These are stories I’ve never discussed before on WordPress and only share for Overdose Awareness Day because they are important for parents to realize how young kids are exposed to and take drugs. Most kids, luckily won’t have my upbringing but they do get exposed every day at school or social gatherings.
I took drugs for the first time at 9 years old, a Black Molly, or speed as they called it. This started a habit that culminated in becoming an addict at 12 years old.
My parents were divorced and I visited my father every other weekend, he would take me clubbing with him and would ask these two women friends to keep an eye on me. They sure did. The very first time I met them I was offered a Black Molly or a Quaalude, Molly’s sounded better so that was my choice. I later tried Qualudes but they were too much of a downer for me, I liked to feel high. This pattern continued until I was almost 13 years old.
It wasn’t long before I was smoking pot, no big deal, right? After doing hard drugs, how bad was pot?
In sixth grade with rage was huffing paint to get high, it had to be silver or gold paint, I don’t recall why. I remember going across the street from school and huffing before the bell. If my memory serves me right, it didn’t do much for me, mostly a headache. Then it was huffing deodorant, that didn’t do anything except leaving you to explain why you had an extra washcloth at P.E. class.
I went to live with my dad when I was 12 years old, and my life took a serious turn for the worse. Not only were we going to clubs on a weekly basis, but we also went to parties where everything was on the table.
My father would buy me pot to keep me home and off the streets. That only worked for so long.
He introduced me to a crowd of kids/young adults who hung out at the 7-11 store. They became my new crowd. I met a guy much older than me and we started dating, as it turned out he was a drug dealer. So every week I had my choice of extra special drugs on top of the pot he bought. I sometimes chose Acid. Let’s just say Acid is great until you have a bad trip, and I did. Acid can last up to 12 hours and can be a total nightmare if tripping. Most of the time I chose speed, that was my go-to drug of choice.
Every week he would buy a kilo of pot and we would sit on the living room floor of his apartment with newspaper spread out, baggies, a mister, and scale. Back then you could buy a four-finger bag for just $10. Imagine that! We would separate all the seeds, then be sure to add some back in each bag for extra weight. Then it was off to selling, mostly to the crowd, and of course, you keep your stash.
Mind you, I’m 12 years old.
My addiction grew and now I was taking speed every day on top of the other drugs I was doing. This went on for 10 months. In that time I skipped school for 34 days and spent three days in a Juvenile Detention Center. I spent a night in jail for being in a car with a friend who was pulled over and caught with stolen credit cards. My father wouldn’t answer the phone so I spent a night in a jail cell.
I was put on probation for carrying a gun and had to see a Probation Officer once a month. For seven months I never spoke one word to her. She said the state was looking for a camp for girls who can’t be reformed to send me to. Her name was Ruth, she was so committed. She kept telling me I had potential and that I could be reformed.
On the eight-month, I said okay, find me a place that’s not a camp and I’ll go. The state took custody of me and I spent the next year in a boarding school for bad girls at a convent. I was forced to go cold turkey with my addiction, with only the help of God.
This isn’t an overdose story but it could have easily been. I write about my overdose/suicide attempt for Suicide Prevention Month later this week.
I hope someone will benefit from this story, it is one I don’t share lightly.
Your parents and older relatives spent their time supporting you through a range of roadblocks you encountered in life. Now that they are older, it’s your turn to repay the favor. But how can you, your partner, siblings, and children provide the vital support that seniors need as they grow older?
It’s easy for seniors to become isolated from the world around them. Their friends may not live close enough anymore. Or they aren’t as mobile as they once were. However, staying in touch with a community can help stave off degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which will ensure their quality of life is as good as it can be. There are plenty of elderly communities around that you can find and introduce your relatives to, allowing them to meet people their age who share their interests. This means they won’t solely rely on you for the company, and can even have new experiences.
Life can be exceptionally busy, there’s no doubt about this, and because of this, there’s a risk that you neglect to get in touch with your elderly relatives as often as you should. However, this shouldn’t mean they cannot get in touch with you when they feel like a chat. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets may intimidate them at first, but they are crucial for ensuring that they can contact you, allowing you to offer the support they need. They won’t need the latest smartphone, but something easy to use and with a strong wifi connection will do the trick.
When planning how to support your parents, you need to remember that they are not just there. They are still human, and they will always have their preferences for how they want to live. Because of this, you must include them in any plans you have for offering support. Don’t neglect to ask them what they want to do, whether it’s visiting them at their house or go somewhere else where they can get some fresh air. It’s easy to feel like you lose your autonomy the older you get, so providing a chance to retain their independence will do wonders for their well-being.
Sometimes, you can’t provide exactly what your elderly relatives need, so you need to assess these needs and look for solutions. While they might live at home now, medical conditions could impact how easy this is for them. If this is the case, you can consider retirement homes or care workers who will visit your relatives to provide the treatment they need. Services that offer such assistance include https://catholiccarecenter.org/long-term-care/, which will provide expert service and give you and your relatives the peace of mind you need.
Supporting your elderly relatives will help them manage their senior years more comfortably and prevent any of the loneliness or isolation problems that can come from old age. Whether they require a helping hand now and again or need more professional support, you can be there for them no matter what and make the best of the last years you have with them.
I was kindly gifted an advance copy of the book A Mindfulness Guide For Survival by Ruby Wax from Maddie Dunne-Kirby at Welbeck Publishing Group. Thanks again Maddie, I love all the books you’ve sent.
Blurb
Dear Reader,
I have written this workbook for you to use as a guide on how to drop anchor when life, and the world around you, gets too daunting. It’s filled with exercises and information for when you’re suddenly forced to confront the hard truths or as I like to call them the BIG SIX realities – difficult emotions, uncertainty, loneliness, change, dissatisfaction and death.
It isn’t just about how to get through a pandemic… Or the post-pandemic fall-out. It is a WAKE UP call. One that will increase your awareness of every moment through mindfulness.
So SCRIBBLE in it. DOODLE in it. Take it EVERYWHERE. No one is going to see what’s inside but you. This is not just another self-help book. Think of it as an evolve-yourself book.
I do hope it helps you hold the rudder straight, no matter how turbulent the waves, and that you come out the other end buoyant, with a new appreciation for the privilege of life.
Love RUBY x
Publishes 2021
176 pages
My Thoughts
This book couldn’t come at a better time, we’re all being faced with situations, emotions, and difficulties we may have not been faced with before the pandemic. Ruby’s book gives you the tools to understand and help work thru each with proven techniques.
Ruby tackles what she calls the Big Six realities-difficult emotions, uncertainty, loneliness, change, dissatisfaction, and death with exercises in a workbook-style book.
She also walks you thru the five pillars of Mindfulness, insight, stress reduction, emotional awareness, presence, and kindness or compassion.
Ruby takes her approach from Buddhism even though she isn’t a Buddist. She feels the ideas are perfect for her approach in this book and in life.
It’s a very fast read and you will want to keep the book handy to reference when you experience any of the Big Six in your life. No doubt we all face them and this is a great workbook to walk you thru each by making you look inward to complete each exercise.
I found the book interesting and had some Ah-ha moments when reading about the Big Six. I would recommend the book to anyone who wants to get in touch with their actions and emotions.
Welbeck Publishing Group
Welbeck Publishing Group is an exciting, fast-growing independent publisher based in London, dedicated to publishing only the very best and most commercial books spanning a number of genres and categories, from leading authors and well-known brands to debut talent. We live for books that entertain, excite and enhance the lives of readers around the world.
From building our boutique fiction and narrative non-fiction lists to shaping our world-renowned illustrated reference, gift and children’s titles, our aim is to be a market-leader in every category in which we publish. Our books and products come to life for adults, children, and families in 30 languages in more than 60 countries around the world, selling through a variety of traditional and non-traditional channels. We are constantly looking for new ways to deliver our exceptional content and new ideas to inspire readers and listeners everywhere.
One of the biggest expenses in your life is going to be your home. A deposit is a large chunk of money that can take years to save up for. Even then, it’s not over yet and you still need to pay hundreds or even thousands every month to keep up with your mortgage. Buying a home outright in a single payment seems incredibly difficult. So how do people afford incredibly luxurious homes? What does it really take to be so wealthy? Is it all just luck, or is there some trick to it?
Unfortunately, there’s not really a trick to being able to afford an expensive home. Some people may have gotten lucky in life and ended up being born into wealth, but for most of us, grinding our way up to that level of wealth can take years of hard work and a sprinkle of good fortune. But what does it really take to be so wealthy? Is it all about managing your money, or are there personality traits and strategies that can help?
If you thought that a typical mortgage down payment was expensive then the equivalent for a million-dollar home will probably scare you.
Most mortgages have an upper limit of how much can be borrowed. The maximum that can be borrowed is usually around $700,000 in good circumstances. This means that to afford a million-dollar home, you’ll need to make a down payment of at least $300,000 in some areas. Most million-dollar homes will exceed that million-dollar threshold, and it’s unlikely that you’ll qualify for a loan that large unless you have an excellent credit score. In reality, your down payment is going to be much higher unless you can qualify for a jumbo loan with strict requirements.
The path to being rich isn’t linear. There are multiple ways to achieve it, and it’s going to depend heavily on your circumstances, education, knowledge, and ultimately motivation.
Learn to focus on the things that you want. Don’t be timid when you want to achieve something. Do everything you can to learn about it and approach it with passion. When you wake up wanting to get things done, you’re halfway there already.
Set goals that are achievable. It’s impossible to make progress if you don’t track how far you’ve come. Set yourself some achievable goals and work towards them before setting harder ones.
