7 Tips To Successful Event Planning

Planning an event can be a stressful time. With these helpful tips for event planning, hopefully it will make it less stressful and you can actually enjoy the event.

1. Plan In Advance. The sooner you begin to plan, the better. Think carefully about the event you would like to organise before you start and put an action plan together. Work out how long it will take you to complete it, who you could contact to help you out.

Here are some Planning Questions you can go through:


- Is the date suitable or does it clash with any major or national event in your area?


- Who can help?


- Do you need a committee?


- How much do you expect to make?


- Is it worth doing - will you bring in three times as much as you spend?

2. Pull Together A Team. The bigger the event, the more people you are going to need to help you plan. Once you have put together and written down the plan, go over it with your team. Delegate what you can and stress the importance of each person doing their job properly. The last thing you need, is an unreliable person to pull out on the day of the event and leave you hanging and even more stressed.

3. Work Out A Budget. Think about how much you or the organisation has to spend on the event. Costs include postage, printing, photocopying, equipment and hire charges. Try and see if you can get individuals or local businesses to donate some of the things you need, especially if it is a fundraising event. Your income might include ticket/entry fees, sponsorship, donations, raffles, auctions, advertising, sale of goods and refreshments.

4. Lists, Lists, Lists. Keep lists of what you need to do so that nothing gets overlooked. I find it handy to keep a notebook and pen beside my bed because when I am just about to fall asleep I begin to remember all the things I have yet to do. I write them down there and then so I will not forget them.

5. Marketing. The success of any public event rests how well it is marketed.

Here are a few questions to help you put together a good marketing plan


- Who are you trying to attract?


- Do you need any flyers or posters? How many? Who will design and print them?


- Where will you put them?


- Do you need to send a press release to local papers or local radio?


- Do you need to print invites?

6. Venue. The venue you choose is crucial in the success of your event. It effects who attends, the age range, how long they stay.

Here are a few tips when picking a venue for your event


- Is the venue available on the date and at the time required?


- Is it big enough?


- Does it have disabled access?


- Is a deposit required?


- Are there enough seats/tables etc?


- Do they provide catering facilities? How much, what choice, and is there a vegetarian option?


- Is there a cloakroom?


- What toilet facilities do they have and do they have disabled access?


- Do you need a TV, video, CD player, microphone?


- Do you have adequate insurance?

7.Finally, in organising an event, the worst thing that can happen, is all your hard work being flushed down the drain by bad weather. Add a wet weather contingency plan into your overall plan. And do not forget to have fun!

Haunting Effects of Globalization - Nu Leadership Series

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Mohandas Gandhi

As competition continues to increase around the globe, why are some organizations unprepared for globalization? Senge, author of The Fifth Dimension, suggests that many businesses suffer a narrowness of focus. This causes leaders to miss the root cause of problems. Senge argues, "Yet the primary threats to our survival today come not from events but from slow gradual processes to which we are 90 percent blind."

Obviously, globalization is forcing organizations to change. However, these corporate changes are beyond nontraditional organizational structures, such as spider plants. First, structural indeterminacy is the issue. Galbraith, author of Designing Organizations, argues no single organizational structure is the answer in an international environment. This reality is clear for multinational companies. They must be able to integrate activities in different countries.

Therefore, organizational structure gets blended into culture. Second, some management gurus believe that decentralization isn't achievable, even globally. Peters, management guru, argues, "It is easier to kill an organization than to change it. Therefore, decentralization is hard to do." Furthermore, Senge warns that organizations that rely solely on their past experience to solve future problems will make fatal mistakes.

Drucker, author of Managing for Results, maintains that some of these organizational issues stem from ineffective leadership. Drucker argues, "Business tends to drift from leadership to mediocrity. And the mediocre is three-quarters down the road to being marginal." Given the unforgiving nature of the market, why are leaders being caught unprepared for globalization?

Clearly, leaders must understand the needs of the international markets while optimizing the efficiency of the whole supply chain. Leaders cannot afford to neglect any component in their socio-technical systems. This means staying on top of technology, interconnecting with suppliers, and monitoring the needs of this global market. As a result, 21st century organizations face another paradox. Will today's organizations be ready to transform themselves into international champions or become extinct? Time will tell.

References:

Drucker, P. (1964). Managing for Results. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers.

