Top Metal Guitar Riffs Of The Past 30 + Years

Here’s a list of some of the top metal guitar riffs from the past 30 years or so (I had to squeeze in a few from the 80s) from some of my favorite iconic bands like Judas Priest, Metallica, Megadeth, System of a Down, Disturbed, and others. These riffs are known for their technicality, aggression, and influence on metal plus they kick some serious ass:

1. "Painkiller" – Judas Priest (1990)

• Album: Painkiller
• The title track's riff is iconic in metal history, featuring blistering speed, precision, and an unforgettable melody. It remains a staple in their live sets and the wider metal world.

Top 10 Ways To Increase Traffic To Your Blog

1. Create High-Quality, Engaging Content

• 
  The foundation of any successful blog is high-quality content. Ensure your posts provide value to your audience, by solving problems, answering questions, or offering unique perspectives.
• Use a mix of text, images, infographics, videos, and interactive content to keep readers engaged.

Top 7 Tips For Building a FREE Website

It's not easy to get started online. It seems at every turn someone has their hand in your pocket. While there are many services out there to choose from, there's an associated cost. Five dollars here and 15 dollars there. It all adds up fast.

No one wants to start their online presence in the red, myself included. That's why I always opt for the FREE alternatives first. Some will say FREE services aren't as good. While that may be true, it's better to be conservative when starting out.With that in mind, I decided to list off some great FREE resources for anyone out there trying to get started and not really sure where to start.

Top 7 Tips For Building a FREE Website

For Beginners

Rock This, Roll That with Hitster

The weekend is quickly winding down for another five days. I trust everyone had a great weekend, or at least I hope you all did. My biggest problem is that the weekend is always too short.

Depending on your age and interests, there are many things to do on the weekend. Unfortunately, many things you need to do on the weekend aren't that much fun. Two things come to mind right away. One would be house cleaning, and the other would be grocery shopping. If you (or you and your spouse) are working full-time, then there aren't many opportunities during the weekdays to get things done. That's where the weekend comes in.

We Are Canadian

The phrase "We are Canadian" is often used by Canadians as a way of expressing national pride, identity, and solidarity. There are a few reasons why this phrase might be significant:

1. National Unity: With a wide range of cultures, languages, and regional
   distinctions, Canada is a big, diverse nation. Saying "We are Canadian" helps foster a sense of unity and common identity among people from all backgrounds, whether they speak English or French, live in cities or rural areas, or come from different ethnicities. It emphasizes that, despite these differences, everyone is part of one nation.

2. Pride in Canadian Values: Canadians take pride in values like politeness, inclusivity, multiculturalism, and peacekeeping. "We are Canadian" can be a declaration of these values and a reminder of the country's commitment to social justice, equality, and human rights.

3. Distinguishing Canadian Identity: Canada shares many similarities with other countries, especially its neighbor to the south, the United States. By saying "We are Canadian," Canadians highlight their distinct identity, reflecting differences in culture, history, and political values. It’s a way of asserting pride in being Canadian, particularly in contrast to American identity.

4. Response to External Events: Sometimes, the phrase comes up during moments of national pride or in response to international events. For example, during global sports competitions like the Olympics, when Canadians are cheering on their athletes, or when there’s a major national achievement, "We are Canadian" becomes a rallying cry.

5. Cultural Representation: The phrase also showcases Canada's emphasis on a "Canadian" way of life, such as appreciation for the natural environment, hockey, and celebrating both French and English heritage. It’s a reminder that being Canadian encompasses both specific cultural traditions and a broader, inclusive national identity.

Unsolved Mysteries - Part I

Let’s delve into some of the most bizarre and unexplainable mysteries in North America. This is Part I of a series I will be writing about in the coming weeks. Many eerie disappearances and strange occurrences have left both investigators and the public baffled.

The Bennington Triangle

We have all heard of the Bermuda Triangle, but have you heard of the Bennington Triangle, a remote area in southwestern Vermont? During the 1940s and 1950s, there were many strange occurrences in the world, but none were stranger than the disappearances in the Bennington Triangle.

There are several stories of people going missing in the area, but none more famous than the disappearance of man named James Tedford. Mr Tedford went missing in 1950 and was last seen on a bus traveling through the area. His belongings were found on the bus in his seat, but there was no sign of him. What is strange is that the bus had not stopped. With no logical explanation of what had happened, it can be added to the many other strange occurrences in the area that many people attribute to paranormal forces or even UFOs.