Be frugal. Don’t just throw away your money. Make sure the money you spend is an investment in your life or in your wealth. Don’t just waste it away as soon as you have it.
Be hungry for knowledge. The more you learn, the more skills you’ll have. Don’t be afraid to fail occasionally to learn from your mistakes.
Becoming a millionaire and affording a million-dollar home are two very different things, but it all starts with a successful-oriented mindset that drives you to do better.
Many people struggle to find affordable dentists these days that will give good advice on brushing teeth. Many people look to making their teeth whiter. And there are many teeth whitening products out there that contain activated charcoal. It’s believed that oral health products with activated charcoal may be detoxifying, antibacterial, and antiviral.
Reduces Intestinal Gas and Diarrhea
Studies have shown that people that had excessive gas in their intestines reduced this by taking activated charcoal and had improved symptoms. And because it is used as an adsorbent in cases of poisoning and overdoses, activated charcoal might prevent diarrhea by absorbing the toxins from bacteria and drugs that can cause diarrhea.
It Can Help Kidney Function
It may be able to help kidney function by filtering out and digested toxins. Activated charcoal needs more research but it appears to be very effective at removing toxins derived from urea. While more research is needed studies have shown that activated charcoal might help reduce gastrointestinal damage and improve kidney function for those who have chronic kidney disease.
It Can Be a Deodorant
It is an ingredient in deodorant. As charcoal might absorb smells and harmful gases it becomes an ideal underarm deodorant. As it can absorb excess moisture and supposedly control humidity in small ways, it may prove very beneficial to those who have issues with body odor.
It Can Help With Skin Infection
Various traditional medicine practitioners use activated charcoal to treat tissue conditions like skin infections. Activated charcoal can absorb the harmful microbes from wounds which has an antibacterial effect.
Can Help With Food Intolerances
For people who have food intolerances like gluten, taking activated charcoal after consuming foods they have a reaction to can minimize the absorption of toxins. While this is not beneficial to those who have extreme reactions such as celiac disease, for those that have a low-level intolerance to foods like gluten, they will feel the benefits upon taking activated charcoal soon after food.
While activated charcoal can yield many benefits, it’s important to not overdo it. For example, if you take medication, having activated charcoal within 2 hours of consuming it may render the medication ineffective. Activated charcoal can certainly help in small doses of toxicity, especially after eating foods, but it’s important to use sparingly and always follow the instructions on the packet. Use it right and it may help you in many areas of your life.
Personal budgeting is a powerful tool, but few know its value. You see, most people get upset when they hear that they have to make a budget for their expenses. It is associated with discomfort, headache. Just as it is linked diet to hunger and limited food, this is because most people only resort to budgeting when things get tough and there are difficulties, just like with someone who, because he has gained a lot of weight, decides to lose weight. But this is not precisely the case. A personal budget is a necessary tool that each of us must learn to use in our lives. Its mission is not to make you limit your expenses, but to help you set aside more money or spend it more efficiently.
Most people who do not have a budget end up spending more than they need each month. But this exaggeration has significant implications as it limits their future economic power. The result is that they have less money left, but also create more fixed costs if the purchases are made with installments and credit cards. But when you plan how much you will spend each month and know in advance where they will go, it is easier to restrain yourself and realize when you are overdoing it. For this reason, make your own personal budget so that you know where you are. If you have types of subscriptions, then look at reassessing them. If you have car costs, then look at honest car service to ensure that you are always keeping the necessities at a lower price.
Helps you achieve your goals
A personal budget is essentially a plan that helps you prioritize where you spend your money. This means that when you create an account, you are essentially shifting your focus to the things that matter most to you. This can be repaying a loan, raising enough money to get a home, or starting your own business. The budget essentially creates the plan that you will follow and allows you to monitor your progress.
Helps you save
People who do not use budgets will not have as much money in savings. Also, planning how you will spend your money each month helps you to avoid infringing on your existing savings. By doing things this way, you can gradually increase the money you have set aside. And the more that you save, the more you will start to feel more comfortable with your finances and of course your future. This will assist you with your home too.
Helps you be flexible
Budget work is to help you be flexible. By recording the income and expenses in detail, you can see how you can transfer money from one expense category to another. It also helps you identify issues that may arise and make the necessary adjustments.
Helps you stay in control
If you feel that you do not have control over your finances and you are always wondering where your money and salary have disappeared, your budget will help you to recover it. By setting your financial priorities and seeing on paper how you spend your money during the month, you better understand habits and patterns that hurt you. This way, it is easier to know where to stop. Having a definite plan for the month, you know what to do and what not to do, and it is easier to think about the future. Make your plans and prepare. The budget is probably the most essential tool you need to change your financial future and gives you the power to make changes right away.
It’s simple
Personal budgeting is not difficult to set up. We are not talking about a budget drawn up by a multinational or a state, where the responsibilities are significant, and the variables are many. We are talking about the account that will help you maintain order in your finances.
So if you start using it regularly, you will see that it is something simple. You can make it even easier and instead of using pen and paper, take advantage of technological advances using a corresponding application. As with anything new, you may be skeptical or feel that you do not have to bother analyzing your finances. But try it for a few months. As you apply it, you will see that you will become more familiar and it will be easier for you to manage your money properly.
The kitchen is one of the most essential rooms in any home. It’s where you cook, eat, and spend time with your family or friends. Recently, there has been a trend towards more modern designs for kitchens that make them look nicer and better equipped to handle your cooking needs.
With that, here are the main reasons it’s a good idea to invest in a modern kitchen.
You can lower your monthly bills by upgrading to a modern cooking system. Your kitchen is the heart of your house and one of the best places to start bringing in some extra green. You don’t need a new stove, oven, or refrigerator either – there are many ways to make small but effective changes that will have an impact on both your wallet and the environment.
You can save energy by upgrading your appliances to more efficient ones, being careful not to buy too large of a unit or excessive for what you need it for (don’t get an oversized fridge). Well-maintained appliances will last longer and therefore use less energy.
You will Save on Home Improvement and Upgrade Costs
Kitchens are the most commonly updated and upgraded rooms in a house. It is also one of those rooms that can increase your property value, but only if you do it right. Updating an old kitchen immediately increases its selling price by 20% to 35%.
There may be no better return on your investment than a kitchen upgrade, but it’s not just about getting more money for the home. The quality of life in your house can increase significantly with an updated and well-planned modern kitchen. Click here to find out more about how much it costs to remodel a kitchen.
As another COVID-19 lockdown is due to begin, it’s time to look at how to protect your business from the damaging effects the virus and the lockdown may have. While many people were recently relieved that things looked set to go back to normal or at least into the “new normal,” unfortunately, it was short-lived as the coronavirus case numbers have increased again, and drastic action has to be taken. You may have learned lessons from the first lockdown, whether it is things you should have done, done differently, or not done at all. The critical thing is that this time you will know what to expect and work as best you can to protect your business. So, what this time?
Most businesses experienced their employees remote working in some way during the first lockdown, so they will be used to the process and know what works best for them. Some of your employees are best getting up and showered and dressed in their work clothes to get in the work mindset, while others find they work better in their comfy clothes and sat on the sofa. That’s for your employees to work out, but at least this time, they can be prepared either way, or they can try working a different way this time if they felt they weren’t in a good enough routine last time. As an employer, make sure that you have sufficient support networks in place for your employees; this means regarding technology and work materials and equipment that they need, but also, you need to be more aware of their mental health this time around. Many people’s mental health is deteriorating the longer that the pandemic goes on, and the more issues they have to deal with. Make sure they know they can talk to you if they need to and that you check in on them while they’re working from home.
You can take this time now to plan your next return to work, and while this means deep cleaning, disinfecting the office, calling in the Renew Crew to do a power wash, and maybe putting in more social distancing measures and hand sanitizing stations, it also means preparing your business for something new and different because the world has changed. Now it’s worth looking at next year’s plan rather than trying to save this year’s. Despite how it may seem, you’re actually in a good position now as you can adapt to respond meaningfully and creatively to the current marketplace. For example, marketing campaigns and images will need to include people wearing face masks and respecting social distancing. Take the time to think carefully about which direction you want to take your business in and understand what’s needed to bring solutions to the problems and overwhelming challenges your customers are facing.
If your business struggled during the first lockdown, then you need to be more careful this time. Of course, this goes without saying, but it’s knowing how to be more frugal that’s important. Do you know how you can maximize your profit margins? While it might seem like a good time to get certain jobs done, it is important to control your spending during this time and to put away any extra cash you can. Find out what you’re entitled to in terms of deferrals on rent and loans, and if there’s any way you can save money on your suppliers, then do so. Find out what other funding is available to you or if there are any temporary loans you can apply for.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that you never know what’s around the corner. If you want to protect your business, then you need to be prepared for anything and everything. This isn’t an easy thing to do while trying to run your business, but if you are on top of your finances and know what your business can take and what it can’t, then you can make plans. Try to think of every scenario that you can, and don’t forget to factor in what could happen to the third parties you rely on to keep your business running and providing a service to your customers. While your business may have a good chance of making it out the other side, some of the businesses that you work with and rely on might not be so lucky, so make sure you have a contingency plan just in case.
When you buy a car, you make what will probably be the second biggest investment of your life. Vehicles tend to only come second to homes when it comes to cost. So, it’s not all too surprising that the majority of us want to take care of our cars as best possible. This, of course, will take some work. But all in all, it will be worth it in the end. Not only will it help your car to work as it should and look great, but it can maintain the vehicle’s value should you ever wish to sell it. Here are a few simple steps to get this journey started!
