Okay, I haven’t posted anything on MisticCafe.com in a long time. I’ve been busy with my other websites and life. This is the first blog I ever created and it’s like my baby. Unfortunately, like most parents sometimes you neglect your child because you become self-absorbed in your life. That’s about to end. I’m committed to posting at least once a week on this blog. So here it goes…

Is the environment about to self-destruct at the hands of humans? Year after year, it’s the same old story. Some corporation somewhere has contributed to the destruction of planet Earth. Most of the humans on this planet sit back and have a “whatever” attitude about it. They figure someone else will take care of the problem. What happens when there’s no one left to clean up the planet? What happens where there isn’t a planet to clean up? That’s right, our environment could self-destruct at the hands of the humans who walk and live upon it.

The Gulf of Mexico 2010 oil spill has really gotten to me and other citizens. It’s the 21st century and we still haven’t figured out that nothing lasts forever. Why does it take a catastrophe to happen to make us realize that nothing lasts forever? Wouldn’t it make more sense to ensure our infrastructures and structures are solid and secure? Wouldn’t it make more sense to ensure a crisis plan is in place in case something happens? How about having technologies ready and available to stop a crisis if it occurs? Perhaps this is asking too much.

The damage from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is horrifying. Experts say it’s worse than the Exxon Mobil oil spill of 1989. Innocent animal and plant life are once again killed because of human stupidity. Once again peoples’ livelihoods are in jeopardy because “big corporations” couldn’t think ahead. Maybe this tragedy will wake up the people of the U.S. It’s about time citizens become angry and demand change from corporations and the government. The life of planet and its inhabitants deserve justice.

What’s taking so long to fix Gulf of Mexico oil problem? Seriously, a five-year-old probably could have figured out how to solve the problem. Quit the “blame game” and fix the problem. Maybe it’s the lack of technology. It’s the 21st century and the U.S. is still lagging behind in technology when compared to other countries. This problem could have been fixed a long time ago if the proper technology was available.

It’s amazing how U.S. citizens have to bail out corporations like AIG, banks, and other institutions for their major screw-ups. In the meantime, Americans are getting screwed left and right. Their houses are being foreclosed, jobs are being eliminated, and credit card debt increases while these companies roll in the money. Where’s the justice in this? Why aren’t people speaking out? Nothing will change if your voice isn’t heard. It’s up to you to make it known how ticked off you are and that you won’t take it anymore.

If you love the environment, recycle (where you can), buy organic foods that are locally grown, make sure you put your trash in trash cans, pickup litter, and be the best you can be. The Earth won’t last forever if everyone doesn’t do their part to respect and protect the environment.

Rebecca

What do you think of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? Who’s responsible? How mad are you that “big” corporations and governments keep screwing up the planet? Share your thoughts.

What do you know about Haiti? Millions of dollars were raised to help the country and its people recover from the earthquake that hit it many weeks ago. Where were these people before the earthquake struck Haiti? What were they doing to get the tariffs lifted from the country? What do they know about the history of Haiti? How will Haiti rebuild? How will they survive if they aren’t allowed to export more goods? These are questions that you may want to ask yourself before you jump on the bandwagon to help Haiti in a onetime deal.

It’s amazing how people come together when a disaster occurs, but they forget about people and their country throughout the year. It’s like people who go to church at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. They pack the church three times a year but are non-existent throughout the year.

Helping others when disaster strikes is generous, but what are you doing throughout the year? Haitians could use help restoring the country in more ways than one. They could use a hand to create a thriving economy.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t donate to Haiti or other countries that suffer from a disaster. I’m asking you to make sure you understand the circumstances that a country faces and what you can do to help on a permanent basis. It may not be a one time deal.

Rebecca

What do you know about Haiti? What have you done to help? Share your thoughts.

Once upon a time, when you called a company a real person answered the phone. If you had a complaint, your call was forwarded to a customer service representative. Ah, the good ol’ days. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could go back to the time when “customer service” existed? A woman can dream can’t she!

Companies used automated phone systems because they cut costs and save time. Do they really save time and for whom? What about saving the company money? If you lose customers because they’re tired of your automated phone system, how is that saving your company money?

