Yoga International invites you to be powerful and present as you grow your yoga practice with in-depth videos and articles. You can quickly download and view our inspirational and educational yoga videos online. We make it easy to explore yoga on your computer, phone, tablet or TV. As a member, youll have access to classes with skilled instructors and the latest approaches to practice. We also provide interesting, scientifically sound resources on an array of topics, such as yoga therapy, yoga lifestyles, and instruction. Our community is where you belong whether you are seeking an athletic challenge, steady progress, or restorative techniques. With Yoga International as your online yoga partner, you will be able to view practice techniques and quick tutorials geared to a variety of levels. Read an inspiring article or move through an energizing, half-hour Vinyasa class. Practice according to your schedule, and strengthen your physical, spiritual and mental self with Yoga International.

What could be better than joining a community that educates and motivates? When you sign up for a free, 30-day trial membership, youll gain access to engaging classes in your preferred length and style, led by your choice of instructor. Connect with gentle, flowing, dynamic, or challenging classes. Also take advantage of a full library of online yoga articles, covering topics such as alignment and anatomy. Youll have the opportunity to participate in fun yoga sessions wherever you are or attend live events that delve into the depth of the discipline. Enhance your understanding of yoga through digital conferences organized by leaders in the yoga community. We would love if you started or refreshed a yoga lifestyle with us. Revitalize your mind, body, and practice by exploring our membership resources or enrolling in a trial membership now!

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Discover Yoga Videos And Articles To Deepen Your Practice

Retirement Calculator One simple question

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For a working person, the golden years of retirement can be both easy and difficult to imagine. We may fantasize about international adventures or beachside escapes, but rarely do we lay the groundwork for realizing our retirement dreams financially. There are, after all, more immediate concerns: job, kids, mortgage payments, car paymentsthe list goes on. Amid this daily grind, its easy to put retirement savings on the back burner, especially when its 15, 20 or 30 years off. Indeed, surveys have repeatedly shown that the average American retirement savings is too low and that significant numbers of Americans in their 30s, 40s and even 50s have no retirement savings at all.

Needless to say, the save-nothing approach is not recommended. At its best, retirement is a time when the stresses of years one through sixty-five (or so) fade, leaving room for relaxation, delectation and grandchildren. If money is scarce, however, financial anxiety could crowd these pleasures out. Want to know how to retire comfortably? Start saving.

On the other hand, just as its unwise to save nothing at all, its unrealistic to try and save every penny that isnt already dedicated to paying bills or buying groceries. For most retirees, there are other sources of retirement income besides savings, Social Security being chief among them. The common assumption is that some savings, in addition to Social Security and a less expensive lifestyle (no more kids in the house, no more commuting costs) will all add up to financial security in our sunset years. To put it another way: its common to assume that if we save in good faith, things will work themselves out. For some, that may turn out to be true, but such success stories are more a result of good luck than a sound retirement strategy.

That phrase sound retirement strategy is where many of us lose interest. It is loaded with negative connotations: expensive investment advisors, large stacks of documents and complex spreadsheets, to name a few. But a sound retirement savings plan doesnt have to be complicated. It can be boiled down to one simple question: How much do I need to save to retire? By putting away a percentage of your income every month from now until you retire, you can do away with the financial anxieties far too many seniors find themselves facing. A retirement calculator can help.

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To figure out exactly what it will take to retire in comfort, its important to consider what kind of lifestyle you expect to lead in retirement. Do you hope to travel? To Paris, or someplace a little cheaper? How often do you want to eat out? Go to the movies? The beach? Do you want to move closer to the beach? The grandchildren? These questions may seem trivial now, but they can help give you an idea about the income youll need in the future. If youre set on seeing the Eiffel tower, the Pyramids at Giza and the Taj Mahal, youre going to need a sizeable nest egg to draw upon. On the other hand, if you expect to live a rather low-key lifestyle, with far fewer expenses than you currently have, you wont need to save quite as much.

The important thing is to be realistic. Dont shortchange your future self by assuming you can live off of canned tuna and scrambled eggs. While some costs will likely go down in retirement, others may go up. Specifically healthcare costs are likely to rise in retirement. So its best to have a cushion for unpredictable costs like that. Plus, retirement is your reward for decades of hard work: treat yourself accordingly.

Whether you plan to live lavishly or frugally, youll need to have a certain amount of money saved by the time you retire. Think of this figure as a mountain summit, reachable by several different paths. If youve done everything right so far, that summit is still in plain view; youve followed the most direct and least difficult path, and all you need to do is continue on in the same direction. If, however, your savings arent where they should be, its as if youve wandered in the wrong directionyoull need to recalibrate and start climbing in order to reach the summit.

To determine your current financial coordinates, you need to answer three questions:

How much have I saved thus far?

How many years until I retire?

Whats my annual income (and how much of that do I want to replace)?

The answers to those questions will determine how much work you have to do to reach that mountaintop. If youve saved plenty and youre still young, greatyoure well on your way. If youve saved nothing and your sixties are just around the corner, not so much. Lets check out some examples using our retirement calculator to see how this works in reality.

Lets begin with a best case scenario: youre 25, and youve only been working a few years before you decide to get smart about your retirement. You live in a mid-sized city, lets say Tulsa (Oklahoma!) where you earn $45,000 per year. You currently have $5,000 in your savings account, and by saving $100 per month you manage to put another $5,000 in your 401(k). Your employer has promised to match 100% of your contributions to the retirement savings account, up to 5% of your total income.

After thinking it over, you decide that you would be comfortable living a lifestyle similar to your current one in retirement. Assuming a rate of return on your investments around 4%, you would have to save about $176 per month from now until you turn 67 to retire comfortably. Not bad! If you continue on your current path, however, you'll be over $260,000 short of your retirement goal when the time comes.

