Kuro Tamago, The Typical Black Egg From The Country Of Sakura

Kuro Tamago -  Boiled eggs, lightly browned on the outside and bright yellow and white on the inside. But not so with egg on this one. Kuro Tamago name. Oddity Central page alerts you of Kuro Tamago is boiled eggs with a special way.

 (Thinkstock/YelenaYemchuk)

Not in the pot as usual, but rather in Hakone volcano Caldera which erupted more than 3000 years ago. The explosion leaves Lake sulfur, which up to now become a popular tourist destination in the country of Sakura.

Kuro Tamago can only be found on the Owakudani, Hakone, Japan.

Local residents refer to the black Kuro Tamago eggs as mystical. Isn't it a strange thing indeed, the appearance of Kuro Tamago is not like eggs in General. Throughout its Jet Black of the outer skin.

Read also:

• 5 simple Hobby That Can Improve The Intelligence of The Brain
• Beware of the two-way Mirror! Especially For Women

Images by Google

But, in fact, Kuro Tamago is just a regular chicken eggs. The black color comes from how to boil, i.e. with boil it directly on the Lake of boiling sulfur. The sulfur water reacts with the egg shells and gave him a Jet color. Not only that, a hard-boiled egg that also has a unique scent and a little taste of sulfur.

Of course, other reasons that make hundreds of tourists looking for Kuro Tamago is due to improve. Eating eggs that her Jet believed could make a long life for 7 years. Therefore, the locals normally provide in a crock, Kuro Tamago, placed near the Great Lakes.

Images by Google

The eggs will be put in the water of the Lake an hour's scuba, later steamed for 15 minutes.

Although it had a jet black skin, the inside remains white and yellow.

If you want to eat this egg directly on the Owakudani, visitors must climb a steep passable path. Track more ramps are also available around the Lake.

While enjoying egg ' longevity ', visitors are also treated to spectacular views of Mount Fuji.

Reserved price, Kuro Tamago including expensive. A bag containing five Kuro Tamago grain price for 500 yen. But, if it fifth consuming, means there are an additional 35 years of age during the. Well worth the price.

5 simple Hobby That Can Improve The Intelligence of The Brain

5 Simple Hobby That Can Improve The Intelligence of The Brain - Certainly, everyone wants to have an intelligent brain, able to think more clear, calm and relaxed. But, to get this all you should have a healthy living patterns, always think positive and you brain skills frequently. By the way a matter of sharpening the brain. Roughly, what a way to hone the abilities of the brain?

Image by Google

You don't need to worry. Because to hone the abilities of the brain could have done with a variety of simple way home. Sharpening the brain can also be done by occupying some of the hobbies that are actually very simple but looks really cool. Want to know what are your hobbies? The following explanation.

1. Reading

Reading is the first simple hobby can make the brain the more intelligent. It's, for some people reading is a boring activity. But make no mistake, reading is thus an activity that is very cool and fun. By reading, we will be getting better, then we will be easier to remember things. Read, also often makes the brain is always fresh and the brain can store hundreds of thousands to millions of vocabulary. The experts also revealed that reading is one of the activities that can create a feeling of calm mind make more focus and prevent alzheimers.

2. Learning A Foreign Language

A simple hobby to the next that is believed to be able to improve the ability of the brain and the brain makes the more intelligent is learning a foreign language. By learning a foreign language, we can understand many words and make the brain think better. It will also create the feeling, the more comfortable and happy so as to make the brain always fresh and healthy.

3. Create A Blog

Along with the development of the times and the more sophisticated means of communication and means of information, there are many positive things that you can learn and benefit from it. One of these is to create a blog and pour out everything that's on our minds. By creating a blog, it is not only making the brain the more intelligent and comfortably alone. Further, creating blogs also encourage someone to become more creative. In addition to the blog, make a vlog is also highly recommended that you could get a brain more intelligent and creative.

4. Read the Scriptures and Examines The Meaning

For you who really want to be the more intelligent and more logical as well as open minded, try to Avid-avid reader of Scripture and examines the means. In addition to bringing reward, read Scripture and interpret its meaning also would make you the more intelligent, logical thinking, the more open and also the more impatient. Consciously or not, in each scripture in any religion actually teaches many things beneficial and provide knowledge that is so impressive.

5. Farming 

As we know, the farm looks very easy and can be done to anyone. But make no mistake, farming is not an easy thing. We are required to wait and to farm properly so that plants are grown not dead or rotten. Farming also makes us think more critically and thoroughly. So, if you want a brain the more intelligent and focused, with the asahlah farm. No need to be pompous, farming can be started with the cultivation of roses, orchids, cacti or fresh vegetables.

That's was some simple hobbies we recommend for you if you want to get more intelligent brain, healthy as well as happy. Gimana, interested in acquiring a hobby over? Oh yes, in addition to the above, a hobby which another hobby is also believed to increase the intelligence of the brain and brain skills is playing chess, playing cards, collector, sports became routine, play puzzles, yoga, cooking instruments and play the music. Hopefully, this information is useful.

Beware of the two-way Mirror! Especially For Women

Beware of two-way Mirror! Especially For Women - Have you ever walked into the Mall, hotel rooms, public toilets, salon, spa, etc.? and have you ever seen the place with a large mirror that hangs on the wall? Are you sure that the mirror in front of you was the ordinary mirror or two-way mirror?  And there's no one can see you from the backside of it? 

