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I definitely was an antagonist anytime my brother and I were together growing up. We liked to pick at each other, compete with each other and fight! We were always causing obstacles for each other; however, we worked through this, grew up and now are each other's biggest supporters!

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A time when I felt like a real protagonist in my life is when I had a student come to me during a rough time. She was struggling in school and falling behind because of an overwhelming feeling of grief. I chose to be vulnerable, share my own struggles and coping mechanisms with this student. To this day, she still writes me emails and letters keeping me updated on her positive changes!

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We are living in tumultuous and divided times. It can be difficult to stay positive in spite of all of the depressing news around the world, the overt ignorance and prejudice that have been resurrected by the populism that has resurged in the west. It can feel like the world is regressing in real time after years of progress. The future looks pretty bleak, and that we are sacrificing longer term interests and goals for short term political benefits of the party in power, consequently creating a worse quality of life for future generations. This is all in addition to the stress and grind of work and day-to-day life. If you find you are struggling to stay positive, here are a few ways you can improve your outlook:
Exercise
Nothing improves your mood, sharpens your focus and increases your energy like a good sweat session. Sometimes you will begin to have anxiety over something that is truly out of your hands, is done, etc. And it is unproductive to worry and be anxious about events, people etc. that you can do absolutely nothing about. So take that excess energy and spend some time at the gym, you will absolutely feel better about yourself.
Mentally Reframe The Situation
How you think of a difficult situation is everything. Instead of seeing yourself as a victim of your circumstances, "why do bad things keep happening to me?" "why can't I catch a break?" "Why do I have the worst luck?" consider your role in your circumstances. What can you control? What can you improve? Take back control of the situation by posing these questions, and figuring out steps you can take to change your circumstances. Reframing and subsequently taking action will make you feel less anxious and will increase your self-confidence.
Surround Yourself With Positive People
When life and work are stressful, it can be hard to stay positive on your own, and if you surround yourself with negative people not only will they diminish any positive thinking, but they will compound your negativity. In times like these when the news is dark and often all-consuming, surrounding yourself with positive people who bring out the best in you and your train of thought is good for your mental health and your soul.
Unplug
Take sometime to come up for air from all of the screens in your life: your phone, computer, TV, etc. Go outside for a walk or a run, go see friends, or grab a coffee. Too much screen time can have a terrible impact on our memories, our mood and our mental health. Make sure and take breaks, strike a balance, and try and complete tasks without a screen when possible. Be kind to yourself, and listen to your thoughts and your body. Step away when you need to.
Practice Gratitude
It's easy to focus on what is going wrong in your life and in the world, especially when it feels like so few things are going well. Be grateful for all of the good people in your life, and always have hope that things will get better, and that you will do everything in your power to make them so.

I'm a twentysomething freelance journalist, writer and blogger in New York City. I write about everything I've done wrong as a twentysomething woman here in the trenches...

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We are living in tumultuous and divided times. It can be difficult to stay positive in spite of all of the depressing news around the world, the overt ignorance and prejudice that have been resurrected by the populism that has resurged in the west.

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Adventure doesn't always mean ziplining through the jungle (see picture) or diving with sharks. It's saying yes to new things, new friends, new experiences to keep life fresh and worthwhile

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Shonda Rhimes, media titan and all-around impressive human being, recently gave a TED Talk on how she said yes to everything for a year. Yes, you can add giving TED Talks to the list of accomplishments, under being the writer and executive producer behind shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

It's an awesome talk and I highly recommend watching it (even if you save it for later).

The funny thing is that I also conducted a similar experiment this past year. Does that make us twins?

I'd started a new job, but was feeling a bit lost. Engaging in what I declared internally to be a big act of self-love, I decided to embrace everything that I wanted or needed for the next year (within reason, of course). If I had the time and the financial capability to do something, I would just say yes and figure the details out later.

My experiment included a broad range of new experiences that I hesitated to say yes to previously-from public speaking opportunities, to networking events, to professional development courses, to taking an art class, to just hiking a new trail.

I have no regrets-I was intent on seeing my "Year of Yes"-as Rhimes calls it-through in hopes of gaining some clarity, and boy, did I ever.

The Adrenaline Rush Is Stronger Than the Discomfort

At first, saying yes to everything that was asked of or offered to me was uncomfortable. At times, it was even scary. I'd spent most of my life carefully analyzing (and overanalyzing) the choices I made, even those that may seem simple in nature.

Giving up that control was a new experience for me, but the adrenaline rush I felt when I stepped outside my comfort zone somehow told me that I was on the right path. It taught me the value of being vulnerable and remaining open-minded.

Bonus? Stripping away the complexity of decision-making made life less stressful and freed up more of my time to focus on more important things, and many more opportunities found me as a result.

Doing Is Different Than Dreaming

In the past, I had a tendency to romanticize ideas I had for my future and my career. The problem was, so many of those ideas never came to fruition because I never put any actual effort into the dreams I was so busy weaving.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that taking even the smallest chances had a domino-like effect in my life, and especially my career, in a very positive way. For example, I'd always dreamed of being a writer, but wasn't sure where to begin. I decided to start small with blogging, and began submitting my pieces to different online outlets.

Not only did I gain more confidence in myself and my writing, but I also landed a coveted spot on the board of an arts nonprofit that I wanted to work with.

Failure Isn't That Big of a Deal

Another reason I preferred dreaming to doing was the dreaded F word- failure.

But in this experiment, I had to face the monster I'd been trying to avoid: What if I tried and failed miserably?

I realized that I could keep myself in a box, but I would fail either way: If I didn't do it, I would be letting myself down and not allowing myself to grow.

