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5 Mistakes You Will Regret Making in 10 Years

June 20, 2017 by Power of Positivity

We make hundreds of decisions throughout our lives that can greatly change the situation of our circumstances. We also don’t make decisions. That is to say, we let things continue the way they are without deciding to do something to change our situation, even when we want to. Sometimes, we make the wrong decisions, even when they seem right at the time. Life isn’t complete without making mistakes.

Mistakes are how we learn and grow as people. Sometimes, though, mistakes we make in our lives will lead us to regret those seemingly good decisions. Sometimes, the mistake is choosing not to act at all. The effects of our choices, or lack thereof, could lead to regrets down the line. You will find yourself asking, “What if?” and unable to come up with the answer. Here are five mistakes that you will inevitably regret in ten years.

5 MISTAKES YOU WILL REGRET MAKING IN 10 YEARS

“Don’t do something today you know you will regret tomorrow; think before you act.” – Unknown

1. WAITING FOR THE “PERFECT” TIME

There is no such thing as the “perfect” time to make a move. Whether it be starting a new job, going back to school, sitting down, and finally writing that book you have been promising to write, there will never be a “perfect” time. The perfect time is now. There will always be difficulties and hardships no matter what choices you make. Bumps in the road are normal. If you wait for everything to be perfect, you will be waiting forever. If you wait too long, you may not be able to take the leap you have been waiting to take. Before you know it, it’s far too late, and you regret not starting that drastic change in your life sooner.

2. BEING AFRAID TO TRY

Life is full of attempts. Sometimes, those attempts lead to failures. However, you will never see success if you are too afraid of failure even to try. Whether you are just too comfortable with your life now or too afraid of change to leap, you will regret not allowing yourself to try. Don’t let yourself become full of regret and “What ifs”. Years later, you may be distraught and plagued with questions about what would have happened if you weren’t afraid to try and achieve your goals. If you try, you will never wonder; you will know.

3. CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR APPROVAL FOR YOUR DECISIONS

If you find yourself looking for your choices to be validated by others and not acting on those choices when they are not, you will be living someone else’s life. It can be hard to make decisions on your own. It’s human nature for us to want our choices to be validated. However, if you are only making decisions that have been pre-approved by family, friends, and significant others, then you are not living the life you want to be living. It’s okay to get input from your loved ones and even to take some advice. In the end, however, the choice has to be yours.

4. GIVING UP

When the going gets tough, it can be tempting to give up. There’s nothing you will regret more, however, than throwing in the towel too soon. Even though things may seem more than you can handle, you will be surprised by your tenacity and strength if you keep moving forward. If you give up too soon, you may never know what you are truly capable of. Years later, you may wonder what would have happened if you gave your goals one more try.

5. NOT LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES

If you constantly find yourself in the same unsatisfactory situation repeatedly, you may fail to learn from your past errors. Perhaps the pattern of the mistakes is hard to see, or maybe you are just unwilling to realize you are making the same bad decisions. Once you can open yourself up to see the paths you have taken, and how they have gone wrong, you can take better control of your life. You are the only one who can exercise any authority over your life, and you are the only one who can break the pattern of mistakes. As the saying goes, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Don’t be afraid to admit to yourself that something isn’t working. Once you do, you will be relieved by how many more options open up to you.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

What is Dry Drowning? Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

June 19, 2017 by Sarah Barkley

Dry drowning is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. This emergency occurs after spending time in the water and might not be evident right away. It can result in death, but knowing the symptoms can lead to getting treatment right away.

Most people know what it looks like when someone starts drowning in the water. However, many people don’t know what dry or secondary drowning looks like and how to treat it or prevent it. Since the threat of drowning doesn’t end after leaving the water, it is essential to be vigilant.

Dry drownings are rare, but you never know when a terrifying situation can occur. Taking steps to prevent it and knowing the signs are essential and can save a life. This drowning situation typically occurs when someone has submerged underwater, and the risk increases if they’ve been saved from drowning.

Don’t let worry hold you back when you want to enjoy the water, but keep water safety in mind. Once you know the signs, treatments, and how to prevent dry or secondary drowning, you’ll feel better and worry less. Remember that this type of drowning is rare, so don’t let the fear overwhelm you.

