Online Fun and Business

Once upon a time … all stories began that way. At least around
my house. “Tell me a story,” I would beg my mother, or my
grandmother, and they would sit back, with a twinkle in their
eye, often pulling me into their lap, and begin … “Once upon a
time.” [sigh]

Key to the experience, there was no eye contact. I sat beside
them, or on their lap, or they were lying down beside me at
bedtime, or driving the car. It wasn’t an in-your-face
experience. This is part of it. Part of what? Let me tell you a
story first, and then I’ll tell you about telling stories.

So settle back, close your eyes, and let’s begin …

Once upon a time there was a wise and powerful king who had two
vassals. One, Sir Rodrick, was known for being stingy and mean.
The king sent him out on a task. He was to travel the kingdom
and find one good person.

Sir Rodrick returned after many days saying in all the kingdom
he hadn’t been able to find one good person. He said he had
found some who did some things that appeared to be good, but it
was an illusion, and underneath they were all selfish and
wicked. As to a truly good person, there were none.

Next, the king sent Sir Roland out on a mission. Sir Roland was
known for his generosity and love for his people. His task was
to travel the kingdom and find one bad person.

Sir Roland failed as well. He returned many days later saying in
all the kingdom he had not been able to find one bad person. He
had found some who inadvertently went astray, temporarily, but
underneath they were all good and kind. As to a truly bad
person, there were none.

AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS …

What do I have to say about this story? Not a thing. Anything I
say would damage it for you. It speaks for itself, and it speaks
to you in its own way, and that’s the way good stories are. The
ones that begin with “once upon a time…”

MYTH, METAPHOR & MAGIC

In a fascinating article called “Myth, Metaphor and Magic,”
Patrice Guillaume explores the power of the Three Ms as related
to the functions of the left and right brain. Our left
hemisphere is analytical, logical and linear; it sees the trees
and not the forest. Our right hemisphere is highly specialized
to manage complex relationships, patterns, configurations and
structures; it cannot see the trees for the forest. The two
hemispheres function well together, and not so well alone.

Here’s how different they are. In research with individuals
who’ve lost the function of one hemisphere or the other, it’s
been discovered that when told to “match’ a picture of a cake,
the left hemisphere will match it functionally - choosing a
spoon or a fork. The right hemisphere will match it according to
appearance - choosing something with the same shape, such as a
hat.

SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH

In their book “Left Brain Right Brain,” Michael Gazzaniga and
Joseph LeDoux draw the conclusion that the major task of the
left hemisphere (our “verbal self”) is to construct a reality
based on our actual behavior. The left brain doesn’t always know
why we’re doing something. “It is as if the verbal self looks
out and sees what the person is doing, and from that knowledge
it interprets a reality.”

So, somewhat simplified, you could say our behaviors originate
in the right brain, while our left brain is left to justify our
actions. I’m sure you know the feeling of trying to explain
something you did, when you really haven’t a clue!

Now, follow this line of reasoning: IF our behavior originates
in the right brain (and is only explained intellectually in the
left);

AND we want to change someone’s behavior (as a parent, coach or
therapist, for instance) or change our own;

THEN why not save our selves some trouble and talk to the right
brain, not the left brain.

Makes perfect sense. But … if the right brain doesn’t use words,
how do we communicate with it? The answer is …

ANALOGIC COMMUNICATION

Analogic communication includes figurative language, puns,
jokes, metaphor, poetry, art, music, ambiguities and allusions
as well as non-verbal communication, such as posture, gestures,
facial expressions, voice inflection, tone of voice, and the
sequence, rhythm and cadence of the words themselves.

It’s descriptive, the stuff of myth, metaphor, dreams and “once
upon a time” type stories.

In a way that’s hard to explain, because “explaining” is what
the left brain does, information take into the right hemispheres
has far more effect on behavior. It’s the way to “reach”
someone, to “touch” them. Intuitively we know this.

Along with this is the NOT-IN-YOUR-FACE experience. When we get
in someone’s face - literally and figuratively - the guard of
the Other goes up. Down comes the reflector shield, and up come
the defenses. We turn off and tune out. When a story is
delivered, without the intimidation of eye contact, the effect
is different.

