Every Day is a Winding Road...

A Collaborative eBook designed & prepared for Adults

Many people contributed to this eBook and they are referenced inside. It was edited and prepared by: Michelle Warren

The Road of Life is Full of Shades of Grey...

� Life, as much as we try to fight it, is not always black & white. Rather, it is full of shades of grey. Remembering all the shades can be cumbersome & time-consuming. With the idea that adults can & should help other adults, 26 people joined forces.

� The notion was relatively straightforward; take the concept of the collaborative book – a memory many of us have from our teenage years - and using social media, create a 21th Century book - to share ideas, stories, using social media, create a 21th Century book - to share ideas, stories, thoughts, musings – with other adults.

� 26 people contributed to this book, each submitting one page.

� The goal was simple – answer the question - what would you like to share with other adults?

� This was our first collaborative eBook. We hope you enjoy it as it won’t be the last! ☺

� Please share your comments & observations – & feel free to pass it along.

Every Day is a Winding Road

Outdoors

Training the Oldies

The Internet

AttitudeThe 2 Solitudes of Social Media

Trails of a Modern Day Mobile Worker

Meditation

Every Day is a Winding Road

Every Day Crisis Communications

Action

Making Order Out of ChaosAsk the Herd

Practice Do You Get IT?Refuse to Grow Old

AI Oh My!

Did You Know?

� When you perceive that life deals you a less than perfect hand, the good news is that you have the power to change how you play your cards.

� Many people only see the face value and not the cards’ full potential, focusing on the negative. AND it is easy to attract a pity party to play into the emotion.

As easy as it is to default to the worst case scenario, taking a new and better path can be

ATTITUDE

55

� As easy as it is to default to the worst case scenario, taking a new and better path can be effortless. Many naysayers have transformed themselves to see the options, opportunity and optimistic side in life by changing their perspective. The fact is that attitude gives you latitude in all situations. The great news is that you create your own destiny by choosing your approach. No bluffing!

Ann Ann VautourVautour, president with Ann , president with Ann VautourVautour & Associates is a much sought after facilitator and speaker who designs & Associates is a much sought after facilitator and speaker who designs and delivers and delivers innovativeinnovative and and inspiringinspiring sessions for individuals and groups who want to experience sessions for individuals and groups who want to experience

transformationtransformation and and success. success. www.annv.orgwww.annv.org Email: Email: info@annv.orginfo@annv.org

Making Order Out of Chaos

We all face the task of organizing areas: a work space, a living area or files, to make them functional for regular use. It can be a daunting task.

Where do you begin?

Following are 5 tips to consider when it’s time for you to take on the challenge:

3. Consider the size of the space. Is it less or more than you need? If you think it’s not large enough, are you storing more of something than you’d need on a regular basis? Is it too large of a space? Are you reaching too far for things? Can you create a cozy corner to bring things closer together?

4. Consider the logic of order. Are the files, books or other materials organized or grouped by subject, dates,

1. Consider the purpose of the space. Do you have things stored in the area that are unrelated? Are you missing anything in the space that would make it more comfortable or efficient for its intended purpose?

2. Consider the work flow. Do you have the space set up to reflect the sequence tasks are performed in? Does each task location have enough space and light allocated to make it comfortable to work?

organized or grouped by subject, dates, colours, size or whatever may be relevant for the item?

5. Keep things you rarely use in a storage area further from the space.

Having an organized space helps you find what you want when you need it and maximizes your efficiency and effectiveness.

And don’t forget to label!

Claudia Mamros is a project manager specializing in performance improvement

and process reengineering. She can be reached at cmamros@mamros.com

Every Day Crisis Communications

When a company or a celebrity has a major issue or fumble, there is a great deal of analysis about how they handle their crisis communications. Did they react fast enough? Are they saying the right things? In a time of crisis, every one is carefully weighing words and actions.

But one of the biggest misconceptions about crisis communications is you only need it when something really goes wrong. It is amazing how many times the same principles can be applied to every day “crisis” situations to help diffuse problems before they become major issues.

In a crisis, the basic communication checklist involves:

� Acknowledging the problem and apologizing if necessaryDiscussing how you are working to fix the problem

Instead of reacting quickly and communicating with all the tenants about the issue, the landlord relied on the accused tenant to resolve the issue.

However, another tenant happened to be in the basement when the exterminator was working. The contractor explained the rat problem and the tenant spread the news via gossip.

