Do you ever wonder...?

Do you ever wonder how beautiful people would be if you could see their thoughts and judgments in their mind? Would this change your definition of beautiful? How do you define beautiful? What if everyone wore their inner ‘beauty’ on the outside? What would that look like?

I was sitting at dinner and all of these thoughts and questions came running through my head. I’ve come to realize how tainted people’s views of beautiful are these days. Does that designer bag really make that person beautiful? Do their size 0 jeans make them beautiful? How about that tan? Or is it their thoughts, how they treat people, and how they make people feel that makes them beautiful? Are they inspiring you and others around you (and no… not for fitspo, I mean seriously providing inspiration for your goals and dreams)? What about motivating you to be a better person? I just think of all the things I truly admire about the people closest to me, and I realized that none of them are based on their external attributes. Sure, they are all beautiful from the outside no doubt, but the reasons I truly surround myself with them and gravitate towards them are all but related to their external ‘beauty.’ They are compassionate, loving, loyal, kind, altruistic, and much more.

How is it that beauty has taken on a certain definition in today’s world? Is it the media spend? Is it societal constructs? I don’t know the answer here, but my mind is intrigued at how concepts and ideas around beauty have been formed.

Nevertheless, I am a firm believer that I can always improve myself. I love self-help books, meditation, women’s talks, yoga…you name it. But a lot of these areas where I think I can improve myself are mostly internal. It’s the dialogue inside my mind. How am I talking to myself in my head? How am I talking and thinking about others? How are my thoughts shaping the energy I am radiating around me? Am I bringing light, joy and positivity to those around me? Am I inspiring people, or am I merely existing? Am I judging or am I being open minded? I feel like with all of this I am running against society in a sense. Even though all the things I just mentioned are valued in today’s world, they don’t seem to outweigh the weight we’ve been placing on external beauty. Maybe this is just my own perception and I am totally open to discussing this to hear other POV because I am genuinely curious.

I feel like as a society, we need to focus less on outer beauty (since that seems to be 99% of the focus these days), and add more weight back towards inner beauty. What is a person bringing to the table besides their looks? How would this person look if their outer beauty was truly a reflection of their inner thoughts? Would this person still be beautiful?

Let me know your thoughts :)

Vietnam Reflections

Reasons I fell in love with Vietnam

1) The food – I am a big foodie, and the Vietnamese food in Vietnam will not disappoint. What I found so amazing about the culinary scene is that it changes from North Vietnam to the South, and there are certain dishes. like cao lao, that you can only get in certain cities. Try a banh mi in the North, Central and South and you will see what I am talking about… everything from the meats, sauces and toppings are all different. There are also so many dishes in Vietnam that you don’t hear about in the US, which makes it fun and exciting. You can also try delicacies there like frog (I tried it and it was actually so good), duck embryo, and even goat (tried this too, was not a fan).

2) The activities – I am an adventurer at heart, no doubt, but I knew I needed down time as well. Vietnam offers so many different activities and can really suit anyone. You can enjoy the bustling city life in Hanoi or Saigon, relax on the beach in Hoi An, go on a mountain adventure in Phong Nha and much more. I felt like I had such a great mix of activities… I am not the girl to sit on the beach for a week – I need exercise and adventure and Vietnam’s activities and different landscapes throughout the country are truly spectacular.

3) The people – I would be lying if I said I didn’t get ripped off once or twice, but overall, 9/10 people were extremely nice and helpful. The people in hospitality and tourism in Vietnam are really something else. They make you feel so special and are definitely willing to go out of their way to make sure you are happy.

4) The safety – I never once felt unsafe. I walked around every city alone and never did I feel uneasy.

5) The prices – There’s nothing better than going to a country where you don’t feel like you’re spending an arm and a leg. I am in between jobs (means no paychecks) and I wanted to be conscientious of my spending and in Vietnam, the USD goes a long way. I got $30 2-hour massages, $10 manicures, and custom boots for $95. Not to mention, almost all my meals were under $5. If you want to be healthy, don’t worry…there are juice stands everywhere and for $1 you can get a fresh juice or smoothie.

