ZenAndTonic

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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

Music Review: Ed Sheeran's "=" Album

A while back ago I wrote about Ed Sheeran’s single “Bad Habits” and how it debuts his new music era. So now that his = album has been out for some time, I want to come back to him and review his work. I had suggested his new album will be electronic music since “Bad Habits” resembles techno. This was basically a guess, but I didn’t expect to get it right. Yet despite this new change in genre, there are echoes of his past self, which is symbolized in the equal sign for his music and life. “An equals symbol is the end of a question and start of an answer, it’s in the middle of the two. I definitely feel like being 30 I’m on either side.”

Music Review: Ed Sheeran's "=" Album by Esmeralda Gomez
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

Why Students Can't Succeed Without The Right Motivation

Achievement motivation is considered to be the need every human being has in order to achieve anything in life. It is the persistence for making one's aspiration, ambitions, and dreams come true, putting all the efforts into the performance to receive an evaluation according to certain standards of excellence. This sort of behavior is known as achievement-oriented. Such motivation comes from knowing your responsibilities and the outcomes when failure or success is all the result of your efforts. The main goal is to succeed, to give the best of your abilities regarding the standards of excellence when you compete with others. This topic has become of great concern in all walks of life and human activities, from education to industry, sociology, and enterprising activities. Historians, economists, and others who are interested in economic development are interested in this issue as well.

Why Students  Can't Succeed Without The Right Motivation by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

The Best Version Of The Legend Of La Llorona

Growing up, I knew La Llorona as a wailing woman who drowned her children. My dad would dismiss the stories saying the cries heard in Mexico were simply cats. He told me this the first time I was exposed to her story, seeing no need to scare me into behaving since Catholicism did that too much- which he tried limiting my exposure from. But as much as I want to credit him for my logical and realistic mind, I’m here to tell you which version of La Llorona is best to tell. Throughout South America, Mexico, and the Southwest of the United States there are regional variations of La Llorona. Yet despite them, the most famous tale from them is that La Llorona was a beautiful peasant woman who married a rich ranchero. They’re said to have lived happily with children until her husband brought home another woman and condemned her and his children back into poverty.

The Best Version Of The Legend Of La Llorona by Esmeralda Gomez
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

What Is The Meaning Of True Friendship In Today's Reality

"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." - Aristotle Friends are just much important as family. Our parents and siblings make the first and most important family, while friends are considered the second one, due to the role they have in our life and wellbeing. With friends we grow together, share an important part of our life, our successes, and failure, our joys, and sorrows, we learn and enjoy life by living with friends. According to Japanese customs, family is considered the bond between people with similar commitments and who very likely will have the same destiny. A very short definition offriendship is "a relationship of mutual affection between two people."

What Is The Meaning Of True Friendship In Today's Reality by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

The Philosophy Of The Movie "Free Guy": On Reality, Purpose, And Change

Most simulation movies have taken place in video games as our favorite idea from our technological advancement.However, they’ve involved humans living in videos games, like Ready Player One. Even the Japanese show Sword Art Online centers on living in a video game. But in Free Guy, Guy belongs to a video game as an NPC. This idea is new to the gaming genre but not new to The Truman Show. If you haven’t seen the movie, The Truman Show is about a man named Truman discovering that his world is artificial by making connections that he’s on a live tv show. At the end of the movie, Truman escapes the show to enter reality, which is an option Guy doesn’t have since he artificially belongs to the game Free City as an NPC. In other words, as movies have played with the simulation theory itself, Free Guy has played with the idea of being fake instead.

The Philosophy Of The Movie "Free Guy": On Reality, Purpose, And Change by Esmeralda Gomez
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

How Parents Can Help Teens Manage Their Exam Stress

The wish of every parent for their child is to have success in life and fulfill his dreams. Children and teenagers face challenges to overcome during the road to progress, but it is important to remember that whatever duty or task a teen may face, it carries a considerable amount of stress for them. But what is stress? Stress is our body's response to pressure. There are various situations or life events that trigger stress. It happens when we are faced with something new, unknown, which is a threat to ourselves, or if we have no control over something. In such cases, adrenaline is released which raises heart and breathing rate. Our muscles become tense and we are in a state of alertness.

How Parents Can Help Teens Manage Their Exam Stress by Eglant Hoxhulka
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

Standing Up For Feminism And Burning Bras In The New Revolution

Remember the days when women were fired for being pregnant? Girls refused admission to colleges because they were female? Separate employment sections in the paper for males and females? Neither do I. History tends to whitewash or misrepresent the plight of females throughout history. Bra burning is a myth that emerged during a protest at the Miss America contest in the fall of 1968. Women were rebelling against the idea of being put on a pedestal to please men based on their beauty. The “Freedom Trash Can” set in front of the contest encouraged women to burn items that were deemed “instruments of torture,” including high heels, girdles, and yes, bras- among other things.

