This wonderful project was completed by Park + Associates, and is located in the Bedock neighborhood of Singapore, Singapore. Both the interior and the exterior are truly spectacular. Each detail has been thoroughly thought through before being executed, thus creating a space full of light, style, and elegance. In its interior, we’ll find a living room full of light, as the clear glass walls that were placed there open up..
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May 17th
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
How I Stay Positive in the Face of Adversity
You’re reading How I Stay Positive in the Face of Adversity, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
“Be the kind of energy, that no matter where you go, you always add positive vibes to the spaces and people around you.”
I’m quite a positive person usually, but it’s easy to remain upbeat on days when everything is going to plan. Sadly, this isn’t always the case and I think we all have those days where everything just keeps going wrong, don’t we? It’s on those days that it can be useful to learn some techniques for keeping your positivity up!
I had a day recently where I really struggled to maintain my positive vibes. I’d recently had my fourth baby, just fourteen months after my third. It was my first week on my own with all four children as my husband had returned to work. It was my most stressful day of the week anyway as my eldest had swimming and karate after school that day.
I was feeling good as I’d got the oldest two into school on time with babies in tow and spent a lovely stress free day at home with my smallest ones. Everything was on track for the rest of the day to go swimmingly. I planned to pick the girls up from school, get home where I’d have 45 minutes in which to feed the baby and get the girls to pack their swimming bags.
Of course, when I got home, the house was covered with feathers . . . the cat had brought a bird in! Thanks Universe. I stepped with trepidation into the house trying to spot the carcass that would await me, told the children to sit down in the living room and not move until Mummy had sorted it. Couldn’t see the thing in the living or dining room so moved into the kitchen, where the bird was very much alive and well and flapping around my head! I panicked, I’m irrationally scared of them, so I screamed, and then the 5 year old screamed as did the toddler and before I knew what they were all crying.
I pacified the children with a giant box of chocolates I’d been bought as a ‘New Baby’ present and headed back into the kitchen where I opened all of the doors and windows and attempted to shoo the creature out of the house with a broom handle. I was panicking, the bird was panicking and neither of us were getting anywhere. So I left everything wide open, shut the kitchen door and returned to my children.
By this point I had twenty minutes until we had to leave for swimming, so I decided I’d just have to hope that the bird would fly out of its own accord and continue with my original plan. I got the girls to do their bags, whilst I fed the baby. Checked the kitchen. Bird was curled up in the corner of the windowsill, right by the open window!
So I popped round to tell the neighbors I was leaving my house wide open and ask them to keep an ear open, then left for the swimming pool with my four bambinos.
Then when we were nearly there, but on a 60 mile an hour road . . . I had a tyre blow out! Most frightening experience of my life. I’ve never had a car accident or anything like that and obviously it was just made so much worse by the fact that all four of my babies were with me and all I could think about was keeping them safe, but I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to.
Unaware of what had really happened, I managed to coast the car safely into the swimming pool and park up. In the chaos at home, I’d forgotten to bring my phone, so I sent the girls in for their lesson and asked to use the phone at reception. I called my mum and asked her to pick us up at the end of their lesson, take us to McDonald’s, drop the eldest at karate and drop us home – which she did, God bless her. She even came in and vacuumed up the bird feathers for me! Our friend the bird was nowhere to be found.
Day from hell, right?
And yet, sat at home on my sofa, with a very large glass of wine and my babies safely tucked up in their beds, I was still smiling. Despite it all, I knew I had plenty to be thankful for . . . plus, I saw the humor! I started to think about how it is that I keep my positive vibes high, especially on the days when the world seems to be against me. And I’ve decided to share what I learned with you here, in the hope it helps you keep your positivity raised too. Here’s how I keep my positive vibes flowing . . .
I focus on what I’m thankful for and what I have achieved.
When I have time to reflect, I don’t sit and wallow about everything that has gone wrong. If you take the example of my very bad day above, when I finally had time to think I was just so thankful that we were all safe and well. I felt an amazing sense of achievement that despite it all, I’d done it! My children were well cared for, dropped off and picked up on time and made it to both swimming and karate.
I call on my tribe.
When it’s all getting on top of me, I call on those nearest and dearest to me. Whether that’s for practical help or just a friendly ear, I know their good energy will help me turn the tide on that terrible day. Just hearing the words ‘I love you’ makes your vibrations rise instantly.
I don’t sweat the small stuff.
