Category: Celebrate Life

World Water Day March 22, 2022
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

World Water Day March 22, 2022

Looking for the Light2 Comments

World Water Day is observed each year on 22 March.  The day, which was established by the United Nations was first celebrated in 1993 to celebrate the importance of freshwater around the globe.

Did you know that over 45% of the world’s land surface is covered by river basins, and over 75% of all countries have their boundaries within shared river basins.

All around the world events will be held to celebrate freshwater and promote its sustainability, and every year there is a different theme.  The theme for 2019 is “Leaving no one behind”.

From water and our future to sanitation and water scarcity, the day aims to keep us informed, and in a whole host of different ways!

Around the world there will be an array of events, from musical performances to galas, art shows and seminars.

So why not get involved?  Find out all you need to know by dropping by the official website to see how you can participate.

We use water every day for so many things we do and often times we take for granted the water will always flow. Unfortunately, it won’t and for many countries, there already have a major water crisis. Some countries don’t have access to clean water.

We can do simple things like turn off the water when we brush our teeth, make sure we don’t have any leaks in our house, only run the dishwasher when it’s full, and the same for adjusting the level of water based on the size of the load. One thing I do as often as possible is collect rainwater so I can use it to water my plants. The plants love the non-chemical water and I love that it’s free.

Melinda

Reference:

http://www.national-awareness-days.com/world-water-day/

Blogger Highlight-Rum and Robots
Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Blogger Highlight-Rum and Robots

Looking for the Light3 Comments

There are so many great blogs out and it can be hard to find them all so I started a series to highlight bloggers you may not run across while searching. I know you’ll find some great blogs to follow and maybe make a few friends along the way.

Joni Caggiano

Rum and Robots

We Survived and Arrived – Now as Warriors We Thrive

We can shatter the rotating circle of chaos which can be our horrific nemesis and instead, we can be victorious.  We can even be blessed with children who lead story book lives that we can be proud of, lives we never could have imagined living ourselves.

My ability to survive my childhood and early adulthood came from my never-ending faith and love for God and his son, Jesus Christ.  Thankfully, my mother imparted her faith to me during her precious and few sober moments.

My prayer is that this blog will be a venue in which to share my own thoughts, stories and path to recovery.  My hope is that by doing so, you may be helped some where along the way.   This would be a great blessing to me!

Joni and I have so much baggage in common, alcoholic parents, and sexual abuse. We also both share a passion for art and a strong belief in God.

Please check out her site, I have no doubt you will find her inspirational and easy to relate to.

Melinda

For more great blogs to follow check out my post here.

Today in History March 20, 2022
Celebrate Life · Fun

Today in History March 20, 2022

Looking for the Light1 Comment

Welcome to the Weekend Edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend.

1854

Republican Party founded

In Ripon, Wisconsin, former members of the Whig Party meet to establish a new party to oppose the spread of slavery into the western territories. The Whig Party, which was formed in 1834 to oppose the “tyranny” of President Andrew Jackson, had shown itself incapable of coping …read more

1413

Henry V ascends upon father’s death

King Henry IV, the first English monarch of the Lancastrian dynasty, dies after years of illness, and his eldest son, Henry, ascends to the English throne. In 1399, Henry Bolingbroke was crowned King Henry IV of England following the forced abdication of King Richard II, who was …read more

1778

King Louis XVI receives U.S. representatives

Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee present themselves to France’s King Louis XVI as official representatives of the United States on March 20, 1778. Louis XVI was skeptical of the fledgling republic, but his dislike of the British eventually overcame these concerns …read more

1345

Black Death is created, allegedly

According to scholars at the University of Paris, the Black Death is created on March 20, 1345, from what they call “a triple conjunction of Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in the 40th degree of Aquarius, occurring on the 20th of March 1345″. The Black Death, also known as the Plague, …read more

1995

Tokyo subways are attacked with sarin gas

Several packages of deadly sarin gas are set off in the Tokyo subway system killing twelve people and injuring over 5,000 on March 20, 1995. Sarin gas was invented by the Nazis and is one of the most lethal nerve gases known to man. Tokyo police quickly learned who had planted …read more

Melinda

#Weekend Music Share *Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share *Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply

Looking for the Light6 Comments

https://youtu.be/WQnAxOQxQIU

 

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.

