Saturday, May 31, 2014

The Last Ship on TNT: Grey’s Anatomy’s Eric Dane sets sail as a Navy commander on Michael Bay’s apocalyptic new series

If you were one of the zillion Grey’s Anatomy fans caught up in a collective swoon over Eric Dane’s “Dr. McSteamy”Mark Sloan, you may do a double take when you first see him as Navy Commanding Officer Tom Chandler in TNT’s pulse-pounding new action series The Last Ship. There’s no mistaking the heartthrob face and piercing blue eyes, but that signature seductive heat has been replaced with an austere cool that Dane attributes to the kind of real-life hero he’s representing. “This guy is not just the square-jawed Navy guy with the commander’s voice, barking orders; I wanted to bring … Continue reading


The post The Last Ship on TNT: Grey’s Anatomy’s Eric Dane sets sail as a Navy commander on Michael Bay’s apocalyptic new series appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.






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18 Things That Remind Us All The Best Stuff In Life Is Free

Love don't cost a thing. And neither do all the other truly important things that matter most in life. Such as:



Having good people in life who will lend you a hand.





Throwing your own dance party.





A compliment. From anyone. Anyone will do.





A high-five.





Being a good person and doing something nice...





... and the good feeling it gives you afterwards.





A child's smile..and their many other funny faces.





Playing in the rain.





Cuddling.





Human touch, darnit.





Taking time out to play.





Pillow fights.





Hugging it out.





A friendly wave.





Enjoying nature in all its awesome glory.





Making new friends.





Knowing loved ones got your back.





And maybe the best free thing life has to offer -- a smooch from someone you love! (Bonus if it's Uncle Jesse)





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Lyme Disease Bacteria Found In Tick Fossils Dating Back 15 Million Years

The oldest known evidence of Lyme disease may lie in ticks that were entombed in amber at least 15 million years ago, scientists announced.


The researchers investigated four fossilized ticks that had been trapped in chunks of amber found in the Dominican Republic. Inside the ticks' bodies, the scientists saw a large population of cells that looked like the squiggly shaped spirochete cells of the Borrelia genus — a type of bacteria that causes Lyme disease today.


Bacteria, which arose on the planet 3.6 billion years ago, rarely survive in the fossil record. But amber, the hardened resin from oozing trees, can preserve soft tissues and microscopic cells that would otherwise degrade over time. In recent years, scientists have discovered the 100-million-year-old gut microbes of a termite and 40-million-year-old sperm from an insect-like springtail, both trapped in amber. [Photos: Ancient Life Trapped in Amber]


The newfound bacteria species was dubbed Palaeoborrelia dominicana. The findings suggest illnesses like Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases may have been plaguing animals long before humans ever walked Earth.


Today, ticks are more significant disease-carrying insects than mosquitos in the United States, Europe and Asia, said entomologist George Poinar, Jr., a professor emeritus at Oregon State University, lead author of the study detailed in the journal Historical Biology last month.


"They can carry bacteria that cause a wide range of diseases, affect many different animal species, and often are not even understood or recognized by doctors," Poinar said in a statement. "It's likely that many ailments in human history for which doctors had no explanation have been caused by tick-borne disease."


Lyme disease, for example, wasn't formally recognized until the 1970s even though it affects thousands of people each year. In 2009, there were 30,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Humans acquire the disease when bitten by ticks that carry Borrelia bacteria. But because it has symptoms that overlap with many other disorders — including rash, aches, fatigue and fever — Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed.


The oldest documented case of Lyme disease in humans comes from the famous 5,300-year-old ice mummy dubbed Ötzi, discovered in the Eastern Alps about 20 years ago. In a 2012 study detailed in the journal Nature Communications, scientists said they found genetic material for the Borrelia bacteria in the iceman.


"Before he was frozen in the glacier, the iceman was probably already in misery from Lyme disease," Poinar said. "He had a lot of health problems and was really a mess."


Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience , Facebook & Google+ . Original article on Live Science.







Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



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How Simple Illusions Can Alter Our Perception Of The World Around Us

We're familiar with the mind games and tricks magicians use on a daily basis -- but what if we can take those "hacks" and apply them to our own perceptions?



In the Brainwave clip above, sleight-of-hand specialist Apollo Robbins explains that while it's their job as artists to deceive the mind, we can also tap into this wisdom in order to focus on the important imagery around us. This ability to tap into human behavior, Apollo explains, can open up a world of insight.



"When you look at all this massive data that comes in from our senses, and it all has to come in through this central point, it's really interesting that we can identify the filter that our mind is using to select what it thinks is relevant and what it's going to forget," he said. "If you can bias that, or if you can figure out how that prioritizes, you can change someone's reality."



Apollo and psychologist Marisa Carrasco also discussed the theory of how an observation of an event, orienting yourself to that observation, making a decision and then acting on that decision all stem from a first perception of reality. Robbins detailed how this "OODA loop," a method developed by military strategist John Boyd, can be applied in multiple areas of our daily lives.



"This [method] kind of extended to social interactions, now it's taught in business and different areas," Robbins said. "There's a lot of these relationships that are kind of symbiotic ... of how we can help each other."



For more on illusions and the brain, check out the video above.



rubin



Experience these fascinating conversations LIVE at the Rubin Museum in New York. Visit http://ift.tt/1drWdkM. The 50th ticket buyer referred from Huffington Post GPS for the Soul receives a free catalogue Worlds of Transformation: Tibetan Art of Wisdom and Compassion.



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32 Things I Know Are True on My 32nd Birthday

So many emotions bubbled to the surface for me the week of my 32nd birthday while celebrating with the people who I love most.



My birthday week is always filled with tons of fun and celebratory gatherings because it coincides with my wedding anniversary and Memorial Day. This year was extra special because my best friend from childhood got married at the Magnolia Plantation in Charleston. It was magical.



2014-05-29-DavidandElizabethRider.png





I got to thinking about a post I wrote three years ago on my 29th birthday and wanted to add a few things to the list. Without further ado, in no particular order, here are 32 things I know are true on my 32nd birthday:



The original still-very-true 29 with a few 2014 updates...



1. "Let go of what does not serve you" is a motto to live by. Relationships, careers, habits, ideas, etc. As hard as it is to let go, there's something better waiting, and you'll never find it if you don't let go of what's holding you back.



2. Judgement is an inner reflection. People that judge you are really just judging themselves. Same goes for you, too. If you're judging someone, look inwards.



3. Your real friends know everything about you and still love you. And most importantly, they love you and want you to live an amazing, abundant life.



4. Karma is real. Treat people well. It will always come back to you.



5. Marriage is a wild ride. And so, so worth it if you're with the right person. (2014 Update: This is more true every year!)



5b. I'll ask more of my husband than he'll ever ask of me. I actually think this is a truth in most relationships.



5c. We're really excited to have kids someday.



6. Women turn into their mothers and men turn into their fathers. It's just true. (In my case I think this is a 99-percent good thing -- love you, Mom!)



7. Ladies, a professional-quality hair dryer is really worth the cost. Super random but I had to throw this in. (2014 Update: Still true. I'm in love with my "Buttercup" from DryBar.)



8. Football is religion in some families.



9. Surround yourself with people who love you and want you to be happy. Not the ones that are miserable and want you to be miserable, too. (See #1)



(2014 Update: Have compassion for people who have a negative outlook on life. Approach them with love and don't let them trigger you -- your kindness and compassion might just turn them around.)



10. Fear must be conquered. You'll always be afraid of something, so you might as well get over it and move onto the next thing. Putting myself out on the internet/blogosphere has been incredibly terrifying and rewarding at the same time. (2014 Update: SO true. If you learn one thing from me this should be it.)



11. Phenomenal business aren't built on ideas and visions. They're built on action and good old-fashion hard work. Don't get me wrong, stellar ideas and visions are important, but lots of people have them. Executing them is the challenge.



12. The differences in people's thoughts, opinions and ideas is what drives innovation and makes the world go round.



13. Competition drives the market, plain and simple. Embrace it. The world is abundant and there is enough to go around.



14. Don't "what-if" yourself to death. Our minds can make up stories and "what-if" us into never taking action. Give your choices careful consideration, but let life play itself out. If a venture doesn't work out, who cares? At least you tried.



15. Money truly does not buy happiness, but it can make your life a little more comfortable.



16. Wealth is dependent on the point of view of the person that has it.



17. There's nothing wrong with wanting to make a great income and have nice things. There is something wrong with not being grateful for what you have and the luxuries you can afford. Be grateful.



