Have you and your partner been together for ages — or are you still sailing along in the honeymoon phase? No matter how long you’ve been a twosome, it’s always smart to take a step back from your relationship to give it a tune-up. In fact, all relationships need TLC. Without it, partners get lazy and the spark dies out, says Irina Firstein, LCSW, a New York City relationship counselor who has doled out relationship advice to couples for over 20 years. Affirmation For Today: I Deserve A Loving Healthy Relationship Her best advice? “Try to remember what attracted you to your partner in the beginning of your relationship. Feel it again and keep it fresh in your mind.” At EverydayHealth.com , Firstein offers five no-fail tips for recharging your relationship. 1. Try a Little Tenderness Here’s a rule of thumb that seems like a no-brainer, but often gets forgotten in the rush of daily life: Be nice to each other! It’s all too easy to take your partner for granted and get wrapped up in kids and work, says Firstein. Instead, try this: Take a moment every day to pay your partner a compliment. “Go out of your way to make your partner feel special and important,” she says. Longest Living Black Married Couple Gives Advice 2. Chit-Chat More One piece of relationship advice all experts agree on? Communication is key. When was the last time you went out of your way to have a real conversation with your partner — one that you didn’t rush through? “Have a genuine interest in every aspect of your mate’s life the way you did when you first met and started dating,” says Firstein. “Ask questions and really listen to what they have to say. Be interested in how they feel and what they think.” How To Make Your Long Distance Relationship Work 3. Add Oomph to Your ‘Thank You’ Do you remember the last time you told your honey how much you appreciate him? A healthy relationship is a blessing, so say thanks with both words and with deeds. If your wife usually gets home from work late, surprise her one night with a homemade, late-night meal. If your husband is usually in charge of yard duty, give him the day off and get out there with the mower yourself. (Find out the next two tips here) Read: Top 5 Super Fruits To Enhance Your Sex Drive FACT OF THE DAY: Ashanti Was Once A Bad Girl Remember Snoop’s Perm & Curls? THEN & NOW: 1990s Music Icons CLASS OF 2001: Was G-Dep The Last Bad “Boy” Standing?
If you’re a recent college graduate trying to find an entry level job, it can be a rough and tough world out there in the job market. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the best entry level jobs out there that are perfect for college grads looking to get a foot in the door. Check out the top entry level jobs in your city below: Washington, D.C. Sales Assistant – CBS Radio – Washington D.C. News Assistant – Bloomberg – Washington D.C. Foreign Language Instructor – ABM Industries – Washington D.C. New York, NY Teachers – Harlem Village Academies – NYC Internet Retail Customer Service – Alpine Access – NYC Faculty- University of Phoenix – NYC Charlotte, NC Intern – Johnson Controls – Charolette Executive Assistant – Kforce Professional Staffing – Charolette Sales – Target – Charolette Houston, TX Occupational Therapist – HealthSouth Corporation – Houston Director In Training Pre School – Learning Care Group – Houston Retail Sales Associate – T-Mobile Retail – Houston New Orleans, LA Journeyman Sheet Metal Commercial Roofer – Simon Roofing – New Orleans ERA Customer Service Representation – SEACOR Holdings Inc. – New Orleans Occupational Therapy Assistant – Amedisys Home Health Inc. – New Orleans Detroit, MI Part Time Accounts Receivable Clerk – Exotic and Automatic Supply – Detroit R & D Automotive CAE Intern – Hitachi America, Ltd. – Detroit Sales Management Trainee – Enterprise Rent-A-Car – Detroit Chicago, IL Tutor – Everest College – Chicago Bartender – HMS Host – Chicago Assistant Manager – Panda Restaurant Group – Chicago Atlanta, GA Instructor Math/Algebra – Everest College – Atlanta Jr. Content Manager – Kforce Professional Staffing – Atlanta Electrical Engineer Project – Philips – Atlanta New Jersey Assistant Director-Child Care – Learning Care Group – New Jersey Electrical Engineer Staff – Siemans Healthcare – New Jersey Applications Engineer – Panasonic Electronic Works Corporation of America – New Jersey San Francisco, CA Inside Sales Associate- Aerotek – San Francisco Physical Therapist – St. Mary’s Medical Center – San Francisco Medical Assistant – Kaiser Permanente- San Francisco
While walking to work yesterday, I was caught off guard when a woman walking in the opposite direction randomly smiled and waved at me. I spent the following ten minutes trying to figure out why a stranger had acknowledged me in this way, taking into account every aspect of my appearance, especially my recently dyed hair and even the smile I had also been wearing. However, despite by best deductions, I could not figure out why that woman had decided to be so openly warm and friendly in such a big city. After a prolonged time of thinking, what occurred to me is that this situation was a test of my daily expectations. Since the smile was most likely a moment of spontaneity, my expectations were shaken and I was not sure how to react, despite the nice surprise a stolen second of kindness caused. The big question I had to ask myself, though, was: Why is kindness and warmth so unexpected in public places? Have we been so desensitized to human contact beyond our own associations that strangers have become just beyond our reach? Does unsolicited optimism scare us? There are many questions that can be raised from a small wave and smile, but the strongest question you can ask would be: is there a way we can see beyond these expectations and embrace the small instances of the unexplained? 