Consistent Boundaries Makes Discipline Easier

Author: Judy H. Wright

Homes should be run by parents, not children. So many times, however, either the children are in charge or the parents are so eager to be liked, that whatever rules and standards are talked about, few are enforced, especially on a consistent basis.

Children, whether they are two or 18, feel more confident when they know that you, the adults, are in charge and that their environment is predictable and safe. They need to be taught what is right and wrong, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable, what is appropriate, and what is rude and out of place.

Though they will get mixed or conflicting messages from the television, magazine and friends, they need you to set and enforce clear, respectful rules and limits. They need to know that you expect them to do and be their best.

By providing this guidance you will help them learn how to be responsible, contributing members of society.

Consistency in discipline is the number one factor in successful families: It is important that love, respect, cooperation and expectations are unconditional.

Consistent boundaries within the family are pretty predictable; for instance:

* They will grow up knowing that mom and dad must know the 4 Ws before they are allowed to leave with friends. WHO are the friends, WHERE are they going, WHAT are they doing, and WHEN will they be
home.

* A child can count on dinner being at six o’clock or there about.

* They need to know that bedtime is 8:30 on school nights and that homework is done before playtime.

But sometimes in life, opportunities come up that make boundaries and rules flexible. A relative visits from out of town, so it might be okay for the kids to stay up till 9:30 one night to enjoy the experience. Rules can bend occasionally, but if they get broken, we are all in trouble.

As long as the family knows that in general, there is a structure that they can count on and limits to what is accepted and what is not, they will flourish in a system that gives them guidelines and direction.

Consistent boundaries and standards give a child and the whole family a feeling of security and safety. It is within this environment that self-discipline and life skills begin to flourish and develop.

When we, as a community as well as a family, give consistent messages to our children concerning dangerous and unkind behavior, it will be easier for them to forgo temptation to participate. It is our responsibility as adults to help them learn and live by the basic rule that actions have consequences.

Those children who develop a habit of thinking about the connection will be in a position of strength. Their choices will be immeasurably easier to make because they have been given a framework for decision-making.

Repair or rebuild the boundary, if necessary

I encourage you to be firm, consistent and kind in your discipline. It is vital to always follow through. Don’t make threats, make promises. If you take away TV privileges the first time he doesn’t take out the garbage, but ignore it the second and third time, he will soon learn that you don’t always mean what you say. The child will learn how to be a manipulator, and you will still have the misbehavior to deal with. You are the adult, and so it is your job to repair the fence when it is broken or stretched out.

Boundaries don’t fence us in but rather they allow us freedom to grow and develop, knowing that we are safe and loved unconditionally. It is never a guessing game of what will happen but rather a sure foundation.

You can do it. I believe in you. You are doing the most important job in the world, raising self-disciplined, thoughtful and contributing children.

© Judy H. Wright, Author, Speaker and Life Educator www.ArtichokePress.com

This article was written by Judy Wright, parent educator and author. Feel free to use it in your newsletter or publication, but please give full credit to the author and mention the contact information of JudyWright@ArtichokePress.com, 406-549-9813.

You will find a full listing of books, tapes, newsletters and workshops available on finding the heart of the story in the journey of life by going to www.ArtichokePress.com

Author: Sandra Kim Leong

You are what you eat is a simple, time tested adage that still holds true today. There are non-medical remedies that can help with many of today’s most common illnesses and conditions. In fact, making simple changes to your food diet to cure your common cold, acne or constipation problems is a much better choice than resorting to drugs. For one, natural food and diet remedies most often do not give you harmful side-effects that western allopathic medicine can bring.

Here are some health ailments that can be easily treated with a simple food and diet remedy:

Allergies. More Americans suffer from allergies than ever before. Perhaps the best remedy for allergies is drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. Garlic and cayenne pepper have been used for years, and a good intestinal cleansing has been shown to provide relief. Almonds and walnuts, as well as sunflower seeds, reduce symptoms, and make sure that you are taking a multi-vitamin with the recommended doses of vitamins C, A, E and zinc.

Acne. Acne in both teens and adults is also becoming more and more common. There are many natural dietary changes that you can make to help clear up your skin. First, drink water. It flushes out the impurities. Soy protein helps, as does increasing your consumption of whole grains, fresh fruits and root vegetables. Have three servings of oily fish weekly and add some cold pressed seed oil daily.

Constipation. To help constipation, increase your intake of folic acid. Apple pectin can help relieve constipation and add fiber to your diet. Try drinking some ginger tea or yerba mate in tea form. Cod liver oil is a tried and true, but hard to swallow, remedy. Warm dandelion tea also helps.

Stress. Holy basil, also known as Tulsi, has been used to relieve stress and normalize cortical levels. Limiting caffeine can help the body to reduce the level of adrenaline. When you’re particularly stressed out, eat carbohydrates and fresh vegetables. They help the body release serotonin which produce a feeling of well-being.

