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21 Real Photos With Backstories That Are Freakier Than Any Movie - OMG

♠ Posted by andrea in ,
The appeal of horror movies is that they give people a way to experience the thrill of terror without actually having to put themselves in harm's way. For the vast majority of us, the movie theater will be the closest we ever get to genuine horror.
For others though, the horror of demons, ghosts, and murders has real-world significance. These are the people who look closely at real life and realize just how chilling it can be. For evidence of this, look no further than the following pictures, stripped right from the headlines. The world is a scary place indeed.
Warning. A few of these are NSFW.

1. Aerial view of the Jonestown mass suicide.

Brainz

2. This woman in this photo is actually dead. Her husband took it two days after she passed away. There's no word on what her cause of death was.

Movie Pilot

3. A little Polish girl who grew up in a concentration camp drawing a picture of "home."

Imgur

4. This man is unable to get off the subway tracks in New York City with a train bearing down.

Imgur

5. A group of friends in Beirut, Lenbanon moments before a car bomb explosion, and then moments after. (The bomb was in the gold car you see in the first photo.)

Imgur

6. 23-year-old Evelyn McHale's body after leaping from the Empire State Building and landing on a United Nations limousine. Some call this picture "the world's most beautiful suicide."

Imgur

7. Shell shocked solider in the trenches of the First World War.

Imgur

8. The decomposing remains of a girl who got lost and died in the pitch blackness of the Odessa catacombs in Ukraine.

Imgur

9. The aftermath of a horrifying car accident in 1945.

Movie Pilot

10. Hospital cameras caught some sort of dark spirit looming over a patient one night. The patient died a few hours later.

Movie Pilot

11. The body of John Torrington.

Movie Pilot
In the 1840s, John Torrington and a crew of explorers attempted to find the fabled Northwest Passage that would allow for quicker travel between North American and Asia. However, during the expedition, Torrington's ship was damaged and the crew was forced to trek back through Canada on foot. No one made it back. Torrington's body was buried along the way, perfectly preserved by the frigid temperatures.

12. Loana the Bloodthirster after her death in 1909. Allegedly she died from drinking her own blood.

Ebaums World

13. The remains of a victim of spontaneous human combustion.

Ebaum's World

14. Shadows of people vaporized when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Retinalechoes

15. Aftermath of the 1997 Heaven's Gate suicide in San Diego, California.

Imgur

16. The so-called "elephant's foot" at the heart of the melted down Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Nautil

17. Pennsylvania politician Budd Dwyer moments before he ended his life on live TV.

Thought Catalog

18. Nazi commander Joseph Goebbels after learning the photographer here was Jewish.

Peta Pixel

19. The heart of accused vampire Auguste Delagrange. He was said to have killed at least 40 people in the early 1900s.

Ebaum's World

20. A woman leaps from the top floor of the Genesee Hotel in 1942.

Imgur

21. This photo taken by a diver in Australia accidentally captured the lifeless body of Tina Watson. Watson was killed by her husband while scuba diving during their honeymoon.

ABC News
(via: Movie Pilot)

If there's one thing that you can take away from these photos, it's that real life has always been --- and will always be --- more terrifying than fiction. I'm not looking forward to those nightmares tonight...
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10 Things You Need To Stop Doing If You Want To Be Successful

♠ Posted by andrea in ,
Success means something different to every person: like beauty, it exists in the eye of the beholder.  It is your responsibility to determine what success means for you, and how you go about breeding success in your life.
Despite this, there are definitely hindrances to success. These drawbacks are ubiquitous in their ability to deter your success. But don’t fret because if you seek success, and you fear your actions are blocking your desire for success, you have the power and control to overcome the following obstacles.

1. Making Excuses

Stop blaming other people for why you don’t get what you want. Stop refusing to accept responsibility for your mistakes. You make your own choices and you make your own mistakes.In general, stop justifying your poor choices and stop attributing your lack of success to things outside of your control. Successful people don’t do this.
You are going to err. You are going to fail. When this inevitably occurs look within, in a non-judgmental manner, and figure out what you can do better next time. Don’t waste time looking externally by creating excuses for why you didn’t achieve success.