Gailbraith, J. (2000). Designing the Global Corporation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Peters, T. (1997). The Circle of Innovation. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Senge, P. (1990). The Fifth Discipline. New York: DoubleDay.

© 2007 by Daryl D. Green

How To Properly Handle And Store Clothing

Basically, metal hangers are cheapest type and the most commonly available. They are not, however, the best for your clothing. Depending upon their structure, they can damage your clothes, stretching them out of shape. Plain, wire hangers can leave rust markings and they are not always the sturdiest, bending under the weight of heavier clothing.

Select plastic or purchase padded wire hangers. They will not stain your clothes, nor stretch them unduly. Your sheer blouses and delicate outfits fare better with this type of hanger.

In some instances, it is better to rely on hooks. They can be hung over a closet, bathroom or bedroom door. Built to last, they can take the extra weight of heavy garments such as bathrobes. Pajamas and other casual wear-at-home clothing can be hung from hooks without worrying about wrinkling or damage.

Furthermore, one particular hook can be set aside to be used to hang your clothing for the next day.
Do not use dry cleaning bags. They do not allow anything to breathe. The same can be said of placing some clothing within plastic or air tight containers. Wool and silk are two materials that need to breathe. Keep them in out of plastic and away from air tight containers.

If you wish, you can use a garment bag for storage of bulky items such as sweaters or for simple t-shirts and blue jeans. It is not, however, necessary to hang either jeans or t-shirts. They can be placed on shelves or in your dresser drawers. Socks and panty hose can be placed in drawers, but they can also be hung in the closet in a shoe bag or large cloth bag. The advantage of using a shoe bag is you can organize the socks and hose by types.

Organization is the key to proper storage of clothing. You can orderly place your clothing in any number of ways. They can be hung according to function: blouses, shirts, skirts, etc., color and/or length. In some closets where the levels vary, either naturally or through the addition of stackable containers, it might be easier to hang them according to length.

There are some sections considered necessary when you divide your clothing. If you have special clothing, party dresses, and other special occasional clothes you might want to put them in a less prominent place. As for the seasonal clothing, place them in a storage area. They can be hidden high up on a top shelve or put at the very back of the closet. It all depends upon your closet's capabilities.

There is one school of thought that encourages discarding all poles, replacing them with shelving. This might seem like a good idea, but it does not take into consideration wrinkling and the "fear of ironing" syndrome.

One final thought. When organizing your closet always sort through what you have and discard what you don't need, never wear and no longer fit into. Culling your closet will make it easier for you to hang and store all your clothing.

Imagery & Affirmations - Success Tools for Healing & Attracting Your Desires - Your Focus

NINTH ACTION STEP - Keep it Simple!

To accomplish any GOAL you'll need to FOCUS on taking one incremental step at a time.

You must have an Action Plan. Keep your Plan Simple and Open to input! You'll be gathering important feedback along your way to your GOAL. What works best for you and moves you rapidly toward your GOAL.

Through being open to feedback you are learning to be an effective co-creator with universal life forces as you move steadily toward fulfilling your life purpose.

Initiating an Action plan is what transforms your Vision into a GOAL.

Your Plan organizes your actions around your purpose. Listen to your inner guidance system and follow what gives you joy.

Consider and prioritize the action steps you must take to reach your GOAL.

Resolve to take an action step immediately TODAY toward your GOAL! You must take Action steps toward your goal daily. This builds momentum and actively show your Unconscious Mind you are willing to do what it takes to reach your GOAL.

Everything will manifest in due course. Keep positive faith in action. Stay focused and show-up each day to initiate action steps that move you steadily toward your goal.

Remember the Pareto Principle or 80/20 rule. 80% of your results will occur in the last 20% of your journey towards your goal.

IMPORTANCE OF YOUR STATE OF MIND

A relaxed Alpha state of mind is optimal for downloading intuitive information for your Action Plan and other guidance for fulfilling your Goal.

When you are in an alpha state you are ripe for implanting emotionalized images.

Being intensely present in the moment also raises the vibrational frequency of your energy field and indirectly boosts your over all state of physical health.

Join me for Imagery & Affirmations ~ Success Tools for Healing and Attracting Your Desires - Your Tenth Action Step - Keys to Activate Your Goals

How To Access The Organized Living World

It's not a great secret that modern life is tough work. Even cooking dinner has become a rush job. 50 years ago it was a great leisurely family activity. Now it's 'Can you chuck the veg on so I can change that light bulb plus Sarah just called because the kids are missing."

