Most Frequent Countries To Read My Posts Last Quarter
Today in History
Welcome to the weekend edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend.
1950
On August 22, 1950, officials of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) accept Althea Gibson into their annual championship at Forest Hills, New York, making her the first African American player to compete in a U.S. national tennis competition.
1851
On August 22, 1851, the U.S.-built schooner America bests a fleet of Britain’s finest ships in a race around England’s Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy won by the America was later donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that it be forever placed in international …read more
1864
International Red Cross founded
The Geneva Convention of 1864 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick of Armies in the Field is adopted by 12 nations meeting in Geneva. The agreement, advocated by Swiss humanitarian Jean-Henri Dunant, called for nonpartisan care to the sick and wounded in …read more
1965
Juan Marichal hits catcher with bat, instigating epic MLB brawl
At San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on August 22, 1965, Giants pitcher Juan Marichal steps up to the plate to lead off the home half of the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After the second pitch, a ball low and away, catcher John Roseboro returns the ball to pitcher …read more
1922
Irish revolutionary and Sinn Fein politician Michael Collins is killed in an ambush in west County Cork, Ireland. In the early part of the century, Collins joined Sinn Fein, an Irish political party dedicated to achieving independence for all Ireland. From its inception, the …read more
Melinda
Critical Things To Consider When Caring For An Elderly Relative
As we age, everything that was once taken for granted will become more difficult. Often, friends and family will need to step in and care for you.
If a loved one of yours needs to be looked after, then it may seem like the right thing to do to take care of them. But before you do decide to take care of someone in this way, it is important that you consider everything that is involved in caring for elderly relatives. Elder-care is more than a full-time job, and it will be both emotionally and physically challenging.
Here is everything you should think about when taking care of an elderly relative.
Keeping Medication Organized
One of the most important aspects of caring for an elderly relative is that you’ll need to make sure that they are taking any medication that they are on when they need to. They may be on several different medications for a variety of different conditions. Make sure you know about their medical conditions and understand what the medication is for. In addition, you should get to know more about the medication, including:
- When the medication needs to be taken
- What dosage do they require
- When you can order repeat prescriptions
You may be required to administer their medication or to check each day to ensure it has been taken.
Carrying Out Housework
If the elderly relative that you are caring for has limited mobility, then you may need to help them with their housework. While this may mean carrying out major tasks such as cleaning the whole house, it may also involve smaller tasks such as washing the dishes.
Assisting With Mobility
Since mobility is a problem for many older people, there are risk factors that you should be aware of. You may need to supervise or provide mobility aids to help them get about their day without having any slips, trips, or falls.
Make sure that the home environment is safe for them. This could involve making sure that the house is free from clutter, that the walkways are clear, that there are handrails throughout the home, that there is a stairlift in place, that walkers or wheelchairs are available as needed.
This wheelchair guide will talk you through finding the right wheelchair for the relative that you are caring for.
You should go through the house and identify any potential risks and make the necessary changes.
You’ll Need a Bathing Routine
Personal hygiene and health go hand-in-hand. Wherever possible, you should ensure that the relative that you’re caring for has some sense of independence when it comes to bathing and washing. To achieve this, you could provide handrails in the bathroom, along with baths and showers that are easily accessible.
When someone is unable to clean themselves, you will need to help them. Creating a bathing and washing routine is essential. This will ensure your loved one will stay clean all of the time. This will be even more important if your relative is either bed-bound or incontinent, as sores may form if you don’t keep proper hygiene.
You’ll Need to Cook for Your Relative
Unless your elderly relative is able to cook themselves, you will very likely to do this on their behalf every day. Make sure that you provide a healthy balanced diet that is not only varied, but that is also interesting. Make sure that mealtimes are something to look forward to.
If you want to save yourself some time, you may want to batch cook some meals so that these can be quickly reheated another day.
You May Need To Lift Your Relative
If the person that you are caring for has mobility issues, then it will be essential that you help them to get around. To do this, you may need to lift them up. If this is something that you need to do, ensure you do it safely and consider your own body. Make sure that you are not putting yourself at risk at all.
There may be lifting equipment that you can buy that will help you to lift your loved one safely. There may also be courses that you can take that teach you safe lifting and handling.
You’ll Need To Help Your Relative To Exercise
It is essential that you help keep your elderly relative as active as possible. Even if your elderly relative has mobility problems, there will be some exercises that they can do. This may just mean doing simple movements with their arms and feet. Find some basic routines that they can complete. Join in with the exercises with them to make them feel more at ease while they’re doing them.
You Will Need To Run Errands
There will often be errands that need to be run. If your elderly relative is unable to do them, you will need to do them on their behalf. This may mean going to the shop, paying bills for them, returning their library books, and much more. Try to maintain a routine so that you can easily keep up with the required errands.
There May Be Hospital Procedures
If your relative needs to go into the hospital for a procedure, you’ll need to be there to help them out with their aftercare. Make sure that you’re there to speak with the doctor and find out what you’ll need to do in terms of caring for them after the procedure. You will also need to ensure they are able to attend any follow-up appointments.
Providing End of Life Care
One of the hardest things that you’ll need to deal with is the end of life care. It will be important that you know exactly when you should call a hospice.
With all the best intentions, there will be times when caring for someone that you are close to will get to be too much for you. Make sure that you take a break whenever possible, and build a support network around yourself.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Can You Prepare For These Horrific Home Nightmares?
Your home should be a haven for you and your family. But we think you’ll agree this isn’t always the case. Indeed, it’s possible and in some cases even common to encounter numerous issues with your home. You need to be prepared for these possibilities with the right solutions and that’s where this article is going to help you a great deal.
An Infestation
One of the nightmares that you could experience is an infestation of some sort. These are actually extremely common, and you want to try and avoid letting it get any worse, as soon as you notice a problem you’ve got to call a professional like Mosquito Authority, of course depending on what the pest is. If you notice one bug, this isn’t really a cause for concern, but if you notice the same bug over and over again, you know there’s probably an issue. You can try to find the source yourself, but this could take you a long time and you still might never find it. At least if you hire a professional, you know that the problem will be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
But can you take precautions to prevent it? Sadly, the answer is not really. In some cases, if you keep your home clean as much as possible you’re less likely to experience this problem, but that isn’t the case with all pests. Some will come no matter what the state or your home, so it’s not a foolproof plan.
Problems With The Roof
It’s absolutely vital that you fix a problem with the roof as soon as you notice an issue. Usually, an issue with the roof will be a small yet significant hole. This could be small enough that it only lets in water or large enough that insects and pests can break through. Regardless, it could cause major headaches and health issues for you. Water leaking into your home can bring the issue of damp and potentially even flooding. As well as costing you thousands in repairs, it might also make it impossible to sell your property until the problem is resolved. Problems with the roof are why you should always check your roof after a storm or a period of bad weather. You can use a professional team to complete this task for you and ensure that there aren’t any problems that need to be addressed.
Of course, one of the easiest ways to check for issues is to head up into the attic and try to see if there is any natural light creeping through where it shouldn’t be.
