It’s always interesting to me to look at the books people have. You can learn so much about them. I’ve included a few photos of my books. See if you can guess what I’m into.
Melinda
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Thirty-Four.
Just another girl trying to make her way through life.
I am a daughter, friend, student, the middle child of seven siblings, auntie, godmother and a child of God. I also have an Eating Disorder. Anorexia Nervosa; binge purging subtype. Major depressive disorder, chemical dependency issues, severe anxiety disorder, OCD, self-harm and suicidal ideation. But I am MORE than my diagnoses! Currently in the middle of a relapse, but relapses are a part of RECOVERY! This is a snapshot of my journey through this crazy thing called LIFE!
Thirty-Four is a new blog and I look forward to seeing her journey.
Melinda
America has an interest in where the Monarchy goes from here and no better person than Prince Charles to lead the way forward. He’s spent his life in dedication to his mother the Queen of England. His life has been spent watching and learning. He couldn’t have had a better teacher.
King Charles III is probably the most experienced King to date. I have confidence he will lead the Church and Monarchy forward with the knowledge of history and a nob to the contemporary.
I know the world is mourning and also knows brighter days are ahead. King Charles III will flourish in his new role and be a great mentor to the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Let’s give King Charles III a chance to add his touch as he honors the past.
God Save the King!
Melinda
I want to send a special thank you to the Managing Editor of Trigger Publishing, Soraya Nair for sending me Monkey Mind by Keith Naylor to read and review.
Can you pinpoint the exact moment that your struggle with mental health started? Keith Naylor attempts to do so in his book Monkey Mind, but he’s not the only one on this trek back in time. He’s also got Tonky – the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey that chatters away in his brain – to help him uncover the causes for his depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Retracing Keith and Tonky’s steps might help you understand your own journey with mental health, too.
This quote is in the Introduction and I love this, it’s a great life quote.
“Be true to yourself. You can be whatever you like, but don’t let your mind hold you back.”
You know that old saying, “I have a monkey on my back? The book Monkey Mind reminds me of the saying only in this case the monkeys are weighing down Kieth’s brain and raising the level of negative self-talk. He takes us on the journey to find answers to when his struggles with mental health started.
Kieth is an only child and doesn’t remember his birth except for what he could get from his father and family members. He was born with a deformity to his leg and had to wear a full leg cast until grade school. He no longer requires a cast but does have a limp if overly tired and is conscious of his leg being different.
Tonky is the name of Kieth’s monkey, and Tonky can keep him from sleeping for nights on end. My monkey keeps me up while trying to go to sleep, she can be so busy that I don’t fall asleep for hours or have to get out of bed.
As for early trauma Kieth not only had to wear a cast to straighten his leg, his favorite Guinea Pig was killed and he was bullied unmercifully at school. This was his early start in the world. As we all know there are many hardships along the way and Kieth has more than his share.
Kieth continues to struggle as he looks for the perfect job, each time being let down. He joins the RAF and finds out he’s not made up for all the yelling and insults from his superior. He continues to take us on his journey for answers.
This book is for anyone who has a monkey on the brain that continues to ask questions. or interferes with your daily activities. We all have an inner talk, it can be positive or negative talk. I would recommend this book to anyone who has anxiety, depression, or trauma in their background.
Monkey Mind is also a great resource for parents who see their child struggling. It can help you understand what children go thru, since getting them to share their inner demons can be hard.
We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives.
Melinda
Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington
Melinda
When talking with family and friends, can you pick up on their comments about potential red flags or how to have a conversation about depression to learn more?
I’ve suffered from depression since childhood. The statements belove are some comments that need to grab your attention to ask more questions. It can be simple like how are you doing? or what can I do to help? The helping is often in the asking, asking provides some affirmation that they are noticed.
Nobody cares about me.
All I do is sleep.
I feel like I’m carrying the world on my shoulders.
Nothing matters.
Ghosting everyone.
They or their house looks more untidy than normal.
Cuts on their hands or arm (could be expressing her feelings by cutting herself. This is a delicate case.)