Melinda

Book Review of How Do You Feel? by Suki Bains
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Book Review of How Do You Feel? by Suki Bains

Looking for the Light8 Comments

I was kindly gifted an advanced copy of How Do You Feel?-A Holistic Guide to help you work with your mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and whole Self by Suki Bains from Soraya Nair at Cherish Editions for a review.  

About the Author

Suki Bains drew on her own life experiences, analysis and years of education to build the one-of-a-kind programme introduced in How Do You Feel? She has taken Holistic training courses and has independently researched subjects like mental health and psychology. Suki has lived in several countries, where she learned to immerse herself into different cultures, and this has given her a unique point of view and the ability to view life from many perspectives. Plus, she has always been an empath, so opening up and exploring emotions is nothing new. And now, she sets out to help you on the same path so that you, too, can get to know yourself on the deepest level – and maintain that important relationship for years to come.

Blurb

Beneath every reaction, action, and behavior lies the truth of how you feel.

Are you aligned with your truth? There will be days when you find it hard to make sense of life and struggle to process or express how you feel.

Why? Your mind and body experience two worlds. The outside world, which teaches you who you should be and how you should be; and the inside world, where your emotions, feelings, and thoughts live. Only you can feel and see this place inside of yourself -If you do not know how to align your two worlds, you will bury, dismiss, reject or suppress your feelings. This can lead you to react and act and behave in ways that do not serve you.

The Answer: How Do You Feel? is a holistic guide that helps you see your whole self clearly. It includes a dictionary of feelings that helps you define your emotions and feelings and work with your inner self, as well as exercises to help the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual parts of yourself. It will also inspire self- reflection so you can uncover the truth of who you are and how you feel. Altogether, this powerful guide will allow you to align with your true self and empower you through every stage of your life.

Profits from the sale of all Trigger and Cherish books go to sister charity, Shawmind. The charity aims to ensure that everyone has access to mental health resources whenever they need them.

My Thoughts

Can we truly know ourselves? This is an important question as it can lead to greater fulfillment in life. Suki’s guide is a holistic approach to answering this very question. She draws her on years of experience to create exercises that focus on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health awareness. 

One advantage this book has over others is that it includes a dictionary of feelings that can help you define your emotions which can only aid you in speaking your truth. 

“Only when you see your whole self clearly, inside and out, can you start to take steps to work with your whole self rather than against your whole self.” 

How Do You Feel is a book that you can refer to over the years, it’s not a one-time read. We all need refreshers and reinforcement. 

Suki is inspiring, she shares from her heart and is not over technical in her writing which I appreciate. 

I would recommend this book to everyone! We all need to dig deeper into how we truly feel and better understand ourselves. 

Cherish Editions

Cherish Editions is the self-publishing division of Trigger Publishing, the UK’s leading independent mental health and wellbeing publisher.

We are experienced in creating and selling positive, responsible, important and inspirational books, which work to de-stigmatise the issues around mental health, as well as helping people who read them to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing. By choosing to publish through Cherish Editions, you will get the expertise of the dedicated Trigger Team at every step of the process.

We are proud of what we do, and passionate about the books that we publish. We want to do the very best for you and your book, holding your hand every step of the way.

Enjoy Reading

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@LookingLight

New Blogs To Follow In 2022
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

New Blogs To Follow In 2022

Looking for the Light15 Comments

I’ve found several great sites you might want to check out and follow in 2022. I talked with each about why they started their blog and what they hope to accomplish in 2022? See what they had to say.

Terri Sulta at Olive Tree Saints

I started Olive Tree Saints to help equip Christ-followers for readiness to serve God by helping them cultivate wellness and grow in their faith.

In 2022, I want to develop tools that anyone can use to improve their overall wellness, even if their physical health isn’t ideal.

Cathy at Happy Healthy Me – a Journey

I started my blog in April 2021 because I realised that I wanted to make positive changes in my life and I’d begun researching the little things I could do on a day to day basis. The more I read and discovered, the more I realised that these ‘tiny tweaks’ would help me to move forward towards a healthier and happier life. The idea of sharing them in a blog literally happened overnight!

My aim for 2022 is to continue learning and sharing my journey and hopefully helping others. I want to continue with a range of topics but all of them helping us move towards a more positive life and better relationships one ‘tiny tweak’ at a time.

Genevieve Cruz at Gifted And Chilling 

I originally started my blog as a way to share my creative writing (flash fiction) and to meet other bloggers. It’s been a wonderful experience and I love reading everyone’s stories and creativity.

