Ann Harrison Life Coaching

How to get published

2006-08-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

The Squidoo 'Lens of the Day' for today is The Perfect Pen: How to Get Published by best-selling author, Connie Briscoe. Connie's lens has information about getting your first novel published, advice about whether to submit your novel to a literary agent or direct to a publisher, and even resources to help you find that agent or publisher. Visit http://www.squidoo.com/howtowrite/ if the urge to write that book is still burning away inside you... (And you will send me a first edition copy won't you? :-))

Good quotes

2006-08-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

Life is like a box of chocolates. Sometimes you take a big bite out of something that you just have to spit out.

Author Unknown

Does what you want to do with your life seem too silly or irresponsible?

2006-08-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

Regular readers will know that I often recommend coach Michael Neill's radio show, 'You Can Have What You Want', on Hay House Radio. This week's programme looks interesting. Here are the details:

This week on 'You Can Have What You Want'!

Thursday, August 24 at Noon pacific/3pm eastern/8pm UK:
(Internet radio at (http://www.hayhouseradio.com)

*****FEAR MASQUERADING AS GOOD TASTE*****

Does what you want to do with your life seem too "silly" or
"irresponsible?"

If so, you may be suffering from a condition Michael calls "fear
masquerading as good taste." Tune in as Michael helps you
uncover your hidden fears and step boldly into the life of your
dreams!

To get coaching live on air, use these numbers:

Inside the US (Toll free)
1-866-254-1579

From the UK/Outside the US
001-760-918-4300

You can also e-mail your questions for me to
questions@geniuscatalyst.com.

To listen to the show each and every Thursday, go to
at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on
the button marked 'Listen Now'.

Coming Next:

August 31 - Thriving on Change

If you missed last week's show on finding ways to feel better in
the midst of whatever is going on in your life, please visit
http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ and click the button for the
'Listen Again' archives!

Wise words

2006-08-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends, and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends, and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life."

Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises from 1959-1994

Mid-life crisis? Check out LifeTwo.com

2006-08-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Wearing my other, retirement coach's hat, I put out a request for guinea pigs to test my new eCourse - the Retirement Detox Programme, which was picked up by Wesley Hein of LifeTwo.com. LifeTwo is a fantastic resource, packed full of articles relevant to baby boomers, middle-agers and retirees. Here's what Wesley has to say about the site:

'Life Two is many things and will certainly create a different experience for different people. In short Greg and I want to create a place that helps people make better decisions with their lives. Of course the scope of this task is ridiculous, how can we even propose to do such a thing. Well, a couple of ways.

First, there is an old saying that goes something like "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." We aren't going to solve everyone's problems in one day. But we hope that this site is a catalyst for people improving their lives one bite at a time.

Second and more importantly, we will likely have very little to do with whatever benefits people will get form the site. Our part is to put up the plumbing and do what we can to attract the early visitors, but after that it is going to be community members helping community members. This is not a novel concept and recently a number of web companies have launched to help new parents (Minti) or to help people make travel decisions (RealTravel). We applaud these efforts and hope that they succeed. But if one wants parenting help or travel suggestions there is no shortage of good online/offline sources for this information. But for the more complex life decisions (such as "what do I want to do with my life") there are places to turn. Furthermore, these are sometimes the types of topics that people have trouble having with people they are close--making the anonymity of the Internet a plus.

Life Two is a long-term project and you will see us add new features and functions over-time based on reactions that we get from other community members.'

Definitely well worth a look!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

2006-08-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

I hope that you're enjoying the Summer and that the global heatwave isn't causing you too many problems. I'm not really a Summer person myself - I find that the heat saps my energy and make me cranky, and, personally, I much prefer Spring, Autumn and Winter. I take a perverse comfort in the fact that the Harrods store in London has already opened its Christmas department.

Only 139 shopping days left to Christmas... :-)

Living in the raw

2006-08-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of incorporating more raw food into my diet - no, I'm not talking about raw meat or anything like that - I'm talking about more fruit, salads, smoothies, nuts and seeds, etc. Would you believe that you can even get raw chocolate cake and apple crumble? Or flapjacks, cookies and ice-cream?

If you're even the slightest bit intrigued, have a look at Karen Knowler's 'Living in the Raw' blog, at http://karenknowler.typepad.com/living_in_the_raw/. Karen is The Raw Food Coach. She is also an author, presenter, MD of The Fresh Network (The UK's raw and living foods organisation), founder of The Fresh Festival and creator of Get Fresh! magazine. Karen has appeared on LK Today (GMTV), Channel Health, The Wellbeing Channel, Rude Health, LBC radio and Radio 4, as well as appearing regularly in the press in her capacity as raw food expert and food/life coach. She really knows her stuff and she makes the idea of raw food seem an absolute 'no-brainer' (without appearing to be the slightest bit 'crusty' or 'cranky').

Many in the UK 'don't wear suncream'

2006-08-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

A survey of 1,010 people carried out by The Institute of Cancer Research and Superdrug has found that whilst 67% of them used high-factor protection while on holiday, only 33% did whilst in the UK. The survey also uncovered the fact that almost four out of 10 people do not put on sunscreen for gardening and that nearly half do not put it on for playing sports. You can read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5232010.stm

7 Reasons to Get Off the Couch Already! by Gabrielle deGroot Redford

2006-07-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

Are you a baby boomer that still needs convincing of the benefits of regular exercise? How about:

you'll live longer
you'll remember where you left your keys

you'll heal faster

you'll increase sexual function

you'll have fewer hot flashes

you'll reduce muscle and joint pain AND

you'll save money?

Read all about it in an article from the AARP magazine at http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/seven_reasons.html.

How dolphin training can improve your relationships by Michael Myerscough

2006-07-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, and didn't understand the political implications of keeping animals in captivity, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer. As a result I used to do a little work at a dolphinarium.

As you probably know dolphins are very smart and love to play games. When I began feeding them they'd come right up the edge, however over time they began to move a little further away. It started out with me having to straighten my arm a little more but quickly progressed to me leaning over the pool trying toreach them. At this point it all seemed innocent enough, I mean let's face it, Dolphins are amazing and any contact with them is good contact. I was willing to forgive them their laziness as I just felt privileged to be able to play with them. It struck me recently that this is how we feel at the beginning of any relationship that excites us.

Visit http://www.therelationshipgym.com/newsletters/post/12 to find out how some simple dolphin training can transform the quality of your relationships.

Michael Myerscough is the co-founder and the head coach of The Relationship Gym. He has 16 years experience as a counselor and coach and specialises in coaching people on their relationships and dating.

Maca - aka Nature's Viagra

2006-07-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Karen Knowler is The Raw Food Coach, author, presenter, MD of The Fresh Network (The UK's raw and living foods organisation), founder of The Fresh Festival and creator of Get Fresh! magazine.

I just spotted an entry about Maca - a plant related to the radish, on Karen's 'Living in the Raw' blog which you may find interesting. Apparently, Maca is nature's alternative to Viagra and its properties are beneficial for both men and women. You can read the full posting here:

http://karenknowler.typepad.com/living_in_the_raw/2006/06/maca.html#more.

Reset your wealth thermostat

2006-07-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

The topic of Michael Neill's radio show this week is 'Your Wealth Thermostat' and how to reset it. Here are the details from Michael:

This week on Hay House Radio!

Thursday, July 13 at Noon pacific/3pm eastern/8pm UK:
(Internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)

*****YOUR WEALTH THERMOSTAT*****

Inside all of us is a "wealth thermostat" that makes sure we never have too much or too little money in our lives. Tune in this week to find out how to reset your thermostat . . . and how to make it okay to have so much more!

As always, we'll be taking your calls throughout the show. If you would like to effortlessly increase your income, phone in for some live 'wealth coaching' on these numbers:

Inside the US (Toll free)
1-866-254-1579

From the UK/Outside the US
001-760-918-4300

To listen to the show live each and every Thursday, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

Coming Next:

July 20 - Ending Relationship Conflicts

July 27 - It's About Time w/special guest Mark Forster,author of 'Do It Tomorrow'

If you missed last week's show on 'The Path of Choice' with my special guest Bill Cumming, please visit http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ and click the button for the
'Listen Again' archives!

New courses for July from Barnes and Noble University

2006-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

'Backyard Astronomy', 'Exploring Herbal Medicine' and 'Web Pages Made Easy' are all included in the list of free courses starting in July at Barnes and Noble University. All you need to do is buy the book on which the course is based. New courses and reading groups starting July 10th are listed below:

LIBERAL ARTS

Backyard Astronomy: Skywatching Basics
Becoming Human: The Story of Evolution
Buddhism and Everyday Life
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Discover Dungeons & Dragons
Everyday Math for Everyday Life
French for Beginners with Living Language®
The History of Western Culture: 1500 to the Present
How to Read a Film: Creating Meaning
Jazz: A History of America's Music
The Poet's Table: Walt Whitman's Poetry and Prose
Thinking Like an Editor: How to Get Published
Writing Fiction with Gotham Writers' Workshop
Writing Poetry with Writer's Digest Books

LIFE IMPROVEMENT

Become Your Own Pilates Trainer
Designing Your Own Garden
Diet Simple with Katherine Tallmadge
Discover What You're Best At
eBay the Smart Way
Exploring Herbal Medicine
Feng Shui for Your Life
How to Grill Well
Learn Wine Basics with Morrell & Company
Reel Fulfillment
Simplify Your Life Now
Vegetable Gardening
Web Pages Made Easy
Your Home Spa

ONLINE READING GROUPS

Meet Anthony Bourdain
Jacquelyn Mitchard on Cage of Stars
Debbie Macomber on Susannah's Garden
Special July-August Event: Four Thrilling Summer Reads
Special July-August Event: Four Twentieth-Century Classics
Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City
D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover

COURSES ON CD-ROM

Foreign Languages with Living Language®
Foreign Languages from Pimsleur
Portable Professor Series

Don't fry too close to the sun by Michelle Andrews

2006-07-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Apparently, yesterday, it was hotter in the South of England than it was in Miami. If you're looking for a way to stay safe in the sun (and let's face it, we all should be), check out an article entitled 'Don't fry too close to the sun' by Michelle Andrews from USNews.com. You can read the article here: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/060703/3sun.htm.

Oh, and I can wholeheartedly recommend the Neutrogena sunscreen that she mentions. If you hate the usual heavy, sticky feel of sunscreen on your skin, try their UltraSheer dry-touch sunblock - within a couple of minutes of application, it feels almost powdery to the touch and it goes up to SPF 55 - I find it absolutely perfect for my face.

Happy Independence Day

2006-07-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

To all our American readers,

Have a great 4th of July!

Good quotations...

2006-07-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

'This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.'Ralph Waldo Emerson

Give yourself a financial detox

2006-07-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you always have too much month left at the end of the money or if you just want to sock away some extra cash to fund your dreams, you could do worse than sign up for the free 21-day Financial Detox ecourse from http://www.financialdetox.com/. Here's part of the course description from their website:

How will it help me?

When you join Financial Detox you'll discover ...

How to get out of debt and into credit
How to find your 'Cappuccino Factor'
How to use the amazing Power of Compounding
How to control and get more from your spending
The difference between assets and liabilities
How to have the lifestyle you desire
How to organize your finances
How to manage your credit cards
How to improve your credit record
How to reduce your credit card payments
How to make the most of your money
How to earn more money
How to retire rich
How to save a fortune from everyday expenses

What do I get when I sign up?

When you sign up to be a Financial Detox Community Member, you'll get a free 21 Day Financial Detox Program packed full of information designed to help you take control of your finances.

We'll send you regular updates about what Financial Detox can do for you and how you can make the most of your money.

Here's what's included in the 21 Day Program.

A full e-course giving you everything you need to start your own Financial Detox. You get it all in your 21 Day Financial Detox Program delivered directly to your inbox.
Daily emails providing you with information, actions, tools and resources to make your Financial Detox work
Plenty of pictures and diagrams to help explain the topics.
Simple and clear personalised worksheets to help guide you through the programme at your very own pace.
Free Resources to make it easy for you to succeed.
Daily Actions for success.
Downloadable worksheets for managing your finances.
A Frequently Asked Questions Section to make sure that you never feel out of your depth or confused and you're supported at every stage.
Access to our expert coaching programmes where you can sign up for personal coaching designed just for you.
Loads of hints and tips to help you save and make money.
You'll also get personal invitations to our fantastic live "Financial Detox Seminars" where you'll get to meet other members and get even more control of your finances.

A bumper crop of frogs...

2006-06-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

Don’t you just love frogs? I do. I’ve just had the most gorgeous, tiny-but-perfectly-formed frog sitting on the end of my middle finger. It was about the size of a penny and we ‘grew’ it from the frogspawn that was deposited in our pond a few months ago.

Well, strictly speaking, it grew itself, but we feel very proud because we’ve had such an excellent ‘crop’ of frogs this year. Last year the fish ate all the frogspawn and we didn’t see one single baby frog, but this year, we have froglets in abundance. Chris is halfway through building some decking around the pond and, when it’s finished, I’m just going to sit and watch them all summer…

Sit and get fit

2006-06-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

If you sit at a desk or computer all day long,

if you can't walk distances, climb stairs or do high-impact exercise or

if you just need to squeeze a little more exercise into your day,

then visit http://www.cherylmillerville.com/sit.htm and sign up for Cheryl Miller's free 'Sit and Get Fit' ecourse. I've signed up for mine - I spend waaaay too long sitting in front of my computer...

Eight superfoods that can make you healthier

2006-06-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in the medicinal powers of certain foods, check out 'Go for the Gazpacho: Eight superfoods that can really make you healthier' by Nissa Simon at http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourhealth/gazpacho.html.

