How Does Domestic Violence Turn To Murder/Suicide?

April 14, 2024July 15, 2024 Looking for the Light30 Comments

Last week a murder-suicide happened in the neighborhood, the house behind us. I was very ill and on pain meds, my husband shielded me from conversations with the Police and the family. I felt the pain of my father’s suicide but quickly focused on the kids in our house.

The father had been released from jail for domestic violence, but he first stopped to buy a gun, then went home, killing his wife and himself in front of the kids.

My husband came upstairs saying two kids were downstairs, they thought the father killed their mother. I went down to get them something to drink and speak to them, nothing heavy, a half hug. The kids were 8,10,17 years old. My heart was breaking for them and their future pain. I offered some snacks and went back upstairs. By now there are 4 to 6 Police officers in the house. One said the 17-year-old ran out of the house when he heard the shot, and police were surrounding the house. The police knocked on the family’s door and he shot himself as they entered the house.

Both parents are dead. How do tell three kids their parents are dead. Your father killed your mother and then himself. Several officers were fighting back tears. I lost my breath thinking of the kid’s future. The girl called family members, and they were on the way to our house.

Once the family arrived, a few facts came out. The parents had been separated for some time. He was in jail for Domestic Violence. His mother bailed him out and he went straight home. She was helping a son she loved, chances are violence never crossed her mind.

The Police took the kids and family to the Children’s Advocacy Center. The center will start therapy and offer help from trained professionals.

After 11:00 a.m. two guys looking professional were talking to a neighbor. I went over to see if I could help. I didn’t know they were reporters. I shared how little I know. They wanted to do an interview, right or wrong I did. I could only say over and over, that my heart breaks for the three kids, they don’t understand, they’re in shock and they have no parents.

I ask God to carry the three kids in his hands, to help them through the shock, and to cradle them when they need you most. The traumatized kids will need help coping with the unbearable pain and need help working through trauma which can take years.

Xx M

Repost from 2016.

Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

My Favorite Self-Care Treat Is Enjoying The Calming Effects Of Candles

April 14, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

An upgrade to my self-care treats right next to my office chair. So worth it! :)

Diptyque candles are more expensive but once you smell their fragrances, see how long-lasting they are, and unlike most candles, they melt evenly to the very bottom with minimal care.

While looking for ways to upgrade my self-care treats, I bought one to see if it lived up to the hype, they surpassed exceptions. Have you seen a candle that melts evenly all the way to the bottom? It made me think of all the candles I’ve had that melted down the middle leaving a cave effect. That is a waste of money.

I remember the initial shock of the price until buying one. If you are hesitant, I recommend buying a small candle, it’s also the way to try new fragrances.

My thoughts are, you upgrade your life as you pass through the journey, always keeping your financial goals in mind.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Why I Deleted My Twitter Account BEWARE

April 13, 2024 Looking for the Light12 Comments

While I work feverish to protect myself from a security breach, full post to come, I realized that Twitter is the #1 red alert company for data breaches, and for selling information.

I do know that once your information hits the internet, it’s permanent and there’s no going back. I also learned that my information was on the Dark Web and I have no idea how to go there.

My phone and laptop are both Apple and they have security tools which shares information like your security risk and which companies are red flags. The tools have helped me focus on the red flag companies as I try to protect my identity. It’s hard to focus when Identity Theft is looking over your shoulder, you can’t let your guard down.

The risk of using Twitter is too high and I deleted my account.

I hope this helps someone in the same battle. Identity Theft can ruin your life and empty your bank account.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

A Small Problem In The Big Picture!

April 12, 2024 Looking for the Light16 Comments

It’s strange how problems look different once you have several chronic issues. Falling down is a big deal when your health goes south. Just getting up may require my husband’s help.

I want to encourage people to be honest with themselves when it comes to mobility. Mobility issues can change daily and we have to assess each day.

This painful rash and bruise is from falling while playing with dogs. I reached for the toy and went straight down. It’s a small thing until it’s a Big Problem, concussion, or injury that needs attention like when I fell halfway downstairs and broke my wrist.