Going back to my day from hell, does it really matter that on that day my children ate a vast amount of chocolate and had McDonald’s for dinner? No, not really. It was what was needed to get me through it and it’s not like they eat that way every day. I try to apply this attitude to all adverse situations. When things are going wrong, I concentrate on the things that are really needed and I take care of myself. Even if that means taking a breather for a moment to calm my mind and think how best to proceed.
I let go of the things I can’t control
Sometimes, life is sent to try us. Negative things are going to happen that there’s absolutely nothing we can do about them and because there’s nothing we can do about them – there really is absolutely no sense in worrying over them. This technique is easier said than done, but practice makes perfect. I find talking to myself out loud really helps. So in the moment I’m telling myself ‘There’s nothing I can do about this. Just breathe. Let it go. Now, where do I go from here?’ After a while you don’t need to talk to yourself anymore as it just becomes the natural way you deal with things.
I meditate
I discovered meditation a few years ago and find it has improved my life massively. Setting aside time each day to completely relax your mind and focus on your own energies is a brilliant way to raise your overall positivity all the time. When you become a naturally positive person, that energy flows into every situation – even the bad ones. And, you can also meditate in the moment, even if it’s just for a few seconds. Just shut your eyes and find your balance and inner peace. You’ll be amazed the effect that has on an adverse situation.
I seek out joy
When life is spinning around me, I ask myself ‘What will bring me joy right now?’ Whether that’s staring into the faces of my babies, blasting some music and dancing my troubles away, taking a walk in nature, reaching out to a friend or pouring myself a glass of wine at the end of the day – I find my joy. You can bring moments of joy into the very worst situations and then you have those moments to focus on, rather than all the bad ones.
I think about what I’ve learned
Every bad day contains a lesson and if you allow yourself time to think about what it is you’ve learned, then the day is never wasted. Tough times can make you stronger and when you feel that things have happened for a reason, it really helps to keep your positivity flowing.
I share my positive vibes with others
We humans are social creatures, we thrive off each other. In a difficult and tense situation a smile and a laugh goes a very long way. If you’ve got to laugh or cry . . . always go for the laugh. Laugh and the world laughs with you. I always try to act with kindness and with love and I do so without expecting reward. These kind of positive vibes flow into every corner of you wellbeing and that of those around you.
It’s okay to have a quiet day, or a bumpy day or even a downright disastrous day! What’s important is the way you approach that day. The important thing to remember is your big vision and to know that the bumps in the road are just a part of your journey. Remember the big picture and remember to paint yourself into the best picture of your life using the brightest, boldest colors!
Do you have any tips on how you stay positive in the face of adversity?
Becky works at Country Court Care where she see’s first-hand the importance of being a positive person and sharing your optimism with those around you. She brings joy into the lives of older people every day and they also bring joy to her. Her job is truly a vocation, but when she’s not at work or running around after her clan of small people she enjoys reading, writing, mindfulness and meditation, music, dancing and trips to the Spa!
You’ve read How I Stay Positive in the Face of Adversity, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
10 Questions To Ask Your Commercial Agent When Leasing Office Space
When it comes to renting office space, you can never be too careful when signing a lease. Failure to do your due diligence can lead to problems. For instance, the wrong space can hurt your business if it’s difficult for your clients to access your building or if you don’t have the amenities they require.
To minimize the chances of these and other disasters occurring, consider taking benefits from professional property management and asking your commercial property managing agent the following questions:
What happens if the space isn’t ready by the expected move-in date?
Unless your office is ready, you can’t be sure that there won’t be any more problems. To avoid last minute problems, you should double check if your lease is clear about what can happen if your office space isn’t ready by the move-in date.
Read the fine print carefully. Watch out for any clauses that say your landlord can place you in a different office space within the building if your designated area is not yet ready by your moving in date. Being forced to occupy a temporary space will only magnify the costs and other issues associated with moving.
Does the lease come with an option to renew?
After your lease expires, the landlord is under no legal obligation to offer the same space to you – unless there’s a renewal clause in your lease. This guarantees that you will have first dibs on the space when the lease expires.
Will the landlord take on the cost of changes (like new carpet, special electrical needs, etc)?
You will probably want to modify and update your new office space to meet your business’ specific requirements. In most cases, you will be responsible for these costs. But, there are some landlords who are willing to amortize the costs over the term of the lease so make sure to ask.
See Also: How Often Does A Landlord Have To Replace Carpet Or Repaint In Rental Unit?
How much traffic does the area get?
