Challenges

Identify Racism and Strive to Be Antiracist

In early 2020, I was motivated to dive back into the news, social media, and much of the happenings of civilization. After three years of trying to ignore a president promoting racism and bigotry, I had an urge to gain a better understanding of our political system. Covid-19 also brought several new challenges to the table. And then a racist member of the Minnesota Police Department brutally murdered George Floyd.

Read more “Identify Racism and Strive to Be Antiracist” →
Challenges

Practicing Gratitude in the Midst of Difficult Challenges

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 18. It was my senior year in high school, and in that moment, I was the exact opposite of grateful. In my mind, practicing gratitude on that day was impossible. I had dedicated countless hours to restoring my 1985 BMW, and I wanted to hold down the gas pedal long enough to a reach the speed of light.

As the diagnosis slowly started to set in, my ideas were refocused more on anger instead of recklessly escaping down the country roads. I hated my dysfunctional mind and I hoped that my doctors were wrong. My family could make a convincing argument that I dedicated the next six (or even 16) years of my life trying to prove everyone wrong.

Read more “Practicing Gratitude in the Midst of Difficult Challenges” →
UN-covid-19-response Challenges

Update on the Covid-19 Challenge

The size and frequency of social gatherings is starting to increase in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, plenty of questions remain unanswered. After reading a recent publication, I am starting to gain some confidence in three important conclusions:

  1. Nasal swab samples (tested via RT-PCR) is currently the only accurate testing method.
  2. The majority of people with Covid-19 are likely asymptomatic
  3. Covid-19 is a virus that spreads rapidly even with appropriate quarantine measures in place.
Read more “Update on the Covid-19 Challenge” →
the mechanical brain Challenges

Experiencing the Moment with One Half of the Mind

As mentioned in my story, I had a tumor removed from my left temporal lobe. Before the tumor was surgically removed I experienced complex partial seizures isolated within the left hemisphere of my brain. During these one to two-minute complex partial seizures, I was unable to speak. It felt like I was entrapped within a dysfunctional mind. My silent, slurred, or illogical  Read more “Experiencing the Moment with One Half of the Mind” →

Hamburger and Fries Challenges

The Top 4 Healthy Diet Roadblocks

A consistent healthy diet is not the social norm. It seems bizarre to many that I do not eat processed foods or anything with added sugars. I have thought about the differences between my choices and the common perspective on eating. I have concluded that healthy eating is uncommon for the following reasons.

  1. Diet Trends Are Misunderstood.
  2. Processed Foods Profit Business.
  3. Unhealthy Eating Is Overlooked.
  4. The Social Norm Is Prioritized Over Yourself.

Read more “The Top 4 Healthy Diet Roadblocks” →

Bottles of Adderall Challenges

Adderall and the American Dream

Adderall, a drug intended to treat ADD/ADHD, has been around for a long time. People have used it, legally and illegally, for a wide variety of things. Adderall, being an amphetamine, is sometimes prescribed to people with narcolepsy. Similarly, it is commonly referred to as a ‘study drug’ because it helps students stay up all night to cram for an exam. More recently, Adderall has become popular with Millennials. In Lawrence Diller’s article: America’s Love Affair With Legal Amphetamine, he provides a unique opinion of this generation of young adults. Diller blames the spike in misuse of Adderall on our country’s economy, irresponsible pharmaceutical companies, and mainstream culture. Besides these obvious contributors, he offers a new reason as to why Millennials turn to drugs like Adderall. Read more “Adderall and the American Dream” →

Distorted Perception of Food, Macronutrients Health

The Presentation of Macronutrients

The Distorted Perception of Food: Macronutrients

Once there was a time when humans ate whatever was necessary to live. Eventually, the elite were able to choose the more glamorous foods, and the common folk were welcome to moderate quantities of the less exciting options. Now most citizens of industrialized economies have plenty of readily available food choices. Abiding by enough scientific and political influence, businesses have chosen to present food on the foundation of the three macronutrients we need to function: Fats, Carbohydrates, and Proteins. Read more “The Presentation of Macronutrients” →

Quality Sleep Health

Prioritizing Sleep

Why Quality Sleep Is Often Overlooked

In high school and in college there were times when I overlooked sleep on the weekend. Staying up late with friends was higher on my list of priorities. Other than that, I cannot think of a time-stretch when I did not prioritize a good night of sleep. During my time with roommates I discovered that the sleep priority was abnormal. I had trouble understanding why I would walk downstairs at 8:00 a.m. to find a roommate asleep on the couch with the tv still on (the electric bill might have also been on my mind at that time). Read more “Prioritizing Sleep” →