These days everyone seems to have a hectic schedule and that can make it hard to keep up with the various commitments. One way to get yourself organized and to prevent overextending yourself is to get a new calendar. Keep it with you so you can write down important information in it as you fill up your work and social time. You will never forget an event again if you organize your time this way. Having a new calendar to fill in your activities can also show you where all of your time goes. If you find really need to cut back on some activities you can look back on your calendar and make some decisions based on that information. Sometimes it is important to pinpoint a particular event and you will have a record of it on your calendar as well. There are calendars that you write the information down on and those that are electronic known as a PDA. There is no right or wrong way to develop a system for your calendar. Since most of us have our own method of staying organized you can implement the type of system that will work well for you. Many people only want to get a new calendar when the new year begins because they include all of the months. However, there are plenty of calendars that are blank so you fill in the months and the days of it. These calendars can be started any month of the year. Even if you do purchase a calendar in mid year it will still be worth the money you invested in it. Chances are you will find it on sale and you can immediately start using it to better organize your time. It is definitely going to take some time to get used to writing information down on your calendar but stick with it. You will find it becomes a habit in a short span of time. Even if you initially only remember to place half of your commitments on the calendar this will help you get more organized. You can set a good example for your children as well with the use of a calendar. Many older children have to balance their time between school, home, and other activities. Having a calendar can help them plan study time for a big test and make sure they remember to take their band instrument to school on the right days of the week. You will find a very large selection of calendars to choose from. You can select the one that is going to fit your personal style so you will be more likely to use it. Some have time slots for your day while others just have blank space on that date. If you have to schedule a large number of meetings then you will find those with the time slots help you to stay on task and on schedule. Most calendars aren’t very expensive so you don’t have to worry about it costing you a fortune to get organized. However, the amount of time and money using such a calendar system will save you in the long run will be much more than you pay for any particular calendar on the market.

“Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one sees the stars.”- Frederick Langbridge, A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts If you’ve placed second in a writing contest, will you jump for joy and push for better results the next time or will you be discouraged and find an excuse not to join again? In life, you are always filled with choices. You may opt to have a pessimist’s view and live a self-defeated life or you may decide to take the optimist’s route and take a challenging and fulfilling life. So why nurture an optimist’s point of view? And why now? Well, optimism has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to academic, athletic, military, occupational and political success; to popularity; to good health and even to long life and freedom from trauma. On the other hand, the rates of depression and pessimism have never been higher. It affects middle-aged adults the same way it hits younger people. The mean age of onset has gone from 30 to 15. It is no longer a middle-aged housewife’s disorder but also a teenager’s disorder’ as well. Here’s how optimists are in action and researches that back up why it really pays to be an optimist: Optimists expect the best The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events, which will last a long time and undermine everything they do, are their own fault. The truth is optimists are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world. What differs is the way they explain their misfortune—it’s the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case. Optimists tend to focus on and plan for the ‘problem’ at hand. They use ‘positive reinterpretation.’ In other words, they most likely reinterpret a negative experience in a way that helps them learn and grow. Such people are unfazed by bad situation, they perceive it is a challenge and try harder. They won’t say “things will never get better,” “If I failed once, it will happen again” and “If I experience misfortune in one part of my life, then it will happen in my whole life.” Positive expectancies of optimists also predict better reactions during transitions to new environments, sudden tragedies and unlikely turn of events. If they fall, they will stand up. They see opportunities instead of obstacles. People respond positively to optimists Optimists are proactive and less dependent on others for their happiness. They find no need to control or manipulate people. They usually draw people towards them. Their optimistic view of the world can be contagious and influence those they are with. Optimism seems a socially desirable trait in all communities. Those who share optimism are generally accepted while those who spread gloom, panic and hysteria are treated unfavorably. In life, these people often win elections; get voted most congenial and sought for advice. When the going gets tough, optimists get tougher Optimists typically maintain higher levels of subjective well-being during times of stress than do people who are less optimistic. In