Chasing the Good Life Instead of Pirates…

A little piece of trivia about yachting that is fun to bring out if you are enjoying an afternoon on a friend’s yacht is that the word “yacht” is actually Dutch and it original spelling is “Jacht”. The translation of the original word is “hunt” because the yacht was created to give the Dutch navel vessels a tool to hunt down pirates in shallow water. But these days we are far more interested in chasing the good life on board a luxury yacht than going after pirates.

It didn’t take long for yachting to become a lifestyle choice for those that could afford such luxury. It is fascinating that yachting was enjoyed as far back as the early 1800s where there are references in history that King Charles II was a huge yachting enthusiast. So we are in good company if we have come to love yachting too and its small wonder that it makes us feel like kings and queens when we are on board a luxury yacht cruising entirely for our pleasure.

Today when you think of the word “yacht”, you almost always associate it with private boats kept for the pleasure of those who can afford a large seafaring ship dedicated to relaxation, romance and pleasure. That image is wonderfully displayed in the delightful movie Some like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis in which Tony yells the sexy “Sugar” played by Marilyn that he is waiting for a signal from his wine steward on board his yacht for the time to return from the beach for cocktails. Who of us doesn’t get a kick out of that kind of lifestyle and we jump at the chance to enjoy it even if it’s just for a few weeks each year on holiday or vacation?

When you start to think about the kind of yacht you wish to buy or charter, you have a few decisions to make. For one thing, you can buy a sailing or motorized yacht. Sailing seems so natural and you don’t have to carry as much fuel (although a good sailing yacht will still have some ability to get to shore using a motor so you are never in danger of being stranded). Also what a wonderful way to pass the morning watching the crew of your yacht put up and maneuver the sails to get you surfing the winds at sea and letting them take you along.

A yacht is almost always a large boat except perhaps if it is devoted to racing. But for luxury and relaxation, having plenty of space on the yacht is important. If you are going to buy a new yacht, you should walk the boat over many times and picture different ways you will entertain family and friends and be sure you have plenty of accommodations not only for the largest party you might take with you to sea but also for a good sized crew you will have along to care for the yacht itself as well as for you and your guests. Your chef should have an ample kitchen with room for plenty of provisions if you want to stock the yacht for several days or weeks at sea. And there should be the proper facilities to store fine wines and other beverages for your wine steward to work with during your voyage.

By making sure your yacht is well designed for the lifestyle you want during your outings, you will get lots of good use from it each year. And if you are going to charter, you can look forward to bringing your same high standards to picking just the right yacht, captain and crew each time as well so your adventure at sea is just as enjoyable and luxurious as you always wanted it to be.

Performance – Turbo-Charge Your Life With Powerful Self-Talk…

Self-talk is the inner chatter that accompanies us in most of our waking moments. Your self-talk can be a powerful aid to your performance, or it can be destructive.

What do you say when you talk to yourself? If you’re like many of us, your self-talk is a caustic mixture of judgments, complaints, and verbal abuse, in the form of “tapes” – mental recordings – that you’ve imprinted on your mind and play over and over again. No wonder you feel down and depressed.

However, you can change the tapes you play, and your self-talk, as soon as you become aware of what you’re saying to yourself. Changing your self-talk will turbo-charge your life and enhance your performance in everything you do.

You can change your self-talk right now

Let’s try a little test. Say to yourself, silently or aloud: “That was a stupid thing to say. How could I say _________ (pick any verbal blunder you can remember). I’m so stupid.”

How do you feel? Perhaps you feel sad, or anxious. Take a moment to track your emotions in your body. Perhaps you have a sinking feeling in your tummy, or your face is becoming hot. Your self-talk immediately affected your body, your mental state and your emotions.

Now let’s try some positive self-talk. Take a couple of deep breaths, smile, and say to yourself, aloud or silently: “I’m happy, strong and confident.”

How do you feel now? Feel your emotions in your body. Repeat the words “I’m happy, strong and confident” several times – keep smiling as you do so. You felt an emotional lift, didn’t you? You can give yourself an emotional boost at any time, just by changing your self-talk. If you make it a habit to repeat motivating self-talk to yourself, not only will you feel better, but you’ll perform better in everything you do.

