#senior living community macomb

[oakleighmacomb]

Exceptional Senior Living Apartments in Macomb

Oakleigh of Macomb offers exceptional senior living apartments in Macomb, providing comfortable and secure housing options tailored to the needs of elderly residents. Our facilities feature modern amenities, personalized care, and a vibrant community atmosphere to ensure a fulfilling lifestyle for seniors. Our amenities are carefully selected to ensure that Oakleigh residents have easy access to the services they need and the perks that make life enjoyable.

[parkdales]

Art therapy refers to a method used to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being through creative expression. Read our full blog to know how seniors benefit from art therapy.

[khalilhumam]

A rising blue tide lifts the nation

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/a-rising-blue-tide-lifts-the-nation/

A rising blue tide lifts the nation

By Morley Winograd, Michael Hais The 2020 presidential election, for all its twists and turns, delivered further evidence that the Democratic blue wave that swept Democrats to power in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 was not a unique phenomenon, but part of an inexorable rise in the level of Democratic support. Although Democratic victories were not as overwhelming as predicted, their increased level of support was sufficient to flip the key battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania and award the electoral votes of Arizona and Georgia to the Democratic presidential ticket for the first time in decades. The shift to the Democratic Party that emerged on the nation’s coasts at the end of the last century, has now risen high enough in the west to flow over the Sierra Madre mountains and into the deserts of the Southwest and the eastern foothills of the Rockies. In the east, this election saw Democratic strength increase down the Atlantic seaboard from the Northeast and New England into the Carolina delta and on into Georgia at the end of the Appalachian Mountains. At the same time, the states bordered by the Great Lakes came back to the Democrats after Republicans eked out presidential pluralities in them four years ago. These changes are driven by three major forces that will ultimately bathe the entire country in a sea of blue—generational change, non-white population growth, and increasing gender equality. The first underlying trend is among young people. Millennials, now in their twenties and thirties, and the generation that follows them, Plurals (often erroneously called Gen Z), are translating their values of inclusion, equity and fairness into their overwhelming political preferences for the ideas, if not always the leadership, of the Democratic Party. In 2020, 18-to-29-year-olds, made up of Millennials as well as Plurals voting for the first time, preferred the Biden/Harris ticket over Trump by a 27-point margin (62% to 35%). Meanwhile, 30-to-44-year-olds, all but the oldest of whom are Millennials, gave the diverse ticket a seven-point margin, 52% to 45%. The rest of the electorate, all over 45 years old, basically split their vote, thanks to President-elect Biden registering marginal gains among his fellow seniors. The continuing diversity of America’s population can be seen in almost every public-school house in the country as the population’s division between whites and minorities approaches 50% each. Even as this change brings greater understanding of the nuances of each demographic’s political preferences, the overall support for this year’s Democratic presidential ticket from each non-white demographic underlines the importance of their increasing presence in the American electorate. In 2020, Blacks continued their historic support for the party of integration, voting 87% to 12% for the ticket that brought the nation its first Black, first Asian-American, and first female vice president-elect, Kamala Harris. That 75-point margin was down slightly from the 81-point margin in 2016, reflecting the lower levels of enthusiasm among young Black male voters for Biden that was also evident in the Democratic primary. Whether that turns out to be a long-term trend for the Democratic Party or just his candidacy remains to be seen. CNN’s exit polls show that two-thirds of Hispanics nationally voted for the Democratic presidential ticket, just as they did in 2016. Whatever gains Republicans were able to achieve among Cuban- and Venezuelan-Americans in Miami-Dade County, Florida or that Democrats failed to achieve among rural Hispanic voters in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley were made up for by the improved levels of support the Democratic ticket received among Hispanics in the Southwest whose families have a more recent immigrant experience. Biden won 2 out of every 3 Hispanic voters in Arizona and enjoyed particularly strong support among Latinas, 7 out of 10 of whom backed Biden. Republicans ended up with 32% of the Hispanic vote nationally, nowhere near their level of support among this group that President Bush received in his 2004 presidential campaign (44%). Almost the same level of support came from the many ethnic sub-groups within the Asian-American population. In the aggregate, 63% of them voted for a ticket that included a vice-presidential candidate who traced half of her lineage to India. Vice President-elect Harris is sure to increase that level of support for the Democratic Party during her service in national executive office. The final force reshaping American politics is even more powerful than the other two. Women more than doubled their margin for the Democratic presidential ticket over what it was in 2016 according to AP’s Vote Cast Survey of 2020 voters, and their increased partisan affiliation even erased Trump’s 2016 edge among white women. The latest CNN exit polling registered a 23-point gender gap in 2020, up slightly from 2016, with women favoring Biden by 15 points, 57% to 42%, and men voting for Trump by an 8-point margin, 53% to 45%. Meanwhile, the Vote Cast Survey said women made up 53% of the electorate, underlining how critical their support of President-elect Biden was in determining the ultimate outcome of this year’s election. Although the transformational power of these forces can be seen in communities across the country, it is in the nation’s suburbs where the change has been most evident. With 20 and 30-year-old Millennials moving to the suburbs to raise families and the increasing diversity of America’s most popular place to live combining with the increasing economic, personal and political independence of women, changes in the suburban vote have become the easiest way to capture the future of American politics. For example, the Biden/Harris ticket won Oakland Country, Detroit’s upscale, suburban county, by 91,000 votes in 2020, a margin nearly twice that of the Democratic ticket in 2016. The more working-class suburbs in Wayne County located just west of Detroit added another 68,000 votes to the Democratic margin this year in comparison to 2016. In blue-collar, suburban Macomb county, home of the Reagan Democrat, the 2020 Democratic ticket cut Trump’s margin by a third. And so it went across the country. Suburban Atlanta gave the Biden/Harris ticket 207,000 more votes than Trump in 2020 compared to 193,000 in 2016. Biden was beating Trump by more than 283,000 votes in the Philadelphia suburbs even before all the votes were counted— a 50% increase over Hillary Clinton’s 188,000-vote edge in 2016 and double President Barack Obama’s margin in 2012. The Biden/Harris ticket even cut Trump’s margin in the three very white and Republican “collar counties” around Milwaukee, especially in Ozaukee, where seven points were sliced off Trump’s advantage from 2016. When President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are seated with their spouses at the Inauguration, the four of them will span the diversity of America in unprecedented ways. Three of the country’s religions—Catholic, Black Baptist, and Jewish—will be represented by these two unique couples. Whites, Blacks, and Asian-Americans will also find kindred spirits seated on our democracy’s most iconic stage. Even more remarkably, the female partner of one of the two couples will be one of the two people being sworn in that day—the first time in U.S. history. All of this will send a clear signal to the nation that the three most powerful emerging political forces in the country have created a rising sea of blue that will continue to deepen and spread in the decades to come unless the Republican Party can find a way to be more in tune with where America is going.

[dipulb3]

Biden campaign begins in-person canvassing in swing states

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/biden-campaign-begins-in-person-canvassing-in-swing-states/

Biden campaign begins in-person canvassing in swing states

The Democratic nominee’s decision to go door-to-door in an effort to reach those who had proven difficult to contact by phone or online follows concerns from some party officials and activist groups that Biden was ceding an advantage to President Donald Trump, whose campaign has been canvassing in-person for months.

“We’re now expanding on our strategy in a targeted way that puts the safety of communities first and foremost and helps us mobilize voters who are harder to reach by phone now that we’re in the final stretch and now that Americans are fully dialed-in and ready to make their voices heard,” Biden campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement.

