Every January brings a new crop of workout enthusiasts to Dallas-area gyms. Fueled by New Year's resolutions and post holiday excess, they storm the treadmills and ellipticals like starstruck fans at an Oprah wellness camp.

In good news for workout veterans, the "get in shape" zeal fades fairly quickly. Resolutions get fuzzy, there are happy hours to attend, and by the end of January, the gym is back to normal.

But the year 2020 has seen the newbies display dedication beyond the norm, sticking it out a month even two.

If you're a regular who knows the beneficial effects of working out, you have no choice but to give them a pumped-up high-5 for initiating their self improvement efforts and sticking to it. You must welcome them to the tribe. You must "woot" their perseverance.

You must even bow to the cardio neophyte who arrives 10 minutes early and commandeers your favorite exercise bike. I mean, you don't own it.

All of this said, there are times when the rookies seem clueless to the accepted decorum at any exercise facility. We're talking about the timeless rules that have been in place since Roman baths were invented in 200 BC.

Rules like, Put your weights back when you're done, wipe your sweat off the Nautilus seat, and the floor mats are for sit-ups and push-ups only. Repeat: The floor mats are for sit-ups and push-ups only.

If you judge by my neighborhood L.A. Fitness, the 2020 newbies seem to be showing deeper signs of oblivion that surpass prior years. Here are some notes on the latest crop of newbies:

Singing on the Gauntlet The Gauntlet is the big enchilada of stair devices, not for the meek. You get a great sweat going, and since it's a hulking 8-foot-tall machine, it puts you higher than everyone else at the gym, allowing you to look down upon the rest from your elevated perch.

That should be enough, right? Not for the passive aggressive guy in the tank top. He is not merely rocking to his headphone, he's singing at the top of his lungs. He is really feeling that Anthony Ramos pop tune. Try to shush him and it's: "If you don't like it, get your own headphones."

On the plus side, maybe he'll learn to really sing and become a big star and actually get his own private gym.

Sauna sit-in The internet tells us that a sauna session can relax the muscles, revitalize the skin, improve blood circulation, and ease mental stress. The internet also says that the proper way to use a sauna is in your "birthday suit." A towel, if you're modest.

So what's the deal with the 15 teenage girls jammed into the sauna, all at once, all fully dressed? Is this a thing? It's definitely a thing at the Garland L.A. Fitness. Any time of the year, open the sauna door and it's a party, everyone is fully dressed, and all are a-chatter. All that's missing is a disco ball.

The locker room selfie You've been working out for a month. You can already see a difference. You've seen the people on YouTube who track their changes via photos and videos. It has been said that this kind of activity can help stoke your commitment.

Question: Is the locker room mirror really the best place to document your journey?

More specific question: Is the locker room mirror really the place to document your journey in that kind of no-holds-barred no-clothes-on manner? Yes, the lighting is fantastic. Yes there are mirrors for miles. But how many Mr. Atlas bicep flexes ... how many attempts to do a Kim Kardashian ass does a person need?

But this rant is futile. There's even a #lockerroomselfie on Instagram.

The nonfitness buffs Working out at a gym is intrinsically a social experience. To a certain extent, you're working out so that someone might find you attractive.

But one tiny request: Please do not dawdle with your pal at the shoulder pulley. If you do not intend to do the shoulder pulley within the next 15 minutes, please step away from the shoulder pulley entirely. Look there are tables over by the smoothie counter where you can chat to your heart's content. Except that's not the point, because you want to look like you're working out.

Don't say you're "between reps," because I've been watching for the past 15 minutes and no reps were executed during that time. Yes, I could have gone and done another machine, but that's beside the point. I'm asking again, nicely, step away from the shoulder pulley right now.

Facetiming your beloved You're going to be home in 15 minutes. You're already dressed. But you gotta check in with your honey. Totally get that. There are decisions to make. Who's gonna pick up dinner and who's gonna walk the dog?

Totally don't get propping your cell on the sink and doing a Facetime. Hello, there are people behind you not dressed. We can see the background of your honey's office, so she can definitely see us behind you in the locker room.

Some situations call for a text. This is one such situation.

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5 tiny requests of the fitness newbies wreaking havoc at my Dallas gym - CultureMap Dallas

Kobe Bryants death has drawn attention to every aspect of his life. Many fans are now learning about Bryants ventures outside the world of sports. Heres what we know about the book he never finished.

Every avid reader has particular styles and genres of literature which appeal to them. Bryant loved reading and he seemed to enjoy books about self-improvement which had a mystical flair. CNBC said his favorites included Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach andThe Heros Journey,a biography of mythologist Joseph Campbell.

Paulo Coelho is a Brazillian author whose work was also up Bryants alley. Although hes published autobiographies, hes most known for his novels, which often blend elements of self-help literature, New Age spirituality, and Roman Catholicism. Hes most well-known for his 1988 novel The Alchemist, a story about a shepherd going on an adventure which serves as an allegory about finding fulfillment. Its essentially John Bunyans The Pilgrims Progress for the 1980s.

According to CNBC, Bryant was a fan of The Alchemist and read it numerous times. He recommended it to those close to him. Time reports that, after his 2016 retirement from the NBA, Bryant even reached out to Coelho to see if they could co-write a childrens book.

We know very little about the book. Its unclear how much of it was completed before Bryants death. Its also unknown if it had a title yet. Coelho has given us an idea of its contents. Kobe was always very concerned about making a book that was a positive example for children, especially those coming from humble beginnings.

Coehlo had some positive things to say about Bryant. I saw him enough times to assure he had much more than sports on his mind, it wasnt all about competition. His tragic death has shown already how he was important to the world, not only to the United States. We will discuss his legacy for many years, much beyond sport.

Despite any fan interest in the book, Coehlo decided to delete his draft of it. I deleted the draft because it didnt make any sense to publish without him. It wouldnt add anything relevant to him or his family.

Many people urged Coehlo not to erase the incomplete book. Although he has no plans to finish it, Coehlo may write something inspired by Bryant. He explained his actions wont stop me from writing someday about things I learned from Kobe and how much of a larger-than-life person he was. But the childrens book did not make sense anymore.

Maybe Coehlo made the right decision by erasing his collaboration with Bryant. Maybe he didnt. Hopefully, anything he writes which is inspired by Bryant stays true to the NBA legend and his accomplishments.

