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.

Living Your Dream

Last night, I was watching "America's Got Talent" and there was a 38 year old
woman on the show who dreamed of being a professional singer...But she had
been told she'd have to lose weight to accomplish her dream. After she sang, I
couldn't believe she had held onto self-doubt for so long, because she had a
great voice. I can't help but think that if she would've believed in herself, she
could've been living her dream 20 years ago.

There will always be someone that will tell you that your dream isn't possible,
but try your hardest to ignore them. Don't let a negative person keep you from
living your dream.

Are You Pushing People Away?

Do you?...

* Talk down to people
   If you talk to people as if you believe you are smarter or more important than
   they are, you are coming across as arrogant and unfeeling.

* Answer someone's question when they aren't talking to you
  If you overhear two people having a conversation, and you but in before the
  person they are talking to can even answer the question... that is really rude.

* Brag about what you have or what you have done
   I'm not totally against bragging, but if you do it all the time it can get annoying.
   So if you're always telling people about how much money you have, how
   good you think you look, or every little detail from your last vacation...that
   is too much bragging.

* Gossip
   I admit gossip is entertaining, but try not to participate in it. Set back and listen
   to the person that is gossiping, then you'll know that person is not someone
   that you need to be hanging around. Gossiping makes you look untrustworthy.

* Lie all the time
   You might get away with your lies for a little while, but soon you'll be figured out.
 

 If you suspect that you're pushing people away it's not too late to change.


Try this...
    
* Compliment people.

* If someone doesn't know the answer to a question, then you can answer it.

* Brag sparingly.

* Don't gossip.

* Don't lie...all the time.
  
   

Turn Madness Into Motivation

The other day, I talked to a man who was upset because one of his co-workers
received a brand new company car. He thought that his co-worker didn't deserve
the company car. I told him to turn his madness into motivation.

Whenever you find yourself getting mad about what someone else has, try not to
let it upset you. That person probably worked their butt off for what they have, or
could have sacrificed something else to get it.

If you want something that someone else has work hard so you can have it too.
There aren't many people in this world who will give you something for nothing.
Don't get mad...get motivated.

Put On Makeup and Trim Your Beard

Some women are saying a woman with
good self-esteem doesn't need to wear
makeup. Explain to me why it's wrong to
want to decorate your face. Makeup is
made to enhance what you already have.

 
I've never read how it's wrong for a man to style his beard and mustache. Should
he just let everything grow wild so he can prove he has good self-esteem? Women
shouldn't tear down other women because they want to wear makeup. If you like
wearing makeup wear it. If you like your face the way it is, that's fine too.

Keeping a Secret

A few days ago I found something out that was
disturbing and I couldn't decide if I wanted to tell
or not. I knew that this certain person needed to
know the secret; keeping something this important
from her would've been wrong.


I only kept the secret for a couple days and during that time my entire body was
stressed. I hardly had an appetite and I felt extremely guilty. Even though it was
awkward, after I told her the secret she thanked me for telling her, so I knew I'd
done the right thing.

Before you decide if you want to divulge a secret
weigh the pros and cons and ask yourself...

Could keeping your secret hurt someone more than telling it?
                                        OR
Will telling your secret hurt someone more than keeping it?

  

Love Rejection

If someone no longer wants to be with you, be glad
that you know. Now, you can find someone to love
you who deserves your love. Even though at this
moment your heart and spirit may be broken, you'll
fall in and out of love many times, and learn valuable
lessons from each relationship. It's OK to cry and
feel sorry for yourself for a little while, but you have
to keep going. You need to do activities that will
take your mind off of your broken heart.


Activities That Can Help Soothe a Love Rejection

• Eat chocolate
• Call a friend
• Go see a friend
• Draw
• Write
• Watch a comedy
• Help someone in need
• Go out dancing
• Get a pet
• Go shopping (with cash only)
• Take a walk on a sunny day
• Read a book you wouldn't normally read
• Start an indoor or outdoor garden
• Have a picnic in the park with a friend
• Drink a cup of hot tea 

Cell Phone Addiction

One day I was talking to a co-worker in the break
room, and she said she finds it awkward to talk to
people on the phone. She told me she'd rather text.
I said, "Are you serious?"

It's so sad that so many people have become comfort-
able with not having real conversations. It's hard to
learn good communication skills if you're always staring
down at your cell phone,playing a silly game,or texting words that aren't actual words.
                                                           
I'm not a cell phone hater, but I hate what cell phones have done to some people. I
see babies playing and sucking on cell phones. Parents...your baby or toddler does
not need a cell phone! Your child needs a parent to communicate with while you
are both out and about. Your child should be looking around at his or her environ-
ment, not playing with your dirty cell phone.

If you have a cell phone addiction try putting it up for a little while and:

• Have a face to face conversation with someone.
• Look someone in the eye and say 'Hi.'
• Talk to your child while you are both out and about.

Don't Let Criticism Crush You

Criticism can sometimes be hard to handle. I remember
being humiliated by my 5th grade teacher. I was wearing
hot pink lipstick and I thought I was looking good. My
teacher, Ms. Rowady, yelled at me during class and said
none of us were going to lunch until I wiped off my lipstick.
I didn't wear lipstick for about five years after that.



All criticism isn't bad though. Some criticism is meant to help you. When your 
teacher tells you to fix your misspellings, this is meant to help you. If your boss
tells you to fix something that you didn't do properly. When your mom tells you
that you look a little heavy because she's worried about your health. These kinds
of constructive criticisms may bother you a little, but sometimes you need to hear
hurtful advice from a caring person.

Criticism that is meant to upset you should be ignored. Someone that criticizes  
for meanness usually doesn't like themself. Don't let someone's self-hate rub off
on you. Don't let criticism crush you.