1. Don’t see yourself as in a bubble, but within a web of human contact. If you don’t just view yourself as your own contained sphere, you’re more likely to exert an air of friendliness and see the world in a different way. Walking through a big city or a crowded area can feel intimidating and it’s tempting to want to tune everything out as you maneuver through the madness, but keeping your sights open and approachable can make the experience much more rewarding. Just smiling at a stranger and not being so within yourself can make someone else’s day better, even possibly your own! I was talking to a friend in the office about this topic yesterday and she informed me of a story from the 1970′s that correlates with my thoughts. I found the story referenced in this article , as well as many other scenarios with similar commentary. There was a man intent on committing suicide by jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and he wrote in his suicide note that if on his way to the bridge, one person smiled at him, he wouldn’t go through with it. Unfortunately, no one payed him any attention and he ended up jumping to his death. This is seriously one of the saddest scenarios that I’ve ever heard, which confirms that small gestures like smiles and acknowledging others can mean more than you realize. You never really know what is going on in people’s heads and kindness can be the catalyst to their inner pain, especially if they think that no one cares about them. 2. Keep your manners in check, even in a crowded area. Saying “thank you” when someone opens the door for you is always a common courtesy. If you don’t like people cutting in front of you, try to be conscious of others as you run to your destination. It may be hard to realize what you are doing when you are running late somewhere or trying to catch a train, but it can be important sometimes to think of the image you project outward to the world. The calm, collected person you see yourself as might not be the image you present to others on your way out the door! Try leaving room for someone to sit next to you on the bus or give up your space in line at the grocery store to a mother struggling with her child. You never know how much of an impact you can make until you open yourself up to the possibilities! How To Make Fear Your Friend 3. Try to do one act of kindness a day. Even if you are just calling a family member on a whim or giving one of your friends a small gift that reminds you of them, the effort you make to connect with people won’t go unnoticed. There is a common quote that says, “Don’t frown because someone might be falling in love with your smile.” As I said before, a simple gesture like a smile in someone’s direction or surrounding your presence with a bit of optimistic energy can work wonders, as others can feel what you project! If you present yourself as a friendly person with an air of self confidence, running into unexpected situations doesn’t seem so scary or daunting! 4. Keep an open mind about people. Just as you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, it isn’t a smart idea to judge a person based on your first impression of them. There is common phrase that says, “In order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” If you go into a new situation thinking that you don’t want to meet anyone new, then you are not being open to the possibilities of friendship. In my experience, the times I didn’t expect to meet someone fantastic, it just happened. For example, one of my newest and now closest friends came up to me and introduced herself on a whim. Once we started talking, we realized that we had an insane connection and a ton in common. After only a few months, it became second nature to confide in her and now we basically talk every day, even though we don’t live near each other. You just never know what opportunities for human connection are out there unless you put yourself out there and are open to meeting new people! 5. Embrace your true self. If you don’t have confidence in who you are as a person, then it can be very hard to break out of your shell and take advantage of all of the opportunities that life presents you. Once you have your own sense of self and can radiate that to others, the possibilities of the world seem much more attainable! The most important lesson to learn in life is to focus on others, yet also make sure that you are doing the right things for you. By learning to embrace the presence of others and people in different walks of life, you are opening yourself up to what the world is about: communication and human connection. Once you have yourself figured out, projecting that to others makes you all the more interesting. Plus, you never know: your smile could be changing someone else’s view of the world! Embracing the unknown can seem like an impossible task, especially if you are not used to it. However, by taking it upon yourself to throw caution to the wind and take risks, within reason, there is so much to be explored in this world. Just like the man who was looking for a smile within a sea of people on the Golden Gate Bridge, all any of us are searching for is recognition and acknowledgment from the rest of the world. By learning to compromise uncertainty and being open to all situations, you have the ability to gain confidence in yourself as well as inspire the same in others. Put your best foot forward and keep the optimism alive – you never know who you could affect! Isn’t It Time You Revealed The Real You? Did You Know Nicki Minaj Plays The Clarinet? See The Video Here! BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #62: Ludacris Debuts As Radio Personality “Chris Lova Lova” NEW MUSIC: Beyonce Ft. Andre 3000 “Party”