News that Biden would begin in-person canvassing was first reported by The Associated Press.

Biden’s campaign said its door-to-door efforts will follow safety measures, including providing volunteers with masks as well as checking their temperatures and completing a symptom questionnaire before sending them out. Those who live in a neighborhood will receive text messages alerting them that a volunteer is there and could be knocking on their doors.

In-person canvassing will be underway in Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania this weekend, and begin in other states next week, a senior Biden aide said.

The campaign had already piloted some in-person efforts, such as dropping off literature and chatting with those arriving at early voting locations in Pennsylvania and Nevada.

The aide said at least several hundred volunteers will be participating in in-person campaign activities, and that in Pennsylvania alone, more than 6,000 volunteers had expressed interest in doing in-person activities over the last 36 hours.

The campaign has opened 109 “supply centers” for volunteers in 17 battleground states, and plans to expand that to 188 centers.

The shift to in-person canvassing comes after some Democratic officials and party allies complained that Biden’s campaign — in an effort to minimize health risks during the pandemic — was missing a critical method of contacting potential voters.

D. Taylor, the president of Unite Here, the labor union that is the parent organization of the powerful Culinary Union in Las Vegas, said in a recent interview with Appradab he had “encouraged everybody” to knock on doors.

“It’s a multilayer attempt when you have to get to voters: you have mail, you have phones, you have doors. Now, because you’re not going to have traditional rallies, unless you’re a jerk like Trump who endangers people, but you got to do all three. We’ve always viewed that as a three-legged stool, and if you take away one of those legs … it just makes it that much more difficult,” Taylor said.

He said during canvassing efforts in Arizona and Nevada, the union has encountered Latinos who need information on voting by mail and are concerned about the safety of absentee ballots after Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting.

“You have to walk them through that,” Taylor said. “He’s tried to undercut a basic tenet of democracy.”

Trump’s campaign responded to Biden’s reversal on door-knocking by asking what had changed since the summer, when Biden aides downplayed the need to meet voters in person and criticized Trump’s campaign for doing so during a pandemic that has left more than 200,000 Americans dead.

“Team Trump and the GOP have already knocked on about 19 million doors, leaving the Biden campaign about 19 million doors behind us,” Trump campaign spokesman Steve Guest said.

The first round of states were selected by the Biden campaign on a variety of metrics, including the competitiveness of the race, the rules for early voting and the rate of coronavirus cases in the state.

Several local Democratic organizations have already been going door-to-door — leaving information, not holding conversations — to advise people of voting deadlines.

In Michigan’s critical Macomb County, just north of Detroit, Democratic volunteers were stuffing bags on Thursday for a weekend canvassing session. They are specifically targeting the households of people who did not vote in the 2016 presidential election.

Ed Bruley, chairman of the Macomb County Democratic Party, said it was critical to reach these voters who were not motivated to vote for Hillary Clinton four years ago. He said volunteers would be instructed to simply leave a bag, including a roster of local, state and federal Democratic candidates, along with addresses and instructions for early voting. The plastic bags were personalized with a name, address and a small pumpkin.

“We drop it off and stay at a safe distance,” Bruley told Appradab as he stuffed the bags this week at party headquarters in Mt. Clemons, Michigan. “We would not for the sake of politics put someone’s life at stake.”

Appradab’s Gregory Krieg and Annie Grayer contributed to this report.

[youravgbabe]

My Addiction Story — 🥀🌻

Hi I’m Katie & Im a recovering addict. It dates back to 2014. I was a senior at Romeo High school. Most of my childhood was great, I grew up in Almont, MI. i saw my cousins, i had my family, i had a sister, i had fantastic friends, nothing was ever really wrong in life, except when i couldn’t get the color popsicle i wanted.

Fast forward into 2014. Life wasn't all that bad. I had great friends, loving family, i was in love for the first time. It was July 4 to be exact when my life changed. I had been having a rough day, can’t remember why but i do remember it was the day a woman i knew rolled me a joint, told me to smoke it later when i was alone, i said okay. Sure enough, i did, & i loved it. Mind you, i tried Marijuana before but never really got high. Id always been against it as well. 
After that day, i started smoking more frequently. Eventually i had my own bowl, grinder & bought my own weed.

November 18, 2014, i went to school & ended up getting my car searched for being accused of having alcohol since my passenger was drunk, on the way to school, which i did not know. They found weed, .5 if you want me to be technical, no alcohol though, (didn't have any anyways).Three officers walked me out of the school & i was taken to Richmond, Michigan police dept. where i was fingerprinted & released. A court date appeared & then several more, i was then put on reporting probation through the city of Romeo, county of Macomb. Year probation, 80 hours community service, live at home, graduate on time, drug test clean, blow clean, etc. 
From that day my life changed for the worst.
Throughout the beginning of my probation i did good, almost was off.

August of 2015 Someone introduced me to K2/Spice. A controlled substance also known as Synthetic Marijuana. It’s use was for incense, to burn on a stove. The bags labeled, “not for human consumption”. I never knew that would be the game changer. I became so heavily addicted to it, it was disgusting. It was like a mouse wanting cheese. I had to have it, all the time..

February 2016 i was in a raid because the dealer had sold some kid LSD &
the kid commuted suicide. Luckily, i was not charged with the raid so i didn’t violate probation. As time went on it got worse, i lost a lot of my friends, lost myself, lost my cars, lost trust with people, lost the guy i thought i was going to marry. It took over my life, it ruined my life. 
As an addict our next time to pick up was all we cared about. You have to understand that addiction is a disease & that we lied, stole, etc. to get our need. Anything we did was because of our next time to pick up. We didn’t care about the world around us, or the way we were slowly tearing down the people that cared for us along with our addiction. 
December 14, 2016 i smoked spice and got behind the wheel, after passing out i crossed over into oncoming traffic and crashed into a bush. I work up to cops smashing out the passenger window. I was taken to a holding cell for 12 hours. After being bonded out, i still didn’t have the lesson learned, the disease of addiction really got to me. For a while i wanted to believe i didn't have a problem, but more & more i was realizing maybe the things i thought were helping me, were ruining me. Oh, i also lost both of my jobs that same night.

February 17, 2017 i went into Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center after being sentenced 21 days. On my 5th day i was discharged because of my insurance. I used on that day. My probation officer told me to keep testing but i pretty much said screw it.

April 2017 i finally got put in jail for violating probation too many times. I was sentenced to 19 days, then sentenced to rehab for 21 days, must be completed or 90 days in county jail. The time. The sights. The smells. The people. To this day i still remember the vivid dreams i had in jail. It haunted me, i tried to make the best of it. I wasn’t dying. I was eating, kinda. I was clean off of k2. I was safe. I wasn’t having my friends & family worry about where i was. The stories i could tell, which i won’t, are a fair share of why addiction changes everyone. 3 years ago, i wouldn’t have been sitting there. I was in this position, because i couldn’t give up the drug.

April 21 — FIRST DAY OUT Not gonna lie, i felt on top of the world for once at the bottom. I smoked k2 the same day i got out of jail.

May 23 I took my last hit of k2 ever, grabbed my bags & headed to the car for Sacred Heart. The next 21 days at Sacred Heart tested everything i had in me. I wanted to leave, 4 days in a row to be exact. I cried a lot, i yelled a lot, i packed my shit, A LOT. At the end of the day i knew my best decision was to stay where i was because i wanted to use still. Finally one day at Sacred Heart i had a light come across my path & i didn’t want to leave anymore, i didn’t want to use anymore, i wanted to connect with the world of people that were going through the same as me, that understood where my shoes have been & how it felt to wear them.

