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Many of us have heard of Pop Art, of Conceptual Art, and of the umbrella term, “Modern Art”. But not many of us have heard of Sots Art. Sots art is a relatively lesser well-known art movement that originated in the Soviet Union, in the 1970s-mainly as a retaliation against the official state approved “Socialist Realist” art style. Invented By the two-man artist collective Vitaly Komarand Alexander Melamid, this artistic tendency was called Sots Art, combining the “sots” from Socialist Realism (sotsialisticheskikh realizm in Russian) and the “art” from Pop Art. Though Komar and Melamid originally gave the name “Sots Art” to a specific series of works from 1972–73,it has come to refer to the work of a number of other artists, including Leonid Sokov, Alexander Kosolapov, and Boris Orlov, who all worked in a kind of socialist pop style. Rather than turning away from politics and disappearing into the rarefied sphere of art (in imitation of Western Modernism, which was banned in the U.S.S.R.), the Sots artists turned a critical eye to the subjects and modes of Socialist Realist visual culture, an approach that was just as, if not more, politically risky than avoiding politics altogether. Insight into the Creators: Komar and Melamid were trained at the Stroganov Institute of Art and Design in Moscow, the oldest artistic educational institution in Russia, and graduated in 1967. This year happened to correspond with a very important date: the fiftieth anniversary of the Russian Revolution. In 1972, Komar and Melamid were commissioned to create a program of visual décor for a young pioneer camp in the Moscow countryside to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the organization of young pioneers-with the two artists put in charge of decorating the camp with signs, slogans, and plaques. Two of the works in the resulting Sots-art series were typical red signs with white lettering,resembling the ubiquitous signs that one might see proclaiming Communist slogans on the wall of a meeting hall, on the side of a building, in a classroom, or carried during a public demonstration. However, Komar and Melamid altered the familiar Soviet sign in several crucial ways. In one work, Quotation(1972), they replaced the slogan's letters with white rectangles, suggesting that the contents of the words were of no importance since Soviet citizens were already deeply conditioned to understand white letters on a red banner as being typical Communist propaganda. Our GoalIs Communism! (1972), Komar and Melamid Produced the famous slogan word for word, but instead of citing the author of the quote, Vladimir Lenin, below the text, they signed their own names, the way an artist might sign their name at the bottom of a finished canvas. We shall end this introduction to Sots Art with a quote by Komar and Melamid in their Sots Art Manifesto: they are not “craftsmen who support the aesthetic needs of the middle class.”

What does NFT mean? An NFT is a non-fungible token existing on a blockchain The new creator economy! The most exciting part of the NFT revolution is that artists specialized in digital arts will finally be compensated for their work. Until now, it was very hard for artists to monetize their creations because of the very nature of digital art and its infinite reproducibility. Now, true fans of the artists will be able to directly support them with any middle-men or platform. The uprise on NFT. The Weeknd is getting into the NFT game this weekend, with his first foray into the red-hot Non-fungible token crypto game. "Excited to announce that my first NFT drop is taking place on Saturday (March 3) at 2:00 pm EST on @niftygateway," the singer tweeted on Wednesday. "The collection will feature new music and limited edition art. I developed the artwork with Strange Loop Studios." Big creators and small. Many digital art creators can make an impact no matter how big or small. For example @B1THEAD on instagram has a small following but shows a prime example of an NFT creator. Art Work; So WHY should you be in the know? With high scaling numbers investments with crypto currency & NFT you have a nice chance of making real $$$. Remember you always start somewhere! Sources; https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.entrepreneur.com/amphtml/366648 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/9549617/the-weeknd-nft-drop-new-music-artwork/

Likhita V. 6/6/21 Hi! This is my first blog post and what inspired me to create this piece was the guiding inquiry for my AP Art Portfolio which was, "How can I express the fleeting nature of life and convey the importance of enjoying every moment". I drew it on different scraps of newspaper and magazine clippings to represent how the news is never the same and changes everyday just like our lives. This piece mainly relates to the first half of my guiding inquiry which is talking about the fleeting nature of life, I wanted the person in this picture to be reading an old newspaper article about himself and how "times have changed" So I just want the viewers to remember to enjoy themselves and not stress about life especially with COVID and all!

