help me be

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and today is Memorial Day weekend. A reminder that the only constant is change. But, the one thing we can control is the lens through which we view that change! That's where gratitude comes in. If we fill our minds and hearts with gratitude, it leaves very little room for anything else. Simple Gratitude Exercise : At the end of each day, simply, think of one answer to the three things below. Whatever automatically comes to you when you reflect back to your day, whether positive or negative: A Person A Thing A Feeling (even "bad" feelings) Think of a visual or moment connected with each answer. Then, say each one out loud, and after each: Say "Thank you" Smile big (even if it's initially forced) Then, take one deep breath. The lesson here is to infuse our thinking with positivity! Negative experiences aren't always inherently bad; our minds often only perceive them as such due to habitual thinking and biases. This exe...

An interesting and not commonly known sciency fact: The black panther is not its own cat species; it's just a general term for any large cat, predominantly those in the genus Panthera including leopards and jaguars, that have developed a melanistic color variant resulting in a black coat. These darker cats are the same species as their lighter counterparts. The genus Panthera, includes jaguar, leopard, lion, snow leopard, and tiger. Melanisim is a genetic mutation that results in the overproduction of melanin, causing a dark appearance, and can occur in birds and reptiles, too! About 10% of jaguars and leopards are born melanisitic and therefore are referred to as black panthers.  If you look closely, you'll see spots under all that dark fur!

Just like licorice and marshmallow, jujubes were a natural plant first before the candy manufacturers reinvented the name. Jujubes are a type of fruit, also called Chinese red dates. They grow and are commonly consumed in Asian cultures as syrups, pickles, wine, teas, desserts, soups, jam, snacks, and as medicine for blood disorders , anxiety, and digestive disorders. In Australia, they make beer from jujubes! Research has shown that jujubes may slow the occurrence and development of certain cancers. One example is when tested on cervical and breast cancer cells, jujube significantly inhibited those cancer cells. Other studies have shown promise in repairing the intestinal barrier. In another study, jujubes made rats very sleepy as the fruit had a "hypnotic effect," increasing total sleep and REM sleep dramatically and inducing a calm state. In another rat study , jujube enhanced the rat's learning and memory capabilities significantly when they underwent maze tests. Hop...

Google launched AI Mode for the public today (5/20/2025), which is now featured on the top tabs of the Google search bar. Much like ChatGPT, it offers an exciting, innovative way to search, a bit different than their current AI preview (which certainly has its hiccups), AI Mode will offer a chatbox, and to the left will store your previous questions. To the right, sources are listed. It uses Gemini to supply: -Conversationalist answers -Information from multiple sources -Comprehensive answers -Personalized content Try AI Mode here . It's free! If you're on mobile, it will require a Google update. AI Mode makes it easy to access aggregated information and it's exciting how accessible learning about everything under and beyond the sun is, but there may be bias and limitations in the aggregation, which naturally applies to regular searches on Google, too. Google provides curated answers from multiple sources, disregarding millions of other valuable resources and information. ...

Bring on the garlic bread with guacamole and a side of blueberries! Protecting your collagen has never been so easy. Here are nine exceptional foods that support collagen. Gotu Kola Asiaticoside acid is the beneficial component in the gotu kola herb, which has been reported to possess wound-healing qualities that significantly increase collagen formation and angiogenesis. Both in vivo clinical studies and human cell culture experiments have concluded that this acid influences collagen synthesis. Intake at 1 mg was shown to increase collagen content by 76%! Tremella Mushroom In a promising study , ingestion of tremella mushroom was proficient at reducing collagen loss in the skin, increasing type 1 collagen, and repairing collagen breakdown. Tremella also maintained the appropriate ratio between type 1 and 111 collagen.  Blackcurrants Anthocyanin makes foods, such as berries, dark purple, or red, and this study concludes that the anthocyanins in blackcurrants increase collagen, hy...