The result of the landlord’s inaction? They lost control of the discussion and tenants focused on the rodents. When the rats returned for a second time, one of the tenants called the public health rather than the landlord.

Now there is a building of unhappy tenants and a perceived � Discussing how you are working to fix the problem� Fixing the problem� Following up on how you resolved the problem

When you review this list, it could easily apply to dealing with customer issues in any industry. Acknowledging a problem and communicating the solution are vital. Ignoring a problem does not mean it will go away.

A good example of how not to handle a fairly simple issue comes from a friend who rents office space on the second floor of a building above several retail food shops. It is very convenient when your lunch place is below the office but one of the shops caused a rat infestation in a common storage area in the basement of the building.

Tina Quelch manages creates and manages daily communications strategies for control and optimal effect in

Toronto Canada www.caladorcommunications.com

Now there is a building of unhappy tenants and a perceived public health issue. Being silent on an issue does not make it go away or mean no one will find out. The landlord continues to avoid questions and will likely lose tenants as a result.

Dealing with a problem head on is not the most comfortable task. But by reacting quickly, there is a much better chance of controlling the messages. It is always better to have a difficult conversation with a customer initially than lose them to a competitor.

ASK THE HERD, HAVE YOU SEEN A BRILLIANT CEO LATELY?ASK THE HERD, HAVE YOU SEEN A BRILLIANT CEO LATELY?

In North America, the business media takes it upon itself to annually promote companies and In North America, the business media takes it upon itself to annually promote companies and individuals with awards such as: the Top 100, the Fortune 500, the Top 40 under 40, CEO of the Year, individuals with awards such as: the Top 100, the Fortune 500, the Top 40 under 40, CEO of the Year, and the list goes on. This led me to wonder why North America is so obsessed with CEO worship? I and the list goes on. This led me to wonder why North America is so obsessed with CEO worship? I suggest that few people will argue that the North American economy resembles a rollercoaster with its suggest that few people will argue that the North American economy resembles a rollercoaster with its multitude of ups and downs. So why are we so quick to anoint someone a genius after 1 good year? multitude of ups and downs. So why are we so quick to anoint someone a genius after 1 good year? Why don’t we look back over their entire tenure? Would anyone appoint John Roth, former CEO of Why don’t we look back over their entire tenure? Would anyone appoint John Roth, former CEO of Nortel, CEO of the Year? What about Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron? Rick Wagoner, former CEO of Nortel, CEO of the Year? What about Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron? Rick Wagoner, former CEO of General Motors? General Motors?

My point here is how many hundreds of thousands of employees and their families have had to pay for My point here is how many hundreds of thousands of employees and their families have had to pay for the incompetence of CEO’s? the incompetence of CEO’s?

So what are the key signs and trends in North America? So what are the key signs and trends in North America?

�� Living quarter to quarterLiving quarter to quarter -- The average tenure of a CEO is 4The average tenure of a CEO is 4-- 5 years. Is it any wonder 5 years. Is it any wonder corporations no longer plan for the long term?corporations no longer plan for the long term?corporations no longer plan for the long term?corporations no longer plan for the long term?

�� Greed mentalityGreed mentality –– In the recent economic downturn how many CEO’s actually took their In the recent economic downturn how many CEO’s actually took their performance bonus deservedly? A few visionary leaders stepped up and questioned their performance bonus deservedly? A few visionary leaders stepped up and questioned their right to those monies, but others right to those monies, but others –– i.e. AIG executives i.e. AIG executives –– helped themselves.helped themselves.

�� Profit vs. Loss Profit vs. Loss –– If you invest money and earned 8% in 2008 and then 7% in 2009 would you say If you invest money and earned 8% in 2008 and then 7% in 2009 would you say your investments lost money? No, of course not, but somehow we have developed an your investments lost money? No, of course not, but somehow we have developed an acceptance that when a corporation makes less PROFIT then the year before it is considered acceptance that when a corporation makes less PROFIT then the year before it is considered a loss. It becomes a negative and justifies drastic actions such as rightsizing.a loss. It becomes a negative and justifies drastic actions such as rightsizing.

�� Rightsizing Rightsizing –– Should there be a limit on the number times a company is allowed to Should there be a limit on the number times a company is allowed to rightsizerightsize? I ? I suggest if you’ve done it more than 3 times in 3 years it is time to reevaluate your business suggest if you’ve done it more than 3 times in 3 years it is time to reevaluate your business purpose and consider a long term plan.purpose and consider a long term plan.

