Musings

Palm Harbor Prosperity Master Mind

2011-12-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

The first meeting of the Palm Harbor Prosperity Master Mind Group for Entrepreneurs was yesterday. If you need to boost your motivation and brainstorm some ideas with a mind greater than just your own, please join us. We will meet once per month in the Palm Harbor office of Wisdom Hypnosis. We will follow the Master Mind idea originated by Napolean Hill in his book, Think and Grow Rich, then finish up with a group hypnosis session led by me, Gloria Constantas. This combination of Master Mind principles combined with hypnosis can't be beat!

The Master Mind principles helped early industrial giants to build their businesses, so why not the daring entrepreneurs of today?!

Call 727-946-1531 for more information if you want to make 2012 your year.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 18.

Can One Session Change Your World?

2011-12-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hypnosis is really amazing, but BIG NEWS, it could take more than ONE session.

Yes it's true. It could take multiple sessions to make a PERMANENT change.

If you have had a bad habit for 20 or 30 years, it may take 3 or 4 sessions to transform that unwanted behavior behavior into something positive ande productive.

Affluence Affirmations

2011-12-04T17:42:00.000-08:00

This is my personal prayer-poem:

I am full. I am enough. I am sufficient.
I am wise. I am organized. I am efficient.
I am healthy. I am wealthy. I am affluent.
I am worthy. I am valuable. I am magnificent.

And so it is.

Giving Thanks

2011-11-22T17:44:00.000-08:00

Thank you and happy Thanksgiving to you!

I have just completed a book called, Bliss to You, by Trixie Koontz. Trixie is Dean Koontz' golden retriever. Or she was, anyway. She has published 3 books. So far.

In this book, she describes 8 steps to bliss. I hope to summarize and review the book thoroughly some time in the future, but for now I will just discuss the last step. Number eight is Gratitude. Somehow it seems fitting to speak about gratitiude at this time of year.

I am grateful for many things. Things and people. I have a soft bed, a nice house, a comfortable reliable car, a full pantry, and lots of clothes. I have some good friends, a wonderful husband, a brilliant child, and a small but close family. I am thankful for all of you.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my gratitude.

Again, Happy Giving-Thanks Day!

Sacred Geometry

2011-11-11T18:24:00.000-08:00

Today is 11-11-11. I am writing this at 11:11 AM.

A portal is opening up today, which makes it possible to make great leaps in spiritual awareness!

So the New Age gurus tell me.

The Great American Smokeout is on 11-17-11 this year. Another auspicious number. I think it will be a good day to quit smoking!

If you want to quit, please comment below.

Thanks!

Quotation of the Month

2011-11-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you,
till it seems you cannot hold on a minute longer,
never give up then for that is just the place and time the tide will turn.
— Harriet Beecher Stowe

Thanks, Harriet. This is a great reminder to persist.

How to Become WHealthy

2011-11-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, and happy.
This is the perfect affirmation or autosuggestion according to The Master Key System by Charles Haanel. It is found in Part 9.

I have completed the 24 part course. It took about 20 weeks. This was an arduous process, but well worth the effort. Although I have taken many weekend courses in prosperity, it is very unlikely that any of them will permanently change behavior. Habits consist of what we do every day over time. The Master Key prescribes a method of daily meditation, along with gratitude, affirmations, study, inductive reasoning, and persistence. If you really follow his instructions, you cannot fail.
I definitely recommend this book. But not as an easy read. Don't take this to the beach with you. Just reading it does not create change in your life. You have to live it.

If you are ready to take this giant step, see my other blog, makeyourmasterkey.blogspot.com.

Thank you.

Hot Flushes

2011-10-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

Do you say hot flushes or hot flashes?

In America, we say hot flashes, even if we do get flushed.

Please send me an email or make a comment and let me know about your hot flashes.

I'm working on a product to give menopausal women better climate control.

Thanks

Energy Field of Words

2011-10-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

This is a small excerpt from Embraced by the Light by Betty Eadie:

There are positive (light, goodness, kindness, hope, etc.) and negative (hatred, fear, selfishness, discouragement) energies.

When we internalize these energies, they become our servants, and like attracts like and we associate with others like us.

I saw how a person's words actually affect the energy field around him. The very words themselves, the vibrations in the air, they attract one type of energy or another. There is power in our thoughts. We create our surroundings by the thoughts we think. If we understood the power of our thoughts we would guard them more closely. If we understood the awesome power of our words we would prefer silence to almost anything negative. In our thoughts and our words we create our weaknesses and our strengths.

I agree with her about words, vibrations, etc.

Songs of Science

2011-10-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

I love this concept!

Check out the first video on this page:

http://www.symphonyofscience.com/

It's called The Quantum World and has all of your favorite scientists in it, including Morgan Freeman. Oh wait! He's not a scientist. He's an actor.

Check it out anyway.

Meditate?

2011-10-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

I try to meditate daily. When I do it regularly, I find it that it is refreshing and relaxing, quiets my mind, and allows for creative new answers and insights to flow easily to me. I've previously discussed the benefits in other posts.
This peaceful state influences others in our community and has personal benefits, too.

Why not start a new flow of positive energy in your community?

All you have to do is meditate.
Or use self-hypnosis. Both have the same benefits...or do they?

Is it hot in here?

2011-09-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

I find myself more and more asking, is it hot in here?

Well, of course it's hot. I live in Florida!!

Remarkable Warmth

2011-09-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Majesty is a majestic word. Seems somehow related to royalty, and to Magic.

Remarkable is an interesting word. Like interesting, it can be used to indicate something that is neutral, but sounds good. If you don't know what to make of something someone said, you can simply say, that's interesting, even if you really aren't impressed. Remarkable can also mean significant, important, wonderful or merely interesting.

It is remarkable that there are so many exquisite, majestic words in the English language.

Would you call?

2011-09-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Would you call someone you met on Twitter or FaceBook?

There are so many articles and links flying around about how to use social media to get referrals. What I want to know is ...

Would YOU call someone you encountered on Twitter or Facebook for a hypnosis session?

Please post comments below. Thank you!

PTSD Concerns

2011-08-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

Someone called me today to ask me how hypnosis works for PTSD. He is a student of psychology and works as an intern in a menatl health clinic where the psychiatrist uses hypnosis for PTSD and other issues.

In my experience, mostly with military members, PTSD can become reactivated when the person is under stress. It can cause disrupted sleep because of nightmares. It can impair judgement. It causes feelings of anxiety.

Hypnosis is the best form of stress reduction there is. And a person can be taught some kind of self-hypnosis in order to use it whenever something stressful occurs. Let's face it, stress happens. So a good technique to reduce it is beneficial. Self hypnosis is portable and inexpensive, and there are several different ways to do it. A good hypnotist or therapist can teach a relaxation technique like self-hypnosis. Hypnosis is often very beneficial for sleep issues, and every client I have worked with has reported better sleep for a few days after a session. When the person can relax and can feel refreshed after sleep, feelings like anxiety and frustration are reduced, and this is good for you physically, emotionally and even mentally, as people are better able to make decisions, concentrate and even remember things more easily.

PTSD is complicated, but hypnosis provides relief for many of the problems. Negative thinking can become a habit, and hypnosis is great for eliminating bad habits.

Wisdom Hypnosis 727-781-8483.

How can hypnosis help you, your friends, or loved ones?

2011-08-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

The most obvious answer is that hypnosis is very effective for quitting smoking and breaking other habits. It is superb for reducing stress and tension. This means that it helps your immune system.

It can predispose you to more positive thoughts and a optimistic viewpoint. This is also good for your health and longevity, as optimists live longer and healthier lives.

Hypnosis is a useful tool to get over irrational fears, like fear of heights or fear of driving over bridges. Or impractical fears like fear of flying. It also is effective for reducing "test anxiety," which is nothing more than a fear of taking a test and failing!

If you want to make a change, hypnosis can be effective. Of course if you, or Aunt Betty don't want to change, you can't be forced into changing. But if you do want to change, than hypnosis can make it easier for you. And it's a smoothsd transition when it's easy. Isn't it?

Emil Coue said that "If you believe a thing to be easy, it becomes so." He was a French pharmacist who learned hypnosis from some of Mesmer's followers.

Hypnosis is a very creative and resourceful state. That's why it can help you to come up with new solutions to a longstanding problem.

I don't see any downside to trying it. After all, practice makes perfect. Most smokers have to "Quit" multiple times before it becomes permanent, but they learn something about themselves every time. So even if it didn't work, it would help prepare you for a smoother transition in the future.

Hypno Expo

2011-08-03T17:22:00.000-07:00

Post this on your blog, send press releases, and tell your friends there will be a Raffle and Prizes for the volunteers for the hypnosis demos!

Of course, we hope to see YOU there!

Hypno Expo

Saturday, August 20
4:00 PM -- 6:00 PM
Books A Million
Palm Harbor, FL

Hypnosis discussion and demonstrations!

The Best Interview

2011-07-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

The best interview is the kind where they basically ask you 2 questions:

What do you want to know about the position? and
When can you start?

This happens rarely. Only if you know someone and have been recommended or recruited for the job. They want you to work there. They are just hoping that you will consider working for them.

This is the reverse of what usually happens for a job seeker. Many job seekers are just looking for "anything," for anyone who will hire them at a decent rate. The interviewer has the advantage in that case.

I guess networking can give the job seeker the advantage.