I met my new PCP yesterday and she pressured me to use an aid in the house, which is nothing new to hear. I still haven’t faced the music and still will not use one. The day will come when I will need an aid. :(

At 60, there are many days I feel like I’m falling apart but I have to stay focused on the next day and stay positive about tomorrow. :)

Melinda

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

Deep Thoughts

April 10, 2024 Looking for the Light6 Comments

In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!

Continue reading “Deep Thoughts” →

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

Why Are You Defensive? Unraveling the Causes and Solutions for Defensive Behavior By Guest Blogger My Mind Strenght

April 10, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Why Are You Defensive? Unraveling the Causes and Solutions for Defensive Behavior

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

Blogger Highlight-By Ashley Marie

April 8, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Thank you for all the great feedback and for participating in the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog By Ashley Marie.

By Ashley Marie

Hey there! I’m a self-taught tech enthusiast currently working on full-stack development. I firmly believe that life is meant to be lived deeply, with purpose and fulfillment. That’s why I strive hard every day to manifest a high-quality life, and I’m committed to sharing my expertise with others.

I started following her a couple of weeks ago. She writes about technology and other interesting posts.

Be sure to check her blog.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

How To Help Your Teenager Cope With An Anxiety Disorder

April 7, 2024April 8, 2024 Looking for the Light4 Comments

Repost

Feeling anxious is a normal human reaction to situations that make you uncomfortable or worried. This is usually portrayed physically through sweating or even nausea. However, anxiety becomes a problem when it is overwhelming or unmanageable. This is known as a mental health illness or anxiety disorder. Today, anxiety disorder is an illness that affects all ages, especially teenagers. As concerned and loving parents, seeing your child experience such challenges may be disheartening, and you want to help them pull through. Fortunately, there are few yet effective steps you can take to help your teen pull through this problem. Here are a few ways to help your child cope with anxiety disorder.

Create a safe space

You must create the space for such conversations to give your child the help they need. Naturally, teenagers become more secretive and less open as they get older. Although this may not be an issue, it can hinder your efforts to help them. Consider creating a safe space that allows your child to trust you and have open conversations with you. Encourage them to talk about their anxieties and listen to them attentively and actively. To further build trust, acknowledge their feelings as valid, and give them the reassurance they need.

Practice mindfulness

The hustle and bustle of life can make it all too strenuous and stressful. No matter where you turn, there’s always something to be worried about! Your teenage child may be feeling the same. From juggling school work with social relationships, trying to achieve their dreams, and navigating the journey of adolescence, many factors may trigger anxiety in your child. Practicing mindfulness is a great and quick way to cope with these anxiety pangs. Mindful practices such as breathing exercises and yoga can help them relax during anxiety-inducing circumstances. You can also try the accepted dbt approach, which helps distract them from triggers.

Take it one baby step at a time

Being constantly worried and afraid can make it quite difficult to live a fulfilling life. This is usually the case for anxious teenagers. They are easily overwhelmed, which makes them less open to taking advantage of opportunities that come their way. You can help them manage these feelings by setting doable and smaller tasks and goals. For instance, instead of setting the goal of going to a party, you can encourage them to sit by a friend during lunchtime. Or going to watch a movie with a friend. Setting these goals makes it less intimidating and more achievable. You should also encourage positive self-talk and acknowledge their bravery by praising them for going out of their comfort zone and beating the challenges of this disorder.

Image Credit

Contact a professional

The best way to ensure your child gets the help they need is by scheduling an appointment with a professional. Mental health professionals such as psychologists are knowledgeable about this illness and can offer the best treatment options to ensure this condition is well-managed. Therefore, be sure to find a professional with experience in dealing with anxiety disorders in children. You can do this through a quick internet search or recommendations from trusted family and friends.

Think about your teenager’s issues from their perspective, I know it’s hard. One good idea is to start therapy once you’re up to it and bring the baby, once they have been exposed, hopefully, the teen will continue therapy on their own.

The earlier you communicate with your kids, the easier

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward · Survivor

Tools to Help Navigate Trauma By Don’t Lose Hope

April 5, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Tools to Help Navigate Trauma

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health · Travel

New Interview With Cindy Knoke, Photographer And Master Traveler

April 3, 2024 Looking for the Light8 Comments

I have followed Cindy for years and she is a great friend. I always have questions with every post published, her photos draw you in. This is my third interview with Cindy, that’s how fascinating she is.

