{the Secret....I promise myself" }

One of my awesome girlfriends gave me this, sometime ago and I always wanted to share with my friends, family, audience, whoever is willing to take out the few minutes to read....

I challenge you, to read this to yourself or read this aloud....when you read this I can guarantee you will start making self affirmations! Claim this today!

_______________________________

the SECRET.....
I promise myself


To be so strong, that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.

To make all my FRIENDS feel that there is something worthwhile in the.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

To thin only of the best, to work only for the best. 

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of

other as I am about my own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on tot he 

greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile

to every living creature I meet.

To give so much time to improving myself that I 

have no time to criticize other

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, 

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the word, 

not in loud words, but in great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on my side,

so long as I am true to the best that is in me.

- Christian D. Larson

{Stay Encouraged}

My current situation...


Cheese Omelet & Turkey Bacon
Kirk Franklin Radio
Quiet
Peace
Rocking Chair (I use to rock Bre in)

Well I thought I would be able to get through this post before my little friend woke up...however seeing her walk towards me with a smile and greeting me with a hug is the best thing ever. She hopped in my lap and hugged me tight with her arms around my neck. And to think I sat in this very chair when she was still baking in my belly and also feeding her in this chair, burping her, and rocking her to sleep in this chair..aaahhh the memories.

Do you have a special place in your house where you like to sit and just take it in. I think it is this chair for me. It is positioned in a place where I can see every angle in my home....not that its humongous, but you get what I am saying! It would be a great place for a motion detector. I see the kitchen, dining room, living room, patio, and hallway...and an eye at the front door.

I look at my front door and I have thought of who I have let walk through that threshold. From now on, I will be making a better selection of who gets to come through my threshold. Some will be able to walk through that threshold, some may have the opportunity to talk to me from my porch, and some may need to just stay on the sidewalk. We (especially women) need to be aware of who we let in our personal space. Know how to deal with people, either up close or with a long handled wooden spoon! It's time to re-evaluate.

As I sit here I am forced to think about my life. I sit and think of my situation and how I got to where I am. I will be 36 in a couple of weeks and I have a story to tell as we all do. I have been blessed to know many different people who have impacted me in a positive way. People come in and out our lives for a reason. Either they are here genuinely, or they are here until they get what the need or to relieve some type of temporary help. I do not regret anyone I have come in contact with...there is a story and lesson behind everyone I come in contact with.

I have been blessed to have family that displays unconditional love. I have seen loved ones come and go...loved ones battling an illness or disease...some overcame and some not.

Sometimes I have these moments where I am overwhelmed with gratitude with blessings...and his mercy and favor...I question myself sometimes, "How did I get here" and "How do I continue to stay on my feet?". I have felt used many times in my life, because I am such a giving person. I want to believe these people are brought my way to teach me lessons. As I sit here in my favorite spot in my home, I am thankful for all that I have and thankful for things I am able to do. It could be so much worse.

A few months ago, I had to make a decision that would place me in an extreme financial bind from a poor decision I made. I faced my fears and told myself, its okay to struggle Tricia. I may not be able to do everything I want to do but I sure will try and I will compromise with myself along the way.

I appreciate all of my friends that I hold close to keep me uplifted when I may have my down days and when I may get overwhelmed. I am blessed to have a multitude of God Fearing friends in my life...the women in my life I am so  thankful for....and who will always keep it 100 with me. Know that you have a special meaning to me...God did not place you in my life for no reason. Over the years, I know I have lost contact with some and the connection isn't what it use to be, but is it because our focus is different? Our priorities? I have struggled with that for a while, but I am at peace with it...it is what it is. Some I am able to pick back up exactly where we left off and some not so easy. But its ok. Bottom line, I am thankful for who I do have. =)

I'm getting older and it is so important to sit back sometimes and just think with self. Ask yourself, "what is my next step?", "what does God want me to do next",  "what does he want to show me?" "where am I going?", "am I on track?", "what is healthy or not healthy in my life?", "what changes do I need to make?"

