Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SOCS Prompt is “clear”

May 21, 2022 Looking for the Light4 Comments

Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “clear.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Today the prompt is a good one, clear. I’m not thinking clear after weeks of poor sleep. One thing I remember growing up was being able to sleep late on weekends. My granny would let me sleep until 11:00. that was a good thing because any earlier I would be a monster and probably have a monster hangover headache. But I digress. She would come in to wake me up and say I don’t know how you can lay there that long my bones would hurt me. I thought that was silly and she was giving me a hard time for being lazy.

Fast forward to 58 years old, now my bones hurt. Not after a night’s sleep, not even four hours of sleep but every two hours. I have to wake up and move the dogs around which gets them grumpy and after I get settled I’m wide awake. Then two hours later it’s the other hip or shoulder and it’s time to repeat.

This has gone on night after night, for the last year since I stop taking pain medication. What is clear to me is pain medication is required if I’m ever going to sleep a full night again. I ofter ask while trying to go back to sleep how my granny did it without so much as a Tylenol.

Here’s another take on “clear”, it’s clearly. I’m not thinking that way this morning but look forward to that day. As Johnny Nash says I can see all the obstacles in my way.

Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now

Melinda

Here are the rules:

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

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

May 19, 2022 Looking for the Light15 Comments

Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington

What are five things you can do that never fail to turn your day around?

Melinda

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

The Most Important “Sexy” Model Video Ever

May 19, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The Most Important “Sexy” Model Video Ever
http://youtu.be/bOXMKEnra8w

Save the Children gets the point across.

Warrior

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

Just Pondering

May 17, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington

Our interests and passions are things that make us unique.

What are some things you’re passionate about that might surprise others to learn?

Melinda

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

Book Review Love Interrupted, Navigating Grief One Day at a Time by Simon Thomas

May 16, 2022May 23, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

I want to give a special thanks to Laura Sebright from Trigger Publishing for sending me the book, Love Interrupted, Navigating Grief One Day at a Time by Simon Thomas for review.

Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief One Day at a Time Paperback – June 13, 2019

200 pages

Blurb

In his heartbreaking memoir, Simon Thomas (former Blue Peter presenter and one of the leading faces of Sky Sports Football) reveals how grief nearly destroyed him.When Simon lost the woman he had loved for 16 years, the future he’d imagined for their happy family disappeared forever. Just three days after being diagnosed, Gemma died from acute myeloid leukaemia.In Love, Interrupted, Simon is brutally honest about his journey through grief, and opens up about how close he came to ending his own life. Simon didn’t know how to carry on without Gemma; he just knew that, for the sake of his eight-year-old son, he had to find a way…Love, Interrupted is a moving story of love, loss, faith, and family.

My Thoughts

Accolades

‘The most moving book of the year’ Daily Mail’

A brave and candid book’ Metro

Death is a taboo subject but one we all deal with in our lifetime. Simon shares his experience of love and loss, and the will to move forward for the health of his young son Ethan who is eight years old when his mother dies.

His writing is raw as he shares the experience of losing his wife suddenly to cancer and how he navigates the unbearable grief. Simon talks about his mental health during the grieving process and how to help a child deal with all the emotions of losing a mother. It’s a heartbreaking story but one of hope.

Simon and Ethan learn how to build a life and move forward to reclaim their happiness while still honoring his wife Gemma.

This book is for anyone who has lost a loved one or is helping someone who has and is dealing with grief. It’s not a book about dying but one about living, about taking the painful steps forward to find happiness again and to provide a stable life for his son.

It’s a fast read and you feel Simon’s pain and loss in a real way. I would recommend this book without hesitation.

Trigger Publishing

TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.

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

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

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

Blogger Highlight-Healing Your Heart From Within

May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 Looking for the Light1 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 a new blogger, Healing Your Heart From Within.

Healing Your Heart From Within

Decided to dance a little deeper in life, and wow can spirit dance!

My search for meaning in life. Going through the ups and downs in life trying to come to terms with that ongoing question that we all have…’is this it?’. And the process I took to finally understand that I’m a package and most of my life I had been playing with the wrapping, not realising that further in was this incredible present just waiting to be held, felt, listened to, understood and integrated into who I was to become. After recognising this part of myself, spirit asked that I put what I had learned somewhere that others may gain from it and help their journey just as I had also been helped to find that present within.

Be sure to stop by and check out his blog.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

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

Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SOCS Prompt is “hat”

May 14, 2022 Looking for the Light5 Comments

It’s Saturday again and time for us all to join in Linda’s SoCs. The prompt is week is: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “hat.” Use it literally or metaphorically. Have fun!

I love hats and my first hat was a football helmet from my gramps for my first birthday. Some would say it’s not a hat but I think it set me on a course of loving hats. Ball caps, cowboy hats, and fedoras are my favorite. I have a large collection and with the weather in Texas, I don’t get to wear them often enough.

