11 beautiful pictures from our planet

11 beautiful pictures from our planet

We love our planet. Here is another collection of 11 beautiful places that someone must see in a lifetime

Lady Musgrave Island, Great Barrier Reef – Australia

Intercontinental Hotel and Thalasso Spa – Bora Bora

Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik – Iceland

Positano, Amalfi Coast – Italy

The Dunes – Peru

Pongua Falls – Vietnam

Seychelles

Bachalpsee, Berner Oberland – Switzerland

Yushan National Park – Taiwan

Elafonisi Beach, Crete – Greece

Shangri, La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort – Oman

Life Style tips

20 Incredibly Useful Tips for Everyday Living … 

 

Tips for everyday living come in handy more often than you might think! When you can be in-the-know on small, and seemingly irrelevant or insignificant things, not only can you get things done faster and more efficiently, but you can save money as well! I’ve written this list with some really cool tips for daily living that just might make your day go a little smoother if you put one or all of these tips into practice. I hope that these everyday living tips will enable you to save time or money and be in some way beneficial to you!

1. Morning Coffee

If you are a coffee drinker, the best thing you can do for yourself is to buy a coffee pot with a timer. You can set the coffee pot to start making coffee right when you get up! This everyday living tip will save you time in your rushed mornings, and we know how important that is! By implementing this idea, you will also save money in the long run as it’s cheaper to buy a bag of coffee as opposed to a cup of coffee everyday. And just think how much easier it will be to get up out of bed in the A.M with your coffee hot and ready to go!

2. Dinner Fix

One of my top tips for everyday living is to fix dinner before you leave your house in the morning. After a long day at work or running errands, no one wants to come home and have to cook, but it’s still nice to have a home-cooked dinner ready. All you need is a crock-pot! You can find many delicious and healthy crock-pot recipes online; so don’t hesitate to try this awesome tip!

3. Grocery Bags

Are you all about being green and eco-friendly? Then this tip is for you! Try carrying a re-useable bag to the grocery store. If you only need to pick up a few things a re-useable grocery bag will be perfect! Even if you’re not on a campaign to save the trees, carrying a re-usable grocery bag will cut back on bags that you have to recycle or toss out, so give this everyday living tip a try!

4. Easier Clean-up

Some of my favorite items to use in the kitchen are the items that aid with faster and easier clean up. Paper products can get pricey if you use them for every meal, so don’t do that. But always have a good stash of other stuff on hand. I use an abundance of paper towels, aluminum foil, saran wrap, wax paper and crock-pot liners. Use paper towels to wipe up spills right away so you don’t need to scrub later. And aluminum foil can be used to line pans for faster washing later! I use saran wrap to line my Tupperware before storing things in fridge or pantry. When you finish using the container, simply rinse and go!

5. Ant Killer

Do you suffer from ants invading your home? Ants can be a real pain, so here’s one of my favorite tips for everyday living. Use cornmeal to get rid of them! Make small piles of it in inconspicuous areas in your home. Ants will eat the cornmeal, and then carry it back to their homes. Cornmeal is poisonous to ants, so within a few days, expect to see your ant problems vanished! And cornmeal is not hazardous to children or animals, so it’s much safer to use than bug poison.

6. Baking Tip

I love to bake and cook, so this tip for everyday living has often come in handy for me! When using sticky substances like peanut butter or honey, fill your measuring cup with hot water first. Allow the cup to set for a few seconds and then dump the water out, but don’t dry the cup. Immediately pour your ingredients into the measuring cup and take note of how easily it will slide out! No more scraping and dumping!

7. Preserve Fresh Fruit Longer

One of my tips for everyday living is for keeping your fruit fresh, and it really works! I always purchase my bananas with a good amount of green left on them so that they won’t over ripen too quickly, but they still seemed to be squishy and brown in no time. That’s when I learned about taking them off of their stems. Separating your bananas from their bunch will prevent them from ripening too quickly and give you more time to eat them all!

8. Dryer Tip

Did you know that a full lint filter isn’t the only thing that can clog a dryer up? Here’s a tip for everyday living that everyone should know! Your dryer sheets can create a build up of waxy film on your lint vent over time. This build up can block heat from getting to your dryer and cause your dryer to work extra hard, cutting its lifespan in half. Once every six months, you should scrub your lint vent with warm, soapy water and an old toothbrush. By doing this you are extending the life of your dryer and getting your clothes dry faster!

