The Happy Hammock

The Quiet Library: Where Communities Can Grow

Situated in Lancaster, CA, Jamie’s Bookshelf is a neat place that is all about encouraging others to interact with each other and create a shared community.

The best place to find information about almost anything, other than surfing on the internet (which I would argue doesn’t really help unless you know what you are actually looking for and know how to go about looking for it), is the humble library.

YES!

That building downtown that has books and books and books inside its premises is actually a good place to learn more about things. A shocker, I know. And this not only applies to large public libraries that have access to government networks for procuring books but also to smaller private ones that are sometimes cafes or gathering hotspots, etc., like Jamie’s Bookshelf, whose goal is about encouraging others to form social groups and the like established in Lancaster, CA.

Whether it is published works or in some other medium, libraries are veritable and reliable hubs of knowledge and information and, quite surprisingly, community. With their capacity to provide visitors with pertinent information and relevant news about current issues, libraries take in plenty of individuals and provide them spaces to browse knowledge—this inevitably leads to interactions with other patrons and the formation of friendly social groups around their shared interests and pools of knowledge.

A Brief History of Libraries

The oldest library ever known in recorded history is the one assembled by the ancient Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, between 668 and 631 BCE. It was built as part of the royal palace complex in Nineveh and was a massive repository of knowledge and information, containing upwards of 30,000 clay tablets that had cuneiform inscriptions.

While older hubs of knowledge may have been discovered in the region, the library that King Ashurbanipal established was the first of its kind that had no direct relation to the operations of the government and was, first and foremost, a place to store literary texts—this meant that it was a great place for likeminded individuals to gather and create networks with another.

How Libraries Functioned

Before the popularity of online search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc., the best way for people to pose questions and get vetted and expert answers to their inquiries was through the library, which often had the sterling reputation of being the most reliable source of information in the region. These libraries could either be publicly funded, attached to local academic institutions, private holdings, or specially created.

Like search engines today, individuals only needed to ask a question, and they would get an answer directly from the librarian or guide them toward a particular section of the library that may have had the answers they were looking for. This made for well-maintained areas for communication and interaction in communities.

Despite the internet’s claim to vast stores of information, libraries are still key sources of knowledge today, preserving old books, magazines, documents, and the like. And to adapt to the changing times, many libraries all across the globe also offer internet services either via a free Wi-Fi connection within the premises or a section of the library dedicated entirely to electronic sources accessible through computers.

Libraries as Public Spaces

The greatest quality that libraries offer for community-building, other than their easily accessible trough of information, is the fact that they are easily one of the safest and more inclusive areas in a given area.

This is because most modern libraries are built with the community in mind, and even those libraries that have storied heritages are important areas of historical, scientific, academic, and cultural significance, making them areas where foot traffic is heavy and requiring a comfortable degree of security and safety to be maintained at all times, especially during peak visiting hours.

It also helps that libraries often have large spaces within or without the establishment that have areas specifically catered to visitors and patrons to relax and read their books with peace of mind. Certain libraries also have large function rooms for the express purpose of discussions, debates, or discourse.

Given all that, it is easier to see how libraries can become hubs for socializing and communicating. The library becomes an opportune area to discover new ideas, meet like-minded people, and know more about the town or city—if you are a newcomer.

Finding Out Why Eating Comfort Food Makes Us Feel So Good

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Comfort foods offer many advantages – at least psychologically, if not physically.

Food is fuel – right? Food specialists and experts have consistently urged us to picture food this way and to be strategic in what we put in our mouths. When we eat, considering our long-term goals, we make fitter choices and feed ourselves foods our bodies need to maintain and build health.

This approach may make us healthy, but does it make us happy? I mean, happy like birthday cake and ice cream. Certain foods make us happy, others we eat for our health. For example, fried chicken and mashed potatoes may make us as happy but an egg white omelet and braised kale is healthier. Would, or should, we ever eat solely for our happiness?

t. Given the upheavals that we endured while coronavirus consumed our lives (quarantine and isolation), food and supply shortages, and insecurity about our futures – maybe we can all be forgiven for engaging in what experts call “emotional eating.”

What Is Comfort Food?

