Boost Your Brain Power!

Recently, I feel like I've lost my mind. I can't remember anything. I'd like to put the blame on my chaotic life, and stress. However, that is just an easy way out. I need to take charge of my problem.

The problem began when I left my cellphone out in the rain, and there after, I left it at a restaurant. You must know that I am careful person. My habit is to look around the area before I leave. For some reasons though, this process lately skips me completely!

In search for help, I found this article: "Ignite Your Brain Power with the 20 Smartest Food on Earth" on ecosalon website.

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The article covered a variety of foods, including tips on how to "green" your choices. With each food, listed a short description on why it is good for your brain. I like this article because it combined all the foods that I need to eat on one page!

Now that I know what foods to eat, it is time to move on making a healthy shopping habit. In this article: "Healthy Eating Begins at the Supermarket" on Reader Digest, shows you how and where to look for healthy foods.

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You will find 25 tips for shopping at supermarkets. It is an informative article that I need to learn to make the best choices for my family. You can too! Take a few minutes to read these articles to have more power over your life.

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Another informative article is: "Nine Nutritional Tips", written by Dr. John Berardi, on DieFatty.com. He discussed many areas such as the organic debate, pasta, fiber facts, fish oil, mood eating, and metabolism.

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Finally, in this article: "14 Simple Ways to Super Charge Your Brain" on Dumb Little Man, you will find ways to help your brain to stay healthy. It needs exercise, as well as resting period.

We have nothing to loose to try and make the best of our life. After all, we only have one life to live, so live it well!

Should We Have the Same Identity for All?

In my post last week, "To Add or Not to Add?" I mentioned the art of adding friends, (0r not), on social bookmarking sites. It is still a puzzle to me of why I should add a fan to my friend list, and why I shouldn't add.

Circle of friends

Through live and learn I know what is best for me, and what I like to do on those sites. Now, I will only add friends if I see my friend are supportive to me, as I am to them! It is a two-way street, always! However, I will remove a friend if he/she keeps on sending pages to me, without even bothers to look at my page once!

So, really, don't add a person just for your own purpose of sending your work! It's selfish!

Social Bookmarking Sites

This week, I want to address my other question: Should we have the same identity for social bookmarking sites and our own website? This is another struggle issue, and there is no rule book to tell us what to do, or not do.

The Advantage of Having the Same Identify

While reading many articles, and blogs, I realize that many people advised to use the same identity for easy recognition, include your avatar!

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As far as I can see, this is one of the biggest advantages in marketing online. Fans and readers can easily identify you right away, plus they won't be hesitated in giving you that thumb up or Digg or bookmark your article! Your popularity can sky rocket with just this one simple choice.

The Disadvantage of Not Having the Same Identity

Internet Sites-Friends Feeds

Although having the same identity is best, I have also found that there are many successful people who have different names on their own website, and on their social bookmarking sites.

The only disadvantage is forcing your readers/fans to remember two names instead of one. Hey, I think this can be a test of loyalty if they stick around.

My Personal View

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As I see it, if you have one identity to social bookmarking sites, and your own website or blog, more power to you! If you have two separate names, you must work a little harder to get to where you want, and it is not the end of the world either.

Figure out what will work for you, how comfortable you are with one identity, (or two identities), and go for it. There is really no set rules, or guaranty of success or failure! Do it from your guts and reach beyond limits.

Further Reading Resources

• Shana Albert and TheNanny612--(different identities!)
• Think Simple Now and ArtsyTina--(One identity, pretty close anyway!
  

Positive Energy: It Takes Time to Change

I often don't pay attention to how my inner self talks to me, and if I focus on this conversation, it mostly reveals itself as doubts, negative thoughts, or fear. It is a mirror of my life!

To get over self-doubts, and thoughts, I read "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, lots of repeated practices, and tune in to what my mind is talking at all moment.

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The Power of Positive Thinking: Truth or Myth?


This is an interest article, and discussed about the truth or myth of positive thinking. It is a great read for me to sort out my own belief. Personally, I prefer to think in an upbeat way rather than constant negative talk., whether it is true or not.

Give Your Mood an Instant Dose of Zing

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To boost those down time, I wrote this article to keep my spirit alive, and remind myself how beautiful life really is. The list in this article is very simple, and is something I hold close to my heart.

6+1 Ways to Improve Your Mood

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Here is article on "ManageYourLifeNow.com", which listed many other ways to improve your mood. I totally agree with all the suggestions in this wonderful article, and practice them whenever I feel down.

The Five Secrets to Being Happy

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Volunteer is something I live by, and through many visits at the nursing home, old people shared their secrets of staying happy with me. You will find five secrets in this article, and they will surprise you as how simple they really are.

A New Prescription for Happiness

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Read this and try to identify your traits to happiness. It is an article to ponder upon! Here is a direct quote from it: "other qualities can be cultivated, sometimes by doing something as simple as taking a walk in the park, counting your blessings at the end of the day, or sitting down and writing a letter you may never send."

A Dozen Reasons You are a Happy Person

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Recognize one simple thing you do each day, can also give you that powerful feeling of positive thought. In this article, you will see that even the smallest act such as smile bring out a different attitude.

