The Buzz on ‘This is What I Think

Two types of People – By Kevin Abdulrahman

Friday, April 6th, 2012 |

In life I have found which two types of people normally exist.

I’d like you when you consider over the statements I will make, only giving an answer to them in your own thoughts to see what type of someone you are?

There are two different types of people in this world. There couple of who fall inside the successful minority then, there are those, who will fall in the bulk.

There are two types of individuals this world. Some who will talk about all the windows in daily life available to them, and then, there are those, who will usually tell you about why every day life is one big walls. There are some who will get some things wrong and fail continuously, and then there are those, that can never do anything in life purely to avoid generating a mistake or being required to come close to disaster.

There are some who will push through no matter what, and then, you will find those, who will stop trying when things obtain tough. There are some which will say enough presently, let’s look at the opportunity retreat presented to us right now, and then, there are those people, who will only possibly enjoy a conversation whether it has in it bundled the two now known words financial crisis. And whether it wasn’t for the crisis, they would have a list of different so called crisis to talk to you about. Speaking involving Crisis, there are also 2 kinds of people in this world. Those who will look at the Chinese image and say, that they see opportunity. Then there are those, who will start to see the crisis within that same symbol.

Today isn’t it interesting that many of us all live in the identical world and thanks to a technological advancements, most of us have the same access to information and facts. We all have the sources to achieve what ever most people choose to achieve, but two types of people exist. One group will take control and make one of the most of it (the category regarding some), whilst the opposite who will choose to do very little (the category with most individuals).

Which of the two are you currently?

Life is what we model of it. Life is an alternative.

What are you deciding upon? How are you choosing to spend your time?

Will you choose to enjoy life above the line plus control or will you choose to live below the line accepting zero responsibility for your daily life?

Will you choose a lifetime of constant crisis or perhaps a life of unbound opportunities?

Until we meet in person, Get Inspired, Get Informed & Get Going!!!

Kevin Abdulrahman

Known globally as The Man Inspiring Millions, Kevin Abdulrahman is one of the most recognized, renowned, respected and relevant speakers of our time.

For more information about Kevin Abdulrahman vist our website.

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My Holiday Wish

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 |

I’d like to wish my readers a Wonderful Holiday Season that brings all good things, peace and love. And a Happy New Year that brings changes that we can live with, prosperity and a lot less stress. Enjoy!

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Couponing

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 |

Couponing seems to be the thing to do now-a-days. Each and every person that I speak to that use coupons, seem to save a significant amount of money on their shopping bills. Hearing the stories about savings inspires me to want to “coupon” as well, but I do not receive a newspaper and when I search online I seem to find a wide array of duplicate coupons of all the items that I do not buy. You can find Walmart coupons, Aeropostale coupons, fast food coupons and almost any thing you can think of, but none of them ever seem to be the items that I need. It does seem like a wonderful way to save, but I guess I’m destined to spend full price on the items that I buy.

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Jobs in the Medical Field

Sunday, September 11th, 2011 |

The most stable jobs today seem to be in the health care field. Obviously, just because the economy is faltering, it doesn’t keep people from getting sick. Ironically, it seems as though everyone I speak to lately has one ailment or another. I wonder if possibly these health problems could be because of the added stress. Of course the bills from the doctor’s visit don’t alleviate much stress so it’s a “Catch 22.” Regardless, it seems to me anyone looking for health care jobs, whether it be medical jobs, dental jobs and even optometrist jobs must be in a different boat than the rest of us who are finding that jobs are “far and in-between.”

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Internet Dating

Friday, September 9th, 2011 |

One begins to wonder what became of simply meeting a partner, soul mate, friend casually while out at an event, through friends, at a bar or a gathering. It seems more and more people are seeking free dating sites to meet the person of their dreams. The mechanics of it seem well and good. You input exactly what you’re looking for and as a result you get hundreds of prospects with whom you might have the perfect connection. I do hear that more and more couples are finding this an efficient way to meet. It does seem quite a few people have success meeting the person of their dreams in this fashion. It does, however, lead us to wonder what else will become automated and where else technology will be effecting our lives.