Cancer. Consuming the trace elements that are plentiful in seafood has been shown to help cancer patients. Broccoli, mustard greens, cabbage and turnips have been recently touted as not only preventative maintenance but perhaps even cures for different types of cancers. Limit your fats.

Help your body cure itself by trying some of these simple food and diet changes. By also including them in your regular diet, you also help in the prevention of these health problems and to build a strong immune system.

Sandra Kim Leong publishes information on food diet and nutrition remedies for common health ailments. For free articles and resources, please visit http://www.food-diet-remedy.com

Simple Food and Diet Nutrition Remedies for Your Common Health Ailments, Nutrition, Nutrition articles, Nutrition information, about Nutrition, what is Nutrition, Nutrition Information

It’s calculated that there are about 85 million bike riders in the U.S. over half a million of them wind up in ERs each year. Nearly 70,000 people are hospitalized every year merely because they didn’t wear a helmet.

Putting on a helmet when cycling is the best possible way to keep yourself from suffering a major injury. No matter if you’re an experienced cyclist or a beginner, this is the top rule of cycling. They’re cheap and available at retailers nationwide. Sadly, only a small percentage of bike riders adopt this elementary rule and many pay the price.

Cycle accident head injury stats are astounding. Nearly one out of every 8 results in brain damage. Moreover, two-thirds of bike accident deaths are the result of traumatic brain injury. Experts say the vast majority of these fatalities and injuries could have easily been avoided.

It is important to wear a bike helmet that is sized properly. Find out the size required by measuring around the largest part of the head. This is the area approximately an inch above the eyebrows. When properly worn, the helmet will rest in this place. Read the packaging of the helmets and match the measurement with the size on the box.

To make the helmet more well-situated and fit perfectly, sizing pads are ordinarily included. These are added to the inside of the headgear to make a cosy, but not tight fit. The straps on a helmet are adjustable and should also be snug but not excessively tight. They come with plastic clips to fasten them. These should invariably be done up when riding to hold the helmet in place.

In addition to putting on a helmet, there are other safety forethoughts cyclists need to keep in mind. Reflectors should be installed on all cycles. They give a visual clue to drivers, especially in low-light situations. Reflective clothing is another option and gives high profile of the rider.

As with driving a automobile, you’re responsible for your safety and that of others close to you. Merely complying all the traffic rules will keep you much safer. Stop at all stop signs and lights, be aware of what’s going on around you and use good judgment when you ride.

Remember, cars and trucks are much heavier and are going quicker than they may appear. This lesson should be earnestly emphasized to any kid or adult just learning to ride a bicycle. Inexperienced riders should stay out of high traffic areas, and will learn to ride more safely as their confidence goes up.

Cars and trucks cannot stop as promptly as you can, and they are not always watching out for bicycle riders. Be watchful, pay attention to all the traffic around you at all times. Making eye contact with drivers at crossings ensures they see you and are cognizant of your intentions.

Always ride your bike on designated bike paths when available. Some cities provide bike paths in business areas that are well away from traffic. When no path is usable, cycle with the traffic on the far right side, not against. When turning, invariably use hand signals, make sure the drivers around you know what you are doing.

Sidewalks can be dangerous to a cyclist. There are usually things like sign posts, rubbish cans and even cars parked across them. These things can be hard to navigate, especially when combined with people walking about. The risk of injury to the cyclist or an innocent pedestrian is rather high. It’s best to stay off the footpath with your bicycle.

The most dangerous time of day to ride a bike is in the darker hours. Children are especially vulnerable because of their small size. Cyclists and their bicycles can be hard to see unless they have reflective gear on. For even higher visibility, headlamps, taillights and even directional lights should be installed on any bike that will be ridden at nighttime.

No matter where you ride your bike, what type of bike you ride, or your age, cycling can be a whole lot of fun. You can keep yourself safe by complying with some basic safety principles and donning a properly fitted helmet. Knowing you’re safe and being confident in traffic will make your ride much more enjoyable.

Next time we’ll talk about bike upkeep and repair. Find out what you can do to keep your bike riding smooth for many years to come.
For more information about bicycles and Bicycle Safety http://bicycles.biblioflip.com/, visit: http://biblioflip.com

K.L. “Vin” Hayes heads a team of freelance writers and researchers. Over the last decade, they have worked together to develop quality digital reissues of vintage books & documents as well as original publications. Vin specializes in how to info that includes a wide variety of matters such as fishing & hunting, hobbies & crafts, self-improvement, construction and more.

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By Robert Grazian

After the introduction of the bicycle in Europe during 19th Century, it is the only item which was very useful and used sparingly by the entire world population. Bicycle is simple but elegant, with multiple uses. It has helped the people as the cheapest way of transportation, it serves as the best way of doing exercise and the place of bicycle as a sports equipment is at the pinnacle. A bicycle is made out of many components. These bicycle parts integrated in an elegant and perfect way make a superb and imposing bicycle.

