Ryan Modjeski‚ the Executive Director of Empatico‚ has found an interesting way of sharing the benefits of empathy — by using magic. Empatico is a video-meeting platform for educators that helps foster empathy among students through meaningful connections around the globe. Although teaching people interpersonal skills through magic may seem strange‚ studies show that visual demonstrations help people remember and recall information. In the video‚ he uses a card trick to explain how empathy makes us more resilientby fostering connections with others. “With empathy‚ you build resilience‚” Modjeski says in the video. “So‚ then‚ no matter how hard life is‚ no matter how shuffled up or jumbled up things are. No matter how much life pushes down on you. When you're empathetic and you're connected with yourself and with others. You always come on top.”The Magic Of EmpathyIn the second video‚ he uses a handkerchief trick and the mythical Green and Orange people's story to show how empathy breaks down barriers between different types of people. “How do we get Green people and Orange people to connect?” he asks. “The answer is with empathy. When we learn how to listen to each other‚ how to be kind‚ how to hear each other's stories.”FInally‚ he uses four glasses of water to show the different types of empathy: cognitive‚ emotional‚ and behavioral. “Now‚ this might seem like a lot‚ but in fact‚ when you put in a little effort and you open up your heart‚ well you can do anything‚” he concluded the video.

We've all been there. Got an interview you were pretty excited about but once sitting across from your new potential boss‚ you do one of three things. You blabber on incessantly due to nerves. You seem to have forgotten every single thing that would be pertinent to the job in which you're interviewing. Or‚ you feel as if you've somehow exited your body while you desperately attempt to appear normal but you know it's not working. Some people are simply rockstars when it comes to interviews‚ while others consistently look like they're being interviewed against their will. It doesn't seem to matter how many interviews they have under their belt‚ they're just a nervous quiet mess trying not to sweat through their shirt. One woman found herself in the latter category of interviewees‚ but instead of having to continue her search on the nearest job board‚ she got the job. The CEO took to LinkedIn to explain why. "DISASTER! So‚ I interviewed a highly recommended candidate. The interview was a nightmare. She was so nervous she could barely communicate. A deer in the headlight. She BOMBED miserably. Still I couldn't get past my gut feeling she was the best candidate for the job‚" Brigette Hyacinth‚ Founder and CEO of Leadership HQ reveals. Hyacinth posted the note to the professional social media platform in an effort to reach other people in the position to hire people. The CEO wanted to make sure people weren't overlooking potentially excellent candidates due to not performing well in the interview due to obvious nerves. Depending on what's going on in people's lives‚ interviews can be high stakes. Someone could be a newly single parent interviewing for the first time in years. There could be a situation where someone may be on the brink of eviction or foreclosure and landing that job is a matter of keeping stable housing. Sometimes people are neurodivergent and may appear awkward or extremely nervous in the interview but be fantastic assets to the company. Let's not forget the subset of people that just interview poorly because of anxiety‚ sort of like people who test poorly due to test anxiety. There are a multitude of reasons that people could bomb an interview from excessive nerves. But not everybody gets past the interview to prove they are a good fit for the company. Hyacinth writes‚ "I gambled and decided to give her a try and within 6 months‚ she was one of my top performers. Sometimes it’s hard to know a candidate's full capabilities in a job interview."Other's agreed with her assessment‚ while some gave their thoughts on the whole interview process."The interview process is so dated. On another note companies go on about wanting to to employ more neurodiverse people‚ yet they put autistic people through several stage interview processes where they have to speak to people they don't know for a long length of time‚ that can be so draining for them. Wish this would change and go more off references‚ experience‚ and portfolio and not having a chat with the owner of the company that they will probably never speak to ever again‚" one commenter shares.One person said in part‚ "Couldn't agree more! We need to adjust many of our outdated conventional ways and pay closer attention to attitude and engagement during the interview process. Just because someone could be crippled with anxiety during an interview doesn't mean they couldn't be an absolute rockstar if given an opportunity."In Hyacinth's case‚ it turned out that she was right to give the nervous woman a try. Maybe in the future other hiring managers and CEOs will be willing to take a page out of her book to give the introverts a chance to shine in a position that may be perfect for them.

