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To All Of You Exhausted And Fragile Souls Who Feel Like You Are Falling Behind In Life

By
Stephanie Reeds

Listen to me.

I know that you feel like you are not doing much, I get that. I am familiar with that feeling. I know that you feel like you desperately cannot find motivation, no matter how much you are looking for it. I can see it in your eyes. I know it all.

The truth is, you don’t need motivation. You don’t lack inspiration.  You just need time to unwind and find yourself. You need space to relax and let every emotion flow through you. Stop making endless lists which we all know you won’t finish. Stop scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest looking for tutorials on how to get yourself going. Accept the fact that you don’t have the strength to do all that you wanted right now. Accept the fact that you need rest. You need to stop running around in circles and… just breathe.

I know it’s hard for you to give yourself permission to do whatever the f*ck you want. I know it is because you are too afraid what the world would say about you. But I am here to help you. You are allowed to be who you are. Even if that makes you the laziest, crankiest and most unproductive person today.

Let’s get one thing straight. You, my friend, are not a robot. You cannot just decide that you are going to do something today and expect that your body will immediately follow up. I mean, I know that determination and hard work is what makes dream come true. But you are just a human being. A creature made of flesh and blood and a pounding heart. A person who cannot always control what they feel. So, allow yourself to feel that. Whatever it is.

We think that the older we are, the more power we have over our lives. We think that we are almighty. But we are wrong. We cannot control everything. This is life. It is happening when you least expect it. It brings you up for a second only to put you down for the next few moments. It’s an unpredictable and crazy ride. But that is the beauty of it.

You are writing a novel even when you think you aren’t. The fact that you are not as productive as you want to be doesn’t mean that your work doesn’t matter. The fact that everyone else is ahead of you doesn’t mean that you are falling behind in life. They are writing their own novels at their own pace. That has nothing to do with your story.

So, know this. No matter how much you try to manipulate your life or force yourself to do something that you are clearly not capable of doing at this moment, the game of life is out of your hands. You simply can’t control it. You may try to predict what happens tomorrow, but no one can tell for sure whether it will certainly happen.

Can’t you see that you are slowly missing out on your life?

Stop beating yourself up and forgive yourself. You are not doing anything wrong. You are just living your own life the way you know. You don’t need inspiration. You just need to stop feeling less because you are not doing your best. You don’t need to listen to what others have to say about your life, because in the end, what they say has nothing to do with who you are.  

I know that it feels like you are in a very dark place. But, let me tell you something.

The darkest hour of the night comes just before the dawn.

Chin up darling, you’ve got this!

Looking For A Job? This Greek Cat Sanctuary Will Pay You $560 To Take Care Of Cats

By
Stephanie Reeds

Looking for a job but the thought of being tied to a chair 9 hours a day makes you cringe? Feeling exhausted of your 9-5 work, but you’re too afraid to quit?

Fret NO MORE.

We have the dream job for all of you cat lovers out there.

A Greek cat shelter for stray cats is looking for a caretaker who would feed 55 cats and hang out with them.

This amazing place is located on the beautiful Greek island called Syros, which is near the famous Mikonos island. This small piece of heaven is populated with roughly 20,000 people and it is a truly amazing place to live.

And one of the most interesting things about this place is the fact that is overpopulated with cats. But luckily, this island is also inhabited by people who care about animals.

So, in an attempt to provide the cats on this island with the help they needed they eventually created a cat shelter which they named God’s Little People Cat Rescue.

The people behind this project are a husband and wife who have been living on the island since 2010. They started by opening the sanctuary on their own and taking care of all the stray cats on this island, but as time passed by and their family became larger, they realized that they need help.

That is why they have an open position for a cat caretaker. They are looking for someone who would feed the cats, take care of them and above all, enjoy spending their time with them. You don’t need special qualifications to get hired here; You only need to love cats and be willing to accept responsibility for 55 cats.

You read it right. 55 cats!

Your main responsibilities would be feeding the cats, giving them plenty of love and attention, taking them to the vet, cleaning after them and of course cuddling them 24/7. But besides being constantly surrounded by these furry friends, the additional perks of being employed at God’s Little People Cat Rescue is living on this beautiful island and having your own tiny cabin with a wonderful view and a magical garden. Last but not least, the salary is $560 US per month.

