Thanks in advance for reading!

I’m currently looking for photo or video editors to help finish a budding Viral Video that I have been working on.

For those that don’t know, I spent the last year hitchhiking around the USA meeting oodles of people and having a hoot of time.

To finish off the fun, I started taking photographs of myself with people as I hitched from LA to Maine and got close to shooting myself with a thousand people… Short preview below that I made last year to recruit people to be in my movie!

The photographs turned out awesome!!!

I have spent A LOT of hours editing the photographs, but to speed up the process…

I am looking for someone/people/a small army to help edit the 3000 photographs that I have for basic exposure issues.

Even if you can only edit 100 photographs (could take an hour or a little more depending on your experience) that would help.

Skills you must have:

*Basic Photoshop skills

*A computer with internet access so I can send you the photographs

*An hour or more to help

Pluses You Might Have:

*Knowledge of Final Cut Pro (for when I get to the video stage)

*Knowledge of Youtube and Social Media

*Be A Totally Awesome Dude/Dudette

This is not a paying gig, but I will offer you a spot in the credits AND if you help out a lot, then compensation can be worked out.

Let’s rock it!

Thanks for your continued support!!!

Rock the world,

Benjamin

If you are interested in your health, this article is for you.

The Master Cleanse

I am about to finish a shortened version of a Master Cleanse and I have learned much, check out the end.

For the past 3 days (actually 2 days and 23 hours and 37 minutes now), I have been resisting the temptation to eat tasty foods.  Instead, I have been drinking a very strong potion between 6 and 12 times a day to meet my caloric needs and to cleanse out my body.

The Master Cleanse Potion:

1/2 squeezed organic lemon juice

2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup (then switched to Raw Organic Blue Agave Syrup)

8 ounces of pure water (my Brita water will have to do)

I also have been drinking a Salt Water Wash, which is just a big class of water with 2 tablespoons of salt, 2 times a day (read on at your own risk!) that basically clears you out…. if you know what I mean.

Why the Master Cleanse?

Honestly, I have been feeling sluggish and sleepy.  More so, than I would like.  I have talked to a lot of people about eating healthier, especially only eating raw foods.  I want to give it a try for 30 days and I really want to do it right.  So I researched a cleanse to do at the start of the diet, to clean out the toxins from my body (which I definitely have a lot from eating at all those gas stations for the past year.)

Mixed Reviews on the Master Cleanse

Although there were mixed reviews on the internet, I had to see for myself.  I must say that I am very happy with the experience and will do it again… maybe even soon and a little longer.  However, I am not recommending it, you are going to have to make your own decision.

I will share with you what I have learned though.

Lessons from the Master Cleanse

1.  You can go much longer without food than you think.

It has been three days and although the syrup has provided much of the calories that I have needed, I feel remarkably unhungry (only 11 minutes to go though and I am still going to eat when it has been 3 days on the button).

2.  I feel more in tune with my body.

I am able to ‘feel’ more of my body and experience my whole body.  I can feel my internal organs more and other parts of my body that I don’t usually think of as me.

3.  You will think crazy things when you are hungry.

I can see why people steal when they are hungry.  I probably would.  There was a piece of pizza in my fridge from Mr. Pizza, a local pizza place.  Inside was a slice of dried up cheese pizza, that I kept taunting me every time I opened the fridge to grab my water for another potion.  Also, there was an almond sitting on the floor that was looking extremely tempting.

4.  I can’t wait to eat fruits and vegtables!

It has set the stage well for a raw diet, because eating at all will be a step up.  We will see if this continues.

5.  Lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and syrup ain’t all bad.

Do you have any experience with the Master Cleanse or with a Raw Diet?

Share your experiences in the comments and keep rocking the world!

Benjamin

Ps.  I have 5 minutes to go!!!

Beating the Winter Blues

“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter.  Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.” ~Andrew Wyeth

December rolled in yesterday and with it rolled in some flurries here in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I have been dreading winter!  As I was walking to work, I decided it was time to get over this.  To embrace Michigan and it’s cold winter.  I then did a little research and came up with 25 tips to beat the Winter Blues. If you have one that I missed, then add it in the comments.

***Keep in mind, that I am not a doctor and these are just for mood boosting tips and are NOT for treating serious depression.  For serious depression, see your doctor.

25.  Let Yourself Hibernate Happily

You don’t have to fight it!  Go with it.  Winter is the time for the plants to die off and for animals to hibernate.  Cut yourself some slack and do some resting yourself.  Take a nap when you are tired, sleep in on the weekends, hole up inside where it is warm, and don’t beat yourself up about gaining a few pounds.

24.  Avoid Excess Drinking

Fight the urge to sip on some whiskey to warm up your belly as drinking less alcohol will help you feel better this winter time.  Alcohol is a depressant and drinking to much is not going to help you feel better (or stay warmer).  Go for some tea instead!

23.  Take Off Your Sunglasses

Lose your shades and it will pick up your spirits.  The more sun that you can absorb the better.

22.  Eat Less Sugar

Sugar kills your energy levels in the long run, so cut down on the hot chocolates and cookies.

