During this Thanksgiving holiday, we are reminded to reflect on the bounty in our lives. Most of us have jobs, family, a place we call home and food on the table, and for these things and our ability to obtain them we should be grateful.
But what about those who are struggling with financial difficulties, bad relationships, or employment problems? Do they owe any thanks for their circumstances? Can failure really be a gift in disguise?
FAILURES TEACH US ABOUT PROCESS
Thomas Edison tried over 9,000 designs before he created a working light bulb. A young reporter asked him how he felt after having failed 9,000 times. Edison replied, “I didn’t fail – I just learned 9,000 ways not to make a light bulb.”
Failure is often a clue to redirect our efforts in a different direction, and to follow a different set of plans. How many times have we learned how not to sell a product, how not to get a new job, or how not to judge a future mate? If a series of failures leads us to open our minds to new knowledge or information, or gives us the willingness to try different behaviors, then we haven’t failed, we’ve learned how to create different results.
FAILURES TEACH US ABOUT OURSELVES
During the ’40s, a young Jewish boy chose to forego academia in order to pursue his dream of becoming another Benny Goodman. Against his parents’ wishes, he began playing in a jazz band.
His musical talents were less than sterling, and soon he realized he was just another musician teetering on the brink of unemployment. Unlike many of his fellow musicians, he was able to manage the income he had, so those periods of unemployment weren’t nearly as devastating for him as they were for others.
His musical colleagues recognized his talent for money management, and soon they had hired him to manage their finances – for a fee. This caused the young man to rethink his career goals, and changed the course of his life.
This failure’s name is Alan Greenspan, Federal Reserve Chairman, who has been credited with performing an economic impossibility – sustaining long term economic growth without stimulating inflation. His failure taught him that money, rather than music, was his forté, and we have all benefitted from that epiphany.
There is a saying that to teach a snake his shape, put
him in a box. Our failures can be the box that teaches us our shape, and helps us to ascertain how our talents, personality, and learning ability coalesce to form the unique creation we are, and help us to fulfill our destiny and purpose.
FAILURES CAN HELP PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE
“Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it.” How many times have we pursued a goal we thought was important, only to find it didn’t bring us the rewards we expected? Have we succeeded or failed in our attempt? Billionaire J. Paul Getty blew through five wives and is alienated from his childreen. Is he a success or a failure?
Our failures highlight our values, and help us to define what is important in our lives. The man who puts family first will probably not have a skyrocketing career, but can certainly be a successful husband and father. The woman who thrives on a high-powered career requiring 80+ hour weeks will undoubtedly be a financial success, but may have to forego success in the relationship department. One truism in life is that we can have everything we want in life, just not all at the same time. Our failures may help us choose in what area we would like to have success so we can focus our time, effort and energy on that area, and we happily let the rest go to the sidelines.
One of the greatest gifts of failure is the knowledge that failure is never final, unless we choose to give up. Discovering that we can turn our lives around, choose a different path, or embrace a new idea at any age or in any set of circumstances is liberating for the soul, can motivate us to seek the wisdom and experience of others who have had different experiences, and can provide the momentum we need to propel us to successes beyond our imaginings.
About The Author
Jean Fritz is a farmer and freelance writer. Her company, JMT Publications, offers editorial, proofreading, and copywriting services on contract to individuals and companies requiring excellence in written communication. She can be reached via e-mail or through her website: http://jmtpubs.tripod.com.
This article may be reproduced either in print or electronically without obtaining permission and without remuneration, as long as proper author credit is given.
Mother’s Day is, in many countries, a day for celebrating motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day, and it is a huge time of year for mail. In 1973, the U.S. Postal Service was held up for 8 days because of the constant flow of letters and cards.
Origins
Mother’s day has evolved in many countries in different ways. This is because mother’s day has different origins in different countries and therefore occurs on different days in the year.
One school of thought claims that this day emerged from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus, was held on March 15 to March 18 around Asia Minor. They insist that this custom spread around the world.
