"Finding" yourself

You hear a lot about people taking time out to "find" themselves or to have some "me" time but do they really mean that or are they just wanting to step off the treadmill for a while?

I have always considered myself to be reasonably well educated and well travelled. Having worked in Abu Dhabi and lived in that completely different culture for nearly 14 years I also considered myself to be "cosmopolitan". Who was I kidding?

Yes I had done a fair bit and had taken myself way out of my comfort zone a few times but you cant rest on your laurels. I cant sit there and say because I did this once or twice I am now a complete and fully developed person. Thats not reality is it. Reality is that we continue to develop until the day we die. Thank goodness!!

There is so much more to life and we all want something different so I am not here to give you my view as what you should be doing - thats up to you. My point of this blog is to urge you never to think that you "know enough" or that you have "been there, done that, got the "T" shirt" .................etc. There is always something new, something interesting, something fantastic that is out there just to make your day that bit better.

You can learn to be a better Mum, Dad, colleague, friend - it doesn't matter the relationship personal development, i.e. the development of YOU can make you enjoy life so much more and because you are enjoying things more others will enjoy you more. If you are looking for success then look no further than yourself for it is you who will make a success of your life.

A bit soap boxy? Possibly! Its something that I feel quite passionate about these days and I feel frustrated when I hear negative and downbeat comments around me and I just wish I could make people see that they can improve their life - but only they can do it.

If you are unsure where to start then no better place than watching "The Secret" - you can do quite a bit of PD on The Secret official website for Free! (See link on right hand side) And that will just lead you into further development where and when you want.

Anyway thats my thoughts for today.

Positive Media

Do you sometimes wonder what on earth the media are going to focus on next? How many times can you watch the news from start to finish and there is not ONE good news story to be told? Is that because there is no good news? Of course not - but the sad thing is that good news is not what the public tune in for.

For instance at the moment people are watching Tony Blair answer questions over the war in Iraq to ascertain if the war was "legal" or not. We are avidly following the news stories hoping that this man will fall flat on his face - yet this is the man that a majority vote chose as their Prime Minister for many years. What is my point here? Human nature likes drama - especially if its someone else's and if its bad that's fine, just so long as its some else's!! (Probably why Eastenders - UK soap - is so popular - no one is ever allowed to be happy in it. In order to make everyone unhappy - disaster upon disaster befall the occupants of Albert Square. It makes the real world look so much better!! Maybe its by design - now there's a thought!)

But back to the main point, this was one of the reasons that I joined Polaris Media Group. For once being involved with something that focuses on the positive is so uplifting. The documentaries that Polaris have released so far are "Kids with Cameras" following a group of autistic children achieving success participating in a unique film camp. The latest is "Unbeaten" which chronicles the exploits of 31 disabled athletes as they make their way over six days in wheelchairs and hand cycles in what is known as the toughest road race in the world, "Sadler’s Alaska Challenge".

The thing about these documentaries is the focus put on how people (who actually do have something to gripe about) cope with adversity and turn it into a positive.

There will always be bad news - its the way things go isn't it? But sometimes we let it take over. Life needs balance and so to balance out the bad Polaris is focusing on the good and very good it is too. Unbeaten is definitely my favourite - it leaves me in awe of such achievements and uplifted and upbeat and for someone who used to be very negative that is a real achievement for ME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpPIQXsiyOg
Trailer for the incredible documentary "Unbeaten", hosted by Dan Aykroyd and featuring "A Better Life" by Clint Black. Presented by Polaris Media Group.

Reflexology

The history of this therapy can be traced back to ancient India, China and Egypt, as is evidenced by the wall paintings in a Physician’s tomb in Saqquara which dates back to 2330B.C. The practice of this therapy has continued in an unbroken line for many centuries in the East, alongside other therapies like Acupuncture, Shiatsu and Massage. Here in the West, with the development of Medical Science, we have lost many of the traditional natural therapies in the last 300 years. Doctors taught a system whereby the human body was little more than a machine made up of many parts and whose problems could be cured by surgery and by drugs, which of course, is true. However, mankind is more than just the components of the physical body. We have a mind and spirit as well. Many of today’s illnesses have their roots in mental problems or in disturbances of the spirit.

Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques. It is based on the principle that there are reflex points on the feet that correspond to every organ, gland and part of the body.