Flooding
Since we already mentioned water dripping through the roof, it’s also worth exploring the problem of flooding. Usually, an issue with flooding will start in the basement and it could be because water is building up outside your home, pressing on the foundations. When this occurs, the water begins to seep into the property. If it is left alone it will lead to a problem with flooding. You can take preventive action here by speaking to a landscaper. They will be able
to alter the permeability of the ground around your home. Alternatively, they can change the level of the ground to ensure that water drains away from your home rather than towards it.
It’s perhaps worth noting that a sump pump is the best way to handle water once it is inside your home. You do need to make sure that you have a working sump pump on your property. Be aware that most insurance companies won’t even cover your home if there isn’t a sump pump that is functional.
Mold
Finally, mold is a problem that is often overlooked by homeowners who assume it’s not a massive issue. But it can be a nightmare because of the health issues that it could cause. This is particularly true if you have young children. Research has shown that mold can lead to breathing difficulties and similar problems. This is due to the spores that are released into the air. Luckily, it’s easier to deal with mold than other issues. You just need a dehumidifier to keep the moisture levels in your home at the right point.
We hope this helps you understand some of the nightmares that you can encounter around your home and the right way to deal with them. Remember, sometimes, the best option is going to be taking preventative action. With the right steps, you will be able to guarantee that these problems never plague your property.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Just Pondering
The first time you do something you only do it once.
Chris Burden
Have a great Saturday!
Melinda
The Care For The Elderly Is Evolving
Not all, but a lot of the older people in our lives are going to need some kind of help in getting the care they need. This has always been a concern of younger generations, but now there are more elderly than ever, so we need to take a closer look at the options available to us, their shortcomings, their benefits, and which are most likely for us. Here, we’re going to look at three primary options for the care of your elderly loved one, how to choose the option that best fits your needs, and how to make it work for you.
Do it yourself
It’s an option that is becoming more common as fewer people can afford the kind of care they might need for a loved one. However, providing that care yourself is a big risk factor. Carer burnout is a real risk for those who don’t research how to provide adequate care for their loved ones. Respite care services can help you get a little break here and there so you have time to focus on your own needs, too. Don’t neglect to look at what kind of financial aid there is available for carers, either.
Care in the home
Perhaps the most widely sought-after option of all is to get a carer that can either spend time in the home with your loved one or even live with them on a full-time basis. This is the most financially demanding option, but it’s also one that should be chosen with care. It’s important to look for a home nurse that not only provides all of the physical assistance that your loved one needs, but also provides companionship and conversation as best as possible. Isolation is one of the greatest health risks to the elderly, putting them more at risk of anxiety, dementia, and even premature death. As such, it’s important to choose services that offer them the company that they need, not just the practical needs.
Finding the right community
One of the options that probably sparks the most concern or at least second thoughts, is the notion of having your loved one live in a nursing home. However, there are plenty of different types of assisted living communities out there, including ones that offer access to holistic health care, such as art therapy, field trips, and the like. It is important to do research into the kind of community that your older loved one is joining and to be aware of the risks of neglect, doing your research into the care standards, and any past trouble of the operations that you might be taking a look at.
Most important of all is that, if you’re entrusting the care of your loved one to professionals, you still need to be present in their lives. First of all, they need someone who can provide contact and companionship on a more personal level. Second of all, they’re more vulnerable, so they need someone watching out for their interests.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Typical Aging In Place Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Today, the idea of aging in place (also known as aging at home) is gaining a lot of significance, especially among the older population. According to the National Council on Aging, nine out of ten senior citizens prefer to continue living in their own homes over the next five to ten years. Many such seniors based their reason on their need to be among people they already know. This makes a case for aging in place relatively easy. However, there are a lot of challenges and necessary changes that should be taken care of.
If you are concerned about what difficulties you or your loved ones might face, or the mistakes that might be made when aging in place, this article will help you deal with them in advance.
Not having an early discussion with loved ones about your preferences
Many adults wait until it is a little too late to have a conversation with their loved ones about their future needs and preferences- creating a lack of planning. Planning helps keep track of your preferences and needs while ensuring they are met. It is better to discuss your living arrangement preferences ahead of time so that your loved ones can help you live the comfortable life you want in your old age.
The unfortunate truth is that, as you grow older, your body is no longer able to do certain things it used to – making the option to live independently in your old age inadvisable. Some people try to cope by turning down any form of help offered to them, whether in tools or services. For many adults, the mere thought of any kind of senior care makes them feel embarrassed and helpless – which should not be the case. Rather than being fixed on your preference of aging in place, accept your lifestyle challenges, and seek other options that would be beneficial to you.
Not making preparations for various possibilities
Almost nothing is certain in life, and disasters may strike at any time. Unfortunately, many adults fail to plan and make preparations for different possible scenarios. This lack of planning can bring more stress due to knee-jerk reactions to unexpected situations.
Take time to write down all the possible ‘what ifs.’ Doing this should cover possibilities such as who will take care of you if you lose your ability to decide for yourself or lose mobility. Next, create a plan of action for all those possibilities with the help of your loved ones.
Not having financial plans
Studies show that many American adults do not have any financial plan in place for old age. This makes the issue of money more complicated when they need their finances the most. Many also fail to create a will or have a power of attorney in place. It is best to seek a financial planner’s advice concerning how to handle money to be financially stable during old age. Fortunately, making such plans is now easier than ever, thanks to the digital age. Alternatively, you can also sit down with your loved ones to go through what your options are.
Not being proactive with in-home security
We have already mentioned how disaster can strike at any time without warning. Unfortunately, most adults have not put any proactive measures in place for accidents at home. For example, as we grow older, our bodies can no longer handle falls and other accidents at home very well. It is essential to take proactive steps when it comes to your safety at home. For example, you should take the time to identify any form of potential hazard and provide solutions. Ensure that you have the right tools at home, you’re always well clothed, and can move about in your home with ease.
Relying on just one person
This is why it is essential to try to be as self-sufficient as you can be, even when you have someone around to give you a helping hand. While this will take a lot of effort, it will also help you build the knowledge and skills required to live alone in your home. Where possible, also have some family members or friends around to help you.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
The Mystery of Chronic Pain
Wuhan Style
This video is for a serious cause bought to you by International Pain Foundation (iPain).
Go For Wuhan Style – Dr. Li – Coronavirus Hero – Dr. Li Wenliang was a Chinese ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central hospital. He was the first to share warnings of the COVID-19 Coronavirus on December 30th, 2019. He was detained by police for “making false comments on the Internet” but was later released and went back to caring for his patients, which led to himself contracting the virus. Dr. Li died of the disease on February 7th, 2020. He showed true care and love for his patients, suffering with them at the cost of his own life.
This video is from Dr. Lin who died from complications of the COVID 19 virus. Serious topic in a dance-friendly video. Must watch.
https://youtu.be/O2CuKCPSyXg
Melinda
DetoxRehabs.Net Added to My Organizations Who Can Help Page
August 31st is Overdose Awareness Day and I can’t think of a better resource to add to the growing list on my Organizations Who Can Help Page.
At DetoxRehabs.net, we provide expert information for individuals and families struggling to find recovery by vetting and researching rehab centers. Our site makes it easy to find the top five centers in your home state or out of state. We also provide information for different community needs, such as help for our veterans, LGBTQ+ friendly programs, free or Medicaid accepting treatment, and pet-friendly facilities.
