Worst ever mistakes travelers make at before and at the airport

Talin’s Travel Tips

– Checking for your flight status –

Check your flight status 3-4 times before you get to the airport. Usually, flight statuses are usually listed 24-48 hours before a flight, but it is a good idea to check your flight 24 hours before, 12 hours before, 8 hours before, and then once more about 4-5 hours before. just before you head for the airport in case of delays or cancellations.

– Not bringing a refillable water bottle –

Water is important to keep hydrated especially when you travel. Bring an empty water bottle with you because during the security screening. There are refill water stations once you pass through security and head towards your gate to meet with your aircraft.

– Not wearing socks –

When you travel, Always wear socks and do not arrive at the airport with just wearing flip flips, sandals and shoes that you don’t need socks with. During security screening, they may ask you to take your shoes off. Do not walk barefoot on airport grounds, especially through security. Comfortable footwear is a must.

– Not arriving early –

Some people think of arriving an hour before a flight gives them enough time… WRONG.. It is not a joke. Arrive at least 3 hours before your flight. You need time to check in, obtain a boarding pass, check in your baggage, then security, then time to arrive at your gate where you will meet with your aircraft. Plus you need to give the airport workers time to get your baggage to your aircraft to make it in time for your flight. Also, you need to take into consideration the crowds and lineups. Arrive early to be safe than sorry later.

– Buying snacks at the airport –

Buying snacks at the airport can cost twice as much. buy snacks and pack them properly in your carry-on baggage or purse. Chocolate cravings? Want to munch on chips or something else? Buy your snacks the day or couple of days before. Make sure they comply with what is permitted to bring through security. Always check with that through your local airport security laws through a website or by calling CBSA, CBP, CATSA, or TSA or going to their websites for information.

– Not having the proper documents – forgetting passport –

before you head to the airport, make sure you have all necessary documents before travel and never forget your passport. Always put those items in your carry-on bag/purse first. Make sure they get put in the bag and not taken out. You do not want to be denied boarding.

– Not having your boarding pass/passport ready –

We all know we cannot avoid it. Going through security that is. Always have passports and boarding passes on hand and do not look for them in your bag. keep them in your hand and then you will need to show them once again before boarding your aircraft. Keep lines short and keep things going quickly.

– Not doing research on permitted and non-permitted items –

Always check what is permitted and not permitted in carry-on baggage and checked baggage. very important. Also always check how much liquids you can bring and to make sure you comply with the rules and regulations before you get denied boarding, go into secondary screening and the risk of confiscating your items.

Chores are Development of Responsibility & Life Skills

As we are born and become children, majority of our parents/grandparents/guardians have taught us about responsibility, doing chores around the house and to gain experience and knowledge on to keep clean, tidy, and organized. Also teaches kids to obey, and prioritize life to do what is important first, and then make time for fun and play after.

When children wake up in the morning, they teach them on the importance of getting up to make the bed, brush the teeth, groom themselves, wash up and shower for good hygiene, and then they teach them how to eat, and then venture off to school with the grandparents/parents/guardian or with a school bus.

During school, the teachers and other staff of the school teach kids on importance of learning about the world, how to read, write, to learn about many subjects such as sciences, music, gym, dance, language classes, mathematics, chemistry, and the most important thing to teach children to be kind to other classmates, develop group skills during group work, also leadership.

When school is over and the children are on their way home, that skill to teach them about sharing, kindness, respecting others should also be implemented at home, so as they can continue that outside of school. The children come home, and the importance to wash hands, and change out of their clothes, and to start homework if they have homework that day and teach them to do homework first before they play with toys, tablets, colour and all that.

When it is time to make dinner and set the table, it is always a good idea to get your child involved in cooking, helping set the table with plates, cutlery, and then children should start to develop skills on washing dishes, and after dinner to help clean the table with a cloth, taking the dishes to the sink, and make the parents/guardian/grandparents life easier and for the children to help them out. This also teaches them for the future when they have greater responsibility when they get older.