An example of a two-way mirror is a mirror that is placed or used at the police station to conduct interrogations. This kind of glass could be abused by people who are not responsible by using or put it in public places.

For The Ladies, Please Beware

Many events such as this, where the person deliberately installing a two-way mirror in the ladies restroom or locker room in women's clothing. Maybe even this incident was caused by the owner of the salon, hotel, store itself or also the behavior of others who put up the two-way glass without the acquaintance of the owner of the place.

It is difficult indeed to distinguish by just looking at it. Want to know how to distinguish a regular mirror and a two-way mirror? Do a little test:

• Put the tip of your fingernail on the surface of the mirror.

Two Way Mirror

a. There is distance: If there is a distance of shadow and nails when you put your finger into the mirror, certainly it is a MIRROR.

b. There is no distance: If there is no distance between the nail and the shadow (see picture) or meeting, certainly it is a TWO-WAY MIRROR, and you know what to do ... just leave the room.

The Above is a simple way but effective to save yourself or a friend or your family from "visual rape".

There are still many women who have not yet realized that she had been the victim of a two-way mirror. Although you are not famous people, but this sort of thing could backfire for blackmail. Can you imagine if the video was recorded while you're in the locker room and then the video was uploaded and disseminated to the public audiences? it would be a disgrace for you, specifically for women.

So, once again Beware when you are a public place, unknowingly you could become a victim of rampant due to persons who are not responsible.

May Be Useful.

If any of the readers have ever this experienced, please leave a record of your experience in the comments below. In order to become the input for another.

Article Source: www.tegsnda.tk

Image Source : Google

Got This 5 Attitude? You Are The True Selfish People!

You live surrounded by many people, and there are many types of people that may be you know, the one who is selfish. The type of people like this is usually thought to himself, looking and performing a variety of ways so that he could gain an advantage for himself.

Image source:Google

Psychological F.Diane Barth said, "there are 2 characteristics of selfish, the first being too self-absorbed, and the second is do not have the awareness or the feeling of wanting to help others. If a person has both characters, they will not meet you unless they have a specific meaning".

These 5 traits and attitudes that make someone be selfish:

1. Manipulation

This person will do a variety of things to benefit, including lick people without interest, covering his mistakes, tried to divert the blame on other people and things are another lie.

2. Don't Care

He had no sympathy, and will not concern for the feelings of those around him, he gets what's he wanted, and they are satisfied with it. Others are not important because the main thing is his own.

3. Sly and penetrating from behind

Say a lie is not new for him. Even if had to betray a friend who never gave him an advantage, he will not hesitate to stab from behind if she knew it would give him more things. Because it does not want to look bad in the eyes of the person who gave him "something", it will be with a devious plan a variety of things to bring down others.

4. Give inevitably have strings attached

This is the main thing, and you certainly will not easily receive the gift from him. It is also not easy variety with others. If he could have it's own, why should the split with others? A selfish person is usually also a cheapskate, so they will just give you something original you have something for him.

5. Arrogant and like others subject to him

He hopes someone else can do the things he wanted. He lived with the thought, what could someone else give it to him, not vice versa. They ask for a lot of things and want a lot of things. Because he could not do it alone, it will make use of others.

It is the nature of who owned those selfish. People like this will always exist, and you must have a way to deal with them, so you did not become the victim of their skill. Observe gestures and words, and don't require if utilized.

Don't Get This Wrong, This is The Reason Why Others Hate You

Each person has a different aura and different ways in dealing with other people. There is someone who always felt comfortable was nearby, any otherwise. The time is near such person makes people around her uncomfortable. If you are in the last position, hmmm it looks like you have to find out the reason why you make others uncomfortable.

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Here are the reasons why others did not feel like being around you. It is reported by the boldsky.com as follows:

• Always Alone

Maybe other people liked the standalone personal, but if you always did everything themselves? Hmm, wait a minute. Other people will feel uncomfortable with the attitude you are always aloof and not look around.

• The stunning private

You always seem to be pleasing in the sight of others. Sometimes this much fun attitude thus making others feel uncomfortable near you. He will feel inferior in, therefore, so that makes him feel uncomfortable.

• Always Show Off

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Maybe you have a habit of showing off, maybe the intention you not mean snob. But the habit of you show off will make others feel uncomfortable being around you.

• The Open Attitude

You never save your comments good or bad you are, you are always giving the opinion of you. This open attitude is often the reason why you disliked. They tend to be lazy to listen to the spicy comment you.

• You Bossy

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This could be another reason why people hate you. Stop always ruled to others, this attitude is extremely disliked by others. For that ye attitude change, so that other people be more welcoming you.

Well, even though there is no logical reason why someone hates someone else doesn't mean you can't be nice and pleasing to others.

7 Simple activities that make You Look Fit

The Secret of Young People

Being young is a boon because we can do anything with a body that's fit. Their young ones always exude an aura of positive so easily can get along with anyone. Well, for you who are young and like to keep fit, doing the following simple activity!

1. They eat well.

image source: Google

It is always there will be a time to eat nutritious foods. For them, food that will be eaten must comply with their diet so that the body remains healthy. Avoid junk food as much as possible because of just hoard calories as well as excessive cholesterol inside your body.

