Do You Genuinely Appreciate Your Gifts?

How many gifts from the Universe and the Earth do you have in your life right now? How many of them do you genuinely appreciate, and why does this matter?

Do You Genuinely Appreciate Your Gifts?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joyce_Shafer]Joyce Shafer

That first question isn’t meant to be a trick question, but in essence it is… because everything is a gift from the Universe and/or the Earth. We do ourselves a huge disservice by not recognizing or acknowledging this Truth.

Almost two decades ago, a friend sent me a garment unlike any I’d ever worn before. I told her that, and that I wasn’t sure how to use it. Her reply was, “If you can’t figure out what to do with THAT, send it back!” Her statement may seem strong, but it was important to hear. How many gifts do we receive from the Universe, and the Earth, that we don’t, initially (or ever), figure out how to use properly and, therefore, we don’t fully appreciate them? Imagine the Universe or the Earth making the same statement my friend did regarding anything that comes to you or that you currently have. Kind of amps up the message, doesn’t it?

We love our conveniences; and though we may appreciate them, our familiarity with them (as well as, perhaps, lack of proper guidance and training) may cause us to disconnect from deeper, true appreciation. Let’s look at a meal as an example, whether you prepare it or someone else does. Even if you say a blessing before you eat, do you really mean it or do you say it because it’s expected? And, is it a thorough blessing that allows you to merge your personal empowerment with your appreciation?

Here’s an example you might test for yourself. While you cook or before you take the first bite of a meal or snack, say silently or aloud: I give thanks to everything and everyone that contributed to this food being available for me. I give thanks to the Earth for providing everything used in the preparation and in the serving and eating of it. I give thanks to the molecules of this food for the nourishment they give to my body, mind, and spirit. I give thanks to every molecule of my body for using every molecule of this food to support my optimum health, well-being, and energy, while helping me maintain my ideal weight of (number). If you happen to forget until after you eat, say or think it then.

That last part about the weight maintenance may have surprised you; but how often do we eat something and rather than enjoy and appreciate the food, and state our truest intention about the nourishment, do we do the opposite? Far too often. There is so much, everything, really, to appreciate every day, every moment; but our own disconnect to genuine appreciation causes us to USE without grace or, worse, Abuse without conscience or awareness.

When we feel appreciated, we feel fulfillment and joy about giving. When we appreciate what we receive or have, we create ripples of fulfillment and joy outward, including to the Earth and the Universe. This is an expansive energy that is responded to in kind. We feel larger when we’re in a state of appreciation because, in spirit and expression, we are. Lack of appreciation contracts our energy, makes us smaller in spirit, self-absorbed, cut off from more. More awaits us. But appreciation is the language we must feel, as well as speak, in order to keep that line of communication and receptive exchange open and flowing.

The meal example is an easy one to follow; but what about everything else in your life, especially anything or anyone so familiar or routine in your life that you “forget” to appreciate its or their presence? If you think you’re too busy to appreciate in this way, maybe you’re too much about busyness because you don’t appreciate in this way.

Look around your home, office, life, relationships. If there’s anything (or anyone) there you have no true appreciation for, remove or exchange it as soon as it’s reasonable to do so. If your life, inner or material, is cluttered with what you really don’t want and therefore don’t appreciate, you may not be able to readily appreciate what you do have that you do want.

Please be cautions not to insert self-judgment (convincing/fooling yourself) by believing if you don’t feel appreciation all the time, you’re failing, so why bother. You’re building a skill and way of being, as you might a set of muscles. To reach full development takes time and practice. Know that any moment you feel the opposite of appreciation can become an opportunity (as soon as you’re ready) to ask right questions and to learn something that can assist you as you continue forward. Keep in mind that sometimes what you learn is what to let go of. Knowing this is something to appreciate. “Knowledge is learning something new every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.” – Zen Proverb

As you take such assessment about anything and anyone in your life, which you can do in each moment, hear the Universe say to you, “If you can’t figure out how to put THIS into proper use and appreciate it, return it.” It’s an interesting thought and an interesting practice to follow.

Practice makes progress.

� Joyce Shafer

You are welcome to use this article in your newsletter or on your blog/website as long as you use my complete bio with it.

Joyce Shafer is a Life Empowerment Coach dedicated to helping people feel, be, and live their true inner power. She’s author of “I Don’t Want to be Your Guru” and other books/ebooks, and publishes a free weekly online newsletter that offers empowering articles and free downloads. See all that’s offered by Joyce and on her site at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Genuinely-Appreciate-Your-Gifts?&id=7138150] Do You Genuinely Appreciate Your Gifts?

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The Danger From Dog Ticks

The Danger From Dog Ticks
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ian_Nicholson]Ian Nicholson

The Danger From Dog Ticks: Dog ticks are blood-sucking insects with eight legs and a nasty looking mouth capable of cutting and boring into the hosts skin. They also have hooks attached to their mouth, which allows them to cling onto the skin of their victim. You might say they are almost like miniature vampires.

Unlike fleas ticks can carry a dangerous disease, which can become fatal if contracted by the host. So what are the warning signs to show that your dog has got ticks?