A bicycle is driven by the human power. The cycle is run by the two wheels connected by a metal or plastic frame. The typical parts of the bicycle are wheels, frame, brakes, suspension, seating, carriers, drive train or chains connected between wheels and pedals, steering or handle and other accessories like bells, lights etc.

Wheels are the most vital and inevitable part of any vehicle. Looking back to its formative years, one can see that the wheels used were made up of wood. Of course the wooden wheels were very heavy, very slow due to its blunt body, and also required more effort to ride. Thanks to modern technology, the present day wheels are superb and very efficient; one can drive the bicycle with very less efforts. The present day wheels have a metal hub, a metal rim holding the metallic spokes, a rubber tube and a pneumatic rubber tire in the outer envelope. The metal bearings allow the wheel hubs to move freely on the axles.

Frames are the next parts to discuss. Frames are made very strong, which gives the skeleton of the cycle. They are generally made up of metals and some times with that of plastic. Steering, seating, the wheels are all connected to the frame in a harmonious way making the bicycle fit for a smooth ride. Usually frame has two parts of triangular shape, one in front and the other in the rear.

Suspensions are very important for the comfortable ride of a bicycle. There serves the role of a shock absorber. Drive train is the engine part of a bicycle. It consists of pedals, a chain connected to rear wheel, crank arms which makes the chain to rotate and in turn it helps the rear wheel to roll. Brakes are the insurances of the bicycle. Brakes control the movement and can be applied whenever necessary. Most of the bicycles use handbrakes. Brake shoes are attached to the wheels, front and back. Both front and back brakes are attaché to the steering. Seating and steering are very important for comfortable cycle drive. Presently adjustable steering and seating are available in most of the modern cycles.

Bicycles have become part of the human life. This is the cheapest way of conveyance and the best way of exercise. The popularity of the cycles is sure to grow further.
Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about bicycle parts http://bicycleguideonline.info/bicycle-parts/ visit Bicycle Guide Online http://bicycleguideonline.info/ for current articles and discussions.

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Author: Lance Winslow

Are you a Hypomaniac? If you are you have some definite advantages over others. Hypomaniacs are often superstars in their fields, but they are often misunderstood by those who work so hard to profile personalities and put individuals into neat little boxes.

Regarding this article which seems to be the present day thought on the Hypomaniac Syndrome: ‘Hypomanic’ executives often most successful Associated Press 04/26/2002 Washington-

I too have been studying this group of people as I observe the superstars and read the biographies of the most driven individuals. Here are my thoughts on the subject. Perhaps you can assist and shed some light on this subject.

First off the Very good article. But how does an individual know if he has this “Hypomanic” Thing? I submit the hypomaniac person maybe much more complicated than was introduced in this article.

And having those traits myself (many times those who chose the subject of psychology actually have questions about themselves which causes them to go into such subject matter as a profession). I have read 100s of biographies of the greatest leaders, sports figures, inventors, entreprenuers, warriors, scientists, etc. Yet I have a hard time placing many of these people into those categories. So it seems hard to find a correlation to these comments in the article and also difficult to see the downside of such a person for society, it is a plus and allows many of us to live without worry because those hard chargers are protecting the heard so to speak.

Most hypomaniacs would not see the drawbacks. I too do not see them as negative; I do see them as an advantage. This is very interesting indeed. I first must question and wonder about the “risk taking” thing a little, in that I do not believe these people see it as a risk, I know I do not. Challenge yes, risk, not really. Innovation is a necessity of any of these people, and that maybe perceived as out on a limb or a risk. As far a the grandiosity issue I think that too maybe debatable, because nothing is impossible, anything can be achieved it is more a matter of mind and perseverance which I guess a PhD in the psychology field would not be able to readily recognize. Any person like this Hypomanic, constantly has others tell them they cannot do something, yet they do it for spite. Is it really grandiosity of the Hypomaniac or is it misjudgment of the observer? I think it maybe the psychologist are thinking they are so special that they cannot conceive of these people and their reach. For instance many Entrepreneurs and I use this context because the article does (I suppose scientists have other traits if they were hypomaniacs) do poorly after their first big win, in their next big thing or endeavor.

Entrepreneurs rarely have multiple wins in different industries, except people like Branson, Gates, Fred Smith (Fed EX), Wayne Hiezinga. The reason for these is they carried their same work ethic into the next battle, and they are not done yet, they want more. I see one of the traits at Harvard use to be hard work ethic, yet do not see it in these people anymore. Enron debacle was stupid, they had the world by the balls, but leadership slacked off, right when they should have been really turning on the juice. They needed a visionary, no prisoners leader, like the previously mentioned, too bad, because it hurt America. The reasoning being that commoditizing additional things that are omnipotent for our society is of value. I think also if the idea that Gates also has savant tendencies and you add Bi-Polar to it, then you have to go back to the drawing board and cannot relate his success or hard work ethic with that of the others.

