James Smith’s Info Serv

Author: Gerry Hopman

Many of us don’t give ourselves permission to have fun. You’ve all heard or perhaps used the expression TGIF - thank God it’s Friday!

We live for the weekend. On the weekend we take the kids to baseball, soccer, ballet etc., we clean, we scrub, and come Sunday evening it almost feels good to go back to work.

We should not defer fun to a specific day or weekend. We need to make a commitment to make every day a ‘fun’ day. We have to train ourselves to enjoy life, not just endure it.

It is usually the small things in life that give us the most enjoyment such as, seeing children happily playing, the sound of a catching melody, the beauty of a patch or bouquet of flowers, the phone call from a old friend…..
Read the rest of this entry »

Time and stress are linked. High stress is the result of feeling out of control when it comes to handling time. Once you know how to handle time better, stress becomes more manageable. There are techniques that can help.

Stress is linked to time management. High stress leads to a high level of wasted time. Stress leads to illness and illness wastes time. Managing time better will lead to less stress.

Get the Right Perspective - If you’re not doing those things that are most important to you, you’re not using your time wisely. Priorities mean doing first things first. Trying to satisfy the wants of others only adds to your existing stress levels. It’s natural to do the jobs someone asks you to do on occasion, but you cannot live their lives for them. Learn to say no when you have more important tasks. Better time management also requires you to take care of your health. Getting enough sleep, eating the foods that enhance your energy levels are good habits that translate to more accomplishment.
Read the rest of this entry »

Copyright (c) 2009 Paula Gregorowicz

Ever have a problem or challenge that you just can’t seem to solve? Perhaps you’ve stewed over it a while, tried to force a solution, and gotten frustrated in the process? You toiled away for hours or days on end to no avail. Then, all of a sudden out of nowhere an idea comes to you when you least expect it - in the shower, taking a walk, shopping for groceries.

We’ve all had this experience. I know for myself when I was doing computer programming, I could troubleshoot a problem until I went insane trying to find a solution. I would toil, curse, scream, and rip my hair out and not be able to solve it. Then, if I walked away from it or simply asked someone with a fresh set of eyes to look at it - boom - there is a simple answer and the problem gets solved in a matter of minutes the path forward gets clear in an instant.

What if you could have this ease and confidence from the start? Well you can, if you’re willing to put things on the back burner. I’ve heard this concept from different sources over time. When I read the book “Slowing Down to the Speed of Life” I loved the way Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey explained it. They said:

“The back burner of your mind works in much the same way as the back burner of a stove, slowly brewing a pot of vegetables and broth into a delicious, succulent feast of soup. All you had to do was put each of the ingredients in the pot, stir them up, and then leave them alone to cook, only periodically adding a dash of this or that and stirring the pot. A soup on the back burner needs to cool slowly; if the heat is too high we burn the dish. The back burner of a stove requires little attention; we can cook something else on the front burner at the same time.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Author: Kenny

When misunderstanding creeps into a relationship, what may have started as a perfect relationship goes sour. For many people, breaking up with someone they still love is the most trying times to experience. For the next few weeks and even months, they wonder if there is anything they can do to resurrect the dead relationship. This article is aimed at showing you how to save a relationship in 5 steps.

1. Is the relationship worth saving?

It’s true, this is what you must consider first of all. If not, you would be battling to save a relationship that is destined to fail again. Let’s say your relationship was built on the wrong foundation, not on true love. Then, any attempt to save it will fail. Besides that, if both parties are not committed to saving the relationship, then the efforts of the one committed party might prove futile.

2. What issues led to the problem?

It would be fine if you can sit down and consider what led to the problem in the first place. Many people think that an extra-marital affair could be the root problem. Most times, it is just a symptom of a much deeper problem. Maybe you stopped paying attention to the needs of your partner due to stress you undergo at work. Or did uncontrolled jealousy do the harm? Do a list of the problems that may have been the cause of the problem that is now eating up your relationship.
Read the rest of this entry »

Author: Lisa Scott

Today’s culture rewards selfish and arrogant behavior.

Narcissism is validated and reinforced everywhere you look. We have celebrities who have become famous for being rude, insensitive, and arrogant. We have shock jocks and women like Ann Coulter who say cruel and mean things about the widows of 9/11 to get attention. American culture rewards this behavior by putting them in the spotlight. The media caters to them.

Today, the most photographed and written-about female celebrity is famous for no other reason than her ability to spend her inheritance. Yes, Paris Hilton. She has done nothing to earn this money, and certainly has not made a contribution to the art or welfare of our society. Yet, she is the most popular youth icon of our times.

We consume celebrity gossip and watch entertainment news as if our lives depended on it, as if the lives of these celebrities somehow have an impact on our well-being. We do not know these people, nor will we ever likely meet them, but for some reason we are fascinated with what they are wearing and who they are dating.
Read the rest of this entry »