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, Visions in the Dark.
From the mind to the pencil, night visions, a legacy honored in the light
This blog is to help me cope with the loss and suicide of my father. My Dad had written his own book of short stories, jokes, poems, and drawings he called “Night Visions” that helped him cope and express himself in his life. I hope to share some of his work as well as my own writing
Her blog is very unique and she has such great stories to share.
Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life, but not everyone knows how to take care of themselves to ensure health and longevity. Yet, if you know that you want to look after yourself to ensure the best possible health for as long as possible, it’s important to take the right steps. In this blog post, we’ll go over some tips on how to care for yourself so that you can enjoy a long and healthy life.
There are plenty of good reasons to focus on living a long, healthy life. For one thing, you’ll feel better if you’re healthy. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love, and you’ll be able to enjoy your life more. Additionally, staying healthy can help you avoid costly medical bills and time spent in the hospital. Of course, there’s also the simple fact that you’ll live longer if you’re healthy. And who doesn’t want to live a long, happy life?
So why not do everything you can to live a long, healthy life? As much as you can take medication or get partial dentures or have operations, why not do things that can prevent this all together? We’re now going to take a look at the three things you can do to make sure you find longevity in life.
1. Eating Well for Longevity
One of the most important things you can do for your health is to eat a nutritious diet. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. It’s also important to limit your intake of unhealthy foods like processed meats, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of saturated and trans fats. Eating a nutritious diet will help your body stay strong and fight off disease.
2. Moving Your Body More
In addition to eating a healthy diet, you should also make sure to get plenty of exercise. Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight, improving heart health, and reducing your risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Walking, jogging, biking, swimming, and taking group fitness classes are all great ways to get in your daily exercise.
3. Taking Care of Your Mind
Finally, it’s important to take care of your mental health. Stress can take a toll on your physical health, so it’s important to find ways to manage stress in your life. Meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, and talking to friends and family are all great ways to reduce stress levels. Taking care of your mental health will help you feel your best and enjoy a long and healthy life.
Making Your Health a Priority
Taking care of yourself is essential for enjoying a long and healthy life. Eating a nutritious diet, getting plenty of exercise, and taking care of your mental health are all key components of self-care. By following these tips, you can live a long and happy life full of good health.
The most significant aspect of your life is your health, which demands your attention. However, because of the requirements, so many individuals view this as a task that must be accomplished. But it doesn’t have to be this way; you shouldn’t feel as though taking care of your health is a burden. It’s worth looking into the many things you may do and how you can be creative with them since it can be pretty enjoyable. Once you start focusing on your health a lot of other things fall into place and you will start to enjoy every part of your life without worrying about your health.
One of the best things you can do is to look at preventative care but then also to see professionals if something does occur. This could be things like seeing the dentist, the eye doctor, and any specialist for any ailments you have. If anything happens like you lose a tooth you will need immediate care like getting dental bridges applied.
Get support to quit smoking
Your respiration, circulation, and general fitness can all be impacted by smoking. Heart disease and stroke might potentially result from it. The single biggest step you can take to enhance your health is to stop smoking. You can seek free local counseling and support to assist you with quitting. Stopping is never too late.
Stress less
We’ve all experienced it, and if you haven’t, probably, you’ve never been to a family meal. But if you consistently experience stress, it might harm your health. We are all aware of how detrimental stress is to our health. Our heart health may suffer the more worried we perceive ourselves to be. But with the job, relationships, families, and everything else life throws at us, it can be hard to resist giving in to stress. Avoid letting it affect you.
Embrace your joy
When it comes to self-care techniques, there is no right or wrong, yet it is simple to slip into the “shoulds” trap. Making self-care another item on your to-do list negates its purpose. If rising at five in the morning to meditate isn’t your cup of tea, try something else until you discover something that works for you. Following your delight will increase both your satisfaction and the efficacy of your self-care
Every day, spend 20 minutes outside
How frequently do you experience anxiety and overwhelmed when you’re outside, strolling through nature, or unwinding on your porch? The likelihood is that you experience the majority of your stress when working at your computer inside, chasing after children, or rushing to put food on the table. Getting outside for at least 20 minutes each day is one simple method to put your mental health first. This can entail taking your dog for a walk or running a few miles. Even if you don’t always manage to get in 20 minutes, just taking a brief break outside can do wonders for your stress and attitude.
