Listen to the amazing vocals of Moesha Ottaway.

I’m the outlier, the person who unlike most others actually loves to clean.  Something I instinctively realized at a pretty young age was the physical, and emotional benefits associated with a tidy home.

Having seen my share of homes, apartments, and businesses, I can tell you there are some unexpected benefits of a clean home that most people don’t even think about or realize until their dwelling has been given a deep clean.

You see, when you’re surrounded by clutter, dust bunnies, dirt, and grime, it’s easy to want to turn a blind eye to it all.

My experience has shown me time and time again that people put the blinders on to their messy homes and turn their focus to something they would rather be doing.  Before they know it, the house is in shambles and the dirt is everywhere making it even less enticing to clean.

​This method, of course, leads to many issues both environmental and personal for the people residing in the home.

Every year, more than 30 million Americans leave the comfort of their homes to sleep in a tent, RV, or simply under the stars. There are lots of reasons to rough it on a good-old fashioned camping trip, from physical health benefits to stress relief. (Who needs a Tempur-Pedic mattress when there’s a sleeping bag?) In order for a safe, comfortable, and exciting experience with Mother Nature, learn all the camping dos and don’ts to fully enjoy the Great Outdoors!
Nature-Made — The Need-to-KnowForget stress balls and screaming into pillows: Just being in the presence of plants can be therapeutic. The word’s biophilia, the term for humans’ desire to connect with nature . (Yep, it’s science!) And camping isn't only the perfect way to get outdoors; it can also be great for our health  . (Also Check Out: 11 Life Lessons I Learned from Camping in the Woods) Trekking to a campsite with the sun beating down provides a healthy dose of vitamin D, plus walking is a lower-impact exercise that may help burn off some of those campfire S’mores. Embracing that inner Yogi Bear may help reduce stress, too: Levels of serotonin naturally rise when we’re outdoors, which can help improve mood . Who said only five-star hotels were relaxing? Check out these pro tips before hitting the trail for a comfy, relaxing, and fun outdoor experience.

For the past several years, I have been writing about adventure topics for the Good Nature Travel blog, on everything from the merits of bumpy roads to tracking devices on narwhals. From my own thoughts on adventure to the latest scientific research, we’ve covered a lot of ground together.
Looking over all of these articles since my first appeared here on February 9, 2010, I realize that one theme keeps showing up: adventure travel is simply good for you. So I’ve compiled a Top 10 list of the reasons why.
While there are several physical health benefits to adventure travel (see nos. 1, 2 and 3, below), the advantages for your mental wellness are just as impressive (nos. 4, 5 and 6). Too, adventure travel can enlighten your soul (nos. 7 and 8 ) and even help save the world (nos. 9 and 10).
Can you think of anything else that can do all that?

Last month, I took a 7.5-mile hike near Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia. Thanks to a nearly 1,900 foot-elevation gain, I definitely got a good cardiovascular workout. But hitting the trail may offer some additional health benefits, as I learned from Dr. Aaron L. Baggish, associate director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

​“The nice thing about hiking is that it exists along an entire continuum, from a gentle walk on a flat wooded path to mountain climbing,” says Dr. Baggish. Nearly everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability, can find a hike that offers the right level of persona

Traveling is one of the best things that you can do for your health. It helps your physical and mental health, with many travelers saying that it’s also excellent for the soul.

Sure, there are some stressful and worrying moments. But overall, when you get out on the road and visit new countries you gain in far more ways. This isn’t about just international travel, either. Traveling your own country and being a tourist in your own town can be so beneficially at the same time.

​There are no limits when it comes to traveling, except for what you can afford. You can sight-see around some of your most dreamed about countries or choose exotic adventures. Go by rails, car, or even by boat. There are just so many options, and they will all help you in ways that you have never imagined.

Do you drink enough water each day? If not, your overall health may be taking a toll. And why is drinking water important? Drinking water regularly can help you to lose weight, think better, be in a better mood, prevent disease, and more.
I follow that advice myself. One item I could not live without, in fact, is my water bottle. To make sure I have one with me at all times, I own several. I keep one each in my car, purse, and backpack, so pretty much everywhere I go, I have a water bottle on hand. I also keep a reusable cup with a lid and straw next to me all day long, so I can easily sip throughout the day.

It’s all about vision.

Attaining goals, driving revenue, leadership… it’s all about your clear and concise vision.
If you have this figured out then you’re probably wildly successful, so stop reading. Otherwise, please continue.

Something had been nagging at me. I had this feeling I was missing something. Sure things were going well. We just wrapped up consulting, we launched a new product (Curation Suite) and last week we launched the plug-in version and a new product: the Ultimate Call to Action. That went great. We are excited about the future.

But still I felt I was missing something. Then I came to a realization of something I’m sure you’ve heard, or maybe you already know (but do you?).
If I were to ask you what is your vision for 1 year, 2 years or 5 years, would you know?

Listen to the powerful love stories in Alex Kevay's music.

After the Connecticut shooting tragedy on Friday, December 14, it is difficult to think of much else besides desperate thoughts about how to protect our world’s children and how to make our society a more peaceful, less violent place. Enough has been written about the event itself that I don’t feel the need to rehash the horrific details or postulate what could have driven a human being to do such a thing (whether or not in light of mental illness, albeit that the presence or absence of such an illness plays a large role in how this event is interpreted).

​Instead, I want to focus on some positive ways to promote peace in our badly broken world. Here are twenty ideas – some of which originated in my own brain, while others were culled from organizations (and credit is given where it is due). I would love to hear your thoughts regarding what else we can do to try to prevent violence and cultivate peace in our fragile world.