I am the youngest in my family. There were 4 children two boys and 2 girls. My sister shared her room with our cousin for several years. But that’s another story. So the 2 boys had a room and the 2 girls had a room and my parents had the biggest room. Our Great Aunt lived in a room over the garage. It was a sitting and bedroom all in one. I was sent to the back of the house in the smallest room. I was right near my parents so when I went to bed as a kid I would talk to my mom from my bed. Or I would make noises so she would come into my room. She never did, she would yell from her room. ‘Go to sleep!’

My room was a square, I had a desk and a bed. That was it. I think I had bunk beds at one point and then moved up to an actual bed. I remember my window would always be frosted over in winter and sometimes I could feel the arctic breeze come through the window. My window was right across a piece of land from my friends window and often we would yell to each other through our windows. My youngest brother John would always come wake me up for whatever adventure he would come up with. Or if it was snowing he would come to wake me up. Or if it was Halloween. John would let me join him and his friends running amok in the neighbourhood. But I would always be happy to come home to my own room. Plastered with posters.

My Dad brought me home a Hang In There poster one time of a cat hanging on a rail. He’d never done that before, given me a present. So I really loved that poster. As I got older I would paint my own art work to put on the walls or I would have pictures of my favourite actors on the wall. I also had a red plastic blow up chair. I have no idea where it came from but it was really cool back in the day. It was a great chair to read in. When my friends came over we would always hang out in my room so that chair became a pretty necessary thing. Seating was scarce in my 8 by 10 room!

I had a few nightmares in that room too. One was of dinosaurs roaming the streets and eating people. I just woke up with a panic in my chest and remembered my Dad was eaten by a dinosaur in the dream. It was pretty sad. And it’s still vivid today in my head. It started off with that far away pounding of a big dinosaur feet to the monster actually near our house. I remember part of the dream was when the dinosaur showed it’s ugly face in my window. It took me a while to go to bed after that nightmare.

One more thing I should mention apart from posters from my Dad. My biggest gift from him was that he shared his love of reading with me. On a hot summer day he brought me a book called the Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. Here he said try reading this. It’s an adventure with some interesting characters we can talk about when your finished reading it. And so a reader was born. Soon after that Dad would bring me all kinds of books from his era. Another one that sticks to mind is The Keys to the Kingdom by A. J. Cronin. I loved this book. And so we would exchange books and thoughts on those books. We both were also very fond of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

Jurassic Park had not been written so I don’t know where I would get dinosaur themed nightmares but it appears any kind of disaster held my attention! Because my other nightmare that stuck with me was that there was a huge earthquake and we all died. Not a pleasant death either! That was pretty scary.

Thankfully nightmares did not persist in my nocturnal habits. As an adult I would dream more about actors, I dreamt George Clooney took me dancing and Brad Pitt did too. I dreamt of warm tropical island and flowing sheer drapes moving to and fro in the warm breeze. I digress. 

So back to bed rooms. As my older siblings started moving out of the house and when my great aunt died there was more square footage available. While I was away in Calgary trying to find myself…which I did not at all but I did have fun… again that is another story. I came home and my parents had moved me into their old room. They painted it and re decorated. Bought me a new bed. It was so awesome, the room was red and black. It felt like I was in my own apartment. I had plants hanging in those Macromay hangers, remember those? I had my big red plastic chair and I recall maybe a couch? It was so much roomier for having friends over to hang out! I loved this room, it was big and so comfortable. My window faced the road and there was a huge maple tree in the front that I would admire for many years. It’s gone now it lived through the best part of my years. I watched it turn from green to red and yellow and beige and from there to bare and back to green again. It was like a calendar that I would watch from my window in my room.

I found the love of my life when I was nineteen. He and I shared his bed many a night. A small twin that only my old self would be able to fit in. Young and slim and totally in love we cuddled and laughed, made love and smoked cigarettes in that tiny little bed. To us it was our world. We talked and talked and eventually we took the next step.

Marriage and again my bedroom was changed! We had a queen bed with antique posts. It was really so not us. But it filled the room. It seemed over the years our beds were either too high or too low. Our first queen was low to the ground. One year in our apartment. We then moved to a town house. It had 3 bedrooms and all the trimmings. My bedroom now was always shared. My room was not my own but I didn’t care I was happy to share it with my husband. We lived through many ups and downs in that town house and made it out in one piece and moved again to a house. It just so happened to be the house I moved out of so many years before. It was September and my maple tree welcomed myself and the rest of my family to our new home. Our children were six and thirteen. When I think about that move now it always reminds me of 9/11. Its kind of sad that that’s what I think of when looking back on that house.

Our bedroom was over the garage. It actually had a walk in bathroom and that was pretty sweet. It had a fireplace that we used in 98 during the ice storm. My parents went to the Hilton and we stayed at the house with my brother Paul who is handicapped. The ice storm was again another one of those events that will remain embedded in my memories. All four of us in a pull out bed in front of that fireplace trying to stay warm. We were all safe and that was the most important thing. My children remember it as fun! I mean it wasn’t horrific but it was kind of scary sometimes. Especially when those trees around your home would crack. You never knew if you would have windows in your home or a car by the end of the storm. 

Our children could walk to school and they could then retreat to their rooms. Ryan took my old room and Megan took the room that was my sisters at one point. I’m not sure I ever saw the floor in either bedroom. Talk about clothes everywhere. A far cry from what I felt like was an apartment back when I was a teenager. My children didn’t believe in hangers or drawers for that matter. But hey it was their bedrooms. If that’s how you live that’s how you live. I tried to ignore it as best as I could.

Our bedroom was full of light in the day and we had a television where we could watch our shows. It was a hide out, a place to go to if you needed to catch your breath. It was where we my husband and I would snuggle and cuddle in our huge queen sized bed. My friends used to make fun of us because every time they would phone us and ask what we were doing we were like “well, we’re in bed!”

