It was a cell phone conversation that made me think of this. A cell phone conversation I heard on the bus on the way to work. I laughed as the young woman, disturbed that her life had taken a wrong turn said: “Of course I left him. I left that s.o.b. in the middle of the night.” The rest of the conversation was full of boring details that I have heard a lot in my adult life so I turned her off and thought about something that came to mind the first time some female friend decided to leave the love of her life in the middle of the night: what does one take when one leaves? Continue reading What to Take When You Leave
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July 18, 2010
July 14, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Advice, Attitude, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation, Self-Help, Weight loss
 2 comments With appropriate disclaimers admitted, if we accept that we are standing in our own way, it begs the question, “Why would we do that?” Why do we NOT reach further, dream larger, and believe better? The primary answer is: Fear; Fear of Success, and its dastardly sibling, Fear of Failure. [...] July 7, 2010
I didn’t plan to write here today. I planned to spend my free time researching my next novel. But in my research I ran across a poem that brought tears to my eyes. It was written by the esteemed African American poet of the Harlem Renaissance Countee Cullen. When you get a chance look it up on Google. It is entitled Simon the Cyrenian Speaks and it spoke to me about race. Continue reading Why We Must Forget About Race July 3, 2010
This is the Fourth of July, Independence Day, weekend in the United States. It is a time for cookouts and overeating. While we are dealing with all types of weight problems and health concerns here we need to remember something as we sat down to red, white and blue plates heaped with grilled food. Potato salad is not a green vegetable. Continue reading It Isn’t Really Salad June 24, 2010
Posted by Peggy Klaus in: Advice, Business, Commentary, Current Events, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Self-Help
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In fact, my reaction to this conversation was so negative that I thought about it and talked about it for days. Okay, maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I don’t feel comfortable having my money handled by anyone who—while within earshot of customers—describes his weekend as “bad-ass.” Could it be that I trust only silver-haired prep-school patricians who steer clear of slang to protect my savings? My intellect reasoned that a banker who uses the term “bad-ass” could be just as stalwart in his duties. Could it be that I, a resident of the “Socialist Republic of Berkeley,” might be more conservative than I’d like to admit? As I wrestled with all of this, a simple truth emerged: young or old, I don’t want a “bad-ass” banker! Continue reading IMITATION ISN’T ALWAYS FLATTERING June 23, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment When the baby boomers started being born shortly after World War II, the entire population inhabiting this third rock from the sun was 2.3 billion. Therefore, if we lived in 1947, and we were facing this same predicament, every single, solitary, person would need to be on a diet. [...] June 10, 2010
Posted by Kaye in: Habit Change, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Nature/Wildlife, Personal Experiences, Uncategorized
2 comments This past weekend was beautiful down in this part of the Carolinas. The sun was shinning and plants are in full bloom. Even the crape myrtles have begun to show off. I’m an avid gardener. I love toiling in the soil, planting and waiting with eager anticipation for little seedlings emerge. Just about all of my life I’ve had a garden. I learned to love gardens and gardening because of my grandmother who planted a garden every spring. She always planted the same vegetables; yellow squash, waxed and green string beans, cabbage and turnip and collard greens. At the very back of her yard was a grape arbor that she cultivated and pampered so that in the fall she could make her delicious sweet wine. Her front yard, shaded by an enormous maple tree, was lush with shale loving lily of the valley and variegated hosta plants. Her side yard boasted a variety of red, yellow and pink roses, blue hydrangea, snapdragons and a lilac. My mother was also a gardener as are all three of my sisters and both of my children so, it’s in the blood. Continue reading Snakes and Wellies June 7, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: African-American, Attitude, Cancer, Commentary, Habit Change, Health & Fitness
9 comments In the early summer of 1970 while still a freshman in college, I participated in a racial/cultural experiment of my own making. Our dorm had the highest roof on campus and therefore a safe haven for young women who wanted to sunbathe in the underwear. It was before the advent of cute and colorful bras and panties so everyone sported underwear in immaculate cotton white. Black lingerie was for sluts and seduction, not always in that order. The problem was the rood was not that big and every girl on campus wanted to come there leaving little space for the residents of our dorm. One pesky group in particular came onto the roof in droves taking over the place as if their own. I had never sunbathed in my life or seen the need to. I was black and had been raised to walk in the sun without sunscreen, using an umbrella to shade me from the heat only on the hottest of days. But my sister freshmen and I decided that there was one way to get rid of those unwanted on our roof. I would start sunbathing with them and we would see what happened. Less than ten minutes after I stripped to my lily white undies the crowd started to thin out. When I pulled back the platinum band of the diamond wristwatch my grandfather had given me four years earlier and said: “Oh look. I’m browner already,” and a pale white friend said “You are so lucky” more girls left. They never returned and I never cared. I did this more for my dorm than myself, but I after doing it I understood race and color much better. I wasn’t supposed to have diamonds and I wasn’t supposed to sit in the sun. Continue reading Sun, Summer and Color May 19, 2010
Posted by Genevieve in: Attitude, General Topics, Habit Change, Opinion, Personal Experiences
4 comments I am so naive. I guess that’s what you’d call it, anyway. Naive, unrealistic, idealistic – I don’t know. I just don’t understand why some people can be so mean.