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Floating

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 |

During these hot summer months while enjoying floating in our little pool, I look around the yard and envision the improvements we’d like to make. A large deck leading from our home to our gameroom is priority on the list. We’ll be covering the deck, to save some expense, with an old billboard purchased online. Of course, the deck will include a bar and the usual tables and chairs. On an uncovered portion of the deck, an outdoor fire pit is a must. There is not much that compares to cooking hot dogs, steak and marshmallows over a fire while sitting out at night under the stars. Of course, like most everyone, I’m dreaming! With the economy in the state it’s in, our deck and any other major improvements is on hold indefinitely. I guess, maybe I’ll just continue to float and keep praying, like everyone else, that we can keep our heads above water.

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Writing Skills

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 |

In this day and age when most of us use “T9” on our cell phones and auto correct in our emails, writing programs and even on Facebook, what happens if we’re actually sitting down and writing a letter? Obviously, most people don’t even do that anymore, but it’s a wonderful way to send something truly personal. Unfortunately, with all the aforementioned technology, retaining our spelling and grammar skills is becoming a bit of a challenge. I find it somewhat sad that some people even need the use of a speaking dictionary and thesaurus to write a simple letter.

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Impulse Shopping

Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 |

It seems every time you turn around there is a new technological “toy” to purchase. It’s impossible to keep up with it all. Every new item adds temptation to draw on our wallets and it causes an internal battle. It is very easy to say “I want,” and without the realization of what, “I need” we could all wind up broke! My recent desire is an Ipad. I really didn’t even know what they were until Mike came home with one last week. Ipads were given to the service techs to use to do their invoicing. Still being somewhat technologically challenged he asked me to show him how it worked. As soon as I got my hands on it, I couldn’t put it down. The huge screen and the apps and the options available to “play with” are so enticing. Of course, I don’t need one and buying one for me would be like buying a ps3 keyboard, or a satellite radio or marine radio. All of which, I have no use for. Well, who knows maybe someday I will. In the meantime, I will curb my impulse to buy and feel good knowing that money is still in my pocket……for now!

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RFID……Spychips!

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 |

Learning something new everyday is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, some things, although, better to be aware of, are hard to swallow. It seems there is always one way or another that we can be scammed or be the victim of identity theft. I’ve just learned of another.

RFID or radio-frequency identification is a technology using radio waves for communication purposes to exchange data between an electronic tag attached to an object and a reader. These electronic tags may be found within household products, health care products and on a wide variety of credit cards and passports. These RFID chips or “spychips,” as they are commonly referred to, can be read from a distance, without your knowledge. Anyone with the right reader device can access personal information right through your clothes, wallet or purse.

What all this means is that someone could actually walk next to you with a reader and, in a sense, swipe your credit card information without your knowledge. With all we do to protect ourselves from identity theft, crooks have now found a new and simple way to steal from us in what is now being called, “electronic-pickpocketing.”

New products are now available on the market for our protection which block the information sent by the radio waves. These products include: RFID blocking wallets, cell phone bags and sleeves for payment, ID cards and passports. It seems we always need to be watching over our shoulder to see who might be “electronic-pickpocketing” us.

I wonder what these low-lives will think of next!

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63 and I’m Tired

Thursday, March 10th, 2011 |

Posted by Robert A. Hall on his blog “The Old Jarhead” Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate. Worth the Read!

I’m 63. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a
Six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve
Worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in
50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a
Good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get
Where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m
Tired. Very tired.

I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who
Don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take
The money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to
Earn it.

I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day
I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and
Daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight
Offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t
“believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning
Teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the
Genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and
Shariâ law tells them to.