�� Planning Planning –– There was a time when corporations had 5 & 10 year plans, today it is only the very few There was a time when corporations had 5 & 10 year plans, today it is only the very few that even use 3 year plans. So if the company doesn’t have a long term plan, how does it that even use 3 year plans. So if the company doesn’t have a long term plan, how does it know what know what it must do to get there?it must do to get there?

This type of incompetence exists across all sizes of companies . It is time that employees, analysts and This type of incompetence exists across all sizes of companies . It is time that employees, analysts and stakeholders challenge questionable decisions made at the top, with viable solutions and alternatives.stakeholders challenge questionable decisions made at the top, with viable solutions and alternatives.

Ed Borkowski challenges executives in Toronto Canada. He can be found online at: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/edborkowski

100%100%100%100%Giving life your all in everything you do – without exception. That’s 100%. ‘Good enough,’ it

isn’t.

It is - no excuses for failure. It is - experiences that teach what not to do. It is - a real desire to

make it – whatever “it” is – happen. It is - working to succeed in spite of anything…

everything.

It is - going, going, going until you’re gone. Until you’ve given 100%.

Lance Armstrong said, “whatever your 100% looks like, GIVE IT.” The question is, do you

know what your 100% looks like?

It doesn’t mean success 100% of the time, it means working towards success with 100% of

your being.

And, it means giving it today – not after graduation, the promotion, the spouse, the family,

retirement. It is not an “if” or a “when,”100% is what gets you “there” in the first place.

Kyle Einhorn is the vice-president of business development at Viachem Ltd. www.viacheminc.com E-mail – keinhorn@viacheminc.com

PracticePracticeThe word “practice” makes most people The word “practice” makes most people -- young or old young or old -- cringe.cringe.

But practice helps us to prepare for the successful outcome of a game, But practice helps us to prepare for the successful outcome of a game, musical performance, a presentation at work or for a community musical performance, a presentation at work or for a community fundraising event.fundraising event.

In a world where competition is fierce, where everyone wants to win; In a world where competition is fierce, where everyone wants to win; In a world where competition is fierce, where everyone wants to win; In a world where competition is fierce, where everyone wants to win; the winners know that it’s not enough to just have the will to win, it is the winners know that it’s not enough to just have the will to win, it is having the will to practice to win.having the will to practice to win.

A rather well known band used to start their tours with at least 2 A rather well known band used to start their tours with at least 2 months of practice. You may know them by the name ‘Rolling Stones’.months of practice. You may know them by the name ‘Rolling Stones’.

They had the They had the will to practicewill to practice to succeed. to succeed. Do you? Do you? Do your Do your competitors? competitors?

Rick Mamros practices his networking skills as Director @ Learn2Network International Inc. www.learn2network.com

Say SomethingSay Something

There are many ways to communicate; talk, write, pictures.

However we chose to communicate with one another, the need to share and relate is deep within us.

Those of us, who have been hurt, disappointed or just feel like we have nothing to share, need to think again.

Remember the other day, feeling like a balloon

There are some who prefer to communicate on a much higher level, like writing stories; creatively using words to share an emotion or help us imagine the awe of places like the Grand Canyon and Atlantis.

Books fill our minds with pictures, thoughts, emotions, suspense and excitement for pleasure, knowledge and growth beyond ourselves.

Communicating allows our world to go beyond borders, to travel in unconventional ways.Remember the other day, feeling like a balloon

when the last burst of air squeals out of it. You felt limp and exhausted, unimportant and alone. Then a complete stranger made eye contact with you at the coffee shop, smiled and complimented your beautiful coat.

As you smiled back and accepted the compliment, remember how your spirit was lifted as you snuggled your head into the big soft collar of your plush coat.

That, my friend, was communicating.

borders, to travel in unconventional ways.

Life is communicating. Fullness of life is communicating outside our comfort zones, to take our eyes off ourselves and to uplift, encourage and empower others to share in the many opportunities to relate and communicate.

Sandy can be found inspiring and helping people

communication creatively and effectively at Phoenix-

Toronto Toastmaster meetings

www.phoenix-torontotoastmasters.org

Many people consider me lucky – I’m a freelance writer, so I’m not tethered to a desk, or an office, or a 9 to 5 schedule. I take my work with me wherever I go, whether it’s a coffee shop down the street or an Internet café in Kathmandu. It’s a blessing, but also a curse – it means it’s hard to ever stop working.