contrast, pessimists are likely to react to stressful events by denying that they exist or by avoiding dealing with problems. Pessimists are more likely to quit trying when difficulties arise. They persevere. They just don’t give up easily, they are also known for their patience. Inching their way a step closer to that goal or elusive dream. Optimists are healthier and live longer Medical research has justified that simple pleasures and a positive outlook can cause a measurable increase in the body’s ability to fight disease. Optimists’ health is unusually good. They age well, much freer than most people from the usual physical ills of middle age. And they get to outlive those prone to negative thoughts. So why not be an optimist today? And think positively towards a more fulfilled life. Why not look forward to success in all your endeavors? Why not be resilient? Like everybody else you are bound to hit lows sometimes but don’t just stay there. Carry yourself out of the mud and improve your chances of getting back on the right track. And why not inspire others to remove their dark-colored glasses and see life in the bright side? Yours sincerely Daryl Yew

Has something stressful or upsetting happened to you recently? Maybe it was a fender bender car accident, or telling a friend she did something that hurt you, or being triggered by something your spouse said, or stepping on stage to make a presentation. Even when you are following what lights you up and creating more of what you truly want in life, not every moment of every day will be filled with ease, joy, and pleasure. Each of us has moments, situations, and experiences that stress and upset us. What can you do to help yourself during those times? How can you calm yourself until you gain more perspective to effectively deal with the situation? Use your personal 911! What Is a Personal 911? 911 is the phone number we call in the U.S. when we have an emergency and need help fast. We don’t have to figure out what kind of help is needed or which number to call; we already know if we have any kind of emergency, dial 911. The 911 dispatcher sends the police, fire department, or medical responders; the right help is quickly on its way. 911 is an easy and effective emergency system. What about when you have a more personal “emergency?” You can’t call the community 911 system just because you’re stressed, jarred, upset, anxious, angry, or afraid and want some relief and help quickly. But you can call on your own personal 911. Your personal 911 is a sentence, phrase or word you say to yourself during trying times, something designed to ease and calm you. Your 911 is simple and easy so you can use it anytime and anywhere. You choose it in advance and use it as your first, immediate response when you are stressed and upset. No need to think about it; as soon as you realize you need personal emergency help, you just start saying it. Your personal 911 will provide some quick relief, reducing your stress and calming you. Once you’re calmer, you can then take whatever additional actions are needed to help yourself and to deal with the situation. Would One of These Work For You? I just used a personal 911 myself. I was meeting a friend for breakfast and I had something to discuss that was difficult for me. Anticipating the conversation stirred me up; I was agitated and anxious, my mind was racing. To calm myself, I used one of my personal 911s: “I choose peace.” I kept saying this to myself over and over and over again. I was able to shift some of my attention from the thoughts that were upsetting me to more soothing thoughts. Did it make my problem disappear? No, but I was able to become much calmer than I had been. This felt better plus it allowed me to have a more effective conversation with my friend than I would have had if I’d been completely agitated. Here are a few examples of personal 911s I and others have used: * I choose peace. * I choose love. * I choose serenity. * I choose joy. * I choose love over fear. * Everything is perfect. * All is well. * God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. While you’re saying the words, you could also do a grounding technique such as pressing your feet firmly on the floor, rubbing your palms together, or deep breathing. Many people also add a homeopathic aid such as Bach’s Rescue Remedy. In Your Life If you’d like to experiment with this the next time you’re stressed or upset, here are some suggestions. 1) Choose your 911 now. You’ve probably heard people say “I can hardly think straight!” Science has now shown that, in fact, we can’t think clearly under certain conditions. When you are flooded with feelings and physiological stress responses you’ll have a very hard time figuring out how to help yourself. Have your emergency response prepared so it’s ready when you need it. Then, in the midst of a stressful situation, you won’t have to figure out what to do — you just start saying your 911! 2) Choose something that will work for you. There is not a universal personal 911 that will work best for everybody. Your most effective 911 will speak strongly to you: be powerful and meaningful enough for you that it will calm you, shift your attention, and switch your perspective. It may be one of the examples above or it may be something completely different. 3) Use it! When you’re feeling stressed or upset, use your 911. Repeat it over and over, like a mantra. If you start with the little things, the stuff that’s mildly upsetting, you can build your ability to use this in tougher situations as well. Your personal 911 is a simple tool to add to your life toolkit. You can quickly and easily call on it when you’re in situations that challenge you. Using your personal 911 will reduce your stress, calm you, and allow you to more effectively respond to the situation. Enjoy!