Getting an early start on retirement savings can make a big difference in the long run. By saving an extra $76 per month, this 25 year-old can close the $265,261 shortfall projected by SmartAssets retirement calculator.

Lets try another one. Youve just turned 40, and it suddenly dawns on you that youve not been focusing on your eventual retirement. Fortunately, youve been able to put away some solid savings over the years: youve got $25,000 in the bank and another $12,000 stored in a traditional IRA. You now live in Pittsburgh, where you earn $75,000 per year.

Now that youre older and wiser, youre a little bit more optimistic about your investments, and so you assume a 5% annual return. You also plan on living fairly modestly once you retire, and think your budget will be a bit trimmer than it is today. Under this scenario, youd only have to save about 7.5% of your income, or about $469 per month, from now until your 67th birthday - less than you are already saving!

This Pittsburgh resident is right on track for a happy retirement. SmartAssets retirement calculator projects shell have a savings surplus if she stays on her current course.

Youre 54 and youve saved sporadically over the course of your career. All told, youve got $50,000 in savings, most of it in your bank account, and because of your laissez faire attitude toward your investments, you dont expect to ever earn more than 4%. As a talent agent in Los Angeles, youre self-employed and have never bothered to set up a retirement account. You make $100,000 and your spouse makes $70,000 for a total of $170,000 a year, and youve already agreed that you will both keep working until you hit 70.

When you do retire, however, youre going to live lavishlysmoked salmon for breakfast, choice cuts of steak for dinner. Bad news: to pull all of that off, youll need to save $2,907 every month from now until you retire. That's about 20% of your monthly income. Compare that to the 5% per month you've been saving up until now. If you stay on that course, you'll have a savings shortfall of $660,000 when you retire - yikes!

Uh-oh. This Los Angeles couple put off the important retirement decisions for too long. SmartAsset's retirement calculator projects a retirement shortfall of $660,118 if they don't ramp up the savings ASAP.

In the above scenarios, our hypothetical subjects kept their savings in one of a variety of retirement savings options, in either a savings account, a 401(k) or a traditional IRA. There are many ways you can invest the money you set aside for retirement, depending on your goals. The rate of return your money earns depends on the risk you are willing to take on, the success of your particular investment strategy and, to a certain extent, luck. For example, an economic downturn can hurt your investments, at least in the short run. So too can changes in the inflation rate, and other economic events.

All of which is to say: the unexpected can happen, and often does. The best you can do is to develop a solid plan based on the information you have now. Don't let retirement savings statistics get you down. A retirement calculator can help you see how you are doing so far and what you need to change to make your retirement goals. By setting goals and meeting them, you give yourself the opportunity for a rich and rewarding retirement.

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Best Retirement Calculator (2018) - See How Much You'll ...

Zig Ziglar, one of the worlds most famous salesmen, who inspired millions with his message of positivity and personal achievement. He was known around the world as a performance trainer for major corporations, motivational speaker, and author of best-selling books such as See You at the Top and Secrets of Closing the Sale. May his quotes inspire you to be the best that you can be and live the life of your dreams.

The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times. Zig Ziglar

Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude.Zig Ziglar

You will get all you want in lifeif you help enough other people get what they want.Zig Ziglar

You dont have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.Zig Ziglar

If you are not willing to learn no one can help you. If you are determined to learn no one can stop you. Zig Ziglar

People often say that motivation doesnt last. Well, neither does bathing, thats why we recommend it daily.Zig Ziglar

Success comes when opportunity meets preparation.Zig Ziglar

Never blame anyone in your life. Good people give you happiness. Bad people give you experience. Worst people give you a lesson. And the best people give you memories.Zig Ziglar

Moving from survival to stability, from stability to success, from success to significance.Zig Ziglar

Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give them yours. Zig Ziglar

You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.Zig Ziglar

You can make positive deposits in your own economy every day by reading and listening to positive, life-changing content, and by associating with encouraging and hope-building people.Zig Ziglar

Make today worth remembering.Zig Ziglar

Stop selling. Start helping.Zig Ziglar

You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.Zig Ziglar

Fear has two meaning; Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours.Zig Ziglar

If you learn from defeat, you havent really lost.Zig Ziglar

If you aim at nothing, you will hit every time.Zig Ziglar

The worlds most deadly disease is hardening of the attitudes.Zig Ziglar

Success is dependent upon the glands sweat glands.Zig Ziglar

Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient and the best things come to those who dont give up.Zig Ziglar

If you can dream it, then you can achieve it.Zig Ziglar

Remember that failure is an event, not a person.Zig Ziglar

Isnt it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?Zig Ziglar

A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.Zig Ziglar

The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity.Zig Ziglar

Outstanding people have one thing in common: an an absolute sense of mission.Zig Ziglar

True joy comes when you inspire, encourage, and guide someone else on a path that benefits him or her.Zig Ziglar

Dont count the things you do, do the things that count.Zig Ziglar

When you do more than youre paid for. Eventually, youll be paid for more than you do.Zig Ziglar

When you are tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you.Zig Ziglar

How you see the future is much more important than what happened in your past.Zig Ziglar

The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you think you can only do a little.Zig Ziglar

Where you start is not as important as where you finish.Zig Ziglar

Money isnt the most important thing in life, but its reasonably close to oxygen on the gotta have it scale.Zig Ziglar

Hope is the power that gives a person the confidence to step out and try.Zig Ziglar

We cannot start over, but we can begin now and make a new ending.Zig Ziglar

Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.Zig Ziglar

Make failure your teacher, not your undertaker.Zig Ziglar

Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.Zig Ziglar

Motivation is the fuel necessary to keep the human engine running.Zig Ziglar

Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.Zig Ziglar

Put all excuses aside and remember this: You are capable.Zig Ziglar

You can start where you are with what youve got and go to wherever it is you want to go.Zig Ziglar

If you dont see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.Zig Ziglar

A goal properly set is halfway reached.Zig Ziglar

Dont let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of going after yours.Zig Ziglar