So, cat lovers, would you quit your job and move here?

Breakups Don’t Have To Be Painful: 10 Ways To Break Up With Your Partner With Love

By
Riley Cooper

When we enter a relationship with the person we love, none of us thinks about the potential breakup, let alone is prepared for that. Unfortunately, your relationship sometimes comes to a point where it can’t be saved. You sometimes reach a point in your relationship where staying with your partner is more difficult and painful to you than breaking up with them.

Many people decide to stay with their partner although they are no longer happy in the relationship because they’re afraid how the breakup will affect both them and their partner. But the truth is that breakups don’t have to be hard and painful. You can put an end to your relationship and leave your partner in a healthy, friendly, and loving way. You can break up with your lover without hurting either of you.

Here are 10 ways you can do that:

1. Accept responsibility for your own mistakes and bad actions.

Never put the blame for your bad behavior on your partner. If you’ve been unfaithful to them, admit that it was solely your fault and no one else’s. Don’t make your partner feel responsible for your own mistakes.

2. Accept the fact that love is not always enough to keep two people together.

Accept the fact that regardless of what a deep, strong connection two people have had, sometimes they simply grow apart and nothing can change that.

3. Treat your partner with respect and dignity.

Respect your lover even if you don’t want to be in a relationship with them anymore. Give your best to avoid treating them with hostility and disrespect.

4. Don’t get attached to the potential outcomes of the breakup.

You might want you and your partner to remain friends after you break up or you might want your lover to admit all of their mistakes and wrongdoings when you break up. However, whatever your wish is, don’t get attached to it. Instead, allow the Universe, Faith, or you name it, to guide you and just let things be the way they’re meant to be.

5. Don’t blame yourself.

Don’t be hard on yourself. On the journey called life, we come across both positive and negative experiences and the latter are what help you grow and become wiser and stronger.

6. Give yourself time to grieve.

Regardless of who did the leaving, you have the right to cry. You have the right to feel disappointed. You have the right to be angry at yourself.  So, take all the time you need to grieve and process your emotions, but never allow yourself to dwell in self-pity.

7. Give your partner some space.

Don’t expect your partner to become your best friend right after the breakup. Instead, try to understand that they, too, need some time to get angry, grieve, vent, and heal their wounds.

8. Allow yourself to feel contentment and joy.

Just as you’re allowed to feel grief and disappointment when you break up with someone, you’re allowed to feel satisfaction, joy, pleasure, and freedom as well. You have the right to feel all these ways.

9. Believe in yourself.

Recognize that you don’t need to be in a relationship with someone so as to feel happy, fulfilled, acknowledged, respected, and loved. Recognize that you are whole and complete exactly the way you are.

10. Remember that your happiness and inner peace are more important than your relationship status.

Remember that self-love and self-respect are more important than the love and respect another person can offer you.

I Only Have Myself To Blame For Dating A Man I Knew Was The Wrong Person For Me

By
Riley Cooper

No matter how much we want and try to control every aspect of our lives, the truth is that this is impossible. For example, we can control our reactions, our emotions, and even whom we give our time and attention to. But, we can’t control who steals our hearts.

You can’t control who enters your heart and makes you feel in such ways that the thought of living without that person by your side hurts like hell.

You can’t tell your heart who to love. You can’t make your heart always make the right choices. And I know this the best because that’s exactly what happened to me.

I fell for a guy who was the wrong person for me. I fell deeply and madly in love with a guy who showed me the ugly, painful side of love.

I loved and dated the wrong guy because he made me feel in ways I’d never felt before he entered my life.

I felt understood when I talked to him. I felt happy when he was around. I felt safe and protected because I knew he’d always be there to protect me. He made my heart beat like crazy and my blood boil when he touched me. Yes, this is how I felt, unfortunately, only at the beginning of our relationship.

I loved and dated the wrong person although there were some pretty obvious signs that he’d make a sh*tty boyfriend even at the beginning of our relationship.

For example, his actions often made me doubt his words about how huge his love for me was. He didn’t bother to keep me waiting for ages for him to answer my calls and reply to my messages. He didn’t bother to keep all his promises.

