Keeping Loved Ones Close to Your Heart.

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Even when your nearest and dearest are alive and well, it’s perfectly normal to have momento’s and pictures of them scattered around your home.

The sepia photo of aged Grandparents, and some kind of reminder of their cherished lives brings comfort to many, either when they live miles apart, or even if they live just around the corner.

Those school photos of gap toothed children and Grandchildren make you smile every time you look at them, and serve as a kind of growth chart. One year they had no front teeth, the next those gaps were filled. Faces filled out and they matured year on year.

And what about our animals. Indeed some people have more pictures of their animals than they do of their human relatives.

Yes we all like to keep relatives, and animals we love, close to our hearts, simply because they are so much a part of our family,history and heritage.

But what can we do when those same beloved people and pets are no longer with us, when they pass away through illness or natural causes, and we can’t reach out and touch them every day, how can we maintain some kind of closeness to them.

We will all lose a loved one at some point in our lives, and everyone has their own way of grieving. But to help bring comfort and closure, it is definitely wise to hold some kind of service to celebrate the deceased’s life, and for the mourners to gain some closure.

After death, the deceased can be buried in the graveyard attached to a church. A memorials.com stone can be erected with a small tribute engraved on it. This can be a comfort to relatives as they have a specific place to visit and to spend some time in reflection.

Some return to the grave often, taking flowers and chatting quietly to their loved ones. It’s a place to be peaceful and respectful.

For others, after a memorial service, a cremation takes place. Cremation is sometimes the only option depending on your faith and belief. After the cremation, the deceased person’s ashes can be returned to their families for safe keeping, or to be scattered in a special place at some time in the future. This could be in the sea, or somewhere that the family had enjoyed happy times together, and this then becomes the place that they can visit on the anniversary of a loved one’s death, to remember and reflect.

More and more people are now opting to preserve some of the ashes in some kind of casket which can be kept somewhere safe at home, so that the bereaved feels some kind of closeness.

For those that want to keep a permanent reminder necklaces and rings can now be made to contain a small amount of the loved one’s ashes, so that they can wear them on their body all the time.

There is no right or wrong way to deal with bereavement and preserving the ashes of a loved one is a very personal thing. But with so much choice available now, hopefully you can find the perfect solution for you which brings you comfort and solace.

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Taking to the Roads as a New Driver

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There are all sorts of perks that come hand in hand with being able to drive a car. Of course, most people can get by without them. Public transport options and transport links are always improving and, when it comes down to it, they are actually a much better option for the environment and can prove significantly cheaper than driving a car. But if you’re looking for ease, convenience, and comfort, a car is likely to be your best option. When you have a car, you have privacy. You don’t have to deal with others and their noise. You are comfortable – you can control the temperature to suit your personal preferences. You are also able to go exactly from wherever you may be to your destination. You don’t have to settle for the nearest stop and walk. So, if you’re planning on making your way into driving, here are a few steps that you should follow to successfully take to the roads as a new driver!

Taking Driving Lessons

To take to the roads, you’re going to have to have a driving licence. To get a licence, you’re going to have to have some sort of lessons. Driving isn’t an ability that comes naturally to people – it must be learnt. So, do your research, find a good instructor and book in some lessons. Sure, they may not be particularly cheap. But this is a life long skill that you will be investing in!

Being Prepared for Incidents

Of course, nobody wants to find themselves involved in a road accident. But every time you get behind the wheel of a car, it’s a risk that you take on. No matter how good a driver you may be, you also have to remember there are other people on the roads and they might not be as careful or precautious as you. This is why it’s absolutely essential that you’re fully prepared for any road accidents that you might come into. Knowing the right steps to take can prove life saving!

