I cant believe people study this random crap...and get paid for it....

How a hard chair creates a hard heart:

A bunch of yale-led psychologists did a study to show that our sense of touch affects how we view the world. They interviewed job applicants- those who were holding heavier clipboards to fill out their application, took their job more serious than their counterparts. In a different study, they found that if people were sitting on hard, cushionless chairs were less likely to compromise in price negotiations than those who were sitting on soft comfortable chairs.

In a different study, L. Williams found that in an encounter, people judged others to be more generious IF they were having a warm cup of coffee, as oppose to a cold drink.

A. Bargh explains that infants first develop physical contacts such as roughness, hardness and warmth. He argues that this is critical in how they view "abstract concepts" about people and relationships (ex. detecting a warm smile).

Life with and without faith

I can't help but think about the days that I truly believed in God. For years... I was able to get through ANYTHING ... and I mean ANYTHING... believing that

“The Lord [was] my rock”(

Psalm 18:2).

I used to believe that "

With God all things [were] possible” (

Mark 10:27).

How did I get through the hardship of life? I prayed ! I would pray for God's helping hand... I would pray for him to lead me to the right path....

Back then... I was happy. I had faith.

About two weeks ago, I had a very hard exam that I had truly studied hard for...but I didn't feel as though I was prepared enough. I was talking on the phone with one of my friends, and as a joke I said to her, "You know, I'm gonna pray to any and every God out there....I'll take on any religion I can... because I really need that extra help" . After I got off the phone... I realized that when I believed in God... after a prayer... I felt a lot more grounded... a lot more stable... a lot more assured.. whether it was a placebo effect or not... it happened. Then I applied the same principle to other aspects of my life. Having faith allowed me to feel happier, safer, more protected. My heart was more at ease...

Believing in God... made me set out more restrictions on myself. I lived my life differently. I liked those restrictions... but now... I have my own rules and regulations. I draw the line where I think it should be drawn. I was more humble... alot more collected. At the same time... I was young.. I am definitely more mature and life throws more "lemons" as you grow older... but deep inside... I didn't feel as empty and hallow as I do now...

So.... Sometimes.... I wish I believed in God.... whether he exists or not.... whether a placebo or not... because believing in his existence not only made me stronger but also a better person.

Believing in God... made me feel closer to my search.... closer to finding the tranquility that I've been seeking for....

Nerdy Post

I am obsessed with reading random science related news ! I came across this today:

Gay men's bilateral brains better at remembering faces: York U study

According to this study, gay men, like females, use both sides of their brains and thus are able to recall familiar faces better than heterosexual men (who use their right hemisphere for recalling familiar faces).

Yay York University for actually publishing an article ! lol

___________________________

And now for pure randomness:

So researchers at some university (BGU) developed a geeky software program that is capable of detecting depression in bloggers !! Oh yes my dear friends... I can NOT wait... until this program "reads" my blog. lol

Professor Yair Neuman claims that the software has been designed to find "hidden content" that is indicative of depression.

Here is an example: the program picks up words that express emotions ( could even be colour) so in the article they used the colour black. The program then combines the word "black" with other terms that describes symptoms of depression (so first it picks up emotions, then symptoms) such as "sleep deprivation" or "loneliness" - This will then be recognized as a "depressive" text.

People get paid to do this... wow...

"Insomniacs have different brains"

Dr. Ellemarjie Altena discovered that insomniac patients have a reduced grey matter density in certain regions of their brains- in particular the orbitofrontal cortex.

hm... I wonder if I have reduced grey matter ?

Old School

I find myself listening to alot of old school music... and by old school ...i mean what I used to listen to in highschool ! I'd love to have music on my blog but due to a certain someone's request... I took it off... (dude...do you even read my blog anymore? if you dont.. I'm gonna put up some music !!!). Therefore, I shall list a number of GOOODDDDD tracks that you could youtube (lol) or if you're cool enough ...you have it in your itunes (or whatever you use).

ps. The ones with * are my all time favorites (be aware...many will have an asteriks)
pss. Yes I did this on excel... so that it could alphabetically order it for me
psss. I could have reached atleast 150... but I forced myself to stop lol


