Kate Upton cheers on Astros pitcher Justin Verlander

While Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis flew the flag for the LA team, Upton was cheering her fiance Verlander, who was pitching for the Astros before losing 3-1 to the hometown favorite.

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2017 Totoro Week Round Up: Totoro Food!

Totoro Week was a success! Much cute was had and Totoro foods were everywhere :)

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13 Spooky Cute Things to Make for Halloween

Getting ready for a Halloween party? Looking for things to make for halloween? Here are 13 spooky cute treats that will make you the life of the party.

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4 Signs That Your In-House Ticketing System Needs to Be Refurbished

The above are some of the tell-tale signs that your in-house ticketing system needs to be overhauled. The experienced and experiential event agency actually follows these steps religiously prior to hosting any event.

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Happy Halloween from Hollywood

Stars seem to love Halloween because it's another chance to play dress up. On Tuesday several celebrities, including Halle Berry and Katie Holmes, took to social media.

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Services Provided by a Private Investigator

Private investigators are hired for a variety of services. They fulfill the investigation needs of individuals, businesses, etc.

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Khloe Kardashian seems to confirm pregnancy on Snapchat

'That's daddy': Khloe Kardashian appears to confirm her pregnancy on Snapchat as she and boyfriend Tristan Thompson dress up as Game Of Thrones characters for Halloween

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Selena Gomez splits from The Weeknd after 10 months

The news was broken on Monday morning by People magazine that claimed the two had been having trouble for 'months' because of their difficult schedules, Meanwhile she has been with Bieber.

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All The Reasons You Keep Hearing About Minimalism

The term, Baader-Meinhof, refers to the phenomenon when you are introduced to a new idea and suddenly start seeing it everywhere you look. Frequency Illusion is another phrase used to explain the cognitive bias.

For example, you have no idea so many people are playing Settlers of Catan until your friend introduces you to the game. Once he does, you start noticing people talking about it everywhere you look. Or you don’t notice the number of Jeeps being driven on the road until you start driving one yourself.

This is one of the reasons you keep hearing about minimalism. A phrase you knew little about… until you were introduced to it… and now you are pleasantly surprised to see the word being talked about everywhere… even among some of your friends.

Let’s talk about that for a minute. Other than the phenomenon of frequency illusion, why are we seeing minimalism used more and more?

—

Ten years ago, I was introduced to minimalism by my neighbor. It was a short conversation that took place after a long morning of cleaning out my garage. After listening to a few sentences of me complain, my neighbor responded, “Yeah, that’s why my daughter is a minimalist. She keeps telling me I don’t need to own all this stuff.”

Those two short sentences changed the course of my life forever.

When I first heard the word “minimalism,” I searched for the phrase online. To my relief, I found some folks taking about it: Leo, Tammy, Everett, Colin. These men and women became my source of motivation and accountability. I was also encouraged by authors who were writing about a more culturally accepted phrase: “decluttering.” While not synonymous, many of their thoughts and ideas about owning less helped me along the way.

But still, relatively speaking, there were very few people writing or talking about the topic. It was certainly not a phrase being used frequently. And to the best of my knowledge, there were no websites dedicated entirely to the lifestyle (until this one, I suppose).

But a lot has changed over the ten years since I first started this blog. And these factors have led to a new world where minimalism is far more common today than in recent history.

Let’s look at the reasons you keep hearing about minimalism:

1. We own too much stuff. This blog has grown from just a handful of readers to over 1 million readers each month. When explaining this growth, I respond with a simple rationale, “Most people own too much stuff. And when somebody offers a countercultural approach that focuses on owning less, people are drawn to it.” There are a few exceptions, but most people these days recognize their lives would probably benefit from owning a little bit less.

2. The evolution of the word. Not long ago, when people heard the word minimalism, only the most extreme examples came to mind. While I craved a life with less, extreme applications of minimalism did not align with my most significant values. Correctly applied, minimalism ought to be rational, intentional, and an approach to life focused on purpose, not material possessions. Over time, people have latched on to this application of the word and living a more minimalist lifestyle has begun to look different than even a decade ago.

3. The use of the word in design. Minimalism as a term for design has been growing in popularity since World War II. It is currently used to describe movements in art, architecture, music, interior design, website design, and more. For the most part, this website is dedicated to minimalism as a lifestyle in owning fewer possessions. But that doesn’t mean the word is not used elsewhere in other ways.

4. The use of the word in advertising. Of greater concern to me is the use of the word “minimalism” in marketing campaigns. As the lifestyle grows in popularity, more and more people and businesses will seek to capitalize on its momentum for financial gain. As a result, I know of ads featuring minimalist wallets, pants, belts, watches, shirts… and countless other products. It’s the natural life cycle of a movement. And I’m thankful that the movement has grown in popularity to a point where marketing campaigns can be built around it, it just makes me sad to see it happen. If you think you need to spend a lot of money to become minimalist, you’re doing it wrong: minimalism is about owning less, not more.

5. The documentary “Minimalism” appearance on Netflix. Late last year, Minimalism: A Documentary about The Important Things made its debut on Netflix. It’s a film I’m thankful to play a small part in. I am unaware of the actual number of viewers since its debut, but I know they are significant. Special thanks to Joshua and Ryan over at The Minimalists for using the medium to help spread the life-giving message of owning less.

6. Internet Data Mining. I include this reason not because I love it, but because it is true and belongs on the list. Social media giants (actually Internet companies of every stripe) have made gathering data about users as their platform for profit. As a result, they are able to tailor your experience based on your preferences as displayed online. Visit Amazon because you need a new pair of shoes? Don’t be surprised to see those same shoes being advertised to you the next time you visit Facebook, or Google, or any number of websites. Stumble upon a website dedicated to minimalism? Don’t be surprised if you start seeing the word any number of future places you visit online.

7. Increased global social awareness. Injustice, poverty, and malnutrition have always existed. But as new technology has made the world smaller by making global images more accessible, our awareness of the disparity has increased. Some are responding to the call and using their finances to make a difference on a global scale by feeding the hungry, providing clean drinking water, fighting back epidemics, and speaking up for the voiceless wherever it is needed. Generosity, in so many ways, fuels minimalism as a lifestyle.

8. The continued growth of minimalist blogs, books, and stories. There are more blogs and books today focused on the topic of minimalism than at any point in human history. I love it! Becoming Minimalist has been featuring new and upcoming writers in the world of minimalism since 2010. And we will continue to do so in the future. A wide range of voices, cultures, and stories is healthy and needs to be championed. I have honestly never been more proud or excited about the movement.

The Baader-Meinhof effect may describe why you are more open to seeing minimalism today than ever before. But the fact remains that you had to be introduced to it at some point. If this blog played a small role in that happening, I am thankful. If not, I am glad you found us.

Minimalism may be more prevalent in our world today than ever before. But it is still counter-cultural… and there still a whole bunch of people who need to hear about the life-giving benefits of it. Let’s keep spreading the message together.

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Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Kim not happy with Scott

The 37-year-old reality star was less than impressed with Scott Disick on Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

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Subaru Admits Inspection Failings, in Another Blow to Japan’s Carmakers

The announcement follows a similar revelation from Nissan and comes as the country’s manufacturing sector faces unusually intense scrutiny.

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Cost of Volkswagen Scandal Could Hurt Company’s Electric Vehicle Push

The carmaker reported an increase in revenue, but said it still had work to do to overcome the damage caused by its diesel emissions cheating.

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Automakers Build War Chests to Finance a Self-Driving Future

Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have revamped their businesses to enhance profitability and lay the foundation to develop high-tech models.

