Identity theft is a major problem these days, many new jobs were created to help prevent identity theft. The amazing part is that a lot of people do not even know they may have been a victim of identity theft.

Because who wants to pay for protection when in fact you may never become a victim of identity theft. Even if you find out you have been a victim you can always claim identity theft to the collection agency in question and challenge the debt owed.

A lot of times they will not want to dispute the fact or go to court about a possible case of identity theft because it cost money. So they will drop the debt owed and may even apologize. So if you have a low credit score and feel you have been victimized by a identity thief then call the debt collector and voice your concern that you were a victim of identity theft.

As for a personal case I dealt with was when I ran a free annual credit report and found a suspicious address I have never lived at, so I did some research,found out what this person used my name for activation of services and turned around and called the collection agency connected to that debt and simply told them that I never have lived at that address, I, am a victim of identity theft.

They directed me to another department and said they were sorry to hear I was a victim and we will remove your name from our list. Of course I was very pleased and looked further into my other debts because some collection agencies will buy your debt from different companies and combine them on the same bill not separating who they came from so you may actually owe $200.00 instead of $1,000.00.

Because if the thief used a different address to use your personal information then the bill will be sent to the other address and you,ll never know about this identity theft. So start calling those pesky collectors and claim identity theft!

In the 21th century Gossip means business! It became a trend and is the main subject of most conversations. Every major magazine is proud of its Gossip Column. The more famous the people they gossip about, the better the magazine is rated, more people read it… and obviously more money are made.

But is this real journalism? Does this really make you a good reporter? It obviously makes you a nosy one and most likely the people you write about would consider you indiscreet (at the very least). The more you know about their private lives, the less likely for you to become best buddies.

Gossip is a contagious disease! It’s definitely airborne and is very resistant to “medication”! Once you catch the bug it’s almost impossible to get rid of it. Part of the reason is because the people infected with the “gossip bug” are not aware of their symptoms and what they lead to.

If you got the “gossip bug”, the end result of your illness is this: lack of trust and true friends! Why? Cause a true friend does not “kiss and tell”! I know a few people like that and believe me that whenever I talk to them I censor everything I say, because I know it’s a matter of time before it becomes common knowledge. We even joke about it and say: “Don’t you know the gossiper knew it even before it happened?” I have lost trust and respect for that particular person.

Now I know this “bug” is also a little bit sexist – in the sense that more women have it than man. But as you can find a good female driver once in a while (and I mean fast cars), you can find a male gossiper too.

Gossip is one of the oldest means of spreading and sharing information. It’s so common that it’s called “social conversation”! No surprise it ended up in all the important magazines! People have done this for so long they no longer realize they do it, or what it does! Gossip is many times true, but many times not! And the things that are said cause not only pain to the person spoken about, but it also denigrates them in other people’s eyes. Scandals have often put and end to relationships, marriages and even businesses.

I was shocked the other day when a close friend said: “…well if it’s true!” So what if it is? Does reality make it all right?

One side of the coin I wasn’t aware of until a few years back is that gossip does not only destroy the third person (the gossiped) and the gossipers by making them unworthy of trust, but also destroys the people that listen. The tongue has the power to kill! In the end the gossipers end up being gossiped. Call it spirituality, or karma, or whatever you want! It’s a cosmic law and if you are exposed to it, then it will affect you and your loved ones.

So maybe you thought you’re a man and you don’t have a gossip problem. But do you hear it? Do you tolerate it? If you do, than you are just in as much trouble and need to take immediate action. The truth is that gossipers don’t realize what they do and even if they do, they can’t stop on their own. Maybe they think like my friend: “it’s true!” But that’s no excuse, and it doesn’t make it right!
If you realize you are a gossiper and you decide to change the way you live, or if you want to help others, here are my suggestions:

1. CHANGE the subject! It’s the easiest way to deal with it! Start a game or propose something to distract their attention from the subject. If you do something that involves action is much easier to focus their attention on something else.
2. STOP them! If they keep going back to gossiping, tell them it bothers you and it’s none of your business anyway. Don’t be harsh if you do this, or you may end up being called “self-righteous”.
3. WALK AWAY! If you can’t do any of the above, refuse to expose yourself to it.
4. PEOPLE OF CHARACTER! True friends can help you walk a long way. Surround yourself with people that like to build other people up, rather than tear them apart. If you can share your problem with them you will see they will take immediate action to help you with your problem. If your tongue slips from time to time, they will be ready to bring it to your attention.