Got this message today

2011-07-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

Gloria, the beginner scorns criticism.
The wise soul carefully weighs it.
And the Master says, "But, of course!"

The Universe

Very Interesting Message. You can get messages like this if you sign up for Notes from the Universe at www.tut.com.

Why smoke?

2011-07-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

As a hypnotist I know many reasons NOT to smoke. I think we all know the devastating effects on a smoker's health, and even on the non-smoking spouse of a smoker. Among them are: lung cancer, heart disease, strokes, throat cancer, breast cancer, and so many other potentially fatal conditions.

So today I am wondering not about why Quit smoking, but why smoke?

Most people start in their teens. The statistics say 80%. Just try to imagine a 50 year old person sitting at their desk at work, thinking. Why don't I start smoking? How about a 30 year old who has just completed running in the park, Hmmmm, maybe I should have a cigarette. Or a 40 year-old at a convenience store having the impulse to buy a carton of cigarettes on sale. I just have trouble imagining how one would get the inspiration to light up after being a teen.

Teens start for social reasons. They want to be like their friends, they want to be liked, they think it makes them grown up as it is illegal for minors but not for adults. How bad could it be? They know many smokers, may even live with one. Sometimes they think they can do it temporarily, so they can hang out with their friends now and when they graduate college, it will be easy to stop. No teenager I ever spoke to admitted they were addicted.

But what is an addiction? There are choices all along the way. I don't know anyone who was forced to take up smoking. After 30 years, it doesn't seem like a choice, but during the first few years, you have to force yourself to continue, you have to persist or it won't become a habit.

But it's easy to quit smoking. Mark Twain said,

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I have done it thousands of times!

He was trying to be humorous, BUT the fact is, people quit every day. Some use hypnosis. Some use other methods. The statistics say that 15 million people attempt to quit smoking every day, yet less than 3 percent of these people succeed. That means less than 5 million. So let me assert that 4 million people quit permanently every day!

You can quit too. Call Wisdom Hypnosis at 727-781-8483.

Who am I?

2011-07-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Who am I to teach or even co-teach a Prosperity class?

What do I know about prosperity?

I know I am not the most prosperous person on the planet. That's why this class was set up as a peer coaching program. I am on my way to prosperity. So is my co-teacher. And the 6 participants in the class. Actually, I would say that one is already there. I told her she was beyond us, and she said she would love to participate and share what she knows with the group. Also, she said, it can't hurt to learn something new!

I know I feel prosperous. I have been actively learning about prosperity for almost 4 years now. And things have turned around for me. I have been learning recently about investing and financial matters. Everything is not in order yet, but will be soon. I used to avoid finances altogether. Now I can make decisions about investing and spending.

I am in the process of writing a book about the process. Of course, I don't know everything, yet, but in a few months I expect to know a lot more. And I already know that the process will be different for each person. But I look forward to sharing my process with all of you.

Military Concerns

2011-07-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

For the past 2 or 3 years, I have been working with military families and active service members.

Some join the military for a job.
Most join for a career.
Military members face all the problems that non-military face, and then some. Being in the military means you move every 2 or 3 years. You can be deployed at any time, in the army this means that you will relocate to a war zone for 15 or 18 months. You can be deployed numerous times.

The stress for military members and their families is very high. This is worsened by the fact that many service members and military spouses are still teenagers, or in their early 20s.

How do you reduce stress while in the military?
Right now the Department of Defense is offering Mindfulness training. I think this will be very helpful. I also find hypnosis can be very effective.

Review of The Master Key System

2011-06-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

"This is the process by which failure is changed to success. Thoughts of courage, power, inspiration, harmony, are substituted for thoughts of failure, despair, lack, limitation and discord, and as these thoughts take root, the physical tissue is changed and the individual sees life in a new light, old things have actually passed away, ... he is reconstructed and is filled with joy, confidence, hope, energy."

--Charles Haanel

This is what he said about his book, The Master Key System, available on Amazon. This book is almost 100 years old, yet it is the best book I have read about manifesting wealth and success. It outlines an exercise, which allows the reader to use his/her thoughts to create favorable conditions! This exercise is revealed slowly and gradually, so that anyone can do it, if they dedicate just 15-30 minutes each day. I definitely recommend it.

Job Questions

2011-06-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

How did you find your last job?

Would you help someone get a job in the company where you work?

What is best way to find a job today?

What do YOU think?

Please post a comment below this article. Thank you.

What's the Password?

2011-06-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have so many passwords now, it's getting confusing. Used to be that passwords were like pins and only have 4 digits or characters. Remember PINs? Personal Identification Numbers? Banks used them a long time ago for ATMs. The unemployment office still uses them. Your password or PIN is limited to 4 characters. Most companies have made them longer in order to make it harder to guess a password. Now most have to be at least 6 characters long. They must contain at least one letter and at least one digit. Some require at least one capital letter. Some even require one capital letter, one digit AND at least one special character. A lot of them will test your password when you are changing it. The strongest one will have one capital letter, one digit, one special character like % or *, but not @ or any slashes, and 5 other alphanumeric characters. I try to have one Uber-password and then insert a digit and a special character in it. So then what happens? Constant Contact will not allow any special characters. I tried a about 10 passwords and then had to call the company because I couldn't sign in. After I called, I remembered, oh, they don't require a special character, they don't even allow it!

Life is getting so com#pl!ic@ted (complicated).

Sleep and the Brain

2011-06-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

I just read an article on RealAge.com about how many hours of sleep is optimum for an adult. This article says 6 to 8 hours is good and more than 9 is not healthy.

Sleep helps your brain function and can make you as sharp as someone 4 to 7 years younger! In a recent study, they gave cognitive-function tests to middle-aged Americans, and found that consistently getting 6 to 8 hours per night, ensured better scores.

Most Americans fall short of the recommended 6 to 8 hours. But in a recent study of middle-aged folks, those who consistently slept 6 to 8 hours a night scored the best on cognitive-function tests.

There have been many studies concerning sleep. Most recommend 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Then when they compared 7-hour sleepers to 8-hour sleepers in a long term study, they found that 8 was significantly better, because the 8-hour sleeps had less diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. So if possible schedule 8 hours for sleep. And if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, contact a hypnotist near you. Hypnosis is very effective for sleep concerns. Most people report that they sleep much better for a few nights after just one session. And this happens even if the issue they went to the hypnotist for was not sleep. Everyone gets that benefit. you can learn self-hypnosis and keep this benefit working for you. It's a no-brainer (LOL). Better sleep means better cognitive function AND better health!

If you are in Tarpon springs, Palm Harbor, Dunedin or Clearwater, Fl, you may call me at 727-946-1531. The Summer Special is on until the end of the month!

The Key to Success

2011-06-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

There are probably many keys to success, but I'm thinking about what is most necessary to accomplish your desired outcome. The answer is Persistence. I had a teacher tell me that the diffference between those who succeed and those who fail, is that the successful ones persist. They continue to push forward even when things look bleak. They continue when they come to an obstacle. They go over, around, under or through the obstacle and persist. I'm not saying that they never rest or that they never make adjustments to their plan, but basically they persist.

For example, say you want to quit smoking. Smokers tell me it is almost impossible to resist a craving for nicotine. And even when you have not smoked a cigarette in days or even weeks you may experience a craving. This is an obstacle to your goal of being a healthy fresh air breather. But it's only a small bump in the road, if you persist in thinking of yourself as a non-smoker, healthy, active, and vibrant.

What if you want to start a business? Most businesses fail in the first 5 years. This is because success doesn't come instantly. People do not persist. They give up!

What if you are a student? If you give up when you receive a low score on a test, you will fail the class. If you persist and decide to study harder or more frequently, you will pass.

What if you want to learn self-hypnosis. You may be eexcited at first and practice 3 times per day. But a few days later or maybe a week into your new program, you find yourself too busy to sit down for even 5 minutes. The next morning you postpone it until later. Then after a few days you realize you have forgotten to practice, and rationalize your behavior, saying it wasn't helping anyway. I don't have time for it. That's giving up. You didn't give it a chance. In order to develop a new habit you need 30 days. We are always looking for short cuts, but neuroscience tells us that it takes 30 days to establish new neural pathways. So persist for 30 days and see what happens.

Persistence pays.

Sizzling Summer Specials

2011-06-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

SUMMER SPECIALS At Enlightened Hypnosis

Individual Hypnosis Session.

Experience complete relaxation with 1 session of hypnosis, which will reduce stress and increase confidence. Imagine yourself calm and confident!

$100 (regular fee is $150)

Call 727-946-1531 and
Mention the Summer Special!!
Good until June 30, 2011.

Quit Smoking this Summer!

Quit smoking, and thereby improve your health, your relationships, and your life in just 2 sessions. Imagine how good you will feel!

$199 (regular fee is $399)

Call 727-946-1531 and
Mention the Summer Special!!
Good until June 30, 2011.

See "Products and Services" on www.enlightenedhypnosis.com for full details.
Offer good on in-person sessions only. Enlightened Hypnosis is located in Palm Harbor, FL.

Big Discount

2011-06-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

The long and short of it:

I got 4 emails this morning offering me big discounts on Viaga and Vigara!

Goody! Goody!

Hypnosis offers drug free solutions.

Balance

2011-06-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

I think I need more balance in my life.

What exactly does that mean?

