With the Jacksonville Jaguars fully geared up to move forward in 2020 and try to put a dissapointing 2019 behind them, it is time to review last season and what it could mean moving forward.

The Jaguars' 6-10 record in 2019 was the result of issues and, in many cases, regression on each side of the ball, but one area of the team that improved compared to 2018 was the rushing offense.

After the Jaguars' ended 2018 ranked 19th in rushing hards and 26th in yards per rush attempt, and these figures jumped to 17th and 15th in 2019. The team only scored three rushing touchdowns, but the running game was instrumental in a number of victories (Week 4 vs. the Denver Broncos, Week 7 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals).

Third-year running back and former No. 4 overall pick Leonard Fournette had one of the better seasons of his career during a rejuvenated 2019, while rookies Ryquell Armstead and Devine Ozigbo provided depth behind him and got their chances to carry the rushing offense in Week 17.

In reviewing the 2019 performance of each running back, it leads to a few observations for the group's outlook in 2020 under new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.

Leonard Fournette

2019 was a season of new highs for Leonard Fournette, a third-year running back who had a lot to prove to enter the season. He played in the most regular season games of his career (15) and set career-highs in rushing yards (1,152), first downs rushed for (55), yards per attempt (4.3), receptions (76) and receiving yards (522). He also showed great improvement as a pass-blocker, displaying physicality and awareness in blitz pickups that wasn't always present in his game.

Fournette only scored three touchdowns, the fewest amount in his career, but this was largely due to inconsistency along the offensive line and a poor red-zone offense.

The veteran running back's most impressive stretch of the season came from Weeks 4 to 7, when he rushed 101 times for 536 yards (5.31 yards per carry), a period where he rushed for over 100 yards three times and set a single-game career-high in rushing yards with 225.

Thanks to his improved durability, the offense was centered around Fournette for the vast majority of the season, playing 83% of the team's offensive snaps, one of the highest usage rates on the team.

Fournette's rushing production faltered in the second half of the season, not rushing for 100 yards in any of the final nine games and recording less than 70 rushing yards in five of the final eight games of the season. While he improved in nearly every facet of his game as a rusher, including better moves in open space, vision, elusiveness, and ability to run after contact, Fournette still failed to find the end zone enough to earn him any honors such as the Pro Bowl.

He still has a few areas of his game he needs to work on, such as finishing long runs and removing the tendency of cutting runs back when there is no room, which leads to big losses of yards, but the improvement he showed in 2019 indicates he has the ability to continue to build upon his game the self-awareness to know he has to do so.

Ryquell Armstead

Jacksonville's fifth-round draft pick in 2019 (140th overall), Ryquell Armstead didn't get many chances to show what he could do due to Fournette's work-rate, but the rookie out of Temple did impress at times.

Playing only 150 snaps (14% of the team's offensive snaps) despite being active for all 16 games, Armstead fell victim to Fournette's role in the offense. He recorded more than three carries in only three games, with his best game coming vs. Denver in Week 4 (Eight rushes for 42 yards). Overall, he totaled 35 carries for 108 yards (3.1 yards per carry average) and 14 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

As a runner, Armstead displayed an aggressive downhill mentality, willing to run behind his pads and not shy away from contact. He had issues with his vision and overall patience in 2019, but he displayed more positives than negatives considering he only got a few carries here and there.

Where Armstead really shined was as a pass-catcher. His two receiving scores were the only receiving touchdowns by Jaguars running backs in 2020, and he displayed traits to indicate he could be an effective change of pace running back moving forward. He had solid hands, a good feel for space, burst after the catch, and natural ability to make plays when targeted. Each of his touchdowns was the result of good awareness and route-running, two things that will help him immensely moving forward.

Armstead had modest running numbers in the only game he started in 2019 (Week 17 vs. the Indianapolis Colts), rushing 10 times for 33 yards, but he shined as a receiver, catching five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.

It remains to be seen how Armstead would perform if the Jaguars had to lean upon him because the Jaguars never had to depend on him to carry the running game for a long stretch in 2019. He did, however, do enough to earn some confidence moving into his sophomore season.

Devine Ozigbo

An undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2019, the Jaguars signed Devine Ozigbo after he was cut by the New Orleans Saints before the season began.

Like Armstead, Ozigbo didn't get much playing time due to Fournette's place in the offense. He appeared in 10 games but played only 29 offensive snaps, with 23 of those snaps coming in Week 17. Ozigbo recorded only nine carries for 27 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and three catches for 23 yards, but all of those came in Week 17 as well.

Ozigbo showed impressive athleticism, hands, and instincts in his limited snaps, but the sample size was so small that it is hard to project Ozigbo or his role in the offense moving forward.

Overall

Moving forward, the Jaguars have an interesting and youthful running backs room but it is largely unproven. Armstead and Ozigbo weren't given enough chances in 2019 to make much of a name for themselves, though they did have encouraging flashes in Week 17. Fournette is once again projected to be the offense's workhorse under Gruden, though it remains to be seen if he plays the same large role that he did last year.

