CRICKET WORLD CUP - 2015 opening ceremony

New Zealand public with the World Cup 

Traipse through Christchurch this week and see cricket moving in like a pathogen on another sport's turf. If New Zealand is rugby heartland, the Canterbury province is its aortic chamber. Here, local veins bleed the Canterbury Rugby Union's red-and-black, grizzled men speak of All Black stars Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter as if they were their own children, whose bedrooms, by the way, are covered in posters of the same men in sporting pose.

Cricket's grip had begun to set in when Christchurch was granted the World Cup curtain-raiser. Then on Boxing Day, when the city saw its first Test match since 2006, Brendon McCullum's breakneck 195 gave a bold new edge to the invasion. Suddenly, the chatter over café tables was no longer about backlines and forward packs. Top orders and bowling attacks captured imaginations instead.

By Thursday, the cricket contagion had become an epidemic, as denizens gathered in their tens of thousands at the opening ceremony. North Hagley Park broke out in dozens of mini cricket matches, some at specially-themed stations celebrating all corners of the cricket universe, from the Caribbean's calypso to Punjab's bhangra. WG Grace watched over the Victorian themed match, which was attended by pretend Victorian ladies, having pretend tea on the boundary.

As the sun set and the show began, the swelling masses obeyed the directions issued by the ceremony's presenters and turned around to wave at the helicopter flying overhead - it's camera potentially beaming their collective flailings to hundreds of millions worldwide. Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel even took the stage like the hype-woman for a 1980s rapper and bellowed "We are back", amid other rhapsodic catchphrases. Here was a town so caught in the spirit of the event, it did not mind coming off a little naff. Here was a city so keen to resurge after four difficult years, each of its citizens were taking ownership of their own bite-sized role in hosting planet cricket.

"Right from the beginning when I started working on cricket World Cup, everyone was very interested in Christchurch and how it could have a special role in the tournament," New Zealand's head World Cup organiser, Therese Walsh said. "What happened with the Rugby World Cup in 2011, is that matches were taken away from Christchurch after the earthquakes. It was always really important to us to bring a major sporting event back to the city. We knew we needed stadiums with bigger capacity for the quarter and semi final, so the obvious thing for Christchurch was the opening match and opening event."

It has helped no end of course, that like Christchurch, New Zealand's cricket team has risen dramatically from the dust of its barren spell at the beginning of this decade. Not so long ago, they were pampered wastrels of ability in the public's eye, but Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson have now pulled off a monumentally successful rebranding campaign, not just via on-field successes, but also by adopting values that resonate with the national ethos. Tim Southee canned his trash talk. McCullum curbed his own public impetuosity. "Humility" became a buzzword, and respect the team dogma.

"Ticket sales are very strong, very early. When we launched them one year ago, we sold thousands of tickets. Even before the tournament has started, five of the six Black Caps matches are sold out." NEW ZEALAND HEAD WORLD CUP ORGANISER, THERESE WALSH

New Zealand's young quicks have begun to set pulses racing as well as any All Blacks line break, but it is not Southee and Trent Boult around whom New Zealand's World Cup hopes have gathered. In Kane Williamson's mellow manner and monstrous appetite for runs New Zealand has found a hero as young, as restrained, and as exquisite to behold as the country itself.

There is arguably no more exciting young player in the world, yet New Zealand's cricket fans don't beat chests or blow trumpets. Williamson's nation of admirers speak of him in whispers, as if the decibels of their regard could press down on his 24-year-old shoulders. "He doesn't quite understand how good he is", fans feel. Both they, and perhaps he, will strive to leave that unchanged. McCullum's blitzkriegs and Ross Taylor's legside shellackings will always exhilarate and draw great crowds, but Williamson is forming a deeper, more profound relationship with New Zealand's public.

New Zealand's optimism about their team's chances of lifting the trophy, is similarly subdued. They know the details of the team's outstanding form, but they are eager to experience the World Cup journey, rather set sights too tightly on a triumphant destination.

"With the rugby world cup, there was a lot of excitement, but there was also a weighing down and seriousness brought by the expectation that the All Blacks had to win," Walsh said, having also helped oversee New Zealand's hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2011. "You don't get that so much with the cricket World Cup. It's very much a: 'Ooh, we think the Black Caps can do pretty well in this tournament' kind of feeling. There were a couple of years when the public was a little negative toward the team, but there has been a real re-emergence of cricket."


That re-emergence has seen thousands sign up as volunteers, while organisers' efforts to have migrant communities from cricket-playing nations involved have also caught fire. The opening ceremony in Christchurch began with a Kandyan dance, performed by a locally-based Sri Lankan troupe. That event had plenty of Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean flavour as well.

More importantly, healthy crowds are expected for matches throughout the country. "What usually happens for international cricket in this country, is we're a little bit slow," Walsh said. "We wait till the day and we see what the weather is like. We're very much a walk-up crowd.

"For World Cup, sales are very strong, very early. When we launched them one year ago, we sold thousands of tickets. Even before the tournament has started, five of the six Black Caps matches are sold out."

The most anticipated of those sold-out games is New Zealand's game against Australia at Eden Park, on February 28. Though Australia have more storied cricket rivalries, no victory is more savoured in New Zealand than triumph over the men from "across the ditch". Unlike in rugby, where the Bledisloe Cup is contested between these two teams every year, New Zealand cricket fans grumble that their side don't tour their neighbours often enough.

It is of course inevitable that when the All Blacks re-form for the approach to their defence of the Rugby World Cup later this year, that the country's sporting allegiance will realign itself. But for the next six weeks, New Zealanders have readied to dance to the beat of leather on willow, emboldened by the devious thought their nation of four million could hold two major world titles at the end of it all.

