Finally, a day about people like me…LOL. Middle Child Syndrome is real and this article from webmd.com explains why birth order can be difficult for some children.

From webmd.com:

If a couple has two children and a third on the way, will the birth of their third child affect the personality of the second-born? Some psychologists think so. Here’s what to know about “middle-child syndrome.”‌

What Is Middle-Child Syndrome?

Many experts who study personality believe that your family’s birth order plays a role in your development. They see “middle-child syndrome” as the idea that if you’re neither the oldest child nor the youngest, you get less attention from your parents and feel “caught in the middle”.‌ As a result, you may take on certain personality traits that are different from those of your older and younger siblings.

Can Birth Order Affect Personality?

Middle-child syndrome is part of the psychology behind birth order. Birth order ranges from firstborn, or oldest; to second-born, third-born, and so forth; to youngest, sometimes called the last born. Though many experts think birth order is important to personality and family structure, not everyone is on board.

A psychology pioneer named Alfred Adler introduced the idea that birth order affects the development of a child. He believed that how many siblings a child has can affect the child’s potential.  Adler thought that even though children grew up in the same household, their personalities wouldn’t be the same. He said that each child should be looked at as an individual and that each child would differ based on their order of succession. ‌

Still, middle-child syndrome isn’t recognized as an official condition. Many researchers have disagreed with Adler’s theories. Even researchers who believe in that middle-child syndrome have trouble applying it to all middle children. For example, they find that there may be a relationship between birth order and being outgoing. But it is more likely to be true for males than for females.

Characteristics of a Middle Child

Do you, or does someone you know, have middle-child syndrome? Think about whether you know any middle children with these personality traits:  

Rebellious. They’re also less religious than their siblings and parents. Still, they’re less likely to act out against their parents.‌

Sociable.  They’re good at being mediators and want fairness in situations. They’re also trustworthy friends and work well as team members.

Not as family-oriented as their siblings. They may have a stronger sense of not belonging than their siblings do. So, even though many can be great when working in groups, some middle children can struggle when working with others. 

Feeling overshadowed.  They come to believe that their parents don’t care about them. Looking back as adults, they express a negative view of childhood.

Mobile.  They’re often the first sibling to move out of the house. They’re also more likely to move the farthest away. This stems from their feeling misunderstood by their families.

Not perfectionists. Still, they tend to take up something that an older sibling isn’t so great at. For example, if the older sibling is a scholar, the second-born may focus on athletics.‌

Outstanding Qualities of Middle Children

Despite how you may see yourself as the middle child, you will learn how to act, make friends, and come into your own by watching your siblings or peers. But it seems that your status also can drive you to excel. This may come from feeling second-best compared with your older or younger siblings. 

Some well-known middle children have been or continue to be great negotiators, trailblazers, and fighters for justice. Among them are Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Charles Darwin, Madonna, Bill Gates, and Nabisco CEO Michael Gerstner. These middle children used their personality traits to help them gain success. 

As a middle child, you may not be a perfectionist, but you may be more open to taking risks and to new ideas. In studies, 85% of middle children showed such openness, compared with 50% of firstborns. ‌

You may be more skilled at persuasiveness and debate. You probably can see more than one side of an argument, which makes you empathetic. Some middle children claim that their success is due in part to their ability to compromise. ‌

If middle-child syndrome is real, it might be the middle child’s sense of their own uniqueness that has led to many discoveries, important theories, and social movements. 

From: isitaholidaytoday.com:

Balloons to Heaven Day is a heartwarming celebration that unites individuals in honoring the cherished lives of loved ones who have passed away. This meaningful day involves releasing balloons into the sky, each carrying messages, prayers, and memories of those who are no longer with us.

The Story Behind Balloons to Heaven Day

This distinctive holiday is rooted in the comforting belief that our loved ones remain with us in spirit, even in their physical absence. It’s a time to reflect on the treasured memories shared with those who have departed and to find solace in the thought that they continue to watch over us, offering guidance and love.

