8 Things No One Should Overlook When Becoming Successful

1. Your Health

This cannot be overstated enough. A famous saying goes, “we spend the first half of our lives using our health to acquire wealth and last half using our wealth to maintain health.”
Whether you want to be on the cover of Times magazine or run your own successful business you need to be able to do so. Neglecting your health while in the pursuit of success or the next promotion at work is only detrimental to your own life. Adopting a lifestyle where you work on 2-3 hours of sleep, eat take-away and drink energy drinks is a medium paced path to stroke, heart attacks and future health problems.

Organizing our lives and trying to find better ways to treat our bodies should be a priority for all.

2. Your Origins

Too often people tend to forget where they came from in search of where they are going. No matter how badly you want to forget your childhood or past experiences/failures and mistakes, understanding where you have come from and how that has contributed directly or indirectly to the person that you have become today is crucial.
Past failures, mistakes and bad judgement are not things to be ashamed of nor overly regretted. If you can take the time and understand the lessons that life is teaching you, perception changes and it brings light to events that occur. Not all perceived bad things are actually bad; they may take us out of our comfort zone but they are also a blessing in disguise. Think of where you are today and try to imagine where you’d be if not for the struggles that made you stronger.

3. Your self- worth

They say there has never been a generation more self-absorbed and vain as Gen-Y and words like selfie have become one of the most used in the English language. Maybe we are more self-serving than the people before us, but do we really value who we are?

It’s very common to idolize someone successful and aspire to be like them. The media makes a point to remind us daily who we should aspire to be more like, but the problem with putting someone on a pedestal is that we automatically compromise ourselves. We belittle our abilities and wonder if we can ever be as good as the next person. Maybe it’s the top salesman in your office or Oprah Winfrey, but too often in the midst of the greats we tend to hold back for fear of being laughed at, public failure or due to a lack of trust in our capacity to perform certain tasks.
It’s common to feel inferior among people more qualified, smarter or even better looking. But life requires one thing from you: to always strive for the best with whatever cards you have been dealt. You were not called here on earth to put people on pedestals, any more than you were called to belittle others. Remember what makes you who you are.

4. Your appearance

This is not just physical appearance (but that helps too). It’s more about the type of person you portray yourself to be. What perception do people have of you? I never preach being a people pleaser because we all know you can’t please all of the people all of the time. Now naturally some people will simply just hate. That’s their personal life mission and it’s who they are. The chances of being struck by lighting twice are higher than the chances of them changing, and that’s okay.
We’ve all got jobs to do. The moral isn’t to be liked but to be pleasant. Sometimes, overachievers and intelligent people tend to have the least bit of patience when it comes to other people because they perceive them as slow and lazy.
You may fall into one of two categories. Are you the person no one comes to for help because they’re scared that you will point them as idiots, or are you the type of person no one trusts with tasks because you always under deliver and produce mediocre work?
Sometimes, the perception people have of you is wrong, but where there is smoke there is possibly fire. Try not to be a person of drama and scandals. Be pleasant to people, even those who you do not always agree with. That’s what true class acts are made of. The more pleasant you are, the more pleasant people and situations become.

5. Your self-assurance

Self- assurance, as defined by Merriam Webster: great faith in oneself or one’s abilities. Often confused with this word.

There is this misconception that confident people are people who are miracle workers and possess innate abilities beyond human comprehension. In reality, confidence comes from trust in your abilities no matter who in the room is more qualified. Some of the world’s most memorable leaders were in no way exceptional. They just managed to keep a sense of equanimity in the midst of crisis and bring the people to the promise land, leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehemiah, Joshua and Martin Luther King to name a few.

6. Your values

These are the things you believe in and they have made you who you are. Have you ever wondered about the fact that one man will steal because he lacks and that another will pursue an honest living despite being under similar circumstances? It’s our core values that shape us. Do you think someone who stays up all night for work is being committed or could they use better time management?
Opinions we form of others and decisions we make are due to our values. Don’t compromise yourself or betray your beliefs in order to get ahead. Success isn’t so much about how much wealth you can accumulate, but more to do with becoming a person of character in spite of your achievements and material wealth. Growth and development are an essential part of life, but that process is only as meaningful as the foundations they are built on.

7. Your family

Family is so important. It cannot be overstated. As cliché and overrated as it may sound, they are important.

Think of all the choices you have in life, where to live, where to work, where to study, what food to eat, who to marry, to have kids or not, to apply for that promotion or not, what insurance company to go with. But you did not choose your family. Now you’re stuck with that annoying sibling who grates your cheese every chance they get or maybe your best friend is your brother/sister. Either way, if ever someone tells you they do not believe in fate, tell them family is fate. So do not neglect them in the pursuit of accumulating worldly wealth and status.