Questions from others....

Why did you want to go to Vietnam? What lessons from your travels do you want to carry forward with you? Were you lonely?

One of the biggest teachings that I learned while traveling around Vietnam was that you don’t have to have the most of everything to live a happy life. I know that seems like common sense, but in US society, there is propaganda and billions of dollars spent in advertising across all media channels to tell us that we need to have a certain thing or look a certain way in order to be happy. I watched my homestay family’s children play… with NO toys. They didn’t even have any in the house. They just played among each other. It was such a stark contrast to American kids where they have a room solely designated for toys. Hong’s kids were so happy just playing together, and it was so beautiful to watch.  I have gone through phases in my life where I felt like if I had that specific thing, then maybe I would be happier. But, what I have come to learn as I have gotten older is those things create a split second of happiness and don’t bring you everlasting joy. Lastly, I am not saying that either one is right or wrong re:toys, but it was a good reminder to myself that I don’t always need to everything to live a fulfilling life.

This leads me to my next topic - authenticity. It was one of the reasons that I wanted to travel to Vietnam in the first place… because so much of the country – its food, people, countryside, etc – are still authentic. It’s also my theme of 2018 for myself – remaining authentic to who I am and owning it. While tourism is picking up in Vietnam, it’s no where near the level of Paris or Rome and it's really amazing getting to explore in a country where everything is still in its natural state (for the most part/comparatively speaking). This made the trip challenging due to language barriers or lack of signs, but it also made it more gratifying and rewarding. The country was in it’s natural element, and I loved every bit of it. There was peace in chaos.  This trip forced me to step outside my comfort zone. I had to listen more carefully, and accept that everything wasn’t going to be perfect.

The last theme from my trip is gratitude. There’s no doubt that when I travel I am always grateful to have the time, energy and money to do so. Traveling to a country where people make as much in a month as you do in a day is always eye opening. We tend to get comfortable and forget how blessed we are with all the luxuries we have, and my travels to Vietnam were a great reminder to always be grateful whether it’s a bad day or a good day. 

Was I lonely?

Not once. I didn't mind traveling by myself at all. Frankly, it was quite relaxing. I could take a nap when I wanted to, go on a tour when I wanted, and make my own schedule. I am a firm believer that until you are content on your own, that you can't truly love another person. Having self-fulfillment is really important in my opinion. It's an amazing thing when you learn to venture around a country alone. It forces you to step outside your bubble and meet people and ask questions and I love bringing that mentality back to the states. Everything in the world is made up of energy, and if you emanate positive energy with a sense of openness to people around you, beautiful things come out of it.  Traveling alone is awesome, because you end up talking to random strangers and meeting people from all over the globe. From my travels in Vietnam, I now have new friends who I could easily contact in the US, Australia, Dubai, and of course, Vietnam. Just because I traveled alone doesn't mean that I was living in a shell and didn't speak to people. If anything, I spoke to more people. And when you're traveling solo, you often meet other solo travelers and then link up to do things together. It's amazing to hear everyone's stories. I love self reflection, and this 3 week solo trip really allowed me some mental space. I am so busy and social all the time in the US, having a break to myself and adhering to my own needs and wants was so humbling and gratifying (if you can't tell by this sentence I am clearly a people pleaser, which very much needs to be balanced with doing things for myself). Don't be scared to travel alone. Take the risk. You will be surprised what stepping out of your comfort zone will teach you about yourself, humanity and another country. 

Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams, Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe…

This post is in memory of those I and others have lost to suicide.

It breaks my heart that we’ve lost these souls and it really hit home with me. These are people who have impacted the world and made it a better place… and from the outside it was hard to even know that there was anything going on behind the scenes. I (along with many others I know), have also lost people close to them from suicide. It breaks my heart even further that I know there are so many people out there struggling with depression and other illnesses (I don’t like this word, but I don’t know a better one) who feel isolated, predominantly due to the social stigmas around depression, anxiety, addiction, etc. The reason I know this is because I’ve been depressed and struggled with anxiety, and it’s a really hard place to be. If you’ve been there or are there right now, you get it, and for those who are reading this and haven’t struggled with any of these emotions/situations, please read this post with compassion and without judgement because it takes a lot of courage for me to open up about this.  I’m writing this post to break down walls and be vulnerable to those around me because I am a firm believer that through openness, vulnerability, and compassion, that the world can be a better place and we will have deeper, more meaningful human connection.

