“How can I be thankful for something when I’m mourning my deceased loved one? I can’t begin to think about appreciation or thanks.” These comments are quite understandable early in the complaint process. But later, holding on to these affirmations will remove an important action that reduces the intensity of the grievance and that others have found helpful.

Gratitude is that quality or feeling of being thankful, which affirms life and restores energy. Affirming life and restoring energy are critical mental and physical factors when coping with the death of a loved one. Here are five ideas to think about using gratitude as a new routine in your daily life and to help you cope with your loss.

1. Start first thing in the morning using gratitude as a wake-up ritual. In response to a question I asked members of one of my grievance support groups about how they have been coping with their losses thus far, one woman shared the following. “When I get up every morning, I start the day by going over everything I’m thankful for. It keeps me going in the right direction.” What it does, of course, is positively balance much of the negativity that normally floods the mind at the beginning of the day during grief. Try starting your day this way.

2. Make a list each night of the things you are grateful for. After you finish your list, ask yourself if you have included small things to be grateful for or just the big things. What is big or small depends on how you perceive it. Some of the little things for me are all the things I take for granted, like the clean air I breathe, people who greet me by name, smile or shake my hand and make me feel accepted, my level power (until it goes down), and a bunch of other stuff. Plan to read your gratitude list whenever you start to feel down.

3. When grieving, if anger lingers in your thoughts too long, shift your attention to a person, place, or thing for which you are grateful. Anger is an extremely physical and emotional drain. Although anger can be completely justified, allowing it to become a long-term part of your daily thought life will prolong your grievance work. Use your self-talk to change the scene: “I’m angry and rightly so, but I choose to be grateful for all the help I’m getting from my friends. I’m truly grateful.”

4. Show gratitude to and for yourself. Develop the attitude of gratitude to include yourself and all the small victories you’ve had as you begin to accept your life without the deceased’s physical presence. You’ve made it through the funeral, the vacation, the trip to the lawyer’s office, condolences from friends and people you didn’t know, and a host of other stressful events. Say to yourself, “I am grateful for the courage I showed and my persistence and resilience.”

5. Use a symbol to remind you to express gratitude. Some people use the Gratitude Glass that can be purchased online or play music with a gratitude theme. Your symbol can be anything you see fit, from something your loved one owned to a trinket you bought for them or an item that was a gift. Carry it in your pocket or purse; Place it on the dashboard of your car or in a special place in your home. When you see it, use it as a signal to check your attitude. Then immediately think about the special things you appreciate and are grateful for despite your pain. This act will only focus you on a positive path.

6. Give thanks each day at a specific time to God or your Higher Power. Make this a part of your prayer life. You will reap the benefits; or, as Sarah Ban Breathnach says in Simple Abundance, “You simply won’t be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have kickstarted an ancient spirituality.” law: the more you have and give thanks, the more will be given to you”. Thanksgiving will call for inner peace.

In short, gratitude is an inspiring force that can add another significant factor in developing a strong inner life. It makes us draw attention to what is good, what is beautiful, what is complete and abundant; it will open up a wealth of possibilities, which is exactly what we need when we are in pain.

What most of us forget is that just like kindness (the best way to stay healthy), love, and a good laugh, the act of being grateful floods our bodies with hormones that make us feel good in the moment. in which we feel the most. necessary. Living gratitude; it will ensure you get through the many changes you face.

All the lights are on in your house for a photo shoot that will make it an instant star. Like a celebrity, you will mesmerize people and possibly have a fan base from which a potential owner will soon emerge. But is your house ready when the camera starts to pan on its beauty? Will true beauty be captured? If your home is soon to be the subject of a photo shoot for a marketing effort, here are some things to follow according to Florida Realtor Magazine.

• Light up the house. Photos always look better when the light is excellent. The house should receive as much light as possible. With this, all interior lights should be on while allowing natural light from outside. Do this by opening doors, blinds, curtains and curtains.

• Cool the house. It absorbs the freshness in the house. Make it as clean as possible. If necessary, apply new paint to surfaces that need it. Check for any peeling or chips on the walls and repaint immediately.

• He loses his house identity. Unless you’re preparing your home for a feature that tells your story, personalizing it with images and other things will work just fine. But if the photo session is to sell your house, then start taking away things that give it your identity. Photos, calendars, bulletin boards and other things that show your identity and give the impression of the date should be removed.