We recognize the importance of educating yourself during your recovery journey, and so we pride ourselves in providing free educational guides that answer questions such as:
- Can Marijuana Treat Postnatal Depression?
- Telltale Symptoms of Children Using Drugs
- How to Identify the Early Signs of Mental Health Issues
Katherine Clarke
Community Outreach
DetoxRehabs.net
Please check them out or any of the other organizations that may be able to help with what you or a loved one is struggling with.
Melinda
Warning Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect to Look Out for
Child abuse and neglect is a heartbreaking reality that affects many people. Unfortunately, it can be tough to spot the signs of child abuse or neglect.
The list below contains some warning signs that you should watch out for if you suspect someone might be abusing their child. The blog post discusses all the different types of warning signs of child abuse and neglect to look out for.
Children can get abused due to various reasons. For instance, a child living with a foster family is more likely to be in this situation. Besides, inheritance disputes among families on what children should inherit can often lead to abuse. If this happens, ensure you consult with an estate lawyer for the way forward regarding property allocation.
Anger and Hostility
Suppose a parent is very hostile or angry with the child and this behavior occurs relatively often. In that case, it may indicate that something more serious could also be happening, like physical abuse of their children. The frequency of explosive anger episodes can increase over time and become worse if not appropriately addressed by family members or professionals.
School Absenteeism
Another way to see this is when a student misses school frequently or starts skipping class. This could happen for various reasons. Such include bullying at school, homesickness while away from their parents, and being embarrassed to go in front of the whole classroom because they are struggling with an assignment.
The key here is to pay attention and be aware of changes in a student’s attendance which may indicate that something else is going on in their life.
Depression and Anxiety
Children getting abused or neglected often experience depression and anxiety, which can manifest in many ways, including problems with concentration, withdrawal from social situations, nightmares after the incident, and difficulty sleeping.
They might also seem unusually fearful when going to bed at night or seem overly compliant with adults. The child’s anxiety around specific activities or objects may be a sign they recall past abuse.
Eating More Than Usual at a Meal
This is a sign of self-neglect. When people are experiencing emotional or physical abuse, they may feel that their needs don’t matter and stop taking care of themselves. It can also happen when someone in the family has an eating disorder (such as bingeing).
It’s essential to be aware when one child eats more than the others or eats more than usual. This could be a sign of child abuse and neglect!
Fear in Their Eyes
The fear in a child’s eyes is something that every parent or caregiver should watch out for. If you notice the eyes looking at you with terror, it may be time to have someone else look into what is going on behind closed doors.
Parenting is a difficult job, but many resources can help take some of the weight off. For example, the use of an online resource like Childline may be able to provide valuable information about abuse and neglect in your community. You might also want to consider speaking with someone at your local school or preschool. Additionally, it would help if you considered asking the child directly about their well-being.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Introducing Lin Health, A New Way Forward In Pain Management
I’m excited to introduce you to Lin Health. They are a Pain Management platform like no other. This is not your average app, Lin Health offers you one-on-one support with a trained Health Coach who you talk with on a regular basis. She is intimately familiar with your health and medical background thru their support systems and groundbreaking questionaries. They are also HIPPA compliant.
Lin Health has a great introductory offer for just $10.00 for your first month, see below for all the details.
How does Lin Health help you manage and improve your pain levels and in turn improve your life?
- Virtual Meetings with a trained Pain Management Physician
- A Personal coach
- Customized recommendations based on the information garnered thru the process
- Streamline Processes, best in class remote solutions
- A partnership with SteadyMD for Telehealth
There is hope
70% of Lin members improved their ability to reduce their pain when it arises. And within three months of joining Lin, 66% of users report that pain now interferes less in their lives.*
What’s on the platform?
- Personal coaching for pain management
- Care coordination
- Personal care plan
- Dedicated primary care MD
- Specialty care consultation
- Digital health tools
- Proven pain relief devices
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Sleep, Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD tools
Terri Leitchy Lead Coach
I signed up with Lin Health to better understand the platform and the service commitment made by the company. The process was thorough and they asked detailed questions to truly understand not only your pain and chronic health conditions but you as an individual.
After signing up and completing a few steps I received a text from Terri the Health Coach welcoming me to the platform and she encouraged me to schedule my face-to-face meeting with her. After your face-to-face meeting, you check back in on a regular basis to discuss questions and the next steps.
Lin health is a one-stop platform for all of your Chronic Pain needs, including medical support via Telehealth, prescriptions, personalized coaching, and a wealth of online tools to help you reach your best self.
Here are a few quotes from people who are using Lin Health.
“Lin has saved my life over this past month”
“I’m learning to rename my pain, and it is taking some of the fear out of it. I worry less about it escalating or that it will turn into something bad”
“Not having a migraine is pretty cool, because I’ve had those all my life… I haven’t had one in 2 weeks! For me, that’s a great improvement”
Current Special
Join now for just $10 for your first month and see what all Lin Health has to offer, then it’s only $49.00 a month. The benefits of joining are limitless and you can cancel at any time.
I highly recommend anyone with Chronic Pain conditions to visit the Lin Health website to see what they can offer you. I know you will be impressed and glad you joined the Lin Health family.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share *Jennifer Lopez Carpool Karaoke and Let’s Get Loud (LIVE)
I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
I love the words to this song. You have to live your life your way! Nobody has to tell you what to do.
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Melinda
Friday Quote
I love this quote, if we just see for ourselves we might not only find greatness but fulfillment in life.
Have a great weekend!
So glad you stopped by today and look forward to hearing your comments.
Melinda
Happy 81st Birthday Daddy
Before I was nine years old there were good memories and those are the ones I chose to hang onto.
We would go to the local store and buy RC Cola’s and drink in the parking lot singing to the radio, belting out Charlie Pride Kiss An Angel Good Morning, then taking our bottles back in for our 10 cent deposit.
You taught me how to ride my bike at four years old. I remember looking back with pride right before running into the telephone pole.
You would play Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis Presley on the record player and we would dance the night away.
You worked extra jobs when I was little and you would come home very late from the grocery store with sacks of dented can goods. I would help you put them away in the pantry.
I’m sure there are other memories that have been lost in time, or I hope there are.
The rest of the memories get very dark as you fall deeper and deeper into Mental Illness and took your life by suicide at age 52.
I hope you are at peace.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday*Half Dome At Yosemite National Park
So glad you’re here, you make me smile and feel good inside. Keep the comments coming.
Rising nearly 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley and 8,800 feet above sea level, Half Dome is a Yosemite icon and a great challenge to many hikers. Despite an 1865 report declaring that it was “perfectly inaccessible, being probably the only one of the prominent points about the Yosemite which never has been, and never will be, trodden by human foot,” George Anderson reached the summit in 1875, in the process laying the predecessor to today’s cable route.
Today, thousands of people reach the summit. For most, it is an exciting, arduous hike; for a few, it becomes more of an adventure than they wanted. Indeed, park rangers assist hundreds of people on the Half Dome trail every summer.
These are my artist interpretations. I like to the first looks like it would back when wagons were driven across America by settlers.