Create a room or nook where you can reflect, be quiet, go inside, and get centered. In your daily life, you have so much to think about and to do. Between work, children, and errands, you hardly have a moment for yourself. This is why you must have a special place to renew your connection with your inner self and spirit. When you create a place in your home that encourages quietness, it will call out to your soul “Come, sit and listen.” Mindbodygreen.com suggests the following eight ideas for creating a sacred space: Quiet Is Where You Find The Real You 1. Convert an attic or guest room or simply create a corner or window seat in your living area that is dedicated to self-nourishment. A space that you deem “sacred” immediately sets the tone for going inward. 2. Hang a screen, beads, or billowy curtain to emphasize the importance of the environment as a place of solitude. This sacred space can be used to receive inner guidance and knowledge as well as to write, draw, paint, chant, play an instrument, or simply listen to birds sing outside. 3. To set the mood for contemplation, meditation, or prayer, place pillows on the floor or find a comfortable chair that supports your back. 4. Set up an altar with spiritual objects to bring in the energy of spirituality. Each object can be placed with an intention for going deep within your heart and soul. (Read more about the next 4 tips here) Related Stories: Creating Sacred Space is Healthy and Important Book Review: Yolanda Adams “Points of Power” Wait’ll You See My…The Top 5 Anthony Weiner Songs REWIND: Jill Scott’s Sexiest Lyrics Does Angela Yee Want To Be Hip-Hop’s Dr. Ruth?
I recently read a New York Times article that explained the interesting concept of “perceptual learning,” which involves training the mind to memorize patterns rather than just learning concepts straight off. This method is being investigated by a small group of scientists who have evidence that proficiency improves when students in schools are groomed to use their “sensitive perpetual radar” to make educated inquiries on problems, rather than purely going through a structured process taught to them by the teacher. With the added component of incorporating individual perception into the scholarly experience, children as young as middle school have been shown the opportunity to grasp difficult concepts in math or science with the benefit of using their intuition rather than convention. The idea of having a “trained eye” through experience of repetition and patterns may be harder to acquire than basic techniques for problem solving, but isn’t practice involved in developing any skill? In this fast-paced world, many times people forget that the simple intuitive parts of our brain hold a lot of credit for the things we can learn to do. If we were to hone these perceptive parts of ourselves at an early age, how could this affect how we learn and process information as a whole? New Job Opportunities Planned For Graduating Class Of 2015 Since “teaching to the test” is extremely common these days, with schools being forced to bring up their reputations based on test scores, the whole definition of “teaching” has changed. With certain amounts of time allotted for teaching specific topics, teaching has become a rushed, overburdened task from its former self. In United States specifically, the overemphasis on standardized tests such as the SATs even as young as middle school age has caused an onslaught of stress, and therefore a decrease in the performance and stamina of students in the classroom. If “perceptual learning” was demonstrated and encouraged early on in learning, how would it affect students and how they view the large amount of information they are faced with? As a physics teacher, Joe Wise states in the article, in reference to underlying skills, “It’s not how well you do, but how well you learn.” Through gaining the building blocks for problem solving by tapping into intuition over structured problem sets, the general skills required for living in the real world might be more readily available from the get-go. Through learning from intuitive experience, trial-and-error tasks, and more prolonged emphasis on patterns and repetition, could we mold a stronger group of young learners? Is Having A Best Friend Healthy For Your Child? Despite the structures that already harness the education system, “perceptual learning” is definitely a strong-point of reference for parents and educators alike to consider when teaching children complex subjects like math and science. Back in my days as a student, math problems and scientific equations always eluded me, as my strong points have always been in English and history. If there had been a way to learn long equations and calculations through a more hands-on learning style, maybe I would not have struggled so much in my school days. The fact that the current children of America live in a time when scientists are working on more comprehensive ways of learning is important for parents and teachers to acknowledge. It is only with education that improvements can be made in the world as a whole, so paying attention to the improvements in the learning curve is vital for future generations! What do you think about “perceptual learning” and its implications for education? Discuss your ideas below! Wait’ll You See My…The Top 5 Anthony Weiner Songs REWIND: Jill Scott’s Sexiest Lyrics Does Angela Yee Want To Be Hip-Hop’s Dr. Ruth?