Also see: Kobe Bryant: T.I. & Magic Johnson Have Surprising Reactions to His Death

Go here to see the original:
Kobe Bryant: Why the Inspiring Book He Was Writing Is Gone Forever - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Powerlifting event brings athletes from all over Ohio to Danville

DANVILLE In the middle of winter, year after year, they make the annual pilgrimage to Danville. About 200 athletes from around the state of Ohio go through the rigors of testing their strength, competitive spirit and resolve. Saturdays 27th Annual Danville Powerlifting Meet attracted lifters from the four corners of Ohio literally. There were 18 teams in total. Among them were local teams like Utica and Fredericktown. There were also some teams that had to drive two or three hours, in the cold, to get in the competition. Those included teams from Toledo Christian Academy, Shadyside, Claymont, Conotton Valley and Western Reserve.

Shadyside brought along a good-size contingent of lifters, who got out of bed around 4 a.m. and arrived at the door of the Danville gymnasium at about a quarter to eight.

We have a lot of drive, said Logan Crozier, a 16-year-old, who plays center on the Shadyside football team. We just want to go out and do the best we can. I love the environment here. Everyone here is watching you. Everyone helps each other out. Its about sportsmanship. We all want to get better.

Some teams brought along an impressive amount of girls, as well as boys. Northmor was one of those.

I just like all the competitors and how they push us to get the weights up, said Northmor lifter Megan McGlothlin, a junior. Our groups are all pretty evenly matched. I like powerlifting. It helps me to push myself and I get stronger, everyday.

For Colton Johnson, a freshman from Ashland, powerlifting is all about self-improvement. He is a linebacker and running back on the football team.

I want to get better, Johnson said. No matter where you are, skill-wise, you can come here and see how youre doing. Theres a lot of competition here. People want to win.

South Central High School junior Elijah Radcliffe was a football player in his sophomore year, but now, he is exclusively a powerlifter.

All I can say is that we like to compete with each other and we like to do better, Radcliffe said. Were willing to travel to compete against other people and we have fun.

The Danville meet left Radcliffe quite impressed.

Its really nice to see all the schools here, Radcliffe said. There are random people, from different schools, congratulating each other. Im making friends with other people from different schools. I like it here.

Danville football coach Ed Honabarger believes the answer to why Danville keeps drawing so many lifters is pretty simple.

I think its the longevity of the event, Honabarger said. Its one of the oldest weightlifting events in Ohio. Also, people seem to like the way we run the meet. Weve got a good thing going, so they keep coming back. We have had people from Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo, through the years. Its a good way for people who dont play winter sports like wrestling or basketball to get out of the weight room and have some competition in the winter.

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Geoff Cowles: 740-397-5333 or gcowles@mountvernonnews.com and on Twitter, @http://twitter.com/mountvernonnews

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A test of strength - Mount Vernon News

On January 14, the third season of YOU was confirmed, and production has now begun, with a renewal for another series supported by a $7 million production tax credit. After an uncertain end in season 2, we will explore further the twisted lives of Joe and his new partner, the well-named Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti).

It comes after Netflix confirmed that in 2021 you would fall. After Joe Goldbergs actor Penn Badgley had left out that viewers should expect another episode of psychological thriller, the streaming giant announced he had commissioned a third season. Given the 2nd season of surprise, it is only what you fans deserve rightly.

Netflix did not confirm the exact release date for You season 3, but it was announced that ten new events were arriving in 2021 when news of the renewal had broken out. In early January, the official Twitter account for the show posted a language-in-cheek video, merely saying New Year, New You, a sweet play on the second year of your pseudo-self-improvement commentary.

To you fans, work officially began on the third chapter in even better news. Producer Sera Gamble on Twitter confirmed that work started on You season 3 on Friday, February 7.

Although this condemns viewers to a year before they can check back in with Joe and Love, it is nice to know that a new season certainly takes place in an era in which Netflix doesnt have to cancel its original shows.

Although there is no news yet as to when production begins on season 3, two new cast members are confirmed: Badgley comes back as Joe and Victoria Pedretti return as Love.

The continued presence of Love in Joes life was quite clear, considering how the pair ended in a reasonably unholy reconciliation during the second season. Hopefully, from season 2, we will also see the return of the extended cast of Quinn family and friends.

You will probably continue to be set for the foreseeable future in Los Angeles. With tax incentives previously mentioned for Californias production and a second season finale that saw Joe living in an idyllic suburban house, it is safe to believe that the third season will not be a change of venue like the second season from New York City to LA.

Season 2 of you drastically increased the melodrama and disagreed with the books with a rather shocking character. One Love is pushed by his first wife, Candace, to face the true nature of Joe, she receives some news in a way that few people have seenstabbing Candace in her throat.

It wasa moment, revealing that Love is as obsessive and tendency to murder as Joe is. Speaking in an interview, Badgley offers insight into the gender policy of Joes rejection of the darkest trends of his partner.

Original post:
You Season 3 On Netflix: Premiere Date Revealed By Netflix? Heres What You Should Know - The Digital Weekly

James Taylor, photographed in London in February 2020. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian

James Taylor looks out at the sprawling London skyline. This is where it started, he says. The moment. He made his first trip here in 1968, playing for Paul McCartney and George Harrison and becoming the first artist signed to the Beatles record label, Apple Records. This was before he moved to Laurel Canyon with the rest of the denim-draped California dreamers who defined the sound of the late 60s and far beyond. Before he met David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King and Joni Mitchell. Before he and Mitchell fell in love. Before he wrote his pivotal album Sweet Baby James during a stint in a psychiatric hospital. Before his marriage to Carly Simon, which opened up his personal life including his long battle with heroin addiction to public consciousness. Before he sold 100m records, performed for the Obamas and the Clintons, and then, decades later, appeared on stage with one of the worlds biggest pop stars, Taylor Swift, who is named after him.

It has been quite the trip, he admits.

Taylor is in a reflective mood when we meet, and says he is always like this. Im a very self-centred songwriter. I always have been. Its the personal stuff I like, for better or for worse. He is here to promote his 19th album, American Standard; a covers album of the old standards and Broadway show tunes he was raised on. He says there was a period when his generation wanted to distance themselves from this music, but he now recognises it as the pinnacle of American popular song ... It was sheet music, anyone would sing it, so the songs had to stand on their own. Its what informed me as a songwriter, and others of my generation; Lennon and McCartney, Randy Newman, Elton [John] and Bernie [Taupin], Paul Simon ...

He has also released an audio memoir Break Shot which takes him back to his turbulent early years, finishing with that first London trip. He is anxious, he says, about how the memoir will be received. It covers his fathers alcoholism and his brothers death from the disease, as well as his own drug addiction, all of which, he worries, could be sensationalised. But the memoir is mostly about the shattering effect that early childhood trauma, addiction and grief can have generations later. Its a subtle exploration of the ripples, as Taylor puts it.