Melinda
4 Alternatives To A Residential Care Home You Might Want To Consider
Are you thinking about moving to a residential care facility? You could even be considering this choice for a loved one. If so, then there are a few alternatives that you might want to think about first.
Downsizing
When you consider long-term care, it’s important to understand why you might need this option. For a lot of people, it’s going to be tied to the fact that they are no longer in a position where they can easily manage and maintain their homes. That’s understandable as maintaining a home – particularly a larger one – will require a high level of mobility and motor control. You might not be in this type of position anymore. But rather than moving to long-term care, you could downsize. You can move to a home that is smaller and is more comfortable for you.
Retirement Community
Or, you might want to consider going to a retirement community. Heading to a retirement community will provide a lot of the same benefits as long-term care. But, they will offer more independence than the typical care facilities can provide. A retirement community might have healthcare assistance and support on-site, but the main focus will always be on providing a safe and friendly place where you can grow old. A key benefit will be that you will be around people your age. This is going to make it easier to socialize on your terms.
Care At Home
Instead of heading to a residential care home, you could also think about options for care at home. In-home care is useful if you are not ready to say goodbye to the home where you raised your family just yet. It can provide you with a way to stay in familiar surroundings while getting the full support that you need. With in-home care options, you can guarantee that you can have someone around who can help you complete maintenance tasks and ensure that you have the resources you need to socialize with people outside the property too.
Living With Family
Or finally, you might want to consider moving in with a family member. This will usually be your son or daughter and their family. It can be great if you are close with your kids and want to spend more time with your extended family like your grandchildren. Some children will be more than happy to rearrange their homes to fit your needs. However, you do need to be aware that you will be putting your family under pressure. Particularly, if you require specific care needs that they will then need to provide. This is often combined with an in-home support choice.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key alternatives to a residential care home that you might want to keep in mind whether you are choosing the right option for you or your loved one. If you make the right decision here, you will be able to make the most out of your twilight years.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
You’ve Adapted Your Home For Retirement, What Next?
Retirement is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, but that can only happen when the right preparations are in place. Adapting your home to meet changing mobility needs is the perfect starting point. However, you still need to do more.
Use the following checklist and you won’t go wrong. Likewise, if you’re looking out for an elderly loved one, the tips below should provide guidance.
Find Ways To Retain Your Independence
One of the main reasons for wanting to stay in your home is to keep your independence. It’s not a luxury afforded to everyone as we all have unique needs. Those that do should not be confined to their property. It will create a very sad existence.
There are several ways to promote increased independence. Ensuring that chronic conditions won’t stop you from driving is a great feature. Meanwhile, joining social clubs or taking up a new hobby like golf can have a massive influence on your future.
Feeling in control of your life, particularly the social activities, will enhance your golden years. Frankly, it’s the very least that you deserve.
Ask For Help
Staying independent is great, but trying to do too much could be harmful. We all need a helping hand from time to time. If you require a little support around the home or in daily activities, it’s vital that you reach out for it.
The help could take many forms. Perhaps you need assisted living with a couple of visits per week. Whether it’s to complete cleaning duties, help prepare meals, or maintain the garden doesn’t matter. Gaining the right help for you is all that matters.
Alternatively, you may find that you can benefit from seeing a mental health expert or having visits for companionship. Independence should never mean that you have to be lonely.
Manage Your Finances
Financial worries are among the most common problems experienced by seniors. First and foremost, you must learn to manage your pension and any other revenue. Likewise, outgoing must be tracked. Trimming the fat where possible is key.
Keeping your short-term finances in good health will impact your quality of life. However, you also want to think about loved ones and when you’re no longer here.
A probate attorney will help you get these issues under control. If nothing else, it’ll bring peace of mind
Money isn’t the most important thing in the world but you mustn’t overlook its impact on your life. Respect it, but don’t let it rule your life.
Find A Routine
There’s nothing worse than feeling as though your golden years are wasting away. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your life has a sense of routine and structure. Without it, you will always run the risk of feeling unfulfilled.
Daily, weekly, and monthly routines are great. However, you should also think about other goals. This is the perfect time to renew your bucket list and plan the things you want to do. From trying new activities to seeing new places, the benefits can be huge.
As humans, we all have a desire to achieve things. When your lifestyle is built around continued progress, your retirement will be far happier.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Updated Interview With Photographer Cindy Knoke
The Pandemic has changed everyone’s lives in so many ways that I wanted to check in with Cindy and see how she is coping with the Pandemic and how it has had an impact on her travels.
I’ve updated the post to include more of my favorite photos.
A little about Cindy’s background.
Cindy is a trained psychotherapist and had a thirty-year career as a therapist and mental health director. She retired early to travel and that is when she started paying more attention to taking photos. On Cindy’s first trip to Africa, I took photos as usual with those throw-away cameras you could buy in drugstores.
My husband was the family photographer and had a decent, but not pricey, Canon camera. He looked at my photos, said they were better than his, gave me his camera, and showed me how it worked…… That is the extent of my photography training.
How has the Pandemic, from a time and photography standpoint changed your life?
The pandemic has dramatically changed my life as it has for everyone. Going from traveling 4+ months every year to being mostly housebound, and taking care of my two-year-old twin grandsons while their parents work, is quite a change.
How many publications have you been published in and which ones?
My photos do end up all over the place, but I don’t keep track of where. People/magazines and even businesses are good about asking if they can use my photos and I am always pleased when they do. I don’t enter contests or submit to professional journals. Actually, that’s not entirely true, I did enter The Nature Conservancy photo contest about a decade ago when I first started taking photos and made it into the finals which shocked the bejeezus out of me. I was using a really cheap camera!! ;) Most of my photos are taken with a Sony HX 400 which costs under $300.
Have you traveled stateside lately?
We did some limited stateside traveling after we were vaccinated and before the Delta variant messed everything up. We traveled up the California coast and into Oregon. We stayed in the desert. We are renting a beach house at the end of the month with the kids and grand twins, but no travel by plane or out of the US. I miss traveling viscerally.
How many future trips do you have planned at this time? What are some of the locations you are traveling to?
Antarctica is still on the books for a return trip in January. It was canceled this year. It looks very unlikely that we will go due to Delta, and the fact that many of the countries we would be traveling through are being overwhelmed by covid. I do wonder if/when life will ever return to the way it was before.
Has COVID-19 changed your life?
I am certainly much closer to my grandsons than I would have been before the pandemic. My daughter and son-in-law relocated their family from The Bay Area and bought a house close to The Holler, and this has been a very positive change for all of us. But there is a lot we all have given up. Just going places locally without considering crowds, distance, and safety is a thing of the past. I am glad I live in The Holler because we are surrounded by nature and open space and that is a balm for me. The pandemic has dramatically changed my life as it has for everyone. Going from traveling 4+ months every year to being mostly housebound, and taking care of my two-year-old twin grandsons while their parents work, is quite a change.
Previous Interview
Cindy Knoke has traveled the world, to the most unusual off-the-beaten-path places you can imagine. Her photography is a window to the world. I asked Cindy a few questions to learn about her photography background and how she plans for the monumental trips.