Nowadays, it is so difficult to teach children these life skills because of the screens, video gaming consoles and technology that has taken over. Nowadays children always want to feel that sense of entitlement to do whatever they want, whenever they want without having to listen to their parents/guardians/grandparents. They feel the need to always want to be on their screens and not develop skills that will benefit them in the future. some Kids these days are immune to technology and less hands on skills, not having manners, not respecting and being kind to others, talking back to adults and also rude gestures and mannerisms. Some children are so spoiled and tend to have an answer for everything. We should never allow it for it to get that far.

Children see everything, they are observant, they listen to everything that goes on in the house. start them early, influence them in such a way where it becomes easier to ask them to do chores. Tell them to do things in such a way where they won’t feel threatened. Give them conditions that if they do not help clean, or do simple things like washing hands or whatever, tell them that they will not have a birthday party, tell them that they will not be allowed TV Time or play time if they do not eat, or listen to do things around the house. Also, nowadays children do not have an idea of responsibility and helping out family. They need to learn that.

Nowadays, children are untouchable, and if heaven forbid, you really yell at them and give them discipline, they will use it against you and they may involve teachers and other authorities. These days, showing children how to do chores, and get them off of their bums to help around the house, and develop these important skills is a chore and a very difficult task in itself. These screens, smartphones and devices are like a magnet to them.

As adults teach their children that it is bedtime, that means washing up again, brushing teeth, undoing the bed, getting clothes and everything ready for the next school day or whatever else, making their lunches, and everything.

Then the days that children are at home, it is important to teach them how to vacuum, wipe and mop the floors, dust the furniture, clean doorknobs, clean the kitchen counters and the table, take out the garbage, help wash the car and everything. Of course it is important to give them time to play, and do fun stuff as well. I am not saying that they should always be doing chores and everything, but they need to learn balance, time management and everything. There is a limit and time for it all.

It is the time now, and to be strict with children. strict in such a way that will not intimidate them, but to put them on track. Set rules, guidelines, time limits to screen time, and monitor what they look at and supervise them to make sure they are making good decisions while on the computer and so much more. That is the important thing.

When you see they are trying and everything and doing great work at school, and at home, give them gifts, or surprise them to a movie, take them out to an amusement park, take them to play in the park, when they obey and do good, give them an allowance of whatever amount you wish, teach them the value of a dollar when they do get allowances and teach them about spending accordingly.

One day when I have children of my own, all these things will be taught to them and I will not allow them to do whatever they want all the time. Not going to happen. they need to be taught lessons of life and develop skills.

If you have children and/or take care of them such as being a guardian, babysitter, or grandparents. What skills and what things do you teach them?

Violence and Gun Violence – When Will it Stop?

In recent news, where the unfortunate happened at an Oregon College in US, where gunman Chris Harper took the lives of 9 people, shooting and killing them when after the suspect was also killed. So many senseless and inhumane acts of violence, and gun violence. When is it going to stop? Does the unimaginable have to happen, so that we can see change, take preventative safety and security measures? So many shootings and killings have happened in the last little while.

Columbine, Sandy Hook, African American Church in Charleston S.C, Aurora Colo Movie theatre, TV news Reporter Alison Parker and her partner Adam ward and Alison who was interviewing Vicki Gardner in August, 2015 who survived at Lake Moneta, Malls, Shopping Plaza’s, on the streets, and anywhere else. You are really not safe anywhere in this world anymore.

Not only in US, but around the world. I can’t even imagine how someone can have the thrill of shooting and killing innocent lives or anyone for that matter. It needs to stop. I know it is easy to say that, but to act on it is a different story. I know the solution. Stop with the wars in the world, initiating violence, stopping on influencing killings of anybody at any age, Absolutely 0 Tolerance on bullying physically and emotionally, putting more supervision in schools, workplaces and other places, taking guns off our streets, educate people that violence, barbaric acts and gun violence is not a joke, nor a thrill. It is a dangerous act that can lead to permanent damage and even worse, can kill someone.

