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Your Depression Is Not Caused By A Chemical Imbalance! It Is An Allergic Reaction To Inflammation

By
Elizabeth Williams

Were you aware of the fact that antidepressants are one of the most often prescribed drugs in the USA? So, it’s not a surprise that these drugs represent a $10 billion dollar market just in the USA. That’s quite a profit right?

The antidepressant drugs are prescribed to patients who suffer from depression, which is supposedly caused by a chemical imbalance (norepinephrine and serotonin in particular) in the brain.

However this is just a theory and there aren’t any experiments which can prove that depression is definitely caused by chemical imbalance in the brain.

So through the years, a lot of professionals have tried to refute this hypothetical theory. David D. Burns said that the theory was forced to the people by the drug companies, because while people believe in this theory the companies will have profits of billions of dollars per year.

According to David, no one can tell a patient that their depression is caused by chemical imbalance in the brain because there is no proof that that is true.

Furthermore, a new research has shown that depression is an allergic reaction to inflammation. And as Tim de Chant of NOVA said, inflammation is nothing more than a natural response of the immune system to infection, injury and foreign compounds.

When inflammation is triggered, it causes production of cells and proteins, including cytokines. And cytokines are a class of proteins which speed up intercellular communication. People’s bodies who suffer from depression are filled with cytokines as well.

Since there are more and more evidence that depression is caused by inflammation, many scientists have been focusing on the causes of inflammation. Turhan Canli of Stony Brook University in New York thinks that infections are the most often cause and suggests that we should consider depression as infectious, but of course not contagious disease.

However others disagree with what Turhan Canli says, because inflammation is not only caused by infection. It can also be caused by high sugar diet, obesity, stress and the most common cause – gluten.

Inflammation and Gluten

The moment gluten enters into the intestinal lining, goes through the bloodstream into the brain. There it causes inflammation which can further develop into some neurological disease, like Parkinson’s, seizures, Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia.

Not in vain sugar, carbs and wheat are called the silent brain killers. ATIs or amylase trypsin inhibitors are natural pesticides contained in wheat. They have the ability to stimulate immune cells by triggering an inflammatory response of the immune system in the gastrointestinal tract. This will happen no matter whether you have celiac disease or not.

Make sure that you know the causes of your inflammation. Infection, food intolerance, gluten intolerance or autoimmune system, are just some examples of it.

Image Copyright: prettyvectors / 123RF Stock Photo
Sources:
realfarmacy.com
livingtraditionally.com
www.theguardian.com

30 Calm-Down Techniques To Try With Kids

By
Elizabeth Williams

Childhood can indeed be a challenging and stressful time for both you and your kid. Facing all problems that come with childhood can (sometimes) be difficult especially when your child can’t calm down.

When your kid is tense, and deep breathing doesn’t help, try one of these 30 techniques instead:

1.Inversion – This position of bringing back the head of your kid below the heart level has amazing calming power. Whether you two practice headstand or are just relaxing in embryo’s pose, the inversion can have restorative and beneficial effects on your autonomic nervous system that controls how your body responds to stress.

2. Visualizing a calm place – Ask your child to close their eyes and imagine a peaceful place. Then, start asking them questions about what it looks like, how it smells, and what it feels like to be there. Research has shown that this exercise is excellent for reducing stress level.

3. Singing out loud – Everyone knows the great feeling we get when we listen to our favorite music. However, the act of singing loudly your favorite songs, no matter how off tune you are, can make you feel even better. In fact, singing is proved to release endorphins – the hormones that are responsible for this good feeling you get.

4. Drinking water – Water can have a calming effect on yours and your kid’s nervous system, especially when you drink the water slowly. Dehydration is connected to a reduction in mental performance, so you should make it a habit for you and your kids to drink as much water as it is recommended for you on a daily basis.

5. Jumping rope – Another great way of alleviating stress is jumping. Play some music and start jumping with your kid for 2 minutes to the beat of the music. Or, if your kid is not able to jump rope yet, you can try to hop scotch instead.

6. Painting – Painting has been proved to resilience stress in general. Even if you are not good at it, participating in this kind of activity with your child can get yours and your kid’s mind to focus on something else than the stressful situation. Moreover, this doesn’t mean that it can only be done with acrylic paint. Anything will do the trick; even a shaving cream on a shower curtain!

