I don’t know where this sory originated but I found inspiration in these two glasses of wine.

There will always be room for 2 Glasses Of Wine!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.

He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’ The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your House, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

• Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
• Play with your children.
• Take time to get medical checkups.
• Take your partner out to dinner.
• Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend!

I cannot attribute this story to anybody but would like to thank David from North West Arkansas SEO Strategies for sharing this on a private forum at Blogging Beginners

Technorati: 2 glasses of wine, blogging beginners, inspirational

I’m creating this month’s Lifestyle Created Positivities video but in the meantime here is a slide show of the inspiring quotes for February.

Technorati: inspiration, inspiring, lifestyle created positivities, motivation, motivational quotes

I’m testing the Cooliris 3D Wall for future Lifestyle Created Positivities and I’m really pleased with the results.

If you click on the “Launch Cooliris” tag in the bottom right (it looks like two squares overlapping) you’ll open up the photos in a full screen mode. If you don’t already have the browser plugin to enable that you’ll be offered the download on that page. I highly recommend you download it and give it a go.

Not only will this slideshow look fantastic – so will all other images you get to see on the web.

I’d love to hear what you think.

Technorati: inspiration, inspiring, inspiring photos, lifestyle created positivities

I shared breakfast with a beautiful woman this morning.

I don’t know her name – even now.

We never spoke.

When I say “shared” breakfast what I mean is I watched her eat. Shortly afterwards she put on her makeup, in between making a few calls on her mobile.

I’d only first caught site of her.

And this is why I could never return to being a commuter!

… I had to go into London (the reason is unimportant) and rather than sit on traffic, pump out exhaust and pay an unsavoury “congestion charge” I decided it made more sense to take the train.

After buying part of the car park and the train (the cost before 9.30 am is beyond a joke) I found my way to a less crowded part of the platform and boarded the train. There were a few seats free and I sat on a 2 facing 2 area.

She followed me on to the train and sat opposite.

She was looking a little dishelvelled.

Within a minute the area of the  train where we were sitting had transformed itself into a kitchen!

First there was the banana. Not too bad. Then came the apple. Far to green and crunchy. How a good looking girl can think she is attractive making the row she did I just don’t know.

That was followed by the yogurt. At least a spoon was used but frankly the mess that was made she may have been better of using her fingers.

It was all washed down with a Starbucks coffee. You’d think they’d make those cardboard cups differently so they didn’t slurp every time they’re lifted to your lips.

By now I was seriously wishing I could move elsewhere but the train was now overloaded but at least it appearred breakfast was over.

What a delight then when out came the mobile dressing table. It wasn’t quite a full sixe mirrow but had the sun been shining there may well have been snipers taking pot shots at the train due to the flashes of light.

Out came the trowel and after an age mixing some creams the artist began her latest creation.

I really tried not to look but I was fascinated in not only how she could do what she was doing on a train that was bouncing along the tracks but also what was going through her mind.

There was no embarrassment – she was at times talking at the top of her voice to someone at the other end of the mobile phone giving them a running commentary on her make-over progress.

She clearly couldn’t care less about her fellow travellers – what they thought of her, the noise she made as she was eating, the fact the whole carriage could hear her conversation.

But after half an hour or so – she quitened down. Everything had been put away from whence it came. She was, in fact, looking stunning.

The train pulled in to London and the butterfly that had emerged from the dishevelled crysallis that got on the train less than hour ago went off to work to a place where nobody would believe the transformation I had witnessed.

Yes it was an eye-opener but I certainly wouldn’t want to go back to a daily commute, sharing a kitchen and bedroom like that everyday.

No, give me the relative boredom of a quick shuffle across the hallway to my home office any day – I just love the work from home lifestyle!

Technorati: home business, home office, work from home

Lifestyle Created Positivities – take a few minutes to unwind – think about some of these quotes and what they really mean to you and how you can apply them to your life.

As I created the video I was particularly struck by “Silent Gratitude Isn’t Much Use To Anyone”

It can be so easy to take things for granted. To be thankful but never tell the other person. To be embarrassed to show our true thanks.

Next time somebody does something for you – go right ahead and show them you’re truly grateful – I promise you’ll feel good for doing so.

Technorati: gratitude, inspiration, inspirational, inspirational videos, inspire

I created this Lifestyle Created Positivites video using Camtasia as usual but am now integrating Easy Video Player in my activities.

