Not knowing what to do or where to go to change what is happening. Some say stay, others say go and determining what is best, is becoming harder and harder. Wanting to complete school in a hurry, find a job and provide a better life for my family are all on my to-do list. However, the time to do these things is slowly passing by. Read more
Life has a weird way of taking us through seasons of ups and downs. Some days we wake up to a beautiful sunrise and believe we are truly happy. Other days we fall asleep angry with the world or just ourselves. We may believe that our lives have very little purpose and by this time we should be doing something greater. Read more
It was a normal day at work and I was trying to grab a bite at the crowded canteen. At about the same time I reached the counter, another worker too came nearby with his plate. Since I was furiously text-messaging, I didn’t notice that the canteen staffer ignoring him started serving me first. Read more
Because of the fast track life we have, 3 minute instant noodles, one hit wonders, microblogging of non-sensible things and anything short on the side, people easily get bored and find something more exciting. I usually meet people who want to enjoy their Friday nights drinking, get wasted and sulk on emotions. Read more
Hi, I have a story to share with you. For several years, I consumed coca cola and sugary products everyday. Let me underscore that I consumed these products every single day! Literally, I was ingesting tons of refined sugar into my body, which damaged me. I could not control myself. Read more
When a parent or other family member receives a terminal diagnosis, you may suddenly find yourself in caretaking mode, from driving to doctor’s appointments and picking up medications to handling personal care tasks such as feeding, dressing, and bathing. On top of that, you’re probably feeling the pressure to keep up a positive attitude, even though positive might be the last thing you’re actually feeling. While you keep your loved one comfortable, however, there’s one very important task that you can’t afford to overlook: taking care of yourself. Here are a few ways that you can look after yourself while providing end-of-life care for someone else. Read more
Anyone who has ever dozed off on a Sunday afternoon with a warm kitten purring on their chest or thrown a ball for a happy, clumsy dog who faithfully returns it again and again knows the joy our pets can bring us on a daily basis. For millions of people, pets introduce a circle of love: we love them, they love us, and we are both better off. And there’s more – not only are pets adorable, but they’re actually pretty good for our physical and mental health, too. If you don’t have a pet and have considered adopting one, here are four good reasons to go ahead and take the plunge.
If your favorite gym is closed right now because of the pandemic (or if you’d just rather not take the risk), a dog offers a fantastic solution to working off those extra quarantine calories. Your pup needs exercise, too, so take her along on a walk, jog, hike, or swim a few times a week. If you have a trail near your home, your feet and your dog’s alike will appreciate the softer surface. Even a game of fetch in the backyard is better than couch potato-ing for yet another hour. As an added bonus, dogs who get outdoors for a daily walk tend to be healthier, happier, calmer, and better-behaved in general.
Not only are pets known to offer unconditional love (even those “special” cats who offer it only on their terms), but they also help give their owners a sense of purpose. Your pets can help combat feelings of loneliness and sadness by providing companionship, giving your overall mood a boost. This benefit is particularly apparent among groups of people who are prone to depression, such as the sick or elderly. There’s a reason that so many hospitals and nursing homes employ pet-facilitated therapy for their patients!
Amazingly, your pet can actually provide pain relief for you. A growing body of evidence suggests that pets are helpful for people with chronic pain, such as those with spine conditions, traumatic injuries, rheumatoid arthritis, or physically demanding jobs. Our pets give us a reason to get out of bed in the morning and also help keep us moving – and staying active is key to managing chronic pain. Keep in mind that inactivity and pain can become a vicious cycle, so as long as your doctor gives you the go-ahead, staying active with your pet is a great way to manage pain and preserve mobility.
There’s even more good news for people who love their furry friends. It appears that pet ownership is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Now, correlation does not prove causation – but it does indicate that having a pet may be a smart move for people who want to lower their overall risk as much as possible. There are several possible reasons for the relationship between owning a pet and having a healthier heart. For instance, dog owners tend to get more exercise than people who don’t have dogs, relaxing with a pet is very calming, and playing with/petting/talking to your best friend is a great stress management technique.
Whatever your reason for wanting a pet, it’s clear that you’ll likely be better off with one than without one. If you’re in a position to take care of a dog or cat properly and you could use a little more companionship in your life, now’s as good a time as any to add pet adoption to your to-do list.
Photo by Tranmautritam from Pexels