A significant element of maintaining your car – both in terms of maintaining its value and ensuring it looks new for as long as possible – is cleaning it. There is no way of preventing your car’s exterior from getting mucky when it is out on the roads. It may rain, there may be mud or splashes and birds can make a mess on it too. From the inside, your car will build up dirt from your shoes, hands, and perhaps food and drink. The good news, however, is that you can clean your car effectively and simply. The easiest option is to take it to professionals who will be able to clean the outside, inside, or a combination of the two. Alternatively, you can save money in the long run by learning to clean it yourself. Stock up on essential products that are specially designed for use on cars, such as car wash soap, car wax, and polish. You might also want to invest in windscreen cleaners like SharpShield liquid glass windshield protectant and wheel cleaners. Start by rinsing off the exterior of your car with a hose and water. This will remove the surface layer of dirt. Next, fill a bucket with warm, soapy water and use a soft sponge to wipe down your car from top to bottom. Rinse and you should be good to go! You can vacuum the inside of your car, wipe down dust from the dashboard and add an air freshener for an extra special touch.
Repairs
Nearly every car will require some sort of repair work carried out at some point or another. It’s part and parcel of being on the roads. It could be something small like a tire change or something bigger like an engine replacement. An issue that many people have is that they’ll notice minor issues with their vehicle but decide to sweep the problem under the carpet as long as they are still able to drive their vehicle. This should be avoided. Not only is this potentially dangerous for you and other road users, but problems don’t tend to resolve themselves. Instead, they simply worsen and result in more serious and costly repairs in the near future. Book into a garage and let a mechanic fix things as soon as possible!
These are just a couple of things you can do to keep your car in the best shape possible. Keep them in mind and practice them!
This is a very interesting and timely story considering today is International Dog Day. I’ve lost many pets over the years and can tell you it’s taking me a long time to get over my pets. Some I still miss desperately today.
Dallas came into my life at eight weeks old when I was only 19. The small brown bundle of rolls and wrinkles that clumsily paraded around my house with oversized paws never had any chance of developing into what most would consider a classically “good dog.” As he grew into his oversized appendages as a 115-pound lap dog, I was also developing through the tumultuous stage of emerging adulthood. As my social, occupational and personal identities solidified, Dallas remained a constant denominator across each dimension of my self-identity. I was a “dog owner,” and most who knew me were unable to picture me without my enormous and drooly companion at my side.
As life progressed, Dallas effortlessly provided the unconditional positive regard that so many counselors strive to exude to clients. He was present during graduations, new jobs, loss of family members and personally devastating health diagnoses. Whether I was joyous or tormented, Dallas was there to share in my experience and offer the validation I needed through his droopy brown eyes.
Eventually our family was complete when I met my now fiancée, a veterinary student at the time in the university where I was receiving my master’s in counseling. She promptly told me that Dallas was overweight and kindly pointed out other ways I could best serve Dallas. As we reached relationship milestones and eventually added another companion animal, Willett, Dallas seemed to become even more joyful and content.
Dallas (Photo courtesy of Corban Smith)
Dallas gets diagnosed
In the 11 years leading up to August 2019, Dallas had survived dozens of mischievous acts that threatened his well-being. So much so that although I knew his life eventually would come to an end, I couldn’t envision a world where anything could cause his demise. One morning that began as any other, I took Dallas outside to produce his abnormally large morning “business” deposits. I heard him emit a strange noise and looked down to see him convulsing on the grass. As he continued to seize, I held him as I never had before. Covered in morning dew, grass and dirt, I had never felt so helpless. I screamed for my partner, and once Dallas emerged from his postictal phase, we took him to his veterinarian.
The news was grim. Given my financial status, the veterinarian advised against costly diagnostic techniques, reasoning that I likely would be unable to afford the likewise costly treatments for whatever was discovered. He concluded that Dallas likely had a sinister brain tumor lurking in his furry brown head and said we should focus on making his remaining time with us as comfortable as possible. As the first pains of grief and guilt set in, I began experiencing shame that I could not afford to give Dallas the care that might prolong our time together just a little longer.
Armed with anti-seizure medication and the terrifying knowledge that Dallas would, in fact, no longer be with me one day, I began one of the most stressful years of my life. A pattern soon developed in Dallas’ symptom management. He would have an extended period of time with no symptoms, then a breakthrough seizure would emerge in the middle of the night like an evil intruder. My partner, now Dallas’ primary veterinarian, would reassess his medication, and the cycle would continue. Slowly, the periods of well-being shortened, and the breakthrough seizures increased in intensity.
This slow end-of-life process was excruciatingly unpredictable and painful as I began to experience a feeling of learned helplessness. Each evening, I crawled into bed terrified that at some point in the night, I would hear the initial gag that signaled an episode. During the day, I walked around the house dreading the discovery of puddles from postictal incontinence. I lamented this emotional roller coaster immensely. Periods of health were bright spots in my life, while breakthrough seizures were increasingly darker reminders of reality. I knew eventually, I would have to say the words: “This is it.”
The event
The gagging and thrashing noise signaling a seizure came, as it always did, in the middle of the night, just when I imagined that things were OK. This one felt different though. Not only did it last longer and cause more confusion afterward, but the unsettling truth that Dallas was at his maximum dosage for medication signified that this was, in fact, “it.” We waited apprehensively with a semblance of hope to see if another seizure came. Previous recurrent seizures had presented eight hours after the first; this next round came in just four.
Making the decision that this particular day would be Dallas’ final day was shamefully easy. A combination of emotional exhaustion, stress surrounding the impending doom, and the reality of treatment limitations all likely contributed. My partner was forced to go and work at the practice where we would remind Dallas that he was a “good boy” for the last time, while I got the privilege of spending Dallas’ last day with him. I was disassociated from what was coming later that day and treated it as simply any other day for Dallas. In between additional seizures that day, Dallas got to play his favorite game, “What Won’t Dallas Eat?” We lay on the couch and watched The Fifth Element(the movie in which Dallas’ namesake, Korben Dallas, is the protagonist) while his sister, Willett, licked his ears, attempting to rid his head of any hint of ill will. Eventually, the time came to load up, and I experienced the first sense of loss that snapped me back to reality. Leaving Willett behind, I told her, “We’ll be back,” then quickly amended that statement to “I’ll be back,” tears forming in my eyes.
I had experienced euthanasia of a pet only once before, when I was a little boy. I was transported back to my younger self on that day, attempting to organize thoughts of death and meaning of life in an intellectual way instead of experiencing the present pain. What had made this unavoidable outcome cognitively distant was Dallas’ presentation when he was not seizing. Even in the euthanasia room, Dallas presented in his usual demeanor. He happily ate Cheez Whiz sprayed on the floor for him, selflessly sharing the remnants on the clothes and faces of my partner’s co-workers as they came in one by one to say goodbye. Eventually, we were left alone with him.
My partner and I sat there, attempting to say our final goodbyes while Dallas tried to reassure us that everything would be OK. My partner was forced to take on the role of veterinarian in telling me what to expect. She kindly outlined the euthanasia process, as I am sure she had previously with countless other mourning owners, but her voice was shaky, and tears were forming in her eyes. Another veterinarian timidly knocked on the door and asked if we were ready. I shakily answered “yes” but truly was not. She knelt next to Dallas and began administering the chemical as I tried to remember every detail of my beloved companion lying on the floor. In true Dallas fashion — being the dog that could handle anything and survive — it took an extra dose of the lethal concoction for him to pass into the next world. Once my fiancée’s co-worker told us Dallas was gone, I embraced him wholly, one last time, and then truly broke down in a way that only a deep loss can provoke.
The Grief Process
Grief truly is a unique and unavoidable part of the human experience. We are all forced into grief through loss at some point in our lives. I had experienced loss before in the form of relationships, failed endeavors and hobbies deemed too dangerous for someone of my growing age. But these things were nothing compared to the way Dallas had deeply embedded himself within my self-identity. The pain of this loss permeated through my core.
As a counselor, I have been trained on grief, bereavement and the strategies we use to empower our clients. All of that knowledge and experience seemed to dissipate as soon as Dallas was diagnosed. Suddenly, grief and loss were not topics discussed in a classroom; they had become deeply personal.
Soon after Dallas was diagnosed, I had begun preparing for his loss as best I could through that classroom knowledge. I dusted off my crisis intervention textbook and attempted to remember the works of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and William Worden. I quickly landed on Worden’s tasks of mourning model as I tried to intellectualize my now inevitable loss of Dallas. As a counselor, I try to promote resilience and empowerment in my clients. As I embarked on the dangerous endeavor of becoming my own counselor, I told myself to focus on the tasks I could accomplish to help myself emerge from this process more resilient than I had been going in.
Tasks of mourning
Worden’s tasks of mourning are not intended to be completed in any particular order and may be revisited throughout the mourning process. As soon as Dallas was diagnosed — and before I sought out knowledge of grief — I had begun to complete the tasks, and I continue to do so after the loss of Dallas. Sometimes I feel content in my accomplishment of tasks, whereas other times I am caught off guard by signs suggesting a lack of progress. My understanding of the grief process so far is that it ebbs and flows in a nonlinear, somewhat unpredictable manner throughout.
Task: Accept the reality of the loss. I began to accept the loss of Dallas conceptually as soon as he was diagnosed with the potential brain tumor. During the year of symptom management, I was able to work through this task on a surface level so that I thought I would be ready for my new reality when Dallas was gone.