We all have heard of the phrase, but what makes something a comfort food? It can be anything, but the main thing that defines comfort food is that it is comforting to you. The word “comfort food” has only been around since the 1960s or so. It didn’t start gaining popularity until 1977 when The Washington Post referred to one of their featured holiday recipes as comfort food.

While the phrase has been around for a while, comfort food was not just invented with the word. It is a feeling we have all gotten, whether from a dish your grandma used to whip up or the to-go burger at the drive-through spot your dad used to bring you to. Sometimes it is comforting just because it is something you grew up eating, maybe a special meal your parents or grandparents would make you as a kid.

Why Is It So Comforting?

Foods high in carbs, sugar, and fatty acids trigger the brain’s reward system, which is why it comforts you. Believe it or not, the same rewards and pleasure centers activated by drug or alcohol addiction are active when consuming comfort food. While sometimes you can chalk it up to stress or just being in the mood for a specific food, there are reasons why you may be craving these unhealthy foods more often than you’d like.

The parts of the brain that are thought to be responsible for your mood are the insula, hippocampus, and caudate. Studies conveyed that these three areas are activated during food craving episodes. These areas process the brain’s memory, reward, and pleasure systems.

Inhale, Exhale

Whatever you are dealing with, comfort food is not bad in moderation. Finding other coping methods for stress, like meditation, exercise, or extra self-care, are also helpful. We all need a break sometimes from the stress of life. A “cheat” meal may be as comforting as spending time alone. Exhale as you set some time aside for yourself.

You can also take comfort in the recipes in Generations of Good Food, a Cookbook by Eleanor Gaccetta. This book is a compilation of recipes that span six generations. The book is a collection of straightforward recipes and heartfelt stories of Italian life that brought families together around the table. This book will raise your interest whether you are a novice in the kitchen, a home cook, or a professionally trained cook. The cookbook is a compilation of nearly 200 recipes, including main dishes, bread, cakes, pies, cookies, and candy. Would you like to cook pasta dishes, bake sweet Easter bread, a Chiffon cake, lemon ricotta cookies, or make Tiger butter fudge? These and many more recipes are included. Just glancing through the table of contents will urge you to cook, bake and eat.

In Conclusion

Sometimes a home-cooked meal is all anyone needs to feel a little better about the stress and troubles of everyday life, and sometimes you need to treat yourself to a bit of chocolate. Either way, your cravings are entirely normal.

Remember to keep everything in moderation and that a healthy, balanced diet can go a long way in controlling those cravings. Comfort foods are great for obvious reasons, so never feel bad or guilty about indulging occasionally!

Fun With Mama: 8 Farm Stories And Books For Kids

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You are in luck! Here are some of the readers’ favorite farm stories that must be told to your young ones!

Farms are so interesting for children because they contain animals, animal noises, bright colors, and mud! This list of farm stories for children includes picture books and board books that celebrate all the fun of farm life. From adorable animals to friendly tractors, there are many cute characters in these books to get them excited about the farm.

Eight Farm Stories And Books For Kids

Sparky And The Pond. This story, authored by Joyce Nealy, is about a little dog that brings joy, love, and a lot of adventure to the family. Sparky lives on a small farm that has a wide variety of animals. Even though the little family is happy and there are plenty of other animals on the farm, there is something that his name implies, a spark of light to brighten their lives.

Millie Waits For The Mail. Millie, the cow, whose favorite pastime is petrifying the mail carrier delivering mail to the farm daily. One fine day when the mail carrier attempts to make a nice gesture for Milly, things go wrong, and Millie destroys the mail carrier’s bicycle. Millie learns a lesson, creating a new friend and finding a new favorite pastime. Your young one will also learn valuable lessons about helping others.

The Grumpy Morning. It is a grumpy morning for the animals when the farmer forgets to wake up that day. The cat wants to be cuddled, the cow begs to be milked, and all the other animals are hungry and ready for chow time! Later, the grumpy animals band together, wake up the sleepy farmer and end that day well.