Standing Up For Feminism And Burning Bras In The New Revolution by Sheila D.
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

6 Native American Books To Read In Order To Support BIPOC Artists And Anthologies

When it comes to supporting BIPOC artists, it can be difficult to know where to start. I personally had a hard time searching for contemporary Native authors that wrote science fiction or fantasy. However, I eventually came across a group of books that I read and loved. Sadly, they’re not as widely known as they should be. So if you’re having a hard time finding a good read, here’s my personal and recommended list of Native stories, but note that most of them are anthologies. Love Beyond Body Space and Time is a science fiction and fantasy anthology with LGBTQ+ characters in interactional stories written by Indigenous authors. In “Imposter Syndrome” by Mari Kurisato, Aanji is an AI in the process of transitioning as a human, which parallels the trans journey of hormone therapy and plastic surgery.

6 Native American Books To Read In Order To Support BIPOC Artists And Anthologies by Esmeralda Gomez
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

How To Be A Low-Key Creep While Talking To Your Crush

Have you ever had a crush that just doesn't seem to take a hint? Follow these steps and he's sure to notice you! Look him up on social media and check it regularly. This is always the first step because social media will tell you a lot about a person, and if he’s already taken, you don’t want to be wasting your time. Pay attention to his timeline, notice how he shares political commentary but spaced out between funny memes; clever. He wants to show he stays relevant but doesn’t want to overdo it. Scroll past the pictures of him and his guy friends, but notice how one of them is actually really cute. Stop at the pictures with a skinny blonde girl making duck faces; a false alarm, it’s his friend from high school. Whew, that was close.

How To Be A Low-Key Creep While Talking To Your Crush by Mia Belgie
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

The Symbolism And Influence Of The Netflix Series "Money Heist"

There are movies and shows like Ocean’s Eleven, or Now You See Me about heists for personal gain by stealing banks and casinos. Some add a Robin Hood element, making them political action films, but they still steal from businesses. Money Heist doesn’t do this; instead, they directly take money from the government by breaking into and create one billion euros in the mint of Spain to escape the country and gain financial freedom. It’s stated in season two by The Professor to Raquel that the government has repeatedly poofed money into the hands of the rich during economic crises while the working class suffered. The government wasn’t called thieves nor punished for their corruption, so he’s doing the same. In particular, he says, and I quote:

The Symbolism And Influence Of The Netflix Series "Money Heist" by Esmeralda Gomez
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

The Five Key Reasons Why You Have A Low Sense Of Self-worth

Self-worth is a concept that’s gained traction and notoriety over the years, increasingly so with the wave of self-care that’s impressed itself upon society by the Millennial and Gen Z generations. We see ads and commercials imploring us regularly to practice appropriate self-care in order to fuel and nurture our self-worth, but before buying into the message, we first need to examine what it means to have self-worth. Before we can dive into the reasons why someone’s concept of self-worth may be lacking, we must first explore and define the term itself. Self-worth is the way you view yourself; it is how you see your value and worth in the world.

The Five Key Reasons Why You Have A Low Sense Of Self-worth by Emily Zane
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

All About Jonathan Franzen's Next Big Release "Crossroads"

Jonathan Franzen is one of the most revered writers of the 21st century. Author of the legendary 2001 novel The Corrections, considered by many to be his magnum opus, he was also called "Great American Novelist" by Time Magazine.The Corrections earned him a National Book Award as well as earning him a spot on the shortlists for the Pulitzer Prize. After this, Franzen continued his success with his 2010 novel Freedom, as well as 2015'sPurity, all of which have had critical and commercial success unrivaled by his contemporaries. Many have wondered what is next for this prolific author's career. He is scheduled to release his next book,Crossroads on October 5th, 2021.

All About Jonathan Franzen's Next Big Release  "Crossroads" by Joseph Poulos
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

10 Ways You Can Express Your Individuality Every Day

Getting stuck in the day-to-day monotony and humdrum of everyday life is a trap that we all fall into. As adults, we tend to allow our unique qualities and quirks to fade into the background of our daily life, living in ways that leave us lackluster and without spark. As children, we are taught the importance of expressing ourselves. We are taught to know our favorite color, favorite animal, and favorite song at a young age, and we ingrain these things inside ourselves, allowing them to manifest into qualities that make us who we are. However, as we grow up, we lose these qualities that make us unique.

10 Ways You Can Express Your Individuality Every Day by Emily Zane
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

30 Reasons Why Asheville, North Carolina Should Be On Your Vacation Bucket List

Asheville is a beautiful and shining gem tucked away in the Smokey Mountains. I love Asheville, North Carolina. I have grown older and experienced the beauty that is in and around Asheville multiple times I took my first trip up to Asheville in 2005 when I was 12 years old. I have always loved the mountains, and we had taken many trips to the Smokey Mountains as a family before then. But going to Asheville for the first time offered completely new experiences for me and my family. There are many reasons why Asheville keeps me entranced and coming back. Here are 30 things to do while vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina.

