing whatever is on it (your Life, in this case) when all three legs are firm and solid. If one or more of the legs are weak, there is an excessive burden put on the remaining leg(s) and a loss of stability. The goal is to balance and strengthen these three areas of your Life so you can withstand the challenges of Life in a conscious and proactive fashion. I invite you to deepen your relational intelligence and expand your relational awareness…all to create more powerful relationships in your life, and to have the most powerful and fulfilling Life that you possibly can. Relationship With Yourself Purpose - Are you living your Life on purpose, or just accidentally? Many people struggle with knowing their true purpose, and therefore settle for whatever comes into their lives. What is it that really turns you on? What do you feel the most passionate about? Take some time to explore this. Balance - Having a gauge to evaluate your balance is helpful in reinforcing your purpose, and in maintaining your health and well-being. Think of your purpose as the hub of a wheel, and all the various areas of your Life rotate around it. This would include areas such as social, spiritual, family, recreational, creativity, work/vocation, financial, physical, personal growth/emotional and physical environments. What needs to take place in each area for you to sustain the highest level of balance? Vision - Purpose and balance without vision is like having all your possessions packed up and being ready to move, but having no idea where you are going to. So, what does your future look like? Visualize what you want it to look like. Go back to your Whole Life Wheel, and include each area in your visualization. Spend some time with this every day, as the more you visualize what you want, the more clear it will become. Try to let go of the inner critic, that part that always tries to shoot down new ideas. Allow yourself to go way out of your comfort zone with this. Another helpful activity is to create a Vision Map. The point of these exercises help to create a metaphysical vacuum that will pull you towards all that you desire, while pulling all that you desire towards you. This is the Law of Attraction in action. Remember, Life is a journey, and like Columbus, sometimes you may end up not where you expected, but rather, where you need to be. The big challenge is to let go of outcomes, as these may change, and focus on keeping yourself on the journey. Relationships With Others The AbSOULutes These are the relationship dynamics and personal characteristics of others that you have to have in order to feel satisfied. Without these, the relationship cannot exist. Trying make a relationship fulfilling without these requirements is like trying to make an apple pie without apples….try and try as you may, but it will never work. These are the Deal-makers and deal-breakers and have no room for negotiation, lest you sell yourself out and come up empty. There are what also feed your Soul, hence the absence of them leave you feeling empty and dissatisfied. Boundaries - These are your personal property lines. This is where another persons space ends and yours begins. When you know your requirements and what is not acceptable and what you have to have, it is easier to define your boundaries. Allowing others into this space when you dont want them there creates imbalance and often manifests itself as fatigue and/or emotional overwhelm. Setting boundaries is often just the beginning; maintaining them is the true challenge as others will often test you for your consistency. Communication - Being able to speak directly, clearly, and assertively is only the beginning of creating healthy communication. Listening is actually the most powerful dynamic of communicating. Being able to have non-reactive responses through mirroring and empathizing creates the most powerful position as well as maintaining much more of your energy. Think of yourself as being a bull-fighter and your job is to invite the dialogue your way, but to not get hit by it. In being a powerful listener, you actually have more control by trying to control less…yes, less is more in this case. Relationship With Your Higher Power Communing - When and where do you feel the most connected and the most alive? Whether it is at the beach, in the mountains, while you are dancing or singing, at church, in prayer or in a meditative trance; these are the times, places and activities in which you are having a Higher Experience. When you allow yourself to be at these places and in these spaces, you allow yourself to have spiritual connection that is fulfilling and that also automatically adds balance to your Life. Giving yourself regular doses of spiritual activity, or better yet, going on a spiritual retreat will do wonders for your spiritual relationship. Journaling - Writing to affirm yourself, to do healing work, or to do growth work, can all be methods to enhance your spiritual connection. Write a letter to yourself to remind you of all your greatness, your talents, and your gifts. This can be a wonderful way to assist in fulfilling your Highest potential…your God-given Greatness. Write to let go of old wounds, or a letter of forgiveness to let go of old resentment. Both of these will set you free to be more in the present. The more you are in the present, and fully conscious, the more available you are to receive spiritual connection. Reading - There are thousands of books on spiritual practice, with more coming out every day. If you are unsure of your spiritual path, do some reading and pay attention to what resonates with your Soul…those are likely to be the pieces you have been looking for. If you know your spiritual path, stretch yourself and do some reading beyond where you are. If youve already read them all, then maybe its time to pass on some of your knowledge and wisdom….start writing that book (and/or article) youve been thinking about!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So heres the challenge: Make all your relationships REALationships, meaning relationships that are packed full of REALness. Live a Life of REALationships. Whether it is with others, yourself, or your Higher Power, allow yourself to be whole, balanced and on your path to your Highest Good. Ken Donaldson has been based in Tampa Bay offering counseling, coaching, and educational programs since 1987. His REALationship Coaching programs empower people to have more successful lives, businesses and relationships by building a powerful relationship with themselves first. Visit his website at http://www.REALationshipCoach.com for more information and sign-up his free e-program Illuminations and Sparks of Brilliance. Ken is also the author of the upcoming book Marry YourSelf First! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Donaldson http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Relationship-Tripod&id=97039 buy cheap phentermine without prescription phentermine 37.5 without prescription order phentermine without prescription phentermine 37.5 mg without a prescription