8. Don’t be too hard on yourself

Maybe you are not where you planned on being at 25 or 30 or 40 or even 50. So what if you didn’t do everything on your bucket list? There is this amazing God-given gift called life, and it goes on and on; so until you drop dead, you are not finished.
When you embark on a journey to be successful and achieve your wildest dreams, it can be the scariest and sometimes loneliest journey. Learn to drown out all the noise and focus on why you are doing what you are doing. Remember to never doubt yourself and have the utmost faith that Heaven is on your side.

No Time For The Gym? Do These Effective Desk Stretches Instead

Indian Man Claims He’s 179 Years Old

According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.
“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”
The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now.  The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/indian-man-claims-hes-179-years-old/#sthash.nDJlwoW7.dpuf

A retired cobbler from northern India, Mahashta Mûrasi, claims he was born in January 1835, making him not only the oldest man on earth, but the oldest to have ever lived, according to the Guiness World Records.
According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.

“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”

The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now. The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.

Vârânasî| A retired cobbler from northern India, Mahashta Mûrasi, claims he was born in January 1835, making him not only the oldest man on earth, but the oldest to have ever lived, according to the Guiness World Records.
According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.
“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”
The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now.  The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/indian-man-claims-hes-179-years-old/#sthash.nDJlwoW7.dpuf

According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.
“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”
The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now.  The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/indian-man-claims-hes-179-years-old/#sthash.nDJlwoW7.dpuf

Vârânasî| A retired cobbler from northern India, Mahashta Mûrasi, claims he was born in January 1835, making him not only the oldest man on earth, but the oldest to have ever lived, according to the Guiness World Records.
According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.
“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”
The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now.  The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/indian-man-claims-hes-179-years-old/#sthash.nDJlwoW7.dpuf

Vârânasî| A retired cobbler from northern India, Mahashta Mûrasi, claims he was born in January 1835, making him not only the oldest man on earth, but the oldest to have ever lived, according to the Guiness World Records.
According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.
“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”
The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now.  The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/indian-man-claims-hes-179-years-old/#sthash.nDJlwoW7.dpuf

Vârânasî| A retired cobbler from northern India, Mahashta Mûrasi, claims he was born in January 1835, making him not only the oldest man on earth, but the oldest to have ever lived, according to the Guiness World Records.
According to indian officials, the man was born at home in the city of Bangalore on January 6th 1835, and is recorded to have lived in Vârânasî since 1903. He worked as a cobbler in the city until 1957, when he retired at the already venerable age of 122.
“I have been alive so long, that my great grand-children have been dead for years” explains Mr Mûrasi. “Somehow death forgot about me… And now there’s hardly any hope left. Look at the statistics, nobody dies past 150, even less at 170. At that point, I guess I’m immortal or something. I might as well enjoy it!”
The man’s birth certificate and identity cards all seem to confirm his version, but unfortunately no medical examination can confirm his saying for now.  The last doctor Mister Mûrasi visited died in 1971, so there is little information available about his previous medical files.
- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/indian-man-claims-hes-179-years-old/#sthash.nDJlwoW7.dpuf

Protect Your Body's Engine - The Heart

"Good" Cholesterol (HDL)
HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol. It carries away cholesterol from the arteries back to the liver where it is prepared for elimination from the body. The higher your HDL cholesterol level scale, the more cholesterol can be eliminated from your body and the lower your risk of heart attack. While 50 MG/DL is a desirable level, aim for 60, since it will clean more of your bad cholesterol from the arterial walls.

Triglycerides
Triglycerides are, for simplification, what we call "fat". When you grab a handful of tummy, love handles or some other fat storage, you are grabbing triglycerides. However, unlike cholesterol, they are burned for energy or else stored in the body's fat stores to be used later. It is best to have triglycerides levels below 150. That means less fat.

High blood glucose, in someone who has fasted for 12 hours, suggests diabetes. A fasting blood glucose level of 110+ may indicate a glucose tolerance problem increasing your risks for diabetes. A fasting glucose level of 126+ indicates high risk. Your glucose level is

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (which leads to heart attack) and stroke, especially when it's present with other risk factors. High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it's more common among people over age 35. Blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is considered high risk.

Percent Body Fat (%)

Fat Body weight can be considered as two components, lean (muscle, bone, organs) and fat. The proportion of your weight from fat is termed ‘percent body fat.’ For your age and gender, a percent body fat of 9-17% is recommended, less than 5% is considered very lean, and more than 17% is a definite health risk.

Smoking

It's a fact that smoking damages the heart. Smoking decreases HDL levels, increases the likelihood of a blood clot, and damages the artery walls, causing cholesterol to be deposited, clogging the arteries. By not smoking you are practicing preventive medicine. Also try to avoid smoky environments. If you smoke, you should quit smoking immediately!       

