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How can I change? Call the expert on 9/22/11.

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  • Are you sabotaging your own dreams?
  • Do you try a diet and exercise program and then give up?
  • Do you compare yourself to others and then give up?
  • Do you blame external events on why you’re not getting results?

On Thursday September 22nd, at 4 pm PST, you get the chance to call expert Robert Macphee.  He shall answer your questions related to, “How to get out of your comfort zone and get the change you want.”

Please call in with your questions:

When: Thursday September 22nd, 4 pm PST.

Dial In number:  (712) 432-0404
Participant Code  702847#

Robert MacPhee is the author of the great little book:  Manifesting for Non-Gurus: How to Quickly & Easily Attract Lasting Results.

Who is Robert MacPhee?

  • Robert MacPhee is the Former Director of Training (4+ years) for Jack Canfield (Jack is the Co-Creator of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series and the author of the bestselling book “The Success Principles”…)
  • Founder and President of Heart Set, Inc.  A company dedicated to increasing awareness and helping people understand change, get out of their own way, and get more of the lasting results they really want.
  • You can read more about Robert MacPhee on this post: Do you need help? Ask expert Robert MacPhee

 Downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. We uprooted our family in 2004-2005 and moved to Belize.

Just like my husband and I longed for adventure and change, so did Tina and her husband John. They wanted something new and exciting in their life, so they sold their home in Arizona, and rented a house in Panama. After a short while, John found work as a contractor, and was soon able to open his own business.

  • What gave Tina and John the courage to uproot and pursue their dream?

Things were very different on the island where they lived; getting supplies shipped in, learning how to work with locals, trusting people, and so many other issues that go with island-style life in Central America.

  • How did they overcome their fears of making a living in a foreign country?

After a few years, John got cancer. He was treated locally, however, it was terminal cancer and after he passed, Tina had to figure out what to do?

  • How did Tina handle her husband’s cancer treatment in Central America?

After a year, Tina decided to return to live with her father in Colorado. She was not making enough money to support herself in Panama, and needed help.

It’s been three years now and Tina is lost. Her 85-year-old father wants her to move out and find a job. Tina called me in tears. She’s scared and has no idea where she wants to live, what kind of job she can do, and all she wants is a person to take care of her.

  • How can Tina get the courage to change her life and get out of her “comfort zone” in the safety of her dad’s house?

What makes a person do something bold? Is there a secret to getting “unstuck”?

Get all your questions answered by author Robert MacPhee, an expert on how to quickly and easily attract lasting results.

When: Thursday September 22nd, 4 pm PST.

Dial In number:  (712) 432-0404
Participant Code  702847#

If you cannot call in, please contact me on the contact form on my website to ask your question, or leave a comment with your specific question and I’ll ask Robert to answer it for you.

Any questions?

 

 

What does your face say about you?

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Have you ever thought of what your face reveals to others based solely on your facial features?

What if there’s more to the structure of a face than we are aware of? Is it possible to learn some tips that can help us interact with family members, work colleagues, clients and friends?

What if you could figure out how to land a job or a business deal by studying the face of the person who is going to interview you before the meeting?

Could face reading help you with:

  • a problem child
  • a difficult spouse
  • a new relationship
  • a mother-in-law you can’t figure out
  • a boss you can’t handle
  • co-workers who are difficult to work with

Is there a way to improve our relationships with others, or learn who might not be a good fit for us based on what a face reveals?

Most of us may not be gifted in the art of face reading, so let me explain how I became interested in the topic and what it is.

I met Barbara Roberts, author of Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance, at The Inside Edge, a networking group at  the University of California, Irvine.  She has been on 50 National and local TV stations, including the Tyra Banks Show and NBC Nightly News. As Barbara explains in the quote from her website below, face reading is not new.

“Face Reading is an ancient psychological system of understanding a person’s character from his (or her) facial features. In looking at more than 6,000 faces in over 300 classes, Barbara has identified specific, psychological meanings for each facial feature. Abraham Lincoln chose his cabinet using this system. Aristotle hand-selected the generals for Alexander the Great by their lower-jaw structure. This approach honors all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and genders.”

Barbara claims that facial features fall into 3 categories:

1, What we’re born with, (high ears, narrow set eyes, etc.)

2. How we like to look, (changing our hair color)

3. Accidents, surgeries, orthodontia, and (plastic surgery falls into this category.)

Barbara decided to give the audience face reading based on two distinct facial features:

  • Forehead shape
  • Eyebrow shape

She asked us to pull back our hair so she could make a quick scan of the room and select a few who had those specific features.

Being Gutsy and curious, I pulled my hair back and practically pushed my forehead in front of her eyes so Barbara would pick me, and she did.