7. Blowing bubbles – Blowing bubbles can improve your child’s breathing and can help them gain more control over it and calm down. Also, you could try popping some bubble wrap as it has the same effect.

8. Taking a hot bath – Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing than a hot bath at the end of a busy day. And as much as you enjoy them, your kid will also enjoy a nice hot bath now and then. Draw you kid a hot bath at the end of a day full of activities to help him/her rewind. You can put also bath toys and leave your kid to relax as long as it wants.

9. Taking a cold shower – Although this is completely opposite of taking a hot bath, cold showers can actually be helpful in reducing muscle inflammation, improving heart flow, and boosting the mood. A study on winter swimmers has even proved that exhaustion, tension, and depression can all be reduced to a minimum by taking cold showers regularly.

10. Having a cozy drink – Having a warm drink on a cold day can feel like a warm hug from the inside and will calm your kid. Give your child a glass of warm milk with a touch of vanilla and you’ll see the effects for yourself.

11. Watching fish – Have you ever noticed that there are fish tanks in medical centers and hospitals? They are there for a reason. Namely, the University of Exeter in the UK found that watching fish swimming in a fish tank reduces heart rate and blood pressure. This has the same effects on your kid, i.e. it will help them to calm down.

12. Counting backward – From any number that your kid had learned. This exercise takes your child’s mind off what’s bothering them and makes them focus their attention on something else – like backward counting.

13. Breathing into the belly – When we are stressed out it is hard to remember breathing correctly. So, you should make it sound like a game and tell your kid to think of their belly as a balloon that needs to be filled with air. Make them take deep breaths in and out. Repeat this exercise several times and see the results.

14. Shaking a glitter jar – “Calm-Down Jars” have been huge on Pinterest lately. They seem to reduce stress and anxiety and are great for turning your kid’s attention away from the situation and instead focusing on something glittery and colorful. You can make your own “calm-down jar” at home very easily. All you need is one baby food jar which you will fill it with water and sparkly glitter.

15. Running – Running is a great way for reducing stress. Even running or jogging for 10 minutes a day can improve your mood immediately and this great feeling will last until the end of the day.

16. Talking it out – Asking kids what it bothers them and why can help them learn how to verbalize their feelings while processing the situation again by themselves. The most important thing is to remain silent while your kid explains it to you and don’t try to fix the problem. Sometimes all they need is someone who understands and listens to them.

17. Decorating a wall – This doesn’t have to mean painting pictures on walls. Posters for magazines are fine too, as long as you let your kid be creative on its own.

18. Giving and getting a bear hug – A hug makes our body produce the hormone oxytocin that is essential for our immune system functioning. Also, hugging gives us a sense of happiness, reduces blood pressure, and alleviates stress.

19. Walking in nature – Stanford scientists have proved that walking in nature is a great way of reducing stress and improving cognition. Even 15 minutes walk a day is enough to meet your needs.

20. Naming emotions – Usually, when your kid gets emotional and overwhelmed it is best to ask them to name the emotion they are feeling. This identifying of emotions can be a good thing because often they are overwhelmed because they don’t know how to identify what are they feeling exactly.

21. Rocking in a rocking chair – Rocking in a rocking chair is a great stress alleviator. The repetitive moves can help in soothing and calming down your kid.

22. Rolling a tennis ball on the back – This is an old trick. By rolling a tennis ball down your kid’s back, you’ll give them a gentle and relaxing massage with a calming effect. Focus on the neck, shoulders, and lower back, as they are tense spots.

23. Crinkling tissue paper – The voice of crinkling paper can be very interesting for babies to hear. And also, the satisfaction they get from the way the paper changes in their hands sends sensory feedback to the brain that reduces stress.

24. Changing the scenery – Sometimes all a kid needs to calm down is to change the scenery. If he/she is out – take him/her inside; and the other way around. Changing the scenery can help in changing the mood too.

25. Primal yelling – Releasing negative emotions can be a good thing for your kid. Encouraging your children to yell out what they feel from time to time can make them feel good instantly.

26. Planning a fun activity – When your kid can look forward to a fun activity that you’ve planned, can make them feel happy and satisfied. Even more, if they have a say in the planning. Sometimes children must focus their attention on what’s going to happen in the future in order to change their internal dialogue and to calm down.

27. Kneading bread – Grandmothers all around the world know this and they can confirm that bread kneading is a great stress relief. So, don’t hesitate to let your kid dip their hands in the pot. In the end, however, you’ll be left with a delicious homemade bread.