• Eliminate unnecessary things inside and out. House cleaning covers the interior and exterior parts. Reduce the number of furniture to display. Shelves should be kept to a minimum for books and magazines. Unused cookware must be removed from countertops. Empty jars, bottles, and other containers found in the yard should also be removed. There is always the recycling workshop to monetize them.

• It complements, but not too much. Shrinking screens will be defeated if you just replace them with other items. Adding accessories doesn’t mean you have to match what you’ve taken away. Attractive vases always make a nice display, especially if they hold fleshy flowers. Provide a scaled view of the length and width of the tables by also placing smaller but attractive objects on them. Coffee tables can house a garden dish instead of too many ceramic displays.

The house is a great object for photo shoots. By following the tips above, you are sure to have wonderful photos of your home that will also be good for potential buyers to view.

Is your copy not achieving the conversions you expected?

Well, would you like some quick tips to help increase the response you’re getting?

If that sounds good to you, continue reading this entire article…

By applying the dynamic tips I’m about to reveal, you can take your copy from being a flop to absolutely compelling and compelling!

So let’s start with the first piece of advice which is…

1. Sell specifics, not generalities

Make sure if you have general words, statements or stories that you make them more specific. Because?

Because when you sell the details, you make your claims that much more credible. Especially when using copywriting over the Internet.

If your target reader sees your message as vague, they will be very skeptical about the claims you make in your copy.

In addition, the use of specific words generates a much greater emotional reaction than generalized words.

Take these two lines below for example… Which has more emotional impact?

“Last week I went to a restaurant and had the worst experience of my life”

gold..

“Last Thursday I went to Ceros Heros, a popular Greek restaurant in my town, and the waiter tripped on my shoe and spilled all the plates on me. I consider it one of my worst restaurant experiences.”

See how much more emotional the specific statement is compared to the first statement, which is general?

If so, then you understand the dynamic compose hint and should use it with all your copy from now on.

Now, the second dynamic writing tip is…

2. Be “you” first

When writing any type of copy, the target reader/listener/viewer must know that they are the target in order for the benefits to exist for them.

The bulk of your copy should be about what’s in it for your goal. Not for you.

So instead of “these speakers look fancy and sound amazing” I would write “You will love how fancy your speakers look and how amazing they sound in your home”.

That’s all there really is. Being “you” first should be treated more as a rule than a guide. If you do, you’ll notice how your copywriting performs much better.

So in conclusion…

The next time you sit down to write copy, remember to convey details and talk about what’s in it for the goal. Doing so will ensure that your copy gets a bigger response by selling your offer like crazy.

Wooden houses are made for winter. Think about it: a nice, crackling fire in the fireplace. Snow falls gently outside. A twinkling Christmas tree in the corner. Everyone drinking hot chocolate and singing Christmas carols. It’s an image that is deeply ingrained in the consciousness of many, and for good reason.

But you don’t have to rent a ski cabin to get that feeling. You can find it in your very own log cabin, beautiful and valuable real estate that is perfect for anyone who wants that year-round serenity and calm.

Wooden houses are taken care of a little more during the year. So here’s what you need to know before you buy your own log cabin, so you’ll be ready once the weather turns cold.

Consider the local weather

Not everyone has extreme weather where they live. If your winters aren’t especially harsh, you can probably get away with minimal preparation and be fine. But if you live in an area that gets very humid or cold, you will have to be very careful not to damage the wood, something that is very easy to do without the proper wood treatment.

Heat is another factor, so if you live in a very hot climate, be sure to take the same precautions every year. The sun can be just as damaging as the humidity.

Don’t worry, even extreme weather can’t break down the strength and beauty of wood, as long as you take care of it. With proper intervention, a wooden house can be passed down from generation to generation.

Make sure the fireplace works

That roaring fire in the image above? That may be the reality of it, but you have to make sure that your fireplace is in perfect condition. Any poorly maintained fireplace is, of course, a risk. But in a wooden house you have an additional threat if sparks ignite, so don’t skimp!

Make sure your home is zoned for a fireplace. Keep the chimney clean and sweep it every year before the cold months when you will use it the most. Put a good damper that can be easily opened and closed. That will allow you to open it to use it, but keep it closed when not in use so air doesn’t rush out. It also prevents creatures like birds, bats, arachnids, insects, and small mammals from roaming inside and causing a major headache.

Be ready to stain and seal

A log cabin should be maintained every three to five years to keep the wood in good condition. It’s well worth the cost, as your home is an investment worth far more than what you spend on upkeep.

