clairevorster

'Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.' Margaret Lee Runbeck, Author, 1905-1956 Have you noticed how words and phrases creep into our everyday language? New words and phrases always reflect the latest ways of doing things. They can even make us re-think our thinking. If you were to think back a few years, would you have Googled something you wanted to know? Would you have tagged your best friend on Facebook? Would you have known what a propert

Brett Merrell is a well-respected fire fighter from Los Angeles, after 9/11 he dearly wanted to pay tribute to those comrades who had died by placing a flag at the summit of Mount Everest. What Brett did not know is just how events on the mountain would spiral out of his control, leaving him alone to a stark choice and a remarkable decision. Brett would be making his second attempt to climb the most formidable mountain in the world. The first time he had mortgaged his house

There’s no place like home. The moment you turn the key in your own front door and hide yourself away from the outside world, it’s all about you. Or it should be. Your private space, ease and familiarity, the people and things you love. Simon Moore, environmental psychologist at London Metropolitan University believes that these things are key to our sense of wellbeing and individuality, “Personal space allows thinking space,” he says. “It’s a good thing we don’t know what g

Here are some things that are cost nothing to give. A smile Encouragement Thanks Hope Yes, it’s true what they say - whoever ‘they’ are - the best things in life are free. We always remember the people who make a positive difference in our lives; they’re priceless. Back in the world of the monthly budget, there are certain times of year that can blow a hole in your otherwise stable bank balance. Birthdays and festivals come to mind. Getting everyone together is not always che

The simple life. Less stuff means less hassle – less to clean, less to worry about, organize or fall over. But there’s wanting to declutter and actually doing it, we often stumble at the big question, where on earth to begin? Here are five of the best tips and tricks from the experts to help lighten your load. 1. Take 10 Pick a room, starting with your least challenging room, and give yourself a couple of quiet minutes to visualise what you want to achieve. Then take 10 minu

The greener the better - that’s the future of Singapore. The nation's planners envision more cycle paths and walkways, improved green corridors, and even a stylish, new waterfront near Marina Bay. In short a cleaner, greener nation. Green Your Home and Save From recycling to energy saving, minor changes at home add up to real benefits for the planet, not to mention your own health and happiness. Here are six top tips from the experts. 1. Cool Down Use ceiling fans instead

How many times have you moved house? How often has your life been packed into cardboard boxes and suitcases or jammed into the back of a van that barely closes? You clear up, clear out and in doing so you wipe away all the traces of the life you once lived. The pencil marks that told the kids’ ages, the chip in the paint where the bed hit the wall when you moved in, all the black and blue and rainbow marks scrubbed and mended until the house has no tales left to tell. You f

“Not all those who wander are lost,” said J.R.R Tolkien, author of the epic Lord of the Rings series. This man who clearly knew about the joy of other places. It seems Singaporeans agree; we are travelling abroad in ever increasing numbers. In 2012 we made over million trips abroad, that’s an increase of almost four percent from 2011 and a massive 85 percent leap from 2001. So why should we invest our hard earned cash in going somewhere else? And are there real benefits to pr

“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realised it sooner.” Colette - a controversial French writer who assisted her Jewish friends, including her husband, during the German occupation of France in World War II. It is 7:51 am on January 12th, your morning is well on its way as the clock rolls on another minute. Today you are working a job you have had for the past 3 years; you are a Project Manager - US Government - Washington DC. You take the Metro like always. You

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.’ Michelangelo, Italian sculptor How do you carve an angel from a block of marble? How do you make something beautiful when you can’t see any beauty? How do you find possibilities in impossible situations, or discover inspiration under the guise of monotony? The simple answer, as Michelangelo learned, is one chip at a time. Here are some questions for you. What do you see under your block of stone? What kind of a

The famous French philosopher, Rene Descartes, said "I think, therefore I am." He could very well have said, "How I think determines how I am." Put it another way, you are what you think. Our thoughts are powerful tools that can determine not only our moods, but also our decisions and actions. Dale Carnegie, the grandfather of self-help and author of the massively successful book How to Win Friends and Influence People puts it this way: "Remember, happiness doesn't depend u