My friends, all I am saying is....whatever your circumstance...stay encouraged...this is for you below...
Love You...

Stay Up!
Tricia

{Sparkle-Tude of the Day: 1/9/14}

 

Each quarter, my agency conducts meetings, with attempts to keep the line of communication open with all staff, share any news that may be going on, just business in general.  Also it is a time to get together as a whole as there are a handful of offices and we do not get to see each other or touch basis, so we have these meetings.  In 2011 we had a guest speaker by the name of Sheryl Roush and she was speaking about your attitude in the work environment....and how it can be infectious in a great way or in a poison type of way. Makes sense right? Whatever attitude you give off, others can sense it or feel it and definitely can see it.

 

She was also marketing her book called "Sparkle-Tudes" which is a self help / inspiration book that has gazillions of quotes , inspirations, insights for a sparkling attitude, energy boost, gives you the ability to have a calm reflection period and makes you bring on a new perspective of things, no matter how dim or dark things may be.

 

I share these quotes with my co-workers, close friends and I would like to share with you...hope you enjoy!

 

Quote for the day:

 

When stressed or going through a difficult time, it is essential that you take the time to relax in order to replenish your mind, body, and spirit. Nurture your well-being  by creating an oasis of calm in your life.  Getting calm allows you to get a fresh perspective and helps you cope better physically and emotionally with your troubles.  Being able to control at least one aspect of your life, in this case time to yourself, helps you get a grip on the rest of it .  For success, take the “t” out of “can’t”.

-          Anonymous

Also, take this bible verse and stick it somewhere where you can read it daily:

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Philipians 4:13

Apply these words today!

Enjoy!
Tricia!
XOXO

10 Commandments to Live By

A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often and realize how fortunate you are right now. It’s about the simple pleasures that make you happy, the compassionate deeds you perform, the personal goals you strive to achieve, the relationships you nurture and the legacy you leave behind.

So starting today, choose to take control. Here are ten commandments to help you live a good life.

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln

I. I am not perfect and I will not try to be. Think of how many things don’t get done in this world simply because people are waiting for the perfect time, place and circumstance. The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists. It rewards people who get things done. And the only way to get things done is to be imperfect 99% of the time.

ll. I cannot, and will not try, to please everyone. No matter what you do or how you do it, there will always be people that disagree with what you’re doing. That’s life. So don’t try please everyone. Simply do what I know is right. And remember, it doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it, it matters how many people do.

III. I will take part in something I believe in. This could be anything. Some people take an active role in their city council, some find refuge in religious faith, some join social clubs supporting causes they believe in and others find passion in their careers. In each case the psychological outcome is the same. They engage themselves in something they strongly believe in. This engagement brings happiness and meaning into their lives.

IV. I will prioritize my obligations and do important things first. Set priorities for yourself and act accordingly. It’s the only way to get things done. It’s the only way to turn a dream into a reality.

V. I will choose my friends wisely. Your friends are family you choose. So make sure you choose friends who are worthy of your time and attention. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it.

VI. I will help others when I am able. In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.

VII. I will focus on the positive. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. The mind must believe it can do something before it is capable of actually doing it. The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful. Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on the next positive step forward.

VIII. I can only be me. Judy Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.” Live by this statement. There is no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes. The only shoes you can occupy are your own. If you aren’t being yourself, you aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing. And ask yourself this: If you don’t like who you really are, why should I like you? Trying to be somebody you’re not is not sexy. Be you. That’s when you’re beautiful.

IX. I will be here now. Life is happening right now. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, practice being and living in the present moment. Remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. Don’t miss it. (Read Zen and the Art of Happiness.)

X. Life never gets any better, only my perception of it does. The world around you changes when you change. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right. The opposite is also true. The choice is yours to make.