CRICKET WORLD CUP - 2015 opening ceremony

New Zealand public with the World Cup 

Traipse through Christchurch this week and see cricket moving in like a pathogen on another sport's turf. If New Zealand is rugby heartland, the Canterbury province is its aortic chamber. Here, local veins bleed the Canterbury Rugby Union's red-and-black, grizzled men speak of All Black stars Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter as if they were their own children, whose bedrooms, by the way, are covered in posters of the same men in sporting pose.

Cricket's grip had begun to set in when Christchurch was granted the World Cup curtain-raiser. Then on Boxing Day, when the city saw its first Test match since 2006, Brendon McCullum's breakneck 195 gave a bold new edge to the invasion. Suddenly, the chatter over café tables was no longer about backlines and forward packs. Top orders and bowling attacks captured imaginations instead.

By Thursday, the cricket contagion had become an epidemic, as denizens gathered in their tens of thousands at the opening ceremony. North Hagley Park broke out in dozens of mini cricket matches, some at specially-themed stations celebrating all corners of the cricket universe, from the Caribbean's calypso to Punjab's bhangra. WG Grace watched over the Victorian themed match, which was attended by pretend Victorian ladies, having pretend tea on the boundary.

As the sun set and the show began, the swelling masses obeyed the directions issued by the ceremony's presenters and turned around to wave at the helicopter flying overhead - it's camera potentially beaming their collective flailings to hundreds of millions worldwide. Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel even took the stage like the hype-woman for a 1980s rapper and bellowed "We are back", amid other rhapsodic catchphrases. Here was a town so caught in the spirit of the event, it did not mind coming off a little naff. Here was a city so keen to resurge after four difficult years, each of its citizens were taking ownership of their own bite-sized role in hosting planet cricket.

"Right from the beginning when I started working on cricket World Cup, everyone was very interested in Christchurch and how it could have a special role in the tournament," New Zealand's head World Cup organiser, Therese Walsh said. "What happened with the Rugby World Cup in 2011, is that matches were taken away from Christchurch after the earthquakes. It was always really important to us to bring a major sporting event back to the city. We knew we needed stadiums with bigger capacity for the quarter and semi final, so the obvious thing for Christchurch was the opening match and opening event."

It has helped no end of course, that like Christchurch, New Zealand's cricket team has risen dramatically from the dust of its barren spell at the beginning of this decade. Not so long ago, they were pampered wastrels of ability in the public's eye, but Brendon McCullum and Mike Hesson have now pulled off a monumentally successful rebranding campaign, not just via on-field successes, but also by adopting values that resonate with the national ethos. Tim Southee canned his trash talk. McCullum curbed his own public impetuosity. "Humility" became a buzzword, and respect the team dogma.

"Ticket sales are very strong, very early. When we launched them one year ago, we sold thousands of tickets. Even before the tournament has started, five of the six Black Caps matches are sold out." NEW ZEALAND HEAD WORLD CUP ORGANISER, THERESE WALSH

New Zealand's young quicks have begun to set pulses racing as well as any All Blacks line break, but it is not Southee and Trent Boult around whom New Zealand's World Cup hopes have gathered. In Kane Williamson's mellow manner and monstrous appetite for runs New Zealand has found a hero as young, as restrained, and as exquisite to behold as the country itself.

There is arguably no more exciting young player in the world, yet New Zealand's cricket fans don't beat chests or blow trumpets. Williamson's nation of admirers speak of him in whispers, as if the decibels of their regard could press down on his 24-year-old shoulders. "He doesn't quite understand how good he is", fans feel. Both they, and perhaps he, will strive to leave that unchanged. McCullum's blitzkriegs and Ross Taylor's legside shellackings will always exhilarate and draw great crowds, but Williamson is forming a deeper, more profound relationship with New Zealand's public.

New Zealand's optimism about their team's chances of lifting the trophy, is similarly subdued. They know the details of the team's outstanding form, but they are eager to experience the World Cup journey, rather set sights too tightly on a triumphant destination.

"With the rugby world cup, there was a lot of excitement, but there was also a weighing down and seriousness brought by the expectation that the All Blacks had to win," Walsh said, having also helped oversee New Zealand's hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2011. "You don't get that so much with the cricket World Cup. It's very much a: 'Ooh, we think the Black Caps can do pretty well in this tournament' kind of feeling. There were a couple of years when the public was a little negative toward the team, but there has been a real re-emergence of cricket."


That re-emergence has seen thousands sign up as volunteers, while organisers' efforts to have migrant communities from cricket-playing nations involved have also caught fire. The opening ceremony in Christchurch began with a Kandyan dance, performed by a locally-based Sri Lankan troupe. That event had plenty of Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean flavour as well.

More importantly, healthy crowds are expected for matches throughout the country. "What usually happens for international cricket in this country, is we're a little bit slow," Walsh said. "We wait till the day and we see what the weather is like. We're very much a walk-up crowd.

"For World Cup, sales are very strong, very early. When we launched them one year ago, we sold thousands of tickets. Even before the tournament has started, five of the six Black Caps matches are sold out."

The most anticipated of those sold-out games is New Zealand's game against Australia at Eden Park, on February 28. Though Australia have more storied cricket rivalries, no victory is more savoured in New Zealand than triumph over the men from "across the ditch". Unlike in rugby, where the Bledisloe Cup is contested between these two teams every year, New Zealand cricket fans grumble that their side don't tour their neighbours often enough.

It is of course inevitable that when the All Blacks re-form for the approach to their defence of the Rugby World Cup later this year, that the country's sporting allegiance will realign itself. But for the next six weeks, New Zealanders have readied to dance to the beat of leather on willow, emboldened by the devious thought their nation of four million could hold two major world titles at the end of it all.

