ARTICLES

We all live on a planet where the environment and atmosphere are being destroyed by one of the most intelligent beings living on it. By making better choices, we can change that and begin making a positive impact on our world. The key to a better world and a better future lies in each of our hands. We have to break away from the factory mill of societal brainwashing and really take a look at what we’re doing.

I am an aspiring designer. I love fashion and beauty, among many other things. The creative freedom, glamor, and influence are what sparked my interest in the industry. Fashion is exciting and people gravitate towards that. That’s probably why it’s one of the biggest industries in the world. In 2015 it was reported to be a 1.2 trillion-dollar global industry, according to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee.

Keeping Up With Fast Fashion

In recent decades our desire for stuff has grown. We’ve been buying more things and are still trying to keep up with “The Joneses”. Clothing has become a representation of our status in life and it’s causing more and more people to fall into the trap, which is fast fashion. Early on in the fashion industry, there were only 4 seasons. People bought quality clothing and wore them only until they no longer fit or were presentable. We now have about 52 fashion seasons. Fast fashion was designed to make you feel off the trend, almost every week. Companies work with marketers to make consumers buy a lot, as fast as possible. This causes a rippling of negative effects in the fashion industry.

To keep up with the demands of fast fashion companies resort to cheap labor and cheap materials. Resulting in a low-quality garment that won’t last long. The garments usually get thrown away and end up in a landfill or the ocean. There have even been reports of large retail companies slashing and cutting out-of-season clothing and throwing them out on the curb. They destroy the clothes so no one would be able to resell or wear them. Unfortunately, that’s just the tip of the unsustainable iceberg.

Laborers who make this cheap clothing work in extremely unethical conditions, sometimes only to be paid $1 – $3 a day. It’s believed that the mass suicide that’s been happening in India since the mid-’90s, is due to cotton farmers going into debt from buying genetically modified cotton seeds, to try to keep up with fiber demands. This epidemic has claimed over 250,000 lives. This irresponsible production and carelessness for human rights and our planet make this an extremely unsustainable industry.

As a creator, my decisions hold a heavyweight on the transformation of this hopefully soon to be a sustainable fashion industry. As a consumer, the responsibility is just as great because you get to choose who stays in business. The way we change things is by demanding better, becoming more knowledgeable and using our money for good. Brands and companies will follow suit. We as a whole have to come together and speak up for the men and women in sweatshops, working 10-hour shifts with no breaks, for a measly 1 dollar a day. The only way things will change is if we ALL make better buying choices. We can change the world, but to do that we have to realize that every single one of us matters, every single dollar counts.

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

– Albert Einstein

By: Eden Cabiness

Maintaining oral hygiene should be a priority for every man, woman, and child. Oral health is important for your overall health and ability to fight off dangerous diseases and bacteria. The appearance of healthy gums and white teeth become a by-product when actively trying to perpetuate a healthy mouth environment. Mouth health sometimes contributes to acne production, inflammation in the body and other ailments.

The Risk of Bad Oral Hygiene

Properly taking care of your oral hygiene benefits you in an abundance of ways. A little-known fact is that Saliva is one of the bodies leading defense mechanisms against disease-causing organisms. Saliva contains antibacterial properties and antibodies that attack viral pathogens such as, the common cold and HIV. Unfortunately, saliva cannot terminate every dangerous organism that finds its way to you.

The human mouth may contain over 500 different species of bacteria at one time, according to a study supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Bacteria can cause many unwanted side effects. Bacteria in the mouth most often leads to plaque, which is the sticky film that attaches itself to your teeth. The build-up of plaque causes significant health problems, such as gingivitis. Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to other things, like trench mouth.

Trench mouth may be the least of your worries if your oral hygiene isn’t in good condition. Oral bacteria release toxins into the body and bloodstream. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research determines that roughly 18 percent of preterm, low birth infants born in the United States, are affected by dangerous, oral, bacterial toxins. Bad oral hygiene can also lead to inflammation in the body, clogged arteries, blood clots, as well as links to diabetes and heart disease.

Luckily there are a ton of remedies and foods you can use and eat to help maintain superb oral health. Aside from the obvious brushing and flossing, I find natural remedies to be the most effective and safest ways to sustain and improve oral hygiene.

Natural Oral Health Boosting Remedies

1. Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds are a slightly abrasive food, perfect for cleaning teeth. To use them, simply put a handful of seeds in your mouth, chew them and spit them out. For the best results, put them in your mouth, chew them, then brush your teeth with a dry, soft toothbrush, and then proceed to spit them out.

The sesame seeds have a slightly abrasive property, that gently removes stains and plaque from teeth without damaging them. Additionally, chewing the seed releases some of the tooth strengthening calcium needed to maintain strong, healthy teeth.

