A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: ' I am blind, please help .' There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'
The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way..'
What he had written was: ' Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it. '
Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.
Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness…. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling…
And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!
From: Forward mail from my friend.
The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling. And even more beautiful knowing that.............
Phone Answering Tips Win Business
Phone answering skills are critical for businesses. The telephone is still most business's primary point of contact with customers. And the way you answer your company's phone will form your customer's first impression of your business. These phone answering tips will ensure that callers know they're dealing with a winning business:
1) Answer all incoming phone calls before the third ring.
2) When you answer the phone, be warm and enthusiastic. Your voice at the end of the telephone line is sometimes the only impression of your company a caller will get.
3) When answering the phone, welcome callers courteously and identify yourself and your organization. Say, for instance, "Good morning. Cypress Technologies. Susan speaking. How may I help you?" No one should ever have to ask if they've reached such and such a business.
4) Enunciate clearly, keep your voice volume moderate, and speak slowly and clearly when answering the phone, so your caller can understand you easily.
5) Control your language when answering the phone. Don't use slang or jargon. Instead of saying, "OK", or "No problem", for instance, say "Certainly", "Very well", or "All right". If you're a person who uses fillers when you speak, such as "uh huh", "um", or phrases such as "like" or "you know", train yourself carefully not to use these when you speak on the phone.
6) Train your voice and vocabulary to be positive when phone answering, even on a "down" day. For example, rather than saying, "I don't know", say, "Let me find out about that for you."
7) Take telephone messages completely and accurately. If there's something you don't understand or can't spell, such as a person's surname, ask the caller to repeat it or spell it for you. Then make sure the message gets to the intended recipient.
8) Answer all your calls within one business day. I can't emphasize this one enough. Remember the early bird? The early caller can get the contract, the sale, the problem solved... and reinforce the favorable impression of your business that you want to circulate.
9) Always ask the caller if it's all right to put her on hold when answering the phone, and don't leave people on hold. Provide callers on hold with progress reports every 30 to 45 seconds. Offer them choices if possible, such as "That line is still busy. Will you continue to hold or should I have ________ call you back?"
10) Don't use a speaker phone unless absolutely necessary. Speaker phones give the caller the impression that you're not fully concentrating on his call, and make him think that his call isn't private. The only time to use a speaker phone is when you need more than one person to be in on the conversation at your end.
11) If you use an answering machine to answer calls when you can't, make sure that you have a professional message recorded, that does the same thing as tip # 3, and gives callers any other pertinent information before it records their messages. Update your answering machine message as needed. For instance, if your business is going to be closed for a holiday, update your recorded answering machine message to say so and to say when your business will reopen.
12) Train everyone else who answers the phone to answer the same way, including other family members if you're running a home-based business. Check on how your business's phone is being answered by calling in and seeing if the phone is being answered in a professional manner. If they don't pass the test, go over this telephone answering tips list with them.
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/management/qt/telephonetips.htm
Let pratice our tongue-twister!
If you want to improve your English, I want you to read a paragraph on anything; it can be newspaper, magazine, books or even brochures….the idea is to make you learn how to speak in proper English structure and pronounce words correctly. On top of that, we will also do a tongue-twister.
LET’S START TODAY!
Today’s tongue-twister is….
”She sells sea-shells by the sea shore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells."
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Did Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers?
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?"
How to Eat at a Formal Dinner?
The silverware is placed on the table in the order in which it will be used, starting with the outside pieces. Let this be your guide as you work your way through a meal.
Step 1 Put your napkin on your lap. Unfold it, but don't spread it.
Step 2 Use outside fork for first course, unless soup is served, then use the outside spoon.
Step 3 When you are finished with the course, place your fork at the right end of your plate, using a slight diagonal. This signifies that you are done. For a soup course or another course that uses a wide bowl, place the spoon on the plate below the bowl. If a shallow bowl is used, place the spoon on the bowl in the same manner as a fork on a plate.
Step 4 Continue by using the new outside fork. If the course requires a knife, use the knife farthest to the right.