Meanness can come out of anywhere. Like if someone wants to come into your lane, but you’re already halfway across – do you slam on your brakes or keep going? Half the time the guy will pop up in your rearview mirror, gesturing as if you took away his god-given-right to that spot in traffic. Who is the offender there, the one who didn’t brake or the one who didn’t want to wait? What does it really matter in the long run? That’s just an example. It hasn’t happened to me in a while, but it has happened – from both sides. Being mean starts in the schoolyard, I guess. We learn from an early age that kids who pick on others can often get away with not getting picked on themselves. Fortunately, there seems to be an influx of “anti-bullying” educational messages lately. Maybe, just maybe, there will be a smaller percentage of meanies in the next generation. Fingers crossed for that. We age, we go into business. How do we get ahead? Well, there’s the painstakingly slow, honest approach that often takes hard work and causes frustration, or there’s the secrets-behind-the-hand approach, which often has a much faster result, but a short term benefit. Continue reading Why Be Mean? May 19, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Commentary, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Nutrition, Opinion, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment Civility’s spotlight has lately expanded to include the overweight. We shake our heads and whisper to our “normal” friends, “It’s a shame that they don’t take care of themselves. I’d never let myself look like that.” We wag our fingers and click our tongues, satisfied that we are “better than that.” [...] May 16, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Current Events, Diet, Family, Habit Change, Health & Fitness
3 comments There are several commercials airing on New York television lately about a tax Governor David Patterson wants to put on sodas, special waters and juice drinks. The voice wants Albany to “stay out of our grocery baskets.” It says if they were busier getting rid of overspending they would not need to tax the little guy. The problem is the little guy isn’t so little anymore. He is overweight and careless when it comes to food consumption. It isn’t as if the state is taxing something that people need. They are putting a tax on non-essential junk drinks. In a sense they are trying to help the little guy get back to his right size. Continue reading The Overpriced and Overweight New York Grocery Cart May 12, 2010
Posted by Tyree Harris in: Accountability, Commentary, Creative Writing, Family, Habit Change, Journalism, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Medical, Social Issues, The Writer's Corner
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High life shattered by addiction by Tyree Harris Jerret Hooey, 22, said he usually slept in until about 1 p.m., but on one night last October he awoke at 4 a.m. by an all too familiar aching: He was fiending for a high. Hooey made his way to the bathroom with his mind set on heroin. As his body demanded, he opened a bag of dope and put several little pieces onto tinfoil, lit it and smoked it using a hollow ink pen. For now, his fixation was suppressed, but the relief was short-lived. A loud banging on the door began — it was the FBI. Hastily, Hooey sprinted to his clothes room and grabbed as much of his stash as he could. If he didn’t get his stuff down the toilet — fast — he would be caught red-handed. Continue reading High life shattered by addiction April 27, 2010
Posted by Tyree Harris in: Commentary, Creative Writing, Freelance Author, Habit Change, Journalism, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Medical, Relationships, Social Issues, The Writer's Corner
4 comments Overdose claims relationship By Tyree Harris After a long afternoon playing board games and talking with 18-year-old Devyn Lorett, her boyfriend of more than two years, she decided it was best if she left his house. It was too difficult for her to be around him; they had been broken up for almost a month. “I just wanted to tell him how much I missed him, how much I loved him, and that I didn’t want us to be apart anymore,” said Cynthia Wick, 18. But as much as she wanted to say this, and as right as it felt, Wick knew she couldn’t be with him. She met Lorett while trying out for a cheerleading squad her freshman year. At first sight, he told her she was beautiful, displayed clear interest and instantly pursued her. Initially, it was to no avail, but Lorett was determined. Though he couldn’t get her attention in person, he managed to track her number down through mutual friends and began texting her. Wick was thrown off by his inexplicable perseverance. Continue reading Overdose claims relationship April 23, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: African-American, Biography & Memoir, Family, Habit Change, Lifestyle, Working Women
3 comments My birthday present from my mom arrived yesterday, several days early. Of course I had to open it, there would be no waiting until next week. Mama had been telling me in our daily conversation that she had been creating something for me, and also a gift for my youngest who graduated early from college. Like a five year old I ripped into the box and pulled out a small notebook that had been turned into a book of sayings my mother had found. She had handwritten fifty of them for my daughter, decorated the cover with a beautiful fabric and opposite each saying was a tiny pastel envelope with a dollar bill inside. Then it was my turn to look at my gift and my heart stopped. My very creative mother had taken a painting that I had done when I was sixteen and trying to emulate the art of my father and that hung in the hallway of their home, a hallway that was like an art gallery, and had it made into note cards. On the back was a sticker that said: Artwork by Minnette Coleman. What a lovely, personal gift, I thought. Then something else came to mind. My mother didn’t do things like this when we were little. My mother never let her star shine while my father was alive. It was the way of her generation. Continue reading A Gift from My Mother- Lessons from Her Generation April 21, 2010
Posted by Genevieve in: Attitude, Family, General Topics, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Motivation, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Wellness
3 comments When I was in my early 20′s, my grandma Graham finally agreed to move to an old folks’ home, or whatever the term is. So she emptied her centuries-old apartment of anything even vaguely interesting. Much anticipated squabbling between family members ensued, and I ended up with some silver. I actually didn’t want any silver, but my parents encouraged me to buy it from her. Read that again: BUY silver forks and knives and all that from my Grandma, for $3000 of my own money. Seriously? Oh, yes, Genevieve. It’s a great investment. What did I know about investment? I’d been saving up for a car, but okay. If they said so. I ended up with two very nice, heavy boxes filled with any kind of silver serving utensil you could ever dream of. I even have an Angel Food Cake slicer. I can’t even identify some of them, actually. Sadly, one of my wooden handled salad spoons split, but when I reason that the spoon was probably close to 150 years old, I can’t really complain. Dwayne’ll glue it. He’s good like that. He’s also good at practicality. When we moved out here, many extraneous things got packed into wherever. The two boxes of silver were tucked under the stairs. The other day, he came home and said we should break out the silver and start using it. “But honey!” said I, aghast. “That’s for special occasions!” “Which are happening … when?” he asked. Continue reading Bring Out The Silver, Honey! April 7, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Mental Health, Personal Experiences, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
3 comments It’s unrealistic to assume you won’t screw-up now and then, especially if you’re trying new things. So without mistakes, there is no reason for adjustment, which means we’re not learning anything; therefore nothing changes. So, one could say mistakes are actually step one in improving our life. [...] March 26, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Accountability, Advice, African-American, Attitude, Children, Commentary, Diet, Family, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Uncategorized
