Sunday, December 30, 2012
NYE Resolution: No More Resolutions
As 2012 winds down,most people are busy making New Years resolutions. Through reflecting on the past years' highs and lows, most people are vowing to hit the gym more, eat their vegetables, and say their prayers nightly. I am not one to make resolutions, though.I think it sets too high of an expectation, instead I have small things I want to improve upon in my everyday life. Every night in my prayers I ask G-d to help me to be a better person tomorrow than I was today. Do I need to go to the gym more? And eat more vegetables? Absolutely. But I'm not going to say I'm going to be on the treadmill 7 days a week...because I know I won't be. But I will use 2013 to continue improving myself inside and out. I will not be perfect, but I will strive to learn from my mistakes in order to not make the same ones. I will continue to grow and nurture those relationships that are most important to me, something I have ignored in past years. But most of all, I will continue to blossom into the woman, employee, daughter, and partner that I want to be, not the woman that I am expected to be. Life is such an amazing journey full of unexpected wonder, but the most cherished relationship that should come from your life is the one with yourself....so make 2013 the year all about you!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
5 Things I Won't Miss if The World Ends Friday
I don't really think the world is going to end on 12/21/12, and if it happens there will be a lot of things I would miss. My family, friends, and boyfriend would be number one, with Zac Efron pictures, Sour Patch Kids, and purses coming in as a close second. There are some things, however, that I would not miss so much if the world spontaneously combusted tomorrow. This is that list.
1. People who talk on their phone super loudly
I totally understand that our cell phones have become our life. I am admittedly one of those people who is constantly on their phone for both work and pleasure. However, I am always aware of my surroundings...and my voice volume out in public. Nothing can destroy a nice evening out faster than someone blabbing on their cell phone louder than a megaphone. I want to go up to their table and scream "USE YOUR INSIDE VOICE!!!!!!!!!!" but eventually deem it inappropriate.
2. People who don't use blinkers
I love blinkers. It's probably because I am a control freak and like to know everything. Either way, people who don't use blinker and then get mad because you won't let them over into your lane, or make you mad because they cut you off...suck. It's the easiest thing in the world to use your blinker. Just do it.
3. PDA
Also known as Public Displays of Affection. This really shouldn't need an explanation, but alas, here we go. I am very happy you are in love, lust, or whatever, but no one wants to see you shoving your tongue down the throat of your significant other. NO ONE. And while we are at it, no one needs a million Facebook status updates about how in love you are. If the relationship is that great your friends and family will be able to tell without you even having to say it.
4. Gangham Style
Yes, the song is catchy. And the dance is super cute. But like Soulja Boy, The Macarena and many many before it, this song/dance combination is so overplayed and borderline annoying. Unless at karaoke, then, like many many other one hit wonders before it, it becomes instantly awesome again.
5. People who wear socks with sandals
Okay, really this one needs no explanation. You don't need to be a fashionista to figure this one out.
1. People who talk on their phone super loudly
I totally understand that our cell phones have become our life. I am admittedly one of those people who is constantly on their phone for both work and pleasure. However, I am always aware of my surroundings...and my voice volume out in public. Nothing can destroy a nice evening out faster than someone blabbing on their cell phone louder than a megaphone. I want to go up to their table and scream "USE YOUR INSIDE VOICE!!!!!!!!!!" but eventually deem it inappropriate.
2. People who don't use blinkers
I love blinkers. It's probably because I am a control freak and like to know everything. Either way, people who don't use blinker and then get mad because you won't let them over into your lane, or make you mad because they cut you off...suck. It's the easiest thing in the world to use your blinker. Just do it.
3. PDA
Also known as Public Displays of Affection. This really shouldn't need an explanation, but alas, here we go. I am very happy you are in love, lust, or whatever, but no one wants to see you shoving your tongue down the throat of your significant other. NO ONE. And while we are at it, no one needs a million Facebook status updates about how in love you are. If the relationship is that great your friends and family will be able to tell without you even having to say it.
4. Gangham Style
Yes, the song is catchy. And the dance is super cute. But like Soulja Boy, The Macarena and many many before it, this song/dance combination is so overplayed and borderline annoying. Unless at karaoke, then, like many many other one hit wonders before it, it becomes instantly awesome again.
