Beanie Books

Ambition

2023-02-20T08:25:00.004-08:00

Ambition

There's nothing wrong with ambition. It's not a bad thing at all. Far from it. In fact, ambition is essential to living a fulfilled and meaningful life. Ambition is not just about earning money. It's the desire to do things you want to have done rather than always doing the things you want to do.

Unambitious

Picture in your mind a person who has only one guiding principle which is simply to always do the things they feel like doing at the moment. They only do whatever is most enjoyable right now. The things that make them feel good right now. This is an unambitious life.

People like this will never do anything worthwhile with their lives because the most enjoyable thing at any given moment is always going to be sitting on the couch and watching television or endlessly scrolling their phones. This is why a lot of people never do anything and accomplish nothing. They always do what they feel like doing right now which is nothing.

Who really feels like doing anything, right?

Fulfillment

Instead of thinking about what you want to do right now, try thinking about what you want to have done. We hear writers often say that they don't love the process of writing but they love having written. The experience of having written and crafted something with language from your own mind is one of the most fulfilling things in the world. But writing itself is not enjoyable very often. It's hard, exhausting, and tedious. You write so that you have written. The payoff comes at the end. You do what you want to have done. This is what you wish you did yesterday.

I go hiking in the mountains. When I'm climbing what seems like a vertical straight-up climb, it sucks. The reward is at the top when I stop and admire the views and reflect on what I've accomplished.

You might not feel like going to the gym today but you wish you went yesterday. Everybody wishes they went yesterday. You might not want to pursue that difficult opportunity, take on a tough project, or take a chance but you wish you did it yesterday. So do it today and tomorrow it will have been done.

Instance gratification

Losers demand instant gratification. They can't bring themselves to endure even a small amount of pain or discomfort. Each moment has to be pleasurable in itself. For most of human history, this wasn't even an option but now it is. There isn't any way to achieve anything or live a real life like this. If you do, your forfeit success with your unambitious life.

If success provided immediate pleasure, everyone would be doing it. This keeps the lazy people out of the game.

Don't be lazy

Laziness is the habit of thinking about the cost of things or the effort instead of thinking about the payoff or the outcome. You can reverse this by thinking about the thing you want to enjoy rather than the effort to go get it. Try to think more about the outcome and less about the work to get there.

Hikers like to say embrace the suck. They try not to think about the rain, bugs, hot or cold temperatures, or a steep climb. Instead, they think about the small joys.

Go do something

If there's something that you wish you had already done then it's worth doing now. If it is something that you'll wish you hadn't done after doing it, then it's not worth doing ever. This principle will never let you down.

You're alive right now. Don't sit on the couch. You can still accomplish all of your goals.

Should I Go To College decision help

2021-02-11T08:56:00.004-08:00

Fruit - why you should be eating it first

2020-11-09T08:53:00.006-08:00

Why should you eat fruit?

People tend to crave sweets. This is especially true during the holiday season. Here is an idea: when you feel the urge for chocolate, cookies, or candy, maybe choose nature’s sweets instead (yup, that’s fruit).

Fruits will satisfy you and give you vitamins and nutrients that can help lower your risk for heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Plus, fruits are low in fat, salt, and calories. Now how ‘bout them apples?!

Here is how:

Remove junk food from your home and work area. Yes, lose those tempting candies and desserts. Replace them with easy-to-grab fruits, like bananas, apples, oranges, and berries. When you’re short on time (and craving sugar), making a healthy choice will be easier.

Try these recipes:

Frozen banana pops

Mix Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla until smooth. Coat bananas in the sauce. Then, dip bananas in crushed almonds. Freeze and allow the dessert to harden.

Yummy fruit salad

Slice and dice your favorite fruits — apples, pears, kiwis, oranges, and more. Then toss them in a bowl with a touch of lemon juice and honey.

Dried fruit snacks

The next time you want candy, try dried fruit, like apricots, pineapples, or cranberries (with no sugar added). Trust us, they’re sweet, tasty, and a whole lot healthier.

Beanie in the Bottle

2020-07-16T10:57:00.010-07:00

When Ben left school with his twin sister Beth, he thought it would be the same as any other day. This normally means sitting by Angie and enjoying their short time together. However, Ben soon realized that this day would be different when an unexpected friend joins him in his seat. This friend made some poor choices on the way that led to Ben's bus privileges getting revoked.

