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	<title>The Self Improvement Blog</title>
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	<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com</link>
	<description>Helping those people who want to do better, be better and accomplish more.</description>
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		<title>Enjoying Good Health and Happiness &#8211; Four Ways to Achieve Total Well-Being</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/07/enjoying-good-health-and-happiness-four-ways-to-achieve-total-well-being/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/07/enjoying-good-health-and-happiness-four-ways-to-achieve-total-well-being/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:58:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Contributer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Emotional Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Intellectual Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Physical Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emotional well-being]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[enjoying good health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise can be very therapeutic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hate exercise]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9828</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Good health is essential for the enjoyment of life. Good health encompasses physical fitness and mental health. If you are feeling physically well, you will benefit with a healthy mind too. When looking to enjoy good health we must, therefore, take an approach that encompasses both body and mind.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/gratitude.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9830" title="gratitude" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/gratitude.jpg" alt="gratitude" width="200" height="135" /></a>By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christina_Fields">Christina Fields</a> -</p>
<p>Good health is essential for the enjoyment of life.</p>
<p>Good health encompasses physical fitness and mental health. If you are feeling physically well, you will benefit with a healthy mind too. When looking to enjoy good health we must, therefore, take an approach that encompasses both body and mind.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">1. Eating Well </span></strong></p>
<p>We all need to provide our bodies with the energy and nutrients required to function well and feel great. When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right.</p>
<p>That means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportion, so that over time we get all the nutrients we need to keep ourselves healthy. Not only does good food make you feel better inside, but you will have the extra energy to pursue your goals and aspirations.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2. Exercise</span></strong></p>
<p>Exercise is great in so many ways. It provides us with an outlet, as anyone who has ever used a punch bag will agree! Exercise can be very therapeutic and can help to take your mind off your worries. Exercise also provides you with improved energy levels and can also improve your sleep.</p>
<p>I used to hate exercise. Until I found a sport that I love, swimming. Now when I exercise it does not seem like a chore, but a fun way to spend my time. Be creative with what you do. Any form of exercise is good, but try to find something that you enjoy doing. If you don&#8217;t enjoy running for instance, walk instead or find something else you enjoy. There are plenty of activities that can give you an outlet and can even improve your social life.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">3. Setting Milestones</span></strong></p>
<p>Have you ever said to yourself, or a friend, where do you see yourself in 5 years time? I have and, although my aspirations at the time seemed unrealistic, it&#8217;s amazing that it really focussed us to both achieve our goals and see how far we could reach.</p>
<p>When the 5 years came to an end, we both assessed our achievements and compared them to our goals, and then decided to do it again for the next 5 years &#8211; aiming even higher.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s fun to do and interesting to have a purpose and work towards something you want to achieve in your lifetime.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">4, Managing your Emotions</span></strong></p>
<p>Emotional well-being is essential for enjoying good health. When our emotions are stable, we are far more resilient to problems we face. If you bottle things up, annoyance turns into anger and jealousy to hatred.</p>
<p>Managing your emotions gives you control over your feelings and actions, leading to a positive happy attitude.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s to your happiness!</p>
<p>Christina Fields</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theartofpositivethinking.com" target="_new">http://www.theartofpositivethinking.com</a></p>
<p>Christina Fields is the creator of the Power Charm Formula and provides all readers with the secrets of The Art of Positive Thinking at her website <a href="http://www.theartofpositivethinking.com" target="_new">http://www.theartofpositivethinking.com</a></p>
<p>Copyright © 2010 Christina Fields</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christina_Fields" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christina_Fields</a><br />
<a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Enjoying-Good-Health-and-Happiness---Four-Ways-to-Achieve-Total-Well-Being&amp;id=4910439" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Enjoying-Good-Health-and-Happiness&#8212;Four-Ways-to-Achieve-Total-Well-Being&amp;id=4910439</a></p>
