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Romance / 10 Best Congratulations Messages For Buying A New Car With Cards by antonio1973(m): 10:05am On Jun 13, 2020
# Wow new members in our family? I’m glad to know that our choice is same. Congratulations dad for your new car.Wow new members in our family? I’m glad to know that our choice is same. Congratulations dad for your new car.Wow new members in our family? I’m glad to know that our choice is same. Congratulations dad for your new car.

# Don’t blast your speedometer because I know how fast you drive. Be careful it’s a brand new car and congratulations.

# Congratulations mate for your new car. If you need a driver for your car then you can contact me I will send one from my garage.

# Last night your entry was like a superstar in a party with your new brand car. Best wishes and congratulation

# It is good to know that you have owned a new car. We are ready for a long journey buddy. Congratulations and be prepared for coming Friday.

# Congratulations for your new car brother. Now, Travelling became easier than before cause this car has lot of space.

# Congratulations mate for your new car. As you know this car suits you but you need to upgrade your driving skills too.

# It is good to know that you have owned a new car. We are ready for a long journey buddy. Congratulations and be prepared for coming Friday.

# Finally you have brought a car totally matching with your personality. Lot congratulation and beat wishes

# Baby, you deserve a new car on your graduation and I am happy to gift you on your especial day. Congratulation for your new car and be a responsible rider.

Romance / 10 Emotional Wedding Anniversary Wishes For Husband by antonio1973(m): 6:11pm On Jun 08, 2020
The Wedding Anniversary Is One Of The Most Special Days In One's Life. It Is A Day To Celebrate The Heavenly Bond Created Between A Husband And Wife Through Marriage. If You Are Close To A Couple That Is Planning To Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary Anytime Soon, Then You Must Be Prepared To Wish Them Some Special Words For The Special Occasion.

1# The Bond Of A Marriage Can Take Various Forms, Depending On Whether Life Is Imitating Calm Or Storms. Sometimes In Can Be A Beautiful Knot, Sometimes It Can Be A Fragile Cord. Regardless Of What It Is, I Hope Your Lives Overflow With Bliss. Happy Anniversary.

2# Your Anniversary Is A Milestone Where You Can Pause And Look Back At Your Life To Cherish All The Beautiful Memories And Bind Yourselves To All The Wonderful Promises That Are Yet To Be Fulfilled. Happy Anniversary.

3# As You Celebrate Another Year Together, Take A Moment To Reminisce In The Happy Memories You’ve Created Together And To Reflect On The Lessons Learned. May You Continue To Grow Ever Stronger. Happy Anniversary.

4# Throughout The Ages Numerous People Have Searched But Have Never Found Such A Love As The Two Of You Share. May You Be Continually Blessed With Great Love And Happiness. Happy Anniversary!

5# May Your Door Be Knocked By Lady Luck, And For Both You, Good Wishes You Can Pluck!!! Happy Wedding Anniversary!!!

6# Nothing In This World Could Be More Pure, Than Twenty Years Of Your Relation, I’m Very Sure!!! Happy Wedding Anniversary!

7# Fragrance Of Your Relationship, Makes My Belief Strong In Companionship!!! Happy Wedding Anniversary!!!

8# Sending All My Love And Best Wishes As You Celebrate Another Year Of Love And Affection For One Another. May You Love Continue To Hold Strong And Grow With The Passing Of The Ages. Happy Anniversary!

9# True Love Never Dies, It Only Grows Stronger And Truer With The Passing Of Time. It’s Clear To See That Your Love Is The Strongest And Truest Kind. Happy Anniversary!

10# Congratulations For Another Wonderful Year Of Falling In Love With Each Other. Happy Anniversary!

Romance / Things No One Tells You About Having A Co-founder by antonio1973(m): 11:07am On May 28, 2020
Keep In Mind That Co-founder Conflict Is A Leading Cause For Startup Failure. Many Resources Are Quick To List The Up-front Legal Precautions You Should Take, But Few Will Warn Against The Interpersonal Pitfalls That Can Blindside Even The Best-intentioned Team.

#Do You Like Your Business Risky?

They Say Opposites Attract, But If One Of The Two Of You Is A Daredevil Who Operates From The Gut, And The Other Is A Conscientious Bookworm, You May Quickly Find Yourselves At A Stalemate When It Comes To Making Risky Decisions.

So, Ask Yourselves: If You Will Be Providing A Service, Will You Take On That Lucrative Client That’s A Little Outside Your Actual Area Of Expertise? If You Sell A Product, A Small Labeling Change Might Mean A Halt In Sales For Months. Do You "Eat The Cost" Or Sell Off Your Current Stock, Knowing There Might Be A Potential Fine?

These Examples Are Uncomfortable, But Disagreements On This Front Can Leave One Of The Two Of You Feeling Panicked And The Other Feeling Stifled. More Than With Any Other Factor, Disagreements Over Risk Can Cripple The Direction Of A Company.

#Can I buy you a drink?

No, This Isn’t Just A Cheesy Pick-up Line. Think About It. You And Your Partner Are Going To Be Seeing A Lot Of Each Other. Is This Person Someone You’d Want To Share A Drink With? Prioritizing Expertise At The Expense Of Compatibility May Be A Disaster Waiting To Happen.

This Person May Be A Super-genius With A Crazy Work Ethic But Might Also Be Moody And Unable To Collaborate Well. Just Like A Romantic Partner, Then, Your Business Partner Should Be More Than Just “good On Paper.” Pick Someone Smart And Likable Whom You Can Get Along With. You Will Be Seeing Him Or Her Every Day For Several Years To Come.

#Are you committed?

It’s Easy To Get Excited About Building A Business From Scratch. Envisioning Your Newfound Freedom And Creativity Is Exhilarating. But, Soon Enough, Your Nights Will Get Long, And The Work Will Be Daunting. Startups Do Not Have A Work-life Balance And Leaving At 5 O'clock Is A Fallacy. Make Sure You And Your Co-founder Are On The Same Page About Whether This Is A Business Or A Hobby.

Just Because Your Business Partner Is Generally Enthusiastic Does Not Mean He Or She Will Be A Dedicated Director Of Sales. You May Have To Rely On Your Intuition Here, As The Other Person’s Enthusiasm May Cloud His Or Her Better Judgment. How Does Your Potential Partner Handle Other Things In Life? Does He Or She Have A Love Affair With Designer Clothing Or Have Stacks Of Unpaid Bills At Home? Look For Any Warning Signs That Your Potential New Partner May Lose Interest As Soon As The Business Becomes Inconvenient.

# Who’s the boss?

When It Comes To Conflict Resolution, It’s Important To Respect The Boundaries Of Your Skill Sets. Remember, You Were Confident Enough In Your Co-founder’s Abilities To Start A Business With Him Or Her. So, If Your Dispute Is Over The Budget, And Your Partner Is Your Head Of Financing Because Of A Solid Background In Bookkeeping, Let Go Of The Reins And Trust Him Or Her On This One. The More Time You Waste Over Making The “right” Choice Is Time You Aren’t Making Any Choice At All.

#What’s our five-year plan?

This Question Isn’t Just For Over-zealous Blind Dates. Significant Life Changes Can Cause A Major Shift In Priorities. Things May Be Running Smoothly When It’s Just The Two Of You, But What Happens If One Of You Gets Married? For Starters, Time Is A Precious Commodity That Your Partner’s New Family May Not Be Eager To Share. If Kids Are Involved, Even The Best-intentioned Business Partner May Find Himself Spread Too Thin. Perhaps Your Co-founder Promised To Borrow Equity From His Property To Help Fund The Business. That May Be Fine Until His Wife Decides She Wants To Go Back To School. Are You Prepared To Have A Financial party With Your Co-founder's New Spouse?

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Health / Heartwarming Thank Messages For Doctors And Nurses by antonio1973(m): 11:02am On May 02, 2020
They Deserve Endless Thank Yous From All Of Us Whose Lives Have Been Positively Affected By Their Tenderness, Resilience, And Skilful Professionalism. Below Are Some Heartfelt Thank You Messages For Our Nurses And Doctors. A doctor is an angel on coats and scrubs. Your personality is one to kill for, yet you put away decency to get dirty with blood and mutilated human parts. You are awesome!

Thank Messages For Doctors And Nurses

*Your thoughtfulness and thoroughness contributed in speeding up my healing process. I wonder what could have become of me if you weren’t the one who handled my case. Thank you, doctor.

* Let me take out a moment in my busy life to send a thank you note to a very amazing doctor who is full of love and commitment.

* Months ago, I was confined to a sick bed. Your reassurances and prompt medical attention were the tools that God used to restore me back to health. I won’t fail to thank you wholeheartedly for coming to my rescue then.

* Doctor, your kindness was indeed, my saving grace on that fateful day when all I felt was pain. Pain killers did little, compared to your consistent show of concern to see me better. Thank you.

* I was undeserving of your care after shouting at you out of my cluelessness. Yet, you showed me respectable maturity by discharging your duties to the best of your ability. I thank you for being a shining star.

* The strength in your voice was enough to ignite hope in my sick husband. You calmly explained to us in simple terms, all that we needed to know about his health condition. Thank you!

* You are not called a doctor for nothing. You possess this strength of character, the goodwill and the killer smiles that can make sickness leap out of a body with joy. I truly admire you and hope that one of my sons will become a doctor someday.

* You stepped into our ward, and became the life connector that we all needed to survive. Thank you, doctor, for your infectious smiles and positive spirit. They brought health back into me.

* When we were told that my wife was told she would give birth through a C-section, we least expected it to be less dramatic. Sooner than we imagined, our healthy child was born. We are grateful to you. Thank you!

* It took you several years of study in school to become the person of relentless resilience that you are. It isn’t enough that you practice medicine; you do it like it is your life’s calling.

* Dear nurse, it is impossible not to remember all that you did for me when it was as though all hope was lost. Thanks and God bless.

* Your smiles were reassuring, and your faith was strong enough to pull me into believing that I would make it out, alive. Thanks, nurse, for your immeasurable kindness.

* You are a kind man. There are not many male nurses around but you have proven to be one with a remarkable difference. Thank you for being humane, and for checking up on me frequently while I was on admission.

* Every day, and on a round-the-clock basis, you make immense sacrifices to ensure that our health centres and hospitals aren’t devoid of helps whenever we call in sick. Thank you.

* I don’t want to wait till Nurses’ Appreciation Day to thank you for being my children’s most loved nurse. You are the reason they get all excited to make dental visits to the hospital.

* When we take stock of all that you do for our pregnant women, for our sick babies, for our sick and elderly, and for the rejected and lonely, we have no choice but to humble ourselves to say, “Thank you, very much.”

* When it comes to expertise, I have never seen a more skilful and dedicated nurse like you. You multitask efficiently, a clear indication that you are a very capable hand. I am really awed by all you do. Thanks for your excellence in service delivery.

* To say I was moved to tears by your care is an understatement. I will forever remember your kindness, and will always repay you in many ways till my last breath. Thank you, nurse.

Romance / Questions To Ask A Girl That’ll Bring Her Closer To You Than Before by antonio1973(m): 3:02pm On May 01, 2020
Sometimes, Figuring Out The Best Questions To Ask A Girl You Like Can Get Pretty Frustrating. The Fear Of Getting Embarrassed If You Ask The Wrong Question Is Enough To Dampen Your Courage. So, you can start off by asking her questions about what she likes to do, what she wants to do, and transition to what she wants for her future. So, if you think you’re funny then this can be a good chance to get your girl. it is imperative that first date questions are gotten right in their ability to convey thoughts and in their quality as conversation starters. Make her realize that you can always make her smile and chuckle.

1. If you were a vegetable, what would you be and why?
2. If could have one superpower, what would it be?
3. Would you do if we were in zero gravity?
4. What would your dream bathroom look like?
5. What’s the weirdest conversation you’ve ever overheard?
6. What is something you just can’t believe some people actually enjoy?
7. What’s the worst you’ve seen someone screw up on social media?
8. What’s the strangest gift you’ve ever received?
9. Who do you think is the hottest celebrity?
10. If your sex life could be described in ice creams, what kind of ice cream would it be?
11. What dunkin donut describes you best?
12. What would you do if a girl asked for your number and hit on you?
13. Do you think older men are sexy?
14. If your life was a movie, would it be called?
15. Would you still like a guy if he was a foot shorter than you?
16. If you found out I slept every night with a stuffed animal, what would you do?
17. Would you feel cool if you rode a motorcycle with a guy on the back? Or is that just wrong?

18. What was one of the happiest moments of your childhood?
19. What was the worst date that you’ve ever been on?
20. How would your perfect partner treat you?
21. What is the strangest habit you have?
22. What is that one thing that you love to do? Why?
23. What was one of the happiest moments of your childhood?
24. How would your perfect partner treat you?
25. What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
26. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
27. How do you treat people who annoy you for no reason?
28. What are your secret skills?
29. What’s the main reason you get out of bed every day?
30. Do you say yes or no more often in life?
31. What would you tell your youngest self if you could go back in time?
32. What sparks your light and gets you motivated?
33. What’s the best thing about older?
34. What’s your biggest regret?
35. What are some thing you wish you could unlearn?
36. Who couldn’t you live without?
37. What’s your number one goal right now?
38. What do you enjoy doing most?
39. Do you believe in destiny? Or do people have more control over their own lives?
40. If you were the only human left on Earth, what would you do?
41. It’s commonly said that everyone has a book in them. What would your book be about?