2. Figs

Eating more figs will benefit you in many ways. This fruit is sweet, taste good and contains many vitamins and nutrients, including calcium. Figs also contain antibacterial and antifungal properties.

To get the most out of this tasty fruit, chew a fig slowly and deliberately. You have the option of eating it afterward, unlike the sesame seeds. Chewing figs will help release the bacteria-fighting properties in your mouth while also increasing saliva production. As we know, saliva has bacteria-fighting properties of its own. Figs help fight dangerous microorganisms, wash them away and satisfy your sweet tooth.

3. Spicy Food

Spicy food, depending on how it’s cooked and the ingredients used, can help the body in a variety of ways. Aside from being super tasty, spicy food helps create an environment in the mouth, which optimizes the ability to protect against bacteria and diseases. Spicy foods do this by increasing your saliva production and enhancing your first line of defense against disease-causing organisms. So, do not hesitate to add some heat to your dishes. It will do your body a whole lot of good.

4. Ground Clove Spice

Cloves have been used to help fight against oral ailments for centuries, including toothaches. It has analgesic, antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties. The spice reduces gum disease-causing bacteria. To use this method efficiently, add water to ground up cloves to create a paste. Apply the paste to your teeth and any other afflicted area in the mouth. Rinse out of your mouth after a minute or so. This remedy is especially useful for pain-causing ailments such as sores or toothaches.

5. Orange Peel Rub

Orange peels have been used as an Ayurveda treatment for thousands of years. Orange peels help with a variety of things. Eating the peels of orange can help prevent cancer, reduce inflammation and help reduce the release of histamines. Luckily you don’t have to eat the peels to enjoy the oral health benefits oranges peels provide unless of course, you want to. Rub the white parts of the orange, also known as the pith, on the teeth. The inside of the peel contains properties that naturally act as a teeth whitener. The peel isn’t acidic. Therefore, your tooth enamel won’t be damaged when using this remedy.

Oral Hygiene Tips

Soft Brush vs. Hard Brush

Harder toothbrush bristles aren’t the best thing for teeth cleaning. Depending on how hard you brush you may be at risk of damaging your vital tooth enamel, root surface, and gums. Soft brushes clean your teeth just as well as a hard toothbrush would. Not to mention, it’s gentle and safer to use in your mouth.

Antiseptic Mouth Wash vs. Antibacterial Mouth Wash

Mouth wash is a great way of cleaning the mouth and getting rid of nasty, illness-causing microorganisms. Unfortunately, all mouthwash wasn’t created equally. Antibacterial mouth wash is great. It kills bacteria in the mouth and hobbles their reproduction. However, antiseptic mouth wash is far more superior. It kills bacteria as well as many other microorganisms such as fungi, protozoa, and other illness-causing viruses. So, get the all in one option by simply switching your mouthwash to antiseptic.

Oil Pulling Purifying Method

Oil pulling has been used as a powerful, Ayurveda, detoxifying technique for centuries. Various studies state that oil pulling helps fight against gingivitis, plaque build-up, and unpleasant breath. The science backing these benefits have to do with the ‘like attracts like’ rule. Cells have skin that consists of a liquid fatty membrane. When the microorganism makes contact with the fatty oils they naturally adhere to it. The oil pulling method can be done with a variety of oils such as coconut, sesame and sunflower oil. My favorite choice would be the coconut oil for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

To use this technique, put a tablespoon of oil in your mouth and swirl it around for 10-20 minutes. Spit all of the oil out and rinse your mouth thoroughly. If you do this before you brush your teeth proceed to brush normally after. For additional detoxifying benefits add a few drops of essential oils such as tea tree and/or peppermint. Additionally, Oil gargling takes the detoxifying process a step further, by helping to purify the entire body.

Maintaining oral health is an important part of self-care. It affects all aspects of the body because it is our first line of defense against everyday viruses. Actively taking care of your mouth and improving your oral environment purifies the body. Caring for your oral health will not only affect how you look and smell but also how you feel from the inside out.

There are things profoundly greater than success. Depending on one’s definition of ‘success’ it doesn’t always amount to true happiness and fulfillment. But it can. It all depends on how we go about it. We have the power to make our journey to ‘success’ a stressful one or one that is full of butterflies and rainbows. We just have to take a moment to listen, understand and trust ourselves.

I personally like to study inspirational people. People who have dominated their field and continue to accomplish more amazing things. Oprah Winfrey is a household name and one that rings bells of fascination, openness and giving.

Oprah has become a symbol of success. A Sensational self-made billionaire woman with an impressive amount of influence on the world and people she reaches. Her success began at a very young age. Her long remarkable career in media has ultimately transformed her in to the inspirational figure she is today. She has befittingly inspired a phenomenon known as the Oprah effect, which exhibits her ability to positively impact a business or anything for that matter. Oprah has broken barriers for women everywhere.

