The word of the day is sanguine . According to the dictionary, to be sanguine is to be optimistic, confident, or positive, especially in a bad or difficult situation. Other similar words include buoyant, enthusiastic, upbeat, and cheerful. I don't see sanguine being used that often. I first came across the word in a book I read recently. For whatever reason, it initially sounded to me like a word that could mean "sad" or "melancholy." Thus, to be sanguine is to look on the bright side -- to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Antonyms of the word sanguine include gloomy, negative, and pessimistic. When we're in a tough spot, it certainly pays to remain sanguine. Positive thinking leads to positive outcomes. The more disposed we are toward shunning those negative thoughts that trickle into our mind, the better our chance at success. If you assume you're going to fail, you probably will. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Belie...

If you're having a bad day, keep your head up -- things will improve! Sometimes a problem can fester for so long that it can feel like it will last forever. But it won't.  Sooner or later, things will fall into place, and a sense of normalcy will be restored in your life. All you have to is remain positive. Believe with every fiber of your being that things will turn around -- and they will! Believe you're smart, strong, and capable of overcoming any obstacle life throws your way, and you will. Don't let your problems put a damper on your mood. You'll be feeling happy again before you know it! Just because you hit rough times doesn't mean you throw in the towel.  You will persevere. You will prevail. You will get through this. What's more, you will emerge stronger than ever from this. It's merely a bump in the road on the way to achieving wonderful things. Don't give up. Stay focused on what you want to achiev...

Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919), who served as the 26th president of the United States, once said the following: "Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining." While I admire Roosevelt's larger-than-life personality and his wide-ranging accomplishments -- from leading the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War to busting trusts to establishing a myriad of national parks -- I'd have to disagree with him on this one. I don't think complaining about a problem without proposing a solution necessarily means you're whining. Sometimes we're confronted with unexpected challenges that we may not know how to tackle immediately. We would then need some time to weigh our options, and if that bears no fruit, we'd likely seek support from friends, family, or a counselor. In general, we all have some sense of what we'd have to do to resolve a problem, but concrete solutions don't always come to us right away. It's ...

With Halloween just a couple of weeks away, I felt now would be a great time to begin spotlighting some of the many hotels across the United States that are purportedly haunted, much like I did last year. We begin with the Hay-Adams Hotel, a luxury hotel situated in Washington D.C. It occupies the site where the 1885 homes of John Hay and Henry Adams once stood at 16th and H Streets NW. The site soon became a bustling scene of intellectual activity, hosting stimulating discussions about art, science, literature, and politics. Famous guests included Mark Twain, Henry James, and Teddy Roosevelt. Hay had quite the resume. He served as a personal secretary to President Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt. Adams was a historian and Harvard professor, not to mention a descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Both men were also accomplished writers. In 1927, Harry War...

The things we value most are those we have to work hard to obtain or achieve. If someone were to hand you a trophy with your name and "world's best swimmer" engraved on it when you couldn't swim to save your life, would it mean anything to you? Of course not. You didn't earn it, so it holds no value. If losing weight were as easy as waving a magic wand, do you think one would still feel the same sense of accomplishment as they would upon completing an intense weight-loss program? Not at all. It's one thing to get something done -- it's another to overcome an arduous challenge that tests our patience and mettle. There's a reason most people blow their diets and New Year's resolutions and fail to get through law school and Ph.D. programs. When the going gets tough, many people buckle under the pressure and give up. That's precisely why reaching the finish line can be so gratifying. If something comes too easy, though, we tend not to a...

I'll be the first one to admit that sometimes I have a tendency to dwell on the negative. I harp on what could go wrong instead of what could go right. It's this kind of mindset that often leads to failure and disappointment. But why should we be pessimistic at all? In the grand scheme of things, it does us little good. In fact, negativity is known to induce depression, lack of self esteem, and other negative outcomes. The best thing you can do is harness that negative energy and turn it into something positive. Go to the gym and enjoy a vigorous workout. Blast the music loudly. Look at pictures of baby animals. Do whatever brings a smile to your face, all while telling yourself "I can do it. I will get through this. I will prevail." Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, once quipped, "Believe you can and you're halfway there." I think negativity begins to set in once we feel we're no longer in control of our lives. But it d...

