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- Henry Woeltjen
- Miami, FL
- United States
This conversation is closed.
Improving Your Life: Step 1 - Relax!
For the next few weeks I will be posting some steps I think are necessary to improve your life. Take the journey with me and give me your feedback. Let's build a strategy we can all use to improve our life and the lives of everyone around us!
Step 1 - Relax!
All of us have stories to tell. Some are exciting and full of progress. However, some of us struggle to understand what's going wrong. These posts will be an attempt to facilitate a conversation about progress. We need to move forward. I believe we can help each other do just that.
Step one of this process will be one of the hardest. We all have stress, and sometimes our stress is overwhelming. We need to take a step back and relax! Before our journey begins we must have an open mind. Take a second, sit back, and relax. Feelings of anxiety and stress will only prevent you from moving towards your goals.
What are some things that help you relax? What are your coping mechanisms?
pat gilbert
Jun 16 2013: One thing, do not watch the news.
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Do you really want others to rent space in your head?
Jun 16 2013: Pat,
I can definitely understand where you are coming from. I would rather people watch the news, and take information they get with a grain of salt. Looking at information objectively is a key component to any thorough analysis. News broadcasts may provide information we just cannot get on our own.
I would say, pick the news you decide to incorporate into your thought processes carefully. Even a small bit of false data can materialize biased opinions that have no foundation in reality.
I understand your view though Pat. Many people share that view. I just think a more balanced approach is necessary.
pat gilbert
Jun 16 2013: Duly noted, however you are allowing others to then tell you what to evaluate.
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The news is emotion based, their only purpose is to sell advertising. Bad news sells good news does not. They would have me believe that most of the local environment was subject to fire, murder, car chases, gang war, financial ruin, environmental pollution, etc. etc. This is not true.
What do you miss by not being informed about 99% of this?
Jun 16 2013: A salesman comes to you with a proposition. He tells you of a storm that is coming. The storm will wipe out crops, homes, and livestock.
He then tells you he has a talisman that will protect you from all harm. You laugh and decline the offer. You believe this is a trick.
However, you then go around town to ask about the storm. Many people verify that a storm is indeed coming.
The information you got from the salesman was indeed useful. However, it may have been disregarded because of his delivery. You may have disregarded the entire message about a storm.
Since you did not, and took the information for further analysis, you were able to protect yourself.
The news is like that salesman. They may provide information that is of no use to you. However, if they offer even a bit of information that is true, information you could not have obtained on your own, you would have been missing potentially valuable information.
You didn't just believe a storm was coming and act. You asked around. The information was verified, and you were able to take action.
Being informed is difficult at times. It requires that you have factual information. The news may not provide a great amount of substantial information, but if it does provide even 1% of the information leading to an informed opinion, it is valuable as a resource.
I do believe we need to regulate information being portrayed as "news". Not because these agencies have some obligation to be accurate, but because these agencies gain viewers by portraying themselves as such.
I am with you Pat. I agree that we shouldn't believe everything we hear. However, shutting a door completely is not the answer, in my opinion. Although I could be wrong.
It would be possible to gain all of the necessary information with objective research. This may be what you do. In that case you may be right. It's a decision each individual must make. If you decide not to watch any news you may be better off. It's hard to tell.Jun 17 2013: Since I have not in decades, by empirical anecdotal evidence I'm not any worse off for my ignorance of the "news". I have noticed that since I have been looking into the ominous signs in the economy I have been more tense. But I do have to gather information about the possibilities.
In fact I went to a therapist about this recent problem of not being able to relax. And I told her of a reoccurring dream I had where I would be a tepee in one moment and then a pup tent in the next moment, and this would go back and forth for some time. So I asked her what was wrong? She told me that I was two tents.Jun 16 2013: Good point Pat.....what we focus on expands:>)
True Henry....Looking at information objectively is a key component to any thorough analysis. The challenge with newscasts is that they WANT to engage people as much as possible.....which is not a bad idea. However, newscasts often "play" with information to get more viewers.
I agree with a "balanced" approach:>)Jun 20 2013: That has been my experience with personal growth. I have to get to a point where I am comfortable enough with my imperfections to acknowledge them without being so comfortable that I don't work on them.
Jun 20 2013: Kendall,
I don't think I could have said that any better than you just did. Great input.
Jun 20 2013: Thank you:)Jun 18 2013: Firstly Henry, I am very impressed by your managing of your idea post. You respond regularly to contributors and you are forthcoming in giving them praise for their efforts, well done on your highly commendable efforts thus far.
I have only in the last few days finished reading a book called, "The Energy Bus". Essentially it espouses the benefits of positive as opposed to negative energy.
To me this is the fundamental key to improving your life, simply by embracing a positive attitude!
What is stress anyway? Physiologically it is how the human body responds to the messages it receives from it's source code, namely your brain! As such, a circumstance is just a circumstance but stress is an outcome you can receive dependent upon your reaction to the circumstance.
If your outlook on life was such that circumstances made you look for what are the positive outcomes of this circumstance (also realise that if everything happens for a reason, the ultimate positive outcome might not be readily apparent but there nonetheless), you would have no reason to stress over it.
Contemplate also that if you surround yourself with negativity and negative inputs, then not suprisingly, you will most likely be affected by them and attract it too. Also if you attract from the universe what you put out, then that is what you will find, as you also will if you only see the downside of things because that is what you are focusing on and as a result only seeing!
Knowledge dispels fear ( motto from my military parachuting days), so if you are fearful/stressed by something, then understand it to overcome it. The danger/stress may still be there but you know how to handle it and as such know how to deal with it and so then overcome it.
I remember seeing a book that was filled with happy people. Significantly however, they were all from third world nations with an abundance of reasons to be unhappy, yet they weren't ( at least not in the pics). Dare I say, it was their attitude to life:D
Jun 18 2013: Time Traveller,
I appreciate the positive reinforcement. I enjoy talking to the people on here. They always have such great insights.
I have been talking to people about negative energy for quite some time. Negative energy is definitely a force in our lives, and people need to take steps towards controlling its influence.
I like what you said about knowledge dispelling fear. Knowledge may also help rid you of that negative energy some of us surround ourselves with.
Great post. A positive attitude is important if we truly want to improve our lives.Jun 18 2013: One of the things that help me out a lot is to do some sort of fitness activity, whether its practicing a martial art (unfortunately I have little time for this now) or going for a run. It seems to focus me and put things into perspective.
Jun 18 2013: Scott,
I have to agree with you Scott. Fitness helped me through one of my toughest times. I lost 130 pounds after leaving the Army. Making time for exercise, as you stated, can be hard at times.
What kind of exercise do you normally participate in Scott?
Jun 20 2013: not much anymore unfortunately, most of my exercise is work related. I did enjoy boxing when I was living in the city, and Wing Chun (when I did it but due to time constraints am not able too anymore).
Yourself?Jun 17 2013: Basically the way to happiness (and to de-stress) for me was to accept the things that stress you out and realize that life goes on. Simple as that, whether you muck it up, fret over it, do amazing or nothing.... life will still go on. Once I realized that I stopped fretting as much, internalizing stress and took things as they came.
Without all that fretting, I can relax and enjoy the small things in life!
Jun 17 2013: Louise,
Taking things as they come can be difficult. Sometimes all of our problems seem to hit us at the same time. Having the ability to slow down is paramount. Relaxing can help us do just that. Great points here Louise, and I am glad you found a way to reduce your stress.
Life will go on. That's a key point I had to learn. We cannot fret over the past, only learn from it. Moving on is a key component of improving our lives. Relaxing can make this easier to achieve.
Thanks for the post Louise.
adesh saxena
Jun 17 2013: Keep smiling and be relaxed all the time.
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There is no specific time, situation or place for relaxation. Why can't it be a way of life?
I learn and tend to relax all the time on job or at rest.
I can relax while working , i do my patients Ear surgeries with music on. Operation theatre becomes a place of joy and relaxation for me.Its a kind of meditation where i am totally immersed in it.
Jun 17 2013: Adesh,
I don't think it would be possible to relax 100% of the time. Anxiety and stress are normal things to experience. It's more about what we do with them and how often we feel that way.
Some of us may be able to relax while working. Others may not be doing that kind of work. Many of us have very stressful jobs that prevent relaxation. However, it is up to the individual to come home and unwind.
I understand what you are saying though. It would be nice for all of us to be in jobs that we enjoyed. I'm glad you found that. I am sure I will find that at some point as well.
Thanks for the post. Your contributions are always great to read.
Jun 18 2013: Henry Hi I endorse ... Anxiety and stress are normal things to experience. It's more about what we do with them.If we deal with them with a positive attitude, life becomes easy.
We can relax no matter what.
Its an attitude , its a belief.
We may fail but if we keep trying and donot give up, it makes a difference. We change for the better though situation may remain same .Jun 17 2013: I agree whole heartedly. However, the art/science of relaxing is a bit tricky to learn. I think there is no formula applicable for everyone and each of us need to learn it our way.
For me it became possible when I could forgive me and willingly got down from the bus that my family, my society and my culture designed for me to reach a destianation of a charecter. It became easier when I could start loving myself for exactly the way I am.
I could relax when I knew it is enough if I have only a couple of people who really love and admire me. It helped when I realized life has meaning and joy in every small act of kindness rather than a philanthropy that is beyond me unless I fake it. I could relax when I stopped judging others and myself for the results produced but could appreciate the honest intent.
