Tuesday, March 25, 2008 

Why Be Normal?

When you think about it, it's pretty funny, the things that we'll do to be what our society considers normal. Just look at any band of teenagers in a shopping mall or outside a high school, and you'll see the lengths to which we humans will go to fit in with the group's definition of normal.

As adults, we continue relying on those conformity skills to fit in with our chosen crowd. Almost every group has its normal behaviors clearly defined: we can all identify computer geeks, soccer moms, aging hippies, golfers, and many other groups simply based on their behavioral attributes. I'm sure you belong to a number of groups whose characteristics you've adopted almost unconsciously.

Fitting in with a group is a good thing. It gives us a sense of belonging, identity, and security, and it establishes group-specific expectations of how each individual will act and respond to others in the group. In this way, it reduces misunderstandings and the social gyrations otherwise necessary to establish who you are and how you will behave. So members of a networking group have a mutual understanding that they will provide business opportunities to each other and those in the group who violate this defined normal behavior will find themselves outcast or ostracized.

But at the same time, the pressure to be normal can be distressingly, painfully limiting due to our natural desire to retain that group identity, security, and safety. It squelches personal expression and creativity and smothers the urge to accomplish the extraordinary.

When was the last time you pointed to someone and said, "Wow, that person is so normal I'd like to be just like that!" Instead, consider the heroes you admire and respect, whether they be political, religious, athletic, or in some other walk of life. Nelson Mandela; Mother Theresa; Gandhi; Tiger Woods to name a very few are these people normal!?

We all have the ability and opportunity to act in ways that are not normal, ways that expand our horizons and enhance our lives and the lives of others. It's usually fear that stops us: fear of stepping outside the defined normal conduct of our group, of being thought "weird" or well, yes, abnormal. But it's by doing the unusual and the extraordinary that we can surprise ourselves by being more of who we are instead of less.

I invite you, therefore, to do something wonderfully not normal. Take a small step, even a baby step, outside your comfortable boundaries and explore the possibilities. Then think about how it felt, and how you plan to keep extending yourself into the abnormality of excellence.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain, 19th Century US author

(c) Grace L. Judson

 

Animal Attacks On Children: What You Need To Know

Studies show that children have the best chance of being bitten. Before a child turns 15, an animal has bitten nearly half. The vast majority of attacks happen to kids less than 9 years of age. By examining canine tendencies, most bites can be thwarted. It is true that most animals are safe, but some times dogs can have their own agendas. It is imperative that we educate our children to be on the look out for situations they must avoid.

There is rarely a good reason for a dog biting a child, but learning the mindset, from the animals' point of view, may be helpful in evading aggressive animals. Here are some stats from a well-known university, which were based over a three-year period.

Of all K9 bites on children under four years of age, most were bitten in early May. Sixty percent were bitten on the head, neck and face, 90 percent were bitten in their own home, 40% were attacked by their own dog and 60 percent of the dogs had never bitten before.

Of all K9 bites on children over four years of age but less then 17 years old, most were bitten in early July. Eighteen percent were bitten on the head, neck and face, 38 percent were bitten in their own home, 18% were attacked by their own dog and 50 percent of the dogs had never bitten before.

This poses many questions...

All dogs are capable of biting, but the majority wont if you act accordingly.

Be sure to pay attention to the body language of a dog. If a dog has an aggressive demeanor do not approach it. Often you can tell an aggressive dog but the following signs: Ears are stiff, body is tense, tall is high.

Dogs that have assumed either a defensive or offensive threat posture frequently have a "critical zone". A child is safe around this zone until entering the imaginary circle the dog has projected. The problem is that this zone varies between dogs and can even be different for the same dog if the situation changes. So it's impossible for humans to accurately determine the critical zone. The shy or fearful dog adopts a defensive threat posture. It is hesitant, easily frightened, timid, tends to avoid certain persons or things. Frequently, these traits are not noticed until the dog encounters a new situation. The dog might assume elements of the defensive threat posture when frightened.

How do you stop your child from being attacked?

- Avoid pack dogs
- If confronted, do not run away or scream.
- Always ask an owner if it's okay to pet their dog
- Always let a dog sniff your hand before petting them.

Animals and children are capable of living in harmony, but it's the parents job to teach their children. If you conform to the following information, you and your kids will be safer!

Amber Rose Parodi write various articles on animals and pets. Many of her articles can be found at http://www.pet-super-store.com. For more information please visit their website here: Discount Pet Supplies.

 

Handy Ebooks That Can Make You Money Working From Home

I was once where you are trying to figure out how to create an income online, but not knowing where to start. I spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on every type of money making system out there. Funny thing is not one of them worked for me. Then one day I came up with a secret idea to make money online. After I started making money online with one of my ideas I put a few more into place and started creating multiple steams of income at home from my computer.

The crazy thing is I now make more in one week than a school teacher makes working for an entire year. I can remember not too long ago when I was 3 payments behind on my mortgage and 2 payments behind on my old car. I hardly had enough money to buy a hamburger at McDonalds. Life is so much different now that I am making money on the Internet. I am going to share my secret system with you so you can start making money online and living the way you want to live, not just the way you have to.

I have found a proven money making system anyone can use. You don't need any special computer knowledge. You don't have to know how to build a website, and you don't have to be a marketing guru. So what do you need? All you need to do is follow a few simple steps and you are on your way to making a small fortune online. This system is unlike anything you have ever seen before. You now have the opportunity to start making a full time income online working just a few hours per week from your computer.

With my system you will be able to create multiple streams of income in a matter of a few hours. I provide you with everything you need to start making money online. I will reveal to you my most powerful secrets for making a fortune online. Not only that I will give you a step by step guide on how to get up and running right away so you can start making money today. For a limited time I am also going to give you a FREE money making website. This website is already setup to make you money, all you need to do is activate it and you will have cash rolling in immediately.

A few insiders who currently use my secret system have reported incomes between $10,000 and over $100,000 per month. My system is proven to work not only for me but also for the insiders who currently are using it. You can start seeing the same kind of results all you have to do is get started today.

First let me tell you I am not an Internet guru by any means, I am an average person who found a way to make a fortune using the internet. I am now sharing my secret system with you. I grew up in a lower middle class family where my parents always fought about not having enough money. I knew this was not the way to live and there was a better life out there. So I set out to make my first million, after trying one business after another and failing at everything I tried. Not to mention getting my self in debt way over my head. I decided enough was enough. So I gave up for a short time and worked my 60 hour weeks. Notice I said 60 hour weeks and not 40, well I had piles of debt from trying to start a business so I worked all the overtime I could get my hands on just to try to get my self out of debt.

One day while I was working I came up with an idea on how I can make money on the Internet. I went home and turned on my computer and decided to explore the online world. I got so excited from the ideas I had I decided to use one of my sick days and call off work the following day. I stayed up all night working on putting together this system to make money online finally at 4 in the morning it was up and running, and I went to bed. I went out for breakfast in the morning with a friend and when I returned home I turned on my computer and got online. I could not believe my eyes!!! I made $112 while I was sleeping and while I was having breakfast with my friend. This was as much money as I would earn working all day at my full time job.

So needless to say I was able to quit my job one month later because I had made over $16,000 in my first 30 days. I have perfected my system and now I make over $100,000 every month. Keep in mind that I only work for two hours per day. Some days I don't even do anything yet I make thousands of dollars every day. The best part is you can start using my secret money making system and seeing the same type of results right away.

http://www.Handy-eBooks.com
http://www.Handy-eBooks.com/make_money_online.htm

Mark Warren is a successful entrepreneur.