Barbara Schmidt's Blog, page 50

Choosing Happiness

Lately, Gabrielle Bernstein’s quote, “Happiness is a choice I make” has been my go-to affirmation. I truly believe that in every single moment, we have a choice of how we want to act in the situations that arise. This truly is the power of the mind. It’s so interesting to me just how much our thoughts affect our reality. I love experimenting with self-help principles, and for the past couple weeks I’ve made it my mission to be happy for no reason. I have to say it’s really paid off. I’ve found myself happier (of course), less stressed, having more energy, and more aware of what’s going on around me. I’ve noticed myself searching for joy in even the most mundane situations and feeling even-keeled when things don’t go my way. So this week, I report back to you that you too, can choose happiness, you simply have to commit to it. Care to join me? Here are some tips below to help you along the way.

1. Start your day in gratitude. Every morning, when you open your eyes, feel grateful for another day of life. Spend a few minutes in meditation, tapping into that inner peace and connectedness, and maybe even find some time to journal letting your thoughts flow. This sacred time you spend with yourself will set you up for a beautiful day.

2. Set reminders for yourself to remember to choose joy. Find ways to remember your commitment to happiness. I like to set reminders on my phone, leave post-its around my home, and I even have a bracelet that says “choose joy”. Find simple, meaningful ways to help you stay on your path towards happiness.

3. Seek the positive in every situation you encounter. This one may seem challenging or even impossible. I know there are many situations that are traumatic or upsetting. When that happens, allow yourself to feel the emotions that arise, but also stay centered and calm. There are so many lessons and teachings that come from negative experiences; you just have to look for them.

4. Stay present. I’ve found so much happiness by simply being aware of my surroundings. Make an effort to be one-pointed in your actions, be present to those you’re with, and you’ll feel such an overwhelming sense of connectedness with yourself and the Universe.

5. End your day in gratitude. It sounds cliché, but being grateful for your life makes you happy. Before going to sleep, take a mental recap of everything that happened to you in your day and list what you are grateful for. Often times there is SO much to be grateful for that we don’t even realize. Take note, and give thanks.

How do you choose happiness on a daily basis? I love hearing from you!

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My Favorite Fall Foods

I absolutely love the changing of the seasons, especially when Summer turns to Fall. It’s such a magical time. Energetically, mentally, and physically our environment changes. With that, the foods that are available to us in the markets change. One of my favorite tools I learned in my holistic health training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, is to eat with the seasons. I’ve been loving what this Fall season has been bringing me in my local market and would love to share with you my favorite fall foods.

Pomegranate. Maybe my favorite food of them all right now. I seriously can’t stop eating pomegranate. Pomegranate seeds and juice are a great source of antioxidants and nutrients and are super delicious. Though the seeds can be a little difficult to get to, trust me, it’s worth it! You can eat the seeds plain or throw them into salad or your favorite side dish and enjoy!
Butternut Squash. For me, fall and butternut squash go hand in hand. My favorite way to enjoy this seasonal delight is in a warming butternut squash soup, but there are of course, many ways to prepare it. Butternut squash, like pomegranate, is high in antioxidants, dietary fiber, and nutrients to help keep your heart healthy.
Apples. An apple a day really can keep the doctor a day, especially when eaten seasonally and organically grown. Apples contain lots of Vitamin C, dietary fiber, and antioxidants that can help boost your immune system and even help with weight maintenance. Slice up an apple and sprinkle some cinnamon on top for a perfect fall snack.
Cauliflower. I love cauliflower year round, but it’s especially wonderful right now. Cauliflower is a great source of vitamin C and can be prepared in so many amazing ways. I love creating cauliflower mash; steam your cauliflower, blend in food processor or with a mixer, add seasoning, and you have a guilt-free, delicious dish.
Pumpkin. This is the season for pumpkin-spice everything. Pumpkins are a great source of potassium and B vitamins. Use pumpkin in your pies, soups, pastries, or simply toast the seeds for a yummy, healthy snack.

What are your favorite seasonal foods and recipes? Let me know!

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Wanna be more creative? Yoga can help with that!

