How often do you see a homeless person on the street asking for money, food, or shelter?
Even though you might have an idea about how they ended up being homeless, you will never know what they would do with what they are asking for until you give it to them.

This homeless man shows us how he would spend a $100 gift. Yes, 100 bucks.

And believe me, it’s not what you think.

You will be touched!

You will also learn to never judge a person based on their appearance only; look further than that!

Traveling is such an exciting proposition. It gets even more exciting if you head out to exotic places seldom visited by tourists. It becomes most thrilling if it will land you in some of the most difficult runways and airplane approaches on earth. Here is a list of the top 10 most dangerous airports in the world.

10. Qamdo Bamda Airport, Tibet

It is also known as the Changdu Bangda Airport, this airport is located in Bamda, Qamdo in Tibet in China. It is considered as the highest airport in the world at an elevation of 4,334 meters. It also has the longest publicly-used paved runway in the world at 5.5 kilometers. The thin air in the place means that passengers alighting from the plane may feel some dizziness and light headedness. The engines of aircrafts must also put up with more stress as the higher elevation means that less thrust is produced.

9. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba Island

The Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is located in the Netherlands’ island in the Caribbean called Saba. Its runways have a length of only 400 meters and end with a cliff drop to the sea. High hills also flank one side of the runway. It is so dangerous that it has been officially declared as closed to traffic, although the Civil Aviation Authority of the Netherlands Antilles grants some exceptions.

8. Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthelemy

Also known as Saint Barthelemy Airport or St. Jean Airport, Gustaf III Airport is located in the French-administered Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy. It was named after the 18th century king of Sweden after he bought the island from France, though it was later sold back in 1878. The airport has a short runway that usually accommodates only small aircrafts of less than 20 passengers. The runway is at the base of a slope that ends on the beach. Planes exercise caution during the approach because of the hilltop traffic. Planes taking off do so right over the heads of people sunbathing at the beach.

7. Ice Runway, Antarctica

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The Ice Runway is owned by the United States and is the principal airstrip for the country’s Antarctic program during the summer field season. While there are a couple of other runways in the area, namely Williams Field and Pegasus Field, the Ice Runway was developed for passenger transportation in order to free up the capacity for cargo space brought by the C17 aircraft. It can handle wheeled aircraft, including the Boeing 757. While pilots say that the surface is as stable as cement during landing, the problem occurs when the plane comes to a stop as it can sink the ice, though only in inches.

6. Courchevel Airport, France

Courchevel Airport is an airport that serves the ski area in the French Alps. It has an upslope runway that is adjacent to a popular area for ski runs. Aircrafts cannot make landings during fogs or low clouds because of the airport’s lack of instrument approach procedures. Its runway measures only 525 meters long. It primarily serves only small fixed winged aircrafts and helicopters. The airfield itself has an elevation of 6,588 meters.

5. Barra International Airport, Scotland

Barra International Airport is also known as the Barra Eoligarry Airport. It is located in Barra Island in Outer Hebrides in Scotland. It is the only airport in the world that actually uses a beach as a runway. When high tide comes, the runways actually go under the sea. Thus, flights are scheduled based on the tide. The airport has short runways, with three runways forming a triangle marked by permanent wooden poles at the ends. Small aircrafts like Twin Otters can land into the wind.

4. Toncontin International Airport, Honduras

Toncontin International Airport is also known as the Teniente Coronel Hernan Acosta Mejia Airport. It is located in Tegucigalpa in Honduras and serves both civilian and military aircrafts. It has a short runway and is extremely close to mountain terrains. Its runways are significantly shorter than other international airports, despite recent efforts to extend its length. The single asphalt runway measures only 2,163 meters and sits at an elevation of 1,005 meters.

3. Tenzing Hillary Airport, Nepal

Tenzing Hillary Airport is also known as Lukia Airport. It is named after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first people to reach the peak of Mount Everest. It is located in the place where hikers begin their climb to the base camp of Mount Everest. It is almost always beset with high winds and cloud cover, making visibility unpredictable even though the skies may be clear and the sun is shining in the capital of Kathmandu. The runway measures only 460 meters and can only accommodate small planes and helicopters. Due to the terrain, arriving planes can use only one runway. Departing aircrafts use another.

