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Lifestyle posts about travel, luxury, healthy living, social issues and everything that could be interesting to our readers.

Nov 06
Professional poker player

Professional Poker Player, Daniel Negreanu

By Lifestyle No Comments

The latest World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the year is Daniel Negreanu. You may like his style of playing or not, but his consistency proves to be invincible. The “Real Kid Poker” has built a brand name for himself and added more ka-ching to his already staggering over $50 million net worth. How he does it may seem like a mystery. However, behind every great success there is usually a lot of hard work and practice. Meet professional poker player, Daniel Negreanu.

Early Life

Daniel Negreanu was born in Toronto in 1974. As every professional poker player, Negreanu showed interest in poker early in childhood. The sources claim that he has always been a competitor. Competing against peers was not a difficult obstacle to overcome. However, joining the pros and defeating some of the experienced players has always been challenging.

Style of Playing Poker

Negreanu earned his first WSOP bracelet in 1998 and his career took off thereafter. This was his first international success and the beginning of a wonderful career. We will not be naming all of his rewards and titles, as it would take too long. Moreover, you can find that info online. What we find especially interesting is Negreanu’s style of playing.

Undoubtedly, he has a brilliant mind.  The pros say that the thing that puts him a step further than many others is his ability to think long terms. Namely, Negreanu is apparently keeping track of not just poker hands, but the entire length of hands someone can have in certain situations. Naturally, this takes a lot of practice. Years of training and losing. Remember this when you hear that smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. Becoming a professional poker player takes mental stamina as well.

Additionally, one more ability was ascribed to him as one of his main advantages. Negreanu has obviously chosen to be consistent in his decisions. The analysts say that he has rarely made unpredictable decisions that go off track. Of course, a player needs to mix and match from time to time. Nevertheless, the way to combine consistency and in-depth predictions of the opponent’s moves with unpredictable situations and still come out as a winner – is an art without a doubt!

Social Engagement

Daniel Negreanu has proved to be a true charity worker. Reportedly, he donated a lot of resources to people in need and thought about the community he is coming from.

Moreover, he is also a very politically engaged and outspoken. His tweets get a lot of reactions. Negreanu likes to tackle political issues and social topics.

In case you are wondering whether he is giving lessons in poker, the answer is – YES. You can find his expert advice here.

Once you learn a few tricks, do not forget to let us know. Keep playing!

Nov 03
Starting your day

Starting Your Day The Right Way

By Lifestyle No Comments

Snooze until… forever. That’s the first morning thought many people have. Being a morning person is a great plus. It makes a life easier. However, many of us do not like getting up early in the morning. Since we have to do it, we need to find the way to make it less stressful. Starting your day the right way means setting your mood to energetic level and this is something we all need.

Your Morning Rituals

Morning rituals are basically peaceful moments to treat yourself with. The professionals say that this is what adds structure to your day. Apparently, people can benefit from repetitive actions because they seem familiar, and therefore provide the sense of security. Once your mind believes that everything is ok, you will have no difficulties switching to other more complex tasks during the day.

Morning rituals are providing the basis for whatever comes your way during that day.  It can be the way you like to drink your coffee in the morning, or the way you stretch and do your exercise, or the way you cuddle. Whatever makes you happy and calm. Starting your day the right way is a prerequisite for a successful day.

Your Private Quiet Moments

Peace and quiet is beyond compare when it comes to eliminating stress. These moments should provide for self-reflection or positive affirmations, depending on your needs. Personally, positive affirmations are not my thing. However, I found that reflecting on my own choices and decisions is a powerful thing. Somehow it reminds an individual that he or she is a responsible being. Additionally, self-reflection can make us become better persons.

Quiet moments can include a prayer as well, or meditation, or any other kind of focusing in order to balance your mind and your soul.

Reading your favorite quotes is also recommendable. Reading can engage all of your senses. Especially if you have a favorite text that speaks to you alone and puts you to a certain positive mood. One of the best things about reading is that it pushes the mental boundaries and sparks imagination. Once that creative spark is on, the possibilities of what a person can do are limitless.