What Is Dry Drowning?

Dry drowning is a type of drowning that happens when someone takes in a small amount of water, and the water causes a spasm. The muscle spasm makes the airway close up, resulting in this dangerous situation. The muscles constrain to protect your lungs, but it poses further issues rather than alleviating the event.

Dry and secondary drowning, or what doctors call post-immersion syndrome, is rare. It causes the vocal cords to close up over the windpipe, resulting in a laryngospasm. The laryngospasm could be severe, preventing oxygen from getting in or out, or it could be mild, resulting in difficulty breathing.

Laryngospasms increase pressure in the lungs and heart. It also reduces the ability to take in oxygen and circulate it. Even a few droplets of water hitting the larynx can trigger a laryngospasm, and it can occur from high-speed submersion on a water slide or from jumping or falling into the water.

A lack of oxygen to the brain is the main cause of death or injury during drowning, and this applies to dry drowning, too. Sometimes, if there is fluid in the lungs, an infection can set in and cause death, however.

This type of drowning is more likely to occur when a person has had a water drowning incident. For children, it most frequently happens after they’ve been underwater because they don’t know to avoid water inhalation. No matter how long someone was submerged, seek medical advice immediately to be safe.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Drowning?

While dry and secondary drowning is scary, there will be visible and noticeable warning signs. If you notice the signs of dry drowning soon enough, there is time for medical treatment. Some symptoms might not be as evident, and young children might be unable to communicate a problem.

Be vigilant and keep an eye on your child. If you notice any differences, pay attention and watch for the following symptoms:

Persistent and Unexplained Coughing: Anytime someone has a persistent cough after swimming and didn’t have one before, they should get medical treatment. If the cough continues for more than 30 minutes, it is a sign of difficulty breathing or water in the lungs. The cough will be dry and won’t ease even after drinking water.
Difficulty Breathing: If a person has trouble breathing after water inhalation, it isn’t a good sign. They might exhibit rapid, shallow breaths and feel like they aren’t getting enough air.
Increased Effort to Breathe: Flaring nostrils and seeing the space between the ribs when someone inhales shows an increased effort to breathe. When these symptoms occur, it is a sure sign that they aren’t receiving enough oxygen.
Fatigue, Low Energy, Or Sleepiness: One of the first symptoms that people experience is low energy after swimming. While sleepiness often occurs due to overexertion from swimming, it could also indicate that oxygen circulation is cut off. Avoid sleep for a while after being in the water, especially after a water incident.
Vomiting: Throwing up indicates a lack of oxygen. When vomiting occurs after getting out of the water, it is a sign that medical attention is necessary. If vomiting accompanies other symptoms, treatment should begin immediately.
Chest Pain: When chest pain occurs with other symptoms, it is a sure sign of issues with the airways. Chest pain typically occurs with coughing and difficulty breathing. The chest pain starts as mild discomfort, and the pain worsens until the condition is treated.
Irritability: When the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs, it can cause irritability and sudden mood swings. The irritability will likely occur with fast breathing and a racing heart.
Difficulty Speaking: Dry drowning causes the vocal cords to close, so speaking will be harder or impossible. When they can’t talk, it means that oxygen likely isn’t getting through, either. If this symptom is present, the victim should seek medical care right away.
Unusual Behavior or Forgetfulness: If someone’s behavior changes after swimming, pay attention to them and watch for other symptoms. They might also exhibit forgetfulness when they typically don’t have that problem. In some cases, the victim will be confused and unable to acknowledge verbal instruction.
The Person Required a Water Rescue: If someone gets pulled from a pool or body of water after a water incident, they might experience dry or secondary drowning. Anytime someone has a near-drowning experience, the person should receive a professional examination from a medical provider.

What’s The Difference Between Dry Drowning Vs. Secondary Drowning?

Dry and secondary drowning are similar, but there are some differences.

Dry Drowning vs. Secondary Drowning
Symptoms typically begin with an hour	Symptoms can start up to 24 hours later
Water never reaches the lungs	Caused by accumulated water in the lungs from swimming
Causes vocal cords to spasm and blocks airways	Typically causes pulmonary edema

How Is Dry Drowning Treated?