So, Ben had to walk all the way to school the next day. He recruited his friend Cole to take the shortcut through the haunted woods. On the way there, they broke some bottles, saw an outhouse with dead flies, almost fell into a creek, and found an antique bottle that may or may not have something unexpected inside. All that happened next was the weirdest day EVER!

Join Ben and his friends on this fun adventure!!

Click here to check it out.

Get Along for Success — Theodore Roosevelt

2020-07-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Working closely with people is key to success. Do your best to cultivate strong relationships with colleagues. Try to connect when you can. Your team will thank you!

Want to be a great teammate? Author Jon Gordon says one of the most powerful things you can do is stay positive.

To share positive energy with your team, try:

Showing them kindness, respect, and gratitude.
Reminding them their work is meaningful.
Offering support to those who are struggling.
Forgiving mistakes.

Check out this post about staying positive.

Seven benefits of exercise

2020-06-12T04:41:00.002-07:00

Exercise is an important factor in happiness, self-confidence, and self-discipline.

A good first step to starting an exercise program is decide on three days that ou can dedicate to exercise. Try to space them out evenly throughout the week. Open your calendar and mark these days as "Exercise Day". Whenever this day comes around, force yourself to get up and get in some sort of exercise.

Your daily workout does more than build your muscles. It will help you:

1. feel good about yourself

2. boost your self-esteem

3. be healthier

4. boost your brainpower

5. improve your attention

6. Improve reasoning

7. Improve memory

Eventually, work your way up to a 30-minute workout, 5 days a week.

Your brain will benefit as much as your biceps!

Click here to see how carbs can make you fat.

Tips to feeling better

2020-06-03T12:36:00.003-07:00

Tips to feel better

Try new things. It can feel great to try one little thing that you would not normally do. It can be anything like making a bowl of pudding.
Be silly. Find the time to be a kid. Play a silly game on your phone. It can help release tension.
Sleep. Get seven or eight hours of sleep. Click here for sleep tips.
Be helpful to others. It can feel good to feel like your're contributing something. Helping someone can make a big difference. Click here for some ideas.
Disconnect. Give yourself a break, chill out, and be with yourself. Give your brain a rest. Alerts are great at breaking focus and can be distracting. Try keeping your phone out of sight for a while. If you’re on a deadline, put your phone on “do not disturb,” move your tablet to a desk drawer, and close your email.
Optimism. Think positive! Studies show that optimism can reduce stress and make you more productive.
Congratulate Yourself. Pat yourself on the back! Reflect on your recent accomplishments. Then, make a point to congratulate yourself.
Let happiness in. Attitude has a lot to do with how happy you are. If you wake up in a bad mood, you're not giving happiness a chance. Your attitude toward your day, especially when you first wake up, has a lot to do with how much happiness you'll be letting in that day. Just be aware, having a negative attitude is a happiness blocker.

Click here for more advice.

Aesop - The and and the Grasshopper (updated)

2020-04-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

The ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

This one is a little different ...

Two Different Versions ...
Two Different Morals

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE OLD STORY:

Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN
VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be

warm and well fed while he is cold and starving..

CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green'

Occupy the Anthill stages a demonstration in front of the ants house where the news stations film the

Black Lives Matter group singing, We shall overcome.

Then Reverend Al Sharpton has the group kneel down to pray for the grasshopper while he damns the ants.

He later appears on MSNBC to complain that rich people do not care.

Former President Obama condemns the ant and blames Donald Trump, President Bush 43, President Bush 41, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Chuck Schumer exclaim in an interview on The View that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity &

Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having; nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and peaceful, neighborhood.

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be careful how you vote in 2020.

Saving money options

2020-04-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

Savings accounts: Here are some of the different accounts that you can open to save money.

Standard: The tried-and-true. This is the type of savings account most Americans have. Some have zero or low minimums. Do this if…you’re starting out and don’t have a lot of money to put into the account. Interest rates are low on standard accounts. Don't leave too much here, though...just enough to cover an emergency. You are just costing yourself a lot of money in lost interest.
CD: This is a certificate of deposit. Banks often let you open a special kind of account with better rates than you would get in a regular savings account. But you have to keep your hands off that money for a certain amount of time (usually a few months up to a few years). Do this if…you won’t need to access that money for the period, and you want a “can’t touch this” way for your cash to earn interest.
High-yield savings account: An account where you put more in and get more back. The interest rates are often higher, but you usually need to invest a certain amount to get one. Do this if…you have more money to invest and want the flexibility of withdrawing it at any time.

Good Deeds

2020-04-20T06:11:00.004-07:00

Good Deeds

Need a feel-good boost? Do something nice for another person or local organization.

Many small business owners are losing money right now. Try to make a purchase online (e.g., buy gift cards to your favorite local restaurants).
If you have an older neighbor and feel comfortable, offer to leave groceries at their doorstep.
Donate to a local nonprofit you support (family services, food pantries, arts organizations, shelters). Many of their resources are tight right now.

You should click here to see a post about being of service to others.

Covid-19 Money Stress

2020-04-16T07:51:00.002-07:00

Manage Money Stress

It’s normal to be worried about money right now. But there are some positives.

Think of the money you’re saving by staying home more often (less driving, fewer meals out).
Find creative ways to save more. A lot of businesses are offering free or discounted deals.
Take some time at home to go over your budget. Plan out your next few weeks to feel more secure.
If you do not have a rainy day fund, the time to start is now.

Try to have enough money to cover three to six months’ worth of essentials (these are the thing you need like rent and food) saved up. This fund will give you some cushion in case you lose your job or need to take on extra expenses.
Set a goal of having the equivalent of your annual salary saved up. This may seem pretty unrealistic but start small and see how that goes.

Now, you should click here to read about budgeting.

Success is all about perspective

2020-04-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” — Thomas A. Edison, American inventor and businessman

Success is all about perspective. If you think about each “failure” as a learning experience, you’ll come out on top every time.

In science, mistakes are just opportunities for learning something new, which is, after all, what scientific experiments are all about. Even if the experiment “doesn’t work,” we usually learn something valuable from it. Speaking of mistakes, don't judge people on making mistakes. We're all making mistakes. Judge people on how they handle it.

Failure always brings something valuable with it. Don't let failure slip away until you have taken away something. It is better to think of failure as a tool rather than an outcome. If you just failed a test or had a social encounter that didn't go your way, try to find some nugget buried in there that can be useful. Maybe your study methods are trash. Maybe you stink or your body language needs some improvement.

Success likes to hide itself in failure. If success was easy, everyone would be doing it. This keeps the lazy people out of the game.

Finally, a car's windshield is large but the rear view mirror is small because our past is not as important as our future. "Hey past. Yeah, we know you are back there. But we will choose look ahead and move on."

You should click here to read some wisdom from Grandpa.

Budgeting 101

2020-03-11T12:25:00.001-07:00

Budgeting is the key to feeling financially secure. It may seem like common sense but here are four main steps to making a budget.

Know your Income: Your gross income is how much your boss told you you’d make. Your net income is the money left over after deductions (things like income tax, Social Security, health insurance premiums, and your 401(k)). This is the amount deposited in your bank every pay period.
Set Goals: Do you want to pay off a credit card? Save up for a trip to Australia? Save up for a home? Start with one big goal and write down the magic number that corresponds with it.
Fixed expenses: Calculate your fixed, necessary monthly expenses. These are your “need it” expenses that stay fixed month-to-month. That includes rent, utilities, and transportation.
Tracking: For a month, break down everything you spend that’s not a fixed expense. These are your “want it” expenses. That includes clothes and travel. Be specific so you know exactly where you’re spending, and where you can cut down. Don’t just say “$350 on food and dining.” Instead, save all of your receipts: coffee: $40; groceries: $80; dinners out: $110; lunches: $120.

After a month of saving your receipts, subtract your expenses (both “need it” and “want it” expenses) from your monthly salary. Is that number negative or positive? Are you spending more than you’re making, or do you have some cash money left over?

If it’s positive…start saving. Calculate how long it will take you to get to your savings goal in step 2 if you save $50 a month vs. $100 a month vs. $200 a month vs….you get the picture. Experts recommend saving between 10 and 20 percent of your take-home pay. That might seem daunting, especially when you have a mountain of debt. Start with 5 percent. Even 1 percent. Just start somewhere.

If it’s negative…take a red pen to your “want it” expenses. Try these tips:

Food: Eating out can be expensive. If you’re spending too much on food, stop eating out so much. Also, don't buy food you don't eat.
Cuts: Take the top two biggest monthly expenses from your list (for example, lunches and dinners out) and try to cut those expenses by 10 percent. If you can do that, graduate to 20 percent the next month. Keep going until you’ve chopped your two biggest expenses in your most spend-happy category in half.

If you can’t decide where to cut down…remember that no one said budgeting was easy.