Life presents with all the odds of a dice. We need to find out our own shibumi. I could relax when it dawned on me that being positive does not mean eliminating all negatives around me but live undeterred within them.
I shall be happy if my experience helps any of you. I shall not be sad if it doesn't because I know you will figure this out eventually.
Jun 17 2013: I love this Pabitra,
"I could relax when it dawned on me that being positive does not mean eliminating all negatives around me but live undeterred within them."
Thank you for the contribution. Great post.Jun 16 2013: First, we have to make it ok to relax. I think there are many more people trying to excite their fellow man than there are trying to calm and when people finally build the momentum to keep up with the majority, they are very reluctant to let go of it.
Jun 16 2013: Excellent point Anthony. How do we relax and not lose out on that momentum? I think you hit the nail on the head. We need to make ourselves comfortable with the though of taking a break from the grind. I think it's important to recharge and evaluate where we are.
This is not to say that we need to take long vacations to the Bahamas. Relaxing can be done in the comfort of your home or even at a friend or family member's house.
I think we need to realize that we aren't losing momentum by taking a relaxing break. In the long-run, we will actually produce more if we take time to recharge and reorganize ourselves.
Good insights Anthony.
bart hsi
Jun 17 2013: Quote: "I think we need to realize that we aren't losing momentum by taking a relaxing break. In the long-run, we will actually produce more if we take time to recharge and reorganize ourselves."
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Well said, Henry. In my whole life, I always avoid stresses by relaxing, and telling myself that I still have time to reach the goal of life eventually. I did reach it, more or less. Even if I didn't, I still won't regret. I would give all my effort, relaxing occasionally is considered part of the process. This is the best approach to avoid (unnecessary ) stresses.Jun 16 2013: EXCELLENT idea indeed Anthony! It seems that our society encourages busy...busy....busy, and if a person does not follow this agenda, s/he may feel less important? Guilty?
I agree....we are NOT losing momentum by taking a relaxing break, and in the long run, may be more productive. When the body and mind are relaxed, it makes all of life more interesting.
How do we relax and not lose the momentum.......find the balance:>)
Nothing "wrong" with long vacations to the Bahamas! LOL:>)
You are right Henry....relaxing can be done anywhere....it is a choice we make for ourselves:>)
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Jun 19 2013: Kate,
Thanks for the input. I like what you said about the news headlines. At the very least you get a sense of what is going on without reading the potentially biased information inside. However, headlines can be just as misleading, more so at times. Headlines are designed to catch your eye. They may exaggerate the information contained in the body of a news article or broadcast.
Great insights though. I think we are all on the same page as far as the news goes. I choose to read through the news and, like Wikipedia, use that information as a starting point for my research on the subject.
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Jun 20 2013: Kate,
I try not to assume anything. I truly believe a balanced approach is the key to effective critical thinking. Biased thought, one way or the other, only serves to exclude potentially accurate information. If you approach a situation in a balanced way, you give all information the respect it deserves, until you can research further.
I understand your view. Many of our media outlets produce biased information. However, assuming a piece of data is biased before you analyze it is biased in itself.
Let's think of a certain subject as X. X contains all of the factual information available. This means all of the information we could possibly use to substantiate that subject.
You receive a certain portion of data (aodiufjlkjaoisud898safu). In that portion of data, only a few items are correct (898). If you disregard the entire set, you will inevitably miss accurate information.
If we look at news this way, we may be able to start analyzing it correctly. I am not saying all news broadcasts contain accurate information but they might. Having all of the available information is important.
Another important thing to consider is leads. A lead, or starting point for research, can uncover data we may not have looked for in the first place. In this context, the media can be a great source of information.
Don't eat everything they feed you. Take a look at what they serve, and hand-pick the items worth eating.
W. Ying
Jun 19 2013: ,
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Relax means to switch our brain (the most powerful computer today)
from small tension-data part to a huge relax-data part,
where we may find the solution easily.
Jun 19 2013: W. Ying,
I like what you said about switching the brain. Relaxing requires us to "switch" from normal thought patterns to less complicated ones. This allows us to focus on our problems with a higher degree of focus. I wish I could post pictures here because I have something drawn up that showcases this better.
Thank you for the contribution.Jun 18 2013: Key points seem to be....
All things in moderation, balance!
Stay physically active! Regular exercise
Have a positive outlook on life!
I'll also add,
Be child like and curious, so that you see the world in a fresh and invigorating way.
Don't be afraid to ask why?
In life take a different path to open new doors and opportunities and so re-invent yourself.
Ask questions and challenge the status quo'
Rise above lifes challenges and be strong, never, ever give up! Picture the frog being eaten by a stork but the frog has it's hands around the throat of the stork strangulating it!
Leave the world in a better place than you found it! : DJun 18 2013: i believe it is similar to a GPS system that always says: turn to the right.
if you have too few relaxation in your life, more relaxation helps. if you have too much relaxation in your life, less relaxation helps. if you have the exact right amount of relaxation in your life, neither more nor less helps.
Jun 18 2013: Totally agree with you here. Balance is definitely key. I think many of us have a problem identifying when we are out of balance. Some people feel like they have to constantly move at a runners pace. Others are more sloth like. Either way, imbalances in life can lead to undesirable consequences.
Ken brown
Jun 17 2013: If you don't stress the mind then it stagnates, it's the same with the body, if it is not used it loses muscle mass. If both are not stressed you will follow the natural order of entropy, dissipation, your genes will initiate the kill program. Movement is life, stop moving and you are dead.
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If you are moving without a point on the horizon then you are dead because the journey has no point and without working for a point then what is the point and what is the reward? Even a wanderer has a point and reward, discovery. What's over the horizon.
Jun 17 2013: Ken,
Great points here. Stress is definitely a motivator at times. We also need goals in life. Without goals we are wandering around without a sense of direction. Without that sense of direction, we are driving on the highway of life with no road map.
Great post Ken.
pat gilbert
Jun 17 2013: View things as they are. "It is what it is"
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As Fritzie mentioned go for a walk
A positive attitude.
Do not try to control things that you cannot control
Do what you can about the problem which starts with confronting it.
Jun 17 2013: It is definitely good to see things as they are. This is important because we need to base our reactions on the actual variables within a situation. If we are basing our reactions on "what isn't" we risk taking action that does nothing or even causes damage to our lives.
Good points Pat.
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Jun 16 2013: Great points Lamar. Some of us may relax entirely too much. However, in order to properly analyze what we are doing wrong we must have a clear head. In order to achieve that we need to slow down. Relaxing can provide this.
Coping mechanisms can definitely be positive and negative. It is important to identify positive coping mechanisms. As you said, people make little problems into big problems. In order to objectively analyze your life you must focus on the real issues. There is no real way to analyze complicated concepts if your mind is in multiple places at once.
There is definitely not a one size fits all solution. Some people may require professional help. All of that is accurate. However, some of us just need to take a second and calm our nerves. Some of us need to focus on the real problems.
The complexity of our mind may complicate things, as you stated. Relaxing can allow you to conduct a thorough audit of your thought processes and environment you are in.
Stress may motivate you into action, but that doesn't mean your actions will yield positive results. Every success is preceded by thinking. We must slow down, relax, and think critically about the steps necessary to move forward.
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Jun 16 2013: I think we may misunderstand what the word relax means. Relax is to become less tense or anxious. Many of us believe the word relates to sitting around or taking a nap. It can be sitting on the couch watching television. It can also involve taking a walk, as you stated.
The state of being relaxed is the result of an action. The action you choose to get there is up to you. Either way, being relaxed is an important factor when trying to analyze a problem critically.
Fritzie -
Jun 16 2013: One of the TED Global speakers, whose name I cannot now remember, talked about this issue of how she had been telling her clients for years a myth about stress. Particularly, research now seems to show that it is ones expectations about the negative health effects of stress rather than stress itself that looms large in predicting negative health outcomes within normal ranges of stress.
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It is an interesting finding that has changed the way she counsels her clients about stress.
It might have been Kelly McGonigal of Stanford University. Yes, here we go: http://blog.ted.com/2013/06/11/the-upside-of-stress-kelly-mcgonigal-at-tedglobal-2013/
And here is Robert Sapolsky, one of the world's leading scholars whose specialty is stress in animals, including humans: http://killerstress.stanford.edu/more and http://killerstress.stanford.edu/more/qa-what-about-stress-mangement/
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Jun 20 2013: LaMar,Good for you!
I wish more treatment centers and prisons would implement stress management. They tend to leave it up to the individuals to do it themselves. Did you write anything about your experience?Jun 16 2013: Henry, this is so great.
What worked wonders for me was Mindfulness. I followed a course when I was pregnant and dealing with PTSD, and have since naturally incorporated it into my daily life.
Allowing myself total relaxation (like Anthony said below, I had to feel it was OK), and focusing on my breathing not only helped me with my anxiety issues, it heightened my awareness and improved my breathing technique as a singer! Triple win! When I feel that stress creeing up on me, (because it often comes unannounced, when you're unprepared), I just breathe.
Jun 16 2013: Yes!!! Keep breathing....slowly......deeply.....with intent to relax:>)Jun 16 2013: Dealing with PTSD is difficult. I can definitely see breathing techniques as a good way to lower anxiety and stress. Sometimes we just need to slow down a bit. I could definitely benefit from that.
Our mind races sometimes, and that is not always productive. A more focused mind-set is a more productive one.
Jun 16 2013: Our mind races.......hmmmmmm.......who programs our mind?