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		<title>Getting to Happiness &#8211; The Journey Always Starts Here and Now</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/07/getting-to-happiness-the-journey-always-starts-here-and-now/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/07/getting-to-happiness-the-journey-always-starts-here-and-now/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:48:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Contributer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9822</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It's no secret that the happiest people are people who are kind to themselves. If you're someone who has a tendency to be hard on yourself, you've undoubtedly met one of these people and wondered, Why can't I be like that? You can. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/happy2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9823" title="perfect!" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/happy2.jpg" alt="perfect!" width="200" height="281" /></a>By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marc_Jeffrey_Davis">Marc Jeffrey Davis</a> -</p>
<p>It&#8217;s no secret that the happiest people are people who are kind to themselves. If you&#8217;re someone who has a tendency to be hard on yourself, you&#8217;ve undoubtedly met one of these people and wondered, Why can&#8217;t I be like that? You can. With some knowledge and a little practice, you can also be easier going. You&#8217;ll be happier and, as strange as it sounds, you&#8217;ll even more productive by using the tips I&#8217;ve outlined below.</p>
<p>IT&#8217;S ALL ABOUT CHOICES</p>
<p>It seems the further along we get in life, the less we remember how we got there. Although it can seem like we fell into the life we are living, the truth is we got there by making choices. As difficult as that might seem when we look at some of our circumstances in life, it s true. And the sooner we realize it the better.</p>
<p>The good news is that making choices is not something we do once and then our fate is sealed, it s an ongoing process. We can alter who we are and our future by the choices we make. Many times it can look like a choice is nothing more than picking between the least objectionable of the options available. But if we can take a little time to get present in our lives and start to notice the things that please us, the choices available to us will shift.</p>
<p>WHO ARE YOU?</p>
<p>It s an interesting notion that it s usually much easier to see the strengths and weaknesses of others than it is to see our own. Do you know your most positive and negative aspects? Most of us don t have any idea. It can be useful to do a little self-evaluation. Make a list of what you see as your most and least desirable attributes. Be as honest as you can and write it all down. Be for yourself like you would be for a good friend. Evaluate the negatives on the list and see what you can do to make them positives. With your strong suits, start noticing how they occur in your everyday life.</p>
<p>PRACTICE ACKNOWLEDGING YOURSELF</p>
<p>You are who you say you are. It can be all too easy to only pay attention to what you don t like in your life and berate yourself for it. It s time to begin practicing being good to yourself. Spend a few minutes each day writing down the good things that you accomplish. Even if they re small, they re meaningful. This is evidence of your strengths at work</p>
<p>BE FORGIVING</p>
<p>If you ve made mistakes (and who hasn&#8217;t), let yourself off the hook. It s in the past and you can t change the past. By being stuck on what we didn&#8217;t accomplish or did wrong, we are not present in our lives. The only time life can ever improve is right now. By completing the past, we get present in our lives.</p>
<p>LOOK FOR THINGS TO APPRECIATE IN YOUR LIFE</p>
<p>Just like the list of accomplishments to acknowledge yourself for, make one to acknowledge other people and things. There is so much good that we receive in our lives that we don t notice because we re too busy noticing the things we don t like. Think for a moment about those people you would not trade places with for all the money in the world. What are the things in your life that they don t have that you would hate to lose? If you can give thanks for these things in your life, not only will you feel better, but you will experience more of them. What we give our attention to expands and grows.</p>
<p>EMBRACE WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW</p>
<p>It s sometimes difficult for people to accept where they are in life. But resisting where you are is crazy. If you wanted to get to New York and you were in California, you would just plan your route, start heading in the right direction and you would eventually get there. It s the same with whatever circumstance you find yourself in in life. Accept where you are, decide where you want to be and head in that direction. You ll eventually get there.</p>
<p>Marc Jeffrey Davis is a writer and entrepreneur who&#8217;s living the good life and doing his best to share it. His website ConsumerProductRatings.net reviews many popular products and gives purchasing advice. If you&#8217;re in the market for <a href="http://www.consumerproductratings.net/dirt-devil-vacuum-cleaners" target="_new">Dirt Devil Vacuum Cleaners</a> or other brands, you&#8217;ll find useful information and <a href="http://www.consumerproductratings.net/vacuum-cleaners-ratings" target="_new">Vacuum Cleaner Ratings</a>.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marc_Jeffrey_Davis" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Jeffrey_Davis</a><br />
<a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Getting-to-Happiness---The-Journey-Always-Starts-Here-and-Now&amp;id=4904096" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-to-Happiness&#8212;The-Journey-Always-Starts-Here-and-Now&amp;id=4904096</a></p>
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		<title>Daily Quote &#8211; Happiness</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/07/daily-quote-forgiveness/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/07/daily-quote-forgiveness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Irene</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Self Improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creative thinking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[daily quote]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it  with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open, and  we are writing it moment to moment. There always is the potential to  create an environment of blame &#8212; or one that is conducive to  loving-kindness.