Step 5 Use fork closest to your plate to eat your entrée. The spoon and fork at your plate's head are for dessert.
Step 6 Drink water from the largest glass at your setting.
Step 7 Drink red wine from the big bowled glass; drink white wine from the narrower bowled glass.
Step 8 If a little bowl of water is on the table, or appears with the dessert, wash the tips of your fingers in it. Dry them on your napkin.
Step 9 Refold your soiled napkin when you leave the table.
HOW DO YOU SLEEP ?
You may not achieve the comfort levels and sleep position you are used to in your bed at home, but look around the cabin next time you fly to see the many different positions we adopt (or try to !) whilst asleep.
Scientists believe the position in which a person goes to sleep provides an important clue about the kind of person they are.
Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the UK Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service analysed six common sleeping positions - and found that each is linked to a particular personality type.
What your sleeping position says about you ...
Foetus
Those who curl up in the foetus position are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax. This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey. More than twice as many women as men tend to adopt this position.
Log
Lying on your side with both arms down by your side. These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers. However, they may be gullible.
Yearner
People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.
Soldier
Lying on your back with both arms pinned to your sides. People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don't like a fuss, but set themselves and others high standards.
Freefall
Lying on your front with your hands around the pillow, and your head turned to one side. Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don't like criticism, or extreme situations.
Starfish
Lying on your back with both arms up around the pillow. These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don't like to be the centre of attention.
The remainder of those in the poll said the position they fell asleep varied or did not know.
Professor Idzikowski also examined the effect of various sleeping positions on health. He concluded that the freefall position was good for digestion, while the starfish and soldier positions were more likely to lead to snoring and a bad night's sleep.
Professor Idzikowski said "Lying down flat means that stomach contents can more readily be worked back up into the mouth, while those who lie on their back may end up snoring and breathing less well during the night. "Both these postures may not necessarily awaken the sleeper but could cause a less refreshing night's sleep."
The research also found that most people are unlikely to change their sleeping position. Just 5% said they sleep in a different position every night.
Some of Quotes!
My father said there were two kinds of people: givers and takers. The takers may eat better, but the givers sleep better.
~MARLO THOMAS~
There is only so much you can do, but if somebody doesn't give you a chance there is nothing you can do.
~Charlize Theron~
All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his.
~Oscar Wilde~
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
~Albert Einstein~
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
~Mahatma Gandhi~
Try to put your happiness before anyone else's, because you may never have done so in your entire life, if you really think about it, if you are really honest with yourself.
~Margaret Cho~
EYE INFECTIONS
What is an Eye Infection?
An eye infection is usually a condition caused by bacteria or a virus. While there are many different types of eye infections with different causes and treatments, the most common is bacterial conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Another well known infection is blepharitis – chronic inflammation of the eyelid due to infection. One of the most well-known forms of blepharitis is staphylococcal. Styes are another common form of eye infection. A stye is an infection in the tiny oil glands, along the edge of the eyelid, that surround the base of an eyelash.
The eye is constantly exposed to a variety of pathogens, but infections occur when the normal defenses of the eye are compromised. The source of the infection may be local (e.g., from the eyelids) or remote (e.g., from the sinuses) and can be the result of trauma, eye surgery, contact lens wear, immune deficiencies, or other diseases resulting in bacteria growth or viruses.
What Are the Symptoms of Various Eye Infections?
Bacterial conjunctivitis, or pink eye, results in red, itchy eyes that burn and discharge liquid. There may be more tearing than usual and your eyes may appear swollen.
Blepharitis is one of the most common disorders of the eye and is often the underlying reason for eye discomfort, redness and tearing. Other eye symptoms of blepharitis include: burning, itching, light sensitivity, and an irritating, sandy, gritty sensation that is worse upon awakening. In staphylococcal blepharitis, there is scaling and crusting along the eye lashes.
Styes usually begin as a red, tender bump, and usually come to a head in about three days. The stye then breaks open and drains and heals in about a week.
Who Does an Eye Infection Affect?
