Leaving Your Legacy

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Over the past few weeks, there has been blanket coverage over the tragic death of Michael Jackson. There have been vigils, memorial shows and gatherings across the globe, where fans have united in their grief to mourn the loss of the "king of pop".

Jackson was known and applauded around the world for his music, but his private life often came to the fore which in recent years, led him to become a virtual recluse before his much anticipated comeback tours.
There have been countless interviews with friends, relations, industry experts and media executives, all giving their opinion and thoughts on his demise and what he would be remembered for.

Although there are different viewpoints, Jackson's legacy will largely be that of his music which made him such a phenomenon. Bare music store shelves and record download figures following his death substantiate that he was one of the greatest performers of our time. The legacy of his music will love through his fans - both those within the entertainment industry and those who loved his music.

It often takes the death of someone - either high profile like Jackson, or someone closer to us, to make us acknowledge the fragility of life. It is common to take stock of what we have and what we have yet to achieve and often renews the importance of living every moment of our lives to the full.

These thoughts can also lead us to think about our own legacy - what are we likely to be remembered for? What do we want to be remembered for? If there are differences in your answers to these questions, it's time to get working on your legacy. When coaching clients, it is common practice to first identify a client's goal and then work back from the goal to identify the tasks that needed to be completed in order to achieve it. Working on your legacy works in exactly the same way.

For example, imagine you wanted to be remembered as someone who was kind, generous and willing to help anyone in need. Think about what you would need to do in order to be remembered that way. Write down what you think you would be doing in order to be remembered as someone kind and generous and, from there, you can work back towards this moment and list one small thing you can do today, right now that brings you closer to your legacy.

So your plan could be something like this - you will carry out at least one random act of kindness starting today and continue each day. You could follow this up by making a regular donation to a charity close to your heart or investigate the volunteering opportunities available and take on a rewarding and fulfilling role helping others.

Working on your legacy isn't morbid, it's quite the reverse. It can help you to clarify the person you want to be and what you want to do with your life. Your legacy is a celebration of your life - the person you are, the things that you do and what impact you have on those around you. Using the example above, would it be a bad thing if someone was so motivated by your voluntary work that they did the same too? Of course not.

Enriching your own life and achieving your goals is not only empowering for you, it inspires and encourages others to make changes in their lives too.

So do a stock-take of your life today. If there are things you aren't doing in your life right now, or there are things you want to change - START NOW! You have a life to live and a legacy to leave!

2 Offensive Costumes You Should Never Ever Wear

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Every year people gather to have a load of fun at Halloween parties. There is always one person that wants to make a "Big splash," at the party by wearing the most impressive costume. Well there is a small group of people who go out of their way to make a statement at some Halloween parties. These are the people that wear offensive costumes. There are about 5,000 people per month searching on Google for these types of costumes. Why in the world would anyone want to wear offensive costumes?

It is more or less fun and some claim that they are the life of the party when they wear offensive costumes. Well that depends on the crowd at the party. You know what, there are also parties where that is the main theme. When looking around on forums like answer.yahoo you would find people asking questions like, "What are the most offensive costumes ever? Well, following are two other questions asked about these costumes, with an answer to each question which states why those types of costumes should never be worn no matter what.

Question #1 - Which 2009 celebrity death would be most offensive for a Halloween costume?

Let us take a look at an extremely popular celebrity who died in 2009, Michael Jackson. No one should dress in an offensive costume that represents or displays disrespect in any way. Any costume worn should be in celebration of his life. It does not matter who the celebrity is, there should always be respect. Respect is also due to the family left behind.

Question #2 - Are terrorist Bin Laden Halloween costumes offensive (in NYC)?

Although it is Halloween and anyone can dress and be anyone or anything they want to be on this day, Bin Laden offensive costumes would not do the trick. I think it is down right dangerous. One poor guy that tried this on Halloween almost got killed. Well certainly NYC is definitely one place that you should never, by all means wear this costume.

