my eternal team

We have an innate drive to communicate with others, yet we struggle to do so each and every day. Think about that. Why is it so hard to talk to those around us? If it is an innate desire, why doesn't it just come naturally? Communication can come in four ways: Verbal  Non-verbal Written Visual Learning how to effectively communicate in any form, is highly important. A study researching the most common way people communicate to others found that 14% of communication is through words, 35% is through tone, and 51% is non-verbal, and of course, written and visual communication are also evident in daily life, but were not apart of the study.  So what does this mean, is this good or bad? Honestly, I can not answer that question for you. All I know is that, personally, I think verbal communication should have a higher percentage. It is sad that verbal communication is only 14%.  Being able to communicate, in the right way, is important in your education, your career,...

How do you feel RIGHT NOW? Are you stressed? I know I find myself feeling stressed  every single da y, but did you know that with out stress, you, and your existence in this world, is in danger? I certainly didn't know that until about two days ago--it makes me feel justified in my stresses. ;) However, excessive amounts of stress and anxiety is not good. Stress can cause acne, headaches, stomach pain, lack of energy, depression, digestive issues, and even cause a rift in your relationships. This week I have thought a lot about family stress in particular. How is family stress different from someone's individual stress? Well, first, family stress effects multiple people. It also might change how family members act in every day activities and decisions. Stress that you feel within a family also means that you aren't along in your feelings and you have many people around you who can empathize--together you can work through your difficult times. Individual stress can be mor...

Last week, I told those who are not married to start preparing for marriage. Prepare mentally, by knowing the conversations you should have before marriage and recognize the challenges you might experience with your future spouse. One of the challenges I mentioned was sexual intimacy. Now before you click the red X on your computer, hear me out. I understand that talking about sex can be scary, and for most people, it makes them quite uncomfortable, however, it is highly important . If it wasn't important, it wouldn't be as talked about. Today, I want to make it clear that I will not be talking about sex in a vulgar way. Marital intimacy is private and highly cherished. It is scientifically proven, that men have an innate sexual drive much stronger than women do. It has been this way ever since the creation of man. Because of this, many men are portrayed as "pigs". In a healthy, open, marital relationship, this "pig comparison" could not be further from...

Nothing worth having comes easy. Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to witness a lot of marriages. I have seen the good and the bad. The fun and the scary. I have never been married myself, but the experiences I have gained throughout my life give me a sense of what I want a marriage to look like. I get that it is scary and unknown, but as I was thinking about what I could do to prepare now for marriage, I thought about my expectations. What did I think a happy marriage looked like? What did I see myself doing? How did I act? Would it be hard to acclimate to this new way of life? Would I be the perfect wife and have the perfect husband? Today, I'll tell you exactly what I think marriage should be like. First, let's start off by looking at the dictionary meaning of the word marriage. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as: "Being in the state of matrimony of or relating to marriage; united, joined. While I agree with this definition, I also think marriage ...

Dating seems to be a foreign concept these days. It's almost non-existent. It used to be that people would go on dates several times a week with several different people-- and that wasn't a bad thing either. In fact, it was encouraged. Guys didn't have to pay a lot of money to have fun and "hanging out" wasn't really something people would do. Does this sound familiar to you? Is this the most common form of dating you see today? From what I have heard, and experienced, it is nothing like this. I'll admit, there are a few people who experience dating this way, but unfortunately, the vast majority of people are caught in the ropes of today's tangled view of dating. What is dating like today? Dates aren't as common anymore. Guys don't want to spend the money and girls expect a guy to magically appear on their doorstep. When we have the opportunity to go on dates, a lot of our time is spent doing things that don't matter. What I mean by th...

This week my mind has been busy and my heart heavy, as I have thought about same gender attraction. It is a sensitive subject for many, and among one of the most debated topics in the world. Many argue about how someone is attracted to a member of the same sex. Is it by choice or are they just born that way? The truth is, we don't know. Many have studied and tested these possibilities and have not found a definite answer. There is speculation of course, but nothing can confidently be set as truth. In today's world, there seem to be more people who identify themselves as "gay" or "lesbian" or others who identify as something other than male or female. Many studies, including that of Dean Hamer, a geneticist in America, explain that while genetic factors might contribute to one's sexual orientation, the environment plays a major role as well. During his study, he mentioned "a stretch of DNA located at the tip of the X chromosome that some men inheri...

Culture comes in many different shapes and sizes. It is the behavior, beliefs, and characteristics of any group of people; such as the country or community you live in or even the family you are born into. It provides people with a sense of personal identity and links them to the ones who share those similar beliefs. In life, there are many different paths we may find ourselves walking down. Some of these paths can cause a family to lose focus on what is important or might lead a family on another path to their new home. Sometimes these paths can change our lives so dramatically that we struggle to find and remember our culture. Because culture is an essential part of life, I have found what I think are the best ways to create/preserve a family's culture. 1. Find out what you like to do as a family... what is your family identity? 2. Maintain old traditions and create new ones that are fun and meaningful for everyone involved. 3. Eat dinner as a family--develop your relationsh...