I loved and dated the wrong guy although I knew that he had a troubled past.

I knew that he had a reputation as a flirtatious playboy. I knew he had disappointed many other girls and broken their hearts. But, I hoped that things would be different between us. I hoped we could make our relationship work. I hoped that he would see in me something he’d never seen in other girls.

I dated and made a priority someone who only saw me as an option. Why?

Because I was truly, madly, and selflessly in love with him. Because I wanted him to be happy and fulfilled. That’s why many a time, I put his feelings, needs, and wishes before my own. I put his happiness before my own.

I loved and dated someone who was immature and irresponsible.

No matter how many times he made a mistake or said something hurtful to me during an argument, he rarely apologized to me for it. No matter how many times he hurt my feelings with his actions, he’d always find a way to avoid taking responsibility for it. He’d always find a way to make me look and feel like I was the one who was to blame for whatever went wrong in our relationship. Nothing was ever his fault. He was simply …perfect.

Yes, I am ashamed to admit this, but it’s the truth-I gave my heart and soul to a man who didn’t even deserve a minute of my attention. A man who didn’t deserve me.

I know you’re wondering why I did this. Why I let all this happen to me.

I loved and dated the wrong guy because I believed he’d change.

I believed that in time, he’d start feeling about me the way I felt about him. I thought that his feelings for me would get deeper and stronger and that he’d begin committing to me. But all this was just wishful thinking. Oh, how foolish and naïve of me.

I dated the wrong man for me because I didn’t want to give up fighting for the person I loved from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t want to let everything we built together fall apart so easily. I didn’t want to let go of someone who meant the world to me – not without exhausting every way of saving our relationship.

But, I was wrong. I know that now. I know that I am the only one who is to blame for loving a man who was the wrong person for me.

But, you know what? I don’t regret it. And I am not ashamed of myself for it. Because all this was a valuable lesson that I had to learn the hard way. All this was a lesson that taught me that I should be extremely careful about who I let into my heart. It taught me that not everyone who swears that loves me really means that.

It taught me that love can sometimes be hard and painful and that not every person who says that truly loves me deserves a place in my heart.

Say What You Will, But The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Finale Was Just Perfect

By
Stephanie Reeds

If you haven’t watched the GOT finale, there are spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned!

It’s been 2 and a half weeks since the last episode of Game of Thrones aired. Man… I cannot believe that the journey of 10 years has finally ended. As a loyal, diehard fan, it hit me very hard. But I must say that at the same time I felt this sweet relief after the finale.

Because contrary to popular opinion, I loved it. In fact, it’s my belief that it was pitch perfect. Say what you will, but there couldn’t have been a more suitable end for the series.

Why?

First things first, after 8 seasons of slaughter, death, destruction, all for the Iron Throne, we finally get what we deserved. We see the meaninglessness of the throne itself and we finally see for ourselves that absolute power in the hands of one human being is the darkest possible scenario that this world can experience, even if it’s in the hands of our favorite character. Drogon destroying the throne that was once forged by the swords of all the slain enemies and created by the fire of Balerion the Black Dread shows the death of Targaryen dynasty in a just and poetical way.

Ultimately, we witness the destroying of the wheel and the replacing of the tyrannical, bloodied and corrupted ruling with wise, peaceful, reasoned and democratic service. And I won’t lie if I tell you that the sweet rhetoric of breaking the wheel by replacing it with Bran’s wheels touched a part of me. It really did.

It was a bittersweet ending indeed. I cannot describe to you how I felt when I watched Dany’s death. Even though we can all agree that we kind of stopped following her after the 4th episode, she was our favorite heroine. I loved her until the very end, however, I personally think that her death was one of the most beautiful things about the finale.

She dies in the arms of the man she loves. And it is her death that triggers Drogon to melt the Iron Throne which eventually signifies the destruction of the wheel of corruption.

Jon Snow being Aegon Targaryen is not for nothing. This man was once stabbed to death but brought back to life by The Lord of Light for a reason. However, as it turned out his resurrection was for a far more important cause. In fact, everything that this man had done in his life has eventually led him to kill the woman he loves and with that to finally open the doors to Bran.