I read all the time in books that people have their own demons, or their own battles that they are facing, but over the last 27 years of my life, I realized far and few people open up about what’s really going on.  As I write this post, it feels like I am scratching at a scar on my heart and I empathize so much with anyone going through anything right now or in his/her past. It hurts to write this, but I want to change the way my social circles and people around me in society think about these things.  With the onset of social media, it’s even harder to know what’s really going on in someone’s life. I run my Instagram and blog as passports and passions, and truly only post travel and fun pictures. Does that mean that what’s going on behind the screen is all happy and fun? Absolutely not. Actually, I think sometimes social media is one of the places that people hide what’s going on because it’s an easy outlet to make things look like they’re great on the outside, but only to cover up the struggles on the inside. I am guilty of it… and the reason why is because it takes a lot of courage to open up and share these things. There’s fear of judgement, shame, or isolation. It’s scary. There are stigmas or ideas that “people won’t want to be around me if I am like this” and that I would potentially become even more isolated by sharing my story (a risk I am finally willing to take). The worst part was that the anxiety and depression were out of my control. No one wants to be depressed. No one wants to experience anxiety.

My story began in the summer of 2015, when I first felt anxiety. My chest would get tight to the point where I could hardly breath, my eyes would start to tear and I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t really know what was going on or what anxiety was. I had never experienced it before in my life.  At the end of summer, I was depressed. I couldn’t focus and I had no motivation to do anything. No one knew. I lived at my parent’s house and even they didn’t know. I was tired all the time, I would cry on my way to work, on my lunch break, at work. I felt stuck. If you scroll back through my Instagram feed in the latter half of 2015 and what you see is pictures at football games, traveling, the beach, aka a fun and blessed life. I live an amazing life (then and now), but even those who live beautiful lives and are grateful for what they have can fall into these dark places and struggle (it’s just not as easy to see).

In September of 2015, I finally opened up to my parents about what was going on. My dad (who is a doctor), asked me why I didn’t tell him earlier… I told him “I was scared.” I remember being told by my parents that “everything would be ok” and “not to worry.” While those words seem like they would help someone who is struggling with depression/anxiety, they didn’t help me at all. While I never had suicidal thoughts, I definitely felt like I was trapped in this state, which made it so difficult. People would say “look at the bright side,” but I couldn’t see it. Nothing could make me feel better. There were no words that people could say that would help me. I felt hopeless and I knew I needed help.

I took to a multitude of places to try and get myself out of the state of depression and experiencing anxiety. I got a therapist, went to acupuncture, meditated, and read books. I didn’t want to take medications (I said I would as a last resort), and these were the outlets that worked for me. I got to the root of my anxiety and depression through therapy and learned how to acknowledge and understand my thoughts and emotions through meditation (P.S. I swear by meditation). I was determined to get back to my old self, love myself again and become the best version of myself for my job, my friends and my family.  I am forever grateful that after spending 100% of my time on myself and getting better, I began to come in to the light.

At the end of 2015, I finally started to feel myself again, but I was forever changed. Going through what I did, I wasn’t the same person. I came to learn that you never know what someone is going through. You have to watch your words wisely, because you never know what’s going on in someone’s life behind the scenes. I became a better person…more empathetic, compassionate, and I now truly appreciate the good times in my life more than ever. It’s deepened my relationships with people in my life. I realized that sometimes in order to see the light, you need to experience the darkness. I am stronger.  I am SO much more grateful than I have ever been in my life for every waking day. I have found pleasures in the small things in life that often times get passed over and I continue to strive to improve who I am as a human on this planet through my life experiences.