Mothering Sunday is the celebration of motherhood in the United Kingdom. It takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This Sunday is also known as Mid-lent Sunday, Rose Sunday and Laetare Sunday. Traditionally the children will bring gifts of flowers and chocolates to their mother. Breakfast in bed is also an expectation, as is a relaxing, carefree day. It originally comes from the Victorian practice of allowing servants to return home to visit their mothers on this day.
United States Origins
Julia Ward Howe (May 27, 1819 – October 17, 1910) was a prominent American abolitionist, social activist, and poet. Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic was first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and quickly became one of the most popular songs for the Union during the American Civil War. After the war she focused her activities on the causes of Pacifism and women’s suffrage.
In 1870 she was the first to proclaim Mother’s Day, with her Mother’s Day Proclamation.
Anna Maria Reeves Jarvis (September 30, 1832 – May 9, 1905) was born in Culpeper, Virginia. Jarvis worked around what is now West Virginia to promote worker health and safety concerns. During the American Civil War she organized women to tend to the needs of the wounded of both sides. After the war she became active in the promotion of Mother’s Day, a holiday at that time involved with the causes of pacifism and social activism. She organized meetings for mothers of soldiers on both sides of the late war.
Her daughter Anna Marie Jarvis (May 1, 1864 – November 24, 1948) of Grafton, West Virginia held a memorial to her mother on the second anniversary of her mother’s death (1907) and then went on a quest to make Mother’s Day a recognized holiday. In 1908 formal observances were held in churches in Grafton and Philadelphia. By 1911 every state celebrated the occasion on the second Sunday in May. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday and ordered the United States flag displayed on all public buildings.
Remember to tell your mom how much you appreciate her by going to see her, calling her, or sending her a gift. Mothers deserve at least one day a year to feel special.
sources – wikipedia.org and Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia 1997
Patricia Fason is a writer and poet. To see more of her work visit Sites O Web Romances You. For suggestions on what to get your mom this year for Mother’s Day visit The Gift Boutique Mother’s Day Section.
If you*re like me, the holidays always have a way of sneaking in. And – like an unexpected visitor who shows up the week I haven’t cleaned my home – I’m caught in a frenzy, desperate to scrape up the tumbleweeds of cat fur and make the place look presentable. For me at least, it’s easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas and Thanksgiving. Time is short and usually so is patience. So this year, all this got me to thinking: How can one neutralize the stress and get more enjoyment from the holidays true intention? Read on for this girl’s remedies.
Finding Grace:
When meditating on the true meaning of this season, three ideas came to my mind: grace, gratitude and random acts of kindness. At first I wasn’t sure why. Grace? I mean, how could I afford this? It’s been a rough year full of deadlines, long hours and a whole lot of doing. Who’s got time for grace? And therein is the answer: so often the business of life far overshadows its true excitement; the thrill of living in the moment, the anticipation of events yet to come.
How to get back to this state of childlike wonder?
My #1 RX: Motivational Tapes
When I’m feeling frazzled there’s nothing that gets me centered faster than hearing the voice of my favorite authors. And over the years I’ve built an extensive collection of tapes just for this purpose. This can work for you, too. I think you’ll find when you need a portal to peace and guidance,it’s almost instantaneous.
Feel free to try some of my favorites:
Dr. Wayne Dyer – There Is A Spiritual Solution To Every Problem Neale Donald Walsch: Conversations with God, Book One Iyanala Vanzant: Live! Audio: Piece of Mind (all available from your favorite bookstore or Amazon.com)
How do motivational tapes work? In my assessment, they provide comfort. They calm the mind and center the emotions. Then, when the stress of modern-day life comes along, the mind draws forth the inspirational words into the consciousness like a helpful data base. Moreover, I believe this exercise, when practiced consistently, can provoke a state of grace.