2. They eat properly.

image source: Google

The morning meal they'd like a King, lunch like a middle-class and poor person tubs dinner. However, we often flipped it over. Young people who are fit and fresh know that breakfast will determine the condition of the body that day so they would have a heavy meal, let alone his energies will be used for the activity.

3. They do not compromise the hours of sleep.

image source:Google

This does not mean that they simply sleep 7-8 hours per day. They set the hours of sleep and beds will suit the needs of the body, no less no more. Most teenagers will stay awake to work on a task or a movie. To avoid this. Sleep is very important for the regeneration of your body and the wrong sleeping hours cannot be paid by the quantity of sleep that long. It is not.

4. They are independent.

image source:Google

The laundry will be done by yourself, sweep and MOP the rooms by themselves, and others. They do not rely on others so that keep Prime body condition due to moving and sweating. This will effect on your stamina.

5. They know the limitations of their self.

image source:Google

Drinking a beer or eating enough, especially on weekends. Often we will be "off" your diet during the holidays so that all of our hard work and efforts in shaping the body ended immediately, with bad no doubt.

6. They have a good planning.

source image:Google

They are not just physically, but also mentally! This Healthy mental obtained from American daily agenda is good so they know what, where, and when. As a result, they always look one step ahead. These people know the meaning of and appreciate the time.

7. They exercise.

image source:Google

Young people who are active have a good planning they always were able to take the time one to one and a half hour to exercise. Not have to fitness, you can jog or skipping. Doing exercise in the morning then eats breakfast you made by yourself.

Because now you know their secret, what if you also do it. Buy an appointment book, eat well, timely, and appropriate measure. Do not forget, sleep enough and on time!

Powerful Ways to overcoming Depression And Change Your Life

The Definitions of Depression:

Depression can have a negative impact on your life. Depression is a feeling experienced by everyone at one time in their lives. This article describes how to overcome depression and change your life by getting rid of the negative effects that arise from depression.

Negative feelings such as sadness, concern, and frustration is a feeling-a feeling that is commonly felt by many people. Is a natural thing if you feel disappointed after a failure, sadness, separation or loss.

Depression

Once again, feelings are natural, and in some cases, the feeling-the feeling that it can be used to our advantage because feelings that show our weakness. The experience that arises from negative conditions in our lives gives us the courage and willingness to change our lives and the strength to deal with depression and other negative situations in the future.

When the negative feelings of this kind constantly arise, persist more than two weeks, and start to interfere with our daily activities, work, diet, sleep and our relationships; then most likely we are depressed and we must find ways to cope with it. The main characteristics of depression is negative feelings and sadness are very deep and occur in a long time.

The Main Symptoms Of Depression That Appear In Our Lives

• Grief prolonged
• Low stamina and often feel tired
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Increased or decreased desire for sleep
• Stress, quick to anger and frustration
• No sexual desire
• Less of expectations towards the future

The Main Cause Of Depression

• Less Positive Thinking

When a person is experiencing depression, they feel that something bad is going to happen, and it will happen repeatedly. In this kind of incident, the person sees more bad things against something; consciously or unconsciously. They always focus their attention on the problem and ignore the successes as well as the success they achieved.

For someone who is negative and has a tendency to depression, everything that happens is a mirror of the problems and setbacks. A change in a person or environment changes, which is the change reasonable, in the mind of someone who is depressed is evidence that something bad happened because of them.

• The Lack Of Self-Confidence

People who are depressed do not have the self-confidence and they always assume everything happens as their failure. Even the slightest mistake they consider as a big problem and those things that drain their attention is far greater than people in general.

• Pay more attention to the error

In life, we inevitably make mistakes; some people make more mistakes. People who suffer from depression are more focused on the number of mistakes they make. As a result, they create a negative impression about the error.

• Feel Depressed because of Various Obligations In Life

In this situation, people always think what they should do and they shouldn't do. As a result, at the end of the day they are burdened by a number of commitments. People with the mindset of this kind of concentrating their minds on the bitterness and frustration and also affects the behavior of the people around them.

• Feel Weak

The problem for people who experience depression is that they feel there is no one thing that can satisfy them. Even when they realize they can improve their mood, they don't do it. The advice they get from friends and family are considered unnecessary and useless. The one thing they most feel is their inability to hope, or inspired by something and pay attention.

They realize as what they are in normal circumstances but they don't like it. They are aware of what they should do but they are not able to do it. They are aware of what other people want from them, but they weren't able to give it. They do not expect at a time things will improve. They lost hope and hope slowly disappear from them. At this point, depression does not let them feel the happiness and optimism.

Need Help

How To Overcome Depression

We can overcome depression with the help of a specialist. The counsel of a specialist can be very beneficial. The treatment given aims to improve the biological mechanism in the mindset that allows a person to feel depressed. To cope with depression effectively, you have to change the view and your mindset. By changing the mindset for those who suffer from depression, you could create the long-term protection against depression.

How To Overcome Depression by Relying on Yourself

In addition to the help of a specialist, you can overcome depression by relying on yourself; among other things with:

• Accept Yourself and Your Weaknesses

If you are not able to cope with depression alone and if your business is not successful, the best thing you can do is to accept these disadvantages. Rather than trying to change your life by force, you have to accept yourself, with what you feel and concentrate on the things you are capable of doing.