The videos are now hosted with Amazon which means there should be no delays in playing but more importantly it enables me to easily add a redirect at the end of the video to any page or site I choose. I could add a link directly to an affiliate product or a buy now button – it really is so flexible – if you use video at all I highly recommend you take a look at Easy Video Player.

Technorati: inspiration, inspirational videos, video

Take a few minutes to really think about some of these quotes – I’m sure you’ll find them relevant and inspiring.

Here’s the latest Lifestyle Created Positivities

Technorati: inspiration, inspirational, inspiring, inspiring motivational quotes

If I ever needed a reminder of why I love the Work From Home Lifestyle the recent snow in England has provided it!

OK, we’ve had a little more snow that in recent years but it seems from the news the country has come more or less to a standstill.

Roads are covered in ice (not enough grit to go round – oh yes, sorry I forgot we don’t normally need it in the winter!). Airports are closed. Trains and buses stopped running.

People struggling to get to work, taking 3 or 4 times longer than normal to get to a place where the extra effort is not appreciated to do a job they hate.

Is that any way to live?

And here I am looking out of my office window at the beauty of nature. I’ve played with the kids – because I have the choice to do so – not because I couldn’t get in  to work.

I don’t have the pressure of a boss expecting me to fight my way in to the office. I have no demands placed upon me. I have no clients demanding my attention or my presence at meetings. Corporate life? No thank you – that’s a thing of the past for me.

As I was thinking about this post I got to thinking about how we ended up in this sorry mess. I guess it must have been the Industrial Revolution or something after which life changed.

Have you ever thought, I mean really thought, about why we all follow some long dead idiots’ rules about how we should life our lives?

Why, oh why, do we all subscribe to this ridiculous pattern of:

School – 9am to say 4pm

Work – 9am to 5pm (if you’re lucky but more like 7am to 7pm with travel time)

Retirement at 65 – time to do what we want at last – only we can’t because we didn’t earn enough to create a big enough nest egg

Of course, in the times of factories having to work at maximum capacity that model made sense – at least it did for the owners and the workers enjoyed regular work and thus pay. But who cared about the conditions? Who then decided that we had to work all day every weekday in whatever field we chose to work?

Sorry, but if that’s the life for you – you are most welcome to it. It’s not for me anymore. I want to be responsible for deciding on my own lifestyle.

The work all hours possible, corporate treadmill is an outdated and frankly, extremely unattractive model.

We should work when we need to and only then to generate a sizeable profit for our endeavours. Trading our time for income is a ridiculous notion. Surely that’s why we educate ourselves. So we are able to offer more of a service because of our training, experience and/or knowledge. That makes us more valuable BUT hopefully much more valuable than we could realistically charge as an hourly rate and certainly more than an employer would pay.

The only way to generate our true worth is to run our own business – preferably with multiple streams of income from a variety of sources – where we are not confined by a cap on earnings or the “generosity” of an employer to dish out bonuses.

This summer I’m planning on spending 5 weeks in Spain. That would be impossible if I was employed but for me it’s just a matter of deciding!

Now that’s what I call the Freedom Lifestyle.

So if you are still wondering why you do it (the daily commute, the thankless job) – go ahead, think about starting your own internet business, part time at first maybe, and create your own work from home lifestyle.

Let me know if you need any encouragement or ideas how to go about it.

Technorati: home business, lifestyle, lifestyle choice, work from home

5 Benefits of Gratitude

Showing your gratitude can be a great way to spread positive feelings in the world around you. When you think about it, reaching your goals starts with a single positive thought.

How do you feel when someone sincerely expresses his or her gratitude to you for something you did? Doesn’t it make you feel good about yourself? These positive feelings can lift you up, boost your enthusiasm, and motivate you to achieve even more.

Feeling grateful for what you have can produce the same good feelings and sustain your drive toward your goals.

This shows how gratitude can have some seriously positive snowball effects.

Here are some of the benefits of gratitude:

Reaching your goals. When you feel grateful, it tends to be a lasting and selfless feeling. It’s much more than just a momentary burst of positive energy; it has staying power that will provide a great boost for you to reach your goals

When you express your gratitude to others, ensure that you’re open and expressive. People don’t know what you’re thinking; hearing it can make all the difference.