Reducing Your Heart Risks              

To lower total or LDL "bad" cholesterol:

1. Limit fat intake, especially animal or saturated fat.
2. Avoid high cholesterol foods, such as eggs or meat.
3. Eat high fiber foods, such as oatmeal, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, and legumes (peas, beans, lentils).
4. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

To increase total or HDL "good" cholesterol:

1. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
2. Get regular, aerobic exercise (walk, cycle, hike, swim, aerobics, active sports, jog) 10-15+ aerobic miles per week.
3. DO NOT SMOKE

Note: Women usually have higher HDL levels than men. Estrogen replacement therapy raises HDL levels in post-menopausal women.

To lower Triglyceride levels:

1. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
2. Get regular, aerobic exercise (walk, cycle, hike, swim, aerobics, active sports, job) 30 min. or more (preferably) daily. Be sure to get your doctor's guidance before starting any exercise program if you have any health problems.
3. Limit intake of sugar and deserts.
4. Avoid or limit alcohol intake.

To lower Glucose levels:

1. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
2. Get regular, aerobic exercise (walk, cycle, hike, swim, aerobics, active sports, job) 30 min. or more (preferably) daily. Be sure to get your doctor's guidance before starting any exercise program if you have any health problems.
3. Limit intake of sugar and deserts.
4. Avoid or limit alcohol intake.

How to lower your blood pressure:

1. Achieve / maintain a healthy weight. Even a weight loss of 10 lbs. can do wonders.
2. Get regular, moderate, physical activity such as walking.
3. Eat foods low in fat, high in fiber, and adequate in calcium and potassium.
4. Avoid or limit alcohol intake. Alcohol can increase blood pressure.
5. Limit intake of salt and salty foods.
6. Keep stress moderate, get adequate sleep (7 to 8 hours daily) and take relaxation breaks.

How to exercise for the heart:

1. Exercise 3 to 4 times / week minimum, daily if possible.
2. During your exercise it is recommended that your heart rate reach 94 to 112 beats / minute.
3. Exercise for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes, 30 to 60 is optimum.
4. Start at an easy level and progress gradually. Remember to get your doctor's guidance before starting any exercise program if you have any health problems or you are over age 40 and not use to vigorous activity.
5. Examples of exercise include (but not limited to) walking, hiking, climbing hills, low impact aerobics, bicycle riding (including stationary), active gardening (mowing, digging, raking leaves,) and active sports.

How to maintain a healthy weight:

1. Dieting doesn't work. Learn to eat healthy low fat meals and avoid late snacks.
2. Be active and try to get 30+ minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.
3. Avoid excessive stress, get adequate rest, and take time for yourself.

How to stop smoking:

1. Forty five (45) million people have stopped smoking, most of them on their own. You can too!
2. For best results, follow a self-help guide to quit or join a support group.
3. Ask your doctor for help and guidance or contact the local lung or heart association

Start eating more fruit and vegetables

Speaking of micro nutrients, plenty of vegetables with every meal and a few good servings of fruit each day will ensure that your body has what it needs to feel fresh, focused and ready for anything. It will also help you avoid catching most of the common pesky diseases or feeling sluggish.

7 Simple Changes To Get Workout Habits to Stick

1. Put your workout on your calendar.

Are you going to workout five days this week? Maybe on Monday it works best in the morning, but Thursday the only time you will have is after work. Which days absolutely have to be your skip days? Put it down as an actual time slot.
Schedule your workout days for the week so you can visually see it and be reminded yourself of what is coming.

2. Work out the time of day that works best for you.

Many experts stress that working out right away in the morning is best. But what if that just doesn’t work for you?
Well, how about you do what does work for you instead? The key is to be flexible. Just because you scheduled it for 7:00 am, and that didn’t happen, doesn’t mean you write the entire day off.
Try for the next open block you have. Even if you only to get in half of your normal workout, it’s better than skipping it completely.

3. Put your workout clothes on right now.

Planning on a workout later? Put your workout clothes on right now. Run your errands, do housework, get the kids to school in your workout clothes.
It sends a signal to your brain the entire time. “A workout is coming. Get ready, stay alert. Your workout is yet to come. You have a plan!”

4. Make a deal with yourself.

Do you still really just do not want to workout? Here is the deal. You workout for ten minutes, and after that if you want to quit you can.
Guess what? Even when I am down and out and dragging myself to begin a workout, I still have never quit after the ten minutes. You will want to finish!

5. Make a plan. Track the plan.

Which day are you going to do weights, which days will you work out your legs, back and arms? What day is for cardio and for how long? Which exercises exactly will you practise?
You must make a plan or you by default have a plan: to fail. Then track on your calendar what you actually did. List each exercise, how much you lifted, how far you ran or walked, and add a tiny bit more weight or reps after you get stronger.
Energy comes from accomplishments. You can look back over the days and see how much success you’ve had.