Eye infections can occur in any age group of patients, and since relatively benign infections can develop into serious disorders, most eye care practitioners treat infections aggressively. People who have undergone eye surgery or experienced trauma to the eye are at higher risk of incurring infection. And because some eye infections are highly contagious, such as pink eye, those who come in contact with someone who has the infection are at a much higher risk of becoming infected.
How to Avoid Eye Infections?
Eye infections may be spread through contact with the eye drainage, which contains the virus or bacteria that caused the infection. Touching an infected eye leaves drainage on your hand. If you touch your other eye or an object when you have drainage on your hand, the virus or bacteria can be spread. Here are some ways to prevent the spread of eye infections:
- Wash your hands before and after touching your eyes or face and before and after using medicine in your eyes.
- Do not share eye makeup.
- Do not use eye makeup until the infection is fully cured, because you could reinfect yourself with the eye makeup products. If your eye infection was caused by bacteria or a virus, throw away your old makeup and buy new products.
- Do not share contact lens equipment, containers, or solutions.
- Do not wear contact lenses until the infection is cured. Thoroughly clean your contacts before wearing them again and replace your contact lens case.
- Do not share eye medicine.
- Do not share towels, linens, pillows, or handkerchiefs. Use clean linens, towels, and washcloths daily.
- Wash your hands and wear gloves if you are looking into someone else's eye for a foreign object or helping someone else apply an eye medicine.
- Wear eye protection when in the wind, heat, or cold to prevent eye irritation.
- Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals.
- Avoid exposing your eyes to contaminated water.
Why Learn to Meditate
The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and so we will experience true happiness; but if our mind is not peaceful, we will find it very difficult to be happy, even if we are living in the very best conditions. If we train in meditation, our mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and we will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. Eventually, we will be able to stay happy all the time, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Usually we find it difficult to control our mind. It seems as if our mind is like a balloon in the wind – blown here and there by external circumstances. If things go well, our mind is happy, but if they go badly, it immediately becomes unhappy. For example, if we get what we want, such as a new possession or a new partner, we become excited and cling to them tightly. However, since we cannot have everything we want, and since we will inevitably be separated from the friends and possessions we currently enjoy, this mental stickiness, or attachment, serves only to cause us pain. On the other hand, if we do not get what we want, or if we lose something that we like, we become despondent or irritated. For example, if we are forced to work with a colleague whom we dislike, we will probably become irritated and feel aggrieved, with the result that we will be unable to work with him or her efficiently and our time at work will become stressful and unrewarding.
10 Ways to Instantly Build Self Confidence
Self confidence is the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Your perception of yourself has an enormous impact on how others perceive you. Perception is reality — the more self confidence you have, the more likely it is you’ll succeed.
Although many of the factors affecting self confidence are beyond your control, there are a number of things you can consciously do to build self confidence. By using these 10 strategies you can get the mental edge you need to reach your potential.
Build Self Confidence
1. Dress Sharp
Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.
This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.
2. Walk Faster
One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important.
3. Good Posture
Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.
4. Personal Commercial
One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately, opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you need a confidence boost.
5. Gratitude
When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.
6. Compliment other people
When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.
7. Sit in the front row
In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.
8. Speak up
During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.
9. Work out
Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physical appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.
10. Focus on contribution
Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency. The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.
~July 25th, 2007 by John Wesley~
How do you think?
Myth 1: Using a cell phone can give you brain cancer. Myth 1: Using a cell phone can give you brain cancer.
The truth: No need to get a hang-up over this one.While cel
l phones do emit mild microwaves of radiation (about as dangerous as the ones you get from staring at a Hot Pocket heating up in the microwave for a few minutes), they may not actually fry a single one of your cells. Some experts believe obsessive use (such as strapping the phone to your head with duct tape) could boost your risk of brain cancer slightly, but research done on humans and animals has yet to bear this out. “There’s no solid evidence that cellular phone use does any damage to your brain,” says John Moulder, a professor of radiation biology at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Myth 2: The Catholic Church is the largest landowner in the world.