Although there is such a thing as outrageous, offensive, and funny costumes, there is also a limit. There are just some boundaries that must not be crossed. As such, there must be a willingness to put in the time and effort to research what goes into a real politically incorrect costume that does not cross certain boundaries. Remember, portraying someone whether dead or alive today, should be done only in good taste. Also one should steer clear of wearing a costume that portrays a terrorist. Therefore there are just some offensive costumes that should never ever be worn.

Teeth Whitening - Did Michael Jackson Ever Use Home Teeth Whitening Kits?

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Very few people know how many cosmetic surgeries and treatments Michael Jackson underwent. It is true that his skin color was brown in his youth which was whitened by different cosmetic and bleaching procedures. However nobody is sure if he went for teeth whitening as well. Despite his alleged drug addictions and erratic eating habits his shining smile was one of the brightest in recent times.The kind of shining teeth he had was not possible unless he used some teeth whitening product.

You need not be a celebrity like the Pop king to have a shining set of white teeth. The teeth whitening is no longer a privilege of celebrities and super rich people. It can be used by anyone. Not only can you enhance your overall appearance and your face value but also feel the high confidence level from inside. Yellowish brown teeth make people lean away from you no matter how genuinely you smile. On the other hand if your smile is shining white people will pay more attention to you.

When regular brushing and flossing is not enough to keep the whiteness of your tooth intact, you need a bleaching a system that can go deep into the inner layers of your teeth and remove the stains chemically. Peroxide based bleaching agent is used in almost every whitening kit. Its correct combination with other ingredients is what really decides the efficacy of final product. While the low concentration of peroxide may be ineffective, very high concentration may lead to sensitivity of tooth. In some cases it may also lead to irritation of gums.

Naughty Halloween Costumes and Other Ideas For Your Halloween Party

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Remember those Halloweens when your mother would dress you up for Trick or Treat? Remember being all embarrassed when she'd bring out pictures of you covered you in a white sheet with holes for your eyes to show your friends? Or perhaps she dressed you as a huge pumpkin, complete with the green felt hat for the stump. As a child, nothing could be as bad as having the worst costume at Halloween. But everyone's been there a time or two.

Now, you're all grown up and Halloween is here once more. You may not be young enough to go Trick or Treat-ing, but that doesn't mean you can't party! In fact, this is the chance for you and your friends to show off those naughty Halloween costumes you've been hiding in your closet the whole year!

How do you plan the most rockin' Halloween party for grown-ups this year? Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Decide on a theme.

Everybody knows you're supposed to go to a Halloween party in a costume. But it would be extra special if you could think of a particular theme, so everyone could dress accordingly. If you're a fan of C.S. Lewis, for example, you can have a Narnia theme for your party. Imagine a room full of centaurs, witches, dwarves, talking animals and fawns! If you're all for detective stories, you can have a Sherlock Holmes themed party. Or have a Superhero theme. This way, you can even plan the decorations and food around the theme!

2. No Costume, No Party

Let's face it. There are party poopers. Those stubborn souls who refuse to cooperate and come to the party as, well, themselves. Bo-ring! In order to discourage such behavior, why don't you put a warning in your invitation: those who don't come in costume will have to pay a fee. And make them pay it! It's your party after all, and they have to play by your rules if they want in on the fun.

3. Food

Since its Halloween anyway, you might as well go all out and prepare "Halloween food" as well. Serve alcoholic Bloody Mary's and bowls of gummy worms and other gummy creepy-crawlies. Serve drinks in goblets and use a lot of candles. Just remember to be careful, of course!

4. Entertainment

What's Halloween without a little scare? Set up a small stage where your friends can share ghost stories. Assign one of your closest buds to be the official "spooker" of the night: tell him to jump out of dark corners, slip in and out of seemingly deserted rooms (wearing white) or suddenly shut the lights in the middle of the party. This may not really terrify, but it could provide your guests with a good laugh. If you're into dancing, you can also set up a dance floor and choose songs appropriate for the occasion. Think Michael Jackson's Thriller.

With these tips, you'll be on your way to throwing that spectacular party. Good luck and have a smashing Halloween!