5 Things You Can Do to Get Ready to Join the Military

Why serve in the military?

What do you want to do after high school? Where do you want to go after college? If you seek a new challenge or path in life, then join the military.

A military career may not be as classy and glamorous as the jobs in the entertainment industry or professional sports. Indeed, it is much more than a career or job – it is a vocation. It is a higher calling to serve the country at the highest level.

The purpose of being in the military, whether in the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Marines, or the National Guard is to serve and defend the country against domestic and foreign threats. Soldiers also respond to natural or man-made disasters to provide medical relief, support search and rescue operations, and maintain peace and order. At times, they are called to serve in other countries to conduct peacekeeping missions or fight in wars.

Serving in the military is a good career opportunity for young adults but it is not for the physically, mentally, and emotionally weak. The military demands only the fittest individuals within their ranks.

If you decide to serve in the military, you must commit to motivate yourself to serve the country. Here are five things you should do to prepare before enlisting in the military:

  1. Start your training while in school

Are you of high school age? If then, you have all the time to prepare for boot camp, where you will be taught drill, basic equipment maintenance, weapons and workplace safety, marksmanship, fieldcraft, radio use, and defensive and offensive operations.

The boot camp, which lasts for many weeks, involves many physical activities, so you will need to build physical fitness. Before you qualify for Basic Combat Training (BCT), you will undergo a physical fitness test where you will do push-ups and sit-ups and run a two-mile army run. (Some branches even have pull-ups and swimming.) Participate in sports as much as you can. Build your muscles and your stamina.

Aside from building physical fitness, you also need to excel in your studies. You need to study hard because you will be required to take the Army Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which determines the careers that suit you in the military. The ASVAB tests your knowledge in areas such as math, general science, word knowledge, shop skills, and mechanics.

  1. Change your habits and lifestyles

To endure the physical and mental demands of military training, you should start adapting to the military lifestyle. In other words, follow strict rules and regulations and develop more discipline in your life. How? Here are a few examples:

  • Eliminate fear and anxiety from your life.
  • Get up as early as 4:30 AM to work out.
  • Go to bed at about 9 PM. If your boot camp is in another time zone, adjust your sleep schedule according to that time zone.
  • Eat healthy. Include fish, chicken, beef, pasta, vegetables and fruits in your diet. Get enough protein and carbohydrates. Cut on unhealthy snacks such as chips and soda to train your body to reduce hunger urges.
  • Quit smoking and alcohol.
  • Practice proper hygiene. (In boot camp, shaving is an everyday task.)
  • Learn to shut up and listen. In boot camp, recruits do not speak until spoken to.
  • Learn not to argue. You will never win against the drill instructor.
  • Learn to work as a team.
  • Learn to prioritize. You will have to choose between the things you like to do (like reading, chatting with buddies, and writing mail) and things you have to do (like scrubbing toilets, doing your laundry, and shining your shoes).
  1. Keep away from crime

The military would not accept applicants with a felony or misdemeanor conviction. However, they might overlook past criminal violations if enough time has passed and you have maintained a good record since then. There is still a chance for a waiver for a non-violent, non-drug violation.

Keep away from crime and make sure you avoid bad company. Focus on your studies and physical training. Focus on your goal, which is to join the military.

  1. Cherish your relationships

Spend more time with your family. Value your friends, colleagues, neighbors, churchmates —everyone you hold dear in your life. When you undergo boot camp, communication with loved ones will be limited. You will not be allowed to see them until graduation ceremony.

However, you are encouraged to communicate with your loved ones through letters. Write letters to your loved ones. The pen is one of the Military Weapons by Robert E. Wright.

A Vietnam War veteran and now published author, Wright used the pen to fight against the loneliness of separation. “I had to communicate, communicate, and communicate,” said Wright. “My weapon would be pen, paper, and pictures.”

  1. Be more focused and consistent

Basic military training is 20% physical and 80% mental, meaning your mind can be either your best friend or worst enemy in your transition to military life. Resist the temptation to give up. Focus on the task at hand. Keep going forward, push yourself harder, and stay positive. You join the military not to give up but to serve the country at your best and with your best.  

Interested in joining the military? Make sure you are truly committed to serving the country and can meet the requirements. Seek an appointment with a military recruiter in your area today. Good luck!

4 Amazing Authors slash Illustrators that You Should Know

Authors are those people who write amazing stories and bring characters to life while illustrators are those individuals who create works of art to be published on books, and other platforms. There are many literary masterpieces that contain wonderful illustrations created the hands of various talented illustrators. The common authors who use pictures in their works are those under the children’s literature genre. The embedded images support the book in gaining readers and popularity by its ability to help the readers put their imaginations to work, pin their attention on the story, and follow the storyline. 