28. Making a bracelet – Crafting can get you and your kid in a calm mood, as it facilitates the state of a “flow” by being completely dedicated to a certain task. This goes also for knitting, folding laundry, or any other activity where your kid can be involved.

29. Riding a bike – Riding a bicycle doesn’t have to be a thing of the past. With all these new bicycle lanes in urban areas, it is safer than before to ride a bike. Besides, this is an activity that you can do it together as a family.

30. Having a dance party – Encourage your kid to dance while listening to cheerful music. Join him/her on the “dance floor” and watch how the bad mood suddenly disappears.

Millions Of Americans Think Chocolate Milk Comes From Brown Cows

By
Elizabeth Williams

I bet you all nod your heads when I say that one of the most delicious, non-alcoholic beverages is chocolate milk. Kids love it – and adults too!

It is made of milk, sugar, and cocoa – all know this. Or, do they?

As it turns out, there is fine number of people who seriously believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. And by the way, I am very curious if they also think that these brown cows produce the cocoa and the sugar too?!

The Innovation Center of US Dairy conducted a study that included 1000 adults. They were asked to complete an online survey with questions about milk and its role in their lives.

They came up with astonishing results, as is reported in Food & Wine.

Namely, they found out that 48% of the participants declared they don’t know where does chocolate milk comes from. (Well guys, it is still milk. By this logic it comes from cows, right?)

Moreover, 7% of the adults surveyed (that is approximately 16,4 million people!) said that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.

Okay, now that we know about this general illiteracy when it comes to agriculture, let’s look into the ways in which people consume their milk.

37% of them confessed they consume the milk straight out of the container. Interestingly, 29% use their kids as an excuse to buy chocolate milk and they end up drinking it themselves. Some even put sports drink lids onto the bottle in order to consume large quantities at once.

However, despite many people thinking it comes from brown cows, it still remains one of the most delicious beverages. The fact that one quarter of the interviewed participants admitted to have gone to the grocery store before 6 o’clock in the morning to buy milk speaks for itself.

A previous research has found out that one in five Americans can’t tell that hamburgers are made of beef.

In their defense, Cecily Upton, cofounder of Food Corps, says: “Right now, we’re conditioned to think that if you need food, you go to the store. Nothing in our educational framework teaches kids where food comes from before that point.”

Although some people don’t feel the need to learn these things, knowledge is indeed power and we need it to make informed future decisions.

5 Ways To Overcome Self – Development Problems

By
Elizabeth Williams
self improvement

Self-development is the one sustained goal in every self-aware person seeking to understand his or her potential and the extent to which it can be pushed. Any hindrances towards one achieving the best possible outcomes from their lives are something that should be eliminated effectively such that the path towards self-development is a unidirectional upward process.

Why Is Self-development Difficult And What Are The  8 Most Common Self-Improvement Problems?

According to psychologists, there are a few factors that make the self – improvement difficult for you: 

1. You make too many changes at once

You may own a character that wants to change everything at the same time and overnight. That is a wrong attitude, so you should tackle one change at a time, and when you realize you are making some progress, you can start with another one. Set a big and audacious goal and make it realistic. When you set big and realistic goals, it is the beginning of improving yourself. 

2. You have the wrong motivation 

Positive emotions always lead to long-lasting results and success, so if you are led by negative emotions such as anxiety, guilt, or fear, it can be impossible to change yourself.

Sometimes, people fear success itself. They can give up just before they succeed in doing something. some studies have shown that fear of achieving something may be associated with a person’s behavior and their maintaining and starting behavior. (1) 

3. You probably give up on your first failure 

Sometimes failure should be considered a success, and you can see it as a lesson and learn from the mistakes made. So before starting changes in your life, plan in advance to recover yourself after the first failure and try again. You should remind yourself that these feelings are temporary and try to contemplate the big picture and try to think clearly, not make any harsh decisions about giving up, and stay focused on goals. 

4. You focus just on the end result 

Self–improvement is not usually just accomplishing a goal. The real change happens during the journey, and if you focus just on the end result, you won’t realize how important each step is and how you make changes and improvements every day during the process. 

5. You are under the influence of a cognitive bias

Cognitive biases usually distort meanings, influence your beliefs, change your decisions, and usually happen when you think that you think logically or rationally. Sometimes they can be very subtle, and we do not even notice them, but they act as mental shortcuts that help us to make judgments but lead us to bias. 