I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must
Let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic
Schools to preach hate in America and Canada , while no American nor
Canadian group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in
Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global
Warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help
Support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ
Rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses
While they tried to fight it off?

I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers, and politicians of both
Parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes, or youthful
Mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught.
I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and
Actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination
Or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not
Going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just really sorry for
My grandchildren.

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What Has America Become?

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011 |

Reprinted from Michigan Newspaper Editorial written by Ken Huber, Tawas City

Editor,
Has America become the land of the special interest and home of the double standard?
Lets see: if we lie to the Congress, it’s a felony and if the Congress lies to us its just politics; if we dislike a black person, we’re racist and if a black dislikes whites, it’s their 1st Amendment right; the government spends millions to rehabilitate criminals and they do almost nothing for the victims; in public schools you can teach that homosexuality is OK, but you better not use the word God in the process; you can kill an unborn child, but it’s wrong to execute a mass murderer; we don’t burn books in America, we now rewrite them; we got rid of the communist and socialist threat by renaming them progressives; we are unable to close our border with Mexico, but have no problem protecting the 38th parallel in Korea; if you protest against President Obama’s policies you’re a terrorist, but if you burned an American flag or George Bush in effigy it was your 1st Amendment right.
You can have pornography on TV or the internet, but you better not put a nativity scene in a public park during Christmas; we have eliminated all criminals in America, they are now called sick people; we can use a human fetus for medical research, but it wrong to use an animal.
We take money from those who work hard for it and give it to those who don’t want to work; we all support the Constitution, but only when it supports our political ideology; we still have freedom of speech, but only if we are being politically correct; parenting has been replaced with Ritalin and video games; the land of opportunity is now the lad of hand outs; the similarity between Hurricane Katrina and the gulf oil spill is that neither president did anything to help.
And how do we handle a major crisis today? The government appoints a committee to determine who’s at fault, then threatens them, passes a law, raises our taxes, tells us the problem is solved so they can get back to their re-election campaign.
What has happened to the land of the free and home of the brave?

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Vision

Thursday, February 17th, 2011 |

Having had perfect eyesight, I can pretty much say that since I’ve started using the computer my eyes have deteriorated tremendously. It began with squinting until I had a headache and had to take a break. Finally, I broke down and got a prescription for glasses to use for reading and computer. After years using the same glasses, I was due for a new pair. Of course, the more practical thing to do was to get contacts.
I went through three different brands of contacts and with each one I was tempted to scratch my eyes out within a half hour. Obviously, contacts weren’t going to work. What I thought, at that point, was that I would buy reading glasses. Considering the expense of the alternatives, going that route was the practical thing to do. It was definitely practical, but in the long run it has cost me dearly.
I became dependent on them to the point that I now wear the same reading glasses to use the computer, read, watch television and see things at a distance. I have stupidly ruined my eyes because the convenience of reading glasses was easier than dealing with the expense and my frustration trying to find something to accommodate me. A suggestion, don’t take your vision for granted and don’t become lazy and dependent on reading glasses. They are a wonderful asset, but need to be used correctly. And, by the way, my headaches are back!

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Jobs

Thursday, February 17th, 2011 |

Still searching the internet everyday trying to find anything that will produce income. I found one site that is everything that it says it is, but I need more income. I have found that most ads are scams, most web sites overly exaggerate the truth about income and any of the jobs that seem viable are impossibly competitive. I’m forever finding customer service jobs which encompass anything from sales to data entry to telemarketing, but they turn out to be multi-level marketing schemes or charge fees to get involved. It would be nice if there were actually a legit site for someone that truly wants to work, to find employment. I might actually start searching for an office or a retail job out of my home.