Once you become aware of gossip, it will be easier to recognize it and see its many forms: one more discrete than the other!

Be your own master!

Is it just me?, or does every one think about, what it will be like for them when they get old. See, I’ve always done this, ever since I became a teenager, i would say to people, I’m not going to get old. I’m only 29 now but, i do find myself thinking about it often, sad isn’t it. I mean i would rather take my own life before nature takes it from me. Does any one else feel like this?

I have got children, two girls already, another on the way but, i really would not want to be a burden to them, having to look after me when I’ve started to lose my marbles or just can’t take care of myself properly, you know all the problems that you start getting when ya old.

Looking on the bright side, i may not get too many problems, you just don’t know. I try and keep fit and eat some, of the right foods, still got bloody purple veins appearing on my legs though. Its not so much what i will look like, its just how will i feel. What if i cant go out for a walk and i cant wash my own feet. I think being a carer my self, part time, really has given me an insite to how the elderly live. All i can say is its bloody scary. Some have no family at all, so they only see strangers, who don’t really want to spend there precious time, chatting with the old folk.  They are in and out, wash em, dress em, feed em. It was this job that made me think, i have got to expand my family some more, hence being pregnant again.

I am happy in my life despite what it may sound like. I have a loving husband, he is 6 years older than me, it doesnt seem to bother him getting old, he just gets on with it. When we first met, i did talk to him, i said it would be really nice if we could plan to go together, you know, so we don’t leave one of us behind, i could not handle that. So i suggested maybe when we reach our early 70`s, we could get sloshed together on some beautiful island in the sun, drop a few pills lay down on the sand and just drift off together to a better place. I would tell my children what we where planning, i just think that would be the ideal way to go, but hey thats just me.

I’ve started a new chapter in my life, and it feels great to have moved on. Were there tears, yes! Tears of joy and tears of sadness.

I have entered this new phase of my life with hope to embrace a promising future. I walked away from childhood behaviors, only to see that growing up is not all that bad. The closer i draw near to God, the more i see him at work. I find that in letting old friends go, i was able to see that i was only focused in hanging out with them, and not focused on whether or not they were building me up spiritually. Do i still keep in contact with old friends, yes, but i am not interested in anything that takes the focus off of my walk with Christ–known as D.R.A.M.A-Dumb Reasons And Meaningless Actions.

Let’s talk about what Drama does to each individual that finds themselves caught somewhere in between the mix of unnecessary situations. Example: You want to hang out with a certain group of friends so bad, in order to fit in, but find yourself having to take sides with certain people in the group in order to maintain the trust of both. All the while knowing that the information you share with one of the two gets back to both persons. What this means is, you have created a triangle, where you are now finding yourself unable to trust either persons, but you don’t want to lose either friends, so you stop feeding them information.

But this only lasts for a while, and the cycle starts up again. What winds up happening is you get hurt the other two either remain friends or they move on. This example offers either the one getting hurt or the two other friends remaining/moving on as possible answers to this example. What you have done is set yourself up for Dumb Reasons and Meaningless Actions. It was dumb of you to want to fit in so bad that you did whatever it took to fit in, and this gave you a reason to perform meaningless actions. While you were racking up the friend market, your spiritual condition withered away. You were sinking and at the same time trying to present yourself as being more spiritual than others.

I can admit that i have been here and done that. I can’t tell you where u stand or how you compare to me because we all have different experiences, some being similar, but it all effects us in different ways. James 4:8 Draw closer to God and he will draw nigh to thee. Colossians 3:17, set your affections on things above and not on things of this earth. 1 John 2:15-?(17 maybe) Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. For if anyone loves te world the Love of the Father is not in him. Anything that takes our attention off of God is D.R.A.M.A-Dumb Reasons And Meaningless Actions. I hope that someone can relate to this and i hope this is an encouragement.

When i started this new journey in my life, i completely left all drama behind and I realize what i was missing and how that affected my thoughts and my feelings about God, people, and life. I even recognize drama, when it tries to creep up and grab my attention again, but I’ve already seen where this road leads, and with the help of God, find it relatively easy to walk away.
No More D.R.A.M.A-Dumb Reasons And Meaningless Actions.

