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Some Inspirational SayingsBy Gary M. Miller

There are many inspirational sayings that can be found in a great book called A Course in Miracles. The first of these can be found in the introduction of the book which says; “The opposite of love is fear, but what is all encompassing can have no opposite. This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way: Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.” What this book basically teaches is that fear is just an illusion. We all think that it is extremely rational to fear certain things and to avoid those things that we are afraid of. What we don’t realize is that fear is just a cloud that prevents us from experiencing true happiness in our lives.

The lessons in this book can be approached almost like a personal challenge. What soon becomes apparent is that the lessons begin to uncover a lot of hidden fears inside of us that we didn’t even know we had. At first you are asked to simply look around the room at the basic objects in the room and repeat a simple phrase to yourself; “Nothing I see in this room means anything.” The lesson uses a form of reverse psychology on you in that you begin to see how you project many hidden meanings onto the objects in your life. As you repeat this phrase to yourself, you begin to see how you actually do hold certain meanings inside your mind for reach of the objects in your room. Many of these meanings that are being projected onto our lives are fearful ideas that we subconsciously carry around with us and aren’t even aware of. Practicing these lessons seems to miraculously bring these hidden projections to the surface of our minds and to allow them to be exposed in the light of day.

A Course in Miracles really can be a surprise for a lot of people who might, upon first glance, think it to be a very odd book which is only meant as some kind of “trick” to its readers. Actually, it is just a book which is exactly what it claims to be; a course in miracles.

Once you begin to progress through these inspirational saying in the book, you will find that the first twenty lessons are actually the most important lessons in the book. They provide an initial foundational work that must take place inside of you before the rest of the lessons can really have an effect. Lesson number 6 reads “I am upset because I see something that isn’t there” and lesson 8 says “My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts”. These early lessons help to uncover the hidden projections of your mind so that the later lessons can actually become even more inspirational and can have a greater effect on your life.

Eventually, as you progress through this book, lessons like “I can escape from the world I see by giving up attack thoughts” become more meaningful based on the earlier readings. There is also a very long text that goes with this book which can help to explain the lessons and make them more effective. All in all, this is just a great book if you really want to inspire your life to become more than it was. Everybody has a different life so the course works on everyone differently. The only thing required is seriousness and a discipline to stick with it through the entire year of lessons that are outlined. Some people don’t take it so seriously the first year and decide to start over and try it again a second time. It really doesn’t matter how long you decide to take, if you eventually get serious about it, it will definitely have profound effects on you and change your life around for the better.

It is sometimes very scary in the beginning to try new things. In fact, making a commitment to change ourselves can initially bring up some of our worst fears that we have held deep inside for so long. The book is bringing up more of your subconscious fears for conscious examination and making it possible for you to dispense with them once and for all.

About the Author: Gary Miller was the World's Leading expert on Negative Thinking until he lost approximately $3 Million Dollars because of a lifetime of negative thinking. To learn more about his Journey to a Positive Thinking Recovery and weekly FREE Positive Thinking techniques, you can visit his web site at: http://www.positivethinkingnow.com

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Knives - To Buff Or Not To BuffBy MAC The Knife

There has always been the looming question in collector's knives in regards to buffing or cleaning a knife. Of course opinions vary as much as different knife patterns. It's really a matter of preference but there are different degrees in cleaning a knife. Most regard buffing as literally cutting away a small amount of blade to remove rust and or pitting and can even go as far as taking the knife apart. This is all fine but the knife should not be passed off as a mint knife. If the pattern would be considered rare it would still bring a premium but still should not bring more than 50 percent of book value. This brings up another issue. Many knife traders like gun traders depend on price guides to much to set their values or selling price. I was told two things once by an elder gentleman that has always stuck in my mind "never buy a knife that you wouldn't care to keep" and "a knife is worth as much as you can get out of it." My belief is lots of knives in so called price guides that seem inflated are probably influenced by how many of that type of knife the author has.