9. Cleaning up Broken Glass

I recently broke a glass item on my floor and spent an hour cleaning up all the glass. But I still missed a few pieces because my dog stepped in some and cut his foot! I wish I would have know this tip for cleaning up broken glass then. Use a wet cotton ball to pick up miniscule pieces of broken glass. The cotton fibers attract the glass particles that your broom might miss. What a great everyday living tip!

10. Homemade Candles

Candles get used quite often in my home, as I love to burn them, so this tip for everyday living is one of my favorites! If you love the smell of coffee, choose your favorite scent and fill a cup with coffee beans. I like vanilla the best! Place a small tea light candle in the center on top of the beans and light it. Pretty soon your whole house will smell good! And tea lights are much less expensive than a new candle.

11. Clear Ice Cubes

Throwing a party soon? Then here’s one of the tips for everyday living that you need to implement! Create clear ice cubes for a perfect drink by boiling water and then freezing it into ice trays. You can add a sprig of mint or julep for an extra festive touch! Regular tap water creates cloudy looking ice cubes, but boiled water makes clear cubes!

12. Clean Your Stovetop

My stove is a gas stove, and it can be a real pain to clean those burners off. That’s why I was thrilled to discover this tip for everyday living! All you need is a gallon size plastic baggie and some ammonia. Seal each burner into an individual baggie overnight with 1 cup of ammonia in each baggie. Make sure to leave each bag in a container or in the sink in case of leaks. The next morning, simply wipe and rinse each burner! CAUTION: DO NOT EVER LEAVE AMMONIA UNATTENDED WHEN SMALL CHILDREN OR ANIMALS ARE PRESENT. DO NOT EVER MIX AMMONIA WITH ANYTHING, AND SEEK IMMEDIETE MEDICAL ATTENTION IF AMMONIA IS INGESTED OR COMES INTO CONTACT WITH EYES. ALWAYS BE SAFE!

13. Wash Out Your Tub

Want to know one of my best tips for everyday living? Cleaning the shower is not one of those chores I look forward to, so in order to make it easier on myself, I tried this hint! Fill a reusable dish scrubber with ½ cup of dish soap and ½ cup white vinegar. Once a week, in the shower, scrub down your shower walls and floor and let it rinse away. How easy is that! You should still do a monthly shower cleaning using bleach to kill any mold or bacteria that may grow.

14. Perfect Nail Polish

If you need tips for everyday living that include beauty tricks, here’s one for the books! Don’t pay for a costly manicure anymore, instead, just do it yourself! I was always hesitant to paint my own nails because I make a huge mess, but this everyday living tip really changed my mind! Before you paint your nails, rub Vaseline around your cuticles. Use caution not to get any Vaseline on your nails! As you paint your nails, if you get any polish on your skin, use a q-tip to swab it off right away. The Vaseline will prevent the polish from immediately drying and sticking to your skin.

16. Identify Keys Quickly

When you have 50 keys on your key ring, identifying keys can take more than a minute of your time. Here’s the tip for everyday living I came up with to help solve that problem! Use different colors of nail polish to paint the tops of each key. Then you only have to remember which color is for which location or door! It’s very simple, and your key ring will look cute with its very own colorful personality.

17. Save Delivery Boxes

If you order things online often, don’t throw out the boxes! You’d be surprised by how often those boxes or envelopes can come in handy. You can re-use them to mail items in, just make sure you mark out the previous addresses. Other purposes include art projects, storage and organization, or gift-wrapping. And you can think of other ways to use delivery boxes on your own if you are a creative soul!

18. Shop Only 3 Times a Year

One of the best tips for everyday living is to never fall prey to last minute shopping. I like to designate three specific times a years to shop for Christmas, birthday and anniversary gifts. I usually plan for it around season changes when there are good sales going on. Last minute shopping will encourage you to quickly buy the first thing you find, which may cause you to overspend your budget. Shop when there is no pressure and you can browse the sales racks. You will always have a gift on hand for unexpected moments if you pick up an extra gift card or two if you have the spare cash, then you can always use the gift cards yourself if you never need them. Other items I like to keep on hand that I generally pick up when I do my regular grocery shopping include cards for any occasion, gift-wrap, soft drinks, nut mixes, or chips. You never know when you’ll get invited to a casual get-together last minute, and you don’t want to show up empty handed!

19. Make Freezer Meals

Try this tip for everyday living tonight. As you cook dinner, make double the amount you normally would. Freeze the extra you just made, and then you can have it one night when you don’t have time or don’t feel like cooking! Now that’s thinking the practical way!