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Strategies Most Marketers Misunderstood In Influencer Marketing

Influencer Marketing has become one of the most powerful tools in a marketing teams' toolkits today. It is not expected to disappear anytime soon with most of the majority brands using this effective strategy. Research shows that is probably going to continue throughout the years, why? People no longer trust the brands. A lot of people are no longer influenced by these traditional marketing techniques and they are now influenced by those people whom they trust and respect. On the other hand, there are still numerous brands who still misunderstand what is "influencer marketing," thus making it an effective tool. Truth be told, 74% of purchases are made by word-of-mouth recommendations, and influencer marketing is one of the most effective ways to drive word-of-mouth sales. It is no wonder that marketers are increasingly embracing influencer branding and marketing strategies to achieve their business' goals and objectives. This article outlines the most common influencer marketing mistakes to steer clear in order to be successful and avoid overlooked cost.

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Kevin Spacey come sout as gay after years of rumor control

The Oscar-winning actor announced his homosexuality on Twitter as he responded to allegations by actor Anthony Rapp that Spacey had tried to seduce him when he was 14 years old.

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Totoro Soot Sprite Chocolate Sparkle Cookies Recipe

Crisp and chewy gluten free chocolate sparkle cookies with candy eyes so they look just like Totoro soot sprites!

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Bethenny Frankel shocks fans dog endures 45 minute seizure

The 46-year-old entrepreneur could be seen crying uncontrollably between images of her sick older dog in videos shared on her Instagram account Saturday evening.

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Christopher McDonald arrested for drunk driving

Actor Christopher McDonald - best known to fans for his character Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore - has been arrested for drunk driving.

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Janet Jackson visits childhood home with brother Randy

The singer and her big brother Randy returned to pay a visit to their tiny former house in Gary, Indiana on Friday. The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported the siblings also met with local students

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Corey Haim's mother calls Corey Feldman 'a scam artist'

The mother of late actor Corey Haim ripped Corey Feldman as 'a scam artist' in his attempts to drum up $10 million on IndieGoGo, which she says is 'a long con.'

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Star Wars costume designer John Mollo dies at 86

The British-born wardrobe genius made some of the best costumes in the galaxy including Princess Leia's metal bikini, Darth Vader's menacing black uniform and Han Solo's swashbuckler outfit.

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Colton Haynes and Jeff Leatham wed in Palm Springs

He got engaged in March to Kardashian family florist Jeff Leatham in March. And Colton Haynes and Jeff are now married, according to People.

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Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

There’s more to life than buying stuff.

There are many wonderful people pursuing and promoting simplicity. Fortunately, some of them are gifted in communication and choose to encourage and inspire us with their words. I enjoy reading their unique perspective. I’m sure you will too.

So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea on this beautiful weekend. Find a quiet moment. And enjoy some encouraging words about finding more simplicity in your life today.

‘I could live simpler’: Floods and fires make Americans rethink their love affair with stuff | Washington Post* by Lisa Bonos and Jura Koncius. “I think the coverage has affected people. It reminds them to think, ‘What do I have in my house and how would I gather those things and put them in my car and leave?’ ”

Lowering Your Life’s Requirements | Mnmlist by Leo Babauta. When something becomes a need, a requirement, it locks us in. We have to have it, which means we start structuring our lives around it.

Understanding The Marginal Utility of New Gadgets | Simple Living Daily by James. I used to be a big sucker for new electronics…

Albert Einstein’s Theory of Happiness Sold For $1.5m | The Independent by Maya Oppenheim.  “A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.” —Albert Einstein

Fall Wardrobe Challenge: 10 Pieces, 10 Outfits, 10 Days | Unfancy by Caroline Joy Rector. Here’s how it works: Pick 10 items of clothing from your closet. Include tops, bottoms, and shoes for your everyday life. Then, for 10 days, create a new outfit each day using your 10 items.

*Editor’s note: The Washington Post limits the number of free Post articles nonsubscribers can read to 10 per month.

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Matt Damon pulls out of awards due to family crisis

Damon was scheduled to collect the Stanley Kubrik Britannia Award for Excellence at the BAFTA LA event at the Beverly Hilton hotel.

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Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars: Totoro Edition

Pumpkin cheesecake bars: all the flavors of pumpkin pie, in cheesecake bar format. Bonus, they dressed up as Totoro for Halloween!

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Rose McGowan's role in film was dig at Harvey Weinstein

Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez intentionally cast Rose McGowan in a fierce role in the Harvey Weinstein-produced 2007 motion picture Grindhouse as a slight to the producer.

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Types of Signage

These can be made of wood, neon, vinyl, or metal and are generally designed for a business. They are used to convey the address and name of the business. They can also be used to promote a specific product or service that the business offers. It can be something as simple as a hand-written sign to something that was put together by a large marketing company. This type of signage can come in a variety of shapes and sizes from postcards to billboards.

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Kendall Jenner and Blake Griffin become official couple

It looks like potential suitors will have to wait a while to catch her on the rebound. For it has emerged Kendall Jenner and NBA star Blake Griffin have decided to become an official couple.

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Friday Finds: 10.21.17

A random assortment of fun and interesting internet reads if you're looking to waste your time :)

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Wheels: Forgetting a Child in a Back Seat Can Kill. Cars May Soon Warn You.

Lawmakers are weighing whether to force automakers to include a device to alert drivers when a child in the back seat of a car after it has been turned off.

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Will Your Business Package Become A Casualty During the Holiday Season?

Every holiday season, from late October through January, finding a reliable courier or shipping company can become a nightmare. Time sensitive packages are not always given top priority by the big courier services because of their high demand for deliveries during the holidays. Businesses who rely on courier services throughout the year know the holiday season will become a problem for them due to the overwhelming of daily consumer shipments.

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🤖 Is My Job Going To Be Automated?

What you can do now if a robot is coming for your job.

Photo by JD Hancock

One of the summer jobs I had growing up was working in the exciting shipping department in my family's small-to-medium size business.

Scratch that. It was boring.

No, it was beyond boring.

Most of the time was spent unpacking clothes from boxes, hanging them on racks, and then later rearranging them, packing them into different boxes, piling the boxes on pallets and moving the pallets to the shipping dock to eventually be loaded onto trucks and sent off to clients.

The main differences from one order to the next were the clothes and box sizes. Otherwise, it was lather, rinse and repeat.

Chatting with co-workers slowed down the work noticeably in that assembly line atmosphere, so the only way to keep your sanity was by working within earshot of the radio as much as possible.

When I first started at 14, I was just happy to be working and earning a paycheck while helping my family. Pretty quickly though, I couldn't wait for it to end.

There were days where I would have paid for a robot to stand in for me, or so I told myself.

I have a feeling the job I'm doing right now could be a lot faster somehow. Or automated. Definitely automated.

— Mei Leng Yew (@widowedanthem) October 12, 2017

Back then in the early 00's, automated systems existed that could have done the entire process much faster but they were far too expensive to justify for our company.

Even when a friend helped me move on to a much larger shipping department with many more orders coming in and going out daily, it probably still didn't make much sense… it was just cheaper to have a team of minimum wage employees doing the work manually, as long as everyone was careful to avoid any expensive accidents (which happen all the time in such places, unfortunately for everyone involved).

That's probably not true anymore, however.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

 

 

With technology improving all the time, those automated systems have become much cheaper and more accessible even to the smallest of businesses. As a result, we've been hearing more and more scary warnings over the past few years about how many people are going to lose their jobs to robots, automation or technological advances plain and simple.

For example, an October 2017 PWC study estimates that almost 30% of all jobs in OECD countries will be replaced by automation by the early 2030s, with the United States to be particularly hard hit:

Which industries are most at risk?

The PWC study has a graphic for this too:

PWC's conclusion:

the sectors most at risk often involve manual or routine tasks, for example filling forms or solving simple problems. In contrast, sectors at low risk such as education and health care place a much greater focus on social and literacy skills which are relatively less automatable

Which professions are most at risk?

Visual Capitalist created this chart comparing the results of Frey and Osborne's 2013 study The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation? with official 2016 US Bureau of Labor employment statistics.

Black bars show jobs that are more likely to be replaced, white bars are the opposite:

(Click here to see a much larger version of the chart)

Their conclusion:

It is mostly low-income jobs that risk being automated. Jobs that require social skills, creativity or higher education are less likely to.

Is this something you need to worry about?

