The O. Henry Prize is awarded to the best 20 English-language short stories of the previous year, chosen from thousands submitted by the American and Canadian publications in which they have appeared. They are read ‘blind’ by the jury, as anonymous texts, until the winners become clear. Featuring short notes on the stories by the jurors, the writers and the editor, Laura Furman, the stories showcase upcoming talent. The memorial is intended to “strengthen the art of the short story and to stimulate younger authors,” (Blanche Colton Williams, 1879-1944). With those credentials, I expected a lot of the collection, and was somewhat disappointed at its weak start. However, it exceeded my expectations by the end.

I have been taking 1stPhorm's MasterBrain for about 3 full weeks now, and I am impressed. As a college instructor, a busy mom, and a student myself currently studying for my NASM personal training certification, my brain is running 100-miles an hour at all times. In every aspect of my life, I need to be "on" at all times, expecting nothing less than full-effort in any task that I do. With that external and internal stress, I constantly face mental-fatigue, and I am prone to anxiety as is typical for so many of us with a type-A personality. For years, I relied on anti-anxiety medication through some very stressful years of my life, and as much as I loved feeling able to handle life, I hated feeling numb to all feelings, good and bad. Through daily exercise and a clean diet, I successfully manage my anxiety most days without medication, but in times of high stress, those emotions take over and control my life.