I agree.....a more focused mind-set is more productive, and we have the ability to be more focused.....it is a choice:>)
Jun 16 2013: Many things program our mind. Environmental factors and the conclusions we come to using information can do the programming.
Environmental factors include family, natural elements, friends, and even people we work with. Internal perceptions can also program us. You take a natural element (x) and combine it with a friend's opinion (y) and you get a bit of programming.
It is up to us to audit that programming. We must then either accept it or reprogram ourselves. The choice is sometimes difficult to make. People tend to embrace their opinions for no real reason. I do believe we all have the right to our unique perspectives. However, I do think we should be working towards a balanced state.
Although everything seems subjective, a balanced state is not. Balanced is an absolute state we should all try to achieve. It is difficult. However, I get closer every day.Jun 16 2013: Henry,
External factors can program our mind IF/WHEN we accept the information and come to conclusions with our own thought process.
Environmental factors such as family, natural elements, friends, people we work with and interactive with daily can certainly contribute to our programming. As thinking, feeling adults however, we can choose what we accept and focus on.
I am focusing on this, because people often say something like you did....."our mind races"......as if we have no control of our mind. We do. It doesn't race on it's own.....we drive it.....yes?
Like you insightfully say.....it is up to us to audit, sift through information, evaluate the potential for programming, accept, or reprogram. That's the only point I was trying to make.....we have choices, and balance is always good:>)
Jun 16 2013: We do have the ability to control our mind. That doesn't mean we are experts at it. Your mind may race at times, and it is the individual's responsibility to slow themselves down.
I don't believe this means you can get to a point where you have total control. A good example is soldiers in combat. They go through extensive training to program their minds in cases where instincts take over.
Without training, an impulse reaction may be the wrong reaction. I wasn't trying to imply we have no control. I was merely stating that these mind-sets do have an impact at times, and it is up to us to gain control when we have lost it.
Assuming you will never lose full control is dangerous. It may put you into stages of denial, all the while losing total control. We need to identify moments in time where we are not in full control of our emotions.
We do drive it, but it can drive us at times. The key is getting back in the driver's seat.Jun 19 2013: This is SO recognizable!
At this moment, I am finding myself in a very unrelaxed state of mind, all due to external factors. Making a decision that benefits me will mean disappointing others, and as a perpetual people-pleaser, this is ine of the hardest things I have to do.
I do recognize the feeling of 'losing control' though, in a subconscious attempt, I think, to please those around me, but resulting in loss of what I need - the good ole 'can't see the forest for the trees' scenario. My parents are visiting us right now, and I see they ar the same way. Can this kind of thing be genetic?Jun 16 2013: I agree Henry....we have ability to control, or train our mind, and there are some people who are really good at it. Some meditators are pretty good, and there are many different levels of training or mind control.
I don't think I said anything about "assuming you will never lose full control". You say..."we need to identify moments when we are not in control......good point. That comes back to "know thyself".
Yup.....that's the key all right....staying in the drivers seat!
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Jun 20 2013: Yes, it's a family trait, we all picked it up...!
I have made the list, and in doing so, made the decision. It was so clear, in fact, that I found relaxation again! Slept like a baby last night, in fact! There's an interesting thing, the idea of putting down my thoughts about how I felt was more nerve-wrecking than the decision itself... What are your thoughts on that?Jun 20 2013: Lizanne and Kate,
I agree that it is probably a learned behavior, and we assimilate a LOT of information from our parents because they are our teachers at an imprssionable age.
Lizanne, you say..."I do recognize the feeling of 'losing control' though, in a subconscious attempt, I think, to please those around me, but resulting in loss of what I need...."
You are aware of this...you recognize it, so it is not only subconscious anymore correct? Ask yourself the question...."Why am I willing to give something to someone else to please them, in favor of taking care of myself"?
I agree with Kate regarding the ripple effect. Sometimes, when we make decisions to please others, that is felt on a deep level by the recipient, and s/he then feels obligated to do the same for us. When people feel that we are genuinely giving because that is what we want to do with no attachments, it frees everyone to do the same thing.
Do you want people to do things for you out of a feeling of obligation, in favor of taking care of themselves and really doing what they want to do? Do unto others.....? I believe all of this is felt on an energy level.
We can do many of the same things, and be clear about our intent. Example:
I LOVE the gardens, and in the past couple years the gardens have been neglected because 3 of my brothers have had physical challenges and needed care. My brothers know me, and they KNOW I spent time with them because that is what I genuinely wanted to do.
Some folks say to me....don't you feel bad about the gardens....they are so neglected....it's too bad that you had to do caregiving....bla....bla....bla.
I made a choice regarding my priority....I love the gardens.....I love my brothers (they helped me build the gardens)....I consciously chose where I wanted to spend my time. I did not help care for them out of obligation....it was totally out of love.
One of the borthers died in Jan., two of them are doing ok for now, and it's time to reclaim the gardens:>)
Jun 20 2013: Colleen, you caught me being conscious!
I am also heart-warmed by your decision to be with your brothers. The reactions you heard makes me question the integrity of people who find a garden more important than a human being...!
YES, I did not spend years in therapy learning awareness to allow my subconscious to take over.
It reminds me of the smoking convo - I have a tough time with self-worth.. But I'm learning! I'm getting there!
As I told Kate just now, I have made the decision... Because I so fully stand behind it, I am not worried about 'breaking the news' either.
Jun 20 2013: LOL! I caught you being conscious Lizanne? Based on all your comments, you seem pretty conscious, alert and intelligent most, if not all of the time:>)
I don't question the integrity of people because of their reactions. Many people are not comfortable with death and sickness, and I believe that is where the reactions came from.
Regarding self-worth:
I'm not going to give you a big lecture, because you've heard it all before, and I think/feel in your heart you KNOW it. I believe in you, I'm sure many other people believe in you. That's all you have to do darlin', is believe in yourself:>)
Good job on the decision.....whatever it was......kudos to you if you feel good and relaxed about it:>)
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Jun 21 2013: The choice was not difficult Kate.
People often have difficulty facing even the thought of sickness, injury, death, abuse, incarceration, etc., so with my volunteer work in these areas, I was often asked why? Why are you doing that?
"If I'm not part of the solution, I am part of the problem", is not just a saying for me. It is very much a part of my life experience in every moment, and it feels like you live your life in this way as well?
In my perception, knowing myself, and how I want to "BE" in our world, is a step toward constantly improving my life experience:>)
"The winds of Grace are blowing all the time. It is up to us to raise our sails"
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Jun 22 2013: Well said my friend Kate:>)Jun 16 2013: Henry,
One concept that helps me to relax more, is this mantra:
They call it the "serenity prayer", but when I'm saying it, it is to myself:>)
"Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference"
Do you realize how many times people feel stressed about something they cannot change? It is a waste of precious time and energy. We need to be clear with what we cannot change (the weather for example), and what we can, and wish to change. Once we are clear with ourselves, we can relax a little more:>)
Jun 16 2013: That was my mother's favorite prayer. She would recite it daily. It is definitely a great concept to remember. People do tend to clutter their minds with problems they cannot change. It is very important to sift through the problems impacting your life in order to find the ones you cannot control.
This is not to say you cannot do anything about them. You can accept the things you cannot change. At the same time you can take steps to mitigate the impact these things have on your life. Trying to control a variable in your life that you have no control over is like beating your head against a wall. The wall wont give, and you will have a nice bump on your head for the effort.
Jun 16 2013: The idea is VERY helpful in my perception and experience:>)
Like you say....we sometimes "clutter" the mind with mind chatter, and I believe sometimes people lose touch with what is mind chatter, and what is real. Mindchatter is usually repeating the stories of the past, and/or worrying about the future. People sometimes project stress and worry, so that becomes their reality.
Agree....we can change our perception, and that changes the impact the perceived and/or real challenges have on our life.
Worrying about that which is not controllable simply gives us a headach.....right on Henry!
Fritzie -
Jun 16 2013: I hope you uncover useful strategies for dealing with major, sustained stress, as that is where the real challenge lies. Walking, fresh air, music, cuddling pets, hobbies such as art/gardening/woodworking, and meditation all can be highly effective in regulating normal stress.
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Jun 16 2013: Fritzie,
Dealing with high stress levels is difficult. Walking, fresh air, music, and hobbies may not help. This is because high stress levels are normally the result of real problems in your life. Walking may help for a moment, but the stress resurfaces the moment you return to your normal routine.
This series will focus on changing that routine. It will concentrate on a conversation about what we can do to move from where we are to where we need to be.
Relaxing is important for many reasons. In the context of this conversation it is paramount. If you cannot sit down and relax you probably wont take in information as well. It's important to clear your head and focus on new data.
This is difficult for some people. Life can throw a never-ending stream of stress your way. It is important that we allow ourselves to interrupt this flow of constant stress. Breaking the flow allows us to analyze ourselves and the strategies we are using to move forward. A constant grind can lead us into robotic like behavior where we keep experiencing the consequences of repetitive actions.
When we relax it should be a time of rest and reflection. People need time to recharge and objectively analyze progress being made. This is a span of time that action is not necessary. It should serve as a planning phase.
The plans shouldn't be detailed and structured. Time to relax should involve generalizations of your life.
"Well, how did my week go?"
"Did I accomplish everything I planned?"
"How do I feel?"
It's time to focus on you. We spend so much time focusing on other things, it's good to have some you time.
