When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.
Jenna Morasca
My father is undoubtedly one of the nicest, kindest, smartest, and warm-hearted people I know. He is truly a light that shines on this earth, and to know him is to love him. He is also the eternal optimist.
Family is a unique gift that needs to be appreciated and treasured, even when they're driving you crazy. As much as they make you mad, interrupt you, annoy you, curse at you, try to control you, these are the people who know you the best and who love you.
As human beings we value the experience that comes with age. We are reminded over and over again with statements like 'older and wiser' and 'respect your elders,' promoting age as something to be cherished and respected.
In the game of 'Survivor,' there is no time for regrets.
My advice: Take a second out of the day today and be thankful for your family.
I think cancer is a hard battle to fight alone or with another person at your side, but I will say having someone to pick you up when you fall, stand by your side through every appointment and delivery of bad news, is priceless.
Loving and parenting a dog as a single parent can create all sorts of new and unusual problems, but also new sources of joy.
Twine from trees and plants can make good floss!
Every time I am stuck in traffic, stub my toe, get a middle seat on the flight, I just remember how all of this is just a blip in the radar of my life.
It is rewarding beyond words to rescue a dog from the shelter and have that dog become part of your family.
Sand is one of the best exfoliates out there! Take a handful of sand and rub it on your skin in small circles. When you're done, wash it off and presto... you get spa like skin, without the price tag.
There are so many secrets in our world.
Aleta St. James is an internationally renowned energy healer, life coach, best selling author, and more. Aleta does private sessions to release old resistance and shift out of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, addictions, infertility, and insecurity at a cellular level.
These days, we have a million things to do and usually one day to do them in.
My family always makes a huge deal out of Christmas.
I decided to quit 'Survivor: All-Stars' in order to be closer to my mother, who ended up passing away from breast cancer seven days after I returned home.
Since my mother passed away, my father and I forged a bond that is so tighter than one could possibly imagine. Keep in mind, I am an only child, so I was always fiercely close with both my parents. The tragedy my father and I endured when my mother passed created a bond between us that no amount of force can break.
Name one experienced coach anywhere in the world that would hand over their playbook to the other team. Unless it's a fake playbook, it just doesn't happen.
Being a caretaker is, and never will be, an easy job; in fact, it is that hardest job in the world and many times a thankless job. You have to be the pillar of strength even when you feel like you are crumbling to pieces inside.
Sometimes, people will just never love dogs.
When you walk through the hospital, you waiver between feeling bad for everyone else and feeling bad for yourself. It's a war of the worlds - the healthy and the sick.
I spent 39 days in the Amazon, and I could not even find a fish to catch.
My family and high school friends were the only people who were with me every step of the way through my mothers' illness. They sat by my side year after year and consoled me. If they ever sent me a bill, I would be paying them off for the rest of my life.
There are plenty of things you can do to help animals! The best advice that I can give right off the bat is not to get overwhelmed and feel bad when you read about all the issues.
When you check out at PetSmart, the cashier usually asks you if you want to donate money to PetSmart charities to help save the animals. Usually, we're so busy we don't even pay attention.
You forge different bonds with friends than with family, tell different secrets.
For some reason for me, and a lot of people, it's so hard to accept help even when it's from your closest friends.
Let's be honest: we all watch the show at home and play 'armchair' 'Survivor,' inserting our opinions, comments and yelling at the TV screen.
Johnny 'Fairplay' Dalton manufactured a lie about his dear grandmother dying in order to win a challenge. This is one of the best villain moments of 'Survivor' ever! This lie was pre-planned, evil, and perfectly played out.
Gossiping and squawking for no reason is really pointless.
One year, my good deed started with deciding to give all my friends makeup from a cruelty-free cosmetics line that I love. I did this with the hope that they would love it as much as I do and end up switching their makeup over to that cruelty-free line forever.
There are plenty of easy things that you can do from the comfort of your own home to get you started on the path of giving back.
It wasn't the first reality show, but 'Survivor' was the first big network hit, and I'm proud to have played a part in that history as the winner of season six, 'Survivor: Amazon.'
I wish I could never spend another second talking about cancer and all it does to everyone it surrounds, but unfortunately, that cannot be because of my life.
I so love the bad-boy look.
You always get apprehensive before you do shoots.
If people are offering help, it's because they want to and you have to let them do it. It just makes life so much easier. You just have to put your pride aside.
When you are playing 'Survivor', getting a shelter up immediately is the most important thing.
On my season of 'Survivor,' the tribes were split: a tribe of men versus a tribe of women. Even though the women kicked the men's butts at the first two challenges, we were a hot mess at camp.
When I played 'Survivor', I sat back many times and marveled that no one had gotten into a real physical altercation. With all the backbiting, lies, and lack of food, a fight didn't sound far off base, considering the strained and fragile emotions.
Sometimes it feels so good just to be bad!
Newsflash for any of the current, past or future Survivors out there... when you contemplate strategizing about the other team, the best idea is to shut up and keep it to yourself. You're welcome; this bill is in the mail.
'Survivor' is a game that's designed to be played with strangers, people with varied backgrounds from all parts of the country. The greatest part is that you can go into the game as anyone you want, hold any job you desire, and portray any personality you can think of.
I hate being wrong, and I hate when people give up.
Let's get one thing straight - there is a big difference between a quitter and someone who gives up. Unfortunately, I have the right to make this claim because I fit into the category of 'quitter.'
Why do waiting rooms have to be so ominous?
You don't treat cancer - you fight it.
Chemotherapy is an opponent in itself - simultaneously curing you and hurting you.
When someone gets sick, it is easy to get walked all over, walk all over people, and be so beat down you agree to things you would never normally agree to.
