Happy New Year Latin Style: Unusual South American Customs for Bringing in the New Year

Many South Americans believe that if you carry an empty suitcase around the block on New Year's Day you will be fortunate to travel during the course of the year. When my elderly neighbor sauntered out of her front gate in Cali, Colombia with a beat-up valise she'd dusted off for the occasion, she brushed off my queries brusquely.

"Don't bother me now! I'm leaving!"

Minutes later, her "tour" complete, she confided her desires to "see the states" this year.

According to her, a voyage this year was now, "in the bag".

Around the middle of December you begin to notice a disproportionately large number of fruit and vegetable street vendors starting to sell grapes. Grapes are everywhere by Christmas. Green grapes, purple grapes, mixed grapes - they roll down the street and squish beneath your careless feet as you stroll market areas and shopping districts. Eating 12 grapes at or near midnight of New Year's Eve will bring you good luck throughout the New Year. Green grapes are preferred by the majority, but any will suffice I was told by Anna Lucia who walked into the room with a bag of mixed grapes ample enough to produce a case of "vino". Happy New Year CELEBRATION 2020

"You're not planning to eat all those, are you?" I chided.

"No, they're not just for me. They're for my family too."

I remembered that she and her husband have five children. Add in the extended family and well, enough said. Haven't had your twelve yet? Hurry up, there's still time.

A Bundled Sheaf of Wheat

A black youth stood on a downtown Pasto, Colombia corner hovering over a five-gallon bucket full of bundled sheaves of wheat. Each was wrapped with a brightly colored ribbon or two. Some were enhanced even further with a flower or small bouquet. People up and down the streets walked with a similar-looking sheaf held upright out in front of them like a siren in front of a fire engine. Crossing the Zocalo, or main square downtown, a young girl sitting on a park bench waved her sheaf at us like a magic wand.

"That's a new one on me", I said to my companion when she explained.

"If you hang a bundled sheaf of wheat in your home it's very good luck."

She continued, "It has twelve stalks of wheat in each bundle".

"How much for one?" I asked the youth.

We quickly bargained to a lower price.

"Are you sure there're twelve in here?" I questioned, not wanting to get short-changed.

"Oh yeah. Go ahead and count them."

When my partner responded, "No there're only eleven."

He quickly snapped back, "No way! Count them again."

We did and there were twelve. This New Year's luck thing is serious business. The flowered sheaf stands guard now on the bookcase over my desk. Wish me luck, okay?

The Color Yellow

Not all mind you, but quite a few Latinos in Colombia and Ecuador use the color yellow for the New Year. There are a number of ways to do it. You can paint a room yellow. Place something yellow in the room. Wear a yellow item of clothing and you'll shower yourself with fortune for the New Year. For reasons which as yet elude me, a favorite is to wear yellow underwear. (The preferred color in Mexico is red.) Both men and women have a pair or two on hand for the occasion - or so I've been repeatedly told. Okay, okay, I'll fess up; I have a couple of pairs of yellow underwear myself. So call me fickle. I have red ones too. Do I wear a pair for New Year's? I'll never tell!

Be sure to read "How to Use Three Potatoes and a Stuffed Dummy for Bringing in the New Year" for more unusual Latin American New Year's customs. It's online at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year! ... and get that suitcase out!

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free.

Happy New Year! Why I Prefer to Not Make Resolutions

First of all I just wanted to say a big Happy New Years for 2011 brides and grooms to be. Have you made any resolutions? I do... sort of I just don't call them resolutions because I know that it's just setting myself up for failure. So I do things a little differently to ensure that I set a few things to work on to improve myself and my life. Here are the steps I take and if you'd like to use them or a variation on them, by all means:).

Step 1. I think of what I wish my life would look like right now.

Step 2. I think of a few goals to achieve the things I want out of life.

Step 3. I pick a few goals (no more than 3 right now) that I want to concentrate on.

Step 4. Then I say that within a year "I will have achieved going on a trip with my family" or "I will have achieved running a 5 km race". I want something that isn't too easy for me, that I really see myself achieving, and that it's not too far fetched either. Something that will take a little effort to achieve and will feel so great when I get there! Happy New Year MESSAGES   2020

Step 5. Then I create a few smaller goals within those overall long term goals and write out a plan daily, monthly, every 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. This is my guideline, check in if you will. I keep them in my calendar and up on a vision board so I'm reminded of my goals every day.

This has been the best way for me to meet and achieve my goals and then to actually be able to add on to said goals. Make sure you reward yourself for small achievements and be grateful for where you've come and where' you're going. Being hard on yourself, setting the bar too high only to fail or being overly critical on yourself will help no one achieve their dreams.

Best of luck to you and your fiance on your dream wedding!

Ringing in the New Year With Your Executive Presence

Happy New Year! It is now 2010 and with the New Year come new resolutions for you and your career. As an executive/professional, you may be thinking of changes to move yourself forward to the next level. These resolutions have one thing in common: they revolve around your aspiration to be a leader who exudes something special - executive presence. This is one of the most powerful traits any leader can possess, but it is not easy to define.

Executive presence is emerging as an essential ingredient for career advancement, leadership success and interpersonal connections. Companies are requiring that all of their employees have and take advantage of their executive/professional presence. Even those being hired, must have presence before being employed. About 30 percent of companies are currently using this as criteria because they want to thrive not just survive in the marketplace. Happy New Year MEME 2020

Here are some tips as you try on the elements of executive presence.

1. Assess Your Strengths: When you use your strengths, you radiate personal power and authenticity. You become clear about who you are and what you do. You draw attention to what you do best.