Listen to yourself say these French words: Salut Comment-allez vous А demain Bonne nuit Adieu How did you do in terms of pronunciation? Let’s change the approach this time. Imagine you are talking to a French speaking person. Use these words in response to the French questions and phrases he throws at you. Were you able to remember these words easily? Were you able to use these words without so much difficulty? They say the French language is one of the most difficult language to learn. This is the most common misconception of the many European languages. There is nothing more difficult than not trying at all. But let’s all face the reality here. When one grows up as a person speaking an entirely different language, adapting and learning to another one such as French is going to be more than just a hobby. It’s more like a lesson from school with daily or weekly assignments to answer. Many students of the French language would eventually quit at the middle of a course because of the lack of confidence with themselves. They say the French language is just too difficult to say and pronounce when the French speakers struggle with the same mishap on the process of learning English or other languages. Fluency of the language is one of the reasons why learning is given up. If you try to think about it, being fluent with a language doesn’t really have a definite standard. As the word itself is defined as “spoken or written with ease”. It basically means when you are at ease in using and speaking the French language according to the best way you know how, you can go ahead and consider yourself fluent in this field. Though for others, you may speak a little too well of the French language or maybe not too good, what matters is that you know how to read, write, speak the and listen to French language without thinking so much about what it means in your native language. It’s as easy as saying you can survive one night of stay in a French community without having to check your dictionary or hiring a translator. As a French student, what you need to focus on at this point is the way you understand the language. Different people have different approach to understand the language and it is all up to you how you apply it for your own convenience.

I haven’t got time to relax – really? Have you got time not too? Being able to relax is important to achieving optimal performance and health. You name it; being relaxed will increase your productivity in it. If you’re not relaxed, everything you do will be a struggle. Relaxation provides mind-body integration necessary for peak performance. It is important to relax to get your mind clear and your body tension free; to regain focus and to cool down and to help return to a balanced physical state. Relaxation is vital for a healthy mind and is required to maintain motivation and interest in our lives and careers. Not being able to relax and unwind can be damaging to your health. Even when there are huge demands on your life, you may have a large family, an important career, and a home amongst your other weekly commitments – it is still necessary to find your own time and space to relax. It is very important that throughout the day we find time to relax. Twenty minutes, two or three times a day, is preferred. If you can’t manage twenty minutes, it’s important to realise that whatever amount of time you do manage to get to relax will be beneficial to your mind and body, even if not noticeably so. When time is short there are a number of things you can do: reading, writing, daydreaming or just sitting quietly. Quite often what ever you do to relax will be personal and work for you, so you need to find what works best. As a Life Coach I have worked with numerous people with issues relating to relaxation and stress etc. It’s interesting that initially many find it difficult to slow down and see the benefits of taking more time out. However after a few weeks and a couple of life coaching sessions focused on this area, and a bit of commitment on their part, most change their ways and wax lyrical about the benefits to their lives. Some of the common benefits of relaxation are: • It improves your ability to concentrate. It will help you in your ability to tune out distractions and gives you better sensory awareness. • It improves body awareness; you need to know when you are under or over doing it. • It speeds up healing time following an injury and fatigue, the body needs to recover fully if it’s going to perform at an optimal level in the near future. • Learning is enhanced, it is much easier to introduce new thoughts and ideas when your mind is clear and you are relaxed. Skills are best learned when you are in a relaxed state and there is an absence of tension. • It helps you sleep better • You become more efficient • It puts your focus back on the present and gives you a sense of control • It increases energy If you don’t take the time to unwind and relax regularly, you might be putting not only your own health and well-being at risk but also that of others as well. In relation to your responsibility to the health and safety of others; we only have to think of driving a car, or operating machinery, and how our ability to do these tasks diminishes when we are tense, tired and stressed. So in fact our responsibility to relax is not just for our own sake but also for that of others. With regards to our own health and emotional well-being, if we don’t make time to relax regularly we are putting our health and mental health at risk of failure. Some of the effects of lack of relaxation are below: • Headache, common ones being tension headaches and migraines. Controlling tension and relaxing can help migraines. Tension headaches are susceptible by definition to treatment by relaxation. • Chronic fatigue, your body is in a total sate of fatigue. You suffer from total lack of energy and motivation all of the time. • Cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure and heart disease, heart attack. • Gastrointestinal problems, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach ulcers as well as indigestion and heartburn. • Poor immune system, becoming susceptible to illness Early warning signs that we need to have a break and relax are: • Yawning/sighing • Lack of concentration • Feeling the urge to stretch and move about • General drop in performance • Feelings of stress and irritability • Performing uncommon errors • Tiredness If we are aware of the signs and take notice of them and take a break etc, you could avoid a lot of stress and fatigue, you will be more rational and focused, and better equipped to carry on, and be far healthier. Spending a lifetime of ignoring the signs could impact heavily, not only on your health, well-being and happiness but also those around you. Relationships could suffer as well as your career. On a personal note, the consequences of not taking time to relax over a lifetime could mean you pay the ultimate price. You say you don’t have time to relax. I say you don’t have time not too. You are your own best resource; you need to take time to nurture and look after yourself.