Society expects us to have all things worked out; many walk around hiding their genuine emotions and pain, People calling people out for not being honest or up to the status quota. More and more people daily turn into isolation, hanging with the wrong crowds, turning to drugs to hide their pain, and refusing to cure it from within. The cycles of constant hurt within families continue, backstabbing methods continue, and something has to change. This book will share some everyday things we all have in common today, followed by tips and strategies to make us whole. Whole by accepting our past, whole by accepting our truth, whole by understanding each other's differences while seeing the value. Prepare yourself to get inspired, motivated, and learn of ways to persevere in life regardless of your yesterdays.

Optimism in the Viral Pandemic by Romain U. DuFour __________________________________

This book acts as a compilation of papers presented in the Human Engineering Symposium (HUMENS 2021). The symposium theme, “Human-centered Technology for A Better Tomorrow,” covers the following research topics: ergonomics, biomechanics, sports technology, medical device and instrumentation, artificial intelligence / machine learning, industrial design, rehabilitation, additive manufacturing, modelling and bio-simulation, and signal processing. Fifty-nine articles published in this book are divided into four parts, namely Part 1—Artificial Intelligence and Biosimulation, Part 2—Biomechanics, Safety and Sports, Part 3—Design and Instrumentation, and Part 4—Ergonomics.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PK-12 education has halted traditional education but has also fostered innovation in distance learning, parental involvement in their children's education, and families' coping mechanisms when forced to "self-quarantine." The educational community is thirsting for strategies, methods, and tools to help with prevention of gaps in the education of youth during this pandemic and in preparation of future global crises. Educational Recovery for PK-12 Education During and After a Pandemic builds awareness of the needs prevalent to the education of PK-12 students effectively during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and provides tools and strategies to assist these students as they grapple with new teaching and learning styles. This book provides timely information to support new modes of teaching and learning during this unprecedented time and fosters traditional methods of education while concurrently respecting guidelines set by the CDC to keep students safe and eliminate gaps in learning. It also benefits the educational community by leading the field in innovative steps to effectively educate PK-12 students so they will continue to be contributing members of society albeit surviving the most devastating epidemic in the last 100 years. Focusing on a wide range of topics such as student mental health, learning gaps, and best teaching practices, this book is ideal for teachers, administrators, district superintendents, counselors, psychologists, social workers, parents, academicians, researchers, and students.

COVID-19 and Well-being: Life in the Pandemic explores the immediate implications of the pandemic for people’s lives and livelihoods in OECD countries. The report charts the course of well-being – from jobs and incomes through to social connections, health, work-life balance, safety and more – using data collected during the first 12-15 months of the pandemic.

The Coronavirus (CV) Pandemic has affected all of us, in some way or another. Some of us have been diagnosed with Covid-19 and have survived. Some still have lingering symptoms. You might be what is currently called a Covid "Long-Hauler". Some have not survived. All of us, however, have been impacted psychologically and emotionally, even if we never were affected physically. If not dealt with, the Stress we now feel these days might develop into lingering Covid Mental Health Issues and/or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At the time of this writing, we are almost a year into this Pandemic. We are receiving conflicting information on the Pandemic, Politics, the Economy, and many other aspects of our daily living. All this is overwhelming, at least for me. Maybe for you too. Time will tell how this pandemic will linger on in our lives physically, mentally, and maybe even spiritually as the days, weeks, months, and years go on. This book might at least give you some ideas and/or resources for now and in the future, if needed. This book is probably not for those who are thriving in the current situations we are all in at this time. This book is more for those who are slogging through each day, just like me - learning to live "Just for Today".

So many lives have been lost now and the death toll still continues to rise because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The poor and the marginalized, not surprisingly, have been disproportionately affected. The pandemic has exposed the fault lines not only in our healthcare but also in our political and economic system, a system driven by the pursuit of the bottom line--profits. If we are not only to survive but also thrive as a global society, the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic must lead us to explore ways of thinking, being, and dwelling that promote our shared flourishing. It is time to take personal stock about ourselves: who we are, where we have been, and where we are heading. What can the pandemic teach us about ourselves? What is it revealing about us and our situation? How shall we dwell together? Do we want to wake up to a new and better tomorrow after this nighttime of pandemic? That will largely depend on the way we respond now. Who are we becoming in this time of pandemic? What daily practices are we doing as embodiments of the new world we are anticipating?

Generation Disaster: Coming of Age Post-9/11 focuses on the numerous stressors that have had an impact on today's emerging adults including climate change, school shootings, economic recession, and of course, the national trauma of 9/11. Disaster mental health expert Karla Vermeulen draws on a combination of statistics, academic sources, and her own original research, including results from a nationally representative survey, to examine these challenges as they are experienced by emerging adults who continue to fight for their future. The result is a corrective to previous works that dismiss "kids today" as fragile or entitled, and instead emphasizes the generation's strength in the face of unprecedented uncertainties and obstacles.

This book follows up the debate on the future of science and technology at the Curious2022 – Future Insight Conference, the second event in this conference series initiated on the occasion of Merck’s 350th anniversary. In the chapters, some of the world’s top scientists, managers and entrepreneurs explore breakthrough technologies and how they can be applied to make a better world for humanity. The book begins with an introduction to the vision of the conference “United by science for a better tomorrow” and the impacts caused by the pandemic, highlighting the importance of gathering like-minded people to discuss and support the advancement of science and technology for the benefit of humanity. In the first part of the book, readers will also find a chapter written by the Executive Board of Merck KGaA discussing the importance of curiosity for innovation and an overview of the company’s contribution in the areas of life sciences, healthcare and electronics forward-moving the scientific discovery. The second part of the book offers insights of some of the scientific topics discussed at the conference, and particular attention is given to new therapies and sustainability. In the final part of the book, readers will find some thoughts on ethical principles guiding our application of science and technology to create a bright future for humanity, and diverse perspectives on topics such as health, life sciences, nutrition, material sciences, digitalization, AI, energy, mobility, space flight, robotics, the secrets of the human mind and new ways of working together. Given its interdisciplinary appeal, the book will inspire curiosity in a wide readership, from scholars and researchers to professionals with an interest in exploring the future of science and technology, solving the problems of today, and paving the way for a better tomorrow. Chapters 1 and 2 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com