Romance / Ways To Increase Productivity In The Workplace by antonio1973(m): 3:58pm On Mar 05, 2020
1. Provide The Right Tools And Equipment
Your employees will not be able to perform their duties efficiently without the right tools and equipment. How much time could be wasted, for example, using a printer that is too slow? Are there processes in your business that could be automated, such as payroll and hr information,Mobile phones and easy access to social media can be big time wasters. It’s not always practical to introduce a mobile phone ban. However, you can get over the issue by encouraging staff to turn their mobiles off and allowing them time to check for messages. It also means they’ll be more focused on the job in hand and the time they spend at work will be more productive.

2. Be Efficient
Consider how your business is currently operating, and be open to the potential of changing the way you work. Remember that it’s equally as important to make short-term and long-term lists as it is to prioritise tasks, especially in a small business.Is there a better way that staff members could structure their day to enable them to achieve their daily goals? Provide each member of staff with a plan and encourage each to make a list to ensure he or she completes prioritised jobs on time and stays on task all day, resulting in efficient working.

3. Reduce Distractions
Social media can be a huge productivity killer, but it isn’t practical to have a no-phone policy. Instead, try to keep employees focused and engaged while allowing them breathing room.Encourage employees to turn off their mobiles but take regular breaks during which they can be free to check their phones. This will ensure that the time spent at their desk is more productive.

4. Provide Opportunities For Training
Training is a crucial part of increasing productivity. It has been found that training is beneficial for both employers and employees. Providing opportunities for progressing through your business will help to keep your workforce engaged and make their job more interesting.

5. Have The Right Tools And Equipment
Providing employees with the right tools and equipment is important so they can perform their duties efficiently and on time. There’s nothing more counterproductive than spending time waiting for paperwork to print because you haven’t got a fast printing device.High-quality, modern programs and equipment make a massive difference not only to the workforce but also to how your company is perceived. Save time and effort by using equipment such as an mfp, which can work as printer, scanner, copier and fax machine.

6. Offer Support And Set Realistic Goals
A common problem for managers is having no clear, strong sense of whether their employees are high-performing or not.Do your employees need an incentive to stay on track? Help them by offering goals that are achievable. Provide clear direction to supervisors and employees to help clarify expectations. This will help to increase their productivity, as they will have a clear focus and clear goals.

7. Practice Positive Reinforcement
Encourage, motivate and reward. Tell employees they are doing a good job and give constructive criticism. Most importantly, offer personal incentives for doing the job well – could they get a free holiday or a free takeout coffee for performing above and beyond their roles?You should clearly indicate success of one employee to other staff to cultivate a sense of fulfillment to motivate others. When you motivate your employees to work harder and receive rewards in return, they’re more likely to put increased productivity high up on their to-do list.

8. Ensure Employees Are Happy
A stressful workplace will not yield results. Workers that constantly operate under highly stressful conditions are found to be less productive and have higher levels of disengagement and absenteeism … they need to be happy! These messages could be the right motivation they need to push through a difficult task, you will learn some beautiful love messages to motivate your husband at work.Showing employees how much the company appreciates, respects and values them on a personal level is gratifying – and often overlooked.If you want your staff to work to the best of their ability, try out a few of these tips and enjoy the benefits.

9. Delegate
Delegation comes with an element of risk, but increased responsibility is important for improving the morale and job satisfaction of your staff. Give responsibilities to qualified employees that have a proven track record with success in a certain field, and trust that they will perform the tasks well.If you allow employees the chance to gain skills and leadership experience, it will benefit your company and provide your employees with a sense of achievement and direction in their own careers.

Romance / How To Figure Out What Motivates You At Work by antonio1973(m): 3:38pm On Feb 28, 2020
1. Take A Moment To Consider Why You Are In Your Current Position
People rely on you to make sure that they are getting enough hours, that they can get important days off when they need it, and that the organization runs smoothly, even in times of crisis. You are in charge of all of these aspects, and this ultimately provides value for those around you.When we work somewhere for a significant amount of time, the daily grind can become something that we do on autopilot. When we do work in this mode, we end up losing ourselves along the way.

2. Set Reminders Around You To Keep Your Motivation Levels High
When it comes to work, many people make their jobs much larger and worse than they actually are. You can avoid falling into this cycle of avoidance and despair by reminding yourself that every day is a new day. You can change your schedule around to add in new and exciting things, and focus on your life outside of work.The second point above can be achieved by setting small reminders throughout your workplace. If you are someone who is already satisfied with the work that they do and the value that they provide, you can make small notes around your workspace that remind you of the services that you offer and how they help others.

3. Achievement
People with a high need for achievement seek to excel. Their hunger for achievement isn’t fed by being better than others, but rather by continually reaching for a higher level of personal best. Achievement-motivated individuals avoid low-risk situations because the easily attained success is not a genuine achievement. Instead, they want difficult goals that demand intense effort and that challenge them to grow in new ways. Success is sweet for the achievement-motivated person, but true satisfaction is found in the demanding quest to reach that success. So while wins are something to be celebrated,when people are celebrating your achievement you can celebrate your love ones,love messages for boyfriend and love messages for girlfriend, you won’t find these individuals resting long on their laurels before they are off and running towards a new and difficult goal.

4. Security
People with a high need for security look for continuity, consistency and predictability in their job, work, and pay. They are driven by guarantees and may prefer to stay with the same company, or in the same position or department, for the long haul. High-security people often dislike change, especially when it feels too abrupt or disruptive.

5. Once You Know Your Motivations
One of the great benefits of knowing your motivations is that knowledge can help you find opportunities where you’re both likely to succeed and be deeply fulfilled. For example, adventure-driven high performers want excitement and to be doing something new all the time. And they dislike doing work everybody else is already working on; it’s much more gratifying to be the first person to work on a project. So if you’re motivated by adventure, you know that you need to work in a company or team where the projects are cutting edge, new and different.

6. Map Out Your Future
In some instances, our future is more exciting than our current situation, and that’s okay! The good news is that you can leverage your future to your advantage by using it as motivation to work harder.Consider each job that you hold or will hold as a stepping stone on the path towards your ultimate goal. While your current job may not be super exciting or fulfilling, it serves a purpose. Whether that be in the form of building your resume, teaching you new skills, helping you save the money to look for a new job, or providing extra money on the side, there is a purpose for everything!
Romance / The Six Tips Ways To Have Tough Conversations by antonio1973(m): 1:31pm On Feb 27, 2020
1. Be Clear About The Issue
To prepare for the conversation, you need to ask yourself two important questions: "What exactly is the behavior that is causing the problem?" and "What is the impact that the behavior is having on you, the team or the organization?" you need to reach clarity for yourself so you can articulate the issue in two or three succinct statements. If not, you risk going off on a tangent during the conversation.

2. Stay On The Same Side Of The Problem
We’re working toward the same goals, sharing in the same triumphs, and working through the same problems. We may sometimes disagree on strategy or the best way forward, but even when we are in opposition, we’re still on the same side.When you feel like a friend or employee is your adversary, it’s easy to forget that they are also doing their best. But you wouldn’t have a relationship with or hire someone you didn’t think was a good person. Part of building relationships, say thank you messages for boss for personal life or at work, is trust. Assuming good intentions will make you a better manager. Instead of seeing a mistake as a personal failing, by giving people the benefit of the doubt, you can more clearly see individual or institutional skills or knowledge gaps, without putting them on the defensive.

3. Know Your Objective
As English philosopher theodore zeldin put it: a successful conversation "Doesn't just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards." what are the new cards that you want to have in your hands by the end of the conversation? Once you have determined this, plan how you will close the conversation. Don't end without clearly expressed action items. What is the person agreeing to do? What support are you committed to provide? What obstacles might prevent these remedial actions from taking place? What do you both agree to do to overcome potential obstacles? Schedule a follow up to evaluate progress and definitively reach closure on the issue at hand.

4. Manage The Emotions
Most of us were likely raised to believe that emotions need to be left at the door. We now know that this is an old-school approach that is no longer valid in today's work environments. It is your responsibility as a leader to understand and manage the emotions in the discussion. The late robert plutchik, professor at the albert einstein college of medicine, created a wheel of emotions to show that emotions follow a path. What starts as an annoyance, for example, can move to anger and, in extreme cases, escalate to rage.

5. Be Comfortable With Silence
There will be moments in the conversation where a silence occurs. Don't rush to fill it with words. Just as the pause between musical notes helps us appreciate the music, so the periodic silence in the conversation allows us to hear what was said and lets the message sink in. A pause also has a calming effect and can help us connect better. For example, if you are an extrovert, you're likely uncomfortable with silence, as you're used to thinking while you're speaking. This can be perceived as steamrolling or overbearing, especially if the other party is an introvert.

6. Choose the right place to have the conversation
Calling people into your office may not be the best strategy. Sitting in your own turf, behind your desk, shifts the balance of power too much on your side. Even simple body language, such as leaning forward toward the person rather than leaning back on your chair, can carry a subtle message of your positive intentions; I.E., "We're in this together. Let's problem solve so that we have a better workplace." consider holding the meeting in a neutral place such as a meeting room where you can sit adjacent to each other without the desk as a barrier.
Romance / 6 Ways Entrepreneurs Think Different by antonio1973(m): 12:13pm On Feb 21, 2020
Entrepreneurs are a unique breed of people. While some people sit and fantasize about the glamor of being their own boss and creating their own business, those in the thick of business ownership understand that even considering all its rewards, entrepreneurs need to be good communicators, and that means actively listening to those with different ideas and opinions. It’s easy for us to get trapped in one mode of thinking.

1. Everything Requires Effort
Entrepreneurship is multifaceted and constantly demanding, and there’s no shortage of pitfalls that could disrupt or destroy your business. Instead of looking for shortcuts, they’re pouring effort into their business at every opportunity, and when they reach one goal, they’re already busy planning another.

2. Bigger Things Are Made From Small Components
This works for problems as well as solutions. For example, instead of seeing a content-marketing campaign as a quick way to get traffic and new business, entrepreneurs see content marketing in terms of its individual components (social-media marketing, link building, etc.), each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Successful entrepreneurs can break down massive projects.

3. Challenges Are Opportunities
Obstacles and challenges are painfully common elements of entrepreneurship. Most people react to these hurdles with stress and pessimism, with an attitude that obstacles are negative experiences that only hinder progress. As an entrepreneur, you encounter so many challenges you simply can’t afford to react this way.

4. Outside Perspective Is Invaluable
Many business owners keep their business models and directives too rigid, ultimately restricting their ability to grow and leading to failure. Successful entrepreneurs, on the other hand, are constantly searching for individuals and experiences that will challenge their way of thinking and lead them to see things from a new perspective.

5. Entrepreneurship Is A Lifestyle
Entrepreneurs wake up as entrepreneurs, go to work as entrepreneurs, come home as entrepreneurs send sweetest goodnight poems for her and go to bed as entrepreneurs. There is no nine to five. There is no “work life” and “home life.” the advantage of this is that you have total control over your business and your professional choices, including what you do for it. The possible disadvantage of this is that you carry your business with you everywhere you go. Entrepreneurship becomes your work and your life, and you need to be prepared for that if you’re going to survive the lifestyle.

6. Discipline Is A Prerequisite
Discipline is something extra. It takes extra thought and effort to exercise, wake up on time or do anything other than spend leisure time. To successful entrepreneurs, discipline is normal. It’s a prerequisite that carries into all aspects of their lives.You don’t have to be a regimented military-style leader to be disciplined, but you do have to know what you want and be prepared to do whatever it takes to get it.
Romance / 5 Ways To Stimulate Your Imagination Throughout by antonio1973(m): 10:15am On Feb 20, 2020
1. After You Wake Up
Meditating for 15 to 20 minutes when you first wake up can help clear your mind. Meditation helps calm the brain down and eliminates a lot of the noise we fill our heads with every day. Overthinking is the enemy of imagination.

2. Open Your Mind To Unexplored Paths
Creativity is often tagged together with originality. To come up with new ideas may be challenging and even oftentimes daunting, as unexplored paths may pose unexpected threats. It is also an avenue where one can find genuine ideas that can result to a successful endeavor.

3. Use your commute to your advantage
If you’re using public transportation, bring a sketch pad with you or download a doodling app and just let your imagination run wild. You don’t have to be rembrandt, just draw what pops into your head. Research says doodling can reduce stress, stimulate the problem-solving center of your brain, and boost creative thoughts.If you’re driving, plan a different route to work. A change of scenery, even a simple one,you can wishes your love ones happy birthday and birthday wishes for sister, can help kickstart your imaginative side.

4. Pick Up An Exercise Routine
A stimulated body leads to a stimulated mind. It’s something great artists have known for centuries, but it’s easily forgotten with today’s hectic schedules. Next time you can’t quite find the imaginative spark you need, try working up a sweat. It doesn’t matter if you squeeze exercise in before work, after work, or on the weekends, anything that challenges your body will reduce stress and stimulate the brain, allowing your imagination to flow.

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Try Something New
It is often said that if you keep on doing the same things, then you will keep on receiving the same things. Challenge yourself to experience new things or embark on new adventures and endeavors,everyone has a set of skills or talents. Focus on developing and honing these talents to express your creativity and imagination in areas that you excel in or in things that you know how to do best.
Romance / 10 Ways To Motivate Yourself By Listening To Motivational Content Every Morning by antonio1973(m): 11:38am On Feb 11, 2020
Nothing will change your life faster than listening to motivational content every morning. What motivational speak does is to stir your thoughts and get you into action. When left to yourself, you get all lazy, procrastinate issues, have no drive and end up underperforming. Motivational speakers, on the other hand, give you a nudge and give you a start. It’s upon you to run with what you learn from them and make a difference in your life. Below are ten ways you can arouse yourself through listening to motivational content every day.


