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January 2024
Never Too Old to Learn Something New Embrace a Childlike Approach to Personal Growth in 2024!
As a parent, it’s common to want your child to achieve great things. We encourage them to learn musical instruments, engage in sports activities, and participate in extracurriculars, all in the pursuit of acquiring various skills, pursuing their passions, or securing a better future for themselves. But the thing is that we rarely ever put this pressure on ourselves — why ? There’s no rule that says only children can learn something new, just like there isn’t a rule that says adults can’t also pursue their passions or secure a better future for themselves. So, why do we put all of this pressure on our children? I started asking myself this question when I sat down to think about New Year’s resolutions. So often, we make goals like “lose weight” or “eat healthy,” and while those resolutions necessarily aren’t bad, it’s interesting that rarely do we ever aspire to learn something new or master a skill. And trust me, I get it. A big part of why we likely neglect to turn this pressure onto ourselves is because, unlike our children, we work, care for our family, cook, clean, and do all of the other menial tasks in between. However, for many people, those “in-between” moments are sometimes filled with endless scrolling on phones or time in front of the TV. And while doing these things often feels necessary after a long day, or when we’re going through a hard time, they do eat up much of our “learning” time. Plus, if we want to take it a step further, somehow, our kids are able to “work” eight hours at school and still practice their trumpet, learn to play soccer, and still get in that much-needed leisure time. That’s why, I think for 2024, I’m going to take a child-like approach to my goals and try to learn something new. But, just like a student, I’m going to schedule that time
into my day and streamline it where I can. For example, I recently took up learning to play chess using an app on my phone, so maybe instead of idly scrolling through social media while sitting on the couch, in a waiting room, or before bed, I’ll swap some of that time with my “chess lessons.” So, if you’re interested in setting some goals for 2024, I encourage you to take a look at your children or grandchildren and take a page out of their books. You may not be able to join a tackle football team or run a marathon, but there is something new you can learn or an activity you can try. It doesn’t have to be big, elaborate, time-consuming, or expensive if you don’t want it to be; just something you can push yourself to learn this year. Happy New Year, and cheers to learning something new!
–Joel Thrift
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The Weird Actions of Brilliant Thinkers
Some of history’s greatest thinkers were more than a little eccentric. Let’s look at strange facts about five inventors, scientists, and philosophers who helped shape our world. Inventor Nikola Tesla walked around a building three times before entering it. He apparently became obsessed with the numbers 3, 6, and 9 and would only stay in hotel rooms that had a number divisible by 3.
Famed physicist Albert Einstein created a contract for his first wife that outlined her household duties. The contract established that she must provide fresh meals, clean laundry, and “silence on request.” Unsurprisingly, they divorced after 11 years. Scientist Marie Curie carried test tubes full of radioactive isotopes in her pockets almost everywhere she went. She also kept them in desk drawers and open areas around her lab. This practice is believed to have contributed to her death from aplastic anemia in 1934. The ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras was afraid of fava beans, which wasn’t an uncommon fear during his time. Myth said that fava beans contained the souls of the dead since they had a flesh-like appearance. Finally, Sir Isaac Newton once inserted a sewing needle into his eye for an experiment to learn about how the eye perceived color and light. Surely, there was a less gruesome way to test his hypothesis!
Nestled in northern Mexico near Durango lies a mysterious tract of land that has baffled some scientists and hobbyists for years: the Zone of Silence. According to urban myth, this enigmatic area is where radio signals and telecommunications mysteriously vanish into thin air. It all started in 1970 when a U.S. White Sands Missile Base missile veered off its predetermined path and crashed into this strange dead zone — 400 miles from its designated target. U.S. Air Force authorities employed local residents to recover the missile, all while keeping the specifics and location of the missile under wraps. When the rocket was eventually discovered in a sand mound, a complex retrieval system was established, which included extending a railroad track to the dune. Though the THE ZONE OF SILENCE : Where Science and Conspiracy Converge
objective was to maintain secrecy, this incident might have sparked even more questions about the area’s secrets. Since that time, theories and conspiracies about the area have grown. They range from odd UFO sightings and alien encounters to unexplained fossils and natural phenomena. Scientists in the area say there is no truth to these rumors, and those with expert knowledge of the area’s local flora and fauna can explain each discrepancy. Despite these rebuttals, though, conspiracy theorists continue to flock to the zone in search of “answers.”
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TAKE A BREAK
White noise is commonly used to help people fall asleep, but now, more people are using it to increase their concentration during the workday. By providing a consistent background sound, white noise can mask environmental distractions like chattering, traffic, or intermittent noises that may otherwise disturb concentration. Here are a few benefits of utilizing white noise in your day. Calming Effect White noise, especially calm nature sounds, exerts a soothing effect on the mind, providing a stable auditory environment that reduces sudden distractions. The calming influence can help you feel more positive and enable the mind to transition to a more conducive state for a deeper focus on work or study. Boosts Concentration White noise boosts concentration by increasing background neural “noise” in the brain, which helps essential neural signals to stand out and be detected, which can enhance cognitive performance. This can be particularly useful when you need to train your attention while tackling complex problems. Calm Your Mind, Boost Your Productivity: The Benefits of White Noise
Boots Candles Carnation Furnace Garnet Hockey Insulate Janus Opposite Resolution
Skating Sweater
Cheesy Chicken Chowder
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
Enhances Creativity Some studies suggest that moderate white noise can improve creativity and
• 3 cups chicken broth • 2 cups peeled and diced potatoes • 1 cup diced carrots • 1 cup diced celery • 1/2 cup diced onion • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese • 2 cups cooked and diced chicken
imaginative thinking. It keeps the
idea gateway open during the generative process and
Directions 1. In a 4-quart saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat and add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer for 12–15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. 2. In another medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour until smooth. Slowly stir in milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat, then add cheese, stirring until melted. Add the cheesy mixture and chicken to the broth and heat it thoroughly!
enables you to think freely and develop novel solutions.
Whether you’re studying, working, or engaging in creative
endeavors, the benefits of white noise extend to a wide range of activities, making it a versatile tool for enhancing focus.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why It’s Time for Grown-Ups to Set Learning Goals, Too!
1
Would You Put a Needle in Your Eye?
2
The Secrets of the Zone of Silence
Cheesy Chicken Chowder
3
White Noise: Your Secret to Enhanced Concentration
4 Transform Your Home With These 3 Smart Devices! The Future of Home Living: DISCOVER THE MUST-HAVE SMART DEVICES FOR YOUR SPACE
When we think of technological innovations, we may focus on things like smartphones and self-driving cars. But in today’s fast-paced and ever-advancing world, our homes are experiencing smart revolutions of their own.
can set daily reminders for specific tasks, appointments, or medications; place outbound calls for emergencies; and even provide basic first-aid instructions when asked. Robot Vacuums On average, Americans spend six hours a week vacuuming their homes. While this task may seem simple, it can be quite physically demanding. Robot vacuums clean even the toughest spots (like under the couch!) all on their own, then return to their charging station. Smart Pet Feeders We love our furry friends, but feeding them at the same time every day can be a challenge. Not only that but feeding our four-legged friends requires a bit of bending, too. Luckily, smart pet feeders do all the work for you! They distribute food and water automatically and on a consistent schedule.
Smart home devices are easy to operate and make our lives easier. So, if you’re looking to make a digital upgrade to your home, here are three devices we recommend you check out. Voice-Activated Assistants Voice assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home’s “Hey Google,” and Apple Homepod’s Siri, can be incredibly helpful around the house. With just a simple verbal command, they
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