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15 Quotes About Family to Build Stronger Bonds

April 27, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Your life begins with family and ends with family, as many quotes about family explain. They are the most important people in your life, and your relationship with them outlasts all others. Even when you disagree with a family member or get angry with them, you still love them just the same.

Family can hold you together when times are tough, and they are there for joyful moments, too. You create your best memories with them and share life experiences. Most of your important moments in life are with your family, so it is best to make the most of it and embrace them.

Fifteen Quotes About the Bonds of Family

These quotes about family will remind you that your loved ones are the most important thing in your life. Family is first, and they should time priority over anything else. If you spend your time showing love for your family, you will build stronger bonds that last forever.

1. “Family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” – Barbara Bush

If you want to build stronger bonds, then be there for your family. Please support them in all that they do, and be there to help them along the way. Put your arms around them often, and the bond will strengthen continually.

2. “The bonds of family bind us up, support us, help us. And they are also a bond from which it is difficult, perhaps impossible to extricate oneself.” – Neil Gaiman

Your family is a part of you no matter what. A person can rarely separate themselves from where they came from. With this being the case, embrace it and allow the familial bond to be a blessing in your life.

3. “At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable.” – Mark V. Olsen

Don’t hold grudges, and show compassion and understanding when someone makes a mistake. Family should forgive and love unconditionally. If you can be this way, you are sure to build stronger bonds with your loved ones.

4. “If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable — each segment distinct.” – Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Pogrebin uses the perfect metaphor to describe the bond of a family. Even though every member is different, they are all part of the same unit. They are held together, just like all of the sections of an orange are held together.

Remember this quote to help you build stronger bonds with your family. It will help you connect with them and think of yourselves as one unit made up of individuals. If you remember this quote, it will help keep you together and help you grow as a family because if one section is missing, the circle is incomplete.

5. “Family. We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.” – Unknown

There are no perfect families, even if they appear that way from the outside. If your family has issues and imperfections, you can still count your blessings if you are together. Don’t look at the flaws but instead, look for the happiness and joy that your family brings.

6. “Our family is like the branches of a tree. We may grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.” – Unknown

Everyone who comes from the same place branches off in a different direction, but sticking together is still essential. You might not always agree with their choices or opinions, and it is okay if you are different from one another. Your roots are the same, so keep loving and supporting each other no matter what you are going through.

7. “Our family is a circle of strength and love, with every birth and union it grows. Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.” – Unknown

When a baby is born, or a family member gets married, your family circle grows. It becomes stronger when you go through things together, especially tough situations. During these important times, your bond strengthens the most because you share the same pain, fears, and experience.

No one else can understand you better than those who were by your side through the hard times. As your circle grows, remember that it is getting stronger, too.

8. “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.” – George Moore

No matter how far you venture from your home, you always return. When you return, you will find what you have been looking for. It is a safe space full of love, support, and memories, and you will feel complete again.

When you feel like something is missing in your life, consider whether it has been a while since you went back home. If it has, your family is likely what is missing from your life. Make it home whenever you can to build stronger bonds and spend time with the people you love.

9. “No family is perfect… we argue, we fight. We even stop talking to each other at times. But in the end, family is family… The love will always be there.” – Unknown

You are going to have disagreements with your loved ones. When you are so close to someone, it is easy to clash over topics and events.

Even still, you must be there for one another when it is needed. The love is still there, even when anger seems to be more powerful.

10. “There’s nothing that makes you more insane than family. Or more happy. Or more exasperated. Or more… secure.” – Jim Butcher

Your family knows the intimate details of your life. They know what you have been through, and they likely went through the same experiences. Because of this, those are the relationships that last the longest and cause the most emotion.

Your family will make you angry and drive you crazy, but they will also make you happier than anyone else. They will also make you feel secure. So, even when you feel fed up, you should work on building stronger bonds like these quotes about family explain.

11. “Family is the best thing you could ever wish for. They are there for you during the ups and downs and love you no matter what.” – Unknown

The people who are there for you through the good and bad times are the ones that matter the most. Your family is by your side no matter what you are going through, and they love you despite anything. Remember that, and you will have an easy time building stronger bonds.

12. “What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” – George Eliot

Being a part of something can make you feel valued, worthy, and loved. When you have family, you are a part of something great, and it is something to be cherished. They are the people in your most intimate memories, and it creates an unbreakable bond that doesn’t need discussing.

13. “Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” – Anthony Brandt

When you begin your life, it is with your family surrounding you. As you grow, develop, and learn, they are still the ones by your side. There comes a time when other things like friends, partners, jobs, or life events change you, but it all comes back to the same thing.

It started with family, and it will come back to that, too. At the end of your life, you will once again see your family there with you. Remember these words from Brandt as you go through life, and it will strengthen your bond with those who are there for it all.

14. “Love your family. Spend time, be kind and serve one another. Make no room for regrets. Tomorrow is not promised, and today is short.” – Unknown

You might think you have all of the time in the world, but you never know what can happen. Treat your family with love, and show them how much they mean to you. This way, when time runs out, there won’t be any regrets of missed time.

If you live with this thought, you will make the most of each moment you have together. You will create unforgettable memories and build unbreakable bonds with those you love the most. Focus on the small moments because those are the ones that will matter the most.

15. “If you are too busy to enjoy quality time with your family, then you need to re-evaluate your priorities.” – Dave Willis

Nothing is more important than time spent with your family. If you find that other things are coming first, then you need to re-evaluate your life. Make your family a priority, even overwork, because quality time is essential to build stronger bonds.

Final Thoughts on Quotes About Family to Build Stronger Bonds

As you go through life, your family is there for it all. They are the ones who stick around when things get hard and support you through everything. These quotes about family can help you build stronger bonds as you begin to appreciate your loved ones more.

Let these quotes about family remind you to spend quality time with your family. Show them how much you love and appreciate them. This is the best way to build stronger bonds with those you love the most.

15 Quotes on Being Happy Will Explain the Importance of Positivity

April 27, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Positivity is essential to being happy, although that fact might not always be obvious. It isn’t always easy to be positive, but you can make it a habit by practicing it. These quotes on being happy explain why being positive is so important, helping you correct your mindset in hard moments.

These quotes on being happy will remind you to check your thoughts often and correct them when necessary. After a while, positivity will become natural for you, which will only make you happier.

When you are happy, you will be more successful, have better relationships, and be healthier. There are no downfalls to being happy, and you can quickly achieve it if you set your mind to it. Use these quotes on being happy to explain the importance of being positive to help you achieve the right mindset.

Fifteen Quotes on Being Happy

1. “If being happy is important to you, try this: instead of regretting all you lack, celebrate all you’ve got.” – Brian Vaszily

Don’t think negatively about the things you don’t have, and don’t spend your time yearning for them. Instead, celebrate what you already have because it is enough. When you live this way and are joyful about the things you have, you will find that happiness soon follows.

