Featured Articles

Fire Prevention In Your Home

According to The United States Fire Administration (FEMA) “Fire is everyone’s fight’, and it should be especially important as homeowners and head of households to comply with fire safety standards and make safety around the home a priority.

The National Fire Protection Association’s reports about fire and its consequences are alarming. According to their information, between the year 2012-2016, there were an approximate 355,400 home fires, 11,670 civilian injuries, 2560 civilian deaths and $6.5 billion in damages due to these fires.

Home fire prevention can be very simple. The worry of being the victim of a fire in your home is always present, but it’s not too worrisome. As a consequence, we grow careless and let things that are dangerous creep into our lives. Preventing a fire is about being diligent about safety precautions, but more importantly, it can save the lives of your family, your pets and your property.

What are some of the basic safety precaution you and your family can follow? There is a long list of little and big things you can do if you want to check online, but here are some of the most important ones you can follow to keep your home and family safe.

Install smoke detectors in every room of the house, but especially in the kitchen. Make sure the smoke detectors are less than 10 years old, the batteries are changed frequently and make sure the smoke detectors are tested frequently to make sure they are working properly.
Cooking Safety, Keep papers and other flammable items away from the stove. Oven mitts, kitchen towels, paper towels should not be left on the stove or close to the burners. Do not leave the stove on with unattended cooking pots on it, keep small children away from boiling pots.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors should be placed at every level of the house. They become more important during the winter months when the house is closed more securely and outside air is minimal. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be fatal if inhaled.
Candles and oil lamps should be used carefully. Extinguish the candles’ flame or oil lamps when you go to bed and keep them away from small children and pets. The candles and oil lamps should never be left unattended. This useful habit can help you prevent a fire that can get out of control within minutes.
Electrical safety is usually a topic many homeowners do not think too much about. We are more concerned about preventing fires that are the result of carelessness or accidents than electrical fires. But, electrical fires should be a concern for us. Frayed, and cracked electrical cords are a hazard that can start a fire without you being home. Old appliances with old cords can short circuit and start a fire within minutes. Appliances big or small should be plugged directly into the wall outlets to help prevent a fire in the home.

Fires are preventable. Being careful and using common sense can help you keep your family safe.

Preventable Home Health Problems

There are many home dangers that can play havoc to our health, physical fitness and overall well being. For many families, creating a safe and healthy environment where the family can grow and prosper is of particular concern.

And it should be.

The hazards in and around the home are many but, they are preventable. One of the top home hazards is a physical injury. These injuries are caused by slippery floors, poor lighting, fire, and overcrowding the halls with objects that can cause injury. Asthma and respiratory system illnesses can be caused by a wet basement full of mold and mildew.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of 5 falls results in broken bones or a serious injury in the United States. And, every year more than 3 million older people are treated in Emergency rooms across the country for fall injuries. Most of these injuries are head and hip injuries, and for the elderly, a fall can have catastrophic consequences.

The statistics for young children with asthma and respiratory system illnesses is a growing concern for many parents and medical personnel. These are treatable and preventable issues that can be addressed and dealt with before they can become more serious.

Living with young children or caring for aging parents don’t have to be riddled with health issues or injuries. Preventing these injuries or health concerns requires little effort.

Floor Mats in slippery areas save lives.

Buying a floor mat for the bathroom shower or bathtub can help you avoid slippery falls that can be fatal. Mats placed at the entrance of the house can help you keep water or snow from making the floor slippery. Floor matting in many places in the house can prevent injuries.
Installing smoke detectors in every room of the house, checking the batteries monthly of the ones you have and testing the smoke detectors to check they are functioning properly is something every homeowner should do regularly.
Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed on every level of the home. Checking the batteries and their functionality should be done when you check the smoke detectors to keep a monthly routine.
Fire prevention is a family affair. Make sure you talk to your children about it, have an evacuation plan, and practice safety. Keep paper and flammable items away from the stove. Do not leave cooking on the stove unattended. Oven mitts, kitchen towels, and paper plates should NEVER be close to the stove.
Frayed, and cracked electrical cords are a hazard that can start a fire without you being home. Old appliances with old cords can short circuit and start a fire within minutes. Appliances big or small should be plugged directly into the wall outlets to help prevent a fire in the home.
Asthma, allergies and many respiratory illnesses can and do begin at home. A wet basement can play havoc to your respiratory system without you being aware of the cause. Mold and mildew can grow rapidly in a wet basement causing damage to your health and to your stored belongings. Waterproofing the basement is a solution that will help your family’s health and your property.