112- Your letter
112-Only you
Adele- Chasing Pavements
Aerosmith- Jaded
Alicia Keys-Fallin'
Allure & 112- All cried out
Angie Martinez- If I could go
Annie Lennox- Whiter shade of pale
Avant- Separated
Babyface- Nobody knows it but me ***
Blero ft. Memli- Cant you see
Blue- Best in me*
Bobby Tinsley- I'm missing you
Boyz II Men- Dreams
Boyz II Men- End of the road
Brandy & Mase- Sitting on top of the world
Brandy- Have you ever ***
Brian McKnight- One last cry ***
Bryan Adams- Everything I do
Case- I'm missing you
Christina Aguilera- The voice within
Christina Aguilera- Walk away***
Ciara ft. R Kelly- Next to you
Cold Play-The Scientist (Natasha Bedingfield does this well also)
Damien Rice- The Blower's daughter
Darren Hayes- Insatiable
Dido- Thank you
Eric Benet ft. Tamia - Spend my life with you***
Eric Benet- Still with you
Eric Benet- You're the only one
Evanescence- My immortal
Fabolous ft. P.Diddy- Trade it all Part II
Fat Joe- All I need
Frankie J- Don’t wanna try
George Michael- Careless whisper *
Ginuwin- my whole life/differences ***
Heather Headley- I wish I wasn't
India Arie- Brown skin
India Arie- Ready for love ***
Jagged Edge- All out of love
Jason Mraz- Lucky (i know its not OLD SCHOOL but ya)***
Jay Z- Dear summer ( lil wayne does it well also)
Jay Z- I just died in your arms
Jennifer Lopez- Dear Ben
Jim Brickman & Jordan hill- Destiny ***
Joe Crocker- You are so beautiful ***
Joe- I wanna know
Jordan Knight- Broken by you
KC & JoJo- All my life
Keyshia Cole- Love
Lenny Kravitz- Again
Letoya Luckett-torn
Lionel Richie- Hello***
Llyod ft. Ashanti- Southside
Lonestar- Amazed ***
Luther Vandross- If I didn't know better*
Marc Anthony- I need you
Marc Anthony- My baby you
Marcos Hernandez- If you were mine
Maria Mena- I miss you love ***
Mariah Carey- My all***
Mariah Carey-Through the rain
Marques Houston- Smile
Massari- Gone away ***
Massari- Real love
Michael Buble-Lost ***
Michael Buble-You and I
Monica- What hurts the most***
Musiq Soulchild- Dont Change
Musiq Soulchild- Love ***
Natasha Bedingfield- I bruise easily ***
Nelly ft. Jaheim- My place
No Doubt- Don't speak
Outlandish- Callin' U *** (if you've never heard this song....LISTEN TO IT)
Phil Collins-cant stop loving you
R Kelly- I believe I can fly *
R Kelly- Turn back the hands of time
Ray J- One wish
Sade- By your side***
Seal- Kiss by a rose***
Seal- Love's divine
Smilez and Southstar- Tell me
Tamia- Officially missing you***
the Fugees- Killing me softly ***
Toni Braxton and Babyface- There's no me without you***
Toni Braxton ft. Babyface- How could an angel break my heart***
Toni Braxton- Unbreak my heart
Twista ft. Faith Evans- Hope
Usher- Separated
Westlife- My love

Because books are my greatest companions

I'm currently reading a book that my dad just finished reading... It's called "The Twelve Sacred Principles of Karma" by Steven L. Hairfield, who studied with Tibetan monks, and if you know anything about me...you know that I have a passion for Buddhism.

It is quite apparent from the title that the book is utterly dedicated towards Karma. I'm not particularly a firm believer in Karma, but Hairfield has introduced some very interesting ideas which I will share with you. Nevertheless, I find some of his ideas absurd. I sat and read about 50 pages in one sitting... and now I think if I continue on... I will be really turned off and close the book and return it to my dad.... So I think I will take a tiny break from it. I think what REALLy bothered me was that he started to discuss illnesses and disease. He then went on taking credit away from genetics and blaming disease PURELY on lifestyle (includes mental and emotional states).... And thats where I drew the line. He also blamed the pandemic of bird flu...on Karma...?? !!!??

The following are some of the REASONABLE and interesting quotes that I took from the very first chapter of this book. I hope you enjoy it.

"We can only know others by how we know ourself."

"Become what you seek, and it shall find you"

"Ultimately , in order to achieve happiness through love, we must learn to trust no matter what we are faced with....when we trust, we must trust ourself first before we may ever trust another human, just as we do in the arena of love."