Dry and secondary drowning each requires emergency treatment, so getting help right away is essential. Don’t wait to see if the victim’s condition improves, and call for emergency medical assistance rather than having someone else drive. Medical treatment can begin as soon as paramedics arrive, and every minute counts.

If you can, as you wait for medical help, ensure that the victim:

Remains calm to avoid further muscle tension
Stays in a supine position, lying with their face upwards
Turns their face slightly to the side to allow water to drain from their mouth or nose

Once the victim gets help, the following treatments will occur:

Stop the process by removing water from the airway or lungs
Stabilize vital signs by opening the airway
Increasing blood flow to the lungs
Ventilator or respirator
Medical observation to ensure regular breathing resumes

In severe cases, the following treatment might be necessary:

Resuscitation
Oxygen treatment
Breathing tube

Can Dry Drowning Be Prevented?

While you can prevent dry or secondary drowning, accidents can still happen. The victims of most drowning deaths each year are children younger than 15, so many prevention methods apply to kids. Prevention tips are the same as those for regular water drowning, with a few exceptions.

Here are essential tips on how to prevent dry drowning:

Supervise children in the water and after they get out, even if they know how to swim
Sign yourself and your kids up for swim lessons and learn to avoid breathing in water
Practice water safety and use flotation devices in deeper water
Never leave standing water where children are unsupervised
Learn CPR in case an incident occurs in your presence
Don’t swim alone
Pay attention to the weather if you are swimming outside
Look for hazards in the swimming area before entering
Don’t leave children alone around water, even for a minute
Be aware of waves in a lake or ocean
Don’t drink alcohol around water, whether you’re going in or watching others.
Avoid entering the water when you’re injured.
When in natural water, know the depth, temperature, and if any dangerous currents exist
Keep approved flotation devices on all boats and watercraft
Don’t swim while you’re fatigued
Make sure pool gates remain closed at all times

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Dry Drowning Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Dry drowning is a scary accident, but recognizing the symptoms and seeking treatment right away can prevent death. Plus, knowing how to prevent dry or secondary drowning can help you avoid the situation altogether. Even with the best prevention methods, though, you should learn to recognize the symptoms.

After water submersion, watch for symptoms, and as soon as one occurs, call for emergency services. Don’t try to wait it out, and don’t assume that it’s nothing. It is always best to be safe and seek treatment for dry drowning, even if you aren’t sure.

Don’t let the fear of dry or secondary drowning keep you away from the water, even if it is worrisome. It is a rare situation, and if you stay vigilant, the risk is low. Enjoy a day in the water and rest easy knowing that you understand the symptoms, causes, and ways to prevent dry drowning.

A Powerful Thank You Letter to My Soulmate

June 18, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Dear Soulmate,

We’ve been through some hard times together, but we’ve also made amazing memories that will last a lifetime. You lift me up when I fall, listen to my ramblings about life all night, make breakfast when I don’t feel like getting out of bed, and you stick around even when I’m at my worst.

The ride together thus far hasn’t been easy, but we’ve strengthened our bond immensely through all the tough times we’ve faced. No one gets me like you do, and you give me the freedom and space to be myself. Life seems a little less dark and scary with you around, and I really don’t know what I’d do without you. You give me hope, strength, and confidence to tackle my dreams head on and not worry what the rest of the world may think.

You believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself, and you see the light shining within me when all I can see is darkness. You know me inside and out, and it feels so good to finally have someone understand me. I know I’m not the easiest person to love, and I know I can get distant sometimes, but just know that I will always love you and stand in the lion’s den with you no matter what we might face. Nothing in this world can tear us apart as long as we keep loving each other and building each other up. As long as we keep trying to understand one another, listening to each other, laughing together at this crazy world, and creating a life we love, I have no doubt we can make it despite all the odds.

The love we share means the world to me, and I will stick around for as long as you’ll have me. I know times are confusing and we’re still trying to figure things out, but that’s the beauty of it all…the unfolding of life throughout the ups and downs. We’ll look back on all the struggles years from now and laugh at how far away it all seems, and how far we’ve come since then. We can accomplish anything we set our minds to, as long as we support each other and never give up.