Once Dallas had passed, I struggled with this task on a much deeper core level. I naively believed that the previous work on the task prior to Dallas’ departure would help insulate me from not accepting this new lonely reality. Returning home from the veterinary clinic on the day he was euthanized, I was most struck by the sense of numbness. The rest of that week’s activities and responsibilities seemed to pass me by because this new reality I was living in was foreign from the one I had known.
Technology was both a curse and a blessing as I attempted to gain footing on this task. I found myself clinging to Dallas’ presence through endless scrolling of the camera roll on my iPhone. As I scrolled upward, Dallas became younger and more the companion I idealized. Photos of him jumping as high as houseguests offered a stark comparison with the old man that had required assistance to get on the bed. The Live Photo feature was particularly unsettling. By holding my finger on a photo, Dallas all of a sudden sprang back to life, my phone emitting the daily sounds and visuals that I desperately longed for again in our home.
Social media did, however, provide one of the best mediums for memorializing Dallas as I continued through this task. My favorite photos discovered while scrolling were shared with friends and family in a memorial post. As others expressed sadness and condolences, I was astonished to learn how many other lives Dallas had touched. Friends and contacts long forgotten reemerged to share stories and memories of Dallas. Many of them validated my new reality without Dallas as being both painful and uncomfortable. Their support helped me better accept this different world and motivated me to move closer to it instead of resisting and staying in the one that was comfortable.
Task: Process the pain of grief. I am very fortunate in that any inhibition to process the pain of my grief was self-inflicted rather than being promoted by those around me. I have heard stories of those who lost pets whose grief was disenfranchised by those around them. Expectations to continue working while compartmentalizing grief plague many people after the loss of a companion animal. I was extremely fortunate that no one in my life placed such expectations on me. I was supported and understood as having just lost a family member that was deeply integrated in my self-identity.
My work on this task was predominantly inhibited by self-imposed restrictions. I falsely believed that the processing of loss completed since Dallas’ diagnosis would be sufficient for the actual event to be a mild speed bump on my road of productivity. The counselor in me said, “It is OK for you to experience this pain and have difficulty functioning,” but my cultural background stated simply, “Get over it.”
Toxic masculinity is prevalent in our world, and I am also guilty of propagating it. People who do not know me well would consider me a classic stereotype of masculinity by most metrics. I am genetically broad-shouldered and proudly wear a full beard. My previous hobbies have included skydiving, riding motorcycles and owning German sports cars. I drive an SUV to my Olympic weightlifting club, and my bias toward men who are similar to me says that the loss of a dog should not break such men down to tears or inhibit their ability to participate in life roles. As I viewed myself through this lens, I repressed the pain and the experiencing of it longer than I should have. Eventually, I could no longer be the stable and stoic presence in my home and work; I had to succumb to the pain.
As I began to reconcile my views on masculinity with what I knew as a counselor, I realized the feeling of pain and the expression of my emotions were among the manliest endeavors I could partake in. I shared my feelings and experience more freely with those around me and continued to be validated and supported as I tried to meet life’s demands while experiencing such pain.
Task: Adjust to a world with the deceased missing. Articles I read in advance of Dallas’ loss described the new home environment as having a “deafening silence.” As I attempted to mentally prepare for Dallas’ departure, I became attuned to the noises he emitted on a day-to-day basis. I tried to steel myself for what an absence of those noises might be like, but the void upon returning home after his passing was still debilitating.
My partner and I did our best to make this task as quick as possible. We removed all the reminders we could think of shortly after Dallas’ passing. Toys that were Dallas-sized and unattractive to Willett were donated to my partner’s practice for other dogs to enjoy. The tumbleweeds of short brown fur were sucked up from the various surfaces where they always clung. Dallas’ medications and food were removed. These physical reminders were easy to erase; classic conditioning ingrained over the span of 12 years was much more difficult to ignore.
Given the enormity of Dallas, there was little he could do that did not resonate throughout our small home. The clicking of his nails as he walked, the thud of furniture as he forcibly followed his intended path, even the heavy panting echoing through the house from his mere existence were all instantly gone. There was no longer a giant brown speed bump in the kitchen to navigate while we were cooking or a face of pure joy at the bottom of the steps when we returned home. Even watching TV at night without the occasional burst of flatulence from the corner of the sectional seemed a foreign experience.
Countless other experiences have become isolating and lonely affairs since Dallas passed. Thankfully, as time passes, this task becomes easier as the frequency of unexpected reminders diminishes. Eventually, I know the relationship between daily activities and Dallas’ presence will erode and disappear, shifting this void from absence to a new normal.
Task: Find an enduring connection with the deceased while embarking on a new life. Worden’s previous iterations of this task involved the phrases “emotional reallocation” and “emotional reinvestment.” This task is characterized by a sense of moving on while accepting and appreciating the impact of the loss on the griever’s life and self-identity. As I move forward in my life, it is impossible not to consider the impression my relationship with Dallas has left and the residual effects it will have in the future.
I think of all the lessons I learned from Dallas and how they will present in the future. I wonder how my capacity for caring for those around me would have changed without first caring for Dallas. I wonder how differently I would experience frustration without first building patience through Dallas’ destructive behaviors. Lastly, without experiencing the loss of Dallas, I wonder how much less prepared I would be for loss in the future. I feel that my experience of being a caregiver to Dallas has greatly elevated my ability to show compassion and kindness in other roles. Thanks to Dallas, I am able to be a bit better in my many life roles as a counselor, partner, son and friend.
Conclusion
As I continue to bounce between and progress within these tasks, I sometimes find myself wondering, “Am I doing this right?” Questions about whether I removed reminders too soon, carried on with life too soon or even made the decision to euthanize too soon have dominated my grieving process.
This experience has provided me better insight into a process that I had conceptualized only in a classroom previously. Being forced to confront this inevitable human experience has taught me to give clients who are grieving a lot of room and compassion and to hold minimal expectations about how they grieve. Grief is an individualized experience. While there are models, none perfectly encapsulates what it means, feels and looks like to grieve.
Our grieving process culminated last year as we traveled home for Christmas. Dallas lived his life, with the exception of his final five months, in my small home in Alabama. Before we moved into a proper home in Virginia with a fenced-in backyard, his outside time was spent on a picturesque patch of land next to a lake. Closing my eyes, I can still picture my happy and healthy Dallas splashing around and chasing geese, frequently looking back at me for encouragement. This location, where Dallas seemed his happiest, is where we spread his ashes on a cold Alabama day with tears in our eyes but a sense of resolve in our hearts. I hope that one day I do find him there again, splashing and galloping, just over the Rainbow Bridge.
****
Corban Smith is a doctoral student in the counseling and supervision program at James Madison University (JMU) with a specific interest in substance use and offender counseling. He currently works as both an adjunct faculty at JMU and as a jail/emergency services clinician at Valley Community Services Board. He and his wife reside in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where they enjoy being of service to any being they come across. Contact Corban at smitcor@icloud.com.
Counseling Today reviews unsolicited articles written by American Counseling Association members. To access writing guidelines and tips for having an article accepted for publication, visit ct.counseling.org/feedback.
****
Opinions expressed and statements made in articles appearing on CT Online should not be assumed to represent the opinions of the editors or policies of the American Counseling Association.FacebookTwitterRedditPinterestLinkedInEmailTAGS: ANIMAL, GRIEF AND LOSS
Often, it can be hard to understand the cause of these mental health problems. They may be triggered by something that has gone on in your life such as the loss of a loved one, or a big change such as moving to a new city, or a change in career. Whatever the cause, it is essential that you practice self-care.
But what can you do to treat your mental health problems?
Here are some of the steps you should take if you are experiencing any mental health difficulties in your life.
Speak To Your Doctor
If you are struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression in your life, then you should speak with your doctor at the earliest possible opportunity. Your doctor should talk you through what is happening in your life in order to understand whether you should be treated with self-care,
antidepressant medication, or whether you would be a suitable candidate for talking therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy.
Speak To A Counselor
If you are able to speak with a counselor, do so. You may be able to get referred to one by your doctor. If not, there are plenty of specialist counselors that will be able to take you on.
Different counselors and therapists will have their own approaches to dealing with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Make sure that you are happy with the counselor’s approach before you commit to a course of sessions with them.
Use CBD And Other Alternative Treatments
One of the areas that there is growing research into is the use of alternative treatments such as CBD. CBD comes from the same plant as cannabis except it doesn’t have any of the psychoactive ingredients as cannabis does. It just relaxes you and relieves symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Another alternative treatment option may be psychedelics. You can read more about this at psychedelicspotlight.com.
Eat Well
There is a lot that can be said about the way that you eat. By making sure that you are eating a balanced diet, you will be able to help to give yourself the energy that you need to keep going.
To fight off stress and depression with your diet you should look at getting your starch fix with whole grains and beans. You should be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Instead of eating red meats, you should eat fatty fish like salmon or tuna. Finally, add in healthy fats, such as raw nuts and olive oil.
Exercise
Exercising is a great way of clearing your head. It gives you endorphins which is a feel-good hormone that will balance out the stress hormones that your body will naturally be producing.
Start small. Even going for a short walk will be very helpful.
Your health and wellness are important factors when it comes to how you feel each day and what you’re able to achieve in life. You must have a lot of natural energy and be in a positive frame of mind if you want to be well and excel.
While not every day will be great, it’s in your best interest to find more stability in your life and mental state. Doing so isn’t always easy but it is possible. Your mental health matters and the only way to make sure you can boost and improve it is to work on it and take actions that help you to achieve this goal.
