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Diversity in nursing matters more than it ever has. A good nurse is not the sum of his or her test scores, high school grades and extra-curriculars. And while lessons come from classroom work and practice, they're also developed through plain, ordinary lived experience.

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As a writer, I know the words we choose to use matter. The use of derogatory words like "junkie" or "dope fiend" not only greatly affects the addict's psyche, but those who care deeply for them as well.

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Recognizing that isolation, depression, and anxiety -- if unaddressed -- create a downward spiral of health that exacts a financial and human toll, we must continue to create services for the homebound elderly that address their mental as well as physical needs.

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No matter how "busy" we get it is imperative that we slow down just enough to relax and regroup on a daily basis. The task of taking care of ourselves first has taken a backseat to being present for others. So let's set the standard right now: Self-care is a must.

We have an incentive structure that promotes the wrong type of foods, which have come with an enormous cost to all. It is difficult to overstate the implications of the current American diet.

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As a single woman who writes and speaks openly about my mental illness, I'm often asked the question by friends and family: "Are you sure you want to write about your mental illness like that even though you are single?"

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Goal sharing is motivating, aspirational, and gives you a sense of accountability for sticking to what you've set out to do. However, goal sharing (prematurely, or even at all!) can actually be detrimental to accomplishing things.

Squats are an integral part of daily motion. We bend down to pick up our children, sit down in a chair at work or crouch to get into the car. Our legs contain some of the biggest muscles in our body, therefore, they need a tremendous amount of focus to keep them strong and able.

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If you're wearing high heels on New Years, chances are your feet won't be celebrating. Rather, your feet will be experiencing high heel hell. Hours of partying in stilettos can cause all sorts of foot problems and pains throughout night, as well as lead to a high heel hangover the following day.

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I know you are busy with daily tasks, but a few small changes make a big difference. You can simply replace unhealthy items on your counter with an inviting bowl of fresh fruit.

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Vacations are important. You need to take time out to relax, and just be yourself. It's not all work, work and more work, or at least should not be. We are all entitled to giving ourselves room to breathe the fresh air, cozy up with a fun book on the couch in the warmth and glow of the fireplace or travel to the most exotic locales on our plane

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A brand new year is always exciting! We are filled with anticipation, we resolve to achieve our goals and make our dreams come true. Given that this is a fantastic time to reflect, visualize and plan, here are 100 tips to be the best possible version of you in 2016!

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You have valiantly made New Year's resolutions through the years to lose weight, eat healthy, and not give in to binge snacking. Each time, way in advance of Valentine's Day, you've abandoned hope of putting your obsessive eating habits behind you.

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Because as a nurse in the intensive care unit, I've learned -- while I'm relatively young, I possess an old soul -- that nothing in this life is promised. We have no guarantee. We cannot push off what we crave today unto tomorrow, because there is no certainty that tomorrow may come.

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Negative experiences will still come and go, and sometimes, they'll still send you into a frenzy. But these situations will be fewer and further between since you'll be able to check in with yourself, figure out where you're at, and promptly make a change in either your mindset or your situation.

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We all derive energy from different sources, whether that entails having activities lined up every night of the week or recognizing when you need to just curl up with a book on a Friday night. Find what it is that makes you tick and do you.

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Yoga postures can compress the thyroid and the surrounding lymphatic tissues to squeeze out the blood and intracellular lymphatic fluids making room for fresh replacements. Think of it like wringing out a washcloth under running water.