How To Select The Perfect Christmas Gift On A Limited Budget

With the Christmas season fast approaching, we are once again faced with the challenge of finding just the perfect gift for each person on our holiday list.  Seeing the joy on a loved one's face when they open your gift is always a wonderful feeling; unfortunately, most of us wind up spending more than we can really afford to get that reaction.  For many of us, this can become a source of stress that causes the true joy of Christmas to be lost.  The dilemma of trying to figure out what to buy and how to get it without plunging yourself into financial ruin can be overwhelming to say the least.

However, there are many ways that you can avoid these yuletide traps.  Holiday gift giving needn't become a stressful or expensive endeavor.  With a little thought and creativity, you can give your loved ones uniquely personal gifts that are relatively inexpensive and sure to bring a smile to their faces.  For example, everyone knows that we all love to enjoy holiday treats, so edible gifts are always a safe bet.  Baking brightly decorated cookies or any variety of sweet bread, or maybe even making some other type of treat like homemade fudge or bread pudding will undoubtedly be appreciated.  Or, if you aren't much for cooking, you could buy some little dishes or holiday tins and fill them with candy.  Most discount or dollar stores have a wide selection of such things that are very affordable and very cute!

For those of you who enjoy arts & crafts, your hobby can open up another great gift giving possibility.  Many craft stores can offer great ideas for easy gifts to fit any budget.  If you knit or crochet, you can make sweaters, scarves, hats, or any number of other personalized gifts.  Those who enjoy scrap booking can make remembrance books for almost any significant event in a loved one's life.  This will give them a keepsake to be treasured for years to come...and these ideas barely scratch the surface!  In fact, there are so many different types of crafts that the possibilities here are almost endless.  Gifts of this nature can also give you the satisfaction of knowing that you are giving a one-of-a-kind gift that will have a deeply personal meaning to your loved ones because you have put a lot of time, thought and love into its creation!

If you happen to be a bargain hunter who enjoys frequenting garage sales, thrift stores, or flea markets, this can offer a wonderful avenue for finding great gifts at a fraction of their original cost.  For the careful shopper with an eye for quality merchandise, it can be possible to find almost anything this way.  You can give a wonderful present for pennies on the dollar, and no one will be the wiser!  If you attend these events regularly, you can pick up things at any time during the year and store them away for future giving.

And here's another great tip for those who come from very large families.  Since most people have children to buy for, and that is usually a parent's main focus at this time of year, it may be beneficial for the adults in the family to get together and draw names before your gift exchange.  This way, each person will only have to buy one gift, and everyone will have something to open.  It will allow you to still make the holiday special for the little ones, while ensuring that no one is left out!

No matter how you choose to go about finding that perfect gift, I think it is helpful to keep in mind the unique and individual personality of the person for whom you are shopping.  Sometimes, when we aren't sure what to buy, we tend to pick out things that we think they would like, or things that we would like them to have.  Instead of “flying blind” like that, I think it is helpful to focus on their specific likes and dislikes.  For example, if your loved one is the artistic type, give them a supply of materials necessary to create in their chosen medium.  If they enjoy a certain sport, a unique collectible related to that sport makes a great gift; you could even give them a pair of tickets to a game!  Wherever their interests lie, they will be more likely to enjoy your gift if it is chosen with those interests in mind!

So to those of you who dread the coming Christmas season, I would just like to close by saying don't lose heart.  Hopefully my suggestions have shown you that it is possible to have a holiday that is stress and worry free...and these are just a few ideas to simplify gift giving; I'm sure that if you do some investigating, you'll be able to find countless others as well!  As I said before, all it takes is a little ingenuity! 

Remembering September 11, 2001

No one could have foreseen the events that would take place on the morning of September 11, 2001.  For most of us, myself included, that day started out the same as any other normal Tuesday morning.  People left home and fought horrendous traffic to get to their jobs on time.  Parents made sure that their kids got to school on time.  Everything seemed just as it always was...just another day of the same old dull routine.  Little did we know that in a few short hours, we were about to discover just how horribly wrong those assumptions were.

I remember that I had stayed up quite late the night before, so I didn't wake up until late in the afternoon.  So unfortunately...or maybe fortunately, depending on your point of view...I slept through the whole thing!  When I finally woke up, still not knowing that anything had even happened, I dragged myself out of bed and went to take my blood pressure medication.  Then, after taking a few moments to shake off the sleep, I went to call my mother at work.  She was the one who told me about the horrible and vicious attack that had taken place that morning.