Most times I think people mean they need more leisure time or more family time. I have never heard anyone say this who wanted more time at the office.

But balance is a good positive word.

I want balance in my life between work, family and recreation. I want a high balance in my checking and savings account. I want low balances on my credit card bills.

Zero balances are good, on credit card bills, not good for your checking account.

Nobody likes to be off-balance.

And what is meant by "perfect" balance...

Hypnosis can be used to improve the balance in your life. Consult with your local hypnotist to identify the areas that are out of balance and set goals to improve your life.

Digestion and Hypnosis

2011-06-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

In a recent article in John Hopkins Health Alert, it says:

The symptoms of digestive disorders can be alleviated, and often completely eliminated, with the right combination of medication, dietary changes, exercise, weight loss, stress reduction, and, as a last resort, surgery.

It seems that hypnosis can help with several of these, especially exercise, weight loss, dietary changes, and stress reduction. Hypnosis is the best method I know of to reduce stress. Self-hypnosis done on a daily basis has many physical benefits, all due to the reduction of cortisol, which is a byproduct of prolonged stress. Hypnosis can help someone establish a regular exercise routine, and stay motivated. It also helps with weight loss, because it can facilitate dietary changes necessary to maintain a healthy diet. Just imagine how beneficial it would be to eliminate cravings for unhealhy foods, establish cravings for healthy alternatives, and diminish the appetite in general!

If you need a hypnotist, you can use NGH.net to find one located near your zip code.

According to this research, these are the conditions that can be alleviated this way:
Crohn's disease
diarrhea
diverticulosis and diverticulitis
gallstones
gastritis
irritable bowel syndrome
ulcerative colitis
ulcers

Honey

2011-05-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to read this article today!

http://www.realage.com/tips/control-blood-sugar-weight-honey-benefits

I always thought that honey was better for you than refined sugar, but I was told that honey is sugar and sugar is bad for your health!

So now I feel better. And nexzt time I have a craving, I'm going to try a spoonful of honey. I think as long as I use a reasonable sized spoon I'll be okay.

The type of sweetener you use in your oatmeal and coffee could have quite an impact on your ability to trim down.

According to new research, you should grab the honey pot, not the sugar bowl. In a study, the effects that honey had on appetite hormones and blood sugar control were more favorable than those of table sugar. Which means choosing honey could help prevent weight gain.

And honey has antioxidants, too!

Self Empowerment Hypnosis

2011-05-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

The Self Empowerment Hypnosis Class will take place on Tuesday, May 17, at 6:30 PM at

Unity Church of Palm Harbor
1960 Tampa Road
Palm Harbor FL.

Self empowerment means different things to different people. But most people have an idea of what they need to succeed. This class will help people find the resources within to help them define, develop and pursue their best self.

Hypnosis is a great way to develop your own inner resources and instill motivation. I will teach you several self-hypnosis techniques that are easy to use. Please call 727-946-1531 for more information.

Thanks.

Studying with Hypnosis

2011-05-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Now is the time for all good students to STUDY!

Final exams are just around the corner, if not here already.

Many students stay up all night cramming. But there are other ways to pass exams.

Good study habits can be used all during the year, as classes seem to accumulate more and more information as time goes on. It's easier to absorb information in smaller pieces. Repetition always assists learning and if you do not access the information for a long time, it may be lost, so reviewing the information frequently helps it stay with you. That means it has gone into long-term memory, the storage banks, not just short term memory, like cramming.

Also, if you stay up all night before a test, there is the added worry that you might fall asleep duringthe exam.

Hypnosis helps you relax. It is the best thing to do just before the exam.

Of course, we all know that you need a good night's sleep and a decent breakfast before the test.

Hypno-birthing

2011-05-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

It was on TV last night, on the news. We actually saw Heather Van Nest during labor. She thought she would give hypnosis a try after seeing several women on a video going through labor without pain!

Heather did not use any pain medication during labor. She said there was a little discomfort towards the very end of labor, but for her, it was "tolerable."

I am always amazed at how many wonderful things can be accomplished with hypnosis!

Tarpon Springs Easter Dynamite

2011-04-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

I guess I am the first to report the events of last night, April 23, 2011, in Tarpon Springs Florida.

Easter is the biggest holiday for the Greek Orthodox Church. In order to begin celebrating at midnight on Easter morning, the Greek Orthodox gather at 11:00 pm on Saturday night. They start early in Tarpon Springs, as St. Nicholas Church must only hold about 500 people and they attract a crowd much larger than that. So if you want to get a seat in the glorious church, you must arrive before 10:00pm.

The faithful who arrived early and were admitted to the church, were evacuated at about 9:15 pm because the police had to search the building and the area. The rumors say that a bomb or some dynamite had been discovered. Everyone inside had to evacuate. No members were allowed to enter the church. The street was blocked off to all but police and police vehicles.

Police dogs searched the area.

Noone was allowed into the church until 11:20.

The service was abbreviated and much more quiet than usual. Nevertheless, shortly after midnight, candles were lit and the faithful exchanged greetings, as well as hugs and kisses.

KALO PASCHA!

Hotmail Hijacked Again

2011-04-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

I opened my email this morning. Wow! 100 messages! I usually don't have that many unread messages... Oh, no! A bunch of undeliverables by Postmaster. About 25 of them. So I look at a few of them and discover that "g_constantas" sent everyone on my list a link to some unknown website. If you got one of these, I am very sorry. I did not send it. My husband got one and he was angry that I sent him a link to a site where he can buy Viagra. He didn't believe me when I said it wasn't me! It says right here, from Gloria Constantas!

But this has happened to me before and I have gotten other similar messages from people I know on hotmail. They only come from hotmail. So I tried to contact hotmail support. I can't send a question. I don't know if it is only my computer with that problem. Hotmail Q&A says that I must've given my password to some unauthorized site. I'm sure I didn't. But I really wish this didn't happen. I was just about to send out my newsletter. Right now I think there are several people who don't want to hear from me. Anyway, the spammer exceeded my limit, so I can't send any messages right now. I am just hoping that there are no more messages from the spammer hanging out in virtual space, that will be activated when the limit is resent tomorrow at 10:13am.

It's weird, they also deleted my "Sent" folder. I changed my password and security question a few times. They deleted all the sent messages from 2010 and 2011. I wonder why?

Financial IQ

2011-04-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

I have just completed 2 books by Robert Kiyosaki. The ones I have read are Increase Your Financial IQ and Guide to Becoming Rich. I have also read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which is probably his first and most famous book.

I am very impressed with his chapter on Developing your Financial Genius in Increase your Financial IQ. In it, there is a section about how words inluence our thinking and our behavior. This man grew up in Hawaii. Maybe the differences are more pronounced there, but he states that the rich and the poor speak different dialects. He says the dialect of the poor and middle-class limit the money-making potential of the speakers! He backs this up with science, citing that the mirror neurons in the brain are responsible for this phenomenon. The mirror neurons are the learning parts of the brain and they tend to mirror or reproduce what is in their environment. So if you want to be rich, you have to surround yourself with nice things, and immerse yourself in the language of the wealthy people -- The words, thoughts, and actions of the Rich!

How's that for verbal impact?! I find the scientific evidence for my theory in a book about personal finance. That isn't what I was looking for.

This book also contains a lot about personal and business budgets, net-worth, and the economy. It is very helpful for anyone who deals with money, anyone who buys things, or sells things, anyone who wants money, in short, every one! I recommend it highly.

Time Savers

2011-04-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

Computers are such time savers for people today. What would we do without the Internet?

What did we do before? I just looked up a word on the internet found several definitions, most of them agreed and I can click here and hear the standard pronunciation! If I didn't have Internet, I would have had to drag out the unabridged Dictionary, which weighs about 15 pounds, look it up and then heave it back up on the shelf. Instead I will use the Internet and then go to the fitness club and do some bicep and tricep weight training. I think I just heard a bell. Not exactly a bell, but an electronic signal which is supposed to sound like a bell. Just a minute, let me check my email....

3 hours later

Yes, the internet is quite a time saver. How else would I keep up with all my friends and business acquaintances, and a myriad of FaceBook Friends, to boot!
It only took 30 minutes, uh, 45, I mean, an hour, oh, THREE HOURS to check it. Next time I'm going to set a timer. I think I can do that with an app...let me check on that.

Anyway, there are only 24 hours in a day. If I save something like 4 or 5 hours by getting all my news and socializing done online, it's not like I get more time tomorrow, or on the weekend. So what does it mean to SAVE time? I'll have to research that and get back to you. Stay tuned.

And if you want to reduce stress and improve your time management skills, I intend to make a free download available on my website, www.EnlightenedHypnosis.com.

Millionaire Mind

2011-04-08T07:07:00.001-07:00

Last night I went to a Millionaire Mind Event and I am pumped!

I took the pledge. No complaints will pass my lips for 7 (SEVEN) days!

Do you think I can do it???!

New Paragraph

2011-04-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Is this a problem with my computer? or is everyone having the same problem?

All of a sudden my blog articles do not post with any spacing between paragraphs. the only way I can get some spaces between paragraphs is to use the quotation indicator on the toolbar. Like I did with the first 2 sentences of this blog. Otherwise it gets all bunched up. All spaces and enters (Return Key = enter) are reduced to one space. I am not wordy, but when there is only one paragraph, I think this makes it harder to read, and may make someone who does not want to concentrate just glance at the lenghth of the paragraph, find it daunting, and just move on to another blog.

