Have you become braver as you’ve gotten older? You’re in good company. Life hands us challenges that help build character and prove that taking the occasional risk can be both liberating and joyous, say therapists who encourage mindful risk-taking. What benefits can you reap from stepping outside your comfort zone? You’ll take pride in doing something hard that boosts your confidence and self-esteem There’s a…
If you’re heading to Belize this summer, we’ve got 5 recommendations for “can’t miss” spots guaranteed to delight and impress based on endless recommendations from tourists who are not shy about expressing their opinions. You’ll likely join this universe – even if you don’t get to every one! 1. The Belize Barrier Reef. Astronauts spot it from the stratosphere but seeing it up close can…
If you’re so wild about primates, you rarely check out bears, giraffes, and big cats when visiting zoos, there’s a biological reason for the attraction: Apes are so much like us, we identify with some of their characteristics. Whether you’re enthralled with chimps, orangutans, gorillas, or other species members, you’ll notice that their mannerisms are identical to ours, and like people, they maintain intense relationships…
Have you ever wondered where the concept of the sweepstake originated? We checked with Dan Jahn whose post on the Probability Works website gives browsers a fascinating explanation of what we often think of as a modern marketing strategy. Sweepstakes were first held in Shakespeare’s day when Middle English speakers introduced the “swepe stake” that consisted of games played, after which the winner was invited…
Must you be a certified thrill-seeker to expect a lot of action during your summer 2025 vacation? The answer is yes, but! Plenty of folks find thrills doing nothing more than occupying a poolside lounge chair while drinking a well-stirred cocktail and contemplating tropical serenity—until they realize that they’ve selected a resort with a bountiful All Inclusive Package that includes a tour as well. Where…
“If I only have four days off, I’m not spending two of those in the air,” said one travel study participant when asked the question: Exactly how long should a trip be for that stress to be “worth it”? Scientists at the Academy of Finland discovered that between three and six days away is ideal. Choose a destination that doesn’t come with an exhausting flight…
Even historians can get it wrong when they do research on the origins of Mother’s Day, pointing to Ann Reeves Jarvis, a 19th Century West Virginia woman who launched clubs that taught local women how to care for their children as the founder. But in fact, holidays honoring moms have been around since the days of ancient Greeks and Romans. These festivals paid homage to…
One of the most talked about new trends is the 4-day work week that’s becoming commonplace in the U.S. Four-day work weeks are also creating a new vacation niche for people with shorter work weeks. This emerging trend has spurred Laru Beya Resort on Belize’s Placencia peninsula to promote a 4-day getaway that is equally beneficial because short, intermittent getaways accomplish so many goals: Go…
If a beauty contest for crustaceans was held today, odds that a lobster would be named most attractive are very low. Lobsters don’t produce pearls like their oyster cousins, but they do have a distinction that makes them unique, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): “researchers have discovered that lobsters [aren’t scavengers]. They catch mainly fresh food (except for bait) which includes…
The word “curated” has been bandied about a lot of late. While the original word “curate” referred to priests of the lowest rank in the Church of England (they help the vicar), today’s use of the word curated is, by contrast, extremely eclectic. For example, art and museum holdings are curated, as are selections made for film festivals that must meet a certain standard of…