The Greener Grass A Blog by Jessica Nino Tip Of The Day: find one thing to be thankful for today. You are alive and i’m thankful for that. <3 Medical Racism & Discrimination: What is it? All used sources and sites are linked on the last slide The term ‘Medical Racism’ has recently been brought to many people's attention during the past years, but this action is anything but new. Medical racism is the act of racism and discrimination in the medical system towards people of color patients and wokers. This includes instances where patients and workers of color are not prioritized, given proper medical attention, and even ignored despite their needs. Medical racism is not an idea or theory, it is a very real problem America is constantly facing which affects many daily. The following are instances both show and prove medical racism taking place in today’s society. In many instances, women (especially if not mostly of color) are treated like they are overreacting, a bother, confused, and blowing their situations out of proportion when many times that is not the case at all. This is not the only type of instance; in a study linked below, it is proven that ambulances are slower to arrive at lower income neighborhoods. Although one may argue this may not be done on purpose or be an act of racism by the individuals, why are the proper health insurance not equally available to those who are not as wealthy? “Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related deaths have persisted over time. Pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births (the pregnancy-related mortality ratio or PRMR) for black women older than 30 was four to five times as high as it was for white women. Even in states with the lowest PRMRs and among women with higher levels of education, significant differences persist. These findings suggest that the disparity observed in pregnancy-related death for black and AI/AN women is a complex national problem.” “As a white physician who does a lot of Worker’s Comp in California , I notice that Hispanic patients have many more services, disability, and medications denied by Insurance companies. It is absolutely shocking. I wasn’t looking for this, but it’s staring me in the face. Also, I agree that a black patient is much more likely to be viewed as drug seeking in an ER type situation. Stereotypes are rampant in medicine, unfortunately. And the culture of ER’s can be appalling.” “Gasping out her words, she said that she feared another blood clot and needed a CT scan and an IV of heparin, a blood thinner. The nurse suggested that Williams’ pain medication must be making her confused. Williams insisted that something was wrong, and a test was ordered;an ultrasound on her legs was taken to address swelling. When that turned up nothing, she was finally sent for the lung CT. It found several blood clots. And, just as Williams had suggested, heparin did the trick,” (experienced by Serena Williams) Contact me Hi! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback on the content I am regularly publishing! I believe it is important I stay connected with yall and am able to positively connect and learn from yalls criticism and suggestions to help me improve as a writer. I encourage you to send me ideas and suggestions based on what you’d like to read about so that I can regularly connect with you all as well as better understand your interests, and help y’all destress, learn, and enjoy my content. -Love, J You can contact me through the following links and medias: Gmail: jessicanino2004@gmail.com Twitter: 1andxnlynino And Instagram: jjessicaninoo (also found at the top of the page next to the title, you can reach my profile by clicking the IG icon or looking it up through the username) The best way to reach me would be through either Email or instagram, I am constantly checking both. Don't be shy! Even if you don’t have suggestions, if you need a safe space, feel emotionally/mentally stressed, are feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a friend, I am always available! FAQs Who Am I? My Name is Jessica & I am a blogger for the CPSB (college prep student bubble) I was given the wonderful ability to create content for you all as a way to relax or entertain/learn while you prepare for AP/college. What Are My Interests? My interests