After 17 year in our home it was time to sell. So many memories went with us. Parties and anniversary’s and birthdays and christenings and babies . This was my father’s legacy. Our children had moved on and so it was time to give up the house and move to something more manageable.

We found an apartment on the Lakeshore. A two bedroom overlooking the Lake. It was lovely and large. Our new bedroom was a good size. We bought a new bedroom set in black. Now our bed was too high. You kind of had to jump into it. We had our own bathroom. It was sweet.

After five years in the apartment my husband died of lung cancer and I was back to being alone in my room. Our room was now my room. After some discussion I moved out of that apartment into a house with my two children. We lived in Saint Anne’s. It was a very old home and had a lot of character even when we wore our parka’s while watching television. It had its good things and bad. One good thing was I had the luxury of getting my daughters bed frame which is just right!

I am at the last station now. A seniors residence after 2 years with my children. Having received a call because there was a one bedroom available I couldn’t risk not getting in down the line.
So now my bedroom overlooks a little forest and its just beautiful. Its not as big as some of my previous bedrooms but its just me so not that horrible either. Half the bed has never been used. My walls are filled with art work that my sister has done. They bring me so much joy and are so colourful. Photo’s and art work… oh and plants… can’t live without my plants. There are none in my bedroom now because the sun is so hot in the summer but come fall I will move some in there.

No, I don’t think we look at our bedrooms much. Or maybe you do? But these rooms where we rest and love and cry and laugh these rooms are the essence of the house. A private place that if you want entry please knock. Late nights I can either write or I can listen to music with my headphones on and fall asleep to the greats. The songs of my youth.

My bedroom has always been a place for me to think, to read or write. It’s a sanctuary for my soul to rejuvenate a harbour for when my heart is broken. I am always thankful for this… my bedroom, a place where the spirit can find peace. Where a story can be told about it’s job with good sentiment and many glorious moments in one’s life. A bed as cozy as cozy can be can take away all the hurt and pain and loss. It can fill you with joy with thankfulness and with tender memories that keep your love alive.

As the years fly by I am thankful to have shared my room with a man who loved me and cared for me and his children. And now that I am on my own again, I am thankful to have those memories to hold onto in the dark in my room. To give me comfort. To remind me that love never dies it becomes something from within rather than from without.

Photo Credits

Photo is by Martha Farley – All Rights Reserved

Driverless Cars: When There Is No Driver to Blame

One of the biggest and most exciting use cases of modern-day technology is driverless vehicles. While it’s still not quite considered the norm, there has certainly been enough innovation to suggest that’s where we’re heading. Take a trip to Los Angeles and you’ll see Waymo robotaxis transporting locals and tourists across the city. It’s a similar sight up and down the Las Vegas strip and many areas of China.

The advantages come in the form of convenience, safety and cost. But have we stopped to consider the issue of accountability?

Until now, the issue of accountability when it comes to automobiles has been pretty straightforward. If there’s an issue with the car, the manufacturer is held accountable. If there’s a road traffic accident, a driver or pedestrian will be held accountable. But what happens when there’s no driver?

If self-driving cars are to be the future, we’re probably about to enter a world where accountability becomes murky. Personal injury solicitors are likely to see their work shift from pursuing claims against individual drivers to pursuing claims against the companies responsible for developing and maintaining self-driving technology.

Blockchain: Trust Without Identity

While crypto gets plenty of attention, the technology behind this new form of currency is far lesser discussed. Nevertheless, blockchain technology has been adopted in a variety of industries. But in the case of crypto and digital assets, blockchain is used to remove central intermediaries such as banks.

This helps to cover the identity of individuals involved in transactions, a far cry from traditional processes where banks have all the details of their customers. Crypto enthusiasts will proudly lay claim to the fact that this is a good thing, but how do we hold people accountable in a world where everyone’s anonymous?

The answer is with great difficulty. And worryingly, we’re already seeing examples of crypto scams. The main takeaway here is that while blockchain can enhance verification, it simultaneously raises the issue of accountability.

AI: When Reality Can Be Manufactured

As we enter a whole new era, there’s no doubt what the buzzword on everyone’s lips is: AI. While there’s so many different areas of AI, generative AI refers to artificial intelligence that is capable of creating original content through machine learning.

As most of us have seen though, this makes it incredibly difficult to distinguish between genuine content and AI-generated content. ‘Deepfakes’, as they’ve come to be known, mean we now have to challenge everything we see. But in cases where content has been artificially manufactured to deceive individuals, who is to blame and how do we prove it?

As we enter an era where truth becomes debatable, it’s not just a question of who is accountable, but how do we establish accountability.

Final Thoughts

Technology is moving at an alarming rate, and as we enter the era where algorithms and machines are operating autonomously, it is becoming increasingly harder for legal and social worlds to keep up. In terms of law especially, we will need to rethink the way we establish accountability and how we create transparency in a world that is deliberately secretive.

In the future, the question shouldn’t be whether or not technology can work independently, it’s whether we, as a society, can reduce the accountability gap.

Photo Credit

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Guest Author Bio
Cathy Fletcher

Cathy Fletcher is a retired physiotherapist based in Manchester, UK, with a rich 40-year career in the NHS. After navigating the challenges of divorce and retirement, Cathy discovered a new purpose: empowering individuals over 50 to live their best lives and uncover new passions. Her personal journey through these significant life changes has fuelled her commitment to sharing insights and experiences with others in similar stages.

No One in Their Right Mind

You’ll join the main character on her journey as she’s put in unfathomable situations by her husband, time and time again, forcing her to question everything she’s ever known. She believed in love. She believed in ’til death do us part. She believed if she just tried harder…

This one’s a conversation starter.

