Hiking

Today I went hiking for the first time in many years.  I used to go often to my local trail with my family.  It was great to be back on the trails on such a great day.   I usually stay on the Patriots Path, but today I learned that the path is part of a longer path in New Jersey.  The middle of the longer path runs through the Patriots Path and ends in Jersey City.  I would love to explore the paths in the state. 

It was a great way to start my outdoors adventures this spring!  

For more information, check out morrisparks.net

This is a picture of our destination, the Lewis Morris Park, another key part of my childhood. 

Posture

I read an article from EmpowHER, a site about women's health, on posture. It made me realize that my poor posture could be giving me lower back pain. Also, as a child, I found out my the spine's curve is a bit off (but not enough for medical attention). Doctors have told me to keep my back straight and to never put a lot of weight on one shoulder. I still need to work on these recommendations to this day. The article had some great tips to improving posture. I will try to push my shoulders back (as unnatural as it may feel) until it feels second nature. Good posture is important for my own health, appearance, and overall well-being. Check out the article here: http://www.empowher.com/community/share/work-these-stronger-spine

Lack of Learning

I promised myself that I would blog every day this new year. However, I don't seem to be noticing new lessons everyday. I believe I've put myself in a state where learning is not my priority each day. I read some articles on how to continue learning after college. Sadly enough, I realized that I do about half of the suggestions on these lists. I listen to podcasts on my commute to work (although about half of them focus on pop culture). I also read, but I should focus on more though provoking literature. I might take a free online class because I miss the academia. With my new mindset, I hope to keep learning and my mind open.

Secret Menu: Starbucks Edition

Recently, I found out that Starbucks has a pretty big secret menu. Now, I've heard of secret menus before. In-n-out is famous for their secret menu. (Animal fries anyone?). So on Friday night, I was determined to order a Cotton Candy Frap. I love cotton candy. I love fraps. I had to order one. While I was waiting on line with my friend, I googled the special pink frap just in case the cashier wouldn't know my order. How often do customers actually order it? As a nervously made my way up to the cashier with an encouraging nod from my friend, I asked, "Do you know how to make a cotton candy frap?" The friendly cashier smiled and said yes! I happily order my frap with soy milk (I'm lactose intolerant). I make my way to the counter and I patiently for my special treat. The barista announces the drink: "Cotton Candy Frap with Soy." My friend and I start to laugh at the ridiculous order. Even the barista laughs.

The drink tasted good, but it didn't really taste like cotton candy at first. The aftertaste hit the cotton candy spot. I then found an entire site dedicated to Starbuck's secret menu. http://starbuckssecretmenu.net/ I wonder what I'll try next.

Communication

I once watched a documentary on the Discovery channel that claimed words only made up 7% of communication. When we are expressing ourselves, our words add a small part of our communication. Our tone, body language, eye contact, etc. also play significant roles in our expression. This fact speaks volumes. Sometimes, we cannot control the other 93% of our communication. A person who lacks social skills and cues may not be able to communicate properly. However, the receiver of his or her communication can misinterpret their expressions. In another example, we could not be completely aware of how the 93% of our communicate is portrayed to the receiver. This highlights the importance of social skills and self-awareness when we communicate with others. Words alone are not enough.

Winning And Losing

I'm taking a family psychology course this semester. As I study for my exam on Friday, I come across great advice for relationships, especially romantic relationships. When you and your partner fight, there can never be one winner. We are told that if I win, you lose and that outcome is desirable. But in reality, if I "win" that means we both lose. There is no communication, understanding or agreement. Therefore, a couple will win together or they will lose together. Being in a relationship or marriage is more of a partnership than a competition. It is collective and not individualistic. I believe this is a lesson that we all, especially myself, forget sometimes.

I haven't been able to blog recently. I've been so busy. As a college student in Boston, I'm still trying to make sense of what happened yesterday. Why would such a tragedy occur? Boston lost lives and many people were injured. We all are still recovering. Even after such a tragedy, I have learned an important lesson. It is not the standard "Appreciate those around you because you never know what may happen" lesson. After the explosions, I had many family and friends contact me to ensure my safety. It reminded me that I am blessed to have so many people in my life who care about me and my well-being. I wasn't always aware of that.