Loses or gains weight very quickly. ( could be medication side effects which are very frustrating.)
Won’t look you in the eye.
Lack of enthusiasm.
How are you managing?
Find Your Words has a great post that covers the topic of identifying depression and how to get the conversation going.
Everyone is different and so is their communication style. The main thing is doing something to help. Let them talk and you find a time to gently probe.
How are you?
What can I do for you?
Have you seen your doctor?
Are you planning on hurting yourself?
Are you under a lot of stress at work? What’s going on?
What action can I take right now?
Who can I call?
How are you feeling?
Do you want to go for a walk or get a coffee?
What’s going on?
These are just a small number of questions. I hope this will help you, a family member, or a friend. To get the best help from your inner circle is to let them know what are some of the comments you make, or other things you do to show your depression. This gives them the opportunity to know when you need support.
Depression is a complex disorder and anyone can be depressed sometime in their life. If your depression is ongoing, make an appointment with your Psychiatrist. You need the assistance of a doctor who has the right skills to help you.
Melinda
References:
What you can say
Negativity does not have many positives to it. Sometimes negativity can be associated with skepticism which can be good to ensure a mote robust group decision-making process. However, let’s distingush between negativity and negative people. Negativity can either be a temporary or longheld state. Yet, negative people are forever in that state and hardly ever […]
Stay away from negative people: They have a problem for every solution — psychologistmimi
Many new bloggers might not be familiar with the habit of giving people awards for different accomplishments. I participated in awards for ages. When I reached 100 awards I had to take them down, they were crowding out my blog. It was fun to get an award occasionally but to get several awards in one week is too much. Below is one of my awards from 2015 from a devoted follower, Alygoeres.
If you are interested, do some searches to find blogging awards.
I’m a free spirit, unbounded by any rules… but I do believe in RESPECTING ALL. I’ve been through so much in life, and I have reason to believe that there are many more people out there who have sailed in the same boat as I. It’s for that profound reason that I decided to share my experiences on this site, so I can motivate someone; help them understand that there’s so much to live than just resigning oneself to misery…
I wrote a post in June 2014, about my mother leaving me at the county hospital at eight years old. I reposted the above for your viewing. Alygoeres replied quickly with supportive words and prayers. We formed a strong bond immediately. You’ll find her site motivating. Alygoeres has provided constant support from the beginning of my Lyme Disease journey.
My brother shot me in the leg with his new BB Gun when I was 10 years old
I have to take every car for a ride to see how fast it will go
Fascinated by the Mafia, particularly Russian.
I love Horses, one time rode a horse thru a Jack in the Box. They freaked, what were horses doing in the city?
I went to Daytona Bike Week. Looking at all the bike paint jobs, motors, and fat tires, the sound was like a dream. I enjoyed riding the Harley on the beach.
I love music yet can’t carry a tune or play an instrument. I made an effort with lessons in Clarinet, Piano, and Guitar.
I’m an Ordained Minister
I’m blessed to receive the Very Inspiring Blogger Award twice from Alygeorges. Lyme Disease has me in a stranglehold. She keeps me in her prayers and is a great support person. I hope you will spend time on Alygeorges site, alygeorges.wordpress.com. Please stop by her site, you will find her enlightening.
I will complete the nomination process at a later date.
XO Warrior
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, And Then I Slept.
Finding a path
I live in Vermont. The perfect place to heal. I have been moving through the process of reclaiming my life from the effects of extensive childhood trauma. There are up days and down days. But my hope is that through this blog I can use humor and some of the things I have learned along the way. To reach back into the room of a thousand demons that we walk through and help someone else on their journey.
Melinda
The face is one of the first places that aging becomes evident. Crow’s feet, laugh lines, and wrinkles can make you look older than you actually are. But there are ways to fight back against Father Time and keep your face looking young and fresh.
Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis is another great way to keep your face looking young. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells that can make your complexion appear dull. There are a variety of ways to exfoliate your skin, including using a gentle scrub or an exfoliating brush.
