Here are the 12 Most-Read Numbered Posts in 2008 at Slow Down FAST:

12.    5 Tips for Becoming a Better Listener
11.    5 Qualities of Successful Relationships
10.    6 Ways for Effecting Change in Your Life
9.      6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Busting Out of the Rat Race
8.      5 Signs It’s Time to Slow Down Fast
7.      6 Ways to Be a Friend Without Involving Money, Gifts or Obligation
6.      5 Ways to Reconnect to Your Inner Child
5.      10 Great Productivity Web Sites
4.      5 Signs You’re a Pleaser and What to Do About It
3.      5 Simple Tricks To Make You Smarter
2.      8 Essential Ingredients to Master Your Time
1.      The Causes and Cures of Procrastination

Thank you all for your support throughout the year, and best wishes in all your future endeavors.

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So, after 700+ posts in 2008, I’m publishing the 12 Most Read Posts at Slow Down FAST so we can all get a jump on the new year.

Thank you all for your support throughout the year.

Here they are:

1. The Causes and Cures of Procrastination
2. Mindhacks: 5 Ways to Increase Creativity, Productivity and Intelligence
3. How to Overcome the #1 Fear: Public Speaking
4. 8 Essential Ingredients to Master Your Time
5. Do Not Wage Psychological Warfare
6. Stuck in a Rut? Fire Up Your Creativity with These 7 Steps
7. What Are You Passionate About?
8. See How Easily You Can Handle Change
9. How to Maintain Professional Boundaries
10. 5 Simple Tricks To Make You Smarter
11. 5 Signs You’re a Pleaser and What to Do About It
12. From Greedy to Grateful – Appreciating What You Have

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“I finally learned that you cannot help people unless they really need help, are willing to be helped, want you to help them and ask you to help them. Even then, you can only help them to help themselves.” ~ Vincent Collins

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“As more and more research reveals the differences in the male and female brains, it becomes easier for each gender to better understand the other and to allow the differences to unite rather than separate us.

After many carefully controlled studies, scientists have discovered actual physical differences between the brains of males and females. Men and women tend to maintain these unique brain characteristics throughout their lives.”

Read the rest of What Women Should Know About Men’s Brains.

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With our increasingly busy lives and shrinking personal time, one of the biggest issues on the love front these days can be simply finding someone at all. As much as we crave love and affection and feel the need to share our lives with someone, it’s all too easy to just get frustrated and give up. Or chalk it all up as too much work and settle for a less than fulfilling series of one-night stands, superficial friendships and online connections.

And yet, finding that special someone doesn’t have to be that hard. Here are a few ideas you may not have considered.

Special interest groups.

One of the keys to a happy relationship is a shared interest in something that’s meaningful and that you can do together. Where better to find someone who shares your deepest joys than a group specifically designed to bring those types together? If you have a hobby or passion, chances are good that others share your enthusiasm. Consider joining a group or club that caters to the things you love to do. If you’re the outdoorsy type, join a hiking club or conservancy group. Love video games? Find yourself a gaming meet-up or enthusiast group. It doesn’t matter where your fancy lies, someone somewhere has a group devoted to it. If you can’t find anything nearby, consider starting one yourself; chances are, you aren’t the only one looking to get together with like minds.

Niche dating sites.

Online dating sites have gotten a bit of a skeevy reputation, partly because the majority of them are pretty much indiscriminate when it comes to who joins up. But there’s a new market booming in niche dating sites that cater to very specific – and very narrow – groups of people. FarmersOnly.com (www.farmersonly.com) helps rural lonely hearts beat the isolation of farm life by helping them hook up with people who are not only looking for love, but looking for someone who understands (and is interested in) living on and running a working farm. CyclingSingles.com (www.cyclingsingles.com) connects people with a love for bikes and the open road. There are sites that connect people who share ethnicities, religions, philosophical mindsets, pet ownership, hobbies – pretty much anything you can think of. A quick Google search will turn up all sorts of options for the lonely single.

Volunteering.