5. People who wear socks with sandals
Okay, really this one needs no explanation. You don't need to be a fashionista to figure this one out.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
In Spite of Everything
"In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death." --Anne Frank
In a country that prides itself on being the land of the free and home of the brave, many innocent lives are taken daily by other people. My thoughts and prayers are with the parents, students, and community of Newtown, CT, but there is a much larger issue that tragedies like this bring up...and it's not gun control.
Did you know it is easier to access guns in America than mental health services? A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder and personality disorder, mental illness can affect a person of any age, race, religion, or socioeconomic background. Just like diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a lowered capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Because of the stigma still attached to receiving help for any kind of mental disorder, most people do not seek help. This is something that has got to change. Medication is not enough, yet in most cases is the only "help" people with mental illness receive. It is proven that medications along with cognitive based therapy is the most effective form of treatment for most mental disorders. It may be scary, but the first step would be to find a professional whom you feel you can connect to to open up about your issues. That person will work with you to tailor a treatment plan specific to you. 7.5 million Americans suffer from mental illness yearly, so whether you are suffering from anxiety or something more serious, know that you are not alone. You are never alone.
Gun control is an issue that has been on the radar since the tragedy at Columbine, and obviously has heated up in the past 24 hours, and while I will keep my opinions of the second amendment to myself, know this: many states require a mental health evaluation as well as a background check to purchase a gun. An evaluation, and actual help, are two totally different things though. In the state of Connecticut, for example, the public mental health system currently provides coverage for less than 1 in 5 residents with serious mental health problems. Mental health, something that should be very important to everyone, gets pushed to the side and receives little to no funding from a government with an already bloated budget.
Encourage people to seek help for anything. Talk to your peers, friends, or family about troubles, and if you are lucky enough to be confided in, give encouragement. It takes a brave person to seek help for any ailment, especially one with a mental illness.There will always be monsters in this world, people who do insane acts for no rhyme or reason. But, it is our duty as not only humans, but Americans to help those around us who may be crying out, most of the time silently.
Below is the link to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), they have great articles about how to talk about, and deal with tragedies, where to find help and treatment, as well as great discussion groups. www.nami.org
In a country that prides itself on being the land of the free and home of the brave, many innocent lives are taken daily by other people. My thoughts and prayers are with the parents, students, and community of Newtown, CT, but there is a much larger issue that tragedies like this bring up...and it's not gun control.
Did you know it is easier to access guns in America than mental health services? A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Ranging from anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder and personality disorder, mental illness can affect a person of any age, race, religion, or socioeconomic background. Just like diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a lowered capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Because of the stigma still attached to receiving help for any kind of mental disorder, most people do not seek help. This is something that has got to change. Medication is not enough, yet in most cases is the only "help" people with mental illness receive. It is proven that medications along with cognitive based therapy is the most effective form of treatment for most mental disorders. It may be scary, but the first step would be to find a professional whom you feel you can connect to to open up about your issues. That person will work with you to tailor a treatment plan specific to you. 7.5 million Americans suffer from mental illness yearly, so whether you are suffering from anxiety or something more serious, know that you are not alone. You are never alone.
Gun control is an issue that has been on the radar since the tragedy at Columbine, and obviously has heated up in the past 24 hours, and while I will keep my opinions of the second amendment to myself, know this: many states require a mental health evaluation as well as a background check to purchase a gun. An evaluation, and actual help, are two totally different things though. In the state of Connecticut, for example, the public mental health system currently provides coverage for less than 1 in 5 residents with serious mental health problems. Mental health, something that should be very important to everyone, gets pushed to the side and receives little to no funding from a government with an already bloated budget.
Encourage people to seek help for anything. Talk to your peers, friends, or family about troubles, and if you are lucky enough to be confided in, give encouragement. It takes a brave person to seek help for any ailment, especially one with a mental illness.There will always be monsters in this world, people who do insane acts for no rhyme or reason. But, it is our duty as not only humans, but Americans to help those around us who may be crying out, most of the time silently.
Below is the link to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), they have great articles about how to talk about, and deal with tragedies, where to find help and treatment, as well as great discussion groups. www.nami.org
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Bad Boys, Bad Boys...What Ya Gonna Do?
