4 Awesome Science Fiction Books to Read this Summer

Summer is the, in my opinion, the best time of the year! The sun is living is sunniest days and the beach is throwing its playful waves. Apart from it, the clear skies makes every day perfect for any outdoor activity like going on road trips, reading while getting tanned, playing outdoor, and of course eating ice creams. There is just so much to do and things to discover when its summer — like reading and books! It is undeniable that rainy days, a good book, and a cup of coffee are among the most wonderful combinations. But the heat of the sun, the stories of a book, and the color of tan is also unbeatable.

Apart from enjoying the summer heat, you may also entertain yourself by reading science fiction books. Sci-fi is the perfect genre to read for all season of the year, especially on summer where you don’t get allergies from the blossoming flowers, have cold feet from the cold winds of fall, and experience shivering because of the falling snow. All you need is a book and a good place to read, maybe at your porch, in a coffee shop, on your front yard, or at the beach. With that being said, here is some amazing science fiction books that you might want to check out and add to your summer t-be-read list!

A Wrinkle in Time

Madeleine L’Engle authored the young adult science fiction book A Wrinkle in Time, which was published on the 1^st of January 1962 by the Ariel Books. It follows the story of a girl named Margaret “Meg” Murry and her quest on saving her quest on saving his lost father. She was accompanied by her brother Charles Wallace and a boy named Calvin who later on became his pair. They went off on an extraordinary trip into the time and space and different universes in order to rescue her dad and the world as well. The novel stood out because of its amazing representation of a battle between good and evil fought by the characters and how the characters slowly transitioned from children into young adults throughout the tale. Furthermore, the book had a lot of adaptations, such as audiobooks in 1994 and 2012, films in 2003 and 2018, drama in 1990, 1998, and 2017, opera in 1992, and graphic novel in 2010.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

On September 12, 2006, the horror and post-apocalyptic fiction World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War was published by Crown. It was the novel that followed The Zombie Survival Guide of Max Brooks. The book comes in the form of an anthology of individual experiences that are being told by an agent that belongs to the Postwar Commission of the UN after the heartbreaking worldwide battle against the zombie crisis. Some of the writings documented a desperate challenge that went for a decade, which have been first handedly faced by individuals all over the world. World War Z has garnered a lot of positive response because of its effective way of tackling the doubts and survivalism as well as the hidden views of the author pertaining to the government. In 2013, the film adaptation of the book was released. It starred Brad Pitt and was under the direction of Marc Foster.

The Madhouse Projects

The publishing company that published The Madhouse Projects by Rick Badman on October 9, 2019 was Readersmagnet LLC. The book centers on the story of Dick Thurman who works as an automotive engineer. The protagonist was fired from a particular university in California; thus, he started a new career in Arizona. His new workplace is a research and development installation that is located underground, which was referred to as the Madhouse because of all the kinds of things that take place there. He began to meet several people that are working on some important matters for a group which they called BOSS or the Bakcers and Organizers for Sensible Solutions. Dick began molding electric Indy cars that are fly-wheel-powered and were being used to compete on a race on the 2037 Indianapolis 500. His work at the Madhouse is just starting and so is his story.

A Clockwork Orange

Anthony Burgess is the author of the well-known dystopian science fiction book A Clockwork Angel while Barry Tengove is its cover artist. This book was published by William Heinamann in the year 1962. The story takes place in a near-future community which contains a high level violence youth subculture. The main character is named Alex and he is also the narrator of the story. He started to tell the violence that happens in their society and his personal experiences pertaining to the reform intentions of the authorities of their countries for him. The book has captivated the hearts of many readers resulting for it to land on different book lists, such as the 100 best English-language novels since 1923 of Times magazine and the 100 best English-language novels of the 20^th century of Modern Library. It also garnered several nominations and awards, examples are the 1999 Prometheus Award Nominee and the 2009 Prometheus Hall of Fame Award.

The 4 Benefits of Writing a Piece of Literature

Writing is one of the means of communication that includes the depiction of a language accompanied by symbols. It is also a medium of self-expression. In literature, writing is the most important skill that needs to be utilized in order to create a story, poem, or any literary piece. One must have the will and passion to write to produce a tale like no other. Thus, the art of writing is not only limited to become a mode of communication but also to provide a method of expression without having to speak another word; because, sometimes words are the best instrument to communicate instead of voices.