This idea mixes doing the right thing with the potential to meet Mr. or Ms. Right – how can you beat that? Not only is volunteering a great way to meet people who share your values and your love of giving, but since you’re already doing something good when you meet them you have a better chance of making a good impression from the get-go. Anyone can find a way to volunteer that fits both their schedule and abilities, whether it’s stuffing envelopes for a political action group, driving elderly patients to hospital visits or swinging a hammer at a Habitat for Humanity BuildAThon. Check your local paper or contact a non-profit that appeals to you for more information.

Falling in love is a wonderful and exciting experience. And sharing your life with someone you love, and who loves you, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Don’t shortchange yourself on the love front because you’re too busy or worried about finding someone who will understand and appreciate your little quirks. The ideas above provide fun and easy ways to start meeting people who share the same goals, loves and desires for life as you do.

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People have kids for many reasons. For some, kids are life’s biggest blessing. For others, they’re a moral or religious imperative. For yet others, they’re a way to leave a legacy – a sort of genetic immortality.

One thing is certain, however – once you have kids, neither you nor your significant other will ever be the same. Having kids can make or break a relationship. A lot depends on how strong your relationship is, what your views are on parenthood and raising children, and – most importantly – how compatible these views are with your partner’s.

Before you make such a monumental decision, there are certain questions you need to know the answers to.

1. Caring for baby. The first thing you’ll need to find agreement on is how you’re going to handle the basic care and feeding of your baby. What aspects of caring for your child are you looking forward to and which are you dreading? Who’s going to be responsible for what, and why? What are the options for working out compromises on responsibilities neither party wants to do, such as changing diapers and getting up at 2am for bottle feedings? It’s important that both of you know up front who’s going to be doing what, so that no one ends up feeling like they got stuck doing all the dirty work.

2. Raising the kids. Once the kids are past the age of purely survival-based care, you’ll need to agree on issues involved in parenting and raising your kids. What are your views on discipline, schooling, outside activities and so on? Will there be a primary caregiver, or will you both split that role evenly? What about childcare – will you use outside childcare, hire someone to care for your child in the home or will one of you stay at home (and if so, who)? Nailing these issues down before the baby arrives can help smooth your transition from partners to parents.

3. Family issues. Family can be the greatest boon to new parents and, at the same time, the source of the biggest headaches. How will you resolve family issues such as conflicting holiday schedules, territorial grandparents, religious differences and so on? One important lesson you need to internalize is that by having kids, you are creating a new core family unit, and it is your responsibility as parents to present a unified front against disruptive influences that could confuse, endanger or emotionally distress your children. Even if that means taking a stand against your own parents or other family members.

4. Money issues. Will the kids get an allowance? If so, how much? Do they have to earn it, or will it be given automatically? What about gifts and belongings – do you want to shower them with material goods, or do you prefer restricting their toys and other possessions to a few important pieces to avoid creating entitlement and boredom. How will you handle gifts from family members and friends? What are your views on college funds, summer jobs, directing your child’s discretionary spending money and other related financial issues? What will you teach your kids about spending, saving, credit, giving and other issues? Money issues are one of the top relationship killers – don’t let this topic wait until the last minute.

5. Religion and other social issues. Will you raise your kids in a particular religious tradition and if so, which one? Who will be the primary religious caregiver? If you and your partner have different religions how will you resolve that issue, and how will you handle resulting external family issues? What about other social issues such as racism, diversity, compassion for the less fortunate, community awareness and activism, environmentalism, dietary concerns, non-religious spirituality and so on? What view do you agree on, what views do you differ on, and how will you translate this to raising your children?

These questions just barely scratch the surface. There are many books on the subject that can take you through these and other issues in far greater detail than I can here. Alternatively, you may want to consult with parenting experts, religious mentors or family members on what to expect and what issues they think you should address.

Whatever method you chose, however, it’s better than simply crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. Your relationship, and your children, are the soul-centers of your life. They deserve more than just wishful thinking.