Think about the last time you had a bad day. Maybe you were feeling down about yourself, or perhaps everything that could go wrong did. It’s easy to let those negative feelings take over, but it’s important to remember that they’re just temporary. No matter how bad things seem at the moment, there are always ways to improve your self-image. Here are a few little changes you can make that will help you feel better about yourself in no time!
Every day, we wake up and look in the mirror. We see ourselves, and we make judgments. We decide if we like what we see or if we don’t. We may feel good about ourselves, or we may feel inadequate. Our self-image is the way that we see ourselves, and it can have a significant impact on our lives. If we have a positive self-image, we’re more likely to be successful and happy. If we have a negative self-image, we may miss out on opportunities and be less likely to achieve our goals.
Luckily, there are things that we can do to improve our self-image. One of the best things that you can do is to smile at yourself in the mirror every day. It sounds simple, but it’s actually quite powerful. When you smile, you send a message to your brain that says, “I’m happy with who I am.” Another great way to improve your self-image is to give yourself compliments. Acknowledge your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Give yourself credit for everything you do well, and soon you’ll believe it too! Improving your self-image is a process, but it’s worth undertaking. By making small changes in your daily routine, you can make a big difference in how you see yourself – and in how others see you too!
Dress Nicely
If you’re unhappy with your self-image, don’t worry – you can make plenty of small changes to feel better about yourself. For instance, start paying attention to the way you dress. Even if you’re just lounging around the house, put on something that makes you feel good about yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Additionally, make an effort to take care of your appearance. At the very least, keep your hair clean and styled and your nails trimmed and polished. But, again, you don’t need to go overboard – just put in a little effort to look your best.
Take Care Of Your Body
You don’t have to make considerable changes to see a big improvement in how you feel about yourself. Taking small steps to improve your appearance and eating habits can go a long way in boosting your confidence and self-esteem. For example, something as simple as getting an orthodontics evaluation can make a big difference in how your smile looks. And adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet can improve your skin tone and overall health, giving you a radiant glow. By making some small changes, you can significantly improve how you feel about yourself. So don’t wait any longer; start making those changes today!
In Conclusion
Improving your self-image can be as simple as making minor changes to how you speak and treat yourself with kindness. By improving your relationship with yourself, you’ll see a big difference in how you feel daily. Plus, a positive self-image will help you attract more positivity into your life overall. Who knew that such little changes could have such a big impact?
It’s no secret that a home gym can provide many benefits. In fact, research has shown that people who have a home gym are more likely to stick with their fitness routine. There are many reasons for this, but the most common one is convenience.
When you have a home gym, you can work out any time you want without having to worry about scheduling appointments or fighting traffic to get to the gym.
You also don’t have to worry about paying high membership fees. Plus, you can hire your own gym equipment through companies like Hirefitness if you don’t want to fully commit to one type for too long.
Another big benefit of having a home gym is that you can customize it to fit your needs. You can choose the equipment that works best for you and the exercises that you enjoy doing. This means that you can create a workout routine that is perfect for you and your fitness goals.
If you’re thinking about setting up a home gym, there are a few things you will need to think about.
Space
First, you need to make sure that you have enough space. A home gym doesn’t have to be huge, but you do need to have enough space to move around and store all of your equipment.
Equipment
Second, you need to make sure that you have the right equipment. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you do need to get quality equipment that will last.
Rules
Third, you need to set some ground rules. For example, you need to decide what time of day you will work out and how often you will work out. Once you have these things in place, you’re ready to start working out!