Stop Your Vehicle

If you experience any form of incident, it’s absolutely essential that you stop your vehicle as soon as it’s safe to do so. This steps applies no matter the severity of the incident. You need to stop if you hit a pedestrian, hit a pet or large animal, hit someone else’s property, or hit another vehicle. Sure, it can be scary to face up to these situations, but remember, if you continue to drive and attempt to ignore the situation or avoid responsibility for irresponsible driving, or even if you fail to stop when the accident may not have been caused by you, you will be found by law enforcement and you will be prosecuted. You need to be a responsible driver who takes responsibility for your own actions and reports others poor actions too. If possible, when you stop, pull your vehicle to the side of the road to prevent causing disruption to other traffic.

Call for Medical Help

If anyone has been potentially harmed in the incident, you need to automatically seek medical help on their behalf. This is important even if they are insisting that they are okay – sometimes the impact of a crash is not immediately noticeable and shock can set in, causing their reactions to be delayed and making them prone to further incidents if they continue to drive. If you see immediately obvious injuries, practice basic first aid. The operator on an emergency call will generally be able to advise you as to what to do until medical help arrives.

Collect Other Individuals’ Personal Details

If there isn’t an injury that needs to be immediately dealt with, it’s a good idea to collect the other party’s details. These are for insurance purposes. Gather their name, address, and insurance details. You should also establish whether the vehicle they are driving is their own – if not, make sure you take the details of the registered owner and keeper. Their registration number and make, and model of the car should be noted, as well as the time that the incident took place and the specific location that the incident took place.

Contact Legal Help

If course, there are likely to be legal matters at hand when you’re in a road incident. If property has been damaged, someone will need to be found at fault to cover the costs of repair or replacement. If there has been injury, someone may want to seek compensation. That’s before we even begin to delve into the host of laws that can be broken when driving that could have caused the accident in the first place. So, you may find yourself in need of a car accident lawyer. Look for reviews and recommendations, as well as qualifications to ensure that you get the best help you possibly can.

Contact a Therapist or Counselor

Being involved in a car accident can be an extremely traumatic experience. So many people make the mistake of thinking that if they haven’t been physically injured in an accident then they are absolutely fine. But you could find yourself dealing with mental illness as a result of an accident. Conditions such as anxiety and PTSD are common. If you feel like you are struggling to come to terms with it or deal with am accident at any time, it’s always best to contact a therapist or counselor – even if symptoms only emerge later down the line. These medical professionals will be able to help you to deal with the after effects of the incident.

These are just a few steps you might want to take if you’re considering taking the path to becoming a driver and getting behind the wheel of a car. Sure, there are other steps you might have to engage with as part of the journey, but these are some essentials that you will definitely need along the way and that can get you started on the right track!

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7 Tips For Considering A Career Change

Are you bored at work? Have you suddenly woken up and realized your current career is not for you? It can seem daunting to realize that you want a change, but not have the first idea of how to do it. Especially when you still have to sit in your current job and pay your bills until you can successfully embark on your next adventure. Whether you want a complete career overhaul or just a small change of direction, are here are some top tips for the best way to make a career move.

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Consider Further Study

If you’re making a move when you’re already part-way through your career, further study could be a great tool for changing trajectory. Many universities like Northeastern University will discuss the merits of taking up various Master’s courses, which can be really useful if you’re not sure which angle to choose, like taxation versus accounting. Visiting the open days and discussing with the course leaders is a great way to find out if the course is for you.

Once you’ve decided on the right area of study for you, it’s time to look at the different course types available. Will you be looking to work full time, and if so would you be looking at evening or long-distance classes? Are you keen to finish a full-time course in a year, or would you need more time to complete it? Looking at the different options and how you’ll structure it around your future schedule will help you work out the right options for you.

Get A Career Coach

Sometimes meeting with an impartial career advisor will help you get some inspiration or a good sounding board to help you consider your career options. At any age, a careers advisor can help you redefine your goals and add focus to your career ideas. Make the most of the opportunity to speak to someone as they will set you back per hour, so go in with a list of questions and ideas to get the process started. Looking at reviews for career coaches will help you get a good idea if they’ll be worth the money. If you know where you want to go but haven’t written a resume in a while, invest in an online resume writer to get a solid self-advertisement for your future job search.

