As a person who resists change until it actually occurs, I know how it feels to be put in an unfamiliar environment and being unsure of the next step. It’s tough letting go of the reigns sometimes and embracing change, especially if you’re somewhere new and you don’t want to lose control of your surroundings. While it’s always important to be alert and aware of where you’re going, isn’t it also good to keep up with the moment and enjoy where you are? I know it’s all been said before, but I truly believe that it’s important to let go once in a while and let beauty surround you. Sometimes, it’s healthy to give yourself a bit of leeway and take small risks to make life more interesting: a break from the routine. Embrace your surroundings when you’re somewhere new.

I was thinking about this yesterday as I was walking around the city with a friend after work and just enjoying the sites. I usually have more of a routine – finish work, get off two subway stops and hop on the train home, but last night, I was more free about it. I didn’t have anywhere to be, so I just stayed in the city and took new subway stops, went into different areas of the city, and basically just let whatever happened happen. While they were all new surroundings for me, I just kept my wits about me and enjoyed where I was. My friend and I wandered around, got dinner, stopped in a few shops, and just let ourselves get lost in the city, something I never do. Sometimes it’s fun to make memories that you wouldn’t normally make, especially now that it’s the summer and what do you remember most fondly – the routine or the adventures? Although I remember both (I love commuting into the city), the adventures are what make for good stories and stand out in your life, as opposed to what always occurs and is safe. You can be safe and have fun, but in the end, it’s taking risks within reason that makes life what it is. You just have to be smart about what you’re doing and make sure you know where you are. As long as that’s accounted for and you’re not in danger, risks and change can make more appearances in your life, not just in the moments between the dull routines.

In general, my advice is to mix it up once in a while. Change up your routine and go walk around your city or town after work. Go somewhere you’ve never been and live in the moment. Just do what feels like it would make your life more interesting. Be strong, independent, and adventurous!

Have you ever had a fun adventure somewhere new? Comment and share your stories below.

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(From shine.com)

Your girls do their best to give you advice, but you don’t listen. You ignore all the signs that appear clearly and quite frequently. It’s the age-old story of being with a man who won’t make the commitment, but you keep making excuses for him as to why. It could be that “he’s just not that into you,” but here are some other reasons he may not be taking it to the next level.

There’s Someone Else
Self-explanatory. Simple as that. It’s hard for a guy to commit to one woman if he’s got others on his mind.

He’s Got Other Priorities
It’s tough to balance love, family, work, etc. If there are things in his life that demand more attention than you, you may just be ranked at the bottom of his To-Do list.

He’s Got Baggage
His ex-girl cheated on him, his parents are divorced, and a long-running fight with his brother has him holding a grudge and bearing a chip on his shoulder. Unresolved pain from the past can prevent just about anyone from getting “serious.”

He’s Afraid It Won’t Work Out
Committing involves risk. You are essentially taking a plunge, and investing energy and time into the relationship. Some people feel that it’s not worth a try unless it’s 100% certain it will work out. But, because you can never really be sure of those things, a vicious cycle of “What If’s?” is created.

None Of His Friends Have Committed
It seems that there’s a certain amount of respect given to the last single guy in a group of friends. Most want to commit eventually, but don’t want to be the first one to do it.

READ MORE OF THIS STORY HERE

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(BlackDoctor.org) — The importance of annual physical exams for African American adults cannot be stressed enough. Regular exams can very often help uncover risk factors and problems before they become serious. Plus, if a disease is caught early, treatment is usually much more effective. Ultimately, having regular doctor’s visits will help you live a long and healthier, happier life.

Depending on your age, gender and family medical history, a checkup with your doctor may include:

• Blood, urine, vision and hearing tests to evaluate your overall health

• Assessments of your blood pressure, cholesterol level and weight

• A discussion about your diet and exercise habits, and any tobacco, drug and alcohol use

• Immunizations and booster shots

• Screenings to assess your risk of developing certain diseases, including diabetes (if you already have high blood pressure or high cholesterol) and cancer

• Depending on your age and sexual lifestyle, testing for STDs and possibly HIV

• Starting at age 40, screening for colorectal cancer

• A discussion about depression and stress to evaluate your mental health

Visualize your way to losing weight

For men, in addition to checking weight, blood pressure and other basics, your doctor’s visit may specifically include:

• Starting at age 40, a rectal exam to check for abnormalities in the prostate and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test to screen for prostate cancer

• Between the ages of 65 and 75, if you have ever smoked cigarettes, an abdominal exam to check for an enlargement in your aorta. An abdominal aortic aneurysm, a weakness in the lining of the aorta (a large blood vessel in your chest and abdomen), can develop with age and become a life-threatening problem.

READ MORE HERE

Are you fatigued? Try exercising!

Did you know it was possible to be allergic to water?  According to the dailymail.com, a young mother cannot drink, bathe, or even wipe away her son’s tears. If her son drools on her or a drop of sweat touches her skin, she breaks out into a very painful blistery and burning rash.

Excess hair in women linked to illness.

According to the article: ” Michaela Dutton said the condition, known as aquagenic urticaria, has left her scared to leave the house for fear of it raining. When she does, she always carries an umbrella with her, whatever the weather.”

How does she bathe? She has to limit her showers to 10 seconds. After that point, the pain–and the blisters–get unbearable.

I can’t even begin to imagine life without water!!!

3 new health risks revealed.

[From CNN Health]

Attention red wine drinkers: Drinking moderate amounts of any kind of alcohol (including wine, beer, and liquor) is associated with a slightly increased breast cancer risk — and the rosy-hued beverage is no exception.

That’s the conclusion of a new study that dashes any hope that red wine is less likely than other alcohol-containing drinks to increase breast cancer risk, or that it might even protect against the disease.

“If a woman chooses red wine, she should do so because she likes the flavor, not because she thinks doing so will reduce her breast cancer risk,” said Polly A. Newcomb of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, who led the research. “It might be good for other things, but it definitely is not conferring any protection against breast cancer.”

There’s good evidence showing that women who consume alcohol have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer than teetotalers, and the risk is higher with heavier drinking. But research in animals and some human studies had suggested that red wine might not carry the same risks as other forms of alcohol or could even be protective.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Had TOO much wine last night? Find out how to cure a hangover here.

Love wine, but don’t know what kind to order? Become a pro by reading this article.

[From Associated Press]

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s, the U.N. said Thursday, focusing its annual children’s survey on the health of their mothers.

Every year, 70,000 women between the ages of 15 and 19 die in childbirth or from pregnancy complications, UNICEF director Ann Veneman said at the launch of the organization’s annual report.

“This is not only a tragic personal loss for the family; it also leaves a long-term impact on the health and well-being of children and the development of communities and countries,” Veneman said.

The 160-page survey paints a bleak picture of the risks of teenage pregnancies, which are prevalent in the developing world.

“The State of the World’s Children 2009″ says that the younger a girl is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the health risks for her and her infant.

Worldwide, more than 60 million women who are currently aged 20-24 were married before they were 18, with the most child marriages being in South Asia and in Africa.

If a mother is under the age of 18, her infant’s risk of dying in its first year of life is 60 percent greater than that of an infant born to a mother older than 19.

In addition, the report says adolescent wives are susceptible to violence, abuse and exploitation. Young brides are often forced to drop out of school, have few work opportunities and little chance to influence their own lives.

“If young girls are not in school, they are more vulnerable,” South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan said at the launch. “It’s not just a health issue; it is about the status of young women and girls.”

To read the rest of the article, click here.