Friday Night Video: ~ Nicki Minaj - Fly ft. Rihanna ~

Your words and thoughts have physical power - Will Smith

WHY WE OFTEN FAIL WITH GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS

WHY WE OFTEN FAIL WITH GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Karen Mead

“The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.” ~Pema Chodron

Statistically, a lot of people have given up on their resolutions by now. The definition of a resolution is “a firm decision to do or not to do something.”

When I examine the firm decisions I’ve made, I can’t help but notice that we all have the same lists. Why is that?

Could it be that the same media, the same books, and the same friends have written all of our lists? I’m not making a value judgment of these shared desires—I just find it interesting that we all seem to feel the need to include so many of them.

So now I find myself questioning where my resolutions and intentions are based. Did they come from some other source, or do they reflect my heart’s desires?

I hadn’t actually made any resolutions for 2011, but for the sake of exploring this idea, I got out a notebook and pen and began writing.

I looked down and saw—yes, you guessed it—that I had written what appeared to be the universal generic resolution list: exercise more, eat more healthy foods, meditate daily, lose weight, call my mother, etc., etc., etc..

And although all these desires are good—in fact, they are wonderful and I truly would like them in my life—I was surprised that I felt no real energy reading the list.

It just felt like another list among hundreds, written and then forgotten. Of course I would have issues keeping these decisions. They held no passion, no energy for me at this moment. They were just lots of words on a piece of paper.

I’m beginning to understand that for an intention, a resolution, even an affirmation to really rock my boat, to create such excitement that keeping it isn’t a challenge, it has to be authentic. Authentic for me.

Not from the heartfelt list provided by Oprah or even from my favorite blog. Not from what the media tells me I need to change. Not from what my head tells me I need to change. It needs to bubble up from that place inside that holds me.

To write my new list, I’d have to consider what I really want in my life—what would thrill me and make me take a deep happy breath.

It’s not a big heavy bag of shoulds but instead the excitement of coulds.

As I started writing, I was surprised by the first thing I listed on the to-do side: Smile more.

I’m a pretty happy person and I smile a lot, so I let myself feel what this meant. And what I felt was that I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives, and a quick entry point to this is smiling at people.

I love it when someone unexpectedly smiles at me. Who doesn’t?

I could see how this “resolution” would not be burdensome. It came from my heart. It made me feel happy, and it would continue to. Every time I practiced it, it would easily become more entrenched. This is how authenticity feels.

I felt so successful with this that I decided to jump over to the not-do side of my list. Again, I needed to go deeply inside if I wanted an honest answer.

The answer came so quickly that it was a bit of a surprise: I will be happier if I spend less time in front of my computer.

I work from my home and fortunately, I have a choice. Often I just hang out with my best friend Mac because I’m bored and haven’t practiced other choices.

To make this something fun for me, I’ve decided to make a “Yes” list—yes to what I want to have in my life right now.

The computer time decision is getting listed as: Pick something fun to do when I am bored and do  it.

I will love keeping that resolution. I already have a list of things I could do: Go outside and watch the hummingbirds, read a book, pretend bowling on my Wii (my total fav!).  I just need to notice when I am lurking around Facebook because I have nothing else to do.

These were my entry-level steps to creating an authentic list of resolutions. I delved a bit deeper and came up with more that felt full of life for me.  Next came: I will really listen to my husband.

Sounds funny, but we have been together 30 years and it’s easy to get into the habit of just assuming I know what he is saying. I want to really hear him and because this comes from such a true place, instead of feeling the usual “ugh” of change, I feel such expansiveness. I am excited to be more connected.

Some of my other entries are:

• Telling friends I love them (they know, but isn’t it nice to hear?)
• Remembering that I love papayas and buying them
• Wearing yellow socks because they make me laugh
• Making sure my grandchildren know they are so special to me

As you can see, my list has become very personal, but also very doable.

I don’t think that I will need tools or tips to keep these desires. They are from my truest self, and experiencing them isn’t’ a burden. It feels wonderful!

This is the first time in my life that the word “resolution” has not felt like a gift wrapped in guilt, in shame, in fear.

And who knows, perhaps by picking fun things to do when I am bored, I will naturally start to exercise more.  Doesn’t eating papayas equate to eating healthier foods?  Perhaps I have not thrown out the generic list of universal resolutions; I have just reframed it in my own terms, from my own heart.

If this resonates with you, I urge you to throw out all previous lists and make a fresh start from your heart.

Who knows what exciting “firm decision” is just waiting to be set free.

Photo by kkalyan

Zig Ziglar - Evaluate Where You Are

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for 2012

Courtesy tiptoptens.com

~ SUNDAY INSPIRATION ~

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday Night Video: ~ DOLLY PARTON - WORKING 9 TO 5 ~

Obama - American Jobs Act Speech

President Obama jobs plan

President Obama jobs plan: More Americans want Congress to pass it, says Gallup poll

BRIAN BROWDIE

DAILY NEWS WRITER

Thursday, September 15, 2011

President Obama's approval rating may be sinking, but the public is on his side when it comes to creating jobs.