Consider Investing In Your Own Business

If you’re established in your career but want a change, it might be worth considering going into business for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a pipe dream, you can make it a reality by pooling your resources and reading into the feasibility of going solo. Speak to friends that have recently gone into business, or go to an entrepreneur networking event to suss out if this is really for you.

If you’re determined to set up your own business, look into funding opportunities like local grants or small business loans. Establish what your niche in a market will be (especially if it is a saturated one), and how you will start and grow your client base. Does it seem possible? You can explore your options while working, you don’t have to take the plunge and go it totally alone.

Cast A Wide Net

The best way to start looking at a career change might be to dive right in. Cast a wide need when applying for jobs you think you might like, then see if you get through to interview stages and how you market your transferable skills. You can treat them as informational interviews and get a feel for whether this job or company is a good fit for you. You might need to be resilient as you may feel overqualified, underqualified, or just right out of your comfort zone. Those feelings seem traumatic at first, but getting used to them will help you navigate the transition through a career change. Casting a wide job search might just give you some unexpected inspiration for what you want to do next.

Look At How To Transfer Those Transferable Skills

Making a list might sound obvious, but having that record of things you’re good at isn’t a bad way to boost your confidence and make a start on considering a career change. Look at different job specifications and assess how you’ll make the link between skill X and your current capabilities. For instance, if your potential new charity career involves arranging fundraising events, then organizing the annual office conference is an equivalent skill that you can mention instead.

Look At Your Finances

You may feel that you can’t take the hit of a potential pay loss when making a career change. You may find a like-for-like salary or even a pay increase, but being realistic and assessing your options will make you feel more equipped to start the search. Investing in a new career might be the perfect time to dip into your savings and make a career move that is worth making a risk on your financial resources. If you aren’t currently in a position to take a pay loss, consider adding on additional freelance work if you can, or if you’ve got a family, talk to your partner about sharing the financial losses and whether you can afford to make a change.

Try Something Extracurricular

You might be antsy at work if all you do is work. If you used to love your job, but the shine has worn off, consider taking the focus off work and adding something extra to your day. It might be learning a language, meeting your friends or taking up a yoga class. Adding an extra element to your life will enhance your work-life balance, and help you get some perspective on whether a career move is right for you, or you just need to lay off the evening work emails and make some time for yourself.

Making a career change doesn’t have to be a life-overhaul or a traumatic experience. Planning ahead or considering transitional options like studying can help you prepare yourself for making a move into a new sector.

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Ways To Really Be There When A Friend Needs You

Chances are, there will come a time in your life when you feel you must be there for a friend. Everybody goes through rough patches and hard times, and one of the best things you can do is make sure you are there for a friend if they need you. You would hope that they’d do the same for you, right?

With that in mind, here are a few ways you can really be there when a friend is in need. Take a look:

Stay Off Your Phone

When you’re spending time with a friend who needs you, and even just a friend in general, one of the best things you can do is stay off your phone. Spending too much time on your phone is rude and it means you have checked out of the conversation/situation. Put your phone away and forget about it. Give your full attention to your friend.

Check In On Them But Know When They Need Space

Check in on your friend often, but don’t suffocate them. If you do, they will likely reject it and start to ignore you. You need to be smart about when to check on them and when you feel they may need space.

Don’t Give Up

If they don’t seem receptive to visits and texts at first, don’t give up. Let them know that you’re there for them even if they don’t feel like talking.

Be Specific In Ways You Can Help Them

If you ask your friend, ‘do you need anything?’ – they’ll probably just say no if you’re not specific.
Tell them you’re batch cooking or heading to the supermarket and ask them if they would like dinner, or like something from the store. They are more likely to say yes to the help you offer if it’s specific. Don’t just say, ‘if you need anything, let me know’ as they will likely not bother asking.

Don’t Force Your Help On Them

If your friend really doesn’t want your help, don’t force them to take it. This could make matters worse. Again, this is a situation in which you’ll need to use your common sense.

Only Offer To Do Things You Can Genuinely Do

You should only offer to do something for a friend if you are confident you can genuinely do it. Breaking promises likely will not go down well with your friend when they are in a fragile state, and you will seem unreliable and untrustworthy.

