How to be More Interesting and Less Boring

Get out, do new things.  Do something different.  It will give you something interesting to talk about.

Learn to say "yes" to new experiences from time to time.

A change of scenery may be what you need to ignite some energy.

Find your passion for discovery and choose to live life to the fullest.

Be creative.  Start something new.  

Be less predictable, and become a little more unpredictable.  Be spontaneous. 

Get out of your routine rut.  Jump the curb. 

Think outside the box.

Take a stand on something, and be able to back it up.

Do something silly.  Laugh at yourself.  Laugh with others. 

When people ask you questions, don't answer with just a one or two word answer.  Elaborate, make it into a story if you can.  Don't overdo it though.

Listen to or watch the news.  Form an opinion about it, listen to the opinions of others.

Volunteer for an agency.  That will give you something interesting to talk about.

Go to a restaurant or café that you've never been to before.  Try a different menu item.

Get excited about something. 

Have a cause.  Be passionate about something. Boring people don't have interesting things to say.

Have a party or get together. Invite fun and interesting people. 

Embrace a hobby and get involved with others that share the same passion.

Invite a friend or friends to do something fun or different.

Be positive and uplifting.  Be encouraging.  Show interest in other people's lives.

Say "Yes" to invitations and suggestions to do something with people you like being with.

Be enthusiastic about something.  It can be contagious.

Come "out of your shell" sometimes.  Get others to do the same.

Play more.  Organize a games night.  Do some research on the internet and come up with something fun to do at the next family or friend get-together.

Do a "Happy Dance" when something good happens.

Learn a new skill, or take a course in something cool.

Make the best of whatever situation you are in.  Focus on what is good or positive. 

Meet new people when you are at a party or get-together.  Initiate conversation.

Wear bright, bold colours and prints.  Wear a new style or fashion.  Ladies-try a new lipstick color. Change your hair colour or style.

Compliment others.  Praise them. Smile.  Get them excited about something.

Get out of your comfort zone.  Try to be less serious.  Take risks. Do something strange.

Challenge yourself.  Push your limits.  Add some excitement to your life.

Plan an adventure.  It could be as far away as Hawaii, or as close as the local park.  Share what you learn, see and do with others.  Some people like to live vicariously through others.

Laugh at other people's jokes.

Plan a surprise party.  Or just plan to surprise someone.

Play harmless, practical jokes on people.

Flirt as appropriate.

Be confident in yourself.  Take care of yourself.  People prefer that over an insecure, unkempt person.

Sometimes be a little louder, a little bolder.

Here are some helpful links:

7 tips for being an unequivocally b-o-r-i-n-g friend:  http://www.thefriendshipblog.com/blog/7-tips-being-unequivocally-b-o-r-i-n-g-friend

How to be more fun:  http://www.succeedsocially.com/morefun

How to have an exciting social persona:  http://www.theemotionmachine.com/how-to-have-an-exciting-social-persona

Have an exciting, interesting day!

Angela Gentile

Look on the Bright Side



Sunset on South Bay, Ontario.  Photo credit:  Ken Wilson



Think about some of the good things in life,

like sunshine,

holidays,

feeling loved,

special friendships,

and laughter. 

Think about rainbows,

butterflies,

and beautiful sunsets

and feel loved,

cared about,

and accepted. 

Remember that in life,

although there is some bad stuff,

good things really do happen, too. 

And then smile.  ☺

- Maria Mullins



The Optimist Creed

Image from:  Optimism Affirmations 

Promise yourself...


...to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.


...to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.


...to make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.


...to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.


...to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.


...to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.


...to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.


...to wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.


...to give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.


...to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.


...to think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.


...to live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.


By Christian D. Larson 
1912


Have a wonderful, optimistic day!


~ Angela Gentile

We All Need a Little Pep Talk Sometimes

I have a Think Positive Thoughts Every Day Calendar (2011) at work, and for this month, I found the words very encouraging and supportive.  It's especially good for those who are going through a hard time.  It reminds us that life isn't always easy, and it affirms to us that we can get through it with some encouragement.