Very often when you are stroking your dog you will notice a small lump on the dogs skin usually around the head, neck, ears, or paws. If you find or suspect that your dog has a tick, remove it as soon as you can.

How do ticks attach themselves to your dog? Ticks lie in wait either in long grass and bushes and wait for your dog to walk by. Do not be fooled by these nasty little insects they can be dormant for a year without gorging on the hosts blood. Ticks are often more of a problem in warm climates and certain wooded areas.

If you find a tick on your dog you have to remove it as quickly as possible to prevent the risk of disease. Be careful what you use to remove the insect as certain old fashioned methods can cause more harm to your dog, by allowing infection or chemical penetration at the point where the tick is located.

When removing a tick always wear gloves or something to cover your hands. You can purchase tick removers from your pet shop or you can use a parasiticide to kill the tick and remove it from your pet. If you do not posses a removal tool you can use forceps or tweezers. Gently take hold of the tick around the head part taking care not to twist or squeeze the body of the tick.

Another method is to use eucalyptus oil, on the area around the head of the insect, which should make the tick release its hold on the dogs skin and drop off. Always clean the bite area and your hands after removal.

If you have left the ticks mouth parts in the skin and as long as the tick has not regurgitated its stomach contents back into your dog, then it will rarely cause serious problems. But as always, if you are concerned, call your vet.

There are many varieties of ticks depending in which country you live and the climate. Tick bites should not be neglected, as the diseases they carry can be dangerous if transferred to the host.

If your dog has been bitten by a tick and begins to show symptoms of:

Shows signs of swollen lymph nodes.

Runs a high temperature or fever.

Loss of too much blood.

Shows signs of anemia, paleness of the skin around the mouth.

Like fleas they can cause skin irritation or infection.

Swelling or painful joints.

Sometimes there is paralysis or muscle weakness.

Going of its food and lack of interest in feeding.

Although many of these symptoms can be caused by other health problems it is always best to contact your veterinary surgeon immediately as delay in getting treatment can have serious consequences. In high-risk areas there is a vaccine against Lyme disease. [http://www.choosebestdogbreed.com/about-me]Ian Nicholson has been around dogs for over fifty years and invites you to visit him at [http://www.choosebestdogbreed.com/dog-ticks]http://www.choosebestdogbreed.com to claim your free e-Book and learn more about dog ticks.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Danger-From-Dog-Ticks&id=7133099] The Danger From Dog Ticks

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Getting Married in Niagara Falls – The 5 Most Interesting Ways to Tie the Knot
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tim_Nagy]Tim Nagy

When planning your wedding you may be thinking of choosing the traditional route with a church for the ceremony, some music to bring you in and out with, maybe a limo to take the wedding party to a nice place for photos, then back to a hall for the ceremony and dinner.

That’s how most wedding take place, you know that because you have probably been to many like that yourself.

But If your thinking that you may want to change it up a little, maybe make things a bit more interesting for you and your guests, you may want to try one of the following ideas that are available in Niagara Falls.

People sometimes spend a fortune on trying to throw a memorable and perfect wedding, but sometimes just having the ceremony in a unique setting will do the trick. I’ve been witness to a couple of interesting ones myself and can say for certain that these are the ones I think back on and not the ordinary ones that we have all been to.

1) Maid of the Mist – This is an attraction that is known throughout the world, Every year it takes millions of visitors as close to the Falls as any boat is legally allowed and brings them back with a lifetime of memories. You can book the Maid of the Mist for your own wedding ceremony with guests and create a very unique and memorable experience that you and everyone else will talk about any time the topic of weddings ever come up.

2) In a Helicopter – The largest air tour company in Niagara Falls is Niagara Helicopters. Their service takes visitors way above the city and the waterfalls to give a birds eye view of this natural wonder. Getting married thousands of feet in the air is a great way to for you and a very small wedding party to experience one of the most unique weddings possible.

3) Skylon Tower – At over 700 feet above the Falls themselves, the Skylon Tower provides 360 degree views of the city and both the US and Canada for miles in every direction.

4) Botanical Gardens – With over 100 acres of manicured grounds, the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens can provide numerous natural setting for your perfect outdoor wedding ceremony. With Spring, Summer and Fall offering a different showcase of flowers and coloured shrubbery picking the best season may be the hardest thing to do.

5) Oaks Garden Theatre – Located at the foot of Clifton Hill, this large garden space can be the perfect location for your special day, with panoramic views of the both the American and Horseshoe Falls there will be no need to travel anywhere else for wedding photos.

As all of these ideas can inspire your imagination to go wild, even after picking the perfect unique place you still have to choose a minister to perform the ceremony and obtain a wedding license to get married in Ontario among other things, but at least your guests are now going to remember your wedding for its location and not just for the bad dancing!

As a life long resident of the Niagara Region, Tim Nagy uses his extensive knowledge of the area when writing on related topics such as Niagara tourism, sight seeing, accommodations, attractions and anything else to do with this popular travel destination.

