Leonardo da Vinci - Inventor?

Everyone knows Leonardo da Vinci was one of the best artists of all time.  However, did you realize that da Vinci was born out of wedlock?  Those who were illegitimate in those days were looked down upon (as if HE was at fault).   His illegitimacy prohibited him from receiving the most lucrative occupations and a good education.

We often hear people blame their lack of success on their upbringing.  Da Vinci’s status did not prevent him from yearning for continued knowledge, and he had great ambition to achieve success.  I am not a psychologist, but it may well be that the things from which he was prohibited actually spurred him on to prove himself.

Da Vinci’s determination drove him to read about and study myriad subjects from astronomy to architecture and more.  Although he died at only 67 years of age, in his relatively brief life, he excelled in painting, sculpting, inventing and conceiving many ground-breaking and bold ideas.

I knew that he had invented a few things, but I didn’t know how many things he actually created and imagined long before they were actually invented.  Here are just a few of Da Vinci’s ideas.

Da Vinci sketched what many believe to be the forerunner to the helicopter which wasn’t even invented until the 1940’s. His sketch of what came to be known as the “airscrew” was accompanied by this description:  “If this instrument made with a screw be well made – that is to say made of linen of which the pores are stopped up with starch and be turned swiftly, the said screw will make its spiral in the air and it will rise high.”

One of Leonardo’s favorite areas of study was aviation.  He was fascinated by the thought of human soaring through the air.  From that came his invention of the “ornithopter,” a flying machine.  From his notes related to this machine, it was apparent that he was motivated to invent this machine by his observation of birds, kites and bats.

Da Vinci was captivated by the world as he observed it.  While living in Venice, “the water city,” he invented several items to be used in and around water.  He invented scuba gear for the purpose of doing underwater sneak attacks on enemy ship.  The diving suit was made from leather and had a bag-like mask for divers to wear over their heads.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s invention of the armored car was the predecessor of the modern tank.  It carried numerous light cannons and had a 360 degree range. It also included a sighted turret on top.

We can all get inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci.  His upbringing certainly did not deter his enthusiasm to learn and grow.  In the same way, we cannot blame our childhood or poor training if we are not successful. 

Da Vinci’s own desire, determination and character drove him throughout his life.  He used them all to continue studying and reading to learn about many topics. 

WE are each responsible for our own growth and success.  It is vital that you use the tools and training available to you.  If you choose not to do so, it will not be the fault of your upbringing or sponsor.  You alone can take the credit for your achievements, and you alone must take the responsibility for your failure.

To read more about Da Vinci, visit:  http://www.da-vinci-inventions.com/clock.aspx

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“All Great Changes are Preceded by Chaos”

Everyone resists change at least occasionally, some more than others.  We must face changes in both our professional and personal lives.  How we accept, deny or react to those changes is a measure of our strength – strength of character, moral strength, emotional strength and even physical strength.

The title of this post is a quote from Deepak Chopra.  Sometimes the chaos is only in our minds, while other times, enacting changes can be physically challenging.  A change at your office may be difficult to learn.  If the change involves overcoming a bad habit, it can be particularly trying.  Habits take a long time to become habits.  Overcoming them may take even more time, but the effort is worth it.

Trying something new, which is also a change, can be frightening.  What if we fail?  What if we make fools of ourselves?  What if it is too difficult for me?  If you do not step out of your comfort zone and try it, you will never know the answer to these questions.  You may be very surprised by the results. 

It can be uncomfortable, even emotionally painful to accept change or initiate it yourself.  Why, you may wonder, would you want to initiate change?  Breaking a habit, like quitting smoking, is a huge and often very uncomfortable change. 

Are you in a business that seems to be going nowhere?   We have all heard it, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  If the way you are working your business isn’t working, it is time to make a change – maybe several changes!  In order to move your business forward, you must do something different than you have been doing.  But that’s exactly what you must do to move forward.  It’s not life-threatening pain, but you may suffer some discomfort in the process.

