Author: admin

Is a cat right for you? So, you’ve decided to get a cat. Congratulations—having a cat can give you years of love and companionship. People with pets also tend to be happier, healthier, and better adjusted than those without. While cat behavioral traits do not vary as widely as those of dogs, each cat is definitely an individual—just ask anyone who has a feline companion or two. Ultimately, looks and personality are usually the deciding factors when selecting a particular cat. Before you choose a cat, though, it’s important to decide if a cat is the right pet for you.…

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Have you ever had a bad day or a run of bad luck and had a friend or loved one tell you to “just think positively” or “everything happens for a reason”? If the answer is yes, you’ve likely experienced toxic positivity. While staying positive is essential to reaching your goals, pushing aside or suppressing negative feelings can make things worse in the long run. As it applies to money, toxic positivity may even hurt your finances more to assume that everything will work out without any effort from you.  In fact, if you try to get out of a…

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The 2023 World’s Strongest Man competition was held in Myrtle Beach, SC, from April 19-23, and the conclusion saw a new champion win his first title. Mitchell Hooper of Canada is in his second full season as a strongman, and he won the championship in his second attempt. He was eighth in his WSM debut in 2022. Last year’s winner, two-time champion Tom Stoltman finished in second place, and 2020 winner Oleksii Novikov came in third. It’s the second straight year that a champion was joined by two former champions on the podium. The man known as both “Moose” and…

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Anxiety is our body’s way of saying, “Hey, I’m experiencing too much stress all at once.” This happens to the best of us. But when that feeling of being “always on alert” becomes background noise that doesn’t go away, that’s when it’s time to seek help. Mindfulness and meditation for anxiety is a growing field that can help you navigate the many ways that anxiety can affect your life. This guide is not meant to serve as a diagnosing tool or a treatment path—it’s simply a collection of research and practices you can turn to as you begin to help…

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MANKATO, Minn. — The warmer weather has started to creep in, and it’s the perfect motivator to keep up the running program that has become a favorite part of your spring routine. But we get so busy looking forward to exercising outdoors without all of our layers that we forget how quickly the late spring and early summer heat will kick in to make our outdoor runs uncomfortable. And when summer goes from warm to hot, exercising could even become risky — unless you’re prepared. “Staying active, even exercising in hot weather, can be done safely, but you really have…

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Everyone has a favorite fast-food burger. The best fast-food burgers are well-priced and come together with a perfect balance of meat (or veggie patty), bun, and toppings. When that balance is off, it can be disastrous and disappointing as is the case with some overrated burgers that disappoint every time. The elements everyone looks for in a satisfying burger are varied and depend on the type of burger, but a  flavorful patty that drips juices onto the bun and mixes with any sauces to create that perfect savory-sweet is a must. The bun must also be able to absorb the…

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What is Power? Submitted by: Nicole Sardini, M.Ed, LPCC, IMHP I am a therapist who has worked in the mental health field for over two decades. I have experienced and moved through a significant amount of personal trauma. I have noticed patterns and themes in clients, loved ones, and myself. Over the years, these experiences have me rethinking what it means to hold true power. Everybody is the teacher, everybody is the student, and we are all equal. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly ego-based illusions of power that allow some people a surface-level sense of status or control.…

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Do your current eating habits make you want to change your relationship with food? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn 5 steps you can take to heal your relationship with food. Our life experiences shape our current relationships with food. Maybe you picked up some habits from your parents, guardians, or siblings. Or, maybe you developed some of your own tendencies as a result of dieting or even trauma. Over time, our relationships with food evolve and develop into what they are today.  Sometimes, the relationship we’re left with isn’t necessarily beneficial. Thankfully, this…

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April 15, 2023 is the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing.I may *look* healthy outside, but I’m an injured survivor, living with permanent, yet invisible, injuries: brain injury (chronic migraine; photophobia; allodynia; hyperalgesia; loud tinnitus; hyperacusis; functional neurological disorder/FND); hearing loss (hearing aids); neck/back injuries (chronic pain; CCI); severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)… plus fibromyalgia, IBS, and nine rare diseases/conditions.I wish to congratulate all survivors, and their families, on a decade of accomplishments since that terrorist attack forever changed our lives. Personally, I’m celebrating 10 years volunteering as a patient advocate for many organizations supporting people with my injuries…

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