Affirmation For Today : I Am Financially Secure An affirmation is a great way to start training your mind toward a positive way of thinking. Coupled with other positive thinking exercises, a positive affirmation will help you overcome any obstacle that is put in front of you. The object of these positive thinking exercises is to ensure that you train the most powerful muscle in your body: your brain. 3 Signs Your A Financially Healthy Woman Here is your affirmation for today which can help keep your day in alignment with your desire to be financially secure. Affirmation For Today: I Am Financially Secure How To Make Money Online, Without Spending A Dime Affirmation For Today: I Am Financially Secure Write the affirmation down and / or program an alert in your phone /computer to repeat throughout the day for inspiration to your brain. Affirmation For Today: I Am Financially Secure Retirement Choices 101: Traditional vs. Roth, IRA vs. 401k Affirmation For Today: I Am Financially Secure
The 30-year battle against AIDS is an unbelievable chapter in the history of medicine and 30 years later more than 60-million people around the world have been diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. And of those, 25-million people have died as there is no cure. On June 5, 1981, a bombshell quietly exploded in America. On that day, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report on a rare and deadly illness affecting five young, gay men in Los Angeles. It would be more than a year before the condition got its official name, but that was the day that Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, was officially recognized in the U.S. Get Tested On June 27th, National HIV Testing Day Thirty years later, it can be hard to remember the fear and the desperation of those early days. It took more than three years to identify the virus that caused AIDS and to develop a test to detect HIV, the virus that causes it. There were no treatments, and most people died very quickly. The average survival time after diagnosis was less than a year. People lost their jobs, their families and friends, and their homes when they got sick. Out of fear and ignorance, some schools refused to admit HIV-positive students and some doctors wouldn’t treat HIV-positive patients. Churches and funeral homes refused to bury those who died. READ THE REST HERE AIDS Is Still In Our Lives
Are debt, credit cards, or student loans controlling you, or are you controlling them? Are your finances a source of freedom or a cause of stress? These signs of a financially healthy woman will help you figure out if money is controlling you, or if you need to take control of your money. “Women need to develop a healthy, honest relationship with our money,” says financial guru Suze Orman. “And we have to see this relationship as a reflection of our relationship with ourselves.” In other words, our financial lives (mortgage payments, credit card debt, emergency savings fund, monthly budget, etc) are part of who we are as women. The serious debt or extreme wealth in our finances directly affects our emotional, physical, and spiritual lives. Here are five signs of financially healthy women… 1. Financially healthy women are aware of their “money personalities.” Did your parents invest in real estate, a secure low-interest savings account, mutual funds – or did they struggle with debt? Your saving and spending habits, investment style, attitude about money, and financial perspective is shaped in part by the way your parents treated money in your childhood. Your money personality directly affects your relationship with money – and the more self-aware you are, the more financial independence you’ll enjoy. 2. Financially healthy women take financial risks . A financial risk doesn’t necessarily mean investing $10,000 in a friend’s new business or charging a $2,500 dollar dress to a maxed-out credit card. Taking smart financial risks includes investing in your career by going back to school full or part-time, taking a mortgage on a small piece of real estate, or exploring ways to earn money from your hobby. 7 items to punch up your business casual wear 3. Financially healthy women have their own checking, savings, or credit card accounts. So many readers make comments on my “Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals” blog about how they want to leave their common-law or married husbands, but can’t because they have no money to support themselves. Having a separate checking or savings account is the most basic sign of a financially independent woman…and yet many women don’t have their own source of money. READ MORE HERE How To Make Money Online, Without Spending A Dime
The rumored diagnosis of Whitney Houston with emphysema proves that anyone can contract the disease. Emphysema is a long-lasting (chronic) disease of the lungs associated with breathlessness, chronic cough, excessive sputum and progressive loss of use of lung function. Whitney Houston Battling Emphysema? – In emphysema, there is permanent enlargement of the tiny air sacs in the lungs (called alveoli) due to the destruction of the walls between the small alveoli – Destruction of the alveoli walls causes impaired transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the blood. Doctors know that changes due to damage in the lungs follow a pattern that explains why the above symptoms occur: – The destruction of the alveoli walls with their elastic fibres makes the lungs stiffer or less elastic and makes it more difficult to breathe. – Loss of elasticity leads to the collapse of the air passages (bronchioles), so that air cannot move out of the lungs properly and the air tends to get trapped inside the