There are different types of biases, and they tend to simplify your processing of the information that comes from the outer world and you make decisions more easily and with relative speed, but in fact, they are judgmental and lead us to poor judgments and decisions 

There are some signs that you can notice if you are under the influence of cognitive bias:

  • You think that everyone shares your opinion
  • When you have some problems, you usually blame other people or factors
  • You usually pay attention to events and stories that share your own beliefs
  • You learn something little about a certain topic, but you think you know too much 
  • You help others to achieve their goals but lack the motivation to take personal credit for your own accomplishments (2) 

6. You do not commit enough 

Even though you want to change, sometimes, you do not commit enough, and in that case, you need some commitment tools to help you achieve your goal more easily and in less time, like:

  • Get a physical reminder of the thing you are resolved to do it
  • Improve your time management and make a self–growth plan and stick to it
  • Reduce the chances of being distracted and focus on your task, and if possible, concentrate on one task at a time
  • Educate yourself, especially on the steps you need to take to achieve the change you want for yourself, what self–improvement is, and make a self–improvement plan
  • Make a strong decision that you want to commit yourself to the set goal, but still, make sure the goals you set are realistic and achievable
  • Do some experiments and what does it work and what doesn’t. You can see the reasons why are you so successful in some things while not successful in others and make some small changes if needed

7. You work too much and focus only on the profit

If you focus just on making money, you cannot feel happy and fulfilled. You will always find pleasure, and you will commit more if you are passionate about something, so do something with passion and the money will come easily, and as a plus, you will finish your goal and improve yourself with a relative speed.

But, remind yourself that life is not just about work, and do not forget to have some fun in between; it will be a great reward for your creativity.

8. You get sucked by your mobile phone and other technology

Most people today spend too much time on their phones and other technological devices, so they do not have time to grow, build new skills, and stay focused.

If you spend some time on your smartphone, do it smartly and outsmart it, learn some new things, and develop yourself in every way possible.

What Are The 3 Personal Development Barriers?

May you have heard the phrase that the biggest success in life is the development of self. Yes, that is true because the key to your personal happiness is in a constant improvement of the quality of your life. 

In some way, all the actions you take during the day are aimed toward your “self-development,” and it is important to do it with positive intent. Life is a dynamic process, and we need to get moving. And like everything in nature, everything that doesn’t grow will eventually die. 

Still, many people do not take action to contribute to their personal growth goals, and there are some personal development barriers that are actually interrelated behaviors. Due to the following 3 development barriers, we are stuck and cannot take any actions and usually end up in failure and without making any progress in life. 

1. Procrastination

Procrastination is a fierce enemy and if you are able to overcome it, you can be very successful in accomplishing many things in life and doing something meaningful. When we procrastinate things in life, life is sleeping away, and we are wasting time and end up regretting things we haven’t done. 

One of the main reasons why we procrastinate is our willpower, poor time management, lack of self–discipline, and difficulty in prioritizing and seeing what is essential in life.

In our modern societies, we are free to choose and make our own decisions, but sometimes this leads to confusion and demotivation because we do not know what is right or wrong and what is a priority.

There are some studies that show that procrastination causes a problem for people that are part of the long-life learning, and it is especially important for the academic long-life learning, education, and personal growth and development. (3) 

That is why you should keep in mind that when you procrastinate, you are stuck and you do not move from the place you are, and you do not have any benefits from everything life has to offer.

2. Indecision

When people are indecisive and this usually comes from the fear of failure, they do not realize that being indecisive means that they have already failed. It is very simple, if you do not make any decisions in your life, you do not move forward, and you remain immobilized.

When you hesitate, it looks like a disease that kills your life step by step. It usually comes as a result of anxiety and making a decision that you can’t imagine failing. So, do not fear that something bad will happen and you are going to fail, instead, be brave and take action and make decisions as much as you can.

3. The Comfort Zone

In your comfort zone, you feel secure and you know everything, you are at ease with everything, and you feel a big challenge to step outside and involves a great risk.

Leaving your comfort zone comes hand in hand with developing a strong mindset and expanding possibilities. It is one of the biggest inspirations when it comes to taking risks and learning new things in life, which leads to self–improvement and continual personal growth.

Leaving your comfort zone is the phase in your life when you try and make mistakes, but when you reach a certain level, success is inevitable. Still, be sure that this doesn’t happen overnight.