3 comments Twenty dollars to feed a family of four dinner for a week. Steak is out, maybe one chicken if you’re lucky. Rice will be at every meal, if the price doesn’t go up again. And there won’t be any fruit when bananas, the only fruit your 3 year old will eat costs 79cents a pound. What can you give your family but what is affordable? Canned beans, boxed mac and cheese, spam, hot dogs, iceberg lettuce to suffice for the $2 a pound string beans. For breakfast you give the kids a treat of generic brand bright colored cereal that costs $2 a bag, since boxed cereal is unaffordable. Some days they have it without milk- look how much that costs. But they seem happy with the food they are getting and you are happy that you can put food on the table until the school sends home a notification that your child is overweight and is having trouble breathing while playing. You know you need to stop supplementing his diet with inexpensive treats whenever he gets an A or whenever he can’t get to go to special places like his friends. You use food to make him happy but that happiness is killing him. March 19, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Advice, Children, Diet, Family, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Uncategorized
2 comments The title is self-explanatory. Most of us come here with complaints about everything from the weather to the government to the dog down the street. The problem is most of us just complain and don’t have suggestions. Recently I wrote about obesity because it has become a major topic of discussion in New York at this time. There is a desire to add a tax to sugary drinks in hopes that the increase in price while deter people, especially young people from consuming these empty calories. At the same time there is a campaign to not do this because of the hardship it would cause families when they shop. There have to be other alternatives and instead of just complaining I am suggesting one. If we want our children to be healthy change the school lunches and give them more recess time outdoors in the form of controlled exercise. Continue reading Posting Solutions, Not Just Complaints March 17, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Motivation, Recovery, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment What began as extremely unfussy and obtainable intention – eating better and moving more – has erupted into a full-scale mega-production requiring learning how to cook differently, shopping with new eyes, rearranging schedules, altering relationships, and devising self-inflicting intimidating goals. Building such blockades makes the procedure ridiculously difficult and horribly unpleasant. [...] March 11, 2010
Posted by Kaye in: Accountability, Attitude, Children, Commentary, Economic Crisis, Education, Family, Governance, Habit Change, Homeland Security, Legal, Opinion, Politics, Social Issues, The Economy
3 comments Today, like every weekday, I got in my car, after work, and head for home listening to NPR. I’ve been thinking about this for some time now and today, after hearing a piece on NPR about Kansas City, Missouri’s school board approving a plan to close 26 schools in one district and Cleveland, Ohio’s school board approving a plan to close or move 16 schools, I had to give voice to my thought which is, Our country is broken and bleeding. We are loosing our safety, loosing our jobs, our homes, our way of life and even our schools. Not only can’t we house and feed our children we can’t educate them either. I’m at a loss. I’m lost because I can’t see a fix. This week, here in South Carolina, a Columbia city council member who has held office representing the same district (The City of Columbia’s District 2) for 27 years, resigned after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion. According to reports, the man failed to pay more than $25,000 in federal income taxes in 2004. Before this revelation we learned that two convicted felons were trying to run for mayor of the city of Columbia and we have a governor that was hiking the Appalachian Trail in Argentina. Continue reading s it just me or, is there something wrong with this picture? March 3, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Biography & Memoir, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare
One comment She was 6 feet 1 inches and weighed 411 pounds. These figures stick to my memory because I had never met a woman so large who could move so fast and be so full of joy. I met her in the 70s when the world was still determining the worth of a woman by her looks and this young woman, not even 20 years old, was so true to herself she did not care that she was not slim or small. She had a boyfriend, she had loving parents and she loved life. Continue reading An Obese Story February 24, 2010
Posted by Prentiss Gray in: Environment, Environmental Issues, Geopolitical Events, Global Warming, Habit Change
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Despite shrinking ice sheets, melting glaciers and Island nations disappearing under water, many sensible people still find climate change totally unbelievable. We’re not talking about some incomprehensible 3000 page theory here, we’re talking the disappearance of the North polar ice pack. You know, where Santa lives? Continue reading Climate change – Nah! February 23, 2010
I am waiting for the morning when I look out my bedroom window and see a pack of coyotes traipsing down the street like they own the place. Their paws making prints in the snow, their presence making those hanging out after a night on the town take a second look at the number of cocktails they had before they made it home. Since the coyote appeared in Harlem in January and was tranquilized and released in Pelham Park in the Bronx two more sightings have occurred. That makes five times in 10 years that the Big Apple has gotten visits from coyotes. Are they moving in? Seeing how it’s a great place to hide according to biologists and movie makers we might as well expect a few coyotes to take up residence here. Continue reading Coyotes Making a Home in New York City February 19, 2010
When I was a kid Lent used to be a source of sorrow around the Catholic school playground. On the day before Ash Wednesday, we had to tell the nuns and teachers what we gave up for Lent. They kept a record of what we were supposed to abstain from so that there would be no backsliding while they were in charge. In those days Lent was a 24-seven six weeks of doing without. The candy most of us gave up came back to us in spades on Easter Sunday in the form of marshmallow chicks and chocolate bunnies. None of us thought of Lent as a good time to focus of losing weight since most of us weren’t overweight. Today with the rise of childhood obesity and most adults being one meal from needing to go to the fat farm, it makes sense that Lent could be the beginning of something great if only people would take advantage of it. Continue reading Lent and the Weight Thing February 17, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Children, Family, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Mental Health, Motivation, Personal Experiences, Recovery, Relationships, Travel, Wellness
Leave a comment As I watched the drama, it dawned on me that this process of learning does not end when we move away from our parents. It is a sequence that presents itself continually: Frustration. Lesson. Acceptance. Progress. Repeat cycle as necessary until learned. [...] February 12, 2010
Posted by Minnette Coleman in: Advice, Children, Commentary, Family, Habit Change, Health & Fitness
Leave a comment Believe it or not I was a skinny little girl. I climbed trees, dug deep mud holes and ran with the boys. The only girls to play with in my neighborhood were my sisters and they were a few years younger and a whole lot prissier. Now being overweight I see that my youth was so different from the childhood of today. Once I became an adult and stopped moving a lot I lost the ability to fight off the pounds. But I played outdoors a lot as a child. I hated to see the rain. Where children today sit and stare, we baby boomers moved. Continue reading Take the Children Outside January 7, 2010
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment Stop! Don’t do it! I know it’s the “new year,” that ritualistic period whereby we become fixated on ridding ourselves of that sluggish, bloated, overloaded blob-like feeling in which we wrapped ourselves for the previous two months. Whipped up by cartons of cookies and bags of breadstuffs; flavored by truckloads of turkey with gravy, ham with glaze, or both; coated in tankards of eggnog (with and without rum); we are just darn-near ready to put on the brakes and embrace our “new me.” It is a cultural happening. As ubiquitous was “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” last month are now the signs of this new year’s dawning. Full-page gift ads have converted to double truck spreads promoting six-pack abs and shriek, “Have the sexy glutes you’ve always wanted!” Even jolly old Saint Nick has shifted his routine. Two weeks ago, singing elves warmly patted their bellies after consuming plates of iced cookies. Today? Santa’s helpers wear sweatpants and can barely let forth a hum as they aspire to get heart rates into the target zone while pounding away on the treadmill in the new North Pole gym. Continue reading The only resolution that works November 27, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Commentary, Congress, Democracy, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Medical, Nutrition, Opinion, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
