Inspiration Inbox

Best Friend Birthday Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:21:00 PDT

Whatever your age, you want to give your best friend something really special for his or her birthday to show that you appreciate their friendship. Sometimes we feel at a loss because we think that they have everything they could possibly want or use. Not so! There's always something that will have a special meaning because you gave it. Here are some best friend birthday gift ideas that you may have never considered before.

1. For the wine lover : A gift of wine is an excellent expression of how you feel. Now, at many wine online merchants, you can have wine bottles personalized to show how much you care. It doesn't matter whether this is your friend's first time experiencing the wonders of the fruit of the vine, or if he is a serious collector with a large wine cellar. Or, consider a personalized engraved bottle of champagne and toasting glasses.

2. For the art lover : Looking for something unusual for those folks who have everything? Instead of jumping in the car and heading for the mall, keep your computer powered up and let your fingers do the shopping at the online stores of American museums and other sites that specialize in replicas of ancient and modern art.

3. For the environmentalist : Eco-friendly doesn't have to mean drab. There are many, many products that are made from recycled materials of all kind – beer cans that have been made into mugs, tumblers made from recycled glass, sets of bamboo plates, etc. There are many online sites featuring wonderful gifts made from recycled things. Just browse through them and you'll come up with some great best friend birthday gift ideas!

4. For the book lover : Buy a gift-card from your local bookstore (or online merchant) and make your own bookmark so your friend will never forget your thoughtfulness. Get on your computer and type up your favorite poem or memorable song lyrics, add some graphics and get it laminated at most office-supply stores. Every time your friend opens a book, he or she will remember you with a smile.

5. For the music lover : Here's one that will top the list of best friend birthday gift ideas:
Make up a CD of #1 songs from the year they were born up to now — you can even theme it: #1 Disco Songs, #1 Heavy Metal Songs, etc. Add in a gift certificate to an online music-downloading site, and they're sure to do a little dance!

6. For the nurturer : Who doesn't deserve a day at the spa? Purchase a sturdy cosmetic bag and add all the fixings for a do-it-yourself spa — hand cream, body lotion, scented oils, face mask, manicure set. Make a relaxing CD to put inside and top it off with a gift certificate at the local spa for a massage on you!

7. For the person who never has any time to herself : Create your own coupon booklet offering your services to help out the one that's always been there for you. Include "a day of gardening", "baby-sit the kids", "clean the house" and "organize the closets". Use your imagination and fit the coupons to the needs of your friend. This thoughtful gesture will be considered by the recipient as one of the best friend birthday gift ideas ever!

8. For the sentimentalist : Look back into your photo albums and take copies of all your memories over the years. Create a "Memory Lane" scrapbook highlighting your friendship and events you've attended together. As an added touch, get other friends to write special birthday messages throughout the book.

9. For the nature-lover : Make a day of it and go for a hike at your nearest conservation area; bring along a blanket and a picnic basket and you're set an afternoon of fun and reminiscing.

10. For the golfer : Reserve a tee time at a country club that's hard to get into and make a foursome of it by inviting a couple of friends. Start the birthday off right and treat them to a special breakfast at their favorite restaurant.

11. For the movie buff : Get a year's free subscription to Netflix so they'll be able to have DVD's delivered right to their door. All they'll have to do is supply their own popcorn. Or, you can do that too by ordering (online, of course) a selection of premium gourmet popcorn.

12. For the animal lover : Forget about getting a gift designed for your friend; instead get a gift for their pet. There are many fantastic things available online for all types of pets—from jeweled dog collars to fancy bird cages and everything in between. If your friend really loves his or her pet, this could quite possibly rank at the very top of the best friend birthday gift ideas. Of course, you could get your friend a super duper pooper scooper to make the job of cleaning up after Fido much easier. This, too, you can find at the many online sites featuring pet supplies.

13. For the saver : Buy a share of an up and coming stock in your friend's name. You never know—maybe in a few years you'll be getting thanks for starting someone on the road to their first million!

14. For the philanthropist : Donate to their favorite cause in their name. In this time of need for so many, this is a gift that truly will be appreciated by all those who care for humanity and/or nature.

15. For the sports fan : Buy a pair of tickets to a local sporting event in your area (perhaps when your friend's favorite team is playing) and spend an afternoon or evening together.

Lessons From Michael Phelps Life

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:16:00 PDT

At 23, Michael Fred Phelps has become an international sporting sensation. The young American swimmer has smashed seven world records and won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, the first athlete ever to secure first place so many times at a single Olympics Games. Given his success, it's easy to slot Phelps into the 'born achievers' category -- at 23, he's established a glorious career doing what he loves best, he's a millionaire, a world record-holder and the pride of his nation.

But hold on a minute -- is Michael Phelps really a born achiever?

He may beg to differ. At the age of seven Phelps, the youngest of three children, was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. For those not familiar with the condition, ADHD is a childhood condition characterised by constant activity, impulsive behaviour and the inability to focus one's attention on anything for a short span of time. ADHD is treated with therapy and medication, but is not classified as curable -- as per information on the website WebMd.com, about 60 percent of afflicted kids carry the condition into adulthood. To help release his pent-up energy and to emulate his older sisters who were also accomplished swimmers, Phelps took up swimming, starting to outshine his peers right from the start.

At the age of nine, Michael's parents divorced. His mother brought up all three children single-handedly, encouraging them to follow their dreams at all costs -- one middle-school teacher even told Michael's mother he would never be a success. But successful Phelps is, and how.