What cameras are you using now?

I have only two types of cameras, one is my wildlife, birds, and flower camera that I use for macro photography. It is a Sony HX400V. I have several of these because Sony discontinued manufacturing them. They are a bit touchy and tend to break down. The one I am using now I bought in Japan, and the last new one I could find for sale from a private seller, and the camera is entirely in Japanese, which can be a bit of a challenge. I dearly love this camera because it has an adjustable lens that zooms up to 1200mm equivalent. It is also not at all expensive. I will eventually have to buy another brand with an adjustable lens and am looking at options.

My second camera I use for everything else, landscapes, etc. It is a Sony RX10M4. I took the mountain goat photos with this camera so it can be for wildlife too, but lacks the extended zoom of the 400. I usually travel with both cameras, carrying one based on what I am expecting to see. Of course, I am often surprised, and have the wrong camera!

Do you have a Bucket List of places to visit and pick one or is it a random conversation that decides the next trip?

I love planning trips. It is definitely half the fun of travel. The only place left on our bucket list is Greenland which we are looking into now for 2024. There are some repeats we would like to do like Antarctica and Iguazu.

What excursion stands out close in your mind?

Antarctica is definitely the most incredible place I have been. It was a spiritual experience for me. All this splendor is untouched by human hands and all the wildlife was unafraid of humans because they had no experience with them. Whales would spy-hop up and stare at you with their plate-sized eyes, Albatross would land on the boat, and penguins would waddle up to you and gently peck at the shiny buttons on your coat. Incredible.

There was a Japanese whaling ship we encountered multiple times harpooning minke whales. Thankfully I never actually witnessed a harpooning, but I saw the loaded harpoons and the beautiful minkes. It was a reminder of human disregard for paradise and her creatures.

How do you describe yourself?

I am definitely not a professional photographer. I am an amateur hobbyist. I love photography because it fully immerses me in the moment. Completely focuses me on the here and now, with no distractions. I am a psychotherapist and Mental Health Director by training and the Zen aspect of photography fully appeals to me. I like the ability photographs have to communicate universal meaning with no words.

What are your top two photos, where are they taken, and what makes them special?

Weirdly enough, two of my favorite photos were not taken on distant trips, but in my home state of California. One series is the tufas in Mono Lake and the other is the first photo of a desert reflecting pool in Palm Springs. I included the links to the posts with these photos.

Mono Lake

Palm Springs

Cindy is the kindest person and an inspiration who loves photography and traveling the world with her husband.

Melinda

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

Hobbies That Can Be Beneficial for Your Mental Health

April 2, 2024July 14, 2024 Looking for the Light9 Comments

We all know that life can get busy. As a result, it can be hard to find the time to treat ourselves or indulge in doing the things that we really love. However, there are several reasons why having a hobby can be a really great thing. Hobbies are often much more than just enjoying ‘me time’ as they can also be something that can be so vital for our overall well-being and our mental health. A hobby is one of the best ways that you can spend your spare time, unwind from your normal routine, and feel happier and healthier as a result.

In fact, there is research that has shown that people who have hobbies are much less likely to feel stressed, low mood, or depressed. So if that isn’t enough reason to find a hobby that you love, we don’t know what is! No matter what kind of hobby you choose, from an academic hobby, a creative hobby, an athletic hobby, or something else more personal, it is important to find things that give you meaning and that you ultimately find enjoyable. When you enjoy it, you will want to carve out time for it to ensure it happens. So with all of this in mind, here are a few hobbies that can work wonders for your mental health. What would you choose?

Photo by Elviss Railijs Bitu0101ns on Pexels.com

Music

If you have an interest in music and want to learn to play an instrument, then it can be an amazing hobby for several reasons. Playing music is something that is a fantastic way to help yourself feel less stressed, and it can be useful when wanting to channel any uncomfortable feelings or emotions that you might have. You can also enjoy a social aspect to a musical hobby if you are interested in joining a group, a band, or an orchestra. Having goals is all part of beating anxiety or depression, and there are plenty of things that are goal-orientated when it comes to music. You will also have the distraction of learning an instrument as you need to fit in time to play it. That will require your focus and mean that you don’t have to focus on other things that are causing you to stress or worry.