include painting, volleyball, discovering music, reading (mostly sci-fi or romance), writing about absolutely anything and interacting with new people! I believe having hobbies and consistently participating in them helps you mentally and physically destress, so if you haven't done something you enjoy today, take the time to do it :). What Do I Intend For This Blog? This blog was created for you as a student to get some daily reading in on something that interests you. This became a resource because AP and college can very often be stressful and a handful, my purpose is to entertain you and help you stay motivated. My writing can be seen as a brain break or relaxer to those who are interested in it. I intend to make this a very chill spot for you all and to bring weekly content on any topic imaginable you suggest/want. What Grade Am I In & What Courses Am I Taking? I am an incoming Junior for the 2020-21 year, and will be graduating with the class of ‘22. I am an Early College High School student, so half of my classes are highschool and the other half are college. My classes this year will include: English 4 dual credit, Geometry PAP, Environmental Systems PAP, US History, (high school). For my first semester in college I am taking College English, Texas Government, and Philosophy. More About My Writing: How did I come up with ‘The Greener Grass’? Very often I heard the saying “the grass isn't always greener on the other side” I decided to name my blog after this to give it a positive connotation: it doesn’t matter what side of the “grass’’ were on, sure it may not be the greenest, but I think that by being positive & interacting we can make our grass greener. To me this means we can help each other out, we can teach and learn from each other; we will all eventually feel stress, pressure, & frustration, but together we can make the most out of it and encourage each other & grow. Cites used, referenced and helpful related to this content: https://www.ywcaworks.org/blogs/firesteel/tue-07212020-0947/what-medical-racism https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/07/beyonce-serena-williams-open-up-about-potentially-fatal-childbirths-a-problem-especially-for-black-mothers/ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/ https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/new-study-finds-ambulances-are-slower-to-get-to-patients-in-low-income-areas https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p0905-racial-ethnic-disparities-pregnancy-deaths.html

My grandmother’s kitchen has always been small-with a stove, a miniature oven, and a diminutive shelf for hanging kitchen tools. But out of it came dishes redolent in aromas: steaming noodles, a nest hosting a pool of peppery meat sauce; garlicky stir fry tomatoes, the scrambled eggs hidden like treasure gold-warm baked cranberry bread, all which gave a visiting grandchild a reason to rise early in the morning, sit beside the warm hearth, a slice of freshly baked breakfast in each hand, a ceramic bowl of congee balanced in the lap. I remembered one occasion where she had let me help with a pasta sauce-she's always open to new types of cooking, regardless of East or West. In this case, she decided to cook Italian for her "dear grandbabies".(quoting her.) Taking a knife in her hand, she finely chops the garlic until the pieces are small. Shallots came next, less pungent than its feisty cousin, the onion, but equally flavorful. Sausage, carefully diced into quarter-slices. Whole tomatoes, blended in a food processor, smelling of goodness. Heating up oil in the cast iron pan, she motions for me to come watch. Butter came first, melting. Then garlic, the aroma filling the whole kitchen. Shallots. a whisper of flavor accompanying the butter and garlic. At this point, she pauses and looks at me. "Meat sauce needs red wine. But if you put it too early, it taste sour. So now, we add milk." Gently, the milk slips into the sauce, the meat absorbing it, becoming an ashy gray. Tomato sauce came next, harmonious with the sausage. Lastly, my grandmother puts in a dash of red wine. Lifting the pan from the stove, she beams triumphantly. "Finished!" Now that the pandemic has separated us by so many weary miles, the most I can do is to think of her while cooking her recipes. Grandma, I miss you.

