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Samantha Chang

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Getting off the Existential Treadmill

Posted Sunday, December 16, 2007 (1 year 328 days ago.) Viewed 676 times.

Recently, I found myself getting caught up in the "if...then" game. Basically, this happens whenever you focus on some point in the future that's contingent on another event. For example, 'I'll take that vacation, when I finish this project.' Or, 'I'll be happy, once I get that promotion.'

Whether we realize it or not, by adopting this approach to life, we're bypassing our present while simultaneously placing unrealistic expectations on the future.

Stuck On the Treadmill

I have to admit, I've done this a lot, especially during childhood, when I longed for and idealized my future as an adult. Fortunately, as a kid, you're naturally prone to focus on the here-and-now, so this mindset didn't keep me from enjoying my childhood. But as an adult, this mentality is inescapable, since a lot of what we do is geared toward the future.

The drawback to living like this is that you often feel like you're running mindlessly on a treadmill, chugging along but not really going anywhere--and certainly not enjoying the view along the way. But the alternative--never thinking about the future--just isn't an option, because time inevitably marches on and, as the saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

It All Comes Down to Choice

So what's the optimal approach? There has to be some sort of happy compromise between living in the moment and planning for the future. Straddling these two realities is a major challenge in life for most people. For me, this means planning for the future while making the best of the present, no matter what that situation may be.

In effect, it all comes down to choice--making the choice to view the present in a positive light and making the best of it. This doesn't mean you should blithely ignore what might be wrong in your present. If you can improve something, then by all means, do so. But if a situation can't be fixed right now, then the next best approach is to work around it and work toward improving it for the future.

I know this sounds very abstract, but that's because this approach can be applied to so many different scenarios that we all come across in our lives. In his landmark bestseller, Man's Search for Meaning , Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote that man can choose to be happy and to posit meaning to his life, even inside the horrific walls of a Nazi concentration camp. Using this perspective, it's impossible for me to truly feel bad about anything that I consider wrong in my life right now, and I think this might be the same for most people.

Overcoming the Unimaginable

After the Holocaust, no one would have faulted Dr. Frankl had he chosen to live the rest of his life in bitter solitude. But instead, after surviving a brutal concentration camp, Frankl went on to become a world-renowned psychotherapist and best-selling author. He spread a message of hope and inspiration to millions of people around the world.

But how did he flourish in the face of such inconceivable suffering and tragedy when countless others would have become (understandably) defeated by it? To me, Frankl exemplified what it truly means to make the best of your present and focus on building a brighter future. He made a choice to resist giving in to the horrors of his present situation and to remain optimistic and committed to a better future. At least, that's the message I draw from his example. Now, few of us will ever experience the kind of suffering and despair Frankl and other Holocaust victims endured, but that just makes his story that much more inspirational and admirable.

Either way, Dr. Frankl's experiences and accomplishments underscore that a way exists to operate optimally, making the best of the here-and-now while still looking forward. And this knowledge gives me hope--both for the present and the future.

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It's Time to Retire These Fashion Trends

Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007 (1 year 332 days ago.) Viewed 174 times.

Every year, new fashion trends are born while others fall by the wayside. After seeing the same tired trends over and over during the past 12 months, here are some that I--and I'm sure, many others--would like to see retired. Forever.

Is That a Mop On Your Head?

I don't know who started the hair-extension movement, but the insanity has got to stop! Ladies, it does not look chic to walk around wearing long, drag-queen-like wigs on your heads. Tyra Banks

There seems to be no end in sight to the hair-extension trend that has stormed Hollywood. And now everyone--especially starlets like Jessica Simpson , Beyonce and Britney Spears

Not Fas(s)cinating

Super-low-rider jeans that so many don on the street also need to be retired. By now I've seen enough female butt cracks to last a lifetime. Not only do super-low-rider jeans look uncomfortable to wear, but it makes onlookers feel uncomfortable. How can you avoid staring?

