The Importance of Finding Your “Why”

Fitness means so many different things to so many different people. Whether fitness is your career, one of your passions,…

Fitness means so many different things to so many different people. Whether fitness is your career, one of your passions, a hobby that you enjoy, or even if it’s something that you take part in just because you think you should, finding your “why” is the first step to success. 

As a kid, I tried several different types of exercise, ranging from team sports to dance lessons. Nothing ever stuck, I never felt super passionate about or connected to them. I first felt genuinely excited about a sport when I started playing rugby in high school. The difference was that I had found a “why.” The team was like a family, the game was a great emotional outlet, and practicing four days a week made me feel healthy. 

After I got out of high school, I stopped playing and lost all desire to make fitness a part of my life. For the following few years, I was in and out of the gym inconsistently, but I never took it seriously. It wasn’t until earlier this year that I truly found my “why,” which turned into a passion for fitness. At the beginning of this year, my anxiety was at an all-time high, and my self-esteem was at an all-time low. One day, as I was scrolling through TikTok, one of my favourite influencers posted about how fitness helped her find herself again, and it resonated with me. The next day, I stepped back into the gym, and I haven’t stopped since. After a few months of weight training consistently, my mental health was in a much better place, and my goals shifted. 

At this point in my journey, I am pushing my body every day to see how much it is capable of, I am practicing discipline and consistency, and I am focused on the process, rather than the end goal. 

Whether your goal is to look a certain way, feel a certain way, or move a certain way, your “why” is what keeps you going.

Mini assignment #1

Before and after life as an exchange student in Vancouver:

Before and after life as an exchange student in Vancouver:

Could not change the language into English (still working on it), but for now, it shows how much my average number of steps and distance has increased over the last 5 weeks, after I arrived in Vancouver. Almost twice as much! Saying that distances are greater in Vancouver than Copenhagen.

Process post week 2

This week has been all about installation of my blog and the setting it up. I have been diving into creating a WordPress website, but it has not been easy. I have struggled with a few bumps along the way, as I am having difficulties getting the categories to work and organizing posts into the […]

This week has been all about installation of my blog and the setting it up. I have been diving into creating a WordPress website, but it has not been easy. I have struggled with a few bumps along the way, as I am having difficulties getting the categories to work and organizing posts into the ‘PUB’ and ‘weekly updates’ sections. Additionally, I have not figured out the tag-thing either.

Anyway, I am persevering with my process posts and weekly updates and, and they will continue to be posted on my blog. Luckily, I am experiencing so many exiting things here in BC, making it easy to get content for my blog!

I want the blog to be personal with photos from my iPhone. I intend to use the blog to keep track of everything I do, while hopefully inspiring other exchange students in Vancouver or students considering going on exchange.

As for the blog’s theme, I have not settled on a specific yet. I really want to work on my layout so it gets more appealing to look at. However, as I am still in the process of learning WordPress, I have not quite achieved that goal yet

Book Lover’s Guide to Budget Bliss

Personally I am an avid reader of physical books. There is an undoubtable joy in turning pages, taking in the smell of paper, and building your own little library, as a memorial to all the stories that have impacted your life. However, being a student means that my love for reading has to be budget …

Personally I am an avid reader of physical books. There is an undoubtable joy in turning pages, taking in the smell of paper, and building your own little library, as a memorial to all the stories that have impacted your life. However, being a student means that my love for reading has to be budget friendly. Luckily, I have found a number of ways that aligns with my passion for reading without emptying my bank account. Those are the hacks that I would like to share with you too, hope that you will find them useful:

  • Public libraries: 

The library card is a golden pass to an unlimited supply of free books. Find your local library and make one for yourself, there’s no cost for that. And because of their extensive collections, public libraries let you enjoy the pleasure of reading physical books without having to pay any money. (They may also have audio and e-books).

  • Open Library:

Fills up the gaps left by library shelves. It’s a treasure for readers on a tight budget due to its large selection of e-books. However, you might be waitlisted for some of the books so be prepared for that. 