Picture book is the common term used in describing the literary pieces intended for kids and kids at heart. But there are also books that contain amazing images that are not referred to picture books for they may not feature the right ratio of illustrations and words. However, the author and illustrator of a book do not always have to be separate persons for there are a lot of people who have been bestowed the talent for both writing and drawing. These people are referred to as author-illustrators. Thus, listed below are the awesome author-illustrators that you should know:

Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel was the man behind the pen name Dr. Seuss. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. Apart from his famous pseudonym Dr. Seuss, he was also known as Theo LeSieg, Rosetta Stone, and Theophrastus Seuss.  Ted studied in two popular colleges, which are Dartmouth College and Lincoln College, Oxford. He is not only a children’s book author but also a political cartoonist, poet, animator, screenwriter, filmmaker, and illustrator.

Dr. Seuss has written and illustrated over 60 books. The amazing literary works of Dr. Seuss and its film adaptations have been touching the lives of children and even adults for years. Some great examples of Dr. Seuss books are The Cat in the Hat (1957). Horton Hears a Who! (1955), How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1957), etc.

Eric Carle

On June 25, 1929 in Sycarause, New York, author, designer, and illustrator Eric Carle was born. He is currently living in Key West, Florida and has been married to Barbara Morrison, who died on 2015. Eric studied in two of the most remarkable schools for fine arts, which are State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart and Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. In 2003, he was awarded with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal — which is now referred to as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award, by the American Library Association.

Carle is popular in the literary world because of his amazing picture books for children. Among his notable works are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which sold over 50 million copies, The Grouchy Ladybug, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See. Furthermore, his 1969 picture book — The Very Hungry Caterpillar, didn’t only became a bestseller but was also translated into different languages.

Gabriella Eva Nagy

Author-illustrator Gabriella Eva Nagy is a Hungarian national. Hungary is the place where she was brought into the world and was raised to see both the beauty and ugliness life brings. She already has a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Technology but she also attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and took up the Computer Animation and Multimedia major. Gabriella is always fond of looking for methods to educate and reach out to kids.

Her talents in both writing and illustrating are the two key elements into producing wonderful pieces of literature. Among her amazing works are Enchanted Rainbows, The Dancing Butterflies, and Moonlight Dance. Thus, Gabriella truly utilized her talents and abilities to touch the world of kids in order to teach eternal values.

Marla Frazee

In Los Angeles, California on January 16, 1958, writer-illustrator Marla Frazee was born. But when she was still a kid, she transferred from LA to Glendale, California. Marla acquired her bachelor of fine arts degree from the Art Center College of Design in Greater Los Angeles Area in 1981. It is in her college where she met the love of her life, photographer Tim Bradley. The two got married in 1982 but ended up separating in 2013. Although they had a bittersweet love story, they were still blessed with three angels, which are Graham, Reed, and James.

Frazee is a notable author-illustrator. Her works are mainly inspired by Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are and Robert McCloskey’s Blueberries for Sal. She started practicing her craft early; thus, when she was a 3rd grader, she produced the work titled The Friendship Circle and later on became the recipient of state fair competition award. Her other notable works include World-Famous Muriel and the Magic Mystery and That Kookory!, The Seven Silly Eaters, On the Morn of Mayfest – Mrs. Biddlebox, Roller Coaster, and more.                                       

4 Talented Actresses that Played Strong Characters in Thriller Films

Thriller films are among those masterpieces that are being patronized by the audience not only because of their amazing storylines but also because of their ability to evoke fear, anticipation, and other emotions. It is called by many names, such as suspense and suspense thriller. Most thriller movies are mixed with the element of suspense, which explains why it is also called as suspense thriller and among others. The other defining trait of movies in this genre is its ability to create tension through the putting what the viewers perceived as unavoidable in a delay.

A lot of thriller movies have been produced and can be watched online and offline depending on the viewers’ resources and decisions. Some of the most watched thrillers of todays are Captain Phillips, Gone Girl, Nerve, Adhugo, Angels & Demons, Prisoners, Mirage, and more. Moreover, thrillers with strong female characters have been changing the game and have been featuring the other side of this genre. With that being said, listed below are some of the most amazing actresses that have slayed the roles of strong and badass characters of different thriller films that you should get to know!

Patricia Rooney Mara

The American actress who played the role of Lisbeth Salander in the thriller film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was Patricia Rooney Mara. She was born on Bedford, New York on April 17, 1985. Patricia is a descendant of the Rooney and Mara families, an Irish-American family popular for its links with the political, sports, and acting platforms. Furthermore, Mara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study in New York University in 2010.