The hat I had the most fun wearing wasn’t really a hat, more like a halo. A halo of flowers like mother nature would wear. It was for my Junior Prom and it matched my dress. I got so many compliments and a few laughs but I felt larger than life.

Here’s a photo of a hat I wore in 2019 for another blogger I was trying to cheer up during a very stressful time.

It did make her laugh, she even posted a photo of herself in her favorite hat. Who knew hats were good for your mental health.

What’s your favorite type of hat?

Melinda

Here are the rules:

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

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

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

Book Review My Mind Won’t Shut Up! Meditation for People Who Don’t Meditate by Linda and Marion Williamson

May 11, 2022May 16, 2022 Looking for the Light6 Comments

I want to give a special thanks to Laura Sebright from Trigger Publishing for sending me the book, My Mind Won’t Shut Up! Meditation for People Who don’t Meditate by Linda and Marion Williamson for review.

My Mind Won’t Shut Up!: Meditation for People Who Don’t Meditate

Published March 2021

107 pages

About the Author

Linda is a senior IT project manager for the NHS in London and has been meditating for 20 years. She’s obsessed with meditation books, retreats, and classes. She reads all the research but still manages to regularly lock herself out of her flat. Marion is an author, editor, and copywriter. This is her 4th book. She edited Prediction Magazine for ten years and works as a copywriter for various websites and magazines. Linda has meditation knowledge and Marion knows how to write books.

Blurb

Realistic, cheeky, and easy-to-read, My Mind Won’t Shut Up is a book that challenges meditation myths. It’s for ordinary, stressed-out people with money worries, weird families, and hemorrhoids. Written by two sturdy-legged Glaswegians with short attention spans, My Mind Won’t Shut Up! is aimed at anyone who is curious about meditation but turned off by anything too woo-woo. It is not a spiritual journey, and it won’t make you better at kung fu. It will help you be kinder to yourself, stop you from spinning out, and make you less prone to emotional wobbles.

My Thoughts

This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn how to meditate without all the complicated routines and jargon. What you see is what you get here and it feels good to hear real people who struggle to meditate for all the same reasons we do and how they find a way to fit it into their life.

Linda and Marion show us how to be kind to ourselves and set realistic expectations. Which is a problem in many meditation books I’ve read. They have either way too much information or too hoky poky for me. My Mind Won’t Shut Up is a fun and fast read, one you can easily refer to again and again.

They show us in simple terms how we can incorporate meditation into our daily lives and its benefits.

Some reviews even called this a self-help book because it created positive thinking. I can’t think of a better way to learn how to meditate and would recommend this book to anyone who wants a no-nonsense book on how to meditate.

Trigger Publishing

TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Survivor

Repost from 2015 Mother’s Message To Her Child

May 10, 2022 Looking for the Light10 Comments

This is what child abuse looks like. Just like any other parent is what it looks like until you peel the layers back.

Melinda

Original post 1/2015

I found photos of myself starting at birth. As I looked at each photo my mind was asking who could hit this child. I began to sob, continuing to look at each as I grew older. The question of who could hit this child grew louder in my head. People who don’t know me are probably thinking I was crying for myself. The truth is I didn’t think about my circumstances once. I looked at each photo as any child being abused, not even seeing myself in the photo. I knew logically they were me but my mind turns off. I had a similar experience after seeing a news report of a 9-year-old girl abused, starved, and killed by her parents. She died chained to a post on the front porch. I was heartbroken and wished someone could have helped her. There were no tears at home. Several days later I started talking to my Therapist about the girl. I cried, expressing a range of emotions, and it took a few minutes to compose myself. I asked my Therapist if the emotions were suppressed, and I didn’t think so. After 16 years she knows me and explained I feel deep compassion for others.

I read my Baby Book, I wanted to show that abused children and abusers don’t look any different. The parents can say sweet things to cover the abuse at home.

My Mother’s Message To Her Child

To my beautiful young lady. I wish you all the happiness and grace to you. May God fill your life with all his richness and love. May your path be filled with roses and your heart be filled with the pureness of God.

New mothers often write their child’s milestones in a Baby Book. Here is my Mother’s observations and comments mine starting at birth.

Lock of hair from the first cut at 12 months old

The first baby ring at 18 months

Hand and footprints traced, right hand at 8 months and right foot at 3 months

My first toys were a baseball bat and glove from my gramps

I learned to ride a bike at 4 years old

Started walking at 8 months, potty trained at 19 months

Notes: Happy birthday my sweet little kitten, likes to blow bubbles with her food, first school play 5 years old, I was so proud I cried, she has a little temper, she has a big beautiful smile, at 16 months loves music and dancing

The entries stopped but the abuse didn’t.

