"If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself." - Tecumseh
Many people exercise their muscles and their minds, but not their gratefulness. Skipping the first two causes muscles and minds to rot; skipping the last causes one's spirit to rot.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Thanks #2: Steve Peterson
I was thrilled to have lunch with my old college roommate Steve yesterday after a long time apart. He and I jelled from the start back at ISU's Walker Hall.
We were serious enough about our faith to be in a small study group at the Catholic Newman Center, yet silly enough to write phony Bible passages such as Jesus finally relenting after "seventy times seven times" of forgiveness and allowing the disciples to smite the offender thereafter, whereupon the persnickety apostles ask why they can't just do so after the first violation.
We went through dating and breakups around the same time. We had long lights-out talks in the dorm room. Played Nerf basketball. Developed a "cup o' wisdom" filled with more fake advice. Played volleyball and basketball. Mostly aced our classes. They were sweet days whose narrative could fill tons of paragraphs. And these days we're happy spouses with satisfying jobs and volunteer paths.
We were serious enough about our faith to be in a small study group at the Catholic Newman Center, yet silly enough to write phony Bible passages such as Jesus finally relenting after "seventy times seven times" of forgiveness and allowing the disciples to smite the offender thereafter, whereupon the persnickety apostles ask why they can't just do so after the first violation.
We went through dating and breakups around the same time. We had long lights-out talks in the dorm room. Played Nerf basketball. Developed a "cup o' wisdom" filled with more fake advice. Played volleyball and basketball. Mostly aced our classes. They were sweet days whose narrative could fill tons of paragraphs. And these days we're happy spouses with satisfying jobs and volunteer paths.
10 Surprising Ways To Look Younger
By Yahoo! Shine:
Honestly, a person can only repeat the exfoliate-moisturize-SPF routine so many times. If you want to look younger (and your grooming arsenal is already stocked), follow these 10 simple strategies to turn back the clock-no medicine-cabinet space required.
2. Crack a Smile
Sure, smiles fend off future frown lines, but they also make you look younger right now. When German researchers had men and women look at multiple photos of 171 people's faces, they were most likely to underestimate the age of people when they were shown smiling.
3. Lower Your Blood Pressure
One 2013 study found that people who look younger than their years tend to have lower blood pressure, while another new study in Molecular Psychiatry shows that depression, which researchers find compromises your immunity, may actually speed up the biological aging process.
7. Get More Sleep
Beauty sleep prevents more than baggy eyes. One 2013 study found that the skin of bad sleepers has difficulty recovering from environmental stressors, UV radiation included. The result: increased signs of aging. Luckily, we know seven ways to get a better night's sleep.
8. Brush Up
Enamel darkens over time, and the darker your teeth, the older you look. So get brushing. Per a 2010 study in PLoS One, people who brush twice a day look approximately five years younger than those who brush just once. Of course, you can always make up for lost time with a good teeth-whitening system.
9. Grow Facial Hair
Guys used to grow whiskers to look older. But according to recent University of Southern Queensland research, beards and mustaches can help guys look younger by blocking up to 95 percent of the sun's UV rays. Plus, facial hair secretes natural oils that help keep skin moisturized and wrinkle-free. See more weird-yet-true health benefits of beards.
Honestly, a person can only repeat the exfoliate-moisturize-SPF routine so many times. If you want to look younger (and your grooming arsenal is already stocked), follow these 10 simple strategies to turn back the clock-no medicine-cabinet space required.
1. Eat Your Antioxidants
Two weeks to noticeably fewer wrinkles? Even the best moisturizers can't promise that. But in a new study from Unilever, participants who took fish-oil supplements and drank four antioxidants for 14 days straight significantly improved the depth of their wrinkles. Check out these antiaging foods to get started as soon as your next meal.
Two weeks to noticeably fewer wrinkles? Even the best moisturizers can't promise that. But in a new study from Unilever, participants who took fish-oil supplements and drank four antioxidants for 14 days straight significantly improved the depth of their wrinkles. Check out these antiaging foods to get started as soon as your next meal.
2. Crack a Smile
Sure, smiles fend off future frown lines, but they also make you look younger right now. When German researchers had men and women look at multiple photos of 171 people's faces, they were most likely to underestimate the age of people when they were shown smiling.
3. Lower Your Blood Pressure
One 2013 study found that people who look younger than their years tend to have lower blood pressure, while another new study in Molecular Psychiatry shows that depression, which researchers find compromises your immunity, may actually speed up the biological aging process.
4. Get Your Eyes Checked
Stop squinting! Every time you furrow your brows, a groove forms under your skin. As you age and your skin loses flexibility, these grooves become fine lines and flat-out wrinkles, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, M.D. In fact, Hirsch sends 90 percent of her thirtysomething Botox patients to the ophthalmologist for a stronger prescription.
Stop squinting! Every time you furrow your brows, a groove forms under your skin. As you age and your skin loses flexibility, these grooves become fine lines and flat-out wrinkles, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, M.D. In fact, Hirsch sends 90 percent of her thirtysomething Botox patients to the ophthalmologist for a stronger prescription.