For example, the toes represent the head, the ball of the foot represents the chest and lung region, the soft area of the foot is the stomach and the inside of the foot represents the spine. The left foot corresponds to the left side of the body and the right foot corresponds to the right side of the body.

Reflexology is not ticklish; the pressure is firm but not painful. Different reflexes spark different sensations, some may feel tingling in the corresponding body parts, this is due to
the flow of energy being stimulated in that zone. If a particular part of the body is out of balance, the corresponding reflex may feel slightly tender during the treatment due to crystal deposits under the skin.

By applying pressure to the reflex points, the blood circulation is improved, the body relaxes and organs and glands become balanced. Over 75% of our health problems can be linked to nervous stress and tension. Reflexology is fantastic for relaxing and clearing these blockages.

Its purpose is not to treat or diagnose for any specific medical disorder. Reflexology is a holistic treatment that will promote better health and well being and return the body to its natural equilibrium

Hot Countries and Rain - not a good mix!

What has happened to this weather? We seem to be in the grip of winter (perish the thought - and perishing it was today too!)

Last week I wrote about the rain here and how Spain struggles to cope with rain as its not the norm here. We used to live in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Most of you are probably more familiar with Dubai which is about an hour up the road, although last year Abu Dhabi staged its first formula one Grand Prix which put it on the map in some people's eyes. Anyway the U.A.E. as a whole had very little rainfall. So little in fact that when clouds were spotted a plane was sent up to "seed the clouds". This was done by spraying some sort of chemical (?) on the clouds which made them rain - yes really. Derek worked in one part of the military airport and would see the plane go up and then ring me to warn me that it was going to rain. Honestly - this is exactly what would happen.

I would then make sure that I was where I needed to be or back home before it rained if that was at all possible. Rain in Abu Dhabi was not good if you were driving. For one thing it was very localised. There was a particular flyover that I have driven over many times and there has been a torrential downpour on one side and nothing on the other. Storm drains were full of sand as well as rubbish (just like Spain really) and the camber on the roads was fairly non-existent in many places so rain collected in the middle rather than running off so aquaplaning was an added "interest".

The most "interesting" and potentially hazardous thing was that many (most ?) of the locals drove just as fast as normal but put their hazards lights on. "Look out here I come and yes I am a hazard so get out of my way". It worked beautifully! (They did it in fog too - not funny!).

Another interesting little quirk in Abu Dhabi was - back to this camber thing - the water would collect on roundabouts and get deeper the closer to the centre it got. So well meaning people would place buckets, empty paint pots, breeze blocks etc around the deep part to keep people from driving into it and potentially breaking down. Great, very public spirited of them - that is until the sun starts to dry up the rain and then inexplicably there are breeze blocks and other items in the middle of the road of a roundabout. You see those lovely public spirited people didn't think to remove the markers when the need passed and so now we had a new hazard.

So, back in Spain,do you think that perhaps because we didn't get a great deal of rain in the Autumn (ie none) that some well meaning sole has popped up and sprayed the clouds? And if that is so could someone please confiscate the keys to his plane? ......

Till next time - (hope webbed feet are in this summer!)

Stop Press - The Recession is Over

Today was the day we woke up to the news that the recession is over! Hmmmm - it conjures up many bizarre visuals: people rushing around telling each other, shouting it from the rooftops, queuing to get in the shops and spend, spend, spend. In reality will there be any change - no, I am sure not; certainly not in the short term.

Now dont get worried I am not about to go into financial analyst speak or political mode I just wonder about these things sometimes.

When we arrived in Spain in 2004 my research had been sketchy to say the least. I had presumed a few months off and then the nice little part time job that paid all the bills (after all they were not going to be substantial were they - its Spain - cheap to live). I wasn't even fussy - I was happy to work 2-3 full days a week or every morning for 3 or 4 hours. It was such a cosy little notion and I spent many months before coming to Spain daydreaming about it.

Lucky really that I hadn't a clue about the reality here in Andalucia. I think the reality is that this part of Spain has been suffering a bit of a recession for many years. Unemployment is high and I found that when I did go on a Spanish on-line job site that there were literally hundreds of applicants for each job no matter what the job was.

