Tag: advice

September 28th, 2023

Journal Writing

September 28th, 2023

Be an Open Book

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After a hard day, I can’t wait to go home and curl up with a good book. In that regard, I’m very fortunate because some people curl up with a bad one at night. I firmly believe that if a book isn’t treating you right, it’s probably time you leave it—end of story. If dumping your book seems daunting at first, it’s okay you can start small.

Begin by simply checking out other books that catch your eye. A great place to start looking is at your local library, where you will have plenty of choices. The best part about the library is you’re not pressured into taking just any random book home with you after being introduced for the first time. But if you’re instead the type that can’t wait to jump in the sack and curl up with a book, a bookstore is probably your best bet. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a book that’s a little more devoted, you should try a church. You will find the good book there.

Wherever you look, make sure to find one that interests you. For example, if you love food, get a good cookbook, or if you have kids, you definitely want a children’s book. Remember to never judge a book by its cover and be weary because some will try every trick in the book to convince you they are good when they are not. Also, don’t mistakenly think you can somehow rekindle the flame with your old book. Why not just try Kindle? Just because you’re a bookworm doesn’t mean you have to be treated like bookdirt. Take it from me: If you’re curling up with a bad book, it’s time to start a new chapter of your life because it just doesn’t page. You deserve the romance novel you’ve always wanted. It doesn’t have to be a fantasy.

August 11th, 2022

Journal Writing

August 11th, 2022

Dirty Laundry

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You should be careful airing out another person’s dirty laundry if you haven’t learned how to wash your own. It is one of the quickest ways to get hung out to dry or worse losing one of a pair of matching socks. That seems to be one of life’s great mysteries. Is it under the washer? Did you drop it on the way to the laundry room? Or could it be that somebody is secretly stealing them to show others their holes and all and how sullied they might be? Truth be told, feet can smell pretty funky, so maybe it’s a good thing if they are getting aired out. But if you are worried about it or to be on the safe side, might I suggest you wear sandals? May I even dare say a pair of crocs, but someone has disclosed to me, in confidence, that those have gone out of fashion or should only be worn while boating. What does any of this have to do with laundry? I don’t know, but I do know that if I ever find myself out on a boat, sporting a pair of crocs, and they are hoisting the sails—the last thing I would hope to see up there is one of my bedsheets.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Article Writing

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

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Introduction

Let me be honest, sometimes I consider throwing in the towel, but then what would I use to dry off? There are little things in life that can make us sweat: from making deadlines at work to paying rent on time. Then there are the big things: how you are going to pay for college, what you want to do with the rest of your life, or deciding whether to quit a job or not. All of it can leave you feeling like you just ran a 5k marathon. So what are some things you can do to not sweat the small and large stuff too?

Take a Breather

Since you probably feel like you just finished running a long-distance race, try to take a moment to catch your breath. Any kind of important decision we generally have to make requires thinking, and guess what your brain needs to properly function? Oxygen. When you are calm and breathing well, your mind will then be kind to you and provide you with clear answers or solutions to your problems. If you need help accomplishing this, you can try doing tai chi, which is a perfect exercise that helps you focus on your breathing. You could try taking a walk. I know, I know… probably the last thing you want to do after running a 5K. Walking will not only relax you, but it will also help you to maintain a steady breathing pattern and rhythm in your heart.

Cool Off for a Minute

It is hard to deal with any situation when you are hot under the collar or have steam coming out of your ears. What better way to break a sweat than in a steam room? No one makes good choices when they are hot-headed. You should try putting off making any decisions in the heat of the moment. Do whatever you have to cool off. Take a cold shower, take it out on a pillow, or even take first place in the aforementioned five-kilometer race. Whatever you need to do, rid yourself of that anger. By making more rational, well-informed decisions, you will be less likely to sweat the small stuff. So always remember to keep a cool head, drink a slushy if you have to… just be careful of brain freeze.

Tell Yourself, ‘It’s No Sweat!’

There is a lot to be said about the power of positive thinking. Just telling yourself mentally that you can handle something can actually make you physically capable of dealing with it. There was a study done proving there was a link between your perceived age mentally and the actual physical age of your body. The research found that people who thought of themselves as being younger were much fitter and healthier than those who did not. The brain is the most powerful muscle in your body, but just like any other muscle, it can become overworked. Do not spend too much time thinking and worrying about things; instead, tell your brain that ‘it’s no sweat’ and it won’t.