Next time you're in Virginia, The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs is one property you certainly don't want to miss. The charming property encompasses 2,300 acres with 483 guestrooms that boast elegant fabrics and furnishings, a slew of fine restaurants, an award-winning spa, a full-service fitness center, and more. It boasts over 45 acres of activities, including two hot springs. Guests take to the slopes for snowboarding and skiing in the winter and enjoy world-class golf, tennis, and horseback riding in the summer. But the main draw has to be the property's rich history. Ten years before the country was founded, The Homestead opened as an 18-room lodge in the mountains. George Washington awarded a land grant to Thomas Bullitt on which the first hotel was built. In 1818, Thomas Jefferson spent three weeks here, and, since then, over 20 other presidents have been guests at this lovely resort, from Teddy Roosevelt to George W. Bush. For more than 100 years, the ...

When something bad happens -- you break up with your boyfriend, have an argument with your boss, realize your identity has been compromised -- it can be easy to become consumed with negative thoughts. But studies show that we're going the wrong way about it. Negativity leads to a bevy of unfavorable health outcomes, from high blood pressure and anxiety to loss of sleep and appetite. People underestimate the sheer power that our minds can have over us. As soon as we become fixed on an unpleasant thought, our day can quickly unravel. We become grumpy and irritable, taking out our bad mood on unsuspecting people around us. Getting upset is a natural human instinct, but it's when one allows that anger to fester for a prolonged period of time that feelings of depression and anxiety can set in. Being angry and negative won't make the situation get any better. Focus instead on those things that make you feel good -- whether it be your kids, pets, or stamp collection. Redir...

So far, we've featured The Admiral Fell Inn in Baltimore, Maryland and The Marshall House in Savannah Georgia in our special series on the most haunted hotels in the U.S. per TripAdvisor. If you haven't read these posts, please be sure to check them out: Haunted Hotel: The Admiral Fell Inn Haunted Hotel: The Marshall House Week 3 finds us in Deadwood, South Dakota, home to the Historic Bullock Hotel . Fusing 19th century history and elegance with modern amenities, the downtown hotel is located near such popular attractions as the Days of '76 Rodeo Arena, Adam's Museum, and Saloon #10. It boasts comfortable accommodations; Bully's, an intimate restaurant named for Bullock's lifelong friend, Teddy Roosevelt; and a lively casino that has included slot machines since they were first invented in 1887. The hotel traces its history to 1876, when two business owners -- Seth Bullock and and Sol Star -- moved their hardware store from Helena to Deadwood. They pur...

Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy encompasses a wide range of outstanding achievements – from overseeing the construction of the Panama Canal to helping root out public corruption to dissolving monopolies as a so-called “trust buster.” However, there’s a lot more to this majestic figure than what's detailed in the history books. Below are several fascinating facts about the 26th U.S. President that run the gamut from special awards he received to his personal pet peeves.  Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919) was a man of varied interests and notable accomplishments. His name alone conjures up images of a stout, bespectacled man with a brown mustache and larger-than-life personality. Indeed, this revered figure who famously exhorted Americans to “speak softly and carry a big stick” is remembered as an ebullient politician who pledged to crack down on trusts and corruption, an outdoorsy explorer deeply committed to the conservation of natural resources, and an intrepid Colonel who commanded the 1st ...

Many people seem to be questioning whether Donald Trump is the real deal. Does he genuinely wish to be the next President of the United States, or is this all a publicity stunt? For one, he has changed party affiliations various times throughout the years. Today he comes off as an ardent Republican, but not too long ago he was rubbing elbows with Bill Clinton and making sizable donations to his campaign. The blustery real estate mogul has called himself a Republican twice, and both a Democrat and independent once. One thing is for sure: When Donald Trump talks, people listen. Like President Obama, the man oozes charisma. What distinguishes him from his fellow candidates, though, is that he speaks his mind with no restraint whatsoever. Indeed, when it comes to the Donald, there's no holding of the tongue: if you don't like what he has to say, he couldn't care less. There's no denying that Donald Trump is shaking up the establishment. Many of his comments and views ...

Today's quote comes from Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), who served as the 26th President of the United States. Not only was he an accomplished politician, but also a staunch conservationist, historian, and author. Most people may know that it was this venerable Rough Rider who uttered the famous line, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Here's a quote that's not as well known but, in my view, equally resonant: "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt  The exuberant Roosevelt not only published three books in his lifetime, but was an avid reader of history, poetry, and other subjects about which he was passionate. As I've noted in prior posts, I myself am passionate about writing and reading, just as Roosevelt was. When I sit down and put words down on paper, the hours just fly by. I feel completely in my element. I know that writing is my calling, and there'...