6. Get to the real WHY.

Why do you even want to workout? If it’s just to look great in a bikini that motivation will eventually lose its buzz.
The superficial reasons because of which we often start a workout routine often aren’t strong enough to carry us through the tough days. I struggled to stick to a workout routine year round until I watched my dad face open heart surgery in his fifties. Right then and there I decided I would do everything within my power to not have my boys ever face that pain.
So dig deep. Do the exercise of the Whys. It works like this:

• Why do I want to workout? To look good in my clothes.
• Why do I want to look good in my clothes? So I can feel confident.
• Why do I want to feel confident? So I can show my daughter how important it is to believe in yourself.
• Why do I want to show my daughter this? So she can be the strongest, happiest, healthiest self possible and have me as her role model showing her the way.

See the difference? Now grab onto your personal deep WHY when you don’t feel like working out, not the bikini dream.

7. Fast forward your life.

I do some volunteer work for hospice where I get the amazing opportunity to spend time with people facing life’s most difficult challenges.
Every time I leave I think “Thank God I can walk out of here. Thank God I can move and run. I can lift things, and all my body parts still work. I can walk outside, and feel the sun on my face.”
There will come a day for each of us on which this is no longer true. It is a privilege to be able to workout and honor our bodies, not a chore. Change your perspective, change your life.
Physical ability is a gift not given to everyone today, but it was given to you. Don’t waste it with negativity by refusing the gift. Go feel your body working, and be grateful for the fact that today you still can.

6 Differences Between Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships

1. Real giving vs. giving to get

A healthy relationship gives without expecting anything in return. It freely gives. One can aptly call this a true gift of love. An unhealthy relationship gives in order to get something in return. In a healthy relationship, trust is the main force in operation. By hook or by crook you got each other’s back. Your best interest is always at the forefront. If what you have is true love, both of you are willing to say to the other, “I’ve got you covered.” You totally trust each other. You can relax and not worry about the relationship, because you know your partner will never betray you. On the contrary, an unhealthy relationship rarely gives without expecting a return on investment; there’s always a price to pay for something that is given. When it gives, it expects a boomerang of benefits.

2. Accepting vs. wanting to change the partner

A healthy relationship involves accepting the other person, wholeheartedly. It works hard to discover who the other person really is, so she can love that person in an all encompassing way. An unhealthy relationship, in contrast, seeks to change the opposite end of the relationship. It wants the other person to conform to his wants and needs. It is the kind of relationship where controlling is the main purpose, and it controls in order to get the satisfaction it seeks.

3. Genuine desire vs. pushing your partner

An unhealthy relationship uses guilt to get what it wants. It pushes you to feel guilt. That way, it can demand things it wants from you. In this kind of relationship you don’t give freely. You give because you need to. In a healthy relationship, you give because you genuinely desire to take care of your partner’s needs. You have a genuine desire to satisfy your partner.

4. Exposure vs. protecting privacy

In a healthy relationship, you go the extra mile to cover for your partners weaknesses. You treat your partner’s dark areas as sacred matters, not to be divulged for any reason and to anybody. Here, private aspects of the intimate partnership are deliberately created in order to strengthen the relationship; you don’t reveal private details to anyone, even if they are family, or very close friends. What you possess as a couple is only for you two. You treat those moments and details like governments treat classified or top secret documents. You treasure each other’s contributions to the relationship. In a tainted love, negative attributes of a partner become a source of nasty jokes — even intimate moments like kissing are shared to any person willing to listen.

5. Revenge vs. restoration

Arguments and lovers’ quarrels are a way to strengthen a relationship. How? By using the fights to get to know the other person more intimately, you gain insight into how the other partner can be served much better, rather than use the fights as a way to gather ammunition to control or hurt the other person in future. By getting to know the other person, you will gain knowledge on how to restore your bond. In comparison, an unhealthy relationship is vengeful and fights will manufacture rejection, blaming, or even oppression.

6. Self-centeredness vs. shared dreams

True love transforms two individuals into one real union. Upon forming a relationship, they make dreams together — the fruit of which, as a natural consequence, is the creation of fresh goals that are unified and that aim for one another’s well being. The unhealthy relationship, on the contrary, demands that you give up your personal dreams. It will not help you make them a reality; this kind of relationship doesn’t give — rather, it steals.

10 Things Everyone Always Forgets That Are More Important Than Their Job

 

1. Family Bonds

You’re already quite lucky if you have a family that loves you and that supports you. Whenever we think of business people, we assume that they have no time for their children. But that does not have to be so! Make time! It is essential to participate and be a big part in your family’s life. This balance between making money and participating in family activities can be hard, but once you achieve it, you will feel your bonds with your loved ones become stronger

2. The Elusive Love

Finding a love partner is already hard as it is. And if you work from 9 to 5 (or usually more), it can be even harder. You can quite easily slip into thinking “I don’t need anyone,” and while it is important to know how to enjoy life when single, it is also important to at least give love a chance and try and find someone that will make your life a bit more fulfilling. Finding that perfect someone can take a lot of work, and it will require a lot of compromise on both sides. But once you find yourself in such a relationship, you will have another support pillar in your life, a person who will always be there to give you a helping hand, or a kind word – whatever you need.

