Jan 23
I am a woman. I am a feminist. And it took me 12 years to admit that someone I loved was a sexual predator.
Jan 23
Life is full of scary unknowns: How will I cope when a loved one dies? Can I handle being a parent? What do I do if my doctor calls with bad news? While we’ve been taught to shut down these fears, best-selling author and religion professor the Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor believes that we grow exponentially when we embrace the things that scare us the most.
According to Rev. Taylor, darkness is defined as “a place of unknowing.” In her book, Learning to Walk in the Dark, she challenges people of all faiths to probe the shadows of their lives.
So, how do we begin to embrace the great unknown? In the above clip from her “Super Soul Sunday” interview, Rev. Taylor explains the simple course of action to take the next time you’re faced with a scary situation.
“[There are] all these unknowings that we get plunged into,” Rev. Taylor says. “And because we don’t know what we’re doing, we think we’ve just failed. This is defeat. We need to get out of this as fast as possible — handle this and move back into the light. And all I’d like to say is just take three breaths.”
Three breaths will allow you to feel around and be present in this place of unknowing, Rev. Taylor says. It’s a frightening concept, but Brown says that we cannot continue to live our lives responding out of fear. “My soul would be the size of a pea if I never did anything,” she says. “I try to do one thing that scares me every day.”
After your three deep breaths, Rev. Taylor says to do some critical thinking. “I think about, ‘How did I learn to be afraid of where I am right this minute?’ And then all of my fear is like a blue flashing light saying there’s something here to pay attention to.”
While you will often learn from your fear, Rev. Taylor says it’s also important to listen to your instincts. “There’s something in me that knows when it’s too much to handle,” she says.
It may be difficult at first, but Rev. Taylor explains that it will get easier with time. “You have to practice courage,” she says.
Next: Rev. Taylor’s 3-step morning ritual to begin every day on the right foot.
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Jan 23
Marrying Young Was Not a Mistake
Posted in: Today's ChiliI was 20… barely. He was 21. We were young, in love, and knew that we wanted to be married more than anything. We could not imagine living without each other, and wanted to tackle the world and the future together. We did not have a penny to our names, and no assets to speak of except two hearts that were overflowing with love. We had 10 years of school ahead of us, a borrowed car, and a dream of happiness that we held tightly as we walked hand in hand into our marriage ceremony on that beautiful summer day.
There were voices that we ignored in the days leading up to our wedding. The ones that told us we were making a big mistake; that we should wait on such a big decision until we were old enough to know what we were doing; that we should travel and see the world before settling down; that we should finish school first; that we should wait until we were financially secure; that we should live together first and “try it out” before making a commitment as big as marriage.
Those voices were wrong.
Yes, we were young and naive. We did not fully understand exactly what we were getting ourselves in to. We did not know how difficult it would be to juggle college, full-time work, and babies. We did not realize that there would be huge financial challenges that would feel insurmountable at times. We were blind to the reality that blending two different backgrounds would sometimes feel like we were riding white water rapids that would never slow down. We could not fathom that spending four years in school far away from most of our family would be one of the most difficult things that we had ever done. We were unaware that we would be blessed with four children before completing school, or of the challenges that would accompany those blessings. There was much that we did not know or understand as we looked at each other with starry eyes on our wedding day. But that didn’t really matter, because we were absolutely committed to making it work… no matter what.
When challenges arose in the days and years that followed, we faced them together. We struggled together. We cried together. We triumphed together. We laughed together. Together we looked in wonder at each of our newborn babies, amazed at what the two of us were able to create. We took turns bathing fevered brows, kissing skinned knees, and wiping away tears. We sat down together to figure out how to make the last of the money in our checking account stretch a little bit further. Together we waded through the stress of a meager income, a small apartment full of little kids, and the demands of graduate school. At times we got impatient or frustrated with each other, and sometimes we felt misunderstood or under appreciated because we did not see eye to eye.
Life has not always been peaches and cream like we hoped it would be when we started our life together. However, we have learned through experience about life and love, relationships and family, and how to make them work. Many of the challenges that we have faced, some because we married young, and others simply because we married, have become the glue that continues to bind us together because we have worked through them as a team.
Now we are nearing the end of our 30s, and our oldest son is 16. We are looking forward to a decade when all of our kids will be going into the wide world to forge their own paths. Our youngest child will be leaving home when I am 49 years old, and then the possibilities are endless. We look forward to traveling the world, seeing all of the places that we have always wanted to see, serving a mission for our church, and spending quiet days enjoying each other’s company. We will still be relatively young when all of our children are grown, and then we will have more time and money to enjoy all of the things that we supposedly missed by starting our family so early. Of course, life may take an unexpected turn at any point, and the plans that we hope for may never materialize. But no matter what life throws our way, we will hold onto each other through the roller coaster, ever grateful for the ride.
At the end of the day, I do not feel like we missed anything by marrying young. Rather, we had the wonderful opportunity to grow up together, while simultaneously growing together as a couple. That development has shaped us into who we are as individuals, spouses, and parents, and I would not go back and change it, even if I could. I am who I am because of him, and he because of me. The challenges and joys that we have waded through together have forged a magnificent partnership that continues to thrive, and I look forward to our future, come what may. Together we have created a family with five children and two parents who love each other, and that is exactly what we hoped for when we started out 17 years ago. No amount of travel, money, or “missed experiences” would ever replace that.