18. Men and women think differently. Learning to communicate in the opposite sex's language is essential for relationship success. It goes both ways.



19. Family time should be cherished and held near and dear to your heart. The time I spend at Flathead Lake with my family is one of my most treasured possessions.



20. Good manners are one of your best assets.



20b. It's rude to accept calls, texts or let passers-by interrupt and/or intrude on your conversation. (Family emergencies not withstanding, of course.)



21. World travel is amazing and necessary, but there really is no place like home.



22. Pets make people happier -- it's scientifically proven.



23. Women and men are equal but different beings. I can be traditional and a feminist at the same time.



24. Success isn't age dependent. We can learn from people of all ages. Don't discredit people that you might think are too young or too old to "get" you.



25. Living in gratitude for the things you already have is the first step to happiness. This goes for physical, spiritual and relationship matters.



26. Catty women have deep issues. Don't let their misery bring you down. Bless and release them.



27. Education goes so far beyond academia. Find topics you're passionate about and immerse yourself in them. Never stop learning.



28. Know your strengths and weaknesses. I'm very athletic (yoga, dance, Pilates, etc.) but I'm not good at group sports (e.g., basketball, volleyball, soccer). My friends from high school and college know this well.



29. Women get better in their 30s (and beyond). I'm going to make 29 an exceptional year and send off my 20s in happiness and health. (2014 Update: Glad I was right about this one.)



And the latest and greatest...



30. Relationships translate to connection and connection is the meaning of life.



Not to get too deep on you, but I really think I've found the meaning of life (drops the mic, exits stage left). Your happiness equates in direct proportion to the health of your relationships. Work on them constantly.



31. It's actually possible to turn your big dreams into actionable goals and create the life you want on your own terms.



We really do get exactly what we ask (God and the universe) for. It might just come in a different form than expected. Embrace all of it. When life doesn't go your way, take a step back and ask, "Is this even better?" It probably is.



When I was 27 I said to myself, "I'm going to hit Diamond status with USANA and never have to work for anyone ever again." (Diamond status meaning hitting a high-dollar residual mark, for inquiring minds.) It was a lofty goal. I started at $0 and I achieved that goal last week.



I had no idea how I was going to get there, and never thought it would be through health coaching and my blog. It didn't happen exactly how I expected it to, or on the time frame I wanted (I had Veruca from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory syndrome -- "I want it now!"), but it did happen. And life is even better than I ever expected. I love the women on my team more than I can put into words, and the connection they've given me to a higher purpose vibrates in my soul. (See #30)



32. I feel younger in spirit at 32 than I did at 29, which is really freaking exciting.



I recently ran into a high school acquaintance while sitting at dinner and we got to chatting. She's a few years younger than me and the topic of age came up.



"I think I feel younger at 31 than I did at 25," I mused.



She said, "Really?! I'm 28 and feel so old. But I've heard women in their 30s say that, what do you think it is?"



"Hmm," I thought. "Maybe it's confidence. Yes, confidence is a big piece of it. Maybe it's just more life experience and learning not to take things so seriously. Or realizing that there is still so much life to live. Or feeling established. Or having great relationships that have had time to grow. I'm not exactly sure. I just feel it and it's AWESOME."



It makes me laugh. I felt so adult in my mid 20s, which I'm grateful for because I'm sure it propelled me to where I am today. But at 32, I can wholeheartedly say I feel much freer and younger in mind, body and spirit.



I hope this post made you think, smile, and remember all of the things you'd like to tell yourself on your birthday. Use the comments section below to let me know what you think.



Cheers!



Elizabeth



Elizabeth Rider is a leading nutrition and whole living expert helping women around the world become even more successful by teaching them not just how to live well, but how to become the absolute BEST version of themselves. As a Board Certified Health Counselor (AADP), founder of the 21-Day Clean Up Your Diet™ Program, and successful entrepreneur, Elizabeth's philosophy isn't just about eating well; it's about all of the other aspects of life that makes us human, too. From personal relationships to career, spirituality to finances--and more--consciously cultivating the ideal lifestyle is her religion. And ready or not, she's here to spread the word.



Join Elizabeth on Facebook for daily wellness inspirations.




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Atlanta Falcons The Latest NFL Team To Prioritize Sleep

The Atlanta Falcons today announced a partnership with FusionHealth, the leading provider of sleep health management solutions that improve employee health and wellness. Utilizing prevention-based strategies, FusionHealth will provide a comprehensive sleep management program to identify, treat and manage sleep disorders and sleep problems for the players, coaches and associates of the Atlanta Falcons.



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The 9 Foods You Should Be Eating For Your Skin This Summer

Memorial Day weekend brought barbecues, picnics and beach parties, which means that despite summer's official start on June 21, the season is already underway for many of us. But before you toss back more hot dogs, chips or beer, think about how it might affect how you look and feel -- and no, we don't mean your waistline.



"It's not just the sun that can age your skin," Paula Simpson, a biochemist and holistic nutritionist who specializes in supplement formulation for skin health, told HuffPost. "Diet influences skin at the cellular level, and since skin is our largest organ, it's also the first to show nutrient deficiency."



In order to keep a healthy glow inside and out this season, Simpson stresses eating well and hydrating correctly (in addition to slathering on sunscreen, of course). Read on for her list of foods that will help you look and feel your best all summer long.



1. Watermelon

watermelon

This symbol of summer is around 90 percent water, which hydrates the body. "It's loaded with vitamin C, which is required for healthy collagen production," Simpson said. Its antioxidant properties make it "a free radical scavenger," she says, which helps prevent signs of aging.



2. Berries

berries

Fresh produce like blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are delicious in their prime, but Simpson really loves them because they're packed with antioxidants, which can protect skin from the damaging effects of the sun.



3. Pineapple

pineapple

Along with vitamins and minerals, this tropical fruit contains bromelain, thought to fight inflammation. Lessening inflammation may bring some comfort for people with sunburns, Simpson says.



4. Citrus Fruits

orange grapefruit lemon

Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes -- name a citrus fruit and it's probably good for your skin, says Simpson. Their vitamin C and amino acids, like proline and lysine play a role in collagen production, which can keep skin looking young.



5. Cucumber

cucumber

We've all seen cucumber used to relieve puffy eyes, but Simpson points out you should be consuming cukes for healthy skin, too. Cucumbers are mostly water, so they hydrate and replenish the body and skin.



6. Tomatoes

tomatoes

Simpson calls tomatoes "the perfect food to protect skin cells," thanks to their lycopene, which not only promotes collagen production but also fights off fine lines and wrinkles.



7. Dandelion Greens

dandelion greens

'Tis the season for salads, and if dandelion greens aren't already a part of your mix, they should be, notes Simpson. You'll get more than your daily dose of vitamins A and K, as well as a good deal of collagen-producing C. It's also used for skin conditions like acne and eczema, according to WebMD.



8. Salmon

salmon

Seafood by the beach is a popular treat this time of year, and Simpson suggests ordering salmon if you want your skin to appear dewy and plump. The omega-3 fatty acids in the fish are a key component of how skin cells regulate oil production.



9. Coconut Water

coconut water

Instead of reaching for sugar-laden sports drinks, Simpson encourages getting electrolytes from coconut water. "It supports youthful and supple skin," she says, thanks to it's hydrating powers and its hearty dose of potassium, which can help deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the skin by boosting circulation, Prevention reported.



What's on your summer menu? Tell us in the comments below!



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6 Vegan Habits Everyone Should Adopt (Without Giving Up Meat)

2012-07-16-eh_logo.jpg By Brianna Steinhilber


For meat-lovers, "vegan" may be a dirty five-letter-word -- but we all have to admit that those following a vegan diet tend to have a smart approach to eating, filling their carts with fresh produce and possessing a strong awareness of what they're putting on their plates. While the diet may be too extreme for many, there are some sensible, healthy vegan habits that we all should be copying –- carnivores included. Leave the meat on your plate, but take these six other veg-friendly tips to heart.