Jun 16 2013: I raised the issue because people often share positive examples from their current lives, as if their current pleasant quality of life can be attributed entirely to their attitudes and strategies. In Snow White when the dwarves "whistle a happy tune" or in Mary Poppins when "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down," the challenges at hand were minor in the scheme of things.
People living, say, in refugee camps or in conditions of extreme deprivation cannot use the same strategies with the same success as those whose sources of stress are much less brutal and less chronic.
Jun 16 2013: Fritzie,
I fully understand your point. Many people live in environments that do not allow for progression. It is then up to those of us who are to facilitate change.
I would like to make this happen sooner than later. I would like to get all of us on the same page. In doing that, I can ensure we have similar goals. One of those goals should be equality across the globe.
However, none of us can facilitate this change if we are burdened with stress, depression, and anxiety. We are consumed by ourselves. How then do we have the energy and resources to help those of us in dire need of assistance.
If we could unlock the potential of every person living in free nations, we would never see refugee camps or oppression.
If people free of oppression aren't helping those who are not, how can we expect change? If we cannot help others because we constantly deal with our own tidal wave of problems the cycle continues.
We need a culture shift. A global change in the way we think. This starts with communication and ends with action. We are powerful beyond our understanding. It's about time we start using it in the right ways.
Nobody should be forced into lives of pain and suffering. There is no excuse for it. I cannot believe we continue to let people die, every day, due to a lack of resources and tyrannical governments. It's inexcusable.
Stress relief is key here. If those of us who aren't plagued by these social diseases cannot help others, because we continue to be constrained by our own stress, what hope do they have?
Fritzie -
Jun 16 2013: I agree that we should all work on our resilience and effective modulation of controllable pain.Jun 20 2013: I think stress or pressure is somewhat a necessity in life,as crucial as relaxation is,it constantly pushing us to press on,strive for our goals.Question then is how do we balance stress and relaxation,this is a subtle issue that can be finely tackled through life experiences.I think those who are successful and content with their lives,probably master this balance.
- +1
Jun 20 2013: Jaden,
Part of the definition of stress is:
"a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation"
Why do you think that is a necessity?
Personally, I choose not to have stress in my life, and I experience passion, curiosity and love of the life adventure as adequate motivators:>)


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Cynthia Laury Dahl
Practice Associate Professor of Law
Cynthia Dahl joins Penn Law as the Director of the new Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic. She specializes in the business applications of intellectual property and technology.
- Intellectual Property
- Law and Technology
Penn Law – Practice Associate Professor of Law; Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic (2012- )
TruePosition, Inc. (Berwyn, PA) – Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property ( 2001-10)
Holland & Hart (Denver,CO)– IP Litigation Associate (2000-01)
Pennie & Edmonds (NYC) – IP Litigation Associate (1997-99)

subset: commoncrawl


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Tiffany wrote:My Daughter had a Galaxy tab & an i pad & I'm sure she could read books on those as well as all the other apps there are on it.
Its one App among many where as e readers are primarily for electronic books. You buy a tablet for different reasons than you buy an e reader such as a kindle is my point


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Stephanie Gilmore Dominates For 2nd Year In A Row
The end of one dynasty always marks the start of another. As six-time ASP Women's World Tour Layne Beachley closed out her competitive career this year, after amassing a record six world titles, another young Aussie follows in her footsteps. Steph Gilmore, 20, clinched the 2008 ASP World Tour at the Roxy Pro, Sunset Beach, HI. "I had no idea this was going to happen today when I woke up this morning," Gilmore said. "Sofia (Mulanovich) went down and then Layne (Beachley) went down and I found myself in the Final with a chance to clinch it." In the final, Gilmore battled it out with Peru's Silvana Lima, who led from the start. But as the waves dropped off during the heat, Gilmore found a wedging right in the fleeting minutes and dismantled it to attain an 8.50 out of a possible 10—and more importantly, the 2008 ASP Women's World Title. The win marks Gilmore's second World Title in her second year on tour: "two for two." "The second one definitely feels better than the first one," she said.
Click HERE for the original story.
TAGS: Alaia, Barack Obama Bodysurfing, bird rock bandits, Bruce Irons, cali rally, chris ward, Da Hui Backdoor Shootout, Dane Williams, dude cruise, ESA Championships, Ghost Trees, hurricane surf, Joel Parkinson, Kelly Slater, koby abberton, Nat Young, PacSun Battle Of The Brands, Paparazzi At Malibu, Peter Drouyn Sex Change, rip curl search, Solana Beach Shark Attack, Stephanie Gilmore, teahupoo, trestles, US Open, Volusia County Shark Attacks


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Standard CDs have a diameter of 120 mm and can hold up to 80 minutes of audio. There is also the Mini CD, with diameters ranging from 60 to 80 mm; they are sometimes used for CD singles, storing up to 24 minutes of audio.
The technology was later adapted and expanded to include data storage CD-ROM, write-once audio and data storage CD-R, rewritable media CD-RW, Super Audio CD (SACD), Video Compact Discs (VCD), Super Video Compact Discs (SVCD), PhotoCD, PictureCD, CD-i, and Enhanced CD. CD-ROMs and CD-Rs remain widely used technologies in the computer industry. The CD and its extensions have been extremely successful: in 2004, worldwide sales of CD audio, CD-ROM, and CD-R reached about 30 billion discs. By 2007, 200 billion CDs had been sold worldwide.
After a year of experimentation and discussion, the taskforce produced the Red Book, the Compact Disc standard. Philips contributed the general manufacturing process, based on video Laserdisc technology. Philips also contributed Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation (EFM), which offers both a long playing time and a high resilience against disc defects such as scratches and fingerprints, while Sony contributed the error-correction method, CIRC. The Compact Disc Story, told by a former member of the taskforce, gives background information on the many technical decisions made, including the choice of the sampling frequency, playing time, and disc diameter. According to Philips, the Compact Disc was thus "invented collectively by a large group of people working as a team."
The first CD that was pressed in Hanover was a recording of Herbert von Karajan conducting the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss. In August 1982 the real pressing was ready to begin in the new factory, not far from the place where Emil Berliner had produced his first gramophone record 93 years earlier. (Deutsche Grammophon, Berliner's company, had by now become a part of PolyGram.) CDs and Sony's CD player CDP-101 reached the market on October 1, 1982 in Japan, and early the following year in the United States and other markets. This event is often seen as the "Big Bang" of the digital audio revolution. The new audio disc was enthusiastically received, especially in the early-adopting classical music and audiophile communities and its handling quality received particular praise. As the price of players sank rapidly, the CD began to gain popularity in the larger popular and rock music markets. The first artist to sell a million copies on CD was Dire Straits, with their 1985 album Brothers in Arms. In 1986 Queen became the first artist to have their entire catalogue converted to the format.
The CD was originally thought of as an evolution of the gramophone record, rather than primarily as a data storage medium. Only later did the concept of an "audio file" arise, and the generalising of this to any data file. From its origins as a music format, Compact Disc has grown to encompass other applications. In June 1985, the CD-ROM (read-only memory) and, in 1990, CD-Recordable were introduced, also developed by Sony and Philips.
A Compact Disc is made from a 1.2 mm thick disc of almost pure polycarbonate plastic and weighs approximately 16 grams. A thin layer of aluminium or, more rarely, gold is applied to the surface to make it reflective, and is protected by a film of lacquer. The lacquer is normally spin coated directly on top of the reflective layer. On top of that surface, the label print is applied. Common printing methods for CDs are screen-printing and offset printing.
CD data is stored as a series of tiny indentations known as "pits", encoded in a tightly packed spiral track molded into the top of the polycarbonate layer. The areas between pits are known as "lands". Each pit is approximately 100 nm deep by 500 nm wide, and varies from 850 nm to 3.5 µm in length.
The spacing between the tracks, the pitch, is 1.6 µm. A CD is read by focusing a 780 nm wavelength (near infrared) semiconductor laser through the bottom of the polycarbonate layer. The change in height between pits and lands results in a difference in intensity in the light reflected. By measuring the intensity change with a photodiode, the data can be read from the disc.
The pits and lands themselves do not directly represent the zeros and ones of binary data. Instead, Non-return-to-zero, inverted (NRZI) encoding is used: a change from pit to land or land to pit indicates a one, while no change indicates a zero. This in turn is decoded by reversing the Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation used in mastering the disc, and then reversing the Cross-Interleaved Reed-Solomon Coding, finally revealing the raw data stored on the disc.
While CDs are significantly more durable than earlier audio formats, they are susceptible to damage from daily usage and environmental factors. Pits are much closer to the label side of a disc, so that defects and dirt on the clear side can be out of focus during playback. Discs consequently suffer more damage because of defects such as scratches on the label side, whereas clear-side scratches can be repaired by refilling them with plastic of similar index of refraction, or by careful polishing. Early music CDs were known to suffer from "CD rot" or "laser rot" where the internal reflective layer itself degrades. When this occurs the CD may become unplayable.