Back to the issue at hand to buff or not to buff. My opinion as far as cleaned, means a knife that has been lightly rubbed with some type of abrasive but not had the metal shaved away and has never been taken apart. More so lightly hit on a muslim wheel to bring the shine back out as if it was from the factory not to remove pits or deep sharpening scratches. Some knife cleaners can clean a knife in this fashion to where it's near impossible to see. This is a good thing and in many respects they are salvaging a good knife. The knife still should not be passed of as mint. This is where the integrity and honesty of the knife trader comes into question. It's a bad feeling to buy a knife at a show or gathering and feel proud of it only to have the wind let out of your sails so to speak. What I mean by this is you pay $150.00 for a knife only to show a fellow knife trader and be offered $50.00 for it because it had been cleaned. It a disheartening feeling and one that has happened to me personally. A knife of this nature should bring in the 60 to 70 percent range of so called book value. Of course the rarity of a pattern could make it bring a premium.

The last degree in this taboo topic would be hand rubbing with a non abrasive polish such as Semi Chrome or Metal Glo. With this type of cleaning you are using a small amount of polish with a soft cloth to just shine off finger prints and bring the luster back to the blades, handles or bolsters. When you polish a knife in this fashion you are basically just removing the handling marks. This does not hurt the value off a knife. It is still a mint knife it's just being taken care off. Cleaning is not the only influence on knife prices. Rarity, handle material, manufacturer, date of manufacture and blade configurations are the main variables that make up the price.

This is of course only my opinion and I'm sure lots of people will agree as well as disagree with me on this. The best thing is buy what you like and buy from a reputable person. Remember the two adages I mentioned earlier "never buy a knife that you wouldn't care to keep" and "a knife is worth as much as you can get out of it." Now that you are an informed knife trader get out and get your feet wet, it's a great hobby and can be profitable as well.

About the Author: MAC the knife has been collecting knives for 17 years and is well known to many knife collectors. You can see some of his great knives at http://www.knifetrading.com

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Emailing In Business And Quality Of LifeBy CD Mohatta

Communication in earlier days -

There was a time when during prehistoric times, people used to communicate in sign languages. Today most of us talk to each other through a short SMS. Times have changed. Have human beings changed? Have our basic desires changed? No!

About the modern world -

How to live in this modern world and still maintain close contact that touches the heart, while using latest technology? Every communication need not be heart to heart. A simple business mail needs to be precise and to the point. But what about our communication with our friends, and family?

Even business needs communication that talks the language of heart. Look at the successful advertisements. You will find that the company is trying to touch the consumer hearts. Study any close business relationship, and you will find that the relationship has crossed the "to the point talk" of business and reached heart to heart talk between the buyer and the supplier.

Communication for better relationships-

For long lasting relationships and for living a satisfied life, we need to communicate with everyone we come across in the language that is dear to all of us. That is the language that touches the heart! How to do that? Can that be done?

Writing and answering emails -

Emails are the most popular and common method of communication in today's world. Most of us, who are otherwise not on our computer all the day, try to find some time to check our mails and answer them. Emails have become preferred method and a second habit, rather an essential part of a modern person.

How do we talk to each other on emails? Some of us are very brief where as some others believe in writing long paragraphs to send a small message. It is same as our behavior in other areas of life. Those who believe in speaking less, write short answers and mails. Our habits carry themselves in our method of writing mails. But the habit of sending short mails is becoming more prevalent.

Why brief mails ?

Why it is that brief mails are becoming more common? Is it because most of us are finding no time to talk. We are always so busy and rushed that gone are the days when people used to sit down and write their text after deep thought. For a majority of young population, the main task is to finish answering all the mails as soon as possible. How does one talk heart to heart in such a life?

This reflects our lifestyle in the modern world. Most of us want to achieve our goals as soon as possible. No one has the time to sit back and reflect. Life is becoming a prisoner of work. Even our ancestors used to work, but are we living a satisfied life such as they used to? The answer would be no. Brief writing habit is part of the deterioration in quality life.

