Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Time of Seemingly Endless Crossroads

I'm going to be a bit thoughtful for this post. Thus for those who've got a short attention span, I don't know if they'll make it to the end.
I've been rather vocal on several social sites, article comments and about any place that I get the itch to sound off. It's been happening with alarming regularity the last few months.
Now some would say that's good, that I've been letting my voice be heard and staying aware of current events.
Others would say I've too much time on my hands and should do something else. Then again there are still others who couldn't care one way or another what I do or say, but then they're that way with everything and everyone, so it's nothing new for them. It's just their frame of mind.

But there's something brewing, you can almost feel it in the air.
There's this feeling of something growing too big, that it's going to over boil soon if the tensions don't settle down. And yet there's no end to the shouts being heard in the media.
One group cries out "Revolution!" and another group yells "Don't Tread on Me!". Mostly cause they are just mad at everyone and everything but they don't know who to aim at. So they just scream at everyone. The tensions, the anger and the pure negative energies seem to know no restrictions or limits.
We continually see the media, like a flock of vultures, descend upon events of mind numbing, heart breaking displays of this vitriol 24/7.
This constant bombardment of fear, pain, suffering and insanity is slowly creating a storm that is taking on a life of it's own.
Those that are profiting off the results of this whole nightmare make me ill. It's crazy to put profits over people, but that's how big business plays the game today.
Unfortunately for many, we've become so desensitized by all this mess, that it's hard to even bother chastising the "I don't care" crowd...because we're so tired of it all. It never seems to end, it's depressing and disheartening.



I have to ask an important question:
What side are the media outlets choosing to cover and why?

Why is it that they cover all the hot button issues filled with violence, hatred and negativity? They cover the murders, horrible accidents and tragic happenings globally.
Yet, the Clinton Foundation Benefit, any number of positive, uplifting, helping organizations that are trying to make a difference - nothing much is reported.

Our mainstream media headlines look like those posted in the Tabloids in the 1980's! The current daily news stories would have been seen as ludicrous and outrageous back then. No politician would even dare to make some of the outlandish claims that are made today. They'd be out of a job and totally discredited.
Yet today, there are few that comment or seem shocked by the bizarre events that are happening everywhere.


But lately, I'm feeling a tremor starting to grow. It's in the comments, in the social networks and even in the small news outlets. There is a breaking point to everything. The govt. of old knew and understood this well. They'd seen many a country's citizens voice their outrage in large numbers. So they built in programs, the same ones that are being attacked as socialism. These safety nets would help to avoid the chaos and outcry that they understood could happen.

But those safety nets are in danger of disappearing, the entire country has seen their voice silenced time and time again. Too much corruption has been allowed to thrive in almost all branches of the govt. The campaign to divide, disillusion, manipulate and dumb down the population has had some success. But now the voice and heart of those that resisted this propaganda is not beginning to be heard. So much rhetoric was bound to eventually demand an equally loud response.

It's coming, we will hopefully hear about it when it arrives. This country, this world is headed for a moment that is not in the too distant future. It's going to be a very crucial moment as it will be the Crossroads of Everything.

The point in time where our destiny will be decided. It's going to be the last choice - cause if we make the wrong one, it's going to be countdown to the end of the game. We lose.
If we chose the right path, we get a 2nd chance at evolving as a species and maybe hanging around a bit longer.

Over the last 20-30 years, especially in the last decade, we've piled up a lot of "what if's" and have debated over a bunch of topics that most of us thought were done being debated. We've had a lot of "white noise" about important topics. Women's rights, social welfare, unions, civil rights, big business vs people on the status of citizenship and health care. A lot of people get confused by all the noise, it becomes too confusing to figure out for many.

We've lost the town hall and square where we could voice our opinions and complaints with out governing body and our community could discuss things in a peaceful manner. We've become global, which has made us both bigger and yet smaller. Talk about confusing...

What is coming is going to be massive, it will effect us not only individually, but as a people - the human race.
It's not only about where our world is going globally or which direction our countries are going. Because from what I've seen on the news, not many people are happy about where and what their countries are doing. That includes the U.S. Something is going to snap eventually, it has too if the pressure becomes too much to bear.

The good and bad part is that there's an unlimited number of ways that this can go. It will, I think, come down to the shear number of people that stand up to change the path we're on now. If we keep going like we are there's no telling what the consequences will be. But they certainly don't look good when run on a computer program to simulate results of actions. This planet has had a delicate balance a synchronized dance that has had some rather serious missteps in it's course. But it's always recovered that balance before. Life relies on those very sensitive scales to remain balanced.

