As I continued to evolve and grow, I always kept journals to express my dreams and fears and wishes and goals. However, other than as a hobby, I never thought about doing anything with writing as a career. I was a senior in college at The University of Illinois in Champaign when my dad died. I was so devastated by this shocking loss, and I decided I wanted to keep busy throughout my remaining time at school. So, knowing that I knew how to write, I began working for The Daily Illini. That decision changed my path in life: After college, while living in Aspen and contemplating my next move, I decided to take all of my Daily Illini clips and apply to Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. I got in, went back home to get my degree, and then officially became “a writer.” With my masters in journalism, I quickly got a job at a travel magazine, where writing, editing and putting together a magazine became my work and my passion.

Years later, when I had my first of three kids, I stopped working. However, I never stopped writing. I went back to writing journal entries, poetry and short stories. The pen and the keyboard have always been outlets for me, and I am most proud of the fact that now my three children all feel the same way: They all love to read and write and express themselves. They all ask questions. They all ruminate about the meaning of life … at very young ages. Just like their mommy.

As I continue to write poetry and lyrics and blogs and books, I hope that my kids are inspired to proceed with their self-expression, as well. I also am honored and humbled by the interest that others have expressed in my words. The fact that I can motivate some to think differently or laugh bigger or cry easier or hug tighter is what it is all about for me. I am grateful. And, I thank you for having an interest in my words.

See more of Amy’s work at http://www.amyleekite.com

Life offers us an array of opportunities – and challenges.
The major challenge is seeing the opportunities when we are in pain.

Many of us think that “if only” our expectations are fulfilled, then we can be happy. We look for something external to ourselves to fill a (perceived) void within.

Once we realize, finally and fully, without any doubts at all, that we are complete as we are, totally whole individuals, an incredible sense of peace descends. There is no need to strive, to seek, to search outside of oneself for happiness. No obligation to merge in order to feel complete. No necessity to find in another that which was perceived missing in one’s self.

There is a freedom from struggle. A letting go of effort. It’s relaxing, joyous, energizing. It’s being home wherever you are, whenever your heart is open. It is safety.

It is your true Self.

Many of us have lost ourselves in relationships. Many of us forfeited our truths when we were children. We abandoned and exiled our true feelings by managing them with behaviors we thought would be better accepted by our parents, siblings, teachers, peers. We learned how to please, placate, get by, function, manage.

We perceived ourselves as lacking in some way, and we were attracted to others who seemed to complete us, fill in the blanks, offer what we were seeking. Often those traits that brought us to our partners were the ones that began to bother us the most. For example, a shy man is attracted to a talkative lady, but later he complains that she never shuts up. A woman falls for a man who is strong and assertive and many years hence decides he’s too paternalistic and controlling.

Once we know that we are complete, we lose the desperation of the search. People may come and go in our lives, but we don’t tie to any one of them the ability to make us or break us. We can be happy to share our time, our bodies, our lives with someone else, but we can do it as equals, without expectations or judgments.

We can learn how to speak our truth – without fear. We can discern when our needs are being met, or our boundaries violated. We can choose to stay in a relationship, or we can choose to go. And if someone chooses to leave us first, we can know that we are just fine, time will heal our pride, and we can go on to find a relationship that is meant to go the distance. However long that distance is meant to be.

Perhaps the “happily ever after” needs to be edited to “happily each day”. Rather than seek the Prince on the horse or the damsel in need, we can drop the fantasy and be receptive to reality. We can look within ourselves to find the communication, companionship, and connection we are seeking.

Let our quest become an internal one. Let our pursuit focus on self awareness, self care and self love. Then we can nurture our hearts, our light, our ability to feel joy, and attract into our lives healthy people who are doing the same.