Patricia has starred in different films, such as in Her (2013), Lion (2016), Mary Magdalene (2018), A Ghost Story (2017), and Carol (2015). But the film that gave her acting career a major breakthrough was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), a thriller movie based on the book by Stieg Larsson with the same title. After the success of her first thriller film, she was again casted into another movie of the same genre that was produced in 2013 called the Side Effects.

Samara Weaving

On February 23, 1992 in Adelaide, Australia, actress Samara Weaving was born. Her father, Simon Weaving, is an English film professor and artistic director while her mother is Maltese; Helena Bezzinam, is an art therapist. She was raised in three different locations, which are Singapore, Fiji, and Indonesia. She studied in the Canberra Girls Grammar School after their family transferred to Canberra in 2005. Samara is not only a successful actress but also an amazing model.

Samara’s career in the film and television industry started in 2008 when she was casted in the movie series called Out of the Blue. After that, her success in the industry started to blossom. She starred in different movies, series, and soap operas, such as Home and Away (2009-2013), Monster Trucks (2016), Mayhem (2017), The Babysitter (2017), Ash vs Evil Dead (2015-2016), and more. Samara was also recognized after playing the role of Grace Le Domas in the American black comedy thriller film titled Ready or Not (2019).

Anne Hathaway

The award-winning actress Anne Jacqueline Hathaway was born on the 12th of November 1982 in New York City. Anne is the daughter of a labor attorney, Gerald, and a former actress, Kate. Her named was based on the literary master William Shakespeare’s wife. She studied at three different prestigious schools, such as the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Vassar College, and New York University. She is married to Adam Shulman and is a mother of 2.

The film, The Princess Diaries (2001), gave Anne a massive breakthrough after playing as Mia, the princess of Genovia. A lot of projects came after that, such as Havoc (2005), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Rachel Getting Married (2008), Love & Other Drugs (2010), Alice in Wonderland (2010), Les Miserables (2012), Valentine’s Day (2010), etc. She also played a role in the 209 fantasy mystery thriller film called Serenity. Moreover, she has won a lot of awards in her acting journey and has become one of the highest-paid actresses.

Sandra Bullock

In Arlington, Virgnia on the 26th of July 1964, actress, producer, and philanthropist Sandra Annette Bullock was born. She is the offspring of the German opera singer and voice teacher Helga Mathilde Meyer and the American army worker and voice coach part-timer John W. Bullock. Sandra’s acting career started during the year 1987-1993. Sandra graduated from East Carolina University in 1987 and successfully earned her BFA in Drama.

She took some classes in acting with the popular American actor/acting teacher Sandy Meisner. Afterward, she started to appear in different television films and on the big screen. Among the movies that starred Sarah were Hangmen (1987), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Hope Floats (1998), Miss Congeniality (2000), The Proposal (2009), The Heat (2013). She also starred in different thriller films, such as in The Net (1995), A Time to Kill (1996), and Bird Box (2018).

7 Ways to Maintain Your Spiritual Focus

Are you fighting your spiritual warfare?

Have you ever felt there was a spiritual battle being waged for your soul? Do you feel spiritually protected right now? Do you realize our biggest battles in life are in the spiritual realm?

We Christians today live in a paradoxical culture that is both skeptical – or oftentimes hostile – and open to any and all sorts of beliefs and philosophies. So, one should not wonder to know that disbelief pervades even traditional Christian communities. On many college campuses, even ‘Christian’ ones, professors teach that religious belief, or at least belief in God, is passé, while students explore ‘alternative religions’, including witchcraft and neo-paganism.

Christians face the great danger of becoming caught up and trapped in a spiritual quagmire. Some Christians focus so much on the power and activities of the devil – without even knowing it – that they live in a state of uncertainty and fear – and blame anything and anyone but themselves for their shortcomings. Other Christians live their lives with little or no reliance on God, thus failing to make a difference in their communities.

In short, their faith has been laid wasted and God rendered useless and powerless. Just like the Israelites, they did not focus on God’s promises but rather on what their eyes saw and their ears heard. They did not have focus.

In Gregory Fetherson books of Deep Within, the author stressed out the importance of focus when fighting spiritual warfare. “The obstacles you’ll face daily is part of your schooling that you’ll be receiving from God. The wise thing to do is stay focus on God at all times, because your faith will be tried and tested to a point that you may decide you had enough.”

He added, “This is not the time to quit but it’s the time when you need to dig deeper within yourself and get all the help you’ll need.”

So, the question: How can you maintain – and increase – your spiritual focus?