The truth: Nope.Even if it were possible to calculate all the land owned by Catholic churches worldwide, they still wouldn’t officially be considered the largest landowner. “Collectively, Catholic churches may own a lot of land, but to say that the Vatican owns all that land wouldn’t be 100 percent accurate,” says James A. Cassidy, general manager for Monitor Communications, the house organ of the Catholic diocese of Trenton, New Jersey. “Each parish in every town is technically owned by the individual group of people within the community that funds it.”Aha.
Myth 3: Red wine is good for you.
The truth: It’s good for your healt
h, but only one vat at a time.There’s at least one scenario in which a drink can save your life. For nearly a decade, the medical community has tried to explain the French Paradox—that the French suffer as little as one-third the fatal heart attacks of Americans despite having a diet laden with fatty cheeses and artery-clogging cream sauces. The evidence is pretty good that substances called flavonoids in red wine (also in tea, grapes, and onions) discourage blood clotting, reducing the possibility of heart attack. But there’s a catch to all of this: The bottle’s benefits apply only with the rouge—not the white—and only in small doses. More than a glass or two a day and the gain becomes a loss, although French movies become easier to take.
Myth 4: If you keep shaving your head, the hair will grow back thicker.
The truth: False.Sorry to say, but all that shaving you tried at age 10 in an attempt to cop Tom Selleck’s look was for naught. “Normal hair typically has a very fine tip as it grows out, giving it a tapered, thinner appearance,” says George Cotsarelis, M.D., director of the hair and scalp clinic at the University of Pennsylvania. “When you take a razor to your face, you make each whisker blunt at the tip. That gives it a larger diameter, which some guys mistake for more hair growth.” So once it grows in, you’ll be back where you started. And yes, in case you’re wondering, this fact applies to the head, chest, and any other places you’ve tried to shave that we don’t want to know about.
Good Habits for Good Vision
- When dealing with the computer, whether you need the help of glasses or not, there are good habits and practices that can help those poor old eyes.
- Establish an eye-friendly environment for your computer use.
- Position your monitor 20" to 26" from your eyes and about 4" to 6" below eye level.
- Dim the lights. Most offices, especially those with florescent lights, are too bright.
- Flickering florescent lights should be eliminated.
- Use proper lighting. Eliminate reflections on the computer screen. Reduce excessively bright light both inside and out.
- Match the computer screen to the brightness of the environment.
- Adjust your monitor for contrast and brightness. In general, dark letters on a light background are easier for most people to read.
- Minimize glare on the computer screen. Use window shades, blinds, or drapes to block excessive sunlight. Move the computer to a location that causes no glare on the screen or use an anti-glare screen guard or hood.
- If you are seated in a draft or near an air vent, try to eliminate the flow of air past your eyes. Make sure you sit straight in front of the monitor rather than off to the side.
- Take a 5-minute break every hour or two to reduce eyestrain.
- Blink more often. When staring at a computer, people blink about five times less frequently than normal according to some studies. Blinking lubricates the eyes. If you don't blink, tears that coat the eye evaporate causing dry eyes. Dry air in the computer room can aggravate this condition.
- Every fifteen minutes, focus on distant objects to relax your muscles.
HOW TO SLEEP WELL
- Sleep only when sleepy
- If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up and do something boring until you feel sleepy
- Don't take naps
- Get up and go to bed the same time every day
- Refrain from exercise at least 4 hours before bedtime
- Develop sleep rituals
- Only use your bed for sleeping
- Stay away from caffeine, nicotine and alcohol at least 4-6 hours before bed
- Have a light snack before bed
- Take a hot bath 90 minutes before bedtime
A hot bath will raise your body temperature, but it is the drop in body temperature that may leave you feeling sleepy. Read about the study done on body temperature below.
Trouble Sleeping? Chill Out! - A press release from the journal Sleep about the significance in body temperature before sleep
- Make sure your bed and bedroom are quiet and comfortable
- Use sunlight to set your biological clock
True Meaning of Christmas
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!
Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."
Back pain
This factsheet is for people who have back pain or would like to know more about it.
