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Author: Ana

  • The Djoker

    Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen like #1 men’s singles tennis player, Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is a person that has reached his full potential because he loves and dedicates his life to tennis, works to become a better person and athlete daily, believes that his family is important, takes care of himself, inspires others, and accepts whatever happens in his life and makes the best out of it.

    Novak Djokovic picked up a racket for the first time when he was four years old during a summer camp in Serbia. From that moment on, he decided to dedicate his life to the sport and traded in recess and playtime for tennis lessons. He worked long hours with his coaches, who knew ‘he would become a champion [because] he was focused, conscientious, and above all, talented’ (Novak: Novak Djokovic). Despite economic and political struggles in Serbia, Novak’s family sacrificed a lot of time and money and was able to support him to travel to Munich, Germany to receive training at a prestigious tennis academy. According to Djokovic, “…family is the most important thing and you have to stick with the family”. In Munich, he was able to grow extensively as a tennis player. As time went on, young Djokovic became a more dominant and developed player winning important tournaments throughout Europe. Finally in 2003, Djokovic acquired his first ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) points and turned pro. Since then, Djokovic has dominated the men’s professional tour with 703 career wins and 63 titles (Novak Djokovic: FedEx ATP) and is considered one of the greatest men’s tennis players of all time.

    He inspires tennis players, young and old, all over the world with his amazing sense of humor earning him the nickname, “the joker”, his powerful presence on the court, and beautiful technique. Djokovic has reached his full potential because of this. The 28-year old tennis player is always looking to better himself as an athlete and person. He spends long hours on the court as well as off the court perfecting his technique, sticks to a strict, healthy diet, and conditions his body often to improve his strength. Being #1 in the world can be a tough position to hold onto, especially with players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal challenging Djokovic often. Djokovic says that to keep his top spot he vows “to work twice as hard” (Stutchbury). Even though Djokovic is #1 in the world and has been successful, he has dealt with failure along his path to reaching his full potential. Djokovic says, “A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances”. Being able to accept his mistakes and losses have been able to make Djokovic the strong person and tennis player he is. On top of balancing his personal life with his tennis schedule, the #1 singles tennis player founded his own foundation which helps “preschool-aged children from impoverished areas get the chance to learn and play in a safe, creative, and nurturing environment” throughout Serbia (About Us: Novak Djokovic Foundation). With the help of many volunteers and generous donations, Djokovic’s foundation has already been able to build 18 schools, support 325 families, train 636 teachers, and help over 10,000 children (About Us: Novak Djokovic Foundation).

    Novak Djokovic has reached his full potential because he has taken advantage of his talents and abilities. He knows that he can make a strong impact not only on the tennis court but around the world. Djokovic said, “I believed I could do it” and that he did.

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    Works Cited

    “About Us: Novak Djokovic Foundation.” Novak Djokovic Foundation. Novak Djokovic Foundation, 2016. Web. 30 Mar. 2016.

    “Novak Djokovic.” Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. 30 Mar. 2016.

    “Novak Djokovic: FedEx ATP Win/Loss: ATP World Tour: Tennis.” ATP World Tour. N.p., 2015. 01 Apr. 2016.

    “Novak: Novak Djokovic.” Novak Djokovic. N.p., 2012. 30 Mar. 2016.

    Stutchbury, Greg. “Djokovic Vows to Work ‘twice as Hard’ to Stay at Tennis Summit.” Evening Standard. N.p., 31 Jan. 2016. 30 Mar. 2016.

  • Zest is the Best

    This is the last trait for the 8 Ways to a Happier You series, zest. After this, I hope that you will be able to apply this trait as well as the seven previous character traits to become a happier person and make a difference in the lives of those around you. Here’s zest.

    Zest is the ability to tackle life and all that is in it with energy, enthusiasm, and eagerness. It’s having an optimistic attitude and perspective in all that you do.

    Having zest matters because those who are zestful are generally more satisfied, successful, and enjoy what they do with their lives. Zestful people “tend to see their work as a calling” (Janes), in a good way, and use their positive energy to work hard and brighten others’ days.

    To become a more zestful person, do what you love. It’s hard to be optimistic and eager to go to do something if you don’t enjoy it. Become a more social person. This may be somewhat difficult for those who prefer not to be social but you can still do it. Interact with people that are close to you and be welcoming to people you meet. You don’t have to say anything but a simple smile or gentle wave will usually help boost social skills and confidence. Another way to improve on zest is to surround yourself with other zestful people. This trait is very contagious so surround yourself with others that have a lot of enthusiasm, energy, and are interested in you and life.

    Zest truly is the best! You can become a more social, optimistic person by improving this trait. Don’t worry if you are overwhelmed by zestful people or working on the trait for yourself. Take a walk, get some air, and allow yourself some space to breathe if you are feeling overwhelmed or “hit by the blahs”. Becoming more zestful won’t come over night but it will come over time with work.

