Double Celebration or Unfortunate Coincidence?
Becky Kospanova
Almost everybody knows a person who has their birthday on some major holiday such as Christmas, Independence Day, New Year’s Eve, or similar. What is it like to have your birthday coincide with one of the universally celebrated events? Do people feel twice as lucky to have everybody around them not only celebrate their birthdays but also a major holiday or do they feel somewhat shorthanded by nature?
First of all, many of these people are in good company because a number of celebrities have had their birthdays on holidays. For example, such famous people as Sir Isaac Newton, brilliant mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, was born on Christmas Day in 1642; renowned actor Humphrey Bogart and actress Sissy Spacek were also born on Christmas (in 1899 and 1949, respectively); playwright Neil Simon (1927), actress Gina Lollobrigida (1928), and George Steinbrenner (1930), late owner of New York Yankees, were all born on July 4, Independence Day; New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was born on Valentine’s Day in 1942, and so on. Apparently, the fact that these people, just to name a few, were born on a holiday date did not prevent them from achieving impressive heights in their careers and lives.
There are probably two ways to deal with the fact that you, or somebody close to you, were born on a holiday date. On a positive side, it might feel that the whole world is celebrating with you! Generally, there is an all-around celebratory atmosphere during holidays: stores are beautifully decorated and sell holiday cards and gifts; people seem to be more relaxed and happy in anticipation of festivities; and often you, your friends, and family members have some time off work which makes it possible for all of you to have a large party together. Moreover, if you are lucky you might get twice as many presents as everybody else around you in honor of your birthday as well as a holiday.
On the other hand, some people feel less special because their birthdays fall on major holidays. In the midst of holiday rush, they might think that their birthday takes second place compared to a holiday. It is especially true for little children who do not yet have enough skills and psychological maturity to deal with the pressure of coinciding birthday and a holiday. Worse yet if these children do not receive separate gifts for their birthdays and, for example, Christmas because it inevitably diminishes the value of their birthdays and makes them feel less special on this day; after all, all their friends receive gifts without being born on this day. For such people, it would be a good idea to celebrate their birthdays a day before or after a holiday to separate the dates. If it is impossible to celebrate separately, it would be nice to make an extra effort to honor birthday boy or girl. Special cake, gift, or granting of the wish go a long way in making someone feel cherished and loved.
In any case, whether your birthday falls on a major holiday or not, it is always a reason to have a celebration with your friends and family and be happy that you were given a gift of Life!