When looking at the Jaguars' running backs group, it is clear the Jaguars are missing a true passing-down back, though Armstead has the potential to develop into the kind of player. Expect for the Jaguars to keep each of their backs but also be open to adding a running back who is a different style of player compared to their current backs.

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Jaguars 2019 Position Review: Leonard Fournette Carries the Load for Improved Running Game - Sports Illustrated

Recently, adventurist and minimalist, Ambi Moorthy, 29, cycled 250 (plus) km across villages in Kumbakonam, Chennai, in a span of three days. He says, What started as a self-indulgent hobby eventually helped me embark on a journey of self-discovery. I bathed at the water bodies on the route, visited temples and churches and sat in silence to admire their stunning architecture. But what I remember most was that every time the local kids would wave at me, or run after my cycle, Id give out a hearty laugh and out of nowhere a sense of peace would engulf me; it was an ineffable feeling, something that I never thought Id ever feel in our mad, mad world even on a holiday.

Transformational travel

Thats what transformational or transformative travel is all about. Its a journey that helps you connect with your soul, a sort of self-reflective, inward-looking voyage of your thoughts, while being away from your home. All over the world, transformational travel packages are being curated because like Moorthy, a lot of people, are looking for vacations that help them get in touch with their own feelings, something thats impossible to do in our daily lives with so many digital interruptions.

Transformational travel could include meditating on a beach in Barbados, backpacking solo through Argentina, doing a soulful chant in Chiang Mai, glamping in a remote part of Manitoba, or simply going on a solo walk, where you have time alone to reflect on your thoughts or words written on a mystery trail that make you think hard, and dig deep into your soul. In 2020, we have moved from experiential travel, where we would just mingle with locals or seek a new thrill. Personal fulfillment, while on a vacation, is now the ultimate luxury.

Travel entrepreneur Aditi Balbir explains why transformational travel is the new buzzword. Everyone wants to escape from global instability, the technological burnout. Its like we dont belong to ourselves anymore. We have lost touch with how we feel, and cannot even figure out half the time why we are anxious, irritated or feel disconnected with everything and almost everyone around us. Theres a sense of urgency in our need to escape these fast-paced lives, and hence we are seeking trips that inspire us, teach us something new, transform us, or just let our minds be still for a while, she says.

In recent times, there has been a dramatic shift when it comes to immersive experiences that foster learning. Now, more than ever, people are calculating their carbon footprints, taking trains when they can and eating local cuisine. Author Rolf Potts writes in her book, Vagabonding, Travel is almost inherently transformational if one embraces its uncertainty. I dont think something called transformational travel that comes with six days of travel, an itinerary and boxed lunches is bad, but when you open yourself up to serendipity and blunders, I think its a much more meaningful experience.

Looking within

Adventure travel expert Milind Bhide believes the big change has been travellers looking for authentic experiences. The Indian traveller is now looking for destinations that they can explore on foot or by cycle. Today, exploring a place has become more

about exploring ourselves. Even in culinary tourism and adventure activities (trekking, mountaineering, cycling and diving), people are looking for ways that can awaken something deep within them that was possibly dormant for a while.

However, transporting oneself to a different location is not transformational in itself; one must consciously seek out experiences that help you dive into the journey of self exploration while you are away from home. Unfortunately, just travelling to Koh Samui and spending all day inside your room wont cut it.

Mindful travel

Every time the local kids would wave at me, or run after my cycle, Id give out a hearty laugh and out of nowhere sense of peace would engulf me

Ambi Moorthy, Adventurist

According to a report by Megatrend, a research firm, the ever-evolving traveller still wants bespoke experiences; but personal fulfillment and self-improvement are now taking precedence Indian travellers are now looking for destinations that they can explore on foot or by cycle. Today, exploring a place has become more about exploring ourselves

Milind Bhide, Travel Expert

The transformative traveller is seeking something that allows one to elevate the tiny moments of life into evolutionary experiences. These experiences provide a deep sense of fulfilment on a highly- personalised level

Nitish Saxena, Travel Entrepreneur

How to create transformational trips

Plan Right: Consciously design the itineraries. In every trip, make sure there is physical activity, time amid nature and cultural immersion.

Get local: Make a point of learning a few words of the local language, asking questions about traditional practices or beliefs, and learning about the people who make the place you are visiting so special.

Head somewhere unexpected: A travel experience thats outside your normal preferences can be a powerful tool to help you get in touch with your inner feelings.

Excerpt from:
A trip to save your soul - Times of India

Perhaps it was the ability to finally mix it with the front of the midfield again, or perhaps it was the arrival of Andreas Seidl and James Key, either way the mood at McLaren was a lot better in 2019 than witnessed during the doom and gloom era of the Honda partnership.

Of course, another factor was the recruitment of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, the pair not only delivering on track but bringing a new sense of fun to a team usually seen as corporate and grey.

While the professionalism of the pair was rarely in doubt, some said that Norris spent a little too much time on social media, claiming that the youngster might have been a little too preoccupied with entertaining fans with jokes and images.