2. Madeira Airport, Portugal

Madeira Airport is also known as Santa Catarina Airport or Funchal Airport. It is located in Madeira Island in Portugal. The ocean and high mountains surround the runway. Once infamous for its short runway, Portuguese authorities were able to double it through outstanding engineering. Instead of reclaiming land from the sea, they decided to build a series of 180 columns measuring 70 meters tall. The ingenuity shown in extending the runway earned the airport recognition from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.

1. Gibraltar International Airport, Gibraltar

Gibraltar International Airport is a civilian airport in the British territory of Gibraltar. The airport’s runway intersects with Winston Churchill Avenue, the main road leading to the border with Spain. Traffic therefore has to be stopped every time a plane lands or departs. The terminal features the scenic Rock of Gibraltar in its background. Though considered a British territory in which the ownership is disputed by Spain, the airport is also widely used by people going to or coming from the nearby Spanish areas of Costa del Sol and Campo de Gibraltar.

1. First and foremost, take it slow! Always be sure to pay attention to your partner’s needs and desires.

2.  Start the foreplay! Let her warm up to you with some tender cuddling.

3. Kiss her slowly and sensually. Caress her neck and shoulders to deepen your connection.

4. Slowly but confidently massage every inch of her skin. If she’s receptive to it, try using your tongue.

5. Once she’s comfortable, invoke the sigil of a long-dead Elder God of your choosing.

6. Wrap the unknown terror of the universe around her very soul like a warm cloak of the finest sable. If done right, this will really get her going!

7. Shed your human form and become the physical embodiment of Athnaug’r Un Dre’gn , Lord of the Ever Burning Dread.

8. Try introducing a fun new twist like oils or scented candles.

9. Open your Secret Mouth and let the Song of Madness spill forth from your cursed lips.

10. If all the above steps are performed correctly, your partner will be begging for more. At least they would be, if their mind weren’t trapped forever in a pitch-black ocean of everlasting insanity, you STUD!

Almost everyone wants to sleep better and feel more rested when they awake in the morning. A good way to encourage this is to avoid certain habits before going to bed that can keep one awake or prevent restful, full-REM sleep.

1. Avoid stimulants, including food. Caffeine, exercise, sugary foods, spicy foods; actually, all food in general. Put away the ice cream, celery, and cereal. Exercise is a great idea – but do it during the day. Exercising before bed will keep one awake due to the invigorating effects of exercise. Exercise can help one sleep more soundly at night, but only if it’s done several hours beforehand. Try not to exercise within three hours of bedtime, as it can raise one’s body temperature and make dozing off more difficult. You can try these bedtime yoga moves in your bed.


2. Don’t take a hot shower or bath at least an hour before bed. Much like exercise, a hot shower or bath before bed may seem like a good idea at the time, but it also can raise the body’s internal temperature and make it more difficult to sleep. Try to allow the body time to cool off before hopping between the sheets. Being overheated or sweating can impede slumber.
3.  Avoid caffeine. Seems like an obvious choice but we are including it anyway. Try not to have anything caffeinated after 4 pm. The body’s natural cycle starts to wind down after this time and keeping it stimulated can mess with one’s internal ‘clock,’ throwing off its natural rhythm and causing sleep disruptions. Alcohol can also cause sleep disruptions, but drinking a lot of any liquid within the last hour or two before going to bed will lead to those dreaded late-night bathroom breaks, and further disrupt slumber. Don’t go to bed thirsty, either, as it’ll cause one to wake up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. Balance is key here.
4.  


5. Food is problematic because sometimes, one is simply too hungry to sleep, however this is a sign that one is not getting enough protein or fiber in their diet, which causes the body to feel hungry. The body does need fuel to sleep, but eating right before bed can cause problems as it takes energy to digest and gravity has a major role in the digestive process. If one lies down right after eating, it robs the body of that much-needed gravity and causes gastro-intestinal issues, the least of which include symptoms of heartburn and/or nausea.