Born in Boston in 1948, Taylor was, according to his memoir, brought up devoted to progressive politics, self-improvement and the arts. His father, a doctor, moved the family to the south when he became the dean of the medical school of the University of North Carolina; his mother didnt want to go, and fought against the politics she found there. She saw the north-eastern state of Massachusetts as a lost Eden and would spend her days doing sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, on protests, and hauling her five kids to Marthas Vineyard every summer to restore our Yankee credentials. Not long after moving the family to North Carolina, Taylors father was assigned to the navy. He spent two years on an expedition to the south pole, where he held the keys to the liquor cabinet of 100 men. He went to the bottom of the world and returned with a serious drinking problem.

Theres a mysterious energy to someone who lives with a tragedy like this, Taylor says of his father. Its like when you take your report card home from school and you know that if you hand it to him before hes had his first drink, youre going to get one response and if you hand it to him after his first drink, youll get another.

Was his dad abusive? No, he says firmly. My father was a remarkable and powerful and beautiful guy who self-medicated with alcohol ... But he was by no means an abusive or stumble-bum or knee-walking or ditch-sleeping drunk.

Still, an unpredictable parent is rarely a recipe for a stable adulthood. Sure, he says. But complacent happiness is not a gift of the gods, either.

Taylor began playing guitar in his teens, strumming along to his parents record collection: Harry Belafonte, Nina Simone, Judy Garland, Lead Belly. Fingerpicking became his vernacular as much as his lyrics. His first big hit, Fire and Rain, about the suicide of a friend, includes the themes that came to define his songwriting the precarity of our emotional lives, happiness as something to be treasured and the natural worlds capacity for renewal. The line Ive seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, prompted Carole King to write Youve Got a Friend for him in response.

It was during high school that he and his family began to unravel. He was admitted to the McLean psychiatric hospital at 16 with what we would now probably call depression and anxiety, staying there for nine months. Two of his siblings followed him there. When I jumped the tracks and went to McLean, its like they thought: Yeah, thats right, we need this help. It became an option.

When Taylor left hospital, the fund set aside for his university tuition had been spent on his treatment and he decided to go to New York to pursue music. He formed a band, the Flying Machine, and developed a heroin habit. To be able to take a juice that solves your internal stress ... he trails off. One of the signs that you have an addiction problem is how well it works for you at the very beginning. Its the thing that makes you say: Damn, I like my life now. Thats when you know you shouldnt do it again. His wasnt the addiction of rock mythology, chaotic and glamourised. Taylor says mostly he used the drug to get normal.

One day, his father called him in New York. He said: James, you dont sound too good. I wasnt. Taylor was strung out, broke and still very unwell. His dad drove through the night, arriving at his West Side apartment the next day. Its a cynical thing, he says. But, you know, a mother really has to be there. But a father? Well, you can construct a father out of a few good episodes. It was on that long drive home that his father warned him opiates were like kryptonite to the Taylors. As a kid, his uncle said to him: If youre a Taylor and you touch an opiate, youre finished. You can just kiss your entire life goodbye. His fathers family had owned a sanatorium, the Broadoaks asylum in Morganton, North Carolina. After the civil war, there was a huge opiate problem. A lot of the business in the sanatorium was treating addiction a lot of mental health problems were secretly addiction problems, he says.

Taylor boarded a flight to London shortly after New Years Day 1968. His friend had given him the number of Peter Asher, the brother of McCartneys then girlfriend Jane Asher; he had just been hired as a talent scout for the Beatles new label. Asher liked Taylors demo and arranged an audition with McCartney and Harrison. I was very nervous. But I was also, you know, on fire, he laughs. In my sort of mellow, sensitive way. He played his song Something In the Way She Moves (a line Harrison pinched for the opening line of his song Something) and they signed him then and there to make his eponymous first album. At the time, the Beatles were making the White Album. We intersected in the studio a lot, says Taylor. They were leaving as I was coming in. I often came in early and would sit in the control room and listen to them recording and hear playbacks of what they had just cut. Did you hang out together? Yeah, he says. I ask if the band was unravelling by that point. Well, it was a slow unraveling, but it was also an extremely creative unravelling.

Heroin and other opiates were very available and very cheap in London at the time. I picked up pretty soon after I got here, he says. I started by he pauses. I shouldnt go into this kind of stuff. Its not an AA meeting. Then he continues. But you used to be able to buy something called Collis Brownes Chlorodyne, which was an old-fashioned medication. Essentially, it was a tincture of opium, so youd drink a couple of bottles and you could take the edge off. Was it hard to kick the habit, given the circles he was moving in? Well, I was a bad influence to be around the Beatles at that time, too. Why? Because I gave John opiates. Did you introduce him to them? I dont know, he says. Lennon, by many accounts, picked up a heroin habit in 1968 that contributed to an unhealable rift in the band.

A year later, after being released from his Apple contract, Taylor went to a rehab facility and moved to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, a deep-green crease that runs through the Hollywood Hills which was becoming a haven for the young, politically aware and creative. It was, he says, a rare instance where something heralded as a golden age really was one. A new generation of singer-songwriters came up through the Troubadour nightclub, their work focusing on the internal and domestic, and borrowing from the roots of American song: country, bluegrass, folk.

It really was a perfect moment, that Laurel Canyon period, Taylor says. Carole lived up there, Joni and I lived in her house there for the better part of a year. The record companies were relatively benign and there were people in them who cared about the music and the artists it hadnt become a corporate monolith yet. There was a sense of there being a community: myself, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Crosby, Stills and Nash. David Geffen was in the mix a lot. Linda Ronstadt, Peter Asher, Harry Nilsson. You know, it was pretty much what they say. Things really worked well.

While in rehab, he had written most of the songs for his second album, his breakout, Sweet Baby James. He enlisted King to play keyboard; he then played on her 1971 album Tapestry. His relationship with Mitchell lasted a year, much of it on the road: she was composing the songs for her classic album Blue he, meanwhile, was writing his third album, Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, including the gorgeous You Can Close Your Eyes, written for her. But behind the scenes, their relationship was struggling. As Taylors career took off, his addiction dragged him down again. Mitchell mourned their split on her album For the Roses in the song Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire, a devastating eyewitness account of a person bashing in veins for peace. I ask Taylor if he is able to listen to Mitchells music from that time. Blue, oh yes, he says. And she sings so beautifully on my songs. What about Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire? He goes quiet. Its not like listening to me, he whispers.

What is it like? He hangs his head for some time, silent. Im not able to listen to it, he says.

I ask if hes still in touch with Mitchell and his face lights up for the first time. Weve continued to have a friendship and, well, I recently sort of re-engaged with Joni, and thats been wonderful. She came to a show of mine recently, at the Hollywood Bowl, which was an unusual thing for her to do. Mitchell has been recovering from a period of ill health after a brain aneurysm in 2015. But shes recovering, shes coming back which is an amazing thing to be able to do and I wonder what she has to tell us about that. When you say coming back does he mean shes making music? Yes, I think shes coming back musically ... Its amazing to see her come back to the surface.

