September/October 2008 Issue

Financial Matters

Invest in Insuring Your Home Valuables

Renter’s Insurance is an extra expense that is worth its weight in gold if you ever need to cash in on any losses.  It may feel like you are paying extra money each year with no return, but should you ever need to file a claim – you get cash to replace your valuables.  Your valuables that can potentially need replacing are certainly worth more than the year’s premium you pay on your policy.  Can you imagine losing your valuables in a fire or home invasion?  You will miss what you loss and you will mope over the thought of coming up with the money that it takes to replace these losses.  The valuables that you need and use in your daily life are forever gone.  Having renter’s insurance can take some of the guessing and desperation out of the thoughts you have about replacing the lost items.  It is as simple as filing a claim, waiting for the check, and going shopping.  Not having Renter’s Insurance makes the situation much more complex – you assume the full responsibility of replacing your valuables on your own, which means you pay for them twice.  Your electronics alone can run you thousands of dollars.  Renter’s Insurance can cover thousands of dollars quicker than you can.  Invest in Renter’s Insurance now to save money later.  Hopefully, you’ll never suffer a loss, but if you do then renter’s insurance can help you get back to normal.

 

 

Customer Craze

Traditional Phone VS Internet Phone

Phone service is a game that has changed over the years and is still evolving.  Internet phone providers are able to heavily compete with traditional phone providers.  Changing from traditional to internet can be a big decision to make, so weighing the pluses and minuses is a must.  The traditional landline is an establishment that can always be counted on.  During stormy weather you are less likely to lose a dial tone and don’t need anything but a phone for operation.  However the monthly cost of a landline can be more than double that of an internet phone.  Having an internet phone has a lower cost and allows the use of several features such as call forwarding at no additional charges.  Internet plans often allow unlimited calls and can permit calls to areas outside the US for no fee or for a lower fee.  Traditional phone service can charge you per feature, per call, and for calls outside of the US.  The traditional landline certainly still has its advantages, just as the internet phone has its own advantages.  If you are looking for a phone service that is less expensive, then the internet phone is for you. If you are looking for a phone that is available during stormy weather, then the traditional phone is for you.

 

 

Peaceful Passions

Calming Yourself, Keeping Your Cool

There are times when you can ignore of get over someone who has pissed you off.  Then there are other times when you are so pissed off that you just want to hit a bitch in the throat, knock a motherfucker’s head in, kick a cunt in the knee, or push a trick in the street to get hit by a car.  Then you realize that you are at work, church, or some other public place.  You also know the Lord is watching and this makes you feel bad because those actions are not behaviors He expects of you.  So you think of words to say.  Before you say those words you realize that the trifling pussy ass prick skank scalawag hoe wench you’re about to curse out is a boss, coworker, neighbor, pastor, family member, church member, or some other community person that would see the side of you that you’ve been trying to change for years.  You feel trapped because the nice, kind, articulate words and actions you need to use are trapped behind the other stuff you realize can’t be displayed.  During these times, slowly count to five and take a deep breath – of air (be sure not to let anything else out upon the release of the breath of air).  Tell the person that is annoying the hell out of you, that you heard what they expressed, but you want to sit down at a later time to discuss things further.  If they continue to push your button because their dumb ass missed the point, smile and calmly repeat yourself, “I heard what you expressed and I feel it is best to sit down later to discuss things further.”  If the nitwit still doesn’t get it, then excuse yourself from the location before you beat their ass.  When you depart from the location, congratulate yourself, take some deep breaths, and think about getting yourself a small reward for not acting like a fool on the person.  Oh yea, God is so proud of you that he may add at least five points to your heaven score which, if you pray and ask, you may be able to trade in for an earthly favor.

 

 

Relationship Dynamics

Relationship Repair

Mending a broken relationship is like opening up a wound that is subject to never being fixed.  Sometimes relationships can’t be fixed; but when a person feels that a relationship is worth trying to fix, then precautions should be taken.  Taking steps to fix a relationship requires that all people approach the situation in a calm manner.  When having the necessary conversations to make an old relationship exist again, those involved must be sure to never point the blame at the other person, or kick (metaphorically speaking) the other person as they accept and apologize for their blame.  Even if you don’t feel as though you’ve done anything wrong, Making up also means taking the initiate to make a genuine apology.  You can say that you feel sorry for how things turned out, or for all feelings that were hurt, or for some other aspect of the situation.  Apologizing for an aspect allows you to make a less direct apology that may not seem as genuine, but making up has to start somewhere.  As you work on repairing a damaged relationship, do a little at a time and set the ground rules.  It is best that all parties make an effort to talk about the behaviors they will do differently to make the relationship better.  All parties should come up with and document a plan for how to treat others, what to do when anger enters the situation, and the process of resolving any future problems.  The ground rules can change as the relationships gets better.  Never give up and remember that what you want from the other(s) must be something that you are willing to give. 

 

 

Legal Ease

Identity Monitoring

A person’s identity is stolen several times a day.  Not only is it difficult to correct, but you have to prove who you are first to get the law on your side.  Keeping your identity safe is a fact of life that requires daily monitoring.  Most people try their best to make sure they keep a good track on their personal identification cards.  Yet is it rare that those looking to steal someone’s identity will do so by getting physical possession of a person’s personal identification cards.  There are numerous other ways a person’s identity can be stolen and checking your credit every few months is wise, but no longer enough.  It is difficult for a person to check their identity daily and it isn’t cost effective either, unless this is done through an identity monitoring service.  Identity monitoring services are becoming more available due to a drastic rise in identity theft.  These identity monitoring services offer assurance and insurance.  They offer assurance because every time your identity is used without your permission an alert is sent to you letting you know.  This immediate alert allows you to stop the damage quickly and may even lead to the apprehension of a suspect.  More importantly having identity monitoring establishes a prior form of connection of identifying who you are legally and who the fraudulent person is illegally.  Identity monitoring offers insurance because if your identity is stolen the financial losses you suffer may be covered on your behalf.  The money you loss may be applied to your accounts, your expenses to replace identity cards and other information damaged due to someone fraudulently misrepresenting you can refunded, and many other problems can be corrected by the service on your behalf.  Having a service to alert you and help to get your identity back is surely worth it.  Having an identity monitoring service can reduce the numerous tasks needed to be done to prove who you are legally.  Having help is a big advantage among many and is a huge step to reclaiming your identity swiftly.   

 

 

Relaxation Rafting

Leaving Addictions

Whoever thinks about their over-indulgences as addictions?  The enjoyable things that you do each day to help you relax are not always healthy.  These habits can feel like moments of fun, normal things people do, or any other description that leaves out the addiction word.  Anyone can become an addict of something – but only some people are able to leave their addictions before it’s too late.  Leaving an addiction means not having a lifestyle dependency to function on the over consumption of alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, sex, gossiping, or all the other things people do to “relax.”  These over-indulgences really don’t allow people to relax if these things are needed in order to make a person feel “relaxed.”  Repeatedly over-indulging in something may require you to seek assistance to leave your “addiction.”  This addiction you have is really a symptom of a bigger problem that you have with yourself.  Getting therapy can help you learn about the internal problem that you have and allow you to learn ways to resolve your internal problem.  Coming to terms with the problem(s) you have with yourself can help the focus shift from using your addiction to relax, to truly being able to take a part in positive behaviors of relaxation.

