When our bodies are holding tension even the simplest tasks seem hard because of the heaviness. I believe we are not meant to live day to day with tension. I watched my parents numb themselves with alcohol most of my life and when I got older I saw myself leaning on numbing the pain. For […]
How to relieve tension naturally, put down the ibuprofen — Diving Deep
Your parents and older relatives spent their time supporting you through a range of roadblocks you encountered in life. Now that they are older, it’s your turn to repay the favor. But how can you, your partner, siblings, and children provide the vital support that seniors need as they grow older?
It’s easy for seniors to become isolated from the world around them. Their friends may not live close enough anymore. Or they aren’t as mobile as they once were. However, staying in touch with a community can help stave off degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which will ensure their quality of life is as good as it can be. There are plenty of elderly communities around that you can find and introduce your relatives to, allowing them to meet people their age who share their interests. This means they won’t solely rely on you for the company, and can even have new experiences.
Life can be exceptionally busy, there’s no doubt about this, and because of this, there’s a risk that you neglect to get in touch with your elderly relatives as often as you should. However, this shouldn’t mean they cannot get in touch with you when they feel like a chat. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets may intimidate them at first, but they are crucial for ensuring that they can contact you, allowing you to offer the support they need. They won’t need the latest smartphone, but something easy to use and with a strong wifi connection will do the trick.
When planning how to support your parents, you need to remember that they are not just there. They are still human, and they will always have their preferences for how they want to live. Because of this, you must include them in any plans you have for offering support. Don’t neglect to ask them what they want to do, whether it’s visiting them at their house or go somewhere else where they can get some fresh air. It’s easy to feel like you lose your autonomy the older you get, so providing a chance to retain their independence will do wonders for their well being.
Sometimes, you can’t provide exactly what your elderly relatives need, so you need to assess these needs and look for solutions. While they might live at home now, medical conditions could impact how easy this is for them. If this is the case, you can consider retirement homes or care workers who will visit your relatives to provide the treatment they need. Services that offer such assistance include https://catholiccarecenter.org/long-term-care/, which will provide expert service and give you and your relatives the peace of mind you need.
Supporting your elderly relatives will help them manage their senior years more comfortably and prevent any of the loneliness or isolation problems that can come from old age. Whether they require a helping hand now and again or need more professional support, you can be there for them no matter what and make the best of the last years you have with them.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Have a great day!
Melinda
This is one celebration I can get behind anytime of day! My first coffee experience was in my baby bottle. I’m sure it was a dab but gramps said I had to have what he was drinking. I believe it knowing how close we were.
International Coffee Day is an occasion that is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world. The first official date was 1 October 2015, as agreed by then International Coffee Organization and was launched in Milan. This day is also used to promote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers. On this day, many businesses offer free or discounted cups of coffee. Some businesses share coupons and special deals with their loyal followers via social networking. Some greeting card companies sell National Coffee Day greeting cards as well as free e-cards.
Here’s a hot or cold toast of coffee to you! Here’s to the farmers who keep us going each and every day.
Melinda
I was kindly gifted a copy of One Step At A Time, My Eating Disorder Dairies by Francesca Giacomozzi from Soraya Nair at Cherish Editions for an honest review. Thank you, Soraya.
“Francesca Giacomozzi has lived in the UK since April 2016.
After quitting a full-time job that wasn’t fulfilling her, she studied to become a yoga teacher and reflexologist and now owns her own yoga teaching and massage therapy business.
Her drive to help others overcome mental health issues has pushed her out of her comfort zone, leading her to raise awareness about eating disorders as a daily mission.
Francesca has two degrees and can speak five languages.”
Excerpt From: Francesca Giacomozzi. “One Step at a Time.” Apple Books.
“My long-winded journey into a fuller and healthier self. Written with the hope that if you are lost, you will soon be found. This is the honest and unfiltered truth about me and my experiences as a warrior in eating disorder recovery. All the people mentioned in this book are real, and therefore have been made anonymous unless they provided consent to be spoken about by name.”
_______
Francesca Giacomozzi found herself on the verge of a crisis, exhausted from waking up day after day without a sense of purpose. Determined to get her life back on track, she decided to take on a challenge to engage both her mind and body: a two-week walk along the South West Coastal Path.