Yes, there are the occasional set-backs. Like the time back in 2004 when Phelps, then 19, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was under the legal drinking age limit of 21 in any case and to top it he was driving in an inebriated state. A repentant Phelps pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months probation, saying in court, "I recognise the seriousness of this mistake. I've learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life."

So who is Michael Phelps? He was a regular kid who struggled with an irregular condition and the divorce of his parents. He's young, he excels at what he does and like the rest of us, slips up once in a while. And what life lessons do his struggles and successes hold for us?

Deal with your own issues effectively -- Michael certainly dealt with ADHD and his parents' divorce that way. His mother helped him cope up with his condition and channeled his energy into what he loved.

Cut out the drama -- Michael's story is inspirational but at the same time, neither the young man nor his family have exploited their experiences to sensationalise his life. They've told it like it is.

Zero in on your strengths and overcome your weaknesses -- He was less than an average student at school, but Michael was a passionate and dedicated student of his sport. The young swimmer is known to have studied tapes of his races over and over, zeroing in on mistakes and working towards bettering himself constantly. Excellent is still not good enough.

Remain focused on your goals -- At the Athens Olympics back in 2004, Phelps was beaten by teammate Ian Crocker beat in the 100m butterfly. He put up a poster of Crocker in his room to motivate him and keeps a list of his career goals beside his bed.

Pursue what you love with passion and put in a genuine effort -- Phelps' dedication to swimming was apparent back when he was nine and began to break national records in his age group. His commitment to what he does has grown with him.

It's not just his career and his unbelievable performance at the Olympics that classify Phelps as a winner -- it's his story of inspiration that makes him a real champion, a youth icon, somebody to look up to.

Are You a Man of Faith?

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:06:00 PDT

"You should never criticize another's beliefs. That's how you can avoid doing wrong to people. And there are even times when we must honor a belief that we do not share." Buddha

An atheist and a believer had the same doctor. Every time they met in the doctor's waiting room, they would argue and end up insulting each other. "You really believe that you are going to be saved on Judgment Day and go up to heaven. Do you really believe everything you read in the Bible, and everything they told you in church?" said the atheist.

"I'm not certain of anything," the believer replied. "Like you, I have doubts. But I still have hope."

"But I don't have doubts," the atheist cried. "I have only certainties. For example, I can assure you that God has nothing to do with the ache in your knee, and that He doesn't care in the least how you feel."

"You don't know what you're talking about. And do you know something? You are a believer too. I can prove it to you."

"Really? That I'd like to see!"

"Will you be straightforward and answer my questions honestly?"

"Of course. I'm an honest atheist."

"Okay. Can you tell me what the name of the doctor is who you came to see?"

"Well no, he's not here. And I can't pronounce the replacement's name."

"Well, when you leave his office, will you check the prescription he gives you for mistakes, like you would a lottery ticket?"

"No, of course not. The doctor knows what he's doing."

"Are you a close friend of the pharmacist who is going to fill the prescription? "

"No, I go to a big pharmacy, and I rarely get served by the same person."

"Do you know what medication the doctor is going to give you, and what its side effects are?"

"No."

"And yet you are going to take it, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, dear friend, I am happy to announce that you too are a man of faith!"

Moral :
Many of us behave like the atheist: we don't understand how believers can have blind faith in their God, and we often find their fervor ridiculous. And yet, we also have well established beliefs, and not only when we go to see the doctor!

Think about it: without faith, without any certainties, life would be impossible. We sometimes have to have blind faith to survive.

Always Look on the Bright Side

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:01:00 PDT

Simply click on the image to enlarge it.

The Value of Our Loved Ones

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:59:00 PDT

We have the tendency to take things for granted. And this includes people around us and even people we love. We take it for granted that the people around us will be around forever.

We delay or conveniently forget our obligations and promises until it is too late to fulfil or to make amends. Such incidents happen too many times and to many people. Have you ever heard people commenting that they had been too busy to visit their loved ones on their deathbed until it's too late? Or you hear people saying that they had been wanting to meet so and so, but kept postponing until one fine day, the so and so is gone forever and they regret it. These are all the late words.

I was pondering over the weekend how can we determine the value of people around us? One way, I thought, is to check how you would feel when the person in question is dead. This may not be easy for people who had not encountered loss of a loved one as you need to understand the agony and anguish.

So, after you have done the check and it tells you that you will feel absolutely miserable if this person is gone, then pal, it's time to do something NOW before it is too late.

Don't live to regret.

How the Company Views Its Employees (He vs She)

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:48:00 PDT

1. The family picture is on HIS desk.
Ah, a solid, responsible family man.

The family picture is on HER desk.
Umm, her family will come before her career.

2. HIS desk is cluttered.
He's obviously a hard worker and a busy man.

HER desk is cluttered.
She's obviously a disorganised scatterbrain

3. HE is talking with his co-workers.
He must be discussing the latest deal

SHE is talking with her co-workers.
She must be gossiping.

4. HE's not at his desk.
He must be at a meeting.

SHE's not at her desk.
She must be in the ladies' room.

5. HE's not in the office.
He's meeting with customers.

SHE's not in the office.
She must be out shopping.

6. HE's having lunch with the boss.
He's on his way up.

SHE's having lunch with the boss.
They must be having an affair.

