“Are there still original ideas in the world?”

“They beat me to that bright idea; what else can I do?”

“I’ve failed many times before that I can’t think of anything else to solve this problem anymore.”

These statements reflect the thought of an individual who has given up on creativity. Sadly, a lot of people share this way of thinking. They never viewed creativity as a very useful tool to improve or improvise in life in all its diversity.

A situation that requires a solution can be approached in a variety of ways. There isn’t a single way fix to a problem. Being creative opens new horizons and can deliver many benefits. Creativity can sometimes be mistakenly interpreted as an obstinate attitude. Some people think that insisting on doing things in a different way is a sign of stubbornness.

Never hold back a good idea. Everyone is free to interpret his own unique way. Any interpretation by itself is creativity at work. A person who enjoys creative thinking can easily come up with innovative solutions for situations that require a quick fix.

For instance, your car got stalled on a deserted highway due to a leaky rubber hose on the cooling system. Tough luck! Of all places, it had to happen in the remotest places.

If you have some chewing gum in your pocket, it just might be a handy fix. Start chewing the gum and patch it on the leak. To keep the gum in place, tie it with a piece of rag. This quick fix might do the trick so you can drive several miles without an overheated engine, until you get to a service station to have the leaky hose replaced.

There used to be a television series entitled “MacGyver.” The main character is an extremely creative and crafty guy. Whenever he finds himself in a tight fix, he tries to find a way out of it with his quick fixes utilizing available materials around him.

In a way, creativity is a never-ending learning process. From learning, you gain untold benefits, which you can use in real life situations.

Being creative might require you to think out-of-the-box, venturing your mind into the uncommon. You can never be sure of your ideas until you try them. As long as there is no perceived danger involved, it is always worth a try.

Inventions are products of creative minds. The field of science, in whatever branch you may touch on, is invention itself. Without creative minds, science would have been a forlorn field of knowledge.

It must be noted that most adaptations to improve or improvise are aimed at improving current conditions. Upon analyzing honest applications of creativity, the ultimate intention is to achieve good for all and the will to build lasting peace. After all, this intention is what counts most.

Erich Fromm spelled it out clearly, “The conditions for creativity are: to be puzzled, to concentrate, to accept conflict and tension, to be born everyday, and to feel a sense of self.”

Forgiveness is something that can have a profound effect on our lives but it is also something that is often not fully understood. If we can truly forgive then we are able to transform our lives completely and move on to live a full and fulfilled life. On the other hand, if, like many people, we find it extremely difficult or impossible, we become entrapped in a dark prison and are not able to see the light of day. We are eaten up by past grievances and wrongdoings and are unable concentrate on the future. Our minds are full of dark harmful thoughts, our sense of being wronged is acute and we constantly revisit the scenes of these slights and hurts. Even As we go about our everyday activities this feeling of being hurt is like a shadow hanging over us. It is impossible to live an enlightened and carefree life if we feel we are restricted and hampered in some way. In most cases we do not know why we are feeling inhibited in some way, we just know we are.

Many of us like hanging on to our feelings of injustice or blame and harboring thoughts of revenge. They are like old friends to us and we are slow to replace them. As long as we are happy with these “friends” we shall never properly move on with our lives and grow and mature.

Forgiving ourselves is another important aspect to consider.  Many of us blame ourselves for something happening in our lives that had unfortunate consequences. We agonize over it and continually heap blame upon ourselves. We will accept no excuses for our behaviour and feel our resulting unhappiness was well merited. We continue through life in this sorry fashion, wallowing in our misery and steadfastly refusing to change our mindset. It is a fact that we find it easier to forgive others rather than ourselves.

What we need to remember is that, whether we like it or not, we ourselves are responsible for attracting either positive or negative events or happenings into our lives. This is an established fact and I have dealt with it in my book “A Better Tomorrow”. We have to realize that we have created the anger, guilt and hatred that may be in our lives. If we desire to change our circumstances we must firstly stop blaming either ourselves or others. If we are able to create and attract unhappy things in our lives then it follows that we can choose to fill our existence with good and positive things and literally create a better tomorrow.

It will take a lot of reflection and soul-searching to change our mindset. We must prepare a climate where we part with our old biased perceptions and feelings of hurt and guilt. We must see the destructive effect that these had on our lives to date. If we are serious about moving on and creating a better life for ourselves then we need to rise above petty grievances. We deserve a life that is free of recriminations and negativity.

Is it easy to learn to forgive? Of course not but the prize is so great that the effort to change will be well worth it. The process will take a lot of honesty and critical analysis. We have to be brutally frank with ourselves and see both sides to every argument or incident that upset us in the past. Did we ever give the other person the benefit of the doubt? Sometimes when we go into details about some old conflict we realise things were not simply black and white. We must constantly remind ourselves that bitterness and negative emotions block the free flow of life and impedes healing.

In my book I advocate being your own healer. I go through the steps required to gradually condition the mind to allow forgiveness to sprout and flourish. I do that through relaxation, visualization and affirmations.

When we get to the stage where we can truly forgive others and/or ourselves our lives will be transformed. We then begin to experience a freedom and joy that we did not believe existed. We have finally freed ourselves from the shackles that formerly imprisoned us. We enjoy life in a natural and unimpeded way. It can easily be done without resorting to medicine, chemical treatment or psychotherapy. The medicine may be habit forming and the psychotherapy very expensive.

A Better Tomorrow by Thomas Finn  on  www.amazon.com

ISBN-13978-1-58982-614-4

ISBN-101-58982-614-0

www.thomasfinnsbook.com

Easy to read and understand, Thomas Finn’s “A Better Tomorrow” can help you fine tune your approach to the life of your dreams.”

—Dreama Denver

Article Source:

http://www.articlealley.com/article_1807273_24.html

About the Author: Thomas Finn lives in Cork in Ireland. He is a Life Coach and motivational book author. He has written A Better Tomorrow which is an account of his experiences with affirmations and visualisation and how it transformed hid life. For details see www.thomasfinnsbook.com. Thomas is also  interested in practical psychology, local history, music, sport and socialising.

His painting web site is www.tomfinn.ie

http://www.thomasfinnsbook.com

Author: A bettertomorrow

At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many people with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because they become frustrated by challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for them to manage those challenges and move forward. 

Practicing positive thinking allows people with ADD to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows them to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself

It’s much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For

Stresses and challenges don’t seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions

A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member’s bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don’t waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes

Have you ever told a partner “You’re ALWAYS late!” or complained to a friend “You NEVER call me!”? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like ‘always’ and ‘never’ makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts

Your thoughts can’t hold any power over you if you don’t judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don’t follow it.

6. Squash the “ANTs”

In his book “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Dr. Daniel Amen talks about “ANTs” – Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like “Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me,” or “The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!” When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin’, Touchin’ & Squeezin’ (Your Friends and Family)

You don’t have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn’t touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity

By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person

Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination

If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It’s never productive, because it’s not rational or solution-oriented, it’s just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment – go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music. 

When it comes to the corporate world, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire thing to true productivity. There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but they’re uncommon ones and we are human and imperfect. To get these little things like stress under our skins won’t solve our problems. Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to admit that we’re turning to be workaholics than tell ourselves that we’re not doing our best.

We all have this favorite expression when it comes to being stressed out, and I wouldn’t bother naming all of them since it may also vary in different languages. But when it comes down to it, I think that it is how we work or even relax, for that matter that triggers stress. Ever been stressed even when you’re well relaxed and bored? I know I have.

Since stress and tension are unavoidable in life, it is important to find ways to decrease and prevent stressful incidents and decrease negative reactions to stress. Here are some of the things that can be done by just remembering it, since life is basically a routine to follow like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You can do a few of them in a longer span of time, but as they say– every minute counts.

Managing time

Time management skills can allow you more time with your family and friends and possibly increase your performance and productivity. This will help reduce your stress.

To improve your time management:

1. Save time by focusing and concentrating, delegating, and scheduling time for yourself. 

2. Keep a record of how you spend your time, including work, family, and leisure time. 

3. Prioritize your time by rating tasks by importance and urgency. Redirect your time to those activities that are important and meaningful to you. 

4. Manage your commitments by not over or under-committing. Don’t commit to what is not important to you. 

5. Deal with procrastination by using a day planner, breaking large projects into smaller ones, and setting short-term deadlines. 

6. Examine your beliefs to reduce conflict between what you believe and what your life is like. 

Build healthy coping strategies

It is important that you identify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction, and how you cope in a stress journal. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones-those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life.

Lifestyle

Some behaviors and lifestyle choices affect your stress level. They may not cause stress directly, but they can interfere with the ways your body seeks relief from stress. Try to:

1. Balance personal, work, and family needs and obligations. 

2. Have a sense of purpose in life. 

3. Get enough sleep, since your body recovers from the stresses of the day while you are sleeping. 

4. Eat a balanced diet for a nutritional defense against stress. 

5. Get moderate exercise throughout the week. 

6. Limit your consumption of alcohol. 

7. Don’t smoke. 

Social support

Social support is a major factor in how we experience stress. Social support is the positive support you receive from family, friends, and the community. It is the knowledge that you are cared for, loved, esteemed, and valued. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health.

Changing thinking

When an event triggers negative thoughts, you may experience fear, insecurity, anxiety, depression, rage, guilt, and a sense of worthlessness or powerlessness. These emotions trigger the body’s stress, just as an actual threat does. Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.

