Looking for the Light is a Health and Lifestyle Blog covering topics such as Photography, Cooking, DIY Projects, Fitness, Men's and Women's Health, Lyme Disease, Mental Health, and having fun along the way.
Please stop by, pull up a chair, and read through my archives.
Melinda
Being a parent is never easy, and this is something you need to make the most of right now. Try to do as much as possible to figure out what it takes to be a better parent. There are so many things you need to keep in mind that can play a part in this, and it is important to make sure you do what is best for your kids.
You need to do as much as you can to come up with ideas that will help you to be the best parent you can possibly be. There are many things that you need to keep in mind, and it is important to make sure you move forward in the best possible way and look to make the right decisions for your kid’s life right now.
Make the Right Financial Decisions
There are a lot of financial decisions that you need to be making as a parent, and they are essential in helping to raise your family in the right way. You need to look at the places you can cut costs and save money as much as possible in the day to day life. You also need to try to make use of things like the child support payment calculator to work out important figures. You need to get a better handle on your financial situation because this is one of the best ways of being able to take things to the next level and work on being able to improve the family finances long-term.
Talk About Tough Topics
It is important as a parent to be able to talk to your child about tough topics and broach important issues with them. Kids are inquisitive, and they will ask about things you may not expect them to ask. This is something that you need to try to make the most of, and use these opportunities to talk about the essentials right now. Talking with kids about terrible things is actually a really important part of parenting, and they need to be able to have these experiences and conversations in an honest and straightforward manner.
Encourage But Don’t Push
Encouraging your children is really important, and you need to be looking to do as much as possible to focus on this. Your kids will have certain talents, and it’s important to encourage and nurture these, but you have to be aware of pushing them too much and forcing them into things they don’t really want to be doing. This is something that a lot of parents tend to struggle with, and it’s a hurdle you need to try to overcome as much as you possibly can moving forward.
Try to do as much as possible to come up with ideas that are going to help you take things to the next level as a parent. There are a lot of things to think about here, and it is important to make the most of them.
Whether you’re just getting on the property ladder or you’re moving to a larger home, finding the right property is essential. When you’re searching for your dream home, you don’t want to rush the process. By taking your time and waiting for the right property to come on the market, you can be sure that you’ve truly found the property of your dreams. To help you plan your search, take a look at these top tips now:
1. Know What You’re Looking For
Before you start viewing properties, spend some time thinking about what features your dream home should have. It’s easy to be swayed once you start looking at homes, so taking the time to prioritize your ‘must-have’ features will ensure you have a clear idea of exactly what you’re looking for.
2. Get Financing in Place
You don’t want to find your dream property only to miss out because you don’t have the funds ready. By getting the financing in place now, you can ensure you’re ready to make an offer as soon as you find your dream property. Many mortgage firms and banks offer pre-approval, so you can get a mortgage lined up, ready for when you can complete a purchase.
3. Choose the Right Location
No matter what features a property has, it won’t be right for you if it’s not in a good location. Consider your commute to work, how close you are to amenities and, if you have them, what your kid’s journey to school will be like. By choosing the right location for your next home, you can ensure you have the lifestyle you’ve always dreamt of.
4. Stay Up to Date
When a dream home comes on the market, it probably won’t be available for long. Once you’ve decided what location you’re looking at, stay up to date with what properties are on the market. Fortunately, the internet makes it easy to keep on top of new properties. By searching for https://www.camijoneshomes.com/kansas-city-homes-for-sale/, for example, you can see the latest homes that are available. With regular checks, you’ll be the first in line when your dream home is listed for sale.
5. Think About Your Future
If you’re buying a dream home, then you want to think long-term. Imagining your future and how your lifestyle might change will give you an idea of how your dream home should look, feel, and function. The potential to increase the size of the property might be useful if you want to start a family, for example. Alternatively, the proximity to the local business center might be advantageous if you’re thinking about a change in career.
Searching for Residential Real Estate
If you want to locate your dream home, it can be beneficial to build a good working relationship with local realtors. They’ll be the first to know when a property is coming on the market and can let you know when something fits your criteria. By moving quickly, you can ensure that you’re in a position to make an offer when the property of your dreams comes on the market.
The Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016 ensures doctors and patients KNOW about the ability to partial fill a prescription. One, doctors already know how to write prescriptions for so many days, I’ve experienced this myself after my knee surgery. I was given one week of pain medication, not a full month. Two, this opens up the law for companies like CVS to interpret the law and create their own policies. Giving the pharmacist the ability to decide who or if to fill the prescription.
I’m all for most of this bill but let’s address the real issue! Fentanyl. People are NOT overdosing from prescription opioids, they are taking Fentanyl, a synthetic drug, the government has decided to call an opioid. If the overdoses are Fentanyl then why are doctors being targeted for writing prescriptions? Why are doctors refusing to write prescriptions? Why are pharmacies refusing to fill prescriptions?
THIS is why if you are reading this, you have to contact the State and U.S. Senate and House representatives for your state to show your disapproval of this law. How has this affected you? I read post every day about how someone was denied pain medication or the doctor doesn’t even write pain medication any longer for fear of being targeted.
Let your Legislatures know what this law has done to you, how have you been discriminated against because of someone’s interpretation of the law. This bill was passed into law. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) continues to push to build on the restrictions on opioid medication. I read an article this morning that stated she had 81 supporters already. That’s nowhere near the majority needed to pass the CARE ACT, but she continues to push for an additional $100 billion dollars and much stiffer restrictions.
We have to make our voices heard. If you are reading this and live in the United States you can send four emails! Find out who your state representatives are and email their office. Let them know what you are ill with, how it affects your life, and how this discrimination against pain patients has affected you, or how further changes could. Let them know you want them to focus on Fentanyl, not prescription opioids.
We have to do this together. We can’t sit back and think someone else is going to take care of pain patients. It’s only going to get worse for all of us.
In Health,
Melinda
WARREN.SENATE.GOV
OCTOBER 04, 2018
Bipartisan Bill Including Several Warren Priorities is Set to Become Law
Washington, DC – United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) applauded the final Senate passage of bipartisan legislation combat the opioid crisis. The legislation, which is set to be signed by President Trump, contains several of Senator Warren’s bipartisan efforts to address the epidemic, including:
Disposal of Controlled Substances by Hospice Care Providers: This provision, which is based on Senator Warren’s bipartisan Hospice Safe Drug Disposal Act, will allow hospice care providers to safely and properly dispose of leftover prescription opioid medications in order to reduce diversion and misuse of prescription medications, and will require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of hospice safe drug disposal management.
Recovery Housing Best Practices: This provision is based on Senator Warren’s Ensuring Access to Quality Living Actand will require HHS to develop guidelines for operating recovery housing, in order to ensure that individuals recovering from an opioid addiction receive quality care.