2 comments Quoting Cassius, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves…” It’s easy to pronounce and pontificate about what “they” should do, it’s quite another little something to step to the platform, roll up our sleeves, and actually take action. Irrespective of legislation regarding “single payer” or “pre-existing conditions,” we must each make a difference in our own lives by establishing good health as a higher priority in day-to-day decisions. [...] November 23, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Nutrition, Wellness
2 comments Although food is definitely a means by which we celebrate good fortune, I must note that nowhere is “stuffing oneself until sick” listed as a tradition. Quite the contrary, I would go so far as to say that uncomfortable, pained, hyper-expanded feeling that follows so many Thanksgiving celebrations actually detracts from the appreciative sense of gratitude one would hope to experience. Maybe, that’s one tradition we can drop this year. [...] November 18, 2009
Did You Know? 95% of all New Year’s resolutions are either forgotten or broken by “Blue Monday,” the third Monday in January? That’s a pretty discouraging statistic. Like you, I’ve seen all the suggestions to set goals instead of “making resolutions” – make them specific – measurable – give them a time frame. Honestly I don’t think it matters what you call them. Truthfully, while setting goals is definitely important and something I do, let’s consider something else. As 2010 begins, I suggest we simply build momentum. Apply it to your health, finances, spiritual growth, relationships and career. [...] November 11, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment Watch what you say, it could become your life. Therefore, when we say, “I’ve lost my motivation,” it presupposes that motivation is some foreign entity residing in a distant land. Yet, we are the source of our motivation. [...] November 6, 2009
Posted by georgepolley in: Books, Creative Writing, Fiction, General Topics, Habit Change, Humor, Personal Experiences, Poetry, Sex, Short Stories, Social Issues, Technology, The Writer's Corner
One comment “At last!” Isn’t that what everyone says when they have their first sexual experience? “At last!” “it” happened. I recall as a young teenager praying (never out loud): “Please, God, don’t let me die until I’ve had sex!” And by that, I didn’t (and most people don’t) mean masturbation. That goes on without saying [...] October 29, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Motivation, Recovery, Self-Help, Wellness
4 comments Positive thinking is not blind, naive, magical wishing. I cannot rub a crystal ball, site solemnly my affirmations, and assume that all will go exactly as I foresee. It does not materialize nirvana. What it does is gives me a stake in my own outcomes; so my life becomes mine, for better or worse. [...] October 21, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Children, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Nutrition, Weight loss, Wellness
2 comments When I’m bored, I want to eat. When I’m sad, I eat. When I’m angry — you got it. You know, there are people who, when they’re bored, they read a book? When they’re sad, they call a friend; and when they’re angry, they take a walk. There’s a clinical term for that kind of personality: it’s called “skinny.” [...] October 20, 2009
Posted by AMusico in: Attitude, Faith, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle
Leave a comment America’s first national Thanksgiving occurred in 1789. According to the Congressional Record for September 25th of that year, this was the first act of the Framers after completing the Bill of Rights: Elias Boudinot said he could not think of letting the session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them. [...] October 16, 2009
Posted by Prentiss Gray in: Attitude, Books, Commentary, Creative Writing, Freelance Author, Habit Change, The Writer's Corner, Uncategorized, Writing Essentials
2 comments I though this was interesting enough to bring to all your attention, most of you know my feelings on this subject. However, this writer says some important things about the way we create, even if he put them in a commentary about the “iTablet”. The writers name is Dan Lyons and this is from Newsweek online. Apple is supposedly working on a tablet computer, and though it doesn’t even exist yet, it has already enjoyed more reviews than most products that actually do. Rumor has it that the “iTablet” (my name for it, not Apple’s) will be announced in January and released in June. Just as with the company’s iPhone a few years ago, blogs have been buzzing about the still-unveiled iTablet for months, featuring pictures of what the iTablet might look like, arguments over the features that the iTablet will have, leaks from partners that Apple has supposedly approached to develop content for the iTablet—you get the idea. It’s nuts. Nevertheless, this device may actually warrant the hype. Not because of the tablet itself but because of what it and others like it could do to the way we tell stories. Veteran editor Tina Brown, who now runs The Daily Beast, says we are about to enter “a golden age of journalism.” I agree, and I think tablet devices will hurry that along. These devices will play video and music and, of course, display text; they will let you navigate by touching your fingers to the screen; and—this is most important—they will be connected to the Internet at all times. For those of us who carry iPhones, this shift to a persistent Internet has already happened, and it’s really profound. The Internet is no longer a destination, someplace you “go to.” You don’t “get on the Internet.” You’re always on it. It’s just there, like the air you breathe. Continue reading New ways to “write.” October 11, 2009
Posted by maryepopkin in: Attitude, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Motivation, Non-Fiction, Opinion, Personal Experiences, Self-Help, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Wellness
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HOW I LEARNED THE PHILOSOPHY THAT LIFE IS A SERIES OF MOMENTS IN TIME. Many years ago when I was struggling with the death and dying of my Dad our Family was blessed with a priest who would come to visit us often. Father York, a Catholic Priest, and my Dad was close friends even though my Dad was Jewish. Their paths crossed because our Mom was Catholic and my parents decided to raise their children Catholic. My sister, and I went to Catholic School and Church with our Mom. Fr. York and my Dad’s paths crossed because my Dad fixed the school buses, nuns and priests cars free of charge. Popkin’s Auto and Truck Repair was his privately owned and operated business. My parents believed in the “Law of Comeback” and gave freely of their time and talents. They practice this belief and taught their children that when you give freely of your time, talent or money you don’t expect it to be repaid by the person you have freely given to but the universe would provide for you in your time of need. Now during my Dad’s time of need Fr. York gave freely of his Spiritual talents to aid my Dad and me through the process of death and dying. Continue reading When You See Life as a Series of Moments in Time You Can Create More Positive Moments. October 10, 2009
It wasn’t my connection to chocolate bars that bothered me last winter. To me chocolate was a food group and even when dieting it was included in my eating plan. Ask anyone who has gone through Weight Watchers and they will tell you the point is to learn how to eat and to get rid of the ‘diet’ i.e. denial mentality. You have to learn how to eat the things you love in moderation. I made a daily attempt to write down what I ate and sometimes added the time that I ate so I could figure out why I ate. The problem last winter seemed to be I couldn’t get enough food and I didn’t know why. Continue reading Anguish and Food October 9, 2009
Posted by Prentiss Gray in: Accountability, Current Events, Democracy, Geopolitical Events, Habit Change, Islam, Politics, Recovery
10 comments
Many of us hardly noticed the chain of events that led up to this well deserved honor. People in Europe are not surprised, people in the middle east aren’t either, I don’t suppose even China’s billion are surprised. That’s because he deserved it. It’s as simple as that. Barrack Obama made a campaign promise “to change the face of America” the one the rest of the world sees, and he has. Instead of the big bully and policeman of the planet, we have suddenly gained the pleasant light of being a kinder friendlier country. How much better is that for some european who wakes up every morning to news of yet another American demand or exercise of power? Many people in the world of almost 7 billion wonder why a single country of 300 million feel they rule the planet. Continue reading Bravo! Mr. President! October 3, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Biography & Memoir, Economic Crisis, Economics, Faith, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Humor, Inspiration & Motivation, Journalism, Life Experiences, Motivation, Nutrition, Personal Experiences, Recovery, Relationships, Weight loss
