At this St. Patrick’s Day, one could be fooled into thinking that the Irish-American community is as robust as ever. But changes to US immigration rules have largely closed the door to new entries, leading inexorably to a “graying” of Irish America. I didn’t realize when I came here in the late 1990s that thanks to multiple failed attempts at immigration reform, the conveyor belt of Irish immigration would more or less stop with my generation. What that means for Irish-American identity in general, and the New York Irish in particular, is becoming a pressing issue.
Month: March 2018
The Power of Goal Setting (and Accomplishing)
The Power of Being a Goal Setter (and Accomplisher)
Success. For many success is viewed as something esoteric and elusive. Its seen as something meant for a selective few who are more exceptional than the rest of us. They seem to have some type of knowledge or gift the rest of us can’t replicate or at least comprehend.
I’m here to tell you that when it comes to obtaining that level of success you’ve always dreamed of whether it be losing weight, getting that promotion at work or even to start a business that is thriving its more possible than you think.
The Magic of Setting Goals and Accomplishing Them
If there is one common lesson I’ve learned from all of the seminars, books, interviews and other content on the subject of success, its that success in not more or less being lucky or having tons of talent. Success by many definitions is more of a system than anything else. A well thought out system of first figuring out what you want and where you want to be. Then you calculate exactly what it will take to get there. Next you implement a system of small or sometimes big goals that will surely take you in the right direction. Setting goals in themselves is not what stops people from getting where they want to be in life. Usually its that they are not accomplishing them.
I would say one of the biggest killer of success is that most people can’t find something and stick with it for an extended period of time. Most try something for a week or two then simply say it didn’t work then give up. For me personally I always had so many great ideas that sounded good to me. I would start one thing, try it for a few weeks than move on to something else not realizing why I kept failing at everything I tried. It wasn’t till I stuck with a project for more than a month that I began to see some significant growth. Success in its essence means you have to be willing to give something your all even if you don’t see an immediate reward or instant return. For many this is something they just cannot pass. Our society has conditioned us for constant stimulation and for people to be always looking for that next dopamine rush. Rather this be from checking your likes on Instagram or constantly checking your email. You must be able to see the bigger picture and know that right now you see no instant gratification for your work but that one day you will be able to relish the fruits of your labor.
Setting your goals give you a real road map to where you want to go. When you plan out your next move and actually stick to it, your mind is not left wondering “So what do I do now?” your mind has a focus point for all your energy to be projected towards.
When you give your mind that focal point, ideas will just come from seemingly nowhere. Your brain will constantly be working on ways of improving or innovating what ever the focus is on. In turn what is your brain doing when you’re not focusing on a particular goal? It has no focus so its everywhere else giving energy to a lot of things that don’t really matter at all. Would you drive across country with no map or gps and still expect to reach your destination in time? I highly doubt you would so don’t do that with your life and career. The only significant edge some people have over others is that some plan for the future while other sit around and always say one day I’ll get to that thing I want to do. We all know someday usually doesn’t happen. Like the great Malcolm X said, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Be the one who prepares.
Concluding Thoughts:
Success can be summed up to creating a system of goals that you first create, then follow through on and accomplish them. Set your goals up and stick to them, allowing the momentum of accomplishing your goals push you to do even greater work. Find your one focus point and make sure you tend to it faithfully for no less than 6 months before you even think of giving up on it. Success will and can be yours, you just have to set yourself up for it.
Darnell Stallworth is the founder of http://azerojourney.com/ blog. An intersection between Mindset Motivation, Self-Improvement, Weight Loss and just becoming your best version possible.
You’ve read The Power of Goal Setting (and Accomplishing), originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
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Beware the Big Five
Only in recent months, with the news of the Russian hacks and trolls, have Americans begun to wonder whether the platforms they previously assumed to have facilitated free inquiry and communication are being used to manipulate them. The fact that Google, Facebook, and Twitter were successfully hijacked by Russian trolls and bots (fake accounts disguised as genuine users) to distribute disinformation intended to affect the US presidential election has finally raised questions in the public mind about whether these companies might compromise national security.
Bang for the Buck
If reason played any part in the American love affair with guns, things would have been different a long time ago and we would not have so many mass shootings like the one that took the lives of seventeen high school students in Parkland, Florida on February 14. Almost everywhere else in the world, if you proposed that virtually any adult not convicted of a felony should be allowed to carry a loaded pistol—openly or concealed—into a bar, a restaurant, or classroom, people would send you off for a psychiatric examination. Yet many states allow this, and in Iowa, a loaded firearm can be carried in public by someone who’s completely blind. Suggest, in response to the latest mass shooting, that still more of us should be armed, and people in most other countries would ask you what you’re smoking. Yet this is the NRA’s answer to the massacres in Orlando, Las Vegas, Newtown, and elsewhere, and after the Parkland killing spree, President Trump suggested arming teachers.