Tim is a writer and partner contributor to Everything Niagara Falls [http://www.everything-niagara-falls.com/]http://www.everything-niagara-falls.com/, a site dedicated to providing free information on all there is to do and see in Niagara Falls.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Getting-Married-in-Niagara-Falls—The-5-Most-Interesting-Ways-to-Tie-the-Knot&id=3908651] Getting Married in Niagara Falls – The 5 Most Interesting Ways to Tie the Knot

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Build Your Credibility Online
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_S_Cates,_PhD]Jeanette S Cates, PhD

Credibility is a combination of trustworthiness and expertise. It’s the “believability” factor that is attached to everything you do.

In online business, credibility is particularly important because it builds and protects your reputation. It’s what makes people trust the information that you provide.

As the amount of information online increases, credibility becomes increasingly important. You’ve been to sites that were just blatantly providing incorrect information. As an expert in your field, it’s easy for you to recognize.

But imagine someone new to the field – who is just starting to learn about it. They cannot recognize the difference between partially true, mostly true and factual information. That’s where you, the Expert, owe it to your audience to become a credible source.

So how do you build your credibility?

1. Maintain a well-fed blog for your target market. When you write, review, and share correct information in your field, you become THE credible source.

Keep in mind that in this time of information overload, you don’t always have to create new content. You can boost your credibility by sorting through all of the options, then recommending the best existing resources.

2. Do what you say. With the number of political races that are going on seemingly endlessly, we all recognize the term “credibility gap.” That’s when what you say doesn’t match what you do. And it’s obvious to even casual observers when there is a credibility gap.

It’s up to you to be sure there is no credibility gap when it comes to you, your business, and your information. When you write about a method, use that method and do it well. Become your own best case study.

3. Teach an online course. Nothing sets you up as a credible expert like being “the teacher” – the guru.

There are so many ways you can teach online. If you’re shy about “presenting” then you can use email or other low-key methods to convey the information.

If you’re an extrovert and love being in front of the camera, you can teach a face-to-face video course.

It’s really up to you. But the important thing is that you start now to create an online course – one that you can deliver repeatedly. Or one you can deliver just once, record, then continue to offer as an important part of your credibility.

You owe it to your target audience – your readers, your members, the people you want to attract – to enhance and build your credibility on an ongoing basis. And nothing shouts credibility more than being at the front of the classroom – whether it’s actual or virtual.

Start designing your online course today.

Dr. Jeanette Cates has more than 30 years of experience in designing courses, both online and offline. With a PhD in Instructional Design, she was a prioneer in the online learning movement, working with multinational corporations as well as individual entrepreneurs. Jeanette shares her best practices and shortcuts in the video-based [http://DesignYourOnlineCourse.com]Design Your Online Course

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Build-Your-Credibility-Online&id=6982771] Build Your Credibility Online

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Build Your Credibility Online
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_S_Cates,_PhD]Jeanette S Cates, PhD

Credibility is a combination of trustworthiness and expertise. It’s the “believability” factor that is attached to everything you do.

In online business, credibility is particularly important because it builds and protects your reputation. It’s what makes people trust the information that you provide.

As the amount of information online increases, credibility becomes increasingly important. You’ve been to sites that were just blatantly providing incorrect information. As an expert in your field, it’s easy for you to recognize.

But imagine someone new to the field – who is just starting to learn about it. They cannot recognize the difference between partially true, mostly true and factual information. That’s where you, the Expert, owe it to your audience to become a credible source.

So how do you build your credibility?

1. Maintain a well-fed blog for your target market. When you write, review, and share correct information in your field, you become THE credible source.

Keep in mind that in this time of information overload, you don’t always have to create new content. You can boost your credibility by sorting through all of the options, then recommending the best existing resources.

2. Do what you say. With the number of political races that are going on seemingly endlessly, we all recognize the term “credibility gap.” That’s when what you say doesn’t match what you do. And it’s obvious to even casual observers when there is a credibility gap.

It’s up to you to be sure there is no credibility gap when it comes to you, your business, and your information. When you write about a method, use that method and do it well. Become your own best case study.

3. Teach an online course. Nothing sets you up as a credible expert like being “the teacher” – the guru.

There are so many ways you can teach online. If you’re shy about “presenting” then you can use email or other low-key methods to convey the information.

If you’re an extrovert and love being in front of the camera, you can teach a face-to-face video course.

It’s really up to you. But the important thing is that you start now to create an online course – one that you can deliver repeatedly. Or one you can deliver just once, record, then continue to offer as an important part of your credibility.

You owe it to your target audience – your readers, your members, the people you want to attract – to enhance and build your credibility on an ongoing basis. And nothing shouts credibility more than being at the front of the classroom – whether it’s actual or virtual.

Start designing your online course today.

Dr. Jeanette Cates has more than 30 years of experience in designing courses, both online and offline. With a PhD in Instructional Design, she was a prioneer in the online learning movement, working with multinational corporations as well as individual entrepreneurs. Jeanette shares her best practices and shortcuts in the video-based [http://DesignYourOnlineCourse.com]Design Your Online Course

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Build-Your-Credibility-Online&id=6982771] Build Your Credibility Online

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