International Women's Ski Day

International Women's Ski Day Gets The Girls Out At Solitude :


by Jill Adler - famous writer






I’m going to be bold and call it a powder day at Solitude Saturday. It wasn’t epic in the way Utah prides itself but we take what we can get right now. Plus, were it not for International Women’s Ski Day I might have stayed in bed bemoaning the weather and missed it. Instead I rallied to join a large group of women celebrating our sport in unison with about 50 other ski areas across the country and Canada.



K2’s Women’s Team ‘invented’ IWSD to give women an excuse to ski together and SheJumps- a non-profit created to get girls (and women) out recreating- helped bring the 2nd annual event to Solitude and raise awareness for their programs. And while offering half-price lift tickets, free beer and hotdogs, and a raffle is no small gesture, the fresh snow landing all around would have been incentive enough.


There were women of all ages, wearing plastic leis and ‘bombing’ off Eagle Express. The concept of women’s ski groups isn’t new. Alta has had a Ski with the Girls day every Tuesday for years. This is not some dainty intermediate rendezvous. Ripping chicks meet at Watson Shelter at 9:30 a.m. and they crush it. Unfortunately, I’m always too late to join in so I considered the possibility now of finding my next ski buddy as I drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon for the 11 a.m. start.-a much more doable time. Oh, the irony when I wound up skiing with a group of boys. They were first-year instructors at Deer Valley. I thought it was strange to see so many over here but then I remembered Deer Valley bought Solitude. Apparently employees can ski here one day a week. There have been hints that once keys officially change hands in May the number of days will go up for 2015/16. Talk about your sick employee benefits.


The Cottonwoods are a foreign land to most DV skiers and it was pretty funny hearing them all whine about their sore calves and thighs and how they don’t know how to ski “this stuff.” This ‘stuff’ was ungroomed territory. The light storm hampered visibility but softened the places that froze overnight so it was fairly fluffy everywhere. There was a surprising amount of terrain open including runs off Summit and Powderhorn (no Honeycomb yet). Warning signs everywhere cautioned the thin cover but by looking ahead and turning gingerly in the funnels I was able to avoid a trip to the tuners. The boys, on the other hand, charged hard and grinded through rocks and stumps, tumbling often. They’re young and, as one of them put it, “I haven’t been injured yet so I guess I’m not afraid.”



We finished out the day roasting dogs and toasting Epic Brewing’s beer by the bonfire. SheJumps hosted an annual event that can’t help but grow followers. Can’t wait to see more ladies (and Deer Valley instructors) on the hill this season.


Courtesy :http://pcskigal.com/

Special credit:




Jill Adler

Jill Adler earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and went to work for a CBS-TV affiliate in Aspen, Colo., to chase her dreams of media and the ski life. She would then, of course, report on both real-world issues and ski events. A job offer at the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City led her to Utah and the Greatest Snow on Earth. Coincidence? Hmmm. When the station downsized, Jill concurrently taught skiing at Deer Valley and enrolled in law school at the University of Utah. Two weeks after graduation, she decided, “I hate law, there’s no time to ski,” and went back into broadcast.


As ‘Roxy,’ she was well known for her “News from a Broad” newscasts on Rock99/KURR-FM in Salt Lake City. She was an integral part of Utah’s #1 morning radio team. But the true beauty of the job was the ability to work a full shift and still ski at Snowbird and Alta every day. When she’s not freeskiing or teaching, the Level 3 PSIA certified instructor writes outdoor adventure stories for publications like Sunset, Skiing, Salt Lake Magazine, Dallas Morning News, MSN.com, SnoCountry.com, Snowlist.com, TheSkiChannel.com, and everyone in between.


When the seasons change, she rockclimbs, hikes, kayaks and plays Frisbee with her five-year-old daughter and their Australian shepherd. Her favorite food is Chinese and as much as she likes long walks on the beach she’d rather be ripping long vertical chutes in the mountains.


As a freelancer, Jill is constantly on the hunt for story ideas to pitch and work to fill the bank account. There’s no job too inconsequential or mundane. Just reach out and see.


When you have a media request or lead, contact Jill at pcskigal@yahoo.com.

International Women's Ski Day

International Women's Ski Day Gets The Girls Out At Solitude :


by Jill Adler - famous writer






I’m going to be bold and call it a powder day at Solitude Saturday. It wasn’t epic in the way Utah prides itself but we take what we can get right now. Plus, were it not for International Women’s Ski Day I might have stayed in bed bemoaning the weather and missed it. Instead I rallied to join a large group of women celebrating our sport in unison with about 50 other ski areas across the country and Canada.



K2’s Women’s Team ‘invented’ IWSD to give women an excuse to ski together and SheJumps- a non-profit created to get girls (and women) out recreating- helped bring the 2nd annual event to Solitude and raise awareness for their programs. And while offering half-price lift tickets, free beer and hotdogs, and a raffle is no small gesture, the fresh snow landing all around would have been incentive enough.


There were women of all ages, wearing plastic leis and ‘bombing’ off Eagle Express. The concept of women’s ski groups isn’t new. Alta has had a Ski with the Girls day every Tuesday for years. This is not some dainty intermediate rendezvous. Ripping chicks meet at Watson Shelter at 9:30 a.m. and they crush it. Unfortunately, I’m always too late to join in so I considered the possibility now of finding my next ski buddy as I drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon for the 11 a.m. start.-a much more doable time. Oh, the irony when I wound up skiing with a group of boys. They were first-year instructors at Deer Valley. I thought it was strange to see so many over here but then I remembered Deer Valley bought Solitude. Apparently employees can ski here one day a week. There have been hints that once keys officially change hands in May the number of days will go up for 2015/16. Talk about your sick employee benefits.


