About this blog

Selasa, 16 Desember 2008

Your wallet for the internet







Web Design

5 Steps web design

Create
Choose
Plan

Get
Hire

http://www.webdesign.org/?aff=sagalaerna

Cara Mudah Membuat Website. Hanya 2 Jam Pasti Jadi

Sudah Saatnya Usaha Ofline anda menuju Online,

Dengan Template siap pakai anda akan di mudahkan untuk membuat website

Dengan Template Siap Pakai, Anda Dapat Membuat Website Profesional Kurang Dari 2 Jam!! anda tidak percaya ?
http://www.jogjatemplate.com/?id=sagalaerna

Menghasilkan Uang Melimpah Hanya Dengan Mengetik Dan Akses Internet

Jika Anda Bisa Mengetik dan Mengakses Internet, Anda Sudah Memiliki Syarat yang Cukup untuk Menghasilkan Uang Melimpah dari Internet... Hanya Jika Anda Tahu Caranya!
Satu lagi site yang benar-benar sangat mengagumkan sekali.
Khusus buat para ibu-ibu atau siapa yang senang surfing di dunia maya

Rahasia Orang Kaya Memaksimalkan Harta Mereka

Aku ketemu site yang sangat bagus mengenai cara orang-orang kaya mengelola keuangan mereka.  Setelah membacanya aku Mendapatkan Hasil Maksimal dari Uang yang aku miliki.  
Sehingga dapat menentukan:

Memilih Jalur Investasi yang Paling Menguntungkan

Mendanai Pendidikan Anak Ke Universitas Favorit

Mengamankan Harta Benda Dari Resiko

Melepaskan Diri Dari Hutang

Pensiun Tanpa Hidup Susah


Nga ada deh alasan yang namanya krismon. Coba kunjungi Site ini pasti kamu senang. Dan akan teriak aku akan bisa mengelola keuanganku sekarang


Senin, 15 Desember 2008

Ketemu Site Yang Dapat Membeikan Uang. Hanya CLick Saja!

Hello NAME,

I want to tell you about a great site I found. They pay me to read e-mail,
visit web sites and much more.

It's free to join and easy to sign up! CLICK THIS

10euro-mail.com


ayaemails.com

emailsclub.com

rat-mails.com

amazingptr.com

eagle-mails.com

puma-mails.com

Koneksi Internet Unlimited Murah

Koneksi Internet Unlimited Murah.
Dapatkan chip/kartu koneksi internet murah tarif flat perbulan, bisa internetan sepuasnya tanpa takut tagihan membengkak.
Segera kunjungi
http://www.bingkisankasih.com/aktivasi.php?ref=sagalaerna
Jasa Layanan Koneksi Internet Unlimited Murah
Ingin bebas internetan sepuasnya, dapatkan koneksi internet unlimited murah program up to 7,2 Mbps (sekarang masih 256Kbps) tarif flat hanya 220 ribu/bulan
Segere kunjungi:
http://www.bingkisankasih.com/aktivasi.php?ref=sagalaerna


Minggu, 14 Desember 2008

Mendapatkan Uang Dari Internet Hanya Dengan Klik

Ada program Pay To Click,
Dan kita dapat menghasilkan uang
Hanya dengan Menjadi referal akan mendapatkan uang.
Ikuti saja langkah-langkahnya.
Selamat mencoba

http://www.PaidClicks.WS/?r=sagalaerna

http://newbux.com/?r=sagalaerna

http://bux.to/?r=sagalaerna

Do you think making money is hard?

Apakah mendapatkan uang itu susah?
Jawabnya hanya satu kemauan dan usaha.
Dapatkan jawabnya di sini.
Karena dimana ada kemauan disitu ada jalan. Coba deh. Ikuti aja langkah-langkahnya.
Sangat mudah sekali.
Selamat mencoba yach.

Mendapatkan Uang Dari Internet 1

Mau Uang?
Ikuti Aja deh step by step.
Dapatkan tehnik-tehnik gampang hanya melalui internet.
Gratis. Tidak dipungut bayaran. Rupiah akan mengalir ke rekening anda.
Coba, klik dan ikuti step by step.
God luck.


Do You Like A Money?




Jumat, 12 Desember 2008

Life Is Meaningful

Jumlah manusia di dunia ini sungguh banyak. Miliaran orang menghembuskan nafasnya setiap hari. Tapi, apakah kita semua sudah menentukan apa tujuan hidup kita? Sudah kita pastikan untuk apa kita bernafas setiap hari? Jangan-jangan kita hidup hanya untuk menghabiskan umur yang diberikan Tuhan saja. Bagaimana dengan anda? Anda sudah tentukan tujuan hidup anda? Syukurlah kalau sudah. Dan, saya berdoa semoga tujuan anda tercapai.Kata orang tua, hidup di dunia itu cuma sebentar. Saking sebentarnya, ibarat orang mampir minum. Sayang kalau waktu yang cuma sebentar ini tak berarti. Tapi, tak semua orang bisa dengan mudah menentukan apa yang ia tuju dalam hidupnya. Kita semua mesti melalui perjalanan yang panjang.
Dan, mungkin berliku-liku. Baru kita menemukan apa sebenarnya yang kita cari dalam umur yang pendek ini. Tujuan hidup bukan ambisi, tapi lebih pada sebuah jati diri.
Ketika anda sudah menentukan apa yang anda tuju, ya itulah diri anda. Untuk hal itulah anda hidup.

Selasa, 09 Desember 2008

12 Step Internet Recovery Program

3) I will get dressed before noon.


Never Trust Your Friends

Link

A Nice Story About Love

A Nice Article about Love
by Swami Vivekananda


I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me.
Once when we were sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with some water and held it before me, and said this: "You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love."
This was how I saw it: As long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it will always be there. However, if you attempt to close your fingers round it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds.
This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love...they try to posses it, they demand, they expect... and just like the water spilling out of your hand, love will retrieve from you .
For love is meant to be free, you cannot change its nature. If there are people you love, allow them to be free beings.

Give and don't expect.
Advise, but don't order.
Ask, but never demand.

It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice. It is the secret to true love. To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring."

Passing thought... Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; but by the moments that take our breath away.....

