What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Weaker Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, famously said: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." This notion found life beyond Nietzsche's--which is ironic, his having been rather short and miserable--and it continues to resonate within American culture. One reason is that suffering, as Freud famously recognized, is an inevitable part of life. Thus we have developed many ways to try to ease it--one of which is bestowing upon it transformative powers (another is by believing in an afterlife, of which Freud disapproved; still another is cocaine , of which he was, for a time, a fan). Another reason is that American culture, born of trauma and imbued with a hopeful can-do ethos, wants to believe this idea, finding it self-affirming. Another reason we think trauma may be transformative is that we see variants of this process around us. Now it is true that, in an evolutionary sense, those who survive a calamity are by definition the fittest. Do not thrive on adversity As do we.
Indie Quarter Blog: blogging about independent designers, makers, crafters... Manchester Craft and Design Centre is launching an intriguing and fascinating new exhibition, called Threadbare, on July 3. Textile artist Debbie Smyth was awarded the inaugural Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair award back in October, when she was chosen from 140 other designer-makers. Her prize was the chance to exhibit her work at MCAD for four months. Kate Day, director of Manchester Craft and Design Centre, said: “We selected Debbie’s work because her technique is so original, and the images have an infectious energy about them. “Her fresh use of materials brings a new dimension to the centre’s exhibition programme, as she blurs the boundaries between textiles / installation / contemporary art practice. “I’m really excited about her wall installation based on street scenes around the Northern Quarter created especially for the show.” Debbie uses pins to plot very precise points and joins them with thread. The exhibition opens on Saturday July 3.
Revenge of the Introvert After ten years as a psychologist practicing psychodynamic psychotherapy , I reclined on the couch of my own analyst feeling burdened by my chosen work. After a day of seeing patients, I was drained. I had been trained to listen at many levels—words, emotions, unconscious disclosures—and I took all of that in and sorted it out in my mind. I was good at helping others discover and pursue what they wanted out of life. But at day's end I had no resources left to do it for myself. Then I heard myself say: "I don't like being a therapist." Suddenly I felt free, loosed from expectations that never fit. As a card-carrying introvert , I am one of the many people whose personality confers on them a preference for the inner world of their own mind rather than the outer world of sociability. Over the past two decades, scientists have whittled down to five those clusters of cognitions, emotions, motivations, and behaviors that we mean by "personality" factors. Introversion in Action
Kensho Best Bodyweight Exercises for Weight Loss | Get Fit and Lose Weight | MotleyHealth® Bodyweight exercises are a great way to help you lose weight. They also help to burn belly fat fast. They combine a cardiovascular workout with a muscle building workout, so burn fat while you are exercising out and also increase your metabolism as a result of muscle development. Bodyweight exercises are considered to be very “old school”, they are still promoted in martial arts classes, military fitness training and strength training for dance, sports and many other activities. Circuit training exercises are often part of a weight loss and fitness plan. One of the best things about a bodyweight workout is that you can perform most of the exercises with no equipment at all, so whether you are at home, in a hotel room, in the park or office, you can exercise when you want. The Bodyweight Exercise Routine This simple routine will work your whole body. When performing a bodyweight circuit you should exercise with intensity to maximise fat burning. The Bodyweight Circuit Exercise Instuctions
Wild Mood Swings - Surf the web on a whim. (C) Sean McManus 10 Websites To Help You Kick Your Smoking Addiction (and Improve Your Health) Not surprising, when you consider that’s the stumbling block for many an addiction”¦ smoking included. The benefits of quitting smoking are too many ““ from increasing your energy to lessening your medical bills. And of course, making life just a bit easier for the passive smokers. Perhaps I am compiling this list of the 10 websites that can help someone kick the smoking habit in vain. The defenses of an addicted smoker are unassailable if not insurmountable. QuitNet QuitNet says it’s one of the largest communities of smokers and ex-smokers with more than 60,000 members from across the globe. Smokefree U.S residents can use the free anti-smoking aids like the online step-by-step cessation guide or the telephone hotlines and the LiveHelp chat service (courtesy National Cancer Institute). Stop Smoking Center The site says that you have four times the chance of quitting compared to going at it alone. Quit Smoking Counter The site is a blog that explores ways you can quit smoking. WeQuit
10 Websites To Make You Think | The Online Learning Blog from Study2U Supposedly browsing the internet requires more brain power than watching television. Although judging from some of the websites we’ve come across that assumption is cast into doubt. Here’s some of the sites we like that might get your brain to sit up and listen. Ted A conference that started in 1984 bringing together experts in technology, entertainment and design quickly grew into so much more. New Scientist The New Scientist website carries new articles from the magazine as well as the NS archive of over 76,000 pieces. Big Think The Big Think website is a collection of ‘global thought leaders’ who offer their thoughts and analysis on world events and other important developments. Café Scientifque ‘for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology’ Breathing Earth This fantastic website by David Bleja demonstrates CO2 emissions and world population growth in real time on a global map. Arts & Letters Daily How Stuff Works