It is up to us to guide our life, and take control of our emotions. We can't change whatever happens to us, but we can change how we should look at the situation, and decide to win it rather than let it beat us down.

To Add or Not to Add?

In an effort to understand how social bookmarking sites work, I read blogs after blogs, articles after articles, and I still don't have a clue! One person said this is good to do; while others advice against it.

I have questions upon questions, and can't seem to find the answers for them. One thing though, I find many great resources and beautiful pictures on StumbleUpon and Digg.


Why Do We Add Friends?

Well, one thing I understood is this: if you have friends, and when you hit the "stumble" button, you will see your friends' stumbles! That part is crystal clear!

On Digg, when you add friends, they can send "shout" to you, and you can shout back to them with your submission!

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However, while stumbling, I do not see my friends on SU list that often, but I mostly see sites that are more tailored to my interests.

Very few of my SU friends stumble my discovered either! Since I hardly ever stumble through my friends discovered, I have to go to their blog to look for sites that are useful, or interesting to me.

Digg is another story! It depends on who your friends are! If your friend is a popular "Digger", chances are they have many shouts to Digg, and yours will be pushed down further on the list. Sometimes, your shout will even be missed!

Should we add friends?

Just as in the real world, we need to be careful in picking or adding friends to our network. Before adding, you should take a look at their blog, or their digg history to see if you have anything in common, or something useful in your areas of interests.

Why add friends if they are not stumble or digg your "stuffs"? Moreover, why add them if you are not even remotely like what they have on their profile? It is not fair for them, nor for you!

After adding friends back on Digg, I find myself digging for friends more than sites that I'm interested in to Digg. The thing is, I dugg their shouts, but mine went unnoticed! Thus, I had to "unfriend" with them just as well! I like to have my freedom to digg, and I like fair play!

Is it worth to add friends?


It is worth adding friends if the questions below serve you best:

• Do you mind receive pages and pages send to you everyday for stumble and review?
• Do they stumble and review your submissions?
  
• Are they as active as you are?
• Do they digg your shouts?
• Do you share anything in common?
• How much time do you have in a day to accommodate these tasks?
• Do you like the pages you Digg, or Stumble from your friends?
• Do you want to send your submission to your friends on SU, or shout your submission to your friends on Digg?
• What would you like to see: massive traffic to your submission, or make it to the Digg front page?
  
• Are you willing to put in that extra work or time to get the desired result?

Depending on your preferences, it is worth adding friends. For me, I chose to stay free-spirit! After a few bad experiences with people who added me, then right away asked me to submit and review their site, I'm a bit hesitated in adding friends. I don't want to be obligated to do what I don't like to do, especially if I have no interest in the subject!

I would rather have a fewer friends on my network that support each other, than hundred of friends who have nothing to do with one another!

Support "Train For Humanity"

I came across "Train For Humanity" on She-Power.com about this wonderful endeavor. It is the hope of these three bloggers: Leo Babauta, Mark Hayward, and Dan Clements to raise an online humanitarian awareness, and create a fundraising organization for Darfur Peace and Development Organization.

Take a look at these random pictures that I found on Flickr, and if they do touch your heart in some ways, please consider helping out this good cause.

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If these pictures tug at your heart, and you have been wanting to do something about it, then here is your chance to help these gentlemen getting the word out.

Many Ways To Help

• Write a post about Train For Humanity on your blog
• Put a badge of Train For Humanity on your blog
• Stumbe and Digg Train For Humanity website
• Donate
• Spread the word out on Mixx, Twitter, Buzz, and other bookmarking sites
  

These pictures represent human beings in many terrible conditions. If we all take a little part in helping this great cause, it will make the world a better place to live in.

Movie to Watch: "P.S. I Love You"

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In my life time, I've always wanted a love affair that lasts to eternity, but haven't found it yet, and probably never will. However, I'm loved and I have love with people in my world. There are other types of love to fulfill that empty spot.

Life happens and is not exactly what we want even if we have the wonderful love.

There are moments in the movie that brings tear to my eyes. It makes me ache for that eternal love. The love that makes you feel like a part of your body is missing. The love that I dream of. Complete! Whole! Genuine! Beautiful! Marvelous! Believable! Unbelievable!

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You can find that kind of love in this movie. Fought through the hardest time in her life, Holly Kennedy finds her passion, and enjoys living again. As the saying goes: "There is no where else to go, but up" applies in Holly's situation.

Sometimes, we must go through the darkest period of our lives in order to reach for that sun shine moment, whether it is big or small.

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Love is a marvelous thing, and until we learn to love ourselves first, we can't reach that freedom and happiness as Holly did. Moreover, love comes in many different forms, and has many different faces. It's not just for couples, it can simply be with the people in our lives.

Why wait for that one person? Love yourself! Love the people around you! Love everything life has to offer, and in the end, you will find contentment and happiness.

When You Leave a Comment, Do You Know What It Means?

I am a freelance content contributor. I don't know if this qualifies me as a writer, since I haven't had a book published yet! Anyone can be a writer nowadays, so I have to say I'm a content contributor, which suits me better!