Linda B. Kroll, JD, LCPC
Therapist, Mediator, Attorney
400 Lake Cook Road, Suite 217
Deerfield, Illinois, 60015
(847) 914-0560
www.lindakroll.com

We want to show you exactly how you can enjoy a posh lifestyle by understanding that it is a choice that involves your state of being, not just the state of your bank account. And, as Posh Girls without unlimited financial resources ourselves, we want to show you how you can live the posh lifestyle you’ve always admired – it’s easier than you might think. Here are our Posh Rules to follow as you pursue your own posh lifestyle:

1. Quality over quantity. Some people believe that having a lot of “things” (whether clothing, shoes, accessories, household knick-knacks, etc.) is a symbol of opulence. If those things are all very high quality, then they would be right. However, many people substitute quantity for quality, and that is absolutely not posh. The truly posh would rather have a few exquisite items than a bunch of junk. That was theory behind the little black dress with pearls. You only need one but it should fit you like a glove. Don’t try to fill your closet with clutter. Polish it with posh. Think about this in all areas of your life. The posh lifestyle involves selection and discernment – from quality friends to quality linens. When you demand the best in everything, the rest will have no place. This leads us to Posh Rule #2:

2. Style and substance. Posh people are not interested in showy displays of wealth or gaudy, ostentatious over-presentation. The idea that too much of a good thing is a good thing is absolutely not posh. A posh lifestyle involves surrounding yourself with stylish and meaningful items – things that have beauty, substance and style are much preferred over the flavor of the month which changes by popular tastes of a more common variety. Classic elegance never goes out of style, whether its in the way you entertain your guests with refined table-settings and beautiful flower arrangements, or whether you invite a small group of equally refined and interesting friends of substance to that dinner party. Keep things neat and avoid clutter. Be aware of how your surroundings impact yourself and others. Be sure that when you travel, you bring back mementos that express the unique pleasures of your journey and the experiences you had. Share the joy of your experiences with others as well. There is no substitute for style.

3. Learn the art of conversation. Posh is not a synonym for snobby. Posh people do not look down upon other people or act as if they are better than… A posh lifestyle is one that seeks out and honors what is unique, special, interesting and meaningful – in people and experiences. One way to do that is through articulate conversation and an inquisitive mind. A posh lifestyle is full of wonder and hunger for all the hidden gems that less refined lifestyles overlook. Anyone wealthy can simply throw money around and demand expensive things. But a posh person demands more than that – meaningful connections with people, places and experiences. To be posh means to be knowledgeable and comfortable with a wide array of people and topics. When you can dazzle others with your sparkling conversation you have truly made an impression, which is very posh. And the most posh way to dazzle others with sparkling conversation is to be sure that they are included – from your expression of interest in their views and experiences as well as the sharing of your own.

4. Mind your manners and be gracious. One sure sign that you are posh is that you are “well heeled” meaning that you know that manner matter. You are conscious about etiquette and appropriate behavior in all circumstances. You enjoy entertaining others and are known for your gracious hosting of parties that are so engaging and fun that people hope that they are on your guest list and reminisce about the fabulous time they had for days. You also know that when you select your guests, they are part of your posh lifestyle and you make sure that they feel as treasured and significant as they are to you. Gracious entertaining and etiquette are hallmarks of the posh lifestyle.

5. Take care of yourself. Posh people are healthy people. They take care of their physical and emotional needs. They respect themselves enough to eat properly, exercise regularly and respect limits of abusive behavior and over-indulgence. It is not posh to get drunk and dance on the tabletop with a lampshade on your head. It is posh to enjoy the great outdoors with a physical game, a hike or walk and get a breath or two of fresh air. Looking and feeling well are a sign of self-respect, and the posh lifestyle encompasses self-respect in abundance.

6. Live consciously and generously. The posh lifestyle is not about conspicuous consumption. A signature of the Posh is an awareness and appreciation of not only what is wonderful in life, but also of what is not. A willingness to support meaningful causes, engage with charities and philanthropies, and provide support – whether financial, emotional or physical – is an integral part of the posh lifestyle. You need not dig trenches to live consciously. Buying fair trade coffee, giving excess canned goods to a local food drive, providing gifts to Toys for Tots at the holidays and donating clothing to the GoodWill or Salvation Army are just a few examples of ways that posh people can contribute. If you are looking to do more, there is a world of opportunity. You will see world-class chefs preparing meals at a homeless shelter, top designers stocking the runway for a charity fashion show, and celebrities sitting on phone banks for telethons and drives. A posh lifestyle requires you to share whatever gifts you have been given and to live consciously in our globally interconnected world.