There are different types of writing system for there are diverse languages all over the world; however, some of the languages in the planet do not use a system of writing. For that reason, different writing styles have emerged in literature. There are also a lot of works that have originated from all parts of the globe with a touch of the authors’ culture, belief, traditions, and experiences. Writing is not only about the mere scribbling words on paper using a pen but also a beneficial practice when it comes to self-expression. Hence, if you are fond of writing stories or any other kind of literature, listed below are the benefits of it:

It helps you express your thoughts freely

Thoughts and ideas inevitably bother the mind of every person and you are not an exception of it. These things will constantly pop into your mind even when you are lying in your bed, riding a car, drinking your morning coffee, listening to a song, and other activity that you do. They do are not schedule, instead they visit your head surprisingly that you go crazy because you will not know when they attack and when do you have to stay guarded. Writing may be your best weapon to fight these thoughts. You can write them in your journal and add some touch of fiction so that you can create an epistolary novel or you can restore the rawness of your writings and produce an autobiography. It is up to you on how you want your writings to be done but the most important thing is that you can let go of the ideas that bothers your mind.

It makes you the master of your world

Writing gives you creative freedom. You are allowed to create any worlds that you want rule and mold people to live in that realm. There is no limit in writing, as long as you have the burning desire to express and create you are good to go. Literature will bestow you the opportunity to be a creator of a place that is not yet born or discovered. Since you are the writer, you can engineer the setting of your story and it can be a fictional place that has never been heard of or a town with a name derived from a real and existing place. It can also be set on any time you want. Whether it be on the 14^th century, renaissance, 20^th century, summer, fall, or such, the bottom line is that your story depends on you for you are the master of your creation.

It creates a home for your past

Past experiences are among those memories that sometimes you want to bury deep in your being and never let out again or you have buried deep to keep that memories from fading. Sometimes your past can become the most lethal weapon that will ruin your life because of the wrong decisions that you have that resulted to no good. It will keep coming at you in both your darkest and sunniest days. But there are also circumstances that your past experiences are your most treasured ones. It may be because you have had a wonderful childhood and have met amazing people along the way. Regardless of any of that, writing can help you build a home for those memories so that they cannot either haunt you again or fade for good. Take for example the book Strong Boy, Weak Man that reveals the intense motivation by Earl Robert Key and his other experiences during his boyhood.

It eases the pain that you’ve been aching for a long time

Pain is a dangerous thing. Every person has experienced being pained in an episode of their lives. There are two kinds of pain, which are internal and external. The former is the one that will make you ache for so long for the cure is not something that can be bought by money. The latter, on the other hand, is the easiest pain to heal for you can mend it with medicines and bandages. For you to ease up the pain, you can opt to write it down on a piece of a paper. You turn those aches into poetry or fiction, your choice. That is the beauty of writing. It brings mending even to the wounds that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Mental Health Awareness: 3 Groups That Are Advocates of Mental Health

Mental health is often being overlooked by most people and, sometimes, given lesser attention. Little did everyone know that it is as important as their physical well-beings. It is has a wider scope for it includes three of the biggest health factors of a person, such as social, emotional, and psychological. People that are mentally fit are capable of living a happier and fuller life. However, individuals are diagnosed with any mental disorder may have some difficulties in dealing with life, others, and even themselves.

There are many reasons why a person tends to develop a mental disorder. Some of these aspects include biological factors, traumatic experiences, abusive surroundings, family mental illness history, and more. Most people think that those have mental disorders are nothing but trouble, which is a wrong perspective pertaining to the subject. Those that are having mental health problems shouldn’t remain misunderstood; instead people should be educated in order to know the value of this well-being. And with that, everyone will start to view the vulnerable one as treasures that need proper caring and attention.

This type of well-being has been already promoted by a lot of organizations all over the world with an advocacy to raise mental health awareness. In fact, there is already a celebration that aims to break the stigma on mental well-being, which is the Mental Health Awareness Month that is being celebrated every May. There are also many people who become advocates of mental health awareness, some of them knew someone who is fighting a mental disorder while others have experienced the illness firs handedly.

People who were diagnosed with any mental illness have different coping mechanisms. The medicines helps a lot but the way they handle themselves with or without those drugs is a more important aspects. Some turn their sufferings into music while others express their burdens by writing. A great example of the latter is the poetry book called Perfect Flaws by Tim Segrest, which was produced in order for the author to express his thoughts regarding PTSD and other factors of his life through poetry.