NVC makes for happy and emotionally satisfied couples! It's one giant step toward relational bliss at least. Non Violent Communication ( NVC ) is a compassionate and empathetic communication style that reduces conflict, defensiveness, and a breakdown in communication by focusing on observations, feelings, and needs instead. It creates a safe, cozy space in relationships, making the other person feel respected and cared for, but not only that, it fosters self-reflection, self-care and a deeper understanding of who you are. It can be used with spouses, children, co-workers, and friends. Anyone!  Developed by Marshall Rosenberg in the 1960s because he witnessed so much violence and set out to create social change, NVC is used worldwide in many different areas including home, schools, medicine, international relations, and business. It proposes that communication escalates into conflict simply because of unmet needs, and the key to resolving them lies in identifying and addressing the...

Move over calcium supplements, here are unique foods backed by science to boost your bones! Prunes A 12-month randomized controlled trial with 235 participants showed that 4-6 prunes a day slowed down bone loss, particularly in the cortical bone (the outer layer of bone tissue). Blackcurrants A double-blind, randomized clinical trial showed that daily consumption of 784 mg of blackcurrants effectively prevented bone loss and even increased bone mineral density. Additionally, an animal study showed that blackcurrant extract added to feed increased trabecular bone mass (inner part of the bone) in mice that started with minimal bone loss, leading scientists to conclude that early consumption of blackcurrant is crucial to preventing age-related bone loss. This blackcurrant powder is tasty. L-Reuteri A randomized, double-blind clinical trial showed that probiotic L-Reuteri (specifically strain 6475) reduced the loss of bone in the treated group versus the placebo.  A further study sho...

It's cheap, it's easy, it's clovey-fresh! According to chiropractor Dr. Berg , chewing just one clove a day offers significant health benefits. It promises to help with inflammation, digestion, blood sugar regulation, and pain. Cloves have a compound called eugenol, a natural anesthetic that numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Eugenol has also been found to be a considerable natural MAO inhibitor. That means it has the potential to help with depression and mood! According to a Spanish study , cloves are the best antioxidant out of five tested due to their high levels of phenolic compounds. Additionally, they are a potent antibacterial and antifungal. In 1600s Europe, they were so precious they were worth more than their weight in gold. The benefits are long for this little flower bud!

PFAs ( per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of thousands of human-made chemicals, also known as forever chemicals because they persist in the environment in what seems like forever breaking down very slowly. Some can take a 1,000 years to completely disappear. Used in everything from cleaning products, cookware to carpeting, they've been found to accumulate in our bodies, including in our brains, and contribute to all types of issues. In fact, they were found in blood samples of 98% of people tested. Yikes!  Exciting new research finds that oats can actually help excrete PFAs from our bodies due to a powerful substance they contain called beta-glucan s, also found in mushrooms, seaweed, and barley. Be sure to buy organic!

Perhaps it's common knowledge that refined foods negatively change the body, organs, and appearance over time, and here's even more reason to go pure: New research shows that a reduction in attractiveness happens almost  immediately (namely, two hours) after consuming a high-sugar meal! The study from The University of Montpellier, France, took 104 participants and gave half a high-glycemic breakfast (example: corn flakes or potatoes) and the other half a low-glycemic meal (example: steel cut oats or eggs) and had heterosexual participants, recruited carefully to minimize bias, randomly rate the facial attractiveness of the opposite-sex participants as captured in photos taken two hours after the provided meal. Statistical analysis showed that consuming the high-glycemic breakfast, which raises blood sugar, was associated with lower subsequent facial attractiveness ratings for both men and women. Beauty literally comes from within! “We were initially intrigued by the profou...

If anyone needs an incentive to ingest more chocolate, here it is! A randomized, controlled study by USCF (funded by Mars, Inc, it should be noted) and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) showed that the participants who enjoyed two cups of 70%+ chocolate a day had a two-fold increase in angiogenic cells . Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels that help wound healing and supply oxygen to the body thereby reducing cardiovascular events. Stem cell formation is at the root of the process, promoting and making angiogenesis possible. Stem cells are neutral cells that can be turned into specialized cells in the body. They regenerate and repair tissue, reduce pain and inflammation, and combat disease. The benefit of chocolate on stem cell production was mainly attributed to its flavonol content. Amazing!