The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring

2006-06-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

I put the TV on today whilst I ate my lunchtime sandwich and discovered that this week is National Carers' Week here in the UK. With an ageing population, many of us will spend some part of our life as a carer and the extreme importance of carers practising good self-care is often overlooked. Therefore, I was interested to hear about a new book, entitled 'The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring' which was written by Hugh Marriott, who cared for his wife, Cathie, for 10 years. The book was described as 'invaluable', 'easy-to-read' and 'a book that will lift your spirits' by the show's presenters and I am enclosing below a description of the book (which costs £7.99) from the 'This Morning' website:

In 'The Selfish Pigs Guide To Caring', Hugh tries to put his finger on the advice he would like to have been given while he was struggling to learn new skills and find his way in a new and unfamiliar role. The book airs such topics as sex, thoughts of murder, and dealing with the responses of friends and officials who fail to understand. The book states that it is not a medical text book, a care manual nor is it politically correct but simply an honest guide book revealing the truth behind carers and all the things he wished he'd been told. In the book he uses the term "piglet" to describe the person being cared for and has called the book "The Selfish Pigs Guide" as he said; " I felt resentful towards Cathie for wrecking my life. I didn't know it would strike a chord with anyone but then I realised that all carers go through that same thought process. There's a lot of guilt that hangs over carers".

Ann's note: PIGLET is an acronym for Person I Give Love and Endless Therapy to

Questions that can change your life by Michael Neill

2006-06-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Regular readers of my blogs will know that I often recommend Michael Neill's radio show and newsletter. Here is a thought provoking article from Michael's newsletter for this week (sign-up details are included at the bottom of the posting).

QUESTIONS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE ====================================
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
- Albert Einstein

Let me ask you a question - if you knew that there is at least one thing in today's tip that will absolutely change your life for the better, how attentively would you choose to read it? If you experienced any shift in your state in response to that question, you've just experienced the potential power of questions to change your life.

Here's how it works:

Imagine that your conscious attention is like a flashlight and the untapped power of your mind is like a darkened room. Each new question encourages us to shine our flashlight in a new direction so that we can find information and resources that may always have been available to us but were 'hidden' in the dusty recesses of our mental attic.

For example, 'What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?' shines the light of your attention into a corner of your mind where as a child you piled all the hopes and dreams you had been taught were 'unrealistic' and 'childish'.

Asking yourself 'What would you want if you knew you didn't have to be unhappy about not getting it?' shines the light into the part of your mind where you keep the 'scary goals' - things you really want but fear the disappointment of trying and failing to achieve.

Here are some great questions from Michael Masterson's 'Early to Rise' newsletter (http://www.earlytorise.com)

1. Imagine you are at your own funeral. What do people say about you - not from the pulpit but in whispered voices at the back of the room? What would you like them to say?

2. What would you do with your money if you had all you could ever need?

3. How would you live your life if you knew you were going to die feeling perfectly healthy in five years?

4. What would you feel you've missed if you found out that you had 24 hours to live?

Again, taking the time to ask and answer these questions can make a tremendous difference to the way you live your life. One similar question which completely changed my approach to my business was this:

Imagine you are on your deathbed and you have had a wonderful life. What are the four or five things you are most glad that you did?

When I realized that one of the things on my list was 'I was there while my kids were growing up', I decided that a life on the road as an actor and speaker was not the life for me. While I still travel for work from time to time, (I am writing this from a hotel room in San Francisco), I was home last week to attend my eight year old daughter's mime show, to see my eleven year old son's presentation on an imaginary culture who worship a frog god named 'Bruce', and to play Dora the Explorer with my 4 year old.

I can't honestly say whether or not that's made a huge difference in their lives - but it really has made a huge positive difference in mine!

--------------------
Today's Experiment:
--------------------

1. Ask yourself any or all of the questions in today's tip. Here they are again below:

*What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?
*What would you want if you knew you didn't have to be unhappy about not getting it? *Imagine you are at your own funeral. What do people say about you - not from the pulpit but in whispered voices at the back of the room? What would you like them to say?
*What would you do with your money if you had all you could ever need?
*How would you live your life if you knew you were going to die feeling perfectly healthy in five years?
*What would you feel you've missed if you found out that you had 24 hours to live?
*Imagine you are on your deathbed and you have had a wonderful life. What are the four or five things you are most glad that you did?

2. If you have a question that has changed your life in a positive way, please post it to the MNCT forum at:http://www.geniuscatalyst.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3

(You can also post some of your answers if you like...)

Have fun, learn heaps, and live the questions!
With love,
michael

Comments? Feedback? Please post your thoughts on the discussion forums at :http://www.geniuscatalyst.com/forums/index.php

=========================
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
=========================

Here are some of my favorite resources for putting the power of questions to work for you: Books
*Emotional Options by Mandy Evans http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976090139/geniuscatalys-20
*Loving What Is by Byron Katie http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609608746/geniuscatalys-20
*Unconditional Bliss by Raphael Cushnir http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0835607925/geniuscatalys-20
*You Can Have What You Want by Michael Neill (UK edition only) http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401910785/geniuscatalys-21

Related Tips and Audio Members of the Solutions Café will also enjoy these related tips and audio selections:
*Change Your Life in One Hour w/Paul McKenna (audio)
*Deathbed Goals
*A Question of Money
*Question Storming
*Through the Gateway of Ourselves

You can join the Café at:http://www.geniuscatalyst.com/public/cafepublic.php =========================================================

To subscribe to the MNCT, simply send a blank e-mail to subscribe@geniuscatalyst.com or visit us online at http://www.geniuscatalyst.com/ ©2006 Michael Neill All Rights Reserved

Simple 'no effort' tips to improve digestion... from a nutritionist

2006-06-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that, as you get older, something happens to your digestive system which means that all the bad habits you got into in your youth (you know, the ones like eating on the run, throwing your food down, not chewing and eating whilst lying horizontal on the couch) can come back to haunt you and leave you with terrible indigestion problems?

Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutr is a registered Nutritionist. She has a Masters degree in Human Nutrition, as well as a 1st class BSc degree in Sports Science. Here are Lucy's simple 'no effort' tips to improve digestion...

'Drink a large mug or glass of water on rising - preferably warm with a little fresh lemon juice. Sit upright at a table when eating.
Never over eat.
Chew food thoroughly.
Be aware of your natural appetite signals and work with them.
Don’t eat if you feel stressed, angry or over anxious.
Eat fresh food (especially fresh vegetables) and take time to taste your food.
Eat when you are hungry and don't eat when you are NOT hungry.
Avoid drinking too much fluid with food, but drink water between meals.
Do NOT drink tea and coffee with meals.
Avoid late meals (especially high fat or calorie dense meals).
If you suffer with poor digestion, avoid eating after about 7pm.'

You can see Lucy Ann's website at http://www.simply-nutrition.co.uk/

The power of incisive questions

2006-06-07T03:46:00.000-07:00

The title of Michael Neill's radio show this week is 'Incisive Questions' and his special guest is Nancy Kline, author of the excellent 'Time to Think'. Here's what Michael has to say about the show:

This week on Hay House Radio! Thursday, June 8 at Noon pacific/3pm eastern/8pm UK: (Internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)/

*****THE INCISIVE QUESTION*****

If you knew for a fact that the only thing between you and what you really want was a limiting assumption, what would you do to break free? This week, I'll be joined by Nancy Kline, founder of 'Time to Think International' (http://www.timetothink.com)/ and one of my favorite authors and coaches.

We'll be discussing and demonstrating the power of 'incisive questions' - questions that ignite the human mind with freedom and possibility. Because of the in-depth nature of Nancy's coaching, we'll only have time to work with a few callers during the show.

If you would like to step out over the edge of your world and discover how much is really possible for you, the numbers to call are:

Inside the US 1-866-254-1579
From the UK/Outside the US 001-760-918-4300

To listen to the show live this Thursday, June 8, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

Coming Soon:June 15 - Mental Movie Making
June 22 - Motivation vs. Inspiration

For podcast and streaming versions of past shows, please visit http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ and sign up for the 'Listen Again' archives!

10 fat-fighting tricks of the naturally lean

2006-06-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

Whilst noseying around the excellent AARP website for my Contemporary Retirement blog, I found an article, entitled 'Eat More, Stay Thin: 10 fat-fighting tricks of the naturally lean' by Brian Good, deputy editor of Men's Fitness. The article is aimed at both sexes and the principles apply whether you are male or female. You can read it at http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/stay_thin.html.

A nation of borrowers...

2006-06-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

If you live in the UK, you might be interested in a new programme that is running at 9.15 am everyday this week on BBC1. 'Britain's Streets of Debt' will look at how the UK became a nation of borrowers (we apparently have two-thirds of Europe's total credit card debt) and what this means for our financial future. Might be worth setting your video for...

Are you a travelling businesswoman in the UK?

2006-05-30T00:11:00.000-07:00

Are you or do you know a woman who travels for business in the UK? If so, you might like to read about the following site which I just heard about from a contact on Ecademy:

'Ladiesaway.com is a new networking concept designed for businesswomen who travel.

Have you ever thought of the number of occasions you’ve stayed in a hotel and there may have been someone else also staying there that you could have done business with, or perhaps someone who shares the same interests as you, and would have appreciated some company at breakfast, dinner or in the gym.

Well now you can meet those people because the ladiesaway.com network aims to put like-minded travelling businesswomen together.

All members of ladiesaway.com have access to our database of travelling businesswomen. So if you’re away on a business trip or travel around the UK on a regular basis, you can easily arrange to meet in advance.

Become a member of Ladiesaway and make all your business trips enjoyable and productive - let the ladiesaway network work for you.'

Sounds good to me and it's free to join!

Springwise.com

2006-05-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Springwise.com, which is based in Amsterdam, has a global network of 8,000 spotters in 70 countries who scan the globe for smart new business ideas. It's a fun site that will really get you thinking and, who knows, might spark that million dollar idea that will fund your retirement. You can submit your own ideas or become a spotter. I particularly liked the following ideas:

http://www.springwise.com/food_beverage/urban_farming_update/
http://www.springwise.com/nonprofit_social_cause/mobile_schools/

New courses from Barnes and Noble University

2006-05-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Barnes and Noble University? For those of you who are not familiar with them, Barnes and Noble is a massive company which sells books on-line and in-store in the US. Their B&N University offers a range of free on-line courses - all you need to do is buy the book on which the course is based. New courses and reading groups starting June 5th are listed below:

LIBERAL ARTS

The Art of the Short Story with Gotham Writer's Workshop
Being Jewish in Today's World
The Civil War Era
Discover Dungeons & Dragons
Everyday Ethics
Forensics with Court TV
From Planets to Pulsars: Astronomy Basics
Grammar Fitness
How to Read a Film: The Technology of Art
Italian for Beginners with Living Language ®
Picasso, Braque and the Dawn of Cubism
Thinking Like an Editor: How to Get Published
Understanding Poetry
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Genius at Work
Writing Mysteries with Writer's Digest Books
Start Writing Science Fiction with Gotham Writers' Workshop

LIFE IMPROVEMENT

All About Your Dreams
Beauty: The Basics
Become Your Own Pilates Trainer
The Best Year of Your Life with Debbie Ford
Caring for Your PC
Discover What You're Best At
End Your Addiction Now!
Find a Job You Love
Give Your Lawn a Makeover
Golf Basics
Homeschooling Your Children
How to Grill Well
Learn to Play Guitar
Money Management for Women
Total Memory Workout
Unpuzzling Your Past: An Introduction to Genealogy and Family History

ONLINE READING GROUPS

Meet Kate White
Paulo Coelho on The Alchemist
Rebecca Wells on Ya-Yas in Bloom
Javier Sierra on The Secret Supper
Elinor Lipman on My Latest Grievance
Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes
Bob and Melinda Blanchard on Live What You Love
Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy
Ian McEwan's Saturday
Anthony Trollope's The Way We Live Now
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin

COURSES ON CD-ROM
Foreign Languages with Living Language®
Foreign Languages from Pimsleur
Portable Professor Series

What motivates you - purpose, passion or profit?

2006-05-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

What motivates you as far as your work is concerned? Purpose, passion or profit? Try the following short quiz devised by David Batstone, a professor of ethics at the University of San Francisco. Just click the link below (but you will need to submit your name and email address to get the results)

http://www.triplepquiz.com/quiz.aspx

The office of the future?

2006-05-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

I woke up a little early this morning, so I thought I'd check out my email and stuff before I started my workout. Whilst I was on Squidoo, I spotted the following and at first I thought it was a joke, (well it was 5.05 am) but apparently not. Here is what the 'lens' (or site) owner has to say about it:

James Levine, M.D. and his colleagues in the NEAT (Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis) lab at Mayo Clinic have pioneered an "Office of the Future" -- a fully functioning office that bears a marked resemblance to a gym. Complete with treadmills that serve as both desks and computer platforms and a two-lane walking track that serves as a meeting room, Dr. Levine and his entire staff have a unique, active work environment.

and this is the lens itself: http://www.squidoo.com/walkingwhileworking/

Happiness is a dry toothbrush...

2006-05-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

Chris and I are both a bit fussy about our teeth – twice-yearly check-ups at the dentist, flossing, inter-dental brushing… we do it all. So you can imagine how disconcerted he felt when he came to brush his teeth yesterday morning and found his toothbrush already wet.

We have two bathrooms in our house – one downstairs and one en-suite upstairs. Since Chris, Philip (his 17 year old son) and I all need to get ready at roughly the same time each morning, the two of them use the downstairs bathroom and I use the upstairs one. Consequently, there are normally two toothbrushes in the stand in the downstairs bathroom – one that belongs to Chris and one that belongs to Philip.