DOES IT WORK?

Want someone to get up and help you clean house? Try playing a
march by John Philip Sousa. Go here:
http://www.laurasmidiheaven.com/Patriotic.shtml and play “Stars
and Stripes Forever.” Oh yes! (My son and I used to clean house
to this when he was a preschooler. Not a problem.)

THE MESSAGE

One of the important things about myths and stories is that the
person brings to it his or her own experience. Most of the
fairytales, folklore and parables we’ve passed down through the
ages are dense with meaning we can’t quite put our finger on. It
doesn’t matter; we still ‘get’ them. I’ve never heard someone
say, “What does that mean?” after such a story. More typically
they are lost in thought, off in their own world which has been
deeply touched. Consider for instance the fairytale of “The Poor
Little Match Girl.” I’ve heard this interpreted as a feminist
warning against inaction. The child is alone and freezing to
death, huddled in a corner, with only matches to burn to keep
herself warm.

Eventually she uses them all up and an angel arrives to take her
off to heaven. She has frozen to death. The feminist
interpretation is that it’s a warning against, I guess, staying
at home barefoot and pregnant.

Whatever someone else’s interpretation, here’s how I took it as
a child:

I compared myself to the little girl in the story. I knew I was
well cared for, smart, strong and brave. I felt sorry for the
poor little match girl who must’ve been beautiful (as all
fairytale children are beautiful), but had been left alone in
the world without the resources she needed and I had. I wanted
to help her and people like her and knew that I could and would.

Instead of thinking “why isn’t she doing something?” or “what
could she have done?” or even “I would’ve done this and this,” I
was thinking, “I’ll never be in that position myself, and I know
how to help others who are.”

What some readers interpret as a dire warning against inaction,
I took as inspiration - an affirmation of my resourcefulness,
and a call to action. I was the Big Sister, after all,
accustomed to comforting and caring for my younger siblings. It
was no big deal to me.

I also felt that since I (or some other helpful person) hadn’t
been there to help her, how nice it was to know that when she
died, she was carried off to heaven in the loving arms of an
angel. If not love and comfort in one plane, then love and
comfort in another. What a warm, wonderful world. Yes, I was
that kind of kid, and yes, I remember those reactions clearly,
though they were many decades ago. We bring to the story what we
have to bring to it, and we take away with us what we need to
take away with us.

USE IT

If you are very clever, you can learn to construct stories to
fit your needs in communication. They can be as short as a
metaphor or a simile — “You’re badgering me,” or “You act like
there’s no tomorrow,” or “You were my knight in shining armor,
darling,” or “Sorry, but I’m taking off the red shoes.”

And when you so, use that special tone of voice, the once that
gets into the right brain. Don’t know what it is? Let me teach
you. But don’t mistake this for manipulation. It isn’t like
hypnotism, either. You can’t control another person, nor is it
nice to try, and this isn’t designed to do it. Rather, it pulls
on what’s already there, and what the person is inclined toward
in the first place, or it wouldn’t be happening.

Consider it more like saying something without the barriers and
obstacles your own left-brain puts out in your own path that
fogs your communication. Communication is a two-way street. You
can also use the many myths and stories already out there.
Classic myths have endured for a reason; they talk about human
nature and the challenges we have faced since time immemorial
that transcend time, gender, age and culture. “Cinderella,” for
instance, is very good for little girls who have mothers who
make them do things they don’t want to. Several different
cultures have Cinderella-type stories, because every little girl
has a wicked stepmother, yes?

I, on the other hand, had most of my conflicts with me dad, and
my favorite fairytale was “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” You
know, the one where the girls get locked up in their rooms every
night by their FATHER, the king, but sneak out to go dancing
[wink wink] and where at the end, the handsome soldier chooses
the ELDEST SISTER to be his bride, not the baby [wink wink].
APPLICATIONS

If you’re a coach, therapist, teacher, manager, or even a
partner in a relationship, consider using myth, metaphor and
magic to communicate. If you’ve been around the block a few
thousand times, you know that in-your-face doesn’t work. In
fact, “You can talk till you’re blue in the face …” Words -
left-brain type words - don’t work. Try something different.

