Why I Love Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart...

• is extremely organized
• tells it like it is
• can make anything out of anything
• has a soothing voice
• is down to earth
• is funny without trying to be
• worked for everything that she has
• has a wild side
• loves animals
• prepares food to perfection

 
You can't be Martha Stewart, but you can incorporate some of the qualities that
make her successful into your life.

• ORGANIZATION
• HONESTY
• CREATIVITY
• CALMNESS
• RELATABILITY
• HUMOR
• HARDWORKING
• FUN
• LOVE ANIMALS
• COOKING

Talent Is Valuable

The work of a talented man I know.

I know a man that has been doing photo restoration for over 10 years. He says
it's fun and he never asks for money. Payment for his work is in the form of printer
paper or ink. I keep asking him,"If it's so much fun why don't you get paid for it?"
He gives me excuses. He says he doesn't want to be on a time schedule. OK, but
that can't be true because he works part-time at a job that isn't bringing him joy. He
has to clock in and out and that is a time schedule. He says he doesn't know what
to charge. He just needs to investigate it. I think he's scared. I also think he's very
talented, and he doesn't realize what he does for fun, paper, and ink is truly valuable.
There are people out there willing to pay him for his work.

Are you doing something for fun that could be valuable to someone else?

It's Time to Break Up When...

When love improves your life that's great, but if you're at the point where you
feel worse with love than without it, you must rethink why you're still with this
person.

It's time to break up when the person you're with...

* Hits you
   If you're being physically abused, it is not love. I don't care how you want to
   rationalize it.

* Is extremely jealous
   A little jealousy is OK, but if you feel like you can't do what you want, wear
   what you want, or talk to whomever you want to, this is what I call extreme
   jealousy. 

* Steals from you or others
   Do you really want to be dating a thief? Hanging around someone like this
   could mess up your life.

* Seems to be keeping secrets from you
   If you're having trust issues that's a bad sign and you know it.

* Lies all the time
   You know you're being lied to and you're still hanging around...Why?

* Wants to keep your relationship secret
   Love is supposed to be out in the open, not behind closed doors.


* Compares you to someone from a past relationship
   If you're constantly hearing about what so-and-so used to do you're
   with the wrong person.

5 Tips to Change Your World

Is your world the way you want it to be? I'm not talking about the entire world, I'm
talking about your life. If there's something that you want to do (even if you don't
believe it's possible) you should read about it. Try to do what you think is impos-
sible. I've got tips to encourage you to change your world.

1.  Receive emails from websites that cover the topics of your interest. 
     I get emails about hair, coupons, recipes, etc.

2.  Create an email account for the topic of your choice.
     I created a email account strictly for the topic of writing. So every email that
     I receive in that account is about writing and writing only. If it wasn't for my
     writing email account I wouldn't have started this blog. I read about blogging
     a year before I created one.

3.  Read a book about what excites you. 
     Every book you read will make you a little bit smarter.

4.  Listen to music that you wouldn't normally listen to.
     If you love country, listen to rap. If you love rap, listen to country. Rap and
     country are closely related because they are both full of poetry.
    
5.  Tell other people about your interests.
     They might be interested in the same thing or they may know someone who
     could help you change your world.

7 Self-esteem Secrets

1. Be around different kinds of people.
    People that associate with a variety ethnic groups and races are a lot more
    tolerant and sympathetic towards themselves and others. This makes you a
    happier person and therefore increases your self-esteem.

2. Do activities you wouldn't normally do.
    If you're unorganized go straighten something. You could also take a class on 
    dance, cooking, acting, or art.
   
3. Focus on your strengths and not your weaknesses. 
    You have to train your brain to do this if you want to feel better about yourself.
   
4. Start your day with something that makes you happy.
    I normally start my day with a cup of hot tea and even though it may be psycho-
    logical, it makes me feel better.

5. Take care of necessities first.
    If you do what needs to be done before you do other things you won't feel as
    pressured and cranky. For example, if you know you need to buy a new air
    conditioning system make sure you have enough money for it before you decide
    to take a vacation. It makes no sense to have to come home from a trip and not
    know how you'll pay for the air conditioning. If you don't have air you'll be hot,
    mean and mad. You have to be happy to feel good about yourself.

6. Help someone else feel better and you'll feel better too.
    Give to charity, cut your elderly neighbor's grass, or donate your time to a
    worthy cause.

7. If you're shy talk more.
    What is the worst that could happen? If you force yourself to speak when you
    don't want to it will eventually get easier.