Thus, if you want to be more aware about what really mental health is and all things that are under its umbrella, here are some mental health advocate groups that you might want to get to know:

Project Semicolon

This nonprofit organization was founded by Amy Bleuel on the year 2013. It came into existence after the 10^th year death anniversary of the founder’s father who died because of suicide. Project Semicolon is also known as “Project ;” with the goal of attaining lower rates of suicide not just in the United States but all around the world. Another objective of this group is to show hope and love to people who are battling with depression, addiction, self-harm, and suicide. They are known form all parts of the globe not just because of their amazing advocacy but also because of how they motivate individuals to tattoo a semicolon on their bodies as means of unity between persons struggling with mental illness or from the grief of someone who died due to suicide.

Active Minds

Alison Malmon founded Active Minds on June 2003 when she was studying in the University of Pennsylvania as a junior. The organization was shaped up by Malmon after she lost her elder brother in 2000 because of suicide. The goal of this nonprofit organization is to raise awareness on mental health and to prevent people from committing their own precious lives. Malmon acts as the executive director of the organization and their headquarters office is located at Washington DC. Furthermore, Active Minds, originally called Open Minds, primarily aim to increase mental health awareness between students of different colleges through friend-to-friend conversation and interaction. As of the moment, they already have over 500 chapters that are consist of international and state academic institutions, particularly high schools and colleges.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI or National Alliance on Mental Illness is the country’s biggest and most popular organization for mental health that aims to shape up better living for the millions of people in America who are suffering with mental illness or who are being impacted by mental illness. It came into existence after a gathering of small family groups in the year 1979, which has grown into the country’s leading advocate of mental health. As of the present times, the National Alliance on Mental Health has over 600 local chapters and 48 State Organizations who are working in the society to boost awareness, give support, and teach lessons, which unfortunately not available from the past for those people in need of it. The core values of NAMI are hope, inclusion, empowerment, compassion, and fairness. They also provide not just awareness and advocacy but also teachings and support to everyone whose lives are being impacted by mental illnesses.

The 4 Misconceptions of Family Caregiving

Family caregiving refers to the type of caregiving wherein the “carer” is a direct relative, a close friend, or such of the person who is suffering from a disease, disability, disorder, and others. The family caregiver is tasked to provide nurturing and support to the vulnerable person without receiving something in return unlike those caregivers who came from caregiving agencies or health institutions. The fruit of the labor is not being paid by money nor material things but it is being returned with the relief that the person is doing fine and the lessons that caregiving has brought to the carer’s life.

Caregiving is job with a lot of twists and turns. It is also a tough career path but all the difficulties definitely mold the person to become stronger and better. Despite all the facts about this art, there are also plenty of misconceptions of caregiving that have been circulating in different platforms. Misconceptions are also called myths. These are the common beliefs of the public about something that do not have a strong basis. Family caregiving has never got the exception for these fallacies. Thus, if you are practicing or about to practice caregiving as a family caregiver, here are some of the myths that you might want to know:

Family caregiving is a piece of cake

Any type of caregiving is not easy. But with family caregiving, people will always think that it is already a piece of cake because of the close ties between the caregiver and the person that needs assistance. The existing connection between the caregiver and the family in need, especially the patient, is not enough reason to brand family caregiving as easy as 123. There are a lot of struggles that are about to emerge and several situations that are about to take place.

Caregiving is both offers heaven and hell. The lessons that the job bring and the bond that caregiving strengthen is the positive side of it. The challenges and the stress, on the other hand, are the factors that make caregiving a difficult craft to delve in. But regardless of the intricateness of this job, the bottom line is family caregiving is NOT a piece of cake or a walk in the park.

Family caregiving is cost-efficient

It has been already stated that family caregivers do not receive salaries. As a result, people and even the immediate family of the person being taken care might think that caregiving is cost-efficient. The truth is, any type of caregiving may it be senior caregiving or family caregiving will always cost you some dime. It is for the fact that both the caregiver and the vulnerable person has personal needs — and even wants. One has to supply them with enough resources in order for both parties to stay healthy and happy.

The person that is being assisted by the carer has a lot of needs. These things that he or she needs are not limited to medicines but also include food, beverages, and gadgets for entertainment. The caregiver also has his or her basic needs that are necessary to be provided, such as food, clothing, and more. The longer the caregiving happens, the bigger the cost will become. That is why the direct family must need to budget and be wise in handling their funds.

Family caregiving is convenient

May people will definitely think that family caregiving is a convenient option since there are no big adjustments to be made. Also, there is no trust to be built because the caregiver is not a stranger. The more one dug into the art of caregiving, the wider his or her understanding becomes. Thus, there is no such thing as convenient when it comes to caregiving, especially family caregiving. There are still adjustments to be made and lives that are about to change.