1. Try not to watch TV or surf the web at least an hour before retiring for the night. Studies show that pre-slumber screen time can impede the body’s ability to fall asleep. The likely culprit? The bright lights of these screens can hinder the development of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep.
2. In the same vein, don’t work (including homework) or have an argument right before going to sleep. That old adage of not going to bed angry is true here. These things can keep the mind whirring until late into the night, causing mental distress and losing valuable sleep-time. Whatever the issue is, it can certainly wait until morning.
3. Avoid engrossing reads! Many of us have done this: reading a really interesting novel and tell yourself, “Oh, just one more page!” Suddenly, it’s 2AM and the alarm will be going off in four hours. Definitely, reading a really interesting book, essay or novel before bed will make it difficult to get to sleep. Perhaps try reading the most boring thing imaginable? Read the manual for an electronic that’s stuffed away somewhere in the house or print off a Terms of Use Agreement.
4. Don’t cuddle with a pet. It may seem like a good idea to let Fido or Prissy into the bed, but the reality is that six-pound terrier can take up a lot of space and isn’t going to be happy if accidentally rolled over on or woken when its owner decides to move in their sleep. Not to mention pets will sleep a couple hours, then get up to investigate another part of the house, which can disturb one’s sleep. Even if you don’t fully wake up when the pet leaves the bed, it will still disrupt the REM cycle. According to a study by Mayo Clinic, more than half of the insomnia patients seeking consultations at Mayo Clinic sleep clinic are pet owners complaining of nightly sleep disturbances by their furry companions

The Best Time To Eat A Banana- Is it healthier to eat a banana while it’s fresh or when it’s ripe?


Many people are wondering about when it’s the best time to eat a banana. Interestingly, the nutritional profile of bananas changes as they ripen. You may have noticed that the more ripe your banana is, the sweeter it tastes. This is because enzymes in the fruit’s tissues are progressively breaking down starch (long polymeric form of sugar that doesn’t taste sweet) into simple sugars (monosaccharides, disaccharides, etc which taste sweet).



Since in a ripen banana, the enzymes have already done the task of breaking that starch down, your body doesn’t need to. Therefore, you will absorb the sugars into your blood stream quickly which causes a “spike” in blood sugar.

In contrast, there may be some benefit to eating the ripe banana. Japanese researchers have shown that the antioxidant and anti-cancer properties of the banana surge as it ripens. Full ripe banana with dark patches on yellow skin produces a substance called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. The more darker patches it has the higher will be its immunity enhancement quality; Hence, the riper the banana the better the anti-cancer quality. Yellow skin banana with dark spots on it is 8x more effective in enhancing the property of white blood cells than green skin version.

In conclusion, the ripe banana is your best option when your body needs quick sugar. If you don’t want the fast hike in your blood sugar levels, you could consider eating the ripe banana with some nut butter (the fat slows the absorption of sugars into your blood stream) or simply eat the banana while it’s still greenish (level 3 or 4 in the pic)

The proper hormonal balance is one of the most important factors in good health. People who are suffering from hormonal imbalances can suffer from a wide range of medical conditions that will make life miserable. If you are suffering from something that you just can’t seem to shake off, you may need to get your hormone levels checked. Here is a look at seven signs that your hormones are out of whack.

1. Constant Fatigue
When your hormone levels are off, one of the most prominent symptoms is a constant state of fatigue. This fatigue can stay with you no matter how much sleep you get. If you are always yawning and never seem to have enough energy, then you should get your hormone levels checked to see if they are okay.

2. Night Sweats
This is one of the most troubling symptoms of hormonal imbalances. When you wake up in the middle of the night in a puddle of sweat, it is a very disconcerting sensation. Getting your hormone levels balanced will quickly eliminate night sweats.

3. Skin Changes
If you are suddenly experiencing acne again for the first time since you were a teenager, then you are likely suffering from a hormonal imbalance. The skin can easily be affected by hormone changes. Seeing acne when you are getting on in years is one of the easiest ways to tell that you are having trouble with your hormones.

4. Hair Changes
One of the parts of your body that is most affected by your hormones is your hair. This includes both your body hair as well as the hair on your head. When you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance, you will often start to get hair growing in places where you don’t want it. If you are suddenly developing a moustache or other unwanted body hair, you need to get your hormone levels checked.
On the other hand, a hormonal imbalance can also cause the hair on the top of your head to start thinning. This thinning hair is another good sign that your hormones are out of whack.

5. Weird Periods
Your period will be stable and predictable when your hormones are in balance. When you start to miss periods or have them arrive at unpredictable times, then you are most likely suffering from a hormonal imbalance.