- Pema Chodron



















]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/quote1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9300" title="quote" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/quote1.jpg" alt="quote" width="266" height="266" /></a></p>
<p>Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it  with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open, and  we are writing it moment to moment. There always is the potential to  create an environment of blame &#8212; or one that is conducive to  loving-kindness.</p>
<p align="right">- Pema Chodron</p>
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		<title>Understanding and Beating Workplace Anxiety at Your Job</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/06/understanding-and-beating-workplace-anxiety-at-your-job/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/06/understanding-and-beating-workplace-anxiety-at-your-job/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:01:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Contributer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Emotional Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Physical Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[office anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[working anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workplace Anxiety]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9819</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Bobby Dyland
Work is one of the most common causes of anxiety globally. The web of relationships, duties and office politics could be almost unbearable to many. The fear of getting fired, coping with annoying bosses and the worry of not being able to do your job effectively and getting the backlash from your bosses, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/anger21.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9820" title="Businessman" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/anger21.jpg" alt="Businessman" width="207" height="267" /></a>By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bobby_Dyland">Bobby Dyland</a></p>
<p>Work is one of the most common causes of anxiety globally. The web of relationships, duties and office politics could be almost unbearable to many. The fear of getting fired, coping with annoying bosses and the worry of not being able to do your job effectively and getting the backlash from your bosses, are just some of the many things which could cause workplace anxiety.</p>
<p>Why does the workplace cause Anxiety? Basically it is due to the structure that the workplace creates around you. Consciously, you may be forced to agree and conform to the structure, but subconsciously, you may find yourself rebelling in some ways, trying to escape from the rules, duties and policies which your company may have set. Additionally, dealing with a multitude of relational factors coming from all directions such as your customers, bosses or co-workers can push just about anyone to the edge.</p>
<p>You must realise that you are not alone, nor are you the first to be feeling such anxiety in the office. There are many triggers in place in the workplace but luckily there are many ways to tolerate, come to terms with and even enjoy your workplace.</p>
<p>Firstly, take frequent breaks out of your office. During lunch, do not coop yourself in the office. Instead, leave the building and look for a nice outlet to eat and relax in. Go out with your co-workers and talk about everything under the sun unrelated to work. When you need a short break, do not hesitate to take one.</p>
<p>Secondly, drink lots of fluid.</p>
<p>Thirdly, do not rush to work and back home. Get in the office early to beat rush hour traffic. This may sound simple but you would not imagine the number of people who actually stress themselves just rushing to work day in and day out.</p>
<p>Forth, talk to your boss. Explain your problems with the workforce and try to reach a compromise. If your boss values your time and input, he will try to reason out a solution where everyone wins and he will create an environment where you will feel good coming in everyday and working in.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you really cannot bear the workplace anxiety, please do change jobs. This may give you a fresh start with your new boss and will give you the time you need to adapt to new changes. Choose a job which suits you better, and which you truly and genuinely enjoy doing, and not just because you are paid well for doing it. Also find a workplace with a good corporate environment in a company which genuinely cares for its employees.</p>
<p>Bobby Dyland is a expert on anxiety and panic attacks who recently developed a free eCourse that lists a step by step process for understanding, controlling and finally beating anxiety.</p>
<p>If you are interested in learning more about his &#8220;Crushing Anxiety and Reclaiming your Life&#8221; eCourse and beating panic attacks once and for all, please go here: [http://www.crushanxiety.com]</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bobby_Dyland" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bobby_Dyland</a><br />
<a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Understanding-and-Beating-Workplace-Anxiety-at-Your-Job&amp;id=1775489" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-and-Beating-Workplace-Anxiety-at-Your-Job&amp;id=1775489</a></p>
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		<title>Happy Labor Day</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/06/happy-labor-day-2/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/06/happy-labor-day-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:45:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Irene</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Self Improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9810</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Irene Conlan -
I received the following in my email the other day from someone I don&#8217;t know &#8211; Kent Maerki -  and thought it gave the history Labor Day quite well. So  I will share it with you.

