Category: Health and Wellbeing
Wuhan Style
This video is for a serious cause bought to you by International Pain Foundation (iPain).
Go For Wuhan Style – Dr. Li – Coronavirus Hero – Dr. Li Wenliang was a Chinese ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central hospital. He was the first to share warnings of the COVID-19 Coronavirus on December 30th, 2019. He was detained by police for “making false comments on the Internet” but was later released and went back to caring for his patients, which led to himself contracting the virus. Dr. Li died of the disease on February 7th, 2020. He showed true care and love for his patients, suffering with them at the cost of his own life.
This video is from Dr. Lin who died from complications of the COVID 19 virus. Serious topic in a dance-friendly video. Must watch.
https://youtu.be/O2CuKCPSyXg
Melinda
DetoxRehabs.Net Added to My Organizations Who Can Help Page
August 31st is Overdose Awareness Day and I can’t think of a better resource to add to the growing list on my Organizations Who Can Help Page.
At DetoxRehabs.net, we provide expert information for individuals and families struggling to find recovery by vetting and researching rehab centers. Our site makes it easy to find the top five centers in your home state or out of state. We also provide information for different community needs, such as help for our veterans, LGBTQ+ friendly programs, free or Medicaid accepting treatment, and pet-friendly facilities.
We recognize the importance of educating yourself during your recovery journey, and so we pride ourselves in providing free educational guides that answer questions such as:
- Can Marijuana Treat Postnatal Depression?
- Telltale Symptoms of Children Using Drugs
- How to Identify the Early Signs of Mental Health Issues
Katherine Clarke
Community Outreach
DetoxRehabs.net
Please check them out or any of the other organizations that may be able to help with what you or a loved one is struggling with.
Melinda
Warning Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect to Look Out for
Child abuse and neglect is a heartbreaking reality that affects many people. Unfortunately, it can be tough to spot the signs of child abuse or neglect.
The list below contains some warning signs that you should watch out for if you suspect someone might be abusing their child. The blog post discusses all the different types of warning signs of child abuse and neglect to look out for.
Children can get abused due to various reasons. For instance, a child living with a foster family is more likely to be in this situation. Besides, inheritance disputes among families on what children should inherit can often lead to abuse. If this happens, ensure you consult with an estate lawyer for the way forward regarding property allocation.
Anger and Hostility
Suppose a parent is very hostile or angry with the child and this behavior occurs relatively often. In that case, it may indicate that something more serious could also be happening, like physical abuse of their children. The frequency of explosive anger episodes can increase over time and become worse if not appropriately addressed by family members or professionals.
School Absenteeism
Another way to see this is when a student misses school frequently or starts skipping class. This could happen for various reasons. Such include bullying at school, homesickness while away from their parents, and being embarrassed to go in front of the whole classroom because they are struggling with an assignment.
The key here is to pay attention and be aware of changes in a student’s attendance which may indicate that something else is going on in their life.
Depression and Anxiety
Children getting abused or neglected often experience depression and anxiety, which can manifest in many ways, including problems with concentration, withdrawal from social situations, nightmares after the incident, and difficulty sleeping.
They might also seem unusually fearful when going to bed at night or seem overly compliant with adults. The child’s anxiety around specific activities or objects may be a sign they recall past abuse.
Eating More Than Usual at a Meal
This is a sign of self-neglect. When people are experiencing emotional or physical abuse, they may feel that their needs don’t matter and stop taking care of themselves. It can also happen when someone in the family has an eating disorder (such as bingeing).
It’s essential to be aware when one child eats more than the others or eats more than usual. This could be a sign of child abuse and neglect!
Fear in Their Eyes
The fear in a child’s eyes is something that every parent or caregiver should watch out for. If you notice the eyes looking at you with terror, it may be time to have someone else look into what is going on behind closed doors.
Parenting is a difficult job, but many resources can help take some of the weight off. For example, the use of an online resource like Childline may be able to provide valuable information about abuse and neglect in your community. You might also want to consider speaking with someone at your local school or preschool. Additionally, it would help if you considered asking the child directly about their well-being.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Introducing Lin Health, A New Way Forward In Pain Management
I’m excited to introduce you to Lin Health. They are a Pain Management platform like no other. This is not your average app, Lin Health offers you one-on-one support with a trained Health Coach who you talk with on a regular basis. She is intimately familiar with your health and medical background thru their support systems and groundbreaking questionaries. They are also HIPPA compliant.
Lin Health has a great introductory offer for just $10.00 for your first month, see below for all the details.
How does Lin Health help you manage and improve your pain levels and in turn improve your life?
- Virtual Meetings with a trained Pain Management Physician
- A Personal coach
- Customized recommendations based on the information garnered thru the process
- Streamline Processes, best in class remote solutions
- A partnership with SteadyMD for Telehealth
There is hope
70% of Lin members improved their ability to reduce their pain when it arises. And within three months of joining Lin, 66% of users report that pain now interferes less in their lives.*
What’s on the platform?
- Personal coaching for pain management
- Care coordination
- Personal care plan
- Dedicated primary care MD
- Specialty care consultation
- Digital health tools
- Proven pain relief devices
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Sleep, Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD tools
Terri Leitchy Lead Coach
I signed up with Lin Health to better understand the platform and the service commitment made by the company. The process was thorough and they asked detailed questions to truly understand not only your pain and chronic health conditions but you as an individual.
After signing up and completing a few steps I received a text from Terri the Health Coach welcoming me to the platform and she encouraged me to schedule my face-to-face meeting with her. After your face-to-face meeting, you check back in on a regular basis to discuss questions and the next steps.
Lin health is a one-stop platform for all of your Chronic Pain needs, including medical support via Telehealth, prescriptions, personalized coaching, and a wealth of online tools to help you reach your best self.
Here are a few quotes from people who are using Lin Health.
“Lin has saved my life over this past month”
“I’m learning to rename my pain, and it is taking some of the fear out of it. I worry less about it escalating or that it will turn into something bad”
“Not having a migraine is pretty cool, because I’ve had those all my life… I haven’t had one in 2 weeks! For me, that’s a great improvement”
Current Special
Join now for just $10 for your first month and see what all Lin Health has to offer, then it’s only $49.00 a month. The benefits of joining are limitless and you can cancel at any time.
I highly recommend anyone with Chronic Pain conditions to visit the Lin Health website to see what they can offer you. I know you will be impressed and glad you joined the Lin Health family.
Melinda
Happy 81st Birthday Daddy
Before I was nine years old there were good memories and those are the ones I chose to hang onto.
We would go to the local store and buy RC Cola’s and drink in the parking lot singing to the radio, belting out Charlie Pride Kiss An Angel Good Morning, then taking our bottles back in for our 10 cent deposit.
You taught me how to ride my bike at four years old. I remember looking back with pride right before running into the telephone pole.
You would play Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis Presley on the record player and we would dance the night away.
You worked extra jobs when I was little and you would come home very late from the grocery store with sacks of dented can goods. I would help you put them away in the pantry.
I’m sure there are other memories that have been lost in time, or I hope there are.
The rest of the memories get very dark as you fall deeper and deeper into Mental Illness and took your life by suicide at age 52.
I hope you are at peace.
Melinda
4 Alternatives To A Residential Care Home You Might Want To Consider
Are you thinking about moving to a residential care facility? You could even be considering this choice for a loved one. If so, then there are a few alternatives that you might want to think about first.
Downsizing
When you consider long-term care, it’s important to understand why you might need this option. For a lot of people, it’s going to be tied to the fact that they are no longer in a position where they can easily manage and maintain their homes. That’s understandable as maintaining a home – particularly a larger one – will require a high level of mobility and motor control. You might not be in this type of position anymore. But rather than moving to long-term care, you could downsize. You can move to a home that is smaller and is more comfortable for you.