Accept Yourself

The depression will disappear, but we can not predict when depression will occur. The progress of the therapist depends on many factors. You don't need to try to change the things you can't change. Every time you should do your best to help yourself but at the same time you must also accept your weaknesses.

Accept the fact that you are experiencing depression and live side by side harmoniously until you successfully overcome them. No one likes to feel depressed, but you have to understand that there is no point to continuously cope with depression at this point because you haven't had the strength, determination, and desire to move forward. Try to accept what is happening in you and around you and wait until your strength returns and you feel able to cope with depression.

• Recognize The Thoughts As Well As Your Negative Feelings

So that you are able to change and control the negative thoughts that keep you trapped in the cycle of depression, it is important for you to recognize those reasons, which is the main cause you feel depressed.

recognize yourself

Techniques that can be used is to record your negative thoughts every day for some time. Then you could spend roughly 20 minutes each day to recognize, classify, and examine the negative thoughts. Note your thoughts and the examination of the causes of depression will make you able to recognize the reasons why you're driven to a state of poor mental and end up with depression. By recognizing negative thought patterns, you are able to prevent, and fix even stop the cycle of depression.

• How To Overcome Depression With Treatment

Although you have the right reasons to avoid excessive use of drugs, you can overcome depression by using drugs; in particular drugs anti depression.

Anti-depressants affect the brain and nerve cells. More specifically, the drugs work by changing the chemical reaction (neurotransmitters), which is used to the nerve cells to communicate with one another.

Anti-depressants is a safe drug to use. Drugs of this kind do not cause dependence; do not have harmful side effects and can help you overcome depression. The purpose of using anti-depressants is not to resolve your problem quickly, but to give yourself a chance to feel better.

ATTENTION: the use of anti-depressants of any kind should be carried out after consultation and the provision of a doctor's prescription.

• How to Overcome Depression Using Psychotherapy – the Best Way to Cope with Depression

Depression is an indication that you have a problem within yourself that you have to find the solution. Depression is not just a disease but a signal from the brain that you must solve.

Overcoming depression you should do as a way to develop yourself and in return for life-changing, brain, and your mindset.

Expert Psychotherapy can help you understand the psychological reasons that cause depression and offer your support through a difficult process.

• Psychotherapy Can Help You Overcome Depression Through:

1. To investigate the triggers of depression in the mind and your attitude in more depth
2. Help you recognize the problems that lead to depression which you can complete and the problem which you must live along with your life
3. Improve your relationship
4. Help you find happiness life lost due to depression
5. Helps you express your feelings better
6. Help you improve self-confidence and your self-esteem
7. Help you change your life for the better



psychotherapy

8. Help you in setting your life goals that will improve the quality of your life

The more healthy and strong yourself, the more easily you overcome depression with the help of psychotherapy. However it is important for you to develop a technique of your personal to monitor and control yourself to change the outlook and mindset to overcome depression.

Image source: Google

How Read a Novel Can Trigger Changes on the Futures of Your Brain

The Lovers of literature can be proud and happy, a new Study which combines the properties of Humanitarian science and knowledge science of Neuroscience, examined the effects of what happens in the brain while reading a novel. The researchers said that exploring a book not only can change your perspective, but it also can change your mind - at least for a few days.

Reading a novel is Fun

The researchers, from Emory University-Atalanta, published their findings in the Journal titled BRAIN CONNECTIVITY.

Scientist Gregory Berns, is a writer and director of Emory's center Science Neuroscience says

"A story is shaping our lives, and in some cases help define a person. We want to understand how a story can get into your brain, and what they did to it.

To investigate the relationship between reading the novel idea, the researchers recruited 21 students from Emory, who are instructed to read a thriller that was written by Robert Harris in 2003 entitled Pompeii.

Based on the true story of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the days of ancient Italy, Berns explains that the narrative of the novel is the protagonist character Fiction which is outside the city of Pompeii were aware of the hot steam and strange happenings around the mountain.

When the hero is trying to save the girl in love her back to the city of Pompeii, Volcano eruption was continually .., while those who are inside the city are not aware of the signs of the eruption, said Berns.

"It's important for us to know that the book has a very strong narrative line."

She explained that the study participants will read the book with an interesting plot.

Changes in language and the motor skills Sensor Part of the Brain

After performing fMRI scans, researchers found that reading the novel lead time effect
in the area of the brain responsible for language acquisition and for the representation of the body's sensory.

For 19 consecutive days, the study participants supervised by the researchers. In the first 5 days, the researchers conducted basic Functional Scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in the brain of the student at the time they were in a state of rest.

Then, For 9 days, the students are reading certain specific parts to complete. Instructed them to read a particular passage in the evenings, and comeback to the researchers in to the next morning.

Like learning on campus, they will get a Quiz, to prove that they have completed the reading is assigned to them, after which they returned underwent fMRI scans in conditions not being read, in a state of rest.

After completing the novel, the students then back again for the next five additional days, where they again undergo fMRI scans under resting conditions.

On the morning after the session to read, the researchers observed an increase in connectivity in the left temporal cortex, which is part of the brain associated with language reception.

Berns explains that this increase in connectivity is fixed, although the students are not reading a book when in scan.

"We call it  Shadow activity, almost like muscle memory", he said.

Researchers also noticed an increase in connectivity in the brain area known as the Central Sulcus. This is the area of the brain Main Motor sensor.