A BBC page lets you enter a job title and it tells you when that job will be completely automated. If you type in “PM” it says “2016”.

— Alex (@alexpiletska) October 11, 2017

It depends.

At a glance, the numbers are scary but while the 30% mentioned in PWC's study is a lot, the flipside is that 70% of all jobs WON'T be replaced by automation by the 2030s, so there's a good chance you're safe.

If you're relieved that both Frey and Osborne's study and the PWC study agree that automation is mostly a blue collar concern, don't overlook that PWC estimates 22% of “Professional, scientific and technical” jobs to be impacted too, so white collar workers should pay attention moving forward too.

If you're over 45 and you don't feel the heat of automation in your industry yet, you'll probably old enough to retire before the automation wave arrives.

But if you're not old enough to retire by then, or regardless- if you really think your job is one of the ones more likely to become obsolete sooner than later, what can you do?

3 ways you can protect yourself from being automated out of a job

1) Move to a place where there's both more demand and less automation risk

Your entire industry won't automate overnight and lay off all the replaced employees in one shot. It's going to be a very gradual process that will take years.

If you suspect a layoff is coming, use job boards to gauge where there's still demand for people like you and consider moving where there's the most demand. It might even be in another country, such as one where the pace of automation is much slower for whatever reason.

When doing your company research, try to understand if a given employer is planning to automate sooner than later. It would be a shame to find a job only to be laid off again within a year or so.

2) Specialize

If you brand yourself as a top expert in your disappearing field, or in a disappearing niche in your field, you can dramatically improve your chances of staying in that field.

Technology replacing professions isn't a new thing. Most everyday professions dating from before the Industrial Revolution were replaced long ago, such as all kinds of smiths and makers.

However, even today you can still find people who practice these professions in specialty boutiques and artisan or craft workshops.

Often, these experts are carrying on a tradition, whether a family one or a local one, such as gondoliers in Venice.

Sometimes, they're just meeting demand that has fallen through the cracks. There's a shoemaker not far from here who you can't buy shoes from, but you can get a heel fixed there or a clean hole added to a belt.

Taking a look at more modern industries, as long as there are companies that rely on older technology, there will still be a need for people to maintain it. When the Y2K bug was discovered at the end of the 20th century, there was a surge in demand for programmers who could fix old computer systems that were affected.

A more automation-related example would be that the systems replacing human workers will still need some people who understand them and can check that they're actually correctly doing whatever it is they're supposed to do.

3) Use your transferable skills to change careers

You have skills.

Many of your skills are useful for other professions as well, which is what makes them “transferable”.

If you can identify unlikely-to-be-automated professions that most value your transferable skills, it'll be easier for you to change careers and escape the automation wave.

a) Start by listing your transferable skills

Many experts recommend some form of self-assessment, but career coach Ford Myers – listed in my 50 Career Coaches Who Give Free Consults On Every Topic You Need – hits the nail on the head in this short video with a different take:

The rule of thumb I recommend is to start by browsing your work portfolio for all the compliments, great evaluations, LinkedIn recommendations and other positive things people have said about you, and make a list of the skills mentioned.

Next, add to your list by following Ford's advice to ask relevant people about your greatest skills. If you find them hesitant, ask them for feedback on your initial list.

b) Find professions that most value your transferable skills

If you look back at Visual Capitalist's chart above, the jobs with long white bars are the ones most likely to not be replaced by machines. Look through the list for appealing jobs you think you could do, and then research the skills they require to see how well you qualify, perhaps even with some retraining.

Another angle would be to check the projected fastest-growing professions for the next decade or more, and then do the same skill-matching exercise.

c) Get out and information interview

Once your skill-matching research has lead to a few potential new career directions to consider more seriously, it's the perfect opportunity to reach out to people in those jobs for information interviews.

“I'm considering switching to your profession, and want to hear more about it from someone who's succeeded at it” is a great excuse to invite someone for coffee and ultimately get an opinion on whether you'd be a good fit in their role.

This article is part of Job Action Day 2017. This year's theme is “Using Transferable Skills to Give Your Career New Life“.

Question of the article

If you've changed careers in the past, how did you do it? Tell us in the comments.

Subscribe to JobMob via email and follow me on Twitter for more ideas on what to do when your job goes obsolete.

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Iggy Azalea 'dating football player Odell Beckham Jr'

The Fancy rapper, 27, has been spending time with New York Giants football player Odell Beckham Jr, according to UsWeekly. But they are not serious. 'They hook up,' said a source.

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Caitlin O'Heaney accuses Val Kilmer of physical assault

The incident took place when she auditioned for the movie - which chronicled the life of The Doors' Jim Morrison - as Jim's girlfriend Pamela. The role ultimately went to Meg Ryan.

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7 Important Functions Of Logistic Companies

Logistics is a systematic process where the goods are transferred from the place of production to the point of consumption. There are some listed functions that are the liability of a Logistic Company. These functions are very important as they make the storing or movement process timely and convenient.

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Legendary rock and roll pioneer Fats Domino dead at 89

The sad news regarding the rock and roll pioneer - whose real first name was Antoine - was first reported by WWL-TV anchor Eric Paulson on Wednesday Morning.

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Toyota Demands ‘Clarity’ Over Brexit

Remarks from a senior executive at the carmaker highlight the risks facing Britain as it navigates complex negotiations to leave the European Union.

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Tyrese Gibson accused of breaching restraining order

The mother of Tyrese Gibson's daughter has accused the actor of breaching a temporary restraining order.

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Totoro Inari Sushi Recipe

Super cute and tasty totoro inari sushi: vinegared sushi rice tucked inside a deep fried tofu pocket seasoned with dashi, soy, and a touch of sugar. Almost too cute to eat!

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Kardashians sign $150M deal to extend contract for KUWTK

The Kardashians have just signed another huge deal with E! that extends their show Keeping Up With The Kardashians for five more seasons.

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Answer These Five Questions Before Booking Your Next Meeting Space Rental

So, you've been given the responsibility of securing your company's next meeting space rental, and of course, you're immediately struck by the overwhelming amount of details you've got to keep track of. It's then you realize that anytime you've wondered how event planners can earn a living makes so much more sense.

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Star Jones engaged to Ricardo Lugo

'We’re engaged,' the 55-year-old TV star said. The lucky man is her beau of several years, Ricardo Lugo. She wore a pretty diamond engagement ring with a large center stone.

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General Motors Posts a Loss From Asset Sale, but Shares Rise

The automaker took a charge associated with shedding its Opel and Vauxhall divisions in Europe. Its chief said the quarter reflected “solid results.”

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Price-Fixing Inquiry Moves From BMW to Daimler and Volkswagen

After raiding BMW last week, European Union regulators looking into possible collusion over equipment costs searched Daimler and Volkswagen offices.

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One Pot Creamy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe

Easy dreamy creamy one pot stovetop pumpkin mac and cheese, no pasta draining necessary. Get your autumn on!

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Kelly Clarkson admits she contemplated suicide

‘I wanted to kill myself’: Kelly Clarkson admits she contemplated suicide after being forced to lose weight at the start of her career... but now says she doesn't 'obsess' over her weight

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Anna Faris jokes around as she promotes new memoir

Anna Faris is in the undeniably awkward position of touring the country promoting a book all about how she fell in love with her ex.

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3 Ways to Maintain Your Integrity in Business and Be True to Your Word

In life as in business, sincerity and honesty can exist, and it all begins with the person staring back at you from the mirror. There are many reasons that people choose to travel in other paths that lack integrity, but there's no reason for it. Having a great company, making money and treating others well don't have to be mutually exclusive.

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Inside Kim Kardashian's 37th birthday

She decided to skip her usual Vegas bash (complete with paying guests) in favor of a simple getaway with Kanye West for her 37th birthday.

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Renee Zellweger to play Judy Garland in new film

Judy Garland was just 47 when she died of an overdose in 1969.

