The Hawaiian Islands are widely known for their beauty and rich cultural diversity. Located in the North Pacific Ocean, they encompass some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, some of the highest mountain peaks, volcanoes, waterfalls, rain forests, and protected land and native species. The climate in Hawaii boasts eleven of the thirteen climate zones in the world. The climate zones each have unique ecosystems and characteristics that make up their weather patterns. With all the natural beauty that Hawaii has to offer, the Hawaiian Culture and Spirit remain today the most powerful aspects of what make the Hawaiian Islands so special.
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May 11, 2015
by Cynthia Morales
A smoking ban passed in New Orleans went viral across the city after midnight on Wednesday, April 22, putting out a once legal habit in a number of public facilities including bars, restaurants and entertainment venues (“Smoking ban goes into effect in New Orleans”, 2015). It’s a strikingly health conscious move that follows in the footsteps of many other cities, including New York, Chicago and Houston (“Comprehensive Smoke-Free Laws — 50 Largest U.S. Cities, 2000 and 2012”)
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One of the biggest causes of conflict in relationships is differences in values, goals, and habits related to money, and communication about money issues. To keep a relationship happy and peaceful, it’s important for couples to understand their beliefs about money, learn how to talk about money, and learn how to align their financial goals. If you can do these things, you will be well on your way to having one less thing to argue about!
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March 17, 2015
by Mary Horn, Psy.D.
American youth are growing up in a society where competition and the pressure that comes with it, begin at the very beginning of their life experiences. It is not uncommon for parents to go to classes, read books, do research, and gather as much information as they can about parenting. Well-meaning parents want the best for their children. There are programs for babies to read, infants to swim, even sports that begin in toddlerhood. Often, parents will pick homes in good school districts so they can ensure a good education for their children.
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Conventional medicine, including surgery and the use of synthetic drugs, has been around for only a relatively short period of time. Conventional medical interventions are often what we receive when we go to the doctor or the hospital, and there are certainly times when the advances in modern conventional medicine are something to appreciate. For instance, when we are seriously injured, we’re very relieved to arrive at a modern emergency room equipped with the latest technology.
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Work is crazy, the kids have so much to do, and you and your partner just had a big argument about the finances. Maybe you’re unemployed, the creditors are calling, and the bills are piling up. Perhaps you are the caretaker of a family member who is ill or disabled, and you never get a minute for yourself. More often than not, you dread the day ahead, and you feel like you’re heading for a nervous breakdown. You just don’t know how to get your life back on track, and you don’t know how much more you can take.
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December 26, 2014
by David Porter, MA
The use, popularity, and availability of illicit drugs changes from one geographical region and time period to another. Certain illicit psychoactive drugs will fade from common use and then re-emerge. Substances which may have been discovered decades ago will experience a sudden surge in popularity. Familiar substances may be administered in new ways, or chemically altered or combined for a different effect. In other instances, something truly new may emerge on the illicit drug market.
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Technology is not good or bad; it is just another part of life—like food and money- that we have to relate with in a conscious way. With some awareness, you will gradually find a balanced way to enjoy technology and all it has to offer, without sacrificing your health or your relationships.
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Some might conclude that people who are introverted are shy, withdrawn, socially awkward “wallflowers” who may even be a bit depressed. Extroverts tend to be seen as socially skilled, happy, and often the life of the party. But there is much more to the story. The qualities of introversion and extroversion have more to do with what gives a person energy, and what drains them. It’s about their preference for the internal world of thoughts and feelings, versus the external world of action and other people.
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August 18, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
In the not too distant past, there was a lot of difficulty for individuals needing to access mental health care services. Many health insurance companies treated mental health as a separate and unequal health issue compared with medical health problems. This made it difficult for the mentally ill to get adequate treatment, and to be able to afford that treatment when it was needed. In the last few years, those laws have begun to change, and mental illness is now considered to be equal in regard to insurance as is physical illness.
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