I was utterly stunned!  In fact, I did not believe her at first.  I thought that it was some kind of a bad joke, and I was waiting for the punch line.  Only the punch line never came.  Instead, she kept insisting to me that it was no joke.  To be perfectly honest, I don't really remember exactly what I felt at the precise moment that she told me.  I was too numb with shock and disbelief to feel anything at all.  I think my emotions just completely turned off.

After my mother and I finished our telephone conversation, I hung up the phone and immediately ran to turn on CNN.  Then I sat there silently in front of the television as the anchorman confirmed that what my mother had said was true.  Indeed, two planes had crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, completely demolishing the buildings.  And a third plane had destroyed an entire wing of the pentagon.  The Pentagon!  The very center of our military!  In addition, we later learned that there had been a fourth plane, and that The White House had been the intended target of this plane.  However, thanks to the heroic efforts of it's doomed passengers, who tried to overpower the hijackers, the plane missed it's intended target and crashed somewhere in the woods of Pennsylvania.

Slowly, over the next few hours, the horrific reality that this had really happened began to penetrate my fog of disbelief.  This unspeakable atrocity had actually taken place!  And as if that fact alone weren't bad enough, it had happened right here in my own country...in my homeland!

For all the rest of that day, and late into the night, I remained glued to my television set.  As a matter of fact, I remained glued there for the next several days as well.  I can't explain why, but I was absolutely riveted.  As morbid as it sounds, I would sit watching news reports until I was so exhausted that I couldn't see anymore.  And at the end of each day, I literally had to force myself to go to bed.  I almost felt as if my very life itself depended upon hearing every horrid detail of this tragic happening.  As time went on, the anchor people changed, but the story was the same: America was in mourning.  And through it all, I watched.  Over and over again, I saw the images of those planes crashing into those buildings.  I watched as they showed the explosions, the shattering glass, the flying debris, and even the smoke blackened sky.  They were all shown in graphic detail, and from every conceivable angle, and I watched.

I saw terrified people...people who knew that they were going to die...throwing themselves off the upper floors in a desperate effort to avoid the flames.  This is hard to understand, but I guess the human mind does funny things when it knows that death is coming.  I am guessing that this was their way of trying to gain some small measure of control over a hopeless situation.  I guess that they must have figured that if they had to die anyway, then at least they were going to decide how it happened; so they jumped rather than sit there waiting to burn to death.  I think I would have made the same choice.  When an even more gruesome fate is inevitable, that somehow seems more humane...even if only by inches.  Of course, all of these assumptions are merely speculation on my part, but this is the only way that my mind can make any semblance of sense out of any of this.  But at any rate, those images are now permanently seared into my psyche.  I will carry them with me to the grave.  I cannot even begin to imagine the unbelievable gut-wrenching terror that those poor souls must have known.  I pray that I will never have to experience such terror in my life.

And along with the sights, there were the sounds.  First, came the earth-shaking explosions that spelled certain doom for the thousands of people in and around those buildings.  Next came the sound of shattering glass.  And then there were the horrified screams of the onlookers in the street below.  And you could hear the heavy, clunking footsteps of those who tried to run for cover, but were unsure where to find it.  Finally, there was the droning chaotic wail of sirens as the police and rescue workers fought their way into the middle of that inferno in a desperate attempt so salvage some small amount of life from the carnage.

As silly as this may sound, as I sat there watching those appalling images, I remember the first words out of my mouth when I saw those planes hit the World Trade Center buildings were these: "Oh my God, it has hit the fan now!"  Then, immediately following that, I thought to myself, "I don't know who the poor imbecile was that did this, but whoever he is, he just made his last mistake!"

Finally, by the wee hours of the next morning, the grim reality had completely sunken in.  As the news coverage went on, my feelings of disbelief gave way to a confusing rush of every possible emotion.  It was almost as if my spirit did not know quite what to feel.  There were so many different emotions to choose from, and all of them were equally strong.  For quite some time, I was just completely overwhelmed.  I had no idea how to even begin to understand the feelings that I was experiencing.  But slowly, as the many emotions began to surface, I attempted to deal with each one of them individually.

