Utah State History

Editor's note: This article is a part of a series reviewing Utah and U.S. history for KSL.com's Historic section. This story also contains an image some may find graphic or disturbing.

SALT LAKE CITY Friday marks 155 years since Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver the message that Texas was once again under Union control and that all remaining slaves must be freed.

That moment on June 19, 1865, could be seen as the true end of the Civil War, even if the Confederate Army had surrendered two months prior. By the end of 1865, the 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified and the practice of involuntary slavery was forever banned.

"Juneteenth," also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, turned into the celebration of the day it ended and it has grown since then.

The holiday celebrates "African American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures," according to the National Juneteenth Register.

But the recent protests over the death of George Floyd last month are a reminder that systemic racism didnt end when the last slaves were freed in 1865. That moment only closed a chapter in Americas history of race relations. And the roots of slavery and racial discrimination are intertwined in Utah history as well.

So as we recognize and celebrate the advancements made over 155 years, we should also look at what happened in the past so those mistakes arent made again.

If you think Juneteenth shouldnt be important in Utah, think again. In many ways, discrimination began about as early as possible in Utahs community history. Green Flake, Hark Lay and Oscar Crosby were enslaved members of the first group of pioneers to reach the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Slavery was officially added to territory code less than five years later.

Black slaves were bought and sold in Utah, historian Ronald Coleman wrote in a piece about African American history in the state for Utah History Encyclopedia.

"The majority of slaves in Utah worked on the small farms that were scattered throughout the territory, although a few worked in businesses in Salt Lake City," Coleman wrote. "Although Brigham Young never intended that slavery flourish in Utah he did accept the biblical explanations utilized by proslavery apologists to justify the enslavement of blacks."

There were 30 freemen and 29 slaves in the Utah territory before the Civil War, according to 1860 Census records. The practice was officially outlawed in Utah when President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill in 1862 that banned involuntary slavery in all U.S. territories. The bill was ironically passed by Congress on June 19 that year exactly three years before Grangers ride into Galveston.

But much like in other places in the country, racial discrimination didnt end in Utah once slaves were freed. In other parts of the U.S., states passed so-called "black codes" that targeted black workers and set the stage for Jim Crow laws beginning in 1877. Those laws would continue to push ideas of "separate but equal" until it was ruled unconstitutional in 1954. The Civil Rights Act wouldnt be enacted until a decade later.

Its known that some of that treatment existed in Utah. For instance, here are a just few examples of unfair treatment from Utahs history:

The list could go on and on. There was racially-motivated violence as well.

Historian Larry Gerlach wrote a piece for a 1998 edition of Utah Historical Quarterly that looked into the history of lynching in the state. In his research, he found there were at least 11 lynchings between 1869 and 1886; at least two of the 11 were black men and two were Asian men. The incidents occurred in Corinne, Eureka, Logan, Ogden, Park City, St. George and Salt Lake City many of those being heavy mining or railroad towns at the time.

In all, at least 4,700 lynchings were carried out in the U.S. between 1882 and 1964 and nearly three-fourth involved black individuals. But Gerlach's paper centered mostly on a disturbing incident in Utah history because it was presented at a ceremony providing the victim a headstone.

On June 15, 1925, a Carbon County marshal was brutally murdered while making runs as the night watchman for the Utah Fuel Company. There were no witnesses to the crime but a pair of young boys playing near the scene identified a black coal miner named Robert Marshall as the assailant, Gerlach wrote.

Marshall was apprehended at his cabin on the morning of June 18 and was to be taken to a Price jail after his roommate had alerted authorities. But the caravan taking him to jail stopped outside of the towns courthouse and the deputy in charge left Marshall unattended while a lynch mob formed nearby.

"Members of the crowd, rope in hand, commandeered the vehicle and headed out of town followed by a parade of at least 100 cars," Gerlach wrote, adding that Marshall was taken to a site near Price where some 1,000 men, women and children had gathered.

"The crowd, described by a reporter on the scene as consisting not of disorderly, violent, undesirables but, instead of your neighbors, your friends, the tradespeople with whom you are wont to barter public employees (and) folks prominent in church and social circles," Gerlach continued.

The mob lynched Marshall on a tree at a farm in the area. He was cut down by deputies 10 minutes later but then hanged again after "lynchers detected evidence of life," Gerlach wrote.

A group of about 100-150 black workers in the county at the time pooled money together to pay for Marshalls funeral expenses but didnt have enough to afford a headstone at the time.

Eleven men were initially charged with murder for Marshalls death but a grand jury eventually decided later that year there was not sufficient evidence to proceed with the case mainly because more than 100 witnesses refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

Gerlach, who first presented his paper at a memorial for Marshall, refuted anyones claims that what happened in the past doesn't matter in current times.

"The Marshall lynching was symptomatic of a societal ill the racism that afflicted and still afflicts America," he said at the time. "The Marshall lynching, then, affords the occasion for us to meet in a ceremony of historical recognition and racial reconciliation. Reconciliation cannot truly occur unless past injustices are fully acknowledged. ... We cannot undo the past but we can recognize what has happened and why.

"To ignore past misdeeds is to condone them, if only by silence; to acknowledge past misdeeds is to educate and to educate is to prepare the way for a better tomorrow."

Of course, this history isnt new, especially to those who study it and those who have lived or are living through the outcomes created by systemically racist practices.

