Happy New Years! + Quick Update

Hello everyone! It's 2019, and I hope you're feeling better than ever to start this new year! With a new year comes new goals, and I'm excited to embark on a new journey in bettering myself. I hope you are as well.

I don't post much to this blog, but I've been doing a lot of writing on the side. I plan to move this blog to another platform, because frankly, Blogger just ain't doing it for me! Due to formatting issues and outdated features, I've decided to move to WordPress and start anew. This time, with an actual schedule! (But we shall see how that pans out. For now, Blogger it shall remain)

Anyway, I urge everyone to get out a pen, a notebook, just anything to write with. And start writing down your goals, and make a plan to take action. It's much easier to reach your goals when you take small steps.

Stay safe, and enjoy the rest of your holidays!

3 Things I Wish All Fast Food Places Had

Juicy burgers, crispy onion rings, and saucy mozzarella pizza... mmm...

It's hard to deny that these foods hold a special place in people's hearts. But even so, we all know that these delicious comfort foods cannot be eaten everyday. Fast food restaurants don't seem to have gotten the memo, though. Fast food is a $570 billion dollar industry; a feat achieved not by providing nutritious food, but by making it convenient for the masses to stuff their faces with exorbitant amounts of salt, sugar, and fat.

And we can't help but come back for more.

But friends, no longer must we subject ourselves to the dire monopoly of convenient, yet unhealthy fast food. No longer will we look at our waistlines and wonder what in the world happened! No longer, will we eat another loaf of damp, smelly bread!

That's right, I'm looking at you, Subway!

And to the rest of the fast food restaurants: take out a notepad and pen, for I am about to drop dirty (or rather, clean) tips on how you can keep your customers coming back for more, without sending them to the hospital with a stroke!

1. Salad Bars with actual greens
You all know what I mean.

Not that no-nutrition iceberg lettuce crap! I'm talking the real stuff: kale, spinach, swiss chard. And no more ranch dressing! Give us some lemon olive oil, balsamic vinegar, anything other than the same boring old ranch dressing over limp lettuce!

I assure you, if fast food places could maintain an attractive, nutritious salad bar, they would definitely turn tables. How would they pay for this, you may ask? If they don't already, they could implement one of those lunch combo deals from 12-2pm that includes a main dish, salad and water. Boom, profit. The crunchy kale salads alone will keep people coming back again, and again, and again...

2. Locally sourced, or quality ingredients
Don't let me find out my hamburger meat is actually the unwanted remains of a cow pumped full of hormones... oh wait...

Yeah.

I like to cook, and this helps me know where my food comes from. Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to know everything that's in your food when you're ordering at a restaurant. My eyes might see breaded chicken, when in reality it's a slab of mystery meat injected with sugar, dye, chemicals, and a whole lotta hoopla designed to be addictive.

In short, keep out unnecessary ingredients!

3. Transparency
I noticed that a lot of places try to be all sneaky with the reality of their food. They hide their calories and ingredients, claiming that "all that information can be found online". Yeah, let me just whip out my phone and scour the interweb to find the micronutrients of this chicken patty I'm trying to order.

Or, they can make all our lives easier and have a pamphlet of all that information readily available as soon as a customer walks in.

Unless... they have something to hide? Hmm...
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Of course, if fast food places had all these things, people would finally have a much easier time eating healthy food on the go. But, alas, that is not the case. Though these changes would be great, it would probably hike up the costs of the food on the menu. But I think a few extra bucks would be worth the transparent, quality food you'd be getting.

Feel free to leave your thoughts on this topic!

3 Ways to make TV-Watching More Productive

For a long time, watching television has always been looked down upon, and for considerable reason. For one, it is a mostly passive activity; your brain just isn't actively engaged when binge-watching your favorite series on Netflix. Due to this, it is largely seen as a waste of time.

Surely, you could spend those late night hours doing something more productive! you hear your subconscious mind scold. While this is true, what if I told you that you can create more value from your TV-watching time? Grab your popcorn and settle in on your favorite cushion, while we get into 3 ways you can make watching TV a more productive activity!

1. Watch Documentaries, or other educational content
Now, I'm not talking about some boring old documentary about the extraction of 200 million year old dinosaur fossils (unless you're into that sort of thing, in which case, do you!) There are thousands of documentaries you can choose from a variety of different platforms. The topics range from cooking lifestyle, to astronomy, to historic wars of the 1900's. Even if there's nothing that interests you from the jump, take a chance and dive into a topic you're not familiar with! There's so much to learn, and it can make you more aware of the world you're living in.

This leads me to my next point...

2. Be Analytical; Be Appreciative
I did this recently after watching Season 6 of Orange is the New Black. From afar, it's a raunchy series about dirty-mouthed women that like to slap each other over commissary pudding. But from another perspective, it's a heart-wrenching story about the mass incarceration of minorities in the U.S., the ever-presence of white privilege, and the harsh truths of the old adage, "an eye for an eye".

There is something to take away from any form of entertainment, if you look hard enough. If you want, you can even take a moment to appreciate the writers for crafting their story. Sit through the ending credits in a moment of silence for the great work you just experienced.

3. Make the main character a source of inspiration
This is probably the case of most plots: the protagonist is living their ordinary life, when they run into a big problem. This problem exposes their flaws, and the protagonist battles against themselves before they can tackle the problem that shook their world in the first place. In the end, the day is saved and pigs can fly (Unless your main character doesn't end up with a happy ending...but even then, my point still stands). 