First, there was the complete disbelief.  My brain simply could not fathom the enormity of what had happened.  I could not understand how something so unspeakably awful could happen in this country.  After all, this is supposed to be the safest country in the world, right?  Well, that statement had just been proven false in the worst possible way!

Then the fear came.  If it happened once, it could happen again.  And if it did, where and when would these monsters strike again?  And how many more innocent souls will lose there lives when they did strike again?  Also, there was the fear of going to war.  After any such attack, a sane and rational person would have automatically assumed that a war was eminent.  I knew that there was no way our country would ever tolerate such a calculated act of brutality.  Then I asked myself this question: If there was a war, would we survive it?  And if we did, how would it affect our lives?  How would our lives change...not only while the war was being fought, but what would the long-term effect be?  How would it change the future of our country?

Never in my life have I ever been so full of questions that appeared to have no answers.  And I have to be honest with you here.  The uncertainty of all of this filled me with an awful sense of dread.  I really cannot even describe it.  It is one of those feelings that you have to experience to be able to understand it.  I felt helpless.  I didn't know what to do, or how to prepare myself for whatever might be coming.  There is, after all, no way to prepare for the unknown.

And later, as the days went by and I watched the continuing coverage, I gradually became more and more angry.  Those wretched, evil men!  How dare they!  I could not believe the gall of those people!  They had the colossal nerve to come into our country and try to use the skills that we had taught them against us!  And, to make matters even worse, they claim to have committed this horrendous act in the name of religion!  News flash, guys; my Bible says that there is only one entity that teaches his followers to kill and destroy; need I say more?

No, this atrocity certainly cannot justified by claiming to have done it in the name of God; Nor could it be blamed on Him!  He did not cause this to happen.  I can say with heartfelt certainty that He was sickened and saddened by these events.  However, God allows each of us to have free will.  This means that we all have the power to choose whether we will do good or evil, and God cannot be blamed if one of His children makes a choice to do the wrong thing of his or her own free will.

So why didn't God prevent this, you ask?  Again, it has to do with the issue of free will.  When God gave us free will, He also promised that He would not interfere with the exercise of that free will in any way; and being a man of His word, He will not break that promise.  Therefore, because these events were set in motion as a result of someone's use of free will, God could not stop it because in order to do so, he would have been forced to break that promise.  At least, that's the way I see it.

To those of you that do not wish to accept that explanation, I can only say that He must have had some reason for allowing it to happen, and even though we may not understand what that reason is, it isn't for us to question.  At moments like these, we simply must have enough faith to trust that He's God, and He knows what He's doing.  Sometimes, it is not our place to understand such things.

Anyway, I continued to watch the news coverage, and the longer that I watched, the more my suspicions were confirmed.  This was not the work of men, but of demons.  These men were possessed by demons; demons whose sole purpose was to destroy anything and everything in their path, which they did without a shred of remorse.  Being a Christian, I cannot condemn them, in spite of the hatred that I have for their actions.  I can only pray that The Lord will have mercy upon every one of those miserable excuses for humanity, and trust that He will render upon them a judgment that is just in His eyes.  For He, in His infinite wisdom, is a much more qualified judge of what is just than I could ever hope to be.

The last and most powerful feeling that I carried through those days was an absolutely overwhelming sense of sorrow.  Sorrow not only for the victims and their loved ones, but indeed, for an entire nation that was so cruelly robbed of it's innocence.  For me, this was the one emotion that I tried my hardest to suppress, because I knew that if I allowed myself to freely feel it, it would have completely consumed me.  It would have swept me away like an ocean tide.  I would have drowned in it.

But then, something happened that I did not expect.  Right in the midst of my trying to deal with all of these powerful feelings, the news coverage shifted its focus.  They began to show the friends and families of the victims, openly weeping as they desperately searched for any information that could be given about their lost loved ones.  All of them were praying fervently, hoping against hope that their loved ones may be found alive, and be able to come home to them.  My soul wept for those people.  And after seeing this heartbreak, my own personal feelings began to seem a bit petty and trivial.

I mean, let's get real here.  First of all, I was thousands of miles away from this devastation.  And secondly, I did not have to worry that any of my loved ones may not be coming home that night.  My life had not been disrupted or inconvenienced in any way whatsoever.  I would still be able to live the same blessed life that I had always led.  So all of a sudden, my own feelings of sorrow and anger did not seem quite as important as they once were, because I realized that these poor souls were the ones who would truly have to deal with the enormity of this tragedy.  And not only will they have to deal with it now, but it will affect them every single day for the rest of their lives.  My heart went out to them; I prayed for them daily, and I still do.