"Trust and patience go hand-in-hand, for without patience we may not trust anything as we literally rush in blindly... through the eyes of a monk, patience builds trust while trust strengthens patience."

"The most powerful thing we have is our mind and thought."

"Look within. Be still. Live free from fear and attachment, know the sweet joy of the way. Live in joy, in love amongst all things." - Buddha

Only Two Whistles Away

So one of my close girlfriends moved to New York for school purposes. She has worked very hard to get to where she is and I couldn't be any more proud. But NY?? really??

I've known her for five years now, but we've only become close for about a year. I think with most of my friends I usually play the "motherly" role, but with her... she it's the opposite. She has listened to my melodramatic life and held my hand through it. She is very blunt and knows how to put me back into my place... no matter how harsh it sounds.

Last Thursday was her goodbye party. A couple of her friends had decided that buying her a pink whistle would be "useful"... well because she is moving to NY...and in case of an "emergency" lol she could use the "universal whistle code" and whistle,

Once for: come here

Twice for: where are you

Thrice for: Help

So the night went on, people chatted, laughed and mingled... I stayed until everyone else had left... at the end of the night, when it was time to say goodbye... she hugged me... and said "Please be good..." and she gave me a mini- reminder of what I SHOULDN'T do... She then said, "Nina, I'm only two whistles away"... and I couldn't hold it in anymore... I "teared" lol.

We talked to for about hour and half on skype today... and most of the time... she kept being her "motherly" self and reminded me to stay on track...... love you....

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. " Henri Nouwen

So I shall have a super emotional blog moment:

Your presence is missed !! (ps. thats what it says under the picture.. lol).... I am thankful to have such an amazing person in my life ! MWAAA

Happiness

Life is not full of laughter and joy. Our heart is not always intact, we are not always healthy, our soul is not always at peace and our thoughts are not always at ease...

But perhaps it is because of the "down times" that we are able to process, enjoy and embrace the good moments.

The following are a couple of suggestions to help all of us at our troubled times:

• Smile. Smile to yourself, smile to your friends and family, and even to strangers. Smiling is a natural "drug". It releases endorphins (suppresses pain) and serotonin (mood regulator). Smiling is apparently contagious and according to psychologist Dr. David Lewis,"Seeing a smile creates what is termed as a 'halo' effect, helping us to remember other happy events more vividly, feel more optimistic, more positive and more motivated."

• Walk. Walk alone or with someone, or even with your dog. Embrace the weather. Take deep breaths. Try to pay attention to the beauty of your surroundings. When you see a flower, dont just walk past it... stop ! look ! smell ! enjoy ! Not only is walking good for your physical being (ex. increased level of circulation) but it's also good for your psychological being.

• Donate. If you are financially unable to donate, you can volunteer some of your time to help others in need. Be the change you want to see in the world. Once you help others, even if you've made a very small difference... you will feel somewhat accomplished. I can talk about this forever... perhaps another time... but please... if you are going to help others... do it with pure intentions.

• Sing. Listen to a song you LOVE... and sing to it out loud lol... in your car, in your room, in the shower... wherever. Listen to songs that cheer you up !

• Eat. Don't get fat and blame it on me! lol... but eat food that you enjoy. Set out a time in your busy day, and sip on your favorite cup of coffee/tea while reading a book or chatting with a friend.

• Be Grateful. Be thankful for the things you have. This requires you to first recognize your blessings, and then be grateful for them. Do NOT take anything for granted.

• De-clutter. Make your surrounding environment organized. Clutter and messiness can be frustrating. Often, it increases our anxiousness and brings down our mood. So.. Clean.. !! Put on good music, and do it for fun.

• Physical Care. Take care of your physical self. Work out. Groom yourself. Wear flattering clothing. Put on your favorite perfume/cologne. Looking good on the outside, will boost up your confidence and will make you feel good on the inside.

• Self Affirmation. Try to talk to yourself. Affirm a state of mind you want to be in. In other words, stay positive. why? Because when you practice this "positive thinking",certain neurons will be fired...together... and when you do this over and over... their "bond" will be strengthened. Similarly, when certain pathways are not used... that "bond" weakens. So lets say something bad happens, and you try to think positive. As you do this repeatedly, as time goes on, when problems are thrown at you, you will automatically think positively. LOL. yay. (DUH moment... but its true ... try it please). The following link is a simple explanation of what happens... I think I'd like to blog about this soon. http://hubpages.com/hub/Self-Affirmations