Last year I had the misfortune of sitting behind a woman at a concert and was soooo embarrassed for her. The rows of people sitting behind her got a perfect view, not of the show onstage, but this woman's backside exposed by her low-rider jeans. So ladies: Toss 'em and wear something else. You'll feel a lot more comfortable, and so will those around you.

Fake-and-Bake

Now that the cold weather has arrived, a lot of people want to simulate a toned, tan physique, which for some means frequent visits to self-tanning salons. At these boutiques, people pay to be sprayed with a self-tanning lotion that's supposed to impart a natural-looking tan.

The problem is that many people leave these salons looking like they have a vitamin deficiency. An orange "tan" is an oxymoron, and no one will mistake you for a St. Tropez resident if you look like a gigantic carrot. Thanks to advances in beauty products, there are effective self-tanning lotions that deliver a natural-looking tan--if you don't go overboard. Either way, it's better to look naturally wan and pale than orange.

Plastic Head Alert

Has anyone noticed Nicole Kidman's super-shiny plastic forehead lately? She looks like an exhibit from Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. I'm not even gonna comment on Madonna's

When done with a subtle hand, Botox can help some women look refreshed. But what I usually see is Botox-overload, which defeats the purpose of getting this procedure, in my opinion.

Ladies (and gentlemen, in some cases): Getting Botox injections is supposed to make you look younger, not transform you into a plastic android. Besides, there's nothing wrong with a few lines on your face. Everyone has them--even 20-somethings.

Duck-Billed Platypus

Along the same vein, another tired trend is the "trout pout." You know what I'm talking about: those women who can barely close their mouths after getting collagen injections in an attempt to replicate the full, luscious, Angelina Jolie -esque lips. A horrible example is actress Meg Ryan , whose lips are so artificially inflated that she looks like a duck. It's just not a good look.

So the next time you're thinking of following the "hot, new" trend in a fashion magazine, consider whether it works for you, and whether you'll be comfortable with it. After all, the whole point of those trends is to make you look better, not just different. And definitely not scary. mask...er..I mean,...face. Similarly, when I walk around Manhattan, I see lots of alien-like, wax-figure faces of women fresh from their Botox injections. , this means you! --regularly wear hair extensions. I don't know how to say this nicely, but here goes: no one is buying that your hair grew 6 inches overnight. It doesn't look good; I don't care what anyone else tells you.

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Weighing the Pros and Cons of Caffeine

Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007 (1 year 332 days ago.) Viewed 234 times.

Several years ago, health magazines warned of the pitfalls of caffeine consumption, claiming it ruins your skin and is bad for your health. Well, fast-forward several years and now the scientific community has reversed its stance altogether. So what's the verdict?

Once vilified for raising blood pressure and weakening bones, moderate caffeine consumption is now embraced as a weight-loss aid, memory booster and hedge against Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Sea Change In Opinion

Over the years, scientific research has gradually chipped away at caffeine's alleged negative effects. For example, take the case of caffeine and cancer. Initial reports had cited a connection between caffeine and several kinds of cancer, including digestive and bladder. But now the consensus has shifted.

Experts now say there's no proof of any link between caffeine and any kind of cancer. Ditto for caffeine's connection to ulcers, cardiac arrhythmias, blood pressure and infertility. The issue of osteoporosis is still up in the air, but a recent study at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that bone strength isn't affected by caffeine consumption.

In addition, new research from the U.K. indicates that small amounts of coffee consumed throughout the day can boost alertness and improve performance on all kinds of tasks, including those that require hand-eye coordination and attention to detail.

Moderate Intake May Be Beneficial

Some preliminary studies also suggest that moderate regular caffeine consumption may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. And interestingly, a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that people who drink four to six cups of coffee a day have a 28% lower risk of developing this illness than those who drink less than two cups a day. Researchers arrived at those numbers by pooling the results of nine different studies from the U.S. and around the world.