If you want to take things a step further, you can also get facials. Facials can help improve your skin’s appearance by deep cleaning it and providing nourishment. There are a variety of different types of facials available, so be sure to consult with a professional to find the best one for your needs.
One of the best ways to achieve a youthful appearance is to make sure your skin is well hydrated. Moisturizing your skin helps to plump up fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful appearance. In addition, using a quality serum or face oil can help to give your skin an extra boost of hydration.
Getting enough sleep is also crucial for achieving a youthful appearance. When you don’t get enough sleep, it shows on your skin. For example, you may develop dark circles under your eyes, or your skin may look dull and tired. So aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to help your skin look its best.
Photo by Amanda Dalbjörn on Unsplash
There are a number of anti-aging products on the market that can help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Look for products that contain retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids, as these ingredients have been shown to be effective at combating the signs of aging.
Botox is a popular cosmetic treatment that can temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The injections work by paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles, giving your face a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that uses lasers to remove the top layer of skin, revealing the newer, unbroken skin beneath. The procedure can help to smooth out wrinkles and give your face a more youthful appearance.
Finally, be sure to protect your skin from the sun. Ultraviolet rays can damage the collagen in your skin, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. So wear sunscreen every day, even if you’re just going outside for a short period of time. Therefore, it’s important to always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. And, if you’ll be spending extended periods of time in the sun, be sure to wear protective clothing, such as a hat and long-sleeved shirt.
Following these simple tips, you can help to achieve a more youthful appearance. Alternatively, take a look at upneeq for more options. Just remember to be patient – it takes time for your skin to show the benefits of your new routine.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
I’ve written many posts to you on your birthday since you took your life and granny’s heart. I knew you were going to kill yourself but one can never imagine how it feels when it actually happens. The pain doesn’t stop with the notification it continues with cleaning out the house, selling it, the insurance paperwork, and arranging a funeral, each one a painful step.
I chose to remember the memories we made before the divorce. I was 6.5 years old, mama took us to the lake, and we set on the picnic tables. She tells you’re leaving, my brother and I were shocked and very confused. It was so sad, the memory burned into my brain, we came home and you and gramps were driving off. We didn’t even get to say goodbye.
You loved her, never forgot about her and that’s why you had the divorce papers out on the table the day you died.
We would go to the convenience store and get a soda, back then all they had was glass bottles and you had to make a deposit on the bottle. You received your money back when you brought the bottle in. We sit in the car and listened to the radio just singing our hearts while we drank our soda.
I remember when you had a part-time job at the grocery store and you would bring home the dented cans. I would sneak out of bed and help you put everything in the pantry.
You loved Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis, we would sing our hearts out to the albums night after night.
I don’t have many good memories, and if I do, they are memories of us going clubbing when I was nine years old. The parties you took me to, they were all inappropriate for a child. It only got crazier as I got older.
I hope you’ve found peace and the pain is gone.
Melinda
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.
According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that “the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday.” Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.
Enjoy your Labor Day!
Melinda
References:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “why”. Use it any way you’d like.
Enjoy
! 
I read JoAnna’s post from JoAnna of the Forest and she beat me to the reason WHY. I, like her, grew up hearing or saying why many times.
Why can’t we go outside to play?
Why can’t we get ice cream?
Why can’t I drive?
Why can’t I spend the night?
Then there’s the normal from the parent’s side
Why do you do that?
Why do you like him?
Why don’t you like school?
Why do you wear your jeans so low? (back when hip huggers were around)
There are so many why’s in the world, it can be exhausting but we are curious creatures and that’s how we learn.
Melinda
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write. 2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop. 3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a particular subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started. 4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below. 5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post. 6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get! 7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views. 8. Have fun!
For more streams, rules, and tips for Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit our host, Linda at: Linda G Hill
I’m very aware of the pain that migraines cause, they also disrupt your life. During the 90s I suffered from a migraine almost daily and took medication and injections. My career was taking off and I was in outside sales, calling on high-level executives of major corporations. I loved my job but my life changed when I started getting migraines. This went on for two years, two years of rushing home in between appointments to give an injection. While it took effect, I rested and made phone calls when I could.