1.Emulate the content

Most motivational speakers give the stories of their lives or well-known people. These are people just like you who, against all the odds, did the impossible. They recovered from an illness, mended difficult relationships, overcame abject poverty or they survived inhumane conditions. You can motivate yourself by relating the motivational content to your situation and realizing you can also do it. The motivational content sets an example for you to follow as you can learn how the speaker did it. You may, for instance, be listening to how the speaker mended his relationships and you can use the same approach they used. If they did so by sending them messages, you could do the same for the person you want to become close with. You can write heartfelt birthday wishes for your son, daughter, or even wife to draw them nearer.

2.Listen to various content

You can build self-confidence by listening to different motivational speakers and learn different things from each of them. If they could do it, you should stir yourself to also achieve your dreams. With such a mindset each morning you will approach whatever work you are doing with a winning mentality. At the same time if one speaker does not motivate you enough, you have many others to look upon to and thus a constant source of motivation.

3.You gain immediate drive
The best part about listening to motivational content is that you get the drive right away. You don’t have to book an appointment or wait for the person delivering the talk to be available. The content is ready and accessible anytime you want and it’s only a click away, and you get on your way to do great things.

4.Learn something new and apply it immediately
You can also motivate yourself by listening to an inspiring talk by learning something you can immediately learn and apply in your life. You can listen to a motivational speaker who overcame tardiness and procrastination and follow the exact steps they followed to overcome the same. Do it step by step. Similarly, you can do stuff like lose weight and exercise by monitoring their daily routine. You stay motivated as you feel you have company and are not doing it alone.

5.Remind yourself about hard work

Listening to motivational speak every morning will have you go out there with a reminder that everything you do calls for hard work. You will, therefore, be motivated throughout the day to give anything you do all you have got. This will see you achieve better results than when you used to do the work half-heartedly.

6.Know failure is a part of the journey

When you listen to motivational talk every morning, you will be reminded not to give up, no matter how hard it gets. This is because motivational content talks about persevering and conquering. Any time you remember what the speaker had to go through to come out victorious, you will also become inspired to keep trying.

7.Let it give you self-assurance
Listening to motivational content will also provide you with the confidence to venture into new waters. You might have been wanting to try out new and daring things but because you didn’t know anyone who had done it before you, you grew afraid. Listening to a motivational speaker who has done it and they are human just like you will give you the courage to try.

8.Replay it when you feel discouraged
Motivational content will keep you motivated because you can play it over and over again when you don’t get it or when you feel your motivation going down. You can replay it as many times as you want until it sticks to your brain and become a habit. This means you will be motivated every single minute since all you have to do is put the motivational content on.

9.Evaluate your progress
Because you are listening to motivational content where the speaker got results, you will also be able to assess how well you are doing. It will have a positive effect because the more you achieve the more you will want to listen and do even greater things. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, you can weigh yourself to see how well its working and if you are not faring well, you can listen to the content again and get motivated to give it another try.

To wrap it up
contrary to what you might think, listening to motivational content is not just empty talk. There are people whose lives have been turned around by these encouraging talks. You can become such a person as well by learning from someone who has done it or who knows people who have done it.
Go on and give it a go because listening to motivational content will undoubtedly influence you to do positive things that you could not arouse on your own.
Romance / 10 Ways To Make Other People Feel Extraordinary by antonio1973(m): 7:09pm On Feb 07, 2020
You want to feel special and loved, right? So does everyone else. We all want to feel extraordinary. You might have been wondering how to make other people feel outstanding. It is not easy to make other people feel special but it can be done.

In this article, I am going to show you ten ways you can do it. With consistency and discipline, you can do it. Let what you do convey to the other person what they mean to you and how you feel about them. To make people feel special, do the following ten things.

1. Pay attention to them

Show the person that they mean the world to you. Do this by paying attention to whatever they are saying or doing. Show them you want to know what they are up to, and it matters to you as well. Fully concentrate on what they are saying by listening keenly to what they are saying or doing. Focus all your attention on them so that they know you really care.

2. Compliment them

Complimenting somebody will make you and even you feel happier. For them, they will feel appreciated by you. Let the person know about a thing that they did or have that looks good. They will be able to tell that you care so much about them to notice them and what they have or do. Complimenting them will also make them gain trust in you and believe in you.

3. Show interest in them

Make the other person feel extraordinary by showing interest in them. Ask them where they are at in their life and know the plans that they have. Give a word of advice and gather more information about what interests them. Do things that interest them also so that you can be together doing stuff.

4. Be consistent

Keep putting the effort to make people feel special. Let it not be a one-off thing, and then you stop because somebody might feel like you were doing it to gain something from them. Keep doing it every opportunity you have so that they can know you really mean it. Just like every year you don’t miss to send birthday and anniversary messages for a girlfriend or boyfriend, be also constant in reassuring the person you want to feel extraordinary of how special they are.

5.Talk about them to other people

Let other people know how extraordinary the person is. By telling other people, the person will come to learn about it from other people and confirm that they are truly remarkable if you talk about how great they are to other people. The other people will also treat the person well because you have told them how special the person is and they will view the person as you do.

6.Ask for their opinion

Ask the person you want to feel extraordinary what they think about something that is important to you and they will know their opinion matters in your life. This will demonstrate to them that you respect their take on significant issues concerning you. They will also have the confidence to give their views and they will go out of their way to find the right solutions.

7.Let them know you believe in them

Candidly tell the person that you believe in them and their capabilities. This will give the person confidence, and they will also believe in you. They will feel valued and their abilities appreciated. They will also feel they are useful to you since there is something they can add to your life. They will, therefore, go all out to prove you right, and your mutual trust will blossom.

8.Share in their success

Be the first person to congratulate the person you want to feel extraordinary about their achievements. They will know you keep track of their progress and you are happy for them. They will know they have a trusted friend since many people are jealous of other people’s success instead of being happy.

9. Help them

To make a person feel extraordinary lend a helping hand to them. Learn what problems they are going through and help them out. Find out what they are struggling with and stand in the gap. Be their shoulder to cry on and let them know you are open to helping them anytime you are stuck in life. This way the person will know they mean a lot to you because you are genuinely concerned about their life and you are willing to assist when necessary.

10.Do not criticize

No matter what the person you want to feel special has done never criticize them. Criticizing the person will tell them and other people that they are not extraordinary and all you have been doing is flatter them. You cannot praise somebody and criticize them the next day. Even when they do something that disappoints you or others the best way is to call them alone and point out their mistake in a loving way. This way they will retain the trust of other people and they will know you value their input.

The main takeaway

Using the above tips, you can make people feel extraordinary. Just make sure to be genuine and make it special. Do not do it as an obligation because it will become a burden to you and the other person will also feel it’s not genuine. With repetition, the person will feel appreciated by you and they will reciprocate it cementing your relationship. Let people know that you value them and they will value you which will, in turn, have a ripple effect.
Romance / 7 Ways To Overcome Obstacles And Change Your Life by antonio1973(m): 8:37pm On Feb 06, 2020
Obstacles may come at you from all directions and stall your growth and overcoming them is hard. However, you don’t have to remain defeated by these obstacles but should instead learn how to overcome these obstacles. We have heard stories of people who overcame all odds and turned his life around and did marvelous things. This person can become you if you put the effort and become focused and resilient.

Obstacles are a part of our life, and since we cannot avoid them, the only way is to work around them. In this article, I will show you seven ways to completely get over obstacles and change your life to make it better than it was before.

1. Ask for help and advice
To overcome obstacles you are facing in your life, do not go it alone. Ask people to help you to get from where you are to where you want to go. Asking for help can be a challenge because of the fear of getting turned down. At the same time, if you don’t ask, nobody will assist you because they don’t know about your problems. When you ask for help, you will be able to move from forward and learn new things at the same time. For instance, if you run a business that you run in a certain way, asking for help will help you learn what the other person does differently to succeed.
2. Work on your problem-solving skills

Learn how to solve problems if you want to get over obstacles. Keeping quiet and mulling over your problems will not make them go away. Instead, you should write down the obstacle, what caused it, what you can do by yourself to overcome it and where you need assistance. By doing this, you will be taking charge of the situation and you will also be one step towards solving the problem.

3. Know your obstacles
Do you even know what your obstacles are, or you simply think life is hard? Can you pinpoint what hindrances are preventing you from getting where you want to be? If you don’t know what your problems are you can’t solve them. The first step, therefore, is figuring out what is wrong and what you need to get it right. Once you recognize the hurdle, you will lay down a plan to attack it and defeat it.

4. Make a plan
So you now know what your obstacles are, and you have honed your problem-solving skills. It's now time to make a plan of how you are going to eliminate your obstacles or work around them. A plan will help you know about your progress because you can look at it to see how fa you are in tackling the problem at hand. A plan will also help you know if you need help or the hurdle you face is one you can overcome on your own. If you want to attain your objective, do not ignore this step as it will help you remain focused, meet your target and evaluate your success.

5. Follow-through
Self-discipline and persistence are vital ingredients in your endeavor to overcome obstacles in your life. If you are not disciplined enough, you will only have a plan that you won’t work on and this will see you remain stuck at one point. Make use of the plan you made and check your progress to gauge how well you are doing.

6. Be grateful

Being grateful when facing obstacles may sound odd, but it will, in reality, this will keep you grounded and prevent you from breaking down from pressure. Gratitude will help you see all is not lost and that things will look up. Practicing gratitude will also keep you happy and with a positive attitude which will help you think clearly about your obstacles. Do not, therefore, fall into the trap of thinking all is lost and it’s the end of the world for you. For instance, you might have dropped out of college or taken your studies lightly and you flopped. The best thing to do is send a Thank You Messages For your Teacher and ask for help to give college another go.

7. Practice patience

You will not overcome your obstacles in a fortnight, but the bottom line is to remain positive that you will do it. The worst you can do is to give up as this will see you back in the drawing board. Keep faith alive and be optimistic that things will look up. When you remain positive, you will have the energy to keep going against any odds along your way and disappointments will not make you depart from your journey.

To wrap it up

Your life doesn’t have to be held back by obstacles. You can overcome them and lead a normal and successful life. Obstacles like poverty, illiteracy, and fear, among others, are things you can work on and eliminate. Many people have overcome all kinds of obstacles and became successful, and if other people have done so, can you.

Learn to ask for help, solve your problems, know the obstacles you face, make a plan, practice gratitude and follow through. Similarly, have the will power to carry on because obstacles are not overcome overnight. Be consistent and persevere even when things don’t seem to be working as little progress is better than no progress at all.
Romance / 8 Assets Of Creative Thinkers That Keeps Them Ahead Of The Herd by antonio1973(m): 2:54pm On Jan 31, 2020
Creative thinkers change the world around them and most cases even the whole world. Think Steve Job and the iPhone, Jeff Bezos with Amazon, and Mark Zuckerberg with Facebook. These are just a few individuals not to count the founders of electricity, medicine and cars among other modern discoveries. It doesn’t take geniuses alone to create new things but instead, it takes creative minds.

Creative thinkers have unique characteristics that make them the way they are. There are no secrets to being innovative but there are qualities that you must possess to become so. When you unfailingly master these assets, you too can discover significant inventions. In this article, I am going to reveal to you the assets you need to pay attention to and it will pay back with modern-day innovations.

1. They pay attention

Creative thinkers do not rush through things, but they pay attention to details. This ensures they don’t miss any aspect of a piece of information. Think of a police officer who solves a mystery crime by paying minute attention to even the most trivial information they have. Paying attention also saves time because you won’t have to do the thing multiple times since you paid attention the first few times and it also means you don’t make costly mistakes.

2. They tolerate ambiguity

People who think creatively are not scared by ambiguous things, but instead, they embrace them to learn. Instead of walking away from a frightening situation, they engage it and learn something new. A creative thinker remains open-minded and shows creativity and the desire and ability to take on the world. By thinking creatively, you never know what you can discover and learn from that which others consider scary and tedious.

3.They are flexible

Creative thinkers are flexible people who are willing to try and do things differently. They are open to new and weird ideas and open to criticism. This enables them to learn new things and explore new angles to doing something. They shun tradition and conventional ways and look at innovative ways to do a job or solve a problem. They have room for change, and new developments do not catch them by surprise.

4. They take risks

Creative people are risk-takers, and they dare to face head-on the distress of uncertainty. These people, therefore, have a higher probability of achieving their goals and moving forward. When you take a risk you become a performer because you are not afraid of getting negative results. They are also open to trying new things or old things in a new way. They are willing to invest their time and resources where no one else wants to try thus learning new solutions to a problem.

5. They delay gratification

Creative thinkers do not go after quick results and satisfaction and can hold on for long to see great results. This enables them to take time to get an answer to a puzzle ensuring success at the end. They endure unfavorable conditions to get better pleasures eventually. This means they can wait to see results of something they are trying to do without getting impatient and giving up.

6. They are curious

Creative thinkers are also curious and inquisitive, making them learn a lot along the way. They are interested in learning more about every single thing and they ask relevant questions. This way, they gather a lot of information about a subject and the next time they have to deal with it, they combine their know-how with what they have learned from other people which gives them superior results.

7. They break rules

When you are a creative person, you don’t follow the rules because the rules are restrictive and constricting. Rules close off all other possibilities and force you to do things only in a certain way. Creative thinkers, therefore, don’t pay attention to rules but break them to try out new methods of doing something. By so doing, they establish their own rules and come up with new ways of doing a thing. Such people will not wait for the D-day of an occasion to celebrate it but will do it ahead of time or later. For example, they may send birthday wishes for their girlfriend, friend or parent days earlier.

8. They are dreamers

Creative people dream a lot and come up with many possibilities of doing things. They take their creativity to new levels by dreaming of better jobs and better ways of doing the current stuff. These people also believe anything is achievable and they do not hesitate to go after their dreams. Their dreaming translates to discoveries and new ways of doing things resulting from their creative thinking.

The bottom line

Creative thinkers look at things in unconventional and new ways and create fresh solutions not discovered before. You can become a creative thinker and drive invention and progress. You can achieve this by paying attention to things, tolerating ambiguity, being flexible, taking risks, being curious, breaking the rules, delaying gratification and being dreamers.

If you keep at it and make these assets a part of your life, you will become a creative thinker and come up with ways of doing stuff differently and more easily. Come on now and start on these assets and it will payback. Start with the easiest for you and see the great results you get.
Romance / 10 Ways To Open Up Your Imagination And Achieve Great Things by antonio1973(m): 1:56pm On Jan 31, 2020
No one, including you, has a rigid imagination incapable of being stretched. Your imagination can be opened up and expanded, which would result in great pursuits and discovery. This will come as a result of doing things a certain way, and that is what this article discusses.

You are going to learn how to move from having no ideas and innovations to being an idea generator. Consistently doing these things is guaranteed to make you more imaginative and creative. Your imagination will help you attain your life goals and change your reality, thus giving you a more productive life. Dive in and learn more.

1.Be observant
Keenly watching what is happening around and near you will make you notice things that you would not have had you not paid attention to. Look at situations, persons and events to analyze them. Learn to watch people and read their moods and intentions by determining their body language and their expressions. Learn to absorb an environment and everything about it.

2.Be curious

To open up your imagination, have the knack and thirst for learning new things. Enquire why someone is doing things a certain way or at a specific period, and you will learn a lot. Asking questions will give you new ideas that you can implement in your own life.

3.Be playful

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” fits greatly in this scenario. Science shows that playful people have better imagination and creativity. This is because they tackle situations with a mind ready to explore and have fun making their thinking more flexible. When you are too serious, you will be dull and without curiosity. Being playful will free your mind and open your imaginations, enabling you to get solutions to problems.

4.Read
Reading books, educative blogs and other materials will teach you new things that will awaken the imagination in you. You will picture the things you learn and try them out in real life. Reading will also leave you thinking about a different ending to the piece you are reading and give you new ways to do something. By reading, you are also learning different perspective on your life situation. Reading about a successful endeavour of someone else will prompt you also to do it.

5.Become a daydreamer
Daydreamers think about the things that they can achieve, whether that is a possibility or not. They think about things in their lives and in the world being better than they currently are. Through daydreaming, their imagination is expanded, and they come up with important innovations.

6.Write down ideas
Writing down ideas helps you to become imaginative because the more you write, the more you come with ideas. Continuously writing the ideas means you are going to better the ideas that you had written previously. By thinking about how to implement the ideas and make them better, you become more imaginative.

7.Create
Nothing opens up your imagination more than creating something from scratch. Imagine yourself weaving a basket from the start. As you go along, you, imagine what you want the completed product to look like and you strive to make it so. Creating stuff, therefore, makes you more imaginative, and you can end up with something totally new and better. You might start out as a writer just composing love poems for him or her and end up with a best seller on love. Who knows?

8.Become a storyteller
When you become a storyteller, you become imaginative because you want to make the story more interesting. When you start narrating a story, you can picture the beginning from the end. With time you will master your imagination and will be able to come up with more than just stories. Storytelling is also advantageous because it positively affects both the storyteller and the listener.

9.Spend time alone
Opening up your imagination calls for quiet times when you are all alone and disruption-free. In this quiet alone time, you can peacefully think about new ways of tackling a problem. Many notable masterpieces of art were achieved through solitude. Studies have shown that spending time on your own will help you become more creative, which means make you more imaginative and help you develop new things.

10.Explore your passions

Think about what you love to do. What activities bring you back to life and keep you glued to them? You are most likely to be imaginative when you are doing something that makes you happy. Whether it’s listening to music, writing, dancing, drawing, or sports, find your favourite pastime because you will want to engage in it and give it your best.

The main takeaway.
Opening up your imagination is not a far-fetched affair but something that anyone can do. The key is being consistent and not giving up because it doesn’t come very quickly. Just keep at it just like you would do with exercise. Make it a part of your daily routine, and within no time, it will become a regular part of your life.

The main takeaway.

Opening up your imagination is not a far-fetched affair but something that anyone can do. The key is being consistent and not giving up because it doesn’t come very quickly. Just keep at it just like you would do with exercise. Make it a part of your daily routine, and within no time, it will become a regular part of your life.

To open up your imagination, you should spend time alone, create something, explore your passions, become observant and curious, become playful, read a lot, write down your ideas and tell stories. Do not dilly-dally to begin on your dreams right away. Use these ways to expand your imagination and do great things.

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Romance / 9 Ways To Improve Your Personality by antonio1973(m): 11:47am On Jan 25, 2020
Some of us are born introverts, and we find it extremely hard to fit in anywhere. Do you feel frightened every time you are in a group of people and do you fear meeting new people? Might you also have no friends?

Relax, because this article is about you and it is going to show you what you can do to fit in more. It will also show you how to be relaxed amid people as well as make you more likable and approachable. No matter which personality you were born with, it can be improved by doing simple everyday things. With practice and persistence, you will go from quiet and seemingly aloof to outgoing and fun. Delve in and learn how.

1.Greet people with a warm smile
Nothing tells a person you are personable more than greeting them with a genuine smile. Learn to greet people cheerfully, with your eyes on them and with a firm handshake and they will take you as friendly. In contrast, when you greet people while looking gloomy and looking somewhere else, they will read disinterest in you and disengage.

2.Be respective

Respecting other people will show them you are a person of integrity, and they will, in turn, respect you back and his way you will create a rapport based on respect. Show respect by calling the elders by their titles, give way to other people, talk softly and without vulgar language as well as have proper table etiquette. Respect improves your personality by earning you admiration and gratitude from other people.

3.Keep your word

If you want to improve your personality, become a promise-keeper. People will then treat you as someone they want to deal with since they can rely on you. People want to associate with someone they can trust and keeping your promise demonstrates you can be trusted. Desist from being a liar, and your personality will benefit greatly.

4.Listen attentively

Pay attention to what a person is telling you because it shows them that you care about their perspective. Don’t be tempted to talk with someone while simultaneously doing another thing like scrolling through your phone. Give the person you are chatting with undivided attention, and they will find you to be of good personality and want to be around you.

5.Learn to hold a conversation

Nothing will do injustice to your personality than not knowing how to converse with people. Everyone wants someone with who they can strike a conversation so that they do not feel awkward or bored to be with you. You can learn how to speak with people by listening keenly to what they are saying, ask open-ended questions and be informed about various things in different subjects. When you do this, you will be able to hold a conversation, and people will find you interesting.

6.Be positive

Learn to see the positive in all situations. Don’t be quick to judge and see doom in every motive or the kind of person that cannot [url]send goodbye love message for her or him[/url=https://www.hackstrive.com/goodbye-love-messages-for-her/] just because your negativity makes think they will never come back to you. Instead, look at it positively believing they will maintain your love and eventually return to you. When you have a positive attitude people will want to be around you since everyone loves to receive hope when all seems lost.

7.Meet different people

The other way to better your personality is to meet new people. Make it a habit to go to places where you can meet people. These could be networking events, outdoor hobbies or a book club. Similarly, take advantage and talk to people wherever you are. This could be at the store, in the bank, on the train or even in the gym. Strike conversations with friendly strangers and show interest in getting to their lives. This way they will depict you as friendly and they will want to be your friend as well.

8.Be fun to be around

Nothing attracts people to you more than being a fun person to hang around with. If you are not a fun person, you can become one by being humorous, paying attention to the people you are with, being adventurous, planning outings being curious and trying new things. By

9.Be confident
Learn to be confident in yourself and your capabilities. Nothing attracts people more than a confident person as people want to be with a person who believes in themselves. Similarly, confidence gives you the audacity to reach out and engage with other people. You should, therefore, stop being self-conscious since people can detect a fearful person right away. You can become more confident by daily doing a thing that scares you, helping someone else, grooming yourself well and repeatedly telling yourself that you are confident.

The bottom line

Do not be stuck at being an introvert when you can quickly improve your personality and become adventurous. Become a people magnet by respecting them, greeting them with a smile, keeping your promises, listening keenly, learning how to hold a conversation, meeting new people and being confident.

If you do the above, you will in no time, improve your personality and earn more friends. Do not stay at the same pointing saying you are a naturally quiet person because no character cannot be unaltered. Come on, use the above tips, and go out and conquer the world. All the best.

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Romance / Mental Habits That Suck Happiness From Your Life by antonio1973(m): 6:21pm On Jan 24, 2020
We all want to be happy more than anything else. But do you find yourself perpetually unhappy? You might be sabotaging your own happiness by engaging in unproductive mental habits. You may be unknowingly focusing on and doing things that are detrimental to your happiness. While you may be thinking that doing these things will lead to happiness but instead, they add misery and sap the joy left in you.

In this article, I am going to guide you in the mental habits that suck the happiness from your life. You will be able to avoid them and live a happy life. Every time you feel unhappy, try to pinpoint the root cause and eliminate it immediately. This way, it will become second nature and when you catch yourself indulging in the habit you will automatically stop.

1. Failure to forgive others

When you don’t forgive other people, you keep ruminating on what they did and limit happiness on yourself. Learning to let go sets you free and saves you from concentering on people who do not care about you. Similarly, you might be holding a grudge on someone who did not intentionally go out to hurt you

2.Not forgiving yourself

Just failing to forgive other people, failing to forgive yourself will leave you with a feeling of guilt. Forgive yourself and understand that everyone makes mistakes. What you should do is strive not to repeat the mistake. Remember what has already been done cannot be undone but only avoided in future and go easy on yourself.

3.Overthinking

Another mental habit that sucks on your happiness is overthinking an over analyzing things. Stop making conclusions that are not suited to situations. Similarly, do not overwork your mind by continuously thinking about issues. Instead look for ways to solve the problem, live with it or get out of it rather than just contemplating it.

4.Pessimism

Seeing the glass as half empty will leave you feeling weighed down by life. Look at things positively and expect the best. This is because until a situation has come to pass you can't tell with certainty how it will turn out like Even when things turn out lousy look for ways to make them right or believe the right person will come along and do it if you can’t.

5.Prioritizing other people

Giving other people priority instead of yourself is a recipe for getting let down. People are self-centered and they will disappoint you. Therefore if you put them first and they fail to return the favor, you will be disappointed and it will affect your happiness.

6.Ungratefulness

If you want your happiness to wane live an ungrateful life. On the contrary, when you are content with where you are and what you have, nothing will move you. You will take everything in your stride and be happy no matter if your world is crumbling down.

7.Relying on others for your happiness

Nothing will suck the happiness out of your life than depending on other people t make you happy. Everyone is occupied with the stuff in their own lives and they are left with little time to commit to your happiness. Stop waiting for others to make you happy but rely on yourself to be joyful. This way you will be joyful whether you are alone or with others. You can make yourself happy by giving yourself a treat every day, love yourself as you are, meditate, travel, find yourself and have some hobbies.

8.Comparing yourself with others

Comparing yourself with other people will leave you unhappy because no two people are the same. Some people are better than you and others worse off than you are. Learn to accept your lot in life and do the best you can humanely do in all situations. Wanting to be in someone else’s place will only leave you disappointed and feeling like a failure.

9.Associating with toxic people

Keeping the company of negative people will suck all the joy from your life and turn you into sulky people like them. To avoid falling into this trap, minimise the amount of time you spend with toxic people and if you can cut them off completely to preserve your sanity and happiness.

10.Over-criticizing yourself

Learn not to put too much pressure on yourself because no one is perfect. Just because you forgot to send some birthday wishes for your boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. There’s always a next time when you can show them your love. Similarly, it doesn’t mean you are not intelligent because someone else did better in that exam. Learn that at some point everyone fails and we all make mistakes.

The final word

You can maintain a status of perpetual happiness if you kick the above-discussed habits out of your life. Don’t allow bad mental habits to keep you unhappy and limit your enjoyment of life. Become happy once more and maintain it by forgiving those who wrong you, forgiving yourself, stopping overthinking and pessimism, being grateful and being the source of your happiness. Similarly, do not compare yourself to other people, do not concentrate on the past or future and cut off toxic people from your life.

If you get rid of these habits, you will become happy and lead a more fruitful life since happiness affects all aspects of your life. Do not expect an instant change in your life but eliminating the behaviours will eventually pay off.
Romance / 10 Ways To Become More Productive by antonio1973(m): 4:34pm On Jan 21, 2020
Do you want to stop experience laziness, tiredness and procrastination that you feel when you are faced with tasks? Do you want to be that person who not only has stuff done but also finishes their job on time?

It is not something you will learn overnight but it is still doable and when you get the gist of it, you will find yourself doing more. To help you become productive and enjoy life more, I am going to show you ten ways you can achieve that milestone.

1. Strategize

You have to plan how you are going to do things in your life if you want to be productive. If you don’t plan, you are most likely going to fail because you will do some things and leave others undone. The tendency will be to do the easiest job and leave a backlog of the problematic things. This will weigh you down and decrease your productivity.

2. Do not multitask

Stop focusing on any two or more tasks at once. For example, do not check your email and speak on the hone at the same time or compose graduation wishes for your friend while you are attending a client. Pay maximum attention to a single task since switching between tasks is a waste of time as you are forced to pay attention again to each task when you switch back to it. This means you will spend more time on the two tasks than you could have had you done each at a time.

3. Take a rest

When you are all tired and cranky, you will be less productive than when you are rested and energetic. You should, therefore, aim to take rests in between jobs and then come back to the task when your mind is relaxed. You will be feeling rested and, tackle the task afresh. Similarly, the whole body needs to rest and you can do this by taking a holiday or a day off your work.

4. Manage your time well

Learn to plan your time by allocating tasks the time you are going to do them. This will help you know exactly what you are going to do at a particular time instead of doing the work without a strategy. This will ensure you do a lot of things because you will want to finish a task by a given time so that you can go to the next one.

5. Get an accountability partner

If you want to do more, don’t go it alone. Get someone who will hold you accountable if you don’t accomplish a goal you had planned to. This way, you will put more effort and take the goal more seriously when you know there is someone who will ask you about it.

6. Stop wasting time with endless entertainment

Research shows that an internet user spends 2 hours and 22 seconds on social media. Imagine what you can do in two hours. There is a lot that you can do in those two hours. To stop getting disrupted and carried away by social media, you should disconnect from those sites. You can easily do this by putting off your gadget or internet provision.

7. Avoid meetings

Planning meetings and attending them can lead to unproductivity. When you go to meetings without an agenda, it will turn out to be the talkative people fronting their capabilities and the quiet one just watching which means that nothing gets accomplished. Meetings contradict the company’s capacity to be productive as well as disturb productive workers.

8. Exercise

Exercise and productivity go together. Exercise increases your energy levels and helps you do more work. When you are alert, you will do your job more quickly and get more done. Exercise will also keep you healthy and you will avoid days off going to the hospital or resting unnecessarily.

9. Break jobs into minor pieces

Taking on a significant role is a daunting task that will get you discouraged and you end up not doing the task at all. On the contrary, when you break down a job into smaller tasks, you will do each one of them as separate and complete the whole job without getting bogged down. This means you can do more work because in breaking a significant role down, you can do several of them instead of a big one done as a whole and consumes more time through postponing it.

10. Ask for help when you can’t do something

You will do more work if you ask to be assisted in the work that you cannot do on your own. This is because if you keep attempting to work on your own, you will waste a lot of time before you do it or before you realize you can’t do it. When you do this, you will be able to do that job in a shorter time and do another one.

The takeaway

You may think that only a robot can attain maximum productivity, but the truth is that if you implement the tips we have just learnt, you will find yourself on the same level. These tips will help you to get over procrastination and face tasks head-on. This means you will do a lot of tasks and increase your productivity.

Why don’t you implement one tip at a time and see how that makes you more productive? Before you know it, you will be the productivity guru everyone runs to learn the secret of how you accomplish so many things in a day.
Romance / 11 Habits That Will Save You Time by antonio1973(m): 11:56am On Jan 21, 2020
Do you find yourself always lagging behind and hardly accomplishing your to-do list? Do you ever wonder how successful people seem to do like a million things in a day? You are then left wondering where they get all this time while you are left with none yourself?

Wonder no more because in this article, I am going to share tips on how you can get more done by saving time. The habits I am giving you below are easily doable yet they will free time you never realized you had.

1. Organize your day the previous night

Get your outfits the previous night, have a to-do list, and write down what you are going to do at what time. This will help you not waste time in the day trying to fit in tasks or wondering which one to do when.

2. Make your waiting time useful

We spend a lot of time waiting. Instead of sitting in the banking hall, traffic, and doctor’s office complaining, you should use that time doing something constructive. You can respond to an email, read a book, phone someone you need to, listen to a podcast, say your daily prayers for your husband, etc. This will save you the time you had allocated to do these tasks as well as help you to be less cranky.

3. Clear your desk

Get rid of stuff that you are not using from atop your desk. This will ensure you are not distracted since when you have clutter on your desk, all you can think about is how it's not supposed to be there. Remove all the distractions from your desk and your concentration will be high. In turn, you will save time you would have otherwise wasted getting interrupted.

4. Sign out of social media

You waste a lot of time when you are constantly on social media. To save this time and use it constructively, you should sign out of email and social media. By doing this, you will avoid unnecessary prompts that start innocently and then have you hooked for hours.

5. Maintain serene surroundings

Clean and organize your surroundings to get rid of the stuff you don’t need or use anymore.
Getting rid of clutter will save you time that you use searching for what you use in the midst of what you don’t. Similarly, you won't waste time on maintenance and cleaning stuff you don’t use anymore.

6. Create a reward system

Learn to pay yourself when you start a project and finish it on time. Paying yourself when you start is necessary because it will motivate you to finish it to get even more rewarded. Similarly, when you know, you will reward yourself when you finish, you will do the task more quickly to get the reward and end up saving time.

7. Get rid of needless worries

You should write down all the things that you are worried about. This way, you will evaluate what is worth getting concerned about and what is not. By doing this, you stop wasting time worrying about needless things and concentrate on things that really matter. Eventually, you will save time you would have otherwise spent worrying about non-issues and use it for constructive things.

8. Become a faster reader

It’s advisable to read an informative book or article every day. This means you spend some time daily reading. What if you could cut the time you use reading by half? You could do this if you learnt how to read faster. You can learn to read more quickly by watching YouTube videos about the same and practicing.

9. Delegate

Do not do all the work yourself but instead delegate work that is not sensitive to other people. In the office, you can delegate to your juniors while at home you can delegate to your children. You can then use the time saved to do something productive.

10. Learn to say no

Do not be a yes person but instead, learn to say no to some things which do not add value to you. Don’t seek to please everyone by honoring every invitation. Differentiate between the useful ones and the ones that make little difference to your life so that you can save that time to do important things.

11. Get rid of negative energy

Move away from people and stuff that drag you down and sap your positivity. Negative energy will only slow you down and waste your time. You should, therefore, not date negative people or keep friends who have nothing to say but whine. The time spent with them is a waste and you should save it by avoiding them.

To wrap it up

Make your life easier and more enjoyable by completing your tasks on time and even getting time to relax. You will do this by simply saving time you usually waste and creating time that you didn’t know you could. As we have discussed above, you should learn to organize your day the night before, sign out of email and social media sites, clear your desk, create a serene environment, get rid of negative energy, and learn to delegate.

If you go ahead and implement the above habits and make them second nature in your daily routine, you will have more time in your hands than you know what to do with. This will improve all areas of your time as time is the most significant resource that each of us has and the more you have the better your life will be.
Romance / 8 Career Lessons You Should Learn Before You Graduate by antonio1973(m): 4:21pm On Jan 13, 2020
Graduation feels like the final achievement that a graduate needs to conquer the world of work that they are about to join. This cannot be further than the truth because your certificate is the minimum requirement in matters of career life.

This is why the graduate needs to acquire career lessons to maneuver the workplace successfully. These will put you in a more advantageous position than your colleagues who only join the workforce armed with a degree. These career lessons will push you up the career ladder and open more opportunities to you. Above all, they will help you get a job in a highly competitive job place. Delve in below and learn these crucial career lessons.

1. Seize opportunities when they arise
You should not wait for the right time to take up opportunities. The moment someone offers to do something for you follow up with them. Don’t be too busy to take up opportunities when they are still available otherwise, they might not always be there when you become ready.


2. Life is short
Do not keep postponing the ideas that you have because time will still be moving as you do so. Learn to speak your mind and say the things you need to. If you think you need a promotion, go to your boss and convince him why you are qualified for it. If you want to change your job or career, the right time to start is right away. Time does not wait for anyone, and you shouldn’t take your career dreams to your grave or retirement home.

3. Networking is crucial
You will not get very far if you decide to go it alone. Relating with other people by making friends is what will take you far in your career. Go to networking events to grow your contact list since you never know when they will become handy. Networking will help your career since you will learn new things, which might also open new job opportunities.

4. Success takes time
Very few things that you attempt in your life will become successful overnight. Given this, you should, therefore, have the resilience to keep trying. Don’t expect things to always work according to your timeline. Instead, you should be resilient and work until you succeed. Setting a goal to be accomplished by a specific date is ok but you should also make room for deviations and delays along the way.

5. Diversify
Yes, you might have graduated with first-class honors in your area of study which is very commendable. However, remember there are also other A students like you and the only thing that will set you apart is thinking outside the box. One way you can do is to diversify by adding more skills to your certificate. You can do another course that supports what you have done, or you can do something entirely different. This will give you an advantage over your colleagues who have only one certificate and are trained in only one field.

6. Get a hobby
The importance of hobbies cannot be overemphasized. Hobbies are a must-have because they open new avenues for networking. Similarly, you might be surprised when your hobby turns into your primary source of income or a great innovation. You don’t have to start big since hobbies also come in handy to give us much deserved rest after work. You can have simple indoor hobbies like writing, painting, drawing, and gardening. You can write and make cards with messages for special occasions like birthday wishes for husband, friends and kids or paint your house a different color. Whatever you choose, the idea is to have fun and interact while at it.

7. Get out of your comfort zone
A critical career lesson you should learn as you join the career world is that you should be a risk-taker. You should be active and make yourself noticeable at work rather than playing it safe and being irrelevant. Ask to be given more responsibilities, ask for a pay rise and not wait until an increment, if any, is due, ask and answer questions. This ensures you become more valuable at the workplace and you will be considered when a promotion comes up.

8. Being innovative can take you places-open new doors
We all love the inspiring stories of now super successful people who started out in their garages or house. This means the source of their success is a one-person show, and other people came in the picture when success hit home. What does that teach you? That you should be inventive and try out those ideas you have in your head and not just sit on them. You can never tell what you might discover for humanity and make life easier and better.

The bottom line
You don’t have to approach the working world with fear because of all the joblessness stories you have heard. You can become overly successful if you learn the career lessons we have discussed above beforehand. Armed with the above knowledge, diligence, and hard work, nothing can stop you from going to the top.

Go ahead and put the above lessons into action because just knowing them will leave you at the same spot you were before you learnt them. Why don’t you pick one that best resonates with you and get to work right away? You will be glad you did.

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Romance / 9 Valuable Life Lessons They Don’t Teach You In School by antonio1973(m): 3:47pm On Jan 13, 2020
Nobody should underscore the importance of going to school, and neither is that the objective of this article. Going to school will make you educated, teach you social skills, and help you develop your talents. As such, school is a crucial part of your life. The only problem is that school does not teach you everything required to make you fully equipped to face the world once you leave the classroom.

You should learn life lessons that are necessary in the world where you are going to be interacting with other people and taking responsibility for your life. This article is going to teach you ten life lessons that school never taught you but are vital for you to excel in the post-school space.

1. Things will not always work as you planned
Setting goals is fundamental if you want to succeed in life. You cannot fail to plan and leave your life to fate because that will be a recipe for disaster. Similarly, even though most of the time, you will achieve some goals as you had planned, other times your goals will flop or become only partially achievable. This is where this life lesson comes in because the time a goal fails or doesn’t materialize when you envisioned is not the time to give up on life. You must be resilient to try again or abandon that goal and set a more realistic one.

2. Only you can make you happy
Your school did not teach you that nobody owes you happiness or anything else for that matter. You have to curve your own path in life and this includes deciding to make yourself happy. Expecting other people to make you happy is delusional as everyone have their life to live. Don’t waste your precious time coercing people into liking you or make you happy. So don’t at any moment think you can compel anyone to be good to you and make you happy. Do your part and send those thank you messages for friends to show your appreciation for their role in your life. Just don’t expect them to reciprocate or always be there for you. Most importantly, don’t wait for them to be the source of your happiness. Relax and set everyone free and instead rely on the love within you to give you joy.

3. Exercise is vital
Exercise helps you live longer and fight life-threatening diseases like colon cancer and osteoporosis among others. Exercise will also keep your brain sharper and alert. It will also reduce stress, increase your self-discipline, energy levels, and keep you alert. In short regular exercise will give you optimum mental and physical state that will impact every area of your life.

4. Collaboration not competition
School taught you competition, which is ok but what you need more of in your life is collaboration. Working together with other people will see go far and do better than you would have done competing with them. So learn to ask for help and to team up with other people.

5. You learn from experience-learn from others mistakes
Experience is going to be your best teacher since there’s no size fits all or a manual for living life. The important life lesson here is that you should learn from other people’s mistakes so that you don’t make them yourself.

6. Relationships are vital
Relationships give meaning to your life and make it more enjoyable since your mental health, and personal wellbeing are determined by the kind of relationships you have. You should, therefore, learn to form new relationships and work on the ones you have. Interact with people you meet and be friendly to your neighbors.

7. Graduating and passing exams is not the end
Just because you performed exceptionally in your exams doesn’t mean you have your life sorted out. Passing exams is just the first step in learning, and you have to adapt to a changing world. You should continue with the learning process so that you are all-round equipped to face life. For example, you should learn life skills that will make you more marketable in the workplace.

8. Money won’t buy you everything
You might have done well in school and got yourself a great job, but that doesn’t mean you will have everything you want. Money won’t buy you friends, a husband, good health and. Learn to earn these things by being kind to yourself and other people.

9. You don’t have to be like everyone else
Don’t just follow the path taken by everyone. Getting your certificate and going to look for work is not the path for everyone. You should try new ways of doing things by becoming innovative and creative. Mark Zuckerberg, Thomas Edison, Alexander Bell and Steve Jobs, just to name a few, started out using creativity.