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

Updated Random Thoughts On This Side Of Mental Illness

May 9, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

This post was from the 2020 Mental Health Awareness Month and I believe it’s still relevant for Mental Health Awareness Month 2022. I’ve been stable for a couple of years and am thankful for every day that I’m healthy. This is more an opinion piece than a post.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and mental health has been on my mind more than normal. I come from generations of family members with mental illness including my father who had Bipolar Disorder and eventually committed suicide.

I expect this to be an unpopular post, but that’s okay I want to hear all your comments.

All people have to be held accountable for their actions. The thought that came to mind this morning was a murder case that disturbs me to this day. A woman in Texas drowned all five of her children in the bathtub. She pleaded temporary insanity. I would have to agree she was insane, how could someone kill their five children? She only spent five years in a mental health ward in the prison and was then released from jail. Is five years of medical oversite enough punishment? Is she no longer insane? I think not. I’m responsible for all of my actions regardless of my mental state. She should have been moved to the regular jail system to pay for her murder charges.

My father sexually abused me, was it ok because he was mentally ill? It wasn’t his fault? I don’t buy into that theory. My father never sought help for his mental illness and committed suicide at 52 years old. He made the decision to not seek treatment, at the end of his life he was too sick to see how far down he was. He’ll be held accountable by a higher power than me.

I was nine years old the first time I attempted suicide, it was the first of many attempts throughout my life. As an adult, I educated myself on my illness and have a support system in place. I have to be disciplined in taking my medication, going to therapy, seeing my Psychiatrist, and communicating with my husband or paying the price of becoming unstable.

Mental health matters and people with mental illness need medical help if not for a crisis, for knowledge, and for heading off a problem.

What do you think? Are five years in a mental hospital punishment enough for killing your five children?

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight-Beauty From Ashes

May 9, 2022 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 a new blogger, Beauty From Ahses.

Beauty From Ashes

My journey of healing from Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

This is my blog where I will write about my healing from Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. I hope I can help someone know they aren’t alone and spread awareness. I am a mom and an avid reader. I love sunflowers and helping people. I am spiritual and love learning new things!

I have no doubt you will find her blog heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. She’s very strong.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

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Just Pondering

May 8, 2022 Looking for the Light6 Comments

Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington

What are three good things you have today that you didn’t have a year ago?

Melinda

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

Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SOCS Prompt is “a phrase you grew up with”

May 7, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “a phrase you grew up with.” Include in your post a phrase your mom/dad/grandparent/sibling used all the time when you were growing up, or just write whatever inspires you based on that phrase. Enjoy!

Growing up with four brothers meant we had a very active household which meant plenty of time outside. A saying that rings in my head is “Close the door you’ll let the flies in”. Now, this was probably true but it’s hard to do when you have five to seven people going in and out plus pets needing to go outside.

What’s funnier is I tell the dogs all the time I have to shut the door your I’ll let the flies in.

Melinda

Here are the rules:

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.

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

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

May 6, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington

When do you feel like you most like your true self?

Melinda

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

Dealing With Isolation & Loneliness

May 5, 2022 Looking for the Light14 Comments

It is often said that loneliness is a silent pandemic, and there is certainly something true about that. There are definitely lots of people out there right now who are spending their lives feeling very lonely, and that is a horrible position to be in. For one thing, it can make it difficult to get back into social settings. It can also lead to a variety of other physical and psychological issues, and in rare cases, it can be fatal in the form of depression. However, there is help at hand, and there are things to do if you do feel lonely or isolated and you want it to change.

Used in the right limited kind of way, social media can be incredibly useful as a means of feeling more connected with the outside world. If you are in a position where you can’t see people offline very much, then limited use of social media can be effective for this. You will want to take care to ensure that you don’t overuse it as if you are not careful it can sometimes make issues worse and make you feel even lonelier. But all in all, using it a little could help you to feel a little more connected with people, so that is something to consider at least.

Get Help With Transportation

One of the major issues related to isolation is that it can be hard to know how to get around. You might have social events that you would like to attend but you are not sure how, or you might even need to get to a medical appointment. For this, some people find it helpful to use an assisted living service, as that way you can have someone there who can help with all this – and they will also provide a certain comfort as well just by being there and being near you.

Watch Your Emotions & Thoughts

Because loneliness can be quite damaging, you need to try and watch for what your mind is doing, so that you can see if things appear to be getting worse for you or not. You need to watch your emotions and your thoughts consciously so that you can see if things are improving or not as you go about your life. Sometimes paying attention to a warning sign can be all you need in order to make sure that you take the right moment to look after yourself better. Being mindful in this way can help to spot those signs early on.

