#the habit of being on here 6 hours a day sticks with me -> profit ????

[butchlifeguard]

i want to spend less time on this website for my health. this will not happen

[brokenmusicboxwolfe]

Day 6 without sculpting...

In a way it’s weird I miss sculpting so much. This near daily sculpting is actually a relatively recent thing for me.

Actually, for about the first 20 years of my life I can count every time I sculpted on my fingers.

My father inspired my first sculpting. Before I was born he’d dug some clay out of the river bank and sculpted a little baseball sized head with marbles for eyes. It facinated me, so at about four I dug some clay out of a ditch and tried to sculpt two full figures. I let them dry on a plank in the summer sun....and they crumbled. Amazingly, one of the heads survives to this day.

In kindergarten we had a cool teacher with his own kiln. Technically he had us making little pots. I used the scrap and made a little alien head with big almost Mickey Mouse ears that he glazed for me and a little alien with loops for arms that I colored with crayons. He left at the end of the year, takng his kiln with him. 

In second grade the new teacher had us make dough art angels. This was an “everyone copy the teacher” deal, so no real self expression. Let me tell you, dough art does not last in this climate. That angel no longer existed within a year. 

My parents gave me some plasticine type clay for my 10th birthday. Unfortunately that sort of clay never can be made hard, and I really wanted something that would “stay”. I barely used it.

When I was in 9th grade the art class had a paper mache project. Or at least they called it that. Really it was a structure out of wire, newspaper and masking tape covered with plaster bandages. I made a dragon, Lockheed from the X-Men in fact, but that was that. No way could I get the plaster bandages myself, and I didn’t care for the rough surfaces.

And that was that for growing up.

The weird thing is, I actually was always drawn to sculpting, but it never occured to me I should sculpt. I loved physical objects that depicted living things and always noticed when stories included sculpting. Heck, I even started writing a fantasy story involving a sculptor and magical sculptures. But actual sculpting wasn’t even a daydream.

And then one day my hands got bored. It was an unusual day, a day off while Pop was away. Free time meant I could do what I wanted. In this case it was to watch a movie (The Brothers Karamazov), read a book (don’t remember what), read a magazine (dunno) and listen to music (forget what)....all at the same time...

Yeah, I’m like that. Always wanting to do several things at once.

 There I was, sitting on the floor, all these things around me, and I noticed my hands were bored. Because hands do get bored. Mine do anyway. Just ask them! Pop had some boxes of clay he’d bought for a project but ended up with some left over. On a whim I decided to try sculpting with this “proper” clay.

I made a little bust, a woman with a flower in her hair and a beastie lying round her shoulders. If you look up pics of it (all my sculpting that exists is on my blog) you will see how crude it is, but at the time I was pleased. I’d expected sculpting to be hard, but this was easy!

But we didn’t have a kiln. Well, Pop had one somewhere out in the shop, but he didn’t know where, didn’t have time to look, and wasn’t keen on me pawing around when it was probably behind some unmovable things.

So that was that all over again, the old problem of wanting to sculpt something that would stay.

And then I discovered sculpey!

Now you would think this would kick off constant sculpting, but it was more fitful at first. The trouble was, I did not want to be watched sculpting. I just wanted to goof around with it, stress free. So what I did was sculpt every time I was guaranteed a solid hour to myself. I’d usually go stand on the ramp outside, sculpey in one hand and an old dull pairing knife in the other and sculpt.  

This is probably why I sculpt so quickly even now. Back then I just wanted to do it unseen, baking as soon as there was anything at all I liked about it. Now fast sculpting is just secnd nature.

After a bit I branched out, making ornaments and getting roped into making a dollhouse doll for a cousin. I also made several dolls that scale for fun and gifts for my family. I also pleased the four year old me by making a Sleestak from memory. I experimented with gluing a face on one of the boxes I’d painted. (Painting boxes was a thing for me for years)  I started running out if space for the busts so I started making magnets and lining all the metal bookcases in my bedroom with faces. 

But during all that I could go weeks, even months, without sculpting. I’d paint boxes. I’d write. But all these things shared a little space of free time. 

We were busy. The fiberglassing business took a heck of a lot of work. There were all sorts of organizations, causes, meetings I tagged along to, obligations to my family. Making takes time, even if it’s just an hour, and back then I never had insomnia so working after everyone went to bed wasn’t an option.

Still, I made things right along until the weirdness happened. For a several years I had a creative block. 

Totally. 

Completely.

 I didn’t sculpt. Didn’t paint boxes. Didn’t write stories. I didn’t even dream at night.

It was hellish. 

I can’t tell you why it happened. I can’t even tell you why it ended. All I can tell you is was if my imagination started to reawaken in 2012, a year that at that time I thought was one of the worst in my life. It started with a painted box here and there. Slowly.

Then 2013 happened, the terrible year of Pop’s illness that made the bad things of 2012 seem pale in comparison. Suddenly I was dreaming, dreaming in overdrive in fact. The dreams  I was churning out boxes as fast as I could paint them to “exorcise” those dreams. The dreams occupied my mind constantly. At night they were like serialized stories night after night, during the day I was like an obsessed fangirl disecting and rerunning her favorite show that just happened to be created by my subconscious.

This frantic box painting lasted until the last stages of Pop’s illness, when it stopped. I haven’t painted a box since. 

In mid to late 2014, the year Pop died, the cousin I made the Beast doll for sent me a letter. Actually, now that I think about it, it was the last time I heard from her. She said she’s shown the doll to someone she knew that had a dollhouse collector store and they said I had talent, that in fact it was as good as many professional dolls. The cousin suggested, now that our fiberglassing business was gone I should take up doll making.

It sounded reasonable, though I completely doubted that “talent” part. But there were problems with this plan. I hadn’t sculpted in several years and didn’t know if I still could. I wanted to make fully jointed dolls, but making them by hand out of sculpey would be tricky to master. Everything I made (and make) is one of a kind and feels like a part of me, so parting with them would be painful. I needed to figure out how make it easier on myself.

I mean, there is a reason I jokingly call my sculpting “making friends”.

And so I got to work. I decided to use my werewolf box as inspiration, figuring that with these wolf people I could make them enough alike it would be easier to part with them, but enough different I wouldn’t get bored. I could learn to make mold from them, and then selling wouldn’t hurt.

This is when I think my sculpting addiction really began. Instead of sculpting occasionally I was sculpting most nights, and would stay up late when making the bodies.

This period of experimentation lasted for a few months, long enough for me to suffer the disapointment of being an outsider exhibiting at an art show with my odd fantasy dolls. I actually WAS making progress. I liked a few of the dolls snd thought in a few more months I’d be ready to go to the next stage, I even bought molding and casting materials to learn to use...

And the floor collapse happened. This started an ever increasing cascade of disasters that continues to this day.

At first I thought the interuption was temporary. By the end of 2015 I’d be back at learning to make dolls...

Obviously this didn’t happen. For months I kept making heads for future doll experiments, complete with metal loops for stringing them on. I even built a storage box to keep them all in. Eventually the room with the box started to go, so I “temporarily” moved it to the other house. It’s there still.

By then I had a sculpting habit. I needed to sculpt. My fingers would twitch around sculpey. Mom would laugh at how on nights where I didn’t sculpt my eyes would dart to the sculpey every few seconds. She would tease me about it calling to me, but it’s sort of right. In 2015 sculpting had become something that I constantly felt I should be doing. 

To be honest, the addiction aspect has only gotten worse with time. 

When Mom was here there were more nights I didn’t sculpt, and if I started sculpting as she went to bed she’d remind me not to stay up late. Since her stroke and her going to stay with my brother I’ve been alone. Alone to watch movies and sculpt, with no socializing to distract me and no one to tell me to stop. 

Now the nights I don’t sculpt are rare (see last November when I sculpted more faces than there even were days in that month because I sculpted more than one a couple nights). The faces stick with me less though, to the point that when I post pics a month later I have actually forgotten many of them already.

I don’t do anything with these faces. I sculpt them quickly, photograph them, wrap them in tissues and throw them into one of the storage boxes I have for them. Those boxes have literally hundreds of faces by this point.

I shouldn’t NEED to sculpt.

 I have spent more days of my life not sculpting than sculpting. I have sculpted more faces in the last year than most people do in a life time. Ignoring the fluke of the one face I sold, I don’t profit by it in any way.

The sculpting is a compulsion, an impulse I can’t resist. I feel a weird guilt and unease when I don’t sculpt. It hasn’t even been a full week without sculpting and it’s driving me nuts. Believe me, I know it’s ridiculous! 

[gloriousgwendolinechristie]

Press: The end of Game of Thrones: An exclusive report on the epic final season

EW – OCTOBER 2017: THE TABLE READ

When Kit Harington entered the conference room, he had no idea what to expect.

The final season’s scripts had been emailed just a couple of days earlier, sending the Game of Thrones cast into a reading frenzy. Like millions of fans around the world, the actors had been waiting nearly a decade to learn their characters’ fates. The entire six-episode season arrived at once, protected by layers of password security.

Sophie Turner flew through her copies in record time, quickly messaging the producers her reaction. “It was completely overwhelming,” says the actress, who plays Sansa Stark. “Afterwards I felt numb, and I had to take a walk for hours.” Others, like Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), first had to hurry home to get some privacy. “I turned to my best mate and was like, ‘Oh my God! I gotta go! I gotta go!’” she recalls. “And I completely flipped out.” She then settled in for a reading session with a cup of tea. “Genuinely the effect it had on me was profound,” Clarke adds. “That sounds insanely pretentious, but I’m an actor, so I’m allowed one pretentious adjective per season.” Peter Dinklage, meanwhile, broke his years-long habit of checking immediately to see if Tyrion Lannister survives. “This was the first time ever that I didn’t skip to the end,” he says.

Even showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss were uncharacteristically anxious, wondering how the actors would react to the climactic twists. “We knew exactly when our script coordinator sent them out, we knew what minute they sent them, and then you’re just waiting for the emails,” Benioff said.

The cast then journeyed to Belfast to gather in a production office for the formal read-through. By then, everybody knew the tale that was about to unfold, with two notable exceptions: Davos Seaworth actor Liam Cunningham (“The f—ing scripts wouldn’t open, the double extra security!” he grouses) and Harington, who outright refused to read anything in advance.

“I walked in saying, ‘Don’t tell me, I don’t want to know,’” Harington says. “What’s the point of reading it to myself in my own head when I can listen to people do it and find out with my friends?” So, yes: Jon Snow, quite literally, knew nothing.

Benioff and Weiss opened the proceedings by asking the cast to refrain from doing anything during filming or afterward that might reveal even the tiniest spoiler (“Don’t even take a photo of your boots on the ground of the set,” one actor recalls being told). And then, seated around a long table scattered with a few prop skulls, the cast read aloud the final season of Game of Thrones.

At one point, Harington wept.

Later, he cried a second time.

SEPTEMBER 2012: IT’S IMPOSSIBLE

After the table read, the Game of Thrones cast spent 10 months filming just six episodes of television. But the season actually took far longer to pull off. GoT’s final chapters have been in the works for years. To better understand what’s ahead, let’s first go back to EW’s season 3 set visit and this never-before-revealed conversation with Benioff and Weiss…

The production camper was like many others on the set — barren, cramped, cold, utilitarian, with dirt on the floors from muddy boots tramping in and out all day. The showrunners sat on the same side of a tiny dinette booth while the wind coming off the Northern Ireland bay howled outside. They were already thinking about their final season, and it worried them.

During its second season, the fantasy drama averaged 10.3 million viewers across all platforms. That was enough to ensure they were eventually going to finish the series, yet that inevitability was also the problem. Because when they first pitched Thrones to HBO, they hadn’t exactly been honest. And now they were working every day toward a finale that was impossible to make.

“The lie we told is the show is contained and it’s about the characters,” Benioff said, which was at best half true. The epic fantasy was very much about its ensemble cast, but it’s also the least “contained” series ever made. “The worlds get so big, the battles get so massive.”

Author George R.R. Martin, whose series of novels forms the basis for Thrones, had revealed to the duo the broad strokes of how his Song of Ice and Fire saga secretly ends, including a description of an epic final battle that’s been teased from the show’s very first scene. But this climactic confrontation was miles out of reach for a series that cost about $5 million per episode. “We have a very generous budget from HBO, but we know what’s coming down the line and, ultimately, it’s not generous enough,” Benioff said.

So the producers had an idea: The final season could be six hours long and released as three movies in theaters — just like Martin’s best-known influence, The Lord of the Rings. It’s not that the duo wanted to make movies per se, but it seemed like the only way to get the time and money needed to pull off their finale. “It’s what we’re working towards in a perfect world,” Weiss said. “We end up with an epic fantasy story but with the level of familiarity and investment in the characters that are normally impossible in a two-hour movie.”

The flaw in this plan was that HBO is about serving its subscribers, not taking gambles at the box office. Behind the scenes, the network brass gently shot down the movie idea. But executives assured Benioff and Weiss that they would eventually have everything they needed to make a final season that was “a summer tentpole-size spectacle.”

Years later, the producers would strike a deal with the network to spend two years on a shortened season 8 that would cost more than $15 million an episode. You could say HBO made good on that promise from 2012, and the showrunners will happily give the network full credit. “They put their money where their mouths are — literally stuffed their mouth full of million-dollar bills, which don’t exist anymore,” Weiss quips.

But it’s probably more accurate to say that since season 3, Benioff and Weiss willed their ambitious final season into reality the hard way: by growing Game of Thrones into the biggest show in the world, a hugely profitable pop culture and merchandising sensation with more than 30 million viewers an episode and a record number of Emmys. Only with that kind of leverage do your towering ambitions begin to look like reasonable requests.

In fact, the GoT team was so successful that the biggest sticking point in the agreement was persuading HBO to halt the series. “We want to stop where we — the people working on it, and the people watching it — both wish it went a little bit longer,” Benioff says. “There’s the old adage of ‘Always leave them wanting more,’ but also things start to fall apart when you stop wanting to be there. You don’t want to f— it up.”

That concern — a constant desire to conclude the show on the strongest possible note — is something we heard over and over from the cast and crew when we visited the GoT set for the last time.

  MARCH 2018: THE FINAL SEASON

Arriving at the studio gate, I’m halted by a guard and asked to scan my badge, a security upgrade from past years. Then I’m asked for my phone, and the guard covers its cameras with stickers — that’s new too. Along with an HBO escort, I walk inside an enormous hangar that’s so large it’s where the RMS Titanic was painted.

What’s being filmed here is episode 6, the series finale. Like Harington going into the table read, I don’t know anything about the final season’s storyline. I look around at a meticulously constructed set that I’ve never seen on the show before. Several actors are performing, and I’m stunned: There are characters in the finale that I did not expect. I gradually begin to piece together what has happened in Westeros over the previous five episodes and try not to look like I’m freaking out.

There is absolutely nothing more that can be said about that scene at this time.

A word about spoilers: The cast is used to keeping story secrets, yet they’ve never sounded so anxious about it. “There are moments where you don’t trust yourself to have this in your brain,” says Joe Dempsie, who plays Gendry. “You’re in possession of something millions of people want to know. It’s such a bizarre feeling. And between now and when it comes out, I’m gonna be drunk at some point.”

So far, at least, the team has done a far better job than in previous years at keeping the story under wraps, even while drunk. Theories abound online, but they are guesses. A purported script leaked to Reddit, but here’s a way to spot a fake — real Game of Thrones scripts don’t say “Game of Thrones” on them. “Drone killer” guns were used to guard against any peeping robots attempting to fly over the set. Production documents stating which actors were required to be where and when used code names (Clarke, for example, was “Eldiss”). “It gets highly confusing when you need to remember who is who,” Turner says.

Benioff and Weiss’ next gig is writing a new Star Wars film, and they received some final-season secrecy tips from The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and producer Kathleen Kennedy. “They’ve given us a lot of hints about how to lock things down, things we never would have thought of or didn’t know were possible,” Weiss says.

At some point HBO will release a proper final-season trailer revealing more. Until then, here’s some basic setup we can tell you: Season 8 opens at Winterfell with an episode that contains plenty of callbacks to the show’s pilot. Instead of King Robert’s procession arriving, it’s Daenerys and her army. What follows is a thrilling and tense intermingling of characters — some of whom have never previously met, many who have messy histories — as they all prepare to face the inevitable invasion of the Army of the Dead.

“It’s about all of these disparate characters coming together to face a common enemy, dealing with their own past, and defining the person they want to be in the face of certain death,” co-executive producer Bryan Cogman says. “It’s an incredibly emotional, haunting, bittersweet final season, and I think it honors very much what George set out to do — which is flipping this kind of story on its head.”

How these fan favorites get along drives much of the drama this season (okay, here’s one specific tease from the premiere — Sansa isn’t thrilled that Jon bent the knee to his fancy new Targaryen girlfriend, at least not at first).

The drama builds to a confrontation with the Army of the Dead that’s expected to be the most sustained action sequence ever made for television or film. One episode — the same that Benioff and Weiss were concerned about pulling off so many years ago — is wall-to-wall action, courtesy of “Battle of the Bastards” director Miguel Sapochnik.

Last April a crew member revealed that Game of Thrones had wrapped 55 night shoots while filming a battle. Media outlets around the world ran stories saying the final season’s battle took twice as long as the 25-day shoot for season 6’s climactic Battle of the Bastards. This wildly understated what really happened. The 55 nights were only for the battle’s outdoor scenes at the Winterfell set. Filming then moved into the studio, where Sapochnik continued shooting the same battle for weeks after that.

“It’s brutal,” Dinklage says. “It makes the Battle of the Bastards look like a theme park.”

The battle doesn’t have just one focus, either, but rather intercuts between multiple characters involved in their own survival storylines that each feels like its own genre. “Having the largest battle doesn’t sound very exciting — it actually sounds pretty boring,” Benioff says. “Part of our challenge, and really, Miguel’s challenge, is how to keep that compelling… we’ve been building toward this since the very beginning, it’s the living against the dead, and you can’t do that in a 12-minute sequence.”

To help pull it off, the production hugely expanded its set for the Stark ancestral home of Winterfell, adding a towering castle exterior, a larger courtyard, and more interconnected rooms and ramparts. Strolling around the new Winterfell is like wandering a sprawling, immersive medieval resort compared with its previous Days Inn-like scale. The ground is covered with snow and blood. The air is thick with smoke from the fire pits. You can turn any direction and only see more Winterfell. It’s easy to feel like you’ve somehow wandered into Westeros.

The Winterfell expansion is just a small example of how every element of the production was heightened this year in an effort to “not f— it up.” Scenes that normally might take a day to film now took several. “[Camera] checks take longer, costumes are a bit better, hair and makeup a bit sharper — every choice, every conversation, every attitude has this air of ‘This is it,’” Clarke says. “Everything feels more intense. I had a scene with someone and I turned to him and said, ‘Oh my God, I’m not going to do this ever again,’ and that brings tears to my eyes.”

Lena Headey, who plays Cersei Lannister, agrees: “There was a great sense of grief. It’s a huge sense of loss, like we’ll never have anything like this again.”

More tears, like during the table read.

You know, Harington will actually reveal why he cried that second time.