5. Have More Sex In
one study, a panel of judges perceived people who had regular sex (four
times a week, on average) to look 7 to 12 years younger than their
actual age, according to Superyoung: The Proven Way to Stay Young Forever. Researchers say that sex spurs the release of human growth hormone, which may help timeproof your skin by promoting elasticity.
6. Hit the Gym for Better Genes
Sure, the fewer your chins, the younger your look, but a new study from UC San Francisco shows that exercise can also influence your DNA. Researchers found that twins who exercise for 30 minutes a day have DNA markers that look 10 years younger than those of their sedentary counterparts.
6. Hit the Gym for Better Genes
Sure, the fewer your chins, the younger your look, but a new study from UC San Francisco shows that exercise can also influence your DNA. Researchers found that twins who exercise for 30 minutes a day have DNA markers that look 10 years younger than those of their sedentary counterparts.
7. Get More Sleep
Beauty sleep prevents more than baggy eyes. One 2013 study found that the skin of bad sleepers has difficulty recovering from environmental stressors, UV radiation included. The result: increased signs of aging. Luckily, we know seven ways to get a better night's sleep.
8. Brush Up
Enamel darkens over time, and the darker your teeth, the older you look. So get brushing. Per a 2010 study in PLoS One, people who brush twice a day look approximately five years younger than those who brush just once. Of course, you can always make up for lost time with a good teeth-whitening system.
9. Grow Facial Hair
Guys used to grow whiskers to look older. But according to recent University of Southern Queensland research, beards and mustaches can help guys look younger by blocking up to 95 percent of the sun's UV rays. Plus, facial hair secretes natural oils that help keep skin moisturized and wrinkle-free. See more weird-yet-true health benefits of beards.
10. Skip the Cigs
It's no surprise that smoking ages you. What is surprising is just how much: Every 10 years of smoking resulted in a perceived extra 2.5 years of age, according to new research published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Researchers say that smoking is associated with more wrinkles between the nose and the mouth, lip wrinkles, sagging jowls, under-eye bags, and sagging eyelids-meaning pretty much your entire face.
It's no surprise that smoking ages you. What is surprising is just how much: Every 10 years of smoking resulted in a perceived extra 2.5 years of age, according to new research published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Researchers say that smoking is associated with more wrinkles between the nose and the mouth, lip wrinkles, sagging jowls, under-eye bags, and sagging eyelids-meaning pretty much your entire face.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Thanks # 1: Spelling Bee
As the year winds down I've decided to post randomly about things I'm blessed with this year.
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. For a long time I was unsure if I liked this play. In the end, it was the chance to work with Brett Cottone and Wendy Baugh again that tipped the scales. It was by far the right decision! I could write many paragraphs about each of my cast and crew mates. From top to bottom it was an energetic, kind, talented and immensely cohesive group that entertained hundreds of people, laughing all the way. I would gladly do another dozen performances of this.
Even if I never do another Community Players show, it's been a terrific chapter in my life and was a light during a more stressful point in my State Farm career. I often sing Hairspray and Spelling Bee songs in my head or the shower because it takes me back to a joyous and peaceful place.
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. For a long time I was unsure if I liked this play. In the end, it was the chance to work with Brett Cottone and Wendy Baugh again that tipped the scales. It was by far the right decision! I could write many paragraphs about each of my cast and crew mates. From top to bottom it was an energetic, kind, talented and immensely cohesive group that entertained hundreds of people, laughing all the way. I would gladly do another dozen performances of this.
Even if I never do another Community Players show, it's been a terrific chapter in my life and was a light during a more stressful point in my State Farm career. I often sing Hairspray and Spelling Bee songs in my head or the shower because it takes me back to a joyous and peaceful place.
Winning Is An Attitude, Not A Score
So many locker room moods are defined by a matter of simple points on a scoreboard. Office moods by a gain or loss. Home moods by getting our way or not. The physical outcome too strongly defines whether or not we've "won." Winning is an attitude. No one's really "lost" until they've lost their smile. In sports it's possible to execute well in defeat and poorly in victory - the right message is to focus on that rather than the scoreboard outcome.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Tutoring Quote Of The Day, Part 2
From a non-traditional student, my first tutoring the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) math section:
Joe is great at approaching a problem from a different angle when I don't understand it a certain way. He is always very patient and knowledgeable!
Joe is great at approaching a problem from a different angle when I don't understand it a certain way. He is always very patient and knowledgeable!
Tutoring Quote Of The Day
Joe was the best tutor I could have asked for! He is a math tutor, but he agreed to tutor me in my college level Finance class. I was totally lost and didn't have a clue where to even begin. He was extremely patient and accommodating to my schedule. He helped me understand the concepts and calculations needed in order to earn an A on my final paper. Without his help there is no way I would have passed. Thanks to Joe I received an A on my final paper and a B in the class. I highly recommend Joe!!!!
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