Monday, August 16, 2021

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0198

9851.  Liquor stores aren’t open on Sundays in South Carolina;
9852.  Liquor stores aren’t open on Sundays in North Carolina (either);
9853.  You can buy Everclear in North Carolina;
9854.  Charlie (Dog) has (now) been to the beach;
9855.  Apparently, McDonald’s doesn’t use onion powder in their food;
9856.  Charlie (Dog) likes apples;
9857.  Your whole life is a kind of apprenticeship.  Everything that happens to you is a form of instruction if you pay attention;
9858.  People too often make the mistake of thinking there is an end point for the need to learn, practice or improve;
9859.  Most students of any discipline inevitably stop learning at some point and flatter themselves that they know everything they need to know;
9860.  Sooner or later we reach a point in our studies or careers when things start to feel easier;
9861.  If things stay easy for too long, motivation evaporates and we lose enthusiasm for our work;
9862.  In a world mostly driven by profit and praise, creativity usually comes a distant second to productivity;
9863.  To stay engaged with your craft, you must continually strive to improve.  Stagnation will lead to dissatisfaction on a long enough timeframe;
9864.  Between too easy and too hard, there is the “Goldilocks” zone where the level of challenge is just a little beyond what you know you’re capable of.  Continually look for that sweet spot and you will find greater joy in your work and reach a deeper understanding of your field than you knew existed;
9865.  Charlie (Dog) has eaten gator (tail);
9866.  REEF (brand) sandals (REEF.com) are (really( comfortable;
9867.  Apparently, Elizabeth’s cousin’s (i.e., Amanda’s) husband is the CFO of Sazerac Company (i.e., the makers of Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Goldschlager & Pappy Van Winkle among others);
9868.  I can say I’ve blown a double bubble . . . and a triple bubble (too);
9869.  Beach house (on Pawleys Island) . . . check;
9870.  Kayaks are heavy;
9871.  People can actually catch something surf fishing (specifically blacktip sharks);
9872.  I can say I’ve gone kayaking on Pawleys Island;
9873.  Marlin’s grandfathers died/passed on the same day (i.e., August 6th) a year apart . . . strange/weird;
9874.  (If something goes wrong,) just be a goldfish (i.e., have a short memory) and move on;
9875.  Helping others feels good.  There is some evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness.  This heightened sense of well-being might be the byproduct of being more physically active as a result of volunteering or because it makes us more socially active;
9876.  Helping others can help us to make new friends and connect with our community.  Face-to-face activities such as volunteering at a food bank can also help reduce loneliness and isolation;
9877.  Studies show that volunteering enhances an individual’s overall sense of purpose and identity.  This is because helping others can make you feel rewarded, fulfilled and empowered;
9878.  Giving helps keep things in perspective.  Helping others, especially those who are less fortunate than yourself, can help to put things into perspective and make you feel more positive about your own circumstances;
9879.  One study found that people are more likely to perform feats of generosity after observing another do the same.  This effect can ripple throughout the community inspiring dozens of individuals to make a difference;
9880.  Regular volunteering can improve your ability to manage stress and stave off disease as well as increase your sense of life satisfaction.  This might be because volunteering alleviates loneliness and enhances our social lives;
9881.  Helping others can teach you to help yourself.  If you’ve been through a tough experience or just have a case of the blues, the “activism cure” is a great way to get back to feeling like yourself;
9882.  People who volunteer have been found to have higher self-esteem and overall well-being.  The benefits of volunteering also depend on your consistency.  So, the more regularly you volunteer, the more confidence you’ll gain;
9883.  When you help others, you give off positive vibes, which can rub off on peers and improve your friendships.  Being a force for good in a friend’s life can help build a lasting bond;
9884.  Having a positive impact on someone else could help you change your own outlook and attitude.  Experts say that performing acts of kindness boosts your mood and ultimately makes you more optimistic and positive;
9885.  Everybody just wants to be heard.  What every child wants to know is: “Do your eyes light up when I enter the room?  Did you hear me and did what I say mean anything to you?”  That’s all they’re looking for.  That’s what everybody is looking for;
9886.  Every single person you will ever meet shares the desire for validation.  They want to know: “Do you see me?  Do you hear me?  Does what I say mean anything to you?”  Try it with your children, your husband, your wife, your boss and your friends.  Validate them.  “I see you.  I hear you.  And what you say matters to me;”
9887.  When taking your parents’ advice, observe if they have the life, relationships and emotional wellness you’d want for yourself;
9888.  (A plumber told me,) you should use your garbage disposal at least once a month. . . . Fill up the (garbage) disposal with ice (cubes) and turn it on until you can’t hear it grinding anymore.  The grinding keeps the blades clean and sharpens them (as well);
9889.  (A plumber told me,) you should plug up your (kitchen) sink with a sink stopper, fill it up with water and then unplug it at least once a month.  The water pressure helps to push debris down your pipes;
9890.  (A plumber told me,) you should use “Bio-Clean” (i.e., a special combination of natural bacteria and enzymes that digests dead organic waste found in plumbing) in your (kitchen) sink at least once a month to keep it from clogging;
9891.  Aretha Franklin knew Martin Luther King(, Jr.);
9892.  Aretha Franklin was heavily involved in the civil rights movement;
9893.  Elizabeth likes Aretha Franklin;
9894.  Integrating abandonment trauma and learning how to self-regulate while that trauma gets triggered is necessary for healthy, conscious, loving relationships with others and yourself;
9895.  You can heal abandonment trauma to a great extent by releasing many trapped emotions from the body connected with feeling abandoned;
9896.  Releasing the trapped emotions helps rewire the nervous system back to balance;
9897.  Causes of abandonment trauma: 1.  Family instability due to parental disputes or separation due to divorce; 2.  Death of parents or caregivers who the child depended on to feel safe and loved; 3.  Emotionally unavailable family or a parent who is only sporadically engaged with the child; and 4.  Childhood neglect due to mental health issues (such as depression in the parent) or substance abuse (such as alcoholism or drug abuse);
9898.  Signs a person is living with abandonment trauma: 1.  Broken relationships or friendships, separation from lover/partner, feeling unattached or emotionally unavailable to connect; 2.  Fear of loneliness or being abandoned; 3.  Giving too much or being overly eager to please; 4.  Jealousy in your relationship or of others; and 5.  Having difficulty in feeling intimate emotionally;
9899.  Other people’s insecurities about your success, your money or your happiness are just that . . . their insecurities.  Nobody benefits if you “play small” just to appease them;
9900.  Charlie (Dog) likes graham crackers;