“The second time was the very end,” Harington says. He’s referring to when the cast reached the last page of episode 6, and what the showrunners wrote there at the bottom.

“Every season, you read at the end of the last script ‘End of Season 1,’ or ‘End of Season 2,’” Harington says. “This read ‘End of Game of Thrones.’”



Press: The end of Game of Thrones: An exclusive report on the epic final season was originally published on Glorious Gwendoline | Gwendoline Christie Fansite

[searchin-for-an-urchin]

We Got This, Baby. (John Laurens x Reader) Chapter 1

Hey, look at me actually writing something!

This is the first time I’ve actually posted fanfiction, so I’m excited for the opportunity to do this.

Day 4 of @pleasegivemethatpenback Write-a-thon: Write about your favourite au, whether it’s a coffee shop au, high school or college au, an au with supernatural creatures or anything else, write something in an au that you love!

I chose an “office au” because I work in an office and the drama is real, y’all.

Masterlist

T/W: pregnancy, cruddy boyfriend, working a lot.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6  Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Epilogue

       Your alarm wakes you from your slumber at 5:05am. You glance over to your left to see if your boyfriend Charles is there. He’s not. Big shock. With a sigh, you pull yourself away from your comfortable bed and start to get ready for the day. In the next two hours your routine is simple. You take a shower, pull your hair into a bun or other hairstyle that keeps your hair out of your face, put on a small amount of makeup, get dressed, leave your house, grab coffee and bagels for you and your boss and be at work by 7:00am. Once you were there you would drop off said coffee and bagel with your boss, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, run to the restroom to throw up, come back to your desk and work for twelve hours breaking for light snacks, sometimes actual meals and bathroom breaks. 6 days a week.

       Contrary to how that sounds, you love your job working in the Treasury building. You were Secretary Hamilton’s first assistant to actually stick for more than a month, and everyone on Capitol Hill is grateful, President Washington and Ambassador du Motier especially, but perhaps no one was more grateful than your boss’ family. Eliza, his wife, has made it a habit to invite you to dinner every so often to share her gratitude.

       So, as usual, you walk into the Treasury Building On this particular morning, when dropping off Hamilton’s coffee and bagel, you walked in not on a man huddled over his desk staring at a computer looking as if he hadn’t slept in two days, but into a room with a bright eyed, bushy tailed Treasury Secretary talking animatedly, cheerfully, with another person. A man. As you announce your presence by knocking on the door, both men turn their heads to face you, and the man who isn’t Mr. Hamilton stands up, very clearly a tall person, probably beating your boss’ height by a few inches and yours by several. His brown curly hair was loosely tied back and his hazel eyes were shining. Mr. Hamilton’s voice breaks through your focus when he says loudly,

       “Ah, Y/N! Good morning, how are you?” You smile and hand him his coffee and bagel. After he states his thanks you reply,

               “Pretty great, ready for the morning to start. And yourself?”

       “Wonderful, as always.” You manage to keep your composure but the other man visibly twitches and lets out a small chuckle. “Do you have something to say, Laurens?” The man, apparently Laurens(?), answers

               “Actually, I don’t believe you always feel wonderful. In fact, before I walked in here fifteen minutes ago you looked dead.” Now it was your turn to let out a chuckle when you jump in.

       “That’s a pretty typical appearance for Mr. Hamilton, but it seems you already know that.” Laurens turns to you and reaches his right hand out to shake yours.

               “I’m John Laurens. Alexander and I served together.” You firmly shake his hand, it clearly dwarfing yours but rather than being overpowering and harsh, it was warm and comforting.

       “Y/N L/N. I’ve been Mr. Hamilton’s assistant for the last six months.”

               “Oh! You’re the one Laf has mentioned! No wonder I’ve actually seen Alexander more than once in the last few months. You’ve been a godsend to his family and friends. Thank you for that.”

       “Oh, it’s been my pleasure. I’ve been able to learn more about working on Capitol Hill, so it has been mutually beneficial.” You smile once again, glancing at the clock. You note that it’s 7:15 so the nauseous feeling creeping up is right on time. You look directly at the man in front of you and start to excuse yourself.

       “It was wonderful to meet you, Mr. Laurens-”

              “Please, call me John-”

       “It was wonderful to meet you, John, but I really must run to the Ladies’ room before I start work.” You turn your attention to Mr. Hamilton and ask,

       “Is there anything specific you need me to do today, Mr. Hamilton?”

               “Yes, Y/N. When you’re back at your desk you’ll help ‘John’,” he rolls his eyes towards his friend, and John’s face flushes slightly, “With organizing a fundraiser for whichever charity he’s working with now. He’ll meet you at your desk here in a bit.” You nod in understanding and walk out of the room, speeding towards the ladies’ room. You aren’t the only woman in the building, but you were the only one in this wing, so you had a bathroom of six toilets all to yourself as you run towards the first stall, fall to your knees and begin to heave your smoothie up. After a few minutes you stand up, flush the toilet and wash your hands and face. Taking a deep breath you place your left hand on your stomach, just above your belly button and whisper

        “Come on, baby. We got this.”

       After you’re done puking your guts out, you come back to your desk to see John, your breakfast consisting of a watered down decaf iced coffee and bagel, and a stack of disorganized papers waiting for you. Taking a deep breath, you gesture to an empty chair for John to grab and sit down in your own. After a few moments of silence, you suggest,

       “So, tell me about this charity.” His face instantly lights up.

               “This non-profit organization is pretty all encompassing. It has a few shelters in the area that it oversees, helps with meals, assists people in finding homes, finding jobs, it also helps with legal representation if someone needs it for whatever reason. The charity has been a solid part of D.C. for years, but it’s slowly gaining more traction and notoriety.” You nod in understanding as you take a bite out of your bagel, grateful for food to satisfy you (and this nausea inducing child). He continues, “What really needs to be done is creating a fundraiser for the charity, but also create volunteer opportunities tailored to those on this godforsaken Hill.” You swallow your food and raise an eyebrow, scoffed, obviously a bit offended,

       “You realize I’m on this Hill too, right? I don’t plan on being an assistant my entire life, but I am here for a reason.” John obvious felt startled by your response. “I mean, while I never plan on running for office or anything, my goal is to be a Chief of Staff for a president eventually,” You see a look of intrigue on John’s face, and when he seems ready to butt in you sit up straight in your seat and keep voicing your opinion. “Yes, there are many people on this ‘godforsaken Hill’ as you call it who are in it for the prestige or the chance at glory themselves, but I’m going to be a Chief of Staff for a president I believe in. I do not care how long that takes, but that is what I want to do.”

       Your outburst stunned John into silence, and you felt rather proud. Before relaxing back into your seat and finishing your breakfast you add, “Oh. And I volunteer on a weekly basis. As does the rest of this office. It’s one of the changes your friend allowed me to make when I became his assistant.” After a minute, a grin breaks out on John’s face and he pipes up,

              “I think you and I are going to get along just fine, Y/N. Probably very well, if I’m being honest.” You don’t respond, but rather take a drink of your coffee and roll your eyes.

        “I don’t really have the privilege to not get along with my boss’ friend, so you aren’t wrong.” He chuckles and jeers,

               “You don’t strike me as someone who will play the politics game unnecessarily. But, of course, I don’t know you so I could be wrong.” He hands you some of the papers off of the stack that is precariously laying on your desk,and you start going through the papers. He glances back at you and catches your eye and proposes “Let’s get started?’”

       At 11:05am, you hear John groan and turn your attention to him. His hazel eyes are glazed over, and he looks exhausted. Letting out a laugh you inquire

        “Giving up already?” John just stares at you as you giggle even more. You start to straighten up your desk and intercom into Mr. Hamilton’s office. “Sir,” you say into the phone, “Just a reminder, you have lunch with Eliza today. You should be leaving in five minutes.” Hamilton grunts in response, and you end the intercom. Pointing your attention back to John you throw out “Lunchtime?” John nods in response and starts packing up as well.

        The two of you end up walking to Cafe du Parc, a French bistro less than a mile from the Treasury Building. Along the way, in between a joke about Mr. Hamilton’s sleeping habits (“He’s never had one” John assured you) and a question about his actual job (“I was blessed with not needing to have a job. I volunteer.), you are joined by another human being. One that greeted you and John by tackling John and lifting him off of his feet. You stood there shell-shocked with a surprised look on your face before you realized who it was. Ambassador du Motier,  in all his six foot curly hair pulled back glory, or Laf as John and Mr. Hamilton address him, energetically embraced his old friend, while another man you’ve never seen before stood to the side. Noticing your hesitance, the beanie-wearing stranger held his hand out and introduced himself.

       “Hercules Mulligan. Laf, John and I served together, but John is currently occupied by trying to remain standing, so I thought I’d introduce myself.” You try to hold back a laugh as you relax and shake his hand.

               “Y/N L/N. If you served with John then you know my boss Secretary Hamilton- I’m his assistant.” Hercules nods in understanding as you continue “John needed help with organizing a few events for the charity he’s working with, and Mr. Hamilton is not overwhelmed as normal so I’m assisting John over the next few weeks in addition to my normal position.” Hercules lets out a laugh and points towards John and Laf, whom you now see on the ground, wailing around. Both you and Hercules walk over to them as the two men try to get up after laughing so hard. Laf notices you and says,

       “It’s so nice to see you again, Y/N! I see Hamilton has pushed his friend on you. I apologize. John is truly the worst out of the four of us.” John indignantly replies,

               “I am not,” to which Laf retorts,

       “Great argument, mon ami.” Before you can add anything into the fray of conversation occurring, John jumps up, wraps his right arm around your stomach and threatens Laf;

               “I don’t need a great argument when I have Y/N to help defeat you,” he punctuates this by lifting you up with one arm (damn, he’s strong), and moving you around like one would turn with a shield to survey his attackers. You burst out with laughter as John does this then remember you have a baby in your stomach, so maybe this isn’t the best thing to be doing. You politely ask John to set you down, he obliges, and backs away a bit. You then inquire,

       “Hercules, Ambassador, would you like to join us for lunch?” While looking towards the two men, you don’t see John shaking his head behind you. What you did see was the Ambassador place a smirk on his face and say

               “Why yes, we would love to, and you definitely should call me Laf, not Ambassador. I have a feeling you would be around for awhile, ma cherie.” You glance behind yourself to see John looking tense once again, but he tries to cover it up when he notices your attention.on him. You roll your eyes and add,

       “Okie dokie then, I’m in need of some ratatouille, so let’s go.” Walking across the street without the guys, you pull out your phone and dial Charles’ number, trying to get a hold of him but his voice mail was once again the only time you’ve heard his voice. You walk a bit faster, leaving your voicemail.

       “Charles, babe, I really need to talk to you. I understand you’re terrified, dude, so am I. But I need you to answer so we can actually talk about this. This is a baby we’re talking about. A baby,” you emphasize, “But come on, love, we can do this.”

[memorylang]

Week in My American Pandemic Life | #44 | September 2020

September felt like a good month to share another slice-of-life blog story (since my last one was pre-pandemic, last December!). 

Leading into Sept. 2020, I knew that it’d be the month in which I’d find out whether I was going back to Peace Corps Mongolia in October. If so, I’d need to be ready to repack my belongings and head back overseas. If not, I’d find out for how much longer I’d need to wait. 

The longer I’ve been back in the States, the more little activities I’ve picked up. But still, my heart’s with the Peace Corps. I want to go back as soon as I can. With that in mind, though, here’s what I’ve been up to! 

Most Every Day

These events encompass my stateside weeks 26 to 30 (being Aug. 28 to Oct. 1). I've been doing mostly ad hoc projects depending on Peace Corps’ timeline. Since my summer weeks, my most recurring roles have focused around two task forces and two boards on which I’ve been serving amid the pandemic. Beyond these, I’ve been focusing on readying for graduate school and seeking a strong spiritual life. 

I spent most of September in Reno, so my week-in-the-life stories encompass those periods. My weekends largely blurred with my weekdays, so weeks tended to mesh together. Still, each day had enough recurring events that I’ll start by describing those common threads. 

Long Before Dawn

I usually rose between 3 and 5 a.m. I’d basically fling myself out of bed to shut off my alarm so as not to wake my younger brother. Then I’d leave the room and spend my morning in the house’s kitchen/dining area. 

From then till 9 a.m., I’d mostly work on language exercises from the classical Latin textbook I've been using with a long-time friend who’s been tutoring me this rich language. Around 9 a.m., we’d hop on our video call. Even on weekends we tended to call. We chatted usually for a couple hours, finishing around 11 a.m. or noon, depending on our start. 

Besides Latin daily, I’d a few other activities I’d do usually sometime between about 4 a.m. and 1 p.m. These were for spirit, for fun and a bit of escape. 

I’d continued my quarantine habits of reading more Scripture. At the month’s start, I’d pray a rosary and read a Psalm a day. A friend and I had finished reading our daily Proverbs chapters in August, so we’d decided to take on a Psalm a day. Then my other friend and I had concluded our rosaries. So, I’d read a Hebrews chapter with my Psalm a day. After I finished Hebrews, my other Bible study group had begun John. So, by September’s end, I was reading a Psalm and John verses a day. Good times.  

Daily App Streaks

Around 8 a.m. I’d get in a power nap to recharge. Usually after 8 I also didn’t tend to receive messages from friends in Mongolia, for that approached their midnight. If I received new messages, those tended to come after 6 p.m., which was their morning.

On the learning side, I’d also keep up my Duolingo streak. I’d surpassed over 150 days, so I figured I might as well keep at it. I mostly used Duolingo to practice Latin and seldom had touched the Spanish and Chinese lessons as much as I used to. Sometimes my daily Duolingo lesson feel like bad medicine, but I remind myself that languages stick best when I rehearse them. Other days feel great! 

A bit after my morning nap would be my 9 a.m. Latin tutorial. Either right after it (closer to noon or 1 p.m.) or long before it, such as when I’d wake up or shower, I do my Scripture readings, Duolingo and also Pokémon tasks. I’d never set a specific time for these. 

Mostly to break up the hard stuff, I’d keep up Pokémon GO and Pokémon Masters EX streaks. The freemium games offer daily bonuses for simple activities. In terms of self-tending, I remember that humans ought to set aside time each day for play. At least by playing free games, I needn’t spend money. They get me out of the house, too! 

Habits of Isolation

When I’m not out of the house, the pandemic surely does weird stuff to me. Free time seems to lead me to check my email inbox, perhaps too often. I think that the habit stems from my ambiverted itch to have social contact after spending hours alone glued to topics. I also just like helping people and brightening their days, given how unevenly the pandemic affects us. More innocuously, I check my Google Calendar too to make sure I don’t miss deadlines. I try not to stress so much… 

When I caught myself staring too long at that inbox, I’d go outside an hour or few to a walk around the neighborhood, thank God and weigh whatever might be on my mind. Reno, Nev. had had plenty of smoke from NorCal fires, so I’d definitely keep on my facemask. I loved being outside, but toxic air made me less eager. 

Around 3 p.m., I’d get in a second power nap. Though, on some weekdays my youngest brother had his online class at 3. So, I try to nap a little before, so he could have the room to himself. 

Our family usually has dinner around 6:45 p.m. or 7. Attendance varies depending on who’s at the house by that day. At minimum would usually be Dad, my tita /TEE-tuh/ (Filipina stepma) and me. At most, there would usually include four more, being my youngest brother, a family friend who's also our tenant, my youngest sister and her boyfriend. Sometimes by brother’s still on campus, the family friend’s at work, and/or my sister and her bf aren’t visiting till the next day. 

As a side note, when I’d first started coming up from Vegas to help at the Reno house, Dad had only purchased a dining table with four chairs. Then he’d purchased four more chairs, which most of us had opposed. Once everyone else had come up for their fall semesters, though, we conceded that Dad won. 

Weekday Mornings

Mondays through Fridays are my dad’s workdays, so morning routines go a little differently. Regardless, I’d usually still be up early, from that 3 to 5 a.m. range. 

Tita would usually come downstairs around 5:15 a.m. to begin fixing breakfast for my father and whoever else was at the house. My stepmom reminds me of my mom in this way, waking early to fix food for everyone. I thought of both of them when reading of the woman in Proverbs 31:15, “She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family [...].” I hope I’ll be a caring parent, too. 

Tita had retired some months after marrying my pa, which gave her more free time. If she wasn’t down around 5:15, she’d had asked me to come knock upstairs on the master bedroom door in case she and Dad overslept their alarms. I give her a hand when she needs it. Tita would also fix Papa coffee and unload the dishwasher from the night before. I’d help her reach higher shelves and take things to or from the garage.

And Tita and I would chat a bit. I hadn’t known much about the Philippines geographically. I felt surprised to learn that her home province's language is Bisayan, not Tagalog. She said it’s because she’s from Bohol, in the Central Visayas. We’d chat about Asian culture and our Catholicism, too, like the Bible and prayers. I’d also vent about life sometimes. She is a patient soul. 

An Early Breakfast

Often between 5:45 a.m. or 6, my papa would come downstairs and enjoy the breakfast his wife made. Dad would also sometimes ask me to do things or comment on my ‘inability’ to do them. I tried to ignore the comments that I felt were a bit rude, since Dad told me I’m going to meet lots of mean people in life. He means well... 

By 6:15 a.m., Dad would take off for work, so he’d kiss his honey goodbye and wish me a good day. Back when I was the only one staying at the house with Dad, I’d carry his bags out to the car; but by September, usually Tita would do this. I appreciated that she’d alleviated some of my burdens. She let me focus more on my own tasks, like language studies. 

After Dad left, Tita would return upstairs to sleep. In the afternoon, she’d resume cooking to prepare dinner. I’d often still be in the kitchen/dining room since I usually had my computer and notebooks set up there. The house hasn’t really had many other tables on which to work. 

Dad tended to get home around 6:45 p.m., hence our family’s usual mealtime. Whoever was nearby would set the table and summon the others. Afterward, we’d all usually pitch to put away the dishes and table mats while Pa and Tita got ready for their evening walk (or while Dad got distracted watching politics on the news). Tita had us leave food out for the others who’d missed dinner. 

And now to share the unique activities of my week’s days! 

MONDAYS: Non-Profit + Chinese

Mondays and Tuesdays were my Chinese days. Besides the usual Latin in the morning, I’d have a Chinese call in the evening with a teacher whom I’d met through Discord and reddit. The Chinese woman happened to have more free time through the pandemic, and so she felt happy to work with an eager student like me for free! I’d prep for our calls by reading her textbook and watching tutorial videos she’d taped. She encouraged me to give feedback, too. 

Before our half-hour Chinese calls, Monday afternoons were also a bit busier. My siblings and I had our Foundation calls to go over the non-profit we were building to honor our late mother and help others. I usually just told people around me that my calls were to catch up with my sibs, which was also true. Since June, we’d been meeting to incorporate as we built up for our Oct. 8, 2020 launch. 

Foundation meetings reminded me of extracurricular boards on which I’d sat during my undergrad and brought to mind my experiences in national public relations and advertising competition courses during my final years in journalism school. I felt like I’d been doing this type of work for years! 

My siblings and I later moved our meeting time to Thursday afternoons to better accommodate school and work schedules. 