Gardening

Gardening is a great hobby for people who love to be outdoors and be at one with nature. Even if you’re not too keen on the outdoors, getting out in your yard can work wonders when you are feeling low. You can plant your favorite flowers which will require planning or research, as well as planting fruits and veggies. You will need to do research to know what will be best to do and when, and it can be a hobby that can definitely help you in a physical way, as well as from a mental health perspective too.

Gardening can be a very rewarding hobby, as you will see things that will grow because of your efforts in taking care of them. Appreciating nature and the outdoors can also go a long way to help your stress levels and anxiety. So it should be a hobby to consider if you are looking for something new to try.

Cars and automobiles

If you have a passion for cars and automobiles, then it can be a good idea to incorporate those into a hobby of yours. You could have a hobby of making kit cars, which can be extremely rewarding as you see something come together that you can then use, all from your hard work, research, and expertise. You could look at replacing things like car batteries, but make sure that you use a good battery finder to get the right one for your needs. You could also look into repairing engines and learning how to do things like oil changes, which can be such a useful thing to know and save you a lot of money down the line.

From another point of view, you could also get into cars and automobile hobbies by getting into racing. It could be off-road racing, it could be sports car racing, or even something like biking, trail bikes, and even BMX biking.

Photo by Chevanon Photography on Pexels.com

Yoga

Several benefits to our mental health come from physical exercise. Yoga is one of those ways that you can exercise that does have a benefit to mental health. It has grown and grown in popularity in recent years, due to it being a way to move and be active and help your mental health. Yoga works well as a hobby because it can calm our nervous system. It can also help with depression and help to reduce any muscle tension. You can watch classes online or attend them locally. Some easy poses can be done at home, although it is a good idea to seek advice from an instructor if you want to take things to the next level. When you are doing something new, your focus is on the task at hand, which can take your mind off other things.

Writing

Writing is a great hobby, and it is one of the most simple choices out there. It costs very little and can be done at any time. Writing out on pen and paper, rather than on a computer or phone notes can do great things for your mind. You could have the creative element of writing a novel or using the time to write more of a journal which can be very cathartic. As a result, it can offer several benefits, and help you to relieve stress, help depression, eliminate anxiety, and even help your memory and improve your sleep. If you want to dedicate more time to this hobby, you can download the care.com app and find great childcare, for example, to give yourself the time you need to finish your novel – what an achievement that would be!

Putting thoughts down on paper means that you can identify some negative thoughts and behaviors, and then they are no longer in your mind. You can also use this time to write down how things are going as a way to replace negative thoughts with happier and more positive ones.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

April 2, 2024 Looking for the Light3 Comments

What is one place you would like to travel to by train?

Why do you think it’d be special to experience it this way?

Melinda

Field Guide by Stampington

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

Blogger Highlight-Susana Cabaço

April 1, 2024 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Susana Cabaco.

Susana Cabaço

Spiritual Insights & Personal Empowerment

Susana Cabaço, PhD, is a biologist who graduated from the University of Algarve (Portugal), where she worked for many years in scientific research on ecology, and a mystic who, for decades, has been journeying the paths of spirituality. Love for Spirit and Nature led her naturally to share her unique spiritual visions and more conscious ways of living, namely veganism, in order to bring forward individual and global expansion of awareness, balance, and well-being.

Susana and I started following each other this week and I can already tell you she’s generous. Check out her blog and the books she has written.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

March 28, 2024 Looking for the Light5 Comments

What a gift it is when something captures our attention while we are going through our everyday routines.

A flower growing in an unlikely place, a rainbow appearing in a puddle…..

What is something that recently made you stop and take in its beauty?

Yesterday, I enjoyed two woodpeckers eating, we have 2 species of woodpeckers, one is tall and the other is a small Ladderback. They are so cool and happy to share food and birdbath.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Mental Health

Bullying: Not Like Old Fashion Fighting Anymore

March 26, 2024 Looking for the Light6 Comments

Original post from 2014

In this social media world, kids form ideas of what is right and wrong. They learn from The Nons as I call them. People you think you know from social media may not be who they are. They are not your friends, I don’t think many long-term relationships start here. The reality is that kids’ self-esteem is affected by bullying especially online, which can be nasty.