Retirement Community
Or, you might want to consider going to a retirement community. Heading to a retirement community will provide a lot of the same benefits as long-term care. But, they will offer more independence than the typical care facilities can provide. A retirement community might have healthcare assistance and support on-site, but the main focus will always be on providing a safe and friendly place where you can grow old. A key benefit will be that you will be around people your age. This is going to make it easier to socialize on your terms.
Care At Home
Instead of heading to a residential care home, you could also think about options for care at home. In-home care is useful if you are not ready to say goodbye to the home where you raised your family just yet. It can provide you with a way to stay in familiar surroundings while getting the full support that you need. With in-home care options, you can guarantee that you can have someone around who can help you complete maintenance tasks and ensure that you have the resources you need to socialize with people outside the property too.
Living With Family
Or finally, you might want to consider moving in with a family member. This will usually be your son or daughter and their family. It can be great if you are close with your kids and want to spend more time with your extended family like your grandchildren. Some children will be more than happy to rearrange their homes to fit your needs. However, you do need to be aware that you will be putting your family under pressure. Particularly, if you require specific care needs that they will then need to provide. This is often combined with an in-home support choice.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key alternatives to a residential care home that you might want to keep in mind whether you are choosing the right option for you or your loved one. If you make the right decision here, you will be able to make the most out of your twilight years.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
You’ve Adapted Your Home For Retirement, What Next?
Retirement is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, but that can only happen when the right preparations are in place. Adapting your home to meet changing mobility needs is the perfect starting point. However, you still need to do more.
Use the following checklist and you won’t go wrong. Likewise, if you’re looking out for an elderly loved one, the tips below should provide guidance.
Find Ways To Retain Your Independence
One of the main reasons for wanting to stay in your home is to keep your independence. It’s not a luxury afforded to everyone as we all have unique needs. Those that do should not be confined to their property. It will create a very sad existence.
There are several ways to promote increased independence. Ensuring that chronic conditions won’t stop you from driving is a great feature. Meanwhile, joining social clubs or taking up a new hobby like golf can have a massive influence on your future.
Feeling in control of your life, particularly the social activities, will enhance your golden years. Frankly, it’s the very least that you deserve.
Ask For Help
Staying independent is great, but trying to do too much could be harmful. We all need a helping hand from time to time. If you require a little support around the home or in daily activities, it’s vital that you reach out for it.
The help could take many forms. Perhaps you need assisted living with a couple of visits per week. Whether it’s to complete cleaning duties, help prepare meals, or maintain the garden doesn’t matter. Gaining the right help for you is all that matters.
Alternatively, you may find that you can benefit from seeing a mental health expert or having visits for companionship. Independence should never mean that you have to be lonely.
Manage Your Finances
Financial worries are among the most common problems experienced by seniors. First and foremost, you must learn to manage your pension and any other revenue. Likewise, outgoing must be tracked. Trimming the fat where possible is key.
Keeping your short-term finances in good health will impact your quality of life. However, you also want to think about loved ones and when you’re no longer here.
A probate attorney will help you get these issues under control. If nothing else, it’ll bring peace of mind
Money isn’t the most important thing in the world but you mustn’t overlook its impact on your life. Respect it, but don’t let it rule your life.
Find A Routine
There’s nothing worse than feeling as though your golden years are wasting away. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your life has a sense of routine and structure. Without it, you will always run the risk of feeling unfulfilled.
Daily, weekly, and monthly routines are great. However, you should also think about other goals. This is the perfect time to renew your bucket list and plan the things you want to do. From trying new activities to seeing new places, the benefits can be huge.
As humans, we all have a desire to achieve things. When your lifestyle is built around continued progress, your retirement will be far happier.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Updated Interview With Photographer Cindy Knoke
The Pandemic has changed everyone’s lives in so many ways that I wanted to check in with Cindy and see how she is coping with the Pandemic and how it has had an impact on her travels.
I’ve updated the post to include more of my favorite photos.
A little about Cindy’s background.
Cindy is a trained psychotherapist and had a thirty-year career as a therapist and mental health director. She retired early to travel and that is when she started paying more attention to taking photos. On Cindy’s first trip to Africa, I took photos as usual with those throw-away cameras you could buy in drugstores.
My husband was the family photographer and had a decent, but not pricey, Canon camera. He looked at my photos, said they were better than his, gave me his camera, and showed me how it worked…… That is the extent of my photography training.
How has the Pandemic, from a time and photography standpoint changed your life?
The pandemic has dramatically changed my life as it has for everyone. Going from traveling 4+ months every year to being mostly housebound, and taking care of my two-year-old twin grandsons while their parents work, is quite a change.
How many publications have you been published in and which ones?
My photos do end up all over the place, but I don’t keep track of where. People/magazines and even businesses are good about asking if they can use my photos and I am always pleased when they do. I don’t enter contests or submit to professional journals. Actually, that’s not entirely true, I did enter The Nature Conservancy photo contest about a decade ago when I first started taking photos and made it into the finals which shocked the bejeezus out of me. I was using a really cheap camera!! ;) Most of my photos are taken with a Sony HX 400 which costs under $300.
Have you traveled stateside lately?
We did some limited stateside traveling after we were vaccinated and before the Delta variant messed everything up. We traveled up the California coast and into Oregon. We stayed in the desert. We are renting a beach house at the end of the month with the kids and grand twins, but no travel by plane or out of the US. I miss traveling viscerally.
How many future trips do you have planned at this time? What are some of the locations you are traveling to?
Antarctica is still on the books for a return trip in January. It was canceled this year. It looks very unlikely that we will go due to Delta, and the fact that many of the countries we would be traveling through are being overwhelmed by covid. I do wonder if/when life will ever return to the way it was before.
Has COVID-19 changed your life?
I am certainly much closer to my grandsons than I would have been before the pandemic. My daughter and son-in-law relocated their family from The Bay Area and bought a house close to The Holler, and this has been a very positive change for all of us. But there is a lot we all have given up. Just going places locally without considering crowds, distance, and safety is a thing of the past. I am glad I live in The Holler because we are surrounded by nature and open space and that is a balm for me. The pandemic has dramatically changed my life as it has for everyone. Going from traveling 4+ months every year to being mostly housebound, and taking care of my two-year-old twin grandsons while their parents work, is quite a change.
Previous Interview
Cindy Knoke has traveled the world, to the most unusual off-the-beaten-path places you can imagine. Her photography is a window to the world. I asked Cindy a few questions to learn about her photography background and how she plans for the monumental trips.
At what age did you pick up your first camera? Did the world look different through the lens?
My first camera was a silly Swinger Polaroid camera which I got at around age 6. It had a jingle associated with it which I loved and remember verbatim today, “Meet the Swinger. Polaroid Swinger. Only 19 dollars and 95! Swing it up. It says Yes! Take the shot. Rip it off.” This was the essence of my photographic knowledge!! Laughing……. Here’s the jingle starring Ali McGraw:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7k2uwJmwxo
I had family members growing up who were talented photographers but I never even thought to be one of them and never had any cameras. In adulthood, my husband, Jim, was our photographer and had good cameras. I used to buy those throw-away cheap plastic cameras at drugstores for trips since I liked taking different photos than he did.
When we retired, we started dedicated chunks of travel time. Jim looked at my photos from the cheap camera, compared them to his, said, that I had something “special,” and gave me his camera a Canon, and showed me the basics on how to work it. That was my introduction to photography and it has been a serious joy in my life ever since. Jim is the person who encouraged and guided me to it for which I remain very grateful. He still encourages me to this day. I am not a trained photographer by any means, definitely self-taught and a hobbyist, not a professional.
What type of camera and software do you use now?
