A walk in springtime

At long last spring is here! With the cold memories of the winter seeping away like the last of the frost evaporating in the morning, the sunshine is bringing out smiles everywhere you look.

Yesterday my husband and I went for a walk in the village of Ashwell, Hertfordshire. We started off at the Spring, the source of the Cam, and then walked round the village, down country roads, admiring wonderful old buildings, enjoying the sight of sticky buds on young trees and three crows having an amazing game of chase round the church tower.

Spring does have a mental effect on us all, I am sure. The longer days, more sunshine, all adding positive karma to our poor winter-huddled souls. I look out of my office window now and I see the ancient clay tiled roof of the old Inn opposite, and behind it - the white blossoms of a tree shining against a pale blue sky.

I'm going to make this a year where I let the spring time develop in me as well - use my own initiative to improve life and build the business, help the family and find more self-fulfilment in what I do.

I hope that spring, after a terrible economic winter too, can bring some positive benefits for the world in a much broader sense. A little optimism can go a long way.

Life makeover?

Oh wow, I think I should try this - my life is so confusing! (Boy if I began to tell you, you'd say that wouldn't even happen in the movies...)

These folks offer a 'risk free life makeover'. Hmm! Are there areas of your life that you're dying to change but you just don't know where to begin? There are for me..

Are you afraid of trying to change aspects of your life because you just MIGHT make things worse... Or you're worried about what friends or family will THINK?

You know the things I'm talking about...

Your relationships
Your career
Your diet
Your finances
Your fitness...
Your FEAR OF CHANGE, or your lack of knowledge about how to change, is holding you back from the life you could be living right now.

And every day you continue just accepting your lot and doing NOTHING to change the areas of your life that need improving --- is a day WASTED.

So you owe it to yourself to take charge of your life... overcome your fear of change... improve your self-image and self-esteem... and tap into your talents and potential.

The Good News is You Can EASILY
Take Control of Your Life -- And Improve It!

That's what they claim. OK, when I get paid at the end of the month I'm going to give it a go! Join me?

Here it is: Life Makeover.

Oh, and to return to the subject of my friend in Ireland who gave up smoking with the programme I bought her, she's still smoke free! Saysshe finds the programme really helpful for keeping her on track. Go girl!

Kairology

Kairos - a 'crucial moment' in your life. Kairology, the 'doorway to many points', is a great name for a book about self-development. I am reading Ian Williams' Kairology book and it's colourful, easy to read and has some very simple concepts. I only looked at it yesterday for the first time, but already I want to buy it for some friends, as well as read it cover to cover for myself.

Heading for London, for a meeting with a high flyer (so I asked my very clever boss to come too), I couldn't take work on the train, but I did take this neat little book. There's a bit at the front which doesn't sit with my philosophy in life, but that doesn't matter, the principles are applicable whatever you feel/believe.

Arranged in four 'suits' - the book takes you through Hearts - passion, Clubs - values expression, Spades - values action, Diamonds - values results. OK, that doesn't really explain it very well, but I can't reproduce chunks of the book here, that would be against copyright.

But what I can say is that the way it addresses the issues that face us all is really accessible - something you can actually 'do', not just read and think 'ah yes, but in MY case....'

It was good to read the book, especially before that meeting. It helped me think a little about me, what I need and want and can offer. That last one I forget all too often.

http://www.completetrainer.co.uk/Self_Development/Kairology_Hardback

It's on the main site, and you can buy it as an ebook too.

http://www.completetrainer.co.uk/Self_Development/Kairology_ebook

I do actually check the stuff on my site, and I use it! OK, I don't train, but I really am looking at trying out the self development stuff, because then I will succeed, my business will succeed - and the aim of my business is to help others to succeed. It's a good business to be in.

Breathing easy

Last night I went to visit a trainer called Jen Tiller. We talked about lots of things: NLP, training, Reiki, EFT and Buteyko breathing technique. It's not a therapy I knew much about but it sounds very interesting.

One of the few complementary therapies approved for treatment of asthma (and yes, I am an asthmatic, have been since I was a baby) and therefore may be something I could use.

My asthma isn't bad these days, but even so if I could reduce my reliance on the inhalers I use, it has to be a good thing. I'll find out more and report back.

I must mention Jen's cat - a young siamese called Maximus Nautius (I think). Well he certainly was a character: not only did he decide to attack the sofa cushions, but he did this through back flips and stealth attacks that were, to say the least, distracting. And when he discovered the laces on my boots...

I'm hoping to have some of Jen's products on my site soon, especially her wonderful motivation posters and some meditation type audio tracks. I'll update on here when I have them ready.

Teacherdate

As Trainerdate has been so successful, it seemed highly logical to look at a dating site for teachers.

Teacherdate is UK based, aimed at those in the teaching profession. The good thing is that the Teacher and Trainer databases have cross members, so those with common interests in learning, even if not in the same profession, can find each other.

I posted an article about this on a writers circle too, so I just might start 'authordate' at some time as well.

Giving up smoking

My friend in Ireland is a serial smoker. She is also a serial quitter. But last month her husband had a heart attack and they laid the blame at the feet of cigarettes.

No surprise then that she, her husband and her adult son have decided to quit together. Imagine - a household with all three of them giving up smoking at the same time!

She's given up before, but usually some stressful situation or other has triggered the start of smoking again. Sometimes not even stress, sometimes it was a social event such as a family wedding, or just 'the girls' out for the night, or just the fact that she fancied a smoke.

But she's always wanted to quit, knowing that it's not good for anyone's health. What could I do, tucked away in England? Well, it's obvious really, I bought her the 'quit smoking in 28 days or less' programme of course.

After the first few days I asked her how it was going. She said it was OK - a bit 'supercillious', but that actually she kept going back to it and that it helped her keep on track.

She's quite a strong minded lady my friend, so I'm sure that she will do it this time. When I've nudged her about giving up smoking before, she basically hasn't wanted to, but this time? This time, I think, given the help of the programme and the best motivation in the world (the health of her family), I think she will do it.

I'll keep you posted.

Healthy Chococlate

Well, my latest exploration to self-development is looking at increasing my anti-oxidant intake via... chocolate!

And a business opportunity too! www.coolchoc.com - if you want to know more, contact me. The chocolates DO taste good!

Meanwhile, I have spent lunchtime today exploring the town in the snow. Lots of pictures here: http://snipurl.com/b5sj8