The Cottonwoods are a foreign land to most DV skiers and it was pretty funny hearing them all whine about their sore calves and thighs and how they don’t know how to ski “this stuff.” This ‘stuff’ was ungroomed territory. The light storm hampered visibility but softened the places that froze overnight so it was fairly fluffy everywhere. There was a surprising amount of terrain open including runs off Summit and Powderhorn (no Honeycomb yet). Warning signs everywhere cautioned the thin cover but by looking ahead and turning gingerly in the funnels I was able to avoid a trip to the tuners. The boys, on the other hand, charged hard and grinded through rocks and stumps, tumbling often. They’re young and, as one of them put it, “I haven’t been injured yet so I guess I’m not afraid.”



We finished out the day roasting dogs and toasting Epic Brewing’s beer by the bonfire. SheJumps hosted an annual event that can’t help but grow followers. Can’t wait to see more ladies (and Deer Valley instructors) on the hill this season.


Courtesy :http://pcskigal.com/

Special credit:




Jill Adler

Jill Adler earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and went to work for a CBS-TV affiliate in Aspen, Colo., to chase her dreams of media and the ski life. She would then, of course, report on both real-world issues and ski events. A job offer at the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City led her to Utah and the Greatest Snow on Earth. Coincidence? Hmmm. When the station downsized, Jill concurrently taught skiing at Deer Valley and enrolled in law school at the University of Utah. Two weeks after graduation, she decided, “I hate law, there’s no time to ski,” and went back into broadcast.


As ‘Roxy,’ she was well known for her “News from a Broad” newscasts on Rock99/KURR-FM in Salt Lake City. She was an integral part of Utah’s #1 morning radio team. But the true beauty of the job was the ability to work a full shift and still ski at Snowbird and Alta every day. When she’s not freeskiing or teaching, the Level 3 PSIA certified instructor writes outdoor adventure stories for publications like Sunset, Skiing, Salt Lake Magazine, Dallas Morning News, MSN.com, SnoCountry.com, Snowlist.com, TheSkiChannel.com, and everyone in between.


When the seasons change, she rockclimbs, hikes, kayaks and plays Frisbee with her five-year-old daughter and their Australian shepherd. Her favorite food is Chinese and as much as she likes long walks on the beach she’d rather be ripping long vertical chutes in the mountains.


As a freelancer, Jill is constantly on the hunt for story ideas to pitch and work to fill the bank account. There’s no job too inconsequential or mundane. Just reach out and see.


When you have a media request or lead, contact Jill at pcskigal@yahoo.com.

Wisdom: Methods of promoting your websites

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Colouring Outside the Lines: God is still good.: Hello Blogspot Fam, It’s been a while. Both mine and Lynn’s lives have been nothing shy of stressful lately. Both of us are juniors ...

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Some of us speak in cliches. Some of us love.: On Feeling Ugly | On Being Miserable

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Let them rest in peace

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Behaviors of Happy people

Happiness:


everyone wants it, yet relatively few seem to get enough of it, especially those in their early forties. (That's about the time many of us start thinking, "Is this all there is?")


Maybe that's because approximately 50% of your "happiness set-point" is determined by personality traits that are largely hereditary. In short, half of how happy you feel is basically outside your control. (Bummer.)


But that also means 50% of your level of happiness is totally within your control: relationships, health, career, etc. So even if you're genetically disposed to be somewhat gloomy, you can still do things to make yourself a lot happier.


Like these:


1. Make good friends.


It's easy to focus on building a professional network of partners, customers, employees, connections, etc, because there is (hopefully) a payoff.


But there's a definite payoff to making real (not just professional or social media) friends. Increasing your number of friends correlates to higher subjective wellbeing. In terms of how happy you feel, doubling your number of friends is like increasing your income by 50%.


And if that's not enough, people who don't have strong social relationships are 50% less likely to survive at any given time than those who do. (That's a scary thought for relative loners like me.)


Make friends outside of work. Make friends at work. Make friends everywhere.


But above all, make real friends. You'll live a happier and longer life.

2. Actively express your thankfulness.

According to one study, couples that expressed gratitude in their interactions with each other resulted in increases in relationship connection and satisfaction the next day -- both for the person expressing thankfulness and (no big surprise) for the person receiving it. (In fact the authors of the study said gratitude was like a "booster shot" for relationships.)


Of course the same is true at work. Tell a coworker she did a great job and you both feel better about yourselves.


Another easy method is to write down a few things you are grateful for every night. One study showed people who wrote down 5 things they were thankful for once a week were 25% happier after ten weeks.


Happy people focus on what they have, not on what they don't have. It's motivating to want more in your career, relationships, bank account, etc. but thinking about what you already have, and expressing gratitude for it, will make you a lot happier.

And will remind you that even if you still have huge dreams, you have already accomplished a lot... and should feel genuinely proud.


3. Actively pursue your goals.




Goals you don't pursue aren't goals, they're dreams -- and dreams only make you happy when you're dreaming.


Pursuing goals, though, does make you happy. According to David Niven, author of100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life, "People who could identify a goal they were pursuing (my italics) were 19% more likely to feel satisfied with their lives and 26% more likely to feel positive about themselves."


So be grateful for what you have... then actively try to achieve more. If you're pursuing a huge goal, make sure that every time you take a small step closer to achieving it you pat yourself on the back.


But don't compare where you are now to where you someday hope to be. Compare where you are now to where you were a few days ago. Then you'll get dozens of bite-sized chunks of fulfillment -- and a never-ending supply of things to be thankful for.


4. Do what you excel at as often as you can.

You know the old cliché regarding the starving yet happy artist? Turns out it's true: artists are considerably more satisfied with their work than non-artists -- even though the pay tends to be considerably lower than in other skilled fields.


Why? I'm no researcher, but clearly the more you enjoy what you do and the more fulfilled you feel by what you do the happier you will be.


In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Anchor says that when volunteers picked, "...one of their signature strengths and used it in a new way each day for a week, they became significantly happier and less depressed."


Of course it's unreasonable to think you can abandon your career and simply do what you love. But you can find ways to do more of what you excel at.