        A Daily Pep Talk

     
           Repeat to yourself:
           "I am strong.  I am special. I can do anything."


          Sometimes life throws hurdles in our path,
          but we just have to keep on going full speed ahead,
          looking inside ourselves for the courage to leap over them 
          and never look back.


          You are a strong and special person, 
          and you can do anything. 
          May you always believe in yourself. ♥

             -by Natalie Evans


Pass this along to anyone who you think may need a little encouragement, or a "pep talk". 

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

If I Were Brave

My cousin sent me this YouTube music video, If I Were Brave, by Jana Stanfield (Sponsored by Awesome Women Hub).  It's very inspiring. Hope you enjoy!



If you can't see this, please go to this YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF5V2PEujqs&feature=player_embedded

Have a wonderful day!

~ Angela Gentile

How to Stay Young

How To Stay Young

Author Unknown

Try everything twice. (Tried everything twice...loved it both times!)

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches).

Keep learning: learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” and the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s!

Enjoy the simple things.

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him/her.

The tears happen: endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

Surround yourself with what you love: whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Cherish your health: if it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but not to where the guilt is.

Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity.  I love you, my special friend.

Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Remember: lost time can never be found!

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, 

but by the moments that take our breath away.

Have a wonderful day my "young" friend!

~ Angela Gentile

Another Good News Story - Golden Voice Ted

I have been following this great story about a homeless man, named Ted Williams (53), who was begging for money on the streets, and became famous for his voice.  He says he was having problems with drugs, alcohol and other stuff, and he has been clean for two years and he is wanting to get his life back on track.  His smooth, deep, velvety voice is what makes him so remarkable.  There is a video of him reuniting with his elderly mother.  It is quite touching.  He hadn't seen her for 20 years and you can just see the love between them..  Now there is talk of him appearing on Oprah.  He has already been on "Good Morning America".  This is a good news story, that definitely gives hope to those who have been struggling and have been homeless.  It takes a lot of courage to turn your life around, and Ted is definitely an inspiration.

Go to this link from Time Newsfeed, and see some videos of Ted, his voice, and the reuniting with his mother.  It's a real good news story!  http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/08/whats-next-for-ted-golden-voice-williams/

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

The Top Good News Stories of 2010

This time every year, I like to reflect back on the year that has just passed, and I try to think of things that were positive and good about it.  Although the BP Oil Disaster was the top news story for Canadians in 2010, I did some google-searching, and came up with some good news stories that I wanted to highlight here.

On AOL News, there is a list of the The Top Good News Stories of  2010. In their list they included the Chilean Miners Rescue and they also listed a story about an unemployed man who gave away $10 a day in Washington DC and he wrote about who he gave the money to and what they did with it.

NewsOne for Black America lists their Top Ten "Good News Stories" for 2010 and in their list they include a story about twin girls with identical grades become joint valedictorians of their high school.

Canada's MuchMusic's Top Ten Moments of 2010 include the production of the song, Wavin' Flag - Young Artists for Haiti.

The Gazette HealthWatch's Top Ten Stories of 2010 include all those intriguing findings (mostly good news) that researchers were eager to share with us, including the good news about aspirin, vitamin D and smoking bans.

Canada AM's Top Tech Stories of 2010 series includes some great news about all the technology that has enhanced our lives - like the Apple iPad, Kinect for Xbox 360 and the Kobo eReader.

My personal favourite is the story about the Large's from Nova Scotia who won $11.2 million in July and have given away almost all of it.  Check out this video from CBC news: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/11/03/video-ns-lottery-winners-update.html

My greatest stories of 2010 were that I went on a fabulous cruise with relatives, I went on a road trip to the Black Hills with my family, and I got a new job.  What are your good news stories of 2010? 

Have a wonderful day!