The digital data on a CD begins at the center of the disc and proceeds outwards to the edge, which allows adaptation to the different size formats available. Standard CDs are available in two sizes. By far the most common is 120 mm in diameter, with a 74 or 80-minute audio capacity and a 650 or 700 MB data capacity. This diameter has also been adopted by later formats, including Super Audio CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc. 80 mm discs ("Mini CDs") were originally designed for CD singles and can hold up to 21 minutes of music or 184 MB of data but never really became popular. Today nearly all singles are released on 120 mm CDs, which is called a Maxi single.
|Physical size
|Audio Capacity
|CD-ROM Data Capacity
|12 cm
|74–80 min
|Standard size
|8 cm
|21–24 min
|Mini-CD size
|~6 min
|"Business card" size
The logical format of an audio CD (officially Compact Disc Digital Audio or CD-DA) is described in a document produced in 1980 by the format's joint creators, Sony and Philips. The document is known colloquially as the "Red Book" after the color of its cover. The format is a two-channel 16-bit PCM encoding at a 44.1 kHz sampling rate per channel. Four-channel sound is an allowed option within the Red Book format, but has never been implemented. Monaural audio has no existing standard on a Red Book CD; mono source material is usually presented as two identical channels on a 'stereo' track.
The selection of the sample rate was primarily based on the need to reproduce the audible frequency range of 20 Hz - 20 kHz. The Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem states that a sampling rate of more than double the maximum frequency of the signal to be recorded is needed, resulting in a 40 kHz rate. The exact sampling rate of 44.1 kHz was inherited from a method of converting digital audio into an analog video signal for storage on U-matic video tape, which was the most affordable way to transfer data from the recording studio to the CD manufacturer at the time the CD specification was being developed. The device that turns an analog audio signal into PCM audio, which in turn is changed into an analog video signal is called a PCM adaptor. This technology could store six samples (three samples per each stereo channel) in a single horizontal line. A standard NTSC video signal has 245 usable lines per field, and 59.94 fields/s, which works out at 44,056 samples/s/stereo channel. Similarly, PAL has 294 lines and 50 fields, which gives 44,100 samples/s/stereo channel. This system could either store 14-bit samples with some error correction, or 16-bit samples with almost no error correction.
There was a long debate over whether to use 14-bit (Philips) or 16-bit (Sony) quantization, and 44,056 or 44,100 samples/s (Sony) or around 44,000 samples/s (Philips). When the Sony/Philips task force designed the Compact Disc, Philips had already developed a 14-bit D/A converter, but Sony insisted on 16-bit. In the end, 16 bits and 44.1 kilosamples per second prevailed. Philips found a way to produce 16-bit quality using their 14-bit DAC by using four times oversampling.
The extra 14 minute playing time subsequently required changing to a 120 mm disc. Kees Immink, Philips' chief engineer, however, denies this, claiming that the increase was motivated by technical considerations, and that even after the increase in size, the Furtwängler recording would not have fit on one of the earliest CDs. According to a Sunday Tribune interview, the story is slightly more involved. At that time (1979) Philips owned Polygram, one of the world's largest distributors of music. Polygram had set up a large experimental CD plant in Hanover, Germany, which could produce huge numbers of CDs having, of course, a diameter of 115 mm. Sony did not yet have such a facility. If Sony had agreed on the 115 mm disc, Philips would have had a significant competitive edge in the market. Sony decided that something had to be done. The long playing time of Beethoven's Ninth imposed by Ohga was used to push Philips to accept 120 mm, so that Philips' Polygram lost its edge on disc fabrication.
The 74-minute playing time of a CD, which was much longer than the 15 to 20 minutes per side possible with long-playing vinyl albums, was often used to the CD's advantage during the early years when CDs and LPs vied for commercial sales. CDs would often be released with one or more bonus tracks, enticing consumers to buy the CD for the extra material. However, attempts to combine double LPs onto one CD occasionally resulted in an opposing situation in which the CD would actually offer fewer tracks than the LP equivalent. An example is the 1987 album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me by The Cure, which states in the CD liner notes: "The track Hey You!!! which appears on the double album and cassette has been omitted so as to facilitate a single compact disc." The 2006 re-release of this album saw the re-inclusion of the missing track. Another example is the original late-1980s Warner Bros. Records reissue of Fleetwood Mac's Tusk album, which substituted the long album version of "Sara" with the shorter single version. Enough complaints were lodged to eventually convince Warner Bros. to remaster the album in the mid-1990s with the original contents intact.
The program area is 86.05 cm² and the length of the recordable spiral is (86.05 cm² / 1.6 µm) = 5.38 km. With a scanning speed of 1.2 m/s, the playing time is 74 minutes, or around 650 MB of data on a CD-ROM. If the disc diameter were only 115 mm, the maximum playing time would have been 68 minutes, i.e., six minutes less. A disc with data packed slightly more densely is tolerated by most players (though some old ones fail). Using a linear velocity of 1.2 m/s and a track pitch of 1.5 µm leads to a playing time of 80 minutes, or a capacity of 700 MB. Even higher capacities on non-standard discs (up to 99 minutes) are available at least as recordables, but generally the tighter the tracks are squeezed the worse the compatibility.
These 588-bit frames are in turn grouped into sectors. Each sector contains 98 frames, totaling 98 × 24 = 2352 bytes of music. The CD is played at a speed of 75 sectors per second, which results in 176,400 bytes per second. Divided by 2 channels and 2 bytes per sample, this results in a sample rate of 44,100 samples per second.
For CD-ROM data discs, the physical frame and sector sizes are the same. Since error concealment cannot be applied to non-audio data in case the CIRC error correction fails to recover the user data, a third layer of error correction is defined, reducing the payload to 2048 bytes per sector for the Mode-1 CD-ROM format. To increase the data-rate for Video CD, Mode-2 CD-ROM, the third layer has been omitted, increasing the payload to 2336 user-available bytes per sector, only 16 bytes (for synchronization and header data) less than available in Red-Book audio.
In contrast to DVD-Audio, the SACD format has the feature of being able to produce hybrid discs: in addition to the SACD audio, these discs contain a standard audio CD layer which is playable in standard CD players, thus making them backward compatible.
The VCD standard was created in 1993 by Sony, Philips, Matsushita, and JVC and is referred to as the White Book standard.
Overall picture quality is intended to be comparable to VHS video. Poorly compressed VCD video can sometimes be lower quality than VHS video, but VCD exhibits block artifacts rather than analog noise, and does not deteriorate further with each use, which may be preferable.
352x240 (or SIF) resolution was chosen because it is half the vertical, and half the horizontal resolution of NTSC video. 352x288 is similarly one quarter PAL/SECAM resolution. This approximates the (overall) resolution of an analog VHS tape, which, although it has double the number of (vertical) scan lines, has a much lower horizontal resolution.
SVCD has two-thirds the resolution of DVD, and over 2.7 times the resolution of VCD. One CD-R disc can hold up to 60 minutes of standard quality SVCD-format video. While no specific limit on SVCD video length is mandated by the specification, one must lower the video bit rate, and therefore quality, in order to accommodate very long videos. It is usually difficult to fit much more than 100 minutes of video onto one SVCD without incurring significant quality loss, and many hardware players are unable to play video with an instantaneous bit rate lower than 300 to 600 kilobits per second.
The primary data formats for Enhanced Compact Disc's are mixed mode (Yellow Book/Red Book), CD-i, hidden track, and multisession (Blue Book).
Replicated CDs are mass-produced initially using a hydraulic press. Small granules of raw polycarbonate plastic are fed into the press while under heat. A screw forces the liquefied plastic into the mold cavity. The mold closes with a metal stamper in contact with the disc surface. The plastic is allowed to cool and harden. Once opened, the disc substrate is removed from the mold by a robotic arm, and a 15 mm diameter center hole (called a stacking ring) is removed. The cycle time, the time it takes to "stamp" one CD, is usually 2–3 seconds.
This method produces the clear plastic blank part of the disc. After a metallic reflecting layer (usually aluminum, but sometimes gold or other metals) is applied to the clear blank substrate, the disc goes under a UV light for drying and it is ready to go to press. To prepare to press a CD, a glass master is made using a high-power laser on a device similar in principle to a CD writer. The glass master is a positive image of the desired CD surface (with the desired microscopic pits and lands). After testing, it is used to make a die by pressing it against a metal disc.
The die is a negative image of the glass master: several are typically made, depending on the number of pressing mills that are to be making the CD. The die then goes into a press and the physical image is imposed onto the blank CD, leaving a final positive image on the disc. A small amount of lacquer is then applied as a ring around the center of the disc, and a fast spin spreads it evenly over the surface. Edge protection lacquer is also applied before the disc is finished. The disc can then be printed and packed.
Manufactured CDs that are sold in stores are wrapped/sealed via a process called "polywrapping" or are shrink wrapped.
Recordable compact discs, CD-Rs, are injection molded with a "blank" data spiral. A photosensitive dye is then applied, after which the discs are metalized and lacquer-coated. The write laser of the CD recorder changes the color of the dye to allow the read laser of a standard CD player to see the data, just as it would with a standard stamped disc. The resulting discs can be read by most CD-ROM drives and played in most audio CD players.
CD-R recordings are designed to be permanent. Over time the dye's physical characteristics may change, however, causing read errors and data loss until the reading device cannot recover with error correction methods. The design life is from 20 to 100 years, depending on the quality of the discs, the quality of the writing drive, and storage conditions. However, testing has demonstrated such degradation of some discs in as little as 18 months under normal storage conditions. This failure is known as CD rot. CD-Rs follow the Orange Book standard.
Original CD-RW drives can only write to original ReWritable CD discs. High Speed CD-RW drives can typically write to both original ReWritable CD discs and High Speed ReWritable CD discs. Both types of CD-RW discs can be read in most CD drives.
Even higher speed CD-RW discs, Ultra Speed (16x to 24x write speed) and Ultra Speed+ (32x write speed), are now available.


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From my Forbes.com blog The New Persuaders:
It's that time of year: time to reflect on the past year, time to get wasted and watch a glass ball smash into the ground, time for people like me who foolishly offered predictions for the past year to face the music. So here's how I did on my 2012 predictions:
* Facebook goes public, but won't start an IPO landslide: Bingo! Indeed, Facebook's ill-received IPO led to a months-long drought in IPOs as investors realized they were not a sure route to riches. The situation may be improving, but mostly for enterprise more than consumer companies.
* Facebook's ad business booms–but not at Google's expense: Bingo! While Facebook's revenues slowed even before its IPO as it continued to experiment with new ad formats and scrambled to provide mobile ad units, ad revenues have since accelerated, up 36% in the third quarter over last year. At the same time, while Google's revenue growth disappointed investors in the third quarter, it was mostly thanks to the impact of its Motorola acquisition, not a shortfall in its core ad business.
* Image ads finally find a home on the Web: Half-right. YouTube proved there's a real market for TV-like video ads if you give viewers the choice to view them or not, as its revenues were expected to hit $3.6 billion in 2012, according to Citibank. But Facebook's struggles to attract brand advertising despite a TV-scale audience, while partially successful, show that no one has yet come up with brand ad formats that work consistently and at large scale online. Or at least brands, which still spend most of their money on TV ads, don't believe it yet. And they write the checks.
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The Trustees
Bees for Development Trust is governed by committed Trustees. They meet four times a year to provide strategic guidance for the whole organisation and ensure the Charity is well governed, accountable and meets its objectives effectively and efficiently. Our Trustees also attend shows, tell people about our work and liaise with our supporters. Trust deed


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Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears first appeared on national television in 1992 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star on the television series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. After a brief membership with the pop musical group Innosense, Spears signed a recording contract with Jive Records, releasing her debut album ...Baby One More Time in 1999. The album established her as a pop icon and "bona fide pop phenomenon", credited for influencing the revival of teen pop in the late 1990s.
The music video for "...Baby One More Time" and Spears's appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine also established her as an international sex symbol, garnering controversy over the influence of her public image on teenage girls. With the release of In the Zone (2003), Spears became the first artist in the history of Nielsen SoundScan to have her first four consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200 album charts.
Spears's personal life began to gain substantial media attention after her marriage to Kevin Federline in 2004. Their marriage ended two years later, resulting in an ongoing custody battle over their two children, born in 2005 and 2006. Spears released her fifth studio album Blackout in 2007. The following year Spears began recording her sixth studio album Circus.
Spears is ranked as the eighth best-selling female recording artist in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America with 31 million certified albums and one of the world's best-selling music artists having sold an estimated 83 million worldwide. Spears also holds the title to multiple Guinness World Records.
Spears was an accomplished gymnast, attending gymnastics classes until age nine and competing in state-level competitions. She performed in local dance revues and sang in her local Baptist church choir. Spears entered New York City's Professional Performing Arts School when she was eight. At age eight she auditioned for the Disney Channel series The New Mickey Mouse Club. Although she was considered too young to join the series at the time, a producer on the show introduced her to a New York City agent. Spears subsequently spent three summers at NYC's Professional Performing Arts School and also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions. She was an understudy in the 1991 off-Broadway musical Ruthless!. In 1992, she landed a spot on the popular television show Star Search. She won the first round of competition, but ultimately lost. At age eleven, Spears returned to the Disney Channel for a spot on the The New Mickey Mouse Club in Lakeland, Florida. She was featured on the show from 1993 to 1994, until she was 13. After the show ended, Spears returned to Kentwood and attended high school for a year.
In 1997, Spears briefly joined the all-female pop group Innosense. Later that same year, she recorded a demo solo and was signed by Jive Records. She began a U.S. concert tour sponsored by American teen magazines, and eventually became an opening act for 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys.
In March 1999, Tamara Conniff of Entertainment News Wire reported: "Only a few years ago, Spears was a Mouseketeer on the Disney Channel's "Mickey Mouse Club." Now, she's a 17-year-old pop superstar with a No. 1 album, a double-platinum single and a provocative video in heavy rotation on MTV. Spears's debut album and its title track, "... Baby One More Time," have taken the music world by storm". Spears commented, "My main goal is just to make good music...And since I am so young, I can grow as an artist each time and hopefully be a legend or something, like Madonna". By April 1999, Spears was described as "the Reigning Princess of Pop" by the Orlando Sentinel.
Spears posed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in April 1999, shot by photographer David LaChapelle. Spears commented, "It was so much fun!...I loved the idea of me holding Tinky Winky and talking on the phone! Geoff Boucher of The Los Angeles Times reported, "there was no mistaking the titillation factor in the recent Spears cover story and accompanying photos in the April 15 issue of Rolling Stone, which sent eyebrows arching throughout the music industry, where several executives half-jokingly called it "child pornography. Similarly, an editorial review from Iowa State Daily commented, "a distinction should be drawn between the cute teeny-boppers in cool outfits who make the boys and girls buy records by the truckload and the exploitation of a minor by her parents, her record company and the media... Pictures like these are only barely legal when taken by private citizens. But when Rolling Stone does it, it's just good business". Gillian G. Gaar reported, "The American Family Association charged that the pictures, which showed Spears in push-up bras and a minuscule pair of shorts with "Baby" in rhinestones on the bottom, presented a "disturbing mix of childhood innocence and adult sexuality" and asked that all "God-loving Americans" boycott stores carrying her albums". More controversy arose when Spears declared that she would "remain a virgin until marriage". This pledge has been questioned due to her apparently sexual relationship with fellow pop singer Justin Timberlake.
In late 1999, Spears appeared on the sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and performed the song "(You Drive Me) Crazy"; this cameo was a cross-promotion for the film Drive Me Crazy, which starred Sabrina's Melissa Joan Hart and was named after the song. In December 1999, she won four Billboard Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year. A month later, she took home the Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist award at the American Music Awards.
Following the success of her previous album, Spears released the album Oops!... I Did It Again in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the U.S. by selling 1,319,193 units during its first week of sales, breaking the SoundScan record for the highest album sales in its debut week by any solo artist. The RIAA awarded the album with a diamond certification with 10 million copies sold in the U.S. Concerning both musical content and sales, the album was very similar to Spears's debut, although it fared better with critics. Allmusic once again gave it 4 out of 5 stars, saying that the album "has the same combination of sweetly sentimental ballads and endearingly gaudy dance-pop that made "...Baby One More Time. Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 by noting the album as "fantastic pop cheese" and "Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary.
The album's lead single of the same name broke the record for most radio station additions in a single day, and quickly became a top ten hit in the U.S. and other countries. The same year, Spears launched her first world tour, the "Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour". During the tour, she made a stop in New York for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. As part of her performance, she ripped off a black suit to reveal a provocative nude-colored and crystal-adorned outfit that generated much controversy. Spears earned two Billboard Music Awards for Oops!... I Did It Again.
Spears released her third studio album Britney in November 2001. Although not as successful as her previous albums, she assumed some creative control by co-writing five of the album's tracks. It surpassed Michael Jackson's album Invincible when it had a successful debut at number one in the U.S. by selling 745,744 units during its first week. The album's success made her the only female artist in music history to have her first three albums debut at number one. The album fared well with critics such as Allmusic who gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, describing the album's title tracks as being "pivotal moments on Britney Spears's third album, the record where she strives to deepen her persona, making it more adult while still recognizably Britney. In contrast, Rolling Stone said of the album Britney "belabors the obvious: Spears is one month away from entering her twenties and clearly needs to grow up if she's going to bring her fans along."
The singles did not perform as well; Britney's lead single "I'm a Slave 4 U" peaked at 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the album's biggest hit. To help promote the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour in November 2001. The tour was forced to cut short in Mexico City due to bad weather. With the end to her tour, Spears announced she would take a six month break from her career.
In early 2002, Spears's four-year relationship with Timberlake ended. His 2002 song "Cry Me a River" and its music video, which featured an actress resembling Spears, caused speculation that Spears had been unfaithful; Timberlake, however, denied that his song was meant to portray her.
June 2002 saw the opening of Spears's restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, which served Louisianan and Italian cuisine. However, she was pulled out of the business venture in November as a result of debts and management issues. Nyla officially closed in 2003. In the same year, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst confirmed that he was in a relationship with Spears. Durst was also hired to help write and produce tracks for her album In the Zone, which were eventually scrapped.
Spears had her first starring role in the 2002 film Crossroads, in which she portrayed a high school graduate who travels to find her long-lost mother. The movie was poorly received, as was her performance; Spears received Razzie Awards for Worst Actress and for Worst Original Song. Nonetheless, the film grossed over $60 million worldwide. Spears also made cameo appearances in Austin Powers in Goldmember and Longshot. Footage of Spears appeared in the 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which samples a 2003 CNN interview about the Iraq War in which Spears says, "Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes and should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens. Spears made her third consecutive MTV Video Music Awards performance. While performing "I'm a Slave 4 U", she controversially utilized caged animals and danced erotically with a large albino python draped over her shoulders. Animal-rights organization PETA claimed that the animals featured in the performance were mistreated and cancelled plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears. Her career success was highlighted by Forbes magazine in 2002 as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity. At a performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, she appeared with Aguilera performing the song "Like a Virgin", and was later joined by American pop singer Madonna. Spears locked lips with Madonna in a highly-publicized kiss.