I’m tired of pressing 1 for English or 2 for Spanish. This is America, we speak English. Before you know it, you’ll be asked to press 3 for Mandarin Chinese, 4 for Japanese, 5 for French, 6 for Portuguese, 7 for Swahili, 8 for Latin, and 9 for Hungarian! Once you select your language, you’ll be asked to press 1 for this department, press 2 for that department, or press 3 for another department. You could travel to China faster than you can reach a customer service representative.

Automated phone systems never give you the option to press 0 for the operator. You can try to press 0 and hope to be transferred to customer service or redial and try again. How does this save the customer time? If an operator would be pickup straightaway, you could be connected to the right department in no time.

In my opinion, automated phone systems are the most irritating invention. I’d prefer to hire someone to answer phone calls from customers and have them directed to the correct people. Some may argue this cannot be done because we are global society. Others will argue that scaling back on automated phone systems will hurt corporations. Sigh…

All I want is to speak to a human being and not waste time pressing buttons on a phone. If I want to waste time pressing buttons, I’ll play a video game! It would be more fun than pressing buttons trying to reach the right department and person who can help me!

Rebecca

What bugs you the most about automated phone systems?

My thoughts on the Millionaire Mind Intensive…

The weekend of December 4 – December 6, 2009, I attended T. Harv Eker’s Millionaire Mind Intensive. Harv is the author of the #1 Best Selling book Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. His company is Peak Potentials “one of the fastest growing business and personal success training companies in North America.”

I was invited to the event by the organizer of my Master Mind group. I was very skeptical because I’ve been invited to these types of events before and have been disappointed. Most events are nothing but “glorified” sales and marketing pitches. The Millionaire Mind Intensive was different. I was blown away by the event and it was FREE to attend if you were invited by someone. The event is usually priced at $1,295.

The Millionaire Mind Intensive is for those who are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” You’re tired of having financial setbacks, living in mediocrity, and not knowing why you haven’t been successful in life. You will receive the answers to your questions.

Attending a Millionaire Mind Intensive requires an open mind. There was a lot of “hi-fiving,” clapping, and dancing — mostly by people who went up on the stage. It may seem a little hokey (I thought this), but keep an open mind and you’ll have a good time.

For those who are familiar with Think and Grow Rich, The Secret, The Master Key System, and the Science of Getting Rich will enjoy the Millionaire Mind Intensive. People at the MMI event are familiar with these books and other self-help books. They constantly work on changing their mindset around money and attend the Millionaire Mind Intensive as a stepping stone to the other courses offered by Peak Potentials.

All of us promised that what happened at the Millionaire Mind Intensive would stay at the Millionaire Mind Intensive, kind of like “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Again, I was very skeptical going into the seminar, but my mind was changed by Sunday night. I highly recommend you attend a Millionaire Mind Intensive if you’re fortunate enough to receive a FREE certificate. Not only will you learn the secrets of the rich, you will learn what is holding you back in life and business!

Rebecca

What’s stopping your from having a Millionaire Mind?

The reports surrounding Tiger Woods car accident are keeping people on the edge of their seat. Did he have an affair? Did he have a couple of affairs? What really happened the night of the car accident? Only he and his wife know for sure what happened that night. The public may never know the truth.

Reports have surfaced that Tiger’s wife is cashing in on the prenuptial agreement they had. It’s speculated she’ll receive $5 Million now and possibly $55 Million if she stays with him for two more years. It puts marriage in a whole new light.

What happened to marrying for love, for better or worse, rich or poorer, and in sickness and in health? It seems marriage has become more of a financial arrangement — like a job. If you stay with an employer for a specified number of years, you receive a severance package with a value attached to it. Marriage seems to be taking a cue from the corporate world. It’s understandable that Tiger and his wife would have a prenuptial agreement because of his golf career. However, it’s amazing how fast (if there’s truth to the story) his wife is “cashing in” on the marriage.

Marriage was something that was sacred, now it seems to be a “get rich quick” scheme kind of like some of the stay-at-home businesses you find online. You can make a quick fortune in a short amount of time, but if you’re financially immature, your earnings will disappear before your very eyes. You’re left with empty pockets and dreams.