Life is beautiful!!! Live it !!!

Thoughts about MEN

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.

If the world were a logical place, men would ride side-saddle.

To attract a man, wear a perfume called 'New Car Interior.'

Women like quiet men because they think they are listening.

On one issue at least, men and women agree; they both distrust women.

The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed.

Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.

Show me a man with both feet firmly on the ground, and I will see a man who can't get his pants off!

Don't kick a man when he's down unless you're certain he won't get up.

Early to rise, early to bed, makes a man healthy but socially dead.

Man who sneezes without tissues takes matters into his own hands. (yuck)

Bachelor: the only man who has never told his wife a lie.

If you never want to see a man again, say, "I love you, I want to marry you, I want to have children." -- they leave skid marks. This works whether a man or woman says it.

There are easier things in life than finding a good man. Like Nailing Jello to a tree for instance.

Mankind is stupid. If you forget, they will remind you.

Men are like fish. Neither would get in trouble if they kept their mouths
shut.

Jumat, 05 Desember 2008

 Hello nama saya Erna,
readerspond.com


Saya mau kasih tau nih ada Site bagus yang memberikan kamu Uang.  Kita dibayar lho hanya baca-baca dan klik emailnya.  Ikuti aja langkah-langkahnya.
Have Fun yach!! 
Gratis lagi.

It's free to join and easy to sign up! CLICK THIS
LINK TO VISIT:
http://www.readerspond.com/pages/index.php?refid=sagalaerna
http://michaelmails.com/pages/index.php?refid=sagalaerna
michaelmails.com

God won't ask

God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet, but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.

God won't ask about your social status, but will ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possessions you had, but will ask if they dictated your life.

God won't ask what your highest salary was, but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked, but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.

God won't ask how many promotions you received, but will ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was, but will ask if you reformed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself, but will ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights, but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but will ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but will ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but will ask how many times they didn't. (Source Unknown)

Selasa, 02 Desember 2008

Cinta Kasih Di Hati Manusia

Jaman dahulu kala di Rusia hidup pasangan suami-istri Simon dan Matrena. Simon yang miskin ini adalah seorang pembuat sepatu. Meskipun hidupnya tidaklah berkecukupan, Simon adalah seorang yang mensyukuri hidupnya yang pas-pasan.
Masih banyak orang lain yang hidup lebih miskin daripada Simon. Banyak orang-orang itu yang malah berhutang padanya. Kebanyakan berhutang ongkos pembuatan sepatu. Maklumlah, di Rusia sangat dingin sehingga kepemilikan sepatu dan mantel merupakan hal yang mutlak jika tidak mau mati kedinginan.

Suatu hari keluarga tersebut hendak membeli mantel baru karena mantel mereka sudah banyak yang berlubang-lubang.
Uang simpanan mereka hanya 3 rubel (rubel = mata uang Rusia) padahal mantel baru yang paling murah harganya 5 rubel. Maka Matrena meminta pada suaminya untuk menagih hutang orang-orang yang telah mereka buatkan sepatu. Maka Simon pun berangkat pergi menagih hutang. Tapi tak satupun yang membayar.

Dengan sedih Simon pulang. Ia batal membeli mantel.Dalam perjalanan pulang, Simon melewati gereja, dan saat itu ia melihat sesosok manusia yang sangat putih bersandar di dinding luar gereja. Orang itu tak berpakaian dan kelihatan sekali ia sangat kedinginan.Simon ketakutan, "Siapakah dia? Setankah? Ah, daripada terlibat macam-macam lebih baik aku pulang saja". Simon bergegas mempercepat langkahnya sambil sesekali mengawasi belakangnya, ia takut kalau orang itu tiba-tiba mengejarnya.

Namun ketika semakin jauh, suara hatinya berkata, "HAI SIMON, TAK MALUKAH KAU? KAU PUNYA MANTEL MESKIPUN SUDAH BERLUBANG-LUBANG, SEDANGKAN ORANG ITU TELANJANG. PANTASKAH ORANG MENINGGALKAN SESAMANYA BEGITU SAJA?"

Simon ragu, tapi akhirnya toh ia balik lagi ke tempat orang itu
bersandar. Ketika sudah dekat, dilihatnya orang itu ternyata pria yang wajahnya sungguh tampan. Kulitnya bersih seperti kulit bangsawan. Badannya terlihat lemas dan tidak berdaya, namun soro matanya menyiratkan rasa terima kasih yang amat sangat ketika Simon memakaikan mantel luarnya kepada orang itu dan memapahnya berdiri. Ia tidak bisa menjawab sepatah kata pun atas pertanyaan-pertanyaan Simon, sehingga Simon memutuskan untuk membawanya pulang.

Sesampainya di rumah, Matrena marah sekali karena Simon tidak membawa mantel baru dan membawa seorang pria asing. "Simon, siapa ini? Mana mantel barunya? "Simon mencoba menyabarkan Matrena, "Sabar, Matrena.... dengar dulu penjelasanku. Orang ini kutemukan di luar gereja, ia kedinginan, jadi kuajak sekalian pulang"."Bohong!! Aku tak percaya....sudahlah, pokoknya aku tak mau dengar ceritamu!

Sudah tahu kita ini miskin kok masih sok suci menolong orang segala!! Usir saja dia!!""Astaga, Matrena! Jangan berkata begitu, seharusnya kita bersyukur karena kita masih bisa makan dan punya pakaian, sedangkan orang ini telanjang dan kelaparan. Tidakkah di hatimu ada sedikit belas kasih?" Matrena menatap wajah pria asing itu, mendadak ia merasa iba.

Lalu disiapkannya makan malam sederhana berupa roti keras dan bir hangat.

"Silakan makan, hanya sebeginilah makanan yang ada. Siapa namamu dan darimana asalmu? Bagaimana ceritanya kau bisa telanjang di luar gereja?"Tiba-tiba wajah pria asing itu bercahaya. Mukanya berseri dan ia tersenyum untuk pertama kalinya. "Namaku Mikhail, asalku dari jauh.

