Amazing Pieces of Advice from Ted Mosby (how I met your mother)

The amazing advice from Ted Mosby is a big reason why I watch How I Met Your Mother. I love each and every character on the show, but it seems like Ted has some of the most profound quotes. Part of what makes How I Met Your Mother so great is that all of the characters and scenarios are relatable. I have found that these pieces of advice from Ted Mosby have helped me in my own life and I think they will help you too.

1. ON 2AM…

One of my favorite pieces of advice from Ted Mosby is his quote to his kids about making late night choices. “When it’s after 2am, just go to sleep. Because the decisions you make after 2am are the wrong decisions.” This episode is about Ted Mosby making a very bad decision late one night. The show centers around Ted Mosby, played by Josh Radnor, telling the story to his children of how he met their mother. Out of all the bits of advice he shares with them throughout the series, I think this one is the best. This is a piece of advice we can apply to our own lives. Normally late night decisions are selfish, unwise, and made on a whim. You don’t want to wake up the next morning with regret, so you’re better off just going to sleep at 2am.

2. ON LIFE…

“Because sometimes even if you know how something’s gonna end that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride.” This quote from Ted Mosby is one we need to remember more often. This piece of advice can apply to sad or happy endings. Life is beautiful and you’re better off appreciating every moment of it, happy or sad. Even if you know how something will end, try to enjoy the ride until you get to the destination. Sometimes this is easier to do when looking back on a situation, and that can be helpful too, but this advice works best when applying it to the present.

3. ON LOVE…

Most of How I Met Your Mother chronicles Ted Mosby’s dating life until he finally meets the woman he marries. In the show he goes through many heartbreaks and bad relationships. In one episode, he has an epiphany. “Shouldn’t we hold out for someone that doesn’t just tolerate our little quirks but actually kinda likes them?” In other words, don’t settle. There is someone out there who will love you for all your quirks. Don’t settle for someone who just tolerates you. As Ted proves in the show, there is no rush to find love, it’s better off to wait for the person who truly understands you as opposed to settling on someone who just tolerates you.

4. ON FATE…

This quote is another one of my favorites that Ted tells his children. “The great moments of your life won't necessarily be the things you do, they'll also be the things that happen to you. Now, I'm not saying you can't take action to affect the outcome of your life, you have to take action, and you will. But never forget that on any day, you can step out the front door and your whole life can change forever. You see, the universe has a plan kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings, and it starts to rain. It's a scary thought but it's also kind of wonderful. All these little parts of the machine constantly working, making sure that you end up exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place at the right time.” Ted Mosby definitely has a point here. A simple, every day act has the potential to change your life forever. Now is that good motivation to get out of bed in the morning, or what?

5. ON THE PAST…

Too often in life, I find myself looking back to the past instead of enjoying the present. If you’re like me, than you’ll find this Ted Mosby quote useful. “You can’t cling to the past because no matter how tightly you hold on, it’s already gone.” The past is in the past. It may be hard to accept, but accepting it is essential in order to live a fulfilling life in the present.

6. ON WAITING FOR A SIGN…

“You can ask the universe for a sign all you want, but ultimately, we only see what we want to see when we’re ready for it.” This Ted Mosby quote is so wise. Sometimes we ignore the “signs” or don’t listen to good advice from our friends or family simply because we don’t want to deal with it yet. It could be because we aren’t ready, or we just don’t want to see what’s out there. If you’re in a tough spot, maybe all you need is to open yourself up to new possibilities.

7. ON CHANGING…

One of my favorite episodes of How I Met Your Mother is about the gang finding their doppelgängers around town. They are obsessed with finding one for each person in their inner circle. During the episode, Ted has a revelation, “But eventually, over time, we all become our own doppelgängers, you know, these completely different people who just happen to look like us.” How true is this in life? Sometimes we look back on our life and wonder when we became the person we are today. Sometimes it’s a good change, other times it’s not, but change is a part of life nonetheless.

I can't wait for the next season of How I Met Your Mother  Ted finally meets "Her" pwheww.

