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The Path Less Crowded Discovering the Extra Mile
We’ve all heard the phrase “go the extra mile.” Maybe it was from a coach pushing us to train harder, a parent urging us to give just a little more effort, or even that voice inside our own head telling us not to quit. And let’s be honest, going above and beyond isn’t easy. It usually requires more time, more energy, and sometimes more discomfort than we’d like to deal with. But here’s the thing: Every time we choose to go further than required, the rewards are almost always greater than the struggle. That’s the meaning behind Extra Mile Day, celebrated every year on Nov. 1. It’s a day dedicated to reminding us of the power of effort, perseverance, and commitment, both in the small daily choices we make and in the big life goals we chase. Think about it: The “extra mile” isn’t crowded. Most people stop when things get uncomfortable. But those who push forward despite the soreness, early mornings, or sacrifices are the ones who reap the long-term rewards. The extra mile always feels more difficult. It’s skipping that tempting cookie. It’s dragging yourself to the gym on a day you’d rather binge Netflix. It’s setting the alarm earlier when your bed feels like heaven. That little voice will whisper: “Why bother? You’ve done enough already.” But by taking that extra step, you unlock a version of yourself you didn’t even know was possible. Happy 2nd Birthday, Gavri! It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown. This year, you started daycare, and every day you bring endless energy and joy. From crawling to walking, now learning to jump, and even stringing words together, you amaze us with how fast you’re growing. Your laughter is so contagious that it fills every room with happiness. We love you more than words can say. Happy birthday, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Over the past few months, I made one small but powerful shift. I chose health over convenience. By saying “no” to junk food, dragging myself to the gym even when I didn’t feel like it, and sticking with it consistently, I watched the scale drop by 12 pounds. But even better than that, my bloodwork told the real story. Health markers that had once been high and concerning fell back into normal ranges, all in just three months. That’s the reward of going the extra mile: The payoff is both physical and personal. And if I’m being honest, it wasn’t about being perfect. I didn’t eat flawlessly, and I definitely didn’t hit every workout. What made the difference was persistence and choosing day by day to stretch just a little further. Celebrating Extra Mile Day on Nov. 1 is perfect timing. It comes right before Thanksgiving, when we are all focused on gratitude and giving. What better way to step into that mindset than by asking ourselves: Where can I go the extra mile in my life?
It’s a reminder that real joy, progress, and transformation come not from doing what’s easy but from doing what’s worth it. And the best part is that the journey doesn’t just change what you achieve. It changes who you become! -Louis Bernardo Berk
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Before Smartphones, There Was Water
GETTING OUT OF BED LONG BEFORE THE SNOOZE BUTTON
Members of Generation Z may find it difficult to believe that people used plug-in alarm clocks to help them get up on time in the morning. However, that seemingly archaic means of timekeeping has nothing on how people managed wake-up time before cellphones and even electricity, as we use it today, became staples of daily life. In the 4th century BCE, the Greek philosopher Plato created a method to ensure students at his academy, which once counted Aristotle among its pupils, woke up at the correct time each day. To perfect a foolproof system, he turned to a surprising tool: water. He constructed a set of clocks that operated using two basins. One basin would slowly empty into the other throughout the night; when the second basin was full, rattling pebbles or whistling air awakened students from their slumber. Known as klepsydra (or “water thief”) clocks, these timekeepers were astonishingly accurate. About a century later, Greek inventor Ctesibius of Alexandria expanded on Plato’s design by incorporating mechanics that produced sounds not unlike those of the more modern cuckoo clock. Ctesibius’s version remained popular until the pendulum clock emerged in the 1650s.
Although Plato often gets credit for creating aquatic- based alarms, some variation of the klepsydra concept allegedly dates back to at least the 16th century BCE. Archaeologists uncovered a tomb inscription detailing how an Egyptian
court official of the era devised a similar system. Regardless of its definitive inventor, the water clock roused people long before phone apps, proving that nature often provides solutions to problems centuries before human technology catches up.
While the water clock was undoubtedly an imaginative masterstroke, it is still reasonable to argue that the “snooze” button remains the most critical time-related creation known to man.
Ice Cream in Your Pocket?
YOU CAN’T EVEN MAKE UP THESE STRANGE FOOD RULES
Finger-Licking Fun … or Else!