Savings rules:

50/30/20 rule: Try the 50/30/20 rule. Here’s how it works: Half your paycheck goes to things you need (the “need it” expenses, like rent). If you live in a major city this might be tricky to keep at just half. Another 30 percent goes to things you want (the “want it” expenses, like wine and plane tickets). And 20 percent goes to paying off debt or to savings and investing.
Rainy day fund: You should try to have enough money to cover three to six months’ worth of essentials (your “need it” expenses, like rent) saved up. This gives you some cushion in case you lose your job or need to take on extra expenses. By the time you are 30, you should try to have the equivalent of your annual salary saved up. This may seem pretty unrealistic but start small like saving three months’ worth of essentials and see how that goes.
Savings fail: If you are not meeting your savings goal, relax. First things first. As in, transfer your monthly goal amount to your savings account at the beginning of the month. To take it a step further, set it and forget it: Set up automatic, recurring savings transfers with your bank. Every month, your money should be making moves (from your checking to your savings). Having a separate savings account will make it easier not to touch that money for other things.

Savings accounts: Here are some of the different ones you can open with your bank.

Standard: The tried-and-true. This is the type of savings account most Americans have. Some have zero or low minimums. Do this if…you’re starting out and don’t have a lot of money to put into the account. Interest rates are low on standard accounts.
CD: Not that kind. This is a certificate of deposit. Banks often let you open a special kind of account with better rates than you would get in a regular savings account. But you have to keep your hands off that money for a certain amount of time (usually a few months up to a few years). Do this if…you won’t need to access that money for the period, and you want a “can’t touch this” way for your cash to earn interest.
High-yield savings account: An account where you put more in and get more back. The interest rates are often higher, but you usually need to invest a certain amount to get one. Do this if…you have more money to invest and want the flexibility of withdrawing it at any time.

Saving for retirement is kinda like eating right. It’s annoying and feels unrealistic in the short term, but it has long-term benefits. That may sound like BS but it’s true. Here are some of the retirement savings terms and concepts you’ll come across and the benefits of each.

401(k): An employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. It lets you save and invest a piece of your paycheck before taxes are taken out. You won’t be taxed on it until you start withdrawing the money (hint: That’s why you shouldn’t withdraw until you retire). Some companies will match how much you contribute to your 401(k) up to a certain amount. This is free money. You should avoid turning down free money. If it still sounds scary to set a piece of your paycheck away, know that you’ll have options for how to invest it. One common option is to park it in a target-date fund that tweaks your investments over the years based on what year you plan to retire. So as you get older, your 401(k) spread will become less risky. Do this if…your company offers it. Especially if they offer to match your contributions. Every company’s plan is different, so read the fine print.
IRA: Individual retirement account. There’s a max amount you can contribute to an IRA each year—it’s $6,000 for 2020, but typically goes up a little every few years. Like with a 401(k), you decide how you want to invest it. If you do a traditional IRA, you hit snooze on paying taxes on the money until you take it out. If you do a Roth IRA, you’ll pay the taxes up front. Some experts say it’s better to do a Roth IRA, since you don’t have to pay taxes when you withdraw all that money that’s been gathering interest for years. It’s also advised to invest your money into your IRA or Roth IRA at the beginning of the year, so it has the chance to gain interest over the year. Do this if…your company doesn’t offer a 401(k), or if you’re maxing out your 401(k) and want to put aside even more money for retirement. Or if you just want to pay less taxes now while saving up for the future.

Budgeting is a b-word. But it will result in the savings you need in the long run—which means extra money in the bank and cash to invest.

Source: How to Skimm Your Life

After your budget is done, click here to read some money trivia.

The salt salesman

2020-02-12T10:21:00.001-08:00

The salt salesman

There once was a salt salesman who worked for a company that sold salt to grocery stores. This guy grew up poor then joined the Navy. After his time in the Navy, he got into the salt business. One problem selling salt is that all salt is basically the same. Salt is salt no matter where you go to get it. There was nothing special about the salt that he was selling that differentiated it from other salt. Because of this, salt is generally purchased based only on the price. Yet, this guy became the top salt salesman in the company. So how did he do this? He found a system (not a goal) of helping people without asking for anything in return.

For example, one day, the salt salesman was selling salt at a grocery store and found out that the store owner was reorganizing his store over the weekend. On Saturday, the salt salesman showed up unannounced and helped the store owner reorganize his store. He ended up spending most of the day there. That store owner became a regular customer from then on. Using this system, the salt salesman was very successful.