“Dune: Part 2” has been a smash with filmgoers and critics alike. It earned nearly $370 million in its first two weeks of release worldwide and has an impressive 93% Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film centers around Paul Atredies's (Timothée Chalamet) journey from royalty to a new life on the desert planet of Arakkis‚ whom the inhabitants believe may be "The One Who Will Lead Us to Paradise.” Paul’s journey is treacherous‚ as he must battle his sworn enemies‚ the Harkonens while trying to avoid being gobbled up by 400-yard-long sandworms with knife-like teeth.But‚ in the end‚ it’s all about the spice.A comedian who goes by Tom on Twitter made a fantastic video as Shai Hulud‚ a giant sandworm‚ being played by former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump. In the video‚ he rails against “Pesky” and “Little” Paul Atredies and says he will get a better deal on the spice trade with the Harkonens.The video works because it’s funny to hear Trump speak about the "Dune" universe and the simple eyes and nose on the face of a sandworm are right out of early ‘70s Saturday morning TV. — (@) "I'm going to see this on Sunday and can already tell that this video will ruin the entire film. 'Pesssky Paul' in my head‚ every other scene‚" David Paul joked in the comments. I think I’ve watched this 20 times now‚ and the ‘We’re gonna have paradise on Arrakis’ line gets me every time. Perfection‚" Ben Page added.

Parenting is a hard gig regardless of whether you planned to have children or they were a happy surprise. As many parenting books as there are out there‚ none of them have the perfect equation to get it right and most parents do the best with what they learned‚ or unlearned‚ from their own parents. Samantha‚ a parenting content creator on TikTok under the name Raising Self‚ has been working hard to overcome generational trauma and parent her children differently. Recently she was doing a live video to interact with her followers when one of her children made a stunning revelation: he was scared of her.You could tell by her expression that his confession was a surprise‚ and though her son barely took his eyes off the video game he was playing‚ the two had a very meaningful dialogue. Instead of being upset or even happy that her child was fearful‚ she responded with curiosity.Some people believe that children should be fearful of their parents in order to respect them‚ but the exchange Samantha had with her son turned that thought process on its head. He started off the conversation by saying‚ "I know this might be a little shocking but I do sometimes actually find you a little scary." When Samantha probed him a little she found that what's causing him to be fearful is when her "grandma instincts come out‚" referring to a generational pattern that his mother has been trying hard not to repeat.Samantha didn't hesitate with her response: "Yeah‚ I did not know that. I'm sorry that you're experiencing that." She continued‚ "When it's happening‚ please call it out. Cause that allows me to understand what behaviors I'm not doing a good job mitigating." Even though she was shocked‚ the conversation didn't end there. It's a beautiful exchange that can guide other parents on how to navigate these types of conversations. Watch the entire conversation below:This article originally appeared on 12.21.22

Robert Bush Sr. is an avid outdoorsman who runs a Facebook page called "Bob's Pennsylvania Wildlife Camera."He set up a secret camera on a log that lays across a steam to capture footage of all the different animals that walked across it. The result is a relaxing video featuring all sorts of wildlife including a black bear‚ chipmunk‚ coyote‚ turkey‚ and great horned owl.Bush is very active recording wildlife videos‚ which he shares on his Facebook and YouTube pages. In the introduction to his Facebook page he captures his philosophy that is welcoming to all‚ with a few ground rules:"I love the outdoors and wildlife and I am not anti-hunting‚ this page is not about hunting and I will not post any hunting pictures or videos on this page‚ this page is about the wildlife in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Please do NOT post hunting pictures in the comments‚ and do not comment about killing the animals or about hunting at all‚ and do not bash hunters or talk about anti-hunting ... just enjoy the videos."Well said‚ Robert. And now‚ on to the first video: You may have noticed the video is called "The Log 2." Well‚ here's the original.This article originally appeared on 02.28.20