6. Emotional Problems
Every woman knows that hormone levels have a direct link to emotions. A look at the mood swings that come along with things like pregnancy and menstruation are proof of this. Likewise, a hormonal imbalance can throw your emotions out of whack. Unexplained emotional turmoil is a good sign that your hormones need some balancing.

7. Metabolism Problems
If you cannot seem to lose weight no matter how much you diet or exercise, it could be due to a hormonal imbalance. Likewise, if you have sudden weight gains or losses that are inexplicable, you should get your hormone levels checked to make sure they are not the cause.

Are you tired of being tired? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans report feeling tired during the day. In most cases, this issue can be attributed to lifestyle factors. Here are ten bad habits that drain your energy.

1. Dehydration
Without enough water, you blood becomes thicker and requires more effort from your heart to circulate. Blood is also less able to transport nutrients and oxygen, making you feel tired easily.

2. Going to Bed Too Late
Researchers have found that the most critical stages of sleep occur between 10pm and 1am. If you feel like hitting the snooze every morning, consider adjusting your bedtime.

3. Not Exercising
When you feel like skipping the gym because of low energy, you might want to try going anyway. Studies show that even light exercise had the unexpected effect of actually boosting energy levels.

4. Low Iron Levels
If you’re eschewing certain foods like eggs, liver and red meat, your low energy may be caused by low iron. Without adequate iron, you can’t produce enough blood cells to efficiently transport oxygen to the heart, lungs and brain.

5. High Standards
Having lofty expectations of yourself and others is tiring. It’s easy to overexert yourself in an effort to complete everything you think you should be doing. It’s important not to overburden yourself and to keep your goals reasonable.

6. Skipping Breakfast
Many people skip breakfast in an attempt to control their weight. However, doing so may undermine your entire day. After fasting all night, your body needs calories and nutrients to produce energy.

7. Standard American Diet
Processed foods are convenient if you live a busy life, but they’re actually working against you. Their highly refined and chemical-laden nature steals more nutrients from your body than it provides, which can make you feel sluggish.

8. Being a People-Pleaser
Wanting to make others happy is an admirable quality, but it can be taken too far. Trying to please everyone is mentally and physically exhausting, and meanwhile, you’re not taking any time to take care of you.

9. Clutter
As the saying goes, “A cluttered workspace makes a cluttered mind.” It takes more mental effort to find what you need amongst a sea of others, so you wear out faster.

10. Not Enough Downtime
Working hard without taking time to relax leads exhaustion and eventual burnout. Be sure to take time away from projects to focus on what you want to do.

Goals: We love them, we hate them, and we should never live without them. So many goals set and so little time to accomplish them or so little drive to pursue them!  How can you actually achieve your goals?
While there isn’t a magic wand that you can simply point at your goals and watch them become realities, you can definitely take steps to ensure you achieve the goals you set. Let’s explore the steps you can take but keep in mind that you are uniquely and wonderfully made; so take what you can use and tailor it to fit your needs. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal, it’s about the journey to finding what drives you and keeps you focused on achieving the goals you set for your life.

Step 1: Believe

Believing is an interesting concept: it takes an element of knowledge and faith. You must believe that you can achieve your goals because you have the “knowledge” necessary to achieve them (if you don’t have the knowledge, get it!) and you have the “faith” to pursue them. Believing that you are capable of achieving the goals you set for yourself may be the single most important thing you can do when setting out to achieve your goals. After all, if you don’t believe in yourself, who else will? So, whatever you set your mind to, whatever goal you want to achieve, believe that you have or will have the capacity to achieve it.

Step 2: Do it anyway

At the risk of sounding oh-so-cheesy: think of Phil Collins and the song “Against All Odds” when setting out to achieve your goals. Sure, people may laugh on your face or behind your back, life may ridicule you for having a goal, and you may second guess yourself more than a dozen times, but even if you are “against all odds” when pursuing your goal, do it anyway. You have one life to live, and nothing to lose by trying. You will live no life and lose everything if you don’t try at all.
The amazing world re-known speaker Les Brown is a perfect example of this very important step; after being labeled “educable mentally retarded” Mr. Brown went on to be a broadcast station manager, political commentator and multi-term state representative in Ohio. Sure, everyone around him doubted his intelligence and capabilities, but he continued on and pressed toward his goal. When all odds seemed to have been against him, he did it anyway.