The lesson is that we should look for ways to be of service to others and expect nothing in return. Helping someone with a small task like moving a couch or doing a homework assignment can benefit you in many unknown ways. You may not receive back from the same person but that is fine because you had no expectation of getting anything back anyway. People like to interact with other people and will choose those that are kind and generous more often. The worst thing that can happen is you will be a better person because of it.

Now, click here to read about using failure.

Red River Gorge Auxier Ridge Loop- (5.0 miles)

2020-01-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

Courthouse Rock from the double arch

Auxier Ridge Loop- (5.0 miles)

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:

From rest area at exit #33 off of the Mountain State Parkway Turn left, and go to end of road (.3 miles)
Turn Right onto KY 15 (3.3 miles)
Turn Left onto Tunnel Ridge Road (3.7 miles)
Park at the End of Tunnel Ridge Road in the Auxier Ridge Parking Area

DETAILS :

Follow Trail #204 Auxier Ridge Trail (2.0 miles) (do NOT turn left on Trail #202 Courthouse Rock Trail after approximately 1 mile)
Arrive at Auxier Ridge and Courthouse Rock
Turn Left onto Trail #202 Courthouse Rock Trail (2.0 miles)
Turn Right on Trail #204 Auxier Ridge Trail (1.0 miles)
Arrive at Auxier Ridge Parking Area

I got the route above here.

We started by taking a pre-hike urination break.

Here is where the trail begins

Haystack Rock

You should watch your step on the ridge

Enjoy the views

Be Careful!

Lots of people have carved stuff in the rocks. Here is a nice design.

Courthouse rock

Now, head down to the double arch.

You will probably have a few streams to cross over

Here is the sign that will point you to the double arch

If you get this far, you are getting close

The arch is pretty cool

Stop craving something unhealthy

2019-12-04T06:16:00.002-08:00

Distract Yourself
If you are craving something unhealthy, try to think about the long-term impact of eating that food. Changing your mindset towards certain foods can help you resist the urge. Instead of giving in and reaching for that unhealthy snack, pat yourself on the back for making the right decision.

Click here to see how carbs can make you fat.

Be Grateful, Eat Less

2019-12-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

Be Grateful, Eat Less
Feeling positive about life can help you make better food choices. Focus on being positive and happy before each meal by reminding yourself of what makes you thankful. Your positive outlook is more likely to make you opt for healthy foods!

Click here to read about how you can distract yourself to stop cravings..

Proactive or Reactive

2019-11-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Proactive or Reactive…
You have many chances to choose whether to be proactive or reactive every day. Reactive people make choices based on impulse. They can explode at any time. Proactive people make choices based on values. They think before they act. They recognize they can’t control everything that happens to them, but they can control what they do about it. Unlike reactive people they are in control.

Besides feeling like victims, reactive people:

Are easily offended
Blame others
Get angry and say things they later regret
Whine and complain
Wait for things to happen to them
Change only when they have to

Proactive people:

Are not easily offended
Take responsibility for their choices
Think before they act
Bounce back when something bad happens
Always find a way to make it happen
Focus on things they can do something about, and don’t worry about things they can't

Try these:

Be the first to say Hello.
Do something today that you have wanted to do but never dared. Leave your comfort zone and go for it. Ask someone to lunch or out on a date, raise your hand in class or a meeting, or join a team.
Walk up and introduce yourself to someone new.
The next time you feel like you were treated unfairly, don’t blow it off or cry about it, set aside some time to discuss it with that person and then see what you can learn.

Click here for more wisdom.

Carbohydrates make you fat

2019-11-04T11:37:00.001-08:00

Carbohydrates make you fat

Losing fat is not as hard as it might seem. All you need to do is to cut back on carbohydrates. When you eat carbohydrates, they get converted into glucose by insulin (a metabolic hormone). Too much glucose can be toxic so your pancreas sends out even more insulin to manage this. Now, instead of burning fat as fuel, you are converting calories into fat and storing it. Your body is great at converting carbs into fat and will gladly do that if there are too many carbs in your diet.

I found this picture on a site that thinks this is all bunk but oddly enough, it pretty much lays it out for you:

Gain muscle, Burn fat

Try to exercise to exhaustion twice a week on an empty stomach when insulin levels are low. This will force your body to release human growth hormones which allows you to use fat for fuel instead of glucose. Do not eat for an hour after the exercise to keep your level of growth hormones higher longer which will help build muscle and burn fat. If you want to burn fat, you have to gain muscle. The other benefit of this is that it will train your muscles to use more oxygen. Muscle helps you stay lean by making you insulin sensitive. This means that you require less insulin and, thus, will lower your blood sugar. The key to losing fat is to lower insulin levels and increasing muscle is the best way to do this.