It wasn’t an easy road getting there. There were far and few people in my life at the time who knew what was going on. Even to this day, many people don’t know about this chapter in my life. I always tell people I am the queen of masking these things up, but I am trying to be more open, vulnerable and authentic. I never want other people to go through what I did (it was painful) and if people are struggling, I want to help them through their adversities in any way I can. 

I recall in the beginning of 2016, sharing with a girlfriend that I had just come out of a struggle with anxiety and depression, and her first words were “I had no idea.” When I shared my struggle with more people close to me, I generally got the same reply. These were the people closest to me, but they had no idea anything was going on. But other times, I got “me too”, or “I went through that a few years ago.”  It made me feel a sense of relief when I realized that I wasn’t alone. I was also surprised at how many others experience[d] anxiety and depression, and never talked about it until I opened up with them about my story. Now, I always try to be a safe haven for people to open up to, and that starts with me being open, not judging, listening, and being compassionate towards others.

I am grateful that to this day, I haven’t gone back to that dark place, but I actively am challenging myself in other ways given my experience.  In order for these social stigmas to break down and help prevent people from reaching the point of suicide, we need to judge less, and practice compassion towards ourselves and others and listen. We all have the power the break down the walls. There may not be signs, so you can’t wait for someone to speak up. Ask. Dig deeper than the surface level. Share your stories. Be vulnerable. Be courageous. Treat others the way you want to be treated. If you open up, you never know how you could change someone’s course.

For anyone hurting, please know that I am here for you at any point.  Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, there is always the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline which can be reached at (800) 273-TALK (8255).

I've been really busy...

But aren’t we all super busy? I feel like as I’ve gotten older, moved to a new city away from my best girlfriends and family, I have heard this phrase more often than not. While I don’t doubt that everyone has things they have to take care of on a daily basis that are all high priority, I’ve found that the phrase “Sorry! I’ve been crazy busy with XYZ” has become some sort of excuse or cop out from friends, family, and even myself. I am left feeling puzzled, and looking for answers and reading into this phrase more than I ever have before. We’re on the leading edge of technology that allows us to FaceTime, text, call, Uber, browse the internet in less than 5 seconds, but it seems like despite all of this, we are more distant than ever from those from who once felt so close.

While I am by no means suggesting sitting at work for 8 hours texting everyone in your contacts, we all know deep down that we have at least 10 minutes of downtime/free time a day to make this excuse of “being too busy” less of a regular occurrence. When I reference “downtime”, it isn’t exactly what you think. This downtime I mentioned doesn’t necessarily mean you’re just sitting around twiddling your thumbs, it could be anything from browsing Facebook, watching a TV show, or even cooking. I think if we have time for all the things I just listed (heavy emphasis on social media), why are we still using the excuse that we’re “too busy” to reach out to others, reply to a text in a reasonable amount of time, or commit to plans?

Why can’t we spend 10 seconds of our downtime to shoot a quick text, write an email, grab a quick coffee or even call someone we haven’t talked to in a bit that we miss?  

We need to remind ourselves that it’s not always about having time, but making time. 

Maybe I am speaking from frustration because this phrase is getting thrown around way too much nowadays (and I am guilty of it), but I want people in my life to know that I do care about you and I WILL make time to show you that I value you. We make time for things we value, so take a second to remember what you really value in life… Is it that 45 minute scroll down your Instagram feed? Or is it catching up with your best friend in LA to hear about her new job promotion in New York? I’ll let you choose what you value in life, but just remember that our human connections influence us, evoke emotions, and remind us about the beauty of life.

Giving Back

Watching the news lately has been more depressing than ever, but instead of letting the negativity bring me down, I have decided to lookfor new ways to bring light and hope to everyone around me. My latest endeavor was when one of my volunteer leaders from Africa told me that he got accepted to go to college, but couldn't afford the $750 tuition fee. When I read this, I knew deep in my heart if I didn't help, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. I am a huge advocate of education, especially since I have had teachers who have left imprints on my life and influenced me a great deal. I also enjoy learning, and I think everyone should have the right to learn and make the world a better place. So, in under less than a week and more than 20 donations, I exceeded the goal I wanted to send Nana to school. Needless to say, I feel ever so grateful to all the people who have given back and taken the time to donate and support me and Nana. I was truly in awe at everyone's generosity, and was immediately brought to tears. To all those who donated and supported this endeavor, Nana and I can never thank you enough. 