The Greener Grass A Blog by Jessica Nino Tip of the Day: watch your favorite vine or video<3 Fast Fashion, What Is It? Fast fashion is the mass production of clothes and accessories in an attempt to keep up with styles that are trending and in high demand. Fast fashion brands are mostly considered cheap and many are online retailers. Fast fashion companies have recently become extremely popular due to how they are able to meet the high demand and produce clothes at such a low price. What Makes Fast Fashion Bad? The downside of fast fashion is that it disregards the processes to produce environmentally safe products, and it uses toxic and polluted materials because they are cheaper. Often enough, customers will agree they noticed the fabric feels cheaper, and the dyes fade away or affect the item, as well as how some purchased items smell of chemicals. Fast Fashion also hires workers under undesirable conditions, such as overworking them, underpaying them, and dismissing their basic needs. Workers are often denied services other jobs don’t tend to think twice about, thus making their environment harsher than the average work space and is the exact reason it is frowned upon. Controversy Around fast Fashion Fast fashion becomes controversial when its prices come in. People have commented that although they do not support the process, it is ultimately what they can afford next to thrift stores. Many believe to quit fast fashion they have to buy sustainably made items which often result in a higher price some cannot afford. People are often quick to mention they recycle or give their clothes away once through with them, but overall, it doesn’t change the fact they add to the high demand of products these retailers receive. When clothes are donated, they have a certain amount of time to be sold. If they do not get sold in that time they end up thrown in landfills or donated to developing countries. Many companies already own factories in developing countries, further harming them by dumping their chemicals and dyes into their water. Greenwashing And its Connection to Fast Fashion Companies like H&M have made “sustainable” lines of clothing that claim to be eco friendly. Greenwashing is the act of making themselves seem more eco friendly than they really are. As Hasan Minhaj explains in his episode of fast fashion on “The Patriot Act” (linked below), fast fashion brands will claim they used recycled material on their item, and the only piece of recycled material found on it is the actual price tag. Another example of Greenwashing is claiming they replaced a certain material during a process like water during the dying process, and the water used in the process only being 1% of the whole manufacturing process. Alternatives to Fast Fashion Below are 2 links to help begin to slow the demand of fast fashion and find good alternatives of shops to use within your budget. Besides highly recommending you read those, I recommend you look into local thrift stores, and small local businesses that have recently opened or are open and fit your price point. So at this point you might be wondering, How can I tell what is and isn't fast fashion? Some good examples are retailers that often work months to release their product. Well known brands include: Burberry, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, and even Nike and Adidas have claimed to be stepping towards a greener approach. More affordable brands include: Pact, Levis, Alternative Apparel, Athleta and Columbia. There are many more under the first and third link under the “Stores that Are NOT Fast Fashion” section. If I Can't/Don’t Quit Fast Fashion, How Can I Still Help? Many believe to quit fast fashion they have to buy sustainably made items which often result in a higher price some cannot afford. If you cannot or don’t want to completely abandon retailers of fast fashion, Hasan Minhaj also mentioned if you can wear the clothes for an extra 9 months, you’d already be making a difference. Other tips would be to thrift instead of constantly buying from fast fashion stores, and to slowly cut back on the amount you purchase, as well as considering if you really need it. Doing this would slow the demand and labor towards fast fashion clothes as well as begin to help the environment by not tossing every piece you buy into a landfill every week. Fast Fashion Retailers You May Be Familiar With: Zara Zaful Shein Romwe FashionNova Forever 21 H&M Urban Outfitters Aeropostale Missguided Dollskill Topshop Victoria’s Secret American Eagle Etc. Contact me Hi! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and feedback on the content I am regularly publishing! I believe it is important I stay connected with yall and am able to positively connect and learn from yalls criticism and suggestions to help me improve as a writer. I encourage you to send me ideas and suggestions based on what you’d like to read about so that I can regularly connect with you all as well as better understand your interests, and help y’all destress, learn, and enjoy my content. -Love, J You can contact me through the following links and medias: Gmail: jessicanino2004@gmail.com Twitter: 1andxnlynino And Instagram: jjessicaninoo (also found at the top of the page next to the title, you can reach my profile by clicking the IG icon or looking it up through the username) The best way to reach me would be through either Email or instagram, I am constantly checking both. Don't be shy! Even if you don’t have suggestions, if you need a safe space, feel emotionally/mentally stressed, are feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a friend, I am