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Karaoke

Saturday, February 12th, 2011 |

It seems, one of the all time favorite things for people to do is to join in karaoke. It’s actually pretty comical to watch, especially after the participants have had a few too many. I’m not one to indulge in the activity because I’ve always been inhibited in getting up in front of anyone to sing. People do seem to loose all inhibitions, though while enjoying their own performances. Not only do they sing, but the dancing and motions which accompany the show they are putting on, is just as amusing. Most people actually seem to think they are stars in their own right. I often wonder what these performers think when they are being video taped and watch their antics at a later date. I would venture to say, some are quite embarrassed.

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Spending

Saturday, January 29th, 2011 |

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private account for your use.

However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules. The first set of rules would be:
Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you.
You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
You may only spend it.

Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.

The second set of rules:
The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, Its over,the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right? Even for people you don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?

ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can’t seem to see it.

The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!

Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.
What we haven’t lived up that day is forever lost.
Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time….WITHOUT WARNING.

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.

Think about that, and always think of this:
Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be Happy, Love Deeply and enjoy life!

Start spending.
(Reprinted from an email with no credit available to the author. Please let me know who you are so I can thank you!)

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Health Care Jobs

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 |

The most stable jobs today seem to be in the healthcare field. Obviously, just because the economy is faltering, it doesn’t keep people from getting sick. Ironically, it seems as though everyone I speak to lately has one ailment or another. I wonder if possibly these health problems could be because of the added stress. Of course the bills from the doctor’s visit don’t alleviate much stress so it’s a “Catch 22.” Regardless, it seems to me anyone looking for health care jobs must be in a different boat than the rest of us who are finding that jobs are “far and in-between.”

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Financial Woes

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 |

It doesn’t seem like catching up financially is possible. Personally, this time of year is my least favorite. Just barely squeaking through the holidays on my husbands salary has of course put us behind on all the bills. The dreaded real estate tax bill is overdue and it seems as if there is no relief in sight. Keeping our heads above water seems to be more and more of a challenge. Yet, I’m thankful for what we have. Our family, our health and a roof over our heads! I would, however, welcome a willing lottery ticket or at least a cash advance that wouldn’t have to be repaid.

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Need a Laptop?

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 |

I have to say, although I don’t want to jinx myself, that my laptop has really served me well. I bought it around five years ago as a scratch and dent, at a great price. I was actually examining it when it arrived for scratches or dents and found nothing wrong with it! Amazing! This actually leads me to believe that the next time I do find that I need one (which I hope isn’t too soon), I will either look for reasonable refurbished laptops or a scratch and dent. I would highly recommend this buying method for anyone in the market for one.

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Still Searching

Monday, January 10th, 2011 |

Still searching the internet everyday trying to find anything that will produce income. I found one site that is everything that it says it is, but I need more income. I have found that most ads are scams, most web sites overly exaggerate the truth about income and any of the jobs that seem viable are impossibly competitive. I’m forever finding customer service jobs which encompass anything from sales to data entry to telemarketing, but they turn out to be multi-level marketing schemes or charge fees to get involved. It would be nice if there were actually a legit site for someone that truly wants to work, to find employment.

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Who’s Talking to Themselves

Friday, January 7th, 2011 |

Just a note: I find it pretty comical these days when you are out amongst people and although they might be by themselves, they appear to be talking to someone. Not all that long ago, we would have thought that these individuals were talking to themselves or better yet, were a little bit crazy. What is even more amusing to me, is that the children of this generation don’t even think twice when they see someone that is seemingly having a conversation with her or himself. Thanks to the use of headphones, ear buds and ear-pieces this has become commonplace. It kind of makes one ponder what might be next.
Of course, to those of us who do talk to ourselves, we no longer have to be concerned if anyone has noticed.

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Internet Jobs

Thursday, September 16th, 2010 |

Well, I search the internet everyday trying to find anything that will produce income. I found one site that is everything that it says it is, but I need more income. I have found that most ads are scams, most web sites overly exaggerate the truth about income and any of the jobs that seem viable are impossibly competitive. Unfortunately, the one job that I could probably acquire is a sales job, but the one thing I am not is a salesman. So, the search continues.