Need grace this holiday season? I invite you to use my method. In doing so here’s what evolves:
Gratitude:
The reward for seeking grace? Gratitude. What is gratitude? I would say it*s an instrument of faith. Here*s an example. Often during stressful times, I ask for guidance: During a vulnerable moment this holiday season, I received an angry email from a critical reader (calling me unmentionable names). And so I ask: *Please help me understand and make peace with this.*
In the act of asking and placing faith in the universe I soon received the answer: forgive. And for me, this process of grace and forgiveness is solidified in gratitude. Gratitude gives me the faith to (as one of my favorite authors Thoreau once quoted) *move confidently in the direction of ones dreams.*
Therefore, when I am grateful for what I have and trust that I am moving in my own particular direction (regardless of what others – perhaps having a rough and stressful day tell me), I find my truest treasure: joy.
An Exercise In Gratitude:
Each day (especially during this time of year) I*ve
committed to taking a long look around myself. In doing so, I find everything I can to be grateful for: a kind and loving family, my health, my passion for writing. Soon I am overwhelmed with gratitude for what I have been given and every ounce of negativity has fallen away.
With this, I say “Thank You!” aloud, in praise of the gift I have received. When I have taken the time to do this (which often involves sitting down with pen and paper in hand) I continue to be offered more in the way of positive experience.
Now I invite you to try this exercise for yourself. Ask: What do I have to be grateful for right now? Take the time to notice, make a list and say *Thank You!* I truly believe if one continues offering positive statements forward to the universe: the pathway to beautiful joyful experience is opened. We are then in a state of co-creation.
Random Acts of Kindness:
The completion to the circle comes when we have reached some measure of emotional and spiritual equilibrium. When I have reached this place of balance with my (or what I perceive to be) problems and stress, I have followed what Philosopher Joseph Campbell calls *bliss.* Are we ever truly in bliss? Well, this is real life after all. However, when I*ve taken the time to become more grateful and accepting of where I am right now there is a way I can continue to expand my gratitude. How?
By sharing it. I*ve noticed, if I continue to give away what I have in earnest, it expands. Therefore, If I choose to create more joy in my life, I can do so by causing another to feel joy. How? Here*s my favorite way: random acts of kindness. Perhaps I may sound certifiable to some. But, I invite you to try this exercise for yourself. Need some ideas to spread the love? Here*s my method.
Usually I begin by asking myself *How is it I may serve?* Can I give a few extra dollars to charity in this holiday season? Can I send a card and a short message to someone who I haven*t seen in awhile? Can I send flowers to my mom *just because?*
If you look around, it is not hard to find ways to share a loving thought or message. For a small amount of time, effort and money it*s easy to cause an earthquake of joy. Furthermore, In these times of war and fear, every moment and thought of joy and love counts.
In Closure:
When I become stressed-out and unfocused, I always try to remind myself: it*s all in the attitude. If I think it’s raining outside, dark, cold, and lifeless, this is the life I create. Yet, if I face my obstacles with grace, love and gratitude, I create more of that. By giving love and kindness – there*s just that much more to go around.
About The Author
Laura Turner is a writer and author. She publishes the bi-weekly New Body News and Wellness Letter, The Online Magazine Healthy People Read. ( http://www.new-body-news.com )
Her latest book: Spiritual Fitness: The 7-Steps to Living Well is currently available. Learn more here: http://www.new-body-news.com/Spiritual_Fitness.htm
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Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought of all of the preparation that is involved. And more is not better. Often we try to out do each other with lavish parties and expensive gifts. Stop and remember for a second what was important from your own childhood. Was it an outing? Baking cookies with your grandmother? Building a snowman with your dad? We need to connect. This doesn’t require more time, just shifting the focus of the time we already have. Here, a casual party and a very simple activity were the catalyst that brought everyone together.
To get the entire neighborhood into the Christmas spirit we planned a caroling party.
The day before our guests arrived, my kids and I spent an afternoon making decorative candleholders to give to each caroler, to light the way for our caroling expedition.