And Mondays weren’t all-work-and-no-play. Usually by Monday nights I could find the new episode of “Crash Course: Linguistics” available on YouTube. I really liked those. Plus on Mondays, I could often find online versions of the newest Japanese “Pokémon Journeys” episodes with English subtitles. I’d gotten back into the show in Mongolia when I’d heard that its lead protagonist finally became Champion. Amazing to see! 

TUESDAYS: Chinese + Social Justice in Psychology

Tuesdays continued Monday’s Chinese. At 8 a.m. I hopped onto a call of language learners through the National Security Girl Squad (which welcomes men, too!). We’d discuss current political events and interests in Chinese, which definitely helped my vocab. The group reminds me of folks I’d met while participating in the U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program 2018. Many involved in our calls had also done CLS! 

After the Chinese call finished at 9, I sometimes slipped up a bit swapping back to Latin. But, I figure I just need to toughen up that mental acuity. 

At 4 p.m., though later moved to 5 p.m., I’d hop on another Zoom for an entirely different topic. I've been serving on the Social Justice Task Force for Division 36 of the American Psychological Association! We focus on how we can live social justice within the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. I’ve learned so much from these scholars, practitioners and doctoral students. They even appointed me Task Force secretary from early October. 

Tuesday nights I also get another Pokémon break, in the form of Spotlight Hour in Pokémon GO. Sometimes I jog over to a local park for this. The event lets me catch some rarer Pokémon before dinner, hehe. 

WEDNESDAYS: Advocacy + Scripture + Calls

Surprisingly similar to my undergrad years, Wednesdays tended to be my ‘gauntlet’ for the week. Once I got through Wednesdays, I got through the week. 

On a couple Wednesdays, I’d gotten scheduled on behalf of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) conference calls with Nevada Rep. Horsford’s and Sen. Rosen’s offices. I experienced a bit of stress coordinating these activities as a citizen advocate, but I found the thrill of mobilizing decades of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers rewarding. (I even got to meet one in-person who teaches at the Uni of Nevada, Las Vegas!) Thanks to our efforts, Rep. Horsford opted to co-sponsor some urgent Peace Corps legislation, and I even got to publish an advocacy article in the NPCA’s WorldView magazine! 

At Wednesday noons, I’d reconnect with a Christian friend with whom I read a Scripture chapter a day. We’d studied abroad together in Shanghai, China 2017, actually! We’d catch up about life, reflect on our readings and chat about our foci for the week. God, I love fellowship. 

On a couple more Wednesdays, I had my virtual meetings with the Honors College at the Uni of Nevada, Reno. Timing tended to place our External Affairs committee and Community Advisory Board meetings on Wednesdays. I also wound up as secretary for the latter! Meanwhile, I served as co-chair of our Alumni Task Force; its meeting fell on a Thursday. For some reason, other calls with friends tended to stack up on Wednesdays, too. 

By the night’s end, I was usually pretty tired. But, Pokémon GO had its legendary Raid Hour! So I usually jogged to the park or someplace for another cool Pokémon before it changed. Fun times. 

THURSDAYS and FRIDAYS: Recentering

Thursdays and Fridays tended to be similar in terms of functions. Sometimes I’d have web conference events on these mornings. Otherwise, I’d usually sprinkle excess meetings from Wednesdays into Thursday afternoons. 

Thursday mornings I’d have a quick check-in call with one of my fellow evacuated Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who was also telling her story. Thursday afternoons became my siblings’ and my family foundation’s new meeting time. First and third Thursday evenings, my Knights of Columbus College Council also prayed rosaries together over Zoom. 

Thursday and Friday mornings tended to be better for my Latin since I’d fewer outside stressors. I’d shifted my least urgent business to Friday afternoons. I’d usually get out any last emails Friday before the weekend or queue them for Monday. 

SATURDAYS: Wildcards

Saturdays varied. Sometimes they were like Fridays were fewer responsibilities. I did my own things, usually catching up on my Latin or working on personal projects. I saw national and state parks on one weekend! 

Saturdays were also the first of Dad’s couple days off. So, he was at the house, too. Sometimes Dad heaped on responsibilities, busying my weekend. 

SUNDAYS: Workdays

Sundays were pleasant. At 4 or 5 a.m., the American couple I’d befriended, who still worked in Mongolia, led their weekly Bible study video call with Mongolians. When my alarm successfully woke me up, I’d sign onto Zoom to chat with them about our week’s readings. I’d usually gain new insights, share what’s up in the States, and they’d mention what’s new in Mongolia. Then we’d offer our prayer intentions and sign off within the half-hour. 

Dad tended to get up a bit later on Sundays. Our family did a few activities together if he wasn’t out shopping with Tita. Besides fixing together a hardier Sunday brunch, our main activity would be to see the Sunday liturgy on one of the tellies upstairs. We tended to watch Fr. Nathan Mamo and the students from Our Lady of Wisdom Newman Center since that was the parish we’d attended in Reno. Sometimes my sister or I would appear on the videos, too. We’d occasionally help with the readings or psalms since we used to serve at Masses pre-pandemic. 

Given the many morning activities, my Latin-tutoring friend and I tended to call off or call short our calls on Sundays. 

Sometime after the liturgy, Dad often had me or my siblings come outside to help him with yard work. Dad works on his days off—been his way since before I was born, judging from stories of my older half-brother. I figure it’s from his childhood on the farm or maybe past life as an army officer. Dad works hard. 

Well, it’s a busy life, but I’m grateful to have finally been receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. That’s let me stress less while I wait to get back to the Peace Corps. I’m an extremely fortunate soul. 

Into October

Toward September’s end, I found out I wouldn’t be returning to Peace Corps Mongolia until Jan. 2021 at the earliest. This led me to prioritize readying my things for my future redeployment. It also gave me the comfort to let teams and friends know I’d be around longer. I felt weird knowing I’ll be in the States this year for such holidays as Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, God opens many doors.

By my last week this September, I still really felt ‘abroad.’ I haven’t settled much into the U.S. since returning. I feel more like I’m ‘just visiting.’ I wonder when I’ll feel at home again. I try to keep in mind that home is wherever I feel secure, safe and comfortable, welcomed and belonging in my community and space. Now that I’ve a bedroom again in the Vegas house where I’d spent middle and high school, that could help.

Usually once or twice a week Dad still has a yard task or chore for me to do, but those have been less frequent since fall set in. I think now that there’s more for me to attend to in Vegas, I’ll probably return there from late October. Let me know if you want to chat! Love to hear how people’ve been weathering this pandemic. 

As for this blog, more to come! I look forward to writing about diversity, considering both nature and people. Remember to vote, American friends! What a year we’ve had. 

 You can read more from me here at DanielLang.me :)

[howtobusines]

Best 10 Business Books of All Time every entrepreneur should read

To be a successful entrepreneur or a successful person in your life, Reading business books is the key to achieve that purpose, Reading business books it gives you knowledge, improves your brain, your skills, saving you money and improves your creativity, reading business books isn't a waste of time, it's gain you time. Here are the extreme reading habits of billionaire entrepreneurs::

Warren Buffett spends five to six hours per day reading five newspapers and 500 pages of 

Bill Gates reads over 50 books per year.

Mark Zuckerberg reads at least one book every two weeks.

Mark Cuban reads more than 3 hours every day.

This list is the best-selling business book ever written.

1. Zero to One

Authors: Peter Thiel, Blake Masters    Ratings: 133,955    Reviews: 4,833     Page count: 224

Zero To One is an inside look at Peter Thiel’s philosophy and strategy for making your startup going from nothing to something, from nonentity to existence, This book is what every entrepreneur should read and must re-read.

Book chapters: 

CHAPTER 1: The Challenge of The Future. 

CHAPTER 2: Party Like It's 1999. CHAPTER 3: All Happy Companies Are Different. CHAPTER 4: The Ideology of Competition. CHAPTER 5: Last Mover Advantage. CHAPTER 6: You Are Not a Lottery Ticket. CHAPTER 7: Follow The Money. CHAPTER 8: Secrets.

What you gonna learn : - Don't clone but create. - Don't compete but innovate. - Solve big problems and try different ways. - Create your monopoly and do network meetings. - Follow the money and 80-20 rule. - Plan long term goals. - Take responsibility and define clear rules for team members. - Creating value and do more with less. - Incentive+Invite = Viral strategy.

2.The $100 Startup

Authors: Chris Guillebeau    Page count: 304   Ratings: 44,699   Reviews: 1,544

The $100 Startup is Chris Guillebeau’s second book and it’s very likely to be the only book everyone needs to starting and running a successful business with a ridiculously small team (1 to 5 members) with very modest investments (often less than $100).

Book chapters:

CHAPTER 1. Renaissance.

CHAPTER 2. Give them the fish. CHAPTER 3. Follow your passion...Maybe. CHAPTER 4. The rise of the roaming entrepreneur. CHAPTER 5. The new demographics. CHAPTER 6. The one-page business plan. CHAPTER 7. An offer you can't refuse. CHAPTER 8. Launch! CHAPTER 9. Hustling: The gentle art of self-promotion. CHAPTER 10. Show me the money. CHAPTER 11. Moving on up. CHAPTER 12. How to franchise yourself. CHAPTER 13. Going long. CHAPTER 14. But what if I fail. What you gonna learn:

- Listen to your advisors and Follow some passions. - If you're good at one thing, you're probably good at something else. - Be aware of opportunities - Divide your time between work and talk. - Bootstrap and fast-track. - Think like an entrepreneur and Invest in winners. - Focus on organic growth over traditional advertising. - Choose a lifestyle.

3. Start with Why

Author: Simon Sinek    Page count: 255    Ratings: 87,319    Reviews: 4,678

START WITH WHY presents the idea that great leaders inspire everyone to take action by putting the purpose before the process and the product, which means putting the WHY before the HOW and the WHAT.

Book chapters:

PART 1: A WORLD THAT DOESN'T START WITH WHY.

1. Assume You Know 2. Carrots and Sticks

PART 2: AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE PART 3. The Golden Circle 4. This Is Not Opinion, This Is Biology 5. Clarity, Discipline, and Consistency PART 3: LEADERS NEED A FOLLOWING PART. 6. The Emergence of Trust 7. How a Tipping Point Tips PART 4: HOW TO RALLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE. 8. Start with WHY, but Know HOW 9. Know WHY. Know HOW. Then WHAT? 10. Communication Is Not About Speaking, It's About Listening What you gonna learn: - If you want to inspire others, always communicate with your why first. - What happened when Simon found his why. - The best businesses are built by excited employees. - When you start with why there’s no need for sleazy sales tactics. - Why businesses are more stable if they start with why. - What happens when a company’s why disappears with the founder.

4. The 4-Hour Workweek

Author: Tim Ferriss Rating: 139,137 Reviews: 5,736 Page count: 308 pp

The book is on lifestyle design for anyone that wants to put living before working, not only how to design our ideal lifestyle but also exactly how to get there, the book is so full of practical life-changing advice that is very hard to take in on one reading.

Book chapters:

STEP-I: D IS FOR DEFINITION 1 – Cautions and Comparisons: How to Burn $1,000,000 a Night 2 – Rules That Change the Rules: Everything Popular is Wrong 3 – Dodging Bullets: Fear-setting and Escaping Paralysis 4 – System Reset: Being Unreasonable and Unambiguous STEP-II: E IS FOR ELIMINATION 5 – The End of Time Management: Illusions and Italians 6 – The Low-Information Diet: Cultivating Selective Ignorance 7 – Interrupting Interruption and the Art of Refusal STEP-III: A IS FOR AUTOMATION 8 – Outsourcing Life: Offloading the Rest and a Taste of Geoarbitrage 9 – Income Autopilot I: Finding the Muse 10 – Income Autopilot II: Testing the Muse 11 – Income Autopilot III: MBA—Management By Absence STEP-IV: L IS FOR LIBERATION 12 – Disappearing Act: How to Escape the Office 13 – Beyond Repair: Killing Your Job 14 – Mini-Retirements: Embracing the Mobile Lifestyle 15 – Filling the Void: Adding Life After Subtracting Work 16 – The Top 13 New Rich Mistakes THE LAST CHAPTER: AN EMAIL YOU NEED TO READ What you gonna learn: - What the critical difference is between absolute and relative income. - How to train your boss to value performance over presence, Or kill your job (or company) if it's beyond repair. - What automated cash-flow ''muses'' are and how to create one in 2 to 4 weeks. - How to cultivate selective ignorance, And create time with a low information diet. - What the management secrets of remote control CEOs are. - How to get free housing worldwide and airfare at 50%-80% off. - How to fill the void and create a meaningful life after removing work and the office.

5. The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Author: Ben Horowitz    Rating: 42,214    Reviews: 2,272     Page count: 304

is an inside look at the tough decisions and lonely times all CEOs face and shows you what it takes to build a great organization and become a world-class leader. ben focused on the CEO, leadership lessons, particularly the peacetime, wartime CEO thoughts.

The book chapters:

Chapter 1: From Communist to Venture Capitalist Chapter 2: “I Will Survive” Chapter 3: This Time With Feeling Chapter 4: When Things Fall Apart Chapter 5: Take Care of the People, The Products, and the Profits–In That Order Chapter 6: Concerning the Going Concern Chapter 7: How to Lead Even When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going CHAPTER 8: First rule of entrepreneurship: There are no rules. CHAPTER 9: The end of the beginning

What you gonna learn: - Being scared doesn’t mean you are gutless. - an important rule of raising money. - Personal Learnings. - Product Strategy. - Learning as a CEO. - Peacetime vs Wartime CEOs. - Lead Bullets vs Silver Bullets. - Take care of people, products, and profits, in that order.

6. Think and Grow Rich

Author:Napoleon Hill    Rating: 173,319   Reviews: 5,454    Page count: 238

Think and grow rich learns the art of changing their minds from failure consciousness to success consciousness, and explores the influence that personal beliefs have on us and our success, This books shows you how to transform your thoughts into tangible trophies of achievement. this book will change everything in your life.

The book chapters:

Chapter 1 – Thoughts Are Things

Chapter 2 – Desire Chapter 3 – Faith Chapter 4 – Autosuggestion Chapter 5 – Specialized Knowledge Chapter 6 – Imagination Chapter 7 – Organized Planning Chapter 8 – Decision Chapter 9 – Persistence Chapter 10 – Power of The Mastermind Chapter 11 – The Mystery of Sex Transmutation Chapter 12 – The Subconscious Mind Chapter 13 – The Brain Chapter 14 – The Sixth Sense Chapter 15 – The Six Ghosts of Fear What you gonna learn:- Everything which is tangible began as a thought - Win or quit, pick a side - Our minds receive ideas from the universe - If you have a burning desire for something, you can achieve it - Failures don't mean that you have failed - Have faith - Implementing your idea is the most important - step of achieving your dreams - The Important Take Away

7. Good to Great

Author: James C. Collins     Rating: 112,671     Reviews: 4,017     Page count: 320

Good to great explain how good is the antonym of grat, and shows you how some companies make leap and others don't. it is now widely regarded as a modern classic of management theory.

The book chapters:

Chapter 1: Good is the Enemy of Great Chapter 2: Level 5 Leadership Chapter 3: First Who, Then What Chapter 4: Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith) Chapter 5: The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity Within the Three Circles) Chapter 6: A Culture of Discipline Chapter 7: Technology Accelerators Chapter 8: The Flywheel and the Doom Loop Chapter 9: From Good to Great to Built to Last What you gonna learn: - Get the right people on the bus - Confront the Brutal Facts - The Hedgehog Concept - A Culture of Discipline - Technology Accelerators - The flywheel effect - The Good to Great process

8. The Lean Startup

Author: Eric Ries    Rating: 185,384     Reviews: 2,820    Page count: 336

In today’s changing world The Lean Startup shares with us a method to develop and manage startups. also shares a systematic, scientific way for business managers to get the information they need to make fast decisions...

The book chapters:

Chapter 1: VISION Chapter 2: STEER Chapter 3: ACCELERATE What you gonna learn: - What are the key tenets of the approach? - Searching for a viable business model. - Additional Lean Startup Concepts. - Test Frequently and Learn Quickly. - Observe and Measure Real Customer Behaviour. - Focus Exclusively on Capturing Actionable Metrics. - Be Comfortable Pivoting based on Key Learnings. - Embrace New Accounting Methods.

9. Rework

Author: Jason Fried    Rating: 128,056    Reviews: 3,714    Page count: 288

Rework shows a faster, easier way to be a successful entrepreneur. Read it to know why business plans are actually harmful, why you don't need outside investors, and why you're better off ignoring the competition.

The book chapters:

CHAPTER 1.First CHAPTER 2.Takedowns CHAPTER 3. Go CHAPTER 4.Progress CHAPTER 5.Productivity CHAPTER 6.Competitors CHAPTER 7.Evolution CHAPTER 8. Promotion CHAPTER 9.Hiring CHAPTER 10.Damage control CHAPTER 11.Culture CHAPTER 12.Conclusion What you gonna learn : - Take a stand for something you believe in and then pick a fight with an incumbent. - Screw big corporate marketing, stay honest, personal and nimble. - Don’t let long hours and meetings prevail, they actually hurt productivity.

10. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Author: Stephen Covey     Rating: 444,559     Reviews: 8,923     Page count: 381

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is to help you lead your life in a truly effective way. and defines effectiveness as the balance of obtaining desirable results with caring for that which produces those results.

The book chapters:

HABIT 1 – BE PROACTIVE HABIT 2 – BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND HABIT 2 – PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST HABIT 4 – SEEK TO UNDERSTAND, THEN BE UNDERSTOOD HABIT 5 – THINK “WIN/WIN” HABIT 6 – SYNERGIZE HABIT 7 – SHARPEN THE SAW What you gonna learn: - Self-mastery and moving from dependence to independence. - Developing teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills. - Moving from independence to interdependence. - Continuous growth and improvement and embodies all the other habits.

conclusion:

A book enables you to think and then rethink, you can go deeper in a book than you can in any other medium, reading is more effective. youtube+online learning platform + podcast = one valuable book it's a thinking smart equation, it's a saving big and gets valuable content from the most experienced persons that ever you can find.

youtube: absolutely you will learn something but miss a lot of things. online learning platform: expensive but valuable but not that much.

A book: from inspiration to creativity, not expensive, valuable and beneficial content. This article was written with love and care

source https://www.howtobusines.com/2019/12/business-books-for-entrepreneurs-and-business-owners.html

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Investing In Cryptocurrencies 101: A Beginner's Guide

Investing In Cryptocurrencies 101: A Beginner’s Guide

                                Investing In Cryptocurrencies 101

Before talking about investing directly, we need to talk about the historical perspective of cryptocurrencies that will help you more in appreciating this invention.

History Of Cryptocurrencies

This goes back to the global 2008 Financial Crisis and when you talk about it, you can’t avoid without mentioning Bitcoin. In the month of October 2008, a paper was published on The Cryptography mailing list by an anonymous guy under the pseudonym “Satoshi Nakamoto“. Until today, the real identity of Satoshi Nakamoto is unknown but there are some fun facts on Satoshi Nakamoto which you can read here. Bitcoin was invented to put a full stop to insidious modern day banking and to create an alternative for people who wanted to opt out of the banking system. It was not a mere coincidence that Satoshi created and announced Bitcoin just after the financial crisis of 2008. In my opinion, and in the opinion of several other tech-economists, it was an all-out attack on the central banking system, a system that has become incompetent as well as insidious.