At what age did you pick up your first camera? Did the world look different through the lens?
My first camera was a silly Swinger Polaroid camera which I got at around age 6. It had a jingle associated with it which I loved and remember verbatim today, “Meet the Swinger. Polaroid Swinger. Only 19 dollars and 95! Swing it up. It says Yes! Take the shot. Rip it off.” This was the essence of my photographic knowledge!! Laughing……. Here’s the jingle starring Ali McGraw:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7k2uwJmwxo
I had family members growing up who were talented photographers but I never even thought to be one of them and never had any cameras. In adulthood, my husband, Jim, was our photographer and had good cameras. I used to buy those throw-away cheap plastic cameras at drugstores for trips since I liked taking different photos than he did.
When we retired, we started dedicated chunks of travel time. Jim looked at my photos from the cheap camera, compared them to his, said, that I had something “special,” and gave me his camera a Canon, and showed me the basics on how to work it. That was my introduction to photography and it has been a serious joy in my life ever since. Jim is the person who encouraged and guided me to it for which I remain very grateful. He still encourages me to this day. I am not a trained photographer by any means, definitely self-taught and a hobbyist, not a professional.
What type of camera and software do you use now?
I use two cameras a Sony HX400 and a Sony RX10 V. I use the 400 the most due to its variable zoom up 1200mm equivalent. I also have a Sony underwater camera which I hope will have a chance to use during our upcoming trip to the Cook Islands.
What software package do you use for editing?
I use Sony Play Memories Home and Windows Photos. You travel extensively, how do you plan for each trip? Jim and I discuss, propose, and agree on where we want to go. We use the internet to do all the research and planning. I propose an itinerary and Jim tweaks it. We devise the modes of transport together although Jim takes the principal role here. I book the accommodations and Jim books the transport. Half of the fun we have in traveling is in the planning. When we are not traveling, we are planning!
How do you get access to the amazing Cathedrals and the intricacies of others visited?
We use the internet extensively. We research online before we go, and while we are traveling. Whilst traveling research for each specific locale is key to finding unusual places. Blogs are excellent travel resources leading us to interesting out-of-the-way places. Travel is so much more fun when you plan a trip according to your particular interests, and internet resources allow everyone to do this!
Thank you, bloggers!! Your posts improve my travel, and my life too, of course! Bloggers Rock!
You can visit Cindy’s blog at cindyknoke.com
You won’t forget the great places she’s been.
Here are a few of my favorite photos from her extensive collection.
Please be sure to check out Cindy’s extensive collection of photography and poems on her website.
Happy Snapping!
Melinda
The Keys to Long-Term Contentment
No one’s quite sure what the meaning of life is, but the pursuit of happiness seems to be as good a guess as any other. The issue is that while finding happiness on a short-term basis is possible, finding it on a long-term basis can be pretty elusive. It is not, however, impossible. Perhaps a good place to look for it is in contentment. If you’re content with yourself and the universe, then the happiness question will cease to be relevant. In this blog, we’re going to look at some key elements that’ll contribute to a content state of mind. Give them a try!
Feed the Good Wolf
We all know that we’re a mixture of good and bad seeds. The one that your water will be the one that you become. So make sure you feed the good wolf that lies within you! To do this, you just need to let go of the things that give you that warm fuzzy feeling and say goodbye to the ones that bring you down. This is tough for the first few weeks, but after that, your new way of being will just be who you are. And from there, you never know what it’ll lead to.
Planning Ahead
You’ll find it difficult to be at peace if you have loads of anxieties and worries. While you may never be able to get rid of those worries completely, you can blunt their influence. The best way to do that is to think of what problems could materialize in the future and then take steps to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of them happening. If you’re worried about what your future might look like because of financial matters related to your health, for instance, then you can work with a Medicaid planning law firm. They’ll help to put together a crisis plan that protects you in the coming years.
Making Connections
If you’ve ever seen the movie Into The Wild, then you’ll be familiar with the phrase “happiness is only real when shared.” And there’s every chance that this is the case. People can be annoying from time to time, sure, but life would be a lot more difficult without them in your life. So as you go through life, look at making connections and being there for others. It’ll give you a purpose in life, and studies have shown that having a purpose is something that leads to fulfillment. You can make connections on a simple friend basis, or you can make your commitment to others more formal by working with charitable organizations.
Moments of Joy
Life can be difficult, sure. But it’s important not to lose sight of all the joy in the world. It’s everywhere if you just look for it! All too often, people become cynical when they enter their later years. But there’s little value in taking that route. Instead, keep your fun spirit, have a good time, and don’t become jaded — it’ll be a tough battle, but one worth fighting.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Mind The Gap: What Parenting Looks Like Through The Haze Of Mental Illness
For many parents, conversations surrounding a teen’s mental health aren’t unusual, and there’s luckily now plenty of advice around how to deal with this increasingly common problem. Yet, when you do a blanket search on the internet, it becomes painfully obvious that there’s almost no advice of the same kind about parenting when you yourself are struggling with mental health issues.
This is an especially worrying omission when you consider that approximately 68% of women and 57% of men who experience mental illness also have children, while 15-23% of children have parents who are experiencing some kind of mental illness. Worse, representation of this issue in the media tends to be poorly portrayed and even suggests that mentally unwell parents can do real damage. As well as being drastically misplaced, this blame can worsen an already difficult situation, and it’s something we hope to help you overcome by considering a few healthy coping mechanisms to prevent your mental illness from ever becoming an issue for the wellbeing of your family.
Make a plan
Mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia can accumulate in a kind of ‘brain fog’ that makes concentration and daily tasks a challenge. This is a significant concern for parents who are worried about forgetting key aspects of parental care. To remove that pressure, many parents working through mental health find it useful to make a plan. Obviously, this plan should make way for large-scale things first, like estate planning with a family attorney not long after the birth, or even putting the wheels in motion for a home purchase, etc. Daily, planning things like meals, school pickup times, and even outfit choices can make it far easier to reassure yourself that you’re meeting your child’s needs, and to keep things on a steady level for your children no matter how bad you’re feeling.
Open communication at all times
The silence surrounding mental health is an increasingly worrying problem and never is that more the case than when parenting is concerned. Certainly, parents who worry about overwhelming their children avoid talking about their own mental health altogether, thus creating an ongoing cycle of silence. By speaking out about your struggles, not only do you ensure that your children are more likely to speak out if they experience the same, but also that they always understand what’s happening and why.
Embrace outside support
Outside support is also essential when things get difficult. Support groups and therapy sessions can prove invaluable for this purpose, providing a professional setting that your child can trust, but outside support networks including family and friend units can also provide a safe haven that’s going to make a huge difference to how your child is able to cope with different situations.
Mental illness makes life undeniably difficult, and parenting can certainly fall under that umbrella, but there’s nothing to say that a parent experiencing mental illness can’t still ensure a thriving, supportive, and even happy family environment by simply approaching the matter with these pointers in mind.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Poof – And They’re Gone! How To Deal With Money Worries
At some point in your life, you will likely encounter money worries. All sorts of things can trigger them, from losing your job to moving on from a relationship.