Dad, dressed as Santa, provided our very own photo opportunity. Little ones whispered their Christmas list in Santa’s ear. Grown ups, as well as kids, had their pictures taken in Santa’s lap.
Adults, kids, and even a few dogs then joined us on our merry way. Our numbers grew as we made our way caroling through the neighborhood.
As the carolers returned, we welcomed them with Mexican hot chocolate and ginger spice cookies. This party was a great way to engage everyone in an activity that the whole family could enjoy. And for a few short hours we were able to turn our attention away
from the commercial marketing of the holidays to something much more personal.
Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate
Recipes are one of our most cherished traditions. Passed down from one generation to the next, they conjure up memories of holiday preparations or time spent with a favorite relative. Cooking provides a quiet time to pass on the wisdom of family lore.
Ingredients:
4 cups whole milk
4 ounces Mexican chocolate such as Ibarra
or
3 ½ ounces semi-sweet chocolate plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla, preferably Mexican
2 eggs
1. In a medium sized saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until scalding.
2. Break the chocolate into pieces. Add to the hot milk along with the sugar and salt. Stir until melted. Beat with a wire whisk until frothy.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla. Continue to whisk.
4. Pour into 4 mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
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About The Author
Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that’s jam packed with family ideas, visit http://www.togetherparenting.com. To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp
Well, it’s almost that time of year again – the holiday shopping season is just around the corner. Have you thought about what you are going to give those people on your “hard to shop for” list? Instead of another tie for your dad or music CD for your sister, why don’t you give them a truly unique and invaluable gift? I’m talking about the gift of fitness.
The gift of fitness is something that you can give to just about everybody on your shopping list, from your parents, to your spouse, a friend, your siblings, an employee or co-worker, even your children. And it’s a gift that is invaluable to everyone. After all who doesn’t want to look better, feel better, and be healthier?
And, it’s a gift that you can truly feel proud to give. When you give someone the gift of fitness, you are helping him open a door to better health (both physically and mentally). I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift that shows the recipient how much you care about their well-being. By giving the gift of fitness you are providing them with unlimited health benefits.
Of course, we all know that exercise can help people stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great benefits of exercising? Daily physical activity reduces stress and can help you sleep better. Fitness has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis. Not to mention that exercise also improves self-esteem, increases stamina and ultimately helps you be able to do continuous work for longer.
I bet a lot of people on your shopping list would find these fitness benefits incredibly invaluable. If the people on your list are like most of us, they’ve probably even mentioned how they want to drop a few pounds of just get in better shape. In fact, experts say that about 62% of Americans are currently on a diet. By giving the gift of fitness you are helping provide them with motivation (which is one of the biggest obstacles in getting fit). They may feel more motivated to actually get
fit because they don’t want to feel guilty for ignoring such a thoughtful gift (personal training gift certificates and gym memberships are especially good for helping with motivation).
While fitness gifts are incredibly valuable, they don’t have to be expensive. Gifts can cost as little as $5 or range into the $100s of dollars. Here are a few suggestions in the various price ranges:
Under $15:
- Resistance Band (also makes a great stocking stuffer)
- Dumbbells
- Jump Rope (also makes a great stocking stuffer)
- Exercise Mat
$15 – $35
- Fitness Ball
- Online Personal Training Program gift certificate (Workouts For You offers custom designed programs for only $20)
- Home Exercise Video (also makes a great stocking stuffer)
- Heart Rate Monitor
Over $35
- Full dumbbell and barbell set
- Treadmill
- Bicycle
- Yoga Kit
Giving something that supports health and wellness will be appreciated for years to come and may even turn someone’s life around. The gift of fitness will make the recipient feel special – they’ll know that someone cared enough to give them the opportunity to improve their health. And, giving a gift that will help someone lead a healthier life is also one of the most rewarding gifts you can give. So why spend another holiday season searching for the perfect gift only to end up with the same old things like gift certificates or socks or books? Surprise everyone this year and give the gift that comes from the heart and truly keeps on giving throughout the New Year and beyond. And don’t forget yourself – you deserve the gift of fitness too!