lungs. – The reduced expansion of the lung during the next breath reduces the amount of air that is inhaled. As a result, less air for the exchange of gases gets into the lungs. How do you get Emphysema? Doctors know that 80-90% of cases are due to tobacco smoking. Chemicals in tobacco smoke are known to attack the lung tissue and cause damage to the air sacs. These irritant chemicals also produce inflammation of the air passages and cause other diseases like long-lasting (chronic) bronchitis , which is often seen in patients who develop emphysema. Symptoms of Emphysema Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the number one symptom of emphysema. A chronic cough that may or may not be productive(producing sputum) Wheezing Additionally, the following symptoms could be associated with emphysema: Anxiety Unintentional loss of weight Feet and ankle swelling Fatigue A person with emphysema may develop a barrel chest in which the distance from the chest to the back is more pronounced due to trapped air within the lungs. Emphysema is slow to progress. This lung disease develops very gradually over a period of many years, and often goes unnoticed until a person begins having difficulty with breathing on mild exertion. The effects of emphysema are permanent and irreversible. Bad Memories Can Be Erased With A Pill
I just read an argument and its rebuttal on the subject of best friends and it really made me think: is it bad to just have one best friend or is having a lot of close friends the better way to go ? While from first glance, the article about the “horrors” of a child having a “BFF (Best Friends Forever)” seemed just like an overprotective parent trying to micromanage their child’s life, but even so, I could see some clear points in there that struck a chord with me. Limiting yourself in any way, shape, or form in terms of who you consider a “friend” is limiting how you see the world. Situations with friends can change on the instant, so why put yourself in a position where if one friend leaves forever, you have no one to fall back on? It’s good to be open to whomever you meet and any potential friendship that comes your way. I see the other view, too, though, that unless you spend time nurturing a friendship, you never truly become close to anyone. Which is more important or is there equal weight in both arguments? How To Make Your Child’s Summer Reading Fun I know that throughout my life, I’ve had both scenarios – one best friend that I could talk to about everything, as well as multiple close friends with whom I felt a strong connection to. I also have those acquaintances that I only say hi when I see them and have small talk, but we don’t have a strong connection like I have with other friends. I truly feel like you can’t limit yourself to who you consider a friend because things can change in an instant and who sticks out all the bad moments is truly someone you can trust. Personally, I just have a group of friends I can call my confidants, but also groups of people I just have fun with. Why does it have to be all or nothing? There’s always a range of people that you share certain things with, a rolling river where trust comes in different forms. When there’s one person that you can share everything with and they’re not judgmental, that’s definitely “BFF” material. However, you can have multiple “BFF”s and feel a strong connection to them all, but in different ways. I don’t think friendship can be so concrete. Children should be allowed to befriend whomever they want, as long as they’re safe and are allowed to learn what it means to be a friend through relating with others. For me, it wasn’t until the end of middle school and early high school that I learned the difference between true and superficial friendships. I don’t think it would be as clear to me as it is now if I hadn’t had that learning experience and gained a firsthand understanding of interpersonal relationships. I don’t even regret the moments of clarity I had to have as to who was toxic and who wasn’t because it’s helped me in the present day to differentiate who I want to keep in contact with. Although it’s important for parents of younger children to reinforce connections, by a certain age, the parenting reigns need to be pulled in and kids should learn on their own to read social cues. It’s invaluable human experience to be able to relate with others and figure out who fits with you. As I wrote this, I thought of an anonymous quote I once heard, “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime” and in looking it up, I found a link to what exactly that means. It’s interesting to think of friends in those categories instead of “best” or “close” or “acquaintance.” The “lifetime” friends are the ones that are your “best,” or the ones that are always there for you. However, there are always others that are harder to categorize and sometimes it’s best not to since life is ever-changing. I know a girl who I sort of knew throughout elementary and middle school, but it wasn’t until high school and college that we became part of a group of close friends. When parents try to dictate the friendships of their children, that could be stunting the natural growth of their child’s connections. Whoever is meant to be there at certain times in a person’s life is never set in stone, but in the end, it’s the journey that matters. That might sound cliche, but why label friendships anyway? Maybe it’s just better to let friendships fall into place by themselves, rather than rank the level of connection you have with individual people. What are your thoughts on friendship, childhood or otherwise? Post your comments below. How To Help Your Teen Through Your Divorce