1. Pile on the veggies.

Since vegans steer clear of meat and cheese, they rely on tons of fresh, flavorful veggies to bulk up meals, from sandwiches and salads to tacos and pizza. Regardless if there is turkey on that sandwich or not, Jenné Claiborne, a board certified health coach, vegan personal chef and author of the blog Sweet Potato Soul, recommends everyone pile on greens and other non-starchy veggies. "They supply your body with protein, essential vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and fiber that you cannot get in animal products," she says. So vow to add at least two veggies to every dish -– like tomato and lettuce to sandwiches, shredded carrots and cucumber to burritos and roasted carrots and asparagus to rice and pasta dishes.



2. Swap out the mayo.

When it comes to condiments, mayo –- which is made with egg yolks –- is off limits. Think this means settling for a dry sandwich? Think again! Vegans get creative with their spreads, ditching high-calorie mayo in favor of lighter, healthier options. "I love to mash up ripe avocado and use that in place of mayo on sandwiches," says Claiborne. "Homemade hummus with lots of tahini is also a fantastically satisfying vegan-friendly spread." Fresh pesto, mustard and balsamic vinegar are more flavor-packed options that will add some zing to your sandwich without loading on the calories.



3. Eat fermented foods.

Fermented foods are becoming more mainstream, but vegans have been enjoying their zesty flavor and health benefits for years. "Fermented foods have been around for ages. It began as a way to preserve food before we had access to refrigeration and freezers," says Claiborne. "These foods (like tempeh, miso, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, pickled carrots and kefir) can easily be incorporated into anyone's diet and are full of nutrients, probiotics and flavor." Claiborne recommends adding kimchi and sauerkraut to salad, sandwiches and noodle bowls, sipping on kombucha tea and marinating tempeh and adding it to tacos, sandwiches, salads and nori rolls.



4. Expand your spice rack.

When you can't rely on butter and cheese to flavor dishes, the spice rack becomes your best friend. And vegan or not, herbs and spices are the ideal way to add flavor to dishes for no additional fat and calories. "Herbs and spices are critical when making any food taste delicious, be it animal products or plants. They add lots of flavor and greater nutrition to your meals,” Claiborne insists. “I could eat the same steamed broccoli, lentils and brown rice for dinner five days straight, but by varying the spices each time, I'll have five delicious and unique dishes.” Always on standby in her kitchen: Fennel seeds (which are great for digestion), cayenne pepper, berbere, fresh ginger (which boast anti-inflammatory properties) and fresh cilantro.



5. Make it from scratch.

“Vegans in general are more aware of what they eat, whether it's to avoid animal products or to guarantee the wholesomeness of their food,” says Claiborne. “Animal products are in so many processed foods, so I tend to avoid them and save myself the stress of having to check labels.” In other words, vegans often spend more time in the kitchen cooking homemade meals with ingredients they can trust. Regardless if your dish is built around chicken or tofu, opting to make your own food from scratch is a smart habit that helps cut back on the unnecessary fat and calories you find in restaurant meals and avoids the processed ingredients in packaged foods.



6. Embrace plant-based protein.

You don't have to give up meat to make room in your diet for plant-based proteins. “Legumes are linked to longevity and reduced risk of disease,” says Claiborne. “Beans are often touted for their fiber and protein content, but they're also great sources of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support a healthy body.” Opt to go meat-free a few meals a week and build a dish around beans or lentils instead for a dose of fiber with a major health boost. Give it a try with this Tijuana Torta for a flavor-packed brown bag lunch, or serve up some Harissa Roasted Chickpeas and Cauliflower for a fun weeknight dinner or flavorful addition to your barbecue spread.



More from Everyday Health:

4 Steps To A Diet-Approved Grilled Cheese

Is Iron To Blame For Red Meat's Health Harms?

Does Your Doctor Know How To Treat Obesity?



6 Vegan Habits Everyone Should Adopt (Without Giving Up Meat) originally appeared on Everyday Health



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Friday, May 30, 2014

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Making Sense of Senseless Violence

Since becoming National President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology four years ago, I've reflected upon what's becoming a staggering and ceaseless procession of mass acts of violence across our nation. The latest incident was this past weekend in Isla Vista, CA -- just over 100 miles from our campus in downtown Los Angeles. Seven young people, including the alleged assailant, lost their lives while 13 others were wounded. While I haven't commented on every episode of violence, I do feel compelled to observe incidents that occur near or on school grounds and college campuses -- places that should be safe and fun as they help us develop the promise of our youth and those seeking to better their lives and those of others. Instead they've become all too often a setting of tragedy and a reminder of the fragility of life.



I've commented before that too often these events are referred to in the media and otherwise, as senseless acts. I don't believe this. I believe there is sense to be found in any action and behavior. Having personally grown up in a country like Ireland, where acts of violence and terrorism were commonplace and where people continuously struggled to find meaning and hope after such events, I was led to psychology and a profession dedicated to helping people become in tune with their actions and how their every word and behavior can impact others. From the reporting that I've read, the parents of the alleged shooter tried to take action, to seek an intervention upon reading his writings and watching his YouTube video. Unfortunately they were too late.



In too many cases, those serving the psychology profession are on the front lines of these events, of being there to help people make sense of what they observe and are feeling before a tragedy occurs. And if the worst does happen, we are there to support the communities to heal in the aftermath.



During the days ahead, I invite all of us to keep those touched by the events in Isla Vista in our thoughts and prayers. I have reached out to Chancellor Henry Yang at University of California Santa Barbara and to University of California President, Janet Napolitano, to pledge The Chicago School of Professional Psychology's support. I invite you to reflect on this episode, think about what we can learn from its lessons to be better educators and clinicians, to be more prepared to make sense out of the senseless, and to always do our part to ease the pain from such tragic events.



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Losing an Incidental Friend

I lost a friend on Memorial Day. Driving home alone, she pulled her car over to the side of the road and died of a heart attack. Mary McBride, a history teacher and high school administrator, was what that bard of friendship, Ralph Waldo Emerson, would have called an incidental friend. If you're lucky enough to live in the same community for a while, you know what I'm talking about.



An incidental friend might be a neighbor down the street whom you don't know well but chat with every day on your morning walk; a hairdresser you've had for years who regales you with stories about her teenage daughter; the mechanic who entertains you with fishing stories as he checks over your car for the umpteenth time.



In an increasingly fast and fragmented world, our incidental friends ground us. The metaphor of a tent comes to mind: If our immediate family and close friends provide the framework and the canvas, incidental friends like Mary are the stakes making sure the canvas doesn't blow away. Until those incidental friends depart.



I met Mary almost 30 years ago in the locker room of a high school swimming pool in Arlington. She and I -- and a dozen or so other women foolhardy enough to get up at the crack of dawn to swim -- bonded, probably because we were foolhardy enough to rise at the crack of dawn to swim.

At some point, someone dubbed us the Splash Girls. Some of us would arrive and sit at the shallow end, testing the temperature of the water with our feet. Others would start by making graceful forward dives into the pool's deep end.



Mary's entrance was unique. She would stand at the very edge of the deep end, slowly lean over with her arms outstretched above her head and sort of fall into the water.



Almost all of my conversations with Mary took place when we were naked in the shower. The shower was a three-walled affair with five or six shower heads; private, individual showers weren't available until years later when a new pool replaced the old one. Mary would regale me, and others who were sudsing down, with funny, endearing stories about her students (whose names we never knew, of course). She would ask me about my son's progress in school and how his baseball pitching was going.



One morning, she announced that she was the proud owner of a black cat whom she had named Othello. Othello's antics provided such good story material in that shower room that for a while we talked of, and laughed about, little else. Mary's laugh could always be heard above the others -- a kind of guttural "Huh, huh."



She started teaching social studies in 1972 at a public alternative high school in Arlington which quickly incorporated a middle school into its campus. County school board members called it the H.B. Woodlawn Secondary Program. Certain other county residents dubbed it "Hippie High." Hippie it may have been; school photos of Mary in a granny dress, high-waisted plaid pants or turtleneck and bleached jeans suggest that. Students were offered a wide range of courses and, for a while, could limit their work to one subject. But H.B. Woodlawn also built a reputation for being one of the top academic middle/high schools in the country, based on countywide tests and college acceptances. That was, staff members agree, in no small part because of Mary.



Mary became head teacher, then assistant principal. It was the only school at which she taught -- for 40 years. She never stopped teaching social studies and history, even as an administrator. She never married. And she never lacked for friends and respect among the faculty and students. A memorial ceremony for her at the school on May 29, which packed the auditorium, made me wish I had known her better.