Here are six high-carb foods you are probably eating today:

Bananas - In general, don't overeat high-carb fruits. Try handfuls not bowlfuls and focus on berries which are lower in carbs.
Oatmeal
Orange Juice
Pasta
Beer - liquid carbs
Whole grains - better than refined carbs but they still jack up blood glucose and insulin.

Daily Carbohydrate Recommendations:

I found this chart here:

Here are some bad ways to lose weight:

Exercise - Exercise is great for lots of health-related reasons but exercise alone is not the best way to lose weight.
Counting calories - Calorie-counters might eat carbs with low calories without knowing they are stimulating appetite. Try to focus on eating the right foods instead.
Cheat day - If you find yourself talking about your upcoming cheat day a week in advance, and craving it, you probably just set yourself up to become addicted to that cheat day – and therefore bad food in general – by your diet plan.
Portion control - Portion control has the same problem as calorie-counting. If you eat the right food, portion control takes care of itself.
Cleanse - Science does not support cleanses. Try to find a diet plan that is not debunked by science.
Fasting - Fasting will cause your metabolism to slow by 40%. This is why eating regular meals is essential when trying to lose weight.
Diets - You might lose 10 pounds dieting but if you return to your normal diet you probably will gain it back. This is because you learned how to lose weight on the diet plan but not how to lose weight on your normal diet.
Willpower - Try knowledge instead. If you just apply knowledge of proper eating you will not need any extra willpower whatsoever.

Now, click here for a tip on how to be grateful and eat less.

Ohio University and drinking alcohol

2019-10-24T10:28:00.004-07:00

Ohio University and drinking alcohol

Ohio University is nestled in the rolling hills of Appalachian Ohio

in Athens. This scenic town is a mere 90-minute drive southeast from Columbus. With an approximate student population of 23,000, Athens, Ohio, is the quintessential college town.

Ohio University is well known as the nation’s top Party School. However, the school is trying to end this reputation and has implemented very strict drinking policies.

Before we get to that, here are some reasons why they have the reputation.

Court Street

The red bricks on this historic street are famous. The street is only about a half mile but there are bars up and down. Court Street is well known for drink specials and drunken naughtiness. However, this street is also notorious for undercover cops that lurk in the shadows and into the bars so be careful.
Bong Hill - named for all the potheads who make the climb.
Green Beer Day - Yay! The beer is green!
Win Or Lose, Bobcats Booze - Chants of “win or lose, Bobcats booze,” can be heard late into the night on Court Street after whatever game was just played.
Welcome Weekend - a whirlwind experience where newcomers are encouraged to drink up on that first Friday night.
Homecoming - Kegs and Eggs typically begin at 5 a.m. followed by 24 hours of drinking on Court Street.
Fest Season - plenty of drinking and a musical festival to boot.
Halloween

The City of Athens closes Court Street and madness ensues.
Alumni - Just ask any OU alum about their time at OU and you will hear a drunken tale or three.
The Bobcat Attitude - they embrace their reputation.

With all that said, if you are underage, you should think twice about drinking when partaking in any of the above activities.

OU Policy
Despite all of this fun, OU is actually the wrong school for people under 21 years old that want to drink. The OU policy is very strict compared to most schools. It gives you two strikes, with the second being a semester suspension. A strike can come from a dorm write-up, off-campus violation, or through the notorious undercover cops in jeans and hoodies that make their way into bars. These sneaky officers lay low for a little while then, out of nowhere, arrest the unsuspecting teen for drinking at the wrong place at the wrong time. The university condones this as part of the strict policy. The city loves this because it is a revenue source. Anyway, a student can face probation after getting caught in the dorms or at the bars. You can even get reported by your RA if they smell it in your room. It may not seem fair when it seems like most underage kids are drinking but oh well.

Do NOT urinate in public
Many assume the most common student arrests are due to either underage drinking or open container violations. The leading cause of arrest on Ohio University’s campus is public indecency. This is usually because the lines at the bathroom are too long so people take their business outside. Don’t allow yourself to get popped for this!