There are still many aftereffects from history. For example, even though redlining was banned in 1968, a 2018 study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition found practices decades ago still had economic and racial segregation implications for many cities today.

On June 19, 1866, the first Juneteenth was held in Texas the site where the last of the slaves were freed. It's a holiday mixed with celebration barbecues and activities but is "almost always focused on education and self-improvement," according to the National Juneteenth Register.

According to the organization, it began as a holiday mostly celebrated by those in the black community even if it was a struggle to celebrate at times.

"In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public property for the festivities. Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas around rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback riding and barbecues," it wrote.

Juneteenth grew in popularity through time but did fizzle in the early 1900s and during the Great Depression. The register pointed to school textbooks incorrectly saying the Emancipation Proclamation was the end of slavery as one factor for this. The holiday gained popularity again during the Civil Rights movement and continues to grow today.

Utah passed a bill in 2016 that makes the third Saturday in June as Juneteenth Freedom Day.

When Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, proposed the bill, she noted that the holiday had been celebrated in Utahs community for more than 75 years.

It celebrates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which helped change the course of America, she said, during that legislative session. Although we continue to struggle with modern-day slavery, this celebration reminds us that we as a country do not support this concept, and it celebrates the freedom that we all enjoy as Americans as a result of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Looking forward to the #JUNETEENTHCOOKOUT tomorrow, supporting local black owned restaurants here in SLC. Where we going @LouisLancs - all six? @NWSLpic.twitter.com/18N6uM497F

There have already been a few events the past few days that discussed everything from genealogy to stories of black American entrepreneurship. On Friday, there will be a Juneteenth Day flag raising at the Salt Lake County Government Center, as well as a State of Black Utah Town Hall later in the day that will be available virtually among other events.

Weber State University will host a virtual town hall Friday called "Mind, Body & Spirit: Black Mental Health in the Midst of Crisis." The conversation, which begins at 6 p.m. MT, will "give youth, young adults and emerging leaders a chance to share how they are coping with racism and injustices."

At 8 p.m., viewers can watch "Excellence in the Community Juneteenth Concert," streaming live from the Gallivan Center. A list of all events and performances are available at https://weber.edu/juneteenth.

The school will also host a "commemorative caravan" on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. in front of the Marshall White Community Center (222 28th Street in Ogden). Facebook, Instagram and Zoom will have live dancing, drums and gospel, hip hop, jazz, R&B and spoken-word performances throughout the day.

More companies are celebrating the holiday, as well. The Utah Jazz announced that Juneteenth will be an official work holiday for all employees across Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment.

The organization says it is encouraging its employees to participate in local celebrations and will give employees free access to "John Lewis: Good Trouble," a documentary about the 60-plus career in social activism who championed civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. The film, which is due to be released July 3, includes interviews with the now-80-year-old Lewis himself.

"In the midst of the national conversation and calls for racial justice, our franchise has made the decision to pause, work to further educate ourselves, and reflect on our countrys race relations both past and present by observing Juneteenth," Utah Jazz President Jim Olson said in a statement from the team. "This is an important milestone in our history and another step for us to learn more about freedom for all and the fight for equality, and ideally be part of helping to create meaningful change."

Other sports teams have offered similar measures, encouraging their employees beyond just players to celebrate Juneteenth. Major League Soccer club LAFC took it a step further, starting a petition to have every June 19 recognized as an official U.S. holiday, Freedom Day.

The petition currently has more than 8,000 signatures. The clubs stated goal is 100,000.

"This is one of many initiatives LAFC is pledging to take on in its commitment to change," the team announced. "We will continue to be a force for good. Shoulder to shoulder, we stand with the black community."

Utah Royals FC of the National Womens Soccer League joined with the NWSL Players Association to provide a list of some local black-owned businesses in NWSL markets to support on June 19. Food is often viewed as a way of supporting and learning about other cultures, including black culture.

Among the Utah restaurants are:

All are currently available for takeout during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well.

One more day until our #JuneteenthCookoutpic.twitter.com/jiSZSTRc5F

"Weve always thought that food is a great way to connect and better understand someone elses culture," said North Carolina forward Crystal Dunn.

Added Orlando forward Sydney Leroux: "On June 19, also known as Juneteenth, we ask you to help us celebrate the beauty in black culture by ordering food from your local black-owned restaurants."

Even though its not a sanctioned federal holiday, several large companies in the United States will make June 19 a paid company holiday in their organizations. Among the largest corporations are Adobe, Twitter, Nike and the National Football League.

Internet mega-retailers Amazon and Google havent made Juneteenth a company holiday but have told employees to cancel meetings and "use this day to create space for learning and reflection," according to Reuters.

Adobe, which employs more than 1,500 people at its campus in Lehi, says it is giving employees the day off to "focus on reflection and advocacy." The company also made a $1 million donation to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that "provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons."

"At Adobe, we have a responsibility to address structural inequality in our communities and in society," Adobe said in a blog post signed by CEO Shantanu Narayen and executive vice president Gloria Chen. "Adobes mission has always been to create products that empower people to change the world. In order to be successful, we need to operate in a society where everyone is empowered. We are committed to harnessing the best of Adobe our people, platform, creativity and innovation to make lasting change inside and outside of our company."

Correction: This article has been corrected on the number of lynchings in Utah between 1869 and 1886.

