Finding Purpose After Suffering | Returning from Hell

Photo by Feyza Yıldırım

Anthoney’s Return from Hell is not only a story of redemption but a tale of finding purpose after suffering. Returning from hell is great work, but healing is greater.

Life is a great game; it has its highs and lows, and we’ve all probably wanted a chance to do a do-over or take back a move here and there. And like a great game, we experience a variety of emotions as we go through life: joy and sorrow, hope and despair, triumph and failure. 

And like a game, sometimes, we encounter challenging moments that leave us lost, broken, and uncertain about where to go from there. These moments leave some of us questioning our purpose, doubting our own self-worth, and feeling a lot like the strings have been cut and we’re now just dangling in life. This is a common experience, especially in this topsy-turvy world we find ourselves in.

That’s why I think it’s important to share our thoughts and perspectives on these kinds of things. I’ve also had my fair share of adversity and moments of extreme doubt. This usually happens after going through heavy periods of deep darkness and suffering. Sometimes, it felt like I was returning from hell: I felt like I wanted to just end it all, throw away my dreams, and let everything pass me by.

Yet, despite the many times I’ve let myself down or found that the world has, I can’t help but stand back up. There is always a glimmer of hope, a spark of movement that reignites my spirit, helping me in finding purpose after suffering.

Returning from Hell 

Finding purpose after suffering always begins with introspection and self-discovery. When you feel like you’re returning from hell, it’s important to confront your fears, your insecurities, and whatever negativity that’s weighing you down.

When you acknowledge the pain and the suffering you’ve endured, you allow yourself to grieve what you experienced. This makes way for healing.

Of course, it is easier said than done, but no one said it would be easy. You will experience countless sleepless nights filled with tears, and sometimes, you will even find yourself teetering on the edge of extreme despair. But true healing won’t happen when you don’t face your demons head-on.

When I was navigating the negativity that was abundant inside me, I learned how to be grateful and to be thankful. The only reason why I was filled with such negativity was because I deliberately focused on them.

When I began to hone in on the other things, especially the things that I was thankful for, the negativity inside me vanished a bit. I’m not sure if it all will ever go away, but for a moment, I felt lighter, like my whole life was, again, in front of me.

No matter how small or insignificant, it is important to appreciate them as they are. This helps us grow more thankful for the bigger things: the beauty of nature, the kindness of strangers, and the love of family and friends.

Finding Purpose After Suffering 

Once I embraced gratitude, I started to heal. And on the road to healing, you will begin to reignite your interests and passion for life. You will return to those activities and hobbies that bring you joy and fulfillment. Little by little, you will grow again.

When you pursue your wishes and achieve your goals, you begin to feel a renewed sense of purpose. 

Finding purpose after suffering is not a linear journey. It is a continuous process of growth and discovery, adapting to whatever lies in front of you. There will be ups and downs, that is true, but each step you take forward will be a victory.

Never give up on yourself, even if you are returning from the literal hell.

Believe in your strength and resilience, and trust that you have the power to overcome whatever it is that comes your way.

There is no end to finding purpose, so embrace the journey, and you will discover that there is so much meaning in life–more than we would ever hope to comprehend fully in our lives.

Anthoney’s Return from Hell is a fun romp, but it’s also a surprisingly apt tale about returning from hell and finding purpose after suffering. 

Talking It Out | How to Improve Your Relationships

Photo by cottonbro studio

Encouraging A Friend with Our Trials by Jamie Pulos-Fry is an excellent reminder that deliberately talking it out is a surefire way to improve your relationships.

With the ease and swiftness of social interactions these days, especially online, it’s easy to regard friendships and other relationships similarly. Because everyone seems quite fast and quick these days, we often believe that relationships are minimal-effort projects. This assumption leads us to be quite shallow in our engagements with others, often resulting in fewer meaningful friendships. 

Thus, this idea needs to be uprooted because it fails to recognize the inherent nature of human relationships.

Relationships require cultivation, care, and attention. They do not exist in a vacuum, nor do they function as a vacuum cleaner, which you can just plug in and out. Relationships are dynamic and only flourish with dedicated effort, withering away when ignored or neglected.

In this way, relationships are a lot like plants, which need regular watering and tending. You see, relationships demand consistency and nourishment. Whoever it is with, family, friends, or whatever, relationships can only function well when all parties involved are committed to the project. Relationships thrive on shared experiences, open communication, and mutual support. Without these, relationships are prone to fading away and forgotten, becoming just hazy recollections instead of well-regarded intersections in life.

A true and meaningful relationship is a two-way street, a reciprocal exchange of affection, trust, and understanding. Active participation and a willingness to invest proportionate time, energy, and emotional commitment are required from both parties.