21.  Volunteer

Lose yourself and your troubles by helping another.  There is more of a need for volunteers in the winter time so get out and see where you can help.

20.  Wear Bright Colors

When I am feeling blue, I like to switch it up and dress as nicely as I can.  Try wearing bright colors for the added psychological effect.

19.  Throw a Beach Party

Spice up your winter time fun with a beach party at your house.  Tell your pals to wear their bathing suits (under their winter coats, of course), crank up the heat at your house, dust off your best Bob Marley CD, make up some fancy drinks with umbrellas (don’t drink too many though, see tip #24), and if you are feeling sporty throw in a snow angel contest for the hearty.

18.  Start a Yoga or Meditation Practice

Both yoga or meditation are great for decreasing depression and anxiety levels.  Find a local class in your area or buy a DVD and get a friend to commit with you.

17.  Turn Off the TV & Pick up a Book

Use your extra time indoors to dive into a book that you have always wanted to read but never have the time (maybe a huge one like Moby Dick or Crime and Punishment).

16.  Buy a Warm Hooded Sweater

I was given a hooded, cashmere sweater by an old girlfriend of mine and I swear it helps improve my winter time mood.  At Thanksgiving my Aunt couldn’t stop talking about these fleece PJ’s that she had recently bought.  Maybe you need one really nice piece of warm clothing, that will kick your winter time blues away whenever you put it on.

15.  Clean your Basement/Closet/Garage

Use your time inside to clean an area of your house that you have neglected for way too long.  De-cluttering is an easy way to improve your mood.

14.  Learn a New Skill

I’m going to learn how to swing Fire Poi this winter.  Hit the library or Google what you have been wanting to learn and get cracking.

13.  Treat Yourself

Be good to yourself at least once a week and get yourself something that you enjoy.

12.  Spend More Time With A Friend

Choose one or two of your friends and really make an effort to get to know them better this winter time.  Do fun indoor things or get outdoors and enjoy the snow.

11.  Embrace the Season

Find at least one thing to love about winter.  I am going to go for making the biggest, best snowman once we get a good ‘snowman’ snow.

10.  Start on one of your New Year’s Resolutions

Do you remember last New Year’s, when you made all those promises to yourself?  Well, you have less than a month, so make some headway on one of them.

9.  Exercise Regularly

Exercise is a great way to beat depression and it is no different in the winter time.  Get creative on your type of exercise, by either going to a gym and mixing up your training OR finding an outdoor activity you enjoy like cross country skiing, hiking, or pelting your little sister with snowballs.

8.  Head South for a Vacation

If it’s good enough for the birds, then it is good enough for me.  Plan yourself a short winter vacation and spend a lot of time basking in the sunlight.  If you have flexible days off, you could get a ticket from Detroit to Cancun for less than 320$ (I just looked into this).  Or just take a short road trip south (maybe stick out your thumb) for a week and enjoy the heat.  (I’m heading to New Orleans myself after Christmas).

7.  Eat Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Eat some mackerel, herring, wild salmon, canola oil, or walnuts and boost your omega-3 fatty acids.  These are known to decrease depression and elevate your mood.

6.  Eat Your Vitamins

Supplementing Vitamin D3 at 400 IU (the liquid form is best) and Vitamin B-Complex at 50 mg will help bump up your vitamins that are lacking with less sunlight.

5.  Buy a Light Therapy Lamp

These lamps simulate the effect of sunlight and could be for you, if you spend a lot of time indoors.  Here are a few links to some lamps that seem to be the best on Amazon.  I haven’t used them myself, but a quick read should teach you all you need to know. If you do happen to get one, a small chunk of change will be sent my way.

Verilux Natural Spectrum HappyLite Mini Ultra, Silver

NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light Therapy Lamp

Sunbox DL SAD Light Box Light Therapy Desk Lamp – Black

Caribbean Sun Box Light Therapy SAD Sunbox – Filters 100% of the UV rays

4.  Get Outside!

Absorb as much sunlight as you can and if you can combine that with some exercise this is a great way to beat winter depression.

3.  Eat a Healthy Diet

Get your fruits and vegetables.  Eat complex carbohydrates.  Drink 8 glasses of water a day.  Avoid sugar and other processed foods.  Diet has a large influence on how you feel.

2.  Change Your Light Bulbs

Full spectrum light bulbs provide similar light as the Light Therapy lamp, yet you can put them in other lamps around your house.  These are a cheaper alternative than the Light Therapy lamp and provide a similar experience.

Full Spectrum Light Bulb – 4 Count

Full Spectrum Light Bulb – 85 Watts – 1 count

1.  Dress Warm

If you dress properly for the winter elements, then you will enjoy what winter has to offer more.  Get some warm boots, a good coat, gloves, and a hat.  Layer up your clothing, making sure to have a base layer of long underwear.  Splurge on some good winter clothing and you will be happy you did later on.

I hope these tips help you have a great winter!!! For more information on me and my travels, click here.

Create Our World,

Benjamin

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  it is the time for home.”  ~Edith Sitwell