"Getting into trouble wasn't all that bad because it gave us time to be together," one student wrote about Mary on one of several tables set up for individual recollections. A teacher wrote, "Mary could turn a teacher-staff meeting into a comedy routine." Mary also apparently was determined that her students could learn even if they thought themselves failures. Second chances mattered. Assignments could be done, redone and done yet again. "Grades can change," she'd tell principal Frank Haltiwanger.



One morning after a swim, while Mary and I were getting dressed, she mentioned that she was teaching a unit on the civil rights movement. I told her that my father, a Southern preacher active in the movement, had written an article in the 1950s for The Saturday Evening Post, gently chastising his fellow clergy for not doing more to support school integration. She asked for a copy of the article, which I provided, and for years afterward she would inquire regularly about my father's welfare. History to Mary was about people we care about, and she used every means to encourage her students to feel the same way.



Mary and I traveled in different circles. She never met my father or any other relatives. I never met any of hers. She was never in my home, nor was I in hers. We never went out to eat together. The only time I remember seeing her anywhere other than the pool was at a luncheon given a couple of years ago by another swimmer. I deeply regret not getting to know her better.



When I returned home from swimming after hearing of Mary's death, my eyes for some reason fell on a crocheted spread that lies at the foot of my bed. The cover, handmade by my husband's grandmother, is composed of squares of ivory yarn, bound together by quarter-inch pieces of thinner ivory thread.



The Marys of this world, like those tiny threads, are what keep the larger parts of our lives connected.



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How The 4-Day Workweek Could (WATCH)

As workplace stress levels are on the rise and burnout increasingly takes a toll on employees, they are searching for new and innovative ways to keep their teams feeling more refreshed, motivated and productive than ever. While some allow workers to log in from home or enjoy shortened “summer Friday” hours, others are now turning to the 4-day workweek model to help employees strike a better work-life balance.



DigitalRelevance’s director of digital media relations Ashley Sherman and Beholder’s chief operating officer Emilia Andrews joined HuffPost Live host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani today to discuss this rethinking of traditional office hours and the benefits it offers both employees and employers.



“I’m less worried about all the things that I’m not doing in my personal life during those days,” said Sherman, regarding the benefits of a four-day workweek. “I know that I have Friday to do that, so I can really focus and center in on what I need to get done for work those four days that I’m there.”



Andrews had a similarly positive experience in shifting to the condensed workweek model at her company.



“Communication went up exponentially," she said. “People were there with a focus, knew what needed to be done, and were able to get it done… I was smiling more. I was happier. I was excited to see the staff when we came back on Monday… We really were all just more excited and more revved up to get back into the workflow… When you’re constantly revving at 100 miles per hour, you need that down time.”



To hear more about the perks of a four-day workweek, watch the full HuffPost Live clip in the video above.




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This Could Help Protect Breast Cancer Patients' Fertility

CHICAGO (AP) — Doctors may have found a way to help young breast cancer patients avoid infertility caused by chemotherapy. Giving a drug to shut down the ovaries temporarily seems to boost the odds they will work after treatment ends, and it might even improve survival, a study found.



"They're really exciting findings" that could help thousands of women each year in the United States alone, said the study's leader, Dr. Halle Moore of the Cleveland Clinic. "This has implications far beyond breast cancer," for young women with other types of tumors, too, added Dr. Clifford Hudis, breast cancer chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.



He is president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which featured the study at its annual conference in Chicago on Friday. More than 30,000 cancer specialists from around the world are attending.



Chemotherapy often causes premature ovarian failure, or early menopause. Doctors think that active ovaries are more susceptible to chemo damage, and that making them go dormant and stopping a woman's monthly cycles might help shield them from harm.



"It's basically a temporary menopause to prevent permanent menopause," Moore explained.



The study involved 257 women around the world under age 50 with breast cancers whose growth is not fueled by estrogen. They all had standard chemo and half also had monthly shots of goserelin, a drug to lower estrogen and temporarily put the ovaries at rest. Its main side effects are menopause symptoms — hot flashes and vaginal dryness.



Doctors then tracked the women to see how the treatments affected fertility.



After two years, full results were available on 135 participants. Only 8 percent of those given the shots became menopausal versus 22 percent of the others who didn't get them. There were 22 pregnancies in the drug group versus 12 in the other one. That's encouraging, but firm comparisons can't really be made because not all women may have been trying to conceive, and other factors such as a partner's fertility play a role.



Still, "the difference was enough that in spite of all the limitations in the study, we were pretty convincingly able to see an effect," Moore said.



The benefits go beyond preserving fertility, said Dr. Kathy Albain, a breast cancer specialist at Chicago's Loyola University and one of the study leaders.



"Some women don't care about having children" after breast cancer, but would like to avoid "being jolted into early menopause" by chemo treatment, she said.



Surprisingly, doctors also saw better survival among women given goserelin. About four years after treatment, 92 percent of them were alive versus 82 percent of the others. Again, an encouraging result, but the study was too small to determine whether ovarian suppression truly affects survival.



The National Institutes of Health sponsored the study and researchers originally aimed to enroll 400 women but had to scale back because of government budget cuts.



"The findings are quite provocative," said one independent expert, Dr. Sharon Giordano, a breast cancer specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "Using goserelin is an option I would discuss with selected patients" but it doesn't guarantee fertility preservation.



Women may want to consider other options, such as creating and freezing embryos to use after cancer treatment ends, Giordano said.



The goserelin approach worked for study participant Christy Wolford, who was treated at MD Anderson before she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, a few years ago. She was only 28 when her breast cancer was found, and she wanted more children besides the 5-month-old daughter she had at the time. Her ovaries were suppressed during cancer treatment and she has had three boys since it ended in 2006.



"I'm the poster child" for the study, she said.



___



Online:



Cancer info: http://www.cancer.net



___



Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://ift.tt/YKZdRU



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The Best Thing I Did While Battling Cancer

It was October, and right in the middle of football season. We were at a game, using our free student tickets, rallying the Utes together, just as we did every week. The team had taken a time-out, and as I sat back in my seat, Sean took my hands in his, looked me straight in the eye and told me that he felt like it was time that we started looking into getting pregnant. That night was pure bliss for me; I was in my favorite place with my favorite person talking about making a lifelong dream come true, and bliss was hard to come by those days for us.



Sean was in remission at that point, and had been having clear blood work and scans come back long enough for us to seriously consider moving on with our lives. We had been married just over a year, but had known from the beginning that if we wanted to have a family of our own, we'd have to fight for it. Sean had banked his sperm just a few days before undergoing surgery to remove his testicle, as we knew that this surgery alone, never mind the chemotherapy that was sure to follow, could potentially be enough to stop Sean from being able to father children. We felt like we were in a good place. Finally.



Except that "finally" wasn't really our situation. We were in a good place again, for now. We'd been down this road so many times in the last couple of years. We were on a high again and knew how much we would stand to lose if the bottom were, once again, dropped out from underneath us. Sean had been back and forth with his cancer diagnosis and remission multiple times over the past couple of years, and we knew that if the trend kept up, we'd be in for bad news again.



We knew that contemplating parenthood was risky. Since his diagnosis, Sean had never been cancer-free for more than 6 months at a time, and here we were, discussing starting a family together. How could we justify bringing new life into this world when Sean was staring his own mortality straight in the face? We were young, but knew full well what the risks of making such a decision might mean. That night, on the train ride home, we talked things through.



Was this really something we wanted?



Of course.



Was this time right time for us?



Is there ever really a right time?



If we went for it, what would the first step be?



We'll call the fertility specialist who helped us when you banked.



What if the worst happens?



Let's take this one step at a time.



That evening when we got home, Sean said something that became a game-changer. Instead of worrying about the "what-if's" in life, it became clear to us that we were the decision-makers.



He said, "I'm done letting cancer control my life. One day I have it, the next I don't. I married you because I love you, and we want a family. I'm done letting cancer make the decisions for me. Having a baby is what is right for us, and now is the time to do it. I don't know what the future looks like, but as long as you're there with me, I know it will be blessed."



That's exactly the way Sean was. He had this marvelous and incredible perspective on life. The good in life was always so plain to him, when for me, seeing the sparkle was often much more of a chore. He knew that the right thing to do was to own his life, to take control. He knew that his cancer was a fight, but it was never in charge.



We decided to go for it. We made the decision to take back our lives from the chokehold of cancer. It was daring and uncertain, and there was a lot of second-guessing and doubt. But ultimately, the joy and surety of happiness together guided us to our answer -- we make the decisions in our lives. We are responsible for reaching for our dreams. We may not have control over everything, but we do control our attitudes and our own happiness.