Dr. John Gottman , a renowned psychologist, can predict divorce with 93.6% accuracy. After studying thousands of couples, he reveals that a subtle facial cue is the number one predictor of divorce  — a one-sided smirk — a sign of contempt. He calls contempt "sulfuric acid for love." He also notes three other negative communication patterns as predictors of divorce: criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling. Together with contempt, he calls them the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse . Contempt is a feeling of scorn, disrespect, or disdain for another person. Contempt comes from a place of superiority as if you are better than the other person. The face of contempt is characterized by a sneer and a slight raising of one lip corner. Just Google Ted Bundy, and bingo! The face of contempt. In his book " Why Marriages Succeed or Fail ," Dr. Gottman states: "When contempt begins to overwhelm your relationship, you tend to forget entirely your partner’s positive qual...

The New York Times has a challenge for you: Stare at Van Gogh's "Starry Night" for 10 interrupted minutes. No clicking or walking away. Ten minutes of undivided attention to the swirling clouds, shiny crescent moon, and the quaint tucked-away village. You'll discover things you didn't know were there, and you'll impress yourself with your focus! When the ten minutes are up, you'll learn more about the story of the painting. Challenge yourself here  

Commitment phobes rejoice! No, not really, but there's a movement gaining speed  that lessens the weight for those who need their space and independence in relationships, and it is an effective method to increase the fulfillment and longevity of long-term, fully committed relationships. The relationship trend is called LAT, Living Apart Together, and it means exactly that: living separately from your partner yet maintaining a committed long-term relationship or marriage. The perks: Better mental health , greater sexual satisfaction , better sleep, greater autonomy and independence, and financial freedom. Think about it, it eliminates a few of the common reasons couples separate, including money and domestic disagreements, and it ensures that you don't take each other for granted. There are currently 3.8 million Americans in this type of spousal arrangement, as of 2023.  LAT Reddit Group Book : Living Apart Together: A Unique Path to Marital Happiness, or The Joy of Sharing Liv...

That haunting space between sleep and wake where you vividly remember who you were, your light - but you can't quite reach it. And once you open your eyes, it's gone. I've been there, too! May is Mental Health Awareness month. If you're having a rough go right now and need some help out of the dark, I've compiled a few resources that might help. ~warm hugs xoxo   Togetherall is a free website community of "real people" who are there to talk if you're feeling lonely, stressed, worried, or just not yourself. You can share experiences and benefit from their well-being tools. They're available 24/7. Finch is an adorable self-care best friend app offering daily cuteness and encouragement.  7 Cups offers a 24/7 free chat, affordable therapy, and self-help guides. They've won awards for what they do, and they claim they're an online therapy many call home. Sounds comforting and cozy. Talklife is a peer-to-peer network app to share your experienc...

What's the perfect activity to participate in on this Valentine's Day? Exploring the relationship between beets and human blood, of course! A PhD student in Sweden, Nélida Leiva-Erikkson, and her team discovered that the roots, leaves, and flowers of sugar beets (20% of the world's sugar comes from this type of beet) are composed of hemoglobin almost identical to human blood, and they have hopes that in the future, it can be used as a blood substitute .    Beets not only help anemia , blood disorders, and cardiovascular health, but they are also high in nitrites, which, when converted to nitric acid by our saliva, boosts exercise performance and how fitting for the day of love, sexual performance as well!  

(2025)If you follow political news on the daily, you'll find yourself wide-eyed at the edge of your seat stuck on a roller coaster under a dramatic and dangerous regime. We have unofficial people, including teens, gaining access to our treasury department, trade wars, the dismantling of the constitution, proposals to seize control of the Gaza strip, plane crashes, bigotry, and basically the literal destruction of whole US government sectors, one by one, including the Department of Education. Our democratic constitutional republic potentially moving toward an autocracy or an oligarchy. It's alarming to think about what our country will resemble in a few months - a year - four years? Each hour of every day is filled to the brim with activity - issues that might be resolved within the week or ones that might reach a more critical point in that period. It's tough to gauge sometimes. One thing is for sure though, this political climate is leaving us all with our heads spinning. ...

What a lovely sentiment by spiritual teacher Ram Dass . A simplistic summary of life. Time in this space is a shared experience that is made easier and more fulfilling if we walk together in warmth, love, and solidarity. Caring for each other is paramount on this collective journey, for every action we partake in influences and impacts every single other being. "Home" is our collective destination after we have laughed, loved, toiled, walked together, and home is peace. Perhaps then if we sit more, we will decelerate the speed of death. ;)

Shopping the other day, I witnessed a mother being physical with her young child. When many might resort to the idea that's how children must be handled, or others might judge but then look away, I chose not to. I felt compelled to be a voice for the child. For me, it was the right thing to do. I understand how imperfect and challenging parenting can be, and I recognize that we are all doing our best with the knowledge we have at this moment. So, let's continue to spread knowledge! The Studies : Being spanked is linked to an increase in mental health issues . (meta-analysis)  The brain responds to spanking in the same way it responds to severe forms of abuse Hitting children leads to trauma, not better behavior . 30 countries have banned corporal punishment in school and at home. These countries have lower rates of teen fighting. Spanking increases aggression .  Hitting Children Is Wrong Three Gentle Alternatives to Spanking: Determine the Need Behind almost all undesirable...

You can acquire a large piece of that vitality pie by incorporating a simple daily practice: stimulating the vagus nerve . The vagus nerve is a key player in the parasympathetic nervous system, which manages the body's fight-or-flight response. This nerve runs from the brain to the abdomen and is crucial in regulating digestion, heart rate, mood, and the body’s inflammatory response. There are sophisticated ways to stimulate the nerve such as expensive devices and even implants. However, the most enjoyable (and free!) are activities like humming or singing in the shower!  Other ways include: Slow, deep-belly breathing Massage Laughter Yoga Exercise Meditation Chanting Gargling Sex BOOK : Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve

There's pasta made from beans (chickpeas), roots (cassava) - and of course, grains, but did you know they make pasta from fruit?! Recently, I visited Whole Foods and discovered a fusili made from green bananas . It cooks up dense and chewy with a slightly sweet taste. The company also offers green banana flour for baking. It turns out green bananas can aid in digestion, support immune system, and blood sugar. The small box of banana fusili contains  90% of the recommended daily value of iron ; 70% potassium and 15% of calcium! Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn't it? Next up: apple pasta!

It's that time again! The buds are unfolding, the daffodils and dandelions are coloring the lawn, the air is cozy warm, and the veggies and herbs are aching to hug some worms. It's planting time! Here's a thrifty idea to consider: regrow your vegetable scraps . It's simple: after eating the top of the vegetable, take the base that you would normally throw away and place it in a container or pot with about a half an inch of water. Refresh the water daily. You can either let it continue to grow in the water, or plant it in soil, either outdoors or indoors. Try regrowing : Celery, Lettuce, Fennel, Pumpkin, Green Onions, Cilantro, Peppers, Avocado, Turnips, Basil, Garlic, Onion, Potato, Mushrooms, Ginger, Turmeric, Lettuce, Pineapple, Bell Peppers, and many others.  Book : Regrow Your Veggies

Here's a quick tidbit of knowledge I recently learned and I'm passing on to my fellow nerds: dolphins are whales. What?!  Many of us view dolphins and whales (like the humpback and blue) as separate groups of animals, but formally they're all in the same order called Cetacea , or Whale. So yes, dolphins are considered whales , but not all whales are dolphins. Within Cetacea, there are two suborders: Baleen Whales Toothed Whales Baleen whales include species such as the blue and the humpback whale. Toothed whales consist of smaller varieties of whales like dolphins, sperm whales, and porpoises. The killer whale, aka orca, is the largest type of dolphin. While you're here, take a moment to check out the uniquely adorable pink Amazon river dolphin . Yes, it really is bubblegum pink and chubby. However, it's critically endangered, so consider helping in a small way .