She invested in kit and prepared – or so she thought – for the solo trek. Little did she know, her journey would leave her with a completely different outcome to the one she expected. Her diary pages are filled with two tales: what happened on the trail, and how it made her feel on the inside.
When you’re faced with your demons, you have two paths you can take. You can tackle them head-on or you can turn and run. Francesca found herself at a crossroads and decided to face her demons in the most interesting way. She set out to trek 360 miles across England to find herself and found so much more.
Armed with her diary, she sets out and discovers the generosity of others feeds her need for food. When you struggle with an eating disorder, you over focus on food and look for an emotional fulfillment which doesn’t come. Fran struggles with her thoughts and self loathing along the way but as she reaches her destination there is a new sense of self. A sense she can overcome and ask for help.
Ask for help she does, she sees a therapist for the first time and starts a new, more informed and self assured chapter. I beleive she is living her best life and inspires others with deep rooted struggles that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Fran sprinkles in poetry throughout the chapters. She is a great writer and the book is a fast read, you can’t wait to see what adventure she will encounter next. You can also fully relate to the insecurities she feels about herself and in social situations.
I struggled with an eating disorder for years and can say this book hit home. It’s real and gives a look at the true mental and physical toll an eating disorder can take in the body.
This book is a great read for most types of mental health struggles, not just eating disorders. The guilt, anger, insecurities and shame are universal.
I highly recommend One Step At A time and give it 5 stars!
Cherish Editions is the self-publishing division of Trigger Publishing, the UK’s leading independent mental health and wellbeing publisher.
We are experienced in creating and selling positive, responsible, important and inspirational books, which work to de-stigmatise the issues around mental health, as well as helping people who read them to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing. By choosing to publish through Cherish Editions, you will get the expertise of the dedicated Trigger Team at every step of the process.
We are proud of what we do, and passionate about the books that we publish. We want to do the very best for you and your book, holding your hand every step of the way.
Happy Reading!
I know you will enjoy the book as much as I did and encourage you to pick up a copy today.
Melinda
Owning rental property can be a rewarding way to diversify your income, but it also requires a lot of work. One mistake that many landlords make is not investing in the right equipment or hiring the appropriate personnel. If you want to improve management efficiency for your rental property to maximize the return on your investment, read on.
Keeping up with repairs is essential to maintaining your rental property. You can do it yourself or hire a contractor if you do not have experience in repairs. If you find that the project is too much for one person, hiring someone will be worth it. It’s essential to communicate with tenants when there is an upcoming repair so they know what to expect and have time to plan accordingly.
You don’t want them surprised when their shower isn’t working at 11 pm on a Friday. Make sure you purchase all necessary materials ahead of time, so there are no delays during the process because you needed something but out-of-stock. Also, make sure any contractors you hire have insurance. This way, their damage won’t cost more than the actual material (and their insurance will cover it).
A noise monitoring device refers to a tool for surveillance. You can find these devices in homes and businesses of renters who want to ensure landlords or management companies don’t invade their privacy. They can be helpful when it comes to reporting noise complaints because Noiseaware, a noise level monitoring device, will record evidence that a tenant did make loud noises at an unreasonable hour.
Setting prices and expectations is essential because it helps you avoid disputes with tenants. For example, if the rent is set too high, your tenant may feel overcharged and look for another place to live. On the other hand, if prices are set too low, this could lead to reduced income and problems arising from non-paying or late-paying tenants.
To decide what price range to charge for a rental property in an area of comparable properties:
If rent control ordinances limit price increases, think about ways to make it more valuable over time. For example, it may mean investing money in improvements like landscaping and painting before new renters move in.
Paying regular visits to your premises is a double-edged sword. It is essential to be proactive and visit the premise regularly, but when you do, it’s also crucial that there are no issues left unresolved since your last visit. Your goals in doing this should always remain clear: find out what needs attention and take care of any problems right away.
It helps you follow up on any new issues that may have sprung up and make sure everything is in order. But, of course, you can never be too careful when it comes to your rental property, so err on the side of caution and keep making regular visits until you are sure there are no more problems.
