Positive Effects of Pups

How could you say no to that face? Yes, it's an adorable puppy, but these lovable eyes can be seen in fully grown adult dogs, typically perceived as "aggressive" like the one below.

 

 

 

Dogs are often banned from parks and all kinds of places due to their tendency for aggression. People focus on the negatives of dogs and ignore the many positive effects that dogs have on humans. Dogs have a way about them that put people at peace. They have many physically healing, as well as emotional healing, benefits. Many argue what a danger dogs are to people. And while some dogs are, they shouldn't be stereotyped as violent creatures. They bring out the best in humans, and people should take some notes from dogs; they are forgiving, easily pleased, loyal, easy companions, expressive, playful. Dogs aren't easily upset and angered, and are unlikely to attack. If they do, it is a result of defense for themselves or their owner. Some dogs have also been manipulated and trained to attack, and this is helpful to people like policeman, but the dog does not naturally act like that. Abused dogs also can bite, but only due to self-defense or painful memories.

Some of the effects that dogs have on people are:

 

1) Dogs create better learning environments in classrooms, and can calm stressed students. They also help in assisted living facilities, by calming the residents and helping them with everyday activities that may be difficult for them. Dogs help all people with loneliness, depression and anxiety and are a positive influence in many settings.

2) No, it's not a myth, dogs can also literally sense how a human is feeling. Dogs are more likely to try and approach a stranger who is obviously upset than a happy stranger. Dogs sense sadness, and make attempts like sitting in your lap or nuzzling your face to try and cheer you up and comfort you. Dogs can also sense fear, and will either try and protect you or grow afraid along with you. Not only that, but their great sense of smell lets them know when you're sick. Dogs have been known to detect things like cancer and heart problems before anyone else can see it. They have a very keen sense of body language too. They know if your playing favorites or not paying attention to them.

3) Even when someone is petting a dog (an unfamiliar dog or a known one) they experience a lower level of stress. People petting dogs have been found to have lower blood pressure, slower heart rate, relaxed muscles and regular breathing. A dogs effect on lowering stress levels works faster than any medical drug. Dogs have not only these short term effects, but long term effects. Dogs reduce cholesterol and improve overall health of people with unhealthy diets or smokers. People with dogs live longer due to their improved health.

4)They also help people with social problems. People who live alone, but with a dog, are less likely to have depression. A dog offers a source of affection and companionship for those who are alone. When people are out walking a dog, they are more likely to stop and greet others, due to the relaxed feeling that comes with walking a dog. Dogs somehow encourage greater social activity. Children can find encouragement in their dog when going through something tough at school. Children confide in their dog like they would a best friend. They make good listeners, and have therapeutic, comforting effects. Dogs often can change bad moods to good ones, simply by being around. 

 

Allegiance to Allegiant

Well, these past two weeks have been spent fangirling. It's basically obsession. Full on obsession with a book, characters, movie, or TV show and you love it so much that you could die from anticipation in waiting for the next sequel/episode/book. You love that world more than your own, and wish you could meet the characters in real life.
The most recent occurrence of this was when the book Allegiant came out. It is the third book in the Divergent series. It has grown immensely popular since the first book of the series came out. It is often characterized along with the infamous  Hunger Games. But in my opinion the plot is entirely different and 10 times better. Throughout reading it I couldn't put it down. I was immersed in it and my love for the characters. Surprises came around every corner and shocked me to the point that my mouth literally dropped open.
I loved the book, but I have to say some of the shocks were very dramatic and stressful for someone like me, who was so involved in the characters and storyline. I was moved to tears by the ending of it. Don't get me wrong, it had a good ending, but the natural reaction of a devoted reader is to want a book or series to go on forever, never ending, no one dying and ending the series. However, this third and final book ended the series and there is no doubt about that. Don't worry, I'll try not to spoil anything.
The  storyline of the first book consists of a futuristic society. The main character, Beatrice (later called Tris for short), lives in a city that is divided into factions. It is split into 5 groups, and you have to choose one to live in for the rest of your life, making this life changing choice once you reach a certain age. You can choose to stay in your family's faction, or choose your own, and start your own life. The city encourages them, "faction before blood" meaning choose a section and honor its ways more than your own family.
 Each faction has its own traditions, rules and duties that are very easy to fall in love with. Tris grows up in Abnegation, the faction of selflessness. They work for others and never themselves, always wearing gray. They aren't even allowed mirrors or any other "personal" object. When she turns 16, she and other teenagers of the designated age in the city are able to choose to stay in their faction, or choose another life. The other choices are Dauntless- the brave militaristic type that protect the city. They are enthralled by danger, and often looking for thrills like jumping off trains and always wearing the color black. Candor- the law of the city, is fixed on truth. They are infamous for their truth serums and unforgiving nature. They wear black and white to represent how truth is either black or white, no middle ground. Erudite- the smart, technological geniuses of the city, always developing new techniques for an easier life and enthusiastic about learning. They wear blue to represent wisdom, and control much of the city. Amity- the peaceful people of the city. They grow food for the city and represent friendship, and are also musicians. They wear yellow and red to represent happiness. Look below to see the symbols and harmony between the factions.

 

The whole city is fixated on the factions. Their whole world revolves around it. Surrounding the city lies a fence. "What lies outside the fence?" readers ask throughout the first book. The final book Allegiant reveals all...what happened to the rest of the world, why the factions are the way they are, and you have to keep reading to the very end to find out.

 

The movie comes out March 21, 2013. I will certainly be attending, geared up as a member of the Amity faction, my favorite. I encourage you to read the entire series. It is one of the best books I have ever read and can envelop you like you wouldn't believe. You'll find out about the abilities of the Divergent in the first book. But first, what faction are you?

SAT and ACT; What's the Point?

All our lives we have heard about those two little acronyms that define your life. SAT and ACT.
They help us get into a good college, they help us get a good job. You need to have a really great score to succeed. Why? What's the point? Why base our entire lives around some test that only measures our intelligence? We have so much more to offer; creativity, raw skill, instinct, concern and kindness, strength, performance, and so many other things that cannot be measured.
The SAT and ACT puts our life on paper. Puts your whole worth in a single score. People are NOT worth a 770, they aren't worth a 1600. They are worth so much more than that.
Some people simply don't test well, or don't have the finances to take these test 3-5 times to get a better score. So we shouldn't limit them with a test that puts so much emphasis on a score of intelligence.
It's true that colleges look at other things like grade point average, community service, and involvement in different activities. But we all know the truth of their deciding factor. It's always mainly based on those SAT and ACT scores that matter so much to society. We know that someone can have a 1.0 GPA, no community service, and get a perfect score on the SAT and you will surely get into a good college.
Is that fair?
No. A student needs to work hard for four years and not just hope to get lucky on one test, and slack the rest of their High School years.
I'll admit it, colleges are often selfish. They want your amazing SAT scores so they can raise their school rankings and look better in front of everyone else. Many find hope in the fact that 800 Universities and Colleges in America are not requiring SAT and ACT scores, but instead making it optional. Even though some of these colleges may be honest in their motives of diversifying the student body, they are really just trying to get the best students to submit their scores, and then the lesser scores are not submitted, so that the overall SAT and ACT scores are raised immensely, and of course, their school looks so much better. It infuriates me that this is allowed to happen. They are lying to us all. Using their fancy laminated brochures and smiling professionals to trick us all.
So really, what's the point of SAT and ACT?
To boost a Universities popularity and to put the worth of someone in a single score that measures little of the important things that you will encounter in life. The SAT and ACT are a trick, a scam, and a well-hidden lie.

A Beautiful Fear

I named my blog A Beautiful Fear, not only because it is a neat oxymoron, but because of a specific meaning. In my opinion, life is a beautiful fear. Life can be beautiful as long as you stop fearing it. Life is something you have to jump into, and experience the beauty of it on your own. Don't fear something that you have never experienced or you never will. Don't fear writing, because you've never done it, just do it.
 However, the fear experienced in life can be a beautiful thing too. Fear protects us. Fear keeps us from breaking the law or running away, or doing dangerous things. We get a thrill from fear, and want to experience it. Want to conquer it.  But too much fear can become a hindrance, as can too much beauty. Too much fear can prevent you from living, or even doing anything at all. There is a fine line between too much fear, and too little. Both are dangerous.
Too much beauty can lead you chasing impossible things. All beautiful things come to an end, so chasing it forever is an impossible hope. Too little beauty in your life, leads to a sad life without hope.
A beautiful fear is a good balance between the two. Even though it can be confusing, it can be encouraging, because everyone can have their own definition of it.
For example "Love is a beautiful fear"- loving something or someone is beautiful but you always have the fear of it ending.
Even fear itself is beautiful, as beauty is something to fear.
Be yourself, and don't be around anything or anyone that wants to change that.
Life is a beautiful fear.