Exercises
If you are ready to get going, here are 10 exercises to help you on your fitness journey.
Push-ups:
Push-ups are a great way to work your arms, chest, and shoulders. To do a push-up, start in a plank position with your hands on the ground and your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body down until your chest is just above the ground. Push back up to the starting position.
Squats:
Squats are good for working your legs and glutes. To do a squat, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides. Lower your body down as if you were going to sit in a chair. Keep your knees behind your toes and make sure that your back is straight. Push back up to the starting position.
Sit-ups:
Sit-ups are for your core. To do a sit-up, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head and curl your upper body up towards your knees. Lower back down to the starting position.
Lunges:
Your legs and glutes will love you after doing this. To do a lunge, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides. Step forward with one leg and lower your body down until both knees are bent at 90-degree angles. Make sure that your front knee is behind your toes and that your back is straight. Push back up to the starting position.
Burpees:
Burpees will get your heart rate up and work your whole body. To do a burpee, start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides. Lower your body down into a squatting position and place your hands on the ground in front of you. Kick your feet back so that you are in a push-up position. Lower your body down and then press back up to the starting position.
Jumping jacks:
Jumping jacks will work all over your body. To do a jumping jack, start in a standing position with your feet together and your hands at your sides. Jump up and spread your legs out to the side. As you land, bring your legs back together and jump up again.
Mountain climbers:
Another exercise that will work your core as well as the arms and legs. To do a mountain climber, start in a push-up position with your hands on the ground and your feet shoulder-width apart. Bring one knee up towards your chest and then quickly switch legs. Continue alternating legs as fast as you can.
Planks:
If you have never done a plank before, you’ll certainly feel it when you do it. To do a plank, start in a push-up position with your hands on the ground and your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body down so that your elbows are bent at 90-degree angles and make sure that your back is straight. Hold this position for as long as you can.
Side plank:
Side planks will work your obliques. To do a side plank, start in a plank position with your feet together and your right hand on the ground. Rotate your body so that your left foot is on top of your right foot and your left hand is in the air. Make sure that your body is in a straight line from your head to your feet. Hold this position for as long as you can and then repeat on the other side.
Squat jumps:
It may sound hard to do, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be a pro. To do a squat jump, start in a squatting position with your hands at your sides. Jump up as high as you can and land in the same squatting position. Make sure that your knees are behind your toes and that your back is straight.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you will find them to be incredibly beneficial to your fitness regime!
I’m so glad you dropped by today, thank you. I hope you have a great weekend.
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.
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!
I’m so excited to see that Sherly at A Chronic Voice is feeling better and hosting the November Writing Prompts this month.
What the 2022 November Writing Prompts are About & How to Participate
The linkups are a monthly get together for anyone with a chronic illness, mental disorder or disability. An opportunity to share, to listen, and to learn from one another through shared writing prompts. I also think it’s a great way to provide insight into life with chronic pain, from many different points of view.
All you have to do is write using at least three of the writing prompts listed below, and publish it on your blog, or to a free writing platform like Medium. Then click on the blue ‘Add Link’ button to add your blog post to this page. Voilà, you’re now part of the linkup party!
Here are the November Prompts
Finishing
Fatiguing
Easing
Comforting
Wishing
I’m choosing three this month, Easing, Fatiguing, and Comforting.
Easing
I bought a bicycle to cruise around the neighborhood and the park nearby. Bike riding was one of my favorite hobbies growing up and in my early 30s. My balance is wacky so I don’t know how this will work. My goal is to ride to the park with my camera to enjoy the ducks and squirrels. This is my motivation to get some exercise on the days I’m able.
Fatiguing
I have been experiencing Fibromyalgia flares back to back for close to two months and fatigue has ruled my world. I have spent anywhere between a half to a full day in bed almost every day. When I’m not in bed, it’s such a treat. The pain in my hips has left me unable to put pressure on my hip which means I limp a lot. This has been a Tsunami flare, in all the years I’ve had Fibromyalgia, I have never encountered one like this.
