6 Things You Shouldn't Waste Your Time Trying To Change

Like most people in their late twenties do, I’ve done my fair share of soul searching as I was trying to make peace with becoming a fully functioning adult. One of the most difficult issues I had to overcome on my journey was realizing when to act and try to change things, even when the battle is simply not mine to fight.

A few months ago, I had one particularly strong eye-opening experience that involved a person I was close with. She had so much negativity and bitterness, which turned all of my efforts to shine a different light on the matter to waste. The moment of clarity and a true wake-up call came when all of my intentions were twisted and turned into something completely opposite. That is when I realized that people see things as the reflection of who they are. No matter how hard you try to help them, it is futile until they become willing to take a chance on changing perspective.

Don’t get me wrong. Being persistent and working hard towards achieving our goals and changing things we can, is still a very much effective way to achieve anything. However, we need to be wise enough and know when to accept certain things just the way they are. Here is a list of 6 such things:

1. Not everyone will like you

No matter how harsh this may seem, it is the truth. Trying to make everyone like you will only make you invisible, as you will block your true colors from shining through the perfect masks you put according to the situation. Letting people see and know the true you, will get you friends, partners, and coworkers that are just the right match to you. Therefore, you don’t need the approval of the whole world.

2. Guilt won’t change anything

Feeling guilty about some mistakes we made won’t make it better, it will only keep us immobilized from moving forward. Instead, we should accept and acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them, since they are here to help us grow.

3. You can’t change anyone

Any effort to change a person who is not willing to give up their destructive behavior or beliefs will only be counterproductive, since their defense mechanisms will put up a wall so great that none of our kind words can break down. The only way to help anyone is to let them be, and realize that they have their own path, and they will deal with their issues in their own time and terms.

4. You are not immortal

Most of us put our work first and in the vicious circle of always achieving more. We forget to rest, take care of our health, and enjoy the time spent with our loved ones. We think we have all the time in the world. We must truly realize that we are not going to be on this planet forever. The sooner we actually come to terms with this truth, the sooner we will stop working our bodies out to exhaustion and start appreciating the life we are living and take care of our mental, physical and spiritual health.

5. You are only competing with yourself

Measuring your own success, wealth, and looks to those of others will only make you lose yourself in the process. You are unique, and as such you shouldn’t and can’t compete with anyone else, but your previous self. Other people’s lives shouldn’t concern you, since it is their path to take. The only thing you should be concerned about is being better than you were yesterday.

6. You are responsible for the way you feel

Nothing anyone says or does can have any impact on us unless we let it. We can’t control other people’s thoughts or actions, but we can choose how it will affect us. Learning to not let others’ reactions affect how we feel will help us save the energy for working on self-improvement.

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8 Last Minute Gifts For The Traveler In Your Life

The holidays are literally right around the corner, and if you’re like many you’re probably searching the web or the stores for the perfect gift. The best one can receive is one that can be used daily or help benefit ones life in one way or another. If you’re like many, you have someone on your list that’s a frequent traveler or jetsetter. As a traveler, the best gift is the gift that can be useful and make your travels a bit seamless or fun! If you’re still searching for that perfect gift, we narrowed down 8 last minute gifts for the traveler.

1. Wrap-A-Nap ($24.99). Meet your new favorite travel pillow whether you’re traveling on a plane, train or even in the car. This ultra soft travel pillow also works as a sleep mask and earmuff too – offering instant luxury, made of the plushest minky fleece on the market, and filled with high-end synthetic down stuffing – the same fill used in five-star hotel pillows. Wrap-A-Nap is available on their official website or via Amazon.
   

    

2.  CardBuddy ($12 – Grip / $20 – Deluxe). How many times have you left the house and grabbed just your phone and credit card? CardBuddy is a perfect stocking stuffer for those who needs a simple solution to seamlessly carry your cards and phone securely together. CardBuddy is a new, stick on card holder for your phone or phone case, made from high quality leather silicon and securely stores your cards.