1. Thought-stopping helps you stop a negative thought to help eliminate stress. 

2. Disproving irrational thoughts helps you to avoid exaggerating the negative thought, anticipating the worst, and interpreting an event incorrectly. 

3. Problem solving helps you identify all aspects of a stressful event and find ways to deal with it. 

4. Changing your communication style helps you communicate in a way that makes your views known without making others feel put down, hostile, or intimidated. This reduces the stress that comes from poor communication. Use the assertiveness ladder to improve your communication style. 

Even writers like me can get stressed even though we’re just using our hands to do the talking, but having to sit for 7 or 8 hours is already stressful enough and have our own way to relieve stress. Whether you’re the mail guy, the CEO, or probably the average working parent, stress is one unwanted visitor you would love to boot out of your homes, especially your life.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

1. Know your purpose 

Are you wandering through life with little direction – hoping that you’ll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to your truth north every time.

This may seem tricky at first when you see yourself to be in a tight or even dead end. But there’s always that little loophole to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.

2. Know your values 

What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals for 2005 – check your goals against your values. If the goal doesn’t align with any of your top five values – you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

The number shouldn’t discourage you, instead it should motivate you to do more than you can ever dreamed of.

3. Know your needs 

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top four needs and get them met before it’s too late!

4. Know your passions 

You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

5. Live from the inside out 

Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regularly reflecting in silence. Commune with nature. Breathe deeply to quiet your distracted mind. For most of us city slickers it’s hard to even find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. In my case I often just sit in a dimly lit room and play some classical music. There’s sound, yes, but music does soothe the savage beast.

6. Honor your strengths 

What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three – if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.

7. Serve others 

When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit – your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them.

Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn’t always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.

This is a free bonus version of 101 Romantic Ideas. Feel free to forward to or make copies for your friends.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

101 ROMANTIC IDEAS by Michael Webb, Founder, TheRomantic.com

IDEA # 1

If your partner is going away for a few days, tell her that you are worried about her so you have organized a bodyguard to look after her. Then give her a small teddy bear.

IDEA # 2

Buy a packet of glow in the dark stars and stick the stars on the roof above your bed to spell out a message such as “I Love You” When the lights go down, your message will be revealed!

IDEA # 3

On a special occasion, buy your partner eleven real red roses and one artificial red rose. Place the artificial rose in the center of the bouquet.

Attach a card that says: “I will love you until the last rose fades.”

IDEA # 4

Buy the domain name of your partner’s name if it is available for example www.TanyaJohnston.com. Create a web page containing a romantic poem and a picture of a rose. When your partner is surfing the web, casually ask whether she has ever checked to see whether her domain name is taken. Let her type it in to discover her page.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 5

Buy a stylish hand mirror and give it to your partner as a gift. Include a card in the box saying

“In this mirror you will see the image of the most beautiful woman in the world.”

IDEA # 6

Take a book that your partner is reading and using a pencil, underline letters in a section of the book she has yet to read to spell out a love letter. For example in the following exert from a novel, the underlined letters come together to spell out the secret message “I love you”

The palace was a labyrinth, their passage through it tortuous and interminable. Initially they passed from building to building under the sodden sky. Steve’s feet ached; he might have laughed at himself, the tireless traveler, grown too soft from his months in the city to walk any proper distance. Abruptly the guards halted.

The underlined letters will make your partner curious and with a bit of luck she will write them down. Spend time to encode a proper message such as “Dear Belinda, I love you honey”

IDEA # 7

Have flowers delivered to your partner’s workplace. She will not only enjoy the flowers but will also receive comments and attention from her office mates which will add to her enjoyment.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 8

While walking with your partner on a weekend getaway, pick up a smooth stone and say that you’re going to keep it as a special memento of your trip. Later, have a message such as

“I Love Rebecca” engraved into the stone by a jeweler and give it to your partner.

IDEA # 9

Drive into the country, find a grassy hill and lie with your partner and look up at the clouds.

Play the kid’s game of looking for shapes in the cloud formations.

IDEA # 10

Get a piece of paper and some crayons. Draw a bright childlike picture with a smiley sun and two stick figures holding hands. Add labels with your two names pointing to the stick figures. Write “I Love You” inside a heart.

Next get a large formal envelope. Place your drawing inside and type up a formal address label of your partner’s work such as:

For the immediate and urgent attention of: Rebecca Jones

Level 20 Collins & Smith Solicitors New York

Mail it to your partner so she receives it in the middle of a busy day.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 11

Memorize one of Shakespeare’s love sonnets and recite it to your partner when you are in a romantic setting like a botanical garden. Don’t just suddenly start reciting poetry as this will just sound corny.

While you are cuddling your partner, ask in a joking manner, “So is now a good time to recite a love poem to you?” She will probably say yes, expecting you to come up with something of the “Roses are Red…” variety.

Instead, look into her eyes, smile and recite the sonnet while you gently stroke her face. Try the sonnet below. If this is too long, just memorize the first four lines and the last two.

Shakespeare Love Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed, And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed. But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest, Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 12

If your partner has to work late, take a lunch box and fill it with some of her favorite things such as chocolates, herbal tea, cookies, a small teddy bear.

Next, get a piece of paper and write

“Michelle’s Late Night Survival Pack”

Draw a big red cross below this and stick the paper to the top of the box. Tell your partner to open the box when things get really tough.

IDEA # 13

If you are walking by a park, visit the swings and give your partner a ride. This will often bring back happy memories from her childhood.

IDEA # 14

Leave a long stem rose where your partner will find it with a note on it saying: “Thank you for coming into my life.”

IDEA # 15

If your partner is starting a new job, buy a copy of “The Sound Of Music” sound track. Tape the song, “I Have Confidence” onto a tape and add your own message at the end of the song saying,

“Good Luck honey, I have confidence in you.” Give the tape to your partner to play on the way to work in the car.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 16

Buy a small decorated cardboard box, a sheet of colored tissue paper, some massage oil and a blank card.

Line the box with the tissue paper. Place the massage oil in the box and write the following message on the card:

I know a great Masseur. For an appointment ring: (Your Phone Number)

IDEA # 17

When your spouse has had a really long hard day, run a hot bath for her. Pour some fragrant bath oil into the tub and gently bathe her from head to toe. Carry her into the bedroom. Gently towel her dry and tuck her into a freshly made bed with a kiss on the forehead.

IDEA # 18

For this idea you will need a portable CD player. If you and your partner have a favorite song, get a copy of it on CD and take it with you when you go away for a romantic weekend.

When you are in a romantic spot, ask your partner if she would like to dance. Place one earpiece in her ear and one in your own and enjoy your private dance floor.

This technique is particularly effective if the romantic spot you have chosen is somewhere where people would not normally dance, for example, the top of the Empire State building at sunset or on top of a mountain during a camping trip.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 19

If your partner has a pet that she adores, at Christmas, in addition to buying a gift for your partner, buy a small present for her pet.

IDEA # 20

Go for a walk on the beach. Trace out the shape of a large love heart in the sand. Sit inside the heart and cuddle your partner as you watch the sun go down.

IDEA # 21

Invite your partner to go for a walk. Get a back pack and pack the following items: A picnic blanket, a selection of fruit in small containers eg. strawberries, grapes, watermelon and kiwi fruit. Some cheese and crackers. Some sandwiches. A small tin of caviar. A half bottle of champagne and two plastic champagne glasses. If your partner asks what’s in the backpack, just say a jacket and some lunch.

When you find a romantic spot, ask if she would like to stop for a bite to eat. Open your pack and remove the items one by one to set up your picnic. The last item you remove should be the glasses and champagne.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 22

If you play a musical instrument, create a romantic environment in which to play for your partner. For example, let’s say you play the saxophone. Contact your partner’s roommate and arrange for her to make sure that your partner steps out onto the balcony of their apartment at exactly 9.30pm.

Drive to her apartment and set up before hand. Place a large sparkler in the music holder of your sax and light it as your partner steps on to the balcony. Play something slow and romantic.

IDEA # 23

Use this idea if your partner is going to work and you are staying at home for some reason (Perhaps you are sick or are working from home).

Say goodbye to her at the front door and then immediately send an email to her work address. The email should simply say,

“Miss you already”. The email will be in her in-box when she does her morning email check.

IDEA # 24

If your partner has long hair, take the time to brush it using long slow strokes. This is particularly effective after she has had a shower or when she is getting ready for bed.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 25

On a special occasion like your partner’s birthday, plan a treasure hunt for her. The fun begins when you suggest going for a walk on the beach.

When you get to the beach, carry a small bag with you. The bag contains a bottle that you prepared earlier. Inside the bottle is a treasure map. To make the treasure map look authentic, burn the edges with a match.

As you are walking, slip the bottle out of your bag and let it drop to the sand near the water’s edge. You may have to pause and kiss your partner to do this unnoticed. Walk a little further up the beach then turn around and retrace your steps to ‘discover’ the bottle.

On the map have a dotted line leading from the beach to a nearby cafe. At the cafe, your partner won’t know what to look for so suggest that you just sit down and have a cup of coffee.

When the waitress delivers the coffee, she suggests to your partner that she might find what she is looking for under the coaster. When your partner turns over the coaster she finds a key taped to the bottom. Obviously you will have to set this up before hand with the waitress. Most waitresses will be happy to help a romantic guy out with this type of thing.

