About Me

“Life is the Real Thing”

Looking for the Light is a Health and Lifestyle blog started in 2005 under the name Defining Memories. I spent my early years blogging about my grandparent’s death, sharing the grieving process and caregiving tips. I openly talked about being sexually assaulted, growing up in house of domestic violence, alcoholism, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. I also went through the grieving process of losing my father to suicide in 1992. When it comes to baggage, I have it multiples.

In 2014 I needed a new direction, there wasn’t light at the end of my tunnel as they say. I went to look for it and hoped to share my life lessons with others who may not be in the same place and Looking for the Light was born. I still share my health and trauma experiences from time to time because others need to know they are not alone.

Today I’m a happy, so-so healthy, pretty adjusted woman who is working hard to lift up others as I grow stronger in my own life.

Looking for the Light

A portion of my post are dedicated to subjects on Chronic Illnesses, for which I have a few including being in remmision from Lyme Disease, Immune Deficiency Disorder, Fibromyalgia and Bipolar Disorder, Childhood Trauma and COPD.

I call myself an armchair advocate, by that I educate and share what I know through charities and organizations via my blog. Due to my ongoing health issues I’m not able to volunteer at this time.

I have a wide range of interests from Travel, Art, World History, World Religion, Ancestry, Education for Children, Climate Change, Animal Abuse, Mental Health, Birdwatching, and Photography.

Copyright

Copyright ©2014-2025 by Looking for the Light. All Rights Reserved. All written content is the property of Looking for the Light.

I’m so glad you took the time to read my About Me page, it was updated it on 12/16/2025.

I’m so glad you took the time to read a snippet About Me, it will give you a backdrop of the person behind the words. I hope you will leave a comment or just say hello and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

56 thoughts on “About Me”

  1. I am so sorry to hear all you went through. I have had my own traumas and headaches in life, and I believe they make us the strong women we are today.

    You’re such an inspiration and I wish you so much love and happiness going forward. :)

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  3. Oh, my dear sister, I can’t believe I missed this post? I’m truly sorry to hear about the hardships you’ve faced. As Kelly Clarkson sings, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and today, it’s clear you’ve become incredibly resilient.

    Your journey through challenges has shaped you into a person of remarkable strength. Your ability to endure and overcome adversity is truly inspiring. Please know that I deeply admire your courage and perseverance.

    We are here to support you every step of the way. Your strength is not only a source of inspiration to me but to everyone around you. Keep drawing on that inner resilience; you’ve already shown how capable you are of overcoming anything life throws your way.

    Keep pressing forward and refrain from looking back. The past is behind you, and ahead lies God with Open Arms, ready to embrace you—as are we.

    May God Bless You Today and Always .

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    1. Thanks for the kind words. Life is tough for many, it’s those that overcome that learn strength and can move forward in their life. I have a hard time with compliments, I’ve been that way al my life. I’m sure that stems from my mother always saying I was stupid and was a mistake. I forgave her years ago but you don’t forget. I’m glad you went to my About Me page, I thinkit’s important to know the people behind the blog. Take good care. Yes, God has a plan, we don’t always understand but my Granny always told me that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle and each set back prepares you for the next. I believe it’s true. :)

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  5. It is a deep and powerful journey Melinda, even in the simplest of things. And in that we slowly find that love within us by going through it all. Your journey has truly gone places that has tested every part of you…but I hear that love in what you speak so it is working well, as is your heart. Thank you for sharing that path of healing so that others can have hope ❤️🙏

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    1. Thank you for the kind words and reading my About Me page. I’ve come a long way and know have found life balance, the core reasons I blog and enjoy the community so much. I learn from others in ways I have not experienced and now have a healthy perspective and a great support system. I’ll check out you blog since it sounds new to me and see what you’re up to and probably will follow. Have a great day. I can’t find a way to like this comment since it was grown into spam. Take good care. :)

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      1. Yes Melinda, I had three goes at commenting. For some reason quite a few blogs I have trouble with and ‘many’ just won’t let me comment. I’ve had a blog for years and I sign in every day but even then it will only allow me to comment if I re-sign in at each site. It is making WordPress use a chore. Anyway, thank you for your reply and I hope your journey goes well kind lady. Take care 😀❤️🙏

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        1. Well Wp is a pain! I don’t sign out of Wp everyday, just once a week when I clean my browser. I’ve never hear having to sign in each time to make a comment. Have you checked your Settings under Discussion, I think it is. See what they are set on. I keep mine set on the only people allowed to comment have to be signed into WP. I put all comments in moderation for manual approval only. that cuts down on the ton of spam. Instead of contacting WP, Copilot can answer all your WP questions without the hassle of waiting to talk with or getting the wrong answers Let me know if you’re still having problems after a few fixes. I haven’t heard about what you talking about. :)

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          1. I had been signing out each day to refresh it in signing back in to see if that works but no go. But even if I stay signed in it is still causing a pain to comment on some other blogs. I hear quite a few others are having similar hiccups. Anyway, it appears ‘we’ are flowing so I give thanks for small mercies. I shall have a wander over the copilot, thank you very much 😀❤️🙏

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          2. WP always has its issues, after years of trying to tackle I stopped. It only makes my blood pressure go up and I get very angry at their incompetence. Where are you reading other’s posts? Reader, their site or through Notifications? I read mine through Notifications and have not had that problem but I know many are. :)

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          3. Notifications mainly but if it gets crazy I will try the reader. I get most but only after a fiddle or two. But there is still a couple that just flatly refuse any comment. Mind you, they may have blocked me 🤗🤣❤️🙏

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  10. I’m sorry for all of your illnesses, Melinda. (I see Melinda here and Rachel elsewhere.) They seem to be related, all painful emotionally and physically. I also have fibromyalgia and know all the ways it gets triggered into flare-ups. Hugs to you.