5 Ways To Save Money On Your International Cell Phone Roaming

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shonika_Proctor]Shonika Proctor Go Figure! After having recently returned from a nice relaxing holiday in Europe (Amsterdam, Prague and Vienna) I can definitely relate if you are one of those people who thoroughly enjoy 1 Euro half pint beers, but feel the hangover kick in a month later when you open that 100 Euro mobile phone bill. Funny how that works huh? You work so hard to save money via outsourcing and/or setting up an International office where you do a lot of business abroad only to blow your savings on wireless roaming every month. As the current average roaming rate in China (across the industry) is $5.99/minute whether you are making or receiving a call, Im sure you can see how this can quickly add up even if the only thing you are doing is retrieving your voice mail. So I have decided to share with you some of my clever tricks that I often use to help my clients save a ton of money on their international wireless roaming fees. 5 Ways to Save Money on Your International Wireless Roaming 1. Jajah, Free Your Voice with FREE CALLS to CHINA! Think of it like Skype for cell phones. Most of the carriers intentionally put a delay in your wireless handset on the data service hence if you have ever tried to use Skype from your mobile you hear an echo. Unfortunately, it is not a bad connection. It is basically a diplomatic way to keep you from taking up precious and valuable space on the data network and getting a little bit carried away with your unlimited data package. Just like nothing in life is Free neither is anything truly unlimited. At any rate, Jajah is a FREE download for your cell phone. As long as you and the person you are calling have Jajah software downloaded on your respective handsets you can call each other for free and talk unlimited ;-). Jajah makes its money from website advertising and selling other premium services. 2. Babble Stick: Oh the beauty of IP based telephony. Plug your Babble Stick into any PC around the world and make free phone calls. They also have a handset version of the stick which is really small and cute (its on their website). Babble Stick uses a secure software platform integrated on a USB key with audio devices and drivers built in. There is no special software required. Additionally, instant messaging and voice mail comes standard with your Babble Stick. Just plug in and babble away. That word is starting to grow on me. I think I am going to start saying Babble instead of talk and Handy instead of cell phone, cause dats what they say in the U.K. Ok now, carry on. 3. Unlock Your Phone and use a Pre-Paid SIM Card. And better yet if your company uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony service, forward your extension to your mobile number. The reason why is the Pre-Paid SIM Card phone number is different from your regular cell phone number that is why forwarding your number is recommended so that you only have to give people one number to reach you (although you can forward your phone number from any phone that has a call forwarding feature built-in, beware the per call forwarding fee). Unlocking your phone means having the carrier restrictions released so that you can use your phone with any GSM carrier SIM Card. The 2 major benefits of unlocking your phone/BlackBerry is: #1, you can use your phone anywhere in the world there is a GSM network as opposed to only in the places your carrier has roaming agreements in place and #2 You can save a crapload of money on your roaming fees by using the local provider in the country which you are located. With a pre-paid SIM Card you are paying local rates when you make and receive calls within that country and also in most European Countries calling party pays which means essentially your incoming calls are free. If you are a T-Mobile subscriber who has had service for more than 3 months you can call T-Mobile Customer Care and request to have your phone unlocked for free. They will provide you with the unlock code and give you the instructions to manually unlock your phone. For all other GSM carriers you will have to use a third party provider and pay a nominal fee. I personally use and recommend: Unlock It Now And for all persons looking to obtain Pre-Paid SIM Cards at an aggressive international rate, the most aggressive international rate with FREE incoming calls I have found is through Cellular Abroad. 4. Try to use your data features such as email and text messaging as opposed to making voice calls when possible. Using two-way messaging and email is considerably less expensive than per minute call rates. And use your Babble Stick ;-) to check your cellular voice mail when possible. 5. Palm and BlackBerry users who travel overseas regularly throughout the year should call their respective wireless carriers and request an international data package. This will allow you to get unlimited use of your email at a flat fee when you travel abroad. The rate is about $12-15/mo additional. And bonus: You can set up your BlackBerry or Palm as a modem and tether it to your laptop to save on your daily hotel Wi-Fi rate. Cheers. Infopreneur and Wireless Personality, Shonika Proctor, “The Moxie Mobile Maven is a 14 year wireless veteran. She is the publisher of Full Signal, a monthly ezine. If you would like to receive creative and simple solutions for your most complex wireless billing and account problems, sign up to get your free ezine subscription, tips and how to articles at http://www.groupinteractive.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shonika_Proctor http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Ways-To-Save-Money-On-Your-International-Cell-Phone-Roaming&id=469141 phentermine online without a perscription online pharmacy that sells phentermine buy phentermine for cheap buy phentermine yellow

Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation by Ronald Reagan

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

By Johnny Kicklighter In 1983, President Reagan wrote an essay for the Human Life Review entitled, Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation. This brief writing of his pro-life philosophy was published in book form a year later. It was expanded to approximately to 95 pages with lengthy afterwords by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and British essayist Malcolm Muggeridge. Reagans brief composition is probably one of the better well-argued pro-life essays ever written. It is also significant as it was the first ever by a sitting President. It was President Reagans attempt to awaken a nation to the implications of abortion. In this short book, President Reagan gives an account on how important the issue of abortion is to the conscience of a nation. President Reagan’s essay is only 26 pages of the book, but it is well structured. He believed that diminishing the life of the unborn diminishes the value of all human life. He tackled the pro-abortion “quality of life” argument and compared it to the Dred Scott slavery issue. Reagan likened the pro-abortion argument to slavery and drew parallels between the Roe vs. Wade decision and the Dred Scot decision that divided America over a century earlier. According to Reagan, the quality of life argument is an argument for quality control of the population. Reagan surmises that legalized abortion is a very slippery slope. He says that unborn babies are being killed because they are simply not wanted or come at an inconvenient time. He also states that many are killed because they will be unable to lead a normal life as the result of birth defects. Such babies are considered to be of less value and thus denied human rights. He claims this denial of human rights is accomplished by activist judges who frame the interpretation of the US Constitution through the lens of their own pro-abortion beliefs. Reagan believes that the arbitrary evaluation of unborn lives must stop. He states that this philosophy will lead to further the crimes of infanticide and illustrates this by citing the Indiana case of “Baby Doe.” Baby Doe was allowed to starve to death because the child had Down’s syndrome. The essence of Reagans argument is that no nation can survive and prosper when a group of individuals look at a child and declare whether that child has value as a human being. Reagan goes on to say, “Abraham Lincoln recognized that we could not survive as a free land when some men could decide that others were not fit to be free and should therefore be slaves. Likewise, we cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide. My Administration is dedicated to the preservation of America as a free land, and there is no cause more important for preserving that freedom than affirming the transcendent right to life of all human beings, the right without which no other rights have any meaning.” The pro-life movement will not be disappointed with Reagan’s essay, and will conclude that it contains very powerful and logical anti-abortion arguments. Johnny Kicklighter is a charter contributor to the Metro East Pregnancy Care Center, Fairview Heights, Illinois. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnny_Kicklighter http://EzineArticles.com/?Abortion-and-the-Conscience-of-the-Nation-by-Ronald-Reagan&id=151105 phentermine and pharmacy phentermine online no prior prescription phentermine online us online pharmacy phentermine cod

