December 15, 2003

TODAY'S TUNE
(On/Off)

"Daydream Believer"

From the Inside Out...
The Perfect "Gift"

Yes You Can!...
Just Give It Away

Far Horizons...
Hong Kong Holidays


Links That Shine...
New Dream Marketplace

Just for YOU ...
Discovery of the Week

Fascinating Facts...
Important
Pet Travel Tips

Laughing It Off...
Gifts of 'Wisdom'?

Untangling the Web...
What a Site!
&
Computer Ease

Look at That!...
Star "Stuff"

Joyful Lifestyles...
Coping with
the Holiday Blues

BE the World
You Want to See!

For almost forty years I relied heavily upon my sense of deductive reasoning and logic. Thankfully, I chose to shift my approach to life and gradually learned to be guided by my intuitive nature. Today, I consciously operate in "The Flow." I avoid analyzing and dissecting most of the time ... which brings me more happiness than I've ever known.

~ Chelle ~

From the Inside Out
THE PERFECT "GIFT"

Have you ever experienced unexplainable dread or foreboding followed by some unexpected calamity? If you have, then you know the ultimate value of intuition. It is difficult to distinguish between an intuitive warning and an unfounded fear. Very few people can do it without instruction and practice. As children we are typically encouraged to ignore our intuition and use reasoning alone when making decisions. If we continue to ignore our intuitive abilities, we will waste an incredible "Gift". Although some people are more sensitive to their feelings than others, everyone has the ability to access their intuition. If you can quiet your fears, turn off your anxiety, and get in touch with yourself, you will experience intuition more strongly than a sensitive person who is worried or nervous.

There is a method for making thecorrect decision without pondering the known facts and puzzling over their interactions. You can learn to access your intuition without the distraction of your ego or fear — voluntarily at any time — no matter how important or insignificant the decision..

A few months after I discovered the intuition technique, I asked myself, why me? When I looked at my life with that question in mind, things

suddenly fell together. It seemed that I had been headed in a specific direction for a long time. Ever since I was very young, I have excelled in one particular area: DAYDREAMING. In grade school, I became so engrossed in my dreams that I would unconsciously put my head down on my desk. This was a dangerous position because I could not see my teachers sneaking up on me. Their favorite technique was to slam their hand down on the desk right behind my head. For a few days after receiving these electrifying returns to reality, I would limit my dreaming to an upright posture, but the daydreaming rarely slackened.

I had been meditating for many years when I discovered the tools that allowed easy access to intuition. Using the tools has its own rewards — helping you solve problems, thinking more clearly in pressure situations, and enjoying things more intensely. Realizing your own previously-unknown opinions is most likely to occur if you disagree with these unusual ideas.

I learned the value of strange and unusual ideas during the eight years I worked for Hughes Aircraft. Most of that time I lived overseas. I would live in each country for a year or two and then move on. During my time off, I experienced cultures that were vastly different from my own. I say "experience" rather than "understand" because understanding would have been a full time job. Through driving around and casual exploration I observed that people in different countries do almost everything differently. They build differently, they wait in line differently, they eat differently, they strike matches differently ... most importantly, they THINK differently and have a different sense of values.

I would contemplate these differences and try to determine what made these people behave and think differently. Very quickly I came to an impasse in my deliberations due to a lack of detailed historical and cultural knowledge. What automatically happened at this point was that I would begin to consider the basis of my own behavior and thoughts on that subject. This was much easier since I had plenty of background knowledge concerning my own culture and sense of values. However, without the people in those far away places showing me different approaches, I would never have examined myself or my culture under such a different light.

I soon realized that my ideas and goals were not the result of simply being a man with a propensity towards freethinking. To a large extent, my ideas were the result of a set of previously unknown influences. The more strange and different things I observed about people in foreign countries, the more I examined the person I had become and what had influenced me. The results of these examinations were so valuable that I wrote them down, and that made all the difference. I learned what parts of myself were really my own and what parts were the result of cultural and social influences. I not only learned about myself and the society I grew up in, but discovered motivations and tools for the changes I wished to make in myself.

These tools and motivations may seem strange and different from mainstream thinking. Consider them a trip to a foreign country. It is not important that you become a native and agree with them; diversity is strength. However, it is essential that you carefully deliberate on why you agree or disagree. Through these deliberations you will discover and examine your own values and motivations. In this manner, you will increase your understanding of yourself, and therefore increase your self-awareness. It is this self-awareness that inevitably leads to contact with your deeper feelings, wherein lies one's Perfect Gift .... intuition.

~ Excerpted from "The Intuition Toolbox"
by Paul Winter © 2002

THE INTUITION TOOLBOX: A Down-to-Earth Approach for Putting Your Higher Self to Work for You By Paul Winter Click for Book Details & Ordering This is not only an incredibly insightful work, but all of Paul’s income from the sale of his book goes to IPT Cancer research. ~Chelle

Yes You Can!
JUST GIVE IT AWAY...

I was talking to my sister-in-law, Deirdre, about stuff. The stuff in the basement, the stuff at the back of your closet, the stuff that’s stuffed into one of those bottom drawers that you haven’t opened in years. Why do we have it, where do we get it and why do we keep accumulating more of it?

Forget that I already have a perfectly nice down comforter at home. Never mind that I certainly don’t need another iteration of bedwear. And yes, I know that it would be a foolish waste of money to buy something I don’t need, especially when we all agree that the money would be better spent on paying back my debt. I want it anyway.

“This is the stuff that is making us poor in America,” says Ilyce Glink, a financial planner and author of “50 Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Personal Finances.”

My fearless sister-in-law Deirdre, who has launched what she calls a “scorched closet campaign” to rid her home of excess stuff, has discovered that she and my brother own no fewer than seven woven blankets in varying shades of green. That, and enough Tupperware for all the leftovers in Connecticut. “I don’t know what we were thinking,” she says now that she’s donated the Tupperware to an upcoming Smithsonian exhibit on American consumer insanity.

The point is that most of us aren’t thinking. And so we buy another TV, better speakers, more shoes, another suit, a second car, a new set of dishes, more towels — without stopping to consider: Is it necessary? So what’s our problem? Americans pay dearly, more dearly than most of us are willing to calculate, for things such as appearances, convenience and immediacy. Think before you spend — and after. To stop the madness, Glink advocates thinking ahead. “If you take a few minutes every day to think before you spend, you’ll make huge changes in your personal finances.”

Meanwhile, I’m inspired by my dear sister-in-law to take a second look at the things I already own — and to cast a suspicious eye on the ever-present mental list of stuff I want to buy. Will I still want them tomorrow? My brother recently asked why Deirdre was disposing of obscure kitchen gadget No. 867 from their pantry, saying: “Is there something wrong with it?” Her quick response was: “Yes, there’s something wrong with it: WE DIDN’T KNOW WE HAD IT!”

Many of us have a lot of things we rarely, if ever, use. Months and years go by and this stuff just sits in our closets and garage. Giving away unused things has a lot of advantages:

1. It simplifies your life and frees up space.
2. Removing clutter can free your energy and allow you to focus on your life’s work.
3. It reduces the natural resources we, as a nation, must use to sustain our lifestyle.
4. It assists other people by allowing them to acquire things they couldn’t afford without your help, and you may be able to deduct the items on your taxes.

~M.P. Dunleave, MSN Money Central

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"Positive Attitude Training"

Chinese Father Christmas

Christmas has become very popular in China, with children hanging up muslin stockings in hopes that Dun Che Lao Ren, the Chinese version of Santa, will visit and leave gifts. Ta Chiu, a Taoist festival of peace and renewal, takes place on December 27th in Hong Kong. Images of patron saints from all the temples are gathered into one place for people to present their offerings. One of the more interesting traditions of this festival comes at the end when priests read aloud the names of every person who lives in the area. They then attach the list of names to a paper horse and set it aflame, in hopes the names will rise to heaven. Sheng Tan Kuai Loh! (Merry Christmas!)

"New Dream Marketplace"

The Conscious Consumer Marketplace makes it easier for to buy environmentally and socially responsible versions of everyday items — from coffee to paper to energy for your home. Just click on their list of links to get to the nearest local or online source for these goods.
www.NewDream.org

Just for YOU ...
DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK

Fascinating Facts
IMPORTANT PET TRAVEL TIPS

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) wants pet owners to be prepared before they begin holiday journeys. Whether the voyage is by plane or in an automobile, traveling can be stressful for both owners and their pets. But with some preparation, pet owners can ensure a safe and comfortable trip. Approximately 5,000, or 1% of the companion animals that are flown on commercial planes have been injured, lost or killed during transport. Unless the animal is small enough to fit under your seat and you can bring them in the cabin, the ASPCA recommends not to fly them.