Money worries, however, shouldn’t be something that brings you down. It turns out that there are many ways to put yourself back in control, both by adjusting your thoughts and actions. Here’s what you need to do:
Focus On The Positive Aspects Of Your Finances
Many people are in the habit of only focusing on the negative aspects of their finances, without looking at the positives as well. It turns out, though, that there is usually something good or constructive to say about your money situation, even if there are problems in other areas.
Focusing on your positives could mean making the simple observation that you have a great job or that you have plenty of money in your savings account. Or you could have a nice big emergency fund that you can dip into at any time.
Get Rid Of Your Financial Shame
Many people have troubled financial histories. But that’s okay. There is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed. What’s happened is water under the bridge. Now, all you need to do is focus on moving your life forward.
If you still feel shame, then you can educate yourself on how to properly manage money. Learn as much as you can to find out where you are going wrong. Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference over a long time period.
Cover Yourself
People often get into financial difficulties when they fail to cover themselves from risks that they face, according to Cars Protection Plus. For instance, they don’t take out the warranties that they need to protect themselves if a product doesn’t work out the way they imagined.
The most important warranties are on cars. So if you buy a second-hand vehicle, make sure that you can take it back to the dealer if there are problems. Don’t ever make a large purchase unprotected. If you do, you could find yourself spending a fortune on service costs.
Create An Emergency Fund
Some people go through life living paycheck to paycheck. But this approach leads to nothing but pain and anxiety. Having no money in the bank means that every small thing that goes wrong really is a disaster.
Around 41 percent of people don’t have enough money to meet a $1,000 unexpected bill. But, unfortunately, bills of this size crop up all the time. Usually, there are workarounds. But, ideally, you would prefer to solve problems as they arise, instead of desperately looking for emergency solutions (or borrowing money).
Don’t Compare Yourself To Others Financially
Many of us are in a bad habit of comparing ourselves to others financially. We think that we need to have the same amount of wealth as social media influencers continually posting pictures of their sports cars and mansions on their accounts.
However, what other people have is irrelevant to your life. And, usually, you’re not seeing the full picture. (Many influencers have debt or simply borrow cars and homes to look wealthy, even when they are not).
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
The World Needs All Kinds Of Minds
Enjoy National Relaxation Day
This is a day I can get into any day! I hope you can take time yourself to enjoy some relaxing time by yourself or with family and friends.
Here are some great photos I found of relaxing to give you some ideas.
Enjoy your day!
Melinda
Book Review of Heal Yourself with Colour by Walaa AIMuhaiteeb
A special thank you to Maggie Dunne-Kirby and Welbeck Publishing Group for an advanced copy of Heal Yourself with Colour by Chromatologist Walaa AIMuhaiteeb.
Available at Trigger Hub
RECOMMENDED
About the Author
I’m a colour therapist and colour specialist – but just consider me your super-wise mentor and bestie who wants to help you get back in balance, find confidence and stop living on auto-pilot.
Does it seem like you can’t pick yourself up no matter what you do? You want to learn how to love and appreciate yourself, be able to deal with demanding situations and find joy and happiness again, but right now, you’re finding that challenging. Your energy has depleted, you can’t seem to overcome the difficult situations that you’re faced with and happiness has dangerously drained you.
I work with women who want to distance themselves from toxic relationships and the baggage they come with, open their heart to new love, feel refuelled, refreshed and calm, and appreciate themselves and everything that life has to offer.
As we work together throughout this book, I’ll encourage you to spiritually and emotionally evolve, give you as much support as you need to move beyond fear, and help you get out of those toxic relationships and live a magical life. By the time our work is done you’ll find a calm inside yourself that you never knew existed; you’ll learn the importance of self-love and have a fuller appreciation for life.
Blurb
Based on the unique Colour Ways system, that combines numerology with colour therapy, author and creator Walaa will show you how to use this powerful technique to bring abundance, clarity, confidence and balance into your life.
Highly practical and interactive, you will learn:
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What colour personality you are, what each colour means and which chakra it is associated with.
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Why you are attracted to certain colours and how you can use them to create positive change in your life
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What colour numerology is and how to use it
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How to use the energy of colour to improve how you feel and think
Alongside daily and weekly rituals and techniques for using colour, including visualisation, numerology, meditation, mantras and mudras and body and home treatments, you can bring abundance, clarity and healing into your life.
My Thoughts
One of the first things that hit me was where Walla was born, in Kuwait. I knew this would be an interesting book from a perspective completely different from my own. Heal yourself with Colour is part Transcendental thinking and a Self-Help book. She writes beautifully and is so passionate about life.
The history of colour is represented in her book, it’s fascinating. I found that many cultures dating back to the Egyptians were interested in colour and today several cultures use colours to represent religion.
Walla has all the exercises you need to get in touch with your inner self, walks you thru each colour and its meaning and helps you find your personal colour or colours. My colours are red and gold.
She makes Colour Numerology easy to understand which could be a difficult subject. The book is a fast read but you have to be committed to taking each step which includes journaling and meditation.
If you want to better understand your inner self and find answers to how to improve your life, this is the book for you.
Welbeck Publishing Group Limited
Welbeck Publishing Group is an exciting, fast-growing independent publisher based in London, dedicated to publishing only the very best and most commercial books spanning a number of genres and categories, from leading authors and well-known brands to debut talent. We live for books that entertain, excite and enhance the lives of readers around the world.
From building our boutique fiction and narrative non-fiction lists to shaping our world-renowned illustrated reference, gift and children’s titles, our aim is to be a market-leader in every category in which we publish. Our books and products come to life for adults, children, and families in 30 languages in more than 60 countries around the world, selling through a variety of traditional and non-traditional channels. We are constantly looking for new ways to deliver our exceptional content and new ideas to inspire readers and listeners everywhere.
Melinda
Today in History
Welcome to the weekend edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend.
1969
On August 15, 1969, the Woodstock music festival opens on a patch of farmland in White Lake, a hamlet in the upstate New York town of Bethel.
Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near the town of Woodstock, New York. The longtime artists’ colony was already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians. Despite their relative inexperience, the young promoters managed to sign a roster of top acts, including the Jefferson Airplane, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more.
1979
Apocalypse Now, the acclaimed Vietnam War film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, opens in theaters around the United States on August 15, 1979. The film, inspired in part by Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness, among other sources, told the story of an Army captain …read more
1914
The American-built waterway across the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is inaugurated with the passage of the U.S. vessel Ancon, a cargo and passenger ship. The rush of settlers to California and Oregon in the mid 19th century was the initial …read more
1961
Two days after sealing off free passage between East and West Berlin with barbed wire, East German authorities begin building a wall—the Berlin Wall—to permanently close off access to the West. For the next 28 years, the heavily fortified Berlin Wall stood as the most tangible …read more
1057
At the Battle of Lumphanan, King Macbeth of Scotland is slain by Malcolm Canmore, whose father, King Duncan I, was murdered by Macbeth 17 years earlier. Macbeth was a grandson of King Kenneth II and also had a claim to the throne through his wife, Gruoch, who was the …read more
Have a great day!