Imagine being someone’s caregiver without any idea how the job is done? Crazy, isn’t it? The person that is suffering from old age, physical disability, mental disorder, and such already have several needs that are necessary for his or her betterment. Sometimes their needs are more than just the material things for these essentials can also include those that cannot be touched or seen. As a result, the caregiver and the other family members will go into the hole of inconvenience in order to figure out how to satisfy the needs of the vulnerable person.

Family caregiving is not draining

All types of caregiving are draining. The first few months may be the toughest times in caregiving for there are many things to figure out and work on. Family caregivers are not exempted to the frustrations and stress that caregiving brings. There are times that arguments, misunderstandings, and miscommunications will happen between the caregiver and the person that they are taking care of. Thoughts of giving up and other ideas may constantly pop up to their minds as a result.

The more the family caregiver let these arguments crawl into their skins, the more stressed and frustrated they become. The worst case scenarios can be either the family caregiver become depressed or the family will become a mess. That is why it is important to also consider the mental health of the caregiver and also check on them from time to time.

4 Reasons Why Caregivers Deserve Utmost Gratitude

Caregivers are the support system of those vulnerable people. Their ability to provide care to someone of old age, with physical disability, with mental disorder, and such are truly commendable. It is already evident that caregiving is a real tough job. It is not something that you can get into for the sake of having a job but turn your back immediately once work get hard. You must have a strong endurance and mindset to be able to execute your duties perfectly and continue working despite the thousands of struggles.

There are a lot of reasons why c aregivers deserve your gratitude. It is not just about the labor that they provide but also about their sacrifices. Caregivers are worth a dime nowadays, regardless of if they are a family caregiver, senior caregiver, and others. They give aid to those in need and they provide motivation for those people who seem to lose it. To get a better grasp on why caregivers should be given enough gratitude and appreciation, here are the 4 reasons why:

They spend more time caring for someone than they do with themselves

A caregiver’s primary purpose is to care and nurture people who cannot fully take care of themselves due to several factors. If the caregiver is from an employment agency, the job would be depending on his or her contract whether she would be a stay-in caregiver or not and whether he or she would work full time or part time. In the case of family caregivers, they are definitely stay-in workers for they are direct family members of the vulnerable person.

Despite the work arrangements, it is evident that caregivers spend most of their times working and ensuring that they are performing their responsibilities well. They will have lesser time for themselves because if they work 8 hours per day or more, the remaining time will be spent resting and sleeping; thus, there are no more period for leisure, enjoyment, and rejuvenation.

They are resilient and strong even though work becomes tough and overwhelming

Again, caregiving is not the job for those who cannot endure hardships. Most caregivers work each day with a smile on their faces but behind those wonderful curved lips are exhaustion and frustration. They still continue working despite the challenges and weight that comes along their job. Sometimes all the negativities of caregiving will hit them waves crashing to the shore all at one but their sorrows laid on the shore will be washed away along with the waves making them put a smile on their faces once again.

Caregiving teaches caregivers to become resilient and strong no matter how heavy their obligations become. That is why the slightest hint of gratitude or a simple “thank you” is enough for them to feel motivated and continue working with their heads held high.

They do not wear capes but they are heroes that needs appreciation

There’s a famous quote that goes, “not all heroes wear capes.” It is indeed true. The superhero movies that you’ve seen on the movies multiple times are work of fiction. There are no superheroes that possess extraordinary abilities in the real world for there are only workers that sacrifice almost everything they have for the betterment of the people and the community. Caregivers are great examples of real life heroes. They have sacrificed a great deal of time and effort in order to help those who are fragile due to illnesses, disorders, and more.

The compensation that they receive from the labor that they provide is never enough. Think about the times that they use their physical strength in order to keep their patients calm or those times where they were emotionally and mentally drained from work but they still continue to keep going. That is what heroes do, help and protect people.

They carry burdens but still continue to work real hard

Frustration and stress are two dangerous things. They are not only a state of being or an emotion because these two things are like seeds that grow stronger each day when watered with sadness and anger. It cannot be denied that there will be several of arguments and miscommunications that will spark between the caregiver and the person being taken care. The more the caregiver argues, the more the person becomes stubborn. In order for the fight to be settled, one must lowered their pride and accept defeat and that is most likely the caregiver — he or she needs to be the bigger person.

The defeat will turn in stress or frustrations that will gradually evolve into a burden that will make his or her heart heavy. Regardless of the weight of these sorrows, caregivers still continue to perform their duties for the sake of the person that they are nurturing. That is what professionalism and work ethics is all about.