Anyone out there is doing research on this Hypomanic personality trait should post their comments after this discussion. When studying great people such as, Gates “The Road Ahead” (And the Inner Circle Magazine), Turner “It Ain’t As Easy as It Looks”, Ellison “The Difference Between god and”, Richard Branson book “Virginity,” and Guzietta from Coke A Cola “I Want the World to Buy a Coke”. All seem to have many of these traits. I think the anger in stupidity, bureaucracy, and slow moving brain dead people, causes them to work harder, all seem to mention this in their autobiographical works. Perhaps they are trading the maniac mild depression into anger and steam and using it to heat up the soft tissue in the back of the head to drive their stick-to-it-ness back to the home front battle. I sometimes think that the anger of the brick walls in the way force these individuals to go crazy forcing them into thier work. How can anyone be depressed if they are doing what they love to do? They love to win.

A hypomaniac which does not like what they are doing might be different. Tesla the famous AC inventor had many of these traits and yet loved his work. There maybe cases to prove this point wrong. Maybe these off the chart Hypomaniacs have other sides to them, but this mild maniac depression seems a little unlikely. If people have witnessed these traits in these people, I would say they mistook the depletion of vitamins due to the self inficted stress of the their own inner personal battle with the “human factor” resistence put in their way to get to where they are going to be. It is possible to go without eating and sleeping and then all of a sudden it hits you. Maybe these people if witneesed in a depression like state, just need some more Chormium Picolinate or protien for their brains. This particular article may have missed a couple other benefits, although obviously cannot be a whole book because it is just an article;

1. When people cannot put you in their frame of reference they mis judge your motivations and needs in negotiations and therefore give you the upper hand;

2. Also a person moving that fast cannot have too many friends due to time. Therefore does not get too caught up in “Familiarity Breeds Contempt” traps;

2.5 Competition cannot keep up, because if they copy them, they are already several more steps ahead and back around to flank them. They never know what hit them and then it is too late;

3. Misdirection and miss information techniques are easier to emloy because no body can figure out where you are going or coming from;

4. When they are moving that fast and have faith in future moves they do not need to worry, they will find a way. This looks dangerous to others, and it gives them an advantage because no one will dare follow;

5. A moving target is harder to hit and almost impossible to follow;

6. Their very existence intimidates people, which can also help you. People are afraid of you;

7. Their energy radiates out word and causes things to line up your way by your sheer will.

Now on the drawbacks side of things the articles fails to mention the following; Draw Backs:

1. They burn people out;

2. Others that emulate them often fail, it requires too much knowledge and skill to work at this level;

3. People question their judgment because they do not realize the multiple affect. ie… Ted Turner over paying in a merger so he had the movie classic content for his future project;

4. They have problems relating with people who cannot reason or do complex thoughts;

5. They do not do good at parties which are wasting your time. Although you can be the life of the party quite easily;

6. They are still stuck in linear time and therefore cannot do everything you want to;

7. They have to be careful not to run right over someone or through them, it is very easy to do;

8. They have no peers, this may actually be a benefit up for discussion.

Regarding the downer side of this hypomaniac title or labeling, I cannot see the mellow downer side of it. I do not see that maniac depression state? Perhaps that was put in there to capture the “Bi-Polar” thing to loop the story in a full circle, readers believe in all that Bi-Polar, lithium and Prozac ( a good book on this subject is “Living With Prozac” (scary book if you think of what this can do to our soicety) stuff. After all readers will not buy the superman idea without the kryptonite? Is the author sure that, that was not put in just to appease readers and make them not feel so little against these people?

There may be brief times where you have to think a lot, to get them out of a jam they got into by hitting the wrong turn in the maze or running through the wrong door of opportunity. But then again that is only a short time frame, then you usually just find a way to use all the mistakes as advantages. This article now makes me remember, of a guy who crashed into his new house in his new Beechcraft Baron? He may have had a moment such as this depression thing, but killing one’s self is giving up and a person with unlimited energy and a brain to match would never give up. Now if you need a down side maybe it would be the “burn out affect” or something else, although that does not seem to work either, judging by history and the referenced biographies above. Of course if one does not eat right or take care of themselves this type of person will write checks that it’s body cannot cash, causing health issues, I suppose.

In this article are the PhDs or author really specialists in Bi Polar disorders? I once had a gentleman who worked for me who was Bi-Polar, he had his life really screwed up, nice guy and needed help. I had to cut him lose due to performance issues, we needed more output. Some days he was terrific and other not at all. I was wondering what type of job a person like this might be best suited for. He was not good at a sales, although everyone seemed to like him. My theory was that his displacement caused feelings of superiority in others around him and make him appear to have Charisma and be approachable and non-intimidating. He was on Litium. What does lithium do to people, well it seems wrong to give to people, does it have after side affects?