Back pain is extremely common - about eight in ten people in the UK are affected at some time in their lives. Each year, close to five million working days are lost due to back pain.
Acute and chronic back pain
Back pain can affect anyone at any age, although people are most likely to get it between the ages of 35 and 55.
If the pain lasts for less than three months, it's called acute back pain. Acute refers to how long it's lasted for rather than how severe it is. If the problem goes on for longer, it's known as chronic back pain.
How the back worksThe spine is made up of many small bones called vertebrae. These are separated by discs, which allow the spine to bend. This structure of vertebrae and discs is supported along its length by muscles and ligaments. The spine threads through the centre of each vertebra, carrying nerves from the brain to the rest of the body.
Simple back pain
Back pain in 19 out of 20 people is linked to the way the bones, ligaments and muscles of the back work together. This is called simple back pain. The pain can begin suddenly but can also come on gradually due to strain over time. Usually nothing abnormal shows up in tests such as X-rays and nothing is permanently damaged.
Simple back pain is most common in adults aged 35 to 55 who are otherwise healthy. The pain is often in the lower back (lumbar region), and may also spread to the buttocks and thighs. It will come and go at different times, and depending on your level of activity.
Triggers for simple back pain include:
*poor posture
*standing or bending down for long periods
*sitting in a chair that doesn't provide enough back support
*lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are simply too heavy, or going
about these tasks in the wrong way
*a trip or a fall
Your spine is a very strong part of your body and is not easily damaged. If you have back pain, it's important that you stay physically active. This is good for your back because keeping active will help speed up your recovery from simple back pain. Nine out of ten people with back pain recover completely within six weeks.
Nerve root pain
Nerve root pain is rare - it's the cause in less than 1 in 20 cases of back pain. It is usually caused by one of the discs in the spine bulging out from its normal position. This is called a slipped disc.
Nerve root pain is normally felt in the lower part of the back. You may have pain down one or both of your legs to the calves, feet or toes. The pain is also called sciatica because the nerve that runs down each leg is called the sciatic nerve.
Other causes
In rare cases, there may be a more serious underlying cause of back pain, such as an abnormality of the spine, an infection or collapse of the vertebrae, tuberculosis or cancer.
These are more likely to be the case if your back pain starts gradually, gets worse over time and seems unrelated to your level of activity.
When to see a doctor
Most simple back pain only lasts a few days and gets better on its own. You should see a doctor as soon as possible if, as well as back pain, you have:
*fever
*redness or swelling on your back
*pain down your legs and below your knees
*numbness or weakness in one or both legs or around your anus
*loss of bladder or bowel control
You should also see your doctor about back pain if:
*pain is the result of an injury
*pain lasts for more than a few days in someone aged under 20 or over 55
*you have had cancer in any part of your body
*you have HIV/AIDS
*you have been prescribed steroid medicines for more than a few months
Why do we use the third finger of the left hand?
But even in these days of cardiothoracic science, it's not easy to put a ring around the heart. So in the old days they had a simple answer: they put the ring on the third finger which they believed had a vein, artery or nerve (a sort of a USB cable) running directly to the heart. And as the left hand is a bit closer to the heart than the right, they placed engagement and wedding rings on the third finger of the left hand. (In some period of the past, the ring was worn on the right hand; a practice that continues to this day in some cultures, since the right hand is considered more righteous.)
In chiromancy (a combination of astrology and palmistry) the third (Apollo) finger relates to the heart. Wearing a ring on that finger would not only protect the heart from evil spirits, but also enhance the life of the wearer by transmitting energy to the heart.
Following this line of quacky reasoning, it was the custom for physicians, herbalists and other healers, to use their third finger when applying medicinal ointment or powder to their patients, Using this finger strengthened the effectiveness of the cure.
Customer Service
Customer service seems to be a hot topic in the business world these days as more and more corporations are beginning to realize that in order to succeed and have a sustainable business, the customer's needs and wants must take precedence over the "bottom line". Providing exceptional customer service is easier said than done, but if you follow these three important tips, you'll be on your way to creating a great customer service culture for your company. These tips are actually very basic and really don't have anything to do with direct contact with the customer, but trust me, they work!