The Essence of Growth as a Christian

Growth is not only applicable physically because it covers all aspects of your well-being. It is primarily defined as the slow enhancement of the different factors of a person’s being, such as maturity, height, age, and more. Your mental, emotional, and spiritual health develops along with your physical well-being. One of the most overlooked sides of people’s health is their spiritual health. Some may take this as something of lesser important but it is, in fact, the most important of all. You can always see how your body and mind changes but you cannot instantly evaluate the things that have been added or subtracted pertaining to your spiritual health.

Being spiritually healthy is already good news but growing spiritually is the best news to receive. There may be times that you already thought that your connection to God has been lost and the more you think about it, the more hollow you feel inside. However, your bond with the Almighty Father will never be lost for you have been baptized as a Christian and until then, you will remain a Christian. There are a lot of things that will help you maintain and develop your spiritual well-being, such as hearing the word of the Lord or reading Christian books. The latter is a good leisure activity that will help you get slowly mature and get closer to Him; take for example the steps of growth as a Christian by Marianna Albritton.

If you want to know what the essence of growth as a Christian is truly, then you are on the right page! Listed below are the important factors that will inform you on how vital growth is:

It helps you on becoming a better follower of God

From the moment that you are baptized as a Christian, you already have become a disciple of God. Your connection between Him started and you have been welcomed to the Christian world. The only thing that will create a distance between your relationship with Him is growth, complicated isn’t it? For better understanding, growth is the main agent that can either make or break your bond with God because it can shift your whole mindset about religion or can blossom and strengthen your belief and principle as all of you become to improve and develop. The latter is more favorable for it will help you on becoming a better follower of God. As days goes by, you will appreciate all the things that he has done to you and all the blessings that he has bestowed upon you. Every day you will live with a smile on your face knowing that every step you take is in accordance to His will.

It enhances your decision-making ability

Each person is granted with a rational thinking ability, which is the capability to distinguish what is right from what is wrong. Aside from that, people are also granted with the ability to make decisions. These two can be somehow confused with one another because of their similar attributes. However, the one must go along with the other in order for you to create a completely right and beneficial decision. There may be moments in your life that your rational thinking has been clouded resulting to poor decision-making. Life has become a mess that you almost cannot find a way to untangle each string. But when you reached spiritual maturity, your decision-making ability will develop along with it. You can make better decisions that will not harm you and others around you. Also, these decisions are also better for they based on His will. As a result, you are not deciding alone but you are making decisions together with the Lord.

It drives you farther away from temptations

Temptations will always be present in this world. They are the things that make your life either a living hell or a complete deception. These temptations can come in different forms where some appear wearing silk clothes but rotten cores while others are fully dressed in ugliness but still have the power to influence people. But when you start to grow as a Christian, you can open your eyes and see the temptations that are lurking in the shadows trying to drag people down. You will start to realize that they are not the jewel and fun that they appear to be but instead they are the opposite. As a result, you will slowly eject yourself from these evils and begin to walk to the path that God has laid for you from the start. You will not become tempted by these deceiving things. Turning your back from these temptations will be the best option that you have made and it is one of the perks of growing spiritually and strengthening your belief in the Almighty Father.

4 Heartwarming Series in Christian Literature

Christian literature can be both considered as wide and narrow aspect of literature. It is wide in the sense that it contains different kinds of masterpieces and genres. Examples of the latter are the Christian devotional literature, Christian nonfiction, Christian fiction, and more. There are many of things that made up this literary avenue making it a vast place to delve in. On the other hand, it is narrow in the sense that it is only focused on Christianity and all things that are related into it. It only tackles things that are connected to God or its religion. The books and other works center on Christianity, even the fictional tales, or display some Christian virtues and symbols.

Regardless of how big or small the scope of Christian literature is, it is still one of the most successful avenues for it brings people together and reminds them of the ever loving God. In fact, there are many series that can be found in Christian literature. These series are both in fiction and nonfiction categories; hence, if you are interested in reading these types of books, then you are on the right page! Listed below are the wonderful series in Christian literature that you may binge-read:

The Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis is a remarkable classic author who wrote the bestselling series The Chronicles of Narnia. The series is composed of seven wonderful novels with one year age gaps, which are The Lion, the Witch, anf the Wardrobe (1950), Prince Caspian (1951), The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952), The Silver Chair (1953), The Horse and His Boy (1954), The Magician’s Nephew (1955), and The Last Battle (1956). Each of the books contains wonderful illustrations that are work of art of Pauline Baynes. Although the series has fallen under the genres fantasy and children’s literature, it is undeniable that every book has displayed a lot of Christian symbols and representations. Moreover, it follows the story of the Pevensie siblings, Edmund, Susan, Lucy, and Peter, who accidentally wandered into the world of Narnia through a wardrobe. That is where they met a lion who is full of wisdom named Aslan and so their adventures began.