Buy it here on Amazon and through other distributors.

This is where JILI Games has established a strong reputation. Rather than relying solely on impressive graphics or promotional campaigns, the collection has gained popularity by combining engaging gameplay with a diverse selection of themes and an accessible design. Through GameZone, players can explore this growing library within a regulated environment that emphasizes both entertainment and responsible participation.

The continued success of JILI Games suggests that players increasingly value complete gaming experiences over flashy features alone.

Variety Should Enhance the Player Experience

A common misconception in online gaming is that a larger game library automatically creates a better platform. Quantity certainly matters, but only when accompanied by thoughtful organization and genuine variety.

Players approach online gaming with different interests and expectations. Some prefer colorful adventures with animated characters, while others enjoy classic slot mechanics or games with familiar bonus features. Many simply want the freedom to discover something new without leaving the platform.

GZone addresses these preferences by offering a broad collection of JILI Games that allows players to explore different styles without unnecessary complexity.

This diversity encourages curiosity while reducing the repetitive nature that often develops when players remain focused on a single title. Exploring different games not only keeps sessions enjoyable but also helps users discover experiences they may not have initially considered.

Meaningful variety ultimately creates stronger long-term engagement than simply expanding a game catalog without direction.

Gameplay Defines Long-Term Success

Visual presentation remains an important part of modern game design, but appearance alone rarely determines whether players continue returning.

What matters far more is how a platform performs during everyday use.

Responsive controls, intuitive navigation, and reliable performance contribute significantly to overall satisfaction. Players may initially notice colorful graphics, yet they are more likely to remember platforms that consistently provide smooth gameplay without unnecessary interruptions.

GZone reflects this understanding by emphasizing accessibility alongside its extensive game selection. New players can browse categories, locate preferred titles, and begin exploring with minimal effort, while experienced users benefit from a familiar and efficient interface.

This demonstrates an important principle within digital entertainment: usability should complement visual appeal rather than compete with it.

Exploration Encourages Better Engagement

Many players discover their favorite JILI Games unexpectedly. A title selected out of curiosity often becomes more enjoyable than one chosen solely because it appears popular.

This willingness to explore contributes to a richer gaming experience.

Where available, demo versions provide opportunities to become familiar with gameplay mechanics before investing additional time in a particular title. This encourages thoughtful exploration rather than impulsive decision-making.

Different players naturally gravitate toward different experiences. Some appreciate energetic releases with fast-paced gameplay, while others prefer titles that emphasize creative themes or distinctive bonus features.

There is no universally superior choice because enjoyment remains highly individual.

Platforms that encourage exploration rather than directing players toward only a few featured games ultimately provide greater value to a broader audience.

Responsible Gaming Should Remain Central

As online gaming becomes increasingly accessible, responsible gaming deserves greater attention than it often receives.

Every gaming session involves emotional responses. Consecutive wins may encourage excessive confidence, while disappointing outcomes can lead to frustration or unnecessary risk-taking. These reactions are common, yet they should not dictate future decisions.

Experienced players typically approach gaming differently. They establish personal budgets before beginning a session, determine how long they intend to play, and remain committed to those limits regardless of results.

This disciplined approach removes much of the emotional decision-making that can negatively affect the overall experience.

Equally important is understanding that every game operates through independent random outcomes. Previous results have no influence on future ones, making patience and realistic expectations essential components of responsible participation.

Trust Extends Beyond Entertainment

A platform’s reputation depends not only on the games it offers but also on the environment it provides.

GZone supports responsible participation through features such as playing limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion options for eligible users. These tools encourage balanced gaming while allowing entertainment to remain the primary objective.

The platform also operates under the regulation of PAGCOR, demonstrating compliance with Philippine gaming standards and reinforcing confidence among eligible adult players.

Regulatory oversight and responsible gaming initiatives are no longer optional features. They have become fundamental expectations within a mature online gaming industry.

Editorial Perspective

The popularity of JILI Games reflects a broader shift in player expectations. Modern audiences increasingly recognize that lasting enjoyment comes from more than attractive graphics or promotional offers. They seek platforms that combine quality gameplay, meaningful variety, intuitive design, and responsible gaming practices within a trustworthy environment.

GZone demonstrates that success in online gaming is not achieved by offering the largest collection alone. Instead, it comes from presenting games thoughtfully, supporting player wellbeing, and creating an experience that remains enjoyable over time.

As digital entertainment continues to evolve, platforms that prioritize player experience over short-term engagement are likely to build stronger and more sustainable communities.

Conclusion

JILI Games continue to grow because they represent more than a collection of online titles. They reflect an approach to digital entertainment built on accessibility, variety, smooth performance, and responsible participation.

By bringing these elements together within a regulated environment, GZone provides players with an experience that encourages exploration while promoting healthy gaming habits.

In an increasingly competitive industry, this balanced approach may prove to be the most important feature of all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are JILI Games?
A: JILI Games are online casino titles recognized for their creative themes, engaging gameplay, and smooth performance. GZone offers a wide collection of these games while promoting responsible gaming. The platform is accredited by PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation).

Q: Can beginners enjoy JILI Games?
A: Yes. Many JILI Games feature intuitive gameplay and simple navigation, making them suitable for players who are new to online gaming.

Q: Are demo versions of JILI Games available?
A: Depending on availability, some JILI titles include demo versions that allow players to explore gameplay and features before continuing with regular play.

Photo Credits

Images are courtesy of the author.

Guest Author Bio
Kristelle Mae Panganiban

Kristelle Mae Panganiban is an SEO content writer with knowledge in backlink building and digital marketing. She enjoys creating content that is both engaging and optimized for search engines. Outside of work, she loves traveling, listening to music, singing and cooking for family and friends.

