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The Gift of Myself As A Christmas Present

Posted Thursday, December 18, 2008 (339 days 2 hours ago.) Viewed 27 times.

The Christmas that holds the most important and special memory in my mind is the first one I would have spent away from my family. I went into the Navy right out of graduating from high school in June, back in 1975, and by Christmas I hadn't really been in long enough to request a leave. My mother was devastated.

Well, after joining the Navy, at 18 and never having even been away to a summer camp, I was dealing with homesickness big time. My mom, had put together a Christmas package and given it to my Grandma to send to me. My Grandma and I had a secret. I was actually coming home but we were going to surprise my parents.

She held on to the package and didn't mail it. The reason we were keeping it a secret was, my leave didn't start until Christmas Day itself, and it ended on New Years Day.

I flew home early Christmas morning. My sister Mary, and her husband picked me up from the airport. It seemed that the only ones that weren't in on the secret were my younger siblings and my parents.

Mary and Joe (yes, those are their real names) dropped me off outside the back door. I gave them time to go in the front door and get greeted. Then I rang the back door bell.

My mom answered the door. She was beside herself. She just kept yelling, "Richard, come here, look what I found!" referring to me just standing there grinning.

My other grandma, my dad's mom was also there and she was griping, about it all saying we could have given her a heart attack. (She was probably jealous because she hadn't been in on the secret, too, LOL)

It was mid afternoon and the presents had all been opened but I was in time for dinner. My grandma proceeded to get "my box" and insist on me opening it. But I had a better idea.

Being that I had been stationed in San Diego, I had gone to Tijuana, Mexico and spent $50. I had been able to get everyone, a Christmas present, I had 6 brothers and sisters. We sat there and I watched everyone open the gift I had carefully picked out in Mexico just for them, and my heart swelled.

I learned the true meaning of Christmas that day and the feeling you get when you give instead of receive.

As for my box, I must have opened it afterward, but that part of this day, I don't even remember.

It was the giving that made this Christmas a significant and memorable one, that I will never forget, it stands vivid in my mind, even today some 33 years later. It was on that day at the ripe old age of 18, that I learned what the meaning of Christmas Day and the spirit of giving rather than receiving meant.

Laurie Meade is the owner of several websites, and a regular contributing author here at searchwarp.com. You can find a few of her websites here:
The First Family Obama
Living Well In A Recession Articles

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Why Are There So Many Unusual Obama Products Being Created and Sold?

Posted Friday, December 05, 2008 (352 days 8 hours ago.) Viewed 86 times.

Its not surprising to see people buying books, newspapers and magazines about our new First Family Obamas. But the other items that seem to be growing in popularity, are truly different and unique. Why, in this time of predicted recession and hard times, are people spending money and all this First Family Obama products?

Besides the usual day after the election, newspapers and magazine craze and stampede, what other types of products are emerging? Well lets see, how about a life size cardboard cutout of Barack Obama, going for almost $30 at amazon. Or if you are into bobble-head collections, you can get a Barack Obama Bobble-Head that talks. What does he say, well, yep, you guessed it, "Yes We Can."

TV commercials are gracing the airwaves promoting supposedly genuine from the US Mint Department, special Barack Obama Coins. Of course they are a limited edition. News sources on MSNBC and CNN stated yesterday that the Obama team advises that these are not created by the government, so you have to be careful as to the validity of the items being peddled.

So why are people buying these items off the internet, and store shelves faster than ice cream sells on a hot august day? Maybe its because his election is one of the most historically significant days in modern day times. It might be that by getting a First Family Obama Product, it makes them feel more like they are somehow attached and included in that history.

Maybe it is because they see these items as investments that may be worth more in the future. Of course it could be as easy of an answer to why they get these First Family Obama products is simply because they saw something that they just had to have and bought it impulsively as so many of us do on a regular basis. Just because it makes you temporarily feel happy.

Whatever the reason, the items you can find about the First Family Obama, are as different unique and fun as the popular culture of our American society is, and almost just as diverse, too.

You can find out more about unique, interesting, funny and cute First Family Obama Products, watch news and video clips, and great books to read here:
http://www.thefirstfamilyobama.com/products

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Important Things to Consider When Writing Product Reviews and Testimonials

Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 (1 year 263 days ago.) Viewed 234 times.