Though he denies this, heading into his second season, the Briton has vowed to be a little more serious... but just a little.

"Things can get portrayed quite differently from what I know and see from doing myself compared to the outside world," he told reporters. "People see me make jokes and whatever and therefore they turn and put a lot of blame and mistakes I do on me having fun, and seeing me look like I'm not focusing compared to other drivers.

"Other drivers don't post funny videos or whatever and therefore critics think that's the reason why I make mistakes sometimes," he continued, "and they put the blame on the fact I have fun and enjoy things more than other people.

"I'm not going to change a lot," he insists, "just small things here and there to make sure I look focused."

"It's quite different being in the world we're in in the paddock from what people see on TV or social media," he added, "things can still look very different. It's just trying to get the balance right and try and put them together as well as possible, how people see me on social media and vice versa."

As part of his 'serious new approach' to the job in hand, the youngster has move home in order to be closer to the team's Woking HQ.

"I have changed places in order to be even closer to McLaren," he said. "I timed it the other day. It took me 3 minutes 20 seconds to get from here to my new place. That's driving within the speed limit.

"It's even more convenient," he added. "I'm closer to the airport and so on. I like everything how it is now.

Reflecting on his rookie season, and what he has learned from it, he said: "There's a lot of things I had to learn, one of the biggest probably being the time and effort you have to put into improving on things.

"There's things I obviously wanted to work on and do better in, you have that, but then it's a lot down to how much time I'm here working with my engineers, or mechanics, or whoever I need to, to work on those problems and limitations and the weaknesses of myself. It's not just spending a day a week and working on it, it's spending two-and-a-half days or three days a week or whatever, or whenever I need to, to focus and improve on those things. Carlos will do the same, and a lot of other drivers do the same.

"It's obvious and easy for me to come into the factory whenever I need to, to work on the things I need to, it's a lot of time and effort to work on those things, and that's something completely different to working on F2 and F3 and other categories really.

"Time and effort of self-improvement is probably one of the biggest things I've had to change."

Check out our McLaren MCL35 gallery, here.

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Norris to be less jokey in second season - pitpass.com

Wellbeing is defined as being 'happy, healthy and comfortable'. These are three simple words that on reflection can give powerful inspiration and direction to anyone wanting to improve their wellbeing.

ike so many things in life, wellbeing is not a destination but a journey. It is an ongoing process that requires regular care and attention.

There is a unique formula for everyone. Physical health is a combination of the right amount and mix of sleep, relaxation, exercise, diet, hydration as well as proper breathing (which happens when the mind is balanced) and positive, resourceful thinking.

There is also mental and emotional health which again have their own general parameters but with a unique formula that will best suit you.

'When we are mentally healthy, we can enjoy all the aspects of our life and relationships more. Good mental health allows us to get the most out of spending time with our families and friends, and it helps us through difficult times'. HSE

Emotional health comes when we focus our attention on what we want in life rather than emotionally engaging with we don't like about ourselves, others and our lives. This does not mean we don't strive to improve things - rather self-improvement is inherently part of your wellbeing. To be fully comfortable in yourself involves continuously working on yourself which we explore more later.

Mental health is also about thinking positively and resourcefully. Enthusiasm for life and motivation come when we are growing and involved in what we are doing.

Happiness comes when what you think, feel, say and do are all in alignment. Happiness comes when you feel part of something bigger than yourself. We feel happy when we help others. It also comes when you are in the zone which happens naturally when you are using your talents and engaged in doing things you love to do or spending time with people you love.

Be comfortable

To be comfortable in your own skin is a big very thing. Learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable is an important part of growth in life. It is easy to be comfortable in your comfort zone. To be comfortable in yourself means to fully accept yourself and your past and present choices. This requires regular reflection and effort.

Some years ago, I went to a very powerful talk with international Welsh rugby union referee, Nigel Owens during which he spoke of how the biggest challenge he has ever faced was to accept himself. The same is true for most of us. Life is a journey with many twists and turns. Sometimes it can be a bit like a game of snakes and ladders. Being comfortable in your own skin through the different twists and can be very demanding - particularly when life is busy, or when we face adversity.

If you are inspired to improve your wellbeing, I have 2 suggestions. Think of something that is stressing you or causing you a lot of discomfort and look at strengthening your ability to handle that - either through solving the problem or developing your competency in that area. For example, if you have to speak publicly as part of your work but often dread it, practice and you will improve and may even learn to enjoy it.

And do something to enhance your positive wellbeing - eat better, drink more water and or improve your relaxation or sleep. A one percent improvement in any area of your life on a daily basis leads to a 3800 % improvement over a year.