About The Author
Lynn Bode is owner of http://www.workoutsforyou.com an Online Personal Fitness Training company. Workouts For You offers online exercise programs for weight loss, strength training, nutritional planning and race training. Personalized programs can be designed for all fitness levels.
The programs are customized to meet your individual needs and lifestyle (based on the extensive profile you provide when enrolling) and include a motivational accountability system and a huge library of exercise technique demos. You receive all the trainer benefits without the expensive price, and you can workout wherever and whenever you want.
To receive a FREE, no-obligation fitness evaluation, visit us at www.workoutsforyou.com. Need a quick gift –we provide gift certificate delivery within 24 hours of purchase.
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Fitness Tips and articles.
1. HAPPY HALLOWEEN
2. SUMMER’S END
3. SPOOKY
4. THE COLD SHOULDER
5. HALLOW’S EVE
6. BOBBING FOR APPLES
7. TRICK
8. OR TREAT
9. JACK O’ LANTERN
10.THE GREAT PUMPKIN
1. HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Of all the mainstay holidays that populate our year, Halloween is one of the oldest, dating back thousands of years. Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Easter and even Christmas are youngsters by comparison.
Follow me and I’ll take you on a trail that follows it through the ages to the costume and candy nighttime promenade we celebrate today.
2. SUMMER’S END
Originally starting out as an ancient Celtic holiday, Druidic priests regarded the day as the end of the year and a celebration for the year’s harvest. October 31 was the first day of a three-day celebration called Samhain, meaning “the end of summer”. It marked the passage from the season of the sun to the season of darkness, but was also a festival for honoring the dead. The Celts believed the laws of space and time were suspended on this night, allowing the spirit world to crossover and intermingle with the living world.
3. SPOOKY
As the story goes, the disembodied spirits of all those who had passed away throughout the preceding year would come back on that night in search of living bodies to possess for the coming year. Apparently, it was their only hope for an afterlife. To protect themselves, the Celtic priests developed spells, charms and ritualistic burning sacrifices to appease the wandering spirits that roamed the night.
4. THE COLD SHOULDER
Of course, being alive you certainly didn’t want to get possessed, so on the night of October 31st, people would put out the fires in their fireplaces and furnaces, to make their homes cold and undesirable to the wandering spirits. To complete the ritual, they would then dress in ghoulish costumes, parading around the neighborhoods causing ruckus and destruction in order to scare off the spirits looking for a warm body to inhabit.
5. HALLOW’S EVE
The word Halloween is a concoction. Samhain (pronounced sow-en, the sow rhymes with cow, that “en” part is important to remember) was combined with the November 1st Catholic holiday of “All Hallows Eve”, otherwise known as “All Hallows Day “or “All Saints Day”. The old English word “Hallow” meant to sanctify. It was the day for honoring the Catholic saints. By the 7th century AD it was adapted as “All Soul’s Day” to honor all the dead and not just the saints. Over time, these two celebrations were combined into one mega-fest by the growing populations of Europe. And abracadabra, sow-en and Hallows Eve merged creating Halloween. In Ireland it is sometimes referred to as Hallow E’en and others still spell it, Hallowe’en, further emphasizing the marriage of terms and holidays.
6. BOBBING FOR APPLES
Eventually the traditional Roman celebration on November 1st honoring Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees, was absorbed into the Halloween punch bowl. Bringing its own traits with it, Pomona’s symbol was an apple, which most likely inspired the party activity of bobbing for apples.
7. TRICK
Celebration of Halloween came to America with early Irish and Scottish immigrants. The belief in spirit possession had subsided compared to the early days and the act of dressing as ghouls, goblins, ghosts and witches was more like today’s ceremonious fun.
However, the anarchy still remained from the early Celtic days. Favorite tricks of the time were knocking over outhouses, especially with someone inside and unhinging fence gates, freeing farm animals and the like.