See more here:
What is Juneteenth and why does it matter in Utah today? - KSL.com

Im very excited to offer my thoughts about Bishop Robert Barrons new offering, The Word on Fire Bible, Volume I: The Gospels: published on 15 June 2020: just a week ago as I write. First off, before I begin my own analysis, let me introduce you to this fabulous Bible with some words from Brandon Vogt, the Content Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, and a very fine and influential apologist in his own right:

[Its] an extraordinary project weve been secretly working on over the last four years.Imagine Bishop BarronsCatholicismfilm series (art, beauty, culture, Bishop Barrons genius) all wrapped beautifully around the Scriptures. Then add tons of insightful commentary from the Church Fathers, saints, popes, and contemporary spiritual masters. Then produce it all using the highest quality paper and leather, and you have something truly groundbreaking: theWord on Fire Bible.

Its smart, beautiful, resplendenta cathedral in print. Theres never been a Bible like it before.

The description in the Press Kit for this volume offers more enticing commentary:

It was designed to appeal not just to Christians but to non-believers, searchers, and those with far more questions than answers. It doesnt presume any experience with the Bible, catering to those unfamiliar with its many events and characters, while still providing rich insights to even the most biblically literate.

Inside this first volume of the series, youll find the four Gospels surrounded by illuminating artwork and helpful commentary from Bishop Robert Barron, the Church Fathers, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, Thrse of Lisieux, Fulton Sheen, John Paul II, and many other teachers in the way of the Spirit.

Be sure to visit the wonderful Press Kit page for videos, photos, and twelve frequently asked questions. The web page devoted to this Bible at Word on Fire describes two more central features of the work:

Its purpose is evangelical

This is not a study Bible. Its goal is not merely to transmit historical knowledge or textual insight. It is also not a devotional Bible, offering self-improvement tips. The mission of this Bible is evangelical. It is meant to introduce not mere facts but a person: Jesus Christ. It aims to do that by unveiling Christ throughout each chapter and verse of the Scriptures, leading readers to a life-changing encounter with him.

It showcases the way of beauty

This Bible showcases what Pope Francis calls thevia pulchritudinis(the way of beauty). For many people in our postmodern cultureespecially the youngan appeal to the true (Here is what you should believe) or to the good (Here is how you ought to behave) is often a nonstarter, likely to awaken suspicion and defensiveness. But an appeal to the beautiful (Just look at this) is more winsome, less menacing. And so this Bible features many striking works of art as well as literary explanations of those piecesall designed to introduce the seeker to Christ through the aesthetic splendor that he has inspired.

The Word on Fire Bible (Gospels) will be available in leather, hardcover, and paperback.The translation used is theNew Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE).

***

Now, since I am myself a professional Catholic apologist, I thought I would approach my review specifically from that perspective and utilize it as a way to explore how this Bible comments upon three passages that are of particular usefulness to the apologist and any Catholic who seeks to share and defend the faith. Apologetics is part-and-parcel of the evangelistic task, which is the stated purpose of this Bible. Ive always thought of evangelism and apologetics as half-sisters.

The first is the account of the rich young ruler, found in Matthew 19:16-24 (cf. Mk 10:17-21; Lk 18:18-22). To see those passages (for brevitys sake), readers may wish to visit my article on the topic. Briefly put, the relevance to Catholic apologetics and evangelism in this passage is in the area of the vexed Catholic-Protestant issue (central in the 16th century) of the relationship of faith and works. When I dealt with it, I was (characteristically) much more polemical, and challenged the Protestant understanding of faith alone in light of the passage.

But Bishop Barron is far more subtle, inviting, and eloquent in how he deals with the passage. Not everyone responds to apologetics and polemics. Most people are drawn in a much different fashion. His commentary (found on p. 121 in Matthew 19) is entitled Finding True Freedom and reads essentially like a sermon rather than biblical commentary per se. Its pastoral and personal, rather than scholarly, disputational, apologetic, or theology-heavy.

Jesus asks the rich young man whether he has followed the commandments, and the young man responds affirmatively.

[A]ll of those egregious violations of love murder, adultery, hatred of ones neighbor, and so on must be eliminated in the seeker after God.

Once the soul has been shaped in the direction of love through the discipline of the commandments, it is now ready for a more complete and dramatic self-emptying. It is ready for the sequela Christi, the following of Christ on the path of discipleship. And this is a matter not only of external imitation but of the deepest inner conformity to Christ, a walking with him in the manner of an apprentice shaping his life in accord with his masters.

Jesus answers him and then stands open to further dialogue; finally he invites him to the deepest form of life. At no point in this conversation is there a hint of violence or coercion,

The true God does not compete with freedom; rather, he awakens and directs it.

This is gospel preaching / homiletics at its finest: akin (in my mind, which is very fond of analogies) to fine wine, sparkling spring water right from the pure spring, or the most beautiful classical music. I could immerse myself in such words and thoughts forever . . .

My second example comes from the famous petrine / papal passage of Matthew 16:18-19:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. [19]I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (NRSV)

Bishop Barron offers his own commentary, and also that of the great apologist G. K. Chesterton (from Heretics) and the Church father St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-258), from his Treatises. I cite both in their entirety (from pp. 104-105):

When Christ at a symbolic moment was establishing His great society, He chose for its cornerstone neither the brilliant Paul nor the mystic John, but a shuffler, a snob, a coward in a word, a man. And upon this rock He has built His Church, and the gates of Hell have not prevailed against it. All the empires and the kingdoms have failed, because of this inherent and continual weakness, that they were founded by strong men and upon strong men. But this one thing, the historic Christian Church, was founded on a weak man, and for that reason it is indestructible. For no chain is stronger than its weakest link.