To see more details and read about this, here is the link to my campaign. 

My Favorite Simple, Clean Eating Recipe!

Simple, fast and healthy…oh did I forget affordable? These are four key words that make me ecstatic when I’m cooking or looking for new recipes to try. The meal I am about to share with you has become a staple in my meal planning, and was inspired by my roommate, Renee. Let me introduce you to Cauliflower Fried Rice.

Now I am not sure about you, but I tried food processing cauliflower florets one time, and it created the biggest kitchen mess of all time. Thankfully, my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's, now has Cauliflower Rice already pre-chopped and ready to go. The other great thing about Trader Joe’s is that it has pre-cut mixed vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, onions etc.) saving you from extra dish washing and time spent chopping various veggies to put in your rice mix. The only other ingredients you need? A little sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and of course, eggs, to get some protein in the mix. Just imagine this recipe as the healthy version of Benihana’s fried rice. 

This is one of those recipes where I just wing it. First, I get a large pan and put it over medium heat with some sesame oil (about a tablespoon), chopped garlic, and then dump in the mixed veggies. I cook the veggies down for about 5 minutes and then I dump in the bag of cauliflower rice. While those cooking, I grab another pan and scramble about 3-4 eggs. Once the eggs are cooked I mix it in with the cauliflower and veggie mix and cook it for about another 5 minutes, while adding a couple tablespoons of soy sauce. I wouldn’t recommend dumping the whole bottle of soy sauce on the mixture, but rather adding it in stages to see if you like the taste/flavor. If you add too much it’ll be soggy. After a little taste test your cauliflower fried rice is good to go. Bon Appetite!

P.S. If you’re not in a daring mood and are looking for a little more guidance, just click this link to find a great starter recipe as a guide for your first time around!

A Bite of the Big Apple

Yes, I am talking about the food of New York.  Anyways, I was fortunate enough to pay a visit to my brother who lives in Williamsburg and I wanted to share my foodie experience in the Big Apple. You should check out these eateries if you have a chance. 

Breakfast/Brunch

Egg: I agree that there are several amazing breakfast and brunch places in New York to eat at, but if you’re hanging in Brooklyn, don’t miss Egg. I ordered the Eggs Rothko, which is an egg cooked inside brioche bread topped with cheddar cheese... YUM. My brother ordered the French toast, which honestly was to die for. Okay maybe that’s because I’m like buddy the Elf and overdo it with the syrup, but the bread slices themselves were fluffy and just melted in my mouth.  Right next door to Egg is an overpriced trendy chocolate shop that you can get cute gifts for friends. Also, don’t forget to head towards the water and get one of the best panoramic views of NYC.

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Snack

Little Collins: This little hole in the wall in Midtown East café has a whopping 4.5 stars on Yelp.  Little Collins is famous for their avocado toast. I know what you’re thinking- why should I pay $8.00 for someone to smash an avocado and smear it on toasted bread? Little Collins perfects the Smash by adding feta cheese, pepitas, chilli flakes, parsley and some other ingredients that allow this midday snack to be packed with flavor. If you’re shopping on 5th Avenue, I recommend straying off the beaten path to Little Collins for a quick snack break.

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Dinner

Xixa: Located on the south side of Williamsburg, Xixa (pronounced sheeksa) is an unconventional Mexican tapas restaurant with an ultra chic and low-key vibe. The food is tapas style, which is great because then you have the chance to try a bunch of different dishes. You can customize your drink based on homemade infused alcohols they have. We ordered everything from the famous grilled carrots and arctic char ceviche to the braised short rib and churros for dessert.  This is a hidden gem in Williamsburg.