Advances in the medical field have for many years allow people to live longer and fuller lives. We can do a bit on our own. We can prevent some of these injuries and illnesses by being diligent and by practicing safety with our families.

Summer Home and Vacation Savings

Vacation Saving Tips (If You Are Driving)

As the time to start planning your summer vacation approaches, gas prices are going up. It happens every year in anticipation of the travel season. Even if money is not an issue for you, these tips will help you be good to the environment, and help you save for other things you want to do with that money.

1. Shop around – Some of the best apps for your iPhone that are free and can save you money right away are:

a) GasBuddy
b) AAA Mobile
c) Gas Guru

2. Use Apps to help you with traffic and rerouting trips to avoid traffic jams, accidents or

a) Waze
b) Route4Me
c) inRoute

3. Check your vehicle’s tires. Having a well maintained car will help you save on gas. The efficiency of your vehicle on the road depends on how well maintained you have kept your car all year round.

4. Follow the speed limit signs. Even when you have a long road ahead, driving at the speed limit posted can save you money on gas. Driving slower and at a consistent speed burns less fuel, and if traveling for a long trip, use your cruise control to keep a consistent and moderate speed.

5. Keep it light – Excessive baggage or a roof box cargo can make gas consumption a bit expensive. Keeping your windows and sunroof close will reduce the drag, making you car more aerodynamic.

Home Saving Tips

Many of the new homes have excellent windows, new roofs, new air conditioning units, etc. Everything is new and working properly. But, if you have an older home and are looking to save energy and money, what are some of the energy saving tips that will also save you money?

Replacing your old air conditioning unit is not something we do frequently, they last a long time and they are expensive. But, if you have an old unit, the efficiency is not longer there. The electric bill is probably not a pretty sight every month, so replacing the unit is probably the only solution that can save you money in the long run.
Replacing old Windows – The draft you feel as you get close to a window or door is heat leaving your home and making your gas or electric bill higher than it should be. Replacing old windows or doors can save you money in heating bills and add value to your home.
Keeping the temperatures in your home at comfortable levels can save you money. Too cold in the summer months and too warm in the winter can add hundreds of dollars a year. Try a difference of a couple degrees and see if you feel a difference in your comfort level and notice the difference in your bill.
Turning off the lights in your home and appliances or other electronic devices that nobody is using saves electricity and money.
Remind your children that the water in the home is not heated by the sun. A short shower can save water and electricity and hundreds of dollars a year.

By using some of these tips, you will not only save money but will help the environment as well.

5 Ways To Improve Your Life AND Cut Expenses

The first thing we need to do is agree that some of the things in this article are not going to be more fun. When I write, “Improve Your Life” I mean in a healthy way, not in a binge drinking frat party way. The real key to this article is if follow all of these things, you should save many thousands of dollars per year and also be healthier and happier.

Next I want to say I got this information from all over. We reference some things, in other cases you can do a search and find different numbers from different sources. This is not a scientific research paper – just an interesting article on how to save money while improving your life.

Cold Showers

Your first reaction might be “Hell no!” but give me a moment. There are a lot of people that swear by cold (or colder) showers because they have significant benefits and they save you money. Cold showers have been associated with increases Alertness, Refines Hair and Skin, Improves Immunity and Circulation, Stimulating Weight Loss, Speeding Up Muscle Soreness and Recovery, Easing Stress and Relieving Depression. I have also heard that taking a cold shower when you cannot go to sleep and getting in bed right away will put you in a great, deep sleep if you have trouble with that kind of thing.

So fine, it is good for you if you can hack it. But does it save you a lot of money? I found a calculator for shower costs online here. I did an example where I did a colder, shorter shower and a longer, hotter shower and compared the cost. Turns out a family of 4 would save $478.50 in a year. Not bad – and good for you.