There was a theory that popped on Reddit just before the last two episodes aired that explained why Bran will most likely be the ruler of the 7 kingdoms. It associated the most famous quote from Usual Suspects, “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist” with the purpose of Bran’s existence.

And after reading some parts of it, I couldn’t agree more. Everything was exactly the way it supposed to be. Every character played a different role, all in favor of the Three-Eyed Raven. They didn’t know that at the time, but every action they took helped the ending of Three-Eyed Raven on the throne come to fruition.  The chain of disastrous events, Dany fighting against the whites, losing her Dragons, Melisandre fulfilling her last task before dying, Cersei beheading Missandei, Dany going completely mad and burning King’s Landing to the ground were all meant to happen for him to take over.

After endless bloodshed and inexplicably extreme greed for power, the world finally got a leader that is fit to truly lead them. The North ended up an autonomous kingdom and they’ve crowned their rightful queen. Tyrion, the last of the Lannister’s and the wisest man alive ended up as the hand of the new king (or shall we say the effective ruler of all kingdoms?). Arya finally got her freedom. Jon Snow went back to where he and his pal (Ghost) always belonged – North of the Wall. Remember, he never wanted to be the man that he was forced to become throughout his life. Bran cannot reproduce which eventually means that the people will continue choosing their leaders by voting. And ultimately, we see culture mixing on the streets of King’s Landing.

The king is finally someone who possesses stories, memories, and histories of the world. Someone who is wise enough to rule and lead people to a brighter future. We see sharing of the power, helping, compromising and listening to one another – something that has never been characteristic about these people. But also, something that we all deserved after such a long and a thrilling journey. A truly, just and happy ending.

An ending that gives hope to the ones that were down in the gutter. An ending that tells a story about the struggle of all the victims that found a way to rise up from the ashes.

You will never walk again, but you will fly.

Innovative French Designer Creates Unique Dresses Using The Spines Of Books

By
Riley Cooper

Merging the fairy-tale world and the world of reality into one is undoubtedly a very hard task, not to say impossible, for most of us. But, for the talented French designer Sylvie Facon, “impossible” is not an option.

Facon creates amazing, unique gowns using the spines of books. Thanks to her remarkable skills and creative and artistic talents, she creates dresses that are out of this world and that can even serve as storytellers.

The dresses vary from romantic lacework to haute couture dresses made from the spines of books, emphasizing the versatility of the skills of the dress designer.

Let’s take a look at some of the dresses created by Facon below, and, please, feel free to tell us what your opinion is on these exceptional works of art in the comments section.

3 Fantastic Routes to Health Improvement

By
Ana Miller

Living a healthy lifestyle is the key to unlocking a long and happy life.

But with busy lives to lead, finding the time to commit to health-enhancing activities can be challenging.

And too often, committing to a complex and time-consuming wellbeing regime leads to abandoning it after a couple of months because it’s unsustainable, and ending up back at square one – which is a waste of time for anyone.

Don’t worry – here are three simple fixes to boost your health. (1)

  1. Walking

Walking more is the perfect first step in the road towards a healthy lifestyle because it’s so easy to incorporate into your routine. For instance, if you have a job, walking part or all of the way there and taking the stairs instead of the lift will help keep your step count up.

There are some brilliant health benefits too – it reduces the risk of cardiovascular conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and strokes, helps you burn calories and build up stamina.

Plus it’s great for your mental health because according to health experts Bupa, a brisk walk triggers the release of endorphins which create a natural high.

Tip: Download a walking tracker app like Active 10 which monitors your steps and gives you helpful hints and tips.

  1. Meditation

When some people think of health, they focus primarily on physical health. However, your mental health is just as important.

Meditation is a means of relaxing your mind by focusing on internal aspects such as sensations, emotions, and thoughts.

By adding just a few mindful minutes to your day, you’ll reap the benefits. According to health specialists Healthline, meditation helps reduce stress, control anxiety and improve sleep.

Tip: Install a meditation app such as Aura and access personalized micro-meditations that will help you find positivity and peace. 

  1. Organic food products

Organic foods are grown and produced in line with organic farming standards. These products are grown using natural fertilizers such as manure and compost, and weeds are controlled using natural methods such as crop rotation and hand weeding.