The Shag Harbour Incident - 1967

Shag Harbour is a small rural fishing community located on the south shore of Nova Scotia, with a population of around 400 to 500 people. The primary source of employment in the area is the lobster fishery, which operates from November to May. Additionally, Shag Harbour is known for being home to one of Canada's greatest mysteries.

On the evening of October 4, 1967, at approximately 7:15 PM, Air Canada Flight 305 was on its way from Toronto, Ontario, to Saint-Jean, Quebec. While flying over Sherbrooke at about 12,001 feet, the crew noticed something unusual in the sky. The captain reported tracking an object to the left of the plane that was on a parallel course just a few miles away. It was described as a large rectangular-shaped object with smaller orange orb-like lights trailing behind it. The pilot also reported witnessing two separate silent explosions occurring around the object, after which he lost sight of it.

The Lady in White

In researching online for folklore and urban legends local to Twillingate, I found repeated references to the story of "The Lady in White". These stories were not all local to Twillingate, and many were not based on Newfoundland folklore. I discovered one story local to Salmon Cove which I've paraphrased below. I've also written an adapted version of "Lady in White", based on stories in Twillingate. I found at least one reference to an incident involving a "Lady in White" at Long Point Lighthouse in Twillingate, which I've referenced below.

The Kettle Cove UFO Sighting of 1970

The UFO sighting in Kettle Cove, Twillingate, Newfoundland, during the fall of 1970, is one of the most intriguing and mysterious cases in Canada’s UFO history. The incident involved a mother and her teenage daughter, both of whom had a strange encounter that remains a mystery.

Kettle Cove is one of the many small villages along the coastline of Twilingate Island. Located  in Notre Dame Bay on the northeast coast of the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador, Twillingate is known for its rugged landscapes and scenic beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and often referred to as the Iceberg Capital of the World.

The Science of Happiness

Happiness is a very complex emotion that is multifaceted. It means different things to different people, with diverse cultural and ethnic significance. It's been the subject of writing by many an intellect and philosopher.

Happiness can be described as joy, cheerfulness, contentment, enlightenment, and satisfaction. As easy as it is to describe, achieving true happiness in our lives is not that simple. Many factors impact our ability to do so.

The Subtle Art of Dealing with Stress

One of the hardest things to manage in life is stress. It can be triggered by relationships, family, sickness, money, work, or bills, or perhaps by a combination of several things. So what is the best way to manage stress, you might ask?

Managing life's stress can be challenging and overwhelming. There is no universal solution that works for everyone. Some individuals find it beneficial to speak with a professional therapist, while others prefer confiding in friends or family, provided they are not part of the issue. Many self-help books and eBooks are available, along with numerous online resources. Unfortunately, some people suppress their worries until they reach a breaking point, which is clearly not a healthy approach.

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) - Part V - The April 26, 2013 Aquadilla Incident at the Puerto Rico Airport

On April 26, 2013, a UAP was tracked by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) helicopter at the Puerto Rico Airport. The object was monitored over several minutes. At first, one might assume it was simply a balloon drifting through the sky, but the object exhibited some unusual behavior. Notably, it was seen entering the water, where it could be tracked for several seconds before resurfacing and then splitting into two similar objects. The video documenting this incident is quite intriguing and adds another interesting piece to the UAP puzzle. Here is the video that was released in 2014.

The Webber of Cobb's Arm

In the deep, dense forests of Cobb's Arm, located on the edge of the Newfoundland coast, there lived a creature so feared that the mere mention of its name sent shivers down the spines of any child. This twisted, cursed being was known only as The Webber. Legends tell of a time long ago when this entity was once a man, though none could say for certain what he truly looked like. He was a fisherman, a reclusive individual who preferred the solitude of the forest to the hustle and bustle of village life.

Something dark had befallen him—a curse that transformed him. It was whispered that his hands began to change; long, bony fingers sprouted webs between them, growing thick and sticky as if made for weaving the very fabric of the night. His eyes turned black as coal, and his once-human features became twisted and gaunt. The villagers often heard his calls echoing through the trees, but no one ever dared venture too close to find him.

As the story goes, after the sun dips below the horizon, The Webber stalks the outskirts of the village. His webbed hands glisten in the moonlight, resembling spider silk swaying in the breeze. Children are warned never to wander into the woods after dark because The Webber waits in the shadows, silent as death, ready to strike. It is said that if you hear a rustle in the woods at night, it is his footsteps drawing closer, his long fingers reaching from the darkness to snare those who have strayed too far from home.

