I really love baths. For the past decade, or so, I’ve tried taking a bath every night. It’s my time. My gift to myself. There were times, in the past, when I took baths and answered work calls. Dumb move. Really, dumb move. Anyone will tell you that no job is worth that moment of […]
Taking a bath at 3am — psychologistmimi
My health has held me back for a long time but the last 6-8 months have been hell. It’s also had an impact on my mental health. I’m inside every day unless going to doctors and the salon, and the natural effect of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has added to my depression.
Today was the best day since I don’t know when. First I got up standard time and took all my medications, (Pat on the back). Then I got busy, and with the help of hubby, we changed the sheets and cleaned the entire bedroom. That feels so good!!!!!
I watered the inside plants and started cleaning up outside to be ready for Spring. I trimmed the rose and cleared the debris from the Lillies and several other flowers and plants.
I still have several plants, about 10 that I’m still protecting from the cold in the garage but they are all growing leaves. There is also another small rose bush and a mum to prepare. That’s for another good day.
I’ve included some photos for your entertainment. This amount of work was completed before noon before I became ill. My Fibromyalgia cooperated today.
Lillies
Small Rose
Beautiful Ivy
Monstera
Silver Satin Pothos
Huge Orchid
Small Rubber Tree
My favorite ZZ plant, it’s over 3 ft tall.
Mum
Most afternoons I rest in bed but not today. It’s 3:00 pm and I’m still going. I’m celebrating this day because they happen so rarely. Today I can feel good about all that was accomplished and I don’t feel the guilt that I often feel for spending so much time in bed.
Wishing you a great day, however, you spend it. You have good days ahead.
Melinda
It’s not the best photo but it gives you the awe factor of the roof design.
Melinda
On a day weighed down by doom and gloom, I recall discovering these lines: “I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” It’s far too easy for me to focus on the darkness and challenges I face. Then I read a quote like this one and have to pause […]
Emotion – the heart of persuasion —
In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
Continue reading “Deep Thoughts”Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Wendy’s Journey.
A Chronic Illness Blog By: Windy Johnson-Cumberbatch, CPC
My name is Windy Johnson-Cumberbatch. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Lyme Disease and later Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the summer of 2014 after over a decade of severe illness and countless misdiagnosis. I had Fibromyalgia prior to contracting Lyme Disease and the co-infections that came along with it.
Be sure to check out her blog, it’s very helpful.
Melinda
Hey! So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments.
Melinda
Melinda
Are you struggling right now? Sometimes, the very struggle that threatens to bring us to our knees can end up making us stronger.
A Lesson from the Vineyard: Strength Through Struggle — Olive Tree Saints
Men, are you avoiding the doctor? It’s time to get on board with taking care of yourself. Let’s get familiar with what men need to stay healthy.
Many people didn’t see the doctor unless critical, and most annual appointments were pushed back. I want to focus on men in this post.
Medical checkups and screenings are two different things.
The checkups and screening tests men need, and when they need them, depending on their age, health, and personal risk factors for certain conditions.
Physical Exam / Well Check
Prostate Cancer Screening
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) Screening
Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Diabetes Test
Colonoscopy
Bone Density Test
Hearing and Vision Screening
Oral Health Checkup
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
Key Takeaways
Take care of yourself, a healthier life is a happy life.
Melinda
References:
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/mens-health/top-10-checkups-and-screenings-for-men
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Your Plate or Mine.
I write poems and short prose about love and inspiration. I use different types of poems to highlight and I enjoy the writing prompts from other poetry and blog sites.
Check her out!
Melinda
The technology that made the modern music business possible came into existence in the New Jersey laboratory where Thomas Edison created the first device to both record sound and play it back. He was awarded U.S. Patent No. 200,521 for his invention—the phonograph—on February 19, …read more
An angry mob in San Francisco’s business district ”tries” two Australian suspects in the robbery and assault of C. J. Jansen. When the makeshift jury deadlocked, the suspects were returned to law enforcement officials. Jansen was working at his store at the corner of Montgomery …read more
The Chicago Seven (formerly the Chicago Eight—one defendant, Bobby Seale, was being tried separately) are acquitted of riot conspiracy charges, but found guilty of inciting riot. The eight antiwar activists were charged with the responsibility for the violent demonstrations at …read more
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066, initiating a controversial World War II policy with lasting consequences for Japanese Americans. The document ordered the forced removal of resident “enemy aliens” from parts of the West vaguely …read more
Operation Detachment, the U.S. Marines’ invasion of Iwo Jima, is launched. Iwo Jima was a barren Pacific island guarded by Japanese artillery, but to American military minds, it was prime real estate on which to build airfields to launch bombing raids against Japan, only 660 …read more
Melinda
Mental health issues affect one in four people. This could range from stress, anxiety, and depression, to severe mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or borderline personality disorder.
