Greetings!

As April flowers start to bloom, we feel a sense of new possibilities arise in our life. At this time of the year, many become more creative. In keeping with this impulse, I would love to introduce a new book that is just coming out, A Dash of Style. This books provides a fascinating journey through the nature of language, thought, and creativity. It is a unique and wonderful piece of work which shows us the inner workings not only of literature but our own mind and personalities. There are no end to the insights and surprises you will find in A Dash of Style. Get your copy online today and enjoy.

This newsletter is dedicated to creating optimal balance, well being and inspiration in our relationships and in all areas of our lives.

Why did Camus use the period heavily when crafting The Stranger? Why did Faulkner use it sparingly for Absalom Absalom!? Why did Melville use semicolons heavily in Moby Dick? Why did the punctuation differ so radically between these masters, and what did they have to gain from it?

In THE ART AND MASTERY OF PUNCTUATION Noah Lukeman, author of the critically-acclaimed and bestselling books on writing The First Five Pages (Simon & Schuster) and The Plot Thickens (St. Martins Press), offers a fresh perspective on punctuation. It is a unique book, specifically for writers, about the art of punctuation. It focuses not on grammatical correctness but rather on the application of punctuation to creative writing. This is an important distinction.

Punctuation makes the difference between good writing and sublime writing. To master punctuation is to learn the abstruse arts of rhythm, tone, cadence and pitch. It is to learn what most poets already know: that language has a music of its own. To learn punctuation well is also to hold a mirror up to your own writing, to broader issues like clarity of thought. Haphazard commas reveal haphazard thinking. Clear, lucid breaks reveal clear, lucid thinking. Punctuation reveals the writer. Thus punctuation can be used to teach the writer how to think, and subsequently, how to write.

THE ART AND MASTERY OF PUNCTUATION will show writers what greater benefits can be reaped from mastering punctuation, such as the art of style, sentence length, meaning, brevity and word economy. These are the building blocks of great writers. Through learning these fundamentals, writers will unexpectedly learn how to be better writers in every sense of the word. The focus that is learned by the proper application of a semi-colon is the same focus that can be applied to the paragraph, chapter, and even through-line of a story. Periods do not stand alone. They are connected to words, which are connected to sentences, which are connected to paragraphs, which are connected to chapters. They are small cogs in the great wheel of creativity. When the cogs break down, the entire wheel collapses.

An engaging, practical book, THE ART AND MASTERY OF PUNCTUATION will teach writers how to incorporate the greater principles of punctuation into their everyday writing, how to be more aware, how to make punctuation their friend instead of their mysterious foe. Above all, it will be applicable. Example, anecdote and exercise-ridden, it will be a book that writers truly can use. This principle—being able to use a book on writing—is precisely why Lukeman's two books on writing have appealed to writers (over 50,000 copies sold and editions translated into Japanese, Korean, Portugese, and Indonesian). It is past time somebody applied this to the art of punctuation.

Discover The Music Of Language And How To Make It. Get Your Copy at: www.adashofstyle.com

Anger is a force that undermines our lives in all kinds of ways. Sometimes it erupts openly and other times anger camouflages it and covertly undermines relationships. Some experience anger as strength and power. They feel it is necessary in order to maintain control. In fact, when we are angry we are out of control and our ability to respond wisely is diminished. Here are 7 steps for melting anger on the spot.

Step 1: Realize that anger is a choice you make.

Anger is not a form of power, strength, or control. It is a toxin. Sometimes it provides a temporary high. After this high subsides, we are left weaker and more uncertain than before. Not only that, there are often negative consequences that have to be handled. Basically anger narrows your focus, creates confusion and limits your ability to find constructive solutions.

When anger arises, stop, breathe deeply, and immediately look at the larger perspective. Put the incident in context. For a moment, allow the other person to be “right”. Tell yourself you have plenty of time to be right later. Your main goal is to have the anger subside so you can see the whole picture clearly.

Step 2: Become aware of the 24 forms of anger.

Anger camouflages itself and finds many covert ways of manifesting. Unrecognized anger turns into all kinds of unwanted behavior. When these behaviors are not understood it is very difficult to correct them. Awareness is important in making necessary changes.

Some of the 24 forms of anger are: depression, passive aggressive behavior, compulsions, perfectionism, gossiping and certain kinds of competition at the workplace. When you realize that these are being fueled by anger, you can take appropriate steps to handle them.

Step 3: Start Relationship Balancing

Relationship Balancing is the natural flow of energy, support and inspiration between individuals. When this flow is balanced individuals operate at their maximum level. When the flow is blocked or out of balance, individuals become depressed, apathetic, sick and resentful. When one feels needed and acknowledged, there is no end to their ability to tap their full potential.