Over the ensuing days and weeks, the events leading up to this fiasco were slowly pieced together.  From the beginning, it had been suspected that a Saudi man named Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind who had hatched this diabolical plot.  According to the FBI, Bin Laden was a severe Muslim radical with a long history of terrorist activity.  And about two weeks into the investigation, the FBI confirmed that their suspicions were correct.  Bin Laden was indeed the man who was responsible for this heinous crime.

I don't know how the rest of America reacted to this news, but for me, it was a big help in my healing process.  You see, for me, uncertainty is the most horrible and difficult feeling of all to deal with.  Nothing feels worse to me than having to face an unknown enemy.  I was scared that we would always and forever be doomed to wonder who had done this awful thing, and why.  At least now, I...we...knew for sure who was responsible.  We had somebody to blame for our pain.

However, just at the moment when America should have been at its most angry and vengeful, something quite extraordinary happened.  We, as a nation, decided to put aside our anger.  We became determined to show this monster that his attempt to scare us into submission had failed.  We wanted him to see that it was going to take a lot more than this to break us.  We were determined to rise above the horror and the pain that he had tried to inflict upon us.

I have never before in my life seen such an unbelievably generous outpouring of kindness as the one that I have witnessed in the wake of this tragedy.  People lined up in droves, sometimes waiting for hours to give blood.  People opened up their homes to complete strangers who had been left homeless by the devastation.  People by the thousands flooded into the affected areas...which by this time were being referred to as "ground zero"...volunteering to help in any way that they could.  They were willing to do whatever was asked of them.  Acts of astonishing heroism on the part of firefighters and other rescue workers became a daily occurrence.  There was a unity among the people of this nation such as we had not seen since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor some sixty years earlier.  Suddenly, we were no longer divided by racial or religious barriers, or any other stupid prejudice.  Our differences were completely forgotten.  We were Americans willing to stand together and fight for the nation that we love.

All across the country, people were eager to show their patriotism.  We wanted all of the rescue workers and the other people who were working so hard trying to help us recover to know that the were not going through this horror alone.  Patriotic songs could be heard from everyplace, and every time the national anthem was played, whether at a sporting event or elsewhere, the roar of approval and support was deafening.  In every large city and small town in America, people were rushing out to buy and hang the American flag.  Buying so many of them, in fact, that the stores and manufacturers could not keep up with the demand.  Flags had to be back ordered.  Many people even flew the flag from their car windows as they drove down the street.  Some placed bumper stickers on their cars bearing a picture of the flag, along with the slogan "These Colors Don't Run."

As a matter of fact, this attack not only brought our nation together, but it unified many other nations around the world as well.  Many other nations offered to stand with The United States, and give whatever support they could.  In fact, when our leaders spoke to the United Nations to ask permission to respond to these attacks, members of the UN agreed unanimously that America should take whatever action it deemed necessary.  This was the first time in the entire history of that organization that a unanimous agreement between all the members had ever happened.

So you see, Mr. Bin Laden, we Americans do not scare so easily.  Your despicable attack has only served to unify us, and to strengthen our collective American spirit.  Your attempt to destroy us has been in vain.  You expected us to scamper away and hide...to submit.  Instead, we rose to the challenge, and we are still doing so.  And you, sir, are in for a very rude awakening; for when the people of this nation stand together as one, America is a force to be reckoned with.

Is Spanking An Effective Method Of Child Discipline

Although I am not a parent myself, I feel that the experience of having been a child who was spanked qualifies me to speak on this topic.  I grew up with the most loving parents that anyone could ask for; there has never been a shred of doubt in my mind that they loved me completely and unconditionally.  They were always encouraging and supportive of me in anything that I wanted to do, and have been there for me every single time I have ever needed anything.  But even as much as my parents loved me, that still didn't stop them from giving me a couple of good swats on the backside if I got out of line!  They only did so when it was deserved, and it was never excessive...just enough to be sure that I knew I had messed up.