Madalyn Parker wanted to take a couple days off work. She didn't have the flu‚ nor did she have plans to be on a beach somewhere‚ sipping mojitos under a palm tree.Parker‚ a web developer from Michigan‚ wanted a few days away from work to focus on her mental health.Parker lives with depression. And‚ she says‚ staying on top of her mental health is absolutely crucial."The bottom line is that mental health is health‚" she says over email. "My depression stops me from being productive at my job the same way a broken hand would slow me down since I wouldn't be able to type very well."She sent an email to her colleagues‚ telling them the honest reason why she was taking the time off."Hopefully‚" she wrote to them‚ "I'll be back next week refreshed and back to 100%."Soon after the message was sent‚ the CEO of Parker's company wrote back:"Hey Madalyn‚I just wanted to personally thank you for sending emails like this. Every time you do‚ I use it as a reminder of the importance of using sick days for mental health — I can't believe this is not standard practice at all organizations. You are an example to us all‚ and help cut through the stigma so we can all bring our whole selves to work." \u201cWhen the CEO responds to your out of the office email about taking sick leave for mental health and reaffirms your decision. \ud83d\udcaf\u201d — madalyn (@madalyn) 1498854569 Moved by her CEO's response‚ Parker posted the email exchange to Twitter.The tweet‚ published on June 30‚ 2017‚ has since gone viral‚ amassing 45‚000 likes and 16‚000 retweets."It's nice to see some warm‚ fuzzy feelings pass around the internet for once‚" Parker says of the response to her tweet. "I've been absolutely blown away by the magnitude though. I didn't expect so much attention!"Even more impressive than the tweet's reach‚ however‚ were the heartfelt responses it got."Thanks for giving me hope that I can find a job as I am‚" wrote one person‚ who opened up about living with panic attacks. "That is bloody incredible‚" chimed in another. "What a fantastic CEO you have."Some users‚ however‚ questioned why there needs to be a difference between vacation time and sick days; after all‚ one asked‚ aren't vacations intended to improve our mental well-being?That ignores an important distinction‚ Parker said — both in how we perceive sick days and vacation days and in how that time away from work is actually being spent."I took an entire month off to do partial hospitalization last summer and that was sick leave‚" she wrote back. "I still felt like I could use vacation time because I didn't use it and it's a separate concept."Many users were astounded that a CEO would be that understanding of an employee's mental health needs.They were even more surprised that the CEO thanked her for sharing her personal experience with caring for her mental health.After all‚ there's still a great amount of stigma associated with mental illness in the workplace‚ which keeps many of us from speaking up to our colleagues when we need help or need a break to focus on ourselves. We fear being seen as "weak" or less committed to our work. We might even fear losing our job.Ben Congleton‚ the CEO of Parker's company‚ Olark‚ even joined the conversation himself.In a blog post on Medium‚ Congleton wrote about the need for more business leaders to prioritize paid sick leave‚ fight to curb the stigma surrounding mental illness in the workplace‚ and see their employees as people first."It's 2017. We are in a knowledge economy. Our jobs require us to execute at peak mental performance‚" Congleton wrote. "When an athlete is injured‚ they sit on the bench and recover. Let's get rid of the idea that somehow the brain is different."This article originally appeared on 07.11.17

When the Philadelphia Eagles' season came to an unceremonious end last weekend‚ many fans were‚ understandably‚ more than a little pissed. Take the rest of the night off to sleep in your shame‚ boys. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images.After the final game‚ one fan allegedly commented on Facebook that the team had "played like they were wearing tutus!!!"Photo by David R. Tribble/Wikimedia Commons. ...according to the Pennsylvania Ballet‚ which reported encountering the post on the social media site.The Pennsylvania Ballet‚ whose company members regularly wear tutus‚ had a few choice words for anyone who thinks their light‚ frequently pink costumes mean they're not "tough."Commence epic reply... (full text transcribed under the post).A Facebook user recently commented that the Eagles had "played like they were wearing tutus!!!"Our response:"With all due respect to the Eagles‚ let's take a minute to look at what our tutu wearing women have done this month:By tomorrow afternoon‚ the ballerinas that wear tutus at Pennsylvania Ballet will have performed The Nutcracker 27 times in 21 days. Some of those women have performed the Snow scene and the Waltz of the Flowers without an understudy or second cast. No 'second string' to come in and spell them when they needed a break. When they have been sick they have come to the theater‚ put on make up and costume‚ smiled and performed. When they have felt an injury in the middle of a show there have been no injury timeouts. They have kept smiling‚ finished their job‚ bowed‚ left the stage‚ and then dealt with what hurts. Some of these tutu wearers have been tossed into a new position with only a moments notice. That's like a cornerback being told at halftime that they're going to play wide receiver for the second half‚ but they need to make sure that no one can tell they've never played wide receiver before. They have done all of this with such artistry and grace that audience after audience has clapped and cheered (no Boo Birds at the Academy) and the Philadelphia Inquirer has said this production looks "better than ever".So no‚ the Eagles have not played like they were wearing tutus. If they had‚ Chip Kelly would still be a head coach and we'd all be looking forward to the playoffs."Happy New Year!In case it wasn't obvious‚ toughness has nothing to do with your gender.Gendered and homophobic insults in sports have been around basically forever — how many boys are called a "pansy" on the football field or told they "throw like a girl" in Little League?"They played like they were wearing tutus" is the same deal. It's shorthand for "You're kinda ladylike‚ which means you're not tough enough."Toughness‚ however‚ has a funny way of not being pinned to one particular gender. It's not just ballerinas‚ either. NFL cheerleaders? They get paid next to nothing to dance in bikini tops and short-shorts in all kinds of weather — and wear only ever-so-slightly heavier outfits when the thermometer drops below freezing. And don't even get me started on how mind-bogglingly badass the Rockettes are.Toughness also has nothing to do with what kind of clothes you wear.As my colleague Parker Molloy astutely points out‚ the kinds of clothes assigned to people of different genders are‚ and have always been‚ basically completely arbitrary. Pink has been both a "boys color" and a "girls color" at different points throughout history. President Franklin D. Roosevelt — longtime survivor of polio‚ Depression vanquisher‚ wartime leader‚ and no one's idea of a wimp — was photographed in his childhood sporting a long blonde hairstyle and wearing a dress.Many of us are conditioned to see a frilly pink dance costume and think "delicate‚" and to look at a football helmet and pads and think "big and strong." But scratch the surface a little bit‚ and you'll meet tutu-wearing ballerinas who that are among toughest people on the planet and cleat-and-helmet-wearing football players who are ... well. The 2015 Eagles.You just can't tell from their outerwear.Ballerinas wear tutus for the same reason football players wear uniforms and pads:To get the job done.This article originally appeared on 01.05.16