When you leave your comfort zone, you can try the following tips:

  • Take one step at a time and monitor your progress. Be self–aware and see where your boundaries are to make the whole process smoother
  • Reframe the stress and look at it with different eyes, like a stimulus that can sometimes be exciting and take you out of your comfort zone
  • Start doing things differently in your life, and break the old routines
  • Identify the comfort zones in your life that do more harm than good
  • Expand your professional skill set and build your self–confidence

What Are The Five Things You Can Do For Self-Development And Self-Improvement?

To facilitate this and ensure that all that is holding you back is dealt with- here are a few pointers to overcome problems in self-development. 

1. Trust Yourself

Believe in your abilities to make the right decision at the right time and in your goodness. Trust yourself to have the abilities and the amount of self-identification you possess that you need to work towards your goals in life. In the moments of self-doubt and worry know that you are always going to be there for yourself when no one else is- be your own ultimate support and most trusted confidant.

When multiple options are presented to you and all of them seem tempting take some time to ask yourself what you really want and go for it- don’t abide by whatever others say even if they mean the best for you because of this way you are becoming more responsible for yourself and your decisions.

2. Don’t run from confrontation

No achievements have been ever truly difficult or truly easy- a substantial amount of careful hard work balanced with originality and determination together blend to produce the best results in any situation. In life, there are going to be many situations that require you to stand up and speak for yourself. Courage, determination, perseverance, and being true to yourself; true enough to face any situations and oppositions that may arise and question your motives and abilities are the key face most problems and confronting them with ease and self-confidence. This starts by confronting your problems within yourself- build a framework for your conscience based on moral conduct and practical solutions- and then abide by this. As long as you are confident that what you are doing is right for you, you should be able to face anybody and any situation that is determined to prove you wrong.

3. Don’t be overconfident

It is a well-known saying that states that pride comes before a fall. The truth behind the statement lies in the fact that when one is overly confident about their skills, they are simply not willing to change anything about themselves even if it means their betterment. Overconfidence is a sure hindrance to those seeking self-development as it sets a sure block to further progress and makes a person close-minded and not open to constructive criticism while leading to a significant lack of humility. Humility is a virtue that is seen unanimously among all those who have achieved great successes in life. Because these are the people who have truly realized the value of being open to seeking knowledge at all times because there is no better way for developing oneself. Accept that nobody is perfect however good you might be-this does not mean that others are better, it just means that you can be so much better than what you are currently at all times. So by being willing to accept criticism in the right way you are paving yourself a path of infinite possibilities. Don’t let negative criticism get you down but also know that when criticism comes from loved ones and those who wish to see you at your best, there must be some amount of experience and wisdom speaking-therefore sincerely consider it and at least give it a try. (4)

4. Be your own inspiration

This is the truth that many fail to realize. One can aspire as much as they want to be exactly like someone else who has inspired them- probably in more than one way; a major lifestyle change or by accumulating and saving great wealth or just by achieving great popularity and fame. However, being lost in life goals set by someone else prevent you from realizing what exactly it is that you want from life. This does not mean that you must rebel against all norms of society. What it means this instead of taking inspiration from others and pursuing similar goals,  write down exactly what it is that you want and work towards being the best at all of these. Stop comparing your successes with others on the basis of the duration of achievement, quality of the achievement and other factors. Take your own time and be the best version of yourself that you can; you are the only one you have something to actually prove something to, as you are the only one who is going to stick with yourself till the end. (5)

5. Set Yourself Goals And Surround Yourself With Positive People

You can see how people that surround you make an impact on your life. If that affects you negatively, try to make changes and surround yourself with people with positive energy. In addition, make a list of achievable goals and stick to them; you can learn a new activity, for example, and eliminate the old habits that weren’t working in your life.

Meet The Woman That Smashed $200,000 Worth Of Art With A SELFIE!

By
Elizabeth Williams

On a normal day in a normal setting, taking a selfie would probably be harmless. However, on a day when you decide to visit the Hypercaine exhibition at the 14th Factory in LA and knock down a full row of artwork, while taking a selfie proves harm – $200,000 to be exact.

Simon Birch led the exhibition together with several international contributors, who stated that the art was “social”, perfect for selfies and such.

Unlike the other visitors who came to see the exhibition, one woman decided to lean in while preparing to take a selfie with the work. She literally leaned in.