7. The boss criticised HIM.
He'll improve his performance.

The boss criticized HER.
She'll be very upset.

8. HE got an unfair deal.
Did he get angry?

SHE got an unfair deal.
Did she cry?

9. HE's getting married.
He'll get more settled.

SHE's getting married.
She'll get pregnant and leave.

10. HE's having a baby.
He'll need a raise.

SHE's having a baby.
She'll cost the company money in maternity benefits.

11. HE's going on a business trip.
It's good for his career.

SHE's going on a business trip.
What does her husband say?

12. HE's leaving for a better job.
He knows how to recognise a good
opportunity.

SHE's leaving for a better job.
Women are not dependable.

Trust is More Important Than Love

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:20:00 PDT

Once we lose trust, relationship is impossible. We can compromise it, and stick around for the ride but the truth is, once trust is gone, love can't flow. In business, as has been proven over and over, people can't be trusted. Leave an employee near an open computer and they'll connect to the internet and waste time. Accuse them and they'll scream like you just shot them in the foot. Interesting isn't it. To be accused of untrustworthiness is one of the most sensitive insults you can hand another person. People can, and will, lie through their teeth about things that have breeched trust.

The Ancient laws of nature predict this clearly. They suggest that we have within us, 7 levels of mind. The lowest of these exists in everyone, as well as the highest. That lowest mind is a devil in disguise. And cannot be trusted, in anyone.

The lowest mind functions on instinct. Many people are living in this level of mind. We call it survival instinct but there's allot of complexity in this survival. A multi millionaire might still be in survival mode. A beautiful woman or a handsome guy might be in survival instinct. A religious fundamentalist is operating in survival instinct. Anyone who is in survival instinct is operating in their lowest mind, and therefore cannot be trusted.

Why can't they be trusted? Because there is so much fear, so much guilt that their real authenticity cannot be "allowed to surface" They put on a brave face and can be some of our most successful people, but their fears or their guilt drives them insane, or to self destruction.

To be trustable, you have to trust yourself. That means you do things in private that you are "not ashamed of" and you are not always "should-ing" yourself. Should do this and shouldn't do that. To be trustable, you'll need some level of transparency between your revealed self, and your non revealed self.

Once trust is lost between two people it can rarely be regained. If love is an the iron that holds us together, trust is the silk that binds us. Love can tolerate so much abuse, trust on the other hand cannot and once broken, is really hard to repair.

I think trust is more important than love. A person you trust, you can eventually love. A person you love who breaks your trust, you will never settle in intimacy with. There are circumstances when people speak of MEN, or WOMEN, as a generic class of people. They have a prejudice about "ALL MEN" or "ALL WOMEN" and there are so many books written to encourage this idea of one mould fits all.

For some people "ALL WOMEN" or "ALL MEN" are unworthy of trust. This is a huge problem because people become as we treat them. The untrusting lover actually breeds the un-trustable partner. There was once a beautiful woman who betrayed many men. She eventually birthed a child and wanted to settle down. She chose a man, one she loved, but she couldn't trust him. What she had done, she knew he was capable of doing. This is called Karma.

The only way to stop breeding this untrustworthiness in her partners, was to begin to believe that she herself was worthy of being trusted. She became more transparent to her partner, she opened to him. The second part was to accept that what she had done to others, others could do to her. It was only fair. So, she gave her partner permission, to cheat. She told him that she had found the need to be unfaithful in the past and that if he found that need, it was ok. From this strange vantage point she no longer held suspicion, no longer felt guilty. She released him to do as she had done. Months later the partner in deep privacy came to know me that he had cheated on many of his partners before, but, now in this relationship it was as if he didn't need to. He claimed that the fact that his wife had given him permission was the deepest love he'd ever felt and he no longer had the urge.

This is all on the surface. The deepest core of this story, is that the lady I consulted to had stopped breeding her fears in her partner. She had stopped being guilty about her own past. She had risen above the lowest mind which manifests it's fears and guilt's in others. It is one couple where trust was mended.

The ancient laws of nature are difficult sometimes. They often require a personal honesty that is beyond the lower mind. An acceptance that what we judge in ourselves, we breed, attract or cause in others. This is real healing.

All I want to say is :
"BE faith full to the One who loves you. Never break trust. Be true to your heart. If you cannot be truthfull, please never love anyone."

When God Moves In

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:18:00 PDT

I Don't Have All Of The Answers
My Friend
However, There's One Thing For
Certain, I Know

Your Heavenly Father Would
Love To Help You
But You've Got To Turn Loose
And Let The Past Go'

When You Finally Stop All Of Your
Struggling Trying To Solve All
Your Problema On Your Own
You'll Find All Along He's Been Patiently Waiting
For He Promised He'd Never Leave You Alone

He's Just Waiting For You To Open The Door
And Invite Him To Come And Enter In
There's No Way That He Can Help You My Friend
Till You Open Your Heart's Door And Let Him Within.

Then The Peace And Joy That He'll
Bring To You Will Surpass All Your Hopes And Your Dreams
He'll Drive Out All Of Your Fears
And You Doubts And Your Problems
Won't Look As Bad As They Seem

Turn Loose Of All Of This Baggage
My Friend
Tell Satan To Leave That with Him
You Are Through
The Weight You've Been Under
Will Be Lifted
When You Finally Let God Come And Live Within You

by Helen Johnson

Kindness is the Way of Living and Giving

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:00:00 PDT

Dear friends,

Whatever you give away today, or think or say or do will multiply about tenfold
and then return to you.