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Billie Lourd gets ankle tattoo matching Carrie Fisher's

Saturday was the first time Billie Lourd rang in her mother's birthday since her death. And she marked the date by getting a tattoo to match one Carrie FIsher had. Carrie would have turned 61 that day.

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Cameron Diaz' wallet is returned to her by homeless woman

Cameron Diaz had her wallet returned to her by a helpful homeless woman. The actress was leaving dinner in Beverly Hills on Thursday night when she dropped her wallet on the street.

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How to Make Basic, Great Pho

Craving a bowl of hot and comforting soup? This is the noodle soup for you: a basic, great pho. All you need is a couple of hours and you're on your way to homemade goodness.

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The Kardashians challenge Michigan bakery over trademark

Kim, Khloe and Kourtney are challenging Taylor, Michigan's Kardashian Bakery & Grill over the use of the famous surname. The stars filed documents to block the grill's trademark application.

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Alec Baldwin teases presidential run against Trump

The 59-year-old actor - who is recently known for lampooning Donald Trump on Saturday Night live - raise many eyebrows with an interesting tweet on Friday night.

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Why Families Need Minimalism

Note: This is a guest post from Zoë Kim of The Minimalist Plate.

Seven years ago, my husband was in the military. During one deployment to Africa, despite our careful planning, the kids and I were left alone to pack up and move everything while he was gone.

“You never realize how much stuff you have until you try to put it in a box,” Allison Fallon once said. Or in my case, until you try to put it in a box for the 10th time with kids in tow.

It was during this move that the real cost of my clutter started becoming painfully obvious. In this stress and overwhelm, my desire for simplicity was born.

At every opportunity, I peeled away the layers of my clutter—the broken stuff, the perfectly good stuff, and the sentimental stuff.

Eventually, my useful things now all had a home with room to breathe! With an uncluttered home, I spent less time looking for and taking care of my things and more time doing things I love. And, yet still, there was clutter.

Hadn’t I gotten rid of all my clutter? Indeed I had. But I was learning, as Eleanor Brownn once said, “Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s old ideas, toxic relationships, and bad habits. Clutter is anything that does not support your better self.”

Clutter. Busyness. Overwhelm.

Clutter takes many forms—it finds its way onto our calendars and to-do lists, it leads us to Pinterest perfection, fear of missing out, mindless scrolling, and constant discontent. Clutter is anything—good, bad, or indifferent—that distracts you from a more meaningful and intentional life.

What’s the first step? Less. When your family is living in the land of tired-busy-and-overwhelmed, the first step is almost always less.

Minimalism isn’t just reserved for the single, the college student, the baby boomers, and people who seem to live a less complicated life than you do. Minimalism is for everyone, for families: small families, large families, especially for families.

Families need minimalism too.

It’s Time for Calm.

In a survey of a thousand families, Ellen Galinsky, the head of the Families and Work Institute, asked children, “If you were granted one wish about your parents, what would it be?” Most parents thought their kids would say spending more time with them, but they were wrong. The kids’ number one wish was that their parents were less tired and less stressed.

Studies have shown that parental stress depletes their immune systems, weakens children’s brains, and increases their risk of obesity and mental illness just to name a few.

Becoming a minimalist family helps you and your kids let go of the things creating undue stress in your family’s lives.

It’s Time to Stop Doing It All.

If your family is living like it’s an iPhone—always on, always connected, with an app for whatever needs to be done—you’re sure to be drained.

The desire to do more keeps our family doing just that—more—counting the things we do instead of doing the things that count.

So let’s say we start saying “no” to always being connected, and always doing, and honor each other’s right to do the same?

Denaye Barahona Ph.D., a Family Wellness expert at Simple Families and author of the foreword for my new book, says, “The world our children are growing up in today isn’t just cluttered, it’s chaotic. The chaos is leading to an epidemic of stress and anxiety in childhood.”

Becoming a minimalist family gives you the tools to filter out the clutter and chaos causing stress and anxiety in your child’s life. Isn’t that a worthwhile cause?

It’s Time to Stop Being Broke.

“If time is money, then I’m broke. I think a lot of us are.” — Jeff Shinabarger.

And by our own accounts, many families are broke, time-wise. What is the most common short answer to the question, how are you? Busy. Tired. (Or both!)

The world says a successful family has the perfect house, obedient and adorable children excelling in multiple extracurricular activities, parents doing it all perfectly (just like advertisements show us) while climbing their career ladder flawlessly.

Where does this successful-family-focus often lead us? Broke in our busyness—spending time working to have things we won’t have time to enjoy. Why are we doing this?

No family says, “Our goal is to raise our family spending more time pursuing status, possessions and money, and less time on relationships, contribution, purpose or faith.” Yet sadly, many of us live that way only to realize later how backward we had it.

Becoming a minimalist family helps you see (and have time for) what really matters.

It’s Time for Gratitude.

Gratitude helps us appreciate the value of something and the things we already have. It’s hard to want more things you don’t need when you’re resting in gratitude. Gratitude sounds more like, “I have more than enough. I’m going to give some more away.”

As a family, maybe the only thing we really need is more gratitude.

It’s Time for a Healthier Diet.

If you’re juggling the needs of others while living in clutter and overwhelm, it’s likely affecting your family’s diet.

A recent study found that participants in an orderly environment chose healthier snacks than those in a cluttered environment.

As Dr. Eva Shalom explains, “Clutter is stressful for the brain, so you’re more likely to resort to coping mechanisms such as choosing comfort foods or overeating than if you spend time in neater surroundings.”

It’s Time to Get Organized.

The National Association of Professional Organizers reports we spend one year of our lives looking for lost items. It’s time to get organized once and for real! And I couldn’t agree more with The Minimalists when they said, “The easiest way to organize your stuff is to get rid of most of it.”

The truth is most of us don’t have an organization problem; we have an own-too-much-stuff-problem. (tweet that)

It’s Time for Better Relationships.

Relationships are a bedrock for living well, and healthy families are an essential element of any healthy society. Our family plays a defining role in teaching us how to connect and contribute to society.

Clutter and busyness distract our attention from the present moment. When you have a family, this means you’re distracted from the important moments with your family. Relationships suffer when we spend too much time plugged into all the wrong connections.

A minimalist life holds benefits for everyone—especially for those of us with families. Giving up excess stuff is always a gain—more time, space, and energy to pursue our purpose, passion, and meaningful connections with those we love.

If your family struggles to stay organized and clutter-free, I’ve written a book just for you. It’s called Minimalism for Families and it will help you begin and continue living a minimalist lifestyle with your family.

Here’s to you every family making room for what matter most. In your home, in your mind, and in your heart.

***

Zoë Kim blogs at The Minimalist Plate where she inspires others to live an intentional life by owning less, creating new habits, and cultivating opportunities to give.

Her new book, Minimalism for Families, comes with a whole bunch of family-based bonuses if you pre-order now. I was happy to provide an endorsement for it.

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Australia Mourns the End of Its Car Manufacturing Industry

On Friday, Holden employees bid farewell to Australia’s last car factory, wondering if the government could have done more to save it.

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Wheels: Would You Like My Car to Make You Some Water?

Engineers are finding ways to have cars do much more than take us from Point A to Point B — including producing and dispensing water.

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😤 25 Ways to Breathe Life into a Painfully Long Job Search

If you're sick of looking for a job, this is for you.

Photo by Alex Siale

Although most of these tips are useful for any job seeker, all of them are intended for people who’ve been job searching for much longer than they expected, possibly even a year or more.

My own long job search story

In December 2001, I started looking for a career job in Israel for the first time, having taken a few months to relax after resigning from my managerial position at Amazon.com in France.

In July 2002, 8 months later, I didn’t have much to show for my job hunting efforts and with my savings dwindling, I was starting to feel a little desperate and more alone than ever on my job search. However, I made one major change to my job search strategy and within a few weeks, I entered the recruitment process that resulted in my starting a new job on October 1st of that year.