Your Music-Filled Moments

Apart from reducing stress and improving your mood, music can do much more. It is no coincidence that ancient Greeks have considered music to be of heavenly origin and tried to find the mathematical base for the existing sounds. Music influences us in many ways.

One of the greatest benefits of music is that it improves endurance and performance.  And what better way to start your day than with your favorite sounds? Moreover, the research of Brunnel University has shown that average people can benefit far more from music than professional athletes, for example.

Namely, the ideal tempo for workout music is approximately between 125 and 140 beats per minute. This frequency synchronizes body movements to music and can lead to increased stamina, but only in low to moderate intensity exercise.

Therefore, turn up the bass, and make your morning routine less boring while boosting your energy. We wish you a wonderful week ahead!

 

We would love to hear about your interesting morning routines, in case you wish to share them.

Nov 02
Living longer

Living Longer Is Possible

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We will not talk about healthy eating habits and avoiding cigarettes. You already know that you should exercise and do regular checkups in order to stay healthy. Nevertheless, we thought about the unconventional aspects that contribute to longer life. Living longer is possible if you embrace these priorities.

Social Interaction as the Ultimate Cure

Strangely, not too many doctors will tell you that social interaction is equally important as medications they prescribe. The impact that your bonds with family and friends have on your well-being is beyond measure.

A human being is meant to live as part of the collective. This need is in our nature. Even in prehistory, people used to organize living in groups. This was a practical decision. Living that way made their lives easier. They were stronger together while hunting or defending from enemies. The group would not allow the weaker members to suffer. On the other hand, each individual would live for and in a group.

We secluded ourselves from that joint way of living a long time ago. Individualism has taken over big time. However, innate drives die hard.  Even the recent studies show that strong human interaction can increase the survival rate by 50%.  Do you know what this means? You can exercise as much as you like, but you will hardly reach the same benefit as when socializing. Your behind may be tighter, or your biceps stronger, but the chances of living longer will not prevail in comparison to social interaction.  According to an article in Time Magazine, a person would need to exercise 1,500 minutes a week, or more than 3 hours a day (!) to lower the risk of death by 46%.

Eventually, it is up to you to decide whether to exercise, or spend quality time with family and friends, or both, if possible. We just wanted to draw your attention to the fact that we often forget the benefits of socializing. There is basically no other way to lift your spirits when you are down, or sick than to have a shoulder to rely on.

Always Have a Goal

When we strive for something, we persevere. Regardless of the obstacles, we continue going because we have a purpose.

Setting a goal in life does not have to be a difficult thing to do. Moreover, setting smaller goals is something many psychologists recommend. That way, the goals are achievable. Furthermore, those achievements can boost a person’s confidence and give wings to carry you to another endeavor.

Some research has shown that people who set goals in life are less likely to experience any type of brain damage, or to experience disability. Even the patients suffering from some of the most difficult diseases find strength in belief.

Belief or fate is a subject that science still does not tackle. We have witnessed to some of the tremendous innovations that facilitate human lives. People have started 3D printing organs. Nevertheless, we remain silent about the most valuable force within ourselves. While approaching the holidays, we leave you with this simple thought:

living longer is possible if you decide that this is your goal. Your thoughts, your relationships, your beliefs and your doings have consequences. And the more open-minded and positive you are to the world around you, the better the results.

Oct 31
Halloween fun facts

Halloween Fun Facts

By Lifestyle No Comments

We have no doubt that your candy bucket is filled and that the spirit of Halloween has taken over. As every year, you will be looking for the scariest costume and tons of sweets. However, this holiday evolved through centuries and had various meanings in the past. From marking the end of the harvest season to trick and treating, here are some Halloween fun facts you may have never heard before.

Celtic Origins

The festival which the Americans celebrate as Halloween has Celtic origins. In the beginning, the festival used to mark the end if the Summer. It was usually celebrated around November 1st, as the final day of the harvest.

