NewsBreak Original

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events that I have experienced firsthand; used with permission. During summer, going to the beach or to a pool is a commonplace thing. That means bathing suits are needed.

This is a timely and important question. I've thought about words as violence ever since reading article version of The Coddling of the American Mind a few years ago. Since then I've dug deeper into, books, and op-eds, and linguistic theory. There seems to be no satisfying conclusion to this problem, because it's a problem of words. And language is inherently contextual. It is less solid and more liquid. It is beautiful, but taking any word out of context immediately removes some of its meaning. When I first thought about the question, "are words violence?" my reaction was no. The definition of violence is: "behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something." Another, less commonly used definition is "strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force."

"She feels a bit rutted," I thought to myself. A bit scratchy around the temples. A bit ragged in the midsection. A bit dehydrated, a bit sleepy, a bit weak in the lower spine, a bit sunburnt, a bit bored.

**This is a work of nonfiction based on an actual event as told to me by a labmate who experienced this firsthand; used with permission. Often, people's reputations are ruined by false rumors. Once a story is started, it can very quickly take on a life of its own. And if the individual has no way of defending themselves against these lies, they may end up being victimized by people who have no idea what the truth is. Of course, some people don't care so much about what others think of them and will do what they want throughout their lives.

This poem is about lifting the veil we each have before taking on human form. Random rememberings and notions of spirits. Faded thoughts may resonate with the reader and awaken personal memories.

**This blog post is trying to explain the quote based on my opinion, thoughts, and thinking. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”― Mae West. Let's face it; there are a lot of people who say they want happiness but never do anything about it. They watch other people live the life they want without ever owning up to their dreams and aspirations.

*This is a work of nonfiction and opinion based on actual events I experienced firsthand; used with permission.*. It’s hard to believe after all this time has gone by without smoking that I was a pack a day smoker for about thirteen years.

Can you imagine a life without freedom? It is difficult for those in a reasonably free country like America to do so, but are you truly free? True freedom goes beyond countries and governments, coming from within. Why do we allow others and other things to steal our freedom? We can stop these thieves with a little knowledge. Let's look at what you can do to create more freedom in your life.

*This is a work of nonfiction and opinion based on actual events I experienced firsthand; used with permission.*. I’ve had more than my fair share of terrible bosses. That is the number one thing that is keeping me from applying to even more places than I already have in the past few months— the more keep thinking about it and the more I keep getting closer to the workforce, the more I am reminded about my horrible bosses and how I said I’d never take crap from one again.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much upheaval in the labor markets, that is for sure. According to the Harvard Business Review:. In 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 47 million Americans voluntarily quit their jobs — an unprecedented mass exit from the workforce, spurred on by Covid-19, that is now widely being called the Great Resignation. Worker shortages are apparent everywhere: Gas stations and dentists offices alike have reduced their hours of operation because they can’t find new employees to replace those who have quit. The Great Resignation, we’re told, has upended the relationship between workers and the labor market.

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events that I have experienced firsthand; used with permission. What wouldn’t I do for my friends? My best friends. My dearest friends. My everlasting compadres.

**This is a work of nonfiction based on an actual event as told to me by a friend who experienced this firsthand; used with permission. It’s tough to see someone you care about emotionally and physically suffering because of their tobacco addiction. But it is not uncommon, and if they are lucky, they will have a caring friend who can provide the support that they need.

Father, Landis Hooks, saves his son, 18-year-old Cody Hooks, after he gets bucked off the bull almost immediately after coming out of the gate at the Bell County Rodeo in Belton, Texas via Inside Edition/YT

This week, the US News and World Report released their annual list of the 150 best cities to live in the United States. And it's good news for residents of Sarasota, Florida, with the city ranked as the number one place to retire in the United States.

**This is the work of nonfiction based on an actual event experienced by me firsthand; used with permission. A friend is someone you can always count on. They tell you things that will make you laugh, make your life better by simply being around, and always have your back in times of need. But what if this relationship changes? What if that best friend leaves and goes away without a word? The feeling of betrayal and abandonment is heartbreaking. Your life feels empty without them because they are where your heart was before they left.

Want to know the secret to happiness? It is not as difficult to find as you may think. Unbeknownst to many of us, we carry the secret with us all the time. We only need the key to unlock it to make it a reality.

Tambobong Beach, Pangasinan, PhilippinesPhoto by the author. If you are also caught up in the whirlwind of post-elections anxiety, thinking of 'next steps', or finding your place in the world, then you are just like me.

**This is a work of nonfiction based on actual events that I have experienced firsthand; used with permission. The method of tea leaf reading involves looking at the placement and formations of tea leaves remaining in your teacup to try and gather information about the past, present, and future of your life.

How well do you know yourself? Do you realize inside you is something that determines your future? Imagine how valuable it would be to know more about this something, which is an influential part of yourself. Even a little knowledge of it can be a major life-changer.