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Life’s Too Short

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 |

I’m not sure what happened to society that everything has become so fast paced leaving most people barely enough time to breathe. By the end of every day, I’m wondering where the day went and thinking about all the things that I meant to accomplish but didn’t get to do. In fact, as I think about all the things I’d like to accomplish in my life I’m beginning to realize that there probably not enough years left. Online Schooling is one of those things and scanning the zillion pictures I have in photo albums is another. I’d like to create all the crafts I’ve come across that interest me and I want to write a book. I’d like to transfer the countless videos I have and develop them into slide shows and I want to research and document my genealogy to pass down to my children.
What I find incredible is that some people I talk to have no lists of things to do. My mom was telling me that she has a friend that sits in front of the television all day. We don’t own a television and have no time for it. Maybe I could put in for an extension to my life just so can do everything I want to do?

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School Supplies

Thursday, July 29th, 2010 |

With school just around the corner the stores are inundated with school supplies and clothing sales for the kids. Thus, the crowds begin. Shopping online makes life so much easier and now would be the time to start ordering so your assured to have everything set for the onset of the school year. Whether it be notebooks, backpacks or pencils and pens or jeans and uniforms or hip hop clothes, shopping online is the way to go.

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Extra Income

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 |

I’ve often thought of selling items online for extra income. People seem to make a lot of money if they have a decent site. Personally, I’ve never had much luck on Ebay and with all the competition with individual sites, I not really sure how to enough traffic to make it profitable. It would be easy enough to find a wholesale distributor to buy merchandise from, but then having enough to invest to build decent stock is a challenge. I guess I’ll keep the idea somewhere in the back of my mind and keep writing articles until I come up with a better idea.

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Popular Wedding Months

Monday, June 14th, 2010 |

June has often been thought of to be the most popular wedding month, but it seems things have changed.  According to Hallmark, that’s not true anymore.  August is now the most often sought month for weddings; followed by June, July, September, October, May, April, November, December, March, February, January.  So in retrospect, if you are planning to wed in June, the mad rush for your bridal gown, wedding invitations and reception hall, just might not be so competitive.

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“Moving Pictures”

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 |

It’s pretty amazing how far we’ve come with “moving pictures.” My sister had converted my dad’s 8mm movies to VHS some time ago and recently, I’ve been converting all of my VHS to DVD’s. When I was watching, through teary eyes, it actually didn’t make a difference that the picture was jumpy, that there was no sound and that the strobe light that my dad used made us all squint. It’s the moments captured that are what is worth saving, no matter the quality. Although, it seems that having the latest camcorder had been a priority, I’ve realized that no matter how those memories are preserved and recorded, they will be a joy to watch and remember.

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Eating Healthy?!

Monday, May 24th, 2010 |

It seems that everyone is trying to lose weight in one form or another. Many people rely on weight loss supplements while others think exercise is the answer. I don’t remember the last time I drove anywhere that I didn’t see someone walking or jogging. The answer, however, for us, has come in a different form.
Recently, I’ve been following recipes in the book, “New Favorites,” written by Brook Katz. The subtitle on the book is, “Redesigned Recipes for Your Health.” When my husband brought the book home, which Brook gave him, I quickly perused the pages and shrugged it off.
Mike, however, wanted to give it a try. For the last three weeks, I’ve been following the recipes each night for dinner. I do, however, draw the line on Sunday’s when I’ve grown accustomed to having Pizza (my favorite) while watching Nascar. The recipes in the book are actually relatively easy to prepare and are quite tasty.
The meals are made from healthy ingredients providing protein and essential vitamins, as well as cutting down on fats, processed sugars and grains, dairy and meat products, chemicals and preservatives. As evidenced today, a diet based on plant foods is much more compatible with our digestive system, as well as much more sustainable for the ecosystem.
Despite my hesitation, I admit that I do feel healthier and although not the main reason for changing our diet, both Mike and I have lost weight. Maybe all we need to do as a society is learn to eat right to save ourselves and the planet.