Through counseling, perhaps Tiger Woods and his wife will reconcile and move past this unfortunate incident. It’s a reminder about Debbie Ford’s book, “…Why Good People Do Bad Things?” No one is immune to making mistakes, it’s whether or not you choose to make them that is the difference.

Rebecca

How is your marriage?

Many women decide to have a child or start a family without realizing the consequences and responsibilities. A child is a huge responsibility and a joy at the same time. If you’re not prepared for significant life changes, you may want to reconsider having a baby

When you decide to become pregnant, make sure you know what to expect. Your life will never be the same once you have a baby. If you think you’re ready, you may want to think twice about it.

Responsibility

Having a baby is a huge responsibility. You’ll provide your baby with food, clothing, and shelter along with medical attention and eventually an education. You may not be able to go out with your girlfriends for some time. How does this make you feel? Your friends will be having a good time, dancing, letting off steam, and you’ll be home on a Friday and Saturday with your child. Think about it.

What happens when your baby gets sick? Who will watch your child? Nine times out of ten, women call off from work. Unfortunately, your boss may not understand. You may have to make other arrangements like having a neighbor, friend, or family member take your child to the doctor. What happens if your mom and family are 2,000 miles away from you? These are things to think about before you expect.

Plan to have your baby

Women usually get a rude awakening after the baby’s born. They have anxiety about putting their baby in daycare or leaving them at home with a nanny. Some women develop postpartum depression which only makes the situation worse. Luckily, you can overcome obstacles with the love and support of your community, family, and friends.

If you’re not comfortable with leaving your child in the care of someone else, have a plan before you get pregnant. What is your financial situation? How many months or years will you be able to stay home? Before you become pregnant, consult a financial adviser so you can plan to have your baby. It may not sound romantic, but it’s better than crying day and night because you have to leave your baby every day. Don’t forget to figure in an emergency fund because life happens!

Know what to expect before you expect

Before you become pregnant, speak to moms. Reach out to your community and get to know moms and moms-to-be. It’s like the old saying, “…know before you go.” Well, know before you have a baby. Ask moms the following questions:

1. How did you or do you juggle work and family?
2. What scared you about having a baby?
3. When did you know you were ready for a baby?
4. What support system do you have?
5. What do you do if you don’t have a support system?
6. How difficult is it to be a single mom?

Think about how your life will change if you have a baby. This includes your job, friends, leisure time, and family. A baby can bring joy to you and the world. Make sure you’re really ready for the changes and responsibilities that go along with becoming a mom. You’ll know when you’re ready. Don’t try to force it or do it because your mother-in-law thinks it’s time for you to have baby!

Rebecca

Social media has taken the world by storm. Almost everyone is on Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and a few other sites. Twitter has definitely made a name for itself in the social media area. But, you’d be surprised at what people post on Twitter. It’s not all clean and informative. You find women posting links to their nude or semi-nude photos. This is degrading to women. What is Twitter doing about it? Not a thing.

Most people use Twitter to promote their artistry or business. They look for genuine Twitter followers who will add value to their business and vice versa. They don’t want to wake up, log into Twitter, and find a bunch of links to nude or semi-nude photos posted by women.

Why women degrade themselves

It’s the 21st century and women still degrade themselves by posting nude pictures of them on the internet. It’s their choice to pose nude and post the pictures, but they can suffer the consequences from their actions.

What happens when women post nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves on the internet? Usually a man will begin to stalk them online or worse find out where they live. Before you know it, you’re reading about them in the paper or hearing about them on the news.

Twitter’s responsibility

Twitter has policies posted about what is allowed and not allowed to be posted. They have strict policies against child pornography, but what about other types of porn? Could you imagine being Oprah and having women who are posting their nude pictures online following her? It would make for a great episode on Oprah.

Why isn’t Twitter putting a stop to these links? Maybe there are too many links for them to handle. Maybe they don’t have sophisticated technology to stop it. Who knows what the reason is.

What’s the pay-off for posting nude or semi-nude photos on Twitter

Women who post links on Twitter to nude or semi-nude photos must be receiving some sort of pay-off from it. Is it adoration? Is it the attention? They must be receiving something from posting links to provocative pictures of themselves on Twitter.