8. OR TREAT
The treat part of trick-or-treating originated with a 9th century European custom called “souling”. On “All
Souls Day”, early Christians would walk door-to-door begging for “soul cakes”, little squares of bread made with currants (yummy). You see, at the time, it was believed that the souls of the dead remained in limbo on earth and that prayers would speed the soul’s passage to heaven. The more soul cakes the beggars would get, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the givers.
9. JACK O’ LANTERN
An Irish folklore tells the tale of a lazy trickster named Jack. In his whole life he never made a single enemy, nor a single friend, never did an honest day’s work or performed a single selfless act for anyone. But despite his sloth and constant state of inebriation, he was able to foil the Devil’s attempt at taking his soul.
One Halloween Jack’s number was up and the Devil arrived to do his deed. Jake was of course having a pint at the pub and asked the Devil for permission to finish his ale. The Devil agreed and Jack struck up a conversation. He asked, “If you really have any power, you could transform yourself into anything, right? Even a shilling.” The Devil took it as challenge and transformed himself into a silver coin. Jack snatched up the coin and scratched a cross-shaped scar into the face. The power of the cross, being like kryptonite to Superman, made the Devil powerless and held him captive.
Jack bartered with Satan, he would free him if he would grant Jack another year of life so that he would have time to repent. Having little choice, the Devil made it so. A year passed, Jack being Jack, never got around to getting off his bar stool to repent.
Again it was Halloween, but Satan was a no show. Suddenly Jack knew why, presto-change-o, Jack was dead and standing at the pearly gates. He was getting to go to heaven. Ah, but before admittance he had to get the okay from St. Peter. Checking his records, St. Peter gave Jack the thumbs down, boo-hoo, for Jack had never performed a single selfless act. Off to hell Jack would go.
However, Satan wasn’t having any of it either. He was still ticked for getting tricked. Having nowhere else to go, the Devil gave Jack a single burning ember in a hollowed out turnip. With only this simple lantern to light his path, rejected from heaven and hell, poor Jack was doomed to wander in the darkness forever.
The Irish originally used turnips as their “Jack’s lanterns”. But in America, pumpkins were far easier to come by than turnips. Pumpkins also pulled a double duty, symbolizing the giant full moon of harvest. So, the man-in-the-moon and trickster Jack combined to form the carved face pumpkins of our Jack O’ Lanterns.
10. THE GREAT PUMPKIN
There you have it ghouls and goblins, the who’s and boos of why Halloween is one of our favorite times of year! Jokes and candy to all ye this Hallow’s Eve! After Halloween what is a vampire’s favorite holiday?Fangsgiving!
To read more articles by Chad, visit the American Pop Culture Encyclopedia at: American Pop Culture Encyclopedia.
If you would like to read this article, or others like it, on American Pop Culture Encyclopedia, please visit: Halloween Came From Where?”
Are you bored with the routine of city life? Do you yearn for a getaway from the hustle and bustle and put some excitement into your life? Do you hope to visit the places that have been aired over National Geographic Explorer and experience it for yourself? If your answer is yes to these questions, then adventure travel is just the thing for you!
Defining an Adventure Holiday
Ok, so you’ve decided that you want an adventure holiday. This leads you to the next question – what type of adventure holiday do you want? There is just so much variety and different perceptions of the word “Adventure” that people have come up with all sorts of activities to define this word. For example, there’s the nerve-wrenching bungee jumping sport with locations available to do this all over the world. If you are into water adventures, then white-water rafting may just be right for you. For mountain climbers, they can scale any mountain in the world, each providing the mountain climber distinctive challenges and excitement.
On the other hand, some people may consider watching a cultural parade in an exotic country as an adventure. For example, the annual carnival at Tobago offers an opportunity for visitors to join into their celebrations of street parties and multi-colored parades. Perhaps a cruise to Alaska to watch seals and whales is an adventure to some, while others may prefer a hot air balloon ride amongst the clouds. Those with an archeological spirit within them, may desire to visit the ruins of Anchor Wat or the Pyramids of Kulkulcan and call that an adventure.