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My Visit to Midlife Magazine

Thursday, May 6th, 2010 |

I just visited a wonderful blog, Midlife Magazine, that has such a vast amount of interesting material. It claims to be “Of Interest To Those In The Middle,” but honestly it has something for everyone. Topics include family, fashion, finance, food and more and each post is very well written.

One post I found particularly compelling was one entitled, “Her Last Call Was From Her Cell Phone.” Although we hear it over and over again, the dangers of talking or texting on a cell phone are so apparent that I fail to understand why laws are not passed nationwide and strictly enforced. One only needs to read this post and others like it to understand that this is by far a huge issue that needs to be resolved.

On the lighter side, Midlife Magazine has other posts that are uplifting and informative and a pleasure to read. This is a blog worth visiting….just allow yourself a fair amount of time to spend there.

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Born Again American

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 |

A must see video if you believe in America.        Born Again American

Quoted from the website  Born Again American

Add Your Voice
“. . . I am my country’s keeper.” Are you inspired to recommit yourself to being an active, involved and thoughtful citizen—a Born Again American?  Join almost 5 million Americans who have already watched our video, almost 200,000 who signed our Pledge and thousands more who contributed lyrics, personal pledges and messages.  As our Pledge says, You Matter.

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Spank, Shout, Commmunicate

Friday, October 23rd, 2009 |

I just read this article today “For Some Parents, Shouting Is the New Spanking” that was posted on NY Times.com and tweeted by PierrePaperon. Personally I find it very sad that parents actually feel restricted in how they can discipline their children. Unless there is a parallel universe that I don’t know about, the controversy about spanking children has created even more problem children. Are the people that are claiming that spanking is detrimental not seeing what the rest of us see? Has anyone met their children? The article states that yelling is the new spanking, in my opinion they work in unison. My assumption is that if parents are made to feel that spanking is a bad thing they will refrain from it, but who is to be the judge, history or what “doctors” say? Am I the only one that sees a negative change in today’s generation? The people who will refrain from hitting their children are not the ones who had caused the controversy. Who doesn’t understand that the people that abuse their children by hitting them and using physical force are not “Normal” and they will continue to do it anyway. I suppose there might be a fine line.
I can tell you this, I spent many a day with my mother’s five finger mark on my arm. I can not tell you what any of the circumstances were, but I can tell you this; whatever lesson was to be learned, I learned it quickly. AND, I survived. I knew well the taste of Ivory Soap, which is why on one occasion my sister and ran into the bathroom to rub Dove Soap against our teeth instead. You can rest assured that whatever we had said, we did not repeat, (at least not in mom’s presence). AND, we survived. Mom was a tough disciplinarian. We didn’t get everything we wanted, we learned the word “NO” very early on, and accepted it and we learned that if we didn’t give our elders respect we were in a heap of trouble. AND ya know what, we survived. I have three siblings, normal as normal can be. We are not aggressive, angry or abusive people. We are all well adjusted, respectful, nice people with compassionate and caring hearts. Hmmm and we were hit!
I am the biological mom of two boys and step-mom to three girls and a boy. Of course, boys will be boys and my boys sometimes got out of hand. Sometimes they were irate. Sometimes they were at each other. Reasoning with a child that is being a child is not always the easiest thing to do because at times they are so out of the loop that they are beyond being talked to. I always found that the best way to awaken their senses was to give them a quick smack. I didn’t beat them, it wasn’t a continuous barrage of hitting, but when I smacked them, boy did I get their attention. That is when I would follow up with yelling. For the most part my yelling ultimately would send them to their respective rooms until we all calmed down. The critical aspect of all of this was that when we did calm down, either they or I would approach the other to discuss our confrontation. Communication is key! AND, never did we part without both apologizing and saying, “I love you.”
To clarify the apology, I tell you this. When either of us was wrong, we apologized for being wrong, but most of all I always apologized for my reaction and explained that it was out of frustration and that it never meant I didn’t love them.
For the record my boys are not aggressive, angry or abusive people. They are both well adjusted, respectful, nice people with compassionate and caring hearts. I often get compliments on what wonderful people they are and what a good job I did as a mother. Now at 25 and 22 years old, they are my best friends.
Parents today seem to think that they need to be friends with their children. I can tell you from experience that you need to be a parent first, friends comes later. My husband, a non-disciplinarian, will be the first to tell you that he made many mistakes. He wishes now that he had been a stronger parent and that he stood up to his children. He also wishes now that he actually spanked his children who have had a major array of problems through out the years, and still do. He always believed that he should stand down. he never wanted to piss them off, he wanted them to like him….he’s sorry now.
I truly believe that spanking and yelling at a child is not the issue. The issue actually is in the communication before, during and after.
Children need discipline and parents are responsible for teaching them. Unfortunately, because of the economic chaos in this country, people are stressing and both parents are working at least one job each. It is also unfortunate that because of these circumstances many parents are too stressed or tired to do what it necessary when their child needs to be disciplined. It’s a lot easier to say, “yes” than “no.” It’s a lot easier to let children get away with things because parents are too distracted by “life” as it is. The problem is not “spanking” vs “yelling.” The problem is that parents need to understand that children don’t come with a set directions, no one can tell you what’s right in bringing up your child. The most wonderful children come from parents who think with their heart.