I won’t ever give up on you, because you have a beautiful heart and soul, even if you don’t always see it. I love everything about you, even when you get on my nerves sometimes. (I know I get on your nerves at times, too). At least we can laugh about it later, and we never stay mad at each other for too long. I feel that you just get me on the deepest level possible, even if I don’t always express my emotions and thoughts clearly. I could just sit in silence with you for hours and enjoy being with you, without needing to fill the space with conversation.

We’re both complicated souls, but that’s why I love you so much. I like people with depth who aren’t easy to figure out, who don’t always lay everything out on the table. I have always been attracted to quiet people, because they have the most to say. I just love hearing what’s on your mind and having conversations that last for hours, just forgetting about the rest of the world and connecting with the most important person to me.

You make me feel safe, understood, loved, and cared for, and that’s all I could ever ask of you. I know our relationship isn’t perfect, but that makes it beautiful. It’s like watching a flower grow through the concrete and flourish into a garden. That’s how I think of our relationship, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I believe in you 150%, and I have absolute faith that you can become whatever you want in life. I see your potential, and I will stand by you every step of the way on your road to becoming the best version of yourself. But, remember that I also love you exactly as you are, and I will love you no matter who you decide to be.

You’re amazing, and I hope you know that. Life’s so confusing nowadays, and I don’t have any more answers than when I started this journey, but as long as I have you around, I think I can make it through.

Thanks for being you, babe, and I love you with all my heart.

Sources: my heart.

What Are Your Choices When Something Bad Happens?

June 18, 2017 by Power of Positivity

One inescapable truth of life is suffering. You’ll experience suffering, as will the people you love. We see bad things happen daily – in person, on TV, in the newspaper, or elsewhere – it seems inescapable.

“If you expect your life to be up and down, your mind will be much more peaceful.” – Lama Yeshe

Maybe one day, humankind will evolve to a point when we can alleviate all of the sorrow in the world – we’d all love that to happen. For now, it’s up to each one of us to acknowledge the current reality while working for a better future.

We have two options when something bad happens: to accept it or suffer. That’s it – there is no option (C). No third curtain. While this proposition may sound harsh, it is anything but. We’ll explain why.

(Note: while this article makes several references to Buddhism, it’s not intended to be a religious or spiritual piece. The tenets of Buddhism, in many ways, are calibrated into man’s moral compass. Buddhism approaches acceptance and suffering from a very humanistic perspective. This fact, in conjunction with self-acquired knowledge on Buddhist teachings and practices, greatly helped for purposes of instruction.)

Here Are Your Choices When Something Bad Happens

Option #1: Acceptance of the Bad

Toni Bernhard, a longtime Buddhist practitioner and three-time author, writes:

“Upekkha means equanimity (in Buddhism). It refers to a mind that is calm and steady in the face of life’s ups and downs. This is a tall order because it means opening our hearts and minds not to pleasant experiences but to unpleasant ones too. Resisting the latter just adds to our own stress to what is already difficult.”

Mrs. Bernhard is a former attorney, law professor, and dean at the University of California-Davis (UCD). After 22 years at UCD, Bernhard was forced to retire because of a rare and chronic viral condition. Instead of dwelling on her circumstances, Bernhard has written three award-winning books on Buddhism and Mindfulness.

People all over the world experience unexpected pain. Some are forced to deal with difficult circumstances every day.

To see the ubiquitous suffering in our world can be depressing and heart-wrenching. Since the dawn of man, people have been stricken with disease, hunger, and poverty. Countries wage stupid wars and kill their own people. Tyrants rule over countries wherein the people have no freedom or rights.

As a result, we (naturally) feel angry, depressed, guilty, helpless, and sad. We weep, mourn, and feel wounded.

We ask ourselves “why?” “Why would this happen to me, I’m a good person.” “What did they ever do to deserve such a thing?” And, in most cases, we can’t explain it. So, we’ll pray, send good thoughts, and ask the Universe to put things in balance.

