You can choose success. Do you believe this? If you do not then you have chosen (yes chosen) a different route and success will not be a prominent feature! Success is about choosing what you want in life and taking the necessary steps to achieve that goal. Success is not stopping until you get there!
Read the last two sentences again. Easy to say but how do you get there? What are the choices made by the successful? What are they doing differently from everyone else?
Choose to remove whatever is holding you back. Has something happened in the past to affect your self esteem? Do you immediately have negative thoughts as soon as money and success come to mind? If you are not choosing success then it is likely that something is blocking your ability to change and follow a new path. To remove the block you must have focus. To have focus you must first have an all consuming dream of where you want to be. Only when you have defined that dream can you start to focus on it. Focus so intently that everything you do is done with your dream in mind. Only then can you move toward that dream.
Choose to live your success. Live your life as if you were successful, as if you had already achieved the goal that you are focusing on. When you are at work, visualize what your workplace will be like when you have reached your goal, and place yourself there. Sit at your desk as if you were running the multimillion dollar business that you are focusing on. When you get into your car, visualize what your dream car will be like and see yourself sitting in it. Visualize yourself driving away from your dream house. When you are in your home – look around it and see your new surroundings. Get inside the feeling – really be there.
Goal Setting
Everybody has a story. Some story. Maybe it’s a funny thing that happened to them when they were young. Or an adventure they had. Or a game or a fight they won. A fluke. A co-incidence. An act of courage. Or a random kindness.
You probably have a story, too.
It could be a bet you won by a fluke. Or a stroke of luck you had.
Maybe you have a story about the way you met your spouse. Or the disaster that occurred the first time you tried to make pie crust. The camping trip where it only rained. Climbing over the fence at the wrong time. The time you tried to put on a rain poncho while riding a horse. An escape. A fantastic last-minute win at sports. The job you got when it seemed impossible. How you learned to dance. The dog that ran off with your shoe at a wedding.
Or maybe something unusual – maybe you saw a ghost once. Or a UFO. Maybe you read someone’s mind and found out you were right. It could be anything.
Everybody has a story!
I call these stories your “Once Upon a Time Stories.” They could be short or they could be long. People like to talk about their stories with their friends. At lunch. On the bus. On the phone. Or while they sit around the fire or on the back fire escape chatting with a friend into the wee hours. (Or maybe on Instant Message while they are supposed to be working! …)
I would like to invite everyone to come and post their own “Once Upon a Time Story” at Poems
In case you would like to have an example of a Once Upon a Time Story, I will tell you
one of mine.
Okay … let me think. I’m thinking.
Okay.
Once upon a time …
I decided to go on a camping trip with my friend Matt. We hitchhiked to a village which was north of the city we lived in. We had heard that there was a cave there and we thought it would be fun to sleep in a cave. I had just met Matt around the city, and I didn’t know him that well. He was a friend of friends. But we got along fine.
So we began to hitchhike. Somehow, before we arrived to our destination, it got dark. The people who were giving us a ride invited us to stay in their home for the night, so we did. They lived in a small village high on top of a hill.
When we woke up in the morning we had breakfast. White rolls. I ate way too many. I don’t know why I ate so many rolls! But I remember Matt looking at me with a surprised expression because I was eating so many rolls.
In any case, we had to continue on our way to our cave. So we said thank you and goodbye to the people who had helped us, and we proceeded to walk down to the main road.
Now, this village was way at the top of a hill. There was a long windy road down to the bottom. But there were almost no cars on that road at all. So we walked all the way down, maybe two kilometers.
At that age, I had a habit of eating dandelions and I was picking them and eating them. Matt thought this was strange. He wanted to eat in a restaurant we passed, and I objected as it was quite an expensive one.
When we finally reached the main road, we continued to hitch hike to the village where the cave was. We arrived at the village and found the park which had a rock hill in the middle. The cave was supposed to be in that hill.
Now somehow, at some point, while we were searching for this cave, we lost each other. And Matt had my sleeping bag.
I remember searching for Matt around that little rock mountain in the middle of the park. I went around and around that mountain for – well – three hours, as I recall. Searching and searching for Matt.
As the minutes and hours rolled by, I began to believe that perhaps Matt had actually run off with my sleeping bag and that I would never see him again. I began to chastise myself for trusting someone whom I just met. I mean – didn’t my father warn me? “Don’t trust anyone,” that’s what my father said. And here I was, trusting Matt with my sleeping bag!
I kept trying to convince myself that Matt would not come all the way out here just to steal my sleeping bag. But, one has to remember, I was in the middle of the situation. A lonely young girl in the forest, without a sleeping bag, walking around and around a rock hill for hours, searching for Matt.
I thought, “Could this whole thing really be a plot to steal my sleeping bag?” It didn’t seem to make sense. But he was gone!