Sayang sekali banyak yang tak dapat kuceritakan. Kelak akan tiba saatnya aku boleh menceritakan semua yang kalian ingin ketahui tentang aku. Aku akan sangat berterima kasih kalau kalian mau menerimaku bekerja di sini.""Ah, Mikhail, usaha sepatuku ini cuma usaha kecil.

Aku takkan sanggup menggajimu", demikian Simon menjawab.Tak apa,Simon. Kalau kau belum sanggup menggajiku, aku tak keberatan kerja tanpa gaji asalkan aku mendapat makan dan tempat untuk tidur."

"Baiklah kalau kau memang mau begitu. Besok kau mulai bekerja".Malamnya pasangan suami-istri itu tak dapat tidur. Mereka bertanya-tanya."Simon tidakkah kita keliru menerima orang itu? Bagaimana jika Mikhail itu ternyata buronan?" Matrena bertanya dengan gelisah pada Simon. Simon menjawab, "Sudahlah Matrena. Percayalah pada pengaturan Tuhan. Biarlah
ia tinggal di sini.Tingkah lakunya cukup baik. Kalau ternyata ia
berperilaku tidak baik, segera kuusir dia".Esoknya Mikhail mulai bekerja membantu Simon membuat dan memperbaiki sepatu.
Di bengkelnya,Simon mengajari Mikhail memintal benang dan membuat pola serta menjahit kulit untuk sepatu.

Sungguh aneh, baru tiga hari belajar, Mikhail sudah bisa membuat sepatu lebih baik dan rapi daripada Simon.Lama kelamaan bengkel sepatu Simon mulai terkenal karena sepatu buatan Mikhail yang bagus. Banyak pesanan mengalir dari desa-desa yang penduduknya kaya. Simon tidak lagi miskin. Keluarga itu sangat bersyukur karena mereka sadar, tanpa bantuan tangan terampil Mikhail, usaha mereka takkan semaju ini.Namun mereka juga terus bertanya-tanya dalam hati, siapa sebenarnya Mikhail ini. Anehnya, selama Mikhail tinggal bersama mereka, baru sekali saja ia tersenyum, yaitu dulu saat Matrena memberi Mikhail makan. Namun meski tanpa senyum, muka Mikhail selalu berseri sehingga orang tak takut melihat wajahnya.

Suatu hari datanglah seorang kaya bersama pelayannya. Orang itu tinggi besar, galak dan terlihat kejam. "Hai Simon, Aku minta dibuatkan sepatu yang harus tahan setahun mengahadapi cuaca dingin. Kalau sepatu itu rusak sebelum setahun, kuseret kau ke muka hakim untuk dipenjarakan!!

Ini, kubawakan kulit terbaik untuk bahan sepatu. Awas, hati-hati ini kulit yang sangat mahal!"Di pojok ruangan, Mikhail yang sedari tadi duduk diam, tiba-tiba tersenyum. Mukanya bercahaya, persis seperti dulu ketika ia pertama kalinya tersenyum. Sebenarnya Simon enggan berurusan dengan orang ini.

Ia baru saja hendak menolak pesanan itu ketika Mikhail memberi isyarat agar ia menerima pesanan itu. Simon berkata,
"Mikhail, kau sajalah yang mengerjakan sepatu itu. Aku sudah mulai tua. Mataku agak kurang awas untuk mengerjakan sepatu semahal ini.

Hati-hati, ya. Aku tak mau salah satu atau malah kita berdua masuk penjara."Ketika Mikhail selesai mengerjakan sepatu itu, bukan main terkejutnya Simon. "Astaga, Mikhail, kenapa kau buat sepatu anak-anak?

Bukankah yang memesan itu orangnya tinggi besar? Celaka, kita bisa masuk penjara karena...."Belum selesai Simon berkata, datang si pelayan orang kaya. "Majikanku sudah meninggal. Pesanan dibatalkan.

Jika masih ada sisa kulit, istri majikanku minta dibuatkan sepatu
anak-anak saja"."Ini, sepatu anak-anak sudah kubuatkan. Silakan bayar ongkosnya pada Simon", Mikhail menyerahkan sepatu buatannya pada pelayan itu.

Pelayan itu terkejut, tapi ia diam saja meskipun heran darimana Mikhail tahu tentang pesanan sepatu anak-anak itu.Tahun demi
tahun berlalu, Mikhail tetap tidak pernah tersenyum kecuali pada dua kali peristiwa tadi. Meskipun penasaran, Simon dan Matrena tak pernah berani menyinggung-nyinggung soal asal usul Mikhail karena takut ia akan meninggalkan mereka.

Suatu hari datanglah seorang ibu dengan dua orang anak kembar yang salah satu kakinya pincang! Ia minta dibuatkan sepatu untuk kedua anak itu. Simon heran sebab Mikhail tampak sangat
gelisah. Mukanya muram, padahal biasanya tidak pernah begitu. Saat mereka hendak pulang, Matrena bertanya pada ibu itu, "Mengapa salah satu dari si kembar ini kakinya pincang?"Ibu itu menjelaskan,
"Sebenarnya mereka bukan anak kandungku. Mereka kupungut ketika ibunya meninggal sewaktu melahirkan mereka. Padahal belum lama ayah mereka juga meninggal. Kasihan, semalaman ibu mereka yang sudah meninggal itu tergeletak dan menindih salah satu kaki anak ini Itu sebabnya ia pincang. Aku sendiri tak punya anak, jadi kurawat mereka seperti

"Tuhan Maha Baik, manusia dapat hidup tanpa ayah ibunya, tapi tentu saja manusia takkan dapat hidup tanpa Tuhannya", kata Matrena. Mendengar itu, Mikhail kembali berseri-seri dan tersenyum untuk ketiga kalinya. Kali ini bukan wajahnya saja yang bercahaya, tapi seluruh tubuhnya.