Satoshi Nakamoto-labeled text on the Bitcoin genesis block clearly indicated that after the 2008 bailout of banks, the crisis would hit soon again. The text of the label was “03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of the second bailout for banks”. Bitcoin was actually created to provide people the alternative to modern day banking and saving them from the inflationary policies of corrupt governments. It was also created to show the world that decentralized trust can be created if backed by solid mathematical models – cryptography. Hence, Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, was created. Since then, this space has progressed by leaps and bounds. Today, we have more than 1500 cryptocurrencies around us. If you don’t trust me, take a look at the number of coins listed on CoinMarketCap.

Get Your Mind Set For A Roller-Coaster Ride

Important: Crypto isn’t for the weak hearted. Don’t blame me later for not warning you. If you are getting into the crypto world, be prepared for a roller-coaster ride because it is a wildly volatile asset class. If you can’t handle a drop of 80% and then ride a wave up to 200-300%, this is not the place for you. Also, if you think you will reap benefits to the tune of 300-400% on your investment in a matter of days, you are grossly mistaken. There are no guarantees, and a lot will depend on your knowledge, risk appetite, and luck.But you know what, I deliberately missed one year: 2014. In that year, Bitcoin prices plummeted, incurring a 62% loss to investors. Also, at the Ever since the start of 2018, Bitcoin has lost its 69% value. This is just to give you a fair idea of what you are getting into.

Never Invest More Than What You Can Afford To Lose

That is the basic rule of any investment. Never invest more than what you can afford to lose. I am saying this because I have witnessed first-hand the wild volatility of this market and know quite a few people who have a lost a lot by investing more than what they can afford to lose. If you don’t follow these basic investing principles, you may end up like some of these people: This all not to scare you. Instead, this is to warn you about the wrong mindset people have which results in losing a lot of money.

Don’t Fall For Scams

Usually, people are lured by the fact that crypto is a get-rich-quick scheme and there would be LAMBOS (a funny acronym used for Lamborghinis in crypto space). But is that really true? Yes, it is. Early investors have already made a huge amount of money. And out of these super rich guys, some will launch their own crypto MLM scams just like Amit Bhardwaj, who scammed many people of millions of dollars. That’s why you need to learn how to discern common cryptocurrency scams and invest only in good coins. (Read: 7 Most Common Types Of Cryptocurrency Scams & Tips to Avoid Them) This brings us to the next topic of finding coins that have a use case as well as decent chances of price appreciation.

Only Invest In Unicorn Coins

Do you know our habit?

We don’t invest in coins that we haven’t researched. Having said that, we don’t gamble and always do a thorough fundamental analysis of prospective coins that we think are worth buying/selling. And so far so good, all the coins that we have covered on CoinSutra are doing pretty well. That doesn’t mean you should blindly follow us as we are not your investment advisors. But we can give you a head start in the right direction. So far we have covered more than 20 cryptocurrencies that we believe have a good use case. Here they are:

Find Out Reliable Exchanges If You Don’t Want to Lose Your $$$

Fake and unreliable crypto exchanges are the most common cryptocurrency scams you will see happening in this space. Also, you will find that exchanges without proper security measures are sure to get hacked sometime or the other. Here are the testimonials of the top 5 Biggest Bitcoin Hacks Ever that speak for themselves.

Confused?

Well, anyone would be because exchanges are the first point of contact from where we buy/sell cryptocurrencies. That is why one needs to pick them carefully. For this task, you can rely on CoinSutra completely as we thoroughly vet crypto exchanges before using them ourselves and recommending to our audience. Here is the recommended list of exchanges:

Binance: Offers mobile app and probably the fastest growing exchange. If you need to pick only one, this is the best and #1 in 2019.

Bitmex: The whale of cryptocurrency exchanges. You can do margin trading if that’s your thing.

KuCoin: One of the strongest exchanges that also offers a mobile app. They have been constantly updating their mobile app to make it one of the best in the industry.

Gate.io: Many new cryptos can be found here. Unique approach and something you should sign up for in 2018. Also offers mobile app just like KuCoin and Binance.

Changelly: Perfect for quick crypto exchange. Easy to use and great for beginners.

Bittrex: Another high-quality exchange with lots of coins.

For Buying cryptocurrencies using credit/debit card.

CEX: My favorite

Changelly: Reliable

CoinMama: Old but gold

Now that you know where you can get your cryptocurrencies, it makes sense in talking about what you can do with these to maximize your profits.

Profit Making Strategies In Crypto

Once you get hold of your cryptocurrencies depending upon its category you can do a lot many things to maximize your profits. Some of these strategies are:

#1. Buying & HODLing

#2. Buying & Holding Cryptocurrencies For Dividends

#3. Stake Cryptocurrencies

#4. Run Masternodes

# 5. Day Trading Cryptocurrencies

# 6. Airdrops: Cryptocurrencies Airdrops- Everything You Need To Know

#7. ICOs (beware of ICO scams): 5 Tips For Beginners Before Investing In ICOs

#8. Mining (Not feasible, initial investment high)

There are various methods of earning profits by investing in cryptocurrencies, and the same has been discussed in detail in our guide Top Ways To Earn Money From Cryptocurrencies.

Last Rule:

Lazy Enough To Ignore Crypto Security: Better Don’t Invest

If you are too lazy to follow the basic standards of online digital security, crypto isn’t your field.

Have good HD wallets

Use Hardware wallets like Ledger Nano X and Trezor

Have 2-FA authentication On Mobile Always

Password Managers like Dashlane

Firewalls & Antivirus

Seed key back-up

PIN code and Passphrase protection etc…

Also, always use the best wallets that allow you to control your funds and avoid using hosted wallets where you don own your private keys. It is so because:

If you don’t own your private key, you don’t own your cryptocurrencies.”

Also, learn about basic security tenants here, here and here because we have written these only for you. Portfolio Management Is A MUST In Crypto!!

All set:

Now, you have picked the winning projects, learned the security measures and picked the right wallet. But one thing is still left… Any guesses? Well, no prizes for this, as now the only thing left is how to track your investments and get insights on your profit/loss status as the market is always moving. That’s where you will need a crypto portfolio management tool.

Investors can use something as simple as CoinTracking 

There are plenty more, but these two will serve your purpose well. However, if you are extra choosy, don’t forget to take a look at our exclusive list of Best Cryptocurrency & AltCoins Portfolio Management Apps of 2019.

Self-Eduction Is The Key To Monetary Sovereignty

Crypto is all about your own monetary sovereignty by being your own bank. If you are not up for it yet, educate yourself more on this until you get it. Because if you get hacked or lose your money, no one else is to be blamed other than you. But that doesn’t mean you should get scared and do nothing. Instead, I would say start small and try to grow from there.

Be Up to Date

Always keep a tab on news and rumors because the crypto market is highly influenced by that. Doing this will help you make better strategies for buying/holding/selling particular crypto.

Don’t Over Do

Don’t spoil your health by sticking to your laptop for 24 hours. Instead, stick to a model and follow that regularly for successful investment habits.

Teach Others

Going back to why it started: It started to free people from the banks and traditional financial system. So if people don’t learn about this new approach to money, i.e. cryptocurrencies, it would probably fail. Therefore, extend a hand to help people learn about it so that cryptos can thrive.

Bonus****

Last, but not least, there are some bonus tools and services that will help you in monitoring price, development status, news, the potential of a coin, and volatility of various coins throughout your investment journey. And for this we have listed 6 Tools Every Cryptocurrency Investor Must Have From Day One, so go through it and share it with your friends.

Article Produced By Harsh Agrawal

An award-winning blogger with a track record of 10+ years. An international speaker and author who loves blockchain and crypto world.After discovering about decentralized finance and with his background of Information technology, he made his mission to help others learn and get started with it via CoinSutra.Join us via email and social channels to get the latest updates straight to your inbox.

https://coinsutra.com/cryptocurrency-investing/

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The Nutrisystem Food plan And Its Effects

Nutrisystem is a convenient and simple to make use of weight reduction system that first established in the mid 1970's. Nutrisystem would probably profit dieters that wish to have their complete consuming schedule planned out for them each day like in The 80/20 Food plan and other books that outline wholesome eating. Most firms like NutriSystem have packages the place they provide coupons for their merchandise which can be good for a sure period of time. Of more than one hundred critiques, this specific Nutrisystem meal kit earned four.6 out of 5 stars. An train plan will get suggestions on the proper means of performing the strategies. I learn this review and all the nutrisystem guide comments, then I read it once more earlier than I decided on Nutrisystem for men. A quick-fix weight loss program isn't sometimes profitable in the lengthy-run for either males or girls. You get hold of Nutrisystem meals on the web as well as your order is likely to be totally customized to your preferred meals. Nutrisystem encourages customers to incorporate at the very least half-hour of exercise day by day. The food regimen plans include two further snacks you possibly can eat throughout the day between meals to assist when you really feel hungry between meals. In keeping with the official web site, Nutrisystem does work if you happen to adhere to the plan. Though it is suggested limiting your consumption of alcohol, your guide can work with you to suit some alcohol into your menu plan. Hello, I'm 3 weeks by means of my first month on Nutrisystem core mens and I'm doing nice. I feel that particular person is a troll because they sound like they're utilizing your comments as a sounding board trigger they didn't drop a few pounds on a weight-reduction plan that is so darn easy they usually feel dangerous. Yes, Nutrisystem provides vegetarian plans, however vegan options aren't accessible right now. I must lose about 24 pounds and I hear loads of individuals who seem to be able to lose that quantity on this weight loss program. I also lost 7lbs so far which has gotten me fired up and motivated to realize my 30lb objective in 3 months on this weight-reduction plan. I was having bother in my first month on Nutrisystem when I began last October. She's a senior (82) and will not prepare dinner a lot so eats what ever she will be able to seize from the fridge and it is a very unbalanced weight-reduction plan. I mixed the two kits and did the meal plan for 10 days (weekends on my own). While they're not gourmet, I've not found anything that I actually couldn't eat (The potato dishes are flaked, and that was concerning the worst grievance I had) The portability and convenience of the meals was the largest plus for me. I did get a pack of shakes to complement the diet as well, and those were not dangerous both. Ready food plan meals might help with portion management and so they may also help hold you in your weight reduction journey in case you are inclined to only grabbing the simplest factor in the cupboard or fridge because you really do not feel like cooking. More tips and meals reviews to return after Week 4 is complete since at that time I will have eaten the entire meals I selected for the 3 weeks after the Turbo Takeoff. As a part of the package, customers on the Core plan are in a position to get private recommendation from counselors and dietitians. Learn on for explanation why aligning your nutrition plan along with your exercise routine will show you how to get the physique you need. NutriSystem Nourish: This puts the diet in your palms, as it's a ebook the outlines a one-month program for preparing your individual meals whereas following the NutriSystem tips. Free Weight-reduction plan claims that Medifast is among the most successful eating regimen programs that has been used at Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, and that Medifast has confirmed to work. When you get Nutrisystem from , typically occasions they've a sale and also you get $a hundred.00 worth Nutrisystem gift playing cards for $59.00. I used one in all these every month to supplement my Nutrisystem order. The Nutrisystem Weight-reduction plan - Nutrisystem has a tried and true eating plan that is effective at serving to individuals reduce weight over time. And Nutrisystem listens to its customers, phasing out some products based on feedback and introducing new ones and reformulating previous dishes. The SPRINT diet has ranked as the #1 General Diet by US News & World Report for five years in a row and is advisable by the USDA, the National Institutes of Well being (NIH), and the American Coronary heart Association (AHA). But you may have to be ready to stick with this for four months, in the event you plan to lose 20 pounds. I did the QVC deal and acquired the plan for less than what it might cost me to do sensible ones or lean delicacies. I began the weight-reduction plan three weeks in the past I lost eleven pounds the first 2 weeks and nothing this week. All Nutrisystem meals are created to depend your energy, carbs, and fat in a properly-balanced, nutritious mealalbeit some say not always the tastiest. The average cost per thirty days is predicated on the program plus minimal costs for additional required groceries. I add weight loss program soda to the vanilla for a distinct style and blend it with ice to make like a milk shake sort of drink. The opposite day, I received an email from someone who had been doing a little analysis on each the Nutrisystem and zone weight loss program packages. Possibly: It does not value a lot, but you aren't getting as a lot help as with Weight Watchers or eDiets. Mediterranean Diet - Consuming a Mediterranean eating regimen can have a wide variety of health benefits. However, the mice already on a high-fat food plan that had been fed aspartame ended up gaining weight compared to people who did not consume the sweetener. Nutrisystem offers a 14-day free trial whereby the shopper can cancel and receive a refund (much less delivery costs). Per week, in line with Free Weight-reduction plan and Greatest Eating regimen for Me. Medifast additionally provides plans for diabetics. If you happen to will not go to meetings, the perfect on-line-only deal is the three-month $sixty five plan (with computerized month-to-month renewal at $16.95 thereafter). Different behavioral supplies have been developed for the Nutrisystem for Teens program. That is one of the explanation why there are a lot of people who're into Nutrisystem. The plan I chose, which is the Core plan, solely consists of the shelf foods as an alternative of the frozen varieties. Nutrisystem not solely is right here to help in making our lives better however in addition they really care about our lives and what we are dealing with in everyday life. I would like things to be easy and simple to arrange and Nutrisystem is nice for people who like comfort. What Nutrisystem has made me realize about my prior consuming habits is that 1) my portions have been TOTALLY out of whack, and a pair of) I thought I was eating sufficient greens in my old life, but I probably wasn't. You're additionally inspired to lift weights and get together with different Nutrisystem clients in your area for sports activities activities. I didn't lose any weight on Nutrisystem even whereas pared with day by day train because my body went into starvation mode. In a Nutrisystem weight-loss plan, you must follow the packaged meals and healthy foods suggested in a plan, to shed extra pounds. The weight-reduction plan plan takes care of the vast majority of grocery buying, cooking and portioning by delivering meals and snacks which are calorie-controlled and pre-prepared. Nevertheless, regardless that NutriSystem could have a stronger benefit with regards to their NutriSystem Meals, consultants still agree that with a view to shed weight on a everlasting basis, proper weight loss plan or good diet should all the time be coupled with regular exercise. Ladies who are pregnant or nursing, those with well being circumstances, anyone taking prescription medicines or underneath 18 years of age should contact a healthcare professional before using any weight-loss program, together with Nutrisystem. At the end of the research, the scientists found that mice on a high fats weight loss program that also drank eating regimen soda gained weight.

I placed my order for NutriSystem products utilizing the A La Carte option on their web site, and selected the 1 week possibility for $79.ninety nine plus transport, for a grand total of $ninety.99. I'm a choosy eater, and wished more control over my meal choices. The experts discovered the Abs Eating regimen reasonably efficient for fast weight loss and center of the road in most different respects. And, as one of the people who have been successful (which was extra surprising to me than anyone else,) I can let you know that the method is not as exhausting as you would possibly suppose in case you perceive the design of the program and how it works. You don't have to be slowed down with finding a freezer to store a frozen meal whereas on this system. That is by sticking to this system and not consuming anything unless it is strongly recommended by Nutrisystem. While there are not any recognized health risks associated with this plan it's not useful for managing or stopping diabetes nor does it have any direct link to benefits for the guts. They have addressed this in recent times and prospects can expect round 2000mg/day sodium if on a Nutrisystem plan. The bottom value offering is NutriSystem Flex , which is a model new program that lets you be on the program for five of seven days through the week. Nutrisystem not runs walk-in facilities, but they do have an intensive on-line community and Nutrisystem counselors can be found by cellphone too. There's a 1st month low-price deal accessible for signing up for auto-supply, however after that first month, subsequent monthly deliveries revert to the common value relying on the plan. I completed 2 months on Nutrisystem final October after shedding 14lbs I was thrilled as you may think about. One of the vital widespread subject matters is the cost of some of men's packages, which I will go over under. For example, the Peanut Butter bars, the chili cheese nacho and parmesan cheese puffs, and the honey mustard pretzel sticks are by far the tastiest of the weight loss plan food, in my view. How Much Is The NutriSystem Food?: First off, there isn't any membership or joining payment. That is the diet's maintenance program that many people go for when they're trying to transition off the weight-reduction plan and preserve off the weight that they have lost while on the program. No less than with Nutrisystem, you get food that tastes great and makes you are feeling fullwhich aren't assured with every food plan plan you try. Weight loss plan to Go is another food plan delivery service that has been round for fairly some time (1991), but I truly was unaware of it till this yr. The Lean13 program will provide help to to lose as much as 13 kilos plus seven inches (general) in your first month. Diets in Assessment concludes that this program is revered and has helped many males drop a few pounds. Lastly, women who're pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn't comply with the Nutrisystem weight loss system, as they typically have increased calorie requirements than the food regimen provides. I was very profitable on Nutrisystem 25 years in the past, again if you had to go to the store weekly to weigh-in and get your food. You're doing just nice and as long as you persist with the plan and keep up a mean 2lb per week any further, you must see higher than 25lbs lost after one other 9 weeks you are giving your self. I plan on upping the amount of exercise this week to help with the weight loss and give the physique a bit kick-begin. The Flat Stomach weight loss plan landed in the course of the pack as a result of most of its scores from the consultants have been proper round common. Contact with a program representative and visitation to a neighborhood middle are encouraged.

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Finding The Right NutriSystem Program For You

When it comes to monetary stability, Nutrisystem has its personal share of ups and downs. Some users may favor a simpler dieting plan that merely entails a pill or capsule that is taken once each day. If The Absolute Lowest Price For Nutrisystem Is Your Only Objective, Take A Look At The Flex Program: If all you care about is getting the lowest backside line value, then the most cost effective month-to-month program out there's the flex program. Saving Money By Rigorously Choosing A Nutrisystem Package deal And Then Capitalizing On Coupons: I do know that persons are reluctant to make a big dedication when they are not sure concerning the weight loss plan. They instructed me to just preserve doing what I'was doing and ensure I obtained in all of the meals required on the plan. If this occurs, then it might be a lot harder so that you can preserve Nutrisystem. New kinds of the 5-Day Nutrisystem equipment and the wildly profitable Fast 5+ package, along with a half dozen new individual merchandise, shall be on cabinets in stores nationwide in time for Eating regimen Season. It might be exhausting to eat Nutrisystem food, and only Nutrisystem meals, for the remainder of your life. You order straight from the official web site, or choose up a starter kit at some massive retailers. The more usually you monitor, the extra doubtless you are to stay to the plan lengthy-term. Pre N.S. food regimen was pretty healthy, no packaged meals, principally home made, simply responsible of overeating and consuming late. This system offers a protracted checklist of fruits, greens, nuts, recent meat and dairy, and different meals that you could eat along along with your Nutrisystem meals. In reality, it's almost inconceivable to locate a completely unbiased examine specific to Nutrisystem.