Work On Your Confidence

A lot of people with isolation issues and loneliness have confidence issues too, and often you will find that working on one helps the other and so on. To get this going, it’s worth taking some time to work on your confidence specifically. The more you do this, the more likely it is that you are going to feel less lonely and take more social risks, which are important for living well.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Flowers of Spring-Verbena

May 5, 2022 Looking for the Light4 Comments

Verbena is a small but mighty flower. It has long arms with dainty flowers on the end.

Melinda

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

4 Helpful Tips to Create a Comfortable Living Environment for Your Retired Parents

May 4, 2022April 7, 2023 Looking for the Light4 Comments

It can be challenging to know the best way to provide a comfortable living environment for your retired parents. They likely don’t want or need the same level of care that they needed when they were younger, but they still need some assistance and support. This blog post will discuss four helpful tips to create a comfortable living environment for your retired parents!

Make sure their home is safe and accessible.

As our parents age, it’s essential to ensure that their homes are safe and accessible. This means ensuring no trip hazards, adequate lighting, and that any stairs are well-lit and have handrails. If your parents live in a two-story home, you may want to consider installing a stairlift or an elevator. In addition to making sure their home is physically safe, you’ll also want to make sure it’s secure from potential burglars or other dangers. This means installing security cameras, deadbolt locks, and motion-sensor lights.

Find a reliable nursing home or assisted living facility.

If your parents need more assistance than you can provide, you may want to consider finding reliable nursing homes or assisted living facilities. It’s essential to do your research when choosing a facility, as many different types and levels of care are available. You’ll want to make sure that the facility you choose is reputable and has a good track record. In addition, you’ll want to make sure that it’s affordable and that it offers the type and level of care that your parents need.

Once you’ve chosen a nursing home or assisted living facility, you’ll want to ensure that your parents are comfortable there. This means helping them get settled in, getting them involved in activities, and ensuring their needs are being met. Remember to call a lawyer immediately if you suspect any nursing home neglect.

Help them organize their space

Your parents may also find it more challenging to keep their homes organized and tidy. This can be a result of physical limitations and cognitive decline. If your parents find it challenging to keep their home organized, you can help! There are a few different ways you can do this. First, you can declutter and organize their space for them. This means getting rid of any unnecessary items and organizing what remains. You can also help them create systems and routines for keeping their home organized, such as making sure they always put away their belongings after use. Finally, you can hire a professional organizer or cleaning service to help your parents keep their home tidy.

Be there for them

One of the most important things you can do to create a comfortable living environment for your retired parents is to be there for them. This means being available to help them with whatever they need, whether running errands, helping around the house, or simply providing emotional support. It’s also essential to ensure that you’re staying in touch with your parents and checking in on them regularly. With today’s technology, it’s easy to stay connected even if you live far away. For example, you can video call your parents using apps like Skype or FaceTime, or you can send them regular emails or text messages.

You can also be there for them by helping them to effectively plan for the future. This means discussing topics such as investment opportunities, healthcare and life insurance, retirement funds, and any other financial arrangements that need to be made. For example, when looking at investment opportunities, you could consider researching the DiversyFund lawsuit to better understand the risks and benefits associated with certain types of investments. Financial planning can be a tricky topic to navigate, and having the right guidance is essential.

These are four helpful tips to create a comfortable living environment for your retired parents. By following these tips, you can ensure that your parents are safe, comfortable, and well-cared for in their retirement years.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

How To Avoid Time Mismanagement When Working From Home

May 3, 2022 Looking for the Light4 Comments

Time mismanagement is one of the most common issues of working from home. It’s very easy for your attention to stray to other things during your regular working hours, leading to work delays and affecting your productivity. You spend time on numerous activities as a remote worker, from your phone and television to home chores and housemates. Does it feel like you hardly have enough time in the day to complete work assignments at home? You may be wasting time on other things. Here are some ways to avoid time mismanagement when working from home.

Photo by Michelangelo Buonarroti on Pexels.com

First, you need to ensure that all your work tools, especially your computer and internet connection, are fast and reliable. Unsuspectingly, a slow internet connection and an under-performing computer can drain hours out of your time. Regarding your internet connection, be sure to use the best internet providers that offer fast connection speed, reliability, and affordable packages.

Declutter your workstation

A cluttered or disorganized workstation can encourage procrastination and waste more of your time than you think. You may think that spending several minutes looking for a pen or paper document shouldn’t be anything to worry about. But such distractions eat into your productivity. Therefore, take the time to organize your workstation, declutter, and keep important things within reach.

Stay away from distracting websites

With nobody looking over your shoulder to monitor the websites you visit, it’s easy to waste several work minutes surfing distracting websites. Whether browsing your favorite online store or watching viral content from social media, distracting websites can consume chunks of your work time. Statista, for example, reports that the average social media user sinks about 2 hours each day into Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you find yourself plagued by too many such websites, you can download plugins to block access to specific websites, so you can focus on your work.