2. “It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.” – Dale Carnegie

Your mindset is the most influential thing when it comes to your happiness. If you think positively, you will be happy no matter what else is going on, as Carnegie explains. Be happy with the person that you are, what you are doing, and what you have, and everything will fall into place.

3. “The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.” – Henry Ward Beecher

There doesn’t have to be anything special going on for you to be happy. You can find joy in the small, everyday experiences you go through.

Look around, and you are sure to find something that makes you happy. Notice the birds chirping, or the sun shining, or even be happy about rain to nourish the plants. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it brings you happiness.

4. “Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” – Mary Lou Retton

If you radiate positivity, good things will come, including happiness. The things that you think and feel are what will be drawn to you. If you want happiness, stay positive so that you can have positive things come to you.

Look around you and pay attention to the attitudes of others since happiness is about your mindset. Those who are pessimists likely seem to have bad luck and are unhappy, while the opposite is true for optimists. Remember this every day, and you can allow your positivity to bring happiness into your life.

5. “Being happy is something that each of us determines. It is not something that we find outside of yourself, it is within us and our choice.” – Catherine Pulsifer

The only person that can determine your happiness is you, and nothing can change that. No situation, event, or setting can cause your unhappiness, either. As Pulsifer explains, happiness is inside of you, and it is up to you to find it and bring it out.

6. “There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them.” – Anthony de Mello

When you believe negative things about yourself, it begins to seem like the truth, as de Mello explains. Change your thought process, though, because it will make all of the difference. If you believe in yourself, the things that didn’t seem possible will become achievable.

Likewise, if you tell yourself that you are happy, you will believe it and start to feel it. You are what you tell yourself you are. So, fill your brain with positivity so that it can lead you to happiness.

7. “The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.” – Marcel Pagnol

Looking back with nostalgia won’t change the way things worked out, as Pagnol explains. Likewise, have anxiety that the future won’t work out won’t help, either.

The only thing that will help you be happy is to think positively about the past, present, and future. Trust that everything will work out, and you will feel happiness more often.

8. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius

As explained in other quotes on being happy, your mindset plays a role in your happiness. For happiness, your thoughts must be positive so that your life can be, too. Your thoughts shape your life, and it is up to if they will be positive or negative.

Make it a priority to check your thoughts often. If you notice negative thinking, shift your focus to something else and replace the thought with a positive one. After a while, positivity will become a natural habit that will help you be happy.

9. “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” – Anne Frank

Even amid hardship, there is beauty around you if you look for it. On hard days, remember this quote on being happy to remind you to look for the good. By staying positive and looking for things to find joy in, you will naturally be a happier person.

10. “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” – Andy Rooney

You can’t plan on only being happy when you reach your goals. Most of the excitement and happiness comes from the journey and the memories of your experiences. Enjoy the hard work you are putting in now because it will mean the most when you get to the top.

If you spend the journey to success dreading each day, it won’t ever bring happiness. You will spend most of your time waiting to be happy instead of embracing life right now. If you can appreciate and find positivity in your daily tasks, you will find purpose and happiness, too.

11. “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama

You can’t expect happiness to fall into your lap. You must think and act positively so that you can live a positive life. Only then will you find true happiness.

12. “Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don’t give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm, and genuine people.” – Tena Desae

With positivity, hard work, hope, and learning, you can find and maintain happiness. The people you surround yourself with can influence your mood, too, even if you try not to let it. Choose to do things and spend time with those who make you happy.

Keep learning because growth is essential to being happy. If you can do all of these things that Desae mentions, you will find happiness.

13. “The secret of being happy is accepting where you are in life and making the most out of every day.” – Unknown

No matter where you are or what you are doing, accept your life as it is. Make the most out of what you have and appreciate everything. If you can stay positive, you will have found the secret to happiness.

14. “Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” – Unknown

Life isn’t perfect, so you can’t wait for perfection. Learn to be happy right now and in every moment, despite what you are going through. There is always more to be positive about, so look to those aspects of your life instead.

15. “You can never be really happy if you keep holding to those bad memories which makes you sad.” – Anurag Prakash

Let go of the memories that bring you negativity and sadness. Accept what happened and then release it because you can’t change it. Focusing on those memories will prevent you from being happy, so try to replace them with something positive.

Final Thoughts on How These Quotes on Being Happy Will Perfectly Explain the Importance of Positivity

As these quotes on being happy show, being positive is essential. With positivity, you will feel better about yourself, your life, and the world around you. It will help you figure out your priorities and make changes for the better.

Positivity will also help you learn and grow as you go through life, and you will become more resilient. With those benefits, it is clear why positivity is so important for being happy.

15 Daily Affirmations to Overcome Emotional Pain and Feel Better

April 26, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Overcoming emotional pain can be hard, but daily affirmations can help you along the way. The affirmations will help you change your mindset, contributing to healing from emotional turmoil. As you say these positive phrases, you will shift your way of thinking for good.

It can be hard to forgive and move on, but doing so will benefit you in many ways. You must learn to forgive those who have wronged you, including yourself. Accept what has happened, use it as a learning opportunity, and move forward in life.

If you don’t find a way to overcome the pain, it will hold you back from fulfilling your goals and dreams. You might struggle to love yourself, find peace, or find the motivation to work toward your goals. Don’t let this happen to you, as you can easily overcome emotional pain by changing your mindset.

Fifteen Affirmations to Overcome Emotional Pain

Use these positive daily affirmations each day as you go through the healing process. The phrases will help you overcome the emotional pain and find joy and happiness in your life again. Find the ones that work best for you and use them as often as you need to.

1. I forgive myself and anyone else that has done me wrong.

Forgiveness is one of the essential steps in overcoming emotional turmoil. By forgiving someone (even yourself), it doesn’t mean that you are excusing their behavior. Instead, it means you are accepting what happened and deciding not to let it hold you back.

People make mistakes and they may intentionally or unintentionally hurt you. When this happens, you are likely to experience an emotional wound that is hard to heal. You can heal, though, as long as you work toward forgiveness.

2. I listen to my mind and body and take care of myself.

By taking care of yourself, you can heal emotionally much quicker. Pay attention to what your body and mind need, and it will help you overcome any challenges you are handling. With the proper self-care, you will be stronger, more resilient, and hopeful for the future.

Without self-care, though, you won’t be able to heal from the pain. You will find yourself stuck in the same place without growth opportunities. Remember to listen to what your body and mind need so that you can move on for a better future.

3. I permit myself to heal and move forward.

Sometimes you have to give yourself permission to heal and move forward. Guilt, regret, or obligation might make you feel like you can’t begin to move on, causing you to stay in that mindset. No matter what is causing your pain, though, you deserve to move on and find happiness.