When visiting, take time to look around to see if there is anything that you could improve or change, whether it’s about the premise’s security features or their organization and cleanliness. It isn’t always easy to remember what was wrong when looking at things from afar; by visiting regularly, you can make sure any problems get fixed before they turn into more significant issues later.
Learning about your tenants is essential for several reasons. You can know whether your tenants are good people to have around the property, but you can also use this information as leverage when setting prices and expectations. For example, if one tenant has a history of noise complaints from other neighbors, it might be time to set some ground rules around late-night activities to prevent future problems before they start.
Hiring a property manager is a great way to improve efficiency for your rental property. A professional management company can help you keep up with repairs, changes in tenant information and set appropriate fees for the cost of the rent. These are only a few ways that hiring a property manager will increase overall performance when renting out your valuable properties.
In conclusion, if you own rental property, several things will help improve management efficiency. By keeping these tips in mind, it’s easy to see why hiring managers can have such an impact on your bottom line as well as creating more free time.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Switching to a vegetarian diet is not for everyone. If you are, however, one of those people that can live off of vegetables and getting your proteins from vegetable-based foods, then switching to being a vegetarian may be a great choice for you. Vegetarian food is more clean, light, and has several health benefits. You need not switch to a vegetarian diet permanently, but if you are feeling that you need to take some time away from meat to cleanse, then going veggie could be what you need to feel better faster. Here are a few ways you can go veggie and still feel like yourself.
There are now several plant-based types of meat on the market. These alternatives have been flavored to taste just like the real thing, and many people who have chosen to switch to these products say that they cannot taste the difference. Switching to meat-less meat is good for you in that you are not getting animal products of fat or certain greases or oils into your diet. The meal will also rest lighter in your stomach and your digestion time will be faster than when your body has to use all of its enzymes to break down the animal meat in your body. It is recommended that you take yourself off of meat gradually so that you don’t fully shock your body. Start with pork and beef and then eventually get yourself off of chicken.
Not only can you get pasta made from vegetables like zucchini pasta, but you can also take regular pasta and make veggie pasta dishes. This alternative to meat pasta or pasta with meat sauces makes for a lighter dish that won’t weigh you down or make you feel tired. The veggie pasta is much lighter and the nutritional value is higher because you can mix soybeans for protein and taste along with carrots, peas, corn, asparagus, and a variety of other vegetables into the dish. With a light oil-based sauce mixed in with the food, you won’t have to worry about anything too high in acid that can affect the balance of your stomach. This dish will leave you feeling very light and full.
If you have ever watched the Popeye cartoon series you know that spinach is what gave him all of his power. He was right. Spinach is a great source of iron, so if you are going off of red meat, which is full of iron, spinach is a replacement that will keep your iron levels up and keep you energized. Iron helps build muscle and helps with growth and development. Iron helps the red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. If you are going vegetarian then you won’t have to worry about losing that very important mineral in your body. Spinach can be used as the base of a salad or it can be a great side dish at meals. If you are going off meat, then go to the store and get yourself a bag of spinach fast.
Now that you have seen some dietary changes you can make, what are the actual benefits of changing your diet?
When you eat a plant-based diet, you will have several health benefits and one of them is the reduced risk of diabetes. Because your diet will be virtually free from refined sugars, you won’t have to worry about the risk of developing blood sugar that is too high. You will find yourself getting sugars from other places like in fruit, but that can be easily managed.
You will find a lower risk of having high blood pressure from having a vegetarian diet. Most fruits and vegetables are low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol so the risk of your blood pressure going up is highly reduced.
There are other benefits of vegetarian diets like lowering the risk of asthma by reducing the intake of foods that cause inflammation, good bone health by eliminating the loss of calcium from animal products, and good heart health by eliminating ingredients that can cause blockages in arteries. Overall, you will be making a good choice by going vegetarian. You don’t have to go vegetarian forever, but if you are prone to or have a family history of some of these ailments, going vegetarian for a short period of time can help you reduce these risks and help you get on track to a healthier lifestyle.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Depending on what your goal is and what you are looking for in life, renting an apartment might be the best option for you. There are many benefits that come with renting an apartment, here are just a few to help you make your decision.