always available! FAQs Who Am I? My Name is Jessica & I am a blogger for the CPSB (college prep student bubble) I was given the wonderful ability to create content for you all as a way to relax or entertain/learn while you prepare for AP/college. What Are My Interests? My interests include painting, volleyball, discovering music, reading (mostly sci-fi or romance), writing about absolutely anything and interacting with new people! I believe having hobbies and consistently participating in them helps you mentally and physically destress, so if you haven't done something you enjoy today, take the time to do it :). What Do I Intend For This Blog? This blog was created for you as a student to get some daily reading in on something that interests you. This became a resource because AP and college can very often be stressful and a handful, my purpose is to entertain you and help you stay motivated. My writing can be seen as a brain break or relaxer to those who are interested in it. I intend to make this a very chill spot for you all and to bring weekly content on any topic imaginable you suggest/want. What Grade Am I In & What Courses Am I Taking? I am an incoming Junior for the 2020-21 year, and will be graduating with the class of ‘22. I am an Early College High School student, so half of my classes are highschool and the other half are college. My classes this year will include: English 4 dual credit, Geometry PAP, Environmental Systems PAP, US History, (high school). For my first semester in college I am taking College English, Texas Government, and Philosophy. More About My Writing: How did I come up with ‘The Greener Grass’? Very often I heard the saying “the grass isn't always greener on the other side” I decided to name my blog after this to give it a positive connotation: it doesn’t matter what side of the “grass’’ were on, sure it may not be the greenest, but I think that by being positive & interacting we can make our grass greener. To me this means we can help each other out, we can teach and learn from each other; we will all eventually feel stress, pressure, & frustration, but together we can make the most out of it and encourage each other & grow. Cites used, referenced and helpful related to this content: https://youtu.be/K5xeVmjj4cs https://youtu.be/LqU9CdPs6ek https://youtu.be/fR7bXsoNwwE https://youtu.be/b_I6W9PNd_E https://youtu.be/xGF3ObOBbac https://thegreenhubonline.com/2019/09/18/how-ethical-and-sustainable-are-your-favourite-sportswear-brands/ Stores that are NOT fast fashion & which ones to avoid https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/-fast-fashion-brands https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/affordable-ethical-fashion-brands

by Reanna -April 11, 2021 I recently have just finished the novel Jane Eyre and I was inspired to write a poem about her childhood. As a child she was pitied, No mother, no father, Bullied and mistreated by everyone around her, She had always heard: “Poor Miss Jane for not being pretty enough” “Poor Miss Jane for not having enough love” It had only gotten worse as time went on, Being locked in a room for the wrong accusation Tied onto a chair with darkness surrounding her, The moonlight shining bright as a star on her face Thoughts invading on what she did wrong She had only defended herself Yet everything was always wrong in their eyes As the night went on, the thoughts continued like a running train It had slowly took over her heart and mind Thoughts of suffering and violence had occurred A battle between darkness and light Who will prevail? I was inspired by the way Jane was raised and treated during her childhood. I didn't really understand why her family hated her so much. I want the viewers to just enjoy the poem and hopefully get inspired.

When asked about Russian composers, the name that often comes to an individual's mind is usually "Tchaikovsky". But there is much more to Russian composers than Tchaikovsky-the influence of their work extends even to this day. It would be reasonable to think that Dmitri Shostakovich deserves to be commended on this matter. Considered a very inventive Soviet composer, Shostakovich was(and is) one of the most widely discussed-with a lot of very hot debates. His works came in different flavors-the slow, sorrowful movements of Piano Concerto No.2--the biting, sharp cynicism of Symphony No.5, or the bleak, desolate despair of his various string quartets. Naturally, the great maestro encompassed, and even transcended all these things-but how can an individual derive any sense from it, at all? A controversial figure, Shostakovich's personality could very well be described as chameleon-like-prone to frequent change, fluctuations, and transformations. Take his Piano Concerto No.1, which pieces every style of music together like a giant quilt – things like vaudeville, jazz, music hall, honky-tonk, and many subtle references to the deceased great composers of the past, like Beethoven or Haydn. Although one can never be sure what to expect next in the music, there is one set-in-stone fact about his music – it could only be by Shostakovich. Under the oppressive Stalinist regime, Shostakovich was required to compose uplifting music, to hail the patriotisms of Mother Russia. With the watchful, authoritarian eye of the Soviet government on him, Shostakovich was forced to compose something that could be a topical crowd-pleaser at that time-the resulting work turned out to be his 5th Symphony, which was exactly what he needed to have Stalin swung back in favor with him. Eventually, though, the authoritarianism would prove too much for the great maestro, for he died a broken man, lungs essentially capsized after years of cigarettes to ease the stress that the Stalinist regime had caused so badly. Perhaps with a hint of irony, he was highly praised by the issued official eulogy, hailing him as "finding his inspiration in the reality of Soviet life". A list of selected compositions can be found below: -Symphony No. 5 in D Minor -Symphony No. 7 in C Major -Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major -Suite from The Gadfly(1955) -Cello Sonata in D Minor

