Words

    Sometimes I don’t which is better:  Reading the writing or Writing the reading!  It simply amazes me that with the words we can put on “paper” (or on the computer page) we make the heart rejoice to unbelievable heights or we can drop to the depth of such painful sorry.  With the mere press of the keys on your keypad or the stroke of your pen you can convey such levels of emotions that it is almost an instantaneous change in your feelings.  Yes, we must admit that words have power, but it is we ourselves that put the power in the words!

     You attach these words upon the written page and the impossible begins to happen.  Places you never thought that it would be possible for you to visit become so real you can hardly catch your breath from the chilling air high in the Swiss Alps.  As if time simply does not properly function, you can be immediately changed to feeling the unbearable heat of the Sahara Desert.  The 104 degrees make your heart pound profusely under its unrelenting barrage.  And we won’t even consider how the scorching 160 degree burning of the sand upon your feet is going to make you feel.  

     But the written word can also transport you to locales of places from the “inner” earth to galaxies that are “far, far away!”  You can become so familiar with new life forms and civilizations that only truly exist through the words written upon blank pages.  These can become part of your life so much so that on a cool fall evening while you are out for a walk you could swear that you heard the mate calling sounds of the elusive Carthagion flute owl as it softly feels the night air.

     Sadly, just as words have the power to create such fantastic imaginary of worlds and creatures, they also have the power to hurt and destroy.  Although not knowing the exact origination you may have heard the phrase:  “Sticks and stones may break my bones.  But words will never hurt me.”  A common childhood chant meaning hurtful words cannot cause any physical pain and thus will be ignored or disregarded.  Perhaps not causing “physical pain” is true, but those words may cause emotional pain for a very long time.

     If we do not build within ourselves a very strong defense system those words may hold us as prisoners within our own minds and bodies and bullies will continue seeking to force us into their depraved state of thinking.  I’ve found over the years that laughter has been a wonderful mechanism that I have used as my defense.

     When I had been told “you’re fat!”  I would also come back with some line like “And I’ll get even fatter if I keep eating the way I do.”  Some might tell us that they don’t like us, can’t play with us, don’t want to be around us, (or whatever phrase they may be using) because “we are different.”  I would come back and thank them.  “Different?  You mean I am unique!  That there is no one else like me!”

     We have to take the words --- either spoken or written --- and let people know that we too enjoy the power of words, but we will not allow THEIR words to define who we are or what we may become.  The simple truth is that words have power, but WE control the power of the words, whether the words are originated by us or by someone else.  I think the Bible said it best at Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; Those who love to use it will eat its fruitage.”

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Remember the power of words,

and choose yours carefully."

Popular Social Sites

    We are social creatures by nature and will do almost anything to be “part of the group.”  Do you love using the internet to meet and talk to new people?  If so, there is a good chance that you have heard of social networking websites before. If you have not, you will want to familiarize yourself with them because they are rapidly becoming some the most popular ways to communicate with others online. 

     If you weren’t already aware, social networking websites are website that essentially acts as internet communities. While all social networking websites have their own rules and restrictions, many websites operate in a similar way, with similar goals. Their goals are to allow internet users to connect with other internet users online, often from all around the world.  What is nice about social networking websites is that they come in a wide variety of different forms.  There are many websites that are considered “general,” websites. These websites do not really have any particular focus, but there are social networking websites that do have a particular focus.  Those focuses often include dating, religion, and school. 

     If online social networking seems interesting to you, you will have to find a community to join. You can easily do this a number of different ways.  By speaking to those that you know, on and offline, you could be alerted to popular social networking websites.  You can also find these websites on your own by performing a standard internet search. Whether you perform your own search or rely on recommendations from others, it is likely that you will find a fairly large number of social networking websites. 

     Classmates (https://www.classmates.com/) is an online social networking website that is rapidly increasing in popularity.  This website focuses on connecting long lost friends or old classmates.  Classmates (https://www.classmates.com/) is free to use, but you must become a paying member to enjoy many of their member benefits.  These benefits include, but are not limited to, searching for old classmates, reading their profiles, requesting more information from your classmates, or even contacting them. 