Taylor has four children: two with his first wife, Carly Simon, whom he married in 1972. And two with his third wife, Kim Smedvig, whom he married in 2001. Given the experience with his own dad, is he critical of himself as a father? God, yes, definitely, he says. You know, my kids actually say to me: Youre not your dad, you know? You can relax. Youre in no danger of repeating it again. For one thing, youre sober, and for another thing youre here and paying attention. He was 26 when he married Simon, who was four years his senior. He talks about their marriage very rarely. But she devoted most of her 2015 memoir to unpicking it. I was very young, he says. And I would be an addict for another 10 years. I mean, you marry an addict, you just have no idea who this person is, and he doesnt have any idea who he is either. Its terrible.

In 1983, Taylor got sober, attending AA. But it is an ongoing process, getting clean. He took methadone to address his heroin usage, and that became a powerful addiction in itself. It really lives in your bones; I mean, it just takes for ever to get over it. It helped to see addiction as a physical disease, too. Youve trained your body to accept a substance when you feel stress, but that help doesnt last for ever. It has a negative progression. Thats the only reason people get better. And so youre left with a feeling that when you encounter stress, you feel it physically, and it feels like withdrawing. Its a nasty way to feel. And the only advice I give to people who are recovering from addiction is that physical exercise is the only antidote to feeling like you cant stand being in your own skin. Is that how it feels? Its terrible. Its like you dont want to be here, he says, motioning to his body. But in here is where you live. For 15 years, Taylor exercised for hours every day: running and rowing. It set me free, he says.

He hopes this year to perform to help get out the vote ahead of the US presidential election. He met Donald Trump once, in an airport. I just thought of him as a frivolous, minor player. It drives me crazy how unworthy he is of our attention and how much of it he has. He is rooting for the Democratic candidates Deval Patrick and Elizabeth Warren both from Massachusetts, where he now lives. But at this point, Id be happy to see pretty much anyone in the bar is so low. Because the very worst person possible that you could think to be heading the thing is there. Its like the Confederacy has won the civil war.

As the interview ends, Taylor gets up and shakes my hand. I thank him for his honesty, and tell him his experiences and the thoughtful way he talks about recovery are doubtless helpful to other addicts. He leaves the room, comes back and shakes my hand again. Then he leans in and gives me a long, warm embrace, before heading off to be photographed, walking into the light again.

James Taylors new album American Standard (Fantasy Records) is released on 28 February

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I was a bad influence on the Beatles': James Taylor on Lennon, love and recovery - The Guardian

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas (V.M.)

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California (J.L.M.)

Durham VA Healthcare System and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (C.S.U.)

John D. Dingell VA Sleep Wake Disorders Center and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan (S.C.)

U.S. Army SAMHS Sleep Medicine Service, San Antonio, Texas, and Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (M.S.B.)

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center/Defense Health Agency, Bethesda, Maryland (C.S.)

Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC (J.S.)

Financial Support: By the Durham Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (CIN-13-410) at the Durham VA Healthcare System.

Disclosures: Dr. Mysliwiec reports personal fees from CPAP Medical outside the submitted work. Dr. Martin reports serving as a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Authors not named here have disclosed no conflicts of interest. Disclosures can also be viewed at http://www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M19-3575.

Editors' Disclosures: Christine Laine, MD, MPH, Editor in Chief, reports that her spouse has stock options/holdings with Targeted Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Darren B. Taichman, MD, PhD, Executive Editor, reports that he has no financial relationships or interests to disclose. Cynthia D. Mulrow, MD, MSc, Senior Deputy Editor, reports that she has no relationships or interests to disclose. Jaya K. Rao, MD, MHS, Deputy Editor, reports that she has stock holdings/options in Eli Lilly and Pfizer. Christina C. Wee, MD, MPH, Deputy Editor, reports employment with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Sankey V. Williams, MD, Deputy Editor, reports that he has no financial relationships or interests to disclose. Yu-Xiao Yang, MD, MSCE, Deputy Editor, reports that he has no financial relationships or interest to disclose.

Corresponding Author: James Sall, PhD, Department of Veterans Affairs, 811 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420.

Current Author Addresses: Dr. Mysliwiec: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7747, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900.

Dr. Martin: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, VA Sepulveda GRECC, 16111 Plummer Street (11E), North Hills, CA 91343.

Dr. Ulmer: Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) (152), Durham VA Healthcare System, 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705.

Dr. Chowdhuri: John D. Dingell VA Sleep Wake Disorders Center, Medical Service, 4646 John R Street (11M), Detroit, MI 48201.

Dr. Brock: U.S. Air Force SAMHS Sleep Medicine Service, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, 1100 Wilford Hall Loop, Lackland AFB, TX 78236.

Dr. Spevak: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center/Defense Health Agency, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889.

Dr. Sall: Evidence-Based Practice Program, Office of Quality, Safety and Value (10E2B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 811 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420.

Author Contributions: Conception and design: V. Mysliwiec, J. Martin, C.S. Ulmer, S. Chowdhuri, C. Spevak.

Analysis and interpretation of the data: J. Martin, C.S. Ulmer.

Drafting of the article: V. Mysliwiec, J. Martin, C.S. Ulmer, S. Chowdhuri, M.S. Brock, C. Spevak, J. Sall.

Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: V. Mysliwiec, J. Martin, S. Chowdhuri, M.S. Brock, C. Spevak, J. Sall.

Final approval of the article: V. Mysliwiec, J. Martin, C.S. Ulmer, S. Chowdhuri, M.S. Brock, C. Spevak, J. Sall.

Administrative, technical, or logistic support: M.S. Brock, J. Sall.

Collection and assembly of data: J. Martin, M.S. Brock.

See original here:
Management of Chronic Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Annals of Internal Medicine

by LetsRun.com(Sponsored by HOKA ONE ONE) February 17, 2020

February is Marathon Month on LetsRun.com as the month ends with one of the greatest events on the athletics calendar, the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta. From the contenders, to the dreamers, to the mountain men and women, HOKA ONE ONE has 17 athletes competing at the Trials, andLetsRun.com is partnering with HOKA to profile all of them.We hope these profiles not only show you the cool stories of the people running the Trials, but also help gets you pumped for the Trials, and gives you some advice for your own running.

This content is sponsored content for HOKA, but not approved by them.

Tyler Andrews is one of the most unique runners in the Olympic Marathon Trials. First, he didnt break 18 minutes for 5k in high school. That is something a lot of the womens Trials runners did. Secondly, he does a lot of his training in Quito, Ecuador at 9,300 feet. We did a podcast on Tylers rags to riches story in 2018 which you can find here .

Since then, Tyler has set the 50k world best on the track, won the US 50 mile championships and his training group in Ecuador has gotten even better with a couple of Kenyan runners. Read all about it below.

Tyler training in Quito (via his instagram)

Name/ Nickname: Tyler C. Andrews, Ty, Andrs, Chasqui Blanco

Age: 29

Hometown: West Concord, MA

HS/Yr: Concord Academy, 2008

College/Yr: Tufts University, 2013

Occupation: Athlete, coach, Strive Trips (editors note: a LetsRun.com advertiser) Co-director

Training Group/Coach:Coach Jon Waldron. Ecuador: Kallpa Runners

How did you qualify? I qualified first en-route in the Time To Fly 50K on April 13, 2018 (an attempt to break the 50K world record) w/ 2h18 something. My fastest qualifier during the window was from the 2018 Vermont City Marathon which I won in 21744.

Training shoe: HOKA ONE ONE Clifton

Racing shoe: HOKA ONE ONE Carbon X

One random fact about myself I want people to know:

In 1997, I was diagnosed w/ a bone-marrow/blood disease which kept me out of school for a year and almost took my life; I try to be grateful for having been given a second chance at life, especially when times are tough.

High school: What was your high school claim to fame / PRs?

Tyler training in Quito (photo from STRIVE website)

XC: 1830 5K senior year, 2030 before that. No T&F

College: What was your college claim to fame / PRs?

Something like 429, 1445, 3022. Made D3 Nationals twice (once as an individual in 10,000m in 2012 and once as a team in XC in 2012). Ran a 6707 half marathon at the end of senior spring since I didnt make track nationals which was probably my best time according to conversions and set me up well for longer road races right after college.

Post-college: What are your post college accomlishments/ claim to fame/ PRs?

After graduating from college, I moved to Quito, Ecuador to chase the running dream for just a little longer. Id graduated w/ an engineering degree but wanted to give myself 6-12 months to train for longer road races at altitude and see how it would go. I had a strong first 6 months there, lowering my 10K PR to 2948 and my HM PR to 6548 (converted from a 20K time). Id been running significantly higher mileage (over 140 MPW) and clearly was responding well to that and the altitude.

I made my marathon debut the following spring at 2014 Boston and ran 2h21 for I believe 29th place; I followed that up with a win at Vermont City Marathon 5 weeks later in 2h20.

From there, I really focused on the marathon and ran my first OTQ (21659) at CIM 2014. Id already been in talks w/ HOKA at that point and things got formalized shortly after that. I ran my first 50K in 2015 at US Nationals and was 2nd which earned me a spot on my first of 3 US National Teams for that distance. In 2016, I finished 2nd at 50K Worlds and helped team USA to the team gold.

In 2018, I made an attempt at the 50K World Record and came up short, but ran the second fastest time ever by an American: 24606 (which is also a world record for 50km on a track yes, they actually keep tabs on that). Since then, Ive focused more on ultras, requalifying for 50K World Champs in 2019 (which I DNFd due to food poisoning), but then rebounded and ran and won my first 50 Mile at the US 50 Mile Road Champs.

How did you start running?

photo of Tyler by Emmett Scully of Trackster

I really started to care about running as a HS senior in 2007. Id been on the team up to that point but had never once run out of season (we had no track at my HS) and had never broken 2030 for 5K. That year, though, we had a new coach, Jon Waldron (whos still my coach today), and he taught me this lesson which, in retrospect, seems so obvious to be not even worth mentioning: that if you try harder and run more, youll get better. That was really it. I honestly thought that being good at running was kind of like being tall; you either were or you werent. That season, I training moderately and consistently and, sure enough, broke 20, then broke 19 and ended up w/ a HS PR of ~1830. More importantly, though, Id fallen in love w/ this process of self-improvement, this very quantifiable and measurable improvement that I could see every day and week and month. That was really what got under my skin and really lit a fire inside me (to mix metaphors just a bit).

How long have you dreamed of the Trials/Olympics?

Since Feb 14, 2016. I had a terrible race at the 2016 Trials (I had some undiagnosed breathing issues which were exacerbated by the heat) and knew that coming back for 2020 would be hugely important to me both as an athlete and as a person.

What does it mean for you to make the Olympics Trials?

Its an honor and a joy.

Whats your goal for the Trials?

I want to run the best race I can. As Ive been focusing more on the ultra world in the last year, Ive still always known that I have more great marathons in my legs. I think that the hilliness of the ATL course and the fact that Im coming from such a huge background of strength over the past years more ultra-focused training will really play to my advantage. I want to run smart and pass a lot of people in the last 10km.

What do you think of the course?

For someone with my background, Im thrilled with the course. I had a fantastic race at the US 50 mile championships (which I won in my debut at the distance back in October) and that was a VERY hilly race (5150 ft of climbing). That was the first block where Id really prepared specifically for a super hilly course and my body really took to it. I felt totally in my element t in training and on race day. Anything that is going to slow the race down I see as a positive.

How has your training gone in the buildup for the Trials?

So far, things have gone great. I had a solid month of base-building in December in Boston, MA and then came down to Quito, Ecuador where Ive been doing some winter altitude stints the last few years. I train w/ a group here thats part of Ecuadors Olympic Development Program and respond really well to the altitude (9300 ft). Its a perfect place for me where I can do really hilly long runs, get my ass kicked on the track by guys who are much faster than me, and generally enjoy the training camp focused vibe.

How long was your buildup?

I won the US 50 mile road champs at the end of October and took a few weeks off before beginning my build-up. By Thanksgiving, I won my hometown turkey trot in ~1520, so that was probably the beginning of really starting to train. So, all in all, itll be about 3 months, but Im definitely building off of the strength of the ultra block I put in last summer and fall.

What was your highest mileage week? Your average week?

So far, my highest 7 days was about 150 miles (because I had two long runs in 7 days). The 3-week block I just put in averaged 131 miles per week. The next 3 weeks (editors note: This training part of the interview with Tyler was done in late January) will probably be right around there or a tick higher. Ive been much higher in the past (160+), but am more focused on speed right now as Im coming from such a strength background. And 130 MPW at 9300 ft feels like a good balance between putting in solid volume w/o compromising the track and fartlek days.

What is your favorite workout?

Right now, Ive actually really enjoyed getting back on the track with my team down here. Im always a fan of having training partners who are better than me and can push me and that has definitely been the case with this group. Not only am I coming off a 50-miler, but these guys are just way faster. We have 2 Kenyan runners who have run 2h08/61, plus some Ecuadorians and Venezuelans who are absolute beasts at altitude. This past week we did 6x1K, 6x400m; I think I averaged just under 300 for the Ks and 66s for the 400s which, for me at this altitude, is really solid. Miguel, the best runner in our group who was on the 2016 Olympic team for Ecuador, was giving us like 5 seconds head start on all those Ks. Dude is fit.

How much sleep do you get a night?

Tyler having some fun in Ecuador (photo by Emmett Scully of Trackster)

A lot. Especially when Im building up volume and in a really big block like I am now. Im a big believer in naps I try to nap almost every day, or at least lie down in bed and read. At night, I try to sleep at least 9 hours per night and sometimes as much as 11 if Im really beat.

We hear thatthat the people who captured Parker Stinsons Endure series have been filming you in Ecuador. Whats the purpose of the film and when will it be coming out?

Emmett Scully of Trackster (the same people who made the Parker Stinson series) got in touch w/ me back in the fall as Im friends w/ Parker and he recommended we connect as a very different kind of story to tell (from Parkers). He came down here to Quito, Ecuador for a couple weeks in January to basically just follow us around and tell our story. One of the things we did that week was put up a big new trail-run FKT (Fastest Known Time) in the mountains next to the city. There will be 4 or 5 videos total in the series and the first one documents that FKT and just came out today (I believe part 2 will be released tomorrow). Heres a link to part 1:

In terms of the purpose, I think the purpose is to give people insight into a pretty unique training style and environment. Other than Walmsley, Im probably one of the few people doing 6+ hour trail runs through high altitude (14,000+ ft) mountains in prep for the trials. But then, we also put in real work on the track w/ a bunch of 28/2h08 guys. Well do fartleks, faster intervals, etc. and run well under 300/km pace which is quick up here at 9,000+ ft. So, its a really interesting balance right now, especially as Im kind of straddling the worlds of marathon and ultra-(trail).

Sounds like your training group in Ecuador is continuing to get bigger? How did 2 Kenyans guys end up in Ecuador training?

Yes its grown. Basically the group that I used to train w/ under coach Franklin Tenorio (2h10 PR from the early 00s) merged w/ another group and is now training under coach Fredy Moposita. This merge basically brought together all of the best athletes in the Quito area, so now we have guys like Miguel Almachi (who is way better than his 2h15 PR and has been on at least on Olympic team) and also the Kenyan squad from Fredys original group, who have run 2h08 and 61 (at altitude). I honestly dont know their full names (just know them as David and Geoffrey), but I can find them if you want to fact-check/include it. And then Ive brought some of my own crew down. I had Anna Mae Flynn whos a fellow HOKA athlete and ultra-trail runner (she won the Lake Sanoma 50M and Speedgoat 50K in 2019) here in January and then two of my friends David Wilder and Matt Weickert are here in the Casa Chasqui (runners house) and we run together quite a bit as well. So, its a great international mix of friends from the US, friends from down here, and new faces. Definitely a strong group now.

What one piece of advice would you give to a high school/ younger runner?

Be patient, love the sport. Running is a life-long sport (if you want it to be) and you should find what you love about it. Maybe thats being on a team and having that social aspect, maybe its really internal and all about pushing yourself, maybe its some combination of lots of different things. But find the things that make running fun, joyful, and find ways to keep doing those. Dont let anyone else decide your path.

What one piece of advice would you give to a first-time marathoner?

Be patient (again!). Dont try anything new on race day.

What is the #1 piece of training advice youd give another runner?

Figure out what it is that you love about running, what it is that motivates you. Look internally; if the only thing thats driving you is beating someone or hitting some arbitrary time goal, thatll only take you so far. Theres always someone else to beat. Theres always another barrier to break. Find the love in the process, the day-to-day, that gets you out the door in the morning.

What one piece of advice would you give to a runner pursuing their dreams?

Dont let other people or conventional wisdom tell you what you can and cant do. I was an 1830 runner in HS and had absolutely no business thinking about the Olympic Marathon Trials (according to conventional wisdom). Even as a 1445 guy in college, I was still way off. But my coach (Jon Waldron) never told me I couldnt do something, never told me I could keep getting better. Yes, of course, be realistic w/ your goals. It wouldnt have been smart for me to be dreaming of Olympic Gold as that 1830 or even 1445 guy (or even now as a 2h15 guy). But dont write off goals completely; try to find intermediate steps and focus on those. One step at a time.

How do you balance training and working?

I work as an administrator for Strive Trips (editors note: an advertiser on LetsRun.com) in addition to having a pro contract with HOKA. Im a co-owner and extremely lucky to have a job where I can more or less schedule my own hours, work from my couch in my running clothes, etc. I have nothing but amazement and respect for the runners that fit their training and recovery around a 40+ hour work week, commuting, parenting, etc. I feel extremely blessed and grateful for the freedom I have in my life and the ability its given me to train and race.

Tyler training in Ecuador (photo by Emmett Scully of Trackster)

What would you be doing if you werent a pro runner?

Man, good question. Probably something not that different except Id be working more and running less. I did get a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Astrophysics in college, so I could see myself going into science if I hadnt gotten signed, but at this point, Im so deep in the running world that I likely see myself staying involved in some capacity for the rest of my career.

What is your favorite running memory?

Honestly, its not necessarily any particular great race or workout or anything. My favorite memories (Im cheating; I know) are those with friends and family that I love and care about. Its the Team USA trips, the races Ive run together w/ my best friends and training partners, the races for which my family has come out to cheer. This USOT will combine a lot of those, so Im confident itll be pretty special.

Who inspired you as a runner as a kid?

I didnt start to follow the sport until my senior year of HS when I went full-in. Up until that point, I really didnt care about running at all and had no idea how fast pro runners ran. I distinctly remember a friend of my HS coachs coming to talk to our team and hearing that he had run 4730 for 10 miles and doing some quick math and realizing that meant hed run 445 mile pace for 10 miles. This totally blew my mind until my teammate (who was more into the sport) explained to me that the marathon WR was faster than that. I think that was the first moment I realized how far up the sport went. That happened in 2007, so I remember being really inspired by the Olympic Marathon Trials in NYC that year, watching Ryan Hall win, and then beginning to get more into the sport. Haile G was definitely an early favorite as well.

What is your race day routine?

As Ive gotten older, Ive tried to be more flexible and not get shaken up when the race-day routine isnt perfect. That said, assuming I have control, I do still have a routine Id try to follow. It would look something like this:

T-3 hours: Wake up, have coffee, have a light breakfast (usually a granola bar), relax

T-1 hour: Be at the start

T-40-50 min (depending on race/warmup distance): Light jog of 10-20

T-20 min: drills, strides, get to the line

Probably nothing magical or at all unique there. Basically exactly what everyone else does and what I do before every workout.

Why do you run?