Calodagh McCumiskey designs and delivers bespoke wellbeing at work programmes to grow people and companies. She also offers regular meditation classes, personal development workshops and wellbeing consultations to help people thrive. Ph 053 9140655 | emailinfo@spiritualearth.com | Visit http://www.spiritualearth.com

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What does wellbeing mean to you? - Wicklow People

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." This phenomenon observed in the 1930s by the English philosopher Bertrand Russell has a technical name, the Dunning-Krger effect. It refers to the tendency for the worst performers to overestimate their performance, whereas the top performers underestimate their own. The Dunning-Krger paradox has been found in academic and business settings, but what about in the context of psychotherapy? Is it better to have a confident therapist or one with self-doubt?

Unfortunately, psychotherapists' self-assessment is biased, too. When asked to rate their own performances in delivering psychotherapy, therapists tend to overestimate themselves. What's more, in one study, overconfidence was more typical of those therapists who were rated to be less competent by an independent expert rater. In contrast, other studies have found that it's the therapists who rate themselves more negatively who are typically judged the most competent by independent experts.

Inspired by these findings, a recent German study compared therapists' estimations of their clients' progress with their clients' actual improvement in therapy. The findings provide the most convincing evidence of humility as a therapeutic virtue to date. The more modest or conservative a therapist's estimation of their clients' progress (relative to their clients' actual improvement), the more their clients' symptoms had reduced and their quality of life had increased.

Such findings help to explain the outcome of a series of naturalistic psychotherapy studies that my colleagues and I conducted recently, in which we assessed the contribution of a variety of therapist variables to therapy outcomes. One particular finding stood out: those therapists with higher scores on professional self-doubt (for instance, they lacked confidence that they might have beneficial effects on clients, and felt unsure how best to deal effectively with a client) tended to receive more positive ratings from their clients in terms of the therapeutic alliance (ie, the quality of the relationship between therapist and client) and the outcomes of therapy. This finding surprised us at first. We believed that less not more doubt would be beneficial for the client. However, the result makes perfect sense in light of the earlier research showing the benefits of therapist humility.

The willingness to listen to the other is probably central in explaining why humility is beneficial. A humble attitude might also be necessary for therapists to be open to feedback about their client's actual progress, rather than just assuming that all is going well, or indeed blaming the client for a lack of progress. Humility might also give therapists the willingness to self-correct when needed, and motivate them to engage in "deliberate practice" (which is intended to improve skills based on careful monitoring of performance and provision of feedback). Referring to their own findings, as well as to research on "master therapists" (therapists who have been nominated as especially competent by their peers), Michael Helge Rnnestad at the University of Oslo and Thomas Skovholt at the University of Minnesota both experts on the development of psychotherapists summed it up thus in their book, The Developing Practitioner: Growth and Stagnation of Therapists and Counsellors (2013): "Humility appears to be a characteristic of [therapeutic] experts across many studies."

Further evidence for the importance of therapist humility comes from research into therapists' "cultural humility". To take a culturally humble approach means striving towards a curious, nonjudgmental, and sensitive stance to what the clients' cultural identity means to them (such as their ethnicity, religion, faith, sexual or gender orientation) and weaving this into the therapeutic work. There is a growing body of evidence linking cultural humility to therapeutic effectiveness, with clients who see their therapists as more culturally humble tending to achieve better outcomes.

Is humility a paradoxical component of expertise? Not really: an expert is first and foremost one who continues to learn and this seems to apply as much to psychotherapists as it does to other professions. As Joshua Hook, a counseling psychologist at the University of North Texas and the co-author of Cultural Humility (2017), and his colleagues put it recently: "At face value, humility may appear to be the opposite of expertise, but we argue that humility is foundational [for achieving clinical excellence]." Taken all together, the growing evidence for the benefits of therapist humility supports the early observation of the Danish philosopher Sren Kierkegaard, writing in 1859, that "all true helping begins with a humbling."

However, therapist humility on its own is not sufficient for therapy to be effective. In our latest study, we assessed how much therapists treat themselves in a kind and forgiving manner in their personal lives (ie, report more "self-affiliation") and their perceptions of themselves professionally. We anticipated that therapists' level of personal self-affiliation would enhance the effect that professional self-doubt has on therapeutic change. Our hypothesis was supported: therapists who reported more self-doubt in their work alleviated client distress more if they also reported being kind to themselves outside of work (in contrast, therapists who scored low on self-doubt and high on self-affiliation contributed to the least change).

We interpreted this finding to imply that a benign self-critical stance in a therapist is beneficial, but that self-care and forgiveness without reflective self-criticism is not. The combination of self-affiliation and professional self-doubt seems to pave the way for an open, self-reflective attitude that allows psychotherapists to respect the complexity of their work, and, when needed, to correct the therapeutic course to help clients more effectively.

What does all this mean? At a time when people tend to think that their value is based on how confident they are and that they must "sell themselves" in every situation, the finding that therapist humility is an underrated virtue and a paradoxical ingredient of expertise might be a relief. I've certainly found that the findings on the importance of humility resonate with therapists, many of whom have been skeptical of overly confident practitioners in therapy and other fields. Now we need to incorporate the message that humility is an important therapist quality into training and supervision. Part of this will involve a cultural change, so that qualified therapists can act as role-models of humility, to clients and to students, without fear of "losing face" or authority.