Step 3: Be fearless

Ok, so you believe you can do it, you are doing it against all odds, now, you must strive to be fearless. While there is a good chance that you’ve already messed with your comfort zone if you’ve gotten this far down the steps, in order to achieve your goals, you must cleave on to fearlessness. Why is being fearless so important? Because you will fail many times, and it is only through fearlessness that you will have the courage to face failure and say: “I am moving forward, I am pressing on.”

Step 4: Practice Persistence

In order to achieve success when setting out to reach your goals, it is imperative that you be persistent. You must be persistent not only in following all these steps but also on your strategy to achieve your goals.  Whatever plan you set for yourself in order to achieve your goals, don’t cut yourself any slack. Be persistent in the time you get up, the time you go to sleep, the time you take to plan and the time you take to dream. Persistence will not only keep you standing firm and tall in the face of failure but it will build self-control, a crucial ingredient for success!

Step 5: Be patient

Patience these days is a very rare quality. We are practically born with an inpatient gene, one that carries us through life with the expectation that because our mac & cheese is done in exactly 3 minutes, everything else in life should follow that pattern. Well, this I-want-it-now disease is your biggest threat to achieving your goals. Nothing that is worth pursuing is done in the blink of an eye; it takes times, hard work, and you must definitely be patient. When desperation for the lack of success starts to creep into your soul, practice patience and remind yourself that you have been created for greatness and are endowed with the necessary abilities to succeed in the achieving all your goals.

Music is one of the great gifts of life. There is nothing like music to reach into our souls and pull out the emotion we have squashed down and wedged into a tiny corner. Sometimes it is so wedged that we don’t even know it is there. Sometimes it takes a really great song to bring it out and let it go. Music can also fill us with hope and give us solace when nothing else seems to be able to.
Below, I share with you my top favorite songs which give me strength, hope and make me feel that there are people out there who do understand what we are thinking and feeling on a daily basis, even if we are too afraid to tell anyone. Please listen to and love these songs knowing that there are great people out there who are really working to make life better for you and everyone around you.

What a Wonderful World: Bob Thiele and George David Weiss

“And I think to myself, What a Wonderful World.”

Originally made famous by Louie Armstrong, this song carries such a  beautiful message and there is no one better to sing it than the immortal Eva Cassidy. No matter how down you are, you have to admit that there is some hope left in the world when you hear this song.

Sonata Pathetique: Ludwig Van Beethoven

Ludwig Van Beethoven was one of the most interesting artists in history.Beethoven was raised by an alcoholic father who he kicked out of the house when he was 18 to raise his brothers and sisters. He suffered all his life from disabling stomach ailments and ultimately lost his hearing, which caused him such anguish that he shunned people and lived in solitude for fear his secret deafness would be discovered.
After he died, in his belongings was found a document now called the Heilingenstad Testament , in which he details his thoughts and feelings at a crucial time in his life. In the document, he alludes to taking his own life but casts the idea aside knowing that he had too much music left in him to stop living. The document reveals a brilliant man tortured by the loss of the one sense that he needed the most and his efforts to hide it. This piece, part of a full Sonata (a piece of music written to be played rather than sung and following a specific form) is the Adagio Cantibile section, the part that is played slowly and in a singing manner. To my mind, it is the single most stunning piece of artistic mastery there is. Here it is played perfectly my Daniel Berenboim.

Take On Me: Aha

“But I’ll be stumbling, slowly learning that life is ok.”

I don’t know why, but this song  had me from the very first time I heard it. There is something about the sweeping pitch changes in the chorus that never fail to tweak my heartstrings and somehow make me feel like things are all going to work out right. It is just a great song.

Lyle Workman, Brent Bourgeois: I Don’t Mind at All

“Misery loves company but she will never foot the bill.”

Back in the 80′s, I was fortunate enough to be part of the San Francisco Bay Area original music scene. At that time, I was privileged to hang out with one of the members of Bourgeois-Tagg, who wrote the music for this song. Lyle was always a brilliant genius and went on to score major films such as “Superbad“, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and numerous others. I will always remember this song. One great evening, my band opened for Bourgeois-Tagg and I was watching from the wings when they played it. I will never forget that evening. This is one of the most perfect songs I have ever heard, and to this day people still love it.