If you don’t preserve your home, the wood will crack, warp, and even rot. Replacing logs is expensive and difficult, often requiring an experienced woodworking contractor to come in and do it for you. Staining, on the other hand, is a DIY job that most people can complete on their own. It can cost you anywhere from $1500 to $5000 depending on the size of the house and extensions (like wooden garages), but for an expense every few years it is relatively low.

The weatherstripping is your best friend

Even without gaps in the wood, leaks can occur in log cabins. Like any home, there are drafts around windows and doors, or in attics and basements. This can be frustrating for homeowners who want to keep the cold out of their home, but worry about the high energy costs required to do so. Some resort to firewood to keep warm, but that is of no use if it escapes through the cracks.

Weather stripping is inexpensive and easy to do yourself. You can seal the windows and doors to prevent air leaks and keep that warmth in with your family. Most hardware stores have kits with full instructions, and YouTube has great informational videos showing the process.

It even helps once summer hits, keeping that cool air inside!

Extra insulation makes for a cozy cabin

If you don’t mind a heavier project that requires a bit more time and expertise, you may want to consider adding a little extra insulation to your home. Insulation helps prevent air from escaping like weather stripping does. It is especially useful in wooden houses due to the drafts that pass through the logs.

The attic is one particular area where additional insulation can completely change the way your home conserves energy. Hot air tends to move upward, so if you have a drafty attic space, even if it’s a small crawl space, you can let a lot of it out. Adding some insulation will keep you trapped inside the most leaky part of the house, which keeps you in the rooms where you and your family live.

Heavy curtains make a big difference

If insulation isn’t possible, or if you just want an extra tool to keep your house warm, heavy curtains may do the trick. Thick enough to block out light, these babies also keep heat out of the window. The better the fabric, the better the warm air will stay where it belongs, in your home.

You can use a lighter shade if you’re worried about reinforcing the rods enough to hold something heavier in place. Just be sure to add a layer or two to provide the highest possible barrier around your windows.

keep those bugs out

Finally, you have the problem of creatures. Insects, arachnids, small mammals like rats, mice and even raccoons… all of these are potential dangers for your log home. Termites can eat through the wood, and other creatures can scratch and gnaw at the wood.

Be prepared to seal your home each winter, and consider spraying for pests before the first snow falls. That will keep the problem at bay before it gets out of control.

Moving to one of the sunniest places in America can help SAD sufferers

Seasonal affective disorder emotionally affects millions of Americans each year (between 4 and 20% of the population, depending on who you ask), with women outnumbering men four to one. Also called “winter depression,” it usually begins in the fall and lasts through the winter (although it can also occur during the summer). It commonly affects people in their 20s and 30s, and will most often affect people living in latitudes north of 30°N or south of 30°S (ie, colder places with harsh winters and less sun). . According to Wikipedia.org, “SAD is rare, if it exists at all, in the tropics.”

People who lose interest in their usual activities, withdraw from social activities, feel sad or anxious, sleep or eat more, or feel irritable or heavy in their arms and legs may have SAD. There are a variety of therapies to combat this disorder, including adding more vitamin D to the diet, the use of light therapy, and exercise. Another option may be to simply move to a sunnier city or town. If you’re just graduating from college or close to retirement, why not consider moving to one of the sunniest places in America?

According to Marcelle Pick, an OB/GYN nurse practitioner, getting out every day “is one of the easiest ways to quickly relieve the symptoms of seasonal depression.” Even spending just 15 minutes “connecting with nature” can be helpful, she says. So people who don’t enjoy outdoor activities and don’t typically exercise outdoors may find that if they move to the sunniest place in the country—Yuma, Arizona, for example—they won’t need to change so much your routine: Walking from the car to the office can offer enough exposure to offset the winter blues. Direct sunlight through the office windows is also beneficial. Or, if you’re an avid outdoorsman, you’ll find more opportunities to be outdoors if it’s sunny year-round.

To help you decide which place is right for you, the Internet relocation company, http://www.FindYourSpot.com, has put together a list of 25 of the best sunny places to live in the United States. All great places to live and work, these top spots are ranked in order of highest percentage of sunny days for this article. Many of these cities and towns are in the desert regions of the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado), where annual precipitation is low. However, there are some surprises, especially in California, Texas, and even Alabama.