The History of Labor Day
Labor Day: How it Came About; What it  Means
Labor Day, the first [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mechanic.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9811" title="mechanic" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mechanic.jpg" alt="mechanic" width="170" height="139" /></a>By Irene Conlan -</p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;">I received the following in my email the other day from someone I don&#8217;t know &#8211; Kent Maerki -  and thought it gave the history Labor Day quite well. So  I will share it with you.</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #800000;"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: lighter;">The History of Labor Day</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Labor Day: How it Came About; What it  Means</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation  of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements  of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the  contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of  our country.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Founder of Labor Day</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance,  there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for  workers.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general  secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the  American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those &#8220;who  from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we  behold.&#8221;</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">But Peter McGuire&#8217;s place in Labor Day history has not  gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter  McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention  that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International  Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while  serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is  that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a  committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">The First Labor Day</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday,  September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central  Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a  year later, on September 5, 1883.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the  holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar  organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a  &#8220;workingmen&#8217;s holiday&#8221; on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor  organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers  of the country.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Labor Day Legislation</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to  Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances  passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state  legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature,  but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During  the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York —  created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade  Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other  states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year,  Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal  holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">A Nationwide Holiday</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day  should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade  to exhibit to the public &#8220;the strength and <em>esprit de corps</em> of the trade and  labor organizations&#8221; of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation  and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the  celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced  later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of  the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor  convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday  and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor  movement.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone  a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass  displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a  shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union  officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given  wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding: 3px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 10px; font-size: 12px;" align="left"><span style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium Times; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: tahoma;">The vital force of labor added materially to the highest  standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has  brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and  political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute  on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation&#8217;s strength, freedom, and  leadership — the American worker.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
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		<title>The Wedding</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/05/the-wedding/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/05/the-wedding/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:26:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Irene</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9800</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As an ordained minister I have officiated at many weddings - at least 200 of these special events and the one I officiated last night may be my last. Age has caught up with me a bit - we'll see.

But if it was my last, it was a wonderful way to retire. It was very, very special.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wedding-ceemony.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9801" title="wedding ceemony" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wedding-ceemony.jpg" alt="wedding ceemony" width="288" height="480" /></a>By Irene Conlan -</p>
<p>As an ordained minister I have officiated at many weddings &#8211; at least 200 of these special events and the one I officiated last night may be my last. Age has caught up with me a bit &#8211; we&#8217;ll see.</p>