While some dismiss the necessity of putting effort into relationships, those people are severely underestimating the power of the human condition. When we overlook our relationships, we are overlooking how profoundly impactful they are to our lives. Thus, it is important to remember that nurturing these bonds is critical to living a satisfying life.

Talking It Out 

Relationships are like flowers, and flowers need sustenance. The greatest sustenance that we can provide relationships is time via conversation. We sometimes spend hours chatting with friends or family members, sharing our thoughts about a whole host of things, dreams, and concerns. 

This is because, if taken further, conversations can be used to engage with others in a more intimate and positive interaction.

Encouraging A Friend with Our Trials by Jamie Pulos-Fry is an excellent reminder that deliberately talking it out is a surefire way to improve your relationships. 

When you are engaging properly and talking it out with someone, you are transforming otherwise friendly banter into a meaningful and memorable moment. Conversations offer a unique opportunity to explore ideas, challenge ingrained perspectives, and spark creativity. When we engage in heartfelt discussions, we open up ourselves to new possibilities and expand our understanding of the world.

When we let conversations be springboards to address issues that matter to us, we lay the groundwork for establishing proper solutions or, at the least, ways to cope with them safely. Identifying common ground with others is possible through conversation.

For a relationship to become meaningful and intimate, there is a need for shared values and compelling perspectives.

The transition from casual conversation to deep engagement is critical in solidifying bonds. While we may appreciate having some folks to hang around with, drink some beer, or engage in recreational stuff, those are surface considerations. As social creatures, we want deep and meaningful engagements with others.

How to Improve Your Relationships

For relationships to prosper and flourish, it is important to foster a supportive and empowering environment. We should always make time for our friends and family whenever we can and continuously strive to make a positive impact on another.

Checking in regularly, communicating openly, and possessing a willingness to accommodate others are essential to maintaining a lasting relationship and ensuring that it remains firm and strong.

Remember that when we are properly engaged in our relationships, we have a sense of belonging, a source of comfort and support, and a catalyst for personal growth.

When we are talking it out with others, we are enriching our lives in a myriad of ways, offering laughter, joy, and purpose to our lives.

By harnessing the power of conversation, we transform our relationships into becoming important aspects of our lives, and together, we can create better and more meaningful relationships that truly reflect our shared values and aspirations.

Essential Tips for Keeping Your Pet Clean and Well-Groomed

Photo by J. Balla Photography on Unsplash

Your pet needs to be given the utmost care to live well and feel loved, and these simple tips on taking care of them will be the key. 

Keeping your furry friend clean and well-groomed is crucial for their health and well-being. It also enhances their appearance and strengthens the bond between you and your pet. Regular grooming keeps their coat shiny and healthy, helps prevent skin issues, and keeps them comfortable.

It’s fun to believe that dogs are similar to humans in many ways because of the long-time companionship we have with them. Moreover, the treasure behind animal stories is that we get to understand how they see the world from their point of view. And if your pet is a valued family member, they need the regular care they deserve. These essential tips are excellent guides to keeping your pet healthy and happy.

Dogs With Attitude, a book by Yvonne Bronstorph, is a good book that allows us into the world of dogs and what they often feel and think. That’s why it’s good for us to habitually clean and groom our pets.

Establish A Regular Grooming Routine for Your Pet

Setting up a consistent grooming routine is crucial in keeping your pet clean. Depending on the breed and coat type, your pet may require grooming sessions once daily, weekly, or monthly. Establish a grooming schedule and stick to it; this will help your pet become accustomed to the process and make it more enjoyable for both of you.

Brushing Off the Shedding Fur

Apart from a regular routine, regular brushing removes loose fur, prevents matting, and keeps your pet’s coat healthy and shiny. Use a brush or comb for your pet’s coat type. Long-haired breeds may need it less frequently. Take your time and be gentle, using positive reinforcement to make the experience pleasant for your pet.

Bath Time as A Must-Do

Another thing to take note of is bathing them. Bathing your pet is essential to remove dirt, odors, and allergens from their coat. It’s best to use a gentle, pet-friendly shampoo specifically formulated for their species and coat type. Before bathing:

  • Brush your pet to remove any tangles or mats.
  • However, be mindful of the water temperature and ensure it is lukewarm to avoid discomfort.
  • After doing so, dry your pet thoroughly with a towel or a pet-safe blow dryer in a low-heat setting.

Nail Care for Your Pet

Regular nail trims are crucial for your pet’s comfort and mobility. Overgrown nails can cause pain and lead to joint issues. Use specialized pet nail clippers or a grinder designed for pets. However, be cautious not to cut into the quick, sensitive part of the nail that contains blood vessels. If you’re uncertain, consult a veterinarian or a professional groomer for guidance on properly doing it.