20. Reduce Static Cling

Winter is always the worse time for static cling, so it’s the perfect time to put this tip for everyday living into good use! Put a safety pin on the inside of the garment that is giving you grief, right along the hem. If you’re wearing slacks, put one on each leg. This works particularly well if you have static cling between a dress and a slip or a pair of pantyhose. The metal in the safety pin offsets the static electricity!
What do you think of my tips for everyday living? I’m always on the lookout for new, fun, and interesting tips for daily living that can help save time and money! If you have any everyday living tips of your own to share, please comment below. I love to hear from my readers, and I certainly love hearing fresh, new and genius ideas! Thanks for reading!

7 Best Traits of An Aquarius …

7 Best Traits of An Aquarius … 

Characteristics of an aquarius are what we need to have a chat about today as it wouldn’t be fair nor right not to let your know how cool this zodiac sign is! I literally have five of them around to remind me how interesting, plentiful and worthy of respect aquarius traits are and I’m sure you’ll think the same once you read this post. So take a peek at these cool aquarius zodiac sign characteristics I’ve highlighted below and have fun discovering new reasons to help you love this sign even more:

1. Intelligent

Aquarians are quite an intelligent lot and that’s something you really need to respect the hell out of them for! Not that I think other signs are less intellectually equipped, of course, it’s just that I’m surrounded by Aquarians and I’ve come to a conclusion that even the lazy ones manage to achieve amazing results with very little effort. Now imagine what happens when an Aquarius actually decides to put in some serious work! Or better yet, let me tell you! Honors, scholarships, early graduation… and that’s just the beginning! Bet you understand why this is the first of many superb characteristics of an aquarius I wanted to share.

2. Well-Spoken

But intellect is hardly the only one of aquarius amazing traits! In fact, that’s what makes them such good speakers! Some of them are shy, others are quite loud but it’s no secret that, no matter how much or how little they talk, their words attract listeners. Even shy Aquarians tend to become much chattier once the subjects of their expertise and interests are mention and, oh boy, you can really learn a lot from them.

3. Rational

Be it life in general, business or love – Aquarians are generally a textbook example for rational thinking. They tend to come off as cold and disconnected but what they really are is practical. They can be romantic, of course, but they probably won’t call or text you 50 times a day just to let you know how much they love/miss you. They aren’t super interested in relationship-related dramas either and will usually try to avoid them. Now, I know that, for some, this might not be the best aquarius trait ever but it’s something I really appreciate.

4. Leaders

Aquarians have everything it takes to be a good leader and are more than happy to take the “job”. They are creative, driven, have a bag full of fresh ideas just like Felix the Cat and really, really would love a chance to make their own decisions and plan their own moves. That’s one of those good characteristics of an aquarius. The bad one is that they may act quite bossy, barking out orders like there’s no tomorrow! But hey…no one is perfect!

5. At Peace with Themselves

 

Some people don’t feel comfortable being alone, spending time exploring the inner self, reflecting on things and events or simply enjoying the peace and quiet. Being a Libra, I do appreciate such qualities and love the fact that Aquarians can get quite inner-oriented at times! They love their moments of peace and quiet just like Libras do (which is definitely a cool aquarius trait in my book) but are not as keen to share their thoughts and feelings which may sometimes look “disconnected”. Chatty or not, you should definitely leave your Aquarius to his thoughts as that helps him/her be exactly who he/she is.

6. Impartial

Are you following still? Well, good, because I have a few more aquarius traits I’d love to share with you. Like this one, for example! Now, you may think this isn’t a big deal but having a friend, family member or a partner who is able to “see things clearly” could really help you a lot. Moreover, although not easily swayed, Aquarians will admit you’re right even if they don’t share your cause or opinions. Now isn’t a nod from a person who is not likely to change opinions like socks of greater worth? I sure think it is and I’m sure you’ll agree it deserved to find its place amongst these great characteristics of an aquarius.

7. Loyal Friends Or Partners

Reaching the end, ladies and gents, so I thought to make this last characteristic of an aquarius really special. Saving the best for last again and I’m sure you’re going to like it! Now, you’ve probably noticed that Aquarians don’t let a lot of people get really close but I’m sure you’d love to know that, once they do, it always turns into a long-term commitment. And whether we’re talking about friendships or relationships, it’s no secret that Aquarians choose their companions wisely and do not wish to let them go easily. They aren’t the easiest ones to impress but manage to do so and you’ll have a loyal, fully committed companion to cherish.
What other characteristics of an aquarius do you love? And if you could change just one thing about your beloved Aquarians, what would it be? I’d wish mine could be less stubborn but hey…nobody’s perfect! And these aquarius traits mentioned above definitely prove that Aquarians are just as worthy of you love and respect as other zodiac signs. 