     MySpace (https://myspace.com/) is another popular social networking website that can be found online. In fact, MySpace is known as being the most popular online social networking website. They currently have over one hundred million members!  MySpace, like many other social networking websites allows you to create your own profile, in fact, your own personal page.  Once your page has been created, you can easily invite other members to become a member of your network or they could invite you to become a member of theirs.  In addition to having a traditional profile page, with your personal information, you can also display a large number of pictures, video clips, and music clips. Although there are a number of features that makes MySpace so popular, the most popular reason for its popularity is that fact that it is completely free to use.

     As previously mentioned, MySpace and Classmates, are just a few of the many social networking websites that you can find online. To learn more about other sites or to join their community, do an online web search.  You may be surprised at what you find.  If you feel that you MUST be a part of the social environment:  check them out!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"It's hard to socialize

if you're an island!"

Exercise

     There are many types of exercises that a person can do depending on if we were talking about physical exercise of the body or an exercising of the mind.  However I wanted to make here some comments about exercising the body.

     Usually, especially for men, the thought of exercising brings to mind pounding those weights in the gym: Trying to get yourself a physique like Arnold Schwarzenegger.  The truth being that most of us NEVER become an imposing figure like that!  But we still want to exercise and do the best we can.  There are many times however that we never think of the array of various exercises that we could accomplish.

     It has been overlooked by some that such things as walking, running, swimming, hard work, biking, playing with kids, taking some part in outdoor games, Polynesian dance, boating, or perhaps even rock climbing can be an excellent means to get the daily exercise that a person needs.

     Some however would look past these things and try to decide that other activities would be, not only more interesting, but would provide them with the exercise routine that they need.  I’m not one to opposite any physical activity that a person may choose, but let’s be honest, counting the number of cars that pass your house while sitting in the porch swing would probably not fall into the category of “physical exercise.”

     At other times we will do an incredible amount of work to get out of actually exercising.  Have you ever seen someone ride around the parking lot of Wal-Mart for almost an hour trying to get the closest parking space they can find because they want to go in and purchase an exercise bike so they can get in their workout!

     I think that part of the problem is that the word itself leads us in the wrong direction:  EX-ercise!  It seems to indicate that this must be something we did in the past and now are no longer obligated to continue in whatever form it may be taking.  We are truly strange at time, but then again we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Exercise is much like work - - -

You either love it or you hate it!"

Social Networking Websites

     Just the mention of the words:  SOCIAL NETWORKING.  It brings to your mind the romance of internet involvement within a special group of your own friends.  The excitement of it all!  Are you interested in meeting new people online?  If so, there is a good chance that you have heard of social networking websites before.  Social networking websites are, in a way, like a community. They allow internet users to connect with and communicate with each other.  Despite the fact that social networking websites have rapidly increased in popularity and their popularity is only expected to keep on rising, there are many internet users who are unsure as to whether or not social networking websites are for them. 

     If you are interested in determining whether or not you should join an online networking website, you are encouraged to think about why those websites are so popular.  Doing so will enable you to determine why other internet users make the decision to join an online social network.  After that close examination, you may even find that those are the same reasons why you should or want to join.  One of those reasons is the ability to easily meet other internet uses.

     Before social networking websites, it was difficult to meet other internet users. If you tried, you would have to rely on chat rooms or instant messaging services. As nice as these popular internet features are, they are not always considered safe. With chat rooms or instant messaging programs you were often given little reassurance that a person was who they claimed to be. Without profiles, there was no way that you could learn more about a particular internet user, even if you wanted to. Social networking websites have changed that in various ways.  However, there is still the need to use caution when on ANY social media site.

     Not only have social networking websites made it safer to meet people online, it also allows you to meet people that have the same or similar interests as yourself.  Most social networking websites allow you to create your own profile; in fact, many even give you your own webpage.  These profiles or pages will allow you to share information on yourself, including your likes and dislikes.  Since all other network members should have the same pages and profiles, it should be fairly easy for you to meet up with other internet users, especially those who enjoy or believe in the same things that you do.

     Another one of the many reasons why you should join a social networking website is because you literally have a wide variety of different choices. As social networking websites increased in popularity, so did the number of websites that could be found online. Although MySpace is often deemed the most popular online social networking website, there are others that are just as easy or as much fun to use. You should easily be able to find those websites by performing a standard internet search.