Often, it can be hard to understand the cause of these mental health problems. They may be triggered by something that has gone on in your life such as the loss of a loved one, or a big change such as moving to a new city, or a career change. Whatever the cause, you must practice self-care.
Here are some steps you should take if you are experiencing any mental health difficulties in your life.
If you are struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression in your life, then you should speak with your doctor at the earliest possible opportunity. Your doctor should talk you through what is happening in your life in order to understand whether you should be treated with self-care,
antidepressant medication, or whether you would be a suitable candidate for talking therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy.
If you can speak with a counselor, do so. You may be able to get referred to one by your doctor. If not, there are plenty of specialist counselors that will be able to take you on.
Different counselors and therapists will have their own approaches to dealing with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Make sure that you are happy with the counselor’s approach before you commit to a course of sessions with them.
One of the areas that there is growing research into is the use of alternative treatments such as CBD. CBD comes from the same plant as cannabis except it doesn’t have any of the psychoactive ingredients cannabis does. It just relaxes you and relieves symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Another alternative treatment option may be psychedelics. You can read more about this at psychedelicspotlight.com.
There is a lot that can be said about the way that you eat. By making sure that you are eating a balanced diet, you will be able to help to give yourself the energy that you need to keep going.
To fight off stress and depression with your diet you should look at getting your starch fixed with whole grains and beans. You should be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Instead of eating red meats, you should eat fatty fish like salmon or tuna. Finally, add in healthy fats, such as raw nuts and olive oil.
Exercising is a great way of clearing your head. It gives you endorphins, a feel-good hormone that will balance out the stress hormones your body will naturally produce.
Start small. Even going for a short walk will be very helpful.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Hey! So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments.
Melinda
Here’s a triple of Shaggy, along with Guest Sting. Both have the most unique voices. Have fun, kick back, and jam until you have a big smile.
Melinda
I love Coursera! This is my go-to place for online learning! Many major universities teach courses through Coursera with top-tier professors.
This is a small sampling of the free online course providers, you can search and find many more options to suit your needs. Not all the courses listed are free but each has a nice selection of free courses.
Coursera is a free learning site that offers MOOC courses from well-known universities. All Coursera courses contain pre-recorded video lectures that you can watch when it is convenient for you.
Coursera has programs with universities that allow you to get a Master’s Degree or specializations. You can explore various college courses without any hassle.
This site offers free programs from accredited institutions. These free certification courses online available on this platform are designed by a leading university.
Link: https://www.coursera.org/
Harvard CS50 is an entry-level free online computer science course that helps you to learn how you can think algorithmically and solve problems efficiently.
It includes a problem set that is inspired by real-world domains of cryptography, biology, finance, forensics, and gaming. By registering for this online course, you will also participate in research about learning. Read our research statement to learn more.
Link: https://www.edx.org/course/cs50s-introduction-to-computer-science
This is a general course that helps you to increase your own inner happiness and how to build more productive and healthy habits. The course talks about the misconceptions regarding happiness, annoying features of the mind, that may lead us to think the way we should, and the research which helps us change. You are finally ready to incorporate a particular wellness activity to enhance the well-being of your life.
Rating: 4.9
Duration: Approx. 19 hours to complete
Fee: Free
Provider: Coursera
Certificate: Yes
Level: Beginner
Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being
Rating: 4.9
Duration: Approx. 19 hours to complete
Fee: Free
Provider: Coursera
Certificate: Yes
Level: Beginner
Link: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being
Udemy is an online platform that helps you to create courses for categories like business, design, marketing, etc.
You can develop new skills and achieve their goals by learning from the extensive library of various courses. Subjects that are available in Udemy are taught by expert instructions.
The outline of free certificate courses can be viewed on all devices connected to the internet. You do not require any prequalification to take any course.
Link: https://www.udemy.com/courses/free/
This site contains a weekly subject sequence. It includes a short video with learning exercises. The platform provides video tutorials, which are similar to the on-campus discussion group and a textbook. It has an online discussion forum where students can post the questions to teaching assistants. It offers free online courses with a certificate of completion.
Link: https://www.edx.org/
Wharton’s Applied Knowledge Capstone Project enables you to apply your analytic skills to real business challenges – including your own. You’ll use your newly earned business skills to thoughtfully evaluate a real situation or opportunity from Wharton-governed companies like Shazam and SnapDeal.