Delegate. Outsource. Start to shift that you do into areas that allow you to bring more of your strengths to bear. If you're a great trainer, find ways to train more people. If you're a great salesperson, find ways to streamline your admin tasks and get in front of more customers.


Everyone has at least a few things they do incredibly well. Find ways to do those things more often. You'll be a lot happier.


And probably a lot more successful -- which should also make you feel a little happier.


(And keep in mind you don't have to start out loving what you do for it to make you happy.)

5. Give.


While giving is usually considered to be unselfish, giving can also be more beneficial for the giver than the receiver. Providing social support may be more beneficial than receiving it.


Intuitively we all know that since it always feels great to help someone who needs it. Not only is helping those in need fulfilling, it's also a reminder of how comparatively fortunate we are... which is a nice reminder of how thankful we should be for what we already have.

Plus receiving is something you cannot control. If you need help -- or simply want help -- you can't make other people help you. But you can always control whetheryou help someone else.


And that means you can always control, at least to a degree, how happy you are -- because giving makes you happier.

(Want to know if you're a relatively giving person?

6. Don't single-mindedly chase "stuff."

Money does a lot of things; one of the most important is to give us choices.


But after a certain point money doesn't make people happier. After about $75,000 a year, money doesn't "buy" more happiness.


As the authors of the linked study say, "Beyond $75,000... higher income is neither the road to experience happiness nor the road to relief of unhappiness or stress. Perhaps $75,000 is the threshold beyond which further increases in income no longer improve individuals' ability to do what matters most to their emotional well-being, such as spending time with people they like, avoiding pain and disease, and enjoying leisure."

And if you don't buy that, here's another take: "The materialistic drive and satisfaction with life are negatively related." (Or in non-researcher's terms, "Chasing possessions tends to make you less happy.")


Think of it as the bigger house syndrome. You want a bigger house. You need a bigger house. (Not really, but it sure feels like you do.) So you buy it. Life is good... until a couple months later when your bigger house is now just your house.


All too soon, new always becomes the new normal.


"Things" only provide momentary bursts of happiness. To be happier, don't chase as many things. Chase more experiences instead.

7. More than anything, live the life you want to live.

Bonnie Ware worked in palliative care, spending time with patients who had only a few months to live. Their most common regret was, "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."


What other people think -- especially people you don't even know -- doesn't matter. What other people want you to do doesn't mater.


Your hopes, your dreams, your goals... live your life your way. Surround yourself with people who support and care not for the "you" they want you to be but for thereal you.


So make the choices that are right for you. Say the things you really want to say to the people who most need to hear them. Express your feelings. Stop and smell a few roses. Make friends, and stay in touch with them.

And most of all, realize that happiness is a choice. 50% of how happy you are lies within your control, so start doing more things that will make you happier.


Now it's your turn. What things do you do that make you happier? Do you do them often enough... and if not, why not?

Behaviors of Happy people

Happiness:


everyone wants it, yet relatively few seem to get enough of it, especially those in their early forties. (That's about the time many of us start thinking, "Is this all there is?")


Maybe that's because approximately 50% of your "happiness set-point" is determined by personality traits that are largely hereditary. In short, half of how happy you feel is basically outside your control. (Bummer.)


But that also means 50% of your level of happiness is totally within your control: relationships, health, career, etc. So even if you're genetically disposed to be somewhat gloomy, you can still do things to make yourself a lot happier.


Like these:


1. Make good friends.


It's easy to focus on building a professional network of partners, customers, employees, connections, etc, because there is (hopefully) a payoff.


But there's a definite payoff to making real (not just professional or social media) friends. Increasing your number of friends correlates to higher subjective wellbeing. In terms of how happy you feel, doubling your number of friends is like increasing your income by 50%.


And if that's not enough, people who don't have strong social relationships are 50% less likely to survive at any given time than those who do. (That's a scary thought for relative loners like me.)


Make friends outside of work. Make friends at work. Make friends everywhere.


But above all, make real friends. You'll live a happier and longer life.

2. Actively express your thankfulness.

According to one study, couples that expressed gratitude in their interactions with each other resulted in increases in relationship connection and satisfaction the next day -- both for the person expressing thankfulness and (no big surprise) for the person receiving it. (In fact the authors of the study said gratitude was like a "booster shot" for relationships.)


Of course the same is true at work. Tell a coworker she did a great job and you both feel better about yourselves.


Another easy method is to write down a few things you are grateful for every night. One study showed people who wrote down 5 things they were thankful for once a week were 25% happier after ten weeks.


Happy people focus on what they have, not on what they don't have. It's motivating to want more in your career, relationships, bank account, etc. but thinking about what you already have, and expressing gratitude for it, will make you a lot happier.

And will remind you that even if you still have huge dreams, you have already accomplished a lot... and should feel genuinely proud.


3. Actively pursue your goals.




Goals you don't pursue aren't goals, they're dreams -- and dreams only make you happy when you're dreaming.


Pursuing goals, though, does make you happy. According to David Niven, author of100 Simple Secrets of the Best Half of Life, "People who could identify a goal they were pursuing (my italics) were 19% more likely to feel satisfied with their lives and 26% more likely to feel positive about themselves."


So be grateful for what you have... then actively try to achieve more. If you're pursuing a huge goal, make sure that every time you take a small step closer to achieving it you pat yourself on the back.


But don't compare where you are now to where you someday hope to be. Compare where you are now to where you were a few days ago. Then you'll get dozens of bite-sized chunks of fulfillment -- and a never-ending supply of things to be thankful for.


4. Do what you excel at as often as you can.

You know the old cliché regarding the starving yet happy artist? Turns out it's true: artists are considerably more satisfied with their work than non-artists -- even though the pay tends to be considerably lower than in other skilled fields.