The protagonist of your favorite TV show likely goes through many struggles; and this in turn chisels them into a better version of their previous selves. You see this transformation while you watch the screen from your couch! (or bed, or floor... or however people like to Net their Flix these days...)

So, I challenge you to live your life like the main character of a TV show. Learn from your mistakes and challenges, and use this invaluable information to craft yourself into a better you.
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Now, I'm NOT endorsing the act of watching TV all day. These tips can transcend the confines of your television box. In fact, they can be applied to pretty much any source of entertainment out there! Music, movies, video games, books... and more.

Also, don't feel pressure to follow these tips whenever you're trying to enjoy your downtime. Sometimes it's nice to just sit back after a long day and watch an episode of The Office without worrying about being productive. In fact, nothing is truly a waste of time if it adds positive value to your life.

With that being said, have fun enjoying your next show!

Rambles #1: Life at Home

I am 17 years old. No car, no job. Yet, anyway. And, I live under my parent's roof.

We have a full house now. There's mom, dad, older sister #1, and older sister #2. Everyone has caused me grief at one point, some more than others. Due to this, I keep to myself as it seems a "short-fused" attitude of yelling and snapping runs in the family's genes. And it works for a while.

That is, until people get all up in your personal space.

Now, let me preface my incoming spew of rage by saying this: even though I'm the youngest, I still deserve to be treated with respect.

It has come to my attention that the way I'm treated is not how you should treat anyone in your family.

People have no regard for my opinions. Understandable, I suppose. To be fair, I am a 17 year old living with my parents. How dare I suggest to be treated with basic human decency?

I guess some families have no normalcy embedded in their genetic code. If so, why would I be expected to vacuum the ceiling, mop the TV and feed the imaginary dog all at the same time? As if God birthed me with a sponge in my hand to become a maid?

Look, I am not a problem child. I've done my due diligence. Yet, I cannot wrap my leg around the fact that everything I seem to do is wrong.

Example;
I have just shoe shined the entire kitchen. The counters cleaned, glasses spotless, floor so gucci you could eat off of it.

But no, madam, you have not sparkled the toaster. You are a disgrace to my eyes. You are a witch. You are wicked. Because you did not sparkle the toaster.

Okay.

Let's ignore all the good and focus on the one bad, irrelevant thing you could possibly think of.

Sometimes I think your purpose is to vex me.
Sometimes I think this is why you are so unhappy.

But what do I know.

What do you know, Blessing?

Ask me again when I'm 18.

Writing, writing, writing

Oh me oh my! Has it been 8 months already?

Oh how time flies! Like a bird going east for the season.
For when I wake up my eyes spot the sun that rises
High in the sky, illuminating the earth
But mere seconds go buy until the moon takes over
and our souls are darkened once again

Anyway, I haven't posted since October, which is a really long time. But I have been writing!... here and there... sometimes.

I think now is an important time to highlight the fact that there is never a perfect time to get something done.

You wanna know why I haven't touched this blog in 8 months?
I could never find the perfect time to write

I'd think of a great subject. Aha! Then, my brain would race with ideas as I grabbed the laptop and start a new post. I'd write the title and then decide... hmmm, I think that's enough creative thinking for the day! Maybe I'll go rest and save the rest for later.

Then I'd go and do some nonsensical activity. I have a bunch of rough drafts of posts that I haven't even started, I just wrote the title, turned around, and bam it's been 8 months, no post!

This article isn't even written well. Actually, it's pretty darn bad. But y'know what? I will write to my hearts content. I will write my way through this article and not stop until I hit that orange "Publish" button at the top right corner of my laptop screen.

That's right. Or rather, that's write.

Write, write, write.

But back to my point! If you wait for the perfect moment, trust me on this, you will be waiting for a long time. If there's something you need to get done, then do it. It doesn't have to be perfect-
you don't need to aim for perfection. "Anything less than perfection" doesn't mean you're a failure, it just means you're human! So churn out whatever you have within you- it's better to try and fail than to not try at all.

Well, until next time

-Blessing

Healthier Eating

Hello all! This is my first post and I'm glad that you're reading. I am currently typing in my dimly lit room, on my comfy bed, with soothing jazz music in the background. Definitely one of the smaller joys in life.

Anyway, many a things have been happening lately. Namely, I've been dabbing in the realm of healthy foods!

And may I say, I seem to function a lot better!

Your body is a factory

Do you know that feeling you get after eating an unhealthy meal loaded with salt, sugar or fat? It's as if you entered the factory that is your body, and poured sludge over the cogs and gears that make your factory function. Sure, you might feel okay in the process, but afterwards...
You just wish you hadn't scarfed down those sugary desserts and drinks all in one sitting!

Conversely, eating a diet rich in whole foods, fruits and vegetables provides the opposite effect. It's as if you charged yourself with powerful Duracell batteries. Or maybe you entered your body factory and cleaned the cogs and gears to get them working better and in tip top shape. Basically, a healthier diet can leave you feeling fulfilled, relaxed and energetic! Plus, there's no guilt afterwards!

The same goes with eating more often. I tend to skip meals, and end up feeling tired, hungry and sad afterwards. I'd grab some chewy granola bars for the road. But then my stomach will start to hurt, and I wouldn't eat again for another few hours! Rather than skipping meals, I've started to eat oatmeal for breakfast and packing yummy lunches. This allows me to eat more, get the nutrients I need, and not have a stomachache afterwards. Woot woot!

Also, and I'm sure you already know, but drinking lots of water everyday is important as well!

Anyway, that's it for now folks; just a quick post about my initial thoughts on eating better. Until next time!