Photo by: Eduardo Amorim

RIP Trayvon Martin

Me and Bre joined in on the hoodie movement.
I am saddened by what has happened...but unfortunately it is not the first time and it is won't be the last time.
This was a status update from one of my dear friends....and he speaks the truth:

"It's sad that a young boy had to lose his life to shed light on what it's really like to be an African American male. The stereotypes and racial profiling are destroying these young lives. We have to stand and give these boys and men a chance."...written by my friend T.M.

Here is another that blew me away..the sad part about it is I believe it:

"Just talked to a cop. He said regardless of what society thinks, a black man in a hoodie is up to no good or a possible threat. SMH"..written by my friend, T.M.

In disbelief....as I am currently watching "The Help"...anyway...

Here is another update from one of my friends...

"If you're a Black Man in Florida you should be vexed and on some straight Revolutionary ish regarding Trayvon Martin! Damn all the protesting, the talking, the rally's, and all the other ineffective bullshit! Doesn't matter who, but one of you needs to cause some slow-singing flowers-bringing for the savage beast who took Young Trayvon's life...then call some "officials" to come get his azz and let them know it was all in self defense...there's no justice system, it's just a system, a corrupted, suppressing, unjust system.... They still on this race war, stop being a punk and fight..."...my girl A.B is always bringing it raw...love ya girl, but you are so right on so many levels!

Here is a photo that was on her page..

Here is another picture I saw a few days ago...its sad that we have to explain to our youth WHY things like this happen. How do we explain this to our youth!?

I thought this was interesting...but so damn true...

Only food for thought....think about it. Do your part.

20 Things to Start Doing in Your Relationships

I stumbled across this article through a friend on Facebook...found it pretty interesting and possibly you can gain a little somethin somethin from it! If I see other articles that spark my eye, you may see these more often!

20 Things to Start Doing in Your Relationships
{Article from Marc & Angel Hack Life}

Family isn’t always blood. They’re the people in your life who appreciate having you in theirs – the ones who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways, and who not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be. These people – your real family – are the ones who truly matter.
Here are twenty tips to help you find and foster these special relationships.

1. Free yourself from negative people. – Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded. Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. When you free yourself from negative people, you free yourself to be YOU – and being YOU is the only way to truly live. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

2. Let go of those who are already gone. – The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need. When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave. The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great people you can count on. We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our real ones are. So when people walk away from you, let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you. It doesn’t mean they are bad people; it just means that their part in your story is over.

3. Give people you don’t know a fair chance. – When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed them, and forced them to grow. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours. We meet no ordinary people in our lives. If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer. So appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work. Trust your judgment. Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory. Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.

4. Show everyone kindness and respect. – Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are. There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. People will notice your kindness.

5. Accept people just the way they are. – In most cases it’s impossible to change them anyway, and it’s rude to try. So save yourself from needless stress. Instead of trying to change others, give them your support and lead by example.

6. Encourage others and cheer for them. – Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places. So be happy for those who are making progress. Cheer for their victories. Be thankful for their blessings, openly. What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.

7. Be your imperfectly perfect self. – In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress. Be your imperfectly perfect self around them. We are not perfect for everyone, we are only perfect for those select few people that really take the time to get to know us and love us for who we really are. And to those select few, being our imperfectly perfect self is what they love about us.

8. Forgive people and move forward. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the remedy. It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened. It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life. Remember, the less time you spend hating the people who hurt you, the more time you’ll have to love the people who love you.

9. Do little things every day for others. – Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts. You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people. Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.

10. Pay attention to who your real friends are. – As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones. Remember, life is kind of like a party. You invite a lot of people, some leave early, some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late. But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess. And most of the time, they aren’t even the ones who made the mess. These people are your real friends in life. They are the ones who matter most.


11. Always be loyal. – True love and real friendship aren’t about being inseparable. These relationships are about two people being true to each other even when they are separated. When it comes to relationships, remaining faithful is never an option, but a priority. Loyalty is everything.