I use two cameras a Sony HX400 and a Sony RX10 V. I use the 400 the most due to its variable zoom up 1200mm equivalent. I also have a Sony underwater camera which I hope will have a chance to use during our upcoming trip to the Cook Islands.
What software package do you use for editing?
I use Sony Play Memories Home and Windows Photos. You travel extensively, how do you plan for each trip? Jim and I discuss, propose, and agree on where we want to go. We use the internet to do all the research and planning. I propose an itinerary and Jim tweaks it. We devise the modes of transport together although Jim takes the principal role here. I book the accommodations and Jim books the transport. Half of the fun we have in traveling is in the planning. When we are not traveling, we are planning!
How do you get access to the amazing Cathedrals and the intricacies of others visited?
We use the internet extensively. We research online before we go, and while we are traveling. Whilst traveling research for each specific locale is key to finding unusual places. Blogs are excellent travel resources leading us to interesting out-of-the-way places. Travel is so much more fun when you plan a trip according to your particular interests, and internet resources allow everyone to do this!
Thank you, bloggers!! Your posts improve my travel, and my life too, of course! Bloggers Rock!
You can visit Cindy’s blog at cindyknoke.com
You won’t forget the great places she’s been.
Here are a few of my favorite photos from her extensive collection.
Please be sure to check out Cindy’s extensive collection of photography and poems on her website.
Happy Snapping!
Melinda
The Keys to Long-Term Contentment
No one’s quite sure what the meaning of life is, but the pursuit of happiness seems to be as good a guess as any other. The issue is that while finding happiness on a short-term basis is possible, finding it on a long-term basis can be pretty elusive. It is not, however, impossible. Perhaps a good place to look for it is in contentment. If you’re content with yourself and the universe, then the happiness question will cease to be relevant. In this blog, we’re going to look at some key elements that’ll contribute to a content state of mind. Give them a try!
Feed the Good Wolf
We all know that we’re a mixture of good and bad seeds. The one that your water will be the one that you become. So make sure you feed the good wolf that lies within you! To do this, you just need to let go of the things that give you that warm fuzzy feeling and say goodbye to the ones that bring you down. This is tough for the first few weeks, but after that, your new way of being will just be who you are. And from there, you never know what it’ll lead to.
Planning Ahead
You’ll find it difficult to be at peace if you have loads of anxieties and worries. While you may never be able to get rid of those worries completely, you can blunt their influence. The best way to do that is to think of what problems could materialize in the future and then take steps to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of them happening. If you’re worried about what your future might look like because of financial matters related to your health, for instance, then you can work with a Medicaid planning law firm. They’ll help to put together a crisis plan that protects you in the coming years.
Making Connections
If you’ve ever seen the movie Into The Wild, then you’ll be familiar with the phrase “happiness is only real when shared.” And there’s every chance that this is the case. People can be annoying from time to time, sure, but life would be a lot more difficult without them in your life. So as you go through life, look at making connections and being there for others. It’ll give you a purpose in life, and studies have shown that having a purpose is something that leads to fulfillment. You can make connections on a simple friend basis, or you can make your commitment to others more formal by working with charitable organizations.
Moments of Joy
Life can be difficult, sure. But it’s important not to lose sight of all the joy in the world. It’s everywhere if you just look for it! All too often, people become cynical when they enter their later years. But there’s little value in taking that route. Instead, keep your fun spirit, have a good time, and don’t become jaded — it’ll be a tough battle, but one worth fighting.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Mind The Gap: What Parenting Looks Like Through The Haze Of Mental Illness
For many parents, conversations surrounding a teen’s mental health aren’t unusual, and there’s luckily now plenty of advice around how to deal with this increasingly common problem. Yet, when you do a blanket search on the internet, it becomes painfully obvious that there’s almost no advice of the same kind about parenting when you yourself are struggling with mental health issues.
This is an especially worrying omission when you consider that approximately 68% of women and 57% of men who experience mental illness also have children, while 15-23% of children have parents who are experiencing some kind of mental illness. Worse, representation of this issue in the media tends to be poorly portrayed and even suggests that mentally unwell parents can do real damage. As well as being drastically misplaced, this blame can worsen an already difficult situation, and it’s something we hope to help you overcome by considering a few healthy coping mechanisms to prevent your mental illness from ever becoming an issue for the wellbeing of your family.
Make a plan
Mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia can accumulate in a kind of ‘brain fog’ that makes concentration and daily tasks a challenge. This is a significant concern for parents who are worried about forgetting key aspects of parental care. To remove that pressure, many parents working through mental health find it useful to make a plan. Obviously, this plan should make way for large-scale things first, like estate planning with a family attorney not long after the birth, or even putting the wheels in motion for a home purchase, etc. Daily, planning things like meals, school pickup times, and even outfit choices can make it far easier to reassure yourself that you’re meeting your child’s needs, and to keep things on a steady level for your children no matter how bad you’re feeling.
Open communication at all times
The silence surrounding mental health is an increasingly worrying problem and never is that more the case than when parenting is concerned. Certainly, parents who worry about overwhelming their children avoid talking about their own mental health altogether, thus creating an ongoing cycle of silence. By speaking out about your struggles, not only do you ensure that your children are more likely to speak out if they experience the same, but also that they always understand what’s happening and why.
Embrace outside support
Outside support is also essential when things get difficult. Support groups and therapy sessions can prove invaluable for this purpose, providing a professional setting that your child can trust, but outside support networks including family and friend units can also provide a safe haven that’s going to make a huge difference to how your child is able to cope with different situations.
Mental illness makes life undeniably difficult, and parenting can certainly fall under that umbrella, but there’s nothing to say that a parent experiencing mental illness can’t still ensure a thriving, supportive, and even happy family environment by simply approaching the matter with these pointers in mind.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Poof – And They’re Gone! How To Deal With Money Worries
At some point in your life, you will likely encounter money worries. All sorts of things can trigger them, from losing your job to moving on from a relationship.
Money worries, however, shouldn’t be something that brings you down. It turns out that there are many ways to put yourself back in control, both by adjusting your thoughts and actions. Here’s what you need to do:
Focus On The Positive Aspects Of Your Finances
Many people are in the habit of only focusing on the negative aspects of their finances, without looking at the positives as well. It turns out, though, that there is usually something good or constructive to say about your money situation, even if there are problems in other areas.
Focusing on your positives could mean making the simple observation that you have a great job or that you have plenty of money in your savings account. Or you could have a nice big emergency fund that you can dip into at any time.
Get Rid Of Your Financial Shame
Many people have troubled financial histories. But that’s okay. There is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed. What’s happened is water under the bridge. Now, all you need to do is focus on moving your life forward.
If you still feel shame, then you can educate yourself on how to properly manage money. Learn as much as you can to find out where you are going wrong. Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference over a long time period.
Cover Yourself
People often get into financial difficulties when they fail to cover themselves from risks that they face, according to Cars Protection Plus. For instance, they don’t take out the warranties that they need to protect themselves if a product doesn’t work out the way they imagined.
The most important warranties are on cars. So if you buy a second-hand vehicle, make sure that you can take it back to the dealer if there are problems. Don’t ever make a large purchase unprotected. If you do, you could find yourself spending a fortune on service costs.
Create An Emergency Fund
Some people go through life living paycheck to paycheck. But this approach leads to nothing but pain and anxiety. Having no money in the bank means that every small thing that goes wrong really is a disaster.
Around 41 percent of people don’t have enough money to meet a $1,000 unexpected bill. But, unfortunately, bills of this size crop up all the time. Usually, there are workarounds. But, ideally, you would prefer to solve problems as they arise, instead of desperately looking for emergency solutions (or borrowing money).
Don’t Compare Yourself To Others Financially
Many of us are in a bad habit of comparing ourselves to others financially. We think that we need to have the same amount of wealth as social media influencers continually posting pictures of their sports cars and mansions on their accounts.