Drink Less

Well, this is already starting to sound really sucky. Take cold showers and stop drinking. But in 2018 more evidence has been steadily coming out that the whole 1-2 drinks a day are good for you thing is not really true. Women should have much less than that and even men should only be have a couple a week. I found another calculator that will help you see how much you are spending weekly on alcohol. And remember, it is not as good for you as you have been lead to believe.

In this very reasonable example, I have used this calculator and estimated a $1,872 annual expense per person. If you live in a big city and like to go out with friends or coworkers a lot you are spending a lot more than this in fact.

Eat Less

The average American consumes more than 3,600 calories daily. This is a 24% increase from 1961, when the average was just 2,880 calories. A man needs around 2,500kcal a day to maintain his weight with a healthy , balanced diet. Woman need around 2,000kcal a day. These values can vary depending on age, metabolism and physical activity, among other things. Body builders and professional swimmers should not try this at home.

With all of this in mind, we simply eat too much – and food costs money. We eat 37.5% too much food to be exactish.

How much money does the average person spend on food per month? This figure varies based on age and income level. Assuming you are middle class and a fairly young adult, it is $173 per week times 52 weeks which equals $8,996 in annual food costs. Now if we cut that back by 37.5%, we would be saving $3373.50 per year per person. And you would also save money on health care as it would reduce the likelihood of many weight related diseases.

This gets even crazier when you consider Forty percent of food in the United States is never eaten, amounting to $165 billion a year in wasted food, according to a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council. This would figure that you might be throwing away 40% of the groceries. If you are someone throwing away a lot of food, plus eating 37% more calories than you need, it means 75% of your groceries could be wasted or eaten when they should not be.

Cook More

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014, the average American household spent $2,787 on restaurant meals and takeout, compared to $3,971 on groceries. But in 2015, the average amount spent on restaurants and takeout jumped $221 to $3,008. Grocery spending, by contrast, increased just $44 per household to $4,015.

We all know that restaurant food tastes great. It is higher in sodium, bacon fat, fried breading and slathered in butter or some delicious sauce. If you learn to make good, healthy meals at home and cut the restaurants, you can save money and be healthier very easily. Going out no more than once a week should cut that restaurant bill in half or less, saving approximately $1,500 a year and

Walk or Bike More Short Trips

In 2017, the average household made 1.5 trips per week to grocery store. Most likely these were done driving. As mentioned above in the article, chances are you have too much food in your home already so going 6 times a month is too much. But instead of saying “You can’t go” let’s say you can only go on bike or walking unless you are going for a big run that should only happen 2-3 times per month.

Walking and biking are great exercise and if you really want something, just make yourself go on foot. Chances are the craving will not be worth it if you have to walk there.

By using this strategy you will help yourself cut down on those food and alcohol expenses mentioned above while also saving gas and car maintenance. AAA estimates that it costs 58 cents per mile to operate a car. Of that 58 cents, only around 11 cents is in gas. The other 47 cents goes for expenses like, maintenance, insurance and depreciation.

So if you cut down on short trips by walking or riding your bike more, you could save several dollars on each trip and get better fit and buy less crap. Putting a savings tag on this is harder but let’s say you cut $5 a week in car expenses plus another $10 per week in stuff you do not buy on a whim. That is small but would add up to $780 saved in a year.

All told, all of these things would make you healthier. And I certainly do not mean to imply to never take a hot shower or have a glass of wine again. But the little daily things add up to huge savings and health benefits. Let’s recap.

In one year, a family of 4 average people can save the following:

Cold Showers: $478.50
2 Adults In Family Cut Drinking: $3,774
Eating Only Recommended Calories for Family of 4: $13,494
Eating Out Maximum 1 time per week: $1,500
Walking more and driving less: $780

This is all based on averages, different sources and fuzzy math. We are just having fun here. But this would suggest these changes could save an average family of four $20,026.50 per year. Your results will vary. But that is a lot of savings and health benefit.

If this all seems a little extreme, remember to start small and no one says you have to go to this level. Shorter showers and less restaurants alone could save you some cash. Make it work for you. This is just an example of how you can imagine a different life.