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Thanks for Sharing!

I write because I love writing, but as far as sharing, I'm not sure! Am I writing it to share? Am I sharing it because I have it published?

I have received many comments such as this: "Nice one, thanks for sharing", and each time I read it, it ticks me off a bit. Really, am I sharing my poem or article with the world? Or is it because I just want to have something published?

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When you read an article, what is your impression? Is it good? Or is it bad? What does it make you feel? Do you like it? Can you relate to it? Do you understand what it is? Do you get something out of it, such as learning a new thing, feel a feeling, entertain by it, or curse it? Say it then! Comment on how a particular piece makes you feel. Not just "thanks for sharing!"

Thanks for the Research!

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This sentence "thanks for doing the research" always makes me laugh! I didn't do it for you, so you really don't have to thanks me for doing it. If I do it, it has to intrigue me in some ways. So most likely, it is for me!

Often, I didn't do research. Materials happen to just landed on my laps, literally. I read them, and put them into an article that I could understand. Sometimes, I have to do a bit of digging (researching) to make my point. Anyway, if I do research, it is so, because I want it.

So if you already take time to leave a comment, why not make it useful to the writer. I must admit, I'm the worst "commenter" on the planet. I do not like distasteful comments, or discouraging in any ways, therefore, my "great article, great one, beautiful poem, nice poem" must change soon.

I won't ever say "Thanks for sharing" or "Thanks for the research" unless I want to make a point by leaving the same comment every time! It is pointless to say. It is also cold! It gives me the feeling that the commenter didn't really read it, they just scan through it, and at the end they don't know what to comment on...

Type in "Thanks for sharing" or "Thanks for the research" is a safe bet. It lets the writer know you were there, and need to return a favor.

Hat off to Magicians

I've recently read "Realizing Your Are a Magician Can Create Magic in Your Life" on Pun Intended, and the "Wow" factor hit me, literally!

This post dated in July, and yes, I know I am way behind in time, but caught this article after all.

What is so great about this post?

It is accurately described the many roles that each and everyone of us have, but not realizing it. We are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, workers, daughters, sons, and many more.

Read the short post above, and be empowered by just that one sentence!

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What makes us a magician?

Ask yourself this question: when you write, are you the same person? Or do you feel like you are someone else, transforming into another person, lost in another world? You've just put on a hat and pull out a rabbit!

Why are we a magician?

How about this: do you act, talk, or do the same things when you are with your close friends as you would with an acquaintance? Yeah, you are a magician alright!

Think about it! We wear many faces. We do many different things with different people in our life, and we do different things when we are by ourselves. We are the magicians! We transform to suit our role, at the moment that we are in.

When you are in doubt or have negative thoughts, remember you are a magician. You can do anything. You can reach beyond limits!

I have not thought of myself as a magician, but from now I'll try to remember that, and "create magic in my life." It is a beautiful thought, isn't it?

Meijer SuperMarket Pushes Customers to Use Self-Checkout Service

It was a mid afternoon Monday when I decided to take the boys to do grocery shopping. We spent time looking at things, and the boys even strolled down the toy aisles for a while.

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Our shopping chore didn't take long, but the waiting was double. The line was long, as if it was Christmas Eve, and not many registers were open. Customers started to shuffle, trying to find the shortest line to go to.

Mind you, this was Meijer! One of those giant superstores that used to offer customers service. Not anymore, they are not! They are cutting down on costs.

You must use the self-checkout lane

Meijer is currently directing their customers to the self-checkout lanes, by open only a few regular registers. The result was long lines of upsetting customers.

People returned their soft frozen foods, their melted ice cream, and complained to the nearest cashier supervisor. She couldn't do anything, and told us that it was corporate decision.

The gimmick

On each of the self checkout lane there was a post of "Hiring Now." To top it off, manager, assistant manager, and supervisors were scattered all over the front of the store, encouraged customers to use the self-checkout lanes.

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Self-checkout lane is not suitable for elderly, people with a cart full of foods, or people with children and babies. Who would keep an eye on the children, or hold the baby for them to scan the foods, let alone bag their own foods, and put them in the cart?

Many people refused to use the self-checkout lanes and demand for regular registers to open up. After a few minutes of hearing complaints, the store manager, assistant manager, and the cashier supervisor all disappeared.

I think at this point, we all have figured out their gimmick!

Customers are smarter than Meijer thinks!

Where is the old fashion customer service? All right, just where is customer service then? What happens to it? Is it still around anymore? Can we still have service in the future? Are we being forced to do everything on our own?

Meijer cuts down on hiring cashiers! Force customers to get used to self-checkout lane. There you go, more people are out of jobs! More people will not be able to support their family. More people will be out of homes!

Hey, posting "Hiring Now" is not fooling anybody! We know what you are trying to do by the way your people behaved. Manager apologized. Rude supervisor such as Elaine, made this comment to an elderly lady: "If you drive a car, you pump your own gas, right? It is not different!"

After she loudly said that, and received intense starred from people, she walked the elderly lady to another line and checked her out!

Yes, we know what you are doing! Corporate may give order on how to run a store, but they can't give order on how people should behave.