In 2022, I hope to accomplish writing a few personal letters to loved ones, using a new typewriter that my best friend gifted me.

Nessa Rose at The Mental Minute

I started my blog actually for a college project, I am graduating with a Bachelor’s in creative writing this April. I chose to focus on mental health because I suffer from anxiety and depression and wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives.

I hope that for 2022 I can accomplish finishing my degree and being a successful writer. But most of all, I would love for my writing to make a difference in someone’s life and inspire them!

Danielle at The Daily Addict 

Why did I start my blog? Honestly it came to me on a whim. It was a holiday weekend and I was stuck inside due to the rain. Something literally said you should write a blog about the daily life of an addict in recovery. So I started. I write my truth every day. Some is pretty and some is not. I write about how I stay clean and what beauty there is in recovery. Because it is miraculous.

What I hope to accomplish in 2022?
Well, I have noticed that my writings are helpful to not only addicts but to the families and friends that are affected by this horrible disease. My goal would be to bring more awareness and understanding to anyone who is affected and confused by the disease of addiction.

Just for Relaxation

Vova Zinger 

Cindy Knoke

Mijnnikonik

Live and Learn

There are thousands of great blogs in the blog-o-sphere, this is a short list to keep an eye on. 

Please check out the sites and give them a follow. You have only knowledge and loads of fun to gain.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

Happy St. Patricks Day
Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing

Happy St. Patricks Day

Looking for the Light4 Comments

Everyone’s Irish on St. Patty’s Day! How did all this drinking get started? Let’s find out.

Photo by Djalma Paiva Armelin on Pexels.com

Why celebrate St. Patricks Day?


Saint Patrick’s feast day, as a kind of national day, was already being celebrated by the Irish in Europe in the ninth and tenth centuries. In later times, he became more and more widely seen as the patron of Ireland. Saint Patrick’s feast day was finally placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Waddingin the early 1600s. …

St. Patrick’s Day,  feast day (March 17) of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 CE to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him—for example, that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. Ireland came to celebrate his day with religious services and feasts. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Why is Drinking a Part of St. Patrick’s Day?

There are a few non-historical reasons why people drink on St. Patrick’s Day in modern times. One is that crowds of people all celebrating the same thing tends to result in some alcohol consumption. In addition, mid-March is the time when hints of spring appear in many parts of the United States, which puts people in a jovial mood. And, most simply, some people drink because everyone else is doing it.

However, there is a historical explanation that may shed some light on the roots of the tradition.

According to legend, St. Patrick was staying at an inn where he was given a cup of whiskey that wasn’t full. He used this as a chance to teach a lesson on generosity. He told the innkeeper that there was a devil living with the whiskey in the inn’s cellar. St. Patrick said that this devil was the reason the innkeeper was greedy and cheated people out of their drink.

He explained that the only way the innkeeper could redeem himself and banish the devil was to fill everyone’s cup until it was overflowing. When St. Patrick returned, he discovered that the innkeeper now had a generous spirit and each cup was full. It then became custom to drink a “full measure” to celebrate the occasion. 

In addition, because St. Patrick’s Day is a feast day, Christians are allowed to set aside their Lenten restrictions on food and alcohol consumption. This has further cemented the link between St. Patrick’s Day and drinking.

Enjoy all things green today and if so inclined drink a green beer for St. Patty’s sake.

Melinda

Reference:


Wikipedia ·

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day

https://www.edgarsnyder.com/blog/2015/03/10-why-people-drink-saint-patricks-day.html#:~:text=There%20are%20a%20few%20non-historical%20reasons%20why%20people,States%2C%20which%20puts%20people%20in%20a%20jovial%20mood.

 

Just Ducky
Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Just Ducky

Looking for the Light3 Comments

This is a great little park by the house I love to visit. There’s always plenty of ducks and squirrels to watch.

When was the last time you went to the park?

