Hi, everyone!

    Today I'm not in a playful mood:( So I'm going to discuss a really serious topic. Death. Sounds rather terrifying. Don't you think so? Dying is not kind of merry theme.Many people avoid talking about it. So do I. Since childhood, I have been afraid of death, especially death of relatives, and have been refraining from conversations related to this topic. 
   
    Nonetheless, i've recently  faced an assisted dying.Have you ever heard about it? Frankly, I found out about it only now. As far as I'm concerned, it is a really debatable issue. I've read the article devoted to the discussion of the problem of the right to die.

   The author,Cathy Rentzenbrink, tells us a story about her brother, who was knocked over by a car.He survived only due to being intubated, resuscitated, and had some holes drilled in his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. Even so it made him a man in vegetative state.

   Cathy gives an example of other person in vegetative state, Tony Bland, died after his treatment was withdrawn legal way.So she argues that relatives have a legal way out to easy the burden. As for her, to make her brother die, it is a modest, compassionate step.So it's no use to keep person alive in the role of some kind of sleeping beauty. The author talks about  such people make no progression because their brain doesn't function. Also it’s hard to care for someone, when you know they’re going to die. She pays attention to her brother wasn’t alive because of the will of god.

1. What do you think about an assisted dying?
2. Could you make up your mind on such a step? 
3. Do you agree that people in in vegetative state are like sleeping beauties? 

Here some vocabulary that I've used:

• knocked over by a car- сбила машина
• vegetative state-вегетативное состояние
• compassionate- сострадательный
• to easy the burden- облегчить бремя
• intubated-интубирован
• a legal way out - правовой выход
• resuscitated- реанимирован
• to relieve the pressure on his brain - уменьшить давление на его мозг

Thank you for reading. I hope this article is really interesting for you.❤

Is it loneliness good or bad? 

     I've read the article "Seven ways to overcome loneliness" by Emily Reynolds. (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/23/seven-ways-overcome-loneliness-mental-health) I didn't find any interesting articles in the Culture section so I've discovered the Lifestyle section.

     I think this article is really vital. Nowadays many people feel lonesome,  although they are surrounded by a bunch of people. Mostly the Internet creates an illusion of  that we are not alone.  Nevertheless, some people are really friendless. The article says that being lonely can be bad influence on our physical and mental health and "can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day".

     There are 7 ways to overcome loneliness in the article, as it said in the title:)
I don't find all advice rather useful. As for me, some of them are obvious, but some tips are really valuable.

   So, here they are :

1)Recognise the impact of loneliness. 

2)Work out exactly why you are lonely. 
As  Mind (The mental health charity) said there are two main reasons for loneliness : "not having enough basic social contact or, despite being surrounded by people, not feeling understood, listened to or cared for." 

3)Speak to someone. 

4)Get online. 
It cannot replace live communication, but it helps. Sometimes.
NONETHELESS, keep meeting up with people ;)

5)Increase meaningful social contact. 
" One study in 2011 found that elderly people who spent time with family were less lonely than those attending social groups with strangers. The perfect excuse to call your mum." 

6)Change your thinking. 
It is not so easy. But it works. I've checked;) How does it work? Just substitute negative thoughts for positive ones.

7)Learn to be OK in your own company. 
I think it is the most valuable advice. Self-sufficiency is a really essential personality trait. It is important to be able to enjoy time on your own. Sometimes people underestimate it, they don't expect that it might be more fun.


Well, what would I like to learn about it?
Actually, someday it will help me to avoid getting depressed :)


Thanks for reading 💛

P. S. Please, do not think that I feef lonely. I'm fine;)