3. The Flow of Time

Time management skills are really important for any working professional, and they are essential if you want to have a balanced lifestyle, where you have enough time for everything. This should be on your priority list, but most people just throw it away and dedicate themselves to only a single aspect of their lives. If you succeed at balancing your work and social life, you will easily create more space for your hobbies or other activities that make you happy. Get up early, but also remember to sleep well. Spend your weekends wisely. Yes, get to work on time, but also get home on time, as both of those things are equally important.

4. Philanthropy

I know that the economy is not what it used to be, but guess what – it never is, was or will be! The economy is changing all the time, and no one can deny that money is tight; so many of us ask a simple question: why should I help others? Probably even people like Bill Gates, who gives a lot of his own wealth to charity, ask themselves this question from time to time. But the answer is simple: you are defined by how you treat those less fortunate than yourself. Not only will you feel good by helping others, but you will be changing lives all around you. And similar to Superman, you should not be doing this for selfish reasons. You can help out both financially and practically almost any charitable organization. You could find a local animal shelter and donate some money, or you could buy some food for a local homeless shelter. The possibilities are endless. Just imagine how the world would look if everyone were to help out others once in a while.

5. The Importance of Friendships

Without friends, life would not be as fun. You wouldn’t have anyone to laugh at your jokes or anyone to ask for advice. Not to mention that you wouldn’t have someone to share your secrets with. But friends, nowadays, are taken for granted and are seen as a means to an end. This is why you must maintain your friendships, and this can be done easily: invite a few of them over for a coffee, where you can talk about life and share your experiences. Everyone knows that we are all busy, but making time for your friends is actually the most clear indication to them how much you deeply care about their friendship, something that will prove to be the brightest of candles in the darkest of times.

6. The Need to Improve Yourself

Every day you are alive you learn something new, something interesting and something practical. You should never neglect your personal growth. Make time to fine tune your skills and knowledge. In this age of practicality, you can learn so many new things online. There are courses for everything, so something like learning a new language has never been easier. This is really important for two simple reasons. Firstly, you will become a better person by learning new things, which will broaden your horizons and open you up to new experiences. Secondly, sooner or later you will probably be in a situation where a particular skill will be really useful or even necessary, especially in a work environment.

7. Proper Exercise

The same way you need occasional mental exercise for your mind, you need physical exercise for your body. This can be achieved easily, as no one is asking you to become a body builder but just to visit a gym a few times a week. With the help of a professional, this can quickly become an easy and fun task. If you do not like overcrowded gyms, you can go for a jog, and even invite a friend or two. This can turn into a nice social event and will also be healthy for your body. Exercise has been shown to ward off depression, so whenever you are feeling down, or the stress at work is simply killing you, then maybe you need to grab those sneakers and run a few circles.

8. A Healthy Diet

We all know how tempting fast food can be and how hard it can be to avoid things like bacon because… well… bacon. But having a balanced diet will not only improve your health but it can also improve your work performance. The next time you have free time, prepare a healthy meal for yourself. Bring it to work the next day for lunch. This way you can avoid cheeseburgers. The same thing goes for snacks, as the over-consumption of sugars is the main cause of obesity in developed countries. So make your own delicious home-made substitutions that are not loaded with sugar. Eat fruits and greens in larger quantities. And remember, fries do not count as vegetables.

9. Adventure

What is the purpose of life if it is not in some way fun and exciting? Remember to travel, read, explore and interact with new people and situations. Do not be afraid of new experiences. People are generally afraid of becoming stuck in a rut, but many people, ironically, find safety there and fear leaving their comfort zone. Be stronger and smarter than that. Dare to try new things! Go on a vacation – alone, if no one wants to go with you. A few days abroad can open your eyes more than a year of doing your same old job. This will give you the courage necessary to take more risks. And who knows, some of them might change your life for the better in a way you previously thought was impossible.

10. Personal Satisfaction

All of these things we have mentioned above have one thing in common: they make you realize that there are more important things in life than work, and that we are quick to forget about them. But they are actually more important to your personal feelings of satisfaction. You work hard. You try your best and this is why you need to ensure that you feel happy and satisfied, and it is your duty, and a duty to others, to be content. Spend time with the right people, have understanding, love and patience for your family, and nurture your health and your body.

Nigerian female football stars step out in lovely white dresses.

Nigeria female footballer of the year, Asissat Oshola and her colleagues all stepped out looking fab in their little white dresses at a sports function recently. Think it was the Nigeria Football Awards which held on Thursday November 13th at the Muson Center in Lagos.