Oprah’s aura shines through on camera. Her T.V persona is authentic through and through. She has made it clear through her interview’s that she has always followed her intuition, and through that she found her purpose. She was able to use her gift of gab, her talent. To change lives!

She has always done what has felt right for her. She believes this is one major reason she has become so sensational. She found her purpose in life by following her heart and doing what felt right for her at the time. We all have a purpose. Our job is to figure out what that is and then fulfill it. I know, it’s easier said than done.

Knowing what your meant to do is one thing and knowing if you’re going about it in the right way is another. However, there is a really simple way to figure that out. One that will always prevail. I am talking about intuition.

Not magic. Real instinct.

Luckily, we were all born with an instinctual guide. Otherwise known as the emotional GPS, as Oprah might call it. Instinct, sometimes manifest itself as that hunch, that gut feeling, that passion, that worry or that little voice that sometimes saves you from making bad decisions. If you learn how to become Intune with your feelings and learn to read your emotions. You will have a better time understanding what you want and what works for you.

To get in touch with your emotional GPS, all you need to do is listen. You must always listen to seek understanding. Listen to what people say directly to you and to others. Try to seek the source of what they speak. Pay attention to all of your experiences. That’s the universes way of reaching out to you.

“Listening to your life as it whispers to you first, so that it does not have to knock you upside the head with a brick or coming crashing down on you as a brick wall; is one of the greatest principles of life.” – Oprah Winfrey

You should especially be listening to yourself. Listen to how you feel. Is what you’re doing making you feel good or are you feeling bad? If so, what are you going to do about it. Life will reveal ways for you achieve your goals. You just need to be aware, listen and prepare to make the moves that are right for you. Life has a funny way of talking to you. Through people, events, experiences, aha moments and everything else in between. We can optimize our potential by simply paying attention.

It helps to be in the moment when trying to listen to life’s whispers. Practicing things like, meditation, mindfulness and other things that bring you into the now, will allow you to tune out the noise and into your intuition.

Meditation is chockful of emotional and mental benefits. The best part about meditation is that you can do it in any style or form you like and for whatever reason you want. The benefits stay the same. It’s free and you can do it when ever, where ever.

Meditation can be done in a variety of ways; each way will help connect us to our emotional GPS. You might want to go for a long walk, go to the beach and watch the waves or just sit on the couch in silence mindfully drinking tea. Do whatever it is you do with the intention of being mindful and do it alone.

Psychotherapist and author Amy Morin states that spending time alone increases empathy, ignites creativity, increases productivity, strengthens your mind, grants you the opportunity to plan your life and get to know yourself.

Be sure to schedule some ‘Me Time’. The keyword here is schedule. Getting in some ‘Me Time’ should be a priority. Not only will it better our own lives, but it would beneficial to all the people around us. Setting aside some time each and every day for ourselves will initiate significant changes in our lives. Just a little bit of time set aside for ourselves zones us into vibrational space of oneness with ourselves and all things, and oneness will bring harmony in to your life.

Because meditation can be done any and everywhere you should be able to fit in a quick session for yourself each day. Just 20 minutes of silent meditation, or taking that bath, or reading that book will do yourself a whole lot of good.

Meditation has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. It can even help fight against addictions and memory loss due to old age. It has been found that meditation can also reduce depression and lengthen your attention span. The amazing benefits of meditation don’t end there. But If I kept going, you might be here all day.

Meditation is like training the mind to focus, observe and redirect the thoughts for the better. This training is relaxing and highly beneficial for the mind. By giving yourself a break and tapping into the present moment you strengthen your ability to absorb positive, thoughts, beliefs and ideas, as well as the ability to disregard the negative and limiting one.

Sometimes we grow deaf to life’s voice. However, meditation will bring you back down to earth. It will help see the connections to you and to that all around you. With consistent meditation practices we will be more than capable of deciphering and being aware of our emotions and intuition.

“the truth is, I have from the very beginning listened to my instinct. All of my best decisions in life have come because I was attuned to what really felt right for me.” – Oprah Winfrey

Oprah seems to have mastered the reading of one’s emotional GPS. One thing she has made clear is that she has always been attuned with not only her emotions but her true self. We can only achieve this type success when we are aware, we are listening, and are able to understand the language of instinct.

 

HOW TO START: WORKING-FROM-HOME

Flexibility, comfortability and growth are things we all want in the work place. However, the way the work environment is these days, you’d be lucky to come by one job with fragments of those qualities. I am sure such a job does exist, but it is not easy to come by.

For all I’m concerned nothing will ever beat the comfort and flexibility that is established when working-from-home. If you are looking to start a telecommuting career, fret not. It’s actually quite simple to break in to. There are plenty of telecommuters that started right where you are today. All you need is some guidance, consistency, desire for independence, and maybe some supplies.