People who lead our world, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and those who govern our world, need to really think about what they are doing, the pressures they put on people, initiating wars, sending innocent troops who have loved ones they leave for years and many months, sending war weapons and vehicles, not taking care of their own countries and people to live and let live. They need to be positive influencers in our lives and they need to make great and positive changes, we need leaders to govern our world who will do it because they want to, and they need to be personable, loving, kind, respectful and do great things for our people and in our world, to make it a better place for all of us. That is a leader. Not someone who is greedy and who promotes violence.

Violent video games of guns and violence also influence as well. Some people who play them may think, hey, if they can shoot and kill people in a video game, they say we can try it in reality and see what happens.

Also, some people get bullied so much physically and emotionally that one day they may reach out to guns and officially snap and kill people uncontrollably at the environment that they were bullied and abused. It all starts with the way people are brought up and who influences them to think its okay to bully others, who promote violence, mental and domestic abuse, allowing them to treat others terribly.

So many people go through so many things in life and we must help them. Include people in our circle, respect each other, give a helping hand, an ear to listen, be kind to one another, love each other, smile, give kind gestures and be the change in the world. Many people want change, but it all starts with how our actions, words that need to be positive, to be great role models, to initiate goodness, not talking behind people’s backs, spreading rumors, to stop making fun of others for the way they look, to stop judging and gossiping about people and things we really know nothing about.

I am absolutely heartbroken and devastated for the victims families, friends, colleagues. Senseless deaths and loss of innocence is so terrible. So many lives that could make a difference in our world, who had so much more life to live, who those people were important and loved by others, families and friend circles that will never be the same again, the grief, mourning and the loss is just completely unbearable. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has lost loved ones due to another person’s disgusting and barbaric acts.

It needs to stop and it needs to stop now.

Air Transat – An Airline of Excellence – Incredible Airline

Air Transat is an airline, that is based in Canada in Montreal, Quebec. Air Transat is an airline that I love. It is an airline of excellence, great service, the flight attendants and all Air Transat Personnel Ground and Air Crew make it a priority to present excellent care, safety, security and look out for the best interests of its passengers boarding their planes to make passengers flights to their desired destinations a safe and happy one. Air Transat was founded in 1987. Air Transat began its first inaugural flight from Montreal to Acapulco, Mexico in November of 1987, and since then the Airline has grew to over 3.5 Million passengers yearly flying to sunny southern destinations and every other destinations that this beautiful Airline flies to.

Air Transat has another partnered airline named Canjet which they have been together since May of 2009. Transat began to transform their beautiful airplanes with different models, sizes, amount of passengers and crew that are able to be carried on board the planes with boeing, airbus, and other styles. Some of the planes are smaller, some bigger with different configurations inside the plane such as rows that may have a 3-3 configuration, some have 2-4-2 or 3-4-2. Depends on the destination used, Like if they fly to Europe from North America, often times they would use their bigger fleet which carries more fuel to fly to longer destinations more than 5 hours long.

Skytrax has awarded Air Transat with one of the best airlines of the world, which I strongly agree. Many Airlines can learn a thing or two from Air Transat.

Air Transat is an incredible airline which I have had the pleasure of flying on before from Toronto to many destinations to the southern Caribbean destinations. I enjoyed my experience so much with them. The seats are comfortable. I love when the plane takes off, in between and lands. I love that adrenaline on the tarmac and the excitement. I love getting the window seat, and I admire the outside air, clouds, the land underneath, and enjoy the whole plane with looking around, and enjoying the whole inflight service. I will never forget the flight attendants who served me with a beautiful smile, and made sure I was taken care of the minute I checked in at the airport, during the boarding process, on the plane, getting off the plane until I get out from the airport. It is a very strenuous job and a lot of responsibility to take care of passengers, to make sure everybody is safe, to be the eyes of the captain/pilot as he navigates the airplane while the flight attendants put on the safety drill, serve us food, and beverages. I am very impressed with the way Air Transat trains their staff with utmost excellence, professional, courteous attitudes with a smile. I definitely feel at ease when traveling with them. I cannot wait until I travel with Air Transat again.