This article was originally published by Aeon, a digital magazine for ideas and culture. Follow them on Twitter at @aeonmag.

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TheDragon Ball series is among the most important and influential anime of all time. The series has a presence like no other of its kind and is well recognized for its contributions to the genre on a global level as the father of shonen. But what about its contributions towards the real lives of its viewers?

RELATED:Dragon Ball: 5 Couples That Are Perfect Together (& 5 That Make No Sense)

Dragon Ball, like many other shonen, has tons of life lessons that are still applicable to this day hidden in plain sight placed throughout the series. These messages are usually placed inside the characters of the show's arcs and this list will be looking at ten of them.

Not many caught this lesson due toDragon Ballseemingly being a series simply about running up and taking on your opponent at the first chance that you get. However, during the Namek Saga through the Frieza Saga, it is evident that at times it's better to avoid conflict and play the smart game instead of going headfirst into a stronger enemy.

Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin went about Namek hunting the Dragon Balls in the shadow until they were faced with enemies that gave them no other choice. They survived longer and got closer to their goal due to this smart tactic.

One of the biggest themes, that is constantly shown throughout literally every series ofDragon Ball,is the fact that an enemy can quickly become a friend. It's one of the reasons that characters are so loved throughout the show. They seem simple at first but as circumstances change so do they.

Examples of this lesson come from Vegeta, Piccolo, Tien, the Androids, Majin Buu, Nuova Shenron, Hit, and to a lesser extent Frieza. These characters were all given second chances and became friends to Goku, or at least a temporary friend in the case of Frieza.

Another huge theme forDragon Ballis, of course, to always set challenges for yourself. This is something that is constantly seen coming from Goku and Vegeta, the two fighters from Earth that are always at the top of the charts when it comes to power level.

RELATED:Dragon Ball: 5 Times Vegeta Was A Good Dad (& 5 Times He Wasn't)

This is because these two Saiyans never stop training and constantly have new goals set for themselves even after they've already reached the top. Whether it's to just keep getting stronger or to keep surpassing your best friend a self-made challenge is always healthy.

Even in the face of utter despair there is always hope if one is willing to go out and do something. This is one lesson that takes a big place in the sagas starring none other than Future Trunks. Future Trunks comes from a world that is ravaged and left a waste due to the evil Androids.

Despite this desolate future Future Trunks still seeks to find peace in his world. He does everything in his power to grow and bring his world back to what it once was and guess what! He succeeds!

Not every lesson has to be teachingone to do something. Some want to show things that shouldn't be done as well. Such a lesson taught throughDragon Balllore is to never be overconfident. This message is constantly shown through the mistakes of villains from almost each and every saga throughout the series.

Piccolo, Tao Pai Pai, Raditz, Nappa, Vegeta, Frieza, each of Frieza's henchmen, the Androids, Cell, Super Buu, Babidi, the Shadow Dragons, Jiren, need we continue? Don't get too confident and never underestimate an opponent.

That last lesson may have made it seem like pride is not a good thing to have but that's not true.Dragon Ballis a series that teaches the viewers to embrace their pride and always believe in themselves and their upbringing. However, this pride needs to be taken in strides instead of being the basis of every argument.

RELATED:Dragon Ball: 5 Couples That Would Make A Lot Of Sense (& 5 That Would Be Awful)

Pride is a double-edged sword as we learn from Vegeta. While it's been shown to lead to his downfall it has helped him and his friends achieve victory as well. Learn to use it the right way.

Another lesson that Vegeta can teach fans ofDragon Ballis that it is always possible to learn from others. No one inDragon Ballgoes through the series on their journey alone. In fact, each character looks to one another constantly for advice whether they say it outright or not.

In fact, even Frieza learns from others inDragon Ball Super once he actually starts training to fight Goku this time around. This leads to him unlocking a whole new transformation.

Dragon Balldoesn't just showcase its cast of characters going through a multitude of battles constantly losing. The series showcases characters losing on a regular basis until they grow and go back to the challenge they once lost against.

This is showing that to win you have to lose. Not only that but you have to learn to love to lose and then learn from that loss. Losses highlight mistakes that can be fixed and are a great part of the self-improvement process.

Dragon Ball is a series all about surpassing limits to unlock the full potential hidden within. In fact, this is exactly what the various Super Saiyan transformations and beyond are all about. While they are partly about the spectacle, the reasons these transformations are so great is because they're showing that someone just became even stronger.

RELATED:Dragon Ball: Every Shadow Dragon, Ranked According To Strength

They've surpassed their last vision of full power and moved on. What always comes after this? Trying to break the next limit and unlock the next transformation of course.

If there's one thing that the originalDragon Ballwill teach, it's that it's not always the destination you should be focused on, but the journey as well.

This series is all about the journey and the trials, tribulations, and lessons that come from it. The Dragon Balls ended up not even being the end all be all. As corny as it sounds, the friends met on the journey to gather them was.