 

 

Wacky Workplace

Eating in the Work Lounge

Lunchtime at work is a moment to take a deep breath and relax.  Some people go out to eat, eat in their normal work area, and other workers eat in the work lounge.  Eating in the work lounge can be a tricky situation.  Eating in the workplace lounge may force you to become part of the crazy group of co-working gossips who thrive off of knowing everyone’s business.  These gossips usually tell half the story about a person because the rest of the story never happened or is wrongly based on their narrow misconstrued perspective.  Sure it may be interesting to learn something about people at work, but is what you hear accurate?  More than likely, no!  It may also be interesting to watch these gossips tell a story because they look and sound funny as they do it and this adds humor to your day, but such a person is a sad person and no train-wreck is funny.  The 411 these gossips give may have the wrong area code of information.  In lounging-to-listen to them, you risk the possibility of being seen around the workplace as a person who is also a train-wreck, or a Busy-Betty with no life focus, or a person who isn’t serious about their work.  Co-workers around you may begin to undervalue your capabilities and undervalue who you are as a person.  Certainly not all work lounges are chatter-box areas of misinformation.  Any person’s hope to eat in the lounge and enjoy good quality conversation may have to be the one to demonstrate appropriate talk and set the tone.  The lounge is a place to relax, but be careful of what you release because what you release tells everyone about you. 

 

 

Healthy Bones

The Fear of Getting Tested

It is scary to even think about the need to get tested for HIV and other STDs.  It is upsetting to face the reality that no one is safe – no wife, no husband, no girlfriend, no boyfriend, lover, sibling, parent, grandparent, soon to be born child, friend, etc.  Those sexually active – those believed to be monogamous and those who know there is no monogamy in their relationship, are all at risk.  An unaccepted reality too hard to deal with by many, although knowing your health status can free you of the fear you have of not knowing.   The thought of getting tested wakes you up in the morning and disturbs your day.  You constantly think: where can I go to get tested, who will see me, what will the doctors think about me, what will the other patients think, should I tell my spouse, will I find out something I can’t deal with about my spouse, will I lose my job or place to live, will family and friends still love me, will I die, can I still live the life I want to live, etc…etc…etc.  These thoughts make you sweat until you take the brave step to get tested.  Even when you get there you want to run out, but everyone has seen you – you think they know you, but they don’t.  You don’t want to sit by others, but you notice they don’t want to sit by you either.  You want to die, but not by AIDS.  You’d rather hear that you have any other STD, but then you rethink this and pray you don’t have anything.  You think about they doctor telling you how healthy you are and then you imagine how silly you feel.  You think about the person sitting across from you and imagine them having AIDS and are grateful you don’t have it.  You would empathize with the thought of them having AIDS and you pray for them.  You see disease as happening to anyone, but you.  Finally the tests are over and you learn your status.  If you are negative, you make a quick promise to be dedicated to God and yourself.  You promise to take precautions and not let others jeopardize your health.  If you are positive, you are confused and feel alone, but pray.  As you tearfully pray you learn that you hear someone telling you that you can fully live as long as you follow the doctor’s health plans.  You are afraid, but will live on.  You think daily about what living now means to you and hopefully you gain a new perspective on what it means to live for your safety and the safety of others.  In the end, fear can no longer decide your day the way it did before you took the brave step to get tested.

 

 

Food Favorites

Omega 3 Foods

Love salmon, halibut, tuna, collard greens and walnuts?  Great, these are some of the foods that have omega 3 fatty acids that your body needs.  Your body needs omega 3 fatty acids to prevent diseases like, high blood pressure, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and more.  These omega 3 fatty acids that can be found in various foods are important to the human body because they protect your arteries from thickening and give your body nutrients needed to function at best.  Various products are being made to include omega 3 in the product, such as: Smart Balance cooking oil and butter, Yoplait yogurt, Eggland’s Best Eggs, Tropicana Healthy Heart Orange Juice, and Silk Milk.  Many products are starting to include omega 3 fatty acids and hopefully there won’t be a difficult transition you’ll need to make to your diet to ensure you get all the omega 3 fatty acids your body needs. 

 

August 2008 Edition

 

Financial Matters

 

Rechargeable Cards

 

There are many types of rechargeable cards that offer various benefits. Many people use rechargeable cards for convenience, but using them to manage money is something that can prove to be a great benefit. If you often go overboard when getting gas, food, and Starbucks®, then a rechargeable card can help you better manage your money. Getting rechargeable cards for gas, grocery, and Starbucks® will save money because they will stop the temptation to incur extra credit card charges.  Using a rechargeable card makes you have the money upfront and puts a limit on what you spend. Let’s say after paying your main bills for the month you have $515 left for gas, groceries, and Starbucks®. If car gas normally costs you $75 a week (when you don’t go to Timbuktu after work each day) then you can put $75 x 4 + $20(for a little extra) on your gas card – that’s $320. If your grocery wants cost you $200 without coupons, then groceries can be limited to $150 with coupons and limiting your wants. $320 + $150 = $380. $515 – $380 = $135. I bet you think that you could never spend over $100 a month on Starbucks®. You feel ashamed right now for thinking of spending more than $50 a month on Starbucks® don’t you? Well, $50 a month means no more than 14 lattes so use it sparingly and get some damn control. Now that means that you have $135 – $50 = $85 to SAVE and not SPEND. You want to minimize because you have been maximizing long enough. Just think, $85 x 12months = $1020 savings. You could go on a trip, pay down or pay off a bill, or use a small portion of this money for a special gift - that would have normally caused you to overspend with a credit card. Aren’t you motivated to minimize by using rechargeable cards to help you get control? You can think of these rechargeable cards as if you were paying on a bill. You can recharge them online right after your payday like any other bill. You’re still thinking about the $85 a month savings aren’t you? Okay big spender. Get a rechargeable VISA card and put that money on this card so that when you get foolish, you don’t use a real credit card that has extensive charges.   

 

 

Consumer Craze

 

Quick Consumer Help

 

The Consumer Action Handbook is a resource for consumers made available each year by the US General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Citizen Information Center.  The handbook is available online at www.consumeraction.gov and by regular mail upon request (1-888-878-3256).  The Consumer Action Handbook has tips on what to do before buying process, during the buying process, and after the buying process.  The handbook gives details when dealing with banking, funerals, employment, credit, utilities, and much more.  The handbook also shows you how to write a complaint letter and what to do to resolve problems with businesses.  The handbook has a list of corporate consumer contacts for various companies.  This is particularly useful as a quick source for consumers to know where and how to contact various company departments to address questions and concerns.  The handbook also includes a list of federal agencies that can assist consumers in the handing of disputes.  Watch groups and national organizations that aid in the regulation of consumer services are listed with state and local offices in every state.  Trade and Professional Associations are also resources that too can assist consumers to resolve problems.  The Consumer Action Handbook has a lot of information that can be a starting point of reference for help that will lead you to your final consumer goals. 

