All posts filed under: life

Lifestyle: Personality Traits – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I do countless hours of self-reflecting – especially after every incident, good or bad, in my life. I wonder if my handling of a situation was the best approach. Or the fact,  why is it people are intimated by me, then there are days, I feel as if I am not getting through to anyone. So I evaluate, troubleshoot, and either I come out of it disappointed in myself, or I hold my head high, positive that I did or said the right thing, even if seemingly too objective or somewhat constructive, or totally negative to others. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one – but I found an article that defines my strong personality – or they are simply labeling it as ‘strong’ – it could very well be perceived as  a bad trait. Who knows – but I am curious to hear your opinion, especially if you experience the same things. So here it goes – 8 Signs That You Have A Strong Personality That Might Intimidate Some …

A Moment To Reflect

I got the worst kind of call last night – from someone very dear to me to tell me she was faced with the most difficult decision – to put her beloved Yorkie to sleep. A 2.5 pound beauty she’d had for 14 years. His sudden illness – while driving back from a trip to San Francisco over the weekend to visit her family – tearing her world apart. I can still hear her gut-wrenching cry over the phone last night, asking for the best course of action, when she knew deep down she had to make the worst of decisions. She’d been up for over 20 hours since Sunday afternoon at the Pet Hospital 50 miles from her home, hopeful that her forever pup would pull through… So forgive me for taking a few days to figure out how to help her cope.

Sometimes The Most Touching Of Stories…

Puts a whole new perspective on the difficulties one faces, thinking we are all alone, until we stumble upon this touching story of love and new beginnings. Here’s to hoping the best for 2018 and beyond to all of us who sometimes feel there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for the inspiration and hope you’ve given me CofJ

Lifestyle: Ways To Improve Anxiety

I am guilty, like most of us living a very stressful life, of being almost too anxious sometimes. And I find myself staying up a couple of nights a week thinking and worrying about all things called life. At times I talk myself out of worrying so much and other times I dwell until I can come up with a solution.  I remember once a family member telling a friend of theirs that I was the rock of our family, and all I could think to myself is – if you only knew how heavy a burden that rock was…but I simply smiled. Here’s a list of 13 things you can do to ease anxiety. Please share if you have tried any of the methods suggested and if you found them helpful. 1. Meditation Many studies and first hand accounts have noted that meditation does wonders for anxiety. Using apps like Headspace or Calm can be extremely helpful in getting started and staying on track. If you prefer to unplug, using mala beads is another …

Here’s What I’ve Said…

In light of the fact there is a disturbing amount of uproar in this country, from politics, to sports to entertainment, that sometimes I feel the need to remind myself and those who feel like me about… How Wonderful Life Really Is here and here   Stay Positive No Matter the Struggle:     Self Love Is The Most Important Thing     Learning from other cultures might just be the solution to our countries disarray from here and here:     {featured image source}

Rating the Best College Towns in the US

I cannot say too much about the list of college towns on the Conde Nast Traveler site as being the best – since this is another one of those things on my travel bucket list to do – visit college towns. But I am a little surprised Stanford isn’t on the list, or U.C. Santa Barbara or Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Here’s the list just in case you are near one of these towns or don’t see your town, and wish to offer up your take on the matter:

RS&S Topic of Interest: Friday The 13th Explained

I am not superstitious much – but I do have to bring to attention that today is Friday the 13th – and although the day and date has not much meaning to me, it does to some folks. So I decided to find out what the hype is all about. Check out what I discovered: According to the Brits, the Mirror reports: National Geographic explains the history behind the superstition: The Irish have their take on the matter: And then there is a list of 13 blizzare historical events according to ABC7 News

Stay-cation in Full Gear and What’s On My Mind

I decided to take two weeks off from work to simply do ‘Autumn’ cleaning, and a few minor projects around the house.  I realized when I woke up this morning, while unable to breathe from the smog blanketing over San Francisco, due to the Napa/Sonoma fires, that our country has had one of the most challenging years so far in the 21st century.  Whether it is because of natural disasters, or otherwise, there is a certain, it almost feels, an incurable chaos, and madness taking  shape at an accelerated pace. And no matter how hard I try to avoid expressing my concerns on RS&S; I can’t get past the fact: If we don’t make a collective effort to put the breaks on, we are going to be the producers of our own demise. {source}  

Lifestyle: Distractions Are Always A Good Idea…

Distractions are always a good idea during trying times to help get you through the fears and the stress. I am not saying to ignore what is going on around the world, or in your own hometown, but please try not to dwell. Dwelling intensifies the fear factor which then turns into an obsession and combined together; can paralyze you sometimes to the point that you are too worried about – well, just about everything, and suddenly you forget how to live in harmony. How I cope is by shutting off social media, and tuning in to Pandora. Next I meditate for twenty minutes at the least, to find clarity. Then I make time to watch the sunset, and take pictures. Afterwards, I read an actual paperback – a novel I picked up in the UK or France, or I draw/doodle. This time to myself is priceless, because it helps me become less angry, more rational and even allow me to see the best of the world and the people in it.

Lifestyle: Humor Circa 1955

I’ve been binge-watching the Dick Van Dyke show on Netflix – aiming to see all 5 seasons before the holiday months are upon us.  Now, if you don’t know anything about Dick Van Dyke or the show. It’s about a married couple, in this case Rob played by Dick Van Dyke and his wife Laura, (Mary Tyler Moore), as always going through struggles or just day-to-day stuff – like any other show, but this one is set in the late 50’s to early 60’s. At times I laugh so hard, and at times I smirk at the things the men in the show say to the women   – although efforts to be sensitive to the gender’s feelings are expressed throughout, the comments are still made.  Nevertheless, those were the times, and I  laugh, taking everything said and done with a grain of salt. I’m not one to freak out over every word that comes out of every person’s mouth on any given day nor take offense on a level that I need to blast …