Is Mindfulness Contagious? Can it be Shared?

Is mindfulness contagious? Can someone share the present moment with a complete stranger whom they never saw or spoken to ever? Interesting questions. I am not an expert in mindfulness. Far from it. I’m merely a student that is willing to learn and eager to understand more. Last week, I looked across the street from my office window. I noticed a woman ice skating on the town’s seasonal ice skating rink. There was no one else on the rink, just her. She

2016 Elections: Lessons I Learned from the Aftermath

Marc Bilodeau/ Self Help, Subjectivity

This post isn’t about the 2016 elections results or my personal political opinions. It’s about what I learned from the aftermath. I don’t consider myself a political person, nor am I passionate about the many issues others in the country care deeply about. In fact, I thank them for their efforts to talk about the issues and move us forward as a country regardless if I agree or disagree. However, there were events happening during the 2016 elections that

A Life Lesson from a Breakfast Burrito

Marc Bilodeau/ Self Help, Subjectivity

After exercising my right to vote, I went to the Maine Diner for breakfast. As I scanned the menu, my eyes quickly located one of my normal breakfast choices. With that minor dilemma out of the way, I was ready to order, eat, and move on with my day. But then, I realized that I always pick from the same handful of breakfast dishes. After a moment of self-reflection, I determined that I wasn’t helping myself

6 concepts that make a better me

Marc Bilodeau/ Core Beliefs, Self Help, Subjectivity

One of my favorite ways to learn is to listen to podcasts and read blogs about personal growth. Occasionally, there are some concepts that catch my attention and then my INTJ brain yearns to learn. Although some concepts are an interesting side read, sometimes I find myself comparing them against my own behaviors and views. Confirmation Bias Confirmation Bias is the tendency to seek out and recall information in a way that confirms one’s

My Google Nexus 6P is my PC

Marc Bilodeau/ ItsADevLife, Minimalism

After three years of successfully using my Samsung Galaxy S4 as my PC, it was time to upgrade. To save everyone the suspense, I chose the Google Nexus 6P. Why Upgrade? I did not take this decision lightly since my Samsung Galaxy S4 already did an excellent job at my daily computing needs. Alas, as good as it was, there were a few issues that pushed me toward upgrading. The Galaxy S4 is over 3 years old

The Endless Pursuit of Self Improvement

Marc Bilodeau/ Self Help, Subjectivity

One of my favorite activities is self improvement. I like to experiment. I constantly try to find better ways to perform tasks, explore new ideas, and discover something I’ve never known before. Whether it’s minimizing my belongings, embarking on a new challenge, or optimizing something as simple as a morning routine makes me feel like I’m improving my life and myself. Mindless Doing I frequently ask myself “Why am I doing this? What purpose does

My Samsung Galaxy S4 is my PC

Marc Bilodeau/ ItsADevLife, Minimalism

My Samsung Galaxy S4 is my PC, but this transition didn’t happen overnight. My journey began back in 2001. I remember sitting in my office dreaming of the day where my Motorola StarTAC mobile phone, Compaq Aero, office phone, and IBM ThinkPad were one handheld device. When I got my first smartphone in 2010, the Apple iPhone 3GS, I was hopeful that I could achieve my dream. I enthusiastically began to search the web on how to make the iPhone my PC. Sadly, the

I’m a Minimalist and practice my own Minimalism

Marc Bilodeau/ Health, Minimalism, Self Help, Subjectivity

I believe in minimalism. Yet I have family, friends, possessions, a house, a car, and other modern conveniences of life. This doesn’t make a lot of sense to some people. Everyone knows that minimalist own a few meager possessions, wear all white clothes, live in seclusion, and roam the world. Right? Not necessarily. Although some minimalists choose that lifestyle, the definition of minimalism varies from person to person. To me, minimalism is returning to more simple living that leans

Starting Something New and Exciting

Marc Bilodeau/ Self Help, Subjectivity

Starting something new can be exciting and a bit intimidating. First, your mind run rampant with excitement. A small inkling of interest grows into a spark of inspiration. Then motivation sets in and you decide to take the plunge. You’re ready to take on the world and you begin your plan of attack to embark on your new journey. With your head swimming with ideas, all the “what-ifs” start to unfold. You question