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Friday, August 25, 2017

12 Camping Hints Everyone In Oklahoma Really Needs To Know

12 Camping Hints Everyone In Oklahoma Really Needs To Know

There are certain camping hints you will want to remember when living in Oklahoma. From hot, humid summers to freezing temps in winter, life can be tricky and sometimes dangerous. When you’re caught off-guard and need a few tricks, remember these camping hints to get you out of a bind or to keep you safe.

Friday, October 23, 2015

11 Facts About Suicide


11 FACTS ABOUT SUICIDE


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Welcome to DoSomething.org, one of the largest orgs for young people and social change! After you've browsed the 11 facts (with citations at the bottom), take action and volunteer with our millions of members. 
  1. Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year.
  2. In the U.S., suicide rates are highest during the spring.
  3. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds and 2nd for 24 to 35-year-olds.
  4. On average, 1 person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes.
  5. Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people.
  6. About 2/3 of people who complete suicide are depressed at the time of their deaths. Depression that is untreated, undiagnosed, or ineffectively treated is the number 1 cause of suicide.
  7. There is 1 suicide for every 25 attempted suicides.
  8. Males make up 79% of all suicides, while women are more prone to having suicidal thoughts.
  9. 1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 commit suicide each year.
  10. There are 2 times as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.
  11. Over 50% of all suicides are completed with a firearm.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Taking Back Your Power in Seven Easy Steps


Relationships are about power. We give some, we take some -- that is the ideal recipe, eh?
Yet, so many of us give up our power to others in a relationship, sometimes out of fear of being alone, or fear of losing security (financial, emotional, sexual). Notice a pattern emerges. We sometimes stay in poor, unhealthy relationships out of fear -- brought on by giving away our own power.
So ? How do we get our power back and put our relationship, or at least our attitudeabout our relationship, back on an even keel?

First ~ Remove the rose colored glasses and see things for what and how they really are. This is a tough one for most of us because we have lived so long under an illusion that there is permanence in a world where permanence just does not exist. Change is a constant in the physical life. Energies continually shift and we are being impacted by these changes every moment of every day. Accepting that 'things' change is step one in returning our power to ourselves -- becoming self-empowered.

Second ~ Finding the right balance. I am saying 'right' balance because balance can be relative or subjective. We often determine balance in a relative way, perhaps estimating it by comparing our perception of balance to someone or something else. Subjective balance is that which is more pointed toward our own personal feel for it - an introspective perception that is biased by our individuality. Which balance is 'right' balance? Right balance is that which serves the good of the whole - plain and simple. And, we are part of that whole.

Third ~ Create a "Me" wall. One sure-fire way of building your confidence and taking back your power is to create a 'Me" wall that contains things you like about yourself, photographs of happy times, prints of special places you love or things that you enjoy. Surround yourself with positive reinforcement, bolstering your confidence by hanging that special certificate you received, your diplomas, certifications, and degrees. Fill your wall with everything positive you have about yourself and ... include a mirror right smack dab in the middle so you can see yourself, too ! Don't feel that this is being egotistical or vain because it is not. It is OK to appreciate your accomplishments. When we lose appreciation for our own success, we effectively diminish our personal power. A "Me" wall reaffirms our self-esteem and re-establishes a belief in our own powers and abilities which equates to self-empowerment, not undue favor of ourselves.

Fourth ~ If the world is a stage, be your own writer, director and star ! Shakespeare said it most poignantly that the world is a stage and that we are all actors (or something akin to this ~smile~). I say ... don't stop at merely being an actor, be your own writer and director, too! You are the product of your thoughts, so include the whole show in your thoughts and create, produce, direct and star in your own life. What fun !

Fifth ~ Utilize the art of visualization to achieve your goals. And, don't be afraid to dream big! Visualization and dreams run along parallel lines. We have hopes and dreams. Now ... take those hopes and dreams and see them visually. Take five or ten minutes every day to create a daydream of your hopes and see them exactly as you would like it. By visualizing your dreams, you give them power, thereby fortifying your self-empowerment. You can also take it a step further into contemplation and not only visualize your dreams, but also incorporate all your senses -- seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, and smelling.