Partial Filling of Opioid Prescriptions: This provision improves implementation of Senator Warren’s Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016 by ensuring that more doctors and patients know about the option to partially fill opioid prescriptions.
Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances: This provision is based on the Every Prescription Conveyed Securely (EPCS) Act, which Senator Warren introduced with her colleagues to gather better data on opioid prescriptions and help health care providers make the best decisions for their patients by requiring electronic prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, under Medicare.
Assistance for States and Municipalities to Detect Fentanyl: This provision incorporates Senator Warren’s Surveillance and Testing of Opioids to Prevent (STOP) Fentanyl Deaths Act, which aids states and municipalities in identifying the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl in both fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses.
“This is a deadly epidemic, and we need to do everything we can to respond to it accordingly,” said Senator Warren. “While Congress could have gone further in providing communities with the resources they need to address the epidemic, I supported this bill because it makes some common-sense changes that will help us in our fight against the opioid crisis. I am also pleased that several bipartisan provisions I worked on with my colleagues were included in the final bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”In April, Senator Warren and Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act to provide states and communities with $100 billion in federal funding over ten years, including more than $800 million a year directly to tribal governments and organizations.###
I believe self-care is something we can do every day, it doesn’t have to be big steps but simple small steps that add joy /relieve stress throughout the day. Here are a few of the small ideas to make your week better.
There may be affiliate links in this post for which I make a small commission. They do not cost you extra to use and help to supply my coffee habit.
FAMILIFE Manicure Set, Professional Manicure Kit Nail Clippers Set 13pcs Stainless Steel Pedicure Tools Kit Grooming Kit with Portable Brown Leather Travel…
It’s the weekend, YEAH! I’m so glad you’ve joined me. Did you know I take request? Drop me a line in the comments and I’ll get you on the air.
Bono from U2 like you’re never seen him before.
The world has been tested to the limits by the COVID-19 virus and we need to keep dreaming. There are better days ahead!
In Health,
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
As many of us are finding ourselves at home for work at the moment, it can feel a little disorientating having to go back and forth in the same space. With that being said, there’s a lot that you can do in order to make working from home a more enjoyable experience. Remote working might be something that’s even more common in the future and so it’s worth exploring what you can do to make it a healthy environment for yourself. Here are some tips to stay healthy whilst working from home.
A separate workspace is something that you want to try and incorporate as best as you can. Even if you’re setting up a temporary wall in your living or dining room area so that it can feel like you’re stepping into an office. If you have a study room, then you certainly want to take advantage of this as this can provide the workspace you need in order to thrive. When you’re working from home, the last thing you want to do is to be sharing the communal spaces or using space like the living room or your bedroom and blurring those lines. If you’ve had a hard day at work and you’ve been doing it in the living room, you’ll probably want to avoid that space from then on. It can end up hindering your home space, and so it’s worth finding a set up that can work in the home but is not going to encroach on the space where you relax at the end of the day.
Take Advantage Of Lighting Features On Your Devices
When it comes to your electronic devices, whether that be your laptop or your phone, it’s worth tweaking the lighting. This is when you need to adjust it during early morning starts or late nights. The light from our phones and computers can be quite harsh on our eyes and so knowing how to go into dark mode here can be beneficial. It’s always good to know what the dangers are when it comes to spending too much time in front of a computer screen. It’s important to find options that can help reduce the impact of screen time, and it may be worth you getting some glasses that can block blue light. This can be helpful in your eyes and to give them a rest from the harsh lights that come from our screens.
Make Sure Regular Breaks Are Taken
It’s important to focus on your break times when it comes to working from home. You want to ensure you’re still getting those breaks to help you reset your batteries and to give yourself a break from the workload that you have on. When it comes to regular breaks, make sure you’re stepping away from your desk and stretching your body. It’s crucial that you’re not sat down in a seat for hours on end. You should be getting up and going for regular walks around the home in order to help keep your body moving. Be sure to take a proper lunch break as well and practice eating away from your desk if you tend to eat at the desk typically.
Schedule Your Day
Scheduling your day is important because it’s going to help keep you motivated to do the work you’ve set out to do. Try to incorporate the breaks into your schedule so you know when you have some free time coming up and that it won’t interrupt anything you’re doing that might break your productivity. Some people like to schedule their day hour by hour, whereas others will like to do it morning and afternoon. Others might find that they just have a to-do list that’s in order of when they do it. It’s good to find and practice what works for you so that you’re getting the most out of your day.
You might want to buy yourself a physical planner or perhaps look at online platforms that you can use to set out your tasks. Explore what’s possible and what works well for your productivity levels. We’re all different so we’ll all need to work a little differently!
Your working hours should be the same as they are if you were in the office. So if you’re starting at 9am, start at 9am. Be strict with yourself and your employer because for some, they may try and take advantage of the fact you no longer have the commuting time to factor in. It’s still important that you’re doing the hours that you’re paid to do and that you’re not overworking yourself. That’s not something that’s going to be helpful for you, and we’re all only capable of doing so many hours of creative work before we burn out. Your working hours might not be exactly the timings you usually do but try and get as close to them as possible.
Continue To Eat Healthily
In order to stay healthy, it’s important to continue to eat healthy when working from home. When working at home, there can be a lot of temptation within your kitchen cupboards, and if you’re doing more hours from home, then you may do your weekly shop accordingly. This might be that you have more food than you would while in your workplace. Try to be strict with your food intake and be sure to not eat too much throughout the day that it’s going to leave you feeling lethargic, especially if you’re not doing much exercise. Try to keep yourself fit and healthy both in body and mind, which a lot of it can be influenced by the food we eat.
Staying healthy while working from home can prove to be a challenge, but it’s something that’s important to do. Use these tips to help stay healthy during these remote working occasions.
This Safety Announcement from the FDA came out over a year ago yet I read every day about patients being refused refills or quick tapering off of Opioids causing serious withdrawal symptoms.
This happened to me at the beginning of the pandemic. I didn’t want to go into the office for a urine sample instead offered to go to the local lab where I had already been and knew their safety protocol. I was clearly told I had to come in or the doctor would not refill my medication.
I was given two weeks’ worth of medication and told to g find another doctor. That is not being a responsible doctor! I filed a complaint with the Medical Board but they said it was within his right to require I come to the office.
We have to keep raising our voices loudly every chance we get to our government officials, policymakers, and the FDA, NHS, or other governing bodies that pain patients are not being treated properly.
Get involved and make sure to always file a complaint every time you are not treated professionally as a Pain Patient.
[4-9-2019] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of serious harm in patients who are physically dependent on opioid pain medicines suddenly having these medicines discontinued or the dose rapidly decreased. These include serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, psychological distress, and suicide.