7 Admirable Qualities of a Leo …

7 Admirable Qualities of a Leo …

The qualities of a leo that I’m about to mention are probably something you’ve noticed your beloved Leonians aren’t lacking in, but you still have a bit of a problem deciding how to interpret and categorize them. Now, I know some characteristics of a leo might seem negative at first or at least quite questionable but, trust me, there’s so many positive traits you’ll love this sign for! And these following leo zodiac sign characteristics are definitely one of those that demand respect:

 

1. Outgoing And Social

Similar to most kings, Leonians have that natural charisma, an instinct that tells them they do belong under the spotlight! They might seem a bit pushy or arrogant at first, but their amiable nature, unquestionable intelligence, and ability to appeal to people will win you over in no time making you one of their biggest fans! Generally very much on the dominant side, Leo dominates the crowds yet does it in a socially acceptable way and uses his intelligence and charm to capture attention! Don’t know about you, but I believe this is one of those qualities of leo that both shy and extremely social zodiac signs will appreciate.

2. Great Leader

Strong, dynamic, creative, and able to lead with a strong hand and a gentle word. Leadership in its true form is an undeniably fascinating characteristic of a leo you should definitely respect him or her for! Leonians are able to come up with some fascinatingly creative ideas, take risks others are not ready to take, convey messages with clarity and precision, and inspire respect and loyalty in their subordinates!

3. Ambitious

Speaking about interesting characteristics of a leo – these strong leaders are also incredibly ambitious and would love to take their chances in succeeding in something other’s are not brave enough or able to try! Business oriented Leonians won’t be fully satisfied until they reach a high place of power. Leonians involved with politics are probably secretly (or maybe even not so secretly) eyeing top government positions and the ones involved in charity work will strive to do great things! Leo always thinks big, remember that!

4. To The Point

Next on my list of must-know qualities of leo is this awesome, totally surprising lack of drama which, as a double Libra and a total drama queen, I just respect! A Leo knows what a Leo wants and a Leo knows how to get it done! They know how to communicate effectively as they describe their ideas, goals, strategies, and individual tasks in a way that will leave no subordinate or superior in the dark. But, will also act the same in their free time as well, letting friends, family members and love interests know exactly where they’re at! In fact, beating around the bush may easily be the only thing Leo can never hope to become absolutely brilliant at as his dominant nature leaves no room for such games!

5. Idealistic

If untainted by lies, treachery and cruelty, a Leo will grow up to become quite an idealistic individual. This leo zodiac sign characteristic actually makes him quite similar to a libra in this aspect! They will nurture traditional values, morals and even adopt many religious rules if they find them true and worth obeying. Some Leonians, however, can mutate into sneaky, corrupted individuals willing to walk over people, but those are more like personal weaknesses than actual characteristics of this zodiac sign and can be easily dismissed.

6. Magnetically Attractive

Lusty, passionate, and extremely sexual – Leonians might have their powerful wild side to thank for that aura of fatal attraction that surrounds them! They are sexy even when they are not conventionally good looking or super confident, and they are usually very successful in their romantic and erotic endeavors. But they aslo still possess a desire to love and be loved, and are more than willing to settle down… eventually!

7. Generous

Leonians love to live lavishly and enjoy all the finer things money can buy which can, in some cases, make them turn arrogant, pompous and snobbish, but it isn’t a bad characteristic in general. They are generous when it comes to their fancies, which means that if this zodiac sign is rich and powerful enough to live like a movie star, his loved ones will get to enjoy the same luxuries. Not bad, huh? See, I told you that this last one on my list of qualities of leo doesn’t have to be bad per se!
Did you have fun discovering these cool qualities of leo? Sure hope you did and that they’ve managed to shed a whole new light on those interesting Leonians in your life! I’d really love to know just how accurately these afore mentioned traits describe leonians you know, so drop me a comment below and do feel free to add an interesting quality of leo or two or some interesting fact you’ve managed to pick up by observing your beloved leo!

Watch Parts Sculptures by Honda

Watch Part Sculptures by Natsumi Honda

These two magnificent little animal sculptures titled Time to be Included were welded together using hundreds of tiny used watch parts. According to Tokyobling’s Blog the works are by Japanese sculptor Natsumi Honda from Tama Art University, but there seems to be very little additional info about the artist online.

Amazing !