Envision balanced relationships. Write down what this means to you and notice how it compares to the reality of your particular situation. This initial step provides a map and new focus. It provides a direction to move in. Step 4: Discover Your Relationship Balancing Quotient

List each individual you interact with. Score each person on the following questions from 1- 10. See for yourself what is going on.

a)I feel at ease with this person.

b) I trust this person.

c)I communicate naturally with this person.

d)I understand what they’re communicating to me.

e) I am able to ask this person for what I want from them.

f)I am able to give this person what they want from me.

Asses exactly what is going on in your important relationships. Take a look at what you want from each relationship. Separate your needs and wants. Start communicating your feelings in a responsible manner and asking for what you really need and want. Start truly listening to the other, to who they actually are, not your images or agendas for them. We can often be in a relationship with a person for a long time and not even begin to know who they truly are. As you begin taking the steps above, you will make natural adjustments in getting this relationship back on track.

Step 5: Stop Casting Blame

Blaming others is one of the largest factors in causing imbalance in your relationships and keeping the anger going. Stop casting blame. By blaming others you are disempowering yourself. By taking responsibility you are taking back control. Stop a moment and see the situation through your opponent’s eyes. When you do this blame dissolves on the spot. Also, remember, the best defense against being hurt is to feel good about yourself and the way a person responds to you says more about them, than about you.

As you stop casting blame you will be letting go of all kinds of resentments. Resentment inevitably affects our well- being and always bounces back on us. Look for and find what is positive in each individual. Focus on that.

Step 6 - Create Realistic Expectations

There is nothing that makes us more angry and hurt than expectations we’ve been holding onto that have not been met. It is important that you become aware of what your expectations are for your relationships. Are they realistic? Does the other person hold expectations that are similar? Let go of unrealistic fantasies. Once this is done, much opportunity for anger diminishes on the spot.

Step 7 – Develop A Grateful Mind

See what different people in your lives are truly giving to you. We often take many things for granted and are even unaware of all that we are receiving day by day. Take time to write down each day what you are receiving. Be grateful for that. Make a point of giving thanks. The more we thank others, the happier we become. Also, take time to write down all that you have given others that day. It may be a surprise. We often think we are giving so much and receiving so little. This is a great cause of anger, deprivation and emptiness within. However, when we take time daily to write it down and look at it carefully, we are often surprised and how much we have received and how little given in return. As we look at it carefully, and balance these two activities, we learn to take pleasure both in what we have given and what has been received. Cc/author/2006

"Caring for others,

makes the whole world come alive."

Find out more in: The Anger Diet (30 Days To Stress Free Living). www.theangerdiet.com

These programs are available on-going -basis, as talks, half day workshops, full day workshops and on-going seminars. Contact us for more information. tospeaker@yahoo.com

Read more about Dr. Shoshanna's work on her website

Usually we focus upon that which is not working in a relationship, something we want to improve or change. It is only rarely that we dwell upon all that is right.

Tell your husband, wife, friend or significant other today all the things they are doing right. Make a point of letting them know how much that means to you. They will be startled and delighted. Not only that, you will soon notice more and more "right" things start to happen spontaneously. What we pay attention to increases and little annoyances soon fall away by themselves.

Read more about a life gratitude in Living By Zen (Timeless Truths For Everyday Life)

Or, download a copy of Save Your Relationship, http://www.truthaboutlove.com, and give this. (Together they make a wonderful ackage).

Would forgiveness make a better gift? Get a copy of The Anger Diet, which leads us from upset and anger to forgiveness and love. (www.theangerdiet.com).

Dr. Shoshanna, psychologist and relationship expert, is available for counselling and therapy both in person and on the phone. She is also available for talks and workshops based upon her books. For more information contact her at topspeaker@yahoo.com, or http://www.brendashoshanna.com

Learn more about Dr. Shoshanna at her website: http://www.brendashoshanna.com

Even a wonderful relationship can become difficult when we don't know the basic laws of love and how to apply them in our everyday lives.

Probably the biggest need all of us have is to experience a wonderful, loving relationship where we can be ourselves, and share our lives with so meone meaningful. This is exactly what you will be able to create when you begin to work with the unique program inside my e-book, Save Your Relationship.

In the program you will discover the common mistakes people make in relationships and how to turn them around. You'll see why it's impossible to fail at love, once you understand how to build a foundation that can weather any storm.

Why not throw away old relationship habits and start new right now?

To find out more and order a copy, go to the website, http:.//www.truthaboutlove.com

I am pleased to let you know about my new book just published, The Anger Diet (Thirty Days to Stress- Free Living), Andrews McMeel. Especially at this time of loss,it is so important to know how to handle anger constructively and melt away toxic feelings. There is no end to the available diets and workouts. But the most important diet of all has been overlooked.

This is a diet that releases stress, lets you sleep soundly at night, reduces cravings and upset and makes you feel young again. This diet gets rid of the number one toxin that destroys your well-being - anger.

This is a wonderful book for the holiday season. for releasing stress and enjoying the true spirit of the season.

And it's a wonderful gift.

Find out more at http://theangerdiet.com