While we continue to track this safety concern as part of our ongoing monitoring of risks associated with opioid pain medicines, we are requiring changes to the prescribing information for these medicines that are intended for use in the outpatient setting. These changes will provide expanded guidance to health care professionals on how to safely decrease the dose in patients who are physically dependent on opioid pain medicines when the dose is to be decreased or the medicine is to be discontinued.
Rapid discontinuation can result in uncontrolled pain or withdrawal symptoms. In turn, these symptoms can lead patients to seek other sources of opioid pain medicines, which may be confused with drug-seeking for abuse. Patients may attempt to treat their pain or withdrawal symptoms with illicit opioids, such as heroin, and other substances.
Opioids are a class of powerful prescription medicines that are used to manage pain when other treatments and medicines cannot be taken or are not able to provide enough pain relief. They have serious risks, including abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. Examples of common opioids include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.
Health care professionals should not abruptly discontinue opioids in a patient who is physically dependent. When you and your patient have agreed to taper the dose of opioid analgesic, consider a variety of factors, including the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment, the type of pain being treated, and the physical and psychological attributes of the patient. No standard opioid tapering schedule exists that is suitable for all patients. Create a patient-specific plan to gradually taper the dose of the opioid and ensure ongoing monitoring and support, as needed, to avoid serious withdrawal symptoms, worsening of the patient’s pain, or psychological distress (For tapering and additional recommendations, see Additional Information for Health Care Professionals).
Patients taking opioid pain medicines long-term should not suddenly stop taking your medicine without first discussing with your health care professional a plan for how to slowly decrease the dose of the opioid and continue to manage your pain. Even when the opioid dose is decreased gradually, you may experience symptoms of withdrawal (See Additional Information for Patients). Contact your health care professional if you experience increased pain, withdrawal symptoms, changes in your mood, or thoughts of suicide.
We are continuing to monitor this safety concern and will update the public if we have new information. Because we are constantly monitoring the safety of opioid pain medicines, we are also including new prescribing information on other side effects including central sleep apnea and drug interactions. We are also updating information on proper storage and disposal of these medicines that is currently available on our Disposal of Unused Medicines webpage.
To help FDA track safety issues with medicines, we urge patients and health care professionals to report side effects involving opioids or other medicines to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the “Contact FDA” box at the bottom of the page.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 06: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys greets Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the Packers’ 34-24 win at AT&T Stadium on October 06, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Ahead of the NFL season, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott opened up about his struggled with mental health earlier during lockdown, around the time that his brother tragically took his own life. While he faced some pretty despicable criticism from FS1’s Skip Bayless, most have been extremely supportive of Prescott, including Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
During Wednesday’s press conference, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman asked the Packers quarterback about Prescott’s admission, as well the value of high-profile athletes and stars talking about their own battles with depression and other mental health struggles. Rodgers agrees that it is extremely helpful in building a connection to the public and destigmatizing the issues, which long went under-addressed in society. He also took a pretty thinly veiled shot at Bayless in the process.
“I think it’s great, I saw what Dak said and I applaud him,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s phenomenal, him speaking out, because that’s true courage and that’s true strength. It’s not a weakness at all. And anybody who attacks it… other people’s opinions of ourselves have really nothing to do with us. And other people’s opinions of Dak have nothing to do with him. That’s their own insecurities to deal with their own s–t, probably.”
“I think it’s a beautiful thing when people start talking about it, because at the bare minimum it makes you more relatable to people. That we have the same struggles, and the same issues, and the same desires to grow and change and see things in a better, positive light that so many people out there do. And I think the more that we can connect with people, especially with conversations like this, the better our society can be moving forward as a connected society built around love and positivity.”
“Thought I’d ask Aaron Rodgers today about mental health, specifically what he thinks the value of people like him and Dak Prescott talking about their headspace, happiness and mental well-being has in destigmatizing talking about that stuff.”
Rodgers also discussed how others, like Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, may have gotten slightly different treatment when they opened up about depression years ago. The bright side of it is that it does seem like public sentiments are shifting in a big way.
“There’s a weird stigma around it… to either ask for help or admit you’re struggling with things, or admit negative thoughts about yourself. I think the strength is taking care of yourself and taking care of your mind and understanding how important your thoughts are because they become things, and understanding how important positivity is, and your attitude, and waking up each day with the right focus and the right mindset.”
As Aaron Rodgers acknowledges, it is good for guys like him and Dak Prescott to discuss these things openly, because it can encourage others who need help to do the same, before things take a bad turn.
Kudos to all of the star athletes and other celebrities who do so.
Hi, it’s Wednesday! I’m so glad you’re here! This is my artistic interpretation of photos my husband took in Washinton D.C. in 2015. We were traveling to D.C. every month to see my Lyme doctor. He got to know the area well while I stayed in the hotel room resting over an 18 month period.
The human race is having a hard time at the moment, but there are behaviours we can adopt to help support us in times of stress and lay the foundation for a more long-term, self-supported way of living.
1. We’re all told to treat others as we’d like to be treated, but it is actually really important to treat ourselves as we expect to be treated by others. If you don’t respect yourself enough to champion yourself and create boundaries which protect you, why should anyone else?
This goes from the smallest acts such as making sure you sleep and eat well, to larger behaviours such as protecting your boundaries by not allowing yourself to be persuaded by others that principles you hold dear are not worth adhering to. Others will take their cue from your own attitude to yourself.
2. You need to treat others with respect and compassion and where possible put yourself into their shoes and try and see situations from their point of view. If you like certain behaviours exhibited towards yourself, you can bet others like them shown towards them.
3. Remember you don’t need to have all the answers. It is okay not to know things and to say so, because this is how we learn. You can’t know things you haven’t been taught or come across before, and that goes for everyone. Even a physics genius may not know how to milk a goat! We all know something that someone else doesn’t. Learning from others is fundamental to growing as a human.
4. If you’re struggling, the brave thing is to ask for help. This is braver than suffering in silence, which can often make things worse and is much less retrievable. There’s a lot of help out there for all sorts of situations—just ask.
5. Embrace your differences and those of others; these are our strengths. Being different is good. We can bring a fresh perspective to tired views, a different way of tackling problems, or just a different way of being. Uniqueness is usually a selling point!
6. Look after your body. It’s got to last you the whole of your life and you don’t want to find yourself with 20 years of making do with a clapped out model when a little bit of care could see you almost to the finish line with very little need for intervention. So move—humans are designed to do just that. Eat in ways that support your health. We all know the drill—plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, good sources of protein, and forget the sugar hits. Sugar has been associated with inflammatory conditions, anxiety, and mood disorders (Anika Knuppel, UCL)
7. Anxiety is like a muscle—the more you exercise it the stronger it becomes. If you can learn to divert yourself from over-anxious ruminating thoughts, you will benefit by breaking the cycle. Gentle, supported exposure to anxious situations will lessen their impact over time. Go for a walk, take a bath, phone a friend, practice yoga and meditation—all of these have been proven to lower anxiety and improve mood.