Is your building in a central location that’s close to train stations and airports to accommodate heavy business travelers or out of town clients? Depending on your business type, this may help determine the amount of traffic that you will receive. The agent should have information about community demographics, car counts and other essential statistics available.
Do you have “right of first refusal” if the space next to yours becomes vacant?
There are some instances when a tenant is faced with unexpected growth and, when that happens, there are some landlords that will move you to a larger space with no penalty. If there is a “right to refusal” clause in your lease, it will ensure that you get first dibs if any adjacent spaces become vacant.
Is it possible to secure a non-compete clause so that a competitor cannot open up shop in your center or building?
When renting office space, it’s a good idea to consider your business’ security first. Having a competitor in close distance can spell disaster for your business so check if there are zoning laws in place to protect your company. You can try to include a clause in the contract that forbids your landlord from leasing nearby office space to direct competitors.
Is it possible to enter into a CAM Stop Lease?
A lot of leases today are triple net. For example, you’ll be responsible for paying the rent as well as a share of the property taxes and CAM fees for the property.
A Cam Stop Lease will ensure that you are only responsible for the increase in property taxes and CAM fees above your initial base year. You may also want to ask for a cap on the CAM so that it won’t increase by more than a certain percentage.
What happens if a major system (like electrical, plumbing, or HVAC) fails?
Agreements about repairs and renovations should be in writing and, in the best case scenario, come complete with a detailed floor plan and a cost estimate from a reputable contractor. But, it’s important to note that this standard is different from property to property.
Who is responsible for insurance?
When signing a lease for an office space, we tend to skip over insurance. And, as a result, a lot of buildings, especially those with several tenants, are coverable by insurance policies that are inadequate in some respects and overlap in others. Thus, if a major disaster occurs, like a fire, it can take years for the various insurance companies involved to check out the claims and decide where coverage begins and ends.
Will the office space meet your technology needs?
Most commercial properties offer tenants networking options like T1s, fiber, DSL and Cable. If your business will require a ton of bandwidth to successfully operate, make sure that the property has the infrastructure to support your needs.
Moving to a new commercial space can be a hassle. But, if you ask your commercial agent the aforementioned questions, it can take a lot of the headache out of the process. Good luck!
See Also: One Size Doesn’t Fit All: How Office Space Caters To Each Stage Of A Business Journey
The post 10 Questions To Ask Your Commercial Agent When Leasing Office Space appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
Best hotels in Rovinj, Croatia
The Bruegel of Bendel’s
There is a larger cultural dimension to much of what we see in Florine Stehttheimer’s paintings at the Jewish Museum: the skyscrapers, the department stores, the African-American jazz, the shifting gender roles. Viewers in search of the perfect counterpoint to the Stettheimer retrospective need only walk a block south to the razzle-dazzle show “The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s.”
Architectural Studio Ziegler Converts an Abandoned Barn into a Private Home
The Parisian Architectural Studio Ziegler had the task of remodeling this old barn space which stands on the edge of a wheat field that was formerly used to store fodder for horses. The project intends to be just as rustic as its rural context, without any added sophistication or extraneous details. Its exterior was covered with zinc, giving a new appearance to the immense construction. The interior, enveloped by..
The post Architectural Studio Ziegler Converts an Abandoned Barn into a Private Home appeared first on HomeDSGN.
Boundary Reservoir Recreation Area in eastern Washington is the…
Boundary Reservoir Recreation Area in eastern Washington is the perfect place for an outdoor adventure. Recreation activities include boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, camping, hiking and nature viewing. You’re going to love soaking in the sun while bobbing on the waves of the calm, blue lake. Photo by Jeff Clark, Bureau of Land Management.
6 Questions To Ask When Designing A Business App
App development for businesses and brands is on the rise. Many companies are waking up to its benefits and are now working to design and build their own.
When in the process of mobile app development, there are so many variables and so many things to think about that if you are not careful — or if you lack experience — you might just miss a trick or two.
To make sure you get the most out of your app, here are six questions you have to ask during design and development.
How Can Your App Add Value?
Apps provide an opportunity that no other form of media can.
Instantly accessible through anyone’s smartphone, they offer a real chance to give users a bit of added value. Options to consider are exclusive deals, offers codes, vouchers and unique methods for connectivity, such as a live chat service.
However, while made easier on an app, you can also implement these options on a website. There are, though, two ways to add value that you simply cannot do without an app. It includes push notifications and mobile loyalty programs.