After all Bi-polar is interesting since the Cerebellum if unfolded is 1128 cu centimeters the size of a record album cover which is bigger than either of the left or right side of the brain. Even together the cerebral cortex including both halves is 1900 cubic centimeters. So those who use it well are able to do more faster. We know from those who have brain injuries that their brain uses the cerebellum as RAM memory and lights up on the computer screens with activity when the damaged part of either the left or right side cannot be used. There are more cells and neurons in the cerebellum than the rest of the brain, much more capacity. So when some is using it they can do more faster and process more data and crutch more numbers so to speak. You may wish to check up on Nueroantomist Santiago Ramon y Cajal.

Sharks have also huge cerebellums and they have 400 million years of evolution on the modern man no matter what you believe as far as 160,000 years, 40,000 years since Neanderthal or 10,000 years of Chinese recorded written history. The problem I see with the article is that everyone is a Doctor of something and they are the same people giving kids under age 6 Prozac and screwing up their brains before full development. Perhaps the Hypomaniac is a positive label although to try to narrowly title a behavior is unhealthy and can cause risks of mislabeling. People who appear to be different for whatever reason all share another familiar advantage in sports, war, business, game or politics. Their opponents and followers, who do not understand them, once they realize that they do not understand, often fear them. From a Machiavellian standpoint one could say this is good if you are in a leadership capacity and especially good in the unforgiving battle in politics. It’s best if your opponents think you are crazy and unpredictable, because that incites fear and hesitation, the edge needed in surprise attack or reciprocal response. If your followers do not understand your methods but understand your strength in intelligence they will follow you and not try to topple you out of fear and admiration. This too would be considered a positive attribute if this article Bi-Polar theory holds true from the Hypomaniac executive model.

Remember Patton use to say that if stood on his jeep to make a speech he had everyone’s ear, his troops knew he knew how to win, the media made him sound crazy beating up on hospital wounded or panic attacked soldiers and no one could figure him out and therefore to his advantage, he was able to fly by the seat of his pants into victorious battle. Hitler talked in mesmerizing cadence and put people in a beta state of mind. While also having the ups and downs of Bi-Polar tendencies. Vince Lombardi said to be one of the greatest sports leaders in history also had mood swings to the low, they say. Steve Jobs is a good example of bi-polarality in this article context from what I have read. Perhaps a bi-polar type tendency and a trend towards hard charging never give up individuals and hypomaniac label may actually be a strength of character to be addressed and watched for positive advantages and to keep from turning evil?

The premise that there is only room for one visionary at a time is false. Visionaries always seek out like-minded visionaries to vision with. If one is the absolute boss, then there is a problem but it is not like household pets where the first pet is the boss. Visionaries often work well together and two minds are better than one providing the fundamental issues are equal (Belief System Theory-Equally yoked principle). Now then people like Mr. Lear, Edison, Tesla, Copernicus, Leonardo de Vinci, etc. may actually be loners and work better that way, although they all had companions and understood they needed help to get out their message and inventions and bring things to market.

There can be other experiments to determine if these hypomaniacs really exist to the degree mentioned in the article. By using naturalistic observations and a limited control group of other over achievers and we will have created a random assignment. I question the validity of subjects like Gates and Jobs as proof that the Bi-Polar theory holds true to the Hypomaniac hypothesis. The correlation in such limited data set along with the PR bull that their companies and books promote make it difficult to know the truth of any of this. I mean, the theory still may have some validity, and it cannot be proven either way unless we can have them at our disposal for a week or two which is impossible based on the justice departments needs of gate’s time when he should be working on R and D projects and Jobs incredible schedule and interview rounds with his latest new product rollout. And if these subjects were taken away from their artificial lives compared with that of normal folks we could lose the whole project. For instance if we took all these people and put them on a track with go carts and watched their behavior we might see some interesting things similar to all, but we may also find none to that of the HS Athlete, full of piss and vinegar wanting to conquer their world. Does this make sense? If the article and theories hold true and we cannot have off the chart in one direction without off the chart in another, which I believe too, then the Bi-Polarity between Major Depression and Mania maybe a good answer for things. And if this is so then we should not condemn those who are too far off the end on one side, because they have so much to offer the world on the other. Interesting.

This subject matter is fascinating as we try to understand the human spirit and will of top performing individuals, what on Earth makes them tick? The examples presented are interesting indeed and we need to take a real look into the theory, which seems to be too simply defined in the article and there has to be more to this. Although the article hits home for me, thus I find this subject matter of value, it appears we might all learn from such hard charging super stars like Gates and Jobs. I think I still have to question trying to pigeon hole any individual as people are complex and are an accumulation of all their observations, experiences, genetics and achievements are unique and therefore such simple classifications may be highly invalid, why don’t we simply ask them? If any one has any data on Hypomaniac Syndromes, please post them below so that other Think Tank members can review this as many over achiever tend to also join think tanks to make a difference.