5 habits to quit – My last post was a list of five habits to start, so I thought it was fitting and useful to make a list of five habits to stop. I think the more we work to improve ourselves, the happier we are. We have more free time during covid, so this is a great time to break your bad habits. I hope this list gives you some motivation to quit a bad habit, especially if it’s one on this list. Remember, I always love feedback and suggestions for future posts! 1) Procrastination. I’ll be completely honest. I struggle with this the most. It’s hard for me to sit myself down and make myself do something when there’s other things I could be doing. But I’ve avoided the most stress when I’ve been proactive about getting things done early. I want to stop putting things off until the last minute, as I’m sure many of you do too. But wishing isn’t the same as doing. Make it a priority to tackle your tasks as soon as you can, and notice how much better it feels to have it off of your mind and plate. 2) Wasting valuable time on screens. In no way am I saying that you need to cut screens out of your life entirely, but it benefits yourself and society much more when you put down your phone, remote, etc. and start helping others, and just being alive. Screens can still be a good thing, but good things are best in moderation. Read a book, mow someone’s lawn, look around and notice who needs someone to talk to, etc. It’s also better for you to be less sedentary. Get up and move around. Take a walk outside, complete a workout, walk up and down stairs, etc. Your mood will improve and so will your health. Not to mention you’re no longer doom scrolling for hours. Doodle, go fishing, collect cool rocks, whatever makes you happy and gets you off the couch. 3) Blaming. This is a hard, subconscious, bad habit that many people have. Blaming others for a situation you’re in can be very toxic. Please note that there is a fine line between taking the blame for everyone/letting others walk all over you, and not searching for something or someone to blame. This habit has become so automated that we start to really believe that everything bad in our lives is because of someone else. Yes, certain things are directly or indirectly caused by the actions of someone else, but if we allow ourselves to believe that nothing bad is our fault, then we lose all control of the situation. We become less responsible and honest. This not only hurts us, but it negatively affects those around us and strains relationships that otherwise would be healthy. How do we stop doing this? We need to hold ourselves accountable to the things we do, to the degree by which it affects a situation. This also applies to anyone who blames themselves for any problems. As you start to change this, you’ll see a change in how you look at the world and notice that it seems much friendlier and manageable as you see that not everything is out to get you. 4) Pessimism. It is so easy to get caught up in all the negative things that have been and are happening around us that it feels like there isn’t any good left. This is detrimental to relationships, productivity, (optimism obviously) and our mental health. Stop doom scrolling. Look for ways we have improved during this time, and learn how to be positive even during challenging times. Take time to be grateful. Note the positive aspects in life. You just have to notice what perspective you’re looking at it from. I’m certainly not telling you to put on rose colored glasses and block any semi- negative event or thing out, but make sure to have a balance. Notice the good and the bad, not one or the other. This way of looking at things is much more fulfilling. 5) Gossiping. There’s not much good to say about gossip, there’s just a whole lot of bad. So why do we do it? This is a strange habit that I don’t fully understand, but I believe that it stems from our desire to be seen as better than those around us. Yet gossiping about others actually lowers the opinions of ourselves in the minds of others. This is why I don’t really understand it. Regardless, gossip is toxic and should be avoided. Instead, spread news of good qualities of others. Others will notice and will want to be around you more because you won’t talk bad about them behind their backs. You’ll gain respect rather than resentment. Let me know if you want more lists like this Stay safe, maemaeuae (I love feedback and suggestions for future posts)

Promise By Jade Did I do something wrong? Could I have made you stay? You promised me grace but gave hatred away, I thought you changed, But you let me astray, Do I know how to be me again? I can’t help but feel this way, I’m tired I need rest, But can never sleep because I’m a mess, Don’t go please stay, You promised you would hold me tight, On nights where I didn’t wanna fight, Was this a battle all along? Was I being used for your facade? Please go away your promises were nothing but spare change, You never mean what you say because when you show your true colors, You push me more and more away, I’m tired now go to sleep, But promise me this, Stop being weak.