A Rich Man Sent His Son To The Rural Area And This Is What Happened When His Son Returned Home

A really rich Chinese man sent his son to the rural area and wanted him to experience poverty. His son lived with a family in the rural area for three days, and when he returned home, he had the following conversation with his father.
The father asked, “so how was it?”
The son said “I think it’s alright.”
“What’s the difference between our home and their home?” the father asked.
“Wow! There are a lot of differences!” with excitement, the son continued,
“We have a dog at home, but they have four.
We have purified water in our swimming pool but they have a really big pond with fresh and clear water, there’s even fish in there!
There’re light bulbs in our garden while the moon and the stars shine brightly on their fields at night.
Our garden is limited by the walls, but theirs is limitless. Their garden is like extending to the edge of the sky.
We listen to the CDs back home, yet they listen to the tweets of birds and other natural sounds.
Our house is surrounded by walls, but they always welcome friends so their door is always opened.
In the city, cell phones and computers connect us; there, people are connected closely with the nature and their families.”
The father was very surprised by what the son said. “Dad, thank you for letting me know how poor we actually are.” The son said.

“Many people are so poor that the only thing they have is money.” – Rodolfo Costa

Our lives, our happiness and the nature around us are things that money can’t buy. Why things that can be bought with money are more valuable than things that even money can’t buy?
When you start to appreciate the people around you and the things you have, you will stop chasing after the “rich lives” because you know you have everything you need.
If you are a rich person, ask yourself these questions, “am I becoming more and more disconnected with my friends and family, and with this world? Am I still wanting more for the sake of having more?”

New London Bridge Opens And Closes Like A Fan.

Two Nice Tips To Stand Strong In Every Condition.

Never take help of tears to show your emotions

 

You are sitting in the car in traffic jam, and some one is honking continuously. Instead of abusing the other person or disturbing your peace, you can simply think, what this guy is trying to teach me. This person is teaching me importance of patience.

Another example of controlling anger is, if one of your friend is frustrated, and is yelling at you, instead of yelling back at him and spoiling your friendship, ask yourself, what is my friend trying to teach? He is trying to teach me that anger is so bad, one does not know what he speaks when a person is angry.

One more example of stress management is, say someone has broken your heart and left you in relationship. Now you are dealing with stress in your relations. By continuously being depressed and saying negative things, you are disturbing yourself and your inner peace. Again, ask yourself, what is he trying to teach me. The person is teaching me that one shall find happiness in himself or herself first before looking for happiness in relationships.

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure (Part 2)

Watermelon Seeds

Watermelon seeds contain a compound called cucurbocitrin, which helps widen the blood capillaries. At the same time, it also helps improve kidney functioning. This in turn reduces blood pressure levels and also helps a lot with arthritis.
Also, a 2010 Florida State pilot study found that watermelon can help lower blood pressure due to its vasodilatory effect.

• Grind equal quantities of dried watermelon seeds and poppy seeds (khus khus). Take one teaspoon of this mixture in the morning on an empty stomach and again in the evening.
• Alternatively, add two teaspoons of gently crushed, dried watermelon seeds to one cup of boiled water. Steep it for about an hour, then strain it. Take four tablespoons of this water at regular intervals throughout the day.

 Garlic

Several studies have demonstrated blood pressure lowering effects of garlic. Both raw and cooked garlic help control high blood pressure and at the same time reduce cholesterol levels. Garlic helps relax blood vessels by stimulating the production of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide.

• Eat one or two crushed garlic cloves daily. You can simply crush them with your hands. Crushing garlic cloves creates hydrogen sulfide, a compound that promotes good blood flow, removes gas and reduces the pressure on the heart. If you do not like eating raw garlic or if it causes a burning sensation, then take it along with a cup of milk.
• You can also mix five or six drops of garlic juice in four teaspoons of water and take it twice a day.

 Banana

Bananas are one fruit that people with high blood pressure can eat regularly to control it. Bananas are a rich source of potassium, which lessens the effect of sodium.
So, try to eat one or two bananas daily. Along with bananas, you can try dried apricots, raisins, currants, orange juice, spinach, zucchini, baked sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and winter squash.

 Celery

The high level of the phytochemical 3-N-butylphthalide present in celery greatly helps control high blood pressure. Phthalides help relax the muscles in and around arterial walls, thereby creating more space and allowing the blood to flow in without difficulty.
At the same time, it can help reduce the stress hormones that constrict blood vessels, which contributes to high blood pressure.
Try to eat one stalk of celery along with a glass of water daily. If you prefer, you can munch on celery throughout the day.

 Coconut Water

People with high blood pressure must keep their bodies well hydrated. It is a good idea to drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily. Coconut water is particularly beneficial for lowering blood pressure.
A 2005 study published in the West Indian Medical Journal found that coconut water, being rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin C can help decrease systolic blood pressure. Along with coconut water, you can also use coconut oil when cooking.

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious health problem that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or above is considered high.



 LEMONS

Lemons help keep blood vessels soft and pliable and by removing any rigidity, high blood pressure will be reduced. In addition, you can help lower your chance of heart failure by consuming lemon juice regularly, due to its vitamin C content. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals.

