Birthday Ideas & Advice

Every one of us has that special day of the year; called the birthday! We all love to celebrate it in any which way we please, but the truth is we can’t avoid it. Surely, these special occasions are a blast when we’re young, though they’re not as desirable as we age past 29. All of a sudden we’re looking around and saying; what happened? Despite of the date your big day falls on, you probably pay more attention on your loved ones and their birthdays. This is where the dilemma begins, what to buy? Well, don’t worry; there are ample of gift ideas out there for everyone. Nowadays I have no trouble finding that special gift for my wife. The overabundance of options has made this all too easy. So for all you ladies out there, listen up – here is some advice when buying birthday gifts for him.

Whether you have a husband or a boyfriend, finding a birthday gift for him can be tricky. Firstly, stop and think – what does your husband, fianc

Intentions are indeed very powerful if they are created in the right way. There are a few basic rules you will want to understand, otherwise your intentions may simply evaporate, or even backfire. By backfire, I mean they create just the opposite of what you wanted.

The Purpose of Making Intentions

We use intention to guide our attention in a new direction, in order to create a new or different reality. For example, maybe you’d like to change your job. Most people would start with the intent to have a better job, as the old one doesn’t satisfy anymore. However, trouble may be brewing here already…

If you move on from something you don’t like, to something you prefer, you may deny your current situation. In order to make successful intentions, it is important to deal with the current situation first, and do some analytical thinking about it.

Understand that you created this situation, so don’t blame anybody else for it. Take full responsibility, and understand that you are the only person responsible for the current circumstances.

Do away with any judgments of your current situation, until you can see it from a neutral perspective. There was a point in your life when it was the perfect decision. Don’t compare the now with the past, as you have since had new experiences and gained a different viewpoint.

This is a common mistake in thinking; it is like a loophole in the mind. You jump from one time-line into another time-line, and then compare them. This leads to false conclusions. Besides that, leave the past; don’t reinvent it.

Evaluate Your Current Situation

If you look at your current situation without judgments, you empower yourself. Only from a neutral standpoint can you make a powerful new decision. This new decision will be based on deliberate intent instead of reaction to circumstances. This is where choice and free will comes in.

Now, at the point of being neutral, you can ask yourself the following questions:

* What do I like about my current job?

* What do I want to improve in my next job?

* What would be the perfect job for me?

* What would I like to feel from my next job?

* What am I good at?

* In which areas is this job supporting me to live my full potential?

Write down the answers to these questions, and start to craft a few full sentences out from your answers. Include all the positive points. Make these sentences as precise as possible.

It could read like this: “My next job is exciting; it flows with me, makes me happy, and I am able to learn and grow with it.

When you are done, read it out loud. If you have trouble saying the sentence, or even memorizing it, then it is not ready. Simply take a few moments and refine it.

Overcoming Pitfalls when Creating Intentions

Intentions are formed in your conscious mind; however, it’s your subconscious that receives these commands and creates the necessary opportunities in your life. In other words, your conscious mind deciding on this new opportunity creates a new reality.

* Use only positive words

* Include a time frame

* Remove negations

* Be precise

Here is a simple test. Don’t think about a blue elephant! What happened? You thought about the blue elephant, you may even imagined it. The subconscious does not work analytically; it cannot understand words like ‘don’t’ or ‘not.’ It works mostly in images, sounds, and smells.

You want to avoid use of any negative words in your intentions. Always formulate your intentions in such a way that they reflect the outcome of what you’d like to create.

Example of how not to do it:

- I don’t want to have so much responsibility.

Better Example:

- In my new job I feel comfortable with my responsibility.

Including a Time Frame:

There is a difference between creating in your own universe or in the physical world. When you create inside yourself there is no time involved – your consciousness is timeless!

For example, if you’d like to change your attitude toward your boss, you don’t need to set a time frame. You can simply create the intention: “I appreciate my boss,” or, “I value my boss’ viewpoints and beliefs.” It will work instantly if there is no other belief or intention in its way.

When you deal with the physical world, setting a time frame becomes important. The physical world works within time and space. If you build a new house, first you have a plan, and then you move dirt, assemble wood, install plumbing, and move furniture, until the house is complete. It takes time and effort.

So if you make your intention but you leave out the time frame – your intention becomes doubtful. Example: “I am working in my dream job.” Well, you would say right away – I’m not. It sounds more like an affirmation than an intention. Include the time frame, and this example turns into: “6 months from now I am working in my dream job.”

Pay attention to any reactions you have when you formulate your intention. Your mind may interfere and tell you: “No way, I will never get this,” or “this is impossible.” If you encounter these instant judgments, formulate your intentions differently, so that they feel more do-able. Sometimes you may want to break a big intention into smaller pieces.

For example: “In 2 weeks I am a Millionaire” is an intention that may not work for most people. However, an intention like: “Every day I have more money to spend” may bring you there.

New Years Intentions Vs. Birthday Intentions

Many people make new year’s resolutions on first night, which is a good thing. However, making them on your birthday is more efficient.