It may not come immediately,nor from the obvious source
but the law applies unfailingly, through some invisible force.

Whatever you feel about another, be it love or hate or passion will surely bounce right back to you in some clear (or secret) fashion

If you speak about some person, a word of praise or two,
soon, tens of other people will speak kind words of you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul, not secrets of the brain.
Kind ones bring us happiness;petty ones, untold pain.

Giving works as surely as reflections in a mirror.
If hate you send, hate you'll get back, but loving brings love nearer.

Remember, as you start this day and duty crowds your mind,
that kindness comes so quickly back to those who first are kind.

Let that thought and this one direct us through each day.
The only things we ever keep are the things we give away.

14 Everyday Food Habits for Better Health

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:52:00 PDT

One of the more difficult habits for people to change seems to be what they eat. It’s also seems to be one of the most popular ones to try to change. Some of the habits that I´ve found to be the easiest to change are the ones where you just do adjustments rather than turning your life upside down. These everyday habits may not lead to drastic weight loss in record time. But I do believe that over time they can help you improve your health. Or in the case with #10, avoid serious accidents.

1. Replace sodas with water. I found this to be a pretty easy transition actually. Some obvious advantages are that you consume less sugar, that you do less damage to your teeth plus you save a couple of bucks.
2. Replace sweet snacks with vegetables, fruit and nuts. Instead of having cookies and candy stored in your cupboard replace them with alternatives that are a whole lot healthier. Some examples are tomatoes, apples, bananas, blueberries and in the nut-department cashews, almonds and peanuts. But eat just a handful or two of nuts, not big bowls. They pack a lot of fat.
3. Eat more fiber. It can lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It can also help you with weight loss as high-fiber food often takes longer time to chew which gives your body time to register when you are full. Overeating thereby becomes less likely and the fiber also makes you feel full longer. You can find a good amount of fiber in, for instance, beans, fruit and raw vegetables.
4. Eliminate temptations in your environment. Like with the first and second habit in this article you can use the same procedure of changing your environment to change yourself wherever you find the possibility. If you don´t have the unhealthy food at home, or in your cubicle, the temptations will be quite a bit smaller. And one of the best ways to change a habit is to replace it. Think about what you can throw out and what healthier alternative you can replace it with today.
5. Cook and bring your own meals to work. This is of course generalized, but there is often a lot of extra sugar and fat added to preprocessed food and at least extra fat in a lot of the meals when you eat out. When you cook for yourself you have more information about and control over what you actually put into your body. Plus, you save a whole bundle of money.
6. Avoid the buffet. You are likely to eat too much. Or if you eat at a buffet, be aware and a little careful of how much you eat.
7. Be careful with your plate-size. You’ll probably habitually want to fill the plate. If you use a too big plate you run the risk of eating too big servings.
8. Eat a healthy breakfast. Yep, it´s the most important meal of the day. Just don´t forget to keep it healthy too. That´s better than a big bowl of sugar-puffs. According to this article there is at least four benefits of eating a healthy breakfast: you are more likely to consume more vitamins and minerals and less fat and cholesterol, to have better concentration and be more productive during the morning, to control your weight better and to have lower cholesterol.
9. Eat Slower. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that you´re full. That´s because your stomach needs to begin streching before it starts to produce the hormones that tells your brain that you are full. By slowing down your eating your brain can stop you before you eat unnecessarily much. Eating slower can also help prevent digestion problems and generally makes you feel less stressed.
10. Don´t eat and drive. Just like talking on the cell phone while driving it can be dangerous for both to you and your fellow motorists to eat and drink while driving. Sit down at a table while eating.
11. Use a grocery list. Try to stick to buying just what you have written down. A written list can decrease the need for impulse buying (which often, in my experience, results in more unhealthy food in the grocery bags).
12. Shop when you are full. Like using a written shopping list, this is useful for limiting impulse buying. When you are hungry you are likely to just shop for anything. I´ve also noticed that when you go shopping hungry it seems to increase the craving for junkfood .
13. Get enough sleep. Or your hormonal signals may change and increase your appetite. In one study sleep was restricted to four hours for one night. The next day the results among the participants were a 24% increase in hunger and 23% in appetite. Read more about this research.
14. Be conscious of what you eat. This is a big one. Try thinking before you eat instead of just going along with your normal routine. Think about what you should eat and plan at least a little instead of just wolfing down something unhealthy while thinking about everything else except what you are eating. Be aware of what you put into yourself. Do some research on what is more or less healthy. Take control of what you eat.

20 Things You Didn't Know About US Presidents

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:45:00 PDT

Not only were these men leaders of the United States, they were multitalented, unique, and sometimes even downright quirky. We've heard a lot about their contribution to United States history. But would you have guessed the following?

1. In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.

2. 9th U.S. president William Henry Harrison was inaugurated on a bitterly cold day and gave the longest inauguration speech ever. The new president promptly caught a cold that soon developed into pneumonia. Harrison died exactly one month into his presidential term, the shortest in U.S. history.

3. John Tyler, 10th U.S. president, fathered 15 children (more than any other president)--8 by his first wife, and 7 by his second wife. Tyler was past his seventieth birthday when his 15th child was born.

4. Sedated only by brandy, 11th president of the United States James Polk survived gall bladder surgery at the age of 17.

