Great quotes

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (There are various versions of this quotation around. I am not sure which is the correct version, however, this is the fullest version that I have seen. I think you get the gist...)

Still studying at 95!

I love stories like this! When Nola Ochs graduated in May 2007 at the age of 95, she became the oldest college graduate in the world. Not satisfied with her scholarly achievements, however, in September, Nola plans to head back to the classroom to start working on her Master's degree.

Nola start taking classes after the death of her husband in 1972. She says, 'There's something within me that wants to keep learning. I just can't quit.' Read Nola's story at:

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Departments/AdultLearning/?article=StillCracking95&GT1=10092

Britain's got talent - Connie Talbot

And just in case you're one of the few people in the known Universe that hasn't seen the clip of 6 year old Connie Talbot, here it is. Again, Kleenex at the ready:

Britain's got talent - Paul Potts

For those of you who don't live in the UK (and for those of you who do but missed it), I thought you might like to see the following clip from Britain's Got Talent. Bet you can't watch it with dry eyes!

Don't fall for email hoaxes by Patrick Goss

Why do people continue to fall for email hoaxes? You know - the ones involving exiled leaders or worldwide lotteries and those purporting to be from legitimate organisations and requesting your bank or credit card details. MSN's Tech and Gadgets Editor, Patrick Goss, can't believe that some of us are still so gullible. Find out what he has to say about it all at: http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5224211.

The rise of Newglish - an evolving language

Do you sometimes suspect that English is becoming an unfathomable language? For example, do you know what a Hactivist or a Looky-loo is? If something was described as hinky or eeyoreish, would you know what that meant? And just what is a twonk?

Find out with this quick guide to 20 of the 'most bizarre, controversial and ingenious words' that, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, did not even officially exist a year ago: http://news.uk.msn.com/the_rise_of_newglish.aspx

I know it's not Father's Day yet, but...

I bet you can't watch this without a tear in your eye! Me? I blubbed for England!

Great quotes

"In a moment we catch a glimpse of the potential of all that we can be and in a moment we can lose that to fear."

Nelson Mandela

Myths about being single

Do you secretly subscribe to the myth that single people live lonely, miserable existences? That they are self-centred, have few friends and that they die alone and are eaten by their cats? Think again! Discover the reality of being single in an article entitled Myths About Being Single by Bella DePaulo:
http://match.engb.msn.com/matchscene/article.aspx?articleid=8168&lid=0&TrackingID=511021

Why Healthy People Suffer Heart Attacks by Dr Arthur Agatston

In this excerpt from The South Beach Heart Program: The 4-Step Plan That Can Save Your Life, Dr. Arthur Agatston, the author of The South Beach Diet explains how seemingly fit and healthy people can have heart attacks and how 'soft' plaque can be a hidden killer. Read it at:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cholesterol/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100156977&GT1=9997

Healthy habits that aren't so healthy

What kinds of things do you do to keep yourself healthy? Do you, for example, drink 8 glasses of water a day? Do you use antibacterial products such as handwashes and dishwashing liquid? Do you always sit up straight to protect your back? If you answered 'Yes' to any or all of those questions, you could be doing yourself more harm than good. Find out why by watching the Healthy Habits That Aren't slideshow at: http://health.msn.com/womenshealth/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100163331&imageindex=1.

Beauty over 40

Is that a moustache? Where did my eyebrows go? And what's going on with my nose? Get the scoop on five little beauty secrets no one ever tells you about aging in an article by Valerie Monroe from O, The Oprah Magazine, October 2006: http://boomers.msn.com/articleOPRAH.aspx?cp-documentid=387809.

I don't often write a blog posting on Saturday, but I was up early today, catching up with my email backlog and, through a series of web-links (where you click on something of interest, which in turn leads to something else of interest, etc), I came across a relatively new blog by life coach Kamin Bell (pronounced Ca-meen). You can read Kamin's blog for yourself at What If You Believe? but I particularly enjoyed and could identify with the following posting, entitled What Looks Like Lazy:

What Looks Like Lazy...
can be so many other things. I recently coached someone regarding going for a new job. We discussed the actions he should take and the next steps. And...nothing. There are times that I am tempted to get frustrated when someone doesn't follow through, but how can I? I know for them, as I know for myself, that it's not lazy. I have watched myself over the years not do something I needed to or not go after something I want. I used to say I was a procrastinator. But I know better now. Sometimes is just plain old fear. But that fear holds information. What am I afraid of? What am I afraid will happen to me? Am I ready to do that thing I'm putting off? Do I need more information? Is the timing right? Is it fear of looking stupid or making a mistake? That's been a big one for me to deal with. I'm a recovering Virgo perfectionist. I work at being willing to be less than perfect and being willing to simply try.