If you get caught
If you get caught by the Athens police (who are out to get you), you will be given a court date. If it is your first offense, they will give you diversion which will consist of:

Read a book and do a book report
8 hours of community service
3 hours of alcohol training

The total cost will be around $400 but at least you won't have a record (assuming you complete the 3 steps). I hope it was worth it. Oh but wait, there's more. The school will find out about it and hand you this:

A $200 fine
More community service

Now you are out $600 bucks! And you lost two days doing service.

If you are underage and must drink, here are some tips:

Do not drink in a bar even if they let you in.
Do not buy alcoholic beverages even if some store or bar will sell it to you.
Do not drink on the streets or in public at all.
Do not overdo it. This is good advice anyway. Why do you want to get so drunk you can't even enjoy yourself?
Do not drink in the dorms. The RA can report you.
Drinking at a house is safe but do ALL of your drinking in the house and DO NOT overdo it (see tip #4).
Remember that the police are out to get you. The city of Athens makes a lot of money preying on teenagers who are drinking.

People don't care

If you are not 21 and do not want to risk suspension, just don't drink. People do not care if you don’t want to drink. Don’t feel like you have to do certain things to fit in. This is college so no one actually cares. Live your life to the fullest but don’t make stupid decisions that will haunt you.

Click here to see 20 reasons not to get drunk!

Relationship advice

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Relationships

Center - Do not make someone the center of your life. If you center your life on someone...

You’re no longer hard to get which is a bad look.
It’s irritating. Imagine having someone build their entire emotional life around you. Yuck!
You will come off as desperate and needy. Avoid that.

Bad signs

Often assessing your relationship a lot or asking "Where do we stand?"
When you reach out and they don't reach back.
You only meet on their terms.

Instead remember...

Don't chase people.
Work hard and be yourself. The right people will find their way into your life.
Before you go looking for the right person, be the right person.

And finally...

Beware of someone who is only focused on their own interests, at the exclusion of your's.
Meet people where they are, versus where you think they should be.
Don't try to change someone. A commitment held together only by threats and restrictions isn't one at all. Accept someone as-is or leave.
Never trust anyone that lies to you.

Be sure to read more wisdom here.

Casablanca, Morocco Travel facts

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Welcome to Casablanca, Morocco!

An Old Friend

History - Morocco has a unique place in early American history. In 1777, it was the first foreign country to recognize the United States. The Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship of 1786 remains our oldest unbroken alliance treaty.

Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, also has a special place in American culture. The 1942 movie by that name, starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is widely regarded as an American classic.

Tourism - Morocco’s economy is stable, and tourism is an important industry, just behind agriculture. Each year the country welcomes millions of visitors. Many flock to the urban cafés, where they can sip mint tea and enjoy the spectacle.

Morocco is culturally diverse, and several languages are commonly spoken here, including Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish. It’s not unusual for Moroccan speakers to move from one language to another in mid-sentence.

Food - By now you must be hungry. Dining in Casablanca is bound to be a memorable experience. Moroccan cuisine combines Berber, Portuguese, Spanish, Middle Eastern and African influences. Chicken is the preferred meat, along with beef and lamb, and cumin is the most widely used spice. (They use it on everything.) Even the couscous — the real stuff, not the boxed kind — can be a real treat for the unsuspecting palette.

Trains

are a popular way to travel in Morocco. They are relatively inexpensive and tend to run on time. You can take the Marrakesh Express, or head out to Fes, a popular spot for shoppers, food lovers and music fans. You might need to take a camel to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, or to visit Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains. For a quiet place where you can reflect on your African adventures before returning home, check out Moulay Idriss, Morocco’s holiest city.

Fun Fact: At the Strait of Gibraltar,

Morocco is less than 14.4 km (9 miles) from Spain. It takes about 4-5 hours for strong swimmers to make the crossing, and each year dozens of swimmers give it a try.

Now, check out Petra, Jordan by clicking here.

Algiers, Algeria Travel facts

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Algiers, Algeria
‘Algerian Pompeii’

Size - Algeria’s land mass is the largest of any African country, and the 10th largest in the world. Its area exceeds 900,000 square miles — four times the size of Texas — although nearly 90% of this land is in the Sahara Desert, and mostly uninhabited.

History - Algeria has a long and fascinating history. It was a Phoenician trading hub, and later a Roman colony. Prior to French occupation in 1830, it was a stronghold for Barbary pirates. In Algiers, you can visit the Martyrs’ Memorial

to those who fought and died for Algeria’s independence, won in 1962. The 300-foot memorial features three giant palm fronds joined at the top by a dome that protects an eternal flame. It’s just one of many impressive monuments and architectural treasures in the city.

