List of Quiet Hobbies

So are there any fun hobbies that aren’t noisy? The answer is yes! Below is a list of 15 hobbies that you can indulge in quietly at home without anyone realizing it. People who are nocturnal due to insomnia or work will also find that these hobbies cross all their checks of an ideal nighttime hobby–except perhaps the first hobby.

1. GARDENING

First up on the list is gardening, i.e. spending time with the plants. Grow herbs, veggies, and flowers–any living plants that you’re interested in. A visual person might find satisfaction in being surrounded by blooming flowers. If you cook, you might enjoy getting fresh herbs and spices from the garden that you’ve cultivated. Veggies and other edible crops can be sometimes challenging to grow but it brings a ton of satisfaction when you’re harvesting and eating what you grow.

Of course, if you have enough space, you can grow plants from every category–including fruit trees. In terms of noise level, gardening can be done pretty quietly you’re in maintenance mode, during which you water, trim, and remove pests and weeds. However, it can still make some noise when you’re using a hoe or some other garden tools to prepare the soil for the next crop. Similarly, for a small balcony garden, noises could come from transferring plants from one pot to another and the cleaning up work afterward. But the noise level should be at an acceptable level.

Gardening is a hobby that all introverts and people who enjoy solitude should try. Being surrounded by nothing but green plants is an experience that calms your mind.

2. KNITTING & CROTCHETING

Knitting can be done stealthily. In fact, if you’re knitting in the dark, nobody would notice you when they walk into the room. Humor aside, there are several reasons why knitting is an excellent hobby. First, it trains your focus. When you’re knitting, your attention is directed at the work you’re doing with your two hands, temporarily freeing you from your worries. Second, you’re creating something new and practical with your own hands and that’s satisfying and confidence-boosting. Things you can make by knitting include scarves, sweaters, and even hat with cat ears–something cat lovers won’t be able to resist. Knitting is also a hobby that can save you money. It can even help you make some side money when you become good at it. When it comes to the holiday seasons, knitted items make some of the best gifts because nothing makes you feel more loved than receiving a handmade knitted gift from someone.

3. PHOTOGRAPHY

Take beautiful photos for your own enjoyment or post it on Instagram. Undeniably, there are many interesting subjects outside, but there are just as many subjects that are intriguing at home. Some examples are pets, children, and people. You can also take photos of common everyday objects, doing so will also help you to see things from different angles–like a mindfulness practice. Another idea is to combine photography with your other talents. For instance, if you’re into collecting dolls, you can take photos of them in various settings. To start with this hobby, all you need is a phone (that has a camera, duh). A standalone camera can do many great things, but your phone will do plenty to get you started. Also there are many free photo editing apps available with many more filters and effects you can apply to your photos. Should you decide to upload your photos to Instagram, you can also do so directly with your phone.

4. PAINTING

Painting is one of those hobbies that free your mind from the daily stress as you transfer paint from the palette to the canvas. Granted that you’re willing to let yourself go and see mistakes as “happy little accidents“. Painting is a quiet hobby as long as you don’t play loud music to set the mood when you paint. The skills and knowledge you learn from painting can often be applied to many other creative areas. To get started, you will need one or more brushes, some paint, and paper. Acrylic paints are hugely popular, they are water-based (you can dilute and wash off with water) and quick-drying which allows you to lay many layers in a relatively short period of time. Oil paints are not as popular, especially not within the amateur painters’ circle. But older paintings, say paintings from the Medieval era, are mostly done with oil paint. Watercolor is a choice of paint that is often overlooked, but its relatively cheap price and distinct art style make it an attractive choice.

5. VIDEO GAMES – QUIET FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME

Video games are sometimes biasedly viewed as a waste of time. However, the truth is playing video games isn’t really that different from playing bingo, watching TV, and reading fiction. It’s a form of entertainment and a fun way to pass time. There are many types of games to choose from: idle, puzzle, strategy, role-playing, party game, simulation, and so much more. And within each genre, there are hundreds and thousands of games with different gameplay, artistic direction, and music. You’re bound to find a game that will keep you entertained. To enjoy the full experience of gaming and still stay quiet, you’ll want to get yourself a good headset or earbuds. For gaming consoles, the controllers are usually quiet. But you’re on PC, you might need to get a silent mouse and a quiet keyboard. You won’t run into these problems if you’re playing mobile games.

6. PIANO

No, we haven’t made a mistake. Learning and practicing piano can be done quietly without disturbing your neighbors. The big caveat, the asterisk you might already be expecting, is that you need a digital piano with a headphone jack (which should be a common feature for most, if not all, digital pianos). Once its audio output is redirected from the speakers to your headphones, a digital piano can be surprisingly quiet. Although, for some models, like my Yamaha P-125, you can still hear your fingers pressing down on the keys and some minor creaking sounds. That means you can still play at 3 o’clock in the morning and not get a complaint from your next-door neighbors. However, if you have someone sleeping in the same room, it would probably wake her up.

7. CODING

If you’re already familiar with programming, starting a new hobby coding project is a productive way to kill some time. The project might turn into something bigger, if it doesn’t, it will at least make your resume look more interesting. On the other hand, if you don’t know how to code, there are a lot of free tutorials and programming classes online to help you get started in the world of programming.

8. YOGA

The yoga that we’re all familiar with helps promote physical flexibility and mindfulness. For actual beginners, it is recommended that you take at least a few instructor-led yoga classes before you start practicing on your own at home. This is to prevent injuries from overstretching yourself or incorrect poses–both of which could happen without the feedback of an instructor. Here are some yoga YouTube channels to follow along once you’re comfortable with doing it without an instructor.

9. DRAWING

Do you remember doodling as a kid and enjoying it? Perhaps you were becoming good at drawing but somehow the growth stagnated. In any case, if you’re looking to satisfy your creative thirst, drawing can be a good hobby that will do that. Like many other hobbies on this list, you only need some basic items you can find around the house to start. In this instance, you will need a pencil, some paper, and an eraser. Here are some free drawing tutorials for beginners to get you started.

10. WRITING

This is a personal favorite. Writing is a fun hobby enjoyed by many, also it is very quiet. When you write, all that you’ll hear is the friction of a pen against paper, or keystrokes if you’re using writing on your laptop. The process of writing involves translating your abstract thoughts into words. Words form sentences and sentences soon become paragraphs. To begin writing as a hobby, as the Nike motto goes, you “just do it”. Write about anything and everything that is on your mind (a.k.a. a mind dump) on a piece of paper, napkins, a dedicated journal, …, or start a new document on your computer and write away. Another way to write I have found minor successes in is using a mobile app. For a device that is full of distractions like Facebook and YouTube, its small screen and tiny keyboard actually help you to focus on the writing itself. When I’m working on my phone, JotterPad is my go-to app. Let us backtrack a little bit here, mind dump is fun but you might also enjoy writing stories and opinion pieces, so be sure to explore your interests by writing about different topics and genres.

Writing is naturally a great activity for introverts because it allows them to spend time introspecting their thoughts in detail–something people with introverted personalities enjoy doing.

11. CALLIGRAPHY

Calligraphy is the art of writing. As opposed to “writing” which generally focuses more on the ideas and in some cases the forms, calligraphy is all about the beauty of the alphabet and the individual letters (or ideograms). For this hobby, you’ll need a calligraphy brush, some ink, and paper. Alternatively, get yourself a calligraphy pen which saves a lot of prep and cleaning work. Here is a pretty good introductory guide to calligraphy that will kick start your journey.

12. SUDOKU / PUZZLES

Keep your mind engaged by solving puzzles. Some common puzzles to consider are jigsaw, crossword, sudoku, Rubik’s cube. Each has its own pros and cons. Specialize in one type of puzzles and become an expert or try different puzzles for a more diverse experience.

13. ORIGAMI

Practice the art of folding paper. Create animals, plants, and all that you can think of with just paper. Another advantage of origami is that it is a consistently low-cost hobby. What does that mean? It means unlike hobbies like photography, the hobby doesn’t become exponentially more expensive as your need to furthering yourself in the hobby grows. The cost stays consistently low. All you need is some paper to get started. And as you become more interested in origami and you want to buy better quality origami paper, you’ll find that the cost is still cheap. For instructions on how to get started on origami, you can find free tutorials online and borrow a book from the public library.