Creativity: some people believe they were born without it, while others seems to be oozing at the seams with it. Creativity seems to be this elusive goal and desire for many of us lately. We all want to tap into our creative sides, find ways to express our inner artist, and even fully express ourselves. What’s amazing is we all have the ability to tap into that creative side and yes, while it might be a bit more natural for some, for those who struggle with it, it just takes a little switch in mindset. While there are many outlets to cultivate and express creativity, one that particularly lights a creative fire in me is my yoga practice. I have always thought of myself as lacking in the creative gene, which is funny because I write for a living, but since I cultivated a yoga practice in my life, I find myself coming up with some really juicy ideas and inspired actions. I’ve come up with some of my coolest blogs and writings while in a yoga class.

For me, yoga is a moving meditation, a union of mind, body and spirit, and a way to exit the external world and just be. A yoga practice helps you get into your body, become one with yourself and really tap into your intuition, that inner wisdom, a real sense of knowledge.

If you’re feeling creatively blocked, I would highly suggest scooting over to your local yoga studio, or even rolling out your mat and practicing at home. You can make your practice to suit you just where you are in that moment in that day, and it can be a beautiful way to calm the mind, and let inspiration shine through. If you don’t have enough time for a full class you can even try out some of these poses mentioned here and get an instant boost of clarity and insight.

Seated Meditation: As a yoga teacher, I always start my classes in a simple seated meditation. Sitting anyway that is comfortable to you, close your eyes and simply begin to focus on your breath. Essentially, yoga is meditation! This is a practice you can literally do at any time in your day, close your eyes and breathe. It’s amazing how much clarity you can gain by this simple practice alone.
Breathing exercises: The breath is our life force and throughout our day we forget to breathe! A Kundalini breathing meditation that I love that really helps be bust through blocks and get crystal clear is Ego Eradicator, I also love Alternate Nostril Breathing. Look up some exercises and find one that works for you!
Forward Fold. Standing with your feet hip-width distance apart, hinge at the hips and gently fold forward. You don’t need to push yourself to get your hands all the way to the floor, in fact, grab opposite elbows and simply allow yourself to just “hang”. By getting your head below your heart and you sending fresh, oxygenated blood to your brain, boosting its function and even giving you an energy kick. This is another pose you can do at any part of the day, and it’s one of my personal favorites.
Downward Facing Dog. Down Dog is a staple in many yoga classes because it just does so much for the body and the mind. Hands and feet on the ground, create an equilateral triangle with your body, hips pulling upward, hands and feet grounding into the earth. Another head below your heart pose, bringing energy and clarity and also strength and balance.
Warrior Two. With your right foot forward, toes in line with your knee, step your left foot back a little wider than hip width distance. Turn the toes of your left foot in at a 45-degree angle. Bend your right knee to a 90-degree angle. Extend your arms out to the side, strong and fierce, and breathe. Warrior Two is a great pose for concentration and strength, your body is really working here, but your mind stays calm. Take a few breaths here and then switch sides.
Corpse Pose. Lying on your back, arms at your sides, eyes closed and just allowing yourself to be still. Letting go of your thoughts and worries and just be. Savasana can be one of the hardest poses as many of us feel like we constantly need to be on the go. Great insight comes from stillness.

After practicing any of these poses, get out your favorite journal and just free-write whatever comes to you. You’ve done great work to tap into that inner creativity, and when you put pen to paper is when the real wisdom shows. Don’t edit your thoughts just see what comes up for you and try not to judge the process! There is no perfection, only progress and practice. Let me know what comes up for you and how you tap into your creativity in the comments below. Have a great week!

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Letting Go of What Doesn’t Serve you

I’ve learned many things during my time on my spiritual path, and I absolutely love sharing with all of you what I learn, in hopes of passing along hopeful messages. There is just so much to learn in this life, it’s exciting and also overwhelming because I know that there is always work to be done and lessons to go through.

Up until this moment, one of the hardest yet most rewarding lessons I’ve experienced is learning to let go of what doesn’t serve me. In theory, I’ve always understood it, but in my ego mind I’ve always thought that it is me who knows what’s best for me. So, when the Universe would send me messages to step away from certain people, situations or places, and I just wasn’t ready to, I ignored it, sending me into constant tailspin. It wasn’t until I finally had had enough and surrendered (after much heartache) and realized that just maybe, the Universe does know what’s best for me, and I let go. I let go of people who brought me down, of places that made me feel low, of habits that didn’t bring forward my best self, and it was really freaking challenging. Every step of the way my ego was telling me that it wasn’t worth it and it was useless busy work. But let me tell you, it was SO worth it. By letting go of all that low-vibe stuff, I created space; energetically, physically, and emotionally, and in that space there was finally room for some really awesome stuff to come into my life. I’ve had things manifest in my life that I never really thought were possible, and situations that I am so grateful for. What’s really beautiful about this is, everyone’s lives are different, so we all can have those ideals that we create space for and mind could look completely different than yours.

This week what I’m here to do is simply inspire you to start the process of letting go. It’s not easy, but you’ll be so happy that you did. If you’re in for this amazing journey of freedom, I’m here to help with these steps below that have guided me through my own letting go process.

Get connected with yourself. You’ll only really understand what’s “best” for you when you understand yourself. How do you understand yourself? Spend quality time with you! Go inward daily, find peace in stillness, connect with your intuition and make yourself your own best friend.
Get clear on what you want. Clarity is so important in this life, it’s like aiming straight and then shooting your own life’s arrow. Make a list, journal, contemplate what you want for your life. Know the qualities of people, places, and things that you desire so that you can identify them in your life and aim your arrow in that direction.
Be aware of what currently isn’t in alignment with you. Once you’re clear you’ll start to feel around what isn’t quite sitting well with you. Don’t push down those feelings; really feel them. Simply notice what’s just not working.
Make choices with confidence. If you know deep in your soul that it’s time to make a change, do so with all your heart. Make a move, let go of a guilty vice, or steer clear of bad influences, but do so confidently.
Have trust. Trust is so big when letting go, because for a hot minute there is a void in life that our ego mind tells us will never be filled. This is where you must have faith. That void will not be forever and something really magnificent will come and fill, you just have to trust and surrender.
Don’t give up! Just like above, the void of creating space can be uncomfortable, but like I said, it is not forever! Have patience, and stay on your course. Keep creating space, and forging onward on the path of the life of your dreams.

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Do your best, forget the rest

We all have so much going on each day; sometimes we think we can’t do it all. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be superhuman and to overachieve, which can be very wearing after a while. What if I told you it’s enough just to do your best? Your mission for this week: bet your best self, in every moment of every day, and don’t worry about the rest. This might look different every day and even more different than those around you, but you’re unique, and that’s totally okay.

I bet you’re probably thinking that you have to do more, or that you don’t have enough time to think that way, but I promise you, it’s worth it, and you’ll notice some really awesome benefits. One of my favorite books is The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz. The Fourth Agreement in that book is “Always Do Your Best”, which really sticks with me because, at the end of the day that’s all we really can do. So if you’re going to take the “Doing Your Best Challenge” with me this week, check out these tips below for some guidance and gentle reminders on your path to greatness.

Love yourself so much that you want to be your best. Self-love really is everything in this life. When you start from that deep love of self you motivate yourself to be your best, regardless of what’s going on. You want to be compassionate, loving, motivated, and all those characteristics you desire. Love yourself and the rest will follow.
Let go of expectations, high ideals, and perfectionism. We set really high bars for ourselves in our lives, which is great, but it also means major let down when we don’t achieve some of our unrealistic goals. It’s great to shoot for the stars, but don’t be so hard on yourself about it. Set an intention, work hard for it, but don’t put pressure on making sure it gets done in your way and your timing. Trust the universe a little bit with it.
Have a constant awareness of what’s going on around you and live in the present moment. What’s the easiest way to do your very best? Be aware; be mindful. How are you acting in this very moment? Is it in your highest and greatest good? Is it going to get you where you want to go from life? Be your own coach and ask yourself these questions on a regular basis.
Be organized; yet let your life flow. Much like tip number 1, get clear on what you want, what you “need” to do, and what makes you happy. Clarity allows life to flow more effortlessly.
Remember that life truly is a journey. Don’t feel like you have to constantly rush through things to get to a certain destination. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the ebbs and flows of life, enjoy the right now and have gratitude for every second you have on this earth.

What are you going to do this week to do your best? What are some reminders you set for yourself to remember to be your best self each and every day? Let me know!

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Top 10 Feel Good Habits

We all want to feel good, as often as we can. A lot of times we think that it’s just part of life to be stressed, and to feel worn out. I’ve learned to cultivate many habits that help me to feel good on a daily basis; they’re my non-negotiables that help me to do my best and feel great doing so. I think it’s important for everyone to figure out what works for them, but to get you started check out my top 10 daily habits for wellness, energy, radiance, and joy.

Morning meditation. I fluctuate with time and type, but I make sure to always start my day in stillness. It sets me up for success, and you don’t even need to leave your bed to do it! Make your meditation practice your own and learn to cherish that time of quiet and calm.
Set your intentions. I love intention-setting practices. They give me a goal and allow me to aim for it every day. I often set an intention for my day right after meditation, where I have gone inward and feel really connected with myself, that’s where I know what I want to focus on for my day.
Stay hydrated. Often when I start to feel less than stellar, my first go to is to drink more water. Nine times out of 10 I haven’t been keeping myself hydrated and I can feel it! I could write a whole blog on the importance of water (and maybe I will!) but for now, just make sure that you drink as much as you can on a daily basis.
Yoga every day. Yoga is my thing, I love it, it makes me feel great, and I find some way and time to do just a little every single day. It could be just five minutes of stretches, or even going upside down for an energy boost, but I make sure to get my body moving no matter what is going on in my day.
Focused attention. Devoting your time and attention to one thing at a time is so important. You’re more efficient, more present, and it allows people to know how you value your time and theirs. Try doing just one thing at a time; multitasking is so 2012!
Eat your greens! Find some way to get your daily dose of veggies into your diet. Green veggies in particular have so much fiber and nutrients that will keep you feeling and looking great. Throw some greens in a smoothie, sauté them in a stir-fry or eat them raw in a salad. Find what you like and make it a staple!
Make some time for journaling. I definitely feel more clear when I take even a few minutes to put pen to paper and free write. Don’t edit, just write and notice how you feel!
Daily connection with loved ones. Often times on a spiritual path we go inward to feel great. It’s also important to cultivate those relationships with others that lift us up, and connect with them regularly. Find some time to just be with those you are close with.
Allow some time to disconnect. We are a very wired society, on technology 24/7. Give your eyes, your mind, and your soul a break from your technological devices for a little bit everyday.
Get your sleep! Sleep is so important, we know, so make sure you’re getting enough! If you don’t think you have enough time to get your ample rest see what you can cut out of your day to make time!

I hope these tips are helpful for you! I’d love to hear your non-negotiable healthy habits! Keep me posted in the comments below!

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5 Tips to Life in the Now

A sure fire way of living a peaceful, happy life is living presently in the current moment. I know, it’s easier said than done, but this moment right now is the only moment that truly matters. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. While I’ll agree that it’s important to make plans for the future and learn from the past, it’s also imperative to let go of what’s happened and of what is to come and just be, right now. Our minds like to take us on a roller-coaster ride of past regrets and future missteps. This leads to an array of unhappy emotions. Happiness is right now.

In each moment we have the ability to choose how we want the following moment to unfold. Do we want to be happy and free or do we want to be controlled by the mind and it’s incessant thoughts? It’s up to you! If you need some guidance on getting back to the present moment, see some pointers below. It certainly is a practice, and no one is ever perfect but I’m confident that if you start to live your life this way, you’ll feel better, be better and live better.

