How to make your life different?

[Guest]

Whateverlife turns profitable for teen
Detroit Free Press

DETROIT – Like a scene out of a reality show or a Disney movie,
Southgate, Mich., teenager Ashley Qualls' moment has arrived.

The 17-year-old entrepreneur, designer and self-professed computer geek
was in New York City recently, pitching her wildly successful Web site,
Whateverlife .com, to advertising agencies for the country's biggest
companies. And she made an appearance on The View.

"This is in some ways her coming-out party," said Robb Lippitt, Ms. Qualls'
38-year-old business consultant.

Ms. Qualls is planning to expand Whateverlife.com, which gets more
visitors than Oprah.com. She wants to start a social network for the
millions of teenage girls who flock to her Web site for free designs to
decorate their MySpace pages.

Whateverlife.com generated $1 million in revenue last year and is on track
to do the same this year. Already, Ms. Qualls has turned down outside
funding for her site and a verbal offer for $5 million for her company.

"I'm stubborn and I'm independent," she said from her office in the
basement of her house. "I like the feeling that it's my company, and I
want to have the say-so in everything."

Early this month, she won her petition to be declared an adult so she could
sign business contracts and manage her own money. And she sounds like
a 30-year-old when she talks about the struggle to balance work and
personal time.

She is not your typical teenager.

Ms. Qualls hired her mother to be her business manager and pays three
friends, all high school seniors, to work for her after school and on
weekends.

A year ago, Ms. Qualls bought a house in a new subdivision, where she
keeps three Himalayan cats and a Rottweiler named Thor.

Despite a 3.9 grade-point average, she dropped out of high school after
her sophomore year to work full-time on Whateverlife.com. She now is
studying to get her associate degree in graphic design and a GED.

With her blonde highlights and vivacious personality, Ms. Qualls doesn't fit
the stereotype of a computer geek. But she spent seven hours on her
living room floor building her computer.

And while other teens were playing, Ms. Qualls was teaching herself how
to write HTML code so she could build Web sites.

"I love it," she said. "You can create so many things. The possibilities are
endless."

In December 2004, Ms. Qualls borrowed $8 from her mother to buy the
Whateverlife.com domain name. She started the Web site as her personal
graphics portfolio.

But in the uncontrollable, fast-moving world of cyberspace, others began
noticing Ms. Qualls' site even though she never has spent a dime on
advertising. At the beginning of last year, Ms. Qualls received e-mails from
people informing her that Carson Daly had mentioned the site on his
radio show.

When it comes to Web traffic, Whateverlife.com ranks No. 825 out of 20.3
million Web sites, drawing 2.4 million visitors worldwide during the last 30
days, according to Quantcast, an Internet ratings service. Oprah.com is
No. 997.

In March, Ms. Qualls hired Mr. Lippitt, a former chief operating officer of
'ePrize, to help her. The biggest challenge she faces, he said, is keeping
her finger on the pulse of her audience as she gets older and her company
expands.

"Ashley is a natural entrepreneur," he said. "I expected her to need a lot
more direction and guidance than she actually needs. You only have to tell
her anything once."

As Ms. Qualls gains more experience, expect changes at Whateverlife.com.

To expand its appeal, Ms. Qualls has added an online magazine, a forum
for visitors to chat, and a Web site builder with tutorials. In mid-October,
she said she hopes to begin selling her designs for cellphone screens.

Ms. Qualls spends her days handling phone calls and business meetings
with advertisers and Mr. Lippitt, reading the 300 to 400 e-mails she
receives each day and coming up with new designs.