The Symbolism of Releasing Balloons

The act of releasing balloons into the sky serves as a powerful symbol of letting go and finding peace. As these balloons ascend toward the heavens, they carry with them the emotions, memories, and heartfelt messages of those who grieve. This touching gesture reminds us that even in death, our loved ones continue to inspire and guide us.

Through this act, we visually represent the connection between the earthly realm and the spiritual domain. It’s a beautiful way to acknowledge the enduring nature of love and the eternal bond we share with those who have passed on. The sight of vibrant balloons drifting upward can be both healing and uplifting, a testament to love’s unending presence.

How to Celebrate Balloons to Heaven Day

Release Balloons into the Sky: Gather with friends and family to release balloons into the sky, each carrying messages, prayers, or simply the names of loved ones who have departed. This collective act can foster a sense of unity and shared remembrance.

Share Your Story: Take a moment to share stories and memories of your loved ones, celebrating their lives and the profound impact they had on those around them. Storytelling can be a powerful way to keep their legacy alive.

Find Comfort in Community: Connect with others who have experienced loss and find solace in the knowledge that you are not alone in your grief. Community support can be a valuable resource in the healing process.

The Significance of Balloons to Heaven Day

“Balloons to Heaven Day is a beautiful way to acknowledge the love and connection that transcends even death itself. It’s a reminder that our loved ones are always with us, guiding us and inspiring us to live our best lives.”

This special day serves as a poignant reminder of the power of love and the importance of honoring those who have come before us. By participating in Balloons to Heaven Day, we embrace the comforting knowledge that our loved ones are always with us, watching over us from above.

Take a moment to pause, reflect, and remember the lives of those who have touched our hearts. As the balloons soar into the sky, let them carry your messages and memories into the heavens, where they will be met with love, compassion, and understanding. This act of remembrance not only honors those who have passed but also strengthens the bonds of love that connect us to them forever.

SOURCE: ISITAHOLIDAY.COM

I found this article on thefactsite.com that details some healthy habits to adopt this year.

From thefactsite.com:

Our habits reveal what kind of person we are. That’s why creating healthy habits and breaking bad ones is important, especially when it comes to things like succeeding or feeling happier. Regardless of your reason, in this article, you’ll discover the healthy habits that are worth trying, ranging from minimizing screen time to learning something new every day. With that said, keep on reading, and let’s make this year worthwhile!

Avoid doom-scrolling.

Too much screen time has been a problem these days. And one culprit of it is scrolling too much on social media. It can be addicting to the point you find yourself consuming content for hours on social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. This bad habit can make you waste a lot of time and prevent you from achieving the goals you’ve set or keeping your New Year’s resolutions. To avoid mindlessly scrolling, consider turning off your notifications, setting time limits for app usage, and deleting apps that always distract you.

Eat for nutrition, not just for pleasure.

It’s kind of annoying that healthy foods typically taste bad while unhealthy ones make your mouth water. However, it doesn’t always have to be this way, as there are some ways to make healthier foods taste yummy! Some examples would be roasting your veggies or adding herbs and spices to it. It’s also worth noting that eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean you only eat fruits and vegetables. You can still take a bite of that donut or drink those sugary drinks. Just remember to consume them in moderation!

Exercise consistently.

Besides eating healthier, exercising is one of the things that’s always in the conversation if health is the topic. After all, working out improves your physical and mental health without making your wallet cry. But I want you to know that not everyone who works out becomes healthy. Why so? Well, it’s due to a lack of consistency.  So, don’t think that one day or even a month of exercising is enough to keep you in shape for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way (although we wish it did)!

Wake up earlier than usual.

Research at the University of Westminster, UK, discovered that people who wake up earlier have higher cortisol levels, which is associated with energy and productivity. That explains why people generally feel more energized and motivated to accomplish their daily tasks when they wake up early rather than late. It’s worth reminding, though, that for this to be a healthy habit, you need to get to bed early enough; going to bed late and waking up early is terrible for you!

