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Forget Happy, Aim for Hopeful
WHY HOPE BEATS HAPPINESS EVERY TIME
If you were raised like me, you probably often heard this phrase: “Don’t get your hopes up.” It was meant to protect us, of course, to help us avoid disappointment. But somewhere along the way, that little warning turned into a quiet belief that hope is risky or sets you up for failure. Well, I’m here to say it’s time to throw that idea out the window.
You can train hope, like a muscle. And it starts with setting meaningful goals. Not the “clean out the garage” type, but the kind of goals that light you up. The ones that feel true to who you are. Once you have a goal, the next step is making a plan. This is where I’ve tripped up in the past. I’d dream big, then freeze when I couldn’t see the whole path. But hope doesn’t require a perfect plan; it just asks that you believe a path exists. If the first
Recently, I came across a study from the University of Missouri that didn’t just shift my perspective — it completely reframed it. According to researchers Megan Edwards and Laura King, hope (not
one doesn’t work, you’ll try another. Hopeful people don’t just have a dream, they’ve got a map (and a few backup routes, just in case). But we don’t have to walk those roads
happiness, gratitude, or even contentment) is the strongest predictor of a meaningful life. Hope, they argue, is more than wishful thinking. It’s a powerful emotional experience, and we need it more than we think. At first, I was surprised. We’re always chasing happiness, right?
alone. Hope grows in communities. A big part of my hope, especially during hard
seasons, has come from the people around me who remind me of what I’m capable of when I forget. When I feel stuck, I reach out. I call my “hope team,” aka the people who speak life into my tired brain and say, “You’ve got this.” It makes a world of difference. And then there’s imagination. Hellman calls it “the instrument of hope,” and I couldn’t agree more. Hope thrives when we let ourselves visualize something better. When I sit down and
Self-help books, yoga classes, gratitude journals — it’s a whole industry built on pursuing joy. However, research revealed that while those emotions feel good, they don’t necessarily anchor us. Hope does. Hope says, “This might be tough, but there’s something worth working toward.” It provides direction when everything else feels foggy. It made me realize how often I’ve relied on hope without even knowing it: when I took risks, when I started over, when I dared to believe something better was possible, even if I couldn’t see it yet. Here’s the beautiful part: Hope is something we can build. If anyone gets that, it’s Chan Hellman, founding director of the Hope Research Center. He put it this way: “Hope is a way of thinking. We know it can be taught; we know it can be nurtured. It’s not something you either have or don’t have.”
picture how my life could look in a month, a year, or even five years if I keep showing up and moving forward, something shifts. I stop spinning. I get grounded, and suddenly, I believe I can. So, here’s my advice: Let yourself hope. Not blindly. Not in a “maybe everything will magically work out” way. But in a grounded, gritty, deeply human way. The more we cultivate hope, the more we realize it was never about protecting ourselves from disappointment. It was about giving ourselves a reason to keep going.
— Trent Huskey
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Easy Tips for Installing a Dimmer Switch Bring on the Mood Lighting
Nothing kills a vibe faster than an overhead light that’s too bright. Swapping in a dimmer switch can change that. Whether you’re watching a movie, having friends over, or trying to relax after work, adjusting the brightness makes spaces more comfortable. The good news? Installing one is surprisingly doable; it’s an affordable, useful project that won’t eat up your entire weekend. Before you get started, make sure you have the tools you need: flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, wire strippers, a voltage tester, and a compatible dimmer switch. Take a second to check that the dimmer matches your bulb type, especially if you’re using LEDs. Some models don’t get along with certain bulbs, and it’s better to know now than when the job’s half done. Cut the power at the breaker, and flip the light switch to ensure it’s off. Then, test the wires with a voltage tester. Once everything’s safe, remove the switch cover and unscrew the old switch. You’ll see a few wires inside — black, white, and ground. If it looks confusing, just snap a quick photo before disconnecting anything. That way, you won’t have to guess where everything goes later. Attach the wires to the new dimmer switch using the provided nuts. Tug gently on each one to ensure it’s secure. Note that some dimmer switches are bulkier than regular ones. You’ll need to fold the wires back into the box without cramming everything tight against the back. This will make installing the switch cleaner and help avoid stress on the wires.
Screw the dimmer into place, snap on the faceplate, and turn the breaker back on. Now test it. Slide or turn the dimmer and see how the light responds. If it fades smoothly, you’re all set. If the light flickers or buzzes, chances are the bulb and dimmer aren’t playing well together. Just double-check the dimmer’s compatibility list. Dimmer switches improve lighting and reduce energy use. Depending on your setup, this might also help your bulbs last longer. Once you try it in one room, don’t be surprised if you start eyeing the rest of the house.
Easy Tips for Creating a Gallery Wall From Blank Space to Showpiece
You don’t need an interior design degree to create an eye-catching gallery wall; you just need to know what you like and have a plan to pull it all together. Photos, sketches, fabric scraps, and even a postcard or two can all work if you have intention behind the mix. Start by laying everything on the floor and rearranging the layout until it feels right. You’re aiming for balance, not symmetry. Try to keep the space between each piece consistent. That alone can tie the piece together. Still unsure? Cut paper to match each frame, tape them to the wall, and step back and adjust as needed. It’s a simple trick that keeps you from filling your wall with holes. Once it’s up, your wall should feel well-balanced and purposeful, but not perfect. What matters is that it draws the eye and makes the space feel more alive and personal.