If you want to learn how to write a good product review , then you'll need to learn how professional writers get this task accomplished quickly.

You will need to specifically focus on presenting yourself with an unbiased and intelligent opinion on the subject. Once you master review writing, creating testimonials becomes even simpler.

How can you gain trust from your potential readers? After reading this article, you should be able to create unique, convincing, product reviews, easily and quickly. When you can do this successfully you will develop a loyal following of trusting readers, begging for your opinions on the next hottest new products that come upon the market.

If you can gain the trust of your reader by coming across as an unbiased reviewer, that reader will be more likely to follow any advice you give them on whether they should buy the product you are recommending.

When your reader is convinced that you are unbiased, they will be inclined to follow your advice easily.

But for most writers, being convincing, and coming across as an intelligent expert does not come too easily.

There are formulas you can follow which can take you step by step through the process of creating a good review. The formula system involves creating your own template, a series of questions you answer about each product you review. By answering a series of intelligent questions you can easily churn out impressive reviews one after another.

Each review you write will become easier than the last and before long you will be known as a review writing expert. Once you have mastered the review writing process it is even easier to take a review and condense it into an even shorter version which is known as a testimonial.

Both reviews and testimonials, will not only help you make sales of your own and affiliate products, they can also help you create the all important backlinks to your website. They also help to establish you as an expert in your specific niche.

Laurie Meade is a webmaster, software creator and writer. She has self taught herself what she needs to know to work online from home. Read some of her reviews, at http://writeareviewsoftware.com/examples, or keep an attitude of gratitude with her software:

at http://dailygratitudejournal.com

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7 Simple Ways to Stay Focused to What is Most Important to Your Daily Successes

Posted Thursday, March 23, 2006 (3 years 245 days ago.) Viewed 11,727 times.

It's very easy to get so caught up in day to day activities that you forget what is most important to your success and well-being. There are some simple tips and activities you can do that will help you stay more in touch which is what is most important to you. It is necessary if you want to stay in focus with your ultimate goals.

Below you will find some easy steps on how to keep the important things in the proper perspective and stay more on target toward your daily to-do lists.

By keeping positive, rather than having a negative outlook you will be better able to manage those daily challenges and move forward in your success toward your long range ultimate goals.

Take Good Care of Yourself

It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest. Learning to let go of anger, resentment and negative feelings will also help us to stay more focused and healthy.

Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For

Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.
*See the resource box below for a unique software tool that can help you make this process easy and quick.

Detach From Negative Thoughts

Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it. I recently heard someone say, that rejection isn't real, it is our imaginary perception of an event we have experienced. The next time you feel rejected, remind yourself you have the power to change that perception, and thus change the feeling as well.

Volunteer for a Charity Event, or Help another Person

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

Use Thought Stopping Interrupts to Combat Negative Self-Talk

If you find yourself feeling low, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Thought stopping is powerful tool to change something negative in your mind. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry. Try to find the good in a negative situation. Is there a lesson to be learned from the experience?

Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

When I find myself working at the computer for long periods of time, it helps tremendously for me to get up, and change activities. Something as mundane as doing the dishes, (which while doing, I always turn on my favorite CD to listen to,) can change my whole outlook and freshen my brain for more productive work within the next hour.

Try journaling to yourself in dialogue, or using unique journaling software tools.* Journaling can be a great release and help you discover many facets of yourself that lie buried in the recesses of your subconscious mind. Some of these include, negative thinking patterns, past successes that you don't give yourself credit for having earned, and much more.

By making time for yourself, you ultimately help yourself reach the goals you strive for in a much faster and more productive way. It is very easy, especially for the work at home, online entrepreneur to become a workaholic. You need to take time for family and friends, and in the long run not meeting your own special needs will eventually catch up with you and slow your total productivity down.

Learn more about journaling and staying on top of your daily successes.
Find tools to help you with Laurie Meade's *Self Improvement Software. Including Gratitude Journal Software, Positive Affirmation Writer Software and more.

Free Content Articles at http://articles411.com and weight loss specific ones at http://infoaboutweightloss.com Start your own daily gratitude journal with "Daily Gratitude Journal Software at http://dailygratitudejournal.com

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