Now Philip has been away for a few days. All the toiletries that he took with him have been returned to the bathroom, but his toothbrush was missing from the mug. All that remained was Chris’s brush… and it was wet. Now Chris was the second person to use the bathroom that morning and Philip had already left the house.

What would you have done? Used a toothbrush that you suspected had been used by someone else, even if it was your son? Or go and buy another one?

It’s a good thing that the only shop in our village opens at 6 am…

Job hunting for the over 50's

2006-05-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

I was looking around the SAGA website yesterday wearing my other, retirement coach's hat. For those of you who are not from the UK, the SAGA group, which is based at Folkestone, concentrates on the provision of services for people who are aged 50 and over. They are famous for offering high-quality, value-for-money holidays, insurance and financial products and they also publish a popular magazine.

Many of the magazine articles are available to read on-line, and I spotted the following about job-hunting for the over 50's which you might find useful if you are in that age group and looking for a career change:
http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/article/7289E508-50BC-40FE-9C27-550B74970EB1.asp?bhcp=1

Do you hate packing?

2006-05-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

Here in the UK, the holiday season is starting to ramp up. It began with the Easter holidays (when kids have a 2 week holiday from school), then, two weekends ago, we had our first Bank Holiday of the season (May Day) and, at the end of the month, we have Spring Bank Holiday, when schools will close for a week. The weather is warming up nicely and people are starting to dig the fake tan out from the back of the bathroom cabinet (you do use fake, rather than frying yourself to get the real thing, don't you?).

Anyhow, if all these holidays are turning your mind to the thought of getting away for a break, you may want to check out the following sites for ideas to help ease the burden of deciding what to take with you and how to fit it all into your baggage allowance:

www.travelite.org
www.smartpacking.com
www.onebag.com

Life Expectancy Calculator

2006-05-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the Life Expectancy Calculator at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/interactive_area/calculators_lifeexpectancy1.shtml. (90, in case you were wondering...)

Do you Squidoo?

2006-05-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

I’ve been doing a lot of web surfing this weekend and one of the most interesting sites I found was Squidoo. It’s a site where enthusiasts or experts write and blog about their ideas, advertise their services and generally make themselves known. Squidoo is free to join and you can also earn revenue by the various links to Google Adsense, Amazon and Ebay that your site contains.

Oh, and if you click on the links to Squidoo in this blog, and you open a 'lens' (that's a site) with them, you will be joining through my affiliate link - which means that when your lens earns its first $15, both you and I will each get $5 free. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Need a new hobby?

2006-05-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

If you're on the lookout for a new hobby, check out www.coachville.com/tl/thomasleonard//cli/activities.html - a list of almost 300 sports, hobbies and activities compiled by the late, great Thomas Leonard.

By the way, can anyone tell me what 'bocci', 'bunko' and 'hacky sack' are?

www.annharrisonlifecoaching.com

Debtproof Living

2006-05-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling the pinch (and who doesn't occasionally?), the excellent Mary Hunt, who writes very well-respected books about getting rid of debt and living within your means is offering a free copy of her book, 'The Financially Confident Woman' with every purchase from the Debt-Proof Living Bookstore starting now through until Sunday, May 14. Well worth a look...

Have you been printed?

2006-05-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

I’m starting a new course today. This one will certify me to use ‘Print®’ with my clients. Print® is an assessment tool which helps us to understand why we act as we do. It identifies a person’s personality characteristics and gives them huge insights into their ‘unconscious motivators’ and their particular ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.

I used the Print® assessment on myself yesterday for the first time. Whilst I was completing the on-line questionnaire (which took about 15 minutes), I started feeling quite sceptical because at each stage of the assessment, you are asked to make choices between pairs of statements. I had no problem choosing between most of the pairs but some were very difficult and the choice I was being asked to make didn’t feel logical . For example, I struggled with the choice between ‘I am adaptable’ and ‘I am strong’ – in actual fact, I am both strong and adaptable, so which one was I supposed to choose? Anyway, I followed their instructions, made my choices as best I could and then waited for the results to arrive in my email box.

Within one minute, I was opening my ‘Print Survey’ and I couldn’t believe what I read. It was me to a ‘T’. I’m a 5 major / 8 minor and I haven’t a clue what that means – that’s why I’m going on the course (to learn how to interpret the information generated) and I don’t know how they did it, but Chris and I laughed aloud with surprise and delight at the accuracy of the description. Chris is itching to have a go, but I’m not licensed to use it yet, so he’ll have to hang on until I’m trained…

I can’t wait to start the course – there are 72 different Prints® or personality types and I just love finding out what makes people act the way they do… don’t you?

Have you been ‘printed’ yet?

25 signs that you have grown up

2006-05-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Someone sent me the following list of '25 signs that you have grown up' over the weekend. How many can you relate to?

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.
2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.
6. You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and "break up."
8. You go from 130 days of annual vacation time to... 14.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up."
10. You're the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door won't turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You take naps.
17. Dinner and a movie is the date instead of the beginning of one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.
19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff."
21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
22. "I just can't drink the way I used to" replaces "I'm never going to drink that much again." 23. Most of the time you spend at the computer is for actual work.
24. You drink at home to save money.
25. When you find out a friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead of asking "Oh No! What the hell happened?"

Get advice from the experts...

2006-04-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

I came across a useful-looking site on my travels yesterday – AOL’s www.coaches.com which offers all kinds of advice in the form of articles, mini-workshops, video clips and message boards from experts such as Tom Peters, Mary Hunt, John Gray and Stephen Covey. Definitely worth a look…

Unconditional Parenting

2006-04-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've mentioned Michael Neill's radio show, so here are details of today's show for you (and if it's too short notice and you miss it, you can listen to the archived show later at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)).

UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING
Thursday, April 27 at Noon pacific/3pm eastern/8pm UK

Did your parents ever shoot you "the look" -- you know, the one that meant you were in BIG trouble? Find out how you can successfully parent your own children (or even yourself!) without resorting to punishments or rewards. I'll be taking your calls throughout the show - if you want to find ways to be more unconditional in your parenting without losing control of your family, phone in to speak with me on air!

THE NUMBERS TO CALL: Inside the US1-866-254-1579
From the UK/Outside the US001-760-918-4300
(BONUS: One lucky caller chosen at random will receive two free tickets to the Hay House 'I Can Do It' conference in Las Vegas valued at $750!!!)

To listen to the show live this Thursday, April 27, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

My new baby...

2006-04-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Today marks the launch of my new retirement coaching website - Contemporary Retirement Coaching - you can take a sneaky peak at www.contemporaryretirementcoaching.com.

I have been fascinated by the subject of retirement ever since I started work and I had been itching to take the coach training course offered by Retirement Options for a couple of years, but had convinced myself that, at 45 (then), I was too young to advise people on their retirement and that I wouldn't have any real credibility.

However, I recently met up with an old friend from work and she mentioned that she was due to retire in 2 years time but that she didn't feel ready for retirement and was planning on working for a while longer yet. I was telling her about the retirement coach training course that I had had my eye on and she pointed out to me that, although I was only 43 when I left full-time work, I had, in effect, retired from corporate life and started a whole new 'retirement' career - which kinda shot my 'too young to have credibility' theory out of the water. Then, the very next day, I received an email from Retirement Options telling me about their next training course and I took that as a sign that retirement coaching and I were meant to be. So I signed up for the course and duly qualified as a retirement coach in mid-February.

So the site - my baby - is up and running. I designed it all myself using Frontpage and, apart from the link to the shopping cart (which keeps returning the purchaser back to my Successfully Single site), it all seems to be working fine.

So, if someone you know has either just retired or is due to retire within the next 10 years or so, would you please point them in my direction? I have some special offers coming up, and, if they sign up for my free retirement tips, I'll make sure that they get to hear all about them.

Practise your interview skills

2006-04-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have a resource for you today which you may find especially useful if you have any job interviews lined up in the near future: the Monster.com Interview Centre has a virtual interview where you can practice answering interview questions before the big day. The link you need is: http://interview.monster.com/virtualinterview/campus/
and Monster.com state that:

'The Virtual Interview contains actual interview questions ranging from puff ball to killer. This interactive section gives you the opportunity to test your answers in a safe environment so that when the real thing comes along you can engage in a meaningful exchange rather than grope for a clumsy comeback.Some of these questions will seem more appropriate for new grads or entry-level applicants, while others will be for more experienced interviewees. Try your hand at both, no matter what your level, for the same principles apply'.

Are you a lifelong learner?

2006-04-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Would you consider yourself to be a lifelong learner? Do you make an effort to get out there and learn something new on a regular basis? Do you constantly try to develop your skills and knowledge? I was thinking about this as I worked out this morning. (I’ve noticed that I usually have a ‘thought theme’ for my workout and, by the time the workout ends, I often have a blog entry ‘written’ in my head just ready and waiting to be typed out.)

I started out thinking about the courses that I had taken/have signed up for so far this year: I qualified as a Retirement Coach in February. Then I started on a year-long, 'live life over 40 with more purpose, passion and pizzazz' course which complements the retirement coaching perfectly. On May 3rd I start a course which will qualify me to deliver P.R.I.N.T. assessments, (Print is a tool that offers a way to identify the personality characteristics of your clients, giving tremendous insights into their "unconscious motivators" and behaviors) and I have attended several one-off, hour-long teleclasses on diverse subjects such as ‘How to coach in public’, 'The power of games to teach and inspire’, 'Public speaking' and ‘The Energetics of Attraction’ (most of which were free to attend). Added to this are the 100 or so books that I have read since the beginning of the year...

One of the things that makes successful people stand out from the rest is a willingness to learn and keep on learning. Don’t be one of the majority of people who never read a book once they leave school. Readers are leaders. Stop watching TV (or, at least, watch less of it) and commit to spending at least half an hour a day reading books that will develop you personally and professionally. An added bonus of this is that a commitment to reading (and learning in general) could have a knock-on effect on your health and wellbeing in later years.

In his book, 'Aging with Grace', Dr David Snowden writes about a study he carried out which involved a group of 678 nuns. Many of the nuns were over 90 years of age and 6 of them were over 100 years of age, yet very few of them showed any signs of losing their faculties or developing Alzheimer's disease. Although the nuns had lead healthy lives - they were physically active and none of them drank or smoked - the researchers felt that their mental acuity was attributable to something more than this. Most of the nuns were teachers and they all shared a love of learning which meant that they were constantly reading and exposing themselves to stimulating new subjects and ideas. The nuns agreed to donate their brains to medical science after their death so that the study could be continued. Half of the brains analyzed were found to have fully-blown Alzheimer's disease in advanced stages - yet the nuns had never shown any signs or symptoms of this. A good advert for lifelong learning if ever you needed one!

So, what would you like to learn?
What interests you?
What would you like to know more about?
What skills would you like to develop?
What skills would be useful to you?
In which subject would you like to be known as an expert?

Take some action now. Track down that course you’ve always wanted to take. Sign up for a teleclass. Visit your local library. Sign up for that training course at work...

What could you do to make sure you learn something new every day?

I'm not the woman I used to be...

2006-04-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about eyes whilst I was doing my workout this morning. More specifically, I was thinking about the way that your eyesight fails you as you get older and the fact that I wish I had hung on longer before I succumbed to wearing specs.

I used to pride myself on my eyesight. Both my Mum and Dad wear glasses and have done for as long as I can remember and my brother started wearing glasses in his 30’s. When I hit my 40’s, my eyesight was still perfect and I suppose I felt a bit smug really when everyone around me at work had to find their specs before they could read anything.

Then, when I was 43, all of a sudden (or so it seemed) I found that I was having a problem reading phone numbers in the directory. That was all. I could see everything else. It was just phone numbers that I was struggling with. So I decided to go for an eye test.

Now I know that, ideally, you should go for a regular eye test, whether you wear glasses or not. But I hadn’t. I’d never had one, in fact. So off I went, got myself tested and came out with a prescription which I duly exchanged for a pair of reading glasses and a free pair of prescription sunglasses.

That was the beginning of my problems. Within a month, I went from not being able to read the occasional phone number to being completely unable to read without glasses. Now I’m pretty sure that my eyes didn’t really deteriorate that much within the space of a month – in fact, if they did, they must have immediately stopped deteriorating at the end of the month, because my vision has remained the same during the last 4 years.

I’m sure that an optician would have an explanation for it and I certainly don't regret going for that initial eye test because diseases like Glaucoma can only be detected by regular testing, but, personally, I wish I’d just bought a magnifying glass instead of a pair of specs…

Help me - I'm a step-parent!

2006-04-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

I’m not the world’s most natural step-parent. Most of the time, I just leave Chris and his kids to get on with it. They don’t need me hanging around and I’m pretty sure that the kids don’t want me hanging around, so I give them plenty of space in the form of weekends and holidays with their Dad.

A few weeks ago, Chris’s 17 year old son, Philip, decided that he wanted to move back in with us. He needed to pass his driving test first though, because we live out in the back of beyond and everywhere he needed to get to was at least a 30 minute drive away. So, a couple of weeks ago, he took and passed his driving test and we agreed that he would move back in over the Easter weekend.

The last time Phil lived with us was two and a half years ago when he was still a sulky adolescent, and I must admit that I found it difficult. I have never had a broody moment in all of my life. I’ve never wanted kids of my own and I’ll be honest and say that taking on someone else’s kids was (and still is) the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Before I met Chris, I lived on my own for 7 years and I loved every minute of it. I like my own space and I like peace and quiet. I think the hardest thing to cope with was all the noise that teenagers make – they can’t do anything quietly can they? And don’t get me started about their music - I have fairly eclectic musical tastes. I’m not living in the past - I love modern music and will listen to anything at least once… but that’s my point - I will listen to it – I don’t expect everyone else in the house to listen to it at the same time. So you can imagine my alarm when 2 guitars and an amplifier came through the door along with all his other stuff.