Caffeine also contains more antioxidants than blueberries and broccoli and for many athletes, it boosts speed and endurance. But before you down cup after cup of coffee, keep in mind that as with anything, moderation is key. Too much coffee can raise your blood pressure, make you jittery and disrupt sleep.

So enjoy your cup of Joe in the morning guilt-free. Just don't overboard.

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Pssst..Wanna Know the #1 Celebrity Diet Secret?

Posted Saturday, December 08, 2007 (1 year 336 days ago.) Viewed 55 times.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard that TV has-been Valerie Bertinelli has dropped a pile of weight recently (40 lbs. in 8 months, to be exact, according to press reports). In fact, that "achievement" won her the cover of People magazine recently. Ditto for singers Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, actress Kirstie Alley, and reality star Nicole Richie. Indeed, countless magazine articles accompanied by numerous paparazzi photos have been devoted to detailed discussions of these celebs' weight issues. Whole trees have been sacrificed at the altar of their battles of the bulge. Why are we so fascinated with the fluctuating weight patterns of these flaky celebs anyway? I mean, what does this say about us?

Lose Weight, Get Famous

I admit it--I secretly enjoy reading those tacky supermarket tabloids. And the 'weight winners and losers' issues always make me look twice (and if the cover photo was compelling enough, I've even bought a few!). To me, this underscores the transformative power of weight loss, especially for a celeb. Case in point: Nicole Richie. Say what you will about her alleged eating disorder or drug addiction, but there's no denying that she has undergone a dramatic makeover since losing a ton of weight since her first season of "The Simple Life." Back then, she was Paris Hilton's chubby, dumpy sidekick. Now, after having dropped what appears to be at least 20 lbs., Richie looks chic and pulled together on the red carpet.

Same with Janet Jackson. Tabloid photos of her last year showed her covered (on a beach, no less!) in bulky, oversized sweat suits. Now, photos show a slimmed-down Janet looking svelte in designer gowns at high-profile events.

And while we're discussing weight, let's not forget the queen of yo-yo dieting, media mogul Oprah Winfrey. Over the years, her startling weight fluctuations have experienced more ups and downs than the financial markets. As much money, fame and power as Oprah has, even she has admitted to feeling "ashamed" and "embarrassed" when she was heavier. Which just goes to show, even the rich-and-famous have the same insecurities as the rest of us.

Thinness: the New Holy Grail

So why, I wonder, are we so fascinated with who's losing or gaining? I can only attribute it to our society's quest for the Holy Grail, which the tabloids eagerly sell to the public as "weight-loss secrets of the stars." Because of how much we as a society idealize and idolize celebrities, we somehow think they--with their access to high-priced nutritionists and personal trainers--must have uncovered some deep, dark, top-secret "solution" for losing weight. Think about it; it's a lot easier to dismiss a celeb's weight loss to plastic surgery, dieticians and trainers than to admit that even with their army of helpers, they still have to work out, diet, and do the "dirty work" themselves.

I don't begrudge celebs their access to people who can make their fitness goals easier to achieve. This is because I understand that it's a celeb's job to look good, and that their paycheck and image are directly affected by their appearance. The tabloids play on our misguided hope that there's a "secret formula" for getting fit to sell their magazines. In reality, the "secret" has been the same all along: The only successful formula for being fit is to exercise and eat right consistently.

It's Not Rocket Science

While poring over celebs' astonishing before-and-after weight loss photos is fun, it's important to keep in mind that being healthy and fit are within our control. Having an army of nutritionists and personal trainers might ease the journey to fitness, but at the end of the day, we each control our fitness destiny.

To me, this knowledge is much more empowering than some over-hyped "diet secret" of some flaky actress. Besides, I'm sure Janet, Mariah, and others will eventually regain all their weight just like the rest of us--unless, of course, they keep at it with exercise and a proper diet.

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All Posts by Samantha Chang

Sam's World

Getting off the Existential Treadmill

It's Time to Retire These Fashion Trends

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Caffeine

Pssst..Wanna Know the #1 Celebrity Diet Secret?

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