At the next stop on the map, your partner finds or is given a spade. Then at the last stop on the map your partner finds a large ‘X’ made up of two crossed sticks. She digs and discovers a locked box. The key unlocks the box to reveal her present.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 26

Invite your partner on a date by sending her a plain brown envelope containing a tape. On the tape, record the Mission Impossible sound track and then record yourself saying, “Your mission if you choose to accept it is to make your way to Café Venoli, 123 Park Lane at 18.30 Eastern Standard Time. There you will rendezvous with a stunningly attractive man wearing a red carnation. The future of the free world is now in your hands. This tape will self destruct in five seconds.” Then record ten beeps from a stopwatch and record yourself saying, “Would you believe ten seconds…” Its corny but it usually gets a laugh!

IDEA # 27

Contact your partner’s family and ask if there was anything she always wanted when she was a little girl.

For example if she always wanted a porcelain doll, buy one for her birthday. She will not only appreciate the gift but also the fact that you were thoughtful enough to find out what she always wanted.

IDEA # 28

Organize a professional photo shoot to obtain a portrait of the two of you as a couple. Frame the picture and put it somewhere prominent. Remember to make sure you give your partner plenty of notice so that she can get ready.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 29

Write a note saying “I thought of you today, and it made me smile.”

Leave the note somewhere where your partner is sure to find it.

IDEA # 30

For Valentines Day, buy your partner a charm bracelet with at least 14 charms.

Remove all the charms and let your partner ‘find’ one charm each day for the first fourteen days of February. On Valentines Day give her the bracelet and any remaining charms.

IDEA # 31

When you and your partner are in a shopping center or airport, stop at one of those booths that allow you to take an instant photo and print them out as stickers.

Choose a romantic background and kiss your partner while the photo is being taken.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 32

If your partner has voice mail at work or on her mobile, leave a message saying

“Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you.”

She will appreciate this anytime but especially when she is going through a rough period.

IDEA # 33

Organize a mystery trip for you and your partner. Some travel agents will organize mystery packages where the destination of the trip is kept secret until you are actually on the plane or arrive at the destination.

IDEA # 34

Buy some rose petals and place them behind the sun visor on the passenger side of your car. Take a post it note and write, “I Love You” on it and stick it to the back of the sun visor.

As you are driving to a romantic destination, look at your partner and tell her she has a mark on her cheek. She will pull down the sun visor to use the mirror and be showered in rose petals and see your note.

IDEA # 35

If your partner is going on a trip, pack a small present into the corner of her suitcase that she will find when she is away.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 36

When you and your partner are having an anniversary, buy two champagne glasses and get them engraved with your names and the date, for example:

Mal and Kate 7 May 2002

Go to the restaurant where you have made your reservations and request that when you and your partner arrive that your champagne be served in your special glasses. This will be a great surprise for your partner and a wonderful keepsake for you both.

IDEA # 37

On a special occasion such as your partner’s birthday, buy twenty-four red roses. Arrange to meet her at a specific spot in a shopping mall before going out for dinner. Get to the shopping mall early and position yourself around the corner from your meeting spot.

Ask a guy who is walking by whether he would mind helping you out. Give him a rose, point out your partner and ask him to walk up to her and say, “Happy Birthday Meagan” and give her the rose and then walk away. Repeat this with eleven other guys. Choose guys who are not too good looking and choose guys of different ages. A nice touch is to have the last rose delivered by a small child who could even by accompanied by his parents.

After the first twelve flowers have been delivered, approach your partner with the twelve remaining roses.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 38

Always listen for things that your partner reminisces about and jot them down somewhere. For example, perhaps she talks about the ice cream that she had from a particular shop when she was a little girl.

When a special occasion comes along, check your list of things that your partner talks about and try to recreate one of them, for example, visit the shop and buy a tub of ice cream making sure that the name of the shop is on the container.

IDEA # 39

Create a love montage by collecting some photographs of you and your partner, some ticket stubs of places you have visited and any other small odds and ends that have special meaning to you both.

Take these items and get them professionally framed in a three dimensional montage. Alternatively, buy a frame and create a simple montage yourself.

IDEA # 40

Buy an ornately carved wooden box which is lined with green or red felt. Find an old fashioned key and place it in the box.

Next, get a small gold plaque and have it engraved with the words

The Key To My Heart

Fix the plaque to the inside of the top of the box so that it can be read when the box is opened.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 41

Buy a tree with your partner and plant it in a special spot. Each year on your anniversary, have a glass of champagne next to your tree and talk about how your love and the tree have grown.

IDEA # 42

If you shower first in the morning. Steam up the bathroom and write a message such as “Pete Loves Kathy” on the mirror for your partner to read when she uses the bathroom. This also works on car windows when it’s cold.

IDEA # 43

As a special gift, name a Star after your partner. A number of astronomical agencies allow individuals to name stars and you receive formal documentation identifying the star that you have named. See the following website for details:

http://www.theromantic.com/gifts.htm

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 44

Find a comic strip that relates to something that you and your partner have shared together, for example perhaps you both work in the same office and you find a Dilbert cartoon that relates to the politics at your workplace.

Enlarge the cartoon using a photocopier and use white-out to cover the cartoon text. Type up your own text that relates to you and your partner and paste it in the appropriate places and then photocopy the cartoon again so that it looks like your text was the actual text of the cartoon.

For an added touch, get your customized cartoon laminated before giving it to your partner.

IDEA # 45

When you and your partner are enjoying a restful time away, organize to wake up early one morning and go to a scenic spot to watch the sun rise.

This may seem difficult but it is something which is definitely worth doing at least once. Seeing a new day being born is something really special to share with your partner.

IDEA # 46

When you have access to a spa, create a romantic atmosphere by placing some candles around the tub and some rose petals floating on the surface of the water.

As your partner enjoys the water, serve champagne and chocolate covered strawberries before joining her.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 47

Create some love coupons that your partner can exchange for romantic favors.

For example you could have a coupon that reads

This coupon entitles the bearer to: One Foot Massage. Use by 07/08/2045

Use a date many years in the future if you want to suggest that you and your partner will always be together. Get 50 love coupons at this site: http://www.theromantic.com/lovecoupons.htm

IDEA # 48

On a warm summers night, organize a backyard picnic. Spread a picnic blanket on the ground and get together some snacks, chocolates and champagne. Lie down on the blanket with your partner and gaze up at the stars together.

IDEA # 49

Next time it is raining really heavily, go for a walk with your partner. Forget the umbrellas and the raincoats. Run through the streets together, jump in puddles and get totally saturated.

Pick her up, twirl her around and kiss her while the rain falls. Taste the water off her face and hold her close.

When you get back home have a hot shower and then share a warm drink preferably in front of an open fire.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 50

Organize a hot air ballooning trip as a special surprise. Most trips begin with a glass of champagne before you float over the countryside with your partner.

IDEA # 51

When your partner is sitting at a table or desk, come up behind him or her and give her a back, shoulder and head massage. Finish with a gentle kiss on the cheek.

IDEA # 52

Place an ad in the paper on a normal day saying something like:

Dear Amanda, With you by my side, everyday feels like Valentines Day. Thank you for being you. Love, Graham

IDEA # 53

Buy a book that you and your partner are both interested in reading.

Read one chapter each night in bed with each of you taking turns to read out loud.

This can be a great alternative to television.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 54

When your partner is having a shower or bath, take her towel and place it in the dryer to make it really warm and then wrap her up in it when she is done.

IDEA # 55

Photocopy your hand and fax a copy of it to your partner with a message saying, “Do ya wanna hold hands?”

IDEA # 56

Next time you order a pizza, ask to have it cut into a heart shape before it is delivered to your home.

IDEA # 57

Buy a box of chocolates and very carefully open one side of the plastic wrap so that you can gently slide the box out. Open the box and place a love note inside. Then slide the box back into its plastic wrap and reseal it.

IDEA # 58

Rent a tandem bike and go for a ride with your partner. At the end of your ride have a picnic in the park.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 59

If you are away on a business trip, document a day in your life for your partner. For example:

‘A Day In The Life Of Mark’

6am: Just woke up and thought of you – Wish you were laying next to me. Well, I better get ready for work.

7am: Am on the train. It’s crowded; everyone looks like they are half dead. I miss ya heaps.

8.30am: Have just organized my day, it’s going to be a busy one.

9.30am: Am in the middle of a really boring meeting. I am trying to concentrate on this months sales figures but I keep thinking of your beautiful eyes.

…

6.30pm: Thank goodness the day is over. I am counting the days until we’re together again.

Send your letter to your partner. This is a wonderful way to tell your partner how often you think about her during the day and to share your life with her in a special way.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 60

Speak to your partner’s family and find out what her favorite book was when she was a little girl.

Buy a copy of the book and read it to her in bed.

IDEA # 61

Write an email story with your partner. Start the ball rolling with an email that says something like:

Chapter 1: This is the story of Pete and Kate who met at a friend’s engagement party one summer afternoon.

The email can then continue to develop the beginnings of a story which can be completely fictitious or a combination of fiction and reality.

Finish your email by saying, “And now for Chapter 2, its over to you…”

IDEA # 62

Buy a kite and on a windy day find a park and fly the kite with your partner.

If you can afford it, buy a large kite that you control with two hand lines. These kites are great fun.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 63

When you and your partner are planning to go out for dinner, suggest that you have an ‘Adventure Dinner’. Here’s how it works

Set the timer on your stopwatch to count down twenty minutes. Next, ask your partner to choose a number between 5 and 10. Lets say she chooses 7.