The greatest cause of a poor image is the absence of unconditional love.Zig Ziglar

There is little you can learn from doing nothing.Zig Ziglar

Try to look at your weakness and convert it into your strength.Zig Ziglar

The great majority of people are wandering generalities rather than meaningful specifics. The fact is that you cant hit a target that you cant see. If you dont know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. You have to have goals.Zig Ziglar

You already have every characteristic necessary for success if you recognize, claim, develop and use them.Zig Ziglar

You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.Zig Ziglar

When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because youre making a commitment and difference in that persons life. Encouragement really does make a difference.Zig Ziglar

Dont let mistakes and disappointments of the past control and direct your future.Zig Ziglar

Take time to be kind and to say thank you.Zig Ziglar

You are the only person on earyh who can use your ability.Zig Ziglar

When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.Zig Ziglar

Getting up and moving forward is a choice.Zig Ziglar

Lack of direction not lack of time is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.Zig Ziglar

Happiness is the ability to move forward knowing the future will be better than the past.Zig Ziglar

Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.Zig Ziglar

There are not traffic jams on the extra mile.Zig Ziglar

Share With Others To Help Them Awaken!

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63 Inspi63 Inspirational Zig Ziglar Quotes On Successrational ...

You have Questions? We have answers.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the union, how it works and how our members can participate more effectively in union activities. Dont see your question below? Head over to our contact us page to get connected with an organizer today!

Are you currently a healthcare worker looking to join 1199SEIU? Visit our Join Us page for more information. Are you looking to work for 1199SEIU? Visit our "Jobs at 1199SEIU" page for the latest employments listings."

An organization of every person who works for the same employer, using their collective strength to prevent management from doing whatever it wants, such as awarding raises arbitrarily or firing workers without cause. Unions are also the way workers make demands on management, such as healthcare coverage, time off, and decent salaries. Learn more

The union is you healthcare workers who join together in their workplace to exercise a collective voice. All important decisions in 1199, from voting on contracts to electing union leaders, are made by our members. 1199 is one of the most democratic unions in the United States, and the active involvement of our members is supported and encouraged in all areas of our union.

1199SEIU is the largest, fastest-growing and most effective healthcare union in the United States. We represent over 400,000 members throughout New York State, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Maryland. Our members work in every job classification and in every facet of the healthcare industry, including hospitals, nursing homes, home care and clinics. 1199 is driven by a mission to achieve affordable, quality healthcare for all, and to be the strongest voice we can be for the workers who provide that care.

1199SEIU members work in every job classification in every aspect of the healthcare industry including hospitals, home care agencies and organizations, nursing homes, health centers and clinics. Under the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency in charge of relations between unions and employers, some managers, supervisors and other employees are not eligible to vote in union elections. If you have a question about your eligibility, please contact an organizer.

Members of 1199SEIU have been able to achieve the highest job standards in America for healthcare workers, including better wages, affordable health benefits, retirement security, no-cost education opportunities, more paid time off and job security. 1199 members also have a strong voice on the job so we can advocate for better staffing and patient care. And because healthcare funding is largely controlled by government, we have built an effective voice in the legislative and regulatory arenas. We have been able to protect healthcare funding, expand access to affordable healthcare and advance our professions.

The first step to forming a union is to form a committee that takes responsibility for informing co-workers and building union support. The next step is to sign cards stating that workers want to form a union and ask that an election be held. If a majority of workers vote for 1199, then workers initiate negotiations with management for better pay and other improvements.

Yes, the right to form a union is protected by federal law. Workers can talk about forming a union and exchange information anywhere and anytime, as long as it does not interfere with patient care. It is illegal for management to treat workers differently for supporting a union, interrogate workers about their union support, or threaten them in any way. The only way workers will win better pay, benefits and respect is by having the courage to stand up for one another, our patients and our families.

Delegates are rank-and-file members elected from each worksites department, who enforce our contract, represent our members in grievances and engage members in union activities.I would like to represent my department as a delegate. How do I run? Visit Our Delegates page for complete instructions on how to run for an open delegate position in your institution.

Your delegate is your first point of contact when a question arises about your rights, working conditions, or if you have an idea for the workplace you want to share with your co-workers.

Without a union, management has all the power and is able to make every decision on their own, without input from workers. With a union, workers have a united voice and are able to participate in the decisions that affect wages, benefits and working conditions. When workers are part of a union, management has to share power and decision-making, and this can often be difficult for management to accept. In order to stop workers from forming a union, management will often try to intimidate, divide and confuse workers. Management often hires high-priced consultants that spread misinformation and try to divert workers attention from the job improvements that need to be made. Workers have learned that if they stay united and do not let managements scare tactics distract them, they will be successful in forming their union and winning job improvements.

Dues are the monetary resources that workers pool together to put toward solving problems in the workplace and organizing for the most effective and united voice. Dues pay for the legal experts who work with us to negotiate our contracts, the organizers who help us solve problems on the job, and the campaigns we run to support workers who want to join our union. In 1199, dues are 2 percent of our base wages with a $100 per month cap. When workers join 1199, they do not begin paying dues until they have successfully negotiated a first contract that wins improvements to their jobs.

Dues money pays for staff, salaries, legal fees, offices, contract negotiation costs and other expenses associated with the day-to-day running of our union. Dues money does not pay for health benefits. Most union contracts require employers to contribute to benefit funds or some other health benefit coverage for workers. Even in case of labor-management funds, the union does not run the funds; by law, these funds are separate trusts managed by an equal number of labor and management trustees.

In unity there is strength and 1199s guiding principle has always been an injury to one is an injury to all. Employers are continuing to demand more from workers in every field while offering less. When workers of diverse classifications stand together we speak with one voice, our strength is greater and we build on the gains we have all fought so hard to win.

Call 212.261.2300 or email the changes to addresschange@1199.org.