Melinda

Keeping Yourself On Track With Your Fitness
Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Keeping Yourself On Track With Your Fitness

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Everyone wants to be as fit and healthy as possible, but this is not always as easy to achieve as you might hope. If you are keen to be fit but you often struggle to keep yourself on track with regard to that fitness, you are not alone. This is a very common experience and one which you can improve easily enough if you know how best to approach it. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the most powerful ways to keep yourself on track with your fitness, so you can enjoy the feeling of good health and physical wellbeing that this will bring.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Keep A Diary

It might sound a little corny, but keeping a diary really is one of the best ways to keep yourself on track with pretty much anything, and that certainly applies to when you are trying to be more fit. If you are keen to do this, you might want to consider doing it as a blog, as feeling that other people might be reading it can add even more to the experience and encourage you to keep on track all the more. Take a look here for a web host, and then set up your site and blog, and start typing.

Be Clear About Your Goals

We all know that having goals is a good way to ensure you are moving in the right direction and achieving what you need to achieve. But you need to make sure that they are accurate and clear goals, and that you actually know what you hope to get out of them, otherwise you might struggle to actually use those goals as inspiration and you might end up simply falling off the wagon again. So be really clear about what you want to achieve, in what timescale, and you are going to find this really helps.

Track Your Progress

You’ll also want to think about tracking the actual hard data relating to your fitness – such as how your body weight is changing, how much you are able to deadlift each time, and so on. The more effectively you track this, the better, as you are going to find that it allows you to see how far you have already come, and therefore encourages you to continue. Without this kind of data by your side, you might find yourself feeling that you are getting nowhere, so this can really make a huge difference.

All in all, it’s all about enjoying it – and if you are not enjoying it, then what’s the point? That doesn’t mean that every moment is fun, but it does mean that you should feel that, on the whole, you are doing what you need to be doing in order to have fun with it. If you neer feel that you are having fun, you are probably not approaching it in the right way, so this is something to focus on from the start of your process.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Repost

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy-Physical Health

Looking for the Light7 Comments

We all know our physical health is important to us but for many reasons we don’t make it a priority. I am guilty here, I walk but not enough and I don’t get any cardio which I know is bad.

So what are the basics we need to stay healthy without being freaky about it?

A healthy lifestyle can help you thrive throughout your life. Making healthy choices isn’t always easy, however. It can be hard to find the time and energy to exercise regularly or prepare healthy meals. However, your efforts will pay off in many ways, and for the rest of your life. Be physically active for 30 minutes most days of the week.

If you’re not sure about becoming active or boosting your level of physical activity because you’re afraid of getting hurt, the good news is that moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, is generally safe for most people.

Read about the benefits for improving your brain health, weight management, reducing disease, strengthening your bones and muscles, and improving your ability to do everyday activities.

If you have not been physically active in a while, you may be wondering how to get started again. Find more tips here to get started with physical activity for a healthy weight.

Learn more about what works and how physical activity can improve your health.

You don’t have to do high amounts of activity or vigorous-intensity activity to reduce your risk of premature death. Benefits start to accumulate with any amount of moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity.

From reducing the amount of time we sit still, to including strengthening exercises, here are the main things to know from the WHO for everyone:

six main recommendations from the new guidance

We can all do a little more each day and remember all activity counts. Work up to your goal slowly and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make it one week. just back on track.

Melinda

References:

https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/tips-for-staying-healthy

https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/12/physical-activity-who-exercise-health/

How To Make Green Beer
Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health

How To Make Green Beer

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Many of you will be going green for St. Patrick’s day Thursday and I thought what a fun way to celebrate than to make your own green beverages.

Photo by Pressmaster on Pexels.com

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces beer
  • 1 drop green food coloring

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.

Add 1 drop of green food coloring to a clear glass.

Pour the beer into the glass. Serve immediately

Tip

Liquid food coloring works best for this recipe. Avoid gel and paste food colorings since they won’t readily mix into the cold beer.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/green-beer-recipe-353182

How Do Children Learn Through Play? Guest Blogger
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

How Do Children Learn Through Play? Guest Blogger

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Bryan Dunst's avatarBryan Dunst's WordPress Site

Children learn through play. Play is one of how children acquire knowledge and skills. They use their five senses to explore surroundings, experiment with new things, venture into social situations and interact with each other and their environment. So what are some of the different ways children learn through play? Take a look at this article for more information on this topic!

How do Children Learn through Play?

The first stage of learning is simply exploration, where children investigate their environment, play with objects to familiarize themselves with a new setting or situation, and generally figure out what is going on around them. Later on, this exploration can evolve to allow the child to act out a role or develop their personality. This stage can be observed in babies and toddlers, who are usually fully engaged in play andexploration.