Sesudah tamu-tamu tersebut pulang, ia membungkuk di depan Simon dan Matrena sambil berkata, "Maafkan semua kesalahan yang pernah kuperbuat, apalagi telah membuat gelisah dengan tidak mau menceritakan asal usulku. Aku dihukum Tuhan, tapi hari ini Tuhan telah mengampuni aku. Sekarang aku mohon pamit."Simon dan Matrena tentu saja heran dan terkejut, "Nanti dulu Mikhail, tolong jelaskan pada kami siapakah sebenarnya kau ini?"Mikhail menjawab sambil terus tersenyum, "Sebenarnya aku adalah adalah satu malaikat Tuhan. Bertahun-tahun yang lalu Tuhan menugaskan aku menjemput nyawa ibu kedua anak tadi. Aku sempat menolak perintah Tuhan itu tapi kuambil juga nyawa ibu mereka. Aku menganggap Tuhan kejam. Belum lama mereka ditinggal ayahnya, sekarang ibunya harus meninggalkan mereka juga.

Dalam perjalanan ke surga, Tuhan mengirim badai yang menghempaskanku ke bumi. Jiwa ibu bayi menghadap Tuhan sendiri. Tuhan berkata padaku, 'MIKHAIL, TURUNLAH KE BUMI DAN PELAJARI KETIGA KEBENARAN INI HINGGA KAU MENGERTI:

PERTAMA, APAKAH YANG HIDUP DALAM HATI MANUSIA?

KEDUA, APA YANG TAK DIIJINKAN PADA MANUSIA?

KETIGA, APA YANG PALING DIPERLUKAN MANUSIA?'

"Aku jatuh di halaman gereja, kedinginan dan kelaparan.
Simon menemukan dan membawaku pulang. Waktu
Matrena marah-marah dan hendak mengusir aku, kulihat maut dibelakangnya. Seandainya ia jadi mengusirku, ia pasti mati malam itu.

Tapi Simon berkata, "Tidakkah di hatimu ada sedikit belas kasih?"
Matrena jatuh iba dan memberi aku makan. 
Saat itulah aku tahu kebenaran pertama:
"YANG HIDUP DALAM HATI MANUSIA ADALAH BELAS KASIH"

"Kemudian ada orang kaya yang memesan sepatu yang tahan satu tahun sambil
marah-marah. Aku melihat maut di belakangnya. Ia tidak tahu ajalnya
sudah dekat. Aku tersenyum untuk kedua kalinya. 
Saat itulah aku tahu kebenaran kedua:
"MANUSIA TIDAK DIIJINKAN MENGETAHUI MASA DEPANNYA.
MASA DEPAN MANUSIA ADA DI TANGAN TUHAN"

"Hari ini datang ibu angkat bersama kedua anak kembar tadi.
Ibu kandung si kembar itulah yang diperintahkan Tuhan untuk kucabut nyawanya.
Dan aku melihat si kembar dirawat dengan baik oleh ibu lain.
Aku tersenyum untuk ketiga kalinya dan kali ini tubuhku bercahaya.
Aku tahu kebenaran yang ketiga:
"MANUSIA DAPAT HIDUP TANPA AYAH DAN IBUNYA
TAPI MANUSIA TIDAK
AKAN DAPAT HIDUP TANPA TUHANNYA.
"Simon, Matrena, terima kasih atas kebaikan kalian berdua. Aku telah mengetahui ketiga kebenaran itu,
Tuhan telah mengampuniku. Semoga kasih Tuhan senantiasa menyertai
kalian sepanjang hidup." Mikhail kembali ke surga.

Selasa, 25 November 2008

TAS TANGAN

Saya tidak pernah terpikir sama sekali. Siapa yang akan berpikir seperti ini? Sudahkah Anda memperhatikan wanita yang meletakkan tasnya di atas lantai toilet umum dan kemudian pergi secara langsung ke meja makan mereka serta meletakkan tas itu di atas meja? Sering terjadi!

Makanan dari restoran atau fast food bukanlah penyebab yang sering mengakibatkan sakit perut. Kadang-kadang, justru yang Anda tidak ketahui lah yang bisa merugikan Anda!

Biasanya para Ibu sering merasa terganggu pada saat tamu yang datang dan meletakkan tas mereka di atas meja tempatnya memasak dan menyajikan makanan. Seorang Ibu selalu menganggap bahwa tas itu kotor, karena tas tersebut telah terkontaminasi udara luar (debu, kotoran dsb). Hmmm..Ibu yang pintar ya..?

Ini adalah masalah yang disebabkan oleh para wanita sendiri. Sementara para wanita tersebut tahu dengan pasti apa isi tasnya, apakah pernah terbayangkan apa yang ada di bagian luar tas tersebut?

Para wanita membawa tasnya kemana-mana, dari mulai kantor sampai toilet umum sampai lantai mobil. Kebanyakan para wanita tidak pernah pergi tanpa tas. Tetapi, pernahkah terpikir kemana saja tas itu sudah berada sepanjang hari ?

"Saya menggunakan bis, dalam perjalanan saya se hari - hari dan kadang saya meletakkan tas saya di lantai bis" kata seorang wanita. Atau di lantai mobil saya dan di toilet.. "

Kadang saya juga meletakkan tas saya di kereta belanja dan akhirnya di toilet umum" (lagi) kata seorang wanita lainnya dan tentunya di rumah saya yang tempatnya lebih bersih.

Kami memutuskan untuk mencari tahu apakah tas tersebut merupakan tempat berkumpul bakteri-bakteri. Kami melakukan tes di Nelson Laboratories di Salt Lake City, dan kami memutuskan untuk meneliti jumlah rata-rata tas tangan yang dibawa para wanita setiap hari nya.

Kebanyakan wanita mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak berhenti berpikir tentang apa yang ada di bagian bawah tas mereka. Kebanyakan wanita tersebut mengatakan biasanya mereka meletakkan tas mereka di atas meja dapur atau meja makan saat makanan disajikan.

Para wanita ini mengatakan mereka tidak akan heran bila tas mereka sedikit kotor. Tapi ternyata, yang mengejutkan adalah bahwa tas tersebut sangatlah kotor, bahkan ahli mikrobioligi yang melakukan tes tersebut pun sangat terkejut.

Ahli mikrobiologi Amy Karen dari Nelson Labs mengatakan hampir semua tas yang diuji, bukan saja banyak mengandung bakteri biasa tapi juga bakteri yang amat berbahaya.

Contohnya bakteri Psudomonas yang dapat menyebabkan infeksi mata, staphylococcus aurous dapat menyebabkan infeksi kulit yang serius dan salmonella serta e-coli yang ditemukan pada tas dapat menyebabkan orang jatuh sakit.