Yes, the horrible truth is that I was spanked when it was needed, and I have to say that it did not traumatize or scar me; it did not give me a complex; it did not make me a violent or abusive adult.  As far as I am concerned, the effect that being spanked had on me was quite the opposite; I turned out just fine.  In fact, I am glad that my parents disciplined me the way that they did.  I wouldn't be the adult that I am today if they hadn't!  So, I am absolutely in favor of spanking. I think that spanking is the most effective form of discipline available to parents.  Whatever pain may come from spanking, it is temporary, and it will spare the child from worse pain that could occur if they do not change the behavior that caused them to be spanked in the first place.  That fact alone makes it worth enduring; better to suffer a small amount of pain now, than to suffer worse pain later in life!

I often wonder who these so-called experts are that make these anti-spanking statements; whoever they are, it is blatantly obvious to me that they have probably never been parents.  Any parent with more than five minutes of practical daily experience in raising children will quickly tell you that most of the time, other punishments are far less effective.  Grounding often does not work because a parent cannot be right over the child's shoulder every second of the day, making sure without a doubt that punishment is enforced.  Besides, kids are too good at sneaking behind a parent's back to do whatever they are supposed to be grounded from anyway.  And let's face it, giving a child “time out” is just a complete joke, period!  So as far as I am concerned, to say that spanking a child even remotely compares to child abuse is simply the most ludicrous statement to ever pass human lips; to say that any parent should be jailed or judged unfit because they spank their children is nothing short of criminal!

I realize that many out there disagree with my opinion on this, and that's fine; I still stand vehemently and emphatically behind my view.  People fail to realize that discipline is a form of love.  You discipline your children because you love them, and because you want them to grow up to be decent, caring and considerate human beings!  Children need structure in their lives, and they need to learn that when you make a mistake, there are consequences for those actions.  They have to learn to take responsibility for their own mistakes.  If their parents don't teach them this lesson, then life in the real world will...and I can promise you that life will not be nearly as gentle about it as the parent would!

Maybe if there were more spanking going on, we would have more respectful children in the world.  In fact, I am convinced that's true.  Kids are getting away with murder because parents are too afraid of getting reported to the authorities if they spank them.  Parents cannot properly discipline their children when their hands are tied in this way. And I can definitely tell you this much: if I had ever spoken to my mother the way that I hear some kids do today, I guarantee that I would have only made that mistake once!  Children wouldn't be yelling at their parents, cursing them out, and doing God only knows what else if they had gotten the proper discipline at a young age.

The bottom line is that discipline is a parent's responsibility.  I am most certainly not condoning abuse in any way, shape or form; I want to make that clear.  Child abuse is nothing to make light of; it's tragic when it happens, and it should be prevented.  However, to put spanking in the same category with something as horrific as child abuse is just a flat out insult, especially to those children who really are abused.  Enduring a spanking is a walk in the park compared to what those unfortunate souls are forced to live through every day!

Examining The Potential Dangers Of Internet Use

I love the Internet.  It is a wonderful tool that literally places the entire world at your fingertips.  It can provide hours of great entertainment and enjoyment, while also offering an almost limitless source of information.  You can use it for nearly any purpose imaginable: playing games, listening to music, watching movies, doing research, doing homework, shopping, or any one of a million other activities.  The world wide web has greatly accelerated the pace our lives, making it easy to perform many tasks that would have otherwise been tedious and time-consuming.  Indeed, the Internet offers us the ability to do a great many things that we never would have dreamed possible before its existence.

I love receiving e-mail, and I could spend hours chatting with my friends by instant message.  I also appreciate the fact that the Internet gives me the opportunity to meet many people that I may have never met without it.  I now have cyber-friends in nearly every U.S. state, as well as other parts of the world.  In fact, the Internet has become such a fixture in today's world that I often wonder how we ever got along without this marvelous bit of technology.  I know that I, for one, would be lost without it.

However, I would still recommend that one approach Internet use with some caution.  I say this because in spite of all the great advantages that it offers, the Internet is a tool that should always be used responsibly.  It is unfortunate but true that any new piece of technology which has the ability to make our lives easier and better also comes with the built-in potential to be misused and abused; the Internet is no exception to that.  Life in cyberspace definitely has its down side.

For instance, the anonymity that the Internet allows all of us can be an extremely dangerous thing.  It gives pedophiles a perfect way to easily interact with children for the purpose of preying upon them.  It also allows other types of predators to easily scam people.  Use of the Internet has brought with it a sharp rise in certain types of crime, such as identity theft and credit card fraud.  Although, authorities have gained some ground in the prevention of these dangers since the Internet first came into widespread use, there is still much to be done.  However, their job is made much more difficult by the fact that the perpetrators of these crimes are so well hidden; they are only nameless, faceless entities lurking behind a computer screen somewhere!