Why? I'm no researcher, but clearly the more you enjoy what you do and the more fulfilled you feel by what you do the happier you will be.


In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Anchor says that when volunteers picked, "...one of their signature strengths and used it in a new way each day for a week, they became significantly happier and less depressed."


Of course it's unreasonable to think you can abandon your career and simply do what you love. But you can find ways to do more of what you excel at.


Delegate. Outsource. Start to shift that you do into areas that allow you to bring more of your strengths to bear. If you're a great trainer, find ways to train more people. If you're a great salesperson, find ways to streamline your admin tasks and get in front of more customers.


Everyone has at least a few things they do incredibly well. Find ways to do those things more often. You'll be a lot happier.


And probably a lot more successful -- which should also make you feel a little happier.


(And keep in mind you don't have to start out loving what you do for it to make you happy.)

5. Give.


While giving is usually considered to be unselfish, giving can also be more beneficial for the giver than the receiver. Providing social support may be more beneficial than receiving it.


Intuitively we all know that since it always feels great to help someone who needs it. Not only is helping those in need fulfilling, it's also a reminder of how comparatively fortunate we are... which is a nice reminder of how thankful we should be for what we already have.

Plus receiving is something you cannot control. If you need help -- or simply want help -- you can't make other people help you. But you can always control whetheryou help someone else.


And that means you can always control, at least to a degree, how happy you are -- because giving makes you happier.

(Want to know if you're a relatively giving person?

6. Don't single-mindedly chase "stuff."

Money does a lot of things; one of the most important is to give us choices.


But after a certain point money doesn't make people happier. After about $75,000 a year, money doesn't "buy" more happiness.


As the authors of the linked study say, "Beyond $75,000... higher income is neither the road to experience happiness nor the road to relief of unhappiness or stress. Perhaps $75,000 is the threshold beyond which further increases in income no longer improve individuals' ability to do what matters most to their emotional well-being, such as spending time with people they like, avoiding pain and disease, and enjoying leisure."

And if you don't buy that, here's another take: "The materialistic drive and satisfaction with life are negatively related." (Or in non-researcher's terms, "Chasing possessions tends to make you less happy.")


Think of it as the bigger house syndrome. You want a bigger house. You need a bigger house. (Not really, but it sure feels like you do.) So you buy it. Life is good... until a couple months later when your bigger house is now just your house.


All too soon, new always becomes the new normal.


"Things" only provide momentary bursts of happiness. To be happier, don't chase as many things. Chase more experiences instead.

7. More than anything, live the life you want to live.

Bonnie Ware worked in palliative care, spending time with patients who had only a few months to live. Their most common regret was, "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."


What other people think -- especially people you don't even know -- doesn't matter. What other people want you to do doesn't mater.


Your hopes, your dreams, your goals... live your life your way. Surround yourself with people who support and care not for the "you" they want you to be but for thereal you.


So make the choices that are right for you. Say the things you really want to say to the people who most need to hear them. Express your feelings. Stop and smell a few roses. Make friends, and stay in touch with them.

And most of all, realize that happiness is a choice. 50% of how happy you are lies within your control, so start doing more things that will make you happier.


Now it's your turn. What things do you do that make you happier? Do you do them often enough... and if not, why not?

True Love Story of an American Woman

True Love Story of an American Woman
who Found Her Soulmate in Rural India

We all fall in love, but how far are we truly willing to go to keep that love in our lives? Here is a story that will make you wonder how is it possible for two people from completely different backgrounds to establish a bond of love and understanding.
Meet 41-year-old Adriana Peral, an American citizen, who loves to party and is a grandmother of two. And, meet 25-year-old Mukesh Kumar Ror, a farmer from Haryana, who lives the most traditional Indian village life you can think of. Want to know what is so special about these two individuals who are so different in almost every way imaginable? Take a look at this video and you will know why we got hooked to this jodi.

How different are these two?
Here is a list of things that divides these two people:
Age,
culture,
upbringing and society,
education and language, and
countries
And, here is what unites them- love, respect and understanding.

Jab they met!

The unusual couple, Adriana and Mukesh, met on Facebook. As they continued to talk, they got close and bonded really well. Mukesh fell in love with Adriana and confessed this to her, (of course, in his not so fluent English). When he was persistent, Adriana flew down to India despite all the words of caution she got at home, suggesting he could be fake or a con man, etc.
But it just took one sight of the young man, who is a graduate in mass communication, outside the Indira Gandhi Airport for Adriana to make that life changing decision, and in a very traditional Indian ceremony, she married Mukesh.


Beyond cultural shocks

There was a time when there was an American woman who loved to party, wear dresses and halter tops, step out in her heels, sip martinis and enjoy socialising. Nothing about this sounds out of place, right?
One look at her prince charming, and the same woman ditched it all to don salwar-kameez, wear sindoor and a mangalsutra, and to cover her head with a pallu at all times.

Adriana showed an astounding transformation in just a few months of her marriage. She now lives with Mukesh, and his family in Popran village in the Karnal District of Haryana. She takes care of daily chores in her home, like sweeping the mud floor, cooking on a traditional stove, washing vessels and taking care of her in-laws and husband. She also takes out time to work at the farm with her husband. And like any other woman in the village, she also spends a good part of her time making cake pats from cow dung.

Love triumphs

It was indeed difficult for Adriana, to settle down in the rural part of India. In California, she partied and enjoyed the American lifestyle, she loved shopping with her 25-year-old daughter and spending time with her grandchildren. Adriana, who worked as a receptionist in an acupuncture clinic back home, decided to change her lifestyle for her husband. She swapped that life to get accustomed to communal toilets and tiny shower enclosures.
Adriana was quoted confessing, “At first it was a real struggle, but soon you realise you don't need a fancy toilet or power shower to be happy.” She further adds, “I love my life here with Mukesh - I wouldn't exchange it for anything in the world.”