Commissioning Of Dutse International Airport By President Goodluck

President Jonathan today in Dutse, Jigawa state inaugurated the multi-billion naira Dutse International Airport. He was accompanied by the State Governor and other state office holders.

Nigeria vigilant while celebrating EBOLA freedom

The World Health Organisation declared on Monday that Nigeria is free of Ebola, a rare victory in the months-long battle against the disease.
Nigeria’s containment of Ebola is a “spectacular success story”, WHO country director Rui Gama Vaz told a news conference in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Nigeria reported 20 cases of Ebola, including eight deaths. One of those who died was an airline passenger who brought Ebola to Nigeria and died soon after.
The WHO announcement came after 42 days had passed since the last case in Nigeria tested negative – 42 days is twice the disease’s maximum incubation period.
“The outbreak in Nigeria has been contained,” Vaz said. “But we must be clear that we only won a battle. The war will only end when west Africa is also declared free of Ebola.”
WHO said Nigeria had traced nearly all of the contacts of the Ebola patients in the country, all of whom were linked to the country’s first patient, a Liberian man who arrived with symptoms in Lagos and later died.

Why Nigeria Was Able to Beat Ebola, but Not Boko Haram

For Nigeria’s embattled government, October 20 is a date worth circling on the calendar: That day will mark 42 days since Nigeria’s last confirmed Ebola case, which, at twice the 21-day incubation period, will allow the country to declare itself free of a disease that has ravaged its West African neighbors.

Tuesday, Nigeria reached a milestone it would much rather ignore: Six months ago, militants from the terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from the country’s Chibok region, and, despite a worldwide campaign to free them, 219 remain in captivity. While the kidnapping has attracted significant publicity—epitomized by the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on Twitter—violence attributed to Boko Haram has killed thousands in Nigeria’s northern provinces.

The contrast between the two anniversaries raises an uncomfortable question: Faced with these two enormous crises, how has Nigeria handled one so well and the other so poorly?

"Ebola impacts everyone. It doesn’t have ties to particular sects or groups."

One major reason is Nigeria’s political geography, which, throughout the country’s post-colonial history, has caused great turmoil. A country of some 170 million people split into numerous ethnic and linguistic groups, Nigeria has struggled to bridge the gap between its relatively affluent Christian south and its poorer Muslim north.

Boko Haram, whose name roughly means “Western education is a sin,” has exploited this divide. The group largely operates in Nigeria’s three northeastern provinces, all of which are controlled by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party and where distrust of President Goodluck Jonathan’s government runs high.

“A lot of people in northern Nigeria are, in fact, disgusted with Boko Haram,” Rudy Atallah, a senior fellow at The Atlantic Council and an expert on Nigeria, said. “But because the population of the North has felt neglected by the South for so long, many of them view Boko Haram as an able body fighting against the government.”

By contrast, when Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American man who tested positive for Ebola, arrived in Lagos, he found himself in a city equipped with West Africa’s most advanced health-care infrastructure as well as the headquarters of many multinational organizations. And, unlike the fight against Boko Haram, combating Ebola transcends ethnic, political, and religious divisions.

“Ebola impacts everyone,” Atallah noted. “It doesn’t have ties to particular sects or groups.”

The next inflection point in Nigerian politics may come in February, when the country chooses a new president. Having served one full term, Jonathan will be eligible.* A victory by his People’s Democratic Party, which has governed Nigeria for 14 years and whose voter base resides in the south, may exacerbate the already fierce regional divide in the country, as well as make the search for the remaining 219 hostages even more difficult

This article was originally published at http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/why-nigeria-stopped-ebola-but-not-boko-haram/381442/

Cut Heart Attack Risk By 86 Percent.

Listen up, men: A new study has found a way for you to reduce your chances of having a heart attack by a whopping 86 percent. All you have to do is exercise regularly, eat lots of veggies, not smoke, barely drink, and watch your waistline. So why isn’t everybody doing it?

“That is the basic question that health psychologists have been examining for the past 30 to 40 years,” James Maddux, a psychology professor. “And the short, simple answer is this: Just about everything we do that’s unhealthy in the long run — including eating, drinking alcohol, and not moving our bodies — feels good in the short run. And everything that’s good for us — exercising, eating less pasta and bread, not smoking if someone’s a smoker — takes effort, and that can be unpleasant. That is the basic problem.”

Malala Yousafzai becomes youngest-ever Nobel Prize winner

OSLO: The Nobel Peace Prize went Friday to 17-year-old Pakistani Malala Yousafzai and India’s Kailash Satyarthi for their work promoting children’s rights.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize saying that peaceful global development can only come about if children and the young are respected.
Malala is the youngest person to be awarded the globally prestigious annual prize.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has congratulated teenage education campaigner Malala Yousafzai on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, calling her the “pride” of his country.
“She is (the) pride of Pakistan. She has made her countrymen proud. Her achievement is unparallelled and unequalled. Girls and boys of the world should take the lead from her struggle and commitment,” he said in a statement.