8. Pay attention to your feelings. After all, we have them for a reason. This does not mean you have to dwell on them and ruminate about them (see above) but you do need to acknowledge how you feel and which of your actions contribute to these feelings. In this way, you can repeat the actions that bring happiness, relaxation, and well-being and drop the habits that don’t. If you’re not sure which are which, keep a diary of what you do, who you see, what you eat, how much sleep you get, and so on. Soon you will begin to see patterns that will inform your understanding of how external behaviours impact you internally.
9. Spend time in nature. There is enough research now to know that wildlife and a rural landscape impact us positively. Even something as small as a window box or plant can make a difference to your well-being. This has been admirably demonstrated during this lock-down year when many people have reported how birdsong and glimpses of butterflies have helped them get through gloomy days full of bad news. Taking a walk every day, playing football in the park, even in a city landscape, can get you in touch with trees, sunshine, and air—all for free and all mood-boosting.
10. Kindness is the most important trait we can display, both towards ourselves and others. Small acts of kindness can make a huge difference in how we feel about ourselves and others; both performing them and receiving them. A friendly wave or smile might be the only contact a neighbour regularly receives. A genuine compliment is always well received and a nice thing to give to others. Helping out when it’s of little cost to yourself may make someone else’s day. Our view of the world starts small, in our own communities so if we can make that positive, then as we go out into the world we take that attitude with us and spread it around.
11. Don’t be afraid of things going wrong. If you never try, you’ll never learn. Don’t give up for every time you fail you learn something to take forward for the next attempt. All of life is a learning process and many successful people had catastrophic failures on their way up. The key? They didn’t stop trying.
12. And remember how powerful the mind is. “If you think you can and if you think you can’t, you’re right.”
References
Anika Knuppel, Martin J Shipley, Eric J Brunner: Scientific Reports 7, Article 6287, 27 July 2017
This gentle body wash is great for sensitive skin because it’s made with coconut oil and aloe vera, making it extra soothing. It’s also super refreshing, and the cooling effect of the mint is a great way to start your day.
You Will Need
Yields 1 1/4 cups
1/2 cup Castile soap, unscented
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted/jojoba oil
2 TB. aloe vera gel, at room temperature
1 TB honey, melted
25 drops of peppermint essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Funnel
Container
To Make
Whisk together all the ingredients until completely combined. Use a funnel to pour the body wash into your container of choice. I like to use one with a pump handle to make this soap easier to use, as it’s thinner than a store-bought body wash. this body wash will separate between uses because there are no binders or stabilizers included. Simply shake it together before each use.
2020 has been a year unlike any other. While it has certainly had its downs, there have also been a fair amount of happy moments, memorable moments, and things we have learned and taken away. No matter what situation you are in now, it is important to remember to keep positive, look forward and treat everything as a learning curve and something you can look back on and see how it made you grow. Here are three things that 2020 has taught us.
Never take anyone for granted
2020 saw us plunge into a lockdown where we could no longer see our loved ones that didn’t live with us. It taught us all a valuable lesson in just how much our friends and family mean to us. As the saying goes, “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” Without the privilege of being able to pop to a grandparent’s for a cup of tea, to head to a bar for a catch up with friends, or out for a working lunch with your colleagues, we all realized how much it meant to us. With this new realization, it is important to remember it once we can mix and socialize again. If there are external factors still meaning you can’t see your loved ones, such as a custody battle, it is important to meet professionals such as Eric Palacios & Associates Law Firm and get this sorted as soon as you can.
Never take anything for granted
Back in the deepest of lockdown, there were so many things we wanted to do that we couldn’t, and this taught us to never take anything for granted. Whether it was a simple picnic in the park, being able to go for a wander to the shops or to hop on the train and explore a different city or town for a weekend break, we all missed what used to be the normality. Having all of this taken away just went to show how much we can take for granted and that we should stop, slow down, and appreciate all the small things in life that bit more.
Life’s too short to do things that don’t make you happy
With so much time to sit and think, or with having to make extra effort to work from home and keep the motivation going, this year taught us about doing what makes us happy. It gave a lot of us time to evaluate our life and career choices and to see if they were actually what we wanted to do. Many people decided to give running their own business a go, and it has worked out well for many and has been a learning curve for others. It’s important for your mental health to take care of yourself and do what makes you happy every day.
This has been an unprecedented year and one unlike any other. It is important not to focus too much on the negatives and instead look back and see what it has taught you. This way, you can grow as a person and better yourself for the future.
How old were you when you picked up your first camera? How old? The wrong side of 50. I’ve never owned a non-smartphone camera until COVID hit. And never really used my smartphone for “real” photographs, even though I loved the beauty of Photographs. How long did it take you to decide on the camera […]
No matter how painful the relationship was, we may mourn its end.
Sometimes, the people closest to us cause the most pain and lose the right to be part of our lives.In these cases, ending a relationship, be it an unhappy marriage, a one-sided friendship, or a toxic family relationship is the healthiest choice. But the decision to end a relationship and the process of extricating ourselves can bring up all kinds of difficult feelings.
What Happens When We End a Relationship
When we decide to end a relationship, we may feel doubt and dismay. We may feel like we are abandoning or deserting the relationship. We may worry that we failed to “save” it—maybe we should have “just tried harder” to fix it. It may feel like the time invested in that relationship was wasted, even if it held a meaningful place in your life for months, years, or even decades. The vacuum left by the relationship can bring loneliness, even if you already felt lonely in the relationship. It may feel devastating to realize the relationship is over, even if the relationship had felt challenging and draining for years.
These feelings, symptoms of a grief response, can feel confusing. Shouldn’t the fact that it was our choice to end a relationship mean it shouldn’t hurt so much? Unfortunately, no.
When we end a relationship, even a difficult, toxic, exhausting, frustrating one, we will likely grieve. Why? Well, at one time, the relationship likely felt mutual, and we grieve the loss of that mutuality. We may mourn the way a long-term relationship can sour. The relationship may never have been a good one, so we grieve for what could have been or should have been or even what we had put up with for so long. We may grieve the loss of how it felt to be in a relationship with that person—perhaps we felt more worthy or prestigious or glamorous or wanted. We may also grieve for the lost future we imagined building together. And so we grieve what was, we grieve what never was, we grieve what is no more, and we grieve what cannot be.
Making room for this grief means deciding that it is both OK to feel all of these feelings and still feel confident that moving on was the right choice. The two can coexist.
When Isolation Compounds Grief
Sometimes, others may compound the grief by expressing happiness at the relationship ending. Well-meaning family members may cheer or breathe a sigh of relief when an unhappy romantic relationship ends. Friends may congratulate you for cutting off your toxic uncle. A romantic partner may rant about that childhood friend that always left you feeling anxious.
But these gestures may leave you feeling more alone or ashamed of your sadness. To keep space for moving through the pain, we need room not only to feel angry at the person we left behind, but also sad that the relationship has ended. For that, we need loved ones willing to listen and validate the sadness. What can it sound like to support somebody who just ended an important relationship?
“Wow, that must have been a really hard decision. How are you doing?”
“That can’t have been easy. I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“How are you feeling about it?”
“What do you need right now?”
What We Can Offer Ourselves and Others
As we mourn, we can offer ourselves compassion and grace to feel whatever it is we’re feeling. We can remind ourselves that we can feel anger toward the person we’ve ended a relationship with and grateful for what was and sad that it won’t carry into the future. And when others come to us about their own loss, we can offer them the same gift by not assuming they’re delighted and instead checking in with them. We can let them know that it is ok to feel sad and that we are there for them through it.
I believe self-care is something we can do every day, it doesn’t have to be big steps but simple small steps that add joy throughout the day. Here are a few of the small steps I take during the week.
There may be affiliate links in this post for which I make a small commission. They do not cost you extra to use and help to supply my coffee habit.
Plants
Plants are a great way to take your mind off the stressors of the day and if you buy the right type and don’t have too many it’s easy to keep up with them. I don’t have a green thumb and only have seven plants. I like taking a break to check to see which ones need water and looking for new sprouts. There are plants for every level of light including a large selection of low light plants.
Naps
I could not survive without being able to take a nap. It’s not an everyday treat, although at one time it was necessary. If my day is not going well and the opportunity presents itself, I grab a quick nap. Maybe 30 minutes to an hour. I’ve learned to ask my husband for help so I can break away. It took me a long time to get there but now I don’t hesitate to say I need to get a nap.
Willow & Sage is a quarterly magazine that is more like a book. I’ve been saving mine for years, they are great to read again. The magazine is all things hand-made bath and body oftentimes with items you have at home or are easily available to buy or order. You’ve seen my post on homemade Pink Peony Sugar Scrub and others from their recipes.
Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, With Iced Coffee Capability, Brushed Slate
There’s nothing like a fresh cup of coffee or glass of tea made with a Keurig. It’s a single-serve pod system so everyone can drink what they like and there is no carafe to clean. This is a newer model than ours, we’ve had ours for almost five years now and have not had one problem. We use spring water in it instead of tap and that way you don’t get the build-up you do which causes your machine to clog up. The cleaning process is simple, when there are too many grounds built up it will tell you when to do maintenance and it takes about a minute to complete. I can’t say enough about this machine!
Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment Translucent 0.15 oz
Nothing works as well as Fresh Lip Therapy! My lips are dry year-round, I use this lip treatment instead of regular chapstick. What a difference it makes. It’s more expensive but one tube lasts a long time and it’s my self-care splurge. It’s something I can do several times a day for myself to make me feel better.
I’m a huge fan of Aromalief’s Lavender Pain Cream and now am using the Energizing Orange Ginger scent for during the day. The smell is great, a light orange ginger menthol. The menthol is barely noticeable. It has 1000 MG of Hemp with no THC, is PETA certified, vegan, and is a women-owned business. Heres’ my review of Aromalief’s Lavender Pain Cream.
We can do so much for our self-care that isn’t time-consuming and will brighten our mood. What are some of your self-care tips?
It’s the weekend, YEAH! I’m so glad you’ve joined me. Did you know I take request? I wanted to be a DJ when I was younger and love playing the music of all types and genres. Drop me a line and let me know what you want to hear next weekend!
This is a catchy song by Keith Urban and Pink. Such an unlikely pair but their voices sound great together.
The world has been tested to the limits by the COVID-19 virus and we all need to keep dreaming. There are better days ahead!
In Health,
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
We all have our quirks, it’s who we are and when I thought about a few of mine today, I had to laugh.
I have to sleep on the side of the bed closest to the door.
Sleep with a heating pad all year.
Always sit with my back to the wall.
All of the clocks in the house are set 15 minutes fast, I’ve done this since I was a teen.
I can eat a fruit smoothie everyday for lunch, my last blender broke.
I only speak English but know couple of words in Spanish, Cyrillic, and French. I took lessons in Spanish, French and Cyrillic to no avail.
I can’t read music even though I’ve made an effort since I was a child. I’ve taken lessons for clarinet, piano, guitar, twice. I accept that if I can read music or learn by ear, playing a instrument is not for me. I recently thought about learming the harmonica for which my Gramps played but then realized learning is no different.
I like my things in it’s place and only that place unless I move it. There’s comfort in organization.
Do not adjust my office chair, that’s my privilege.
I eat with a half of a paper towel, as an adult how often do we use the entire paper towel?
I save all extra water and ice to use on my houseplants, why waste water?
No doubt there are many quirky things who make up the sum of me and I’m proud.
Let’s have some fun!!!! Tell me what some of your quirks are.
It may feel a little early to start talking about the holidays but this year is like no other year in that shipping is already impacted before we hit the peak holiday season. Here are a couple ideas for the special women in your life, that includes YOU!
These are a couple of my long time favorite subscription boxes. I can always count on these companies to deliver items of the highest quality that can be put to use right away or will make a great gift for someone on your list. Let’s not forget the holidays are right around the corner.
From clean beauty standouts to sustainable swaps, the Fall Box has a little of everything: 4 options to customize, 6 sustainable, ethical, full-size products worth over $250, one beautifully illustrated box. Yep, all that for just $49.95.
For a limited time, new members who join thru my link with get a free PMD Microderm, a $159.00 value as a gift.
I’ve been an annual member of CauseBox for three years and can say without a doubt have never received a disappointing box. They are women-owned, YEAH, they are committed to helping other women get out of poverty by working with artisans from around the world. Each month quarter CauseBox will send you a box packed full of items you need, some you even get to customize and the value is over $250 for the quarterly price $49.95.
Laurel & Reed was created out of our founder’s journeyto live a more organic and healthy lifestyle after she foundout her father was battling cancer. Through his battleand into his remission, she chose to shift to a pure, clean, andall-natural lifestyle – knowing the harmful effects toxic beauty has on a women’s skin and health.
Laurel Reed is clean beauty at it’s finest in a monthly subscription box for just $49.95. I can trust Laural & Reed to offer three to four full-size products of the highest quality at a fraction of the retail value. I don’t buy every month because they offer such great products that fit my need that I don’t need them every month. I’ve been a regular customer for three years and have never been disappointed. They are women-owned and committed to clean beauty.
CURATEUR delivers coveted name-brand fashion, beauty, and home essentials right to your door every season. Plus, it unlocks year-round access to our members-only Shoppe, and other exclusive benefits. All items are Rachel Zoe approved and offered at exclusive prices.