Is anyone else having this problem?

Also I can't copy something from a word document and paste it into my blog. What is that about?! I often write articles in Word and then decide to put it in blogger... I did that today and it took me 15 minutes to retype the article I just posted on Verbal Impact. I want to post a series of articles about learning, memory and test anxiety, under the heading of Studying with Hypnosis. I think I am going to need a way to separate the paragraphs. So I'll be creative with the quotation device. See what I mean? This is supposed to be a different paragraph...

Walking in the Park

2011-04-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

This morning as I walking in the park, some thoughts came to me. I was wondering why sometimes Life seems like a struggle. Then it came to me.

Life is like a dance.

Sometimes you may have difficulty learning new steps, and sometimes you may feel tired, but the energy keeps you going. Sometimes it seems difficult to keep dancing, but
the Dance is always Beautiful.
The park was refreshing this morning. It seems Mother Nature did her Spring Cleaning yesterday, with an extended high speed wind-rain-thunder-and-lightning storm. There were branches, spanish moss, leaves and dry palm fronds on the path. It was beautiful. I love the park in the morning, anyway.

You Light up my Life!

2011-03-31T06:41:00.000-07:00

We were doing research on crystals in the bookstore and library yesterday. We found an interesting stone, which has a combination of colors: it appears white with black spots in the photo. This stone has unique qualities. It lights up the dark and conversely, darks up the light. It's a rare stone, called Merlinite. I would venture a guess that the name has something to do with the famous wizard, Merlin.

Do you love your job?

2011-03-16T03:43:00.000-07:00

I have this job that I love, but I'm also like, when can I go home. In a way this is good, because otherwise I'd never go home. I would just kill myself doing this show.

--Tina Fey

Jobs are Fun

2011-03-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

Do you work?

Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun.
--Colleen C. Barrett

If you have a job without aggravation, you don't have a job.
--Malcolm Forbes

Interesting opposing viewpoints, or should I say, attitudes?

Don't Worry

2011-03-04T08:25:00.001-08:00

This is my favorite Bible passage. It is from Matthew 6:25-30.

Do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink;
Nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, they do not reap or sow or gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?

By worrying, which of you can add one single hour to your lifespan?

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor spin, yet
I tell you that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field,
which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace,
will He not much more will clothe you? You men of little faith!

Do not worry, then saying 'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or "what shall we wear for clothing?'
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things. Your Father knows you need all these things.
But seek first his kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of it's own.

Or if I may make a suggestion, just leave that last sentence out altogether, or maybe we could say,
Each day has enough treasure of it's own.

Driving around Tarpon Springs

2011-02-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

In driving through Tarpon Springs, FL today, I noticed a few things.

There are some beautiful flaming orange flowers blooming on vines that are climbing some chain-link fences in the area. They are so vibrant!

I do like the new "speed humps" much better than speed bumps. Over by the yacht club, they put some speed humps with valleys through the middle, for motorcycles, I think. This makes it possible to put the left tires in the valley and the right tires in the gutter, and not feel the bump or hump at all.

I also want to ask about why, in a town of tiny 2 lane streets, the powers that be would decide to make the one road that had the width of 4-5 lanes and put obstacles on the sides and in the middle, and especially at the corner of Pinellas Road and Lemon Street, in order to make it into a road with only 2 lanes? Why would any idiot who lives in a town with streets that really aren't wide enough for the traffic, want to make any street less wide? I cannot fathom it.

From what I can discern, this is part of a Beautification Project. I find this ironic.

Remember Me?

2011-02-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

Another study shows that stress interferes with short-term memory.

I just read a great article with some memory tips by Jane Thurnell-Read:

http://www.healthandgoodness.com/article/improve-memory.html

She also has some stress reduction tips. I recommend daily self-hypnosis and/or meditation for stress reduction.

Memory can be enhanced with hypnosis. Learning, the acquisition of new knowledge and esperience can be accellerated with hypnosis.

You Take my Breath Away!

2011-02-18T16:34:00.001-08:00

"You take my breath away" or "You can take my breath away," as the song says.

Is that a good thing?

If something really took your breath away, and you couldn't breathe, I think it would be bad. What a strange expression.

It's like getting the wind knocked out of you -- not a good feeling, at all!

Still, great beauty can take your breath away. Or it can leave you breathless. And a breath-taking view is awe-inspiring.

Thank you for allowing me to clear the air and enjoy a breath of fresh air.

Even More Benefits

2011-02-16T16:58:00.000-08:00

Many people already know the benefits of meditation: better
sleep, relief from stress, and a general sense of well being -
among other things. But many people don't know how to fit
meditation into their daily routine or simply aren't sure of how
to get the most from their practice.

Now, thanks to Mark Beck, there is an inexpensive, easy way to learn how. His book, Personal Empowerment through Meditation is a short handbook on a very practical method. It's available at smashwords, and other places where you can find e-books.

Beck writes about stillness. He says that stillness is water's true nature and that the Mind is like a glass of water with some sediment in it. Your mind is like this glass of water: it can be turbulent and muddy, or still and (mostly) clear.

He says that meditation is a "powerful tool that can help us lead happier and more peaceful lives."

So, if you've ever had trouble meditating, or are just beginning, you want to read this book! There are many physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of meditation.

The benefits include inner peace as well as world peace, according to some...See the previous post for the scoop on world peace!

Also, see the book review on Verbal Impact.

Namaste.

More Meditation Benefits

2011-01-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about Mahareshi Mahesh Yogi? He taught the Beatles how to do transcendental meditation, as well as thousands of others.

It seems TM has even more benefits than other types of meditation. There have been many studies now, that show that if a person meditates regularly, he will enjoy all the benefits of the relaxation response, including better sleep, higher energy, more patience, higher frustration tolerance, better health, and better brain function. So there are many individual benefits and it seems this can be expanded to the community level, promoting peace and lowering violence of all kinds.

Someone has used the data to calculate that when we have 8,000 people meditating daily, that there will be world peace. I think this is really interesting and will write more about it this year.

If you are interested, see http://www.permanentpeace.org/.

My Wishes for 2011

2010-12-31T14:35:00.000-08:00

Beloved Friend,

I wish you a Brilliant New Year

brimming with all things

wonderous and beautiful!

Thank you for reading.

Polite Addition

2010-12-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

I wonder what this is about. These are the kind of comments I get on my blogs:

I've ever liked things like sand clocks, lava lamps and the like, days of yore staring at it as a configuration of catharsis. In an opportunity it helps me with meditation to mitigate emphasis and decent think in the air nothing. That's why since I was a kid, in place of dolls and cars I've eternally sedate more of such pieces like sand clocks, lava lamps, and musical boxes etc. So I was most delighted to find XYZ.

My dogs are also fair out around the laser gyroscope. they each follow the gyroscope as it spins, although at principal they kept barking at the laser slight accompany, and also because it produces music. But after they got worn it, they've stopped barking but virtuous maintain following the gyroscope whenever I start spinning it. Kids are also pretty amused nearby it. On occasion it's proper to possess entertaining toys on all sides the lineage so that you can desert the small on while the kids are being amused or playing with it while you open to prepare viands or fall heir to changed. The gyroscope is a particular such play with with this purpose.

The gyroscope I bought from XYZ has a dragon as a intent plot on it, and produces a dainty indicator with red, obscene, and green colours. Take a look at the pictures...the music produced from the gyroscope is not that great but allowaable adequacy to treat any supplementary visitor to the house. The gyroscope is red and negro, making it look particular cold, and slightly macho with that dragon imprint.

This the funniest part:

I have also acclimatized this gyroscope to their heels of my girlfriend during our anniversary celebration. I did the cheesy thing of decorating the pension elbow-room with roses and when I led her in, I started up the gyroscope as rise so that the laser torchlight expose produces a dreamed-up effect. I also had some battery operated candles so all the sunrise effects created a mawkish atmosphere. She loved it, at near the style, to my relief. I also bought candles from XYZ..

There's more good advice for all the many applications of this incredible gyroscope, which is appropriate for children, pets and especially for your significant other. Also decorating ideas, in case you want to create a mawkish atmosphere.

''This amazing invention can also be a polite addition to the traditional Christmas decorations!

Is this code?

Does someone require help?

I'm sure it is more than just random words and phrases.

I am also sure it was not generated by a person who is familiar with the English language.

What are they actually selling on XYZ? I don't know and I want no part of it. I won't even try to go to the link they liberally sprinkled throughout the "comment." But where do these things come from? How are they generated? Do they really drive traffic to the target site? Or do they think I will post it and get them visitors? This one after careful reading seems to actually make some sense, althought it reminds me of Mad-Libs, where you just insert random adjectives into a paragraph for hilarious effect.

P.S. What is a sand clock? Is it an hourglass?

Meditation Benefits

2010-12-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

There is good news for meditators.

People who have meditated for only 5 years may be physically 5 years younger than their chronological age and long term meditators may be up to 12 years younger based on certain age indicators like blood pressure, near-point vision and auditory discrimination.

The reason for the differences between the chronological age and the "real" age, may be found in the hormone levels. (See RealAge.com to determine your "real" age.)

In as little as 90 days, 20 minutes of daily meditation causes an increase in the hormone, DHEA, which is associated with decreased stress, better memory, sexual function, and weight control. DHEA is associated with anti-aging benefits for this reason. Meditation, breathing exercises or self-hypnosis all have these benefits, because they increase your DHEA level naturally.