5. 15th U.S. president James Buchanan is the only unmarried man ever to be elected president. Buchanan was engaged to be married once; however, his fiancée died suddenly after breaking off the engagement, and he remained a bachelor all his life.

6. Often depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat, 16th president of the United States Abraham Lincoln carried letters, bills, and notes in his hat.

7. 17th U.S. president Andrew Johnson never attended school. His future wife, Eliza McCardle, taught him to write at the age of 17. (Bonus fact about Andrew Johnson: He only wore suits that he custom-tailored himself.)

8. Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States, died of throat cancer. During his life, Grant had smoked about 20 cigars per day.

9. Both ambidextrous and multilingual, 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand while writing Latin with the other.

10. Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th president of the United States, underwent a secret operation aboard a yacht to remove his cancerous upper jaw in 1893.

11. The teddy bear derived from 26th U.S. president Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear with her cub while on a hunting trip in Mississippi.

12. William Taft, 27th president of the United States, weighed more than 300 pounds and had a special oversized bathtub installed in the White House.

13. Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, played poker at least twice a week, and once gambled away an entire set of White House china. His advisors were nicknamed the "Poker Cabinet" because they joined the president in his poker games.

14. Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, had chronic stomach pain and required 10 to 11 hours of sleep and an afternoon nap every day.

15. Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, published more than 16 books, including one called Fishing for Fun-And to Wash Your Soul .

16. 32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents.

17. The letter "S" comprises the full middle name of the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. It represents two of his grandfathers, whose names both had "S" in them.

18. Military leader and 34th president of the U.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower loved to cook; he developed a recipe for vegetable soup that is 894 words long and includes the stems of nasturtium flowers as one of the ingredients.

19. 40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

20. George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, and his wife Laura got married just three months after meeting each other.

Show a Woman That You Care

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:10:00 PDT

Have a special someone in mind? Wish to strengthen a friendship or relationship? Follow these simple steps to show a woman that you care for her.

So try to do this :
1. Pay attention to her. Every time she is speaking to you, make an effort to look her in the eyes and understand what she is saying. If you do not understand, tell her. This will show her that you are listening and would like to hear what she has to say.
2. Be trustworthy. Prove yourself to her daily. If you give her your word that you will be there for her, follow through. How can anyone care for someone they lie to?
3. Respect her mind, body, and soul. She is a different individual. There are many paths of life and hers may be differing from yours. Accept her and cherish her for who she is.
4. Perform random acts of kindness. Be creative. Call her when you guys are not together and tell her that you are thinking about her. Paste a note on her mirror telling her that you love her. A picture is worth a thousand words, paint her a watercolor. Leave her a flower and a sincere note.
5. Spend quality time with her. Turning off the T.V., grabbing a blanket, and lying with her beneath the stars can mean more than expensive jewelry.
6. Let her know exactly how you feel. Look within. Exactly what does this woman mean to you? Write it down. Give it to her.
7. When you are away, whether it be a business trip, or a vacation with the guys, check in with her. It's just polite! Let her know that although you're having fun, she has crossed your mind.
8. Never lose contact for a unreasonable time. If you have not seen her for a few days, let her know you are thinking about her, Girls love this.

Don't for get to remember this :
* Women are different from men,we all know that. While a man's focus may be on the physical aspects of a relationship, showing a woman that you respect and care for the sensual things will go a very long way.
* Never lie to her. Lying to a woman is a sure way to lose her respect.
* Step in and help her without being asked. Show her that you are there for her.
* Guys are actually very sensitive when it comes down to some things, so some of this may just be common sense.
* Read an ebook called "100 Ways to Show Your Love & Affection" by Gloria D. Heffner gives great ideas to add or keep the romance, love & affection in a relationship. The ideas can be tailored to your or your partner's personality(ies).
* Remember women multi-task (i.e. balancing work and family)
* Turn off the TV and turn on the romance!

The Secret of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:05:00 PDT

Simply click on the image to enlarge it.

Choose to Live a Life That Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:01:00 PDT

Some day it will all come to an end – whether you are ready or not.

All our wealth, fame and power will disintegrate.

All that we own will be lost.

That which isn't lost will be passed on to those who will ultimately lose it too.

All our frustrations, likes, dislikes, grudges and rejoicings will vanish.

There will be no more sunsets or sunrises, no years, months, weeks, days, hours or minutes.

It no longer matters where we came from, what our origins were,
which race, caste, creed or sex we belonged to,

Where we lived, how we lived.

There will be no more goals, ambitions, aspirations, to-do lists and wish lists.

All the victories and defeats fade away.

The value of our lives will be measured by what we built, not what we bought.

The value of our lives will be measured by what we gave, not what we got.

The value of our lives will be measured by our significance, not by our success.

The value of our lives will be measured by what we taught, not what we learnt.

The value of our lives will be measured by what we encouraged others to emulate,
not by the people we manipulate.

The value of our lives will be measured by the loss others feel,
not by the number of people that we knew.

The value of our lives will be measured by the number of people who loved us,
not the number of people whom we loved.

The value of our lives will be measured by what we are remembered for,
not what we are cursed for.

The value of our lives will be measured by the sacrifice we made,
not by the quantity that we consumed.

The value of our lives will be measured by the compassion that we showed,
not by the insults that we heaped.

The value of our lives will be measured by the integrity that we had,
not by the principles that we renounced.

The value of our lives will be measured by our character,
not by our competence.