Yuma, AZ: 90% sunny days;

Las Vegas, NV: 85% sunny days;

Phoenix, AZ: 85% sunny days;

Tucson, AZ: 85% sunny days;

El Paso, TX: 83% sunny days;

Flagstaff, AZ: 79% sunny days;

Reno, NV: 79% sunny days;

Sacramento, CA: 78% sunny days;

Albuquerque, NM: 76% sunny days;

Long Beach, CA: 73% sunny days;

Honolulu, HI: 71% sunny days;

Santa Barbara, CA: 85% sunny days;

Los Angeles, CA: 80% sunny days;

San Diego, CA: 73% sunny days;

Miami, FL: 70% sunny days;

Denver, CO: 69% sunny days;

Grand Junction, CO: 68% sunny days;

Salt Lake City, UT: 66% sunny days;

Cheyenne, WY: 66% sunny days;

Columbia, South Carolina: 64% sunny days;

Boise, ID: 64% sunny days;

Rapid City, SD: 63% sunny days;

Little Rock, AR: 62% sunny days;

Charlotte, NC: 62% sunny days;

Topeka, KS: 61% sunny days;

Jackson, MS: 61% sunny days;

Birmingham, AL: 57% sunny days;

Resources

http://www.findyourspot.com

http://www.weatherexplained.com/Vol-1/Record-Setting-Weather.html

http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/usrecords.htm

http://www.chemheritage.org/educationalservices/pharm/chemo/activity/percent.htm

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/sad.htm

[http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1400/1484.asp?index=6412]

[http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/seasonalaffectivedisorder.asp]

http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/new/sadlight.htm

What is a cynic?

“A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – Oscar Wilde

The hardest thing I do every day is to identify the value of my activities as a network marketer. As a trainer in the corporate world, I’ve shown people how to go through small processes to achieve the company’s business plan, measure results, and help identify best practices and personal modifications to improve performance. As Director of Sales, I did the same thing, only I was responsible for the larger budget, cost management, marketing, and of course, managing the “bean counters” and CEO vision.

I have found that nothing is different in Network Marketing, except that no one is there to stop you from doing what you want to do. I have been told by many industry leaders that marketers are the worst network marketers and I finally understand what they meant.

The role of a Network Marketer is the same as that of a CEO.

I thought about the role of a CEO. When you ask a CEO why he gets paid so much money and I mean 50 times more than the lowest paid company employee, sometimes more; the answer is very revealing. From your point of view; it never has anything to do with his actual education, his successes and achievements, or his ability to work hard. Their answer is because they can communicate their value. The value of the company they represent and the perceived future value of how they can improve the strongest asset of any company, the employees.

There are a lot of people who know themselves and what they stand for, like a CEO.

A CEO is the person at the top of the corporate pyramid. A CEO seems to have some characteristics that may seem unusual compared to the other employees in the company’s hierarchical pyramid, but those characteristics seem very common to many people in their daily lives. Successful CEOs are great leaders. I see great leaders every day; They are the moms, dads, community participants, softball coaches, scout leaders, deacons, and neighborhood watch participants.

The best CEOs have broad and diverse experience and work in a structured way to achieve their organization’s goals. The best Network Marketers have a diverse background in the life of everyday life. Do you pay your bills, balance your checkbook, plan for home and car maintenance, pay your taxes, save for your kids’ college, meet with teachers, check food labels, use a computer, or a smartphone, get along with your neighbors, help your family, schedule routines? You do a lot of the job of a CEO and you don’t even realize it! Your experiences, decisions, and responsibilities are more than the work you do every day, as a CEO.

I want you to take a clear thought as you read this that you can apply immediately. I want to broaden your mind’s eye to compare the role of a CEO to the value of what he does every day and how it relates to his network marketing opportunities.

What is a CEO?

A CEO is the “keeper of the vision.” A great CEO keeps the company on track to achieve that vision. The vision of the company is the main guiding light of the final objective of an organization. There will be many decisions and actions that a CEO will have to make, and there will be decisions that will temporarily satisfy a situation but affect the long-term vision of a company. This is where the effective CEO steps in and makes sure the organization’s vision is on track. HINT: Substitute the word family for company and think about the decisions, sacrifices and actions you took towards your vision for your family.

A CEO is resourceful. They give more than they take every day. They don’t give up. If the wall is too high, they back off and find a way around it. Being resourceful is an asset to any organization. TIP: Your organization is your family, how do you manage to shop on a budget, take the kids around, fit everything into your day, come up with solutions when you run out of money or time? ?

A CEO makes good decisions. Decision is something a great CEO must possess. Without strong decision-making skills, there is very little chance of leading your organization to success. HINT: What decisions do you make every day for your family’s survival, safety, and future?