Children also explore and develop their skills through playing…

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Get The Be There Certificate And Up Your Mental Health Knowledge
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Get The Be There Certificate And Up Your Mental Health Knowledge

Looking for the Light3 Comments

Welcome to the Be There Certificate. This course will teach you how to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health and how to safely support them while maintaining your own mental health.

Created by Jack.org and Born this Way Foundation.

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

The Be There Certificate is a free, digital, self-paced learning experience designed to increase mental health literacy and provide youth with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to safely support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health. It will provide a deep understanding of Be There’s 5 Golden Rules — a simple but actionable framework teaching people how to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health, their role in supporting that person, and how to connect them to the help they need. The Be There Certificate is available in English, French and Spanish, offering universal best practices while diving deeper into the intersections of culture, identity, and social determinants of mental wellness.

About Jack.org

Jack.org is Canada’s only charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health in every province and territory. Through Jack Talks, Jack Chapters, and Jack Summits, young leaders identify and dismantle barriers to positive mental health in their communities. And through ambitious innovations in youth mental health like Be There, we give people the mental health resources they need to educate themselves. We’re working towards a Canada where all young people understand how to take care of their own mental health and look out for each other. A Canada without shame, where all those who need support get the help they deserve.

IG FB TW TK YT

About Born This Way Foundation

Born This Way Foundation, co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, supports the mental health of young people and works with them to build a kinder and braver world. Through high-impact programming, youth-led conversations, and strategic, cross-sectoral partnerships, the Foundation aims to make kindness cool, validate the emotions of young people, and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. Learn how the Foundation encourages people to practice kindness towards themselves and their communities at bornthisway.foundation and learn more about its storytelling platform Channel Kindness at channelkindness.org.

IG FB TW TK YT

 

I took the course and found it very helpful and think you will find a nugget or two.

Melinda

Today in History March 13, 2022
Celebrate Life · Fun

Today in History March 13, 2022

Looking for the Light5 Comments

Welcome to the Weekend Edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend.

1881

Czar Alexander II assassinated in St. Petersburg

Czar Alexander II, the ruler of Russia since 1855, is killed in the streets of St. Petersburg by a bomb thrown by a member of the revolutionary “People’s Will” group. The People’s Will, organized in 1879, employed terrorism and assassination in their attempt to overthrow Russia’s czarist autocracy. They murdered officials and made several attempts on the czar’s life before finally assassinating him on March 13, 1881.

1965

Eric Clapton leaves the Yardbirds

In and of itself, one man leaving one band in the middle of the 1960s might warrant little more than a historical footnote. But what makes the departure of Eric Clapton from the Yardbirds on March 13, 1965, more significant is the long and complicated game of musical chairs it …read more

1781

William Hershel discovers Uranus

The German-born English astronomer William Herschel discovers Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun. Herschel’s discovery of a new planet was the first to be made in modern times, and also the first to be made by use of a telescope, which allowed Herschel to distinguish Uranus …read more

1991

“Paris is Burning” premieres in theaters

After more than five years of fundraising, shooting, and editing, the documentary Paris is Burning debuts in New York City on March 13, 1991. The groundbreaking look at the culture and characters surrounding the city’s drag ball culture changed the way many people thought about …read more

Melinda

Fun Facts That Will Amaze You
Celebrate Life · Fun

Fun Facts That Will Amaze You

Looking for the Light10 Comments

I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments! 

Contrary to popular belief, it’s really, really hard to see the Great Wall of China from space, particularly with the naked eye. (nasa.gov)

The first footprints on the moon will remain there for a million years. (nasa.gov)

Days on Venus are longer than years. Due to its slow axis rotation, it takes 243 Earth days to spin once; but it only takes 225 Earth days to go around the sun. (nasa.gov) 

Humans could never “land” on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune because they are made of gas and have no solid surface. (natgeokids.com)

But you could ice skate on one of Jupiter’s moons, Europa, which is covered in ice. An Axel jump would take you 22 feet in the air! (nasa.gov)

Our modern interpretation of Santa Claus with a red outfit and white beard is due in large part to holiday Coca-Cola ads that began in 1931. (coca-cola.com)

 

Enjoy! 

Melinda

 

Let me Introduce you to my Badass Bodyguard — Guest Blogger Don’t Lose Hope
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Let me Introduce you to my Badass Bodyguard — Guest Blogger Don’t Lose Hope

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

“She threw away all of her masks, and put on her soul.” The comedian Duncan Trussel has been quoted as saying that when you first meet him, you meet his bodyguard. And I think this is true for many of us. My personal bodyguard is very pleasant and warm. She’ll show an interest in you, […]

Let me Introduce you to my Badass Bodyguard — Don’t Lose Hope
Musical Support For Ukraine*George Michael, Elton John – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Live)
Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Musical Support For Ukraine*George Michael, Elton John – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Live)

Looking for the Light1 Comment

Let’s not let the sun go down on Ukraine without standing right beside each of them!

Melinda

#Weekend Music Share *Simply Red – Holding Back The Years (Symphonica In Rosso)
Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share *Simply Red – Holding Back The Years (Symphonica In Rosso)

Looking for the Light8 Comments

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.

Melinda

World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day was yesterday March 8th, 2022. I missed posting but feel strongly that this topic needs to be discussed. It’s very common for women to get Ovarian Cancer and knowing the signs is important to your health.

Who Gets Ovarian Cancer?

  • The lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 out of every 78 women, or 1.3 percent.
  • The risk is greater in individuals with a family history of ovarian, colorectal, or breast cancer.
  • Inherited mutations (such as BRCA1 and BRCA2) are thought to contribute to about 20 percent of ovarian cancer cases.

Types

There are more than 30 different types of ovarian cancer, grouped into three categories by the type of cell where the malignancy begins.

  • Epithelial: About 90 percent of ovarian cancers are epithelial ovarian carcinomas. In this type of cancer, the malignant tumor originates in the surface epithelial tissue, which is on the outside of the ovary. The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer increases with age, especially after the age of 50.
  • Germ Cell: These tumors start from the cells that produce the individual eggs. Germ cell tumors are rare, accounting for 5 percent of all ovarian cancers. They usually occur in girls and women younger than 30 years of age. They are usually caught at an early stage and have high survival rates.
  • Sex Cord Stromal: These tumors develop in the connective tissues that hold the ovary together and produce male or female hormones. Sex cord stromal tumors are relatively rare, accounting for 5 percent of all ovarian cancers, and are generally less aggressive than other ovarian tumors.

Symptoms

In the past, it was thought that ovarian cancer had no symptoms and was known as the “silent” killer.  However, according to research conducted by Dr. Barbara Goff, professor and chair of the UW Division of Gynecologic Oncology and SCCA physician, early symptoms may be present in many women, but just missed or not noticed. There are early warning symptoms of ovarian cancer, according to Dr. Goff. But they often go unnoticed because they are often vague symptoms that people may experience off and on normally. Some of the symptoms include abdominal swelling, pain, bloating, a feeling of fullness even after a light meal, a change in bowel habits, frequent urination, and loss of appetite. You may also notice irregular bleeding, or bleeding with intercourse. “If these are new symptoms that persist for at least three weeks, you should talk to your doctor,” Dr. Goff says.

Risk factors

The risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, especially at around the age of menopause. A family history of ovarian cancer is the most important risk factor. A family history of breast cancer may also increase your risk. Other factors that may increase your risk include:

  • A personal history of breast, endometrial, or colon cancer or Lynch syndrome
  • A history of infertility, or the use of fertility drugs
  • Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
  • A mutation or abnormal change in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (known as the breast-ovarian susceptibility gene).

Know your risk factors and the signs to look for, Ovarian Cancer is very treatable if caught early. I had a history of Ovarian Cancer on both sides of my family, when I had Cervical Cancer and needed a hysterectomy, the doctors recommended I have my ovaries removed as well due to the high risk of cancer. I took their recommendation!

Melinda

References:

https://www.seattlecca.org/diseases/ovarian-cancer/facts

Staying Toasty
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Staying Toasty

Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Today is barely above freezing and it is sleeting outside. What a great day for a fire in my office with some self-care time by meditating by the fire.

 

Melinda

March 2022 Awareness Dates
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

March 2022 Awareness Dates

Looking for the Light2 Comments

I hope you will take a moment to check out the links below to see how they may help you or someone you know.

World Water Day
World TB Day
World Kidney Day
World Book Day
University Mental Health Day
Self Injury Awareness Day
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
No Smoking Day
National Sleep Awareness Week
National Doctors’ Day
International Women’s Day
Endometriosis Awareness Month
Downs Syndrome Awareness Week

Have a great day.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Book Review of Overcome by Alice Tayler

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I was kindly gifted a copy of Overcome by Alice Tayler from Soraya Nair at Cherish Editions for a review.  Thank you, Soraya.  