3. Bentgo ($14.99). Ditch the airplane food, with Bentgo, a super chic, compartmentalized lunchbox – its design inspired from the very popular Japanese bento boxes. Each compartment is a single-serving, to encourage a balanced meal of various dishes and the food never touches each other. As a health concious traveler, Bentgo can assist you to pre-plan your meals and carry with you on your flights or when you’re on the go!  The Bentgo line includes the Bentgo Original, Bentgo Kids, and Bentgo Salad box.

4. The Airhook ($24.95). This new revolutionary 2-in-1 solution is made for airplane travel: a stable drink holder and a secure mount for an electronics device that attaches to the tray table in its locked position. It’s designed to elevate the level of comfort and convenience for airplane travelers, allowing for maximum legroom, passengers no longer need to sacrifice their limited space with the folding down trays.

5. Flytographer. ($200+) Planning an epic vacation or trip and need a photographer? Flytographer gift cards is the perfect last minute gift and can be redeemed for fun 1 hour vacation photo shoots in nearly 200 cities around the world! The best part is you’ll be led by a local photographer (carefully selected by Flyotographer) who will share their insider tips on the city and take you to cool locations you might not discover on your own.

6. The Tillow ($34.99). While this may look like a simple towel, it’s not! The Tillow is the all-in-one beach and pool companion for all your tropical getaways, which includes a beach towel with a removable pillow for ultimate comfort and relaxation, a touchscreen pocket so you can listen to music and send messages without risk of damage, and a water-resistant storage space to keep your belongings safe from sand, water, and strangers! It also has a lounge chair strap that secures the Tillow to any size lounge chair to the height of any user – the strap also doubles as a convenient bag!

7. Bump Charger. Created by Richard Smiedt and the famed industrial designer Karim Rashid, bump is a stylish, sleek wall charger and a portable battery. Bump retails at ($40) and is available in black, blue, magenta and red – in addition, is compatible with both Apple and Android devices.

8. Soma Footwear ‘Busy Bee’ Loafers. Slides and ballet flats are by far the best shoes to wear to get you through airport security. Say hello to your new favorite footwear brand, Soma Footwear. This South Asian footwear just launched in Spring 2016, with each piece, like art and is exclusively, handmade by artisans world-renowned for their quality hand stitching. Whether you’re traveling during the Fall or Summer, Soma Footwear has beautiful footwear perfect for all occasions and perfect for the on the go – yet stylish traveler.

Featured photo credit: Wrap-A-Nap via wrapanap.com

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The Massive 75-Year Study Shares 3 Secret Recipes To Genuine Happiness With Us

Social butterflies are scientifically more likely to live healthier and happier lives.  This statement is supported by a Harvard study that lasted 75-years (1938-2013) led by a well-known psychiatrist named Robert Waldinger.  The implication is that isolation, staying to oneself on a regular basis, can actually make you sick.

Happiness is an ever-elusive goal for many people.  It is also one of our major pursuits as humans.  Countless movies, books and visual images reflect our tendency as humans to chase a sense of happiness.

However, factors such as economics, transportation, social support and outlook on life are just a few criteria that can affect a person’s health and happiness.  Other considerations include diet, sleep schedule and mental health.  The Waldinger study, however, sought to prove that happiness was more easily achieved through relationships.  And although happiness is a subjective term open to interpretation by each individual, it is safe to assume a positive life outlook, coupled with balanced mental health, good nutrition and balanced sleep diet patterns to support a person’s happiness and health.

Lessons about Happiness

1. Happiness is achieved through close relationships

Spending time with people we care about and enjoy is one way to dispel feelings of loneliness. The Social and Personality Psychology Compass journal says biologically we are social by nature and want to be around other people.  Over time, being around with people we can form relationships.  When this happens, we increase our sense of wellness that lasts an entire lifetime.  Our wellness is connected to long-term memory, diet and healthy sleep patterns.

What to do:  If you are seeking to form new, close relationships, try attending events that reflect your personal interests.  Museums are a great way to drink in beauty while meeting like-minded individuals.  Also, regularly visiting sacred spaces for spiritual renewal can draw us to form close relationships with others who have similar interests.