 

 

Peaceful Passions

 

Stunted Social Growth

 

People are as unique as fingerprints. The uniqueness of people who we don’t know is often seen as strange. Dare we look close enough to examine what ultimately seems strange we may find that others are not so different from us. Indeed our differences cause us to take different traffic routes, prefer one restaurant over the other, have varying political views etc. Our personal beliefs often lead us to believe that our views and habits are the best and only way by which to live. It is when we are challenged by the preferences of others that we realize that our way may not be the only way or the best way. During such a challenge, discussions with others help us to confirm or learn that the route we take to work, the restaurant we think is the best in town, or the politician we think can represent what is best for people may or may not be  “the” best. If we are open enough to listen we may learn and grow into a better-rounded person. We may learn of a traffic route that has fewer cars on the road and feels more relaxing. We may learn that the pizza restaurant on the other side of town has a nice French restaurant next door to it. We may learn that the Indian lady we never talk to makes the best Naan bread we never knew existed.  We may love the taste of this bread so much that we want to learn more about the culture. We may learn that the Indian lady whose religion we fear practices similar deities to our own religion. We may learn this Indian lady is a dear friend. What we once thought of as different, is now a good experience waiting for us to have to grow into better people. 

 

 

Relationship Dynamics

 

Going Forward with Divorce

 

Divorce is easier to handle once it is accepted.  No one should plan on getting a divorce and all who feel it is an option should seek counseling.  When divorce is inevitable and necessary- accept it.  Accept it by asking yourself, “What else could I do?”  If the answer is nothing and you know that you’ve done all you could, then accept the divorce.  Accept the divorce by being thankful you still have life.  Be hopeful about the future.  Pray for you and your soon to be ex-spouse – pray for God to be merciful on you and your spouse.  It is hard to pray for the other person, but when you pray for them good things will come your way.  Don’t be unnerved and angry by any obstacles that you must endure, because evil will come to kick you, but don’t let it.  Smile with joy and flaunt your happy cool sexy carefree spirit and soon you may become filled with it.  Try it, you pessimist!  Remember you did what you could to make the marriage work – didn’t you?  If you didn’t do all you could maybe there should be more effort on your part, but if you really tried you have no reason to feel bad.  Your efforts free you of any guilt you may feel about your failed marriage.  As you live guilt-free and hopeful ask yourself, “How can I avoid divorce again?”  Talk yourself into thinking about how your experience as a spouse can make you better in your next marriage.  Deeply examine the kind of person that you should/should not be with.  Think about how your reactions and acts of reasonable compromise can change to make you a better spouse.  Examine what God needs you to be and live for God.  Think of yourself as a recipe that God needs to adjust the taste of before it is ready for others to taste and see.  Allow God to season you just right so that you are the perfect bake ready for who is equally yoked for you. 

 

 

Food Favorites

 

Vegetarian Meat Eater

 

Becoming a vegetarian sounds healthy, but meat does a body good – doesn’t it?  Meat tastes good going down, but over time can cause complications.  For those wanting to try a vegetarian lifestyle but are reluctant because of the bond you have with meat, should try veggie meats.  Morningstar Farm® foods offer a variety of veggie meats.  You can view their products at www.seeveggiesdifferently.com.  The meats offered include chicken and beef.  The chicken available is both grilled and breaded.  The chicken comes as strips, patties, and nuggets.  The beef that is available comes as strips, patties, and grounded for inclusion in typically ground beef recipes like chili and lasagna.  Other meats include bacon, sausage, and hotdogs.  Besides the Morningstar Farms® brand, Boca and Quorn are other popular vegetarian food brands.  Boca® offers similar products to Morningstar Farm®, but also offers Italian Sausage, Bratwurst, a chili entrée, and a lasagna entrée.  Quorn also offers similar products to Morningstar Farm®, but also offers roasted turkey and meatballs.  The various meatless products may taste differently to different people and can taste differently over time, but eating them is an option to having no meat at all.  If eating these meatless products on a daily basis isn’t preferable, eating these meats from time to time can reduce the complications that the daily uses of regular meat can cause.  The vegetarian lifestyle may not suite everyone, but the food varieties available present the lifestyle to be more manageable than the past. 

 

 

Healthy Bones

 

Considering Herbal Care

 

People of various cultures have relied on herbals as medicine to treat and cure their ailments. When herbals are used as medicine they are taken over a certain length of time. If you aren’t a traditional user of herbal medication, it can be a risk to rely on herbal medication without your doctor’s guidance. There are some herbal medicines that misrepresent claims to cure illnesses. The FDA does regulate some herbal products as dietary supplements. Based on your health history and status, it is crucial to speak with a doctor about all plans to use herbal supplements for medical treatment. There are a variety of perspectives to be had on the issue of herbal medicines. Some people don’t care to explore herbals because many of the herbs are too hard to find, have names that are too difficult to pronounce, and cost too much money. Herbal medicines that are commonly household items appear more favorable as herbal treatments to try. Allspice, black pepper, and cinnamon are common kitchen cabinet items used to season foods. These spices can also be used as a treatment if used in a certain amount, over a period of time, and in a particular way. These spices are commonly used to treat the common cold.  Using these spices to treat the common cold can have side effects. Some of the common side effects are stomach discomforts, nausea, and diarrhea. In addition to side effects, allspice, black pepper, cinnamon, and other herbals can interact with other drugs and supplements. If using herbals as a supplement sounds as complex as the traditional medicine use, it is just as complex. The complexity of herbal medicines requiring a dosage, a period of time to be taken, and directions by which to take are reasons why a doctor’s care is still needed to undergo this form of treatment. 

 

 

 

Relaxation Rafting

 

Deep Breathing

 

It is hard to think that relaxation can happen from deep breathing, but it can.  When attempting deep breathing exercises, the stress of this exercise can cause so much intensity that the short amount of time dedicated to attempts are a failure.  Don’t try so hard!  Deep breathing doesn’t mean that every breath should take all your might.  Have some breathes that are done as normal breathing.  Mix things up and take medium breathes and large breathes.  Take different breath sizes in no particular order.  Try stretching your arms up upon a slow inhale, and slowly put your arms down by your side as you slowly exhale.  Close your eyes and do a varied breathing routine.  Try this breathing routine while doing something pleasant and sedentary.  Try it while doing a slow exercise as you are standing.  Hopefully at this point in the routine you feel a bit more relaxed and are not bored.  Sometimes breathing exercises are thought of as not helpful because the repetition of deep breathing makes people bored and out of breath.  As you make a genuine effort to give deep breathing a try, allow for changes to be added to the routine to create some variety and stimulation. 

 

 

 

Legal Ease

 

Intellectual Property Law

 

If you write poems, novels, plays, music; do drawings, paintings, sculptures, architecture, photographs or anything that is a creative venture of the mind, you want to have some knowledge about Intellectual Property Law.  There are many lawyers in this field who know a great deal about how best to help you protect your creative interests.  One website that can help you find a lawyer in this field is www.intellectualpropertylawfirms.com.  If you have some questions about some dynamic of the field, you can explore and search www.intellectualpropertylawblog.com to help you learn more about concepts of Intellectual Property Law.  The main things to be concerned with for starters is to make sure that you learn how to protect your creation from unauthorized users, and to get compensation for the use of your creation.  This means getting a copyright, patent, or trademark for your creative work.  You can learn more about copyright, patents, and trademarks at www.uspto.gov. 