Keep active if you want to boost and improve your mental health. Exercising and living a healthy lifestyle is good not only for your physical body but also for your mind. Happy chemicals are released when you workout and you’ll notice that you’re in a better mood after you break a sweat. Find activities you enjoy doing and that help you work and challenge different muscle groups. You’ll not only be a happier person for making this change but you’ll also be in better shape and feel more confident in your body.
Learn & Challenge Your Mind
Another way to boost and improve your mental health is to learn new information regularly. Challenge your mind by studying and reading articles and blogs from some of the top leaders out there like Dee Agarwal. Learning not only makes you smarter but it makes you feel good and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Open up your mind to taking in new information and remain curious so that you can expand your knowledge and education and stay mentally well.
Talk About Your Feelings
It’s also in your best interest to get in the habit of talking about your feelings if you want to boost and improve your mental health. Be vulnerable and open with those you trust and let them into your troubles and what’s on your mind. They can be there to listen or also offer advice and input if that’s what you want. It’ll feel good to get what’s bothering you off your mind and out into the open. You won’t have to carry around so many burdens and will likely notice that others feel the same way you do and can relate or have had similar experiences as well. You can’t be afraid to ask for help and should do so when you need it so that you feel less alone.
Follow Your Passions
Do more of what you love if you want to boost and improve your mental health. Start living for yourself instead of others and do what puts a smile on your face. Make more time for hobbies and activities that you enjoy and say no to others when they request your time and attention and you can’t give it. Find a job you love and that puts your skills to use and challenges you daily. You’ll feel much more fulfilled and be in a better place when you’re spending your days doing what pleases you.
Eat Well
Your diet and what you eat also play a role in how you feel and your mental health. Some foods can ignite or reduce anxiety, for example. Commit to eating a nutritious diet full of leafy greens, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. It may help to get in the habit of cooking for yourself at home so you have more control over the ingredients and portion sizes. Also, pay attention to what you’re drinking and stick to having more water and tea and less caffeine, alcohol, and sugar if you want to maintain good mental health.
Meditate & Reflect
One of the best ways to slow racing thoughts and boost and improve your mental health is to take the time to meditate and reflect often. Find a quiet place in your home or head out into nature and listen to a guided meditation that will help you feel relaxed, centered, and at ease.
I’m celebrating my greatest dog loves of today and in the past. I’ve owned a dog most of my life and we always had a dog when growing up. I can tell stories or sing to my dog friends anytime and they never spill the beans or frown at my bad singing.
Remember a dog is a great friend but they are a full-time commitment. They can also cost money that can come up very unexpectedly if they get sick. If you can make that commitment I encourage you to find the unconditional love of a dog or two today.
In the year 2004, the day was founded by animal welfare advocate and pet lifestyle expert, Collen Paige. He is also a conservationist, dog trainer, and author. The date 26 August was selected for International Dog Day because it was the first time when Paige’s family adopted Sheltie; he was 10-years-old.
Along with International Dog Day, Paige also founded and observed many such days including National Cat Day, National Puppy Day, National Wildlife Day, and National Mutt Day.
Few amazing facts about dogs • The most successful hunter in the world is the African Hunting Dog, which also holds the Guinness World Record for it. In 50 to 70 percent of their hunts, these dogs are successful. • Salukis hold the Guinness World Record for being the world’s oldest dog breed. This breed actually dates back to 329 BC. • Dogs have three eyelids; the third lid is a nictitating membrane, which is known as a haw. This keeps the eye lubricated and protected. • Not to forget, 30 percent of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear.
Change is constant and although many people feel resistant to it, change can actually be very beneficial. As the saying goes a change can be as good as a rest and there are many reasons for this. Change can bring a number of opportunities and give you a new perspective on life. A fresh start can also be a positive thing and learning to adapt to change is a useful skill for many situations. Whether it’s moving to a different place or embarking on a new career, there are several reasons a change can be positive.
If you’re looking for a fresh start, something as challenging as moving house could even lead to many positive things. Moving doesn’t need to be as stressful as it sounds and there are ways to sell my home fast. Many companies offer help to those who need to sell their home quickly and even offer cash in exchange for real estate. New beginnings mean you can start with a clean slate and get out of the rut that you might be in.
More opportunities
A change at work could lead to plenty of exciting business opportunities. If you’re ready for a career change this could bring many new possibilities for you to earn more money and learn new skills in the future. Employers also favor candidates who are able to show an ability to adapt to change and an eagerness to progress in different areas.
Personal development
Doing a bit of soul searchingis also a great way to learn about yourself and focus on personal development. It’s a good idea to make a list of priorities as these can change as you get older. This will help you with professional development as well and to figure out what kind of lifestyle you would like in the future. You will be able to decide what’s important to you workwise and where you would like to live a few years down the line.
A different perspective
There are many reasons why you should look at things from a different perspective from time to time. It helps you to reinforce your values and learn from others. Trying to see something from someone else’s point of view will help you think more objectively and become more open-minded. You’ll even be able to be more self-aware as a person and this could have a positive impact on your personal and professional relationships.
Gain strength
The strength you need in order to face change will benefit you in the future. You’ll be stronger in the face of adversity and be more capable of finding a new solution to different problems. Change allows many people to become stronger over time. The ability to adapt to change is a good skill to develop and it can help you in both your professional career and personal life. There are many ways in which leaving your comfort zone once in a while can be beneficial. A change of scenery is a great way to gain perspective.
Every single day of our lives, we are making choices about our future. Whether we like it or not, there is no getting away from the choices we have to make and so the best thing that we can do is be smart about those decisions. You don’t have to be a decisive person to know what you want in life, but have you thought ahead? Not just for your career, but for your distant retirement? Have you considered where you’d like to travel and where you want to live? These are the biggest decisions that you’ll make in life, but you need to make those decisions with great thought. Every single time you choose something to do in life, it’s got to align with your life goals, but that’ll only work if you know what your life goals are.
There will be moments that you think that you are making the wrong choices, but the honest truth is that there is no such thing as a wrong choice. Everything you choose to do will eventually lead you in the right direction, whether it’s about your future senior care options or your job prospects. The key is in weaving away from impulsive decisions and thinking better about each decision. Let’s take a look at six tips that will help you to choose better things in your life.
It’s so hard to make choices for yourself when you are busy thinking about everyone else around you. You should always be aware of the decisions that you want to make for yourself based on what YOU want. The best way to make any decisions is to keep your goals at the forefront of your mind at all times. If you know you want a comfortable retirement one day, base your choices on how you can have that comfort. If you know you want a house of your own one day, start saving some of your income now.
Get Advice, Choose Your Own Path
You can ask everyone you know what you should do about XYZ, but that doesn’t mean that you have to ever take anyone else’s advice. You should always go with your gut. No one but you knows what you feel day to day and no one else is living your life. If you’re going to ask for advice, be prepared to hear different opinions but when it comes down to it, is the only opinion that counts? It’s yours.
Listen To Your Instinct
Every decision that you make needs to match your instincts. If you want to know that you have money set aside for in-home senior care one day, saving it up is a must. If you want to make sure that you don’t have to sell your home for your future, start being smart about your investments. Life is a big deal as it is, and you should always listen to what your instincts are telling you to do. Going with your gut isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it could lead you to some amazing experiences in life.
Mind Your Frame Of Mind
It’s so much easier to make destructive decisions when you are in a bad mood or a poor frame of mind. If you want to make good decisions, you need to know that you are in the right mood for it. Never make any decisions about changing your life if you are currently angry with your boss or dealing with rubbish from your landlord. There are so many ways that you can make a bad decision, so wait until you know you are thinking straight before you make a choice.
Believe In Yourself
You really have to make a choice and not question it. Trusting yourself can be the hardest part of making a decision and the person that you need to trust before anyone else is yourself. Trust that you know what you want and you can make the best decisions for yourself.
Practice Making Those Decisions
The only way to be better at making the right choices for you is to practice doing it. You should make this a part of your daily routine and be more confident in your actions as a result. Over time, you’ll feel way more in control of the choices that you make for your future. You deserve to know what you want and you deserve to grab it all with both hands. Don’t be afraid!
Recovering from the trauma of any sort – be that emotional or physical – is a long road. It can be difficult and lonely, but that doesn’t mean you can’t heal and survive. If you feel overwhelmed by the path ahead of you.
Traumas of any kind can cause huge emotional destabilization, and so to mitigate the risk of this impacting your life even more than the event itself, it’s time to start talking. You can share your feelings, experiences, and thoughts with a friend or a loved one, or just someone you trust. Equally, some people find it easier to speak to someone they don’t know – and thanks to online therapy, it’s easier than ever. Ensuring you aren’t isolated and you are receiving some support is an important part of your healing journey.
Get moving
An effective way of handling trauma is to move your body. Studies have shown that it can help reduce stress and promote emotional healing after a trauma. If you’re well and able, gentle movement is great for the body and soul. It doesn’t have to be exhausting – simply going for a daily walk or heading to the local pool for a swim. If you find the idea of getting out too much for you right now, you could relax with some calming yoga on YouTube.
Foster good habits
It can be easy to sink into bad habits when you’re recovering from trauma – that could be not leaving the house, sleeping all day, drinking too much, or not eating well. While these can be understandable reactions to something that has happened, they will not help your recovery. If you feel able, try and build more positive habits in your day. These habits will depend on you and your needs, but they could be to wake up at the same time every morning, shower once a day, and get outside for at least five minutes of fresh air. Whatever these habits are, keep them up and praise yourself when you stick to them.