That major change I made is #25 at the bottom of this list of tips for others like myself who know too well the frustration of a prolonged job search.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

25 tips when feeling hopeless about job search

1) Open yourself to change

There’s a fine but clear line between getting into a job search groove and a job search rut: in the former, you actually feel like you’re getting somewhere, moving closer to your next job, while the latter seems to go on forever.

Once you get into a set of habits, it’s not easy to change out of them, and it’s never easy to experiment when you feel that your livelihood (and reputation?) are in the balance, but you will need to embrace change if you’re not getting the job search results you desire.

2) Take a short vacation to recharge your batteries

Vacations are also good for inspiration and meeting people, plus- haven’t you ever felt like your best ideas sometimes come to you when your mind is 100% thinking about something else?

3) Stay positive

I know you're tired of not finding a job, but no one’s going to give you a job interview out of pity, and no one’s going to hire you out of pity. You need to stay upbeat while job hunting; your next job literally depends on it:

Why is job search harder for the long-term unemployed? Low motivation signal matters the most, not skill loss. http://ift.tt/2yA8mqt

— GLO (@Glabor_org) September 11, 2017

Do whatever it takes. Build on the successes of little things like finding a new job lead, making a new contact, etc., and by letting little achievements from outside of the job search throw some good feeling into your job search.

Another way to get the positive juices flowing is exercising regularly.

4) Stop job searching alone

For the 8+ months of my 2002 job search above, I spent almost every single day getting tired in front of my computer looking and applying for jobs online, rarely ever meeting with anyone outside of the occasional interview. It was no wonder that I felt alone and isolated, which certainly didn’t help my morale.

Instead, look for every opportunity to job search with other people, both job seeker and not, both online and off.

Have lunch weekly with other job seekers you know, hang out here on JobMob asking questions, and so on.

I wish I had known of such options back in 2002 when I struggled so much to find a job.

5) Write your curriculum vitae as if it was the first time, making a full job history you can reference moving forward

Go back to the beginning of your career. For each job you had, list your title, required skills, responsibilities, achievements and anything you were proud of.

Numbers are good if you have them.

Were there any memorable stories that may be worth recalling in a job interview? Jot them down too, for each position.

Can’t remember all the details? Use that as an excuse to re-establish contact with past colleagues or former employers.

6) Get an independent, expert audit of your job search to date

Go over what you’ve done well, what you’ve done wrong and get specific, actionable ideas of what you should be doing right now to change your luck.

Look for such help from your college/university alumni association, local employment center, favorite blogging job search expert, etc.

7) Hire a job search coach

They can conduct the above audit with you, and give you those kickstart ideas.

8) Reach out to local headhunters who specialize in your industry

They’ll immediately know if your skillset is in demand based on what their clients are looking for, among other things. They may also have better analysis on why all the job rejection.

Get a second opinion too; you don’t want to make any decisions based on just one person’s thoughts.

9) Consider relocation

Perhaps there really is no demand for your skillset locally. The farther you’re willing to move, the more job opportunities you open yourself to.

10) Consider remote work

If there’s no local demand for your skillset, find out where there is demand and apply for a teleworking opportunity. This allows you to respond to a company’s needs without the radical changes of a potentially unnecessary move, or possibly to test the waters before such a move.

11) Update your skills

The irony of having a job is that you’re often so busy, you don’t have time to refresh your knowledge, and this can even be true in countries where employee education budgets are required by law like in France.

Technology is always advancing, discoveries are being made, new ideas are practiced. If you’ve been job searching for a long time, stop to look around and make sure you know what you need to get a job today, not what you needed to know a year ago. Add value.

12) Learn new skills

When meeting local headhunters, ask them which skills are most in demand. Browse recent job board listings to corroborate, and choose the skills that can most increase your worth within a reasonable amount of time.

Then start learning every day. If you’re not someone who learns well on their own, take a course online, sign up for workshops at a local community center, college or institute. Again, add value.

13) Followup with old contacts

You probably told everyone about your job search back when you began looking?

That was well over 6 months ago, and unless they know better, they may think you’ve already found something. Send a gentle reminder that you’re still available.

14) Stay in touch with your contacts

Once you’ve reached out to someone, whether at the beginning of your job search or now so much later, stay in contact with them so that they are less likely to forget about you.

Also, don’t break contact again once you do find something, leaving them feeling used. Perhaps you can help them back somehow.

15) Find new contacts

Over months of searching, it may feel like you’ve exhausted all your contacts. Discover new networking opportunities by joining local associations or networking groups, attending conferences and meetups (find them here), both offline and online; if they’re locally-based, you can then carry over an online meet into a real world meet.

Learning new skills (#6 above) will also introduce you to new communities of people.

16) Reapply to a former employer

As long as you left a good impression on the way out, they may only be too happy to have you back since they know what you’re capable of, making for a shorter, less-expensive recruitment and a quicker integration.

Another good reason to stay in touch with your ex-colleagues and ex-bosses (at least, the ones you enjoyed working for).

17) Start freelance consulting as soon as possible

Whether you’ve been looking for work for 1 week or 1 year, get yourself business cards that say you’re a consultant in your field of professional expertise.

When people ask what you do, reply “I consult on X, but am also available for full-time work” and hand them a business card, which leaves a better impression than just saying “I’m looking for a job”.

Plus, you might even get some clients, which is a great way to fill a resume gap while potentially leading to a permanent position with a client company or business partner they referred you to.

18) Offer job trials to prospective employers

Let employers see what you can do by working in a temporary job capacity for them or on a per-project basis.

However, the end goal should be definitive i.e. a ‘yes or no’ achievement, to prevent employers from taking advantage of you.

19) Get a temporary job

Use a temporary job to impress employers into finding ways to convert the position into a permanent one. Also a great way to build your network of contacts even more, and discover other jobs, both temporary and permanent.

You might even decide you like the temping lifestyle and aim for those types of positions, which are in constant demand due to natural company turnover.

20) Line up information interviews

If you need a hook, find a magazine/trade publication/blog (your own?) to whom you can submit an op-ed or guest post and then tell companies how you’re researching an article for them. If you write well, aim for this interview reason first.

Otherwise, you can always take notes or record the interview on your cellphone and then hire a freelance writer to finish the article for you.

21) Be selective in which positions you choose to apply for

Aim for the quick win by applying for jobs you have already succeeded in. This will mean fewer jobs to apply for, but will increase your chances of finally getting a positive response.

Fewer job applications also means less demoralizing rejections or non-responses, and more time for other more interesting job search activities listed here.

22) Avoid career changes

Similarly to the previous tip, now is not the time to look for a change in career direction. It’s much harder to convince someone you can do a job without any experience than when you’ve already succeeded in that role.

That said, be open to new opportunities if such an unexpected offer comes your way.

23) Volunteer

There are many reasons to volunteer while on a job search, but these are even more true on a prolonged job search.

Achieving through volunteering will improve your morale in leading to new contacts while potentially improving your skills, if you choose an appropriate organization to volunteer for, such as the leading association of professionals in your industry.

24) Consider a move downward

Like an army that retreats to fight again another day, it’s better to take a step down the career ladder than stay off it entirely.

This can be tricky as employers may see you as overqualified and you may be frustrated by not being able to show off all that you can do. All that really matters is what you can achieve for your new boss and how you can leverage that into a position that will allow you to meet your potential.

Even entry-level jobs can be used to springboard you back up the ladder again.

If you do take a step down, start looking again as soon as you're ready:

25) Be flexible

Take a good hard look at the self-imposed limits of your job search and decide which limits you can remove, opening yourself to new job opportunities.

In the story of my 2002 job search in Israel, what made a big difference was my decision to no longer limit myself to jobs in Israel itself, and with that, my wife and I returned to France with a good job in hand, found almost immediately after I’d become more flexible.

Bonus tip

26) Keep trying!

Don’t give up looking. New opportunities can appear at any time.

In hockey, a goal scorer in a slump will eventually score as long as he keeps shooting pucks at the net. Likewise, if you persevere in following best practices while trying new ideas in looking for leads, growing your network and improving your skills, something will eventually come your way.