A CEO is brave. It takes courage to fire someone and it takes courage to sign a merger deal. A CEO is bold in taking action. HINT: Have you fired a plumber, contractor, babysitter, changed doctors, hired an insurance agent, lawyer, or real estate agent? Did you choose a school, buy a car or anything that requires making decisions in everyday life for what is best for your family?

A CEO has an eye for talent. A great CEO is able to identify the right people, with the right personalities, and place them in the right jobs. Keeping the right person for the right job exponentially increases the efficiency of an organization. Having the wrong people in a position of responsibility will cause them to perform poorly and undervalue their work. Hint: You should be getting my hints by now.

Already having an “AHA” moment?

Let me ask you, what do you get paid for? You know at work, what do you get paid for? No matter how you answer that question, what you are really getting paid for is your TIME! Whether you perform a process, function, customer service, or sales, you get paid for the time you spend and how the organization you work for perceives the value of what you do.

As a Network Marketer or CEO, you get paid to keep your vision, your wits, make good decisions, be courageous, and have an eye for talent. Time is not relative to your income, time is relative to how you learn to master the above as part of your lifestyle and incorporate it into your daily life experience. You really are doing it now, whether you realize it or not.

Your life goes on 24/7, you live and have experiences and perform the same skills as a CEO every day. As a Network Marketer, you earn income by living every day doing exactly what you do in your life now; pay attention and talk to people.

You talk to people. As a network marketer, you have a product or service that you believe in just as passionately as a CEO believes in their company. You have to build an organization and you do that by doing what a CEO does every day and what you do now anyway, just talk to people.

The only difference is this. Who pays you to tell everyone about the great restaurant you had dinner at last night? Who pays you to talk about the current reality show you’re watching? Who is paying you to promote or sell the new product you are testing? Even though you do, every day, you hurt your heart!

You are a promoter and denouncer of all the commercial elements that you experience. You also make many CEOs very happy. You’re doing the job they want you to do for them, and you’re doing it for free! Well actually, the cost of getting it to do it is built into the cost of the product, so when you buy or pay; You not only pay for the product, but you also pay the cost of motivating you to promote it to everyone all the time!

You talk to people every day as a CEO, you make the same decisions about your life as a CEO, and if you were a Network Marketer you would be earning income from everything you do every day as a CEO. Are you ready to be the CEO of your life? Are you ready to explore Network Marketing?

It’s an emerging global battle between tourism boards to join the Bollywood saga. Bollywood is the most popular and international definition of the Hindi film industry in India, which is also perhaps one of the largest in the world. Bollywood, which sells a billion more tickets a year than Hollywood, features themes from around the world.

The Hindi film industry has now taken fans of this popular film culture to experience cooler climates in Rovaniemi Finnish Lapland and Poland (Fanaa), Victoria in Australia (Salaam Namaste), Korea (Gangster), Brazil (Dhoom II) , Kandahar and Kabul (Kabul Express), Ras Al Khaimah (Deewane Hue Pagal, 36 China Town) and Malaysia (Don II). The trend that started with “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in the ’90s, licking the borders of the UK and Switzerland, has now transcended its borders across the Atlantic to New York with Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna and Kaal Ho Na Ho.

As Dubai, along with Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore are added as new destinations to Mumbai’s film repertoire, tourism boards around the world, along with Mumbai and India, are clamoring for a slice. of the Indian film industry which is expected to cross a turnover of Rs140 billion, according to a KPMG consultancy report. Kashmir and Kerala have given way to global destinations as more producers head west to shoot their musical movies.

The Ministry of Tourism of India and the government of Maharashtra have also gotten down to business and are looking to create public or private partnerships to promote Bollywood tourism, especially in the UK, which has already developed a counter-tourism strategy to attract to Hindi movie fans.

The British move is to allow Hindi moviegoers to walk the lanes of now famous British locations in London, Scotland and Yorkshire and relive their favorite Bollywood movie moments. With India’s official airline proposing to add new flights to the London and European sector to appeal to the large Indian expat community, Britain’s Department of Tourism is already betting big on Bollywood through the sale and distribution of an innovative ” Bollywood Map of Great Britain’. with dozens of dots identifying now-seen scenes from Hindi blockbusters, locations such as Blenheim Palace, Waddesden Manor which are widely used for shots of Kabhie Khushie Kabhie Gham (K3G) and many other locations made famous in the Bollywood movies.