Emails - The cause of poor quality of life?

Are emails one of the causes of deteriorating quality communication? This can be debated. But the ease of answering and the hurry to open another mail and answer propels us to finish our mails fast. The technology is making us do it. The response of computers is so quick that we work in an unknowing hurry. Is this not worth a thought?

What can be done?

We must try to live a satisfied and happy life. For that, we must communicate better. Our communication must be heart to heart, even when we are rushing through the day. That is little difficult but not impossible as it sounds. Sending ecards, and egreetings can help us in doing this to a great extent. A quick search on the net, and you will find a big resource of cards that talk the language of the heart. It may take a little more time, but will give us satisfaction at the end of the day.

About the Author: CD Mohatta writes about different aspect of life. Love, inspiration, pains, humanity, truth, relationships etc. He is currently a dedicated content writer for http://www.screene.com network websites. He writes text for ecards, wallpapers and screensavers in http://www.ecarduniverse.com and http://www.inspirationaldesktops.com

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Love Somewhat Understood (Short Version)By D. Gorman

The energy of love and it’s defiance to be understood is what makes it so utterly astounding.

Thoughts from the human mind cause emotions to intermix, contradict, and repel one another. They cause pain, fear, confusion, joy and all the fluctuations in between. The mind can make you irrational, unrealistic,and foolish. It can bring sorrow when there is none, doubt with no issue, and weakness without the loss of strength. It can bend and mold in unhealthy ways, and make misery where it has no company. The mind is as logical as it is illogical, bound as it is free, and ingenuously stupid. The mind is the most amazing and revolting part of our human anatomy. The heart on the other hand, makes you physically feel true emotions abound, transcend, and it can mesmerize you. Does the mind let the heart take over in matters of love? Why is it felt in our chest, in the deepest part of it?

It seems as though the greatest decisions come from the heart,it seems to fuel the conscious, feed the soul, and make love outstanding.

To fathom the deepness of the habitual traits of true love and constantly finding happiness and sensual bliss with one person for multitudes of years is astounding.

To walk each path of life together no matter which way the fork leads and to form a bond so strong that death could not break it, reveals that love is unconquerable.

No human love is perfect, if it were it would cease to exist, but what are these connections, these ties that bind us to a person and conforms us to them until our last word is spent? No love is simple, but more complex at times than answers to the universe. It causes a person to perform the most idiotic and most amazing performances the world has ever seen. Love has no boundaries, no limit, and has endless possibilities. Love can take and give life without question.

It is by far the most misunderstood, most necessary, and strangest of all emotions we know. Love is the brightest light and the darkest chasm a human must endure.

You would count every star for just a glance. You would count every blade of grass for just one touch. You would catch every raindrop to keep them dry and warm. That is what true love is. It is so difficult to contain it. If someone tells you that you are a fool in love, take that as a compliment. It may mean they envy you and are jealous of the feelings you have discovered. It is a blessing and a curse. It is a double-edged sword that cuts you no matter which way you handle it.

Be thankful that you have them and do not forget that. If you do not have love, do not fret, it will be at your doorstep soon enough. Apologize when you are wrong and do not be selfish when you are right. You cannot control it.

Just hold on for the ride and see where it takes you. It truly is the greatest gift bestowed upon human beings. We constantly take it for granted and do not always use it for what it was intended. People tend to give up on love after their heart has been torn out and kicked around. They adamantly defy it, do not want it, but then, someone opens the locked door and renews their faith in it. Love is cleverly deceptive, it can be wonderful and horrible within the span of one minute. It causes you to let your guard down making you do, try, and say things you never would have before.

Love costs nothing, maybe we should snatch up and use as much as we can while we still draw breath in this life.

(For long version see God)

God Bless,

About the Author: Doug Gorman is owner of Work Be Gone! and writes on multiple topics from business to humor. To receive more information from or to request written material for use please visit: http://www.workbegone.com

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