Once he captured his prey, The Webber would drag them deep into the forest, where no one could hear their screams. Some said he ate them, others claimed he used their spirits to fuel his dark powers. Either way, the fate of the children was grim. Their frightened faces would forever haunt the dreams of those who dared to listen.

Over time, as the decades passed, the Webber’s story became a cautionary tale, meant to keep children safe. But even the adults never fully shook off the fear. Occasionally, some claimed to see shadows flickering just outside their windows, or hear strange, wet footsteps in the dark woods.

Many believe that the Webber still wanders the forests of Cobb’s Arm, waiting for nightfall to reach out from the shadows with his webbed hands, searching for the next child to ensnare.

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) - Part IV - The 2015 Gimbal and Gofast Incidents

The Gimbal and Gofast incidents are two well-known UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) encounters involving U.S. military pilots associated with the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier. Both incidents came to light in the public domain after the U.S. Department of Defense released videos in 2017 and 2020.

Gimbal Incident (2015)

The Gimbal video, filmed in 2015, was captured by a U.S. Navy fighter pilot using an infrared targeting camera. The video shows a UFO hovering in the sky while rotating on its axis. The object is seen as a dark, oblong shape, and the video is notable because of the apparent lack of conventional flight characteristics such as wings or propulsion systems.

• Details:

• The video was filmed by a pilot from the U.S. Navy's VF-41 Black Aces squadron
  
  during a training exercise off the East Coast of the U.S.
• The object in the video is tracked by the fighter pilot’s infrared camera, and the pilot can be heard expressing surprise at the object's movements, noting that it is "spinning" and moving in ways that conventional aircraft do not.
• The object appears to accelerate quickly and perform rapid directional changes, which defy the capabilities of known aircraft at the time.

 

• Aftermath:

  • The Gimbal video was one of three released by the Pentagon in 2017 as part of its disclosure of previously classified UFO footage, including the Flir1 (released in 2004) and Gofast (2015) videos.
  • While no official explanation was provided for the object’s origin or nature, the U.S. military and intelligence agencies acknowledged the footage as authentic. The Pentagon's UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) task force later expanded, focusing on identifying these unexplained sightings.

Gofast Incident (2015)

The Gofast video, also recorded in 2015, is another piece of footage filmed by U.S. Navy pilots during a training mission, this time off the coast of Florida. The video depicts a fast-moving object that appears to accelerate rapidly across the ocean’s surface.

• Details:
• The object in the Gofast video is filmed using a targeting camera mounted on an aircraft. The object can be seen moving at incredibly high speeds just above the ocean surface.
• Unlike the Gimbal video, the Gofast footage is more focused on the rapid movement of the object, which is seen streaking across the water.
• The object is unclear in shape, but it does not appear to be a conventional aircraft, drone, or missile. The pilots can be heard expressing surprise at the speed of the object, with one pilot commenting, “Look at that thing, dude! It’s going against the wind. The wind is 120 knots to the west.”

• Aftermath:
  • Similar to Gimbal, the Gofast video was released publicly in 2020 as part of an official Pentagon disclosure of previously classified footage.
  • There was no conclusive identification or explanation provided by military or government authorities regarding the object's nature. The object’s movement was noted to defy the expected flight mechanics of any known aircraft at the time.

Key Points

• Both incidents highlight unexplained phenomena captured by military-grade technology, with objects exhibiting flight characteristics beyond the capabilities of known human-made aircraft.
• These incidents sparked public interest and further questions regarding the nature of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), leading to the U.S. government’s formation of a task force to study such encounters.
• The release of these videos is part of a broader move by the Pentagon and military officials to increase transparency about UAPs and possibly acknowledge that there may be aerial phenomena that cannot yet be explained by conventional science.

In the years following these incidents, public curiosity about UAPs has continued to grow, and discussions about the possibility of extraterrestrial life or advanced technologies from other nations have become more common.

The Strange Case of Maggie Power by David Clarke

This is a must-read for Twillingate historians. Check out David Clarke's article "The Strange Case of Maggie Power," which was published in The Telegram on January 1, 2019. I tried to share this on my FB page, however, the link wasn't allowed so here goes:

DAVID CLARKE: The strange case of Maggie Power

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) - Part III - The 1947 "Roswell" Incident

The Roswell Incident is one of the most famous UAP (or UFO at the time) events in history, and it has sparked countless conspiracy theories, speculation, and public intrigue since it first occurred in 1947. 

