How to get through the Holidays!

During the holidays it is easy to get caught up in the hype of, what I call, the “Perfect Christmas/Chanukah.”

Here are some suggestions to get through the holidays!

Practice random acts of kindness. Some examples are:  holding a door open for a complete stranger at your local mall, store, or coffee shop;leaving flowers on your neighbor’s door step without telling them, picking up garbage that you see on a sidewalk or in a parking lot. Another way is to say Happy Holidays to a total stranger and watch him or her smile!

Volunteer: Volunteer at your local food pantry for the less fortunate, help out at your local animal shelter, as there are so many homeless animals, become a nature tour guide at your local park, become a greeter at your church or synagogue.

Take care of yourself:  Destress by getting a massage, going to a yoga class, exercising, and meditation.  Take time for you!

Be selective: Surround yourself with healthy, nurturing, and supportive people.  Avoid the negative ones.  Who needs them.

Gift giving: Set a budget and make a list of those you choose to give gifts to.  A gift could be as simple as your mere presence or by reaching out and touching that special someone you have not spoken to in a while.

Start your own tradition: Change is always a good thing.  But you all know what the human condition is like!  Do something that you have never done before.  Have a party at your house and invite whom you want or go away on a nice vacation.  Remember, this holiday is for you!

Write out a gratitude list: Be grateful for what you have.  Write it out on a list and watch what unfolds.

‘Tis the season to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.   I look forward to all of your comments on your progress.

 

On a side note, this is Maxwell’s, my Scottie dog’s first Christmas, and we are going to make a pit stop to see Santa!  We are also going to visit people who could use a little cheering up.

I wish you all a very Happy and Joyous Holiday.

Thanksgiving Address

I have always admired the Native Ameicans for their honoring and blessing the earth.  This is my giving thanks to the Native Americans for their teachings that we must relearn to save the animals, people, and our planet.

I am thankful for mother earth as she has provided nourishment and sustenance for our bodies and souls.

I am thankful for the oceans, the rivers, the streams, the ponds, and the lakes, as they have provided us with water to keep our bodies flowing.  I am also thankful for them, as they nourish the plants, the flowers, and the crops.

I am thankful for the grasses, the plants, the herbs that provide us the food we eat, the decoration, the beauty, and the medicinal properties to keep us healthy.

I am thankful for the animals, as they are our healers, teachers, and nurturers.  They teach us how to bond and to trust.

I am thankful for the trees as they provide us the oxygen we breathe, as well as provide shelter from the storm, a place to rest, and the food we eat.

I am thankful for the birds.  When we hear their lovely songs and communication, they are our reminders that we need to listen, to pay attention, and most importantly, be still.

I am thankful for the Winds of the Four Direction who continue to blow, purify the air, and clear the clutter of our minds.

I am thankful for the thunder and lightening, “as they welcome the Spring with their loud voice.”1

I am thankful for Grandmother Moon for honoring and uniting all the women of the world to celebrate their cycles and regulate the tides.

I am thankful for Grandfather Sun who brings us light, energy, and allows for the food to grow.

I am thankful to the stars who also provide lightness in the evening, and also gives Grandfather Sun a rest!!!  I am also thankful for the planets, as they hold mysteries of the unknown.

I am thankful for all the unseen things that make everything move, like the “powerful forces, such as atoms, molecules, and spiritual forces.”2

1 Mohawk Sub-Chief Tekaronieneken Jake Swamp, “The Worlds before all else.”

2English, Barbara, Vermont Wilderness School, Art of Mentorship Seminar, October 16, 2005

 

Suffering from Internet Addiction?

Are you suffering from Internet Addiction?  Here are some warning signs:

• Is your business losing money?
• Are you sitting in front of a computer all day long with little or no breaks?
• Is your spouse or significant other threatening to leave you because you are ignoring him or her?
• Are your children acting out?
• Does your dog growl at you for attention?
• Does your cat jump on your lap or your desk to get your attention?

