Today I walked door to door with some girls from my softball team and we collected canned goods for a food pantry. We carried a box along with us that was full within an hour. It was surprisingly easy to collect food from strangers we had never met before. I was uneasy at first about going from home to home asking people to give food away in this hard economic time. However, it soon occurred to me that no matter what, the overall generosity of others is great.
So many times I hear bad stories and unfortunate events on the news. It tends to give off a negative image of the public because all the news focuses on is manly the bad things. What they fail to mention is how much more good is out there. We knocked on many, many doors and we only turned down by those who weren't home and couldn't answer the door. Others immediately went to check their pantries and often times came with multiple items to donate.
There are families everywhere that struggle to put food on the table. The things that others can donate makes their Thanksgivings and overall holiday seasons much happier. It is a good feeling to know that others are caring and willing to help out those less fortunate. If you have extra canned good or other non-perishable food items donate them to a local pantry and help make someone else's holiday a little better.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Breakfast of Champions
Every single day I see students in my morning classes that are struggling to stay awake and can't seem to concentrate. And I admit, I have been one of them many times. Aside from the fact that most of us don't get nearly enough sleep, another important factor is how some do not eat breakfast. I think it is important for physical and mental health to eat breakfast every morning.
A study conducted by Harvard University came out with positive results for students that ate breakfast. Their math grades improved, they were less hyper, and had decreased tardy and absence rates. Another study by Tufts University showed more positive reasons for students to eat in the morning. They proved that kids who participated in their School Breakfast Program had significantly higher standardized test scores than kids who didn't get involved.
The effects of breakfast can be good for mood and cognitive performance for everyone, not just students. Dr. Bonnie Spring of University of Chicago Medical School says that eating a breakfast meal can reduce irritability and fatigue. Researchers also found that people who eat breakfast actually lose more weight than those who don't. From a database of over 3,000 individuals who lost 6o pounds and kept it off for 6 years, nearly 80% of them ate breakfast each morning.
It is easy to see what breakfast can do for you. I can admit to not always eating it and how sometimes it is easier to sleep the extra 10 minutes and skip food in the morning. However, it will be beneficial in the long run to get up a little earlier and get some food in your stomach. It doesn't need to be eggs and bacon or pancakes, even just a granola bar and juice is better than nothing.
A study conducted by Harvard University came out with positive results for students that ate breakfast. Their math grades improved, they were less hyper, and had decreased tardy and absence rates. Another study by Tufts University showed more positive reasons for students to eat in the morning. They proved that kids who participated in their School Breakfast Program had significantly higher standardized test scores than kids who didn't get involved.
The effects of breakfast can be good for mood and cognitive performance for everyone, not just students. Dr. Bonnie Spring of University of Chicago Medical School says that eating a breakfast meal can reduce irritability and fatigue. Researchers also found that people who eat breakfast actually lose more weight than those who don't. From a database of over 3,000 individuals who lost 6o pounds and kept it off for 6 years, nearly 80% of them ate breakfast each morning.
It is easy to see what breakfast can do for you. I can admit to not always eating it and how sometimes it is easier to sleep the extra 10 minutes and skip food in the morning. However, it will be beneficial in the long run to get up a little earlier and get some food in your stomach. It doesn't need to be eggs and bacon or pancakes, even just a granola bar and juice is better than nothing.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
That Time of Year
Starting on November 1st the radio station 99.1 started playing Christmas music. On the same day my big brother pulled out his Christmas CD's and played them in the car. Stores have Christmas trees, ornaments, and anything else red and green out for sale. There are even holiday commercials being played on TV. And along with all this are the people that complain that it is too early to be celebrating.
It is not too early for Christmas spirit to start being seen or heard. After Halloween is the perfect time for people to start getting in the holiday mood. There are two months to do the shopping and decorating. There are even bell ringers at stores already collecting money for Salvation Army. And why not, there could never be a time too early to give to a worthy cause.
If people want to play the holiday music they love, the Christmas movies they can't watch enough, and even get their shopping done there is no reason they shouldn't be able to do that. The Christmas season is such a magical time, some even celebrate Christmas in July. People are happier around this time, so let them start getting in the mood if they want to.
Pretty soon the snow will start to fall and lakes will freeze over. Snowmen will be built and hot chocolate will be smelt everywhere. Trees will be decorated and cookies will be baked. People will start to give generously to others in need. There is never a time too early to start celebrating the Christmas season.
It is not too early for Christmas spirit to start being seen or heard. After Halloween is the perfect time for people to start getting in the holiday mood. There are two months to do the shopping and decorating. There are even bell ringers at stores already collecting money for Salvation Army. And why not, there could never be a time too early to give to a worthy cause.
If people want to play the holiday music they love, the Christmas movies they can't watch enough, and even get their shopping done there is no reason they shouldn't be able to do that. The Christmas season is such a magical time, some even celebrate Christmas in July. People are happier around this time, so let them start getting in the mood if they want to.
Pretty soon the snow will start to fall and lakes will freeze over. Snowmen will be built and hot chocolate will be smelt everywhere. Trees will be decorated and cookies will be baked. People will start to give generously to others in need. There is never a time too early to start celebrating the Christmas season.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
World Series
Baseball is America's past time, it is a great sport. The World Series showcases the best of the best in the sport. Fans all over the country watch players give their all for a chance to be champions. The event is almost magical for any baseball lover. To see the giant American flag waving over the outfield before the game is enough to capture anyone's attention.
Right now the Yankees and Phillies are battling out a best of seven game series. The Phillies took the first game behind two homers hit by Chase Utley and a complete game pitched by Cliff Lee. The next day, however, the Yankees came back to tie the series at one game a piece. Then on Halloween night A-Rod was awarded a home run and help the Yankees take the series lead as they won in Philadelphia. Two more games will be played at home for the Phillies and the Yankees could win the series at home with games 6 and 7 (if needed) being held in Yankee Stadium.
It doesn't matter if you are sports fan or not, watching the World Series is something you should do. The atmosphere that is created by such an event is incredible. It is amazing how a sports game can bring together a city. Watching a sporting event and being part of something so big, like the World Series, is a great way to relax too. It gives a chance to release your stress and care about something other than the work that needs to get done. Watch the World Series, and go Phillies!
Right now the Yankees and Phillies are battling out a best of seven game series. The Phillies took the first game behind two homers hit by Chase Utley and a complete game pitched by Cliff Lee. The next day, however, the Yankees came back to tie the series at one game a piece. Then on Halloween night A-Rod was awarded a home run and help the Yankees take the series lead as they won in Philadelphia. Two more games will be played at home for the Phillies and the Yankees could win the series at home with games 6 and 7 (if needed) being held in Yankee Stadium.
It doesn't matter if you are sports fan or not, watching the World Series is something you should do. The atmosphere that is created by such an event is incredible. It is amazing how a sports game can bring together a city. Watching a sporting event and being part of something so big, like the World Series, is a great way to relax too. It gives a chance to release your stress and care about something other than the work that needs to get done. Watch the World Series, and go Phillies!
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