Yes, this American lady is truly happy with her duties and responsibilities as an Indian bahu. She loves the change, which she is sure will be a true cultural shock for any of her family and friends back home if they see her now. Mukesh too holds similar feelings of love and respect for his wife as she does for him. Mukesh says he loves his wife and she takes very good care of his family. Even his mother believes that her foreigner daughter-in-law is making all efforts to fit into their lifestyle and culture, and has been quite successful too.
Mukesh and Adriana are now expecting their first child. And, even though she loves her new life, Adriana wants to go back to her homeland so that she can be around her daughter and grandchildren as well, especially at this joyful time.

True Love Story of an American Woman

True Love Story of an American Woman
who Found Her Soulmate in Rural India

We all fall in love, but how far are we truly willing to go to keep that love in our lives? Here is a story that will make you wonder how is it possible for two people from completely different backgrounds to establish a bond of love and understanding.
Meet 41-year-old Adriana Peral, an American citizen, who loves to party and is a grandmother of two. And, meet 25-year-old Mukesh Kumar Ror, a farmer from Haryana, who lives the most traditional Indian village life you can think of. Want to know what is so special about these two individuals who are so different in almost every way imaginable? Take a look at this video and you will know why we got hooked to this jodi.

How different are these two?
Here is a list of things that divides these two people:
Age,
culture,
upbringing and society,
education and language, and
countries
And, here is what unites them- love, respect and understanding.

Jab they met!

The unusual couple, Adriana and Mukesh, met on Facebook. As they continued to talk, they got close and bonded really well. Mukesh fell in love with Adriana and confessed this to her, (of course, in his not so fluent English). When he was persistent, Adriana flew down to India despite all the words of caution she got at home, suggesting he could be fake or a con man, etc.
But it just took one sight of the young man, who is a graduate in mass communication, outside the Indira Gandhi Airport for Adriana to make that life changing decision, and in a very traditional Indian ceremony, she married Mukesh.


Beyond cultural shocks

There was a time when there was an American woman who loved to party, wear dresses and halter tops, step out in her heels, sip martinis and enjoy socialising. Nothing about this sounds out of place, right?
One look at her prince charming, and the same woman ditched it all to don salwar-kameez, wear sindoor and a mangalsutra, and to cover her head with a pallu at all times.

Adriana showed an astounding transformation in just a few months of her marriage. She now lives with Mukesh, and his family in Popran village in the Karnal District of Haryana. She takes care of daily chores in her home, like sweeping the mud floor, cooking on a traditional stove, washing vessels and taking care of her in-laws and husband. She also takes out time to work at the farm with her husband. And like any other woman in the village, she also spends a good part of her time making cake pats from cow dung.

Love triumphs

It was indeed difficult for Adriana, to settle down in the rural part of India. In California, she partied and enjoyed the American lifestyle, she loved shopping with her 25-year-old daughter and spending time with her grandchildren. Adriana, who worked as a receptionist in an acupuncture clinic back home, decided to change her lifestyle for her husband. She swapped that life to get accustomed to communal toilets and tiny shower enclosures.
Adriana was quoted confessing, “At first it was a real struggle, but soon you realise you don't need a fancy toilet or power shower to be happy.” She further adds, “I love my life here with Mukesh - I wouldn't exchange it for anything in the world.”

Yes, this American lady is truly happy with her duties and responsibilities as an Indian bahu. She loves the change, which she is sure will be a true cultural shock for any of her family and friends back home if they see her now. Mukesh too holds similar feelings of love and respect for his wife as she does for him. Mukesh says he loves his wife and she takes very good care of his family. Even his mother believes that her foreigner daughter-in-law is making all efforts to fit into their lifestyle and culture, and has been quite successful too.
Mukesh and Adriana are now expecting their first child. And, even though she loves her new life, Adriana wants to go back to her homeland so that she can be around her daughter and grandchildren as well, especially at this joyful time.

Methods of promoting your websites

HIDDEN WAYS to promote your website

I don’t want to mention here such well-known and compulsory promotion methods for any business website as registering with various search engines and directories. Instead I’d like to share some hidden or often disregarded as not so effective or simply forgotten ways of promotion, which I found while looking for ways to promote my own website. Some of them may not be perfect for your particular website, and some requires extra time, I personally often do not have myself, but I believe all of them worth mentioning.

1. Site content

Preparing appropriate website content is directly related to your website ranking in search engines. The titles of your web pages are the most important in terms of keywords’ analysis. Search engines consider the words of titles to be more relevant than others. Assuming that the most relevant words should appear at the top of each page search engines will also check which words are repeatedly appearing in the beginning of each your page's text.
Note: some search engines consider using the same words in a very small type; too often or in the same color as the page itself to be a spamming and may reject the page.

2. Reciprocal linking

There are two ways of reciprocal linking:
- finding websites that allow posting your link in website’s directory in exchange to posting their link, button or banner on your website
- encouraging other website owners to post a link to your website in exchange to their link on your website. Allow to post their banners and buttons in exchange to equivalent graphics promoting your website.
The question of business competition in this case can be solved in different ways.

3. Newsletter

It is exactly that way of promotion which requires extra time for gathering content, writing articles, etc. But if you decide that you agree to do all this to promote your services it will surely be effective. While browsing websites I sometimes find that newsletters’ content, name and therefore the target audience were chosen incorrectly. For example, translator looking to attract new clients or promote his services to potential some-day-to-be-clients should bring more client oriented content to their newsletters, unless he just wants to share some translation tips, techniques, etc. with colleagues. Though some portion of information on free translation sites, software, etc. can also be useful.

4. Articles

The same articles you use for your newsletter can also be submitted to many free and paying online and offline professional and general interest sources and publications. If you are really an expert in your field and can produce really valuable and interesting articles, such a wide exposure of your services to potential clients can be very beneficial to your business.