There were drawings of various shapes of foreheads on a card, some examples of drawing on Barbara’s website:

  • round
  • square
  • widow’s peak
  • wispy corners (tiny wisps of hair in the outer corners of the corners/forehead)

I have the widow’s peak forehead, which you can see on page 31 of Face Reading: How to Know Anyone at a Glance

So the psychological meaning for me was:

I like a relaxed lifestyle and to dress casually. That is very true, especially when I lived in Belize (photos taken by me in Belize). I don’t like to be told what to do, (True) and if I were single on a date, the widow’s peak is the type who says, “Let’s explore together what we want to do for our future.” (true for me.) I don’t like to waste time being superficial.

A few other facts, a round forehead means a people person, many long-term friendships, good relationships. Barbara mentioned if you’re applying for a loan, and you have a rounded forehead, show it.

A square forehead, means you’re career driven, work long hours at the office, focused. No time for a personal life.

We also looked at eyebrow shapes, for example, flat , straight eyebrows mean you’re shy and introverted, rounded eyebrows, “creates harmonious relationships, likes a peaceful home environment.”

Every facial feature is covered in the book in great detail, including Botox and plastic surgery, for those of you who might be skeptical.

So what do you think? If you’re having trouble with someone in your personal or professional life would you like Barbara to analyze that person’s face and help you learn how to handle their personality traits?

Her contact information is on her website. Photo of Barbara Roberts above, from her blog.

 

Answer These 5 Questions to Have a Satisfying Retirement

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Although many of us may be far from retirement, we need to start asking ourselves these 5 questions before we retire. Bob Lowry from Satisfying Retirement, kindly agreed to share his expertise on this subject. You may recall his previous post on my blog entitled: “4 Important Keys to Prepare for a Happy Marriage After Retirement.”

Answer These 5 Questions to Have a Satisfying Retirement
Guest Post by Bob Lowry
from

There is nothing simple about retirement. Everyone has a different path and a unique set of circumstances to face. But, there are some basic decisions that must be made. If you can answer these questions you are well on your way to a successful retirement.

1). When do I want to stop working? A goal without a timetable is simply a wish list. You don’t need to pick the exact day at some point in the future. But, you do need to commit to something: late spring of 2013 is fine. Now you can visualize the finish line and do what must be done to get ready.

2). Is my financial house in order? If nothing else the last few years have made many of the “rules” obsolete. Even the wisdom of owning your own home is up for review. Take a fresh look at all parts of your financial plan. Is the 6% annual rate of growth you were counting on realistic anymore? Is there a chance Social Security payments will be means-tested in the future? Once you retire, it is a little late to ask these questions.

3). How are my health and health coverage? Both will have an important impact on your life. Do you have health challenges now that might limit you in some significant way? Does your spouse have a disease that is chronic? How about your insurance? Do you keep full coverage after you stop working? Can you afford Medicare Part D or supplemental coverage? If you need to buy a new policy will anyone sell you one at a rate you can afford? I believe the costs and direction of our health care system will have a bigger impact on retirees than anything else on the horizon.

4). Where do I want to live? This is a biggie. I strongly urge you to not make a move soon after you retire. There is too much upheaval in your life as it is. A move away from friends, family, and the familiarity of the area should not be undertaken lightly. You may be sick of winter and snow. Your grown children and grandchildren may live quite a distance from you. Throwing away your winter coat sounds heavenly. Being closer to the kids would be wonderful. You may be absolutely right. But, being far from everything that gives you roots has its own costs. Don’t rush this decision. It will have a major impact on your happiness and health.

5). What will I do to stay busy and motivated? It is the rare person who can answer this question with much assuredness before retiring. You will have ideas and wishes. But, until actually living the life you won’t really know what might unfold. My suggestion is to make plans. Get excited about doing the things you have not done during your working years. Then, remain flexible. Be prepared to make corrections in your direction. Be OK with deciding one thing you thought you’d love isn’t the answer, but something new you just discovered might be.

From Building Your Satisfying Retirement-How To Make The Most of This New Phase of Your Life

You can download Bob’s free e-book, on Satisfying Retirement. 

I find Bob’s questions 4 and 5 easier to answer, what about you? 

(I could see myself living 3-4 months out of the year with a view like this. A pier on Ambergris Caye, Belize. A great place to inspire writers.)

Please leave your comments below for Bob to answer.

The Satisfaction of Enough

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[Photo credits: guitars: fotobicchio and shoes: Orin Zebest]

“That’s so cool. That’s awesome!” an irritating squeaky voice kept repeating. She looked no more than six, her cell phone glued to her ear.

I stood behind her, waiting my turn in the “15 items or less” check-out line, still on a high from all the choices of breads, cereals and vegetables at my local grocery store. My family and I had just returned from our year on Ambergris Caye, an island with only 11,000 people in the Caribbean. We were lucky when Superbuy carried fresh milk, and in heaven when we found ice cream. Our choice of bread was white, or white with brown food coloring. Writing a shopping list became pointless. In Belize, the store ruled, and the customer learned to appreciate what they offered.