I’m thinking of going to live in a caravan in the garden…

P.S. I posted this blog entry and immediately did a Google search for quotes on aging for another blog that I write. I had to smile when I found the following:

'The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left.'

Jerry M. Wright

Friends Reunited

2006-04-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely surprise over the Easter holiday. On Easter Sunday, I was delighted to be contacted by my long-lost cousin. The last time we saw or heard from each other was at her Mum’s funeral, about 25 years ago. She was only a little girl at the time and she went to live with her Dad and we lost touch.

She found me through www.friendsreunited.co.uk, a site which enables old friends and classmates to get in touch with each other again. We have so much to catch up on – she has 2 brothers and a sister with whom we also lost contact and we are already on our 5th email.

When I visited the Friends Reunited site to pick up her initial email, I found a message waiting there for me from Helen, an old friend of mine that I met when I was about 16. The message was sent to a disused email address of mine about 16 months ago and I never received it until Sunday.

It was so nice to hear from these women again. They are both people that I am delighted to be in touch with again and will do my best not to ‘lose’ in future. As we get older, people do disappear from our lives don’t they? People die or move away. Sometimes we argue with people and are too proud (or angry) to make the first move towards reconciliation...

Who have you ‘lost’ from your life that you would like to be in touch with again?

Which old and dear friend is due a phone call from you?

Who have you not seen for years and would really like to meet up with again?

What are you going to do about it?

And if you’re out there, Cheralyn Petty, I’ve lost your number and, since we both moved around the same time, I have no address for you, but I miss you and I’d love to be in touch again…

A different kind of relationship

2006-04-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Chris comes home today. I’ll be happy to see him but, as usual, I’ve enjoyed my time by myself and it reinforces my belief that, if our relationship were ever to end, I would experience relatively few problems in going back to single living. This was not always the case, however.

When I first separated from my husband (which was 11 years ago, now) I was filled with trepidation at the thought of living alone and I was quite keen to meet someone else and settle down with them before too much time elapsed. When this actually happened, I believed that I was all set to live in blissful harmony for the rest of my life. The fact that our ‘rebound’ relationship lasted barely 18 months, completely wiped me out and it took 7 years of living by myself and learning to appreciate my single status before I felt ready to take the plunge again. But this time, it was a different woman who was entering a new relationship.

I felt strong and independent. I earned good money. I was entering a career that I knew was the right one for me (coaching). I had a great house that I had no intention of letting go of (my house still belongs to me and is let to tenants. Chris’s house is owned by him and I live in it with him.). I had given myself time to really think about what I wanted from a relationship and the qualities and attributes that I wanted/needed from a partner and, more importantly, I was going into the relationship with my eyes open. I no longer imagined that this relationship was going to last for the rest of my life. Of course, I hoped it would and I believed that it might, but I also knew myself very well...

I am extremely interested in my own personal growth and development (well, would you want to hire a coach who wasn’t?) and I know that individuals in a relationship can change, grow and develop at different rates, which can sometimes lead to them growing apart and needing to go their separate ways. I believe that this knowledge has helped me to have a different kind of relationship and to behave better within that relationship. I am no longer as ‘clingy’ and jealous as I was previously. I no longer feel the need to spend huge tracts of time with my partner in order to prove to myself that we are a couple. I recognise that we have different interests that we both like to pursue and that to expect someone to participate in your own preferred activities, just because you are a couple, is unnecessary. Which reminds me of a quote that I particularly like:

‘Selfishness is not doing what you want to do: it is expecting other people to do what you want to do’

(Author Unknown)

Does that sound like love to you?

2006-04-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

An old song by a singer who irritates the heck out of me came on the radio yesterday. The song stuck in my head afterwards and I found myself singing bits of it. Then I actually listened to what it was that I was singing and was horrified. I have no wish to infringe copyright laws, so I'll have to paraphrase... Basically, the singer was saying to his sweetheart that he knew he was foolish, but, even though she treated him cruelly, he loved her and would continue to love her no matter how badly she treated him in the future.

Does this sound like love to you?
Do you aspire to have the kind of love that means that, no matter how badly your lover treats you, you will continue to love them?
Do you think that such a stance would encourage your lover to love you more or less?

For that matter, if the tables were turned, would you REALLY want to be with someone who would love you, no matter what you did to them and how cruelly you treated them?
Could you have any respect for them?

I hope not. And to the singer of the aforementioned song, I have just one thing to say:

'Get some self respect, man!'.

Silence is golden

2006-04-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

I’m in the middle of spending a week alone. What bliss! Chris’s daughter is home from University and they’ve gone to the boat until Thursday. Now Chris is a lovely guy and I wouldn’t swap him for anyone else, but after spending 7 years living alone as a single woman, I really grew to appreciate the advantages and benefits of single living and it’s nice to be able to recreate that occasionally.

The thing that I appreciate most is the peace and quiet. Chris and I both work from home and although we have separate offices, I often use one of the computers in his office because it contains many more programs than my own little laptop – which means that I have to endure the sound of his phones ringing almost constantly. This is not so bad if he’s out for the day – this means that only 2 of his phones have the potential to ring. But on the days that he’s working from home, you can add his two mobile phones into the mix and you end up with a whole cacophony of different ring tones, often in sequence as his customers and clients try to reach him on his various numbers.

Even worse than that is the shouting. No, I don’t mean the two of us arguing. He’s an electronics engineer and I’m talking about the customers who are calling him from their factories and the fact that he has to compete with their various machines, radios and personnel to be heard... Fortunately the internal walls in the house are quite thick or I’d have to speak to my coaching clients from the garden shed!

So, today I’m revelling in the silence. His phones haven’t rung once yet. And, of course, another huge advantage of his absence is that I’m able to eat what I want to eat when I want to eat it, without bothering about making a ‘proper’ meal.

Ice cream, chocolate sauce and a re-run of American Idol for dinner anyone? (But switch your mobile phone off first, won't you?)

Gone, but not forgotten

2006-04-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

Do you get attached to your car? Chris swapped his Land Rover Discovery for a new Jeep Cherokee yesterday and we were devastated to see the Landy go after 3 years of almost faultless service.

This has happened to us before. Before he got the Land Rover, Chris had another Jeep Cherokee (he has a fondness for Jeeps) and we hated to see that one go too. We’ve had other cars but somehow, they weren’t as characterful, if you know what I mean, and the fact that they were going didn’t affect us one bit.

Maybe it’s something to do with our appreciation of how hard these four-wheel-drive cars have worked for us – tugging 3 ton boats up and down the country without a whimper and never reaching their boot (trunk) capacity, no matter how many bags, dinghies, wetsuits, water skis and wakeboards we shoved into them.

Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that, when a young guy ran into the back of us in the middle of Llandudno town centre, we barely felt the impact and there was not a scratch to be seen anywhere on the Land Rover, despite the fact that the front of his mother’s car was completely crumpled (and she’d only just got it back from the body shop the day before from the last time he smashed it up).

Maybe it’s the fact that even on the iciest of mornings, if Chris needed to drive any particular distance, he could leave his van behind and take the Land Rover instead and I just knew that he would be safe and I wouldn’t have to worry half as much about him skidding on a patch of ice and having an accident.

Or maybe I’m just too sentimental. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t help feeling sad last night when I thought of the Landy, alone on a garage forecourt, waiting to be sold, with no-one to love and appreciate her. I just hope that whoever buys her loves her as much as we did!

Time sensitive offer - respond by midnight today (UK time)

2006-04-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

I received the following email today from my publishers, Bookshaker.com http://www.bookshaker.com/product_info.php?ref=120&products_id=133 about a new book that is being released today - '...And Death Came Third!' by Andy Lopata and Peter Roper (the title reflects the fact that most people say that they fear death LESS than they fear speaking in public).

The book itself costs £14.95 but it comes with over £2,000 of free gifts - ebooks, mp3 recordings, discounts, trial memberships and free coaching. The details are all below but you need to order from Amazon today (5 April 2006) and send a copy of your receipt to the people at Bookshaker - by midnight today (UK time) - to claim your free gifts. The details are below but act fast so that you don't miss out.

Dear Ann

As one of my valued contacts, I have an irresistible offer for you that includes over £2,000 in free gifts - but you have to act today to claim them. Your special free gifts include:

1) The complete "Sales Hypnosis" mind programming audiothat will boost your sales success in seconds byworld-famous business hypnotist, Gary Outrageous (mp3)(£19.97 value, yours free!)

2) The complete 200 page book "Networking for Life"by Ecademy.com's Chairman, Thomas Power (PDF)(£20 value, yours free!)

3) The Complete yet-to-be-released 50 minute Soul Millionaire interview with marketing guru Robert Middleton (mp3)(£19.99 value, yours free!)

4) The complete 180 page Lean Marketing Bible: "The Gorillas Want Bananas" by Me! (PDF)(£9.99 value, yours free!)

5) 4 great audio clips on Trusting Your Intuition, Reading Other People, Overcoming Fear of Rejection and Influential Language from acclaimed NLP trainer - Jamie Smart of Salad.(£20 value, yours free!)

6) "117 Ways To Sell Almost Anything to Almost Anyone" by Peter Thomson the UK's Leading Business Growth Strategist "Don't go to any more meetings before you read Tip #25"(£19.97 value, yours free!)

7) The "Talk Propper" self-study manual for professionalspeakers by past Professional Speaker's AssociationPresident, Jim Ewan (PDF)(£57 value, yours free!)

8) The 1-hour "Most Commonly Asked Presentation Questions"interview with Maria Davies, Presentation Trainer andAuthor of Speaking in Stilettoes (mp3)(£20 value, yours free)

9) Event discounts, trial memberships and free coaching to help you further build your personal and business success

10) More in additional ebooks, special reports, audios and special offers from the likes ofLesley Everett, Tracy Plaice, David Scarlett, Judy Barber, David Hyner, Maria Davies, Courageous Marketer - John Sealey and more...

Details of all the bonuses can be found here...#### http://www.deathcamethird.com ####

Now, here's how you can grab these valuable free gifts by doing just one simple thing today... We're celebrating the official launch of our latest book "...And Death Came Third!" by Andy Lopata and PeterRoper in a big, BIG way. So we're 'giving away the shop' to do just that. All *you* need to do to get over £2,000 in free gifts is grab ONE copy of their book for just £14.95 at...http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1905430159/leanmarketing-21

How's THAT for a win-win celebration? You buy one £14.95 book today andyou get £2,000 in amazing info!Best of all "...And Death Came Third!" is a fantastic investment anyway because it shows you how to:
* WALK into a networking event and approach people with CONFIDENCE
* STRUCTURE a talk so that you can get your key message across POWERFULLY
* ENGAGE people in conversation and get them interested in YOU
* FOCUS on the results you want from networking and achieve them EASILY
* STAND and speak with CONVICTION and AUTHORITY* and much, much more...

So go to the site below and grab yourself a copy of"...And Death Came Third!" right now - TODAY#### http://www.deathcamethird.com #### Then all you have to do to get your free gifts is just email the receipt you'll get from Amazon.co.uk to mailto:adc3.bookshaker@aweber.com and we'll send your free gifts right over to you.

Sir Digby Jones, Director-General of the CBI said this..."A must-read for anyone who wants to get on in business."

However, the celebration ends at midnight (UK Time) tonight! So the only way you can grab all these free gifts is to purchase your copy of "...And Death Came Third!" and get your receipt over to us at mailto:adc3.bookshaker@aweber.combefore midnight TONIGHT.

Learn more about this book, the bonuses and how to buy it here...#### http://www.deathcamethird.com ####

Warm Wishes
Debbie Jenkins
www.bookshaker.com

PS: Remember - in order to receive your £2,000+ in free bonuses you must email the receipt to mailto:adc3.bookshaker@aweber.com no later than midnight (GMT) Wednesday 5th April.

PPS: When you order before midnight tonight you'll also get the e-book version of "...And Death Came Third!" so you can get started on this incredible book right away.(£9.99 value, yours free!)

PPPS: Today your investment is just £14.95 (amazon even cover the shipping)

PPPPS: If you have friends who will benefit too then dothem a favour and forward this email to them now.

Read any good books lately?

2006-04-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

Don’t you just love a good book? I do. Reading has been one of my most favourite occupations for as long as I can remember.

So, what have I read recently? Well, my two ‘airport’ books that I took on holiday were ‘It’s Called a Break Up Because It’s Broken’ by Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt, and something I’ve been meaning to read for years now, ‘Ask and It Is Given’ by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Both were vaguely work-related but, hey, I love what I do and it doesn’t feel like work anyhow…

Then, whilst I was in the U.S., I couldn’t resist spending a couple of hours in Barnes and Noble, and I left with ‘Party of One’ by Anneli Rufus and, (an exciting find since I've just qualified as a Retirement Coach) ‘Retirement for Two’ by Maryanne Vandervelde tucked under my arm. (Yes, I did pay for them.) Actually, I would have bought a whole lot more but I had Chris constantly reminding me how perilously close our suitcases had been to ‘excess baggage’ on the way out from Manchester Airport.

I usually have at least 5 library books on the go at any one time – I grab anything new with a coaching/self-help/psychology slant to it and I can’t resist psychological or forensic-themed thrillers. The most interesting from my current selection are 'The Life Coaching Handbook' by Curly Martin and ‘The Vanished Man’ by Jeffery Deaver.

Then, on Friday, a fellow coach sent me the manuscript of her new book and asked for my comments on it… Well, how could I refuse? Best of all, our local library has just started opening on Sundays. Guess where I'm off to this weekend?