<p>But if it was my last, it was a wonderful way to retire. It was very, very special.</p>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t that it was a wedding for African-Americans that set it apart. It was the first wedding I had done with an all African-American group. The ceremony even included &#8220;Jumping the Boom&#8221; &#8211; a lovely little ceremony within the ceremony that remembered the years in slavery and symbolized sweeping out all the  old negative energy to give a &#8220;clean sweep&#8221; to the new marriage.</p>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t that it was held  in a beautiful home in a lovely neighborhood in Scottsdale, Arizona.</p>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t because of the ceremony, although the bride and groom had worked with me to create something just for them. It was long ceremony that included giving gifts, lighting a unity candle, jumping the broom and a rose ceremony. It was the longest ceremony I have ever participated in.</p>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t because there were big celebrities there, although I may just not have recognized them if they were.  To me they were all celebrities.</p>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t because the bride had the most beautiful gown I have ever seen at any of the weddings I have done. She was an older bride &#8211; in her middle fifties and had chosen a dress perfect for her. The bridesmaids  and matron of honor were also elegant. No &#8220;My Big Fat Greek Wedding&#8221; dresses for any of them.</p>
<p>It wasn&#8217;t because everything was so tastefully and elegantly done, although that certainly didn&#8217;t hurt.</p>
<p><strong>It was the love.</strong></p>
<p>Love seemed to fill every space in that home. There were a number of children there and the love between the adults and children was palpable and the children were the most well-behave children I have ever seen anywhere.  As an outsider I know I may have missed anything  that might have been a subtle undercurrent &#8211; although usually these are easy to detect. I did not detect any such energy in this family.</p>
<p>The wedding started late. And yet there was  no rush. There was no anger. There was little stress shown by anyone. (I say this because weddings are often so stressful that everyone is on edge,  tempers often flair and tears often fall). Nothing like this was present in this place.</p>
<p>The bride and groom were in such synchronicity that they seemed to know just what the other was thinking and feeling. They had known and silently loved each other for years, and now  they were finally together. They were beautiful. In her vows she told him he put music back in her life. That touched my heart.</p>
<p>I was included in all this love. I was hugged and welcomed and thanked. I was made to feel so at home that I hated to leave. I have never been treated as graciously anywhere. Not anywhere. Ever.</p>
<p>I wish everyone who holds anger toward someone else, or who feels lonely, who is prejudiced, or  who has never experienced what a loving family feels like could have been a part of this event. I still feel warm and fuzzy when I think of it.</p>
<p>Love like this is an energy that changes you at a cellular level and you&#8217;ll never be quite the same again.</p>
<p>Thank you Mildred and Gary, for giving me the privilege of officiating at you wedding. Thank you for reminding me about how real  love shows up.</p>
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		<title>Sex, Relationship and Health &#8211; Five Benefits of Sex</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/04/sex-relationship-and-health-five-benefits-of-sex/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/04/sex-relationship-and-health-five-benefits-of-sex/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:53:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Contributer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Emotional Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Physical Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[couples]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[men]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self  improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sexual health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[women]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9796</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sex is not just about raging hormones and fleeting pleasure. As a matter of fact, sex has a lot more to offer than you know. The more sex you have, the greater the benefits you receive from it.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Glass-Heart-01.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9797" title="Glass Heart 01" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Glass-Heart-01.jpg" alt="Glass Heart 01" width="211" height="211" /></a>By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aderline_Jane">Aderline Jane</a> and Quester Peech -</p>
<p>Sex is not just about raging hormones and fleeting pleasure. As a matter of fact, sex has a lot more to offer than you know. The more sex you have, the greater the benefits you receive from it. Modern science has proved that sex has wonderful benefits for your mental as well as physical well being. Indulging in sexual activity on a regular if not daily basis is known to offer benefits such as relief from stress, better sleep, and better health. These benefits, however, are just the tip of the iceberg. Read on to know some of the not so well known reasons why regular sex can make your life healthier and happier.</p>
<p><strong>Sex helps to maintain body weight</strong></p>
<p>Sex is a physically strenuous activity that helps you shed the extra pounds and look younger and healthier. 30 minutes of sex helps to burn about 150-200 calories. This does not sound like much but regular sex sessions help to burn many more calories. 42 sex sessions of 30 minutes each, for instance, can burn more than 3500 calories, which is quite substantial. Set up a schedule for sexual exercise and watch the flab melt away as you and your partner have fun. Sex is a great weight loss technique if your busy lifestyle leaves no time for workouts. It is also a fun way to get in shape when treadmills or aerobics get too boring.</p>
<p><strong>Sex improves the immune system</strong></p>
<p>Being sexually healthy usually means that you have great physical health too. Having sex twice or thrice a week has been associated with higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) &#8211; an antibody that protects an individual from the common cold and other infectious diseases. IgA binds itself to pathogens when they try to enter your body and then boosts the immune system in order to destroy them. Those couples, who have sex regularly, about once or twice a week, have been reported to have higher levels of IgA than those who abstained from sex altogether or those who rarely indulged in sexual activity of any kind.</p>
<p><strong>Sex can create a stronger bond between partners</strong></p>
<p>Apart from its reproductive function, sex is often used as an instrument of pleasure and to express the emotional intimacy and love that you feel for your partner. Sexual intercourse is known to have a major role in bonding between partners and a means to share your pleasure. Great sex forms an emotional connection and awareness between you and your partner, while discussing your sex life can add a wider emotional and spiritual perspective to your relationship, resulting into a strengthened and resilient bond that can be strong enough to survive many emotional upheavals.</p>