  1. Pray fervently. Ask God to help you resist temptations and eliminate distractions to your spiritual life. Pray with faith and confidence, and believe God hears and will answer your prayers. Whatever you ask in Jesus’ name, He will do (Mark 11:24, John 16:24).
  2. Read your Bible. Open your Bible, read it, and live by the Word of God contained in it. The Lord is righteous and all His laws are right and fully trustworthy (Psalm 119:137-138). “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart,” Psalm 119:1-2.
  3. Lean on the Lord’s strength. You cannot fight the devil with your own strength. Without the Lord, you are no match for the devil. Instead, lean on the Lord to fight your battles, as well as lift your burdens. If you surrender your strength to Him, He will bless you with a strength only He can provide. Let Him renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31). “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” Ephesians 6:10.
  4. Put on the ‘armor of God’. You do not actually wear armor but seek God and His righteousness above everything else (Matthew 6:33). You put on the ‘armor of God’ to withstand the devil’s attacks, including faith, righteousness, truth, prayer, the Word of God, and salvation (Ephesians 6:14-18).
  5. Seek the support of loved ones. Christians do not have to talk just to their church leaders. Sometimes, you need the support of your loved ones. When you begin to feel like losing your spiritual battle, seek support and guidance from family and friends, neighbors, colleagues, or anyone spiritually trustworthy you can share your concerns and issues. “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors, there is safety” Proverbs 24:6.
  6. Live courageously. The devil is intent in destroying your faith both through obvious attacks (1 Peter 5:8) and temptations (2 Corinthians 11:14). But never fear, for the grandest truth of all is that God’s spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
  7. Surrender every part of your life to God. Acknowledge God before, after, and during every situation of your life, particularly when you have to make a major decision.You cannot fight your spiritual battle on your own strength, intellect, or cleverness. You have to trust in Him with all your heart, and he will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Give yourself completely to God and the devil will run from you (James 4:7-8).

When you face temptations or feel that your spiritual life is under attack, have faith in God’s promises to protect you (James 4:7), deliver you from evil (2 Timothy 4:18), and strengthen you (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

The 4 Benefits of Living a Happy Life

A happy life is always what people, including you, have always dreamed of having. What could be better than having a complete family that lives in a home with nothing but love, laughter, and care — nothing, right? That is why happiness is crucial in living. It can give you a lot of things to dream about and several things to put your hope on. No matter how chaotic the world have become right, always remember to never give up on believing that a rain of happiness will soon happen and every person and home that the droplets of it lands will achieve tranquility.

It cannot be denied that people have always longed to be happy — both for themselves and for others. There is completely nothing wrong with it. People have different ways of finding happiness or helping others achieve the type of happy that they desire. Take for example the ways to achieve happiness in Peter Justus blogs where author Peter Justus wrote about happiness in his blogs to help the readers comprehend what it truly means, as well as the methods of getting the happiness that everybody deserves.

If you are wondering what are the benefits of living with happiness at your side every time of the day, then stop the overthinking now! Listed below are some of the perks of living a happy life that everyone should know, including you.

You can laugh the stress away

Living itself is a difficult job, how much more if stress will come your way? It is makes each day more daunting and draining. The more you are stressed the lesser will you will have to carry on.  The littlest thing will annoy you and it will seem like days will never get better. But when you begin to find where your happiness lies and start to embrace it, the more you can deal with your stressors and make them go away. You will not spend a lot of time being annoyed, irritated, or drained because of the noise, workload, and other negative vibes around you. Instead, you will find a way to laugh all these negativities away either by joking with the people around you, listening to lively music, or watching sitcoms.

You can evaluate the two sides of every story

Problems are like leeches. They appear small but the longer you allow them to suck your blood the bigger they become and the lesser energy you’ll have. But you have the power to get these problems off your life. You do not have to stay burdened all the time. There is a big tendency your ability to evaluate the roots of the problems may have some deficiencies due to the bunch of things that are worrying you. But when you start to live a life filled with happiness, you are more open for a fair evaluation. You will seek and hear each side of the story. Afterward, you can begin to identify the causes, as well as the solutions, because you are viewing from the top and not from the side.

You can develop a good mindset

Having a good mindset is important. It is not only because it helps on how you see life as it is but also because it is a big factor on how you perceive things as they are. A person without a healthy mindset tends to create decisions that will either make or break him or her. Their judgment can become clouded resulting to things that they will regret sooner. One’s mindset can become infiltrated with toxic especially if the individual is under a lot of invisible pain or suffering from internal wounds. But a person who is living a happy life will always try to find a way to see the light even in his or her darkest days. They will strive to develop a positive mindset that will help them grow into the best version of themselves.