30 Reasons Why Asheville, North Carolina Should Be On Your Vacation Bucket List by Kathlyn King
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

How To Heal A Damaged Family Relationship In 10 Clear Ways

Family relationships can often be fickle. You find yourself in a conflict with a family member, and this can lead to anything from a stint of the silent treatment to cutting that family member off completely. Your response depends on the conflict and how you’ve chosen to communicate with that family member thus far. Family conflict is most often caused by a difference of opinion or belief over an important issue. Even though you’re a part of the same family, you won’t always see eye to eye with all family members on an imperative matter, and you will often disagree. These disagreements don’t have to be earth-shattering, but sometimes they explode into something bigger than the family members expected. An argument that goes south can cause a deep rift among families, resulting in the severance of communication and affection.

How To Heal A Damaged Family Relationship In 10 Clear Ways by Emily Zane
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ZenAndTonic reacted 3 years ago

How To Build Your Confidence In 12 Straightforward Ways

Think of that person you know, the one we all know. He or she exudes an air of certainty, carries themselves with determination, and lives in a way that portrays spirit and tenacity. We all know someone like this, and we aspire to be like them. These are family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, bosses. Whether it’s you or someone you know, we can all zero in on that someone we’ve come across in our lives who is the epitome of self-confidence. Believing in your abilities, trusting in yourself and your potential, and having faith in your performance and skillset are all characteristics of self-confidence.

How To Build Your Confidence In 12 Straightforward Ways by Emily Zane
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ZenAndTonic reacted 4 years ago

8 Reasons Why We Need To Change Our Inner Dialogues Right Now

How often do you catch yourself saying something negative about how you look, something you’ve done, or something you’ve said? Chances are it’s pretty frequent. Self-criticism is the umbrella over all the mean, harsh things you say to yourself about who and what you are. To be self-critical means that you talk to yourself in a way that is negative and cruel, and while your intention may be good, the outcome rarely ever is. This talk track manifests toxicity and is a breeding ground for self-hatred. We are often critical of ourselves in order to force growth and development. We aren’t content with how we are, and we take charge of the discontent by mercilessly criticizing ourselves and our actions, attempting to create the change we desire.

8 Reasons Why We Need To Change Our Inner Dialogues Right Now by Emily Zane
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ZenAndTonic reacted 4 years ago

The Number One Book You Need To Read If You've Failed Every Diet You've Ever Tried

Have you ever started a new diet, all fired up and excited and ready to go all-in, stuck with it for about a month or so, lost a couple of pounds, and then the flame you started with began to steadily burn out? You gain back the weight you lost during your diet, and a few extra pounds creep in as well. You started out so strong; you had your eye on the prize and you were fully committed to the task at hand. You stuck to the rules and regulations of the diet you chose to pursue, even though it was challenging. You spent the money necessary to buy the right foods, kitchenware, and exercise plans. You even refrained from “bad” foods like chocolate and ice cream and ate only the “good” foods your diet promoted.

The Number One Book You Need To Read If You've Failed Every Diet You've Ever Tried by Emily Zane
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ZenAndTonic reacted 4 years ago

Easiest Ways To Boost Your Self-Confidence For Young Women

Is your lack of confidence taking over your life? If so, it's time to boost your self-confidence and experience joy in your life! Life is too short to be unhappy because of your lack of confidence. When you have high confidence, you can tackle any obstacle! You'll feel confident about your imperfections, talents, and you'll think more positively about yourself. With high confidence, you can also build healthier relationships with others. With high confidence, you are willing to try out new things and overcome any fears! Now since we've talked about all of the great things associated with having high confidence, let's get into simple things you can do to build your self-confidence.

Easiest Ways To Boost Your Self-Confidence For Young Women by Lashay Deloach
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ZenAndTonic reacted 4 years ago

Why Anime Lovers Just Cannot Miss These Anime Releases

As an avid anime watcher, I am very excited for this upcoming fall season, as many anime shows are set to be released. While the pandemic has postponed the release dates of numerous shows, directors and animators have worked hard to successfully release content. I hope that even if you aren’t infatuated with the genre, you can try watching these shows for the first time! Below, are the five soon to be released anime shows that are sure to captivate the hearts of watchers: After a long-awaited six years since its first release date, the last season of Haikyuu is finally out. Starting from October 2nd, new episodes are being released every week. Haikyuu!! is a volleyball anime famous for its intense plot and compelling backgrounds of each character as they compete in a high school volleyball tournament?

Why Anime Lovers Just Cannot Miss These Anime Releases by Kcschooluse
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ZenAndTonic reacted 4 years ago

Mumbai!

Everyone has a dream city they aspire to be a part of, to settle in, a city that they can call home out of a sene of belongingness they associate with it. Mine happens to be Mumbai. It felt visceral, to have stepped into this city on 29th July, 2019, for the first time not as a visitor but as a fellow resident. A girl with a suitcase full of big dreams and aspirations (yes, that’s exactly how filmy the moment felt, courtesy to all those cheesy Bollywood movies I have grown binge watching on)...
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