The telecommuting work force has grown one hundred and fifteen percent (115%) from 2005 – 2015 according to http://www.global-analytics.com/ . So, you aren’t the first person to get this idea. The thought of that competition can be dismaying. However, this large and forever growing population of telecommuters experiences no shortages of jobs. With more and more companies joining the online work force each day in many different ways. The number of employers offering a work-from-home option has grown about forty percent (40%) since 2012.

NARROW IT DOWN

To start working-from-home, it is best you have an idea of what career path suits you best. To help you narrow it down you may want to research a career from the list below. It contains 10 of the most common online jobs.

1. Sales/Customer Service Representative

2. Data Entry Clerk

3. Virtual Assistant

4. Travel Agent/ Travel Counselor

5. Accountant/ Bookkeeper

6. Tutor/ Teacher

7. Writer/ Editor

8. Transcriptionist

9. Graphic Designer

10. Digital Marketer

If your anything like me. It may be hard to narrow down your options. The excitement of all these opportunities can sometimes be overwhelming. However, picking a specialty will allow you to excel in a pool of imminent virtual employees, looking to start a career working-from-home.

TOOLS OF SUCCESS

Depending on the career you have chosen, you may be required to have more tools than other occupations. However, the basics do remain the same throughout all of these virtual jobs, aside from the basic pens, paper, and pencils. You will definitely need a laptop or desk top. In addition to a fully functioning computer, you will mostly likely need some type of software. Whether it be Microsoft word or Sketchable (an art application). Software is sometimes imperative depending on the job. Make sure you have enough money to invest in the necessary tools. Some companies will actually provide the supplies for you.

A designated work space is highly recommended. Especially if you have children, pets or other obligations. I suggest you set up a chair and a desk in a quiet room. To ensure a quiet and productive work space. This will allow you to subtly set boundaries between your work and home life.

THE MINDSET FOR SUCCESS

Now step back and take a good look at your mindset, and by mindset I specifically want to mention time management, money management, and structure. All skills needed to be a successful employee, freelancer, entrepreneur, or anybody looking for sustainable income.

Whichever career you chose, your dual title is now project manager. You must learn and strive to manage your time well. As well as keeping a planner or calendar to keep up with projects, duties and deadlines. Organization is key.

Also, if you choose to be a freelancer you will have to ensure you keep track of your income and expenses particularly for tax season. I suggest you take on the perspective of an entrepreneur, blazing your own path to success. Ensuring your finances and products are well organized in order to achieve optimal productivity.

Entrepreneurs are business owners, and business owners have to market their products in order to be successful.

GET TO KNOW YOURSELF, SO YOU CAN SELL YOURSELF

You must understand that when looking for a new job, or a new client, etc., you are essentially selling a product whether it be electronic or service related. Which is why learning how to effectively market yourself is so important. No one will know who you are, if you choose not to.

Know your strengths and weaknesses. Think about the skills and talents you have to offer to the career you chose. Do you have experience? Do you need experience? Do you need a website? A blog? Every job requires you to have a portfolio whether it be a cover letter, resume or sketchbook. You will need to display your skills in some type of format. I suggest you take your time during this process. Your “portfolio” is usually the first thing employers see, and you will want to make your first impression a good one.

You now know what you want to do. You know what your good at and what your not so good at. Your portfolio should showcase your strengths, and not your weakness.

Now you have to SELL, SELL, SELL. Apply to that job. Pitch to that blog. Start networking and connecting with people in your industry of interest.

Marketing can be fun and should be done with attentiveness and originality.

PERSERVERANCE & CONSISTENCY

Never give up. Starting something new can be scary and uncertain. This feeling comes with all things new.

Do you remember being a teenager or a young adult and finally landing that first job? I remember being excited and relieved. I remember working hard on a resume and cover letter that offered nothing but a willingness to learn and eagerness to work. I remember not getting any calls. To soon getting interviews. To landing my first job. Would you still be intimidated if you knew the process to start working-from-home is a similar one?

Well, it is!

Except you are wiser and better than you were yesterday, and as long as you continue to learn and try. You will get better each time.

If you experience a tough time finding a job. Look at your strategy and tweak it. Listen to any feedback you get from rejection and apply what you have learned. Do your research and, move forward with new, improved, applied knowledge.

“There are no such things as failures there are only results.” – Tony Robbins.

It all comes down to your perspective. A rejection is not the end. Success is not the end. You must strive to continuously put your best foot forward.

RESOURCES

Anybody working-from-home knows that google is your best friend. You can locate a ton of virtual work just by looking through this exemplary search engine.

To get you started I suggest creating a Linkedin profile. This will help establish your online presence as a professional as well as making it slightly easier to network.

There are basic principles to life. If you take heed to them you can and will be extraordinary. Go for what you want with the confidence of knowing. Use the basic principles in this article to achieve SUCCESS!