Smells Trigger Memories That Last A Lifetime

Smells Trigger Memories That Last A Lifetime

Life & Living
Among other things, our brains operate as the hard drives of our bodies - harnessing data, experiences, and moments in time that are available for searching, sharing, and remembering whenever the need arises. For many of us, accessing joyful memories is often ignited through our sense of sight, as photographs and videos often transport our present day back to another place and time. But researchers are discovering that smells trigger memories more effectively than other senses. From Discovery.com:  When you see, hear, touch, or taste something, that sensory information first heads to the thalamus, which acts as your brain's relay station. The thalamus then sends that information to the relevant brain areas, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory, and the amygdala, which does the emotional processing. But with…
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Three Coping Tips for Those Who Find Themselves Unemployed

Three Coping Tips for Those Who Find Themselves Unemployed

Information & Education, Life & Living
I'm not a hiring manager, human resources professional, career coach, or self-help guru. However, I am part of a concerning number of individuals across the United States who now classify themselves as "unemployed." While countless resources are available online for dealing with this unexpected reality, I wanted to share my three coping tips for those who find themselves unemployed, which are helping me navigate this unfamiliar territory. First, I'm always consoled by the profound words of others, which is why I often share positive quotes relating to any subject in my posts. Here are a few quotes regarding unemployment that I found to be particularly encouraging. "The hardest work in the world is being out of work." Whitney M. Young, American Civil Rights Leader "Being unemployed is the true test…
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Content With What You Have and Where You Are

Content With What You Have and Where You Are

Life & Living
"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." ― Charles Spurgeon, Baptist Preacher Life has an interesting way of sending us invaluable lessons when we need them most. Often infiltrating our situation or circumstance, they intend to remind us to be content with what you have and where you are in the present moment - a place so few of us currently live in.  These can be powerful lessons whose impact is exceedingly felt as they frequently alter our current way of living and are not easily dismissed. Let me give you an example. A decade ago, I found myself unemployed. At the…
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Everything In Life is Temporary, So Appreciate Today

Everything In Life is Temporary, So Appreciate Today

Life & Living
“Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy it because it won’t last forever. And if things are going bad, don’t worry. It can’t last forever either. - The Minds Journal If there’s one thing we can depend on in life, it’s the unexpected struggles and circumstances which have a way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it. Your day-to-day existence certainly ebbs and flows, but ultimately it’s filled with normalcy and routines that provide you with comfort. But then…WHAM! That normalcy is imploded. We’ll spend some time speculating that there may have been changes we could have made in order to prevent such struggles and circumstances from appearing in the first place.  But I’ve come to believe over the course of my…
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<strong>Gun Violence Has Normalized – A Lack of Empathy is To Blame</strong>

Gun Violence Has Normalized – A Lack of Empathy is To Blame

Life & Living, Youth
By now, I'm sure you're all aware of our nation's latest school shooting, which occurred at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this week. Many of us are angry, horrified, and deeply troubled that the lives of those so young were tragically robbed of their future (and let's not forget those adults whose lives were abruptly cut short as well). These are feelings we've all experience far too often over the years as gun violence has normalized throughout America. I want to focus on and further discuss the realities of how gun violence has normalized and why this most recent shooting in Nashville will be forgotten sooner than it should be until the next school shooting comes along. Dictionary.com defines "to normalize" as "causing something previously considered abnormal…
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