Dalam sebuah contoh, empat dan lima tas yang diuji positif mengandung salmonella dan itu ternyata bukan yang terburuk..
Tas yang terbuat dari kulit atau vinyl cenderung lebih bersih dan tas yang terbuat dari kain dan saat ini trend model amat memegang peranan yang penting.

Wanita yang memilik anak-anak cenderung memiliki tas yang lebih kotor daripada yang tidak memiliki anak, dengan satu pengecualian.

Tas seorang wanita single yang sering pergi hangout ke klub atau caf¨¦ atau diskotik adalah yang paling terkontaminasi, kadang mengandung kotoran (feses) atau kemungkinan bekas muntahan, kata Amy.

Inti tulisan ini adalah ¨C tas Anda tidak akan menyakitkan Anda, tetapi ada kemungkinan membuat Anda sakit jika Anda tetap melakukan dan meletakkan tas di tempat Anda makan.

Gunakan gantungan untuk meletakkan tas Anda di rumah atau di toilet umum dan jangan letakkan tas di atas meja restoran atau meja makan Anda.

Para ahli mengatakan, Anda harus memperlakukan tas tersebut sama dengan sepatu Anda.
Jika Anda berpikir meletakkan sepasang sepatu di atas meja makan atau dapur maka hal yang sama terjadi jika Anda meletakkan tas. Tas Anda telah terkontaminasi oleh orang-orang lain yang datang ke tempat tersebut sebelum Anda, mereka bersin, batuk-batuk, buang air kecil, dan sebagainya.

Apakah Anda benar-benar ingin membawa semua kotoran itu ke rumah?
Para
ahi mikrobiologi di Nelson mengatakan bahwa wanita harus rajin membersihkan tasnya dan itu amat membantu.
Cuci tas yang terbuat dari kain dan gunakan pembersih kulit untuk membersihkan bagian bawah tas kulit Anda.
INFORMASIKAN INFO INI KEPADA SAHABAT-SAHABAT ANDA!!!!
PARA PRIA HARAP INFORMASIKAN KEPADA ISTRI, KEKASIH ATAU ANAK PEREMPUAN ANDA

TAS TANGAN

Saya tidak pernah terpikir sama sekali. Siapa yang akan berpikir seperti ini? Sudahkah Anda memperhatikan wanita yang meletakkan tasnya di atas lantai toilet umum dan kemudian pergi secara langsung ke meja makan mereka serta meletakkan tas itu di atas meja? Sering terjadi!


Makanan dari restoran atau fast food bukanlah penyebab yang sering mengakibatkan sakit perut. Kadang-kadang, justru yang Anda tidak ketahui lah yang bisa merugikan Anda!

Biasanya para Ibu sering merasa terganggu pada saat tamu yang datang dan meletakkan tas mereka di atas meja tempatnya memasak dan menyajikan makanan. Seorang Ibu selalu menganggap bahwa tas itu kotor, karena tas tersebut telah terkontaminasi udara luar (debu, kotoran dsb). Hmmm..Ibu yang pintar ya..?

Ini adalah masalah yang disebabkan oleh para wanita sendiri. Sementara para wanita tersebut tahu dengan pasti apa isi tasnya, apakah pernah terbayangkan apa yang ada di bagian luar tas tersebut?

Para wanita membawa tasnya kemana-mana, dari mulai kantor sampai toilet umum sampai lantai mobil. Kebanyakan para wanita tidak pernah pergi tanpa tas. Tetapi, pernahkah terpikir kemana saja tas itu sudah berada sepanjang hari ?

"Saya menggunakan bis, dalam perjalanan saya se hari - hari dan kadang saya meletakkan tas saya di lantai bis" kata seorang wanita. Atau di lantai mobil saya dan di toilet.. "

Kadang saya juga meletakkan tas saya di kereta belanja dan akhirnya di toilet umum" (lagi) kata seorang wanita lainnya dan tentunya di rumah saya yang tempatnya lebih bersih.

Kami memutuskan untuk mencari tahu apakah tas tersebut merupakan tempat berkumpul bakteri-bakteri. Kami melakukan tes di Nelson Laboratories di Salt Lake City, dan kami memutuskan untuk meneliti jumlah rata-rata tas tangan yang dibawa para wanita setiap hari nya.

Kebanyakan wanita mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak berhenti berpikir tentang apa yang ada di bagian bawah tas mereka. Kebanyakan wanita tersebut mengatakan biasanya mereka meletakkan tas mereka di atas meja dapur atau meja makan saat makanan disajikan.

Para wanita ini mengatakan mereka tidak akan heran bila tas mereka sedikit kotor. Tapi ternyata, yang mengejutkan adalah bahwa tas tersebut sangatlah kotor, bahkan ahli mikrobioligi yang melakukan tes tersebut pun sangat terkejut.

Ahli mikrobiologi Amy Karen dari Nelson Labs mengatakan hampir semua tas yang diuji, bukan saja banyak mengandung bakteri biasa tapi juga bakteri yang amat berbahaya.

Contohnya bakteri Psudomonas yang dapat menyebabkan infeksi mata, staphylococcus aurous dapat menyebabkan infeksi kulit yang serius dan salmonella serta e-coli yang ditemukan pada tas dapat menyebabkan orang jatuh sakit.

Dalam sebuah contoh, empat dan lima tas yang diuji positif mengandung salmonella dan itu ternyata bukan yang terburuk..
Tas yang terbuat dari kulit atau vinyl cenderung lebih bersih dan tas yang terbuat dari kain dan saat ini trend model amat memegang peranan yang penting.

Wanita yang memilik anak-anak cenderung memiliki tas yang lebih kotor daripada yang tidak memiliki anak, dengan satu pengecualian.

Tas seorang wanita single yang sering pergi hangout ke klub atau caf¨¦ atau diskotik adalah yang paling terkontaminasi, kadang mengandung kotoran (feses) atau kemungkinan bekas muntahan, kata Amy.

Inti tulisan ini adalah ¨C tas Anda tidak akan menyakitkan Anda, tetapi ada kemungkinan membuat Anda sakit jika Anda tetap melakukan dan meletakkan tas di tempat Anda makan.

Gunakan gantungan untuk meletakkan tas Anda di rumah atau di toilet umum dan jangan letakkan tas di atas meja restoran atau meja makan Anda.

Para ahli mengatakan, Anda harus memperlakukan tas tersebut sama dengan sepatu Anda.
Jika Anda berpikir meletakkan sepasang sepatu di atas meja makan atau dapur maka hal yang sama terjadi jika Anda meletakkan tas. Tas Anda telah terkontaminasi oleh orang-orang lain yang datang ke tempat tersebut sebelum Anda, mereka bersin, batuk-batuk, buang air kecil, dan sebagainya.

Apakah Anda benar-benar ingin membawa semua kotoran itu ke rumah?
Para
ahi mikrobiologi di Nelson mengatakan bahwa wanita harus rajin membersihkan tasnya dan itu amat membantu.
Cuci tas yang terbuat dari kain dan gunakan pembersih kulit untuk membersihkan bagian bawah tas kulit Anda.
INFORMASIKAN INFO INI KEPADA SAHABAT-SAHABAT ANDA!!!!
PARA PRIA HARAP INFORMASIKAN KEPADA ISTRI, KEKASIH ATAU ANAK PEREMPUAN ANDA

Kamis, 20 November 2008

Vitamins

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Americans love to take their vitamins. More than 150 million Americans take dietary supplements according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplement industry trade group.
But what should you do? Walk through the vitamin aisle of any grocery store, and you're hit by a staggering array of options. From vitamin A to glucosamine to milk thistle (what is that, anyway?) to whey protein, it's hard to decide what to take.
Our experts (clockwise from top left): Dr. Melina Jampolis, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Walter Willett, Dr. Christiane Northrup
Our experts (clockwise from top left): Dr. Melina Jampolis, Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Walter Willett, Dr. Christiane Northrup
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That's why this week the Empowered Patient asked four experts -- all medical doctors -- what supplements they take every day. Their lists may surprise you -- they all take at least two supplements -- some take three or four or more.
Choosing a daily vitamin regimen is especially daunting in light of two new studies out this week. In the largest and longest study of its kind, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, found that vitamins C and E do nothing to protect against heart disease in men. The study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, also found that vitamin E even appeared to raise the risk of bleeding strokes, which, while rare, are often the most deadly. Other research on women and vitamins is also discouraging.
A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute this week found that a daily regimen of vitamin D and calcium did not offer any protection against invasive breast cancer.
With those studies in mind, here's what our panel of experts takes every day. VideoWatch for more advice about vitamins »
Dr. Andrew Weil; Age: 66; director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Drweil.com

What he takes:

1. A daily multivitamin/multimineral

2. Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis, as well as other conditions. Studies show many of us are vitamin D deficient. Weil says look on the label to make sure you're getting vitamin D3, not vitamin D2.


3. Magnesium. Lack of magnesium may lead to irritablity, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat.


4. Juvenon (or "Omega"), a compound believed to enhance cellular health and function. This supplement contains two nutrients, acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid. The company that makes Juvenon says benefits include "more energy," a "sharper mind", and "more restful sleep."

Don't Miss
In Depth: Empowered Patient

5. Co-Q-10, a supplement that boosts coenzyme Q10, which is produced by the human body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. Animal studies have found that coenzyme Q10 helps the immune system work better and makes the body better able to resist certain infections and types of cancer.

Weil, author of 10 books including, "Eight Weeks to Optimum Health," says it is important to take studies, like the one in JAMA, with a grain of salt. "I believe vitamins E and C are important as part of our antioxidant defenses, even if we have not yet documented specific preventive effects," says Weil.
What not to take
Weil
says men shouldn't take iron unless they've been diagnosed by a physician as having iron deficiency anemia. He also advises against men taking calcium supplements; he's concerned they could increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Dr. Christiane Northrup; Age: "50 something;" author, "The Secret Pleasures of Menopause;" Drnorthrup.com

What she takes:

1. Antioxidant supplement
2. Fish oil. Some studies have found fish oil, which contains omega 3 fatty acids, can help lower triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and help depression, among other uses.
3. Calcium, which can help prevent osteoporosis -- a problem in particular for older women
4. Magnesium
5. Coenzyme Q10
6. Vitamin D
Northrup, an authority on women's health and wellness and author of the new book "The Secret Pleasures of Menopause," says it is important to remember that vitamins are not drugs. They don't work the same way in the body.
"Vitamins are best taken in the correct proportions to each other," says Northrup. For example, she says if you are taking folic acid, which is a B vitamin, you'll do better when you also take the other Bs that make up the B complex. Says Northrup, "That's how nutrients occur naturally and how the body best utilizes them."

What not to take

Northrup says postmenopausal women almost never need iron, and taking too much might pose a risk for heart health.
Dr. Walter Willett; Age: 63; chairman, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health
What he takes:
1. Multivitamin
2. Vitamin D
Willett thinks the jury is still out on vitamin E and C and heart health. "I don't think we have the final answer," says Willett, the chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. He points out that in the Women's Health Study, women receiving vitamin E experienced a statistically significant 24 percent reduction in total cardiovascular disease mortality.
What not to take
He agrees with Dr. Weil: men don't need extra calcium, and high intake might increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Dr. Melina Jampolis; Age: 38; Drmelina.com
What she takes:
1. Multivitamin
2. Calcium
3. Vitamin D
4. Omega 3
Jampolis, who practices in San Francisco, California, and specializes exclusively in nutrition for weight loss and disease prevention and treatment, says everyone should take a basic multivitamin. "I like to call it an insurance policy," she says.
What not to take
What not to take: "I'm not convinced that the 'beautiful skin' vitamins really help much -- it's much better to get the nutrients from your diet, drink water, and wear sunscreen," Jampolis says.
The bottom line
Our experts agree you shouldn't make decisions about what vitamins to take based on a single study. For example, the JAMA study findings didn't make our experts lose faith in these two vitamins.
"I believe vitamins E and C are important for optimum health as part of our antioxidant defenses, even if we have not yet documented specific preventive effects," Weil says.
The experts also agree that taking vitamins is only part of the larger puzzle. You also need to watch your diet and exercise. And, do your homework. New studies come out all the time.