14. LEARNING

Learning as a hobby is underrated. When you’re studying in school or learning to advance yourself professionally, there are certain expectations that you have set for you explicitly or implicitly. That connotes stress but learning is more effective and fun without it. Hence learning as a hobby. The world is your oyster and you can have it any way you want. Become a glutton for knowledge, devour any information that comes your way. Or become a master of a thin slice of the universe, and focus your attention on one niche area, for example, dress types, fashion history, perfumery, etc.

15. READING – QUIETEST

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ~ George R. R. Martin

Reading is both relaxing and fun. It is also an extremely quiet way to spend an evening. When you read, you’re channeling the character, the voice of the book. By reading fiction, you live the life of the characters inside the stories. As you read, it’s as if you’re diving into the world inside the book–seeing, hearing, and interacting with a world that doesn’t otherwise exist. Become an adventurer in a fantasy world, an observer of a post-apocalyptic world, … the choice is yours. Another really cool aspect of reading is, unlike movies or video games, the world that you’re imagining is vastly different from another person who is reading the same book because of your differences in cultural background and interpretation of the book. So when you’re reading a story, you’re really creating an entire world from your imagination, using a book as the guide.

On the other hand, when you’re reading non-fiction–perhaps a business memoir or a self-help book–you acquire and internalize part of the knowledge and wisdom of the author. If you need some motivation or inspiration to keep going, you may also find what you’re looking for in some of these books.

And that wraps up our selection of some of the quietest hobbies that you can do both during daytime and nighttime without waking anyone who’s sleeping. We hope you’ll love your new hobby!

The post 15 Quiet Hobbies to Start at Home appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

The truth is there are no shortcuts to flawless skin. The only way to get that perfectly healthy skin is through self-discipline. Photo filters go a long way, but real life is #nofilter. Well, makeup is sort of a real-world filter but that’s a story for another day.

Skin Care Guide for College Students

These are the topics we’ll be covering in this article.

1. 1. Stay Hydrated
   2. Nutrients
   3. Skincare Products
   4. Skincare Routine
   5. Skincare Hacks

Stay hydrated

The single most important aspect of healthy skin is hydration. Your skin is your body’s biggest organ and it needs plenty of water to function and stay healthy. Proper hydration also leads to improved mood, boosted energy, and weight loss.

Drink water

The good news is water is cheap as long as you avoid expensive bottled water like Fiji.

Drink at least 73 ounces (2.12 liters) of water daily. Don’t consume that much water in one sitting. Unlike camels, our human body isn’t designed to store water very well. The excessive water we drink doesn’t get absorbed. Binge drinking water results in frequent peeing and possibly poisoning. In other words, it’s not helping.

So remind yourself to drink water throughout the day. One way to do this is to get yourself a good water bottle and keep it where you can see it. For example, on your desk or in the side pocket of your backpack.

On coffee and tea

Scientists believe that coffee and tea are just as hydrating as water. If you’re a coffee addict, this may be a relief to hear. But many people are experiencing dryness in their mouth and skin after drinking these caffeinated beverages. Personally, despite what studies say, I feel that my skin and mouth become drier after coffee. So I would recommend going off these beverages completely, but you should do some experiments yourself to see what works best for you.

Another side effect of caffeine is that it distorts your natural energy level and sleepy cycle. That means you you’re likely to push your body too hard when it already needs rest. You’re also more likely to get insomnia at night which causes your skin to look dull and pale the next day.

Hydrate your skin externally

This is where skincare products come in. You will need a product (or multiple products) that can perform these two functions:-

1. Lock in moisture (prevent moisture loss)
2. Hydrate

If you leave a glass of water on the table and return to it after a while, you will notice that the amount of water in the glass is now less than it was before. That’s evaporation – which is science-speak for water disappearing into thin air. The same phenomenon happens to our skin. That’s why you need products to help prevent water loss. Most products do more than that. In addition to locking in moisture, many products also help to hydrate your skin. These skincare products are usually toner, moisturizer, lotion, or toning lotion.

Nutrients for healthy skin

Your skin is not a monolithic structure. It has layers and complexity. As we have discussed in the previous section, hydration or water is crucial to your skin. But just like plants, your skin doesn’t survive on water alone. The skin needs nutrients to function optimally – to protect and to look amazing. Below are some tips and further readings on nutrients for the skin.

Make veggies and fruits your friend

The goal is a healthy and balanced diet. Meat and fish are just as important for supple, glowing skin. But many people aren’t eating enough vegetables and fruits! These two food groups contain many vitamins and nutrients that will help to protect and revitalize your skin. So make sure you make them a core part of your diet.

Avoid unhealthy food

You may be the lucky one who can eat anything anytime and your skin will still be glowing. However, not all of us are this lucky. Sometimes not eating healthy or enough fruits and vegetables to balance out the junk food may cause outbreaks. Try to minimalize or avoid unhealthy food altogether if you can.

Take supplements

A balanced diet with a healthy dose of greens and fruits is easier said than done – especially when you’re a busy college student. If you’re staying off-campus, you either have to cook your own food or rely on some instant food like microwave mac and cheese and ramen. It’s supposed to be easier if you’re staying in a dorm, the dining hall usually provides a range of foods to choose from, you simply have to choose your food carefully. However, even if you do that, chances are there are some nutrients or vitamins that your body is missing and that reflects in a less-than-perfect skin condition. This is why we recommend taking multivitamins. If budget is an issue, instead of following the dosage on the bottle, you can take the vitamins twice a week or once a week. It won’t be as effective but it will definitely help.

Further Readings

1. 12 Best Foods for Healthy Skin – Healthline
2. Nutrients for Healthy Skin – WebMD

Skincare Products for College Students

On the market, there are different kinds of products each with different functions and purposes. But what products do you need exactly? We wouldn’t be recommending any specific brand here but here are the types of skincare products you should check out.

Bare Minimum Skincare Products

These are the two essential products that everyone needs to have.

1. Cleanser – face wash that removes dirt and other substances from the surface of your face
2. Moisturizer – replenishes lost moisture, provide some protection to your skin

Take out a loan if you must, cleanser and moisturizer are the absolute nonnegotiable bare minimum you need in order to make sure that your skin can function properly. Unfortunately, unless you’re blessed with naturally healthy skin, your skin won’t be glowing by using just these two products. But it will definitely prevent breakouts, keep your face clean, and prevent dry & flaky skin.

Recommended Minimalist Skincare Product Types

A step-up from the bare minimum list. These are the skincare product types we recommend to college students. With these products, your skincare routine goes full-cycle.

1. Makeup remover – remove makeup. Makeup residues could block pores and cause inflammation
2. Cleanser
3. Exfoliate – remove dead skin cells
4. Toner – apply after washing your face. It tightens the pores to prevent moisture lost. Toner is especially helpful if you like to take long hot showers. Avoid alcoholic toners. While an alcoholic toner is antimicrobial and does an excellent job at preventing large pores, it tends to dry out your skin. If you can’t find a good standalone toner, invest that money in a good lotion instead.
5. Moisturizer – moisturize and protect.

Further Readings

1. Best Skincare Products for College Students – RealSimple

Recommended Skincare Routine for College Students

A skincare routine is the fixed steps you take to maintain healthy skin. It is important that you stick to one routine so that it forms a habit. Just like studying, discipline is the key to success of your skincare regimen.

Every person’s skincare routine is different but the core philosophy is the same. Below is the skincare routine we recommend college students to try out.

Skincare Routine Recommended for College Students

1. 1. Remove makeup
   2. Cleansing
   3. Exfoliating
   4. Moisturizing

1. Remove makeup

Before using the cleanser, remove makeup from your face. Micellar water works well for most people – especially if you’re only wearing light makeup. Micellar water is a water-based makeup remover. Unlike oil-based products, a water-based makeup remover doesn’t make your face feel oily afterward. That means it doesn’t add to the workload of the cleanser. The downside of it is it doesn’t work too great with heavy makeup.

2. Cleansing

Find a cleanser that works for your particular skin type. A cleanser can make or break your skin health. It is counterproductive to have a cleanser that dries out your skin then try to compensate with a moisturizer afterward. If you’re still exploring what works for you, I suggest starting with cleansers that are created for people with “dry skin” or “normal skin” or “combination skin”. Cleansers that are labeled “for oily skin” can be overly drying which can be disastrous if you mistake dry skin as oily skin. This happens very often. A dry skin type secretes oil as a response to dryness. When you use a strong cleanser on a dry skin type, the skin becomes even drier and secrete more oil – forming a vicious cycle that hurts your skin.