I began at about 210 kilos and I was a size sixteen and as we speak I'm about 162 kilos and a size 10. The plan works however the situation is that some people do not perceive it's not just about the meals. On common, Nutrisystem runs about $11 per day whereas Medifast runs about $10 per day. Uniquely Yours Plan - An additional 150 meals accessible (choose your own - together with frozen foods). Do not belief any food regimen that promises results without train and/or adjustments in eating habits. Nutrisystem is a meal-delivery system that takes the difficulty and work out of cooking well being meals and tracking macronutrients like carbohydrates, protein and fat. You can also save fifteen percent on the costs if you happen to go for the auto shipment/auto selection option on your plan meals. We have written about one NutriSystem success story , someone from the PEERtrainer community who shared their story. Value of dropping 20 pounds: About $706 for eight weeks of meals on the standard plan. This can help you keep things contemporary and fun which might make it simpler to stay to the food plan plan long-time period. Their purchasers have lost upwards to a hundred kilos although on their eating regimen plan plans and many have been in a position to preserve off the weight upon completion. Upon inspection of the meals labels, I didn't see any distinction nutritionally between Nutrisystem and Nutrisystem D, with carbohydrate content material or in any other case. You simply have to pick the plan from the multisystem,Once you resolve the plan, the corporate sends you the plan. A 2007 research of a hundred and sixty people within the Journal of American Medical Affiliation found the Zone weight loss plan helped people achieve modest weight loss after one year, comparable with these on the Atkins , Weight Watchers and Ornish diets, and improved cardiac risk elements. Whilst the Nutrisystem program does present assist via the transition again to normal meals, it may still be troublesome to adapt again to meals that aren't ready for the dieter. In short, Nutrisystem lets you choose your personal menu from quite a lot of meals, all of that are correctly portion managed. I've been on this eating regimen for two weeks, have lost 3 lbs'the food is so stuffed with bread, pasta, sodium, and a lot of processed food'At the moment I brought one of many soups for lunch and was shocked'ramen noodles. I still went out to dinner and lunch once per week and because of WW I knew how you can order so I didn't blow the Nutrisystem diet. Sure: For a meal-delivery weight loss program system, Nutrisystem is more economical than Jenny Craig. If I had been planning to proceed with the NutriSystem plan, I do not suppose I might purchase the soup once more, just because I can purchase a single serving can of Campbell's on the grocery store for a fraction of the price. Promotional objects, savings plans, discounted objects and computerized reorder are great approaches to help save money on Nutrisystem. In the first month that I've been on this system I've dropped 24.2 lbs doing some extra exercise on the side which is really helpful however not required for success. I believe those two words summed up the week - weight loss plan meals, which you can have a look at as a professional or a con. There isn't any face-to-face help, but you get help through on-line message boards and a mentor program that connects newbies with an skilled member. From the research, the distinction between the 2 teams on a daily food plan wasn't vital. Jenny Craig encourages interpersonal involvement through telephone calls and consulting sessions with program representatives at their center; therefore, the dieter doesn't want many pc expertise, however would profit from being geographically near one of the facilities. Last year I did a 1200 cal weight loss program and lost 10lbs in 1 month alone, however it concerned hours of determining what 3oz of hen seemed like and and so forth. I had two challenges for my food plan this weekend when I went to a Church meeting on Saturday where lunch was provided and at a Super Bowl celebration on Sunday. Not solely is that this program about $one hundred cheaper than the common program (only about $230 earlier than coupons,) however you are additionally allowed to take two days off every seven days. Right now they're providing $a hundred off the first month of the program which is a reasonably respectable low cost- we try to maintain that web page up to date. The food plan can also be supposed to help retrain your metabolism to work extra efficiently. To date I am more than happy with the plan and contemplating ordering it to take to the ski hill with me within the winter where employees accommodation rooms mean a shared fridge and range which could be troublesome to get entry and area in. This would be so nice to keep in a closet! Yes, the food from nutrisystem is extra bland than a steak dinner from Outback (oh dear GOD, i wager a few of you're already enthusiastic about how terrible Outback is instead of understanding my level).. however it baffles me that these people truly expect hand-delivered, sizzling, contemporary nutrisystem discount gourmet meals. The other day, I acquired an electronic mail from somebody who asked if shopping for frozen meals like lean cuisine or smart ones on the grocery store would yield the same weight reduction results as the Nutrisystem eating regimen. General, the meals supplied by Nutrisystem are of fairly good high quality, so far as frozen, prepackaged meals go; nevertheless, one shouldn't expect gourmand meals. He believed me this time and even made a option to eating regimen with me. He wanted to be supportive. I usually get emails asking me to clarify how many energy are consumed or taken in each day on NutriSystem. So, it is back to the drafting board for me. I believe I'll return to the Nutrisystem diet, which I found to be a much more sustainable (if a bit costlier) weight loss plan. I learn a few reviews on another website saying that users felt always hungry with the portion sizes, however I now really feel that they most likelye did not take the time or recommendation of NS to complement their meals with fresh greens, veggies, and fruit Thank you again for your great article! To transition off of Nutrisystem, I wanted to learn to use my very own foods to my food regimen which can be equal to Nutrisystem meals. We admire the customer testimonials and Nutrisystem before and after photographs of people who have used the meal supply weight-reduction plan. Walgreen, the biggest U.S. drugstore chain, will retail NutriSystem D weight-loss program, which caters to people with type 2 diabetes who need to shed weight, NutriSystem said in an announcement on Monday. NutriSystem was one of the first to offer this handy service, transport a month's worth of meals plus snacks and eliminating the necessity to grocery shop and do prep work. For the reason that majority of meals eaten will probably be their meals, this makes this a really limited food regimen. To successfully keep weight off, one should stick with the diet plan that assisted them to scale back the pounds to begin with. I've heard that its important to stay to your weight loss plan as best you possibly can without dishonest but the temptation could be very sturdy, especially for the fried foods that I like. Was up late one night time and saw Marie who seemed super-so this fat boomer determined to present the program a attempt. However, you'll discover a couple of eating regimen packages that not merely have a verity of tasty food, but in addition will deliver this stuff to your door, saving you time and rigidity. But, as of this writing, right here is the menu that is supplied on the essential nutrisystem plan. After being on Nutrisystem for 6 months, I made a decision to alter my plan to the weekends by myself plan, also referred to as weekends off. Hello there, I was on the fence about whether to strive Nutrisystem to lose some weight but could not find any actually helpful info online. Please get on a food plan and buy contemporary groceries it's so less expensive, higher tasting and more healthy. I neededa program that was ready for me, that had no various selections and was rigid and attractive enough to fulfill me. It was better than a self-sustained program 6 , stated a customer. I used to be moody and never losing a pound yet continued to analysis the Nutrisystem blogs to see if I was doing something fallacious! I'm James Meastas a professional health trainer and working on the diet options. The auto-delivery program is great for people who desire a low-effort weight loss plan program, but it's easy to neglect to cancel this system when it's now not needed. This is not a highly restrictive weight loss plan so you don't need a prescription and docs aren't the middle man. The one time I've ever been able to try this was after I decided to get on the Nutrisystem eating regimen. One survey involving 9,600 Nutrisystem dieters confirmed that about eighty% of them said that their starvation was glad. The Medifast shakes are the mainstay of the program and, luckily, I found all of the shakes to be pretty good as well, but they do are inclined to have a faint soy aftertaste. 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[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (54/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: About 1000 years before the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Previous Chapters conveniently available here

Tonight’s Episode: Yaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!

[6 July 236 Before Age.  Luffasworld.]

Twenty feet over the ocean, Luffa drilled various maneuvers, ramping up her power a little bit with each repetition.  She was feeling nostalgic today, and her mother had used this routine to train in early childhood.  Only this time, Luffa was at least a thousand miles from dry land, and she planned to keep going until she reached her maximum.  She had estimated that this would take at least four hours, depending on how long she could hold out at her limit.  Eventually, her body would falter, and she would fall into the water below.  Maybe she would have enough ki to fly, or maybe she would have to swim to shore, but either way she would be forced to go beyond her limits or she would drown.  

She imagined that her mother would have been appalled by these modifications.  There was an old Saiyan proverb: A corpse won't get any stronger.  There was a line between training and simply endangering oneself.  Saiyans grew stronger whenever they recovered near-fatal injuries, so there was a temptation among their kind to train themselves to the brink of death  But the key word was "brink".  Push things too far, and you simply trained yourself to death, and there was no recovery from that.  A training regimen needed to be intense and demanding, but it also needed to be sensible.  There had to be allowances for food, rest, shelter, and basic safety.  Luffa's mother wouldn't have approved of taking such a gamble for mere exercise.  Perhaps the risk was warranted in a life-and-death battle, but never for anything less.  

But Luffa had something to prove.  She had ascended beyond the realm of ordinary Saiyan and she need to advance even further.  She often wondered what her mother would think of her now.  If it was just a matter of being stronger, she assumed her mother would have been proud, even if it made Luffa's hair glow yellow and her eyes turn green.  But the form also laid bare a craving for mayhem and danger, enough to frighten even a Saiyan's wild heart.  It just wasn't enough for Luffa to train.  She had to raise the stakes.  As the noonday sun loomed overhead, as she began to approach the peak of her ki, she could feel the first signs of exhaustion taking hold.  She was getting hungry, and there was an all-too-familiar ache in her arms and legs.  Soon, there would be no turning back, and the peril she had planned for herself would be unavoidable.  

She thought of this and smiled for the first time all day.  

Maybe her mother would have been horrified, but her mother had been dead for over a decade, and Luffa had lived on, and that was all there was to it.  As she completed the next round of punches and kicks, she raised her ki, and found that she could take it no higher.  Nevertheless, she stubbornly clenched her fists and tried to force herself to go even higher.  Her fingernails began to puncture the palms of her fingerless gloves and she could feel the blood seeping out of the flesh underneath.  But in spite of her grim determination, she could become no stronger.  For today, this was her absolute limit.  

But then the world around her changed.  The empty, cloudless skies were suddenly filled with strange aircraft that chased each other and fired bolts of blue energy.  The ocean below was now churning with hovercrafts and torpedoes cutting through the water.  In the distance she could see massive ships that looked like floating castles.  One of them was on fire, and beneath a plume of black smoke it continued to fire massive cannons mounted on its main deck.  

Luffa couldn't explain what had happened, but she knew at once that she was in the middle of a set-piece naval battle, and reacted accordingly.  She let loose a wave of destructive energy from her body, sending a flash of golden light out in all directions.  This would not only destroy and disperse any incoming artillery, but with any luck it would startle all the belligerents long enough for her to investigate.  

But when the explosive wave faded, she found nothing had changed.  None of the ships or aircraft seemed to notice the disturbance, and if her attack had detonated any torpedoes, there was no sign of it.  Confused, she flew to intercept one of the hovercraft that sped past her, and as she reached out to grab the pilot, she noticed that she couldn't quite see it very well.  Even at close range, the vehicle and rider seemed blurry and out of focus.  She circled around to get in front of the hovercraft, and when she saw the pilot's face she realized she had seen this before.  

It was the same kind of phantom she had seen on the glacier.  The same grey complexion, the same blue and purple markings, and the same vivid eyes as before.  At last, she realized what she should have noticed from the beginning: like the soldier on the glacier, she could sense no life energy from this person, nor from anywhere else in the vicinity.  

It seemed to register her presence now, but as she motioned for it to stop, the hovercraft continued on its course and passed right through her.  Luffa felt a chill down her spine as she considered the ramifications of this.  She thought about flying to one of the larger battleships.  Whatever these things were, they seemed to be organized like a real military force, and their command center was bound to have some answers...

But her powers began to fade, and Luffa found herself struggling to stay aloft.  As she weakened, the phantoms began to fade from sight.  She splashed into the ocean, and when she surfaced again, she found herself completely alone.  

Luffa floated quietly for a few minutes, digesting what she had just experienced.    Unable to find an answer, she turned her attention to her survival, and began swimming in search of a fish big enough to restore some of her strength.  

The wounds on her palms began to sting from the seawater.

********

Hours later, Luffa stumbled through the door of the shelter she had built.

"Hey, you okay?" Keda asked.

"Yeah..." Luffa said.  She was exhausted, and her clothes were covered in salt crystals from the ocean.  She looked around the room for the closest chair, then decided it would be easier to sit on the floor instead.

Keda went to the food storage unit to get her a bottle of water.  "See, this is why I don't like the idea of leaving you here by yourself," she said.  

"I pushed a little too hard, that's all," Luffa said.  "I tried to force my body to hit a new level, and it didn't happen.  Nothing to worry about.  Happens all the time when I train.  Frustrating as hell, though."

She put her forearms on her knees and lowered her head.  

Although Luffa owned the entire planet, she had only used it as a private training ground.  In truth, she had no permanent residence, having been born in space, and living most of her life aboard various spacecraft.  The house she had built here was merely a temporary shelter she used so that her companions could have free access to her star-yacht.  Normally, she lived in the hut with her fiancée, Zatte, but she was off on an outing with Dr. Topsas, and Keda had insisted on staying behind during their absence.  

There was nothing especially bothersome about living with Keda.   They had been shipmates on the yacht for a few years, and got along well.  The Dorlun youth respected Luffa's more eccentric habits and gave her a wide berth.   She had even made herself useful, acting as Luffa's unofficial aide-de-camp.  For Luffa's part, Keda had saved her life once, and she felt an obligation to the child that she couldn't quite put into words.  Though physically weaker than any Saiyan, Keda was sharp and resourceful, and smarter than any eleven-year-old ought to be.  Though Keda always preferred to avoid danger, it was out of practicality rather than fear, and Luffa considered the girl to be one of the bravest beings she had ever met.  

So having her over as a houseguest wasn't a problem.  What irked Luffa was that she had come to this planet for solitude.  Luffasworld was deserted, and while she understood that her friends would want to stick around while she trained here, she also assumed that they would want to get off this rock at least once in a while.  She had sort of counted on that.  As much as she had enjoyed Zatte's company, she had been looking forward to having the place to herself for a while.

If Luffa was completely honest with herself, she didn't really know why she wanted that sort of isolation, except that she believed she could get better results by training without any distractions.  Keda had stayed out of her way, but something about her insistence on staying behind felt... insulting.  As if Keda didn't trust Luffa to look after herself for a few days.  

"You want something to eat?" Keda asked.  "I got rations..."

"Do you hear that?" Luffa said.  She raised her head and started looking around.

"Hear what?" Keda asked.

"If that's Stinky, I'm having him for dinner, and that's final!" Luffa growled.  With a newfound energy, she rose up from the floor and stomped outside.    

"Wait, what's Stinky?" Keda asked.  

"Nosy little animal," Luffa muttered.  "Likes to sneak around outside people's houses and then spray crap all over them!  Well not this time!"

"Luffa, I really don't think--"

But she was already halfway around the circumference of the house, her hand raised to fire a ki blast.  "I'm ready for you this time, you jerk!  Gonna fry you up real nice and--"

"Wait!  Don't shoot!  I surrender!"

Luffa stopped dead in her tracks as she rounded the building.  There, she spotted a near-humanoid creature cowering in terror next to the house.  It was purple, about three-and-a-half feet tall, with a skinny body and a large, wide head with eyestalks on top.  

"Who the hell are you?" Luffa demanded.  "How did you find this place?"

"Luffa, it's okay!" Keda said.  "He's a friend!  Don't hurt him!"

Luffa spun around to face Keda.  "And what do you know about this?" she asked.  

"Well, uh, maybe I should call in the others first," Keda said sheepishly.  

"What 'others'?" Luffa asked.

"Promise you won't get mad?" Keda asked.  

Luffa crossed her arms and glared at her.  

*******

"Hi ho!"

Luffa's house was full of the purple creatures now.  There were at least twenty of them, and all of them had come from within walking distance of her house.  The one greeting her now was apparently their leader.  

"Okay, so who are you people?" Luffa asked.  

"I am Jerree, Ambassador of the Plantians," the leader said in a low, throaty voice.  "It is an honor to meet you!"

He held out his hand and Luffa reluctantly shook it.  "Plantians... Wait, the Planet Plant.  The one Old Darbock liberated two thousand years ago..."

"Exactly!” Jeree said.  “Although in point of fact we have colonized a new homeworld since those days."

"They've been trying to schedule an audience with you for a long time now," Keda explained.  "But you've been moving from place to place so much, I could never get it scheduled until now."

"Keda, I came here to train," Luffa said. "Not so you could clear my calendar."

"Oh, Keda has informed us of your mission," the ambassador said.  "That is why we have been careful to stay well out of your way while you train.  Just like our ancestors did for you the last time!"

"The last time?"  Luffa asked.  

"The Plantians believe that you're the reincarnation of Old Darbock," Keda said.  

Luffa stared at her.  "Reincarnation...?"

"All hail the Violent Savior!"  Cried one of the delagation who could no longer contain his excitement.  As one, all of the Plantians began to sing.

"♩ Fahoo fores, ♩ dahoo dores ♫..."

Luffa looked at Keda, who shrugged.  She looked back at the Plantians, hoping they would wrap it up soon before it became awkward.  

The Plantians did not oblige. 

********

[8 July 236 Before Age.  Luffasworld.]

"All I'm saying is that you could have gone with Zatte and Doc," Luffa said.  You didn't have to stay here just to keep me company.”  

"I wanted to stick around," Keda said.  "I wanted to see what this shelter of yours looked like.  Zatte told me this was a Saiyan design."

Luffa tasted the stew she was working on an smacked her lips with approval.  "Yeah.  Doesn't look like much, but it's good and sturdy, and it keeps the rain out.  Always wanted to build one of these, really."

"You've never made one before?" Keda asked.

"Never needed to," Luffa said.  She closed the lid of the slow cooker and licked the ladle clean before putting it in a bucket of soapy water.  "My family always preferred to stay mobile.  Can't say I'm any different, but it feels good to sort of put down roots, even if they're not for keeps.  Come on, let’s check the pit."  

They headed outside and Luffa squatted over a barbecue pit she had dug in the ground, and carefully removed its contents.  Behind her, at a respectful distance, the Plantians all sat in the grass and watched her every move with fascination.

"Guess Old Darbock never cooked for these guys two thousand years ago," Luffa said.  "Otherwise they wouldn't be so interested in what I'm doing.  Well fine.  Just proves who the better Super Saiyan really is."

"How much food did you put down here, anyway?" Keda asked.  She stood next to Luffa with a tray, upon which Luffa laid chunks of meat and tubers.

"Should be enough to cover everybody," Luffa said.  The wind shifted, and she winced as the smoke blew into her face.  "I figure these guys don’t eat much."

"What about you?" Keda asked.

"Oh, I already had dinner.  Found this big animal out in the West Plains before I flew back here."  As she said this, she absentmindedly patted her abdomen.  "Besides, these guys keep bringing me baskets of bread."

"It’s a ritual," Keda said.  "Their ancestors used to do it for--"

"For the 'Violent Savior', yeah, I get the idea."   Luffa tasted a strip of meat and nodded in approval.  "At least they finally stopped singing..."

"They brought plenty of their own food on their ship," Keda said.  "You don’t have to cook for them like this."