7. Demand the best, not the most expensive. The posh lifestyle is about quality, style and substance – not about extravagant spending. If you want to live a posh lifestyle, this means you seek out the best quality you can afford. It does not mean you become materialistic, spend money you don’t have to impress others and go into debt. As we’ve tried to point out in the previous rules, being posh is not about being rich or being better than others or being flashy and extravagant. Its about having the kind of style and substance that gets noticed and admired because it comes from a quiet self-assuredness that you are someone who understands and appreciates the finer things in life, has good taste and doesn’t need to demand attention – because you just get it. You expect and seek the best, which is not necessarily the most expensive. A beautiful picnic basket filled with homemade gourmet treats a bottle of delicious wine and some crisp linen napkins when shared on a hilltop with a spectacular view can be better than a meal that costs 10 times as much eaten in a noisy, trendy restaurant by an arrogant staff who forget that you are paying their salary.

When thinking about a posh lifestyle, consider some people who have transcended their time and are considered to be the sort of posh person you admire. Here are a few to get you thinking: Grace Kelly, Victoria and David Beckham, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana, Ralph Lauren.

So, now that you can see that living a posh lifestyle is well within reach, what are you waiting for? Pursue the Posh!

Article from: http://poshports.com

Are there things you would like to do in your lifetime but unsure when you’ll have the time? If you had one year left to live, what would you want to do with that time? It’s never too late to make a bucket list of lifetime goals, and nothing is omitted from being put on the list.

Writing down goals to accomplish, places to visit, and people to meet helps a person put into perspective how realistic these wishes can be, even if they seem like they will never be granted. They don’t have to be grand or heroic to all, just as long as they are of importance to you.

Here is a list of ideas to start out with when creating your bucket list:

• Places to visit
• People to meet (famous or not)
• Adopt a child
• Trips you want to take
• Marathons
• Face a fear
• Take adventures
• Go back to school
• Sign up for dance classes
• Join a fitness center
• Get a book published
• Personal accomplishments
• Have a child
• Mentor someone
• Meet a financial goal
• Own a house, car, fur coat, etc.
• Find out more about your family history
• Tell a person a secret you’ve been wanting to share with them for a while
• Volunteer for a good cause

After collecting all your dreams, ambitions, wishes and goals together, find a way to take action. Pencil in your busy schedule some time for yourself to work towards these dreams. And when that time comes, embrace it whole-heartedly. You can do it!

And remember, it’s all about you. Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

Although some businesses are considered Luddite and unwilling to incorporate social media networking into their promoting strategy, it has been proven that social networks increase fan base for businesses as well as promoting the businesses.

According to a study by Airwide Solutions, a number of mobile operators predicted that by 2015, 94 percent of communication would be through social networking, while 87 percent will be through SMS/MMS messaging and 81 percent through voice.

Teresa Degarmo, E-Marketing Communications Specialist for Finger Lakes Wine Country, explained in an interview the six steps to effectively use social media for a business.

Build an Identity

Build a presence on each social outlet you have. That includes images, information, tag lines and engaging topics.

Grow a Fan Base

Start by inviting your personal friends to “like” the brand page and follow. Purchase ads for the side of your page based on demographics of your target audience.

Engage With the Audience

Post comments to your wall and start a discussion with your fans. Post pictures, videos and share links to cross promote and repurpose content.

Measure

Look at statistical modules like Facebook Insights to se if there’s a positive trend to fan interaction. If not, rethink your engage and audience strategies.

Tend to the Content

Based on the measuring step, keep moving forward or take a step back to rethink your strategies. Remember to always keep content consistent and fresh.

Repeat

To stay alive in the social media networks, you have to have live pages. Continually grow your fan base, keep your content fresh, and measure the effectiveness of your social media presence.

Being a part of an online business community isn’t just for fun, it gives members a chance to win prizes, trips and free coupons while supporting, promoting and giving feedback to that business. So while media networking aids businesses in support and development, it also keeps the fans happy by learning more about it and keeping close with other fans and the business itself.