Just signed an offer letter for a new job. I’m absolutely delighted. It’s been a long hard search.

— Simon (@simonjdickie) October 13, 2017

Question of the article

If you overcame a long job search, what was the turning point? Tell us in the comments.

Additional reading

• Is there a reason you are not getting a job?
• Success Stories: I Found a Job after Long-Term Unemployment
• Help! My Job Search is Taking Years!

READ NEXT: Stop Falling into Resume Gaps

Subscribe to JobMob via RSS or email and follow me on Twitter for more insight on ending long job searches.

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Lisa Bloom claims Kardashians 'deprived Chyna from income'

On Tuesday documents surfaced showing that Blac Chyna is suing the entire Kardashian family: Rob, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney Kardashian and Kris, Kylie and Kendall Jenner.

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A 100-Car Army of Sound in Los Angeles

A new composition by Ryoji Ikeda created a wash of sound — car stereos blaring variations on the note A — as part of the Red Bull Music Academy festival.

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Japanese Carmakers Call Kobe Steel’s Products Safe Despite Scandal

A round of positive findings from Toyota, Honda and Mazda could help lift a cloud over the Japanese supplier, which has said its inspectors falsified data.

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Wheels: An Electric Car and a Rugged Throwback: The Dreams of 2 Rich Britons

James Dyson is looking to the future, and Jim Ratcliffe to the past. But to make their cars a reality, they must overcome the auto industry’s high barriers to entry.

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Juggling Living in the Now and Our Businesses

I believe that each of us has a unique path to follow and that we are only shown one step of that path at a time. The journey unfolds as we take the next step, and our mind-set and emotions are the keys to our final destination. If we move forward with joy and anticipation, then we find that in every moment. If we move forward with fear and trepidation, we similarly find that in every moment. We can choose to be a creator or a victim - the choice is ours.

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MJ Javid says she's using frozen eggs for IVF

The Shahs Of Sunset star told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that she has already started IVF with frozen eggs while planning her March 2018 wedding to Tommy Feight.

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Christina El Moussa 'dumps beau Doug Spedding'

Christina El Moussa seemed to be very happy with her older beau Doug Spedding. But apparently all has not been well between the 34-year-old Flip Or Flop star and the 55-year-old businessman.

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Event Furniture Hire: An Easy Way to Get Everything You Need for Your Event

Planning and hosting an event is exciting - you can get all your creative juices flowing, pick out every tiny aspect of the arrangements to your likings and revel in the anticipation that your guests will be positively awed by the wonderful arrangements you have come up with. Planning and hosting an event is also tough and daunting - there is so much that you want to do, but with your budget and time constraints in mind. Event furniture hire can prove to be an easy fix to get everything you need to make your event grand.

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The Next Time You Select a Banquet Hall for a Cooperative Event, Keep This in Mind

One can easily find any banquet hall in hotels, conference centres, resorts etc. but selecting the best out of one is something very important. Thus it is very crucial to select the right venue on basis of your need and pocket and one should never ignore this part that.

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The Massive Japanese Food Fair You Don’t Want to Miss: Furusato Matsuri in Tokyo

Earlier this year, Mike and I were in Japan, eating our faces off. I miss it so much. So much that I haven’t really written about our time there, but that’s about to change because we happened upon a gigantic...

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Honour the Ebb and Flow

Is it just me or is there a general feeling of overwhelm on social media? Anyone who runs a business seems to be under constant pressure to do this course, that workshop, read this book, hire that expert etc. I recently read in a Facebook group a comment that procrastination was another term for laziness! There doesn't seem to be any room for rest, relaxation or contemplation allowed - it's got to be go, go, go! The underlying feeling I pick up from all of this is panic and lack of control.

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Marilyn Manson reignites feud with Justin Bieber

The 48-year-old rocker has reignited his feud with the Never Say Never hitmaker, after the pop star used an image of Manson without his consent in his Purpose World Tour merchandise in 2016

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Lena Headey comes forward with Harvey Weinstein allegation

The 44-year-old actress bravely took to her Twitter on Tuesday to detail two uncomfortable encounters with the shamed 65-year-old film executive.

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An Overview of the ID Cards Maker

The practice of in-house ID card printing has increased tremendously as organizations have understood the fact that the efficiency is based on taking control of their ID cards printing in the organization.Previously many companies and organizations used to take advantage of the ID card printing companies that was more of a burdensome and expensive chore.

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Need Of Watch List Screening - Why The Rant Is Getting Bigger

Illegitimacy, frauds, lawlessness - some of the popular terms that people these days are quite acquainted with. In fact, some are terrorized in certain regions of the world due to heinous criminal activities.

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Kylie Jenner shares first glimpse of 'growing bump'

The reality star, 20, shared a clip of that gave a glimpse of what appears to be her expanding torso. Kylie's cleavage even appeared noticeably large as she wore a grey sports bra.

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Deleted scene from It depicted Pennywise devouring a baby

'I had to eat a baby': Deleted scene from Stephen King's horror megahit It depicted Pennywise devouring an infant according to an actor who auditioned for the role

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A Body In Motion…

…stays in motion,” Isaac Newton explains in his first law of motion.

This is true of objects. It is also true of us.

Recently, I received an email from a reader with this question:

Did you know what your passion was when you started downsizing? What advice would you give to people that don’t know because they’ve spent decades just accumulating things that don’t matter?”

I thought I’d share my answer here. First, because it is a question I am asked frequently (not necessarily at every speaking event, but most of them). And second, because I think the answer leads to a larger principle I hope we all find helpful.

To those who are struggling to discern their passion in life, my suggestion is to pick just one good that you’d like to bring into the world and take a step toward it—whether donating your time, your talents, or your financial resources. Choose one, any one, and get started in some small way.

If you have a passion or know of a problem in the world you would like to solve, there is probably an organization nearby working on that very thing. Maybe your first step is a Google search and a short email asking if there is any way you can help.

You may be surprised what you discover. You may quickly realize your talents and skills and uniqueness fit perfectly into their needs.

Or, you may discover that they do not…

You may discover that your giftedness aligns better with a different organization or a different passion or a different problem that you want to solve. But it seems to me, in either scenario, you’d never make that discovery without taking a first step.

Any step.

Because it’s easier to find a vision or identify a passion if you are actively engaged searching for it.

A body in motion stays in motion.

This principle applies to finding passion in life. But I think it also applies in countless other areas:

Want to be healthier? Take just one step—even a walk around your block. A body in motion stays in motion.

Want to declutter your home? Take just one step—minimize one drawer, closet, or shelf. A body in motion stays in motion.

Want to travel more? Take just one step—plan one short trip. A body in motion…

Want to get out of debt? Take just one step—make one extra payment on a credit card balance this week. A body in motion…

Want to be a better parent?

Want to start a new hobby?

Want to become more spiritual?

Want to write a novel or start a blog?

Want to improve or save your marriage?

Want to read more?

Want to get more organized?

In every regard, a body in motion stays in motion. For every change or discovery we desire to see in ourselves, it begins always with putting ourselves in motion toward it. And then building on the momentum we started.

Your first step in a new direction doesn’t have to be a big one. And while one small step probably won’t result in the entire change you are hoping for, the second step doesn’t always reveal itself until you’ve taken the first.

Further reading on this subject: Are You Taking The False First Step?

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Katy Perry reveals Idol only works because she's single

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Kourtney Kardashian wants to ban Scott Disick from kids

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Joe Jonas proposes to Sophie Turner

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Kris Jenner and Corey Gamble at dinner amid split rumours

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Singers Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly tie the knot

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Audrina Patridge moves home after paying ex $35k to leave

Audrina Patridge was all smiles Saturday, seen moving her things back into her Irvine, California home after agreeing to pay estranged husband Corey Bohan $35k to leave the property.

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Madonna sends daughter Lourdes Leon's 21st birthday wishes

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Kris Jenner's fake television mansion hits the market

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One-Bowl Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Pancakes

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Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.

For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encourage more simplicity in your life.