"Bite your tongue, Keda," Luffa said.  "I didn’t invite these guys over, but they’re still guests.  Besides, I owe them, don't I?  Even if I wasn't Old Darbock in a past life, I’m probably his descendant.    And even if I'm not related to the guy, the stories about him were a big deal to me growing up.  If these guys hadn't taken care of him two thousand years ago, well, maybe I wouldn't be here today. That’s worth a meal or two in my book."

"Darbock saved their planet, though," Keda said.  "Doesn't that make it even?"

"Liberating a planet?  Kid stuff, I do that all the time.  It’s a warm-up," Luffa said.  "I bet Darbock didn’t even break a sweat."

"But--"

Before Keda could argue, Luffa laid one more cut of meat on the tray, and pointed to the Plantians.  "Okay, that should serve five of them," she said.  "Go on and pass it out and I'll set you up for the next five."

As Keda went to work, Luffa admired the aroma of the pit, then suddenly noticed a strange odor, like sulfur.  For a moment she wondered if something had gone wrong with her barbecue pit, and then suddenly a great ball of smoke appeared on the hilltop, and it glowed bright white.  When the light faded and the smoke cleared, four humanoids stood before her.  

The tallest of them was dressed like a warrior, though Luffa wasn't impressed with his power.  "Your dimension door has worked, Slimgrade!" he announced.  

"Aye, Laverius," said a white-haired old man in purple robes.   "But to traverse such a great distance has exhausted my mystical energies.  Must... rest."

"Soren!" cried the shortest of the group, a young man with pointed ears.  "Quickly!  My infra-vision shows that Slimgrade needs your healing powers!"

"I shall see to him, Andil," said a shapely blonde woman.  She wore mail and leather armor, but not nearly enough to adequately protect herself.  "But my powers sense that the one we seek stands before us!"

Luffa approached them, and the angry look on her face was more than enough to make Andil nervous.  

"Oh my.  Er, hello?" Andil said nervously.  His pointed ears were twitching.  "We, ah, had an appointment?"

At this word, Luffa stopped in her tracks.   "Oh, you did, did you?" she asked, looking over at Keda, who looked away and grinned uncomfortably.  

*******

[12 July 236 Before Age.  Luffasworld.]

Luffa had come to this planet to train, but lately, she hadn't been making any headway.  Today, in the humid tangle of a rain forest, she resolved to fix that.  

Her plan was simple:  By rapidly transforming between her normal form and her Super Saiyan form, she would force her body to acclimate to--

"Madam Federatrix."

Luffa turned and found a glowing, life-size image of a woman in a flowing white gown.  "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," she snarled.  

"I am grateful that you have agreed to meet with me, for my business is most urgent," the image went on.  

"And what do you want?" Luffa asked, but the image ignored her.  

"That is why I have transmitted this recorded message via astral plane, to confirm our appointment in two weeks--"

Luffa screamed and flew straight back to the house.  

*******

There, she found Keda curled up on a lounge chair, busily tapping away at her mobile planner.  

"What are you up to?" Luffa demanded.  

"I don't know what you're talking about--" Keda began to say, but Luffa cut her off.  

"All these meetings," Luffa fumed.  "I just got a recording reminding me of another one coming up in two weeks."

"I told you," Keda said, "A lot of these people have been waiting a long time to see you, and you've been on the go so much that--"

"No, no, no!" Luffa shouted.  "I know how you think, Keda.  The Plantians believe I'm the reincarnation of their ancient hero, back to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity.  Slimgrade's an apprentice mage on a quest to find his mentor, and his divinations told him he'd have to forge a wand with the hairs of a legendary beast if he wanted to survive the next leg of his journey.   Duchess Vera wants a photo op because half her constituents think I'm a war nymph from out of their mythology.  It's all fluff!   You wouldn't book these people to meet me without some other reason.  You're too practical for this!"

"Look, they kept calling and I wanted to get them out of our hair--"

"I have to train, Keda!" Luffa insisted.  "The Shockmaster's not going to stay put forever, and I have to be ready for him!  Only I can't, because you've got me doing meet-and-greets with every jerk in the universe!"

"You're blowing this out of proportion," Keda said meekly.

"You’re afraid," Luffa said.  "That’s what’s going on here.  All of this is some sort of weird plot to protect yourself.  That's the Dorlun way, right?  Survival above all else.  Only that’s dumb because there’s nothing dangerous around here!  It’s an empty planet, or at least it used to be until you started passing out invitations!"

"It’s not like that..."

"Kid, I’ve always looked out for you, haven’t I?  That’s why I told you to stay behind when I fought the Shockmaster.  I was sure I’d win, but I still wouldn’t have bet your life on it.  I know how it is with you.  You like to play it safe.  I get it.  You know that, right?"

"I know," Keda said.

"Look, if you’re worried about the Shockmaster, don’t be.  He wouldn’t go out of his way to come here.    He... well, he doesn’t see me as a threat.  I promise, the next time I fight him, it’ll be on my terms."

"I know that too," Keda said.

"The what’s the problem?" Luffa asked.

They stood there quietly for a minute.  Luffa wanted to go on demanding an explanation, but she had run out of words.  All she could do was wait for Keda to reply.  

"Take off your gloves," Keda finally said.

"What?  Why?"

"Just do it," Keda said.  She set down her planner and stood up.  

Luffa wanted to refuse, but couldn’t think of a good reason, so she peeled off the glove from her right hand and held it up for Keda to see.

"No, not the glove," Keda said.  "Show me your hand."

Luffa grumbled indignantly and turned her palm outward for Keda to see.  There was scar tissue in the center, and scabs in roughly the shape of her fingernails.

"Satisfied?" Luffa asked.

"And the other one looks the same way," Keda said.

"So what?" Luffa snorted.  "I get worked up a lot when I fight."

"Doctor Topsas thinks there's more to it than that," Keda said.  "He thinks you let people get in free shots for no good reason."

"The reason is so I can get their measure," Luffa shot back.  "He’s a damn doctor, so what does he know about fighting?"

"Is that how you got those scars?" Keda asked.   "From fighting?   Whenever you wrecked the gym on the star-yacht, who were you fighting then?"

"That... that’s personal..." Luffa stammered.

"What’s the matter?" Keda asked.  "The Shockmaster won’t come here, right?  So what are you so nervous about?"

"Back off, kid," Luffa said.

"Or what?  You’ll fight me?    I thought you were going to protect me?  But who’s going to protect you from yourself?"

"That’s not..." Luffa wasn’t sure what to say next.

"I'm not worried about the Shockmaster," Keda said.  "And no one else in the galaxy can touch you, even if they knew you were here.  What I'm worried about is you.  You act like your own worst enemy sometimes.  I know some of that is to keep yourself motivated.  I remember your dad and Kandai were like that too, back on the colony."

She approached Luffa and pointed at her hand.  "But none of the other Saiyans I've met ever do anything like this.  On the ship, I figured I'd be close by in case you really hurt yourself, but out here on this planet... I'm worried about what'll happen if you do something really dangerous and there’s no one around to help."

Luffa looked down at the floor.  "You invited the Plantians here to help keep an eye on me," she said.  

"I didn't tell them why," Keda said.  "They're just honored to be here.  Listen, just tell me why you do this to yourself.  If it's really no big deal, then explain it to me.  Convince me it's nothing and I'll drop it."  

Luffa looked at her hand and frowned.  "To be honest, kid, I don’t really know.  Even the weakest Saiyans have to learn to throttle their powers when they go into space.  If you don't stay disciplined, you can punch a hole in the hull and die in seconds.  I spent half my life on spaceships, and I never had any trouble keeping myself under control, but when I first turned Super Saiyan, I was so... angry.  I just needed to hit something, you know, only I knew if I started I wouldn't be able to stop.  But I needed to take it out on something, and the only thing on board that was tough enough for that kind of punishment was... well, me."

"Luffa..."

"That’s why I saved up the money to buy this planet," she added.  "Here, I can really cut loose without hurting anybody.  Only...  I guess I never stopped doing what I was doing..."

Luffa went to a chair and sat down.  She was quiet for several minutes, and finally Keda sat down beside her.

"I didn’t want to embarrass you or anything," Keda said.  "But I worry about you, and I didn't know what else to do.  All I know is that you're a lot more responsible when there's other people around, so I thought that would help.  As much as the Plantians bugged you, you still cared about them a lot, and I knew you'd be careful just for their sake.  I know you wanted to be alone, where no one else could get hurt, but you could still get hurt.  Before, I could just pretend you were indestructible, but after the fight with the Shockmaster, well--"

"I'm not," Luffa admitted.  "You know, Kandai figured out a lot of what you're saying.  If I'd been smart, I would have finished him off immediately, but I kept putting it off, because I couldn't stand the idea of just killing him in a single blow.  I wanted him to hit me back, just so I could tell myself it was a real fight."

She held up her hand and looked at the scars.  "Maybe that's what this is all about.  I want a good fight, but I'm so strong that it's almost impossible to find one.  So I've been hurting myself to kind of... tide me over?  It doesn't seem to make sense when I say it out loud.  Maybe that's why I avoided talking about it..."

"Look, I'm sorry for booking all these people and disrupting your training," Keda said.  "I can cancel Duchess Vera, and the Plantians will understand when I tell them they have to leave."

"A corpse won't get any stronger..." Luffa murmured.  

"What's that mean?" Keda asked.  

"Something my mother used to tell me," Luffa said.  "I've been approaching my training all wrong.  I'm trying to push my limits, but all I'm really doing is just hurting myself.  And that might make me a little stronger, but it doesn't address my weaknesses."  

"I don't follow you," Keda said.  

"The Plantians can stay as long as they want," Luffa said.  "And anyone else on their way here is welcome.  Got it?"

"Well... sure, but why?"

"Because you're right," Luffa said.  "I am more responsible when there's other people around.  Somehow I need that responsibility to rub off onto my training.  If I'm all by myself, I'm likely to wallow in self-pity.  That's a luxury I can't afford anymore."

"But won't all these people get in your way?"  Keda asked.

"Probably," Luffa said with a grin.  "Even if they don't, they'll drive me nuts just by being here.  But this isn't a vacation.  I'm subjecting myself to harsh climates and extreme conditions.  A photo-op with Duchess Vera ought to fit right in.  If I don't like it, then I just need to get my butt in gear and work harder, that's all."

"I'm not sure that makes sense..." Keda said.  

"You're right, I still need to figure it all out," Luffa said.  "But you've hit on something.  I can practically taste it now, and I'm not letting it go."

She began pacing around the room, muttering to herself and pumping her fist excitedly.  Then she noticed Keda staring at her and stopped to look back.  

"Well, go on," Luffa said. "Get to work."

"Uh, sure!" Keda said.  She fetched her mobile planner and started tapping on the display.  "Did you need anything else while I'm at it?"

"Just one other thing," Luffa said.  "In case I forget to say it later."  

"Go ahead," Keda said.  

"Thanks, kid."

NEXT: For the Saiyan Who Has Everything.

[what-s-up-friends-us]

These habits are good for your health, but bad for your teeth. Seven tips to improve our dental quality.  I have always been diligent when brushing my teeth at least twice a day. Who doesn't like to show a nice and fresh smile? But six or seven years ago I learned that the technique I used was not correct. As I was always in a hurry, I used to frantically brush myself with the brush, so after decades of excessively vigorous cleaning, I developed an uncomfortable sensitivity to heat and cold. The dentist explained to me that the enamel, or the protective layer, was wearing out, exposing the lower dentin, which led to tooth sensitivity. Among other things, he suggested brushing me gently up and down, instead of doing it aggressively, and spending two minutes brushing. "It's a typical case," says Dr. Euan Swan, director of dental programs at the Canadian Dental Association. The patient is proud to brush his teeth hard but is damaging them. ” When we develop habits to improve our well-being, we are not always aware of the problems we can cause our teeth. “In terms of health, teeth are usually the last priority. So many things tend to be overlooked, ”says Dr. Mark Parhar, an endodontist from British Columbia, Canada, specializing in the internal soft tissue of teeth. Next, the seven healthy practices that shatter your teeth and how to stop the damage. 1. BRUSH YOUR TEETH AFTER EATING Does your morning routine include brushing your teeth immediately after breakfast? Congratulations on brushing your teeth regularly! But your program needs a touch-up. When you eat something acidic, such as oranges or tomatoes, the enamel temporarily weakens and becomes susceptible to abrasive wear. If you brush your teeth hard, you can remove the enamel, which will make your teeth sensitive. This gets worse when you get older, as the gums tend to decrease with age and more root surface is exposed. The roots of the teeth are not covered by enamel, but by a layer called dental cement. If you want to take precautions, wait approximately 30 minutes before brushing them."Saliva is a neutralizing agent and will reduce the acidity of the oral environment, but this takes time," says Cool. Eating some type of dairy, especially cheddar cheese, can increase the pH inside the mouth and release calcium and other substances that fight plaque; and rinsing your mouth with water can help clean the dirt between your teeth. Or brush them before eating something acidic, instead of after. 2. DRUGS THAT CAUSE DROUGHT IN THE MOUTH You could control a chronic health problem if you take prescription medications according to medical prescription. Unfortunately, if you take one or more of the medications, including certain antidepressants and pain relievers, which have the side effect of reducing salivary flow, your oral health may be affected. "Patients who ingest this type of medication tend to have a dry mouth, running a higher risk of developing cavities," says Swan, "because there is no saliva to physically remove food or acid debris." The solution is not to stop the medication, unless the doctor offers you an alternative, without these side effects. You can try to drink water during the day. You can also increase the flow of saliva with sugar-free gum, mints containing xylitol or atomizers, gels, and pills specifically designed for dry mouth.            "Water with lemon is popular, but acidic fruit juices are the culprits of tooth wear" 3. DO EXERCISE WITHOUT ORAL PROTECTION There are many forms of physical activity for the benefit of the body. Exercise is good for cardiovascular health, weight control and a sense of humor. However, participation in impact sports such as martial arts can cause damage to the teeth if you do not protect them properly. The custom dental splint (adjusted by a dentist) provides a pad around the teeth in case of an impact on the face. It may be essential when there is a risk of physical contact, either on the ice rink or in a ring. "When it does not have a dental splint, it is easier for a tooth to break, and that damage costs much later to repair," says Parhar, expert in sports dentistry. Intense exercise may also affect the quantity and quality of saliva. A study on triathletes, published by The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports in 2015, revealed that when athletes were active, their saliva flow slowed while the pH increased. Both changes can have a negative impact on the teeth, which indicates that anyone who practices sports regularly should be meticulous in their oral care. 4. DRINKING WATER WITH LEMON It is said that drinking water with fresh lemon juice helps digestion, strengthens the immune system and cleanses the body of toxins. “I like to drink it as a hot drink in the morning, especially when it's cold outside,” says 64-year-old Christine Peets of Ontario, Canada, who drinks lemon water to calm her digestive problems and stay hydrated. However, he began to worry when a relative, also fond of this drink, discovered that his tooth enamel was weakening. So Peets consulted with his dentist. “ Lemon water may be a popular trend, but acidic fruit juices are the main culprits when it comes to dental wear caused by diet. Even if you dilute the lemon juice in water, the level of acid in the mouth continues to increase. ” "If you drink and do this two or three times a day, for an extended period of time, I would worry," says Geraldine Cool, a dentist from Alberta, Canada, and president of the Canadian Association of Dental Hygienists. The Peets dentist advised him to delay the time of brushing his teeth and doing so after drinking the water with lemon, he also recommended trying a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and brushing them with less force. Drinking it fast is not the perfect solution, but it is much better than ingesting the preparation slowly; using a sorbet could also reduce the harmful effects. Check that the water is not too hot, as it intensifies the damage of the teeth. And if you're going to drink acidic drinks, “Fluoridated tap water reduces tooth decay in children and adults. It is also profitable and safe. 5. CHECK ICE Ice does not provide calories or sugar, it cools it on a hot day, it is usually pH neutral and does not stick to the teeth. Therefore, is it not healthier to chew ice than to eat candy? It turns out that it has its disadvantages. "The ice is very hard," says Dr. Hendrike van Drie, a periodontist in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and chair of the oral health working group at the Council of European Dentists. "Chewing ice damages teeth and causes fissures and fractures in enamel and dental arrangements". Van Drie adds that constant exposure to cold temperatures can lead to dental hypersensitivity. “I have some patients who chew ice, and I always try to convince them to give up that habit. All they have to do is not chew hard things, ”says Cool. "Enamel is probably the toughest tissue in our body, but when wear and tear occurs, there is a greater chance that it can smooth the contour of the teeth." Sometimes the wear is so severe that it can change the way the bite is adjusted, causing pain in the jaw muscles. He claims that ice can be good only if it is allowed to melt in the mouth. 6. DRINK WINE TO SORBS It is true that alcohol in moderation can offer benefits, such as reducing the risk of diabetes, heart attacks or embolisms. Red wine, in particular, contains components that seem to increase good cholesterol and help cardiovascular health. But if staggering the drink means having a glass of wine for two hours, the teeth are in constant danger. It is similar to the problem of water with lemon. "The consumption of wine means that your teeth are exposed to acid every time you take a sip," says van Drie. This does not mean that you have to drink it at one time, but it would be good if you drank water when you have a glass of wine or pecked a piece of cheese to reduce the effects of the acid. Keep in mind that not all wines are equally harmful to teeth. "White wine has a higher pH and causes more damage in less time," says van Drie. On the other hand, red can stain pearly white enamel. So, are you thinking of switching to carbonated water? "Mineral water with gas is also acidic and can damage your teeth when you drink regularly." 7. OPT FOR FLUORATED WATER Carbonated water is a better drink than soda or sugary juice, but if it is the only type of water you consume, you may be losing the possibility of reducing caries by 25 percent. Fluoridated water is endorsed by organizations such as the World Health Organization. It has been shown to reduce tooth decay in children and adults; It is cost-effective and safe (levels are low and supervised, and it is impossible to drink all the water that would be needed to achieve fluoride toxicity ). When you drink water, it enters your system in such a way that saliva has a low level of fluoride, which constantly benefits your teeth, ”says Swan. It acts as a protector, especially in older people who have exposed part of the root surface and are more vulnerable to decay. Try to drink at least a little water every day, always using filters, and try to drink at least four to eight glasses of water a day. If you live in a rural area, ask to have the water analyzed so you can find out its mineral composition, adjust your daily intake, and have the appropriate care and filters according to your needs. Click here for more tips

http://bestofftops.blogspot.com/2019/09/7-keys-to-keeping-your-teeth-healthy.html

[a425app]

Interview 07

Interview Questions

How are you?

Pretty good! It’s been a nice morning so far. Woke up at my leisure, had some coffee, conducted an interview with my father-in-law, and now I’m here

What is your name?

Cory Timmons

What is your age?

31

What gender do you identify as?

Female. I’m a transwoman, and I make that distinction. I can’t deny that I lived as a man for most of my life, although, that’s not how I felt inside. Many transwoman do not like to make the distinction between being a woman and being a transwoman, but I think it’s the most accurate way to describe me. I’m still very early in my transition, and expect to change a lot in the next 2-5 years.

What are the things that have been on your mind today?