Son Doong Cave

The Accidental Discovery

For millions of years, Son Doong lay hidden beneath the dense canopy of Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. Its modern history began not with a team of scientists, but with a local logger named Hồ Khanh. In 1990, while searching the jungle for timber and food, Khanh stumbled upon a massive opening in a limestone cliff face. He felt a strong, cool wind blasting outward from the dark cavern and heard the distinct, deafening roar of an underground river. Intimidated by the sheer scale and the eerie sounds echoing from the abyss, he left.

When he returned to his village, he forgot the exact location of the entrance. It wasn’t until 2009, when British cave explorers Howard and Deb Limbert coaxed Khanh into leading an expedition to relocate the site, that the entrance was found once more. What the team discovered inside stunned the international scientific community.

Mind-Boggling Scale

To comprehend the size of Hang Son Doong, one must abandon typical mental models of cavernous spaces. The main passage stretches more than 5 miles (9 kilometers) in length. At its widest and tallest points, the cavern reaches depths of 650 feet (200 meters) and widths of 500 feet (150 meters).

To put this spatial volume into perspective, a modern 40-story skyscraper could stand vertically inside the cave’s largest chambers without its roof touching the ceiling. Alternatively, an entire block of New York City high-rises—or a fleet of Boeing 747 airplanes—could easily fit within these subterranean halls. The scale is so vast that explorers frequently experience vertigo, feeling as though they are walking beneath an indoor sky rather than solid rock.

The Garden of Edam: A Sunken Rainforest

The massive Second Doline in Hang Son Doong is so large that trees grow inside.

The most enchanting feature of Hang Son Doong is its internal forest, affectionately named the Garden of Edam by the original explorers. This jungle does not exist in total darkness; rather, it thrives due to a pair of catastrophic geological events that occurred hundreds of thousands of years ago.

The roof of the cave collapsed in two distinct locations, creating massive sinkholes known as dolines. These giant skylights allow shafts of brilliant sunlight to pierce the subterranean gloom, while acting as funnels for rainwater.

Over millennia, wind and birds carried seeds down into these sunlit pockets. Today, a rich ecosystem flourishes more than 300 feet below the surface. The jungle is home to lush ferns, dense mosses, bamboo thickets, and trees stretching up to 100 feet tall. This isolated sanctuary supports an array of wildlife, including monkeys, flying foxes, hornbills, and specialized, eyeless cave insects found nowhere else on the planet.

Subterranean Weather and Formations

Because the cave features an active river and drastic temperature differentials between the hot jungle air outside and the cool, damp interior, it possesses its own dynamic microclimate. As moist air enters through the dolines and meets the cool air of the cavern, it condenses. This process forms thick, ethereal sheets of fog and internal clouds that float through the upper reaches of the chambers, mimicking an outdoor atmosphere.

The geological formations within Son Doong are equally legendary. It features the world’s tallest known stalagmites, some towering over 260 feet (80 meters) high, such as the towering column named the “Hand of Dog.” The cave also contains vast fields of “cave pearls”—rare, spherical calcite formations created over centuries as water droplets repeatedly hit small grains of sand, coating them in concentric layers of calcium carbonate within shallow, agitated pools.

Large stalagmites in the Hang Son Doong, Vietnam. This passage is said to have the greatest cross sectional area of any cave in the world.

Preservation and Modern Access

Today, Hang Son Doong is tightly protected to preserve its fragile, isolated ecosystem. Access is strictly limited to a single eco-tour operator, and only a few hundred permits are issued globally each year. The demanding trek requires multi-day expeditions involving technical roping, river crossings, and intense jungle hiking.

This controlled access ensures that the ancient, mist-shrouded forests and pristine limestone architectures of Earth’s greatest cavern remain untouched for generations to come, standing as a testament to the magnificent secrets still hidden right beneath our feet.

Photo Credits

All photos are Wikipedia Creative Commons

This post was written with an assist from Google Gemini.

That said, there are commonalities in social work, nursing, and education that will apply to virtually anyone in the United States.

In this article, we take a look at what it actually takes to become fully credentialed in demanding fields.

Overview

In a moment, we’ll take a closer look at the certification process in specific fields. For right now, it’s important to understand a few basic facts.

First of all, there are two basic credentialing requirements to be aware of. The first is rooted entirely in education. You enroll in a certified program that is accredited at both the state and federal levels.

For many people, this will mean attending a traditional college or university, but there are now also an increasingly large number of options for online-only credentialing programs. Depending on the state you live in, you may find these an acceptable alternative for everything from nursing to education and social work.

During the education phase, many of your responsibilities and requirements will be comparable to other university-based credentialing processes. You will attend lectures, complete homework assignments, and take tests. However, for regulated fields, you’ll also often need other types of certification or other types of credentialing benchmarks. This can include clinical hours, mandatory training sessions, and standardized exams.

Once you’ve completed all of these requirements, you are then certified to work in your chosen field.

Note that while these considerations are technically separate, they take place at the same time. Certification-related job requirements generally do not add to the timeline for moving into your career.

What Careers Require Credentialing?

Credentialing requirements are generally specific to jobs that are regulated at the state or federal level. This can include education, social work, nursing, and a wide variety of trade-based careers.

In the next few headings, we’ll take a look at what it takes to become certified in a variety of different occupations. Keep in mind that because state requirements can vary considerably, these are only incomplete descriptions of what you might need to do in your community to get the job that you want.

How to Become a Social Worker

If you are interested in a career in social work, you’re generally looking at a six-year credentialing process. This timeline takes into account both undergraduate requirements and the master’s level education options that the majority of social workers pursue.

Note that you do not necessarily need an MSW for a career in social work, but it is a commonly taken route that more than half of all social workers choose. That’s because it’s only through a master’s degree that you can work in a supervisory capacity or in clinical environments.

The good news is that if you have an undergraduate degree in social work already, you can complete the graduate program in less than a year. On the other hand, if you have an undergraduate degree in something unrelated to social work, you can still enroll in an MSW program.

In this case, the completion timeline will move up to about two years, but when you’re done, you’ll be able to work as a fully certified social worker.

How to Become a Teacher

Education careers generally require four years of education, though, as is the case with social work, there is some degree of variation.

The majority of teachers enroll in education programs as undergraduates. They complete four years of school, acquire all of the needed observation and practicum hours, and end their educational journey with a student teaching placement.

Student teaching placements generally last for one semester, though there are some programs that require a full year of it.

Once you’ve graduated, you take a standardized exam, sometimes specific to the subject area you are teaching if you’re interested in a middle grade or up placement. From there, you’re eligible to work as a teacher.

Like social work, there are pathways available for people who have a background in an unrelated field. As long as you have an undergraduate degree, you should be able to pursue one of two options.

The first is an accelerated program, which allows you to get certified and fulfill your student teaching requirements in approximately one year.

The other option is to pursue a master’s degree in education. As is the case with social work, a master’s in education will provide you with all of the certifications that you need, while also allowing you to join the profession at a higher level than would otherwise be possible with just a bachelor’s.

A master’s degree will take approximately two years if you are pursuing it as a full-time student, though the timeline can be much longer if you’re only taking on one or two classes at a time.

How to Become a Nurse

Again, there are multiple options. Nurses generally start as undergraduates. They complete four years’ worth of coursework, during which time they are exposed to a variety of clinical settings.

Once they’ve completed all of their school requirements, they will need to take the NCLEX before they can be fully certified.

Like the other options described above, there are alternative pathways into the profession. If you already have a college degree, you are eligible for an accelerated degree that will allow you to enter nursing in approximately one year.

There are also graduate programs that allow you to combine a bachelor’s and a master’s degree into a five to six year program.

What About Advanced Practice Nursing?

Advanced practice positions essentially provide nurses with a higher level of autonomy, control, and authority. They also generally correlate into much higher salaries, sometimes more than twice what RNs make.

The most commonly thought-of advanced practice position is that of a nurse practitioner, though there are actually many different options available.

Advanced practice nursing requires a master’s degree specific to the field you are interested in entering. This will usually take two years to complete, but again, the timeline can be flexible, particularly if you’re not completing courses at a hurried pace.

Conclusion

Meeting certification requirements can be stressful for aspiring professionals. In reality, it’s not much more complicated than completing a degree pathway.

Your university will understand all of the requirements that you need to meet and should have many resources to make the process easier for you.

Many of the most personally and sometimes even financially rewarding career paths lie at the other side of a certification. Don’t let the process intimidate you.

Photo Credit

Image by Leo Fontes from Pixabay

Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren

With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.

Here’s what’s worth getting straight before you step in front of your first paying group.

Teaching for pay is a different job from practicing

Most teacher trainings are built around deepening your own practice and learning to sequence. What they often skip is the reality of leading a room full of strangers with wildly different bodies, injuries, and goals. Your first paid class will likely include a stiff beginner who’s never touched a mat, someone recovering from a shoulder injury, and a longtime practitioner who can fold deeper than you can.

Your job isn’t to deliver the class you’d want to take. It’s to deliver a class that serves the people actually in front of you. That means building in modifications from the start, watching faces and bodies rather than staring at your own cue cards, and being willing to abandon your plan when the room needs something different.

Understand Your Employment Status and Studio Agreement

Before you accept a class, get clear on the arrangement. Are you a studio employee, an independent contractor, or running your own pop-up? The answer affects how you’re paid, who carries responsibility if something goes wrong, and what’s expected of you.

Ask the practical questions up front: 

• What’s the rate, and is it flat or per-head? 
• When and how do you get paid? What’s the cancellation policy if only two people show up? 
• Who handles waivers and intake?
•  Is the space yours to set up, or are you sharing equipment?
•  A short conversation now prevents an awkward one later, and it signals to the studio owner that you take the work seriously.

Understand your liability before, not after

This is the part new yoga instructors most want to avoid thinking about, and it’s the one that matters most the moment money changes hands. Teaching for compensation generally raises the bar on your professional responsibility. If a student gets hurt in your class, even if doing something you cued correctly, you can be held accountable, and “I’m new” is not a defense.

A few things to sort out early:

• Waivers and intake. Every student should sign a liability waiver and disclose injuries or conditions before class. If the studio handles this, confirm it. If you’re teaching independently, it’s on you.
• Your own coverage. Many studios carry general liability insurance for the space, but that policy may not extend to you personally, especially as a contractor. Professional liability coverage that follows you across studios, private clients, and pop-ups is worth understanding before you teach, not after an incident. Plenty of new instructors assume they’re covered under the studio and find out otherwise at the worst possible time.
• Scope of practice. You teach yoga. You don’t diagnose injuries, prescribe treatment, or push a student past a clear “no.” Knowing where your role ends protects both your students and you.

You don’t need to become an insurance expert. You do need to know who’s responsible for what before you’re the one being asked.

Plan the class, then plan for it falling apart

Write a real sequence with a clear arc: warm-up, build, peak, cool-down, savasana. Time it. Then assume something won’t go as planned, the music won’t connect, a pose will land flat, you’ll blank on Sanskrit. Having a slightly over-planned class gives you room to cut and adjust without scrambling.

Build in a few universal cues you can fall back on: breath reminders, simple alignment language, and at least one modification for every challenging pose. When your nerves spike, those defaults keep the class moving while your brain catches up.

Get the logistics handled before students arrive

Show up early, earlier than you think you need to. Test the sound system, set the temperature, confirm there are enough props, and learn where the bathroom and exits are so you can tell students. Greet people as they come in and ask about injuries or limitations. That two-minute conversation does more for safety than any cue you’ll give once class starts.

Have a plan for the basics: how you’ll start on time, what you’ll say if someone walks in late, and how you’ll close the class and thank everyone. Small rituals make you look composed even when you don’t feel it.

Set your rate and treat it like a business

Undercharging is common and understandable when you’re new, but it sets a precedent that’s hard to walk back. Research what studios in your area pay and what independent classes charge. If you’re teaching privates, factor in prep, travel, and the individualized attention you’re providing. You’re allowed to value your time.

Keep simple records from day one: what you earned, what you spent on training, props, and coverage, and which classes performed. Treating teaching like the small business it is will save you headaches at tax time and help you make smarter decisions about where to invest your energy.

Manage your nerves without hiding them

You will be nervous. That’s fine; students don’t expect a polished performer; they expect a present, prepared teacher who cares whether they have a good experience. A few deep breaths before you walk in, a confident opening line you’ve rehearsed, and permission to be imperfect go a long way. Most students won’t notice the cue you fumbled. They’ll notice whether you saw them.

The bottom line

Your first paid class is less about flawless sequencing and more about professionalism: knowing your arrangement, understanding your responsibilities, protecting your students and yourself, and showing up prepared. Get the foundation right, and the teaching gets easier every class after. The nerves fade. The responsibility doesn’t, and the best instructors never stop respecting it.

Photo Credit

Image by Yogesh rajput from Pixabay

Guest Author Bio
Patricia Lee

Patricia Lee was born in January 1992. Today, she is a digital marketer who has several years of experience in working with non-profit organizations. She has extensive knowledge in the fields of Education, Computer Science, and Psychology. When she isn’t helping build brands, she practices Muay Thai and runs marathons.

The way we were taught as children and young adults leaves an indelible mark on how we interpret authority, collaboration, and success. Whether you sat in a rigid, lecture-based auditorium or a fluid, discussion-heavy seminar, the echoes of those early environments are currently reverberating through your boardroom or team Zoom calls.

So obviously, that means the way you were taught is shaping the way you live and lead. Here are some ways in which that shows up.

The Pavlovian Trap of Rewards and Recognition

For many, the traditional education system was built on a foundation of extrinsic motivation. Grades, gold stars, and rankings were the primary currency. If you were a “high achiever” in this system, you likely grew up equating success with external validation.

As a leader, this early conditioning often manifests as a hyper-fixation on KPIs, quarterly bonuses, and public accolades. You might find yourself managing your team through a system of “gold stars,” focusing heavily on performance metrics rather than intrinsic growth.

If you were taught that the end result is all that matters, you may inadvertently foster a culture where your employees hide their struggles to maintain the appearance of an “A-grade” performance. Recognizing this pattern is the first step toward moving from a “grader” to a mentor.

The Lecture Hall vs. The Roundtable

Think back to your schooling. Did you spend your formative years absorbing information from a sage on a stage, or were you encouraged to challenge ideas in a roundtable setting?

If your education was primarily didactic—meaning you were taught that the teacher holds all the knowledge and your job is to listen—you are likely prone to a top-down leadership style. You may unconsciously equate “leadership” with “authority,” believing that your primary role is to dispense wisdom. This can lead to a bottleneck in organizational creativity.

Conversely, if you were raised in a collaborative, seminar-based environment where discourse was the medium of learning, you are more likely to lead through facilitation. You view your team as co-creators.

While this approach fosters innovation, it can sometimes lead to decision-making paralysis if you were never taught how to synthesize those disparate voices into a singular, actionable path.

The Shadow of the Disciplinarian

Perhaps the most potent influence is how your teachers handle failure. If you had educators who viewed a wrong answer as a character flaw or a reason for public humiliation, you likely developed a lingering, low-level anxiety regarding mistakes.

This often translates into a leadership style defined by perfectionism and risk aversion. When you lead under the shadow of a strict disciplinarian, you may inadvertently create a culture of psychological unsafety. Your team will sense your discomfort with uncertainty, leading them to play it safe rather than push boundaries.

If, however, you were taught that a mistake was merely a data point—a necessary step in the scientific method—you are likely to champion an agile, experimental culture where “failing fast” is not just tolerated but celebrated.

The Final Lesson

The most effective leaders are those who treat their organizations as learning laboratories rather than classrooms. They understand that leadership is not about teaching others how to be like them but about creating an environment where others can discover their own potential. By unlearning the rigid, often outdated pedagogies of our childhood, we stop repeating the patterns of the past and begin improving leadership skills and styles that are as dynamic, diverse, and forward-thinking as the teams we lead today.

Your schooling provided the foundation, but you are the one who decides what to build upon it. The realization that your leadership style is a learned behavior—a relic of your schooling—is liberating. You are not a prisoner of your early education; you are the editor of it.

Photo Credit

Photo is from pixabay

Guest Author Bio
Sarah Daren

With a Bachelor’s in Health Science along with an MBA, Sarah Daren has a wealth of knowledge within both the health and business sectors. Her expertise in scaling and identifying ways tech can improve the lives of others has led Sarah to be a consultant for a number of startup businesses, most prominently in the wellness industry, wearable technology and health education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life with a focus on making America a healthier and safer place for future generations to come.

I moved to the Philippines from Siberia in 2022 — and I had never heard of the Barong Tagalog. It had never occurred to me that the Philippines had such a recognizable symbol.
Sun, sea, friendly people — that was almost everything I knew about the country. That was how little I knew about it.

Four to six months after arriving, I met designer Josip Tumapa. She was the first person who explained to me what the Barong Tagalog was and why, for Filipinos, it was more than just a shirt. Before that, I had only seen it superficially: clothing for weddings, official events, and important family occasions. I understood where it was worn, but I did not understand why it mattered or why it was made the way it was.

As a foreigner, that did not mean much to me at the time. I saw the Barong Tagalog simply as a national shirt — something the Philippines liked to present as a cultural symbol. More than that, I did not like it at first. I thought the barong looked baggy and unattractive. The problem was not the Barong Tagalog itself. It was that I had mostly seen simple mass-market versions made from cheap fabrics.

That was what I based my first, fairly superficial judgment on. I was judging it without really looking at the fit, the fabric, or the ornament. Later, I understood that the barong is not just a national garment. It is its own kind of formalwear, not a Filipino version of a Western suit.

Calado and handwork during the making of a Barong Tagalog

When Fabric and Handwork Changed My View

After some time, I started working in the Filipino fashion world. There, for the first time, I saw the Barong Tagalog not as an ordinary shirt from a shop, but as a garment people genuinely worked on: choosing the fabric, thinking through the fit, the ornament, and the embroidery. From that point, I started looking at it more closely. Gradually, I understood something else too: traditional clothing does not have to feel old. A barong can look current when the fabric, fit, and handwork are taken seriously.

Calado, Piña, and the Meaning of Craft

First, the fabric. One of the most prized traditional materials for the Barong Tagalog is piña, a textile made from pineapple fibers. Its production takes time: the fibers have to be prepared, processed, and woven into a light, semi-transparent cloth.

Second, the ornament. It can be floral, geometric, traditional, or more contemporary. It can be done by machine, but in fine barongs made from fabrics like piña, handwork is what people value most. These details are not just decoration. They decide how the barong sits on the body, how light it feels, and how formal it looks.

Hand embroidery is not always perfectly even. There can be small variations in the lines and details. For me, that became the point: those traces show that this is not a mass-produced factory item, but clothing made by hand.

Calado holds a special place in this. It is an openwork hand technique in which some threads are drawn out or thinned, then secured to create an open pattern in the fabric. In a well-made Barong Tagalog, details like this change the whole feeling of the garment. Calado makes the barong look lighter and less like an ordinary formal shirt.

Some of these techniques are passed down through generations. The process itself takes time. Making a calado ornament by hand, for example, can take around a month — and that is only one part of the work on a Barong Tagalog. In a world where almost anything can be copied quickly, things like this carry a different weight. What matters is not only how something looks, but how much time a person has put into the fabric and the ornament.

Maybe that is why this subject felt close to me. When I was around eighteen, I became deeply interested in the Arts and Crafts movement. It stood against impersonal mass production and argued for the value of hand labor, honest materials, and the genuine effort of the maker. That is why a custom Barong Tagalog made such a strong impression on me. I am talking about a garment made for a specific person, a chosen fabric, a particular occasion, and specific details. In that kind of barong, I saw not just a cultural symbol, but clothing where time, the human hand, and cultural memory all matter. That was when I began to see it not only as heritage, but as fashion too. It was serious formalwear, made by hand.

From that point on, the Barong Tagalog no longer felt like baggy formal wear to me. It started to create something I had not expected: emotion, and real respect.

Finished custom Barong Tagalog as formalwear

Why Handmade Formalwear Cannot Be Rushed

But the more I respected that work, the more another side of it began to worry me.

From what I observe, interest in the Barong Tagalog — especially in custom barongs with calado and handwork — is growing. But things like this cannot be scaled quickly without losing something. A skilled embroiderer, a calado specialist, someone who knows how to prepare the fabric — you cannot train that in a few weeks. It takes years.

So the risk I see is not the growing interest in the Barong Tagalog itself. The risk is the possible simplification of production to meet mass demand. The history of craft has shown this pattern more than once: when something becomes too sought after, people start making it faster, cheaper, and simpler. If those details disappear, the barong loses more than craft value. It loses what makes it different from an ordinary formal shirt. It was exactly because of those details that I once stopped seeing it as an ordinary formal shirt.

The Barong Tagalog I Finally Chose

The author in a Barong Tagalog

When I chose my own Barong Tagalog, I was already looking at it differently. I did not simply want to buy a beautiful garment. I wanted to understand what it was made from and why those details mattered. In the end, I chose piña cocoon silk with added pure piña. For me, it was the right balance: more practical and durable than pure piña, but still connected to the traditional material.

I had almost no doubt about calado. The harder part was choosing the motif itself. I looked at different options — floral, geometric, more restrained, more decorative. In the end, I chose floral. It felt the most alive, and the most right for a barong I actually wanted to wear, not just admire as a beautiful object.

That is what finally changed the Barong Tagalog for me. I no longer see it as clothing that belongs only to ceremonies.

I see it as clothing where fabric, fit, handwork, and cultural memory work together.

Photo Credits

All photos courtesy of the author

Guest Author Bio
Anton Dvoryadkin

Anton Dvoryadkin is based in the Philippines and works with Josip Tumapa Design, a custom fashion atelier. He writes about Filipino fashion, craft, and cultural clothing.

Whether you choose to look at philosophy, psychology, or semantics, there is little doubt these days that the words we use in describing the elements of our world have a tremendous influence over how we think and feel about them.  In fact, the entire field of marketing and advertising is built on that very premise.  Use the power of words and their meaning to lend their good influence to a product or to give you a bad impression of a competitor’s product.  The power of words has also been acknowledged by therapists and counselors who tell us that the words we use in our “inner dialogues” are important to our self image and our perceptions of our world.

What about the words we use in relation to our dogs?  Does it matter if we call it a “correction” or a “reprimand”?  Does it make a difference if we call it a “cue” or a “command”?  What about “bribe”, “reward”, “stimulus” (a term for the electric shock from shock collars), “red zone dog”, and others?  Language and the specific choice of words can be helpful to us for discussions as dog trainers but it can also get in the way of good, clear training.

Fooling Ourselves?

Some of the terminology we use in training is harmless and a little definition can clear up meanings quickly.  That allows trainers to exchange ideas productively.  But there are other words and phrases that work on our own sense of the relationship we have with our dogs.  It can have a profound influence on our sense of expectations and responsibilities. 

In my opinion, I’m the responsible party from the moment I bring a dog into my home.  That means if something isn’t working, it’s my job to figure out what to do about it.  I suppose it’s only natural for me to flinch when I hear dog trainers use words or phrases that unfairly shift that responsibility onto the dog instead of owning it themselves.  They may not mean to do it, it may be a phrase they heard someone use and it seemed appropriate at the time.  But as any good life coach would tell you, what you tell yourself about your dog will very strongly shape how you perceive her.

Truth or Consequences

One phrase people often use about their dogs makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  “What I like best about Fido is that he’s an honest dog.”  It is often used as praise for a dog who is predictable and steady, one not prone to unexpected behaviour.  But the first thing that usually pops into my head when I hear this is “Compared to what?  All of the other sneaky, lying dogs out there?”  I’m sure if most dog owners really thought about it, they would agree that dogs are just not sophisticated enough to misrepresent themselves by outright lying.  They just can’t be dishonest.  It’s not in their power to do so.

I think most owners who talk about their “honest dog” are really expressing their understanding of their particular dog.  They know what their dog will do in almost any circumstance and that’s a great thing!  But doesn’t that speak more to a trainer who has taken the time and effort to learn about their dog, and to know what motivates her and how to predict her responses accurately?  I think the trainer is the one being honest here, not the dog.

And what about those trainers who have “dishonest” dogs?  Perhaps they haven’t invested enough in their dog to understand them.  But every unexpected response becomes, what, a lie?  How much more convenient to shift the responsibility for that lack of understanding to the dog.  It would be easier for me to say “he’s not a very honest dog, so I struggle” than it would be to admit that I am not a very good trainer.

Tough Enough

 Another term that has lost it’s meaning for me as I’ve come to learn more about behaviour and training is when trainers describe a dog as a “hard dog” or a “soft dog.”  Frequently this is used to describe a dog’s endurance when in a training situation.  A “hard dog”, for example, will continue to work with their trainer for many repetitions or exercises even in highly distracting environments.  On the other hand, a dog described as a “soft dog” is one that requires lots of extra care when training.  Perhaps the dog is hard to motivate or will not tolerate long training sessions.  Perhaps it is easily distracted or will stop trying after only a few failed attempts.  The general observation I have of people in dog performance sports is that “hard dogs” are good and that “soft dogs” are bad.

It’s interesting that some trainers have even gone to the extent to label entire breeds of dog as “harder” or “softer” due to their trainability using some standard training techniques.  What’s even more interesting to me is that the growing popularity of positive training methods has turned some of those “soft dog” breeds into exceptional champions in many dog sports.  So is it the dog or is it the trainer/training method that is at work here?

My own experience tells me it’s the trainer and the training skills they bring to the table.  Any dog that will keep working with you no matter what could be considered a “hard dog”.  But if I take that to an extreme, I could also say that any dog that will work with you no matter what, is borderline obsessive compulsive about working!  On the other end of the spectrum, any dog that does not display a certain amount of enthusiasm in working with their trainer is considered “soft.”  Not all dogs are not highly motivated by food.  Some dogs are highly motivated by the opportunity to play.  Still other dogs are motivated by affection and social interaction.  If a trainer encounters a dog that has a complex make up of what motivates that, the dog could be considered difficult to train; a “soft” dog.

Does this again shift responsibility from the human trainer onto the dog?  When I hear someone say “Oh, I just couldn’t work with him.  He was such a soft dog.”, all I can think is that this is a trainer who did not want to take the time to figure out what was needed to work with that particular dog.  Many dogs share some general traits and will respond in a similar way in training situations.  But a gifted trainer can spot the subtle differences in dogs and play to their strengths while minimizing their weaknesses.  Thankfully, most dog owners will tend toward breeds they know and understand already.  That makes training much easier and “hard” or “soft” doesn’t really come into it.  To me, using “hard” and “soft” to describe a dog is more an indicator of the training skills of the trainer than the dog.

Saying Too Much

Every so often in this column I poke a “sacred cow.”  There is an entire vernacular out there about dogs, especially in the community of dog sports.  I honestly believe that most of that language evolved as a way to try to get some understanding about how to better work with our dogs.  My learning about dog behaviour and behavioural science has radically changed the way I view some of the language we use about our dogs.  Unfortunately, a lot of the catch phrases I hear work more as a way to relieve trainers of their responsibility and shift the problem onto the dogs instead.

I think that’s unfortunate.  I have yet to meet a dog that didn’t want to work with me or be successful.  I’ve had to work hard to earn the trust of some dogs.  For others I’ve had to be very creative in how I approach the training game with them.  Some like very short sessions and some respond best with lots of play breaks in between.  Some dogs will work all day as long as I have food but are better off if we take a break after a few minutes.  Still other dogs need to build their confidence in small increments over a period of weeks or months.

And so, to me a dog is not “honest”, nor are they “hard” or “soft.”  They are just dogs.  Unique in their own way and open to working with me if we can find a level to work on.  That’s my responsibility, finding the level.  I have the big brain, I can figure this out.  But I can only do that if I get past the language that says it’s the dog’s problem and not mine.

Just something to think about.

Until next time, have fun with your dogs! 
 

Photo credits – 

Willard – chadmiller  2006
Puppy –  cote  2008
Lying Dog – Kim G. Appels  2006

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