NEXT:Dragon Ball: 10 Super Saiyan Forms (That Only Exist In Fan Fiction)

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You Make it Past These Critical Benchmarks

99.99% of people quit a new hobby, goals, side project, venture, etc before six months is up. Probably 90% of people quit before 90 days.

I see this in writing all the time.

Sometimes I go to check on the blogs of writers Ive met over the years most often the blogs lead to broken links. They vanish, burn out, give up.

If you can work at something for 90 days straight without quitting, youre in good shape.

If you can work at something for six months without quitting, youre in great shape.

Make it a year or two in,getting small successes along the way, and youd be dumb to quit.

Make it five years, and youll never quit.

People permanently quit their dreams because of all of thestarts and stops causeso much fatigue. Hesitation causes more fatigue than actually doing the thing and it causes anxiety. You beat yourself up each time you procrastinate or stop your routine.

You do this because youre worried about the effort it will take to succeed, but youre actually exerting more effort and making yourself more miserable by staying stagnant.

My YouTube channel is now starting to generate some views passively. Guess how long Ive had it? 6 months. I shot roughly 90 videos.

It seems like a lot, but it feels as if Ive been doing it forever. The first video seems like a distant memory, even though back then doing a bunch of videos seemed like a long road.

Six months is the magic number. Make it.

You dont want money. You want the freedom to do what you want when you want.

Sure, you want the status that comes with your creative passion, but ultimately, you want to create.

You understand that many of the worldly metrics we live by money, status, audience, physical attractiveness, are bi-products ofdoing the work.

If you took perfect care of your health, found a profitable skill you genuinely enjoyed doing, and shared your gifts with the world, it would be odd if youdidnt get rich and sexy in the process.

On the one hand, you dont want to live solely for your desires.

But on the other hand, you dont want toact like the scoreboard doesnt exist.

The people who often say things like I just want to be content, are some of the most unhappy people youll ever meet. A content person wouldnt say they just want to be content. Theyd justbecontent.

I can see through people, easily. They live in castles built by rationalizations. They tell themselves they dont want what they really want because they dont think they get it.

People like me and you, we understand that the entire game isnt the endpoint, its thetrying itself that matters.

The fun of accomplishing a dream isnt what you get, itsseeing if you can pull it off.

The process of trying to do what most people cant and trying to exert your will over reality is fulfilling.

You want to feel like you have some damn power over your own situation, thats all. You dont need mansions, but you want to build successful businesses. You dont need insane fame, but you want a tribe of people who love a message you work hard to craft. You dont need to be uber-successful, per se, but like the late great Kobe Bryant, you want to leave it all on the court.

Most importantly, you dont want regrets.

Id rather you overshoot on your goals only to realize your dreams werent all they were cracked up to be than the opposite fate of always having to wonder what if.

Am I guaranteeing youll be successful just because you have ambition? Hell no.

But then again, if youre really ambitious, you dont need guarantees because you haveyou.

And thats more than enough.

Ayodeji is the author of Real Help: An Honest Guide to Self-Improvement.

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5 signs you have what it takes to accomplish your dreams - Ladders

Rumours of Keith Earlss Test-playing demise may have to be revised. His provincial team-mate, Andrew Conway, may have overtaken him in the Ireland pecking order, and Garry Ringroses fractured thumb may have opened the door to a place on the bench, but Earlss performance against Wales was a reminder than an old dog doesnt forget his old midfield tricks. He still adds real value to this team.

The debate once raged as to his best position, even if the 32-year-old has long since become more of a specialist winger. Memories will never completely fade of his try-scoring debut for Ireland at fullback against Canada at Thomond Park in November 2008. This is even truer of his only other Test start at fullback, in the home win over England in 2011 when he looked like Irelands version of Christian Cullen, albeit such was Irelands dominance he didnt have to make a single tackle.

Ronan OGara, for one, always disputed the notion that Earls didnt have the passing skills for an outside centre, where he has started 14 times for Ireland. Whats more, his scoring ratio there (five tries) is only marginally less than on the wing 24 tries in 58 starts.

Yet his last start at centre for Ireland was in the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina in 2015. His last start at 13 for Munster was on New Years Day 2018 against Ulster. His last cap as a replacement was against England in the Aviva Stadium seven years ago.

All of which made his performance last week, after a three-week break, all the more impressive.

Earls replaced the hitherto excellent Robbie Henshaw in the 45th minute at outside centre. Inside a minute of his arrival, Earls received a pass from Conor Murray. Waless line speed meant an attempted pass would have been picked off by Nick Tompkins. Earls pulled the ball back in and, with Jordan Larmour checking and altering his angle in toward Earls, he hit the fullback with a delayed pass in the tackle.

Quickly settling into Irelands defensive rhythm, Earls then produced the pass of the match. After Murray had sniped off a maul, stepped and passed, Johnny Sexton quickly transferred the ball to Earls. About to be smashed by George North, Earls gathered and fired the ball right-handed from his right shoulder, like a dart, into the path of Larmour. The move eventually led to Irelands third try.