2. Speak with Confidence: You may be the expert in your field/industry, but what really matters is how you communicate the substance of what you know. A person who is confident in his or her skills and who is comfortable talking to other people make positive impressions. Before you start to speak to any group, wait about 5-10 seconds. This gives you the control of the room.

3. Be Aware of Body Language: Do you express positive body language to others? When talking to people, do you have good eye contact? Body language is an important part of communication which can constitute 50% or more of what you are communicating. Since body language sends its own set of messages, people judge you by your appearance and your body language. And they will do it quickly. Research has shown that people judge you by your body language within 60 seconds, even in a little as three seconds. Pay attention to your body movements, voice, and hand gestures.

4. Recognize Blind Spots: Everybody has at least one blind spot, something holding them back from their true potential. Most people do not see themselves as others see them. Do you see the blind spots in yourself? If so, how are you going to correct them for a more positive impact on your career? By recognizing and then correcting the blind spots that held you back, you can get back on track as you improve your competence and confidence in effectively leading your business performance.

5. Listen: Listening is one of the most overlooked skills people have. Two out of every three people (67%) think they are good listeners. The truth is quite the opposite with more than 90% of us need much improvement in the area of listening.

6. Pay Attention to Business Etiquette: When people hear the work etiquette, many think of business meal etiquette but you need to think about email and phone communications as well. There is nothing in the world that helps an executive or professional stand out as much as having great manners. People who harness the power of the first impression are those who successfully navigate social situations.

7. Put It Altogether: No matter what your occupation, you are always selling yourself or your business. Making or forming an impression of yourself and having others walk away thinking you are an influential person to know is what will be remembered.

This is only the start to your Executive Presence. No matter what you do or what you say, you must present with total confidence if you want your audience to have confidence in you and what you are delivering to them. Radiate your powerful presence and you will find that others respect you more, more responsibility will come your way, more business will come to you, and a promotion may be in order as well.

Whether you have been an executive/professional for years and want to improve your Executive Presence or you are just starting out, we can help. Email nburgis@successful-solutions.com today for your free consultation and your action plan to move forward.

Neal Burgis, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of Burgis Successful Solutions, an executive coaching firm, specializing in working with Shy, Introvert Solo Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, Executives, Managers and Employees. I also coach lawyers who want to leave the traditional practice of law and work in corporate America still using their law degree.

The Highest Possible Purposes of Worksite Wellness: Promoting Reason and Happiness

Like Robert Green Ingersoll, I believe everyone should be helped to get what happiness she can out of life, that all happiness that breaks through the clouds of misfortune should be enjoyed and that no one should fail to pick up every jewel of joy that can be found in her path. This requires that we all get what good we can of the truly dramatic, of music, art and enjoyment. Everyone should be encouraged to enjoy liberty of mind as well as body, which entails finding out the conditions of happiness and having the wisdom to live in accordance with those conditions.

Most Americans are not getting such help. There are many institutions, governmental and otherwise, that could help, if the goal of added happiness were properly recognized as a priority foundation of good health. Worksite wellness programming might not be the most promising vehicle for advancing happiness, but it is the one area where wellness promoters have the best chance to make an impact. Added happiness must become a goal of worksite wellness; nothing else seems as likely to enrich employee satisfaction while boosting performance and productivity. Happy New Year WALLPAPERS   2020

Common Sense

In addition to a goal of increasing employee happiness, another should be promoting common sense. Naturally, nearly everyone thinks she already has common sense, so strategically this educational objective must be billed and promoted under another banner. I'd recommend critical thinking, save for a similar problem as with the term common sense-most people believe they already think critically. Alas, there is strong evidence that is definitely not the case.

Do you doubt it? Consider the reality that Americans are besotted with nonsensical beliefs. Large numbers of adults allowed to handle sharp objects and operate heavy machinery believe in the literal nature of ESP. They also believe in psychic and other forms of paranormal phenomena. There's more. Many believe in UFO sightings, ghosts, miracles, witchcraft, devil possessions and exorcisms, crackpot alternative medicines (e.g., homeopathy and therapeutic, non-contact hand-waving over a patient as a serious treatment modality) and, of course, the literal truth of preposterous bible and other holy book tales. These have been passed down by word of mouth from around the time of the Bronze Age. It all stupifies and boggifies the skeptical, critical and reason-based mind.

Marty Kaplan recently published a piece that began as follows: "If you think the widening chasm between the rich and the rest spells trouble for American democracy, have a look at the growing gulf between the information-rich and-poor." (See Marty Kaplan, You Will Be Shocked at How Ignorant Americans Are, Alternet, November 6, 2013.)

Worksite Wellness

Well, I wasn't shocked at all. The evidence that vast numbers of workers could benefit from common sense education, artfully promoted and ever so delicately presented at worksites the land over, has been building for years. The Kaplan article is only the latest instance wherein persuasive data are brought to bear in support of the obvious-that common sense training is desperately needed in schools, clubs and company worksite wellness programming.

A new Pew study revealed that fully one quarter of American adults watch only Fox News. Furthermore, a majority of citizens watch no news at all-leading the author of the report to conclude that, as far as knowledge of current events is concerned, most may as well be living on the moon.

If Fox viewers were to depart for the moon, the average common sense score of those left behind would increase dramatically. Since such a migration is unlikely, initiatives of a practical wellness nature should be considered. Therefore, I recommend a new focus at the worksite consisting of practical lessons on effective thinking. Boosting this skill will surely add to happiness and common sense.