Instead of being careful while taking the selfie like everyone else, she decided to actually sit on one of the art works, which ended to disaster. As shown in the video below, it was an instant occurrence, where everything happened in a matter of seconds.

In the spontaneous moment of doom, she went off balance and managed to knock over an entire row of the pieces, which proved to have caused damage up to $200,000. The beautiful and elegant crowns that once lay proudly were now a shattered work of art, lacking their original grace.

It was concluded that three of the crowns were perpetually impaired, while others to some degree. Since the exhibition is only there on a temporary basis, people are rushing to see if they can manage to take some shots without demolishing anything in the process. They have not yet stated whether the insurance company will cover the costs of the damage.

Watch the video below to see the mind-blowing results of leaning in while taking a selfie.

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13-Year-Old Angelina Green Is A New Superstar A Lot Of Tears And Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent 2017

By
Elizabeth Williams

Groundbreaking, jaw-dropping performances do not happen every day. However, they do happen when talented singers like Angelina Green burn up the stage. Last Tuesday on America’s Got Talent, Angie was shocked to receive the golden buzzer from judge Heidi Klum.

The 13-year old contestant stunned everyone, including the judges when she took the stage. Explaining how music helped get through her parents’ divorce; Angie managed to steal everyone’s heart with her break taking voice.

The young talent claimed that she has been singing ever since she can remember, but only took it seriously after the split. In a way, it has been her coping mechanism through the hard times.

Inspired by a touching turn of events, the young star brought everyone to tears with her performance “I’ll Stand By You from The Pretenders’ 1994 hit, which she dedicated to her mother. Angie told Simon, Mel B, Howie and Heidi that her mother is get biggest support through the divorce and thereafter.

As for the judges, well, they absolutely loved it.

Heidi saved her buzzer for the most special and heart-warming performance, which was done by Angie, and can be seen in the YouTube video.

Klum stated, “I really, really loved what you just did. To me you feel like there’s an old soul inside of that little 13-year-old body, and I really, really loved it. I loved it so much that I’m going to hit the Golden Buzzer.”

According to Simon, she gave his goosebumps, goosebumps, while Mel B showered her with amazing compliments, and as for Howie, well; his emotions were running high waters.

He talked about how music moves people and inspires them, which is exactly what she did with her outstanding performance.

Grab the tissues and prepare yourself for a waterfall. Watch the video below!

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Texas Will Soon Allow People To Carry Swords In Public

By
Elizabeth Williams

Starting September 1st, citizens of Texas will be allowed to openly carry swords and all types of knives with blades longer than 5,5 inches in public.

That is swords, daggers, sabers, spears, bowie knives, and machetes would all be fine for you to carry around with you.

Greg Abott signed this bill last month which would be effective on September 1st, CNN reports.

However, this new law won’t be in force in some places. You still cannot carry long blades at schools, hospitals, prisons, or amusement parks. Moreover, swords will still be banned at bars and sports events. Although if you insist you can still carry the tiny, plastic ones that come in different colors and which you can use them on top of your cocktail glass.

In fact, House Bill 1935 prohibits any weapon with a blade that is longer than 5,5 inches to be used in certain locations like those mentioned before, stated John Frullo, one of the Republicans from Lubbock, who authored this bill.

Montana and Oklahoma have both lifted their prohibitions on swords and other weapons, and Texas will soon join them.

However, they held back this law for a moment when an incident occurred in May in which one man killed one student and wounded three others using a hunting knife at the University of Texas. Frullo rescheduled the debate for the new impeding law for a week later and stood by his decision for the bill.

“It’s not making criminals out of people who have no intention of creating some type of criminal act,” Frullo said.

Knife rights fully supported this law and think there is still a way to remove all weapon restrictions in Texas.

“We won’t stop until Texas is as free as everyone thinks Texas is,” they wrote on their website.

Image Copyright: berndneeser / 123RF Stock Photo

In Today’s Relationships, We Cheat On Each Other Literally Every Day

By
Elizabeth Williams

How many of you still think that cheating is a sexual deceit? In Webster’s dictionary cheating is defined as a “deprivation of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud.” Yes, I agree with this definition that in other words includes sexual deceit as a cheating act.

Actually, I was going for a deeper meaning that cheating has.

If you are a typical person, your day probably goes like this: you get up, go to work, eat, spend time on social media, watch some TV, sleep, and that’s it.