 

 

 

 

Wacky Workplace

 

Monies You are Owed

 

Work is the time to focus on completing various tasks that fulfill some mean to an end. Work is a time to worry about time, efficiency, details – not paychecks. Time worked is time earned. Your paycheck is the work responsibility of the payroll department. Yet, what happens when they don’t do their job? There are some employers who have trouble paying their employees correctly and on time. When you work at a place that doesn’t pay correctly and on time, start taking notes. These notes should be in the form of emails, written memos, and saved inner-office memos. These notes are proof for a possible claim. Make sure that you follow all office procedures for what it takes to get your correct pay. Don’t let anyone intimidate you as you follow procedures. It is your right and your responsibility to get the money you worked for. Stay professional with your efforts and don’t give in to antagonistic attitudes that are unprofessional. Yes, things do happen that are legitimate reasons that may trouble the payroll department, but these are unacceptable to landlords, mortgage companies, utility companies, hungry children, and the car repossession person. Express your understanding and concern, but get you money because you aren’t rich enough to wait. If your company is in debt to everyone who they do business with, they should make paying you the priority because you make the work happen. It is more socially acceptable for companies to pay other companies late, but individuals suffer more consequences when paying companies late. Don’t let your job worry you about the company being late on the light bill; their lights won’t be shut off as quickly as your lights. As you follow office procedures, start checking out the company guidelines and your union guidelines. Whether you have a union or not, start inquiring about the procedures with your state’s Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board (www.nlrb.gov). Do your internet search, not at work – don’t give your employer any strikes against you and don’t let them know what you are thinking and doing. Visit www.nlrb.gov to find out the location and phone number for your state department, to get forms, and to learn how the NRLB can help you. As you seek help, be mindful of time limits. If you should need to involve the NLRB you must do so within six months of the start of the problem. That means within that six months you should be actively following procedures:

1)     work with your employer for resolution

2)     consult your union and/or the company headquarters for resolution

3)     consult with the state labor department

4)     consult with the NLRB

There are several steps within these steps that you may be able to take based on company policy and procedures, so educate yourself.  Handing pay discrepancies requires you to be PROMPT.  That is:

          Professional

          Relentless

          Organized

          Manageable

          Positive

          Timely

July 2008 4th Issue

 

Financial Matters

 

The Debt of Saving

 

Saving money is something that happens when you have money leftover after you pay your bills, right – wrong!  Saving money actually requires you to make another bill.  How? Well, treat this impossible act according to the same rules that apply when paying your regular bills.  Saving money (as you have frequently heard before now) can get you out of debt.  Uh!  You just got a shut-off notice?  Well, now you have two shut-off notices and the second one is called savings.  That’s right saving money is as important as a shut-off notice (just don’t tell the electric company).  Try hard to save money beyond a few days and weeks.  The best way to save money when your hand written budget for the month says that you are $195 short is to prioritize the same way you do when you decide to pay part of the light bill and part of the gas bill.  Pay some of the save bill, some of the light bill and some of the gas bill.  Don’t be scared, the gas bill won’t cut you off; they haven’t cut you off over the past year for partial payments.  Besides, by the time they do cut you off, hopefully you’ll have enough money on the save bill to pay what you owe on the gas bill.  Happy Savings!

 

 

Consumerism

 

90 Day Return Policy

 

We all have purchased something from the store and threw out the receipt.  You begin using your new lovely product and days or months go by before you notice that your lovely new product is a rip-off, has a new and better model, is broken, or is something longer needed.  You think of taking the product back to the store for a refund, except you no don’t have the receipt.  You should always keep your receipt for the full duration of the store’s return policy.  Different stores have different return policies and different time frames by which to accept returns.  You never know when you may need to return a product that you purchased.  Having the receipt may not be a guarantee you’ll get a refund, but a receipt will certainly benefit you in your refund attempts.

 

 

Tempering Tolerance

 

Encouraging Yourself

 

Learning to encourage yourself from within instead of using other people to encourage you is a difficult task.  Relying on other people to keep you encouraged may work for the moment, but will not be long-lasting.  Developing a relationship with God will help you learn how to encourage yourself.  You may not know it is possible for God to give this kind of help, but if you pray to God – he’ll know what to do, he’s God.  You must have faith and allow God to do his job.  If you feel that you don’t have faith it’s because you need to develop a better relationship with God.  Getting to know God will help you to see that having faith in his works makes the impossible a reality.  This will be confirmed when God puts you in circumstances that in the past would have caused you to react in a certain way, and all of a sudden you react in a different way.  You later realize that you reacted differently and wonder what is wrong with you.  You begin to understand that “what is wrong with you” is really what is right with you and God made this so.  You are motivated to be the new you because you tried it and it works.  You feel encouraged to be the new you more often.  The new you no longer gives in to the lows of life.  You begin to share the secret of how you got a new you with others who need a new them.  More blessings come to you.  You’re helping to bring people closer to God through your subtle testimonies.  You become encouraged all over again, because you witness through testimonies and are lifted higher.  Continue this process, be encouraged!

 

 

Relationships

 

The Good and Bad of Making a List

 

Listing the good and bad attributes to help you evaluate the “worthiness” of a relationship with a person is something that happens when lines have been crossed.  Whether the person is a boyfriend, girlfriend, cousin, parent, sibling, coworker, etc. the problem is that they may no longer be worthy of the angel you are, right!  At times, a list can be a good evaluative tool to get you to see the total person or relationship and not just the recent problem(s) that have tested your boundaries.  A list can be bad at times because the list depicts what is “wrong” with the other person in the relationship, but does not necessarily focus on YOU.  That’s right!  A problem is two-sided just as every story and whether you want to accept it or not, no matter how “innocent” you are in the situation, you somehow contributed to “The Problem.”  You may have contributed to the problem, by not speaking up when something was wrong months ago, or not stressing the importance of needing an immediate resolution, or because of…whatever.  The bottom line is that your reaction to the problem makes your list not as valid as you think.  Making a list can still be helpful, but it is important that you make a separate list of things you shouldn’t do vs. things you should do from now on so that you stay part of the solution. 

 

 

Food Favorites

 

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

 

1 14-ounce can of artichokes (drain the juice before mixing with ingredients)

1 10-ounce box of thawed spinach

½ cup of chopped onions

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 cup of your favorite shredded cheese

1 minced clove of garlic

½ cup chopped black olives

1 beaten egg

 

Spray a pie pan with Pam non-stick oil.  Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl mix all ingredients together except for the beaten egg.  Last add the beaten egg and make sure that you stir the mixture well.  Pour the mixture into the pie pan and smooth out the mixture evenly throughout the pan.  Cook the dip in the oven for 20-30 minutes and let it cool for 10-15 minutes.  Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, fresh bread, or vegetable sticks. 