3. Exfoliating

Dead skin cells flake off naturally but they take their own sweet time. And some of them remain on your skin forming dull, flaky patches. They also cause breakouts. Exfoliate is the removal of dead skin cells from your face. By removing them, your skin looks better and absorbs nutrients from serums and moisturizers more effectively. The downside of exfoliating is that your skin becomes more vulnerable to harmful sun rays. So make sure you only exfoliate at night and wear sunblock during the daytime.
Exfoliate once or twice a week after cleansing. Cleansing helps remove oil and dirt so that the exfoliating agent can work on the skin more effectively. There are two ways to exfoliate: mechanical / physical and chemical.

Mechnical exfoliation is the physical removal of dead skin cells with the help of scrubs, microbeads, brush, etc. This type of exfoliation is more aggressive and can damage delicate skin such as your face. It is also less predictable because the amount of exfoliation also depends on the force you apply (i.e. how hard you scrub). We recommend this method for body and feet exfoliation because the result is more immediate and it’s more cost-effective than chemical exfoliation products.

Chemical exfoliation removes dead skin cells by chemically dissolving them. Depending on the strength of the product, chemical exfoliation can be aggressive. But most over-the-counter (OTC) products are mild. If you aren’t certain, first try it on a hidden spot on your body then move on to a less visible spot on your face or neck before applying it to your entire face. Some common compounds used in chemical-based exfoliating products are alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), beta-hydroxy acids (BHA), and retinoids (e.g. retinol).

4. Moisturizing

After cleaning your face, pat dry with a towel. While it’s still damp, apply moisturizer. The moisturizer forms a barrier between your face and the outside world. In the case of moisturizers with SPF protection, harmful UV rays are blocked or filtered before it reaches your skin cells. However, the main purpose of a moisturizer is to prevent loss of moisture and replenish moisture that is lost inevitably throughout the day.

Choose your moisturizer carefully. If you’re still exploring what products work best for you, start with something milder and water-based. If it isn’t moisturizing enough for your skin type, your skin will look visibly dry but it’s short-term and has an easy fix – just switch to a different moisturizer. However, if a moisturizer is too oily or heavy for your skin, its effects can be more long term. For example, it may clog your pores and cause breakouts which can lead to scars; it can also cause milia – terrible bumps that are very hard to get rid of.

Read also: 25 Chic College Dorm Room Ideas for Girls

More College Skincare Tips and Hacks

College Skincare Hacks

1. Bedside beauty pouch
2. Wear sunscreen
3. Pamper your skin
4. Get plenty of sleep
5. Clean your phone
6. Don’t touch your face
7. Wash your hands often
8. Visit a dermatologist

Keep a Bedside Beauty Pouch

College years can be busy – with social events (e.g. dorm parties, homecoming, etc) and studies. Sometimes you’ll be getting home late at night too tired to get anything else done. You just want to go straight to bed skipping your skincare routine. Obviously this is terrible for your skin. As we mentioned earlier, the only path to healthy skin is discipline. Having said that here’s a skincare tip for you – keep a beauty pouch by your bed. In it, keep some face wipes and moisturizer. When you’re too tired to go to the washroom, at least keep your face clean using face wipes then apply some lotion to keep it moisturized. Note that this hack is a double-edged sword. While a bedside beauty pouch is convenient, it promotes bad skincare habits by giving you an easy way out of your skincare routine.

Read also: 10 Tips to Keep Your Dorm Room Clean & Tidy

Sunscreen is a must

Sunscreen is not optional. While parts of the body are protected by clothes and not under direct sun radiation, your face is directly exposed to sun rays (ultraviolet radiation). UV radiation is a major risk factor that can lead to skin cancer. Less serious troubles include sunburn and age spots. Sunburn is a temporary but painful annoyance. On the other hand, age spots are resilient imperfections that are difficult to get rid of.
While the sun is a good source of Vitamin D which prevents premature aging, it is ironic that it ages your skin. So always wear a good sunscreen. There are also face moisturizers with SPF protection that protects your face against harmful UV rays.

Pamper your skin (and yourself)

Sticking to a skincare routine is important. But a routine is a routine. By design, it is supposed to not make you feel anything – no resistance but no enjoyment either.

Once in a while, try something new. Create a spa for yourself, even if you’re on a budget. There are thousands of recipes with ingredients based on natural products, including tea tree oil, olive oil, and aloe vera. Light up some candles and indulge yourself with your own sheet masks. Learn how to make a facial massage and do that as well. Relaxation is good for you and your skin. This is also a fun activity to do when you’re bored in your dorm room.

Get plenty of sleep

Your skin quality can be negatively impacted by cortisol which is the stress hormone. In college, there are many stressors such as studies, finance, wondering if your crush likes you, etc that might stress you out. While you can’t sleep away these problems, studies show that you can sleep away the stress. Getting enough sleep can help lower your stress and thus the cortisol level – which is good for your skin. The lack of sleep adds to your stress level and so you should really avoid that.

Sleep is vital for your skin cells to regenerate. There is evidence that the skin cells regenerate twice as fast when you’re asleep. Also, it goes without saying that if you don’t get enough sleep, your priority in the morning will definitely not be your skincare routine – not when your econ class starts in 15 minutes.

Clean your phone

No, I don’t mean to free up some ram, although that is a great way to speed up your phone. Hear me out. If you’re like most people, you’re probably spending a lot of time on your phone. In the meantime, you use public transportation, open convenience store doors and touch other dirty surfaces that hundreds or thousands of people have touched. When you’re texting on your phone, all the microbes and dirt from your hands are now all over the phone. After washing your hands, your hands are supposed to be clean but since your phone is dirty, your hands become dirty again. It has become a vicious cycle. To break this cycle, the simple solution is to wipe your phone with an antibacterial wipe and wash your hands often.

Don’t touch your face

Not trying to awaken the germaphobe in you, but our hands are dirty. They gather dirt and pick up microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Not all microbes are bad. But some of these microbes can cause inflammation, skin diseases, and other kinds of diseases. So be mindful of what your hands are doing and make a conscious effort at keeping them away from your face.

Wash your hands often

Studies found that people touch their faces 16 times an hour on average. I’m sure you can lower that number if you’re being mindful but to make it more effective, you’ll want to wash your hands often. Don’t just splash your hands with some water and call it done. Make sure that you’re actually washing them properly – with soap and dedication. Wash every nook and cranny. That includes under your nails and between your fingers.

Visit a dermatologist

Obviously this is going to cost you money but there are times when seeing a dermatologist can be worth it. One good example is when you have a serious acne problem. The rule of thumb is if you feel like your skin problem is a medical condition, chances are you need to see a dermatologist. Serious skin problems can’t be fixed by eating more vegetables or drinking more water.

There are different skin types and different reactions to the same product. Visit a specialist to identify your skin type and what works for you. Discuss with your dermatologist about your diet, your eating habits, and medical history so they know what can trigger some skin issues. They will also help customize a skincare routine and recommend products for you.

Your Best Kept Secret Skincare Tip?

Amazing skin is not a given. It is accumulated from a series of small positive habits and routines. There are no shortcuts to perfect skin but there are steps that you can take to get closer to perfection. Get used to the idea that you will have to follow a routine and that you will have to be consistent.

Having said that, what have you tried that works for you? Do you have any skincare tips you think work great for college students?

The post College Skincare Guide: Skincare Tips for College Students appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

What is Cape?

First, let’s discuss what a cape is. In simple terms, a cape is an outer garment that is worn on top of another piece of clothing. The term is used to denote any garment that is thrown over the shoulder and is used primarily to provide protection against the clothing underneath. Sometimes, the term is used to refer to every piece of sleeveless clothing worn as an outer garment. However, in its correct definition, a cape is supposed to be a long sleeveless piece of clothing that reaches up to the knees and is fastened to the neck of the wearer.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Brief History of The Cape

The cape mostly gained prominence as a fashionable piece of clothing during the Renaissance era. During that period, capes were fastened to the collars of clothes designed for women. However, with time, they became a separate piece of clothing.

During the Victorian era, the cape became associated more with women than men. It was such a desirable piece of clothing for dignified women that at one point every bride had one attached to their wedding dress. The most prevalent color the cape came in was red.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Eventually, it made its way into the creative industry, in the sense that both villains and superheroes started wearing capes in their stories. One of the first superheroes to actually wear the cape was a character named Zorro debuted in 1919.

In the 1950s, shortly after the world war, the fashion houses of Paris led the way for new ideas in fashion. During this period, designers decided to shorten the cape’s length as well as sew the front shut.