Strategize your time

Try planning your workdays around your tasks and not your clock. Instead of thinking you have the whole day to finish a project, distribute your work tasks to specific times in your day. Consider the work you need to complete each day and set specific goals to accomplish them. For example, do you need to get shopping done and complete a marketing proposal within the day? When you’re most productive, you can assign the first part of your day to completing the marketing project and the latter part of the day to shopping. This strategy will help you focus on completing a task before attending to anything else.

Learn when to say no

Image Credit

Commitments come from different directions when working from home, and the last thing you want to do is accommodate all of them at once. That phone call from a loved one or that favor request from a colleague can cost you more time than you can spare. Sometimes learning to say no to commitments that eat into your work time is the best way to avoid wasting time.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

May 3, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington

There are so many things a mirror will never reflect back to us. A kind heart, a curious spirit.

What will your mirror never show?

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy-Vitamins

May 3, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

We have different needs for vitamins as we age and if we have health conditions. What we needed as a child isn’t the same as what we need as an adult. It’s important to know what your body needs and what you get from food. If you don’t get enough from the food you will need to supplement with vitamins.

Vitamins:

VITAMIN A

GOOD FOR: Healthy eyes and general growth and development, including healthy teeth and skin.
NATURAL SOURCE: Carrots and other orange foods including sweet potato and cantaloupe melons – all of which get their hue from the carotene pigment.

B VITAMINS

GOOD FOR: Energy production, immune function and iron absorption.
NATURAL SOURCE: This crucial group of nutrients can be found in whole unprocessed foods, specifically whole grains, potatoes, bananas, lentils, chili peppers, beans, yeast and molasses.

VITAMIN C

GOOD FOR: Strengthening blood vessels and giving skin its elasticity, anti-oxidant function and iron absorption.
NATURAL SOURCE: Everyone knows this one – oranges! But they’re not the only source – other fruits and veggies packed with Vitamin C include guava, red and green peppers, kiwi, grapefruits, strawberries, Brussels sprouts and cantaloupe.

VITAMIN D

GOOD FOR: Strong healthy bones.
NATURAL SOURCE: Apart from spending a few minutes out in the sun, which stimulates Vitamin D production, you can get this nutritional must from eggs, fish and mushrooms.

VITAMIN E

GOOD FOR: Blood circulation, and protection from free radicals.
NATURAL SOURCE: Our favorite Vitamin E-rich food is the mighty almond. You can also fill up on other nuts, sunflower seeds and tomatoes to reap the benefits.

VITAMIN K

GOOD FOR: Blood coagulation – that is, the process by which your blood clots.
NATURAL SOURCE: Leafy greens are the best natural sources of Vitamin K – so make sure you’re eating lots of kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

FOLIC ACID

GOOD FOR: Cell renewal and preventing birth defects in pregnancy.
NATURAL SOURCE: There are plenty of scrumptious natural sources of folic acid, including dark leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, citrus fruits, beans, peas, lentils, seeds, nuts, cauliflower, beets and corn.

CALCIUM

GOOD FOR: Healthy teeth and bones.
NATURAL SOURCE: This mineral is another one that most of us already know – the best sources are dairy products like yogurt, cheese and milk, along with tofu and black molasses.

IRON

GOOD FOR: Building muscles naturally and maintaining healthy blood.
NATURAL SOURCE: You might be surprised to know that clams take the top spot for iron content, followed by oysters and organ meats like liver. For the vegetarians among us, soybeans, cereal, pumpkin seeds, beans, lentils and spinach are great sources of iron.

ZINC

GOOD FOR: Immunity, growth and fertility.
NATURAL SOURCE: Seafoods like oysters are also zinc-rich, along with spinach, cashews, beans and – wait for it – dark chocolate.

CHROMIUM

GOOD FOR: Glucose function – making sure every cell in your body gets energy as and when needed.
NATURAL SOURCE: As long as your diet contains servings of whole grains, fresh vegetables and herbs, you should be getting enough chromium.

To be your healthiest self it’s best to get all of your vitamins from the food we eat and drink but sometimes we don’t eat like we should. that’s where over-the-counter vitamins come in.

Here are some important things to know when buying vitamins:

Are the ingredients non-GMO?

Does it have certifications?

Is it routinely tested?

How are the reviews?

Our body needs the proper vitamins to work properly and prevent diseases. If you find yourself needing over-the-counter vitamins, don’t get in a hurry. You want vitamins that dissolve properly and don’t have harmful ingredients in them.

Look for the certifications and buy one that is third-party tested if possible, that way you know the result are non-biased.

Melinda

References:

https://www.goodnet.org/articles/11-essential-vitamins-minerals-your-body-needs

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

My Stalker Almost Got Me Killed

May 2, 2022December 22, 2023 Looking for the Light3 Comments

The first time I was stalked was scary but I was a child and they never confronted me or my girlfriend. They just drove behind us in the car all the way home from school every day. I can still remember the license plate number, NJN637. We never told anybody and one day it stopped.