I tell you, he [Jesus] says, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven . . .On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., Apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the Apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?

St. Cyprians first Treatise is called The Unity of the Catholic Church (see section 4).Heretics, by the way, was written in 1905, which was actually 17 years before Chesterton was received into the Catholic Church. This is the amount of insight and wisdom that he had (much like St. John Henry Cardinal Newman) as an Anglican.

As a third example, I submit John 6:48-66 (see it in the similar RSV version), which is one of the classic passages regarding the Holy Eucharist and transubstantiation. Bishop Barron offers wonderful sermon-like commentary again, as he does throughout this volume, in the section entitled, Jesus Most Challenging Sermon (pp. 500-503):

How do we appropriate this shocking talk? If we stand in the great Catholic tradition, we honor these unnerving words of Jesus, resisting all attempts to soften them or explain them away. We affirm what the Church has come to call the doctrine of the Real Presence.

[F]or Catholics, the Eucharist is not one sign among many, one inspiring symbol among others. It is the very soul and life of the Church, the hinge upon which the life of the Church turns.

Gods word, on the biblical telling, is not so much descriptive as creative. It does not express a state of affairs that already exists; it makes a state of affairs to be. Gods word speaks things into existence, determining them at the deepest roots of their being.

Given who he is, these words [Dave: from the Last Supper] bore the creative power of the Logos of God. They effected a change, therefore, not simply at the level of symbolic or metaphorical reconfiguration; instead, they pierced to the very roots of existence of those elements and changed them into something else, into his Body and Blood.

This change, this transubstantiation, explains why the Church comes from the Eucharist, and why eternal life comes from eating the Lords Body and drinking his Blood.

Spiritual riches like these abound throughout this Bible. You will want to partake of its blessings. I give it my very highest (and enthusiastic) recommendation. Buy it today!

***

Photo credit: The Word on Fire Bible, from the Press Kit.

***

Read this article:
Review of Bp. Barron's Word on Fire Bible (The Gospels) - Patheos

By Aytekin Tank4 minute Read

Once the initial shock of stay-at-home orders diminished, the pandemic productivity movement began in earnest. Suddenly, friends and colleagues were sharing photos of alphabetized spice cabinets, grueling workouts, and enough baking to fuel a weeklong sugar high. There was a growing sense that if you didnt emerge from the crisis speaking Portuguese and sporting a six-pack, you would fail to make the most of your lockdown.

Even major media outlets got in on the action. What could you learn in a few short weeks? Mark Rice-Oxley wrote in The Guardian. That rather depends on your dedication, I suspect. Sewing, juggling, CPR, drawing, wood turning, the Cyrillic alphabet, solving cryptic crosswords, cooking, meditation, Temari, knitting, video editing, offspin, yoga, coding, diving (though this might be difficult in your front room), the accordion the list is endless.

Admittedly, I had to look up both Temari and offspin, but I was confident I wouldnt be tackling anything on Rice-Oxleys list. I have a young family and a business to runand I knew our employees needed extra support, both personally and professionally. Like many others, I also understood that working safely from home, with our team and company intact, was a privilege.

As many entrepreneurs urged each other to hustle and log even longer hours in isolation, I considered my options. With no travel or social gatherings on the horizon, maybe I would have some quiet time on my hands. Would I feel bad if I didnt start a yoga practice? No. However, I would regret a missed opportunity to recharge and reflect.

Major life changes often make us introspective. COVID-19 represents a rare moment when were all in transition. Across the globe, our lives and routines have been disrupted and, in some cases, changed forever. If you can tune out the social pressure for self-improvement, now is an excellent time to explore your true valuesand not in a strictly corporate sense.

Set aside the values on your website. Just ask yourself, what do I find most meaningful? You might find that youre pulled in an unfamiliar direction, like starting a new product line or making a major pivot in your life or business. On the flip side, you might realize that youre drawn to go deeperto home in on a niche area or serve a special audience. This could translate to double-downing on a meaningful cause, or, alternately, you may want to strip away the excess that accumulated over time.

Once youve clarified what matters, examine how youre spending your time, and consider whether this allocation is effective. To be clear, this step isnt intended to help you cram even more into the day. Instead, its a call to focus your energy and attention to create the biggest impact.

Look for extraneous tasks, responsibilities, systems, and habits you might want to shedand dont be afraid to let things go. Its easy to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy, where we continue devoting resources to something that no longer serves us, simply because weve already spent time or money on it. Now is an excellent time to trim whatever is weighing you down.

A growing number of studies reveal that people with a strong sense of purpose score better on mental health and well-being assessments. Realigning your entrepreneurial journey with your values can make you healthier, happier, and possibly more successful. The key is to translate what youve uncovered into a clear roadmap.

For me, every year, I outline a new strategy for my company. This annual reset guides our decisions and priorities for the next 365 days. Of course, the company stays true to our core principles, but the strategy reflects whats captivated our team and will best help our customers. Not only has this process inspired some of our biggest innovations, it ensures the big picture never slips out of focus.