One of the key benefits of renting an apartment is that you get to live in a complex that offers a wide range of amenities, such as a swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, dog parks, etc. These kinds of perks would be too costly to have on your own property or apartment, but complexes include these offers in the lease agreements, which means you can enjoy them at a much more affordable price.
Rental contracts offer a lot more flexibility, as you can stay in an apartment for as long, or as short as you like. Although a length of time has to be agreed upon, signing the lease, can range from 6 months to 5 years. This means you can get up and move apartments fairly often, trying out new locations, price points, decor, layouts, etc. It also means more flexibility with money. You of course need enough to pay the deposit and rent, but that is a much smaller amount tied up in the lease, as opposed to the sizable deposit you have to make that is left tied up in a purchase.
Renting an apartment not only means you can move around more often if you wish, to try new locations, but you can also easily access more sought-after areas, for example, in the center of the City. This is because prices are much more accessible for renters, as opposed to those looking to purchase, who will see prices skyrocket for popular locations. This means you can reap the benefits, without the cost.
In most cases, the apartments are of top quality, as it is the goal of the landlords to fulfill the spaces. Most rental apartments need to be in good enough condition and meet certain standards, to be put on the market and habitable. In apartment complexes, you usually have dedicated staff on hand to keep up with the cleaning and maintenance of the complex and amenities. Renting also means access to high-quality apartments, as high-quality properties for sale tend to be priced significantly higher.
In a typical lease, there will be certain things you are responsible for, but there are also many things the landlord is responsible for too, such as repairs. This means if something breaks, that is not your fault, you can call the landlord to get it fixed. This takes a huge burden off your shoulders, as well as saves you a lot of money in the long run.
There are many benefits to renting an apartment. For more information, take a look at https://www.liveiconlouisville.com/.
Find exactly what you need when you need it.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Anyone looking for a family home needs to consider essentials including school catchment, child-friendly amenities, and, as we’ll be discussing here, local crime rates. After all, no parent actively wants to take their children into a well-known danger zone, especially in light of risks including home break-ins, drugs, and other criminal activities that could have a knock-on effect.
The trouble is that with crime rates directly impacting house prices, buying in the most obviously ‘safe’ neighborhoods often means price tags that remain out of reach for many of us. On the surface, this can make it seem like there’s no other option than to either redirect our property searches altogether or compromise somewhere along the line. But, what if we were to tell you that there is an easier, and cheaper, way to buy in a safe space? Keep on reading to find out how!
One of the best ways to ensure low crime rates regardless of your zip code is to simply consider complex living. With 24/7 maintenance and typically secure access, options like these Willow Crossings apartments provide undeniably, and more importantly affordable, safety benefits. Regardless of where you’re moving, these benefits can ensure safe streets for your kids to play on, as well as almost eliminating the possibility of break-ins. The typically close communities in areas like these also mean that you’ll be able to develop trusting relationships, and ensure that no matter what they’re doing, your kids are surrounded by friends who you know to be safe and trustworthy.
There’s no denying that the appeal of low crime rates can increase property value overall, but that doesn’t automatically have to outweigh your budget if you choose your areas wisely. Obviously, an already pricey suburban area may well be out of reach when you add low crime on top of that. However, buying in safe areas across affordable states like Mississippi (e.g. Madison and Brandon) could still see you enjoying the fourteenth-lowest violent crime rate in the US. As such, research, and price comparisons that help you to avoid already costly areas should mean that you can quickly offset the price of safety, to begin with.
As well as researching crime rates as they stand, it’s also well worth considering the future of any given area. This is true of any house search, where buying in locations in the pipeline for development can ensure bargain prices and steep increases. For safety purposes, especially, expansions and improvements that facilitate increases in police presence and a generally transformed population mean that, even if crime rates aren’t the best right now, they soon could be. And, getting ahead of that trend is almost guaranteed to see you paying less for the privilege.
Safety matters, but so does cost. Find a happy middle ground between the two by keeping these considerations in mind as you search for your next family home.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
As a part of Suicide Awareness Month, I want to talk about those left behind. Those left to grieve.
Grieving after suicide is complex and gutwrenching. Everyone grieves differently and heals in their own time but the process can be a difficult one. This is my story.
lookingforthelight.blog 