It is time to take a look at these warning signs and hire a Social Media Specialist to get you off the computer so you now have time to go out and engage in revenue generating activities,  have fun and enjoy life!

What is Twitter Anyway?

Twitter is a site for people to microblog on their business or connect with their friends. Twitter creates community by sharing knowledge and expertise by microblogging about your chosen professional.  By microblogging you render yourself as an expert in your field.  By being informative, you increase your credibility.  Increasing your credibility, increases your business!  Sound like a plan!

The benefits of tweeting on Twitter increases your visibility.  How?  Tweeting drives traffic to your website by acquiring followe4rs and people whom you follow.  These microblogs can be connected to you through Facebook, LinkedIn, and various other Social media sites.

How to make Twitter beneficial for you!

First, what are your goals?  The best strategy is to follow people whom are in your target market, comment, retweet, direct mail, share about what you are reading, selling, and doing.

Render yourself an expert by regularly tweeting information on what is going on with  your company and/or your industry.  Periodically make announcements related to your company and introducing new products, but don’t over do it!  The main point is to build relationships and gain trust.  An example of a tweet could be anywhere from an inspirational quotation, stories that have happened in your business, new products, announcements, from taking a walk with your dog in the park.  But make sure that your tweets are positive and upbeat at all times.  Who cares about your drama and chaos.

In my opinion, Twitter is one the new words of mouth of the new millennium.  This mode of Social Media is creating communities, building past and present business relationships, increasing visibility and business not only on a local, state or national level, but on a global level.  This is the latest and greatest “World Wide Rave.”

 

 

Overcoming the “DO IT YOURSELF” Syndrome

I remember at one time of my life I was self-reliant — I did everything myself and never asked anybody for help.  It took a couple of expensive experiences to learn my lesson.  It was these experiences that changed my way of thinking.

• I was in college and the rear tail light went out.  So, I took it upon myself to go to the auto parts store and get a bulb and open up the tail light and install the light bulb.  Well, I blew out the lighting system and that cost me $500.  I also was pulled over by the police by having a defective tail light.
• Another instance was when my windshield wiper blade was worn.  My attitude was, I can fix that myself!   I went to the car dealership, purchased the windshield wipers.  Guess what?  They scratched the windsheld and that cost me more money!  Boy, I was furious, but I had nobody to blame but myself.
• In my business I decided to take on the task of putting a website together,  it took me two full days which cost me time and money.

That is why it is important to delegate your tasks to the appropriate people so you can free up your time to in your business to engage in revenue generating activities.  In your personal life you will now have the freedom to enjoy your life.

Let me ask you folks this question:  If a heart surgeon asked you to prep for surgery and you are not a heart surgeon, would you do it?

The moral of the story is stop working in your business and in your life.  It is time to work on your business and on your life!  You will be amazed at the results.  You will think is this all I have to do?

How we all reunited as a result of Facebook

One Saturday I took my puppy Maxwell to a puppy wash, a fundraiser for a local rescue organization. After they finished washing him, I called my folks just to talk. They had invited me to come down and see a family friend Paul who was in town. I was to meet my parents and then go on over to the bowling alley where Paul and a few of his friends were. We went on over and what a surprise, I saw quite a few of my high school and synagogue friends there. I had not seen them since I graduated some twenty odd years ago. This was all as a result of Facebook how we all reunited. Now, we connect on Facebook, at times we are all invited to events. It was such a nice surprise to see everybody whom I have not seen in ages. As I saw posted on one of my friends in Facebook, “When we were in high school, we could not wait to graduate. Now we reminisce about the good times we had.” This too can happen to you, if it has not already.

Blogging for your Business

Blogging is the story telling of the new millennium. It is all about writing what you are passionate about on a personal or business level.
Blogging creates communities by sharing knowledge, wisdom, and expertise in your chosen profession.  In blogging, you render yourself as an expert in your field.
By your being informative, you increase your credibility.  Increasing credibility increases business.  Wow, what a concept!