Trouble is that sometimes not every species survived the planets reset phase. I'm not just talking about climate changes, wars and greed. I'm talking about a whole mindset change, something that may have to happen if we're going to survive in the future. Can we do it? We've shown that we can, that we are able to in the past. But today?

I don't know for sure. At one time I'd have said of course, without a doubt or pause. But not anymore. Not with all the negativity, the division and the mindless nonsense that has taken over center stage. I worry about what's coming, if we'll be able to survive it and what will happen after if we do...

I wish I could say that I'm hopeful...I was hopeful and proud after a long time of being afraid and tense...but now, I don't know. I want to say it will be alright. I want to believe it. But more and more I see that video in my head and wonder if that is what it's going to take to wake the world up. I really hope not.

Here's wishing all to be safe. May you find strength and love in your life during this difficult time.

Friday, July 8, 2011

The 4th is gone & I'm still looking...

Once more the uninformed, clueless & just plain aggravating have decided to make life difficult. But then I guess that is their function in life, if only they would somehow choose instead to learn & educate themselves about things they're unfamiliar with, but maybe it's too much to ask. Common sense has been uncommon in the world the last few years, why would I think that it would apply now.

I've a welfare worker that wants proof that my daughter is being home schooled. Fine, I've already sent in the papers that show she's enrolled for the school year - not once, but twice. Now she's wanting to know when my daughter will graduate - so they can take her off medicaid. This woman doesn't seem to realize that with a home school correspondence course, you finish when the course work is done. There is no one that will be able to tell her when my daughter will graduate. She's over 50% done with the course work, with a 95% average. But how am I supposed to provide proof that my daughter is enrolled when the new school year hasn't even started yet? This is only the latest bump in the road to get ahead...

Those that have followed, know me or know of me, understand that I'm not one to give up. Weary of the none ending battle, sure. But not the sort that will just toss in the towel, I may get knocked down, but I'm not the type  to stay there. Over the years I've been kicked to the curb, abused, manipulated & conned. Even though I may have sat there collecting myself, not getting back up to try again wasn't an option. Sure, I've been sick and tired of being, sick and tired. But things don't change if you do nothing, so I have to at least try. But getting sick last month didn't help things move forward very far though...

Unfortunately, my score of a big web site design gig fell flat once more. I had been working on a site for a transportation group and put in a lot of work since they stated they needed things running for the business. I figured that if they were making money, then I'd make the money for creating the site they wanted. Well, it sorta didn't happen that way. The site is stuck were it is, I'm not working on it any more. Why? Because for a $1,125.00 site with all the flash, graphics, forms, everything - I've only been paid $350.00. The second site that they asked to be set up, while I was working on the first one, surprised me, most clients wait for one site at a time to be completed. But there had also been a promise of even more sites to be made so I decided to stop work on the one site to quickly set it up as per their requirements the second site. Once again, another transportation site with graphics, flash, forms and more for $450.00. So far, I've only received $50 for this site's work.

Now I can understand how tight money is, after all, I'm living in the same situation as most others that are struggling to pay their bills, feed their families and just keep things going. But one would think that a business would have set aside funds to do these projects. Well, so far there's been no more payments and I'm not working on any paying projects. I'm doing some freelance work, but only to keep my skills up and continue to improve them. But I'm not getting any money, which unfortunately is in short supply, though the need for it is great.

Personally, I wish that I could get the things I need for my family without the transfer of currency. Paper isn't what's valued, it's what it can get for my family that makes it have value. I've been needing a twin size bunk bed for my son's room. We gave away the toddler bed and baby things to a young mother that needed them. He's sharing the bunk in his brother's room now, but he misses his own room.
We still don't have a working oven, this will be the third fall in a row that we don't have Thanksgiving Turkey or my pumpkin pies, if I don't find one soon. I miss being able to bake for the holidays, let alone the rest of the year.

Since my cousin had to come stay with us due to being out of work and having no where to go things are difficult. My grown son's here too due to not being able to afford a place when companies started laying people off. Plus my daughter's eighteen now and still trying to find work, plus she's due to lose her medical benefits soon too. Trouble is, with no transportation no one can really get anywhere.