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Special Occasions

Momofuku Milk Bar: I have been obsessing over the Momofuku Milk Bar cakes since I first saw someone post a picture of it on Instagram. The thing about this cake is you cant buy it by the slice or on the West coast, so I had to wait until a special occasion to get a 6 inch, overpriced birthday cake for my 25th. Needless to say this cake was probably one of the best cakes I have ever taken a bite of. If there’s someone you really care about and you want to treat them to something sweet when you’re in NYC, order a Momofuku birthday cake. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Netflix Documentary: Virunga

Most people who know me are well aware that the only TV I watch is sports and that I usually only watch movies when my Dad wants to treat me to the newest screenplay and extra buttered popcorn. But, spending a Sunday with my brother was the ultimate Netflix and couch potato night, in which we cooked dinner and watched the Netflix documentary, Virunga. While I think documentaries are often biased, I also feel as though they can be educational and informative.  I want to shed light on this specific documentary because I believe it’s important to be aware of what jaw-dropping things are going on within the world around us.

Ratings

There is a reason that this incredible true story received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes by critics, won 47 international film awards, and has been nominated for an Emmy and Academy Award.  Virunga exposes issues that are not so well known in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the clash between corporate greed and nature conservation.

Still interested?

A large portion of the documentary takes place in Virunga National Park, a lush, bio-diverse home to several different species, located in Eastern Congo. If you weren’t aware (I wasn’t), Virunga National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, but most importantly, home to the last 700-800 Mountain Gorillas in the world.

So what?

These gorillas serve as a purpose and symbol of the park and the Congo, but even though there are laws to protect the animals and vegetation within the park, it hasn’t stopped numerous poachers or enemies from killing these precious animals in other to threaten the park’s purpose.  Over 130 park rangers have died in the past 15 years, dedicating their lives to protecting this park and stop greed from wiping out these magnificent creatures.

And ...?

Virunga National Park is home to a very profitable natural resource: oil. There are potential oil reserves and outside organizations, such as SOCO International, are willing to do anything to begin drilling to hit the motherload.   Don’t forget that Virunga National Park is located within a country that is notorious for human violence, corruption, and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country that has been plagued with a series of civil wars that have killed over 5 million people and is now home to the latest battle: the M23 and SOCO International vs. the Congolese government.

Who are the M23 and SOCO International?

To put it simply, they are the enemies. The M23 is an extremely violent rebel force group that has no problem invading the flora and fauna of Virunga National Park, especially if there’s money in it for them. Oh, and SOCO International? SOCO International is a British Energy company that is ready to exploit the Congo’s natural resources for some large profits. We all know that the M23 paramilitary group doesn’t care about its “image” invading and destroying an UNESCO World Heritage Site, but any big corporation like SOCO isn’t ready to have a P.R. nightmare on its hands.  I’m sure you know where this is going. Sounds like something out of a movie, but this is real life in which bribery is in full force and no one seems to be too concerned about the laws that are in place to protect the park. The evil behaviors of SOCO International and the M23 are sparking a new war within the Congo that is threatening the stability of the nation and everything it has worked to achieve.

Risking it all

This documentary is spectacular because the filmmakers placed themselves in extremely dangerous situations to provide a true picture of what is occurring in this war-torn country.  Many people are risking their lives to protect the Virunga National Park, whether it is as a park ranger or investigative journalist to make this documentary possible and also to shed light on how corporate greed is exploiting the impoverished nation of the Congo.

Take the time

I challenge you to take the time to educate yourself about the many present day issues that are found within the documentary, Virunga. Mix up your Netflix show schedule with this documentary and you wont be disappointed. Additionally, given the recent events that occurred in France and other nations, I think we can acknowledge the importance of being informed of the harsh realities that are occurring around the world. You never know how the issues within these countries will affect our generation, or future generations. You can watch the trailer by clicking here, or check out the documentary website here to learn more. 

As of November 3rd, SOCO International is said to no longer hold "the exploration license for a block in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where it ceased operations last year amid environmental and human rights protests." After watching the documentary, let me know your thoughts and if you think SOCO will leave the region despite the fact they no longer have an exploration license.