Bernard The Angry Rooster. This story follows a proud speckled rooster, Bernard, whose job is to crow every morning to wake up the other animals. One day, Bernard became very angry and rough with the other animals. They all asked him what was wrong, but he would not budge to answer them. In the end, Bernard is discovered jealous of the new, rooster-shaped weather vane installed on the farmhouse top. Parents who read this book with their kids may want to discuss how Bernard could have expressed his anger more appropriately rather than acting meanly toward all of his friends.

Hen Hears Gossip. This story was inspired by the game Telephone, in which messages are whispered from one person to another and change theatrically along the way. Here, Hen overhears gossip, which she immediately tells Duck, who then shares it with Goose and Turkey. The gossip makes its way to the farm until, finally; someone shares it with Hen. When the message returns to Hen, the animals learn the importance of checking their facts before spreading gossip.

On the Farm. The book’s beauty is in its simplicity. Each page identifies just one farm animal through a simple and short rhyme. Each description is accompanied by watercolor and woodcut illustrations showing every animal in action. Although this book does not have a plot, it does well: it focuses on a perfect array of farm animals, including the typical ones (e.g., sheep, cows) and not-so-typical ones (e.g., bees, rabbits).

Five Little Chicks. This book follows five little chicks looking for food. Told rhythmically, each chick spies something unusual – a fat worm, a spotted bug, a fuzzy butterfly, a red strawberry, and a shiny trout – and wonders if they can eat it. Fortunately, the wise Mama Hen comes to the rescue. She re-directs her baby chicks to more appropriate food as they go scratch, scratch, scratch for food in the corn patch.

Bob. This fun book will have children laughing as they watch Bob the rooster learn to speak like a cat, dog, frog, and more. Children will also cheer when Bob uses his new skills to protect the chicken coop from a fox.

Last Thoughts. Animal stories for kids fascinate and intrigue their curious minds. Children can be taught about various aspects of life through storytelling. While some messages are simple and easy to follow, others may be intense and cannot be delivered directly. Science has proven that using animals enables authors to tell a powerful story while maintaining emotional distance.

Energy Management: Learning How to Maintain Activeness

Energy management is important to keep a good bill of health

Photo by Matheus Bertelli

Robert Knapick’s 90 Days to Good Health is a time-tested and client-friendly program guaranteed to help you reach your long-term health goals and more!

At 90 Days to Good Health, their vision has always been to help clients change their life for the better. Their program is designed around several key activities; each is formulated to help you discover the genuine you and establish a more colorful, more dynamic, and healthier life.

While we are younger, life seems to go on forever, but it is when we are older that we are struck by the reality and realize that life is quite short–but it is never too late to turn around and restart.

Living in the here and now is the key to acquiring a better life. We should not find ourselves burdened by the past and blinded by future prospects. We should act as if there is only today and feel that every moment is something worthwhile.

90 Days to Good Health helps you take life by the horns and rein it in. If you don’t get up now and take a move, LIFE will pass you by.

Who Needs 90 Days to Good Health?

If you are someone who always wakes up exhausted and irritable and then has to maintain your awareness with copious amounts of coffee or tea, 90 Days to Good Health is a surefire way to give you that needed boost to start your mornings fresh and active.

You see, one of the main reasons why life becomes too tedious is that we lack any idea of energy management. We need the energy to do everything, but sometimes we are quite lost on how to manage it properly, distribute it to the proper avenues, and go looking for it when it looks like the tank is getting lighter.

Energy is a resource like any other, similar to food, money, etc. There’s always a bit that we have when we get up, and we get more after eating. While the amount of energy people have differs from individual to individual, there are general trends among specific demographics that are typically divided along the lines of age, amount of hours sleeping, levels of stress, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions.

Every activity conducted and every action performed requires the consumption of energy–from physically taxing ones like lifting heavy objects to picking up change on the floor to mentally draining ones like writing an essay or calculating large numbers in your head. While you can never ever map out how much energy you’ll be spending in a day, given that you never know every little thing that you are going to do, 90 Days to Good Health has segments specifically tailored to providing you assistance in developing your own personal and unique framework for maintaining or acquiring energy.