Weight Loss Tip: Attack Body Fat

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

By Michael Smith, MD Body fat forms when calories are converted into fat and stored for future energy needs. The human body is very efficient at forming and storing body fat. Since it’s your main protection from starvation, human physiology is set to save and store fat rather than burn it for energy. And this is the problem: long term weight loss is almost impossible because body fat is so difficult to lose. Forming Body Fat Extra calories (calories not needed for immediate energy) are converted into fat. This newly formed fat is then stored for future energy needs. Fat stored for the future is called body fat. Your top priority is to lose body fat when dieting to lose weight. It makes sense…you’re overweight because you eat more calories than are needed to supply immediate energy needs. Any extra calories are quickly converted into fat and then are stored as body fat. The amount of body fat you store is a direct reflection of the amount of “extra” calories you eat each day. So, if you want to lose weight, attack body fat and get rid of the stuff keeping you overweight. Reversing the Calorie-to-Fat Formation Protein is the key component in reversing the conversion of calories into fat. Luckily, it’s very simple. Drink protein shake supplements with a 50:50 ratio of casein to whey protein. Drink them during times of fasting over 3 hours (for most people this occurs twice…after waking up in the morning and in between lunch & dinner). The shakes raise the blood levels of certain amino acids, the building blocks of protein. When the amino acid level reaches a threshold, it signals the brain to start mobilizing body fat and burn it for energy. Perfect! You lose body fat by drinking Optimized Protein Shakes. You can lose more body fat by making three changes to your diet. 1. Eat 5-6 Smaller Meals per Day 2. Eat A Lean Source of Protein with Each Meal 3. Eat Healthy Fat, Like Omega-3 Found in Certain Fish Combined with the protein shakes, you’ll lose body fat and and the weight that comes with it. To Healthy Living! Michael A. Smith, MD Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content rich website dedicated to your weight loss success. Quickly becoming known as the net’s primary resource for weight loss issues, his RSS Feed and News Blog are received by thousands of e-zine websites, medical centers, and individuals. The interactive content is original and informative, challenging readers to act and maximize their weight loss efforts. Visit Dr. Smith’s website at: Diet Basics from the Weight Loss Professional To Healthy Living! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Smith,_MD http://EzineArticles.com/?Weight-Loss-Tip:–Attack-Body-Fat&id=112129 buy cheap phentermine cheapest phentermine online without a prescription cheap phentermine overnight delivery phentermine on line pharmacy

Tips for Cell Phone Batteries and Usage

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jay_Coleby]Jay Coleby There are just a few tips that will help you increase the life span of your cell phone and cell phone battery. Below we are going to outline the most important tips: 1. Try not to drop your cell phone. When dropping your cell phone, especially on a hard surface, it can cause damage to your phone and cell phone battery. If you drop it and think you may have damaged it, be sure to take it to your nearest cell phone service center. 2. When necessary to take your batter out, be sure to not let it make contact with metal objects such as change and keys, this will make the battery not work properly. 3. Always be careful where you place your cell phone, dont leave it in a car with extreme temperatures that may be too hot or too cold. Also be sure to not lay it down on a surface that may be wet as it will quickly ruin your phone this can corrode the inside of your phone. 4. One of the easiest ways to keep your phone in good condition is to take the time to read the manufacturers directions when you first purchase it. Be sure to follow the first charge instructions most importantly. 5. Do not use cell phone batteries and cell phone charges that are not compatible with your exact cell phones. Be sure if you buy a charger from the store that you have bought the correct one. 6. Many companies will recycle or reuse your cell phone, most times even giving you a credit toward the purchase of your new phone. Find ways you can reuse or recycle your phone and accessories. In fact, many people donate their phones to women that are in domestic situations, find a shelter near you to find more details. 7. Lastly your cell phone will most likely last you a year or two or more. Pick out a cell phone model that will help you with your needs, now is not the time to skimp, you want a phone that is easy for you and makes you want to talk! Jay Coleby is a writer that specializes in informational articles on various topics. His most recent projects include articles on [http://cell-phone.150m.com]cell phone batteries, [http://www.rentgames.angelcities.com]rent games and [http://www.noni.special.eu.com]noni juice. Jay can be contacted if you need an article written on a specific topic. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Coleby http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-for-Cell-Phone-Batteries-and-Usage&id=67560 brothers pharmacy phentermine phentermine without prescription free shipping websites to buy phentermine online pharmacy phentermine cod