And, sometimes I have to trick myself. Yesterday, I needed to send a long overdue email requesting assistance from someone (another challenge of mine, asking for help ). On the way home I had to stop at Target for a few things. And, since it's Easter season, my favorite candy, the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs are in stock. I'm only allowed to buy 1, though. So, I promised myself that I could have the egg after dinner and only after I sent the email. Boy that egg tasted great knowing that I had followed through on my promise. Sometimes I have to set a timer for 15 minutes to get something started or completed. And, sometimes I journal to work out the feelings that are present and holding me back from doing what I know I must. And, sometimes it's recognizing the difference between a "should" and a "must" and following my heart.

So, no more labeling lazy or procrastinator. There's just some nugget of growth behind it that needs to come forward. Some stone to look under and say "hmm, isn't that interesting. I wonder what I'm afraid of?" and then go conquer it.

Eight Things to Help Your Mom Stay Younger Longer by Barbara Morris

It's Mother's Day in the US on Sunday, so if you're lucky enough to still have your mum around, here's a timely article from Barbara Morris entitled Eight Things to Help Your Mom Stay Younger Longer, which is equally relevant, no matter where you live in the world:
http://putoldonhold.net/Help_Your_Mom_Stay_Young.htm

The joy of text

If someone sent you a text message with the abbreviations 10Q or AFAIK in it, would you know what they meant? How about G2G or IKWYM? Struggling? So was I, before I read How Text Speak Is Taking Over. Read it for yourself at: http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4890569.

The art of the road trip

Have you ever dreamed of taking a road trip across the US? If you have, you're not alone... I, for one, would join you in a heartbeat! If you're considering heading out on the open road, you can't afford to miss The Art of the Road Trip by Robert Isenberg. Check it out at:

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-doc

London 'UK's ID fraud capital' by Mathew Plowright

Did you know that Londoners are almost three times more likely to fall victim to ID theft or fraud than those living elsewhere in the UK?

Or that the three northern English seaside resorts of Blackpool, Southport and Scarborough, saw a marked rise in the number of reported ID fraud cases, while Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, Llandudno in North Wales and Chorley in Lancashire have also been identified as high-risk ID fraud hotspots?

Check out the UK's top 10 ID fraud hotspots (according to a report compiled from research carried out by credit reference agency Experian) at http://money.uk.msn.com/Banking/Current

The Procrastinator's Creed

Do you procrastinate? I saw a discussion about procrastination on an email networking site that I belong to which culminated in the following Procrastinator's Creed:

1. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.
2. I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.
3. I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration.
4. I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.
5. I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.
6. I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.
7. I shall never forget that the probability of a miracle, though infinitesmally small, is not exactly zero.
8. If at first I don't succeed, there is always next year.
9. I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I decide to change my mind.
10. I shall always begin, start, initiate, take the first step, and/or write the first word, when I get around to it.
11. I obey the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, the more insignificant the work that must be done prior to beginning the greater task.
12. I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/plan/plan.
13. I will never put off until tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.
14. I will become a member of the ancient Order of Two-Headed Turtles (the Procrastinator's Society) if they ever get it organized.

I can certainly identify with a few of those... can you?

Caught in the middle?

Do you belong to the sandwich generation? Are you one of those people caring for an aging parent whilst still having responsibility for one or more children under the age of 18?

The combination of an aging population and the fact that many boomers put off having children until their 30's and 40's means that more and more of us are caught in the middle, squeezed from above and below and, literally, feeling like the filling in a generational sandwich.

Read Melissa Segrest's account of one American woman's story of being Caught in the Middle at: http://boomers.msn.com/articleSG.aspx?cp-documentid=385773&GT1=9306.

Six ways to speed up the healing process

Did you know that burns treated with locally-farmed honey heal, on average, 4 days earlier than those treated without it?

Or that yoga eases lower back pain faster than conventional exercises?

Find out what else you can do to speed up the healing process at: http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100