Energy Management Tips

The main source of energy for human beings like you and me is food. We need to eat food to survive. Sadly, we aren’t like plants, which undergo a process called photosynthesis that just allows them to create energy by capturing the light of the sun and converting its energy into theirs. Of course, healthy eating does not mean eating whatever is near your mouth. There has to be discretion and a level of judgment when it comes to what we put into our mouths. Go to your doctor and ask for advice on how to eat more healthily.
An often ignored aspect of human life is sleep. In this extremely and bafflingly productivity-oriented world, sleep is deeply important. It helps your body reboot and keeps your mind refreshed. Quality sleep only further enhances these benefits, and, as such, getting as much quality sleep as you can is a key aspect of maintaining your health and overall better well-being.
While it may seem a rather cliche and a bit optimistic piece of advice, committing yourself to meaningful activities and projects is another way of promoting good health. When you are making the steps toward achieving your goals, you gain a sense of achievement. This is very important in helping you stay grounded and more proactive about life and your well-being.
And the most practical way of maintaining good health is always getting regular exercise. The body is the temple where the mind sits, so any activity that allows it to improve and get better is something to be done regularly and consistently.

Architecture: The Partnership of Human Ingenuity and the Natural World

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Ronald Lee Harden’s book on the Black architectural history of Tampa, Florida, touches upon the way society and architecture are intertwined and interrelated.

Architecture can mean many things. It is a field of science, a study in art, and a calling. And many more. Architecture is foremost an art form that prioritizes the social since its outcomes provide the greatest benefit to society, and it is also a scientific endeavor because a rigorous and empirical approach is needed to conduct architectural work. It can also be called a calling because architecture—great architecture, at least—requires strict congruence between burning passions and radical innovation.

While largely ignored and overlooked by the average person, architecture is foundational to broader society. It is another way in which humans manipulate the natural world to suit their needs and enrich themselves.

Architecture is the reflection of how humanity tries to fit into the world around them.

The history of the civilization of deeply tied with the history of architecture. We, as humans, are profoundly visual creatures, and this means that our first instinct is always to know if we can see a subject, whether it be through our physical eyes or our mind’s eye.

This also means that the way we go about with our domiciles and broader “human” environment is through that which is perceptible to our eyes—and this is where architecture comes in.

While most people think of architecture as a stuffy and dull practice that sometimes makes beautiful and pretty buildings to look at that, there is so much more to the concept than drawing or sketching structures.

Architecture, in many ways, is the culmination and collaboration of many elements and fields of human endeavor. Humans have always changed the world to adapt to themselves, and architecture is one of the most potent ways we can achieve that.

Architecture also is emblematic of a society’s engagement with the world and its characteristic tendencies with regard to values, achievements, and beliefs. From the largest monuments to the smallest hovels, architecture provides invaluable insight into the collective human psyche and the many angles it has created to look at the world and humanity’s place in it.

Through investigating the architectural trends of the past and those of today, together with findings from adjacent and complimentary fields of inquiry, we acquire a better understanding of ourselves as a species and as a community as well as discover novel and productive ways that architecture itself affects the development of society.

For example, in Ronald Lee Harden’s book on the Black architectural history of Tampa, Florida, you can clearly draw the lines to how the architecture of the place, especially during its earliest periods, is reflective of the city’s historical and modern racial demographics.

Knowing that this is the case and it is most often the case that society shapes the trends in architecture, there is a question simply waiting to be begged: How does architecture affect society?

Although it is not easily quantifiable, it is safe to say that the effects of architecture are far-reaching and even irreplaceable. As mentioned before, architecture is many things: a field of science, a study in art, and a calling.

It is the perfect union between human self-expression and the natural environment.

It is also a reciprocal union; while each can exist co-dependently, there is always a give-and-take—one influences the other, and there is no path to preventing that closed cycle.

When we imagine a world without architecture, we imagine a world where societies are indistinct from each other, at least in terms of structure; a world lacking in any architectural concepts would be a world that is demonstrably drab and dreadfully dull. It would be a world completely strange and unfamiliar to us.

That is because we already live in a world where architecture is infused into the very fabric of the environments we’ve built for ourselves; so, it’s not an exaggeration to say that a world without architecture is virtually unimaginable, especially if you consider landscaping under architecture’s umbrella.