There are many benefits from buying organic products – they contain fewer harmful pesticides, so are better for your health and taste superior, they’re rich in beneficial nutrients such as antioxidants and are often sold near to where they’re produced, so are farm-fresh.

Tip: Check out an online health store like Kijani Living which stocks high-quality organic and natural products that will supercharge your health. 

Improving your health doesn’t have to be hard. As technology continues to develop, it’s becoming increasingly easy to access excellent resources which keep you in prime physical, mental and spiritual form.

So start by trying these three fantastic activities and watch your health and wellbeing soar.

What are your favourite ways of improving your health? Share them in the comments section.

When You Truly Love Someone, You Don’t Leave Them At The First Sign Of Trouble

By
Riley Cooper

When you’re truly in love with someone, you don’t give up on them when things get tough. You don’t leave them after one little argument since you’re not the type of person who likes drama. You don’t give up on them when they first raise their voice at you. You don’t give up on everything you and your significant other have created at the first sign of trouble.

When you’re truly in love with someone, you act like a mature person, you lay your cards on the table, and talk things out with them. You allow them to express their opinions. You allow them to express how they feel. You allow them to tell you the reasons why they’re mad at you.

And when both of you have clearly stated your opinions, you both try to find ways how to face and successfully overcome the problem. Instead of allowing one little fight to destroy your relationship, you allow it to make you a healthier, closer couple.

When you honestly, selflessly, and unconditionally love someone, you don’t give up on them when things get difficult. You don’t let go of them when the first problem appears in your relationship. Instead, you make compromises for them. You sacrifice your own needs, wishes, and even happiness for their own sake and for the sake of the relationship.

When you’re truly in love with someone, you never assume that you and your significant other were never meant to be together when you come across the first challenge in your relationship since both of you are willing to invest significant amounts of time and energy in making the changes that are necessary so as to save and improve your relationship.

When you genuinely love someone, you don’t keep them around when they feel happy and disappear when they’re going through a rough time in their life. You don’t leave them to deal with their worries, problems, and pains by themselves. You don’t walk away from them when they’re feeling down in the dumps or when they’re sick. No! You don’t leave them since you are together in everything.

When you’re honestly and deeply in love with someone, you accept the fact that your relationship won’t always be a smooth journey. You accept the fact that you and your partner will have to face many challenges, temptations, and trials. You accept the fact that problems may start appearing in your relationship when you expect it the least.

However, you also embrace the fact that if both you and your partner are willing and determined to fight for your relationship and keep the spark between you always alive, there’s no such problem that you won’t be able to overcome.

Because when two people love each other genuinely, deeply, selflessly, and unconditionally, they have the power to surmount any obstacle life puts on their way. They have the power to win every battle life forces them to fight.

Australia Has Come Up With An Effective And Simple Solution To Save Water From Plastic Pollution

By
Stephanie Reeds

While many of us cannot be bothered to even lift a finger and pick up the garbage right in front of us, Australia is light years ahead of us. Why? Well, because the authorities of the Australian city of Kwinana have developed a new and effective solution to water pollution.

They installed a very simple filtration system in the Henley Reserve. The system contains long nets that are placed on the drainage pipes and collect all the garbage that eventually flows through the waters.

Considering that the pipes drain water from residential areas to natural areas, you can only imagine how extremely important was for them to find a way to capture the trash and protect the environment and the local wildlife from further plastic pollution.

And guess why? They successfully did it!

© Old Castle Infrastructure  

They first installed two of these nets, but after they witnessed the remarkable results (800 pounds of garbage collected within a few weeks), they decided to put this garbage traps all over the city.

 

© Storm Water Systems  

Even though the installation of these useful garbage traps costs a lot of money ($10,000 each), it turns out that the whole investment was much more profitable and beneficial than they actually expected. By developing this solution, they saved on the costs that they previously had for the people that actually collected that same trash manually.

© Storm Water Systems© Storm Water Systems

© CITY OF KWINANA / FACEBOOK  

As for the process of cleaning the garbage traps, every time they get full, they are taken away by special trucks that collect trash and they are transported to a special trash-sorting center that after that divides them into recyclable and non-recyclable material. When all of that is done, the nets are put back on pipes.