However, if you are in a relationship you must set your priorities straight – the number one being the person you are in a relationship with.

If you spend your free time browsing through Facebook or Instagram and texting instead of meeting up in person – there is a problem. In the middle of your busy schedule, you will surely send a text to your sweetheart to let him/her know that you are thinking of them. Yes, this is sweet, but the reality is different.

I think that relationships nowadays lack direction. All this modern dating, chatting, skyping, etc. is damaging to our relationships. Does texting all day and see each other twice a week count as a relationship? I don’t think so. Something very important is missing there.

Relationships today falter more excessively than ever before. What do you think is the reason for this?

All these social media today has led us to do things like sitting at dinner and constantly checking our phones. And while communication is still one of the most important things in a relationship, these new ways of communication have made it so much harder for us to communicate in a real way.

And what is really disturbing is that we accepted this kind of behavior in our relationship – a relationship in which we are being cheated on every single day!

This type of cheating where we lack real communication, passion, attention, and intimacy, in my opinion is more dangerous than a sexual affair. Just think about it for a moment. I agree that cheating is really hurtful, but what is even more hurtful is begging for attention the person whom you have given your heart to.

You are hurt watching your loved one posting selfies and status updates on social media and people liking them. You start to feel like he/she should be spending more time with you and less time on Facebook.

So, instead of relying just on social media, I think we should date the old-fashioned way. Call me crazy, but I prefer calls and hanging out, and communicating face to face instead of texting all day long.

I want my loved one to take me out on real dates; to call me after work saying to get ready in 30 minutes because he is taking me someplace special. Also, I appreciate little things like holding doors, sending flowers, leaving cute notes, holding hands… All these things need to be a part of a relationship.

When it comes to love and relationships you have to be childish and make an effort. You have to be vulnerable. You can’t be present in the moment and appreciate your partner if you have million other things in your mind which can be a result of our dependence on social media.

We have become so obsessed that it had become a normal thing for us to scroll down and see what others are up to. We are preoccupied with others’ lives that we forget how to live ours.

So, I say: Put your phone down and start appreciating what you have in front of you.  

Image Copyright: william87 / 123RF Stock Photo

10 Things People Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because You’re An Alpha Personality

By
Elizabeth Williams

The Alpha personality type goes to the people who are strong, ambitious, and majestic and intimidating at the same time. They aim high and aim to succeed. If you have an Alpha personality, you will know that this is not flattery, but rather the reality you always prefer.

And if you are unsure if you have what it takes to be called an Alpha male or female, here are 10 things that show just what it means to be an Alpha personality.

  1. You talk straightforward and to the point

If you have an alpha personality, you usually know what you want from other people, and you don’t like to mince words. Instead, you’ll go straight to the message, avoiding any vagueness and leaving no space for a second interpretation.

If you are unsure about something, you will prefer to discuss it and evaluate the other person’s opinion before making any final decisions. And lying is not a part of your communication style. You see no reason in lying and it’s definitely not part of your core values.

  1. You prefer actions to words

Words are obsolete when compared to actions. You know this and you know that bullshit comes from words, which you don’t buy. This is why you don’t overanalyze people’s texts, words, and promises.

On the contrary, you prefer observing their behavior, gestures, and reactions face to face. Because of this, you don’t build high expectations out of people’s promises and thought-through verbal expressions.

  1. You don’t suffer from the fear of missing out

You are led by what you actually care about, and this doesn’t include people’s drama, gossip, or their need to be a part of the herd. Missing out on a party, or skipping the latest online fad are not things that concern you at all.

When you are genuinely interested in something, you will be the first to know about it and you will engage yourself in learning everything you need to. It’s because you simply follow up on the things you actually care about.

  1. You talk the talk and walk the walk

You always practice what you preach and will always remain consistent with your behavior. It’s because you don’t see a reason good enough to fake your attitudes and shift your opinions because of the circumstances.

If you disagree, you will be brave enough to speak out and show your disagreement. There are always good reasons behind your actions and you won’t tolerate peer pressure. This makes you honest toward yourself and the others, regardless of their preference.

  1. You don’t count friends in numbers

Although you are good at communicating with people and you have a lot of acquaintances, you know too well that the ones you can truly trust are only in a small number. You can make a clear difference between friends and acquaintances, the first being only one or two people in your life.