It is undeniable that pets bring something special into our lives. Whether your choice of a pet is conventional (such as cats, dogs, ferrets, hamsters, fish, etc.) or more exotic (snakes, iguanas, tarantulas, monkeys, etc.), there is nothing like a warm feeling we get when we play and communicate with our pets. The number of American households that have pets is rather impressive – according to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 78.2 million dogs and 86.4 million cats owned by people in the country (two most popular kinds of pets).
As spring arrives and everything around us starts blooming, not one person can remain untouched by the wonder and beauty of Mother Nature. However, for many unfortunate people spring brings not just enjoyment and happiness but also seasonal allergies. In a nutshell, allergy is an adverse reaction of human immune system to foreign substances (called allergens) which can lead to many symptoms ranging from coughing, sneezing, runny nose and scratchy throat to hives, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure, and even anaphylactic death. While people can suffer from different kinds of allergies (food, pets, latex, drug, insects, etc.), seasonal allergy is the most prevalent kind. In fact, as many as 40 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies; and the number keeps growing due to such factors as climate change and environmental pollution.
On January 23, 2013 Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the military was going to rescind an official ban on participation of women in direct combat which was put in effect back in 1994. The implementation of this decision would be gradual but is expected to be fully put in place by 2016. Under 1994 ruling, women in military were prevented from direct involvement in front-line combat in artillery, infantry, armor and similar roles. Given the large number of women enlisted in military (according to 2012 statistics provided by the Department of Defense there were 214,098 women in active duty and 118,781 women in reserve), the decision to lift the ban was certainly groundbreaking and incited a lot of discussion regarding the role women play in US military nowadays.
Most often, people argue that women, simply because of biology, are not as strong physically as men to endure the hardships of direct combat. Despite the argument of the proponents of the ban that modern war is mostly push-button war and physical strength is not as important as it has been previously, physical strength matters. From carrying heavy loads and running at length it is still undeniable that a person must be physically strong to be an effective soldier. While all soldiers need to pass physical tests, the requirements differ for women and men – and men are expected to perform more strenuous tasks compared to women. In addition, many people maintain that it is important to consider psychological aspects of women being involved in front-line combat. For example, there is a possibility of sexual relationships between male and female soldiers which has the potential of affecting the efficacy and comradely spirit of the unit. Also, many people believe that men will instinctively try to protect their female counterparts and the effectiveness of their military units might be reduced as a result. Moreover, the opponents of the lift of the ban argue that it puts women in very dangerous position because women are more likely to be sexually assaulted and tortured by enemies in case of capture. Some also believe that men will have more difficulties serving under female command which will negatively affect military performance of US army.
Will we Truly live again? Instead of fearing death, consider the eternal cycle of life. Death of our earthly body IS simply part of the Perfection of life, for there IS an Essence within each of us that IS the purest form of love and never dies. Rather, it only changes its form. It IS the soul, and we are part of the continuation of the soul’s journey. When we listen to the whisperings of the soul, we are filled with hope and peace.
Living a traveler’s life or living a life out of your comfort zone is something that will turn you from that ordinary corporate or from the ordinary house maker, to someone who is a hero or a campfire superstar. But this doesn’t mean, you head straight to your boss’s cabin, and give your resignation. These journeys will test you fully for which you will need some preparation, but at the same time, they will revitalize you, will help you connect with nature and will give you time for introspection and will help you achieve your ultimate nirvana. Therefore, a traveler’s life is much more than just going to places, instead he tends to explore himself while visiting all these places.

Everybody, in today’s world wants happiness and is striving to work for it. But what happens when this happiness is turned into pain or the small, little pleasure of our life become difficult due to the various complexities we create around us? This is to say, what if, the pleasures in which you seek happiness such as aesthetic beauty, being wealthy, success, health, talent etc., turns into pain or, what if, the distinction between pain and pleasure is wiped out?
“Feelings of inadequacy can plague you sometimes, causing you to feel envious of those blessings that others enjoy. If you spend an inordinate amount of time comparing yourself to the people around you, your ability to appreciate the gifts that are uniquely your own can falter.
On February 11, 2013 Pope Benedict XVI declared that he will resign on February 28, 2013 due to advanced age and failing health which prevent him from carrying out his duties as Pope with necessary vigor. Considering that he is the first Pope to step down while alive in almost 600 years, it is no wonder that the world was stunned by his announcement. The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII who was forced to do so in 1415 to end the dispute with a rival papal candidate; and the last Pope to step down willingly was Pope Celestine V who resigned in 1295 after serving as Pope for only five months.
ll too familiar? Then you have teenagers in the house. Most parents have heard their teenager use one of these sayings at some point. A communication problem is one of the most common reasons parents give for experiencing difficulties with their teenagers. While it can be frustrating for both parties, there are steps that you can take to help bring about a solution to what is a difficult time for both parties.

Should Anyone Be Able To Purchase Military Style Weapons?
I believe that one of the great Spiritual Practices IS Gratitude. Prayer and meditation help us to make our Divine connection active and conscious, forgiveness frees us from past hurts and wrongs, and gratitude provides an open place of receptivity for gifts and inspiration. Each practice allows us closeness to God, and each provides a form of communication. For its part, there is great joy in gratitude. In fact, gratitude holds so much meaning for the Spiritual student that it is included as a step in Spiritual Mind Treatment.