One comment This month marks a rather large milestone in my life — it’s the official one-year anniversary of my real-world independence. This time last year, I moved into my apartment in Jersey City. Sure, I stayed in the dorms at Seton Hall University, but I always went home for the summer. This was different, though. This time I was moving out for good. In that time, we’ve seen a lot go on in the world around us. Our economy collapsed, the Mets collapsed (again), the Phillies actually won the World Series, the Steelers won another Super Bowl, we had our first black president, and about 3,000 celebrities passed away. Personally, I’ve seen a lot happen as well. I’ve lost about 20 pounds, seen my job transform in good and bad ways, and learned a whole lot about how strong and resilient I can be when necessary. I’m a big believer that a lot of the events that happen in our lives do influence how we act with regard to our finances. Here are eight of the most important lessons that I’ve learned in the past year — and lived to tell you all:
September 30, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Mental Health, Motivation, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment Oh yes, once in a while, something great does cross my computer screen, and it’s worth telling others about. The RULES FOR BEING HUMAN, by Cherie Carter-Scott, fits that bill, consisting of ten brilliant lessons on how to manage your time on Planet Earth. [...] September 24, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Attitude, Economic Crisis, Economics, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment We haven’t heard much about it lately in the media, but the idea of a golden parachute came from the tremendous severance packages chief executive officers of large companies would get upon leaving their respective companies. We’re talking about millions of dollars in cash, stock options, and anything else of any real value that they could throw at them. When we had our major financial collapse last year, there was intense scrutiny on these CEOs who were being removed from their posts for, well, failing to do their jobs. But, they still got crazy packages, golden parachutes if you will. Today, we’re not going to be talking about millions of dollars worth of stock options or an eight-digit lump sum of cash. We’re going to talk about how to utilize any substantial monetary gift you receive from family, friends, or circumstance for the betterment of your financial health. Every month around this time, I have my federal student loan payment deducted automatically from my money market account. Usually, my private student loan bill comes to my apartment at this time as well. (I don’t automatically have that deducted because the lender doesn’t have the same level of online access the federal loan provider gives.) Continue reading My Golden Parachute September 23, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Personal Experiences, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
2 comments From the moment she entered the jet, I could tell she did not want to be there. In addition to apologizing each time her overloaded “Big Brown Bag” banged someone in an aisle seat, she was having difficulty navigating her excessive size down the skeletal-sized aisle. I knew the other passengers were thinking, “I hope she doesn’t sit next to me.” Plane seats are not known for roominess, and having someone else’s bulk overspill into one’s limited area was not something for which anyone eagerly plunked down a few hundred dollars. My overweight past flooded to my forethought and I remembered being the recipient of “that look” in the other passengers’ eyes when I used to enter an airplane. I avoided eye contact; my method of signaling to each traveler, “Don’t worry. You’re safe. I’m not sitting next to you.” Finally, I would locate my seat (God forbid it was a center seat). I’d smile and meekly point to the location into which I was supposed to compress. My neighbor would smile weakly, rise, and let me pass. After I settled in, he would reclaim his territory and – although he would usually try to hide it – I would notice a subtle, but definite, slight tilt in the opposite direction from me; trying to retain as much space as possible for himself. All of those memories swamped my consciousness now and I knew what this woman walking the aisle was experiencing in this moment. Continue reading An Effort Either Way September 23, 2009
The negative effects environmental noise has on your health including hearing loss, increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and increased appetite leading to weight gain are no secret. What I want to focus on today is quieting the inner noise, which is just as destructive to true health. “Internal noise” or the constant stream of self-talk that runs through your mind can greatly impact your health as well. [...] September 21, 2009
Did you know, prayer is the most basic mind-body therapy known to man? In fact, even though some experts are only realizing how important your spirit is to your physical health now, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, believed that the moral and spiritual aspects of a person’s life affected their health. [...] September 21, 2009
You take between 18 and 26,000 breaths every day! You require 88 lbs. of oxygen daily – it is the most critical chemical in your body. Your brain alone requires 25% of the oxygen you take in. Breathing is the only bodily function which can be done either consciously or unconsciously. The average person uses only twenty percent of their lung capacity. Increasing oxygen content in all the cells of the body can produce dramatic changes in general health and mood. [...] September 19, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Creative Writing, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Opinion, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment There is a plethora of information about how bad the job market is — now more than ever. Workplace suicides have hit an all-time record in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2008, workplace suicides rose 28 percent to 251 from 196. U.S. hiring outlook also took a dive, as employers plan to hire fewer workers in the last three months of this year according to a study from Manpower Inc. Furthermore, the study says two-thirds of U.S. Employers are not planning a change to staffing, which reportedly is a higher proportion than normal. California’s unemployment rate just reached 12 percent. The job market is so bad right now in the U.S. that older workers are too scared to retire. New reports say that they are putting off retirement in order to rebuild savings they lost when the market crashed last year. Sixty-three percent of those between the ages of 50 and 61 say they will put off their departure from the workforce. Continue reading Recession Got You Down? Get Creative. September 19, 2009
The sidewalks are filled with those busting to work and heading to school. To find an inch free for yourself is hard, you must push your way through clumps of girls gossiping and guys doing a loud Monday morning quarterback drill. Some have shut out the cacaphony of the first day of the work week with headsets. Even on the subway people had their heads hidden in a book. At the nine o’clock hour the population dwindles and slows as the offices fill. There is occassion to catch your breath and walk like a normal person. Unless you feel the call to dance. Continue reading Street Story- Short and Sweet September 18, 2009
Posted by TimKellis in: Advice, Book Marketing Online, Books, Communications, Current Events, Education, Family, General Topics, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Life Experiences, Lifestyle, Marriage, Men's Issues, Mental Health, Non-Fiction, Personal Experiences, Philosophical Genres, Relationships, Self-Help, Social Issues, The Media, The Pundit's Corner, The Writer's Corner, Wellness, Women's Perspective
7 comments   Equality: The Quest for the Happy Marriage If you would like to get your therapist’s head spinning ask him or her what it means to be cured and watch as your therapist struggles to answer that question. The unfortunate reality is the psychology industry, with its biological foundation, has not yet defined what it means to be mentally cured. What makes this notion even more amazing, is the rest of us as a society knows the answer to this question, to be happy with yourself. To clarify, though, individual happiness has nothing to do with the level of wealth or looks, but is an internal quality where the individual finds balance in his or her perception of self against the backdrop of the rest of society.