Comforting
I only go out of the house for doctor’s appointments, which leaves me bored on days I feel good. I’ve started adding to my collection of houseplants. I went from seven plants to over 30! This has been a lifesaver, I get to watch the growth and enjoy it when a baby shows up. I’ve tried my hand at succulents for the first time to mixed results and bought a Rubber Tree. They only need attention once a week and so far that has not been an issue for me. Now I have my own garden in the house during winter instead of dead plants.
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, Bridgette Tales.
I started this blog in 2013 with the words: “Once upon a time there was a mother who wanted to do something other than dishes and laundry.”
This version of myself feels sort of familiar.
It ended with the words: “She took a deep breath and just went for it.”
This I recognize.
I’ve spent the last nearly decade breathing in and plunging forward.
I’ve been as transparent as I can, exploring motherhood, depression, and body image. There are things I withhold to protect my friends and family, and I’m attempting to explore new territory with my fiction writing. The blog, like me, is a work in progress.
So glad you are enjoying the Today in History on Sundays, thanks for all the feedback.
2020
Kim Ng named first female MLB general manager
On November 13, 2020, veteran front-office official Kim Ng breaks several glass ceilings simultaneously when she is named General Manager of the Miami Marlins. Ng is the first woman and first person of East Asian descent to lead a Major League Baseball front office, as well as …read more
1985
The eruption of Nevado del Ruiz
Nevado del Ruiz, the highest active volcano in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, suffers a mild eruption that generates a series of lava flows and surges over the volcano’s broad ice-covered summit. Flowing mixtures of water, ice, pumice and other rock debris poured off the summit …read more
1974
Karen Silkwood dies in mysterious one-car crash
On November 13, 1974, 28-year-old Karen Silkwood is killed in a car accident near Crescent, Oklahoma, north of Oklahoma City. Silkwood worked as a technician at a plutonium plant operated by the Kerr-McGee Corporation, and she had been critical of the plant’s health and safety …read more
1953
Indiana Textbook Commission member charges that Robin Hood is communist
In an example of the lengths to which the “Red Scare” in America is going, Mrs. Thomas J. White of the Indiana Textbook Commission calls for the removal of references to the book Robin Hood from textbooks used by the state’s schools. Mrs. White …read more
1979
Darryl Dawkins breaks his first backboard
On November 13, 1979, in the middle of a game at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaps over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine and slam-dunks the basketball, shattering the fiberglass backboard. The result, according to …read more
I’m so glad you dropped by today, thank you. I hope you have a great weekend.
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.
I can’t thank military members and their families enough for the daily sacrifices they make large and small. The military has not only kept America safe and strong, but they’ve also taken those skills to the workplace and beyond.
My gramps joined the Army in 1939 and was a proud military man but most would not know because he didn’t talk about it. He was stationed at the Panama Canal right after the war broke out to ensure our shipping channels were protected and shipped out to Germany when fighting escalated. I have every metal, his funeral flag, and all types of photos, even a few holiday menus. I’m so proud of my gramps for his commitment and bravery. Those trenches must have been hell.
Served in WWII
He would talk to me at length about the actual work that he did but not the battlefield and I’m fine with that, it must be traumatic for any soldier.
Toby Kieth sings one of my favorite patriotic songs of our time, American Soldier. This video may give you tears, if you’re a Veteran of any age you will want to see what a great job he does of sending our message.
I want to send a special thank you to the Managing Editor of Trigger Publishing, Soraya Nair for sending Me, Myself and Ana by Abi Appleby to review. This is a story that will pull at your heart and will help people see there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who need help.
Blurb
Who’s your best friend? What happens when they’re not a real person, but a voice in your head?
Abi Appleby’s eating disorder manifested as Ana, a voice that told her to eat less and exercise more until she disappeared. Abi trusted and listened to her for long enough that her loved ones noticed her changing body and behaviours. They helped her into treatment, but even there, she could still hear Ana’s voice.