Studying The EQ Foundation Course© (see my website) can help
you, and is taught from a right-brained standpoint.

One last thing before you leave. Take a look at this brain candy
produced by The International Association of Intercultural
Education: www.bigmyth.com . Then ponder it (right brain), don’t
think about it (left brain).

Any engaged girl deserves some stylish bridal shower invitations. Martini invitations are a great choice, with a classy mix of pink and green tones and a picture of a martini glass with an olive in the corner. To take your theme even further, order the matching thank-you cards or mint tin favors over the Internet. You can choose or write your own personalized message inside the card, using the font and color you like best. Any color of envelope can also be used for this invitation, but classic white works well, too. To complete the decor for your party, try martini bridal shower napkins (also available online).

You can find a number of wonderful shops online where you’ll be able to design your bridal shower invitations from the comfort of your own living room. You’ll find many exquisite designs available on high-quality cardstock. The people who own these shops take particular pride in giving you everything you need and more. The websites offer easy-to-use personalization software, fast ordering, and super-quick turnaround times.

No matter what subject you write on, there will be some research involved. Your opinion is the first step. Backing up your ideas with facts is the second step.

You can do the vast majority of your research online if the topic you have chosen is outside the company expertise. Online tools such as Google.com, Clusty.com, or Dogpile.com are a great place to start. However, using the correct searching techniques will make the difference between getting a great deal of information and getting a scant few.

Google.com provides a great cheat sheet for using advanced searching techniques. Go to http://www.google.com/help/cheatsheet.html then print out this valuable resource.

To make sure your search hits are up-to-date use the year in your search. For example: 2004..2006 will give you articles from the year 2004 up to this year. If you are looking for exact phrases put the phrase in quotation marks such as “VP Marketing” or “SL500 Lens”.

When you click on any of the links, check for the validity of the information. What is the source of the article, who wrote it, what is their expertise, or what other resources do they mention. Do not use internet results as the sole basis of your research, check other sources as well. You want your writing to reflect more than just opinions, you want the facts.

You can do more research using Amazon.com. Search for book titles on the target subject matter to get a list of recent publications. If any of the books are using the “Look Inside” feature, you will be able to scan the table of contents for relevant topics and even read the first few pages of the book - particularly the introduction. The Introduction will often give you a clue as to why the book was written and the target audience information. Other pertinent information about the book will be revealed by the popularity of the book and any reviews it may have received. This is all valuable when trying to discover relevance to your topic.

Having coffee at Borders or Barnes & Noble is also good. These book stores will allow you to skim through print publications while sitting in their coffee shops. This is a great way to research topics by skimming multiple books on the subject. This is even better than most libraries as the publications in bookstores are recently published. If you want to look at older versions, then head off to the library.

As time is often short, I most often rely on the Internet and Amazon Table of Contents to get most of my information. If books look like they give me the background I need, I simply buy the book.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprints for Success - Networking: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprints for Success Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2006. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com.

Bad breath in children does occur, but how do you handle
it? If an adult who unknowingly had chronic bad breath
spoke to a group of friends, that group would probably not
make it obvious. If a child with chronic bad breath is
talking to a group of friends, chances are the group will
not have the maturity to deal with it and will probably
look away or fan their hand, acting in a way that makes the
child with bad breath embarrassed. When bad breath in
children does occur it is important to treat it and prevent
further occurrences.

Something Stinks: Chronic Bad Breath

Ever wonder why someone with chronic bad breath went around
talking to everyone, even in close circles? That is because
the person probably had no clue they suffered chronic bad
breath, since people cannot smell their own halitosis.
During school and in after school activities children
participate regularly in interacting with other students
which is why bad breath in children should be treated
immediately.

If you are not sure if your breath smells bad or not, ask a
good friend to let you know. Bad breath happens to everyone
at some point and there is nothing to feel ashamed about.
You will often find yourself around someone with chronic
bad breath, and just remember to that person with the same
dignity you would like to be treated with.

What Causes Bad Breath in Children? Children, like adults,
can develop halitosis a couple of ways.

• First of all, certain foods and even drinks can create
temporary bad breath in children. Some known offenders
include onions and garlic, but items kids usually eat that
cause bad breath include pop, certain juices and cheese.