2. Focusing on the Negatives

Yes, there are negative circumstances in life that you have no control over. There are also plenty of positive experiences in your life. I am willing to bet you have more positives in your life than negatives. You are capable of living with a positive perspective. If you want to cultivate success in your life than you need to concentrate on all the good. You shouldn’t disregard the negative, but you don’t have to give it so much of your attention. Otherwise you are never going to be satisfied because you are so focused on the unfavorable conditions of your life. Even if you reach a level of ostensible success, your continued focus on the negatives will prevent you from relishing your accomplishments.

3. Fearing Failure

As I previously stated, YOU ARE GOING TO FAIL! There is no reason to fear it. Rather, you should embrace it. Learn from it, and ultimately improve from it.
When you are successful you know you are always trying your best. When you fail it is not a reflection of you as a person; you are not a flawed individual. View failure as an opportunity to grow, not as something to be feared.

4. Looking for the Easy Way

I want to preface by stating that attaining success isn’t supposed to be an improbable venture where you have to overcome a certain amount of adversity and hardship. I am opining that successful people don’t look for the easy way through life.
Merely strolling through life on cruise control is not the blueprint for success. You need to challenge yourself at times. Push yourself and stretch your limits. Aim to reach your maximum potential, and then go beyond that. That is a success in itself.

5. Beating Yourself Up

You wouldn’t ever beat yourself up physically so why would you do it emotionally and mentally? Learning how to skillfully deal with your thoughts and emotions when you are facing adverse situations is crucial to being successful.
Get upset over things. Express your emotions in an appropriate manner. Be unhappy from time to time. It is going to happen. But don’t ruminate over unpleasant memories and beat yourself up over things that already occurred. Too much time and energy spent on this diverts your attention away from more important endeavors like progressing toward your goals.

6. Being Ungrateful

The best way to establish more contentment in your life is to be more grateful. If you want to push away happiness, joy, and bliss than be ungrateful. Gratitude breeds happiness but it also breeds success. If you are grateful for your life and everything that comprises it you are going to have a less complicated time attaining wealth and accomplishing your goals.
I don’t just mean financial wealth because wealth includes all kinds of valuables. I am not proposing that all financially wealthy people are grateful, and therefore, successful, or that all financially poor people are ungrateful, and therefore unsuccessful.
Being ungrateful is not congruent with getting ahead in life. If you crave success than observe everything you are grateful for. Your gratitude will serve as a compass for your life. It will guide your decision-making, and lead you to success.

7. Concentrating Solely on Your Needs

Hopefully this goes without saying but focusing only on yourself is not going to help you attain success. You could be the wealthiest person on the planet, and it is apparent that you are extremely successful. If you accrued your wealth by taking advantage of people, or by being selfish and egotistical, you are not successful in my book. You probably wouldn’t be very happy either. The best way to succeed in life is by helping someone else!

8. Getting Distracted

You were going to start your book but…You were going to launch your dream business idea but…You were going to travel through Asia but…
I get it. Things come up. Life takes you on a different course. It happens sometimes. But don’t allow yourself to become distracted from realizing your dreams. When distractions obstruct you from your passions than you are moving further and further away from claiming your ultimate successes.
This starts with your daily life. It is fun and often necessary to log onto Facebook and check emails, but don’t allow the modern technological age to prevent you from the work that needs to be finished today. Success is based on working toward your goals while not letting disruptions hinder that.

9. Living Aimlessly

It is your responsibility to ascertain your life goals and objectives. Being successful means you are fulfilling your life’s purpose every day.
Whether your purpose is super ambitious such as solving world hunger or more feasible like being happy, doesn’t matter. The point is that you are aiming to be the best you can be. Steadily wandering through life without any ambitions or without contributing anything to society is not what successful people do.