Buying a Bike – What You Need to Know

In 2019, there were 846 bicyclists killed in traffic crashes in the United States. It is predictable and unfortunate, but when an accident occurs between a moving vehicle and a bicycle, the cyclist will be the one injured or killed. The laws and responsibilities for motorized vehicles and cyclists are the same, unfortunately, size matters and a driver might not see a bike.

As more and more Americans use biking for transportation, exercise, to commute to work, or for plain fun, they are encouraged to adopt safety biking measures to keep them safe. By adopting these biking safety measures, the accidents and fatalities can be reduced and can increase the likelihood of your well-being while on the road.

The thousands of miles of biking trails in the United States make it easy for cyclists to engage in the sport they love. They can also be assured their safety is relatively safe when on these biking trails. For the many other cyclists sharing the streets and roads where motorized vehicles are abundant, taking some safety precautions before embarking on a bike trip is recommended.

One of the most important measures to take when heading out to ride your bike for exercise, to commute to work, or for fun is to wear a helmet. Following the manufactures’ safety information instructions with your bike is of the utmost importance. Following those recommended instructions can help you maintain your bike in optimal condition and keep you safe.

Safety Information Tips when Riding Your Bike

Wear a helmet
Inspect your front and back brakes
Inspect the tires to make sure they have the correct air pressure
Inspect the entire bike’s frame before taking your bike on the road
Beware of abnormal noises your bike is making, and
Make sure the seat is positioned correctly on your bike

Choosing a Bike

Now that we have covered safety and the inherent dangers of riding a bicycle, it is time for you to choose and discover the many bikes on the market and what to consider before purchasing one.

There are many bikes in the market for the customer to choose from. From Mountain bikes, Road cycles, tandem bikes, Hybrid bikes, BMX bikes, and Touring bicycles, the bike you choose depends on the activity you want to pursue.

When choosing a bike there are five important factors to think about.

What is the activity you want to pursue?
How much money are you willing to spend?
How frequently are you going to use the bike?
Can you shop around to find the right vendor and bike?
Can you wait to think things through if you are choosing an expensive bike?

A hybrid bike for example is the perfect bike for you if you are starting to cycle. They are easy on the city trails, but you can take it on a smooth, dirt path if you prefer. They have thinner tires than a mountain bike, which allows you to climb steep hills with more comfort. They are a very versatile and efficient bike. The price range can vary greatly when choosing a bike. The cheapest hybrid bikes can start between $200 and $300 and a good one can cost you more than $700. Like any other bike, a hybrid should fit properly before riding it. After a lot of shopping and comparing bikes, we purchased a Felt 2021 Verza Speed 50. We had to wait for over a month to get it in the blue we wanted, but it is a good bike.

A Mountain bike, on the other hand, can be very affordable. If you are a beginner cyclist and don’t want to spend too much on a bike, this is a good choice for you. Their tires are not as thin as the tires of hybrid bikes, and not as smooth. They don’t go as fast when climbing those steep hills, but you can buy one for $200. If you are not sure if you will continue cycling in the future, a mountain bike can be a good alternative while not spending too much acquiring one. This bike can be the beginning of acquiring a more expensive and faster bike if you decide you like the sport.

Regardless of the bike you purchase, make sure the bike it’s the right fit for you, and your finances.

Five ways to make your child more intelligent

People have always wondered if intelligence is inherited or something that we adapt and polish with time! As a kid my mum made me do a lot of mental math, spatial learning exercises, and many more similar activities. She aimed to boost my intelligence, though I was never sure how effective they were. One thing is for sure, I am able to think on my feet and multitask well.

Now growing up and become a mother to a four-year-old, I adopted the same practices, but in my opinion, the results were not like the ones I was expecting. I started dreading that maybe my child is a slow learner! This led me to research and read up a lot just to clear my doubts about the kind of learner my daughter was. I came across some really interesting facts.

There are no slow learners in reality! (surprised?)
Every brain is equally gifted. Though the gifts may differ.
Our circumstances and environment play a crucial role.
Inherent qualities do exist, but again it’s our environmental setup that impacts the actual growth.

Tips and Exercises to boost our Intelligence

Through my research, I understood one thing, there are no slow learners. Each brain has its capabilities and how much we utilize or make the child utilize the brain gives us the actual level of intelligence. The genetics do come into play but they only have around 15% impact, the rest can all be honed.