The Right Tools for the Task

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

By Terry Blackburn Gardening tools come in a very wide range of qualities and prices. Although the less expensive tools may look good value for money, in the end they workout more expensive because better quality tools last a lifetime unlike most of their cheaper alternatives that must be frequently replaced. Always clean tools carefully after use and oil them during the winter; the oil inhibits rust formation. Hoes: These are ideal for weeding and aerating the soil, and some types may also be used to create seed drills. Dutch hoe The versatile Dutch Hoe is designed to be pushed back and forth through the soil surface, with the blade parallel to the ground; other types of hoe should be drawn through the soil. The handle should be long enough for you to work in a near-upright position without back strain. It is easy to use and very versatile. It cuts surface weeds off at ground level. It is particularly useful for weeding between the vegetables. It will destroy annual weeds, but deep-rooting ones need repeated hoeing. Draw Hoe The draw hoe can be used for chopping weeds, but is more useful for hilling up or creating channels, known as drills, for seed sowing. The Onion Hoe The onion hoe is a thin bladed hoe that is recommended when removing weeds near vegetable plants. It is easier to handle than larger, heavy hoes. Rakes There are two main types of rake: general garden rakes and lawn rakes. Garden rakes are used for levelling and breaking up the soil surface before sowing and planting. Forks and Spades Forks and spades are both essential in general cultivation. Forks are better for lifting root crops and moving manure or compost; spades are necessary for digging areas of soil and making planting holes. Trowels and hand forks are ideal for use in confined areas. Handle Designs Handles come in various shapes. Y-type hilts are weaker than D-type ones because they are formed by splitting the shaft wood, but may be more comfortable for large hands Trowels The trowel is a very necessary garden tool; one, which just as the previous mentioned tools, should be of good quality if it is to give years of service. Hand Forks Hand forks are ideal for lifting and separating young plants. Dibber The dibber is a useful tool for planting bulbs and tubers. If you have a shaft from an old garden spade or fork, you can make your own dibber by simple cutting the handle and part of the shaft to a suitable length, tapering and rounding the end to form a blunt probe! Wheelbarrow The wheelbarrow is the workhorse of the garden; there is a very wide range of wheelbarrow models to choose from. Some of the lightweight, polypropylene wheelbarrows are excellent, though they obviously will not have the same life expectancy as the more robust, steel or wooden models. They do have the advantage that they can be left outside to withstand all the weather conditions, so are ideal for those gardeners who have limited undercover space. Miscellaneous Tools & Equipment In addition to the cultivation tools, you will find it necessary to have access to a Watering can, a Measuring tape and Line or thick string, which is attached to some form of pin, useful for marking out straight drills, and of course a good pair of soft, pliable Gloves. The cowhide type is my own particular favourite. Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com Author of “Your Perfect Lawn,” a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Blackburn http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Right-Tools-for-the-Task&id=359996 phentermine diet pills cod buy phentermine free consultation cheap phentermine without prescription phentermine online with mastercard

