In the long run....

"In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves.  The process never ends until we die.  And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."

Eleanor Roosevelt

In all that we do to shape who we are, we impact others.

What YOU do really does make a difference...YOU don't need to save the world.

Small acts of kindness can make the biggest impact.  A perfect example is the teller or cashier who actually smiles at YOU.  What creates more impact is if you make the time to smile back.  A simple smile is inviting and changes the interaction between two people.  It only takes a few extra seconds.

Challenge: this week in every transaction, take time to connect and you will be amazed at what happens!

What if you could impact the lives of another right from your office, while sitting at your desk. You can simply do this when you are speaking over the phone with someone.  Would you do it?

Making a difference is done in small steps. All that is required is the recognition of another human being.  So many people in the service industry tend to get treated like "slaves".  Remember they are in service but deserve your respect.  

Treat others how you would like to be treated.  I recommend that every person on this planet work a job in the service industry.  It will give you a different perspective and a new appreciation for what people in the service industry do.

I generally tip 15-20% on the bill.  15-18% is standard by the way, not 10%.  That was back in the dinosaur ages.  I'm always amazed when people cheap out on the tip.  Will a few extra dollars really break the bank?  Probably not.  Please be generous.  It will be returned in kind one day.

In our busy, busy world we can forget to practice patience and the honoring of another human being.  Practice the art of slowing down for a few moments each day and take the time to thank people.  They will appreciate it and you will feel better knowing that they felt appreciated. 

My Picks for the 6 Sexiest Men

What fun is life if I can't appreciate a beautiful, hot and sexy man?

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a magnificent man at the Xena Convention this year (he'll be included on this list).  He certainly sent my heart aflutter and gave me hot flashes (and no, I'm not in menopause).  Not yet anyway.

What makes a man sexy?  To me, a number of things.  Sure, good looks help.  And a good build is always nice.  But it's not all about looks.  Besides, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" as they say.

A man that is sexy has got to have a sense of himself and who he is.  When a man is comfortable in his own skin, that is sexy.  He's got to have personality.  And being intelligent and having a sense of humour helps.  A man who has values, goals and direction in life is sexy.  A man like that has a certain energy that draws people to him.

I tend to go for artists and rockers.  Go figure.  Since we are bombarded with images of celebrities, that's what I'm going for at this point.  Having said that, I'm very picky about my choices and some of these men may not be on the "usual" lists out there.  What I find sexy or good looking, you may not. But this is my list. So if you have any comments or suggestions, let me know. I would love to hear from you. 

Here is my pick for the Top 6 Sexiest Men.

1.  Charles Mesure

Tall, dark, handsome and from Australia, Charles is a hunky man. I had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting Charles for the first time this year at the Xena Convention.  I only met Charles briefly, but in that time I felt his wonderful presence.  I say this because my experience of him was one of generosity, openness, willingness and humbleness.  I loved watching him on Xena and Hercules.  He commands on screen with his presence.  I am truly smitten.

2.  Johnny Depp

Every time I have seen Johnny interviewed, I am impressed by who he is.  He is so grounded and centered.  He takes unusual acting roles and doesn't compromise on the roles he takes.  I truly get that he is comfortable with himself and that is extremely sexy to me.  Sexiness just oozes out of him.
 

3.  Viggo Mortenson

Here is another man who is comfortable with who he is.  He consistently pushes his limits and edges with the roles he chooses.  I have enjoyed almost everything I have seen him in.  I remember seeing him at the Academy Awards one year when he was nominated and I loved the look in his eyes.  I could see a beautiful soul and a beautiful man.
 

4.  Kevin Smith

The only time I have seen Kevin Smith was on Xena and Hercules.  What a hunk!  And God, could he be funny too.  Not only that, but people had nothing but nice things to say about him.  I wish I would have had the honour of meeting him when he was alive.  Kevin was killed in a stunt accident a few years back.  He truly owned the role of Ares when he was on those shows.  I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Ares.  That's how good he was.

5.  Trent Reznor

I have seen Nine Inch Nails twice in the last few years and this man can rock the house.  When I first heard his music I thought "God this guy is angry".  But his anger is partly about the insanity of our world and he uses music to express this.  He music is intense, rhythmic, raw and sometimes really danceable.  He's brilliant, unique and a pioneer in his genre.  You had me at "Closer."
 

6.  Ryan Gosling

I was never a Ryan Gosling fan until I saw him in "Lars and the Real Girl".  I did see him in "The Notebook" but for some reason never fell in love with him there like some women did.  I feel Ryan is an underrated actor.  After I saw his performance in "Lars" I was completely blown away by his vulnerability in that role.  He so embodied that character and yet he never got recognized for it.  This year he was in Blue Valentine which was another edgy role for him.  I like this guy.  He's pushing edges and again, that's sexy as hell.

What I see in others, I can see in myself, whether those characteristics are present today or not.  This is a great exercise to do if you want to see where you are at with yourself and what qualities you value.  

When beauty is external, it's sometimes difficult to see past that and see what's inside of a person.  The challenge is also to see beauty in those that aren't labeled as such.  Do your best to see beauty wherever you go and an amazing thing will happen.  You will see it everywhere.