Melinda
The planet clearly needs help, so what can you do? Demand change
If the true urgency of climate change was not clear to Americans before, it should be clear by now. The mind-bending heat, drought, fire and floods sweeping the US are both nightmares and wake-up calls to the reality fossil fuels created. For over 40 years, our most powerful people and institutions collectively ignored climate scientists, and now the deadly consequences have arrived at all our doorsteps.
People wade through floodwater during the monsoon rains in Lahore. Pakistan is the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world and already experiencing weather extremes. Alamy
“I have witnessed people suffering and dying since I was a child,” the 18-year-old from Pakistan told me over the phone. Her hometown, located in the mountainous Hunza Valley, is surrounded by towering Himalayan glaciers that have been melting at an astonishing rate since before Baig was born. These climate-fueled melts have formed more than 3,000 glacial lakes, which now regularly break their banks and rush through surrounding villages, taking everything — and everyone — in their path with them. More than 7 million people in the region are at risk from these floods, according to UNDP.
Baig now lives in the southern city of Karachi, but friends and family still live in Hunza. Eventually, they’ll face a difficult choice: Move south willingly, or let the mountain do it for them. Even if the world meets its most ambitious climate targets, one-third of the Himalayan glaciers will melt by the end of the century, a 2019 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development report found. And even the south won’t provide much respite; the heat and monsoon rains there are some of the most punishing in the world. The average daily temperature in Karachi this past week was 104 degrees*. Stepping outside “feels like you’re going to die.”
After 18 years of life in the world’s fifth-most climate-vulnerable nation, Baig sees her family’s predicament for what it is — not just tragedy but profound injustice. Pakistan contributes less than 1 percent of the world’s carbon emissions, and yet has been forced to bear the brunt of the world’s carbon crisis. “I’m angry about it. I’m sad about it. I don’t know how people have the audacity to prioritize money over humanity,” she said. And she can’t help but wonder if this would have happened if America—which has put more carbon into the atmosphere than any other nation—had felt these impacts first.
“I should be in university,” she said. But her life’s work is activism. “I have no choice,” she said, her voice breaking on the phone. Each day, Baig said, she’s fighting to secure the world’s future. And she wants to know, in this critical moment: are you doing anything to help secure hers?
In more than a dozen interviews over the last two weeks, activists from across the climate movement have issued a common call to arms: If you have ever thought of becoming more involved in the fight for climate justice, it’s time to stop thinking — and start doing.
“This is pretty much the biggest moment in climate politics in over a dozen years,” said Jamal Raad, the executive director of Evergreen Action, a progressive climate group focused on federal legislation. “If anyone was considering climate activism at any level, from contacting their member of Congress to volunteering with an organization to attending a protest, now’s the time.”
The scientific case for urgency has never been clearer. Last month, a draft of the latest UN IPCC report — the gold standard summation of modern climate science — was leaked to Agence France-Presse in hopes it might serve as a wake-up call before the next round of international climate talks in November. The report warned that the dire impacts of global heating were materializing faster than most scientists expected. Several “tipping points” — major, rapid changes in climate conditions that once reached are near-impossible to reverse — are now likely to come sooner rather than later, and many impacts are already locked in. Significant and rapid decarbonization can still prevent further pain and suffering, but the longer we wait, the worse things will become. “Life on Earth can recover from a drastic climate shift by evolving into new species and creating new ecosystems,” it warned. “Humans cannot.”
The costs of inaction are also already playing out in American life. More than 100 people were killed by the oppressive heat in Oregon last month, part of a larger record-breaking heat dome event that cumulatively caused more than 800 deaths across the Pacific Northwest. Farmers and ranchers are suffering under historic drought conditions in the West, where states are already limiting water supply while fighting out-of-control wildfires. Record rainfall in Michigan is overwhelming Detroit’s aging sewage systems, part of the growing pandemic of poop-filled floodwaters. And on the East Coast, tropical storm Elsa signaled a powerful start to yet another destructive hurricane season, expected to be “above average” in activity for the sixth year in a row.
Fortunately, scientists are also more confident than ever about how to improve the situation. In May, the influential and notoriously conservative International Energy Administration (IEA) released a “bombshell” report outlining how the world could still achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of preventing a 1.5°C rise in global average temperatures. “As the major source of global emissions, the energy sector holds the key to responding to the world’s climate challenge,” the report read. That sector must fully decarbonize by 2050, which requires not just a massive acceleration to renewables, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient building retrofits, but “a huge decline in the use of fossil fuels,” it said. “There is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in our net-zero pathway.”
The dire need to significantly decrease fossil fuel use, however, has still not sunk into the minds of the world’s biggest polluters. Take the United States. The Biden administration has taken some meaningful steps toward reducing carbon pollution, including suspending oil and gas leasing on federal land, canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, and reinstating several EPA climate regulations. But the US Justice Department is also currently defending at least three massive new fossil fuel projects — the Willow drilling project in Alaska, the Line 3 tar sands pipeline in Minnesota, and millions of acres of oil and gas leasing in Wyoming.
The massive infrastructure bill making its way through Congress is also a big opportunity to ensure meaningful climate investments in the energy sector — and may in fact be the last chance to pass meaningful climate legislation during Biden’s presidency. But the latest version was recently stripped of most of its significant climate provisions, including a Clean Energy Standard, tax credits for renewable energy and a new civilian climate corps.
The draft IPCC report places the blame for such inaction directly on the fossil fuel industry. Specifically, “think tanks, foundations, trade associations and other third-party groups that represent fossil fuel companies for promoting ‘contrarian’ science that misleads the public and disrupts efforts to implement climate policies needed to address the rising threats,” Politico reported. “Rhetoric on climate change and the undermining of science have contributed to misperceptions of the scientific consensus, uncertainty, unduly discounted risk and urgency, dissent and, most importantly, polarized public support delaying mitigation and adaptation action, particularly in the US.”
The fossil fuel industry is indeed fighting very hard to undo and prevent further climate action in the US. But others are helping them, too.GOP states are using taxpayer dollars to file lawsuits on their behalf. Advertising and marketing firms are creating sophisticated PR campaigns to help them convince the public they’re green. News outlets, many of which routinely ignore the climate crisis, are running those ad campaigns and making a profit. Social media companies like Facebook and Twitter are doing the same.
In other words, there’s a lot to do — and the IEA, which wrote the blueprint for effective action, says the key is people power.
“A transition of the scale and speed described by the net-zero pathway cannot be achieved without sustained support and participation from citizens,” the blueprint said. That means more than just saying you’re for a healthy planet. It means taking a stand against the reason it’s sick.
The ability to participate in activism is a privilege. Many simply do not have the time, money or emotional bandwidth to take on a global cause. Climate activism also has an unfortunate history of regressive finger-wagging, blaming relatively powerless individuals for not making “better” environmental choices.
The climate activism that is needed today is not that type of activism — especially since, according to the IEA, individual “behavior” changes will only account for around four percent of cumulative emissions reductions in the path to net-zero. What’s needed today is sustained outrage at the powerful, by those with the time and resources to express it.
For 18-year-old Jaweria Baig in Pakistan, this means pushing for big changes at powerful corporations.