A recent article in Time reports that meditators may live longer than non-meditators, because of a higher level of the enzyme, telomerase. This is because in as little as 30 days, the enzyme shows an increase. You can read more about it at healthland.time.com.

I can also recommend an excellent book about meditation, by a colleague of mine, Mark Beck. It's called Personal Empowerment through Meditation and is available at SmashWords:
www.smashwords.com/books/view/35703
This is a practical book which gives you straight-forward advice about how to use meditation to improve your life on a daily basis.

I will also review it in my other blog, Verbal Impact.

Flying Quotations

2010-12-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

On Dec 7, 1903, the first powered airplane flight occurred in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That was almost 110 years ago!

Orville Wright piloted the first flight which lasted 12 seconds. They made 3 more flights that day, and the longest was 59 seconds with Wilbur as pilot.

We considered our experiments a failure. At this time I made
the prediction that man would sometime fly, but that it wouldn't
be in our lifetime.

Wilbur Wright said that in 1901. In 1902, he stated,

Our new machine is a very great improvement over anything
we had built before... Everything is so much more satisfactory
that we now believe that the flying problem is
really nearing its solution.

And at the end of 1903, they did it!

Uncommon Courtesy

2010-12-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

"God Bless You." What happened to this simple courtesy of saying this? It shows concern for someone who sneezes, concern for their health. But no one is worried about anyone else's health these days, only about their own. so if someone sneezes they are more likely to say, "Go home if you're sick!" which sounds like concern, or just, "Stay away from ME!" which shows their true concern is only for themselves.

Take care of #1.
Is this a good thing? yes because we can't take care of others unless we take care of ourselves. everything is connected, so when we take care of #1, we benefit the whole world.
Selfishness.
how did selfishness get a bad rap?
How did this article turn out to be a defense of selfishness, when I wanted to defend courtesy?

Close Encounter with the Fat Man

2010-12-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

Rochester NY is known as the Lilac City. Beautiful and fragrant lilac trees throughout the city, making the spring bursting of flowers look like a sunnier continuation of winter snowstorms.

On one wintery day my parents took me for a walk. I remembered the fragrant Lilacs in Spring smelling so sweet. It was in great contrast to what I smelled now, in the depths of winter.

I smelled snow. White, fluffy, fresh snow.

The absence of odor and the blanket over the earth was spooky.

At night there was a glow. Red, green, yellow, blue, white. Red, green, yellow, blue, white. Red green, yellow, blue, white.

We went down the hill on our street named Hilary Drive. Decorated trees, tinsel sparkling, yard art appropriate for the winter and Christmas season. Candle-lined driveways. Grey smoke rising from chimneys.

It was quiet. Peaceful. I felt like a mysterious guest having descended on winter-wonderland. In my five year old mind's eye, I replayed the last night's movie of Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer. Peacefully parading with proud parents among eager children.

We made a right turn. I had never been down this street before.

Where were the giggles coming from... Who was being amused this late at night? Why were so many children and their parents outside?

I think we were coming up to a barn or farm of some kind. The barn yard noises were here. Braying donkeys, neighing horses, barking dogs, hooting barn owls,

Patience I was told was a virtue. Do you know that means nothing to a youngster standing in line. For what? A petting zoo?

Slowly we inched forward and I heard fewer animals. What I saw was unbelievable: real life Rudolphs!

Harnessed together, we slowly passed all the reindeers of my childhood movies. But this was no movie: I heard the deep rumbles, and round laughter.

Ho Ho Ho.

There he was, on his sleigh: red velvet suited, white bearded Santa.

I saw him. In person. Waiting for me!

Santa! Hello Santa!

This article was written by guest blogger, Lou Polur.

Thanks, Lou!

Memory Fog

2010-12-01T11:11:00.001-08:00

Good news about Menopausal Memory Fogginess:

It is temporary!

The John Hopkins Medicine Newsletter reports that

"The brain fogginess that many women complain about during the transition to menopause is real, according to a new study. Fortunately, the study found that women's memories rebound after menopause is complete."

So since stress and tension make memory problems worse, just relax, use self-hypnosis, and don't worry about your memory!

17 Quit Smoking in Tarpon Springs!

2010-11-29T17:59:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, November 17, 17 elks quit smoking in Tarpon Springs, FL!
Actually, 17 people quit at the Elks Lodge while attending a workshop about how to permanently quit smoking cigarettes by using hypnosis. This Workshop was facilitated by Debbie Lane, a well-known certified hypnotist from Palm Harbor. She donated all the entrance fees to the American Heart Association, and the Elks Lodge matched the amount!

17 people took a leap into unknown territory last week. They bravely decided to take control and stop filling their lives and their lungs with toxic smoke. They disclosed all of their worries to Debbie Lane who dispelled each one like a puff of smoke.

After speaking about the benefits of hypnosis and the health benefits of not smoking, she led 17 people on a journey toward health and clear-headedness. Gloria Constantas and Lynette Graden assisted Debbie with her mission to clear the air. Congratulations to these 17 brave new clean-air breathers!

Smokers and Alzheimers

2010-11-15T07:04:00.000-08:00

There are so many reasons to quit smoking. We don't need another one. But I just received this Health Alert by email:

Johns Hopkins Health Alerts:
Memory
Another Reason NOT to Smoke

We have been warned for many decades not to smoke. Now the World Health Organization says that tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world, surpassing heart disease for the first time. Five million people die of causes linked to tobacco use annually.

Medical research is providing additional warnings to smokers. A study in the publication Neurology reported that older adults who smoke face an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, worse mental health was also more likely in persons who smoke than in non-smokers.

Most people know that smoking cigarettes can cause lung cancer. However, smoking is also a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease -- especially if you have the ApoE4 (apolipoprotein E4) gene. According to recent research presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago, heavy smokers (and heavy drinkers) develop Alzheimer's disease years earlier than people with Alzheimer's who do not drink or smoke heavily.

On top of this bad news comes some more: Smoking in midlife might increase the chance of Alzheimer's in later life among those who already carry this increased genetic risk. Read on ... http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/memory/
And if you need help stopping the tobacco habit, you can take advantage of this geat opportunity to quit smoking and make a donation to the American Heart Association at the same time!

Great American Smoke Out

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, at 7 PM, Debbie Lane will hold a 2 hour session for those who want to quit smoking at the Elks Lodge, 237 S. Pinellas Ave, Tarpon Springs. The cost is only $49.00 and 100% will be donated to the American Heart Association.

To register, contact Debbie Lane at www.wisdomhypnosis.com.
If you know anyone who still smokes, please pass along this information.

Elks Lodge
237 S. Pinellas Ave.
Tarpon springs, FL
Nov. 17 at 7 PM!

What are Affirmations?

2010-11-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

What are affirmations and what can they do?

Simply put, affirmations are positive statements. But many believe thay are much more than that. A quick survey reveals that:
affirmations can improve your life,
affirmations help you take control of your life,
affirmations program the subconscious mind to attract success,
and an affirmation is a declaration that something is true.

Many authors advocate the use of affirmations: Louise Hay, Sonia Choquette, Shakti Gawain, Wayne Dyer,and many others.

I was surprised when I read a book by Suze Ormond, who advocated the practice of writing affirmations 20 times each morning. She didn't refer to it as an "affirmation," though, she called it a "Truth."

So affirmations are statements that could be true. They might be true now, or could become fact some time in the future. The important thing is persistence. Suze Ormond urges you to write the affirmation 20 times every day until it IS true without any doubt and then move on to a different one.

So it needs to be stated in a certain way and need to be measurable in some way. But Suze also recommends that if you are using numbers, always be sure not to limit yourself. For example:

I am independently wealthy, earning $10,000 every month.

should be stated

I am independently wealthy, earning $10,000 OR MORE every month.

The use of affirmations helps you become more optimistic. Optimists see life in a certain way. The positive perspective is not just more enjoyable, it seems optimistic individuals are more resilient, more healthy, AND more happy than pessimists. It cannot be dismissed as unrealistic, because looking for the silver lining and focusing on it turns out to be good for you.

Remember:

Every cloud has a silver lining.

--American proverb

Walking Craze

2010-11-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

Everywhere I look, I am reading about the benefits of walking!

Walking is a great exercise. It's good for body, mind, and spirit. The Chinese believe it helps to balance your yin and yang energies.

It's cheap and easy: no special equipment is required, although I hear walking sticks make it a more demanding exercise, and help tone the arm muscles, not just legs and gluts.

I like to walk in the cool of the morning. That's the best time around here, as it is often too hot in the middle of the afternoon.

If you want to control your weight and decelerate the effects of aging, you only need to walk 30 minutes per day, 4 times per week!

Many of my clients seek hypnosis to stay motivated and establish a walking habit, as well as getting fitter and fitting into tight jeans!

Downsized Again

2010-11-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

I got downsized again. From a position in a corporation. I worked there for 2 years, after getting downsized from a nonprofit position 2.5 years ago.

I feel like eating brownies.

OK. Now I'm ready to expand my horizons and serve more clients and students with my own business, Enlightened Hypnosis.

And I have reduced 5 pounds, so downsizing can be advantageous!

Replenish your Reserves

2010-10-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

Reduce stress and replenish your spirit, with self-hypnosis. I’m listening to another audiobook where meditation is recommended. Well, self-hypnosis done on a daily basis is just as advantageous as daily meditation. And I think it will help you achieve concrete goals faster. Meditation is great and I use both self-hypnosis and meditation often. But with meditation I quiet the mind, and with self-hypnosis I modify my behavior or beliefs with positive suggestions. So meditation is more subtle and more spiritual, perhaps. Self-hypnosis is more practical. I guess that's why I use both. I can see the advantages of both and choose which one will be more helpful for me today. And some days I do both. Neither one has to take longer than 20 minutes. It just depends on your schedule.

Were they lying?

2010-10-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

91% of people report lying on a regular basis. According to a recent survey. This begs the question: Were they lying?

Maybe the 9% were lying, and it's actually 100%!

But I don't think so. I think 91% of people lie on surveys. Even if they tell you it's anonymous, how can anyone be sure?

Who were they surveying?

Lawyers or nuns? statistics are so suspicious. 57, no, 67% of all statistics are made up on the spot! I read that somewhere, I think it was on my blog...

Boomerangs

2010-10-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

Love is a boomerang. It comes back to you multiplied. Love expands, seeks new heights. Love expands to fill the container, and extends out thru the confinement by smoothing an escape path and when it makes an opening, the opening stretches and the container sublimates, curls back into itself, creating a flower-like shape out of the vessel.

Who wrote this?

Sounds like some of the new age authors I devour voraciously, but it was me. I must have been in a good mood that morning.

Thank you, Armand and Angelina, for the metaphor, "love is a boomerang."

Top 10 Motivators

2010-10-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

There are many theories of motivation. It is a huge field, and a huge endeavor to try to boil down the list to only 10, so I have tried to identify the ones that I have observed in those around me and have experienced in my own life.

10. Money. This is a big motivator. People like to have money. Some even work at jobs in order to get money on a regular basis.

9. Altruism. Many people are motivated to help others, their community and even the world. Think of Mother Theresa and Oprah Winfrey. Some people are so altruistic that they ignore their own needs. The psychological term for this is codependent.

8. Excellence. Many people strive for excellence. Those who wish to be excellent speakers, join Toastmasters International. People who are preoccupied with excellence are called perfectionists.

7. Comfort, familiarity, habit. This can be good or bad, for example, brushing your teeth every morning is good, while overindulging in Chips Ahoy every evening is not.

6. Loyalty. This is also called social incentive. People do things for the team or the company, or their friends. It can also be called Peer Pressure or stupidity, like when a friend has a stupid idea and you go along with it.

5. Curiosity. Someone asks a question and you are intrigued, want to find out or figure it out. For example, someone asked me recently, how does Toastmasters International motivate its members? That got me to thinking about it ... and writing (and speaking) about it!

to be continued....

Across the Universe

2010-09-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

These are the lyrics to the Beatles' song:

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

Happy New Year 5771!

2010-09-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

Rosh Hashanah only comes once a year!

It's time to dip the apples in honey and wish for a sweet and happy new year!

L'shanah tovah!

According to www.jewfaq.org:

...there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American midnight drinking bash and daytime football game.

There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one: Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayerbook called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. This was the second Jewish religious practice I was ever exposed to (the first one: lighting Chanukkah candles), and I highly recommend it. It's yummy. We also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason.

Enjoy!

Read, Eat, Pray, Love

2010-09-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

I mean read Eat Pray Love, the book. I have!

After I read it I was thinking it has been a long time since I read a novel. But this isn't a novel. It is based on a true story. So is it fiction or non-fiction? It feels more like fiction, because most of the non-fiction I read does not have a story. This one has many vivid characters, and a lot of profound truths. Written as a triad, the author eats her way through Italy, majoring in pizza and gelato, then meditates 16 hours per day, which elevates her kundalini in India, then looks up a medicine man in Bali, who refers her to another healer when her wounded leg becomes infected. She has some interesting experiences in Indonesia, and meets the man of her dreams, even though she has just decided to live a monastic life. The story starts with a divorce, then a torrid love affair, and ends with a friendship which slowly turns to passion. Another triad.

I couldn't put this book down when I picked it up. There are three parts: Italy, India, and Indonesia. It does not go into depth with the author's marriage or divorce, except that it was a very painful, long, drawn-out process. In the first third, Italy was magnificent and the descriptions of food could send you running to your favorite Italian restaurant. The middle is about spirituality and did not translate well to the movie version. And in my opinion, the final third was a little unfocused. Her purpose in Bali was unclear. She set out to eat in Italy, and meditate in India, but went back to Bali to meet a man she met once years earlier, while writing an article. At that time he read her palm, and prophesized that she would come back and stay in Bali. He also promised to teach her everything he knew. I'm not sure he taught it all to her, but he was grateful that she made a permanent copy of all the notes that were given to him by his teachers. Bali looked beautiful. I bet this book, and movie, if nothing else, will at least revitalize the tourism to that island.

This is one woman's voyage of self-discovery in countries beginning with "I."

So another author has written the man's answer to Eat, Pray, Love. It is called Drink, Play, F@#k.

Irish Blessing

2010-09-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

May you be blessed in the name of Jesus, who took the cross up the hill so we may be transfigured, in His holy name, may your life be blessed. May deep within you the places of darkness turn towards the light.
When pain comes may you be given a stillness in it. May you be given the wisdom not to resist it, but to let it flow through you.
May you recognize in any suffering that comes to the door of your heart a guest who brings you special gifts and may you have the courage to open that door so that your lovely heart can become larger and more kind and more beautiful.

May you never forget or lose the fruits of light which your own suffering has brought you. May you go back in your mind to recover these lost bright candles of light that you sorely earned and that you now need and may you now be able to gather around you the wonderful shelters that you have received and earned through your own pain.
May you realize that you are sistered to every thing that is alive and that what ever you suffer brings new life to everything that is.
May you never be afraid of suffering because may you know that within the eye of the storm, that there is the stillness of the Divine voice whispering to you that you are safely held within the loving embrace of a great tenderness which will never let anything happen to you.

Though the storms may rage in your heart and all about you, you will never fall out of the tenderness and love and gentle protection of the Divine Embrace.

John O’Donohue

Superior Aging

2010-08-28T17:25:00.001-07:00

Self Magazine has an article this month about 8 health secrets to stay youthful. I went over most of these in my workshop, The Hypnotic Fountain of Youth.

http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/video/default.aspx?vid=0f74392c-188c-4add-b45e-6141e7a9126b%26tab=beauty%26ap=today&from=en-us_lifestyle_beauty

Eat Your Heart Out

2010-08-21T10:54:00.001-07:00

That's a weird expression. Eat your heat out. Eat to your heart's content? I have to look into these and find out how they came about.

I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love and it is very funny. And I'm wondering about the eating part. The author is trying to mend her broken heart. She traveled to Italy first to try every kind of food available. The description of pizza in Naples is indescribably delicious!

More to follow.

I have total recall

2010-08-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

Marie Antoinette:

There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.

I thought this was relevant since I am doing a workshop about Memory Techniques.

Mnemonic devices do work. I used the Memory Palace technique to memorize my last speech for Toastmasters and it was a success. The first time I did a speech with NO NOTES!

What was the name of my speech? I forgot.

That's the name. "I forgot" was the title!

Reunion of Immaculation Conception School

2010-07-28T04:44:00.000-07:00

Since I am a toastmaster and I will be at a reunion in a few weeks, I need a nice Toast for the group. of people I haven't seen in 30 something years. Some of them I don't remember at all. Some I may actually never even have spoken to. I went to Catholic School, Immaculate Conception School. In Stapleton, Staten Island.

What do I remember from those days?

My best friend for almost all 8 years was Lila.
She lived close by. I played with Lila and her sisters, Marla and Cynthia since I was 5 years old.

Monica lived nearby.

Regina lived close.

Jeanne Marie and Debbie lived down the street.

Maryann lived across the street from the church. We actually counted the Sunday collection for a while. That was when we had to go to church. We had to put the little envelopes in numerical order so they could take attendance and see if Sr. Elizabeth had to talk to you about skipping Mass! We did this for maybe a few months. I think we talked too much and thay had to get new recruits.

I remember Sr. Cathleen (eighth) was strict. Mr. Garrett (seventh) was interesting, the first and only male teacher we had. Sr. Eileen (fifth) was a character. She told me I should take cod liver oil. I've never taken cod liver oil, but I can't think of anything that sounds more disgusting (Cod? LIVER?! Yuk!).

Mrs. Moriarity in 4th grade was my favorite teacher. She used to have multiplication table bees. Not spelling, multiplication!

Mrs. O'Callahan. Third.
Mrs. Wranovix. Second.
Sr. Patricia who later changed her name to Sr. Mary.

You may notice I skipped sixth.In sixth grade we started the year with a pretty young nun, named Sr. Margaret. She must have left after a few weeks. Then we got Mrs. Benedetto. I don't remember much about her.

Quotations about Graceful Aging

2010-07-13T04:36:00.000-07:00

Oprah:
Whether you're 28 or 88, you've probably stamped yourself with a label. Look at the label that comes with your age, then replace it with the one that reflects the reality of your life. I know for sure that every birthday, you decide whether to make it the end of your greatest days or the beginning of your finest hour. Your call.

Katharine Hepburn:
I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.

George Sand:
It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides.