However, what other people have is irrelevant to your life. And, usually, you’re not seeing the full picture. (Many influencers have debt or simply borrow cars and homes to look wealthy, even when they are not).
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
The World Needs All Kinds Of Minds
Enjoy National Relaxation Day
This is a day I can get into any day! I hope you can take time yourself to enjoy some relaxing time by yourself or with family and friends.
Here are some great photos I found of relaxing to give you some ideas.
Enjoy your day!
Melinda
Book Review of Heal Yourself with Colour by Walaa AIMuhaiteeb
A special thank you to Maggie Dunne-Kirby and Welbeck Publishing Group for an advanced copy of Heal Yourself with Colour by Chromatologist Walaa AIMuhaiteeb.
Available at Trigger Hub
RECOMMENDED
About the Author
I’m a colour therapist and colour specialist – but just consider me your super-wise mentor and bestie who wants to help you get back in balance, find confidence and stop living on auto-pilot.
Does it seem like you can’t pick yourself up no matter what you do? You want to learn how to love and appreciate yourself, be able to deal with demanding situations and find joy and happiness again, but right now, you’re finding that challenging. Your energy has depleted, you can’t seem to overcome the difficult situations that you’re faced with and happiness has dangerously drained you.
I work with women who want to distance themselves from toxic relationships and the baggage they come with, open their heart to new love, feel refuelled, refreshed and calm, and appreciate themselves and everything that life has to offer.
As we work together throughout this book, I’ll encourage you to spiritually and emotionally evolve, give you as much support as you need to move beyond fear, and help you get out of those toxic relationships and live a magical life. By the time our work is done you’ll find a calm inside yourself that you never knew existed; you’ll learn the importance of self-love and have a fuller appreciation for life.
Blurb
Based on the unique Colour Ways system, that combines numerology with colour therapy, author and creator Walaa will show you how to use this powerful technique to bring abundance, clarity, confidence and balance into your life.
Highly practical and interactive, you will learn:
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What colour personality you are, what each colour means and which chakra it is associated with.
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Why you are attracted to certain colours and how you can use them to create positive change in your life
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What colour numerology is and how to use it
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How to use the energy of colour to improve how you feel and think
Alongside daily and weekly rituals and techniques for using colour, including visualisation, numerology, meditation, mantras and mudras and body and home treatments, you can bring abundance, clarity and healing into your life.
My Thoughts
One of the first things that hit me was where Walla was born, in Kuwait. I knew this would be an interesting book from a perspective completely different from my own. Heal yourself with Colour is part Transcendental thinking and a Self-Help book. She writes beautifully and is so passionate about life.
The history of colour is represented in her book, it’s fascinating. I found that many cultures dating back to the Egyptians were interested in colour and today several cultures use colours to represent religion.
Walla has all the exercises you need to get in touch with your inner self, walks you thru each colour and its meaning and helps you find your personal colour or colours. My colours are red and gold.
She makes Colour Numerology easy to understand which could be a difficult subject. The book is a fast read but you have to be committed to taking each step which includes journaling and meditation.
If you want to better understand your inner self and find answers to how to improve your life, this is the book for you.
Welbeck Publishing Group Limited
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.
Melinda
The planet clearly needs help, so what can you do? Demand change
If the true urgency of climate change was not clear to Americans before, it should be clear by now. The mind-bending heat, drought, fire and floods sweeping the US are both nightmares and wake-up calls to the reality fossil fuels created. For over 40 years, our most powerful people and institutions collectively ignored climate scientists, and now the deadly consequences have arrived at all our doorsteps.
People wade through floodwater during the monsoon rains in Lahore. Pakistan is the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world and already experiencing weather extremes. Alamy
“I have witnessed people suffering and dying since I was a child,” the 18-year-old from Pakistan told me over the phone. Her hometown, located in the mountainous Hunza Valley, is surrounded by towering Himalayan glaciers that have been melting at an astonishing rate since before Baig was born. These climate-fueled melts have formed more than 3,000 glacial lakes, which now regularly break their banks and rush through surrounding villages, taking everything — and everyone — in their path with them. More than 7 million people in the region are at risk from these floods, according to UNDP.
Baig now lives in the southern city of Karachi, but friends and family still live in Hunza. Eventually, they’ll face a difficult choice: Move south willingly, or let the mountain do it for them. Even if the world meets its most ambitious climate targets, one-third of the Himalayan glaciers will melt by the end of the century, a 2019 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development report found. And even the south won’t provide much respite; the heat and monsoon rains there are some of the most punishing in the world. The average daily temperature in Karachi this past week was 104 degrees*. Stepping outside “feels like you’re going to die.”
After 18 years of life in the world’s fifth-most climate-vulnerable nation, Baig sees her family’s predicament for what it is — not just tragedy but profound injustice. Pakistan contributes less than 1 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, and yet has been forced to bear the brunt of the world’s carbon crisis. “I’m angry about it. I’m sad about it. I don’t know how people have the audacity to prioritize money over humanity,” she said. And she can’t help but wonder if this would have happened if America—which has put more carbon into the atmosphere than any other nation—had felt these impacts first.
“I should be in university,” she said. But her life’s work is activism. “I have no choice,” she said, her voice breaking on the phone. Each day, Baig said, she’s fighting to secure the world’s future. And she wants to know, in this critical moment: are you doing anything to help secure hers?
In more than a dozen interviews over the last two weeks, activists from across the climate movement have issued a common call to arms: If you have ever thought of becoming more involved in the fight for climate justice, it’s time to stop thinking — and start doing.
“This is pretty much the biggest moment in climate politics in over a dozen years,” said Jamal Raad, the executive director of Evergreen Action, a progressive climate group focused on federal legislation. “If anyone was considering climate activism at any level, from contacting their member of Congress to volunteering with an organization to attending a protest, now’s the time.”
The scientific case for urgency has never been clearer. Last month, a draft of the latest UN IPCC report — the gold standard summation of modern climate science — was leaked to Agence France-Presse in hopes it might serve as a wake-up call before the next round of international climate talks in November. The report warned that the dire impacts of global heating were materializing faster than most scientists expected. Several “tipping points” — major, rapid changes in climate conditions that once reached are near-impossible to reverse — are now likely to come sooner rather than later, and many impacts are already locked in. Significant and rapid decarbonization can still prevent further pain and suffering, but the longer we wait, the worse things will become. “Life on Earth can recover from a drastic climate shift by evolving into new species and creating new ecosystems,” it warned. “Humans cannot.”
The costs of inaction are also already playing out in American life. More than 100 people were killed by the oppressive heat in Oregon last month, part of a larger record-breaking heat dome event that cumulatively caused more than 800 deaths across the Pacific Northwest. Farmers and ranchers are suffering under historic drought conditions in the West, where states are already limiting water supply while fighting out-of-control wildfires. Record rainfall in Michigan is overwhelming Detroit’s aging sewage systems, part of the growing pandemic of poop-filled floodwaters. And on the East Coast, tropical storm Elsa signaled a powerful start to yet another destructive hurricane season, expected to be “above average” in activity for the sixth year in a row.
Fortunately, scientists are also more confident than ever about how to improve the situation. In May, the influential and notoriously conservative International Energy Administration (IEA) released a “bombshell” report outlining how the world could still achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of preventing a 1.5°C rise in global average temperatures. “As the major source of global emissions, the energy sector holds the key to responding to the world’s climate challenge,” the report read. That sector must fully decarbonize by 2050, which requires not just a massive acceleration to renewables, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient building retrofits, but “a huge decline in the use of fossil fuels,” it said. “There is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in our net-zero pathway.”