The second time was very scary and I’ve written about it before. I was a young adult and made some bad decisions in character. He stalked me and my family for six years, even when I thought he was gone, he wrote me after several years to let me know he could still find me. It got so bad that the guy I was dating would go check under the car when we left his house, he was afraid of a bomb. No one should have to live with that fear.

The third and last time was the one that scared me deeply. I was still battling Lyme Disease and was very sick. I also was not very tech-savvy with phones. That will come into play later in the post. I didn’t know anything was wrong until the day Twitter got hacked, it was also the day I got hacked. They were tech-savvy enough to make it look like it was coming from two people I knew. I accused them of this terrible act and hurt them badly. Even WordPress told me one of them was tracking my DNS. I didn’t understand all of that and went about trying to mend the damage.

Then I started getting weird messages on my computer, or I would write something and they would keep changing the first letter. My spell correct doesn’t auto change anything, I know it sounded crazy. One day I was writing Auther and they kept changing it to Luther. So I asked them if they planned to hurt me. I don’t remember all the other questions I asked but I tried to converse with them thinking I could solve the problem.

Then one morning I pick up my IPad and it had all this jibberish written on it, nothing made sense. Sometimes there would just be one letter on a line. I showed my husband who thou he believed me was still a bit unsure of what to think.

You have to understand I was taking around 20 medications for Lyme in addition to my other meds, so there were days I was too sick to take my mental health meds. This added to the problem. Also adding to the problem was my lack of understanding of how my phone worked. I had only texted a few times and still didn’t understand that you could move between phone and texting without losing the person on the phone. This will make more sense in a minute.

In an effort to understand how much danger I was in I kept trying to engage in conversation. I would write text messages but would not send them. Still, the answers would come. They would make sense but they would be giving me names of people at times but I didn’t know who it was.

Every once in a while I would think to send the text. Still, the conversation continued. They didn’t say they wanted to hurt me but didn’t say they didn’t so I was still very unsure.

One day I was texting a friend who said they had been hiking and the stalker jumped into the conversation to say that my friend was lying. I couldn’t understand how they knew I was on the phone or how they could even hack my phone.

One day I was talking with them and felt very threatened and thought they were coming into my house. Not thinking straight and reaching for my home phone I ran outside and ask my neighbor to call the police. I didn’t realize that I could leave the texting and move to the phone to call the police.

Mind you I was in a tee-shirt and underwear only. The next thing I know four police cars and two fire trucks show up.

I start to approach one of the police cars with my phone held high and an officer pulled her gun on me. All the other officers stepped out with no aggressive body language and could see I was stressed out. The fire medics began to check my blood sugar and pressure and ask who they could call. I was calm, I told them my husband’s number was under ICE #1.

The whole time this is going on the woman officer who pulled her gun on me kept saying I was Schizophrenic and she would have me sent to the county hospital. This was very upsetting because the county hospital has a bad reputation and it scared me. I told her I was Bipolar, not Schizophrenic, she kept going on like she knew it all.

My husband arrived about 30 minutes later and assured them everything was ok and that I probably had not taken my mediation because I was so sick.

It wasn’t long after that I asked my stalker how long they had been stalking me and they said seven months. Later they started to give me clues to who it was and I figured it out. It was a woman on WordPress who I had tried to help who was severely mentally ill.

As soon as I figured out who it was and said her name, she stopped.

If you’re ever in this situation, make sure you get the names of the police on the scene and file a complaint. My local police needed some mental health training bad and that officer needed to be reprimanded for parading around saying I was Schizophrenic to all the other officers. She didn’t know what she was talking about and should have diffused the situation and kept her mouth shut.

Several neighbors saw the whole thing and one of them saw her pull her gun.

It was a very scary time and one I will not forget.

Be safe!

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight-Webb Bloggs-OCD and Me

May 2, 2022 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 I highlight a new blogger, Webb Blogs, OCD and ME

WEBB BLOGS

A Blog About Life With Mental Illness

Hello and welcome to Webbblogs! My name is Christina. I am a mother of 3, and a grandmother of 4. I live in California, in the United States. I am a long time mental health sufferer, and a recovering addict.

Here at WebbBlogs you will find my personal stories of the struggles I have been through and continue to go through. You will also find some positive experiences, family life, and some sillyness along the way.

I am trying to not live in fear anymore. With OCD, panic attacks and anxiety, living a life with less fear has been challenging. But, it’s time for me to get out of my comfort zone, share my life’s moments, no matter how embarrassing some may be. It’s time for me to make a change. After all, nothing changes, if nothing changes.