Financial Accounting, Accounting, Finance, Marketing
This Course includes full Specialization, Shareable Certificates, Self-Paced Learning Option Course Videos & Readings, Practice Quizzes, Graded Assignments with Peer Feedback, Graded Quizzes with Feedback, and Graded Programming Assignments.
Business Foundations Specialization
Our free online courses provide you with an affordable and flexible way to learn new skills and study new and emerging topics. Learn from Stanford instructors and industry experts at no cost to you.
This section provides links to publicly accessible free e-learning courses as well as links to courses accessible through Regional Training Academies. Some courses are more simplistic in nature and will not require specialized software or equipment. Video and audio clips may be included in other courses and may require additional software or equipment.
The following courses were developed specifically to educate and train social workers in these content areas:
They are offering free to the public in hopes that the content will prove useful for other members of the CalSWEC community—foster parents, resource families, public health nurses, Tribal members, juvenile probation officers, and others.
Expand your life!
Melinda
Many people can fall into a slump during the colder winter months when there is less sunlight and motivation is low, but there are some easy ways to lift your spirits.
A good way to raise yourself from a slump is to create a vision board. A vision board is a collection of images and keywords that you design and assemble on a large piece of paper, for example, which visualizes your hopes and dreams for the future. Vision boards are motivational, particularly when you lose sight of what you are working for. They are equally beneficial when life becomes a little monotonous.
Some ideas to include in a vision board are career aspirations, travel plans, and personal growth targets.
Making a vision board can calm your mind, as it taps into your creativity and helps you focus on your current action. Plus, seeing your finished work day after day is sure to encourage inspiration.
Photo by Mikechie Esparagoza from Pexels
It’s important to reach out to friends, relatives, or companions when you are feeling low. Even if you are feeling cheerful, getting in contact with someone you have not spoken to in a while might raise their spirits without you even realizing it.
As we get older, we tend to get stuck in our daily routines and forget that life is about connections and relationships. Older adults can especially yearn for a chat, or for a helping hand, which is why Seniors Helping Seniors is an invaluable service.
‘Going for a run’ is easier said than done for a lot of us. Especially in the cold, wet weather, running can be a real drag. However, there are plenty of alternative sports and fitness activities that will make you forget you’re even exercising – you’ll be having that much fun.
For one, dancing is a great way to release energy and work up a sweat with a smile on your face. You don’t need a studio to let your hair down, dancing in your room is encouraged. Whack on your favorite tunes and spend 20 minutes to an hour moving about to the music.
If mobility is an issue for you, swimming is an excellent way to stay fit and prevent any muscle or joint discomfort.
Walking and power-walking are also other ways to get your daily exercise without it seeming too strenuous. For those busy days, this activity can tie in with work or socializing, as you could schedule a walking meeting or catch-up. Or, if you need a break from everything, going for a solo walk is a sure way to clear your head. You could even find a scenic route and make a trip out of it, rather than just walking around the block.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
A simple way to distract yourself from the winter blues is to have a giggle. So, get comfy and pick a comedy film or stand-up show you know you will like, and even if you can’t muster a belly laugh, just feeling yourself smile can brighten your mood.
There are also plenty of apps and old-school games that will have you rolling on the floor laughing with friends or family. For smartphone users, try Heads Up!, it’s like a digital version of charades that can be played anywhere. Or if you’re at home, a card game like Snap or Uno is sure to cheer you up.
Going to bed early is never more important than in the winter. Our well-being depends on us getting a decent amount of sleep. For some people that means 8 hours of shuteye, for others, it’s more.
Find out what works for you, and go to bed at a time that allows for a full 8+ hours of sleep until daybreak, so the sunrise works as a natural alarm clock. Seeing a full day’s worth of sunlight can improve your mood dramatically. This is because catching the sun’s rays each day is associated with an increased level of serotonin in the body, a hormone that stabilizes our feelings of well-being.
Photo by Jonathan Petersson from Pexels
If you have considerable worries, or stress is getting on top of you. It’s a good idea to let out your thoughts and emotions either via pen or verbally with a counselor or therapist. Writing or talking about it can help you release negative feelings and therefore improve your well-being.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Yosemite Falls from afar.
Melinda
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Crippled Cowgirl.
I’m child number three of eight, Catholic in case you’re wondering, the lost child if you follow family dynamics. It fits.
We were raised on a stunningly beautiful cattle and hay ranch in the Flint Creek Valley of southwestern Montana. Whomever came up with the term “Free Range Children” unknowingly described us to the tee.