The dire need to significantly decrease fossil fuel use, however, has still not sunk into the minds of the world’s biggest polluters. Take the United States. The Biden administration has taken some meaningful steps toward reducing carbon pollution, including suspending oil and gas leasing on federal land, canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, and reinstating several EPA climate regulations. But the US Justice Department is also currently defending at least three massive new fossil fuel projects — the Willow drilling project in Alaska, the Line 3 tar sands pipeline in Minnesota, and millions of acres of oil and gas leasing in Wyoming.
The massive infrastructure bill making its way through Congress is also a big opportunity to ensure meaningful climate investments in the energy sector — and may in fact be the last chance to pass meaningful climate legislation during Biden’s presidency. But the latest version was recently stripped of most of its significant climate provisions, including a Clean Energy Standard, tax credits for renewable energy and a new civilian climate corps.
The draft IPCC report places the blame for such inaction directly on the fossil fuel industry. Specifically, “think tanks, foundations, trade associations and other third-party groups that represent fossil fuel companies for promoting ‘contrarian’ science that misleads the public and disrupts efforts to implement climate policies needed to address the rising threats,” Politico reported. “Rhetoric on climate change and the undermining of science have contributed to misperceptions of the scientific consensus, uncertainty, unduly discounted risk and urgency, dissent and, most importantly, polarized public support delaying mitigation and adaptation action, particularly in the US.”
The fossil fuel industry is indeed fighting very hard to undo and prevent further climate action in the US. But others are helping them, too.GOP states are using taxpayer dollars to file lawsuits on their behalf. Advertising and marketing firms are creating sophisticated PR campaigns to help them convince the public they’re green. News outlets, many of which routinely ignore the climate crisis, are running those ad campaigns and making a profit. Social media companies like Facebook and Twitter are doing the same.
In other words, there’s a lot to do — and the IEA, which wrote the blueprint for effective action, says the key is people power.
“A transition of the scale and speed described by the net-zero pathway cannot be achieved without sustained support and participation from citizens,” the blueprint said. That means more than just saying you’re for a healthy planet. It means taking a stand against the reason it’s sick.
The ability to participate in activism is a privilege. Many simply do not have the time, money or emotional bandwidth to take on a global cause. Climate activism also has an unfortunate history of regressive finger-wagging, blaming relatively powerless individuals for not making “better” environmental choices.
The climate activism that is needed today is not that type of activism — especially since, according to the IEA, individual “behavior” changes will only account for around four percent of cumulative emissions reductions in the path to net-zero. What’s needed today is sustained outrage at the powerful, by those with the time and resources to express it.
For 18-year-old Jaweria Baig in Pakistan, this means pushing for big changes at powerful corporations.
Her latest campaign, launched with youth activists from climate-vulnerable counties across the world, targets Microsoft. She’s asking the tech giant to significantly decrease its emissions from corporate flights and use its own video conference platform “Teams” instead, as it did during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Microsoft is currently “one of the world’s top buyers” of flights, the Just Use Teams campaign says, its emissions comparable to some small countries.
Microsoft — which markets itself as a leader in the fight for climate justice — has so far declined to respond to Baig’s campaign. A spokesperson for the tech giant sent me only a link to its corporate sustainability and aviation plans in response to the group’s complaints.
So in the meantime, Baig is asking for people power. She wants Microsoft staff to leave anonymous Glassdoor reviews telling their bosses to use Teams instead of airplanes and wants Microsoft customers to tweet their support.
If Microsoft’s flights don’t inspire you, though, there are plenty of other campaigns in need of voices, resources, signatures, or bodies. Is the bipartisan infrastructure deal your thing? Perhaps you’d like No Climate No Deal, a campaign launched by Evergreen Action and the youth-led Sunrise Movement. The campaign is pressuring Democratic members of Congress to reject any infrastructure legislation lacking “transformational investments in climate and environmental justice solutions.” They’ve already secured pledges from 14 Democratic Senators. They’re seeking support in the form of a petition, calls to Senators and tweets.
Or maybe you’re really pissed at advertising agencies, marketing firms and social media giants for helping promote fossil fuel company propaganda. If that’s the case, you might like Clean Creatives. Despite only launching less than a year ago, it has gotten 92 advertising agencies to sign a pledge against working with fossil fuel companies. It’s now spreading a petition to get social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to ban fossil fuel ads. (Duncan Meisel, one of the group’s cofounders, said in an interview that the HEATED newsletter — which is where this post was first published — was part of the inspiration for forming the group. So maybe you could also start a newsletter, if that’s your thing.)
Indigenous groups also need help opposing fossil fuel projects across the country. Most have action hubs with a range of potential ways to help, like this one for the Line 3 pipeline. Environmental justice groups like We Act and the Climate Justice Alliance also need voices and resources. Perhaps Vice’s list of 12 environmental justice organizations to donate time and money to would be of interest.
If straight-up activism isn’t your thing, maybe you’d like to support climate science education or communications projects like Climate Central or the Alliance for Climate Education. If you believe in the power of journalism, maybe you want to support accountability projects like Floodlight and Drilled News or regional publications like Southerly Mag.
Maybe you’re into culture and want to donate to a place like the Climate Museum. Maybe there’s a state climate policy you want to get involved with; a local office you want to run for; or an opportunity to make a difference at the company you already work at. Maybe you just want to troll fossil fuel companies all day.
The opportunities to get involved in the climate fight are endless, and that can be overwhelming. But the beauty of people power is that you don’t have to do everything. “You don’t need to quit your job and become a climate activist,” said Genevieve Gunther, founder of the media-focused group End Climate Silence. “With enough people, one little thing every week, even a tweet, can make a huge difference.”
Some people may read this and believe it is pointless. That we are too late. That none of it matters. The fossil fuel industry knows this is not true. Their fear of a determined, pissed-off public is why they promoted campaigns of climate denial and “individual responsibility” in the first place. They knew if people were unsure about the problem, they’d waste time fighting about it instead of mobilizing to fix it. They knew if people were confused about the solution, they’d waste time trying to change themselves and each other instead of the system.
However worse the climate crisis gets now depends on how quickly society transforms. And how quickly society transforms depends on how many people demand it. The most harmful lie being spread about climate change today is not that it is fake. It’s that nothing you can do can help save the world.
This story originally appeared in HEATED, Emily Atkin‘s weekly newsletter that is dedicated to original accountability reporting and analysis on the climate crisis. Subscribe here.
The US sewage system is long overdue for an update — and here’s why you should never, ever jump in puddles after a rainstorm. Watch Emily Atkin’s TEDxShinnecockHills Talk now:
Melinda
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Emily Atkin is the author and founder of HEATED, a weekly newsletter dedicated to original accountability reporting and analysis on the climate crisis. Find her at http://www.emilyatkin.com and subscribe to the newsletter at heated.world.
Here’s Some Ways To Help Alleviate Your Anxieties
Anxiety, chronic pain, and depression are among some of the most common issues in the world and a lot of medicines do not fully assist with these symptoms. That is why there are plenty of alternatives that can assist, such as CBD. There are plenty of different types of CBD and they work in different ways. They can also be ingested in many forms. Why not take a look at CBD Living Gelcaps to see the benefits. Taken as supplements may be just the boost your health needs.
CBD has proven benefits on the body and they are renowned as an essential supplement that supports a healthy immune system, which can benefit your body and boost your natural defenses. Vitamin C supports all aspects of immune function needed for optimal antibody production, whilst Vitamin D is important for improved resistance, and Bilberry is packed with antioxidants that are beneficial to improving the overall immune system. By keeping your immune system healthy, you are keeping your body healthy as the immune system is key to keeping our bodies working healthily. Anxiety and depression often come hand in hand and you can look at some of the ways in which they can affect daily life.