2. Happiness is achieved through quality relationships, not quantity

The more intimate and strong a relationship, the better it is for someone’s health. A Harvard Health Publication points out relationships that satisfy the mind, body, soul connection promote good health and longer lives.  We can reduce the levels of stress in the body through social connections.  In fact, even if a person smokes, the chances of them dying early is reduced if they have quality, strong relationships, the Harvard report says.

What to do:  Social gatherings are an opportunity to groom relationships.  If you feel a liking to someone or a group of people, arrange a social gathering for quality time together.  Plan an event that reflects common interests for an opportunity to sit, chat and chew good food.  This is an opportunity to groom quality relationships.

3. Happiness is achieved through stable, supportive relationships

Any old relationship just won’t do. The chances of increased happiness occur when a relationships is positive, free of drama and supportive.  So not only is isolation bad for our health, so are toxic relationships.  Our survival as humans, the Social and Personality Psychology Compass report says, is connected to our ability to shun hostile external situations and gravitate to hospitable and friendly connections.  This is especially true in marriages as several reports state.

What to do:  Seek out positive people.  Listen to what people say and determine whether their outlook on life is positive or negative.  If you try to steer conversations toward positive thoughts and acts, but a person keeps returning to the negative, think about how their words impact your sense of happiness and wellness.  The same is true for connecting with people who show signs of stability in their personal and professional lives.  These kind of supportive relationships allow us to survive, reproduce and experience happiness.

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5 Ways to Add Fashion and Flair to Your Bathroom Vanity

A bathroom vanity, whether in a powder room or master bathroom, provides a unique opportunity to show a little personality. From sleek, modern bathrooms to spaces that are traditional and tailored, adding fashion and flair helps bring bathroom spaces to life and create a warm and cozy ambiance. Here are our top five ways to add a little luxe to the lavatory.

1. Accent Wall

 

If your bathroom boasts a mostly neutral design with a white vanity, consider adding an accent wall behind your vanity and mirror setup to create visual interest. Oftentimes bathrooms that are mostly white or another clean color look too one-dimensional, creating a flat or antiseptic design. Go glam with mirrored tiles or more spa-like with glass mosaic tiles in shades of blue and green.

An accent wall featuring a fun tile display or bright paint color adds extra dimension and flair, anchoring the bathroom’s overall design. Another of our favorite ways to create a subtle accent wall is with beadboard. It’s a great choice for a cottage- or beach-inspired bathroom, where larger planks give a cozy yet natural look.

2. Displayed Storage

 

Oftentimes, bathroom storage does its best to conceal all of the things that make a bathroom a bathroom. Instead of stuffing your bath towels in a closet or pushing tissue paper under the sink, opt for a beautiful storage system that showcases your bathroom necessities in style. We love using textured baskets to display bath towels spa-style, or a pretty wire basket to toss toilet paper in when not in use. The same goes for soap and toothbrush holders. Instead of throwing your essentials in a plastic cup or tucking them in a drawer, display them with matching holders that coordinate with your faucet and hardware or with accent colors found in the bathroom.

3. Hardware Happy

 

Looking for an easy and inexpensive way to instantly add fashion and flair to your vanity? Swap out the hardware! It may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big impression. Adding jewelry-inspired hardware to your vanity makes it look more like furniture than a bathroom sink. We love the way antique pulls look on a modern vanity, as well as geometric rings on a vintage dresser-style vanity. For a child’s bath, add a touch of playfulness with bright colors or fun shapes.

4. Fresh Flowers

 

Keeping fresh flowers in the home is a must. Move your favorite blooms to the bathroom vanity for a much-needed organic element. Put them in a pretty vase and display them on a tray to add height and freshness to a powder bathroom, or disperse them throughout a larger master bathroom suite. Flowers in the bathroom help create a cozy, homey feeling. They look best when matching the style of your space, like white tulips in a monochromatic space and full red roses in a traditionally styled master bath.