You can maintain a healthy lifestyle

Having a healthy mind is crucial but having a healthy lifestyle shares the same importance too. When you are stressed and drained, you do not have enough will and energy to live fully, let along maintaining a good lifestyle. You have the tendency to develop a bad eating habit, destroy your body clock, create an unhealthy sleeping routine, and a lot more. But when happiness comes into view, it will shed light to your life. The all of your bad habits that are destroying your health will be slowly washed away by you will to better you routines. You become more determine to mold a life that is stress-free and junk-free. And when everything starts to fall into place, you can sleep soundly at night and wake up with a smile on your face upon realizing that you are living the life you deserve.

4 Things that Will Hinder Your Quest on Finding Happiness

Happiness is a gem that is common and rare at the same time. What makes it common is how it innately lives within each individual. On the other hand, what makes it rare is its ability to hide in the deepest corner of a person’s being. You have definitely heard a lot of things about happiness, some makes you want to crave for it hardly while others makes you become thankful for you have already found it. It is a complex emotion that goes beyond its definition for genuine happiness is neither putting a smile on face nor saying that you are happy. It is more than what the naked eyes can see.

People have different meanings of happiness. Even you have a different definition of happiness. For instance, the path to happiness by Peter Justus is for people to go through a personal renaissance experience. Thus, it can be everything, like the laughter of your mom, the pat on the back by your dad, the hug from your siblings, the nod of your teacher, the laughter of your best friend, and other simple gestures. Others, on the other hand, find their happiness on material things, such as cars, toys, books, clothes, and food, and on hobbies — like singing or writing.

You may have already stumbled upon posts and tips on how to achieve happiness. But this post will offer new something new. Thus, listed below are the obstacles that will come your way upon your quest on finding genuine happiness (DO NOT LET THEM GET YOU).

Unforgiving heart

A heart is more than just an organ that pumps blood all throughout your body for it is a thing that can be feel and react. It is like a keepsake of the memories and emotions that has happened to you and that you have felt in your lifetime. Your heart also has the ability to get wounded and feel pain. These wounds can somehow grow into burdens and baggage that will make forgiving difficult. But forgiveness is one of the keys to unlock happiness. That is why having an unforgiving heart can hinder your quest. However, it doesn’t mean that it cannot be taught. You can always find a way to teach your heart the value of forgiveness. Take your time even if it means that it can slower your pace, at least you are learning.

Ghosts of the past

The past can be either an ugly or beautiful thing. It cannot be avoided that you have made terrible mistakes or committed awful things when you were younger. You may have resolve some issues but maybe there were things that you left hanging. Being an escapee of your own past is not a good thing for those experiences will haunt you no matter how far you have ran away from them. They will always leave a scar that will burn your skin the more you rub them away. These memories will randomly appear on your way to achieving happiness. If you continue to tolerate them on lingering on your mind or escape from them by burying them deep down, you will never attain success. That’s why it is crucial to face the demons from your past than running away from them.

Inability to love yourself

Love yourself — the words that you commonly hear from your friends and family. You might have even stumbled upon it on the internet or any other digital platforms. “Love” stands for the feeling of affection while “yourself” means you. When you put these two words together, they will create a powerful meaning. However, it can among the hardest things to do. It is easy to confess your affection to someone special to you, like your friends, siblings, significant other, and parents. You were so accustomed to the idea of loving others that sometimes you forget to give some to yourself, and that makes you unhappy. For what it’s worth, please do not forget that you are worth loving and you are capable of it.

Discontentment and negativities

A person that doesn’t know contentment but only knows negativities will never be happy; for, he or she goes against the idea of happiness. The world is full of material things and temptations. Maybe these are some of the aspects that makes people thirst for more. It cannot be avoided that a desire of achieving more than what you have will spark randomly within you, the only thing greater than that longing is satisfaction. The moment you settle on contentment and turn your back on negativities, that’s the time you can walk into a happy path. Do not turn back and do not even think of peeking. Just leave the negativities behind and continue living with happiness alongside you.

4 Fascinating Stories About Sharks for Toddlers

Sharks are often misunderstood creatures. People think about sharks as predators that will eat them alive the moment they fall into deep waters. Maybe it’s because of their up to 3,000 sharp teeth that makes people scared of them. But fear not because they are not as monstrous as they seem. They are just creatures who are also trying to survive the tough ecosystem under the ocean. As a matter of fact, there are more than 500 species of sharks all over the world approximately 30 of them were recorded to have ever attacked people. Also, almost 12 out of 500 are the ones considered to be dangerous when met.

Shark myths have long been scaring people, particularly children, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. As early as now, educate the toddlers to not be afraid of sharks and to love them for they are also living organisms that complete the food chain. You can also teach them to not be afraid of sharks by reading them heartwarming stories about these wonderful creatures. Hence, listed below are some touching tales about sharks that are perfect in shaping up the minds of toddlers.

Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman

Published by Orchard Books in April 24, 2018, Misunderstood Shark was authored by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Scott Magoon. It is intended for kids who are 3 to 5 years old. It follows the story of a shark that is frequently misunderstood. Under the sea, there was an ongoing shoot for a television show but the filming was disrupted by Shark, a big creature with a lot of pointed teeth. Everyone got scared of him immediately; they didn’t even bother to know his intentions. Later on, the poor Shark was accused of allegedly trying to devour a fish. But that isn’t true for he was only flaunting his new tooth to the little fish. When will Shark be free from judgment and prejudice by other marine creatures?

I’m a Shark by Bob Shea

Bob Shea is a prominent author and illustrator with works that were showcased in many television channels, such as Nick Jr., Playhouse Disney, and PBS Kids. I’m a Shark is Shea’s masterpiece, along with Big Plans, and Dinosaur vs. Bedtime, that was published by Balzer ­+ Bray last April 26, 2011. The tale is humorous and touching. It centers on a shark that is not afraid of anything, such as the dark or big mean bear, but spiders. Once there was a tiny crab that asked the big shark on what he is scared of and the shark proudly answered that there isn’t anything that he is afraid of. Later on, the crab uncovered the fear of the shark, which is a tiny spider. Imagine a huge shark being afraid of a little spider? Impossible and funny, isn’t it? I’m a Shark is definitely a must-read for it do not only contain a wonderful tale but also beautiful illustrations that will entertain the kids.

Sammie the Shark and the Return of the Lost Gift by Janet Councilman

Published on October 30, 2019 by the Covenant Books, Sammie the Shark and the Return of the Lost Gift is a heartwarming story about a shark who found a shiny object at the bottom of the sea. Sammie lives in Coral Bay, a colorful place in the ocean, along with his friends. One day, he saw a sparkly thing but he doesn’t know what it is at first. He later on realized that it is indeed a treasure, but another question was raised: Who could be the owner of this shiny object? Thus, Sammie’s new goal is to find the owner of the lost gift and safely return it to him or her. The object turns out to be a very important present to someone who is very dear to him. The story showcases important values, such as friendship, helpfulness, and others, that need to be learned by children.

Hark! A Shark! All about Sharks by Bonnie Worth

Last January 08, 2013, Hark! A Shark! All about Sharks was published by Random House Books for Young Readers and is included in the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Series. The book was authored by Bonnie Worth and Aristides Ruiz and was illustrated by Joe Mathieu. The story promotes learning, specifically learning about sharks, which is headed by the Cat in the Hat. The amazing Cat went under the water to discover the wonderful world of sharks. This nonfiction book will help the children to know the different kinds of sharks and how people study these amazing creatures. It also aims to teach the kids that sharks are not to be afraid of for they are not the same scary beasts like the movies show. Hence, it is perfect for kids who are both into fun, science, and learning.

The Art of Slam Poetry: Getting to Know 4 of the Most Notable Slam Poets

Slam poetry is defined as type of artistic contest where poets perform their spoken word poems in front of a wide array of audience and a panel of judges. It is the kind of poetry that puts together some of the most important elements in literature, such as writing, presentation, contest, and audience impact. Slam poems are primarily performed at poetry slam events, where the term “slam” was derived from the degree of the viewers’ power and ability to compliment or criticize the poem from the energetic presentation style of the poets.

There are a lot of slam poets in the literary world. Some of them do not only practice the art of poetry slam but also the art of poetry in general. There have been a lot of poetry books and anthologies that were produce since poetry started to blossom, such as Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, Raymond Quattlebaum in Reflections of Love, and more. Regardless of the wonders of the world of poetry, slam poets must only perform their original pieces to avoid copyright claims. If you want to delve into the art of poetry slam, here are 5 of the most notable slam poets that you should check out:

Andrea Gibson

Born in August 13, 1975 at Calais, Maine, Andrea Gibson is now one of the most prominent slam poets in the world. Gibson was also raised in her birthplace and in a Baptist household. Later on, she moved out of their home and lived together with her girlfriend for some period in New Orleans. But in 1999, she and her lover decided to live in Boulder, Colorado where she is staying until now. Her poems centers on gender roles, challenges that the LGBTQ community is facing, politics, and social amelioration. Andrea has won the Denver Grand Slam Champion four times and ranked 4th at the 2004 National Poetry Slam competition. She also placed 3rd for two consecutive years in the Individual World Poetry Slam (2006 & 2007) and was recognized as the first ever poet to achieve the 2008 Women of the World Poetry Slam award in Detroit. Moreover, among Gibson’s famous works are The Madness Vase, Take Me With You, Pole Dancing To Gospel Hymns, etc.