Self-talk is powerful, and it’s free. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.

Erase old self-talk tapes: make new tapes

Affirmations are a form of self-talk, and you can create your own affirmations to use as self-talk. However, the best way to change your old self-talk tapes, is to make a new tape every time you catch yourself replaying an old tape.

For example, if you hear yourself saying: “I’ll never get this project done. No one’s helping me with it, I’m always left to do the hard work and others get the credit…”

Change your self-talk immediately. Write down your new self-talk tape which will over time erase the old self-talk tape: “This project’s interesting. I’m going to have fun working with it. I’ll ask ___ and ___ for their input right away. I’m taking charge of this project, it will be done in no time, and I’ll claim the credit because I deserve it.”

Now repeat your new self-talk to yourself as often as you need to, particularly as soon as you can hear any faint whispers of the old self talk. Boost the new tape with affirmations, like: “I’m confident, capable and strong. I CAN do this!”

Start today: use powerful self-talk to enhance your performance in everything you do.

The Advantages of Self-Confidence…

Self-confident people are able to meet work deadlines…

Self-confidence has the ability to make employees perform more effectively at their jobs. Confident employees are able to take on multifaceted tasks with a greater level of commitment and concentration. Self-confidence breeds enthusiasm and lets a person inspire their co-workers. Individuals like these are valuable to an employer because they can get the job done. Self-confident people have the ability to succeed at whatever they put their minds to.

Self-confident people have a positive outlook

A self-confident person is often organized and able to stick to a schedule. Being organized helps a person stay on top of things in every arena of their life. Being able to finish a job on time and well is very encouraging. You can often tell a self-confident person by his smile and cheerful demeanor.

Self-confident people are often healthier

Self-confident people are better equipped to deal with stressful situations with a level head. They are confident that they can make it through any situation and solve any problem. This aids in avoiding such health problems as high blood pressure, hypertension, and even anger. Self-confident people are likely to live a healthier life.

Self-confident people can spend more quality time at home

A good day spent at work often dictates how a person will be at home after work. A sense of accomplishment on the job helps a person be more agreeable with family, and more upbeat. He or she will want to spend more time with family, which is beneficial for everyone.

Self-confident people are better friends and partners

It is easier to invest time in a relationship when you are up on yourself and organized in your life. Self-confident people are often better able to draw the line between work and family, allowing for more balance and harmonious relationships with family and friends. Self-confident people seem to be able to bind relationships through time and care.

Self-confident people have a higher income

Self-confidence helps employees work well independently or as part of a team. They can take the lead, or follow someone else’s instructions without problems or conflict. They are not afraid to acknowledge that they deserve a promotion or raise, and ask for it.

People look up to self-confident people

Self-confident people are more likely to achieve personal and professional successes than someone who looks down on him or herself. Self-confident people have energy and magnetism that draws people in. They believe in themselves and have the courage to solve problems and deal with anything that is thrown their way. People like to be around a self-confident person.

Nice Guys Do It, Too!…

I’m talking about online dating, of course. When the phenomenon of online dating sites started several years ago, they were a haven for perverts, sexual predators, nerds, and weirdoes of assorted varieties.

That is just no longer the case. All the stigma of online dating is gone. Online dating has gone main stream and is, not only acceptable, but expected. Online dating has become the primary tool of single people of all ages to generate an interesting and rewarding social life.

Let’s face it…we are busy guys. We just simply do not have the time, the energy, or the financial where-with-all to date several nights each week while we look for the “one”. You can sort through hundreds of profiles in a month for less money than you would spend on one evening out, thus, saving time and money. We use the internet to save ourselves time and money for a lot of things like investments, shopping, medical information, and communications.

Why not make use of such a useful tool for our social and personal lives as well? You could find the love of your life. At the very least, you will meet some interesting people and possibly make some lasting friendships. It’s easy to get started. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. You’ll need to search for online dating services that meet your specific needs. They are many and varied.

Join one or two. Then you’ll need to write a great profile, upload a recent picture of yourself and start making and answering contacts. That really is all there is to it…that and patience.

Don’t wait any longer to start your new and interesting social life. Miss or Ms. “Right” could be only a few clicks of the mouse away.