Back in California, I felt like a kid in a candy store. So many choices, too many in fact that my head was spinning. I’d smile at people and they’d quickly turn their head sideways to avoid eye contact. Many treated me as some kind of weirdo, because I did things differently. I would take my time and get out of their way when they pushed their shopping carts like NASCAR drivers. I would let them get in front of me in line. Men, women, even children looked tired and stressed out. No one seemed to understand how lucky they were to live in a country with everything you could possibly want and need.

“No hay!” the Spanish phrase for “there is no” became a daily phrase which my kids and I learned to accept without getting flustered. If they don’t have beef, we’ll eat chicken. If they don’t have lettuce, we’ll go without. Imagine the outrage of people in a U.S. supermarket if they were told, “No fresh milk today. Maybe next week. No hay!”

“That’s awesome! The blond, skinny, six-year-old repeated for the twentieth time on her cell phone. With small feet inside a pair of glittery high-heeled sandals, a baby-size Luis Vuitton purse, and her cell phone still glued to her ear, she reminded me of a mini Paris Hilton. Her mother glowed in admiration of her daughter’s pretentious mannerisms. She would glance around to see if others paid attention to her “cute” daughter.

I wrote this in my journal in 2006, and now realize I’ve changed. It’s easy to start taking things for granted when you live in a society of abundance. Now I allow myself to buy a pair of earrings or a top, more out of a want than a need, however, the guilt stays with me.

So when I shop, I make sure to ask myself, “Is this a want or a need?” And we all know the answer to that.

I made a list of how Belize has influenced my daily life:

  • I turn off the faucet in between brushing my teeth and rinsing.
  • I use paper towels sparingly; never to dry my hands at home though.
  • I only use paper plates when we have more guests than I have plates.
  • I use Ziplocs over and over.
  • I turn off the lights whenever I leave a room.
  • I always close the fridge door as soon as possible.
  • I never turn on the air-conditioning until it becomes unbearable.
  • I always bring my own bags to the grocery store, even Costco.

The satisfaction of enough, is something that I think about whenever I’m tempted to buy a want rather than a need. What about you?

Blogs I follow that help me re-focus on a simple life:

Leo Babauta from Zen Habits, has many ideas on living a more frugal lifestyle.
Lori from Groovygreenliving, offers tips to simplify life, and not waste.

Reese Whitherspoon honeymoons in Belize

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Photo by newsmia.com

I don’t normally write about celebrity weddings, however when Reese Whitherspoon and her husband Jim Toth were spotted in Belize, I was curious to find out if they had stayed on Ambergris Caye, the popular tourist island where my family and I lived for one year.

Reese Whitherspoon, Jim Toth and Reese’s two kids aged 7 and 11, were dressed in casual clothes and according to an eyewitness quoted in UsMagazine, “They didn’t ask for any VIP treatment, walked off the plane like regular tourists, waited in the immigration line and waited to get their bags from the baggage carousel.”

I visualized them getting off the plane, remembering the uneven steps on the metal staircase on wheels which two Belizean guys would push towards the front door of the plane. Did her kids trip on the first step down? I was familiar with that step; it was much lower (or higher) than all the others, and even with my long legs, I found it to be a challenge. What did they say about the weather? “Wow, it’s really hot and humid here.” Did Reese feel like a microwaved, hot towel had slapped her in the face? Did they remember to fill out the two forms for immigration? Were the officers smiling? Did they say, “Welcome to Belize? Are you staying more than 30 days?”and then proceed to stamp their passports as though competing for the “loudest stamp award.”

After collecting their suitcases, did they go through customs, turn left through a door where the local puddle jumpers wait to transport locals and tourists to Corozal, Placencia, San Pedro, and other places? Did they fly on Tropic Air or Maya Air? Was Jet there advertising his bar? Jet, the short, friendly guy with a shrill voice announcing drinks at Jet’s bar inside the small terminal. Did Reese and her family sit on the hard plastic chairs waiting for their puddle jumper like we’d done so many times before? How did they feel when they walked onto the tarmac to board a small Cessna with about 13 seats on board? Where her kids scared like mine were the first time they sat in this propeller plane?

 All five gorgeous photos are taken by Olivera Rusu Photography

Known for its eco-tourism, Mayan ruin sites scattered on the mainland, fantastic scuba diving, the world famous blue-hole, and much more, Belize has become a popular destination for weddings and honeymooners.  


Now, you can even have your wedding on the Mayan ruins! Olivera Rusu, a friend who lives in Belize and is a professional photographer, offers beautiful photos of weddings on the island, or on the Mayan ruins, something I had never seen before.

More information on Belize FYI

Where they vacationed is a secret. Belize is a small country the size of Massachusetts, located on the Caribbean coast of Central America. It is south of Mexico and is flanked by Guatemala to the south and west. This bio-diverse country, is rich in wildlife, tropical rainforests, has over 550 species of birds, compared to 700 in the whole of North America. So much beauty in such a small country.

So if you want a special vacation, or a unique wedding or honeymoon, please get in touch with Olivera Rusu for your photography. She’s fantastic, as you can see from her photos here and on her Mayan ruins weddings website.

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