• Some children are not big fans of brushing or flossing,
yet failing to do both regularly will create chronic bad
breath.

• Thirdly, a dry mouth or post nasal drip from a cold or
allergies can create halitosis. Snoring or breathing
through the mouth can also cause chronic bad breath in
children as this contributes to a dry mouth.

• Relax. It’s likely not serious. According to WebMD,
halitosis is rarely a side affect of more serious health
conditions in children. And according to a Journal of
Pediatrics study performed in 1999, bad breath in children
is caused either by dry mouth or the nasal cavity.

Combating a Child’s Bad Breath

First, look at what your child is eating. Do you serve up
garlic or spicy dishes for dinner each night? Is your child
a big fan of cheese? If so, try cutting back on the dairy
and garlic. Make sure that regular brushing and flossing is
occurring, even if you have to stand by and check. To make
this more fun, take your child to the grocery store and
allow him or her to pick out their toothbrush and
toothpaste. If your child is older, it is important to note
that alcohol and tobacco cause chronic bad breath. Finally,
make sure your child regularly sees a dentist to have his
or her teeth cleaned. These appointments are also a good
time to talk with the child’s dentist about halitosis.

The most important part of helping a child with bad breath
is to be sensitive and not make the child feel embarrassed
or self-conscious. Bad breath is a part of life and
something everyone encounters. By zeroing in on the cause,
and taking care of it, you can quickly eliminate and
prevent bad breath in children.

Whozylee Aris has created a website on the topic of bad
breath. Find the real causes and cures for bad breath by
visiting http://www.bad-breath-resource.com. View this
article online at
http://bad-breath-resource.com/article-5-bad-breath-in-children.html

Writing up your auction listing is equally as important as taking your photo’s and pricing your auction. As I said previously, honesty is your best policy. If something has a small stain, list it in your auction listing. If there is minimal wash wear on your clothing items, then list it. Don’t try to fool your buyer, they have a “keener” eye than you might think. Consider this, they are purchasing something from someone that they cannot see, they cannot interact with, and they may not be able to return if they find that something is wrong with the item. In addition to this, they are paying for something before they have it, so they are placing a lot of “trust” in you the seller to give them the entire “scoop” on the item that you are selling.

Here is a list of items that should be included in your auction listing:

Name of item: be exact in your name and title. Give brand name and article name. Example: Gymboree Whale Watching Sailor Pants

Make of item: cotton, linen, silk, etc. be very specific, people have certain fabric and make preferences. Especially with children’s clothing.

Size: read the label, also if you are selling jeans or pants make sure to include your inseam, waist size, etc. If you are selling European sizes, please make sure to have a size chart with equivalent U.S sizes for those of us who don’t know the conversion of the sizes.

Condition of the item: make sure to include the following: wash wear, fading, pilling, stains, tearing, or pulling. I also add a rating system: fair, good, excellent, and like new. Keep in mind that what you may consider “like new” someone else may not, so try to remain objective in your listing.

Housing Conditions: where do you store your inventory? I always let people know that my items are in a “smoke free” and “pet free” home, and they are clean and washed prior to sending out.

Clear payment instructions: make sure you include clear and concise payment instructions. Don’t leave any room for misunderstanding. Be firm, but polite.

Clear shipping and return policies: again make sure that you include a clear and concise shipping and return policy. Also, be consistent in all of your listings.

Open yourself up to questions: Be personable and customer service oriented. I always let people know in all of my listings that they should feel free to email me if they have any further questions or concerns about the item.

Some great sites for listing information are:

1. Auction Insights

2. Here Comes The Stork

3. Auction Templates

4. Ebay’s own selling resources

Robyn Ann Johnson
http://www.themomscafe.net

Unfortunately a spam filter has become a necessity for any
computer that has email and accesses the internet. Spam, as it
has been termed, is unsolicited email which is usually a part of
mass commercial advertising campaigns. Essentially, it is junk
email. In the offline world junk mail has been sent unsolicited
for years. In the online world; however, it presents more trouble
than a mailbox loaded with advertisements.