Darren Frye

I know there are many parents today who are having a rough time with their children in school; as a single mother I am one of them. There are so many obstacles that our children must face on a daily basis while attending school. As they progress from year to year, they change and obstacles increase. These times can be frustrating, unproductive and stressful; along with a lot of sleepless nights for parents. In reality it does not matter what a parent says or does to encourage the child of the importance of completing their education, as the final decision is left up to the child. As parents we need to continue to talk and assist the child, communicate with school personnel who are in contact with the child on a daily basis, and keep trying to do what it takes for the child to graduate from high school. Most importantly we must constantly pray and ask for the guidance necessary.

School has been a challenge for my fourteen year old son since elementary school. As a result of his bad behavior he repeated kindergarten. To this day he regrets it, but at the same time was not ashamed to tell people why he was not in his correct grade. Although this troubled me, I found he is not the only child who has repeated this grade for one reason or the other. As a result of the type of trouble my son would get his self into, he has always been labeled as the trouble maker. In his first year of middle school he had conflicts with a couple of his teachers as well as staying in trouble, which eventually caused him to be thrown off the football team, which he also regrets. After I visited the school several times, meeting and talking with his teachers and other school personnel, I felt he needed to be separated from these teachers to see if he would do better. My request to make these changes were denied. The next step would be transferring him to another school, at the same time not being sure if it would make a difference or not. I know my son is not an angel, but I felt his behavior camouflaged his intelligence and his grades could be improved from just average.

My son asked me to transfer him to a new charter school in the area, which I did. I felt if he asked for the change he just might do better. In the beginning he followed the same patterns. I did not know what to do at this point. It would not matter what school he attended, if he did not change. As a last resort, I requested him being tested for ADHD and he began taking medication. As a result of his impulsiveness, I felt the trouble he was getting into could be prevented if he thought situations out before reacting, and he felt the same. I know parents have different opinions on medicating children, but this worked for him. I needed a solution and knew there was something else going on inside of him, and I was right.

My son has since begun doing better in school and at home. He is in eighth grade now. He began to make a change for the better during the latter part of seventh grade. This was such a relief to me and for him too. He has lost about thirty pounds which began to boost his confidence tremendously. He was recommended to take an algebra course in the eighth grade; which will be on his high school transcript if he receives a “B” or better. In seventh grade he made the Principal’s list with a “B” average. His grades have improved to an “A” average so far this year and the school has nominated him for the National Honor Society. He has taken it upon himself to take high school courses online, with the hopes of graduating a year earlier. He is now entering the second month of school and doing very well in all his courses. He recognizes the difference in his behavior and grades, feels good about his self, and does not mind being called smart by other students. I also feel a great burden has been lifted off my shoulders by the positive results, since I knew he could do it if he put his mind to it.

I am not writing this to brag on my son, but to let other parents know I have been there and children can get through school and graduate if they have someone showing them unconditional love and support. Parents need to stay strong and committed. They also need to keep praying and encouraging the child. As long as you and the child are willing to work together, it can be done. My son and I did it and we are no different from anyone else. There will always be an exception to this with children who just can’t make it in school or do not have someone to encourage them for one reason or the other. These situations are out of the parent’s control and parents just have to let God take care of them.

What would you say if I told you there was a magic potion to weight loss that did not include strenuous exercise and reduced calorie consumption? If I said, it was free and easily obtainable without effort, would I get your attention? The secret might be as simple as drinking more water.

We already know that you can go without food for days, even weeks. Although a day without water, an individual would be in dire straights.

Common sense explains that people need water. The truth is, individuals are mostly water, and without it, you cannot perform appropriately. It is of the extreme essence to replace water that you use. Without it, you will become dehydrated and your body will not function accordingly. Some people think that water is only to quench your thirst. What they do not know, thirst is merely a signal telling you that your body needs more water.

Water weighs nearly seven pounds per gallon. That is ample cause to get rid of a few of those bugles by losing retained water. If you are wondering how this works, the answer is simple. In order to lose retained water, we must drink more water! Consequently, we need to learn to get into the habit of drinking more water that our bodies need. When this is accomplished, you will have more than enough water to banish extra fluid from your cells.

How much water should you drink?