You don't want to get organized, you just want to get stuff done in the best and fastest way that gives the greatest benefit for the least amount of effort. Efficiency goes beyond getting organized to put us in the driving seat of modern life.

Getting Organized is impossible. You are overwhelmed by the information age. But is organized living important for you?

Organized Living is one of the most important considerations of modern times. How well is your life organized? Do you really know how to organize things, such as learning new skills, organizing events, your career development, and your home?

Getting organized defeats it's own purpose by being a waste of time. Get past the struggle for getting organized with something different. Something new. The idea of being efficient.

A major revolution is coming by 2010 that I've coined the Efficiency Age. Past revolutions include the industrial, technological and current information age.

The old dictum 'knowledge is power' seems to have become obsolete. Too much knowledge causes confusion. Today's information age is overwhelming. We want an organized life. A new approach to life has to emerge through careful selection and efficient application of world knowledge. This points us to an Efficiency Revolution.

Organized Living can only be achieved through efficiency. And there are 5 categories of Organized Living you absolutely must not be without for another day.

Do you know where your life is headed? Happy with that so far? Waiting for the right time, place and money to be able to really get your life headed in better directions?

How can you achieve organized living? The key to organized living is to successfully combine your career development with your personal life.

David Allen's Getting Things Done is truly excellent when applied to career development. For your personal life though, it still becomes overwhelming.

There are 5 levels of organized living. 1st. Understand how to organize. 2nd. Look at what your life values are, what's important to you and your life direction. 3rd. Begin to organize your life towards those things. 4th. Time management systems that support your organized living. 5th. The final level for organized living is the control of your own mind and emotions so that you put your energy and effort into succeeding.

One example of effective organized living is with employing handymen to help you organize the home. If something needs to be done in the home, and you earn a medium to high level income, working full time. Then you can calculate the value of your hour, and pay a handyman to do household tasks, giving you more time to live your life, and/or work at your career.

Efficiency Services like this will sprout up more and more as we all move towards an organized living society. Why do the dishes for 30 minutes when you earn $30 per hour at work and can employ home help for $10 per hour. Aren't the few hours of your evening more important than house hold chores?

The mind set of organized living requires having the skill of organizing, prioritizing everything in your life, and successfully organizing your affairs to spend your time where it gives you the greatest benefit.

What's Holding You Back?

Do you want to be successful or do you want to be happy and have a lifestyle that would be the envy of your friends and family? First you need to answer the question, What's holding you back? Is it procrastination, is it genetics or maybe fate or bad luck. So come on then think about the question for a few minutes before reading any further. What's holding you back?

Hopefully you have now thought about it for a bit and you have an answer. Sorry but unless you answered "My Subconscious" then you are wrong. We are all victims of our own subconscious whether we like it or not. It's hard to believe and I am sure some of you are about to stop reading and not go any further , Indulge me for a moment and I'll not only show you why but I'll also tell you how to overcome what's holding you back.

When you were a child people were constantly giving you negative thoughts, "money doesn't grow on trees" "the meek shall inherit the earth" "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" "money is the root of all evil" I could go on for much longer but I am sure you are getting the idea. All these negatives entered your subconscious and now when you stand in front of a mirror or do some affirmations and tell yourself that you are going to be successful or you are going to get that great job your subconscious says "Hey Buddy remember money is the root of all evil" from that moment onwards the negative thoughts start.

All is not lost, you are in control of your future and you can take steps to reprogram your subconscious. You need to reprogram your subconscious and you need to switch from what you believe may be true to what you know is true. Start feeding you subconscious facts and truths leave not room for negatives and doubts. Using tools like Neural Linguistic Programming and Design Human Engineering you can reprogram your subconscious.

At OvercomingProcrastionNow.com we have looked at and tested at a number of tools and programs that not only help overcome procrastination but also help to change the way you program your subconscious think. Your future is in your hands.

Does Evil Behavior Equals Evil Person?

I'll never forget a conversation I had about a year ago regarding the Nazi Death camps of World War II. An older gentleman was out for his afternoon coffee outing, and was seated just a few feet from me in the Hy-Vee Deli, a local grocery store in Trenton, Missouri.