They explained that, for example, when we are only thinking about running, we can activate neurons in the brain associated with real physical movement from running.

Nerve Changes Not Only Happens for a moment / Instant

Berns said of their discovery "Shows that reading novels can be transporting us into the body Protagonist character that is in the novel."

He added:

"We already know that a good story can put you in the position of others in a figurative sense. At this time we also see that something may happen Biologics."

Interestingly, because the researchers observed a change in the nervous even 5 days after the students read the novel. Berns said that the reaction was not just a moment.

Although he said that his team was not sure how long the change will last, Berns notes that they make observations on students who read the novel randomly assigned in accordance with.

Shows that, Your Favorite Novel  will definitely have a greater effect and longer lasting in your brain biology.  -medicalnewstoday

Pic Source : Google

Re-Translate from : www.tegsnda.tk

To hurt Yourself and Suicide at Young Age - the Impact Of Social Networking Sites

In all over the World, suicide is the cause of most common on death of girl teenage , and is the cause of most  third common on boy teenage, after a traffic accident and violence. In a research published by the Lancet, the researchers do research about things related about the habit of self hurting and suicide at a young age/ teenager. 

According to the estimated official 164.000 people commit suicide every year. But Professor Keith Hawton, Dr. Kate Sanders, from the Research Center for Suicide, Oxford University, and Professor Rory O'Connor of Laboratory Research on the Behavior of Suicide is the University of Stirling,UK, declare that the numbers are significant maybe more than that.

They highlight that the official who released the numbers still hide the death from suicide to protect the family, especially in a place where suicide is considered an act of criminal.

Professor Hawton explained:

"Although suicide by teenagers in consider are rare compared to hurt yourself, but that is the result of a tragic. Apart from the fact that around 10% of the teenagers in the report's pretending to hurt myself, the reason why they do such a thing and why some of them are - but not the others - decided to take their own lives, still it is a lot less understood.

Research further in this field is highly needed if we want to progress in terms of reducing the number of teenagers who died in the act of hurting myself and suicide".

Professor O'Connor explain:

"To prevent the juvenile committing the act of suicide and hurting yourself, it's important that we have to understand and understand couple of lads who had pemiikiran to commit suicide but didn't do such a thing - whereas some of the other it's pathetic to do that act in many cases death due to suicide.

Thoughts Of Suicide - Social Networking Sites Have A Positive Role 

According to some research, Social networking Sites can affect teens who are experiencing thoughts of Suicide, but Hawton and Teamnya also explains that social networking sites, have a positive role . "The challenge is to make sure the new media give support to young men who are vulnerable , or will help and push to do a habit of hurting yourself.

They declares that further research needed to help the doctor in understanding about the reason why teenagers do the act of suicide and to hurt yourself. Besides that intervention is effective need to be right in the spread.

Professor Hawton and his team concluded

'An indication of success in the initiative prevention is addressed to the teenagers, especially to high-risk, and do the treatment is effective against their tendency, to do the act of suicide and hurting yourself, is a necessity which is very important. Grace Rattue-Medical News Today

How to Eliminate 5pm Exhaustion

5pm Exhaustion

Here's a scenario that plays out in many people's lives with devastating effects.

• We come home from work feeling tired and stressed
• This leads us to eat and drink too much, and spend too much time on the computer
• We go to bed late, wake up feeling groggy - downhill cycle continues
• At the end of the day, we are even more stressed, overweight and dissatisfied

Wouldn't it be better to

• Feel energized and happy after work
• Enjoy eating healthy food and not crave bad food
• Get recharged and feel great about yourself

There is a way.

The Science of 5pm Exhaustion

Our brain evolved to fixate on the bad in life. This is why after a long and stressful day, your brain might get stuck in a negative loop - repeating the events over and over again. This often makes you you feel stressed, tired and wanting to escape.

Usually we try to just ignore this by playing video games, eating junk food, or engaging in other distractions.

Unfortunately, this doesn't stop the problem. Our brains keep running the negative tapes in the background, and to make things worse we add more fuel to the fire by engaging in destructive activities.

Is it a wonder that we keep feeling exhausted, helpless and desperate? There's a better way that has worked for me.

Your Second Morning

Coming home from work shouldn't signal the end of your day. You've spent all day working, you deserve the enjoyment and relaxation that comes from doing positive activities. Imagine how much better your life would be if you could get motivated again and get rid of those negative cravings.

Stress Recovery Routine

With this routine you'll get back on track, eliminate unhealthy cravings, and feel ready for action. It can help you lose fat, be healthy and fit, and achieve almost any other life goal you have for yourself.

Start today and do this daily, right after coming home from work.

• As soon as you step in the door, resist the urge to turn on the television/computer and eat or drink anything unhealthy.
• Instead, grab an uplifting audiobook and set a timer for 9, 19 or 29 minutes - depending on what feels comfortable
• Lay down in bed, close your eyes and focus intently on the audiobook
• When your thoughts wander: simply focus back on the words being spoken
• When the alarm goes off you might notice that you drifted into a power-nap or stayed awake. Either is fine.
• After you've done this routine you will get up, energized, positive and ready to start your new day

For the best results, set a recurring alarm and/or put a sticky note somewhere to remind you to do this routine. For example, set an alarm for 5pm, or put a sticky note where you drop off your car keys.