You can read the whole story here. My story had a happy ending when the doctor discovered a bone in my nose was causing them. I got very lucky.
Every year, the United Kingdom observes Migraine Awareness Week in the first week of September. This year, it will be observed from September 5 to 14. Migraines are mistakenly understood as severe headaches, but they are so much more than that. Migraines are actually a debilitating neurological disease. Even though migraines are a common headache disorder, they remain poorly understood and neglected. Many people go their entire lives without proper diagnosis and treatment. With care and treatment, migraines can become more manageable. Apart from inheriting the condition, some people can also get migraines through specific triggers. Interestingly, one can develop migraine at any stage in their life.
Migraines are a chronic neurological disorder that affects over a billion people across the world. Migraine symptoms include long-lasting headaches, characterized by severe, throbbing, or pulsating pain on one side of the head. The headache is often accompanied by light or sound sensitivity, nausea, or vomiting. Even though the symptoms can be very uncomfortable and impact the overall quality of life, people remain ignorant of the condition. Migraine is one of the top ten leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide. Around the world, the prevalence of migraine is approximately 10% of the entire population. More than half the patients who complain of severe and regular headaches, turn out to be migraines.
While migraines don’t have a definitive cause, certain factors can trigger the condition. These triggers include stress, irregular sleep schedules, caffeine or alcohol consumption, dietary triggers such as chocolate, cheese, and dairy products, hormone fluctuations, and more. That’s a long list!
The condition significantly impacts the individual’s personal, professional and social life. Migraines come without a warning and can be crippling. This is the main reason for an urgent need to diagnose and treat migraines correctly. It also helps patients to identify their migraine triggers and avoid these triggers as best as they can. There is also the need for more effective, personalized migraine treatment. Medical practitioners should also take into account the patient’s comorbidities, frequency and severity of attacks, and more. As you can see, patients and healthcare workers need to be more vigilant of migrant attacks and their treatments.
Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are having any type of headache on a regular basis.
Melinda
References:
Pets are increasingly being used as part of therapy programs by doctors. Therapy dogs are more effective because of their natural curiosity and interaction. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s easy to think a dog is a dog. But any dog owner will tell you they are all different. Even dogs of the same breed develop individual personalities, which is a privilege to see as they grow. While any dog is a great listener, there are some breeds that therapists recommend over others. Labradors, for example, are almost always at the top of the list. But this is because they are multitaskers. For straightforward love and support, smaller dogs like Ausmate Australian Cobberdogs are great because they are very caring and don’t get in the way.
Dogs are excellent pets that require little maintenance beyond feeding, an occasional bath, and a daily walk. So just looking after a dog is healthy since it gets you moving and outside for some fresh air. But dogs are also excellent companions if you have a health condition such as cancer, PTSD, or dementia. Some can also be trained to alert when something is wrong, such as having an epileptic seizure. But therapy dogs also provide massive amounts of love and comfort to their owners who otherwise have no one to turn to when stressed, anxious or depressed.
Dogs are so effective as therapy that there are over 50,000 therapy dogs in the United States alone. Pet therapy works on many levels, both physical and mental, so it is excellent for your overall health. Some of the many benefits of using a dog for therapy include the following:
Even if you live with a loving family, depression, and anxiety can plague your life, making it hard to talk to people. A therapy dog helps you cope with these feelings and can break down barriers by having you talk to your dog first. This is so effective it is recommended by most therapists.
If you have a dog, then you know how comforting they are. When you have no place to turn, a dog will always be at your side, with hugs and kisses. Yet many studies from over the years have concluded that even being around a dog helps with many problems. For example, dog owners are at a much lower risk of developing depressive health conditions. And they help improve your mood simply by being their fun and playful selves. Additionally, playing with your dog encourages you to get out more and move around when you may be living a sedentary lifestyle.
Dogs enjoy providing love and support just as much as we need it. So there is no shame in needing a therapy dog; they can help your mental and physical welfare. Therefore they are recommended if you experience emotional problems that affect relationships. But they are also excellent for helping you cope with mental health issues. Therefore, therapy dogs are more than pets. Interacting with an animal improves your mood and lowers stress because it releases endorphins and serotonin. These are the chemicals that make you feel in a good mood.