Whether you have two or 2,000 employees, consider what moves and motivates your team. People have a fundamental need to feel competent, says Susan David, founder of the Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching. Its your job to give them stimulating, meaningful work.

Ensure your staff have adequate time to complete important assignments, and dont let inefficient practices dominate their workdays, says David. Help employees stay connected to the meaning in the work they do. Tie tasks to how they benefit the person, the team, the client, the organization.

In this strange time, you might be an entrepreneur, teacher, cook, IT specialist, dog walker, and leader. But you still need to prioritize your mental and physical health. Devote any extra time to activities that renew your energy. With rapid news cycles and constant change, shutting off screens is essential. Give your mind the gift of silenceat least a few minutes a day without audio, video, or other inputs.

Seeking support is equally critical. We all still need social connection in times like this, says clinical psychologist Dr. Joti Samra. Entrepreneurs carrying their teams through the crisis need to be able to reach out to a network of peers who understand what theyre going through.

Aytekin Tank is the founder of JotForm, a popular online form builder. Established in 2006, JotForm allows customizable data collection for enhanced lead generation, survey distribution, payment collections, and more.

See the rest here:
Why coronavirus lockdown is the appropriate moment to recharge and ref - Fast Company

A good book

Reading is both a relaxing and stimulating activity. In fact, reading can create alpha waves in the brain, which have frequencies that can lead to feelings of relaxation.

Throughout the day, use positive affirmations about sleep and rest. Techniques like neurolinguistic programming, the Silva method and the INTEGRA methodcan help to modify your beliefs and change negative sleep patterns.

According to David Edwards, director of the reflexology center YeloSpa in New York, sleeping for 20 minutes after eating helps us sleep much better at night () It helps us to relax and be more alert during the day and, as a result, feel less anxious at night.

Although you might not believe it, having a coffee in the afternoon or evening might be the reason you wake up while resting or why you cannot relax at night. Its best to avoid it or only drink it early in the day.

The best time to exercise is in the morning since your mood will noticeably improve and it will relieve stress, while exercising at night will make it more difficult to sleep.

Melatonin is the hormone produced by the brain that controls the sleep-wake cycles. Include foods in your diet that contain it. It can be found in fruits, grains, fish, meat and vegetables.

Yoga is a way of life that comes from Vedic culture. It consists of looking inwards with poses (asanas) and into our consciousness by breathing. Some exercises may be simple, but they will create deep states of relaxation, calm your nervous system, and relieve stress.

Sleeping isnt just about pleasure or survival; it is a critical function. So,if you have problems sleeping, experience insomnia or feel that you dont rest at night, you should address the issue immediately because sleeping poorly will affect your physical state and your emotional and mental health. Ready to start sleeping betterand have a happier life?

Go here to see the original:
11 tips to sleep well and wake up radiant and happy - HOLA USA

If you started running during lockdown, you might have occasionally heard a little voice in your head telling you to stop. But for an ever-increasing number of people, that naysayer is being drowned out by someone else. Hes called Beefy.

Beefy or Cory Wharton-Malcolm, as hes also known is a real live running coach who lives in Sydenham, south-east London, but hes also a disembodied voice, travelling with millions of people at once, telling more times than the talking clock. This version of Beefy lives in your phone, and as you plod your way up that hill and think fondly of the sofa, he says things like thank you and run easy and, for some reason, you keep going.

Wharton-Malcolm, 41, is one of a myriad of pre-recorded coaches who have become a staple of lockdown exercise for adherents all over the planet. Fitness apps were huge business before solitary exercise became our only hope of leaving the house but now they are bigger still, one of the winners of the pandemic, and the super-enthusiastic voice in your ear is the breakout star of the genre.

The thinking behind the apps is simple enough. You pick a distance or a time, from a few minutes to a marathon. When you hit certain waypoints, the music fades, and up pops Beefy, or one of his colleagues or competitors, to tell you how wonderful you are.

Its amazing how many people have found the app, and then found my voice and connected with it, said the real Wharton-Malcolm, on the phone shortly after his digital analogue in the Nike Run Club app ignored my complaints and drove me through some particularly brutal interval runs.

He estimates hes getting about three times as many messages from listeners each day as he did before the pandemic struck. This week he signed up with a talent management agency, and there has been talk of a book.

People say they didnt touch running with a bargepole prior to the pandemic, but because theyve been locked inside, theyre up for it, he said. They say since finding your voice and a little bit of calm, theyve started to enjoy it. I think people are in search of human connection.

Mobile data and analytics provider App Annie says downloads in April and May of health and fitness apps have rocketed to 64.5m a week, a rise of 65% worldwide compared with January and February. In the UK, users are spending about 70% more time with their virtual coaches each week.

The Nike app has risen from 41st most popular to fourth in the UK. There are also substantial rises for rivals such as Fitbit Coach and Peloton.

We saw a lot of fitness apps spike early on, said Lexi Sydow, enior insights manager at App Annie. Its one of the standout categories people maybe being optimistic about their quarantine period. And these apps that do have a coaching element, they are ranking highly.

Unsurprisingly, the combination of relentless compliments, self-improvement, and a real-world version of the AI played by Scarlett Johannson in the film Her leads to some disproportionate levels of enthusiasm. @Bitbeefy you are a frikkin legend! Laura wrote on Instagram. Such a great run thanks for being with me! Shelly Mittal told his colleague, Nikes guru-like global head coach, Chris Bennett. And @Eleniid summarised what a lot of people seem to feel: I VERY MUCH NEED COACH CORY TO TELL ME JOB WELL DONE IN HIS HOT ACCENT FOR ME TO CONTINUE RUNNING!!!