I wanted to discuss one psychological problem to demonstrate my point, the notion of alcoholism. Modern medical definitions describe alcoholism as a diseaseand addiction which results in a persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. The Journal of the American Medical Association defines alcoholism as “a primary, chronic disease characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking.” According to Wikipedia it is estimated that 9% of the general population is predisposed to alcoholism based on genetic factors. In other words, alcoholism is defined as a biological disease defined by the genetic makeup of the individual. Alcoholics Anonymous’ basic text, known as the “Big Book,” describes alcoholism as an illness that involves a physical allergy and a mental obsession. And of course the mental obsession occurs because of the biological makeup of the brain. Because of this definition there is no attempt on the professionals part to “cure” the alcoholic. In fact, the 12-step program in AA basically teaches people that they have a disease and must give their lives up to God to manage their disease, despite the fact that the fourth step involves clarifying those experiences from the past that have caused the mental problems in the first place, in what is called the “moral inventory”. Continue reading Curing Alcoholism September 17, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Economic Crisis, Economics, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Journalism, Opinion, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment Wednesday’s are generally good days. You’re halfway through the week, “hump day” if you will. (I know, I know. Today’s Thursday. This is a postmortem.) We’re almost to the weekend. Furthermore, when I used to live at home, it was the day of the “Good Breakfast” — a sausage and egg sandwich on a bagel, with a few extra sausage patties on the side. But every other Wednesday it’s even better. Why? Pay day! My job pays us every other week, which gives me an opportunity to add to my checking and savings accounts — which is always a good thing. Because my paycheck varies a bit each pay period due to furlough days at least once per month, every time I sit down to allocate my money I do as follows: Continue reading Paycheck Palooza September 17, 2009
OK, I’m starting to understand that there are two ways of looking at the world: through the eyes of fear or through the eyes of love. If it’s not one, it’s the other. Of course, without that awareness, I wouldn’t know that I had a choice about how I see the world. And without the choice, I really would be at the mercy of my circumstance, whatever that might be. So, given the opportunity to choose, I choose love. Got that. If it is that simple, why isn’t it easy? Or does my saying that make it so? I think I speak for many out there who understand that fear still has a hold on us at some level. I facilitate master mind groups and we begin by studying the 1937 classic, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. As we read Think and Grow Rich, we understand the ghosts of fear that have kept many people stuck: 1) Poverty; 2) Criticism; 3) Ill Health; 4) Loss of Love of Someone; 5) Old Age; 6) Death. Now I may be wrong, but I believe that as we’ve evolved somewhat in our thinking and awareness, not so many of us are as affected as we once may have been by some of these fears; however, I also believe that there are others that have taken their place. The one I’m most curious about – and I don’t believe I’m the only one – is the fear of success. What’s that about? Continue reading Fear … of Success? September 16, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Lifestyle, Medical, Nutrition, Weight loss, Wellness
2 comments Due to the long lifespan of people and the rigors of the diet, studies of calorie restriction in humans are ongoing and have yet to show that people live longer. Nonetheless, thousands of individuals now follow calorie restriction diets, hoping to discover what Ponce de Leon did not. [...] September 15, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Advice, Attitude, Current Events, Diet, Economic Crisis, Economics, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Motivation, Nutrition, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment I have a confession to make: I really do enjoy watching television. So imagine my happiness that NBC’s The Biggest Loser is premiering another season tonight at 8 p.m. EDT. Say what you will about the show — that it exploits overweight people, etc. — but I choose to look at it more optimistically. Essentially, people who have fallen off the health-and-fitness track in life are getting another shot with some of the best resources available to take steps toward a life-altering change. I sincerely believe there are similarities — six to be exact — between The Biggest Loser and your personal finance journey. 1. To progress toward an end goal, you must determine your starting point. September 14, 2009
Posted by cmusico in: Computers, Economic Crisis, Economics, Family, Finance, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Recovery, The Economy
Leave a comment I’ve taken the lessons my mother has taught me about planning and budgeting and broken it down into six steps. Follow these to establish your personal finance plan, and you will have the foundation in place for success — no matter what small obstacles or larger life events may come your way. Here are the six (in order): Common cents? Sure, but sometimes we all need to get back to basics. Read on for more information on each step. Continue reading Six Steps to Budgeting Bliss September 11, 2009
We are told to speak the truth in love to each other (Ephesians 4:15). But where do you draw the line between being honest with someone and just sympathizing with them to make them feel better? While I try always to be mindful of not offending anyone or being harsh or hurtful, this is a difficult thing for me. [...] September 8, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Motivation, Recovery, Self-Help, Wellness
Leave a comment “I realized things weren’t going to get any better until I made them better. I’m tired of feeling bad all the time. I felt like I was trapped. I was always angry. I was ruining my relationships. It was just time. Any of the above; all of the above, you name it.” [...] September 4, 2009
Posted by dacipha in: Accountability, African-American, Attitude, Cancer, Diet, General Topics, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Medical, Opinion, Uncategorized, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment You must have heard the song, “Just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way!” I can clearly hear Julie Andrews sing this as ‘Mary Poppins’. But I want to tell you about something else that might not go down so delightful but it will act as a medicine going down! Do you know that a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar can help you live a longer life? In the age of plastic surgery this may be difficult to grasp. How can something so insignificant have an awesome effect on your life? Well give me the chance to explain. I was told a story by my fiancée that changed my entire belief about apple cider vinegar forever! One day my fiancée went to see his Ophthalmologist to purchase another pair of glasses. After his eye examination, the eye doctor asked him a question. He asked, “How old do you think I am?” My significant other replied, “You must be around 65.” The Ophthalmologist responded, “No, I am 80 years old. The secret is to have a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar once a day.” My husband came home and told me the news immediately. He did his research and concluded that we should purchase some right away! Continue reading Just a Spoon full of……..Apple Cider Vinegar September 3, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Self-Help, Spirituality, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment Most of our stream of consciousness flowing between our ears is emotionally neutral. However, periodically, for better or worse, we draw a thought from the current and focus on it. The longer we drill, the more emotional the thought. Emotions drive change. Change affects our future. So, put two and two together and one can see that thoughts actually do manifest themselves as our lives. [...] August 28, 2009