 

 

Healthy Bones

 

Miss-Prescribed Medicine

 

Ever go to the doctor for a foot-ache and end up with a prescription for asthma then wonder why your foot keeps hurting?  Maybe you never knew that the prescription you needed for acid reflux was somehow replaced by a prescription for a yeast infection.  Mistakes like these happen at the pharmacy and are not always realized in time – if ever realized.  As a patient you feel hopeless because the pharmacy should know more than you when prescribing medicine.  Yet, who checks behind pharmacists to ensure that mistakes like these aren’t made?  You do!  The internet makes it easy to check behind pharmacists and doctors so that you know you are getting the right medicine.  Once you have been told exactly what is wrong with you, it is a good idea to check the internet before getting your prescription filled to make sure that you have been prescribed the right thing.  Once you get the prescription from the pharmacist, it is a good idea to check the internet again to make sure that you have actually been given the prescription the doctor has prescribed.  Sometimes doctor’s prescriptions are written for a name brand, but are replaced with similar brands or generic brands due to insurance rules.  It is good to make sure that whatever you get is something that has relevance to the treatment of your ailment.  In addition to checking the medicine by name, it is good to check the medicine by how the medication looks.  Sometimes what may be written on the medicine container may not be what is inside, but if you check the internet to see how your medicine should look, it will hopefully confirm that your prescription is correct.  If you think that your prescription isn’t correct, call the pharmacy and the doctor for explanations.  Some websites that may be helpful to researching your medications are:

1.     www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

2.     www.walgreens.com (click on to the drug information link)

3.     www.healthsquare.com/drugmain.htm

4.     www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/rx/rx-a-z.aspx

5.     www.rxlist.com

 

 

Relaxation

 

Hooray! Mental Health Day!

 

Mental Health Day is a holiday than can happen one or more times a year when a person who isn’t physically ill decides they need to use a sick day to distress.  Mental Health Days are instrumental in staying mentally healthy.  It is like taking a visit to the doctor for a check-up, but going to a place of your choice to have fun for the day.  It is an old style high-school ditch day for adults.  The best Mental Health Days are those that are taken to do something that you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the chance to do.  These days are also great when they are planned with friends.  This day should not make you feel like you are doing something wrong, it should make you feel like you are taking time to relax so that the tension inside you doesn’t take over and make you act a fool at work.  Acting a fool at work may cause you to take a different kind of a day off which is called a suspension or a firing.  So, take this special day as often as you need it.  Just remember to request this day off as a sick day and not a personal day. 

 

Legal Ease

 

Bad Landlords…Legal Solutions…

 

No you didn’t move where you live because you prefer living in a hell-hole.  Yes you do have to abide by the terms of your lease, but you can and should protect yourself against the landlord not doing his or her job.  Some things that you can do are:

1.     Take email notes on all conversations and send copies to the landlord, friends, or agencies that you contacted for landlord/tenant help.

2.     Email all questions, requests, and concerns to the landlord.

3.     Make sure all emails sent are a continuous log so that the landlord knows that you are keeping track of every detail. 

4.     Talk to people and call agencies to keep familiar with the various options that can help you resolve your landlord problem(s).

5.     Call the building inspectors for the area in which you live.  If a concern is a violation of safety or health, the local inspectors can help you get repairs done in a timely fashion.  The landlords are sometimes fined when this happens. 

6.     Call the non-emergency fire department line to set-up an inspection if you think you have an electrical or fire sprinkler problem that your landlord continues to marginalize. 

7.     Call your local courthouse to see if there is a legal clinic or a legal hotline that can help educate you further about what to do. 

8.     Call the local courthouse to find out how to set-up an escrow account to pay your rent.  Setting up an escrow account guarantees you will get a court date in which the landlord will be called into question about their management.  The landlord will have to show up for court if they want the rent you handed over to the court.

9.     Some websites worth exploring for more detail are: www.tenant.net and www.landlordtenanthelponline.org

 

 

 

Workplace

 

The Non-working Employee

 

Work is stressful enough at times without dealing with a coworker who does not do their part of co-working.  We all know or have known someone who can tell you what their job description is, but does not perform any aspect of their job duties.  These people have “valid” excuses (in their mind) and don’t care about how their excuses impact you or the workplace.  They are the reason for new stupid work rules that make everyone feel as though they are children or institution slaves.  They may intimidate you or make you and others feel like you’d better not say anything to them about what they don’t do or else!  The reality is that they are already causing you and everyone else a problem, so you should not have any fear about confronting them and feeling as though you will make the problem bigger.  You can try speaking with them directly or with a mediator present.  Have a specific agenda ready if you choose to speak with them.  Give concrete examples and let them know the impact their actions have on you and others.  Make sure that you are not being confrontational, and try to speak with a tone of sincere concern.  If you don’t want to speak with them directly, you can show them how best to do their job by modeling for them.  Specifically say things like, “if you do the job like this…it is easier.”  The non-worker sometimes needs examples for how to best do their job because they feel defeated by the inefficient process that is most familiar to them.  Be open minded when attempting to help the non-worker and make helping them fun for both of you.  Challenge them to a work-off.  Present a reward they can win, but don’t make it easy for them to win it.  Bring your A-game.  Some other things you may need to do can include taking a few days off from work to make the non-worker experience how it feels to work alone.  Also try dividing your duties into a list of your responsibilities and a list of their responsibilities.  Switch roles – have them imitate you on the job and you imitate them on the job for one hour or a day.  Maybe this will help them to see your perspective.   Write a letter to them about how you feel about the non-worker’s actions – don’t tell how you feel about their character.  Ask a supervisor to sneak up on you and your co-worker to monitor what is happening.  There are many ways to “do something.”  Just have the confidence to know that it’s actually better to do something about the non-worker than to just tolerate the problems they cause you on the job. 

June 2008 Edition

Financial Matters

 

Low Balance Funds

 

Investing isn’t just for people with lots of money; it can be for people with little to no money as well.  People who have little to no money can invest small to save up for bigger investments.  There are lots of low balance funds that offer good returns, increasing the amount of one’s initial investment.  Some fund companies that offer low balance funds are: State Farm Funds®, Nicholas Funds, Dupree Funds, Homestead Funds, and New Covenant Funds.  These and other low balance fund companies offer an initial investment for as little as $100-$500.  Even if you think a low balance fund isn’t an attractive risk because the fund company is less popular, low balance fund companies may create some return to help your investment grow.  By researching and remaining open to what you learn about low balance fund companies, you can make a great investment choice even with little money.

 

 

Consumerism

 

The Retail Credit Sale

 

For most people, shopping is a rejuvenating event that causes people to have a different frame of mind.  All feels right with the world, especially when it’s time for checkout and the retail clerk offers you an instant 20% savings if you apply for a store credit card and an additional 10% off if your application is accepted.  These offers always seem to be a huge break, but can be an even bigger set-up for a credit-ache.  Take for instance, having a total checkout charge of $22.54.  If you take the guaranteed 20% off, the actual total is $18.03 and the discount is $4.51.  Suppose the retail credit you are applying for has a 17% rate.  You will actually spend more money using the store credit and the $4.51 that you save to get the store credit is a super clearance deal you could have paid for every time you purchase more than $26.53 on the store credit card. 

 

 

Tempering Tolerance

 

Peace of Mind, Body, and Everything

 

Peace inside means knowing who you are, comfortably, in front of others who are different from you.  Religious celebrations of many kinds share greetings of peace.  Peace is taught in religion, but is not always practiced in the heat of the moment – regardless of religion.  Baptist, Catholics, Pentecostals, Lutherans, and many others shake hands and give hugs to extend peace to others.  Our religion is different and our practices vary but the extension of peace is the same.  Stepping out beyond Amen Walls peace isn’t carried to highway roads, grocery store checkout lines, and restaurant waiting areas.  If peace were carried beyond our places of worship, would the happy calm of excitement and patience help us share the road and be safer drivers?  Would the grocery store checkout line go faster?  Everyday situations can be made into the peaceful greetings we warm the church with if we extend ourselves everywhere we go.