Without a spam filter, your email box will be literally loaded
with junk mail if your email address has been in existence for
very long. It seems to be something that just happens although
giving your email address out, especially posting it on websites,
seems to open the virtual door for a flood of junk mail. Even if
you don’t give your email address out over the internet, you will
likely receive spam at some time.

The reason that spam is such a problem is, the junk mail eats up
electronic resources like memory and storage space. Also, it is
not uncommon for spam to contain computer viruses that can
effectively shut down a computer system, or bogus offers and
scams that many people fall for. A spam filter aims to stop these
junk messages before they come into an email inbox.

Even if the spam you are receiving is nothing more than
advertisements, it can be time consuming to check your email and
delete all of the irrelevant junk that you receive. Thus, having
a spam filter can save you loads of time. Without having to sift
through junk email to find the email messages that require your
attention, you will be much more productive.

Since the dawn of the internet people have been fighting spam.
Recognizing that it is truly a problem, laws have been passed in
an attempt to curb it; however, those laws are often ignored and
spammers send their unsolicited messages anyway. Thus, even with
legislation in place a spam filter is still a necessary time
saving tool that can also protect your electronic data from
damage and loss.

The anti-spam act in the United States is referred to as the Can-
Spam Act of 2003. The law doesn’t attempt to curb unsolicited
email altogether, but rather aims to prevent deceptive practices
so a spam filter is still needed even if the spam you receive
doesn’t break the law. The act bans the use of misleading or
deceptive header information and subject lines, requires that
recipients of the email be given an option to opt-out of
receiving the email, and requires that marketers include a notice
that email is a solicitation or advertisement. It also requires
that the sender provide a postal address.

If you engage in email marketing yourself, you need to be sure
that the addresses you send email to are legitimate opt-in email
addresses and not a harvested list. Otherwise, you may become
blacklisted and have your information added to spam filters as a
common spammer. Also, it is good to avoid the use of words that
are commonly picked up by a spam filter and to inform subscribers
and opt-in email recipients to add your email address to the safe
list in their spam filter so your messages won’t get redirected
or deleted.

A spam filter can be installed on individual computers, network
servers or email servers. The purpose of a spam filter is to
filter out the junk. A basic spam filter does a pretty good job
of that, but none of them are all-encompassing or fail proof.

A spam filter intercepts messages that appear to be spam based on
the spam filter’s configuration. This may include email from
servers that are blacklisted, meaning they have been identified
as senders of spam, certain email addresses or other terms set by
the user. For instance, many spam messages contain the word
“free”, or other specific words that are easily identifiable. A
spam filter can generally be set to intercept emails containing
the specified words as well.

Depending upon how you configure your spam filter and the spam
filter you choose, spam filters handle email accordingly. Some
may deliver a message to the inbox while others will redirect the
message and send it to another place, like a junk mail box. Some
delete the message altogether or screen out parts of a message
that may be offensive or viral.

A spam filter that redirects messages is sometimes a good idea
because you can scan through the messages and make sure they
actually are spam before they are deleted. However, this in
itself can be a time consuming task and many choose to have the
suspected spam automatically deleted.

With most spam filters, you can choose email addresses that are
“safe” which will prevent the spam filter from destroying or
redirecting a message from a certain email address or server. If
you subscribe to newsletters from companies that may send out
bulk email, it is a good idea to add the sender to your safe list
so the information you requested will be ignored by your spam
filter and delivered to your inbox.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope,
fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing
advice you’re getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing,
or a website owner who wants to make more money from your
website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your
internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

London is profuse with the best of the best of everything - there’s awesome bars, awesome clubbing and places to eat that’ll keep you coming back for more every time. London is widely considered to be one of the “gay” focus points of the world and is home to the largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GBLT) community in Europe.

Due to the annual ‘Soho Pride’, ‘Pride London’ and the London Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - and arguably some of the most astonishing gay nights out you will find on the planet - there’s a place to keep you entertained whatever the time.