In the recent past, Hong Kong recorded a 24.7 per cent growth in visitors from India and this has prompted the tourism board to learn of certain film-making links between Mumbai and Hong Kong, which it has plans to develop. destinations and tour packages revolving around Bollywood and also marketing Hong Kong’s sprawling production hubs to Indian filmmakers. The Singapore Tourism Board launched a “KKrissh” tour package in 2006.

The Swiss Bollywood hit has now made its way to Finland and the Finnish Tourist Board (FTB) has in the recent past organized programs for Bollywood dream dealers to get acquainted with Finland. The FTB proposes to give rental subsidies. Other easy aids and permits to install cameras and shots in Finland are being studied. The idea of ​​the FTB is to sell the midnight sun and the northern lights of the archipelago and bring it under the arch of Bollywood lights. With a direct flight to Helsinki from India, it’s just a wait and watch scene with Bollywood fans adding Santa Claus land to their holiday destination!

With film festivals and award ceremonies on the rise, more and more countries are offering their destination points for Bollywood pre- and post-productions, and also setting aside budgets for award ceremonies and celebrity shows. The Malaysian government had set aside some $2.7 million to host the 2006 Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA), which boosted sales of Malaysia as a top destination for Bollywood, which has already made a name for itself in a large number of films. in hindi.

Recently, some private tour operators in Mumbai have understood the need to take advantage of the ‘Bollywood’ bug as part of their Mumbai ‘Darshan’ packages. Such operators charge around US$100 or Rs 3900 per head for a day of guided studio tour with or without lunch packs. The experience brings tourists closer to understanding the nuances and technicalities of running one of India’s largest and most glamorous industries.

The trip includes a movie studio or a soap opera shoot at one of the studios. Tourists can watch actors and crew create scenes most fans already know on the actual set, triggering de ja vu appeal.

Sometimes a post-production studio experience is included where tourists learn about and see on-site dubbing, sound editing, and some other special effects that are added to the films. As most of the live studios in Mumbai are not open to the general public, individual tour operators are left to work out their contracts with the studios they have a nexus with. The Filmistan studio is one of the most popular studios open to the public.

However, to really thrive on the true Indian film experience, Tollywood or South Hyderabad based film industry is the place to be. With Mumbai belting out Hindi movies, Telegu, the second most widely spoken language in South India, adds to the glitz and glamor of Tollywood.

With more than 150 feature films being produced annually in and around the emerging new IT hub of Hyderabad, Ramoji City, one of the largest cinema complexes in the world, is well worth a visit. With more than 1,600 acres of layered streetscapes, sound stages, warehouses, post-production facilities, hotels, restaurants, Ramoji City is modeled after a theme park and has been awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records as a city of full tinsel. Ramoji City is akin to experiencing movie magic and recreated “real time” scenes just like at Universal Studios or a Disney or MGM studio in the West. With an entrance fee of Rs 250 or US$5, it’s an experience Mumbai has yet to live. END

Need to get out of the fast lane for a few days? Doolin, located in the Clare country near the world famous Burren, is a fantastic place to visit. Better yet, there’s plenty to do. This article describes just a few of the many attractions in the area.

The Burren: The name Burren comes from the Irish word “Bhuireann”, which means stony place. Stoney certainly is: 300 square feet. kilometers of field covered with limestone. However, it is not as desolate as it seems. Rare Mediterranean and alpine plants flourish together. A guided tour is essential. Unless you are a botanist, you will be amazed by its rocky beauty, but without a guide you will miss out on the amazing flora. If you’re feeling energetic there are many mapped walks through the Burren.

Aillwee Cave: if you have children you should visit Aillwee cave. Jack McCann, a local, originally discovered the cave and investigated it by candlelight. However, Jack kept the find from him a secret for decades and only showed the cave to others in the 1970s. The cave was opened to the public in 1976 and extends for at least 1 km underground. This hugely impressive cave contains waterfalls, stalagmites, stalactites, brown bear bones, and much more. Surrounded by a woodland walk with a restaurant on site, it’s a half day of entertainment in itself.

Cliffs of Moher: The Cliffs of Moher rise more than 200 meters above the Atlantic Ocean. There is a new visitor center with an excellent interpretive display of the Cliffs of Moher:“Edge of the Atlantic”. The Virtual Reality Cliff Face Show – “The Ledge” – not to be missed. After that, a walk along the cliff edge offers stunning views of the cliffs and the Atlantic. Don’t worry, it’s walled in and safe for kids.