Traverse Financial Requirements with Personal Bridging Loans

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eva_Baldwyn]Eva Baldwyn To live a smooth life, the foremost requirement in todays world is the availability of finance. Who wants to get trapped under the consequences of unforeseen expenses? I think no one! But still it is not in our hands to avoid any of these unexpected expenses. These unexpected expenditures can arise anytime. At this time we need some sort of support in the form of finance from outside. Expenses can be of any type there might be a requirement of purchasing a new property, expansion of business, or to satisfy some other personal needs. Then a personal bridging loan comes into action to successfully tackle these cash requirements. Personal bridging loans can enable you to grab the opportunity of a new purchase or business expansion. Personal bridging loans are the loans that act as a bridge between the selling of your old property and purchasing of a new one. Personal bridging loans can provide you an access to instant cash between two important dealings. Your personal needs can be easily accomplished by the use of personal bridging loans. Personal needs can be your cash requirement for improvement of home, wedding expenses, buying a car or any other need. Personal bridging loan can be categorized as: Open bridging loans: Open bridging loan can be obtained at a stage when you are going to purchase a property without having an idea about when to sell your property. Closed bridging loans: Closed bridging loans are contrary to open bridging loans. These types of loans require you to finalize your proceedings for sale of your property before your application. The loan amount, which you can grab while you go for personal bridging loans vary from ₤25,000 to ₤500,000. This limit may extend in some of the cases. Moreover, you can get up to 75% of the offered property. Prior research is always beneficial before you apply for any personal bridging loan. Market is packed up with a number of lenders who can lend you money on a variety of interest rates. Negotiation on interest rate with lender may be beneficial for you to get lower interest rates. Personal bridging loans are available in the market with swift approval process. It will hardly take 24 hours to get personal bridging loan. You dont have to worry about your previous credit score, as no credit check is required in the application process of personal bridging loans. Personal bridging loans can provide you a perfect bridge to cross your financial debts. Eva Baldwyn aims to inform common men and women of the several issues involved in personal loans and mortgages through her articles. An MSc in Economics & Finance from the Warwick Business School is proof enough of the knowledge that she possesses in the field of finance. To find 24hr bridging loan uk, best bridging loan, bridging high loan, [http://www.24hrbridgingloan.co.uk/personal-bridging-loan.html]personal bridging loans, bridging loan short term uk, commercial bridging loan in UK visit http://www.24hrbridgingloan.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eva_Baldwyn http://EzineArticles.com/?Traverse-Financial-Requirements-with-Personal-Bridging-Loans&id=289691 cheap source viagra viagra cheap uk buy purchase buy online com phentermine viagra book buy online order viagra