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A Society Under Siege

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 |

It’s just not right when 90% of the people I talk to are miserable about something. The “something” is not necessarily financial, but most problems seem to be at least somewhat related. I can remember a time when people were easy going. There was a time when people were nice. There was even a time when people would just smile when they looked at you. I don’t know if it’s South Florida or all over, but “please” and “thank you” seems to be words of the past. How can that be? Can people be that unhappy, that selfish and self absorbed that simple etiquette has become obsolete?
There was a time when I would be standing in line and I let that person behind me with just a few items go ahead of me. You would have thought I gave them a gift by the way they smiled and expressed their appreciation. The other day, I did just that, I let someone go in front of me. They didn’t look at me, didn’t smile and didn’t respond with a thank you. I’m not one that requires appreciation for what I do, but “thank you?” T H A N K Y O U! It’s so easy to say!
What bothers me most is that for a person who is not an angry person, I’m getting angry! I would like to express to people that they are not the only ones that are having a difficult time. I would like to tell them that this economically challenged society is effecting each and every one of us. I want to say, “you’re not helping the situation by being an ass hole,” but of course I don’t.
So what do we do? Do we sit back and hope that our newly formed, non-Democratic government will actually resolve the issues it’s caused. Now that’s a scary thought!
Sometimes, I would stand outside and enjoy the weather; the heat of the sun, the vibrant color of the trees, the sounds of nature. As comforting as that sounds, it’s not as it used to be. It’s almost eerie and there’s an ominous feeling in the air. Oddly enough I often feel as if I’m on another planet. Funny, Mike has often accused me of being an alien because, in his eyes, I’m different than anyone he’s ever met before. Now sometimes I wish I was so I could go home!
The ironic thing is that we have become a society that focuses on health and being healthy and living long healthy lives. Yet, the stress that we’re dealing with is going to kill us. How much attention is being given to the Swine Flu? Is there no one that is realizing that we are facing a much larger “pandemic”? Maybe…..THAT’S the plan! Maybe what “they” are figuring is that if the Swine Flu Vaccination doesn’t infect us all the stress will. Hmm, I wonder!!!

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My name is Diane. I am your average middle aged, middle class American female. Divorced, happily remarried, two biological children, four step-children. I started this blog because I'm one of the "little people" who needs to be heard. More...

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