Then you have to ask yourself: what can you do about it? Send a check, or volunteer your time or skills? Sometimes, there is something you can do; sometimes, there is not.

Acceptance is not indifference. Instead, it is recognizing the situation as it is and not dwelling on negativity. Acceptance is truth and observation. Acceptance is being open to the actual thoughts and feelings we’re having in each moment, whether anxiety, anger, fear, heartache or happiness – and not try to control what’s uncontrollable.

Option #2: Suffering the Bad

The first noble truth of Zen Buddhism reads: ‘To Live Means To Suffer.’ This truth, in various ways, is recognized and taught across all religions and spiritual practices.

The story goes that when Prince Siddhartha (Buddha’s birth name) stepped out of his palace for the first time, he saw the following: a new born baby, a crippled old man, a sick man, and the corpse of a dead man. Buddha, until age 29, was completely oblivious to the suffering all around him.

Instead of making a U-turn and heading back into the lap of luxury, the Prince instead left. He gave up his life in search for truth – something that had been hidden from him for nearly three decades.

Various forms of Buddhism are taught today, including secular varieties. All forms adhere to Buddha’s four noble truths:

– ‘To Live Means To Suffer’

– ‘The Origin of Suffering Is Attachment’

– ‘The Cessation of Suffering Is Attainable’

– ‘The Path To The Cessation of Suffering’

All four noble truths have one word in common: suffering. We will suffer. We will see others suffer. Finally, we will experience heartache and pain.

The all-important question is this: will we approach suffering with acceptance, or will we permit suffering to dictate our lives?

11 Thoughts to Remember When Your World Is Falling Apart

June 18, 2017 by Power of Positivity

“When you think your life is falling apart, it’s usually falling together in disguise.” – Charlotte Eriksson

Life can get overwhelming. The world can throw so many things at us, and often times it can feel like everything is crumbling around us. Jobs, money, family, friends – all these things can contribute to the stress of life. When problems and new challenges arise, it may feel like life is throwing more at us than we can possibly, conceivably handle.

Sometimes, that may be true. But being able to slow down and assess every new situation will make all the hardships in your life shift into a new perspective. When it feels like your whole world is falling apart, you have to learn how to stop, assess, and evaluate.

Here are all the things you need to remember when everything is falling apart:

1. THIS PAIN IS TEMPORARY

No matter what you’re going through right now, whether it be money troubles, family problems or an emotional break up, remember that the pain you’re feeling is only temporary. It will not last forever. It may not even last the rest of the day. If you’re able to remember that there was a time where you weren’t feeling emotional pain, you’ll be able to more easily handle it now, instead of becoming overwhelmed.

2. WORRY LESS

Worrying only causes anxiety and makes focusing on what needs to be done harder. If you find yourself worrying over something that you can do nothing about, try to focus on the steps that need to be taken to fix whatever problem or challenge has arisen. If you’ve lost your job, worrying about how you’re going to pay your bills is not going to put more money in your bank account. Instead of worrying, make a plan on how to move forward. Put positive energy forward and don’t let yourself get weighed down by negativity.

3. OTHER PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS ARE NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

While your own life feels overwhelmed with issues, you need to remember to take a step back from trying to shoulder the weight of other people’s problems as well. Being open and available to help others when they need it is a good and positive quality. However, you need to make sure that you’re asserting boundaries and not allowing other people’s problems to become your responsibility on top of your own.

4. JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD

When your life feels like it’s falling apart, the only possible direction is to move forward. Even when it feels impossible, you need to remember that it’s okay to get back up and keep trying. One failure or bump in the road doesn’t mean that all your plans should be derailed. Life can be tough, but you are stronger than the challenges that life throws at you.

5. DO WHAT YOU’RE AFRAID TO DO

If your life feels like it’s in shambles and that you’re stuck in this situation, maybe the only way to move forward is to do exactly what you’re too scared to do. Being afraid of change is natural, but being too afraid to actually change can hold you back. Even if it feels impossible, take a deep breath and leap. You’ll be surprised how often you land on your feet.

