#3 I Am Not The Best Listener- You? March 6, 2008

I took this test and learned that I am not the best listener.  I need to add ’Be A Better Listener’ to the self improvement list.

How will do you do?

When listening to someone else,

Do you think about other things while you are keeping track of the conversation?

Do you think about what you are going to say next?

Do you listen with the intent of replying rather than understanding?

Do you break in with your own comments and ideas before the other person is finished talking?

Do you listen primarily for the facts rather than ideas?

Do you “tune out” to things that may seem to difficult to understand?

Do you try to make it appear that you’re paying attention when you’re not?

Do certain words or phrases prejudice so you don’t listen objectively?

Do your thoughts turn to other things when you think that the speaker doesn’t have anything interesting to say?

Do you finish other people’s sentences?

Can you tell from a person’s appearance and/or delivery if he or she will have anything important to say?

Are you easily distracted from outside sounds and sights?

If you answered “No” to all of these questions you are one of a kind. Most of us are taught early to express ourselves so that we can get our say in and get our point across.

Very few of us are taught to be good listeners. Good listening can be taught through better habits. Be in the moment with the person you are communicating with.

We have 2 ears and one mouth for a reason!

It’s time I learned how to use my auditory skills more.

#2 People, On Average, Lie 4 Times a Day March 5, 2008

A recent London survey, sponsored by the makers of a vodka-based beverage called WKD found each of us will tell an average total of 88,000 lies over the course of our lives. That’s 1,460 untruths a year or more than four in every day of an average, 60-year adult lifetime.

According to the firm’s poll of 2,500 men and women, “Nothing is wrong, I’m fine” tops what it says is a lengthy list of common lies.

Other favorites include, “No, your bottom doesn’t look big in that,” to a wife or girlfriend; “Of course I love you,” to a boring spouse or partner; and “This tastes delicious.”

The poll also suggests that men tell the most fibs, “coming out with [on average] five every day, compared with women, who lie just three times,” according to a spokesman.

But, as many men will tell you, some of those female falsehoods are real whoppers, especially as 44 percent of them do they speak nonsense about the damage done to the family budget by that new trouser suit or Imelda Marcos-style shoes.

Most of the fibs told seemed to be to spare someone’s feelings or keep peace within the family or workplace.

Confessions of 29% of the men surveyed showed they have lied about flirting with women other than their spouses or partners.

Do you recognize any of these?
“The check’s in the mail.”
“Nice to see you.”
“It’s just what I always wanted.”
“We’re just friends.”
“My watch stopped.”
“I’ve been in meetings all day.”

We have even fashioned a way for automation to lie to us these days.
“Please stay on the line, your call is important to us and someone will be with you shortly.”
“Your taxi will be there in 2 minutes.”
“Your name has been randomly selected to win a prize!”

How dangerous are these lies? Would the world be a better place without them? Think about how economical you are with the truth? Who do you lie to everyday? Do you tell these tales to save the people you lie to or yourself?

To read the full story from the Washington Post click here.

#1 Cinnamon & Honey Combined Cure Most Diseases March 4, 2008

Natures Secrets To Remain Healthy.

(Print this, Frame this And Keep this In Your Kitchen)

No More Trips To The Doctor! 

Bet the drug companies won’t like this one getting around.

Facts on honey and cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and
cinnamon cures most diseases.  Honey is produced in most of the
countries of the world.  Scientists of today also accept honey as a “Ram
Ban” (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.  Honey can be
used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.
Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the
right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.  Weekly
World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January, 1995
has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and
cinnamon as researched by western scientists:
HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of
jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast.  It reduces the
cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.
Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process
daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.  Regular use of
the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart
beat.  In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated
patients successfully and have found that as  you age, the arteries and
veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon
revitalize the arteries and veins.
ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot
water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon
powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.  In a
recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found
that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one
tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast,
they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated,
practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a
month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because
of arthritis started walking without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a
glass of lukewarm water and drink it.  It destroys the germs in the bladder.
TOOTHACHE:
Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of
honey and apply on the aching tooth.  This may be applied three times a
day until the tooth stops aching.
CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in
16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two
hours.  As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day,
any chronic cholesterol is cured.  According to information received in
the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints
of cholesterol.
COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon
lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This
process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.
UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears
stomach ulcers from the root.
GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that
if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and
protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.  Scientists have
found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large
amounts.  Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles
to fight bacteria and viral diseases.
INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food
relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural
Ingredient which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests
the ravages of old age.  Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of
cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like
tea.  Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day.  It keeps the skin fresh
and soft and arrests old age.  Life spans also increases and even a 100
year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.
WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach
and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in
one cup of water.  If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the
most obese person.  Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow
the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high
calorie diet.
CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer
of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.  Patients
suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of
honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.
FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more
helpful rather than! than being detrimental to the strength of the body.
Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are
more alert and flexible.  Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a
half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with
cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at
about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease,
increases the vitality of the body within a week.