My cousin has two cars that he's trying to fix, his own and a friend's car. But his car's engine is toast & he can't figure out what's making the fuses ground out on the other car. So he rides a bike to and from the part time job he's been able to get. My older kids still go out to collect scrap metal, cans & dead car batteries so we can get a little money from that. Sometimes we luck out and get a good haul, other times it's best to just horde it till we have a good amount.

I'm not giving up, but there has to be a better way to earn money than struggling and fighting for jobs like wild dogs over scraps. There has to be a way for myself to get some freelance work that pays. I need to get my portfolio set up on my homepage - since moving my site, I need to set up all the things that I had on the old one - but without the widgets that make it so easy to do. Maybe then I might get a nibble, but till then I'm still looking...
What other choice have I, than to keep trying to make things better for my family?

Carpe Diem!

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Having technical difficulties...

Unfortunately, due to the economic melt down & the rising costs of nearly everything, my finances aren't in the greatest shape. So when my monster of a 19" CRT monitor started dying, I did my best to keep it going. It's been over a year now and things haven't been easy.

In the last month it's gotten a whole lot worse. The screen fades out till it's so blurry that nothing can be seen. I don't know what is causing it. I've been told it's my GeForce graphics card that is messing it up (I have an adapter on it to use this monitor.) I've been told that the CRT is just too old and giving out. I've gotten lots of advice...but nothing is working and I need to have a monitor.

I may be getting one since a friend of the family is being very sweet and picking one up to send out.
But till it gets here I'm still going to have to fight with this one. It's difficult to do much of anything on it and I'm thinking I may just find another computer to do my writing on and mail it to myself so I can get it later onto my computer. Monitors are so often taken for granted until they stop working. Can't do much if you can't see what you're doing - right?

It's bad enough that my vision is slowly fading, I don't need my window to the world going the same way. I have been struggling to make some extra money online. To find a way to bring in a steady income flow to supplement my SSI so that when my sight finally does go out, like I've been told it will eventually, there will be money to keep things going here at home. I've been doing every little freelance job I could handle and try to earn enough each year to get my points for Social Security.
That way maybe I'll be able to qualify for both and be able to get enough money to keep my family going after my vision goes dark.

I'm going to miss the visual world, as well as the virtual ones I love to play in. As an artist I love to see all the wonderful graphics and elements that go into the mmo & rpg style games. But I will have to find some way to be productive after I lose my sight, I just don't know what I will be able to do. So being able to have a working monitor so that I can somehow find a way to make some money online, that's important to me. I don't know any other way that I can physically make money right now. Not with my disabilities keeping me grounded and visually limited...

But I am not one to give up...I will find something, some how to bring in some income for my family. Where there is a mind, there is a way to find the answers...

Hope everyone enjoys the extra day weekend - and have fun grilling for those that are able to do it.

Carpe Diem!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Great Information for Free

I came across a site that offers publications for free or almost free. (Some were a bit costly if you wanted a printed version. But they also allowed you on many to be able to access the information online.)
Now I could probably have make a dozen posts for each and every one of these helpful topics, but frankly I believe in being efficient and to do so would waste time.
So I'm giving you the link to all the available publications and letting you pick the ones you want to order or view online where available. There is a wide selection so take a few minutes to check it out.
I hope that you get some use out of it - let others know if you find it informative and pass on the link.

Carpe Diem!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

History is Happening Today

"This is not a budget. This is a cause."

This is how Paul Ryan, Tea Party-backed GOP budget plan author describes their proposal.

Tuesday, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (WI-01) announced the Republican’s budget proposal. It is unbelievably bad - literally. The GOP budget not only repeals the new health care law, it also eliminates Medicare and Medicaid as we know it.

The Republican’s proposal gives millionaires huge tax breaks, but seniors and hard-working families pay more for health care and get less coverage. Paul Ryan’s plan would radically undermine the economic security of America’s middle class. Yet it helps Wall Street-run health insurance companies make record-breaking profits! While the CEOs are paid outrageous sums to deny people the care they paid for and need.

As part of this radical ideological crusade, seniors will be force to clip coupons if they want to see a doctor. It includes huge tax breaks for the ultra wealthy and giveaways to Big Oil companies that are making record profits.

Nowhere in the Republican plan is there any shared sacrifice. There’s no fairness. The big corporations and super-rich are not asked to pitch in. Instead they get even richer while most families are struggling just to make it month to month. This budget would eviscerated programs that everyone in this country depend on. Republicans are attacking the people while pretending to be fiscally responsible!