First, let me give you an equation to keep in mind as you read this article. Here's the equation:
Happy Customer = Happy You + Happy Work Environment 
1) On your way to work, listen to happy music. What type of music puts you in a good mood? Commuting to work is often tough and if you sometimes get road rage like me, it can instantly start your day off in a harried way. Music sets the tone for the rest of your day. When you listen to soothing and happy music, this affects how you deal with co-workers and customers.
2) If your desk or work area is cluttered and disorganized, take a few minutes to clear it.
When you come to work with a cluttered work area, your mind tends to become cluttered with all the things you need to do, thus putting you in a stressed mental state. This has a direct affect on your problem solving skills when you are communicating with customers.
3) Stay away from co-workers that sap your energy.
You know the ones... They come into work complaining about one thing or another. The just love spreading that negative energy around and fish around for pity from others. Simply give them a smile of encouragement and then run to the other side of the building! You don't need that negative energy to affect your mood and pass on to your customer.
Your overall state of mind and well-being affects how you interact with people. Your emotions, your work environment, and even the people you interact with at work can influence your actions and thoughts when you are dealing with customers. People can sense when you're happy. When you're happy, your customers are happy, right?
What are you doing to create a happy you, to create a happy work environment, and ultimately, to create happy customers?
Why I am so Sad?
Feeling down? Got the blues? You're not alone. Everyone gets sad. Yes, everyone you've ever met. Some people have sad feelings just once in a while, and others may have sad feelings pretty often. More than half of teenagers go through a sad period at least once a month and plenty of younger kids do, too.
When you're in a sad mood, it may feel like it will last forever, but usually feelings of sadness don't last very long - a few hours or maybe a day or 2. A deeper, more intense kind of sadness that lasts a lot longer is called depression (say: dih-preh-shun).
What Is Sadness?
Sadness is a feeling - it's one of the many normal human emotions, or moods, we all have. Sadness is the emotion people feel when they've lost something important, or when they have been disappointed about something, or when something sad has happened to them or to someone else. When they're lonely, people often feel sad.
When you're sad, the world may seem dark and unfriendly. You might feel like you have nothing to look forward to. The hurt deep inside may crush your usually good mood.
Sadness makes you feel like crying, and sometimes the tears are hard to stop. Crying often makes you feel better.
Sometimes when your mood is sad, you just feel like being alone for a little while. Or you might want someone to comfort you or just keep you company while you go through the sad feeling. Talking about what has made you sad usually helps the sad feeling melt away.
When sadness starts to go away, it can feel like a heavy blanket is being lifted from your shoulders.
When Is It Natural to Feel Sad?
Feeling sad every once in a while is natural. Maybe you didn't get something you really wanted. Maybe you miss somebody. Maybe somebody you really like doesn't want to be friends, and you don't feel so great about yourself. Maybe an illness or condition gets in the way of doing some things you want to do or makes you different from your friends. There are lots of reasons that people feel sadness.
Most of the time, sadness is because of a loss or separation, a difficult change or disappointment about something, or relationship problems.
Loss and Separation
This is the most common cause of sadness. It's a very sad thing to lose someone or something that you care about. There are many kinds of loss. The death of a relative, friend, or pet can bring weeks or months of sad feelings. The kind of sadness you feel from the death of a loved one has a special name - grief.
Other kinds of loss or separation from important people can also bring sadness, like people close to you getting a divorce. Sometimes it is hard to think straight because you cannot get your mind off your loss. Usually, the load of sadness you carry after a loss will lighten over time, although for a really big loss, there may always be a little bit of sadness left.
Changes
Changes that involve leaving something (or someone) behind, like moving to a new town or changing schools and leaving old friends can make you feel sad, too. The arrival of a new brother or sister may make you feel sad even though everyone thinks you should be happy to have a new sibling.
