Economists say that we are coming out of our recession but I really don’t think this is the case. Last month alone I came across so many small businesses, bars and restaurants that have closed down, some of which have been around for many years. And that was only in a small part of the southern suburbs.
It appears as if many people are going to remain unemployed for some time to come and, considering how people are already struggling financially, it is going to take a lot of willpower just to survive from day to day. For those who are fortunate enough not to be feeling the recession as badly as others, spare a thought for the less fortunate when purchasing groceries, and more especially your luxury items.
If you are not really able to assist anyone financially, you can assist them by not buying grocery items that are excessively priced. In this way manufacturers, suppliers and retailers will be forced to reduce their prices to get their stock moving again.
One can even apply this strategy to so many other areas of our lives that require us to part with our hard-earned money. This is the only way that we can try to break the stronghold the business world has on our economy and restore some semblance of normality
In these tough economic times there are many opportunities for people to show their kindness and generosity towards others. If all those who “have” can share just a small portion of their wealth with those who “do not have”, it will go a long way to assist in the eradication of poverty and improving the standard of living in our communities.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Death is Reality! Why not leave preapared
Very few people are able to say that they are not afraid to die because the majority are not truly sure about eternal life. But, whether we are sure or not, we are still going to die. It is often said that talking about death is morbid but what is even more morbid is not knowing what the deceased would have wanted. We all know we are going to die but none of us know when. It would make life so much easier for those who mourn if they at least knew what their loved ones wanted. If people feel uncomfortable about talking to others about what they want, they should at least put it in writing and make sure that someone will know where to find it when they pass away. Death is a reality! Do as much as you can for others while you are alive as there is no guarantee that your wishes will be respected when you die, especially if you have not specified what you want in writing. What we must realize is that, more often than not, the death of a loved one, especially parents, seldom draws families closer even if they have a close bond.
Observing Relations
If you fall in love with someone and they turn out not to be the person you thought they were, don’t prolong your agony by thinking that they will change, again, and become the person you first thought they were. Break away immediately. People only show you who they really are when they are confident that they have you exactly where they want you and they will never again become that person that they pretended to be when you first fell in love. This is how many people, young and old, become trapped in relationships where they live in the hope of the person whom they fell in love with once again becoming the person they pretended to be when they first met. It is not going to happen and, the sooner you face this fact, the more heartache you will save yourself in the long run. Many people spend a lifetime living in hope only to discover that it was never meant to be.
Nurturing the young
If you are wondering why so many of our young people are going astray, then maybe we should start examining ourselves as parents and role-models in this day and age.
It is amazing to hear how many adults do not show their own parents the respect that they are supposed to. Many of us are treating our parents as if they are our children but we expect our children to respect us. Adults who still live in their parents’ house do not even have a proper relationship with them. Some do not even speak to their parents. Do we, who are still children, not realize that we will never receive God’s blessing if we do not honour our parents? It is the only commandment of God that holds a promise. Children who do not honour their parents will never be truly happy! They will continually strive for worldly achievements and approval but they will never find true fulfillment.
It is amazing to hear how many adults do not show their own parents the respect that they are supposed to. Many of us are treating our parents as if they are our children but we expect our children to respect us. Adults who still live in their parents’ house do not even have a proper relationship with them. Some do not even speak to their parents. Do we, who are still children, not realize that we will never receive God’s blessing if we do not honour our parents? It is the only commandment of God that holds a promise. Children who do not honour their parents will never be truly happy! They will continually strive for worldly achievements and approval but they will never find true fulfillment.
Changing a Heart
It is not what people do to us that matters. It is our reaction to what happens that can change a heart.
How often do we feel justified in treating others as badly as they have treated us? But does that make us any better than them? Why do we allow how others treat us to change who we are and how we react? We should instead change others by how we treat them and who we are. It is far more complimentary to have others imitating our good behaviour than for us to imitate their bad.
A smile, a hug, a kind word or a good deed can easily reach deep down into the heart of someone who feels sad, unloved, unappreciated or that no one cares. Never underestimate the power of the smallest gesture of kindness shown towards others.
When we make an effort to make others feel good about themselves, that feeling is returned to us tenfold causing a change within our own hearts and igniting a desire to continue doing more for others. Never stop.
Quite often our efforts to do good are not appreciated but, if we have done it with the right intention, it should not deter us from continuing to do so. If we do things with an ulterior motive we run the risk of changing a heart negatively. Take care!*
How often do we feel justified in treating others as badly as they have treated us? But does that make us any better than them? Why do we allow how others treat us to change who we are and how we react? We should instead change others by how we treat them and who we are. It is far more complimentary to have others imitating our good behaviour than for us to imitate their bad.
A smile, a hug, a kind word or a good deed can easily reach deep down into the heart of someone who feels sad, unloved, unappreciated or that no one cares. Never underestimate the power of the smallest gesture of kindness shown towards others.