6. IT’S OKAY TO CRY

Bottling up how you feel, especially when those feelings seem enormous, can cause more stress and anxiety than good. Sometimes, it’s okay to cry when you need to. When things go wrong, or when grief becomes overwhelming, it’s natural to want to cry. Giving into your emotions doesn’t make you weak. Often, you’ll find that after you let yourself have a good cry, you’ll be more clear-headed and be able to take the next logical step forward in your journey.

7. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

When things are falling apart, it can be hard to see all the things in your life that aren’t going wrong. Take a moment to think about the things in your life that are stable, and that you’re grateful for. Being able to think positively will help you put your problems into perspective. If you’ve lost your job, be grateful for a supportive network of family and friends. If you’re having family troubles, take time to appreciate your significant other.

8. YOU HAVE POWER OVER YOUR LIFE

Even though it may not seem like it at times, you are not being controlled by the stars. You have an amazing about of influence and control over your own life, even when everything feels like it’s out of your hands. If everything feels like it’s starting to become too overwhelming, you have the power to make a change.

9. EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS

Sometimes, it’s nice to know that you’re not the only one who is going through challenges. Remembering that there are people who have weathered the same storms as you can give you strength to keep moving forward. You can find community, validation and solidarity with other people who are going through the same challenges as you.

10. LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN EVERY SITUATION

When life is crumbling around you, it can be hard to continue to see the optimistic side of a situation. Try to look for the silver lining in everything. If you’re going through a bad break up, try to see it as a new opportunity to find your soulmate. When you lose your job, see it as a change to begin your life anew with a career you love. Don’t allow yourself to be bogged down with pessimism. A positive outlook can completely transform your situation.

11. TAKE TIME TO PRAY

Or, if you don’t pray, you can take a moment out of your day to focus on your positive energy. This can double as a moment to re-center yourself so that all that you’re experiencing doesn’t completely overwhelm you. You’ll be surprised how much calmer and focused you feel after forcing yourself to take a minute to focus on all of the positive energy around you and inside of you.

Stephen Hawking’s Powerful 100 Year Prediction

June 17, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Stephen Hawking is one of the most well-respected scientists in history. To celebrate his 75^th birthday, the BBC channel will air a new documentary titled “Stephen Hawking: Expedition New Earth.”

According to a press release, Hawking explains humankind’s “precarious” situation, including “his predictions that the human race only has 100 years before we need to colonize another planet.”

Unsurprisingly, Hawking is taking a bashing for – what some consider to be – an extremely radical perspective. The fact that Hawking initially predicted 1,000 years for colonization is only adding to the scrutiny.

In this article, we’ll discuss a bit about Professor Hawking and his work. To the best of our ability, we’ll contextualize the genius’s predictions.

“With climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, our own planet is increasingly precarious.” – Professor Stephen Hawking

Who is Stephen Hawking?

If you were to pose this question to anyone in the scientific community, you’d likely be mocked, perhaps relentlessly.

Hawking is a graduate of both Oxford and Cambridge University (two of the most prestigious institutions in the word), where he majored in Physics and Cosmology, respectively. He graduated near the top of his class despite “not very much work.”

Dr. Hawking was diagnosed at Oxford with a rare form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The condition has rendered Hawking wholly paralyzed. He can communicate and give lectures via cutting-edge technologies developed by many companies: Lenovo, Intel, Speech Plus, and SwiftKey.

Professor Hawking is best known for his work on gravitation, gravitational radiation, black holes, and wave functions. His book, A Brief History of Time (published in 1992), made accessible his elaborate theories to non-specialists. The book ultimately became a bestseller, and has sold more than 10 million copies in 20 years; the work has also been translated into 35 languages.

Where Hawking “ranks” among the best physicists of all time is a matter of fierce debate – a debate that Hawking himself never wanted.

In many ways, Hawking doesn’t fit the traditional “mold” of a scientist. He downplays his intelligence (“People who boast about their IQ are losers”), has an unabashed sense of humor (“It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away”), and is stoically optimistic (“Where there is life, there is hope.”)

Hawking, despite his stubborn opposition, has been called “The most influential physicist since Einstein.” (Which Hawking says is “Rubbish.”) With this kind of clout, people listen when the Professor speaks.