Near the end, Earls accelerated onto a blindside pass by John Cooney to release Conway with a rapid fire transfer. It looked like hed been playing at outside centre all his life.

After the World Cup disappointment, a less than distinguished campaign for Munster and bothersome back and knee issues, it was one of the better postmatch feelings hes had in a while.

Yea, with Munster, being out of Europe is tough, getting beat by Racing away and then I didnt play against Ospreys. So it was my first run out in a while and it was good to get one back over Wales and in the manner we did as well. We played some exciting rugby but whats brilliant is theres plenty more to come.

Along the way, Earls has often switched from the wing to fill in at centre, and has tried to do some reps there in training, so he wasnt playing there entirely from memory.

He particularly enjoyed the pass to Larmour.

Under Joe, he had us wingers trying to pass quite a bit. Stephen Larkham is huge on it as well about getting quick hands and passing under pressure, and Cattys massive on it as well so its something that weve been doing the last couple of years and months, but particularly the last few weeks under Stephen and Catty.

The arrival of Larkham and Mike Catt at Munster and Ireland has clearly enthused Earls in his constant seeking for self-improvement. Interestingly though, Earls disputes the theory that outside centre is still the hardest position to defend.

I think wing has got a lot harder these past couple of years. Both of them are extremely hard but I think the wing is probably the toughest, having played both. Massive decisions. One bad decision almost leads to a try out in those channels. Thats the reality of it. You need to be consistently switched on.

Earls is never less than an engaged and endearingly honest interviewee, and he is quick to hail Conways all-round excellence against Wales, describing it as the best game Ive ever seen him play.

All round, anything he touched, something was happening, which is great to see but Id like to see him looking over his back as well, as I was for the last couple of years, he says with a knowing laugh.

Looking very relaxed, Earls is also enjoying the more easy-going environment at both Munster and Ireland, whereas before, he admits: There were times when we were scared to laugh. If you were laughing you werent switched on or you werent concentrating or you werent being professional.

Last week after we did the Captains Run we didnt meet again until we were getting on the bus going to the game. Usually youd have a couple of meetings beforehand and you might have a meeting at 10 in the morning and the anxiety starts coming in from there whereas its completely chilled.

We are trying to enjoy ourselves but once you walk out in the four lines you have to be switched on. Its being able to switch on for the hour or so rather than wasting energy all morning or two days or a day out, wasting energy on thinking about plays or stuff like that. Yeah, its definitely a lot more relaxed in Munster and Ireland as well.

Were barely in the classroom as well, he added. We see our classroom as being on the field. Faz brings down a TV to the side of the field at the HPC [high performance centre] and well look at a play and then well go out and rep it. Its just coaches are different.

In other ways too, all has changed utterly since his early days in the squad, when so much of Irelands energy for games against England was emotionally charged.

Definitely there was a generational thing. I think thats why it took me so long to find myself as well because maybe I was trying to be like Paulie or Rog or some of them old fellas who try and play on emotion every week, which is impossible to do, he says with a smile.

Its a breath of fresh air coming in now. Like, completely chilled out and being able to enjoy a sport, thats so important. Its great.

Trying to keep a perspective is important for Earls, who used to be consumed by nerves and self-doubt. In the build-up to the World Cup quarter-final against the All Blacks, he said the worst thing that could happen was that Ireland would lose and hed get to go home and see his wife and kids.

Looking back, the constant gym work on his ailing knees had meant the World Cup campaign was just full-on, full-on rugby.

Then, unfortunately, we were knocked out and I got away and spent a bit of time with the kids in Center Parcs with Peter OMahony and his kids, and it was just a normal life getting away from rugby. But its amazing, a week later youre like: Jeeze, I just want to get back on the field now.

We had time off at Christmas and it was probably my first time, in my career Id say, I found myself drinking and eating over Christmas. Its amazing, when youre playing youre like: Jeeze, I wish I could be out with the family or out with the lads having drinks. And I was doing that this year and I was like: I definitely prefer playing. I think the couple of days is great but then after a week you want to get back into it.

The fire in the belly, as he puts it, still burns.

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Keith Earls far from ready to abandon centre stage - The Irish Times

Julie Kanner @jfkanner Friday Feb7,2020at1:08PM

Chief Retail Services Specialist Seth A. Lowry, from Jacksonville, was named as a 2019 Military Instructor of the Year finalist.

Chief Retail Services Specialist Seth A. Lowry, a native of Jacksonville and a 2002 graduate of First Coast Academy, was recently named as a 2019 Military Instructor of the Year finalist for the Naval Education and Training Command.

Lowry was recognized during a ceremony at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola on Jan. 23. The finalists were congratulated by Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad.

Lowry is a course supervisor at Naval Technical Training Center in Meridian, Miss., and is qualified as a master training specialist. He provides training to over 200 students. He was one of 10 sailors competing for the NETC Military Instructor of the Year title. They represent the top achievers out of over 8,000 military members in MyNavy HR Force Development.