<p><strong>Sex improves the blood circulation</strong></p>
<p>Regular sexual activity has been proved to improve blood circulation in your body and is particularly beneficial for the brain because it causes deep invigorating breaths and an increased heart rate. Improved circulation brings fresh oxygen-rich blood into your body and refreshes the cells and organs. Regular sex helps in the elimination of toxins from your body and prevents fatigue as well as a number of diseases.</p>
<p><strong>Sex controls sugar levels</strong></p>
<p>A number of clinical studies have proved that sexual activity helps in the breakdown of sugar molecules present in your body in order to provide protection from serious diseases such as diabetes.</p>
<p>Author of this article also provides information on <a href="http://www.vigrx-buy.co.uk/" target="_new">VigRX</a> and <a href="http://www.vigrx-buy.co.uk/vigrx-plus.html" target="_new">VigRX Plus</a> pills for natural enhancement in men.</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aderline_Jane" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aderline_Jane</a><br />
<a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Sex,-Relationship-and-Health---Five-Benefits-of-Sex&amp;id=4249529" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?Sex,-Relationship-and-Health&#8212;Five-Benefits-of-Sex&amp;id=4249529</a></p>
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		<title>Online Dating</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/04/online-dating/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/04/online-dating/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:26:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Irene</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online dating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self  improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://theselfimprovementblog.com/?p=9610</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A romantic senior old couple enjoying togetherThe Internet has changed our lives in many ways. One of those "in your face ways" is on-line dating. We hear commercials for sites like eHarmony and Match.com and if you Google "online dating"  or "on line dating sites" you will find pages of listings.  There are even sites specifically for different groups such as Seniors. Yes, Seniors want to meet other seniors.  Imagine that.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/senior-couple200.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9785" title="A romantic senior old couple enjoying together" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/senior-couple200.jpg" alt="A romantic senior old couple enjoying together" width="270" height="232" /></a><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">The Internet has changed our lives in many ways.</span></strong> One of those &#8220;in your face ways&#8221; is on-line dating. We hear commercials for sites like eHarmony and Match.com and if you Google &#8220;online dating&#8221;  or &#8220;Internet dating sites&#8221; you will find pages of listings.  There are even sites specifically for different groups such as Seniors. Yes, Seniors want to meet other seniors.  Imagine that.</p>
<p>I belong to that group and I have put my name and picture  on a couple of those sites. It&#8217;s fun, exciting, sometimes rewarding, sometimes disappointing and sometimes just plain scary.  It, like many things in life, has its good and its bad sides. You meet some very nice people there and you also meet some not-so-nice people. There are people who are sincerely seeking for a serious, fulfilling relationship and those who are looking to take advantage of one who is emotionally needy. If you&#8217;re a senior you know enough about life to know that you find a wide mix of people everywhere you go and it&#8217;s no different online. You need to learn to read between the lines, trust your own instincts and proceed with caution. But proceed.</p>
<p>When we are young we seem to have the idea that when people get older their need for romance and love ends. Not true. Just because the face has wrinkles doesn&#8217;t mean the fire is out. As we approach the years of fifty and beyond some find themselves divorced after many years of marriage, or alone after the death of  their spouse. Now is the time in their life span that they have time to devote to their own interests but are faced with doing it alone or finding a group somewhere to join so they have companionship of some sort. They don&#8217;t always hold someone who&#8217;s a &#8220;match&#8221; and there is a need to look elsewhere. But where?</p>
<p>On line dating is a wonderful alternative. You will encounter the naysayers and the skeptics and you should listen to them. You will hear from those who had a successful experience. Listen to them as well. Then make your own decision. Ask yourself the questions:</p>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">What do I have to lose?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">Do I <em>really</em> want someone else in my life?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">Is it better to be alone than to take the risk?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;">Do I trust my own judgment?</span></li>
</ul>
<p>Depending on your answers go for it.  Read what Ruth Carter Bourdon says about the risk of loving:</p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">The Risk of Loving</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">There is a risk involved in everything.<br />
Every time you share a smile,<br />
Every time you shed a tear,<br />
You are opening yourself up to hurt.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Some people tread slowly through life,<br />
Avoiding the closeness risk brings,<br />
Sidestepping the things they can&#8217;t understand,<br />
Turning away from those who care too much,<br />
Those who care too long,<br />
Those who hold too tightly.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">There is never an easy way to love.<br />
You cannot approach it cautiously.<br />
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.<br />
It does not care if you turn away.<br />
It is everywhere, it is everything.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> Love is the greatest of all risks.<br />
It is not reliable, it is not cautious,<br />
It is not sympathetic.<br />
It is unprejudiced and unmerciful.<br />
It strikes the strongest of mind.<br />
And brings them to their knees in one blow.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="word-spacing: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="word-spacing: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Even in the best of times, love hurts.<br />
It hurts to need, it hurts to belong,<br />
It hurts to be the other part of someone else,<br />
Without either of your consent,<br />