I’ve been following Chistina for a long time and enjoy her post, she’s raw and that helps everyone! Please check out her site.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

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

Everyday Magic 5/1/2022

May 1, 2022 Looking for the Light9 Comments

I’m so glad you are enjoying Everyday Magic. I find it a good place to wind down and ask some important questions.

Bella and Grace by Stampington

It’s important to celebrate all of our victories. No matter how little or silly they may seem to others.

What’s one tiny victory you’ve had lately that you’re especially proud of?

Enjoy your day!

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

April 30, 2022 Looking for the Light4 Comments

Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington

What is one simple ritual you can add to your day that will make a huge impact?

Melinda

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

Everyday Magic 4/28/2022

April 28, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

I’m so glad you are enjoying Everyday Magic. I find it a good place to wind down and ask some important questions.

Bella and Grace by Stampington

Imagine that this beautiful bench nestled among the trees is at a park near your home and you could visit it whenever you wanted.

How would you spend an hour on this bench?

Enjoy your day!

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

What Your Body Needs To Stay Healthy-Nutritional Health

April 28, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Staying healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat like a rabbit or cut out all of your favorite foods. It’s like everything else, moderation. Eating healthy is critical for your overall health and doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach.

We are indulged in a lot of daily activities. To carry out these activities a large amount of energy is required. This energy comes from the food we consume. Food is vital as it provides the energy needed for growth, repair, and other life processes. All these come under the life process called nutrition.

What is Nutrition?

“Nutrition is the process of taking in food and converting it into energy and other vital nutrients required for life.”

Nutrients are the substances which provide energy and biomolecules necessary for carrying out the various body functions. All living organisms need nutrients for proper functioning and growth. But they show divergence in how they fulfill this demand. Some animals feed on simple inorganic compounds to meet their nutrient requirement, while others utilise complex compounds. The mode of nutrition varies from one species to another.

Also Read: Nutrition in Plants

Poor nutrition can lead to a lack of energy, digestive problems, food allergies, weight gain, depression and anxiety as well as many of today’s most prevalent chronic diseases like coronary heart disease, cancer and ADHA. Having nutritional knowledge and making informed choices about the foods you eat can help you achieve optimum health over your lifetime.

Nutrition is also about why we choose to eat the foods we do, even when we know they may not be good for us, what is going on at a cellular level and how that affects what we crave and therefore set up food cycles that are unhealthy or damaging. Nutritionists advise people on what to eat and how to modify their diet so they can maintain or restore optimal health or help relieve ill health and combat disease.

Here’s a post I did on Superfoods which can help you jump-start your healthy eating process. Superfoods are a great way to add a big punch to your diet and many have properties to help with health conditions like immune disorders and they boost energy.

Just making a few changes to your diet can go a long way to a healthier lifestyle.

Like:

Greens

Lean meat

Fruit

Reduce refined sugar

Beans

Oatmeal

Green tea

This post doesn’t cover all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy, that’s for another post.

Melinda

Reference

https://byjus.com/biology/nutrition-modes-living-organisms/

https://www.schoolofhealth.com/nutrition-courses/what-is-nutrition/

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2022/superfoods-for-increased-energy.html?intcmp=MOA-HLTH-FUTMED-VID-R3-POS2

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

Mental Illness and Me

April 27, 2022May 10, 2024 Looking for the Light20 Comments

I’m very open about having Bipolar Disorder and feel no shame. It’s a serious medical condition that has to be managed daily in order to stay healthy. I’ve been doing very well for several years but had a rough patch a few years ago that took 8 months to find a medication that would work.

That is one of the biggest challenges. Medication will stop working after some period of time and there is no standard handbook on what drugs to prescribe. At that time I was in bad shape, not suicidal but very dark. It took four different medications before he found one that worked.

I’m very lucky to have had the same doctor for over 30 years and it makes all the difference. He knows me, knows my limits, and knows when I can make decisions on my own with medication.

As an example, for the past two months, I’ve been having a problem with tongue thrusting, it was driving me crazy and making my teeth hurt. It didn’t occur to me that it might be medication but I contacted him anyway. He had me stop one of my stimulant medications and I’m doing better. I also take three stimulants a day so I cut it back to two a day just for now to see if that helps speed things along. I only did this after research that said that stimulant medication can cause this problem. I can’t go without that extra pill for long but for a week or so I will deal with the sluggishness to see if it helps. He trusts me to know my limits and will be ok with me skipping for a week or so. I can only do this because I’m healthy, if I were in bad shape I would not make this decision.

I’ve had my hard years, many hard years, multiple times. I’ve had 21 Electroconvulsive Treatments and have stayed in-patient at a Psychiatric hospital several times for up to three weeks at a time. Those were hard times and I’m so thankful for my healthy years.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at 19 years old but didn’t take it seriously until my father committed suicide. When I started doing research I found that 75% of children of parents with Bipolar Disorder who committed suicide would commit suicide themselves I took action.