This budget changes the rules and reshapes this country in a dangerous way. The Republicans and Tea Party backers think they can use the budget as cover to pursue their radical agenda to end Medicare and put seniors’ health care in the hands of Big Insurance CEOs.

But they aren't done with their outrageous demands. They want to do even more to hurt the people!
In this case women specificly - Thursday, April 7, thousands of Americans will descend on Washington, DC, to defend women's health from the extremists in Congress that are determined to roll back access to reproductive health care.

This assault is unprecedented and covers multiple areas. Several amendments have been added to what was already voted on weeks ago in an attempt to push these changes through the Senate. An ammendment that would eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood offers cancer screenings to protect women's health. They offer education, contraceptives and seek to prevent unplanned, unwanted pregnancies. They help those that have been victims or are in hard situations by getting them professional help. Cutting these programs will put more women at risk.

But not one has mentioned how much it costs to raise a child that is placed into the system. No one talks about the many children that wait sometimes without hope for a family to adopt them. Why defund a program that keeps many unplanned pregnancies from happening?

They want to pass legislation that would impose an abortion tax on small businesses who want to provide abortion coverage in health plans. They have bills that would prevent elected officials from using local funds to pay for abortion care for low income and at risk women. This attack on women's rights must stop! Across the nation, people will be standing up for women's health.

Hidden in the budget is more cuts on funding to the Enviromental Protection Agency. This is our one defense against more BP disasters. It's the agency that protects the people by enforcing safety regulations. Protects the environment, the people and our ecology from the "profits before people" greed of these big Corporations. In Pensylvania the water resources are being contaminated due to the coal companies fracking to get at gas reserves. This is causing water to become flamable and not fit to drink. This practice needs to stop!

Already the big Oil Corps are pushing to drill for oil again. Why? With the technology we have right now - technology we've had since 2006 - we could have been using hydrogen for power. We've had the technology to use solar power, wind power and water power! Yet the greed and profit of "black gold" pushes the Corporations - Deep Water drilling has already been given the green light. The guy in charge of the energy commission in D.C. is an Oil Company shareholder. We need the EPA has the funds to function!

Congress MUST hear our voices and know that enough is enough!

Democrats have already ruled out defunding the year-old health care overhaul or to deny Planned Parenthood all federal money. And Reid has said he will not agree to any of the curbs Republicans want to place on the Environmental Protection Agency. Democrats will not just roll over without a fight.

In D.C. this week, hundreds of Tea Party demonstrators rallied outside the Capitol calling for budget cuts and to shutdown if necessary to get their way.

"Shut the sucker down," one yelled, and the crowd repeatedly chanted, "Shut it down."

Is this the America we want to live in? We need to stand up to the bullies on the Hill and take back our rights and our freedoms!

Check out these links:

1. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/04/ryan_budget_preview.html

2. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-06/ryan-s-budget-proposal-would-aid-insurers-a-top-source-of-campaign-cash.html

3. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/billofright/patient_bill_of_rights.html

4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ethan-rome/republican-budget-plan-de_b_845256.html

5. https://dccc.org/page/contribute/shutdown3?source=040611_si,alld,med

6. https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3056&s_subsrc=110406_rally&JServSessionIdr004=rudkaoryj1.app217a

7. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/efficiencity/index.html

8. http://video.pbs.org/program/1305364341/
(especially this one: Hydrogen Hopes) http://video.pbs.org/video/1335040144 

Be a part of history - get involved and make sure the changes that are happening are the ones that you want.

Carpe Diem!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Information on Revenue Sharing

Revenue sharing sites allow you to earn money due to Google advertising that is placed on the site. The site then shares it's revenues with those that post on the site. At some sites, you can also earn additional money by referring friends - If they become members of the site and post good content also.

I've decided to offer a listing of other revenue sharing sites that I've researched. I've picked out those I think are the best, but you can look for more sites if you like. This is just a list to get you started.

Bukisa.com
Bukisa allows you to earn money on the articles you write, but also allows you to earn money on those that you refer to them as well. Bukisa has a two tiered system where you can make money from the articles that the people you refer write. Plus you making money on the articles from all the people that they refer too!

All writers are paid the same amount. All writers on Bukisa are paid according to an index. If the index is 3.95 each writer will get $3.95 for every 1000 views. But you don't need to get that many views on an article to be paid. You can make a little bit from each article you write. You are paid through Paypal when your earnings reach $50.