Sixth ~ Know that every stumbling block is really a stepping stone in disguise. Our perception of things can make all the difference. Sometimes we just need to ask ourselves ... "Is the glass half empty or half full?" You've heard this before, I'm sure, but consider the difference between the two --- emptiness or fullness -- direct opposites. Seeing a glass as half empty is perceived as the glass being deficient and lacking, therefore, of negative value. However, seeing a glass as being half-full is perceived as being abundant and sufficient leaving a positive connotation. Don't allow stumbling blocks to stop your progress; perceive them as stepping stones and flit across them toward your goals without skipping a beat. See the glass as half-full.

Seventh ~ A smile is a curve that doesn't need straightening out. Smile more -- at others, at yourself! Smiling does more than simply stretch your facial muscles. It opens the floodgates of unconditional love and compassion. Share that infectious smile of yours with everyone you meet and keep it on your face daily. Why? Because there is this thing called 'muscle memory' ~~ a physical process where muscle mass becomes familiar with a movement over time and 'memorizes' it as a motor skill. Reminding yourself to smile more every day will make it so that your smile will simply become a permanent part of your life and the effort of smiling, although physical, comes from within the Soul, the 'real' you! Let it out !

By taking back your power .. in your job, your home and your relationships, you begin to emerge as a more confident, successful, and empowered individual --- one who is unafraid to begin or end a relationship. You give yourself the power to make the choice, your own choice, unhindered and uninfluenced by any one other than yourself.

Feng Shui Office Tips for Your Desk


What are Feng Shui office tips for your desk?
Feng Shui has become popularized to apply to all things, expanding its original purpose.  The following is a contemporary adaptation of classical Feng Shui concepts.
The location of the desk and chair are key factors for Feng Shui in the office.  Put your desk in the “Command Position” of the office. There are several layers to the Feng Shui power spot.  Today, we will talk about the desk location and what you see when you look up.
Are you in command of your space?  The first principle is to get the Yin Yang correct.  Have supportive and receptive Yin to your back and right side.  Have energetic and active Yang to your front and left side.  Door on your left is preferable.

The Feng Shui “Command Position” of the office desk is:
  • The spot furthest from the door is the “protected” location.  We perform better if we feel safe and supported at work.  Facing the yang side is positioning yourself to see what’s coming and grab those that are opportunities.
  • Having the grandest view of the entire room.  You can see everything in the room, especially the door.  This is in command of the space.
  • A solid wall behind the chair that gives proper support.  The back is the vulnerable Yin side.  Remember the concept, “I’ve got your back.”  It governs the quality of your relationships and health.  Hang a picture of a solid mountain or one that exudes  confidence, strength and integrity.
  • The door is in clear eye shot.  The door is the Mouth of Qi, where the active Yang energy penetrates.  Facing Yang places you in the optimum position to see, filter through, and capture the opportunities that are in perpetual existence.
  • Having the most active energy to your left while sitting (i.e. the door, window, street, noise, lots of activity or movement).  Entering your desk from the left (while sitting) is best.  This is the Yang side, associated with the active Male energy.  It influences material opportunities, incoming wealth and prosperity.  If you cannot place your desk in this position, place a CD player, TV or water fountain on your left, something that moves, generates activity or makes noise.
  • The right side is the receptive Yin side, associated with Female energy.  It is ideal for the right side (while sitting down) to be supported by a wall. Make it quiet, subdued and less active than the left.  This lends support to the qualities of nurturing, creativity and, personal development.  Place heavy pieces of furniture, earthen objects or a picture of mountains here.
  • In Feng Shui we do not distinguish one side as being better that the other.  They are interdependent and one exists because of the other.  Both are necessary to balance your sense of well-being.
  • The next level.  Learn what your Gua or Life Star # is place your desk in one of your good directions.  


