The rapid pace of modern life puts great stress on us on a daily basis. Have you ever been told or mentioned to someone, “just breathe?” There is more depth to this advice than we realize, and the simple act of taking a few deep breathes can have a tremendous impact on our state of mind and […]

As we near the end of 2013, I get a bit nostalgic and take a look back at what this year has brought. I am not a fan of “resolutions,” but I do think the end of the year gives us an opportunity to appreciate what we have accomplished and set goals for the coming […]

Although we live in an era of smartphones and gadgets that can make us more productive, it seems we could be overlooking the most important tool to achieve success: our brain. According to the recent studies, we can take specific actions to influence how our brain functions and reacts to diverse scenarios. I tried smiling […]

As Thanksgiving approaches, it makes me reflect upon the things I am grateful for… and also reminds me that I should be grateful more often. Coincidentally, I found the TED Talk above regarding this very topic. I agree with Benedictine monk, Brother David Steindl-Rast, who gives us very simple tips to be more grateful. He says […]

This morning, I stumbled onto a gem (click image above to watch video). I know we all feel this way sometimes, we know that social media is taking over our lives but we just can’t put our finger on the exact issue. This video gives a great explanation of what we are doing to ourselves […]

Today is Nelson Mandela International Day commemorating the birthday (July 18) of the African leader, and promoting a call to action: “Mr. Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving […]

In college, I took a course on 18th century English literature that focused on works by Samuel Johnson, and I was profoundly struck by an essay he wrote about biographies, which I keep in mind to this day. Johnson writes: “I have often thought that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious […]

Be positive

We’ve all done it ourselves or have been sitting at a table where someone snaps a shot of the meal they are about to eat in order to share with everyone on their social networks. What if every time we did this, we would help GIVE a meal to someone in need? Now you can […]

From the comfort of your own office chair you can help a teacher accomplish anything from buying books to chemistry supplies for their students. We all know the issues with educational budgets nationwide, so this is a way to plant your seed and make a positive impact in a classroom and supporting the greater cause of education.