I was bullied, it started in 6th grade when a rumor was started saying I said something negative about my friend’s cliff palate. Of course, it wasn’t true but that’s how some bullying starts. I was harassed walking home from school and got hit in the back of my head with a coke bottle. I was teased about braces at 12 years old, and the antics continued until I moved to my father’s which meant another school. In eighth grade, I wasn’t bullied. I learned from prior experiences and how to hold my shoulders back.

Social Media is scary to me because many people look at people and say how are skinny and have to do the same. This is where low self-esteem can start. Then sometimes they forget the influencers and they make money on every click Worse yet there are still too many pornographic posts across all platforms.

Children make impressions from day one and share positive language and affirmations. Many people are lonely and looking to make friends, fake friends I remind you. The HUGE problem is you have no idea of the motives of a stranger. I have seen what teens will do.

Teens who are reading and talking, talking trash yourself. They are blinded and don’t realize they’re in trouble or possibly worse.

It’s a total crap shoot and that is why parents have to set hard rules for all kid’s time on the phone, take their fun away, and monitor their computer usage and read some text. After that y

Bullying: Resources for How to Get Help

This documentary explores America’s teen-bullying epidemic. Millions of kids are relentlessly demeaned and physically attacked at school every day. Parents of victims and educators say that a change must take place and everyone can help. Below is a list of resources to help stop bullying and cyberbullying.

For Everyone:

The Bully Project, and ‘Billy’ Movie: The documentary film that sparked a nationwide movement to stop bullying offers stories of those who were bullies and resources for parents, teachers, kids, and communities on how to deal with and stop bullies on their website. “Bully,” which follows the lives of five U.S. students who faced bullying daily at school, including two who committed suicide as a result, will be in theaters on March 30, 2012.

Stop Bullying Now!:

A resource website sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services that addresses the warning signs of bullying, how to talk about bullies, how to report bullies and cyberbullying and offers a 24-hour help hotline for victims at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

For Children and Teens:

Teens Against Bullying: Specifically created to help teens learn about bullying, how to appropriately respond to it, and how to prevent it.

Kids Against Bullying: This was specifically created to help elementary school children learn about bullying, how to appropriately respond to it, and how to prevent it.

STOMP Out Bullying!: A national anti-bullying and cyberbullying program for kids and teens.

National Youth Advocacy Coalition: An advocacy organization for young people.

Trevor Project: A national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,and questioning youth. They also offer the Trevor Lifeline, a 24-hour, national crisis and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ youth. The number is 1-866-4-U-Trevor.

For Parents and Teachers:

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center: Offers resources for how to teach kids of all ages about bullying, state laws and what parents can do if their child is being bullied, and peer advocacy groups.

Education.com: Bullying at School and Online: A resource for both teachers and parents on how to help a bullied child.

Teaching Tolerance: Bullying: Offers guidelines and activities for teachers to help teach students K-12 about bullies.

The Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools Guide: A guide to help school administrators, educators, and parents or caring adults make sure that their elementary schools welcome all students and families. Targeted at addressing family diversity, gender stereotyping, and name-calling in K-5th grades.

GLSEN, Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network: Works with school officials to ensure that transgender, gay, and lesbian students are not harassed or bullied.

Family Acceptance Project: Launched out of the Marian Wright Edelman Institute at San Francisco State University, this organization works to decrease major health and related risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth.

I hope the recourses are of help.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

March 26, 2024 Looking for the Light3 Comments

What is the one routine you have that makes you feel content and satisfied?

Why do you value it so much?

Melinda

Field Guide by Stampington

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

Fibromyalgia Thoughts #12-Celebrating

March 26, 2024October 10, 2025 Looking for the Light6 Comments

This post is really more of a celebration of my Fibromyalgia staying under control or flare’s have been lighter. This year my other health issues have taken center stage, and I was lucky to avoid a total flare.

Some days I wake in a fog, I don’t fight it and go lie down. How productive is staring at a computer screen or out the back window? I’m more forgiving of myself now and know I’m blessed to be able to focus on my health. I can’t imagine how hard it is to have Fibromyalgia, or any chronic illness, and work, care for kids, or other family matters. My hat’s off to those who manage daily life.