~ Angela Gentile

The Benefits of a Positive Attitude

A recent article from the Huffington Post describes the benefits of positive thinking and positive attitudes.
The one major benefit is living longer. 

The article, Do Positive People Live Longer, highlights many studies that have concluded the benefits of positive thinking, versus a negative or pessimistic outlook.  The main reason is that positive-thinking people usually have less stress in their lives. They manage stress more effectively, and less stress is good for maintaining a healthy body.  Healthy bodies have a better chance of fighting off disease and infection.  Ways to become more positive are also described in the article, and included are the following suggestions:

- Counting blessings is a simple way to increase positivity in your life. Make a list of five to ten things that you are grateful for that have happened in the last 24 hours, and do this every day for a month. Another ideas would be to challenge yourself to go three weeks without complaining, moaning, or criticizing.

- If you have a tendency to “make mountains out of molehills”,  try out the opposite for one week. Try "making molehills out of mountains".

These simple techniques don’t sound like much, but if they become a habit, they’ll be some of the best habits you’ve ever adopted, because they might just add years to your life.

Do Positive People Live Longer?  Check out the full article here: http://www.allword-news.co.uk/2010/11/02/do-positive-people-live-longer/

Have a wonderful, positive-thinking day!

~ Angela Gentile

The Glory of Success

"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." 

-- Anonymous

What is success, seriously?  Success is achieving a goal that you've been working on.  It's getting it right, after many times of getting it wrong.  It's a journey, not a destination.

I'll share a little personal story.  Over the last year and a half, I have been working on getting a new job.  I had been in my current position for 10 years, and it was time for me to move on.  I had applied for many jobs, had many interviews, but nothing seemed to "fit" right with me.  I was starting to get discouraged, but I persisted.  My family and friends encouraged me to keep going, providing me with lots of support. 
I was on the roller coaster of life, lots of ups and downs.  They were there every step of the way. Finally, it all paid off.  I have found a new job, and I consider this a success.  My "Career Shift" success.

The moral of this story is that it takes a lot of hard work, persistence, and focussing on your goals to get to where you want to be.  The journey of success continues, and it often pays off to do your very best.  Being grateful for your accomplishments and realized goals keeps you on the track of continued success.  This is a glorious feeling and it is important to celebrate these times in our lives.

I hope you feel successful in your life, and if you are working on new goals and accomplishments, I wish that all the support and encouragement you need comes your way to help you keep focussed and positive.

Sincerely,

~ Angela Gentile

Is Your Glass Half Full?

OPTIMISM as defined by The Foolish Dictionary, Online Edition:
"A cheerful frame of mind that enables a tea-kettle to sing, though in hot water up to its nose." 

I found this quick quiz, called How Optimistic Are You?  It takes just a couple minutes, and there are 9 questions.  I was quite intrigued by my results - "Sunshine with Patchy Fog".   I've always considered myself to be optimistic, and I try to have a balanced outlook on life.  When you think about pessimism and optimism, where do you see yourself on the continuum?  The quiz that I took, had four categories, all referring to weather.  Thunderstorms, Scattered Showers, Bright Sunshine, and the one I mentioned previously Sunshine with Patchy Fog were the four areas that one could fit into.  Try the quiz and see where you fit in.

I find that an optimistic outlook, seeing the "glass half full", helps get me through my days, especially when things are particularly tough.  Life isn't always easy, and it really helps to see the positive side.  I know when I am around pessimistic people, I feel the urge to help them see the up-side of things.  When it's raining, and they complain about the miserable weather, I try to add something positive, like, "Well, the plants needed it and it will wash away all the dirt".  I try to spread joy whenever I can, and try to help people see the brighter side of life. 

How do you see the glass?

Here's a very optimistic perspective:  It is always full.  It may be filled with 50% of water and 50% of air, or any variation of competing percentages, but it is always full of something even if it looks empty as it could be FULL of air.- WikiAnswers.


Have a great day!

~Angela