Cleaning The Ears

Ears are prone to wax buildup and infections in some breeds. Regularly check your pet’s ears for redness, discharge, or foul odor. Use a veterinarian-approved ear cleaning solution and cotton balls to gently clean the outer ear. Avoid inserting anything deep into the ear canal, as it may cause injury and severe pain for your pet. Consult your veterinarian if you notice any abnormalities in their ears.

Dental Care

Maintaining your pet’s dental hygiene is vital for their overall health. Regular brushing with a pet toothbrush and toothpaste helps prevent tartar buildup, gum disease, and bad breath. Please provide them with dental chews or toys designed to enhance their teeth. Don’t forget to schedule regular dental check-ups with your vet to monitor your pet’s oral health.

Most Importantly, Regular Health Checkups

Grooming your pets at home keeps them healthy, that’s for sure. But taking them to the vet for their overall check-ups is still necessary. You may be with your pets around the clock, but there are specific health issues you might fail to notice instantly. Regular visits to the vet are essential and part of your responsibilities in caring for your pet, so it’s not an exemption. Nor should you wait for the worst before taking them for a check-up.

Keeping your pet clean and well-groomed is a sign of a responsible pet owner. It keeps their physical health and emotional well-being in check and strengthens the bond you share with them. Establish a grooming routine, including brushing, bathing, and other hygiene methods in taking care of pets. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian will ensure your pet’s grooming needs are met, and any potential health issues are addressed promptly. These essential tips help keep your furry friend looking and feeling their best.

Why Do Families Write Their Recipes and How They Preserve It

Photo by Annie Spratt

Many people ask, “Why do families write their recipes?” and that’s possibly because their own family didn’t write down the recipes that they have.

But for Eleanor Gaccetta, author of Generations of Good Food, and others, those recipes are like a treasure trove that must be saved. You’ll see in the delicious dish recipes in Gaccetta’s book that span six generations of her family the food they love and what brings them together. Readers can try out the recipes and have fun with their family, too.

What we’ll be doing next is to analyze the real value of family recipes and why people save or document them.

Keeping the Emotional Experience That Comes With Food Alive

Keeping our heritage and a piece of ourselves alive is accomplished through family recipes. Food can bring back strong memories of our early years since it stimulates each one of our five senses. It also brings up our relationships with departed family members and memories of ourselves at that time.

Food has the power to evoke memories of past events and bring back emotions such as comfort, fulfillment, or joy. We may access these feelings whenever we want—be it on a holiday or just a regular occasion—by preserving family recipes.

We Dedicate the Legacy of Food to Those Before Us

A portion of our ancestors and loved ones’ legacy is preserved when we record family recipes. Every family’s cook adds to the recipe’s unique taste and flair. We are creating an heirloom as we document the ideas, concepts, and procedures of our customary family dinners. This heirloom can then be passed down to our kids, who can then pass it down to their kids, and so on to future generations..

We construct a bridge so that, even when we depart from this life, those we love can continue discovering who we are. Understanding your past is essential to navigating the route ahead. This food history passed down through the generations is a tool.

You can think of it like a family tree made up of foods. A tree that serves as a line that helps you trace the progression of your family lineage decades into the family’s past and future.

Family Recipes Bring Everyone Closer Together

One of the answers to the question “Why do families write their recipes?” is the simple fact food brings everyone closer. Eating is a common human behavior and an essential human requirement. Meals have, therefore, represented sharing, caring for, and appreciating one another throughout history.

This display can be seen in the delicious dish recipes in Gaccetta’s book. Readers will notice how much love and passion was given to the recipes that Eleanor wrote down. It is her way of collecting, recording, remembering, and passing down her family’s beloved recipes.

By learning family recipes in the most trying of times, you can also help yourself deal with whatever it is you’re facing.

Here’s How You Can Preserve Your Family Recipes

When it comes to preserving family heirloom recipes, we’ve gone a long way from exchanging handwritten, faded note cards. There are a lot of alternatives available to you these days for preserving family treasures.

• Method #1: Get a Camera and Record a Video

Pull out your smartphone or similar video recording/editing equipment. Record the play-by-play straight from the kitchen to experience every element of your family’s favorite food. With today’s technology, producing, directing, and editing your film that demonstrates a recipe’s step-by-step preparation is easier than ever.

• Method #2: Create Your Family Recipe Cookbook

Publishing a family recipe booklet featuring all of your loved ones’ recipes and a custom design is simple. A family cookbook is a wonderful present for every member of the family.

• Method #3: Laminate Those Family Recipes for Perpetuity

One of the most popular methods for preserving recipes for baked products and special dishes is to laminate them. Not only does lamination keep recipes from becoming yellow with time. In addition to keeping the borders from tattering, the transparent covering shields the recipe from splashes of splashed sauce or other stains.