First Ebola, Now Marburg. How Do We Stop Future Outbreaks?

Marburg, a virus similar to Ebola, has hit the radar in the African country of Uganda, raising concerns about another deadly outbreak. With two lethal viruses threatening public health, many are questioning why these contagions seem to be flaring up more often — and more important, what we can do to avoid them in the future.

The current Ebola outbreak originated in West Africa and has killed more than 3,800 people, more than all other past outbreaks combined. The first Marburg death was confirmed recently in Kampala, Uganda. Both viruses cause hemorrhagic fevers and are passed from animals to humans, which has experts examining how humans and African wildlife interact.

One mystery surrounding these viruses is where they live between outbreaks, when they aren't infecting humans, author and Ebola expert David Quammen told National Geographic. For example, health officials know Ebola likely goes dormant in an animal, called its "reservoir host," but they have yet to identify exactly which species. At least one of the suspects is the fruit bat, which is believed to host several other viruses (including Marburg and SARS) without getting sick. These bats usually live in large, tightly packed groups, allowing the virus to spread easily among the animals.

HOW TO STOP PREMATURE EJACULATION

Premature ejaculation, or ejaculating before you or your partner wanted you to, is a common problem that strikes most men at some point in their lives. Several factors can influence when ejaculation occurs, but it can be controlled with some forethought or, in extreme cases, medical intervention. Here are some strategies to help you get over premature ejaculation and improve your sexual stamina.

Wear a condom. It sounds too simple to be true, but it works for a lot of men. Condoms reduce stimulation for most men, which should prolong the time before ejaculation.^[1]

• Steer clear of condoms that are marketed as extra thin. You can always upgrade to a brand that allows more stimulation later.
• Some condoms are coated with a slight numbing gel on the inside. This can help you put off ejaculation for longer without causing numbness to your partner. (Just make sure you know which side is where when you put it on.)

• Apply strategic pressure. With a little anatomy knowledge, you can delay an oncoming ejaculation by applying pressure to one of two spots.
• Perineum pressure: Pressing on the perineum, a spot midway between your scrotum and your anus, will help to stop ejaculation because this spot reaches through to the prostate gland. It is the prostate that contracts and expands during orgasm and then expels the ejaculation fluid. Ask your partner to apply this loving pressure for you.
• Testes tug: When a man nears orgasm his scrotum rises up closer to his body. You can delay ejaculation by gently pulling your testes down and away from your body. Your partner can also do this for you.

Reduce anxiety. For many men anxiety and pressure to perform is a major contributor to premature ejaculation. Relax and remember that your partner probably cares about more than the timing of your orgasms, and that premature ejaculation doesn't mean you can't still be good in bed.

• Take climaxing out of your expectations. Instead of viewing intercourse only as a means of achieving orgasm, reframe it as relaxing, pleasurable time with your partner that you'll enjoy regardless of ejaculation. Discuss this new mindset with your partner, so that he or she can stop pressuring you, intentionally or not.

Think nonsexual thoughts. If you notice yourself getting too excited, turn your thoughts to something distant, abstract and unsexy, such as math, rush hour traffic or baseball. Only dwell on it long enough to give yourself a short break from arousal, maybe 5 to 10 seconds, then refocus your attention on your partner. Avoid thinking of a topic that is going to make you stressed or cause you to lose your arousal entirely



I REMAIN A KING

Nasal Allergy Roots

 

 Why we get nasal allergy symptoms

Allergic reactions occur when the immune system encounters and overreacts to substances that are not generally considered harmful. These substances are called allergens.
In people who have nasal allergies, the immune system reacts to an airborne (inhaled) allergen by creating an antibody called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, that is designed to fight that specific allergen. This antibody-allergen complex attaches to certain cells in the nasal passages and causes the release of chemicals including histamine, which in turn cause inflammation.
The end result is nasal allergy symptoms—congestion, sneezing, itchy nose or runny nose. Some common examples of inhaled allergens are airborne pollens from some plants and trees, mold spores, and dog and cat dander.

Allergies and genetics

Just like many of your physical characteristics—such as hair or eye color and height—your susceptibility to allergies may be inherited. However, even with a genetic tendency, you don't automatically get allergies. Several factors must also be present in order for a person to develop an allergic sensitivity. These include:

• Specific inherited genes
• Exposure to the allergens you are genetically predisposed to react to
• The amount of, and length of, exposure to the allergens

For instance, even with a genetic likelihood to develop an allergy to dust mites, it may take several years of exposure to the allergen before allergy symptoms appear. This is why, as people age, they sometimes develop allergies to substances in their environment.

Your likelihood of inheriting allergies

If one of your parents had allergies, you have about a 30 percent chance of inheriting allergic tendencies. If both of your parents had allergies, your chance of having allergies increases to 70 percent.