Several of the leading bars in the centre of The city can be found in the acclaimed gay location known as Soho. Soho is wonderful as everywhere is in walking distance, it’s awake all night and you will consistently see a place open to keep you occupied until the early hours of the morning. ‘Profile’, a nice small bar just off Old Compton Street (London’s ‘Gay’ street), is famous for its tremendous cocktails and atmosphere. There is also ‘Friendly Society’ which is as amiable as the name implies, their drinks can be a little dear but it makes for an amazing night - there is a tremendous crowd and the DJ’s are phenomenal.

Additional celebrated bars are Green Carnation, Bar Code, Freedom, The Edge, G-A-Y Bar, Village, Ku Bar, Candy Bar, The Yard and the more traditional Compton’s and Admiral Duncan, to mention a few.

Some of the greatest clubs are likewise the most well known ones. Folk cannot have a night out in the city should they are visiting without dropping by G-A-Y, oftentimes described as the definitive camp Mecca. Phenomenal tunes, incredible folks and low priced tipples, - a night spot for every gay person in London to visit! You also have Heaven, which is placed right off the Strand. Heaven is a bit more dear but has an awesome atmosphere and has sufficient rooms to indulge every inclination in music.

More places comprise of Soho Revue Bar and Shadow Lounge. The future area for the more resolute clubbers is a bit farther out in Vauxhall. A lot of excellent late-night / early hours nights and bars include Area, Crash, Barcode Vauxhall & Fire along with special nights at Club Coliseum and the world class Vauxhall Tavern. There’s lots of info about London in Time Out.

For extra info on the spots to go to visit Time Out. Time Out will enable you to stay abreast of everything that is happening in our capital’s Gay & Lesbian culture in 07. Pick Time Out up every week and you will have the most recent all embracing listings and neutral reviews and news at your fingertips.

Bulgaria is currently the European property investment hotspot. Prices are rising steadily at 30% per annum and are expected to leap forward when the country becomes a full member of the EU in 2007.

Bulgaria is a truly remarkable country with a varied terrain. Not only can it offer city, coastal, mountain and rural properties but the vast amount of real estate that is available to buy, also comes with prices that will fit into everybody’s budget.

Coastal properties.

The waters of the Black Sea are actually warmer than those of the along the Spanish mainland throughout the summer months. Popular investment locations are Sunny Beach, Golden Sands and Varna. Up and coming destinations include Nessebar St. Vlas and Balchik.

The developments that are on offer are predominantly designed as seaside holiday apartments. However there is also now a fast-growing golfing market that is being catered for with new developments either in construction or planned. Prices can be from as low as £20,000 for a studio apartment to £100,000 for detached villas on the golf resorts. Instant equity and guaranteed rental are also available in certain complexes.

City apartments.

Sofia as the capital and Plovdiv as the second city, are the two main areas for growth. Real estate in Sofia is currently around 25% of the cost of other European capital cities. Plovdiv is even cheaper, with prices around 400 to 500 per square metre.

The cities offer an excellent investment choice, with good rental expected from companies relocating to Bulgaria. Corporate lettings can offer consistent guaranteed rental with minimum risk. Prices range from around £30,000 for an apartment on the outskirts of town to over £100,000 for a city centre apartment with excellent facilities. These prices are considerably cheaper than other properties for sale across Europe.

Rural investments.

The countryside really does offer the cheapest real estate. Bulgaria is a magnificently beautiful country. Roughly the same size as the UK, the country has a total population of less than 8,000,000. The infrastructure can pose a problem in more isolated areas, and price increases will probably take longer than the more popular destinations. Nonetheless, detached properties with acres of land are readily available for less than £10,000.

Mountain and skiing real estate.

Bulgaria has three main ski resorts. Borovetz, and Bansko and Pamporovo. The ski season is the longest in mainland Europe. From an investment point of view, the mountaini resorts probably offer the best opportunity for a huge capital gains. The mountains only offer a small, defined area for the development. Once all the available land is built upon, all the existing properties will attract the highest premiums.

Much more informal than other European ski destinations, the Bulgarian resorts offer real value for money. Skiers and snowboarders, appalled by the exorbitant prices charged, especially in France or Austria, will be pleasantly surprised by the ridiculously cheap prices, in all the Balkan resorts. A pint of beer is around 80p and a three- course dinner with a bottle of wine is under six pounds.