     In your search, for social networking websites, you will come across a number of different networks. Many of those sites will have a particular focus.  Unlike MySpace, which accepts just about any internet user, there are online networks that aim to accept internet users that have a particular hobby, view, or belief.  Online, it is not uncommon to find social networking websites that focus on politics, religion, pets, sports, and more.  If you are unsure about joining an online networking community, specialty networking sites may be your best bet. They are a great way to test the waters and they are nice because they automatically pair you with internet users who have the same interests, views, or beliefs as you do.

     Perhaps, the greatest reasons why you should join a social networking website is because most are free to use. Popular free networks include Hello and MySpace. In addition to free social networks, there are online networks in which you are required to pay to join. Although you may not want to pay for something that you can obtain for free elsewhere, you will find that most paid networks offer you more membership benefits, when compared to free social networking sites.

     Due to the fact that most social networking websites are free to use or at least free to try, you are encouraged to give them a shot. If you are unsatisfied with what you see, you can easily cancel your membership, often at anytime.  I continue to supply a warning with any social media websites you may try:  Be very cautious as to the information you provide online.  YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE SEEING IT!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Don't post of the Internet what you

wouldn't say to someone in person!"

Procrastination

    Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something.  Have you ever been guilty of procrastination?  I think at one time or the other we have all done this in some way!  However, there are some people who seem to take this issue of procrastination to an extreme.

     You seem to always have THOSE certain people who can never get anything done on a specific schedule deadline.  If something is due by the 20^th of the month they will always be up late at night on the 19^th trying to get it finished.  The problem is that at times you may have a specific project that needs to be completed by the 20^th so you are waiting for some information from those people who procrastinate about getting it to you, so YOU are up late at night on the 19^th trying to get the project done.

     We all know those people who will put everything off until the last minute and for some of us it will drive us out of our minds!  We’ve got to “step back” as it were and get refocused.  I’m going to share a thought or two for you to consider with the topic that not all procrastination is bad!

1.       Something just doesn’t feel right.  You don’t really know why, but your intuition is telling you that something is just not right with the current situation.  Or perhaps with the direction that you are considering taking.  You can’t just ignore this feeling.  This is a time when you need to pause (procrastinate) and evaluate what is going on.  And what you need to do (if anything) to correct it.

2.      A period of planned inactivity is required for a creative result.  If you are planning a new product introduction into your business line or perhaps creating a new department within your organization.  Or maybe it’s a family move or relocation.  Whatever the reason this may be a period where you need to allow creative juices to flow (procrastinate) and consider varies options.  You may also way to consult with others in your organization or family so that various possibilities may be considered.

3.      A “wait and see” strategy is being used to address a problem.  It may be that you are trying to examine a situation that will correct itself within a certain period of time.  Or maybe the situation needs more time before you can properly evaluate what may be needed to correct the problem if anything.  It might be a good idea NOT to be hasty (or procrastinate) about implementing a certain strategy until you have had adequate time to do a proper evaluation.

4.      You don’t have time for the task.  It might be best for the task to be assigned to another workmate or someone within your organization who is better skilled in this particular area to handle the task.  Waiting (procrastinating) until the workload is properly distributed to the proper employee may result in fewer mistakes and more job satisfaction.

5.      You work best under pressure.  Many people will use this as an excuse to put off getting their work done.  However, there are some people who actually do work better under pressure.  So for those small few, waiting (procrastinating) to get their “juices” flowing and crossing the finish line just within the nick of time is just the thing they need.

     Understanding yourself and evaluating every situation may help you know when it is a proper time to procrastinate or not.  However, just give some consideration to those people around you who continue to pull their hair out because you seem to never get things done on time!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"I never put off until tomorrow what I can get done today.

WAIT - - - Let me think about that for awhile!"

Social Network Profile

    Social media is THE thing to be involved in today. Everyone wants to have “friends” and be “liked” by others.  How you would like to meet and communicate with other internet users, especially ones that share the same views and beliefs as you do? If you would then you may want to think about joining a social networking website, if you haven’t already done so. When it comes to easily finding and communicating online with other internet users, social networking sites are, perhaps, the best way to go.

     If you are interested in joining a social networking website, the first thing that you will need to do is find a network to join. You can easily find a number of networks by performing a standard internet search. For the best search results, you may want to search with the words “social networking” or “social networking websites”.  In your search, it is likely that that you come up with a fairly large number of different networking sites.  There are many popular sites out there in cyber space, but you may want to be selective in which one(s) you choose for yourself.