  • Little Free Libraries:

I found out about them only when I came to Canada. These are small boxes located randomly in different neighbourhoods that are filled with a variety of books. Even though they may not always have a specific book that you are looking for, there is a chance of you encountering a more intriguing read. And in return you can also leave a book of your own. 

  • Author’s blogs and websites:

Some authors kindly offer free samples or full novels on their websites or blogs. Without investing a dime, it’s an excellent opportunity to interact with readers and find new authors.

  • Book swaps with Friends: 

Taking into account the reading enthusiasm among your friends or the university (school, work) community has proven to be an excellent resource in finding new reads. In addition to exposing you to new books, book swaps give you the chance to interact and converse with other readers. 

Bonus tip: You can also split the purchase of a book with a friend to make it more affordable. 

Let me know if any of these hacks were useful for you. Feel free to leave comments below. Happy reading! 

Mini Assignment #1

Create a meme that reflects you or your blog. Post it; tag it @sfupublishing, @learnpublishing #posiel; tweet it, #posiel.

Meme posted on Instagram. It reflects that everytime the US needs to pay their debt, they just print more money to pay their …

Create a meme that reflects you or your blog. Post it; tag it @sfupublishing, @learnpublishing #posiel; tweet it, #posiel.

Meme posted on Instagram. It reflects that everytime the US needs to pay their debt, they just print more money to pay their installment which in turn creates more debt and the cycle continues in loop-

Week 1 – Sep 12

Q – Reflect and comment on your stranger encounter. How did it differ from your online interactions?  In the class, we discussed about the the course submission – one process post and one blog each week. We also played many menti activities. One of the other interesting activity was Neil.fun password game that give increases […]

Q – Reflect and comment on your stranger encounter. How did it differ from your online interactions? 

In the class, we discussed about the the course submission – one process post and one blog each week. We also played many menti activities. One of the other interesting activity was Neil.fun password game that give increases the password requirements with each step.

Later, we were asked to encounter a stranger and start conversation. After 3 days, I was going back home in train and was thinking about the ways to break an ice with a stranger. I overheard two passengers next to me discussing about the heightened interest rates by the Bank of Canada. As I am already familiar with these types of financial discussion, I awkwardly jumped in their conversation by saying “are you guys talking about the interest rates ? Man, they are really high right now and everything has become so expensive”. To my surprise, the ice was broken their and we had a smooth discussion with laughers.

In-person conversations with strangers really differ from online conversation, as online I never had to give too much thoughts about breaking the ice, tone of my words; however, in-person these speaking aspects really matter and I was a little conscious as well about how I just jumped in-between two strangers

Week 2 – Sep 19

Write a blog post about the installation and setup work you did this week: your decisions, your rationales; make sure you link out to at least a couple of other resources. How does what you’ve created so far relate to the vision board you made last week? The class on Sep 19 was really interesting […]

Write a blog post about the installation and setup work you did this week: your decisions, your rationales; make sure you link out to at least a couple of other resources. How does what you’ve created so far relate to the vision board you made last week?

The class on Sep 19 was really interesting as we watched many memes and discussed about what they’re trying to say. We also watch the apple’s mother nature video showing how apple is contributing to the fight against climate change as all apple offices and factories are already carbon neutral and by 2030, they promise to carbon neutralized all apple products as well.

We also did various interesting activities – In one of them, the class was divided into 6 groups and we were given topics to discuss and present on.

We also had a chance to draw our passion, goals, ideas etc on a vision board that would help us to evaluate the topic of our blog and I created the following board using 4 venn diagrams.

My ideas about myself really drive me towards the ways to build wealth and understand the latest technologies and I believe blockchains are one of the best tech innovation that is capable to changing the world.

Being a tech guy, I am highly fascinated by the innovations in technical world and Blockchain is one of my favorite topic to talk about. So, I already decided it as my Blog title for this course.

Being a software developer, I am also highly familiar with the html/css languages that I used these languages to customize and design the header of my website –

I also wanted to customize the theme of my website and being a dark theme guy, I though its better to darken my blog as well; so I installed Elementor plugin to customize the theme and used the following image for background of my content –

I also used The Post Grid plugin to arrange the the boxes of the process posts and blogs and redesigned the colors to achieve the following look –

Installation and Setup

Write a blog post about the installation and setup work you did this week: your decisions, your rationales; make sure you link out to at least a couple of other resources. How does what you’ve created so far relate to the vision board you made last week? Sort your Process Post under either a Category or Tag …

Installation and Setup Read More »

Write a blog post about the installation and setup work you did this week: your decisions, your rationales; make sure you link out to at least a couple of other resources. How does what you’ve created so far relate to the vision board you made last week? Sort your Process Post under either a Category or Tag for ‘posiel’ so you can collect them later.

  1. Selecting a Theme: I wanted my blog to be visually appealing and easy to navigate. So, I spent time researching and finally settled on a clean, responsive theme that reflected the aesthetics I had envisioned.
  2. Customization: One of the most exciting aspects of this process was customizing my website. I delved into the theme’s settings, tweaked colors, fonts, and layouts to match the vibe I had on my vision board. I also added a personalized logo that I had designed earlier, tying everything together.
  3. Content Structure: Based on my vision, I outlined a content structure that emphasized clarity and user-friendliness. I created categories and tags that would help organize my posts effectively and ensure easy access for readers.

Process Post 2

Welcome to my Process Post 2! This post goes over the installation and setup work I did up to this…

Welcome to my Process Post 2!

This post goes over the installation and setup work I did up to this week. This includes the decision I had to make, my rationales, and what’s next on my mind. In Week 2, I chose a techy theme that promised features I was looking forward to using when I saw them. After working with that theme for two days, I realized that most of the features I liked were paid and the free version could only let the user do so much. I spent the next three days trying different themes and then decided to stick with my current theme, Flash News. This was one of the most important decisions to make as the work I do hereon, is based on the tools I can use from this theme.

The reasons I chose this theme can be better explained from the following screenshot from their website.

I have boxed in red the features that attracted me to this theme- the advertising header in case I decide to monetize my website, the shuffle post button that displays a post at random, the “breaking news” and “posts list” section that updates itself when a new post is made. There are features on top of those as mentioned above that led me to choose this theme. 

This is how my website looks as of now. I have added 2 content posts and 2 process posts, added in the header an about me page, a drop-down menu for POSIEL 101, and a menu for some phones I want to write about.


2 Weeks Earlier…

This website is registered through Reclaim Hosting and is working on WordPress. This was quite a straightforward procedure where we chose a plan, then a domain, paid the money for registration and then installed WordPress. I used the following YouTube video for a step-by-step tutorial about the plans and the process.

Tutorial on how to purchase a domain and install WordPress

How does what I have created so far relate to the vision board I made last week?

The vision board I had last week was me visual dumping all the ideas that came to my mind about the vision of my website. From what I had last week, I have found value, prupose, audience and accessibility to my website. I will continue to work on these and add more features and content in the following weeks.

 

Links to starting blogs and additional Reclaim Hosting assistance

 

Content Post 1

Apple’s Newest Release, the iPhone 15: A Glimpse into the Future of Smartphones In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Apple…

Apple’s Newest Release, the iPhone 15: A Glimpse into the Future of Smartphones

In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, Apple has once again managed to fascinate the tech world with the release of the highly anticipated iPhone 15. This phone by the tech giant promises to be a game changer as it pushes the boundaries of innovation and technology. I have used the Apple iPhone 15 for two weeks and this was enough time to get captivated by what an engineering marvel it is.

Starting off with its design, the iPhone 15 has a revolutionary design, relieving the traditional rectangular form for a more ergonomic, curved, and sleek appearance. It felt like a natural extension of my hand as it was so comfortable to hold and operate. The phone is crafted from a combination of glass and titanium, making it not only robust but also visually stunning.

The display stood out to me the most as it has the OLED 2.0 display technology. With an enhanced resolution, colour accuracy, and brightness, this display gives an immersive visual experience like never before. OLED displays display deeper blacks, more vibrant colours, and a significantly improved viewing experience for multimedia content (games and videos).

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be available in five stunning new colors: black, blue, green, yellow, and pink (Apple, 2023)

 

Next, the camera system in the iPhone 15 has significant improvements compared to the iPhone 13 I used. The rear camera setup includes a 108-megapixel primary sensor, allowing for stunningly detailed photos and 8K video recording. Additionally, the phone offers up to 10x optical zoom for those long-distance shots. Low-light photography is also taken to the next level with improved night mode capabilities.

Apple teased the iPhone 15 by revealing its A15 Bionic chip, which surpasses the boundaries of processing power and efficiency. This chip not only enhances performance but also improves energy efficiency, resulting in longer battery life. It shows its power by giving a smooth and responsive experience whether it is used for gaming, multitasking, or using resource-intensive applications.

As security and privacy are one of the world’s leading concerns, Apple did not disappoint in prioritizing security and privacy. The iPhone 15 takes it up a notch with advanced biometric features. In addition to Face ID, the phone now incorporates an under-display fingerprint sensor for added convenience and security, which previous models did not offer.

Me, personally, I love having fast connections and full service, and I see the iPhone 15 is well-prepared to take advantage of the 5G networks. Not only does it have 5G connections, but the iOS 16 software the phone comes with is also the latest release of Apple’s operating system. It is packed with new features and improvements, it enhances the overall user experience.

As a future sustainability engineer, I had to see what steps Apple has taken to make the iPhone 15 more environmentally friendly. The phone is designed with a focus on recyclability, reduced carbon footprint, and increased use of renewable energy in its manufacturing process.

 

iPhone 15 features in a nutshell (The Verge, 2023)

 

In conclusion, Apple did not underdeliver in its commitment to innovation and excellence. With all the above features, I’m sure this phone will set new standards in the world of smartphones. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a power user, or simply someone who appreciates a well-crafted device, the iPhone 15 has something to offer everyone.

Read more at:

https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-15/

https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-15/specs/

https://www.theverge.com/23885548/apple-iphone-15-everything-need-know-news-announcement

“The Notebook”- A Timeless Ode to Love and Memory

Nicholas Sparks, who is known for his romantic stories with a lot of heart, gives us another touching tale in “The Notebook.” The novel attracts readers into the ongoing love story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson, which is set against the scenery of a quiet coastal community. Sparks captures the reader’s attention from the …

Nicholas Sparks, who is known for his romantic stories with a lot of heart, gives us another touching tale in “The Notebook.” The novel attracts readers into the ongoing love story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson, which is set against the scenery of a quiet coastal community.

Sparks captures the reader’s attention from the first few pages on with his descriptive style, creating a realistic picture of Noah and Allie’s young love that transcends socioeconomic class. Each character has a distinct depth that adds to their complex development and makes them both likable and accessible.

I’m not going to dig deeper into the narrative and spoil everything for you but what I can say is that through the exploration of themes that connect people of all ages, Sparks expertly navigates the challenges of love and sacrifice. The book’s greatest strength is how emotionally complex it is, taking readers on a roller coaster of feelings from the ecstatic highs of new love to the heartbreaking lows of separation and loss.

The novel’s setting along the coast provides a gorgeous backdrop and adds to its appeal.  The immersive reading experience is made possible by Sparks’ talent for creating situations that stick in the mind.

Even while “The Notebook” is now considered a classic in the romance genre, not everyone might actually enjoy it. The narrative may seem predictable to certain readers since it follows certain genre standards. The tempo can also be sluggish, highlighting the meditative tone of the narrative. But if you are looking for a new read and romance’s of Sparks have not been on your tbr yet go ahead and add them, who knows this book can be your door into the world of romance novels. 

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