Long Distance Relationships – Strain On Any Relationship…

Having long distance relationships can be stressful and put a lot of strain on both parties involved. Being with someone without actually being with them is never fun. This is made all the worse when such a relationship has to endure a long time without seeing each other. Whether it is work related, school, or whatever.

However you do not have to let the strain of being apart ruin your relationship, there are ways to overcome the distance separating you from your loved one. There are some tips to help you make life just a little easier, no matter how far apart you are.

1. Establish communication. The first thing you have to do is actually be able to communicate with each other. Snail mail with letters is one way, but the more intimate the better. Phone calls or even web cams are always preferred. Using multiple lines of communication is also good, as you may not always be in a position where you can communicate via one of the methods.

2. Plan to meet. Having something to look forward to can help pass the time, and planning to meet up when you are both available is important. In a lot of long distance relationships the two parties involved are able to meet up every now and then. Meeting up with help remove the loneliness of your relationship and also make dealing with it a lot easier.

3. Build a hobby. Having something you can do together is a great way to keep your relationship strong, regardless of the distance. The most common type of hobby would be something you could do together over the internet. However more conventional hobbies can still be used and you can talk to each other about the progress you have made.

4. Surprises. When working in a long distance relationship it can be difficult to maintain the spark that brought the two of you together. Routines hurt a lot of relationships, and in a long distance one it is even more difficult to break up those routines. So plan to surprise your partner. If you are able, take a trip up and give them a visit.

5. Capture moments. Even if the two of you are not together, sharing important moments of your life is a good way to keep your relationship strong. Share photos of occasions that have happened and keep your partner in the loop about your life. Even if they are not physically with you, they can still be a part of your life through these shared moments.

Having long distance relationships is a challenge, far more so then a normal relationship. But they are still nothing more then obstacles to overcome, something to strengthen your bond. So that when you finally do get back together you will be all the happier.

These tips may not help with all the problems associated with your relationship, but they should help ease them making it easier to cope with the distance separating the two of you. As long as you keep on working at it, your relationship will remain strong.

A Christian Matchmaker Service Can Change Your Life…

The last time you went to the movies, did you buy the big popcorn because it was a better deal and then have to throw half of it away because you were sitting in front of the big screen all alone? There is nothing wrong with heading out to the movies, the mall, or your favorite restaurant by yourself, but let’s face it, having the love of your life by your side sure does make it more fun, right? Well, if you are still searching for the man or woman of your dreams, a Christian matchmaker service can change your life for the better.

Would you prefer to have someone special to hold hands with while saying The Lord’s Prayer in church? Tired of holding the hand of the older woman beside you? A fellow believers matchmaker service can change your life for the better.

Would you like to have someone to cook for or have someone to cook for you – or even better, have someone with who you can share the cooking duties? A Christian matchmaker service can change your life for the better.

Do you feel way down deep inside that your soul mate is out there somewhere just waiting to be found, but you just can’t seem to locate her on your own? Are you tired of the typical dating scene? Well, of course, one of the most fundamental necessities to a lasting relationship is grounding in the same faith. If you really want to find your perfect life partner, it is time to stop and take a positive step. A Christian matchmaker service can change your life for the better.

A faith based dating service can change your life by helping you find someone who shares your faith in Jesus; for a relationship – or anything—to last in these tough times, Christ must be a part of it. So don’t waste your time and efforts looking and searching only to find out later that he really isn’t all that interested in going to church with you.

A Christian matchmaker service can change your life by helping you find someone with the same interests you have. If you love to spend your weekends in God’s great outdoors, a bookworm would probably not be the best companion for you. With a database of interests from which to choose, the matchmaker can help you easily find someone who likes what you like.

God has given us each the potential to love greatly; in fact, He reminds us that to love God and to love one another are the greatest commandments of all. If you are still searching for the love of your life, remember to seek out help so that you will not have to endure this life alone. You can find your soul mate. A Christian matchmaker service can change your life for the better.

A Mental Wilderness Survival Kit…

A survival kit should be carried by anyone who goes deep into the wilderness. What should be in it? Matches, a blade of some sort, and first aid supplies are among the usual recommendations. When you read the true stories of survival, though, you start to see that it is what’s in a persons head that often determines if they survive or not. What, then, should be in this mental survival kit?

