An Attitude Of Gratitude - Results Of the Daily Gratitude Poll

I have started a daily gratitude poll encouraging my Facebook and Twitter contacts to share one thing that they are grateful for each day. I will start posting the results on this blog periodically, in order to help promote an attitude of gratitude and a shift of consciousness from that of lack to that of abundance. I find that just focusing on one thing I am grateful for each day (and hopefully several) changes the whole mood of my day for the better, and I love to read what other people share, as it compounds the good feelings and seems to put things into proper perspective each day. I hope you feel the same effect as you read these results each week and that you will be inspired to do the same! So, the results of this past week's gratitude poll are:

• Sunshine
• Glucosamine that is helping someone's dog move easier
• Someone's beautiful babies
• Having everything within walking, biking, or bus distance from home
• Spanx
• Making it to a meeting despite sleeping through an alarm
• Kids with great imaginations!
• Electricity, because someone didn't have it one day last week 
• Someone's daughter
• Family and friends and the ability to help others

Check back soon to get your next gratitude fix, or if you'd like to participate, connect with me on Facebook or Twitter and join in on the poll! If you would like to have your name mentioned in the results, please let me know, otherwise, all results will be reported anonymously. And thanks to our contributors!

  

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Two Glasses Of Wine

Some food (and drink) for thought...

Two Glasses Of Wine

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large, 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 these 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 in 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 your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Go for one more run down the ski slope. 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 as to 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."

Memorial Day In Washington D.C.

Did any of you spend this past Memorial Day in Washington D.C.? It's one of the most popular Memorial Day destinations, so if you missed it there this year, check out Holidays & Special Occasions - The Official Blog to learn about three of the most popular Memorial Day activities that are held in Washington D.C. in case you want to plan your next Memorial Day holiday in our nation's capital.

Do You Know the History of Memorial Day?

As you are enjoying your day off this Memorial holiday, you may be wondering about the history of Memorial Day. To learn more about how the Memorial Day holiday came into being in the United States, check out Holidays & Special Occasions - The Official Blog!

Memorial Day In Atlanta

Memorial Day is tomorrow, and the country will be celebrating in a variety of ways, in a variety of places. To find out about how Memorial Day is celebrated in Atlanta, check out Holidays & Special Occasions - The Official Blog!

The Top Eight Gatlinburg Attractions!

Read all about Gatlinburg attractions at Aralake Travel - The Official Blog!

One Smart Hombre

Another thought-provoking email I received that I think is worth posting...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you. You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can the leave this little village and more to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really?" "And after that?"

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

Charles Schultz Philosphy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point. 1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant. 4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. 5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners. How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. You may want to pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia" (Charles Schultz)

The Top 7 Reasons To Listen To the LAST Double Your Income Challenge Teleseminar!

This month I have been participating in Raymond Aaron's Double Your Income Challenge, a series of teleseminars that he has graciously offered free of charge during the month of January. Raymond has been one of my mentors since 2007, and is the author of several best-selling books, his most recent being "Double Your Income Doing What You Love." Although the title of this teleseminar pertained to doubling your income, the challenge really applied to anything that we may choose. Raymond emphasized that one way to increase income is to increase a potential client base. In my case, and I am pleased to report that I not only doubled, but actually dramatically increased my potential client base by 57X (an increase of 5,700%) over the course of a few weeks by implementing the strategies and tips Raymond gave, and I haven't even had a chance to listen to all the calls yet (luckily I have access to archives for a limited time after the challenge)! So I can wholeheartedly say that his techniques work, and therefore I wanted to share the top 7 reasons why you should listen to the LAST Double Your Income Challenge call this Thursday, January 29...

7) You will be getting access to fantastic tips on how to crush your debt!

6) You will be getting access to cutting edge information on how to use the internet to double whatever you want!

5) It will be your last chance to take advantage of all the free bonuses Raymond has offered!

4) Raymond always over-delivers, so there is the anticipation of some fantastic content which will only be revealed live on the last call!

3) You will have one last opportunity to submit any questions you may have about doubling your income, or anything else you want to ask, directly to Raymond, which he will answer live on the teleseminar!

2)  It's the LAST call in a series of EXCELLENT free teleseminars, and the last chance you will have to get access to audio archives of the previous calls that you have missed for a limited time after the challenge ends!

And lastly, the TOP reason to tune in to the final teleseminar...

1) You will learn how to harness your passions to double your income doing what you LOVE! You may not be able to participate in the official challenge by tuning into just the last day, but duh, you will still be getting a wealth of free information on proven ways to double your income, or anything else that you may want to double, for that matter! And then you can start using the techniques to double what you want in February, or anytime, because knowledge is the first step toward powerful action, especially in this economy!