June 13 I woke up at 6:30am & started getting ready for the day reality was here. I remember crying packing the last of my things into my bags, saying goodbye to my roommates, to everyone else at the heart, ready for my journey, ready as ever. I was handed my completion paper, went to my last class of the day, & when my name got called the claps, cheers, hugs, words of encouragement i got, i knew i had my new future in my hands. Oh if i could describe a feeling like i just kicked addictions ass it was then.

October 2017 — 5 months Today, i’m 5 months clean. Today, i woke up free. Today, i drive a car again. Today, i got a job opportunity for better. Today, i can love my family and hug my friends. Today, i can appreciate nature. Today, i can be nice to myself. Today, i can live. Today, i am in recovery 💖

-KD

[csrgood]

Comerica Bank: Invested in Diversity

Comerica isn’t simply a banking institution, it’s a corporate community populated by employees that mirror the diversity seen across the United States.

As unrest developed across the nation due to protests of racial injustice, Comerica’s president and CEO Curt Farmer, and Nate Bennett, the company’s chief diversity officer and senior vice president, head of talent acquisition, knew it was time to talk – not to themselves, but with Comerica colleagues across the company.

“Given all the divisiveness going on in the community and our country, we’re at a critical time where the races are being pulled apart,” said Bennett. “At Comerica, we have a melting pot of demographics, and it’s important for us to come together as an organization and understand when we have colleagues and segment of our community that are significantly impacted.” 

On June 5, the first such conversation took place in the form of a company-wide, virtual Diversity Dialogue discussion. More than 2,000 Comerica employees joined in live with another 1,500 listening to a replay. 

“We wanted to ensure our colleagues felt the organization was comfortable about having conversations about race and equality, and we wanted to have a platform where many of our colleagues can voice those concerns, centered around racial injustice in a Black community,” explained Bennett.

Patricia McCann, vice president and senior diversity consultant over social impact practices, spoke of her personal situation – why communication is so important for the family.

“The conversations in our household are very, very different,” she said. “We’re all in the same house, kids raised the same way, but with very different perspectives. It can lead to frustration, tension and, I think, we’re just a microcosm of the world, living together wanting to be heard and understood.” 

Marvin Rushing is vice president, retail district manager, who oversees the Macomb banking center group in Michigan. He led a discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement, and how he would like to see that grow to include justice and equality regardless of race. 

Since the June 5 discussion, the conversation continued with one that took place on Juneteenth, which Bennett said centered around the history surrounding the date commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States – June 19, 1865.

The company announced a partnership with the National Business League and more than $1 million in investments over a period of time to help Black-owned small businesses, promote education and help provide greater access to business capital, according to Bennett. 

Such moves, said Bennett, not only support Black communities, but promote self-esteem and pride amongst Comerica colleagues.

“They feel proud to be part of an organization like Comerica, which in turn helps them engage further with the organization...and frankly, increases retention,” he said.

Make no mistake, attention to racial equality and diversity is not a new priority at Comerica Bank, sparked by recent events. 

McCann explains there are three diversity consultants – one for each of Comerica’s primary markets, and two senior diversity consultants, one of which is McCann, who is responsible for social impact, and the other, Lori Walker, is responsible for diversity education practices and Comerica’s affirmative action programs.

In addition, Comerica’s Employee Resource Network Groups (ERNGs) are active advocates and points of information for employees and are open to any employee, regardless of identity, background or organizational unit.

“Every ERNG has an annual social impact goal, and we have long-standing relationships with numerous community nonprofits,” said McCann. “We’ll work with leaders and organizations so we reach and improve as many lives as we can. It’s not just about professional and personal development in the workplace, it’s also about making a difference in our communities.”

The Comerica African-American Network (CAAN) is the oldest of the bank’s ERNGs with the Detroit chapter, established 30 years ago. A chapter in Texas was started three years ago.

One recent project involves the “state of the Black male,” said Bennett. “How Black males understand how to cope and deliver a professional demeanor, and what they can do as Black males to help in the communities, as well,” he said. 

Rushing is chair of the CAAN but extends his efforts to support Asian-Indian customers, as well as conducting outreach into various communities to bring in new business. 

“Those are two things I love doing here because it allows us to connect with diverse groups of individuals and build a mutually-beneficial relationship,” said Rushing.

Aside from the ERNGs, Rushing said Comerica holds various Local Diversity Roundtable events concerning issues related to women, as well as the LGBT, African American and Hispanic communities.

Bennett gives much of the credit for Comerica’s commitment to racial equality to CEO Curt Farmer, who he calls a “real catalyst for where we are and who we are as an organization.”

Indeed, such efforts have always been a part of Comerica’s culture, but with new initiatives underway in light of current events, McCann says this is no time to stop the progress.

“There’s momentum and we have to keep the conversations going,” she said. “We have to keep our foot on the gas.”

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/45559-Comerica-Bank-Invested-in-Diversity?tracking_source=rss

[oakleighmacomb]

Premier Senior Living Communities in Macomb - Oakleigh of Macomb Senior Living

Find welcoming senior living communities in Macomb, offering comfort and companionship for your golden years. With a range of amenities and personalized care, these communities provide an environment where you can enjoy life to the fullest. Engage in activities, connect with luxury residents, and embrace a fulfilling lifestyle tailored to your needs. Choose one of Macomb's best senior living communities for a supportive and enjoyable retirement experience.

[parkdales]

Many seniors find out that retirement isn’t as fulfilling as they thought it would be. Read full blog to know the reasons why you should move to a senior living community.

[eathealthylivefree]

Coping during Challenges, Changes, and Uncertainty

When my March 19th blog Certainty in Uncertain Times posted, I was unsure what was going to happen with my work, my community, our state, or our nation. With so many unknowns, I could not allow myself to go down the road of “what if’s”, so I chose to focus on things I knew were steadfast. Even as I wrote that blog, I realized I have many privileges. I have realized even more over the past several weeks just how fortunate I am.

While we have learned a lot about Coronavirus and flattening the curve, there are still many unknowns. When will a vaccine be developed? How long will we have to maintain social distancing? Am I or my family going to contract the virus? How will the economy rebound? All these unknowns and more can cause anxiety and other emotions. It is important to recognize and try to manage these thoughts and feelings if we are to move through these challenges.

My husband and I are fortunate to work for organizations that are supportive of their employees and our overall health and well-being. My supervisor checks in with me regularly. We are encouraged to do things to take care of ourselves and our families. Rearranging our work hours if needed, taking time off, engaging in professional development opportunities (virtually of course), adjusting our workloads, and other reasonable accommodations are all possibilities.

My children are older and can take care of themselves, do their own homework, and even help around the house, so I have been able work from home with little to no interruptions. Some colleagues and many of you have young children who need more time and attention. My kids understand the reasons for all the changes, though they are not happy about them. We have conversations about the different ramifications of our current situation and what the future might look like.

It was no surprise when our governor announced that schools will not resume this year. My high school sophomore daughter is not happy, but she is a high-performing student, so completing school on-line is not really an issue. This is not the case for many. The adjustment for her and my college sophomore son has been the hardest part for me. Neither of them expected to end the year this way, but at least they have two more. For the seniors and their parents, it’s a different story. They have not had the celebrations and the closure that comes from all the “lasts”.

