Travelling through customs with a cane

As I have said in earlier posts, I have a great deal of respect for those who have to live with chronic pain. I have been lucky in that I have only had to live with chronic pain for about a year and when I have my hip and knee operations, my hope is that I will no longer have the chronic pain that has forced me to change my lifestyle. 

I did take my cane with me when we travelled to Australia as I was not sure how sitting on a plane for 14 hours would affect my hip and my knee. On the flight I did spend a great deal of time, standing and walking, which helped keep the discomfort to a minimum. Once we were off the plane, I had to use my cane to help me walk and since I am new at walking with a cane, I did walk rather slowly. My wife and son were able to move a lot quicker than I could, but I was used to this and was not uncomfortable with them moving ahead. 

Once we got to the custom area in Sydney, the signs I found were confusing. I am not sure if that was because of lack of sleep from the flight or because of the medication. So I saw a flight attendant from our plane and I asked her about which line we should move into in the customs. I was walking with my cane and she was with a number of passengers who were in wheelchairs. She looked at me and asked if I was on her flight. I said yes and she said come with me. I signalled my wife, and son, and we followed her and within five minutes, we were through customs. All of the people who were in wheel chairs and their families were given the same treatment. I was quite happy and we saved ourselves about 45 minutes of waiting. 

I found that this was the only time that I gained an advantage by using a cane. I am now better at walking with my cane, and I am hopeful that within the next three months I will no longer need it.

Tips to help maintain a strong relationship

1,  Be yourself. Authenticity is the key to growing a relationship. If you cannot be yourself then you end up playing a charade that ultimately will end badly for you.
2. Be honest. No one likes being lied to and a relationship build upon lies will create an environment of distrust. It is better to be honest and upfront, then try to weasel out of a lie latter on.
3. Know your values. Spend time examining the type of person that you are and the type of person that you would like to be. If these ideas are not congruent with your current relationships that it is time to do some examination.
4. Schedule Time. Relationships take work. It is important to schedule time with those that you care about. It shows them that they are important to you. It also ensures that you both have time to stay connected throughout the busyness of the life.
5. Touch. The power of touch is amazing. A hug, handshake, holding hands, or even a kiss when appropriate can make all the difference in the world. Reach out and touch someone.
6. Create space. Everyone needs space and space is not a bad thing. It gives a person the area to be themselves and to be an individual.
7. Learn to listen. An active listener is focused on what the other person is saying and is not concentrating on their own snappy comeback.
8. Learn how to be heard. Good speakers are able to order their thoughts and emotions in ways that can be understood. Speak in small segments and ask for feedback to see if the listener understands you.
9. Know the differences. Men and women are different. Moms and dad are different. Find out what those differences are and celebrate them. Differences make life interesting and exciting.
10. Give space. Know when to give your loved one the space they need to cool down after an argument. Let them know that you are there for them when they are ready to talk, but do not pursue them.
11. Give time. Dedicate yourself to spending quality and quantity time with those that you care about. Money is fleeting, but time can be controlled and given.
12. Avoid debates. To most issues there are two sides and never the twain shall meet. Learn what is important and what you can agree to disagree about.

Some ideas to help get rid of stress

1. Read uplifting books. Spend time each day reading a book that encourages and inspires you. It can be biographical, fiction or non fiction. Check the library, they often have an inspirational section.
2. Meditate for 15 minutes a day. This can be prayer, but it does not have to be. Take time to center yourself and meditate on a thought, phrase, or image. This will help you connect to your deeper self.
3. Quite your mind through meditation. Allow your thoughts to flow freely. Not judging them, not holding on to them, just let them flow.
4. Think positive. Positive thinking uplifts the spirit and lightens the soul. It allows your inner person to breathe without the weight and stresses of the world.
5. Be thankful. Spend a few moments each day reciting what you are thankful for. It can be material things or even people. If they are people, take a moment and write them a note letting them know why you are thankful for them.
6. Develop tolerance. Not everything can be the way you like it. Learning to tolerate the tough times allows you to enjoy the good times even more.
7. Be patient. Both with yourself and with others. Spirituality is a journey and will take time. Everyone is on a different path and going at a different speed. Let things come to you.
8. Learn your strengths and amplify them. Find out what you are really good at and do it even more. The more you do it the stronger you will get. Accentuate your best quality, do not down play it!
9. Find your spiritual passion. What is it that your spirit hunger for? Is it peace? Helping others? Contentment? Whatever it is, search for what drives you and seek to fulfill it.
10. Accept your spiritual side. Do not let the world take your spirit away. We are all spiritual beings, accept that part of you and begin to explore it.
11. Journal. Take time every day or every other day to write down your thoughts and dreams. Make the journal your own, you decide how to write and when to do so.
12. Pray. A spiritual connection with a greater spirit can help guide you through the uncertainties of life. It is also a great way of relieving stress and giving things over that you have no control over.

Ideas to help build wealth

Tax time helps us focus on money, how we spend it, how we save it. Here are some ideas to help when you are looking at money. The most important idea is #3.

1. Take time to plan. Invest time in working out a long term and short term financial plan. The worst thing one can do is start trying to accumulate wealth without a real idea of what they are going to do tomorrow.
2. Invest wisely. Research stocks and know the amount of money you are willing to lose. High return equals high risk. Stay diversified and you should not be disappointed.
3. Pay yourself first. One simple word, save. Before you pay rent, bills and the like, pay yourself that is why you work. Take it out of the money been before it gets passed around.
4. Use cash. Using cash not only gives you bargaining power, but it also brings spending to a more tactile experience. It is much easier to impulse buy with a card, but counting out the cash is a bit harder to do.
5. Do not depend on a credit card. Credit cards are not bad in and of themselves, but if you are relying on a credit card to pay your rent or bills, then you have a serious problem. Get on your feet first.
6. Pay off debt. Get the monkey off of your back and pay off those outstanding credit card bills or your student loans. Your personal net worth will never increase until debt is g-o-n-e.
7. Pay cash for big ticket items. This makes you save and think about whether or not you really need that 80 inch plasma TV. It also gives you bargaining power at the check out stand. Try it, it works.
8. Shop around. Prices on big ticket items and even cars and comparable houses vary from street to street. Know what is the going rate in a given area for a given item.
9. Give to charities. Read any book about people who were able to amass a ton of wealth and they will say that they gave to charities on a consistent basis. Karma, anyone?
10. Budget. Take control of your money, do not let it control you. Budgeting allows you to tell your money where to go and what to do. It is the single most helpful practice to get into on one’s way to becoming wealthy.