A Survivalist Filled His Massive Basement With Food—Then decided Puerto Rico needed it more | The Washington Post by Kristine Phillips. The food that the Badames had intended to eat in case of crisis will now feed starving people in two Puerto Rican towns devastated by Hurricane Maria.

This Technique Might Actually Clear Your Clutter Once and For All | News.com.au by Hannah-Rose Yee. The new decluttering trend is called Swedish Death Cleaning and it’s a game-changer.

I Didn’t Understand Money So I Stopped Calling It Money | TIME by Whitney Cummings. To change the way I thought about money, I started substituting the word “money” with the word “freedom.”

Buy Nothing Project: Free clothes, toys, food — even a wedding | The Seattle Times by Scott Greenstone. Inspired by a Himalayan village society, Buy Nothing links a half-million people with their neighbors and eschews consumerism.

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Stay True to Your Own Path

Since my business launched I have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people and businesses that are in the market place. It is easy for time to fly by whilst checking out what is available and what they have to offer. It is also very easy to be taken off our own path because 'everyone else' appears to be doing something different, which is apparently much more successful than what we are doing.

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Friday Finds: 10.13.17

Spooky Friday the Thirteenth! Some internet finds for your reading pleasure!

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Jason Momoa apologizes for rape joke

In the video, the audience erupts into laughter after he makes the joke, while his co-stars beside him bury their face in their hands. Momoa was referencing his character Khal Drogo in the joke.

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How to Get Corporate Social Responsibility Into the DNA of Your Business

Several years ago, two New York nonprofits decided to partner together and pursue corporate funding. One charity was an educational group that provided scholarship aid to students in the city so that they could attend schools that had a better performance record than the neighborhood public schools. The other organization took students from the same under-resourced communities in New York to spend their summers abroad learning and experiencing other cultures and expanding their minds.

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Kim Kardashian suffers from 'body dysmorphia'

The 36-year-old wife of Kanye West started to feel bad about her body, it's revealed in a teaser for Sunday's new episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. So Khloe and Kourt hatch a plan.

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Kobe Steel’s Falsified Data Is Another Blow to Japan’s Reputation

Employees altered inspection certificates to meet specifications, setting off a rush by Toyota, Boeing and others to see if they had used the raw materials.

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AMA 2017 nominations are announced

Several male artists such as The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar and Chris Martin were named, but the most interesting category is Best Female Pop/Rock artist.

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Ashley Judd's mother Naomi praises her daughter

On Tuesday the beauty's mother Naomi Judd, 71, made a comment on her daughter when out with her husband Larry Strickland in Nashville, Tennessee. 'I'm incredibly proud of her,' she said.

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Heidi Montag debuts 'perfect' baby boy Gunner

Gunner was wrapped in a pale blue blanket as mom and dad held him for the cover. It's a first child for the reality TV stars who wed in Mexico in 2008. They both gushed over the little guy.

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Vietnamese Bo Kho Braised Wagyu Brisket Recipe

Looking for a warm and cozy braised beef brisket? Don't look anymore! This brisket, with a Vietnamese twist is amazing: complex yet comforting flavors, perfect for an easy weekend dinner party. Bonus: your house will smell incredible!

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Why Experiences Are Better Than Things

I enjoy baseball and I like cheering for the hometown team. So my son and I decided to attend an evening of postseason baseball this week when the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers.

If you follow baseball, you know the Diamondbacks lost the game… and the series… and their season ended that night. In that regard, the night was a bummer. But in every other way, the evening was close to perfect.

The crowd was boisterous. The weather was amazing. The food was delicious. And the conversation was stellar.

We make choices every day with our financial resources. But this particular night of baseball was a helpful reminder to me that experiences are almost always a better investment than things.

Consider the reasons:

Experiences result in greater happiness. According to research, experiences result in longer-lasting happiness than material possessions. This is the case for several reasons (including some listed below). But in the article provided, the driving argument is that humans quickly adapt to their external surroundings. As a result, the happiness provided by new material possessions is short-lived. Over time, people’s satisfaction with the things they buy decreases, whereas their satisfaction with experiences over time increases.

Experiences provide better memories. One reason I enjoy baseball so much, is undoubtedly, because of the many memories I have watching it with my father. Growing up in South Dakota, an annual trip with the family to watch the Minnesota Twins play was a highlight of summer. Decades later, I look back on those moments with great joy and fondness. I remember them far better than almost any of the physical gifts I received as a child.

Experiences result in less clutter. Most physical possessions eventually become a burden on our lives. They take up physical space in our homes and mental space in our minds. They require care, attention, maintenance, organization. Experiences, on the other hand, are accompanied with little to no physical baggage. The only thing I brought home with me from the game were a few photos on my phone.

Experiences provide greater opportunity to connect with other people. This is the nature of experiencing things with others. Because we enjoy time together around a common purpose and activity for an extended period of time, we are afforded numerous opportunities to talk and connect with one another. My son enjoyed the game on the field, so did I. But I also enjoyed the opportunity to simply talk and connect about school and sports and friendships.

Experiences result in greater mindfulness. In 2010, Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert published an important study in Science magazine. Their research concluded that “a wandering mind is an unhappy mind.” And the greater a person’s ability to “stay present” in a given moment, the greater happiness they experience during and after. Experiences provide greater opportunity in this regard. In fact, to discover more helpful techniques about how to stay present in the experiences of life, read How to Make Good Moments Last Longer by Allison Niebes-Davis, PhD.

Experiences result in less comparison with others. According to research done by Ryan T. Howell and Graham Hill, another significant reason experiences result in more happiness than material possessions is because experiences result in less comparison with others. Or, as they put it, “It’s easier to feature-compare material goods (how many carats is your ring? how fast is your laptop’s CPU?) than experiences. And since it’s easier to compare, people do so.” This doesn’t mean, of course, that comparisons don’t still occur at events (“I wish I had that guy’s seats!”). But overall, both during and after, we are less inclined to compare with others the experiences we enjoy than the material possessions we own.

When we first began pursuing minimalism nine years ago, I remember asking myself what might I begin to do with the newfound benefits of owning less. If we were no longer purchasing, pursuing, and caring for excess possessions in life, what might we do with the excess money, time, and energy?

Over the years, we’ve been able to do a lot. But enjoying memorable experiences together as a family is certainly near the top of the list of my favorite.

Compared to buying more things, I’ll take enjoying memorable experiences any day. Even if my team did lose on Monday night.

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Leonardo DiCaprio supports women in Weinstein scandal

On Tuesday, Charlize Theron commended the women for being 'brave and heroic' in coming forward with their stories - and added she was not 'surprised' by the allegations.

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Russell Crowe on set after linked to Weinstein scandal

This is the first time Crowe has been seen since Sharon Waxman claimed on The Wrap that the star, along with Matt Damon, called her in 2004 to get a Weinstein sex scandal story killed.

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Julianne Hough sizzles for Health magazine

Julianne Hough sizzles in the new issue of Health magazine in she talks about staying fit, her body image and her marriage to Brooks Laich.

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Glee's Naya Rivera spotted with Ryan Dorsey in LA

This comes just days after the Glee star said she was doing 'great' at home as she spent time with Dorsey, who she wed in 2014, and their son Josey. She used to date David Spade, 53.

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5 Essentials Of Hiring Logistics Services

Business in today's world is so occupied with a large number of activities. From production planning to select brand campaign, leaves no time to focus on other core activities like logistics services. Business can only survive when their products and services are reaching the customer's at large without any delay or stress.

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer features Carrie Fisher

In the trailer, the iconic actress stands inside a ship while looking deep in contemplation. Fisher died last year at the age of 60 from a cardiac arrest.

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What to Cook in October

It's cozy time: the season of warm and hearty soups and stews, Halloween treats, and tailgating treats. Here's what you should be cooking in October.