My boyfriend vacuumed the carpets and did the dishes the other night, and while I was appreciative, the only thing running through my mind was why he was 7 minutes late picking me up from work. Yes, I'm a bitch, but I'm also a woman. It has been proven that women are more perceptive of a man's forgetfulness than his attentions. So is it really our own faults that we tend to fall for bad boys?
We have all been there, wine and ice cream in tow, rushing to a friend's aide when her man treats her badly. He didn't call her back, he cheated, he didn't tell her she was pretty often enough. And, most likely, you were that girl crying on the couch at one point. But on the flip side, when we do land a "nice" guy, there's always some lame excuse as to why it didn't work out. He was clingy. He moved too fast. He didn't have a life, he was too nice. I am guilty of this myself, I'm not proud to say. Who breaks up with someone because they're too nice?! A lot of women surprisingly.
It's almost primitive, but women love a good challenge. Dysfunctional men are looked at as projects to fix, rather than bad news. Also, women consistently prefer more conventionally masculine men during ovulation, this according to research. Really then, it's not our fault entirely, like countless other things we can go ahead and place the blame on our ovaries!
Everyone's definition of a bad boy is different, but stereotypically he has tattoos, a motorcycle, and a lot of swagger. Psychologically, though, bad boys possess the "dark triad": narcissism, Machiavellianism (manipulativeness), and psychopathy (callousness, lying, thrill seeking). This deadly combination of James Bond-esque traits is any woman's Achilles heel. Most women would drop their panties for a smoldering Johnny Depp more than a sweetsy Justin Bieber, and those women having that "dark triad" have a greater number of sexual partners than other men.
The biggest allure of the bad boy though, are all of their positive characteristics. Confidence, creativity, charisma, high energy, and good social skills are all attractive attributes that most "bad boys" possess. Who doesn't love a confident guy who can walk into a room and talk to everyone with ease?
Bad boys will always be around, and there will always be women wishing and praying that they're the one who will "fix" him. What I've learned is all guys need some sort of fixing, (sorry honey) but it's finding that perfect balance of bad and nice that'll give the emotional fulfillment we so crave while also keeping us on our toes. And if you're not looking for a long lasting, meaningful relationship, it can be so good to be bad.
We have all been there, wine and ice cream in tow, rushing to a friend's aide when her man treats her badly. He didn't call her back, he cheated, he didn't tell her she was pretty often enough. And, most likely, you were that girl crying on the couch at one point. But on the flip side, when we do land a "nice" guy, there's always some lame excuse as to why it didn't work out. He was clingy. He moved too fast. He didn't have a life, he was too nice. I am guilty of this myself, I'm not proud to say. Who breaks up with someone because they're too nice?! A lot of women surprisingly.
It's almost primitive, but women love a good challenge. Dysfunctional men are looked at as projects to fix, rather than bad news. Also, women consistently prefer more conventionally masculine men during ovulation, this according to research. Really then, it's not our fault entirely, like countless other things we can go ahead and place the blame on our ovaries!
Everyone's definition of a bad boy is different, but stereotypically he has tattoos, a motorcycle, and a lot of swagger. Psychologically, though, bad boys possess the "dark triad": narcissism, Machiavellianism (manipulativeness), and psychopathy (callousness, lying, thrill seeking). This deadly combination of James Bond-esque traits is any woman's Achilles heel. Most women would drop their panties for a smoldering Johnny Depp more than a sweetsy Justin Bieber, and those women having that "dark triad" have a greater number of sexual partners than other men.
The biggest allure of the bad boy though, are all of their positive characteristics. Confidence, creativity, charisma, high energy, and good social skills are all attractive attributes that most "bad boys" possess. Who doesn't love a confident guy who can walk into a room and talk to everyone with ease?
Bad boys will always be around, and there will always be women wishing and praying that they're the one who will "fix" him. What I've learned is all guys need some sort of fixing, (sorry honey) but it's finding that perfect balance of bad and nice that'll give the emotional fulfillment we so crave while also keeping us on our toes. And if you're not looking for a long lasting, meaningful relationship, it can be so good to be bad.
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