In the 70s, the cape returned briefly in the form of poncho cape. Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman was shown wearing a cape as part of the superhero’s full uniform. By the 1990s, the cape was seen as an unnecessary piece of fashion item.

How the Cape Fell out of Fashion

During the 1930s, the overcoats became popular, replacing the role of the capes. Although the general population believed that capes fell out of fashion, there was no real reason why that was the case. It was rumored that during that time, highly acclaimed movie actor Bela Lugosi starred in Dracula, and this may have provided negative connotations with the cape. It started to be seen as a costume as opposed to a fashion garment. However, one thing was certain, the practicality of the cape was dwindling.

Fast-forwarding to the 1970s, the cape was still around but it wasn’t as popular. It returned for a short while, but this time in another fashion – the poncho cape. The poncho cape originated from Southern Africa but quickly became popular in the United States. Capes fell out of fashion again, especially by men as they were never intended to be worn by men. Women on the other hand still wore capes, but it was never really seen in the fashion world.

The Cape’s Comeback in Fashion

The cape was finally making a comeback, and it started in 2018 on runways. Many major fashion shows exhibited saw the influx of capes in various shades. They were also accessorized in different forms. The capes designed were mostly for women, although there were some for men. Unfortunately, the men capes were not as popular.

Source: Vogue UK

The reason for the re-emergence of capes can be traced to the rise of the equality/feminist movements. In the quest for equality, the cape is seen as a symbol of power. As you probably know now, capes were seen as a symbol of power since the superheroes wore them. Women are making a statement with the cape claiming that it is time to take back their power. For example, Natalie Portman was seen wearing a cape embroidered with female directors’ names at the 2020 Academy Awards to highlight to lack of female nominees.

Another reason the cape is coming back is the fact that there is a push for designers to get out of their comfort zones in the fashion industry. A lot of people are getting bolder and taking risks they would not have taken prior to this time. People nowadays want to express themselves in their own unique ways. They want to be different, and by using capes, a piece of garment that hasn’t been commonly seen in a while, designers now have that chance.

Creativity never ends, and that’s why designers are going to continue to make unique cape-incorporated fashion pieces. As the years go by, it’s expected to see more people wearing capes as it is a stylish and intricate fashion piece. In the age where everyone is striving to be different, it is the perfect time for capes to be popular once again.

Practical Uses of the Cape

In the Victorian times, capes were worn as part of accessory for warfare. They were used to complete the war regalia of an individual and were intended to protect the soldier from the debris and environmental elements during battle, while their armor was supposed to protect them from weapons. The cape can also be used to blunt the edge of the weapons when they make contact with the individual.

In these modern times, in the United States Army, the cape is used as an alternative to the trench coat for officers fully clad in their uniform. Capes can also be complimentary for an evening dress worn by ladies. Usually, the practice is that a lady can wear a cape over an evening dress if she hopes to keep her dress clean.

Capes are also commonly used in beauty salons. They are worn by people who are getting their hair done as the cape is intended to protect their shoulders from water droplets, chemicals and hair strands that may come loose during the process.

References

• The History of Fashion Cape  – CF Fashion Book
• Cloak History from 1900-2000 – Fashion-Era.com
• A Complete History of the Cape – FQ

The post Reasons Why the Cape Is Due for a Comeback appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

Midlife crisis (sometimes mid-life crisis or mid life crisis) is a well-covered subject. Experts have written articles and discussed it on talk shows. It is also the basis for many movies and tv shows.

The concept of midlife crisis was invented in 1957 by Canadian social scientist Elliott Jaques. Midlife crisis typically happens to individuals in their 40s and 50s — who are forced to face the realities brought on by aging, both internally and externally.

However, as global life expectancy continues to climb, this crisis seems to be growing younger.

A Crisis in Quarter-Life

Life in your mid-20s to early 30s is supposed to be fun and exciting. Unfortunately, not everyone is that lucky. Some of us experience a period of anxiety, insecurities, and even depression. If that’s what you’re experiencing, you could be having a quarter-life crisis.

Definition

Quarter-life crisis is a sign that whatever it is that you’re doing now, it’s not impacting you in a strong, positive way that would make you want to continue the path you’ve chosen. It may be the lack of direction, not knowing where you’re headed, the anxiety of not getting there. Or it may be the lack of meaning behind what you’re doing, the feeling you’re not contributing enough to society.

Signs

So how do you know you’re having a quarter-life crisis? Or you’re just bored? Unfortunately, there are no scientific tests to give you a definite answer. However, you may want to pay closer attention if you experience one or more of the following symptoms.

1. Mood changes. You used to be happy and cheerful, now you’re sad and gloomy most of the time.
2. Mood swings. You go from feeling zero to hulk in 3 seconds. Easily irritated.
3. Weight gain or weight loss.
4. Changes in sleep patterns. Is insomnia becoming more frequent? Or are you sleeping way more than you normally do?
5. Becoming cynical.
6. Becoming anti-social. There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert per se. But if you’re going from extrovert from hating to meet people that could indicate something is wrong.
7. Unkept appearance
8. Neglecting personal hygiene
9. Regrets are becoming more frequent

How to Deal with Quarter-Life Crisis

So you’re pretty sure that you’re going through a rough patch in life. How do you deal with it? What are some of the things to do to get out of this valley? Here are some suggestions:-

1. Be Honest

Have you been honest with yourself?

Honesty is a good virtue. Telling lies are frown upon in our society. But do you know what’s worse than lying to other people? Lying to yourself.

There are times when lying to yourself can be helpful. For example, if you’re anxious about a presentation and you lie to yourself that you’re the best in the world at what you do, that you’re charismatic, and you’re the greatest looking person ever. White lies like these are fine.

But you should never lie to yourself about what you truly want. Do you really want to move to the city for a better paying job? There’s more money to be made, but you’re really liking it here. Do you really want to virtually live at the office just to get that promotion?

People say you have to get out of your comfort zone. But is outside the comfort zone where you want to be? Sometimes going out of our comfort zone is a great way for us to grow. Other times, it’s just a lame excuse for us to not follow our hearts.

The first step in overcoming this crisis is to open up a communication channel to your true self. Be truthful to yourself. If you lie to yourself, nothing will fix your problems ever. Because you won’t be able to identify the real problem, to begin with.

2. Find Purpose

What is your true purpose in life? What are your goals?

A life crisis may be caused by the lack of well-defined goals. It prompts the search for meaning of life. So ask yourself what animates you? What makes you smile? What makes you feel alive? What do you do best? What makes you happy and fulfilled? What do you really want?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it’s perfectly fine. Those are deep questions that require you to think hard. You just have to find time and space for yourself to do some soul searching. Sometimes your purpose is discovered. More often, it is decided — you have to decide what is your purpose in life. Once you have a purpose or objective, make SMART goals for yourself. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-oriented.

Yes, sometimes your goals can be materialistic. People sometimes joke about buying a shiny new car is the biggest symptom of a midlife crisis. But guess what, if you’re really being honest with yourself and you decide that a new car will make you truly happy… by all means go for it. But don’t do it just to ease your pain, because that solution is only temporary but the financial impact is permanent.

3. Support Group

Build a support group

Try to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Find good listeners who are willing to listen to your problems and aspirations. Ideally, that’s how your support group should look like.

Here’s a cold harsh truth. Most people are not interested in your problems. They have their own crisis to manage. You’re lucky if you have a supportive friend who listens to all your problems. Promise me you’ll keep them for life. Because a good friend like this is few and far between.

Does that mean building a support group is impossible after all? No! You just have to be more flexible with your approach. Instead of a rigid, compact group, your support system should be flexible and extensive. You can confide in your parents, your best friends, your sponsor, your priest, your therapist, and anyone who means something to you. You may be surprised to hear they went through similar situations. And I am sure they’d be happy to share what worked for them.

Chances are they won’t care about all your problems. But you don’t need them to anyway. Each of them only has to care about some of your problems.

These are also the people who care about you. This means they will check in from time to time and ask you about your progress, what have you done to overcome a certain roadblock.

4. Don’t Compare

Stop comparing yourself to your peers

What is meaningful for others may not be meaningful for you.

Other people have different starts in life. They also have vastly different backgrounds and different chances of becoming successful.

Speaking of success. Not everyone defines success in the same way. Success may mean money, but also very long hours in the office and no time for family or friends. Think long and hard before sacrificing relationships and time to get money. Because that may not be the kind of success you’re looking for.