So the world recession only served to make a hard life harder for the Spanish in the south of the country. For instance our many Spanish neighbours. One pair of brothers have a lorry each (one lives nearly opposite and the other lives just down the track) and they delivered fruit and veg. I used to groan when at 5am the one lorry used to grind up the track past us and the big metal gates of the one opposite opened up with a loud rumble. Now I feel sad for them because there is no 5am noise or rarely as the two men have no work (although I don't miss the wake up call). They both have families and I wonder how they manage. Another family have the husband out of work for nearly a year and his wife works 3 jobs and looks after her parents one of whom has cancer and runs our water community (a thankless task if ever there was one).

So for the UK Recession has meant loss of jobs through downsizing or companies folding but they have had the good times and the good times will come back. I wonder how much things will change here when the recession is over in Spain!

That's it - sorry if it got a bit political!

If you are still wanting to work here in Spain but wanting to enjoy the lifestyle too don't forget to visit my website for information on a Home Based Business. www.asimplesecret.com

Inspirational and Motivational Conference in Prague

Well - this weekend is going to be something else!! Our Network Marketing Business is is holding the last of its "round the world" Kick-off events (training days) and Foundation Live Event this Saturday and Sunday (30th and 31st January 2010). This is the first Foundation Live (one day event) and the line up is fabulous. All this happening in the beautiful and historic city of Prague.

"Foundation Live is an inspiring 1 day motivational workshop with presentations on how to succeed in life, in relationships and in business.
For many, this event is the first time they meet the people they have learned from and worked with on their Beyond Freedom Evolution(tm).
Come and join the members of this community as we embark on this journey together…" (Beyond Freedom Evolution is the home study course that is putting me and life to rights!!)

One of the speakers is Scott Burrows. Scott has an incredible life story. A nationally ranked young athlete, he stepped into the passenger side of a friend’s car and awoke hours later in the emergency room, diagnosed a quadriplegic. Rather than accept his fate he channelled all the skills he had learnt as an athlete into his recuperation. You can see more about Scott on his website www.scottburrows.com

Scott will be joined by other inspirational speakers including our founder and leader Shane Krider.

For more information on this event or if you are interested in working for yourself, from home, in your own time at your own pace then please contact me or visit my website www.asimplesecret.com

The Winter Beach

One of the things we love whether we are in the UK or here in Spain is walking the dogs on the beach in the winter. The beach is a great place out of season. Its not manicured, there is flotsam and jetsam and, here in Spain, a whole different set of people. Add some rather unruly dogs to the mix and you have an interesting walk to say the least!
Take last Sunday for instance. We packed the dogs into the car and drove 20 minutes to Torremolinos Beach. Torremolinos is great because it goes on and on - seemingly for miles. You expect it to be empty. Wrong!!! Admittedly there aren't many sunbathers although last Sunday was a lovely day and so there were some British holiday makers who were baring more body than the rest of us.
A walk on the beach with two dogs on extending leads (imagine the nightmare if I let them off!)is fraught with danger. The first hazard is the fishermen. A neat row of rods in holders in the sand - no need to paint the picture of dogs one side and us the other. How to wipe out half a dozen rods in one fell swoop!
Then we have a lot of very small people, with the wobbly, undirected gait that strikes fear in the heart of someone precariously in charge of a mad Spanish Water Dog on the end of an extended lead. Similar action to the fisherman, I spend a lot of time reeling him in and letting him out again. Then you get the joggers - plugged into their IPOD's - determinedly running off last night’s excesses. Running people always make dogs think that they are doing it expressly for them – exciting – depends on your point of view I suppose!
There are the meditators (not sure that is a word – the spell checker certainly wasn’t helpful!) sitting cross legged gazing out to sea. These tend to cause us a little anxiety as meditation and salty, sandy exuberant dogs don’t exactly mix - I know, I have tried it. So leads get shortened as we pass those communicating on different level.
A lot of the cafes are also open on the beach during the winter so – provided they have tables outside which most do, and that unruly dogs have at least worn themselves out a little, we can enjoy a welcome cuppa before walking up onto the promenade for the last stretch back to the car. The promenade is similarly hazardous but our dogs are not the only hazard thankfully. Skateboard and rollerbladers, bicycles, pushchairs and tricycles all add to the chaos so that by the time we reach the sanctuary of the car and from there home again, both humans and canines are ready to veg out for Sunday afternoon.