Creature of Habit

2006-04-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

I’m not what I would consider to be a particularly high-maintenance kinda gal. My hair is short and takes about two minutes to dry. Most days I can be found wearing no make-up and dressed in combat trousers, a t-shirt and a fleece. When I do wear make-up, I go for a very natural look and, even when I’m really dressed up to the nines, the only jewellery I wear is a watch and a pair of earrings. However, I do have several routines or ‘habits’ that I have developed over the years to keep me looking and feeling as good as I possibly can, and which I would never dream of abandoning now.

For example, once a month, every month since I was about 16, I have had my hair cut. As I said earlier, my hair is short and easy to maintain, but it only stays that way because I get it trimmed regularly.

Five mornings a week, I get up at 6 am and exercise for an hour and 15 minutes. Before I shower, I always use a foot file on the soles and heels of my feet. Whilst I’m in the shower, I use a moisturising soap or shower gel and exfoliating ‘scrubber gloves’ to remove dead skin cells and, when I get out, I slather on a moisturising body lotion.

Although I generally don’t wear make-up on weekdays (unless I’m doing a workshop or presentation), I cleanse, tone and moisturise my skin twice a day and I wouldn’t dream of wearing a moisturiser with an SPF of less than 15 (and when I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago, I wore a SPF of 55 on my face!).

I took a manicure course, years ago, and I buff the nails and push the cuticles back on both my hands and feet several times a week. And don’t even get me started about my teeth – cleaned 3 times a day, flossed twice a day followed by interdental brushing, whitening toothpaste, floss picks for those hard-to-reach areas behind the back teeth… Now I think about it, I’m glad I’m not high maintenance – by the time I finished my morning routine, it’d be time to start my going-to-bed routine.

Seriously though, what ‘routines’ do you have to keep yourself feeling and looking as good as you possibly can? What additional routines do you know you need to put into place? Regular flossing? Taking your make-up off before you fall into bed at night? Regular pedicures (at home or in a salon) so that you can slip into sandals at the first sight of a sunny day in the knowledge that your feet always look presentable?

You only need to do something 21 times before it becomes a habit. What habits can you adopt now that will pay off in years to come? Make a list of 10 things that you are willing to do every single day to really take care of yourself. Make up a little chart, so that you can monitor your progress by ticking off the activities you have completed each day. Don't give up if you miss a couple of days. Just start again. The good habits you form now will last you a lifetime and will ensure that you stay healthy, fit and looking good.

One for the coaches amongst you

2006-03-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

Innovative Global Phone Conference Helps Coaches Build Sustainable Business

The second Global Phone Conference takes place over three days from April 5 to April 7th 2006. Coaches will be able to telephone in at the times they choose during the day to hear experts give practical strategies and insightful tips to help them build a sustainable business.

“Coach training programmes tend to focus on coaching, not on building a business,” explains Amechi Udo, founder of the Global Phone Conference. “Our research showed that 48% of coaches felt business building was their number one priority, so we have selected speakers with the expertise and experience to help.”

The Keynote hour-long phone call at 4:30 pm (BST) on Friday 7th April will be delivered by Nancy Kline the internationally-respected speaker facilitator and author of “Time to Think”. Other strategies for business building including marketing, PR, getting the business on the internet, networking and the value of accreditation in generating business, will be addressed by successful coaches who include Gladeana McMahon listed as one of the UK's Top Ten Coaches by the Independent on Sunday (2003) and Sunday Observer (2006), Nicola Cairncross, the first British woman to be asked to speak at the World Internet Summit (May 2005) and featured on CNN Breakfast News as an internet entrepreneur who survived the "dot com bubble" bursting in 2000-2001, and Alan Forrest Smith, internationally renowned internet marketer, and 18 other experts.

As life and business coaches often coach over the phone they are comfortable with the medium and know how powerful it can be. Udo has made provision for over 20 coaches to be on a line at any one time, and expects the conference to be very successful. Nancy Kline herself is delighted to be taking part and said of Amechi Udo “You have inspired many people with this impressive initiative”.

The speakers are all successful coaches and business people.

For details of how to book and the full programme information visit:

http://www.totalbusinesscart.com/app/?af=376199.

Nutrient Rich Resources

2006-03-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

I received an email today from John Allen Mollenhauer of www.nutrientrich.com giving details of several new resources he has developed around his passion for foods that are full of nutritional value. To save time, I have copied the whole thing for you, complete with links:

To: Ann,
From: John Allen Mollenhauer

RE: NutrientRich.com has just launched new!

Hi Ann, It's me, John Allen and I do hope you take the time (less than 3 minutes) to carefully read (not skim) through this entire email message. I am all about serving you and making sure that your food serves you too. We just launched the new NutrientRich.com so that you can learn the way to eat better food for better health and natural weightl*oss and get 'free' of the foods that are keeping you stuck. You just can't believe how much we've fallen for over the years, when it comes to food, our health and performance; it's a major reason why over 80% of us are carrying around too much weight with low energy and worried about our long term health. NutrientRich is the new trend in eating, for very good reasons not limited to the fact that current methods of eating less just aren't working. You'll soon realize that the one thing we least suspected, the very goal of eating less, has a lot to do with why most people are still suffering from weight problems. I promised in the special report you likely downloaded, no where else will you learn the ins and outs of eating better, and "how to" do so in a way you'll love from day one, than at NutrientRich.com.

I have set up an insightful blog at http://www.nutrientrich.com/blog/. Also, if you haven't already done so, get the Exclusive Seven-Page Report - the NutrientRich Revolution. > It's in the upper right hand corner of the site. I look forward to supporting your success in the day's weeks and months to come as you get off your diet and get into a lifestyle that promotes your success. By the way, I have an upcoming teleseminar you'll want to join in on, if you want to get healthy and lean. Moving Forward,

All My Best!
John Allen

John Allen Mollenhauer
President www.NutrientRich.com
www.MyTrainer.com
P.O. Box 9 Maplewood, NJ 07040
Phone - 973-763-9902
Fax - 973-763-9690
Jallen@MyTrainer.com
Copyright 2005 -2006 Custom Media Communications, Inc.

Are you an aquaholic?

2006-03-27T09:16:00.000-08:00

We had Chinese food last night, so all that monosodium glutamate has got me chugging down the water like a good 'un. But in the back of my mind is the following article, which I came across yesterday, thanks to Judith Morgan of the Three Wise Women. Just click the following link to read it for yourself:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/dietfitness.html?in_article_id=348917&in_page_id=1798

Final Fish Health Bulletin

2006-03-26T07:42:00.000-08:00

Sadly, the fish died yesterday afternoon. We had to isolate her in a quarantine 'bucket' because, as the weather started to warm up, so did the other fish in the pond and they were starting to knock her around a little.

Gradually, the dreadful gasping for oxygen stopped and she became more and more lethargic until she drifted away at about 3.30 pm. It was all very sad and she is now buried under a cherry tree in the 'pet graveyard' in a corner of the garden. We couldn't bear to put her in the bin or flush her down the loo because (hopefully) she will have saved the lives of all the rest of the fish in the pond. We're not really big on religion, but we reckon that that, in itself, should guarantee her her spot in fishy heaven. Bless her.

Fish Health Bulletin

2006-03-24T03:37:00.000-08:00

No time for a proper blog posting today, however, just in case you were wondering about the fish - her condition remains unchanged - no better and no worse. If she were a human, a hospital spokesperson would be saying, 'The patient remains in a critical condition.' Hope to have better news soon.

P.H., Parasites and Paramedics

2006-03-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

We had a 60-mile round-trip mercy mission yesterday afternoon to save the life of one of the goldfish that live in our pond. Very early on Tuesday morning, I noticed that one fish had come to the top of the pond, which was unusual in itself because they don’t usually become active until much later in the morning and then, they tend to appear in 2’s and 3’s, rather than alone.

I noticed that the fish remained motionless in the same place for the rest of the day and, when I looked closer, it appeared to be listing slightly to one side and gasping. I rang my stepfather, who has kept fish for years, and he advised me to keep an eye on the situation and said that he always tends to lose one or two of his fish at this time of year. Well that’s okay if you’re talking about ordinary fish but, since we bought these fish as tiny tiddlers and they’re now big handsome beasties of around 4-5 inches in length, we’re talking more about family members than creatures that live in our pond…

I wasn’t happy. I worried about that fish until I fell asleep. Then, next morning, I woke at 5.20 am, and got up to go take a look at the patient, fully expecting to see a small body floating on the top of the water (particularly since overnight temperatures of minus 5 degrees Celsius had been forecast). To my amazement, the fish was still alive, its condition unchanged.

As the day went on, I noticed that the fish’s gasping appeared to be getting worse and I was starting to feel really unhappy and uncomfortable. Was it in pain? Do fish feel pain? Were we allowing it to suffer unnecessarily? Should we just take it out of the pond, allow it to die and put it out of its misery? I just couldn’t find it within myself to make that decision, so I decided to ring the RSPCA (The Royal Society for Cruelty to Animals) and ask their advice. After all, they are the experts in this area and, if they told me that the fish was suffering and should be allowed to die, then so be it…

Well, the woman on the advice line was horrified at the thought of letting the fish die and made me feel like the cruellest person they had ever come into contact with, just for thinking about putting it out of its misery. However, the only suggestion she could come up with was to try ringing local garden centres that sold fish in the hope of finding someone who knew what they were talking about as far as fish ‘health’ was concerned…

Which lead to our mission of mercy, with the fish in a bucket of pond water (essential for analysis) in the back of Chris’s van, and him trying to drive through rush hour traffic without sloshing the water – and the fish – out.

The fish doctor was very good. He tested the pond water and pronounced it to be healthy, if a little alkaline. Then he lifted the fish out of the bucket, gently scraped some implement along its scales and applied the scrapings to a slide which went under his microscope. After a long look through the eyepiece, he invited us to see for ourselves. The slide was teeming with transparent, worm-like creatures – parasites with an unpronounceable name but more commonly known as ‘body flukes’. He took down a book and proceeded to show us a picture of a body fluke, inviting us to read about them for ourselves. But the only thing I wanted to know about them was – were they curable? Can my fish (which he informed us was a female) be saved?

Well, apparently, the parasites are treatable. Whether the fish can be saved or not remains to be seen. We treated the pond water with the medication he gave us and she’s still alive this morning, bless her. I’ll keep you informed about her condition…

Radical self-honesty

2006-03-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

Michael Neill's radio show, which is entitled 'Radical Self-Honesty' this week, sounds intriguing. Here are the details:

'RADICAL SELF-HONESTY
on Thursday, March 23 at Noon pacific/3pm eastern/8pm UK
(Live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)/
-----------------------------------------------------------

One very good reason that many people don't trust themselves is that they are not truly honest with themselves. Tune in to learn how making this one simple shift will transform your life! I'll be taking your calls throughout the show - if you want to learn to trust yourself in a variety of situations including money, decision-making and relationships, phone in to speak with me on air!

Inside the US1-866-254-1579
Outside the US001-760-918-4300
To listen to the show live this Thursday, March 23, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

How to choose your friends

2006-03-21T07:37:00.000-08:00

'Some people will try and belittle your dreams. Some people will call you an old fool. Some people will be very supportive of you - those are the ones you want to hang around with.'

Jean Johnson

A Slave to Your Possessions by John L White

2006-03-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

I received the following by John L White in a newsletter this morning and thought, 'How true!'. Thought I'd pass it on and give you some food for thought...

'Are you working for junk? At one point in the past few years, I actually said to my wife during a heated discussion, "I refuse to be a slave to my possessions." Once you have finished laughing yourself silly, let me try to explain what I mean by that statement. Have you ever noticed how much junk there is in your life? I am purposely using the word junk to make a point. When I look around my house, many of the things in it, when you get down to it, are really junk. Even the things that aren't junk now are on their way to becoming junk someday. For example, we have a Maytag washer and dryer. I'll go out on a limb and state that in 25 years or less, they will be classified as junk. When I look in our closets at all the clothes we have, what will most of them be in 10 years? Junk. The next time you go into Goodwill or Salvation Army, remember that all that junk in there is something that someone bought brand new with their hard-earned money.

So, take a look around your house sometime. Do you see any junk? Any shirts, shoes, or pants that you paid good money for and wore only a few times? What about all that junk out in the garage? Is there anything that's broken or you don't use any more and you now realize you never really needed? Is there anything out there that was never used at all? When I scan our garage, all I see is junk. Junk that I spent my precious time earning money to pay for.

And speaking of time, how much do you spend moving your junk? Cleaning your junk? Do you buy shelves or special containersto store your junk? And worst of all, do you rent a storage building to house your junk? Step back for a moment and think about the wisdom of that decision. You shell out money every month in order to house your junk that you neither use nor see. Not only that, but you paid money for that junk when you bought it. Did you pay cash for it or credit? If you paid credit, are you still paying interest for the junk you don't use in addition to the money for the storage unit every month? If you had taken all the money you spent on the junk, the interest on the purchase of the junk, and the money you spent for the storage unit and saved it instead, how much money would you have today? Would you be any closer to retirement?

Once you understand and internalize the fact that the junk you buy puts you farther away from retirement, I think you are well on your way to getting control of your finances.

So, what percentage of the junk you buy is something you really need? When you are in the checkout line at the grocery store, before you grab that magazine and plop it down on the conveyor belt with the groceries, stop and think: "Do I really need this?" When you're walking down the aisle at KrapMart (you know which store I'm talking about) and you see that cute little knick knack sitting there, just waiting for you to grab it, ask yourself this: "How important is this thing to my life?" Then ask yourself if it's worth the real price you'll pay for it.'
____________________________________________________________________________________
John L. White is the author of "I'm In Debt, Over 40, With No Retirement Savings. Help!" and founder of Everlove and Bohannon Publishing. He also works full-time as an IT professional for a large International Company. To order "I'm In Debt, Over 40, With No Retirement Savings. Help!", visit http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974068748/imindebove40w-20 or call 813-907-2511.