The best thing Sean and I ever did while battling cancer was to release the grip on life that cancer had formed. We threw off the fear and doubt and the worry and the pain of it all and charged ahead together. For us, that meant making the decision to begin our family, and now, 4 years after his death, I have three gorgeous daughters by him. Oh! They challenge me every day, and of course, I often find myself drowning in the stresses of parenthood, but when I look back at where I've been and where he and I were together, I know that we made the right choice.



We made the choice to make the choices.



To read more about Karen's experience with cancer, follow her personal blogs here, here, and here.



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What a Headache Taught Me About Procrastination

My head is throbbing.



My neck hurts.



My eyes are sensitive to light.



My shoulders are tight.



Yes, I am suffering from the common malady: a headache.



It's not my first rodeo. In fact, I know exactly what I can do to help it go away. In fact, they are all quite simple to do:



1. Take two Excedrin

2. Drink a large bottle of water

3. Have a snack, preferably with protein

4. Sniff some peppermint oil (trust me, it works)



And, presto, within a half an hour I will feel considerably better.



Yet for the past two hours or so (since the headache started) I have done none of these things.



What I have done is felt sorry for myself. Oh and I also complained to my 16-year-old daughter. And I texted my best friend to tell her about it. Then I felt sorry for myself a little longer until I remembered I forgot to write a blog post, so I started this.



But I haven't done anything to actually try to cure the headache.



I know. It doesn't make any sense, does it?



Because of my inaction, I remain in pain. Pain I am very much in control of overcoming.



For a supposedly smart person, I am pretty dumb.



Then it hit me: this is a fantastic analogy for many of the small, annoying problems of life. It perfectly describes procrastination.



How often do our figurative headaches grind at us, and yet we choose not to do the simple acts that would solve them.



So, what was I thinking?



If I ignore it, it maybe it will go away. Maybe if I just ignored it long enough, my headache would go away without me having to do anything about it. While in this case that is likely true, why wouldn't I do something to speed up the process?



It's really not that bad, so why bother? As far as headaches go, this is not a serious one, so instead of dealing with it quickly before it gets worse, I do nothing. Yet, wouldn't it be better to deal with a problem when it is small, instead of when it is large?



It is really inconvenient to deal with this. I didn't want to get out of my bed. It's warm and cozy in here. Not so warm and cozy not in here. The things that would help me get over my headache were not immediately in front of me. I would have to go downstairs to get food, a bottle of water and the Excedrin. I would have to find what I did with the peppermint oil. I would have to stop my other activities (watching TV, wasting time on the internet and writing this blog post) to take care of the problem.



But really, let's be honest, the big barrier was leaving my bed. In other words, in favor of avoiding short-term discomfort (getting out of bed) I put up with longer-term discomfort (a headache).



I don't want to ask for help. I know that if I asked my daughter to get me the water, aspirin and make me a snack, she would. I am even sure if I asked my best friend to come by with peppermint oil, she'd be over within 15 minutes. But I was unwilling to ask them because I didn't want to appear lazy to my daughter (which I am, see reason just above) I didn't want to inconvenience my best friend (which it would, but she would have done it because she is an awesome friend).



The lesson: My ability to deal with any "headache" is in direct correlation with my willingness to take action.



A half an hour has passed since I decided to pause writing this blog post. I did, in fact, go find Excedrin, make a snack and drank a huge bottle of water. And -- surprise -- my headache is gone!



In fact, I feel pretty good.



How long did it take me to do all of the things that resulted in me feeling better? Less than 5 minutes.



How long did I suffer from the headache needlessly before I was finally motivated to deal with it? Over an hour and a half.



How stupid am I? Don't answer that.



Will I remember this next time I have a headache -- literally or figuratively? I certainly hope so.



Are there "headaches" in your life that could use some attention?



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A Few Things I Would Have Done Differently When I Had Cancer

They say that hindsight is 20/20. They mean that once you look back at something, you can finally see it clearly. They... are liar holes.



It has been twelve years since I battled cancer, and when I look back at the whole sordid affair, I still have questions that I have not been able to answer. Part of that comes from the sheer amount of time that has elapsed since my diagnosis and treatment. Clearly remember something twelve years ago that happened in a fog?



Pfft.



And that is part of my problem. Many of the stories that I share with you in this blog were the biggies... the cathartic moments, or the milestones, or the moments I'd like to forget. Curse you spank bank failure! And your crappy magazines!!



But for the day-to-day survival, I have fleeting glimpses of what happened. The reason is simple: I never created a history of anything that happened. It is one of the greatest mistakes of my life, though it didn't seem so at the time. Because you see, when I was going through my battle, all I wanted to do was forget that I was going through my battle. I had the clear mindset that once my fight was over, cancer would never enter my life again.



I could not have been more wrong.



So with that in mind, and with hindsight being...well...you know, I have come up with a list of my own stupidity to share with you so that you will at least have the choice that I no longer have.



1. Take pictures.




When I was asked to give a TEDx talk last year, I thought that it would be easy to find some pictures that would tell my story. Yet when I went to go find some, I was all but shut out. I ended up finding a total of three. And of the three, only one was taken of me without a baseball cap. And then I remembered that I refused to let anyone take my picture. At the time, I thought I was being smart by not giving the cancer any power, especially with my memories.



The reality is that while I was in the fight of my life, some very wonderful things happened during that time, and I have almost nothing but my thoughts by which to remember them.



Now in fairness, these were also the days before everyone had a 500 megapixel camera in their pocket, but for me, that would be a cop out. As it turns out, I was pretty vain, and I always had been. In high school, I had the kind of braces that went all the way around my teeth, and I wore glasses. I so despised having my picture taken looking like that. In fact, I didn't even bother getting a copy of my Junior year yearbook. I don't have a clue of how my picture even turned out.



Looking back, I don't know which was more destructive... my delusions with cancer, or my delusions with vanity.



2. Write stuff down.



Now when I had cancer back in oh-two, the word "blog" didn't even exist. In fact, if you wanted to write anything, there were two ways: journaling, or keeping a diary. I hated the word journal, as it reminded me too much of high school. (See above for my feelings on that time in my life.)



And a diary? As a 29 year-old boy? I can see it now...



Dear Diary,

Today, my entire future lineage was on the line as I went to my local sperm bank. When I arrived, Nurse Ratched walked me into a room with a cup, a chest-of-drawers filled with sub-optimal filth, and a couch with more human fluid than a Huggies convention. A circus monkey could not have met the requirements to seal the deal. Needless to say, I ended up with scorch marks and an empty cup. Will try again tomorrow. Maybe I'll use my left hand so it feels like someone else is pulling it off, no pun intended.

Sincerely,

Useless


It is only now as a blogger that I realize the importance of writing things down for several reasons. One, it's been cathartic for me to remember this stuff. If anything, it allows me to see the humor and ludicrous nature of battling cancer. Second, as I've said a million times, it's imperative that we tell our stories. If just one guy on the "Physically Unable to Perform" list reads that I was unable to "perform" at the Hotel Spankifornia, it will help him feel that not only is he not alone, but that it happens way more than anyone will ever say.



And lastly, it's easy. Anyone can write a blog. Anyone can publish a blog. All you have to do is be willing to put yourself out there, and then take the time to write a few words. And trust me, those few words don't have to be brilliant; they just have to be you. You don't have to be Shakespeare, or Joyce, or Grisham. All you have to be is Smith, or Kurumochi, or Patel.



Just don't write like that Duffy bloke. He's not as good as he thinks he is.



3. If you have an itch, scratch it.



There are many times during my little skirmish with cancer that I gave in to the physical beating. Friends would call and ask me to do things, and while my heart wanted to say yes, my brain would say "No. I'm too sick."



I'm not saying that my heart was more intelligent than my brain. There are times when you just have to say "No." But more often than not, when I told my brain to back off, I made memories to last a lifetime.



I will never forget one Sunday afternoon. My now-wife/then-fiancé Stephanie had some friends in from out of town. They were going to a now-defunct place called S&P Oyster Company to drink a few drinks, eat a few appetizers, and have a few laughs. Steph asked if I wanted to go, and I politely declined. "I just feel like crap."