Stop Asking, “Why Do Families Write Their Recipes?” and Just Do It!

Now that you know the value and how to preserve family recipes, it’s time to start doing it. We guarantee that you’ll be having fun with the process of saving those important recipes. Recipes that are charged with emotions, memories, and flavor.

Speaking of flavor, if you want to get delicious dish recipes in Gaccetta’s book, then grab a copy of Generations of Good Food. You can order it by visiting her website at https://www.onecaregiversjourney.com/.

Don’t forget to check out some of our other blogs, too, and learn the benefits of home-cooked meals!

Teaching Kids Tolerance to Help Them Develop Healthily

Photo by Bianca Berndt

Teaching kids tolerance can be a difficult task to accomplish, especially with their young minds not being able to grasp what tolerance even is.

Dr. Carolyn Nooks Teague, author of the book Three Dimensions of Learning, is here to help parents overcome that challenge. She’s here to provide valuable input on how parents can teach their children what tolerance is. Dr. Teague can also help provide other traits the youngsters need to grow into healthy and well-adjusted adults.

We encourage you to scroll down and read with us the steps you can take to successfully teach your children what tolerance is!

1. Welcome Diversity Into Your Household

Introduce your kid to positive representations of diverse ethnic groups at an early age. These can include toys, music, books, movies, public role models, and instances from newspaper articles or TV.

Regardless of how young they are, encourage your child to interact with different kinds of people. Expose them to individuals with other racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds as well as genders, abilities, and views. Your youngster is more likely to adhere to your standards if they observe you embracing difference.

2. Always Nurture the Beauty of Understanding

Sensitivity, empathy, and acceptance are learned traits, just as bigotry, hatred, prejudice, and intolerance are. The earlier we begin, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to stop the spread of narrow-minded beliefs and actions and encourage kids to live more peacefully in this interconnected world.

3. Be Sure to Confronted Outdated Beliefs

You could start by thinking back to your own early years. Consider carefully if you are passing on outdated beliefs to your child, and try to gently correct them. You’re doing this so that you do not unintentionally damage their opinions.

4. Become a Model for Tolerance

Don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk as well. Kids learn better and faster if someone models the concept of tolerance for them. If they see you embodying and living tolerance, then children will naturally follow what they see in you.

Of course, teaching kids tolerance isn’t always that simple, but being a model does help greatly. Dr. Carolyn Nooks Teague can provide helpful insights on you and your child’s journey towards teaching your child tolerance as well. She has a lot of informative lessons in her book that you, as a parent, can apply.

5. Encourage Your Child to Have an Open and Accepting Mind

Parents who plan their parenting efforts and consider how they want their children to turn out typically have success. You must decide to raise your child with the belief that variety is something to be respected if you genuinely want them to. They are more likely to accept your values once they know them.

6. Counter Biased Beliefs When Needed

Investigate a child’s motivations when you overhear them expressing prejudice. Next, politely disagree with them and explain why they are wrong. The reason why we need to counter biased beliefs is because we don’t want children to develop bad mentalities.

There are toxic biases out there in the world. We’d want our kids to steer clear from them and that they learn healthy beliefs that benefit them and society. You wouldn’t want your young one to grow up like the fictional villain “The Joker,” right?

7. Teach Them the Value of Their Culture and Cultivate Pride in Them

Children who learn about their family history can better connect with their ancestry. They also grow to respect and value, not just their own ethnic and national origins, but also those of their peers and teachers.

8. Do Your Best to Provide Simple and Straightforward Answers

Writer of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., emphasizes the need to provide straightforward, honest answers to children’s inquiries, especially when certain topics seem awkward or taboo. Stereotypes can be formed or avoided depending on how you react.

Continue On Your Noble Journey of Teaching Kids Tolerance

Helping a child grow into a well-adjusted and healthy adult is no easy task. Fortunately, there are people like Dr. Carolyn Nooks Teague who are ready to help parents. The children are our world’s future, and teaching them tolerance is certainly good for them.

Buy Dr. Teague’s book today by visiting her website at https://www.learnerblueprints.com/. Check out our blogs, too, and discover the value and why there’s a need to focus on being a positive role model for children!

A Light Cast Forward: Remembering Where Your Roots Are

Photo by Any Lane

In Virginia R. Degner’s The Letters of C.M. Case, a historical novel and family book about the Second World War, readers are granted a peek at a firm and storied family history.

Being the third generation of an immigrant family who had to flee the “homeland” and leave everything behind, there is a certain allure within me toward families that have proper histories, those with ancestral homes, heirlooms appreciated from generation to generation, and a lineage that might even span through millennia (these are rare, of course; unless you, the reader, are part of a royal family). 