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Don’t Assume You Know What’s Best For Them

You may think you know what is best for your friend, but you can’t force your opinion onto them. It’s their decision at the end of the day how they live their lives and how they are going to move forward. You simply can’t make their decisions for them. Even if you did, what lessons would they learn from it?

Whether you’re bailing them out of jail with Absolute Bail Bonds, Inc or trying to get them to go to rehab or some kind of support group, you can only truly help them if they want to be helped.

Make Sure They Can Trust You

You need to show your friend that they can trust you. Don’t judge them when they speak to you. Listen in an unbiased way. Listen more than you talk, too. Sharing your own stories that help you relate to what they are saying is ok, but too much and you’ll seem like you’re making this all about you.

You don’t have to give your friend advice – be smart though, as some friends do genuinely want to hear an outsider’s perspective and your opinion. It will likely depend on the friend and what they are going through, so you do need to use common sense here. Just make sure you make it clear to them that whatever is going on, a solution is their decision and theirs alone. Empathize with them and let them know you understand, or at least trying to understand what they are going through. If they are having a particularly rough time, they may think nobody will ever understand anyway.

Talk Positively To Them About Things In The Future

Remind them of all of the positive things they have to come in the future. What do they have to look forward to? What’s coming up for them? See if you can get them involved in a conversation.

Be Thoughtful

Be thoughtful by sending them messages that will make them laugh or smile, and even by buying small gifts. Let them know you are thinking of them.

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5 Life Situations Where Paying For Professional Help Is Advised

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Don’t be afraid to call for help

Money isn’t the most important thing in this life, but being responsible with your cash is crucial at all times. One of the more frequent questions you’ll ask revolves whether a specific situation vindicates hiring an outsider. Or whether it should be handled on a DIY basis.

Balancing the financial ramifications with time constraints and other issues isn’t always easy. So, while the natural inkling is to do things for yourself, it’s not always the best shout. Here are five times that calling a pro is advised.

#1. Home Improvements

Your home is probably the most valuable asset you own. Meanwhile, it sets the foundation of a happy home life. There are some jobs that can be completed on a DIY basis. When it comes to anything that could impact the structural integrity of the property, though, a contractor is king. By the time you take materials, equipment, and labor into account, it’ll work out cheaper too. Besides, the last thing you need is to cause damage due to your poor workmanship.

#2. Filing Your Taxes

When it comes to filing your taxes, it can be tempted to take the DIY route. However, take it from someone that knows, paying for an accountant is worthwhile. Without touting for more business, I can’t emphasize their worth. Their advanced knowledge of the situation will save more than enough money to cover their fees. Moreover, the time saved only further underlines their value. Crucially, it’s a decision that could save your sanity too. Try it once, and you’ll never revert to the old ways.

#3. Facing Legal Battles

Court hearings aren’t only for criminals. There are many reasons why you may need to ace legal battles, from a fine to making a personal injury claim. A lot of people miss out on those opportunities due to cashflow issues. Lawsuit funding can overcome the bulk of those problems, allowing you to focus on the case itself. Representation also gives you a far better chance of articulating your arguments in a compelling fashion.

#4. Completing Major Purchases

Everybody knows that shopping around for the best deal can generate serious savings. However, nobody will spend an hour searching for a $1 saving on a pack of gum. When making major purchases like vehicles, home insurance, or a holiday, outside agents can help. With browser-based applications, you don’t even need to pay a person. Allow the technology to do the hard work for you, and the positive outcomes will soon follow. Better still, they will last.

#5. Marketing

If you own a business or a side hustle – like a growing number of people do – you will need to do some marketing. Influencer marketers offer a cost-effective solution that brings big results. This combines the authenticity of the DIY approach with the quality of hiring a company. The results are particularly pleasing for the consumer, which means they will please you in the long run too. If nothing else, it’ll allow you to focus your attention on the earning strategies.