This is the dilemma of today’s mobile worker. I meet with friends for dinner and we do, in fact, talk about work –not just so we can write off the receipt as an income tax deduction. It’s because our work has become so much a part of who we are. We run ideas by each other, or commiserate, or maybe even collaborate on a project.

Not all of us function well, or do our best work, between the hours of 9 to 5. Creativity and inspiration can strike at any time. I’ll be out grocery shopping and a story starts to write itself in my head, so I have to stop in the aisle and any time. I’ll be out grocery shopping and a story starts to write itself in my head, so I have to stop in the aisle and pull out a pen and scrap of paper.

If I’m trying to force words, they won’t come, or I won’t be happy with the end result. And I’ll waste a lot of time doing it. I’m not advocating procrastination – there are deadlines to be met. But it’s all about learning when and where and how you work best, and using that to its fullest potential.

The trick, however, is learning to balance work with the rest of your life when everything blurs together. And this is something I’m still learning how to do. It’s hard to stop working, or thinking about work, in this world of instant messaging and Twitter. So I’ve avoided buying a smartphone (for now, anyway), and I make a point of turning off my cell – or at least letting it go to voicemail – when I’m out with friends. The world isn’t going to end if you don’t check your messages or tweet for a couple of hours, and though I can’t prove it scientifically, the quality of your life will improve quite dramatically.

� Vawn Himmelsbach is a freelance writer and global nomad based in Toronto, Canada. Check out her blog at globalnomad.ca & planeteyetraveler.com or reach her at vawn_h@yahoo.ca.

Working from HomePeople I meet often tell me that working from home would be such a difficult undertaking for them, largely because they envision having a lack of self-discipline in such familiar and comfortable confines.

In equal measure, I often jest about how much I ‘prostitute myself’ to make a buck from the comfort of my couch or home office. The day I became a fully

Sure, it can be somewhat disconcerting to work in an environment where you don’t have a great deal of social interaction — not to mention the lack of a steady income in the initial stages — but the payoff amounts to far more than just dollars and cents.

my couch or home office. The day I became a fully committed freelance writer was the day I forfeited any desire to collect a paycheque every two weeks. But it did mean that every dollar chased and earned meant a lot more to me, and it didn’t hurt that I was getting a daily dose in learning about what I’m truly capable of.

While I admit that working from home can be a tough adjustment for many, the very idea of doing so as a contractor or entrepreneur should provide at least some incentive. After all, if you have a strong skill set and the drive to create opportunities for yourself, does it really matter where you work?

Truth be told, we’ve become accustomed to work environments that either encourage the illusion of productivity, or carry an expectation that work continues after work hours. Working from home, you might find the former to be unacceptable, while the latter might be more palatable if the fruits of your labour are truly your own.

Ted Kritsonis is a technology freelance journalist who relishes working from his couch

in Toronto, Canada most of the time. Stay tuned for his blog, but his name can still be

dragged through a search engine.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “The capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behaviour”. Most people, when this topic comes up, immediately think of the “Terminator”. Thoughts of machines rising up and creating nuclear Armageddon are one of the reasons why this topic brings feelings of apprehension. Yet, the reality today is that AI is all around us making our lives better in a variety of industries.

AI Oh My! Is the Terminator Really Out to Get Us?

Secondly, the camera industry – ever notice how the newest digital cameras could put a box around a face in a picture. It’s called face detection technology. The camera, was essentially taught what a face looked like (more advanced implementations could even distinguish cheekbones, noses, eyes skin colour and more) and made a conscious decision where the face was in the picture resulting in a better picture.

Firstly, the financial industry – Do you remember the last time you got a call from your credit card company asking you if you made a particular purchase? Well, it was an AI program on a server somewhere in the world that studied your buying habits and alerted the company that a recent purchase may not be in line with your spending habits – it made a conscious decision that something was wrong.

resulting in a better picture.

So AI can’t be all that bad because we have these and even greater conveniences that are improving our lives one way or the other. In the end, I reasoned that Terminator was just a story. An entertaining story meant to scare us. But if your TV ever decides to get up and smack you for channel surfing too much – don’t blame me!

Jawaad Sheikh is a Software Engineering Consultant, Speaker and Trainer. More of his speeches can be found at

http://www.jawaadsheikh.com.