One for the guys

2006-03-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

In case you don't know, the other part of my work involves coaching newly-single women to survive re-entry into singlehood and, ultimately, become successfully single. I have been contacted on several occasions by men saying, 'What you do is great but what about men who are leaving relationships? Who helps us?'

If you are or know any men who are in this position, you could have a look at www.wifesgone.com, a new web portal that has been launched by Patrick Fleming, a recent (virtual) contact of mine.

I've only had time for a very quick look at the site but I could see no evidence of woman-bashing on there and the bulk of what I read was good, positive stuff which included contributions from women that had been well received. I think that there is much that newly-separated women and men can learn from each other and this is a site that I will definitely be keeping an eye on in future.

How about taking your friends along on a date?

2006-03-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about group internet dating? I hadn't, until my trip to the US last week, when I read about it in USA Today. Apparently, sites such as Teamdating.com allow members to sign up to use their services in groups of 2, 3 or 4 people - which means that you can get in touch with and, ultimately, meet, other groups of 2, 3 or 4 people.

This removes many of the concerns that I know women often have about using Internet dating sites - such as the need to put their personal details and photograph online and the fact that they have no idea if the person they are corresponding with is who they say they are. And when you go on a date with 2 or 3 of your friends, your fears that your drink will be spiked whilst you are in the bathroom are dramatically reduced.

Other advantages of group dating are that it removes much of the stress and anxiety involved in meeting for the first time someone you have previously only met either on-line or over the phone. And let's face it, if you don't hit it off with the person you have been corresponding with, you might just find some chemistry with one of their friends - which makes group dating much more like the social mixing that takes place on a night out with the girls or boys.

As far as I am aware, www.teamdating.com only caters for US daters, but I believe that www.compa.co.uk offers a similar service for UK singles.

Concerns over bottled water

2006-03-14T11:47:00.000-08:00

I love Florida (see previous post) but after the particularly nice-tasting water that we get from our taps (faucets) in this part of the UK, the water in Florida always tastes rather 'sandy' to me. So, whenever I'm in Florida, I tend to drink much more bottled water - which is what I've been doing over the last 2 weeks. Whilst doing the rounds of the internet news sites yesterday, I was concerned to read that scientists in Germany have found that potentially toxic substances, such as the heavy metal, Antimony, could be leaching into bottled water from their plastic containers. These traces were found in 48 European brands of bottled water and 15 Canadian brands.

Looks like I'll be buying glass and digging out the water filter jug in future...

I'm back

2006-03-13T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Did you wonder where I'd got to? I've been off on holiday (vacation) to Florida to get some sun and relaxation in. Had a wonderful time - a week in Vilano Beach (very laid-back community up near St Augustine) followed by a week on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. S & C were gorgeous - I've been meaning to go there for years and now I can't think why I waited so long - absolute paradise... We stayed in a hotel but next time I'm going back for longer and renting a house there.

But now I'm back and what a shock to the system! Instead of the glorious high 70's, low 80's weather we've been used to, it's zero degrees (centigrade) and snow... Instead of the morning walk along the beach, gathering shells to add to our collection and listening to the rolling waves, it's back to my daily 6 am workout to a Mojo fm soundtrack... Instead of a dazzling array of fruits and juices, (okay - and pastries and donuts too) to choose from for breakfast, it's back to bran flakes and a banana... And I'm what I consider to be one of the lucky ones - I have a pretty great life. I work for myself, from my home office. I don't have to turn out on freezing cold mornings and travel to work. I don't have to jump through anyone else's hoops when I get there. I don't have to put up with idiots and their egos all day long. I have a good relationship with a lovely, kind man who recognises that I need my space. I know the power of the Law of Attraction and the effect that deliberate intention has on my life.

So if it's difficult for someone like me to come back from holiday and get back into daily life, what must it be like for people who hate their jobs? Their relationships? Their whole lives?

And if this sounds like you, what can you do about it?

Start by giving me a call - +44 (0)1405 861074 or drop me a line at ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com and let's talk about how we can get you back on the right track.

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

About 3 weeks ago, I was interviewed by a journalist who was writing an article about Valentine's Day from a singleton's point of view and who wanted me to give some advice to readers who wouldn't be sharing February 14th with someone special.

As someone who coaches single women for a living (and who was single for 7 years before I met my partner) I know only too well how people can feel excluded when they're not part of a couple - we live in a very couple-orientated society and people can feel 'abnormal' because they're alone. And let's face it, there are very few people who are single and who would like to be in relationship, who don't feel a pang or two as a gorgeous bouquet is delivered to a co-worker on Valentine's Day.

My best advice to someone who is 'single but looking' is:

First of all, don't beat yourself up for being alone. Instead, look upon it as an opportunity to get your life as a singleton exactly as you want it to be. In that way you will be much less likely to give it up for the first so-so relationship that comes along.

Secondly, being single does have its advantages as I'm sure you already know:

- You can do what you want to do, when you want to do it, with no one to answer to.
- When you're by yourself, you can be the 'authentic' you - the real you that is often hidden from other people.
- Singledom can also be an incentive to achieve more and your time as a single can be one of the most rewarding, fulfilling times of your life. You can't rely on anyone else - you have to do it for yourself or not at all. If you want something badly enough, you have no choice but to roll up your sleeves and get on with it.
- There can be a tendency to become complacent in a relationship - for example, not go to the gym quite so often and put on a few pounds, however, many singles tend to be 'single and looking' so they keep themselves looking as good as they can, just in case!

And come on folks, let's not forget the other advantages of being single - night-time duvet battles are a thing of the past - you can hog the bed all to yourself. The toilet seat is always in the position you left it (this will probably be more appealing to women readers). You don't have to clean up anyone else's mess. You can enjoy a blissful night's sleep, undisturbed by someone else's snoring. You have full control of the TV remote. Your time is your own... Need I go on?

If being alone on Valentine's Day itself really bothers you and makes you feel like a failure for not being in a relationship, why not spend the evening with like-minded single friends? Get together in a place where you are unlikely to be confronted by all those couples and have an anti-Valentine's party. Swap all your relationship horror stories and brainstorm every single advantage of being single that you can think of - the sillier the better.

If you really can't face a party to celebrate your single status, make sure you have something to look forward to on the day itself. Cook yourself your favourite meal or run yourself a bath with all the trimmings. Pamper yourself. But try to avoid watching anything on television that's specifically scheduled for Valentine's night, like romantic comedies for example.

Let's face it - Valentine's Day is only one day of the year. And how many of those 'romantic couples' will be history by next February 14th?

Link found between obesity and dementia

2006-02-08T13:02:00.000-08:00

Research from the Kaiser Permanente clinic in California (a 30 year study of 10,276 people) has shown that if you’re overweight, there is a 35% increase in your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia and that if you’re obese, there is a 75% increase.

The researchers believe that this is due to excess fat encouraging cell degeneration. In my opinion, this is the best reason yet to lose any excess weight and keep it off!

Stress Less with Michael Neill

2006-02-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

Michael Neill's radio show - 'You Can Have What You Want' is now being broadcast on THURSDAYS and there is a new number to call if you want to phone in. The theme of the show this week is STRESS LESS and it can be heard on Thursday, February 9 at Noon pacific/3pm eastern/8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com).

Michael says:

'Want to stress less and enjoy life more? Join me in this exploration of living with and ultimately without stress... As always, I'll be taking your calls on air - if you want to experience less stress and a greater sense of well-being, phone in to speak with me live! Please Note - NEW NUMBERS TO CALL:
Inside the US 1-866-254-1579
Outside the US 001-760-918-4300

To listen to the show this Thursday, February 9, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the buttonmarked 'Listen Now'.

New Courses and Barnes and Noble University

2006-02-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

New courses, including 'Writing for Quick Cash', 'Beauty: The Basics' and 'The Best Year of Your Life' by Debbie Ford have been announced by Barnes and Noble University. Courses are free but each is based around a particular book which it is recommended that you buy. Click here to see what's available.

CIA Assignment

2006-02-01T03:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Judith at the Three Wise Women for the following:

The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all of the background checks, interviews, and testing were done there were three finalists... Two men and a woman. For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. "We must know that you will follow your instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room, you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill Her!!!

"The man said, "You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife." The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. Then the man came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I can't kill my wife." The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow, and said,........."This gun is loaded with blanks. I had to beat him to death with the chair."

Update - How to divorce without screwing up your children

2006-01-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

I checked out the date and time for 'How to divorce without screwing up your children' with my TV guide and found that I'd managed to get most of the details correct - the programme will be shown tonight at 9 pm on Channel 4 but the series is in 4 parts and not 3 as I previously stated. The series centres around Christina McGhee, a divorce coach from Texas who 'helps parents cope with the pain of marital break-up without destroying their children's lives'.

Living an inspired life

2006-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

The title of Michael Neill's radio show this week is LIVING AN INSPIRED LIFE. Listen to the show on Tuesday, January 31 at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com). Here's what Michael has to say about it:

Moving forward when you're inspired is like climbing into a canoe and going for a ride down a river. Trying to move forward when you aren't is like carrying that canoe up a dry riverbed. Tune in this week to learn the secrets of tapping in to the river of inspiration that flows through your life!

As always, I'll be taking your calls on air - if you want to live an inspired (and inspiring) life, phone in to speak with me live!

Inside the US:1-866-903-TALK (8255)
Outside the US:001-858-623-0102
To listen to the show this Tuesday, January 31, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'.

How to divorce without screwing up your children

2006-01-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

If you are in the process of getting a divorce (or know someone else who is), you may be interested in the following:

In an ad break during Celebrity Big Brother last night, I saw a trailer for a new 3-part show entitled 'How to divorce without screwing up your children'. In the scramble to find a pad and pen, I'm not sure that I caught the day and time correctly but I'm pretty sure it was next Tuesday (31 January) at 9pm on Channel 4. Definitely worth a look, I'm thinking, but better check the details with your TV guide.

The Personal Development Expo

2006-01-26T07:56:00.000-08:00

If you live in or near London (or you can get there easily) you may want to drop in on Nicola Cairncross and Judith Morgan of the Money Gym who will be appearing at the Personal Development Expo this weekend at ExCel in London's Docklands. Nicola and Judith will be talking about financial freedom, wealth creation and abundance. Expo tickets cost just £5 in advance or £10 on the door, Saturday or Sunday 28/29th January.

5 things NOT to do in January

2006-01-25T07:53:00.000-08:00

If you're still struggling to lose the extra pounds you put on over the holidays, here are some quick tips from weight loss coach and hypnotherapist Lee McCormack of www.weightlosshypnosis.com and www.yummymummyweightloss.com.

5 Things NOT to do in January

1. Finish off all the Christmas goodies in one go in preparation for the next diet.
2. Join a gym when you did exactly the same thing last year and only went a handful of times.
3. Go on a detox living on fresh air and the latest 'wonder' ingredient. Restricting yourself like that just isn't healthy.

Read the article about detox on the blog>>>>

4. Restrict yourself to a diet of salad, fresh fruit and low fat yoghurt. Cold foods at this time of the year are not filling and definitely not comforting.
5. Put a picture of yourself looking your absolute worst on the fridge door in a bid to stop you snacking.

The healthy alternatives

1. Enjoy some then share the rest by taking them into work or by giving them to someone else as a treat. You get the feel good factor without the calories or guilt.
2. Try something different - dry slope skiing, snow boarding or outdoors ice-skating. Exercise should be fun not a chore, if you don't enjoy it you'll eventually give it up.
3. Use the next few weeks while nothing much is happening to get some early nights and have a rest from alcohol.
4. Experiment with warming foods like vegetable soups and stews or maybe baked fruits for pudding.
5 . Put a picture of yourself looking at your slimmest on the fridge door. This is so much more motivating as you work towards getting in shape.

'You can have what you want' Radio Show

2006-01-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the details for Michael Neill's radio show this week:

THE SECRET OF LETTING GO FOR IT
on 'You Can Have What You Want'
Tuesday, January 10 at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com

There are two keys to success in any endeavor:

1. Letting go
2. Going for it!

Listen in and learn how to combine surrender and action to create a life that makes you go 'Wow!'

As always, I'll be taking your calls on air - if you want to create increasingly effortless success in your life, phone in to speak with me live!

Inside the US:1-866-903-TALK (8255)
Outside the US:001-858-623-0102
To listen to the show this Tuesday, January 24, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'

World Wellness Weekend

2006-01-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

Wise Judith from the Three Wise Women posted the following on their blog at the end of last week:

Deepak Chopra and T. Harv Eker are sharing a stage together in Denver, Colorado on 28/29th January at the Convention Centre and they propose to explore the cutting edge of health, fitness and wellbeing. Tickets are as low as $35 and you can see and hear a video message from Deepak and full details at http://www.worldwellness.org/ Bargain!

If you live nearby, or can get there at this short notice, don't on any account miss it. Wish I could go. T. Harv gives good value and Deepak's reputation precedes him. An unmissable double-whammy for those of you in the States. Enjoy!

Are you a packrat, paper hound or procrastinator?

2006-01-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

Are you a packrat, paper hound or procrastinator? Find out by taking clutter expert (or should that be decluttering expert?), Cheryl Miller's quiz. Whilst you're there, you can also sign up for Cheryl's newsletter and join any or all of her clubs - besides the 'Packrat Club', you can choose from the 'Healthy Kitchen' club, the 'Healthy Habits' club, the 'Move More' club, the 'Green Living' club. the 'Big Changes' club and the 'Smoke Now, Quit Later' club.