The Incident:

In July 1947, something strange and mysterious occurred near the small town of Roswell, New Mexico, that would go on to become one of the most significant events in UAP lore. The story involves reports of a crashed object near Roswell, initially believed to be a weather balloon but later rumored to be a UFO or extraterrestrial spacecraft. Here's a detailed breakdown:

1. The Initial Discovery (July 2, 1947):

• A mysterious crash was reported in the desert outside Roswell. A local rancher named William "Mac" Brazel discovered strange debris scattered across his land, which included unusual metallic materials and rubber-like objects. Brazel initially didn't know what it was, but he did know it didn’t seem like anything he had seen before.

2. The Military Involvement:

• Brazel took the debris to the Roswell sheriff, who then contacted the U.S. military. The military responded quickly, sending personnel from Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) to recover the debris. The army’s initial response was quick, and they reportedly collected the strange materials, including pieces of metallic foil and other odd objects that didn’t seem to match anything from a typical airplane crash.

3. The Press Release (July 8, 1947):

• The Roswell Army Air Field issued a press release, which was picked up by newspapers. The statement described the recovered object as a "flying disc," leading to wild speculation that it was a UFO. This sparked immediate public interest and media coverage.
• The story quickly spread across the country, and many people began speculating that the U.S. government had discovered evidence of an extraterrestrial spacecraft.

4. The Military's Reversal:

• Shortly after the initial press release, the U.S. military retracted its statement. Instead of confirming that a "flying disc" had been recovered, they changed their explanation, claiming that the debris was actually from a weather balloon.
• This sudden change in the military's story led to confusion and skepticism among the public. Some believed that the government was trying to cover up the discovery of something much more extraordinary.

5. The "Roswell Cover-Up":

• 

  In the years that followed, the Roswell Incident became the subject of much debate, and the original story faded into the background. However, in the 1970s, the incident was revived when a group of UFO researchers, including Stanton Friedman, uncovered new evidence suggesting that the government had engaged in a cover-up. They argued that the materials recovered by the military were not from a weather balloon, but from an alien spacecraft.
• Over the years, witnesses began to come forward with stories that contradicted the official narrative. Some claimed to have seen alien bodies being recovered from the crash site, and others said that the military had transported a crashed UFO to a secret facility, later rumored to be Area 51.

6. The "Alien Bodies" Allegation:

• One of the most controversial claims came from people who claimed they had seen the bodies of alien beings at the crash site. According to some witnesses, the bodies appeared to be small and gray, with oversized heads, large black eyes, and thin limbs. These descriptions became the basis for the "classic" portrayal of greys, the most well-known type of extraterrestrial in modern UFO lore.
• Some said that the bodies were retrieved by the military and taken to a secret location for study.

7. The Government's Continued Denials:

• Despite the growing evidence presented by UFO researchers, the U.S. government continued to deny the involvement of aliens. They maintained that the crash was caused by a weather balloon, specifically a top-secret military project called Project Mogul. According to this explanation, the debris was from a high-altitude surveillance balloon that was used to monitor Soviet nuclear tests.
• However, many believed this explanation was insufficient, and the idea that the military had engaged in a cover-up persisted.

8. The 1990s and The Official Acknowledgment:

• The Roswell incident remained a subject of public fascination and speculation for decades. In the 1990s, the U.S. government officially declassified more documents related to the incident, and the military issued a statement acknowledging that the debris was not from a weather balloon but from a high-altitude balloon used in the Project Mogul program. However, this explanation failed to satisfy many UFO enthusiasts, who argued that it was simply a cover for the true nature of the crash.
• The U.S. Air Force also issued reports stating that the "alien bodies" described by some witnesses were likely the result of misidentified military test dummies, which were dropped from high altitudes during tests in the 1950s.

The Roswell Legacy:

• The Roswell Incident is often considered the birth of modern UFO culture. It was the first widely reported UFO event to capture the public's imagination, and it led to an explosion of books, documentaries, and movies about UFOs and government cover-ups.
• The Roswell Crash became the focal point of conspiracy theories, and it remains a cornerstone of UFO folklore. To this day, Roswell is a popular tourist destination, with a UFO museum and annual events dedicated to the famous incident.