Self-care
Self-care is an incredibly personal thing, so it’s important to consider what constitutes self-care for you. Do you enjoy a candlelit bath? Or have you discovered that mindfulness and meditation help you to feel good? Whatever things make you feel cared for, write them down on a list, so that when you do need to practice self-care, you don’t have to think about what will make you feel better, you just need to refer to the list!
Call in the professionals
In your recovery, there may be a moment when you realize you need more than just the help of a friend or a meditation, and that is a powerful realization. For some, the help of a professional could mean a psychiatrist or therapist, whereas for others that could mean seeking alcohol treatment in a center or with a group. Whatever your need is, it’s a strong moment when you learn to take care of yourself.
Being able to provide your employees with the luxury of a business car provides a number of advantages, including the ability to rely on your team’s availability, advertising, and quick site visits as needed. However, having business cars isn’t as simple as it may appear, and there are a few things to consider before making the investment.
Of course, you have faith in your staff, but how much do you trust them? You’re still responsible for the car’s upkeep if you provide them a company car to use to execute their work to the highest standard. If you want your staff to use their car just for business purposes, you’ll need to be able to trust them completely, especially when it comes to reclaiming VAT (see below).
Reclaiming VAT
If you’re a business owner, you’ll be able to reclaim the VAT you paid on corporate cars if they’re solely used for business. You’ll have to show that it’s only used for business. It’s also worth mentioning that driving from work to home is considered a regular commute, which means you won’t be able to reclaim the VAT you paid.
Can you afford the insurance every month?
Even if you aren’t driving the car, you are still responsible for the insurance of the vehicle(s) you own. Protect your vehicle with auto insurance built specifically for business owners and commercial vehicles. You should Get a Business Auto Insurance Quote from Cowell James Forge to get an idea of the amount you’ll be paying. That way, if an accident occurs, you, your employee, and the vehicle will all be protected.
Do you lease, finance, or buy outright?
You might be asking how to access company cars. Do you want to lease, finance, or buy outright? We’re in the midst of a pandemic, and many businesses have had to make expense cuts to stay afloat. Consider all factors before making a decision so that, if the need arises, you can save as much money as possible. Consider the advantages of each alternative as well. For example, financing a car allows you to pay for it over time and eventually own it, whereas leasing requires you to return it at the conclusion of the lease.
Mileage allowances and overtime
If you’re supplying your employees with a corporate car to use on long-distance business travels, you’ll need to consider mileage allowances and any overtime they’ll be doing. You’ll have to reimburse them for their time and a portion of the fuel expenditures if they’re forced to meet with a possible client for the firm who is 200 miles away and outside of their working hours.
As a result, owning company vehicles is dependent on what you do as a business. Get a company car if you feel you need to provide a distribution service for your company. If you want your employees to be able to safely and conveniently go to customer sites or huge meetings but you don’t have a lot of money, sit down and write down the advantages and disadvantages.
Getting into a fitness routine, pushing yourself, and reaching your goals takes a lot of time and energy, as well as a big commitment to yourself and your health. So when your health suffers, either through an injury or an illness, it can really set you back and put you right back at square one.
Feeling like you’ve got to start over with your fitness is a common feeling, and it can really affect your confidence. Whether you feel like you can’t do it or that things are harder than they used to be, it’s important to get back on that horse. Exercise will help improve your physical health and boost your mental health, and it can be a welcome part of your routine once you’ve found your feet again.
Here is some advice to help you regain the confidence to work out when you’ve suffered a setback.
While it’s understandable that you’ll want to be back where your fitness used to be, it isn’t going to happen overnight. If you try to move too quickly, you could end up injured or losing further confidence from not getting the same results as you once did.
Start by setting yourself some manageable fitness goals, aims you can work towards slowly, helping you to regain technique and basic fitness first. From increasing the times of your workouts to making it to the gym a certain number of times a week, start with goals that are realistic before building up to bigger ones.
Choose workout clothes that help your performance
The workout clothes you wear can help you feel more confident about working out. You should choose items that are comfortable, supportive, and can help keep you cool too. Treating yourself to some new outfits will help you feel in a better mindset for working out. Brands are more attune to the different needs of people now, so you can find great selections for curvier shapes, as well as amputee leggings and other items that can help give you a boost. Always make sure you have the right type of shoes for your workout to make sure you’re better protected against injury.
Ease yourself in, and consider working with someone else
Fitness is something that needs to be built up over time. So if you’re getting back into things after a long period away, ease yourself in gently. Walking and swimming can be gentle, effective exercises to start until you’re feeling fitter and stronger. Take a look at fitness plans from others in your position to see how they’ve eased themselves back into exercise.
It can also help if you work out with someone else, such as a friend or personal trainer who can help make sure you’ve got the right form to prevent injury, as well as help you train as needed.
If, for any reason, you feel pain – stop! Consult your doctor or take a rest to stop yourself from overdoing things.
Exercise is something that can help you begin to feel a semblance of normality, helping you form a routine and get back into activities that you once enjoyed. Take it slow, put your health first, and soon you’ll see your confidence creeping back up as you start to reach your goals once more.
It’s no surprise that living a healthier life is associated with better self-esteem and less stress. But how do you get started on the journey to lead a more healthy lifestyle? The first step, like any other goal worth pursuing, is to set achievable goals for yourself. This blog post will introduce three changes in your daily habits that are guaranteed to help you live a healthier life!
It’s no surprise that drinking water instead of soda will lead to a healthier lifestyle! When you drink sugary drinks like pop, your body gets an energy high followed by an inevitable crash. Consuming too many sugar-filled pops can also cause tooth decay and weight gain, which are both sure ways not to live healthily! Drinking more water is a much better idea – it has none of the unhealthy sugars or calories found in sugary drinks like pop. And as always, if you’re thirsty, try reaching for some H20 before any other beverage even crosses your lips!
In addition, water helps your body digest food better, so the more water you drink regularly, the fewer digestive problems will be present. Lastly, drinking too many sodas can increase blood pressure and risk of kidney stones – which are two things no one wants!
Eat Nutrient Food
You eat well when you’re not hungry! So the first lifestyle change we want to discuss is the idea of eating nutritious food. Eating nutrient-rich foods will provide your body with all the vitamins and minerals it needs for good health, as well as energy – more here. But what does that mean? Foods are considered “nutrient-rich” if they contain essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, or zinc- a lot of fruits and vegetables fit this category!
So what are some nutrient-rich foods? Foods that contain a lot of calcium include broccoli, spinach, or milk. Potassium-rich food includes apricots, avocados, and bananas. And zinc-rich foods include oysters, meat, or beans – So when you’re starting to feel hungry at night, instead of reaching for the chips, try eating a banana or an apricot.
Exercise Regularly
The last change in lifestyle we want to discuss is the idea of exercising. Your body needs movement, and your muscles need exercise! The benefits are clear- physical activity can help you lose weight, improve mood, decrease pain or feel better about yourself. It may seem daunting at first, but once you make it a habit, there’s no going back – here’s why:
Exercising regularly will keep you healthy now and as you age- which is worth working for! Regular workouts strengthen your muscles (helping with posture) and increase muscle mass, boost levels of anti-aging hormones such as testosterone, and lessen depression symptoms because regular activities release endorphins that promote feelings of well-being.
We hope this article has helped explain the benefits of leading a healthier lifestyle. The changes outlined here are small, achievable goals that can have such an enormous impact on your day-to-day happiness – so what better reason do you need to start living healthier today?
This mask is multi-tasking magic! Cacao powder is high in antioxidants that protect and feed the skin, producing a healthy glow. Yogurt provides a form of lactic acid which acts as both a gentle exfoliator and a hydrating skin soother. Raw honey is a natural humectant that boosts hydration and balances bacteria. The proteins in the egg white help tighten and firm.
Getting rid of an old car can be quite a hassle. Most people will consider selling it, but that mostly means spending more money to make the old car ‘buyable’ at least. That includes things like changing minor repairs, deep cleaning, changing the oil, body spray, etc., and even these do not guarantee a ready buyer. So, what is the best way to get rid of a car you cannot sell? Here are a few options available to you.
Contacting a junk removal company is one of the best decisions you can make to get rid of your old car more efficiently. There is also the potential of an added benefit of cash for scrap car pick up. Companies that are ready to pay you for your junk typically end up selling the car parts or whole for scrap metal. You might be tempted to sell it as junk yourself, but this can be time-consuming, and you might not even make something close to what you’ll get if you call a junk removal company.
Try recycling it
You should also consider recycling the car, especially if it is no longer drivable. Instead of dumping it at the car scrap where it might remain for years (and adversely affect the environment), you can opt for a more eco-friendly solution and recycle it. You can take the time to find out if you have such recycling programs or options where you live. Oh, and you may be able to walk away with a few bucks with this option too.
Selling your junk yourself
This option is time-consuming, but it can be risky if you do not know the proper steps. First, you should decide on a fair price. Remember, the higher the price, the less chance of finding a buyer. To determine the right price, you need to evaluate the state of the vehicle. If you don’t know how to go about it, you can always seek the assistance of an experienced mechanic. Next, get the correct paperwork to sell your junk car, from the title and bill of sale to the record of maintenance. Finally, take pictures of the vehicle and create an online listing to attract potential buyers.
Another thing you might want to consider is trading in your car for another one instead of selling it -that is, if you want a new car. Depending on where you live, you should find some vehicle dealers ready to open negotiations with you.
Donate your car to charity
Maybe you want a new car or don’t need the extra bucks. Perhaps, you’re finding it difficult to find a recycling plant. Then perhaps you might want to consider donating your junk to charity. Before you start thinking there’s no value in your car to consider donating it, think about how it will contribute to society. You will receive a tax receipt from the charity organization, which you can use when preparing your income taxes the following year.