- Rapid heart rate
- Palpitations
- Chest pain or tight chest
- Headaches
- Sweats
- Fear
- Mental symptoms such as entrapment, doom, or fear.
You should always talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms as there are plenty of ways in which you can help yourself to overcome the symptoms. They are certainly not pleasant and can affect daily activities, including work, which is why taking supplements and also maintaining a healthy lifestyle can really help. Distraction is a huge key for people with anxiety and depression. Focusing on other things and looking at the benefits of new tasks and new adventures. When you don’t have access to your doctor or therapist, then there are some little things that you can add to your life just to give yourself that little boost when you need it.
- Listen to music that is upbeat and inspires you.
- Have a real laugh! (With friends if possible)
- Take a walk around the park or the streets.
- Declutter things, keep things simple in the house.
- Give someone a hug and start smiling more, it helps reset the brain.
- Think about the good things that you have and when things went well.
- Allow yourself time to talk things through.
Talking through problems is so important because a problem shared is a problem halved and without this mentality, you will block things in your mind and keep yourself from progressing further. You need to be open to talking and to appreciate that mental health issues are common and you are never alone. With the help of CBD supplements and a great network, you are on the way to recovery. If you feel you have nobody to talk to then be sure to look at places online to help you where you can join online groups and forums.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Help Yourself to Find Inner Peace and Calm
It can be quite common to have some racing thoughts and to find yourself worrying about different things constantly. In the modern world that we live in, this can be quite a normal feeling. But when you have an anxious mind, it is something that can take over and be quite distressing. There is some good news, though. There are many simple things that you can do to calm your mind and calm your thoughts. If you want to get some inner peace of mind and to truly feel calm, then here are some of the things that you can do to help do just that.
Listen to your favorite music
There have been some studies into music and the impact that it has, and these studies found that relaxing music can help people to be calmer. In the studies, with a focus on children with ADHD, the relaxing music helped them to feel calmer and feel more focused. But if you prefer to listen to more upbeat music, then it can still have a calming impact on you, if it is music that you like and enjoy. It can be a good way to focus on something else for a little while and can help you to have real peace of mind.
Deep breathing
By focusing on your breathing, you will not be focused on other things, as you need to concentrate in order to listen to and be in control of your breathing. By taking some deep breaths, inhaling, and then exhaling, you will not only fill your body with lots of lovely oxygen, but you will have a way to instantly feel calmer. This can be something you can do in the car, at work, on the train, or cooking dinner, so it can be something to implement into your life each day, as the need arises.
Find peace and justice
It can be hard to feel calm and peaceful if you are holding onto a lot of sadness, bitterness, or resentment. If you are harboring feelings like that, then it can be difficult. Instead, think about what can be done instead. You might want to look for top wrongful death attorneys if a situation in your life is leaving you with anger or despair, through the loss of a loved one. You may feel resentful towards an individual and need to practice forgiveness. Doing these things could help to give you the peace and clarity that you are looking for in order to have greater peace of mind.
Get outdoors
Staying indoors too much isn’t a good thing. It can be a trigger for anxieties and not help to calm them in any way. When you spend time in nature, whether that is in the woods, out by the ocean, or walking in a park, you can feel happier and healthier. There is a lot of peace that can come from nature, walking, relaxing, listening to bird songs, and so on.
Learn to be accepting
In order for us all to have peace of mind, then acceptance is something that really is critical. By accepting your situation, as well as realizing that there are many things that you have no control over, you can learn to tolerate different areas of uncertainty in your lives. When you accept what you can control and what you can’t control, it can help give you a clearer mind and reduce some of those anxious feelings that you can have.
Self-care and self-love
There is no getting away from the fact that if we like ourselves, then we can have much greater peace of mind. When we feel happy within ourselves, we can feel more at ease with the world around us, even if there are some elements that are less than ideal. If we take the time for self-care and take steps to improve self-love, then it can give you much more inner peace, which will mean more confidence and fewer insecurities about ourselves.
Check up on your health
It makes a difference to check on your health and to find different ways to look after yourself. By being able to let go and not being able to take care of ourselves in this way, it can indicate a lack of respect for yourself. This can then lead to some consequences of your own impacting not only your level of health but your life overall. By doing what you can to keep healthy and to make the most of what you have, you are being kind to yourself and it will make a difference.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Sheltering In Place? I’m Used To Staying At Home
Being stuck at home is new to many people. But I started sheltering in place in 2013 when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. I spent three years on IV therapy, seven days a week, and walked only to the bathroom and back. The years after IV therapy was just as rough.
I required assistance with everything. The pain was unbearable–going to the bathroom, taking a shower, walking down the stairs were so difficult. Mentally I struggled, too, trying to remember to make appointments and phone calls I needed to. I couldn’t even handle putting my medicine in the case each week without mistakes. I felt so much guilt. I thought my husband would leave me as soon as he could, or maybe he would have an affair. Why couldn’t I keep up with showering and fixing my hair? When was the last time I wore makeup?
But I have learned to overcome my guilt by dealing with facts, not fears, and knowing I can handle whatever reality throws my way.
In addition to Lyme disease, I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, cognitive dysfunction (which includes lack of balance), and dementia. Dementia is the real kicker. There are a host of other ailments I suffer from, and I’m sure I will have more as the years pass. I was told early on that Lyme would cause problems that seem unrelated for years to come because there is no cure and my immune system remains compromised. This past month I found that to be true again when.
I was diagnosed with a new immune disorder, hypogammaglobulinemia. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a problem with the immune system that prevents it from making enough antibodies called immunoglobulins. Antibodies are proteins that help your body recognize and fight off foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Without enough antibodies, you’re more likely to get infections. People with hypogammaglobulinemia can more easily catch pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections than a healthy immune system.
This makes the COVID-19 pandemic especially scary for me. I get stressed out when I watch more than an hour of news a day, or see people not wearing masks.
In general, though, I’m very used to having to stay at home. I quit driving years ago and have only driven a handful of times in recent years. It’s not that I couldn’t drive, but my husband came along to take notes at appointments since my memory is not what it used to be. Don’t get me wrong. I miss the independence of driving without my husband having to take off work. I also miss being able to see my hairstylist, getting a manicure, and finding great spots for taking photos.
I have to get out of the house for my mental health, at least a little bit, regardless of my immune deficiencies. We still go for a Starbucks run as often as possible. We have a whole sanitation process down, including wiping down his mask, credit card, steering wheel, and both of the top of our cup to the bottom. We take all precautions when he brings groceries in and packages, we wash our hands immediately and wash again after putting everything away. He doesn’t want me to get sick, and I know he does everything possible every time he leaves the house.
I’m ready for this to pass and it will pass, but for now, I’m staying calm and entertained indoors as best as I can. I hope you can do the same.
Melinda
Living Beyond Pain
This is a great video I found and it helps us see we can move forward living with pain.
Melinda
Make Sure Your Chronic Condition Doesn’t Veer Your Driving Off Course
Whether you’re dealing with a new chronic diagnosis or are noticing new symptoms relating to an existing condition, your ability to stay safe on the road often correlates directly with your understanding, and address, of road-based risk factors. As well as being the only responsible way to stay safe on the road, making sure that you tick all the necessary safety boxes can also provide you with the confidence necessary to tackle any journey. Here, we consider a few simple ways to make sure that, whatever chronic condition you’re dealing with, it never has a chance to veer your driving, or your safety, off-course.
Always talk to your healthcare provider
Even if you think that your condition won’t affect your driving, there are sometimes surprising ways for symptoms to correlate with road-based risks. As such, talking things through with your healthcare provider before you get behind the wheel is essential, especially in areas like Utah where medical sign-offs are a licensing requirement.