Political Action Contributions are voluntary contributions that members make in order to support our voice in government where we advocate for the interests of patients and working families. Because healthcare is highly regulated and the majority of healthcare funding comes from the government, 1199 members have built the most effective legislative action program in the country. We have defended healthcare funding, elected pro-worker officials and politicians, expanded access to healthcare for the uninsured, and passed legislation on key patient protections.

Our goals are achieved not only through mobilization, but also through political strength. We encourage our members to register, vote and become politically active in our communities. The majority of healthcare funding for the institutions, research and programs that affect us is decided in the political and legislative arenas; Medicare, Medicaid, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, research and mental healthcare all depend on government funding. Our ability to elect the right people and fight for our share of budgets in city halls and state houses is critical.

Visit our Contact Us page to get in touch with your 1199 organizer.

You should participate in the local chapter meetings at your institution. You can also write a Letters to the Letters column in the 1199 Magazine.

No, strikes are a tool of last resort that workers use to make their voice heard and the decision to strike is only decided by a democratic vote of all members. The vast majority of union contracts are settled without strikes, because there are many other ways that workers can make management agree to improvements in their jobs.

No. In fact, forming a union improves the lines of communication between workers and management. When workers have a union, there is a formal process in place so that workers can collectively raise their concerns and make sure they are addressed. But this formal process does not prevent individual workers from speaking directly to their supervisors as well. Workers often find that after forming their union, communications and relations with management are better than ever before.

Visit our Join Us page for more information.

Visit our Careers page for the latest job listings.

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Have a Question? :: 1199SEIU

Contribution is defined as something that you contribute or do to help produce or achieve something together with other people or to help make something successful. May these quotes inspire you to make a positive contribution to the world so that you may help advance humanity to a greater level.

1. Youre happiest while youre making the greatest contribution. Robert F. Kennedy

2. The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself. Frank Herbert

3. Every individual in the world has a unique contribution. Jack Kornfield

4. Its the ultimate luxury to combine passion and contribution. Its also a very clear path to happiness. Sheryl Sandberg

5. The quality of your life will be determined by the quality of your contribution. When you work to improve the lives of others, your life improves automatically. Kurek Ashley

6. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didnt always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out. Roger Ebert

7. I feel that my whole life is a contribution. Pete Seeger

8. Every contribution counts. Everyone can make a difference. Just start with yourself. Anonymous

10. Success is making a positive difference to other people, especially seeing others grow, succeed and thrive as a result of your own small contribution. Azran Osman Rani

11. Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to ones world. Eleanor Roosevelt

12. Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience lifes deepest joy: true fulfilment. Tony Robbins

13. You have brilliance in you, your contribution is valuable, and the art you create is precious. Only you can do, and you must. Seth Godin

14. Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant. There will always be someone out there that needs what you have to give. Anonymous

15. It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it. Nelson Mandela

16. You look out there and theres people that, their day is changed because of your contribution to it. Brad Paisley

17. Let your actions contribute to advancing humanity to a greater level. ATGW

18. I have a contribution to make. Lauren Bacall

19. Your contribution to the world are significant gifts to humanity. Amy Larson

21. Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be? Anonymous

22. Life is about growth and contribution, not perfection. Anonymous

23. Treat your new job as a mission. Avoid procrastination. Increase contribution. Exceed expectations. Anonymous

24. Our contribution purely depends on our consciousness and our willingness to support those in need, to show vulnerability and accept the support of others, to share without expecting the credit, to give it our all and allow our hard work to determine the outcome. Yehuda Berg

25. When you are making a success of something, its not work. Its a way of life. You enjoy yourself because you are making your contribution to the world. Andrew Grantelli

26. Dont cheat the world of your contribution. Give it what youve got. Steven Pressfield

27. Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution. Peter Drucker

28. Life asks of every individual a contribution, and it is up to that individual to discover what it should be. Viktor E Frankl

29. Most people set goals to get. There is a better way. Instead, try setting your goals, based on personal growth and contribution to others. Eric Worre

31. The single biggest contribution you can make is to step into your greatness. Let your own unique magnificence blossom. Jane Lee Logan

32. What a privilege to be here on the planet to contribute your unique donation to mankind. Morris Dees

33. Only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter. Greg McKeown

34. It is not position but contribution that makes a leader. Apoorve Dubey

35. It is not what we get but who we become, and what we contribute that gives meaning to our lives. Tony Robbins

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25 Awesome Grant Cardone Picture Quotes - Motivation

My dad died when I was ten years of age and left a massive void in my life The person I looked up to for guidance, success, an example of how to work, the provider and strength of the family was gone. My mother, as incredible as she was, was left to manage three teen-age boys and the little bit of money my dad had left. The family immediately went into turmoil with the loss of my dad. While my mom should have been experiencing the loss of her lifelong romance she was faced with the fear and uncertainty of raising five kids as a single mother.

For the next many years I lived in grief, anger and resentment of my dads loss. I watched in envy and resentment other kids spending time with their dads and it enraged me. I had become openly rebellious, a problem at school, my grades dropped to just above passing levels and I turned to drugs and alcohol. I had become an outcast in the school system and a black sheep of the family.

I hated everything; the schools, teachers, authority figures, my peers, and myself. For the next ten my life got progressively worse, I was fired from five jobs, overdosed multiple times and even beaten within inches of his life.

I was a good kid raised in a good family that turned bad because there was no father figure to guide, mentor and discipline me.

At the age of 25 I started to turn my life around all because men stepped in to provide me with mentoring, direction and purpose. I am so thankful to these men who took time with me and have used mentors for the last 35 years to continue my growth and development.

Most kids that go as bad as I did dont turn around. In fact some studies suggest that all of todays social ills involve the Father Factor the lack of the biological father in the household. And how big is the problem? This is not just an inner city issue but a nationwide problem. 24,000,000 kids are being raised in households without a father present and the statistics of fatherless kids are undeniable. Kids without dads are more likely to be poor, involved in drugs and alcohol abuse, drop out of school and suffer from mental and emotional problems. Boys are more likely to become involved in crimes and girls seven times more likely to become pregnant as as teen.

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The Grant Cardone Foundation

It's amazing how much information can be passed on to our offspring. Scientist have discovered that our DNA has memories, and these can also be passed down. We are talking about thoughts, feelings, emotions and perceptions.

Biological changes are shaped by our environment, as well as our thoughts, feelings, emotions and reaction to that environment. Our DNA can be changed with belief, the placebo is a great example. Thoughts feelings and emotions are huge in biology.

This article was written by the Greenmedinfo research group, from Greenmedinfo.com. Posted here with permission.

Until recently, it was believed that our genes dictate our destiny. That we are slated for thediseasesthat will ultimately beset us based upon the pre-wired indecipherable code written in stone in our genetic material. The burgeoning field of epigenetics, however, is overturning these tenets, and ushering in a school of thought where nurture, not nature, is seen to be the predominant influence when it comes to genetic expression and our freedom from or affliction by chronic disease.

Epigenetics, or the study of the physiological mechanisms that silence or activate genes, encompasses processes which alter gene function without changing the sequence of nucleotide base pairs in our DNA. Translated literally to mean in addition to changes in genetic sequence, epigenetics includes processes such as methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, sumolyation, and ubiquitylation which can be transmitted to daughter cells upon cell division (1).Methylation, for example, is the attachment of simple methyl group tags to DNA molecules, which can repress transcription of a gene when it occurs in the region of a gene promoter. This simple methyl group, or a carbon bound to three hydrogen molecules, effectively turns the gene off.

Post-translational modifications of histone proteins is another epigenetic process. Histones help to package and condense the DNA double helix into the cell nucleus in a complex called chromatin, which can be modified by enzymes, acetyl groups, and forms of RNA called small interfering RNAs andmicroRNAs(1). These chemical modifications of chromatin influence its three-dimensional structure, which in turn governs its accessibility for DNA transcription and dictates whether genes are expressed or not.

We inherit one allele, or variant, of each gene from our mother and the other from our father. If the result of epigenetic processes is imprinting, a phenomenon where one of the two alleles of a gene pair is turned off, this can generate a deleterious health outcome if the expressed allele is defective or increases our susceptibility to infections or toxicants (1). Studies link cancers of nearly all types, neurobehavioral and cognitive dysfunction,respiratory illnesses,autoimmune disorders, reproductive anomalies, andcardiovascular diseaseto epigenetic mechanisms (1). For example, the cardiac antiarrhythmic drug procainamide and the antihypertensive agent hydralazine can cause lupus in some people by causing aberrant patterns of DNA methylation and disrupting signalling pathways (1).

Pharmaceuticals, however, are not the only agents that can induce epigenetic disturbances. Whether you were born via vaginal birth orCesarean section, breastfed or bottle-fed, raised with a pet in the house, or infected with certain childhood illnesses all influence your epigenetic expression. Whether you are sedentary, pray, smoke, mediate, do yoga, have an extensive network of social support or are alienated from your communityall of your lifestyle choices play into your risk for disease operating through mechanisms of epigenetics.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that genetics account for only 10% of disease, with the remaining 90% owing to environmental variables (2). An article published in thePublic Library of Science One (PLoS One)entitled Genetic factors are not the major causes ofchronic diseases echoes these claims, citing that chronic disease is only 16.4% genetic, and 84.6% environmental (3). These concepts make sense in light of research on the exposome, the cumulative measure of all the environmental insults an individual incurs during their life course that determines susceptibility to disease (4)

In delineating the totality of exposures to which an individual is subjected over their lifetime, the exposome can be subdivided into three overlapping and intertwined domains. One segment of the exposome called the internal environment is comprised of processes innate to the body which impinge on the cellular milieu. This encompasses hormones and other cellular messengers, oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, bodily morphology, thegut microbiota,agingand biochemical stress (5).

Another portion of the exposome, the specific external environment, consists of exposures including pathogens, radiation, chemical contaminants andpollutants, and medical interventions, as well as dietary, lifestyle, and occupational elements (5). At an even broader sociocultural and ecological level is the segment of the exposome called the general external environment, which may circumscribe factors such as psychological stress, socioeconomic status, geopolitical variables, educational attainment, urban or rural residence, and climate (5).

Scientists formerly speculated that epigenetic changes disappear with each new generation during gametogenesis, the formation of sperm and ovum, and after fertilization. However, this theory was first challenged by research published in the journalSciencewhich demonstrated that transient exposure of pregnant rats to the insecticide methoxychlor, an estrogenic compound, or the fungicide vinclozolin, an antiandrogenic compound, resulted in increased incidence of maleinfertilityand decreased sperm production and viability in 90% of the males of four subsequent generations that were tracked (1).

Most notably, these reproductive effects were associated with derangements in DNA methylation patterns in the germ line, suggesting that epigenetic changes are passed on to future generations. The authors concluded, The ability of an environmental factor (for example, endocrine disruptor) to reprogram the germ line and to promote a transgenerational disease state has significant implications for evolutionary biology and disease etiology (6, p. 1466). This may suggest that the endocrine-disrupting, fragrance-laden personal care products and commercial cleaning supplies to which we are all exposed may trigger fertility problems in multiple future generations.

In addition, traumatic experiences may be transmitted to future generations via epigenetics as a way to inform progeny about salient information needed for their survival (7). In one study, researchers wafted thecherry-like chemical acetophenone into the chambers of mice while administering electric shocks, conditioning the mice to fear the scent (7). This reaction was passed onto two successive generations, which shuddered significantly more in the presence of acetophenone despite never having encountered it compared to descendants of mice that had not received this conditioning (7).

The study suggests that certain characteristics of the parental sensory environment experienced before conception can remodel the sensory nervous system and neuroanatomy in subsequently conceived generations (7). Alterations in brain structures that process olfactory stimuli were observed, as well as enhanced representation of the receptor that perceives the odor compared to control mice and their progeny (7). These changes were conveyed by epigenetic mechanisms, as illustrated by evidence that the acetophenone-sensing genes in fearful mice were hypomethylated, which may have enhanced expression of odorant-receptor genes during development leading to acetophenone sensitivity (7).

The mouse study, which illustrates how germ cells (egg and sperm) exhibit dynamic plasticity and adaptability in response to environmental signals, is mirrored by human studies. For instance, exposures to certain stressors such as starvation during the gestational period are associated with poor health outcomes for offspring. Women who undergo famine before conception of her offspring have been demonstrated to give birth to children with lower self-reported mental health and quality of life, for example (8).

Studies similarly highlight that, Maternal famine exposure around the time of conception has been related to prevalence of major affective disorders, antisocial personality disorders,schizophrenia, decreased intracranial volume, and congenital abnormalities of the central nervous system (8). Gestational exposure to the Dutch Famine of the mid-twentieth century is also associated with lower perceived health (9), as well as enhanced incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity in offspring (8). Maternal undernourishment during pregnancy leads to neonatal adiposity, which is a predictor of future obesity (10), in the grandchildren (11).

The impact of epigenetics is also exemplified by research on the intergenerational effects of trauma, which illuminates that descendants of people who survived the Holocaust exhibit abnormalstresshormone profiles, and low cortisol production in particular (12). Because of their impaired cortisol response and altered stress reactivity, children of Holocaust survivors are often at enhanced risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, anddepression(13).

Intrauterine exposure to maternal stress in the form of intimate partner violence during pregnancy can also lead to changes in the methylation status of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) of their adolescent offspring (14). These studies suggest that an individuals experience of trauma can predispose their descendants to mental illness, behavioral problems, and psychological abnormalities due to transgenerational epigenetic programming of genes operating in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a complex set of interactions among endocrine glands which determine stress response and resilience (14).

Not only that, but studies are illuminating that genetic information can be transferred through the germ line cells of a species in real time. These paradigm-shifting findings overturn conventional logic which postulates that genetic change occurs over the protracted time scale of hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. In a relatively recent study, exosomes were found to be the medium through which information was transferred from somatic cells to gametes.

This experiment entailed xenotransplantation, a process where living cells from one species are grafted into a recipient of another species. Specifically, humanmelanomatumor cells genetically engineered to express genes for a fluorescent tracer enzyme called EGFP-encoding plasmid were transplanted into mice. The experimenters found that information-containing molecules containing the EGFP tracer were released into the animals blood (15). Exosomes, or specialized membranous nano-sized vesicles derived from endocytic compartments that are released by many cell types were found among the EGFP trackable molecules (16, p. 447).

Exosomes, which are synthesized by all plant and animal cells, contain distinct protein repertoires and are created when inward budding occurs from the membrane of multivesicular bodies (MVBs), a type of organelle that serves as a membrane-bound sorting compartment within eukaryotic cells (16). Exosomes contain microRNA (miRNA) and small RNA, types of non-coding RNA involved in regulating gene expression (16). In this study, exosomes delivered RNAs to mature sperm cells (spermatozoa) and remained stored there (15).

The researchers highlight that this kind of RNA can behave as a transgenerational determinant of inheritable epigenetic variations and that spermatozoal RNA can carry and deliver information that cause phenotypic variations in the progeny (15). In other words, the RNA carried to sperm cells by exosomes can preside over gene expression in a way that changes the observable traits and disease risk of the offspring as well as its morphology, development, and physiology.

This study was the first to elucidate RNA-mediated transfer of information from somatic to germ cells, which fundamentally overturns what is known as the Weisman barrier, a principle which states that the movement of hereditary information from genes to body cells is unidirectional, and that the information transmitted by egg and sperm to future generations remains independent of somatic cells and parental experience (15).

Further, this may bear implications for cancer risk, as exosomes contain vast amounts of genetic information which can be source of lateral gene transfer (17) and are abundantly liberated from tumor cells (18). This can be reconciled with the fact that exosome-resembling vesicles have been observed in various mammals (15), including humans, in close proximity to sperm in anatomical structures such as the epididymis as well as in seminal fluid (19). These exosomes may thereafter be propagated to future generations with fertilization and augmentcancerrisk in the offspring (20).

The researchers concluded that sperm cells can act as the final repositories of somatic cell-derived information, which suggests that epigenetic insults to our body cells can be relayed to future generations. This notion is confirmatory of the evolutionary theory of soft inheritance proposed by French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, whereby characteristics acquired over the life of an organism are transmitted to offspring, a concept which modern genetics previously rejected before the epigenetics arrived on the scene. In this way, the sperm are able to spontaneously assimilate exogenous DNA and RNA molecules, behaving both as vector of their native genome and of extrachromosomal foreign genetic material which is then delivered to oocytes at fertilization with the ensuing generation of phenotypically modified animals (15).

In a recent study, nematode worms were manipulated to harbor a transgene for a fluorescent protein, which made the worms glow underultraviolet lightwhen the gene was activated (21). When the worms were incubated under the ambient temperature of 20 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), negligible glowing was observed, indicating low activity of the transgene (21). However, transferring the worms to a warmer climate of 25C (77 F) stimulated expression of the gene, as the worms glowed brightly (21).

In addition, this temperature-induced alteration in gene expression was found to persist for at least 14 generations, representing the preservation of epigenetic memories of environmental change across an unprecedented number of generations (21). In other words, the worms transmitted memories of past environmental conditions to their descendants, through the vehicle of epigenetic change, as a way to prepare their offspring for prevailing environmental conditions and ensure their survivability.

Taken cumulatively, the aforementioned research challenges traditional Mendelian laws of genetics, which postulate that genetic inheritance occurs exclusively through sexual reproduction and that traits are passed to offspring through the chromosomes contained in germ line cells, and never through somatic (bodily) cells. Effectively, this proves the existence of non-Mendelian transgenerational inheritance, where traits separate from chromosomal genes are transmitted to progeny, resulting in persistent phenotypes that endure across generations (22).

This research imparts new meaning to the principle of seven generation stewardship taught by Native Americans, which mandates that we consider the welfare of seven generations to come in each of our decisions. Not only should we embody this approach in practices of environmental sustainability, but we would be wise to consider how the conditions to which we subject our bodiesthe pollution and toxicants which permeate the landscape and pervade our bodies, the nutrient-devoid soil that engenders micronutrient-poor food, the disruptions to ourcircadian rhythmdue to the ubiquity of electronic devices, our divorce from nature and the demise of our tribal affiliationsmay translate into ill health effects and diminished quality of life for a previously unfathomed number of subsequent generations.

Hazards of modern agriculture, the industrial revolution, and contemporary living are the known or suspected drivers behind epigenetic processesincludingheavy metals, pesticides, diesel exhaust,tobacco smoke, polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons, hormones, radioactivity, viruses, bacteria, and basic nutrients (1, p. A160). Serendipitously, however, many inputs such asexercise, mindfulness, and bioactive components in fruits and vegetables such as sulforaphane incruciferous vegetables, resveratrol from red grapes, genistein from soy, diallyl sulphide from garlic, curcumin from turmeric, betaine from beets, andgreen teacatechin can favorably modify epigenetic phenomena either by directly inhibiting enzymes that catalyze DNA methylation or histone modifications, or by altering the availability of substrates necessary for those enzymatic reactions (23, p. 8).

This quintessentially underscores that the air we breathe, the food we eat, the thoughts we allow, the toxins to which we are exposed, and the experiences we undergo may persevere in our descendants and remain in our progeny long after we are gone. We must be cognizant of the effects of our actions, as they elicit a ripple effect through the proverbial sands of time.

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References

1. Weinhold, B. (2006). Epigenetics: The Science of Change. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(3), A160-A167.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Exposome and Exposomics. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/exposome/

3. Rappaport, S.M. (2016). Genetic factors are not the major causes of chronic diseases. PLoS One, 11(4), e0154387.

4. Vrijheid, M. (2014). The exposome: a new paradigm to study the impact of environment on health. Thorax, 69(9), 876-878. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-204949.

5. Wild, C.P. (2012). The exposome: from concept to utility. International Journal of Epidemiology, 41, 2432. doi:10.1093/ije/dyr236

6. Anway, M.D. et al. (2005). Epigenetic transgenerational actions of endocrine disruptors and male fertility. Science, 308(5727), 1466-1469.

7. Dias, B.G., & Ressler, K.J. (2014). Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations. Nature Neuroscience, 17(1), 89-98.

8. Stein, A.D. et al. (2009). Maternal exposure to the Dutch Famine before conception and during pregnancy: quality of life and depressive symptoms in adult offspring. Epidemiology, 20(6), doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181b5f227.

9. Roseboom, T.J. et al. (2003). Perceived health of adults after prenatal exposure to the Dutch famine. Paediatrics Perinatal Epidemiology, 17, 391397.

10. Badon, S.E. et al. (2014). Gestational Weight Gain and Neonatal Adiposity in the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Study-North American Region. Obesity (Silver Spring), 22(7), 17311738.

11. Veenendaal, M.V. et al. (2013). Transgenerational effects of prenatal exposure to the 1944-45 Dutch famine. BJOG, 120(5), 548-53. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.

12. Yehuda, R., & Bierer, L.M. (2008). Transgenerational transmission of cortisol and PTSD risk. Progress in Brain Research, 167, 121-135.

13. Aviad-Wilcheck, Y. et al. (2013). The effects of the survival characteristics of parent Holocaust survivors on offsprings anxiety and depression symptoms. The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 50(3), 210-216.

14. Radke, K.M. et al. (2011). Transgenerational impact of intimate partner violence on methylation in the promoter of the glucocorticoid receptor. Translational Psychiatry, 1, e21. doi: 10.1038/tp.2011.21.

15. Cossetti, C. et al. (2014). Soma-to-Germline Transmission of RNA in Mice Xenografted with Human Tumour Cells: Possible Transport by Exosomes. PLoS One,https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0101629.

16. Zomer, A. et al. (2010). Exosomes: Fit to deliver small RNA. Communicative and Integrative Biology, 3(5), 447450.

17. Balaj, L. et al. (2011) Tumour microvesicles contain retrotransposon elements and amplified oncogene sequences. Natural Communications, 2, 180.

18. Azmi, A.S., Bao, B., & Sarkar, F.H. (2013). Exosomes in cancer development, metastasis, and drug resistance: a comprehensive review. Cancer Metastasis Review, 32, 623-643

19. Poliakov, A. et al. (2009). Structural heterogeneity and protein composition of exosomes-like vesicles (prostasomes) in human semen. Prostate, 69, 159-167.

20. Cheng, R.Y. et al. (2004) Epigenetic and gene expression changes related to transgenerational carcinogenesis. Molecular Carcinogenesis, 40, 111.

21. Klosin, A. et al. (2017). Transgenerational transmission of environmental information in C. elegans. Science, 356(6335).

22. Lim, J.P., & Brunet, A. (2013). Bridging the transgenerational gap with epigenetic memory. Trends in Genetics, 29(3), 176-186. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2012.12.008

23. Choi, S.-W., & Friso, S. (2010). Epigenetics: A New Bridge between Nutrition and Health Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 1(1), 8-16. doi:10.3945/an.110.1004.

