Book Review: Hector and the Search for Happiness

I randomly found this audio book on my hoopla app, and I truly enjoyed the insight that this book shared.
I personally have been struggling with my search for happiness, so I thought that I would share the different lessons that Hector has discussed. I hope that if you find yourself struggling with happiness as well, that you would be able to gain some insight from this list.

1. Making comparisons can spoil your happiness
2. Happiness often comes when least expected
3. Many people only see happiness in their future
4. Many people think happiness comes from having more power or more money
5. Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story
6. Happiness is a long walk in beautiful, unfamiliar mountains
7. It’s a mistake to think that happiness is the goal
8. Happiness is being with the people you love; unhappiness is being separated from the people you love
9. Happiness is knowing that your family lacks for nothing
10. Happiness is doing a job you love
11. Happiness is having a home and a garden of your own
12. It’s harder to be happy in a country run by bad people
13. Happiness is feeling useful to others
14. Happiness is to be loved for exactly who you are (People are kinder to a child who smiles)
15. Happiness comes when you feel truly alive
16. Happiness is knowing how to celebrate
17. Happiness is caring about the happiness of those you love
18. Happiness is not attaching too much importance to what other people think
19. The sun and the sea make everybody happy
20. Happiness is a certain way of seeing things
21. Rivalry poisons happiness
22. Women care more than men about making others happy
23. Happiness means making sure that those around you are happy

Also while searching for more information about this book, I noticed that this book has been made into a movie. Trailer provided below



In additoin to Hector searching for happiness, there is another book about Hector and the secret of love and Hector and the search for lost time.

Stock Lesson: Opportunity Cost of Cash

Cash is a liquid asset, meaning an asset that you own that can easily be converted to cash. When a person holds cash, they can either purchase other assets, invest or hold.

For me personally, I would choose to either purchase other assets that can become income producing assets or invest to build up extra cash. However, a hard lesson that I recently learned is the opportunity cost that cash holds when being idle, or hold.

I currently hold some stocks that provide monthly and quarterly dividends. With dividends, I am able to still own the stock while incurring additional income, such as rent. After a couple of months, I realized that I had saved enough money up, that I could reinvest my dividends to purchase additional stock.

In an open conversation, I was discussing my strategy of dividend reinvestment. Someone had commented on the fact that sometimes cash is worth more being idle. At the time I really did not understand what their thought process was. However, with today's market I believe my light bulb has finally turned on.

I saw the market decreasing, a signal for me to purchase/repurchase stocks at a lower cost. However, I did not account for the fact that the stocks in certain industries to continue to decrease. Resulting in me purchasing the stocks early.

Lesson learned: You might think that investing all of your idle cash as soon as possible, to begin earning profits, is a good strategy. When in reality, the benefits of saving your pot of gold for a rainy day has a higher rate of return. Although it is a risk to wait in hopes of the stock price to decrease more, that risk could be more beneficial. PATIENCE!

Just Another Reason To Run!

Thanks to Fox News(YouTube) and Dr. Manny Alvarez, I found out about this great app that will donate money to local charities by having individuals like you and me, exercise. You can either run, walk or bike; by doing one of the three activities, they will donate .10 or .25 cents per mile to the charity of your choice.



The wonderful app is called Charity Miles, and it is available on IOS and Android.

I just found out about this app at 10 pm so I can not say that I have actually tried out the app, but I will update the post once I use it, hopefully that will be tomorrow. I was very excited to hear about this type of app that I wanted to share it with everyone.

New shows to ABC

I am an avid tv watcher and fanatic. One of my favorite networks is ABC. When I was younger, I would wake up every Saturday morning and watch cartoons. Now, I stay up late and watch all sorts of sitcom dramas.

Now, ABC has a lineup of new and upcoming shows, here.

The Catch

Summary: A con being coned herself. More like a forensics accountant, who's job is to expose fraud, doesn't realize she is in the middle of  swindled.

Reactions: I thought the main character was Brittney Snow, it's not. Then I saw Haley from One Tree Hill, also known as Bethany Joy. Honestly, if I've seen/loved your work in another show, I will give your new show a chance. All time bonus, two words, one name Shonda Rhimes. I love her shows, except Scandal.

Blood & Oil

Being in the Oil & Gas Industry, I am always fascinated by how things work.

Summary: This show will probably show a 5% glimpse into the world of the 1%.

Reactions: Chace Crawford from Gossip Girls, Amber Valletta from Revenge, and Scott Foster from Greek. Not really sure what to expect, but it looks like it has some potential.

Quantico

Summary: Similar to Rookie Blue
Reaction: Lots of drama and mystery, that will keep you on your toes. The trailer had a little bit of the same feel as How to Get Away with Murder!!!!

the real O'Neals

Summary: Comedy

Reactions: Martha Plimpton, from Raising Hope

Wicked City

Summary: A serial killer's journey

Reaction: A little to creepy for my comfort, but ill give it a try. Ed Westwick from Gossip Girls.

GoPro Hero 4 Session Thoughts

I love technology, but I am not a tech nerd. When I heard about GoPro's new Hero 4 Session, I was really excited. My first thought, this is similar to their competitor, Polaroid.

I am not sure about the quality of the 2, but I think Polaroid has better accessories for their device. Look, little figures that replace your boring tripods!

The things that I love about GoPro:

• The concept

The fact that you can take this small device with you, and record yourself and others, is wonderful. Then you have the added bonus of durability.

I had a GoPro Hero 3 and I love the fact that I could hit record and later be surprised by what I captured when I reviewed the footage on my computer. With the new GoPro Hero 4, even though I have a screen, I don't use it; I feel like it would kill my batter faster.

• Cult branding

I feel like if you have a GoPro, your cool and adventurous. In reality only a hand full of people actually fit the true criteria, but it makes you feel like you can.

What I love about the new GoPro Hero 4 Session:

• It brings it back to basics, no screen with the true function to capture your adventures
• Small and compact - I am going to a concert tonight and I would like to bring my GoPro, but it is a little on the bigger side, if I had the Session, it would be a little more discrete

What I am not loving..... the price

The cost is $400 dollars, if I am going to pay that much, I might as well get a screen and choose the Hero 4.

I understand from the companies point of view, that this item has the same quality and its lighter and smaller. However from a consumer viewpoint, quality wise, the Hero 4 is a better deal.

** This is not a review, I do not own either products. This is just my opinion of both products based on the information from the product website.**