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When Family Life Is Put To The Test

Family life is never going to be easy, it’s a lesson we learn right from the end. But family life is one of the best things to happen to us all. Even if you never get to the stage of having your own family, you will no doubt cherish the hundreds of memories that you’ve been able to make with the family you’ve grown up with. From the family holiday’s, to the parties that you’d have each time a special occasion comes around. But that doesn’t mean that family life isn’t out to throw a few tough times at us, and when the calm is put to the test, it can often be hard to deal with. Some people are crippled with family issues that are going on at the minute. So we’re going to try and give you some advice with some of the problems that you might be facing at the minute. Just keep on reading, and see if you can relate to any of these problems.

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Family Fall Outs

Family fall outs are bound to happen at some people. As a family you’re such a close unit that’s around each other a lot of the time, and often that can lead to so many clashes that cause arguments. Time usually get tough when the family is strained. But there’s nothing quite like a family fall out, because those are the people who you need the most. So to get through family arguments like you should be doing, rather than dragging them out, you should be thinking about the different ways of communication and how you can approach it. Often people mistake communication with confrontation when a family is trying to resolve a problem, so always make sure that it doesn’t feel like an attack, and just get things back on track. Having a close family unit is so much better than having a distant one.

The Elderly Getting Older

The elderly getting older is a sensitive subject that nobody likes to talk about, but it’s definitely one that we should all be thinking about. Their lives are so important to us, and when their health starts to go downhill, your heart can really sink. Medicare Nationwide is just one of the sources you could go to for insurance that would make the whole process easier. No doubt they’ll need medical care at some point, and good insurance is going to mean the difference between good insurance and great insurance. But most importantly, make sure that you’re the support system that they need.

Family Money Problems

Pretty much every family can relate to money problems, because as soon as you go from having to pay for just the two of you, to having to pay for another little human to pay for, things can get tight. One good bit of advice we have is to use apps that help you to manage your money, so you can better understand where everything is going and how to put it to better use.

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Getting Through Life’s Difficult Spells

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It is no secret that life can be a challenge at times. We all go through our ups and downs, and when things go wrong for us in one aspect of our lives, it can have a knock-on to other parts.
That one bump in the road could cause you many more problems later on, and you may find it hard to get back on track again. These problems could come in the form of financial issues, relationship breakdowns, legal concerns, or even medical worries. It is easy to see how one can affect the other. But when problems consume your life, you can end up feeling depressed, stressed, and anxious. You may struggle to be able to think about the future in a positive way and it can be hard to see a way out.

Reach Out And Talk

The first thing that you should do whenever you feel the weight of the world is on your back is to reach out and talk with a friend or family member. Sharing your worries and concerns with those that we are close to helps us to unburden ourselves of the weight that we are carrying. Distressing feelings can often feel physically uncomfortable to carry, and we may feel trapped under the weight of our emotions.

Loved ones may be able to offer advice or provide fresh perspectives on our individual situations. They may demonstrate a level of care and support that we really need, especially if we are not feeling able to care for ourselves.

Speak With The Professionals

There are of course plenty of professional organizations that exist with the sole purpose of helping people out in specific situations. Visit your doctor if you have health concerns, or go and speak with a lawyer at https://ericpalacioslaw.com to understand any legal issues you may be facing.

You will not be judged if you need to reach out to any organization. That is after all that they are there for.

Practise Self Care

Often, during times of personal hardship, we start to neglect ourselves. We ignore the need to sleep and eat properly, drop out of social activities and avoid exercise. Our motivation can really fly out of the window and we may well find that we start to feel run down and very miserable after a period of time in this situation.

Pulling yourself back up can be very hard. People may say that you should pull yourself together, or try and get back up and on it. You need to avoid being hard on yourself and try and learn to be kinder to the most important person in your life; yourself.

Try and do a few small things for yourself each day. No matter how small it is, letting yourself enjoy something that used to make you feel good can help some positive thoughts to grow again. Then, as things start to improve, you can begin pushing yourself to get out more and eat better. Getting better takes a long time, and you will need to be patient with yourself.

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