Choose to live a life that matters. This happens by choice, not by chance.
Look at where you are today, Is it by choice or by chance?

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give"

How People Give Explanations

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:55:00 PDT

Suddenly one of the employees in an organization took
10 days Leave Without any notice.

When he returned his PL asked for explanation.
The employee said "Sir, my mom died unexpectedly" .

The PL let it go at That.
After 3 months the same pattern repeated,
and this time the said his Father died.
Then the PL got changed.

After 3 months the same pattern Repeated.
And the employee gave the explanation that his mom died.
After 3 months same thing again...
And this time his father died.

This Happened repeatedly for 2 years.
At the end, one PL checked his past
Records and told him, "I have caught you red handed,
How come in the Past 2 years,
your mom has died 5 times,
and your dad has died five Times?"

NOW GUESS THE ANSWER...

To which the guy said,
"Sir, my mom died and my father remarried.
Then my father died and my new mom remarried.
Then my mom died and the new Father remarried.
This has been going on and on and on and..."

Work to Please God, Not People

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:52:00 PDT

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working
for the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23 TEV)

The apostle Paul teaches that we are to work as though we are “working for the Lord and not for people.” He’s saying that no job is too small; no job is too menial; no job is too insignificant when you have the right motive and perspective. We should think, “I’m doing it for God; I’m doing this job as if I’m doing it for the Lord.” I used to clean meat lockers in a butcher shop, and I would clean them as unto the Lord.

Now, how do I know if I’m doing my work for the Lord? Two characteristics will show up in your attitude: excellence and enthusiasm.

First, if I’m doing my work, not for the boss but for the Lord, I’ll do it with excellence. That means I give it my best shot. I do the best I can because I’m not doing it for anyone’s approval, except God’s. I do it with excellence, being the best I can be.

Second, I do my work with enthusiasm. I’m working for God; therefore, I do it with a cheerful attitude. “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically” (Romans 12:11 NLT).

When you are working with all your heart, motivated by the love of Christ, your work is transformed into an act of worship for God.

By Rick Warren

Why Go to Church?

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:06:00 PDT

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this! If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote,"and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column. Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing....God is UP to something!

All right, now that you're done reading, send it on!!! I think everyone should read this!! When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say,"Jesus, could you get that for me...... while I forward this email to your children??"

Think Smart,Work Smart and Rest Smart

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:48:00 PDT

Once there was a group of man - a young hot-blooded chap and a big number of old folks, doing timber job in a jungle. This young chap is very hard working. He always continues to work through his break time and complains that those old folks were wasting time, having to break few times a day to drink and chat. As times goes by, this young chap noticed that even though he worked through break time and hardly took a rest.

Those old folks are chopping the same amount of trees as he did and sometimes did more than he did. It was as if those old folks work through the break time as he did. So he decided to work harder the next day. unfortunately the results were even worse.

One day, one of the old folk invited him for a drink during their break time. That young chap refused and said he has no extra time to spend! Then the old man smiled to him and said it was just a waste of effort to keep chopping trees without re-sharpening your Axe. Sooner or later you will give up or be so exhausted as you have spent too much energy.

Suddenly the young chap realized that actually during break times while those old folks were having a chat, they were also re-sharpening their Axe at the same time! And that's how they can chop faster than him and yet spending lesser time!

The old folk said what we need is efficiency by making use of our skill and ability intelligently. Only then can we have more times to do other things.

Otherwise you will always keep saying ...

I have no time!

Moral of the Story:
By taking a short break during work,
it would make you feel fresher, think well
and work better after the break!
(Or am I just finding excuse to take a break).
But by taking a break, it is not to stop work
but to rest and re-think our strategy to go about it
from another angle.

Walk In God's Perfect Will!

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:36:00 PDT

Do you know what the will of God is for your life, or are you floundering without any sense of direction or purpose? If the latter answer describes you more than the former, then it's time you found out what it is that He wants you to do. Why? Knowing God's plan for you is essential to achieving your maximum potential in life.

There are certain aspects of God's will that apply to everyone. But you also have a specific course to follow. He uses your gifts, talents and desires as a way to direct you to your divine destiny.

Making the most of every opportunity to develop yourself spiritually also plays a critical role in your ability to discover your purpose.

Reading God's Word daily will enable you not only to discover God's will for your life, but also to clearly see His character. Once you align your thoughts and desires with the Word, your path will be illuminated. Getting into the perfect will of God will not only protect you from hurt, harm and danger, it also guarantees favor and success.

It is critical that you not allow strife, unforgiveness or offense to get you out of God's perfect will. As your destiny unfolds, you will have many opportunities to get hurt or offended. However, instead of allowing these situations to hinder you, use them as stepping stones to your next level of spiritual growth and character development.

Your future depends on the decisions you make today, but when you allow your emotions to rule your life, you will always make bad decisions that will take you away from God's plan for you. The enemy wants to move you out of the love of God and into a position of selfishness. When that happens, you'll try to preserve yourself rather than look for opportunities to bless others. Don't allow him to do this. No matter what people may do or say to you, make a commitment to walk in the love of God. In doing so, you defeat the enemy and ensure God's blessing on your life.

It is also important that you submit your desires to God. Many times you may have a good idea about what you want to do with your life, but it may not be God's perfect plan. Make sure that you seek Him first through prayer and adequate time in His Word so that you can receive the wisdom you need to go forward. Whenever God gives you a vision for your life, He will also make provision. Pay attention to the provision and open doors that are available to you. These are signposts as to the direction you should be taking.