A Survival Kit In Your Mind

1. Willingness to learn. Even those who know nothing about survival until lost in the wilderness can still learn as they go – if they are willing to. If you’re cold, watch that squirrel dive under a pile of leaves, and try that to stay warm (it works). Notice what’s working and what isn’t, and keep trying new things.

2. Willingness to do what’s necessary. This is one of the most important items in your mental survival kit. Hey, they can eat hissing cockroaches just for the chance to win some money on “Fear Factor,” so you can do it to save your life, right? Spoon with your buddy to stay warm, break open logs to find grubs to eat – do whatever it takes.

3. Positive attitude. This is an essential. In many stories of survival it is clear that those who expected to survive did. Even if you’re not sure you can survive, encourage this attitude by acting as if you expect to.

4. Inspirational thoughts. This is how to have that positive attitude. An easy and enjoyable way to get this inspiration is to read true stories of wilderness survival. Some of the stories are about situations far worse than anything you are ever likely to encounter. Remembering them at the appropriate time is a sure way to see that you can survive. tell them to others too, if you are in a group.

5. Wilderness survival knowledge. You don’t have to go to a survival training school to read and remember that you can safely eat all North American mammals, or that you can stuff your jacket with cattail fluff to create a winter coat. Any little bit helps, so learn a new trick or two each season, or take an edible plant guide on your next hike.

6. Reasons to survive. We all have reasons to want to live, but we need to remember to pull out those reasons when the time comes. Many people have attributed their survival to the constant thought of a loved one waiting for them, or something they want in the future.

Maybe you’ve already done this mental preparation, but it can’t hurt to look over the list above again. Is there anything you need to work on in your mental survival kit?

Balancing Hope And Reality To Plan A Dignified Death…

Dealing with the end of life and the decisions that accompany it bring critical challenges for everyone involved-patients, families, friends and physicians. In fact, “managing” the progression toward death, particularly when a dire diagnosis has been made, can be a highly complex process. Each person involved is often challenged in a different way.

Communication is the first objective, and it should start with the physicians. In their role, physicians are often tasked to bridge the chasm between lifesaving and life-enhancing care; thus, they often struggle to balance hopefulness with truthfulness. Determining “how much information,” “within what space of time” and “with what degree of directness for this particular patient” requires a skillful commitment that matures with age and experience.

A physician’s guidance must be highly personalized and must consider prognosis, the risks and benefits of various interventions, the patient’s symptom burden, the timeline ahead, the age and stage of life of the patient, and the quality of the patient’s support system.

At the same time, it’s common for the patient and his or her loved ones to narrowly focus on life preservation, especially when a diagnosis is first made. They must also deal with shock, which can give way to a complex analysis that often intersects with guilt, regret and anger. Fear must be managed and channeled. This stage of confusion can last some time, but a sharp decline, results of diagnostic studies, or an internal awareness usually signals a transition and leads patients and loved ones to finally recognize and understand that death is approaching.

Once acceptance arrives, end-of-life decision-making naturally follows. Ongoing denial that death is approaching only compresses the timeline for these decisions, adds anxiety, and undermines the sense of control over one’s own destiny.

With acceptance, the ultimate objectives become quality of life and comfort for the remainder of days, weeks or months. Physicians, hospice, family and other caregivers can focus on assessing the patient’s physical symptoms, psychological and spiritual needs, and defining end-of-life goals. How important might it be for a patient to attend a granddaughter’s wedding or see one last Christmas, and are these realistic goals to pursue?

In order to plan a death with dignity, we need to acknowledge death as a part of life-an experience to be embraced rather than ignored when the time comes. Will you be ready?

Solar Power for Homes and its Benefits…

Modern technology can do a lot of great things. One is the use of solar power for homes. Did you know that you can enjoy many benefits from using solar power? Solar panels can now be created at home by simply following comprehensible do-it-yourself instructions. Building power systems is no longer very expensive these days and it’s also not as hard as you think.

With the increasing demand for solar powered homes, you can now find a wide range of DIY projects in the market. The reasons why many homeowners are now choosing solar power for their homes is because they want to help in the persistent global warming crisis and electric bills cost a lot these days.