Ever felt like your acne treatment was doing more harm than good? You're not alone. For years the only effective acne solutions were ones that left your skin feeling dry as a desert or looking redder than a tomato. But now everything you thought you knew about acne treatments is about to change thanks to the Geologie Clear System. Unlike other acne treatments you may have tried‚ this revolutionary three-step routine addresses your toughest skin challenges without the harsh chemicals. Clinically proven to bring about real change‚ the Clear System doesn’t just eliminate acne at all costs. Instead‚ it takes a more holistic approach‚ eliminating acne while simultaneously transforming your skin into a smooth and radiant canvas‚ without all the irritation‚ itching‚ and burning.The Problem with Traditional Acne Treatments Traditional acne treatments often come with a guest list of unwelcome side effects‚ thanks to their go-to ingredient: benzoyl peroxide. While this ingredient is very effective in the battle against breakouts‚ its track record isn't as spotless when it comes to our skin's overall well-being. Benzoyl peroxide causes drying‚ peeling‚ and an overall sensation that your face is on fire. For many‚ this approach to curing acne care feels like you are just trading one set of problems for another.And it's not just about the immediate discomfort. The harshness of benzoyl peroxide can shake anyone's confidence‚ turning skincare routines into a gamble. Is clearer skin today worth the irritation tomorrow? This dilemma can leave us feeling stuck‚ undermining our self-esteem just as much as the acne itself. It's a cycle that too many of us know all too well‚ one that begs for a solution that respects our skin and our lifestyle.Say Hello To The Geologie Clear System The Geologie Clear System is changing the acne care game with its three-step routine. Engineered with a blend of salicylic acid‚ azelaic acid‚ and our patent-pending retinol leveling up system‚ this system takes a stand against acne without declaring all-out war on your skin. Each ingredient plays a crucial role: salicylic acid dives deep into pores to clear out debris‚ azelaic acid works to brighten and even skin tone‚ and retinol promotes cell turnover without the aggression. Together‚ they form a powerhouse dream team that combats acne gently and effectively.In a 12 week double-blind clinical trial conducted by the Northwestern University Department of dermatology‚ the Geologie Clear System was shown to be just as effective as treatments based on benzoyl peroxide. Participants in the study said the Clear System made their skin softer‚ smoother‚ and more hydrated‚ while reporting less dryness‚ redness‚ itching and burning than benzoyl peroxide. Most importantly‚ participants said they actually looked forward to using the Clear System skincare routine‚ and strongly preferred to acne treatments that use benzoyl peroxide.The Future Of Acne Care Traditional acne solutions take a one-size-fits-all approach. They give you a product that nukes the acne‚ but it’s up to you to deal with the collateral damage. In contrast‚ with the Geologie Clear System‚ you get a holistic routine designed not just to eliminate acne‚ but produce truly beautiful skin. Instead of a single acne treatment‚ the Clear System advances in stages‚ so the treatment evolves as your skin improves. However‚ whether you’re on Level 1‚ Level 2‚ or Level 3‚ your skincare routine takes just 60 seconds every day. On top of all that‚ the Clear System is also more ethical and sustainable‚ made from vegan and cruelty-free products‚ underscoring a broader commitment to not just the health of your skin‚ but the health of our planet. In that way‚ the Clear System isn't just the future of acne care; it's a step towards a more mindful approach to beauty and wellness in general.Don’t Settle For Inferior Acne Treatments The Geologie Clear System is a simple simple three-step routine offers not just a solution to acne but a transformation for your skin—effectively reducing breakouts‚ soothing irritation‚ and enhancing skin texture without the harsh side effects of traditional treatments. Best of all it’s backed by clinical studies and a commitment to building a more ethical and sustainable skincare industry.Are you ready to take the first step towards clearer‚ healthier skin? Because right now it’s easier than ever. The Geologie Clear System is available on shelves at Target stores nationwide. But if you don’t want to wait‚ or you don’t think you can trust yourself to go to Target without buying a bunch of other stuff you don’t need‚ you can also buy the Clear System right now through the Geologie website. This is one impulse buy you definitely won’t regret.

“It was a terrible year.” The post Plane crashes‚ John Lennon‚ and Viruses: the worst year of Don Henley’s life first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

A classic track with a sinister backstory. The post Gary Gilmore: the murderer who inspired a classic punk track first appeared on Far Out Magazine.