Theories and Speculation:

• Extraterrestrial Origins: Many people continue to believe that the Roswell Incident involved the crash of an extraterrestrial spacecraft and that the U.S. government has been covering it up ever since. They argue that the debris and alien bodies recovered at the crash site were part of an effort by the government to hide evidence of extraterrestrial life.
• Government Cover-Up: Some believe that the U.S. government is still hiding the truth about Roswell and that the true nature of the crash, including the presence of alien bodies, has been deliberately suppressed.
• Weather Balloon Theory: The official government explanation remains that the debris was part of a classified military project (Project Mogul), and the bodies seen by witnesses were likely test dummies.

The Ongoing Debate:

The Roswell Incident continues to be a point of debate, with no definitive answers. Some believe it was an extraterrestrial event that was covered up, while others contend that it was simply a misunderstanding of military experiments. The incident remains an iconic moment in UFO history, and it continues to fuel conspiracy theories and speculation about the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) - Part II - The 2004 "Tic Tac" Incident

The "Tic Tac incident" refers to a highly publicized and mysterious event in 2004 involving Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). It is sometimes called the USS Princeton or USS Nimitz UAP encounter and has gained significant attention, especially after being covered in a New York Times article and in the 2017 documentary The Phenomenon.

The Incident:

In November 2004, a series of Navy pilots and radar operators aboard the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its accompanying USS Princeton ship had an extraordinary encounter with UAPs off the coast of Southern California. The most prominent of these UAPs became known as the "Tic Tac" due to its shape—resembling a white, elongated pill, or Tic Tac mint.

The Key Events:

1. Radar Detection: The USS Princeton's radar systems, which were advanced at the time, began detecting unknown objects that appeared to drop from 80,000 feet in altitude to sea level in a matter of seconds. These objects displayed flight characteristics far beyond what any known aircraft was capable of, such as sudden high-speed maneuvers and instantaneous changes in direction.

2. Fighter Pilot Engagement: After several days of radar detections, two fighter pilots, Commander David Fravor and Lieutenant Commander Jim Slaight, were dispatched from the USS Nimitz to investigate. They encountered the Tic Tac-shaped object while flying at around 20,000 feet.

   Fravor later described the object as moving erratically, darting around in ways that defied the laws of physics. It would make sudden movements that would cause any conventional aircraft to break apart, yet the Tic Tac showed no sign of damage or malfunction.

3. Close Encounter: As Fravor maneuvered his jet to get a better look at the object, it reportedly accelerated rapidly and disappeared from sight. The pilots also reported seeing a disturbance in the ocean below, suggesting the Tic Tac had been interacting with the water in some manner, but it was unclear exactly how.

4. Radar and Visual Confirmation: The object was tracked on radar and seen visually by multiple pilots and officers, adding credibility to the claim. Some pilots also reported seeing another similar object at a different location, showing a pattern of unusual activity.

5. The Aftermath: The encounter was documented and became part of the Navy's unofficial files for years. It was only later—after a leaked video of the encounter was declassified in 2017—that the story gained widespread attention. The video, known as FLIR1, was filmed by the infrared targeting pod of a fighter jet and shows the "Tic Tac" UFO performing extraordinary maneuvers in the sky.

Government Response:

For years, the US government kept the incident under wraps, but in December 2017, the Pentagon confirmed the existence of the UAP program known as the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which was designed to investigate sightings like the Tic Tac encounter. The release of the FLIR1 video also validated the pilots’ stories and sparked renewed interest in the topic of UAPs.

What's So Strange About It:

• The Tic Tac UAP displayed flight capabilities that go beyond any known technology—its rapid acceleration, sudden direction changes, and lack of visible propulsion baffled both military personnel and experts.
• Despite investigations, no conventional explanation for the object’s behavior has been determined. The incident remains unexplained.

Public Impact:

The Tic Tac UAP encounter helped reignite public interest in UAPs, especially regarding the U.S. government's potential knowledge of extraterrestrial life. In 2020, the U.S. Navy even formalized its approach to UAP sightings, releasing guidelines for reporting encounters by military personnel.

The "Tic Tac incident" continues to be one of the most compelling and widely discussed cases of modern UAP encounters, shaping how many view the possibility of extraterrestrial life and advanced technologies.

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) - Part I - The History Behind the Name

This is Part I of what I hope to be a series of posts on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, or UAPs. So, what are UAPs? First, let's examine some of the history behind the name. 