Me, Myself & Ana tells the story of Abi’s descent into anorexia nervosa, but it also shows how she finally quieted Ana – and realized that she wasn’t her best friend, but an enemy that she could defeat.
My Thoughts
Eating Disorders are complex to treat, and require a very specialized treatment plan and oversight. “Statistically anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders (Arcelus, 2011). Help from professionals reduces the likelihood of dying from anorexia significantly.” (Except from book)
Abi’s eating disorder is so severe it manifested into a voice/friend in her head named Ana who doesn’t want Abi to get better. Ana was taking over her life by giving her restrictions on what to eat, and how much, and forcing her to exercise way beyond her capability. She is starving and praising Abi for how good she looks.
Abi is doing her part by going into treatment after she reached a dangerous state of health and her family noticed how sick she was. She works very hard in treatment but she is still controlled by Ana and getting ridiculed daily for seeking treatment.
Now her struggle is shutting out these voices during treatment that are sabotaging her and learning how to live without an eating disorder. At one point Abi was skin and bones and her goal was to disappear. As you can imagine, Ana spoke even louder and more destructively and Abi follow her right into the middle of the eye of the storm.
“Ana” wasn’t so much a friend as a deadly mental illness disguised as a friendly voice inside my head: anorexia nervosa.” Several of her journal entries are quite scary. I am so proud of her for getting help and now she helps others.
Excerpt From Me, Myself and Ana
We all have an inner voice but it’s very different for people with a mental illness who are very sick to see clearly.
This would also be great to have around the house for tweens/teens, boys, and girls, so they can get exposure to eating disorders, you have to start young with what is normal and what is not. There is so much peer pressure on teens these days with Social Media showing so many images that are photoshopped or they hear about a starving model hear makes over a million a year.
This is a big thumbs up in my book!
Trigger Publishing
TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.
We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives.
November has arrived and that means it is time to think about holiday gifts. Books are a special gift and you can personalize it by writing an inscription on the first blank page of the book. I have kept books that are not necessarily ones I’ll read again but kept them because they have inscriptions that bring back memories.
I’ve combined several lists to give you more choices.
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 I highlight a new blogger, Shangri-La.
I love to write about the simple things in every day life with humor and positivity. My late Irish born mother Mary, is my favorite subject. I have written several stories about her on my blog and hope to comprise them all into a book in her memory. I also work in a Psychiatric hospital and cherish all the wonderful patients that enrich my life with their beauty, intelligence wit and courage, each and every day.
Please check out her site, she writes from the heart.
On November 6, 1869, Rutgers beats Princeton, 6-4, in the first college football game. The game, played with a soccer ball before roughly 100 fans in New Brunswick, New Jersey, resembles rugby instead of today’s football. Even off the playing fields, the rivalry between the New …read more
Led by Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Lenin, leftist revolutionaries launch a nearly bloodless coup d’État against Russia’s ineffectual Provisional Government. The Bolsheviks and their allies occupied government buildings and other strategic locations in the Russian capital of …read more
The Spanish conquistador Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca is shipwrecked on a low sandy island off the coast of Texas. Starving, dehydrated, and desperate, he is the first European to set foot on the soil of the future Lone Star state. Cabeza de Vaca’s unintentional journey to Texas …read more
In the aftermath of the November 1 coup that resulted in the murder of President Ngo Dinh Diem, Gen. Duong Van Minh, leading the Revolutionary Military Committee of the dissident generals who had conducted the coup, takes over leadership of South Vietnam. U.S. Ambassador Henry …read more
On November 6, 1906, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt embarks on a 17-day trip to Panama and Puerto Rico, becoming the first president to make an official diplomatic tour outside of the continental United States. Roosevelt entered office in 1901 with the firm intention of …read more
Here is a list of the many days observed during the month of November. You’ll find other awareness day sites whose lists are way too long. Here’s a condensed version.
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.
Looking for the Light 