But, from the moment it overtakes you,<br />
It hurts worse to be alone.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"> </span><span style="color: #0000ff;">By Ruth Carter-Bourdon</span><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 1px; word-spacing: 1px;" align="center"><span style="color: #800000;"><strong> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="word-spacing: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">
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		<title>The Long and Winding Colonoscopy</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/03/the-long-and-winding-colonoscopy/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/03/the-long-and-winding-colonoscopy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:22:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kzane</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Physical Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colonoscopy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health screening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prevention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self  improvement]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Everyone has heard about the dreaded Colonoscopy. It’s a pretty shitty procedure, pun absolutely intended! Right around your 50th birthday the notices start arriving. You’ve got to do this thing..it’s for your own good. Truth be told, it is an important preventative procedure, Colorectal cancer is the most common cause of cancer related death among non-smokers and the second leading cause of cancer mortality overall.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/holistic.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9780" title="Stehoscope" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/holistic.jpg" alt="Stehoscope" width="258" height="253" /></a>By Kerri Zane -</p>
<p>Everyone has heard about the dreaded Colonoscopy. It’s a pretty shitty procedure, pun absolutely intended! Right around your 50th birthday the notices start arriving. You’ve got to do this thing..it’s for your own good. Truth be told, it is an important preventative procedure, Colorectal cancer is the most common cause of cancer related death among non-smokers and the second leading cause of cancer mortality overall.</p>
<p>Like many who’ve gone before me the worst part of the entire experience is the preparation. The idea is that your colon must be completely cleansed so the physician can send a scope through your rectum (yuck – I know) and check for polyps that are known cancer indicators. The upside of the cleansing is all the weight you drop, I lost 5 lbs overnight! Not my favorite way to do it though. The downside of the cleansing is the prep solution and it’s affects. It’s 12 hours of running to the bathroom emptying your guts out. How pleasant! Not…</p>
<p>The Harvard Women’s Health Watch recently posted the results of a new study that indicated women have a more difficult time with the prepping than men. Can the news get any better for us! I’m kidding. Much of this is due to the fact that women are more susceptible to constipation and/or irritable bowel syndrome, resulting in gas, bloating, abdominal pain and spasm. Another reason to love being a fem. again…kidding.</p>
<p>But we’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do. So here are a couple of ideas to ease the ugly side of healthy living.</p>
<p>1. Read your preparation instructions carefully a week before your procedure is scheduled. There are certain dietary restrictions they emphasize early on that will help make the overall process easier.</p>
<p>2. Don’t plan a hot date or an important meeting while prepping. This is a good time to turn off your cell phone and pick up that novel you’ve been wanting to read, set it in the bathroom and enjoy some quiet (well relatively) “me” time.</p>
<p>3. The prep solution I used was called Moviprep. It tasted like dish soap. The program calls for downing 8 ounces of this distasteful stuff every 15 minutes for an hour the evening before and waking up at 5 am the morning before (thats right-not only do they torture you with taste but they force you into an early wake up call for this shitty treatment) to do the second round of 8 ounces every 15 minutes. Ok, I’m just needlessly dramatizing….The important fact here is that you can improve the flavor of this stuff by mixing in some Crystal Light or Kool-Aid, as long as it’s not red, blue, orange or purple you should be okay. Here is a coupon for crystal light from my favorite thrifty website, Money Saving Mom. Check her out..she’s got lots of great stuff in addition to CL.</p>
<p>4. Drink the prep chilled through a straw so the liquid lands far back on your tongue away from your taste buds or hold a lemon slice under your nose while you drink the solution to mitigate the badness of it all.</p>
<p>5. You are restricted to a liquid diet for 24 hours prior to the procedure so have plenty of clear liquids on hand to fill your belly and bury the flavor of the prep. I drank tons of crystal light in between sips of prep.</p>
<p>Finally at the doctors and ready to get knocked out. Have someone drive you over because the drugs you are going to get will be great but your reactions will be impaired so driving yourself is not a good idea. Yes, your reward for going through with the procedure is some awesome anesthetics. They put it in your IV when you go under for the test. You will not remember going out, you  won’t feel a thing through the test and you wake up afterwards feeling like you’ve done a good thing for the health of you! It’s heaven.</p>
<p>A final word of caution. The nurses tell you to eat a light meal after your colonic fast. You know, toast and jam or something like that. I heard what they told me but went straight to the drive thru at my nearest In and Out for a burger, fries and milkshake. Big mistake..I paid dearly for filling my belly with that heavy meal. Please learn from my mistakes.</p>
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		<title>The Joy and Excitement of Living</title>
		<link>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/03/the-joy-and-excitement-of-living/</link>
		<comments>http://theselfimprovementblog.com/2010/09/03/the-joy-and-excitement-of-living/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:06:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>kzane</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Live Your Best Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motivational Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self  improvement]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[We're squeezing the life out of ourselves. A process that was started when we were required to conform as children results in the normal adult living the life of an automaton. We've lost our excitement, our sense of fun, our spontaneity and most importantly, our appetite for the excitement and adventure of living life to the full, of taking life's abundant opportunities by the horns. We've got to become childlike again to live our very best life.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/happy.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9770" title="happy" src="http://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/happy.jpg" alt="happy" width="268" height="300" /></a>By <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Willie_Horton">Willie Horton</a> -</p>