When we make an effort to make others feel good about themselves, that feeling is returned to us tenfold causing a change within our own hearts and igniting a desire to continue doing more for others. Never stop.
Quite often our efforts to do good are not appreciated but, if we have done it with the right intention, it should not deter us from continuing to do so. If we do things with an ulterior motive we run the risk of changing a heart negatively. Take care!*
Simple Rules
SIMPLE RULES TO LIVE BY:
If you are a child, be the type of child you would like to rear when you become a parent.
If you are a parent, be the type of parent you would have liked as a child.
If you are a husband, be the type of husband you would like your daughter to marry.
If you are a wife, be the type of wife you would like your son to marry.
If you are a mother-in-law, be the type of mother-in-law you would have wanted.
If you are a daughter-in-law, be the type of daughter-in-law you would like to have.
If you are a child, be the type of child you would like to rear when you become a parent.
If you are a parent, be the type of parent you would have liked as a child.
If you are a husband, be the type of husband you would like your daughter to marry.
If you are a wife, be the type of wife you would like your son to marry.
If you are a mother-in-law, be the type of mother-in-law you would have wanted.
If you are a daughter-in-law, be the type of daughter-in-law you would like to have.
Debt talk!
FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR OWN HEALTH!
I am amazed at the amount of debt in which people find themselves. Quite honestly, I would probably have a heart attack if I had to be in some people’s shoes.
Having debt is not the problem as such, it is how we manage our debt. Do we really need to have four or five credit cards and an account at almost every clothing store?
REDUCE YOUR DEBT
AND IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH!
Do you really need to buy all the things you buy? Do you need to have the latest fashions or the most up to date cell phone or newest car? Is it really worth the sleepless nights you have trying to figure out how to pay for all of it. Ask yourself how others, who do not have all the luxuries you have in life, manage.
Does your grocery bill really have to come to a couple of thousand rand every month? And at the end of it all you have nothing to show for it except some extra kilograms which affect your health anyway.
Just as with changing your diet, reducing your debt is a slow and tedious process. It is hard work and you will not see the results immediately. The sooner you start, the sooner you will see things changing.
“How do I start?” you might ask. STOP BUYING! Every time you purchase something ask yourself whether you honestly need it. If you could possibly do without it, do not buy it.
Start by assessing your monthly grocery bill. Do you really need to buy things such as chips, biscuits, cooldrinks and other luxuries in bulk? Is it possible that you could reduce the amount that you buy?
Instead of stocking up try buying luxuries on weekends only or when you are expecting guests.
Next take stock of all your accounts. Choose one which you would like to get rid of the most and start paying it off slowly but surely. As soon as you have paid it off cut up the card and start paying off your next account.
I know that this is really hard to start doing but believe me when you have managed to pay off your first account you will be so proud of yourself that you will look forward to paying off your other accounts.
Just imagine having all the money you were spending on your monthly bills available to spend on yourself when all your debt has been paid off. Eventually you will be able to say that your car and the bond on your house has been paid off.
Then you can say good-bye to sleepless nights and hello to a whole new way of living.
ENJOY YOUR LIFE!
I am amazed at the amount of debt in which people find themselves. Quite honestly, I would probably have a heart attack if I had to be in some people’s shoes.
Having debt is not the problem as such, it is how we manage our debt. Do we really need to have four or five credit cards and an account at almost every clothing store?
REDUCE YOUR DEBT
AND IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH!
Do you really need to buy all the things you buy? Do you need to have the latest fashions or the most up to date cell phone or newest car? Is it really worth the sleepless nights you have trying to figure out how to pay for all of it. Ask yourself how others, who do not have all the luxuries you have in life, manage.
Does your grocery bill really have to come to a couple of thousand rand every month? And at the end of it all you have nothing to show for it except some extra kilograms which affect your health anyway.
Just as with changing your diet, reducing your debt is a slow and tedious process. It is hard work and you will not see the results immediately. The sooner you start, the sooner you will see things changing.
“How do I start?” you might ask. STOP BUYING! Every time you purchase something ask yourself whether you honestly need it. If you could possibly do without it, do not buy it.
Start by assessing your monthly grocery bill. Do you really need to buy things such as chips, biscuits, cooldrinks and other luxuries in bulk? Is it possible that you could reduce the amount that you buy?
Instead of stocking up try buying luxuries on weekends only or when you are expecting guests.
Next take stock of all your accounts. Choose one which you would like to get rid of the most and start paying it off slowly but surely. As soon as you have paid it off cut up the card and start paying off your next account.
I know that this is really hard to start doing but believe me when you have managed to pay off your first account you will be so proud of yourself that you will look forward to paying off your other accounts.
Just imagine having all the money you were spending on your monthly bills available to spend on yourself when all your debt has been paid off. Eventually you will be able to say that your car and the bond on your house has been paid off.
Then you can say good-bye to sleepless nights and hello to a whole new way of living.
ENJOY YOUR LIFE!
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