Remembering where your roots are can be difficult—impossible, even—when you don’t have a reference point to follow, no traces to even investigate. 

In a literal sense, all families have origins that stretch back to any particular time, but actually knowing when and where your family moved and made their names, who those personages were, and other things is a different thing entirely. That’s because when you have documents or heirlooms that speak of your family’s past, you have a more tangible connection to the past: a more substantive claim to history, as it were.

If this is the situation, ancestral homes are not just homes but spaces that hold dear memories, each room, each tile, and floorboard echoing with history—it’s enough to lift the spirit when you remember that the same ground you are walking on was walked upon by an ancestor of yours.

Remembering Where Your Roots Are

The concept of family histories has always been a fascinating subject. Whenever I visit friends whose families have been in this part of the state since its founding (with documents to prove it), I imagine what conversations might have happened within the walls, what perspectives they have shared with one another, and what events shaped their family’s identity. Of course, every family has an identity, and it would be wrong of me to declare that families without “proper” histories are inferior to those with—but for any of you who are remembering where your roots are, it can be difficult to do so when you can only go back a generation or two.

Take my family, for example; our history is a patchwork, just a hodgepodge of half-remembered recollections and fragmented memories. While some families can tell you which particular region their lineage stems from (and might even still be in contact with very distant family members—the wonders of technology), I can only say that my family—from both sides—are European and—from my surname—Germanic. Yet, I can’t really know for sure because there’s no tangible history there. Sure, I can do some DNA testing, but that still doesn’t tell me anything about who my family is or what wisdom they might have for me.

Of course, while I envy families with long and “proper” histories, it does not detract from the uniqueness and opportunity that I have.

If there is no concrete history of your family, then it is incumbent upon you to make it.

I am proud of where my family has come from. Though my heritage is lacking, it is still something that I cherish and appreciate. My family took a great risk to come to the United States and make a new life for themselves.

A Light Cast Forward

History is more than just a collection of dates, names, and places; family history is similarly so. Both are brilliant tapestries of experiences, stories, traditions, and values that seek to connect us, who are in the present, to the past and give us a foundation to shape our future.

Keeping our family history alive, whenever possible, is essential for several reasons.

There are many ways to keep family history alive. We can talk to our elders, collect old photographs and documents, and write down family stories. We can also create family trees, scrapbooks, and other memorabilia—maybe you can even publish a book about your family if there is enough material, like The Letters of C.M. Case by Virginia R. Degner, a historical novel and family book about the Second World War.

Keeping family history alive is a rewarding and meaningful endeavor. 

So, if you want to start remembering where your roots are and keep your family history alive, here are some tips:

  • Talk to your elders about their lives and experiences.
  • Collect old photographs, documents, and other memorabilia.
  • Write down family stories.
  • Create a family tree.
  • Scrapbook your family’s memories.
  • Share your family history with others.

How Meditation Transforms Our Life in the Best Way

Photo by Zac Durant

Discovering how meditation transforms our lives is an experience that will surely change your life in the best possible way.

Cynthia D. Chase, author of the book From Stressed to Blessed, is a book about life transformation through meditation. Meditation provides people with a lot of benefits, and many of us don’t even know how much it helps us. We need to start appreciating the positive effects of meditation and practicing it more often.

Today, join us as we explore how meditation improves our lives and helps us become healthier, happier, and more active. We hope that you can see the beauty of meditation and partake in it, too!

Meditation Helps People Find More Focus and Clarity

A distracted mind is treated with meditation. With practice, we become more focused and clear-headed. This makes it easier to create the space we need for meditation, make decisions, finish one’s tasks, and simplify our daily lives.

Meditation Aids in Waking Us up Earlier and Sleeping Better

Frequent meditation practice increases the amount of time we spend in deep, restful sleep. Starting your day and meditating gets easier as you wake up earlier and feel more rested.

Meditation Helps Grow Our Patience, Compassion, and Tolerance

Our present and future well-being, as well as immediate health benefits, stem from having a more compassionate heart. Meditation brings about heart-opening shifts that transform us. We become more adept at treating others with loving kindness as we practice treating ourselves with it.

Meditation Makes Changing Unhelpful Patterns and Old Habits Easier

Through meditation, we can replace our automatic, reactive behavior with deliberate, mindful action. When we see this take place right before our very eyes in our lives, putting mental health first becomes second nature.

Meditation Helps Us Develop Resilience Amidst Uncomfortable Situations

It’s simple to turn to unhealthy vices or alcohol as an escape when we’re stressed. If you wish to change your life for the better, then turning to meditation can help with that. Meditation helps put things into perspective, allowing us to turn our hardships into opportunities that will aid in transforming us into better versions of ourselves.