<p>Years of psychological research suggests that we are not living life to the full. This research concludes that we go through the motions of daily life, using the faculties of automaticity (to enable us perform almost everything mindlessly), categorization (so that we can pigeonhole every new experience or person that we meet and, in the process, experience nothing new) and recognition (the mental process whereby we try to make sense of what our senses are telling us by using our own &#8220;stored knowledge&#8221; the greater part of which is decades out of date). We &#8220;live life&#8221; on auto pilot &#8211; and I don&#8217;t call that living at all.</p>
<p>In fact, the normal adult, in using these normal, standard mental capabilities, is slowly sucking the life out of themselves every single day of their so-called lives. This slow and mind-numbingly &#8220;not-too-bad&#8221; self-destruction started in childhood when we were told to conform, to sit up straight, to stop making noise, to stop doing the things that we enjoyed, to stop letting out minds wander and to steer well clear of any fanciful ideas for our future &#8211; we needed to get a good education, get a good job, retire and die! As children, our spontaneity, our joie de vivre, our unbridled imagination ruled our lives. These were the things that created the excitement, made life fun and that made long sunny summer holiday days seem to go on for ever. As children &#8211; up to the age of eleven or twelve &#8211; we were in what the University of Chicago describes as &#8220;flow&#8221; &#8211; we were what our youngest daughter would call &#8220;gurdy&#8221;. As young children, our lives were carefree, open to all kind of possibilities, exciting and adventurous.</p>
<p>Contrast that with the normal everyday life of the average normal adult! How many of us can truly say that we leap out of bed bursting with excitement every morning? How many of us can say that we live carefree lives? How many of us are fully open to all life&#8217;s wonderful possibilities? You may well say that we have to grow up &#8211; but, I&#8217;m pretty sure that the record (years of psychological research) shows that people grow older &#8211; they rarely grow up. Because if you did bother to grow up, you&#8217;d be able to control your state of mind. You could choose to be fun-loving, carefree, spontaneous, turned on and open-minded. You could decide to leap out of bed, bowled over at the prospect of the day ahead. You could choose to be open-minded and alert to all life&#8217;s wonderful possibilities.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, though, the progression through adolescence changed the electrical activity in our brains. As our network of neural connections reached &#8220;fully adult operational&#8221; &#8211; our mental processes sped up and our logical processes took over. Or at least that&#8217;s what the normal person thinks! However, there&#8217;s nothing logical about worry &#8211; akin to wishing the worst for yourself! There&#8217;s certainly nothing logical about stress &#8211; obvious when you consider that stress only exists in the mind of the sufferer &#8211; we make ourselves stressed. And, believe you me, there&#8217;s nothing logical about closing your eyes to today&#8217;s opportunities &#8211; but if you&#8217;re pigeonholing everything that happens before you even experience what&#8217;s going on, you will simply never notice the opportunities that are staring you in the face.</p>
<p>This how we behave as adults &#8211; our normal subconscious minds living in and longing for those sunny summer holiday days &#8211; our conscious minds distracted by the cares and worries of what might happen &#8211; instead of focusing, fully focusing as we did as children, on the here and now. We&#8217;re slowly killing ourselves &#8211; the normal adult, existing in this half-life of useless thought and worry is as good as dead.</p>
<p>But it can be completely different and the great news is that you&#8217;re the one who decides &#8211; you do not need anyone&#8217;s permission or approval. Your life is entirely in your own hands. It is you who can decide to become like a little child again &#8211; not childish, but clear, focused, open-minded, fun loving, up for life&#8217;s great adventure. It&#8217;s entirely up to you to choose your state of mind &#8211; didn&#8217;t you know that you choose your own thoughts and that your thoughts become things. It is you who can decide to come to your senses &#8211; revisit reality by seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling and tasting. Yes, this is how we experienced the wonder of the moment as children. We didn&#8217;t make up our minds on what we were experiencing based on the &#8220;stored knowledge&#8221; of preconceived notions and so-called logical thought patterns &#8211; we jumped in, splashed around &#8211; we simply let ourselves go.</p>
<p>You&#8217;ve got to let go too &#8211; of all the crap that&#8217;s in your head. You&#8217;ve got to come to your senses &#8211; see, feel, hear, smell and taste what&#8217;s really happening. Break the chain-reaction of normal adult recognition, experience what&#8217;s really going on. Today, right now, when you finish reading this article, stop to &#8220;smell the roses&#8221; and you will have taken the most important action for today &#8211; you&#8217;ll have taken a definitive step towards living life to the full, in the here and now, where it&#8217;s meant to be lived.</p>
<p>Copyright (c) 2010 Willie Horton</p>
<p>Willie Horton enables his clients live their dream &#8211; since he launched his acclaimed <a href="http://www.gurdy.net/" target="_new">Personal Development Seminars</a> in 1996. His clients include major corporations: Pfizer, Deloitte, Nestle, Wyeth, KPMG, G4S &amp; Allergan. An Irishman, he lives in the French Alps and travels the world as a much sought after speaker and mentor. In 2008 he launched Gurdy.Net home to his <a href="http://www.gurdy.net/" target="_new">Online Personal Development Seminars</a>, Change Your Life &amp; No More Stress</p>
<p>Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Willie_Horton" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Willie_Horton</a><br />
<a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Joy-and-Excitement-of-Living&amp;id=4205711" target="_new">http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Joy-and-Excitement-of-Living&amp;id=4205711</a></p>
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