Well, the possibilities are just endless. And the definitions are wider. In the end, as long as you had a good time, experienced a great getaway and have
opened your eyes to new sights and sounds, your objectives would then have already been met.
Preparing for your Adventure
Once you have made your decision on your destination and activity, the next step that you need to take is to gather as much information as you can on your destination. Things like health warnings, local hazards, visas and weather conditions are just some of the few things that you need to take note of. It would be advisable to join a forum to get to know others who have gone to the same location and have done the same thing, in order to get advice beforehand on things that you need to watch out for.
If your trip requires physical exertion, for example activities like mountain climbing, trekking, whitewater rafting or even bungee jumping; you will need to get yourself physically ready. Cross-training and focused exercise is advisable so that you don’t break down or sustain unnecessary injury during the course of your trip. Also, get a medical check-up before you go, to ensure a clean bill of health and fitness before you embark.
Finally, adventure travel is no doubt a great deal of fun and also a necessary ingredient to add variety to your daily routine. Once you have had a taste of a great adventure, you will no doubt look forward to your next adventure holiday! For more information and bookings on adventure travel america and overseas visit www.adventuretraveltips.com
Loreal Oliver is an advanturous traveller and preety crazy too. He travels extensively around the world since the age of 17 years and never gets tired. There is few places unexplored by him and he is always ready for another venture. He loves Photography and reading.
http://www.adventuretraveltips.com
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Why Benidorm for Christmas Dinner? Why not
What is so special about being abroad on Christmas day? What can you get abroad that you can not get in the UK or countries with the same climate at this time of year, a sun tan?
Things to do on Christmas day under the hot Spanish sun, play a round of golf/water ski/swim/ snorkel/sunbathe or to walk around half naked are just a few other things to make your Christmas extra special..
Overlooking the beach while eating Christmas lunch is a phenomenal experience; and should you decide to extend your stay through to the New Year then expect fireworks (Excuse the pun) as the clock strikes midnight all hell breaks loose in Benidorm.
Marvelous firework displays light up the sky over the hotels along the promenade beach front. New Year celebrations continue through to the early hours with bangs and explosions that can be heard all over the Costa Blanca.This is the only time you will get shivers down your spine in a hot country.
Why not have the best of both worlds if caravan/camping holiday’s are your forte. Benidorm has great camp sites and caravan parks. What a great start to your holiday with guaranteed sunshine by choosing to spend Christmas abroad.
Costa Blanca is an absolute fabulous choice for campers/ tourists. This coastal region of Spain has the cleanest golden sandy beaches any one could wish for on a holiday. It has been awarded the blue flag emblem so many times for cleanliness; surely that speaks volumes alone.An all year round resort with so much to do and plenty to see, Benidorm can accommodate the laid back I want to relax tourist or party animals wanting to dance the night away. This is definitely the place
for all the Michael Flatleys out there.
The Entertainment scene is lively colorful and action packed, all sparkle and glitter similar to a mini Las Vegas with neon lighting. Wonderful quaint little fishing villages surround the whole of the Costa Blanca, so if the gypsy blood in you urges you to travel then do it. Go see more of the beauty behind Benidorm.
No need to budget in Benidorm, you will find your holiday money will stretch far beyond belief especially on fully inclusive deals. A great gift for the kiddies on Christmas day as much ice cream as they can eat then down to the beach to bury mum/dad in the sand. Food is fantastic and so cheap, recipes to suit all European palettes.
Searching for romance or maybe looking to wed on the beaches of Benidorm, then this is the place with ideal settings for love.
For campers then it has to be Excalibur Caravan Park with its medieval look and feel where you will find statuettes of the sword in the stone and more. These statues stand higher than a house.A tranquil atmosphere greets you on entering this park with its Camelot theme. The sweet scented aroma of the flowers ousting out of the tubs and flowerbeds in the entrance alone is sight not to miss. Excalibur is a camper’s paradise.
Benidorm gives the tourist what they want and much more.
PSRemember if you’re going dancing in Benidorm; make sure it is with your partner if not holiday over.
Make your christmas a special one enjoy your festive celebrations on Benidorm beaches. Cheaper to go away than stay at home and into the bargain a chance to top up that sun tan. Cheap tickets can be found at http://www.benidormbeaches.com
The Expectation Trap
If you want to be singing Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” during the holidays, then fall head first into the holiday expectation trap.
When we set up our expectations too high, we have set ourselves up, and those around us, for disappointment.
Some common expectation traps:
1. This will be a perfect holiday.
2. Everyone will reconcile and get along.
3. This will be the best holiday yet.
The Comparison Trap
One of the very best holiday seasons I ever had was Christmas of 1980. It was the end of my first semester of graduate school, I had worked my butt off, was able to go home for an entire month and hang out with my friends and girlfriend.
I got caught in the trap of comparing the next several holiday seasons to that one and they all come up short.
All of us can tell a similar story. There was that one magical holiday that we would love to experience again, or better
yet even top it.
You can do again some of the same things from your best holiday ever. At the same time, your focus needs to be not on holidays past, but on this holiday.
The Hallmark Trap
So many people get caught up in this one.
We see the commercials and we believe the hype. In order for it to be a great holiday, it has to be something out of a Hallmark card or story.
The really important thing to remember here is that all those Hallmark holidays are scripted out, with as many takes as needed to get it right.
Our holidays are live.
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Wearing a sexy costume for Halloween is fun and exciting, and it allows you to transform into a naughty character of your choice. However, if you have exhausted all the sexy costumes such as the traditional nurse outfit, or many of the sexy lingerie costumes that you normally see 40 other people wearing, then read further and find out what’s new and sizzling hot this year for sexy Halloween costumes!
We have researched some of the top online costume suppliers to help you find fresh and new ideas for what to wear at your next Halloween party. Below we will list a combination of the latest women’s and men’s costumes available, and provide a brief description. Keep in mind that these are only a few options, so we will provide you a link to view more costume ideas at your leisure.
This year available at top online costume supplier sites, they have come out with a complete line of new adult sexy costumes, and here are some of their top picks!
Fallen Angel: One of the featured adult costumes on their site this year. This one is incredible and extremely sexy with the flowing full-length gray gown that will compliment every curve of your feminine body, lace and organza wings, and gray rose halo. This one expresses alluring beauty with a twist of darkness! All the bad boys out there looking to ask for forgiveness will fall to their knees when you walk through the door with this outfit.
Sexy
Swashbuckler: This is not for the guys; I meant it’s for the guys, but not to wear! Believe it or not, this sexy pirate costume couldn’t get any hotter, and if it could, watch out to all the men out there that get in her way!
After putting on this lace up front gartered dress, and throwing on the complementing hat, eye patch, and sash,you’re ready to take on any treasure hunt. Find yourself a pair of sexy pirate high-rise boots and you will have guys swabbing the deck at your command!
For the strong-minded women that enjoy superhero status, but still want to look incredibly sexy, consider being Supergirl! This outfit includes a super sexy blue crop top with attached red cape, Supergirl “S” logo, red skirt, gold belt, and matching boot tops. This sexy costume will have you combating villains with superhuman style.
If you have the time, view the entire “brand new” line of costumes, ranging from sexy adult maid, schoolgirl, and cheerleader costume, to a wide range of exotic costumes with fantastic detail in every outfit. Good luck, and hopefully you will find the right one for you that will turn some heads this Halloween!
About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Halloween Costumes” available at http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com A great source for Sexy Halloween Costumes online! You can easily find and compare halloween sites offering quality adult costumes, naughty costume, and sexy fantasy costumes in one convenient location.