     Once you have made the decision to join a particular social networking website, whether or not it is one of the ones that are more popular or not, you will need to register with the site.  Even free networking communities require that you go through the registration process. Once you are registered, you should be able to start communicating with other community members.  Before you start communicating, you may need to develop your online profile or profile page, depending on the networking site in question. Although it may seem easy enough to create a profile, there are many internet users who are unsure exactly what they should and should not include.

     Perhaps, one of the most important things to include in your online website is your picture. While a personal picture is optional, it is ideal. Many internet users enjoy talking to someone that they can see in their minds, without a picture this is difficult.  If you are looking to use social networking websites just to meet new friends you may not necessarily need to post a private picture, but you may need to if you are looking to find love online. When it comes to internet dating, many individuals will not even view an online profile if a picture is not included.  Here you need to use a little discretion.  Don’t post a picture that you currently think is “funny” or “amusing” for your friends.  That picture will stay in cyber space FOREVER!  One day it come back to haunt you when you least expect it.

     In addition to your photograph, you may want to include your name.  Now, when it comes to your name, you need to be cautious.  You are advised against giving your full name, especially if your profile or profile page contains a personal photograph of you.  In addition to your name, you may want to put down your location.  As with your name it is important to display caution.  Your picture, your address, and your full name can be dangerous, especially if it falls into the wrong hands. As much as you would like to fill your social networking profiles with personal information, you are advised to think about your safety before anything else.

     You may also want to include information on yourself. This information may include your hobbies, issues that are important to do, your likes, and your dislikes.  With many social networking websites, including MySpace, you will find that there are preset profile fields for this information. In addition to preset questions or categories on your likes and dislikes, you may also find additional information, including fun questionnaires.  Many social networking websites will ask that you describe your favorite color, your goals in life, your most embarrassing moment, and so on. As with your other personal information, it is important to stay as vague and possible and not use any full names, especially real ones.  Some of this information may even come up to prevent you from obtaining a job in the future.

     By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should not only be able to create an online social networking profile that is filled with valuable information, but you can do so while staying safe at the same time.  Your safety on the internet is in your hands, that is why it is important to think about safety, as well as internet popularity.  Remember you may really know who that person is on the other side of cyber space who is trying to communicate with you.  Be cautious!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"You never know your real friends

until a time of need."

Complain

    We are very strange creatures!  It seems we always want change, but when things change we are usually not happy about it. 

     When the time changes every year (and it doesn’t matter in which direction you are going) we always complain that we can’t get up that early or we’re going to bed and it is still light outside.

     When the seasons change we find something to complain about.  It’s getting too cold; I wish we had warmer weather.  Then when summer gets here what do we do:  complain!  I can’t take this heat!  When are we going to have colder weather?

     This or that world leader can’t get anything done!  We need change!  And what happens when we get a replacement into office?  We complain!  They aren’t any better than the last “Joe Blow” that was in office.

     We are such strange creatures!  Let me relate this little story about a truly complaining man.

     Shortly after getting married this man had his new bride prepare him breakfast for the first time within their wedded life.  She prepared him TWO fried eggs along with his sausage and toast.  When he sat at the table looking at the meal she had prepared he groaned:  “You FRIED the eggs!  I wanted them scrambled!”

     The next morning she made his breakfast and this time she scrambled the TWO eggs for him.  When he sat at the table he looked at the plate and groaned:  “You scrambled the eggs.  I wanted them FRIED!”

     When she got up the next morning she found herself in a dilemma!  How would she prepare his TWO eggs for breakfast this morning?  So after giving the matter some thought, she FRIED ONE of the eggs and SCRAMBLED the other!

     When her husband came into the kitchen and sat at the table he paused for some time starring at his plate.  Then in his usual crumbling voice he uttered:  “Woman, you FRIED the WRONG egg!”

     This well illustrates that some times (and it is more often than not) we don’t have a real grasp on what it is we want.  All we know is that whatever it is:  We are going to complain!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"You'll always complain until it is right!

Remember:  You'll never get it right!"