More Americans want their member of Congress to vote in favor of the president's jobs bill than against it by a 45% to 32% margin, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday.

Obama proposed the American Jobs Act of 2011 in a speech to Congress on Sept. 8 and sent the 155-page plan to lawmakers this week, saying the bill "will put people back to work all across the country."

The $447 billion package includes tax cuts and new government spending. It would reduce payroll taxes that employees and small businesses pay, give small businesses a tax break for hiring new workers and provide $140 billion for repairing roads and bridges and modernizing schools.

Republican reaction to the measure is mixed.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the plan this week as "not serious and it's not a jobs plan." The same day, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor noted "potential areas of agreement," including tax relief for small businesses and employers.

On Thursday, Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul told Fox News he thinks the jobs plan is a make or break moment for the president.

Among Americans who say they are following news of the bill very closely, 57% want to see it passed, according to Gallup. While 70% of Democrats strongly support the bill and 60% of Republicans strongly oppose it, independent voters favor the plan by 44% to 32%, resulting in overall support for the measure.

"Despite headlines about the pushback, the public is more in favor of the plan than opposed to it," Frank Newport, Gallup's editor-in-chief, told the Daily News.

Americans disapprove of the overall job the president is doing by a 52% to 40% margin, according to a recent Gallup poll. The drop in his job approval comes as U.S. unemployment hit 9.1% in August, up from 7.8% when Obama took office in January 2009.

The bulk of the president's jobs plan - $400 billion over 10 years - would be covered by new limits on tax deductions for charitable contributions and other expenditures that are available to individuals making more than $200,000 a year and families making more than $250,000 a year.

The rest would come from new limits on deductions for owners of corporate jets, hedge funds and oil and gas companies.

Devastating US Unemployment Numbers

Unemployment in the US

United States Unemployment Rate at 9.10 percent The unemployment rate in the United States was last reported at 9.1 percent in September of 2011. From 1948 until 2010 the United States' Unemployment Rate averaged 5.70 percent reaching an historical high of 10.80  percent in November of 1982 and a record low of 2.50 percent in May of 1953. The labour force is defined as  the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The non labour force includes  those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalised and those serving in the military.  This page includes: United States Unemployment Rate chart, historical data and news. Date Selection           January  February  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December     2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  1997  1996  1995  1994  1993  1992  1991  1990  1989  1988  1987  1986  1985  1984  1983  1982  1981  1980  1979  1978  1977  1976  1975  1974  1973  1972  1971  1970  1969  1968  1967  1966  1965  1964  1963  1962  1961  1960  1959  1958  1957  1956  1955  1954  1953  1952  1951  1950  1949  1948    to    January  February  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December     2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  1997  1996  1995  1994  1993  1992  1991  1990  1989  1988  1987  1986  1985  1984  1983  1982  1981  1980  1979  1978  1977  1976  1975  1974  1973  1972  1971  1970  1969  1968  1967  1966  1965  1964  1963  1962  1961  1960  1959  1958  1957  1956  1955  1954  1953  1952  1951  1950  1949  1948         Country Indicator Reference Actual Previous Next Release United States Unemployment Rate Sep/2011 9.10 9.10 November/04 U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Rise in September, Unemployment Rate Steady Published on 10/7/2011 1:42:34 PM  | By TradingEconomics.com, US Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 in September, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 7. The increase in employment partially reflected the return to payrolls of about 45,000 telecommunications workers who had been on strike in August. In September, job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and construction. Government employment continued to trend down. The number of unemployed persons, at 14.0 million, was essentially unchanged in September, and the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent. Since April, the rate has held in a narrow range from 9.0 to 9.2 percent. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (8.8 percent), adult women (8.1 percent), teenagers (24.6 percent), whites (8.0 percent), blacks (16.0 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed little or no change in September. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was 6.2 million in September. These individuals accounted for 44.6 percent of the unemployed. Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 in September. Since April, payroll employment has increased by an average of 72,000 per month, compared with an average of 161,000 for the prior 7 months. Employment in professional and business services increased by 48,000 over the month and has grown by 897,000 since a recent low in September 2009. Health care employment continued to expand in September, with an increase of 44,000. Construction employment increased by 26,000 over the month, after showing little movement since February. Employment in information was up by 34,000 over the month due to the return of about 45,000 telecommunications workers to payrolls after an August strike. Manufacturing employment changed little in September (-13,000) and has been essentially flat for the past 2 months. Within retail trade, employment declined in electronic and appliance stores (-9,000) in September. Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-34,000). Local government employment declined by 35,000 and has fallen by 535,000 since September 2008. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for July was revised from +85,000 to +127,000, and the change for August was revised from 0 to +57,000. Unemployment Rate Definition The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The participation rate is the number of people in the labour force divided by the size of the adult civilian noninstitutional population (or by the population of working age that is not institutionalised). The nonlabour force includes those who  are not looking for work, those who are institutionalised such as in prisons or psychiatric wards, stay-at home  spouses, kids, and those serving in the military. The unemployment level is defined as the labour force minus the number of people currently employed. The unemployment rate is defined as the level of unemployment divided by the  labour force.  The employment rate is defined as the number of people currently employed divided by the adult  population (or by the population of working age). In these statistics, self-employed people are counted as employed. Variables like employment level, unemployment level, labour force, and unfilled vacancies are called stock variables  because they measure a quantity at a point in time. They can be contrasted with flow variables which measure a  quantity over a duration of time. Changes in the labour force are due to flow variables such as natural population  growth, net immigration, new entrants, and retirements from the labour force. Changes in unemployment depend on:  inflows made up of non-employed people starting to look for jobs and of employed people who lose their jobs and look  for new ones; and outflows of people who find new employment and of people who stop looking for employment. When looking at the overall macroeconomy, several types of unemployment have been identified, including: Frictional unemployment — This reflects the fact that it takes time for people to find and settle into new jobs. If 12  individuals each take one month before they start a new job, the aggregate unemployment statistics will record this  as a single unemployed worker. Technological change often reduces frictional unemployment, for example: the internet  made job searches cheaper and more comprehensive.  Structural unemployment — This reflects a mismatch  between the skills and other attributes of the labour force and those demanded by employers. If 4 workers each  take six months off to re-train before they start a new job, the aggregate unemployment statistics will record this as  two unemployed workers. Technological change often increases structural unemployment, for example:  technological change might require workers to re-train.  Natural rate of unemployment — This is the summation  of frictional and structural unemployment. It is the lowest rate  of unemployment that a stable economy can expect to achieve, seeing as some frictional and structural unemployment is  inevitable. Economists do not agree on the natural rate, with estimates ranging from 1% to 5%, or on its meaning — some  associate it with "non-accelerating inflation". The estimated rate varies from country to country and from time to time. Demand deficient unemployment — In Keynesian economics, any level of unemployment beyond the natural rate is most  likely due to insufficient demand in the overall economy. During a recession, aggregate expenditure is deficient causing the  underutilization of inputs (including labour). Aggregate expenditure (AE) can be increased, according to Keynes, by  increasing consumption spending (C), increasing investment spending (I), increasing government spending (G), or  increasing the net of exports minus imports (X?M). {AE = C + I + G + (X?M)} (source: wikipedia) Courtesy: Trading Economics