Another concern held by many people, myself included, is the fact that privacy is slowly becoming a thing of the past.  The wealth of information that is available online makes it possible to find out almost anything that you may want to know about anyone.  Records of birth and death, banking records, credit reports, medical records, school transcripts, police records, and any number of other documents containing extremely sensitive information can be found in seconds online.  Even when every effort is made to keep these records secure, the best encryption techniques are often no match for a truly good hacker.

In addition to these very real dangers, there has been another unpleasant side effect of Internet use for me personally.  Although it is not nearly as serious as the threats stated above, it is one of my biggest pet peeves, and again, is caused by the anonymous nature of cyberspace.  I am referring to the complete and utter lack of courtesy that has been shown by some of my fellow Internet users.  There are some out there who will say the most horrible, rude, insulting things...things that they would never dare to say to anyone's face.  They do so completely without fear of consequences, and with no regard for the effect that their words may have on others.  This has caused me to stop visiting chat rooms or most message boards altogether, because I feel that I have better things to do with my time than to waste it arguing with disrespectful idiots!

Even with all of its negative aspects, though, I still believe that the benefits offered by the Internet far outweigh its drawbacks; it is still of great value.  As long as we are educated about its possible dangers and take every precaution available to us for preventing them, I believe that the Internet will continue to provide pleasant experiences and serve our needs for a long time to come!

Tips To Keep Your Children Safe On Halloween

Most children love Halloween!  It is one annual event that they very often look forward to with eager anticipation!  The chance to dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating for all those yummy candy treats definitely ranks very high on the priority list for most youngsters.  For parents, however, Halloween can present some very valid safety concerns...especially in this day and age.  So, to that end, I would like to present a few tips to help parents ensure that their little ghosts and ghouls will enjoy a Halloween that is both fun and safe.

The first issue that must be addressed is costumes.  Finding just the right costume for your child can be trickier than you may think.  When choosing a costume, there are many factors that could present a potential hazard.  For example, it is very important to make sure that the costume fits properly.  Costumes that are loose and drag the ground, or those with long hems such as gowns or capes, could create a tripping hazard.

It is also advisable that parents encourage their kids to wear face makeup rather than masks.  Most masks are ill-fitting, and do not have adequate air holes.  A mask that is too large can sometimes impair a child's vision, because they can move out of place, making it difficult for your child to see through the eye holes.  Even when the eye holes of a mask allow an unobstructed frontal view, they can still hamper the peripheral vision.  If your child does wear a mask, make sure that the air holes provide good ventilation, and that the mask fits properly, so that he or she can see clearly through the eye holes.

Face paint, on the other hand, will eliminate all of these problems.  However, it is recommended that you test the paint on a small area of the skin before applying to the entire face.  Most of these products are made with non-toxic ingredients, so toxicity isn't usually a concern, but the possibility of allergic reactions can be.  If the product causes swelling, redness, itching, or burning to occur at the site of application, try a different product.

Experts also recommend that you choose costumes and wigs that are flame retardant.  It should tell you on the label or packaging of the costume whether this is the case.  When costumes require props, such as swords, magic wands, or plastic jewelry, you should be cautious in choosing these.  Choose props that are made of a material that is not likely to cause injury to others when your child plays with them.  It is wise, for example to choose a foam sword over one that is made of a very hard plastic or some other material.  Make sure that all sharp edges have been blunted, and that these props are carried in such a way that the will not catch on clothing or impede walking.  Costumes with small pieces or play jewelry, necklaces, or beads are not recommended for extremely young children.  As all parents are aware, children of a very young age just love to put things into their mouths, so such things could easily pose a choking risk.

Another point of concern for parents is making sure that your child is clearly visible when trick-or-treating in the darkness of Halloween night.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian accidents are four to five times more likely to occur on Halloween.  This is usually because kids get caught up in the moment, and don't pay attention to street safety.  They often dart out from between parked cars, or run in the middle of the street, so you definitely want to light them up so that drivers can see them!  This can be done by simply giving them a flashlight to carry.  Reflective tape on their costumes or glow sticks are also effective options!  If you will not be accompanying your child for some reason, please stress to them the importance of paying attention to common-sense street safety, such as using the sidewalks instead of walking in the street, and crossing only at crosswalks.  And while you're at it, you should also teach your children to follow a few other practical rules.  For example, they should travel in groups of three or more, avoiding houses where the lights are off, and they should accept treats at the door. They should never enter a house under any circumstances!