On average, a person should drink about eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily or sixty-four ounces. If you are trying to lose weight, you should drink more and continue doing so throughout the day. An individual who weighs one hundred and eighty pounds should drink ninety ounces of water daily. A good guide to follow is to divide your current weight by two.

If exercise is part of your program, more water is necessary to replace water loss from sweat. It is crucial to drink water before, during and after exercise to keep energy levels high and aid in recovery.

Here are a few tips why we need to drink more water to lose weight:

* Water helps suppress your appetite: How many times have you felt hungry and grabbed for a snack? Your body was asking for something and you merely assumed it must be food. Maybe it was thirst. Reach for a glass of water and see if it helps. You might just be dehydrated. Some people only drink water when they feel thirsty. If you wait until thirst sets in, you are probably already dehydrated.

* Water flushes toxins from your body: Drinking water detoxifies the liver and kidneys and carries waste away from the body.

* Water assists fluid retention: If the body does not get enough water, every drop of liquid you put into it, it will hold onto. The best way to prevent this from happening is to drink more water. The body will recognize it has a continuous amount and will stop hanging onto every drop. A diet that is high in sodium will also cause water retention. To combat this, drink more water to help flush the sodium through your kidneys.

* Keeps you hydrated: Hydration enhances physical performance, helps digestion, maintains the balance of electrolytes and transports nutrients.

* Muscle tone: If you build muscle, you must keep your body well hydrated. Water helps muscle tone by giving it the usual capability to contract. Water also helps lubricate the joints.

If your goal is to drop a few pounds, take the healthy approach and drink up. Water is the liquid of life!

Have you sat and wonder what if? Do you hear yourself say what if to the end of your questions? I know i have. After all these I finally realized the path we take is purely up to us. As this title says our love of life and willingness to succeed. I’ve heard a lot in my lifetime that (you can’t do that), but how do these people really know what you are capable of doing? I write this to tell you that the world we live in has more to offer us when the time is taken to explore.

I’m a mother of 3 as well have 2 stepchildren and have a wonderful husband. I checked around various places for child care, but with the prices of these place how can you afford it? I thought i was lost and had no idea what i was going to do.   A year ago i did some researched and decided i would try working for myself. I became a notary, which believe it’s not that hard. Now that economy is slumping in some areas business is slow. So now I am here writing stories.

I tell everyone who is trying to change their lifestyle for the better keep trying. Don’t get upset and quit. Life has obstacles, but also has options and they are never ending.

Keep trying and you will succeed with what you want to do!

Every Monday to Friday, around the same time, millions of people throughout the world, go out to what they call a job. They repeat this process year in year out, earning a living, paying the bills and generally surviving in a world where the majority work and the minority prosper. This is the saddest indictment of them all.

Do any of us seriously consider why this is? Why is the world organized in this way? I think that most of us simply accept it as being the way things are and that it cannot be any other way. They would say that we cannot all be rich. We cannot all be masters. We cannot all be what we want to be.

Of course, the Internet provides answers to almost everything you can possibly imagine. There are cures for diseases, there is advice on how to get rich, there are endless sites wanting to find you a life-partner not to mention the myriad of adverts all vying for your next mouse click. Short, clever, eye-catching phrases abound us, often promising all things to all people.

These days, it is advisable to take most monetary-driven promises with a large pinch of salt. However bad it was 25 years ago when the Internet wasn’t so prevalent, it is probably a hundred times worse now. So many scams, so many cons, so many false promises, so many useless things, all competing for our attention. Is it any wonder that we grow wearisome by the minute?

It isn’t a coincidence that my opening article should address this particular subject because I aim to write about this type of thing in general where we explore the nooks and crannies of how we interact with today’s world especially where it concerns this thing we call life and how it can be a source of happiness or one of disillusionment and dismay.

I am hoping that this article finds you in the former and not the latter of the two modes.

Let us meet in the next article.

Gentlemen, beauty tips are no longer only for women.

These days the world of esthetics caters for men as well, so no frowning, no huffing and puffing, and no sneering. If you think that showering and shaving every day, and going to the barber once in a while is enough, think again.

In today’s society it is acceptable, if not encouraged, for men to look after their hair, nails and bodies just like women do. For those who have not quite caught on yet, the following are things to consider.

