by | Apr 12, 2022 | From the Heart |
Being alone is something that we all need to do from time to time – it’s a great way of recharging our batteries and allowing our minds time to rest for a moment. However, human beings are social creatures, and we tend to work best when we are part of a community, no matter what that community represents, be it work, a hobby, or family. Here are some reasons why being part of a community like this is so good for you.
Photo by RODNAE Productions
Gain Knowledge
One of the most important reasons to be part of a group or community is that you will gain a lot of knowledge. Being with a group of people who understand what you are thinking and how you are going about your daily business because they are similar to you means that there is more chance of finding someone (or more than one person) within that group who will be able to mentor you. They have been where you are and know what it takes to move forward successfully. They will be able to instill you with plenty of knowledge that will help you be more successful in life or business.
More than that, by being part of a community, you can learn from the group at large, asking many different people for advice about mold damage restoration services or plumbers and so on, or simply learning through osmosis and by paying attention to what is happening around you. This kind of information may not be immediately useful, but you never know when you will need it, and it could certainly help you out in the future.
It’s Good For Your Health
Being able to show that you are part of a group and feeling connected is good for your health. Being isolated and not knowing anyone similar to you can lead to mental health problems that being in a group can eliminate. This is known as ‘social connectedness’, and studies have shown that it is as beneficial to health as regular exercise is.
Social connectedness also helps to make us more resilient against stress. If we’re feeling more connected to other people and we know that there are those there for us who will help us when we are feeling down and who will encourage us when we’re thinking negative thoughts, we are less likely to feel the symptoms of stress and depression.
Inspiration
Have you ever felt a little lost in life and just did not know which direction to go in? If so, you’re not alone – everyone can feel somewhat confused about their options or feel stuck for ideas at times. When you are part of a group or community, you can easily gain inspiration from others, and this can be essential when it comes to moving you forward. Of course, taking someone else’s ideas is not a good thing to do, but taking elements of what people are doing and making them your own is how people have progressed for centuries, and it can help you to get out of the rut you are stuck in.
Remember, if you have been doing well in life or business, it’s vital to remain in touch with friends and family or join a group where you can regularly meet with other people. There are many instances where people have been successful and then become isolated and not been able to grow anymore, either personally or in their business lives.
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by | Apr 11, 2022 | From the Heart, Lifestyle |
Living with chronic illness is overwhelming. Your illness can at times affect every aspect of your life, making it feel like a full-time job, on top of everything else you have to deal with.
You will have a difficult time coping with the uncertainty about your future and the unpredictability of day-to-day living, even after you have accepted your diagnosis. It does not take much to send someone suffering from a chronic disease “over the edge as it can overwhelm you socially, mentally, emotionally, and physically — taking a serious toll on your health and wellbeing. Even if you are able to manage your condition on most days, there are occasions when you may swing from being overwhelmed yet able to function to being absolutely destroyed by it.
Make a list of your worries and prioritize them.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, everything might seem like a crisis – to the point where you feel like you can not deal with anything at all. However, not all projects require the same level of urgency. Compile a list of your issues and arrange them in descending order of significance. Decide to deal with only one issue at a time and to do as many tasks as you have the energy to complete.
Keep a record of your emotions.
Some people prefer to express their emotions in a more linear manner, for as by writing in a journal or diary. Keep a notebook in your purse or open the notes app on your phone and jot down a few bullet points if you feel overwhelmed to refer back to later.
Research
Having a sense of being overwhelmed can sometimes be caused by a lack of understanding about what is going on with you and your body. Educating yourself about your condition and treatments – perhaps you could read more about potential things that could help – can help you feel more in control and relaxed. However, put a limit because it is possible to become dragged into infinite rabbit holes of study and suffer from information overload as a result of this.
Make a connection
The experience of living with a chronic disease may be isolating and exhausting if you attempt to deal on your own. Gather with a friend for coffee, take your youngster out for an evening stroll, contact your folks, or send a brief text to a loved one to let them know you are thinking about them.
Attend a meeting with a support group.
No matter whether you meet online or in person, being in the company of individuals who have the same condition as you or who are going through a comparable experience may be tremendously beneficial. Knowing that others have been in your shoes and witnessing how they dealt with their difficulties might help you deal with your own challenging sentiments.
by | Apr 10, 2022 | Lifestyle |
The past couple of years has caused many of us to pause and take stock of our health and way of life. We may have decided to give up smoking, reduce our alcohol use, or drop a few pounds. It is well recognized that being overweight can harm your ability to recover from illness. For this reason alone, many individuals are considering shedding some weight and joining the ever-growing weight loss community. Here, we look at some tips to help you.
Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
Eat breakfast
Many people who have successfully lost weight and maintained weight have made it a habit to have breakfast every day. Many people feel that skipping breakfast is a smart way to lose weight, but they wind up eating even more due to their mistakes over the rest of the day.
According to many studies, breakfast eaters have lower BMIs than those who skip breakfast daily, and they also do better in school and at work than their counterparts. Having a bowl of whole-grain cereal with fruit and low-fat dairy for breakfast is a simple and nutritious way to start the day. You might also consider meal replacement bars as a convenient option for those on the go.
Watch what you are drinking.
We sometimes overlook the importance of including beverages in our daily calorie consumption, but they may quickly push us over the edge if we are not careful. Sweetened drinks are abundant in calories, yet they do not provide the same level of hunger satisfaction that solid meals do. To relieve your thirst, choose from various beverages, including water, sparkling water with lemon, skim or low-fat milk, or small amounts of 100 percent fruit juice.
Keep an eye on the number of calories you eat when drinking alcoholic beverages since they may quickly add up. If you drink a glass or two of wine or a cocktail every day, restricting your alcohol use to the weekends can save you significant calories.
Replace high-fat meals with lower-fat alternatives
When feasible, substitute low-fat or lighter versions of salad dressings, mayonnaise, dairy products, and other goods for full-fat or heavy versions. If you utilize low-fat and lighter things, you may reduce your calorie intake, and if the product is mixed in with other ingredients, no one will notice the difference.
Take into consideration your surroundings
Another simple strategy to help you lose weight is to take control of your surroundings. This includes anything from stocking your kitchen with lots of healthy alternatives to picking the right restaurants. To avoid temptation, you should stay away from unlimited-serving buffets. Eat a nutritious snack before heading to a party so as not to be hungry when you arrive, and fill your plate sparingly when you are at the buffet. Continue to wait for at least 15 minutes before returning for additional food, and drink a large glass of water between each eating round.
Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.
By consuming a large amount of low-calorie, high-volume fruits and vegetables, you may reduce your intake of high-fat, high-calorie foods. Place the veggies on top of the meat and to the side of the meal, away from the center of the plate. Alternatively, a salad or a small bowl of vegetable soup might be served as an appetizer before lunch or supper. This will help fill you up a little more and prevent you from eating as many calorie-dense foods as you would otherwise.
by | Apr 10, 2022 | Lifestyle |
Cosmetic surgery is a multi-billion-dollar industry. In 2019, over 1.8 million procedures were performed, with about half of those performed on women between 40 and 54. These days, there is a surgical procedure for practically anything, from breast implants and reductions to liposuction, nose reconstruction to hip replacements – and everything in between. Every week, many non-invasive operations, ranging from dermaplaning to laser hair removal, are carried out in the clinic.
People undergo cosmetic surgery for various reasons, the majority of which are related to a lack of confidence, the desire to conceal or correct perceived flaws, the desire to look like someone they admire, or simply because they want to. Women account for 92 percent of all cosmetic surgery procedures performed. All of these are entirely reasonable reasons, but it is crucial to remember that cosmetic surgery has a certain amount of risk like any other type of surgery. If you want to undergo surgery for any reason, whether now or in the future, you must be aware of the risks and have asked yourself a few questions to make an educated choice about your procedure. If you are still confident that this is the best option for you after answering their questions and conducting your research, go ahead and do it!
Image via Unsplash
Whether or whether your cosmetic surgery practitioner is the best fit
The vast majority of cosmetic surgeons are incredibly talented, qualified professionals who go to great lengths to ensure that their patients are safe and satisfied with the results of their procedures. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous practitioners are out there, like with every other trade. Ensure that you thoroughly investigate the reputation and accreditations of the surgical provider you intend to choose for your procedure. They should be delighted to answer any of your questions, no matter how little they appear to be, and should be able to provide you with both male and female surgeons upon request.
Are you in good physical shape and health?
There are hazards associated with surgery. We are all aware of this – even ordinary medical procedure is aware of it. You must be as fit and healthy as possible before undergoing an invasive surgical operation to minimize the risks associated with the surgery. Consider the following scenario: if you are carrying a few extra pounds, is it possible for you to strive to remove them before the event? Other than that, do you appear to be in good health? Please inform your surgeon of any other medical issues or diseases you may be suffering from so that they can determine whether you are still a good candidate for safe plastic surgery.
Is your mental health in good shape?
It is critical to maintain good mental health and a positive outlook before and after surgery. If you expect to walk into a room looking like yourself and walk out looking like someone completely different, you may need to reevaluate your expectations. Similarly, if you think that the surgery would help you to improve your life or transform your identity as a person, you should consider the deeper core cause of your problems. Good cosmetic surgery will talk to you about the expected outcome and any concerns you may have. Still, you should also consider counseling or therapy if your mental health is not as good as you would like it to be before your procedure.
by | Apr 9, 2022 | Italy, Travels |
Ciao,
March 6 – Connecting Flights in London / Arriving in Rome
To have been to London Heathrow Airport is to understand this part of our journey to Rome.