School does not teach you the life lessons we have discussed above. To get ahead in this life, there is the stuff that you must discover yourself. However, that does not mean that you should remain ignorant of them. You now know them and should put them into practice and have your life prospering.

You will only in this game of life if you stop complaining about what was not given or taught to you and learn it on your own. Grab the above life lessons and let them stick in your head. Any time you face setbacks and new challenges, remember the life lessons and use them for that situation. So go on, keep them in your head and use them when needs arise.

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Romance / 9 Effective Ways To Quiet Negative Self-talk Completely by antonio1973(m): 4:09pm On Jan 07, 2020
Negative self-talk will do a lot of harm to you and affect your whole life. You may argue that you are not voluntarily thinking about the negative thoughts but that will not lessen the negative effects of such talk to your life.

You should therefore strive to get rid of the negative thoughts with all you have got. Getting completely rid of that talk is not easy but with practice and persistence you will get rid of the destructive chatter going on in your head. In this article I am going to show you effective ways you can use to quiet those negative thoughts continuously going through your mind.
1. Love you imperfections
Most negative talk stems from the inadequacies in your life yet those are things you have no control over. What you should do in this case is to embrace and get used to what you cannot change about yourself. Once you accept the things you have no control over you will therefore not keep musing on them.

2. Talk about it
Tell your trusted friend or a family member what you have been saying to yourself. This should be someone who is not judgmental or the exercise will have negative results. When you talk to someone else you also get a chance to listen to what you have been telling yourself. The most helpful thing though is that the person will weigh in and let you know that the negative talk is not true.

3. Critique your self-talk
Evaluate the negative self-talk and see if it is really true. Are the things you are telling yourself factual stuff. You may be dwelling on things that someone told you that are not even true. Weigh in on you’re the self-talk and check if it’s true and most of the times you will find that it has no basis.
4. Stop being a harsh personal judge
Can you tell the same things you are telling yourself to someone you care about? Are you being kind when telling yourself those things? Look at your self-talk from a third person perspective.
Learnt to weigh in on what you say to yourself and learn to speak to yourself like you were talking to a friend you care about. When you learn to do this you will become kinder to yourself and quiet the negative self-talk.
5. Distract yourself
When the negative thoughts come to you distract yourself by doing something else. You can do this by purposely thinking about something else or getting involved in an activity. This can be a creative art like drawing, painting or even writing. You can use this opportunity to call the people you love or you can write down cute things to say to your boyfriend later in the day.
6. Keep track of your thoughts
Pay attention to your thoughts so that you can catch yourself being negative. This way you will be able to immediately evaluate the thoughts and find out if they are true so as to crush them immediately. This way you will quiet the negative self-talk since you will refute it when it’s still fresh. This will become a usual practice and the unwelcome thoughts will not have a place in your head.
7. Use affirmations
Affirmations have been proven to be effect in quieting negative self-talk. This is because the affirmations will take the place of the negative self-talk. It’s advisable to keep them short, precise, present and of course positive. Any time the negative thoughts come up,shut them up with the affirmations. The best thing is that eventually you will come to believe the affirmations a true.
8. Have a gratitude journal
A gratitude journal is a place where you write daily for at least fifteen minutes a day. On this journal you write all the good things that happened each day. This way you will be looking for and consciously noting the positive things that are happening each moment. Eventually the positive things will be all you are focusing on quieting the negative talk by cancelling it out through concentration on the good stuff only.
9. Smile
Smiling is the same as faking it until you make it. A forced smile has the same effect as a genuine one and the more you keep smiling the more you will convince yourself you feel happy. Every time the negative chatter starts in your brain just smile even though you don’t feel like. Within no time if you keep smiling you will concentrate on the smile and not the negative thoughts hence quieting them.
To Wrap it up

Negative self-talk can make your life lag behind and make you withdraw from people. This is because with time you get to believe the voice in your head that is telling you lies about your life. You can reverse this negative voice and turn your life around. Repossess your life by using the above ways we have learnt. You can keep a gratitude journal, put on a smile, use affirmations, distract yourself and keep track of your thoughts among other things.

To start off, pick the one that best resonates with you and start on your path to recovering your life. Just like wit everything in life these tips will not work overnight. This means you have to be insistent to get the results you desire but the bottom line is its doable.
Romance / 12 Reasons You Should Keep A Gratitude Journal by antonio1973(m): 3:33pm On Jan 07, 2020
A gratitude journal is a document on your electronic device like a pc, laptop, etc. or notepad where you write daily the things that you are grateful for. You should keep your journal nearby to write whatever comes to mind and also to refer to it to remind yourself why you should be grateful. Journalism is flexible, and you should do it at the time most convenient for you, but you must try and write at least one thing you are grateful for every day.

Life will have both negative and positive occurrences, and the negative ones tend to bog you down. How do you then get over these negative experiences and soldier on with your life? Many people will tell you to think positively, but that’s easier said than done.

A gratitude journal comes in by making it easier to remember the positive things that happened and overshadow and eventually get rid of the negative ones. Below you are going to learn the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal.

1. It will make you happier
When you write down the things that you are grateful for, you actually become more thankful as you keep looking at them. This will make your brain keep thinking only about the things you are thankful or thus making you happier.
2. Reduce stress
Yes, this is not just a gimmick to get you writing what you are grateful for but gratitude actually reduces stress because it stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system. This is as a result of writing and pondering positive things and avoiding thinking about the negative.
3. It will make you positive
When you actively write on your gratitude journal, you will actually start looking forward to positive things to write. Your mind will, in turn, pick out the positive thoughts and not pay much attention to the negative. Similarly, when you think about positive things in your journal, you will have a positive attitude.
4. It will impact on your productivity/success
When you are stressed, your concentration and productivity go down. When you are happier as a result of keeping a gratitude journal, it will impact on your productivity and success. This is because you will be more motivated to act on your goals until you reach them. It’s also advantageous because the more you achieve the more you have to write in your journal and vice versa.
5. Make you more confident
Gratitude and confidence are interrelated, and the more you feel grateful, the more your confidence soars. By focusing on the positive, you feel that things are working in your life and you become more confident in front of people and also when you tackle your goals.
6. It is a fun activity
Writing on your journal is a fun and creative activity. This means as you write stuff on your journal, you are also enjoying the exercise and working out your mind. You are, therefore, killing two birds using one stone by having fun and improving your well being.
7. It eliminates jealousy
When you are grateful for everything you have, whether big or small, you stop noticing what other people have and even when you do, you don’t pay much attention to it because your mind diverts you to what you also have.
8. You become more likable and deepens your relationships
We have seen that writing on your journal makes you much happier and confident, which in turn makes you more likable. You should divert the energy you use daily to write Good Morning Messages for Friends and write things you are grateful for. This will make you more attractive to your friends and earn you others.
9. You sleep better
If the last thing on your mind is the things you are grateful for you will be able to relax and have a good sleep. This, in contrast to if you have negative thoughts running through your mind as you lie down to sleep.
10. It will give you a comeback
A gratitude journal will provide you with a much-needed boost in your life from the moment you start it. When you start writing in your journal, you will feel more motivated to work on your life objectives.
11. You become more observant
Keeping a gratitude journal makes you more aware of what is happening around you. This is because you pay more attention to everything around you because you want to have something good to write in your journal.
12. You stop being obsessed with things
When you are not grateful for anything in your life, you become obsessed with acquiring more stuff to become happier with your life. On the other hand, when you keep a gratitude journal, you become thankful for even the small things happening in your life. This will open your eyes to see that lie is not made better by accumulating material things but by little everyday things.
The bottom line
So do not let life put you in a negativity loop. Get on top of it by writing a gratitude journal. It’s an easy and fun activity that takes at most 15 minutes of your day. This activity will leave you feeling happier, more positive, confident, and increase your productivity, among other things.

So go on and start journaling without complicating it. Just buy a notebook and pen and start writing today. You can even make your first entry as the fact that you began to the journal and voila! You are on your way to happiness.
Romance / 18 Adorable Ways To 'sweet Talk' Your Man (and Steal His Heart) by antonio1973(m): 6:00pm On Jan 02, 2020
Since it’s so easy to communicate, why not learn some sweet things to say to your boyfriend and then try them out the next time the mood strikes?
Communicating what’s in your heart is a healthy way to make your boyfriend feel loved, respected and honored. So here are some you can use in a long-term relationship, or even if you've just started dating someone:
Here are 18 cute and sweet things to say to your boyfriend or husband that will let him know just how much you love him.
1. "I wish you were here right now."

This statement simply lets your man know how much you miss him. After all, everyone wants to feel wanted.
It's worth stating, though, that you shouldn't say this or send this to him as a text too often, as you don’t want him to feel smothered.

2. "They say that love can happen in a single moment, but I didn't believe that until the very moment I fell in love with you."

This message reveals the deep feelings that you have in your heart for your man.

3. "When I look into your eyes, I see a gateway to a world I want to exist in."

This short message is deep, so you will have to use your discretion in regards to whether your boyfriend would appreciate this. For example, it's probably the right message if you've just started dating, but if you have a long-term, committed relationship, it's perfect.

4. "If I got to relive my whole life, the only thing I would change is that I would have met you years ago."

This sweet message for your man communicates your deep feelings for him, and that your only regret in life is not meeting him sooner.

5. "I feel so protected and safe when you’re around me."

Your man will likely love to hear this, as men in general tend to consider themselves a “protector.” So, knowing that you feel safe with them will be a great compliment.

This is especially true if you've been hurt in past relationships and were hesitant to trust again. Saying this particular comment to your man is sure to warm his heart.

6. "There’s no one in the world who can understand me better than you do."

A good relationship consists of honesty and open communication. If you can say this to your man, it should make him feel great, as it's a major indication of a healthy relationship.

7. "You always know how to make me smile, even when I’m down."

A good relationship is a partnership of sorts throughout the ups and downs of life. So, when you can always count on your guy to raise you out of your doldrums and you do the same for him, this indicates a caring, loving relationship.

Communicating this to your man by acknowledging that you depend on him when you're down should make him feel great, and it's one of the sweet things to say to your boyfriend that will make him swoon.

8. "I enjoy your company more than anyone else’s in the whole world."

When a couple has moved into a serious relationship, they usually begin preferring each other’s company over that of their friends. This statement indicates that you now want and enjoy being around your guy, even more than you want to hang with your girlfriends, which is a big step in the relationship.

9. "I can’t imagine my life without you."

When two lives join together, it becomes difficult for each partner to imagine their life without their “other half.” This is a positive step in the relationship, so communicating that you've now arrived as this point should make your man feel great.

10. "My friends are so jealous that I have you."
It will never hurt a guy’s ego to hear that someone is jealous of your relationship due to his desirability. This is a fun, sweet message that's typically well-received.

11. "I don’t know how you put up with me, but I'm glad that you do."

This saying communicates that you know you're difficult to deal with and appreciate his suffering. This is an especially great message to send if you've been particularly difficult to handle of late.

12. "Only my heart could tell you how much I love you. My words aren’t enough."

This basically communicates that there's no way only words could convey what you feel about your man. How could your man not love to hear this?

13. "You're such a chivalrous gentlemen when you’re with me."

Saying this cute phrase to your boyfriend actually serves two purposes. First, it tells your man how much you appreciate his chivalrous ways when you're out together. Second, it lets him know you want him to keep it up.

14. "You’re such an interesting guy. You know so much about everything."

It can’t hurt to stroke your guy’s ego a bit. After all, everyone wants to feel respected and admired. This is a light-hearted, sweet comment you can use even if your relationship is on the new side.

15. "I was having a bad day, but then I thought of you and suddenly my world lit up."

Yes, it's a bit corny. But if it’s a true statement for you, then it's something your boyfriend will appreciate hearing.

16. "I’ve never met a guy who’s more ambitious and determined than you."

This is yet another light-hearted yet still sweet comment that's ideal for a new relationship.

17. "You’re the most masculine guy I've ever met."

This simple statement communicates how much you appreciate your man’s masculinity. Most guys, although not all, like to feel masculine and manly, so this saying is perfect for making your man feel it.

18. "I can’t wait to see you again."

This communicates that you're looking forward to spending more time with your man. In a new relationship, this also indicates a desire to continue to grow the relationship.
Romance / 10 Tips To Quickly Manage Stress And Live A Fruitful Life by antonio1973(m): 4:43pm On Jan 02, 2020
Stress creeps into our lives once in a while and is commonplace as studies show that seven out of ten adults experience it daily. This could be as a result of a bad thing happening in our life or it could also emanate from having a chronic disease. Whichever the case prolonged stress is harmful to the body and you should come up with ways to combat it. There are plenty of normal everyday things you can do to completely eliminate stress or control it. Come with me below as I discuss some of the ways you can get rid of stress.

1: Exercise

Stress affects the whole body and exercising is a great way to reduce stress because exercise helps the whole body feel better. Exercise produces chemicals that reduce tension and also help you sleep better thus reducing stress.

2: Sleep enough

Sleep may seem like a luxury but the body actually needs enough sleep to operate at its optimum. Lack of sleep induces anxiety which in turn makes your stress worse. It also makes the body produce excess cortisol which has negative impacts on your body. On the other hand, enough sleep keeps you alert mentally and balances your emotions.

3: Share your problems

Because “a problem shared is a problem half solved”. When you share your stressful situations with people who care you already feel relieved just by getting it out of your chest. Studies have shown that sharing helps you keep calm and relieve stress. Make a point of talking to people who care to manage your stress levels.

