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The internet has changed all of our lives, hopefully in a more positive direction. You can use these sites just for entertainment or you can use them to change your life. Many of them you visit all the time but it’s time to look at them another way and harness their power.

*These are in no particular order.

1 – Facebook – Facebook allows you to reconnect with old and new friends. In the case of Lori Haas, facebook helped Lori reunite with her son that she gave up for adoption when she was just 17. (Full Story)

2 – Myspace – This is the most popular social network on the web, even though it has the most spam. Some absolutely hate myspace, but others have used it to launch their careers. Many singers and musicians have achieved “overnight” success using the network. Like facebook you can connect with friends but myspace makes it easier for networking with people you don’t know and create new business contacts.

3 – Digg – many will agree with this choice, while others will strongly disagree. But Digg can open you up to a whole new realm of news. You can visit the homepage once a day and instantly become up to date on what’s going on in the world. You can use Digg to your advantage, find the latest trends in business or find articles on improving your life.

4 – Kiva – Kiva is a lending site that helps entrepreneurs in developing countries finance their ventures. It doesn’t take much to help someone out. By changing others you can change yourself.

5 – Lifehack.org – Lifehack can help you get things done. This blog has in depth articles on all things that do with productivity.

6 – YouTube – If you want to work in the entertainment industry, YouTube is a great way to get your feet wet and at a very low cost. You have an audience of millions of people at your disposal.

7 – Google – This is an obvious one. I really don’t know how we lived without Google in the early days of the internet.

8 – Twitter – Twitter may someday save lives by people quickly alerting others of dangerous situations to avoid. During the California fires, people used Twitter to let friends know that they were safe. You can also use Twitter as a way to help with your business networking by knowing where your business contacts are at.

9 – eBay – eBay can save you a lot of money but can also bring you immense opportunities. You can easily create an online business that reaches millions of buyers. Many people have very successful million dollar enterprises using ebay.

10 – Ancestry.com – This website can help you piece together your family history. By understanding the past your can change the future. * Many readers have expressed concerns about the business practices of Ancestry.com. Please read comments below and be sure to check any complaints about Ancestry.com or any other business before working with them.*

11 – Zen Habits – This blog is similar to Lifehack.org by offering simple productivity to get the most of your life.

12 – Craigslist – You can find almost anything on Craigslist. It’s a simple site but can simply change your life.

13 – Post Secret – The Post Secret project shows you that we’re all very much the same. It can also show you that others may have worse problems than the ones your facing.

14 – LinkedIn – You can use LinkedIn to network with professionals from all areas of business including Fortune 500 companies.

15 – TED.com – This website is full of various videos from TED conferences and has biographies on some of the greatest thinkers of present time. Presentations from successful people such as Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Bono, Seth Godin, and Jane Goodall. Most videos are a few minutes long but can empower you for years to come.

16 – Wikipedia – Not everything on Wikipedia is accurate but there is so much information on almost every topic possible. Don’t know about something, just look it up on Wikipedia and within a few minutes you can be informed.

17 – The Fastlane to Millions – This is a relatively new and small forum for those who are or aspire to be entrepreneurs and millionaires. The members are very positive and want to help each other get the most out of life.

18 – Second Life – This virtual world may seem like a virtual waste of time but some people such as Anshe Chung have found opportunities limitless on Second Life. Anshe has become a millionaire by buying and selling virtual real estate.

19 – Quoteland – You can visit Quoteland and read hundreds of quotes that will give you a fresh perspective and change your life in minutes. If you have an open mind.

20 – 43 Things – 43 Things can be a great way to achieve your goals. You can post your dreams and aspirations for all to see. Having that type of pressure can be very positive for you, helping you continue till you reach your goals.

* 21 – Stumble Upon – This has been requested by readers to be added to the list. Stumble Upon can change your life and help you discover so many new websites you would never be able to otherwise.

* 22 – del.icio.us – This site has also been demanded to be added to the list. So since many have found Lyved via del.icio.us, it must be an addition. Maybe someone from del.icio.us can change their life after visiting Lyved.

Enjoy this post? You may also enjoy reading 20 Ways to Change the World. If you enjoy Lyved please subscribe to the RSS feed here.