Lastly, there are a few notes about the treats that your child receives.  They should be checked very carefully for any sign of tampering before your kids are allowed to eat them.  Never allow them to eat anything that is open or unwrapped, or that appears to have been otherwise tampered with.  Also, they should not accept fruit or any type of homemade treat, such as popcorn balls.  It can be impossible to tell when such things have been compromised or mishandled in some way, so it just isn't worth the risk!  Additionally, there are certain types of hard candies that should not be given to younger children, who could easily choke on them.  Typically, any candy that is about the size and shape of a grape falls into that category.

In summation, I would like to remind parents that often times, things that are seemingly the most innocuous can present the greatest dangers to a child, so it is always better to be safe than sorry.  Following these simple tips will ensure that your youngsters can still enjoy their Halloween, while giving you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have put their safety first!

The Importance Of Taking Responsibility For Our Own Choices

I have always believed in the old adage that life is what you make of it, and I live my own life according to that adage.  I also have a strong belief that everything that happens in a person's life is a direct result of the choices that they make.  There are no such things as fate, luck, or chance.  I believe that the decisions we make will always dictate how all of these things will play out in our lives.  It is my opinion that we all create our own futures, and whether that future will turn out good or bad is entirely up to us.

So many people these days seem to believe that they are being held down by their circumstances...that something beyond their control is preventing them from achieving their goals.  They always seem to want to blame their so-called misfortune on others, or on some outside force rather than really examining their own thinking and behavior.  I can tell you from my own experience that anyone who allows themselves to stay in this mindset will never achieve their goals and dreams.

I'm here to tell you that no matter what your circumstances are at the moment, they can be changed.  However, that cannot happen until you are ready to take responsibility for your own thoughts and behavior.  You must make a conscious choice to believe that nothing is beyond your control or out of your reach!  The first step toward doing that is to learn to see beyond your current situation, so that you don't define yourself by that.  If you define yourself entirely by where you are now, then you will always remain stuck in the same patterns of thought and behavior, and nothing will change.  You must realize that you, and you alone, are responsible for creating your own success and happiness.  Therefore, you must first decide where you want your life to go, and then make the choices that will take you in that direction.

As you journey toward your goals and dreams, you will have setbacks from time to time; that is to be expected.  The important thing to remember when you experience a setback is that they are temporary.  An occasional setback does not mean that you have failed; you only fail if you give up and refuse to keep trying.  In fact, I have come to see that setbacks are very valuable.  The reason we have them is so that we can learn from them; they should be viewed as lessons that are helping us to gain the knowledge that we will need to eventually achieve our goals successfully.  Setbacks also give us a greater appreciation of our success once it is achieved!

If you happen to hit a bump in the road along the way, do not be deterred.  Keep your sights keenly focused on what you are trying to achieve, and look for the lesson to be learned from the experience.  Do not allow yourself to be discouraged by the negative words of others.  When you are trying to achieve your dreams, there will always be some around you who tell you that your goals are unrealistic, and impossible to achieve; to them, you must turn a deaf ear.  Only someone who has realized the importance of taking total and complete responsibility for their own thoughts and actions is equipped to do this.

If you want to be successful, you must know and believe within yourself that your goals and dreams are attainable, and never waiver from that belief.  Keep in mind that your success or failure depends entirely on the thoughts you choose to think, and the actions you choose to take!  I believe that if you learn these principles, your success in any endeavor is inevitable.  That, in a nutshell, is why I feel that it is vital to place responsibility for your choices solely within your own hands!

How To Write An Online Dating Profile

So you have finally put your last relationship behind you, and you've decided that you are ready to start dating again.  After careful consideration, you figure that the best way to get your feet wet is by setting up and online dating profile.  With that decision made, you carefully scour the Internet, and select what you feel is the perfect site for you.  Once you have created an account, you are then faced with the challenge of creating a profile that will catch people's attention, and hopefully, flood your mailbox with responses!

However, those of us who have played the online dating game know that this is not quite as easy as it sounds.  When it comes to this stage in the process, most people spend hours staring at a blank screen, unsure of just how to proceed.  How much information do you give about yourself?  How much do you hold back?  How do you state this information in a way that emphasizes your strengths, without sounding like you are vainly trumpeting your own greatness?