Curateur is the most luxurious quarterly subscription box I buy, it’s a fashion-oriented box with a splash of clean beauty and skincare. Rachel Zoe is at the helm of this box and is another great woman-owned business. I’m have received two boxes and WOW you get so much luxury for only $99.99 per quarter. The Fall box is valued at over $700.00 retail. I am counting the days until my box ships. The Curator Fall box has a beautiful large Burgandy vegan tote bag, Eddie Burgo Supra Link Neck and matching Earings, two beauty, and skincare items, a marine collagen gel, and a highlighter. You had a choice of the matching earrings or a pair of Le Specs Neptune sunglasses, I chose the earrings.
Get up to $165 worth of clean, vegan & cruelty-free skincare, makeup, hair-care, and accessories, including at least two full-sized products. Vegan and cruelty-free makeup, skincare, hair-care, and accessories, curated with kindness and delivered to your door each month!
Women-owned Kinder Beauty is all things clean beauty for only $25 per month. I have a six-month subscription Kinder Beauty and will probably renew at the end of the term. Everything they do it’s with love and kindness. I love their weekly emails and Instagram site for monthly reveals.
These are a few of my favorite women’s subscription boxes and will share more gift ideas in a future post.
Hi, it’s Wednesday! I’m so glad you stopped by today. This is an apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia with great Gothic architecture. It’s a shame I can’t blow the photo up. The original is not on my new computer. The apartment building sits next to the beautiful Kazan Cathedral.
This afternoon it looks like WordPress sent some of my post earlier post out again. Sorry for the confusion. I’m working on my site and there was a technical glitch.
Before I go, what do you think of this font? Can you red ok and is it easy on the eyes? If you experience any technical problems please let me know.
Change is constant and although many people feel resistant to it, change can actually be very beneficial. As the saying goes a change can be as good as a rest and there are many reasons for this. Change can bring a number of opportunities and give you a new perspective on life. A fresh start can also be a positive thing and learning to adapt to change is a useful skill for many situations. Whether it’s moving to a different place or embarking on a new career, there are several reasons a change can be positive.
New beginnings
If you’re looking for a fresh start, something as challenging as moving house could even lead to many positive things. Moving doesn’t need to be as stressful as it sounds and there are ways to sell my home fast. Many companies offer help to those who need to sell their home quickly and even offer cash in exchange for real estate. New beginnings mean you can start with a clean slate and get out of the rut that you might be in.
More opportunities
A change at work could lead to plenty of exciting business opportunities. If you’re ready for a career change this could bring many new possibilities for you to earn more money and learn new skills in the future. Employers also favor candidates who able to show an ability to adapt to change and an eagerness to progress in different areas.
Personal development
Doing a bit of soul searchingis also a great way to learn about yourself and focus on personal development. It’s a good idea to make a list of priorities as these can change as you get older. This will help you with professional development as well and to figure out what kind of lifestyle you would like in the future. You will be able to decide what’s important to you workwise and where you would like to live a few years down the line.
A different perspective
There are many reasons why you should look at things from a different perspective from time to time. It helps you to reinforce your values and learn from others. Trying to see something from someone else’s point of view will help you think more objectively and become more open-minded. You’ll even be able to be more self-aware as a person and this could have a positive impact on your personal and professional relationships.
Gain strength
The strength you need in order to face change will benefit you in the future. You’ll be stronger in the face of adversity and be more capable of finding a new solution to different problems. Change allows many people to become stronger over time. The ability to adapt to change is a good skill to develop and it can help you in both your professional career and personal life. There are many ways in which leaving your comfort zone once in a while can beneficial. A change of scenery is a great way to gain perspective.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I wanted to share some thoughts. This isn’t much of a post but some thoughts I had in 2015 when triggered after seeing Sam Hunt’s video, I just want to take your time. You have to pay close attention to the subtext in the video if you’re not familiar with Domestic Violence. The video starts with a fight and ends in one, a very important life-changing one.
Original post 4/26/2015
I witnessed my mother get beaten emotionally and physically every day, it created chaos in my young mind. A tornado burned a hole in my heart. I couldn’t understand the feelings of pain when being abused and watching abuse. Child abuse leaves a deep scar in my heart, so does seeing abuse.
A volcano erupted in me, I survived Domestic Violence and had no idea.
The video is heartbreaking, beautiful, and hopeful.
My legs from my thighs down to my toes spasm 24/7, I choose not to take medicine because who wants another addictive medication. Pain medication does not make the spasms go away. I have to wait until the sleeping medication kicks in and try to ignore during the day.
I think of who I once was and who I am now. Both have an upside, it’s a shame the two can’t meet. The empathy and patience I have now would have seerved me well when I was younger.
If I had friends would they understand? Time and distance already created a divide. How would we reminisces over the good times knowing the chances of me traveling to see them or travel again is unlikely.
Would I be strong enough to support my husband if the tables were turned? Could I be there as he has for over ten years, taking care of me every day, worrying about my health, wondering what diagnosis will come next.
My goals have been completely adjusted, a different mindset is required. I push myself each day to accomplish as much as possible but forgive myself if something has to wait until the next day. It will still be there, there aren’t many task so important that it can’t wait until tomorrow.
I have to make self-care a priority every day. Taking care of myself is great for my mental health, my self worth and my spirit. I do the smallest things to make my day brighter.
COVID has not changed my world, I didn’t leave the house except for doctor and lab visits and a daily Starbucks run. You should see the Clorox bath we go thru before leaving the drive thru lane. We take our dogs, it makes them happy and they always make me smile peering out the window at the Starbucks employees.
Guilt, frustration and anger are not my friends but are my daily reality.
In conjunction with traditional pain management, there are a number of self-management strategies that can help reduce pain levels and improve your quality of life. Don’t underestimate your ability to have an impact on your health and pain levels!
Here are some areas where lifestyle changes can help improve pain:
Activity modification
Exercise
Diet and nutrition
Sleep hygiene
Stress reduction
ACTIVITY MODIFICATION
Restricting or modifying your activities may seem obvious, but it can be difficult to adjust when you’re used to being able to do certain things a certain way. It can take many years of trial and error to identify your body’s limitations and specific triggers for pain, and then to find strategies to work with or around them. Be patient with yourself as you explore your body’s limits—and abilities.
You will need to determine what your limitations are, but perhaps it’s that you need to lie down for 10 minutes every two hours. Or maybe you find you can go for a 30-minute walk, but you need to allow 30 minutes of rest before and afterward. Perhaps you need a standing desk instead of a seated one to work at your computer comfortably. As you get to know your body, keep in mind there is a fine balance between getting appropriate rest and recuperation—and keeping up your strength, mobility, and stamina as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to get creative with accommodating your body’s needs. Investigate assistive devices, like braces or mobility tools, such as canes. Consider adaptive technology, too. For example, if typing on a computer is challenging, you may want to look into dictation software.