The methods that can be employed are simple yet scientifically backed, and they can help in making our children able to use a larger part of their brains.

1. Work on their concentration span.

Children have a very short span of attention. They need to learn to focus. Children who have better attention spans have better working memories. An age old trick of staring at a single spot on the wall can be helpful in increasing the attention span. Also, doing activities and playing games that help in improving memory can help the working the memory and this also helps them perform better in class and makes them confident.

2. Make your child sleep better.

Today, the problem that we face with our children is their lack of sleep. They are exposed to a lot of gadgets throughout the day. Their bodies absorb light from these gadgets, and their biological clock informs them that their body system should wait for few more hours before shutting down. This way they stay awake for a long time and never get the required sleep hours. When a child has rested enough, his brain is fresh to absorb newer concepts and ideas.

3. Encourage your child.

Boosting your child’s morale will help your child become confident and encouraged to try newer things. But make sure you don’t go overboard as it can instil a sense of superiority and overconfidence in a child. Also, praise things they worked on, not things that came easily. A confident child is bound to try newer things and explore. The experiences help broaden the mind. Never snub or discourage your child in public. It shatters their self-confidence as they feel humiliated in front of their peers. This makes them clam-up and shut their minds.

4. Talk to your child.

This is very important! All the efforts that you are making on your full time or part time job is to make sure that your child has a great future. But what is the point when you are not able to give them time? A neglected child will ultimately wallow in his loneliness and become miserable. Give your child time. Discuss things with them and listen to their opinions and views and then guide them to the right and wrong. When you discuss their curiosity with them, you are expanding the horizons for them. If you wait until they are older, it may be too late as they are already used to not sharing things with you.

5. Challenge your child.

It is important that you allow your child to solve his problems, but keep a watchful eye. For example, if a ball rolls down under the bed, instead of you retrieving it, allow your child to do it himself/herself. They will learn to solve their problems and devise solutions that can help them resolve problems on their own.

My Experience

I started with making a proper sleep routine for my daughter, and gradually I noticed things falling into place. By empowering her to make decisions herself, she started feeling more confident. A happy child is a successful child; this is the mantra as parents we should be understanding. But surely we should keep in mind that fulfilling all whims is not the key; we should try to make them happier by giving love and support.

Boost Your Gym Consistency

It is common for people to sign up for a gym membership and go for a short while and then fall off. The fact is, you cannot get results going less than once a week. And three times a week is kind of a minimum for making progress. This article is not the ideal advice – we are assuming you are struggling with getting to the gym enough and we want to give you some realistic life hacks to get to the gym more frequently and get the results you want.

But first let me say, we have a list of things to try and you should not try them all at once. Chances are, one or two of these will be enough for you to accomplish your goals. The list is longer because different gym strategies will work for different people.

Meet a Friend – One common strategy is to work out with someone on a regular basis. I actually am committed to taking my teen age daughter 3-5 times a week, which has forced me to go. You could meet a friend there and talk while working out. The fact is, you are far more likely to go not going will disappoint someone else.

Do a Program – Whether you do Zumba or Spin, showing up for a class is easier than just popping in at random times. Even if the class is not that challenging, it gets you there and you can more easily go early or stay late and do some extra things.

Make It an Appointment – Time is often the excuse not to go. Don’t think of the gym as an extra. Think of it as a doctor’s appointment.

Go the Same Time Every Day – If your schedule is fairly fixed, you should also fix the time you work out each day. The less you need to think about it and juggle things the more likely you will go.

Go No Matter What on Assigned Days, Even for 15 Minutes – This works wonders for me. As long as I am not ill, I go on my gym days no matter what, even if I feel too tired or too busy. I give myself the option to leave after 15 minutes on the treadmill. I cannot tell you how many times this has worked (a lot) because once there, doing only 15 minutes is silly.

Keep a Log – You can do this electronically or on a paper chart. Track key metrics important to you. How many times you go. How long you stay. How many miles you run. Key personal measurements. A log will encourage you to want to beat last week, or at least not do less.