The greatest benefit that architecture has given society is its ability to offer a wide array of ways to manipulate the natural world and employ its vast resources to create for ourselves homes and structures suitable for our use and habitation.

It is because of architecture that society and humanity as a whole have comfort and security, allowing us to better ourselves and improve society.

Need Extra Space In Your House? Redesign Your Basement!

Are your basements barely used for storing and holding only? Reading this write-up will change your mind.

A basement part of the building with one or more floors is entirely or partially below the ground floor. Basements are typically used as a functional space for a facility where items such as the water heater, boiler, breaker panel or fuse box, car park, and air-conditioning system are located. So as are the amenities such as the electrical distribution system and cable television distribution point. However, basements are often fitted out to a high standard in cities with high property prices and used as living spaces. For some, the term “basement” is used for lower-level floors of, for example, malls and superstores. However, the term is only used with houses when the space below their ground floor is habitable, with access and windows. The term cellar applies to the whole underground level or any sizable underground area. A sub-cellar is a cellar that rests further underneath.

Apart from those mentioned above, basements could also be improved to make them pleasing to look at and become more functional. Here are the tips that one could make to their basements:

1. Make a living room. Why not have two or more family rooms? Renovating a basement is the perfect opportunity to give your home more places where you can relax. A living room in the basement is ideal for getting together with the family, watching movies, singing karaoke, or unwinding. Creating a warm basement living room is an attractive and functional way to spruce up your basement design.

2. Convert the basement into a bedroom space. Do you have a teenager who is tired of sharing a bedroom with a younger sibling? Is extended family always staying over? Creating a bedroom in the basement will give someone the space, comfort, and privacy they need for a good night’s rest. Creating a recess with a built-in bed and shelves is excellent for smaller basements should you want an extra sleeping area but don’t have the space. Make sure your design plans include enough space for bathroom renovations as well!

3. Home Theater Experience. What better amenities to include in your basement plans than having a home theater. Basements ideally have little to no windows, making the dark space ideal for that movie theater feel. Elevate the floor to add rows of recliners or couches, add fixtures with soft lighting so you can fade, and exchange a large TV for a screen and projector. Whatever the style may be, there are tons of home theater ideas!

4. A playground for your kiddos. Cool ideas don’t just have to be for the adults—consider doing something fun for your kiddos with your basement redesign! A rock-climbing wall, stairs that turn into a slide, and built-in shelves to house games or toys are awesome kids’ playroom ideas for your basement.

5. What about a “bar”? Having a bar is a fantastic idea for upgrading your basement. Put some cabinets with a built-in counter against the wall to keep the space open, or make your basement bar a prominent place to mingle with wrap-around tops, lovely bar stools, and counters. Include significant style points with a built-in fridge, countertop beer tap, and many snacks! Whether you’re hoping to entertain or build the ultimate man cave, a home bar is excellent for any basement.

6. Want an extra income? Convert into an Apartment. Take a spare bedroom in the basement one step further by converting your underground space into an apartment suite. Go with a kitchenette with an island and updated appliances, a small area to put a couch for relaxing, and divide the bedroom and bathroom. You can have the space be rented out and earn some extra money or let your college kids stay there in between living arrangements and jobs.

The list goes on and on about utilizing your basement for something worthwhile. Should you need basement renovations in Durham, A&A Home Repair Services is the one you are looking for! They are proud to offer home repair services in Canada. They are a licensed home repair contractor, fully insured, and experienced in renovations, making them the perfect choice to work on your home.

Having Dinner with People and Expanding Community

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Having dinner is central to Generations of Good Food. Whether they are family, friends, or strangers, it’s eating with others that make food delicious.

I think the biggest thing to grieve about the modern world is the decline of communal relations. At first when I started living in my current home, I did not know who any of my neighbors were. I was alone and isolated in a new city on the other side of the country. I’d moved there because of work. Then, as I thought about it, even when I was at my old haunts, I never knew who my neighbors were there either. I knew their names, but I didn’t know who they were as people. As I thought further about it, for the life of me, I can’t remember if I ever had meaningful interactions with anyone else, aside from friends and family, after I got out of college.