5. Framed Mirrors

 

Adding a framed mirror to your bathroom space takes any bathroom from boring to beautiful in the blink of an eye. Add a textured frame, like wrapped rope or antiqued wood, around a modern mirror for warmth, or opt for a bright gold or silver frame for glamour. For a spa-themed space, use recycled glass tiles in sage, green, gray and chocolate to frame the mirror. Better yet, hang the mirror from a leather strap or rope for a touch of personalization and visual interest.

Other accessories that add flair to bathroom spaces include fun yet functional towel bars, beautiful rugs and bath mats, framed art and floating shelves for added storage. What are some of your favorite ways to add personality to your bathroom?

Featured photo credit: Kerrie Kelly Design Lab via kerriekelly.com

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The Major Challenges Facing Content Curation

In a content-driven marketing landscape, it is virtually impossible to improve rankings without producing high-quality content in a consistent manner. Customers expect a continuous flow of relevant and useful information on your sites and are likely to visit only those that offer value to their lives. Most companies understand the impact but often fail to deliver the expectation, missing valuable opportunities to attract new clients. They lack sufficient time, funds and personnel to curate new content on a regular basis.

In its natural form, content curation entails a process of gathering, organizing and presenting useful information to a given point of interest. Content curators combine their content with what is readily available on the internet to give a fresh version of an issue, which helps the readers. With limited capacity and experience in the field, you would rather seek help from content management specialists such as Willian Holeksa of Internetum to thrive in the highly competitive arena.

While DIY might be cost effective, you risk losing substantial ground required to establish lasting relationships with your audience. Content curation is a strong marketing tool, but one that comes with numerous challenges to the business. It is not a guarantee of successful marketing when you have to deal with the following problems:

Developing Engaging Content

It starts with engaging content to cultivate relationships with potential buyers, who often join your purchase lists. More compelling and insightful content gives a powerful experience that builds trust with the audience. Studies show that about 61% of marketers are struggling with content curation, thereby missing great opportunities to turn around their fortunes. Getting it right means getting maximum value from the marketing campaigns and achieving better coverage within a short time.

To attract more people, the content needs to be relevant to the client’s concerns. It helps to blend the information with engaging videos, infographics, and blogs to improve readability. Easy-to-digest information enhances the possibility of creating networks and raises your brand’s awareness across different channels. As if that were not enough, you need to promote the curated content through a social media platform if you hope to get the virality you need. The process is highly interconnected and requires a significant amount of investment and time to achieve strong results.

Inadequate Funding

With numerous marketing channels available for businesses, it is hard to wish away the need for multiple strategies. In a bid to acquire substantial market coverage, most firms have increased marketing spendings, which often takes away funds from other activities. About 26% of company budgets goes to content marketing and is likely to increase with the ever-changing landscape. With adequate funding, they can reach out to the audience via relevant yet freshly curated content that triggers discussions about the topics.

Nonetheless, more than 26% of businesses lack sufficient funds to increase spending on content curation. They are likely to lag behind the market leaders and lose on search engine rankings and organic search traffic. However, it does not have to be time-consuming, hence there is no need to tap incremental benefits through additional investments. The ability to utilize other sources gives an undue advantage when it comes to time and money spent.

Limited Capacity

Despite the immense benefits associated with content marketing, most firms fail to spend enough time to get it right. A vast majority lacks content experts to integrate content curation and outside sourcing into business objectives. According to the latest CMI study, more than 40% of companies lack enough capacity to produce sufficient volume without compromising their standards. Nonetheless, they can combine their own content with useful content from other sources to complement the topics and attract potential clients.

The capacity to gather content from outside sources means less time spent on the process, which translates to higher efficiency. It bridges the gap between capacity and volume needed to publish tailored content consistently. The best part is that the web provides a broad range of information that businesses can use within their niche.

Knowledge Gaps

These are twofold: the internal marketing staff and the target audience. If the marketing team lacks sufficient experience in content curation, the business cannot meet the client’s needs. In fact, they may not understand the fundamental principles that guide the process, which makes them likely to address the wrong issues. Content marketing dictates an end-to-end understanding between the marketing team, as well as what the target audience consumes.

Small businesses could leverage third-party contractor services, but ought to be in a better position to define the business objectives that guide the marketing approach. It helps to know the knowledge gaps existing in the audience, as it gives a basis for customizing the information. With numerous sources on the web, you cannot miss well-researched yet authoritative content that matches your business needs.

Content curation aims at improving the readers trust in your brand through original yet engaging content. However, companies ought to attribute the curated information to the publishers, as opposed to claiming ownership for what is not originally theirs. They ought to seek copyright permissions and maintain the sources in their raw form.

Featured photo credit: wpdistrict.sitelock.com via wpdistrict.sitelock.com

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5 Best HDR Software For Mac Users to Try in 2017

Every photographer strives to take that perfect shot. While a natural eye, great timing, and a high-end camera will get you close, the truth is that creating perfection is only possible with software that enhances the raw material.

HDR software is designed to help visual artists capture the true depth of imagery, and present it to their audience. But as with any software, each one offers a different set of benefits.

If you’re looking for the best suite, try packages with a trial period, or talk to colleagues about what they recommend. Editing is a personal, expressive process, so take your time.

So, what is the best HDR software for Mac?

1. Aurora HDR

This Mac-only suite is as close to perfection as possible.

Billed as a one-stop shop for editors, Aurora HDR offers users the perfect balance of simplicity and power. The interface is simple and easy to use, with a range of presets that can be reset at the touch of a single button.

The ability to create natural and hyper-real imagery is a real testament to software.

Overall, it’s the best product on the market and is affordable too.

2. Machinery HDR

As contradictory as it sounds, a lot of HDR fanatics use their equipment to achieve greater realism in their images.

A skill in itself, recreating the world calls for a good camera and an editing suite that’s less about creating fantasy and more about subtlety.

Machinery HDR is a Windows-run suite that’s easy to install and simple to use thanks to a drag-and-drop interface. It also includes a range of presets for quick touch ups but has a depth of options that won’t take your images straight into the over-produced space.

It’s an affordable, agile option for the purists.

3. HDR Darkroom

Capable of running on either Windows or Mac OS, HDR Darkroom is touted as a big hitter across various HDR platforms and forums.

It’s a blend between technical and easy to use – you can expect the convenience of automatic DE ghosting, but because you’re working with RAW files, there’s no drag and drop interface.

For more advanced users there are 3 tone mapping options, which, when coupled with the manual options, means you should be able to get the effects that you’re looking for.

If you’re prone to using JPEGs, you might want to check out rumors that the upload is a bit heavy on the magenta, although this is not consistently reported.

While the functionality you get is a step up, whether it justifies the steep price tag (around $90) is debatable. If you’re looking to invest, then you might want to research more popular suites.

4. HDR Projects 4

This suite is like a utility knife. It has all the advanced features you need, coupled with a range of presets for smaller changes.

Most impressive is the seamless integration with Lightroom, which is included in the suite. The ability to edit across both offers a real range of creative possibility and provides the opportunity to generate enhanced, natural images or more creative visions.

Although there are countless options to edit the presets, these can be a little tedious. Therefore, many choose to incorporate Lightroom and tweak presets. This software is not for beginners, but a solid option if you are a more seasoned editor searching to create a distinctive personal style.

5. easyHDR

As the name suggests, easyHDR is an entry-level suite designed to help you come to grips with the possibilities of HDR software.

The interface is simple and intuitive, allowing you to manipulate JPEGs and raw files by merging an array of exposures. It comes with a handy Lightroom plugin and a series of preset features for quick edits and updates.

There is also a tool for removing unwanted objects, correcting the alignment of your image, and even noise removal filters.

While this is a good way to start developing an understanding of image editing, the use of presets and filters is better for aspiring photographers. True artists looking to really design their images and evoke distinct textures and tones will probably want a more advanced program, but this software provides a good starting point for those just getting into editing.

Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com

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