For more information on Air Transat please visit http://www.airtransat.ca or http://www.airtransat.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AirTransatCanada

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AirTransatEng

Instagram: http://instagram.com/airtransat

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/AirTransatEng

For destinations, baggage allowances, document requirements, please visit the above websites for more information in regards to your needs.

Thank you and Safe and Happy travels and flights to this beautiful Airline Air Transat and Canjet.

The Microsoft Windows 8 – I am Actually Enjoying It

I know it has been some time and fallen a bit behind in newer technology and I know that Windows 8 has been out and I finally got into it after using windows 7, but I enjoy using both still, and I think Windows Vista was the worst one Microsoft came out with but this newest one put a whole new perspective with things. This past week I begun to use Windows 8 for the first time ever on my  brand new laptop and I am actually enjoying the experience. You can still use windows 7 as you can view as desktop or you can go back into windows 8. I really like that you can go instantly into your e-mail and check it out right from your desktop without having to go to the website itself, log in and check it out. This way you are right into it, it saves a lot of time and you can view weather, stocks, finance, travel, trending news, and download so many apps.

I downloaded Shazam and when I am somewhere with my laptop and listen to a song I like, I can shazam it and get the song I want. I really like all the new features it has. I am quite impressed. I always said I am not going to get Windows 8 as it looks messy and disorganized, but once I got into it and I started getting used to it, I am really enjoying the experience. In the store when I was checking it out, I never really got the feeling of it and I could not concentrate on it as much because of all the surrounding distractions and the sales person around me, but I learned windows 8 now in under half an hour. It doesn’t take me much to learn about things and I am a fast learner. It is such a great software and there are so many things I am liking about it, how you can personalize it to your  favourite colour and them, how it is secure, password protected when you start your computer and everything, and I like the photo files, the new snipping tool.

Do you use windows 8? or do you use another version of windows? or do you use a Mac? I find that a Mac is a lot harder to operate and when it comes to a MAC I am not much into that. I like the iPad, iPhone, iPod and stuff those are good, but when it comes to computers, I prefer a PC Windows. It makes it a whole lot easier to operate and better in organization. What is your opinion on it? What is your preference?

I Will Never Fly With United Airlines Again

On the night of October 18th, 2012, I had embarked on United Airlines from Las Vegas, Nevada to Cleveland Ohio for a layover to where we were supposed to fly to our final destination to Buffalo International airport, which never happened. We were supposed to fly out by 8:30am from Cleveland to make it to Buffalo at almost 10am in the morning, but that never happened. They kept announcing that there is a delay, the plane has not arrived from Newark, New Jersey, and kept making us wait and wait, and then the announced that the plane has arrived, but we have to wait again until 10:30am to board our plane, that never happened either. At this point, people started getting really mad and saying, can’t we just board any plane to buffalo? The Airline personnel were very rude to people, and not being professionals at all, and they were carrying on and laughing, thinking they are all that, while people are sitting around when they are doing nothing for anybody. After that, they asked for 2 volunteers to stay back because of overbooking on a plane. How can a plane be overbooked when seats are assigned? No flight should be overbooked, which I find to be ridiculous and strange. Now, that is not enough, and now United Airlines delayed us again at 12:20pm. Now we all started to get really mad.