Disappointments
Disappointments like losing a game you hoped to win, getting a poor grade, or not being invited to a party can cause sadness. Sadness is a natural reaction to those things. How sad a person feels is usually related to how big or small the loss or disappointment is.
Relationships
Relationships bring happiness and fun most of the time. But tension or conflict in important relationships, or relationships that break up, can cause sadness, too. Many kids fight with family members, especially their parents, in the struggle to grow up and gain independence.
People often feel sad when all is not right between them and their loved ones, or when they get criticized or yelled at a lot. They fight about things like money, clothing, haircuts, school, and friends. In school, problems with teachers and grades may cause some sadness as well.
More Stuff That Makes Kids Sad
Other kids, both friends and enemies, can cause hurt feelings and sadness through fighting, teasing, peer pressure, not giving you support, or leaving you out of group activities. Feeling misunderstood by people close to you can lead to feelings of sadness.
Sometimes with sadness, there are other feelings mixed in, too. When you're sad, you might also feel angry or guilty. You might feel like blaming others or blaming yourself. Some kids mistakenly think that sad events like death, illness, or divorce are all their fault - but this isn't true. Kids don't cause these things to happen.
When Is Sadness a Problem?
If a sad feeling goes on for too long, hurts too deeply, and makes it hard for you to enjoy the good things about your life, it's called depression.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of depression:
• feeling empty or numb
• feeling hopeless (like there's nothing to look forward to)
• feeling guilty or worthless
• feeling lonely or unloved
• feeling irritable and annoyed a lot (every little thing gets on your nerves)
• feeling like things are not fun anymore
• having trouble keeping your mind on schoolwork or homework or getting bad grades
• having trouble keeping your mind on things like reading or watching TV or not remembering what a book or a TV show was about
• having less energy and feeling tired all the time
• sleeping too much or not enough
• not eating enough and weight loss or eating too much and weight gain
• thinking about death or thinking about suicide
• spending less time with friends and more time alone
• crying a lot, often for no reason
• feeling restless (being unable to sit still or relax)
• having certain body feelings, like lots of stomachaches, headaches, or chest pain
People who have depression may not know it. Often it's a parent or teacher who notices behavior changes like the ones in the list above. Depression can run in families. Having a parent who gets depressed makes it more likely for a kid to become depressed.
When children have depression it is usually coming from a long period of sadness after the loss of someone really close, such as a parent; long-lasting problems at home, including violence, illness, divorce, or alcohol or drug use; child abuse or neglect; rape; and long-term illness, burns, or accidents. But sometimes kids may be depressed for no apparent reason.
Getting Help
Kids, teens, and adults can get depression. It's very important for people of any age who have depression to get help. When they do, they can get better quickly. Sometimes treatment involves talking to someone who knows all about depression. Sometimes medications can help depression heal. Sometimes both of these things are used.
If you think you have depression or you just have sadness that simply will not go away, it is important to talk to an adult about it: a parent, relative, doctor, teacher, guidance counselor, coach, or close adult friend. This person can help you find the right type of treatment. Many cities also have mental health hotlines or suicide hotlines that are listed in the phone book. There is always somebody to talk to when you are sad or if you are depressed - somebody who can help.
Updated and reviewed by: David V. Sheslow, PhD
Date reviewed: November 2004
Originally reviewed by: Steven J. Bachrach, MD
How to remember names
Try this five-stage sequential technique:
1. Listen: when you are first introduced to someone, really listen to their name rather than thinking about what to say. If the name is not offered, ask for it politely.
2. Respond: immediately use the name in a suitable response, such as "It's really good to meet you, Jack" or "I'm so glad that you could visit, Jane".
3. Visualise: try to link a visual cue of that person with their name in image which is vivid and memorable. Maybe the name Jack reminds you of a lumberjack and you picture him in a Canadian forest; Jane rhymes with pane, so you might picture seeing her through a pane of glass.
4. Repeat: as you leave the gathering, say farewell to people using their names and recalling the cues. "It was good to meet you, Roger" (maybe you picture a Jolly Roger pirate flag) or "Let's do lunch, Helen" (you imagine her face launching ships).