When looking at the world, what do You see? Chaos and cruelty? Beauty and prosperity? Evolution and destruction? What do you truly see when you look out the window? When looking in the mirror, do you see yourself how others see you? Do you see potential? Or do you see someone that shouldn\’t be here, someone that does not deserve the air they breathe. I\’m Avii, and I\’m here to show you what it looks like to face the reality as a 15 year old teenager. I have not experienced all of life, nor am I any bit close to being wise, but I have had my fair share of life and its bitchiness. I will never say \”this is right\” and \”this is wrong\” because I cannot be the judge of that. I will however say things in my perspective, and this may come off as biased and opinionated, but please know I do not do this intentionally. And with this all said, I wish you luck and safety until the next time we meet 🙂

5 habits you can start this month – I realize this isn’t the run of the mill new years goal setting post, but anytime is a great time to improve yourself and start developing good habits. It can be hard to keep or even choose a habit to start, so here are some simple ideas to get you started or to inspire you to start something else. I don’t proclaim to be an expert at any of this, but I do believe that working on building habits will make you a better person and will help improve your mood overall. 1) Drink more water Yes, I know that this is probably the most generic habit suggestion there is, but I swear by it. I’ve noticed that I feel better when I drink enough water, especially now that I live in a dry climate. Look up how much water you should drink. The answers you’ll get will vary, some basing it off your weight, some your age, etc. Try different amount suggestions out, each for a week and see which amount makes you feel the best. If you live in a really arid climate or exercise a lot, I’d increase that amount somewhat. If the amount you should be drinking seems daunting to you, start small and work up to the amount you should be drinking. After a couple weeks, you’ll be accustomed to the amount of water you’re drinking, and will start to crave the right amount of water and it won’t seem so daunting anymore. I’d definitely recommend trying it out. 2) Early to bed and early to rise This one tends to be hard, especially for teens. I’m not saying you should sleep at 8 and get up at 6 or anything, but the sooner you go to bed (within reason, don’t go to sleep at 6 pm or anything), the better. I’ve noticed that the first week is HARD. Especially waking up earlier. But just like my water drinking suggestion, start out small with your overall goal and once you reach your goal, stick to it. The earlier I get up (again, within reason), the more productive I tend to be. I have more time to make a balanced breakfast, workout, make my bed (another great habit!), and get ready for the day. Even if you just get up half an hour earlier (depending on the time you already get up, don’t wake up before 5), you have that much more time in your morning. 3) Limit screen time Yet another difficult habit for teens! I know you’ve heard this before, but too much time looking at screens is bad for you. Lowering the brightness of your screen and wearing uv glasses only do so much. It’s especially hard to stay away from screens during the pandemic when virtually (haha see what I did there?) everything is online. But take frequent and lengthy breaks from your device, and don’t just go look at your phone or the tv. If you can, go for a walk outside or even just walk a bit in your house. Stretch and exercise a bit. Try to get some sunlight and fresh air every day, especially in covid times. Have a time limit for watching screens if you can. 4) Keep your space clear and clutter free Okay. I know, I sound like a nag. But seriously, I feel relieved when my desk is clear and my room is organized. This sounds like I think I’m a neat person and so it’s easy for me. NOPE. I have never been one to enjoy cleaning my room, but I have made myself organize and seriously, it feels much better afterwards. Especially if you can keep it organized. I’m still working on that part. Just take a few minutes a day and put a few things away. 5) Practice developing your hobbies/skills Covid-19 has made it hard for many of us to do what we love. Many sports have been postponed, events have been cancelled, etc. But there are still things we can do to practice and improve. This one is a very person-specific goal. This will vary for everyone. If you’re an athlete and you can’t meet to practice, still workout and learn about techniques you can use so as soon as sports resume, you don’t have as far to recover (does that make sense?) If your ‘thing’ is more creative related, find videos of other people doing it and learn from it or if you can, try to do it. Try to not let your skills get rustier than they have to, and do what you can to get better at whatever it is you love to do. Stay safe, Mary (p.s. I love feedback and suggestions for future posts)