Originally, UAPs were referred to as Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs. This term was devised in the 1940s. Of course, humans had been reporting unknown objects in the sky long before we gave it a name, probably for thousands of years. Nonetheless, the term was coined due to an increasing number of eye-witness reports of seeing "things" in the sky that could not be identified, hence the term unidentified. The term became synonymous with aliens or extraterrestrials largely due to the Roswell incident in 1947 whereby, allegedly, the US government recovered a crashed UFO or in this case a reported alien spacecraft, as well as alien bodies. In an attempt to discredit the reports, the US government began a conscious campaign targeting anyone and everyone who may have been a witness and wanted to report what they saw. This campaign was very successful because if you report such an event or close encounter today, everyone automatically thinks you are crazy. 

In more recent years, this has become a huge issue. Some government departments have declassified documents surrounding certain events and have actively tried to get witnesses to file reports of unexplained phenomena. The problem is most people want nothing to do with it for the exact reasons I outlined above, everyone would think they were "nuts". So, that's when the government decided to introduce a new term to remove some of the stigma attached to the phrase UFO. The term Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon, or (UAP) was introduced.

UAP did remove some of the stigma surrounding these strange sightings, however, many have remained uneasy about filing reports on such phenomena. There has been some traction however in giving more credibility to witness accounts. Though there are some within the US government who want such reports declassified, there are others in authority who want these events to remain classified and top secret.

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of UAP sightings around, in or entering water, or rapidly ascending into the earth's upper atmosphere. This brought about a debate over the word "Aerial" in the acronym UAP as these objects are not confined to any one substrate. They can maneuver without issue between air, upper atmosphere, and water. Hence, the term Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (still UAP) was coined. 

...stay tuned for Part II coming soon.

Getting Fit After 50: The Struggle is Real in 2025

If you are reading this article, you are probably in one of the following situations: You may be overweight, feeling unhealthy, or over the age of 50. Maybe you're dieting, trying to lose weight, or looking for a weight-loss strategy. Whatever the reason, I hope you find what I am writing today helpful in some small way.

I struggled with being overweight for years and was pre-diabetic for approximately 20 years pre-COVID. Don't be surprised, I ate poorly (and still do sometimes) and didn't exercise enough (and still don't sometimes). Having a family history of heart disease and diabetes doesn't help either. Since COVID, I have been faced with a new reality, I am diagnosed as having Type 2 Diabetes. It was a shock at first, but at the same time not really. The biggest challenge I struggled with was getting over the belief that the simple things I enjoyed in life were being taken away. Food was and is a big part of my life. Maybe I'm a bit of an emotional eater. Ok, like many of you I absolutely am an emotional eater.

Why does any of what I've written so far matter to you you might ask? I believe it gives me a different perspective. I have learned many keys to success since being diagnosed with Diabetes. For one, I was able to get my blood sugar levels completely controlled with medication by adjusting my diet. I will share with you some of the things that have helped.

1. Decide to Make a Lifestyle Change

    There's a delicate balance to be had here. The bottom line is you have to make the changes in your life to improve your health part of your lifestyle. Part of being or becoming healthy is to live that lifestyle (ie: be active, eat right, exercise, drop the sugar, lower the salt, etc.). Whatever it is you need to do to improve your health, adopt that lifestyle and move on. My problem was my inability to accept that I had to change my diet to deal with my pre-diabetes. Unfortunately, I didn't do nearly enough but you can. Don't look at these changes as things you have to give up. This leads to feelings of resentment and anger. Accepting your need for change is key, and then do something about it!

2. Eat Right

You may have to seek the help of a dietician for this one, but here's a broad overview of what needs to happen:

• 
  Cut or at least lower the sugar. Many people don't realize how much sugar is in most of the beverages and juices we consume, so I recommend reducing your sugary drink intake. These include regular carbonized soft drinks, orange juice, most fruit juices, and most milk products. There are now many so-called "No Sugar Added", "Reduced Sugar", "Diet" or "Zero" options you can choose from, but be aware that many of these have artificial sweeteners added. There are guides available online that outline the daily safe amount of artificial sweeteners you can consume. 
• Reduce the salt (sodium)
• Cut the processed foods (ie: potatoe chips, hotdogs, chocolate bars, candies, bacon, bologna, etc.)
• Eat more fruits and veggies (and this means not boiling your veggies in the water that salt meat was boiled in 😉)
• Reduce your red meat intake (I'm not sure I like this one but it's one of the many suggestions I have been given over the years). If you're going to eat meat, choose leaner cuts like moose 💕
• Increase your protein intake. This is a bit of an oxymoron to the last point, but it's one I believe in.
• READ THE LABELS OF THE FOODS YOU CONSUME. Look for things like sodium, carbohydrates, sugars, protein, saturated fats, and overall calories. Carbs are basically sugars. You'll notice that sugars are listed under the carbs section on the label. If the label reads 2 g of sugar but yet 30 g of carbs, that may be a product you'd want to skip. Choose products that contain more protein and fiber, with less amounts of saturated fat, sugar, and sodium.