After a segment on the Holocaust had just finished on the T.V. in the deli, he growled, "That was some hellacious and unthinkable stuff those damn Germans did to the Jews!" I won't argue with that; it's hard to imagine that many people being murdered in such a short time." I replied.

The old man shot back, "It's an evil human being, no the brother of the devil himself that could do such a thing." No doubt expecting me to agree with him again, he stiffened as he listened to my comeback.

"Not as evil as you think." I said. "I'm guessing there are 100 people shopping in this store at the moment, I'm betting that under similar circumstances; at least 50% of them would have followed the orders to do the very same reprehensible acts that the German soldiers did!"

"You must be out of your friggen mind!" he said in a loud voice. I calmly said "One would like to think so, wouldn't they? Unfortunately though, there's a pile of research, and some landmark studies that say otherwise."

Over the next 30 minutes, I gently and carefully presented the information that I had based my comments on, and interestingly enough, he was not only becoming calmer, but instead scratched his head saying, "I'll be damned kid, who would have guessed? Who would have guessed?"

Are you wondering what I could have possibly said to not only defuse the anger this man was rapidly starting to generate, but actually opened his mind enough to get him to consider the possibility, that it really doesn't take a black hearted human being like Jeffery Dahmer to be able do such horrible things to others? Here it comes.

In 1963, Stanley Milgrim stood the field of psychology on its head. In this famous study, Milgrim wanted to observe the tendency of people to obey authority figures. Milgrim was troubled by how quickly the German citizens had followed the orders of Adolf Hitler, to do things like brutally slaughter millions of Jews.

Milgrim's study involved telling the participants that they would be assisting him in studying the effects of learning; more specifically, the effects of punishment on learning.

At the lab, they drew pieces of paper to see who would be the "teacher" or the "learner." Little did they know that it was rigged so that they would all be in the role of "teacher?"
The "learner" (who was secretly working with Milgrim, and posed as a student) would be strapped into a chair that could deliver shocks when they made a mistake on the test. They would be seated in another room, out of view from the "teachers" but close enough they could be heard. The "electric chair", while looking very real, could not deliver a shock at all…it was all a set up.

Soon after the "learning experiment" had begun, the "learners" started making mistakes (as they had secretly been instructed to) on the test they were taking. Each time a mistake was made, the researcher would instruct the "teacher" to administer a shock. Although the "voltage" used started out at rather harmless levels, within a few mistakes the "voltage" had been dialed up to 300 volts. At this intensity, the "learners" were yelling in anger and pounding on the walls.

It was at this point that the "teachers" would begin looking to the research person who was running things for guidance, after having been asked to deliver yet another shock, but at a higher "voltage."

Each time they would seek advice or support, the researcher firmly suggested that they go ahead and give a more powerful shock to the "learner."

By the time each "teacher" was told to stop, the "voltage" administered had gone all the way up to 450 volts; this is a voltage that clearly had the potential to kill the "learners." At "450 volts" the "learners" were screaming bloody murder, and begging for their lives.

Now, here is where it becomes mind blowing; 26 of the 40 "teachers" in the study delivered all 30 levels of shock!

Many of those who delivered all 30 shocks felt a great deal of distress about what they were doing…but they did it anyway. Stanley Milgrim had discovered that the power of authority was far more powerful than he could have ever suspected.

Were those who delivered the "painful" shocks to those who were begging for mercy social outcasts and degenerates? Far from it. They were students; these were people who were on the honor roll, or were rated as being very likable and generous citizens.

Just in case you're wondering, yes, this study has been repeated numerous times, and the results were always the same.

How do we explain such behavior? Milgrim concluded that when others feel pressure of a sufficient strength from an authority figure, it can make very normal and decent people do very abnormal and horrible things. He further concluded that evil actions may not necessarily have to come from an evil person.

Finally, and perhaps most frightening, Milgrim concluded that under the right circumstances, and in the right situation, any of us might obey orders to maim, injure, or even kill another human being.
Do you think the some 900 people the Rev. Jim Jones ordered to drink poisoned Kool-Aid were just stupid? Not a chance. The Law of Authority was alive and well in Guyana in 1978. I'll never forget watching as a twelve year old child, as the evening news showed the overhead photos of hundreds of bloated bodies stacked upon one another.

The news anchor suggested that preliminary reports indicated that they may have willingly poisoned themselves; it was just too much for my young mind to comprehend. "Why on earth would you do what someone told you, if you knew it was going to kill you?" I wondered.