As I laid in bed, succumbing to my nausea, I realized that what I was doing was not helping my situation in the least. Whether I sat in the sun or slept in a cool, dark bedroom, I was still going to feel like crap. So I put my big boy pants on, grabbed a cap, and drove out to meet her. This was at 2 p.m.



So at 1 a.m. was it the smartest thing I ever did? On the surface, no... but in the deeper meaning of what life is really all about, I could not have made a better decision.



I just wish I had done it more often.



***



When I look back, I realize that I made a lot of silly mistakes on my journey. I could cop-out and say that no one told me any of these things, but I'm not sure I would have listened anyway. As a 29 year-old boy going through this, only my doctor and I knew best... or so I thought.



I thought wrong. Don't be ashamed of being bald. If you are, blog about it. And a few beers are awfully good for nausea.



Oysters on the other hand...





Discover more at The Half Fund.



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The 10 Simple Word Swaps That Will Change Your Life

The words you use are more powerful than you imagine. Most people greet each other with words that have no power. Think of the last time you heard someone else (or even yourself) respond to a greeting of "How are you?" with "Oh, I am doing so-so," "Hanging in there," "I'm surviving" or "Not too bad." It probably wasn't much past yesterday.






Try this: use words to change your situation, not to describe it.






First, the next time anyone asks, "How are you?" whether it's someone at work or a cashier at the store, respond with strength. Give them an energetic, enthusiastic, "Great!" or "Terrific!"






It will be hard to do without a smile on your face, and you are likely to get one back. Second, you will likely feel a physical response of increased energy. Third, your words will send a message to your mind that will be consistent with feeling Great! or Terrific!






To see the results, you have to do this often and with sincere enthusiasm (not robotically). When you do, your subconscious mind will begin to act on what you are saying and begin to design your reality to be consistent with your thoughts and words.






Yoda from Star Wars, understood this when he commanded Luke Skywalker, "Do or do not. There is no try."






Speaking with power also creates a sense of accountability and commitment to get the best from yourself and others. Your challenge is to consciously avoid using words that are power killers. These words sap energy and commitment from your interactions, and ultimately, your actions.






First, eliminate these words from your vocabulary:







  1. I can't

  2. If

  3. Doubt

  4. Try

  5. I don't think

  6. I don't have the time

  7. Maybe

  8. I'm afraid of

  9. I don't believe

  10. It's impossible.






Omitting these words is not enough. A sports team needs more than just a good defense to win; it also needs a powerful offense. So, mobilize your own offensive assault with the words you choose.






Build positive mental connections and commitment by using these power builders:







  1. I can

  2. I will

  3. Expect the best

  4. Commit

  5. I know

  6. I will make the time

  7. Positively

  8. I am confident

  9. I do believe

  10. All things are possible.






The power of your actions is preceded by the power of your words. Speak with power to bring out the best in yourself and others.






For more practical tips to elevate your leadership, register for the author’s FREE newsletter.








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Dr. Kevin Tracey Explains How A Nerve Stimulator Could Change Arthritis Treatment

A machine the size of pea could be the answer to healing the painful inflammation that comes from arthritis.



Dr. Kevin Tracey joined HuffPost Live's Josh Zepps to discuss a tiny nerve stimulator that can put a stop to the neural transmissions that cause inflammation. As described in The New York Times Magazine, the stimulator is embedded onto a critical nerve within the body to lessen symptoms by directing the nerve to send certain signals to specific organs.



Tracey said the device worked wonders on the first person who was ever treated using the machine: a middle-aged Bosnian man who was unable to work or play with his children because of the severity of his pain.



"He was essentially homebound and disabled by painful rheumatoid arthritis, for which he had exhausted the treatment options in Bosnia. And within weeks of having this device implanted, he was playing with his kids and went out and played tennis and hurt his knee. So a guy that was homebound had to be cautioned against too much exercise," Tracey said.



So how exactly does the nerve stimulator work? Tracey gives an easy-to-understand explanation of the technology and its benefits in the video above.



Click here to see the full HuffPost Live conversation about bioelectronic medicine.



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Why These Goalies Are Worried About Unknown Toxins In Artificial Turf

The distinct smell of synthetic turf on a soccer field always brings back good memories for Jordan Swarthout.



"I loved playing the sport so much," said Swarthout, 22, a former stand-out goalkeeper in Sumner, Washington, and now a graduating senior at Oregon State University.



Swarthout recalls never worrying if the fields' sometimes "heavy and stifling" smell, which people have compared to burning rubber, represented any kind of health danger -- even after her diagnosis with a rare cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, in January 2013. She has been in remission now for nearly a year.



But last week, she received a call from her mom. Suzie Swarthout had just watched a local Seattle news report about a number of former goalkeepers who've developed rare lymphomas in recent years, since the introduction and subsequent proliferation of artificial turf fields infilled with recycled rubber tire crumbs.



"My mom said, 'That sounds just like you,'" Swarthout recalls.



Starting in the late 1990s, a new generation of synthetic turf fields began popping up. Today, nearly 10,000 of them can be found at schools, parks and professional stadiums around the country. The turf is designed to simulate natural grass in look and feel. Green plastic ribbons are suspended in a deep, cushioned layer of ground-up tires, so-called crumb rubber, which looks much like dirt from a distance. A kick of a soccer ball can send the black bits bouncing into the air.



In addition to keeping some 20 million used tires out of landfills every year, noted Rick Doyle, president of the Synthetic Turf Council, use of the turf boasts a number of benefits over natural grass: It requires less water and maintenance, and its superior durability allows for consistent, year-round, all-weather use for more players. Plus, parents need not worry about their children playing on grass sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers.



Doyle maintains that the turf is also safe.



"My heart goes out to anyone who has to fight a disease like this at a young age," he said, "but I think it is unfair to single out crumb rubber."



Despite no proof of a cancer link, some people remain suspicious of the synthetic surface -- among them, Amy Griffin, associate head coach of the University of Washington women's soccer team. Not enough research has been done, skeptics say, to assure the safety of players breathing in gases released from a hot field, ingesting the rubber particles or making frequent skin-to-turf contact. Common abrasions from the turf can even leave skin open to particulate from the crumbs.



Bottom line, a group of soccer players, coaches and environmental advocates around the country want to see more serious study. Many are now advocating for an online registry of soccer players with cancer to more accurately determine if they indeed experience higher cancer rates compared to the general population.



"I hope it's nothing," said Griffin, who's coached for 26 years, including 18 years at the UW, and was featured in last week's KOMO News report. Until a few years ago, she noted, she'd never heard of any players developing lymphoma.



"Now, I've heard of multiple people, and a lot are keepers," she said.



THE KEEPER'S CURSE



Much to her mother's displeasure, Swarthout would often track rubber-tire bits home from practice and games. The coarse sand-sized pellets would fall out of her equipment, socks and shorts.



"No matter how hard I tried, those little black turf things would be everywhere," said Swarthout. "They'd end up in my car, in my backpack."



It was around the eighth grade that Swarthout remembers her teams began to play regularly on artificial turf. She soon became well-acquainted with the plastic-and-rubber surface, arguably more so than her teammates who played field positions.



swarthout
Jordan Swarthout regularly played goalkeeper on synthetic turf fields. (Suzie Swarthout)






"A lot of practice for goalkeepers was spent doing various drills that involved diving and landing on the turf," she said. "The stuff would go in your mouth and in your gloves. And they would end up in my eyes -- that was always the worst."



Ethan Zohn echoed Swarthout on the intimate relationship between keepers and the turf, and questions whether that frequency of close contact might explain a seemingly disproportional number of cancers in the group.



"Goalkeepers are closer to the ground, more of the time," said Zohn, 40, a former professional soccer player and winner of the reality-television series "Survivor." "Your face is in the ground, your knees are in the ground, your elbows are in the ground. Sometimes you get cut, sometimes you're eating it."



Dr. Joel Forman, a pediatrician and environmental health expert at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, said that he is not aware of evidence directly connecting cancer to such exposures to turf. He also added that a link would be "very hard to prove," given the small overall number of cases.



"Thankfully, cancer remains very rare," he said.



Zohn, like Swarthout, has played goalkeeper since he was a kid. And in 2009, he too was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He has twice fought back the disease, and today is cancer-free.



Also like Griffin, Zohn has accumulated a list of goalkeepers -- 50 or so -- who've battled cancer. Lymphoma, a blood cancer known to preferentially strike young adults, make up the majority of the diagnoses.



