Follow the leader - Paula Manoli-Gray

I am always getting those 'million dollar ideas' for new businesses to open in Larnaca, and if I actually had the guts / could be bothered to follow through, I might have been a millionaire by now. But it's not just a lack of burning ambition that is stopping me, I also know that if I do happen to hit the bulls-eye with the winning idea, within a month there will be 20 more businesses the same, and they would probably all open up right next door to me too!

This is a problem we have. Someone will do the research, the work and put in all the effort to find something that can succeed. They open, they do succeed, but the lifespan of their great idea is then cut short by the copycats who decide to follow the leader and open the exact same business.

Larnaca is not a big town; therefore it cannot sustain 20 of the same great idea. For example, on Faneromeni, there is a florist/nursery that has been open there for as long as I can remember. For some reason, which I cannot fathom, in recent years another two florists have opened opposite. One florist in the area could make a decent living. Putting three in a cluster means that they will all suffer as the business of the area will be split three ways, or the lion's share will go to one. What sense does it make to open next to the same business? What on earth is the logic of the newcomers? Eventually, all three will close down.

It's the same for everything from clothes to frozen yogurt. Recently, a new coffeehouse from Greece has opened in multiple locations. The locations it has chosen are clever; commercial streets of office blocks and some retail outlets, but not in the town centre or seafront where it is most popular to open a coffeehouse. They are rammed! They hit the nail on the head that trendy cafés in trendy locations are for weekends and evenings only and that during the daily grind, people working in offices and shops want a coffee fix. It is a logical idea and you will find this formula in all cities, but for some reason, Larnaca was focused on trendy areas only, until now. Naturally, another coffee chain is starting to open on the same streets. Eventually, some of the locations – of either one or both franchises - will have to close.

The lifespan for restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs is also short. There is a mad rush to go somewhere new, which quickly dissipates and there are very few establishments that have staying power and can claim to have been open for more than 5-10 years.

Whilst the financial crisis has seen a lot of new closures, we were always prone to this phenomenon of open-shut-quickly and I guess we are kind of immune to it now as a town. But I will not be sharing my million-dollar idea with anyone. As long as I can still get my frozen yogurt fix (a trend that left years ago but has now thankfully come back), then let them get on with it!

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 30/04/14

LPN Monthly Competition - May

This month the LPN spotlight is on Meditation & Yoga for both Adults & Children, with more and more people realizing the power of Meditation it has become an essential part of of our daily life.

We now find Leading Hospitals / Clinics /GPs /Schools and Universities to name just a few adopting MEDITATION & YOGA practices .. So why not give it a go for yourself and enter this Months Competition by answering the question below...

We would like to thank Leslie Hartley www.emotionalreset.com - for Sponsoring this Months Competition and offering a Meditation Class to the lucky winner :0)

Meditation can only be practiced if you are religious.

A. True

B. False

Please leave your answer along with your name in the comment section below.

Author Talk - Eve Makis

The importance of touch for children

Hugs and cuddles between parents and kids dwindle during the school years — and by adolescence, they’re pretty much gone. But there are good reasons to keep them, or some variation of them, alive.

Touch = health
“Physical contact is important across the lifespan,” says Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Positive touch stimulates pressure receptors under the skin, lowering the heart rate, slowing the breath, decreasing stress hormones and boosting the immune system. In other words, touch helps bodies stay healthy.

Plus, it raises kids’ spirits immeasurably; science has shown that positive touch lowers depression, says Field. “Think of touch as a kind of shorthand, a powerful way to communicate affection, care and concern for your child,” says Calgary parent educator and mom of five Judy Arnall. When your daughter comes off the field and you say, “Tough game,” your words acknowledge her feelings. When you sling your arm around her shoulders, that’s the nurturing part.

Touchy, touchy
Temperament can be a factor in how much or what kind of physical contact children need, says Arnall. One kid might be glued to his dad’s leg in the playground after school, while another zips by his mom for a quick high-five. But both kids are connecting with their secure base.

Keeping in touch
While a younger child tends to always want a lot of physical contact with parents, a preteen might be embarrassed if you take her hand in public. By the time she enters her teen years, she might even rebuff you at home. Teens are notoriously moody too: One day she shrugs you off; the next she’s desperate for that hug.

Keep offering, says Arnall, but follow your child’s cues. When he’s young, keep up routines like bedtime tuck-ins. As he gets older, find new ways to show your affection — an arm wrestle, even a haircut or a manicure can connect you with your teen. And one day, he might just give you the hug you need when you’re having a bad day.

The importance of drinking water for children

Just because they have smaller bodies does not mean they need less of it. Water is in fact one of the most important nutrients for children. Often times when we read tips for nutrition for our children, they leave out important information about the intake of healthy fluids.

According to a study published in Archives of Diseases in Childhood, more than 70% of preschool children never drink plain water! What are they drinking? Drinks made with sugar, fruit juice, acids, or sugar substitutes. Yes, these drinks all have water in them, but these drinks also dehydrate your body because your body needs water to process these sugary drinks. 

Second, another health problem these sugary drinks cause correlates with weight gain. Many experts believe that these sugar filled drinks are a major contributor to childhood obesity. According to the Mayo Clinic, over the past 30 years, the rate of obesity in the United States has more than doubled for preschoolers and adolescents and more than tripled in children ages 6 to 11. With all this said, how can water benefit our body and especially our children? 

Our body’s entire anatomy depends on water for their functioning. Water is the only way our body is able to flush out our toxins before they can become poisonous in our body. Therefore, it is important that both adults and children get the proper amount of water that they need.

Water not only keeps children healthy, but also will help them perform better in school. See, dehydration leads to a reduction in both mental and physical performance. These results can be shown in the classroom! Long-term chronic dehydration may cause health problems and illnesses.

Because many schools have inadequate water resources, parents and teachers should regularly encourage children to drink water at home, and even bring their own to school. Children should especially drink water after taking part in sports, such as in gym class.