Moving forward doesn’t mean you forget about the person or thing you cared about. It simply means that you are permitting yourself to continue your life positively. Use this daily affirmation to remind yourself of that.

4. I am grateful for everything and everyone that I have.

When you are experiencing emotional pain, think of all the things you still have in your life. Your loved ones and the things that you have are enough to help you overcome your pain. When you think of your blessings instead of things that bring pain, you will notice yourself healing more quickly.

When things go wrong, it is easy to think that your life is terrible and nothing ever works out. If this happens to you, sit back and think about all the great things and people you have. This easy trick can help bring you positivity in hard times and remind you of how great life can be.

5. I know that no one can take away my power or control my life.

You are in control of your life, and you hold the power that no one can take from you. Use this daily affirmation to remember that you have the power to overcome your pain. When you know that you are in control, you will be more likely to feel better going forward.

6. I love myself and take care of my needs.

When you practice self-love and take care of yourself, it will be easier to overcome emotional turmoil. Love yourself like you love those around you, and put your needs first when necessary. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you will struggle to overcome the pain you’re experiencing.

7. I recognize the lessons in every situation, no matter how hard.

Every moment of your day is a learning opportunity. You can learn even more from the hard times than you can from the good times, too. If you can recognize the lesson in what you are going through, it will be easier for you to overcome.

8. I choose happiness and joy over sadness.

If you decide to be happy, then you will find more happiness creep into your life. Likewise, if you tell yourself that you are sad, then you will feel sad. You can decide on your feelings and, while it might not always work perfectly, it will help you overcome your sadness.

9. I am at peace with my life and know that things will work out.

Life always seems to work out for the best, even if you can’t see it at the time. Find peace with what has happened in your life so far, and trust that things will be okay. Finding peace will help you feel hope and positivity, which will then help you overcome the pain.

10. I am patient with myself as I work to heal from the pain.

You can’t expect to heal overnight, so be patient with yourself as you work through the pain. If you can be patient and show yourself compassion and understanding, you will have an easier time. When you don’t try to force or scold yourself to heal, it will happen quicker.

11. I get stronger as I work to overcome my emotional turmoil.

Each day that you experience emotional turmoil, you are becoming stronger. Remember the strength you are gaining and recognize it as a good thing because you’re becoming more resilient. With the increased strength and resiliency, you will find that it becomes easier to overcome the pain.

12. I feel healing energy flowing through my body.

When you use this affirmation with an open mind, you will start to feel a little better. You will notice improvements throughout your day that signify you are on the path to healing.

Once this affirmation becomes a habit, you will be able to identify the different energies coursing through your body. Healing energy will help you overcome any emotional pain that you are experiencing. All that you have to do is convince your brain that you feel healing energy flowing.

13. I get better every day as long as I keep trying.

If you keep trying every day, even when you don’t feel like it, you can overcome anything. When you find yourself feeling like giving up on the day and going to bed, repeat this affirmation to yourself. To overcome the pain, you must keep trying.

Keep working toward your goals and happiness. If you keep moving forward, the emotional pain will ease a little more each day.

14. I will focus on the present rather than lingering on the past.

The past can’t be changed, so focusing your thoughts on it will only worsen your pain. Accept the past for what it is, and then work on improving your present and future. When you focus your thoughts on what is going on right now in your life, the pain will ease.

It might take some time, but healing will come. Allow yourself to accept what happened, learn from it, and move forward by focusing your thoughts elsewhere.

15. I am loved and give love to those that are important to me.

With love, you can overcome anything, including emotional turmoil and pain. When you struggle to heal from the pain, recall those who love you and that you love in return. Your loved ones are enough to pull you through anything.

Final Thoughts on Daily Affirmations to Overcome Emotional Pain

While emotional pain is never easy to deal with, you can overcome it with the right mindset. Overcoming the pain is essential to moving forward and finding joy, so you must find a way to do so.

Focusing on the past only dredges up bad memories and regrets, so it is best to avoid doing that. Instead, focus on what is going on around you right now. When you do, you will temporarily forget the thing causing your pain and will make happy memories at the moment.

Once you have worked to overcome the pain, you can find happiness and peace in life. Keep moving forward, even on the tough days, because that is the only way you can get through it. Remember these daily positive affirmations to help change your mindset to overcome emotional pain.

California Employer Teaches Former Inmates the Craft of Furniture Making

April 26, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Formr, a recycled furniture company in California, gives everyone a fair chance at employment, including former inmates. Owner Sasha Plotista launched the business just nine months ago. Since then, he hired six ex-convicts and developed ten unconventional furniture pieces made entirely of repurposed products. From the beginning, Plotista wanted to launch a company that tackled two significant issues: waste and employment for ex-offenders.

His inspiration for creating the business came from many firsthand experiences throughout his career. Growing up, Plotista spent a lot of time with his dad, who worked as a contractor. While at different job sites, he noticed the shocking amount of waste produced. When he went to college, he decided to major in industrial design at San Jose State.

From there, he got hired to design the MediThrive cannabis dispensary in San Francisco. However, the federal government shut it down in 2009. While working with the cannabis industry, Plotista became aware of the massive number of people incarcerated for drug-related offenses. He also realized the difficulties non-violent drug offenders face finding employment after getting out of prison.

“I saw for myself what the failed war on drugs looked like,” he told Elizabeth Segran at Fast Company. “When someone comes out of prison, they have to check the box on a job application that says they have a record. That makes it very hard for them to get their life back on track.”

With the combined experience Plotista gained in the contracting and cannabis industries, he decided to create Formr. He had enjoyed a fruitful career as a commercial, industrial designer but wanted to try something new. His passion for combating waste and recidivism led him to create a socially responsible furniture company. However, he met many challenges when trying to get his business up and running.

CA Employer Hires Former Inmates, Teaches Them Craft of Furniture Making

Photo credit: Facebook

While gathering materials for his furniture, Plotista learned that construction sites produce a whopping 600 million tons of waste yearly. This includes materials such as broken bricks, new concrete slabs, and rusted metal pipes. Around 75% of these materials get recycled; unfortunately, about 145 million tons of material still end up in landfills. Plotista wanted to get his hands on these materials, but this presented many roadblocks.

For one, no established system exists to find out what contractors will allow access to their job sites. Therefore, Plotista realized he had to call contractors individually to ask if he can sift through their trash. Over the years, he has amassed an extensive contact list for gathering recycled materials. However, many contractors still don’t feel comfortable with outsiders visiting their job sites due to the liability.

He told Fast Company:

“Many contractors are set in their own ways and don’t want someone messing with their system. They have never diverted or recycled materials before, and they don’t see any reason to start doing so now. They call someone to haul it away, and they never have to think about it again.”

However, he has formed a relationship with several contractors who support his mission and give him access to their materials. While searching the sites, he looks for materials such as blocks of wood. Back at his workshop, he keeps a metal detector to scan materials he gathers for stray nails. He then cleans and sanitizes any recycled materials for use in production.

Finding employees for his business also comes with many challenges. Plotista utilizes various organizations that help him connect with people recently released from prison. He focuses on prisons with woodshops to find workers with experience making furniture. So far, he’s hired six formerly incarcerated people, but Plotista says retaining them proves difficult.

The owner of Formr speaks about experiences hiring former inmates.

It can take years for people to get accustomed to life after prison. One of Plotista’s employees had to quit due to a health issue overlooked during his sentence. Others have met challenges with housing or managing drug/alcohol addictions. Plotista says that communicating with them about how he can help makes a world of difference.

Despite the hiring challenges, Plotista says there have been success stories. His fourth employee, Gary Harrell, spent 45 years of his life in jail. After being hired by Formr, he discovered his love for creating furniture. He then started to work on his own pieces, and within months, he found wild success. Galleries like the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and MoMA PS1 in New York featured his art.

Formr creates unique pieces such as tables with tech features and laptop desks for your couch. Using only salvaged materials like plasterboard, rusted pipes, and old wood, the company turns trash into a masterpiece. Sasha says that their customers don’t just want beautiful or functional products. Their primary audience of design enthusiasts want pieces that add meaning and value to their homes.

“I think people are looking for meaning in their life,” he says. “This applies to their furniture as much as it does to their careers.”

The quirky furniture costs between $89 and $569; you can shop for yourself on the Formr website.

Final thoughts: former inmates get a chance to rebuild their life at Formr

Unfair drug laws send millions to prison each year; many do not have a violent background. However, these charges severely inhibit their ability to gain employment after reentering society. One man decided to do something about the growing problem and hire former inmates. While this poses many challenges, Plotista, the owner of Formr, believes everyone deserves a fair chance.

People like him give those struggling a shot at rebuilding their lives. Hopefully, more employers will start to ease up on background checks because employment chances dramatically reduce recidivism. If you are an employer who is interested in conducting more thorough background check for employment, you can visit employment sites like Sterling Check. After living in prison, these people want stability, and a regular job provides that for them. The former inmates working at Formr prove that life can always get better with the support of others.

25 Toxic Traits That Reveal Someone Might be a Narcissist

April 24, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Have you ever encountered a selfish person who is manipulative and has many toxic traits that drive you mad? There are many different people in the sea of life, and some of the folks you encounter tend to be more dangerous than others. Perhaps you have some narcissistic traits of your own that you would like to work on.

Narcissists are considered to have a toxic personality because they use others for their gain. They often lack viable relationships because they’re so caught up in their life that they can’t help anyone else. Getting entangled with this person in the dating world or otherwise can be troublesome.

25 Toxic Traits of the Narcissist

Maybe you think the person you’re dating is a bit manipulative and possibly toxic, or you may have a friend or family member that you consider a narcissist. Here are the top 25 signs that you’re dealing with someone who is narcissistic, manipulative, and selfish.

1. They Nitpick and Criticize Others

Narcissists will do anything they can to tear others down. If they feel someone is looking better than them or accomplishing more, they will try to destroy their self-esteem in one blow.

2. They Have Bouts of Excessive Rage

When things don’t go the way the manipulative person thinks they should, or if they’re about to get caught in their schemes, then lookout. These individuals have toxic traits, like excessive rage, and can blow at a moment’s notice. They can become quite scary when they’re about to be uncovered, and you don’t want to be in the path of their wrath.

3. They Never Say They’re Sorry

Even if they are in the wrong, it’s unlikely you will get an apology. In fact, if you do get an apology out of them, chances are they will turn things around to use it further to manipulate you.

4. They Don’t Take Accountability for Their Actions

Even if you caught them red-handed doing something wrong, it’s unlikely they will take accountability for their actions. They may blame you for overreacting and claim it’s “not THAT bad”, or they may blame someone else entirely than take the fall.

5. They Have an Inflated Self-Worth

The toxic personality comes across to others as if there is no one greater who makes more money, is more intelligent, or is more accomplished than themselves. However, deep down, there are feelings of inadequacy that they don’t share, and they really have low self-worth.

6. They Sabotage Those Who Are Flourishing

If you have a narcissist at your place of employment, then you need to steer clear of them. If they see that you’re doing better than they are, then they will do anything to sabotage your success. They will lie, cheat, steal, and blame it on you, to make you look bad.

7. They’re Verbally Abusive

If everything is going their way, the manipulative person is okay. However, if things start becoming rocky for them, they can become verbally abusive. Some will resort to physical violence as well.

8. They Expect You to Drop Everything When They’re in Need

Should they have a need, or their life is in crisis mode, they expect you to drop everything you have going on to assist them. Just don’t expect the same courtesy in return as their needs always trump yours, and they don’t have time for your drama.

9. They Gaslight Others

They can make you question your sanity, especially if they feel that it will benefit them. According to Medical News Today, gaslighting is a common form of psychological abuse, whereas the manipulator can make another individual doubt their sanity.

10. They’re Often Pathologically Liars

These individuals are such good liars that they often believe what they’re telling you. They can convince almost anyone that what they’re saying is the truth, finding it difficult to trust anything they say.

11. They Sabotage Most Relationships

One of the hallmark toxic traits of someone selfish is that they’re unable to keep relationships. It’s always a red flag when a person doesn’t have any family or friends in their life. If they don’t even have one friend or family member in their life, you need to take this as a warning.

12. They Exaggerate Your Flaws

Since this person suffers from low self-esteem, they want to overcompensate by making you feel bad. Even the slightest imperfection in you will become a significant point to focus on for them.

13. Their Behavior Runs Hot and Cold

This personality type is often confused with someone who has bipolar. According to the National Institute of Health, bipolar disorder has marked periods of mania and depression. When someone runs hot and cold, you never know what the day will bring.

14. They Show No Empathy

Empathy is not their strong suit, so don’t expect the manipulator to try to comfort you in your times of sorrow. However, they will expect you to comfort them.

15. They Use Manipulative Tactics Like the Silent Treatment

The selfish personality’s toxic traits will often use manipulative tactics to get you to do what they want. When you don’t cave to their commands, they will use silent treatment or withhold sex and intimacy.

16. They Love to Name Drop and Piggyback on Someone Success

If you listen to how they talk, you will think that they run with Hollywood’s elite. They name drop as they belong to a group of the up and coming, and they will step on anyone’s toes to climb the corporate ladder.

17. Their (Often Loud) Need to Be Center of Attention

At a party or other group setting, this person makes their presence known. They often talk louder so that everyone hears them, and they often have a commanding presence that’s hard to ignore.

18. They Love to Gossip

Gossip is a strong suit of selfish people because they love this method to get information. If gossiping isn’t enough, they use the information they learn to further their agenda.

19. They Engage in Relational Aggression

One of the toxic traits of a manipulator is that they often engage in relational aggression. If you don’t do what they want when they want it, you will face their fury.

20. They Interrupt Conversations to Talk About Themselves

If you try to talk to this person about what’s going on in your life, they will often interrupt you with the happenings of their day. Their problems are always greater and more important than yours.

21. They Stonewall Others Giving Them No Voice

Don’t expect the manipulator to be a good communicator or to try to work things out. They give you no voice in the relationship, so they will stonewall you whenever they can. Essentially, they’re unreachable to you.

22. Sex is A Powerplay

They use intimacy as a powerplay to get what they want. They can withhold their affection, or they can use it to manipulate you. Since sex triggers powerful emotions, they use it to their advantage.

23. They Play the Puppeteer with Your Emotions

The classic manipulator often plays with your emotions like you’re a puppet on a string. They will withdrawal from you, hold things over your head, or even blackmail you into getting what they want.

24. They’re Overtly Insulting

While this person might have been very charming when you first met them, they have suddenly changed and morphed into someone you don’t know. What once was all praise and compliments has now become nothing more than insults. The switch can happen overnight and make you wonder why you ever got involved with them.

25. They Recruit Allies

When they’re caught or trying to pull off a master plan, they will recruit as many allies as possible. Even if you disagree with what they’re saying, they will throw you under the bus to make themselves look better.

Remember in the movie the Wizard of Oz when the wicked witch had flying monkeys. She got the monkeys to join alongside her to do her dirty work, and the manipulator acts quite similarly.

Final Thoughts on Traits of the Narcissist

It’s never easy to deal with a manipulative person. The narcissistic personality is often one that is very troubled from the past. If you peel back all the layers that protect their heart, you will see a broken individual that has likely experience significant issues in their childhood.

People who have suffered from trauma or abuse often become more assertive by taking control of their life and the situations around them. What you see as toxic traits are nothing more than coping mechanisms. Though they appear strong and determined, inside, they’re broken and damaged.

If you believe that a person you’re with is a narcissist, then you should encourage them to get help. The key is to deal with the situations under the surface and learn new and improved coping skills for their pain. While it’s not impossible, it can be quite a daunting task to live with someone who has these toxic tendencies, as it will make your life miserable.

7 Ways To Connect With Your Emotions

April 24, 2021 by Lakeisha Ethans

Do you ever feel disconnected from yourself? Maybe you take yourself by surprise, feel like you aren’t getting anywhere in life, or struggle to recognize yourself and your behavior.

No one wants to feel isolated from others, and it’s even worse when that isolation comes from within. If you’re not in touch with your deeper self, you’ll feel untethered, lost, and confused. Here are seven ways to connect with yourself and your emotions.

1. Regularly Ask Yourself How You Feel

The most obvious way to learn to connect with your feelings, yourself, and your inner state is by actively seeking yourself through questions and self-reflection. Emotions and other internal conditions often stay buried and hidden in your subconscious as you try to focus on your everyday life. Checking in with yourself can provide you with some insight into those more hidden truths.

Set aside sometime every day to introspect and see how you’re doing. Connect to your feelings, bringing them to the forefront instead of leaving them in the background. Just between five and ten minutes can be enough to focus on your psychological state, which can be refreshing for your mind and body.

It’s healthy to care about your emotions. The way you feel communicates if something is wrong, and you’re only going to find out what it is if you pay attention to what your feelings are telling you. Don’t judge yourself for your mental state, and don’t try to invalidate your own emotions – allow them to exist and observe them closely.

Once you’re done mindfully observing how you feel, you can act. Reflect on your emotions, figure out what triggers them, determine what they trigger in turn, then learn how to manage the most difficult and harmful ones.

2. Give Yourself What You Want

You can best connect with yourself and who you are if you learn to get in touch with your desires. While you can’t give yourself everything, there may be plenty of things that you deny yourself that are feasible. So start giving yourself the items you want in life. Here are some tips for doing so:

· Take Note Of Your Needs

Your body and mind have ways of telling you what they need. Unfortunately, learning to listen is a skill, and not everyone realizes they have to pay attention. Get in touch with your physical, mental, and emotional state. Do you need a break? Are you in need of a bit of reward? Do you need to push yourself harder? Find out what you need, and then provide that to yourself with love. You will become more connected to the core of who you are this way.

· Make Time For What You Love

What are your passions and hobbies? What are things that fill you with joy? Make time for them. Most people neglect their loves in favor of more practical endeavors, but that also means you have to lie to yourself about how you want to spend your time. You will isolate yourself from your own emotions and inner soul if you don’t give yourself some time to do what you genuinely love, even if it’s not immediately practical. Your fulfillment is an efficient cause, anyway!

· Don’t Make Commitments Without Your Consent

Confused? How can you make commitments when you’re not consenting? It can happen when you’re not in touch with yourself. If you tend to have trouble saying “no” and automatically say “yes” or try to please those around you, then you may not be actively permitting yourself to refuse. Before you commit, pause and ask yourself if this is what you truly desire, if you feel obligated or forced and if you’re feeling drained or stretched too thin already. You’ll learn to listen easily to yourself over time.

3. Do Some Automatic Writing

Automatic writing is a specific kind of writing that’s even more intuitive and connective than standard reflective journaling. Take any writing implement, whether a computer, mobile device, journal, or notebook, and get going! The trick to automatic writing is, to begin with, a question. For example:

How am I feeling today?
What do I need to know today?
What do I want to tell myself?
How am I feeling about (incident)?
What are my true inner desires?

Once you have your question, start writing. Don’t overthink it. The trick is to allow the words to flow out of you without looking back, feeling embarrassed, judging yourself, or censoring your thoughts. It’s a good way to “unstick” any emotions that have been brewing, and it gives you insight into yourself and your emotions.

Expressive writing of this kind has been known to improve positive thinking. It allows you to find the answers you have, express your pent-up feelings, and process complex thoughts.

4. Nourish Yourself With Positive Habits

Treating yourself well means caring for your body and mind in multiple different ways. This is why bad habits, which ultimately involve mistreating yourself, can disconnect you from yourself and your emotions. Think about it; you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who treated you poorly, so when you’re your own worst enemy, it’s natural that you would lose your bond to yourself.

Besides, feeling energetic, nourished, and healthy is often a key to being more self-aware. When you’re feeling sluggish due to poor lifestyle habits, you won’t have the faculties necessary to dedicate yourself to be in touch. So, nourish yourself by:

Getting enough sleep
Drinking enough water
Cutting back on junk food
Making healthier food choices
Getting enough fresh air
Taking breaks when you’re tired
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance

5. Understand What Motivates You In Life

Everyday life can quickly make you lose track of what truly matters to you. It’s not uncommon to become derailed and lose sight of who you are, your values, and what your goals are in life. It sounds silly, but having a purpose is essential to stay connected with yourself.

Studies have found that being aware of and caring deeply about your motivation can help you regain control over your life, allowing you to better stay in touch with yourself and your desires. Losing sight of your motivations can lead to you falling out of line with the person you are within.

But this doesn’t just mean remembering your ambition. It means truly understanding what makes you tick. That means you:

Know when you are happiest
Are you capable of shifting focus if your initial goals no longer serve you?
Know what makes you feel the most like yourself
Break free from patterns that distract you from your motivations
Feel that what you are doing is significant – if not to others, then at least to you
Are you happy with how much you contribute to the world and the lives of others
Feel certain in your identity, ambitions, and dreams
Are growing, developing, and improving with time

6. Learn To Be By Yourself

Do you often feel lonely? Being alone is a very positive thing, and if you do it right, you can become more connected to yourself when you spend more time alone. Here are some tips for learning to be by yourself and why they help:

· Take Yourself On Dates

Ever tried hanging out with yourself? It’s common to put effort into dates and even spending time with friends, but you may not be used to doing so for yourself. Remember, you’re worthy of your very best dates! When you’re able to, set aside time to go out with yourself. Book a lovely table at a restaurant, buy some movie tickets, or rent a hotel room, just for you! Then, on the day itself, dress up nicely and treat yourself. Pampering yourself is a great way to realize that your own company has its many, many upsides!

· Rest In Silence

The world is noisy. With technology and responsibilities, everything is the hustle and bustle. It’s hard to stay connected to yourself amongst all the chaos and loudness, so make time to be silent. Take a few minutes away from all devices and sources of noise and simply sit. You can choose to meditate, daydream, or reflect in that time, but ultimately the goal is to be present, relieve yourself of worries and anxieties, and be patient in the quiet for a lull in the rush.

· Create A Space Just For You

Everyone needs a private space where they feel safe, content, and comfortable. You may think that it seems like a little bit of overkill to curate a sacred space for yourself, but it’s a great way to learn to be comfortable in your own company. Decorate that space how you like with things you love and spend time in it every day, even for a little while. It doesn’t have to be a big room or even an entire room – a little corner for yourself is all you need!

7. Stop Repressing Your Emotions

It goes without saying that you cannot connect with your emotions if you’re repressing them. Studies have long found that suppressing emotion decreasesd, worsening your overall psychological state while making negative feelings even more robust as a result!

If you do it automatically, it may be hard to pinpoint the exact signs of emotional repression. Here are some to be aware of:

Your emotions tend to erupt suddenly or unexpectedly, often triggered by small or seemingly insignificant things and disproportionately to the current situation.
You cannot control your emotions when they do burst forward, even though they don’t burst forward often.
Experiencing a lot of exhaustion, stress, anxiety, and unhappiness, sometimes interfering with your sleep.
Feeling like you’re subservient to your emotions. You have no choice but to do as they demand.
You don’t have any method of expressing negative energy or stress, such as sports, an art form, or people to talk to.

If you relate to those statements, then you may be repressing your emotions. Start to learn to express them by getting better at self-awareness. Pay attention to yourself closely and name the feelings that you experience. Giving them names brings them to the forefront, allowing you to confront them. This is key to better understanding and connecting with your emotions.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Connect With Yourself And Your Emotions

Connecting to yourself is crucial for positive thinking, life progress, and overall wellbeing. After all, the only person you can truly count on 100% of the time is yourself. You’ll always be there for you, no matter how many others come and go in your life. As such, it’s time to step up to the plate and connect with who you truly are.

5 Things That Prove Kindness Does Not Equal Weakness

April 24, 2021 by Power of Positivity

We’ve all heard this phrase. Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.

But why would someone mistake one trait for the other?

Do you consider yourself a kind and compassionate person? It’s one of the top characteristics that most people want others to say about them. However, some misguided individuals may perceive your generous personality as an indication of weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The root word “kind” is coming from the same Old English word as kin and kindred. It means familiarity and similarities. In later years, the word also became linked with compassion and doing selfless good deeds for others.

Most cultures and religious traditions have their version of the “golden” rule. It’s a guiding principle that encourages people to treat others the same way they expect to be treated. This stellar virtue is meant to cultivate equality and your inevitable link with other people, nature, and the universe.

Is Compassion an Inherent Trait?

Is your brain hardwired to be a compassionate person, or is it something you learned from childhood and your environment? It’s a pressing question that psychologists have deliberated for years. You may be surprised to find that it might be both.

According to an article published by The Association for Psychological Science, compassion may be encoded into the genetics of humans and animals. Going beyond morality, it may be an integral tool for survival. Helping others compassionately is often done automatically without expecting a reward, per the article.

Of course, parents train their children from infancy how to use their inner compassion. When your parents and other adults taught you the importance of caring for other people, they viewed this virtue as a strength. Selfishness and disregard for others was a discouraged character flaw.

Is Compassion a Sign of Weakness?

Somehow within the evolution of humans, male bodies were often bigger and stronger. They took the natural role of protector/provider for their mate and offspring. Among the pitfalls and unknown dangers in the primordial world, compassion wasn’t always the key to survival.

It stands to reason that since men inherited the guardian role, they were socialized to be first, fierce, and fearless. Anything else was weak, cowardly, and unacceptable.

According to a study published by Frontiers in Psychology, women are more apt to be compassionate than men. The study states that it could be that our social norms still view women as emotional gender while men are expected to be stoic.

It takes strong people to be gentle with others. Conversely, nothing is as gentle as true strength. People who keep their power in check can be the most caring souls in the world.

So, why do some people feel that being compassionate means they are small and vulnerable? Maybe for some, it’s a pride issue. They don’t want other people in their circle to assume they are too “soft.”

Infants are totally dependent on their parents and caregivers for every need. At this point, their body only functions by instinct. One of the first things they learn is that when their hungry belly rumbles and they cry, the big person will instantly give milk or other food to fill sustain their need.

When the newborn feels tired, irritated, scared, or just bored, the smallest whimper will bring the same gentle arms to snuggle them. For these little ones, the universe only consists of them and the big people who meet their needs. Unfortunately, some adults still are in that mode of thinking.

Roots of Compassionate Thinking and Actions

From about age two through preschool age, youngsters are eagerly exploring their world and quickly realizing that other little people have needs. According to an article published by Zero to Three, most children learn a bit about compassion at age three.

Now, these children have moved beyond the concepts of I, me, and mine as they relate to other children and adults. It’s the patient parents, caregivers, and teachers who work with the children and teach them the value of being kind and empathetic. It’s a valuable lesson that will take the little ones into adulthood.

Reasons Why Showing Kindness Doesn’t Equal Weakness

If most children are trained to be compassionate to other people, animals, and themselves, why do they often meet such resistance as adults? How can social morals dictate that people consider others’ feelings while simultaneously labeling them as a shortcoming? Here are numerous reasons that the compassion you show doesn’t make you wimpy.

1. It’s Tough to Be Compassionate

Being harsh and critical with others, or even with yourself, isn’t taking the easy path. Anybody can be a bully and push people around, especially those who are subjective to authority. It’s practically effortless to make a flippant or unkind comment to someone you don’t know or who has made you angry.

The true test of character is to grit your teeth and say nothing to people who’ve insulted or hurt you. This certainly doesn’t mean you allow people to run over you like a doormat. Taking the high road and being compassionate to an adversary takes incredible strength and confidence.

2. You’re Setting An Example Of How You Want To Be Treated

When you show kindness to others, you’re not showing weakness, but you’re setting an example of how you want to be treated. If you show compassion to others, then you expect the same behavior in return. You’re giving an example for others to follow.

The person who is going out of their way to be kind is a trailblazer in a cruel and often unkind world. You’re simply a model for others to follow. If you help an older person with their groceries at the supermarket, your children and others around you will take notice.

3. What Goes Around Comes Around

Karma is either a gift or a curse from the universe for things you’ve done in your life. If you do good things to others, then good things will come back to you. However, if you’re bad and live an unscrupulous life, then karma will make sure that those terrible things are repaid to you.

When you are kind to others, you’re not showing weakness. Rather, you’re putting deposits into the bank of karma to withdrawal later. If you plant green beans in your garden in the springtime, then green beans are what you will harvest in the fall.

Karma works much like planting seeds into the earth. Whatever you sow is what you will harvest, so be careful what you plant. The key is to do the right thing when no one else is watching because even if your neighbor or relative doesn’t see your good deed, the universe does.

4. It’s Not Always The Easiest Route

Some folks would say that being kind is easy, but nothing could be further from the truth. How many times have you wanted to lose your cool, tell someone off, or give an individual a piece of your mind? It takes real strength to stand up and be nice even when you have every right to be mean.

Let’s assume you’re in the grocery store and someone cuts ahead of you going to the checkout line. You’re late for work, and your time is just as valuable as theirs. By all rights, you can and should say something to this person. However, you choose to take the high road and ignore their rude move.

Later, you can help them when a roll of paper towels falls off the conveyer belt onto the floor. You pick them up, and you give the lady the biggest smile ever. Now, you didn’t have to help her out as she was obviously rude to you, but you realize that it wasn’t a personal move on her part.

Choosing the high road feels good on the inside whether or not others appreciate your act. It certainly doesn’t show your weakness, but it shows how incredibly strong you are as a human being.

5. You Have A Positive Impact On The World

Remember back to the last time you told someone off? How did you feel after you were done? When you give someone a piece of your mind, does it ruin your whole day? If you’re like the average person, then any altercation that causes you to get this upset will undoubtedly affect you.

Now, remember the last time you did a random act of kindness for someone to be nice. How did that act make you feel? The world is filled with positive and negative things, and when you choose what you will engage in, it adds to the culture.

If you randomly pay for the dinner of the person ahead of you, smile at someone who looks sad or put your arm around a person who is crying, then you are releasing positive energy in a world full of so much negativity. It’s easy to mummer and complains when everything in your life is going wrong, but it’s so hard to go against the grain.

Being nice with no ulterior motive makes you feel good. If you want to start feeling better and having a better outlook on life, then doing things that enhance the power of positivity is a good place to start.

Final Thoughts On Kindness and Weakness

You can be anything you want to be in this life, but the most important goal you should strive for is kindness. It takes little energy to be nice to someone with no motives, but the rewards you receive are immense.

When you’re kind to others, it feels good, you set an example for your family and those around you, and you’re making deposits into the bank of karma. So above all else, be kind because when you sow seeds of goodness into the earth, then you will reap goodness in return.

New Study Reveals Redheads Have Higher Pain Tolerance

April 22, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

A new study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) discovered that redheads could handle pain better than others. This may sound strange, but researchers believe they’ve found why this occurs. In humans and mice with red hair, their skin’s pigment-producing cells lack a specific receptor’s functioning. Without this receptor, changes happen, which cause an imbalance in pain sensitivity and tolerance.

What does hair color have to do with pain?

Researchers believe these findings may help in developing future treatments for pain management. This groundbreaking study finally uncovers why redheads seem to deal with pain better than people with other hair colors. These findings have been published in the magazine Science Advances.

The skin of people who have red hair and other species with red fur have pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. This cell contains a variant form of the melanocortin 1 receptor. The cell surface houses this receptor, and if circulating hormones called melanocortins activate it, pigment changes occur. It triggers the melanocyte to produce brown or black melanin pigment instead of yellow or red.

Previous work by David E. Fisher, MD, Ph.D., uncovered an interesting fact about melanin pigment in redheads. The study found that redheads have trouble getting a tan due to inactive variants of the melanocortin 1 receptor. Fisher is the director of the Mass General Cancer Center’s Melanoma Program and director of MGH’s Cutaneous Biology Research Center.

For this study, Fisher and his colleagues wanted to investigate why redheads have a higher pain tolerance. To do this, they studied a strain of red-haired mice that, along with humans, have inactive melanocortin 1 receptors. These mice also had higher pain tolerances than mice with other hair colors.

Why non-functioning melanocortin 1 receptors increase pain tolerance in redheads

The team discovered why the inactive variant of this receptor resulted in a better capability of managing pain. In the red-haired mice, deactivation of this receptor caused lower levels of POMC (proopiomelanocortin) molecules to be secreted from their melanocytes. This molecule contains various hormones, including one that increases pain sensitivity and one that inhibits pain. These hormones strike a balance between opioid receptors that block pain and melanocortin four receptors, increasing pain sensitivity.

You might conclude that having low levels of both hormones would cancel each other out in red-haired mice and humans. However, the body produces other hormones and chemicals not related to the melanocyte, which activate opioid receptors. Having lower levels of melanocyte-related hormones leads to an increase in opioid signals, which help block pain. Therefore, pain tolerance in redheads goes up as well.

Fisher says this:

“These findings describe the mechanistic basis behind earlier evidence suggesting varied pain thresholds in different pigmentation backgrounds. Understanding this mechanism provides validation of this earlier evidence and a valuable recognition for medical personnel when caring for patients whose pain sensitivities may vary.”

Fisher says that the findings may revolutionize treatments for controlling and managing pain by working with the body’s natural processes. For instance, perhaps new medications will become available that block melanocortin four receptors that send pain signals to the brain. Then, people with other hair colors would benefit from what redheads get to enjoy naturally.