How does she find the time to keep track of them all? After checking out all those clubs, I'm only fit for the 'I'm off to have a lie-down' club.

You always have a choice

2006-01-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Viktor Frankl

Friday fun

2006-01-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

I have to confess that I stole the following funnies from the Three Wise Women's (see previous posting) ezine for January. I can definitely identify with one or two of them!

It is well documented that for every minute that you exercise, you add one minute to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $5,000 per month.

The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.

If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.

The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

I love long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where the hell she is.

I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

Wise Resources

2006-01-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

The ladies at Three Wise Women (health and wellbeing programs for women in their 40's and 50's) have a website recommendation that is well worth a look whether you are male or female and no matter what age you are. Here's what they say about it:

Despite a rather uninspiring name, www.healthandage.com is a treasure chest overflowing with useful information and interesting articles about, erm, health and growing older. Its search facility is comprehensive so well worth a look if you want to find out more about living to 100, the best types of exercise, why women live longer than men, despite being weak little things compared to those strong strapping blokes and...oh, loads more.

The Single Again Club

2006-01-11T00:15:00.000-08:00

By the 3rd of January, I had already heard about two relationships that had bitten the dust over the holiday period. Christmas and New Year are a prime time for relationship break-up - all that time spent in close proximity can really turn the spotlight on a partnership that is no longer working and inspire one or both partners to intend something better for themselves for the coming year.

If you (or a female friend, colleague for family member) are starting the New Year as a newly-single woman, I can help you not only survive 're-entry' into singlehood, but actually make a success of it!

The Single Again Club is a brand new, on-line coaching community which I am setting up to provide newly-single women with high quality coaching at an affordable price. As a member of the Single Again Club you will receive:

One, hour-long, group coaching call per month
Two, thirty-minute private coaching sessions per month. (Private coaching sessions will be scheduled to take place on Coaching Hotline Days. Coaching Hotline Days are scheduled to take place regularly throughout the month)
Regular email support and encouragement via our dedicated Single Again Club discussion group (which allows you to have your questions answered, share your experiences, disappointments and challenges, celebrate the good bits and really feel the benefits of being part of a community of women who are all newly-single and sharing similar experiences.)
A copy of our monthly newsletter, 'Successfully Single', which is packed full of advice, tips and resources to help you to make the transition from 'newly-single' woman to 'Successfully Single' woman
Access to our occasional interviews with guest speakers

All for an affordable £87 per month!

The Single Again Club will officially launch on Saturday 21 January 2006 at 4 pm (UK time) with the first group coaching call. The first Coaching Hotline Day is scheduled for Thursday 26 January.

If you are ready to join us, secure payments by bank or credit card can be made safely through Paypal via the Successfully Single website. If you would like further information, contact me at ann@annharrisonlifecoaching.com or call me on +44 (0)1405 861074.

Free 'How to increase your energy levels' teleclass being held today

2006-01-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

Just received information about a teleclass offered by John Allen Mollenhauer of NutrientRich.com and www.MyTrainer.com which is being held TODAY. Hope you manage to see this in time. Here are the details:

Do you know how to increase your energy without ever going on a diet or exercising heroically or obessively? Knowing how, is one of the most important skills an ultra busy person needs to know - because your success depends on it.

Do you know know why most people procrastinate? Well, one thing is for sure, it has alot to do with their energy levels. Increasing your energy is not about food or drinking the latest carbo booster. Tomorrow (that's actually today (Tuesday) - Ann) you will discover the single most important success factor you will ever learn and how you can make it work for you. It's part of The Smarter Not Harder Way you'll learn at MyTrainer.com, with me, John Allen on a preview call for the 12 week intensive In a preview call for MyTrainer's upcoming 12-Week Intensive, for Lifestyle and Fitness Success, I am going to share the secrets to having more energy.

1. You can generate it whenever you want to
2. You can use it to do more of what you want3. You will feel better, perform better and frankly look better too, when you have more of it.

Today everyone wants to have more energy, so this call should be on your schedule. The call takes place, Tuesday, January 10th 2:00PM ET (7 pm UK time). Here's where to go to get the call-in information. 12 week intensive. The call information is at the top of the page. http://www.mytrainer.com/?page_id=176 Be sure to dial in early to avoid getting bounced.
Speak To You Soon,
John AllenPresident and Founder, http://www.MyTrainer.com Take our survey? http://www.mytrainer.com/mytrainersurvey/membersurvey1.htm John Allen MollenhauerMTCP, CPT, CNT,
President www.NutrientRich.com www.MyTrainer.com

Get off to a great start!

2006-01-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

Michael Neill's radio show this week is about getting the New Year off to a great start. Here are the details:

STARTING BIG/STARTING SMALL
on 'You Can Have What You Want'
Tuesday, January 10 at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com)

Have you started (or given up on) your New Year's resolutions yet? Listen in this week to find out what it takes to get off to a great start on a new project, a new relationship, a new year, and a new life. As always, I'll be taking your calls on air - if you want to get unstuck and get going on what really matters in your life, please call in to speak with me live!

Inside the US:1-866-903-TALK (8255)
Outside the US:001-858-623-0102

To listen to the show this Tuesday, January 10, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the button marked 'Listen Now'

Your top 10 most effective ways to lose weight

2006-01-09T07:31:00.000-08:00

If, like most of us, you've put on a couple of pounds over the holidays, the following tips from registered nutritionist and co-founder of the YeartoSlim programme, Lucy-Ann Prideaux might come in handy:

YOUR TOP 10 MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT…

1) Eat less than you have been or exercise more – in other words you do need to create a calorie deficit in order to burn more calories than you consume in a day, BUT…

2) Do not starve. You will NOT lose fat if you starve yourself. Most people need only to drop their total calorie intake by 300 kcals a day – some by more and some by less – it just depends what the base-line or starting point is – and it often helps to have someone work that out for you!

3) Eat when you are hungry and stop when you feel satisfied. It sounds simple – and it is!

4) Eat real food – not powdered drinks as meal replacements. The process of digesting real solid food actually stimulates the metabolic rate. This is called the “thermic effect” of food, which cannot be achieved by liquid food or supplements.

5) Be consistent with your exercise which should involve aerobic activities and some kind of resistance training.

6) Get your diet “nutritionally” in order, and your exercise before complaining that it’s your genes, you have big bones” or that you have “a slow metabolism”! Sound nutritional practice and effective exercise is a very powerful combination indeed, and if its fast permanent results you want – then this is what you need to focus on.

7) If you want to lose fat permanently you need to put in some effort and be somewhat self-disciplined. You are the only person you are with 24 hours of every day!

8) STOP looking for short cuts to lose weight.

9) Your aim is to lose fat, not muscle and water. Anything that promises fast weight loss, will give you fast fat gain when you start living normally again! You are aiming to lose 1-2lbs a week, with a combination of effective eating and exercising.

10) Finally, don’t believe everything you read in magazines. If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is! Get the only information you will ever need to lose weight effectively and permanently by joining YeartoSlim today.

If you want to try the FREE 5-day Mini course – Sign up here!

With best wishes, Lucy-Ann x

Lucy-Ann Prideaux MSc BSc RNutrRegistered Nutritionist
Simply Nutrition Tel: 01323 439936 Mobile: 07740 122746
E-mail: lucy@simply-nutrition.co.uk
Website: www.simply-nutrition.co.uk

Had a disastrous date? What to do when you get home.

2006-01-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

If I've managed to whet your appetite about the Law of Attraction, read the following article from Attraction expert, Michael Losier of www.lawofattractionbook.com which illustrates perfectly what I was talking about in my last blog:

Recently I was interviewed on a Love and Relationship talk radio show. It was the first time the host heard about the Law of Attraction and she was very interested in the concept. After explaining what the Law of Attraction was about offering positive and negative vibes and that those vibes resulted in all of us attracting positive or negative things into our lives, she asked me the question, “What should someone do if they’ve just come home from a disastrous date?” My answer was simple, “Don’t tell anybody about it!”

When most people find themselves in that situation, they repeat and regurgitate their negative experience over and over and over again. Picking up the phone, they reminisce about how bad the date was, telling numerous people all about how they didn’t like this or that, usually going on and on about their experience in great detail. All the while, they are offering negative vibrations by giving that which they didn’t want -- more of their attention, energy and focus.

The Law of Attraction doesn’t know whether the ‘thing’ you are giving your attention, energy or focus to is good or bad to you or whether you want it or don’t want it. It simply responds to the vibes you are offering by matching them and giving you more of the same!

Knowing what you didn’t like about your date is very important to applying the Law of Attraction to your life IF you use that information to help yourself become more clear about what it is you DO want on your next date. When you come home from a disastrous date, DON’T pick up the phone. Instead, build a list of what you didn’t like. For example:· My date was late· My date talked too much about themselves· My date was a poor listener· My date didn’t seem interested in me· My date was quite negative.

If you continue to give these things more of your attention, energy and focus, you will certainly attract more of the same on your next date. So when you find yourself wondering why you keep attracting the same kind of dating experience or relationship over and over and over again, the answer is always the same. You are attracting a perfect match to what you are offering vibrationally.

How can you stop offering the vibration of what you don’t want? The solution is simple. Just refer to your list and ask yourself, “So, what do I want?”

What I Don’t Want

My date was late
My date talked too much about themselves
My date was a poor listener
My date didn’t seem interested in me
My date was quite negative

So, What Do I Want?

I want my date to show up on time
I want my date to converse on a variety of subjects
I want my date to be an attentive listener
I want my date to be interested in me
My date felt very positive

The key point here is when you go from what you don’t want to what you do want, the words change. As your words change your vibration also changes. Now you are offering a new vibration which the Law of Attraction will respond to by sending you more of the same.

Remember when you spend your time talking about what you don’t like, telling others about what you don’t like, journaling and remembering what you don’t like, you are spending all that time giving attention to the very things you don’t want. All the while, the Law of Attraction is responding to your vibration and matching it with more of the same.

So, if you are curious and want to know what vibes you are offering about an ideal date or ideal relationship, take a look and see what you are getting right now–-it’s always a perfect match to what you are offering vibrationally. Next time you come home from a disastrous date take the time to notice what you did like about it and celebrate that! Then, make a list of what you didn’t like and ask yourself the question, “So, what do I want?” Use your time to give your attention, energy and focus to what you DO want, knowing that the Law of Attraction is responding to your new vibration. Get ready to notice all the ways your next date is a closer match to your list of what you DO want.
© Michael Losier 2005.

Michael Losier, a Law of Attraction Trainer and author, supports people in understanding and practicing the Art of Deliberate Attraction, so they can have more of what they want and less of what they don't. Michael has been applying the principles of Law of Attraction for many years and enjoys a wonderful and rewarding life in the city of Victoria, BC, Canada. He facilitates a number of in-person Law of Attraction seminars as well as Teleseminars to a worldwide audience.For more articles by Michael Losier, Teleclass information or to purchase the book, Law of Attraction, The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't, visit http://www.lawofattractionbook.com/.

How attractive are you?

2006-01-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

I’m amazed that I haven’t blogged about The Law of Attraction before. I first heard about it during my coach training with CoachU back in 2000 and deliberate attraction plays an enormous part in my life nowadays.

The Law of Attraction, like the Law of Gravity, is one of the laws of the Universe. It states that ‘like attracts like’ and that ‘what we think about is what we attract to us’. You probably already know that everything in the Universe is made out of energy. Which means that we, ourselves, are made out of energy too. Energy vibrates. Which means that we, too, vibrate. When we are ‘down’ and miserable and thinking negative thoughts, we vibrate at low frequencies and when we are happy, ‘up’ and thinking positive thoughts, we vibrate at high frequencies. Since like attracts like, when we are exuding low frequency, negative energy, we attract more low frequency, negative energy to us. When we are exuding high frequency, positive energy, we attract more high frequency, positive energy to us. It’s as simple as that – we are all just big walking magnets.

The implications for us are that, when we are exuding negative energy, i.e., thinking about everything that is wrong with our lives or focusing on something that we don’t want, this is exactly what we are attracting to us. So, when we are worrying that we won’t have enough money to get through to the end of the month, that our car will break down in a high-crime area or that we won’t get that dream job that we have applied for – this is exactly what we will attract to us.

On the contrary, when we concentrate our time, energy and attention on what we DO want to happen – the good things in life, the prosperity and the abundance – this, too, is what we will attract to us.

This implies that we must constantly focus our time, energy and attention on the things that we want to have in our lives, rather than concentrating those resources on what we don’t want in our lives.

This stuff works. Whether you are aware of it or not. You owe it to yourself to find out more about it. You can make a start by checking out the following websites:
www.attractionville.com for free resources and articles www.lawofattractionbook.com for articles and teleclasses on Attraction

If you want to find out more about becoming deliberately attractive, I can recommend the following books:

The Attractor Factor by Joe Vitale
Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn

Remember, the Law of Attraction is at work all the time, whether you are aware of it or not. Better to be aware and using it to your advantage to attract the things you want in life, rather than a whole load of the things you don't want.

Happy New Year - Part 3

2006-01-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

When you have your written-down goals for the year, you need to chunk them down into monthly targets. For example, if you have written down that you weigh 140 lbs on 31.12.06 and you currently weigh 164 lbs, then if you divide the weight you need to lose (24 lbs) by 12 months, you can see that you need to lose 2lbs per month in order to make that desire a reality. That's not so difficult is it? If you start with no savings and you want to have $5,000 in your bank account by 31.12.06, then you need to save $416.66 per month in order to make your goal a reality.