Why is this? A new year is an artificial point of time, it just means that one year passed, and is not related to you in any way – it’s impersonal. If you make your new year’s resolution on your birthday, it is personal, because on this specific day the sun is in the same position as it was when you were born. Astrologers call this point a sun-sun conjunction. It is a very powerful point in time, as a new individual cycle for you starts.

May all your dreams come true.

RIDDLE! What is it?

They spend thousands encouraging us to buy it.

We are advised never to go on holiday without it.

But when we want to buy it, they don’t want to sell it to us.

Read on ………..

So after much deliberation we have chosen the holiday destination, sorted out the flights, and already we are picturing ourselves languishing on warm sands with the inviting blue sea stretching before us, and we just have the minor formality of the holiday travel insurance and then all the arrangements will be complete. Did I say MINOR? Well, yes, holiday insurance was once just a minor formality, but now for retired folk or senior citizens it has become a MAJOR, MAJOR problem. (In fact, when talking to friends it appears that holiday insurance has replaced house prices as the after dinner discussion). The problem is not just about how health affects the cost of insurance but it’s about how age affects the cost of insurance. Isn’t it amazing how an insurance company can take your annual holiday insurance payments for years, you have never made a claim, and suddenly because you have just passed a certain birthday you are too risky to consider. Your medical history may be fine, in fact you may be fitter than the 30 year old couch potato on the end of the telephone, but that doesn’t count – the only thing that counts is the date on your birth certificate. And when you do find an insurance company who will cover you, you find that the premium costs more than the holiday.

However, one thing is certain, WE MUST HAVE HOLIDAY TRAVEL INSURANCE (you realize how essential it is when you consider that an air ambulance from the USA will set you back approx £35,000), and another important point is to be honest when declaring your medical history, because Insurance Companies are not charities and will possibly look into your medical history hoping to find some information (however slight you may have considered it at the time it was recorded) to avoid paying for example that air ambulance cost from the USA.

A timely reminder that the E111 was discontinued on 31 December 05 and was replaced by the EHIC (the European Health Insurance Card), which you can obtain from the Post Office or www.dh.gov.uk. It is useful to take this, but it is definitely not a substitute for personal holiday insurance.

And whilst on the subject of European holidays; a couple of years back we met a group of Spanish pensioners having a great time on the Costa del Sol. We found out why it was such a joyous occasion, it came courtesy of the Spanish Government – the Government treats senior citizens to a week’s free holiday. On reflection, it could possibly work out cheaper for the National Health if our senior citizens were sent to warmer climes during the winter when bronchitis and respiratory problems abound. Mr Brown, it’s food for thought. After all, he informs us that in 2008 we shall be receiving free bus travel throughout the country, so perhaps we can but dream that the boundaries be extended somewhat. However, there is still the problem of the necessary holiday travel insurance.

A recent survey found that 9 out of 10 annual travel policies impose an upper age limit. It is slightly easier to obtain single trip policies: but this can work out expensive is you plan to take more than a couple of holidays a year. Here are a few worth contacting, but do shop around as prices vary enormously -

All Clear of Brentwood – www.allcleartravel.co.uk

Citybond – www.citybond.co.uk

Churchill – www.churchill.com)

Age Concern ) will insure the over 80s

Help the Aged ) will insure the over 80s

Saga ) will insure the over 80s

Norwich & Peterborough – www.npbs.co.uk

Flexicover – www.flexicover.co.uk

Visit Mabels…Maintaining Bygone Times, containing numerous articles thoughtfully researched mainly for the older person. You may access these articles by visiting http://www.mabels.org.uk/ – You will learn about the best tips to improve your health, fitness, finances, & helpful organisations to make the most out of life.

Another year has passed and again it is time to celebrate my birthday. As I think back on the life I have lived and the things I have learned I know that I can look forward to the future with joy and expectation and I look back with no regrets.

As I look at my reflection in the mirror, I see a few more laugh lines, but I have decided that the only lines on my face that count as wrinkles are the lines caused by frowning. A line on my face that is caused from smiling and laughing will just add character and beauty. I will rejoice in those lines. They are the marks of a life well lived.

I have learned to let go of the things I cannot control. I cannot control others opinion of me yet I can control what is really important. I can control what I think of myself. When I treat myself with dignity, love and respect, my life works. I can do anything when I feel good about myself.

From now on I will indulge in life’s pleasures with joy and abandon. For too long, and too many times, I felt guilty about indulgences like desserts. I didn’t weigh any more the next day, yet I let that moment of joy and pleasure get away because I was a slave to the scale. No more, from now on, if I indulge, I will enjoy! I will not deny myself any of life’s pleasures for absurd reasons, and trying to please an inanimate object such as a scale is absurd!

From now on I will do my part to bring out the best in others. I want to be one of those people that make other people feel good about themselves. I will look for and see the best in them and in turn they will see it within themselves. I will see beauty and the best of everyone and everything.

Today and everyday I will laugh and dance and sing. I will create Joy in my life. I will enjoy the times of my life whatever it brings.

And as I age and on my next birthday, I will remember that I measure my life in moments of Joy rather than the passing of years.

Happy Birthday to Me!