Personalize Autoresponders

     Probably most of us have gotten those “robo-calls” on our phones.  You know you get a “machine” that sounds like a really bad version of some future cyborg that can barely get the words out well enough for you to understand.  NO ONE wants to talk to a machine1

     Have you ever walked into a store in your town, and been addressed by name? This has probably happened to you at stores that you frequent often. The shop owner knows your name, and uses it. He remembers you, and he wants you to know that he cared enough about you and your business to remember you. In the offline world, this is just one aspect of customer support.

     Customer service like this is almost impossible to achieve on the Internet, but some semblance of it can exist when you personalize your autoresponder messages. Autoresponder messages can be set up to address people by their first or last name – or both. In fact, there is quite a bit of personalized information that can be added, depending on the autoresponder that you are using.

     The information is included in the autoresponder messages by using codes. Each autoresponder will use different codes to insert the information in your messages. You simply write your message, and put the codes where you want the personalized information to appear. For instance, your message may start out with ‘Hello (code for first name)! In this case, the person’s first name will be inserted where that code is.

     Personalizing your autoresponder messages will most likely improve your response rate. Research has shown that emails that are personalized with the person’s first name are opened more often, and those people are generally more receptive to the contents of the email message. It is usually very easy to do. You write one message, using the codes where you want the personalization, then, no matter who that one email is sent out to, their personal information will appear where the codes are.

     Of course, the autoresponder must collect the information first. This is done with the use of forms that activate the autoresponder. For instance, if you are giving away a free ebook, and you have your visitor fill out a form with their email address to receive the download instructions for the ebook by email, that form should collect any type of information that you want for personalization – such as a first name, as well as the email address. If that information is not collected, the autoresponder won’t have anything to insert where that code appears in your messages!

     Take a look around the control panel of your autoresponder, and find out what type of personalization you can add to your autoresponder messages. You may be very surprised at the improved results!  Although not completely possible to be “personal” with your autoresponder, you can try your best to at least give the simulation that your potential customer is not talking to a machine!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"There is no other person like you:

BElieve in YOUrself!"

Beautiful Colorado

     I took a trip to the mountains this weekend with my wife, my son and his wife and daughter, and my granddaughter and her husband.  We spend a wonderful time in a cabin by a creek.  The only drawback if you’d want to call it that was that wind was unbelievable.  Probably about 50-60 mile-an-hour gusts.  But the overall experience was most wonderful.

     We drove along the “Highway of Legends” which is about an 80-mile route that runs from Walsenburg, Colorado to Trinidad, Colorado along Colorado Highway 12.  The many twists and turns in the highway give you more than ample opportunity to see the many sites.  Of course, you still have to watch the traffic, so it’s nice when you get to spots where you can pull over and park to get out and really enjoy the magnificent scenery. 

     I’d like to share with you some of the points from a publication from the Colorado Department of Transportation about some of these “legends!”

     “The large rock wall rising 250 feet above Stonewall is part of the Dakota Sandstone Formation, created millions of years ago.  The formation, once lying at the bottom of the ocean, was pushed vertical at the time the mountains were formed.  One of the oldest legends of the Stonewall Valley is the tale of the ‘lonesome water’.  It is said, many years ago, when the earth was young, water flowing down the Sangre de Cristos fell in love with a little green valley that lay in the cool blue shadow of the great stone wall. It refused to leave the valley, sank deep into the ground and loitered where the roots of wild roses were tucked into the ground.  To this day, the water comes up in clear, little springs among the rocky ridges.  They say it has a peppermint flavor and looks like green ice, but once a person has tasted it, he is forever a lover of Stonewall Valley.”  An interesting story, however, the sight of the sheer stone wall of rock is breath taking.

     A brief second “legend” I think you will find very interesting:  “The earliest records of the Cuchara Valley show that it was not called Cuchara at all, but rather Nunda Canyon.  Nunda is an Indian word for ‘potato.’  Sometime in the late 1800’s, it was referred to as Cuchara Valley, possibly taking its name from the river.  Cuchara is Spanish for spoon.  Some say that the valley was given the name because of its spoon shape.  It got this shape (according to legend) when the giants roamed the earth and one left his spoon on the side of the mountain in a heavy rain – thus leaving an impression in the side of the mountain.”

     The area is amazingly beautiful!  If you ever have a chance to visit this area in southwest Colorado it will be worth your time and efforts.  It is especially beautiful in late September and part of October when the aspens leaves are changing color.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"You have not really seen the great beauty in things

until you look at them with your heart."