10. Giving Up

When you face an improbable obstacle in life how do you respond? Do you give up, or do you keep pressing on? Successful people don’t give up. They commit themselves to reaching their final destination. They may not ever get there, but they don’t allow impediments to prevent them from trying. This means continuing on despite failures and disappointments.
Success encompasses a lot of different arenas. What works for financial success may not translate into relationship success. Being successful as an athlete doesn’t necessarily make you successful as a student as well. There are varying degrees of success depending on what situation you are in.
Regardless, the fundamental backbone of success is trying your best. If you put forth your best effort, without harming others in the process, than you are a successful person. This can apply to work, family, friends, relationships, hobbies, etc. As the late great John Wooden said, “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” I think that sums it up beautifully.
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6 Biggest Reasons Why Your Small Business is Stagnating

♠ Posted by andrea in ,
These days everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, so way too many people rush into the world of small business headfirst, without taking into consideration the many variables that can make you or break you. Some even luck out and are able to quickly learn from their mistakes on the fly, but most fail within the first year. This is why you see a few people at the other end of the spectrum – fairly ambitious, yet careful and calculated.
The careful approach can be a good one, but it is easy to get bogged down in various technicalities and have your business stagnate. If you are interested in promoting growth and expanding your business, then you should try to address the common issues small business face, which are discussed in more detail bellow.

1. You don’t engage your customers

Reaching out to customers
“Engaging the customers” is kind of a broad term, so let’s look at some of the different aspects it covers:
  • Good customer service
  • Rewarding loyalty
  • Inspiring trust
  • Social media interaction
  • Asking for feedback
If you want to learn more about what the customers want, then go and ask them. Granted it takes a bit of work, but developing a great relationship with the customers and building a loyal following has many benefits. This extends to online shopping as well. Whether you are opening online shop or want to start selling your goods on Amazon, there is a right way to do things. It involves creating a great shopping experience for the customers. This means that they can find what they are looking for effectively, have access to interesting offers if they buy multiple products, can get in contact with you and sort out any problems, and they need to be able to finish the whole process quickly.

2. You try to do to everything yourself

It’s one thing to be very hands on and not want to delegate simple tasks, but once you start doing 4-6 different things it keeps you away from the really important stuff. Let’s say you are a great cook and have opened your own restaurant. You need to be focused on keeping the quality of the food and the service up to standard, and on making the right adjustments.
If you suddenly start mopping the floors, acting as head chef, doing your own accounting, promoting the restaurant on social media and posting two articles a day on your website’s blog, chances are you are going to burn out, and the restaurant will be in a poor state. You don’t have to hire an army of people, but be sure to delegate the heavy grunt work and focus on making business decisions and managing your employees.

3. You don’t utilize modern technology to its full potential

We’ve already touched on the importance of social media interactions, but small business can be greatly improved through the liberal use of online technologies. With fast and adaptable approaches to software development, i.e. focusing on agile methodology, it is possible get exactly what you need in a relatively short time, through effective communication with the developers and on-the-fly tweaks.
A good website allows companies to reach out and market themselves to an international audience, while the right custom software helps them significantly improve their efficiency, cut down on costs, and. For retailers and restaurants, switching to a more modern POS system can make a huge difference, while many different small business can save time and money in the long run using applications specifically tailored to their needs.

4. You don’t set yourself apart from everyone else

Standing out
A business can do quite well, and stay afloat for years making a modest profit even if it doesn’t have any special features that make them particularly unique or appealing. However, you never want to get into the “let’s just get by” mindset, as it will all but ensure that your business never grows past those initial stages. Unless you are dealing with a very limited niche market, you will have to deal with a relatively saturated market, so any defining feature that helps you stand out and makes people remember you is going to be a key component in sparking growth.

5. You focus on growth at the expense of everything else

There will come a time where you have enough of a demand for your products and to warrant expansion, and an efficiency that allows for this expansion to happen. However, it needs to be done strategically. A lot of entrepreneurs make the mistake of jumping at the opportunity to expand their business at the first chance they get, and focusing all their energy on that goal. This can lead to a drop in quality of service as you start spreading your resources thin. It is important to scale your growth based on what you can realistically handle without sacrificing productivity or quality.