Therapy dogs aren’t just pets. Some breeds are multitaskers, while others provide affection. They can help lower severe illnesses and stabilize your mood by balancing hormones.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
If you were to suddenly become permanently unable to work for any length of time, how would you cope financially? It is a scary prospect for anyone. The good news is that, with some planning and sensible precautions, anyone can protect their finances in case they cannot work. These situations can be highly stressful, but with the proper knowledge and advice, you can rest assured that your financial future is secure.
Critical illness cover is designed for people concerned about the impact that a long-term illness or disability may have on their finances. A critical illness policy pays out a lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of several specified illnesses – many of which are conditions that can be long-term or have a significant impact on your ability to work. It would typically cover things like long-term illness, disability, or the loss of a significant bodily function, e.g., loss of sight or a limb. Some policies may also cover things like the loss of a parent or the death of a spouse or partner – this would depend on the circumstances and the policy you take out. This can be particularly helpful if you are the primary breadwinner in the family – and would be responsible for paying the mortgage, bills, and taking care of any children.
An emergency fund allows you to deal with unforeseen events or expenses that may arise, such as a sudden loss of earnings, a medical emergency, or a home repair. Having a fund to fall back on will help you to cope with any financial problems that arise and will mean that you do not have to rely on credit cards or loans to bridge the gap. You can set the amount you want to contribute each month to an account you can access whenever you need. This can help with any living costs in the absence of income or support out-of-pocket expenses such as finding an AFFF attorney to make a claim regarding your illness.
Debt protection insurance plans are designed to help protect your assets from being seized if you cannot pay your debts. Even if you do not think you have a lot of debt, you may be surprised at how quickly things can spiral out of control. And if you are unfortunate enough to fall ill and need to take time off work, your finances could be at risk. Plans like this will typically pay out a certain amount if you cannot pay off your creditors due to an accident or illness. Typically, they also pay out a reduced amount on any ongoing debts. This will help protect your assets and future finances against lawsuits being filed against you because you cannot pay your bills.
While critical illness cover aims to replace some of your income should you become ill, income protection is designed to replace your income should you become sick and unable to work for an extended period. With income protection, you pay a monthly or yearly amount; should you become unable to work, you will be paid out by the insurance company. Typically, you will be paid a percentage of what you previously earned. It is important to note that different providers have different definitions of long-term illness, so it is best to check the terms of your policy to see your situation in the event that you cannot work.
Planning ahead is key to protecting your finances if you cannot work. Start saving as early as possible, and be sure to take full advantage of all the tax reliefs available. It is also essential to consider the types of insurance best suited to your circumstances and future goals.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
This video is so refreshing, and I look forward to the day someone like Ronald Reagan runs for office. I try hard to keep out of politics but it’s very hard these days not to have an opinion, most of them strong. Many areas of our government are broken and still broken since he left office. I’m not saying he is the greatest President in the world, I’m saying I love his candor and attitude.
The most important comment he made was, not verbatim, that people need to look to themselves to solve problems, not the government. Amen, and a cherry on top!!!!!
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!
My first car was an old ugly green Dodge Duster. It had a killer stereo but the bracks were hell. This was my 16th birthday present from my father.
Enjoy!
Melinda
A home garden offers loads of benefits beyond boosting your home’s curb appeal and increasing your property’s value. It plays a significant role in improving your physical and mental health. It also helps reduce your expenses (depending on what you grow in your garden) and establish sustainable measures in your home. But if you’re new to gardening and thinking about creating one for your home for the first time, the last thing you want to do is jump right into planting a garden. Here are some things you need to do before you start a home garden.
The first thing you want to do is consider the best place to grow your garden. Of course, this will depend on your home and how much space you have. Be sure that your ideal spot offers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Therefore, it would be best if you took the time to observe your preferred spaces to figure out which spots receive the most sunlight. If you have too much shade in your yard, all hope is not lost, as there are two options you can try. On the one hand, you can remove the source of shade, depending on what it is. On the other hand, you can consider growing indoor plants that thrive with little sunlight instead.