The electricity supplied in modern homes usually comes from different power plants. These power plants use fossil fuels and so the electric charges are greatly dependent on the prices of natural gases and crude oil. Fossil fuels are also depleting. There is a high demand for electricity but the resources have decreased greatly. In this kind of situation, the electrical costs will still continue to increase. The solar power for homes is an excellent answer to the problem.

By using fossil fuels, the problem with global warming will become worse. Harmful gases are emitted by the fossil fuels to produce electricity. If you don’t want to contribute to the environmental problems any further, why not use solar power for your home now?

Several years ago, the solar cells were really expensive and inefficient. Back then the solar cells were quite inefficient since they can’t convert 100% of the rays of the sun into electricity. Most solar cells can convert only 10-25%. In the year 2003, a new product was introduced and it was called photovoltaic cell. The new cell can convert 36% of the rays into usable electricity. The cells were also affordable. The modern sunlight technology is now widely available and even ordinary homeowners can take advantage of it.

The solar power kits are available worldwide. You can purchase them in online stores or you can also shop around in local stores. If you’re unsure, it would be best to shop online. There you can find several reputable sellers and manufacturers of solar power kits.

The solar power kits provide step by step instructions on how to assemble the different materials. Hardware stores usually sell the different parts of the solar power system. If create your own solar power system, you will only spend about $200 and it already includes the guide. With such a small investment, you can already benefit from solar power for many years. You’re not only saving money but you’re also helping in saving the planet.

Renewable and clean energy sources are in great demand these days. The homes of the future are now possible in today’s modern world. You can start with small projects and work your way up. For instance, you can first work on the outdoor lighting first and if it proves to be beneficial, you can do another project.

Don’t cut off the existing electrical supply especially if this is your first time to do solar power projects. Just use it as a supplement so that you can lessen your electricity consumption. Start with your DIY solar power project and light your home using the sun’s energy.

Solar Power or the Use of Generators…

Every year, the environmental problems are getting worse. Global warming, pollution, and other concerns are now very evident. Many environmentalists are now taking an active part in the hope of saving the world before it’s too late. One way to effectively address such problems is by using solar power. With many households and establishments using generators to back up their power supply, which do you think is the best choice?

Power failure happens in the most unexpected hours and so having a generator can provide the needed power. The portable generators are widely used and you can even find large generators that provide emergency power. If you want to help in reducing pollution and other environmental problems, why don’t you opt for solar power instead?

The initial cost is a very important consideration but you will also need to look in the benefits that you can gain the future. Installing a viable solar power system can be quite expensive than just purchasing a portable generator. However, once you’ve installed the power system, you can already enjoy free unlimited power supply. Maintenance is minimal and you will not spend huge money on it. You don’t need to buy fuel just to run the system because the energy of the sun fuels the solar power system. In a portable generator, you will need to buy fuel to run it and so you will continue to spend money to enjoy power supply.

Generators can be purchased easily, online or locally, and so it’s quite convenient to obtain them. On the other hand, solar power is not that convenient to install and purchase as well. The market for solar power is rather small but because of the technological advancements, the market will soon grow. Today, the best way to obtain solar power kits is through the internet. Anyone can settle for a little bit of inconvenience especially if huge benefits are involved. Besides, after the installation of the solar power system, you don’t need to monitor it often unlike in generators where you will refill the fuel, change the oil and filter, and two times servicing in a year. The solar power system can last for twenty years even with minimal maintenance.

Both solar power and portable generators are efficient. However, when it comes to cost-efficiency, solar power is ahead. As long as the sun shines, energy can be generated. The system can also store energy so that it can be used at night or during rainy days. In a generator, you will need to re-fuel from time to time. You will need to pay for the fuel every time. Sunlight is free but fuel is not and so the cost efficient option is very obvious.

In terms of dependability, solar power and generators are almost the same. Solar power is best used in places where there is bright sunlight all throughout the year. If the period of bad weather is lengthy, all the stored power can be consumed. Generators can be used whether it’s sunny or rainy but the problem lies with the source of fuel. If you can’t refuel the generator, it will not work.

It’s your choice whether you will use solar power or a portable generator. It all depends on your capacity to pay for the device. You can further evaluate these two by reading this article carefully.