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    1. Thank you for the kind words. My Granny always said what you are experiencing is preparing you for the next challenge. She was talking about God, how he always knows what you can handle and it’s not punishment. I have a boring life but I’m working on my attitude about my health situation.So glad my traumatic life, as far as abuse goes, I’ve already worked thru them with my Therapist. She’s great. I’ve seen here for 30 years. Hopefully your Fibro not acting up and you are healthy. :)

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  12. Oh, I am so sorry for everything you have gone through. I have no doubt you help encourage and inspire others with what you do. Blessings and prayers for you, Melinda, and for those you help 🙏🤗

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  14. I’m so sorry you have been through so much trauma, pain and loss. I can totally identify with everything you have mentioned, as you’ll no doubt know from some of my posts that you’ve read. I have huge admiration and respect for you for having been able to move on from many of those very negative experiences and into a better way of life. However, I appreciate that you have many physical illnesses to deal with. I admire your courage and strength. I find your blog very inspiring, and it gives me hope for a better future for myself. You have certainly been writing for many years – that takes discipline and determination. I think you’re pretty remarkable in turning things around. I hope I get to that place in time. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for sharing these facts about yourself. Take care … Ellie x 💕

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    1. Hi Ellie,
      You’re way too kind and thank you from a person who has problems accepting compliments. But you’re right, anyone that can walk thru the storm, every day no matter how small is an amazing person. I’m so glad you found each other’s blogs. I think the writing is part of my therapy, I can share as much as I like or give you the gore. I’m at a good place with my trauma but struggling right now with my health and working to get back in charge of a few places in my life. Since you’re fairly new to my blog if you would like the front page and tell me does it look professional? is easy to manuver? any hassles? or ideas of where to move a widget. I want to stay static with my page and I can’t look at it from the reader’s perspective. If you have a minute. Have a great weekend. We must keep moving forward, even if’s one step a day or a week. :)

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      1. Hi, Melinda, Just a quickie for now. Thanks for your reply. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to take a proper look at your website as you requested. I haven’t been very well this weekend. Hopefully, I’ll be feeling better tomorrow and should have time to check out the features you mentioned and will then get back to you again. I’ve certainly liked what I’ve found so far. I just wanted to reassure you I wasn’t ignoring you and hadn’t forgotten. I hope you are well and that your weekend has gone smoothly. Xx 😘

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        2. Hello, Melinda. I’m feeling a little better physically, at least not so much mentally or emotionally. Still, I’ve taken a good look at your blog and wanted to get back to you regarding this. I love your static front page, as I can see all the different posts you’ve written with a little excerpt from each one. This is very effective and is something I’d like to display on my own blog, but I want to keep my theme the same. I think people can recognise our individual themes before they even read a post. I just wanted to let you know that I know that works for me. I’ve only changed my theme two, perhaps, three times since I started blogging in 2014, but it takes people a while to recognise our new themes. So, I think your theme works really well, and I wouldn’t be inclined to change it if I were you. Your side widgets seem to be well-placed. I love your little images – personal touches are important. I like that you have embedded your Twitter platform, too; something else I’ve never managed to suss out for my own blog. I also think that displaying your ‘ Community’ is helpful. With me, I like to hover over some of their Gravatars, and if I know you admire these bloggers’ posts, I feel more inclined to pop over to that person’s blog – almost as a recommendation from you. I hope all that makes sense – I really couldn’t see anything I’d change. Good luck with continuing your blog. I’m so glad we’ve ‘met’. Xx 🤗💕

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  16. Thank you for your beautiful and inspirational words. My blog too tries to seek “the light” in an often difficult world. I have written several short stories about my Irish born mother who was a unique inspiration and loved by all who knew her. As my Irish aunt says “if you are not laughing you are crying.” I love the title of your blog as I work part time as a Psych Tech and at every turn try to get our patients to hold on to even a glimmer of hope. Your thoughts become your life it is often said. And, if they cannot find the strength I always loved the quote “If you cannot look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark…”

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  19. Hi M, I hope you’re well…
    I am deeply inspired by your experiences. Sometimes I feel overburdened by the sad moments in my life, but then I think of everything you’ve been through, and I tell myself, whatever’s bugging me is nothing really. You’re a hero in so many ways. I hope everyone who stops by your beautiful blog feels inspired by you like I am. Thank you for all the encouragement you give me.
    I send you so much love.
    May the coming year be one that’s full of God’s abundant blessings, on you and all your loved ones.
    Happy New Year 2022!

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    1. Thank you so much for the kind words, my friend. It seems like yesterday when we first spoke yet it was years ago. You were a young woman about to go off to uni and start to become a woman. You’ve accomplished so much despite the obstacles in your daily life. Our lives are not that different, just different challenges, all of which make us who we are. Better than the situation we come from and we have control of where we go from here. So happy to see your life unfolding and I know when the time is right God will put the right man in your life. It doesn’t mean it will be the forever man, just a great man for the right time. When the right one comes along, you’ll know. Don’t push it, that doesn’t pay and hurts everyone involved. God is watching over you and will guide you in the right direction, just keep listening. Hugs.

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