Applying for a mortgage is a dream many Americans hold. Being able to live your life or raise a family in your home offers security and stability in a way that renting can’t always offer you.
While there are many pros and cons to homeownership, especially with demand currently outstripping supply in the US right now, knowing when you are ready to purchase in more ways than just financially can help you make that next step.
How do you know you are ready to buy your own home?
Your Finances Are In Order
Your credit score is the key that can open the door to homeownership or keep it firmly locked for now. Ideally, your credit score should be over 800 for the best rates and terms, so make sure your finances are in order, you have paid down your debt, and make the most of the credit available to you.
Look at the Mortgage Lending Products available for you to make an informed choice of your options and what your repayment schedule will likely be once you have been accepted for your mortgage.
You Can Afford The Downpayment
Saving for a downpayment can greatly increase your chances of being accepted for a mortgage. The more you can put down, the more favorable you will look to the lenders.
You Can Afford The Fees
There are many different types of fees and payments associated with buying a house, and when you close on a sale, you will be required to pay predetermined fees such as survey fees, closing costs, arrangement fees, insurance, and so on.
You Can Afford Home Owner Fees
While your mortgage payments may be comparable to what you are currently paying in rent, the mortgage repayments aren’t the only payments you need to make when buying a house.
Fees include;
Property taxes
Insurance
HOA (homeowner’s association) fees
City assessments
Water, sewer, and/or garbage
Other utilities your landlord may currently cover in your rental payment
You Are Ready to Settle Down
Unlike renting, where you can move once your lease is up when you buy a home, you need to sell your home to move. Renting affords people the option not to be committed to property or giving in the same area for a long time. If you are ready to stop and settle down and put some thought into your future, then it can be a good indicator that you are ready for the responsibility of buying your own home.
You Can Afford The Upkeep
One of the massive benefits of renting your home is that major repairs are someone else’s problem. Hole in the roof? All the landlord’s problems. Damp and mold in your rooms? Landlords problem and so on. When you own a home, all of these issues you might not have considered before are now your problem.
Replacing kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling if required, or even ripping out flooring and rearranging the layout are all costs you will need to pay should you undertake this type of work.
If you have the income to put towards the upkeep of your home and keep it in good condition, then you are well placed on the responsibilities of owning your home.
I used to be a person who was terrified of ever dropping the ball.
In the US, the term “drop the ball” has very negative connotations. It means you’ve failed to take action or failed to do something you were supposed to do. And by dropping the ball, you often end up disappointing the other people in your life.
I used to feel it was very important to keep all of my balls constantly in the air, whether those balls were my job, my family or the responsibilities in the rest of my life. Plus, as a Black woman, I felt like my dropping the ball had bigger implications especially at work. I worried, “If I mess this up, they’re never going to hire another Black person again.”
What happened to me was I came to a life-changing moment where I wasn’t able to keep all of my balls in the air and I wasn’t able to do everything beautifully and perfectly. For me, it was the birth of my first child, but for other people, it could be almost anything else — a diagnosis; you finally get the promotion of your dreams and realize it’s harder to be the boss than you thought; or a pandemic that’s hit the entire globe.
No one called to tell me they didn’t love me anymore, I didn’t lose my job, and no one came to arrest me because I had unpaid parking tickets.
After I dropped my balls, I had an epiphany.
Which was this: Even though my balls were rolling all over the floor, the world didn’t end. No one called to tell me they didn’t love me anymore, I didn’t lose my job, and no one came to arrest me because I had unpaid parking tickets.
So I started to question why so many of us feel so much pressure to deliver constantly and at a very high level all of the time. Maybe what we really need to do is drop the unrealistic expectations about how we always need to have it all together.
I decided to reappropriate the term “dropping the ball” and now it means “doing less and achieving more”.
Dropping the ball in this way involves three steps: 1. Getting clear about what matters most to you; 2. Figuring out what you hope to achieve and how your highest and best use can help you get there; 3. Engaging other people in your journey.
Let me break them down for you.
At your funeral, what would you want a friend, a family member or a coworker to say about you?
The first and most effective step requires you to get clear about what matters most to you and your life. One of the most powerful exercises I like to do was made popular by Stephen Covey in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. For the exercise, you imagine the end of your life and your eulogy. I know this seems sad or depressing, but given that a lot of people around the globe are losing their lives to this virus, it’s actually a prescient thing to do.
So at your funeral, what would you want a friend, a family member or a coworker to say about you? You probably wouldn’t want them to stand up and say: “She got a lot of things done on her to-do list every day.” Instead, you probably want them to say something about the impact you had on the world.
Ask 10 people to tell you about a time when they’ve experienced you at your best, what are the things you do well with little effort, and what are the things that only you can do.
The second step involves focusing on what you hope to achieve in the important areas of your life — and how your highest and best use can help you get there. While my career is important to me, what really matters in that sphere is that I’m working to advance women and girls in the world. My marriage is important, but what really matters is that I’m nurturing a healthy partnership. My kids are obviously important, but what really matters is that I’m raising conscious global citizens.
After that, you can move on to what you should be doing and how you put your particular abilities and skills — what I call your highest and best use — to work to accomplish those goals. If you’re thinking “I don’t know what my highest and best use is”, one great exercise to identify it is to talk to the people in your life.
Ask 10 people who’ve known you in different parts of your time on this planet to tell you about a time when they’ve experienced you at your best, what are the things you do well with little effort, and what are the things that only you can do. Then listen to what they say. If you can transcribe their responses — amazing! After you have them down on paper, circle words, phrases and themes that keep coming up or that really resonate for you.
You can’t just drop the ball and not let anyone know — I’ve tried this and it doesn’t work.
The third step involves enlisting other people in your journey. You need to get the people in your life on board with you dropping the ball. You can’t just drop the ball and not let anyone know — I’ve tried this and it doesn’t work.
Let’s start with your boss, because that’s usually the person for which people push back and tell me, “There’s no way I can drop the ball with her.” But you can.
When you talk to her, use a strategy that I call “leading with the forest and then getting into the trees”. This means appealing to what really matters to someone else. For bosses, what matters most are usually the outcomes and results that they want their team members to achieve in a given period of time.
When you consciously drop the ball at home, I think you’ll discover that the expectations you hold for yourself are so much higher than those held by the people who love you.
Let’s say you’ve decided your highest use in your career is establishing meaningful collaborations and you want to spend more time doing this. You could frame your request to your boss by saying something like “I feel like if I spent more time with the clients and a little bit less time on the administrative side, I could get our company to its strategic goal. Are you open to a conversation about how I might be able to reprioritize things and potentially give some opportunities to someone else on the team so we can hit the mark?”
Then if a colleague is going to feel the impact of you deciding to drop the ball, you need to be proactive and go to them and say, “Hey, I just want to let you know I’m playing with an idea. I know it sounds scary, but I actually think it’s going to increase my productivity and the productivity of the team. I want to tell you in advance about what I’m going to be doing, so we can have a conversation about how it might impact you and make sure you’re not feeling any negative effects.” Proactive communication like this is critical.
In terms of dropping the ball at home, what’s really important is to come to any family conversations with grace and humility. Admit what they’ve already experienced — they’ve probably had to deal with you being overwhelmed and you being stressed and the repercussions of this pressure.
A conversation with your kids might go like this: “I know this seems like a strange conversation I’m having with you, but I really want to be a good mom. I’ve been feeling extremely overwhelmed and stressed, and I feel like there’s all these things I have on my list I need to do to be a good mom. Because I can’t do them, it’s making me have a short temper. Sometimes I know I yell at you guys when I don’t mean to. I feel like it would be better if I could focus on what you feel is most important for me to be a good mom. Could we talk about what those top three things are? I was also hoping I might be able to engage you guys to do a couple of things around the house — this would really help me be my best self.”
Every time you stop doing the things that don’t align with your highest purpose, you’re modeling this behavior — and humility and vulnerability — for others.
Those of us who are perfectionists will want to continue doing everything to the best of our abilities — even when it makes us crazy or exhausted. But when you consciously drop the ball at home, I think you’ll discover that the expectations you hold for yourself are so much higher than those held by the people who love you and are around you. You can minimize your to-do list simply by asking your loved ones what’s most important to them.
Keep this in mind: When you drop the ball openly and thoughtfully in the different areas of your life, you won’t only be benefiting yourself. You’ll be helping everyone around you too. Every time you show your limitations, focus on using your unique gifts and stop doing the things that don’t align with your highest purpose, you’re modeling this behavior — and humility and vulnerability — for others. And that’s something we need more of in this world.
This post was adapted from a recent LinkedIn Live conversation with Tiffany Dufu, founder and CEO of The Cru, a peer coaching platform aimed at diverse, mid-career women. Apply to join now and receive one month free from an annual membership when you mention LinkedIn as a referral. To learn more, email contact@thecru.com
Mash an avocado thoroughly with 1/2 teaspoon of honey and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. The avocado moisturizes the skin, while the honey and lemon work in tandem, making the skin brighter. At the end of a 20-minute session,, the skin appears more nourished with a radiant glow.
Benefits
Great for treating sensitive, dry, or acne-prone skin.
Loaded with nourishing fatty acids, vitamin A, C, and E. Helps regenerate cells for clearer and firmer skin. Softens and absorbs without clogging pores.
Helps to calm, soothe, and hydrate dry, cracked skin. Can help to unclog pores naturally and relax nerves, promoting deeper sleep. Great for all skin types.