When it comes to state laws about food, specific provisions on the books from past years may leave a funny taste in your mouth, and potentially get you in a heap of
On the subject of making a mess with food items, eating chicken with your hands can be a sticky thrill — and is the only way to partake in poultry eating
trouble if you break them. This fact is especially true in parts of the South, where your lunch order may need to come with a side of legal advice. Cones and Captured Horses If you want to stay on the good side of law enforcement in Alabama, always remember that ice cream cones are for licking, not sticking in your back pocket. While it’s pretty safe to assume the thought of engaging in the latter activity hasn’t crossed a single mind in 2025, there was a time when horse thieves would stick ice cream in their pockets to attract equine abductees. Considering that we rarely share the highway with horses these days and most people would prefer not to turn
without running a-fowl of the law in Gainesville, Georgia. If you want to enjoy tasty chicken in that city, stock up on wet wipes and skip the knife and fork, as eating it with utensils is a crime. Although the ordinance banning knives and forks when consuming chicken was meant as a joke by the local police department, chucking the rule may draw some disapproving clucks when dining in the place affectionately known by locals and city officials as “the Poultry Capital of
the World,” especially during its renowned Spring Chicken Festival. Perhaps only a good lawyer can help determine whether the law also
the seat of their pants into a sundae, it’s a safe bet this charge won’t fill up courtrooms for the foreseeable future.
applies to vegan “chik’n” options.
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Divorce or separation is often stressful, but it should never be used to draw battle lines for your children. Dissolving a marriage or partnership can be as logistically challenging as it is emotionally draining, especially when developing a positive and effective co-parenting situation. Here are a few suggestions for creating and sustaining clear communication and responsibilities when you and your former spouse/partner no longer live or parent under the same roof. The Key Steps Toward Stability First and foremost, all co-parenting arrangements need a consistent plan for success. A written co-parenting plan should include the custody agreement, travel and/or relocation considerations, financial responsibilities for both parties, schedules (e.g., school pick-up/drop-off times and who is responsible for fulfilling these commitments), and details regarding the child’s education and health care needs. A document of this nature helps solidify both parties’ involvement and holds each accountable for what they’ve agreed to do on the child’s behalf. Additionally, it helps prevent disagreements or misunderstandings that could lead to arguing in front of the child/children, a scenario to avoid as much as possible. While a divorce may present logistical obstacles for one or both parents, it is critical to work toward maintaining the child’s existing friendships and activities, even if they require spending more time with one spouse over the other. For example, if your child’s best friend lives closer to your ex-spouse, accommodating the continuation of this close relationship will help your child maintain a sense of normalcy. The Risks of Reticent Relationships When the end of a marriage or relationship results in a breakdown in communication or cooperation, these fractured ties can have a potentially devastating impact on your child. Common effects of unhealthy co-parenting on children include reduced performance at school, lowered self-esteem, and difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships with others. If communication has devolved into acrimony or has resulted in either side failing to fulfill their parental duties, seeking counseling from a trained professional is one way to help steer the ship in the best possible direction for your child’s health and peace of mind. Dividing Homes, Not Hearts Co-Parent Like a Pro After Separation
TAKE A BREAK
SLOW COOKER BRISKET
Ingredients
• 1 (1-oz) envelope onion soup mix • 1 tbsp brown sugar • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper • 1 3-lb piece of beef brisket (flat cut)
• 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces • 1 lb baby golden potatoes • 3 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 large sweet onion, cut into 8 wedges • 2 1/2 cups beef stock • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 8 fresh thyme sprigs • 8 whole garlic cloves • 2 bay leaves
Directions 1. In a small bowl, combine soup mix, sugar, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle over brisket. 2. Place meat, fat cap side down, into an 8-qt slow cooker. 3. Top brisket with thyme, garlic, bay leaves, carrots, potatoes, celery, and onion. 4. Whisk stock, Worcestershire sauce, and cornstarch until fully dissolved. Add to slow cooker. 5. Cover and cook on high for 5–6 hours until tender. 6. Remove to a cutting board, fat side up. Remove thyme and bay leaves. 7. Thinly slice brisket against the grain. 8. Serve with vegetables, drizzled with gravy from the slow cooker.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Small Choices Create Big Change
1 2
What Snooze Button? The Ingenious Ways People Used to Wake Up
Who Knew Eating Could Get You in Legal Trouble?