Give it a try

This routine has saved me many days when I was headed for downward spiral of procrastination. It's one of my best secrets for high productivity and achievement.

Please test it yourself and share your results in the comments.

Water-Wise Gardening

Conserve H2O with drought-resistant practices

Is your summer garden looking thirsty? During the warm, drier days of summer, home gardens may experience the effects of residential water restrictions. Discover how to help plants thrive with water-wise gardening.

By July, most gardeners have completed their planting. Now’s the time to consider how to save water while keeping your garden quenched and green. Try these easy water-wise gardening tips.

Mulching

“Mulching your plants is probably the best summer activity to conserve water in your garden,” says Patricia Fleming, executive director of the Earthwise Society in Delta, BC, and designer of the Earthwise Garden.

“Depending on what you grow, put a good organic mulch, such as compost, on top of the soil,” says Fleming. “This prevents surface evaporation. You can then dig that mulch into the soil at season’s end to return organic matter into the soil. It helps this year’s crop and next year’s growing season.”

Jeff Blackadar from the Ontario Horticultural Association also emphasizes mulching. “Mulch is a covering that protects soil from erosion and drying out. It takes many forms: stones, bark, straw … I prefer a natural bark mulch. A layer of 2 3/4 in (7 cm) or so will help conserve water in the soil. When applying mulch, water it in or apply before a rain, so that mulch does not inadvertently act to keep soil dry initially after its application.”

Healing Gardens : A beautiful way to cultivate wellness

Gardens are more than just a patch of flowers and veggies. Research shows that spending time in a garden can nourish our souls and boost our physical health, particularly for those undergoing medical treatment. Find out how to create your own treasured space for tranquillity and healing—either on your own or with your community.

It’s no secret to gardeners that a garden can be a magical, healing space. Some gardens are being created specifically to promote healing. The positive health effects and curative gains associated with spending time in these gardens include enhanced well-being—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Connect with nature

Gardens link us with nature. Exposure to the natural world is connected with a reduction in stress and a promotion of feelings of relaxation.

“Connecting with the natural world through gardening brings about positive psychological and physical changes that improve quality of life,” says Patricia Fleming, the executive director of Earthwise Society, a BC-based environmental group.

“Research points to the value of connecting to the natural world for healing and mental health,” she adds. “Gardening is ultimately a hopeful activity. A planted seed leads to the expectation and hope that one day it will provide beauty or food. This relates to a key concept of recovery, the phenomenon of hope.”

Grow, heal, smile

Research reveals the therapeutic benefits of gardens. Studies show associations between experiencing nature and better healing, a reduction in the use of medication, shorter hospital stays—and even diminished mental strain among family members and health care staff. Gardens also provide opportunities for exercise and movement outdoors.

Healing gardens are being integrated into health care facilities such as hospitals, hospices, seniors’ care homes, and rehabilitation centres. These green settings can produce results for people of good health and for those struggling with illness. Healthy individuals may experience states of restful meditation and tranquility, while those who are unwell may undergo restfulness and an easing of symptoms. Restorative horticultural spaces offer a deeply calming or even rousing encounter.

Designed to heal

Halifax landscape designer Rosmarie Lohnes, owner of Helping Nature Heal, describes healing gardens as “restorative spaces which engage us in a more subtle way. They may be beautiful perennial and shrub gardens, or a peaceful setting for contemplation. Nature observance gives many folks a sense of place, hope, and aspiration for a future yet to come.”

She explains that healing gardens can easily be designed to accommodate any number of considerations, “so that passive exposure to nature can have its healing effects without the scope of physical activity, which is especially great for those with limited mobility or health issues such as knee and hip replacements.”

“Soft floor coverings, moss, or wood chips reduce compaction on aging joints and allow for softer landings for toddlers venturing into these spaces. A sense of restoration to one’s senses is often regarded as the most meaningful component to gardens and landscapes.”

Canadian healing gardens

Healing gardens are sprouting up across Canada, all with the same goal—to promote a relaxing and healing environment for Canadians to enjoy.

Seat Belts: How They Save Lives

Do  you snap in your seat belt as soon as you get in the car? Do your children have the right safety seats for their weight and age? If you've answered no, even just once, you need to read on.

It's been proven time and again, on back roads and superhighways: A seat belt can save a life in a car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 15,000 lives are saved each year in the United States because drivers and their passengers were wearing seat belts when they were in accidents.

Seat Belt Safety: 5-Way Protection

“Seat belts prevent occupants of the vehicle from serious injury in five ways,” says Angela Osterhuber, director of the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project in Media, Pa. A seat belt:

• Keeps the occupants of the vehicle inside. “It’s clearly a myth that people are better off being thrown clear from the crash,” Osterhuber says. “People thrown from a vehicle are four times more likely to be killed than those who remain inside.”
• Restrains the strongest parts of the body. “Restraints are designed to contact your body at its strongest parts. For an older child and adult, these parts are the hips and shoulders, which is where the seat belt should be strapped,” Osterhuber says.
• Spreads out any force from the collision. “Lap-and-shoulder belts spread the force of the crash over a wide area of the body. By putting less stress on any one area, they can help you avoid serious injury,” Osterhuber says. A shoulder strap also helps keep your head and upper body away from the dashboard, steering wheel, and other hard interior parts of the automobile should you stop suddenly or be hit by another vehicle.
• Helps the body to slow down. “What is it that causes injury? A quick change in speed,” Osterhuber says. “Seat belts help extend the time it takes for you to slow down in a crash.”
• Protects your brain and spinal cord. A seat belt is designed to protect these two critical areas. “Head injuries may be hard to see immediately, but they can be deadly,” Osterhuber says. Likewise, spinal cord injuries can have serious consequences.