Boat trip on the Cliffs of Moher: drive to Doolin Pier and you can book a boat trip to the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Once there, you can’t help but be amazed by the size and rugged beauty of the cliffs. Tourists on top of the cliffs are but distant specs and you can get an up-close view of the bird population of Atlantic puffins, gulls, guillemots, shags, ravens and choughs. You can also book trips to the nearby Aran Islands from the Doolin pier. These trips range from ½ day to overnight.

Doolin Pubs: Doolin’s pubs have been a breeding ground for world-renowned traditional Irish musicians. There are three traditional pubs McGanns, O’Connors and McDermotts in Doolin. They all have a lot of traditional music and homemade food. Children are allowed until 9:00 pm.

The Burren Perfumery: a very interesting visit with all the flowers and herbs that form the basis of locally sourced perfumes and soaps in the Burren. There is a small tea room and a herb garden.

The Burren Interpretive Centre, Kilfenora: there is an excellent “walk through time” Burren exhibit, a video, craft center and tea room.

a visit to Lahinch Beach on a summer day it is reminiscent of Hawaii with surf schools lining the beach.

Liscanor Stone and Rick Shop: full of precious stones, semi-precious stones, local stones and lots, lots of prehistoric fossils. As you drive back from one of the many other attractions in the area, you can simply call to watch! But be warned, you’ll probably come away with a 10,000-year-old fossil keepsake!

The best of all these attractions is that none are more than half an hour’s drive from Doolin. Doolin can get very busy in the summer, but it’s a great place to visit and lots to do. You might consider spending a few days outside of the bustling summer season, and if you’re lucky enough to have good weather, you’re guaranteed a great time.

The last thing Omar Alshujery remembers seeing when the first US bombs hit Baghdad in 2003 was a “great light”.

“I saw a huge light,” says Omar, “and I yelled, ‘Cover!’ Then the earth trembled.”

Alshujery, then only 12 years old, screamed as the force of the blast slammed him into the wall.

Seconds later, as the next wave of bombs roared out of the thin plaster walls that cradled Alshujery, his parents, and his five siblings, the power went out, plunging Alshujery’s childhood home into darkness, a darkness that it would eventually swallow his grandfather and uncles. .

Despite the reports, war is not a pretty thing. It is not sterile or photogenic. It is complex and convoluted; it is bloody and chaotic; war is a dirty, ravenous, thousand-toothed beast, and it feasted on both Iraqis and Americans.

Death figures vary. When the Iraq war “ended” on December 18, 2011, the Associated Press estimated 100,600 casualties between March 2003 and April 2009, but an independent 2007 British report put that figure closer to 1.2 million between March 2007 alone. 2003 and August 2007. What none of the figures explain are the soul casualties suffered by survivors like Alshujery, a survivor of a war between enemies who claimed his family as casualties.

During the early stages of the invasion, Ashuljery watched as the US Army’s Third Division swarmed through the streets of Baghdad, the ground shaking under the weight of the onslaught.

“We heard the F-16s and the Humvees,” says Alshujery. “Then my uncles and my grandfather cried because they knew that our country had disappeared, destroyed.”

Baghdad fell into chaos after the invasion. The streets were littered with corpses and the city reeked of rotting meat. Alshujery and the other 6 million Baghdad residents were without electricity or running water for nearly seven years.

“Life was good before the war,” says Omar. “It was peaceful. We had security. We worked, we did business and we traveled outside the country. Everything was fine.”

After the invasion, all that changed. The country fell into chaos, and Iraqi civilians were caught in the crossfire of US and Iraqi soldiers, robbers and bandits, and Iraqi resistance fighters, also known as “terrorists.”

Suddenly, Baghdad, “gift of God” in translation, was the most dangerous place on earth, and each day was filled with new horrors for Omar and his family.

In 2005, US soldiers broke into his home in the middle of the night and attempted to rob his family at gunpoint. When Omar and his relatives refused to give their money to the soldiers, the Americans arrested his father.

A year later, when Omar was 16, he was kidnapped at gunpoint for the second time, this time by Iraqis.

Omar and his uncle, Saeed, were driving through the desert near Anbar, Iraq, when gunmen forced their vehicle to stop. After getting out of the car, they were beaten, tied up and thrown into the trunk of a dark green 1993 BMW at a temperature of 104 degrees.

After driving for almost half an hour, the armed men stopped the car and took Omar and his uncle out of the trunk. One of the gunmen pointed a pistol at Omar’s head and ordered him to lower his head and look at the ground.

“At that moment, I was not afraid,” says Omar. “It was just zero. I accepted it as it is and said, ‘Okay, I’m going to die.’ I did not close my eyes. He was thinking: ‘Will the bullet go through or not?’ And, ‘Will I see my blood before I die?'”