There is a process to initiating change yourself. 

·        You must acknowledge that there is a problem that needs fixing.

·        You must decide the best method to make the change.

·        You must take action; take the first step toward the change.

·        Continue, step-by-step, taking action until you have completed the necessary change

If someone else put the change into place, do you agree that it was a necessary change?  If you do, you likely will embrace it and learn it quickly.  If you dislike the change, ask yourself, “Do I dislike it simply because I don’t like change, or do I believe the change was unnecessary or believe it may be harmful rather than helpful?”

Not all supervisors, managers or business owners make great decisions every time.  The newly-enacted change may be ineffective, even damaging to your company.  However, unless you are in management yourself, you must accept the change.  If it is truly a poor change, management will likely realize it in time. They may return to “the old way,” but you cannot expect that.  If you want to keep your job, do whatever is asked of you in the manner you are instructed

Sometimes our lives can become stagnant.  You feel as though you’re running in circles and getting nowhere.  To get out of this rut, we must make changes in ourselves. Here again, a process is involved.

·        Determine what brought you to this point and what needs to be changed.  Make a list.

·        Write down WHY these changes are necessary.

·        How can you go about making these changes?

·        Finally, get to work.  Make the changes.  Take action.

I can use myself as an example here.  A couple years ago, I noticed I was bored with my life.  I wasn’t having fun.  I actually felt a bit lost.  Using the steps above, this is what I did:

·        I spoke with my husband, and together we realized that we were both unhappy living 600 miles from our children and grandchildren. We were tired of spending holidays alone. We determined the reason we needed to change.

·        We sat down and looked at our finances.  Could we afford to move to California (where the family is)?  Expenses are much higher there than where we are living in Arizona.

·        We worked out a budget that would enable us to sell our house and buy a house in California.

·        We put our house on the market.  It too well over two years, but finally we did sell our house.  We purchased one in California, and in about three weeks, we will be moving to California.

Change is rarely easy or convenient.  Perhaps it isn’t meant to be.  Facing changes make us think, which can help us grow. 

Have you faced any challenging changes lately?  How did you handle them?

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

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Are You Popping Pills?

The price of prescription drugs continues to increase.  Some studies show that drug prices are the fastest growing chunk of consumers' healthcare expenses.

There are numerous ways to reduce your prescription drug costs.  I’ll show you a few here. 

Whenever possible avoid name brands.  Generic drugs can cut the price of a medication by as much as 70%.  When your doctor prescribes a brand name drug, ask whether there is a generic equivalent.  When the safety and effectiveness of prescription medications were examined by Best Buy Drugs (whose parent company is Consumer Reports), they found that generics are as safe and effective as brand names.

Can the medication be cut in half?  If you take prescription drugs in pill form to treat a chronic illness, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a higher dose, twice what you normally take, and split the pills in half.  Pharmacies normally charge approximately the same amount for particular medications no matter what the dose may be. 

For example, let’s use a once-a-day drug that cost you $100 for a month's supply whether you get a 100 mg or 50 mg dose. If your doctor prescribes the 50-mg pill, you will pay $100.  However, if your doctor will prescribe the 100-mg pill and instructs you to cut it in half, that same $100 bill will get you two months of your medication.  You can find pill splitters at any drug store or anywhere prescriptions are sold, and they are very inexpensive. It's crucial that you consult your doctor about pill splitting, as not all medicines can be safely divided.

Discount Prescription Cards.  There are several companies that now sell or give away free Rx cards.  My own company, Xpress Healthcare, offers Rx cards free, and they are included as part of three of our four discount benefit plans. I use my own Rx card all the time.  I take several medications, and I have “full coverage” health insurance.  A few months ago, I went to pay for one of my prescriptions with my insurance, and I was told my co-pay was $250.02 – for 1 prescription!  When I got over the shock, I asked how much it would cost using my Xpress Healthcare discount card, and the price went down to $167.85 – a savings of $82.17!  That was comparing it to my cost with insurance, so I can only imagine what a full-cash price might have been!