Resources:

101 Questions for Expectant Parents
http://www.rosedogbookstore.com/101quforexpa.html

A Financial Checklist for Expectant Parents
http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22287/36012-financial-checklist-expecting-parents

10 Hard Questions to Ask Yourself Before Having Children
For Men
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/familyplanning_sdkz.htm
For Women
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/hardquestion_sddz.htm

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Unfortunately this can be the beginning of a downward spiral leading to bigger and more serious problems down the road. Ignoring the importance of intimacy can develop into marital problems, stress, and depression. The human soul needs closeness, whether the conscious mind is willing to admit it or not. Giving due attention to your own erotic needs goes a long ways towards maintaining a positive attitude, increased self confidence, and a healthy work life balance.

Even during those times when you think you are too tired to care about such things, recognize their importance and make time to nurture your intimate relationships. In the long run you will maintain a closer relationship with your spouse or life partner, your overall outlook on life will be greatly enhanced, and you will receive greater happiness and fulfillment from life.

1. Make Play Dates

No matter how hectic your schedule may be, carve out opportunities to engage in a little friendly playtime with your partner. Even if you have to schedule a “date” to do so, partake in closeness and intimacy on a regular basis.

Even if you do not believe you are in the mood, ease into it slowly. Start off with a romantic dinner, a glass of wine, or try giving each other back or foot massages. Engaging in romantic activities lights the fires that lead to even greater desire and intimacy.

2. Engage Your Fantasies

Whether or not you feel comfortable sharing these secrets with someone else is no reason to ignore this aspect of your personality. Everyone has ideas and images they find stirring, and it is healthy to explore such ideas, as long as they do not cause harm to others. Allow your mind to wander into the realm of fantasy and examine what you find appealing and exciting. Create an erotic story starring you as the main character. If you are comfortable, share it with your partner – maybe even act upon it.
Engaging in fantasy adds intrigue and interest to any relationship, and many of these ideas can be explored with someone you trust. In fact, sharing such things with your partner deepens the bonds of trust and intimacy in the relationship and serves to draw you closer together.
Daring to engage your erotic thoughts also helps stimulate your drive for intimacy, giving you the desire and energy you need to engage in romantic playtime after a long day.

3. Try Something New

They say variety is the spice of life, and nowhere is that more true than in the bedroom. If you are not careful, routines can take over in there just as they can in other aspects of your life, giving what should be an exciting and pleasurable experience a sense of monotony and sameness.

Dare to be creative and adventurous. Use your imagination. Role play, or come up with other games that add spice and freshness to your intimate encounters. Take you adventures to places other than the bedroom. Be willing to explore your partner’s wishes, and just let go and have fun.

The importance of keeping intimacy alive in any relationship cannot be understated. It is also the one aspect that needs the most attention when both partners lead busy lives, especially when the work life balance becomes misaligned.

Keep in mind the importance of nurturing your romantic relationship, and recognize that it is vital in maintaining not only the health of that relationship, but in maintaining your own physical and emotional health as well. Denying this part of your personality leads to many physical and psychological side effects that can be damaging – to your body and your mind. It is necessary to engage in a little erotic play from time to time to keep your confidence high, your energy up, and your mood light. Just a little attention to this one important detail will go a long ways towards helping you maintain a healthy life balance.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HARTLAND, WI, May 20, 2008–

David Bohl, owner of Slow Down FAST ( www.slowdownfast.com ) will present “How to have a more empowered life, making the choices that are in alignment with your heart’s desires, for greater life fulfillment and effectiveness!”‘ at Susan K. Wehrley’s Lakeview Center on Friday, May 23, 2008. The address is 161 West Wisconsin Ave. Pewaukee, 53072 and the cost to attend is $10 in advance or $15 at the door…

Click here to read the rest of this press release.

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Find out the latest Tips in Creating the Life you Want in the most effortless way!

Tune in to 1130 AM in Milwaukee from 3-4 PM Central Time this Saturday, or click here ( http://www.newstalk1130.com/pages/streaming.html) to listen live via the Web.

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