Wharton-Malcolm, who describes himself as a recovering fat kid, is amused, but bashful. I definitely have received some expressions of love, he said. I am definitely flattered by it. But I have a missus.

So familiar have his honeyed tones become to devotees that he gets recognised and, presumably, fancied on the basis of his voice alone. I was stopped in Victoria station and this person was like I know that voice! he said. And in Amsterdam, I was coaching a group of runners, and I said, Come on, lets go, the kind of thing I say in the app and someone said, Wait, its coach Cory! That was weird.

Since the death of George Floyd, Wharton-Malcolm has used his substantial social media following to promote Black Lives Matter, posting videos such as a guided run through his neighbourhood talking about local businesses run by black people. More broadly, he sees a profound social benefit to exercise and coaching in an era of isolation.

Some people are just doing it for performance, yes, he said. But theres a search for camaraderie, for partnership. Were part of a community. And we all want someone to talk to. Or listen to, at least.

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'People found my voice and connected with it': the rise of in-app running coaches - The Guardian

Batman has been portrayed on screen in a number of different ways. Each one has a unique personality that fits on the MBTI.

Along with Superman, Batman is the most popular superhero in Hollywood and has had way too many actors and iterations that each and every one of them have become completely different from the other. Some Batmen are more logical and cold while others are more altruistic and impulsive.

RELATED:10 Reasons Why Batman: Knightfall Should Join DC's Animated Movie Universe

These different Batmen all have different personality types, for that matter, and approach and interact with their worlds differently. There is no "ultimate" Batman at the moment but certain personality types that each of Batman's actors have given everyone a clear picture of what the Dark Knight should be. Here's how different yet similar each Batman is based on MBTI.

Will Friedle's Batman might not be the original, but his is just as worthy. He voices Terry McGinnis, the DCAU successor for Bruce Wayne's Batman inBatman Beyond. Terry, however, lacks the original DCAU Batman's sophistication and sharpness.

In fact, he's closer in behavior to one of the Robins. terry is brash, more careless, and a lot less calculating than Bruce Wayne. He prefers short-term tactics to long-term strategies in combat. There's also the fact that he's the adventurous type-- taking up the Batman mantle without much fuss. That very well makes him an ISFP.

Batman: The Brave and the Boldis one of the lesser serious and lighter takes on the Caped Crusader's misadventures and focuses on Batman's World's Greatest Detective side. He's voiced by Diedrich Bader here and he's a lot less brooding.

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Well, at least compared to the other Batmen. He's also more extroverted here and takes on the leadership role often, especially with other superheroes in tow. Hence, this Batman easily passes off as an ENFJ personality type or someone who embodies the "protagonist" archetype, this Batman can give Superman a run for his money when it comes to being a role model.

Will Arnett is one of the latest voice actors to give us a compellingBatman performance inThe Lego Batman Movie.It's more of a parodical version of the Dark Knight where his superiority complex and brooding is cranked up to 11 hilariously.

Those behaviors are all hallmarks of an INTJ one of the rarest strategic thinker personality types to exist in MBTI-- something that fits Batman really well. One of the negative qualities of a stereotypical INTJ is also being socially inept and edgy and Will Arnett's Batman has no qualms on letting this side of the character loose.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, one wouldn't dare call Batman "The Dark Knight" given how campy and seemingly harmless he was. It was all thanks to Adam West's classical portrayal of the character in the oldBatmantelevision show.

RELATED:Batman: 5 Underrated Villains We Want To See In Live-Action On The Big Screen (& 5 We Don't Need To See)

It was more of a comedy than action where Batman and Robin are more like father and son bonding by choosing to fight crime. Adam West's Batman is peculiar as far as Batmen go as he's an ISFJ or the stereotypical defender-- someone who's both analytical and sensitive at the same time.

George Clooney's Batman, for lack of a better word, is the leastacceptable in live action. Not only was he not brooding but he was also quite extroverted. In fact, one probably can't discern between Bruce Wayne and Batman in1997's Batman & Robinas possess the same level of energy.

Clooney's Batman is the kind who would say"hi, Freeze. I'm Batman," in case people forgot who he actually was. The amount of jokes he cracks and how much he accepts socialization from Batgirl and Robin makes him an extroverted ESFJ, someone extremely popular and enjoys attention but is also always eager to help.

Val Kilmer is one of the more decent live-action Batmen around considering he had big shoes to fill after Michael Keaton's eccentric performance. He's introverted enough and secretive-- even when it comes to Robin (though not to a certain woman, it seems).

RELATED:Batman: The Adventures Continue: 10 Things Fans Are Looking Forward To

Kilmer's Batman, which appeared in 1995'sBatman Forever, embodies the caped crusader well-- taking in Robin and advocating his own brand of justice while appearing to enjoy it. That very well makes him an INFJ, quiet, mystical, but an unrelenting idealist.

Being the second Batman to appear successfully in film, Michael Keaton redefined the Dark Knight and made him a darker and more tortured version of himself. Part of the success in his iteration of Batman is thanks to Tim Burton's vision.

As for what kind of Batman he is, it's a tough call but seeing as he likes for people to take notice of his work but still likes to do it alone, Keaton's Caped Crusader can be an ISFJ. This is the "defender" stereotype, one who won't say no to work and is a true altruist.