© Storm Water Systems  

This is just proof that if we want to do something, we CAN do it!

Photo credit CITY OF KWINANA / FACEBOOK, Old Castle Infrastructure, Storm Water Systems

8 Definite Signs Your Relationship Is Built To Last

By
Riley Cooper

While it’s true that every couple is different, i.e. they experience different changes, problems, and trials in their relationships, it’s also true that all healthy, strong, happy, and long-lasting relationships share the same characteristics.

The thing is that regardless of how long you and your partner have been together and regardless of how many challenges, temptations, and problems you have overcome in your relationship, you will continue to be uncertain about the future of your relationship. And this feeling of uncertainty will increase even more whenever you see other couples get engaged or married and decide to spend the rest of their lives together.  

So, how do you know that your relationship is built to last?

Well, if the following 8 things sound familiar to you, you can take this as a sure sign that you and your partner have what it takes to stay together for good.

Here they are:

1. You can openly communicate with each other.

Do you feel comfortable to talk to your bae about anything without fearing that they might judge you, criticize you, or look down on you? Well, if so, i.e. if you feel free talking to your significant other about your doubts, worries, and problems, and if they patiently listen to your problems and show that your opinions and ideas matter to them, then you can consider this as a sign that you’ve finally found your forever person.

Feeling free to talk about anything, especially about problems you have in your relationship, will help you find ways to overcome any issue that appears in your relationship.

2. You aren’t only lovers, but best friends too.

Undeniably, passion, physical intimacy, and excitement are important, but every healthy, deep, happy, and committed relationship requires both partners to see and treat each other as true friends. Why?

Because a real, loyal friend is always there for you when you need them. They stick with you through thick and thin. They accept you for who you are. They love you selflessly, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally.

3. They make your life easier and better.

Do you feel comfortable in your own skin when you’re around them? Does your partner make you feel content, peaceful, and fulfilled when you’re in their presence? Do you feel safe and protected because you have your bae in your life?

Have you noticed that you don’t feel hesitant or afraid to face life’s challenges and overcome whatever problem or pain life may throw your way since your partner entered your life? Well, if you answered all of the questions with a yes, you can take this as a sign that you’ve found ‘The One.’

4. You agree with each other on the important things.

Of course, that you and your significant other will have different opinions, ideas, and perspective on life in general and therefore often disagree with each other. But, when it comes to the important things in a relationship, such as faithfulness and trust, it’s essential that both of you share the same values and principles.

For instance, if your bae likes to “explore other options” outside of your relationship, and you’re someone who values sexual fidelity, then your relationship won’t ever work.

5. You have your own life.

What I mean by “your own life” is not that you and your partner keep secrets from each other or that you spend a considerable amount of time separately. Rather, having your own life means that both of you feel free to pursue your goals and dreams, do the things that make you happy, and hang out with your friends and family.

It means that you two have different opinions, interests, likes, dislikes, and passions, but you don’t judge each other for these. Instead, you understand and respect each other’s opinions and interests and you support each other to pursue your goals and dreams. It means that you haven’t given up on the life you had before you started dating.

6. You don’t sweep problems under the carpet.

You don’t let your relationship problems accumulate by ignoring them or laying the blame at each other’s door. Instead, you feel free to complain about each other’s mistakes and bad behavior and openly discuss your relationship issues or whatever is bothering you. Most importantly, you’re willing to search for a solution to your problems together. You’re simply willing to do everything to save your relationship.

7. You can freely and openly talk about your sexual fantasies.

If you are too uncomfortable or shy to tell your partner what you want and don’t want in bed, it means that there’s something wrong with your relationship, and it’ll get even worse if you continue to feel this way.

But, if your bae makes you feel comfortable sharing your wild fantasies and erotic wishes with them, then this is a sign that you two enjoy a healthy, stable, close relationship.

8. You are willing to forgive each other.

Everyone makes mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance. Therefore, when your significant other makes a mistake or tells you something hurtful when you argue, you need to be able and willing to forgive them and move on.

Holding grudges against your partner, ignoring them, and feeling resentment will do neither you nor your significant other any good.

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