Staying healthy with a serious mental illness is a full-time job requiring patience, determination, and self-love. I say self-love because that is what you have to have to make sure you’re doing your daily routine and you forgive yourself when you don’t. You have to give yourself a pass and get back on track with your regimen.

Mine consists of nine medications for a total of 15 pills a day, this is not counting medication for other chronic conditions. If I don’t take my medication it causes problems because several of them are addictive drugs and you feel the withdrawal effects right away. I can skip a day, maybe two then my mood begins to spiral down and the withdrawal symptoms start to make me crazy.

I have found that keeping medication in an AM/PM case and close to the bed for bedtime medication is the best way to stay in sync. I try to take all medication at the same time a day and have my medication case right by my chair where I always sit. For me, habits are the best way to manage my medication.

Having a serious medical condition requires you to be honest with the people around you, your loved ones, and close friends. With mental illness, it’s important because oftentimes we can’t see the changes in our mood, and someone else can pick up on the changes.

I know it can be hard to talk about your illness with family and friends, I’ve had the same problem. My Granny couldn’t understand why I couldn’t come over or why I had to go to the hospital. I did the best I could to help her understand that it was the illness, not me.

I told my husband when we first started dating because my ex-husband didn’t believe anything was wrong with me and it caused many problems, ending in divorce. I wanted him to know what he was getting into and if he wasn’t able to take that on we could get it out upfront not a year down the road.

It can be very frustrating and limiting at times but try to embrace your illness like any other chronic health condition by taking your medication, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and not over-focusing on the negative or hard aspects of the illness.

I feel it’s critical to set up an environment conducive to being healthy. You have to be honest with yourself and cut out the aspects of your life that are holding you back. Negative talk is a big one, if you think negatively about your illness, you will think negatively about yourself.

You are not your illness!

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Emergency Situations You Should Always Be Prepared For

April 27, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

There is no telling when or where an emergency will arise. That’s why it’s essential always to be prepared for the unexpected. Whether you’re at home, at work, or out and about, there are certain emergencies you should always be ready for. In this post, we will discuss some of the most common emergencies and how to best prepare for them.

A Blackout:

A power outage can happen at any time and can last for a few minutes or several days. If you experience a prolonged blackout, it’s essential to have an emergency plan. Be sure to have some backup lighting sources, like candles or flashlights, non-perishable food items, and plenty of water on hand. Also, have a battery-operated radio to stay tuned to local news and weather reports.

A Fire:

If a fire breaks out, it’s important to act quickly and safely. First, try to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher if it is safe. If the fire is too large or you cannot put it out, evacuate the area immediately. Be sure to have an escape route planned so everyone,e in your home or office knows what to do and where to go.

A Natural Disaster:

Depending on where you live, you may be at risk for certain natural disasters, like hurricanes, earthquakes, or tornadoes. It’s essential to be aware of the dangers and have a plan in place if you find yourself in the middle of one. Have an emergency kit stocked with non-perishable food, water, a first-aid kit, and other essential items? And know where you can take shelter if your home is not safe.

A Car Accident:

Car accidents can happen at any time, even if you’re a safe driver. If you are involved in a collision, it’s essential to stay calm and assess the situation. If possible, move your car to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights. Once you’re out of harm’s way, call 911 and wait for help to arrive. You might need a lawyer if the accident was severe. Search for a car accident lawyer to get started.

Car Breakdown:

If your car breaks down, it’s important to stay calm and assess the situation. If you’re on the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights and try to move your car to a safe location, if possible. Once you’re in a safe spot, call for help. Roadside assistance can be a lifesaver in this type of situation.

Financial Emergencies:

We all know that unexpected expenses can pop up at any time. Whether you have a medical emergency or your car needs repairs, it’s essential to have some savings set aside for these types of situations. Having a rainy day fund will help you cover the costs without debt.

No one ever wants to find themselves in an emergency. But by being prepared, you can help reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with them. So be sure to have a plan in place and know what to do in an emergency. And always keep a first-aid kit and emergency supplies on hand, just in case.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

April 26, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

By Live Bold and Bloom

If you became the leader of the country, what would be the first thing that you do?

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight-Katie Anna Banana

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 Looking for the Light5 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 I highlight a new blogger, Katie Anna Banana.

https://katieannabanana.wordpress.com

I started blogging to add some creativity to my day. I have some things to share, and I hope you’ll let me share them with you!

I am a reflector. Nowadays it’s difficult enough for me to think about the week ahead, let alone the past. What’s for dinner, what bills are due? I think it’s important to reflect, I believe I’ve shared my views on that before, and there is no better time to do that than the New Year.

Wishing only the best for myself, my loved ones, and my dear WordPress followers in 2022.

Please check out her site and the great posts she’s written.

Melinda