We're pretty amazing creatures, humans are. And, a quick review of our skills, as compared to all and any other living creature whether animal, insect or plant reveals that, there is just ONE ability that is unique to humans ... and that is THE ABILITY TO LIE to others, and to ourselves.
"WAIT!" I hear you say, "What about language and culture?"
Chimpanzees have transmitted culture, and various mammals like dolphins and whales have language, insects even have telepathic communication via the hive mind! But none except humans have the convoluted ego-structures humans have, that make it possible, and possibly necessary -- on occasion -- to lie, especially to ourselves. And this lying to ourselves, this need and ability to lie, means we humans -- teenagers, youth, and students included -- are subject to a storehouse of emotional residue, better known by its street name, "stress". It's important to reduce stress because stress undermines our effectiveness, it makes us react to things out of proportion and inappropriate to causes.
We have no words to soothe the news that humans are distinguished by our ability to fabricate, except to say that, this fabrication can be in service of positive aims, in which case, it is called "Creativity". Below, we have selected past blogs, videos and articles with ideas about how to de-stress yourself, and even to help others. Send us your stories, we'd love to share YOUR strategies...
iCUBED.us EDITORIAL TEAM
 Mags reviews a slew of FUNNY MOVIES
Sometimes we just need a good laugh, or a good cry, to release a storehouse of emotions, so we can carry on with the demands of daily life....
High School Student RELIEVES STRESS with INDOOR KITE FLYING ...
Watching this America's Got Talent finalist fly his indoor kite is breathtakingly beautiful. It's both a sport and a potent form of meditation . . .
1st BOREDOM CONFERENCE-2010 a SUCCESS: on focusing and cultivating a quiet mind
TIRED OF ALWAYS zipping around, lessons, music, friends pinging you with links to funny YouTube videos and replying to 5 text windows PLUS your mobile?
Editorial Theme: "THE SLOW MOVEMENT - Stop and Smell the Roses"
We invite you to think about whether you need to reassess your life, slow down and reduce stress by learning to choose how-you-spend-your-time wisely. Time management is an art ... slowing down may be one thing that can help you find success, happiness and fulfillment...
Annabel Jackson: Slow Food in a Fast City
Supporters of slow food stress that everyone has a fundamental right to enjoy eating and the consumption of food products. The pleasure induced from a meal includes bearing the responsibility of protecting the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible.
Being and (Doing) Nothingness
With technology reducing task time to mere nanoseconds, more and more we expect to live our lives at the speed of now. We multitask constantly and communicate in three different mediums simultaneously. But can we remember the last time we sat on a picnic blanket and contemplated a blade of grass or a horizon of clouds?
THE ART OF DOING NOTHING, EFFECTIVELY: an interview with Carl Honore.
To live slow is to relearn the lost art of shifting gears: learning when to go fast and when to go slow. It needs to be instilled right from the start, though by and large we’re not doing enough of that yet...
Interview: ANNABEL JACKSON on "Hong Kong: Fast City, Slow food".
Slow food is not only "against" fast food. It is FOR diversity, sustainability, good practice and fair trade. It is FOR the preservation of local cuisines and eating culture, believing that the loss of a cuisine is as significant as the loss of a language or dialect.
Research finds - MONEY REALLY CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY, but...
The age old question"Can money make you happy?”is one that people have pondered for some time. Researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School say that yes, money can make you happy, as long as you spend it on someone else...
Basi-20 on "EVERY TOP CHEF NEEDS A KITCHEN"
Every youth needs a ‘kitchen’ to add flavor to his life from rivalry, mistakes, failures and, eventually, success. Teens discover who they are and what they want through trial and error. There is no secret recipe for every top chef, but trial and error – and opportunity ...
Lindsey-21 on "UNI's & The Art of Procrastination”
We've learned together that hanging out relieves the stress, especially if you all have big assignments coming up. Take a couple of minutes to have a gripe fest. Try to figure out how you learn in the classroom.
Steve-17 says "RELAX!" it's good for you
Do relax in a hot bath or shower
Do talk to your friends about your problems ...
The State of Happiness ...
What makes you happy? According to a survey conducted jointly by MTV and The Associated Press, spending time with family, spending time with friends and spending time with a significant other ranked first, second and third amongst 13-24 year olds.
MY JOURNEY INTO THE SIZZLING WORLD OF BIKRAM YOGA
If you’re a human being, then you are no doubt stressed about something. Do yourself a favor and try Bikram yoga.
Interview with TakeOut Comedy's Jami Gong - Bringing Laughter to the Asia Pacific!
Yes, everyone can be taught how to be funny if you take classes, be patient, have an open mind, and stay positive! This is the hardest job in the world, but it's the GREATEST job in the world! My advice for anyone who wants to try standup comedy is JUST DO IT! If not, you will regret it later in life. Life is too short, so have fun, and make people LAUGH!
"Is Laughter, really, the Best Medicine?"
Can having a prolonged laugh improve your health? Can a good joke really affect our mood? Why do people watch sitcoms and late night talkshows after a long hard day at work? Yes! Having a whole-hearted giggle is good for you! Having a bad day? Laugh, because it really can't get any worse, can it?!
Mags on "HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED" (on TV)
What's great about this show is that it actually gives visibility to some pretty average, un-model-esque body types in their full splendor ...
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