“Lance Winslow” - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs

By Alexander Sutton

There are many short-term and long-term benefits of biking. Some people prefer to actually go biking, but for others, it is more convenient, easier, or safer to simply use an exercise or stationary bike. The great thing about the stationary bike is that you do not have to leave the safety and warmth of your own home, especially if you exercise at unusual hours of the night, live in a colder climate, or live in a city without clear, accessible bike paths and bike trails.

The first of the benefits of biking is that it provides a good, safe cardio workout. Health experts suggest that you should do aerobic exercise at least three times a week, keeping your heart rate elevated for at least twenty minutes at a time. Using an exercise bike definitely fulfills this requirement. The second benefit of biking is muscle tone. The bike allows you to tone the muscles in your legs and thighs, and depending on the bike, even your arms. You can adjust the workout (or the programmed incline) to give your legs even more of a workout and build the muscles. The third benefit of biking is that you can warm up and cool down for weight training or more intense aerobic activity. The fourth benefit is that it’s easy enough, and even low impact enough, that overweight people can begin exercising, as well as people who suffer from pain or back injuries.

There are many benefits to biking, and many different reasons to take up the stationary bike. You can begin by purchasing a bike, or using the stationary bikes at gyms, recreation centers, or even a friend’s house.
Alex Sutton has worked in the health and fitness industry for nearly 11 years. For more information please visit exercise bikes. http://www.americanfitness.net/exercisebikes.html

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By Acid Reflux Info

Acid reflux symptoms vary in degrees of discomfort, from person to person, and within different age groups. The most common and persistent symptom is a burning sensation centered in the middle of the chest and/or throat, brought on by stomach acid that churns up onto the lining of the esophagus. This is due to the relaxing of the esophageal sphincter (valve), which remains open when it should be closed. Acid reflux also leads to one of the most unpleasant symptoms known as regurgitation of acid into the mouth, often due to overeating, or bending down after a meal.

People who suffer from acid reflux disease, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, exhibit symptoms that are chronic, persistent, and have a debilitating effect on their daily lifestyle. Though heartburn is the most common of the acid reflux disease symptoms, other signs may also manifest themselves. These symptoms include wheezing, coarseness in the throat, breathing problems, acid regurgitation, a bitter taste in the mouth, dry coughing, interrupted sleep, tightness in the throat, and halitosis (bad breath).

The risks for acid reflux disease increase, as most potential health problems, with age. Children also suffer from this disease, with symptoms that range from recurring coughing, vomiting, and breathing problems.

Don’t be confused by the term heartburn. Many believe that acid reflux symptoms affect the heart or mistakenly diagnose heartburn as a heart related problem. When in reality, the heart in not effected by acid reflux. The reason for the confusion lies in the fact that the heart is located near the pain center, when, actually, the esophagus is positioned behind the heart. One more thing to keep in mind is that acid reflux does not normally flare up during or beginning physical exertion, like many heart problems do. Again, always consult a physician on treatment options whether you experience signs of acid reflux or possible heart related problems.

Acid Reflux Info provides comprehensive information on the cause, symptoms, treatment, and diet associated with normal and infant acid reflux. Acid Reflux Info is the sister site of Pain Relief Web.

Author: Reach Joe

The most important achievements you can ever have in this life is your own happiness.

And the majority of all the happiness you will ever have, will come from your personal relationships. Your interactions and the time you spend with the people you care about will be the major source of the pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction you have on a daily basis.

The key to a happy family life is communication and the amount of time you spend with the people you love. It is not the quality of time, but the quantity of time that counts. The expression "quality time" is used by people to justify and excuse the fact that their lives are so disorganized that they do not spend much time with their spouse or their children. The fact is, that quality time is a function of quantity. Quality moments are those little moments that are precious, unexpected, and important. They arise during the process of spending a large quantity of uninterrupted time with another person. You can’t dictate these moments in advance and you can’t decide to have quality time. You don’t go to it. It comes to you.

There are many ways to get the greatest amount of quality and happiness from your relationships with the members of your family. Perhaps the most important is to spend uninterrupted time with your spouse on a daily basis. You should set aside time together each night to talk after your children have gone to bed. But, it is equally important for you and your spouse to take some time every morning to communicate and interact as well.

Studies have shown that one of the most important things a man can do in a marriage is to help out with the various household and family responsibilities. Help prepare the meals, or take over the responsibility of cleaning up afterward. Help to get the children ready for school or for their activities, and take them there personally so that you can have one-on-one time with them.

One of the most important things that couples can do is to spend the first 30 to 60 minutes after work talking about how their day went. When they come home, many men have the habit of talking about their own days and then watching the television or reading the newspaper, while their wife is left to deal with the children and prepare dinner. And this inevitably causes stress and problems in the relationship.