Do you think your kids are smart enough to not take drugs when a stranger offers them? Let's hope so. However, it's not strangers we have to worry about. See, when my parents warned me about the "bad" things in life, I always had this image of some surly and ragged looking bum, someone I could clearly see as someone I shouldn't trust, as being the kind of person that would eventually offer me psychedelic mushrooms, so I could take a "magic carpet ride."

But that's not how it happens is it? No, the "bum" often turns out to be a trusted friend, or someone we have known for sometime. Worse yet, it may be someone who we see as an authority figure. For a freshman in high school, a senior on the Football team may be viewed as an authority figure for some kids; it doesn't have to be a middle aged man with a badge for the Law of Authority to prevail.

In conclusion, it does not require an evil person, to do an evil thing; Just the right environment and people. It may also be wise to familiarize yourself and your family with this phenomenon. Teaching your children to always obey their elders, may not be the best advice we can give.

I'll elaborate more on how we can inoculate our young ones against those who would use the power of the Law of Authority for ill conceived plans in an upcoming article.

$5 Shoe Rack = Priceless Organization in the Bathroom

Suffering from not enough drawer and cabinet space in the bathroom can be an absolute nightmare for a family. You never have enough space to put the shampoo and soap, towels take up all of the cupboard space underneath the sink, the medicine cabinet is big enough for your toothpaste, deodorant and solutions but not much else, and the drawer is barely big enough to hold your curling iron and blow dryer! So what do you with the rest of the items needed for your bathroom?

I recently moved from a home with an incredible bathroom with a multitude of cabinets, drawers and closets to a hole in the wall barely big enough for me, the shower and toilet. Talk about horrifying! For the longest time I carted my bathroom items with me in a suit case, much to the amusement of the men folk in the house. Quite frankly, I don't need a whole heck of a lot, but it was more than would fit into the bathroom. Shoot, it was even to small for my brush!

Trying to escape the ridicule from my 8 year old, I decided to see if my handy dandy over-the-door shoe rack could come to my rescue. Sure enough, it did! I now have room for all of the little odds and ends for the bathroom, I no longer am made fun of because of my suit case, and it is not cluttering up my counter top! All I needed to do was run down to the store, pick up the $5 plastic over-the-door shoe rack and hang it up on the bathroom door.

Top 20 Ideas for the Bathroom

1. Brushes and combs


2. Q-Tips


3. Cotton balls


4. Extra razors


5. Hair ties


6. Soap


7. Lotion


8. Toothpaste


9. Make up brushes


10. Make up


11. Bath toys


12. Electric razor


13. Shaving cream


14. Shower cap


15. Wash cloths


16. Contact solutions


17. Eye glasses


18. Deodorant


19. Floss


20. Sunblock

Of course a word of caution; if you have little people in the house, please do not put dangerous items in the lower levels or where they can reach. Please use your good judgement on what to place in your new organizational system. For the most part, the sky is the limit and it knows no bounds, save for the items that won't fit.

Happy Organizing!

Suzanne Babb - McLoone


http://www.organizationalempowerment.com

5 Dollar Shoe Rack - Priceless Organization in the Kitchen

There never seems to be enough room in the kitchen and don't we all have at least one junk drawer in the house? If you suffer from, "Don't know what to do with the grocery bags" syndrome, the perfect solution is about to present itself. Next time you are hitting up the local discount retail store, check out the home organization aisle and look at the over-the-door shoe racks. You will find shoe racks ranging from $5 to $20 and varying in design. You may even find one that fits your decor. The most important aspect of your shoe rack is going to be the kind that hook over your door. Once you have selected your over-the-door shoe rack, you are ready to start cleaning out your junk drawers!

Forget about shoes for the moment and let's see how many other uses we can find for your average over-the-door shoe rack for your kitchen. The only kicker for the system is you must have access to a door; garage door, panty door, kitchen door, something that has a door. If you do have access to one, you are good to go!

Top 20 Organizational Solutions for the Kitchen

1. Plastic grocery bags


2. Twist ties


3. Misc. screws and nails


4. Measuring spoons


5. Plastic spoons, forks, knives


6. Napkins


7. Recipes


8. Quick snacks for the kids


9. Band Aids


10. Random photos


11. Pens and pencils


12. Spices


13. Screwdrivers


14. Receipts


15. Aspirin and other medicine


16. Mail


17. Stamps


18. Bills


19. Extra envelopes


20. Holiday cards

Of course, I am sure that you could quickly clean out your junk drawer and find all sorts of places for the items in your "shoe rack" so don't limit yourself to the things listed above. There is so much you can do with your new organizational solution you only have to organize it!