After deciding on the best spot, clear the ground of weeds, dead trees, stumps, etc. You can hire experts to remove some of these stubborn obstacles if necessary. You can visit websites like duvaltreeandbobcat.com for experienced and safe tree removal services.
The next thing you want to do is decide on what plants you want to grow. Would you like to create a vegetable garden to supplement your grocery needs? Or do you want to spruce up your curb appeal with lush flowers? Knowing the purpose of the garden will help you decide what to grow in it. If you want to grow a garden for food, think about what vegetables, fruits, or herbs you need the most. Also, consider which food items are difficult or expensive to purchase and see if you can grow them. If your garden is for curb appeal, think about what plants or flower pieces you love the most and can thrive in your location.
Wildlife is an important part of your garden because it helps encourage growth in all aspects of the space. From pollinating flowers to creating an experience for you and your household to enjoy. You might also want to think about adding some wildlife that remains in your garden, like fish in a pond or chickens in a pen. For this, you’re going to need to have the right setup required like this automatic chicken waterer for example.
Gardening can be very relaxing, but it can also be very tasking, especially if you don’t have the right garden tools. You can take advantage of many tools, facilities, and equipment in the modern gardening world to make growing your plants easier. Of course, you don’t need to invest in a comprehensive range of garden equipment when you’re a beginner. You only need the basic and most essential tools, such as a rake, hand trowel, hoe, spade, garden fork, and pruning shears. Also, before considering gardening, be sure you’re willing to devote the time and effort a home garden demands.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain, and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.” – Matt Haig This is an important truth to grasp. You may struggle with mental illness. You may be displaying the effects of trauma. But none […]
Quote of the Day — Don’t Lose Hope
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, The Orange Rose.
Shedding the old and creating the new! Please join me for a world of poems, food reviews, self healing content, and mindful thinking content. Thank you 😊
The Orange Rose is a blog for everyone.
Melinda
I love to dream about all the places and things I want to do. They’re not quite goals since the list is long but they’re a reminder of where to go when I’m planning an advantage. I hope this will prompt you to think about all the things you want to do in life and to write them down. Something written down is more likely to turn into a goal or be successful. I learned early in my career, the more I wrote about what I wanted to accomplish, the more accomplished I became.
Here’s the link to my previous Bucket List.
Here’s the link to my previous Bucket List.
Dive with Whales
Dive with the big Manta Rays
Go in a pressurized capsule deep into the ocean to look at a shipwreck.
Ride a Camel (ethically)
Bathe an Elephant in the river
Spend the day talking with Elon Musk
Become a wildlife rescuer
Create a Hydroponic garden
Lavish the countryside and shops in Greece
Own a Shiba Inu dog
Hike Nevada and Verna Falls at Yosemite National Park a second time
See Niagra Fallas
Have a proper greenhouse to grow veggies and flowers year round and grow plants from seeds
Complete my Ancesesty charts
I’ll update again after I have so time to contemplate.
Have a great day.
Melinda
23 & Me is a DNA Testing and has a Family Tree maker too. This is an interesting study.
August 17, 2022
This week, we released a new report (powered by 23andMe Research) on Fibromyalgia for 23andMe+ members.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic pain and tenderness throughout the body. That pain can be intermittent and move to different parts of the body. Fibromyalgia symptoms can also include fatigue, problems sleeping, and difficulty concentrating.
Because of the pain, discomfort, and chronic nature of the condition, people with fibromyalgia often experience depression and anxiety as they cope with their symptoms.
The causes of fibromyalgia are not well understood, but genetics and other factors influence how likely an individual is to develop the condition.
Researchers believe people with fibromyalgia have higher pain sensitivity. That may reflect differences in the nervous system for these individuals, especially in the brain and spinal cord.