While he isn't blaming turf for his own cancer -- and he acknowledges no hard conclusions can be made from his unscientific list -- Zohn said he does worry about today's generation of players, who started playing on the surface at a younger age. Cancer can take years, even decades to develop. So, should synthetic turf prove to be a source of significant toxic exposures, it's possible that the extent of the effects may not appear for several more years.



The potential for repetitive exposure to toxic chemicals rising as dust or gas from the tiny rubber crumbs is most concerning to Zohn. While playing soccer, he noted, a person is likely to be breathing heavily and taking in large amounts of air.



Many state laws prohibit burning tires, or even disposing them in a landfill, due to potential releases of toxic chemicals. And researchers have found at least small amounts of toxins may be released from crumb rubber, especially on hot days. Whether the potential levels of exposure actually pose health risks is "debatable," according to Forman.



Griffin recalled one 82-degree day during a UW summer soccer camp, when someone stuck a thermometer into the field turf. Three-quarters of an inch down, she said, it registered over 200 degrees Fahrenheit.



"You can smell it when it's hot. It is too toxic to burn," she said, referring to the state laws against burning tires, "you can't imagine it's just fine lying around."



TOXIC TURF?



Forman cautioned that, while high temperatures can put soccer players at risk of heat stroke and dehydration, a bad smell does not necessarily indicate a health hazard. And of course some toxic gases carry no odor at all.



"You can't go by your nose," said Forman.



Overall, he said, there's "not a lot of health information" regarding toxic exposures from crumb rubber -- starting with the uncertainty over just what chemicals the pellets contain.



A Swedish report found 60 different substances in automobile tires, including plasticizers, carbon black, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and small amounts of heavy metals, such as lead. But tires vary significantly in their composition, which makes it all the more unclear as to what chemicals may be present in the 40,000 ground-up tires that fill the average synthetic field. Even identifying what risks the known chemicals may pose is difficult due to the U.S. government's current 'innocent until proven guilty' regulatory strategy. More than 80,000 chemicals permitted for use in the country have never been fully tested for toxicity to humans, let alone children or fetuses.



Kids tend to spend more time than adults on the ground, accumulating exposures, noted Forman. And a developing child is also generally more vulnerable to toxic chemicals.



"For adults, the exposure risk is probably quite low, and may be outweighed by the benefits of the reliable and fast surface," said Forman. He's not so sure the risks outweigh the benefits for children, however.



Swarthout's generation began their early soccer careers before the advent of crumb rubber. She recalled starting at the age of 3, playing on grass. But many children of the same age today are running, sliding and diving on artificial turf.



"We're using these little kids as guinea pigs," said Zohn, who is among those advocating for an online registry to track soccer players with cancer. He hopes that ultimately researchers can prove the turf is safe.



Doyle, of the industry group, said he's not opposed to additional research. But he added that he thinks there's "plenty of research out there to answer most of the skeptics." Fifteen independent studies, he said, "all validate the human health and environmental safety of synthetic turf and crumb rubber."



David Brown, director of public health toxicology for Environment and Human Health, Inc., a nonprofit environmental health group, comes to a different conclusion based on the current evidence.



"I wouldn't put a child on one of these fields," said Brown, who authored an early crumb rubber report published by the group in 2007, which warned of potential health risks, such as cancer and skin, eye and respiratory irritation.



crumb rubber
Crumb rubber up close. (Lynne Peeples)






He criticized the industry with overhyping small studies, some of which they funded, and misinterpreting others. Authors of an EPA report, for example, called their own study "very limited" due to a small number of chemicals monitored and field samples taken.



"It's clear that carcinogens are present," Brown said, pointing to carbon black and butylated hydroxyanisole, among other known cancer-causing chemicals in crumb rubber.



Despite the lingering uncertainty, Brown suggested enough is known at least to take greater precautions. Goalkeepers should practice on natural grass, even if their games are on an artificial surface, he said. And all players should take off their shoes, in addition to washing their hands, when leaving a turf field.



"How did this happen?" Brown asked. "How did we end up with children playing on fields that we know have carcinogens in them?"



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5 Words I Found Myself Using in Weird Ways in Recovery

Words take on certain new meanings when you get sober -- or at least I should say some words. Yes, you learn new ones -- those types of things you're never going to find in the Oxford English Dictionary or outside of recovery circles probably -- like normie, sponsee and step work. But there are also a slew of words you're probably going to learn to use in new ways. Maybe some people don't notice, but I'm as obsessed with words as I once was with cocaine, so I found these new uses slightly jarring at first. Here are a few:



1) Share

I'll never forget the first time I heard this verb I knew so well being used as a noun. It was when a girl I was in treatment with turned to me after my first group (oh, there's another one: group! Not group therapy but simply group) and said, "Those were some weird shares, right?" I knew what she meant of course and figured she was just conserving words. After all, her meaning was perfectly clear and the sentence was slightly easier to say than, say, "What those people shared with us was weird, right?" I remember smiling at the sentence abbreviation and wholly agreeing with the sentiment (of course, everything seemed weird then). I had no idea that using share as a verb was the norm and that within a week or so, I'd become so used to it that I'd stop realizing a non-recovering person might find it strange.



2) Loaded

To most Americans, this has a very common meaning, right? I mean, when someone says "Donald Trump is loaded," no one thinks that person is saying that he's had too many martinis or tripping on E. But in recovery circles, this word only seems to mean drunk or high. I recall being jarred by this in the beginning -- wondering, the more often I heard it (and not, say, "smashed" or another somewhat random colloquialism for drunk/high), if it was hipster slang or if there was a long-ago-established, unwritten rule that this was the word choice when talking about inebriation (never did get the answer to this, by the way).



3) Days

Most of the free world knows by now about one day a time. But it's safe to say that these people do not freely ask questions like, "How many days do you have?" Indeed, perhaps the only time this sentence would ever be uttered was if someone was dying and the person asking the question was extremely insensitive and tactless. But recovery people freely throw this query around as a way of asking how many days the person has been sober. (New theory: Many of us feel like we wasted a lot of valuable time before we cleaned up so maybe we're subconsciously just trying to use what we've got left as much as possible, even just by cutting out a word now and then.)



4) Old-Timer

Call most anyone in the world this and you risk offending the person (particularly if they're female and in L.A.). But in recovery circles, the word is meant quite literally, as someone who has the most time sober. Still, I guess a more literal expression would be long-timer. (Who's up for a movement to change it?)



5) Using

In the real world, using something would mean exactly that: using something. But in the World Recovery, using refers to only one thing: using drugs, only you don't need to say "drugs" or specify which ones. And though of course alcohol is a drug, this word seems to solely to refer to hard drugs -- cocaine, heroin and the like. Pot and ecstasy don't seem to fall into the "using" umbrella as far as I can tell. Why? I have no idea.



Need help with substance abuse or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline.



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5 Things Maya Angelou Taught Us About the Power Of Living

Someone like Dr. Maya Angelou only graces the earth every 100 years or so. We encounter these "soul fireflies" so rarely, but when they show up, we instantly recognize them for the light that they bring.



They light up our world with their own brilliant light. They touch us and call us to find our own light. To raise the bar higher. To love a little deeper. To feel a little more connected. And to give just a little bit more of ourselves. Maya Angelou like Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Theresa called us to be more. To do more. And to want more from our living.





Many stories, and tributes will be written over the coming days and weeks in honor of the woman we all fondly knew as "Dr. Maya". That is as it should be. Yet, how fitting that a woman who dropped out of high school at age 14 (and later went back just before giving birth to her only son), would one day be presented with over 50 honorary degrees. Go on to teach American studies at one of the south's most prestigious universities, and be known throughout the world as a poet laureate, author, lecturer, playwright, producer, dancer, singer, civil rights activist, counselor to presidents and a friend of humanity. Some may think it undeserved that someone who never attended college, would be bestowed such high academic honors and accolades. And become a heralded professor at Wake Forest University.



But "doctor" is a term so very appropriate for a woman who was in every way: a healer of others illnesses. Dr. Maya was a doctor of the human soul. And in this we should take heed to the powerful and healing guidance that she provided to us all not in the form of pills, elixirs or shots, but in the form of self-love, civility, humanity, integrity, forgiveness, connection and peace.