Set intention to be in the present. Intention setting is powerful in itself. Make a promise to yourself that you will work to be in control of your mind. Awareness is key in the present moment living. Congratulations, you’ve already accomplished your first step! By simply knowing and wanting to live your life this way, you’ll be open and receptive to it.
Allow yourself to do only one thing at a time. We’re multi-taskers by nature, I know, but really try to allow yourself to do one task at a time. If you’re going to surf the Internet, just do that. If you’re eating just give yourself time to eat and enjoy your food. Talking on the phone with a friend or loved one? Be present to everything they have to say. If you’re reading a blog (like this one), give it your full, undivided attention. My dear teacher Gabby Bernstein says, “Your presence is your power”, and that couldn’t be more true. Think about where you’re putting your presence in every moment.
Meditate daily. We all know the benefits of meditation; we talk about it all the time! But truly, if you want to live life in the present moment and be happy, meditation is key. Starting each morning by stopping, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breath automatically puts you in the present moment. Essentially you’re cutting off your monkey mind from the get go, and placing it in the now.
Use tools to help train your mind to stay present. Mantras and affirmations are a great way to bring your mind back when it begins to wander. They simply replace whatever road your mind is about to take you down. Use these tools often, and they will become habits when needed.
Let everything you do, be done purposefully. A lot of times our minds wander when we are bored or not engaged. Make your actions and your thoughts meaningful, give them purpose. Be cognizant of how you spend your time and the power you give to your thoughts.

What do you do to bring your mind back to the present? I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

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How Can You Be of Service?

We’ve spent a lot of time over the past couple months really valuing self-love, healing, and acceptance. These concepts are all super important for living a happy, healthy, and thriving life. However, there is another component to be discussed in regards to making your life count and giving your life purpose. Selfless service. We all want to know what the purpose of life is, what we’re meant to do and who we’re meant to be. We all specifically have gifts and talents that we desire to share with the world, aiding and strengthening our purposes. In my humble opinion, however, the overarching purpose of life is to be of service, spread love, and help others.

When we think of selfless service, our minds generally gear towards doing manual community service hours to be of aid, and that’s great. In reality, there are so many ways we can all be of help, and that’s what makes life so much fun. If you’re wondering how you can be of service in your life, check out these tips below and start spreading that love and wisdom you have to give to this world!

What are you passionate about? Is there a cause or charity that you feel a deep need to support? Get creative and find ways to lend a hand to an existing non-profit or project.
Stemming off #1 above, is there a cause that you feel needs a voice? Be that voice! If you truly feel compelled to action, get going and start a movement. Most of the major, groundbreaking movements of change in our time have started from one person, with one goal or passion.
Be the source of light in your workplace. Whether you’re a yoga teacher or an investment banker, the day-to-day grind of life can be stressful. Help ease stress and tension in your workplace by being a beacon of light, shining patience, understanding, and confidence to all you see.
Have compassion for all you encounter on a daily basis. There is so much negativity and anger in the world. Wouldn’t it be great if day-by-day you brightened someone’s day just by being pleasant and compassionate? You don’t have to take large actions, just small meaningful steps. A simple smile at a stranger or holding the door for someone in a rush has such an impact.

How do you serve in this world? There are so many ways; I’d love to hear from you! Keep the conversation going in the comments below!

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Make Your Aim True

One of the things I really love about my life right now, is that I have the ability to go and learn. I really, really love learning, especially about things that help me live my best life. I seek out teachers, events, and workshops that will give me tools and lift me up, in all aspects of my life. Most recently, I was able to spend a weekend on a yoga retreat with the amazing Kathryn Budig. Hearing her speak had been on my “inspirational bucket list”, so when I found out she was doing a workshop near me, I jumped at the opportunity. Kathryn is a renowned yoga teacher, so I was super excited to get there and work on my personal yoga practice. While that aspect of the weekend was amazing, we also learned much about Kathryn’s philosophy for yoga and her life, which she calls “Aim True”. At the very beginning of the workshop, Kathryn asked us, “what does the phrase aim true mean to you?”. We all had our own definitions. For Kathryn, Aiming True means every day setting an intention of being the best that you can be. Making decisions that are in alignment with that intention, and not steering from the course. I just loved that message, and she has made it her mission to spread it in her teachings around the world.

In the weeks since my retreat with Kathryn, I’m still buzzing from her infectious personality and inspiration shared there. Every day I ask myself “who do I want to be today?” and take action accordingly. In the spirit of what I learned with Kathryn and her mission in life, I’ve put together some tips for you to make sure your aim is true. Check it out.

Set intentions. Just like in a yoga class, we set an intention for our practice, Kathryn suggests to set an intention for your life. It’s an interesting question to think about. What do you intend for your life? You can even break it down into smaller components, setting intentions for your year, your day, your yoga practice, etc. Ultimately, your intentions stem from your main goal, the rest keep you on your path, making your aim true.
Cultivate a confident and loving relationship with yourself. We can’t be the amazing people we are meant to be if we don’t love ourselves first. Take drastic steps to ensure your own self-love. Whether it’s leaving loving messages around your house or setting reminders on your phone. Find ways to remember how much you love you.
Find activities that are in alignment with your intentions and goals. If your mission is to inspire and help people through yoga, start to master, love, and appreciate yoga. That’s just an example, but find ways to participate in your mission. Make it all encompassing and full of joy.
Be of service and share. Kathryn stressed that each of us has a unique gift to give to this world, and it’s so important that we share it! There will never be anyone else like you, make sure your voice is heard and you leave your mark on this world.

How do you make sure your “aiming true” in areas of your life? Let me know in the comments below!

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Steps to Learning How to Focus

Lately I’ve been feeling super unfocused. It’s not great, and I don’t like it, but I’ve been trying not to be too judgmental on myself because of it. A few weeks ago I wrote about social media detoxing, and being mindful of the time spent on the Internet. Given that, for my work, I spend lots of time on the computer, I tend to veer away from my “productive” time and more toward the entertaining, mindless aspects of the Internet. I’ve been letting my monkey mind go, and in that, I have totally seen repercussions! I’ve noticed that my concentration isn’t what I know it can be, and my presence is certainly not at it’s high.

We all have things that come into our lives and take us off our paths. We feel off-center or unbalanced, but it’s always okay because it’s in the awareness that we bring ourselves back. Focus is super important in peaceful, happy, living as it is the key component to your presence in life. One of my favorite teachers, Gabrielle Bernstein says, “Your presence is your power”. What does your presence say about you? If you’ve been finding yourself distracted or off focus lately, don’t fret! This week, I have some tips for you on bringing yourself back into the present and being that magnificent, powerful person you’re here to be!

Spend time with yourself (and just yourself). We seldom are alone, without other people, technology, and distractions. Make an effort to sit with yourself in stillness and in peace. This can be uncomfortable, and that’s okay, just practice, and start training your mind to be still.
Get clear. If you have tasks that need to be accomplished, be clear with what you need to do. Sometimes it takes writing things down to make it more official. Set guidelines and goals for yourself, and then when a task is completed give yourself a break!
Practice being one-pointed. It’s really easy to have eight different things going on at once. A lot of us think that multi-tasking is the way to efficiency. Distracted work doesn’t produce the best results; so try being focused on one thing at a time. In a conversation, give that person 100% of your attention. While you eat, focus on your food. Even while watching a movie or television program, focus just on that. Get in the habit of just settling into whatever you’re doing in a given moment.
De-clutter your space. My mind tends to feel a little chaotic when my living space is chaotic. Take a look around you and see if your environment is cluttered, it totally has an effect on the mind. If so, take some time to reorganize, clear out, and create space. You’ll see great results mentally and physically.
Journal to release unnecessary thoughts. Personally, I know journaling is great for the mind, but it can be so hard for me to keep up with my journaling practice. When I don’t journal, I can feel my mind fill up with crazy thoughts. When you take pen to paper and release the thoughts in the mind, it’s almost like you are physically letting them go, creating space for new, positive thoughts. If you’re feeling stuck or unfocused, pick up a pen and just free write, don’t judge or edit what comes out, just let the words flow.
Take some time to relax. Often if we’re losing focus, we have too much going on in our lives, and are frantic to keep track of it all. Being busy is great, but you must remember to take care of yourself. It’s okay to not get everything done in a given take. Cut yourself some slack.

How do you bring yourself back when feeling unfocused or even unmotivated? Do any of these tips feel helpful for you? Let me know in the comments below, and have a great week!

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