These disabled people were also treated with disrespect and were left stranded too. Now I started to get really mad, and I went up to the counter at the gate and I just reeled into them and this man started yelling and the police were called to keep the peace. Now at this point, I got really angry because We needed to get home and our car was left in Buffalo. Now the idiots at the airline counter made another announcement that freaked people out, you don’t announce that the plane is broken and for faulty wiring. They did not handle it in a professional manner at all. They should be fired. You just have to say, due to maintenance issues, we must keep the plane grounded, so we regret to inform you that the flight has been cancelled. that is all they had to say to people. Not the plane is broken. People got freaked out and right away were trying to find alternate travels. Now, here is the part I really hated. They knew what was happening with the plane, so they kept us at the gate for such a long time where we could have found another alternate transportation until then. So another flight would have not been available until Monday, we said NO WAY, were renting a car and driving to Buffalo which took another 4 to 5 hours. So we went back got our luggage and made our journey to the rental car place, got the rental and out we went. It was a very very long day and plus being treated terribly by this airline with no dignity and respect on top of that.

If I don’t have to travel to the United States and take American based Airlines, I will not because United Airlines sucks and I will never travel with them again. I will take other airlines that are not American but then again I have family and friends in the states. The Airline personnel in Cleveland, Ohio are very rude and they laugh at people and give people these looks. Plus paying 25 bucks for checked baggage is a total rip off and they said, they cannot reimburse you for your checked baggage. Are they kidding me? and the planes are so uncomfortable. Everything was perfect up until the last day. It took over 26 hours until we got home. It was crazy and we were dead tired as we never slept a wink. They are such money hungry people and they gave us a joke voucher for 10 bucks  each for breakfast and what did that cover? Barely nothing we had to give them more, and everything is expensive at the airport. It is unbelievable. We were starving and didn’t care. we just ate the breakfast, left to go back to our gate and we still had a delay then cancellation. Then we made friends with other frustrated passengers and we all became a team and started mouthing off and yelling and bickering. I really felt for the girl who broke her ankle in Vegas and had to get home. She was so upset and crying. They didn’t care about her either. What a drama it was. Then they give us 300 bucks each for a voucher to use within one year with another United Airlines flight, but I will never step foot on another United Airlines plane again. United States needs to improve A LOT on Air travel. It sucks and airport and plane travel is no fun anymore!

Travel Tips – Know Before You Go – Saves Time, Prevents Problems

Have you ever been stuck in an airport not knowing what to do? Have you ever been lost or confused about where to go in the airport, what to do? Are you one of those travelers who doesn’t smile? Are you one of those travelers who doesn’t get excited? I am sure a lot of people have gone through those problems with not knowing the procedures of an airport, checking in, heading to your gate on time to make your flight, knowing what to do before heading to the airport, confirming with your flight before heading to the airport, what to pack in your carry on, the weight limits, etc. Well, have trouble no more. Talin to the rescue. I am here to show you how to get through security efficiently, how to check in with your tickets, getting your boarding pass, among how to have fun when traveling, being social while traveling with other passengers, initiating conversations with others traveling. Its a pretty fun experience if you make it fun. You don’t want to start your travels being miserable now do you? Well, without further do, here are my tips for happy traveling:

Tips on Heading to Airport with all the necessary documents and the know how:

01 — Make sure you have your passport ready – make sure it is not expired or close to expiry day. That can cause problems and some destinations won’t allow passports that are ready to expire 6 months to the date it expires. check with the airport and country visiting. super important.

02 — Make sure you have all necessary and required documents, visas, vaccination proof, travel insurance cards. As well as Your Travel airline tickets, e-tickets.

03 — do research on the airport, terminals, maps, airline or airlines you will travel with, closest restrooms to the gates, places to dine or have a coffee or whatever. So that your travel experience will be fast and easy getting through airports. you will have a peace of mind and you won’t need to keep asking questions.

04 — Make sure you have prepared addresses, phone numbers to contact.

05 — Make sure you confirm with your airline or airport on your flight times 24 hours before, and then check again 12 hours before, then 6 hours, then 2-3 hours before heading to the airport. You must check around 3-4 times because it may change or delays may arise. so be prepared.

