Celebrations ARE important. Our everyday lives are often a matter of routine and monotony, and celebrations give us a break from the everyday grind. The anticipation of change can brighten up our lives and give us something to look forward to. Here are some suggestions to enrich your celebrations...

Boundaries are set so we can take care of ourselves and communicate in an open, honest, and direct fashion. It is important to be able to set limits in order to assert our point of view.

Most of us look forward to celebrating festivals with our families and it can be hard if you are living alone and away from family or staying in a place where your festival is not being celebrated or is celebrated in a very different way. This article suggests a few ways to deal with this concern and celebrate festivals even when you are away from home...

Friends are some of the most important people in the world... friendships do not just happen; it needs a lot of effort and love to set a friendship going and to keep one.

In India our work often represents who and what we are. In addition to monetary returns a job provides a sense of purpose and self-esteem. Thus when a job ends, part of us seems to end with it. If you or someone you know has lost your job, it is important to remember . . . you have lost a description of what you do, not who and what you are.

News of the crashing stock-market, recession, layoffs, salary cuts, and the uncertain financial situation is certainly a cause of great stress to most people. In the current economic situation the fear of unemployment is also very real. Experts recommend a number of steps that could be helpful, and warn against others that are actually counter-productive. Here is a look at some of these.

Easy access to mails and blogs on the phones, laptops and desktops has popularized the time-saving, travel-free social interactions. It has become easier to opt for work from home, manage a team from a different location and organize an official meeting without much running around just by one click on a mouse. However, since e-mails are permanent records of a person's contribution to work, it is also essential to follow some email etiquette and guidelines that convey professionalism and efficiency.

Girls get better grades at school than boys, and in most developed countries more women than men go to university. However, women still get paid less and few make it to the top of companies, and those that do get to the top level, have to face a lot more opposition than most men. Thankfully, there are things women can do to overcome these stereotypes and prejudices and achieve success

When shyness is properly managed, there is no limit to the achievement of shy people in the business world. Even the Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, one of the world's richest and most successful people in the world, is a shy person. What do shy people who succeed professionally have in common? They are in control of their shyness instead of it controlling them!

Good relationships at work can make all the difference to our experience at the workplace. When we maintain congenial relationships with co-workers it helps us get our work done more smoothly, we enjoy our work more and it even motivates us to keep going despite obstacles and challenges. On the contrary, when working relationships are unpleasant, not only is it more difficult to get things done, but it also creates a negative atmosphere which affects our mood and productivity and even motivation to work.