12. Stay in better touch with people who matter to you. – In human relationships distance is not measured in miles, but in affection. Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart. So don’t ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words.
Stay in touch with those who matter to you. Not because it’s convenient, but because they’re worth the extra effort. Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of. Paying attention to these people is a priority.

13. Keep your promises and tell the truth. – If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT! If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT! If you can’t, won’t, and don’t, then DON’T LIE. It’s always better to tell people the truth up front. Don’t play games with people’s heads and hearts. Don’t tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out; half-truths are no better than lies. Remember, love and friendship don’t hurt. Lying, cheating and screwing with people’s feelings and emotions hurts.
Never mess with someone’s feelings just because you’re unsure of yours. Always be open and honest.

14. Give what you want to receive. – Don’t expect what you are not willing to give. Start practicing the golden rule. If you want love, give love. If you want friends, be friendly. If you want money, provide value. It works. It really is this simple. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.


15. Say what you mean and mean what you say. – Give the people in your life the information they need, rather than expecting them to know the unknowable. Information is the grease that keeps the engine of communication functioning. Start communicating clearly. Don’t try to read other people’s minds, and don’t make other people try to read yours. Most problems, big and small, within a family, friendship, or business relationship, start with bad communication.

16. Allow others to make their own decisions. – Do not judge others by your own past. They are living a different life than you are. What might be good for one person may not be good for another. What might be bad for one person might change another person’s life for the better. Allow people to make their own mistakes and their own decisions.


17. Talk a little less, and listen more. – Less advice is often the best advice. People don’t need lots of advice, they need a listening ear and some positive reinforcement. What they want to know is often already somewhere inside of them. They just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help them find their direction.

18. Leave petty arguments alone. – Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right. There are many roads to what’s right. And most of the time it just doesn’t matter that much. Read How To Win Friends and Influence People.


19. Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary. – No one has the right to judge you. They might have heard your stories, but they didn’t feel what you were going through. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently. So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right. What most people think and say about you isn’t all that important. What is important is how you feel about yourself.

20. Pay attention to your relationship with yourself. – One of the most painful things in life is losing yourself in the process of loving others too much, and forgetting that you are special too. When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters? When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there? When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU?

Slice of Wry - San Bdo Sun Newspaper

This is about 4 people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody

- found in the Sun Newspaper a few years ago...thought I would share...

For Colored Girls

I did not write this, but it is definitely worth the read.

FOR COLORED GIRLS…..

When I first heard of the movie "For Colored Girls" I got so excited. I had the idea of getting as many women together that I could think of to go see this movie. I had visions of group discussions and moments shared with one another that would lead to healing and growth; I guess I kind of imagined a Women’s Empowerment Conference type of setting.


Well after I shared my idea with a few women, reality set in and I realized that so many of us wouldn't be willing to participate for various reasons: You don't like me, you don't care for somebody I might invite, you only hang out with certain people, you don't understand the big deal about Tyler Perry making yet another movie about black people and our issues for all the world to see, you don't like crowds, so n so is too ghetto, such and such is too uppity etc... It has ALWAYS amazed me that we as black women are each other’s biggest critics. We are the quickest to bring each other down, find each others faults and nit pick at a sister until she has nothing left, nothing left to give and then we step over her and call her worthless. We take the prettiest women and tear them down for thinking "they are cute" but turn around and dog the average sista because "she know she should take better care of herself than that - can't believe she got a man!" We don't discriminate, we talk about everybody!!!

I've watched women dog out everybody from Oprah for catering to white people and Halle Berry for not being able to keep a man to young Willow Smith for acting to darn grown in her recent video. All of these females are successful and there is something about each one of them to be proud of but a lot of us can't seem to see that. I have to wonder since we all share a common thread (whether we want to admit it or not) is there something about ourselves that we don't like, what has happened to us that we cannot seem to get along. Why is that we fight amongst ourselves, backstab & steal each others men (only to find out we should have left him where we found him). We cannot seem to be unified to support and stick up for one another. Everybody seems to be out for themselves while other groups unite against us but nobody else has to bring us down because we trample on the spirits of each other daily.