Happy Organizing!

Suzanne Babb - McLoone


http://www.OrganizationalEmpowerment.com

Are You Winning The Stress Battle?

Traffic! High prices! Unemployment! Terrorists! Stress! Stress! Stress! Battling stress is a common problem in America today. It affects rich and poor, young and old, alike. How well do you recognize this enemy's effects? Have you prepared good battle plans?

I'm sure you recognize that people who suffer from headaches, chest pain, pounding heart, high blood pressure, clenched jaws, angry outbursts, and grinding teeth have unhealthy amounts of stress in their lives, but there are other symptoms that you might not so readily associate with stress. For example, would you think of stress if you experienced forgetfulness, insomnia, tight and sore muscles, hyperventilation or shallow breathing, fatigue, constipation or diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, hives, decreased sex drive, binge eating, depression, or loss of appetite? Yet, all of these are possible results of the effects of stress on the human body, mind, and emotions.

With these reactions, and many more unhealthy and traumatic results on your daily life, stress is indeed an enemy to battle. I suggest that you battle it on two main fronts: the Pre-stress Front and the Post-Stress Front. First, take steps to avoid stress as much as possible. Then, learn to recognize stress when it happens and to minimize its effect on your body.

While you cannot avoid all instance of stress, you can prevent some attacks by adopting the "regular habits" approach to life. Whenever possible, create regular habits for yourself like regular wake and sleep hours, mealtimes, exercising schedules, work and play schedules, dietary habits, housekeeping habits, and health maintenance. In addition, avoid sweets, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, overtime, and self-doubt or self-condemnation. Realize that any change in your routine or lifestyle creates stress, even if that change is a pleasant or planned one. Even happenings in our friends and loved ones' lives affect our stress levels.

Balance is a key word in reducing stress. Spend healthy amounts of time relaxing and sleeping as well as working and exercising. If you work or live in a stressful situation, spend as much time as possible in a peaceful environment to balance out the load. Just as your body needs balance in nutrition, body pH, water intake, exercise, and body system functions, so your mind and emotions need balance in exercise and rest, activity and relaxation, and social time and private time. Make plans to see to your own personal needs as well as to fulfill your obligations to others. If you don't take care of yourself, you soon won't be able to take care of anyone else.

Despite your best efforts, you will experience stress in your life . . . at home, at work, out in the world, or just watching the evening news. When these attacks come, recognize them and retaliate swiftly to minimize the effects on your body. When you realize a situation is stressing you, step away from the problem and relax a few minutes, calm yourself, and rethink the situation. Avoid stressful relationships, situations, and places when you can. Regularly take action to get rid of stress and to prevent its buildup in your body. Exercise, dance, run, climb, breathe deeply, play racquetball, have a good cry, visit your favorite spa, or go shopping; do whatever relaxes you, works out unhealthy stress hormones, and takes your mind off stressful things for a while.

Don't forget one of the best stress-busters – laughter. I'll never forget that when I was a Home Economics teacher, one of my students invented a recipe, which erroneously listed "1 cup of chicken breath" as a key ingredient. I first read the recipe at 2:00 AM and burst into hysterical laughter. I shared his chicken breath recipe with the other teachers, my students, and my family. To this day, I smile when I think of it.

Dr. Paul E. McGhee, professor and researcher reports that "body's healing system responds favorably to positive attitudes, thoughts, moods, and emotions (e.g., to love, hope, optimism, caring, intimacy, joy, laughter, and humor), and negatively to negative ones (hate, hopelessness, pessimism, indifference, anxiety, depression, loneliness, etc.)" Dr. McGhee explains that laughter relaxes muscles, reduces stress hormones, and enhances the immune system. It can even reduce the awareness of pain in some patients. All in all laughter is an all around health enhancer and it just plain makes us feel good.

Unfortunately, today's fast-track world leaves little opportunity for naturally occurring relaxation. We must be responsible to create those moments for ourselves. Don't let stress catch you unaware. Be ready to attack and defeat this ever-present enemy.