Socialize more.

While spending time with your own thoughts can be a good thing, too much of it can be a buzzkill for your mental health. That’s why you also have to interact with others since it prevents loneliness, increases happiness, and even improves your memory. So, get yourself out there, have some chit-chats, and make new friends! But just like fact number two, remember that balance is key since both socializing and spending time alone have their fair share of pros and cons.

Take up journaling.

Whenever you write down your thoughts and feelings, it helps you process your emotions, reduce stress, and reflect on yourself. In other words, journaling is essential for your mental well-being! But other than improving your mental health, journaling also serves as a documentary of your life. Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be nice to flick back through old journals, and reflect on how far you’ve come along?

Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness meditation is about meditating while being in the moment, accepting whatever thoughts come into your mind without judgment. As a result, you gain more focus, reduce stress levels, and become less emotionally reactive. Keep in mind, though, that mindfulness doesn’t just revolve around meditation. It can also be practiced with other activities, like yoga, tai chi, and qigong.

Implement a skincare routine.

According to dermatologists, a proper skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. All you really need are three things: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. They say anything other than the three mentioned are just optional. Looking after your skin is a great habit to adopt, since, just like exercising, skincare not only benefits your physical but also your mental well-being.

This is because caring for your skin activates happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin and boosts self-confidence, making you look good and feel good!

Get organized.

Becoming an organized person has many mental health benefits. It eliminates distractions and stress in your surroundings, making you feel relaxed or giving you peace of mind. As the saying goes, “A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind.” In addition, when you plan and organize what you eat daily, you also become physically healthier. Now, I know some claim being messy can boost your creativity; even Albert Einstein implied that an empty desk equates to an empty mind. But hey, if disorganization deteriorates your life, then copying them might not be a great idea!

Become a lifelong learner.

There’s a saying that the day you stop learning is the day you stop growing. This alone is enough to make us realize how important lifelong learning is. But to be more specific, learning consistently can provide you with many benefits. For example, it can keep your brain healthy, increase self-esteem, and make life a little more interesting! So, starting from now on, become the best and healthiest version of yourself by reading a book, learning a new skill, or picking up a new hobby!

Habits can make you or break you. And while you can’t do anything about the unhealthy habits you’ve had in the past, like always using your phone and waking up late, I’m here to tell you it’s never too late to change! Let this be a sign to replace them with healthy ones today. Start cleaning your place, never let a day pass without learning something new, and become a skincare fanatic. Of course, changing your habits is easier said than done. But please don’t use this as an excuse not to start improving your life!

SOURCE: THEFACTSITE.COM

Nebraska Filly brought this open to our sister site Marica is a Honey Badger and it resonated with me so much, I asked if I could bring it here!

“A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed..

‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—-your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else—-the small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first—-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Thanks Filly for this thought provoking lesson!

I found this inspirational article on the all that’s interesting website about Erik Weihenmayer—who climbed Mount Everest despite being blind.

From: allthatsinteresting.com:

“I was afraid that I wasn’t going to be able to participate in life,” Erik Weihenmayer remembered thinking after he first went blind at 14. But that’s not how things turned out.

Ever since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first documented summit of Mount Everest in 1953, climbers have been competing for other “firsts” on the mountain. And in 2001, American mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer accomplished one of the most astounding Everest firsts of all when he reached the treacherous peak despite the fact that he was blind.

Erik Weihenmayer: Blind Mountaineer

Erik Weihenmayer, born in New Jersey in 1968, was just four years old when he was diagnosed with retinoschisis, a rare disease (sometimes hereditary, sometimes of unknown origin) resulting in the progressive loss of sight. By the time he was just 14, Weihenmayer was completely blind.  As he himself put it, “I was afraid that I wasn’t going to be able to participate in life.” But thanks to his parents’ insistence and encouragement, Weihenmayer actually became more physically active after he became blind, taking up both wrestling and rock climbing.