Plus, I came to appreciate how every failure helped me to better navigate future situations. For instance, I once campaigned to be a project lead at a former employer. I spent hours researching and laying out my proposal, and when I finally landed a meeting with the director who was spearheading the project, I was sure I would be a shoo-in.

After I excitedly gave my presentation, the director asked me about our competitor and their product, and I drew a blank. I had such tunnel vision about our product and how excited I was that I overlooked a simple question I should've been able to easily answer. Needless to say, I did not land that project, but I did learn a valuable lesson that aided me in future prep.

I Had More Strengths Than I Thought

Previously, I had a fairly narrow view of what I was skilled at, and on the contrary what weren't my strongest assets (for example, I would never, ever be an accountant).

However, I didn't realize how narrow my view was, because I'd only chosen to participate in comfortable experiences. It was nothing short of eye-opening-and exhilarating-to discover the larger range of what I was really good at (and also humbling to know there wasn't a cap on being extremely terrible at other things). As someone who considers herself the definition of an introvert, I impressed myself as I confidently navigated networking events and informational interviews.

Realizing I wasn't actually as shy as I thought gave me the courage to try public speaking, and dare I say, I'm pretty darn good at giving presentations. This skill has become especially useful in my day-to-day work, and helped to better showcase my strengths to senior management.

I didn't end up loving everything I agreed to try, but I found many things that I did. And even better, I crossed paths with many people I never would've met otherwise. Saying yes led me to discover important lessons that ultimately made me more successful in my career-and happier overall.

Ready to say yes to new and exciting things yourself? How about taking one of these fun online classes, or reading one of these career-boosting books, or even just picking up one of these one-minute morning routines to start your days off right.

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I Said Yes to Everything for a Year and Here's What Happened

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Shonda Rhimes, media titan and all-around impressive human being, recently gave a TED Talk on how she said yes to everything for a year. Yes, you can add giving TED Talks to the list of accomplishments, under being the writer and executive producer behind shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.

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Still I Rise by Maya Angelou | Poetry Foundation

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The reason I love my job and choose to be defined by it.

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So far, I've been to 7 countries (and 24 cities this year!) Several of these trips were done independently but led to AMAZING friendships created while there!

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Updated: 07/26/2018 | July 26th, 2018

"Joe, did you book your ticket yet?" I asked as we sat playing video games.

"No. I changed my mind. I'm not going to go."

"What? You aren't going to Australia? We've been planning this vacation for months!" I was stupified.

"Yeah, I don't feel like it. We'll go some other time."

Over the coming weeks, I attempted to get my friend to reconsider, but to no avail. When Joe changed his mind, he changed his mind. Our trip to Australia - our big post-college adventure - was off.

And none of my friends wanted to replace him.

If I wanted to travel, it would have to be on my own.

So, in 2004, I left by myself to Costa Rica. It was that trip that planted the travel bug in me. It was that trip that helped inspire me to travel more, visit Thailand, and quit my job to travel the world.

Joe not going was the best thing that ever happened to me.

But him not going was a pattern that has repeated itself consistently over the years. While a few friends have joined me here and there along the way, more often than not, plans to meet friends in far-flung places don't pan out. When it comes down to the wire, "something" always comes up and they're suddenly too busy, change their mind, or can't afford it.

It's taught me that if I wait for others, I'll never go anywhere.

There are places I want to go, people to see, experiences to have, and food to try - and only so much time to accomplish it all.

So I refuse to wait. I won't let others keep me from realizing my dreams.

It can be scary traveling alone, especially when you've never done it before. But, to me, growing old without experiencing everything you want from life is even scarier.

If you've been putting off a trip because you're waiting for someone to go with - stop. Just go. Don't let others hold you back from your dreams. Trust me, along the way you'll make plenty of friends - from other solo travelers who thought "Screw it, if I don't go, I'll never go" to locals interested in meeting new people.

I've found that you're never alone when you travel. I worried that if I didn't travel with friends, I'd be alone. I'd never make any friends. But it turns out you make so many on the road that you have to go out of your way to be alone! You're constantly surrounded by people!

Solo travel gives you ultimate freedom. You wake up and it's just you - what you want, where you want, when you want. In that freedom and infinite space of possibility, you meet yourself. You hit the limits of what you like and don't like. There's no one to pull you in any one direction or override your reasons. Want sushi? Get sushi. Want to leave? Leave. Want to try bungee jumping? Go for it.

It's sink or swim and you have to learn how to survive - who to trust, how to make friends, how to find your way around alone. That's the greatest reward of solo travel: the personal growth. Each time you go away, you learn to become a little more independent, confident, and in tune with your emotions and desires.

Solo travel is not for everyone. Some people return home soon after departing, others cry for weeks before embracing it, and some just embrace it right away. But you'll never learn that if you don't travel once by yourself. Whether a weekend away, a two-week vacation, or trip around the world, try it at least once.

Don't wait for people or hold back from living your dreams. You could be waiting a long time until someone finally says yes. There's only now - and if you don't go, you'll regret it.

Because if I hadn't stopped waiting, I'd still be in my cubicle, trying to convince Joe to go to Australia and wondering if I'd ever get to see the world.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach you how to master the art of travel save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experiences.
Click here to learn more about the book, how it can help you, and you can start reading it today!

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Why I Travel Alone: A Solo Traveler's Manifesto

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Updated: 07/26/2018 | July 26th, 2018 "Joe, did you book your ticket yet?" I asked as we sat playing video games. "No. I changed my mind. I'm not going to go." "What? You aren't going to Australia? We've been planning this vacation for months!" I was stupified. "Yeah, I don't feel like it.

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I do my best to stay optimistic and to help nurture that feeling in my students.

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I've been teaching for 3 years now, but have known for a while that it's what I'm meant to be doing!