Resources to check:
http://www.accurapid.com/journal/papers.htm
http://www.web-source.net/articlesub.htm


5. Weblog

A Blog is a webpage where bloggers post relatively short frequently updated messages of whatever nature and type they choose: these can be news, thoughts, ideas, some sort of communication between friends or colleagues, photos and images, etc. You may use it in a way you use your newsletter, but in blogs other people can post their comments to your messages or even contribute to your blog their own news and ideas. This type of community works for you the same way any publicity and discussion around your work, services, personality, etc. work. People can also subscribe to any updates in your weblog.

Resources to check:
http://www.blogger.com
http://www.livejournal.com
http://www.xanga.com

6. Your signature

Don’t forget to use your business signature wherever it is useful and appropriate. For example it looks strange to me when someone signs his posting on a parenting forum with a business website. But there are plenty of forums and communities where such advertising is more than acceptable. You may join some professional community of your interest or of your specialization area, where your signature and link to your website will give other members some information about your background and experience at the same time helping you to find clients among them.

7. Provide testimonials

When visiting a site I myself sometimes click on a testimonial provider's link to check what company this person or firm has worked for. Or I just click for the same reason we often click on a link: just because something in the text appeals to me, name or phrase or something looks interesting.
While browsing sites you can find some useful information, directories of relevant resources or simply appreciate some valuable advice, site design, articles or usability, etc. If there is anything relevant to your activity that you can praise try to approach the site owner offering him to place your testimonial with a link to your website. If you are not competitors in any of the business areas there is practically no reason that would stop him from accepting your offer.
Apart from that a link can bring visitors to your site, it is also useful for search engines ranking based on link popularity.

Methods of promoting your websites

HIDDEN WAYS to promote your website

I don’t want to mention here such well-known and compulsory promotion methods for any business website as registering with various search engines and directories. Instead I’d like to share some hidden or often disregarded as not so effective or simply forgotten ways of promotion, which I found while looking for ways to promote my own website. Some of them may not be perfect for your particular website, and some requires extra time, I personally often do not have myself, but I believe all of them worth mentioning.

1. Site content

Preparing appropriate website content is directly related to your website ranking in search engines. The titles of your web pages are the most important in terms of keywords’ analysis. Search engines consider the words of titles to be more relevant than others. Assuming that the most relevant words should appear at the top of each page search engines will also check which words are repeatedly appearing in the beginning of each your page's text.
Note: some search engines consider using the same words in a very small type; too often or in the same color as the page itself to be a spamming and may reject the page.

2. Reciprocal linking

There are two ways of reciprocal linking:
- finding websites that allow posting your link in website’s directory in exchange to posting their link, button or banner on your website
- encouraging other website owners to post a link to your website in exchange to their link on your website. Allow to post their banners and buttons in exchange to equivalent graphics promoting your website.
The question of business competition in this case can be solved in different ways.

3. Newsletter

It is exactly that way of promotion which requires extra time for gathering content, writing articles, etc. But if you decide that you agree to do all this to promote your services it will surely be effective. While browsing websites I sometimes find that newsletters’ content, name and therefore the target audience were chosen incorrectly. For example, translator looking to attract new clients or promote his services to potential some-day-to-be-clients should bring more client oriented content to their newsletters, unless he just wants to share some translation tips, techniques, etc. with colleagues. Though some portion of information on free translation sites, software, etc. can also be useful.

4. Articles

The same articles you use for your newsletter can also be submitted to many free and paying online and offline professional and general interest sources and publications. If you are really an expert in your field and can produce really valuable and interesting articles, such a wide exposure of your services to potential clients can be very beneficial to your business.

Resources to check:
http://www.accurapid.com/journal/papers.htm
http://www.web-source.net/articlesub.htm


5. Weblog

A Blog is a webpage where bloggers post relatively short frequently updated messages of whatever nature and type they choose: these can be news, thoughts, ideas, some sort of communication between friends or colleagues, photos and images, etc. You may use it in a way you use your newsletter, but in blogs other people can post their comments to your messages or even contribute to your blog their own news and ideas. This type of community works for you the same way any publicity and discussion around your work, services, personality, etc. work. People can also subscribe to any updates in your weblog.

Resources to check:
http://www.blogger.com
http://www.livejournal.com
http://www.xanga.com

6. Your signature

Don’t forget to use your business signature wherever it is useful and appropriate. For example it looks strange to me when someone signs his posting on a parenting forum with a business website. But there are plenty of forums and communities where such advertising is more than acceptable. You may join some professional community of your interest or of your specialization area, where your signature and link to your website will give other members some information about your background and experience at the same time helping you to find clients among them.

7. Provide testimonials

When visiting a site I myself sometimes click on a testimonial provider's link to check what company this person or firm has worked for. Or I just click for the same reason we often click on a link: just because something in the text appeals to me, name or phrase or something looks interesting.
While browsing sites you can find some useful information, directories of relevant resources or simply appreciate some valuable advice, site design, articles or usability, etc. If there is anything relevant to your activity that you can praise try to approach the site owner offering him to place your testimonial with a link to your website. If you are not competitors in any of the business areas there is practically no reason that would stop him from accepting your offer.
Apart from that a link can bring visitors to your site, it is also useful for search engines ranking based on link popularity.

Fatin Liyana: Do you know how to draw a stomach?

Fatin Liyana: Do you know how to draw a stomach?: Assalamualaikum I came to work as usual yesterday. I was quite late as I glanced at my watch it was already 6.35 am. In Surgery posting...

Fatin Liyana: Do you know how to draw a stomach?

Fatin Liyana: Do you know how to draw a stomach?: Assalamualaikum I came to work as usual yesterday. I was quite late as I glanced at my watch it was already 6.35 am. In Surgery posting...