Even if you live in a mini mansion, drive a luxury car, have good credit, rich handsome husband etc, this does not mean that should look down your nose at the woman with 4 kids, no husband, living in income based housing struggling to keep her lights on. We ALWAYS think the grass is greener on the other side, I had a woman who's child father is MIA tell me that I should never complain because I receive a decent amount of child support and I laughed and let her know that I would gladly give every dime back if he would come relieve some of this overwhelming pressure of feeling inadequate as a parent. If I could get just one full night of sleep or not always be on the verge of losing my job because I’m the one that has to call off or leave work for one reason or another to accommodate my child - yeah he could DEFINITELY have his money if I could have some peace! Money alone doesn't make you happy (not true happiness), good credit doesn't keep you satisfied, beauty doesn't make you any less insecure, fame doesn't make you less vulnerable or cause you to be a good judge of character and being stuck up and mean doesn't keep you warm at night or prevent you from being lonely.

You don't know how the sista sitting right next to could have carefully put on her make up this morning to hide the beating from last night. The teacher you handed your child over to this morning could have sent her children off to school from a dark house with empty bellies. The teller you just got rude with at the bank could know that today is her last day on her job and have no idea how she is going to survive past next weekend. The sista at the office that appears so busy could be typing her goodbyes to all the people that she loves because she plans to blow her brains out tonight after she tucks her babies into bed. The woman you pass in the hallway could be on her way to have an abortion because she fears what others might think or how the woman that sent you this e-mail may drink an over abundance of alcohol every night to mask the nightmares of an abusive childhood.

Ladies we HAVE TO DO BETTER!!! I'm not suggesting that we all like each other and be phony, but I am asking that we all try to respect each other. You HAVE NO IDEA what the next woman is going through, you don't know what past or current hurt and pains have shaped her into who she is today. We spend so much time trying to be as strong and hard as we are expected to be that we end up cracking from the inside out piece by piece. If we would spend 1/3 of the time we spend tearing each other down to build someone up, encourage someone, show someone some love, we could truly make a difference and save someone's life. PLEASE don't be the straw that breaks another woman's back. Believe me when I tell you that there is a woman out there that needs your smile, your hug, your support, your prayer.

I hope that you read this and get something out of it other than a laugh and that you pass this on to as many women as you can to let someone know that you believe they are somebody special and that if need be you are available to listen. Nothing bad is going to happen if you don't forward this e-mail but I'd like to think that something positive will happen if you choose to pass it along. May favor be extended to each and every one of your lives, keep your head up and know that someone somewhere cares!!!

--

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King Jr.

Interesting Facts...Food for Thought

Here are some pretty interesting facts. This post was found from a member of Scraps of Color. These are very interesting...

According to experts, everything you do in your daily life, from where you stand in fitness class to the place you choose to store your meds, can have a surprising effect on everything, from how much you weigh to how often you need to go to the doctor.

The Unhealthiest Place For Your Toothbrush: The Bathroom Sink

There's nothing wrong with the sink itself, but it’s generally right next to the toilet. There are 3.2 million microbes per square inch in the average toilet bowl, according to germ expert Chuck Gerba, PhD, a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona. When you flush, aerosolized toilet ickyness is propelled as far as 6 feet, settling on whatever is nearby, including the floor, the sink, and your toothbrush.

The Best Place: "Keep your toothbrush behind closed doors—in the medicine cabinet or a nearby cupboard," Gerba says.


The Unhealthiest Place For Your Gym Shoes: The Bedroom Closet

Walking through your house in shoes you wear outside is a great way to track in allergens and contaminants. One study found that lawn chemicals were tracked inside the house for a full week after application, concentrated along the traffic route from the entryway. Shoes also carry in pollen and other allergens.