Towering Sculptures Made of Flowers on Display at Bloemencorso, A Flower Parade in Zundert, Netherlands

Amazing Carved Book Landscapes

Carved Book Landscapes by Guy Laramee

(click images for detail)

50 Life Secrets and Tips

1. Memorize something everyday. Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.
2. Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions. Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.
3. Develop an endless curiosity about this world. Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
4. Remember people’s names so that they feel appreciated and for your own future benefit when you want something from that person. To do this, say their name back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat the name in your head a number of times until you are sure you have it. Continue to use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any chance of forgetting it. If you’re still having trouble, make up a rhyme about their name: “Dan the Man” or “Natalie flatters me.”
5. Get fit! It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 3 very good reasons to get in shape.
6. Learn to focus only on the present. The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
7. Even more specifically, live in THIS moment. Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live purely in this moment you will always be happy because there is nothing wrong in this split-second.
8. Smile more often. Whenever you get a grin on your face, your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone. Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and need happiness more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.
9. Drink water. Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off of a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?
10. Don’t take life so seriously! Learn to laugh at the little things and this whole “existence” thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused by your mistakes and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and won’t mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy! Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.
11. Think positive thoughts. When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself in the face, yell something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and down. Do whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is essential for continual happiness and success.
12. Read books. No explanation needed.
13. Get in the sun. Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front door (if you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun feels amazing: your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.
14. Help others. I’ll just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST
    • Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
    • You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
    • Your relationship with that person will become stronger
    • It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person
    • You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help
    • Karma (if you believe in it)
    • Because there are more people in this world than just you
    
    
    
    
15. Set aside a specific time to worry each day. Ponder all of your problems and anxieties during that time so that they will not distract you during work or moments of pleasure. This way you can be extremely efficient with your time and avoid focusing on negative things as much as possible. If you get all of your worry out of the way and have the mental fortitude to keep from reverting back to them, you will be much happier on the daily.
16. Be honest at all times. Lies lead to nothing but trouble. Being known as trustworthy is an excellent trait to maintain and essential to having integrity.
17. Sleep less. Fully adjusting to a new sleep cycle can take up to 21 days so don’t give up if you feel tired after switching to 5-hour nights. The “required” 8 hour/night is for normal people. If you’re reading THIS article on THIS site, you are not normal. So figure out how much sleep YOU really need and adjust accordingly. As enjoyable as sleep is, waking existence is much more fulfilling and efficient. IF this really sparks your interest, check out alternate sleep cycles with which you can be fine off of 2 hours of sleep per day.
18. Read “Bringers of Light” and “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch. These books will help you decide what you want to do in this life and how to get to that point. They will also profoundly change the way you look at the purpose of existence. Read them!
19. Figure out what your goals and dreams are. So many people wander aimlessly through life simply go for whatever small thing they want moment by moment. Instead, decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps in motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world (yes, better than sex, much better) is overcoming a challenge and reaching a goal. We are the happiest when we are growing and working towards something better.
20. Start your day off right. Wake up and set aside an hour for personal development activities (meditation, self-introspection, observing nature, etc.) Do the things that make you feel blissful, optimistic and empowered so that you can set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that once you start doing this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling. Today is going to be the best day of your life. Duh.
21. Utilize ‘The Burning Method.’ Whenever a fear or worry or complaint comes to mind, close your eyes and imagine writing down the thought on a piece of paper. Then proceed to light the paper and fire and watch it disintegrate. Even better, actually write it down and burn it. You won’t have any problem ridding your mind of the thought after doing this.
22. Travel. Anyone who has ever gone anywhere will tell you that traveling is one of the most exciting and life-changing activities that you can do. Observing a different culture will expand your mind while making you further appreciate the life you already live. This goes back to becoming an explorer: this world is your jungle so go explore! Who knows, maybe you’ll find a place you love so much that you decide to move. Imagine the positive repercussions a new environment could have on your life.
23. The Rubber Band Method This is the third and final way to rid yourself of negative thoughts (hopefully by now you have figured out that this is very important!). Place a rubber band around your wrist and snap it against your skin anytime a negative thought finds its way into your head. This operant conditioning technique associates a slight pain with negative thoughts like Pavlov associated food/salivation with the sound of a bell. Sounds a bit cruel at first but it only stings for a second, I promise. Plus the outcome, having only positive thoughts, far outweighs a little slap on the wrist here and there.
24. Learn to be unaffected by the words of others. Most people get very upset when they are called negative names by others, but there is a simple trick to overcoming this. Here it is: If I went up to you and called you a fire hydrant, would you be upset? Of course not. Obviously you are not a fire hydrant, you are a human being. The same concept applies to when someone calls you something that you know you are not. They are foolish for saying such things, so why would you react with such anger? The only exception is when someone calls you something that is true! In this case, you should thank them for alerting you to a weakness, one that you can now work on changing.
25. Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss. This book will give you the knowledge and instruction to be happy at all times regardless of the circumstances. Yes, this sounds like an oversimplification of happiness, but I assure you that this book will change you in an amazing way.



26. Develop the ability to forgive. Forgiveness is something that most people fail miserably at even thought it’s so simple. Grudges only bring more misery to those who hold them and prevent good relations with the target. YOU makes mistakes all of the time so why not have mercy when other do? Remaining angry feels horrible while forgiving someone brings a refreshing sensation to the mind and healing to the relationship.
27. Be the person that makes others feel special. Be known for your kindness and sympathy.
28. Learn to lucid dream, or to realize when you are dreaming so that you can control your dreams. Sleep feels good, but it’s rather boring and unproductive. With lucid dreaming under your belt, night-time can be even more exciting than when you are awake. You can do anything: fly, travel to other planets, party with a celebrity, get intimate with your dream boy/girl, etc. Many lucid dreams have also reported being able to speak directly with the subconscious during dreams by demanding to be taken to it after becoming lucid. For those that know a thing or two about your subconscious, that is a BIG deal.
29. Visualize daily. It has been said and proven time and time again that what you focus on is what you get. If you complain all of the time, you will run into more of the things you complain about. The same goes for good things like health, wealth and happiness. So spend some time in the morning imagining yourself achieving whatever it is that you currently desire. Focus is key in this exercise, so choose a quiet environment where you won’t be disturbed. If you’re having trouble focusing and continually find that your mind has wandered to something else, read about meditation in the following life tip. There is a lot more to this concept, so check out the full article on visualization and the law of attraction here.
30. Meditate everyday for at least 20 minutes. In this modern world where everyone is so connected to everything else via cell phones, TV and internet, most people rarely enjoy the beauty of silence. The ability to quiet your mind and relax your body is an art and skill that everyone should develop. Simply sit somewhere, preferably in nature, and focus on your breathing or try to think about nothing. This is going to be extremely hard at first! You might find it boring or just plain impossible to think of nothing, but you will get better and you will learn to love it. Post-meditation, you will feel extremely clear-headed and.. well, just plain wonderful. The only way to really understand this sensation is to try it.
31. Learn to control your mind. What kind of skilled human are you if you cannot even control your own thoughts? While the human mind is described as being a stream of consciousness, that does not mean you can’t decide where your stream flows. Techniques like meditation and the 3 ways to flush out negative thoughts will aid you immensely in learning to control your mind.
32. Learn to control your emotions. The only person that can make you unhappy is you! You are the one that decides to be affected by the words and actions of others. Realize this so that the next time you experience a negative emotion, you can find the strength within yourself to overcome it.
33. Take a class in speed reading. Books are full of information that can enhance your knowledge-base, vocabulary and yourself as a person. Speed reading is an easy way to get at this info faster so that you can have more time for other endeavors.
34. Relax! This one is for you workaholics out there (myself included). Yes, work is very important and productive but you need to take some time to chill out everyday or you are going to burn out faster than a candle with no oxygen. Additionally, you need to reward yourself for a job well done. What’s the use of doing all of that work if you can’t have a little fun from time to time anyways?
35. Work on making good first impressions. Practice a strong, firm handshake and the small talk that generally goes along with meeting someone for the first time. People won’t know what to think of you if you have nothing more to say beyond “My name is _______, nice to meet you.” Also make sure you remember names, as mentioned previously. Who knows, you may be going into business with or marrying this person you’re meeting for the first time if you make a good impression. Be sure and make an excellent one.
36. Learn to use your eyes to their full potential:
    • Make constant eye contact when in conversation. Looking away (especially down) is a sign of inferiority and uncertainty. Instead, look at your conversation partner dead in the eyes and keep them locked on
    • Master the piercing stare. You know when someone looks at you and it feels like they can see into your soul? Well that’s not a hereditary characteristic, it just takes practice. Work on sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You’ll know you have it when it’s intimidating to continue looking at yourself
    • Master the one-eyebrow raise. This one isn’t necessary by any means, but hey, why not? Pick a brow to learn with and go look in a mirror. Raise both of your eyebrows but use your hand to hold down the brow that you want to stay down. This will probably feel very stupid at first but if you keep trying, you will eventually pin down the muscle you need to flex to get that one brow up
37. Be mysterious. Don’t let off everything about you and definitely leave out some major details. There is something both alluring and mesmerizing about someone who no one knows fully about. I’m not saying to confide in no one or to alienate yourself. Just think James Bond.
38. Come up with a life mantra. You know, like “Carpe Diem” or “Live life to the fullest,” but not as cliché. Make it something that really hits home with you so that you will actually stick to it. Make sure it’ not so specific that it rarely applies but also not so general that it’s not personal.