Don’t overdo it!

I have Bursitis in both hips and receive steroid shots to manage the pain. The shots start to wear off in two months but I have to wait until the three-month mark. This is when my hip pain elevates, and having a flare on top of is excruciating. Some days it’s hard to walk, especially the stairs, these are the days my husband jumps in to help me manage the day.

I send well wishes to everyone who has Fibromyalgia, remember towmorrow is a new day.

You’re not alone and talking to someone could change the mood of your day.

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight-Grace of the Sun

March 25, 2024 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Grace of the Sun.

Grace of the Sun

My true intention
is to share,
what brings me joy
because I care.

If what you see
brings on a smile,
then follow me
read for a while.

We have followed each other for the past year, probably more. Her words flow and are soothing. You must check out her blog and read for a while.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

April Fools’ Day Is In The Near Future

March 21, 2024 Looking for the Light4 Comments

April 1 is Fool’s Day, and boy do I remember the pranks we did when I was younger.

Who came up with this celebration?

A disputed association between 1 April and foolishness is in Geoffrey Chaucer‘s The Canterbury Tales (1392).^[3] In the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale.

Here is how a few countries around the globe celebrate April Fools

Italy, France, Belgium, and French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada

In Italy, France, Belgium and French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, the 1 April tradition is often known as “April fish” (poisson d’avril in French, april vis in Dutch or pesce d’aprile in Italian). Possible pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the victim’s back without being noticed. This fish feature is prominently present on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools’ Day postcards. Many newspapers also spread a false story on April Fish Day, and a subtle reference to a fish is sometimes given as a clue to the fact that it is an April Fools’ prank.^{[citation needed]} Boulangeries, pâtisseries and chocolatiers in France sell chocolate fishes in their shop windows on the day.^[20]

Poland (Prima aprilis)

In Poland, prima April (“First April” in Latin) as a day of pranks is a centuries-long tradition. It is a day when many pranks are played: sometimes very sophisticated hoaxes are prepared by people, media (which often cooperate to make the “information” more credible), and even public institutions. Serious activities are usually avoided; every word said on 1 April could be untrue. The conviction for this is so strong that the Polish anti-Turkish alliance with Leopold I, signed on 1 April 1683, was backdated to 31 March.^[22] However, for some in Poland prima April ends at noon of 1 April and prima April jokes after that hour are considered inappropriate and not classy.

A common prank is to carefully remove the cream from an Oreo and replace it with toothpaste, and there are many similar pranks that replace an object (usually food) with another object that looks like the object but tastes different such as replacing sugar with salt and vanilla frosting with sour cream. As well as people playing pranks on one another on April Fools’ Day, elaborate pranks have appeared on radio and television stations, newspapers, and websites, and have been performed by large corporations. In one famous prank in 1957, the BBC broadcast a film in their Panorama current affairs series purporting to show Swiss farmers picking freshly-grown spaghetti, in what they called the Swiss spaghetti harvest. The BBC was soon flooded with requests to purchase a spaghetti plant, forcing them to declare the film a hoax on the news the next day.^[31]

I love how the celebrations are so interesting.

Melinda

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools%27_Day

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

How To Be More Confident

March 21, 2024 Looking for the Light2 Comments

I believe self-confidence starts with good parenting, not the ones who are on the phone the entire evening. Parents show how important their kids are when they attend all the plays, musicals, and ballet practices.

I built mine by taking the smallest job, the job no one wants, and doing the job without complaint. Your actions will be noticed and your confidence grows.

Admit when I am wrong, and move on. You have to get out of your comfort zone to grow. I joined a wine club and even met a couple of clients there. From there I went to museums and took a few night school classes. I stayed focused on the goal and knew I wanted to achieve it. My confidence grew a little at a time.

So many successful people credit their sense of self and their confidence to their success. But not many people really explain how to build confidence, or how to become confident. It’s tricky, because confidence is built on different things, but overall it is built on choices and accomplishments that feed your passion, and that make you feel happy and proud of who you are. Discovering these things is one of the most worthwhile pursuits of your life according to Forbes.

Be yourself, don’t fake it, and remember the client is right, most of the time.