No Nos of the desk position:
  • Sitting with your back to the door is not good.  Your back to Yang energy is an obstructed view, creates obstacles to getting your work done, missed opportunities and increased politicking behind your back.  You are not facing the world that is happening around you.  Instead, you have your back to it.  You inadvertently miss what is happening around you.  If it can’t be helped, try to position the desk so the door is to your side or in your periphery vision.  The last option is to put a mirror in front of you so you can see what is behind you.
  • Do not sit in alignment with a door, two doors or between a door and window.  You end up sitting with yang on both sides of your body.  Over time, you will find your self feeling drained and tired.  This is because humans need a balance of activity and rest.  Constant bombardment of energy will deplete you.  Solutions – Move out of alignment of these configurations. Put a curtain or screen on your right side.  Keep one of the doors closed.
  • Do not sit facing a wall. Over time, you will begin to adapt the psychology of facing blockages and obstacles. Your mind does not work at its peak. You will miss out on opportunities and encounter obstacles in your work. Projects have difficulty getting off the ground and promotions are slow to come by. If it cannot be helped, use a mirror to reflect what is behind you. Try this experiment. Sit with your face to the wall. Look up and notice how it feels. Then turn around and look out. You will see and feel the difference! 
Facing a Wall is not optimum. Click for details.
  • If you cannot move your desk, hang a picture of scenery featuring an open field to symbolize your own personal “bright hall”.  Or hang an image in front of you to symbolize being faced with many opportunities.  This will help counter the negative effects of facing a wall, and will create reason for you to change desk to one with better feng shui.

Bad with window behind. Click for details

  • Do not sit with your back to a window.  This is too Yang and the backside is not supported by needed Yin energy.  Reposition yourself or use a curtain or screen behind you.
  • Sitting in alignment with the door or to too near a door, especially the front door is an unprotected and vulnerable location.  If the office lay-out means you are in that vulnerable spot, try to sit so you can see the door at all times and have a view of people approaching.  Make extra effort to have the necessary support symbols with you to counter the negative effects of such a desk location.  Create the circumstances to move your desk at the next opportunity!
  • Do not position your work desk so you are directly facing someone as it causes confrontational energies to build up between you.  Move your desk or chair to avoid this.

The 9 areas represented by the feng shui bagua map

Working with the bagua map is one of the most powerful ways to create positive changes in your life.
It focuses your intention to produce astonishing results fast!
As I have stated elsewhere, it is my belief that feng shui works because it both enhances the beneficial energy in your home AND sets a specific intention in place establishing a positive vibration. Working with the bagua map to bring feng shui in the home is like having a playdate between the intellectual and intuitive side of the brain. 
It focuses your intention to produce astonishing results fast!
The feng shui bagua map allows you to focus your intention and enhance the positive energy for a specific area of your life.
The best way to use the feng shui bagua map is as follows:
  1. Take stock of your life and set goals. The very first thing I do during a consultation is to have my client fill out a life assessment worksheet . This allows me to decide which areas to focus on first.


  2. Map out the areas of your home using the bagua map. You need to overlay the bagua map onto your home. The goal is to divide your home up into nine equal parts like the feng shui bagua chart.
  3. Start making adjustments slowly. Based on your life-assessment worksheet, decide which area or areas to focus on first. Be sure the area is clean and free from clutter. Make feng shui adjustments and add enhancements slowly so you can identify what works and what doesn’t. 


The nine areas represented by

the feng shui bagua map are:


  1. Abundance and Prosperity. This area represents wealth, happiness and peace. It also represents fortunate opportunities and your ability to take advantage of them.


  2. Fame and Reputation. This area represents how others perceive you and how they value and recognize your contributions. It also corresponds to illumination from within, integrity and honesty.


  3. Relationships and Love. This area represents your relationships with others. It helps you foster long-lasting and harmonious relationships built upon mutual trust and unconditional love.


  4. Creativity and Children. This area represents joy, fullness, creativity, and imagination. It also signifies your relationship with your children and child bearing.


  5. Helpful People and Travel. This area represents support, guidance, and love from close friends and unseen helpers. Along with moving and traveling, it also denotes letting go of everything and everyone that doesn’t serve you.


  6. Career and Journey. This area represents more than your career, it corresponds to your life purpose and the flow of life.


  7. Skills and Knowledge. This area represents personal strength, wisdom, resourcefulness, self-mastery, and self-control. It also stands for the link between a calm mind and intelligent mind.


  8. Family and Elders. This area represents strong health, loving family relations, honesty and forgiveness, and the foundations for life.


  9. Health and Center. This area also stands for health and a balanced life.