Appreciate the Results – Depending on your current condition and your body, you might be seeing results in as little as a few trips to the gym. I see better arm definition after 3 arm days, for example. Don’t be shy. Check it out. Show friends. Appreciate the results to encourage you to keep at it.

Hire a Trainer – Working with a trainer once a week might work for you if it motivates you to go the other days and put in the work. Unfortunately, like piano lessons, this depends on your personality and how honest you are with your trainer. You cannot just show up for the weekly session and skip training the rest of the week.

Have a Backup Plan – For days where something comes up and you absolutely cannot go to the gym, have a few weights or a medicine ball at home and do the reps. This way you do not let your body down.

Reward Yourself – Figure out something (could be small weekly or bigger monthly) as a reward if you go the minimum number of times to the gym. This only works if you absolutely follow the rules. For example, if you missed one session because of something that came up that was important, make it up a different time or day, or do not reward yourself, no matter how good the reason was.

Use a Fitness Tracker – There are expensive fitness trackers and inexpensive ones. Just because you cannot afford an iWatch is not a reason not to get a simpler step tracker and keep track of steps daily. If fact, it is probably built into your phone if you buy a strap and keep it on when you are running or walking.

Think Like a Gym Rat – You have heard the expression, fake it till you make it. Well, you have seen those people walking around looking like they own the gym. Adopt an attitude like you are a part of the gym culture and look and act confident. Eventually you have a stronger sense of belonging and will enjoy going more. (We are not endorsing being a gym jerk. Just a confident member)

Have a Gym Playlist – Have a list of music you listen to when at the gym that makes you feel great and gets you pumped up. This will positively reinforce your time at the gym and if you choose your music wisely it can help you work out better and get more excited about the results you are going to start seeing.

Break Glass In Case Of Emergency – If you start to let things slip, you need to have a plan to recognize it and take corrective action. For example, if you miss a full week, what are you going to do to re-jump-start your fitness routine? Know when it is slipping and know what action to take to stop the slide.

This is a big list of things you can do to improve your attendance at the gym. Most of these are hacks to help you form a habit that has previously been hard to form. Over time, you may be able to let go of some of the hacks because your habit of working out is very well established.

Participate In Your Community By Joining a Board

People often do not realize that many local organizations have boards who meet regularly to help with organizational issues or keep track of the finance and operational goals. Nearly all non profits have boards. Schools all have boards. Communities have boards or councils. Mental health organizations have boards. Large corporations have boards, but you might be surprised to find out that smaller companies and even startups have boards.

Qualifications are going to vary greatly based on the board and what the leader and the current board members are looking for, but you might be surprised to find you are just what they are looking for. For example, a mental health board is not going to be made up of all psychologists usually. Instead, they will often be made up of people in the community who care about mental health. They will bring their varied talents to the table to help look at things from different perspectives.

Boards typically meet once a month but it could be more or less. Some are paid positions, and many are voluntary. Some voluntary positions do pay a small stipend to cover expenses. At a minimum, they typically feed you at the meeting and it offers a chance to give back to the community and learn about a topic in more detail. It also improves your skills and knowledge in the area.

Typically a board is either an elected position in the broad sense, such as needing to be on a ballot and get elected. Think city councils and public school boards. Other positions are typically by vote of existing board members. One person might bring you in and if you and the board agree it is a good fit they vote and make you a member.

Board sizes can be from a small group of 5 or 6 up to a large group of 30 or more. The larger the group the longer the meetings may go if everyone likes to talk and ask questions.

So how do you get on a board?

To begin, know what area you are interested in. If it is entrepreneurship, you will want to try to get on a startup board. If it is education, a school board. If it is mental health, then a mental health board.

Next you can use Google and LinkedIn and find existing organizations that match your interest. Look on their website and see if they list board members. Call or email and inquiry about open board positions. Ask if you can attend a board meeting. Have your resume polished up and ready in case they ask for it.

And keep circling back around. If a board is full when you contact them make sure they know you would like to be considered for a position in the future. Then follow up regularly, maybe quarterly, to see if positions have opened up.

Unless you are very familiar with the industry and how boards operate, begin by listening a lot and asking questions after the meetings. New visitors and board members sometimes try to do too much too soon, and it can be difficult. The first six months or more will most likely be learning and absorbing all the stuff they are doing.