39. Get good at something. Call it a hobby or a passion, whatever it is, just get damn good at it. Your occupation does not count! Make it something that you can practice often enough to excel at. Examples: Magic tricks, surfing, ping-pong, creating short films, and unicycling. It can be anything but I would recommend choosing something that: 1) You are passionate about 2) You can bust out at any moment to display your skills for any discerning crowd. My mind goes immediately to aerobatics and break dancing, but that’s just me.
40. Work out those abs. Above any other muscle group in the entire body, the abs are the most important. They constitute your core, the center point of your body. Your ability to balance comes almost completely from the strength of your abdominal muscles and balance is vital to performance in any physical activity. Summary: they’re very important. For more info on how to work out your abs, check out this video.
41. Keep your brain sharp. The majority of people are stuck in ruts. They go to the same job everyday, hang out with the same friends and eat at the same places. While that may feel safe, it’s not the most stimulating lifestyle for your brain. Those synapses have been built up enough, so try something that you do NOT know how to do! Buy a model car kit, master the art of sudoku or crosswords, or go pick up another major at your nearest college. The point is you need to be learning new things to keep your brain honest. Form new synapses by forcing your mind to work in ways it has not worked before. Just like physical workouts, doing too much of the same exercise will eventually give no results. Switch it up!
42. Read something inspirational right before bed and after waking. This will set get you in a great mood for sleep and for the day. Read anything from a famous speech to your favorite self-improvement book. Try to read something that get’s you really excited in the morning especially so that you’ll leave your house beaming with energy and wonder.
43. Do what you love. There is a huge difference between making a life and making a living; which one are you making right now? So many spend their entire lives trying to make as much money as possible so that they can afford to do what they really want later. It makes no sense to settle in life until you’re 65 so that you can retire and do what you want when you’re already WAY past your prime. We only live life once so why wouldn’t you want to spend it pursuing your bliss? To do anything else would be a tragic waste of the freedom you are allowed if you are reading this right now. Follow your bliss and you will be a thousand times more happy than your retirement date and 40+ years younger.
44. Choose your friends wisely. You are affected far more than you think by the people you spend your time with. Do your friends share your values? Do they encourage you when you speak of your goals and dreams or do they scoff? Make sure the people around you are conducive to the lifestyle you want to lead or you will find yourself being dragged again and again into behavior that distances you from your desires. Friends with a habit of producing negative thoughts will especially hinder you. This can be a hard task to follow through with if you realize you good friend is one of these saboteurs, but you must be firm! Don’t let anyone get in the way of you being all that you can be.
45. Don’t burn bridges. By that I mean maintain your relationships with people even if you think you are never going to see them again. For example, if you are quitting your job, don’t chew out your boss before leaving! You might run into him/her again later and life and wish you had never severed ties so harshly. You never know when you might need the help of someone you knew in the past. Plus there is already too much hatred in this world, why add more towards the people you interact with?
46. Keep a journal/diary. It sounds like a very monotonous habit at first, but when you get into it, that little book will become a great way to organize your thoughts and track your growth over the years. Most of us already stay awake in bed at night pondering the events of the day anyways so why not document those thoughts in an organized fashion? That will allow you to look back and observe how your way of thinking has changed over time.
47. Read “New Pyscho-Cybernetics” by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. This book will explain why the content of your thoughts has such a profound effect on your life through religious, philosophical and scientific arguments. A must read for completely understand who this life thing works.
48. Learn to use and trust your subconscious/intuition. When you spend time in silence everyday, listen not for words but for a feeling that tells you to do something. Do not mistake your own reasoning and thoughts for those of your subconscious. If you can track where the thought came from, (this thought led to that thought which led to this thought, etc.) then it was not from your subconscious. Learning to accurately discern between the two will allow you to tap into knowledge that you don’t consciously have.
49. Develop a charismatic personality. You know, the kind of personality that is surrounded by people constantly and is the life of the party. Start visualizing yourself as THAT person. Maybe take a short course on dynamic speaking and learn some jokes. Take the time to learn some party tricks and sleight of hand. Most importantly, believe that you already are charismatic even if you fail at being the center point of the next party. Lie to yourself constantly and tell yourself that you are more warm and gregarious than Ronald Regan. Belief is the first step! Reality will come soon after.
50. Love is all there is. If you truly want to be a master of life, let love be in your every action. Love your friends, family and enemies alike. This is the most difficult thing to do out of this entire list, which is why it is listed at #50. But if you accomplish this, you will be seen as a leader among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other negative emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you will immediately see yourself and the people around you change. Love. Love. Love.