Currently, as of today, the index is at 4 - but you'll have to check the site. The index changes as the ranking of the site increases.

Bukisa is going to be adding a category for photos soon. This will offer the same opportunity for revenue as articles. It will give two opportunities to earn some money. To get more information and become a member at Bukisa.


Xomba
Xomba is another excellent revenue sharing site with a referral program. You earn ten percent of the revenue from any writer that you refer. You both still get the same amount, which is 50% earned revenue from Google Adsense ads on the site.

You need to have an Adsense account so you can enter your code on the Xomba site. If you don't have one, you can sign up for Adsense right on the Xomba site.

Xomba has only two types of submissions - articles of substance called Xombytes and smaller ones which describe a web page or site, called Xomblurbs. You can earn the same off either one. For those that you refer, you earn an extra ten percent off of whatever they post.

The Home page displays the higher ranking articles, which in turn tends to earn them more money since they are often viewed more. They share 60% of advertising revenue with users. To find out more check out the Xomba website.


Hubpages
Hubpages is one of the top ten Adsense revenue sharing sites. It's currently one of the top 250 most visited sites on the web. The site has a good page rank and an active community of members that rate and comment on each others articles.

In addition to sharing Adsense revenue they share Amazon Associates, Ebay and Kontera income from the articles you write. This multi pronged approach makes the site a real winner with writers seeking to build a stream on income from articles. They share 60% of advertising revenue with users.

Because it is a hub and not a blog, you can write a hub on any topic without worrying if it relates to anything you’ve written previously or anything that you plan to write in the future.  Write just one hub or write hundreds of hubs.  It’s up to you.To find out more go to the sites home page.


The Info Mine
In addition to 80% revenue from your articles you can place your own Amazon Associates links in the text of your article, as long as the article does not read like an advertisement.

If you just want to participate, they share 100% of Amazon Associates revenue sharing you don't even have to have an Adsense account. You can write about almost any subject, such as how - to articles, stories, travel blogs, etc. There's more information on their website to check out.


eHow
For those that love to write how-to articles this is the best choice to make some money. Cook, decorate, fix, plan, garden, budget or update your wardrobe…that’s just the beginning of the kind of advice and inspiration you can find at eHow.

The more articles you write, the more your income will grow. They pay you monthly, directly to your PayPal account after you make $10. Your payments are directly linked to how much traffic your article receives, as well as the quality of the content. To find out more and become a member, visit the eHow website.


Squidoo 
Squidoo is all about lenses. What's a lens? Lenses are pages, kind of like flyers or signposts or overview articles, that gather everything you know about your topic of interest--and snap it all into focus. Like the lens of a camera, it's your perspective on something.

You could make a Me lens about yourself! Or a lens about your blog, website or social network homepage to help get more traffic to it. How about a lens for your eBay store or CafePress shop. Have a Hobby? Make a lens about it! Whatever you are interested in or have a passion for, you can make a Lens for!

Squidoo puts ads on lenses, plus you have the ability to recommend products via affiliate programs with Amazon, eBay, CafePress and others. The revenue that the company receives is split 50/50 - which you can have paid out in cash via PayPal or donate to charity.

Many earn more than $1,000 a year from Squidoo. Some have made $10,000. Others are just as happy with $40 or $4. It's your choice how you get your money for your contributions to the site. To find out more about Squidoo, go to their website.


Helium
Helium is a good place to start writing. They have a good community with articles covering many different topics. Other members also rate your articles and the community is fairly large. You can even publish your article on other sites, like Bukisa.

You get paid and keep the copyright of your article. But there is an option to sell your articles directly to Helium for exclusive rights. They pay $2-$15 depending on topic.

On the Marketplace you can directly sell articles for magazine publishers who can pay from $20-$200 per article.

Helium also has writing contests. There are usually around 10 active contests running for 2 weeks each. The top 3 ranked authors win $50, $30 and $10 respectively. If you want to check out more on Helium, visit the website.