We shouldn’t underestimate how meditation transforms our lives. Getting things like Cynthia D. Chase’s book about life transformation through meditation, From Stressed to Blessed. Understanding how meditation changes our minds and lives is beneficial because it lets us release our stresses.

Meditation Improves Our Attention Span

Researchers still need to agree upon an operational definition for the many different types of meditation practices that exist. The two main goals of mindfulness meditation are to help practitioners.

How does it help individuals? First, It improves one’s capacity for “meta-awareness,” recognizing where your awareness is being directed. Second, it can assist people in objectively observing their feelings and thoughts. These two advantages provide the basis for how meditation can potentially transform your life.

Meditation Allows Us to Practice the Act of Charity in our Minds

With meditation giving us better focus, people who practice it can focus on the things that they should be doing. Additionally, it facilitates better emotional regulation in them. The goal of focusing on emotions is not to obsessively consider their causes or attempt to “fix” them.

That might sound like reaching Stoic nirvana and permanently expunging every emotion in your mind. However, achieving such a feat is not desirable or feasible. Instead, it’s the act of paying attention to your feelings, analyzing their source or nature, and then finally letting go of things.

The Deeper Impact That Meditation Offers to Us

Although mindfulness is most commonly associated with pain and stress management, it has deeper benefits for anyone looking to rediscover. Rediscovering a forgotten sense of self-awareness in a world that moves quickly. Meditation opens up the door for us to reconnect with who we are.

Who Benefits the Most From Practicing Meditation?

Although most people’s lives can be improved by mindful meditation, three general groups may benefit more than others.

  • People experiencing major physical pain and stress
  • People who crave to become a better version of themselves
  • People who find it necessary to release unhelpful and anxiety-ridden emotions

These three groups can greatly benefit from meditation practices. If you believe that you’re in one of these groups, then try out meditation today.

Enjoy How Meditation Transforms Our Lives

Developing mindfulness and meditation skills can help you become more cognizant of the world around you, other people, and yourself. Meditation is certainly an amazing practice, and you should get into it as well. Try Cynthia D. Chase’s book about life transformation through meditation to get you started on your path to living a life with meditation.

Purchase a copy of From Stressed to Blessed by visiting Cynthia’s website at https://www.cynthiadchase.com/book/. Don’t forget to check out our other blogs as well, and learn the different forms of Christian meditation!

How to Constantly Choose Happiness on a Daily Basis

Photo by Daniel Xavier

Knowing how to constantly choose happiness is an important skill to learn because it helps us navigate life better and healthier.

Dr. Robert Knapick has a book titled Choose to be Happy and a course called “90 Days to Good Health,” which helps people become happier and healthier. Life is all about living in the present and as much as you can to the fullest. Clients and readers are guaranteed to read and learn from an insightful book and a helpful course.

Today, we’ll be learning how to choose happiness daily and become a happier individual that helps the world shine brighter.

• Listen to Whatever Your Gut Feeling Is Saying

You’ve probably heard many people talk about gut feeling and intuition, but it’d be a waste if you never listen to them and act on them. Consciously selecting happiness on a daily basis means that from time to time. It means you must act on your instinct and allow yourself to evaluate your feelings regarding a particular client, project, or situation.

Always give yourself time to learn to express your feelings for something or someone whenever you don’t feel good about it.

• Put Yourself First From Time to Time

Making yourself important, especially for yourself, is not that easy, particularly if you have a mountain-pile of priorities on your hands. Picking happiness means choosing yourself day by day, even in a small way. Whether it’s appreciating the things you have, doing something you love and are passionate about, setting up healthy ground rules for your time, or saying no, you will always have a choice to choose yourself.

Whatever it may be, always do your best to be the happiest individual you know.

• Constantly Assume the Best From People You Work With

This applies to the individuals you work with, like your virtual team, clients, competitors, and suppliers. Remember that everyone is most likely going through rough patches in life. By doing so, we can aid in dissipating any form of frustration or impatience that could, at times, pop up whenever communication breaks down.

Maintaining a gracious view and attitude toward people you’re working with can result in having supportive and more fulfilling relationships. You can start knowing how to constantly choose happiness with Dr. Robert Knapick’s help via his book, Choose to be Happy, and his “90 Days to Good Health” course. Dr. Knapick will guide us on how to choose happiness every single day.

• Perform a Detox and Cleansing Regularly

Most of us often make New Year’s resolutions, and whether we follow through or not, people often forget about it. However, these are action plans that we should be prioritizing every single day. Sadly, it’s very easy to get stuck into the cycle we call “work hard, play hard.” This type of lifestyle can quickly sap a person’s energy and happiness.