Even if that isn’t the case in your state, your doctor is the best possible person to make you aware of the risks, and also adjust your treatment plan with road-based safety in mind. It’s also important to note that, if a doctor tells you they simply can’t see you driving safely, you need to take their word for it. You may feel like you’re in control, but chronic conditions can take even those of us who have dealt with them for a lifetime by surprise. If your doctor is advising you against this course of action, then rest assured they’ll have a good reason for doing so.
Seek comprehensive insurance
Insurance is fundamental for every driver and guarantees that, if the worst happens, you have the financial backing to pay for repairs. However, many insurers will have get-out clauses for things like chronic illness, especially if they deem that your condition caused the accident. Obviously, declaring your condition right away is the first step here, but small print in standard insurance contracts can still sting. Seeking comprehensive policies is a far better option because, even if they don’t specifically cater for chronic conditions, plans like no fault car insurance are far more likely to provide the coverage you need. Your road-based anxiety will certainly lessen knowing that you have this reassurance behind you.
Avoid driving with symptoms
Regardless of your condition or its particular manifestations, even mild symptoms or flare-ups provide clear warning signs that you shouldn’t get in the car and can include anything from pain in a localized area or high levels of anxiety, right through to vision problems, fatigue, and more. In each instance, it’s far better to take a little time and wait until you’re feeling more capable of tackling things.
This point can be especially hard to adhere to given that there is such a scope of symptoms across the chronic spectrum, and it’s all too easy for someone with say, diabetes, to assume that they’ll be fine to drive even if they’re feeling a little shaky. The reality, though, is that chronic conditions of all shapes and sizes have one thing in common, and that’s their need for immediate treatment, or self-care, as soon as things start to go downhill. If you’re behind the wheel, there’s no way you can ensure those essentials, and so there’s no question that you’ll be putting your health, and that of those around you, at risk.
Carry a medical ID
So far we’ve discussed how your chronic condition may directly affect your driving, but it’s also essential to note that, if you are in an accident, you need to guarantee treatment that keeps your condition or any medications that you’re taking in mind. Unfortunately, in extreme cases, often life-saving treatment will be administered at the scene and may do more damage than good if your condition isn’t known at this stage. That’s why anyone driving with a chronic condition should also carry a medical ID, which is readily available to buy online. These essential pieces of kit outline everything from your medical history, to your existing treatments, and any further points of interest about your condition. Keeping this either in your wallet, your dash, or your smartphone, makes it far more likely that medical professionals will treat you in accordance with your needs.
Chronic condition or not, the ease and freedom offered by driving are very much within reach. Simply keep these tips in mind to make sure that you’re as safe as possible while you get stuck in.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Happy World Youth Day
Let’s celebrate our youth!
World Youth Day is commonly celebrated in a way similar to many events. The most emphasized and well known traditional theme is the unity and presence of numerous different cultures. Flags and other national declarations are displayed among mainly young people to show their attendance at the events and proclaim their own themes of Catholicism. Such is usually done through chants and singing of other national songs involving a Catholic theme.
Over the course of the major events taking place, national objects are traded between pilgrims. Flags, shirts, crosses, and other Catholic icons are carried amongst pilgrims which are later traded as souvenirs to other people from different countries of the world. A unity of acceptance among people is also common, with all different cultures coming together to appreciate one another.
Other widely recognized traditions include the Pope’s public appearance, commencing with his arrival around the city in the “Popemobile” and then with his final Mass held at the event. A festival in Sydney (2008) recorded an estimated distance of a 10-kilometre walk as roads and other public transport systems were closed off.
Pope Benedict XVI criticized the tendency to view WYD as a kind of rock festival; he stressed that the event should not be considered a “variant of modern youth culture” but as the fruition of a “long exterior and interior path”.[1]
Melinda
August Chonic Illness Writing Prompts
This month’s August Chronic Illness Writing Prompts by A Chronic Voice are Wandering, Catching, Compartmentalizing, Regenerating, and Visiting.
I chose three this month, Regenerating, Wandering, and Compartmentaling to write about. You will see Regenerating is where I feel the most passion.
I’m feeling so regenerated in life and my future. I have made a plan to start putting myself first in more ways outside of the house as soon as this nasty COVID pandemic is over. I did get my hair cut after four years and it feels great. I now look in the mirror and see the old me, one who cared more about the way I looked.
I even bought a do it yourself ear piercing kit and we pierced my upper ears, it feels great to have jewelry to wear. Such a big difference from no jewelry for years.
I haven’t had a flair in some time and my pain levels are down which gives me the opportunity to get outside and take care of mundane things like running errands but also stopping in for my favorite smoothie and getting a Mani/Pedi for a change.
It also gives me freedom, now I can make my own appointments, which I did to get my teeth cleaned without asking if my husband can drive me. It’s a freedom I haven’t felt in many, many years. I drove myself to the doctor recently and quite enjoy driving again.
I also had a birthday last month and it feels great to be more settled.
My About Me page on my blog was written in 2014. It was not applicable to who I am or what my blog is about so I updated it.
The COVID pandemic has me lost, I feel like I’m wandering the desert waiting for a vehicle to come by to rescue me. I am very cautious not only because of COVID but also my Immune Deficiency Disorder puts me at greater risk for everything down to the common cold. My doctor said I should wear a mask for the rest of my life, that sounded crazy prior to the pandemic but now it seems so natural.
When you have been sick for so long, for me it’s been since 2010, you have to divide your life up into pieces in order to stay sane, or I do. Even though I’m still very sick with my Immune Deficiency Disorder, I’m not letting it rule my life. It is an illness I may have for the rest of my life and that is something I accept. When dealing with my doctor or lab appointments I have to wear my Medical/Chronic Illness hat but outside of those appointments, I work hard to do what I have to do to stay well/safe and not let it roll over into my other side of my life.
I would love your feedback on my post.
Melinda
How Spoiling Yourself Can Really Help You And Those Around You
In this world, we have to do all we can to make sure we enjoy ourselves. Life is full of responsibilities, setbacks, heartbreaks, and awkward moments. There are times where we must work very hard in order to achieve what we want. Some things will go our way, and some things will not go our way. The best thing to do is to ensure that we’re enjoying ourselves all along the way. If you enjoy yourself through bad times, it’ll make those times a lot better than you initially expected. If you are miserable throughout the good, then it’ll bring you and everyone else around you down.
How can you spoil yourself, though? Well, there are so many things you can do. While life isn’t what is made out on social media, it can still be turned into something that you just did not ever expect. It really is what you make it, so go out and try to do what you can for yourself. It’s not selfish to want the best, so never worry about putting yourself first. Whatever you can think of, try to head towards. If it makes you happy – and it’s not hurting anyone else – then you should be good to go! Here are a few reasons why spoiling yourself WILL help your life and the lives of those around you:
You’ll Naturally Get A Boost
If you get what you want out of life, then you’re going to feel so much better about what this existence has to offer. It may be a slight boost if you’re going through a tough time, but it’s a boost nonetheless. Whether you’re buying vintage jewelry or heading on a vacation somewhere, it’ll make you feel so much better. This can then put you on the right track towards even greater things.
You’ll Be Able To Do More For Others
When you’re feeling better about life, you’re able to help others out. You could have all the best intentions in the world, but it doesn’t matter if you’re not in the best place mentally and physically. They say that you can’t pour from an empty glass, and it’s absolutely true. So rest yourself or enjoy yourself as much as you can.
You’ll Get A Different Perspective On Life
When you do not do things for yourself and you just sort of live life how you think you’re supposed to live, you can get somewhat of a negative perspective on things. You can view life through a pretty boring and pessimistic prism. If you head out and buy that Jewelry Irish that you’ve craved for a while or you put yourselves in a better home for the future, then you’re obviously going to see life – and your future – as a much more positive thing.