I run because I love it. I love pushing myself, testing my limits physically and mentally. I love racing and competing. I love the monastic simplicity of training. I love the community that running has given me. I love the world-wide travel that Ive been fortunate enough to experience because of running. I know that even if I werent running professionally, Id still be running in some capacity as its simply become a part of who I am.

Anything else you want to share?

I love that youre highlighting the smaller players in the sport. Ive always been a fan of the sport first and an athlete second and I personally love reading about the guys who might not be winning majors but are out there grinding nonetheless.

PS Ive been really enjoying the podcast the last few months. Its a great companion for a solo runs. I love listening to Gault and you guys bicker. Keep it up.

More on Tyler: Heres our LetsRun.com story and podcast with him from 2019.

This content is sponsored content for HOKA, but not approved by them.

Previous HOKA ONE ONE Takes On The Trials Stories: *HOKA NAZ Elite Coach Ben Rosario Talks 2020 Marathon Trials Expectations, Shoe Technology, Jim Walmsley, & Even Galen Rupp

*HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #6:Clinical Cancer Rearcher Manager Liza ReichertWho says you cant be an Olympic Marathon Trails qualifier and have a very important job? Meet Liza Reichert. *HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #5:Texan and US Mountain Team Member David FuentesMeet the two-time Trials qualifier who has never broken 2:20 in a marathon. Will the hills of Atlanta result in a big breakthrough for this US Mountain team member? Not only does he work a full-time job, he also has acool side hustle. *HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #4:Swarnjit Boyals: Incredible US Olympic Trials StoryLearn how Boyalhas progressed from being cut twice in college, to being a walkon, to a conference champion, and now a US Olympic Trials qualifier. *HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #3:Meet Addi Zerrenner The Trials Qualifier Who Taped a Picture of Shalane Flanagan on Her Wall in High SchoolDuring her 1st week of HS track practice, Zerrener was told she ran like Shalane Flanagan and shes been hooked ever since. *HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #2:Former US Marathon Champ Sergio Reyes Ready to Excel at Possibly His Final Trials at Age 38How many 38 year olds do you know that run up to 140 mpw. *HOKA ONE ONE Trials Athlete Of The Day #1:2007 Foot Locker Champ Ashley BrasovanIn HS, she beatJordan Hasayto win the crown and later was told by doctors she would never run again, let alone compete, after being diagnosed with osteoporosis and having 4 femoral stress fractures. Yet shes become a professional trail runner and 2X Olympic Marathon trials qualifier. *Introduction:HOKA ONE ONE Is Ready To Take On The Marathon Trials

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Tyler Andrews - The Male Trials Runner Who Didn't Break 18 Minutes in High School Who Now Trains with Kenyans in Ecuador - LetsRun.com

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The 92nd Academy Awards was a night of historic wins as the South Korean thriller, Parasite took home four golden statues, including the coveted Best Picture, making it the first foreign-language film to accomplish such a feat.

This years Oscars was a win for diversity, making its mark in the history books; it is arguably the most memorable Oscars in recent years. However, there is still room for improvement in the repeatedly white-washed and male-dominated ceremony which yet again saw no women nominated for Best Director.

Important wins of the night include indigenous New Zealander Taika Waititi who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his Nazi satire, Jojo Rabbit, dedicating his speech to indigenous kids around the world. Hair Love, which is about a father who has to style his African-American daughters hair for the first time, won Best Animated Short Film. And the composer of Joker, Hildur Gunadttir, became the first woman in 23 years to win an Oscar for Best Score only three other women have won before her. Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, also took home Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film.

Despite there being a phenomenal female director pool from Greta Gerwigs Little Women to Lulu Wangs The Farewell, the academy once again overlooked the achievement of women. Only five women have ever been nominated for the spot in the academys 92-year history and Kathryn Bigelow was the only woman to win Best Director in 2010 for the war drama film, The Hurt Locker.

Its appalling that within the Oscars long history they have been unable to nominate a sufficient amount of female directors who have made remarkable films. Each year it becomes more confusing and maddening, when the Oscars dismiss bold and empowering films by female directors for often violent and sexualized films by men. By not recognizing female directors, the Oscars are sending the message that their artistry is irrelevant and doesnt matter. It is crucial that young girls look up and feel inspired by women in film, not the same brutal films like Joker and No Country For Old Men.

However, as men of color, Bong and Waititi still deserve to be celebrated for their monumental wins and shouldnt be minimalized. But considering the academys usual tendencies, it is shocking they were able to recognize a foreign film before female directors. At future Oscar ceremonies I would like to see both women and people of color being nominated for their accomplishments.

Parasites wins are not only a victory for the predominantly Asian cast, but for all international cinema. This groundbreaking film is a gamechanger for Hollywood. It will change the way foreign films are distributed, funded and viewed, starting a new era in cinema. Filmmakers and distributors should be racing to get non-English films out the door after this films triumph.

The South Korean film won a slew of prestigious awards that set it on its path to win Best Picture. Prior to the 2020 Oscars, Parasite was awarded the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival last May and had big earnings at the box-office, making $165 million worldwide and a projected surge following its win.

Earlier this year, the film also won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. The films director gave a candid speech via his translator, urging audiences to embrace subtitles.

Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films, said Bong.

Its a valid argument. Foreign-language films shouldnt deter audiences from enjoying their creativity and message. Subtitles can be perceived as a barrier but its something that needs to be overcome. More audiences need to be pushed outside of their comfort zone and be exposed to international films instead of remaking or dubbing them.

However, Im worried the academy will consider Parasites win enough for foreign films and revert back to honoring white-washed American films. The Academy Awards are an international affair and should continue honoring a wide array of films, not just within the International Feature Film category.

Last year, Green Book was awarded Best Picture. It was a controversial film that was commonly perceived as the academys feel good pick. The film is about the relationship between an African-American pianist and his Italian-American driver in an era of segregation; it has been criticized as a film by white people for white people to self-congratulate themselves.

Its surprising to see the Best Picture award go from the poorly executed Green Book to the revolutionary Parasite however, audiences and the academy need to start embracing unconventional films. Parasites win will pave the way for foreign films, making audiences more interested, and streaming platforms more willing to adopt subtitled content. Theres a whole cinematic world beyond English speaking films.

Parasites epic win is a turning point for the Oscars but with the academy becoming more diverse, women still need to break that glass ceiling. Hopefully we can see this at next years ceremony and beyond.

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A win for diversity with room to improve - The Suffolk Journal

I m trying to remember the first time I enjoyed shopping. Not having a new thing, or spending money, but shopping. Im thinking of a Chennai bookstore called Odyssey, where my parents took me on the occasional Sunday afternoon through my childhood, left me to roam through an unfolding universe of childrens books. Im specifically remembering, right now, how it felt to stand in the stationery aisle on the evening before the first day of a new school year.