This gives you great strength in disengaging from toxic relationships, fake friendships, and false flattery. You simply know that everyone has their own weakness and that they will not think twice before double crossing you, or trying to use you. That’s why you know how to keep your safe distance and still remain friendly and in a good mood.

  1. You enjoy being on your own

Your independent personality allows you to be able to handle things by yourself and you don’t mind being alone. You can do well without other people’s help and if you do partner with someone to achieve something, you will only do that if the other person shares your values and ideas.

This includes going to places and doing things that others wouldn’t do on their own. You have no problem with this, as you know that you are perfectly fine with doing things with and without other people.

  1. You are low-key at its finest

The social media accounts are not a place where you will go and share everything you see because of a need of approval and ‘likes’. Instead, if you do share anything, it will be something you find very special – and will appreciate those who understood your message.

You respect your privacy and you prefer to draw a line between your personal life and that of the other people. That’s why you will often be missing in action, as this kind of action is not something you find as relevant.

  1. You’re always busy doing the things you love

You don’t like pointless activities, and whatever you do is directed toward what you love. You spend your time pursuing your goals and dreams and you always choose to do the things you love.

Your love to be productive is not inspired by the need to gain compliments and appraisal from others, but rather by your love for the things you do. Your fulfillment comes before the positive reactions.

  1. You don’t care about what others say

You follow your own standards and you evolve your worldview through your own experiences. This is why you don’t base your life on society’s standards and how others feel about your decisions, although you always listen and consider the opinions of those that you love and respect.

You are well aware that you can’t please everyone, so you just go with what you believe is morally correct and which doesn’t harm your self-worth. This doesn’t make you disregardful of other people’s feelings, as you will always treat people the way you’d want to be treated.

  1. You’d rather stay single than be with someone who doesn’t get your values

You don’t suffer from the need to be in a relationship at any cost. Instead, you will wait for that person who shares your dreams and values. You’ll be most attracted to the person who has dreams as big as yours and who will challenge you and teach you new things.

You like your partner to see you as an equal, not a competitor. It’s simple: you don’t need anyone, but when you want someone, then there’s the chemistry you need to get things started.

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How to Get Shredded Abs

By
Elizabeth Williams

For men, and women too for that matter, a physique cannot truly be deemed perfect, unless it comes complete with a set of shredded six pack abs. For those of you wondering how to get shredded abs, by the time you finish reading this article all will become clear.

If you look at some of the truly great physiques of our generation, including say, Simeon Panda, you’ll notice that they have abs that are so lean and so defined, that you could literally use them as a washboard for your clothes.

Simeon Panda is fast-approaching 50, and although 50 is considered nothing in terms of age these days, when you consider the fact that there are so many young up and coming bodybuilders, surely, you’d think that Simeon would struggle to hold his own? Well, you’d be wrong, as he puts many of them to shame. This is thanks, in part at least, to his ripped and shredded abs.

Wondering how to get shredded abs like Simoen? Then take a look at the following:

Stop doing 1000 crunches per day

Forget what you read in cheesy gossip magazines or “Fitness DVDs” brought out by Z-list nobodies, the way to lean and shredded abs is not as many crunches per day as possible. People genuinely believed that they had to perform 1000 crunches per day if they wanted a six pack, and therefore that is what they did.

If that was true, then surely to build big biceps you should do 1000 curls per day instead?

Of course not, if you did the biceps muscle would atrophy and suffer because it didn’t have enough time to recover, so your biceps would suck. The abs is no different. 3 sets of 30 crunches a couple of times per week are fine, but 1000 crunches per day? That’s just plain stupid!

Remember that there are other core exercises out there

 As great as crunches are for targeting the abs, there are other exercises out there that work just as well, if not better. When you train chest, you probably perform several chest exercises, rather than just bench presses, to help get the best results.

For the same reason, when you train abs, make sure you do plenty of other ab exercises.

Leg raises, wood cutters, plank, Spiderman crunches, bicycle crunches, and more, all work very well when training abs, so be sure to mix things up.

Create a caloric deficit

To reveal the abs, you need to drop down to around 12% body fat, or below.

This is very low for the human body and in order to do so, you need to burn off a lot of fat.

To burn fat, a caloric deficit must be created, whereby you consume fewer calories than your body requires.

To make up for the missing calories, the body taps into your body fat reserves.

Eat a clean, healthy, and  , and aim for a deficit of around 300 – 400 calories below maintenance, as this will give you a slow and sustained fat loss, without you feeling tired and lethargic.

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