Getting my interviews done is really stressing me out. I’m very nervous that I don’t know enough people to properly conduct the required number of interviews.

What's been the most enjoyable part of you of your day so far?

My coffee and chat with my husband this morning. I love him so much.

Is there something your looking forward too?

I’m looking forward to checking some things off my list today so I can reduce my stress. I know what I have to do, I took some time before bed to make a list of things for the weekend, so now I just have to GSD- get shit done!

What is the most important thing that matters to you at the moment?

Completing my degree.

Do you work? If so how many hours a week and what sort of job is it? / do you work on site or at home (or alternate location)

Yes. It varies. I work between 5 and 20 hours a week. I make posters for the music department, and occasionally do administrative work for an occupation/physical therapy company who helps kids with special needs in SF. I work at home for both jobs.

What are some things you like to do on the weekends?

Lately, working on homework. My husband and I like to have morning dates.. so we go out thrift shopping and have a nice lunch together. I like to just be cozy, so I immediately put my pjs on after we get home. If I have time, I clean the house, organize/work on little projects to make the house a little easier to live in. Every few weeks, we get brunch with my mom. If I perform in drag, I usually do so on the weekends.

What is your living situation like?

We live in a spacious house surrounded by trees with our pets. We’re very near a park, and near to amenities in town. I’m very very lucky.

is your living space organized to help you accomplish your tasks or goals, whatever they may be?

I think so. I have a dressing room/private lounge that’s just for me. It’s my own little haven in the house. We also have a nice art studio that’s set up for physical and digital arts. The rest of the house has a great flow, lots of pocket doors and things so we can close off parts as we need to. I love this house. It’s very well-designed.

What kinds of chores did you do during childhood/adolescents?

Very few. Basically just cleaning my room to the point it wasn’t a fire hazard, but even then, my parents were incredibly lenient about my chores. My mom did all of it, and I still feel immense guilt about it. That’s probably the most “male” part of my up-bringing—I was waited on hand-and-foot by my mom. I ultimately suffered for it. I had none of these skills, yet I was often in the position of being asked to do those tasks because of the dynamics of my relationships. I basically taught myself housekeeping from martha stewart, and then tried to come back down to earth to a more practical style of keeping house.

Would you say you actively seek out new things to try?

Oh totally

What are some of your goals for your daily life?

I’d like to walk the dog more consistently. I’d like to get in the habit of writing for thirty minutes every single day. I would like to be better about my makeup removal/getting ready for bed routine.

What are some of your goals in general?

I want to make Salem more comfortable fore queer/trans folks. Our city can be very hostile and cruel toward people with deviant genders and sexualities, and we don’t really have a ton of resources considering our city’s size. So that’s a big focus of my life. In fact, I’d say it’s what I’d identify as my purpose for the time. Besides that, more short term, I want to graduate and get a good job making a difference in the world. I’d like to work for a non-profit or some other kind of business/entity that improves peoples lives. I want to keep my art-making practice outside of school—it’s changed my life for the better and I don’t want to lose this power and passion I’ve developed.

What are some things that make you feel proud of yourself?

When I complete an art work that accomplishes my content and formal goals I feel very proud of myself. I feel proud of myself when I survive harsh and cruel situations and still keep my head up. I feel proud of myself when I speak my truth, not fearing the reprisal or consequences.

What activities give you the most satisfaction?

At home, DIY projects and gardening are probably the most satisfying. I get to see it change from A to B and it lasts—something that I can continue to witness over time.

What kinds of things do you to relieve stress?

I listen to guided imagery. I find it helps immensely with my anxiety and PTSD symptoms. I used to self medicate much more with alcohol and marijuana, but I’ve cut back a lot on both of those things, but still use. Not the best way to relieve stress, so I’m trying to be more mindful about it and use healthier options. Meh. No one’s perfect.

What is something you wish you had more time to do?

Making art, particularly digital art. I dream of making a video game. Some kind of RPG, like Final Fantasy or even action-adventure like Zelda. I’d love to have more time to devote to that.

What kinds of things take up most of your time?

Homework right now, and miscellaneous administrative tasks. Honestly, my schedule is so tight right now that it’s all kind of a blur.

How do you feel after you have completed a task.

Great!

How do you reward yourself?

This is a step a rarely do. I only really reward myself for BIG things. When I quit smoking cigarettes, I saved the money I had been spending on that and bought myself a game console.

How much time do you take just for yourself?

I spend a good hour and a half each morning waking up, drinking coffee, listening to podcasts and doing my shower/makeup/dressing routine. At night, I spend about an hour listening to music/podcasts, playing video games, or reading.

What are the most frustrating aspects of your daily activities/ day?

Driving. I love it and hate it. I like the ability to drive, but I hate commuting. So it’s a a weird dynamic! I would love to have the ability to ride a bus or trolley or something to work so I don’t have to think about it. But I’d still want a car because I enjoy driving. Weird, huh? I guess it just feels like I’m losing about an hour of productive time each day.

What time of day do you tend to do your work/chores/ homework

Any time I have, I spend it on that. So, usually 4-9 MWF, 12-9 T/R. All day on the weekend.

Do you feel like you have a good balance between work and personal life?

Not at all, but this period of my life is not about that at all. I’m doing all this work so I can have a personal life again. I absolutely do not intend to keep this pace. It will destroy me and my marriage if I do. I intend to be a more normal “adult” when I’m done with school.

How consistent is your schedule?

Parts are very consistent, other parts are variable. School obviously doesn’t change, but I have counseling/therapy appointments at various times of the week/alternating weeks, evening events, etc.

Can you describe a typical day for you from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed?

7:15 wake up, glass of water, take pills

7:30 coffee, read news, listen to podcasts, homework if needed

8:30 Shower

9:00 Makeup/dress

9:25 Leave for school

9:30 McDonalds

9:55 Arrive at school

10-4 classes

4:00 leave for home

4:25 get home. Drink water, take dogs out

4:45 use the bathroom

5:00 start dinner

5:30 hug mike when he gets home (our main ritual), then feed the dogs

6:00 eat dinner

6:30 dishes

6:45 watch tv/chit chat catch up with mike

8:00 Homework

9:00 alone time in my lounge: video games, music podcasts, drawing, etc.

9:30 remove contacts/makeup, night cream, take night pills

9:45 alone time again

10:15 – 10:45 slip into bed. Read in bed until I pass out.

What time of day do you feel the most alert/happy

Mid-day, 2-6

What do you think having a routine means?

Doing stuff without really thinking about it.

Do you have a daily/weekly routine(s) If so, What are some of your daily/weekly routines?

My days are pretty routine in the way I describe it. Not a lot deviates from that. The main consistent routine centers around school and caring for my dogs.

What tools do you use to plan or remind yourself of activities or a routine if any?

I have a family calendar  mike and I share to keep aware of our day-to-day. We have a chore chart for those kinds of things. Other than that, not realy.

Do you think having a daily routine would/does benefit you? Why or why not?

I think some of the things that’d be good for my skin/body would definitely benefit me. I’m pretty inconsistent about makeup removal, and I’d like to be better about caring for my skin in that way.

Have you done any research / read articles about having a routine?

No.

How often would you say you search for things involving lifestyle: blogs, articles, magazines etc.

Rarely.

Would you be interesting in learning how to best establish and stick to a routine?

What would that look like to you?

Yes. I think it would be positively encouraging and would try to keep me going if I fuck up. I think a lot of times it feels like “all is lost” if I miss a day or don’t do something quite right. So I’d want something to hold me accountable but still keep my interest? Maybe some funny content, connections with others. Tricks on how to get your brain to re-wire.

Do you use technology for planning and/or reminders? If so, what are your favorite tools/programs.

Why are those your favorite?

Yes. I use the apple calendar, and mike and I share it. It’s pretty intuitive, it’s native on the phone, and I can share with hubby.

What are some of your favorite apps to use? Why those? How do you use them? How often do you use them?

I don’t use a ton of apps, but I like the adobe apps for iPad a lot. I think they have the right amount of features for me to draw or do whatever. It’s like JUST what I need… no bloat. It doesn’t feel hard to learn. You just kind of open it and it’s obvious what to do.  I use them to make vector drawing sketches that I pull into illustrator and refine. I use adobe capture a ton to make cool shapes and illustrations, too. I use these almost daily.

If you could make a app for keeping track of a routine what would be some of the features you would want?

I would want to sync up with others doing it too. Social really helps for me. I’d want it to keep track of what I’m doing, maybe remind me of the benefits of what I’m doing. That was something that really helped me when I quit smoking… your lungs are x better and your risk of x is x or whatever really helped me to see the benefit of continuing something that was fucking sooooo hard I wanted to quit a million times day. Six years later it’s hard to imagine that, like it really worked for me. So, I guess getting through the shittiness of starting and then reinforcing after I’ve picked up the habit.

Have you ever failed to stick to a routine? If so, why do you think that was?

Yeah, I can’t tell you how many diet and exercise routines I used to try. I think I always wanted to go whole hog instead of just accepting that a little bit at a time over time is better than a quick burst all at once. I think it has to be something that will fit into my normal life..,. I shouldn’t have to plan my whole fucking day around a routine just to stick to it. I don’t do well with anything regimented or with negative punshiment. Fuck that. So it has to feel good, be easy, and feel positive.

Do you have any medical conditions that you think might affect your ability to stick to a regular schedule or routine?

Not really. Allergies maybe.

Do you think your profession has an impact on your routine?

Yes. I think being a student puts me in a position of forcing myself into a certain structure of time. In my old job, I had a very consistent schedule and no work to take home. My husbands job is not like that. We have different routines. SO I dunno, maybe it’s profession, maybe it’s the level of job, maybe it’s personality.

To what degree do you think other people impact your routine?

A lot routines and things need support, and I think if someone else is against the change, it can make the change very hard to deal with. I think everyone in a household kind of has to be on board.

Would you be more likely to do something if someone else was holding you accountable?

Maybe, but not in like an authoritarian sense. Like not like a directive, but more collaborative, like we’re in it together. Like… my bestie and I like to walk, so we often encourage each other in that way, but the same is true… she’s my bestie so it’s just as easy to say “fuck it” because we know neither of us REALLY wants to do it, ya know?? So maybe it’d need to be someone I was less close to so the social pressure to maintain the habit was a little higher.

If we came back in [x number of] years to have this conversation again, what would you like to be different?

I think I will have a pretty routinized daily life that is hitting all the boxes of things I want to work on and accomplish. Ithink I will have built more “down time” into my schedule because right now I’m working way too fucking hard and I know I can’t keep this up.

Is there anything I’ve missed?

Maybe what inspires a change. So I want to walk more for the main reason of my health: I’m very sedentary and I’m worried that as I get older I will miss my “easy” chance at starting to exercise and incorporate something health related into my lifestyle. To be honest, my disconnection from my body is not surprising. It never felt like home to me. It felt inhospitable and like someone else’s body. Now that I’m on the path of having the body I want (through hormone replacement) I’m feeling a much deeper connection to my body and the way that it cares and provides for me. So, in many ways I regret the apathy and neglect I demonstrated toward my body during my youth. It’s hard to know that I did so much damage to my body in my younger years and that I can’t take that time back. So maybe some motivation for wanting to change. I’m starting a new life, and I need to think about what the life means and what I want out of it, if that makes sense. And the health of my body is central to my ability to live the life I want. So that’s why I want a better routine.

Is there anything you want to tell me?

Thank you for being a good friend. : )

Any questions?

[topicprinter]

At the end of each year I publish a post to reflect on how it turned out. You can read the previous one here, including more background on how the site got started. This current one is also available as a blog post.2018Candy Japan ships surprise boxes of Japanese candy twice a month to subscribers around the world.Here's the chart showing the number of subscribers over time. As you can see, this was another down year, during which I lost 16% of subscribers. The year started with 385 and ended with 323 paying subscribers.Sales statsSales net of refunds: ~$100,000Expenses: ~$86,000 (candy 44%, shipping 34%, boxes 8%, ads 4%, other 10%)Profit: ~$13,000 (down from $38,374 last year)Big part of "other" expense is paying freelancers for newsletter writing, accounting, translation and customer support.Worth it?I would estimate spending around 3 hours per day this year running the service. The main tasks are finding and curating candies, shipping, customer support, content writing, tweaking marketing campaigns, doing bookkeeping (in three currencies), taking product photos and improving the website.Hours spent: ~1000Wage per hour: ~$16Hourly wage is down from ~$50 last year, as profit was less, but I spent more time trying to turn things around.Site statsVisits: 147,424Unique visitors: 127,447Page views: 231,651Traffic sources: Search engines (28%), Social media (34%), Paid ads (5%)What went wrongShipping issuesGermanyThis year most of the packages sent to Germany started to bounce back with no clear explanation as to why, so I decided to stop shipping there. As 10% of customers were from Germany, this alone explains most of this year's decline.SwedenSwedish post apparently got tired of paying for last-mile delivery of cheap items from China, and decided to block that by introducing delays and fees to customers.Most countries have a "de minimis" rule when it comes to online shopping. If you order something very cheap from abroad, you'll pay no duties on it. Sweden also had this rule, but removed it this year. Now Swedish shoppers have to pay duties on everything, even if the tax is just 1 krona. There is also an "administrative fee" of ~8 USD added on top. In my case, Swedish customers are charged $8 for the pleasure of being able to pay a $4 duty. These fees combined cost almost as much as the subscription itself.For some reason a single e-commerce platform is exempt from this: Wish. They have a special deal allowing VAT prepay, such that customers get their packages directly. I have emailed PostNord to ask how I could also do this, but was told that it is not possible.I am still allowing new orders from Sweden, but have stopped advertising to Swedish customers. The packages do make it to their destinations in the end, but with significant cost and annoyance for customers there, leading to more cancellations.Failed at getting customers from YouTube unboxingsAs I wrote in "YouTube Marketing Horror Story", to promote the service I contacted 180 YouTubers to ask them to make an unboxing video. Many agreed, and I spent a lot of time shipping many sample boxes, but in the end the unboxing videos resulted in no new subscribers.The experiment cost about $1000 and was more work than I had expected. I knew the chances of success were very low. However if it had worked, the reward would have been high, as I could have expanded the promotion 10-100x. I figured I had a 10% chance to make $100k, so it was worth spending $1000 to give it a shot.Unboxings DO work, as other companies keep pouring money into working with bigger channels, which I doubt they would continue to do month after month if it wasn't giving them a return. Just my particular approach of trying to work with tiny cosplay channels turned out not to work at all.SEO failuresTo get more content indexed by search engines, I put all of our old newsletters on the site, but Google decided not to index many of them. The ones that did get indexed only sent 227 clicks, and resulted in no conversions.I also tried making some of those annoying listicles such as "29 Mouth-Melting Japanese Chocolates". Only one of them sent a conversion: "8 International Candy Subscriptions You Must Try At Least Once". I'm sort of glad these didn't work, as they aren't much fun to write and they are way overdone already.What went rightSEO successesI noticed that some searches were not for a Japanese candy subscription, but rather just a one-time order.I created an article explaining how to buy a gift card for yourself to get only one month's worth of candy, and other articles describing the service from different perspectives. These articles sent 6 conversions during the year, but should keep doing the same year after year with no extra cost, giving a nice return on the time spent writing them.The traffic has buying intent and the content is about the service itself—not about something tangential. This might be widely applicable to other businesses as well; can you describe your service from another point of view to capture more search traffic?Faster shippingI used to only batch ship twice a month, and while this worked well to keep costs in check, it also meant a long wait for the first package. The shipping days are 14th and 28th of each month, meaning that if someone happened to subscribe on 15th or 29th, there would be a two week wait before work on the batch would even start.To improve on this, on top of the two monthly batches, when possible I made daily trips to the post office to airmail boxes right away to new subscribers that join. Many new members got their first boxes up to four times faster than before.Package trackingSince I was already making trips to the post office, I figured I might as well use tracking for these first packages as well. While I cannot afford to track every single package (it costs $5 per shipment), when I am available to send the first package, I also pay to track it and wrote a little script that sends the customer the tracking code.I would lose money if I always used tracking, but for a new customer's first shipment $5 seems like a worthwhile spend to build trust.Better customer supportI started doing all customer support myself, and turned getting to inbox zero a daily habit. Average reply time is now less than 24 hours, and this way I should get a better feel for any preventable common issues.I've tried asking anyone who cancels for a reason, but I haven't gotten much insight out of the responses. It might be better to ask on the website, as people might be more honest with a computer than when being questioned by the guy running the site.Cut costs by switching to StripeI now save about $2000 / year by using Stripe subscriptions, instead of doing recurring charges through middleware and charging through a separate gateway.When I started the site, I needed both a payment gateway and a recurring payments solution. I was paying about $2000 / year ($69/month + $0.10 cents per transaction + 1.25% of revenue) for middleware that did the recurring charging bit. On top of this I was also paying fees to the (non-Stripe) gateway I was using.Later I switched to Stripe, which has built-in subscriptions, so the middleware was no longer necessary. I estimated that removing it would take about a week, but in reality the transition took me about 3 weeks to do (should have multiplied my estimate by π).Waiting around for export & import to finish, taking the steps to shut down the existing middleware gracefully, and making new signups go directly to Stripe. I didn't want to mess up the transition, so finally I carefully went through all accounts to make sure that the transition worked properly. Finally when I thought I was done, I realized that I also had to create my own page for entering new card details when a card expires (middleware used to provide this).I finally completed the change in June, and have enjoyed not receiving middleware bills ever since.Got better at YouTube adsAs I wrote before in "What I Learned Burning $13,867 on YouTube Ads for Candy Japan", I've lost money with YouTube ads so far, and for a long time had the campaign paused. While it wasn't running, I still kept going through the data to see if I might be able to improve the campaign.I was able to get conversions 33% cheaper by studying the failed campaign run and aggressively excluding anyone unlikely to convert. The little bump at the end of the subscriber chart is from trying out the new tweaked campaign.I may have reached breakeven now, but the erratic nature of conversions (randomness is clumpy) and unknown quality of subscribers makes it difficult to be sure. I wouldn't be surprised if customers from YouTube tended to stick around for a shorter time than people actively looking for the site. I want to be a bit more careful this time, and so haven't gone all-in on the new campaign yet.One interesting thing I found is that if I cut the awkward "konnichiwa" from the beginning of the ad, people are almost twice as likely to watch it. As ads are paid based on view count, that might not be a good thing, but it's still interesting how such a little thing has such a big impact. For some reason YouTube prefers to show the uncut ad, and AdWords doesn't let you split-test video ads evenly, so I'm not sure which actually works better.ConclusionThanks for reading. While Candy Japan is still a great side project, it is no longer enough to completely cover my cost of living in Japan. There still are many tweaks to make to the service that could improve it, so I doubt I'll be able to resist working on it, but I should try to start spending more time prototyping (and hopefully launching) completely new ideas as well.