While the exact causes are not understood, certain non-genetic factors are associated with a higher likelihood of developing the condition. A family history of the condition also increases the odds of developing it. It’s also associated with other health conditions, like depression, viral infection, arthritis, and lupus. Stress or trauma also is associated with higher chances of developing fibromyalgia.
While the condition can affect people of any age, it tends to develop in middle age. It’s estimated that as many as five million people in the U.S. live with fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but it’s also believed that the condition is under-diagnosed, especially in men.
Our new report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research and uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of developing fibromyalgia.
This estimate is made using a statistical model that includes 13,040 genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. In this white paper, you can learn more about the science and methodology behind our new report.
Although it’s not life-threatening, fibromyalgia can make day-to-day life difficult.
Beyond the symptoms already described like chronic pain and fatigue, people with the condition also may deal with headaches, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, or even a painful bladder.
Often those with the condition benefit from counseling or participate in support groups as part of a broader effort to manage their fibromyalgia.
In addition, many experts agree that lifestyle habits may help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for those with fibromyalgia. Regular exercise, good sleep and sleep habits, and stress-reduction or mindfulness techniques have been shown to help manage symptoms.
23andMe’s new Fibromyalgia report (powered by 23andMe Research) is available to all 23andMe+ members. To view your report, go here.
Not a 23andMe+ member? To become a 23andMe+ member, or to find out more go here.
The post 23andMe+ Report on Fibromyalgia appeared first on 23&Me Blog.
Melinda
It’s natural to feel lonely when you move to a new city, especially if you move alone and have to start all over again, it’s hard to make friends. With so much going on in these first few weeks, you almost forget that you should have a social life, and by the time you remember, […]
8 Ways To Help You Make Friends In a New City — Olivia Lucie Blake
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 or questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
Enjoy!
Melinda
If you make smart investments when you’re in your 20s, you can set yourself up for a much better financial life. Real estate is one of the best things you can put your money into. People in their 20s are told to try to get a foot on the property ladder as soon as they can. Why? Well, check out these three amazing reasons:
When you’re young, a house is a great way to spend your money. Yes, you will need a mortgage, which means making payments every month for years. But it’s much better to do this than to pay rent to a landlord for years.
What does rent get you? Hardly anything, just a roof you don’t own over your head. You don’t have any say over the property; you can’t even change the way it looks without permission. When you invest in real estate, you might end up with a house that you own and are in charge of. So, even though money is spent on mortgage payments, it’s not wasted because it goes toward something very valuable. Have a look at some real estate tips if you need more convincing.
Some investments are better than others in terms of safety. Putting thousands of dollars into the stock market could be a good or bad idea. There’s a chance that the stocks you buy will go down, which means you’ll lose a lot of money.
On the other hand, the value of a property will almost always go up. The long-term trend of history shows that house prices go up. If you buy a house when you’re in your 20s, you can sell it when you’re in your 40s, 50s, or when you retire and make a lot of money.
As the last point shows, you can buy a house, live in it for years, and still make money on it if you keep it in good shape. But one of the best parts about climbing the property ladder is that you can decide how much your investment is worth.
You can’t legally do anything to change how much shares cost on the stock market. There are many things you can do to make your home more valuable. In a couple of months, you can increase the value of your home by making a few changes and then selling it for a profit. Or, you can make changes over time so that when you go to sell it, it’s worth a lot more. You are in charge either way.
Basically, the best investment you can make in your 20s is in real estate. You need to remember you are committing to long-term borrowing, but it could be worth it.
If you’d rather buy the house outright, the best thing you can do is save up for a mortgage. You’ll need enough money for a down payment, and you’ll need to make sure your credit is good enough to qualify for a mortgage.
Getting your foot on the property ladder is a great idea, no matter how you do it. Try to do it as soon as you can.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
There is nothing quite as frightening as being stalked. Having somebody knowingly follow your moves, put devices in your car to follow your car goes, and generally invade your space in a very intrusive way can be scary. Being a victim of stalking can create a lot of trauma, and it can mess with your ability to trust people, create paranoia and anxiety, and or even give you the symptoms of PTSD.