The Mitford Years Series

The Mitford Years is a bestselling series authored by American novelist Jan Karon. The series is composed of 14 novels that are set in a fictional area called Mitford, North Carolina. All of these novels center on Christianity and the life of Father Tim. The first book was published by Doubleday in 1994 and was republished by Penguin Books in 1996, which was titled At Home in Mitford. After a year, the second book was released and was titled as A Light in the Window. The following books were released after a year or two of the preceding novels were out for the public to consume. The titles of the other Mitford books are These High, Green Hills (1996), Out to Canaan (1997), A New Song (1999), A Common Life: The Wedding Story (2001), In this Mountain (2002), Shepherds Abiding (2003), Light from Heaven (2005), Home to Holy Springs (2007), In the Company of Others (2010), Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good (2014), Come Rain or Come Shine (2015), and To Be Where You Are (2017).

The VIP Christian Series

The VIP Christian is an ongoing series written by Abraham Joseph Ajenifuja. This series will be consisting of 7 books namely, The VIP Christian, The VIP Prayer, The VIP Family, The VIP Family/Marriage, The VIP Education, The VIP Business, and The VIP Church. The term “VIP” stands for the vision, intent, and purpose of God. The first book of the series was already published by the Xulon Press and was released last 2016. It revolves around the missing pieces in the gospel that is currently making an abode of division on the lines of various important aspects in the world, such as race, social status, culture, origin, language, and more. However, it is evident in the hearts and souls of people that there is a light that represents the vision, intent, and purpose, which desire to shine brightly in order to glue every broken parts together. That means that God’s VIP is the only thing that can mend all the broken pieces in this world and creates a new and better whole.

The Left Behind Series

Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins authored one of the bestselling Christian series, which is called the Left Behind series. The books center on different Christian aspects, such as dispensationalist End Times of Christianity, rapture, premillennialism, and more. Most of the books in the series have conquered the bestseller list of The New York Times, specifically books 7, 8, and 10. LaHaye and Jenkins’ series has already been adapted into movies, not just one but four films, titled Left Behind: The Movie (2000), Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002), Left Behind: World at War (2005), and Left Behind (2014). Also, the novels spark positive response from various critics, including Michelle Goldberg, Jerry Falwell, and Laurie Goodstein. The success of the series didn’t stop from being a bestseller and getting a film adaptation for it was also turned into or became the bases of video games, graphic novels, and music.

4 Reasons Why Fantasy Fiction Books are Must-reads

Fiction can be compared to a heterogeneous mixture in science. It contains different elements and tales that when you mix them up, you can still see their beautiful diverseness. But even if fiction is composed of different matters, it still creates an exquisite whole. One of the important components of the fiction mixture is fantasy. It is the factor that contains the heart-pounding adventures, inspiring heroes and heroines, and extraordinary worlds. Aside from that, it also exhibits characters that have special powers, like flying, telekinesis, invisibility, and more.

There are many fiction books that exist in the market; some are under the fantasy while others are under sci-fi and other subcategories of fiction. Examples of these literary masterpieces are Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Daughters of Twilight by Collette Jackson-Fink, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, and more. A lot of readers also patronize fiction, specifically fantasy, because of the wonderful tales and lessons hidden under the covers of each book. But there are also plenty of reasons why fantasy fiction books are shelf-worthy and must-reads, want to know why? Here’s why:

They showcase places that you never thought existed

The world is only consisting of land and water, where the former is divided into seven continents while the latter is split into four oceans. Every mundane place can be seen in the map along with its latitude and longitude. I bet everyone knows most of the capital cities in world or if not then maybe they are familiar with it. But fantasy fiction exhibits place, worlds, and even universes that are out of the ordinary. There are just limitless locations that you can travel around by crossing a nonexistent bridge. You can go and explore the space, moon, alternate universe, hell, heaven, Atlantis, and other places that are impossible to set foot. You can also enter places that are filled with magic without bringing a passport and plane ticket because all you need is a book and a cup of coffee perhaps.