I looked everywhere. I began to climb the rocks. I looked in among the crevices. Perhaps he had fallen and gotten hurt? This went on. Time went on. No Matt.
My trek continued.
And just as my last hopes were fading away, I heard a voice call my name. I turned and there he was.
Matt.
With my sleeping bag!
As you have probably guessed by now, we both had spent those three hours walking around and around the hill, looking for each other. But both walking in the same direction. Finally Matt realized what must be happening and he turned around to walk the opposite direction. And then he found me.
Well, there’s one little story. Later, I could tell the story of what happened when we tried to sleep in the cave.
But in any case, you see, it’s not even that fantastic or incredible. Just one of those funny things.
Now and again, when I think about it, it puts a smile on my face.
To imagine how I had wondered if perhaps this whole cave-camping trip was really a ploy to steal my sleeping bag!
Do you have a story? Or a poem? You can submit your story at Poems
Love,
Anna of Poems
I spend a great deal of time in New York City and one of the most inspirational sights is the United Nations. Simply walking down the street and seeing all the flags of the world reminds you of how large the world is. So many countries are represented on that long street; more than I have ever been able to identify. The United Nations is in place to bring our large world together to end conflict. While the UN is not a perfect system, it is magnificent that all countries and all peoples have the opportunity to meet and work for the common good.
The overseas colonies in the Americas, Pacific, and other parts of the world belonging to Spain are referred to as the “Spanish Empire”. Although identifying exact territories is challenging, we do know that the King of Spain took great care to protect his kingdom. Known as one of the largest empires in history and one of the first global empires, the Spanish people were critical in creating pages of our history books.
During the 16th century, European exploration and the expansion of colonials were the focus of both Portugal and Spain. This prompted new ocean trade routes to be formed, which created the opportunity for trade between Spain and the Americas to occur. Traveling across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, routes took the Spaniards into Mexico and East Asia. Throughout travels, Spain encountered various Indian civilizations to include Maya, Aztec, and Inca, who were overcome by Spanish Conquistadors. As a result, new and vast land in South and North America were opened to Spain. They didn’t want to learn Spanish either.
The oceans were largely controlled by the Spanish Empire, known for possessing an impressive Navy. In fact, Spain was so well known for their highly trained and skilled infantry, putting fears into the hearts of many Europeans. With such control and power, Spain gained great pleasure from wealth and success in the 16th and 17th centuries, which was deemed as the “cultural golden age.”
The Spanish Empire maintained its position as being the largest empire in the world, despite some economic and military fluctuations. With extensive empire building, the Spanish began to feel the effects of growing pains. Because of this, various considerations were made specific to natural and international law, economics, war, sovereignty, and imperialism. Interesting if you want to learn Spanish online.
As more and more rivals fought for control, a number of conflicts arose. The Spanish Empire began to experience a gradual decline in realms of religion, business, and territory. Then, the European Ottoman Empire became a constant enemy with them growing stronger and the Spanish Empire becoming weaker. Finally, in 1713, the Peace of Utrecht overtook the Spaniards, taking the Low Country and Italy territories. Even so, the fortunes of the Spanish Empire gained some strength, soon becoming the second most powerful in Continental European politics.
If you’ve ever read some of my articles or looked around my website, you’ll know that I love to shower praise on Rocket Spanish. It is a great product and I actively recommend it to anyone who asks me how to go about learning Spanish. But today, it’s time to reveal one of the things I absolutely hate about pimsleur spanish .
One of the things that made my life hard while travelling around Spain. Before I get into that, let me give you a bit of background on my Spanish speaking ability. Until rocket spanish came along, I was pretty inexperienced when it came to learning Spanish. I’d had a go but never with much passion and my lack of Spanish proved this. But I finally got some motivation and bought Rocket Spanish and went right through it. More on What I Hate About Rocket Spanish
Las Fallas, Valencia
Considered as one of the most, unique festivals in Spain, Las Fallas actually began as a day of feasting for the patron saint of carpenters known as St. Joseph. However, over time this particular festival changed into an incredible five-day celebration of fire. The city of Valencia is a beautiful but also quiet place in Spain where approximately 500,000 people reside. During the five-day festival, this town explodes with activity and about three million people.
The name Las Fallas translates to “the firesâ€, which is the exact focus of the festival. This festival involves the building and then destruction of statues made form wood, plaster, and cardboard. These homemade statues are placed throughout the parks and intersections, hitting 350 of the primary tourist spots. Known as “ninotsâ€, the statues are large and quite detailed. In fact, people take as long as six months to create these statues, some so large that cranes must position them.