The best way to handle this lifestyle is to limit and talk yourself out of it in the first place. Foster good habits instead so that you can boost the overall happiness levels of your life since you’ll be boosting serotonin levels this way. 

Exercising, meditating, and going for a walk can get the good vibes flowing, and you must undoubtedly make more time to do these activities.

• Don’t Be Afraid to Choose Your Projects

Choosing the right projects is very important. Pick ones you know you’re going to love to do and are passionate about. Yes, we all indeed have bills we need to pay off. Yes, we all need to have a decent salary. However, if you wish to choose happiness, you need to make sure that a huge chunk of your time is spent on things that give you joy and inspire you.

Utilize the Ways How to Constantly Choose Happiness

Now that you have some ways to choose happiness daily, we hope you go out there and use these ways to your advantage. Happiness is something that everyone in this world deserves to have. After all, there’s already so much pain and worry in the world. We should promote peace as much as possible and usher in a world where kindness and love can freely exist.

Go ahead and purchase Dr. Robert Knapick’s book today by visiting his website. You might be interested with his “90 Days to Good Health” book. Check out some of our other blogs as well, and learn about 5 simple ways for you to be happy!

The Beauty of Companionship and Community: Encouragement

Photo by Elina Fairytale

Jamie’s Bookshelf has a piece about encouraging others, and it is a wonderfully relevant book—magnificently appropriate for our times: a reminder that the world can still change.

The world can be a tough place sometimes, especially when you look at the media, where everything is going down the toilet. Whenever you turn on the news, you are inundated with stories of calamities, atrocities, and general mayhem. It’s hard to stay positive and motivated amidst all of that. 

Yet, it becomes even more imperative to remember that we’re all in this together, and when we reach out and link arms, we can make a difference in the world. It is important that we learn to encourage each other.

Encouragement is a powerful thing. Vague, yes, but equally impactful as it is vague. There are plenty of ways to encourage someone, but despite this myriad of ways, it is often hard to do so. This is because even though we came into this world with an encouraging heart, we forget it because the world teaches us to forget. And it is important that we teach ourselves to relearn those primal and inner lessons. 

Encouragement is powerful. It can help people overcome challenges, create better communities and better families, achieve their goals, and improve the world, even if it is only for a little bit more.

Learning to Be There for People

The first step towards learning how to encourage others and yourself is to do so. While that may sound obvious, taking the first step can be quite difficult for a lot of us. Encouragement doesn’t come as naturally as it should. Precisely because we are afraid that our words and our actions will either backfire or don’t do anything.

I’m here to tell you that every bit of encouragement helps. Think of it as giving water to someone who’s been in the desert for God knows how long. Every little bit helps. With that in mind, here are some ideas to restart that encouraging spirit inside all of us:

  • Be kind and supportive. Let people know you’re there for them and care about them. Offer a helping hand when needed, and listen when they need to talk.
  • Offer specific praise. When someone does something good, tell them about it. Be clear about what you appreciate, and ensure they know how much their actions mean to you.
  • Celebrate other people’s successes. Be happy for others when they succeed, and tell them how proud you are of them. This will help them to feel good about themselves and to keep achieving their goals.
  • Be a role model. Show others how to be kind, supportive, and encouraging by being those things yourself. When you see others doing good things, follow their example and do the same.

Encouraging the World to Be A Better Place

Looping back to what was said in the first paragraph, the world is a tough place. If you say it’s a terrible one, I can even sort of sympathize with you, but that is no reason to be swallowed by the despair and the uncertainty of thinking that way.

Yes, I’ll even say it with you right now: “The world is a terrible place.”

But nothing will happen if we only mope about, ruminating about how the world is such a horrid place to be in. We made it this way, and I truly believe that we have the power to fix it if only we stick together and help each other grow to become much better people.

The Beauty of Companionship and Community

We are humans, and humans are dreadfully social creatures. The importance of community and companionship to foster mutual encouragement cannot be overstated. When we surround ourselves with people who believe in us, support us, and inspire us, we become more resilient and motivated to achieve our goals. 

Being part of a community can provide a sense of belonging and purpose and serve as a source of accountability and motivation. Whether it’s a group of friends, a support group, or an online community, finding companionship in our journeys can make all the difference in staying positive and encouraged.

Jamie’s Bookshelf is all about encouraging others to become better versions of themselves and working towards a better world. If you are looking for some encouragement, definitely check her out.

Delicious Severe Weather Recipes to Make Easy and Tasty Food

Photo by Julia M Cameron

Photo by Julia M Cameron

By knowing severe weather recipes, you can increase your survival rate significantly should you be put in a situation where you’re stuck in a dangerous storm.