 

Cherish Editions 

Published 2021

168 pages

Blurb

For Alice Tayler, the only way to get attention in a family plagued by mental ill health was to hurt herself – at least, that’s what Munchausen syndrome led her to believe.

Overcome paints a jarring picture of what Tayler’s life has been like with this psychological condition, one that has caused her to feign illness or pain to get others to care for her. While her story may be tough to read at times, it’s an important one to be told, considering how hard it can be to understand Munchausen syndrome from the outside looking in.

My Thoughts

Most of us have heard of Munchausen By Proxy, which is where a parent or caregiver hurts or makes a child sick in order to gain attention. Did you know there is another type of Munchausen? It’s called Munchausen Syndrome. This illness is where the person hurts themself in order to gain attention from others. Alice started hurting herself for attention at a young age, as young as she can remember.

Alice’s family had a dark secret that may have laid the foundation for her illness. While talking with a family member all the details of the secrets are relived. Her grandfather was a child molester, who was arrested and went to trial. He had also molested all of his female children and including Alice as a very young child. She has vague memories.  As Alice uncovers all the ugly secrets on the internet she now has a better understanding of her family dynamics.

The book has many twists in turns as Alice interacts with family members about the truth and has to bury her mother. There are so many emotions left unresolved. 

Munchausen Syndrome is rare and can be hard to identify. All Alice knew was she was not a monster who abused her child or hurt her in any way but didn’t understand the complexities of her illness. 

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley”

Excerpt From
Overcome
Alice Tayler

I thought the use of the quote was profound, and one she could certainly say she faced. 

I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in medical knowledge and a good mental health story with a positive ending. 

Cherish Editions

Cherish Editions is the self-publishing division of Trigger Publishing, the UK’s leading independent mental health and wellbeing publisher.

We are experienced in creating and selling positive, responsible, important and inspirational books, which work to de-stigmatise the issues around mental health, as well as helping people who read them to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing. By choosing to publish through Cherish Editions, you will get the expertise of the dedicated Trigger Team at every step of the process.

We are proud of what we do, and passionate about the books that we publish. We want to do the very best for you and your book, holding your hand every step of the way.

Enjoy Reading

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@LookingLight

International Women’s Day March 8th
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

International Women’s Day March 8th

Looking for the Light1 Comment

International Women’s Day (IWD), day (March 8) honouring the achievements of women and promoting women’s rights. A national holiday in numerous countries, it has been sponsored by the United Nations (UN) since 1975.

Photo by mentatdgt on Pexels.com

International Women’s Day (IWD) grew out of efforts in the early 20th century to promote women’s rights, especially suffrage. In its campaign for female enfranchisement, the Socialist Party of America in 1909 held the first National Woman’s Day, which was highlighted by mass meetings across the United States; the day was observed until 1913. Encouraged by German activist Clara Zetkin, the International Socialist Congress agreed in 1910 to create an international version of the U.S. holiday, and on March 19, 1911, the first IWD was held in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. More than one million people attended rallies marking the day. In the ensuing years the IWD was celebrated in additional countries and on varying dates. On March 8 (February 24, Old Style), 1917, women in Petrograd (St. Petersburg), Russia, marked the day by staging a strike to protest food shortages, poor living conditions, and World War I. This strike for “bread and peace” helped give rise to the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the abdication of Nicholas II on March 15 (March 2). In 1921 the date of the IWD was officially changed to March 8.

The most influential woman in my life was my Granny. No one shaped me more than her. She stood like a rock, worked hard and when the going was tough, she worked harder. She lead by example and was consistent as clockwork. She was my mother from the day I was born, she watched over me. I remember when as a little girl she would give me a bath, then wrap me in a towel and take me to the bed and rub powder all over. It was such a loving moment that created a lasting memory.  

We all have women in our life to celebrate, who’ve been there for us in good times and bad, taught us valuable life lessons, and given us the mentorship we’ve needed. I’ve been very fortunate to have several strong women in my past and present. My therapist is one, she’s been a solid supporter for over 30 years. When I was younger and in trouble, I had a probation officer who went out of her way to keep me out of jail and was able to get the help I needed.

I have many other great women from work that have influenced me and I thank them all.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Womens-Day