Most women who post pictures either have low self-esteem or don’t think what they’re doing is damaging them. They may disagree and say they do have self-respect and high self-esteem, but is this true?

Women posting links on Twitter to nude or semi-nude photos may or may not hold themselves in high regard. When you don’t have self-esteem or self-respect, others will not respect you. You may want to think twice before you post a link on Twitter to nude pictures of yourself.

Rebecca

I enrolled SWIHA’s (Southwest Institute of Healing Arts) Life Coaching program and joined their online community. I received this from one of my “friends” so I thought I would share it with all of you.

“A comedian friend of mine sent this to me a few days. It is an actual email she received from a fan of hers – this is a supposed email asking her out on a date – I think it has value because so many of us have “settled for less” in our lives. This correspondence shows a women who now knows what she is really worth.”

Read on:

“Hey lisa hi im ron love ur shows find u very very funny and kinda cute hmmm lol love to talk iwth u if possible feel free to contact me i wont bite unless u ask nicely ha but if ever in nyc lets hang out xoxo ron oh yeah im the guy in the middle” RonInNYC

Hey, Ron,

Got your e-mail and wanted to get back to you. You’re obviously a fan of mine and a very handsome gentleman, but just wanted to give you some feedback on how to approach a woman of quality like myself:

1) First of all, Ron, love that you find me “very very funny.” You leading with a compliment is a good thing. As you know, women eat that up!

2) Secondly, you state you find me “kinda cute.” Hmmm. “Kinda cute”? Didn’t you mean to say “Hot”? “Sexy?” “Voluptuous?” No? What about “Attractive”? Any of the above would’ve been fine — of course, without the “kinda.” Hell, I woulda thought it was “kinda cute” if you said I was “Cute.” But the “kinda”? That makes me wanna spin again! Huge turnoff. If you’re gonna give me a compliment, give me a real one. If you don’t want to give me a compliment in a certain area, don’t even bring the area up.

3) You say you’d “love to talk with me.” THAT, I like. I love to talk via email or over the phone with nice chocolate daddies like yourself, and would be pleased to make your acquaintance in that manner. So, before you decide if you’d like to answer this, please put plenty of prepaid minutes on your cell phone and get ready to talk — and by “talk,” I mean “talk” and not “text.” I only text in emergencies. I TALK to guys I want to get to know better. Phone contact helps avoid the emotional walls put up by texting and lets a person get to know someone better by actually hearing the other person’s voice.

4) Congratulations, Ron! You get mucho points for “I won’t bite unless you ask nicely.” Although I’ve heard this before, I still find it sexy and look forward to being bitten if things should work out. Great way to flirt without being overtly sexual. That overtly sexual crap is a HUGE turnoff for someone in my position. So, you’re a clear winner here.

5) Regarding your picture, all men should learn from you. Always surround yourself when taking a photo by less attractive men. That way, when looking at the photo, a woman will say, “Please let him be the guy in the middle,” and will sigh with relief when they read that indeed the guy in the middle is you. Keep those friends of yours around — you smoke them out of the water!

6) One last bit of advice: “Let’s hang out” isn’t asking me on a date. I don’t “hang out” with men. I “go out” with them. So if you’d like to take me on a proper date — and IF you don’t have a significant other — you can ask me nicely to go out with you after we’ve conversed a bit. “Hanging out” is something you do with your buddies or ho’s you’re not serious about — and I’m not interested in being either.

Oh, and just to help you out, here is the English translation of the message you sent me. Trust me: educated white women LOVE them some punctuation and capitalization.

Hey Lisa!

Hi. I’m Ron. I love your shows and I find you very, very funny and smokin’ hot! Hmmm . . .

I’d love to talk with you, if possible. Feel free to contact me — I won’t bite unless you ask nicely! And if you’re ever in New York City, let’s go out. I’d love to take you out on the town.

xoxo,
Ron

P.S. Oh yeah, I’m the guy in the middle.

Well, Ron, hope you’ve learned something from my note. If you’re still interested in corresponding, you can e-mail me at this address. I find you very cute — handsome, even — and I hope you read this with a sense of humor and sense of understanding. Either way, I wish you nothing but the best!