The Best Place: Reduce exposure by slipping off rough-and-tumble shoes by the door; store them in a basket or under an entryway bench. If your pumps stay off the lawn, they can make the trip to the bedroom—otherwise, carry them.


The Unhealthiest Place To Cool Leftovers: The Fridge

Placing a big pot of hot food directly into the fridge is a recipe for uneven cooling and possibly food poisoning, says O. Peter Snyder Jr., PhD, president of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management in St. Paul, MN. The reason: It can take a long time for the temperature in the middle of a big container to drop, creating a cozy environment for bacteria.

The Best Place: It’s safe to leave food to cool on the counter for up to an hour after cooking, Snyder says. Or divide the hot food into smaller containers and then refrigerate—it'll cool faster.


The Unhealthiest Place To Set Your Handbag: The Kitchen Counter

Sorry, but that cute purse is a major tote for microbes: Gerba and his team's swabs showed up to 10,000 bacteria per square inch on purse bottoms—and a third of the bags tested positive for fecal bacteria! A woman's carryall gets parked in some nasty spots: on the floor of the bus, beneath the restaurant table—even on the floor of a public bathroom.

The Best Place: Put your bag in a drawer or on a chair, Gerba says—anywhere except where food is prepared or eaten.


The Unhealthiest Place To Use a Public Bathroom: The Stall In the Middle

The center stall has more bacteria than those on either end, according to unpublished data collected by Gerba. No, you won't catch an STD from a toilet seat. But you can contract all manner of ills if you touch a germy toilet handle and then neglect to wash your hands thoroughly.

The Best Place: Pick a stall all the way left or right to minimize germ exposure.


Place For a Nighttime Reading Light: Over Your Head

These fixtures put out relatively bright light—enough to significantly delay the body's secretion of melatonin, showed a 2000 study. That can wreck your night, since rising melatonin levels are a major cue for your body to prepare for sleep.

The Best Place: Clip a low-power light directly to your novel. It will let you read but leave the room dark enough for your brain to transition into sleep mode.


The Unhealthiest Place To Keep Medicine: The Medicine Cabinet

It's not uncommon for the temp in a steamy bathroom to reach 100°F—well above the recommended storage temperatures for many common drugs. The cutoff for the popular cholesterol drug Lipitor, for instance, is around 77°F.

The Best Place: Somewhere cool and dry, such as the pantry.


The Unhealthiest Place To Put Fruit Before Washing It: The Kitchen Sink

Of all the household germ depots, the kitchen sink sees the most bacterial traffic—even more than the toilet, says Kelly Reynolds, PhD, a professor and environmental microbiologist at the University of Arizona.

The Best Place: Keep fruit on the counter until you run it under the water. If that perfect blueberry drops while you're washing it, pop it in the trash—not your mouth.


The Unhealthiest Place To Store Coffee Beans: The Fridge

Think that you're preserving freshness by stashing it in the fridge? Think again. Every time you take it out of the fridge or freezer, you expose it to fluctuating temperatures, which produces condensation. "The moisture leeches out flavor—it's like brewing a cup of coffee each time," says John McGregor, PhD, a professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at Clemson University.

The Best Place: Store your beans or grounds in an opaque, airtight container kept on the counter or in the pantry.


The Unhealthiest Place To Watch TV: Wherever You’re Eating

Studies show that distraction is your waistline's enemy—it can keep you from noticing how much you're eating. In a 2006 study, volunteers ate faster when watching TV than while listening to music—consuming 71% more macaroni and cheese when watching a show.

If you have the tube on while cooking, turn it off before dinner at the kitchen table, and avoid being tempted into eating in front of the TV in the living room.

The Best Place: Up or down a flight of stairs or far away from the kitchen, so you have to "work" to get a snack—you'll be much less likely to eat too much.


Have a happy and healthy week!


Source: BlackDoctor.org