Give your partner a coin and tell her that at every 7th intersection, she has to flip the coin. If it is heads you will turn left. If it is tails you will turn right. When your watch timer goes off you have to both keep a look out for the nearest place to eat.

This is a fun way to get out and about and try new places to eat.

IDEA # 64

When you and your partner are going somewhere special, get your camera, buy a new roll of film and wait for her to come out of the house.

When she appears, act like a professional photographer and go wild taking pictures of her with the flash. While you are taking photos, bombard her with questions as though she was a famous actress and you are trying to get a scoop for the magazine you represent.

Not only is this fun but you will also get some great photos to look back on together.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 65

When your partner is sick at home, take a day off to look after her.

Rent some videos, make her some soup, wrap her up in a blanket and just be with her.

IDEA # 66

When you are having dinner one night, ask your partner about the things she has always wanted to do.

Later on, write these things down so you don’t forget them and over time try and help make them happen. For example she may say that one thing she has always wanted to do is swim with dolphins. Find out where she can do this and organize it for her as a special surprise.

IDEA # 67

Rent the video, “An Affair To Remember”. Buy some popcorn, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries and have a special film night at home.

IDEA # 68

Go to the drive in but instead of sitting in the car, spread a picnic blanket on the ground. Light a candle and buy popcorn. Cuddle your partner and enjoy the film.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 69

Create a personalized magazine cover for your partner. To do this, get hold of a good quality photo of her and a copy of a popular entertainment magazine.

Take these two items to a print shop or graphic design agency. Ask them to scan your partner’s photo and develop a magazine cover with the lead story being, “The 30 most beautiful women of 2003″.

When you get the cover, stick it on the front of a real magazine and ask your local shop owner whether you can place it in the magazine rack. Organize to meet your partner at the shop before going out. When she arrives, tell her that you are just looking for a magazine. Let her browse the rack and discover her magazine.

IDEA # 70

Fill the trunk of your car with helium balloons. Drive to a romantic spot in the country to go for a walk. The ideal spot is somewhere up high with a clear view of the surrounding countryside.

Get out of the car and act as though you are about to set off for your walk. Make sure your partner is closer to the car than you and then throw her the keys and ask if she can get your jacket from the trunk while you tie your shoelace.

When she opens the boot the balloons will be released. You can also place a sign saying, “I Love You” on the inside of the trunk so that it will be revealed when the trunk opens.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 71

On a special occasion create a unique present for your partner by buying two white t-shirts and some fabric paint. Draw half a heart and the letters LO on one t-shirt and the half a heart and the letters VE on the other t-shirt.

When you walk down the street holding each other close, the heart will be made whole and your message of love revealed. An example is shown below.

IDEA # 72

On a hot summers day, buy two large water pistols and take them to the beach with you.

Pull them out and throw one to your partner and then have a huge water fight.

IDEA # 73

Share your food with your partner. When you go out for a meal, hold a forkful up to her mouth and say, “You’ve got to try this.”

Sharing your food and even feeding each other is a great way to become closer as a couple.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 74

Compliment your partner in public. If you are talking in a group and it is appropriate to the conversation say something like, “Kate makes the most incredible roast.” Squeeze her hand while you are talking about her.

IDEA # 75

Arrange a special day off from work. Start with breakfast, go for a walk in the park, go shopping, have afternoon tea in a cozy cafe and finish off with a romantic dinner.

IDEA # 76

Buy a gift voucher for a facial at a local beauty clinic and place it in a card accompanied by the message,

A special treat for someone special

IDEA # 77

Even if you are just going down the road to buy some milk, act as though you are returning home after a major adventure.

Say something like, “Well it was touch and go there for a while with the snow and the wolves but I made it!” and then give your partner a huge bear hug.

TheRomantic.com

101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 78

Send your partner a thank-you note. For example:

Dear Bec, Thanks for helping me move house. Having you there made a huge difference. I really appreciate your help and your love. Tim

IDEA # 79

If you have kids, organize for them to stay at their grandparents for the weekend.

On Friday evening, announce that the weekend is yours and start planning how you are going to spend your special time together.

IDEA # 80

Give your partner a magic gift box. Every month, place a new small gift in the box for her to discover.

IDEA # 81

Research your partner’s favorite hobby and identify a gift that is really useful for her. The more specialized the gift the more impact it will have. Talk to her friends and family and use the Net to find the information you need.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 82

Go to a masquerade ball. Send an invitation to your partner telling her to meet you at a specific spot at the stroke of eight.

Wear a mask and when you meet her, don’t say a word. Just take her hand and lead her on to the dance floor.

IDEA # 83

On Thursday, ask your partner to pack a bag for the weekend. Tell her she’ll need casual clothes and walking shoes but don’t tell her what you have got planned.

Pick her up after work on Friday and drive to a romantic bed and breakfast for a romantic weekend of relaxation.

IDEA # 84

When you are relaxing at home one night, take two large sheets of paper and some pencils or crayons. On each piece of paper, draw the outline of a large crystal ball sitting on a stand.

Tell your partner to look into her crystal ball and draw what she sees five years in the future. Do the same thing yourself and then come together to share and discuss your drawings.

IDEA # 85

Create a loving nickname for your partner. This could be the name she was called by her family when she was a little girl or something that is special just for the two of you.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 86

If you are musically inclined, write a love song for your partner. Call it something like “Natasha’s Song”.

Produce a professional looking manuscript, print it out and get it framed. Record your song onto CD and take a photo of your partner and get a print shop to create a CD cover if you can’t create one on your computer.

Place the framed manuscript and the CD in a box and give it to your partner as a special gift.

IDEA # 87

Pick your partner up for a date and blindfold her before driving to a special destination.

Try to make the destination something really unexpected like a table set up at the top of a cliff or a dinner on a boat or old-fashioned ship. It needs to be something that will have an impact when she removes the blindfold.

IDEA # 88

Have a really big pillow fight. Set up for it by buying two pillows that are filled with feathers. Put holes in the pillows so the feathers will start to fly and then attack your partner when you feel the time is right.

IDEA # 89

Get out into the great outdoors. After a day of hiking, build an open fire. Sit by the fire with your partner, toast marshmallows and watch as the embers of the fire climb into the night sky.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 90

If your partner uses a computer, take a photo of the two of you and get it scanned at a print shop (or scan it at home) and store it on disk as a .bmp file.

Transfer the file onto your partner’s computer and set the image as the computer’s wallpaper.

To do this on a Windows machine, select Start / Settings / Control Panel / Display. Choose the Background tab and click the Browse button to find your .bmp file.

IDEA # 91

If you are artistically inclined, do a life drawing course, practice until you are confident and then ask your partner to pose for you.

IDEA # 92

Take your partner to a carnival or festival. Try the following:

(1) Food festival (2) Jazz festival (3) Wine festival (4) Music festival

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 93

Develop a video time capsule. Start with the two of you sitting together on a couch introducing the video. Say something like, “It is currently July 14th 2002. We have decided to make this video so that we can watch it together on our 25th wedding anniversary.”

Then have a section where you talk to the camera by yourself, telling the camera how you feel about your partner and why you love her. Get her to do the same thing. When you are done, place the video in a bank vault and on your 25th wedding anniversary you will be able to look back in time and reminisce about everything that you have shared.

IDEA # 94

If you are in a secluded spot near a beach or lake and the weather is warm, go for an impromptu skinny dip with your partner.

IDEA # 95

This one is great for long distance relationships. It takes a bit of organization but if you can pull it off, it is sure to be a surprise that your partner will never forget. Organize to catch up with her regularly over the internet using either a chat room or an Instant Messenger program. Then arrange a secret trip to meet her without telling her that you’re coming.

When it comes time for your usual chat over the Net, arrange for a close friend back home to log on using your nickname while you position yourself outside her door. Phone your friend on your mobile and be speaking to him in real time. Tell him to type in the following sentence, “I really miss you honey, I wish I could be there and just reach out and knock on your door.” As soon as he has sent the message, knock on the door!

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 96

Buy your partner a gold fish in a bowl and give it to her with a card saying,

“Of all the fish in the sea, you’re the fish for me!”

IDEA # 97

Go for a drive either early in the morning or at dusk. Get a CD/tape that contains sounds of nature such as Sounds Of the Rainforest and play it as you hold your partner’s hand and drive.

IDEA # 98

The day before your partner’s birthday buy some helium balloons, streamers and flowers and hide them in a closet.

When your partner has fallen asleep, string the streamers around the room and bring out the balloons and flowers. Place them around the bed so that your partner wakes up to a real birthday surprise.

IDEA # 99

Spend a leisurely afternoon with your partner in a large book shop such as Borders where you can browse the shelves, share a coffee and sit down to peruse your purchases.

IDEA # 100

If you can afford it, hire a sports car for a weekend. Pick up your partner and give her a long white cashmere scarf to wear with her sunglasses. Go for a drive along the coast with the top down.

TheRomantic.com 101 Romantic Ideas

IDEA # 101

Serve your partner breakfast in bed. Try the following:

(1) A poached egg in the shape of a heart – you can pick up a heart shaped poacher at most shops that sell kitchen wares.

(2) French toast with cinnamon and maple syrup. (3) Cereal. (4) Fruit juice. (5) A fresh flower.

Books By Michael Webb:

What you ABSOLUTELY MUST know about the person you are with. This ebook also comes with a free 300 Days of Questions e-course. www.questionsforcouples.com

Have you ever had a dull date? No more. This book features nearly 6 years worth of creative date nights. Tips on first dates and asking someone out for a date too. www.300creativedates.com

TheRomantic.com

101 Romantic Ideas

Hundreds of fun, creative, inventive and wild tips to spice things up. Written in Michael’s typical, classy style – none of the material is raunchy, immoral or in bad taste. Includes over a dozen lovemaking positions to try out. www.500lovemakingtips.com

Less than 1% of marriages rate themselves as “blissful.” What are the secrets of the most successful marriages? www.50secrets.com

Unknowingly, the most way people have been taught to date actually destroys relationships. If you want to find a perfect partner and date the right way towards marriage, you must read this. www.datingbible.com

The most popular book on proposal ideas. Over 100 winning stories – photographs included. www.howtoproposemarriage.com

TheRomantic.com

101 Romantic Ideas

A sequel to Michael’s wildly popular 50 Secrets of Blissful Relationships. Contains many more insightful tips and advice by one of the world’s most trusted relationship experts. www.50secrets.com

This #1 best-seller has been called the “Bible of Romance.” Packed with over 200 pages of creative and inexpensive ideas on ideas for gifts, dates, celebrations and ways to say “I love you”. Sold in bookstores everywhere including Amazon.com

Not all relationships are worth saving or maintaining. If you are in a toxic relationship and the relationship is draining you, it is probably time to consider leaving the relationship, unless your partner is willing to change his or her ways.

But how can you tell if you are in a toxic relationship in the first place. There is a difference between a toxic relationship and a relationship that still can be saved.

Well, to find out if you are in a toxic relationship, here are a few questions that you may want to ask yourself.

1) Does your partner take pleasure in insulting or humiliating you in front of others?

2) Does your partner say he/she loves you but his/her action shows otherwise?

3) Is your partner a possessive person such that he/she controls your every single move? Maybe he/she check you mobile phones or emails without your permission?

4) Does your partner make you feel worthless so that you will be dependent on them?

5) Does your partner expect you to change yourself in order to please him or her?

6) In general, does your partner abuse you physically or even emotionally?

If you answer yes to most or all of these questions, you may be in a toxic relationship, especially when abuse is involved.

Leaving a toxic relationship is not always easy for many different reasons. First, your partner may be the sole bread winner and you are financially dependent on them. If you have children, the situation is even more difficult.

If you are in this situation, it may be time to seek help. You may want to ask for help from your family members, friends or even neighbors. Do not confront your partner alone if he is prone to violence. It is not easy but you may have to do it eventually for the sake of yourself and your children.

Article Source:

http://www.articlealley.com/article_1274470_35.html

Author: Jason Jee

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and this year, you want to make sure it’s a memorable one.

Chocolate and cards just won’t cut it.  You want your loved one to feel special, to see that you put in a real effort this year, and most importantly – to demonstrate your love and commitment to your partner.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first Valentine’s Day together or your 20th, it’s the one day a year reserved for couples.  It gives us a chance to slow down the pace of the daily grind and to focus our attention on the one person who means the world to us.

The origin of Valentine’s Day is steeped in mystery but legend has it that Saint Valentine sent the first Valentine’s card while locked away in prison after trying to help Christians escape the harsh Roman prisons.

The valentine’s card he sent out was to a young woman who just happened to be his jailer’s daughter.  She visited with him secretly during his confinement. Because they didn’t have long to talk, he would hand her a small card with loving messages, and the beginning of what we now call “Valentine’s Cards”.

Saint Valentine sent his final card the morning of his execution with the scribbled words,  “Forever in life and death, your Valentine”.

Today, we celebrate Valentine’s Day in a similar way, with the stores filled with your choice of heart filled delicacies, stuffed teddy bears, romantic poetry inked into the material of countless Valentine’s cards that speak to the heart and represent our deepest emotions.

This guide, the “Romantic Ideas For a Memorable Valentine’s Day” was written for the romantic in all of us, and even if you don’t think you have what it takes to pull off an incredible memorable Valentine’s Day, you might be surprised at just how thoughtful you really can be once you’re given a bit of direction.

With these ideas, you will leave an everlasting impression in the mind and heart of your loved one.

From classic and traditional ideas that are always sure to win their hearts to unusual and creative ideas that will add a spark to your relationship, you will have everything you need to celebrate your love in a very special and unique way.

Linen Romance

One of the most traditional and classic ways of starting off a special Valentine’s Day starts before we even put our feet to the ground.   Serving the love of your life breakfast in bed is not only romantic, but it will put her in the right mood for the remainder of the day.

Even if you both have busy schedules and full work days, you can treat her to a special breakfast a bit earlier before you usually awaken.  Set your alarm clock and rise up, you are going to make her an incredible breakfast in bed!

You could also switch it up to dinner in bed, which can be even more romantic as you’re both winding down from the day, the lights are low and soft music is playing in the background.

Choose some comfortable (but sexy!) sleep wear, crawl into bed and share a romantic meal. Make sure that you set up the right atmosphere with clean sheets, scented candles, light music and turn off the T.V or phones. You want a quiet and intimate dinner between the two of you.

What you eat isn’t important, and you can adjust the menu based on your partner’s personal preferences.  Make sure it’s her (or his!) favorite meal, and make it last!  Start off with finger food appetizers like fruits including strawberries, mangoes or raspberries. You can add biscuits, French bread or home made rolls (if you’re up to the task!) into the mix, accompanied with cheeses and perhaps dip.

You could twist things up by creating a romantic picnic lunch by spreading a blanket on your rec room floor (or rent out a hotel room for the night so that you’re able to give your partner a change of scenery).

Load a picnic basket up with your favorite goodies and make sure to set up a chilled bottle of wine or champagne.  If you aren’t sure what to purchase, consider a fruit medley wine such as strawberry wine.

Consider packing in a dessert, either whipped cream and strawberries, cupcakes with sprinkles, Valentine’s cookies, anything that really celebrates the mood and represents your special day.

After your dinner, offer your partner a massage with oils to complete this romantic excursion.

 Music Of Your Heart

Music plays a significant role in every romantic setting and what better way to show your love than by creating a compilation CD for your loved one with all of the songs that remind you of them.

With the accessibility of audio technology, you could record a special message at the beginning or end of the CD that describes what they are about to hear OR inject special messages in between songs that describe why that specific song reminds you of them, and what they mean to you.

Purchase printable CD covers from your local store and create a personalized cover for your CD.  Add their name to it and the date and year, so that you can both remember the exact Valentine’s Day in which it was given.

The songs don’t have to be just the regular old songs either.  Create a more personalized version of your CD by including songs from movies you’ve watched together, or from your first date.

What was the song that was playing on the radio when you had your first kiss? First dance?

If you’re married, include music from your wedding, from the birth of your children.

Music is part of all of our lives and it lives in the backdrop of our memories.  Bring it to the forefront, show them you have been paying attention and give them a homemade gift that they will always remember.

Consider slipping the CD in their car for a fun surprise and make sure to wrap it up in pretty red paper!

 Bubbly Intimacy

One of the most memorable Valentine’s Day that I have ever had was so simple to create but yet so incredibly intimate.  My lover had a bubble bath waiting for me when I got home from work.

Scented candles adorned all four corners of the tub, and a brand new fuzzy bathrobe, slippers and massage oils were carefully placed in a gift basket by the tub.

Oozing sensuality, I was instructed to get in and relax. He then began washing my body, starting with my shoulders, back, legs and even my hair.

This is the stuff that dreams are made of, and it’s not only easy but affordable to set up.

Consider leaving your lover to soak and relax while you escape to set up a delicious meal.  There’s nothing better after a warm and relaxing bath than a hearty meal to finish the night off.

If it’s later in the day, lead them into the bedroom where you have the traditional setting of flowers, chocolates, music and serenity, while you dance with them (slowly!).  All your partner wants on Valentine’s Day is your attention, your acknowledgement, and of course, you.  The best memories are always from the simple gestures of love and devotion, so don’t over think it.

Look deep into their eyes, give them your full attention.  Take your time with every little thing you do.

When washing their body, circle their skin slowly with a new, clean sponge.  Wash her or his hair thoroughly including combing it out, and massaging the scalp.

Purchase bath oils that will provide a relaxing and silky bath.  Try out a fun and sensual bath game, and make sure to warm up her towel by throwing it in the dryer for a few minutes before she (or he) is ready to get out.

If your partner prefers showers, you can spice it up just the same.  Opt for a nice, candlelit shower with music, candles or incense.

You can have a lot of fun with this and it will be a night to remember.

 Messages in A Bottle

If you have trouble being romantic, or perhaps you even feel awkward expressing your love openly, this is a fantastic way of getting your message across.

Messages in a bottle will take your lover back to the romance novels of her youth, and represent secret love that every woman will melt to.

You can purchase a message in a bottle from www.personalcreations.com  where you can personalize the etched message that will be carefully entered into the plastic bottle.

If you are considering the previous romantic idea of an intimate bath together, you can always leave the message in the tub where they can playfully find it.

You can also hand write the messages and leave them around for your partner to find (think, mirrors, car, her or his shoes!  – Anywhere and everywhere so that the entire day is filled with finding love notes from you.

One of my friends put their own little twist to the messages of love idea.  Rather than just messages professing his love, he created a romantic treasure hurt where each message was a clue as to what to do next.  The “treasure” led her to a romantic picnic dinner, and following, a sunset walk.

Planning out a romantic and memorable Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.

On this day above all others, it truly is the thought that counts.

 Go Ahead, Rub It In

Another classic and romantic idea pulled straight from Saint Valentine’s little black book!  It’s no wonder that massages are so incredibly adored as our skin is the largest sensory organ in the entire body.

To prepare, you will need to purchase massage oil or lotion, keeping in mind that your partner may prefer specific scents.

The next step is to set up a massage “bed”, which could be a flat tabletop, a padded exercise mat laid firmly on the ground (make sure to place a warm blanket or thick towel on top of it to make it more comfortable).

Make sure to eliminate any noise and distractions, by turning off phones, cell phones and other mobile devices, shutting off the T.V and if you have children, call Grandma to baby-sit!  This is a time meant for just the two of you and you want it to be as peaceful and relaxing as possible.

Also keep in mind that you want the temperature in the room to be comfortably warm.  Place a few warm towels near the area as well so that you can wipe your hands, prop your partners head or body more comfortably and in case of spills.

Turn on some romantic music, based on your partner’s personal preference. If she or he likes jazz, play some!

If they’re a classical or country fan, load up a CD with their favorite music. Just keep it turned down.

You want it to be in the background with your hands in the forefront.  Work your way all over your partner’s body, taking your time.

Men: Read that again, take your time!  You want this to truly be a pleasurable experience for her, and for her to feel as though there is no hidden agenda. You are there to show her that she means the world to you and that you want to make her feel relaxed.

Consider adding fun props to the massage, including feathers, silk scarf or even a blindfold.

Get creative and put your own signature mark on this special night.

 She’s Got That Loving Feeing

Ladies, don’t let your man fool you!  He wants a romantic Valentine’s Day as much as you do.  In fact, men often have the need to feel loved and desired even more than us women!

So, to kick off his Valentine’s Day in style, here are a few ideas to get you started:

Gifts Galore

Today is the day to spoil him rotten!  You want to start by following the classic traditions of showcasing your love on this very special day.

Consider a stuffed animal and if he’s a sports fan, try for a teddy bear wearing a jersey or t-shit with his favorite sportsteam logo.

Buy him something he’s been wanting but would likely never buy for himself, like a music CD, DVD, clothing, or anything else that is affordable and bound to be a hit.

Don’t forget the chocolates, a romantic card or get a little wild and have a sexy photo taken of yourself that is framed and ready to deliver!

Top it off with a romantic dinner, and it doesn’t have to be fancy food either!  A cold beer, hot pizza and his favorite T.V show or movie will hit the spot!

If you’re in the position to purchase tickets to a game, event or concert (or anything else that takes him out on the town for a memorable date), do it!

You can keep the theme going by purchasing him items with hearts but remember, you want him to be able to enjoy these items long after Valentine’s Day so one pair of heart boxers or a small pack of heart shaped guitar picks is plenty!

Just don’t forget about him. It’s been deemed a “woman’s holiday” but we both know, it’s not, or rather it shouldn’t be.

He deserves to be loved, adored and pampered just as much as we do, so plan out a special “guy date”, and show him that you want Valentine’s Day to be about showing him how much you care.

 Take A Walk On The Wild Side

One of the greatest obstacles for both men and women isn’t in wanting to express the way that we feel about our partners but in being ABLE to express ourselves to the degree we wish we could.

This year, you are going to spice it up by shocking, impressing and leaving your partner dazed and confused as you release that sexual beast inside of you!

Consider buying sexy lingerie, something you wouldn’t normally wear. You want him to expect the unexpected!

There is no greater way to express your desire for your partner than by going all out and doing something creative and perhaps, unusual for you.

This is also the best way to spice up a relationship especially if you have been together for many years.

Buy a blindfold, and when he (or she) enters the room, be in control.   Blindfold your partner and allow them only the sensation of feeling, smelling and tasting you.

No sight!  This is perfect for those of you who are self conscious of your bodies and have the desire to be wild and free but aren’t “quite there yet”.

When blindfolded you can both experience each other in a whole new way, and trust me, your partner will never forget it!

Blend the evening with sensual tastes, including strawberries dipped in whipped cream and small chocolates.  Feed your partner, and take things slowly. You want the evening to last.

Tease your partner with light “feather dusting”, massage your partners body, and get creative!

 Romantic Getaway

Nothing puts the sizzle back into a relationship or brings back the spark than changing your environment.

According to a study by Lava life, the large majority of couples who were surveyed claim to have had better sex with their partners in hotel rooms and other places outside of the home than they ever have had in their regular bedrooms.

And it’s no surprise. Whether you consider yourself traditional, conservative or wild, changing your setting from its usual environment will instantly turn up the heat on any relationship. It unleashed the carefree side of ourselves, and allows for fantasy to take control

For romantic getaways on Valentine’s Day, make sure that you plan ahead. Depending on how far you want to travel, whether it’s your local hotel or a getaway outside of town, you will want to make sure of availability and book your getaway as early on as possible.

While Valentine’s Day is primarily for couples, many towns have Valentine’s Day events that will bring people into the city, so make sure that you make reservations early on.

Your getaway can be as simple or as detailed as you make it.

From a simple weekend getaway to the country with a quiet dinner, walk on the beach or tour of the surroundings, to a single night away from home where you are given the privacy and quietness that perhaps lacks at home (especially for you parents out there), you can plan out an affordable and memorable getaway adventure that it tailored towards the one you love.

Nothing beats a surprise adventure, and so you should try to plan and book it without your partner knowing.

Then, moments before you are ready to whisk them away, tell them to pack a bag (or better yet, pack it for them if you can), and then head out for your private excursion.

There is much to be said about having an entire day alone together especially if heavy work schedules, kids or family life usually causes day to day distraction.

Hotels make for easy getaways as you’ll be surrounded by restaurants, can order room service, rent a romantic movie for a quiet night in, or book your weekend at a hotel that provides live entertainment.

You could also consider booking in at a casino, lodge or resort where you’ll be able to have fun dancing and socializing while retreating back to your room for some alone time.

This private retreat will do wonders for your relationship, whether you’ve just starting dating or have been together for years.

Make sure to place do not disturb signs on your door and call down to the front desk and request a late checkout!

 Special Presentation

One of the most romantic things you can do for your partner on Valentine’s Day doesn’t involve expensive jewelry or anything that hurts the pocketbook.

Instead, handcrafted cards or a scrapbook that showcases either a years worth of memories and events or perhaps if you’ve never considered creating anything like this before, you can include many years of memories from being together.

Scrapbooking is a fun and heartfelt way of giving a special gift that is unique and creative.

No one but your partner will ever receive the exact same scrapbook and as you add embellishments and personalize the book just for them, it will be evident that you put a lot of time and effort into creating it.

Add photos of both you as a couple and even candid photos of your partner that you’ve captured over the years, and if you are short on photos, this is the perfect time to start snapping some specifically for your secret creation.

The scrapbook doesn’t have to be that long, in fact, just 8-10 pages will do.

To fill it up, add in personalized poems, love notes, and perhaps even an extra surprise at the end of the book such as reservation tickets to her (or his) favorite restaurant, or an event you can attend together. You could even go for luxury if you can afford it, and include tickets to a private weekend excursion.

Even without anything added to the scrapbook, just showing your partner that you care enough about them to take the time to collect images, to write notes and to put it all together in such a beautiful and cherished presentation will mean the world to them.

Tip: If you’re short on time consider creating a handmade Valentine’s Day card using scrapbook elements, trinkets and embellishments rather than an entire scrapbook album.

 Advertise Your Love

While this idea isn’t for everyone (if your partner is shy, you might just want to skip it!) but for those who want to go all out and truly profess their love in front of the world, there are many options available to you.

Consider calling the local radio station and planning out a public dedication to your partner. Just make sure to time it correctly so that they are sure to hear it!  (Tip: Consider taping it to offer as a keepsake).

Create a sign or banner that goes into your front yard or a magnetic strip that attaches to your car professing your words of love. This a fun and playful way to show your partner that you want the whole world to know how much you love them!

Consider hiring a local plane to carry a banner over your home that carries your message of love. While this can be quite expensive, it’s a rather classic idea that’s been used for both proposals and special Valentine’s Day romance.

Place a classified in your local newspaper that describes the love you feel for your partner.  Make sure to keep a clipping, this one is certain to go into the photo books!

From The Heart To The Home

No, you won’t be required to invest thousands in new furniture or have to even re-arrange their existing rooms.  Instead, decorate their apartment or house with an “I love you” theme.

Consider red and white streamers, balloons (helium filled with bows and ribbons), a Valentine’s Day cake, cookies and other treats.

Add love notes (even sticky notes will work!) all over the place, red and white heart confetti, you name it – anything goes!

When your partner enters the room they’ll see an instant splash of love, and if possible, there you’ll be in the center of it all!

 Love Coupons

Not sure what to get your partner this Valentine’s Day? Let THEM Decide!

Create a love coupon book that entitles them to cashing in on many different favors. From back rubs to giving up the remote control for a night, you can easily customize an entire coupon book based on your partner’s desires.

This idea is not only affordable, but it comes straight from the heart, as every coupon will be based around spending quality time together.

Other ideas: Rather than giving them the entire coupon book, consider hiding coupons around the house for your partner to find.  Put a love coupon in their briefcase, under their pillow or in a book they’re reading!

To save you time, here is a step-by-step instruction guide to helping you create your love coupon booklet:

http://www.craftbits.com/project/love-coupon-booklet

 Melody In Love

Not a great singer? You don’t have to be!  There are online services that offer to create a lavishly produced song for that special person in your life.

One of my favorite resources is found at http://www.giftsongs.com and offers a unique opportunity to present your partner with a truly memorable gift, a song that is performed by your choice of a male or female recording artist with your partners name injected throughout the song.

It’s truly a touching and beautiful way to show you care and trust me, it will be a gift they will never forget.

 Dancing The Night Away

One of the things most women look forward to on Valentine’s Day is the opportunity to dance with the man we love.  You don’t have to go out dancing to be able to share an intimate moment together.

Just turn the lights down low, turn on some romantic music and offer your partner your hand in a slow dance together.

This is one of the most traditional ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day yet it’s often overlooked with so many people focusing on more elaborate plans.

What do you think your partner would rather have?  A quiet night alone with you, dancing in your arms, or an adventurous and busy night out on the town?

Create your own compilation CD of slow songs that your partner loves and set it up in the CD player before the night begins. Set it on repeat so that you don’t have to stop once you get going!

 Bring Back The Memories

If you have a drive in theatre in your area (and there are still many in existence, just check your local yellow pages), Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to turn the hands of time back and become nostalgic!

Drive in theaters can be very romantic and during Valentine’s Day weekend, it’s likely that they will be running a romantic feature film so call ahead and mark down the times that are available.

Pack a picnic lunch complete with a comfortable blanket, and prepare for a intimate night together.

Watch the movie from the car, or sit out for a picnic lunch, and enjoy each other’s company.

This is one of the easiest and most affordable Valentine’s Day dates possible, and it will bring an old time flavor filled with memories.

 Star Gazing Lovers

If you are looking for an all-original gift idea for your partner on Valentine’s Day, nothing is more romantic then claiming a star in the sky and naming it after your lover.

Imagine being out under the stars for a romantic walk together and being able to pull out a full coordinate guide that reveals the star you have chosen to be named after your partner.

It’s their star!  How many other people will ever given them such a unique and heartfelt gift in their lifetimes?

You will receive a full color parchment certificate personalized with the name of the star and coordinates so that you can both find it together, as well as an astronomy booklet.

You can find out more at http://www.starregistry.com

 For Men Only

If you want to make Valentine’s Day extra special for your wife or girlfriend, the ultimate gift you can give is her is in handling ALL of the details!

Set up childcare, book reservations at her favorite restaurant,

book a night at a nearby hotel where you can spend the night together after dinner.

Don’t ask her anything!  Set up all of the details yourself and then surprise her with this special date.

Women have to deal with a lot in our day-to-day lives, including careers, children and family.  We are responsible for multi tasking nearly every minute of the day, and by relieving your wife or girlfriend of having to make any plans on Valentine’s Day, you’re giving her an extra gift just by working out all of the details!

Plus, it’s a fantastic way of showing her that you made the effort in carefully planning out an entire evening with her!

 Treasure & Pleasure Hunt

Treasure hunts aren’t just for kids at birthday parties; adults can certainly enjoy the thrill of the chase just as much!

Consider planning out an elaborate treasure hunt that leads your partner to each destination with love notes, offering simple clues as to what to do next.   Start with giving your partner one little clue while offering “rewards” along the way.

For example, when my best friend did this for his wife he started with offering her a love note, which instructed her to go to a certain address.  This address, the local florist had a dozen red roses waiting for her with a note attached that led her to her next destination.

From one place to another, each stop presented her with another love note and another gift.

By the time she reached the final destination, a package containing a room key and a blindfold in a secret envelope were handed to her by the clerk at a luxury hotel.    When she entered the room, he had a gorgeous spread on the floor by the fireplace.

Accompanying the picnic lunch, there were candles all over the place, music playing and of course, her husband – waiting to begin the treasure and pleasure hunt in a whole new way.

Conclusion: Thoughts

Valentine’s Day is all about being with the one you love.  The most important thing to remember is that just by honoring the love you share with heartfelt and meaningful expressions, you will make their day a very special one.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to celebrate your love together.  Even a quiet evening at home filled with romantic movies, a delicious meal and your partners favorite dessert can serve as an incredible night to remember.

It’s easy to forget to take a moment to pause and show our partner that we really care, and that’s what Valentine’s Day is really all about.  We’re given that much needed reminder that we need to pay attention to the things that truly give our lives meaning.

I wish you and your partner the most memorable Valentine’s Day of your lives.

Now is the time to begin…

You can achieve everything you have ever wanted to have, experience, or become. The power has and always will be within you, but nothing will happen until you get motivated
to make something happen. The following tips and ideas will help you to get and stay motivated to change your life and achieve your desires.

———————————————-
1. Let Go of the Past
———————————————-

Before you can create a better future, you must let go of the pains in your past. Failing once does not mean you will fail forever. Learn from your history, but don’t let it stand as an obstacle between you and your dreams.

———————————————-
2. Remember Success
———————————————-

Just as important as learning from and overcoming past failure is recalling past success. It doesn’t matter who you are, you have succeeded at something at sometime in your past. Don’t gloss over these moments. Use them to remind you that you can in fact achieve your goals.

———————————————-
3. Accept the Possibilities
———————————————-

It’s possible. The dreams you hold in your heart but push to the back of your mind are within your reach. Accept the fact that you can create a better life. This will serve as the springboard of belief you need to succeed.

———————————————-
4. Dream the Big Dream
———————————————-

In order for dreams and desires to inspire you to action and achievement, they need to be big. If you don’t get excited about what you have planned for the future, you will never find the inspiration you need to change your life. Powerful dreams can move the soul, and when you dream the big dream, you will be driven to make the compelling picture a tangible reality.

———————————————-
5. Small Steps to Great Success
———————————————-

While the nature of your dreams needs to inspire, you must also recognize the fact that it takes only small steps to create amazing changes. The dream will lead the way, but it won’t come in one giant leap. Small steps, carried out each day, will bring you to the destinations you seek.

———————————————-
6. Impossible to Fail
———————————————-

People are more than capable of creating compelling dreams, but the fear of failure often clouds the path. To avoid this pitfall, imagine that it is impossible to fail. What dreams and desires would you pursue if you were guaranteed success?

———————————————-
7. Write in a Journal
———————————————-

A million thoughts may rush through your mind each day, but if you do nothing to capture them, they often disappear as quickly as they came. Take time to write in a journal each week. This will not only help you overcome obstacles you are facing in your life but also help you discover what you really want.

———————————————-
8. Fast Forward
———————————————-

Think ahead. Imagine living your ideal life in ten years. What would you be doing? With whom would you be doing it? What would your life look like on a daily basis? Use the picture of a future life to create goals and desires in the present.

———————————————-
9. The Moment
———————————————-

Remember a time when everything seemed to be going just right? When nothing could get you down? When you thought to yourself, ‘This moment, right now, is what life is all about.’ We all have moments in life when we feel we are at our best, but most people don’t utilize them. Use the special moments in your life to bring to light goals and desires that are sure to fulfill your needs. Learning from and building on these times will help you create magic moments on a daily basis for the rest of your life.

———————————————-
10. Get Specific
———————————————-

In order for you to create lasting change in your life, you have to be super specific about what you want. Vague ideas just won’t cut it. The more specific you make your desires, the easier it will be to act on them. Cloudy hopes create obstacles. You have to know exactly what you want, down to the smallest detail.

———————————————-
11. Write It Down
———————————————-

Write down everything you want to have, experience, and become. The simple act of writing your desires down on a sheet of paper will bring them one step closer to reality. Saying something is one thing, but when you actually see the words written down…it’s an exhilarating moment.

———————————————-
12. Share the Excitement
———————————————-

Don’t keep your plans for a better future to yourself – share the excitement with those who will not see it as bragging or your ego taking over. This will make the dream more tangible. Include others who will ask about your progress and keep you heading in the right direction.

———————————————-
13. Educate Yourself
———————————————-

The more you know, the more you’ll grow. Information is the greatest resource you have as you work toward creating a better life. Facts help to increase your confidence, break down fear, and inspire you to action. Learn all there is to know about what you want and you will never be without the drive and energy you need to make it happen.

———————————————-
14. What’s In It for Me?
———————————————-

As you begin taking steps toward the things you desire, you will meet with many obstacles along the way that have the potential to knock you off course forever. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, answer the question: What’s in it for me? Knowing exactly why you are reaching for more will serve as a constant source of energy and excitement to keep you going strong in the face of short-term setbacks.

———————————————-
15. Search for Success Stories
———————————————-

The stories of individuals overcoming all odds and achieving their dreams surround you. Seek out and make these stories a part of your life. You are not alone in your search for happiness. Knowing that others have succeeded in the past can be enough to motivate you to succeed in the future.

———————————————-
16. The Smallest Piece
———————————————-

Can you make a phone call? How about type a single word? If you can do these simple tasks, you have what it takes to create massive and lasting change. Every goal you have can be broken down into extremely small pieces that are easily within your ability. Break down your goal into its smallest parts and you will have the confidence to proceed.

———————————————-
17. Essentials of Change
———————————————-

It doesn’t matter what you want, someone at sometime throughout history has desired and achieved the same thing. Not only does this prove that your dreams are possible but also that you have what it takes to make them happen. People have done so much with so little, proving that the essential requirements of creating change are within you.

———————————————-
18. Take Ownership
———————————————-

Before positive changes can take place, you must take responsibility for your position in life. You are in control of your future and are the only one who can guarantee a better life. If you play the role of a victim, giving up control and ownership of your life, you will never enjoy the amazing opportunities that life offers to us all.

———————————————-
19. Create a Specific Strategy
———————————————-

When you know exactly what you want, you have to know exactly how you are going to get it. Just as a vague idea of what you want will never lead to success, a hazy notion of how you will achieve your dreams will bring about the same fate. Super specific strategies will result in success. Anything less will make improvement difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy.

———————————————-
20. Use a Timeline
———————————————-

Your dreams need a timeline. This includes not only a deadline but also a time to begin. Without a definite timeline, potentially rewarding and fulfilling goals may silently slip away until they become only distant memories. When will you begin working toward your dreams? When will you achieve them?

———————————————-
21. Step-by-Step
———————————————-

Eating an entire meal in one bite, at least for the majority of individuals, is impossible. Such a task would turn off even the most confident person. The same is true of tackling a desire all at once. Break your goals down into smaller segments, just as you do with a meal, and you will find it much easier to stay committed and achieve the dream.

———————————————-
22. Measure Your Progress
———————————————-

As you begin putting the pieces of your desire in place, be sure to measure your progress along the way. Doing so will help to keep you motivated to achieve the goal as you see real improvement taking place. You will also be able to recognize troubling areas that need more attention or successful methods that could be spread to others aspects of the goal.

———————————————-
23. Tools of the Trade
———————————————-

To accomplish the task above, charts and checklists are the way to go. Charts are the perfect tools to measure incremental goals such as a savings plan or weight loss. If your desire is more sequential in nature, simply list the steps in a checklist along with their deadline to keep you right on track from start to finish.

———————————————-
24. Thinking Your Way to Change
———————————————-

No matter how bad you want it to happen, change will never result from thinking alone – you must take action. The world is swimming in dreamers, but only those who act on their desires achieve truly remarkable results.

———————————————-
25. The First Step
———————————————-

A single step in the right direction is all it takes to put in motion great things. Every written masterpiece begins with a single word on a page. Every long journey begins with a single step. The things you desire most will be no different.

———————————————-
26. Now or Never
———————————————-

People have a gift for rationalization and procrastination. Take away these dangers with an attitude of ‘now or never.’ How would you do things differently if you were certain that today was your last chance to change your life?

———————————————-
27. Intelligent Action
———————————————-

Action is key to change – but not just any action. Eating unhealthy foods is action, but it is definitely not the kind of moves you should be making if your goal is to get in shape. The secret is to take intelligent action. Learn how to make the right moves and you’ll be on your way to enjoying an amazing quality of life.

———————————————-
28. Windows of Opportunity
———————————————-

What you see today will not necessarily mirror the picture of tomorrow. In other words – things change. You can never know for sure how long the opportunity to act will offer itself. It could vanish tomorrow or in twenty years. The point is: Today is the certainty in your world. Make the best of it.

———————————————-
29. Use Your Time Wisely
———————————————-

The one thing we all desire more of but lose every day is time. Because of this, you need to take steps to ensure your time is being used wisely. Discover where your time goes each day and how you can better utilize each minute and hour.

———————————————-
30. Organize Your Space
———————————————-

A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. Taking a few hours to clean up your common work areas will go a long way in helping you maintain clarity and focus while working toward your goals.

———————————————-
31. What Company do You Keep?
———————————————-

Most often, people mirror their environments. The friends and family members you associate with play a major role in your life – both positive and negative. Ask yourself if the people in your life are helping you become the person you want to be or are standing in the way of progress.

———————————————-
32. Take a Walk
———————————————-

As simple as it sounds, taking a walk around the block is sometimes all it takes to clear your mind and regain the energy you need to make changes in your life. It’s quick, easy, and effective.

———————————————-
33. Get Active
———————————————-

An inspired mind is of little use if you lack the physical vitality to execute your plans. Get active and get moving. Whether this means a daily exercise program or simply riding your bike to work, think of as many ways as possible to be active in your daily life.

———————————————-
34. Maintain a Healthy Diet
———————————————-

Just as important as an active lifestyle is a healthy diet. You can’t expect to have the energy and drive necessary to live an extraordinary life if you continue to fill your body with unhealthy foods. What you put in your body has an enormous impact on your motivation to improve.

———————————————-
35. Get Enough Rest
———————————————-

Your body cannot perform at its peak levels if you don’t give it the time it requires for rest and repair. Four hours of sleep each night will eventually catch up with you. Get the rest you need and you’ll have no problem working with passion toward your desires.

———————————————-
36. Choose to Think About What You Want
———————————————-

With everything you have to think about each day, the things you desire won’t always get the time they deserve. You have to choose to think about what you want to change in your life, or your dreams will very likely be left behind.

———————————————-
37. Watch Inspiring Movies
———————————————-

Movies are made to move us. When you feel that your willpower is lacking, watch a movie that you find inspiring. This is a quick and easy way to regain your drive and you’ll have a great time doing it.

———————————————-
38. Collect Your Favorite Quotations
———————————————-

The written word can be just as powerful as movies. When you come across a quotation that motivates you to achieve your goals, don’t let it go! Write them down, save them on your computer, or do whatever works for you to keep them close at hand.

———————————————-
39. Place Reminders in the Home and Office
———————————————-

Place powerful reminders around your home or office about the goals and desires you are working to achieve. With the hectic pace of life in today’s society it’s easy to forget about the truly important things. Placing pictures in your home of the ideal body you are dreaming about or the home you wish to build are effective tools to keep you going
strong.

———————————————-
40. The Process of Improvement
———————————————-

Always remember, improvement is a process. It takes time and effort to change your life, and any hopes for instant tangible results will only lead to disappointment. However, intangible changes such as improvements in your attitude, confidence, happiness, and joy can occur in an instant.

———————————————-
41. Learn from Your Mistakes
———————————————-

When things don’t work out exactly as you had planned (this will happen) don’t waste the opportunity to learn something. A short-term failure is a good thing – it teaches you how ‘not’ to do something, which will bring you closer and closer to the solution you seek.

———————————————-
43. Constant Curiosity
———————————————-

Be curious. The world can be a truly amazing place when you take the time to look around and learn about it. Read, converse, observe, listen, and discover the miracles that surround you. Constant curiosity is the habit that is sure to get you excited about your world, your life, and your future.

———————————————-
43. Spend Time with Children
———————————————-

Spending time with kids is a great way to let go of your worries and reconnect with your more innocent past. As adults, we have learned to hide our true emotions and keep a reserved attitude. Children have a great lesson to teach us – have fun and enjoy life. Maintain your youthful ways as you continue to grow older.

———————————————-
44. Focus on Others
———————————————-

There is no better way to improve your life than to help others do the same. To give is to get, and when it comes to spreading happiness and joy to others, it has never been truer. As your focus turns from yourself to those in need you will find that your own problems seem less important and may even disappear altogether.

———————————————-
45. Volunteer Your Time
———————————————-

An effective method to help others is volunteering. Your time is the most precious resource you have, and giving it to someone else is a truly rewarding experience. Contact your local churches, community center, or public schools for volunteer opportunities.

———————————————-
46. The Ups and Downs
———————————————-

You will not always be motivated to succeed. We all have our ups and downs, and expecting anything different will create frustration and anger. We all get upset, encounter setbacks, and have bad days, but here’s the secret: you can visit, but just don’t live there.

———————————————-
47. Your Contribution
———————————————-

What are you going to contribute to the world after you have gone? Living an extraordinary life requires thinking beyond yourself and giving back to the world in some way. What will your gift to the world be?

———————————————-
48. Be Grateful for What You Have
———————————————-

Take time out of each day to be grateful for the things you have in your life. Simply being alive and well is an amazing gift – anything more is just icing on the cake. Appreciate what you have and you will discover a renewed passion to achieve the desires you have yet to experience.

———————————————-
49. Starting in the Right Direction
———————————————-

You may not realize it, but you’ve already taken a massive step toward success. Simply reading these words demonstrates your desire to enhance the quality of your life. Now that you’ve taken the first step, keep it going day after day, month after month, year after year.

———————————————-
50. Get Excited!
———————————————-

You are on your way to getting everything you have ever wanted! Now is the time to get excited and inspired about what your future holds. Imagine living your ideal life – now make it happen!

———————————————-
When Should You Begin?
———————————————-

It’s decision time.

You can continue to dream about the things you want or you can do something about them. You can let routine run the show or you can make a change. You can put off your happiness until another day or you can begin doing the things you know you are capable of doing.

The choice is yours.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘someday.’ Someday I’ll do it, but right now I have so much to take care of. The truth is, you will always have things to take care of, people to see, and places to go. You have to make time for a better life because it won’t fall into your lap.

Perhaps you’ve even said you’ll start making changes:

…tomorrow
…next week
…next year
…when the kids get out of school
…when the kids go back to school
…when there is more time
…when things settle down
…when the moment it right

Today is the day to begin. If you’re ready to start getting more out of life, or need a push in the right direction, visit the address below to learn how you can discover hundreds of quick and easy tips to help you get motivated to live a happier, more successful life!

http://www.motivation123.com/book.html
Warmest Regards,
Jason Michael Gracia
Motivation123
http://www.motivation123.com