Once the statues are in position, they will remain there until La Crema, the day of March 19. Then sometime in the early evening hours, holes are created in the statues, followed by them being stuffed with fireworks. Chanting can be heard throughout the streets, followed by the extinguishing of streetlights. The ninots are then set on fire at midnight. Las Fallas is fascinating but also controlled in that firemen, called Bomberos, allow burning while still protecting the beautiful city of Valencia. This particular ritual originated from pagans during the 16th century who celebrated the new spring when crops could be planted.
Feria de Abril, Sevilla
This springtime festival is another that you should experience. In the town of Sevile, the celebration lasts for seven days, which is attended by more than one million people. Dating back to 1847, the festival began as a trade fair for learn spanish online. However, Feria de Abril evolved, becoming a time of song and dance. Temporary tent cities are erected, known as casetas, which are colorful and highly decorated with lanterns. The evening hours consist of flamenco dancing with elaborate and colorful costumes.
Then to help people after long partying, ER 77 is a place where beds are set up and the floors covered with buckets of wine are poured. Although dancing and music are key elements of learn to speak spanish, this weeklong festival is filled with other activities to include horse and carriage parades, strolling singers, learn to speak spanish, bullfighting, and more.
Spanish Civil War
The next major war that broke out was the learn Spanish online Civil War, which began in 1936 and continued for three years. This particular war involved General Francisco Franco leading the Spanish Army into Morocco, which was a battle of democrats and republicans. Interestingly, the people supporting the left wing included trade unions, workers, peasants, socialists, anarchists, communists, and the learn Spanish online government. On the right wing, supporters involved were landowners, middle class civilians, industries, some rebellious Army members, and even the Catholic church.
Unfortunately, while the Spanish American War was short and only somewhat bloody, the Spanish Civil War would prove to be violent and very bloody. Those standing behind the left, or Loyalists were strong but not nearly as organized as the opponents, or right wing, Nationalist. In fact, the Nationalists gained tremendous support from Germany while the Loyalist did not. Although the Loyalists did get some help from Soviet Union, it was not much.
The outcome of the learn Spanish Civil War included a victory for Franco, which ultimately placed him in a 40-year dictatorship. Most people believe the Spanish Civil War was merely a precursor for World War II, although Spain was not involved. Sadly, Franco led Spain into isolation from the rest of the world but then in 1970 when Prince Juan Carlos was named Franco’s successor, the monarchy began to rebuild.
Throughout Spanish history, many unrivaled painters have emerged. From those, we have seen styles mimicked around the world, other artists trying to recapture some of the elegance, color, and meaning found in Spanish paintings. Keep in mind that many of the Spanish painters used their art form as a means of expressing ideologies specific to religion, poetry, architecture, music, and so on. Architects also used expression to create some of the most fascinating and impressionable buildings in the world.
Joan Miro
This Barcelona painter was born in 1893, being best known for his surrealist work. Unlike other Rocket Spanish, Miro used his imagination and memory to paint. Interestingly, Miro’s work prior to the 1920s was quite colorful and powerful. However, Miro moved to Paris after 1920 where his painting influences changed, often being directly related to writers, poet, and such.
Regardless, this particular Rocket Spanish was visual, creating dreamlike masterpieces that often incorporated whimsical qualities. For instance, Miro would use strange geometric creations, as well as distorted animal figures. In addition to his distinct style of painting, Miro also delved into lithographs and etching in his later years.
Salvador Dali I Domenech
Of all painters, Salvador Dali is probably one of the most controversial. Dali began his work as a young boy and then in 1922, he attended school in Madrid to continue and improve upon his study of the fine arts. After leaving school, Dali headed to Paris where he coordinated efforts with a number of different sculptors and painters.
Many of Salvador Dali’s learn to speak Spanish are surrealist creations with vivid color and exaggerated forms and features. Being highly artistic and intellectual, many of his masterpieces are difficult to understand but without doubt, profound. Interestingly, Dali’s immense success came when he and his wife settled down in the United States.
Ricardo Bofill
Born in Barcelona in 1939, Bofill was responsible for the creation of many, phenomenal buildings. For instance, Bofill designed many of Paris’ artistic buildings such as the Christian Dior Headquarters, Rochas Headquarters, Paribas Bank, and Shiseido. In addition, Bofill incorporated numerous aspects of his amazing skill to include the National Theatre of Catalonia, the New Palacio de Congresos, the Barcelona Airport, and more.
Although Bofill has long been deemed a key member of the architectural family of Spain, some of his more recent creations are what people rave about. For instance, the Donnelley Building is a 55-story granite and glass office tower that has made a huge impression. Additionally, the tallest residential building in the world known as The Grand, the world’s tallest office building, called Project 2000, and even the Dearborn Centre, which is still under construction, are all the brainchild of Ricardo Bofill.