Carol Channing:
This is the best time in my life -- the first eighty years are definitely the hardest.

Oprah, again:
All these years I've been taking lessons from life experiences and feeling like I was growing into myself. Finally, I feel grown, more like myself than I've ever been. If it's true what Maya Angelou says--that the fifties represent everything you were meant to be--all I can say is WATCH OUT!

Time Heals

2010-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Quotation of the Month (July 2010)

Time heals all wounds and wounds all heels.

Who said it?

Most people would attribute this to Chaucer. In Troilus & Criseyde he says (in Old English): "As tyme hem hurt, a tyme doth hem cure"

However some people may argue that someone said this even earlier, Menander (342BC-291BC) in Greek: "Time is the healer of all necessary evils."

My father, Victor J. Dolan said it this way.

But apparently he was combining 2 expressions into one.

"Time heals all wounds" is an American Proverb.

"Time wounds all heels," was a variation attributed to a commedienne who regularly worked on the radio, during its heyday, Jane Sherwood Ace.

June 28

2010-06-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

Helen Keller was born June 27,1880.

Gilda Radner was born June 28,1946.

Mel Brooks is 84 today.
Kathy Bates is 62.
John Elway is 50.
John Cusack is 44.

Today I am 47 again. I'm 47 and holding. 47 is my lucky number. And my real age, according to RealAge.com.

If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner.
Tallulah Bankhead (1903 - 1968)
If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down.
Mary Pickford (1893 - 1979)
If I had my life to live over... I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
Nadine Stair

Rainbow

2010-06-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

"May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.

May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.

May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.

And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through."

- An Irish Blessing

Tuesday Afternoon

2010-06-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

Monday is named for the Moon. El Lunes en espanol.

Wednesday is named for Woden, somehow related to Mercury. El Miercoles en espanol.

Saturday is named for Saturn.

But what about Tuesday?

Tuesday is named for Tiw, a Norse god of War and Law. And in many places Tuesday is named for the planet Mars. Mars is the Roman god of war. El Martes en Espanol.

Public Speaking

2010-06-07T04:42:00.000-07:00

I hate the spotlight.

And several times in TM, members have said that all the attention should be on YOU. I always used visual aids, because I was more comfortable with the audience looking at them than looking at me.

Time to get over it. That's why I'm in TM. I can speak if I'm allowed to prepare the speech and practice.

I do have a talent for facial expressions!

Also, I think I'm funny. But I'm petrified that no one will laugh. Actually I'm petrified that no one will laugh except me. I have a subtle sense of humor and sometimes people don't get it. I did a workshop in costume 2 years ago and no one realized it. No one except people I had been talking to all weekend. I think I could be funny. I could do that stand up thing. Once people start laughing, they usually keep going..... Because I know ther have been studies done and the only thing that consistently makes people laugh is hearing other people laughing. That's why they have laugh tracks on TV. Still I try to be humorous, but the last time I did a speech at TM they didn't laugh at the first one and I got more nervous.

Laughter is a funny thing. Funny strange, not funny ha-ha. Children laugh more than 100 times per day. Adults average about 17 times per day. What a tragedy. When was the last time you had a good belly laugh?

I Forgot!

2010-06-07T04:25:00.000-07:00

I would like to speak about some ways to enhance memory retrieval. But before I do that, let me extol the virtues of Forgetting. Forgetting is a good thing. If we remembered every detail, it would be very distracting, even annoying. First it would take longer to retrieve the data. Even computer with huge databases require more time when there are 500,000 events to search than when there are 5.

Also, there is less virtual memory available to analyze the data. And then there is no way to eliminate the details that are unnecessary.

Forgetting is good.

Have you ever forgotten an appointment or a chore and then realized later, when it was too late, that you forgot? And though you might feel regret for an instant, you realize, I didn't want to go anyway!

Have you ever forgotten a word? Maybe it was on the "tip of your tongue?" Or did you make a bad substitution, or "slip of the tongue?"

I find some of these slips of the tongue to be quite amusing. As when I reminded myself to take an umbrella to work. It wasn't cloudy, I was reaching for a banana. The only thing they have in common is 3 syllables. Weird. Amusing, though.

The worst thing you can do is to let it worry you. Stress is the worst thing for memory. So if you start stressing about not recalling something it will take longer to retrieve it. The best thing to do is to take a deep breath, a few might be necessary, and say to your self, It will come back to me...

It usually does. I mean, it could be the next day, but it WILL come back!

Now where was I?

Some forgetting is normal. We are on input overload every day. Radio, Television, billbords, newspapers, Email, snail mail, work schedule, meeting agendas. It is very hard to filter out the important stuff. Some of this is done for us automatically. But we can only pay attention to so much.

There will be more articles about memory and forgetting, if I don't forget!

Mother Earth is Bleeding

2010-05-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

We punctured an artery while drilling for oil in the Gulf. Get a doctor! How can we stop the bleeding?

There are now Billions of TONS of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is worried about how that will affect tourism. Not worried about how to actually clean and dispose of all the oil, nevermind the plants and animals affected.

This is a tragedy. When will we learn?

Crawl or Soar

2010-05-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about Helen Keller.

She said something like

A person cannot consent to crawl, when she has the urge to soar.

I like that.

Of course, the "she" in that sentence applies to all people, all genders, just like "he" has applied to women, as well as men, for hundreds of years.

Has it been hundreds of years? I have read that "they" is now used as plural or singular, because it does apply to both genders.

What I really admire about Helen Keller, is that she was a professional speaker!

This is what she actually said:

One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.

Of course, she used the singular pronoun "one." You don't hear that very often these days. But it was a wise choice.

Statistics

2010-05-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

Someone has asked me a question about statistics, or metrics, for employee evaluations. It is an interesting question. This is my answer:

Stats are useless anyway. Keep your own. Estimate about 10 TCAs (or whatever your work unit is called)finished up every day, so that gives you 50 per week. Make sure you drop that number in every conversation with a supervisor. Actually, 47.5 is more believable. Make a chart with totally incomprehensible data on it. That’s always convincing.

You know 53, I mean, 59% of all stats are made up on the spot.

LOL

How to Change

2010-05-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

Change is difficult.

That's the first thing they said, but after a few weeks the students in my class said,
Change is exciting!

There are 6 stages of change:
1. You don't know yet that you have to change.
2. You realize that you have to change.
3. You make a decision to change.
4. You make an action plan.
5. You carry through the action plan, including a contingency plan for relapse.
6. Success.

Something that can make it easier to change, is hypnosis.

Emile Coue (1857-1926), a French pharmacist and pioneering hypnotist who said:
"Always think of what you have to do as easy and it will become so."

Another useful tool is visualization or imagination. It is particularly effective when combined with hypnosis.

And another insightful Coue-ism:
"When the will and the imagination are in conflict, the imagination invariably wins the day."

Change may not be easy, but it is inevitable. So take charge and make the decision to take action now.

I've also heard it said that change is good.

Hypnosis Songs

2010-05-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Days go by, I'm hypnotized. I'm walking on a wire...

From the song Sonny Came Home.

What does it mean? I have no idea.

But it doesn't sound very pleasant. And my clients always tell me it feels very good to be in trance. They come back feeling refreshed and wonderful in every way.

Is Thinking bad?

2010-05-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

I used to think that thinking was good and when the head and heart were in conflict, the best chioce would be to go with the head. I used to agree with Einstein, who said "Thinking is difficult, that's why so few do it."

Now, or should I say, in The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle has given me a new perspective on thinking. I'm actually listening to A New Earth by ET, again, or shall I say, "anew." I'm listening to the audiobook and reading The Power of Now in written form.

ET says that most thinking is incessant, repetitious, and meaningless noise in your head. Most of it is completely unnecessary. I have heard that we think 60-70 thousand thoughts per day, and that 90% are the same thoughts as yesterday, so I have to agree with him.

In his book he quotes Shakespeare, "Nothing is bad or good, but thinking makes it so."

I need to think about this...

I'll write more later.

Thank You for the Compliment

2010-04-30T07:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday someone told me I was funny.

Thank you.

I try to be amusing. Sometimes I try to be jocular or waggish, or even facetious (lightly amusing).

The day before someone compared me to Dave Barry.

Yes! Someone told me that Dave Barry is way more funny than I am!

Well, I take it as a compliment. Just to be in the same sentence is flattering!

What does Green mean?

2010-04-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

Green is a beautiful color. The color of the heart chakra, the fourth chakra, symbolizing balance, or love.

Green with envy.

You look green! (sick)

Green fruit is immature, unripe.

The meadow is green! lush, verdant.

So many and varied meanings.

Recently, it has come to mean environmentally conscious.

Kermit the frog said, "it's not easy being green."

My Blogs

2010-04-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

I am so funny! Like Dave Barry. Check out my post on "Dishabille" in Philog's blog today.

I am even getting comments on my blog posts. Yes I am! I just haven't published them because they are highly personal in nature. For example, I had 5 comments yesterday, that I deleted.

1 was about secret web cams taking photos of dishabille women.
2 was a message for guys worried about their desideratum, so they can order Viagra, cheap.
3 was about gambling on the internet.
4 was about Viagra again.
5 was a rather long invitation to a website for cheap cruises or air travel.

All advertisements. For things I really don't need.

So keep those comments coming! I will publish any that have anything to do with something I've blogged about. Even in poor English. If they seem to be related to my blog, I will post them.