When talking about Ben Affleck's Batman, it's best to refer to theBatman V Supermanversion as Joss Whedon seems to have butchered the character inJustice League.Now, that Batman is the darkest in all of cinema history so far. He has no qualms on being overkill with violence nor killing people, Superman included.

RELATED:10 Things About The Batman Arkham Series You Only Learn In The Comics

He's also incredibly antisocial and does his work best alone, even managing to defeat Superman by being as strategic and tactical as he can be. These are clear indications of an INTJ or the "mastermind" or "architect" personality type. Some of this carries over to hisJustice Leagueversion, thankfully.

Out of all the live-actionBatmanfilms, none has showcased Batman's use of gadgetry and technology than theDark Knighttrilogy. We have Christopher Nolan to thank for that and for making Christian Bale's Batman a master mechanic-- making a safer Batcave and even tinkering with an experimental Hummer for his Batmobile.

These are all clear traits of an ISTP or the "craftsman" or "virtuoso" personality. It's not just through inventions that Bale's Batman demonstrates this personality but also in his upbringing where he was easily able to learn from any immediate environment he's in, be it Gotham or Hongkong. This is a strong quality for an ISTP.

Finally, we arrive what a lot of fans consider as the most definitive Batman ever-- Kevin Conroy's. He provided the voice and the pitch for theBatman: The Animated Seriesbut Conroy has been doing Batman for so long that he has his own idea of what the Dark Knight should sound like.

To him, Batman is cold, calculating, extremely introverted, dislikes rules, focuses on self-improvement, and has unlimited contingency plans and willpower-- all famed attributes of an INTJ. Thanks to Kevin Conroy's Batman, it's to reimagine a more interesting or definitive take on the Dark Knight.

NEXT:Batman: 5 Mysteries That Paid Off Well (& 5 That Didn't)

Next MCU: 10 Scenes Iron Man Roasted Captain America

More:
MBTI Of Every Batman In Film & Television | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Written by Maria Cohut Ph.D. on June 21, 2020 Fact checked by Gianna D'Emilio

Surveys from around the world show that men everywhere find it difficult to open up about mental health, though they are significantly more at risk of attempting suicide than women. In this Special Feature, we look at why this may be and how to address this issue.

In high-income countries, three times as many men as women die by suicide, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2018.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also cite 2018 data, noting that in that year alone, Men died by suicide 3.56 [times] more often than women in the United States.

And Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit, reference data suggesting that more than 6 million men in the U.S. experience symptoms of depression each year, and more than 3 million experience an anxiety disorder.

Despite these staggering figures, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) report that men are less likely than women to have received formal mental health support in the past year.

Why is this the case? Recent research offers some explanations and proposes ways of remedying the situation.

In their 2018 report, the WHO emphasize that cultural stigma surrounding mental health is one of the chief obstacles to people admitting that they are struggling and seeking help.

And this stigmatization is particularly pronounced in men.

Described in various media as a silent epidemic and a sleeper issue that has crept into the minds of millions, with chilling statistics, mental illness among men is a public health concern that begs attention.

Thus begins a study from The University of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver, Canada, published in 2016 in Canadian Family Physician.

Its authors explain that prescriptive, ages-old ideas about gender are likely both part of the cause behind the development of mental health issues in men and the reason why men are put off from seeking professional help.

Another study from Canada published in Community Mental Health Journal in 2016 found that, in a national survey of English-speaking Canadians, among 541 respondents with no direct experience of suicidal ideation or depression, more than one-third admitted to holding stigmatizing beliefs about mental health issues in men.

And among this group, male respondents were more likely than females to hold views such as: I would not vote for a male politician if I knew he had been depressed, Men with depression are dangerous, and Men with depression could snap out of it if they wanted.

Among 360 respondents with direct experience of depression or suicidal ideation, more male than female respondents said that they would feel embarrassed about seeking formal treatment for depression.

One contributor who spoke to Medical News Today also pointed out that it is not easy for men to be open with their peers about mental health struggles.

Talking about mental health isnt something that tends to come up readily in particular social environments, such as when playing football, he told us.

Often, the relationships there are tied into the game and little else away from the pitch, which is a real shame, he added.

Men of color and men of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds face additional challenges when it comes to looking after their mental health.

According to Prof. Norman Bruce Anderson, former CEO of the American Psychological Association in the U.S., Black and Latino men are six times more likely to be murdered than their white peers.

Prof. Anderson also notes that American Indian men are the demographic most likely to attempt suicide and that Black men are most likely to experience incarceration.

According to Dr. Octavio Martinez Jr., executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, the effect of these disparities on the mental health of people of color and of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds is a double whammy.

Add the stigmatization of help-seeking behavior by men of all races to the unique stressors faced by men and boys of color, and its no wonder men and boys of color are at higher risk for isolation and mental health problems. These challenges can manifest as substance use or acting out through violence and aggression which can lead to more stigma and a continuation of the cycle.

On top of this, the authors of a study published in 2015 in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved point out that Medical experimentation on African Americans during slavery laid a foundation of mistrust toward healthcare providers.

All of these issues taken together lay a further barrier to people of color seeking and accessing care for mental health when they need it.

Specialists also point out that men and women can experience different symptoms of the same mental health issues. This, they say, may be partly a side effect of divergent views of mental health.