Being a board member in any community organization is very rewarding. It can lead to new friends, new opportunities and a real sense of helping people.

Life Lessons Learned on the Tennis Court

To say that I was a tennis player would be a stretch. Although I love the game and like to play when I can, in reality I spend more of my time as a spectator.

My son and husband are both passionate about tennis, so between watching professional tennis matches live and on TV or sitting on the sidelines during my son’s lessons and USTA matches, I have developed an appreciation for the intricacies of the game.

The better educated I become, the more grateful I am for the lessons my son is learning that extend to his life on and off the court.

Here are some of the parallels you can draw to life:

Success takes an enormous amount of hard work

Succeeding at tennis, like all sports, takes focus and discipline. Players must be dedicated to their goals in order to achieve success. They discover that if they are willing to put in the time and effort, they will improve and succeed; and this lesson will carry over into their academic life and future careers.

It is not about how many times you fail, but how many times you get back up

In tennis you lose more than you win. At the end of the tournament, only one person goes home with the winning trophy. Players may have won many matches to get to the semifinals or finals; but in the end, without the trophy in hand, they are not completely satisfied with the result.

It never ceases to amaze me how these young kids put themselves out there week after week. Even behind the glass watching the matches, you can feel the immense pressure. As parents watch the outcome of every point, you can hear a pin drop. Disappointed faces are hard to cover up when their child loses the point or match. Emotions seen on the court exhibit the players’ fear of not only letting themselves down but the people around them.

The lessons they learn from losing a match can be far greater than if they had won.

Losing a match isn’t the end of the world. Life goes on
Appreciate the small victories even within the matches that were lost
Failure is a temporary setback; continued practice and focus are required to achieve success
Experiencing loss and the feelings that surround a loss, can make victory even sweeter. In life, we sometimes have to experience suffering to recognize real joy

Learn how to handle emotions and lose gracefully

We often see kids come off the court banging their racquets, yelling at themselves or their opponents. Most of them learn pretty quickly that this is poor sportsmanship. A good sport gives his or her opponent credit for the game they have played. Recognizing an inappropriate public display of emotions is part of being a good sport. A successful tennis player will use the loss as an opening to understand what they need to work on to become a better player.

We are all faced with defeat in our lives, and sports provide us the experiences for learning to handle defeat

You are accountable, and you are in charge of your own destiny

As an individual sport, the outcome of the match is solely your creation. There are no time limits in tennis. No matter how far behind you are, it is plausible that you can make a comeback and win the match.

You control your own destiny on the court and in life

Belief in yourself and the power of the mind are critical to success

As important as conditioning to support the physical requirements of tennis, mental toughness is what can separate the top players. A momentary lapse in focus or confidence can change momentum quickly and cost you the match. In many instances, the winner is the player that could isolate himself from the distractions.

In life and on the court, always keep your eye on the ball

You can never be fully prepared for what life throws at you, but how you handle those moments can make all the difference

Tennis players are giving us a performance. However, unlike lines in a play that can be recited over and over until committed to memory, or a dance that when rehearsed enough allows the body to move to the music almost on its own, a tennis player cannot prepare for every shot that is going to come at them. The variations can be infinitesimal, dictated by speed, angles, topspin, backspin, flatter, higher, weather, and surface. No two shots are ever identical. The player has a split second to make a judgment on where they want to place the returning shot and how the body needs to be aligned in order to achieve that result.

You can never fully prepare for life or a match. but critical decisions made at key points on the court or in our lives can determine the outcome

I am happy that my son has found something for which to be so passionate. I am impressed with his dedication and commitment to the sport. The young USTA players deserve immense credit for their resilience. As a child, I don’t know if I could have handled that pressure or the range of emotions–or had the buoyancy to continually put myself out there.

No matter what role tennis ends up playing in my son’s life, I am confident the lessons he has learned on the court will help him to succeed in his journey of life.