Compassion

Can you imagine what society would be like if everyone was a little more compassionate towards one another? I want to remind you all that being compassionate doesn’t cost you a thing, and it’s something that can have a ripple effect on the people that surround you.  I think everyone has a varying degree of compassion embedded within their DNA, but to what extent do we as individuals exemplify this trait?

Compassion is embedded among other key qualities like empathy and altruism, but goes one step further. “Compassion is defined as the emotional response when perceiving suffering and involves an authentic desire to help.” So while there may be altruistic behavior or an empathetic response to someone’s suffering, compassion involves a desire to relieve one from the suffering. Regardless of whether or not someone is suffering a little or a lot, I think showing support, acceptance, and that you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes will make individuals and society better off as a whole. In fact, “research has shown that when we feel compassion, our heart rate slows down, we secrete the ‘bonding hormone’ oxytocin, and regions of the brain linked to empathy, caregiving, and feelings of pleasure light up, which often results in our wanting to approach and care for other people.”

Interestingly enough, there are physical and psychological benefits to being compassionate. Compassion is directly correlated with our overall well-being and can lead to a more meaningful life. Scientists have done brain-imaging studies that prove we receive more pleasure from giving than the act of receiving. I don’t want you to think that giving can only come in the form of money. You can give back in many more ways than you think: encouraging, listening, spending time on someone/something...the list is endless- be creative! Compassion protects against stress and even leads to living a longer life since the levels of cellular inflammation that lead to diseases and cancer are much lower in compassionate people.

Aside from the health benefits, we become socially connected as a community, and this creates a chain reaction. The chain reaction is a positive loop of social, emotional, and physical well-being that gets passed from one person to another and can give us deeper meaning and perspective into life. You’ve seen the pay it forward stuff in the media with Starbucks or McDonalds, and in my opinion this contagious behavior is just as likely to occur with compassion. Maybe I am a dreamer, but I think if we all act more compassionate towards one another the world will be a better place. Food for thought: Can you find indestructible happiness in isolation?  Will your happiness be indestructible if everyone else around you suffers?

Meditation

The Start of Something New

I needed a life kick start a few weeks back and since I really admire Tim Ferriss, I decided to listen to his podcast ‘5 Morning Rituals That Help Me Win The Day’ on my way to work.  One of Tim’s morning rituals is meditation; something I have always considered trying but never really had time for. I was always too busy or wanted to sleep in an extra ten minutes. I honestly think I came up with every excuse in the book. Lately, I realized my life has become increasingly busy and I haven’t had any time to decompress, clear my head, or be mindful to the world around me. This was a clear sign to me I needed to try something to bring back my sense of clarity and calmness, and meditation seemed like a great remedy. 

Ten Minutes LAter

Ten minutes. 600 seconds. That’s .00694 of your day to dedicate to mediating. It’s really not that much time when you put it in to perspective, but it’s this little amount of time that can make a big difference throughout your day and your life. There are many different meditation practices, but as a beginner I decided to start with the free Headspace app (crazy that we use technology as a means for meditation right? Seems counter intuitive but it works!) I was skeptical at first, but remained open-minded to the process of meditating. I had no clue how to meditate, but thankfully, the Headspace app sessions are guided and walk you through breathing and how to be mindful of your thoughts, feelings and surroundings. Before you know it the ten minutes are up and you have a revived sense of self and your surroundings to conquer the day.

Benefits

Many people may laugh or scoff at the idea of meditating, but let me assure you that there are several benefits that come with meditation. Meditating lowers blood pressure, improves your immune system, decreases insomnia, allows for mental clarity, increases your serotonin levels, and much more. “With meditation, the physiology undergoes a change and every cell in the body is filled with more prana (energy). This results in joy, peace, enthusiasm as the level of prana in the body increases.” I guess it’s no surprise that some of the world’s most successful and influential people meditate, including Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, Marc Benioff, Arianna Huffington and more.

If you don’t have enough vacation time or money to escape from the hustle and bustle of life or are just simply feeling overwhelmed, download the Headspace app and allow yourself to refocus and recharge through meditation. If you don’t like it, you can always delete the app, but chances are this might just change your daily outlook on life and become a part of your daily routine.