Here are five powerful lessons that Dr. Angelou taught us about the majesty and power of living a whole, healthy and fulfilled life:



1. Define yourself. Maya Angelou had a hard life. At times a very cruel life. And yet she refused to be defined or limited by her past. She refused to stay in a "cage" of another human's making. She defined herself. She overcame her circumstance and she stretched herself beyond what anyone like her could have ever imagined they might achieve in one lifetime.



2. Raise your voice. When she penned, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings she was sharing her story with the world. A nobody from nowhere. Became a somebody that everybody would hear raising her voice and singing her song.



3. Treat people well. One of her most endearing sentiments was that people never forget how we make them feel. She was right. We can say things, and do things, but when we make people feel less than, or powerless we break something deep inside of them. And they may forgive us but they will never forget us. So we should do our best to treat people well. No matter what.



4. Never give up on your dreams. Dreams are the desires of our soul dancing at night. My words, but her meaning. Maya encouraged us to stay active, and engaged with life long past our so-called "prime." She taught us that dreams have real power. That dreams can manifest in our lives long after we may believe that are gone. Keep dreaming. Dreams are oxygen to our souls.



5. Keep Living. Asked in an interview once what she thought of life and living, she launched into an amazing series of truths. Starting with the fact that you can learn a lot about people by how they handle a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas lights. She encouraged us to simply keep going. To look for second chances. To forgive generously. To open our hands. To throw something back at life. And most of all to love life.





There are many things that a life like Maya Angelou's teaches us who are left behind. But I believe her most enduring legacy is that she gave us a perfect formula for resilience. For getting back up again and again no matter what. She taught us that a caged bird sings, not because he knows how or because he expects to be set free, but because he simply has a song in his soul. So it is with us. Many of us live as caged birds, waiting to sing. Waiting for the doors to be unlocked. To be set free. When in reality what we need is to sing loudly in the midst of our captivity. To raise our voices. Lift our souls. And share our song with the world.



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Thriving Through Forgiveness

One of the steps Arianna Huffington talks about in her book Thrive is to forgive yourself of all judgments of yourself and others. I believe that is one of the most powerful things you can do to advance yourself to a state of well-being, joy and enlightenment. It is also one of the most difficult for most people. Many who feel as though they've been hurt, wronged, or disappointed by others feel the need to condemn their offender eternally for the pain inflicted upon them. They have no idea how someone could betray them because they had invested so much faith and trust in that person. The pain of betrayal runs deep and the ability to forgive someone who has inflicted such pain feels monumental. So, we hold onto that pain and hurt, reliving it in our minds every chance we get and discussing it with anyone who will listen, over and over again. What we don't realize is the more we relive the event, the more energy we give it. Hence, the more we keep it alive. As we energize and continuously activate the pain, we impose more stress and unnecessary harm to our physical and emotional well-being. So, how do we learn to release the pain and free ourselves of these negative emotions so we can move on with our lives?



For most of us, it's not as simple as saying "I'm not going to think about that anymore" and be done with it. It's natural to think about what happened and discuss it, hopefully with an objective third party. However, in order to release it we have to ask ourselves some questions. Every experience, negative or positive provides an opportunity to learn. I believe we actually learn the most from our negative experiences if we allow ourselves to absorb the lesson. So, one of the first questions you should ask is: "How did I contribute to this experience"? I know it's difficult to feel like you contributed at all if you feel 100-percent right. However, you most likely played some part in it if no more than failing to set boundaries when necessary. Oftentimes we place too much trust in people without assessing whether or not they are worthy of our trust. As a result, we have expectations of them based on our values, not theirs. Chances are, your offender showed you their values many times and you ignored them because you were operating from your own set of values, expecting them to do the same. Then, when they do something overt to offend and hurt you, you're shocked and terribly hurt.



In any personal relationship, you have the power to control the extent to which you allow someone into your personal space. You have the ability to set boundaries and expectations. However, if your expectations are based on your values, then you must only allow people into your life with similar values. Its' incumbent upon you to determine when someone's values don't match your own. If you choose to accept the relationship anyway, then adjust your expectations accordingly. Failure to do so lays the groundwork for hurts and disappointments. It's important, though, not to harbor regrets when you fail to adjust your expectations to someone with different values. Just use that opportunity as a learning experience to understand your role. This will allow forgiveness to take place so much easier. Remember, forgiveness doesn't mean you think what that person did was okay. It just means that you've learned to let go of the pain and hurt they caused and you're moving on with your life. It also means you've learned a lesson from the experience and, in the future, become more cognizant of the behaviors you've overlooked in the past so you won't experience a repeat performance. Enlightenment begins where victimization ends. Releasing the past paves a huge path for not only your emotional health and spiritual enlightenment, it also stimulates physical health. Forgiveness is exactly what needs to be done in order for you to grow emotionally, physically and spiritually. This is a major component of joyful living.



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How To Run Tech-Free -- And Love It

Lately, I've been running naked. Don't get the wrong idea. Not naked naked. Not streaking. Nobody wants to see that.



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Get Busy Living or Busy Dying

I received this email from Ty*, a client of mine, on Thursday, the same day I learned one of my mentors, Coach Don Meyer, entered hospice care. Ty is a real estate investor and also works in the pharma industry, he got some bad news about a property he's selling and emailed me about it...



Just received news that the property I'm selling needs work. First thoughts are of how to get out of this situation as cheap as possible. I'm also angry that the previous owner and inspector took advantage of me. Fortunately I'm working at the cancer center today and I can see what real crisis is. A husband pushing his sick wife in a wheel chair, parents helping a little boy with no hair slowly walk down the hallway, an old man sitting by himself hooked to an IV line. This real estate situation may cost me $10,000 or more and may delay the sale by up to six months. But after the bill is paid I GET TO come home to a healthy loving wife and two healthy, happy children. The only crisis here is my own thinking that the world is unfair or that I've somehow been had when in reality I'm probably the luckiest S.O.B. in the world.





Yes you are and so am I, as are probably most of the people reading this. The reality for all of us is that if we're walking and breathing and don't have a terminal illness we really don't have any problems. And Coach Meyer has shown is that if you do have a terminal illness it's only terminal if your mindset is as well. Perhaps the best way to sum up the key to life is wisdom from the movie Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufresne said to his fellow inmate Red:



"Life comes down to a simple choice: You're either busy living or busy dying."




It isn't just a quote from a movie, its advice for all of us. One of my mentors, Coach Don Meyer passed away last Sunday. He was proof of the power of perspective and the right mindset. On September 5, 2008, Coach Meyer's car collided head on with a truck and it nearly killed him. The accident shattered all his ribs, destroyed his spleen and tore his diaphragm. He also had part of his left leg amputated. Additionally, when doctors were treating him they discovered inoperable cancer of his liver and small intestine. Coach was hospitalized for two months, but he returned to coaching. While in a wheelchair at courtside in January 2009, he surpassed Bob Knight as the winningest coach in men's college basketball history with his 903rd victory. That same year he won the ESPN ESPY award for Perseverence.



Meyer's primary emotion after the accident was gratitude, here is what he told the media:



"What's great about this is I wouldn't have known about the cancer had I not had the wreck. God has blessed me with the one thing we all need, which is truth.

I can now fight with all of my ability."





From the day of the accident forward, despite his diagnosis, Coach Meyer chose to get busy living. He retired from coaching in 2009 and continued to serve others as a speaker and mentor and by raising money for a cancer treatment center in Aberdeen.



Shortly after his diagnosis, I interviewed him for my book and in our conversations he learned my daughter was hard of hearing. He sent her a one-legged Don Meyer bobble head doll and a handwritten note to let her know she wasn't alone. She has a constant reminder on her shelf that there are lots of other people succeeding in the face of adversity. They are busy living!



He did that gesture of kindness for her, yet he also did it for him. You see, gratitude is the antidote to fear. Coach Meyer shared with me after the surgery, that the first time he bent down to tie his shoes and realized he "had to" put his prosthetic leg on he cried. Then he realized he "got to" put his leg on and it took on new meaning. He got to continue to teach, mentor and inspire others in this new season of his life. Busy living indeed!



On Thursday I shaved my head in solidarity with Coach Meyer. I'm going to keep it that way as a reminder to maintain proper perspective. Please remember what my client Ty has reminded himself... Live a "GET TO" life, not a "HAVE TO" life.



You don't have to work, you get to. You don't have to deal with that difficult child you're raising, you get to. You don't have to go to the gym, you get to.



Now Let's Get Busy Living!



* Client's name and some details have been changed



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