Be sure to check out her interesting blog and outlook on life.
Melinda
Enjoy!
Melinda
Reference:
Hey! So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments each week.
Melinda
Dogs are a part of the family for many people, and it’s important to make sure they stay healthy. There are many simple ways to boost your dog’s health without spending a lot of money. That said, this blog post will discuss four easy ways to keep your furry friend happy and healthy!
Feeding a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to keep your dog healthy. This means providing them with the essential nutrients they need while avoiding excessive amounts of certain foods. High-quality dry and wet food, as well as treats, should be included in your pup’s diet. You may be wondering is seaweed good for dogs, but even this food can provide a range of health benefits for your pup!
When it comes to feeding your pup, it’s important to consider their size, activity level, age and any other health concerns when selecting the right food. Make sure that these are formulated for dogs specifically and do not contain any ingredients that could harm them. Additionally, ensuring that your pup receives adequate amounts of protein, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins for their stage in life is important for their growth and development.
As always, provide fresh water daily, monitor their weight and consult with a veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about what to feed them. With a balanced diet tailored to your pup’s needs, they will be able to live a long and healthy life!
Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise to stay healthy. Depending on the breed and size of your dog, this can range from short walks around the block a few times a week to longer trips to the park or beach. Exercise is important for not only physical health, but also mental stimulation, preventing boredom and helping them release any built-up energy.
If you live in an area with cold winters it’s important to be mindful of when you take your pup out so they don’t get too cold. Additionally, using a harness instead of a collar while walking can help protect their neck from strain if they pull on the leash or try to run away. With regular exercise your pup will have the energy they need to stay healthy and active!
Mental stimulation is just as important for your dog’s health as regular exercise. Whether it’s playing fetch or providing interactive toys, dogs need to use their minds in order to stay alert and mentally engaged. Providing mental stimulation can also help reduce destructive behavior and keep them from getting bored.
One way to give your pup mental stimulation is by playing games with them, such as hide-and-seek or tug-of-war. These activities can not only be fun for both you and your pup but also encourage problem solving and reward-based learning. Additionally, food puzzles are a great way to provide mental stimulation while also giving them some treats! Through the use of these types of puzzles, your pup will have to think about how to access the treats hidden inside, helping stimulate their brains and developing problem solving skills.
Another way to provide mental stimulation for your pup is through obedience training and agility courses. Training sessions can help build confidence while providing structure, while agility courses can help promote focus and physical coordination. Both activities are a great way to give your pup the mental exercise they need while also strengthening the bond between owner and pet.
Grooming is an important part of keeping your dog healthy in both mind and body. Depending on the breed, length and type of fur, grooming may need to be done more frequently than others. Make sure to brush your puppy’s coat regularly to remove dirt, debris and any mats or tangles. Additionally, keeping their nails trimmed short as well as their teeth clean can help protect them from potential health issues.
In conclusion, there are many simple ways to boost your dog’s health that don’t require a lot of money. From providing them with a balanced diet and regular exercise to mental stimulation and proper grooming, these four tips can help ensure that your pup stays happy and healthy for years to come!
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
It can be difficult when you have a chronic illness or mobility challenges to remember this is your life now. It’s not yesterday, your mindset has to change and it’s not easy to accept. I’ve been struggling for a long time and today I forced myself to look at what I accomplished in a micro view.
The smallest victory is a victory. I had to force my eyes to look closely at the tiny victories and give myself a pat on the back. We can get caught up in our illness, and what we can’t do, and that can weigh on our shoulders. If you can see one victory in a day, it’s a good day.
Took medication
Put laundry away except for what’s in the machine
Talked with pharmacy
Talked via email with my Psychiatrist
I woke up at 10:00 am instead of noon
Brushed teeth
Wrote half a post.
Yesterday was a good day, I accomplished more than the day before. Another way to stay positive is to look at what you’ve done, not the long to-do list. Look for the tiny chores every day to keep the positive mindset alive.
To some, this looks like a long list and others think it is no big deal. The truth is, It Doesn’t Matter What Others Think! You have to chart your own course.
How do you stay focused on the tiny victories?
Melinda
Melinda
In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
Continue reading “Deep Thoughts”Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Agnes 22.
Hello my name is Agnija and I write about emotions. I write exactly what I feel and that makes me happy. Each one of us are unique and that’s what is reflected in my writing. How people interact, react and feel is the essence of my blog. I’ll be so glad if you take a few minutes of your time to read my blog.
Be sure to stop by her blog!
Melinda
Looking for the Light 