Edward Gal is the principal and founder of www.MotionsMedia.com,and a huge proponent of using the internet wisely . . . Edward Gal is the principal and founder of www.MotionsMedia.com ,

and a strong proponent of using the internet wisely.

Do You Get IT?Do You Get IT?

For many people, information technology (IT) is some combination of computers, software and communications. And for the last 60 years those people were largely wrong, although often well-rewarded for their IT-related efforts.

The truth is, IT is not about the myriad pieces of hardware, operating systems, software, peripherals, networks and services that make it all work. IT is all about the applications: how can I do something I want to do today that I can I do something I want to do today that I couldn't do yesterday, or couldn't do as easily or as cheaply where, when and how I want to do it?

At the end of the day, the emperor's new clothes will always be revealed for what they aren't, typically in minutes by Twitter or social networking sites, excluding China. Smart companies that want to sell any of the myriad pieces of hardware, operating systems, software, peripherals, networks and services that make IT work will bear that in mind.

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0384c5623b90f61c1d800f&url=http%3a%2f%2fpreparednesspro.files.wordpress.co

m%2f2009%2f07%2femperors-new-clothes.jpg

Steve Wexler is a professional communicator who gets IT. Writing about IT for 20 years,

Steve can be reached at stevewexler.wordslingers@gmail.com.

The Two Solitudes of Social Media

It both terrifies and excites me. That which we call ‘social media’, is an evolution of human ingenuity and an intimidating plunge into the abyss.

Social sites and tools such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and so on, are changing our world on the Internet and they will arguably change how we live and interact with all. And yet, I’ve many friends who refrain; who insist they’ll have nothing to do with social media because “it’s a waste of time” or they just don’t comprehend the potential value.

People wiser than I likened forging a presence on social media to building a retirement savings plan; it doesn’t offer immediate reward. It’s critical to build up a social network before one needs it. In our modern world, one must develop a channel and controlling your future means controlling that channel. I’m inclined to agree. As Canadian futurist Marshall McLuhan once said, “the medium is the message.”

And yet, I find I’m at odds with social media. I love and fear it equally. I’m fascinated by the speed of communication, the instant access to information, the ability to connect and converse with people anywhere in the world at anytime. However, I also recognize how addictive and time-consuming these tools can be.

There is a downside to everything. Perhaps the expectation that social media as a unifier of people will ultimately prove to be too much to bear. What if all this improved communication simply leads to more useless noise without which we’ll be better off?

In practically everything we do there are risks. I can think of no greater risk at this juncture than to ignore that which will change your world with or without your participation.

To quote poet Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

-- Liam Lahey is a Vancouver-based writer and an Online Community Manager for Partnerpedia.com –

Follow him on Twitter: @Lahey13. Blog: http://lahey13.wordpress.com

DOUBTIn John Patrick Shanley’s 2008 movie Doubt (spoiler alert) Sister Aloysius Beauvier is convinced that Father Brendan Flynn committed an act of impropriety. Her unwavering stance in notable. That is, until one of the final scenes, when she announces, “I have doubt!”

And haven’t we all experienced both of those emotions: the unwavering support of one belief, only to have the shadow of doubt cast?

What does that look like for you? Self-confidence morphs into skepticism & then doubt? How long does it take for you to trust yourself again?

(Quick note – doubt & skepticism are survival skills & valuable, when balanced with trust, confidence & action.)

How do you react?

1. Do you just stop? 2. Do you adopt a ‘devil may care’ attitude?3. Do you attempt to maintain a sense of perspective?

Let’s pause for a moment to consider the definition of “doubt” – “a DELIBERATE suspension of judgment.”

Have you considered the notion that we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control how we react ? Our reaction is therefore an action. Obviously, maintaining a sense of perspective is ideal. How is that possible ?

One suggestion is to maintain a ‘success list.’ This is particularly advisable when in-between jobs. One senior executive maintained one as he searched. Some might find this surprising – he is well known & respected – but

Let’s look at some definitions from the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary (www.m-w.com ):

Doubt: “uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes with decision-making; a deliberate suspension of judgment.”

Trust : “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed. 2 a:dependence on something future or contingent: hope.”

Circumstances in our lives force us to question ourselves –our behaviours, our confidence & our decisions.

find this surprising – he is well known & respected – but everyone can be impacted by a nagging voice of self-doubt. The success list proactively helped him maintain a sense of balance - his overall skills & achievements - in light of potential feelings of self-doubt.