Carved Book Landscapes

3. Carved Book Landscapes by Guy Laramee

 

A wonderful Idea.............B4 I Die I want To.........

Before I Die

What is important to you 2011-present

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget what really matters to you. When I lost someone I loved very much, I thought about death a lot. This helped clarify my life, the people I want to be with, and the things I want to do, but I struggled to maintain perspective. I wanted to know what was important to the people around me and I wanted a daily reminder. So with help from old and new friends, I painted the side of an abandoned house in my neighborhood in New Orleans with chalkboard paint and stenciled it with the sentence “Before I die I want to _______.” so anyone walking by can pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.
It was all an experiment and I didn’t know what to expect. By the next day the wall was entirely filled out and it kept growing. Before I die I want to… sing for millions, see my daughter graduate, eat all the candy and sushi in the world, straddle the International Date Line, be someone’s cavalry, live off the grid, build a school, hold her one more time, abandon all insecurities, be completely myself… People’s responses made me laugh out loud, tear up, and feel consolation during my own tough times. The wall transformed a neglected space into a constructive one. It helped us understand our neighbors in new and enlightening ways. It showed us we are not alone. It provided a contemplative space to restore perspective and remember why we want to be alive in the world today.
I created the original wall in February of 2011 and after receiving hundreds of requests, my Civic Center colleagues and I created a Before I Die toolkit and the project site beforeidie.cc to help people make a wall with their community. You can also download all files for free to remix or create your own stencils. Thanks to passionate people, over 50 Before I Die walls have been created in over 10 languages and in over 20 countries, including Kazakhstan, South Africa, Portugal, Japan, and Argentina. Each wall is unique and reflects the people of that community and each wall is a tribute to living an examined life. The project shows you don’t need a big budget to make a big impact. It also pushes the boundaries of what our public spaces are fundamentally made of. With more ways to share our hopes, fears, and stories in public space, the people around us can not only help us make better places, they can help us lead better lives.
Visit the project website beforeidie.cc for more walls, tools, and resources to make your own wall! Follow BeforeIDieWall on Twitter for the latest news. Have you created a Before I Die wall or remix? Please send your photos and stories to hello@beforeidie.cc!
“One of the most creative community projects ever.” - The Atlantic
Developed with support from the Black Rock Arts Foundation. February 2011 and beyond. 41′ x 8′, Chalkboard paint, stencils, spray paint, chalk. New Orleans, LA. With permission from the property owner, residents of the block, the neighborhood association’s blight committee, the Historic District Landmarks Commission, the Arts Council, and the City Planning Commission. Installation assistance: Kristina Kassem, Alan Williams, Cory Klemmer, Anamaria Vizcaino, James Reeves, Alex Vialou, Earl Carlson, and Gary Hustwit. You have permission to use photos below for publicity of the project. Photos by Civic Center, unless credited otherwise.

The first stencil

First responses

Within 24 hours of stenciling the wall.

Kristina Kassem Once the wall was filled to the max or looking janky, we washed it down and started over again.

Update Sept 22, 2011: After seven months, the first wall comes to a happy end: the house will be turned into a home again thanks to new owners. We painted over the wall and stenciled one last thing – something Wendell Pierce said a few months ago that has stayed with Candy since: “Our thoughts are to the individual as our art is to the community.” It was ready to go but from the ashes come more.

Update Sept 22, 2011: After receiving many requests, we created a Before I Die toolkit to help people make a wall with their community! It includes a one-column stencil made of thick mylar so it’s easy to hang rigid against a wall. It also includes a title stencil, a guide, metal chalk holders, gloves, and chalk. All files are also available for free download if you’d like to create your own stencils.

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Brooklyn. Photo above by Shake Shack

Brooklyn. Photo above by Shake Shack

Johannesburg. Photo from facebook.com/BeforeIDieSA

Savannah. Photo above by Trevor Coe

Querétaro, Mexico

Thanks to your passion, this participatory public art project is expanding to countries around the world, including Kazakhstan, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Portugal, Argentina, and beyond! See other walls on the project site www.beforeidie.cc and follow BeforeIDieWall on Twitter for the latest news. Have you created a Before I Die wall or remix? Please send your photos and stories to hello@beforeidie.cc!
“Death can inspire life. Especially in New Orleans, on the corner of Marigny and Burgundy, where the Before I Die project has used the specter of urban decay and death to create art and inspire. Using a boarded up house as a canvas, artist Candy Chang transformed a haunting reminder of blight and divestment into a powerful affirmation of human life and imagination.” – Life and Times