 

 

Relationships

 

Working Things Out

 

Coworkers backstab.  Daughters lie.  Uncles boast their brawn.  Friends are envious.  Lovers are confrontational.  The list goes on about the problems that exist between people.  Having problems with people are inevitable, but resolving problems with others is a challenge to many.  Working out a problem can seem impossible, but there are strategies one should consider.  When working out a problem, it is best to speak to the person directly in a neutral setting, over a set time limit, and in meeting format.  Depending on the complexity of the problem, it may be necessary to meet more than once and to establish more than one agenda to address all the issues involved.  All parties should have an understanding that not all problems can or may not be resolved in one sitting.  Problems are solved by all parties making a continuous effort to speak honestly and openly, meditate on the issues and opinions of others, and practice the behavior necessary to implement change to improving the situation.  The agenda should focus on no more than three problems at once, and all parties should meet with prepared statements for what they believe the problem is and proposals for how the problem can be solved.  All parties must remember that when sharing their views they wrote out about the problem and solution that one person must speak at a time.  Emotions can run high when people come together to discuss issues, so it may be wise to have a soft object that is passed around to each person present that serves as a symbol to let one person speak at a time.  It would also be wise to limit each person’s speaking time.  Whatever the problem, working out the problem is possible if guidelines are set and followed by those involved.

 

 

Food Favorites

 

Collard Green Veggie Stir-fry

 

¼ cup of olive oil

½ cup of chopped onions

¼ teaspoon of garlic

1 cup of chopped eggplant

1 cup of chopped zucchini

1 cup of chopped squash

1 cup of red chopped red peppers

3 cups of chopped collard greens

 

First sauté garlic and onions in olive oil, next add all chopped vegetables except for the greens.  Sauté vegetable mixtures for 10 minutes and then add greens to the mixture.  Add desired salts and seasons to taste to your liking and cook for 20 minutes.  Add olive oil to the mixture to prevent vegetables from burning and sticking to the bottom.  You may add a little water to cook greens longer than 20 minutes if you desire. 

 

Collard Green Veggie Stir-fry is best served along-side rice.

 

 

Healthy Bones

 

Keeping Good Records

 

Doctors are human beings that sometimes see you for five minutes treat problems instead of preventing problems, make mistakes, don’t connect all your health details that they barely glance at, etc., etc., etc.  Regardless, getting and keeping health records is very important.  By getting and keeping your health records, you can compare past and present test results to alert your doctor about a possible health problem.  Doctors may sometimes only take a look at results that are very abnormal.  Your observation regarding significant changes in your test results could be helpful to point out and question to help you prevent an arising problem that your doctor would typically ignore.  Take for example your cholesterol test results.  If your bad cholesterol levels are in the low normal range in tests performed in February, yet in May these levels reflect a high normal range, and then in November your bad cholesterol reports a low range of high cholesterol, then this may be a red flag.  You need to point out this information to your doctor and inquire about why this could be happening and how you can stop in from happening.  A doctor should be able to advice you about an appropriate plan of action for you to take.  A good doctor should want to monitor the health concerns you point out as problems based on test results.  Knowledge about your past and present test results can help you prevent illnesses that a test can track, detect, and treat for quick relief.

 

 

Relaxation

 

 Paint-out Your Emotions

 

You are not artist!  I mean really, you are not an artist.  You can’t draw, but you wish you could.  Yet, your mind lets your hand paint a picture so clear that you’ve created a work on the level of The Mona Lisa; except the details are subject to individual interpretation.  Now how about that!  You are an artist.  Relax!  Get some paint and a huge cardboard.  Place the cardboard on a bed of unfolded newspaper and paint.  Use a variety of colors to draw unusual shapes.  Try to draw something specific, if you miss the mark, you have art any way.  Paint until the cardboard is covered with details.  Add more than one coat of paint and blend colors by adding one color on top of another.  Stand back and imagine what your creation tells you about it.  Let your mind wonder what details to add.  Let your mind create more pictures that interpret emotion.  Let your emotions overload your canvas of cardboard.  Let your artist out.  Let the artist inside relax you.

 

 

Legal Ease

 

Pre-paying for a Peace of Mind

 

Prepaid Legal Services is a service that allows people to have access to legal help for free or at discount when paying a monthly fee.  This service does have its advantages.  Some of these advantages can range from speaking to lawyers directly for legal advice, IRS audit assistance, legal document preparation, traffic court defense, and much more.  Although no one expects to have legal problems, having access to a prepaid legal service can help you quickly best plan how to respond to situations that can prompt a legal court battle.  This service can cost on average $30 a month, but just think of all the legal questions you have in a year and the fact that an initial consultation with a lawyer from the phonebook can start at $200 for an hour.  Having a pre-paid legal service allows you to possibly ask unlimited questions for about $360 a year.  In addition to just asking questions, you can get other legal services that are common to today’s world.  Prepaid legal may be an added monthly expense, but can certainly pay itself based on the peace of mind it allows you to have.

 

 

 

Workplace

 

Do Your Best and Forget the Rest

 

Are you overworked?  Well who isn’t.  The bad thing is that the work you always really have to do can’t be done in the timeframe you have to do the work.  So like most people, you work until your brain walks out on you and leaves you with more work for the next day.  Anxiety increases and your mind contemplates various options by which to justify your work being incomplete.  Well all you can do is what you have the time to do.  However, is there another way you can organize yourself to make it seem like you’ve completed all the work you really aren’t done with?  The answer to that is always yes – you just have to be crafty enough to figure out those details.  Yet, imagine for a moment having to complete eleven tasks in seven hours (that’s right exclude your lunch hour from your work day because that time is your time).  Eleven tasks in seven hours can mean that you have about thirty-eight minutes for each task.  Scratch that, thirty-three minutes per task because you may need five minutes to regroup and to pee.  Anyway, in these thirty-three minutes per task conquer the big most important details that can give the impression that you did it all.  Before you know it, in a week’s time the little details you skipped may be patched up quicker than you think after the hard parts of your week’s tasks are complete.  That’s right, prioritize and tell your little boss that it’s called management.   

 

 

May 2008 Issue

Financial Matters

Automatic Investments vs. Initial Minimum Investments

Investing requires making good decisions to maximize returns.  Starting a new investment can be a struggle depending on how much money you start with and the type of investment you want to make.  It is common for investors to target high risk and high return investments.  For investors with little money, the deal breaker is the initial minimum investment.  Most initial minimum investments are at least $1000.  The types of investments that require an initial minimum investment of less than $1000 may have less favorable returns.  In order to begin investing in a stock or mutual fund that requires a higher initial minimum investment than you can afford, is possible if you establish an automatic investment.  An automatic investment is a way to start investing with less than the required minimum.  You must create a monthly transaction to occur between your bank and the stock or fund.  The transaction must be for a specific amount and must occur on the same date each month.  The automatic investment creates an assurance that over time, you will contribute the minimum requirement for your fund or stock.  Establishing an automatic investment is a great way to begin investing.  Using an automatic investment plan helps many people to choice investing for a secure future. 