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen

“Love is not a victory march, its a cold and its a broken Hallelujah.”

I am sure you remember this song from “Shrek.” It is the perfect heartbreak song. This recording is done by Jon Bon Jovi. I love this version because it is simple and a song so perfect should be represented simply. Too much ornamentation distracts. It takes a great artist to recognize this fact. Jon Bon Jovi is a great artist.

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: Ashford and Simpson

“No wind, no rain, will stop me baby.”

You remember this song sung by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell and later by Diana Ross and the Supremes. What greater declaration of strength and loyalty than this beautiful song?

I Will Always Love You: Dolly Parton

“I will always love you.”

Yes, this is the song made famous by the beautiful Whitney Houston, but it was written by Dolly Parton. Not only is this song perfectly written lyrically, the simple chorus allowed Ms. Houston to really flex her considerable vocal talents, which she did with impeccable taste. This video always brings tears to my eyes. We will always love you Whitney.

Nessun Dorma: Giacomo Puccini

“On your mouth I will tell it when the sun shines.”

From the opera Turandot. This is the aria from the final act of this opera. The aria is sung by the character Calaf, who has fallen in love with the beautiful but, let’s face it, completely nuts Princess Turandot. The Princess, being Herman Goering in a body suit apparently, has set up three riddles for her perspective suitors to answer. If they cannot, they are beheaded; if one can, he can marry her.
Calaf has answered all three but gives the Princess one more chance by telling her that if she can discover his name by morning, she can execute him. She then decrees that no one in the kingdom shall sleep and must find the answer by morning otherwise they will all be executed. This I find a little harsh, even for opera; however, the aria itself is amazingly beautiful and tenors all over the world have chosen to take a stab at it. It is fraught with danger just like the path of Calaf, in that there are some superb high notes at the end that are sustained. One flashbulb popping or cell phone going off while singing this and you are toast as a tenor.

Caruso: Lucio Dalla

“When he saw the moon coming out from the cloud, even death seemed sweet to him.”

Ok, I know I am getting all verklempt and gushy about these songs but I am not even kidding, This one, written by Lucio Dalla in 1986, was not made famous until after his death at which point it jumped the charts to number 2.
The song is dedicated to Italian tenor Enrico Caruso and is said to describe what the composer pictured as the final scene of his life. It is achingly beautiful and when sung in Italian by Lara Fabian, it will definitely make your eyes wet.

Amazing Grace: John Newton

“How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.”

This is a song of redemption and hope. The best version I have ever seen and heard is Renee Fleming singing it at the ceremony at the anniversary of Ground Zero in New York. Standing in front of all the people who had lost loved ones and confronting their grief was so difficult that she had to look up in an effort to hold it together. A performance like that takes so much strength and resolve. Filling an area, the scene of such horrific events, with beauty and compassion is the mark of a great artist and she will be remembered for her beauty and her grace far into future generations.

Laudate Dominum: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

“For his love is powerful, his faith, eternal.”

Also known as Psalm 117. This beautiful version is sung to perfection by the lovely Ceclilia Bartoli. Mozart was so gifted in writing stunningly beautiful melodies with perfect harmony to accompany them. His works are a gift to us centuries after he created them.

Mary: Sarah McLauchlan

“With trembling hands she reaches out, a stranger’s flesh is offered.”

This is a song about sacrifice and compassion despite being treated unkindly. The lyrics are so universal. It makes you stop and look at life and the people in it.

Then They Do: Trace Atkins

“You want all the dreams that they dreamed to come true, then they do.”

If you are a parent, this will hit you where you live. Sniff!

Vincent: Don McClean

“They did not listen. they did not know how. Perhaps they’ll listen now.”

A beautifully crafted song by a consummate songwriter. I only wish Vincent could be here to hear how well he was understood, if not in his own time, in times that would be his future. I think it would have given him solace. He never knew what he meant to all of us.

Deja Vu: The Shrews

“I remember all the things I should have said, But I always say the opposite instead.”