Occupational therapists can be very helpful in coming up with solutions for keeping up with your daily activities and continuing to do the things you enjoy. If you work, ask your manager about getting an assessment from an ergonomics specialist. Remember that you have a right to reasonable accommodations for your health in the workplace.
EXERCISE
As difficult as it is to get yourself moving when you have chronic pain, it’s also extremely important. Here are four key reasons to get moving:
Maintaining a healthy weight. Excess body weight puts extra strain on your joints, muscles and organs.
Cardiovascular health. Too little activity can result in disabling cardiovascular conditions, from orthostatic intolerance to heart disease. Your body already has enough to deal with with chronic pain – don’t add heart, circulation, and lung problems to the list!
Strength, flexibility, and stamina. Chronic pain can negatively impact your strength, flexibility, and stamina, which in turn increase your pain and level of disability.
Endorphins! Aerobic exercise produces endorphins, the feel-good chemicals that act as your body’s natural painkillers.
Start small and increase the intensity of your workout as your body allows. Remember that any exercise is better than nothing at all; just do the best you can. Here are some ideas for exercise to get you started:
Yoga or tai chi. Some types of yoga are directly tailored to individuals who have physical limitations. Try searching for a YouTube video for “Restorative yoga,” or “chair yoga.” Tai chi is also a fabulous, gentle way to encourage flexibility and stability.
Aquatic exercise. Pool therapy is great for those with musculoskeletal problems. It provides a gentle, low-impact way to get a workout. You can try your own exercises, find a group class, or a physical therapist who specializes in designing one-on-one aquatic exercises. Some pools are heated, to make it even easier on your joints and muscles.
Even a short walk is good! Turn on your headphones and listen to a podcast or audiobook to help distract and encourage yourself.
Short bursts of cardio. Science has shown that even one minute of all-out exercise has benefits. The key is to get your heart rate up and your blood bumping. Start small with a few minutes of exercise and build up slowly. Chronic pain-friendly cardio ideas include using reclining bikes and elliptical machines.
Please note: we recommend checking with a clinician before beginning any exercise program to ensure it is safe for you.
DIET AND NUTRITION
A thoughtful, balanced diet is key to maintaining a healthy weight, reducing inflammation, and getting important nutrients that support your overall wellbeing. Some people find that certain types of diets lessen their pain, such as an anti-inflammatory diet; a vegetarian or vegan diet; a paleo diet; a gluten-free diet; and so on. Explore different diets to find out what works for you!
Regardless of whether you follow a specific set of guidelines surrounding food, here are some key principals that hold true:
Eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as humanly possible.
Limit extremely sugary and processed foods.
Avoid foods with “bad” fats, like trans fats and saturated fats.
Eat more foods that have “good” fats, like fish, avocados, nuts, and olive oil.
Stay hydrated. The Institute of Medicine recommends 7 liters (15 cups) for the average adult male and 2.7 liters (11 cups) for the average adult female.
If you’re interested in extra help with your diet, consider meeting with a licensed nutritionist.
SLEEP
An estimated 50 percent to percent of people with chronic pain have ongoing sleep difficulties.[1] Studies show that inadequate sleep, however, can exacerbate pain.[2] Here are some tips for ensuring you get a good night’s rest despite pain.
Establish a routine.Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day—even on the weekends—reinforces the natural sleep-wake cycle in your body. You can also help reinforce bedtime by establishing a wind-down routine, e.g. by taking a bath, meditating, reading or listening to soothing music.
Create a restful environment. Turn on white noise, use ear plugs, invest in comfortable bedding, and keep the room temperature cool. Exposure to light is especially important: dim or turn off the lights in your house 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed. The light from cell phone and TV screens can also interfere with circadian rhythms, so shut down all devices as you prepare for bed.
Watch what you eat and drink. Caffeinated products—like tea or coffee, chocolate—anything containing nicotine, or any other stimulants should be avoided for at least four to six hours before you plan to go to sleep. Even alcohol, which initially makes you feel tired, makes it harder to get high-quality sleepy. Furthermore, heavy meals and too many fluids before bed might keep you up because you are uncomfortable or need to use the bathroom.
Get tired! Napping during the day can interfere with sleep at night. If you must, limit your snooze to 30 minutes, and give yourself at least four hours between the nap and bedtime. In addition, exercising during the day helps tire out your body and can foster better sleep at night. Try to work out at least a few hours before bed, if possible.
Still struggling? Ask your doctor about meeting with a sleep specialist.
REDUCE STRESS
Pain increases stress, and stress increases pain. But you can break this cycle by proactively trying to reduce stress wherever possible. Multiple studies have shown that reducing stress and relaxation techniques can improve overall health and wellbeing, and may even reduce pain or improve the perception of pain.[3],[4]
Some examples of stress reduction techniques and strategies include:
Meditation
Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, visual imagery, and mindfulness
Music, art or dance therapy
Journaling
Exercise
Support groups
Counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy
Generally speaking, reducing stress with chronic pain also requires:
Pacing yourself to allow for sufficient rest and recovery;
Learning to say no and putting your health first;
Focusing on the things you can do and not what you can’t;
Communicating clearly with your loved ones about your needs and challenges;
Letting go of guilt and shame surrounding pain.
For more advice on managing stress when you have pain, find a psychologist, counselor or life coach in your area.
Deciding to get help is a personal decision that can only be taken when one is ready to do so. We understand that making any decision that implies obtaining help whether to cope with the abuse or leave the relationship can place a person in greater danger. Deciding to obtain help requires one to think of all possible scenarios and ensuring that there is a window of opportunity.
However, if a person is in immediate danger, calling 911 is the best option. Emergency situations include a recent threat of violence, recent act of violence or if your safety or someone else’s safety is in imminent danger.
Talk to someone you trust.
Having someone to talk to about what’s happening can be helpful. Often times it can be difficult to share with others because of one’s fear of their reaction or feeling embarrassed about the situation. Disclosing to a close friend or family member what is going on in your relationship can be helpful, but only when you are ready to do so. Talking to someone can be the first step in seeking help.
Talk to a trained professional.
If you decided to seek professional help, you can contact your local victim assistance program. These programs are designed to provide supportive services, such as crisis intervention, individual counseling, support groups, emergency and relocation assistance , accompaniment to the courts, hospital and police station, and information and referrals. Speaking to a professional can provide insight about what one’s experiencing. Even if a person continued the relationship, counseling services can educate him or her on how to recognize the cues that indicate when an abuser will become violent so that immediate action is taken to remain safe. Professionals understand that leaving is not easy and that it can take various attempts to finally leave an abuser. A trained professional will respect a survivor’s decisions and when he or she decides to leave, can assist in creating a safety plan that will support this decision.
Make a safety plan.
There are some safety precautions a survivor can take if he or she is thinking about leaving the relationship.