The key to your emotional stability, and peace of mind is happiness and harmony within your family. So if you’re a man, take the time to ask your wife about her day and then listen to all the things that she has to deal with before you start talking about your day. Most men are surprised when they first do this. They find that their wife’s day has been equally as interesting as their day has been, if not far more interesting.

One of the most common problems in any relationship is stress. Stress often comes about because we think we know our spouse really well. This knowledge can become a dangerous thing. It can become a communications trap and cause a great deal of stress in a relationship. A communications trap is when we try to read our spouse’s mind and then interpret and anticipate what he or she is feeling.

For example, we will often see an expression on our spouse’s face that we think we recognize or we think we hear something in his or her voice, and then we act on what we assume he or she is thinking or feeling. But, often, these assumptions aren’t reflective of what our spouse is actually feeling. In other words, we’re acting on misinformation.

It is important in any relationship to be able to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Between what you actually see and hear, and what you imagine or assume you see and hear. Just because your spouse might have a frown on his or her face, don’t automatically assume something is wrong. He or she might just be thinking or contemplating about something. And if you keep pushing to find out what is wrong, you will often cause unnecessary stress and a problem.

If you see your spouse’s arms crossed and his or her lips curled downward don’t automatically assume they’re angry. Instead of automatically assuming your spouse is angry or upset about something and then asking what he or she is angry about. Imagine how you feel when you have your arms crossed and you lips curled down. Are you upset, angry, or just lost in thought? Think about how you would feel before you start making any assumptions.

When we first met our spouse, we loved him or her, even with all their bad habits. We overlooked the fact that he or she was sloppy or always late, and we focused on the things we loved about him or her. But now, five, ten, or twenty years later, we do the opposite. All we can see is the mess, or that our spouse is always late, or whatever the problem is. We forget, or more often take for granted all the things we loved about that person. This focus on the negative begins a vicious cycle in which we see only the negative, and then feel that’s all there is to that person, and then the relationship begins to spiral downward.

When this happens, take the time to sit quietly by yourself and remember what things were like when you first met you spouse. Remember all the things you loved. Remember the things you did together that were really fun. Ask yourself, how long has it been since you told your spouse what you appreciate about him or her. Then, after dinner and the kids have gone to bed, unplug the telephone, go to a nice relaxing place in the house, and tell your spouse what is on your list. Tell him or her some of the things you’ve been taking for granted, some of the things you’ve been overlooking in the relationship.

If you do this, and remember all the things you really love and appreciate about your spouse, and then take some time to talk to him or her about them, the results will be wonderful.

One of the keys to a happy relationship is to never make assumptions based on what you think a person’s body language is saying. Remove the mind reading and guesswork out of your communication. Don’t be a mind reader. Instead, be a curious observer.

Your children have a tremendous need to communicate with you. In fact, research has shown that the one factor that is more important than any other in the development of children is the amount of one-on-one time that parents spend with their children. When parents don’t spend a lot of time with their children individually , they send a message to their children that they are not very valuable or important. This causes children to experience feelings of inferiority, low self-esteem, and a negative self-image. And this will often lead to poor grades and behavioral problems.

When parents take the time to sit down with their children and ask questions and listen to what is going on in their minds, the children will feel a deep sense of value and importance. The children will have more self-confidence, happiness, and be better able to develop good relationships with others.

We have to remember that we are all value creators in everything we do. If you own a business, you have to create value for you employees or they will not continue to work for you. You have to continually create value for your customers or they won’t continue to do business with you. The same is true in your relationships, whether it is your spouse or a close personal friend. You have to constantly create value for the other person and satisfy their needs or they won’t stay in the relationship.

You don’t have to be superman or superwoman to properly balance the demands of your work and the needs of your family. You must, however, be more thoughtful, and be a better planner, use your time more effectively, and continually think of ways to enhance the quality of your life in both areas. If you set this as a goal and resolve to work toward it every day, you will gradually become far more efficient, effective, and a far happier person. And that is the most important achievement of all.

Copyright© 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. A former ad agency executive and marketing consultant, Joe’s work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities and profits, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.

Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com

Author: Azriel Winnett

Out of the blue, slap bang in the middle of a working day, an unexplained sensation inside your mouth breaks your
concentration.

You have deadlines to meet, and you react merely by immersing yourself with new determination in the task in hand.

At least until the next day, when the mild discomfort has progressed to a stabbing pain.

Any wishful thinking that the fate of the whole world depends on your finishing your work is
now irrelevant. When you reach the dentist, he shakes his head sympathetically and jabs a needle right into your gums.

Wonderful thing, these anesthetics. The ache is gone even before he lays a finger on that troublesome tooth!

Now, let’s imagine you were created with a kind of natural anesthetic, that washed your mouth continuously so that you never got toothache. Good? Probably not. You’d never know when a tooth needed attention, until it would be far too late.