“Shortly after going blind, I received a newsletter in Braille about a group taking blind kids rock climbing,” Weihenmayer recalled. “I thought to myself, who would be crazy enough to take a blind kid rock climbing? So I signed up!”

After graduating from college, Weihenmayer became a teacher and also joined the Arizona Mountaineering Club, spending his free time rock climbing. Soon it was much more than just a hobby and in 1995 he reached the top of Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America.

“After this exhilarating feat,” he said, “I then decided that I wanted to commit to a life as a full-time adventurer.” And he did. Weihenmayer went on to scale three more of the seven highest mountains in the world (the “Seven Summits,” or highest mountains on each continent) before finally setting his sights on Mount Everest in 2001.

Preparing For Everest

Mount Everest has long been a lure for adventurers — though it also serves as a graveyard for many of them. What’s more, the mountain’s low oxygen levels and frigid temperatures mean that many of the climbers who perished on their ascents remain stunningly well-preserved corpses on the slopes, serving as gruesome reminders of the dangers of the mountain.

And in 2001, Erik Weihenmayer was preparing to attempt this same perilous climb — despite having a handicap that none of them had.

It wasn’t just physical obstacles that Weihenmayer and his team would face in the quest to summit Everest. They had difficulties recruiting Sherpa guides (who are so often the difference between life and death on the mountain), due to the perceived risk of working with a blind climber.

But once Weihenmayer arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, the locals were so surprised at the ease with which he got around that they thought he was actually lying about being blind. After convincing them that he was indeed both blind and physically capable, the Sherpas agreed to the expedition.

However, it wasn’t just the Sherpas who had doubts. Weihenmayer also faced backlash from other climbers who doubted his ability and expressed serious concerns about his attempt. In an interview with Men’s Journal, American climber and Everest veteran Ed Viesturs said, “I support [Weihenmayer’s] going. But I wouldn’t want to take him up there myself.”

Although Weihenmayer was hurt by all the doubt, he was well aware that he would be facing challenges that other mountaineers would never have to worry about. As Viesturs went on to explain, “He can’t assess the weather, or the ice-fall, or the ladders you have to crawl across” — and one misjudged step could send him careening down the slopes to his death.

But Weihenmayer was no mountaineering novice who was simply determined to reach the world’s highest peak at great risk to his other team members. He had been climbing for 16 years at this point and, far from being a hindrance to his climbing teammates, he had often been the one to offer them assistance. In response to Viesturs comments, Weihenmayer simply replied, “He hadn’t seen any part of my life except for the fact that I was blind.”

A 2017 interview with Erik Weihenmayer from TODAY.

The Ascent and Beyond

The journey to the top was certainly harrowing. Members of the group would take turns guiding Weihenmayer through the gaps and crevasses, shouting out instructions, “Slot coming up, two steps!” or “Clear traveling for the next ten steps.” But it was Weihenmayer’s own endurance and mountaineering skills that ensured he made it to the peak, which he did on May 25.

It was then that Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind person in history to stand on the summit of Mount Everest. He had not only joined the ranks of the few who have been to the highest spot on the planet, but he had also effectively silenced all of his critics.

And by 2008, he had climbed the rest of the Seven Summits, becoming one of only 150 people to have ever accomplished this, yet another incredible feat in an incredible career.

SOURCE: ALLTHATSINTERESTING.COM By Gina Dimuro | Edited By John Kuroski

Thank you Filly and all who serve or have served our country!

Today is President Trump’s birthday! Happy Birthday, Sir!

Is that First Lady Melania over there?

How do you really feel about our country, Sir?

I think I see Hitlery in the crowd that’s gathering…see her?

How do you feel about Fani Willis’s troubles, Sir?

Are you ready to take on Jack Smith and his corrupted case, Sir?

What do you think of Joe Biden, Sir?

What are the chances that Joe is actually running the country?

So how do you feel coming into this election season, Sir?

Do you think you’ll be able to turn this country around, Sir?

We’ll see you in November President Trump!