They bring a whole new level of awesomeness

Reading a fantasy fiction book is not the same as reading an autobiography. The former brings a whole new level of coolness for it contains amazing elements and out of this world adventures while the latter contains heartwarming tales of a person’s life from birth to present times. There are just plenty of things to uncover and look forward to while reading fantasy fiction. Imagine a person riding a Pegasus, fighting a dragon, petting a three-headed dog, becoming a vampire, and being one of the supernatural, pretty awesome, right? There are just too much wonderful ingredients that make the readers to turn each page non-stop. It also doesn’t end there. Fantasy fiction also proves to readers that they are not only about the extraordinary but also about learning; thus, making it a genre that offers both enjoyment and learning all at once.

They make you fall in love

Have you ever fallen in love by the stories, characters, or both of novels? Well, fantasy fiction will make you fall deeper in love with its tales. It is not just about the content of the book but also about the factors that move the story forward, which are the characters. There are a lot of lovable characters have amazing characteristics and attributes, as well as touching backstories. As the story progresses, these characters also develops — some grow from good to evil or the other way around. Readers can also feel the love from the protagonists and their significant others, which they called OTP or one true pair. This affection or emotions that you feel from reading the stories will slowly form a connection between you and the book making you fancy this genre a little bit more.

They inspire you to be more than what you could be

Every person is capable of dreaming. People are also free to aspire who they want to become in the next 5 years or so. But with literature, specifically fantasy fiction novels, each reader is given the chance to become more than they could be. The purpose of fantasy fiction is not only to be read and consumed by people but also to be an inspiration and motivation to people who yearn to be better versions of themselves. The amazing abilities that every character has, the ways on how the protagonist conquers the obstacles in his or her life, and the sweet rewards the characters receive after a tough journey are some of the inspiring things that will push you to do more. The thought of “if they can do it, then I can do it too” will pop into your mind and will constantly push you to dream bigger and work harder.

Healing and Transformation: 4 Ways to Live a Simpler but Happier Life

Every person, including you, aspires to be better. For in becoming a better individual, good things will follow. However, it seem like the universe is conspiring against you in achieving your goals and aspirations. The quest on living the best life can be a little too hard for there are a lot of unexpected bumps on the roads that hinder you to reach the end. These obstacles may either slower your pace or put you to a stop; but, everything depends on you for you are the master of your fate. You may have a rough start or fall in the middle but the most important thing is you stand up and continue what you have started.

There are two important things that await you at the end of your journey, which are healing and transformation. Little did you know that they are the first and second thing that you need before claiming the sweetest reward from the bumpy trip that you have gone through. The mending and transformation is a slow process. But if you want to live a simpler but happier life, here are some of the important factors of the said process:

Cut off toxic people

Shutting down your doors for toxic people may appear as a tough task for it is not something that can be accomplished in a blink of an eye. You cannot notice that this guy or that girl is toxic at first because you will somehow enjoy their company and all things in between. However, as time goes by, their wonderful cover ups will be melted by the poison that they bring. They will start to infiltrate your life making living and socializing unbearable things to deal with. Once you notice what they truly are and how toxic they are to your life, you can cut them off so that you can save yourself. Even if these people are your relatives or close friends, do not be afraid for it is okay because it is for your own sake. By the time you got rid of them, you will start to notice how easy and happy living becomes.

Throw the grudges away

Grudges are dangerous because they can turn into monsters that will haunt you constantly. They will be reason that you cannot sleep every night or that you always live with a heavy heart. It is okay, for a little while, to feel sad by something that’s been said to you or be angry at a person who did nothing but criticize you. What is not okay is when you cannot let go of your rage, sadness, or other complicated emotions towards a thing or a person that did you wrong. In order for you to live happily and simply, please throw all the heavy things that you have kept in your heart for so long. Do not wait for them to become the demons that will consume your mind. As early as possible, let them go so that you can sleep soundly at night and be grateful to have live another day.

Prioritize the needs over wants

Needs and wants — two completely different things but often confused with one another. There are a lot of people that do not look into the value of things for they are so focused on the things that satisfy their cravings. Some buy their wants before needs because they think that these things will make them happier while others prioritize the needs before the wants because their minds are more into practicality instead of satisfaction. You must be like the latter. Do not be deceived by the things that fill your ego for these material things cannot genuinely put a smile on your face. You must know how to prioritize the things that are necessary for living because they are the ones that will keep you alive. Live simply and happily. Your wants can wait but your needs cannot.