06 — When checking in to check your baggage in, co-operation with the airline attendants is crucial, and answer the questions firmly and to the point, have tickets, passports and everything in your hand while your in line waiting so that you don’t have to scrounge around to look for your stuff in your bags.

07 — Make sure you weigh your baggage, carry on baggage before heading to airport and check with airline listings on weights and measurements on how big you can carry with you on the plane.

Tips on Getting through Customs/Security efficiently and quickly:

01 — Go on websites and call airport security before heading to airport and ask questions if you are not sure of what to pack in your carry on.

02 — Liquids and gels must be in a plastic, transparent bag or unless otherwise is stated by your country customs laws, or airport authority laws.

03 — make sure not to wear too many loose clothing, like jackets, belts, jewelery, hair accessories, and take them all off before going into customs and put them in the bins they provide.

04 — These customs people sense if you are nervous and they sense when someone is out of sort. If you have nothing illegal in your carry on, act normally and don’t show that you are nervous or else that is subject to searching and lots of questions will be asked. So just take it easy and just be normal.

05 — Never make jokes and wearing shirts with bombs, and never make small talk with others in security. stay quiet and do as they say and then once you pass through, you can resume to your chats and discussions, but don’t make jokes on threatening, or making other passengers uneasy and uncomfortable.

06 — After passing through customs. always carefully look at the gate numbers and head to your gate accordingly and look at your boarding pass when it doubt. You don’t always have to ask airport personnel for everything. Airports are now sophisticated and they make it easy for passengers to find their flights easily.

Tips on Having Fun and Making new friends on your travels.

01 — Your traveling, your going on an airplane to a different destination, lighten up a little, smile, be excited, enjoy the experience. Don’t be miserable. Have fun with other people.

02 — You are surrounded by other people who are traveling. make conversation, initiate, start with this “Hey your heading to Cuba too? So am I!” I hope that you have a lovely trip and a great vacation. You can say to a person, hey you look nice, or I like your bag or something of that sort, and if you see someone not smiling, just go up to them and ask is everything okay? do you need to talk about it? its always good to start someones trip with people who are nice. it makes someone feel more better. trust me.

03 — Be nice to the flight attendants, be patient with your requests, don’t hassle flight attendants because they have 200 other passengers to handle and care for too. Your not the only one traveling and with needs higher than others. Always be pleasant with them, they are just trying to do their jobs and following rules. Be mindful and just take it easy. It won’t look good on you when your setting yourself up for negative attention from other passengers, and it saves the hassle. Just be nice and respectful to the officials on the plane and while boarding for your flight. Just enjoy yourself and don’t yell. Not cool.

04 — Enjoy your travel experience. Don’t make others travel experience dull because you choose to be that way.

05 — Most importantly, have fun, help people at the airport, enjoy it.

Have fun and enjoy your travels!

To All The Victims Of Violence, My Deepest Condolences To All

Hi Everyone, my heart is heavy, my thoughts and prayers are with what has been happening on the news with all these shootings were hearing about and the unfortunate things that has happened in Colorado, and I am so sorry to the families and to all those people who had to go through that terrible ordeal by just going to watch a movie at the theatre and someone comes in and shoots fire. My condolences first of all to all the victims who have died from this terrible crime to humanity. Toronto has also had terrible shootings everywhere, and among other places. The more the crime punishments are not severe, the more people will commit crimes thinking its a slap on the wrist. More crime prevention must be done and the way to do that is to have more strict punishments and more time in prison and throw the key away.

No where is safe anymore, and every time I get out from my home, I always say a small prayer and make the sign of the cross to protect me. These people need to get into community outreach programs, sporting activities, community service, helping the elderly, doing things productive to make a difference in the world. More and more needs to be done about it and the Government should really crack down on crime, gun violence and among other serious crimes. The young offenders act needs to be scrapped because no matter how old you are, your name should be on the news and no matter how old you are if you do the crime, you do the time just like how adults are serving those sentences. Punishments are not severe enough. Some countries in the world have 0 Tolerance and they do something about criminals. North America should really start focusing on getting these people on track with their lives. innocent lives are being lost in blood shed crime for no reason at all.