For instance, NIMH specialists explain that Some men with depression hide their emotions and may seem to be angry, irritable, or aggressive, while many women seem sad or express sadness.

They also note that some symptoms of depression are physiological, such as a racing heart, digestive issues, or headaches, and men are more likely to see their doctor about physical symptoms than emotional symptoms, according to the NIMH.

The organization also note that self-medicating with alcohol and other substances is a common symptom of depression among men and that this can exacerbate mental health problems and increase the risk of developing other health conditions.

So what can mental health professionals and policymakers do to ensure that men feel confident and comfortable seeking support and that they receive the appropriate care?

The first step in addressing these issues, researchers argue, is enhancing education about mental health.

In the Canadian Family Physician study, the researchers emphasize the importance of disrupting how men traditionally think about depression and suicide by breaking down the stigma that surrounds these topics through nationwide campaigns.

They also explain that it is important to help men change the idea of receiving support from a mark of weakness to a necessary step in maintaining one aspect of health that is as important as any other.

Anecdotal evidence supports these suggestions. One MNT respondent, for instance, told us that:

[One] area I feel needs improvement is education. [] I had spells of bad mental health in my childhood. It wasnt until my teenage years, when I became aware of my mothers and grandfathers history of mental health problems, that I realised what was going on with me. As a child, feeling anxious and/or depressed for no apparent reason was terrifying and only made my symptoms worse.

Also, not knowing what was going on made me embarrassed, and I usually wouldnt tell anyone what was going on with me, this contributor went on to say.

I dont know for sure, but if there had been education about mental health in my childhood, I reckon my symptoms wouldnt have scared me as much, and I would have been more open about talking about it with my parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, etc.

Another step in providing better support for men, the UBC researchers say, is changing the landscape of care for mental health by offering community-based programs that help counter risk factors for mental health problems, such as a sense of isolation among older people.

But no intervention is complete until it accounts for the groups that face systematic marginalization, such as men of color and those of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Specialists have found that Black men in the U.S. are more likely to seek support in informal settings, such as places of worship. Based on this, they have suggested community-based participatory research as an important first step.

This approach will require researchers to gain trust and seek collaboration from Black Americans in finding out what needs to change to make formal support more accessible.

Dr. Martinez, referring to a report from 2014, also emphasizes the importance of community-based approaches.

He promotes interventions aimed to encourage men and boys of color and of diverse backgrounds to connect on a personal level. Stigma fades when men and boys see resilience and mental health self-care modeled by their fathers, brothers, teachers, faith leaders, and friends, he says.

Seek ways to demonstrate the connection between individual mental health and popular traditions of mentorship, cultural pride, self-emancipation and community action among men.

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Men's mental health: 'Man up' is not the answer - Medical News Today

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Inhale, pause, exhale. We are living through an unprecedented, intimidating and stressful time, but now is not the time to beat yourself up.

While the world seems at a standstill, many people have taken this time away from their normal daily duties to start new hobbies, lose weight or even learn new languages. These tasks and goals are not a reflection of yourself, nor should they be used to show off your journey through social distancing.

A 2013 study by a psychologist at the University of Michigan examined the effects of social media on peoples mental wellbeing. The study found that social media, Facebook in particular, does not facilitate beneficial social interactions.

The same, and worse, can be said in regard to many other social media platforms. For example, Instagram can be a mindless escape for some but a shame-inducing harbor for others.

Theres a constant creation of new challenges and trends coming up everyday, whether its the pushup challenge, #untiltomorrow or even celebrities singing tone deaf tunes. Or perhaps its a stream of self improvement posts and revitalized New Years goals.

Whatever is clouding your social media feed, it doesnt have to be a standard for you to live up to. This isnt a productivity competition.

Some of us might have more time on our hands, but that doesnt make things easierand some people still working or now taking care of children might not have more time. We are also still dealing with pre-existing mindsets on top of the stress of a viral global outbreak.

Dont waste this time comparing yourself to someone whos lost 10 pounds walking in circles in their driveway or to someone whos learned how to speak Italian while in quarantine.

We need to have compassion for ourselves always, but especially now. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions COVID-19 webpage provides a section for stress and coping information. This page offers insight to stress causes and outcomes all while underscoring the importance of knowing everyone deals with stress differently.

Thus, we escape to viral social media trends for entertainment and relief.

In a recent Vox article, writer Rebecca Jennings supports the flood of Instagram challenges. She argues people should continue this outpour of personal content because it offers connections that will stay in this ephemeral time.

However, instead of cluttering a platform with more dog picture reposts or pictures of people wearing pillows as clothing that only distract from the now, we should contribute to the conversation by being honest and doing something that honors yourself and others. Let your friends on social media know how you really feelopen up, cry, laugh and inspire. If youre up for it, of course.

Dont waste this time comparing yourself to someone whos lost 10 pounds walking in circles in their driveway or to someone whos learned how to speak Italian while in quarantine. Of course, if walking in circles in your driveway while rambling in broken Italian is your thing, go for it.

Being honest with others allows for accountability. If you continue to keep up a guise of happiness when youre truly suffering inside, you wont receive the help you deserve.

Speaking up about how you feel is a challenge more people should face. You dont need to make immediate changes to improve, but you owe it to yourself to take the time you need.

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Shelter-in-Place is Not a Productivity Race - The LumberJack