Spears released her fourth studio album In the Zone in November 2003, jettisoning the Max Martin-produced synthpop of her earlier releases. The album took in lesser-known producers such as RedZone and big names including Moby and R. Kelly. Spears co-wrote eight of the album's thirteen songs and co-produced several pieces of her material for the first time. In the Zone reached number one in the U.S. charts during its debut week, selling over 609,000 copies. This made Spears the first female in the Nielsen SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one. The album had a mild reception from critics. Stylus Magazine gave the album a D and even blamed Spears's career choices by stating, "Ultimately, In the Zone suffers greatly from Britney's uneasy transition from teen tart to sexually powerful woman. Had Britney been in charge of her career direction instead of mercilessly prostituted by her management, she might have been able to produce something with some semblance of musical vision. The Guardian praised the album's melodies and her effort, giving it 4 out of 5 stars and writing, "Unlike previous Britney albums, In the Zone has no filler and no shoddy cover versions, just 57 varieties of blue-chip hit-factory pop. There is southern hip-hop, deep house, Neptunes-style R&B, the ubiquitous Diwali beat and, most importantly, oodles of Madonna.
The album spawned the hit single "Toxic", winning Spears her first ever Grammy in the category of Best Dance Recording.
Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander on January 3, 2004, at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The marriage lasted 55 hours, ending with an annulment stating that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to marriage because before entering into the marriage the Plaintiff and Defendant did not know each others' likes and dislikes, each others' desires to have or not have children, and each other's desires as to State of residency.
Months after her Las Vegas marriage, Spears embarked on The Onyx Hotel Tour, which was canceled in June, after Spears injured her knee during the filming of the video for the single "Outrageous". The tour's choreography generated much controversy and criticism, with the presence of young children in the audience.She then became involved in the Kabbalah Centre in September 2004 through her friendship with Madonna. However, she publicly left the religion in 2006, stating on her website, "I no longer study Kabbalah, my baby is my religion.
In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to Kevin Federline, three months after they met. Federline had recently been in a relationship with actress Shar Jackson, who was eight months pregnant with their second child. These initial stages were chronicled in Spears's first reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, which aired on UPN in May and June 2005. On the night of September 18, Spears married Federline in a surprise, non-denominational ceremony at a residence in Studio City, California, filing legal papers on October 6. After the marriage, Spears announced via her website that she would be taking another career break to start a family. She gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, nearly one year later, on September 14, 2005 in Santa Monica, California by a scheduled caesarean section.
November 2004 saw the release of her first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, which features all of Spears's singles with the exception of "From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart". It also featured three previously unreleased songs, them being a cover version of American R&B singer Bobby Brown's 1988 hit "My Prerogative", "Do Somethin'", produced by Bloodshy and Avant, whom she had worked with on In The Zone, and "I've Just Begun (Havin' My Fun)", which was a song recorded for Spears's fourth album, In The Zone, but did not make the final cut. By the end of that year, Spears had become one of the best-selling artists in the world.
In November 2005, Spears released her first remix album, B In The Mix: The Remixes. The album ranged from "...Baby One More Time" to "Toxic". Her newest single "Someday (I Will Understand)" was also remixed. Another single, "And Then We Kiss", was only released in Asia, where it charted in many countries. The song peaked at number 15 on Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart, despite it not being officially released in the U.S.
In 2006, Spears guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby" as a closeted lesbian. Spears announced her second pregnancy in May 2006 during an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. She also appeared on Dateline the next month to discuss tabloid rumors about an impending divorce, and motherhood. She addressed an incident which occurred in February when photos revealed her driving with her son unrestrained in her lap, explaining, "I see a bunch of photographers and I'm scared and I want to get out of the situation... They're coming up on the sides of the car which is a scary situation for me… so I get my baby out of the car and I go home. The month following the televised interview, Spears posed nude for the August 2006 cover of Harper's Bazaar. Just two days before Sean's first birthday, Spears gave birth to her second son, Jayden James Federline on September 12 in Los Angeles.
Spears's aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer on January 21, 2007. Spears then stayed in an off-shore drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than 24 hours on February 16. The following night at a hair salon in Tarzana, California she shaved her head with electric clippers. A few days later, she admitted herself to another treatment facility in Malibu, California. While leaving the facility briefly, she quickly returned on February 22. The previous day, Kevin Federline had requested an emergency hearing regarding the custody of their children but then his attorney announced that Federline asked to cancel the court appearance. No further explanation was given. Spears filed for divorce from Federline on November 7, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for both physical and legal custody of their two children, with visitation rights for Federline. The following day, Federline filed a response to Spears's divorce petition, seeking physical and legal custody of their children. American attorney Laura Wasser was hired to represent Spears in the case. According to a representative for Federline's lawyer, the divorce filing "caught Kevin totally by surprise". The couple reached a global settlement agreement in March 2007 and their divorce was finalized in July. Throughout 2007, Spears's behavior received heightened media attention, including attacking a paparazzi vehicle with an umbrella. Spears left the rehabilitation center on March 20 according to her manager, who said she was released after "successfully completing their program. As the legal battle over the custody of their children continued, many members of her entourage have been summoned to testify about her parenting skills.
In May 2007, she produced a mini-tour for the House of Blues just after she left a rehabilitation facility under the name The M+M's; with six shows altogether, she sang live during some lines of her songs. She recorded her latest album with producers such as Sean Garrett, J. R. Rotem and Nate "Danja" Hills throughout 2006 and 2007.
In September 2007, the official findings in Spears's custody battle were announced by the court. She was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol testings and to attend parenting counseling. Spears and Federline continued to share joint custody of their two children on a conditional basis. A few days later, she was officially charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a license. If convicted, she could face a year in jail. Spears lost physical custody of her children to Federline on October 1, with the court ruling that Federline will keep full custody of the children. The charges for her alleged hit-and-run that occurred in August 2007 were officially laid, she was booked for the charges by the Los Angeles Police Department on October 15 but was not arrested.
The release of Spears's fifth album, Blackout, was rescheduled to October 30, 2007 rather than November 13, 2007 due to online leaks. Blackout debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200., making Spears the only female music artist to have her first five albums go to number one and two. It was fairly well received by critics. Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars. Allmusic also rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling Blackout "coherent and entertaining" and stating that "it holds together better than any of her other records". Blackout's lead single, "Gimme More" leaked on the internet on August 30. The song, which was Spears's first produced by Danja, peaked at number three on Billboard's Hot 100 on October 3, making it her most successful single in the U.S. since her debut, "...Baby One More Time". Spears's highly-anticipated performance of "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards was panned. The BBC stated that "her performance would go down in the history books as being one of the worst to grace the MTV Awards", and The Times noted that "Spears was out of synch as she lip-synched and at times just stopped singing altogether". Despite the criticism on her performance, the single has achieved worldwide success.
In 2008, Spears guest-starred on CBS's television show How I Met Your Mother playing a receptionist. She received positive reviews for her performance as well as bringing in the series' highest ratings ever. Spears reprised her role in May 2008, leaving the storyline open for a future return.
On September 7, 2008, Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards for the third time. Although having not performed, a skit with Jonah Hill was pre-taped, as well as an introduction speech to the official opening of the show. Spears won Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video Of The Year for "Piece of Me".
On September 15, Jive released a statement announcing the title of her sixth studio album, Circus as well as the first single, "Womanizer". The single was released to radio stations on September 26, and the release date for the album is December 2, Spears's 27th birthday. MTV signed a deal with Spears and Jive records to release a documentary title For the Record, it will air on November 30, 2008, two days before the release of Circus.
Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe cited Madonna and Janet Jackson as two of Spears's biggest influences", commenting that Spears adopted Madonna's "Truth or Dare"-era moves" and Janet Jackson's sexy-robot body language". Judy Mitoma, author of Envisioning dance on film and video (2002) observed "[t]he music videos of the late 1990s and early 2000s enlist[ed] the popular dance vocabularies at the time...pounding feet into the floor and jabbing at the air with taunt arm movements, punctuating with bent knees and thrusting hips". Britney Spears, among her contemporaries, became a "playfully carnal, provocatively dressed vixen...led by Madonna (and the first time she grabbed her crotch) [and] fueled by Janet Jackson, transformed from a soft-fleshed, innocent girl to a buffed and buxom woman". In the book Madonnastyle (2002) by Carol Clerk, Spears is quoted saying: "I have been a huge fan of Madonna since I was a little girl. I would really, really like to be a legend like Madonna...Her choreography definitely opened the door for girls to go in there and do their own thing".
Kevin Johnson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that his review of Spear's concert performance of her Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour in July 2000, garnered mix reactions. He stated: "It was the review of Spears's concert that got most readers writing - to disagree and agree. A Spears fan wrote, "I don't like you or your stinking, horrible, abusive report! ... I, however, love Britney." Another fan wrote, "Britney Spears is a legend, a great performer. She is our idol and nothing you say about that concert will change that. It still hurts to think you didn't see how many people she touched that night. ... What I saw was hard work and determination, great dance moves, catchy lyrics, and positive songs". In contrast, Johnson also reported: "One reader said, "I was pleased the article was direct and told the simple truth: Britney can't sing. I attended the concert and had a great time, but unlike 95 percent of the crowd, I realized how ridiculous Britney Spears really is". In August 2000, Joan Anderman wrote in her review of the concert, "Spears sang without the help of prerecorded tracks—that's both the good news and the bad news—avoiding the perils by having her two backup vocalists sing in unison with her much of the time, a wise move for someone whose vocal and emotional range are limited, and whose singing isn't even particularly appealing".
