You may be surprised to know that there are many awareness days beyond the traditional we’re accustomed to. This month alone there were close to 50 awareness days. They celebrate a little of everything but I’ll stick with the most common for space’s sake. If you are curious, look it up.
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, Living 50.
Welcome to my blog. In this new season of my life, over 50, empty nester, and grandparent, I decided to try sharing some of my life’s experiences, lessons that I’ve learned along the way, and hopefully some great content just for women my age. Old is a mindset and I am no where near “old” yet!!! I hope you will be encouraged, inspired, challenged and enjoy a laugh or two along the way.
Time for SoCs again, this week Linda’s propmt is : Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “—amble.” Add letters to the beginning of “-amble” to make another word or use it as is in your post. Enjoy!“
When I was 19 years old, a friend and I drove from Texas to California and then to Las Vegas. I’m still surprised my old car made it there and back but it was a trooper. We were counting our pennies on the trip and by the time we made it to Vegas I had only $21 to gamble with. This was my first time gambling so I started with nickel slots to help make the fund last. I didn’t win big but I spent an afternoon making memories on $21.
Flash forward to the last time I gambled, maybe five years ago. We stop at this casino that’s in a river boat on the way to Alabama. They have my favorite game, Wheel of Fortune. I’m not a big gambler, would rather buy something or save it than risk it but on this occasion, I have $200 for the night.
Now I get to gamble the dollar slots and I do the max bidding. Sometimes I leave up for the night and others even but whatever the number, I always have a great time wishing on a fortune.
Melinda
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a particular subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!
For more streams, rules, and tips for Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit our host, Linda at:
I want to give a special thanks to Managing Editor Soraya Nair from Trigger Publishing for sending me an advanced copy of Talk by Rich Gough to review.
Publication date: 07/07/2022
ISBN: 9781913615703 32 pages
Blurb
What’s that feeling in the pit of your stomach? Some kids don’t quite know what it is and why it’s there. So, they feel they must hide it away, which only makes them feel worse and worse…
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Author and primary school teacher Rich Gough makes a simple proposition in his debut book: Talk. Opening up about fears and anxieties can help kids feel relief, so long as they know you’re there to listen. This book will help you open up that first conversation.
My Thoughts
This is a very different type of book for me, it’s a children’s picture book. I know many of you have children or grandchildren and this book could be very valuable in your conversations with them.
Talk is bringing the ability to talk down to a child’s level. It helps them put words to their feelings. The illustrations are outstanding and will keep your child engaged.
Rich takes his experience as a school teacher and translates his knowledge into wonderful conversations you can have with your children.
The book will help your child’s mental health, it gives them a way to not only talk to you but to others. This is the type of book I would love to of had as I struggled to understand so many feelings and my anger.
This is the first step in opening communication with your child and leaves the door open for many more conversations.
I would recommend this book to all parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers.
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.
If you read my review of Delta 8 CBD products you know I’ve tried quite a few and found only two that I would buy again. Right now my front runner is Kind Oasis. Not only do they taste great, they actually work for me. Not all the products worked as stated.
I take 2 gummies when I start my nighttime routine and by bedtime an hour later, I’m relaxed and ready for bed. I have been able to stop taking sleeping pills because these keep me relaxed and able to go back to sleep after my late-night bathroom break.
I found this great article on the Kind Oasis blog that really breaks things down in terms you can understand. Not that you will remember all of this but you can always come back here to read again.
Progressing trends, evolving laws, and expanding R&D is leading more and more hemp derivatives to surface. Hemp has created a unique and dynamic market that is reaching users on a global scale. From edibles and beverages to skincare and hair products, to topicals and tinctures, smokables and self-care practices, plant products have carved out a niche across industries.
Let’s pause for a moment to clarify that increasing consumer demand for hemp-derived products is not limited to a singular demographic. The shift towards natural alternatives is present in a vast spectrum of users (even pets and grandparents!) that are seeking out wellness solutions for diverse goals.
With so many subsets on the horizon, how do we keep the ABC’s of hemp organized and understood?
Let’s break down the variations of this powerful plant, starting with the standard lineup, and simplifying the rookies on deck.
The most potent of the classic CBD trio, Full Spec utilizes the whole plant. Full Spec contains both CBD and all other cannabinoids – and trace amounts of THC (0.3% or less).
A dominating trend in hemp, delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring cannabinoid and is mostly extracted from hemp-derived CBD. D8 is an isomer of delta-9 THC, where the only difference is the location of a double bond between two carbons. Users say this provides a milder effect.
This derives from the scientific process of hydrogenation and is procured from CBD. HHC can have THC-like effects, but less potent than D8.
What is (compliant) Delta-9 THC?
Compliant delta-9 THC comes from the hemp plant, not marijuana, and contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. For example, let’s say our gummy weight is 3.5g. What is the math behind compliancy?
3.5g gummy = 3,500mg * .003% = 10.5mg THC.
What is THCO?
Unlike the other hemp players mentioned here, THCO does not occur naturally in a cannabis plant. Users say the effects of THCO are bolder than delta-8 and delta-9.
CBG is obtained from the cannabis plant. CBG is on the rise as it is being seen to have many potential benefits for your mind and body. There is no THC in CBG.
CBN is a product of THC oxidization. In addition, CBN is catching widespread popularity as a natural comfort aid.
We all have an endocannabinoid system, and the effects different cannabinoids have are bio-individual. A great rule of thumb is to continue doing your research and seek out consultation from a medical provider as research advances and more plant products hit the market.
When I started blogging in 2005 the thought of where I was going or what my goals were didn’t enter my mind. I just needed to write and grieve my grandmother’s dementia and death. Flash forward to 2014 when I started Looking for the Light, my goals were more clear. To share my stories in an effort to reduce stigma and educate others along the way.
I think I’ve accomplished this goal on a small level, as much as we can as individuals working from behind a computer.
Thank you doesn’t seem appropriate for all that you’ve taught me but that’s all I have. Thank You!
This was such a popular post I wanted to share it again for those who missed it.
If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain down in the dumps, mindfulness may be a good option for you. It is an ancient practice that has been shown to reduce stress and promote well-being.
Mindfulness is defined as purposely focusing one’s awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
This should not be confused with meditation; mindfulness is merely a way to become more aware of yourself and your surroundings. By practicing mindfulness regularly, you will eventually find yourself carrying these habits into everyday activities such as cooking, listening to music, and even cleaning.
How To Practice Mindfulness
Observe your surroundings without judgment
Without judgment simply means that you aren’t judging whether or not something is good or bad; you are merely observing what is there.
Accepting thoughts without judging them trains the brain not to react emotionally to thoughts that previously would have caused upset or distraction. This allows you to break free from automatic reactions that are no longer useful, freeing up previously used energy for unnecessary thought processes.
In addition, mindfulness helps you to learn how to get out of “mental traps” by giving you the distance between stimulus and response instead of the immediacy that has been ingrained in people from years of conditioning.
The practice of mindfulness encourages you to observe your thoughts and emotions as they present themselves without judgment and with a desire to improve. This differs from people’s method of ruminating or worrying because those two behaviors can become cyclical and lead to habitual patterns that cause stress, anxiety, and depression.
When practicing mindfulness, you are taking up your rightful position as an observer that has control over your brain function rather than being your brain function.
When you allow stressful thoughts and feelings to exist without judging them as good or bad, helpful or unhelpful, productive or unproductive, they tend to dissipate more easily on their own, so you can resume thinking about what’s most important right now.
Accept your feelings and bodily sensations
Remember: These feelings might be uncomfortable, but they are there. Accept that you are feeling what you are feeling without trying to change it or push it away.
Even though mindfulness helps a person regulate their emotions better by creating more distance between stimulus and response, it is helpful not to ignore emotions that arise but rather to allow them to exist without necessarily reacting.
Being watchful of your surroundings can help you learn how best to respond in a given situation while taking into consideration any impulses that may accompany emotional responses. One way this might manifest itself is through a greater focus on rationality rather than emotionality when making decisions.
So as not to fall prey to gut instincts or instinctual urges from past conditioning, which have been proven over time by scientific research not always lead down the most optimal paths for positive outcomes.
It is important not to let thoughts turn into action without first evaluating their consequences carefully. The goal should be to empower oneself by changing behaviors that don’t align with core values while turning down the volume on less helpful impulsivity.
Practicing mindfulness can help to reduce poor decision-making (such as excessive “night owl” behavior that stops the body from getting enough sleep) and increase emotional regulation when tempted with harmful or unhealthy impulses such as drugs, alcohol, and excessive buying.
Mindfulness is a great way to maintain control over your life and make sure temporary feelings and emotions do not rule you in response to external stimuli.
Be in the present moment
Training the brain to be present in the present moment instead of thinking about the past or worrying about the future allows for a fuller life experience free from excessive stress, anxiety, and negative emotions.
Mindfulness not only helps you become more aware, but it also provides an opportunity for gratitude and appreciation when you take time to enjoy everyday experiences.
In this way, mindfulness may affect higher-order brain functions such as emotional regulation and empathy through changes in daily thought patterns that influence a person’s interactions with others.
Mindfulness allows you to make a shift from autopilot mode to manual control of your life. You can let go of unnecessary stress and anxiety while feeling calmer, more centered, and grounded in who you are as an individual rather than being swept away by uncontrolled thoughts and feelings that cloud your judgment or lead to reactionary behavior.
By practicing mindfulness, you can take back the reins of your mind so that you may direct them toward activities that feel fulfilling and purposeful instead of engaging in unproductive psychological loops that cause regret.
This brings you back into the moment where mindfulness becomes easier because your mind is calmer and quieter than before. Although it is normal for emotions like anger to arise occasionally (and sometimes often), reacting impulsively generally does not lead people toward healthy long-term outcomes.
How Long Should One Practice Mindfulness?
By practicing mindfulness regularly for fifteen minutes each day, people can train themselves through daily self-monitoring to become more conscious of what they’re feeling at any given moment.
This may be challenging at first because it requires you to turn off autopilot mode and be conscious of every choice you make instead of just letting life happen. However, it will become easier to be aware of your thoughts and feelings throughout the day with time.
You will notice that once you begin practicing mindfulness on a regular basis, you will feel calmer throughout the day by simply observing what’s going on around you without reacting emotionally.
You’ll find yourself more grounded at the moment instead of feeling stressed out about things left unresolved in the past or hazy uncertainties floating around in the future. You may even begin to see that some of your previously unproductive thought patterns are associated with certain people, places, or events that you had assumed were beyond your control.
How Do One Get Better At Being Mindful?
Being mindful isn’t something that you are born knowing how to do or not know how to do; it’s about practicing these three steps until they become second nature.
Mindfulness has various benefits for both physical and mental health.
The Benefits Of Mindfulness
Reduce Depression and Anxiety
Studies have shown that it can reduce blood pressure, improve immune function, reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, enhance emotional processing after a stressful event occurs, increase focus on tasks at hand rather than worrying about past experiences or future concerns.
Helps To Remain In The Moment
Mindfulness practices help individuals reduce their emotional reactivity to unpleasant life experiences and allows them to live in the present moment instead of stewing about things that have already happened or are likely to happen in the future.
Increases Focus
A study conducted with college students showed that practicing mindfulness led to better academic performance by increasing focus on coursework rather than worrying about grades or other external pressures that students may feel will determine how smart they are compared to others.
Helps To Remain In Control
Mindfulness is important for healthy individuals because they can use it as a coping mechanism in times of anxiety, stress, and sadness when they feel out of control.
Mindfulness Is For Everyone, But Might Not Be
Although mindfulness has these physical health benefits, it is important for people without any mental health problems to understand what types of situations would make them better candidates for mindfulness practices.
People In Stressful Environments
Those with mental health disorders or even normal individuals in high-stress situations may benefit the most from mindfulness exercises to help them cope with these intense life pressures.
Although there are many benefits of mindfulness meditation, it is not necessary to practice this technique if a person does not feel like they need strategies to alleviate stress in their lives. For example, if someone’s job was not stressful but chose to practice mindfulness techniques anyway, that person would likely experience no benefits.
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, A Visual Journey.
I am just another human being that enjoys taking pictures of everything. I look at photography as a very special way to capture a moment in time, a memory, a feeling or illusion.
I am also a beginner animator and video editor. Who doesn’t like comics and cartoons? I love learning new things, experimenting and sharing my work.
Relax while enjoying some special moments I captured
or some homemade animation to make you smile.
Relax! Let your eyes wander and quiet your mind with some visual therapy. A picture is always more than you can see. You will also find my own illustrations, animations and sometimes short stories. You never know what you will find so make sure to come back.
Be sure to check out her great photographs and artwork.
I have to go here. The decision the Supreme Court made this week was beyond shocking. 50 years of having a choice over our bodies taken away by 5 people. Now each state can make its own laws on abortion and many are making it illegal.
What does this mean? It means women will have botched home abortions or have babies they don’t want. This means more babies needing adoption, living in foster care, or worse living with a parent who didn’t want them.
My mother got pregnant with me in the early sixties, back then you had shotgun weddings, as they called them. My mother was engaged to a man who was in the service when she had a fling with my dad, she didn’t love him, and certainly didn’t want to marry him. Her parents insisted she keep the baby.
My life was a mistake and she told me that often, along with how much she hated my dad. I had ruined her life. She physically and emotionally abused me and allowed my step-father to abuse me.
Some people should not have children, although I’m glad I’m alive today, I strongly believe my mother should have had an abortion. No one should be told they are a mistake and be treated like I was.
If we are going to take away the reproductive rights of women, we need to take away the rights of men. Men should not be allowed to have a vasectomy so they can continue to procreate and bring unwanted babies into the world.
I’m speaking not from my Christain beliefs but from a woman who doesn’t feel any man has the right to tell me what I can or can’t do with my body.
What does this ruling say? Women can be controlled but not men? Women are not equal? Now abortions become a political game, whatever the personal beliefs of the Governor are is what the state laws will dictate.
I personally have not had an abortion but can clearly state that had I gotten pregnant outside of marriage I would have without hesitation. If it’s wrong, that’s between me and God.
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “product/produce.” Use one, use them both, use them any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use both. Have fun!”. You can join in here.
The first thing that comes to my mind is a product, small flatbreads. We make flatbreads with a variety of ingredients on a regular basis but I’ve learned to love them by themselves, just heated in the toaster oven. I’ve been on a weight loss journey for the past couple of months, doing it the right way this time. No diet just cutting meals in half and cutting out snacking. The flatbreads are only 100 calories so I get to eat two of them with some peanut butter which is very filling but not too many calories. I’m not counting every calorie to the letter just keeping tabs to try to stay under 1500 calories. I’ve lost 14 pounds with this method but have trouble reaching 15 pounds. My goal is another 10 pounds. I have made the eating changes needed now I have to continue to keep up the good habits.
Another product I have to mention is my computer, I would have a hard time living without it. Boy, how it’s changed our lives. That and cell phones. I remember my first cell phone was a bag phone that weighed about five pounds. The receiver was huge and the battery didn’t last long. Little did I know at the time how far technology would take phones and that texting would be an option.
Speaking of produce, that is one thing I eat a lot of especially strawberries and blueberries. Every day for lunch I have yogurt and fruit, usually one of the above, and when in the season I add Mangos. I love many types of fruit and veggies. If fact I have been eating tomatoes every week for over a month now. Our homegrown cherry tomatoes have been producing and the larger ones are turning red. I love fresh tomatoes with salt and pepper. I’m not crazy about cauliflower unless it’s raw. I also don’t like the smell of cabbage cooking and can’t eat it and won’t eat Polk salad.
What about you, what product or produce can you not live without?
Melinda
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a particular subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!
For more streams, rules, and tips for Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit our host, Linda at:
Introducing the new Aromalief Lidocaine Pain Reliever Roll On with an attachment that makes reaching all those hard-to-reach spots a breeze. It also keeps your hands free of product so you don’t get it in your eyes.
You can read my review on the Spearmint Pain Cream here.
This post contains affiliate links that don’t cost you more. I earn a small commission that supports my coffee habit.
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This attachment is a great idea, you can reach all the hard places without asking for help and you don’t have to get it on your hands. As in the photo above, you place the bottom end of the roller ball in the attachment end, securing tightly. You then remove the cap and roll away.
The roll-on lotion contains Arnica for sensitive skin, goes to work instantly and is bunny safe. It has a Eucalyptus scent that’s not overpowering and the lotion rolls on smooth.
With the roll-on and attachment, it is so easy to reach all of your back, the back of your legs, and shoulders.
I found relief within a short period of time on my back and carpal tunnel.
Check out the full range of products at Aromalief.
June is Migraine and Headache Awareness month, it’s an important month to educate yourself on what causes migraines and headaches. Once you understand your migraine or headaches you can better manage them.
Migraine is not just a bad headache. It’s a disabling neurological disease with different symptoms and different treatment approaches compared to other headache disorders. The American Migraine Foundation estimates that at least 39 million Americans live with migraine, but because many people do not get a diagnosis or the treatment they need the actual number is probably higher.
Symptoms
Migraines can be triggered by several factors. Caffeine is one of the more common triggers people encounter. “Caffeine is always a mystery to people because many people find that it helps a headache,” Dr. Broner says, “but some data suggests that drinking more than eight ounces a day of caffeine, whether it’s coffee or tea or sodas can increase your risk of having more frequent migraines.”
Other common migraine triggers include:
Caffeine or withdrawal from caffeine
Certain medications or taking particular medications too often
Changes in the weather
Dehydration
Flashing or bright lights
Getting too much or not enough sleep
Hormonal changes in women
Loud noises
Skipping meals
Stress
Strong scents
Too much physical activity (overexertion)
Certain foods, drinks and ingredients may also trigger migraines in some people, especially if other triggers are present at the same time. Some of these triggers are:
Aged cheeses
Alcohol
Certain fruits, such as avocados, bananas, citrus fruit or figs
Chocolate
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Pickled or fermented foods
Processed meats
My migraine journey lasted two years and it was two years of hell. I took prescription medication for prevention and injectables for when I had a migraine. I had several migraines a week. Here’s my migraine story. One thing I will suggest is if you have migraines that don’t let up and last for months, see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. In my case, all that misery was caused by a bone in my nose, a simple surgery, and the migraines went away. It may be a long shot but it’s not uncommon.
Migraines can be debilitating and wreak havoc on your job and personal life. Be sure to see a doctor, there are so many treatment options today. Don’t forget to check out migraine glasses, I’ve heard good things about them.
Alcohol can be incredibly addictive and many people find themselves struggling with managing how much they drink. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are generally the two terms that are used to describe someone who suffers from drinking too much.
Every time you drink, you damage your body a little bit more. One of the better-known symptoms of alcohol abuse is damage to the liver. However, there is a lot of other damage that can be caused too. High blood pressure, stroke, and a range of cancers can come as part of an alcohol-destroyed body. There is hope though. Once you stop drinking, your body can begin to heal itself and your risk of suffering from these illnesses begins to reduce.
Legal issues
As an addict, you may not think twice about getting into your car and going for a drive while you are drunk. This is dangerous and illegal. If you end up with some drivers license suspensions because of your drinking, it might be a good time to have a look at how alcohol is affecting your life. You might need to ask yourself if you have a problem with the amount that you are drinking if you think you are in some sort of legal trouble.
Violence
Alcohol is known for lowering inhibitions so it is not surprising that someone who abuses alcohol may suffer from increased levels of violence towards themselves and others. When it comes to domestic violence, drinking is one of the main causes of violent outbursts, with 55% of incidents involving alcohol. These outbursts can result in you spending some time in prison and the pain of a loved one. Some of these incidents can result in the death of a loved one.
Mental health
We know that drinking can affect your body physically but it can also affect you mentally. When you abuse alcohol, you run the risk of becoming addicted. Drinking alcohol affects the neural pathways and can make it difficult to remember things. It is this effect on your body that can cause other issues such as violence and poor decision-making.
Long term
Every time you drink, you run the risk of developing various issues. However, these issues all add up and can cause a lifetime of pain. There is the physical pain of the diseases, the mental pain of the mental health issues, and the pain that you can cause others. Over time, these issues can destroy your relationships, give you a lot of legal issues, and can result in a shorter lifespan.
All in all, you can see that drinking too much can have a negative impact on your life. So, before you go reaching for that bottle to help you cool off at the end of a hard day, ask yourself if it is worth it. If you feel that you are having issues, there are many organisations that help you manage your behavior and help get you back on the right track.
It is estimated that 20 percent of Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their lives. About 9.500 people are diagnosed with this type of cancer each day. 20% is a high number and I know my sun protection habits can use an overhaul, I’m not disciplined at reapplying sunscreen. This summer I’ll do better.
The sun protection dermatologists recommend
Seek shade
Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade.
Wear sun-protective clothing
Wear a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible. For more effective protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label.
Apply sunscreen
Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. Remember to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
Also, remember to see a General Practitioner or Dermatologist on a regular basis to check your skin for moles or other skin abnormalities. Caught early skin cancer is treatable.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia are important awareness days to me because my granny had Demtania after a bad stroke and I have Dementia from Lyme disease. Losing one’s cognitive capability is difficult and can be quite frustrating.
Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Join the Alzheimer’s Association in going purple and raising awareness this June. The more that people know about Alzheimer’s, the more action we inspire.
What is Dementia?
Small abnormalities, so-called amyloid plaques, and tau tangles, formed in the brain and found in specific locations throughout, are two distinguishing hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia. Advanced testing, such as PET scans, MRI, DNA, and spinal fluid analysis, can shed invaluable light on the probability of Alzheimer’s, but still, at this time, a conclusive diagnosis is only obtained through close examination of brain tissue post-mortem.
Explore Related Resources:
Alzheimers.gov: Find resources and tips for individuals, families, and caregivers.
NAPA at 10: Read a blog post from Dr. Hodes on the progress made in Alzheimer’s and related dementias research.
Progress and Potential: Watch this video series featuring NIA grantees and progress made in the field.
Any type of major trauma in your life can cause PTSD, such as sexual assault, child abuse, battleground, or natural disaster. The problem with PTSD is it’s a silent/invisible illness. The symptoms can be severe and more visible or subtle which can make them hard to diagnose.
I’ve suffered from PTSD since I was a child, it was in therapy years later that I realized some of it was causing complications in my life. Without a doubt being in therapy has helped me cope with my PTSD by giving me the tools to recognize when I’m being triggered and how to stay grounded.
Help Raise PTSD Awareness
There are currently about 8 million people in the United States with PTSD.
Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don’t get the help they need. June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments really do work and can lead to a better quality of life.
June is PTSD Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that results from experiencing a traumatic event. This event could be experienced personally, witnessed, or learned about and can lead to feelings of extreme fear, helplessness, or horror. Examples include natural disasters, serious accidents, war, rape, or other assaults.
According to the National Center for PTSD, about 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one incidence of trauma in their lives. Nearly everyone who experiences a traumatic event will have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping and may experience PTSD symptoms for a period of time. PTSD symptoms often resolve on their own over time. For others, however, the symptoms persist. PTSD is diagnosed when the symptoms last for at least one month. Learn more about PTSD symptoms.
There is treatment. We have to see that we need help and seek it out, it’s a process. It always helps if you have a buddy who understands what you’re going thru.
National Osteoporosis Month is marked throughout June every year. It is a special awareness month that makes it easier for people to find out about the critical importance of good bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Did you know that hundreds of millions of people in the world suffer from osteoporosis and low bone density? In fact, approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and more than 44 million have low bone density, placing them at increased risk of osteoporosis. What exactly is osteoporosis? How can we prevent it? Is there any remedy for people suffering from the disease? Let’s get into the details.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by a brittle weakness of the bones. It is often called the silent disease because you cannot feel your bones getting weaker. In fact, you may not even know you have osteoporosis until after you break a bone.
We reach our peak bone mass between ages 25 and 30, and then, we slowly start losing bone mass at age 40. This is accelerated for women. They lose 1.5% to 2% of their bone density per year in the first 10 years after menopause, which is why women over 50 are particularly at risk of having osteoporosis. People with low body weight, and people with a family history of osteoporosis, are also at risk. However, the disease is preventable through the regular consumption of calcium and Vitamin D and treatable through physical therapy and medications.
A simple Bone Scan can determine if you have Osteoporosis, if you have a family history let your doctor know so they can test early.
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, Natural Goodness.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience about living a healthy life naturally, raising self-reliant and happy kids, and tips to care for your overall wellbeing by managing stress, choosing a healthy lifestyle, and embracing life.
I am an expert in food safety, and also have experience working in a research laboratory and the education sector. I find happiness in enjoying the little things in life, learning from my experiences, using life experiences positively, exploring my capabilities, and spending time with family.
I started my blog when I found people being extremely curious about healthy living and taking care of kids, during the pandemic, as all of us have gone through different kinds of stress and learned a lot of life lessons during this period. I hope to spread goodness and positivity with my blog and help you live healthy and happy.
Please visit Rancy’s blog to see what’s going on in her world.
This is a sketch of my Gramps playing scratch-off games, we always bought him some on holidays. He loved the anticipation of winning if only a dollar. My Gramps was my only father figure and he was the best.
No nonsense, hardworking, loyal, honest, simple, and loving.
Gramps never complained or made excuses and didn’t let you either. I remember once when I was in high school I ask him to call my employer to say I wouldn’t be in. He said it’s your job, you call. He was right, it was my responsibility and he taught me to own what was mine.
He taught me to drive by taking trash cans down to the levy bottoms and had me practice parallel parking. He was very patient as I toppled on one can after another.
He had some simple rules to live by:
If you can get out of bed, you can go to work.
If you’re going to be late, might as well not go in.
If you borrow something, give it back in better shape than you got it.
Put your family first.
My Gramps knew he was dying but refused to get in the hospital bed until two days before he died. He was so stubborn. I lost him in 2012 and my life was forever changed.
I spent the last five months of his life living with him, I’m so glad we had that time together. The good and the bad.
I know he’s proud of me today and still watches over me.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update on my health and wanted to get you up to date. A lot is happening in my life right now and hopefully, I’ll have more answers at the end of the month when I see a new Rheumatologist.
I had a follow-up meeting with my Immunologist last month and discovered that insurance will not pay for Antibody Infusion Treatments until you’ve been on antibiotics four times in a year. You have to be sick first. I understand insurance companies have to make money and are not a charity. I did have an ear infection so he put me on an antibiotic. There’s no reason to see him again until I get sick. There’s one doctor down.
My Tardive Dyskinesia
I’m in the approval process for my prescription Ingrezza for my Tardive Dyskinesia. It’s $7,500 a month so the approval process takes a little longer. I’m blessed with good insurance who is covering 100% of the cost.
Tardive Dyskinesia is a serious side effect of taking anti-psychotic medication. I’ve taken them for close to 30 years so I’ve been very lucky to not get TD before now. Not only is TD hard to deal with it also means that I can no longer antipsychotic medications which have been essential for my Bipolar Disorder.
My TD is in the mouth, so my tongue is constantly pushing on my teeth, rolling across my teeth and gums. It’s very painful, my gums are raw, my jaw hurts, and my head hurts.
The most common side effects of Ingrezza are sleepiness and a fall hazard. The more serious side effects I’ll worry about if they show up. I hope to start the medication next week.
Fibromyalgia and/or other
As I mentioned, I’m seeing a new Rheumatologist at the end of the month. It culminated from having swollen salivary glands. This can point to an autoimmune disorder, possibly Lupus. Although I don’t have the classic butterfly rash, I do have many of the symptoms. I’m not going in with a diagnosis because I have many other issues going on with my legs that are progressively getting worse. My hips and shoulders have become so painful that I can only sleep for 2-3 hours before I wake up and have to turn over. Then I’m awake and have to start the process all over.
The muscles in my legs are either having spasms or tied in knots making it hard to sleep or walk. I wake up and can hardly walk because they are so tight. This appointment was made three months ago, so I’ve been keeping a log of all the symptoms by area of the body. This will help when I see the doctor.
I’m now four times vaccinated and still taking all the same precautions. Since Covid started I’ve only talked with one person without a mask and they were several feet away. I hope you’ve taken your vaccinations and staying safe.
This is an important awareness month for me because I was diagnosed with cancer at 28 years old. I was young, healthy, and had no idea what lay inside. I was very lucky and my cancer only required surgery, all the cancer was found so no chemo or radiation, for that I’m forever grateful. I’m now 58 years old and have had no relapse.
Cancer is something we all have to think about in that it comes to us from so many angles. Be sure to bring up any changes you are going thru with your doctor no matter how insignificant you think they are.
When someone is diagnosed with cancer, this person is considered a cancer survivor from that moment throughout the rest of his/her life.
Surviving cancer has physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial consequences that start with diagnosis and continue through treatment and beyond. It also includes issues related to follow-up treatment, side effects of treatment, the risk of getting cancer again, and your quality of life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are a critical part of the journey of the cancer survivor.
It is estimated that there will be about 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed in 2022. This number will not include basal and squamous cell skin cancers. Cancer Survivorship As difficult as treatment is, thousands of cancer survivors have said that the experience led them to make important changes in their lives.
Cancer Survivorship Issues
Thanks to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than ever before are surviving the disease. In America alone, more than 16.9 million people are alive today after being diagnosed with cancer.
However, surviving cancer can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, emotional, and financial hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer survivors are also at greater risk for developing second cancers and other health conditions.