There Will Be A Feel-Good Factor For A While
If you have a feel-good factor for even a short amount of time, you’re going to be able to get more things done. A positive life is what we all need, and spoiling yourself is a sure-fire way of getting that kind of feeling.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
A New Way To Think About The Transition To Mohterhood
How To Stay Safe On Social Media
Whether you are a business owner or not, you need to do all that you can to stay safe on social media. Social media is a wonderful addition to our current daily lives, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take measures to stay safe. Everything that you put out there is saved – even if you delete it from your profile, someone will always have a copy of it. We use social media as readily as we do our toothbrushes, so it makes sense that we would want to keep our information safe.
Online safety should be a part of mainstream education these days. Identity theft is a huge problem, and our information isn’t as safe as we thought. Plenty of business owners have been caught out by posts that they made before they were relevant and it’s these posts that can drive people away. You can learn how to create a second Instagram account to remain private just for your friends and family, but your information is still out there for all to see. Everything you post can be used against you and while that’s a sad state of affairs, it’s vital to be aware of how your information is used. There is a big tradeoff between the convenience of social media and the privacy you want to achieve and that means that you need to be aware of your own personal safety online. So, with this in mind, here are some of the best ways that you can stay safe on social media.
Always keep your antivirus software up to date. You need to block potential threats to your information, and the best way to go about this is to make sure that your computer is covered in the first place.
Avoid using any public WIFI connections if you can. Coffee shops and public arenas with a WIFI login are not safe and they’re not encrypted. So, if you log in with your banking details, someone somewhere is going to know about it and can pull that information from you.
Always type an address into the search bar rather than click links – unless they’re trusted, of course. You need to avoid phishing attacks and these often come in the form of links in your email.
Don’t share your passwords with anyone, even people you trust. Log in for them if you must, but never share passwords. It’s a bad idea to share anything that you don’t want being interrupted.
Don’t use any social media at work. You need to keep your social media life separate from your working life. You can have a working account for Instagram, but anything personal needs to be just yours and a second account is a good way to remain safe.
Check your settings online and make sure that your posts are encrypted. You should ensure that you are protected as much as possible. Encrypting your posts is a tool that a lot of social media sites use for protection.
Watch your mouth – or fingers? Either way, whatever you say on social media can and will come back to bite you and we cannot stress this enough. It’s marketing 101 – even if it’s personal marketing. If you want to make sure that you are seen as a good person online, make sure that you’re not putting anything out there that you cannot take back.
Make up a master list of passwords and don’t ever use the same password twice. If you do, you are weakening the strength of your passwords in general. Keep this list somewhere safe that others cannot access.
Never accept friend requests from people that you don’t know. While it’s nice to make new friends, it’s never nice to accept a request from a stranger who then uses your information in a negative way.
It’s important to check out what’s posted about you online, so every now and then it’s a good idea to Google yourself. Every now and then, check out what’s found on search engines about you so that you can make the best possible decisions about your posting going forward.
Where possible, go Incognito. Users are tracked with every website they use even when they leave social media. Going incognito prevents you from being tracked. The more we search online, the more the cookies find us!
Social media is great, but it has the potential to go very wrong very quickly. Take the time to protect yourself and don’t be blind to the dangers.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Make Healthy Changes Today And See A Difference In Your Health
A few changes can lead to significant benefits. This also applies to our health. Making some changes in our daily life we can put the first elements in motion for a complete rebirth. If you suffer from a chronic illness, it is even more important to start looking after your health and boosting your immune system. If you have a disability, even if you use a mobility scooter, you still try to move, only gently, if possible. Mobile scooters give disabled people the independence that they deserve and coupled with an excellent diet and lifestyle, you can start to regain some confidence and happiness.
Eat your veggies
Vegetables are divided into two categories: starchy and non-starchy. Starchy vegetables are potatoes, corn, and beans, non-starchy are spinach and other leafy vegetables, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. Starchy vegetables have more calories than non-starchy ones. So by filling half the plate with non-starchy vegetables, you ensure that you will receive all the necessary nutrients, water, and fiber, but without any extra calories. It’s an easy strategy not to bother with calorie and portion counting. Processed carbohydrates have almost no nutrients and no fiber. The only thing they have is calories that can make you gain weight.
In fact, a diet rich in processed carbohydrates – white bread, buns, white pastries, sweets, etc. – can increase the risk of developing type II diabetes and heart disease. Get rid of the bad habits! Unprocessed carbohydrates such as brown rice and whole grains enhance your diet with “good” calories, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Fatty fish such as salmon is an excellent source of omega – 3 fats, which are essential for good heart health and reducing inflammation in the body. They also enhance mental health. Drink green tea because this is going to be important to those with disabilities as it helps work as a toxin remover.
Disconnect from everything one hour before bedtime
Quality sleep is the alpha and omega for health. And one of the things that destroy it is technology. Devices that emit “blue light”, a type of wave that is common during the day, “confuse” the brain, making it think it is morning. So by avoiding screen time before bed, you can improve the quality of sleep.
Sleep at the same (approximately) time every day
In addition to poor sleep quality, many people have trouble sleeping. This is largely due to poor rest planning. Having a specific time when you fall asleep, you train your body clock so that you can fall asleep more easily. At the same time, scheduled bedtime has a positive effect on concentration and memory.
Limit socializing with negative people.
Even a little negativity is enough to get you down. Try to spend more time with happy and optimistic people. If you have negative people in your inner circle, try to convey some of your positive thinking to them and change the direction. The rest is up to you and the way in which you treat yourself. Don’t be hard on yourself and appreciate all the little things. Remember self-care is not selfish.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Let’s Celebrate National Book Lovers Day
For all the book lovers out there, this day is for you! Celebrate by picking up an old favorite or starting a new one from your pile!
I have a hard time reading these days but do have two new books on Audible ready to go! Now I must make time for myself to sit alone and enjoy the new wonders awaiting.
Have a great day!
Melinda
Monday Thoughts
Go to bed at 9:00 p.m.
Wake up 12:30 a.m.
Have two cups of coffee
Check WordPress
Buy new reading glasses at Amazon
Drink a glass of water
Eat a carrot to help me go back to sleep
Go back to bed 2:00 a.m.
Take two Tylenol
Lay awake waiting for sleep
Get out of bed at 2:30 a.m.
Write this post
Wonder when sleep will come
Melinda
Book Review Navigating Panic Attacks By Dr. Rita Santos
Blurb
Author Dr. Rita Santos is a clinical psychologist who specialises in cognitive behavioural therapy, anxiety and anxiety disorders.
One of the key symptoms of anxiety is panic attacks. However often, or infrequently, you experience them, it is possible to take steps to change how you react. There are ways that you can loosen their grip, potentially even stopping them from happening altogether.
Dr. Rita Santos will you help you to discover how to:
- Understand what panic attacks are and why they happen
- Identify your warning signs and personal triggers
- Open dialogue with family and friends
- Recognise and manage your anxious anticipation surrounding panic attacks
- Practice tailored self-care with the aim of reducing the number of panic attacks you have.
Using these practical strategies, you can promote understanding, self-awareness, and self-care.
My Thoughts
Wellbeck has done it again! They brought us another great self-help book with tools we can implement right away and use for future reference as needed. Dr. Rita Santos gives you real-life examples and tools to use in helping you deal with and overcome Pank Attacks.
She covers topics like:
Communicating with others
Laying out a self-care plan
Recognizing triggers
and much more.
I recommend this book highly to anyone who has Panic Attacks or to help you to understand and communicate with a friend or loved one who does. It’s real-world tips that are easy to implement.
Wellbeck Publishing
Wellbeck 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.
www.wellbeckpublishing.com
I highly recommend the book and hope you will check it out. It could make a difference for you or someone you love.
Happy Reading
Melinda
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