“Our ongoing work is focused on elucidating how additional skin-derived signals regulate pain and opioid signaling,” adds co-lead author Lajos V. Kemény, MD, Ph.D., a research fellow in Dermatology at MGH. “Understanding these pathways in depth may lead to the identification of novel pain-modulating strategies.”

The National Institutes of Health, the Melanoma Research Alliance, and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation helped fund this research. Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation supported the study as well.

In addition to having a higher pain tolerance, redheads have other unique quirks about them. All hair colors are beautiful, but people with red hair benefit more in specific ways.

Other interesting facts about redheads

A genetic mutation is responsible for red hair. Both parents must carry the modified MC1R, or melanocortin 1 receptor, to produce red-headed children. Interestingly, parents with this gene mutation who don’t have red hair have a 25% chance of having redheads.
Red hair occurs in less than 2% of people worldwide. Having red hair is extremely rare; in fact, only about 140 million people have it. Scotland has the highest percentage of redheads (13%), and Ireland comes in second at 10% of the population.
Red hair occurs most frequently in those of European descent. If you have northern or western European ancestry, you have a greater chance of being a redhead. 2-6% of people with this background have red hair; it occurs much less often in people of other ethnicities.
Dyeing red hair is challenging for those who want an auburn hue. Red hair is more challenging to dye than any other color. This is because it holds pigment tighter than different hair colors. So, before you even bleach your hair, the color must be stripped, which can cause damage.
Redheads have less hair. On average, redheads have 90,000 strands of hair, while blondes have 110,000. Brunettes have the most, at 140,000. To make up for having less hair, however, redheads tend to have more voluminous hair.
Blue-eyed redheads are the rarest people on Earth. Most people with red hair have brown eyes; hazel or green eyes are the second most common. Those who have blue eyes are highly uncommon.
People with red hair have a higher risk of skin cancer. Because they have less melanin, they’re more susceptible to developing skin cancer. According to the International Journal of Cancer, their risk is 2.5 times higher than people with other hair colors.

Final Thoughts: The study reveals why redheads have a higher pain tolerance than others

Redheads don’t have a functional melanocortin 1 receptor, which helps detect pain. Activation of this protein creates brown or black melanin pigment; lack of it causes red or yellow. Lack of this receptor, along with a rise in opioid signals, increases their tolerance to pain. Researchers believe that this finding will improve treatments for pain management in the future by targeting this receptor.

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Arkansas Woman Helps End Hunger with Little Free Pantry Boxes

April 21, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

Jessica McClard launched the grassroots Little Free Pantry project in May 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Inspired by the Little Free Library concept, she wanted to address the rising food insecurity in the U.S. She filled the mini pantry with non-perishable foods such as canned vegetables, toiletries, and other household items. It began with just one wooden box, and now little pantries have started popping up worldwide.

How Jessica started this project

Jessica said the idea of the little free pantry came to her during a run through her neighborhood one day. She noticed many of the tiny free libraries in her area and loved the idea of sharing items in communities. From there, she wondered how she could apply this to other areas of need. Her mind quickly went to food insecurity, and the Little Free Pantry soon came to life.

After getting the idea, she invited a few friends to help her build the first pantry. They installed it in May 2016 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in east Fayetteville. Once the word about the pantry spread around the community, people of all walks of life visited the church. A few months after its creation, Jessica estimated that the box was filled and emptied around six times a day.

Photo: Facebook

Shortly after they built the first location, two more Little Free Pantries joined them. One is at Christ’s Church in south Fayetteville, and another sits outside a church in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Thousands of others have been built worldwide since the project’s launch, and it continues to grow. Jessica answers messages daily from people who want to start their free pantry.

She now has a website and Facebook page to help answer people’s questions and spread awareness about the movement. It’s an entirely open-source project, and Jessica never expected it to grow as much as it has. She hopes that every community will eventually have its very own little pantry to help those in need.

Things to consider if you’re interested in creating a free pantry

Jessica says that you’ll want to take the location into account first when developing a pantry. You want to ensure safety for everyone who visits, so picking a low-traffic, low-crime area is crucial. Also, make sure you contact city officials to get permission to place your pantry in a public space.

After picking a location, you need to reach out to others who can help you keep it stocked. Perhaps friends, relatives, churches, and other organizations could provide items regularly. In general, items kept in the pantries include household supplies like toilet paper, paper towels, tampons, and diapers. You’ll also want to stock non-perishable foods like canned veggies and proteins, peanut butter, bread, and other snacks. Bottles of water, nuts, seeds, bandages, over-the-counter medicines like pain relievers, and dried fruits are other ideas.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to keep an irregular supply to control traffic and make usage manageable. If you keep the pantry stocked 24/7, it will get hard to maintain the supply consistently. Also, traffic may become a problem for the neighborhood and loitering if too many people congregate in the area. Coordinate with friends and others, helping you decide on a stocking schedule that suits the neighborhood’s needs.

Don’t allow others to dissuade you

Jessica says when she first announced her free pantry idea, many people disagreed with it. They had concerns about the vandalism or people taking too much from them. However, she says that none of those concerns have ever become a reality, as far as she knows.

On Memorial Day, she passed by the original pantry and found someone had decorated it with flags. She believes the pantries are well taken care of by the communities. She also said that if someone needs to take everything from a pantry for whatever reason, they should feel comfortable doing so. After all, the pantries are there to serve people in need.

The goal of the Little Free Pantry project

While Jessica knows that the pantries alone won’t solve the growing hunger problem, she believes they can make a difference. Food banks provide help to thousands of people, but their hours may not be convenient for some. The pantries serve as a way to bridge the gap for people experiencing food insecurity. They have access to them 24 hours a day if they need something, and they’re more localized than food banks.

The pantries help bring communities together and promote unity because they serve people from all walks of life. From those who live paycheck-to-paycheck to those who can’t afford a grocery bill, to single parents, many people rely on the pantries. Plus, the anonymity factor helps people because not everyone feels comfortable asking for help. The little pantries allow them to walk up at any hour of the day to get what they need.

The goal of the pantries is to eliminate hunger from neighborhoods as much as possible. So far, 1,530 mini pantries are mapped worldwide, and it continues to grow. Especially during the pandemic when many people have lost their jobs, these pantries provide much-needed relief.

Final thoughts: the Little Free Pantry project is feeding people worldwide

What started as an idea to address food insecurity has grown into a global movement. Thousands of communities have jumped onto the project inspired by the Little Free Library. Instead of books, the pantry provides food and household items for families and people in need. Jessica hopes that every community can have access to a pantry, especially given the current economic downturn.

While food banks and charities help many people, not everyone has access to them. Pantry stewards place the boxes in localized areas and are open 24/7 to the community. Are you interested in starting such a project in your area? Then check out the Little Food Pantry site for more tips.

Do you have a little pantry in your community? Let us know in the comments! Click to Tweet Article

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