Posted by dacipha in: African-American, Attitude, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Opinion, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized
5 comments “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Claude M. Bristol Smooches, Ladies and Gentlemen! Today I would like to discuss affirmations. Just the fact that you are on this website means that you are seeking to improve your physical appearance. The truth, in fact is, in order to alter your physical form, a change must occur in your mind. I consider that a person’s appearance is merely a reflection of the true inner thoughts and feelings that one holds about himself. Therefore in reality, you are actually seeking to improve your complete person. Affirmations will be very important in your journey toward self development. These petite yet powerful statements are small in stature but mighty in battle. When I say battle, I refer to the mental conflict that we all experience. There may be times that you have a specific goal in mind but this does not mean that you truly believe that you can attain it. Affirmations serve as tools to speak perfect life into your mind. They can be the difference between living a life of fear and stagnancy or a life of promise and abundance. When affirmations are performed in repetition, these positive words begin to control the mind and replace the pessimistic thoughts. The more you utter affirmations in confidence of faith; you will actually begin to believe what you are declaring. And belief is the building block behind manifesting your dreams into your reality. Continue reading Talk To Yourself August 27, 2009
Posted by AMusico in: Advice, Communications, Habit Change, Relationships, Spirituality
Leave a comment Asking effective questions is actually an art that we can develop and forms the basis for truly effective communication. Tony Robbins, the motivational expert, says that thinking is actually a process of asking and answering questions. Think about that. It’s true! You are constantly asking yourself questions and answering them. The quality of your questions, determines the quality of the answers. [...] August 27, 2009
Posted by dacipha in: Attitude, Family, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Opinion, Religion, Self-Help, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Wellness, Women's Perspective, Working Women
Leave a comment Smooches, ladies and gentlemen! Today, you are blessed because I have some very important information to share with you. It is going to assist you in living a more complete life. I am aware that we all have so many things going on in our lives. You may have a job, family, a business and in addition to your own leisure time. I know that at times it can be overwhelming. I can honestly say that at times, I just want to scream! But then I remember that one important thing I MUST include in my daily life. It is very simple. I need to spend time with my Highest Consciousness. Exercise, prayer and meditation are very valuable essentials to incorporate into a balanced life. Prayer, meditation and affirmative reading material help individuals to possess a clear mind in order to attain balance. These are methods to exercise your mental machinery! A few months ago, I visited a place of worship that stated that one should meditate, read and write for at least five minutes every day preferably in the morning. It is so imperative that we commune with our Higher Self every day. It might begin with five minutes but as you enjoy your fellowship with yourself the time will inevitably increase. I begin my worship experience with deep and rhythmic breathing to clear my mind of all thoughts and distractions. Yet, the different techniques can be classified into two styles which are concentrative meditation and mindfulness meditation. I would like to introduce or reintroduce you to distinct forms of meditation. Please understand that you do not have to be of any particular religion or culture to perform this. Continue reading Keep In Touch August 26, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Children, Diet, Family, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Mental Health, Motivation
Leave a comment They – whomever “they” are – have erroneously told us that confidence is acquired as the result of years on the planet. Yet, after observing this energetic, welcoming, unabashed toddler, I wonder; maybe self-assurance is our birthright – not the self-doubt with which we saddle ourselves. [...] August 26, 2009
Posted by Tantra in: Diet, Environmental Issues, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle
2 comments How often do people do things thinking they are doing something good, healthy, useful, and end up with just the opposite effect? Often, the effect is opposite to what we want because mainstream media has not been very forthcoming, for the sake of the corporations supporting it, who would prefer to keep the truth silent. “Opposites Day” (based on the childrens’ game) is a title you’ll see here from time to time, as I’m noting the irony in some little known but very well documented facts, and will go into these and others in more detail in later articles. Though there is a kind of dark humor in this list, the factual ones are assertions are you may want to look into yourself in alternative media if there is something you haven’t discovered yet. A few personal observation in the mix just make it more human. I’m a very positive person, but once in awhile these days, some of my good humor comes from shaking my head and laughing at the human condition we all share.
August 21, 2009
Posted by James BlueWolf in: Accountability, Attitude, Children, Current Events, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, General Topics, Habit Change, Native American, Opinion, Social Classes, Social Issues, Television, The Economy, Uncategorized
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It’s soccer season and suddenly the circle has come round and my wife and I are re-creating our lives from the early 1980′s. Instead of five children, it’s three children and five grandchildren. But times have changed and where we originally had to scrape and scurry to come up with money to sign them up and buy shin-guards, this year we faced higher signup costs, uniform and cleat costs, shin-guards as well as being asked to buy four balls—one for each child—and all mandatory for participation. The total cost approached $400.00 and we haven’t paid for pictures yet (or the balls). None of our grandchildren could have participated without our support. August 17, 2009
Here are six simple suggestions you can easily include in your lifestyle to improve the balance of good bacteria to bad in your digestive system. [...] August 6, 2009
Posted by AMusico in: Attitude, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Spirituality, Wellness
Leave a comment Much is said about the importance of cleaning up your diet, eliminating junk food, drinking enough water and taking the right supplements in order to help your body heal. And those are all very important things we must pay attention to. However, there is another facet to healing that is many times overlooked and that is the power of your faith – your thoughts, words, beliefs and expectations – to create a healing atmosphere. Scientific research agrees that the mind and body are more intricately connected than we ever realized. In order for real health and wholeness to occur, we have to be in agreement with ourselves, spirit, soul and body. Wholeness, as I understand it, encompasses all three aspects of your being. You are an eternal spirit; you have a soul, which consists of your mind, will and emotions; and you live in a physical body. Unless all three areas are operating in harmony, you cannot experience and enjoy true wholeness. So what do belief and expectation have to do with physical health? More than you may have ever imagined. It is estimated that between 60% and 90% of all doctor visits are stress related. The CDC states that 85% of all disease is caused by our emotions. As you’ll recall, emotions are part of your soul. Your body undergoes chemical and physical changes when you experience something you perceive to be a threat or challenge. We know this as the “stress response.” The physical effects are the same whether the threat is real or imagined. On the flip side, positive emotions like love, care and serenity are just as powerful as those negative, stressful emotions. In fact, they’re now understood to be actual, physiological states that affect health as surely as obesity or high blood pressure do. Continue reading How to Create a Healing Atmosphere August 6, 2009