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As cooler temperatures, golden leaves, and holidays roll in, fall is one of the best-kept secrets in fishing. While many pack up their rods after summer, savvy anglers know autumn is when the real magic happens. Fish feed aggressively as they prepare for winter, and the crowds of people enjoying the water have thinned out. A few tweaks can level up your fishing game this season, whether you’re chasing bass, crappie, or trout. Target Shallow Waters As temperatures drop, baitfish like shad move into the backs of creeks and embayments. Predatory fish such as bass and crappie follow, making these areas hotspots. Focus your efforts on these shallow zones to increase your catch rate. Experiment With Depths Fall turnover can scatter fish throughout various depths. Don’t hesitate to try different depths until you locate active fish. Using a fish finder can help you identify these productive zones. Fish Throughout the Day Unlike summer, when fish are most active during dawn and dusk, fall fish feed more consistently throughout the day. This allows for flexible fishing schedules without the need for early starts. Focus on Structure Fish gravitate toward structures like submerged wood and rocky banks during fall. These areas provide shelter and warmth, and targeting them can lead to successful catches. Match the Catch In fall, baitfish grow larger. Adjust your lure size and color to mimic the prevalent forage in your fishing area. This increases the likelihood of enticing bites. Explore Stocked Waters Many lakes and streams are stocked with trout and catfish in the fall. These fish are often eager to bite, providing excellent opportunities for anglers. Utilize Live Bait Live bait can be particularly effective in cooler temperatures. Minnows, nightcrawlers, and shad can more effectively entice sluggish fish than artificial lures. Monitor Water Conditions Fall often brings changes in water levels due to drawdowns. Stay informed about these conditions, as they influence fish locations and behavior. Autumn Angling WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO HOOK FISH THIS FALL
Candy Gourd Haunting Leaves
Libra Marigold Moon Opal
Pumpkin Soup Teachers Touchdown
Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets
Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com
INGREDIENTS
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Olive oil
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1 cup panko breadcrumbs
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1 oz ranch seasoning, store-bought (1 packet) or homemade
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3/4 cup flour
2 large eggs, beaten
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Cooking spra
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with olive oil and set aside. 2. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper. 3. Set out three shallow bowls. In the first, combine flour and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the eggs to the second bowl. Mix panko, Parmesan, and ranch seasoning mix in the third bowl. 4. For coating, dip seasoned chicken breasts in flour, coating both sides. Then, dip the chicken in the beaten eggs and, finally, the panko mixture. 5. Place each coated chicken breast in the prepared baking dish. 6. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray. 7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165 F and is golden brown.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
P.O. Box 261, Whittier, NC 28789
Clean - Courteous Painters - You Can Trust!
INSIDE THIS EDITION
Get Your Hopes Up — Science Says It’s the Best Thing You Can Do
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Flip the Switch on Harsh Light Create a Gallery Wall Without the Guesswork Reel in More Fish This Autumn Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets
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Wicked Wanderlust
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A HALLOWEEN TRAVEL TRIO Haunted Horizons
If your idea of fun seasonal travel is touring a spooky castle in October rather than hitting a sandy beach in July, here are three vacation ideas that will take your Halloween fun to spine-tingling new heights this year! Where Witches Wander When it comes to Halloween-themed adventures, no other place on the East Coast offers more macabre merriment than Salem, Massachusetts. Known for its infamous witch trials of the late 1690s, the city transforms its dark past into a destination that balances historical facts with tongue- in-cheek kitsch. The weeks leading up to Oct. 31 are filled with more magic shows, tours, special events, and Halloween-themed shopping opportunities than you can shake a broom at. If you decide to partake in the area’s devilish fun this year, visit the Salem
Witch Board Museum — which boasts the world’s most extensive Ouija board collection — and the Salem Witch Museum. Bourbon Bone-Chillers If you want to add Southern charm to your Halloween chills, a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, is in order. From above-ground cemeteries and ghost tours to ghoulishly adorned shops in the French Quarter (including the must-visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street) and an annual Halloween parade, The Big Easy will surely put you in touch with your spooky side. Detour to Dracula’s Den From the classic 1922 film “Nosferatu” to the Francis Ford Coppola-directed cinematic masterpiece “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” that premiered 70 years later, our cultural interest
in vampires has spanned decades — and, in the case of Transylvania, Romania, centuries. Anyone with a passport and a desire to catch a glimpse at the real-world aesthetic that helped define the image of Dracula and other distinctive undead characters should visit Bran Castle, an amazing monument of Gothic architecture and the long-rumored residence of infamous 15th century- era prince and mass murderer Vlad the Impaler — widely believed to be the real-life inspiration behind the Dracula character. While many of the legends associated with Transylvania may be more fiction than fact, the locale remains the go-to spot for anyone with an affinity for apparitions.
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