Lowry was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his achievements.

Related | Read more good news stories from the Jacksonville area

The Naval Education and Training Command Military Instructor of the Year program recognizes sailors who exhibit sustained superior performance, leadership, mentorship, knowledge and teaching of military history and heritage, self-improvement, command and community involvement, and exemplary military bearing.

Have good news? You can mail to The Florida Times-Union, P.O. Box 1949, Jacksonville, FL 32231 or email jkanner@jacksonville.com.

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Good News: Sailor from Jacksonville named Military Instructor of the Year finalist - The Florida Times-Union

How I Lost 10 Pounds in a Month With Orangetheory Fitness

Ever since I graduated college six years ago, my weight has truly been all over the place. When I left school, I weighed in at about 120 pounds. And while I was certainly thin, I wasn't exactly taking the best care of myself. In the years since, thanks to working out inconsistently and having a desk job, I packed on 32 pounds. Because it was a gradual gain, I didn't notice it at first. But when I stepped on the scale in late December and realized I was 152 pounds, I knew something needed to change.

While I knew at 5'4" I wasn't disastrously overweight, the fact that I had been getting a little too much into the wine and cheese since my July wedding hit me like a burst of cold water. As a former college athlete, I knew I could do a lot more to improve my overall health, and I desperately wanted to carve out new healthy habits.

While my foray into Orangetheory Fitness started with the goal of simply shedding some pounds, it quickly became much, much more. I first learned about OTF when POPSUGAR's Senior Editor Kate Schweitzer made it a regular habit. After having two gorgeous daughters, she started hitting classes five times per week at her local studio. And while she's always been in good shape, it was hard to deny how toned her arms had gotten during our weekly meetings.

Fortunately, Kate wasn't the only person who was drinking the Orangetheory Kool-Aid; Sarah Wasilak, our fashion editor, also went to class a few times per week. And thankfully, she not only attended our local studio in Jersey City, but she also enthusiastically offered to take me to my first class. As a person who had generally loathed group exercise classes in the past, I was eager to try an OTF class but overwhelmed. Why did they need to track your heart rate the entire time? What in god's name are Splat points?

Nervous but cautiously optimistic, I headed to my first class with Sarah one day at 7 a.m. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by studio employee Wesley Barranco, who had one simple question for me: "What's your goal?" After confessing my love of cheese I kept the wine out of the convo for obvious reasons and telling him about my weight-loss goals, he gave me a confident smile and the rundown. While his spiel was certainly informative, I didn't at any point feel intimidated, which is key for those trying to get back on the fitness horse.

Eventually, I was introduced to Herlentz Mesidor, the head coach of the studio and the person who'd no doubt be bossing me around for an hour. As the big kahuna, Herlentz is obviously a very fit man. It's also worth noting that he is one of the few people on god's green earth who can pull off wearing a sweatband on his head.

Herlentz spent 15 minutes teaching me how the class is formatted and had me jump on a rowing machine to evaluate my form. (Spoiler alert: I've been rowing incorrectly for my entire life!). After getting set up with an OTbeat wearable device, we got to it, and honestly, I was amazed.

While I normally get bored in classes that just focus on cardio, the three-pronged format OTF offers time spent running, rowing, and lifting weights really suited me. Additionally, Herlentz didn't scream into the microphone the entire time. On top of pumping us up, he also made his rounds to ensure we were lifting with the correct form and using the treadmills properly.

At the end of my first class, I'd burned 650 calories. I've never had a more efficient workout since I played lacrosse in college. On top of that, I truly felt great. Maybe it was the endorphins, but I immediately signed up for a package of classes and have been going two or three days per week ever since.

While my initial goal was to lose weight and hey, it still very much is! in just five weeks, my body has begun to transform. I have noticed more muscle tone in my legs, and I've lost considerable weight in my face. I feel more confident in a bathing suit, and when I sit on a hard chair, my tush feels . . . perkier? Although the sensation is hard to explain, it sure feels good!

More importantly, my fitness goals have been turned on their head. Thanks to the treadmill portion of Orangetheory, I've cut a full minute off my mile time. In fact, on a six-mile run earlier this week, my average pace clocked in at 8:26. That's pretty good for me! Feeling more confident than I have in years, I officially bit the bullet and signed up for a half-marathon. Although I've toyed with the idea in the past, injuries have always gotten in the way. Because of OTF, I'm very much looking forward to running my first race.

Thanks to the welcoming and nonintimidating community I've found at OTF, I've learned that there's something powerful about testing your physical limits. Sure, I've lost 10 pounds, but it's not just about getting in a good sweat. Rather, it's about self-improvement and conquering goals, whether you're trying to beat your personal 2,000-meter row record or simply get back into jogging again. Have I met my official weight-loss goal yet? No, but Orangetheory gives me the confidence to keep on trying.

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Murphy Moroney

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Sure, I Lost 10 Pounds Doing Orangetheory Fitness, but It's Not Always the Scale That Matters - POPSUGAR