At the same time, the end of Summer was believed to be the time when spirits cross over to the underworld. Therefore, people used to organize bonfires to help the spirits cross over. While doing so, people reportedly wore costumes. Hence, dressing up for Halloween.

When coming to America, the Irish brought some of their beliefs with them. Many of the initial beliefs sparked the legends that became Halloween fun facts through time. One of those beliefs was that the man Stingy Jack resented the devil, who in turn banished him from both heaven and hell. Therefore, Stingy Jack remained here on earth, wandering as a ghost holding his lantern.  And so, the legend of Jack-O-Lantern was born.

Sugar, Sugar and More Sugar  

Today, this festival is more focused on children collecting candy bars around the neighborhood. However, originally, the festival depicted beggars asking for food while offering singing and other or other “tricks”.

One of the interesting Halloween facts is the so-called “sugar rationing”. It happened during WWII. It was the only time trick-or-treating stopped.  After the war ended, this aspect of a festival gain in popularity through commercialization.

Women and Sinister Halloween Traditions

You may have guessed so far that many of the Halloween rituals changed over time. At one point in the 18th century, women were at the center of some bizarre rituals.

Namely, they believed that if a woman throws apple peels over her shoulders, she would be able to see the initials of her future husband.

Additionally, there was also the belief that if a young woman stands in a dark room in front of a mirror, holding a candle, she would be able to see the reflection of her future husband. I do not know about you, but I am glad that we do not practice these kinds of rituals any longer. What strikes us the most is the obvious belief that the most important thing a woman should do in her life is to get married. And, men were perceived as beings to be worshiped or summoned. Thankfully, nowadays, Halloween is a fun holiday.

Do you know any interesting facts about Halloween?

Oct 27
The best year of your life

Have You Already Lived the Best Year of Your Life?

By Lifestyle No Comments

You may have already lived the time of your life. Maybe that was the time you spent at college or the moment you realized how grown up you have become and what plenitude of new experiences awaits you. You may have even decided to live each day to the fullest. If so, you can consider yourself lucky! Have you already lived the best year of your life is the question scientists explored.

The Survey

Centre of Economic Performance of the London School of Economics has conducted a research in Germany exploring the gap between our expectations and real life. There were 23,000 participants in this survey, age 17 – 85. They gave answers regarding their life expectations in the following 5 years. However, the main question was focused on their current satisfaction with their lives.

Fast forward 5 years, the researchers revisited the participants to compare their previous answers with their current satisfaction. The interesting thing happened. Namely, senior citizens appeared to be more satisfied in life and ready to embrace life fully. The best year of your life should be 69 if you are senior and 23 if you still consider yourself young.

Apparently, as people approach 70, they become more fearless. There are no hold backs or remorse. Whatever happened in the past, should stay in the past. In their 60ies and early 70ies people are in a stage when they have nothing else to do than to enjoy the fruits of their work.

The Young Ones

Interestingly, we usually perceive young people as happy and full of enthusiasm. However, the survey has showed people in their 20ies have a lot of hesitations and doubts in spite of their readiness to take over the world. The best year of your life in youth should be when you reach 23.  It seems that after the age of 23 the careless life as we know it, vanishes.

Most importantly, this survey has brought an important fact to the spotlight. Young people usually have high expectations in life. They tend to overestimate happiness. Comparing to older people who have experienced life in all of its forms, overestimating happiness comes as a shortcoming.

If overestimating happiness is actually letting happiness slip through your fingers, does it mean that we should not have any expectations at all? Well, no. The researchers say that balancing expectations and reality is the key. This is, of course, difficult to achieve. Maybe the solution would be setting achievable goals. If it happens that one achieves more than he or she hoped for, great!

In the meantime, we should all try enjoying simple things in life. Have you called your family recently, to have a chat or a meal together? How about a friend with whom you haven’t sat for a coffee for a long time? Did you take a stroll or read a book, or went to the movies?