4: Rest

Rest is not only necessary when prescribed by the doctor when you are unwell but it will also help you manage your stress. Rest has the same benefits as exercise as it enables your body to relax. Take a break away from your problems by taking a rest either by going for a holiday or just having alone time.

5: Get a laugh

Trust them when they say “laughter is the best medicine” Did you know that a deep belly laugh lessens your stress and leaves your muscles in a relaxed mode for up to 45 minutes? It also reduces stress and any tension in your body. Get out those classified comedy movies and series or go to a comedy class and get your ribs cracking.

6: Keep a gratitude journal

Learn to appreciate the good things in your life by writing them down. Writing them down helps you meditate on them and etch them in your memory for future reference. When you think about them they bring you good feelings and help alleviate your stress.

7: Eat right

Eating junk foods that have empty calories will aggravate your stress levels. You should, therefore, strive to eat foods that add useful nutrients to your body. When you are stressed up you tend to eat the tasty junk food to act as comfort. Junk foods only act to increases your stress because sugar levels keep shifting when you eat junk.

8: Get a hug every day

When a person comes into contact with another human being stress levels naturally go down. This is because oxytocin is released and it influences your conduct, temper and physiology. You should, therefore, strive to get a hug every day. It doesn’t matter if you get it from a friendly stranger or your loved ones all that matters is you get that cuddly love.

9: Bring out your creative side with artwork

Research has shown that creativity can help reduce stress and depression. Creative activities like singing, painting, writing and crafting have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing. Writing specifically has been proven to help deal with negative feelings productively. It’s, therefore, a great idea for you to flex your creative muscle as a way of dealing with stress. You could even make money by writing messages for special occasions such as new boy baby congratulations messages, graduation congratulation messages among others. You can then design cards and sell them in stores and earn for your creativity.

10: Get rid of the triggers

If you truly want to get over your stress you should eliminate the triggers. Remove the things that remind you of the stressful things. You can move house if the trigger is a family member. Similarly, you can change jobs if the workplace or colleagues are the triggers. By doing this you start on a new slate by creating a distance between you and the source of your stress.

To wrap it up

Stress is a normal thing in our lives once in a while because things will fail to go as we planned or expected. What is abnormal is living a stressed-out life every day of your life. Your life will turn into a nightmare and you will have no drive and fun in your life. If you choose to implement the tips we have discussed above your life will take a turn around for the better.

Why don’t you choose just one tip above and bring it to action in your life right away? You can decide to share your stressors with someone who cares for you. The kind of relieve that will bring you will push you to use another tip and before you know it stress will be a thing of the past in your life. Good luck as you implement the tips.
Romance / Success And Its Various Components by antonio1973(m): 9:53pm On Dec 26, 2019
Success refers to achievement of one’s goals or objectives that they have set out to achieve Success can be relative in that it might mean a different thing to different people. There are many factors that determine success. In other words for someone to achieve goals and regard an assignments as being successful, many things come into play. Time is essential for success. Commitment to what one does is necessary for success, goodwill, learning, competence and motivation.

Success and Time


Time is of essence for success to happen. If one sets out to achieve an objective, there are tasks that must be performed to assist meeting the set targets. To avoid frustrations in carrying out the tasks, good planning is necessary. It is important to come up with a calendar of events so that a time frame is selected in which the tasks that are meant to bring out success is set out. It is important to identify those attributes of the task at hand that may consume a lot of time and that are tedious so that a better strategy is identified in overcoming the handles that may hinder progress and result to failure.

Success and Commitment

For success to happen, commitment is essential. One has to be totally committed to performing the tasks at hand in order to carry out the task well. One has to look for things within the task that captivates him so that he or she is always looking forward to getting started and making progress on the task at hand that brings success.

Success and Goodwill.

Goodwill is necessary for success to happen. If your success is going to hurt somebody else, then we can say that that success has no goodwill. This further implies that even after accomplishing your goals the success may not give you the satisfaction that it should because of the disadvantages that might be caused to this other person.

Success and Learning

One of the key attributes of success is continuous learning. Ability to learn from small mistakes that we commit when carrying out tasks that eventually bring success can make the journey to being successful much easier and more enjoyable. There are three domains of learning that are necessary to achieve success. These include cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. Cognitive has to do with the knowledge necessary so that an individual is able to carry out the task. Psychomotor has to do with ability to carry out certain skills that may be necessary in a task. Finally, the affective domain has to do with the attitudes, the emotions, personal opinions, soft skills; do we have the right attitudes in carrying out a task?

Success and Competence

Competence is when somebody has the right knowledge required to perform a particular task. If a person has the right skills to physically manipulate tools at hand to perform a task and has the right attitude then it okay for us to conclude that the individual is competent in carrying out the task at hand. True success is sweeter when one is competent to perform a task that eventually brings out success. This success is sweet because it can be repeated with a lot of ease, and one is not afraid to be asked any questions tagged to the successful task.

Success and Motivation

What motivates you to succeed? One of the motivations to succeed is the celebration that comes with success. It is very important for people to form a habit of celebrating other people’s success because this will serve as a motivation to work on one’s success knowing too well that a celebration will to come at the end and this time celebrating one’s own success. Don’t hesitate to send those Anniversary Wishes For Boyfriend or even show up for their graduations or promotions. If you make it a routine to celebrate other people’s success you will be motivated to work on your own success and wishing that other people will join in your celebration which will be sweeter than you celebrating your success alone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, success can be seen to be relative as one’s success may be meaningless to another person. Time is necessary for success to happen and this goes hand in hand with good planning and strategizing. Celebrating other people’s success is necessary for you own motivation to succeed.

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Romance / How To Elope And Have Your Perfect Fairy Tale Wedding by antonio1973(m): 1:23pm On Dec 24, 2019
Eloping with a loved one won’t seem awkward or too casual if you do it right. Find out how to elope the right way and have your dream wedding too.

For a long time, eloping with a loved one to get married has always been an awkward experience.

Some may call eloping lazy, and others may think it’s being thrifty.
But how many can call elopement a dream wedding?
Well, that’s probably because they haven’t looked at the big happy picture yet.

The big fancy wedding dream

Ever since we’ve been little girls, most of us have fantasized about the magical wedding we’d have someday.

Wedding is a big business these days, and most young couples end up spending a fortune *sometimes, more than a year’s income* on getting married, and spend a big part of their married life paying their wedding debt off.

A well planned wedding seems magical, but that’s because you’ve seen only the faà§ade of it.
The event may last a few hours, but the preparation for it took several painstaking months or even years.
When you’re actively participating in the preparation of your wedding, you’re bound to be stressed all the time even if you hire a professional wedding planner.

Why elope to get married?

Couples typically elope when they want to get married in a rush, either because they don’t have the financial resources or because they have warring families who aren’t appreciative of the groom-to-be or the bride-to-be.

But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, couples elope and get married because they can make the wedding feel more personal, romantic, and most importantly, memorable. And if you’re bothered about missing out on the dream wedding you never had, don’t be. Eloping too can be just as fun and special.

In your lifetime, you’ve probably been to several weddings yourself. Now how many of those weddings do you actually remember vividly?

When you attend a wedding, it’s just a few hours of fun and flirting for you. But to the new bride and groom, it’s many years of their fortune that they’ve spent just on those few hours. If you aren’t financially ready for it, do you really want to start your new married life in debt?

What about the family?

A significant part of the wedding experience is about sharing the special day with your loved ones. Do you have a huge family that is close knit? If you do, perhaps they would be offended to see that you ran away and got married without letting them know anything about it.

But if you just have a few trusted friends and your immediate family to think of, they may be more acceptable of your decision.

The expenses of a regular wedding

Grand weddings are expensive affairs, and let’s face it, there’s not much you can do to avoid the expenses. If you’ve taken the time to plan ahead and save money for your wedding, then go right ahead and have your perfect dream wedding with all your friends and family the grand way.

But if you want something more personal and intimate, eloping may just be the perfect way to enjoy your dream day without being burdened down with avalanching expenses.

What do most couples that elope do?

Getting a marriage license is easier in Nevada than in most other places around the United States. And for that reason, Las Vegas is the biggest destination for eloping couples that want to get married. It’s easy, stress free and quick.

But if you take a while to plan your elopement in advance, you can get married anywhere you like as long as you’ve got a few months to finish all the license formalities and book the perfect place ahead of time.

Are you ready to elope with your lover?

If you’re one that believes in fairy tales and beautiful settings, then you know that a perfect wedding is a once in a lifetime experience.

Would you really want to destroy the memory by finishing the whole affair in a few hours? Or would you want to spend the weeks leading up to it playing the part of an infamous bridezilla?

A wedding is special, but the experience feels special only when you feel good about it. What do you want in your perfect wedding?
As long as you have your closest friends and family around you when you exchange your vows, wouldn’t it feel just as special as sharing your wedding day with hundreds of acquaintances? You don’t have to worry about the seating arrangement or who doesn’t get along with whom, nor do you have to worry about any last minute changes.

Your wedding day is a special day for you and your partner. It has to feel stress free and perfect. Ask anyone who’s married at least once in a grand wedding that took months of preparation, and chances are, they may prefer to elope if they could do the whole thing the second time.

How to elope with your partner and still have the perfect wedding

Wondering how to elope and still experience your dream wedding? Well, here’s your guide on doing just that.

If you want to elope for any reason, be it because you don’t have too many close friends or because you want to avoid a huge debt, don’t just run away without telling anyone. Instead, plan your wedding in advance and share your thoughts only with your closest friends and your immediate family.

Take a few days off from work, head to a romantic cabin by the lake or a friend’s place, or rent a farm house that accommodates all of you, or even head out to a resort nearby.

If you can afford it, you could pay for the whole vacation yourselves, or you could ask your friends to pay their own expenses during their stay. Plan a series of fun activities that would help all of you have a great time together. After all, you’re spending the vacation with your closest friends and you and your partner would have no difficulty bonding with all of them.

Plan your wedding a day or two before the vacation ends, so all of you have settled into the vacation already. As long as all of you are having fun, it’ll definitely be a wedding that you’ll never forget because you’ve got all the people that matter to you around you. And the best part, as long as all of you participate in the setting up of the wedding, it’ll feel stress free and fun, instead of hectic and rushed.

Instead of just spending a few rushed hours in a crowded wedding where you’re too busy to interact with all your friends and too exhausted to enjoy the fun moments, you can actually stretch your wedding celebration to a few days, with the people whose company you enjoy the most in the world. Wouldn’t that be so much better?

By eloping with your closest friends, you won’t be spending a fortune on a wedding that lasts a few hours. And you won’t offend anyone that matters because they’d be with you, celebrating your perfect getaway wedding.

Eloping could be a better alternative

A wedding for a few hours is nice, but a whole week, that’s so much more exciting and fun, isn’t it? Everyone assumes that eloping is such a bad thing, but if you look at it, it’s a better alternative. Even celebrities get away on a vacation to get married. And the best part, you’re already on a vacation. And with all the money you’ve saved, you and your partner could head out to another romantic vacation spot to enjoy your new life as a married couple!

If you don’t want to head out to a vacation to get married, you could even plan an at-home wedding. That’s just like eloping anyway, because you aren’t letting the whole world know your plans. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan had a low key simple wedding with their closest friends, and think about it, he has billions to spend if he really wanted to!

Sometimes, eloping to a vacation spot and sharing that special day with a select few could make the day feel a lot more special, beautiful and memorable, just as long as you remember to invite the people that truly matter to you.

Your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day in your life. So don’t make it feel like the most stressful day. Unless you’ve fixed your mind on a grand wedding, use these tips on how to elope and plan something a lot more special and memorable.
Romance / 20 Reasons A Good Morning Text Is So Important: Make Their Day by antonio1973(m): 4:36pm On Dec 20, 2019
You may think that a good morning text is pointless but it can mean more than you know. This is why it’s so important and how you can make it the best.

Everyone knows just how sweet a good morning text can be. There are countless memes on the Internet depicting just how much those texts can mean to someone. But why is it that something so ordinary and expected can mean so much?

Truthfully, it shouldn't. There shouldn't really be any reason for a good morning text to make someone smile the way it does. After all, do you really get all giddy when you wake up next to someone and they say good morning? Probably not.

Sometimes the little things mean the most

Think about all the things your partner has done for you. Which things meant the most? More than likely, it's a collection of little things that popped into your mind. The daily things they've done time and time again are the things we appreciate most.

Because they're consistent. They might be small things but they add up to one big result: your happiness. It's not so much the major things they do that make you happy for a day but rather, it's the simple things they do every single day that adds up to long-term happiness.

Why that good morning text can mean so much

The next time you think you can get away with not texting your lover good morning, you may want to remember why it's so important. This might also help you understand why they could be upset if you don't send it to them.

Who doesn't love to know their partner is thinking about them right away in the morning? It's the best feeling. When you wake up to that good morning text sent right when you know their alarm went off, it makes your whole day.

They just woke up from being basically unconscious for eight hours and the first thing they think to do is text you? That's insanely romantic and definitely meaningful.

It's almost effortless appreciation. Every person needs to show appreciation for their significant other. A lack of appreciation is one of the main reasons couples split up. You have to show them you love having them in your life.

And sending a good morning text is a super, super easy way to do just that. When you wake up and send that message, you're telling your partner that you want them to have a good day. That's enough to show your appreciation on the small scale.

Starting the day with a message from a lover feels good. It feels really, really good. Put yourself in their shoes. How do you feel when it happens to you? Probably amazing. To know your partner thinks of you right away in the morning helps you feel good about your relationship. It makes you feel secure and it sets you up to have a great day.