Ok, this may not make you cry but you will love it! The Shrews are a new group of fabulous musicians. What can I say? The songs are just catchy as hell! After all those tears, you have to get up and dance!

Live in the moment. It sounds simple enough but we as human beings have an incredibly difficult time enjoying the moment. Why is that? I believe we tend to spend so much time replaying past moments or planning too much for the future, that we miss out on the great moments that are unveiling right before use. So often we fail to stop and smell the roses. We don’t take the time to enjoy the present moment. This is sad because we have no idea how many more moments we will be fortunate to experience.
I am not proposing that we should spend less time planning. That would be misguided advice. Goal setting is important for us if we desire a contentment in our personal and professional lives. Setting achievable goals and taking the steps to accomplish them is a powerful way to cultivate personal responsibility. Implementing this kind of goal-setting provides meaning in our lives because we exude dedication, a strong work ethic, and often perseverance in attainment of these goals.
I believe our society has become a society so enamored with planning. There is often way too much talk of building for the future but what about building for the now? We all desire genuine happiness, and in order to manifest this joy we have to live presently. Too much focus on the future often leads to stress and negative thinking.
Why should you be focused on living in the moment, rather than planning too much for the future?

1. The present moment is the only moment you have control over right now

No matter how much you plan you never know for sure how life is going to play out. The only time you will know is when you are in that moment. The moment you experience right now is the only moment you can control. You can choose to enjoy the moment or you can choose to loathe the moment. You can also choose to ignore the moment completely and waste it away, but either way, the present moment is yours to control. Planning isn’t going to take you out of the present. It might help you accomplish your goals but it is not going to improve your quality of life for the present moment. Planning isn’t going to guarantee you a desired outcome for the future so why not accept what you can control now?

2. Each moment is a gift

There is no guarantee on the number of moments you will get to experience. This is extremely important to realize. No one knows when the next moment of their life is going to be taken away from them. Your next moment is not guaranteed, so why not take advantage of the one you are in? You can’t live with this unique perspective if you are constantly planning for the next stage of your life. You can only experience this zest for life if you are living in the present moment. It may even sound corny and unrealistic, but it makes perfect sense. Don’t take moments for granted. Plan when it is necessary but not at the expense of you enjoying the present moment. As the old cliche states that life is short, so you enjoy it while you can.

3. Being present is a great stress reducer

Thinking too much about the future, and the past, are often causes of stress. Even though some stress can be beneficial, the stress caused from not living in the moment can be detrimental to one’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Overplanning can lead to unneccessary stress when the planning prevents you from living in the moment. Invigorate your life with present living strategies that will enable you to stay more focused on each moment.
You probably don’t have the luxury of meditating five hours a day and not setting some type of plan for your future, but implementing small changes into your life should help reduce stress. Observe when your mind begins to focus on the future instead of the present moment you are experiencing. Ask yourself if this thought process is necessary. Simple awareness and recognition of your thoughts will assist you in being more present.

4. Plans often don’t manifest themselves the way you want or expect

This is a reality whether you want to believe it or not. How many times have you tried planning something but it just didn’t work out the way you want? How did you react? Did you get upset or did you handle the situation with acceptance and understanding? Plans fail. As a member of a flawed species, you fail often. It is a part of life. Attempting to plan for every step of your life is not only impossible but it is probably not healthy for you. The more you plan, the more likely you are to become irritated or upset when those plans don’t come into fruition.
I am not suggesting you shouldn’t plan with the attitude that the plan will fail, but I am proposing that you let life play its course and just be. Go ahead and make plans if that is helpful for you but don’t lose sight of the present moment. If your plans don’t work out the way you want, then at least try to accept it.

5. Living in the present will make you happier

I don’t like to throw the phrase “make you happier” around too often because nothing makes you happy but yourself. In saying that, living in the present is one of the sure fire methods you can adopt in order to manifest genuine happiness in your life. Without delving into the all the data and research that is available, it is being discovered that present living is one of the most influential keys to well-being. Too much long-term planning is going to prevent you from enjoying the beauty of now. Don’t impede yourself from experiencing contentment. Practice living presently, and observe how it makes you feel. Plan when you need to but don’t lose sight of what is currently happening.
Find a balance between living in the moment and planning. You are only going to be able to control the moment you have right now. The moment you have right now is a gift. Enjoy less stress by relishing the moment. Understand that plans don’t always turn out as expected. Accept the present for what it is and be happy. Plan as you feel it necessary. Save money for a family and house. Invest in yourself. Set goals for yourself and realize them. That is what you are supposed to do. In this pursuit of planning don’t forget about where you are in the present.