~ SUNDAY INSPIRATION ~

Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.

Denis Waitley

Friday Night Video: ~ PREACHER - JUMP AND WAVE ~ (CARNIVAL CLASSIC)

BENJAI "AH TRINI " -Soca Monarch 2011 Trinidad & Tobago !!!

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Carnivals Around the World

May 27-30, 2011	Georgia Carnival (Dekalb)
May 27-30, 2011	Atlanta, GA
May 27-30, 2011	Orlando, FL
May 28-29, 2011	San Francisco, CA
June 10-13, 2011	Berlin (Germany)
June, 2011	Calgary (Carifest), AB, Canada
June, 2011	Philadelphia, PA
June, 2011	Tampa Bay, FL
June, 2011	West Palm Beach, FL
June 23-26, 2011	Washington DC
June 24-Jul 5, 2011	St. Vincent & The Grenadines
July, 2011	St. John (V.I)
June 29-July 4, 2011	Houston, TX (Caribfest)
July, 2011	Montreal, Canada (Carifest)
July, 2011	Baltimore Carnival (Maryland)
July, 2011	St. Lucia
July, 2011	Jersey City, NJ
July 23-24, 2011	Vancouver, BC
July 29-30, 2011	Rotterdam (Zomer Carnival)
July 29-31, 2011	Toronto (Caribana)
Jul 23-Aug 2, 2011	Antigua
Jul 28- Aug 7, 2011	Anguilla Summer Festival
Jul 29-Aug 3, 2011	Barbados (Crop Over)
Aug, 2011	Tortola Carnival (BVI)
Aug, 2011	Nevis (Culturama)
Aug, 2011	Norfolk, Virginia
Aug 5-6-, 2011	Hamilton, Canada
Aug 5-6-, 2011	Edmonton (Cariwest)
Aug 5-6-, 2011	Detroit, MI
Aug, 2011	Hartford(Connecticut)
Aug, 2011	Ottawa(Caribe-Expo)
Aug 5-9, 2011	Grenada (Spice Mas)
Aug 19-20, 2011	Chicago, IL(Carifete)
Aug, 2011	Boston, MA
Aug 26-29, 2011	Notting Hill(London, UK)
Sep 1-5, 2011	New York(Labor Day)
Oct 6-10, 2011	Miami Carnival, FL
Oct 21-23, 2011	Jacksonville, FL
Nov, 2011	Cayman Pirates Week

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 2011 Photos

For links to online photos of Trinidad Carnival 2011 Clickhttp://www.trinidadcarnivaldiary.com/2011/03/trinidad-and-tobago-carnival-photos.html