There are many more out sites out there and many different ways to share revenue with a website. Try to join more than one so that you can get multiple income streams to guard against one not earning as much or maybe not being there anymore. Here are a few others to look at:

http://www.oondi.com/
Why should anyone else reap the benefits of your labor? When you submit your work to oondi, you get 100% of the advertisement profits.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/
Join one of the most active news sites on the Internet! Share your thoughts, vote on newsworthy articles, engage in debates and even get paid to report news as a citizen journalist.

http://www.mytripbook.com/
Share your experiences from your own travel diary- reviews, blogs, photos and videos- and map your past and future trips. Members who sign up as a travel guide can share in the advertising revenues generated from their guide page.

http://www.newsvine.com/
The Newsvine community loves investigative reporting, opinion pieces, and just about everything else considered newsworthy and in good taste. Newsvine also sells advertising around all content on the site and returns 90% of the advertising revenue from your content right back to you.

http://www.senserely.com/
As soon as you register, this basically becomes your website, with your AdSense blocks displayed next to your content, and you'll be able to write articles, reviews, and stories about your knowledge and experience on any topic you feel comfortable with, as well as read, ask questions, and exchange information with others.

I hope that this information is of use and I wish everyone luck with any new venture they begin. Keep moving forward...

Carpe Diem!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Can't find work? Then Hire yourself!

Everyone has something that they can offer someone else. From helping someone learn to read, to teaching someone how to do something. (like play piano, make a cake or how to knit) We all have life experience that we've got stored up inside. We all have hobbies, interests and things we're passionate or energized about. All of that that is inside can be put to work to bring in not only money, but it can make you feel really good about what your doing too.

But how do you get what you know, out of you and available to someone else? That takes some thinking and planning. But then looking for work takes some time and work too. The difference here is that you're doing it to make income for yourself not someone else.

Maybe you're good at teaching things, then you could find a way to share this with people that want to learn the skills you have to offer.

Not a people person, that's okay too. You can still teach things without ever even seeing a student. With so many easy to use programs and a digital camera you can make a video of yourself or someone doing step by step what you are teaching. Writing a how to book is also a great way to teach as you can have images to show how to do things. If you combine the two and make an ebook - you can offer it online and make it interactive with video and links to more resources.

Now besides teaching what you know, there are other things that are wide open. Services and information are the most profitable thing right now. So many people need information of a ton of topics to help them with their problems or situations. We are a society that is addicted to information. Services are also a great revenue creator. Think of all the services you've used over the years. Services that others use around you and then think if you can provide any services that people are needing.

Like Bigwell's motto "Find a need - Fill a need"

But don't jump ahead of yourself, I also try to remember what my uncle told me when I was younger. He gave two bits of advice that I try to keep in mind.

"KISS - Keep it safe and simple" and "Work smarter, not harder"

Often we make things a lot more complicated than they need to be. We also don't think about sticking to the areas that are safe - both money wise, legal wise & health wise. Another thing that many have to relearn is that working yourself into the ground isn't going to pay off in a big way like it did a century ago. Besides, it didn't rally pay off all that big back then either. Putting the biggest muscle to work - your mind is a step in the right direction.

People say we can think, it's what makes us both good and bad. We don't run solely on instincts - but not listening to that "little voice" can sometimes cost you everything. So try to find a balance between what you "feel is right" and if your head agrees with it. There is no reason to reinvent something that's already been invented - unless you can make it better. Try to think in ways that are not only out of the box, but from completely different perspectives. Brainstorming can be a lot of fun and offer a pay off in more than just cash.

If you've spend month trying to find work...don't you think you can spend some time evaluating what you could be offering or sharing in a business of your own...Plus you don't have to fly solo - maybe you've got one half and someone else has one half of a great idea. Bring the two together and you've got something really great!

The number one thing that you can do for yourself is to educate that brain of yours. Searching for a job won't expand your opportunities or broaden the possibilities ahead. But learning, that can open a huge range of nearly unlimited options that you can go after. Even if you decide to find work or a job rather than start your own business - new knowledge will make you more likely to find something that will be a great match as well as more rewarding.

Wherever you do don't create limits that you don't need. You should already know what your abilities are, what your strengths are and what you are good at. There's no need to stuff yourself into a small box when there are enough things trying to block you or put you down. Don't limit yourself more - don't deny yourself the chance to really find something you love to do...something that will give you more than just a paycheck or income.
Plus there is something that many don't realize. An online business at home is a way to level the playing field. You can be from any background, culture, age, or ability. You can be a parent, senior or even a group of teens. What your clients or customers see is a business. If you are professional, offer good services or products & have a positive attitude. Those that find you the first time will come back again if they are satisfied. To them, it's the business - not the business owner that's important. So don't thnk you're too old, young or whatever. This is an open door...walk in & see where it goes.