You can then go on to chunk these down even further into weekly and even daily targets - this makes your $5000 savings goal just $104.16 per week or $13.69 per day! What could you do to earn an extra $13.69 per day? And doesn't that sound much more manageable than $416.66 per month?

Put your daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals or targets somewhere you can see them regularly - how about the wall above your desk? If you share an office or you want your goals to remain private, get some postcard-sized cards, write your targets on them and carry them around with you. Read them often. Write about them in a daily journal. Make up a treasure map - get yourself a pile of magazines, find pictures, headlines and other illustrations that relate to the things you want and stick them to a large sheet of paper or card. They could be pictures of places you want to visit or that car you want to own. You could have a picture of your dream house up there. Group them in a way that's meaningful to you. Then, put the treasure map where you will see it often - it helps imprint your goals into your subconscious.

Find ways to rehearse and emotionally enjoy the experience of achieving your goals before you actually achieve them. Do you want a new car? Something really special that feels to be out of your reach at the moment? Get yourself down to the car dealership and take a test drive of your dream car. Smell that new car smell. Get the feel of the steering wheel under your hands and the feel of the seat under your bottom. Hear the clunk of the door as you close it.

Then think of all the reasons why you should achieve this particular goal. Think how you will feel when you have achieved it. Think what a difference it will make to your life. Keep your focus and attention on what you want - not what you don't want. Be aware of The Law of Attraction - it's at work whether you are aware of it or not. Better to be aware and using it to your advantage.

Come back tomorrow if you don't know about The Law of Attraction and want to find out more...

Happy New Year - Part 2

2006-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Setting goals in the way I described in Part 1 enables you to:

1. Gain clarity about what it is that you want
2. Begin to focus your attention and energy in that direction
3. Set yourself a big vision for the year - one that will pull you forward and motivate you.

During the act of writing down your goals, a part of your brain called the Reticular Activating System is triggered which determines what you will notice and what you will pay attention to.

Think for a minute about all the stimuli that are constantly bombarding your brain via your senses. How does your brain know what it needs to pay attention to and what it can ignore?

This is where the RAS comes into play – it gives you a ‘heads-up’ and tells you to pay attention to something that could be important for you. You know how, when you make a decision to buy a specific make and model of car, all of a sudden, the roads seem full of that particular make and model – they are everywhere you look. Of course, these cars haven’t just appeared on the road – they were always there – but because, previously, they held no particular interest for you, your brain just screened them out. Now that you have a particular interest in this type of vehicle, your RAS has been activated and your awareness of them is heightened.

Another example of the RAS in action is when you are at a noisy, busy party with lots of people chattering all around you and music playing on the stereo, and then someone, across the other side of the room says your name and you hear them, despite and through all the other background noise that is going on.

The RAS works as a filter for your conscious and unconscious mind, sorting and evaluating incoming data and filtering out the urgent and important stuff from that which is unimportant.

By writing down your goals, the RAS is triggered – it receives the message: ‘Wake up. This is important stuff. Pay attention and don’t miss it.’ Your brain can then go to work on your goal, alerting you to the appropriate signs, signals and opportunities and helping you get what you want. As Henriette Anne Klauser, author of ‘Write it down, Make it happen’ says:

‘Writing down your dreams and aspirations is like hanging up a sign that says ‘Open for Business’.

More tomorrow...

Happy New Year

2006-01-03T00:50:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it's the 3rd of January already! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to everything that 2006 brings. How are you doing with the New Year's resolutions? Wavering a bit? How successful have you been, traditionally, with keeping the resolutions you've made? Most people fail with theirs before January is out...

Are you willing to try something different this year? Can you spare an hour or so to sit down with a pen and pad? It's quite simple, really. All I want you to do is imagine that it's 31 December 2006 and you are looking back over the year and everything that you have achieved during 2006. Then I want you to make a list of all your achievements during the course of the year.

What would you like to be writing on your pad? How would you like to have spent your year? What would you like to have learned? How much would you like to have earned? Where would you like to have been? How successful would you like your business to have been?

Use the following categories to help you:

Health
Money/finance
Career/work
Relationships/family/friends
Personal Development
Fun/recreation/spare time/hobbies
Environment (home/garden/car/office)
Spirituality

Decide what you want to achieve this year in each category and then write it as if you have already achieved it, for example:

I had a brilliant time in Florida in March, in Ireland in August and ski-ing in Les-Deux-Alpes last week
I continue to exercise for an hour, 4 times a week and I have achieved my ideal weight of (you insert the figures) through a combination of exercising, healthy eating and portion control
My social life goes from strength to strength - I enjoy the cinema, theatre or meals out with friends at least twice a week and I am never short of invitations
I have a full coaching practice and a waiting list. My coaching groups and courses continue to sell out.

Have fun with your list. What do you really, really want to be, do and have this year? Be as specific as you can. Then, come back tomorrow and I'll tell you more..

10 daily habits for the holiday season - Part 10

2005-12-23T10:03:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't decide what to write about in this, my final message in the series. I felt a bit like the Queen must feel when she's writing her Christmas speech to the nation. Should I urge you to look back over the year and think about all your achievements with gratitude? Should I encourage you to look ahead and visualise everything that you want next year to be? What well-chosen words could I use to inspire you and leave you with a feeling of peace and well-being? And then, whilst I was trying to make my mind up, I did a quick check on my inbox and found the following email from Denise Michaels:

Just got this in my inbox from an ol' high school friend and I had to share it with you:

Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"Have an amazing day!

Perfect! Have a good one! See you in 2006.
Ann

10 daily habits for the holiday season - Part 9

2005-12-22T07:18:00.000-08:00

Whilst I was thinking about what to write for the ninth tip in this series, the monthly newsletter from Michael Myerscough of The Relationship Gym plopped into my inbox and I knew that the following excerpt was exactly what I needed. It's food for thought whilst you are getting together with family and friends over the holiday and, if, for some reason, you can't all get together this year, it's a reminder to find some other way to get in touch with your loved ones and let them know what they mean to you.

Who Loves You?

I’ve been trying to come up with a chirpy end of year article and I have to say it’s not working for me right now. I’m actually more focused on a eulogy that I’m writing for my Gran, Margaret Myerscough, who died last week. Her death marks the end of me having any grandparents and has come as a bit of a shock. I have to say that at the moment I’m experiencing regret about not having said all the things to her that I would have liked her to know. Whilst most of us were aware that she wasn’t very well it was assumed that my Gran would be around for another year or so. Well, last week she died peacefully in her sleep and moved on.

I make every effort to communicate how special people are in my life and let the people I love know that they are loved. In this case however I assumed that it wasn’t urgent and hadn’t been in touch for a while. I’m aware that there are a hundred and one times when we are reminded that life is a very fragile thing and that taking it for granted is a bit of a mistake. I just want to make it one hundred and two in the hope that in some way it might make a difference to your life.

It turns out that I’m reading the eulogy because I was one of her favourite grand children (I’m confident that none of the others are reading this so I can say that without hurting any feelings) and the sad part about that is that I had no idea. The thing that I’m getting around to here is that if you love people or even if people are just special to you it’s really, really important that you let them know. Don’t assume that they know, ever!

This is true with your partners, your parents, siblings, relatives, friends and just about anyone you share this planet with that you have any affection for. It makes all the difference in my world to know that there are people who love me, people that are proud of me or even people who just like hanging out with me or value my thinking. I also know that a lot of those feelings only became clear to me when I started telling others how important they are to me. For whatever reason a lot of us can get stuck in the idea that communicating love, in whatever form, is a bit of a burden for people that they’d rather not endure. Trust me on this one, it’s not true. Sure it might feel a little awkward and you might both feel a little shy, but every one loves a little love. It’s truly amazing the emotional doors that open when you start being honest with people.

So with this in mind I’d just like to take the time to say that having you read my newsletter makes a big difference to my life. I’m only really happy when I feel like I’m contributing something valuable to the world and every once in a while it becomes obvious that writing these articles has an impact. Sometimes someone will write to me expressing surprise at how pertinent an article was or how it made their life easier in some way. Sometimes someone will write and just say that they really enjoyed a story I shared. So if you’ve read this far I’d like you to know that I’m grateful and that you make a difference in my life.

10 daily habits for the holiday season - Part 8

2005-12-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

So far, I have been making a big assumption that you will be surrounded by family and friends during the holiday season.

I was single and living alone for 7 years after my marriage ended, which meant that I often spent quite long periods alone over Christmas. Since I love my own company, this never posed any problems for me and I was always fortunate enough to have friends and family to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's with. However, one Christmas, there was a particularly ill-timed flu epidemic and, by Christmas Day, everyone that I would usually eat Christmas lunch with was tucked up in bed, sniffing and shivering. All except me - I was fine.

If I had been less proud, I would have phoned a friend and got myself invited somewhere else for lunch, but I was a bit embarrassed that I suddenly had nowhere to go on Christmas Day and, feeling like Norma No-mates, I decided to spend Christmas Day by myself. To cut a long story short, I rather enjoyed it, but the most positive thing to come out of the day was the fact that I managed to rid myself of a longstanding fear of being alone at holiday times.

Anyhow, enough about me! What about you? Are you facing your first Christmas as a single? Is it the kids' turn to go to their Dad's for Christmas? Are you separated from your loved ones this Christmas? You probably already know all the old chestnuts such as 'Invite your elderly neighbours over for Christmas' or 'Help out one of the charities serving Christmas lunch to homeless people on Christmas Day'. In addition to these though, I would like to offer you the following ideas to help you make Christmas feel special this year:

1. Try to have something to look forward to every day of the holiday - something you really love to do but often don't have time for in your workaday life

2. Use the holiday to do something completely different - learn something new, give yourself a makeover or turn your home into a spa, so that you start the New Year looking and feeling fabulous.

3. Do Christmas your own way. Use the opportunity to just please yourself for the whole of the holiday - do absolutely nothing that you don't want to do and include as many of the things that you DO want to do as possible - totally indulge yourself

4. Research a subject that fascinates you - go back to work an 'expert' (well maybe expert status is unlikely, but you could take several steps towards it)

5. Clear your clutter and start the New Year with a clean, clear, clutter-free space

6. Rent out all the funny films you can find and have an hilarious holiday

7. Aim to solve a problem you have been procrastinating over before the holiday is done

8. Plan a new life for 2006

9. Get a temporary job in a lively bar or restaurant for the holiday period - earn some extra money and be part of the festivities at the same time

10. Spend the time researching that business you've always wanted to start - the Internet never takes a holiday, so log on and find out how you could start a business on a budget, then, in the New Year, resolve to spend (at least) one evening each week working on your new business until it's up and running

Only 5 days left...

2005-12-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that you can only buy Successfully Single at half-price - that's just £5.00 - for the next 5 days. The offer will end on Christmas Day. Don't miss out! Be Successfully Single in 2006!

10 daily habits for the holiday season - Part 7

2005-12-20T07:32:00.000-08:00

One daily habit that will leave you feeling less frazzled, exhausted and resentful at the end of the holiday is:

delegate

Don't try to do everything yourself - even if you KNOW you can do it better than everyone else. Persuade, bribe, threaten and cajole everyone who is sharing the holiday with you into doing their bit too! If all the family traditionally descends on you for Christmas lunch, this year, get them to bring a dish with them - a starter course, a desert, a contribution to the main course - whatever their speciality is.

Get everyone involved - put your teens on duty preparing sandwiches and making sure drinks are topped up. Even littlies can take guests' coats upon their arrival or collect empty plates and glasses and bring them to the kitchen.

Put your dad or uncle in charge of the annual post-Christmas-lunch game of charades and when anyone half-heartedly offers to take charge of washing the dishes, instead of insisting that they relax with everyone else and enjoy the fun, thank them heartily and point them in the direction of the kitchen...

Play 'The Challenge Game' with Michael Neill

2005-12-19T07:42:00.000-08:00

This week, Michael Neill is issuing you with an invitation to play The Challenge Game with him. Here are the details:

THE CHALLENGE GAME on 'You Can Have What You Want'
Tuesday, December 13th at Noon pacific, 3pm eastern, 8pm UK (live internet radio at http://www.hayhouseradio.com

There is a special energy of renewal towards the beginning of each new year.
Listen in to learn Michael's favorite game for transforming your New Year's resolutions into a positive, life-changing revolution!

This week only, if you phone in to the show you will not only get a unique personal challenge for 2006 from Michael, he'll also send you a free copy of his book 'You Can Have an Extraordinary Life'...

Inside the US:1-866-903-TALK (8255)
Outside the US:001-858-623-0102

To listen to the show this Tuesday, December 19th, go to http://www.hayhouseradio.com at Noon pacific/8pm UK and click on the buttonmarked 'Listen Now'

10 daily habits for the holiday season - Part 6

2005-12-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

My sixth recommendation for a daily habit in the run-up to the holiday season is:

speak up

Are you the one that ends up 'doing Christmas' single-handedly? Does everyone descend on you on Christmas Day (or worse, for the whole of the holiday), breathe a sigh of relief, plonk themselves on the sofa and prepare to be waited on hand and foot for the rest of the time? Are you the unpaid servant? Catering to everyone's needs (literally)? Running yourself ragged? Collapsing into bed at the end of a long day, exhausted and wanting to pull the covers over your head and sleep for a week?

Well, speak up. Tell everyone that you're not prepared to do it again. Politely insist that they help out (more on this in Part 7). Get everyone involved and doing their bit. Just because Christmas has traditionally been 'done' a certain way doesn't mean that it always has to be that way - especially if it means a miserable Christmas for you. Break old traditions and make some new ones. Schedule some time for yourself. Don't end up unhappy and resentful this Christmas - you deserve to enjoy it too!