Others include:
Great Mosque of Algiers.

Built in 1097, it is the oldest mosque in the city, and a rare remaining example of Almoravid architecture.
Djama’a al-Djedid Mosque.

Built in 1660, it combines Ottoman style with Turkish, Italian and Andalusian architecture.
Notre Dame d’Afrique.

Built in 1872, this Neo-Byzantine-style Catholic basilica is a near-copy of the cathedral in Marseille, France.

There are other antiquities to explore, including the ancient Roman ruins at Timgad — dubbed the “Algerian Pompeii.”

But after all your sightseeing in arid climates, perhaps you’re ready to spend some time by the sea. You can do this at Sidi Fredj,

one of Algeria’s most popular seaside resort towns. Or, better yet, you can cool off at Aquafortland, a waterpark and spa in Algiers that features three swimming pools and four water slides.

Fun Fact: Most of Algeria’s economy is driven by oil and natural gas exports. It’s external debt is extremely low. Debt-free is a great goal for all of us to have!

Now, check out Casablanca, Morocco by clicking here.

Bamako, Mali Travel facts

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Welcome to Bamako, Mali!

To Timbuktu and Back

Mali has been a democracy since 1992. With only 18.5 million people, it is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. This is partly because the northern third of the country is in the Sahara Desert,

where temperatures during the day can reach nearly 140° F.

Holidays - Mali celebrates several holidays each year — some religious, including Christmas, Easter, and the end of Ramadan — and some civic, such as Armed Forces Day, National Independence Day, and “National Complaints Day,” when citizens are able to bring complaints to the government without fear of reprisal. (This might sound strange in America, where complaining to the government is an inalienable right every day!)

Dance - Mali likes to dance.

It has a ballet company that performs worldwide. But the country is most famous for its traditional dancers, sometimes portraying animal spirits and donning masks that are as intricate and compelling as the dances themselves. Set to music that combines native traditional with elements of rock’n’roll, the dances tell stories that reflect Mali’s view of the world.

The Great Mosque in Djenné

is the world’s largest mud-built structure. Each year, thousands of residents give it a fresh coat of mud plaster during the crépissage de la Grand Mosquée. But Djenné is not quite as famous as Timbuktu, a formerly lush, thriving center of Arab-African commerce on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

Unfortunately, drought and desert encroachment have taken a toll on Timbuktu. But in its height, it was a center of learning, home to one of the world’s first universities. Its libraries still house some 700,000 ancient manuscripts — a reminder of its once-glorious past.

Fun Fact: Rock paintings

found in the region of Gao and Timbuktu are evidence that Mali was inhabited by people around 50,000 BC.

Now click here to read some facts about Algiers, Algeria.

Accra, Ghana Travel Facts

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Welcome to Accra, Ghana!

A True Homecoming

Museums - Like Nigeria, Ghana also has its museums — among them, the Cape Coast

and Elmina Castles.

Set on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, these bright, stately buildings have a dark history: Along with 30 other castles and forts on Ghana’s coast, these were the points of departure for millions of African men and women captured and sold into bondage during the slave trade.

History - Many of the surviving fortresses are now museums. They tell the painful story of slavery and its brutality. They also are part of an ambitious government program to increase tourism in Ghana from 1 million visitors a year to 8 million by 2027. The intent is not to exploit the crimes of history. Rather, it is to ensure that this horrific chapter is never forgotten.

As the first sub-Saharan African nation to win independence from colonial rule, Ghana has a tradition of reaching out to foreigners of African descent. Its Right of Abode law, passed in 2000, makes it possible for anyone of African descent to remain in Ghana indefinitely.

Slave Trade - Building on that effort, an initiative called “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” marks 400 years from the start of the slave trade to the Americas. Activities scheduled each month will include a music festival and investment conference. President Nana Akufo-Addo described the year-long event as a “birthright journey home for the global African family.”

National Parks - At the same time, Ghana opens its arms to all members of the global human family. It is eager to show off its miles of palm-lined beaches and the arresting natural beauty always on display at the Kakum,

Nini-Suhien

and Bia

national parks. Mostly, it hopes to share with the world the warmth and friendliness of its people, and the joy a visitor can experience while visiting a Ghanaian village.

Fun Fact: Ghana was ranked Africa’s most peaceful country by the Global Peace Index. In your travels, you might want to quiet your mind by finding a calm and peaceful place to do some mindful meditation.

Now, check out Bamako, Mali by clicking here.