Melissa Reagan Brunetti

Tennis Mom, Freelance Writer, Certified Nutritionist

http://embracebalancedhealth.com/

Reduce Seasonal Allergy Symptoms Naturally

Every year, if you have seasonal allergies, you know exactly when things start to bloom. Your eyes start to itch, and you feel that tingle in your nose and throat. There is not one perfect strategy to reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms. Each person is a little bit different, and for anyone who spends more time outdoors, their symptoms will be more severe than a person staying inside an air-conditioned home. However, we have compiled a list of things to help you reduce your allergy symptoms. Many of these tips, if done well, can help you minimize many of the bad symptoms you experience and help you feel better.

According to the American College of Allergies, Asthma & Immunology(acaai.org) there are more than 50 million Americans that suffer from allergies each year. The cost to alleviate those allergies cost over $18 billion yearly, and the severity and symptoms varied considerably among the sufferers.

Popping pills every few hours to alleviate allergy symptoms is not recommended for anyone. There are natural remedies for allergy sufferers to ease their stuffy, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and itching of the nose, and throat. Some of these natural remedies will help ease to varying degrees some of the worst symptoms. Here is a comprehensive list of things you can do to reduce your seasonal allergy symptoms. Individually, none of these tips are a cure-all but can be used as a comprehensive strategy to greatly reduce your seasonal suffering.

Keep Windows Closed

We all want some fresh air when things warm up, but if it is allergy season for you, keep those windows closed. If you must open windows for some fresh air, consider opening them during a light rainfall, or right after, for a short while. The rain can help wash away pollen and reduce airborne allergens.

Air Conditioning and Filter

If your windows are closed, you are going to get hot. The AC is an allergy sufferer’s best friend. And if you buy a good filter that filters out allergens, you can stay cool and keep your air in your home clear of pollen.

Netty Pot – Nose Bidet

Flushing your nose with a warm saline solution 2-3 times a day will give you immediate relief from itchy eyes and other allergy symptoms. These can be bought at the drug store. Make sure you boil water first, and let it cool to a comfortable temperature.

Local Honey

Some people swear by local honey. The thought process is that the honey will contain the pollen in the area, and will help your body build up an immunity to it, thus reducing allergies. I have never tried this enough to see if it works or not, but it seems something worth trying if you like honey in your tea anyway.

Change Clothes

Pollen will come into your home in your hair, on your clothes, and on your shoes. The more often you change things and wash things the better. When you come in from doing something outside, consider changing to indoor clothing right away and isolate the outdoor clothing in a laundry area or a basket.

Change Towels

While it is great to use towels multiple times to reduce water usage, it can be bad during allergy season. As your towel gets more pollen on it, drying your face with it becomes a terrible idea. During allergy season, change your hand towels every day, and your bath towels every 2-3 days.

Clean Shoes

Shoes are the worst culprits for tracking pollen from the outside. If you can, keep shoes in a garage or isolated area. Frequently clean them and the floor where you keep them. Do not walk around the house wearing your shoes you wear outside.

Vacuum (Home, Car, Furniture)

The floor will get allergens on it no matter how hard you try. Mopping and sweeping is essential, and an easy task if you do it daily. Be especially careful of carpeted areas, like inside the car, on carpeted steps and even cloth-covered furniture. Leather furniture might even be a better choice for someone with bad allergies.

Window Treatments

Curtains are hard to clean frequently. If you have bad allergies, consider blinds that can be quickly dusted. This helps keep those allergens out of the home because they cannot build up in the curtains.

Wash Dog

If you have a dog, allergy season is a good time for a lot of baths, or at least being sprayed with the hose frequently. Depending on the breed, a dog can collect and bring in a lot of allergens. Choose your dog breed carefully and keep their hair short and clean during allergy season.

Shower and Wash Face

Getting allergens off of you is critical. You do not want to go to sleep with them in your hair or on your face, especially. Take showers in the evenings, and rinse off after you come in from outside activities. If you cannot shower, at least wash your face and hands well.

Generic Claritin

Lastly, while this is not a “natural” remedy for seasonal allergies, I consider this a great tip. Claritin works well for reducing allergy symptoms, but it is expensive. Most people do not realize that there is a generic form that you can buy on Amazon or sometimes at your pharmacist that is under $10 for 100 tablets. There are different names and brands, but the savings are incredible.

Natural options are the best choice for your allergies, but when symptoms become intolerable , keeping a bottle of allergy pills on hand to ease your symptoms can be an option too.