The more violence there is in video games, those terrible TV Shows that influence violence and other terrible things that should not even be on television, the more violence there is in schools the more people get influenced with violence and hate crimes as well as drugs and illegal drugs, the more it will increase in our communities. We all want safe communities, we all want to get to our homes safely without someone pulling the trigger, we all want peace and harmony but without tougher punishments we won’t get anywhere. In Toronto the other day, people are just enjoying a barbecue and just have a community function and someone comes around and shoots fire, killing a lot of people and injuring so many critically. I mean where does it stop? There should not be no more slaps on the wrist and letting these criminals walk. No second chances for anyone. Crime rates are going up higher and higher into staggering heights.

I think because of all the chemicals in the air these days, and all the toxins there are, these things are triggering in peoples brains and it makes people go crazy and that tends them to do crazy things. Chemical imbalance, or something is going on that is making people become more crazy. I do not know what it is, but things need to be changed drastically, the world needs a makeover big time. Governments need tougher laws, 0 Tolerance. You don’t just let a criminal off and go scott free in our public community and into our lives. We all live in this world and our expectations differ from person to person, but where do we draw the line?

Families, Friends, Co-Workers of these people get effected big time when someone loses someone or some people from violence and someone who just shoots fire like its going out of style. I know all of us are going to pass away one day and were here for a limited time, but violence, crimes should not be a way to go. God forbid anything happens to anyone, but I feel terrible for what has happened to victims of violence. It saddens me so much and I started to cry. These things on the news I am hearing, I cannot handle it anymore. I get so emotional and sometimes I do not even want to turn on my TV anymore, I do not even want to open up newspapers because all I see are bad news. I want to be saturated with good news, I want to hear good things happening as we all do, but I think twice sometimes to turn the TV on. Again My condolences to all the victims and my thoughts and prayers are with you all. You all are in my heart and in my soul, and your memories will live on forever in your families, and friends.

Never Be Afraid To Speak Your Mind – Talk Straight, Sit Croquet Is The Way To Go In Life

In this past year, I have learned a lot about never being afraid to speak your mind and not to keep anything inside before exploding. I have learned so much about life this past year, I can write about it, but as your fellow person in this world and as a sister to all, I advise people to never be afraid to speak their mind. If you see something not right, speak up, if people are all over you, speak up, and stand up for your rights. People can talk and talk about things and hound you all the time, but they don’t really know what is going on with you and what your feeling mentally and emotionally and sometimes people run their mouth when they have no idea what you go through day in and day out with life. Life is a hard battle and in order to survive these days, you must always be strong and have a back up plan always. Speaking your mind and standing up for yourself is one of the main things about this day in age. Don’t like people jump and walk all over you. Take a stand and go and stand up for what you believe in and your rights as a person. We all have been given the freedom and the voice to speak up. Nothing is wrong with speaking up, nothing is wrong with freedom of expression.

Everything in life has its ups and downs, and there will be people who bring you up, and there will be others who bring you down. Life is a roller coaster and sometimes there are loops, curves and other things, but always be honest, talk straight, you can sit croquet, but always talk honestly, forthright because you have to be honest with yourself before you can be honest with others. When you respect yourself, you will need to respect yourself enough to stand up for yourself. You need to stand on your own two feet sometimes to fight battles with words to other people, but not in a hurtful way, but in a decent mature manner. You need to set ground rules, you need to put your foot down where needed. Sometimes people carry on and run off with their head, but sometimes you need to step up to the plate and get going. There will always be people who are by your side, and always know that people always have your back, but when it comes time for yourself when your friends are not around, you need to get out of that nest and be strong. Trust me, your relationships with your friends and others will change and to the better. once your friends see that you have guts and stick up for yourself, that is a good feeling to say hey, I protected myself and I am not naive, I am not gullible, and I did it all on my own.