Inertia prevents us from trying new things, changing behavior &, arguably, living our lives. Sporadic behaviour lacks purpose & intention. Thoughtful reactions, with an eye on the bigger picture, can cast those nagging doubts aside.

Your challenge: To commit to a balanced life – one with an eye on the bigger picture with a balance of hope & confidence - & minimal doubt.

Michelle Warren is a Toronto-based entrepreneur who helps individuals balance the ‘bigger picture’ with the ‘day to day’ challenges – and use tech products to streamline processes.

She can be reached at www.mwresearch..ca , www.michellewarren.ca , and Twitter @MichelleWarren1

The Joy of

BakingSomething about the smell of freshly baked goods reaches my heart and

soul. The best description I can surmise is that the smell reminds me of

wonderful memories of my childhood.

Baking gives me the pleasure of trying out different recipes.

What is it about baking that I love? The process: measuring the

ingredients, mixing them and then putting them in the pan to bake; there

is something oddly relaxing as I go through each step. And when the

creation turns out perfectly and the smell takes over the whole house, I

feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

And when I see people enjoy the fruits of my labour, my ego is elevated. And when I see people enjoy the fruits of my labour, my ego is elevated.

Now I get to share this love with my two-year-old niece. She too seems to

take pleasure in baking. It really warms my heart when I help her tiny

hands take a measuring spoon or cup to dump flour into a bowl or helping

her hold the hand mixer to blend the batter.

Or even watching her face near the oven door waiting for the cake to be

done and then see her devour the first pieces of the cake – the cake we

made together.

Vanessa Ho, website: www.vanessaho.ca, blog: http://vanessa-

vanessaho.blogspot.com and http://pop-goes-the-world.blogspot.com/ Twitter:

@popgoestheworld

Thinking back to my childhood, some of my first memories – besides those of being plunked down in front of the television to watch Sesame Street –were of being outdoors. Although I also loved indoor activities like board games, video games and television from an early age, my summers were spent on the back deck or the front lawn – or in a provincial campground with nothing more than a tent over my head.

In the last couple of years, I have renewed my love for the outdoors, and even with my many outdoor activities of 2009 (camping, hiking, fishing and even sitting on my back deck with a beer in my hand), I still feel I wasted far too much of our cool summer indoors.

Now that we're into the middle of winter, I find myself pining for the outdoors even more. The chill

OutdoorsOutdoors

There were times my mother would have to boot my younger brother and I out of the house, locking the door behind us to ensure we made good use of our summer vacations, but it wasn't an unnatural sight to see us heading outside early in the day and being called to come inside after the streetlights had signalled the end of the day.

Today, the lure of sedentary activity in the comfort of one's own home appears even stronger than when I was a young'un. Video games have long since gone mainstream, and there is an ever-growing list of electronic entertainment devices designed to keep people indoors and out of that pesky sunlight.

myself pining for the outdoors even more. The chill air and frozen ground makes me all the more ready to welcome green grass, warm weather, sunburns and – even though I'll curse them in a few months –the mosquitoes and black flies.

Chris Talbot is a writer and blogger. He blogs at www.christalbot.com and tweets as @ajaxwriter.

He can't wait for camping season.

MeditationMeditation Did you know?Did you know? - “Meditation can add up to twelve years to your life

(both men and women).

Daily relaxation exercises may cut the risk of death from heart attack by 30%

and cancer by 49%.”

National Centre for Health Statistics, Public Library of Science,

National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association,

statistics compiled by David Candless,

author of The Visual Miscellaneum (HarperCollins, 2009)

3 Simple Meditation Tips3 Simple Meditation Tips1. Be Gentle With Yourself - Seek out meditation and relaxation practices that work for you.

Have a tool kit of techniques you can draw upon. Relaxation, like success, is a by-product of doing something else. Be honest with your efforts. As my friend Bill W. says “ The only

Irene Kaye, SSW, Usui/BlueStar Reiki Master Teacher certified by the Canadian Reiki Association Kaye has facilitated meditation and relaxation techniques for over 12 years. She is an instructor in the

Active Living program for the City of Mississauga. www.InnerOutlook.com

doing something else. Be honest with your efforts. As my friend Bill W. says “ The only scoffers, are those who haven’t tried it long enough.”