The following year, at the beginning of Spears's Dream Within a Dream Tour, the Daily News reported: "Britney Spears is easy to criticize—those outfits, that coquette/ good-girl contradiction, those recycled pop hooks. But Tuesday night, surrounded by thousands of Britney devotees at the sold-out Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, she was easy to love as well...Because of all that dancing, thrashing and dodging fire on stage, Spears performed most of the show to a recorded track. It was hard to tell when she was really singing or just lip-syncing. But, in the context of a Britney Spears concert, does it really matter? Like a Vegas revue show, you don't go to hear the music, you go for the somewhat-ridiculous spectacle of it all". In December 2001, Sean Piccoli of South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported: "[Spears's] contributions to pop are not generally founded in music. Wednesday's spectacle was pop inspired not by songs, but by cheerleader tryouts and beauty pageants. The point was not whether Spears could sing—her voice is a very small bag of heavy-breathing tricks—or even dance. What mattered was how she presents...By that standard, the show was a success. Spears had the biggest runway a girl could ask for and made good use of it, ensuring that every person from the floor to the nosebleed seats could see her fling her hair, swivel her hips or, in one sequence that was almost eerie, dance with a video projection of herself".
Vanessa Grigoriadis reported in "The Tragedy of Britney Spears" (2008), her cover story for Rolling Stone, that "more than any other star today, Britney epitomizes the crucible of fame for the famous: loving it, hating it and never quite being able to stop it from destroying you." Grigoriadis wrote that "every day in L.A., at least a hundred paparazzi, reporters and celebrity-magazine editors dash after her" and that paparazzi estimated Spears generated "up to twenty percent of their coverage for the past year." She further documented that in addition to tabloid journalists, the Associated Press declared that everything Spears does is considered news. "The paparazzi feed the celebrity magazines, which feed the mainstream press, while sources sell their dirtiest material to British tabloids, and then it trickles back to America," wrote Grigoriadis. "She's the canary in the coal mine of our culture, the most vivid representation of the excess of the past decade."
In early 2001, Spears signed a multi-million dollar promotional deal with Pepsi that included television commercials, point-of-purchase promotions, and Internet ties between Spears and the company. Britney Spears has earned over US$370 million from her many, multi-million dollar advertisement and endorsement deals all around the World.. She has published four books, including A Mother's Gift, and released seven DVDs, including her self-produced 2005 reality series Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. Other Spears products include a doll and a video game. She participated in seven tours including "The Onyx Hotel Tour" in 2004. She has grossed over US$350 million from tour ticket sales and over $185 million in merchandise from her tours, the most ever grossed by a performer (male and female).
Spears endorsed her first Elizabeth Arden fragrance "Curious" in 2004. In September 2005, Spears released the fragrance "Fantasy" with Elizabeth Arden, which also saw great success. These were followed by the release of two more fragrances of "In Control" and "Midnight Fantasy" in 2006. Her latest Elizabeth Arden fragrance "Believe", was released in September 2007.
|The Mickey Mouse Club
|Various Roles
|Seasons 6-7, 1991-1993
|The Famous Jett Jackson
|She sang "...Baby One More Time" on the show.
|Sabrina the Teenage Witch
|Flight Attendant
|Austin Powers in Goldmember
|Lucy Wagner
|Lead Role/Feature Film
|Robbie the Reindeer in Legend of the Lost Tribe
|English version/Animation
|Britney & Kevin: Chaotic
|Reality Show
|Will & Grace
|Episode "Buy, Buy Baby"
|How I Met Your Mother
|Season 3: "Ten Sessions" and "Everything Must Go"


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A Theatre of Faith – SAVOY (Brooklyn NY)
Marquee Vol. 37 No. 3 – 2005
A Theatre of Faith – SAVOY (Brooklyn NY)
Memories of Broadway's Presentation Houses
Louisville's VOGUE Theatre and 59 Years of Good Neighbors (Louisville KY) [Second Place, 2003 THSA Jeffrey Weiss Award Competition]
Book Reviews – "Street of Dreams: A History of Dallas' Theatre Row" by Jeanette Howeth Crumpler; "Odeon Cinemas 2: From J. Arthur Rank to the Multiplex" by Allen Eyles
Theatre Photography by Brother Andrew [8 color photographs]
Theatre Openings, July-September
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Whether you are a new family caregiver or have been taking care of your family member with Parkinson's disease for a long time, it is easy to get lost in the day-to-day challenges. Most caregivers feel stress at some point, while many feel stress all the time. Some stress is natural; it is the body's reaction to a real or perceived threat. When the threat is over, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal. However, when it comes to caregiving the stress is almost constant and your body never has a chance to recover. That is why it is important to deal with it as it is happening. But how?
"Take care of yourself" is the most common advice you will get from professionals and friends. And it's good advice. It's just hard to get a good night's sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise, and go to the doctor regularly when caregiving seems to take every minute of every day.
As a former caregiver, I've been given all kinds of advice. But I've learned that there is no one answer that works for every caregiver. What I have found valuable, in terms of advice, is to try focusing on the one area that makes you feel most at risk. For example, if you have a chronic health problem, seeing a doctor regularly and following his or her recommendations is the most important step you can take. If you are generally healthy, but feeling seriously depressed or anxious, consult a doctor or therapist. Depression is treatable, but only if you acknowledge that your mood is affecting your life and probably your caregiving as well.
In addition to focusing on taking care of your most immediate needs, there are many other steps you can take as a caregiver to care for yourself. In fact, I believe the most important step is the very first one you take, whatever it is. After you take the first step the second step will be easier. The following are a few self-care tips to help you in your daily life as a caregiver:
I know how hard it is to put such plans into action. But I also know from experience that every small step makes a difference.
Carol Levine is director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund in New York City and the Next Step in Care campaign. She directs the Fund's Next Step in Care campaign, which has created a website – www.nextstepincare.org – with guides for family caregivers to help them through transitions in care settings – hospital to home, for example. One of the newest guides, "The First Step in Care: Becoming a Family Caregiver," offers practical advice to both new and experienced caregivers about adjusting to the role and responsibilities.
Browse current and archived blog articles written by caregivers, for caregivers.
May 2015
Part 2: Tips for Parkinson's Caregivers to help improve quality of life
April 2015
Tips for Parkinson's Caregivers to help improve quality of life.
December 2014
Keeping Watch
November 2014
Resources for People Who Care for Someone with Parkinson's
September 2014
I Don't Like Parkinson's, but I Love the People in My Life
August 2014
Baby, oh Baby?
July 2014
When the Caregiver Takes a Break
May 2014
Arriving at Thriving
March 2014
Adult Swim
February 2014
5 Disability Insurance Issues Worth Talking About
December 2013
DBS: How it changed darkness into light
November 2013
Family Caregivers Deserve Special Recognition
September 2013
Saving $49,500 for a Good Night's Sleep
August 2013
Growing Up with Parkinson's
July 2013
June 2013
I Wish I May, I Wish I Might
April 2013
5 Grab-and-Go Healthy Snacks for Parkinson's Caregivers
March 2013
5 Caregiving Tips for Lewy Body Dementia
January 2013
Lewy What?
November 2012
How to Support a Caregiving Spouse: Three Tips from My Other Caregiving Half
October 2012
Bobcats and Turtles
August 2012
Build a Ramp
July 2012
A Bathroom That Works
June 2012
Lessons in Care, Lessons in Time
May 2012
Welcome to CareZone
April 2012
Dignity and Empathy in Caregiving
March 2012
Notes from "Movers & Shakers with Parkinson": How You See Your Changing Roles
February 2012
PD Inpatient "Care": Inept, Indifferent, Incompetent, Insufficient, Injurious
January 2012
Caregiver Isolation as Cultural Disease
November 2011
How to Take Care of the Caregiver
September 2011
The Disregarded Costs of Agency Care
August 2011
7 Tips for Hiring Good Caregivers
July 2011
Parkinson's and Your Voice: The Essence of You
June 2011
7 Ways a Care Recipient Can Help Alleviate Caregiver Burnout
May 2011
Lessons Learned About Caregiving for a Person with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease
April 2011
Communicating With Your Partner When Speech and Voice Are Declining
March 2011
Long Distance Caregiving
February 2011
Financial Planning Webinar for Caregivers
January 2011
Caregiving Tool: A Home Healthcare Management System
December 2010
Caregiver Sanity: Three Things I Try to Remember
November 2010
Appreciating Family Caregivers
May 2010
Good Body Mechanics for Caregivers by Kevin Lockette, PT
March 2010
Taking the First Step in Your Own Care by Carol Levine
Each month, we will feature a new column by caregivers on topic important for caregivers of people with Parkinson's disease. Read the latest column now.
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text: We had a great turnout for the opening of the Crane Creek course yesterday. We filled up the parking lot! The Rangers were great about allowing us to double-park, park on an angle…whatever it took to get everybody in and ready to play. After a brief address from Kevin Parkhurst, the ribbon was cut and the course was officially open. We had another brief pause while Steve Werner's basket was sunk in place to the applause of all onlookers, then we watched while the first foursome threw the first discs from the first tee then it was time to play. Continue reading


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Bermuda insurance boss advocates corporation tax and the "dismantling of protectionism".
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