5. Rehearse: as you sit at a dinner party or at a business meeting, mentally go around reminding yourself of each person's name and visual cue; if you are going to a meeting or other event, where you expect to come across some people you know, on the way there, think about who you might expect to see and bring to your mind the name and cue.
How to remember numbers 
For short numbers, like a PIN number, try to play with the component numbers mentally and create some kind of memorable link between them or 'picture' of them. Just as an illustration of what I mean, take the easy case of 1230 which could be remembered as 'lunchtime' or of 4007 which could thought of as 'collecting money for James Bond'. Get the general idea?
For longer numbers, the best method is called 'chunking'. You break up the number into smaller and more memorizable chunks. For example, remembering the number 472627607 is easier if one remembers it as 472 627 607 or as 47 26 27 607. Play with the original number and see which chunks best help you to remember it.
How to remember meeting details
You should have a 'Future meetings' file - it can be a hanging file, a cardboard wallet or a plastic folder (whatever suits you). Then, as you fix each meeting or other event that you will be attending, put all the information - agenda, papers, time, location, travel arrangements - in the correct chronological position in the file. If between fixing the meeting and the event itself, you see an article that is relevant or have a idea that you might want to raise, cut out the article or make a note of the idea and add this to the other information on the meeting. Everything for the same meeting or event should be held together with a suitable clip.
How to remember times 
If you think you might forget when you need to leave home for a meeting or when you should leave one meeting to go to another, the only sure way to remember the time is to set an alarm. But these days we have many possible devices to provide an alarm: an alarm clock, a mobile, a PDA, a lap top, and so on. You should always have a device with you that incorporates an alarm.
How to remember birthdays & anniversaries 
One way is to note each date in the new pocket diary or on the new kitchen wall calendar. A better way - when you only have to make a note once - is to put each date in a computer system, preferably a personal digital assistant (so that it is always with you), and to set the system so that it reminds you of each date a set period (say a week) beforehand.
How to use physical systems
Putting things down on paper has two benefits: the very act of writing them down makes you more likely to remember them and, since they are on paper, you can easily go back and consult them.
So, when you attend a lecture or a meeting, constantly take notes in a decent-sized notebook that you have with you all the time you are studying or working. Use card index systems to file things that lend themselves to alphabetisation, such as the addresses of friends or the titles of books, films or music.
How to use electronic systems
These days many people use electronic devices to record and retrieve information - usually a computer which might be a desktop, a laptop or a handheld. Mobile devices - such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a mobile phone - are especially useful because they can be with you always. The two can be synchronised such as having a PDA which can be backed up onto a PC. Always remember to back up everything at periodic intervals.
How to use lists 
You can't beat the good old list for remembering things - things to do, things to buy, people to contact. As well as ensuring that you remember things, there is great satisfaction in ticking items on the list as each item is completed. But, if you make a list, make sure you have it when and where you need it; not like my friend who usually leaves her shopping list on the kitchen table when she goes to the supermarket.
How to use key letters
One of the simplest techniques to aid memory is to look for key letters that will help you to recall things. For instance, when I struggle to remember whether 'pazhalsta' or 'spaseeba' is 'please' or 'thank you'- the first two words I learned in Russian - I remember that 'pazhalsta' = 'please'. So 'spaseeba' must be 'thank you'. Or, when trying to remember 'left' and 'right' in Czech, I recall 'levý' = 'left' and 'pravý' = 'right'.
How to remember in bed
I don't know about you, but I have some of my best ideas as I'm falling to sleep (as well as remembering things I need to do the next day), but I don't want to delay falling asleep by leaving the bed, switching on the light and making notes. So I lean over, grab a slipper and throw it to one side. Then, when I rise in the morning, I remember that I have to remember something and usually manage to work out what it was.
If I have a second idea, I throw aside the other slipper. If - and this is rare - I have a third idea, I move my wrist watch from its usual position on the bedside cabinet. If I have more than three thoughts, clearly I'm not tired enough for sleep and should get up.