Omar and his family finally fled to Syria in 2006 after his uncles and grandfather were kidnapped and murdered.

“We had enough. I saw how armed men kidnapped my uncle Salem and my grandfather Taha had been missing for more than a year,” says Omar. “After discovering Salam’s body with more than 30 bullet holes, we finally had him. We crossed the border into Syria that night.”

He lived in Syria for almost two years before the International Organization for Migration helped Omar and his family move to the United States in 2008.

“The war took everything and left us with nothing,” says Omar. “He destroyed our homes, our businesses and our lives.”

Despite all that the war took from Alshujery, the 22-year-old retains his home. Today, Omar shares a modest apartment in Portland with his mother, his father, his five brothers and his sister.

He is studying engineering at Portland Community College, a degree he dreams of using one day when he returns home to Iraq, after the war and the occupation, after the violence and bloodshed, when his country can be rebuilt, brick by brick. and life to life.

“I look through the past and I see pain and darkness,” says Omar. “My life was a night with stars and a light that guided me through the darkness. I lost the stars. But I have the light and the stars are in my heart.”

DESCRIPTION

Hostel Demò is excellently located to move around the city: very close to the Main Train Station and well connected to all the main places of artistic and cultural interest in the city.

HOSTEL FACILITIES

GENERAL

Pets allowed, Bar, 24-hour front desk, Family rooms, Safe, Valet parking, Heating, Luggage storage,

Breakfast buffet…

SERVICES

Room Service, Laundry, Breakfast in the room, Internet Services, Currency Exchange, Fax/Photocopying.

RENT

City Center, Near the Train Station (100 meters).

HOSTEL INFORMATION

The Demò Hostel offers its guests a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere, where one is surrounded by a particularly artistic environment: in fact, there are some works exhibited in the reception by the figurative painter Enrico Nicodemo, in Demò art: http://www. enriconicodemo.com

Occasionally, exhibitions of contemporary artists are organized by Enrico Nicodemo himself, which transform the reception.

area in a real art gallery.

Guests of this two-star hostel in Milan can use the Skype Internet Point installed in the reception area at any time, have an aperitif in the hostel’s bar or leaf through a magazine.

in our comfortable reading room.

The reception is open 24 hours a day and every morning from 07:00 to 10:00 a rich and appetizing breakfast is served.

The Demò Gallery aims to organize exhibitions of contemporary artists taking advantage of international visibility

offered by the Hostel Demo.

If you are an artist and you want to make your art known, come and show your work in our Hostel in Milan!

ROOM INFORMATION

The Demo Hostel has a varied selection of 17 rooms,

designed to meet all kinds of needs.

Furnishings are simple and elegant, while warm colors and wooden floors make every room at Hostel Demo,

a nice and cozy place to rest after a tiring day.

All the rooms of this comfortable two-star hostel in Milan are equipped with all the comforts such as direct dial telephone, color TV, hair dryer, safe and remote control fan.

AREA INFORMATION

Leaving from the Main Train Station by tram, bus or metro, you can reach the center in a few minutes.

Do you want an example?

Only four metro stops separate you from the Cathedral and the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery.

Once you arrive at Piazza Duomo, you can easily walk to the Sforzesco Castle and the Scala Theater.

We also recommend that you do not miss the Pinacoteca di Brera, which houses works by Piero della Francesca, Raffaello, Caravaggio, and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where you can admire the famous work of Leonardo da Vinci,

The Last Supper.

For those who love shopping, don’t forget the famous Fashion Quadrilateral and, in particular, the exclusive Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, where the most prestigious designer boutiques are located.

Hostel Demo is also close to Corso Buenos Aires,

full of all kinds of shops.

HOSTEL POLICIES

Check In: ​​​​12:00 pm – 12:00 pm

Departure: 12:00 pm – 12:00 pm

Cancellation: 10 days before the arrival date.

If you cancel in accordance with the cancellation policy

of the Hostel, it will be free.

If you cancel later than requested by the Hostel

or you don’t show up, the hostel might charge you a fee

which in most cases is equivalent to 1 night stay.

Accepted credit cards: Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Card,

Diners, JCB, Maestro, Carte, CartaSi, American Express.

Hotels Demo’ requires credit card details in order to

to guarantee your reservation.

We will not charge your credit card as you will be paying

for your stay at the hostel.

The Hostel reserves the right to pre-authorize

credit cards before arrival.