That is a harrowing thing. Perhaps that is why people are suffering, and there is a troubling tension in the air across the world. People are becoming less connected to their communities.

Of course, the socio-economics of what that entails is something that I will not be talking about, nor do I have the expertise to discuss it at length. But what I can talk about is my personal feelings on the matter.

Knowing that there is a slow disappearance of communal activity, most prominent in urban areas, actually helped me realize what was missing in my life. For all my life, I just thought that living alone, being cooped up in your room, acknowledging only the presence of neighbors, and just engaging with those who you knew personally was the way of life.

But learning that a vital part of society is on the verge of being lost, learning that other countries don’t have the same problem, and learning that there is more to being a neighbor than simply living adjacent to them, I can’t help but be enlightened.

I’ve lived in cities all my life, you see, and while I can’t imagine myself living in a rural town, I am envious of the ease with which they can interact with others in their community.

Having Dinner with Others is Important

The one thing I missed most when I was young, and there was still an air of communal interaction about, is wonderful and comfortable home cooking. I’m always yearning for Mom’s lasagna and Grandma’s tomato basil soup. Whenever I remember those moments eating with my family, I can’t help but get teary-eyed. Those days are long gone, and so are the times eating out at a friend’s house, feeling awkward as their family gives you sometimes unfamiliar foods.

If you really think about it, eating is the most important aspect of life. Take away your house, and you can always find shelter. Take away your clothes, and will find someone to give you something to wear. But take away your food? No one can survive without food.

I believe that food is the basis for life and community. That’s why I’ve been practicing cooking lately, and with me is a lovely cookbook I found scurrying about the internet. It’s Eleanor Gaccetta’s Generations of Good Food, a wonderful collection of nearly 200 recipes she claims were all compiled from six generations of her family. Regardless, it is a terribly brilliant book that is easy to read and has lovely and delicious recipes (although I haven’t tasted them all).

I adore this book because its mission is similar to mine: that of creating a community. However, its scope is smaller with families, but the intention is the same: the gathering of people for a feast and socializing. Now, isn’t that a lovely thing to consider?

Expanding Community Through Food

Yesterday I finally knocked on my neighbors’ doors and asked if they wanted to come to my apartment for dinner this weekend. This is a big thing for an introvert like me, but I want to change–and change for the better. This might end in agony, or it could be a fruitful night, but I believe that with food, there will always be a conversation or two. And with a conversation, there is a possibility for a community.

Finding Your Inner Peace And Happiness Amidst Chaos

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Inner peace is possible; you do not need to break the bank for a wellness retreat or meditate on a mountaintop to find it. You can tap into it anytime, anywhere.

Carving out time to relax is terrific, but amid the frantic pace of daily life when we need serenity the most: That moment when you are stuck in traffic, and you are very late for work, and your phone starts ringing? That is when you need to find inner peace within yourself as you suppress the urge to unleash a stream of four-letter words.

“Mankind has long suffered—innocently, unknowingly—from a mistaken belief that runs so contrary to human nature that it obliterates the natural trajectory of human life. Thus, human life unfolds, not directed by feelings, but according to the dictates of an artificial order imposed by institutions,” says Chet Shupe, the author of the civilization on inner peace of Rediscovering the Wisdom Of Human Nature. This is an insightful, honest, and intriguing read about the impact of culture on inner peace and happiness.

Peace of mind does not require peace and quiet.

Have you ever been scuba diving or watched an excellent deep-sea documentary? The sea’s tide brings the drama when it crashes against the shore, but go a few meters down, and you will find a restful world of creatures living at their own pace, totally unfazed by the action above.

Breathe in and breathe out. Your breath is always with you. Both meditation and yoga practices gear the power of breath control to help refocus your state of mind. Davis recommends practicing the 4-7-8 breath, based on a time-tested yoga manner because you can do it anytime and anywhere. With your mouth closed, inhale through your nose as you count to four. Hold onto that breath and count to seven, and then exhale through your mouth and count to eight. These long exhale aids stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, initiating a relaxation response in your body. Make sure to breathe low to fill your belly with air.