6. You can’t handle the extra workload effectively

This is a direct extension of the last point. A lot of people believe that once their business starts growing things will magically fall into place and that they will be able to sit back and let this well-oiled money-making machine of theirs keep growing exponentially. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As your business grows so do your obligations and complications. It’s easy to underestimate the level of work that goes into it, and face the sobering truth – you are not prepared to take on the extra workload. This is where things can really fall apart, forcing businesses to work hard just to stay afloat, let alone turn a profit.
Even if you make the first big steps and start growing your business, you can still hit a wall if you haven’t planed things out right. It’s similar to how Hollywood movies often go well over the initial budget as the production drags on, and many of them end up as scrapped projects as a result. Be realistic about how much a project will cost and how much time and effort it will take to see it through. If you are overconfident and don’t anticipate little setbacks and hidden costs, you may very well cut yourself short and keep stagnating.
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15 Signs You Have the Coolest Brother in the World

♠ Posted by andrea in
My only sibling is my brother, five years older than I. Yes, I am that lucky girl who has the coolest brother in the world. But it is not necessary that only elder brothers are the coolest. Younger brothers can be equally chilled out. Here are 15 ways to know if you are lucky to have the coolest brother in the world.

1. You see him as your best confidant.

Your brother was the first person to know about your little secret. You would make him cross-upon-your-heart before letting out that top-secret of yours, but deep down you knew he would not spill it out. The secret might have been a small-bore, but he would pretend it was of great matter. And after all these years, he is still your first person to whom you will run to with a secret.

2. You have a brother who’s your best buddy.

He is your first best friend. No one will doubt that, given that the ample of times you guys have spent together as children. His friends are your friends too, and vice versa. You still prefer to get drunk in his company than you would with your friends. And you would still sit in the dark and watch horror movies with him, knowing that he would laugh at your face while you scream away, and would constantly tease you later. You thoroughly enjoy it as much as you hate it.

3. You may be his best buddy, but he knows your limits too.

This is the case when you have an elder brother. He may know all (okay, nearly all) your secrets, and know you smoke and have a crush on one of his friends, still he would be the one to correct your mistakes and make sure you know your limits too. Scolding is another option mostly preferred by the brothers to keep you in control!

4. You ask him for knowledge.

Brothers are the best teachers you can ever ask for! Whether you want to know about the meaning of life, or those subjects you constantly fail to comprehend at school, or the secret behind WWE, it is always your brother who would answer your every question. You love the way he patiently explains it to you, despite your constant I-still-don’t-understands.

5. You know he knows you inside out, and outside in.

You can not hide anything from your brother. Anything. Even if you are upset and you have been crying away secretly, your brother will still know it. Maybe because you guys have been growing up and literally facing the same kinds of situations together. You also know that even after all these years he still understands you like no other person more than him.

6. You can start a conversation right where you have left it.

This is an amazing part of having a cool brother. He doesn’t mind whether you have abruptly hung up the phone, or you have left the room in the middle of a conversation. Because, at the end of the day, you can easily start off right where you have left it. It does not matter where you are residing. It does not matter how long you have not met each other. It also does not matter if you talk or Skype once in a blue moon.

7. You guys are the perfect partners-in-crime.

My brother was always the Batman whereas I was his Robin. We would cook up crimes and pretend to rescue each other. Another time, he would become a world famous detective, and I, his loyal assistant. And if anyone tried to bully me, my brother would come to save me. He would still do this for me, despite living oceans apart and growing up into full bloom adults!

8. You know that your biggest supporter is your brother!

It does not matter whether you are a star soccer player in your school, or a geek who nails science projects every single time, or a person with no talent at all, you brother will always be your biggest supporter! He will cheer for you, and will look through all your faults. He will make you believe in yourself; one of the best parts of having a cool bro!

9. You have a permanent bank in him.

Need money? But you don’t want to go through all the process of “verbally” filling up the form (your dad or mom WILL ASK you anyway)? That is where the elder-brother-the-bank comes in. He is just like an ATM machine. Ask for it, and you get it. Unless of course you ask for a bigger dough, he wouldn’t usually question back. Despite earning my own money, I still ask for greens from my brother. I guess I am used to it.

10. You can talk shit with him.

Here’s a little open secret: my brother and I carry out most of our conversations while pooping. We believe it has a special privacy in it. No one gets to hear you, and it’s more like our comfort zone during secret sharing. And if you are having problems with your bathroom he’s the perfect man to talk about it!

11. You have an adviser, dear.

Now talking about seeking help you have the best adviser right inside your house. It is not necessary what range of topics you need advise on, he will readily aid you. You need advise in dating? You need advise regarding fashion? Or, maybe what subjects to choose in your high school? You are confused about your career? You are frustrated with your life? Well, your brother is there my dear, and his advises are totally free of cost!

12. You are happy he bonds with your partner.

This is especially to the girls out there who have elder brothers. While I was dating my then boyfriend (who is my hubby now), the only person I wanted him to bond with was my brother. And oh man was I relieved when both the men started hanging out like buddies! I guess you have that similar butterflies in your stomachs while introducing your partner to your brother, and hope against all the hopes that they bond utimately.

13. Your brother is always in your team.

Sports or not, your brother will always be in your league. He will stand for you, he will always put you first in front of your family or friends, and even he will prefer to have you in his sports team. He will make sure you are at ease regardless of whatever situation you are facing.

14. You have a spoiler alert!

Whether your brother is older than you or younger, he will always spoil you in his own way. Your younger brother will nearly tend to all your needs. He will grumble, but he will complete the task. It’s actually cute when he goes out in the rain to bring you KFC that you suddenly craved for. And it is similar with the elder brothers too. Isn’t it best to have cool brothers in the world?

15. You get a comic relief during tough times.

Your brother is ALWAYS there to bring back your smile. My brother was cracking jokes on my wedding day, before I was leaving for my husband’s house. The reason? So that I don’t cry and spoil my make-up! Only cool bros will come up with something as bizarre as being the comic relief in your life when you least expect it!
Personally I believe that having the coolest brother in the world is an amazing blessing. No one can take over your brother’s place. He is someone who loves you unconditionally. And like all other proud siblings, I would say, I love you too my brother!
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10 Free Ways To Feel Happy Right Now

♠ Posted by andrea in ,,
Many of us have grown up to believe that happiness is an outside force we can’t control. We go about our lives waiting for happiness to happen to us! We believe if we perhaps find the right partner, wear the right kind of clothes, have the dream job, or go on vacation, we will achieve the happiness we long for. However, the reality is that happiness is a choice, a decision you can make to take control of your well being, and enjoy life to the fullest. They say money can’t buy you happiness and that is absolutely true! Here is a short list of 10 free things you can do to turn that frown upside down and start embracing happiness in your life!

1. Soak up some sun

Not only will you look radiant as your skin takes in sun rays, but you will literally be increasing the “happy hormone” aka Serotonin levels in your body. You will be left feeling giddy and energized, ready to face whatever comes your way!

2. Enjoy a delicious chocolate bar (or a square at least)

Yes! You read correctly. You now have one more (very legitimate) excuse to eat that yummy chocolate bar you love. Eating chocolate releases neurotransmitters in the brain that absolutely lift your spirits. One of these neurotransmitters is Phenylethylamine aka “the love drug” which arouses the same feelings you experience when you are in love and who isn’t happy when they are feeling in love?! Enjoy a guiltless treat but remember, everything in moderation!

3. Acknowledge your higher power

Humans have this insatiable need to live for something greater than themselves. Take the time to appreciate and trust that your life is being guided by something greater than yourself. Understand that every stage of your life is part of a stunning master plan that will work for the greater good of those around you. How can you not feel beyond happy when you embrace the idea you are contributing to the greater good?!

4. Make a motivational play list

Music has the power to life your spirits like nothing else! Just make sure the songs you include are full of hope and inspirational messages. Here are three to get you started:

5. Exercise

When you log in time at the gym or on a run, your brain releases endorphins which are responsible for fighting stress and lifting your mood. In addition to making you feel better, the benefits are most definitely long lasting. Researchers at the University of Vermont found that “mood benefits of 2 hours of exercise can last up to 12 hours!” But, if you do not want to believe research, then at least listen to the lovely Elle Woods: “Exercise gives you endorphins…endorphins make you happy!”

6. Write it down!

Feeling overwhelmed with life? Take the time to write it down. Having clarity of mind can most definitely lower stress levels, allowing you to enjoy yourself and embrace happiness in your life. Next time you are utterly frustrated take a piece of paper, pen and write everything that comes to mind. You are literally taking a brain dump, but it will leave you feeling rested and with some additional space in your brain for happy thoughts!

7. Go on a date…

With yourself! Really, pack a little basket with some yummy strawberries, perhaps some chocolate, head over to the nearest park and take yourself on a picnic.  While sitting there, embrace the purity of the moment. Enjoy how the wind plays with your hair, and watch how dogs walk their owners. Take in all that is around you and feel grateful for the opportunity of being alive and having all your senses intact. Make a conscientious effort to choose happiness for your life at that very moment, own your feelings and emotions. Get high on life!

8. Listen to a good motivational talk

Listen to Les Brown, Zig Ziglar, Kevin Snyder, Lisa Nichols, really, the list is endless! Nothing like a good motivational talk to lift your spirits and teach you to enjoy the little things in life. You will learn you have the capacity to alter your attitude and embrace happiness despite your circumstances.
lesborwn

9. Do something nice for a stranger

Bake a batch of cookies and hand it to a homeless mother and child. Smile at the taxi driver. Greet the people in the elevator enthusiastically. Embrace everyone around you, strive to make everyone feel alive, and you will most definitely feel happier.

10. Don’t give up

Don’t ever give up on happiness. Despite how difficult life may get, it is still a precious gift. Even if living gets tough, happiness is just a choice away. Always smile and know that you are in fact, the master of your joy!
Featured photo credit: GLady via pixabay.com
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What Photographers Captured In These 13 Victorian Era Photos Pure Freaky Horror

♠ Posted by andrea in ,,
It's an established fact that pretty much everything that has to do with the Victorian Era (roughly spanning from 1837 to 1901) is creepy, especially the photographs. If you're looking for the creepiest type of Victorian Era photography, it's the death portraits.
But Victorian death portraits may have an equally chilling cousin. A close second in the creepy department is Victorian twin photography. Apparently they had a thing for twins, and the results are nightmarish.

1. "Come and play with us..." No thanks.

Pinterest

2. What's with the roller skates?

Pinterest

3. That fact that their faces are blurry only makes it worse.

Mental Floss

4. Three sets of twins. Can you spot the evil ones?

Mental Floss

5. Somehow they even made infants terrifying. Well done.

Mental Floss

6. That haircut...

Mental Floss

7. Something about the combination of dolls and giant bows makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Mental Floss

8. Always smiling...

Mental Floss

9. A twin brother and sister with the same haircut.

Etsy

10. "We'll be waiting for you...forever."

Pinterest

11. This is the most disturbing one so far.

Pinterest

12. They're clearly not amused.

Pinterest

13. Their eyes...they're always watching...

Pinterest
(via: Mental Floss)
In retrospect, no one really knows why almost everything that came out of Victorian Era is so creepy. Objectively speaking, it was actually a time of great human achievement and advancement.

Still, I don't think I could handle going back to visit if I had a time machine. I'd end up living in constant fear of death photography and sullen-faced twins coming for my soul.
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15 Reasons Backpackers Rock

♠ Posted by andrea in
Backpackers enjoy adventures into unknown territory, meeting new people and above all gaining a much deeper understanding of the world we live in. This is far superior to the typical tourist who will rarely encounter exciting challenges and never learn new skills. Backpacking is excellent training in back-to-basics living which is often envied by preppers. Here are 15 reasons why backpackers rock.

1. They know how to adapt.

Backpackers have a limited budget. This means they have to camp or sleep in hostels which may mean sharing a dormitory with lots of others. They know how to make the best of far from ideal sleeping accommodation. If they have been around Europe, they can recommend some great hostels.  The knowledge that this means they can travel for longer and much further is what keeps them going.