It can often be quite a challenge to strike just the right balance between honesty and modesty in your online profile.  After all, revealing too much information about yourself can give the impression that you are an egotistical braggart, who likes nothing better than to sing your own praises.  On the other hand, revealing too little information could possibly be interpreted as a lack of confidence...or worse yet, a sign of dishonesty.  So, what's the cyber-dater to do?

Although this online matchmaking stuff often seems very intimidating to the novice, it can be a much easier and more pleasant experience if you will take a few simple tips into consideration before you begin.  First of all, be sure to read the site guidelines and policies very carefully, including any hints or tips that they may offer, making sure that you follow them to the letter when creating your profile.  This will not only avoid problems later on, it is also likely to give you some good ideas for spicing up your profile.

The first thing you should always do is include a photo of yourself.  Profiles without photos are largely ignored.  Take your time with this, as choosing the right photo is a key ingredient to your online dating success; it's worth a little extra time to choose a photo that you feel is flattering to you.  Make sure that the photo you post is really you, and that it is realistic looking.  Most people will skip right over your profile if they think it is a fake.

Your title or headline is also important.  This, along with your photo, is the first thing that people will see; it's also the main piece of information that they will use when deciding whether or not to click on your profile.  Try to come up with something here that is unique and fits your personality.  A humorous play on words is always a good bet.  This is another thing that may take some extra time, but again, will be well worth it.  Remember the old saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression!

When describing yourself in the biography portion, there are a few criteria that you should keep in mind.  First, don't ramble; keep it brief and interesting. You should also strive to be original.  Do your best to avoid the bland, generic statements that most people typically tend to use.  For instance, instead of simply saying that you like to have fun, list some specific activities that you enjoy, and briefly talk about why you like them; instead of saying that you have a good sense of humor, describe the type of humor that makes you laugh and explain why you find it funny.  Your likable qualities should be communicated in your writing; instead of bluntly telling people that you are funny, bright, and warm, write your profile in such a way that they can sense these qualities without your having to tell them!  One of the worst mistakes that many make is in trying to over-sell themselves by repeatedly pointing out their good traits.  Again, this is very negative, as it can be construed as egotistical.

Also, be specific about what you want in a relationship.  Don't expect people to read your mind.  If you prefer to date a nonsmoker, don't be afraid to say so.  If you detest a certain type of animal, and cannot date anyone who keeps this animal as a pet, this should be stated in the profile.  If you have certain religious beliefs, and require that your partner share the same convictions, make that known.

And there is one more thing that should be remembered above all else: Be completely honest.  While it's true that you want to put your best foot forward, you don't want to mislead anyone in the process; honesty really is the best policy.  The importance of honesty cannot be overstated; however, you do want to portray yourself in the most positive light that you can while still being honest.  Do your best to understate that which someone may find negative.  For example, if you are carrying a few extra pounds, use words like ample, large, or voluptuous to describe yourself rather than simply saying “I'm fat.”  This is honest, and at the same time, it puts the truth in a more positive light.  While we are on the subject of honesty, I must tell you that although complete honesty is of utmost importance, it should be tempered with caution.  One can, at times, reveal too much.  There is no need to reveal every minute detail of your life.  This scares a lot of people off, because it often feels like an invasion of personal space.  It causes some people to feel as if you are trying to push your way into their lives by getting too intimate too quickly.

Last but not least, if you do make a connection with someone, take things slowly.  The rules of online safety should always be observed.  Stay alert and watch for red flags.  Never give out personal information until you feel completely satisfied that your prospective date has been honest, and they are indeed who they claim to be.  If you choose to meet them in person, do so in a place where you feel comfortable.  Well-lit public places are usually the most preferable.  It is also wise to keep your cell phone with you, making sure that it is working and fully charged, just in case something unplanned happens.  It also may be a good idea to tell a friend or loved one who you are meeting and where you are going, just so that someone is aware of your whereabouts in the event that something goes wrong.  Hopefully, all of these precautions will not be necessary, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

The bottom line is that creating an online dating profile simply requires common sense.  Following these simple guidelines is sure to make your profile stand out in the crowd, and will hopefully make for a safe and pleasant journey toward finding the perfect soul mate that you have been dreaming about!