Saul Williams

A composer, singer, musician, writer, actor, rapper, and poet — these are the career paths that Saul Williams took. But before he became prominent in his career, he was the youngest of three kids that and was born on February 29, 1972 at Newburgh, New York. He, then, went to Newburgh Free Academy where he composed a song titled Black Stacey. Moreover, he attended Morehouse College and acquired his bachelor’s degree in acting and philosophy. Williams also studied in Tisch School of the Arts after getting into the New York University’s Graduate Acting Program and successfully got his master’s degree in acting. He started his poetry journey in 1995 as an open mic poet and the next year after his launch, he was awarded as the Grand Slam Champion of the Nuyorican Poets Café. He also competed in the National Poetry Slam in 1996 that took place in Portland, Oregand along with his other teammates. In fact, his slam poetry journey was filmed and was titled SlamNation.

Patricia Smith

Born in 1955 at Chicago, Illinois, Patricia Smith is a world renowned poet, playwright, author, teacher, and journalist. She has conquered the world of poetry for she practiced both poetry slam and spoken-word poetry. But before her career flourished, she was a student of Southern Illinois University and Northwestern University. Smith is wed to a prominent journalist and Edgar Award-winner author named Bruce DeSilva. Smith was known as the four-time champion of the National Poetry Slam and has also appeared on the documentary film titled SlamNation like Saul Williams. She received multiple poetry awards, including but not limited to 2014 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt Award for Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah, Carl Sandburg Literary Award, National Poetry Series Award, Hurston-Wright Legacy Award, Rattle Poetry Prize, Robert L. Fish Memorial Award, and more.

Rudy Francisco

Rudy Francisco was born in San Diego, California on July 27, 1982 and has attended Alliant International University. As of the moment, he is one of the prominent and inspiring slam poets in the world. He has not only delved in poetry slam but also on spoken word poetry. He has won 12 poetry awards, including the 2007 San Diego Grand Slam Champion, 2008 Member of the Hollywood Poetry Slam Team, 2009 Individual World Poetry Slam 3rd Placer, 2010 San Francisco Grand Slam Champion, 2017 National Poetry Slam Champion, and more. Francisco has written and published a total of 4 books, which as Getting Stitches, No Gravity, Helium, and Scratch. Rudy has performed in a bunch of events, like 2018 Slam Poetry Competition, and has went to a tour with other spoken word/slam poets specifically Sabrina Benaim and Neil Hilborn.

5 Prerequisites to Becoming a Caregiver

There are plenty of requirements in caregiving. It is not just about providing care to someone with immense vulnerability but also putting your mind and soul to your work. This job is not for the faint of heart and is not for those who easily give up. It is because there are a lot of things that are will become at stake when you cannot fulfill your duties and, worse, give up. A small flaw in your workflow can create such a big impact to the well-being of the person that you are taking care. Example, you forgot to make your patient drink his/her medicine resulting in some complications in his or her health.

If you are about to practice the art of caregiving, please do know that there are a lot of things that you must consider in order to be an efficient caregiver. You must be equipped with enough knowledge and motivations before you jump start your career as a caregiver. Apart from the two mentioned requirements, here are also some prerequisite to becoming a caregiver that you should know:

The will to work

You must have a strong will to work in order to execute your duties perfectly. It is also one of the pieces that will prevent you from becoming drained or stressed out for it will spark a lot of motivation in you to continue working regardless of the ups and downs of your career. Your willingness will become the fuel that will constantly light up your desire to work. You will not put even a single thought on how physically and emotionally tiring it is to deal with someone who is fragile and, sometimes, stubborn. Instead, you will do your work wholeheartedly every day knowing that you are doing well on your job and you are providing care to someone who badly needs caring.

Time, effort, and dedication

There are three essential requirements in caregiving. The said three things are needed in order to fully take care of someone who has fallen ill, diagnosed with a disorder, suffering from disablement, and more. The 3 necessities are: time, effort, and dedication. You need to have a lot of time so that you can focus on your work. Effort is also necessary so that you can fulfill your duties, such as assisting them to eat, helping them move around, administering their medicines, and attending to their other needs. Dedication, too, is needed because working without putting your heart and soul to your craft will just result to effort wasted. However, if you are dedicated to your work, you will appreciate every little thing that you have spent and earned in your job — such as, attention, labor, growth, and more.

Good mindset

Having a good mindset will lead to a happier and stress-free work. Caregiving is one of the toughest and most intricate jobs, which is why someone that wants to be a caregiver — by choice or by chance, must have a good attitude and perspective pertaining to this line of work.  This job will test a lot your patience, temper, positivity, endurance, and character. Also, it will not only impact on your physical well-being but also on your mental health. There will be times that work will become unbearable but with a good mindset, you can stand up again no matter how many time you’ve stumbled. The thoughts of giving caregiving up will be replaced with motivation to continue the work that you have started.