What are the benefits of Blogging?  Blogging increases traffic to your website.  It is interactive.  People can subscribe to your blog and receive updates on what you are doing.  Blogs can also be connected to your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles that further enhances your visibility and credibility.  Great blogging sites such as WordPress and Blogger are wonderful media to tell your stories and write your articles.  People have found their dream jobs by blogging, people have started movements by blogging.

As you can see that blogging on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,  Blogger, and WordPress are the new “words of mouth” today.
These modes of Social Media are creating communities, reuniting of past friendships, increasing visibility and business not only on a local, state or national level, but on a Global level.  This is the latest and greatest “World Wide Rave.”

Get up there on there and blog and see what happens!

The Bat House Is Back in Florida – Science News | Science

The Bat House Is Back in Florida – Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News – FOXNews.com

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Save the Bats!

Save the Bats -Write to your Senators and Congresspersons. For further info, read on. Source from batcon.org
Now we need your help. Please contact your U.S. Senators and Congresspersons and urge them to amend this bill to provide funds for WNS research while there is still time to save these bats.

Individual Congressional email contacts can be found at www.senate.gov/general/contact_information /senators_cfm.cfm and writerep.house.gov. Bat Conservation International offers a sample letter that you may want to cut and paste into an email to your representatives. It is available at www.batcon.org/wns.

Bats (Chiroptera)

I felt compelled to rewrite this article, as it is my mission to dispel the myth about bats and other animals.  I urge you all to read on and learn more about this misunderstood mammal and educate others about bats.

Bats are the most misunderstood mammals.  They have been depicted in movies as exhibiting vampire-lie behavior towards humans.  As a matter of fact, Vampire Bats only live in Latin America and they do not kill humans; they prey on small animals.  Also, contrary to popular belief, Bats are timid.  They are not aggressive, as they have been portrayed.  This article is intended to dispel fear of this interesting mammal.

“Insect-eating” bats are intelligent mammals with incredible navigational capabilities through “sonar-echolation.”  These bats locate their food through sonar.  “Using sound alone, they can detect obstacles as fine as a human hair in total darkness.”  (Batcon.org)
The Bats’ diet consists of insects, fruit, and small animals.  Bats are not blind, nor are they all rabid.  In fact, less than 1 percent have Rabies (University of Florida).  They have strong immune systems.

Many bat species are endangered.  “Out of 45 species in the United States, 6 species are endangered and 20 species are of special concern.”  (UFW.gov)  Depletion of bats is due to fear by people, pesticide usage, deforestation, development, and deliberate acts of vandalism.

Bats are invaluable to our environment as they pollinate flowers; eat nectar, insects, and fruit.  (Tropical Bats, through their dispersal of seed, account for 95 percent of Rainforest growth.)  The are a natural form of pest control, as they eat insects, such as, mosquitoes, beetles, grasshoppers, and other “night-flying pests.”  Without Bats, this world could experience “Economic and environmental devastation.”  The flowers and plants would die, as they would no longer be pollinated, the world would be overwhelmed by pests, resulting in disease; the crops would be destroyed because of grasshoppers and crickets, resulting in famine.

Some other behavioral characteristics of Bats include gathering in colonies “under bridges, shrubs, roof overhangs, attics, and dead trees.” sleeping with their heads upside down ; and hung at night. (Batcon.org)

The plight of the bat is unknown.

What can we do to save these interesting nocturnal creatures?

• Build Bat houses.  The most fabulous Bat House, it has be said, is located at the University of Florida, Gainesville Campus, and is worth a visit.
• Do Not Use pesticides as they are harmful and cause sterility.  Bats only birth one to two pups a year, which makes them vulnerable to extinction.
• Landscape your yard with native plants.
• Read books about Bats.
• Dispel the myths about Bats by educating people.
• Get involved in organizations, such as, Bat Conservation International.

Let us envision a world that is bat friendly.

Let us envision a world that is pesticide-free, so the bat population prevails.

Next time you think about calling your pest control company, consult a colony of bats; they will come in the evening free of charge!

Sources:  Batcon.org, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, and UFW.gov.