Selasa, 18 November 2008

To Save Relationship

Having rough times in your relationship? Everyone have these periods but don't think breaking up just because some small issues because there are many ways to save a relationship and I will point some of them.

1.Communication:
The most important way to save a relationship is communication. You must talk with your partner, because communication is the thing that builds, improves or destroy a relationship. You can solve all the problems that you have in your relationship if you just communicate.

2.Forgiveness:
Forgive the mistakes of your partner because we all make mistakes and you could make a wrong step too. You mustn't break up just because one mistake of your partner.

3.Trust: In every relationship, marriage, friendship, trust is the most important quality. If you want your partner to trust you, you must trust him too.

4.Show Your Feelings:
If you want a serious relationship then you must show your partner that you care about him, that you love him.

5.Give Gifts:
Even a flower can make your girlfriend love you more. In case you have a boyfriend, then I think a RC car or some collectibles will make him like a little boy.

6.Be Honest:
You mustn't lie. If you really want a serious relationship and a long one, then you will shorten the life of your relationship. Why lie? I personally don't lie and I feel very good.The truth is better then a short time lie.

7.Sharing Your Problems:
Share your problems with your partner. Try to open your soul in front of your partner because this will make your relationship stronger and it's the base of a solid relationship.

These are just a few ways to save a relationship, but all of them are efficient and if you use them you will have a strong and long relationship and you will save your relationship.

Touching Story About Father

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to
find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'
DAD: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the man.
SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you
ask such a thing?' the man said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know.. Please tell me, how much
do you make an hour?'
DAD: 'If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow $10.00 ?'
The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked
that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or
some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to
your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being
so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behaviour.'
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the
little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down,and

started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed
to buy with that $10.00 and he really didn't ask for money very
often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room
and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He asked.
'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.
'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man.
'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation
on you. Here's the $10.00 you asked for.'The little boy sat
straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' He yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled
up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money,
started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted
out his money, and then looked up at his father.
'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the father grumbled.
'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,'the little boy replied.
'Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?
Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his

little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life.
We should not let time slip through our fingers without having
spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do remember to share that $20.00 worth of your time

with someone you love.If we die tomorrow, the company that we
are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the
family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family.

Cinta Abadi

Sabtu, 8 November 2008 | 09:03 WIB

BEIJING, SABTU - Seorang perempuan sadar dari koma selama 30 tahun berkat cinta yang tak tergoyahkan dan perawatan telaten suaminya di E’zhou, provinsi Hubei.

Para dokter percaya cinta Chen Dulin, yang baru-baru ini terpilih sebagai salah seorang suami teladan di provinsi tersebut, telah menolong Zhao Guihua sadar dari koma panjangnya.

Paru-paru, jantung dan tekanan darah Zhao stabil setelah ia menjalani pemeriksaan menyeluruh.

Zhao jatuh koma setelah satu kecelakaan tiga dasawarsa lalu, tapi Chen tak pernah putus asa buat istrinya dan merawatnya di rumah setelah sang istri menjalani dua operasi.

Sejak itu, Chen telah telah menggunakan alat penyemprot dan pipa plastik untuk memasukkan susu, kue dari telur dan makanan cair lain ke dalam perut Zhao.

Kini, Chen, yang sudah berusia 77 tahun, tetap mengutarakan cinta kepada istrinya setiap hari.

Natural Food To Keep Your Artery Clean

Your arteries are blood vessels that transport oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. In order for this important process to occur, your arteries should be flexible, strong, elastic and clear of any deposits.
All fruits and vegetables are said to help prevent heart disease, but certain varieties (like apples) pack a particularly powerful punch.
However, over time deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances can build up in your arteries. These plaques can severely restrict blood flow and, even more seriously, they can cause your arteries to rupture, leading to blood clots.
Blood clots can then block your blood flow entirely, leading to heart attack and stroke.In fact, a build-up of plaques in your arteries, known as atherosclerosis, is the main underlying cause of heart disease.So keeping your arteries clean is not only a key part of your heart health, it's a key to your health overall.
While exercising on most days of the week is an excellent way to keep your arteries healthy, your diet also plays a major role. Here we've identified 10 foods that are especially adept at helping to keep your arteries clean.

1. Grapefruit:
It contains a type of fiber called pectin, which has been shown in animal studies to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis.

2. Green Tea:
This healthy beverage contains procyanidins, which have been found to help prevent blood clots and promote healthy endothelium (the tissues that lines blood vessels and your heart).

3. Apples:
Apples (particularly Red Delicious and Granny Smith) are also rich in procyanidins.
4. Garbanzo beans:
Garbanzo beans contain both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, which help to remove cholesterol- containing bile from your body. They are also known to help prevent heart disease.

5. Olive oil:
Using olive oil as your exclusive source of oil may cut your risk of coronary heart disease almost in half, according to the CARDIO2000 case-control study, published in Clinical Cardiology. Meanwhile, studies show that particles of LDL (bad) cholesterol that contain monounsaturated fats (found in olive oil) are less likely to become oxidized. This is important because only oxidized cholesterol is able to stick to your artery walls and form plaques.

6. Spinach:
This leafy green contains both vitamin C and vitamin A, which team up to prevent cholesterol from becoming oxidized (and thereby helping to prevent plaques from forming in your arteries).

7. Salmon:
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fats, which make blood less likely to clot inside arteries and prevent cholesterol from becoming damaged or oxidized. Choose wild-caught salmon (instead of farm-raised) for the most benefits.
8. Tomatoes:
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that may make LDL cholesterol much less susceptible to becoming oxidized -- again, this is the first step in the formation of plaque formation and is a major risk factor for heart disease.

9. Swiss Chard:
Swiss chard is an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin E, which helps prevent free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol. Eating a diet rich in vitamin E has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis.