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ABOUT OSHO

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Oshos books are not written but are transcribed from audio and video recordings of his extemporaneous talks to international audiences. As he puts it, So remember: whatever I am saying is not just for you... I am talking also for the future generations. Osho has been described by the Sunday Times in London as one of the 1000 Makers of the 20th Century and by American author Tom Robbins as the most dangerous man since Jesus Christ. Sunday Mid-Day (India) has selected Osho as one of ten people along with Gandhi, Nehru and Buddha who have changed the destiny of India. About his own work Osho has said that he is helping to create the conditions for the birth of a new kind of human being. He often characterizes this new human being as Zorba the Buddha capable both of enjoying the earthy pleasures of a Zorba the Greek and the silent serenity of a Gautama the Buddha. Running like a thread through all aspects of Oshos talks and meditations is a vision that encompasses both the timeless wisdom of all ages past and the highest potential of todays (and tomorrows) science and technology.

Osho is known for his revolutionary contribution to the science of inner transformation, with an approach to meditation that acknowledges the accelerated pace of contemporary life. His unique OSHO Active Meditations are designed to first release the accumulated stresses of body and mind, so that it is then easier to take an experience of stillness and thought-free relaxation into daily life.

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Its not about the great person but what ignited the greatness in that person.

Who is Alan Watts for you? I must start off with by saying that the first times I heard his audio lectures they really did good for me. In a way hes responsible for opening up to further references and knowledge, as in hearing a talented man articulating himself and igniting inspiration and some deep realizations. All which strengthened me in all aspects of life. Only years later did I look up more into his biography and found out bits of pieces of who he was. But does that really matter? Even though theres a passion in us to see if something that inspired us, actually was that pure or perfect, according to our own subjective ego-biased belief system, or if it wasnt. The man himself is always detached and separate from the pure wisdom that touches him. Its not about the great person but what ignited the greatness in that person.

There are facts about Alan Watts being an alcoholic, a cheater on his wives and generally that he talked good and inspiring about ideas but didnt walk the talk or let his own talk make him better. He even saidin one of his lectures, that he was an entertainer of ideas and it pays well off. But whats wrong with that? Now, we could take U.G. Krishnamurti as an example of someone who walks the talk and who never took money for opening his mouth, yet people swarmed to him. In both men, as withyourself you can find faults and aspects of faulty character attributes that arentliving up to some image, that once again, is based upon our eventual ego-biased belief system.

If we focus on what ignites the greatness in a person, the messenger becomes irrelevant. Its hard in our culture, that has an inherent way of adoring and focusing on the persona and not the message.

I looked up some discussion about this dualism people find out about Alan Watts I see that some people reevaluate their position on whether or not to continue to like Alan Watts (meaning feeling cheated while listening to the recordings). That is silly if you ask me. First of all, being an alcoholic is bad but its not the worst of crimes. Second, having many marriages and cheating on your beloved one is stupid, disgusting, a lack of maturity, self awareness and respect. But, the women in his life knew what they were into and what kind of man he was, the choice was theirs. The fact he drank a lot later in his life meanshe probably felt much of the past coming back to him or more simply put, thats his own business. Es ist was es ist.

One cannot think he didnt regret it all somehow and the life as a play talk he gave was interesting and inspiring for us, but for him perhaps a way to distance himself from his own immature behavior. To justify or re-rationalize his life choices. There are many wo/men that we can analyze like this. But to what point? Do you know there are saints who actually were mass murderers? Still people pray over them. If we focus on what ignites the greatness in a person, the messenger becomes irrelevant. Its hard in our culture, that has an inherent addictionof adoring and focusing on the persona and not the message. As if knowing more about the messenger will make us understand and embody the message more

Alan Watts was some kind of messenger, he pointed to some aspects that can (if you pursue them for real) change your life for the better. Remember that today and for all future, its only the recordings that are left, besides the books and some video footage. These are of great benefit andwill get many of us mediocre people interested in the real deal teachers and teachings.

A candle light cannot represent the sun.

For a real teacher, for a real school and for a real path; you have to seek out someone totally pure. In the end it has to be that way. If thats what youre after. A person who is enlightened isnt attached to money, lust, love, career, possessions, politics and so on. There are no twoways about it, not even Alan Watts life as a play ideas can consolidate that ultimate fact. A candle light cannot represent the sun. Likewise bad behavior can never be justified, it can be understood, forgiven, forgotten but never justified.

Alan Watts is one example, Carlos Castaneda is another and a more dirtier one. I remember asking a huge fan of Castanedas book about how he felt on the hoax, the whole blatant and tragic hoax of Castanedas lifestyle. He answered that he didnt want to think about it, somewhat evasive. Yet, if you read the first three books, youll get heavily inspired, and that will stick with you for the rest of your life. (The other books and the whole Castaneda thing after that is a waste of time). Thats my take on Castaneda and they did inspire me.

If youre really into freedom then you must learn how to feel free taking the best of things even from the worst of sources whoever or whatever those might be. Thich Nhat Hanh said something like you need manure to grow a beautiful garden. Which is a wonderful way to look at things, embracing it all and seeing the potential from every outcome. Even the problematic sides of yourself and others.

Sometimes just trying something passionately and hard is worth a lot, and even if failure looms around the corner. The effort and actions can bless other people. Here is Alans daughter Anne Watts in an interview about her father and her own work. She kind of demystifies her father, really worth watching. Also, check out this discussion from another blog Alan Watts Revealed and Reconsidered.

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Alan Watts Hoax? Alcoholic? Genius? Guru? Sanjin umii

OSHO: There Is No Goal

"My whole life I have been telling you there is no goal! Life is its own goal. There is nothing outside life that you have to achieve. All achievement is the projection of the ego. The very idea of achievement is ambition. What you achieve does not matter -- money, power, knowledge; these are not in any way going to give you life. In fact, in achieving power, in achieving money, in achieving prestige, in achieving any other ambition, you are losing your life, you are sacrificing your life."

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