I hope you appreciate this wisdom from Ted Mosby as much as I do. I think he is one of the greatest characters on television right now because of his great advice.

Do you have a favorite piece of advice from Ted Mosby?

TIPS ON HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN YOUR CAREER AND PERSONAL LIFE

We all know it’s very hard sometimes to find and maintain a perfect balance between your career and personal life. It’s not always easy to face both your challenges from work and duties at home. If you spend too much time at work, you might miss out on a few significant things in your personal life, but if you focus too much on other things and neglect your job, this might have some unpleasant and unwanted consequences for your financial status. It’s hard, but at the same time, not impossible to find the perfect balance between your career and personal life. Just read on and find out how you can do this!

MANAGE YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY

One of the best tips I could give you on how to find and keep a perfect balance between your career and personal life is to advise you to learn how to manage your time efficiently. You could put together a calendar of your family schedule that could contain the most important days in your life, the events you have to attend and also, a list of your chores. This way, you will always know what you have to do and when you have to do it or where you have to go, and you’ll avoid all that stress associated with deadlines.

DON’T BRING YOUR PROBLEMS HOME FROM WORK

Another mistake people often do when it comes to finding the perfect balance between career and personal life is the fact that they forget to set some clear boundaries between those two and they end up bringing home their problems from work. By doing this, you can actually harm not only yourself but your entire family as well. No one will be happy by seeing you stressed out, upset or even angry. So, learn how to set clear boundaries and stick to them.

WHEN YOU’RE AT WORK, FOCUS ONLY ON WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO

If you’re that type of person that always likes to help other people and everybody turns to you when they’re facing some difficulties, then try to be more assertive sometimes. Of course, it’s nice to be appreciated by other people, but sometimes that appreciation may cost you too much. Learn how to act in an assertive manner, learn how to say no, and when you’re at work try to focus only on what you have to do. This way you’ll avoid long hours because you’ve helped someone and you didn’t have time to finish your own work.

DEDICATE AT LEAST ONE DAY EVERY WEEK TO YOUR LOVED ONES

If you’re always extremely busy, even during the weekends, you should always try to make some time and save one day of the week for spending some quality fun time with your loved ones, whether they’re your family or your friends. This will help you feel more relaxed, it will recharge your batteries and your loved ones will appreciate it too, ‘cos they probably miss you a lot during the week.

DON’T TAKE YOUR WORK HOME!

Always keep in mind that you have to find the perfect balance between work and your personal life. In order to do that, at the end of your work day, avoid taking your work home because you didn’t have enough time to complete your tasks during your work hours. First, find out why this has happened; maybe you have too many tasks and too little time to do them, or maybe you don’t focus enough at work and you waste some precious time doing nothing. Taking work home or doing work-related activities in your spare time is not the answer!

TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF

Each day, you should try to take some time to yourself (no matter how little it would be), to do something you enjoy like walking, going to a gym, talking on the phone with a dear friend or with a family member, reading a good book or listening to your favorite song. Always make some time for yourself, no matter how busy you are! After all, you are the one who counts the most, not your job and not your work duties.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

There’s nothing more dangerous to your health than working without having enough sleep. You’ll affect your productivity and you can make some pretty expensive mistakes, too, if you’re always tired on the job. Be sure to always get enough rest and get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. By being more rested, your mood will improve, you’ll face your daily challenges much easier and you’ll have the time and the energy for your friends and family.

It is extremely important to find and to keep the perfect balance between your career and personal life in order to live a happy fulfilled life. Do you manage to do this or do you feel overwhelmed sometimes?

If you’re one of the lucky people who managed to find the perfect work-life balance, please share your advice with me and tell me how you did it!

20 Ridiculous Phrases Men Use To Break Up With Ladies

The "It's not you, it's me." line isn't the most ridiculous one men came up with to break up with us. There's lots more where that came from!

I've just put together a list of 20 Ridiculous Break Up Phrases from Men I've ever heard of and my translation of what they really mean!