So, there you have it...we'll "hear" you on the call!

Investor Palooza Streaming Live This Weekend!

Larry Goins has lost his mind again and decided to stream his Investor Palooza event live this weekend! Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog! Although this event is focused primarily on real estate, there will also be speakers covering other topics such as general investing, the internet, and government grants for real estate, business, and education, so check out part or all of it!

The 12 Riches Of Life, Straight From Napoleon Hill

When I first saw Napoleon Hill's classic book "Think and Grow Rich" on my required reading list for an entrepreneurial course I was taking, I got the same impression that many people get from the title...that it was just about the pursuit of money and financial riches. Of course, who doesn't want these perks, but I have to admit I was initially turned off, because I was seeking reading material that was more holistic with regard to following an entrepreneurial path, not just about pursuing the all mighty greenback. Something with more soul, if you will. However, as I delved into it, I quickly understood why it was required reading (and not just for entrepreneurs!), and couldn't put it down. I found the teachings about mindset to be very powerful and applicable for anyone who is pursuing their true calling in life, with financial riches being just one of the happy by-products of the right mindset. I think the book should be re-titled "Think and Grow Wealthy" because it addresses wealth in all areas of life, not merely financial riches. I love this clip, a rare commentary that summarizes the basic principles of the book straight from the horse's mouth...

Eye Care For Dry, Burning Eyes

Read all about eye care at Health & Beauty - The Official Blog!

Sights On An African Safari

Read all about African safaris at Aralake Travel - The Official Blog!

America's Most- And Least-Stolen Cars

Read all about it at Cars - The Official Blog!

Kitten With Two Faces Born In Perth

Read all about it at Aralake Chronicles!

Just Listed On eBay - MURAD AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser!

View My eBay Listings!




My eBay World

Just Listed - 3 Bedroom Rental With Pool In Gardena!

Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

How To Prosper In Bad Times

Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

Your Trips Deserve a Travel Blog!

Read all about it at Aralake Travel - The Official Blog!

Halloween Sale at Centinela Feed!

Read all about it at Aralake Dog Training - The Official Blog!

Aralake Real Estate Services

Aralake Real Estate Services is up and running! Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

Focus Marketing - Internet Business Building Seminar - UK Event

Once again, Focus Marketing has graciously decided to stream their London, UK seminar event live for free! I watched their last event live a few months ago when they streamed it from Washington, D.C., and it was excellent. No matter what your business, the tips from the speakers at this event on how to use the internet to enhance your business are priceless, so be prepared to take lots of notes! The only drawback for this seminar is the time difference of it being in the UK (unless you are in Europe!), but I believe the stream will be available for replay for 30 days. It started today, and runs through Sunday, October 19. In order to attend virtually, go to Got Access to register.

Ending Soon On eBay - GAP Women's Black Long & Lean Jeans!

View My eBay Listings!




My eBay World

Just Listed On eBay - English Country Cottage Church Figurine!

Check out this cute little figurine at My eBay World!

Ultimate Buying & Selling Machine Bootcamp

Read all about it at Aralake Properties - The Official Blog!

I Have Just Listed My First eBay Item For Sale, WooHoo!

Well, I have finally taken the plunge to list my first item for sale on eBay - a pair of SKETCHERS Women's Athletic Shoes! I've been buying on eBay for a few years now, but was always intimidated about selling. It was a little time-consuming at first to learn the process, but now that I've done my first listing, I think I've caught the bug, and now every empty box I see I think of as the perfect potential shipping box and swipe it up, haha! I wish I had taken the time to learn how to do it before I moved, as it would have really saved a lot of grief to be able to clear out the house for some extra cash without the hassle of a garage sale. Better late than never, I always say...you can check out my eBay listings any time under the "Promotions" and "Shopping" headings in the right-hand column of this site. Happy Bidding!

SEC To Temporarily Ban Short-Selling: Report

"WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission intends to temporarily ban short-selling, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

Meet Chris - Frisky Sleuth Who Sniffs Out Trouble

"Meet Chris. He has a nose for trouble."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

Solar Roofing Materials: Integrating Solar Cells Into Building Materials

"In an effort to promote the adoption of solar technology, United Solar Ovonic of Auburn Hills, MI, has teamed with a major roofing company to create a metal roof system that generates electricity from sunlight."

Read more about this story at Aralake Chronicles.

CoolPeopleCare - Saving the World, Five Minutes At a Time

Have you ever felt like you wanted to do more to help others, or you wanted to get involved with causes or volunteer work that were important to you, but you felt frustrated because you didn't have the time? CoolPeopleCare can help! They give tips on how you can help save the world, five minutes at a time, whether it's in your own backyard, or in the world beyond. Check them out!