We disembarked our plane at London Heathrow Airport in Terminal 3 and had to make our way to Terminal 5. We followed the signs, turning several corners, heading down long corridors, and turning more corners. The fast-pasted walk had lasted more than ten minutes when we reached an escalator, going down. In my naivety, I assumed we were now in Terminal 5. Instead, the escalator took us to a bus station. I realized that a ten-minute bus ride would finally take us to Terminal 5. When we left the bus, I thought we would soon find our gate and get ready to board the plane. I didn’t realize that the journey was beginning. We had to follow more signs directing us to Terminal 5.
Riding the Bus to Change Terminals at Heathrow Airport
We past the British Airways customer service desk and finally arrived at the point where we had to go through security. We had to scan our passports and boarding passes to access the next part of our journey. However, my boarding pass was not accepted on the scanner. I was told to return to the customer service counter for further assistance. Thankfully that was just a few steps away, although we had to wait another ten minutes. The agent examined my boarding pass and was unsure why it didn’t work, but she issued us new ones and said there shouldn’t be any problems. I asked her about our departure gate. She said that we would be able to find that out when we went through the checkpoint.
We went back to the checkpoint and were able to scan the passports and the new boarding passes, and they worked without any issue. A large group of people was huddled near an escalator going up. At the top of the escalator, I thought we would find the screen telling us our gate number. Little did I know that at the top of the escalator was where the line began to go through the actual security checkpoint. If you travel not that much, please remember to fill one plastic bag with liquids you think you will need on the plane. To our surprise, the airport had plastic bags available for people who didn’t bring one. If you bring your plastic bag with you, it’s effortless to pull out and put it back in, and you will not have to worry about your lotions and perfumes being thrown away. We had to work our way to the security agents and X-ray machines. We had to take off our coats and remove our electronics and plastic bags of liquids out of the backpacks. After that, we each had to walk through the security while keeping an eye like a hawk on all our belongings going through the conveyor. After we went through security, we gathered up everything, found a seat to make sure we checked we had everything and then proceeded to find our gate. The time was now 9:45 am.
We found the screen that had gate information. Our flight was listed, but the gate was not. It indicated that the gate would be announced at 9:50 am. We waited five minutes, but still no gate information. It wasn’t until 10 am that the gate was announced with a departure at 10:40 am—more on that a little later.
Having a little time before we needed to board the plane, we stopped in Harrod’s, next to the security checkpoint and departure gate screens. My wife and I have seen the iconic London store on many television shows and had hoped that we would get an opportunity to go into the actual store one day. We didn’t expect to see at the London airport. We picked up a few things, including English tea and a journal. Now off to our gate.
Harrods Department Store at Heathrow Airport
Our flight was assigned to Gate A10. According to the sign, the gate was just to the right of Harrod’s. We walked down the terminal, following the sign for A10. The next sign directed us to the right and then down an escalator. As we reached the lower level, I realized Gate A10 was divided into five additional gates, so our actual gate was A10C. We sat down in the designated area for A10C. Checking out our surroundings, I looked around for where our plane was but didn’t see it. I didn’t think anything about it as we waited for our boarding time. At 10:30 am, the gate agent began to call people to start boarding the plane, but no plane was nearby. She announced that the first group of people would be able to board the bus to get on the plane. A little confused, I didn’t say anything. When our group was called, I realized that a bus would take us from the gate to the plane. We departed the bus and then walked up the steps into the airplane. You can say it was the old-fashioned way of getting on a plane.
We didn’t realize until writing this post that the flight’s departure time that been changed from 9:40 to 10:40 am, and actually, the plane did not leave until after 11:00 am. The additional time was needed to change terminals and go through the security checkpoints. We had to fill out a declaration form for the Italy government that we were coming into their country COVID-free and that we tested negative within the last 72 hours. The flight crew collected the declaration and said they would take care of it for us. Our final flight took just over two hours and went by fairly quickly. We arrived in Rome just after 1:00 pm, ahead of our scheduled arrival time.
Once we departed the plane, we trekked to the baggage claim area to retrieve our suitcases. With three connecting flights and departure time changes, I prayed that our bags would arrive safely. Our journey from the airport to the baggage area took a while, so we didn’t have to wait long when we arrived at the baggage area.
We retrieved our suitcases and made our way through the customs checkpoint. We met our tour group representative around 1:45 pm. Our bus would leave for the hotel at 3:30 pm, so we had time to grab a bit to eat and relax before our true journey would begin.
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