The people you meet always add something to your life, be it negative or positive. Regardless of the type of impact they leave, you always learn a valuable lesson from their presence. Below are the different types of people you have to meet in your 20s to help shape you into the person you want to be.

1. The Giver

This person has dedicated their whole life to the simple art of giving. Be it giving a homeless person loose change or their time to an animal shelter, they are always giving. Being around this giving nature will unintentionally motivate you to give more of yourself too.

2. The Adventurer

The Adventurer is always going somewhere and always doing something unbelievably exciting. Although you may not always be up for everything they are up to, simply being around them when they do thrilling things will inspire you to break out of your comfort zone and do things you never would normally do. This person will push you to travel the world, which is what everybody in their twenties has to do at some point.

3. The Helper

This person is always willing to help no matter what their situation is. Whether it’s you in trouble or someone else, this person is always ready to help. Being around this person drives you to be more aware of people who are in need of help and extend your hand more than you usually would.

4. The Complainer

For this person, nothing is ever good enough. Nothing can ever meet their standards. When you are around them, all you ever hear is them complaining about something or the other. Although this may not be the healthiest environment, it helps you reflect on your views in life and makes you appreciate things more. Being around the complainer actually makes you complain less.

5. The Risk-taker

This person is constantly taking risks in their relationships or even in their workplace. They always seem to place everything on the line, which may not always work out well. Seeing them being extremely brave with their choices motivates you to be the same way. Even if you don’t become an extreme risk taker, you end up pushing yourself to be more risky than you usually would.

6. The Free-spirit

The Free-spirit has no ties to anything or anyone. They are constantly changing jobs and moving from one relationship to the next. They constantly move houses and sometimes countries.You may find it very hard to keep track of where this person is or what they are doing. Their freedom reminds you to not take life so seriously. They remind you how transient things can be, which helps you enjoy moments in life more.

7. The Stable One

The complete opposite of the Free-spirit, the Stable One has their life in order. They have the standard nine to five job with the very stable relationship and a lease contract valid for more than a year. These people weren’t always this stable. In fact, they probably were messes a couple of years ago. Being around them reminds you that it’s possible to gain stability even if it seems like your life is a mess. After meeting them, you know that things will get better with time.

8. The Bossy One

The Bossy One feels the need to take charge in every situation, which can get incredibly irritating at times. The Bossy One shows you how important taking charge is but also when you need to take a step back.

9. The Honest One

This person will tell you to the truth no matter what. It doesn’t matter if you are in tears, you know you’ll hear the honest answer to whatever question you just asked. Their blunt attitude towards life keeps you on track and reminds you how important the truth really is.

10. The Optimist

The Optimist always puts a positive spin on whatever situation they are in. Their blind positive attitude may be irritating at times, but it reminds you that you should always look on the bright side no matter what obstacles cross your path.

11. The Pessimist

The Pessimist prevents you from floating away on The Optimist’s cloud of positivity. They keep you grounded by reminding you of all the things that could go wrong. Their constant negative attitude on life keeps you in touch with reality, but also makes sure you maintain a balance between being a realist and an idealist.

12. The Married One

This person has found the love of their life and has made the ultimate commitment. Knowing someone like this helps you figure out what you want, while subtly stressing the existence of love and it’s importance.

13. The Manipulative One

Everyone has to meet The Manipulative One at some point in their lives. This person manages to get what they want by using you as the pawn. After you realise how you’ve been manipulated, you learn to be more cautious in life. The Manipulative One teaches you to be stronger than you thought you could be.

14. The Backstabber

When you meet this person, you will trust them with everything only to have them use it against you. It’s important you meet someone like this to remind you that being trusting is the best quality you can have while betraying trust is the worst.

15. The Wise One

This person has a quote stored in their minds that applies to almost any situation you find yourself in. They are like a walking self-help book. They also have the best advice when you find yourself stuck. Being around The Wise One allows the wisdom to rub off on you as well.