The best way to work is to find something we love to do and get paid doing it. Then it's no longer work - it just becomes a part of having a better life. Part of something you really enjoy. What could be better than that? Good luck!

Keep dreaming, keep moving forward and never lose hope...

Carpe Diem!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Another birthday gone

This last Sat. was my birthday...just another day as things went. But I was a bit depressed by it's arrival and subsequent departure. It seems that the day just keeps counting the years till the end of my given time. The closer I get to the proverbial "hill" the more I dread the ticking of the yearly clock that pushes me ever closer.

I've looked behind me, at the descent of my health, the damage of stress and the deterioration of my physical abilities. Even my memory and sharpness mentally have been effected over the last few years.

I fight the inevitable, but I'm not some celebrity with truckloads of cash to go to some fancy "body shop" spa and get the wrinkles ironed out, the flab tucked or the assets lifted. The years of struggle, to carve out a niche and support my family have left telltale signs.

I used to dye my hair as blond as I could, seeking to recapture the sun bleached style of younger days. But also because I could hide the multiplying white hairs that began to appear...in blond hair I could call them highlights.

But the blond of my youth turned to the natural golden brown and at times I'd give in and let it take over. And with money tight I've had little choice. Now the snow and silver are slowly taking over and the darker chestnut and golden browns are often intertwined with snowy white and silver threads.

I know that I need to try and get myself healthier, but despite the countless visits to the doctor and test after test there is nothing solid to diagnose. A random number of things are wrong, but nothing to link it all together...though I believe that the high stress I've been under for several years may be a large part of the problem.

It is easier said that done to remove the stress from ones life. I've tried my best to keep my center, but financial issues and shortages are far too frequent now. With the lost income from my cousin and the rise in expenses, there's a huge gap in the going out and coming in columns. No matter how hard I try, I have to admit that I'm still floundering as I try to establish some way to make some extra income streams.

I'm hoping that I can keep my focus, reinvent myself and find a way to get ahead this year. I need to make changes; I need to increase my income and find a way to make the changes I want happen. I don't know how, but I need to find a way to move forward.

If I could find the things I need without the cash, I'd do so, but somehow in a world run on paper currency, I am stuck having to amass as much as I'm able to get things moving.

For those that has passed that mid-life marker, I salute your strength and dedication to press on to find a way to reach your goals and dreams. So many have found the path to reinvent themselves in the later half that proves, there's no decline in life after 50, if you choose to rededicate yourself to the journey.

I've some years left to try and recapture that passion and lust for the time ahead, to enjoy the experience and not dwell on the eventual end that lays on the horizon. There's a million memories, thousands of tears and tons of laughter still ahead. I just need to focus on the gift of the day and find the joy to look forward to the surprises of tomorrow.

Warm, Bright Blessings to all...

Saturday, January 15, 2011

My son's birthday

Time sure does slip away, it seems like only a short time ago he was just a little boy that was always hungry, even right after we ate!
I finally figured out where all that food was going...he shot up to 6' after his 14th birthday! He's been holding steady at 6' 4" since he turned 20, so I think he's done.

But seeing him sometimes makes me wonder where all the time went...
It feels like we have forever, running in the fields chasing butterflies, wading in the shallows to find tadpoles, and then as I turn, the moment's gone, it's over. And there's a young man who towers above me, he smiles that lost little boy's crooked smile, as he head's out again to look for work.

Has it really been so many years? I look at my daughter, my little tech artist takes after her grandmother and at 18 isn't quite as tall as myself. Yet, I tend to forget that she's a young woman now who's due to get engaged this summer, if all goes according to their plans. And I wonder at how quickly my nest is growing less crowded.

My little one is still here with his endless singing, humming and sound effects. He sings about whatever he's doing; nonsense sing songs that are equally out of tune and in. He talks for his toys in a dozen different voices. He puts them through adventures with a barrage of sound effects that seeks to join the current cacophony of my daughter's pounding music and the blaring noise from the television too.

It is a small comfort, because it keeps at bay the deafening silence that will someday descend when they have all gone. I do not relish that moment, so for now...I join in the symphony of dueling sounds and turn my own music up just a little. Perhaps I seek to drive that day of silence farther away into the future...or at least, believe that I can, even though I know that nothing I do will really stop it.

Time goes on no matter if we pay attention or let it slip away...but if we try to make as many memories as we can in the time we have...maybe it won't be so bad when there are no more memories to make...and we'll have left a treasured legacy behind, within those that shared them with us.