Famous Scientist Says Humans Move to a New Planet in 100 Years

In November of 2016, Hawking’s warnings were three-fold: artificial intelligence, global warming, and nuclear war could destroy the Earth. “Although the chance of a disaster to planet Earth in a given year may be quite low, it adds up over time, and becomes a near certainty in the next thousand or ten thousand years.”

The phrase “next thousand or ten thousand years” is a source of pause for many. There’s a sizable difference between one to ten thousand years and one hundred. What possible reason can explain the physicist’s sudden “100 years” theory? Hawking lists explicitly climate change, possible asteroid strikes, population growth, and epidemics as the biggest threats. (Nuclear war seems more plausible to many.)

Is colonization of another planet the answer? Is it possible, now or ever? And is it even necessary – in a thousand years or beyond?

Should I pack my bags?

First, let’s examine the scientific rationale of Hawking’s “culprits” for extinction:

1. Climate change: Per NASA, 97-plus percent of actively publishing climate scientists concede that “Climate-warming trends over the past century are likely due to human activities.” Few scientists deny the climate is changing, and that climate change following the Industrial Revolution has expedited this warming effect.

2. Overdue asteroid strikes: The last “civilization-ending” asteroid hit Earth over 65 million years ago. As Professor Hawking suggests, some scientists believe we’re “overdue,” but “NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordinate Office does not expect a major asteroid impact in the near future.”

3. Health epidemics: Throughout the 20^th and 21^st centuries, we’ve had five epidemics that have each resulted in more than one million fatalities – all of them occurring in 1889, 1918, and 1957, 1960, and 1968. The most recent epidemic, the Ebola Virus, was extinguished after just three years.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Hawking is not alone in his warnings about the adverse effects of AI. Elon Musk, the brain behind Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures, also articulated his stance: “I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it’s probably that. So, we need to be very careful,” Musk continues, “I’m increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight, maybe at the national and international level, just to make sure we don’t do something very foolish.”

Putting it all together

There is no denying that Stephen Hawking is a genius of the highest order. He is undoubtedly one of the most influential physicists since Albert Einstein. Still, others question his motives, methodology, and even his mental stability (Hawking is now 75.)

That said, a few facts are hindering Hawking’s hypothesis. First, we are nowhere close to achieving the technological capabilities required to colonize another planet. Second, we don’t know if human beings can live on a distant planet; we’ve evolved over hundreds of thousands of years on Earth. Third, many “powers that be” still deny the dangers that Hawking, Musk, and other great minds have articulated.

With all of that said, is colonizing another planet really the answer? Shouldn’t science and rational thinking prevail over the whims of vested interests? It has in some advanced countries. Sadly, the United States cannot claim to be one of them.

The bottom line: we must educate and inform ourselves and future generations of the potential perils this planet faces. Human logic must prevail over ignorance.

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5 MISTAKES YOU WILL REGRET MAKING IN 10 YEARS

1. WAITING FOR THE “PERFECT” TIME

2. BEING AFRAID TO TRY

3. CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR APPROVAL FOR YOUR DECISIONS

4. GIVING UP

5. NOT LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

What Is Dry Drowning?

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Drowning?

What’s The Difference Between Dry Drowning Vs. Secondary Drowning?

How Is Dry Drowning Treated?

Can Dry Drowning Be Prevented?

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Dry Drowning Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Here Are Your Choices When Something Bad Happens

Option #1: Acceptance of the Bad

Option #2: Suffering the Bad

Other questions to consider:

Here are all the things you need to remember when everything is falling apart:

1. THIS PAIN IS TEMPORARY

2. WORRY LESS

3. OTHER PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS ARE NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

4. JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD

5. DO WHAT YOU’RE AFRAID TO DO

6. IT’S OKAY TO CRY

7. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

8. YOU HAVE POWER OVER YOUR LIFE

9. EVERYONE HAS PROBLEMS

10. LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN EVERY SITUATION

11. TAKE TIME TO PRAY

Who is Stephen Hawking?

Famous Scientist Says Humans Move to a New Planet in 100 Years

Should I pack my bags?

Putting it all together

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Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist