The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
When you have poured your heart, soul, time, and effort into any form of artistic output - regardless of whether it is music, writing, painting, filmmaking, photography, or anything else - it can be extremely frustrating (and can even be downright discouraging!) when you stumble across negative reactions to your work. But while there is probably nothing you can do to make yourself not care at all when people say negative things about your creative output (that is, there is nothing you can do outside of simply getting conditioned to it!), there are certainly some things you can do in order to take a lot of the sting out of this frustration. Even before you engage in any sort of creative output in the first place, the first thing you should realize is that there will never be a work of art (in any field of the arts) that will be universally liked; everyone has different tastes, and just as surely as some people will love your creative output, there will also be people who will hate it, and this is okay, because this simply means they have different tastes! Once you have established this idea in your mind, it will help you to move past the frustration and to see if there is anything in the criticism you received that you can learn from - which is great, because even the most scathing reviews will often have a nugget of truth hidden somewhere inside them. And finally, you should keep in mind the quote from JD Salinger, in which he said, "An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's" - as this quote will help you remember that the main thing is for you to feel happy with your creative output! If you feel happy about the work you have done - and if you feel good about it - it will not matter what others say about it (regardless of whether they say good things or bad things), as you will be happy with it regardless.
Wednesday, 7 January 2015
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
How To Save Money On Electricity
The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
Whether you own a house or rent a house or apartment, the bills spent on living in that place can be a huge headache. Maybe you used to think that rent or mortgage was all you would have to worry about, but all of a sudden you also have to worry about water, gas, and electricity! It might seem like you are doing everything you can to cut down on your electricity costs, but you might want to think again. Perhaps you can even save a lot of extra money, just by recognizing the little things that cause your electricity bills to start to pile up. You might think that it only costs you seven cents when you leave a light on for an hour, but think about the fact that the little things add up. By leaving an extra, unnecessary light on all day, you are spending more than just that seven cents; you are spending one dollar and sixty-eight cents. And if you left this hypothetical "extra light" on for an entire month, this would add up to over fifty dollars! Of course, it is unlikely that there is a light in your house that you leave on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but if you start to add up the extra lights you do leave on, you might realize that this example is not far off! Shop For Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs. Fans are another way by which electricity bills go up; if you are using a fan to cut down on air conditioning, this is a worthwhile cost. But if you are just leaving on fans in rooms that no one is in, these costs can really begin to add up! Start paying attention to what you are leaving on, and to what can be turned off; if something is not in use, don't leave it running! Leaving things plugged in is one power drain you might never have thought of, and it can make a difference over time. Anything that is plugged in continues to use small amounts of electricity, even when not in use; if you get in the habit of unplugging things that are easy to unplug whenever they are not in use, you will see a difference. Saving money on your electricity bills is easy; you just have to realize that the little things add up, and then you need to learn what all the little things are.
Whether you own a house or rent a house or apartment, the bills spent on living in that place can be a huge headache. Maybe you used to think that rent or mortgage was all you would have to worry about, but all of a sudden you also have to worry about water, gas, and electricity! It might seem like you are doing everything you can to cut down on your electricity costs, but you might want to think again. Perhaps you can even save a lot of extra money, just by recognizing the little things that cause your electricity bills to start to pile up. You might think that it only costs you seven cents when you leave a light on for an hour, but think about the fact that the little things add up. By leaving an extra, unnecessary light on all day, you are spending more than just that seven cents; you are spending one dollar and sixty-eight cents. And if you left this hypothetical "extra light" on for an entire month, this would add up to over fifty dollars! Of course, it is unlikely that there is a light in your house that you leave on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but if you start to add up the extra lights you do leave on, you might realize that this example is not far off! Shop For Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs. Fans are another way by which electricity bills go up; if you are using a fan to cut down on air conditioning, this is a worthwhile cost. But if you are just leaving on fans in rooms that no one is in, these costs can really begin to add up! Start paying attention to what you are leaving on, and to what can be turned off; if something is not in use, don't leave it running! Leaving things plugged in is one power drain you might never have thought of, and it can make a difference over time. Anything that is plugged in continues to use small amounts of electricity, even when not in use; if you get in the habit of unplugging things that are easy to unplug whenever they are not in use, you will see a difference. Saving money on your electricity bills is easy; you just have to realize that the little things add up, and then you need to learn what all the little things are.
Monday, 5 January 2015
How To Take Strategic Time Off Work
The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
If the job you work is nothing more than a "filler job" - filling your time until you find a job doing what you truly want to do - or if you work at a job that is fairly flexible as far as allowing you to take days off, you will probably never get in one of those positions where you feel like you absolutely need to get away, and where you are not all too sure you will actually be able to. If, on the other hand, you work at a job that you deem to be important to you, or if your job is demanding (or if both of these are the case!), it will be important for you to take a day off every once in a while - and it is also important for you to be able to identify exactly when this is necessary. If you work at a job that does not enable you to take time off whenever the mood strikes, you will want to be strategic with the days off you take - and the best approach, as far as this goes, is to simply wait until you reach a point where you feel like you have no choice but to take a day off, as if you just might burst if you don't! When you take this day off, it will be tempting for you to just lie around doing nothing all day, but the problem with this is that you will soon return to work feeling no different from the way you felt before you left; instead of putting yourself in this position, you will put yourself in a much better position if you plan something that is not only relaxing for the day, but that is also fun and memorable! And when it comes to you trying to take a strategic day off, the most important thing is that - on the day itself - you force yourself to exist "in the moment"; do not think about work or about any of your other responsibilities, but instead, enjoy what you are doing right then, as this will leave you feeling far more refreshed and fulfilled when you return to work at last.
If the job you work is nothing more than a "filler job" - filling your time until you find a job doing what you truly want to do - or if you work at a job that is fairly flexible as far as allowing you to take days off, you will probably never get in one of those positions where you feel like you absolutely need to get away, and where you are not all too sure you will actually be able to. If, on the other hand, you work at a job that you deem to be important to you, or if your job is demanding (or if both of these are the case!), it will be important for you to take a day off every once in a while - and it is also important for you to be able to identify exactly when this is necessary. If you work at a job that does not enable you to take time off whenever the mood strikes, you will want to be strategic with the days off you take - and the best approach, as far as this goes, is to simply wait until you reach a point where you feel like you have no choice but to take a day off, as if you just might burst if you don't! When you take this day off, it will be tempting for you to just lie around doing nothing all day, but the problem with this is that you will soon return to work feeling no different from the way you felt before you left; instead of putting yourself in this position, you will put yourself in a much better position if you plan something that is not only relaxing for the day, but that is also fun and memorable! And when it comes to you trying to take a strategic day off, the most important thing is that - on the day itself - you force yourself to exist "in the moment"; do not think about work or about any of your other responsibilities, but instead, enjoy what you are doing right then, as this will leave you feeling far more refreshed and fulfilled when you return to work at last.
Sunday, 4 January 2015
Adding Birds As A "Winter Decoration" In Your Yard
The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
If you have ever been to a friend's house when there has been snow on the ground and have been birds at their bird feeder, you may have been struck by what a pretty sight this is, and may even have thought of trying to attract birds to a bird feeder in your own yard during the winter - but while birds against a landscape of snow is certainly pretty, you will need to realize that achieving this goal is not as easy as just putting a bird feeder and some bird seed in your yard! Birds often migrate to warmer climates during the winter, largely because there is a greater availability of food where the weather is warmer, so if you want to have birds in your yard for the winter, the first thing you need to do is make sure they know they will have food if they stay for the winter - and the best way to do this is to hang your bird feeder as early as possible; there is no such thing as hanging a feeder "too early" if you want birds for the winter, but there is such a thing as hanging a feeder "too late"! Another thing you will want to do is make sure you hang your feeder in a place where it will be attractive to birds; you should hang the bird feeder about chest-high or shoulder-high, and it should not be hung too close to your window (even though you may want it as close to your window as possible!) - and also, you will want to make sure the feeder is hung near trees or bushes that the birds can fly to, so that they do not expend too much energy flying back and forth from the feeder to a resting place. And as far as taking care of these birds that you attract to your feeder, there are two specific things you will want to keep in mind: firstly, you will want to give them bird seed that is healthy and high in energy (black oil sunflower seeds mixed with nuts, berries, and dried fruits is best!), and you will want to make sure you continue to feed them throughout the winter. After all, these birds are staying for the winter because they know they can get food from you - and you will not want to put them in a place where they are no longer able to find food once the snow starts to fall!
If you have ever been to a friend's house when there has been snow on the ground and have been birds at their bird feeder, you may have been struck by what a pretty sight this is, and may even have thought of trying to attract birds to a bird feeder in your own yard during the winter - but while birds against a landscape of snow is certainly pretty, you will need to realize that achieving this goal is not as easy as just putting a bird feeder and some bird seed in your yard! Birds often migrate to warmer climates during the winter, largely because there is a greater availability of food where the weather is warmer, so if you want to have birds in your yard for the winter, the first thing you need to do is make sure they know they will have food if they stay for the winter - and the best way to do this is to hang your bird feeder as early as possible; there is no such thing as hanging a feeder "too early" if you want birds for the winter, but there is such a thing as hanging a feeder "too late"! Another thing you will want to do is make sure you hang your feeder in a place where it will be attractive to birds; you should hang the bird feeder about chest-high or shoulder-high, and it should not be hung too close to your window (even though you may want it as close to your window as possible!) - and also, you will want to make sure the feeder is hung near trees or bushes that the birds can fly to, so that they do not expend too much energy flying back and forth from the feeder to a resting place. And as far as taking care of these birds that you attract to your feeder, there are two specific things you will want to keep in mind: firstly, you will want to give them bird seed that is healthy and high in energy (black oil sunflower seeds mixed with nuts, berries, and dried fruits is best!), and you will want to make sure you continue to feed them throughout the winter. After all, these birds are staying for the winter because they know they can get food from you - and you will not want to put them in a place where they are no longer able to find food once the snow starts to fall!
Saturday, 3 January 2015
Tips For Finding Great Deals On iPads
The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
One of the hottest items around these days is the iPad, but regardless of whether you are thinking of getting an iPad for yourself or as a gift for someone else, one of the problems you will run into is the fact that iPads are not exactly cheap - but while it is unlikely you will find an iPad for "cheap," there are a few things you can do to find an iPad for a lot less money than you would normally have to spend! EBay is one of the best places to go for good deals on just about anything, and while you are probably not going to find great deals on a brand new iPad through eBay, you should realize that a lightly used iPad is just as good; keep your eyes open for sellers who have great seller ratings, and who decided to upgrade to a newer version of the iPad or decided that the iPad was not really for them, as this will give you opportunities to buy iPads without spending a big chunk of cash. Because Apple is always coming out with new, updated versions of their products, there are also plenty of times when you can find a brand new older version for a lot less money than it would have been just a month or two earlier; keep your eyes open for upgrades to the iPad, and use this as an opportunity to swoop in and save a lot of money on a slightly older version! And while it is not often that you will find tremendous deals on the newest models of the iPad, it is always worth keeping a lookout just in case; the place where you are most likely to come across great deals on brand new iPads is on Amazon, so visit the iPad store on Amazon often, and you just might run into a promotion that gives you a brand new iPad for a minimal amount of money! Most people who own an iPad feel that nothing matches it - but if you manage to pick up an iPad while also saving some money, you will realize that this is one thing that is even better than an iPad alone!
One of the hottest items around these days is the iPad, but regardless of whether you are thinking of getting an iPad for yourself or as a gift for someone else, one of the problems you will run into is the fact that iPads are not exactly cheap - but while it is unlikely you will find an iPad for "cheap," there are a few things you can do to find an iPad for a lot less money than you would normally have to spend! EBay is one of the best places to go for good deals on just about anything, and while you are probably not going to find great deals on a brand new iPad through eBay, you should realize that a lightly used iPad is just as good; keep your eyes open for sellers who have great seller ratings, and who decided to upgrade to a newer version of the iPad or decided that the iPad was not really for them, as this will give you opportunities to buy iPads without spending a big chunk of cash. Because Apple is always coming out with new, updated versions of their products, there are also plenty of times when you can find a brand new older version for a lot less money than it would have been just a month or two earlier; keep your eyes open for upgrades to the iPad, and use this as an opportunity to swoop in and save a lot of money on a slightly older version! And while it is not often that you will find tremendous deals on the newest models of the iPad, it is always worth keeping a lookout just in case; the place where you are most likely to come across great deals on brand new iPads is on Amazon, so visit the iPad store on Amazon often, and you just might run into a promotion that gives you a brand new iPad for a minimal amount of money! Most people who own an iPad feel that nothing matches it - but if you manage to pick up an iPad while also saving some money, you will realize that this is one thing that is even better than an iPad alone!
Friday, 2 January 2015
Planning An Outdoor Wedding: Things To Keep In Mind
The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
Regardless of whether you are going to be a bride or a groom, you will probably come to find - when you are planning a wedding - that the bride has certain ideas in her head from which she does not want to be dissuaded, and usually, the groom is happy to go along with these ideas - so long as they make sense. But one idea that might seem to make sense on the surface, but that does not always make sense in reality, is planning an outdoor wedding, and while you might be a bride who has your heart set on an outdoor wedding, you will want to examine these three things to make sure it is a good idea for you. When are you getting married: One big consideration when you are planning an outdoor wedding will be the time of year, as the weather will make a big difference on how your wedding turns out; be aware of what the temperatures will be like around the time of year when you plan to be married, and if they will be too extreme, consider either changing the date or moving the wedding inside! What time of day will the wedding be: The time of day when the wedding will take place usually lends itself to more flexibility than the time of year, but if for some reason you are locked into a certain time of day, realize that the pictures will turn out much better if you are getting married in the evening than in the early afternoon, so if it is important to you that you have good pictures from the wedding, consider moving the wedding inside! What is your backup plan: It will be important that you acknowledge that the weather will be unpredictable, and you will want to make sure you have a backup plan, because sometimes the weather will give you no choice but to move the wedding inside! When you are planning your wedding, keep these questions in mind, and before you take the step of planning an outdoor wedding, make sure it will be a good idea!
Regardless of whether you are going to be a bride or a groom, you will probably come to find - when you are planning a wedding - that the bride has certain ideas in her head from which she does not want to be dissuaded, and usually, the groom is happy to go along with these ideas - so long as they make sense. But one idea that might seem to make sense on the surface, but that does not always make sense in reality, is planning an outdoor wedding, and while you might be a bride who has your heart set on an outdoor wedding, you will want to examine these three things to make sure it is a good idea for you. When are you getting married: One big consideration when you are planning an outdoor wedding will be the time of year, as the weather will make a big difference on how your wedding turns out; be aware of what the temperatures will be like around the time of year when you plan to be married, and if they will be too extreme, consider either changing the date or moving the wedding inside! What time of day will the wedding be: The time of day when the wedding will take place usually lends itself to more flexibility than the time of year, but if for some reason you are locked into a certain time of day, realize that the pictures will turn out much better if you are getting married in the evening than in the early afternoon, so if it is important to you that you have good pictures from the wedding, consider moving the wedding inside! What is your backup plan: It will be important that you acknowledge that the weather will be unpredictable, and you will want to make sure you have a backup plan, because sometimes the weather will give you no choice but to move the wedding inside! When you are planning your wedding, keep these questions in mind, and before you take the step of planning an outdoor wedding, make sure it will be a good idea!
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Tips For Putting Yourself In A Position To Read Whenever You Want
The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships
One thing that may disappoint you from time to time if you are fond of reading is that it is not quite as easy to "read whenever you would like" as you would like it to be; of course, it is not truly possible to read all the time, as you must also be able to work (and sleep!), but one thing you may not have realized is that it is possible to make it far easier on yourself to read all the time. At times, one thing that keeps people from reading is that they run out of available books, and of course, they do not want to keep stacks of books in their room, as books can be expensive, and it can be tough to justify spending money on books that you do not have time to read; if you have ever felt this way, one thing you should keep in mind is the fact that you can find great deals on used books, as long as you know where to look - so take to Amazon, and to your local used bookstore, and you can have stacks of books to choose from whenever you want to read something new. Another wonderful idea is to get a Kindle, as this will allow you to carry hundreds of books with you wherever you go; if you travel a lot, one thing that may keep you from being able to read as often as you would like is the fact that you cannot exactly bring a stack of books with you everywhere you go, but with the Kindle, this becomes a possibility - no problem at all! And if you seem to always be on the go, consider getting into audiobooks; with an audiobook, you can listen to a book while you are driving to work, while you are working out or jogging, or even while you are in the shower - which will open up lots of new "reading" opportunities you did not have before! No matter what sorts of books you tend to enjoy, being able to read all the time is great - and when you keep these thoughts in mind, it is something you will be able to do yourself!
One thing that may disappoint you from time to time if you are fond of reading is that it is not quite as easy to "read whenever you would like" as you would like it to be; of course, it is not truly possible to read all the time, as you must also be able to work (and sleep!), but one thing you may not have realized is that it is possible to make it far easier on yourself to read all the time. At times, one thing that keeps people from reading is that they run out of available books, and of course, they do not want to keep stacks of books in their room, as books can be expensive, and it can be tough to justify spending money on books that you do not have time to read; if you have ever felt this way, one thing you should keep in mind is the fact that you can find great deals on used books, as long as you know where to look - so take to Amazon, and to your local used bookstore, and you can have stacks of books to choose from whenever you want to read something new. Another wonderful idea is to get a Kindle, as this will allow you to carry hundreds of books with you wherever you go; if you travel a lot, one thing that may keep you from being able to read as often as you would like is the fact that you cannot exactly bring a stack of books with you everywhere you go, but with the Kindle, this becomes a possibility - no problem at all! And if you seem to always be on the go, consider getting into audiobooks; with an audiobook, you can listen to a book while you are driving to work, while you are working out or jogging, or even while you are in the shower - which will open up lots of new "reading" opportunities you did not have before! No matter what sorts of books you tend to enjoy, being able to read all the time is great - and when you keep these thoughts in mind, it is something you will be able to do yourself!
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