Self-confidence in situations is always a good thing to have and be motivated when it comes time to. Never be another persons pawn and never allow anyone to say check mate to you. Life is like a game of chess, if you don’t stick up for yourself, and if you don’t move along and don’t protect yourself, you are always going to end up in check mate and its hard to revive yourself. Don’t forget how special and how wonderful you truly are. Getting out in the real world, talking to many people and involving yourself and getting into people is something important. You learn peoples personality, you learn the facial features. Are they laughing at you, or with you? You can differentiate so quickly and you can automatically sense that if someone is nice, sincere and pleasant, and sometimes you can sense the person as being rough, disrespectful and everything all in their actions, and words.

So all this being said, never let yourself go to a point where people always know where to hit your emotional and mental nerve. There are people who always have a satisfaction of getting to you. Don’t let that happen. you are better than that and you are someone who is very awesome and if they don’t understand that, then it is time to let yourself go and go into a different circle of life. I mean think about it, would you put yourself up in that predicament? Would you put yourself up to the embarrassment all the time? It is not good for you at all. Don’t always let others fight your word battles all the time, you have to do it yourself, and you will see how much more respect your friends and your people you hang out with will have on you. Do yourself this big favour and protect yourself. No matter who your talking to. step up and put your head up high and make your decisions and don’t let others do it for you. That is the best gift you can give to yourself is your self-respect and sticking up for you. Do it. You won’t go wrong with life. I know you can. just try and you will see the difference. All the best!

How To Stay Safe When Answering Telemarketing Phone Calls

For the past several months I have been getting many phone calls from different telemarketers ranging from winning a cruise vacation, a weekend getaway, spas, Cancun, Duct Cleaning, Surveys, Alarm Systems, Medical Surveys, so on and so forth. I am just so sick and tired of these telemarketers who call my home during dinner hours, or during the day. I am getting so frustrated and when I say I am not interested, they still keep calling and I keep saying do not call here anymore. I am extra careful when answering these phone calls. No pressing of numbers on my phone, no nothing because these people are trying to steal your identity and make fraudulent crimes, and your whole bank account and savings can be wiped clean. It is very important to keep yourself safe from these phone calls. It is getting out of hand and I am so fed up of everything. I am not happy at all. One time I did go on the do not call list and then again these phone calls started coming back again. For a while we didn’t have any, but recently, its been getting out of hand and I am so extremely tired of answering unimportant calls. sometimes I am taking a nap or doing something important, I rush to the phone to pick it up to a stupid phone call and I get so mad. Today was unbelievable. I can’t take it anymore. Something needs to be done.

I always see these crazy types of numbers appearing in my caller ID, and it is ridiculous to see all this all the time. I want to give you tips on how to stay safe on the phones:

1 – Never give out your credit card information

2 – Never press on numbers they ask you to press on your phone

3 – Never give out your personal information and answer surveys,

4 – say, I am not interested, and or do not say anything and just hang up when they start talking.

5 – Do not ever assume they are real companies that are calling you, and ask you for your energy bill or your cable and phone account. These companies should know what you have, so why are they calling you right?

6 – If you believe that its a legit call, ask a few questions and play at their game.

7 – NEVER ever say you don’t have an alarm security system. ALWAYS SAY Yes we do.

8 – Always make sure that you don’t say anything extra on the phone because it can be recorded, so you just hang up and say bye

9 – When Duct cleaning services call, I say Sorry we have not ducts(ducks), you can clean our chickens. Most of the time they hang up before I even do. Its pretty funny.

Always stay safe and don’t give into phone calls that easy.

They always find tricks to trick you. Do not be fooled.

Stay alert and stay safe.