Have you heard even better ones than these? Please share them with me and we'll complete this list together! ;)

1. "I'M JUST NOT READY FOR A RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW, BUT IF I WERE... YOU'D BE THE ONE!"

aka:"I'm still not ready to spend the rest of my life sleeping with one person, but if I were, it might be you."

2. "I STILL REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU."

aka: "... Just not enough to really date you or spend much time with you. But I still care!"

3. "I'D LOVE TO STILL BE FRIENDS AND HANG OUT AFTER ALL THIS."

aka: "Can you hook me up with your hot friends after you get over me dumping you?"

4. REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON (FILL IN THE BLANK... SCHOOL, JOB, GOD, WHATEVER) RIGHT NOW."

aka: "I don't think you'll take this break-up well, but you can't argue with this one."

5. "I'M MOVING TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, BUT I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I GET BACK."

aka: "I've got to get away from you, fast!"

6. "YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER THAN ME!"

aka: "And I know I can do so much better than you!"

7. IT HAS BEEN SO  GREAT GETTING TO KNOW YOU, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH OTHER PEOPLE."

aka: "I've already met someone I'd rather spend more time with."

8. "I'VE GOT A FEAR OF COMMITMENT."

aka: "I've got a fear of being tied to you for life!"

9. "I'M FEELING SMOTHERED, AND I JUST NEED TO GET SOME SPACE."

aka: "You're way too in my business, too fast - I am ready to get you out."

10.  "THE GUY WHO MARRIES YOU IS SO LUCKY!"

aka: "I just hope I'm not that lucky!"

11. "I THINK WE NEED TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE AND JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS."

aka: "I'm already sleeping with someone else, and I'm just telling you this before you find out."

12. "I STILL WANT TO BE WITH YOU, BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE A BREAK."

aka: "I want to try sleeping around, but keep you close in case I can't find anyone else."

13. I'VE GOT A LOT OF ISSUES I NEED TO WORK ON RIGHT NOW."

aka: "My main issue is that I'm just not that into you."

14. "I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE MORE OF A FRIEND THAN A GIRLFRIEND TO ME."

aka: "You're just not as cute as you were when we started dating."

15. "I JUST NEED SOMETHING MORE."

aka: "I'm not sure what more is, but I'm kind of bored, and this line sounds really convincing."

16. "I'M STILL NOT OVER MY EX."

aka: Ouch. This one's probably true.

17. "I WISH WE'D MET FIVE YEARS FROM NOW INSTEAD."

aka: "I'm really not that mature right now, but I probably will be in five years, and then I could've made a great boyfriend/husband!"

18. "WE'RE JUST IN TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLACES IN OUR LIVES!"

aka: "I'm in this place called I Want to Go Out Drinking, Partying, and Sleeping Around, and you're in this place called Let's Settle Down, and those two places don't fit well together."

19. "I JUST RESPECT YOU SO MUCH."

aka: "Please don't tell your friends I'm a jerk, because I might want to date some of them."

20. "I THINK WE GOT TOO CLOSE, TOO FAST."

aka: "When you put your toothbrush beside mine in the bathroom, that really freaked me out."

Post in the comments and let me know the worst ones you've heard of! There must be plenty I missed on ...xoxo, Jay.

7 REASONS NOT TO WEAR A THONG

Have you ever thought of reasons not to wear a thong? It seems like we’re always encouraged to wear one since we all want to avoid the dreaded VPL or visible panty line, but is it the only way to go? I’m not anti-thong by any means, but I wanted to share some of the reasons many women decide against wearing the illustrious thong. If you’re a die-hard thong fan, check out some of the reasons not to wear a thong and let us know what you think!

1. INFECTION

One of the top reasons not to wear a thong for many women is due to the risk of infection. According to Adelaide Nardone OB-GYN, the thong acts as a connector and it can create a free ride for bacteria from your perineum to your vagina causing a yeast infection. Nardone also adds that thongs tend to rub, which can cause tiny tears in your vagina as well.