2.2. Do More of What You LoveDo More of What You Love - Go for a walk, enjoy a sunset, see the sunrise, listen to

classical music, watch a spider weave its web, view the night sky - do more of whatever rings your bell. Contemplate the joy, magic and beauty associated with your mindfulness. By consciously focusing your awareness on your unawareness, you will see that the snow has flakes, houses have bricks and trees have leaves. These things we tend to miss as we rush about our daily lives.

3.3. Breathe Baby Breathe Baby BreatheBreathe -Take deep and cleansing breaths throughout your day. This is the

very Breath of Life. Breathing oxygenates and rejuvenates your body. Reap the rewards of fitting in breathing exercises.

Luckily for most of us, breathing is a reflex. As a result, we take it for granted & assume that we are doing it correctly.

The fact is that most of us don’t breathe properly.

Time to start paying attention to our breath

Proper breathing is easySimply place your hand on your abdomen. As you breathe in, make sure your abdomen fills up with air like a balloon and sinks in when you exhale.

3 ways to get your breathing on track:

Time to start paying attention to our breathWhy?

Health benefits include: • eliminating toxins• aiding in digestion• improving circulation

Perhaps and most importantly, when it comes to relaxation, our breath is one of the easiest systems to control.*

1. Observe. Check to see if you are breathing from your chest or abdomen or if you are holding your breath. Then focus on breathing properly.

2. Sigh. Sighing is your body’s natural way of relieving stress. When you sigh, you stop breathing from your chest, your diaphragm is reset, then your next breath comes from your abdomen.

3. Laugh. A quick laugh can get you breathing properly. Laughing forces you to exhale and then breathe deeply.

Wendy Woods is a speaker, trainer, coach and Principal of Watershed Training Solutions. She blogs at watershedsolutions.wordpress.com, she tweets at twitter.com/WatershedFlow

& she inspires at www.watershedtraining.ca.

* Dr John Mason, Guide to Stress Reduction

24 24 -- 77

In our 24-7 world it’s normal to tweet, surf and email

virtually any time of day or night. Employers expect

workers to be available at all times and many of us fear

missing that all-important tweet. Sure, living “in the loop”

makes us feel connected and even important, but just

because we can should we?

For some, 24-7 accessibility leads to stress levels that are

So how do you reduce stress and find balance in a world

that reinforces unlimited access? The first thing you can

do is check your stress level. Once you have a clear idea of

how stress is affecting you, get clear on your priorities and

make a plan to give yourself a break.

Try to schedule a power nap. Leonardo da Vinci, Albert

Einstein and Thomas Edison did but you can call it

positively dangerous. You know them. Friends or co-

workers who just can’t put down their “crackberry”. The

type who claims they are more stressed than anyone else.

Well listen up – stress is not a competitive sport. And

if you win you will most certainly lose. Sure, some stress is

important to a healthy life, but overly high levels can lead

to impaired thinking, insomnia, physical illness and even

mental health disorders!

Sandy Slater is a Professional Life Coach who helps clients find balance and get the most out of life and work. Tools to

check your stress level are available at sandyslater.com.

meditation. Commit to turning off your PDA and restricting

work-related activities during specific times of the day or

go for a walk in the park (without your phone).

Whatever you do, find something that lets you disconnect

for a few of those 24.

Just What the Hell is Fantasy Sports?� Fantasy sports (also known as rotisserie, roto or simulation sports) is a popular hobby where people essentially

operate as general managers of a sports team against other participants. You draft a team of professional sports players and your team’s results are based on the real-life results of the players you draft.

How Popular is it?� According to the most recent FSTA survey, almost 30 million people 12 or older in Canada and the U.S.

participated in Fantasy sports on some level in 2007. It’s a US$4 billion industry, very popular among males 18 to 49 years old who are well educated and have plenty of disposable income.

How do Owners Plan and Prepare for their Drafts?There have always been Fantasy sports “experts,” but since the Internet went mainstream, there’s been a � There have always been Fantasy sports “experts,” but since the Internet went mainstream, there’s been a massive proliferation of web sites, such as RotoRob.com, that offer participants analysis and advice. There are annual books and magazines that offer similar, but obviously less timely information.

What Sports can you Play?� Baseball and football are by far the most popular Fantasy sports, but basketball, hockey, golf and auto racing

are also quite active among participants.

Can You Win Money?� While each league is unique – some owners choose to simply play for pride – there are “expert” leagues that

offer prizes of up to $100,000 to the winners, making this very serious business for some players.