(Women's) History

2010-04-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

“Well-behaved women seldom make history,” wrote historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in a 1976 article about Puritan women.

Remember where you left your glasses?

2010-04-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

I misplaced my glasses, again!

2 things that have to do with aging! (vison and memory)

I definitely need more hypnosis.

Hypnosis enhances your memory. It have heard it can also improve your vision and hearing temporarily. They say this works temporiarily, as it has long been known to affect the circulation and better circulation can improve your sensory perception. But I know hypnotists who have used it to improve vision maybe not permanently, but definitely over the long-term.

And hypnosis affects your beliefs about what is possible. That is what my next workshop will be about. Improving your memory with hypnosis and other techniques.

Scenic Route

2010-04-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

We visited relatives in Cyprus last week. While there we went to Hala Sultan Tekke, as the tomb for Mohammed's first cousin, it is the third most holy site for the Moslems.

The tomb is located on the Salt Lake. The view is beautiful. Palm trees and flowers all around. This time of year the citrus trees are blooming and the fragrance is exquisite.

Leaving the tomb, my husband asked me if I wanted to get on the highway or take the "scenic route." I chose the latter. He is from the area and is familiar with the back roads. We started driving through a field of tall weeds. A dirt path seemed to open up, not very wide, it appeared to be a dirt bike trail. The path was serpentine and very uneven. There had been ample rain this winter and the road appeared to be dry brittle mud, with a rut by the side where water had apparently rushed down during the heavier rains. Now this rut was getting wider and crossing the path from one side to the other, creating a deep crevass in the middle of the path. We had rented a Ford Fiesta, which is quite compact, and I feared it would not emerge if it fell into this rut which was now more like a gorge. We traveled on bravely for awhile, sometimes driving in the tall weeds and rocks on the side of the path, but at one point it appeared to be impassable.

This is when I started crying. Did I say yes to the Scenic Route??? I didn't know it was going to be a scenic RUT!!!! The passengers evacuated the car and my husband had to navigate thru the gorge (on 3 wheels, the left rear wheel took flight and didn't land for a minute or 2. This was quite a sight, but better than having the car turn over which was a very strong possibility.

Now when my husband asked if I wanted to take the scenic route, I assumed he was taking about a back road. Never assume while traveling abroad. They don't care about your safety. They will not have warning signs, or cones or workers directing traffic around a hazard. Proceed at your own risk.

Attack of the Alien Elevators

2010-04-08T05:33:00.001-07:00

If you go abroad, watch out for the elevators.

If you live in the US, you might expect that the elevator doors have sensors, and will open when they touch one of your limbs. I would like to issue this warning, and I have the bruises to prove it! Get in Quick! The elevator doors will continue to close even if they are crushing both of your arms. It's like being in a trash compactor. They keep squeezing you until they draw blood. Do not extend your hand to delay take off. You will lose it! While being crushed the second time, I took aggressive action and started kicking the doors. This seemed to minimize the damage, the doors did retract, though I do have nice greenish bruises on both my arms at this moment. Souvenirs from my trip to Cyprus.

Also, do not assume the toilets work the same way. Another story for another day.

Larnaca

2010-03-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Larnaca, is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus. It is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort. The island's largest airport, Larnaca International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city.

Larnaca is the oldest living city of Cyprus and was originally known as Kition, or Kittium. Legend has it that the first settlement at the spot was founded by Noah’s grandson Khittim. Unlike other ancient cities of Cyprus, which were abandoned by their inhabitants, Larnaca from the time of its founding 6000 years ago, has existed and still exists on the same site.

Originally the principal Phoenician colony in Cyprus, it later became a part of the Hellenistic world. The ancient site is at the north end of modern Larnaca. The earliest remains go back to the Mycenean age (ca 1400–1100 BC) and seem to mark an Aegean colony, but in historic times Citium was the chief center of Phoenician influence in Cyprus.

That this was still a recent settlement in the 7th century BC is suggested by an allusion in a list of the allies of Assurbanipal of Assyria in 668 BC to a King Damusu (Damasos) of Karti-hadasti (Phoenician "new city"), where Kitium would be expected. (The same ten kings appear in an earlier list of Esarhaddon's 673/672 BC, which might simply have been copied by Assurbanipal's scribes.)

A Phoenician dedication to Baal, dated also to the 7th century BC, suggests that Kitium may have belonged to Tyre. The discovery here of an official monument of Sargon II suggests that Kitium was the administrative center of Cyprus during the Assyrian protectorate (709–668 BC). During the Ionian Greek revolts of the 4th century BC, Kitium led the side that was loyal to Persia and was besieged by an Athenian force in 449 BC.

The Kition City Kingdom was established by the Mycenean Greeks in the 13th century BC when it enjoyed the dual position of a rich port and a major centre of the copper trade. Remains of that period excavated in recent years can be seen in its Cyclopean walls and a complex of Mycenean temples.

Being in the crossroad of civilization from the early dawn of history, Larnaca has attracted many visitors. Some came as colonizers, others as traders and others as invaders, conquerors or tourists. The Greeks, the Persians, the Egyptians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Franks, the Venetians, the Turks, the British and today all the annual three million travelers and tourists entering Cyprus from the town' s Airport, Port and the Marina.

The Byzantine period of Larnaca is of great importance. It left many interesting monuments, among them the 9th century AD Basilica of Saint Lazarus. The town regained its standing during Ottoman rule when it became the diplomatic and commercial center of Cyprus.

It was here that the British landed in 1878 to begin their rule of the island that was ended in 1960. The recent history of the town follows the very fast development of all of the country.

In 1973 the population of Larnaca was 22.000. In 1974 Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Army displaced by force about 200.000 Greek-Cypriots, the inhabitants of its Northern part. Larnaca received and welcomed over 40,000 refugees, thus tripling its population overnight, now at 85,000.

More Mental Flexibility

2010-03-24T05:13:00.000-07:00

A fascinating topic.

Just as you can stretch your body, to become more flexible, you can stretch your mind!

What is Mental Flexibility?

It is an attitude, a skill, a way of thinking.

Mental flexibility allows you to see things in a new way, come up with unusual solutions, and achieve better outcomes.

It you are mentally flexible, you can quickly adapt to feedback and adjust your behavior if necessary in order to get the outcome you intended.

And the good news is, that you can learn to be more flexible.

There are many benefits.

The first characteristic is Perception.

This is influenced by our personality, experiences and expectations. If we look at things in a rigid way, we can only see things that we recognize from past experience and may miss an opportunity for growth.

Your perception is determined by your experiences, expectations, and attitudes. For example, many years ago I went to a restaurant with a friend of mine. She is a nurse. While looking at the menu she became very excited. "What is this -- M.I. Special? OMG, what could be in it? A dozen eggs, a pound of bacon and some extra lard on the side?! I can't believe it! How can they sell something like that?!"
I wasn't sure what she was taking about. I closed the menu briefly and looked at the name of the restaurant. It said, Matthews Inn. I said , "I think M.I. stands for Matthews Inn. What do you think it stands for?" She said M.I. stands for Miocardial Infarction! Then we burst out laughing. As a nurse, M.I. had a different meaning for her than for me. Her experiences colored her perception.

Mental Flexibility

2010-03-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

What is Mental Flexiblity?

It is an attitude, a skill, a way of thinking.

It enables you to adapt to new situations, create unusual solutions, and obtain better outcomes.

A mentally flexible person is an effective thinker, and is always willing to learn and grow.

In short, if you are mentally flexible, you are open-minded.

Inspirational Speech

2010-03-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

The first meeting of Toastmasters was held in 1929.

Toastmasters became incorporated in 1939

They developed a manual, then a curriculum, several more manuals, published a periodical, and then...

The first woman joined Toastmasters in 1973. Her name was Helen Blanchard.

She joined under the name of Homer.

A few years later, the by-laws were amended to permit women to become members of the club.

I joined Toastmasters in 2009. In just 9 months, I have made 10 speeches, and completed the Competant Communicator manual. The last specch is the inspirational speech.

I'm not sure if I can inspire others, but I have discovered what inspires and motivates me. I need a challenge. A deadline. A goal. Toastmasters provides this.

In just 9 months I have learned a few things about crafting a speech.

1. Preparation. Writing a good speech is not good enough. After writing the speech, you need to read it, edit it, say it out loud and edit some more. You must rehearse it at least 3 times before delivering it. And this is for a speech of any length. The Competant Communicator speeches are all 5-7 minutes long.

2. Enthusiasm. The speech must be delivered with enthusiasm!

3. Confidence. Toastmasters really helps here, because the only way to develop confidence in your communication skills is to practice. You must do it.

"You must do the thing you are afraid to do." Eleanor Roosevelt said this. I don't know if she was referring to Toastmasters.

4. Notes. It is recommended to rehearse the speech often enough that you do not need to bring a copy of the speech with you. I write a few words on an index card. These serve as triggers, just in case I do not remember something, which is wont to happen when I am in front of a thousandr people. It has even happened in front of 5 or 6. But that's okay, as I am now unflappable. See #3.

Thank you Helen Blanchard, who has been the inspiration for this inspirational speech!

Our Greatest Fear

2010-03-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

The quotation of the month is a poem by Marianne Williamson, originally published in her book A Return to Love.

Our Greatest Fear

Author: Marianne Williamson

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.