Feel the truth that you are safe and loved. Remind yourself that you are breathing. And hopefully, you are physically protected. Think about the individuals you care about and those who care about you. Let the truth of that truly lighten your heart.

Visualize your happy place. This is one of the micro-practices that becomes easier the more you do it; the more substantial your visualization, the more effective it is. It is okay if it takes you a while to determine your go-to happy place. You can picture your bedroom under your covers or the ocean, a lake view, being on a favorite vacation, playing with your pet, or being with someone you love. Access to these vivid memories will cue your body to feel like you are there, relaxing you.

Read the story you are telling yourself. If you ever find yourself spiraling over a perceived frustration, disappointment, or panic-inducing thought, try stepping back to evaluate whether what your brain is telling you is accurate. Assessing the source of your turmoil can make it feel more diminutive in size.

Practice acceptance. In the more extensive pursuit of learning to access your inner peace, accepting the existence of things that are out of your control is the long-term goal, difficult as it may be. When we resist our circumstances, we create a lot of suffering, which is the opposite of inner peace. It is a challenging process, and one your brain may resist on impulse at first. That is why it is called “practice”—you may not nail it the first, 15th, or 50th time, which is normal.

Maintain good self-care hygiene. Eating right, getting plenty of sleep, exercising, meditating, and practicing the “mindfulness daily life activities” can all shore up your mental-peace defenses for when all hell breaks loose (in your world or your head).

Serve others to help yourself, too. Everybody knows that when you help other people, you feel better. Those in the field of positive psychology believe that the good feelings that come from significant acts cultivate something they have deemed eudaimonic well-being.

In Closing

Inner peace is about developing “the pause” so that when you feel yourself reacting to a situation, you are better prepared to respond more calmly.

5 Ways To Keep Yourself Smiling All Day Long

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Smiling naturally is a compelling way to connect with people and can positively impact our feelings.

A smile can change someone’s day. A few kind words can impact a person’s whole life. Sadness can be conquered, and happiness and kindness are everything. Some might have always been pleased and peppy people, but they also know that sometimes it can be tough to be happy. Some went through a period in life where numerous difficulties kept occurring, and it created this strenuous atmosphere where you felt like you could not be satisfied or put a smile on your face when you crawled out of bed in the morning. You felt as if everything was hopeless and did not see a point in trying to be happy.

And maybe you came across a person who smiles all the time, in good times and the wrong, despite the weather and the moods around them. Smiling all day is a more complex task, but it is possible, too.

Read on for some of the tricks and tips to turn your frown upside down for the whole day.

1. Consider the benefits smiling could give you. Whether you call it a grin, smirk, beam, or smile, there is no denying the feel-good power of this happy facial expression. We are born with the ability to smile, yet we smile less often as we age.

Why is smiling important? Smiling offers a mood boost and helps our bodies release cortisol and endorphins, providing numerous health benefits, including a strengthened immune system, reduced blood pressure, increased endurance, pain, and stress.

Further, studies show that people who smile appear likelier, competent, and courteous. Smilers tend to be more dynamic at work and make more money.

2. Listening to upbeat songs. Nothing boosts the spirits like a good old song. It is genuinely what music is meant to do. Sure, not all tunes are meant to put you in a better disposition – some are intended to piss you off or offer an empathetic voice in times of sorrow. What music does better than any other artistic medium, though, act as a dose of serotonin for the soul? No matter your life’s circumstances, hearing the perfect song at the right time can make everything feel better, at least for that time. And make you smile.

3. Carry a smile or talisman. Take it with you anywhere and have it elsewhere prominent to nudge you to light a smile. It might be a smiling toy on the tip of a key ring or USB stick, a picture in your purse, or a badge that says, “Please ask me to smile.” Choose your lucky smile talisman. You can also get a watch band with a smiley face or draw a smiley face on the back of your hand. These can be great reminders to smile. Another approach is the word trigger. Use these as smile triggers when you hear polite words, such as thank you, please, welcome, or happy to help.

4. Being grateful for what you have. In positive psychology research, gratitude is consistently and strongly associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps humans relish good experiences, feel more positive emotions, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Having positive emotions will lead you to a smile!