Consumerism 

Shopping Wholesale

Wholesale Clubs have been around for some time and are beneficial.  The benefits to businesses and big families are obvious.  The benefits to individuals and small families are not that obvious.  Purchasing items always needed for any household, whether large or small, can save money and time.  For households with individuals or small families, a few good buys are laundry detergent, cooking oil, zip-lock bags, foil, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.  Everyone needs these things and cannot do without them.  Not having these great wholesale buys on the week’s shopping list will show that less money is spent and shopping happens faster.  Shopping at a wholesale club can be more beneficial if you have a small household.  Spending $12 on 216 zip lock bags can last for one whole year if you use four in a week.  Spending $2.25 on 20 zip lock bags that will last for one month if used four times a week will cost you more money in the end.  Thinking of your investment with wholesale clubs in this manner can help you see the savings firsthand. 

Peace: Tempering Tolerance

Customer Service

It feels like customer Service is no longer for the customer.  Customer service does not always provide the service that by definition it should provide.  When you purchase a product to which you want service for, seeking service can be a miserable experience that leaves you feeling helpless and frustrated.  Whether on the phone or face-to-face, getting customer service is frustrating because you end up dealing with a person who does not want to help you or does not know how to help you.  Truth is, you may have better luck dealing with the person who does not know how to help you than the person who knows how to help you and does not want to help you.  The person who does not know how to help you probably lacks basic everyday skills to best help you, but if you are patient enough to tell them what to do, they may help you best.  The person who knows how to help you, but does not want to help you is usually a loss cause until you ask them to get their supervisor.  Suddenly you get either the help or more attitudes.  At this point, you could probably figure out how to solve the problem yourself. 

Relationship Dynamics

You’re Punishing Someone

When we punish those we are involved with, we begin to destroy the relationship in many ways.  Some ways to determine if you are punishing someone are:

 

1) When you do not partake in a new experience only because of what one person did in the past.

 

2) When you do not want to enjoy a common human experience because of what someone did during this same prior event.

 

3) You still get deeply upset at the mention of the person and start mistreating those around you.

 

4) You cannot distinguish characteristics of the hurter from characteristics of others, or characteristics that are/are not okay for you.

 

5) You cannot find one good thing to say about the person who hurt you.

 

Legal Ease

Avoid Illegal Situations

No one expects to have legal problems.  However, it may be a good idea to question yourself as you live your life and ask yourself if the choices that you are making may cause you to have a legal situation.  If you can think of any legal ramifications that can surface from your choices, then you may need to re-evaluate your actions.  Even if you feel your actions are justified, this does not mean that your actions cannot cause a court case.  You may not care about having to go to court, but you may want to think about the time and emotional stress that can be involved.  Going to court is time consuming, especially when you think court is at 8:30am and upon arrival to a crowded courtroom, you realize you are a number they will call whenever.  It is timely when court dates change or motions are extended.  Every minute in court is a minute less on the job, and that means your source of money may be shrinking.  More time means more lawyer fees more research for you to do, more investigation of you – literally.  It means less time for you to enjoy the things you normally would if court were not an issue.  The whole concept of time when speaking of court is emotionally draining and can take a toll on you.   

R  E  L  A  X  A  T  I O  N

Resting                       

Even                   

Later                   

After                 

        eXcuses

Meditation

 

Meditation is more than just sitting with your legs crossed, your arms up, and your fingers held out as you say, “mmmmmmmmm.”  It is the ability to concentrate on the little calm place within you that you hope will immediately grown and consume your whole body so you can feel free of stress.  Meditation can mean that you are sitting or lying in a relaxed position of your choice and finding happy thoughts to focus on.  It can mean not focusing on any thoughts at all.  Meditation can be you focusing on the good qualities you have and the ones you would like to have.  It can be deep breathing to calm you of tensions and stresses.  It can be the use of sounds (i.e. music) or smells (i.e. candles) to help calm yourself into a more pleasurable state.  The more you meditate, the more you may begin to notice that meditating can begin to cure some physical ailments that stress caused.  Meditation may feel weird in the beginning, but over time, it can certainly prove beneficial. 

Workplace: Humane Resources

Ignore Crazy

Ever have a coworker come up to you and say something that did not make sense?  We all have had this happen to us.  We later find out that what they said did not make sense because it was not supposed to make sense, or because of some other impression we had about the circumstances they were speaking about, or because what they said was half the story to a bigger problem.  Sometimes what we hear can lead us to want to know more and ask questions to learn about “the real issue.”  Right before asking questions about the real issue, it may be a good idea to reflect upon whether the circumstance directly and immediately infringes upon your money, your career goals, or your person.  If the issue does not have a direct and immediate impact upon you, it may be wise to ignore the possible crazy person who is stirring up trouble.  You may have to ignore their repeated attempts to make you respond.  In the end, it will be well worth it.  Responding to such people usually feeds the fire they have to create and maintain trouble.  Not ignoring them will allow them to see how they can control you and will give them energy and insight on how to control you.  Regardless of the issue, the intent will still be the same – to make you miserable and to make them feel better. 

Health Matters

Red Flagging Your Doctor

Sometimes the doctors we have can make us wonder if they are worth our money and time.  The time and effort of checking out a doctor can really seem impossible and even when checking out various doctors, you may learn that certain practices or procedures are the norm and not the expectation.  Thinking about the idea of switching doctors can cause stress, but if a doctor is not serving your health concerns, changing doctors is necessary.  Making a list of pros and cons can first help you to evaluate if you need to change doctors.  So, what are some red flags that can pretty much indicate that it is time for a new doctor? 

1)     If your doctor does not explain anything to you and only mandates what you are to do.  

2)     If your doctor asks inappropriate questions i.e. your sexual practices that have nothing to do with your ailments. 

3)     If your doctor treats you like you are wasting his/her time. 

4)     If your doctor says, “all of your problems are in your head because you have had depression.” 

5)     If you cannot have a copy of your health records as requested. 

6)     If a doctor refuses to provide necessary treatment that goes against his or her personal beliefs. 

These red flags do not indicate a definite formula by which to judge all situations, but are examples of possible red flags.  Overall, if you are uncomfortable with your doctor and cannot identify why, it is best to establish a list of red flags that can cause discomfort.  Use this list to determine if a new doctor is necessary.

Food Favorites

Seasonal Pasta Salad

2 cups of your favorite pasta (cooked)

¼ cup of finely shredded cucumber, marinated in vinegar for at least 1 hour

¼ cup of chopped black olives

½ cup of cooked lentils (any color, but preferably red)

¼ cup of freshly chopped shitake or portabella mushrooms

½ cup of freshly chopped cilantro

¼ cup of chopped green onions

1 cup of cooked meat (your choice of chicken, crabmeat, and/or shrimp)

¾ cup of balsamic vinegar mixed with olive oil

½ cup of any three favorite cooked or fresh vegetables

 

Combine all ingredients and mix well.  Serve warm or cold.  You may top with your favorite cheese, almonds or craisins.  You may the salad serve on a bed of fresh whole leaf spinach.  Yields: six servings 

 

Home

 EPM

Everyday Perspective Magazine

 

Everyday you see life

the same

in change

or

you change

the same

way you see life everyday

 

Read EPM and envision!

www.everydayperspective.com

Welcome to Everyday Perspective Magazine!  Everyday Perspective Magazine (EPM) is an on-line Magazine that is for people and about the lives of people.  EPM aims to give people ideas and inspiration for improving their lives.  EPM focuses on a variety of dynamics from consumerism to the workplace.  The hope of EPM is to help people address and transform their daily challenges into successes that contribute to efforts of a better life.  A better life for you, is what makes a better life for other, and makes a better world for all.  Enjoy making the word better with EPM.

 Financial Matters

Low Minimum Self-Maintenance Accounts

Investing does not have to be hard.  Today it is more convenient to invest  than ever before because of self-management options. Managing your own account can reduce any chances that a  broker may take too much of a commission from your investments. TD Ameritrade, Scottrade, and ShareBuilder are a few self-management trade companies that offer a low minimum initial investment. There is a trading expense associated with TD Ameritrade, Scottrade, and ShareBuilder. The trading expense is low and ranges form $4-$10. This expense is low in comparison to the commission costs that a broker could charge. You also have the ability to control the number of stocks you buy, which stocks you want to buy, and how long you will own the stocks. Self-managing your account requires that you educate yourself about the stock market so that you make wise choices. Self-managing your account means that you are assuming some of the duties of a broker, but with time and effort, you may surprise yourself with what you can do with your money.  

Consumerism 

The Facts About Consumerism

Everyone is a consumer.  All consumers want both great quality  and great quantity for as little as possible.  This may sound selfish, but this desire of consumers makes consumerism happen. As a consumer, when you have a bad experience, appropriately voicing your problem is necessary for the betterment of consumerism. What you experience may not be an isolated case and your voice can help the company realize that they have a problem that needs to be addressed. Not only should you voice your concerns to the local company, but if necessary the problem should be bought to the attention of company headquarters and the Better Business Bureau. Avoiding bad experiences as a consumer is the hope of all people, and is actually something possible if you check things out.  Checking out the company you want to do business with and doing some comparison shopping ahead of time will help you to be a better consumer.  Comparison shopping ahead of time will help you to be less of a compulsive buyer when the time comes. Consumerism cannot happen without you and can happen better because of you. 

Peace: Tempering Tolerance

Patience

Patience is more than a quiet eight-letter word that begins with the letter “p”. Patience is having the endurance to withstand something that feels like an annoyance or a  misfortune. It is bearing the anxiety you feel when you have to wait. The truth is, if what you are waiting for is worth it, then you can wait for it. Patience is difficult when you must use it during situations of injustice or pure stupidity. Everyone feels that they should not have to wait on fairness to be corrected.  Unfairness isn’t something that people want to ever deal with. Yet, patience is actually something that can add years to your life if you exercise it. It can help you live when driving on the road near someone driving  reckless, and patience can allow you to earn more money (if you can ignore your current job stresses while you look for a new job). Using patience can keep you calm and save you from having strokes and other health problems. Patience is something you want others to have with you when you need help.  If you think about it, patience actually isn’t all that bad when you actually use it. 

Relationship Dynamics

Relationship Defined

A relationship is any connection that you have with any person. There are many different types of relationships and many different levels to relationships.  Regardless of the type of relationship or the level of the relationship, the expectations are the same. Making a relationship work means to communicate, to show respect, and to be patient.  Relationships can grow, stay stagnant,  or dissolve themselves.  Whether they are growing, are stagnant, or become dissolved; the outcome of what happens to a relationship is due to how a relationship is , maintained.  What you put into a relationship will be what you get out of the relationship.  Even if you don’t think that you are doing the work or are doing too much work, it takes more than one person to make a relationship fail and it takes more than one person to make sure that it succeeds. You will know what a relationship means to you based on what you get out of the relationship.  If you aren’t getting anything out of the relationship and the picture you see of the relationship is one that is displeasing, then change the scenario in the picture. 

 

Legal Ease

What does Legal System mean?

Reading this title may make you  wonder about the question and answer. A Legal System is a system that interprets and enforces laws. There are many laws that have been made and will continue to be made whether the laws are favorable or not. All people are expected to follow the laws. Not abiding by laws will put us at risk for the many different consequences that can result from not following the law. Following the law can provide protection and support for you to live a fulfilling life. The legal system was established to protect people and should be upheld for the same reason. Even if you don’t believe in the legal system, the legal system is a daily expectation and not a daily choice. You do have to choice to follow the legal system or suffer the consequences.  

R  E  L  A  X  A  T  I O  N

Resting                       

Even                   

Later                   

After                 

        eXcuses

Don’t underestimate the benefits of relaxing, especially at the time you are stressed and have the least amount of time to relax. Relaxing can allow your mind to think better thoughts so that you can be more efficient and productive than what you were before your few minutes of relaxation time.

Workplace: Humane Resources

Overlook the Small Stuff 

We all have had work situations that seem problematic. We sometimes have supervisors that have different expectations than what the company outlook has highlighted. We sometimes have goals we are to fulfill in the most productive manner that happens to contradict the manner in which we can preserve quality. We engage ourselves in battles to do our jobs in ways that keep us at peace with ourselves.   Before we know it, work situations overtake our every thought and every level of energy within us, and wears us out completely. So what do you do? Stop internalizing so much! Out of the ten things designated to you to do, start with the easiest and or quickest thing first. Get the  easiest and quickest things out of the way. If you are thinking about how “stupid” it is for you to have to do what you are doing, stop thinking about the “complexity” of it, and just do it. Whether or not it makes sense, someone has to do it and if you quit or get fired, the next person in line will be paid to do the same “stupid” task you did not do.  So, make the best out of your job and overlook the small stuff!

Health Matters

What to do with a Bad Doctor 

Going to see the doctor can sometimes be a big planning event. From making an appointment for the right date and time, to managing your daily routine around this appointment, to wondering if you will be seen first among the doctor’s other numerous 10am appointments, to waiting  in the waiting room, and well you know the rest.   Unfortunately, by the time you see by the doctor, sometimes a deeper regret builds inside of you. The regret is because you begin to notice that that doctor sitting in front of you is a bad doctor. Bad doctors can surely create a level of anger in anyone, however, it is best to stay calm when you realize your situation. It is true that any human being can have a bad day, so you must fairly evaluate the situation. While meeting with the doctor: be sure to ask as many questions necessary, get a copy of any records for your visit (financial statements and physical tests done that day and those in the past), and leave upon the appointment’s completion with grace. At the point in which you leave, really think about if you should seek a different doctor who will service you more to your liking. Changing doctors is not always an easy process or a decision. You do not need your past doctor’s permission to drop them, but you do need to spend some time researching new doctors within your insurance network plan. It is also wise to think of a few questions that you feel are important for the kind of doctor that you want. Next, begin calling the doctors on your list to question them or their staff about who they are and the office procedures concerning patients. It may also be a good idea to do a little research on the doctors through their own website or through reference sites such as, http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/, where you can check out a doctor’s background. You can also do an internet search with the keywords: Medical Board of (type your state). When you find the website of your state’s Medical Board, there should be a link for you to access some information about your physician. Remember, your health and time are worth a doctor who will treat you with respect. Stay calm, reflect on how to make your future doctor’s visits better, and do your research.

Food Favorites

Jell-o Dream 

1 small sugar free low calorie Jell-o Gelatin cup  (choice the flavor your heart desires) 

1 squirt of light whipped cream 

1 tsp. of low calorie high fiber breakfast cereal 

Open up your Jell-o Gelatin cup, add one squirt of light whipped cream on top of the Gelatin, and top it with a tsp of your favorite healthy breakfast cereal.