Make a quality decision to get into God's perfect will and watch the path to the good life unfold before your eyes!

5 Big Mistakes Men Make in First Dating and How To Avoid Them

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:50:00 PDT

Let's face it you never get a second chance to make a first great impression! That's why, if you want to take things further with a woman, you need to show her your best on the very first date. And in actual fact, there are 5 things that men consistently do on first dates that totally destroy their chances of seeing the woman again, and the worst part is they think they're doing it right!

Avoid the following 5 mistakes to increase your chances of success on your first date:
MISTAKE #1 -- BUYING GIFTS
Bringing chocolate or flowers on a first date isn't the best idea - especially if you've just met the
woman! She's there to get to know YOU. Women are always asking themselves "what does THAT mean?" And in this case it's, "He bought me flowers because he likes me, but he doesn't even know anything about me yet! A little suspicious.

MISTAKE #2 -- BEING MR. SERIOUS
When in the presence of a potential date, men often become boring, instead of keeping up the friendly vibe they have with their friends. They won’t make jokes or laugh with the woman, they won’t play around like they do with their friends and they generally take things a little too seriously. Why do men change their behavior around women, often without even realizing they’re doing it? Because they fear losing their only chance with the girl of their dreams, they try and play the safe side, which results in a “Mr. Serious.”

MISTAKE #3 -- CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW
When men become "Mr. Serious" they often fall into "job interview conversation mode." Make sure you
reserve questions like, "So where do you work?" or "How many brothers and sisters do you have?" for
the future, after you've already had a lot of fun and made the sparks fly. Instead, talk about your
hobbies, interesting stories and fun stuff. Avoid anything too deep for a long period of time. On a
first date, it can make things a little depressing. Talk like you've known each other for years (as if
you don’t need to do the awkward 20-questions quiz.) Of course you can ask basic questions, but
never make it the main focus of your date. Focus on fun.

MISTAKE #4 -- BEING TOO NEEDY & DIRECT
Without realizing it, many guys turn their dates off by trying a little too hard. For example: Men
will lean into a woman’s personal space, and ask, "so do you like me?" or constantly change his
opinion to seek her approval and make her like him. Big mistake. Ironically, it's leaning back, staying
cool and calm, being a little cheeky, interesting, mysterious and comfortable with yourself that
actually gets a woman's attention and keeps her interested.

MISTAKE #5 -- GOING TO BORING PLACES
If your date finds the night boring, you're finished. When it comes to having fun on first dates, nothing is more important than what you do. And while dinners and movies are nice, it's really
hard to leave a great impression in these settings. Why? Because they set a very "proper tone" that's
hard to turn into fun and playful. And unless you're a super funny, intelligent and interesting guy, dinner and movie dates just aren't the best place to take your date. Instead, go to fun places
like mini-golf parks, carnivals, parks, or even better, come up with your own unique and fun ideas.

So in essence, while there are many factors to having a successful date, a great date idea really
helps you do many of them naturally! Remember, where you take a woman on a first date can be the
difference between a great night and a dating disaster! Choose wisely!

About the author:
Oprah Expert Michael Webb is the author of 300 Creative Dates, a book jam-packed with unique ways
to help leave a great first impression without breaking the bank! To learn more, visit:
Michael Webb Official Site

Flywheel

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:29:00 PDT

Flywheel
Directed by Alex Kendrick

~~DVD List Price: $14.94~~
DVD Price: $8.49 Order Now!
(Price may change anytime without prior notice. Please click 'Order Now' for actual price.)

Product Description
Jay Austin wants to sell you a used car, but watch out! Many victims have fallen prey to his smiling face and hasty promises. Austin does everything his way until his dishonesty and manipulation are repeatedly exposed. Like many men, he becomes disgusted by the masks he wears and lies he tells. While having a classic convertible repaired, Austin begins a humorous and inspiring journey to win back the hearts of his wife, his son, and his community. In every man's life, there can be a turning point. When Jay Austin makes his turn, he never looks back.

Customer Reviews
Great spirtual film from "Facing the Giants" creator
For those who enjoyed "Facing the Giants," this is an earlier production made by the same Georgia church on a shoestring budget -- but still well done. This is the moving (and sometimes funny) story of a cheating, morally bankrupt car dealer who is behind on his bills. A spiritual experience leads him to re-evaluate his dealings in surprisingly different ways. Like "Giants," this film is better than you would expect considering the budget and is proof you don't need millions to entertain or move people. Film was run at Georgia area movie theater and shocked the church with the attendance, which prompted longer and wider play in the theater's chain. Obviously, success of "Giants" appears to be prompting a national release of this film by Sony, but that's a good move. I was looking for an older DVD, but I'll wait for the new release.

12 Jobs That Will Never Disappear

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:20:00 PDT

While we haven't quite reached the age of flying cars, we've certainly made significant strides in civilization. Gone are the heydays of goldsmiths and wheelwrights, but an element of those jobs live on in one form or another. With advancements in technology and science, so come changes in jobs working with them. And while there are certainly more than 12 occupations that will stand the test of time -- like artist and politician -- check out this list of jobs that have staying power:

1. Doctor
Why it's everlasting: While humans pride themselves on being the most intelligent of species, we still have a mortality rate, and we still get bumped, bruised and diseased along the way. We will always need people to investigate and treat our medical conditions.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $120,000.