Push notifications can be hugely beneficial for both you and the consumers. They allow you to send direct messages to users on their phones via the app. Similar to text alerts, the great thing about push notifications is that they won’t easily get buried and will almost always be seen by the user.
This gives you the opportunity to send users information about deals and new products. Your consumers can also receive added value by being kept aware of updates that may be of interest or useful to them.
Loyalty bonuses allow users to gain rewards via the app that can be exchanged for goods or services from your company. Loyalty bonuses are great for improving the consumer experience and doing so through an app means such rewards are easy to earn, track and spend.
What Platform Should You Build It On?
App development can be expensive and small businesses often don’t have the resources to build software for both iOS and Android at the same time. Unfortunately, both require different coding which means you can’t just upload the same app to both platforms.
So, which platform should you pick?
In previous years, the answer was almost exclusively iOS. The more popular brand of choice, Apple users were seen to be the market everyone wanted to reach.
Now, though, things are different. Phone producers like Google and Samsung have made a considerable dent in Apple’s market. With Android tablets selling just as well as Apple iPads, it has become ever-more difficult to decide which platform to focus your investment on.
The best way to find out if either the App Store or the Google Play Store will benefit your business more is to find out what phone your customers use. You can do this in one of two ways. You can either use your website analytics to find out what phone your website visitors are using or just ask them directly.
If you are able, developing on both platforms is obviously a huge bonus. According to Gartner, if you develop for iOS and Android, you’ll be covering over 99% of all smartphones.
How Will You Update Your New App?
An app is not just a one-off investment. Over time, you’ll perform maintenance and introduce updates; for example, if you launch a new service.
You need to make sure that your app development platform offers some kind of flexibility with regards to making changes and additions. The last thing you want to do is build a very self-contained app that is almost impossible to adapt to new business circumstances.
As part of your design process, ensure you have functionality built in that allows you to make changes and access code easily. The last thing you’ll want is to build an entirely new app in case you decide to change your business direction.
Is It Going To Be Free Or Paid?
It might seem like a no-brainer, right? Make your app free so people will download it.
Of course, this is the option most businesses will take — and it is the option most businesses should take — but it is not for everyone.
The question you have to ask is not just ‘Should it be free or paid?’. It should be ‘Is the app worth paying for?’.
A simple eCommerce or takeaway ordering app is not going to garner much appreciation if you must pay for it, but what if your business model is different?
Perhaps your business offers networking opportunities and, by downloading your app, users can get access to connectivity options. Sure, they might get the same options on the website, but that instant accessibility and ease of use may well be worth paying $0.99.
Analyze your business app. Gauge what users can get out of it and if it is worth putting a price tag on. Yes, you’ll receive fewer downloads, but they’ll be more engaged.
If you really don’t know if your app is worth paying for, try feedback surveys and focus groups.
How Will You Market This App?
“If you build it, they will come” is not a phrase you should link with business app development. Sure, loyal and regular customers will likely jump on board, but it is unlikely that everyone else is going to go searching for it.
When building an app, it’s important to start thinking about how you are going to market it. Once completed, you wouldn’t want to be left with an app with just a handful of downloads as you slowly work through the marketing process. You want to get your money’s worth and bring in downloads straight out of the gate.
Consider your marketing options prior to the app’s release. Run your campaign simulations before going live on app stores and marketplaces. Press, blogs, and ads are all great ways for you to promote your app as soon as it is released.
Is There Functionality To Track And Measure User Engagement?
Apps provide a powerful marketing tool that should never go underutilized.
By recording user input variables, you can gain valuable insight to your customers that is unattainable through other means. This includes data on how frequently the app is visited, what tools within the app are most popular, what time of day most users are online and where your users are geographically.
However, you can only record and measure these data if you set up the right codes to track them. When it comes to mobile app development, be sure to include methods of keeping tabs on user inputs.
See Also: 7 Smart Reasons Why Small Businesses Should Develop Their Own Mobile Apps This 2017
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A Charming Tuscan Villa Surrounded by Olive Groves in Palaia, Italy
This spectacular villa is located in one of the most beautiful and relaxing places in the world – Palaia, in Tuscany, Italy. And, who doesn’t dream of going to Tuscany and traveling through its roads, surrounded by beautiful landscapes with gardens of tall cypress trees? Surrounded by acres of land where olive trees grow, this charming wood and stone building, typical of the area, enchants us with its natural charm…
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Sig Nordal 