Remember what we talked about earlier in this article? You gotta be honest with yourself. Just because you’re feeling envious of someone’s achievements doesn’t mean that you actually want to achieve them yourself. Perhaps you’ve mistakened about what you’re feeling inside. Perhaps you’re simply feeling happy for your friends.

And you know what. It’s possible that those are the achievements that you want to achieve. But you feel like they are out of reach. That’s fine, too! Someday you’ll get there for sure! And even if you don’t, at least you tried. Nothing is shameful about that. Just remember that as long as you love yourself, you will always feel loved.

Social media is both a blessing and a curse. If you’re finding you’re constantly comparing yourself with others, it might be a good idea to take a break from social media.

5. Refuse to Settle

Observe. Analyze your current status.

Find out why you’re not happy with your life. If it’s something you can change, you’re lucky.

If what’s upsetting you is something you can’t fix. Then adjust your attitude towards that aspect and find ways to compensates for what’s missing.

Be mindful of how you’re feeling. Each morning when you wake up, ask yourself: am I happy with what I am doing? If the answer is “No” for ten consecutive days, that’s a sign that you need some change.

Believe in yourself and rely on your instinct because no one knows you better than you do, and find the energy to make that painful change. In two months you will be happy you have started going to the gym in two months ago. You will be happy you’ve had that difficult conversation with your boss asking for a raise. Sometimes we have to make a difficult decision so that our future self can have a better life.

If you refuse to settle, you will challenge yourself constantly to find alternative ways to improve your life. There is no guarantee that if you try, you will succeed. At the end of the day, you will only regret the chances you’ve missed. But even a failure can be meaningful, and you can learn from it.

5. Love Yourself

Find time to relax and unwind

Take it easy. Don’t beat yourself up.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Finding time to rest is crucial.

You need to recharge your batteries to continue this amazing self-discovery journey.

Make time for friends. Go out and meet with people who bring value to your life.

Make time for activities that bring meaning to others’ lives. You will be impressed by how meaningful your life becomes by giving.

This too shall pass

You should absolutely try your very best to overcome this crisis, but sometimes in life, the best thing to do could be just to accept your true self.

Understand that you may be trying best to overcome your crisis in life and still fail. And that’s OK. Maybe the goals you set are too ambitious after all. Not everyone can become Taylor Swift or Oprah or Bill Gates.

Perhaps the solution to your quarter-life crisis is in you all the while. And the solution is to give yourself the love you deserve.

The post Quarter-Life Crisis: Definition, Signs, How To Deal With It appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

You and your best friend probably think you know everything about each other. That’s what best friends do, right? Perhaps you’ve known each other for the longest time or just recently found each other by fate like soulmates. Either way, you must have been sharing your thoughts and feelings with each other.

As you spend time chatting with each other, you might notice that your topics tend to revolve around: love life, financial worries, family drama, stressful workplace, gossips, and recent trends. There’s no doubt that these are good things to talk about but they can get a little tired and boring.

Interesting Conversation Topics to Talk to Your Best Friend About

Now, you’re hanging out and it suddenly gets quiet. You feel like there’s nothing else to discuss and that’s where you are wrong. You haven’t exhausted all the topics in the world — not yet. The fact is you don’t fully know the specifics about each other.

Try these uncommon topics below to keep things interesting. Doing so will upgrade your friendship on a deeper, more meaningful, and more honest level. You’ll also find some sample questions that will help you kick start the topic.

1. Food

Food brings people closer and that’s the truth. You probably know each other’s favorite food, but there’s more to it. Try asking, “What’s your late-night craving?”, “What food makes you remember your childhood?”, “What food makes you remember your ex?” and the list goes on as food is associated with a lot of memories.

2. Songs

Like food, songs can be associated with different occasions, people, and memories. That is why songs and music in general is known as a universal language. Try asking these questions “If you can make a soundtrack for your life movie, which songs would you pick?” and “If you’d play a song for my funeral, what would it be?”. These questions may bring an interesting turn in your conversation.

3. Something in the room

Are the two of you bored and stuck in the same room (perhaps the dorm room?)? If so, take a look around you. Is there anything interesting? Start a conversation about one thing in the room that catches your attention. If you see a plant, ask a question like “What’s your thought on indoor plants?”. If you see a can of beer, try asking “What’s the best foreign beer you’ve tried?”. This seems like a common ice breaker, but it’s a very helpful way to start the conversation and arrive at different related topics.

4. Regrets

Sure, there’s nothing you can do about it anymore because it’s all in the past. But discussing about each other’s regrets can ease up the burdens you’re feeling. Making mistakes does make you smarter and wiser after all. Try asking, “If you could change one thing or re-do one day in your life, what would it be and why?” This topic will help you to gain a deeper understanding of your bestie’s life.

5. Death

Most people are scared to confront the reality of death. No one knows what happens when you die so there is no right or wrong answer. What you’ll get is a breadth of view of each other’s beliefs. Try asking, “Where do you think you’ll be when you die?”. You can also talk about it in a funny way and ask, “Who will you haunt first when you die?” You can only hope that they don’t say your name!

6. Insecurities

“What are some insecurities you have about yourself?” and “What embarrasses you in front of other people?” These are crucial questions that will make your friendship stronger – as long as you don’t point it out and do it in front of a crowd. Knowing about each other’s insecurities will also give you clues on when and how to defend your bestie in case of an attack.

You can also kick off the topic by sharing your own insecurities first.

7. Throw Back Thursdays #TBT

It all starts with “Remember when…?”. Talk about the unforgettable memories you had – whether it’s a shared memory or not. There’s nothing better than reminiscing the good old times. One helpful tip is to go over your social media accounts and recall the stories behind your #TBT and #FBF (Flashback Fridays) posts.

8. Last Things

Answering a whole lot of questions that goes “When was the last time you…?”. Complete the sentence with verbs like cried, got dumped, got way too drunk. Go crazy with these questions. You’ll both be amazed by answers that could range from a minute ago to 10 years ago.

9. Bucket List

“What are the things you want to do before you die?” Talk about the things you want to try and the places you want to visit before you kick the bucket, however seemingly impossible they may sound. Maybe you can even do some of them together. This is also a chance to unlock a chest of new experiences involving your friendship.

10. Aging

Time flies. And you can discuss about the inevitable happening that is aging. Some people feel it in their 20s, while some don’t feel it in their 40s. Don’t worry, it happens to everyone at some point. It may start with your back, your wrinkly skin, or your blood pressure. Share with your bestie some of the little problems you face and ask her if she’s feeling any sign of aging. Maybe you can even find a nutrition supplement or an orthopedic doctor together.

11. Life Goals

“What have I done in the past years?”, “When do you want your promotion?” and “do you want a family in 5 years?”. These are some of the go-to questions when talking about life goals. You’re both accomplishing your goals one day at a time. Goals aren’t meant for small talk, but for a deeper conversation with someone special to you. This is a good chance to look back at everything you’ve accomplished, what you’re still working on, and what you aim to achieve in the next couple of years. You and your BFF will be each other’s number one supporter on this journey.

12. Zodiac Sign

Astrology can be fun. Some people take astrology more seriously than others. But one thing stays true for most people — it’s fun to talk about astrology and the star signs, such as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, so on and so forth.

Chances are you already know each other’s signs, but if you don’t, you can find out here by using your birthday. It’s virtually illegal to not know your bestie’s birthday! I mean that’s a super legit reason to get her an awesome gift. Anyway, if you don’t know her birthday, this will be your chance to find out and make a mental note.

Don’t know much about the zodiac? Do some Google search or check out our astrology articles. Find out what are the common traits and personalities of your best friend’s sign. Are they true? What’s true and what’s not so true? Are you on some kind of ranking like most probably to be a serial killer? Poke fun at each other.

What do you think are some good topics for two besties to talk about when they’re bored?

These topics are designed to strengthen the relationship of people who trust each other. They don’t have a right nor wrong answer, but it does require honest and sincere answers. You’ll be surprised with each other’s answers as you unravel the path deeper into your friendship. In the end, the person who knows who you really are will always be your ally. That person is none other than your best friend.

Conversation Topics

• Topics to Talk to Your Crush
• Topics to Talk to A New Friend
• Questions to Ask Your Crush

The post 12 Fun Conversation Topics to Try With Your Best Friend appeared first on Metropolitan Girls.

1. You gain new knowledge & skills by traveling

When you travel around the world, or even just around the country or your little town, you are going to learn something new every time. I love exploring new parts of the world because I return home with skills & knowledge that I wouldn’t have otherwise learned.

There are times when you do not even realize that you have been learning something new on your travels until the knowledge comes in handy. Some examples are planning skills, communication skills, and knowledge of different cultures and languages.

2. Traveling boost your self-confidence

Even if you are the most confident and independent person in the world, you can still benefit during your travels. Every time you venture somewhere new, you’re constantly forced to do things on your own and be reminded that you can get them done. What are some of these “things”? Well, everything from planning to making / changing reservations to ordering food successfully without understanding a word on the restaurant’s menu.

3. You learn about other languages

I wish I could say that you’re going to master new languages by just traveling and talking to locals! Unfortunately, learning a new language takes a lot more effort and time. However, it is possible to learn a few phrases from the locals.

Actually, if you’re traveling to a destination that doesn’t speak your tongue, you should really learn some common phrases before you even set foot in your destination. Using these phrases with some English mixed in can work wonderfully when communicating with the locals. They are also excellent ice breakers — people are so much friendlier when a traveler shows that they have put in some effort in learning their language — even if the phrases aren’t spoken perfectly.

4. It’s good for your health

When I am traveling, I find that my stress level returns to a manageable level. Getting away from the chores and responsibilities once in a while is a liberating experience. And that is good for your health.

You may also notice that you do not have as much anxiety when you are traveling because there is less for you to worry about when you are away from home and work. It might even help if you have mild depression.

For those of us whose jobs involve sitting in front of the computer 8 hours a day and don’t do much exercise, traveling forces you to move your lazy bum. You will walk more than you’d normally do, that’s for sure.

Read also: 8 Ways to Help Depressed Friend or Family Member

5. You become well-rounded

As you are learning more about different parts of the world, as well as the traditions and cultures found there, you will find that you are becoming a more well-rounded person. You will find that you can easily join in on conversations and have something unique to share with the people you are talking to.

6. Traveling helps you become an adventurous eater

Some travelers begin as picky eaters, but that can easily change once you travel more. I know that I was always looking for familiar foods when I traveled, until I was in a restaurant that had nothing I had eaten before. Since I was starving, I needed to order something, so I chose what appeared to be the least intimidating. Nowadays, I try to spend at least half of my travels eating foods that I normally wouldn’t eat back home.

7. You’re more open to new & exciting adventures

When we are home, we get stuck with what we normally do. However, during a vacation, we are more likely to step out of our comfort zone and try new adventures. I have held a baby alligator, come face to face with a giraffe, gone swimming with dolphins, and even touched a stingray. I never would have done any of these things had I not left my hometown, so this is huge on my list. If you are bored with your daily life, simply head out on a trip and see what you end up doing!

8. The real treasure is friendship all along

Everyone has their own social circle but imagine how many more friends you can have if you meet new people every time you travel! I have met many people from all over the world and many of those people became friends that I still keep in touch with all these years later. Sometimes you make friends with the locals, and sometimes you meet your fellow countrymen (or women) in a foreign country and find that you share the same interests. There are even stories of people meeting their soulmate during their vacation.

9. Traveling turbocharges your creativity

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a project at work and realized you have no idea what to do? Have you spent hours, or days, stuck in the same spot, waiting for a breakthrough? It’s called a creativity block and it happens to the best of us.

Going on a trip helps to push that blockage aside — it would help even if it’s only a short getaway. But it doesn’t stop there, traveling also helps expand our creative capacity by exposing us to new ideas: food, music, people, architecture, nature, and so much more.

I find that when I return from a trip, my creative juices flow much better and I can complete projects that have been stuck in no time.

Sometimes planning a trip has the same benefits. So if you are not planning on traveling soon, simply sit down and start researching for different things you can do on your next vacation. I think you will be thrilled with what happens as a result.

10. You learn valuable lessons of patience and tolerance

No matter how meticulously you plan your trip, it will never turn out 100% how you’d like it to be. Things can go wrong: delayed plane, canceled tour, horrendous dinner, or one of a million other things. I’m not saying that these inconveniences happen all the time, but when it happens you will need to be patient and solve the problem in front of you.

You will also learn the importance of tolerance. You will be spending time with people who are different than you — in terms of their cultures, languages, and beliefs they hold. Sometimes the differences inspire you, and sometimes you think they are heading in the wrong direction. When you encounter a situation you do not like, learn to take a deep breath and simply continue on. This will help you gain a different perspective when you return home as well.

And these are some of the amazing things that could happen to you when you get out of your comfort zone and travel. At least these are some of the benefits that I’ve personally experience the most. I would love to hear which benefits of travel you notice the most and how they differ from mine!

This post is contributed by Jen.

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Helen Keller Short Biography

Early Years – Birth & Family

Helen Adams Keller was born a healthy child on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama to a distinguished southern family.

Helen Keller’s father Arthur Henley Keller was an editor of the Tuscumbia North Alabamian. During the American Civil War, he had served as a captain in the Confederate Army. Helen Keller’s mother Catherine Everett Keller was a young educated woman from Memphis. She was the daughter of Charles W. Adams, a Confederate Army general. Helen Keller had four siblings: two full siblings and two half-siblings from her father’s previous marriage. Helen Keller was born in Ivy Green — a homestead built by her grandfather — where she spent her early childhood. The family homestead was also where she first met her mentor and life companion Anne Sullivan.

Early Years – Becoming Deafblind

When Helen Keller was 19 months old, she contracted an unknown illness that left her both deaf and blind.

In her autobiography The Story of My Life, she described that deafblindness left her living “at sea in a dense fog.” People suspect today that she might have contracted either scarlet fever or spinal meningitis. Despite her disabilities, Keller was able to communicate somewhat with Martha Washington, the six-year-old daughter of the family cook. Martha was able to distinguish some of Keller’s signs and communicate with her through their very own language system. By the age of seven, Helen Keller had developed over 60 hand gestures of her own. She was also able to identify her family members by the vibrations of their steps on the floor.

Early Education

In 1886, after reading Charles Dickens’ American Notes, Helen Keller’s mother was inspired to pursue formal education for her daughter.

Helen Keller’s parents, Catherine and Arthur Keller set about finding the appropriate institution to educate their child. Through this journey, they ended up in contact with the Perkins School for the Blind. The director of the school recommended that a former student by the name of Anne Sullivan would be an ideal choice for helping Keller. The two would work closely together for the rest of Anne’s life.

Anne Mansfield Sullivan

One of Helen Keller’s constant companion in life. Anne Sullivan played crucial roles as the teacher and supporter in Keller’s life.

On March 5th, 1887, Anne Sullivan arrived at Keller’s home. Keller called the day of Sullivan’s arrival as the “birthday of her soul”. Anne Sullivan began to teach Helen to spell words by writing into her hand. They struggled with this method it first until they made a breakthrough. Sullivan was signing the word for water into Keller’s hand while running her other hand under running water. This is the first instance that Helen Keller recalled understanding that the signs Anne Sullivan made were connected to real-world objects. This moment can be seen as awakening Helen’s desire to learn and interact with the world around her.

Throughout the years, Helen had her companion Anne at her side helping her through the world. Anne Sullivan died in 1936 with Helen at her side.

Formal Education

By 1888, Helen Keller had become a student at the Perkins Institute. By 1894, she was attending school at Wright-Humason School for the Deaf. And by 1900, Helen was attending Radcliffe College — a women’s liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Helen wanted to go to Harvard, but Harvard was an all-male university during her time. So she went to Radcliffe instead, which was the female coordinate institution for Harvard College. When Helen Keller graduated from Radcliffe in 1904, she became the first deaf-blind person ever to be awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree. Despite her circumstances, Keller showed a great aptitude for learning. She also demonstrated an unyielding desire to further her abilities.

Her quest to learn did not end here. Over the next few years, she would learn to use her physical voice. She discovered ways to experience music through the use of a resonant table to feel the vibrations of songs. She could even lip-read by touching the lips of a person who is speaking to her; her heightened sense of touch allowed her to know what was being said.

Literary Works

Some of Helen Keller’s contributions to society are her literary works.

Helen Keller was a prolific writer. She produced many works on her experiences as a member of the deaf and blind communities. In total, she has published 12 books and written several articles.

Among her earliest works was a fictional story The Frost King (1891) which Keller wrote at the tender age of 11. However, there were allegations that the story had been plagiarized. Perhaps shunted by the accusations, The Frost King became the last fictional story Keller published.

At age 21, Helen Keller published The Story of My Life (1903), her first autobiography. In this book, she talked about the story of her life up to age 21. The autobiography was written when Keller was in college with the help of Anne Sullivan and her husband John Macy.

In 1908, she published The World I Live In. In this book, she shared with her readers some insights into her life. A series of essays on socialism (more on Keller’s involvement in advocating for socialism below) were published in 1913.

This is not an exhaustive list of Helen Keller’s works.

Social & Political Activities

Helen Keller’s challenges in seeing and hearing did not prevent her from advocating for what she thought was right.

The year before Keller graduated from Radcliffe, she had published her autobiography The Story of My Life. After she graduated in 1904, she continued to inspire people with her life story. At the same time, Keller worked toward raising awareness on the challenges faced by people with disabilities. Helen Keller also testified in front of the US Congress as an advocate for the blind.

In 1915, Keller co-founded Helen Keller International (HKI) with George Kessler, a wealthy wine merchant from New York City. Still active to this very day, HKI is a non-profit organization exists to help people with blindness. Among HKI’s missions and goals are to reduce preventable blindness and reduce malnutrition.

Fiver years later, Helen Keller co-founded American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Like HKI, ACLU remains active to this day. It is one of the largest non-profit non-partisan activist organization in the US. ACLU’s stated mission is to defend the liberties and individual rights of the citizens of the United States of American.

Keller’s effort was not limited within the United States borders. During her active years, she was known to have visited 35 countries and gave inspirational speeches that brought awareness. Among the countries that Keller had visited was Japan. It was said that Keller was a favorite of the Japanese people.

As an outspoken activist who dared to stand for what she thought was right, it’s only natural that she was active in the women’s suffrage movement. The movement fought for equal voting rights for both men and women.

Keller also believed in socialism. She was a member of the Socialist Party and advocated for a revolution. Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI even opened an investigation into her. Her advocacy for socialism is often downplayed in mainstream media. However, the fact is that socialism is a core part of Keller’s political philosophy. She even produced a number of essays on the topic of socialism.

In her later life, Keller devoted much of her time and effort to raising fund for the American Foundation for the Blind.

Later Life & Death

In 1961 Keller suffered a series of strokes. As a result, she had to spend the last few years of her life at her home. In 1964, Helen Keller was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The award was one of the United State’s two highest civilian honors. The medal is awarded to distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the United States. The recipients of this medal include John F. Kennedy, Pope John XXIII, and Mother Theresa.

On June 1, 1968, she died in her sleep at her home in Connecticut. She was 87 years old when she passed on and was a few weeks short of her eighty-eighth birthday. The symbol of perseverance found her final resting place at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. next to her constant companions, Anne Sullivan and Polly Thomson.

Using her voice and her experiences, Keller shared her thoughts on social and political issues. Today she is an iconic figure who is known to have labored for the betterment of others despite her own disabilities.

Quick Facts About Helen Keller

• Birthday: June 27, 1880
• Birth Place: Tuscumbia, Alabama.
• Death Date: June 1, 1968
• Parents: Arthur Henley Keller, Catherine Everett Keller
• Number of siblings: 4
• Birthplace: Tuscumbia, Alabama
• Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Education History: Perkins Institute, Wright-Humason School for the Deaf, Radcliffe College
• Notable Literary Works: The Frost King (1891, fiction), The Story of My Life (1903, autobiography), The World I Live In (1908), Out of the Dark, a series of essays on socialism (1913), My Religion (1927)
• Related Organizations: Helen Keller International (Co-founder), American Civil Liberties Union ACLU (Co-founder)

You should also check out these interesting facts about Helen Kellers.

Resources

1. FBI File on Helen Keller
2. Helen Keller’s Digital Photo Collection
3. A longer biography of Helen Keller @ American Foundation for the Blind

Videos

How Did Helen Keller Learn to Speak?

Helen Keller speaks out (1954)

Other Inspirational Women

11 Contemporary Female Painters

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A Short Biography of Helen Keller

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1. Donate Money

The homeless are not only lacking a place to call home, but many of them are also in dire need of money. You see them under the bridge and on the streets every day. Each of them has their own unique circumstances but many of the share a common need — some money to at least fill their stomachs with food for energy to go through the day. If you think that a dollar will not be of help to them because of its small amount, a dollar for them means more than just that. If you have some spare change in your pocket, they will truly appreciate it.

You can also donate money to certain non-profit organizations whose mission is to help homeless people. These organizations are the trailblazers when it comes to dealing with the homeless. If you’re unsure about what you can give the homeless, then talking to a homeless organization might help.

2. Donate Necessities

Homeless people who do not get to choose what they should wear every day. Many of the homeless folks don’t have enough clothing to keep them warm when it’s winter time, and neither do they have proper shelter to shield them from the rain. You probably have some old jackets or sweaters that you’re not using anymore stuck in your closet, or you may have an extra umbrella. These are the people who don’t care if you give them something new or used. What matters is that you’ve taken your time to think of something to give to them.,

3. Volunteer

Volunteering is the best way to go if you don’t have enough financial resources to share with the homeless but you’d still want to help. Volunteer your time and skill in helping to improve homeless people’s life. There are many organizations that organize volunteer works for the homeless and they would appreciate the manpower you’re able to provide them. There are many volunteer works you can do. You can help out to serve meals, or teach the youth and the children. You can even share some of your skills and talents to them!

4. Give out goodie bags

If you have some time and resources to spare, you can give out goodie bags. These are bags containing some food, hygiene kit, clothes or simply anything that they will need to make their living quite easier. They might be having a hard time in the streets, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do something to help them.

5. Give them a job

For homeless people who are unemployed due to one reason or another, the best way to help them is to provide them with a way to make money for themselves. It doesn’t have to be a big corporate job. You can give them little tasks to do like mowing your lawn or gardening. You can even refer them to your friends and other people you know. This way, they can make a living out of their own effort, and not feeling hopeless about themselves. You are not only giving them a job as a way for them to earn money, but you are also helping them to improve their self-esteem and help them feel more confident about their skills. They are not only receiving money because someone is giving them alms but because they are working hard for it. It’s also one of the more sustainable ways to help out a homeless person.

6. Respect them

This is relatively easy to do. In fact, it could even be the easiest one to do from this list. Some people tend to ridicule and judge the homeless because of the state they are in. You don’t know how cruel some people can get and how many times they have received bashing from various people. So give them something these unkind people weren’t able to provide them. Show them respect. Make them feel respected as human beings even if they’re living conditions are like that. They too deserved to be respected and treated in a way like how you treat other people like your friends, as well.

7. Give them a list of homeless shelters

If you have some spare time, you can try to research and look for shelters near your area. Jot down the complete address and a person to contact in the shelter. Homeless people may not know that these shelters exist, or if they know, they are too shy to go there. Giving them a list that they could definitely use one day will undoubtedly be of help to them.

8. Give them some recyclable materials

You can consider your empty soda bottle trash, but this garbage can be another person’s gem. They can turn over these recyclable materials to the local recycling center and get money for it. Some people can even craft out art from them and sell them for some money. Now you may want to think twice before disposing of your recyclable wastes. Make sure they’re already doing the recycling work by observing their base; watch out for bags of recyclable garbage. If they aren’t already making money off recyclable materials, they might mistake your kind act as dumping trash on them!

Be Grateful We’re In A Position To Help

Everyone is capable of helping the homeless community in some way. There’s really no reason why we shouldn’t be helping these people who are in dire need of our help. You don’t always have to donate money. Often, these people who are often pushed away by society appreciate the smallest things. These people may be homeless, but we should show them that they are not hopeless. As someone who’s in the position to give, there’s nothing wrong with sharing with them something you have.

Other Ways To Help A Homeless Person

What are some other ways to provide help the homeless?

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Here are some things you can do to help a depressed friend or family member.

1. Be there for them

Be a reliable part of their support system. If you can and if you have the time to respond to your friend’s texts or calls, do it! Most of the time, people with depression just really need someone they could talk to and someone who can understand them. There are a lot of things going through their heads. You can help out a friend by providing a channel for them to release their inner voice when their mind gets tangled up in depressing thoughts.

2. Acknowledge their feelings

Depression is real. The most effortless thing you can do to help a depressed person is by simply acknowledging how they feel. The last thing that a depressed person wants to hear is that they are “just sad” and they can get over it. People who are diagnosed with clinical depression even take the medications and therapy for it. Just because you also know how it feels to be sad or down, doesn’t mean that you fully understand what clinical depression is. There are sure warning signs that aren’t present in an ordinarily sad person. It takes a whole new level of understanding to be able to understand people with depression. They have all sorts of emotions pent up inside of them. The worst thing you can is to tell them to just “snap out of it”.

3. Learn more about depression

Kudos to you! Reading this article is one of the ways you can do to help understand what your friend is going through. We applaud you for your initiative. There are more other things you can learn about depression. For example, you can try to ask them what triggers their feels and what calms them down. As much as possible, take note of what helps them to calm down so that when something similar happens again you can help them control their emotions because you already know how to deal with it.

4. Help your friend respond to emergencies

You’ll never know when your friend will need your help. There are times when you cannot personally respond to their needs due to personal reasons. But you can still do something to help your friend. List out a couple of other sources of help for your friend. Add their contact numbers and put them on your friend’s speed dial. Just in case you’re not available during this time, your friend has the option to get help from someone else.

5. Take care of yourself

Professionals who treat people with depression take good care of themselves, too. The term for this is “self-care”. You should learn how to practice doing this to care for your own mental health. You’re a human being who’s also prone to absorbing your friend’s emotions. If you really want to help out your friend, you should be stable emotionally. It won’t help if you’re both finding it hard to deal with your emotions. One of you should be strong. If there are times when you feel like you are not going to be of help to your friend, or if you’re experiencing some troubles on your own, it’s okay to pass on helping. That’s why you have to help out your friend to build their support network! It’s important to know that before you take care of anyone else, you should first take care of yourself.

6. Remind your friend that they can cope with their depression.

People who are suffering from depression tend to feel like they are worthless. Their self-esteem is really low, and they’ve hit the absolute rock bottom. Your friend may not be even able to go back to the things they had always enjoyed doing. Their confidence is very low at this point. The best thing you can do is to help them feel like they are someone special once again, that they are still the same awesome friend you know despite their depression. You don’t have to do something grand to make them feel confident about themselves. You can send your friend a simple motivating message that could help them go through the rest of the day.

If it helps, you can also help your friend understand that they are not alone in this journey. Depression isn’t a permanent state that they will stay in forever. It’s important to remind them that once they’ve hit the lowest of lows, there’s nowhere to go but up.

7. Make them smile!

You know what makes your friend smile or laugh. If they love to hear corny jokes or stories, then share some that you know. Laughing will also help their system boost their serotonin levels. Serotonin is the hormone responsible for a person’s happiness. Some theories say that once a person is depressed, their serotonin levels go down. If your friend enjoys going out, shopping, or watching a movie, you can try to set a date with your friend. Also, this will help them feel like they’re not alone and take their mind off from what they are thinking.

8. Be a good listener

If you’re not the kind of person who’s good at giving advice or you just prefer not to give any advice, the good news is that you don’t have to do it. You don’t have to say a lot of words to your friend. One of the best things you can do to help is to listen to them. There is a lot of stuff going on inside their heads, and they would just want someone to talk to. You’ll be surprised at how helpful you can be to someone who’s going through depression by simply lending an ear. People are often scared to express what they feel because they are afraid of the feedback that they may get from being vocal about their feelings. You don’t even have to say one thing, and yet after they’re done talking, they would feel a lot better. Never underestimate the power of listening especially when it comes to helping your depressed friend.

Help In Any Way You Can

These are just some of the things you can do to help out your depressed friend and family member. You don’t have to go through the same thing for you to understand what they are going through. You also don’t have to be a professional to help them out on their troubles. All you have to do is to be the friend that they trust their feelings and emotions with. It’s important to remember that what they’re going through isn’t easy. Although what they’re going through is serious, you can be a part of the help that they could get. You should never underestimate the power that you could do as a friend.

Content Related To Depression

What is depression? TED talk by Helen M. Farrell

11 Things People with Depression Would Like You to Understand

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10 Facts about Helen Keller

Fact 1. Helen Keller learned how to speak when she was only six months old.

Sure, there might be a lot of other babies who can speak some words at six months old. But what makes Helen different from other infants then was that she was born deaf-blind. Usually, babies who are born with difficulties in hearing don’t learn how to speak until later in their life. It’s because for a child to be able to produce sounds on his own, he should first listen to the sounds around him. But that wasn’t the case with Helen. She was, indeed, a gifted person in the truest sense.

Fact 2. Helen Keller communicated with their family’s cook’s daughter, Martha Washington, through sign language.

As kids, neither Martha and Helen had any formal training in sign language. What they have developed between them was the result of a connection and strong bond that no one could ever break. To be able to communicate without words as children isn’t a normal thing to do. Much was applauded for the two young girls. Martha and Helen had developed over sixty signs by the time Helen was seven years old.

Fact 3. Helen Keller was great friends with Mark Twain.

You’ve probably heard of Mark Twain and his great works. Apparently, Helen and Mark’s friendship goes a long way back. It was in 1896 when Helen was attending the Cambridge School for Young Ladies when she met the legendary American writer. Helen wrote in one of her writings that Mark did not treat her like any other freak, but she was treated as a disabled woman who was trying hard to live normally. Helen also became close to Twain’s daughter who, at that time, was the same age as Helen’s. Helen was able to recognize Mark Twain by his scent as he often smoked tobacco.

Fact 4. Helen Keller was an acquaintance of Alexander Graham Bell.

You might know Alexander Graham Bell for inventing the telephone. But this wasn’t how Helen got to know him. When she was six, her parents brought her to a physician who suggested for the family to see Bell. The physician suggested them to visit the Bells because Alexander’s wife was also deaf. Mrs. Bell’s situation prompted the inventor to establish a school for the deaf in the name of his wife. Helen was eventually enrolled to the Perkins Institution for the Blind, which was an institution suggested by Bell himself.

Fact 5. Anne Sullivan was Helen Keller’s teacher.

A significant part of Helen’s childhood schooling is Anne Sullivan. She was the one who patiently taught Helen how to communicate. Sullivan was also a good friend of Mark Twain and the author even called her a “miracle worker” for her works with Helen.

Fact 6. Helen Keller (almost) eloped with her secretary.

At 36 years old, she had a new secretary, Peter Fagan. The twenty-something lad developed a professional working bond with Helen and quite a bit more. Both Helen and Peter fell in love with each other. They got engaged and was ready to tie the knot. Unfortunately, Helen’s family wasn’t in favor of the marriage due to her disabilities. She never got the chance to marry. She had reportedly marked that, “If I could see, I would marry first of all.”

Fact 7. Helen Keller’s image (with braille) is on the Alabama state commemorative quarter.

Helen Keller’s legacy will never be forgotten. The Alabama state government honored her humanitarian works by issuing a commemorative quarter in her name. On the coin, Helen Keller is depicted as a woman who’s sitting on a rocking chair while holding a book. On the coin is her name written in braille.

Fact 8. Helen Keller had traveled to 39 countries to serve as an advocate for the disabled.

Helen might be born deaf-blind, but this didn’t stop her from traveling the world. This goes to show that once you have your goal set, nothing else can stop you. She traveled to 39 countries to give lectures at medical schools, to visit schools and treatment facilities for the disabled, and to meet with organizations who organized institutions to help with the blind. Indeed, she didn’t let her disabilities get in the way. Instead, she used it to inspire millions of people all over the world.

Fact 9. Helen Keller was the first person to own the Akita dog to the United States.

In one of her visits to Japan, a Japanese police officer gave Helen his dog. It was an Akita dog and the dog breed hadn’t existed yet exist in the United States. Helen absolutely fell in love with the Akita dog that after the dog’s death, the Japanese government presented Helen a dog of the same breed.

Fact 10. Helen Keller was a humanitarian activist.

Helen’s disabilities didn’t stop her from fighting for what she believed in. The world knew her as a dedicated activist and humanitarian. Her goal was to create a better world, and that’s precisely what she did. She visited hospitals and schools in different countries around the globe. Although she was deaf and blind, she made sure her voice was heard loudly through her writings.

Did you find a Helen Keller fact that has inspired You?

Which of the facts about Keller above inspire you the most? Did you know any other interesting facts?

Helen Keller was an inspiring human being. She was able to achieve great heights despite hardship and challenges. Today, we know Helen Keller as a strong woman who rose above her disabilities. Although she was born physically-challenged, she did not give up on herself. There is a huge part of a Helen Keller in all of us – women that are challenged and may have encountered a lot of hardships in life but will not give up on trying.

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