Posted by AMusico in: Attitude, Energy, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Relationships, Spirituality, Wellness
One comment Physically we know that heart health is critical. However, what I would like to focus on here is how central our heart is to every aspect of life. We consider the heart to be the core of our being, as in getting to the heart of a matter. We encourage others to speak and act from their heart or to follow or listen to their heart. [...] August 5, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Attitude, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment I stood on my head today. Well, that’s not exactly accurate. Actually standing on my head would require a level of flexibility and dexterity not possessed by yours truly as my feet cannot even reach that big ol’ noggin of mine. Besides, even if they could, why would I choose to stand on it? It would be painful, and I would get footprints on my ears. So, I guess the more precise way to describe it is, “I did a headstand.” Really! There I was: head where my feet usually are and feet where my head goes (except when sleeping of course). I found myself in this most topsy-turvy world because my Yoga teacher says it is beneficial as it helps with blood pressure and reduces stress (well, except for your arms; they were stressed quite the big amount, let me tell you). Since I started Yoga, she has been urging, guiding, cajoling, and coaxing to get me to try this top-is-bottom bizarre configuration. Continue reading Changing the view August 5, 2009
The vine ripened tomatoes are tender not soft to the touch and the most amazing shade of red. The basil is so fresh it fills the room as I try to visibly digest its amazing color. The baby arrugala is so green it looks like something sprayed for the cover of a gourmet magazine. But this is local fair, this is the good food that we need to eat. Continue reading Good Food July 27, 2009
Once you speak a word, it exists forever. The laws of physics tell us that energy in the universe is never lost. It is transformed from one state to another. Sound waves never disappear. Sound is an energetic disturbance that causes a movement of particles. Because space is a vacuum with no matter, sound is unable to “travel.” Think about the implications – if we had the right equipment, voices from the beginning of time could be retrieved. [...] July 19, 2009
We tend to do things “mindlessly” rather than “mindfully.” You know what I mean. You can sit down with a bag of cookies and before you even realize what has happened, you’ve inhaled half the bag and barely even tasted one of them. The most precious resource God has gifted us with is time and we value other things so much more highly and waste this most valuable commodity. We have a limited amount of time and number of days on this earth. Living each to the fullest is a way of thanking God and appreciating His grace and generosity. [...] July 15, 2009
Posted by scottqmarcus in: Diet, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Inspiration & Motivation, Motivation, Recovery, Self-Help, Weight loss, Wellness
Leave a comment Here I sit, having face-time with the perennial decision of any dieter, “Do I or don’t I?” Somebody said that foods made with salt, sugar, and fat are the most irresistible. Why not just call them what they are, “baked goods?” I am practically captive to their doughy gooey pull; Homer strapped to the mast, whilst the sweet scent of glaze sings upon the wind unto me. If not for the pull of the ropes of self-restraint, I would fall victim to their fetching, alluring, siren-quality magnetism, throwing myself full-force into a mound of éclairs, finding light only after munching and devouring my way to the top. Yet, when rational thought surfaces, I am aware that the self-control now under assault is the ground floor of everything I have accomplished. My head is held higher, my stomach is flatter, my blood pressure is lower, my muscles are tighter. By no coincidence, these all exist in the same period when my self-esteem is Everest high. I am no Johnny-come-lately to healthful eating, recognizing that a weight gain is neither the result of ONE bear claw nor a SOLITARY cake donut with extra sprinkles. Conversely, I am also weary; as the precipitous journey begins with a single, minor step. The rapid slide from grace is birthed by a thoughtless, momentary, loss of control. It is not food itself that causes obesity; rather one’s midsection expands due to an infection of the thoughts: “There’s always tomorrow,” or, “Just this once,” or “What’s the use?” Continue reading On the (Butter)horns of a dilemma July 6, 2009
Posted by Jose Antonio Ponce in: Accountability, Biography & Memoir, Habit Change, Health & Fitness, Men's Issues, Mental Health, Non-Fiction, Recovery, Wellness
11 comments This essay was written after reading a post by sobrietygirl about her battle with addiction and sobriety and the many comments and words of encouragement she received this weekend. It made me think about my own recovery. I have never put this down on paper before. My thanks to sobrietygirl for giving me cause to reflect.
I have not been drunk in over 25 years. The last time I got smashed was after the death of my childhood friend, Nick Tucker. Nick committed suicide in a fit of depression after losing his job and his young wife asked me to write a song for his funeral. At the time, I was angry with Nick. I didn’t know about the physical and psychological abuse he and his siblings had suffered at the hands of his father. I was just upset that he had killed himself without talking to me first. I got drunk on cheap wine, wrote the song and sang it at the funeral the next day, but long before that evening, I had decided to quit drinking. July 5, 2009
Posted by Author 101 in: Advice, Attitude, Business, Business Management, Cap and Trade, Economic Crisis, Economics, Education, Finance, General Topics, Habit Change, Inspiration & Motivation, Internet Advice, Interview, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Men's Issues, Motivation, Self-Help, Social Aspects, Social Issues, The Economy, Uncategorized, Website Instructions, Women's Perspective, Working Women
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No, we won’t begin with “Do you have a master’s degree?” Although education does matter, higher education is not a requirement for starting or succeeding in a new business. In fact, according to a 1992 United States Census Bureau report, only 5.3 percent of business owners have a Master’s degree or higher education. 9.4 percent had less than a high school education—some only up to the eighth grade. Oddly enough, only 17 percent had any business education. The founder of Dell Computers was a college dropout. Starting out of his garage, he managed to excel above all of the world’s top computer manufacturers. One in three computers sold today is a Dell. |
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IMITATION ISN’T ALWAYS FLATTERING:
Well, well, well. I can certainly imagine why so many media pundits and regular Americans are surprised that their president won the Nobel peace prize. They don’t watch the world news much, and our own American media doesn’t give much thought to events that happen to the rest of the Earth’s 6 billions. 
The (Black) Hair Thing
My hair is not my shining glory.
Saying that as a black woman conjures up a lot of feelings, jokes and anger. But not for me. Once a young friend chastised me for cutting my hair. She told me everyone was trying to grow some and here I destroying mine. My response was “It’s only hair and it will grow back”. It was something she didn’t understand because for ages black women have wanted the hair they claim God didn’t give them. I know why, I understand why but I think now is the time to get over it. It is time for a major hair change in this country. Continue reading The (Black) Hair Thing