    This has been a very interesting series to work on. With every blog post on each of the eight traits, I’ve been trying to apply them to my life.

    zest

    Janes, Beth. “8 Ways to a Happier You.” 2016. Print.

  • Grateful for Gratefulness

    Gratefulness is the trait of being able to recognize the good in others, yourself, and the world around you, appreciate the goodness, embrace it, and then give back your thanks in whatever way you can whether it be community service, your job, a talent, sports, or academically.

    There’s being thankful and there’s also being grateful. There is a difference. Gratefulness differs from thankfulness in that being grateful is when a person expresses true gratitude and motivates others to be generous and pay it forward. Doing this produces joy and you will mostly likely gain more support from the person by expressing gratitude. Being thankful on the other hand, will still demonstrate to others that you are thankful and appreciate what they have done for you however thank you’s are so banal that most people overlook them now.

    To become a more grateful person, think about what you can be grateful for every day. It could be that you have a roof over your head, another day to live, good friends and family, an education, food, or anything else that you can think of. It’s never a bad idea to look for the little things in life to be grateful for. Another way to become more grateful is add more detail to your thank-you’s.

    Think about what you can be grateful for every day, like I said earlier. Learn to appreciate what you have and be grateful for all things, big, small, good, or bad in life. Whatever is going on will only make you a stronger and better person.

    Have a wonderful week!

    gratefulness

    Janes, Beth. “8 Ways to a Happier You.” 2016. Print.

  • Social Intelligence is Sweet

    I feel like the titles for the 8 Ways to a Happier You series have been pretty cheesy, but that’s alright. I need something to sound creative. 🙂 We’re moving onto the sixth trait this week which is social intelligence. Here we go.

    Social intelligence is one’s ability to read between the lines and pick up on the things that people don’t say out loud like the tone of their voice or their body language. Social intelligence is a person’s ability to “pick up on the gray areas of a situation” (Janes). Learning to do this can take time.

    Being able to have social intelligence is important because it allows you to learn a lot about people and how they interact. Learning how to read what people don’t say can also help you make new friends and have more fun with your interactions on a daily basis.

    To gain social intelligence or improve what you already have, Janes says to think of yourself as a spy bent. Your objective should be to figure out what the person you are interacting with is feeling as opposed to saying. Think about whatever is going on and try to figure out why your friend, partner, or family member is acting the way they are. When you’re trying to figure out why that particular person is acting the way they are, refrain from getting nosy or pushy. Make it apparent that you are only trying to understand what is going on and you want to be there to support that person and have a closer and more understanding relationship. Be smart with what you say and how you respond to what the person you’re interacting with says.

    Actions mean more than words, and that is what social intelligence is all about. Be aware of what your friends, family, peers, and others around you are not only saying but how they are acting and what they could be feeling. This is one of the trickier traits to master, but when you do, you’re on your way to becoming a happier person. There are only two more cheesy titles to go!

    Have a good week! 🙂

    social intelligence

    Janes, Beth. “8 Ways to a Happier You”. 2016. Print.

  • Gotta Love Love

    Happy Easter! Love is around us all day, with friends, family, pets, jobs, and the activities we do on a daily basis. Love is the fifth trait of 8 Ways to a Happier You and it can be a difficult trait to understand and master. By getting to know what the trait it, why it matters, and how to become a more loving person, you will become a much happier and more loving person.

    Love is the close, caring relationships where good vibes flow both ways (Jane). It is the intense, deep feeling of affection people have for one another.

    Love is important to people because it helps one get through tough times, enjoy the good times, and become the best person you can possibly be. Love helps you support, understand, and care for the people close to you. It allows you to build strong, healthy relationships with the people in your life.

    You can improve this trait by working on your relationships with friends and family through the ups and downs. No matter what is going on, stick by their sides and be there to support and help them out. Building off of previous traits, be curious with your friends, family, or significant other. Ask them new questions and be daring to try new things and make new traditions with them. Adding onto grit, be understanding that your relationship will have its rough times and fight hard to work things out. Be optimistic and know that whatever happens between you and your friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, parents, or whoever it is will happen for the better.

    By nurturing your relationships, being open to loving, and building off of the previous traits, self-control, grit, curiosity, and optimism, you can become a happier and more loving person.

    Have a wonderful Easter Sunday and have a great week!

    love

    Janes, Beth. “8 Ways to a Happier You.” 2016. Print.

  • How to Stay Warm After Tennis Matches

    High school girls’ tennis season is in full swing here in Colorado! This week we had our first two matches, and thank goodness we didn’t get any snow! However, we did get to enjoy (notice the sarcasm) the freezing cold temperatures, wind, and even rain. It can be extremely difficult to get warm after your match let alone stay warm. The last thing you and your team wants is a bunch of sick, cold girls. Here are a few tips on how to stay warm after tennis matches.

    -Bring layers of clothing. As ridiculous as this may sound, it really isn’t. It gets COLD after you get off the court. You may be warm right after you play, but you’ll cool down real quick. Bring extra pairs of socks, gloves, hats, sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts, thin and thick, warm jackets, leggings, sweatpants, and whatever else you might need to layer. For my match on Monday, I had my windbreaker, tennis hoodie, and winter jacket on. While managing to look like a big, fluffy marshmallow, I also kept myself comfortable and warm.

    -Blankets are a necessity. Fleece blankets work great to keep a person warm, however they don’t work well for the outdoor world of tennis. With the dirty, muddy ground, rain and snow, something thick, washable, and water-resistant will be better off. Some of the girls on my team have recommended bringing sleeping bags. Not too bad of an idea!

    -Get into your sweats immediately after you get off the court. Like I said earlier, you may feel warm and comfortable right after you finish your match, but you’ll cool down really quick. With your sweat and the sun going down, you’ll want to warm yourself up in your clothes/blankets/sleeping bag as soon as possible.

    -If possible, bring or have access to warm food and drink. Not only will your stomach be pleased with the nourishment, but your body will be warmed up inside and out. Make sure to load up on carbs and potassium so that you keep your energy up and prevent yourself from getting too sore the next day. I recommend warm pasta or bread of some sort for carbs. Soup, like chicken noodle soup wouldn’t be bad either. Bananas are great sources of potassium.

    -Stretch and move around. Stretching will most likely only help your muscles relax and feel good after a long match but it could also warm your body up. Move around by jumping, walking, or doing a little jogging. Get your blood flowing and your muscles working. Just make sure not to overdue anything or hurt yourself.

    I hope these five tips will help you all survive your tennis matches in the cold, end of winter weather. Spring is on its way soon and we won’t have to deal with the yucky, freezing temperatures much longer, so hang in there! Good luck to all of you with your seasons. Stay warm!

    How to Stay Warm After Tennis Matches

  • Always Have Optimism

    We’re already halfway through 8 Ways to a Happier You. This week’s trait is optimism. Here it goes.

    Optimism is hopefulness and confidence about the future and coming success. It’s a person ability to see the glass as half full as opposed to half empty.

    In a negative situation, optimistic people are able to find the “silver lining” or see the good in whatever is going on. They can problem-solve to resolve the issue and improve their mood as well as the moods of others.

    In order to become a more optimistic person, you should learn to take a different perspective on activities or certain events in your life that pull you down or make you upset. For example, two years ago in tennis, I went on a fairly long losing streak. I was upset with myself and the hole I dug for myself just kept getting harder and harder to get out of. Then one day, I decided that enough was enough. Yes, it sucked that I had lost my last nine matches in a row. But, I learned to be humble and accept that I had been playing terrible tennis. I knew that after this “valley” in my tennis career, I would play much better and I just had to look forward to that and I eventually got out of my hole and played better than I did before. To become more optimistic, accept the situation you’re in, find something good to look forward to, and push towards that, no matter what anyone says or does. You can do it!

    So whether, it’s sports, school, your relationships, work, or anything else, find something to be optimistic about. Some things might not be going well but it’s going to get better. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

    optimism

    Janes, Beth. “8 Ways to a Happier You.” 2016. Print.

  • Top Ten Disney Songs

    Before starting this blog, I’d just like to say happy birthday to my mom. It was her birthday yesterday, and I love her very much. Happy Birthday Mom!

    Now on with this week’s post. Disney has a pretty good reputation with making good soundtracks for their movies. Each Disney song is unique, catchy, and wonderful in its own way. Here are the top ten Disney songs in my opinion. There’s no possible way I could rank these ten songs, so for this top ten list, these top ten Disney songs will be listed in no particular order.

    Let it Go from Frozen: This song made another top ten list of mine, and it’s now making this one. This song has a powerful message and the instrumentals as well as Idina Menzel’s voice are spectacular.

    When Will My Life Begin from Tangled: Tangled is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies and all of the songs are great to listen to. This one is really upbeat and makes me happy.

    I See the Light from Tangled: Also from Tangled, this song is beautiful and an adorable love song. The first

    You’ll Be in My Heart from Tarzan: This song is a very well known Disney piece. It’s a very special and beautiful song. Phil Collins did a wonderful job singing it.

    Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas: Pretty instrumentals, pretty vocals. This is another classic Disney song, and it sounds good on the piano too!

    Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid: I feel like this song has a lot of emotion and passion in it and that’s what helps it make my top ten list.

    Bet On It from High School Musical 2: When I was younger, High School Musical was big, and so was this song. Sung by Zac Efron, this song was upbeat, memorable, and just great.My sister and I used to dance full out to this song. It was intense. 🙂

    When You Wish Upon a Star from Pinocchio: This song is sweet, inspirational, and a part of every Disney movie in the opening credits. It’s won many awards and has been recognized multiple times for being one of the greatest pieces of music ever.

    The Bells of Notre Dame from The Hunchback of Notre Dame: This movie is famous for its great music and actors. This song is a powerful song that opens up the movie in a good, dramatic way.

    Can You Feel the Love Tonight from The Lion King: The Lion King is another movie by Disney with many awards and achievements for the music as well as the actual movie. This song, Can You Feel the Love Tonight is a well-known, beautiful love song. It’s a song that makes me really happy and relaxed at the same time.

    And there you have it, the top ten Disney songs! All of the songs made through Disney are good songs, but these ten songs each have special meaning to me and are the best, in my opinion. Did any of your favorite Disney songs make the list?

    Have a good week!

  • Curious About Curiosity?

    Here’s trait #3 from 8 Ways to a Happier You by Beth Janes, curiosity. If you want to become a happier person, you need to be able to have curiosity and be willing to try new things. But what exactly is curiosity and how can you become a more curious person? Here’s how.

    Curiosity is the penchant for seeking out new and different experiences and adventures. It’s the ability to not fear trying new foods. activities, and experiences. People that are curious more likely to push themselves to learn new material and improve on what they already know. They’re better problem solvers too. Being curious allows a person to explore their options and ways of finding a solution to a problem. During this process they will be able to learn more about themselves and others as well as have fun with what they’re doing.

    To work on becoming a more curious person, think more creatively on how to solve problems and ask questions. Building off of the previous trait, grit, be willing to dig deep and try hard to accomplish your goals. You could work on this by not asking the typical, “How was your day?” question. The typical response is, “Good,” and then the conversation ends. You could build a stronger relationship, learn more about your family members and friends, as well as have a solid conversation. Ask more creative questions like, “What was something fun that you did today?” or “What interesting things happened today?”. Questions like that would probably generate a better conversation and improve one’s curiosity.

    Curiosity will help you become a happier person. It will help you become a better problem-solver, learn more about yourself and others, and become a more creative person. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Don’t be afraid to fail. You’ll only grow from whatever you are curious about.

    Have a good week!

    curiosity

    Janes, Beth. “8 Ways to a Happier You.” 2016. Print.

  • High School Rules of Love and Friendship

    Happy Valentine’s Day! Love is in the air today! High school students are very interesting when it comes to love and friendship. Sometimes it’s pretty funny to observe. Here are some rules, which are very sarcastic, on love and friendship in high school.

    High School Rules of Love

    1. Always display your affection for one another in public. It is crucial to let everyone around you know that you and your significant other are together and the easy way to do this is by kissing, hugging, holding hands, and sticking together at all times.

    2. If you text your partner and they do not respond, send them many messages to check on them. You want to make sure that your significant other is not cheating on you or in danger. By sending multiple messages, you can assure that your partner will respond at some point and tell you how they are doing.

    3. Never allow your significant other to spend time with anyone else. You would never want your partner to cheat or spend time with anyone else because they might leave you. To prevent this, keep your partner to yourself and forbid them from seeing anyone else.

    4. Spend every single holiday or attend every activity together. You really want to make it apparent that the two of you are a couple, so attend everything together. By doing this, you can spend quality time with your partner and learn more about them.

    5. Color coordinate outfits every day. Not only does this look extremely stylish and sophisticated, it looks adorable. Color coordinating outfits with your partner is a great way to show off your fabulous fashion sense and demonstrate your love for one another.

    High School Rules of Friendship

    1. When you disagree on something with your best friend always fight about it. While you might say some things you might regret later, fighting will help you come to terms. Fighting will also help make your friendship stronger, so fight often if you can.

    2. Spend all of your time with your best friend. Best friends are just like siblings and deserve all of your time and attention. Never be apart and do absolutely everything together.

    3. On social media, always make appreciation posts for your friends. You need the entire world to know how much you love your best friend. By posting selfies and appreciation posts with nice words about your best friend, the whole world will know that you can’t be separated and are very close to one another.

    4. Share all of your secrets. Best friends need to be totally open with one another and know everything about each other. Sharing secrets, even the deepest and darkest secrets, will be beneficial to your friendship and help you understand each other.

    5. Share everything. Food, Chapstick, clothes, boys or girls, and whatever else you feel like sharing with your best friend works. Sharing is caring and you’re helping your best friend out by giving them your things.

    Once again, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. XOXO

    Valentine's Day