10. Garlic:
Garlic helps your heart and arteries in numerous ways, including:

- Stimulating the production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessels, which may help them to relax
- Inhibiting coronary artery calcification, which serves as a marker for plaque formation
- Preventing the oxidation of cholesterol

- Reducing the formation of nanoplaque (the first building blocks of plaque) by up to 40% and reducing the size of the nanoplaque that has already formed by up to 20%, according to a study
by German scientist Professor Güautnter Siegel, M.D., from the University of Medicine in Berlin

Happiness, Loving And Money

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city. - George Burns

Money can’t buy you love. It can’t buy you happiness either.

Today’s materialistic world often urges us to buy the coolest gadgets, the trendiest clothes, bigger and better things, but research shows that possessions and purchases don’t buy us happiness. According to an article on CNN:

By and large, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs. Once you pass an income of $50,000, more money doesn’t buy much more happiness, [according to a happiness studies].

So while we are being pushed towards materialism, it’s for monetary gain by corporations, not for our own happiness. Unfortunately, it’s hard to escape the trap of materialism, and find happiness in other ways than buying stuff online or finding joy in the mall.

But it’s possible. Here’s a guide to finding a materialism-free life and discovering true happiness.
Guide to finding a materialism-free life and discovering true happiness.
Escaping Materialism
All around us, there are messages telling us to buy stuff. On the Internet (blogs included), we see continuous advertising trying to get us to purchase a product or service. It’s the main reason for television, and movies are continually made with products placed throughout, so that we aren’t always sure what is advertising and what was put in there by the director.

Flip on the radio or open up a newspaper or magazine, and you’re bombarded my more advertising. Go to a shopping center/mall, and the urge to buy comes from every direction.

This message to continually buy, buy, buy … and that it will somehow make us happpier … is drilled into our heads from the days of Happy Meals and cartoons until the day we die. It’s inescapable.

Well, almost. You could go and live in a cabin in the woods (and that actually sounds nice), or you could still live in our modern society, but find ways to escape materialism.

Here are some suggestions:

* Limit television.
Do you really enjoy watching TV for hours? Think about which shows you really, really love, and only watch during that time. When the commercials come on, go do something else. Or use Tivo to watch TV. You can even give up cable TV entirely, if you’re brave — I have, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.


* Eschew the news.

Journalists will never tell you this, but if they’re completely honest, they’ll confess that the most important part of any news company, from TV or radio news to Internet or print new, is the advertising division. It’s the division that pays the paychecks of the rest of the company. The news is important in driving traffic to the advertising. So when you’re watching or reading news, you’re really being sucked in to advertising. Try this instead: boycott the news for a week. I’ve done it for about two years, and it hasn’t hurt me a bit. In fact, it’s helped me a lot.


* Limit Internet reading.

I’m not saying you should cancel your cable Internet subscription or anything. I love reading blogs. But find just those that you truly love reading, that give you the most value, and limit your reading to those. And just do it once a day, for 30 minutes or so. If you can do that, you’ve gone a long way towards tearing yourself away from advertising.


* Give up magazines for books.

Magazines are also designed with advertising in mind. And they rarely give you much value. Try reading an ad-free book instead. It’s a much better use of your time.


* Don’t go to the mall or Walmart.

The only purpose of these places is for you to spend money. If you just want a place to spend your Saturday afternoon, find a place where you don’t need to spend money to have fun — a park or a beach, for example. If you need to buy something, go to a single store (not the mall) and go in and get what you need. Don’t browse and walk around looking at stuff. You’ll get sucked in.


* Monitor your urges.

When you’re online, or watching TV, or at a store, keep track of the number of times you want to buy something. Keep a little notebook or index card, and just put tally marks. Once you become more aware of your urges to buy things, you can start to control them. If you could control them, limiting your consumption of media (see above tips) isn’t really necessary — although I would argue that it still gives you a better quality of life.


* Use a 30-day list.

If you still really want to buy something, put it on a list, and write down the date you added the item to the list. Now tell yourself you cannot buy that item for 30 days. It might be difficult, but you can do it. When the 30 days have passed, if you still want it, then buy it. But you can’t buy anything (besides essentials like groceries) without putting it on the list for 30 days first. Many times, our urges to buy something will pass during this waiting period.


* Declutter.

I find it pretty amazing to see all the crap I buy over a period of years, when I go through my closets and other possessions and start getting rid of stuff I don’t use or want anymore. It’s a gratifying process, and at the same time, it makes me realize how useless all our consumer shopping is. I don’t need any of the stuff! When you do this, you may be less likely to buy more stuff. Especially if you enjoy the decluttered look of your house as much as I do.


* Find other forms of entertainment.

There are other things to do besides watch TV or movies or read magazines or newspapers or the Internet. Try playing sports or exercising, or playing board games or creating art or writing or reading a book. Try doing fun things with your kids or visiting relatives and other loved ones. Try volunteering with a charity. I’m sure you could come up with 100 free or cheap things to do.


* Buy used.

When you get the urge to buy something, and you’re convinced that it’s needed, try finding it used instead of new. Look in thrift shops or garage sales or flea markets or similar places.


A True Path to Happiness
So, if you’re able to escape materialism, how can you find true happiness? There are many ways, and each of us is different, but here are some things I suggest trying:

* Grateful list.
Make a list of things about which you’re grateful in your life. Give thanks for them daily.


* Think positive.

Try eliminating negative thinking from your life, and thinking positive instead.


* Small pleasures.
Make a list of small things that give you great pleasure. Sprinkle them throughout your day. Notice other small pleasures as you go through your day.


* Kindness.

Practice random acts of kindness and compassion. Do it anonymously. Help those in need. Volunteer. Make someone smile.


* Love.

Make an intimate connection with your loved ones. Develop your friendships. Spend time with them, converse, understand them, make them happy.


* Health.

Exercise and eat healthy — it sounds trite, but it can bring great happiness to your life.


* Meaning.

It’s often useful to find meaning, either through a church or spiritual way, or through those we love in life or through the things we’re passionate about. Give yourself a purpose.


* Flow.

Eliminate distractions, and really pour yourself into whatever you’re doing. If it’s writing an article, like this one, really put yourself into it, until you forget the outside world.


* Know yourself.

Become attuned to what brings you happiness. Study yourself. Learn about what you love, and about your ability to love. Increase your capacity for compassion.


What brings you happiness? How do you feel about materialism, and is it worth trying to escape it? Let us know in the comments.