2. LACK OF PROTECTION

Another common reason medical professionals advise against frequent thong wear is the lack of protection the teeny weeny thong provides. Dr. Harlan Wichelhaus, an obstetrician and gynecologist from the Specialty Obstetrics Gynecology and Fertility Department in Texas City, states that frequent thong wear can cause lacerations of the anus and hemorrhoids. In addition, Wichelhaus says that thongs can cut off circulation to the vaginal area!

3. CLEAR VISIBILITY

While many ladies prefer to bypass a visible panty line, thongs can make things a little too visible at times. If you’re wearing sheer pants, low-rise pants or a sheer or short skirt, you can end up showing off a lot more than you intended! A strong gust of wind and your cheeks can be on full display. Sheer pants with the wrong thong can put your bum on display more than VPL would!

4. NOT FOOLPROOF

Many believe that wearing a thong guarantees a seamless backside, but that’s not always the case. Even the most well-meaning thong can still show lines. While it’s less likely you’ll get the bulky look of panties, ill-fitting thongs can still create their own panty line as well as create an unsightly bulge around the stomach and reveal itself at the waistline.

5. RIDING UP

Wearing a thong also does not guarantee that your undies won’t ride up on you. While a lot of this might have to do with the type of thong underwear you wear, thongs can ride up just like other types of underwear. Whether they’re sliding or riding up your jeans or bum, numerous women feel that thongs can still be just as uncomfortable as other types of underwear. The bottom line is, thongs are not wedgie-free!

6. IRRITATION

Another common complaint amongst women who don’t prefer thong underwear is that thongs can irritate sensitive skin down there. Again, this won’t be the case for all women. Some women find that thongs are the most comfy, but for some, thongs can irritate the vaginal area. If you have hemorrhoids or already have an infection, thongs are definitely to be avoided at all costs!

7. BACTERIA

The last reason to not to wear a thong has to do with working out. When we’re working out, we obviously move around a lot and get hot and sweaty. All of that moisture and friction combined with wearing a thong can be a breeding ground for bacteria! Always wear cotton undies when working out and switching to seamless panties might be a better option when you’re working out!

So what do you think, ladies? I think there are both good reasons for wearing and not wearing thongs, but would you ever change your mind about wearing thong underwear?

Source

Let It Go, Let It Flow: Why You Should’t Hold On To Negative Feelings From Past Relationships

Culled

It’s not unusual to hear a bruised woman say, “Eff love, I’m through with it” and carry a negative attitude about men for from then on. I mean, there are tons of songs based on sorry men and damaged females, TV shows that highlight good women turned cold (Snapped anyone?) and male-bashing movies that crucify men like they are the worst things next to the devil (ahem, Waiting to Exhale). Don’t get me wrong, those evil heart-breaking men do exist—I’ve ran into quite a few, witnessed them in action, and experienced some of my own, not to mention the ones in my family (sheesh!)—but letting those bad seeds dictate your outlook on men is the wrong thing to do. Here’s why:

Number one, everything that happens in life should be a learning experience. No matter how many guys have cheated on you, lied to you, hurt you, or manipulated you, learn from it and find peace. Oftentimes, the people we attract are a reflection of who we are, or just a case of bad judgment, so look within yourself and see if there’s anything that you need to change. (Hint, hint—you can’t keep dating guys who disrespect their mothers and sisters, walking around with tattoos that read “money over b**ches” and think that he’s going to treat you like a queen—yeah, probably not going to happen). Analyze each situation, pinpoint the problem(s) and realize what you might have ignored, what you could have done differently and can do differently in the future.

If cheating men have always been your problem, let’s not forget that we as women are not perfect and, believe it or not, sometimes give men reasons to step out—not justifying it, just stating facts. You could have left your man feeling lonely and unwanted, or maybe you weren’t supportive at times. Whatever the case, own up to your faults and make sure you don’t bring them into your next relationship.