The fledgling entrepreneur is still a teenager at heart. Ms. Qualls adorns
her business card with white hearts. She said she loves to hang out with
her friends at the mall, listen to the Barenaked Ladies and play Sims 2.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/ptech/stories/100507dnbuswhateverlive.51bc85.html

[Guest]

1. In order to achieve your dreams or goals in life just believe in them.

2. Visualize your future circumstances as you wish it to be today.

3. Write down every specific aspect of your life that you want.

4. Meditate to clear any negativity that may seep in to thwart your dream.

5. Act as if your dream has already come true and tell people.

6. Prepare your current life for the changes to come.

7. Imagine others recognizing your achievements and happiness all around you.

8. Strive every chance you can get to make your dreams come true.

9. Walk through every door or opportunity that is offered to you.

10. Do Not stop reaching for your dreams until it is achieved as you imagined.

http://www.helium.com/tm/273120/order-achieve-dreams-goals

[Guest]

The Treasure of Life

Life is a journey
A journey of time
Where a heart needs another
To give it a shine

We're all on a journey
With two paths to take
One that is right
And the one that can break

With many a set back
We'll find hard to bear
It's love and true friendship
That will help us to care

For a heart that is lonely
Can fill up with strain
Like a plant that can wither
Without sun and rain

So together when sharing
Surely we'll find
it's the treasure of life
That can give peace of mind

Olive Walters

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-treasure-of-life/

[Guest]

Your Smile

My tormented heart cries out in pain
At the very sight of you
But all I can do is smile at you
And see you smile back
I'm going to miss your smile

I don't know where you're going in life
But all I wanna do is follow you
Earlier when you talked to me
I couldn't help but smile all day long
No matter what, your smile never frowns

Your smile has kept me going these years
And it always will
The smiles you showed off
Constantly won my heart when I was down
And it was all because of your smile

Andrew Castillo

http://www.poemhunter.com/poems/smile/page-3/

[Guest]

Book Description
Chances are, your life is overflowing with unnecessary clutter and
confusion-- from the "junk drawer" in the kitchen to the overloaded "in
box" at the office to the ever-growing list of tasks to complete and errands
to run. With the increasingly hectic, stressful lives that more and more
people are leading today, is it possible for anyone to handle the
overwhelming demands on their time and still get through the day with
ease?

"The Joy of Simple Living" will teach you just how easy it is to get back to
the basics.This book will change your life. It provides more than 1,500
easy, specific tips and techniques for cutting back, paring down, and
breathing easier-- without sacrificing the quality of life you deserve. Open
the book to any page and you'll find it filled with practical ideas. The Joy of
Simple Living examines every single room of your house, plus your car
and your office. Not only will you learn to create an orderly home, you'll
become a more effective spouse, parent, and worker by learning how to
prioritize and simplify. You'll have more free time, more money, and a
greater peace of mind when you realize the joy that simple living can
bring.

* Conquer Clutter* Eliminate Daily Hassles* Organize Your Possessions*
Create More Leisure Time* Streamline Your Work Habits* Ease Your Mind
* Improve Your Relationships* Save Money* Erase Stress

Ingram
Davidson provides more than 1,500 easy, specific tips and techniques for
cutting back, paring down, and breathing easier--at home and at
work--without sacrificing the quality of life one deserves.

http://www.amazon.ca/Joy-Simple-Living-Jeff-Davidson/dp/1579541046

[Guest]

I have received a mail forwarding following wonderful dancing:



When I was in China last month, I saw a Chinese modern dance
competition on TV. One couple won one of the top prizes. The lady has
one arm and the guy has one leg. They performed gracefully and
beautifully.

The lady in her 30s was a dancer and was trained as one since she
was a little girl. Later she got into some kind of accident and lost her
entire left arm. She was depressed for a few years. It seemed that
someone asked her to coach a Children's dancing group. From that point
on, she realized she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance.
She wanted to dance again. So she started to do some of her old
routines. But by her losing an arm, she also lost her balance. It took a
while before she could even making simple turns and spins without falling.
Eventually she got it.

Then she heard some guy in his 20s had lost a leg in an accident.
This guy also fell into the usual denial, depression and anger type of
emotional roller coaster. She looked him up (seemingly he was from a
different Province) and persuaded him to dance with her. He had never
danced. And to dance with one leg? Are you joking with me? No way. But
she didn't give up. He reluctantly agreed. " I have nothing else to do
anyway." She started to teach him dancing 101. The two broke up a few
times because the guy had no concept of using muscle, control his body,
and a few other basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated
and lost patience with him, he would walk out. Eventually they came back
together and started training. They hired a choreographer to design
routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a
sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported
by one leg and she leaning on him, etc. They danced beautifully and they
legitimately beat others in the competition.