Antonio Gaudi
Gaudi was born in 1852 in Tarragona. Coming from a longstanding family of artists and metalworkers, it would only make sense that Gaudi would also use his craft. What many people do not realize is that Gaudi suffered from rheumatic arthritis at the age of six, which postponed his formal education. However, in 1873, Gaudi headed to Barcelona where he would attend a number of architectural schools. During his career, he was involved with a number of incredible buildings.
From 1513 to 1517, a number of expeditions took place with Spaniards fighting for the Pacific Ocean, along with lands that connected to it for the learn to speak Spanish crown. Then from1519 to 1521, an explorer by the name of Hernan Cortes came ashore to claim Veracruz. At this time, Spanish hegemony began over the region, lasting for more than 300 years.
Unfortunately, the native Indians were soon faced with all types of European disease such as measles, influenza, and smallpox. Without any means of protection, populations decreased wherever the learn to speak Spanish invaders went, which dramatically weakened the native civilizations ability to fight off invaders. Even so, laws to protect the natives living in American colonies were passed with Spain leading the way.
One such law was called the Encomienda System, which prevented slavery. However, the goal in setting such laws was to help convert the natives to Christianity, many times learn to speak Spanish Spaniards and natives had children, which led to the formation of the Mestizo class. Considered Americans, these people were required to pay taxes in accordance with Spanish law and ordered to follow any law governed by the Spanish crown. One particular priest, Bartolome de las Casas stood up for the Native Americans and in 1542, he wrote material that would be largely responsible for the New Laws of 1542 in which the rights of the native people were protected.
Privateers, which are private ships used for attacking foreign ships under the approval of the country’s government were a part of learn to speak Spanish history. Although these ships were primarily used during times of war, some were also used for showing a position of power in times of peace.
learn to speak Spanish privateers were commonly seen in support of the navy, starting in the 16th century through the 19th century. To pay for the cost of privateers, prize money coming from enemy merchants was paid. Interestingly, if war was not occurring or if the privateer were to prey on neutral ships, they were often viewed as pirates. However, when working in conjunction to naval forces, privateers played a vital role in attacking enemy ships, as well as taking on prisoners of war.
As you can imagine, privateers were a huge support to smaller naval power. Additionally, these smaller ships caused significant problems for commerce, which obviously hurt the enemy. Depending on the ship and its crew, some were treated with great respect by naval vessels while others were treated rudely and with disrespect.
Now, a privateer could be literally any type of vessel. In fact, many privateers were outdated or unwanted warships that were commissioned to go into service. As you look back in history, you will find that many of the English privateer fleet that fought with the 1588 learn Spanish online Armada. During this era, it was common for British ships to sail off the Spanish coast, as well as the Caribbean. Their goal was to intercept treasure fleets carrying silver and gold coming from Mexico, which actually belonged to Spain.
At first, some attacks by Spanish ships on Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake were justified in that they were trying to stop the selling of slaves to Spanish colonies, something that the Spanish considered against the law. Initially, naval support was not available so little control or monitoring was done. In fact, Elizabeth I encouraged privateering, believing that it was okay to attack Spanish ships due to competition with that country. This action was directly responsible for starting the first Anglo-Spanish War. After all, if a Spanish treasure ship was captured, it meant the British Crown would become richer
Let me ask you this; are you religious? There is certainly no shortage of creeds available for you to choose from. Myself, I was raised as a Lutheran. Yes indeed, another branch of Christianity. It was what my parents were raised as, and therefore they naturally exposed me to it. Probably hoping that I would adopt the beliefs and pass them onto my children. We encountered the usual routines in church each Sunday. It was mostly about worshipping, listening to a sermon, and learning bible history. I assume most of Middle America is subjected to the same rituals. Not that it’s a bad thing! I actually think it’s wise to learn as much as you can about various religions. This way you can decide for yourself whether or not you choose to practice one. It pays to investigate on your own.
Any religious official will rant off bible history like it’s fact. The word parable doesn’t mean much to them. As far as they know, all things told in the bible really happened as written. Hmm, I can’t be so accepting when it comes to bible history. Could biblical tales have played out just as they’re depicted in the holy book? Sure, I suppose so, but that doesn’t mean I believe so. When I read the bible, I feel as though I’m reading life lessons. Stories that were created by man in order to persuade individuals to follow a certain path or live a particular way. Now, I can’t help but ponder the world before religion was introduced. There is certainly a contradiction somewhere in there. We know that people lived prior to what the bible depicts. Well, at least if you’ve studied history to that extent.
When all is said and done, I can’t help but come to the conclusion that bible history is not all it’s made out to be. In fact, I believe people invented many religions simply to deal with the hardships of life. All of us want to believe/know that there’s someone watching out for us and that there is a better and greater place we go after this physical realm. Religions help us focus on this notion and believe more. On the other hand, religion tends to cause plenty of death and destruction as well. There is certainly a balance that must be found when it comes to spiritual beliefs and dedication.