A Hanging Matter
To the Editors: Your beautiful Jasper Johns cover—the painting “Summer” from his “Seasons” series of 1985–86—is part of the retrospective currently at the Broad museum in Los Angeles that Jason Farago writes about. But there’s a problem with the way that series is displayed.
Not Over Yet
To the Editors: Normally I would hesitate to correct a journalist of Charles Glass’s stature, but as a reporter who’s covered the war in Syria for several years now I have to point out some inaccuracies in his “Syria’s New Normal.”
Unforced Errors
To the Editors: The article by Paul Reitter, “The Business of Learning,” contained an egregious error. It reads that “hundreds of admissions offers [were] rescinded by UC Irvine on shaky grounds.” As of August 2 Howard Gillman, chancellor of UC Irvine, announced that the decision to withdraw admissions was “unacceptable”…
A Very Good Meal
To the Editors: In reply to Peter Green, Hayden Pelliccia writes that the “carcasses at Troy would have been picked over by carrion birds…not by birds of prey equipped to rend the living.” This is wildly wrong.
Oral Side Effects of Medications: What You Need to Know
Medicines are necessary to control a condition, prevent complications, and treat health problems. Although helpful, not all medications are free of side effects. Some of them can be life-threatening while others can have a negative effect on how you look.
To help you understand better, here are the most common oral side effects of medications and what you can do about them.
Dry Mouth
Drugs prescribed for heart diseases, like enalapril and chlorothiazide, can dry up your salivary glands. This can make your mouth excessively dry.
Once that happens, the tissues in your mouth can become irritated and inflamed, which can increase the risk of infection, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Think of it this way:
If there’s less saliva in your mouth, it can cause foods to stick on the surfaces of your teeth, making them difficult to remove. Saliva protects the tooth against tooth decay and gum disease.
See Also: 10 Habits That Can Prevent Heart Disease
Discoloration of Enamel
Drugs that cause staining and discoloration of the enamel include antibiotics. They are typically used to treat bacterial infections, some forms of acne, and respiratory issues.
Apart from that, consumption of too much fluoride can also lead to enamel discoloration. It can cause chalky white and cream colored patches to develop on your teeth.
Fungal Infection
Inhalers used for asthma may lead to yeast infection in the mouth called oral candidiasis. It is very important to rinse your mouth every time you use an inhaler to avoid this side effect.
Altered taste
Some medications can alter your sense of taste, which is also known as dysgeusia. It happens frequently to elders who take multiple medications for their ailments. It can also happen to people who are under chemotherapy and taking doxorubicin and chlorpheniramine maleate.
Generally, the change in taste is temporary and goes away when you stop the medication.
Gum Swelling or Gingival overgrowth
Medications, such as oral contraceptives, immunosuppressive medications, and calcium channel blockers can cause gingival overgrowth or gum swelling. Blood pressure and epilepsy medications can also cause the same side effect.
The inflammation around the teeth increases your risk of periodontal disease as it creates a favorable environment for bacteria to grow.
See Also: 3 Natural Home Remedies to Heal Gum Diseases
How to Avoid Oral Side Effects of Medications
Because you can’t stop taking your medications just because you’re fearful of their oral side effects, you need to do your homework and know the best ways to care for your teeth and gums. See your dentist and ask what you can do to avoid oral problems while you’re taking your medications.
Your dentist will assess your oral health. He may use an interdental brush for complete cleaning before providing the right treatment for your oral problems. Undergo a professional cleaning as that can help remove plaques that your regular toothbrush won’t be able to get rid of.
If there is swelling in your gum tissues or if there’s too much pressure around your teeth, a minor surgery will be required. The surgery is usually done with anesthesia so you won’t feel too much pain during the procedure.
To help control the situation, your dentist can also communicate with your general physician to find out alternative medications that don’t have the same side effects. As much as possible, do not stop taking your medications, swap drugs or change the dose without consulting your doctor.
General dentistry procedures involve the latest dental technology and ensure early and exact identification of any oral health complication, which can affect your overall health. It is always a wise decision to go for a routine dental checkup to prevent future problems.
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Did you know that there are five national wildlife refuges in…
Did you know that there are five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island? Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge features rocky shorelines, sandy beaches and a large salt marsh that provide habitat to amazing birds like the piping plover. In the winter, visitors can walk or cross-country ski on the refuge trails and enjoy sunrises and sunsets over the water. Photo by Chris Hunter (www.sharetheexperience.org).
Sig Nordal 