Store-Sponsored Prescription Programs.  Many discount stores and drug stores now offer discount drug programs.  I looked into such a program at Walgreens, and although it provided discounts, they were not as high a discount as my discount Rx card provided.  These programs may be worth taking a look at though as another option.

90-Day Prescription.  Ask your doctor to prescribe a 90-day supply on prescriptions you use for chronic conditions.  My own experience has been that I am charged for only two months when I fill a 90-day prescription, although the prescription will last three months.  This also saves you trips to the pharmacy having to go every three months instead of monthly.

Ask for Help.  Some pharmaceutical companies also provide free and low-cost medications to people who cannot afford to pay for medications. 

If you're having trouble paying for medication, let your doctor know.  He/she can provide you with options, such as financial help through patient-assistance programs for which you may qualify.

Rx Savings for Seniors.  Seniors are often on a fixed income, and they are among the biggest consumers of prescription drugs, representing about 1/3 of the prescriptions filled in the U.S. I won’t go into the various conditions that Medicare applies in regard to how they pay prescriptions for seniors.  Suffice it to say, that it is a major problem for many seniors.
The government recently provided some relief to seniors to reduce their prescription costs.

I am on Medicare myself, and in my particular situation, I find that using a discount Rx card saves me the most money on my prescriptions.  Your situation may differ, so I cannot advise you in this regard.

Simply know that if you use prescription medications, there are a variety of ways to reduce the cost, and one or more of them may be beneficial to you.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

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One of “Those” Days

We all have “those days.”  Everything seems to go wrong.  With my upcoming move to California, I’ve had a lot of them recently.  I am dropping things, spilling things, making far more typos, and my mood swings are terrible.

Occasionally I allow myself a few minutes to feel sorry for myself.  Or, I may cry for a while.  Whatever.  However, I don’t permit myself to stay down for too long.  It would be easy to crawl into bed and ignore everything around me.  I could, but it wouldn’t change anything.

Yesterday was a difficult day, very stressful.  I started cleaning the house.  Since we’ve been packing for weeks, my house is a mess!  Not dirty, but cluttered.  As I was racing around the house picking up this and that, my husband called out to me, “Why don’t you sit down and relax a while?”  I answered, “I can’t sit right now.”  Physical activity helps me shake anxiety.  I could have done exercises, but I chose to do something useful.

After going from one room to another, organizing and putting things where they belong for about ½ an hour, my mind and body were more relaxed.  I don’t know about you, but when I get really stressed, my mind begins thinking worst-case-scenario-type things.  Moving around quiets those thoughts.  I begin thinking clearly and logically again.  I then sat down at my desk and got some of my business work done.

I am not a victim.  Things do not happen “to me.”  I personally create situations where challenging things sometimes happen.  With my clear mind, I remind myself of this.  I then remind myself what a good life I have.  I am in relatively good health.  I have a loving husband, children and grandchildren.  Once the chaos of this move, I will be able to see my children and granddaughters frequently. My bills get paid every month.  No, I’m not a six-figure earner.  So what?  My happiness does not rely on money.

Sometimes when I feel anxiety arising, I’ll stop and take deep breaths.  I once heard a psychologist call it “square breathing.”  I hold my breath in for ten seconds; then release it slowly for ten seconds.  When I’ve blown as much air out as I am able, I again hold it for ten seconds.  I’ll repeat the process two or three times.  For me at least, it can stop me from having an anxiety attack.

I know some of you are wondering why I don’t call upon God at difficult times.  I am not a Christian.  I call myself Jewish, but I am not very religious.

I expect more difficult days in the next few weeks until we get settled in our new home in California.  I’ll use the “tools” I have to cope and not become a basket case.

I know how the Christians among you likely handle stress, and I actually envy you your strong belief in God.  However, I would like to know what other methods readers of this post use to calm themselves in difficult times.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook