Enjoy!
Melinda
I hear people say their General Practitioner doesn’t listen or have enough time during their scheduled appointments. They Don’t! I’ve left the doctor’s office frustrated so many times, so I came up with a system that works for me. You can adapt to what works with your doctor and style of communication.
Knowing exactly how much time is scheduled for the appointment is the first step. My previous doctor scheduled 15 minutes, was always late, and rushed off to the next appointment. After several months of total frustration on my part, he had the office check to see if my insurance would allow a double appointment time, which they did. Now instead of 10 minutes at best I can 20 minutes. This made a huge difference.
You have to set realistic expectations on what can be discussed in your allowed time slot. If you have 15 minutes you can expect 10 minutes in most cases. In ten minutes you can’t discuss 45 minutes’ worth of topics. Set expectations.
Go in with an agenda of two items you want to discuss and have each item laid out on paper with any side effects or symptoms your having and any related questions. When your doctor comes in the room don’t sit and chit chat, go straight for I know you’re busy so here’s what I want to accomplish today.
This will give your doctor time to ask more detailed questions and dig a little deeper each visit. It will also give you time to discuss any side effects you should be concerned about if a new medication is prescribed. Don’t walk out of there without asking what side effects you should be concerned about, I don’t care if you can look it up on the Internet. It’s the doctor’s responsibility to assess your specific health conditions and the medication. You don’t need all the details, get the basics, and when to go to the hospital or call them.
If you were not able to discuss all your issue and concerns then don’t leave without another appointment to get them covered. Working with your doctor is a process and one that will take time and each one is different. Remember your doctor is a generalist, not a specialist. If you feel your issues aren’t being heard after repeated attempts then ask for a referral.
After 15 years I changed doctors, we just weren’t communicating anymore. It’s the best thing I could have done. I love my new doctor and her style, she’s very proactive and hands the baton off to a specialist much quicker than my old doctor.
My current doctor schedules 30 minutes appointments, is rarely late and we cover three topics. I usually get the full 30 minutes if not a few more. She looks at my chart online while we’re talking about if she needs to check medications, we discuss appointments with other doctors and we discuss my three topics or concerns. Because she is so close to the house and I get such focused attention I don’t have to see her as often or when I’m having a hard time, it’s very easy to see her more often.
She worked in an Internal Medicine office before so she is very familiar with Lyme Disease and Fibromyalgia. In just a few short years I’ve seen her, she has sent me to the appropriate specialist early on versus my old doctor who was slow to give a referral. She sends me a referral as soon as she’s out of her specialty.
By doing so, she has helped discover several critical health issues that needed immediate attention without delay in trying to treat herself. This is one area I feel my previous doctor failed me in after seeing how my new doctor does business.
She always looks up the side effects and checks to see if there are interactions with my other medications. She discusses side effects and even knows when my insurance company needs a preapproval on a medication. That way I can be mindful that if it takes a little longer to fill the prescription.
I look at my doctor’s appointment like I did when calling on high-level executives during my sales career. They are pressed for time, have too much on their plate, and usually have big egos and type-A personalities. When you meet with a C-level executive, you go in shake their hand, and tell them why you are there in a few brief sentences then you shut up.
I go to my doctor’s appointments with the same type of mentality. Know how much time I have, state what I need, and give the doctor time to do their job. They can’t do that if I don’t stop talking and asking questions.
Set the right expectation and if you are unsure then ask your doctor honestly how to get the best out of your time with them.
Go in with facts, and a list of symptoms but don’t tell them what is wrong with you unless you are with your specialist or you are talking specific illness-related questions. Most doctors are going to tune out the minute you say what you have. Let them do their job.
In what ways have you been able to improve your communication with your doctor?
Melinda
I’ve had the misfortune of being in several car wrecks, two of which caused serious injury. My first whiplash came when I was at a stop on the freeway at a high traffic time and the person behind me didn’t realize the traffic ahead was stopping and plowed into me doing at least 55 miles an hour.
My neck was injured but what made the moment worse was the driver left after getting out of his car acting like he was getting his insurance information. I had a serious whiplash and could barely turn my head. I spent the next year going to a Chiropractor several times a week to get better.
I had a couple of small accidents that didn’t do any damage to me just the car. One day going thru a curve and work van came into my lane and hit the back panel of my car. This put me in a rental which comes into play in the next story.
My rental car is a nice white Mustang and I’m a happy camper. I was in sales and had a trip outside of town, it was raining so I left early to make sure I was on time. As approach an entrance ramp a truck comes out of nowhere, hits the back end of my car, and sends me spinning down the freeway hitting the cement divider wall all the way.
It was like slow motion, even though it was only seconds, it felt like God was deciding if I lived or not. It was an out-of-body experience. My car came to a rest and a big Caddilac t-bones me and the passenger side of the car is completely caved in and almost touching me.
I was in so much pain and disbelief. Traffic accidents were up since it was raining outside and it took almost 45 minutes for an ambulance to come to get me. Another couple of hours at the hospital to get a doctor and x-rays. Luckily nothing was broken, I was beaten to a pulp.
Against my doctor’s recommendation, I didn’t stay in the hospital and had several complications because of. Right off the bat, I had problems with not being able to feel my legs for a short period of time. Then it felt like an electrical current going thru my back making it hard to walk.
I sought out a Chiropractor since the pain pill route wasn’t working, I wasn’t getting better and had trouble working when taking the pills. I spent over a year in therapy with many lingering problems with my neck and back.
Now I have arthritis in multiple places in my neck, mid and lower back.
One lesson I learned is Chiropractic care works.
Melinda
I want to give a special thanks to Laura Sebright from Trigger Publishing for sending me the book, My Mind Won’t Shut Up! Meditation for People Who don’t Meditate by Linda and Marion Williamson for review.
![My Mind Won't Shut Up!: Meditation for People Who Don't Meditate by [Linda Williamson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51I09BbmjOS.jpg)
Published March 2021
107 pages
This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn how to meditate without all the complicated routines and jargon. What you see is what you get here and it feels good to hear real people who struggle to meditate for all the same reasons we do and how they find a way to fit it into their life.
Linda and Marion show us how to be kind to ourselves and set realistic expectations. Which is a problem in many meditation books I’ve read. They have either way too much information or too hoky poky for me. My Mind Won’t Shut Up is a fun and fast read, one you can easily refer to again and again.
They show us in simple terms how we can incorporate meditation into our daily lives and its benefits.
Some reviews even called this a self-help book because it created positive thinking. I can’t think of a better way to learn how to meditate and would recommend this book to anyone who wants a no-nonsense book on how to meditate.
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.
Melinda
When you can’t afford a new car, you can feel stuck and unhappy with the one you already own. Sure, it might not be perfect, but there are always changes and upgrades you can make that’ll help you nonetheless enjoy the car a little more than you had in the past. If you want to improve your car in any way, here’s how to approach it.
Having a good backup camera in place is something that can make a real difference in how easy you find it to reverse your car and park it. That’s something that a lot of people struggle with. Even if you’re a skilled driver and you have no problem with parking, it can still save some time to have a backup camera at your disposal.
If it’s been a long time since the car had its wheels and tires upgraded, that’s something that you might want to look into. When you have new wheels and tires in place, your car sticks to the road far better and you’ll feel more precision in the steering and handling when you’re on the road as well. It’s one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to an older car.
Simply touching up the paint or even giving it a whole new coat of paint can immediately make your car look and feel brand new. It makes such a difference to the visual impact that the car has, and it’s something that you don’t notice until you have the work completed. If you don’t know how to paint a car properly, it’s best to have the work completed for you.
Car detailing services can also help your car feel renewed and refreshed and that might be exactly what you’re looking for. With the help of good car detailing services, you can make sure that you’re always keeping things in good shape and that the interiors of the car feel comfortable and high-quality for as long as possible. Give it a try if you haven’t done so already.
The seats in the car are among the most important aspect of the interior space You want them to be comfortable and enjoyable to sit in, and that’s why you might want to invest in some new seat covers. They’re much more affordable than brand new seats but can have a very similar impact. When they’re in place, you’ll immediately start to notice the improvement in your comfort levels when behind the wheel.
As you can see, you don’t necessarily need to replace your old car or even spend all that much money on upgrading it in order to get a better driving experience and a better car in general. Those small changes that you keep making will eventually add up over time and that’s how it should be.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
This is what child abuse looks like. Just like any other parent is what it looks like until you peel the layers back.
Melinda
Original post 1/2015
I found photos of myself starting at birth. As I looked at each photo my mind was asking who could hit this child. I began to sob, continuing to look at each as I grew older. The question of who could hit this child grew louder in my head. People who don’t know me are probably thinking I was crying for myself. The truth is I didn’t think about my circumstances once. I looked at each photo as any child being abused, not even seeing myself in the photo. I knew logically they were me but my mind turns off. I had a similar experience after seeing a news report of a 9-year-old girl abused, starved, and killed by her parents. She died chained to a post on the front porch. I was heartbroken and wished someone could have helped her. There were no tears at home. Several days later I started talking to my Therapist about the girl. I cried, expressing a range of emotions, and it took a few minutes to compose myself. I asked my Therapist if the emotions were suppressed, and I didn’t think so. After 16 years she knows me and explained I feel deep compassion for others.
I read my Baby Book, I wanted to show that abused children and abusers don’t look any different. The parents can say sweet things to cover the abuse at home.
My Mother’s Message To Her Child
To my beautiful young lady. I wish you all the happiness and grace to you. May God fill your life with all his richness and love. May your path be filled with roses and your heart be filled with the pureness of God.
New mothers often write their child’s milestones in a Baby Book. Here is my Mother’s observations and comments mine starting at birth.
Lock of hair from the first cut at 12 months old
The first baby ring at 18 months
Hand and footprints traced, right hand at 8 months and right foot at 3 months
My first toys were a baseball bat and glove from my gramps
I learned to ride a bike at 4 years old
Started walking at 8 months, potty trained at 19 months
Notes: Happy birthday my sweet little kitten, likes to blow bubbles with her food, first school play 5 years old, I was so proud I cried, she has a little temper, she has a big beautiful smile, at 16 months loves music and dancing
The entries stopped but the abuse didn’t.
Mental health is wealth, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month, which is celebrated in May. The stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed, even though this has started to change. Still, people hesitate to seek help or even talk about it with their loved ones for fear of being judged and facing unnecessary backlash. Simple logic dictates that if we are hurt anywhere, we must seek treatment to get better. This applies to both our mental- and physical well-being. While Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated in the U.S., a more universal day is also celebrated by the WHO on October 10, and it is known as World Mental Health Day.
When living with a mental health condition or facing a mental health concern, it’s common to feel like no one understands what you’re going through. But many people overcome the mental health challenges they face. You aren’t alone – help is out there, and recovery is possible.
IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS: Text “MHA” to 741741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a trained crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year. Spanish speakers: 1-888-628-9454. Deaf & hard of hearing: TTY users, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255
I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when I was 19 years old but didn’t take it seriously until my father committed suicide in 1992. After a few doctors who gave me way too much medication to work, I found my current doctor.
He’s a Psychopharmacologist and I’m so lucky to have found him. A Psychopharmacologist goes thru additional training on top of being a Psychiatrist. One of the most important reasons to see one is if they understand the brain better and which medicine will interact with the part of the brain affected. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of what type of medication you need for your specif symptoms.
If I could make one parting suggestion it would be to include a loved one in all of your appointments with your doctor. I wanted to make sure my husband understood what I was going thru and felt it was best to hear it from the doctor’s mouth. It’s been a lifesaver.
Here are a few posts I’ve written on the subject, you can find many more on my site.
https://lookingforthelight.blog/2022/04/27/mental-illness-and-me/
https://lookingforthelight.blog/2020/05/08/random-thoughts-…f-mental-illness/
https://lookingforthelight.blog/2016/03/30/how-to-participa…a-mental-illness/
https://lookingforthelight.blog/2021/05/14/may-is-mental-he…al-health-update/
Melinda
References:
This post was from the 2020 Mental Health Awareness Month and I believe it’s still relevant for Mental Health Awareness Month 2022. I’ve been stable for a couple of years and am thankful for every day that I’m healthy. This is more an opinion piece than a post.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and mental health has been on my mind more than normal. I come from generations of family members with mental illness including my father who had Bipolar Disorder and eventually committed suicide.
I expect this to be an unpopular post, but that’s okay I want to hear all your comments.
All people have to be held accountable for their actions. The thought that came to mind this morning was a murder case that disturbs me to this day. A woman in Texas drowned all five of her children in the bathtub. She pleaded temporary insanity. I would have to agree she was insane, how could someone kill their five children? She only spent five years in a mental health ward in the prison and was then released from jail. Is five years of medical oversite enough punishment? Is she no longer insane? I think not. I’m responsible for all of my actions regardless of my mental state. She should have been moved to the regular jail system to pay for her murder charges.
My father sexually abused me, was it ok because he was mentally ill? It wasn’t his fault? I don’t buy into that theory. My father never sought help for his mental illness and committed suicide at 52 years old. He made the decision to not seek treatment, at the end of his life he was too sick to see how far down he was. He’ll be held accountable by a higher power than me.
I was nine years old the first time I attempted suicide, it was the first of many attempts throughout my life. As an adult, I educated myself on my illness and have a support system in place. I have to be disciplined in taking my medication, going to therapy, seeing my Psychiatrist, and communicating with my husband or paying the price of becoming unstable.
Mental health matters and people with mental illness need medical help if not for a crisis, for knowledge, and for heading off a problem.
What do you think? Are five years in a mental hospital punishment enough for killing your five children?
Melinda
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Beauty From Ahses.
This is my blog where I will write about my healing from Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. I hope I can help someone know they aren’t alone and spread awareness. I am a mom and an avid reader. I love sunflowers and helping people. I am spiritual and love learning new things!
I have no doubt you will find her blog heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. She’s very strong.
Melinda
Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington
Melinda
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s out there who give it all and still give more. Mother’s day is a time to celebrate mothers including grandmothers.
My Granny was always my mother figure and took care of me as if I were her own child. She watch closely after me from afar until I was a teen and came to live with her and my Gramps. One of my favorite things growing up was she would light a fire in the bathroom to get it all cozy, then give me a bath. When done She would wrap me in a towel and carry me to the bed and put powder all over me. It is a great memory and I’m blessed to have many more.
Celebrate the mothers in your life today.
Melinda
Enjoy!
Melinda
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “a phrase you grew up with.” Include in your post a phrase your mom/dad/grandparent/sibling used all the time when you were growing up, or just write whatever inspires you based on that phrase. Enjoy!
Growing up with four brothers meant we had a very active household which meant plenty of time outside. A saying that rings in my head is “Close the door you’ll let the flies in”. Now, this was probably true but it’s hard to do when you have five to seven people going in and out plus pets needing to go outside.
What’s funnier is I tell the dogs all the time I have to shut the door your I’ll let the flies in.
Melinda
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:
Have a great weekend.
Melinda
It is often said that loneliness is a silent pandemic, and there is certainly something true about that. There are definitely lots of people out there right now who are spending their lives feeling very lonely, and that is a horrible position to be in. For one thing, it can make it difficult to get back into social settings. It can also lead to a variety of other physical and psychological issues, and in rare cases, it can be fatal in the form of depression. However, there is help at hand, and there are things to do if you do feel lonely or isolated and you want it to change.
Used in the right limited kind of way, social media can be incredibly useful as a means of feeling more connected with the outside world. If you are in a position where you can’t see people offline very much, then limited use of social media can be effective for this. You will want to take care to ensure that you don’t overuse it as if you are not careful it can sometimes make issues worse and make you feel even lonelier. But all in all, using it a little could help you to feel a little more connected with people, so that is something to consider at least.
One of the major issues related to isolation is that it can be hard to know how to get around. You might have social events that you would like to attend but you are not sure how, or you might even need to get to a medical appointment. For this, some people find it helpful to use an assisted living service, as that way you can have someone there who can help with all this – and they will also provide a certain comfort as well just by being there and being near you.
Because loneliness can be quite damaging, you need to try and watch for what your mind is doing, so that you can see if things appear to be getting worse for you or not. You need to watch your emotions and your thoughts consciously so that you can see if things are improving or not as you go about your life. Sometimes paying attention to a warning sign can be all you need in order to make sure that you take the right moment to look after yourself better. Being mindful in this way can help to spot those signs early on.
A lot of people with isolation issues and loneliness have confidence issues too, and often you will find that working on one helps the other and so on. To get this going, it’s worth taking some time to work on your confidence specifically. The more you do this, the more likely it is that you are going to feel less lonely and take more social risks, which are important for living well.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Verbena is a small but mighty flower. It has long arms with dainty flowers on the end.
Melinda
May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month and I’m participating in a joint post with the Fibro Blogger Directory Facebook Page which is a group I’m a part of.
The question was what would you say to someone who is newly diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?
I think the most important question to ask the doctor is what would they do next? It puts them in your place and may give you answers you would not normally get.
What type of doctor should you see next?
What you can expect next? Have them give you the resources on Fibromyalgia or ask where to go to get good information.
Outside of what to ask the doctor, I would start keeping a journal of symptoms and questions. Be sure to review your journal before your next doctor’s appointment to go in prepared.
It is also important to understand doctors have limited time, if your doctor only allows 15 minutes for appointments, you may be. lucky to get 10 minutes. Don’t go in with a list full of questions, you’ll only leave frustrated. Stick to the top three isues.
Establish a solid self-care plan.
Melinda
Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men—many of them either Indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry—and sent them to Puebla.
The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez gathered his army—supported by heavy artillery—before the city of Puebla and led an assault.
Melinda
Reference:
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo
It can be challenging to know the best way to provide a comfortable living environment for your retired parents. They likely don’t want or need the same level of care that they needed when they were younger, but they still need some assistance and support. This blog post will discuss four helpful tips to create a comfortable living environment for your retired parents!
As our parents age, it’s essential to ensure that their homes are safe and accessible. This means ensuring no trip hazards, adequate lighting, and that any stairs are well-lit and have handrails. If your parents live in a two-story home, you may want to consider installing a stairlift or an elevator. In addition to making sure their home is physically safe, you’ll also want to make sure it’s secure from potential burglars or other dangers. This means installing security cameras, deadbolt locks, and motion-sensor lights.
If your parents need more assistance than you can provide, you may want to consider finding reliable nursing homes or assisted living facilities. It’s essential to do your research when choosing a facility, as many different types and levels of care are available. You’ll want to make sure that the facility you choose is reputable and has a good track record. In addition, you’ll want to make sure that it’s affordable and that it offers the type and level of care that your parents need.
Once you’ve chosen a nursing home or assisted living facility, you’ll want to ensure that your parents are comfortable there. This means helping them get settled in, getting them involved in activities, and ensuring their needs are being met. Remember to call a lawyer immediately if you suspect any nursing home neglect.
Your parents may also find it more challenging to keep their homes organized and tidy. This can be a result of physical limitations and cognitive decline. If your parents find it challenging to keep their home organized, you can help! There are a few different ways you can do this. First, you can declutter and organize their space for them. This means getting rid of any unnecessary items and organizing what remains. You can also help them create systems and routines for keeping their home organized, such as making sure they always put away their belongings after use. Finally, you can hire a professional organizer or cleaning service to help your parents keep their home tidy.
One of the most important things you can do to create a comfortable living environment for your retired parents is to be there for them. This means being available to help them with whatever they need, whether running errands, helping around the house, or simply providing emotional support. It’s also essential to ensure that you’re staying in touch with your parents and checking in on them regularly. With today’s technology, it’s easy to stay connected even if you live far away. For example, you can video call your parents using apps like Skype or FaceTime, or you can send them regular emails or text messages.
You can also be there for them by helping them to effectively plan for the future. This means discussing topics such as investment opportunities, healthcare and life insurance, retirement funds, and any other financial arrangements that need to be made. For example, when looking at investment opportunities, you could consider researching the DiversyFund lawsuit to better understand the risks and benefits associated with certain types of investments. Financial planning can be a tricky topic to navigate, and having the right guidance is essential.
These are four helpful tips to create a comfortable living environment for your retired parents. By following these tips, you can ensure that your parents are safe, comfortable, and well-cared for in their retirement years.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Since first introducing Vital Field they have expanded their product offerings beyond pain control to immune support, menopause, anti-inflame, resistance, energy boost, weight loss, and soon the Pollen Energy Cell. This one gets me excited and I can’t wait to try it. I’ll keep you posted. Be sure to check out their website for a complete list of products. The Pollen Energy Cell is so new it’s not on the website yet.
Our mission is to help people achieve good health and pain-free life with safe, natural, non-invasive and non-chemical methods. Frequencell Inc. (a Delaware corporation based out of Los Angeles, USA) provides treatments for health and chronic pain, based on the results of over 30 years of scientific research, development and clinical trials.
Twenty-five million Americans are in for a sneeze this Summer, with the onset of the Summer allergy season. Although we tend to blame pollen and other “impurities” in the air, the root reason for the increasing number of people suffering from hay fever or rhinitis is a compromised gut.
The POLLEN Energy Cell has been designed to make the body more resistant to common allergens by supporting the gut microbial balance and the respiratory tract’s mucous membrane load. The Cell “calibrates” the immune system to handle the irritants in a way that is 100% safe, non-chemical, and non-invasive.
Since Vitalfield products are safe, natural, non-invasive, and non-chemical, it’s worthwhile to see if our product can reduce your pain and improve your life.
 |
Vitalfield has collaborated extensively with expert scientists and healthcare practitioners in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with a focus on biophysical and frequency medicine applications. Until early 2018, most of the technology in this field involved significant investments and training before it could be utilized in clinical environments.
Further patented technology discovered in recent years also enabled some of these natural treatment methods to be implanted into wearable materials that could localize the treatment for the long-term, in an extremely cost-effective manner.
If you suffer from allergies like I do, you will want to try the new Vital Field Pollen Energy Cell.
Use discount code Light 20 for 20% off your purchase.
Melinda
Here is a list of days of observance in May.
May 1: May Day, Mother Goose Day, Law Day, Make a Book Day, World Laughter Day* (first Sunday)
May 2: Sibling Appreciation Day, Teacher Appreciation Day* (Tuesday of first full week)
May 3: Sun Day, Kite Day
May 4: Intergalactic Star Wars Day, National Weather Observers Day
May 5: Museum Lovers Day, Cartoonist Day, National Day of Reason* (first Thursday)
May 6: No Homework Day, International Space Day* (first Friday), Tuba Day (first Friday)
May 7: Space Day* (first Saturday)
May 8: Mother’s Day, V E Day
May 9: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Peter Pan Day
May 10: Windmill Day
May 11: Eat What You Want Day
May 12: Limerick Day, International Migratory Bird Day
May 13: Frog Jumping Day, Tulip Day, Blame Someone Else Day* (first Friday 13th of the year)
May 14: Star Wars Day, Stars and Stripes Forever Day
May 15: International Day of Families, Over the Rainbow Day
May 16: Biographer’s Day
May 17: World Telecommunications Day
May 18: International Museum Day
May 20: Endangered Species Day* (third Friday
May 21: Armed Forces Day* (third Saturday)
May 22: National Maritime Day
May 23: World Turtle Day
May 24: Scavenger Hunt Day
May 25: Nerd or Geek Pride Day
May 30: Memorial Day* (last Monday)
National Family Reading Week (first week)
Children’s Mental Health Week (first full week)
Teacher Appreciation Week (first full week, M-F)
Children’s Book Week (May 2-8)
Screen Free Week (May 2-8)
Wildflower Week (May 2-8)
Astronomy Week (May 9-15)
Reading is Fun Week (second full week)
National Backyard Games Week (week before Memorial Day)
Creative Beginnings Month
Latino Books Month
National Pet Month
National Photo Month
National Mental Health Month
National Military Appreciation Month
National Wild Fire Awareness Month
National Inventors Month
Young Achievers of Tomorrow Month
National Family Month
Time mismanagement is one of the most common issues of working from home. It’s very easy for your attention to stray to other things during your regular working hours, leading to work delays and affecting your productivity. You spend time on numerous activities as a remote worker, from your phone and television to home chores and housemates. Does it feel like you hardly have enough time in the day to complete work assignments at home? You may be wasting time on other things. Here are some ways to avoid time mismanagement when working from home.
First, you need to ensure that all your work tools, especially your computer and internet connection, are fast and reliable. Unsuspectingly, a slow internet connection and an under-performing computer can drain hours out of your time. Regarding your internet connection, be sure to use the best internet providers that offer fast connection speed, reliability, and affordable packages.
A cluttered or disorganized workstation can encourage procrastination and waste more of your time than you think. You may think that spending several minutes looking for a pen or paper document shouldn’t be anything to worry about. But such distractions eat into your productivity. Therefore, take the time to organize your workstation, declutter, and keep important things within reach.
With nobody looking over your shoulder to monitor the websites you visit, it’s easy to waste several work minutes surfing distracting websites. Whether browsing your favorite online store or watching viral content from social media, distracting websites can consume chunks of your work time. Statista, for example, reports that the average social media user sinks about 2 hours each day into Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you find yourself plagued by too many such websites, you can download plugins to block access to specific websites, so you can focus on your work.
Try planning your workdays around your tasks and not your clock. Instead of thinking you have the whole day to finish a project, distribute your work tasks to specific times in your day. Consider the work you need to complete each day and set specific goals to accomplish them. For example, do you need to get shopping done and complete a marketing proposal within the day? When you’re most productive, you can assign the first part of your day to completing the marketing project and the latter part of the day to shopping. This strategy will help you focus on completing a task before attending to anything else.
Commitments come from different directions when working from home, and the last thing you want to do is accommodate all of them at once. That phone call from a loved one or that favor request from a colleague can cost you more time than you can spare. Sometimes learning to say no to commitments that eat into your work time is the best way to avoid wasting time.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington
Melinda
We have different needs for vitamins as we age and if we have health conditions. What we needed as a child isn’t the same as what we need as an adult. It’s important to know what your body needs and what you get from food. If you don’t get enough from the food you will need to supplement with vitamins.
GOOD FOR: Healthy eyes and general growth and development, including healthy teeth and skin.
NATURAL SOURCE: Carrots and other orange foods including sweet potato and cantaloupe melons – all of which get their hue from the carotene pigment.
GOOD FOR: Energy production, immune function and iron absorption.
NATURAL SOURCE: This crucial group of nutrients can be found in whole unprocessed foods, specifically whole grains, potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, beans, yeast and molasses.
GOOD FOR: Strengthening blood vessels and giving skin its elasticity, anti-oxidant function and iron absorption.
NATURAL SOURCE: Everyone knows this one – oranges! But they’re not the only source – other fruits and veggies packed with Vitamin C include guava, red and green peppers, kiwi, grapefruits, strawberries, Brussels sprouts and cantaloupe.
GOOD FOR: Strong healthy bones.
NATURAL SOURCE: Apart from spending a few minutes out in the sun, which stimulates Vitamin D production, you can get this nutritional must from eggs, fish and mushrooms.
GOOD FOR: Blood circulation, and protection from free radicals.
NATURAL SOURCE: Our favorite Vitamin E-rich food is the mighty almond. You can also fill up on other nuts, sunflower seeds and tomatoes to reap the benefits.
GOOD FOR: Blood coagulation – that is, the process by which your blood clots.
NATURAL SOURCE: Leafy greens are the best natural sources of Vitamin K – so make sure you’re eating lots of kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
GOOD FOR: Cell renewal and preventing birth defects in pregnancy.
NATURAL SOURCE: There are plenty of scrumptious natural sources of folic acid, including dark leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, citrus fruits, beans, peas, lentils, seeds, nuts, cauliflower, beets and corn.
GOOD FOR: Healthy teeth and bones.
NATURAL SOURCE: This mineral is another one that most of us already know – the best sources are dairy products like yogurt, cheese and milk, along with tofu and black molasses.
GOOD FOR: Building muscles naturally and maintaining healthy blood.
NATURAL SOURCE: You might be surprised to know that clams take the top spot for iron content, followed by oysters and organ meats like liver. For the vegetarians among us, soybeans, cereal, pumpkin seeds, beans, lentils and spinach are great sources of iron.
GOOD FOR: Immunity, growth and fertility.
NATURAL SOURCE: Seafoods like oysters are also zinc-rich, along with spinach, cashews, beans and – wait for it – dark chocolate.
GOOD FOR: Glucose function – making sure every cell in your body gets energy as and when needed.
NATURAL SOURCE: As long as your diet contains servings of whole grains, fresh vegetables and herbs, you should be getting enough chromium.
To be your healthiest self it’s best to get all of your vitamins from the food we eat and drink but sometimes we don’t eat like we should. that’s where over-the-counter vitamins come in.
Are the ingredients non-GMO?
Does it have certifications?
Is it routinely tested?
How are the reviews?
Our body needs the proper vitamins to work properly and prevent diseases. If you find yourself needing over-the-counter vitamins, don’t get in a hurry. You want vitamins that dissolve properly and don’t have harmful ingredients in them.
Look for the certifications and buy one that is third-party tested if possible, that way you know the result are non-biased.
Melinda
References:
https://www.goodnet.org/articles/11-essential-vitamins-minerals-your-body-needs
The first time I was stalked was scary but I was a child and they never confronted me or my girlfriend. They just drove behind us in the car all the way home from school every day. I can still remember the license plate number, NJN637. We never told anybody and one day it stopped.
The second time was very scary and I’ve written about it before. I was a young adult and made some bad decisions in character. He stalked me and my family for six years, even when I thought he was gone, he wrote me after several years to let me know he could still find me. It got so bad that the guy I was dating would go check under the car when we left his house, he was afraid of a bomb. No one should have to live with that fear.
The third and last time was the one that scared me deeply. I was still battling Lyme Disease and was very sick. I also was not very tech-savvy with phones. That will come into play later in the post. I didn’t know anything was wrong until the day Twitter got hacked, it was also the day I got hacked. They were tech-savvy enough to make it look like it was coming from two people I knew. I accused them of this terrible act and hurt them badly. Even WordPress told me one of them was tracking my DNS. I didn’t understand all of that and went about trying to mend the damage.
Then I started getting weird messages on my computer, or I would write something and they would keep changing the first letter. My spell correct doesn’t auto change anything, I know it sounded crazy. One day I was writing Auther and they kept changing it to Luther. So I asked them if they planned to hurt me. I don’t remember all the other questions I asked but I tried to converse with them thinking I could solve the problem.
Then one morning I pick up my IPad and it had all this jibberish written on it, nothing made sense. Sometimes there would just be one letter on a line. I showed my husband who thou he believed me was still a bit unsure of what to think.
You have to understand I was taking around 20 medications for Lyme in addition to my other meds, so there were days I was too sick to take my mental health meds. This added to the problem. Also adding to the problem was my lack of understanding of how my phone worked. I had only texted a few times and still didn’t understand that you could move between phone and texting without losing the person on the phone. This will make more sense in a minute.
In an effort to understand how much danger I was in I kept trying to engage in conversation. I would write text messages but would not send them. Still, the answers would come. They would make sense but they would be giving me names of people at times but I didn’t know who it was.
Every once in a while I would think to send the text. Still, the conversation continued. They didn’t say they wanted to hurt me but didn’t say they didn’t so I was still very unsure.
One day I was texting a friend who said they had been hiking and the stalker jumped into the conversation to say that my friend was lying. I couldn’t understand how they knew I was on the phone or how they could even hack my phone.
One day I was talking with them and felt very threatened and thought they were coming into my house. Not thinking straight and reaching for my home phone I ran outside and ask my neighbor to call the police. I didn’t realize that I could leave the texting and move to the phone to call the police.
Mind you I was in a tee-shirt and underwear only. The next thing I know four police cars and two fire trucks show up.
I start to approach one of the police cars with my phone held high and an officer pulled her gun on me. All the other officers stepped out with no aggressive body language and could see I was stressed out. The fire medics began to check my blood sugar and pressure and ask who they could call. I was calm, I told them my husband’s number was under ICE #1.
The whole time this is going on the woman officer who pulled her gun on me kept saying I was Schizophrenic and she would have me sent to the county hospital. This was very upsetting because the county hospital has a bad reputation and it scared me. I told her I was Bipolar, not Schizophrenic, she kept going on like she knew it all.
My husband arrived about 30 minutes later and assured them everything was ok and that I probably had not taken my mediation because I was so sick.
It wasn’t long after that I asked my stalker how long they had been stalking me and they said seven months. Later they started to give me clues to who it was and I figured it out. It was a woman on WordPress who I had tried to help who was severely mentally ill.
As soon as I figured out who it was and said her name, she stopped.
If you’re ever in this situation, make sure you get the names of the police on the scene and file a complaint. My local police needed some mental health training bad and that officer needed to be reprimanded for parading around saying I was Schizophrenic to all the other officers. She didn’t know what she was talking about and should have diffused the situation and kept her mouth shut.
Several neighbors saw the whole thing and one of them saw her pull her gun.
It was a very scary time and one I will not forget.
Be safe!
Melinda
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Webb Blogs, OCD and ME
Hello and welcome to Webbblogs! My name is Christina. I am a mother of 3, and a grandmother of 4. I live in California, in the United States. I am a long time mental health sufferer, and a recovering addict.
Here at WebbBlogs you will find my personal stories of the struggles I have been through and continue to go through. You will also find some positive experiences, family life, and some sillyness along the way.
I am trying to not live in fear anymore. With OCD, panic attacks and anxiety, living a life with less fear has been challenging. But, it’s time for me to get out of my comfort zone, share my life’s moments, no matter how embarrassing some may be. It’s time for me to make a change. After all, nothing changes, if nothing changes.
I’ve been following Chistina for a long time and enjoy her post, she’s raw and that helps everyone! Please check out her site.
Melinda
I’m so glad you are enjoying Everyday Magic. I find it a good place to wind down and ask some important questions.
Bella and Grace by Stampington
Enjoy your day!
Melinda
Melinda
The prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “zip, zero, zilch.” Use one, use ’em all, bonus points if you use all three. Have fun!
This year has been one of growth and disappointment. I decided to expand my gardening horizons and bought bulbs and tubers to start. Well, that hasn’t worked out well. Of the 18 bulbs I planted about nine came up but only one is still alive, the others lay wilted.
Of the tubers, I planted only two have come up so far. They’re about an inch tall but it’s successful in that they are hardy. That’s very disappointing odds for the number planted. I’m not sure I will do the same next year when I got zip, zero, and zilch this year!
This is my magnificent Gardenia bush, it’s my first and it smells out of this world. It has grown and produced so many flowers.
Have a great weekend! See you next week.
Melinda
Here are the rules for SoCS:
Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington
Melinda
Looking for the Light 