3 Seldom Used Communication Tips You Can Master: Break Down Barriers Between You & Your Partner

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

By Melody C According to Rob, (Director/Counsellor of The Centre for Life Management/LMC Relationship Centre, and Co-author of “Love by Design”) says that the following is roughly how communication is divided. 10% of Communication is conducted through Words.30% of Communication is conducted through Tone. 60% of Communication is conducted by Body Language. So what does this mean? We spend the majority of the time focusing on what people are directly saying, but we are missing 90% of what people are really saying. It is no wonder then, that above and beyond couples not having the same communication modes, or not having relationship skills, miscommunication can also be occurring because we are not focusing on the full picture. Indirect Communication is also an alternate form of communication, because a person needs to listen to what is being said underneath the words, and not take the words at face value only. Lets give some examples of the less well know forms of communication. BODY LANGUAGE: When a couple comes for counselling, by the time they sit down on the couch together, we already have an idea of the dynamics of the relationship. How? By how they are sitting on the couch. Is the couple sitting on opposite ends of the couch? Are they sitting close together, are they leaning towards each other, away from each other? Is one couple leaning away from the other even though the other is leaning towards the other one? Is one person practically sitting on the other? Are they holding hands? Does someone have their arm behind the other one? Are they sitting forward, leaning back relaxed, or sitting up poker straight? Is someone fidgeting or restless? Is someone hugging a pillow, or putting a pillow between themselves and their partner? There is a lot going on, if one is aware. It is important when communicating to be aware of ones body language. Often a person may shutdown by something the first partner is saying or doing, but are not saying anything, so the first partner continues unaware. As an example, if someone shuts down, they may lean away from you, they may or may not be smiling, they may have a very tight, restricted look on their face. Their eyes will usually be directed away, looking down, or looking up and away. If they do maintain eye contact, chances are their arms will be crossed. Arms being crossed is fascinating, in and of itself and has more than one meaning, but as the person doing the communicating and as the receiver of the communication it can send different messages. It may need to be checked out to prevent misinterpretation. Arms crossed could mean: They are angryThey feel encroached upon or threatenedThey are taking a stand or being stubbornThey feel anxious or uncomfortableThey are cold TONE: We once had a couple come in to see us where the wifes main complaint was that she didnt like the way her husband talks to her. She said she told him time and again that he had to stop talking so angrily towards her, and she couldnt handle the intensity when they talked. The husband was truly perplexed. He honestly though his wife must be hypertensive or looking into things that werent there because as he explained, he never yells or raises his voice towards her and he never says anything derogatory or mean to her. So what was going on? When explained to him that it was his tone and intensity of his voice that was conveying anger, he responded by saying Tone? Whats tone? He never knew that people can react to the tone of ones voice. He just thought communication was black and white, you are either yelling or not yelling. Tone can be much more subtle, but just as powerful. Many years ago, when I was going through a marriage prep class with my 1st husband, one of the marriage prep teachers, pulled me aside one day and asked me, if I ever noticed the tone of my voice before. I said No, what are talking about? He said that I had a tone to my voice that said Im not worthy to people.Now, I was shocked at first because of this mans honestly and truth. But he was dead on with how I was feeling inside at the time, and to my surprise it was actually coming through in my tone. So the bottom line, you may think you are just communicating with words, but there is a whole other conversation going on, that people can pick up by your tone whether it is intentional or unintentional. Lastly, there is INDIRECT COMMUNICATION It is very important to be a Direct Communicator, express what you feel, think or need directly. Communication is a very subjective art in the first place because everyone has filters when it comes to interpreting what other people mean due to your belief systems, your mood, past traumas, experience and education. What one thing means to you may not have the same meaning to another person. So if you are the type of person who uses indirect communication to express your needs you are complicating your communication ten fold. You are opening up tons of new interpretations that are not necessary, in hopes of couching your needs or hoping that you are not going to cause a reaction from the person you are asking the request from. The reality is that you are actually decreasing your chances of the person you are communicating with understanding what you want, plus you are potentially frustrating the other person with unclear messages. Sometimes, indirect communication can also cause the other person to feel like you are trying to control, care give or influence them, instead of stating what you want. The following are some examples from a book called Relationships and Family Living by EMC publishing, about what they call Coded Messages, that is used in schools to help teach elementary students to learn how the decode indirect communication. See if you can interpret Coded Messages. The answer key is underneath Coded Messages (See their corresponding Uncoded Messages Below): 1) “I wish I could get sick once in a while like Michael. He’s so lucky.” 2) “I got an “F” on this last English test. I can’t get into studying.” ________________ 3) “I want to talk with you about Dave. He’s gotten so he hates to come to school.” ________________ 4) “Daddy, please take me to the classroom for play school.” _________________ 5) “Why am I always the one being sent to detention? Everyone else was goofing around, too.” _________________ 6) “Dont call my parents about what I did. Theyll ground me forever.” ___________________ 7) “I dont like class. It’s noisy and I can’t accomplish anything.” __________________ 8) “Why do we have to study spelling? That doesn’t help me read faster.” ___________________ ANSWER KEY (Uncoded Messages) 1) I don’t want to go to school.2) He’s blaming his F on his studying skills.3) He’s not coming to school. 4) I want to play. 5) I’m mad about detention. It’s unfair.6) I’ll get in trouble.7) I cant think when it’s loud. 8) I’m a slow reader. SOLUTIONS So the following are suggestions for dealing with these forms of communications: 1) Be aware of your own Body Language, Tone and Indirect Communication. 2) Be aware of your partners Body Language, Tone and Indirect Communication. 3) If in doubt , check it out Ask always in a way so you are owning your own feelings or observations, such as I feel like you may be annoyed with me because I hear a sharpness in your voice, how do you feel? OR I noticed that your arms are crossed, how are you feeling or what are you thinking? If it is an indirect communication, feedback what you think they are saying and see if you have hit it on the nose or not. Sometimes, Indirect Communicators still wont tell you what they are really thinking, so reassure them that it is safe to voice their option or ask for what they want. Would you like to know whether HE or SHE is THE ONE for you? Would you like to know how to keep HIM or HER as your perfect companion for life? Ever Wonder How Both of You Can Become Better Couple?Sign up for your free E-courses (It’s a $97 Value!) at http://www.LoveByDesignBook.com FREE MP3 training program available at http://www.FamilyAndRelationships.com for your download and learning. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melody_C http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Seldom-Used-Communication-Tips-You-Can-Master:-Break-Down-Barriers-Between-You-and-Your-Partner&id=133590 5 off line order form sildenafil citrate viagra prescription medication viagra purchase mail order for viagra tablets