2. They know the best ways to hitchhike.

Often when on long trails, there may be a need to re-supply with food and other essential items. Once on the road, they have to hitchhike to the nearest town to stock up. They know that they have to freshen up beforehand, smile and locate near a place where it is easy for the driver to pull over.

3. They know exactly how to pack.

They know exactly what they need for a long trek in the wild. They can plan ahead for food needs, clothing in extreme temperatures and navigation gear to help them when they may get lost. They also know what they can do without as they develop more backcountry skills.

4. They are expert nutritionists.

One of the key elements will be knowing what is the best, lightest and most nutritious food they have to carry as this will lighten the backpack considerably. They dispense with containers as far as possible and useziplock bags. They don’t normally bother with water content foods such as fruit and prepared soups. They know that opting for freeze-dried or powdered foods which can be mixed with water at the campsite is going to save on weight.

5. They know how to plan a trip.

They know that they will have to estimate travelling time and also take into account some extreme weather conditions and plan accordingly. They know that every time they climb 1000 feet, the temperature is liable to drop by at least 3 degrees. Backpackers are aware of logistic issues such as where to stock up on supplies and what transportation will be essential. They know how to identify a safe campsite and will be aware of dangers posed by animals and poisonous plants.

6. They stay in shape.

Backpackers have to be fit and well. Lots of people think that having strong legs is enough for all that walking. The wise backpacker knows that a strong lower back and core are essential for carrying weight. They regularly work out on a rowing machine or just by cycling. They are also aware of the importance of having a medical check up just to see if there are any underlying health problems such as a heart condition. Not much point in calling 911 in the wilderness!

7. They know when to cross icy rivers.

They have learned that the best time to cross a dodgy river is in the morning. This is because the evening and night temperatures have cooled the water flow to a minimum. Later in the day, under the sun, the rivers tend to grow in volume and are more dangerous to cross.

8. They know how to start a fire.

They know that in an emergency situation or if they have to keep warm in very cold temperatures, they have to know how to start a fire. I know some backpackers who claim they know at least five ways of starting a fire. They know that they can process firewood, have a ferro rod, a survival knife and some cotton balls soaked in Vaseline.

9. They know about a country’s culture.

Backpackers who do their homework are always well rewarded. They know that it may not be politically correct to give vent to their opinions on the government, monarchy, legal system or drugs laws in public. The savvy backpacker would never insult the royal family in Thailand!

10. They will end up in random places.

Backpackers always have great stories to tell about situations or places where they had never planned to be. They will also have great anecdotes to tell about fascinating people they have met. The normal tourist will never be able to compete, as everything is so tightly organized for them.

11. They are content with very few things.

When they travel on a tight budget with very little weight, they realize how possessions, clothes and money and comfort do not matter at all. What matters is the adventure, the joy of the open road and the lack of a fixed timetable. Knowing this makes them feel content with very little.

12. They are more open-minded.

The great thing about backpackers is that they have seen so many different cultures and people all over the world that their world view is broad and tolerant. They are rarely bigoted and are also much more relaxed as they have experienced real danger or risky situations.

13. They love the night sky.

Ask any backpacker if they have ever experienced the pleasure of sleeping under a star lit sky. They will be enthusiastic because there are fewer and fewer places to see the night sky without the glare of urban lights, industrialization and pollution. Just think that a city dweller can only see about 500 stars whereas a backpacker in an International Dark Sky Park can see up to 15,000!

14. They are great map readers.

Experienced backpackers will know how to use a compass and read a map.Not many people can do that nowadays. But some backpackers rarely take the trouble to learn, which is foolish. This is essential when they may get lost and this basic skill can save a life!

15. They know how to purify water.

Backpackers always know about how important it is to be able to purify water because this is a rather heavy item to carry! In addition, they also know that 90% of the world’s water is not safe to drink without being purified. The USA backcountry and wilderness are no exception. Wise backpackers will know the ins and outs of chemical, chlorine or iodine treatment.
Many backpackers are only too keenly aware of the need to protect the environment. That is why they know all about the Leave No Trace rules and etiquette. The next time you meet backpackers, ask them!
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