3. Get Active

This can include exercise or physical activity. I'm not a believer in having to go to the gym. Getting active can be split into at least three categories:

Exercise: Here you can pick your favorite activity. If you are someone who loves working out on the treadmill, stepper, or stationary bike, you can either buy your own equipment or join a gym. The same goes for anyone who prefers to work out with weights, you can purchase your own, or join a gym. Others like to do both. If you don't like weights, stick with the cardio machines. In the same breath, if you hate cardio, try circuit training. There are tons of exercise routines online that teach you how to circuit train and still get your cardio workout without ever having to do cardio on a machine. Did I mention I hate cardio? 

Physical Activity: In this category, we can include all sorts of activities including walking, jogging (but hard on the knees), hiking, bowling (may be a sport depending on your opinion), kayaking, and martial arts (borders on the "Sports" category). Basically, anything that gets you moving besides sports can be placed in this category.

Sports: I listed this category as its own simply because not everyone likes sports. This can include golfing (maybe), ball hockey, ice hockey, softball, basketball, tennis, and pickleball.

The biggest challenge I would say with any of this is staying motivated. You can do it on your own, but it's much better if you can convince your friends or family to join you on the journey. We all have our own reasons to stay in shape. We all want to live a longer, healthier life, so we can be there for our families as long as we can. 

 In the immortal words of Mr. Spock, “Live long and prosper.”

Life or What We Call It

Life as we know it, is a beautiful thing in many ways. It's as much a mystery as it is anything else. Thanks to modern medicine, we have learned so much about how we function, and equally important about all the things that can go wrong. We've identified countless ailments and subsequent treatments in the form of a multitude of different medications and therapies.

How much though, do we really know? There are vast gaps in our knowledge. We don't fully understand our existence, as much as we marvel at our own perceived superiority over everything around us. We have inherited a planet and everything we need to survive. That being said, we continue to systematically destroy it.

The next time you are outside, take a long look around you. You'll soon realize there is only one thing on earth that doesn't seem to fit. I'm not talking about all the stuff we've built around us, I'm talking about us. We're out of place and I'm sure many people would say they've felt it. 

What if tomorrow you found out your life was nothing more than a dream, a simulation if you will? If that were true, would it make your life any less real to you? Of course it wouldn't. That begs the question what is real and can we trust everything we perceive in this world?

Have you ever thought you saw one thing, but it turned out on closer inspection to be something entirely different? I have on many occasions. How hard would it be to extend that same principal to everything and everyone around us. If everyone's perception can be a little different, then we can't be certain that everyone experiences the same things either. 

Perhaps what we perceive as linear and certain such as time and space, can be bent to our will. Secrets such as this may never be unveiled to us. If it is true that much of the power of our brain remains untapped, how will we ever know what we're truly capable of?

The universe is an apparent ever expanding entity, full of galaxies, stars and planets. To think there's no such thing as intelligent life outside our own planet is inconceivable and probably impossible. When we look up at the night sky, we can imagine another species out there somewhere looking back at us, just as ignorant to our existence as we are to there's. Perhaps space repeats itself. If so, when we look up to the stars it may be like looking into the mirror, as a multitude of other versions of ourselves are all living simultaneously, scattered throughout the universe. What if we are looking at ourselves when we look into space, and what if UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) were actually us visiting ourselves from the future?

There is one thing we can say with certainty. The truth is absolutely ours to discover. The truth might be so profound, we wouldn't comprehend it. The average human probably can't handle the truth. If the truth doesn't align with world religions, what then? Our whole belief system is based on what was passed from generation to generation by word of mouth for decades before it was ever written down.

There are only two things that truly matter in this life. One would be living a good life by following what we feel in our hearts is right. The other simply put, would be to treat others with respect and kindness. If we don't get anything else right in our lives, these two things are probably enough, at least for now.