HAIRCARE
The barber shop is becoming less and less popular. These days men prefer hairstylists. Do not call them hairdressers. Just like a chef is not a cook, a hairstylist is not a hairdresser. Not only do customers get the expert services of this professional, they also have access to advice and products to maintain their hairstyle.

Whether hair is preferred short or with some length, keep it clean and keep it trimmed.

A little strapped for cash to buy products at the salon? Not to worry, there is a wide range of hair care products at any department store or drug store. There even is a range of hair coloring products especially for men.

NAILS
Tidy nails are very important. They must be short and round. Nail biting is completely unacceptable, and if you have to trim your nails with a nail cutter, but sure to leave no sharp edges.

A lot of men frequent an esthetician, which I can only applaud. Not only are nails kept short and smooth under the care of such a professional, but he/she will give attention to the neglected cuticles.

Using some hand cream once or twice a day also goes a long way.

The nails on feet are just as important. Keep them short, keep them round, keep them clean.

SKIN
Each season brings his own problems. Whether it is the sun in summer or the wind in winter, skin suffers from the elements and will welcome some moisturizer in the morning and/or at the end of the day. In addition to moisturizers, cosmetics companies also manufacture cleansing lotions, toners and deep cleansers especially for men.

CLOTHES
The days that a man pulled on just any shirt and pants are long gone. Today it is all about coordination and mood.

Department stores and boutiques offer a wide selection of suits, formal pants and casual wear. For each pants there is the right type of shirt to go with it and for every shirt there is a right tie.

ACCESSORIES
Accessories can make or break an outfit. Wristwatches, bracelets, rings, and necklaces can enhance a man’s look, but do not overdo it. Do not mix gold with silver and no more than one ring on each hand please.

COLOGNE
The finishing touch of a man’s outfit is his cologne. Now that you look good, you want to smell good too. A cologne must suit you though. As such, it is rare that a man and his son will use the same fragrance.

Again, do not overdo it. Nobody wants to sit next to a man who seems to have taken a bath in his cologne and who’s fragrance is overpowering. Whether a cologne a fresh, sweet or musky, it should be used in moderation.

There now you’re all ready to go.
One more thing though, before meeting your wife, fiancée, girlfriend or business associate, pop a mint.

Fresh breath may not be considered a beauty element, but it is appreciated.

Do you forget peoples names as soon as you are introduced to them? Did you ever go to the store only to forget what you went there to buy? These are actually common occurrences that happen to people every day and there are methods you can use to help improve your memory in these areas.

When you are introduced to someone, this event is stored in immediate memory only long enough for the event to happen. Immediate memories are held in various modality-specific regions of the brain - immediate visual memory is most likely held in the visual parts of the brain, and immediate auditory memory in the auditory parts of the brain.

Now if you were paying attention to the introduction the relationships between what you see, what you hear and your awareness is brought together into working memory which resides in the prefrontal lobe of the brain. When the event goes from your immediate memory into your working memory some of the details are lost. For example, you might not remember what was going on in the background or what color shoes the person was wearing. This distracting information is dumped on purpose and is critical for efficient storage.

If you paid attention during the introduction, the relationship between sight, sound, and awareness is brought together into working memory, somewhere in the prefrontal lobe of the brain. When the event moves from immediate memory to working memory, certain features will be lost. You probably won’t remember background conversations from the party, and you may not remember the color of the Mr. Byrd’s shoes. The loss of distracting information is an important feature of human memory, and is critical for efficient storage and recollection of experiences.

At this point, you can use reinforcement to try to help yourself remember the persons name. Rehearsing the event by saying the name yourself or by relating the name to something else (like the same name as your sister or your aunt etc) cause the memory to move from working memory into your long-term memory. This is called consolidation and during this process more distracting information is lost.

Now several days later you might not remember the color of the persons shirt but you should remember his name, what he looks like and who introduced you. If you were distracted during the introduction you might not remember the name. It is important to repeat the persons name and try to make some sort of association or mnemonic so that this information makes it through the consolidation process.

You can use a similar method of relationships and reinforcement to remember what you wanted to pick up at the grocery store. Lets say you need to get toothpaste, deodorant and bananas. Instead of just trying to memorize these 3 items, picture yourself getting ready for work. You brush your teeth, put on deodorant and eat a banana on the way out. Play this back in your head like a little mini film. Then when you are in the grocery store, replay the film!