XO,
Lisa L.
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Many writers often complain about writer’s block. When they sit down to write, the words will not appear on the screen or paper because they’re stuck in their head. Writers become frustrated and usually want to give up on writing. What if the problem isn’t writer’s block? What if it’s all in your head? What if it’s something else? These are questions you may want to consider before you blame writer’s block for your lack of enthusiasm for writing.

Writer’s block may be in a writer’s head. There could be something deeper going on within the psyche that’s blocking the flow of words. Maybe you’re secretly afraid that no one will approve of your creative project. Think back to a time when you showed someone your work. What was their reaction? How did it make you feel? Rejection could be the cause of your writer’s block.

You can overcome writer’s block once you pinpoint the reason for it. Writers dream of success. You could be secretly afraid of success because of the added pressures it could bring. You’ll be expected to promote your book in bookstores. You could end up traveling internationally and nationally. Perhaps you’ve never left your state or country before and that “freaks” you out. Your writer’s block is actually a cover-up your fear of success.

Reasons for writer’s block

• Fear of failure.
• Not passionate about a writing project.
• Fear of success.
• You’re a perfectionist.
• Stressed and burned out from writing.
• You feel pressured to finish your project by the deadline.
• Do not enjoy the writing process.

When you don’t write, the ideas you have sit in your head and collect dust! Think about all of the people who will not read your poetry, hear your songs, or watch your movies because you allowed writer’s block to control your life. Giving up your power to someone or something is never a good idea. Take your power back today so you can write tomorrow.

You don’t have to be plagued by writer’s block. Choose to give up the excuse of not being able to write because of “this or that.” Get to the root of why you can’t write once and for all. You may have difficulty facing yourself in the mirror, but once you do things will get better.

Most writers feel passionately about what they’re writing. When you feel like you’re getting stuck, step away from your writing for some time. Go away for the weekend and do something fun and get your mind off of your project. Sometimes when you’re so focused you become blocked. Walking away can give you a fresh perspective and rejuvenate your creativity. Remember…all writing and no play makes for a dull writer!

Rebecca

What’s the “root” cause of your writer’s block? Share you thoughts.

I was contemplating moving from Chandler, AZ to Scottsdale, AZ so I was apartment hunting. Ugh! I’m not sure what Arizona real estate developers were thinking back in the 1980s and early 1990s. I must say that the Mark Taylor apartment complex on Rural Road (Ray and Rural Road) was one of the best. It felt more like a condo which reminded me that I wanted to rent a condo or town home. I began my search for renting a condo or town home.

Wow! I thought real estate agents would know that you must “stage” a property before you show it. Even though I was only thinking about renting a condo or town home, I could have been open to purchasing one. As my law professor would say, “…too bad, so sad.”

If you’ve been paying attention to the news then you know Arizona is a state that has been hit hard by the real estate debacle. Why wouldn’t you make sure a property is “clean” before you show it? I met this one agent from a supposedly “classy” agency (think Biltmore) and the property was filthy! I was looking to rent it, but as I said I would have considered purchasing. The agent was not personable and the property was very dirty. The wallpaper looked like it was from the 1970s. Plus, the electricity was turned off! The agent used the light from his cell phone to show me the bathrooms and bedrooms. I stood there and thought, “…you can’t be serious.” Needless to say I did not rent that property and was not interested in any other ones he wanted to show me. This was a real estate turn-off!

When you show a property, make sure it’s clean and the lights are on so people can see what the bathroom and bedrooms look like. If you’ve been in real estate for a long time you should already know this. It’s like real estate 101.

I learned a lot from traveling around Arizona. First, I can be a real estate agent. I’m personable, and I have common sense not to show a dirty property. Second, I’m not into high-pressure sales tactics. This is a fast way to lose a potential client. Finally, I’d make sure the electricity worked and the property was clean. I would not show a dirty property!

If you’re a real estate agent and are not making the sales ask yourself “why?” What’s the condition of the properties you show? How personable are you? What’s your energy like? Upbeat? Desperate? Take a good look at yourself and answer the question, “…how did I lose a real estate client in less than one minute?”

Rebecca

How clean were the properties that you visited? How friendly was the real estate person? Share your experience.