Eleanor Gaccetta, author of Generations of Good Food, has some delicious generational recipes that are great at pairing new foods and flavors to make delicious meals. Readers who get the book can try out new recipes to add to their household kitchens whenever they like.

However, we won’t be talking about generationally delicious food. We’re here to discuss some recipes you can cook up during terrible weather. Recipes anyone can easily prepare whenever they’re in a bind.

But first, let’s check out some of the ingredients you’ll need for this.

What’s the Right Quantity of Water and Food to Prepare the Meal?

During emergencies, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) advises that you get a three-day’s worth of water supply for every family member, which includes pets. You’ll have to add daily gallons of water for every person. You’ll need more gallons of water if the weather gets very hot.

What Types of Foods Should Individuals Stock Up On?

It helps to load up on non-perishable products that can be kept without being refrigerated for a long time when you know that terrible weather is approaching. Select meals that are:

• Familiar to your family and yourself (it’s not the right time to test out new stuff)

• High in calories

• Nutritious

The following foods are particularly beneficial in these circumstances:

• Dry Crackers

• Canned Vegetables and Fruits

• Canned Nuts

• Jerky

• Rice

• Peanut Butter

• Cereal

• Instant Coffee and Tea

• Tinned Fish (Tuna, Sardines, etc.)

• Dry Pasta

• Canned Beans

• Jam and Jelly

• Dried Fruit

• Trail Mix and Granola Bars

• Powdered Milk

How Can We Manage if the Fridge Shuts Off?

Severe weather recipes are designed to create food that won’t need refrigerators. The CDC advises being proactive should you lose power or if the fridge shuts off for a different reason. Consume the food in the refrigerator first; as long as it hasn’t been off for more than four hours, it’s usually fine to eat.

Pairing new foods and flavors is fun, but in this case, you will need to be careful with what you’re eating. To find out whether your food has gone bad, first smell and inspect it. Food that comes from the freezer should be consumed after the food in the refrigerator.

Foods that have stayed out at room temperature for longer than two hours shouldn’t be consumed. With this in mind, you will certainly need some recipes for severe weather because power often gets cut off in these situations.

Easy to Prepare Recipes During Severe Weather

The following dishes are quick, easy, and use non-perishable pantry ingredients like those mentioned above. Cooking is required for some recipes but not others. This article suggests foods be cooked with gas stoves.

• Spaghetti With Olives, Tuna, and Tomatoes

If you can locate them, cherry tomatoes in cans are available; if not, try standard canned tomatoes and cut them. The only optional thing is the parsley.

Ingredients:

4 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise

2 teaspoons (or more) kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

1 cup heavy cream

Step 1 – Set the oven to 400 °F. Arrange the tomatoes cut side up on a big baking sheet with a rim. Use 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt to season. Then, add 1/2 tablespoons of pepper, then drizzle some three tablespoons of oil. For around 1 hour and 15 minutes, roast tomatoes until soft and caramelized. Allow to cool a bit.

Step 2 – Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in the meantime using a medium saucepan. Cook the onion and 1/2 teaspoon of salt while stirring until soft and transparent. This lasts for around 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 3 – Add the roasted tomatoes, cream, 1 1/4 cups water, and any collected juices to the pot. Bring to a rolling boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until the flavors are blended.

Step 4 – Move the tomato solution to a blender in stages; purée until completely smooth. If necessary, taste and adjust the seasonings.

Step 5 – Divide among bowls and sprinkle freshly ground pepper and oil on top.

• No-Cook Lentil Salad

Combine diced tomatoes, chopped red onion, whatever fresh cheese you may have on hand (goat, feta, etc.), olive oil, a bit of lemon juice or vinegar, and salt with the cooked lentils (you can also use canned lentils for this)

• No-Cook Chickpea Salad

Sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh or dried herbs, a can of chickpeas, a little olive oil to coat, a little vinegar, and a squeeze or two of lemon juice can all be combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Make Your Own Toast with Sardines

Pick up an Ak-Mak or other flat, crispy cracker, and spread some mayo on it. Add one or two oil-packed sardines on top. Add plenty of salt, a little vinegar or lemon juice, and chopped parsley (if you’ve got some) to finish. If you don’t like sardines, try mackerel or any other kind of canned fish.

These Severe Weather Recipes Will Help You Survive

Now that you know these severe weather recipes, you are better prepared to survive extreme weather situations if they happen. Severe weather conditions can be dangerous, so you’ll need all the help you can get.

If you want to partake in the act of pairing new foods and flavors, then Eleanor Gaccetta’s Generations of Good Food is for you. Grab a copy of the book today by visiting her website today.

Don’t forget to check out our other blogs and reignite your cooking passion now!

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