But even if you were the picture-perfect girlfriend, fiancée or wife, you can still take away good out of a relationship that was bad. He lied to you? Get smarter. Now you know what questions to ask your new man, what to look out for, and to be more careful with whom you let get close to you. He beat you? Yes, he may have bruised you physically, but don’t let it destroy your spirit; grow from it and know the signs to look for in your next mate so that you stay clear of an abuser. Let all of his mistakes guide you to a wiser, stronger, better you so that you will be the best woman possible for your Mr. Right.

Which brings me to my next point. Harboring bad feelings from painful relationships can and will cause you to ruin your chances of finding a great guy—but only if you let it. If you keep holding on to every little negative thing your last partner did to you, you won’t give a good man the chance to love you like you deserve to be loved. It happens all the time. You get so wrapped up in the ideology that all men are dogs that you allow yourself to become angry, weak, and insecure, looking for everything you possibly can find to run a decent man away. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens, he books, and fast. Don’t be that bitter sista who remains so blinded by past rage that she won’t learn from her past and be too afraid to open up her heart and try again. I know it’s hard ladies, but just remember, staying bitter won’t benefit you in any way. Don’t be the butcher of your own happiness. Let it go honey, let it go.

GRAFFITI!: The Street of Sao Paulo in Pictures

More and more tube stations, housing estates and even cemeteries are being covered with colorful spray paint in Sao Paulo. To some eyes, these might look razz, untidy and slummy. To the artistic eye though, these could be seen as talented and beautiful works of art. I don't think graffiti ever got the chance to become popular in Nigeria, except with makeshift signs and notices boards. I remember back in secondary school though, we used to use smoke from candle flames to design ceilings of our dorms and walls, using pencils and markers, they sure looked so beautiful back then even though being caught meant brutal punishment, most likely a suspension.

Here are are more beautiful graffiti from Sao Paulo...They look artsy to me though. What do you think?

Photo Credit: BBC

The Role Advice from people should play in your life

No one knows all the answers, and it’s perfectly okay to try to get an objective view on what direction you should go.  When you’re facing an important life decision and your feelings seem to be stopping you from making just any decision, you might want to call up that friend, that family member, that colleague, and try to get their point of view on which direction you should go.  There’s just a few things about that.

Now, it’s not a bad thing to get advice, but at the same time, every last one of your decisions shouldn’t be dictated to you by other people.  As you grow, your resolve should as well.  It’s an indication of growth, maturity, and progress.  Your knowledge of the possible ramifications should help to shape the foundation of what you do and how you do it.  Especially if you plan on progressing in your path of life.  So strengthen your self-assuredness, and learn how to make a decision that’s not just based on emotion.

But, you’re not a robot, so you will occasionally need some guidance, which will lead you to ask for advice  But, I implore you to see the advice that you get as what it’s intended to be, guidance.  At the end of the day, when someone is telling you what to do, if you blindly follow it, you’re the one who has to live with the consequences of your decisions.

While your emotions might cause you to not be objective, the person that you’re seeking advice from is using their own background knowledge of their own personal experiences of how you should act.  At the end of the day, they’re not seeing it from your perspective, they’re seeing it from their own.  They are putting their own limitations on you, so if it’s something that seems out of their reach, it’s not as if they think that you can’t accomplish it, but because they might have failed at it (or something similar) in the past, it makes them want to shield you from suffering the same fate.  However, their fate might not be your own.

Finally, please remember that whatever you do (or don’t do), you’re the one whose going to have to live with that decision and it’s going to shape the direction that your life goes.  I love the people in my life, but some of my biggest regrets were allowing others to talk me out of something that I really wanted to pursue.  I know that they had good intentions, but at the same time, these people weren’t me.  So, they could go to sleep at night with a clear head, while mine was swamped with thinking of all of the missed opportunities due to someone else’s advice.

So, when you seek out help from others, know that there’s nothing wrong with that.  Asking for guidance doesn’t make you weak, and it might help you see an avenue that you might not have been privy to on your own.  However, just know that if you blindly follow what others are telling you, you’re cheating yourself.  Because at the end of the day, you’re the one who has to live with those consequences.

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