I would like to share with you this most magnificent and
touching performance I have ever seen! It is a living
proof that strong spirit can conquer any physical
limitations!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLVRQCjh8c

[Guest]

"Much of life can never be explained but only witnessed." - Rachel Naomi Remen, MD


http://kingsrebel.blogspot.com/2007/07/much-of-life-can-never-be-explained-but.html

This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much when
we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from these two
creatures of God, Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the
path together.

[Guest]

Reflections on life

Our life cannot always be full of happiness but it can always be full of love!

He who is blind to the view of our souls, will not enjoy and see life as it is.

The more you plan, the less likely you will experience chance, therefore
live life to the fullest.

A true friend is one who holds your hand and thus touches your heart.

When we get married, we won’t know what lies ahead until we hit the
waves of life at sea.

Life is reality without an eraser!

Nothing in the future, will correct those moments that you have missed in
the past.

Don’t waste time with someone who won’t support you in time of need.

Always look at the bright side of life. If there is no bright side, wait until
the future turns to light.

Don’t cry over what has happened in the past, but be happy that you could
enjoy the moment.

Always remember the words from a true friend: “I’ll be there for you”

Work, as if you don’t need money.
Love, as if nobody has hurt you.
Dance, as if nobody was watching you.
Sing, as if nobody was listening.
Live, as if this was paradise on earth.

Don’t dispair, the nicest things will happen to you when you least expect
them...

Feel free to share this with friends even those that you don’t talk to very
often...
And remember: “Everything that happens, happens for a reason!”

[Guest]

Be yourself – Everyone else is taken
October 31, 2006 by cgribble

You are special. Until you realise that no one else in the
whole world has your unique combination of strengths,
thoughts, emotions, personality, desire, hopes and dreams
you will never really reach your potential. No one else will
ever be able to do the things that you do in quite the
same way. You are special because of your unique spirit.

Until we learn to be comfortable in our own skin we can
forget what it is that we were created for. That is why
it is so important to be yourself. Everyone else is too
busy to be themselves and can never really be the person
that you are. That is why its so important to be ourselves
and be happy with the way that we are.

This doesn’t mean that we should stop trying to improve
ourselves. Being able to change is a part of the wonder
of human existence. To become aware of ourselves and
to recognise that we can expand our consciousness is a
unique gift to humanity. That’s why we need to be ourself
and not just try and clone ourself on a perception of what
someone elses reality is about.

And if you ever forget just how special you are take this
with you:

I’m special. In all the world there is no one like me.
Since the beginning of time there has never been another
person like me.

Nobody has my smile. Nobody has my eyes, my nose,
my hair, my hands, my voice, I’m special.

Nobody anywhere has my taste for food or music or
art. Nobody sees things just as I do.

In all time there has been no one who laughs like me,
no one who cries like me.

And what makes me laugh and cry will never provoke
identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever.

No one reacts to any situation just as I would react.

I’m special. No one in the universe can reach the quality
of my combination of talent, ideas, abilities and feelings.

Like a room full of musical instruments some may excel
alone, but none can match the symphony sound when
they are played together. I’m a symphony.

Through all eternity no one will ever look, talk, walk,
think or do like me. I’m special. I’m rare. I’m special.
And I am beginning to realise that it is no accident that
I’m special.

I’m beginning to realise that God made me special for
a very special purpose.

He must have a job that no one else can do as well
as I.

Out of billions of applicants only one is qualified only
one has the rare combination of what it takes to be me.

That one is me, because…….I’m special.

Read this poem whenever you begin to question just
how important you are. When you question your life
purpose. When you feel less than capable. When you
feel as if you have failed in some way.

Always remember that everyone else is taken and that
the most important job that you have in this world is to
be yourself. Because, you are special.

http://www.chrisgribble.com/2006/10/31/be-yourself-everyone-else-is-taken/comment-page-1/