Seat Belt Safety: Buckle Up Correctly

Adjusting your seat belt properly is a must: Getting the right fit is as important as wearing it. The strap that goes across your lap should fit snugly over your hips and upper thigh area. “If the belt rides up on the stomach, it could cause serious injuries in a crash,” Osterhuber says.

Shoulder belts should rest securely across your chest and shoulders between your breasts. Don’t ever let the strap fall across your neck or face and never place the strap under your arms or behind your back. “Any one of these positions can cause serious injury,” Osterhuber says.

Seat Belt Safety: Rules for Infants and Children

Children are not small adults — they need specialized protection in a moving vehicle. “Their skeletal structure is different,” Osterhuber says. Age, height, and weight determine the safest way for a child to travel.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, here’s how to select the right option for your child:

• Rear-facing child safety seat. Children under age 1 and those who weigh less than 20 pounds should sit in rear-facing, child safety seats approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The seats should be placed in the backseat of the car.
• Forward-facing child safety seat. Children older than 1 who weigh more than 20 pounds should ride in forward-facing child safety seats. The seat should be placed in the rear of the vehicle until the child reaches the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat. Typically, a child will outgrow a safety seat around age 4 and once she reaches about 40 pounds.
• Booster seat. Children age 4 and older who weigh more than 40 pounds should ride in booster seats. A child can safely progress to a seat belt when the belt fits properly across the upper thighs and chest. “This is usually at age 8 or when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall,” Osterhuber says.
• Seat belt. When children outgrow their booster seats, they can use seat belts, but they still should sit in the back of the vehicle. “Really, all children should be riding in the backseat of the car until they are at least 13 years old,” Osterhuber says.

Seat Belt Safety: A Clear Message

The National Safety Council recently reported a drop in traffic fatalities for 2008, indicating a record low since the 1920s when it began publishing statistical reports. One reason given for the decline is the increased use of seat belts.

It takes only a few seconds to buckle up once you get in the car. Why wouldn’t you?

12 Ways to Greatness

Just cut it out - it’s not working. You’ve tried over a hundred or thousand times, only to be met with failure, relapse and plateaus. You’ve always had an answer for it: Try more! Keep digging, eventually you’ll come out the other side.

The reality is that you do too much of the wrong thing and too little of the right thing. Your whole lifestyle is set up to create bad habits and zero results. No wonder you aren’t making progress. So do yourself a favor and read today’s article as we delve into the components of success and how to do a lot more with a lot less.

As human beings, our strongest asset and perhaps best evolutionary adaptation is our ability to mimic. Monkey see, Monkey do. This has allowed us to adapt to hugely different environments, learn from each other and have a better understanding of the world. We even have neurons specifically designed to mimic called mirror neurons. It’s most obvious in young children which you can see roleplaying and mimicking their way to learning languages and understanding complex ideas.

Less obvious, though, is how we mimic in our day to day life. It turns out our minds are closely attuned to what’s going on and constantly mimicking it.

So how does this relate to efficiency and why you keep failing?

You <--> Environment continuum

Since you are constantly absorbing outside stimuli, interpreting it and even mirroring it, it becomes very clear that what happens around you has a very strong effect on just about everything inside of you. In essence: you are your environment. This also means that making simple changes in your environment can have a strong effect on your habits and behaviors. And that's good since it’s a lot easier to change something like your desk layout than it is to change deeply held convictions.

The goal here is to establish environments and structures to promote good habits and discourage bad habits. Good habits help you reach your goals.

"Imagine coming home to a delicious, nutritious and balanced meal and compare that to coming home to a KFC bucket. What do you do in each situation? Almost opposite things.

Eating better with no willpower

• Cut down on bad food influences. That means things like watching commercials, staring at food porn, and having bad foods at home. I’ve noticed this effect everytime we’d buy a pint of haagen dazs. Like magic, when there was ice cream in the freezer, I would get strong cravings for ice cream. When the ice cream ran out, my cravings faded away... until the next time we

Grow Kids’ Appreciation for Local Food

How nonprofits (like Fresh Roots) are solving an agricultural crisis

Did you know that being in a garden can change how kids see healthy eating? And getting their hands dirty could help protect our rapidly shrinking farms? Here’s why.

If you ate today, you can thank Canada’s farmers. Unfortunately, our farming is in peril as aging farmers retire. Meanwhile, experts warn that a lack of appreciation for where our food comes from is contributing to unhealthy eating and obesity. Thankfully, several organizations are working to reverse this trend, starting with kids.

The grass is older on the other side

Most farmers in BC are in their sixties, and less than 5 percent are in their mid-thirties or younger. We see similar trends in other Canadian provinces: more and more farmers are reaching retirement, and fewer young people are stepping into the gap.

When this happens, farmland is often sold for non-agricultural purposes such as residential neighbourhoods. Or, the farms are consolidated into sprawling corporate farms. Farm industry insiders in Europe, Asia, and the US report that this leads to more food insecurity, less biodiversity, and fewer local commodities. Big corporate farms tend to import supplies and sell their products outside of their local community.