Yes, marrying young was a blessing for me… not a mistake.
Lynnette Sheppard blogs at Simply for Real, where this post first appeared.
© Dimm86 | Dreamstime.com – Wedding. The Husband And The Wife Embrace Photo
Jan 23
Illinois' Top 7 Party Schools
Posted in: Today's ChiliCollege experiences can be as varied as the campuses that provide their settings. Still, most include a broadening world view, expanding academic horizons and a growing circle of friends. Other schools might be known for their research opportunities or environmental sustainability. Some schools are known for the abilities of their students to have a good time.
Niche ranked Illinois colleges based on surveys completed by students who were asked to give their opinions on whether or not their college has on- and off-campus party scene options. The survey also asked how “fun, outgoing, friendly, and into partying” their peers are. Four of the top 15 Illinois party schools were also ranked on Niche’s national list.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign took the no. 7 spot on Business Insider’s list of “20 most fun colleges in America” as well. The Business Insider’s rankings were based on the 10 categories from the Princeton Review‘s The Best 378 Colleges, 2014 Edition that mostly revolve around partying, athletics, Greek life, and, well — alcohol.
Here are seven of the top party schools in Illinois, as ranked by Niche:
15. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
14. University of Illinois at Chicago
13. Northwestern University
12. Roosevelt University
11. Northern Illinois University
10. Augustana College
9. Illinois Wesleyan University
Check out which schools snagged the top eight Illinois party school spots at Reboot Illinois.
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NEXT ARTICLE: The best overall colleges in Illinois
- How are Illinois schools doing? Here’s an overview from the 2014 Illinois report card
- The top 50 school districts in Illinois, according to SchoolDigger.com
- Use our Sound Off tool to let your local elected officials know where you stand on Illinois school funding
- Per-student spending, poverty and test scores create a mixed bag for Illinois schools
Jan 23
The Republican Abortion Bill Shows They Still Believe Many Women Lie About Rape
Posted in: Today's Chili‘Forcible rape’, ‘legitimate rape’ or ‘reported rape’: anti-abortion politicians remain anti-woman, and no female conservative is going to change that
- Republicans shelve abortion vote after revolt by female House members
- Relief, anguish, certainty. Seven women share the story of their abortion
Jan 23
Jennifer Aniston was simple yet sophisticated in a little black dress when she stopped by “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” Thursday in New York City.
The 45-year-old paired the low-cut LBD with a pair of studded slingback heels and a black ribbon in her ponytail. Once she sat down with Stewart, the two talked about her role in “Cake,” which hits theaters tomorrow.
“I wanted to challenge myself, I really did,” she told Stewart about playing a woman suffering with chronic pain and depression following an accident. “I wanted to do it and I was tired of … I love comedies. We all love comedies, we like to laugh, we want to escape, but I also know there’s so much in all of us actors, I’m sure, that we want to explore. I was just ready to do it and this came along, and it wasn’t available so I had to wait and wait, and just beg to get in that room.”
Later, Aniston was spotted out with fiance Justin Theroux dressed down in a striped shirt and jeans leaving the Italian restaurant Babbo in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village.
Jan 23
It is nice to see that there are advancements being made to the world of home enhancing devices, such as humidifiers. After all, air that is too dry is not good for our skin, as it would make our skin look tired, where they crack and peel at the same time. Of course, it would be a whole lot better if the humidifier in your home has more than one function, right? I am referring to the $139.00 CleanPot Tank-Less Ultrasonic Humidifier that will not only keep the air around you moist, but it will also ensure that the air ends up clean, too!
In fact, the CleanPot Tank-Less Ultrasonic Humidifier intends to change the way you control the humidity levels in your home. This particular humidifier will be different, since it contains no water or air filters, and it is easily dismantled to facilitate an easy clean up. In order to clean this humidifier, you would not have to fret too much, since it is about as easy as doing the dishes. Needless to say, do not send this product to the dishwasher! There is an adjustable regulator that enables one to determine the humidity level that you best prefer.
[ CleanPot Tank-Less Ultrasonic Humidifier offers moist and clean air copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Jan 23
Luke, I am your candy! Nooooooooo! I don’t want cavities! (Luke jumps.) This cool and tasty Darth Vader helmet made out of Gummy Bears was made by Crummy Gummy. It’s a 1:1 scale replica of Vader’s helmet and it took over 1,000 of the squishy candies, and an unspeakable amount of patience to complete.
This candy helmet was exhibited at the Wyn317 Gallery in Miami, Florida. It took about a month to create. As Obi Wan would say, “He’s more candy now than man.” That may be true, but there’s still good him him. I can taste it.
I’m guessing he uses one of those long giant gummy snakes instead of a Lightsaber. I just realized that’s a pretty weird image, seeing Gummy Vader fighting with his flaccid gummy snake. You’re welcome.
[via The Presurfer]
Jan 23
We’re so accustomed to our Sun and Moon that sometimes we hardly recognise how they form our view of the planet. This video will make you think about them afresh.
Jan 23
Taking inspiration from the artist who once screen-printed his own custom pair of Chuck Taylors, Converse has just announced its new 2015 All Star Andy Warhol Collection featuring a series of high-top and low-cut kicks wrapped in some of his most iconic soup-inspired pieces.
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