As restrictions are starting to lift in several areas, many people may be anxious about transitioning back to work and back to the usual routines of daily life. I am co-chair of the Work/Life/HR sub-committee of the COVID-19 Transition Team for our college. The concerns of faculty, staff, and students about returning to work or school is critical to our planning. NAMI Ohio gives these tips to help with the transition back to work:

IT’S OKAY TO BE ANXIOUS

GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT

EMBRACE THE RETURN TO STRUCTURE

GET SOME SLEEP, PET YOUR DOG

As our team and thousands of similar groups across the state and the nation begin to plan for a return to work, the health and safety of employees is at the forefront. Many organizations are considering the physical safety of their buildings, as well as the cultural and social aspects of returning to “business as usual.” These are just a few of the things our team will be considering as we provide recommendations to our Dean. While I must consider many unknowns as part of this team, I remain focused on the present and on the things I can do right now to help myself, my family, my colleagues, and my community to continue to be resilient in the face of the challenges we still face.

What have you found effective in coping with the COVID-19 changes?

Writer: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Perry County.

Reviewer: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Darke County.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020). How to Improve Mental Health https://medlineplus.gov/howtoimprovementalhealth.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=april_22_2020

Grabmeier, J. (2020). Survey shows how Ohioans’ views on COVID-19 have evolved. Ohio State News. https://news.osu.edu/survey-shows-how-ohioans-views-on-covid-19-have-evolved/

Harmon, M. (2020). Certainty in Uncertain Times. Live Healthy Live Well, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences. https://livehealthyosu.com/2020/03/19/certainty-in-uncertain-times/

Johnson, A. (2020). Tips to Manage Anxiety When Returning to Work. NAMI Ohio. https://mailchi.mp/namiohio/helpathome-1389521?e=93084d4f8d

O’Neill, S. (2020). Coronavirus Has Upended Our World. It’s OK To Grieve. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/26/820304899/coronavirus-has-upended-our-world-its-ok-to-grieve

Allen, J. & Macomber, J. (2020). What Makes an Office Building “Healthy.” Harvard Business Review.  https://hbr.org/2020/04/what-makes-an-office-building-healthy

Scammahorn, R. (2020). A Time to Build Resilience. Live Healthy Live Well, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences. https://livehealthyosu.com/2020/04/27/a-time-to-build-resilience/

from Live Healthy Live Well https://ift.tt/2xyCXY1

[sowyourmoney]

Want to Make a Living Out Writing? Consider These Websites to Get Paid to Write!

Want to make a living out of writing? Perhaps you had tried to earn money through freelance writing or blogging before and got stuck with not so efficient strategy. Or maybe you just ran out of in-hours writing job opportunities and looking for something effective and home-based. It can be stressful.

With an endless supply of freelance writing jobs available, you need no worry. All you need is consistency and determination to apply and prove your writing skills. There are a variety of websites that would ensure you work every time you need it.

Sounds unrealistic? Well, it’s not!

Thanks to this digital era and the internet, there are plenty of opportunities for content writers and bloggers today. Just trust the right websites and start earning a decent living with your writing.

If you are worried about the trials and errors to find the right site that also pays well, here is a list that will guide you towards safe and reliable websites. These sites would guarantee you are stocked up with relevant jobs for whenever you need them.

1.     Blasting News

Set up in 2013, Blasting News is one of the 200 most visited sites in the world. It is the largest global social news publisher. According to Alexa, the website attracts more than 80 million unique on-site visitors every month. The site reports in 34 countries and 25 languages. In the US, its freelance journalists and writers currently earn up to 12 USD on 1000 readers. All of the content on the website is produced by freelance contributors. The website also has a quality team of skilful and fact-checked senior professionals.

To achieve outstanding results, the news published on the site is distributed by a global team of digital influences (Social Blasters) and the contributors themselves.

How Much To Expect?

Sign yourself up on News Baster right now as a freelance writer or journalist and get paid up to $150 per piece.

2.     Contena

Want to kick start your freelance writing career? Or find part-writing work listed on different online forums? The answer is Contena! It has plenty of great features to help freelance writers with their writing business or career.

Some of the features of Contena include;

Submission finder

Job search tool

Pay rate database for over 1600 companies

Email alerts

Once you become a member, you get access to Contena Academy. It provides the members with 6 module video training materials and courses to demonstrate how they can start a writing business.

Moreover, Platinum members also get access to professional writing coaching. The coach works personally with the members to assist them in Crafting their individual pitches and portfolio for jobs they find on Contena. They also provide pieces of advice, the members need along the way.

What to Expect?

It’s totally free to get an account with Contena to start seeing how it can kickstart your writing career.

3.     Listverse

It wouldn’t be unfair to call Listverse a gem of a website. It focuses on the most captivating and rare gems of knowledge. If you are a writer who can efficiently write interesting and fascinating list posts packed with remarkable facts, submit your pieces to Listverse. Your list post should be at least 1500 words, though. However, Listverse ensures it publishes content that is not only informative and interesting but also fun to read.

What to Expect?

For submission of around 1500 or more words, you can earn about $100 via Listverse.

The competition, at Listverse, is quite stiff. But, getting your piece of writing published there is one of the swiftest ways to get paid to write.

4.     InstantShift

If you are a technical writer who loves to write about programming and design, InstantShift is the website to look for. Since it is a reliable site, you can expect to be paid a fair amount by submitting a high-quality technical article.

What to Expect?

InstantShift pays you according to the quality and volume of your content.

5.     FreelancerCareers

Tired of hunting websites and blogs that pay you to write for a single article? Want to have a constant workflow? Aim for writing services!

FreelancerCareers is a great option when looking for an online writing service. You can easily find well-paying tasks, at FreelancerCareers.com, that are associated with your interests and writing background.

What to Expect?

The payments, at FreelancerCareers, depends on the complexity of the job. However, you will be able to earn around $7 to $31 per page for your work.

6.     Metro Parent

If you are a parent and love to cover parenting issues in your writings, check out Metro Parent. You can also become a freelance journalist for them if you are a Michigan based.

They mostly look for sources and stories that reflect the communities they cover: Macomb, Washtenaw, Oakland, Livingston as well as Wayne counties. Hence, sources or ideas that refer to southeast Michigan are preferred.

If you are interested in writing for them, make sure you pitch early. The content for their magazine is determined months in advance. So, if you are writing a seasonally-anchored story, make sure you pitch the idea at least 2 to 3 months before.

Wondering How To Get Started?

If they accept your article submission, have assigned you a story after accepting your pitch, submit an invoice that includes name, contact number, address, Social Security Number, name of the story and payment amount. This should be submitted within a week of sending your write up.

Metro Parent is always on a hunt to look for experienced freelance writers who can craft an exciting piece that will leave their readers in awe. From family dental to school issues to family events, they have different sections to write for.

What to Expect?

From a 50-word blurb to a 1200-2500 word feature article, you can be paid from $25 to $200-plus depending on the type of piece you are submitting.

7.     The Dollar Stretcher

If you are a pro in saving money and making the best of your hard-earned money along with having some excellent writing skills, The Dollar Stretcher is the right website for you. Its motto is “living better… for less”, and it pays writers who submit content related to this niche.

What to Expect?

The Dollar Stretcher pays you $0.10 per word for any writeup if accepted. For instance, if you are getting three 1000-word articles published every month, you will be getting a decent amount of $300 per month.

8.     Change Agent

Change Agent is a biannual magazine for educators as well as adult learners. The mission of this magazine is to provide low-cost resources. These resources feature articles by adult learners that are focused on classroom activities, student writing, poems, opinionated pieces, news, graphics, and cartoons.

What to Expect?

Change Agent pays typically around $50 for a write up of 200 to 1000 words.

9.     Sitepoint

Have a passion for development and design? Sitepoint may be looking for you. To be specific, if you are a writer who writes informative, technical, innovative and well-written content, submit your work to Sitepoint. It is based in Melbourne but works with writers around the globe.

Source: Pixabay

The topics that they cover include:

CSS, JavaScript, PHP

Ruby, Mobile development, UX

Design and HTML.

The editorial team at Sitepoint includes designers and web developers at the top of the industry.

What to Expect?

Sitepoint claims to pay competitive rates for quality articles.

10.  Uxbooth

Uxbooth is yet another website that looks for content writers who write technical content related to programming and design. However, it does not accept fully-written

Uxbooth does not accept entirely written drafts straightaway. They pair authors with editors instead as to have collaboration throughout the writing process.

Wondering How It Works?

Well, just pitch an idea or a topic that you want to write on. If they accept it, you will be assigned a development editor, so that he/she can assist you in developing your narrative according to their style guide.

The writer and the editor basically discuss and evolve the pitched idea until it’s ready to publish. Simple!

What to Expect?

Uxbooth normally pays around $100 per article.

11.  Wow Women on Writing

When it comes to encouraging female writers, looking after them and genuinely offering opportunities to new freelancers, Wow Women on Writing knows how to do that exceptionally. The Wow Women on Writing’s writers are diverse and focused on producing remarkable content for women. They usually focus on freelancing, innovative business and training. The write-ups are usually designed and detailed to help writers showcase their work and boost their skills.

Wondering How To Get Started?

To have an idea about their style of writing and niche, start reading their existing articles. However, make sure you don’t duplicate or re-edit or rewrite an idea or topic that always exists there. Try to be innovative and creative.

Wow, Women has a monthly theme with a focus on their writers. They link your Author bio to your personal site or blog.

So, if you have made up your mind to pitch them, make sure you do not send any attachments. They do not open attachments. Your pitch or article should be in plain text in the body of your email. Moreover, posting a link to your previously published work or blog is also a great idea. This will increase your chances of getting published.

What to Expect?

Wow, Women on Writing pays up to $150 for a 3000-word feature article.

You have two options for payment. If you live outside the USA, you can get it through PayPal. For residents of the USA, a check can be provided.

12.  Link-Able

If you think you produce high-quality content, approach Link-Able! It is an excellent way for writers like you to get paid to write for a great number of industries and clients.

It matches the contributors who can publish on related Web pages with businesses looking to earn more traffic, mentions, and links.

However, Link-Able normally accepts only native English writers or those with a track record of premium quality work in English. It is quite easy and simple to use platform. Simply, apply for an Author account, and once you are approved as a writer/author, browse through available writing jobs and apply!

Note: to achieve more success, limit your areas of expertise to only those options you are genuinely passionate about or expert in.

What to Expect?

The platform offers reasonable rates, depending on the sites you have authorship on or the site you can successfully pitch to. Its niches include finance, business, health, marketing, retail tech sport and more.

13.  Watch Culture

This site offers its opinion, news and entertainment coverage to users in millions of numbers around the globe each month. It is an online magazine based in the UK. This online magazine covers the famous zeitgeist. A plethora of writers gets paid to write reviews and articles on gaming, music, television, film, sports and much more for their ever-increasing strong audience.

Watch Culture posts hundreds of articles every week written by their freelance contributors. Some of these articles can be seen on Metro Radio, BBC Radio, Dublin FM, Sky News and in some national newspapers from time to time.

Wondering How To Get Started?

Culture follows a unique system that pays all writers to earn money from every article they submit. The system is based on a per views basis. Thus, writers whose content matches the interest of their audience are rewarded the most. Typically, contributors who write unique concepts and execute them pretty well can reap big benefits from the site.

Moreover, they are also setting up a larger video presence. Thus, looking for skillful YouTubers and filmmakers to produce high-quality content for their digital magazine.

Got what it takes to write unique articles or create interesting videos? Get in touch with Watch Culture and get paid for pursuing your passion.

14.  Cracked.com

Got a funny bone? Love to write humorous content? Get in touch with Cracked.com. They offer great opportunities for smart and creative minds. So, if you think you can write great humor, write to them and earn some extra cash.

Not an experienced writer? No problem! Cracked.com does not require you to have experience before you start writing for them. You will be paid if your piece is good. The content on their site includes photoshops, articles, videos and infographics. So, choose the one you are interested in.

Wondering How To Get Started?

Register yourself on their site, click on the writer’s workshop and pitch an idea. You do that by writing an article idea along with 5 subtitles under that idea or topic.

What to Expect?

Beginners can get $100 per article, and if a writer gets about 5 published articles, the amount goes up to $200 per article. Additionally, if your article makes it to the top ten list of monthly articles, you will get a $100 bonus. Also, you can get $100 for winning the photoshop competitions. A bonus in their design section is also held from time to time which includes $500 for designing a T-shirt that wins the competition. Besides, if your infographic post) presumably humorous) gets to be featured on their site, you will be paid $100.

15.  Developer Tutorials

If you are a developer or familiar with programming and designing, Developer Tutorials can be one of your sources to earn. This platform provides a regular supply of design and programming to its users to keep them updated on new techniques and technologies. This is done with the help of freelance writers who are experts in the following categories:

Flash

AJAX

PHP

JavaScript

ASP

Photoshop

CSS

Linux

Illustrator

Linux

MySQL

Java

MySQL

Moreover, they are also looking to write-ups that focus on the helpful and cool lists that attract and fascinate the users as well as help them in real life.

What to Expect?

The rates of articles depend on various factors such as the demand for the topic and the quality of the content. Hence, your piece should be unique and something that the readers are looking to read.

The pay rates range between $30 to $50. The payment can be sent through PayPal right after your article is published.

Tutorials are required to be at least  1000 words. Additionally, they should include screenshots or other illustrations to deliver your message more effectively and help the reader understand better.

16.  Michelle Pippin

This site is dedicated to helping small businesses or start-ups to boost their profits and create an impact. Moreover, it provides premium quality and sharp marketing and business content to a huge variety of audiences.

So, got a great idea? Or a hack for the business? Or some original work? Or a marketing niche? Michelle Pippin is the site to consider!

The site is normally focused on businesswomen. But, it provides an even-handed write-ups on entrepreneurial resources, profit, case study, and marketing articles as well as relevant business news.

Michelle Pippin has a large audience. It has a good mix of ma related to marketing and business. The articles do not have to be too technical, they should go beyond the basics, though. The word count of your article on average should be around 800 words.

What to Expect?

You are expected to do the research adeptly, and if its print version (newsletter) reaches the members, you are likely to receive a better rate. Payment is reviewed via PayPal on a per article basis.

17.  Strong Whispers

This site offers its readers a fantastic range of articles on environment, lifestyle and other social issues.

If you are someone who wants to bring a positive change in the world through your writings and want your writings to reach thousands of people around the globe, get in touch with Strong Whispers.

Wondering How to Get Started?

Send them an idea of an article you are planning to write along with the expected fee. Make sure your topic is unique and impactful. Also, send your existing blog link or a link to your already published work. It will help them understand your writing style. Once you send all the details, they will let you know if they found the topic interesting and if your sample meets their pre-set criteria.

Once your sample or idea has been accepted, go ahead, write a unique piece and submit it for review. Make sure it is well written, unique, grammatically correct and original.

After the submission, your article will be reviewed, and you will receive an email telling you if your piece has been rejected or accepted or if it requires some tweaks.

What to Expect?

Payments are negotiable. However, they normally pay $50 to $150 per article. They are willing to pay more if your article is unique and of interest to their readers.

Once your article is set to publish, you will be paid through PayPal.

Some More Sites to Consider

Here are some additional websites that help you grow as a writer and will pay you for your writing skills:

The Penny Hoarder

A Fine Parent

Smashing Magazine

eCommerce Insiders

A-List Apart

Treehouse

Photoshop Tutorials

Write Naked

Tuts+ Code

Tuts+ Vector

Viator Travel Blog

The Travel Writer’s Life

International Living

Digital Ocean

Tuts+ WP

To Sum Up

There are numerous websites on the web, including writing services, online magazines, and programming tutorial sites that help you make a living out of writing and advance your career as a writer. The above-listed websites are some of the best to consider if you want to take your freelance career to the next level. These websites bring together some of the best opportunities for your writing career and enable you to pitch for relevant jobs effectively. All it requires is creativity and great writing skills. If you have a creative mind and great writing skills, nothing can hinder your way to get paid online and earn a decent living. Being able to earn money online is definitely very rewarding. It gives you the leverage to work with the clients or websites that interest you the most.

Moreover, you also get to enjoy working at your own pace in your own comfort zone. However, for some writers, the idea of writing for others is not so attractive. This thing is not for every writer out there. But, if getting a decent earning is your main purpose right now, these websites are sure to help you with your aim and help you get paid to write reviews or your own articles.

  The post Want to Make a Living Out Writing? Consider These Websites to Get Paid to Write! appeared first on sow your money.

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[2richray4]

Introduction

Hello, my name is Rich Ray, and I am currently a senior at Central Michigan University. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, while double-minoring in Leadership and Applied Business Communication. I am originally from Macomb, Michigan and have spent the majority of my life there. My short term career goal is to land on my feet after I graduate this Spring, and obtain a management position in any field that demands it. With this blog, I hope to establish new connections and learn more about what it takes and means to be a professional on the internet.

One organization who I believe models exemplary use of social media is ESPN. Unlike many who can focus on singular accounts across various sites, ESPN has to keep up with countless representations of themselves across these same sites. They cover nearly every sport, so they have to divide online tasks outside of their main account accordingly. For example, on Twitter, there is the main ESPN account. It posts sparingly throughout the day, whereas the SportsCenter account is constantly live-tweeting ongoing events/games while also dishing out the breaking news. Since ESPN is also home to countless talk shows, they create accounts for every show and each member of these shows dons their own social media presence representing ESPN. Most of them even have the name ‘ESPN’ in their handle. These members are expected to maintain a professional appeal, while interacting with the masses as well. Also, most major American sport leagues have their own account, which makes it easier for the consumer to find exactly what they’re looking for. This system is not only used on Twitter, but on just about every social media platform one can name.

[airsoftreview]

In the Pipeline: Ascent Living to Open in Denver, CA Senior Living Breaks Ground Near Pittsburgh

In the Pipeline is brought to you by the Senior Housing News Architecture & Design Awards. Sign up for the SHN Architecture & Design Newsletter from SHN for updates on architecture and design trends, the annual SHN Awards Competition.

Construction: Planned

Focus Property Group, Ascent Living Planning Denver Community

Property investor and developer Focus Property Group and senior living owner and operator Ascent Living Communities are teaming up to open a senior living community in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood.

The property, which is yet to be named, will have more than 200 independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments on three levels. Planned amenities include a fitness and yoga center, an aquatics center and multiple restaurant options, such as a bistro and al fresco dining.

The architecture of the forthcoming community is inspired by the design of nearby neighborhoods and the urban lifestyles of the residents. The three floors of residences will be organized around three internal courtyards, and many of the apartments will come with fireplaces, balconies, and glass walls overlooking mountain views.

Focus Property Group acquired the site, a former milk processing and distribution center, in 2016. Ascent Living Communities is co-developing, operating and managing the community. Construction is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2019, with initial move-ins planned for summer 2020.

Hord Coplan Macht is designing the project, studioSIX5 has been tapped for the interior design, and Catamount Constructors is the general contractor.

Oxford Senior Living to Expand Communities in Texas, Oklahoma

Oxford Senior Living plans to expand two of its communities located in Grand Prairie, Texas; and in Owasso, Oklahoma.

The senior living provider is set to break ground later this year on a $5 million expansion at its Oxford Glen Memory Care community in Texas. In Oklahoma, work is expected to begin this summer.

Plans for the Tulsa and Grand Prairie expansions are very similar, according to Oxford. Each community will add about 30,000 square feet and up to 40 assisted living apartments, plus a secure courtyard and additional amenities.

LK Architecture is the architect for both projects.

Construction: In progress

CA Senior Living Breaks Ground on Community Near Pittsburgh

CA Senior Living, the senior housing investment and development division of Chicago-based CA Ventures, has started work for a new senior living community in McCandless, Pennsylvania.

The project, Atria McCandless, is a 179-unit independent living, assisted living and memory care community slated to be operated by Atria Senior Living. Amenities include a pool and spa, fitness center, salon, multiple dining venues, activity rooms, an outdoor walking path and a patio with plenty of seating and a bar.

Independent and assisted living apartments will have stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and tile backsplashes. Most will also offer in-unit laundry, and floor plans include studio, one- and two-bedroom options ranging in size from 410 to 1,052 square feet.

Pre-leasing for the community is scheduled to begin in October 2018, with an anticipated fall 2019 opening.

Abby Development Starts Work for Arkansas Community

Abby Development, a developer, owner and operator of senior housing communities, has broken ground on Ridgemere, a 92-unit luxury independent living, assisted living and memory care campus in Conway, Arkansas.

The “resort-style” community will have amenities such as a stocked fishing lake with walking trails, multiple landscaped courtyards with water features, a movie theater, pharmacy and general store, beauty salons, libraries and rehabilitation center.

The community’s independent living cottages will have a mix of two- and three-bedroom floorplans, with an average size of 1,485 square feet. On the assisted living side, residents will be able to choose from studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans. The memory care wing will have private and semi-private studio floorplans in a secure building.

Work Underway for Expanded PACE Center in Michigan

United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC) recently held a groundbreaking event for a new addition to double the size and capacity of the existing Huron Valley PACE Day Health Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

PACE, which stands for Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, is an alternative to nursing home care designed to meet the social, medical, and supportive needs of low-income adults 55 and older. The project is made possible, in part, by a $1 million capital grant from Maryland-based funder, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

Construction: Complete

New in the resource center

Buckner Community in Texas Completes $29.8 Million Expansion and Renovation Project

Buckner Villas, a faith-based Buckner Retirement Services community in North Austin, Texas, recently completed a $29.8 million expansion and renovation project.

The expansion added 69 one- and two-bedroom apartment homes to its GreenRidge independent living area, as well as 70 underground parking spaces. Workers also enlarged the dining room, extended the bistro, added a theater, broadened the salon and spa, built a larger meeting space and updated the interior design throughout.

The community can now serve up to 138 additional seniors, Bucker announced. The project included work from Hill and Wilkinson, Barbara J. Vessels Interiors and D2 Architecture.

LifeSpire CCRC Set to Open New Dining Venues in April

The Chesapeake, a LifeSpire of Virginia continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Newport News, Virginia, is slated to open newly updated dining venues with cook-to- order options and new menu offerings on April 9.

The new options will let residents choose from a number of dining venues, including an updated formal dining room, a bistro, a pub and a cafe.

This is the first phase of a $10 million renovation project. THW Design and contractor GC Construction, worked with The Chesapeake on the renovations, which began last September.

Other noteworthy projects:

Planned

— Purchase College is seeking to open a new senior living project with 339 units and 46 villas on its campus in Purchase, New York.

— Oaks Senior Living and Lotus Park Senior Living are teaming up for a new assisted living and memory care development in Aiken, South Carolina.

— A 101-bed assisted living and memory care community is in the works in Macomb Township, Michigan.

— Great Falls, Virginia, could get a new 62-unit assisted living and memory care community.

—Sugar Loaf Senior Living has announced it intends to build a 70-unit property next to one of its communities in Winona County, Minnesota.

— A former “spy house” in Washington, D.C., could be demolished to make way for a new CCRC.

— Fortress Ventures is constructing a $31 million community with 140 assisted living, independent living and memory care units in Fort Myers, Florida.

— An elementary school building in Hager City, Wisconsin, could become a senior living community with 16 units.

— Local officials in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, have given their blessing to plans for a 42-unit senior living project.

In progress

— Tradition Senior Living has broken ground for a new 23-story senior living highrise in Houston.

— A new assisted living and memory care community is set to open in Bossier City, Louisiana, this summer.

— Work is expected to begin in April for a new assisted living and memory care community in Swift County, Minnesota.

Complete

— A new 74-unit senior apartment community has opened in Vineland, New Jersey.

Written by Tim Regan

Source Article

The post In the Pipeline: Ascent Living to Open in Denver, CA Senior Living Breaks Ground Near Pittsburgh appeared first on A-S REVIEW.

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[seanmalatesta]

How Generosity Can Supercharge Your Marriage

Research Shows Free, Abundant Giving Is the Secret to Marital Bliss

When Roger Hodgson crooned to his anonymous paramour back in 1977, “Give a little bit of your love to me,” so he might “give a little bit of my life for you,” the Supertramp frontman presumably didn’t have academic research in mind.

But Hodgson’s next beseeching couplet—“There’s so much that we need to share/So send a smile and show you care”—might have intuited a conclusion social scientists have only recently begun to transform into a testable, verifiable hypothesis: Generosity improves marriage.

Enter the work of University of Virginia Professor W. Bradford Wilcox, author of numerous books on the subject of marriage. He serves as a senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and is the director of the National Marriage Project, a one-stop shop for in-depth, cutting-edge research on holy matrimony. Wilcox has devoted a considerable portion of his life and career to determining what makes married people tick.

Generosity is key

In 2011, as part of the Science of Generosity Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, Wilcox headed up a survey of 1,630 married couples designed to home in on a single factor in after-the-nuptials happiness: marital generosity. In a 2013 article for the Journal of Marriage and Family, Wilcox and coauthor Jeffrey Dew define this generosity as “giving good things to [one’s spouse] freely and abundantly,” including “regularly engaging in small acts of kindness, expressing affection, expressing respect, and forgiving one’s spouse.”

The survey found generosity to be “positively related to participants’ reports of marital satisfaction and negatively related to participants’ reports of marital conflict and subjective divorce likelihood.”

“Positively related” is well and good. But as a matter of degree, how important is generosity to maintaining a good marriage? According to the National Marriage Project’s ultra-comprehensive 2011 “State of our Unions” report, if “happy marriage” were an Olympic sport, sexual intimacy would take the gold, commitment the silver, and generosity would be wearing the bronze as it selflessly cheered for the other two.

The hidden riches of marriage

On the surface, this last feature would seem to be the common currency of marriage. After all, sexual desire will ebb and flow. And the essential nature of what constitutes commitment between two evolving people will itself evolve. In its modern, love-centered iteration, virtually every marriage begins rich in love and devotion. And “expressing affection” or “respect” is hardly akin to purchasing a Rolls-Royce or amassing a down payment for a spouse’s dream home. The poorest can be as generous as the prosperous.

“ If happy marriage were an Olympic sport, sexual intimacy would take the gold, commitment the silver, and generosity would be wearing the bronze as it selflessly cheered for the other two.

—SHAWN MACOMBER

Indeed, the choice to be generous costs us nothing—save, perhaps, an acknowledgment of our vulnerability and a desire for reciprocity. “Partners in a relationship will be happiest when they give and receive equal levels of relationship maintenance behaviors from their relationship,” said Wilcox and Dew. When only one spouse reported high levels of generosity, there was less satisfaction and more conflict in the marriage as well as a higher chance of divorce.

Why generosity is hard

This could be partially why some of us become so ungenerous with the institution of marriage writ large. Ambrose Bierce once cynically defined marriage as the “state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two.”

Ego, pride, disappointment, and misdirected anger impose their own tax on the better angels of our nature. This makes us stingier with the intangibles sometimes than we would be with cash or cruelty—even when it will redound to our benefit or improve the quality of our life or reduce suffering and angst. Paradoxically, it can sometimes be more difficult to engage in generous behavior than the more mundane duties associated with our unions.

“In marriage, we are expected to do our fair share when it comes to housework, child care and being faithful, but generosity is going above and beyond the ordinary expectations with small acts of service and making an extra effort to be affectionate,” Wilcox told the New York Times.

Wilcox believes the evidence shows it’s worth the effort. In fact, “Living that spirit of generosity in a marriage does foster a virtuous cycle that leads to both spouses on average being happier in the marriage.”

The French actress Simone Signoret would agree with that, and disagree with Bierce. She once mused, “Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is thread—hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. That is what makes a marriage last—more than passion or even sex.” Wilcox and Co. make a very convincing case that acts of generosity within a marriage can serve as those all-important threads.

from Michael Hyatt, Your Virtual Mentor http://ift.tt/2oIg0wh via IFTTT

[thebardcce]

Community Action Award Recipient: Maies Hriesh

My name is Mais Hriesh. I'm a senior, studying music and human rights. Considering my two focuses, PEN America was the perfect fit for me since its work is right on the intersection where the arts and human rights come together. These are the very first few sentences that are shown on PEN's website: "PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible." Looking at this reassured me that PEN was the right place for me to enhance my experience and knowledge.

During my time at PEN, I'm going to be working on a new project that they are launching. The final goal of the project is to create a toolkit for journalists and writers to help guide them and protect them from hateful trolls and online harassment. It looks like after the recent elections, the number of writers and journalists harassed online has significantly increased. As a result, PEN received a grant to launch this project and release it in April 2018. Laura Macomber was especially hired to run and monitor this project. Laura and I started at PEN exactly at the same time, so we were both learning together about the nature of PEN’s work and its way of functioning. The fact that we are learning together makes it a lot easier for me to be more confident about the work I’m asked to do.

My role is mainly research-based, since my supervisors need to have an overview of all the different angles the project might cover. This is a first step towards completing the project, so they can have a clearer idea about what the toolkit should look like. My work so far has been eye-opening. It has allowed me to explore the notion of free expression more in depth and how problematic it can be in some cases, especially in the era we live in right now.

I look forward to learning more and seeing how the project shapes. And of course, none of this would have been possible without the help of the CCE and the CAA. Thank you so much for providing me with such an opportunity.

[youravgbabe]

My Addiction Story.

Hi I'm Katie & Im a recovering addict. It dates back to 2014. I was a senior at Romeo High school. Most of my childhood was great, i saw my cousins, i had my family, i had a sister, i had fantastic friends, nothing was ever really wrong in life, except when i couldn't get the color popsicle i wanted. Fast forward into 2014, It was July 4 to be exact. I had been having a rough day, can't remember why but i do remember it was the day a woman i knew rolled me a joint, told me to smoke it later when i was alone, i said okay. Sure enough, i did, & i loved it. Mind you, i tried Marijuana before but never really got high. Id always been against it as well. After that day, i started smoking more frequently. Eventually i had my own bowl, grinder & bought my own weed. Finally, on November 18, 2014, i went to school & ended up getting my car searched for reasons i have grown past. They were originally searching for alcohol, again for other reason. But i had weed, .5 if you want me to be technical. Three officers walked me out of the school & i was taken to Richmond, Michigan police dept. where i was fingerprinted & released. A court date appeared & then several more, i was then put on reporting probation through the city of Romeo, county of Macomb. Year probation, 80 hours community service, live at home, graduate on time, drug test clean, blow clean, etc. From that day my life changed for the worst. Throughout the beginning of my probation i did good, almost was off. In August of 2015 someone introduced me to K2/Spice. I never knew that would be the game changer. I became so heavily addicted to it, it was disgusting. February of 2015 i was in a raid because the dealer had sold some kid LSD & the kid commuted suicide. Luckily, i was not charged with the raid so i didn't violate probation. As time went on it got worse, i lost a lot of my friends, lost myself, lost my cars, lost trust with people, lost the guy i thought i was going to marry. It took over my life, it ruined my life. As an addict our next time to pick up was all we cared about. You have to understand that addiction is a disease & that we lied, stole, etc. to get our need. Anything we did was because of our next time to pick up. We didn't care about the world around us, or the way we were slowly tearing down the people that cared for us along with our addiction. December 14, 2016 i smoked spice and got behind the wheel, after passing out i crossed over into oncoming traffic and crashed into a bush. I work up to cops smashing out the passenger window. I was taken to a holding cell for 12 hours. After being bonded out, i still didn't have the lesson learned, the addiction of disease really got to me. February 17, 2017 i went into Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center after being sentenced 30 days. On my 5th day i was discharged because of my insurance. I used on that day. My probation officer told me to keep testing but i pretty much said screw it. On April 3, 2017 i was sentenced to 45 days in Macomb County Jail. I spent 19 days in jail after being released to Sacred Heart again on April 21, 2017. I missed my appointment, finally i went to Sacred Heart on May 23, 2017. My experience at Sacred Heart tested everything i had in me. I wanted to leave, 4 days in a row to be exact. Today i'm thankful for the people i was with those days, the staff, the other addicts & myself kept me from leaving. I was away for 21 days. It wasn't easy being away for a while but i pushed through it. June 13 I completed Sacred Heart, it felt great getting back out being a different me. Today i'm happy, i'm healthy, i'm clean, i'm improving, im changing, i'm alive, i'm me, & today i don't let anything bring me down, no matter what anyone says to me i got myself & that's the best i can have. I have an amazing family, i have awesome friends, i have a job, i'm in recovery & i couldn't be any more excited for the future than i am today. Thank you ❤️

[csrgood]

Comerica Bank National Days of Service Reaches Communities Throughout Michigan

30 Days. 25 engagements. 1,500 volunteer hours. 

That’s just a snapshot of Comerica Bank’s community engagement throughout the state of Michigan during the bank’s National Days of Service initiative. What that doesn’t include are the many lives positively impacted by the extensive and compassionate outreach.

Comerica’s commitment to public service extends to all the communities it serves, and that dedication was demonstrated throughout September as the company expanded its 12th annual National Day of Service to National Days of Service to support the significant number of volunteer projects last month from Grand Rapids to Lansing to Detroit.

“Comerica Bank prides itself on being members of the community and the way our volunteers view giving back, because we know for our business to succeed, our communities must as well,” said Patricia McCann, Comerica Bank vice president and senior diversity consultant – social impact practices.

During the National Days of Service, Comerica colleagues donated their time and talents to many organizations the company supports. There was something to do almost every day in September.

“We aim to have our participation in National Days of Service encourage others to do their part and give back to their community as well,” said McCann.

One of the month’s community giving and involvement project resulted in the donation of approximately 9,000 diapers distributed between five community organizations. 

Comerica partnered with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan’s Women United to collect, organize and distribute diapers to hundreds of children in the area through Early Learning Communities in Dearborn, Detroit, Fraser, Pontiac and Warren.

Several Comerica corporate offices and operations centers hosted the employee drive, and diapers were sorted at the Comerica Banking Center, the bank’s Michigan headquarters.

Volunteers then dropped off more than 2,000 diapers each to the Early Learning Communities to help families in need.

Comerica has a lengthy and impactful relationship with United Way. Last year, Comerica contributed $1.7 million to the United Way of Southeastern Michigan as part of the bank’s annual giving.

In all, 300 Comerica Bank Michigan employees volunteered approximately 1,500 hours at 25 community events across the state during the past month.

As another snapshot of Comerica’s community giving in Michigan over the past five years, colleagues have donated approximately 200,000 philanthropic hours, valued at nearly $4.7 million.

Comerica National Days of Service also included:

Cattle Barron’s Ball:  Volunteered at the annual fundraiser that supports the America Cancer Center of Michigan.  

Crossroads Soup Kitchen: 40 volunteers served over 500 meals at the Detroit soup kitchen. 

Feeding America West Michigan: In Comstock Park, volunteers repackaged and sorted donated food to support the distribution of food to more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger-relief agencies from the Indiana border to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  

Forgotten Harvest: Assisted with packaging and sorting food as part of the distribution process at the local warehouse in Oak Park.

Fresh Food Initiative - Food Bank of South Central Michigan: Colleagues served at the Salvation Army in Jackson to support the distribution of food delivered via a hunger-relief network of more than 285 partner agencies operating in eight counties in south central Michigan.

Gleaners Food Bank in Detroit: Part of Comerica’s year-round support of the community operation that operates five distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties providing food to 528 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other agencies throughout southeast Michigan.

Hand2Hand: Partnered with Grand Rapids organization, which works with schools and churches to provide food to hungry children over the weekends.  Donated 1,400 food items for students.

Million Shoe March: Assistant Banking Center Manager Celeste Wingard participates in the “Shoes for Soles in Need” drive at Milliken Park that gave thousands of shoes, socks and hygiene items to Detroiters in need. Comerica colleagues donated 400 shoes to the Million Shoe March. 

The Parade Company: Volunteers helped paint floats for America’s Thanksgiving Parade.

Ronald McDonald House of Detroit: Prepared and served a weekend brunch to special guests at the Ronald McDonald House in Detroit, where families of hospitalized children are provided support and a home away from home.  

Tri-County Office on Aging: Compiled 350 lunches for Meals on Wheels in Lansing that serves senior citizens.

United Way of Lakeshore’s Day of Caring: Helped to restore and revitalize Johnny O. Harris Park in Muskegon Heights. The park was named for a police officer who died in the line of duty in 1975. 

These activities personify Comerica Bank’s commitment to serving the community. For the fifth consecutive year, the bank was recognized as one of the most community-minded companies in America as an honoree of The Civic 50 by Points of Light, the largest organization dedicated to volunteer service in the world. 

For more information on Comerica’s continued commitment to the communities we serve, visit www.comerica.com.

source: https://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/42957-Comerica-Bank-National-Days-of-Service-Reaches-Communities-Throughout-Michigan?tracking_source=rss