Appreciate every little thing

Life is not all about the big gestures for it is more about the little things that create a massive whole. Every aspect of your life is made up of tiny wonderful pieces. That is why you need to appreciate and value even the smallest factor that makes you move forward. Others may have bigger things happening in their career or life but do not worry for what you have is already enough. Learn to focus on yourself and on the things that surround you. Until you learn to become appreciative and contented with all the small things that complete your life, you will never truly live happily. That is why it is really important to feel thankful and satisfied on your own little achievements than to be constantly envious by the success of others.

Black Lives Matter: I Can’t Breathe

“I can’t breathe…” – Eric Garner, 2014

The I Can’t Breathe Movement came into view after the death of an African-American man named Eric Garner in New York City last July of 2014. Garner died because an NYPD cop named Daniel Pantaleo put him on a stranglehold, a Judo technique, while they were arresting him. There were a lot of footages regarding the incident that has spread nationwide and has captured plenty of attention.

Garner was arrested for alleged selling loosies or single cigarettes from packs that have no tax stamps. He appealed to the cops that he was not selling any loosie and stated that he’s already drained of being harassed, the officers of NYPD tried to arrest him. Things escalated quickly. Officer Pantaleo put his hands on the accused. However, the accused denied cooperating by pulling his hands away from the officer, which is when the cop began putting his arms on Eric’s neck wrestling him to the ground.

Being pinned on the ground with an arm on his neck and plenty of other officers holding him, Garner pleaded 11 times saying “I can’t breathe.” However, the cops didn’t release him and he lost consciousness afterward. The moment he became unconscious, that’s the only time the cops turned him sideways to relieve his breathing but it was too late. There was no ounce of movement or breathing from Garner.

The thing with Eric Garner’s death is that the medical staff examined his body and declared it as homicide but the grand jury of Richmond County made a decision to not charge the NYPD officer. The jury’s decision sparked public outrage resulting to people protesting and rallying to seek justice for Garner’s death.

Some, but not all, of the notable movements following Garner’s death were:

July 19, 2014 – Staten Island protest organized by Sharpton

July 28, 2014 – WalkRunFly Productions and poet Daniel J. Watts held a protest in New York Times Square

March 2015 – A black activist group in Chicago called Assata’s Daughters was formed

December 3, 2014 – NY citizens protested and executed lie-ins against the verdict of the cop who chokehold Garner

December 5, 2014 – thousands of protesters gathered in Boston Common and marched to seek justice for Eric Garner

Garner was not the last victim of police brutality because and 2014 was not the year when the brutality stopped because after 6 years it occurred again.

“I can’t breathe…they will kill me… they will.” – George Floyd, 2020

On May 25, 2020, a heart-shattering event took place. A man named George Floyd, who is an African-American that lived in Texas, entered a store in Minneapolis, Minnesota and paid using a check. It was nothing but a simple day for everyone until police offers started to come to the store and arrested Floyd. The cashier had troubles transacting George’s check that’s why the cops came to check if it there’s a forgery happening.

He was arrested and was also pinned on the ground by a police officer through kneeling on his neck for more than 8 minutes. There were videos taken from the arrest until the death of Floyd. A lot of passersby that pleaded the police officer, Derek Chauvin, to release George Floyd from being knelt but it seems like he didn’t heard their request and continued kneeling him. The news reported that there were a total of 4 police officers that were there during the incident, including Tou Thao who restrained the passersby from approaching officer Chauvin.

In the span of 6 minutes, George Floyd pleaded for his life. He begged the police officer to release him by repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe,” “my stomach hurts, my neck hurts… everything hurts.” He even said “they will kill me” and “please.” Afterward, Floyd didn’t move nor say a word. He just stayed on the ground lying with eyes closed and an officer still kneeling on his neck. He was released after an ambulance came but there were no signs of life in him already.

The footages circulated online and have reached people from all over the world. His death gathered people from different places with different races and social statuses fighting for justice. Racism once again became a hot topic and has made people all across the globe to raise their voice and cry for justice. Protests and rallies occurred resulting to people flooding the streets of Minneapolis, especially on the police station. George Floyd’s death brought people of different colors to end racism and police brutality.

It is not a “history repeats itself” occurrence because it never stopped happening. Racism has always been there, destroying lives of people who want to live peacefully and have long to live without fear of being hurt because of their color. This racial discrimination has already became topics of films, news, and books — like Key, Earl books on unraveling the poverty-driven culture and Angelou, Maya’s poems that tackle racial discrimination, raise awareness and help people realize that everyone should be treated equally regardless of where they came from and what their color is. #EndRacismNow #BlackLivesMatter