Strong well-being

The person that you are taking care of should not be the only one who must have and maintain a good health. You, as a caregiver, also need to have a strong well-being. You should not only focus on your physical health but also on the other components that make you holistically healthy, such as your emotional, spiritual, social, and mental health. Being strong will help you get your tasks done in no time. It will also help you to keep yourself together no matter how tough work gets. When things start to become cloudy and heavy, you can still adjust your focus to find a clearer view and remove some weights so that work will feel lighter because you are holistically healthy.

Sincerity and genuineness

Before you begin working as a caregiver, you must be sincerely and genuinely ready for the job. There will be a lot on your plate than you expect for caregiving is an intricate and demanding work. That is why you must ask or evaluate yourself first if it really is the job that you want to pursue. You must put all your heart and soul into it so that you can work efficiently and happily. The key to becoming a good caregiver is working honestly and sincerely and good things will appear. It is because when you work with a heavy heart and a forced mind, you cannot perfectly execute your duties. However, if you work sincerely, you can manage to put a smile on your face and see a silver lining every time times get hard.

Taking Care of a Loved One 24/7: Do’s and Don’ts

Taking care of a loved who needs utmost nurturing and special attention because of sickness, disablement, and old age can be compared to caregiving — or is already caregiving. It can be a little too difficult at first for the art of caregiving might seem simple on the outside but complicated on the inside. This is not the same as showing sympathy to someone or being worried when they fell ill, it is so much more than sympathizing and worrying. Caregiving is showing and providing the most genuine care, attention, and effort to your loved one who is currently experiencing some physical or mental hindrances.

Being an ultimate caregiver — like the 24/7 caregiver by Gaccetta, to your loved one can be easy and difficult at the same time. It is easy in the sense that there will be no more getting-to-know or adjustment stage. One the other hand, it is difficult for the duties of a caregiver go beyond the thought of being always there and supporting the person through thick and thin. There are also some things that you should and should not do while performing your duties for the benefit of the person that you are currently taking care. Curious on what the do’s and don’ts are? Worry not for we have listed them for you, check out the text below:

Do’s:

Provide him/her with enough care and attention

Your primary duty is to provide care; thus, you are obliged to give your loved one with enough nurturing, attention, and effort to maintain his or her safety and health. You need to be able to perform your tasks well and, as much as possible, on time. Your said duties include but are not limited to being there 24/7, assisting in taking medicines, preparing a balanced diet, helping the person eat, administering leisure activities, and more. You must give divide your time so that you will be efficient on fulfilling your job and looking after yourself at the same time.  

Put yourself in his/her shoes

There may be times that you cannot comprehend the person’s mood and attitude. Also, there will be moments that the person becomes easily irritable, hot-tempered, and stubborn. It will somehow result to you being frustrated and drained for you don’t know what to do. The best option if times like these occur is to put yourself in the person’s shoes so that you can slowly understand his or her situation, suffering, and pain. You can eventually pick up the pieces, put them together, and form the message that he or she wants you to know and understand.  

Extend your patience

Patience is always a virtue. A goal that you are trying to accomplish without patience will remain unaccomplished for patience is one of the main ingredients towards success. That said, this value is also a significant aspect of caregiving for the duties of a caregiver are never easy. Feeding, bathing, and even assisting them to move around can be tough, that is why you need to be patient in order to successfully help them and take care of them every step of the way. Caregiving is the job that you signed up for, so you must execute your tasks perfectly along with working on some aspects that will make your work easier, such as extending your patience.

Don’ts:

Invalidate their feelings or opinions

First and foremost, always look after your loved one’s holistic health. That means that you must also consider checking his or her mental, emotional, and spiritual health aside from that person’s physical well-being. Most of the times, he or she will need you to be the listener of their thoughts and ideas that are constantly bothering his or her mind or some experiences that he or she wants to relive by storytelling. The person may also talk to you about random things. The most important thing that you should do in situations like these is to fully lend your ear and prevent yourself from commenting awful things that may invalidate his or her feelings or opinions. What they need are your attention, reassurance, and presence not something that will lower their confidence and self-esteem.

Let your temper get the best of you

People have tempers making everyone a time ticking bomb that will explode anytime. However, you need to work yours out because your line of work requires patience and not temper. Being a short-tempered person will not help you to take care of someone who is vulnerable and fragile. You may say something inappropriate or do something unethical due to the amount of emotions coming to you all at once that triggers your temper. As a result, you may hurt the feeling of the vulnerable person that you are taking care of that may create a huge impact on their well-being. Thus, you must work out and control your temper.

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