Im nine years old, running my fingers across shelves of highlighters and sketch pen sets, deliberating with utmost seriousness between this pen-pencil and that, cooling my small palms on the steel lids of geometry boxes. I remember: the thrill wasnt in taking home a new highlighter or multi-coloured pen. The joy peaked right there in that aisle, feeling through the possibilities for who I could be in the coming year. A person who highlights? A person who takes notes in different colours?

CHAD CROWE

Of course, no amount of pleading with my parents worked. I brought home the basics. And anyway, no amount of money sunk into elaborate stationery could possibly make me any of those people. To this day, post-its and coloured pens (now impulsively purchased with my own money) run dry in my home as I scribble notes in book margins with my singular black Pilot pen.

But if not more colourful note-taking, another lifelong habit took hold in that stationery aisle: browsing through potential better selves by browsing through products. Now I feel the same thrill in home decor and appliance stores. Could this blender make me a person who starts her days at dawn and with spinach smoothies? Or this polka-dotted ceramic waterer is it the missing link between who I am now and the type of person Id like to be, who owns cute gardening tools and keeps houseplants alive? Im a pro now at letting the possibility of a purchase carry the promise of a wholly transformed self. I was born the year India opened its economy to foreign brands and Indias advertisers were tasked with building a poor nations appetite for acquiring new, non-essential things. By age eight or nine, Id been around enough ads, on TV, on billboards, to have fallen for the basic logic of advertising the way to Be A Better Person is to Have Better Things. To be smarter, eat a better breakfast cereal. To be more adventurous, get a bigger car. For luck in love, this deodorant and that fairness cream will do the trick. To strive for self-improvement is as human as it gets and as I grew up, the linkage of self-improvement with product acquisition grew thick in the air around me, where it still hangs now, thicker than ever.

While our grandparents were barely marketed to at all, and our parents only when they turned on a radio or TV or opened a newspaper, my generation and I carry our sources of targeted, individualised advertising everywhere in our pockets with us. They come with us into bed. All we have to do is roll over and, still half-asleep, open our email or message inboxes to be propositioned by brands. My last two SMSes are from a makeup retailer and a pizza place. Advertising closely follows entertainment and nobody has ever been as entertained as we are. Open TikTok or Instagram and, within seconds, youll be told by a celebrity or influencer that you need this face-pack to clear your blemishes and that meditation app to optimise your mind. (It cant be coincidence that the vocabulary of entertainment perfectly mirrors capitalist imperatives: content is produced and consumed.)

Im nervous that even when we resist following them to needless purchases, seeing ads all day comes at a cost. Ads get you to click add to cart by first convincing you that your life without the product in question is lacking. Never before has a whole generation been told so regularly, nor in such insidious ways, that our lives are lacking.

Ads create an illusion that some Perfect Life exists perfect skin, perfect vacations, perfect romance, perfect joy and insist that the secret to attaining such perfection is buying new things. We end up finding our own real lives, messy and greasy and imperfect as they are, intolerable. And rather than focusing on the real labours involved in finding contentment reflection, solitude, authenticity, love we shop, are left poorer and poised again to fail.

I want to guard my psyche against these attacks. Im not yet sure how. Like everyone else my age, I settle for sharing memes about self-loathing and generalised anxiety. Like other young women on Instagram, I issue strict public instructions to myself and the world to love yourself and be yourself feeble defences against the capitalist regime I grew up in, whose ubiquitous mandate is improve yourself by buying this thing. As long as were seeing images of other peoples joy, well be tempted to mimic it by buying what they have. As long as our buying keeps national and international economies churning, well be inundated with images of other peoples joy, left dully questioning our own. Reminded regularly, on perfectly good days, of blemishes that need removing and teeth that could, I suppose, be whiter, now that you mention it.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

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When clicking add to cart still cant make your life perfect - Economic Times

Being cut from a sports team can be one of the most devastating events in a youth's life.

If being told they're not good enough isn't painful already, many youths feel angry, embarrassed and confused with their feelings and how they should process the news about being deselected. Being cut can be humbling, and it can lead to pessimistic thoughts about trying out for the team again in the future -- or any sports team, for that matter.

The process of being cut

Being "cut" is the slang term used for when a student athlete is deselected from a sports team. Usually, the reason a student is cut from a team has to do with lacking sport skills, but other reasons could relate to being academically ineligible, physically injured and unable to play, or perhaps the toughest reason of all, "politics." Regardless of why a student gets cut from a team, it's safe to assume the vast majority of them were not anticipating being cut, and even fewer will be unaffected in a negative way from the news.

There are differences in the ways in which coaches deliver the news of being cut, from simply taping a list on the coach's office door to more sensitive measures that include delivering the news to youths privately. The net result, regardless of how the news is delivered, is that youths who are cut will need to face the reality that for this upcoming season, they will not be a part of the team or be around their teammates. As you can imagine, this is often really heavy stuff for them to work through and rebound from moving forward.

What you can do

Although it is true that when a youth gets cut from a sports team, it's an intimate experience that only the individual can experience and process. Still, family, friends and even coaches can help by using the following tips:

Talk frankly, but show sensitivity. When talking to youths who have been cut, it's OK to talk about the experience openly and honestly. Remind them that this is just one of the many hurdles and challenges they will face in life but also allow a shoulder to lean on when needed. You might also use the expression, "it's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up," as you discuss the value of resiliency and perseverance.

Reflect using an internal locus of control. Try to prevent youths from finger-pointing and calling out "politics" as the reason they were cut from the team. Rather than spending time blaming the coach (and others), try to instead encourage them to look inward and ask powerful questions like "What could I have done better?" "What are my areas of weakness that need improved?" "How can I come back again next time and perform better?"

Solicit feedback. Although it might not be a pleasant thought, youths who follow up with the coach to learn where they fell short often receive invaluable feedback that can be used to set future goals. Steer clear of pointing at other athletes and making comparisons and instead simply seek to learn what you can do for future self-improvement.

Set goals. As you receive feedback from the coaches, put that information into action with new goals that are specific, measurable and controllable.

Final thoughts

Being cut from a sports team is never fun, but it can be an invaluable learning experience that can lead to future success. Try to avoid assuming "politics" were to blame and instead learn the specific areas that need improved for the next time there are tryouts. And finally, it's important to remember that many great athletes -- including Michael Jordan -- were once cut from sports teams, making it important to stay positive and optimistic for future success.

Dr. Chris Stankovich is the founder of Advanced Human Performance Systems, an athletic counseling and human performance enhancement center. Sports parents, please check out The Parents Video Playbook and sports counseling services at drstankovich.com.

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Sports Doc: Tips to help youths handle getting cut from team - ThisWeek Community News