Melinda

References:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/francesbridges/2017/07/21/10-ways-to-build-confidence/?sh=6d24cac3c594

Celebrate Life · Fun · Mental Health

I Smile With Every Like And Comment But What Is Most Important Is Getting To Know You

March 20, 2024 Looking for the Light15 Comments

You have changed my life by filling it with joy every day. I want to say Thank You! Over the years, I have met so many interesting people and blogs. I Thank every country that reads my post.

Many of you have followed me for years, you’re very special.

Thank you for joining my journey and sharing yours.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

March 19, 2024 Looking for the Light6 Comments

Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone’s life. Be the light that helps others see, it is what gives life its deeper significance.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Prasenjeet Gautam Photography

March 18, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Prasenjeet Gautam Photography.

Prasenjeet Gautam Photography

Prasenjeet Gautam is a notable, famous Indian and global photographer who has garnered recognition for his diverse archives of work spanning various photographic sectors. With a multifaceted approach to his craft, Prasenjeet Gautam has established himself as not only a photographer but also a blogger, editor, entrepreneur, image analyst, and teacher. Read More

Prasejeet shares detailed instructions on how to take the different types of shots, and he has taken many. He is down to earth, loves his family, and photography. Be sure to look at his archives, some of his photos blow me away.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

March 17, 2024 Looking for the Light7 Comments

The first thing I do every day?

For me, it’s making a cup of coffee.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Just Pondering

March 16, 2024 Looking for the Light14 Comments

The first book you remember reading?

I wasn’t interested in reading until my boarding school counselor gave me several books to read including Man Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. The book is a game changer.

The book was given to me at 13 years old and what sticks in my mind is how he survived the Holocaust Concentration Camps. He is a very strong man and is a great example of how we can take control of our lives.

Melinda

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

Deep Thoughts

March 14, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!

Continue reading “Deep Thoughts” →

Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

What’s Your Mood Today?

March 13, 2024 Looking for the Light9 Comments

Very frustrated!

My Neurologist got out of his lane and tried to change one of my medications. I will only change or stop a medication with the doctor who wrote the script.

Melinda

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

Spiced Lavender Whipped Shea Butter

March 12, 2024 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Willow & Sage by Stampington

Sounds like a relaxing butter, a great one to use at bedtime, of course, you can use it anytime.

You Will Need

Large bowl

1 cup organic shea butter

1/2 cup organic coconut oil

Hand-held or stand mixer

3 drops lavender essential oil

3 drops sweet orange essential oil

3 drops of clove essential oil

Airtight container

How To Make

Add the Shea Butter and coconut oil to a large bowl and blend until the mixture is creamy and whipped. Be patient, the whipping process can take some time to achieve consistency

Once completely whipped, fold in lavender, sweet orange, and clove essential oils

Store in an airtight container of your choice

Kick back and take the smell in to get the full effect.

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight Mental Notes1

March 11, 2024 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight the blog of Mental Notes 1.

Mental Notes1

POETRY RANDOM THOUGHTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT…

I am a sucker for love and a sob story; I am definitely for the underdog. I am a little weird but very loving, I am perfectly imperfect but shhhh, don’t tell anyone, I wrote a poetry book called Mental Notes in 2011 about addiction and all the insanity associated with it. I have randomly been posting pieces of the book to the blog. Here is the Kindle link for a preview http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SFS54U/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

The blog is new to me but from looking at her blog, she writes poetry and many other topics. She also has two books published. Be sure to check her blog out.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

St. Patrick’s Day March 17, 2024

March 11, 2024 Looking for the Light9 Comments

St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration held every year on March 17. Originally a religious feast day (the “Feast of Saint Patrick”, the foremost patron saint of Ireland), it has developed into a celebration of Irish heritage and culture generally. It is celebrated with festivals, parades, and dancing by the Irish diaspora in many countries around the world. It is customary to wear green clothing or accessories, the color most associated with Ireland. The Lenten restriction of fasting is lifted for this day, encouraging the consumption of alcohol.

I only knew that the celebration was to drink more beer, mostly green. Now that I know it is religious it was a celebration I will take note.

I don’t drink anymore but I’ve had fun in the past.

Melinda

References:

https://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/st-patricks-day.html