In Conclusion

Did you notice a common theme throughout this article? No, I’m not referring to the occasional humorous analogy to running a marathon; but to what all these points had in common: your mindset. By thinking that you can’t, you probably won’t. Don’t be a dumbbell and exercise positive thought. Stinking thinking will not only smell worse than a bag of sweaty gym socks but also keep you sweating the small stuff.

Piacquadio, Andrea. “Selective Focus Close-up Photo of Woman in Gray Tank Top Using White Towel to Wipe Her Face.” Pexels, 13 July 2018, www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-close-up-photo-of-woman-in-gray-tank-top-using-white-towel-to-wipe-her-face-3757945/.

Under a Lockdown, Now What?

Article Writing

Under a Lockdown, Now What?

The Key to Staying Sane in a Quarantine

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We are starting to see never before seen bans and restrictions imposed on countries and states across the US. As a response to the growing threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many people currently find themselves confined to their homes. With any luck, these measures will prove to be effective towards curbing the spread of the virus on our streets. While it might be a considerable inconvenience to many, especially those who enjoy a good meal at their favorite restaurant, socializing with their friends over a drink at a bar, or going to movies or concerts; it’s important to remind ourselves that it’s only temporary, and for the health and safety of everyone. Here are some ways you can avoid going stir crazy, or use this time as a wonderful opportunity for personal development and growth:

Pursue that Dream

Now is a wonderful time to pursue that dream you’ve been hitting the snooze button on for far too long. When we were kids, most of us had a dream about what we wanted to be when we grew up, but now that we’ve grown up, for how many of us has that dream come true? Good news, you have plenty of time right now to research and take steps to pursue that dream. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, a famous Hollywood film producer, or world-renowned ballerina, now’s the time to study what it would take to make those dreams a reality. Even if your dream proves to still be unobtainable, there’s a good chance by exploring the possibility, you’ll discover some new passion or similar ambition that is within your reach.

Get Skills, Not Ill

There’s lots of skills out there for a person to learn, yet so little time to actually learn them. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn how to draw, speak another language, or how to play a musical instrument, now is the perfect time to do just that! Learning a new skill doesn’t have to be difficult, it could be as simple as picking up a book on the subject from your local library. Library closed? No problem, there’s all sorts of free resources online to help you develop an interest into a skill. You might even consider enrolling in an online course from sites like Udemy or Coursera.

Catch Up with People

You can catch up with people without the risk of catching the coronavirus. Just because you’re practicing social distancing, doesn’t mean you have to be antisocial. Our daily lives can be hectic even after we’re done with work. Kids have to be picked up from schools and day cares, dinners have to be made, and lunches need to be packed, normally it’s hard to find the time to touch base with the people in our life. Since so many businesses and schools are closed and extracurricular activities are cancelled, it’s a great time not only to catch up with your immediate family, but to reach out to distant relatives and friends you might not have heard from in a very long time. You can do it from the comforts of your own home by simply calling them on the phone or sending an email. I’m sure they would be happy to hear from you and to know that you’re well.

Come Down with Spring Cleaning Fever

Been meaning to get those dust balls under the love seat that may now more closely resemble tumbleweeds? Maybe your resident spider has made not only its home but also built a cobweb cottage in your attic or basement that needs evicting? Springtime is now here and with it comes plenty of time to take on those much needed cleaning projects you’ve been putting off since winter. Here’s an added bonus: If you have kids that are home from school, why not set them loose on those tasks while you sit back relaxing with your favorite beverage and follow some of the other advice in this article?

Read an Epic Novel, Not About the Epidemic

Always wanted to read the epic works of Dante or Homer? What about War and Peace or Infinite Jest? By the time these bans and restrictions on public gatherings are lifted, you may well find you have finished one of them, and what’s more, you’ll have a whole new topic of conversation to discuss once you’re able to socialize again! Even if you feel like you don’t have the time or patience to finish one of these epic masterpieces, reading any book would be beneficial to your mental health. Books offer a great means to escape from the harsh realities of the global crisis we’re facing today.

In closing, close that door, live in that living room. Grow as a person, all while keep the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 from growing. Remember that each and every day is a gift, but it is up to you to unwrap it and find the treasure inside.