If you need to buy a birthday present for the Do-It-Yourselfer in your family, by far the best choice is “a power tool”! You just can’t go wrong giving a power tool (especially if it’s a quality one like a Makita impact driver, a McLane lawn edger, or a Black & Decker alligator lopper) to a person who likes to fix, maintain, and build things around their house.

My own family knows this, and it makes their birthday gift buying for me very, very easy! The only decision they have to make is which one to give. And to be honest, to me, it really won’t matter. I love to get presents that I can actually use and enjoy using!

My guess is that power tools (whether they are gas-powered or electric-powered) are at the top of almost every true Do-It-Yourselfer’s birthday present wish list. Often we will know of several different ones that we would love to have (perhaps even to the point where we are purposefully dropping hints as to how valuable and useful such and such tool would be to the family, or even shamefully contemplating whether giving such and such a tool to our spouse for their birthday present would be a good idea). However, because of the cost, we usually put off buying the power tool for ourselves. A Do-It-Yourselfer’s birthday gives you a great excuse for spending a little more to buy a gift that will make the Do-It-Yourselfer’s eyes sparkle!

There is also a hidden value to the giver in buying a power tool for a birthday gift. When a serious Do-It-Yourselfer receives a power tool, he or she will be bound and determined to complete some project with the new gift just to see how well the new tool works. So if you’ve been wanting your husband to expand the size of the closet in your bedroom so you’ll have more storage space, giving him a Milwaukee reciprocating saw may be just the incentive he needs to remodel your closet. Or perhaps, you would really like to get your bathroom re-grouted so it will look better, giving a Dremel rotary tool might do the trick!

Really there are a wide variety of options out there so never thing that they already have everything as they could always use another power tool. Plus, these tools are all highly thought of which increases the odds that he or she will like them too.

Sometimes it seems the more you do, you just can’t seem to get things accomplished. Whatever you do isn’t enough. It just feels like you are on a sinking ship, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Many people feel this way lately. You are not alone. And even when your life is going great, those around you are depressed. Your co-workers, significant other, your children, your friends, can quickly make you feel like them– down trodden.

We pick up these energies because in today’s world we are constantly plugged in. We are picking up signals of those suffering not only in our homes, but in other countries. Technology is delivering to us doom and gloom news through vibrant images even if we choose simply to open our email.

So how do you protect yourself?
You have to constantly ask yourself, “Is this my true feeling or am I picking up other people’s stuff?” In other words, you have to stay present. Be vigilant to your thoughts and feelings. However, this is not what many of us choose to do. We would rather cover them up with old habits, zone out in front of the television, or listen to the person on the phone telling us about their problem, because it’s worse than ours. That’s why tabloid news is so huge. Watching the suffering of others somehow seemingly lessens ours. However, these are not quick fixes like our mind tells us they are. They simply create more suffering.

Stay Awake!

So maybe you say, “It’s not that. I just don’t feel happy anymore. I can’t stay happy, especially with the state of the world. I wish things were like they use to be.”

First of all realize that happiness is not something you need to “get.” Your natural self is happy, whole, perfect and complete. What covers up this natural state is our thoughts. The apathy thoughts like, “It’s useless. It’s all so overwhelming.” These are the voices in our heads that keep us depressed and confused. So it’s important to stay present and be aware.

“So how do I deal with those thoughts? ”

You simply need to observe them without judgment or trying to change them. This is being Mindful. Mindfulness, which is being present, works like a laser to cut through and dissolve those thoughts that do not serve us.

Discriminate
When those thoughts come up that are anything but loving, know it’s the ego mind working overtime. The ego loves turmoil. It keeps you depressed, worried, and most of all in fear. So being aware, is a huge step toward your freedom.

Let go
Many people think if they let go of worry, the world will crash down on them. Not so. You are simply letting go of the thoughts and emotions about whatever you have to do in life. The complaints and resistance.

If you have to get up and go to a job you don’t like or want, let go of thinking, “I hate going to this job.” “I hate the people.” “I hate the traffic.” “I hate my life.” Discriminate, which is what Buddha called, Right Thinking. Is this the ego talking? You will know if it is because the ego always has non-loving thoughts. The great thing about being present, is awareness of these thoughts is enough to allow them to dissolve.

It’s the thoughts that keep us trapped.

First comes the thoughts, followed by emotions, and then often comes an illness from toxic emotions.

We all have to do things in life we would rather not do. But it may be necessary for our survival. So do these things without telling yourself a STORY about the things you must do in life. Release your inner power for more energy by being present and observe if you are telling yourself another story.

When you are aware, you can easily release those tiring thoughts. Suddenly, you will have more vitality. You will discover that you will complete more things in a faster time because you will be in the present moment. And, in each moment, you will find that there is happiness, your natural state.

Use your breath
Your breath is a natural de-stressor, Use your breath to deal with whatever you need to accomplish. Don’t try to control the breath, simply observe and give yourself a short mantra. It can be a spiritual verse or an affirmation, or you can label your breath, “Breathing in, I am calm. Breathing out I am balanced.”

When those overwhelming thoughts come up, be present with them. Refuse to be dragged into the “story.” This is not who you truly are.
You will find your true self, which is whole, perfect and complete when you stay present.