Choosing Stunning Wedding Graphics

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

By Mark Willigerod Our modern technological age has changed the ways in which we do numerous things in our lives. One thing that has changed drastically in the new millennium is how we present and preserve our weddings and the photographs, videos, and other memories from those events. Even just five years ago it was almost completely unheard of for people to create interactive and graphical web sites announcing their weddings, stating where they’re registered, and then uploading the photographs and videos to the site after the event so Great Aunt Agnes can see the wedding pictures without having to leave her trailer in Duluth. Today it is so common that everyone’s doing it and the practice is being popularized even further by celebrities like Star Jones. Additionally people are now using their computers to cut wedding costs by designing their own invitations and thank-you notes and printing them at home. It’s fun, cost effective, and allows a person to really let their creativity shine. It’s easy to jump on the do-it-yourself wedding bandwagon if you have a PC and a connection to the Internet. To do so one of the things you’ll definitely need to get a hold of are some impressive wedding graphics. The Internet can be your best friend when searching for wedding graphics. There are many sites that specialize in low or no cost graphics. Most of these feature wedding graphics and include directions on downloading the images to your own PC, allowing you to get to work immediately being a computer wizard. In order to start producing your web site or invitations you’ll need a decent graphics editing software. Adobe Photoshop is the application of choice for most digital artists and graphic designers, but if you’re not expecting to launch a graphic design company of your own you may find Photoshop’s cost a bit on the high end at approximately $800.00. There are many other graphics editing programs available, however, with price points ranging from about $50.00 to $100.00. Any of these will help you get started in editing and designing your wedding graphics without breaking your bank account. Once you learn the ins & outs of your chosen application and have gathered some wedding graphics that you’re pleased with, you’re ready to get started. If you’re designing a web site about your wedding, it can be done without any knowledge of HTML (the computer language that web pages are written in) by choosing a web host that includes page design features. There are many of these on the Internet and once you’ve found one, designing your web site is as easy as uploading your graphics to your new host and designing the page using their tools. For invitations, flyers, thank you notes and other printable items, all you need to do is visit your nearest office supply or computer electronics store and pick up a set of the appropriate printable material for your printer. You’ll be making your own items with the beautiful wedding graphics you’ve chosen in no time. Your Wedding Helper is here to help you make your Wedding Day Perfect. Visit us now to get started planning APerfect Wedding Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Willigerod http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-Stunning-Wedding-Graphics&id=80642 order viagra buy sildenafil zenegra print sildenafil citrate order form free viagra order online

Think of Others as You Enjoy Your Hobby

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

By Eric Hartwell When following your passion, be sure never to forget your responsibilities. Sometimes, just sometimes, it is easy to become totally entrenched in your particular hobby. In the case of photography, this might mean going out on shoots, meeting other photographers or sitting in front of the computer organising, manipulating and printing your images. Time can melt away and what can seem a short and essential period if input for yourself, can appear a lifetime to your loved ones. Children need mums and dads and partners need care and attention. Your nearest and dearest want you to enjoy your hobby but they also need you too. If they see their parents or partners so engrossed in their interest then it can put a strain on any relationship. And, it is downright selfish! Think about it the other way around. Would you wish to wake up knowing that for the rest of the day, your partner was going to be immersed in his or her own hobby to the exclusion and detriment of yourself? No. So dont do it yourself. You will only foster your reputation for self-interest and narrow-mindedness. And we all need a release to freshen our minds and to broaden our scope. And to nurture those other special relationships. Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Hartwell http://EzineArticles.com/?Think-of-Others-as-You-Enjoy-Your-Hobby&id=117577 no prescription xanax online xanax usa online prescription prescription xanax oxycontin without prescription xanax internet