Kaolin Clay
Naturally stimulates circulation, allowing toxins to be cleaned from pores. Gently sloughs away dead skin, absorbs impurities from pores, and leaves skin feeling clearer and softer without overdrying.
Turmeric
Naturally restores and calms sensitive skin. High in antioxidants, it is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiseptic, helping greatly with skins conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
Colloidal Oatmeal
Relieves itchiness and irritation of extremely dry skin. It helps heal delicate skin and forms a protective barrier to lock in moisture. Ideal for eczema, psoriasis, and inflamed acne.
Seaweed
Naturally tones and detoxifies skin. High in antioxidants. Renews skin cells, increases elasticity, and restores smoothness. Reduces redness and irritation in hypersensitive skin.
Propolis
Packed with antioxidants and bacteria-fighting agents, can help with acne and aging. Smooths and soothes red, irritated skin as it speeds up cell growth, promoting plumper, firmer skin.
Evening Primrose Oil
Highly moisturizing and repairing, helps smooth aging skin and promote elasticity. Protects skin from environmental stressors.
As we age, everything that was once taken for granted will become more difficult. Often, friends and family will need to step in and care for you.
If a loved one of yours needs to be looked after, then it may seem like the right thing to do to take care of them. But before you do decide to take care of someone in this way, it is important that you consider everything that is involved in caring for elderly relatives. Elder-care is more than a full-time job, and it will be both emotionally and physically challenging.
Here is everything you should think about when taking care of an elderly relative.
One of the most important aspects of caring for an elderly relative is that you’ll need to make sure that they are taking any medication that they are on when they need to. They may be on several different medications for a variety of different conditions. Make sure you know about their medical conditions and understand what the medication is for. In addition, you should get to know more about the medication, including:
When the medication needs to be taken
What dosage do they require
When you can order repeat prescriptions
You may be required to administer their medication or to check each day to ensure it has been taken.
Carrying Out Housework
If the elderly relative that you are caring for has limited mobility, then you may need to help them with their housework. While this may mean carrying out major tasks such as cleaning the whole house, it may also involve smaller tasks such as washing the dishes.
Assisting With Mobility
Since mobility is a problem for many older people, there are risk factors that you should be aware of. You may need to supervise or provide mobility aids to help them get about their day without having any slips, trips, or falls.
Make sure that the home environment is safe for them. This could involve making sure that the house is free from clutter, that the walkways are clear, that there are handrails throughout the home, that there is a stairlift in place, that walkers or wheelchairs are available as needed.
This wheelchair guide will talk you through finding the right wheelchair for the relative that you are caring for.
You should go through the house and identify any potential risks and make the necessary changes.
You’ll Need a Bathing Routine
Personal hygiene and health go hand-in-hand. Wherever possible, you should ensure that the relative that you’re caring for has some sense of independence when it comes to bathing and washing. To achieve this, you could provide handrails in the bathroom, along with baths and showers that are easily accessible.
When someone is unable to clean themselves, you will need to help them. Creating a bathing and washing routine is essential. This will ensure your loved one will stay clean all of the time. This will be even more important if your relative is either bed-bound or incontinent, as sores may form if you don’t keep proper hygiene.
You’ll Need to Cook for Your Relative
Unless your elderly relative is able to cook themselves, you will very likely to do this on their behalf every day. Make sure that you provide a healthy balanced diet that is not only varied, but that is also interesting. Make sure that mealtimes are something to look forward to.
If you want to save yourself some time, you may want to batch cook some meals so that these can be quickly reheated another day.
You May Need To Lift Your Relative
If the person that you are caring for has mobility issues, then it will be essential that you help them to get around. To do this, you may need to lift them up. If this is something that you need to do, ensure you do it safely and consider your own body. Make sure that you are not putting yourself at risk at all.
There may be lifting equipment that you can buy that will help you to lift your loved one safely. There may also be courses that you can take that teach you safe lifting and handling.
You’ll Need To Help Your Relative To Exercise
It is essential that you help keep your elderly relative as active as possible. Even if your elderly relative has mobility problems, there will be some exercises that they can do. This may just mean doing simple movements with their arms and feet. Find some basic routines that they can complete. Join in with the exercises with them to make them feel more at ease while they’re doing them.
You Will Need To Run Errands
There will often be errands that need to be run. If your elderly relative is unable to do them, you will need to do them on their behalf. This may mean going to the shop, paying bills for them, returning their library books, and much more. Try to maintain a routine so that you can easily keep up with the required errands.
There May Be Hospital Procedures
If your relative needs to go into the hospital for a procedure, you’ll need to be there to help them out with their aftercare. Make sure that you’re there to speak with the doctor and find out what you’ll need to do in terms of caring for them after the procedure. You will also need to ensure they are able to attend any follow-up appointments.
Providing End of Life Care
One of the hardest things that you’ll need to deal with is the end of life care. It will be important that you know exactly when you should call a hospice.
With all the best intentions, there will be times when caring for someone that you are close to will get to be too much for you. Make sure that you take a break whenever possible, and build a support network around yourself.
Not all, but a lot of the older people in our lives are going to need some kind of help in getting the care they need. This has always been a concern of younger generations, but now there are more elderly than ever, so we need to take a closer look at the options available to us, their shortcomings, their benefits, and which are most likely for us. Here, we’re going to look at three primary options for the care of your elderly loved one, how to choose the option that best fits your needs, and how to make it work for you.
It’s an option that is becoming more common as fewer people can afford the kind of care they might need for a loved one. However, providing that care yourself is a big risk factor. Carer burnout is a real risk for those who don’t research how to provide adequate care for their loved ones. Respite care services can help you get a little break here and there so you have time to focus on your own needs, too. Don’t neglect to look at what kind of financial aid there is available for carers, either.
Care in the home
Perhaps the most widely sought-after option of all is to get a carer that can either spend time in the home with your loved one or even live with them on a full-time basis. This is the most financially demanding option, but it’s also one that should be chosen with care. It’s important to look for a home nurse that not only provides all of the physical assistance that your loved one needs, but also provides companionship and conversation as best as possible. Isolation is one of the greatest health risks to the elderly, putting them more at risk of anxiety, dementia, and even premature death. As such, it’s important to choose services that offer them the company that they need, not just the practical needs.
Finding the right community
One of the options that probably sparks the most concern or at least second thoughts, is the notion of having your loved one live in a nursing home. However, there are plenty of different types of assisted living communities out there, including ones that offer access to holistic health care, such as art therapy, field trips, and the like. It is important to do research into the kind of community that your older loved one is joining and to be aware of the risks of neglect, doing your research into the care standards, and any past trouble of the operations that you might be taking a look at.
Most important of all is that, if you’re entrusting the care of your loved one to professionals, you still need to be present in their lives. First of all, they need someone who can provide contact and companionship on a more personal level. Second of all, they’re more vulnerable, so they need someone watching out for their interests.
Today, the idea of aging in place (also known as aging at home) is gaining a lot of significance, especially among the older population. According to the National Council on Aging, nine out of ten senior citizens prefer to continue living in their own homes over the next five to ten years. Many such seniors based their reason on their need to be among people they already know. This makes a case for aging in place relatively easy. However, there are a lot of challenges and necessary changes that should be taken care of.
If you are concerned about what difficulties you or your loved ones might face, or the mistakes that might be made when aging in place, this article will help you deal with them in advance.
Not having an early discussion with loved ones about your preferences
Many adults wait until it is a little too late to have a conversation with their loved ones about their future needs and preferences- creating a lack of planning. Planning helps keep track of your preferences and needs while ensuring they are met. It is better to discuss your living arrangement preferences ahead of time so that your loved ones can help you live the comfortable life you want in your old age.
The unfortunate truth is that, as you grow older, your body is no longer able to do certain things it used to – making the option to live independently in your old age inadvisable. Some people try to cope by turning down any form of help offered to them, whether in tools or services. For many adults, the mere thought of any kind of senior care makes them feel embarrassed and helpless – which should not be the case. Rather than being fixed on your preference of aging in place, accept your lifestyle challenges, and seek other options that would be beneficial to you.
Not making preparations for various possibilities
Almost nothing is certain in life, and disasters may strike at any time. Unfortunately, many adults fail to plan and make preparations for different possible scenarios. This lack of planning can bring more stress due to knee-jerk reactions to unexpected situations.
Take time to write down all the possible ‘what ifs.’ Doing this should cover possibilities such as who will take care of you if you lose your ability to decide for yourself or lose mobility. Next, create a plan of action for all those possibilities with the help of your loved ones.
Not having financial plans
Studies show that many American adults do not have any financial plan in place for old age. This makes the issue of money more complicated when they need their finances the most. Many also fail to create a will or have a power of attorney in place. It is best to seek a financial planner’s advice concerning how to handle money to be financially stable during old age. Fortunately, making such plans is now easier than ever, thanks to the digital age. Alternatively, you can also sit down with your loved ones to go through what your options are.
Not being proactive with in-home security
We have already mentioned how disaster can strike at any time without warning. Unfortunately, most adults have not put any proactive measures in place for accidents at home. For example, as we grow older, our bodies can no longer handle falls and other accidents at home very well. It is essential to take proactive steps when it comes to your safety at home. For example, you should take the time to identify any form of potential hazard and provide solutions. Ensure that you have the right tools at home, you’re always well clothed, and can move about in your home with ease.
This is why it is essential to try to be as self-sufficient as you can be, even when you have someone around to give you a helping hand. While this will take a lot of effort, it will also help you build the knowledge and skills required to live alone in your home. Where possible, also have some family members or friends around to help you.
lookingforthelight.blog 