Horrified and sickened..

Problem is, this isn’t as far fetched as it may seem. You see, you get anesthetics for the body, and other anesthetics for the mind.

A former teacher, John Andrew Murray, wrote in Teachers in Focus magazine about his
experiences with an English class at a private American school.

In order to spice his lessons, Murray was using the old television series, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” each week to teach his students about plot development.

After a few weeks, he decided to stop the show before the end and let the students write their own endings. The students liked the ideas so much that they wanted to read their work aloud in class.

After about the third student, he put a stop to the reading aloud. What the teacher had heard horrified and sickened him.

When he later discussed with them the very explicit imagery of violence he had found in their papers, Murray’s students were quick to insist that media violence didn’t affect them because the graphic scenes they saw on TV and films were “fake”. Murray then asked them how they would feel if they saw a dog on TV getting riddled with bullets.

“How horrible!” they cried out in unison.

Murray concludes that unlike the human carnage they
regularly witnessed on TV, his students had found animal deaths appalling because they had seldom seen it. For the
first time, they realized how desensitized they had become to violence.

Sad, isn’t it?

The truth is, with most human beings the desensitization process goes even further. Much further. Sometimes, it’s good. ( We eventually “get over” a loss, or forget a traumatic episode.) More often, it’s anything but good.

Remarkable human talent

Take the remarkable human talent for hurting others by what we say.

At times, it’s deliberate; we WANT to inflict verbal pain on our friends - whether we admit it or not. (Often, this is to compensate ourselves for imagined feelings of inferiority). At other times, we don’t intend to offend, but do so nonetheless.

It’s the art of anesthesia again. We’ve become desensitized.

A seemingly innocuous example. A friend may have a spouse,
child, or parent who’s critically ill. We unwittingly reassure her: “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

She’s not comforted. Just the reverse. She knows everything won’t be fine.

For that matter, why tell a friend who bought herself a new dress last week, even if she asks for your opinion, that it looks
terrible on her? (I’m assuming it’s already too late for her to do anything about it; if she can, that might be different, provided you tell her the right way!)

I won’t even talk here of purposeful innuendos, backhanded
compliments, slurs and insults. At all times, people who really want to spread love in the world should take extra care with their speech.

Do you remember the schoolyard chant: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!

Utter tripe!

OK, words may be rarely able to break bones, but they can break our hearts, our spirits, even our reputations.

And yes, our ability to develop and maintain meaningful
relationships.

Azriel Winnett is creator of Hodu.com - Your Communication Skills Portal. This popular free website helps you improve your communication and relationship skills in your business or professional life, in the family unit and on the social scene. New articles added almost daily.

Maybe Not Bones, But Hearts…And Worse: The Destructive Power of Simple Speech, Relationships, Relationships articles, Relationships information, about Relationships, what is Relationships, Relationships Information

Author: Judy H. Wright

There are only two ways to get more money:

1) Increase your income and

2) Decrease your outgo.

B Buy what you need, not what you want.

U Use it up, wear it out or give it away

D Don’t ever spend in anticipation of earning

G Garage sales, consignment shops and hand-me-downs

E Eat at home or make it at home and take it with you

T Tracking your spending means you will have money to track

Simplify your life.Spend twice as much time and half as much money on your child and you will all be happier.

Don’t buy your kids too many clothes. They need an outfit for every day and
a Sunday or dress-up outfit, a sweat outfit to play in, two pairs of shoes, seven pairs of underwear and socks and two pairs of pajamas. A coat and jacket and you are set. They don’t need twenty outfits that crowd the drawers
and fall on the floor and end up in the washing.

Limit the toys you give your child. When they have so many toys, it stifles their imagination. They will really play with a few but are overwhelmed with too many choices.

Buys toys, books and games on sale and keep in a “birthday box” for when your children are invited to parties.

Trade your good or services with friends and neighbors. Start a babysitting co-op or food co-op. Trade painting for fresh produce, haircuts for yard work etc. Be creative.

Plan your menus around store specials and you will save a great deal and avoid stopping at MacDonald’s. Have one night be cooking night and prepare and freeze enough for the rest of the week. Consider joining with another friend and sharing the prepared meals.Recognize that saving or stretching of money is a part time job involving the whole family. You can easily save as much as you would earn in a few hours a week by being a smart shopper. Have a family council and decide what you will be able to do as a family with the money you save by making wise consumer decisions. Make it fun!

Good Luck and God Bless. You do an important work.

This handout© 2003 has been prepared by Judy H. Wright, Missoula, MT parent educator and author. You may have permission to make copies for other parents and teachers but the entire article, including the signature line, must be included. A complete list of parenting books, aids, workshops and a FREE ezine is available at www.ArtichokePress.com. To contact us, please write
judywright@artichokepress.com or call 406-549-9813.