You need to know how to protect your phone from hacking, and you need to know how to protect yourself if you suspect that somebody is following your movements. Stalking behaviors can include things like threats of violence, hacking your devices, asking people about you to gather information about you, loitering outside your home, turning up and bombarding you with text messages, emails, and cyberstalking – it’s quite the list. Here are some of the ways that you can protect yourself from stalking.
Call the police. The most obvious beginning if you believe you are being stalked is to call the authorities and get help. The majority of people who are being stalked know who the stalkers are, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to seek help from somebody that you can trust to keep you safe and report to the authorities as well.
Stop communicating with them. If you suspect that somebody is following you or trying to learn more about your whereabouts, then stop communicating with them. Stop emailing, stop texting, and change your phone number if necessary. Put the important phone numbers for people you can trust on speed dial, two because then you’ll be able to dial the numbers at the touch of a button from your pocket if necessary.
Lock down your social media. You should be very vigilant about the type of information that you put on the Internet anyway, if you believe you are being stalked then hiding from view and removing any pictures or location settings is important. This way, you will be in the best position to protect yourself from online stalking. You don’t want somebody to know what your movements are even from a distance, because this is going to be invasive.
Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right the chances are that it’s not right. If you feel like something is not quite right at any given moment, ask for help. Ask the security of your office building to walk you to your car, and ask somebody to walk with you on your commute. Arrange for a taxi pick-up service at the same time every day so that you can be sure that you are being protected no matter where you go.
Have a panic button in your home. If it has got to the point that somebody keeps turning up at your front door because I have learned your address, you need to have a panic button installed in your home so that you can contact the authorities in an instant. You shouldn’t have to live in fear.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
There is a saying that goes: It takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes a village to support a person in a humanitarian crisis. With record-high humanitarian needs around the world, this year’s World Humanitarian Day (WHD) builds on this metaphor of collective endeavour to grow global appreciation of humanitarian work
Whenever and wherever people are in need, there are others who help them. They are the affected people themselves – always first to respond when disaster strikes – and a global community that supports them as they recover. Far from the spotlight and out of the headlines, they come together to ease suffering and bring hope.
On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
For this year’s WHD, we show the importance, effectiveness and positive impact of humanitarian work.
WHD is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Are you thinking about going camping with your kids? This can be a great way to reconnect with your family and ensure that you escape the pressures of urban society. You might be worried that you’re going to be bored while camping or that your kids are going to be agitated. However, this is not the case. Below, we’ll reveal some of the awesome activities that you can try while you are camping with the kids.
First, you should think about going fishing. Fishing is a great way to relax while you are camping. You might think that fishing is something that you can only do if you have the right level of skill or experience. In reality, anyone can go fishing and have a lovely time. You just need to make sure that you have the right level of patience and don’t end up getting annoyed when you don’t catch fish straight away. You should also check the local regulations which may encourage you to release any fish that you catch back into the wild.
Another activity you can explore is wild water swimming. Wild water swimming describes swimming in any open stretch of water that is not man-made. This could include anything from a river to the ocean or perhaps a lake. You just need to make sure that wherever you are planning to swim is safe and won’t leave you in peril. You also need to make sure that you are a strong enough swimmer to manage the currents and you should never risk going wild swimming alone.
Next, you should consider going off-roading with the kids. This is one activity that they are guaranteed to absolutely adore. Off-roading can include the use of the best UTV. It’s worth checking the reviews and different vehicles on the market before settling on the right one for your family.
Mountain biking is an awesome activity for you to try when you’re camping in the mountains. Take the bikes with you on the back of your car, and get ready for an experience that will blow your mind. It’s difficult to get the hang of because of the steepness of the mountain on your way up, but the adrenaline rush on the way down is something that you will never forget.
The point of mountain biking is to find tough terrain, making it a bumpy and more difficult ride. You will have to control your bike as best you can, keeping yourself upright at all times.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the fun activities that you can try while you are camping. Try to make this as fun and adventurous as you can for everyone involved, as who knows when you’re going to get the opportunity to head out on this kind of adventure again? We wish you the very best of luck and hope that you have the best time ever on your camping trip.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
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