Remember important phone numbers
Make copies of important documents and give to a trusted friend or family member to hold
Find a place you can go to if you need to leave quickly—a friend’s house, family member, hotel or domestic violence shelter.
Have an idea of how you will get out of the home (a window, fire escape) and how you will get away (car, bus, taxi)
Prepare a bag that contains the following: money, a change of clothes, spare keys and important documents (driver’s license, check book, medical records, birth certificates, health insurance cards, etc.). Keep this bag hidden or leave at a friend’s or family member’s house, your work or any other safe place in case you need to leave in an emergency.
Arrange with a friend to have an “emergency phrase” that your partner will not recognize. Or arrange a signal with a neighbor to let them know when you are in trouble.
If a person has children, his or her safety plan will also include them. Apart from the steps above, one can teach a child to contact a trusted adult, let school and/or daycare provider who else has permission to pick children up and if old enough share the plan with them.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800)799-7233. You are not alone.
Hotlines and More Information
Emergencies
In an emergency situation, always call 911. Emergency situations can include a recent threat of violence, a recent act of violence or if your safety or someone else’s is in imminent danger.
Crisis Hotlines
(all are 24 hours a day unless otherwise noted)
National
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 | www.thehotline.org
Legal information can be useful to help you understand your rights and know how your state and national laws protect you, and if you wish to press charges. View legal resources.
Advocacy:
If you’re interested in advocating to help end domestic violence, learn how to get involved.
Moving home can be a stressful time for anyone. There is so much involved when it comes to moving out of one place and into a new one, and it can be easy to forget just what has been completed and what hasn’t. But, it’s important that you try to stay organized as much as possible, or you could find yourself in a sticky situation when moving time comes along. As such, if you’re thinking about moving home, then the advice in this article was written with you in mind. We’re going to take a look at some of the things that you don’t want to forget to do! Keep reading if you want to find out more.
You shouldn’t move just anywhere because this is a huge waste of time. If you are going to move, then it has to be somewhere that you love, and if you can’t find somewhere you love, there should at least be a reason behind this. Whether you need to move quickly for a job offer, or simply because you want to be closer to family, these are both acceptable reasons to find a house that you could potentially grow to love, rather than one that you love right now. It can take quite a bit of time to find a place that you love enough to want to call home, but we suggest you take this time if you can.
When you move, it might be hard to say goodbye to your old home, and the moving process might not seem worth it if you’re not moving somewhere that you adore. When you walk through the front door, you want to feel the excitement, and like this is the place you belong, not that you’ve had to move here even though you didn’t really want to. Look online, visit estate agents, and be sure to look around to find the best place for you if you’ve got the time to do this.
Another thing that you’re going to have to do is consider all of your finances. You can use a site like MortgageCalculator.org to work out what kind of mortgage you’re going to be able to afford before you start looking. This just means that you will have a better idea as to what price range you should be looking at if you’re not going to be buying outright. But, of course, there is more than just a mortgage to consider when you’re moving home. You’ve also got to think about whether you need to sell your old home first or whether you can move without this help.
Then, there are the costs of actually moving. So, you are going to need an attorney or conveyor, someone to value your current home for when you put it on the market, you’re going to need the help of services to actually get you out of one home and into the new, etc. There is so much to think about, and we want you to consider all of this before you start the process. You don’t want to get halfway through only to realize that it is costing you a lot more than you originally planned for.
Make Your Home Marketable
The home that you’ve got now is likely going to go on the market, which means you’ve got to make it an attractive prospect. This means that if you’re not going to be selling it as a fixer-upper, you’re going to need to make all the repairs. Or, you’re going to have to lower the asking price if you know there is something that needs to be fixed. This is also a good solution if you need to sell the home fast because a good deal is something that people are always looking for.
When you’re preparing your home for sale, remember that potential buyers are looking for somewhere that they can see themselves living. They don’t want to see your family pictures all over the walls or anything like this, they want a blank canvas that they can imagine their own items being in. Paint the walls white to give this effect and make sure that it’s more like a showhome than the place in which you live.
Another thing that you should do is consider the state of the market right now. It might not be the best time to buy, and if this is the case and you can afford to wait, it will be in your best interest. There is nothing worse than selling your home at a lower price and then paying a higher one for the new property. So, it’s important that you consider what kind of state the market is in at the time. If you don’t understand how this works, then you need to speak to someone who does so that they can tell you whether now is a good time or not.
Speak To An Estate Agent
Finally, we highly recommend that you speak to an estate agent because they have access to more properties than the ones listed. More often than not, there are at least one or two properties that haven’t been listed online or in the window just yet, but if they think it’s right for you, they will show you before anyone else gets a chance to see it. You also might be able to get a better deal on the home you want to move to if you use an estate agent as they know the market. We know that this costs money you might not really want to spend, but it’s the best way to ensure that you get what you’re looking for!
We hope that you have found this article helpful and now have a better idea about some of the things that you don’t want to forget to do if you’re going to be moving home. Good luck, and we hope that you end up exactly where you want to be without it being too much of a nightmare!
From the Aromalief Blog, you might be surprised at the difference between the two.
Aromalief Team
In February of 2020, the popular prescription pain relief cream Voltaren changed to Over the Counter through a process at the FDA called Rx to OTC. This cream was first approved in 2007 to help temporarily relieve arthritis pain. In this blog post, I would like to share with you the ingredient differences between our cream Aromalief and Voltaren made by Novartis.
Aromalief Hemp Pain Relief Ingredients
Aromalief Hemp Pain Relief Cream combines the cooling power of naturally derived menthol with a blend of botanicals and nutrients. The preservatives used in Aromalief are non-toxic and help to prevent bacteria from growing in it.
Voltaren Gel’s active ingredient is Diclofenac Sodium which is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs also known as NSAIDs. Also included in the formula is Ammonia.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
DICLOFENAC SODIUM
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS
AMMONIA, CARBOMER HOMOPOLYMER TYPE C, COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, MINERAL OIL, POLYOXYL 20 CETOSTEARYL ETHER, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, WATER
Annabell wrote this post in response to the questions she received on their Facebook page.
I can speak from personal experience: Aromalief works like no other topical cream I’ve used. Soon after I rub the cream on, it begins to warm up and has a light menthol and lavender scent. Nothing overpowering. I joke all the time that my dogs would not know it’s me without the Aromalief scent.
Aroalief is for tired, achy muscles, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain. I even use it for my carpal tunnel in both hands.
Three things I’ve learned since having the opportunity to review Aromalief for Chronic Illness Bloggers are that she strives for excellence, guarantees 100% customer satisfaction, and is committed to the pain community. The bonus for me is that Aromalief is WOMEN-owned and made in America.
Here’s a copy of my review for Aromalief Lavender Hemp Pain Cream.
If you have any questions for Annabell, please write to her at Aromalief.
Looking for the Light 