Strengthened relationships. There are many ways you can express your gratitude to your loved ones, including saying, “Thank you,” writing a letter, or giving them a thoughtful gift. When you learn to avoid taking your loved ones for granted, you’ll have a long lasting and loving relationship.

Showing gratitude is a two way street. Learn how to effectively express your gratitude and, just as importantly, to receive it as well.

Improved communication. Gratitude can mean better communication all around. By expressing your gratitude to strangers, they’ll be more likely to show an interest in helping you, too.

Gratitude is such a powerful entity that it can even help you communicate with your pets! They should be appreciated too.

More effective constructive criticism. No matter how we express constructive criticism, it often makes the recipient defensive or even angry. No one likes a blow to the ego. In this situation, a grateful attitude can take you a long way. You can express criticism quite effectively when you also emphasize what you appreciate about them.

Preserving memories. You can preserve memories in a positive way when you keep a gratitude journal. You’ll be able to enjoy your memories again and again when you read about these happy times in the future.

Show Your Gratitude Every Day

Showing gratitude to others may seem like a selfless act, but it’s something that you also benefit from. When you show your gratitude every day, you change the way you think.

You’ll appreciate your good life when the majority of your thoughts remain positive. Negative thoughts can sometimes be overwhelming, and just because you have them doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. They happen to everyone, but you can strive to keep them to a minimum with the help of a grateful attitude.

One way to show your gratitude every day is to remind yourself of the big picture when a negative thought arises. If a petty argument with your spouse makes you feel angry and heated, take a deep breath and think for a moment. Remember that the argument is not permanent and, instead, feel grateful for the gift of this relationship.

Our days on this earth are numbered so we must cherish the time that we do have and enjoy the benefits of living each day as if it were our last.

How Optimism Can Help You Overcome Challenges and Reach Your Goals

All actions start as mere thoughts. When you set out to reach your goals, negative thinking pretty much ends your journey right there. You end up losing your drive, which you need in order to get anything done.

Thinking optimistically can be the difference between easily reaching success and falling short. But how can you start thinking optimistically? There are certain actions you can take that will help you shift your core beliefs.

Try these steps in order to set yourself up for success with optimism:

Expect the best. You should know your desired outcome for your ultimate goals and believe that the best case scenario can prevail. You may tend to drift into the “what if” thoughts from time to time, but you also have the power to fight them. If you catch yourself thinking this way, immediately shift your focus onto something positive.

Take immediate action. Reaching your ultimate goals can be intimidating. There might be many things holding you back, including the fear of failure. But when you take immediate action, you leave no time for pessimistic thoughts to arise. You’ll plough forward in a positive direction.

Seek the silver lining. No doubt there will be situations that present challenges to you. You must believe that everything happens for a reason and that there’s a silver lining somewhere in this challenge. Do your best to learn from the situation and then actively seek the best direction forward.

Write down your thoughts. You can certainly benefit from a brain dump every now and then. Write down your thoughts, including your fears, in order to vent. Take note of your positive thoughts as well. By writing everything down, you’ll gain clarity about your goals.

Worrying About Challenges

Don’t waste your time worrying about the challenges at hand or ahead. Once you realize that worrying serves no purpose, you’ll be better able to let them go. Chances are things will work out for the best. You need to believe this in order to achieve an optimistic attitude.

Realism will tell you that there’s the possibility of failure. While that may be true, you shouldn’t focus on it. Worrying about failure will not make it any easier to endure if it happens, and it can even cause you to attract that failure to you!

Worrying only hurts you in the present moment and keeps you from taking the positive action that can bring your goals to fruition.

Challenges Are Normal

When you realize that challenges are normal, they may be a tad easier to deal with. The fact is you’re faced with challenges of varying degrees everyday.

You already know that life throws challenges your way, but you must believe that you can overcome these challenges! Then, you’ll be able to conquer every obstacle with an optimistic attitude.

Discover What You Can Learn

There’s a lesson to be learned in each challenge. Realizing the lessons you’re presented with will allow you to grow as a person and learn from both your successes and failures. As you learn, you build confidence and confidence brings optimism.

Evaluate the outcome of a few different challenges your life has presented you. When you had an optimistic attitude, how did things turn out? When you had a pessimistic attitude, how did things turn out? Oftentimes your attitude alone can make a significant difference.

And remember, your attitude is your choice!