Slow Cooker Brisket
3
Divorce Isn’t Easy, but Co-Parenting Can Be
The Chocolate Event That Had Kids Crying, Not Smiling
4
When AI Marketing Goes Horribly Wrong Willy’s Ruined Chocolate Experience
Never fail to deliver on a promise of chocolate to children.
in what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. The scenery was cheap, while the actors struggled to perform through hastily provided scripts. One character, The Unknown, was a masked and frighteningly attired figure that prompted youngsters to recoil and cry in fear. Perhaps most disturbingly, there was no chocolate to be found. Naturally, people called the police amid demands for refunds, and the lackluster affair was shut down. Subsequent revelations that creators used AI to generate the online marketing images and that the $44 event was not an officially sanctioned “Wonka” undertaking also brought into question House of Illuminati owner Billy Coull’s background, including his history of publishing AI- generated books on conspiracy theories and taboo subjects. Although Coull’s fraudulent and exploitative marketing scheme was reprehensible, it’s far from his worst transgression. Around the time House of Illuminati was shuttered in late 2024, he was forced to register as a sex offender after it was revealed he had followed up his “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” fiasco by sending unwanted explicit messages and images to an unidentified woman.
House of Illuminati, a London-based event company, learned this lesson the hard way when it hosted what angry parents and disappointed kids in Glasgow considered one of the biggest scams in children’s entertainment history. The disastrous day went from offering scant amounts of lemonade and jellybeans to prompting cries of terror and calls to Scottish police, and artificial intelligence was at least partially to blame. In early 2024, social media feeds in the U.K. were abuzz with vibrant images promoting “Willy’s Chocolate Experience,” an immersive event boasting chocolate fountains, costumed characters, and “a day of pure imagination and wonder.” Naturally, people assumed the event was a tie-in with the then-recently released film “Wonka” and a nod to the imaginary world created by the classic 1971 movie “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.” Unfortunately, what attendees experienced when “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” arrived that February was far from a fairy tale. Instead of rivers of sweets, they were treated to half-filled cups of lemonade and (in some instances) a single jellybean served
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El Camino Menos Transitado Descubriendo la Milla Extra
Todos hemos escuchado la frase “ve la milla extra”. Tal vez fue de un entrenador que nos empujaba a entrenar más duro, de un padre que nos pedía un poco más de esfuerzo, o incluso de esa voz en nuestra propia cabeza diciéndonos que no nos rindiéramos. Y seamos honestos: dar más de lo normal no es fácil. Generalmente requiere más tiempo, más energía y, a veces, más incomodidad de la que quisiéramos enfrentar. Pero aquí está la clave: cada vez que elegimos ir más allá de lo requerido, las recompensas casi siempre superan la lucha. Ese es el significado detrás del Día de la Milla Extra, celebrado cada año el 1 de noviembre. Es un día dedicado a recordarnos el poder del esfuerzo, la perseverancia y el compromiso, tanto en las pequeñas decisiones diarias como en las grandes metas de vida que perseguimos. Piénsalo: la “milla extra” no está llena de gente. La mayoría se detiene cuando las cosas se ponen incómodas. Pero aquellos que siguen avanzando, a pesar del cansancio, las madrugadas o los sacrificios, son quienes cosechan las recompensas a largo plazo. La milla extra siempre se siente más difícil. Es resistir esa galleta tentadora. Es arrastrarte al gimnasio un día en que preferirías ver Netflix sin parar. Es poner la alarma más temprano cuando tu cama se siente como el cielo. Esa vocecita susurra: “¿Para qué? Ya hiciste suficiente”.
En los últimos meses, hice un pequeño pero poderoso cambio. Elegí la salud sobre la conveniencia. Al decir “no” a la comida chatarra, obligarme a ir al gimnasio aunque no tuviera ganas y mantener la constancia, vi cómo la báscula bajó 12 libras. Pero aún mejor que eso, mis análisis de sangre contaron la verdadera historia: marcadores de salud que antes estaban altos y preocupantes volvieron a rangos normales, todo en apenas tres meses. Ese es el premio de recorrer la milla extra: la ganancia es tanto física como personal. Y siendo honesto, no se trató de ser perfecto. No comí impecablemente, y definitivamente no cumplí cada entrenamiento. Lo que marcó la diferencia fue la persistencia y la elección diaria de esforzarme un poco más. Celebrar el Día de la Milla Extra el 1 de noviembre llega en el momento perfecto. Justo antes de Acción de Gracias, cuando todos estamos enfocados en la gratitud y en dar. ¿Qué mejor manera de entrar en ese estado de ánimo que preguntándonos: ¿Dónde puedo recorrer la milla extra en mi vida?
Pero al dar ese paso adicional, desbloqueas una versión de ti mismo que ni siquiera sabías que existía.
¡Feliz 2º cumpleaños, Gavri! Es difícil creer lo rápido que ha pasado el tiempo. Este año empezaste la guardería y, cada día, traes contigo una energía y alegría infinitas. De gatear a caminar, ahora aprendiendo a saltar e incluso a juntar palabras, ¡nos sorprendes con lo rápido que creces! Tu risa es tan contagiosa que llena cada rincón de felicidad. Te amamos más de lo que las palabras pueden expresar. ¡Feliz cumpleaños, y Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias para todos!
Es un recordatorio de que la verdadera alegría, el progreso y la transformación no provienen de hacer lo fácil, sino de hacer lo que vale la pena. Y lo mejor es que el viaje no solo cambia lo que logras … ¡cambia en quién te conviertes! -Louis Bernardo Berk
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LEVANTARSE DE LA CAMA MUCHO ANTES DEL BOTÓN DE ‘SNOOZE’ Antes de los Smartphones, Existía el Agua
Los miembros de la Generación Z pueden encontrar difícil de creer que la gente usaba relojes despertadores enchufables para levantarse a tiempo por la mañana. Sin embargo, ese medio aparentemente arcaico de medir el tiempo no se compara con cómo las personas manejaban la hora de despertar antes de que los celulares e incluso la electricidad, tal como la usamos hoy, se convirtieran en elementos esenciales de la vida diaria. En el siglo IV a. C., el filósofo griego Platón ideó un método para asegurarse de que los estudiantes de su academia — que en su momento tuvo como discípulo a Aristóteles — se despertaran a la hora correcta cada día. Para perfeccionar un sistema infalible, recurrió a una herramienta sorprendente: el agua. Construyó un conjunto de relojes que funcionaban con dos recipientes. Uno se vaciaba lentamente en el otro durante la noche; cuando el segundo se llenaba, las piedras que chocaban o el aire que silbaba despertaban a los alumnos de su sueño. Conocidos como clepsidras (o “ladrones de agua”), estos relojes eran asombrosamente precisos. Un siglo más tarde, el inventor griego Ctesibio de Alejandría amplió el diseño de Platón incorporando mecanismos que producían sonidos no muy distintos de los relojes cucú más modernos. La
versión de Ctesibio se mantuvo popular hasta la aparición del reloj de péndulo en la década de 1650. Aunque a menudo se le atribuye a Platón la creación de los despertadores
acuáticos, alguna variación del concepto de clepsidra
supuestamente se remonta al siglo XVI a. C. Arqueólogos descubrieron una inscripción en una tumba que detallaba cómo un funcionario egipcio de la corte de esa época había ideado un sistema similar.
Independientemente de su verdadero inventor, el reloj de agua despertaba a las personas mucho antes de que existieran las aplicaciones de celular, demostrando que la naturaleza suele ofrecer soluciones a los problemas siglos antes de que la tecnología humana las alcance. Aunque el reloj de agua fue, sin duda, una genialidad imaginativa, todavía es razonable argumentar que el botón de “snooze” sigue siendo la creación relacionada con el tiempo más crítica conocida por el hombre.
Ingredientes
• 1 sobre (1 oz) de sopa de cebolla en polvo • 1 cda de azúcar moreno • 1 1/2 cdta de sal kosher • 1/2 cdta de pimienta negra molida • 1 pieza de 3 lb de pecho de res (corte plano) • 8 ramitas de tomillo fresco • 8 dientes de ajo enteros • 2 hojas de laurel • 1 lb de zanahorias, peladas y cortadas en trozos de 5 cm
• 1 lb de papitas doradas baby • 3 tallos de apio, cortados en trozos de 2,5 cm • 1 cebolla dulce grande, cortada en 8 gajos • 2 1/2 tazas de caldo de res • 2 cdas de salsa Worcestershire • 2 cdas de maicena
Brisket en Olla de Cocción Lenta
Instrucciones 1. En un tazón pequeño, mezcla la sopa en polvo, el azúcar, la sal y la pimienta. Espolvorea sobre la carne. 2. Coloca la pieza de res, con la capa de grasa hacia abajo, en una olla de cocción lenta de 8 cuartos. 3. Añade encima el tomillo, el ajo, las hojas de laurel, las zanahorias, las papas, el apio y la cebolla. 4. Bate el caldo con la salsa Worcestershire y la maicena hasta que se disuelva bien. Vierte en la olla. 5. Cubre y cocina en ALTO por 5–6 horas, hasta que la carne esté tierna. 6. Pasa la carne a una tabla, con la grasa hacia arriba. Retira el tomillo y las hojas de laurel. 7. Rebana la carne finamente en contra de la fibra. 8. Sirve con las verduras, bañando con la salsa de la olla.
Inspirado en ThePioneerWoman.com
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