It's simple chivalry. For those who say chivalry is dead, it's not. Anyone who says otherwise probably never gets a good morning text. Sending that message is a great way to be chivalrous.

It's basically the same as opening the car door for your partner or paying for a meal. It's simple, easy, and lets them know you care about them.

It'll make their whole day. It might seem insignificant but it has a powerful effect on their entire day. You have the power to turn their day into a great one or a bad one. Not texting them will only make them insecure and think you're upset with them.

So send that message. It doesn't need to be any more complicated than, "good morning, babe." If you want to make it even more meaningful, you can switch it up so it doesn't seem like you're doing it out of routine.

Good morning texts that'll be sure to make our partner's day

If you want to make sure your good morning text isn't boring and pointless, using some of these will help. No matter what, you definitely should be sending a cheery text to your lover first thing when you wake up.

"Good morning, baby. I hope your day is as sweet as you." This is not only really adorable but it's also a fantastic way of giving them a compliment at the same time. You're even bidding them a good day while expressing how much you enjoy how sweet they are.

"Good morning! I can't wait to see my man/girl later today!" If you have plans for later that day, tell them how much you can't wait. It's a great way to say good morning and show them you're anticipating your date night.

"I just can't have a good day until I say good morning to my babe." This is a fantastic one to use pretty much any time. It shows them that you're also gaining something from your little good morning exchange and it'll make them happy.

"My day won't be that great because I can't see you until later." This can seem negative but the fact that you're telling them they make your whole day is really cute and romantic.

"Wishing I was still cuddled up in bed with you whispering good morning instead of texting it." If you spent the night but had to get up early for work, use this one. It'll be sure to put a smile on their face right away.

"My mornings are way better spent with you." This is another perfect one to use if you slept over and had to leave before they got up. You're basically saying that your day is better just by waking up next to them.

"Good morning to my love!" This is really simple but also very effective. It's a pretty typical good morning text with a little something extra.

"Good morning! I hope your day is amazing and you kick ass!" This encouragement is not only really cute but it might be just what they need to get motivated to have a good day.

"Make this a day to remember!" This is another good morning text that can be used as encouragement, too. Use it when they have a big presentation or an interview for a great job.

"I hope your day is as amazing as you are!" Not only are you paying them a cute compliment, you're also starting their day off right.

"Rise and shine! It's time to have a great day, baby." Here's another not so typical way of saying good morning while wishing them a great day.

"Good morning! Come in the kitchen, I have a surprise." Not much is better than a cute good morning text accompanied with breakfast. Make your lover a delicious meal and text them to come join you.

"I wish I could've woken up next to you. Good morning!" If you couldn't stay the night for whatever reason, sending them this in the morning can help them feel better about it.

"I hope you woke up on the right side of the bed. Have a good day!" This makes them realize that you really care about their quality of sleep and that you want them to have a good day. It's a great way to wake up.

"I love you." This might not seem like a great good morning text but seeing this first thing when they wake up will make them more than happy.
Romance / We Are Defining Love The Wrong Way by antonio1973(m): 8:23pm On Dec 19, 2019
It is time to change the meaning of the word “love.”
The word is mostly used according to the first definition given in the dictionary: “an intense feeling of deep affection.” In other words, love is what one feels.
After years spent speaking with couples before, during and after marriage; and of talking to parents and children struggling with their relationships, I am convinced of the partiality of the definition.Love should be seen not as a feeling but as an enacted emotion. To love is to feel and act lovingly.
Too many women have told me, bruises visible on their faces, that the husbands who struck them love them. Since they see love as a feeling, the word hides the truth, which is that you do not love someone whom you repeatedly beat and abuse. You may have very strong feelings about them, you may even believe you cannot live without them, but you do not love them.
The first love mentioned in the Bible is not romantic love, but parental love (Genesis 22). When a child is born, the parent’s reaction to this person, who so recently did not exist, is to feel that “I would do anything for her.” In the doing is the love—the feeling is enacted. That is why we often hear the phrase “you don’t act like you love me.” We know in our bones that love is not a feeling alone, but a feeling that flows into the world in action.
Between human beings, love is a relational word. Yes, you can love things that do not love you back—the sky or a mountain or a painting or the game of chess. But the love of other people is directional. There is a lover and a beloved—you don’t just love, but you love at someone. And real love is not only about the feelings of the lover; it is not egotism. It is when one person believes in another person and shows it.
In Fiddler on the Roof, when Tevye asks Golde whether she loves him after a quarter century of marriage, her wry answer is exactly on point:
For twenty-five years I’ve washed your clothes
Cooked your meals, cleaned the house
Given you children, milked your cow
She asks then, “If that’s not love, what is?”
Of course it is possible to perform all sorts of duties for someone and feel little or nothing for them. Love is not about being hired help. Love is not an obligation done with a cold soul. But neither is it a passion that expresses itself in cruelty, or one that does not express itself at all. The feeling must be wedded to the deed.
We would have a healthier conception of love if we understood that love, like parenting or friendship, is a feeling that expresses itself in action. What we really feel is reflected in what we do. The poet’s song is dazzling and the passion powerful, but the deepest beauty of love is how it changes lives.
Romance / 13 Things I Want My Daughter To Know On Her Birthday by antonio1973(m): 8:57pm On Dec 12, 2019
So I guess she's not such a little girl anymore. To be honest, she hasn't been a little girl in a long time.

She has always been mature beyond her years. Uber-responsible, super-smart, intuitive, reflective, wise, well-spoken and witty. When she was two she not only picked out her dress for the first day of school, but also convinced me she needed the matching shoes. When she was three she formulated a logical three-point argument about why she deserved a bigger Christmas tree for her room. When she was five she befriended the little boy in her class with social anxiety and made sure he was always part of the crowd.

Today she's affectionately known to her friends as "Grandma" because of her wise and cautious ways. I can only hope that those ways carry her through these tumultuous teenage years.

Today, I am feeling a bit nostalgic for the old days – when her birthday wishes were for tape and stickers and we had American Girl birthday parties. And I am also feeling a little bit sad about how quickly the time has gone and how soon she will be off to college. But I know that time marches on and so mostly I am feeling happy to be celebrating the beautiful person that she is today.

One of the most wonderful things about parenthood is watching your children grown and develop their own identities and personalities. I love hanging out with my kiddos now that they are older and getting a glimpse into how they see the world. Which is often very different from how I see the world. In fact, sometimes it feels like we aren't even living in the same world. even though we are sitting in the same room and breathing the same air.

Which is tricky, because it's still my job to prepare her for the world. I know I won't be able to keep her close or safe for very much longer. And so today, on her thirteenth birthday, I want to share with her some of bits and bobs of wisdom that I have collected over the years, to help guide her and ground her as she makes her way through this crazy adventure called life.

You are wonderful just the way you are.

You are an amazing person. You are smart, independent, funny, kind, passionate, dependable, responsible, beautiful, thoughtful, resourceful, creative, talented and worthy. (I'm sure I left something out, but you get the gist). You are wonderful just the way you are. Never forget that. And don't waste your time on people who don't see that.


Never apologize for how you feel. And don’t be afraid to express those feelings.

Feelings are real, raw and right. They are also intensely personal. You can't control how you feel, and you shouldn't try. (You can control how you react to those feelings, but not the feelings themselves). Don't apologize for or think you have to hide your feelings. In fact, I encourage you to share them – with me, with your best friends, with someone you can trust. Sharing your feelings often helps them feel less oppressive and overwhelming. Don't be afraid to talk about how you feel; but, never let anyone else tell you how to feel. Or be dismissive of your feelings. People will try to that. A lot. Do not let them. You get to own your own feelings.


Nobody wants to hear your whine

On the other hand, no-one likes a complainer. Everyone faces challenges every day. Trust me when I tell you no-one is interested in how much your hip hurts, how poorly you slept last night, how much work you have to do or how hard your life is. Don't be a chronic complainer. It's a real bore.


Never stop learning

Make it a point to learn something new every day. Intelligent and interesting people are in constant pursuit of knowledge, even when they are eighty years old, and there are so many new and exciting things to learn. Continue to be lifelong learner and you're life will be richer and longer.


You do you.

Theodore Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." When you compare yourself to others you are setting yourself up for disappointment. There will always be people who are taller, fitter, skinnier, smarter, prettier, richer, faster, stronger, with different talents or who have more than you do. But that does not mean they are better than you or that you are lacking in any way. Instead of worrying about what others have, be grateful for what you have, and don't live your life trying to keep up with others. You are uniquely you and that is a good thing.


Not everyone is your friend

Sadly, you can't trust everyone. You will meet people who act like your friend, but who talk about you behind your back. People who say they are on your side, but who secretly wish for your failure or even try to sabotage your success. People who call themselves your friend but disappear when things get tough. The problem is with them. Not you. Be cautious. Choose your friends wisely – find a small group of people that you can rely on and don't worry about the rest. It's much better to have a couple close friends than a bunch of acquaintances.


Social media lasts forever.

Think before you post. Social media lives on forever. If you wouldn't want to see it on the 6 o'clock news, don't post it online.

Take care of yourself – eat well, sleep well, move well.

You have nothing if you don't have your health. Make it a point to eat healthy, get enough sleep and move your body every day. Read labels. Avoid toxins. Do yoga. Stretch. Choose wisely. You only get one body – take care of it.


Stand up for yourself and don’t be afraid to say “No.”

It's a sad fact of life that many people only feel good when they are putting others down. You've already seen this in action and it will continue throughout your life. People will try and push you around. Do not let them. Stand up for yourself. Stand your ground. Speak your mind. Say no. Forcefully if necessary. Summon your inner strength to defend yourself and insist on getting what you deserve. If something feels wrong or goes against your values, just say no. Trust your gut. Say no to drugs. Say no to gossip. Say no to bad influences. Say no to laziness. Say no to boys who try to pressure you. You will also have to learn to say no to good things in life: volunteer opportunities, parties, activities, invitations and even requests for help because there are only so many hours in the day and you can't do it all. Set your boundaries and stick to them.


Choose kindness

You never, ever know what someone else is going through, so don't judge other people. Choose to be kind. Smile. Hold the door. Yield the right of the way. Kindness doesn't cost a thing, but it has the ability to brighten someone's day. And it will make you feel better too.


Take the opportunity.

You will find yourself faced with some amazing, but scary, opportunities. Take them while you can. Travel, study abroad, take the job, move to the city. You have no idea what you are capable of until you push yourself to try new things. And you have no idea which moment will be the one that transforms your life. Put yourself out there and let yourself live while you are young and free and able.


Put on some pumps and lipstick. And always bring an extra layer.

It's amazing what a killer pair of heels and a swipe of lipstick can do for your self-confidence. When you are feeling insecure, overwhelmed or just in a funk, put on your best shoes and a little lip color and you'll find yourself standing taller, feeling stronger and more ready to face the world. But don't forget to bring a sweater, because it's hard to feel confident when you are cold.


I will always be your biggest fan

You can count on me to be your number one supporter for as long as I live. I will do everything I can to help you find happiness and achieve your goals. I will celebrate each success, probably with homemade cake. And I'll be ready with tissues and a big hug (and probably cake) when things go wrong (and they will). I will listen to you and laugh with you and love you with all of my heart until the day that I die.
Romance / Why I Celebrate My Mother On My Birthday by antonio1973(m): 8:09pm On Dec 11, 2019
How to Celebrate Mom

I celebrated my birthday this week but the day was not about me at all. Let me explain:

A few years ago, a friend of mine, Scott, taught me something that still resonates with me. Scott told me that, every year on his birthday, he sends his mother flowers and a note telling his mother just how much he appreciates her. I was very surprised and touched by what I heard and decided to do the same for my mother.

My mother recently started growing culinary herbs in her garden at home. I know how much she loves her herb garden so I sent her a few potted herbs that she could transplant in her garden. I also sent her a note telling her how grateful I was for her bringing me into this world and for loving me unconditionally despite all my faults. I told her what a wonderful person she is and thanked her for all the support she has afforded me throughout the years.

The first time I did this for my mother years ago, I sent her flowers instead of herbs for her garden. This made us both tear up. My mother did not expect the gesture and it touched her heart. I also learned that there often is more joy in giving than receiving.

My mother has done so much for me in my life. She taught me how to be a better person, showered me with love, and instilled values in me that I will carry for life. She is the epitome of equanimity and kindness. Not only is she extremely devoted, she also is principled and never waivers from her beliefs. She has tolerated me in spite of all my shortcomings and she has never failed to give me wise advice and guidance. She has always been my moral compass and believed in me. The lifelong gifts she has bestowed upon me greatly shadow anything I do for her.

The reason I am posting this is because I want to share the valuable lesson that Scott taught me. If you give your mother flowers on your birthday, expect her to be very touched and cry. We are nothing without our parents and I know I am guilty of not expressing my gratitude sufficiently over the years. I am aware that I have often taken my mother for granted and I feel that I need to reciprocate her unconditional love, something I know I will never achieve.

I also think that it is important to note how one person's kindness can influence so many others. Scott made an impact on me by telling me how he sends his mother flowers on his birthday and I have told many others his story. I know that many of my friends now do the same on their birthdays, and all this started with Scott. In fact, since I recently posted about this experience on Reddit, hundreds of others have been touched, responded to me, and have vowed to do the same. And all this started with Scott. He has touched so many people's lives.

One person can, indeed, make a huge impact on this world. My mother and Scott are perfect examples of this. This is the shortest post on my blog thus far, but it also is one of the most personal and important to me.

I hope you take the time to tell your mother how appreciated she is on your birthday. Thank you very much, Scott. And thank you, Mom.

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