Rob Rob BlackstienBlackstien runs RotoRob.com, a site featuring daily Fantasy sports analysis covering baseball, basketball, football runs RotoRob.com, a site featuring daily Fantasy sports analysis covering baseball, basketball, football

and hockey. and hockey. www.RotoRob.comwww.RotoRob.com, , http://twitter.com/RotoRobhttp://twitter.com/RotoRob, , http://www.facebook.com/#/RotoRob?ref=namehttp://www.facebook.com/#/RotoRob?ref=name

He is also the principal of PenHe is also the principal of Pen--Ultimate (Ultimate (www.penwww.pen--ultimate.caultimate.ca), a full), a full--service writing and editorial services firm.service writing and editorial services firm.

HEROHERO“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” spite of overwhelming obstacles.” ~ Christopher Reeve~ Christopher Reeve

Indeed heroes are ordinary people just Indeed heroes are ordinary people just like you and I. When the Twin Towers of like you and I. When the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre were struck by the World Trade Centre were struck by two hijacked jetliners on September 11two hijacked jetliners on September 11thth, ,

We also remember the heroic firemen We also remember the heroic firemen who entered the burning buildings, time who entered the burning buildings, time and time again, to help save lives. and time again, to help save lives. Brave men who sacrificed their lives for Brave men who sacrificed their lives for others.others.

Our view of heroes drastically changed Our view of heroes drastically changed forever that morning. We truly forever that morning. We truly understood that our true heroes were understood that our true heroes were two hijacked jetliners on September 11two hijacked jetliners on September 11thth, ,

2001, we saw ordinary individuals 2001, we saw ordinary individuals performing extraordinary acts of performing extraordinary acts of compassion and courage. compassion and courage.

People calmly helping others down the People calmly helping others down the dark, smoke filled stairwells of the dark, smoke filled stairwells of the doomed buildings.doomed buildings.

understood that our true heroes were understood that our true heroes were not superhuman entities but ordinary not superhuman entities but ordinary men and women just like ourselves men and women just like ourselves

We are indeed the heroes we seek in We are indeed the heroes we seek in others. We are our heroes. others. We are our heroes.

Janice Basili is found inspiring greatness in others in Toronto Canada j.basili@rogers.com

refuserefuse to grow oldto grow oldStop accepting common wisdom around aging.

Most of what we believe is part of the “normal” aging process is actually under-use and under-care.

Make it a priority to do three things every day:Make it a priority to do three things every day:

• one thing that heals your body;

• one thing that stretches your body to its limit; and

• one thing that stretches your mind.

Gisela McKay, Chief Mastermind of pixcode Inc.

Use it or lose it is more than a saying.

Fitness: Why Start Now?

Loss of hearing Shoulder issues Hip replacements Knee replacements

High blood pressure Sitting down Standing up Walking

Diminishing eyesight Lifting items Osteoporosis Climbing stairs

Diabetes Heart disease Arthritis Getting out of bed

As a personal trainer I truly enjoy sharing my experiences with others. My latest realization is born from the fitness world

of seniors: Life is precious, and as we age we are faced with physical challenges that would otherwise discourage the

average person. Words to qualify an aging individual - patient, persistent, accepting. It’s no wonder that some of our

biggest challenges arrive during our later years.

Below is a short list of areas that seniors contend with on a daily basis:

I see hope: The body is essentially the same for an 80 year old as it is for someone in their 20s. We walk to improve

Cardiovascular conditioning

stretchingweight lifting

Improved health & longevity

Jeff Dubé is a Personal Trainer & Adler Trained Coach. He has been helping individuals achieve their health goals for

over 10 years. E-mail: jeffdube@citrus-health.com

I have a 95 year old client who does push ups and squats

every morning before breakfast. I have another whose main

focus is trying to stand up from a chair while managing the

arthritic pain in their back and knees. The range is wide.

our heart and lungs, we do weights to strengthen our bones and muscles, we stretch to release pressure on the

joints. The body’s cells will continue to grow and repair as long as we give them the opportunity to do so.

My realization: Today is always the time to begin

exercising, for it will not only improve your quality of life now,

but it will also promote longevity of life.

The body is a temple, it deserves our greatest respect.

Thank you!Thank you!

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►►If you have any questions, please contact If you have any questions, please contact any of the contributors or Michelle at any of the contributors or Michelle at michelle@michellewarren.camichelle@michellewarren.ca