Cancer survivors may face numerous challenges during and after treatment:
Limited access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments
Denial of health insurance and life insurance coverage
Difficulty finding jobs
Economic burdens due to mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced productivity
Add to that emotional struggles, strains on personal relationships, and the profound fear of cancer recurrence. The effects of cancer don’t simply end when treatment does.
Stay in tune with your body, if something doesn’t feel right see your doctor right away. My cancer was discovered during a routine exam. If we catch cancer early enough we have a greater chance of beating it and not having to go thru extensive therapy.
June 18 is International Panic Day. Use it as an excuse to panic about everything under the sun, or take the day to evaluate your priorities and eliminate anything that causes you stress and anxiety.
It is a fact of life that as we grow older, life can get complicated. This made-up holiday is an acknowledgment that work, finances, health and relationships can all sometimes get overwhelming and that it is necessary to take a pause once in a while and relax. The holiday encourages people to find ways to reduce and manage their stress.
How to Observe?
Take the day off and relax. It is for good reason that today is also International Picnic Day. What better way to relax and forget all your stresses than by going on a picnic?
Go to the store and treat yourself to some aromatic candles. It has been shown that soothing music and pleasant smells can help reduce stress.
Go for a long walk in the park and commune with nature.
Read, get a new hobby or get involved in social activities. The more you are busy, the less time you will have to think about your stressors.
Recruit a stress buddy – someone who can calm you and work through the futility of panicking with you. Every time you feel life is overwhelming you, call them and ask them for their help.
I think this is an observance day we can all get behind.
I want to share a few products I’m in love with right now. Most have been purchased off of Amazon unless otherwise stated. I hope you find a new product to add to your household or self-care routine.
Levoit Air Purifier model #Core 300
LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies Pets Hair in Bedroom, H13 True HEPA Filter, 24db Filtration System Cleaner Odor Eliminators, Ozone Free, Remove 99.97% Dust Smoke Mold Pollen, Core 300, White
It has a red button that shows you when the filter needs replacing and it’s as simple as turning the machine off, turning it upside down, twisting the bottom, removing the filter, installing the new filter, placing the bottom back on, and turning on. You will need to hold down the red button for a minute to clear the setting.
I purchase the pet replacement filters, see below. They catch so much from the air, that you are surprised when you change the filter. The filter is easy to change and unlike our Dyson, it doesn’t make a mess. Here’s an article on the 6 Best Air purifiers for Mold from Healthline.
The Pet HEPA filters for Levoit, LEVOIT Air Purifier Pet Allergy Replacement Filter, 3-in-1 True HEPA, High-Efficiency Activated Carbon, Core 300-RF-PA, 1 Pack, Yellow
Busy Co.
Need a powerful cleaning without the shower? I have discovered these Busy Co. body wipes and love them. One wipe can clean your entire body, I use a cheaper brand on my feet.
Refresh Line Body Wipes for Women – Cleansing Body Wash Wipes, Armpit Wipes & Body Wipes w/ Fresh Citrus Scent – Zero-Waste Gym Wipes & Cleansing Wipes – No Rinse Bathing Wipes for Adults – 10 ct
Ancient Greek Remedy Moisturizer
I just bought this a week ago and love how well the oil soaks into the skin. I dislike oils that sit on the skin and feel greasy. This one doesn’t, it has a great smell, it’s made from natural ingredients, and is multi-purpose for men and women. It has a faint lavender scent, nothing overpowering.
Organic Blend of Olive, Lavender, Almond, and Grapeseed oils with Vitamin E. Day and night Moisturizer for Skin, Dry Hair, Face, Scalp, Foot, Cuticle and Nail Care. Natural Body oil for Men and Women
Eco Tools
As summer sneaks up on us my skin is getting very dry. I noticed some flacking and decided to buy a dry brush. this one does the trick, its hard bristles do a great job of loosening dead skin. Best of all it’s less than $6.00.
EcoTools Dry Brush, Gentle Exfoliating Scrubber For Skincare and Beauty, Pore Cleansing, Pink
What products have you added to your life lately that you love?
Karen Horney: “Stress is often a result of the tension between what is and what you believe should be. It’s called the “tyranny of the shoulds,” which dictates how we think, act, and feel. These “should” beliefs—are referred to as Icebergs… Stress is often a result of the tension between what is and what you […]
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