Inspiring Canada’s children to get their hands dirty in community gardens and farms can strengthen our local agriculture and provide distinct health benefits to the kids involved. Community groups devoted to this are sprouting up across the country.

Returning to Learning

Tips for mature students

Returning to the halls of formal learning can be intimidating for mature students. But more and more older students are switching career paths, learning new skills, or pursuing their dreams.

September represents a fresh start in so many ways. Thousands of learners are returning to school— some with excitement, others with trepidation. For mature students, those feelings may be amplified. So let’s start now: these little lessons will inspire seasoned pupils to sail through school.

Lesson 1: Never alone

“A great number of people go back to school later in life,” says Calgary-based psychologist Susan MacDonald. “I taught in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the University of Calgary for many years, and the vast majority of students are in their thirties, forties, and fifties. I’ve even had students in their sixties.”

A 2011 report projected that over the next decade, the number of 18- to 24-year-old students enrolled full time at Canadian post-secondary institutions will decline. The number of mature students, however, is set to increase slightly.

The takeaway: Now is a great time for mature students to enrol. We’ll be in good company.

Lesson 2: Strength in numbers

Connecting with other mature students is a positive way to navigate the sometimes tumultuous ocean of adult learning. Whether we’re going back to school formally (taking part- or full-time courses at a local college or university) or informally (auditing courses or taking an online class for interest’s sake), we should make time to connect with those adult learners, even if they aren’t in our program or faculty of study.

The takeaway: With a group of people to lean on and learn from when the seas get rough, we’ll feel more stable and supported.

Lesson 3: A little help

“Open and ongoing communication is essential,” says MacDonald. “Let people know when you will need the most support. Often, students feel stress toward the end of each semester, when papers are due and exams are scheduled.”

Many adult learners are going to school alongside their elementary- and high school-aged children.

Experience Farm Living

Reap its many health rewards

Spending time down on the farm provides not only a relaxing experience, but many health benefits too. Learn about farm vacations, farm camps, and pick-your-own experiences that allow you to get your city hands dirty.

Living in the big city provides many practical benefits and conveniences, but staying in the city year-round may mean you’re missing out on some of the health benefits of farm living.

A healthy farm lifestyle

If you’ve ever spent time in the countryside, you likely noticed that your heart rate slowed, you breathed more deeply, and your body and soul felt refreshed. Natural surroundings have long been known to affect mental health.

A University of Essex study found that taking a walk in nature reduced depression scores by up to 71 percent. But in addition to lifting your spirits, spending time on the farm can have a significant impact on your physical health.

A 2012 University of Bristol study, for example, showed children who grow up on a farm have much better immune systems than city-raised kids. Early exposure to farm animals and farm-related microbes promotes healthy immune development and increased resistance to viral respiratory illnesses.

These immune benefits aren’t limited to children; adults who move to farming areas where they experience a wider range of environmental exposures than city dwellers can also reduce their allergy symptoms.

The immune systems of people who live and work on a farm are frequently exposed to and strengthened against a wide range of bacteria, pollen, fungi, and other potential allergens. In sterile environments, such as city offices where workers have been overexposed to antibacterial agents, these micro-organisms and bacteria are reduced.

Getting to the farm

While moving to the country isn’t practical for most of us, there are a number of ways city dwellers can reap the health rewards of farm life.

Farm camps

Many farms are opening their doors to youngsters, offering some insight into life on the farm. Jennifer Maynard runs Southlands Farm’s Young Farmers Camp in Vancouver for kids ages six to 12. The camp offers seasonal activities such as berry picking, pressing apples, and preserving, as well as an introduction to farm chores such as tending to the goats, horses, hens, and honeybees on the farm.

In addition to teaching farming, Maynard says the atmosphere has many therapeutic benefits. “The one word that people use when they come is ‘magical’ because it’s so peaceful,” she says.

Pick your own

Picking your own produce is a great way to learn how foods grow and where they come from. Plus, it’s an inexpensive and environmentally friendly family activity. Many farms have websites where they post picking conditions and the varieties of fruits and vegetables that are ripe for picking. Remember to ask staff about the proper way to pick your produce.

Farm-stay vacations

Many farms across the country open their doors to guests who want to immerse themselves in farm life. In some cases, guests are encouraged to participate in the daily activities on the farm, from picking vegetables to collecting eggs and even milking cows.

Piebird Farm in Nipissing, Ontario, converted their farm into a vegan, agri-tourism destination in 2004. This food-focused farm is also a sanctuary for farm animals. Goats, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and bees call Piebird home.

Yan Roberts and Sherry Milford take pride in introducing guests to the animals and educating them about a vegan lifestyle. “A lot of people don’t get a chance to meet farm animals,” says Milford. “People interact with our residents here and see that goats are very similar to dogs. They love to snuggle and they know their names,” says Milford.

In developing friendships with the animals at Piebird, Milford and Roberts say guests then begin to think about sustainable living. Many of Piebird’s guests have returned home and torn up their front lawn to create a garden, and many have had personal epiphanies while staying at the farm.

Says Milford, “In the act of being still and quiet and not being distracted by everything a city has to offer, they can learn to be more mindful in their daily choices and understand that the world is more than just their distractions.”