The properties available also echo the fantastic value for money, at 60-70% cheaper than other European equivalents. Studio apartments are readily available for less than £30,000 as are two-bedroom apartments in the £60-£80,000 region. The ski season for 2006/2007 is already 75% booked and for those owning property, rental income is virtually assured.

In conclusion, Bulgaria offers a viable investment alternative for everybody. Even with the meanest budget of under £10,000, a fast appreciating property can be bought. For those looking to build an expansive portfolio, all the regions offer fantastic value for money and will return considerable capital gains over the coming years.

www.investmentpropertybg.com offer a full range of properties, that cover all areas of the Bulgaria market. Their advice and services are free. and with vast experience in the marketplace, With offices both in the UK and Bulgaria, they have a wealth of experience and handle all aspects of Bulgarian property investment.

Mark Emerson is the sales director for Investment Property BG Ltd. The company specialises in high return investment property in all areas of the Bulgaria marketplace with prices from under £10,000. www.investmentpropertybg.com can be reached either email at info@investmentpropertybg.com or by telephone on +44(0)161 762 2662.

Have you ever had a person in your life who literally thrived on playing the blame game? You know the ones that are constantly belly aching that it’s your fault? Then you actually believe them, so you play the game of fixing all of their problems! You become the rescuer? I did! I didn’t realize it at the time of course because that is a life lesson that I was working on mastering and boy did we play a good game together! We danced in victim consciousness together creating disaster after disaster for ten years! He created, I rescued! He created, I rescued! Then one day he got himself in another situation (and of course this was all my fault!) I was so sick and tired of continually putting forth all my energy into fixing his problems that I threw in the towel. I quit. That’s the day the light bulb came on! I realized that I was not allowing him to take responsibility for his own life. I was doing him the worst service possible. I was dis-empowering him! I was taking his power away by fixing all his problems not to mention dis-empowering myself! That’s the day I gladly, and I mean gladly, handed him his life back on a gold lined platter! Ahh to peace once again!

Blamers are people that refuse to take any kind of responsibility for their own lives. When things go wrong in their life they tend to blame other people. Whether something goes wrong at home, work or school they try to find someone else to blame. I have found they tend to blame those that love them the most. Why? Because these will be the first people to ‘fix’ their problems and become their rescuers. Blamers will rarely admit to their own problems. Typically the statements you will hear from them are “It wasn’t my fault.” “How was I suppose to know?” “It’s your fault.” etc. Their dialogue usually goes something like this. “If only you had done something differently, then I wouldn’t be in the predicament that I’m in. It’s your fault.”

By blaming other people for the problems in their life, they become powerless to change anything. Their thoughts hold them in victim consciousness. They believe and hold thoughts of:

• I cannot change my life.
• I am a victim of circumstance.
• I am a victim of my past.
• Life is hard.
• There is always more work to be done.
• Plus numerous other ones.

In order to move past this, they must begin to think differently. They must change themselves. We all know by now, that we can’t change anyone but ourself, right? We can’t change the blamer, we can only work on changing ourself and our reaction to the blamer. I learnt that I needed to stop being the rescuer! We know it’s not our fault, so no more fixing it! How far are you willing to sacrifice yourself for someone else’s problem? That’s a tough question, but how low will you go? Take a tough love stance and let them take responsibility for their own life. They created it. They need to learn whatever it is that they have created so let them experience it themselves! If this is a spouse or child, it’s even harder because nine times out of ten, the problem effects your marriage and your family. I’m certainly not saying this is going to be a walk in the park! It isn’t easy but you have to stand your ground the second they present their next problem to you. Ask them what ‘they’ are going to do about ‘their’ problem. A temper tantrum will likely ensue, leave the room if you have to and don’t send negative energy back into the cycle! Come back to it after they have completed their dramatic hissy fit. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn the limits on your boundaries and also stretch your compassionate detachment muscles! All very empowering tasks and ones that will bring empowerment knocking on your door.

Knowing beforehand that this is a repetitive cycle where both people are getting their desired energy fix, will make it easier to remain de-attached to the blamers problem. Why? Because now you as the rescuer will be taking responsibility for your part in the game! The blamers gets satisfaction for not taking responsibility for their life along with the boost of power and control they feel they have over you when you do fix their problem. The rescuer gets satisfaction for being the hero and solving the problem.