2. Teacher
Why it's everlasting: There will always be a need for education, and there will always be a need for people to do the educating.
What it pays: The median annual earnings of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers ranged from $41,400 to $45,920.

3. Mortician
Why it's everlasting: Unless a solution for mortality is found and available to everyone, there will always be a need for someone to care after the deceased.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $37,000.

4. Waste Disposal Manager
Why it's everlasting: Humans create a lot of waste, biologically and otherwise. We'll always need people to maintain and relocate our messes.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $35,000.

5. Scientist
Why it's everlasting: Humans will always ponder our surroundings and how it all works. We need people to dedicate their lives to the cause and effects of ourselves and our environments to deal with changes.
What it pays: The median salary for a research scientist (biotechnology) is $70,000. The median annual salary for a environmental scientist is $42,000.

6. Tax Collector
Why it's everlasting: As the old saying goes, "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." For all reported income, there will always be a form of collection to aid government programs.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $38,000.

7. Barber
Why it's everlasting: People will always need to have their hair cut and groomed.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $21,200.

8. Soldier
Why it's everlasting: Even if world peace were a reality, there would still be a fear of future wars based on history.
What it pays: The basic pay for enlisted personnel is an annual income of $14,137. The position also includes paid housing, food allowances, healthcare at little to no cost for the soldier and their family, extended vacation/leave, education stipends and additional incentives.

9. Religious Leader
Why it's everlasting: As people continue to ponder the meaning of their own existence, a majority find a need for people to assist them with a form of spiritual guidance.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $34,000.

10. Law Enforcement Officer
Why it's everlasting: If we are dependant upon a system that governs, we will also be dependant upon people to enforce the rules of that system.
What it pays: The median annual earnings at government state and local levels are $38,236. The median annual earnings for companies are $62,700.

11. Farmer
Why it's everlasting: One of the basic human needs is food and, even though farming is increasingly consolidated, there will still be a need for someone to grow it.
What it pays: The average net cash farm business income is last reported at $15,603. Government subsidies and additional incomes or cost reductions are not included in this figure. Incomes for ranchers and farmers vary with the weather, price of farm equipment and factors that involve the quality and quantity of the product.

12. Construction Worker
Why it's everlasting: In the same way we'll always need food, we'll always need a form of shelter to protect us from the elements. We will always need construction workers to build and repair our buildings.
What it pays: The median annual salary is $35,000.

* Salary sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Payscale.com, the Department of Defense, GoArmy.com and About.com.

by Candace Corner, CareerBuilder.com writer

Live Life As It Comes

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:15:00 PDT

Simply click on the image to enlarge it.

21 Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:45:00 PDT

Self-Made Millionaires are not smarter or better than you. They have just discovered these secrets and used them to become wealthy. You can do it too.

01. DREAM BIG DREAMS.
Thinking Big will change your life. For a crash course on this read The Magic of Thinking Big.

02. CREATE A SPECIFIC PICTURE OF WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
The more specific you are the more likely you are to get there.

03. THINK AND ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE OWNER OF A BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS OF EVERYTHING YOU DO.
Even if you work for someone else, you're attitude will plant seeds for your independent greatness to grow.

04. LOVE WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING NOW.
If you don't love it, leave it. By saying no to doing work just for money you are magnetizing work to you that you can love.

05. CREATE A MASTERMIND GROUP.
Have a regular meeting with others who are committed to building great lives. Share what you're up to and support each other.

06. ESTABLISH A HEALTHY WORK ETHIC.
Make taking action your best friend.

07. COMMIT TO CONSTANT NEVER-ENDING IMPROVEMENT.
Every day be searching for how you can learn more.

08. SEE YOUR WORK AS SERVICE.
Helping others will grow your business.

09. KNOW YOUR BUSINESS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
That's your job.

10. PREPARE FOR OPPORTUNITY.
It will knock. Will you be ready?

11. STAY PHYSICALLY FIT.
Strong minds create strong bodies. Weak bodies are the result of weak minds. Your physical and mental health are the core of your success in life.

12. PRIORITIZE YOUR LIFE.
Do what's most important first.

13. DELIVER MORE THAN YOUR CUSTOMER EXPECTS.
This builds loyalty and repeat business. It feels good too.

14. DISCIPLINE YOURSELF.
Fill your life with activities and people that make you grow. Discard activities that have negative results in your life.

15. PAY YOURSELF FIRST.
This is the first rule of the wealthy. Put money into savings before you pay bills. And DON'T touch it.

16. MAKE TIME TO BE ALONE.
This time is for planning and listening to what's inside you. Give your creativity time and silence to speak to you.

17. GO FOR GREATNESS.
Value the best and don't settle for less.

18. HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.
Know who you are and what you want. Express this with integrity at all times.

19. MAKE DECISIONS QUICKLY AND BE SLOW TO CHANGE THEM.

20. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
Your mindset is focused on success. You will have success.

21. BE DETERMINED TO ATTAIN YOUR GOALS.
Tenacious persistence builds confidence which leads to victory.

World's Most Amazing Airport : Gibraltar Airport

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby Hamasaki) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:58:00 PDT

Gibraltar Airport has the distinction of being the closest airport to the city that it serves, being only 500 metres from Gibraltar's city centre. In 2004 the airport handled 314,375 passengers and 380 tonnes of cargo. Gibraltar Airport is one of the few Class A airports in the world.