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6 Tips To Find A Good Purchasing Agent

Are you looking for a good purchasing agent for your business? If so, you should know that many of the agents may not be qualified. You need to keep in mind that purchasing agents play a great role as far as international trade is concerned. They act like a bridge between buyers and sellers. If you want to choose a good sourcing or purchasing agent, we suggest that you follow the tips given below.

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Rachel Bilson becomes victim of $50,000 burglary

The actress, 36, returned to her Los Angeles property on Friday afternoon to discover the house had been 'ransacked' by burglars during the four hours she was out, TMZ reports.

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Aaron Carter smiles in Florida after gaining 30lbs

The troubled singer wore a white tank top that showed off a fuller physique after gaining 30lbs while in rehab for two weeks. He said the time out allowed him to learn to be stress free.

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Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Drunk Kourtney throws up

She's the first one to call out Scott Disick when his partying gets out of hand.

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Armie Hammer defends relationship in Call Me By Your Name

Armie Hammer defended his new film Call Me By Your Name on Sunday. The story involves the love affair between young men and critics posted their outrage over age difference.

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Gal Gadot joins Ben Affleck in Justice League trailer

The world teeters on the brink in the newly released trailer for the star-studded Justice League.   

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Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Pumpkin

This quick and easy appetizer is both comforting and classy: smooth, simple, and creamy whipped ricotta with olive oil, lemon, and roasted kabocha.

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Ralphie May discussed health issues before he died

Ralphie May discussed his health problems in a radio interview weeks before his death from cardiac arrest last Thursday. The comic said he was suffering from bronchitis.

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Nelly arrested after woman accuses rapper of rape

A woman accused the 42-year-old of raping her on his tour bus in Washington early on Saturday morning. The rapper is on tour with Florida Georgia Line there, and was set to perform in Ridgefield

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Katy Perry addresses heartbreaking Las Vegas shooting

Stay gold! Katy Perry dazzles in golden mini dress during Madison Square Garden performance on her Witness world tour after Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley and Noah support act

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Britney Spears vows to continue her Las Vegas residency

'We'll get through this together': Britney Spears vows to continue her Piece Of Me Vegas residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort despite being 'heartbroken' over mass shooting

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Ben Affleck pictured at a treatment center in LA

Ben Affleck is photographed arriving at an outpatient treatment center in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

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Taraji P Henson's dog Uncle Willie dies aged 16

 Taraji P Henson has shared her grief following the death of her family pet.

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Wheels: For Electric Car Owners, ‘Range Anxiety’ Gives Way to ‘Charging Time Trauma’

Compared to a short pit stop at a gas station, charging an electric vehicle can be a time-consuming experience. But change is at hand.

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Ford Chief Outlines Investment Shift Away From Passenger Cars

The executive, Jim Hackett, told investors that the company would focus development on trucks, S.U.V.s, and electric or self-driving vehicles.

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What I Learned About Minimalism in Poland

Earlier this week, I spoke in Warsaw on the topic of minimalism. It was at a conference of 1,000 fathers from a number of European countries. But most men in attendance were from the host country, Poland.

It was, as you might imagine, fascinating.

On Friday evening, my wife and I attended a gala honoring some leaders of the Fatherhood Movement in Poland. There was recognition offered for individuals, industry leaders, and government officials—all of which, in one way or another, were committed to building stronger families in the war-torn nation.

At dinner, I met a man named Piotr (pronounced: Peter) who would serve as our translator for the evening. Piotr is my age and teaches English in the schools. Other than conversations with organizers of the conference, Piotr was the first to offer me a glimpse into daily life in Poland.

Forgive me if you know the historical details already, but here’s a snapshot into Poland’s recent past. It’ll be important.

Germany’s march into Poland during September of 1939 served as the beginning of WWII. German armies traveled east into Poland while the Soviet Union advanced from the west. By the end of 1939, after the conquest, many of the Polish intelligentsia, noblemen, clergy, and teachers were killed by the Germans in an attempt to completely destroy Poland’s identity as a nation.

The entire territory was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union—an agreement between Hitler and Stalin to not advance any further. Hitler would break that treaty in 1941 in hopes of eventually defeating Russia (he didn’t). And Warsaw would feel the full brunt of his decision being tossed back and forth between the two superpowers.

By 1945, the city of Warsaw had been entirely destroyed. First, by the Germans. And then again, by the Russian army as they marched west to occupy the city and defeat the German army. To this day, Warsaw is called the “City of Memorials” as there is not a single street in Warsaw that did not see death during World War II. The city’s prewar population of approximately 1.3 million had been reduced to 150,000.

And if you think 1945 was a long time ago, you would be mistaken. If a generation lasts 40 years, many of the fathers I met at the conference last weekend are the sons of the men and women who were almost entirely eradicated during World War II and grew up with a difficult family life because of it.

But history does not end there. It continues. Following World War II, much of Poland’s land was given to the USSR, the entire country was put under Soviet influence. Poland would continue to exist under rule of the Communist Party until 1989. It wasn’t until 1991 that Poland’s transition from a communist party rule to a Western-style democratic political system would be completed. And with it, a free-market, capitalism-based economic system.

1991 sounds much more recent. But again, it may be closer than you realize. I mentioned earlier that Piotr, my translator and dinner companion, is roughly the same age as me, with kids back at home the same age as mine. However, very different than me, Piotr grew up in a Communist country and vividly recalled for us looking out his apartment window as a child watching bread lines gather outside the corner store. His childhood was very different than mine.

25 years ago, these men were living in a Communist country. Today, their reality in a free-market, capitalist economic system is very different.

And into this environment, I was invited to present the benefits and the invitation of minimalism. A task I do not take lightly.

Many in the audience could relate to my story of how possessions begin to distract us from meaning and happiness and fulfillment. I have spoken in numerous countries around the globe on this topic and found the message resonates wherever I go. Many would nod their head at the notion of closets too crammed and garages filled with excess possessions.

However, given the historical, political, and economic realities of this audience, I concluded the conversation from a new vantage point. Poland is not a nation that is over-steeped in conspicuous consumption… at least not yet, but personal disposal income continues to rise.

My message for the men in attendance that day? Take every advantage of your freedoms and entrepreneurial opportunities. However, in so doing, do not lose sight of the things that matter most. And keep your passions centered on pursuits that matter in the long run.

Following my presentations on Saturday, I sat down with the organizer of the event over dinner. A lovely meal surpassed only by the lovely company. Darek, the organizer of the conference, shared his appreciation with me for coming. More importantly, I was able to hear more about the important work his organization is doing in Central Europe building stronger families and healthier societies.

He asked me for my impression of his country. I told him it was beautiful and filled with rich history and examples of human resiliency. I also spoke to him about my conversations with Piotr—Poland’s past and its trajectory into the future.

And this is where, I think for maybe the first time, the importance and weight of the message of minimalism began to weigh on me even heavier than before.

“Joshua, can I tell you more about why I invited you here today,” Darek responded with a measured tone. From across the table, I could tell he was debating whether or not to share with me what he was thinking.

“Of course, please do.”

He began to answer, “When I was younger, I had an important mentor. He was a survivor of Auschwitz who would live almost his entire existence in an occupied Poland—first by the Germans and then by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.”

“This man once made an observation to me I have never forgotten. After a trip he had taken to Western Europe, he pulled me aside and said,

‘I have come to realize that materialism holds people captive in many the same ways Communism does. Communism, by force, seeks to destroy personal identity. Materialism does the same. But materialism destroys personal identity by choice.’

“And that is why I wanted you here today. To inspire us, both as individuals and as a society, to not use our newfound freedom to acquire further bondage.”

In that moment, I realized he was right.

Minimalism is an important message. It frees up our most important resources to pursue things that matter. In this way, it is a very personal decision. One that I will continue encouraging each person to consider with their lives. Own less stuff, live more life. My mantra will remain the same.

However, let’s remember, this is not just a personal decision. This is also a societal movement that must be advanced and pushed forward. Minimalism is not just about regaining personal passion, it is about establishing a new identity—both as individuals and as a society.

Freedom is a gift. But freedom is only as valuable as what we choose to pursue with it.

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