If you are at the point now in your life of rolling your eyeballs in disgust because here comes another problem to be fixed, then you are well aware that it is time to change things! Where do you start? Yourself. You can use positive affirmations. Write them down on some index cards and carry them with you, put them beside your night stand, hang them above the kitchen sink, on the mirror in the bathroom and even stick them in your visor of your car! You can also change your thought pattern by replacing a negative thought with a positive one whenever they creep in. Once you become aware of your thoughts you will be amazed at how much negativity is hanging around up there having a pity party! Another method is going into a slight meditative state and re-programming your mind with positive beliefs and positive thoughts. Visualization is also very effective. You can visualize yourself with the desired outcome of resolving the issue at hand. Not fixing the person’s problem, but resolving the issue between yourself and the blamer. Hard feelings, how you will handle it, how you see them re-acting to you, etc.

Throughout our history, there have been many great, wise people from all walks of life that carry the same basic understanding: what we believe we will somehow create. This is so much more powerful and truthful than once thought! We truly are the creators of our life! The continual thoughts flowing through our minds is the projection of our soon to be reality! Regardless if the thoughts are positive or negative, what you think, you will create! James Allen once said, “The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs.” Maitri Upanishad says that everything that happens in our own world is a reflection of how we think. “One’s own thought is one’s world. What a person thinks is what he becomes.” We are powerful beings, waking up to the true potential of who we really are. Be aware of what thoughts you allow to stay in mind. Your future is being created by you and only you!

I remember reading a study a while ago. In this particular experiment, they had ten ‘average’ people dress the same and line up in front of a panel of convicted robbers. Five of these ‘average’ people had low self-esteem, had fears of being attacked by someone and no self-confidence. The other five ‘average’ people had high self-esteem, didn’t carry any thoughts of being attacked and were very confident. The panel of criminals knew none of this information. They were asked to pick three people they would choose to be their next victim by appearance only. Each criminal picked three out of the five low self-esteem category! Why am I telling you this? Your thoughts are energy. What you think is sent out. For these particular people, their thoughts are projecting I am a victim. The criminal picks up the signal and targets that person. Even though these thoughts were fearful and not something they wanted to happen, it happened because they were thinking it. They created it. Powerful! This is what I would classify as a fatal attraction! These attractions occur daily through this hidden language of energy/thought. Granted it goes both ways, negative creation and positive creation. We interact through our energetic body, the invisible field surrounding our physical body. Our thoughts make up a part of this energetic body.

If you have the desire to change your life, regardless of what condition you want to change, change your thoughts and your belief system. Thoughts and beliefs that we have about ourselves and the world alter our perception, our hope, our energy, our health, our mood, our actions, our relationships, our entire life! Thoughts are extremely powerful and creative. The example above was a negative one, now imagine how powerful you can be if you change your thoughts to positive ones. Attracting wealth, great health, vitality, love, positive relationships, the list is endless! It is yours to create as you are the creator, so start creating joy and the perfect life you have always wanted today!

What kind of thoughts are you allowing to create your life?

If you have any questions regarding this article or need some help via coaching/counseling please feel free to email me at lisa@infinitylighthealing.com

Lisa Whatley is an Indigo/Crystal Adult, single mother of four Indigo/Crystal Children, an Entrepreneur, Writer, an Energy Facilitator and Spiritual Coach. She has helped many people change their lives with the services she provides. She resides with her four children in Northern Ontario Canada. She can be reached through her personal website www.InfinityLightHealing.com

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Next time you go on holiday picture this, your cruising down a sunny boulevarde in your drop top coupe and you see a beautiful young girl, you stop to say hello but she turns around and laughs at you, remarking on the size of your exhaust pipe. Its apparently a new craze for girls to revel in the size of car exhaust pipes, as if a used car ever mattered to a girl, especially in the sun! On several cars I have noticed that even girls themselves are adding style accessories such as uprated exhausts, pink alloys and even pink car accessories. What is the world coming too - screw the pink cars - give me a drop top mercedes any day!