[relatewithrelations]

Week 1 Journal Entry 6/17-6/23

My first week at my internship was more of a transitioning period for not only myself but also the people that I'll be working with. This company is really just the two brothers I work side by side with every day, Pablo and Nacho. I think the idea of bringing in a new member for them was a little daunting as they have to teach me everything they know but at an accelerated rate. This is only made more difficult by the fact that Nacho can't speak very much English and Pablo's English, while proficient, sometimes falters with the technical business jargon. The first few days were the most difficult as I hadn't truly adjusted to hearing Spanish all the time so I was processing most information in English. After the second day or so though I was able to comprehend better because I was better acclimated to constantly thinking in Spanish. I was also able to communicate better because sometimes language is like a switch for me, it takes a second to jumpstart it but once I do I can process a lot quicker. I think the biggest struggle of the language barrier wasn't actually the barrier itself, it was how mentally exhausting it can be to sit and translate all day. My main task over the next few months is to help streamline the company so they can enter the UK and American market and to do that I have to take everything that Pablo pitches and teaches me in Spanish and transfer it to English that is easy to understand. This isn't very hard in theory, but I didn't realize the mental drainage it takes to listen to an hour and a half pitch, translate it in my head, understand it in my head, and then take cohesive and understandable notes that in a few months I will be able to use and do the same thing in English.

My main project for my first week was helping our outbound sale strategies while Pablo focused on inbound work. That involved building a landing page for our new AdWords campaign that should be launching the 25th/26th. It has been a very interesting process because I've never done something like this before. I started the process with doing research on what makes a good landing page, how they function, different design options and the pros/cons. From there I sketched out a layout that I felt would be most effective with vague general points that I could ask about to get more specific answers. After getting the initial approval and information from Pablo, I continued on in designing the website itself. I was able to find a website that made the process a bit easier because it was a drag and drop process vs coding (which I haven't done since my freshman year of university when I was still a BME major). After finishing the draft, I went to Pablo once more, made some fixes, and got the final approval. From this final approval I then had to translate my now English landing page to a Spanish landing page. This part of the process was a bit more difficult just because I don't know a lot of the technical terms for things. The irony of it is that this following semester I am taking Spanish for Business, which would be very helpful right now. After translating it to Spanish and getting it fixed (extensively) by Pablo the site was complete. From there I had to research how AdWords works on Google, efficient ad styles, how to create profitable ads, etc. I now have 3 drafts of ads with corresponding keywords. For me this project was fascinating, but not very challenging. I enjoy this type of work because I am able to be creative and also work within my own time. I think the most difficult part of this process was actually for Pablo. I believe in his mind this project was going to take me about 2 weeks or so to finish, but it took me about 3 days. What I've come to find in Spain is that work is not very efficient. There's lots of breaks and dull time of not doing anything. Not only is this very strange coming from the US where we are known to "work through lunch", but personally I'm a very efficient person. I. rather work really hard for 3 hours and be done then work inefficiently for 6 hours, it is hard for me to process getting to work at 9am, taking a coffee break at 10:30 until 11, having a two hour lunch from 1-3, then leaving work at 6. Because of this difference in society, I spent a lot of time idle my first week.

Despite all of this I think the biggest challenge I have faced so hard is the difference in the definition of professionalism in Spain. Now part of this difference is because this a tech company so they follow different rules from a "normal" corporate scheme. My three biggest struggles have been:

greetings

speech

dress

To start with greetings, everyone in Spain greets each other with two cheeks. This was an adjustment in it of itself, but I didn't think that practice would transfer to the business world. But it does. I find it highly unprofessional that I greeted my boss and new business meetings with kisses. It didn't seem the proper place for me, but it is extremely common here and it's also considered extremely rude not to. On a few occasions my boss would have to give me a little push to remind me of the practice when I would instinctively stick my hand out. Next was the speech here during business meetings or encounters. In the USA meetings are very formal and require proper jargon and proper speech. I mean there's people that are actually paid to just teach business's how to speak properly during a pitch. Here everything is very laid back. It would not be uncommon for someone to swear or use slang. When I first heard this I was a little taken aback at how informal everything was. In Spanish there is the tu form which is very informal and the usted form which is more formal. Every meeting is discussed in the tu form as if everyone has been friends for ages and not discussing 100000$ deals. Finally is the dress code and how informal it is in as opposed to the usa. So I believe there's 2 main causes of this, first being this is a tech company on the google campus so most things are informal dress wise; and the second being that it is almost 100 degrees every day here so I imagine it's difficult to dress super formally all the time. But my first few days here I was definitely one of the most dressed up person in my building, only really rivaled by the German company downstairs who I imagine have similar codes to the USA. But even then I'm not that dressed up, currently I'm wearing dress slacks, a dressy blouse, and flat sandals (I know scandalous) while Nacho sits besides me in jean shorts and a ragged t-shirt. It was a bit strange my first few days trying to define what was appropriate and what wasn't. I've pretty much defined I'll dress to the formals standards I would be expected of at home minus the things that might cause heat stroke. This would include a blazer, it's way to hot and sunny to be covered up; long sleeve shirts; tights, for the days I wear a dress or skirt I don't need to keep having to worrying about tears; makeup, I still wear some sometimes but I just sweat it off and feel gross and I work with 2 guys so they don't notice the difference anyway; and heels, I have a 30 minute walk to work every day and don't need to break and ankle in the process. Even with these "relaxed" rules I have created for myself I'm still far to formal for the workplace. But some habits die hard.

[dissertation-preparation]

DON’T BREAK THE CHAIN

Millennials are challenging the traditional notion of work. As they become the largest fraction of the U.S. & U.K. workforce, more and more businesses are struggling with the demands and work ethics of Gen Y employees. If you are struggling to understand their needs and find ways to engage with them, here are eight reasons why you might be failing and think of the whole generation as lazy and non-work driven, while the reality is quite the opposite.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/work/8-reasons-millennials-seem-lazy-work.html

Want to create good habits that stick or break a bad one? That’s the question I answer in today’s video. We can form good habits by simply performing the task each day and placing a big red X on a calendar. 

This is also known as the “don’t break the chain” technique and I go over the psychological reasons it works. I also go over how long it takes to form a habit (avg: 66 days). This trick can help you find success in developing any habit such as waking up early, exercising, or reading. This technique is widely (and falsely) attributed to Jerry Seinfeld.  I learned mid-production that Seinfeld did not invent this technique, apologies in advance. Nonetheless, it's still a good technique! 

This video goes well on the topic of “Millennials”  The 21st century has posted a new question for Millennials. Are we the laziest and most self-absorbed generation?

Lazy or Smart? 

This video made me smile! A Millennial showing his father all the clever innovative thing’s that he does to help him get through the day. Traditionalist (oldies) would see this guy as being lazy and quite inefficient, however, this advert perfectly rips apart the stereotype that all us (youngen’s) are lazy.  I will be looking into this a lot more. This idea of other generations looking down on us Millennials is actually wrong. 

Jerry Seinfield talking about how younger generation’s do not break enough, some say we are lazy, where some would say we are overworked and pushed to the limit. 

Amber Fehrenbacher, chief marketing officer of SuretyBonds, says it this way: "With answers to any possible question in the palm of their hand, in most situations, Millennials tend to take the fastest route. That's not laziness. That's problem-solving."

Mobile and collaborative technologies have enabled work to be streamlined, automated, and outsourced. If more can get done in less time today, then why are we still defining work ethic by time input and tenure? Today's work ethic should be defined by outputs and problem-solving ability.

A very different "work ethic" is needed for swinging a hammer that is needed for machine coding. After all, it's entirely likely that the GE Millennial will create more output writing code for countless machines in one hour than his "grandpappy" would have to swing a single hammer for an entire week. No disrespect--that's just the new reality of work.

"[Millennials] can code and develop apps and algorithms that will change the world. It is time to get over their shortcomings, and get down to 21st-century business," says the CEO of Peak Sales Recruiting, Eliot Burdett.

Accomplishing more work in less time, then leveraging that additional time to solve complex problems, spend time with family, or pursue a side venture is the new calling card of a 21st-century hard worker.

The "poor work ethic" label should now be reserved for those who refuse to retool and relearn for the 21st century of work.

Reasons Millennials Seem Lazy at Work

1. They no longer value the traditional workplace rules

Strict dress code? Fines for being late for 10 minutes? Meetings for the sake of meetings? Millennials no longer deem such things important and often fail to compile with out-dated rules. They will not work for a company where certain things are done because “it’s always been done that way.” This generation has often been called the generation of tinkerers and shortcut-takers. They don’t want to get things done “just because.” They want to get tasks done in the most efficient, least time-consuming way possible and squeeze out the max results.

Next time you think a 20-something employee is just being lazy, have a closer look at his productivity time. He might just have written a simple code to do copy-pasting for him and now enjoys longer lunches while the job is still being done by itself.

2. Work is not everything millennials want in life. 

They would like to have time for their friends, family, hobbies, and other small pleasures and pastimes. They work to live, not live to work. That’s why the concept of lifestyle business gained so much popularity in the last decade among these folks. Millennials want to combine their passion with profit and work long hours on projects they feel passionate about, rather than helping someone else reach their profit benchmark.

In fact, think about this the next time you are nagging a millennial about why they don’t get a real job and how they should stop wasting their time shooting makeup videos or hunting for stuff around flea markets to sell it on Ebay or Etsy: These young and extremely successful entrepreneurs built their business around their lifestyle:

3. Yes, millennials have been bashed as “the entitled generation” too many times. 

Yet the reason for this is that millennials are not seeking a life-long career to pay the bills. They want a job with a purpose and to do something meaningful in life. According to a recent survey by Deloitte, six out of 10 respondents said a sense of purpose was the main reason why they chose to work for a certain company.

On the other hand, most companies don’t provide their young employees with the desired setting as 28 percent of respondents from the same survey admitted they feel that their current employer is making full use of their skills.

If you want to keep your millennial workforce content and productive, your company should focus on empowering workers and explaining to them why they should care, stressing how each team member contributes to the overall success, and praise more individual efforts rather than team accomplishments or managers only.

4. A millennial job seeker is armed with technology and the Internet.

 They can get to know all the tiny details about your company, including reviews from former and current employers, before committing to the job. They no longer want just a desk, fixed-working hours, pension plan, and annual bonuses like other generations did.

They are more attracted by intangible benefits like a friendly work culture, a lack of micromanagement and bureaucracy, sabbaticals, and more, along with some more palpable perks like a cool office space, permission to bring pets to work, or wellness benefits. There are numerous low-cost perks a company can offer employees to keep them content, loyal, and motivated, other than lucrative salary.

5. They are used to being flexible and doing things on the go

Millennials are used to answering emails, making calls, and solving problems on the go. That’s why they don’t feel the need to be anchored to their desk during traditional work hours. Why should anyone spend eight hours in front of the desk when they are already done with their daily plan and can answer a few late emails from the nearby coffee shop?

 They just don’t get why people get paid for simply showing up unless the job requires their physical presence.This generation does not want to repeat the mistakes of their parents who spent over 60 hours per week at work; instead, they want it all — a successful career and the life outside the cubicle. 

Being tech savvy, they have the ability to set up their office anywhere and work at their own flexible hours, while accomplishing even more compared to their peers stuck in the office.

6. They are autonomous

Most of them learned to type and use Google earlier than they started writing properly. Millennials know how and where to find the information they need and often take advantage of free online learning tools out there to gain lacking skills. Besides, they grew up hearing stories about 20-something tech entrepreneurs launching their multi-billion companies from a dorm. These stories help ambitious millennial workers feel like they have the ability to be successful too.

Young executives today don’t want to be micromanaged and preached to; they want to be actively involved in the decision-making process and don’t get why their voice doesn’t count. If your company seeks innovation and the urge to progress and develop further, let them speak and act. Allowing even the most junior person on the team to share an idea about the product can bring huge positive impact.

7. They want transparency

Millennial workers don’t merely nod and do as they are told by the manager unless they see and understand the logic behind the decision. They don’t want to waste their time on things reasoned with “I’m the boss, I know better”. They want to know the “why” behind most important decisions made. .”

 They want to know why important are decisions made. They may not always agree with them, but they’ll appreciate the candidness.

8. They want to learn from experience

Most millennials are rather ambitious and won’t be satisfied with working as a middle manager for the rest of their days. They crave new knowledge and first-hand experience. They are focused on personal growth, and unlike older generations, they don’t think their education is done the day they have graduated from college. In fact, they are often life-long learners. 

They opt for courses and training based on real-life experience, rather than pursuing another degree, certification, or diploma to hang in their office.

Allow your Gen Y workforce to spend time on mastering new skills, watching courses, or listening to podcasts. In fact, encourage them and set up a tuition-reimbursement fund, occasionally invite speakers to your office, and send your employees to training sessions and workshops.

[reflectionsonredemption]

Setting Healthy Smartphone Boundaries: the why & the how

I love social media. Chances are, you are reading this post because you follow me on a social media platform, and thus most likely already know this about me. I think social media gives us incredible opportunities to create, connect, encourage, and inspire. I love being able to keep up with my friends around the world (shoutout to my Costa Rica ticas!), to make people laugh, to celebrate the gifts of life, to encourage and to be encouraged in thinking deeper about issues regarding the world and God. 

I also hate social media. I hate the countless hours I spend scrolling through my feed, accomplishing nothing except to increase feelings of guilt and dissatisfaction at all the time I’ve wasted. I hate the spirit of comparison and discontentment bred in my heart and my mind as I view the lives of my friends through the fragmented lens of highlight posts. I hate the need I feel so often to document every moment of my life, a distraction which often keeps me from being fully engaged with the people and the setting surrounding me. 

This summer has offered me many opportunities to reflect on my social media habits and assess the hold that my phone has on me. My mom one week heard a sermon on smartphones and encouraged my brother and I to go social media free for a month. A few days after I logged out, I heard 2 back-to-back sermons on smartphone and social media habits, and found that my youth pastors decided to preach a series this summer based off of Tony Reinke’s “Twelve Ways Your Smartphone is Changing You”. Needless to say, it seemed that God was trying to get my attention. 

I decided to buy the Tony Reinke’s book and read it for myself, so this blog post is a compliation of things I have learned through his book, through the sermons of my youth pastors, and through my own personal reflections during my month-long social media fast. 

I’d assume that a large majority of us, if we’re honest, recognize that there’s a change that needs to take place when it comes to social media and phone habits. If you, like me, are a part of that majority, this post is directed towards you. I’m realizing that change in habits and lifestyle takes more than just self-awareness and good intentions. It’s an important first step to realize that change needs to take place, but if you stop there, you’ll end up with a lot of failures and frustrations along with those good intentions.

So, here are 3 steps to curbing your smartphone addiction:

1. Recognize the Problem.

How is this issue affecting me personally?

This step requires some brutally honest reflection on all the areas of your life that have been affected by your smartphone. During my month off of social media, I kept a journal of my reflections. Here are a few ways I found that social media has been affecting me:

Need for constant affirmation

(A lot of) wasted time

Lack of Productivity

Fear of awkward situations

Increased discontentment when comparing my life to my friends’ lives

Decreased time in the Word

Waking up feeling unrested due to late nights scrolling on my phone

Questions to consider: How have my relationships, study habits, Bible study, family, time management, sleep patterns, etc. been affected by my phone usage?

2. Set specific boundaries.

What can I do to make sure I am the one controlling my phone, and it is not controlling me?

After reflecting on the areas of my life that social media has effected, I prayed that God would help me to set specific boundaries to protect my heart and mind from being controlled by a need to be on my phone constantly.  I do believe that my phone provides unique opportunities to connect and encourage friends around the world, but in order to maximize those opportunities, I need boundaries to ensure that I am the one controlling my phone and it is not controlling me. Here are a few of the specific boundaries that I set for myself, with Scripture verses for reference:

1. No social media in the morning before spiritual disciplines.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Every day I wake up to fight a spiritual battle, and I have to fix my mind on Jesus and surrender my selfish desires every morning. It is important to recognize that my desire for social media in the morning is fed by my desire to know who has taken notice of me, as well as my desire to avoid the responsibility of the day, and to not fuel those desires by picking up my phone first thing in the morning. 

There’s a great little 8-minute podcast by John Piper here on why not to check your phone in the morning. He says, “Every morning, our first cry should be our need for God”.

2. Turn off phone 1 hour before going to sleep.

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth.

Emotions usually run high at night, so it is wise to unplug early (for me, generally 10pm). I should fall asleep thinking about things above and dwelling on questions of eternity, rather than trying to pacify my loneliness through shallow social media interactions. I also sleep better when I’m not on my phone at night. Instead of social media, use time at night to pray or read. 

3. Don’t bring phone into the bedroom or bathroom.

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.

I waste a lot of time on my phone just scrolling through it in bed both during the day and at night, and even in the bathroom (a more common thing than we care to admit). This physical boundary is a protection of my space and time. 

4. No social media/texting in the car. 

Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Not making any allowances for checking social media even at stoplights is to eliminate distractions for safety reasons, but also to curb my desire for constant distraction. Also, allow times of driving in silence. I should be able to sometimes drive in silence and not always feel the need to have music or some other distraction. Instead, I can use that time to think and pray.

5. Fast from social media one day a week.

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Even if I don’t observe the Sabbath by ceasing from all labor, taking one day a week away from social media is a good way to recalibrate and ensure that I am not addicted to my phone. Instead, I can use this opportunity to rest and enjoy the Lord’s presence. Additionally, at times I find myself too attached to my phone, I should take week-long fasts several times throughout the year. 

6. Pray before you post.

Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. 

I am accountable for every word I speak, and doubly so for my posts because those words remain long after they leave my fingertips. Everything I post either is directing people towards Christ or away from Christ, and I need to humbly check my motives before posting and ask myself whose glory I am trying to promote. Some helpful questions to ask myself before posting are:

Will this ultimately glorify me or God?

Will this misrepresent me or is it authentic?

Will this potentially breed jealousy in others?

Will this build up or tear down?

Additional Boundaries

I was trying to pick my top 5 boundaries, but I just couldn’t cut out any of those 6 because they are so necessary for me. In addition to those 6, here are some more boundaries and guidelines to control my phone usage:

Turn off non-essential push notifications

Don’t always respond right away

No phone during family time or when spending time with friends

use phone time tracking apps to try to limit phone time to less than 2 hours a day (that seems like a lot, but try downloading a tracking app such as Moments- you’ll be surprised at how fast those minutes on your phone add up)

When tempted to check phone or use social media to distract myself from difficult emotions, instead pray

Periodically delete social media apps from phone

Put phone away or turn it off after posting and avoid monitoring “likes”

3. Be accountable.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Anyone who has ever tried to stick to New Years’ resolutions, break a habit, start a diet, or change his or her life in some fashion knows that you can’t do it alone. You need more than willpower, more than good intentions, and even more than specific boundaries- you need accountability. I would encourage you, once you have prayed through your specific boundaries, to print them off and ask your brothers and sisters in Christ to keep you accountable to these boundaries. It’s not easy to change a habit, but I promise- it is worth it. My youth pastor engrained this quote on self-control in my mind growing up, and it is one I refer to often when thinking of this battle of setting boundaries with my smartphone:

Self-control is sacrificing what you want in the moment for what you want most. 

Now, these boundaries are my personal boundaries that I have set for myself after praying through the ways I am affected by my smart phone and social media. They may look a bit different for you, but I would encourage you to take a short fast from your phone to pray through your own specific boundaries. I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this topic!