If you've already committed to transporting your pets on commercial airlines this holiday season, the ASPCA is offering the following safety guidelines:
1. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup, make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date and obtain a health certificate from your vet within 10 days of departure.
2. Book a direct flight whenever possible. This will decrease the likelihood of your pet being left on the tarmac during extreme weather conditions or mishandling by baggage personnel.
3. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate that is large enough for your pet to stand, sit and change position in comfortably. 4. Shipping crates can be purchased from many pet supply stores and airlines.
5. Write the words "Live Animal" in letters at least one inch tall on the top of the crate and on at least one side. Use arrows to prominently show the upright position of the crate.
6. On the top of the crate, write the name, address and telephone number of your pet's destination point, whether you are traveling with them or someone else is picking up the animal.
7. Affix a photograph of your pet to the top of the crate for identification purposes if the animal should escape from the carrier. Also carry a photograph of your pet.
8. Line the crate bottom with some type of bedding — shredded paper or towels - to absorb accidents.
9. Freeze water provided for your pet so that it will not spill during loading, and will melt by the time the animal is thirsty. Tape a small pouch (preferably made of cloth) of dried food outside the crate. This enables airline personnel to feed your pet in case it gets hungry on long-distance flights or a layover.
10. Do not lock the door of the crate. Make sure it is securely closed, but not locked, so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency.
11. Tranquilizing your pet is not generally recommended as it could hamper their breathing. Check with your veterinarian first.
12. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and an identification tag. Breakaway collars are best for cats. The collar should also include destination information in case your pet escapes.
13. Tell every airline employee you encounter, on the ground and in the air, that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold so that any additional considerations or attention can be provided. If the plane is delayed, or you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, insist that airline personnel check the animal when feasible. In certain situations removing the animal from the cargo hold and deplaneing may be warranted.

If you are planning a road trip, the ASPCA offers the following tips for safe and smooth car travel:
1. Acclimate your pet for a long trip by taking them on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car.
2. Start your pet on a travel-feeding schedule with a light meal of kibble two to three hours prior to departure. Never feed your pet in a moving vehicle.
3. In addition to travel papers, food, bowls, leashes, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and a pet first aid kit, pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity.
4. Make sure your dog has a flat (never a choke) collar with an ID tag imprinted with home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone and a destination phone number (and any other relevant contact information).
5. Harness, rather than leash, your dog inside the car. For smaller animals, a well-ventilated crate is recommended.
6. Don't allow pets to ride with their heads outside the window as it subjects them to flying objects, inner ear damage and lung infections.

~ www.ASPCA.org

Could Santa's reindeer be FEMALE?

Click for Answer

Laughing It Off
GIFTS OF 'WISDOM'?

1. A day without sunshine is like, well ...night.

2. If someone’s always late, perhaps their ancestors arrived on the Juneflower.

3. Would the ocean be deeper without sponges?

4. When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

5. Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don’t have film.

6. The latest surveys show that three out of four people make up 75% of the world’s population.

7. Can a cemetery raise its burial costs and blame it on the high cost of living?

8. It has recently been discovered that research causes cancer in laboratory rats.

9. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.

10. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

11. The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.

12. Back up my hard drive? I don’t even know how to put it in reverse!

13. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

14. Law of Probability Distribution: Whatever it is that hits the fan, will not be evenly distributed...

15. One hundred percent of all divorces started with marriage.

16. Deja Moo: The feeling that you have heard all of this bull before.

~Contributed by Barbara in Odessa, Texas

Untangling the Web

WHAT A SITE!

Compare Rates with Search-It-All...
View comparison shipping rate chart for FexEd, UPS, Airborne and USPS for their next day, second day, and later delivery options.
www.Search-It-All.com

COMPUTER-EASE

Web Page Update Date...
Would you like to know when a specific Web page was last updated? After all, you don't want to think you're reading current info if the material was last updated in 1997. If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can easily determine when a page was updated last. Navigate to the page you want to check and type into the Address Bar—
javascript:alert(document.lastModified)
and press Enter. A dialog box will open display the date and time of the last update.

Photo: NASA via AP

The delicate filaments of stars ...
in this image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are actually sheets of debris from a stellar explosion within the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small companion galaxy to the Milky Way. This material will eventually be recycled into building new generations of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is visible from the southern hemisphere. ~MSNBC