Photo by borabora

Dogs are man’s best friend, but are they much more than that? Are they man’s best teacher? There are many subtle things that dog’s can teach us about life. You have to dig deep but there are some lessons to be learned from them.

You should always be happy – No matter what life throws at you, you should always be happy. You can be down while a bad event is happening, but a few hours later or the next day you should bounce back. Dogs can be in the worst circumstances, such as horrible living conditions, but they always seem to make themselves happy.

It’s great to meet new people – You should try to meet new people as much as you can. You never know where it can lead. You could find your true love, create some new business contacts or maybe even save a life. Dogs always want to meet every other dog that comes in their path.

You should enjoy getting out – Get excited about getting outside, taking a walk, and seeing what’s going on in the neighborhood. Dogs love to see, smell, and hear the environment around them. They can walk down the same path everyday, but they’ll be just as excited as the first time they went.

Try to have some fun - No matter where you are or what situation you are in try to laugh and have some fun! It’ll make things much easier on yourself and those around you. Dogs can have fun anywhere, give them

Photo by the trial

Here are twenty things that you can do to change people’s lives, yourself, and the world. These are in no particular order.

1 – Adopt – Adopting someone is one of the greatest things you can do. You’ll change your life and someone else’s. Adopt a baby, a child, or a teen. By being adopted they’ll always know that there is truly kind people in the world and they’ll pay it back to society.

2 – Just Be Nice – This is something EVERYONE can do, you don’t need any money or any talent. Hold the door for someone, smile, or say hello. You will change someone’s whole day, week, month, year, or maybe even life. Then they’ll be nicer to others, which will just continue the cycle and you won’t even realize that YOU changed THOUSANDS of lives.

3 – Donate – Donate blood, food, time, money, or whatever you can. Donate online, help entrepreneurs in developing countries on Kiva, lend to people on Prosper, or just play the simple game on FreeRice.

4 – Be Positive – Bring more positivity into the world. It so simple but so effective.

5 – Listen – Listen to people, let them talk, learn about their lives, sometimes that’s all someone needs.

6 – Start a Business – Become a social entrepreneur with a company that donates a portion of your profits to charity, or employ those “at risk”. Don’t hire those who graduated from the most prestigious universities and had an easy life, hire those that struggled and triumphed through adversity. They’ll work the hardest because they know what it takes.

7 – Create Art – “Paint” the world. Create more music, paintings, writings, photography, or any other art. Art inspires, motivates, and changes lives.

8 – Get Vocal – Have a cause that you’re passionate about? Get out there and make your voice heard. Hold rallies, protest, write letters, write articles in newspapers, blog about it, or start a forum. Being silent isn’t going to do anything.

9 – Be a Great Parent – Teach your children about the world and how they can change it. Teach them that the possibilities of life are limitless.

10 - Pick Up Trash – No one seems to do this. Just pick up trash that you see lying on the ground. Every little bit helps.

11 – Talk – When you’re done listening, talk. Talk about their life, your life, the weather. Talk to strangers sitting next to you on a bench. You never know where it can lead.

12 – Be an Inspiration – Do something that people said you could never do. Take risks and succeed! This will inspire others to do the same and continue the cycle.

13 – Become a Teacher – Become a teacher with the true ambition of teaching children to succeed in school and in life. Teach from books but also teach from life.

14 – Become a Surrogate Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Whatever – Many children and adults who lost or were abandoned by a family member may desire to fill that void. Many children from broken families need help to break the cycle and statistics. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister, be someone they never had.

15 – Vote – Vote in your local elections and national elections. Choose a candidate that can truly follow through, not the one that promises all these grand plans that never seem to pan out.

16 – Don’t Be Judgmental- Too many people judge others on the way they look. You can’t judge a book by its cover. Someone may look completely different than you on the outside but be completely the same on the inside.

17 – Travel the World – Travel around the world and experience new places. Help the economies and people of foreign countries. Embrace their cultures and share your experiences of them with people you know.

18 – Dream & Do: Dream of a better world then go out there and create it. Dreams become reality with enough work and determination.

19 – Focus – Focus on one of these ideas or another one you came up with. Pour all of your energy into one idea until you succeed in changing someone, yourself, or the world. After you do that, then focus on another idea.

20 – Do Something With Your Life! – You don’t have to be a celebrity or a millionaire, just be an productive member of society.

Photo by j / f / photos