5. Keeping it up. Smiling daily is a habit that can be achieved with will and practice. The more you try it, the more it becomes second nature, and people who observe you will perceive it as perfectly natural.

Furthermore, the book “Were All Crazy Get Used To It” by Jerold Skolnik highlights the power of having the proper mindset as we journey through life with limitless responsibilities. This highly-motivating book is a practical guide that anyone can use to enjoy life to the fullest instead of drowning in it. From watching our words to believing in ourselves, each of its forty-three chapters has tried-and-true techniques for maintaining a smile rather than a frown.

Just a single smile can relieve a person’s stress, leading to an increased feeling of well-being and a more productive day. By looking for ways to bring a smile to your face each day, you will also seem less stressed to co-workers and friends, letting you make a better conviction on everyone you meet.

5 Ways To Observe The Beauty Of The Moon

^{Photo by Denise Rodrigues dos Leal}

The many faces of the Moon as we look upon the sky on most nights, from harvest moon to blood moon, from crescent to quarter to full Moon. The Moon remains a familiar presence in the sky.

The Moon is one of the first celestial bodies you learn to recognize. Many people consider its light somewhat unique since it can brighten the darkest corners of the night. Is it any wonder that cultures around the world revere the Moon as sacred — even magical?

There is one thing that our Moon likes to preserve instead hidden from us — it is the far side, the face we never see. This is because our rocky companion spins on its axis around the same time it takes to orbit the Earth. Though it is not always entirely hidden, the interaction between the Earth and Moon sometimes causes our satellite to rock forward and backward in a motion known as libration, revealing about 9% more of its surface and showing various halves at different times. Because of the angle of the Earth to the Moon, you would be hard-pressed to spot anything interesting on the Moon’s far side, but it is worth looking out for.

Why is the Moon considered beautiful?

The Moon represents heavenly perfection. It is perfect in its beauty yet imperfect at the same time. It is like a mysterious lover. He makes you wait every day before fully revealing itself before you. Upon seeing it in its totality, the scars it was hiding before seem insignificant before the ecstasy of beholding your lover for the first time.

Every time you look at the Moon, it captures you with a mired beauty. Its scars comfort your scars. There is an innate understanding between the Moon and you. It always shines on your totality through its bruises. The relatability is soothing. It is comforting.

There are so many ways to observe and celebrate the Moon. Here are some of the few ways to keep the beauty of the Moon.

Way #1. Looking up. The easiest way to behold the Moon is to look up. The Moon is the most vivid object in our night sky, the second most striking in our daytime sky, and can be seen worldwide.

Way #2. Peer through a binocular or telescope. With some magnification help, you can identify details on the Moon. The strip between day and night on the Moon is ideal for seeing lunar mountains and craters since very long shadows heighten the contrast of the features.

Way #3. Photography. The Moon has always been a popular subject for photographers—no wonder moon and lunar photography is so popular. But whether you are trying to take a photo of it in plain view or during a lunar eclipse, it can be very tricky to capture on camera. The Moon will typically look like a flat white circle and will be too far away to become the focus of your image.

Way #4. Relaxing at your home. You can observe the Moon from the solace of your own home.

Way #5. Through the spacecraft. The spacecraft contains many instruments to analyze the Moon’s composition and environment. One is the GRAIL spacecraft to decipher the maze of the slope map from the laser altimeter onboard LRO. This collection from LRO features images of the Moon’s temperature and topography.

Speaking of the Moon, the book “Moon Luck” by Scott Harral delves into the story of 30 astronauts living on the Moon for extended periods. It is also the story of the astronaut scientists and astronaut explorers as they grow plants on the Moon, explore and find mineral ores, conduct experiments and research, and develop animosities and close relationships.

In the coming decades, there will likely be one or more active stations permanently located on the Moon. And human life will inevitably be taken by another while people are living in these moon colonies. Will we be prepared for the first time it happens?

The Moon is big, shiny, and mysterious. It is something that can be seen but is very elusive. You can enjoy it at a distance but cannot be with it. Kind of that, the beautiful girl you are interested in but too afraid to ask out. That is how the beauty of the Moon can be best described.