Her latest campaign, launched with youth activists from climate-vulnerable counties across the world, targets Microsoft. She’s asking the tech giant to significantly decrease its emissions from corporate flights and use its own video conference platform “Teams” instead, as it did during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Microsoft is currently “one of the world’s top buyers” of flights, the Just Use Teams campaign says, its emissions comparable to some small countries.
Microsoft — which markets itself as a leader in the fight for climate justice — has so far declined to respond to Baig’s campaign. A spokesperson for the tech giant sent me only a link to its corporate sustainability and aviation plans in response to the group’s complaints.
So in the meantime, Baig is asking for people power. She wants Microsoft staff to leave anonymous Glassdoor reviews telling their bosses to use Teams instead of airplanes and wants Microsoft customers to tweet their support.
If Microsoft’s flights don’t inspire you, though, there are plenty of other campaigns in need of voices, resources, signatures, or bodies. Is the bipartisan infrastructure deal your thing? Perhaps you’d like No Climate No Deal, a campaign launched by Evergreen Action and the youth-led Sunrise Movement. The campaign is pressuring Democratic members of Congress to reject any infrastructure legislation lacking “transformational investments in climate and environmental justice solutions.” They’ve already secured pledges from 14 Democratic Senators. They’re seeking support in the form of a petition, calls to Senators and tweets.
Or maybe you’re really pissed at advertising agencies, marketing firms and social media giants for helping promote fossil fuel company propaganda. If that’s the case, you might like Clean Creatives. Despite only launching less than a year ago, it has gotten 92 advertising agencies to sign a pledge against working with fossil fuel companies. It’s now spreading a petition to get social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to ban fossil fuel ads. (Duncan Meisel, one of the group’s cofounders, said in an interview that the HEATED newsletter — which is where this post was first published — was part of the inspiration for forming the group. So maybe you could also start a newsletter, if that’s your thing.)
Indigenous groups also need help opposing fossil fuel projects across the country. Most have action hubs with a range of potential ways to help, like this one for the Line 3 pipeline. Environmental justice groups like We Act and the Climate Justice Alliance also need voices and resources. Perhaps Vice’s list of 12 environmental justice organizations to donate time and money to would be of interest.
If straight-up activism isn’t your thing, maybe you’d like to support climate science education or communications projects like Climate Central or the Alliance for Climate Education. If you believe in the power of journalism, maybe you want to support accountability projects like Floodlight and Drilled News or regional publications like Southerly Mag.
Maybe you’re into culture and want to donate to a place like the Climate Museum. Maybe there’s a state climate policy you want to get involved with; a local office you want to run for; or an opportunity to make a difference at the company you already work at. Maybe you just want to troll fossil fuel companies all day.
The opportunities to get involved in the climate fight are endless, and that can be overwhelming. But the beauty of people power is that you don’t have to do everything. “You don’t need to quit your job and become a climate activist,” said Genevieve Gunther, founder of the media-focused group End Climate Silence. “With enough people, one little thing every week, even a tweet, can make a huge difference.”
Some people may read this and believe it is pointless. That we are too late. That none of it matters. The fossil fuel industry knows this is not true. Their fear of a determined, pissed-off public is why they promoted campaigns of climate denial and “individual responsibility” in the first place. They knew if people were unsure about the problem, they’d waste time fighting about it instead of mobilizing to fix it. They knew if people were confused about the solution, they’d waste time trying to change themselves and each other instead of the system.
However worse the climate crisis gets now depends on how quickly society transforms. And how quickly society transforms depends on how many people demand it. The most harmful lie being spread about climate change today is not that it is fake. It’s that nothing you can do can help save the world.
This story originally appeared in HEATED, Emily Atkin‘s weekly newsletter that is dedicated to original accountability reporting and analysis on the climate crisis. Subscribe here.
The US sewage system is long overdue for an update — and here’s why you should never, ever jump in puddles after a rainstorm. Watch Emily Atkin’s TEDxShinnecockHills Talk now:
Melinda
Reference:
Emily Atkin is the author and founder of HEATED, a weekly newsletter dedicated to original accountability reporting and analysis on the climate crisis. Find her at http://www.emilyatkin.com and subscribe to the newsletter at heated.world.
Here’s Some Ways To Help Alleviate Your Anxieties
Anxiety, chronic pain, and depression are among some of the most common issues in the world and a lot of medicines do not fully assist with these symptoms. That is why there are plenty of alternatives that can assist, such as CBD. There are plenty of different types of CBD and they work in different ways. They can also be ingested in many forms. Why not take a look at CBD Living Gelcaps to see the benefits. Taken as supplements may be just the boost your health needs.
CBD has proven benefits on the body and they are renowned as an essential supplement that supports a healthy immune system, which can benefit your body and boost your natural defenses. Vitamin C supports all aspects of immune function needed for optimal antibody production, whilst Vitamin D is important for improved resistance, and Bilberry is packed with antioxidants that are beneficial to improving the overall immune system. By keeping your immune system healthy, you are keeping your body healthy as the immune system is key to keeping our bodies working healthily. Anxiety and depression often come hand in hand and you can look at some of the ways in which they can affect daily life.
- Rapid heart rate
- Palpitations
- Chest pain or tight chest
- Headaches
- Sweats
- Fear
- Mental symptoms such as entrapment, doom, or fear.
You should always talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms as there are plenty of ways in which you can help yourself to overcome the symptoms. They are certainly not pleasant and can affect daily activities, including work, which is why taking supplements and also maintaining a healthy lifestyle can really help. Distraction is a huge key for people with anxiety and depression. Focusing on other things and looking at the benefits of new tasks and new adventures. When you don’t have access to your doctor or therapist, then there are some little things that you can add to your life just to give yourself that little boost when you need it.
- Listen to music that is upbeat and inspires you.
- Have a real laugh! (With friends if possible)
- Take a walk around the park or the streets.
- Declutter things, keep things simple in the house.
- Give someone a hug and start smiling more, it helps reset the brain.
- Think about the good things that you have and when things went well.
- Allow yourself time to talk things through.
Talking through problems is so important because a problem shared is a problem halved and without this mentality, you will block things in your mind and keep yourself from progressing further. You need to be open to talking and to appreciate that mental health issues are common and you are never alone. With the help of CBD supplements and a great network, you are on the way to recovery. If you feel you have nobody to talk to then be sure to look at places online to help you where you can join online groups and forums.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Are You SUPERSTITIOUS? It’s Friday The 13th
I’m not superstitious but there are many that are so I gathered this information for you. Enjoy your scary day.
I wish there was a photo of the Catacombs in Paris, France on my computer, those are creepy and you can tell by the expression on my face it felt weird being with thousands of centuries-old human remains.
One Thought
Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year. For example, 2015 had a Friday the 13th in February, March, and November; 2017 through 2020 had two Friday the 13ths each, and the years 2021 and 2022 will both have just one occurrence each.Wikipedia
Interesting enough I found alternative thinking.
For centuries, Friday the 13 th was considered the day of the goddesses. It was the day to recognize and celebrate the divine sacred feminine and the cycles of endings and beginnings, death and birth that she inherently represents. Friday the 13 th was in essence a day to celebrate the feminine aspects and souls always present in our lives. Elephant Journal
Have a great day!
Melinda
Help Yourself to Find Inner Peace and Calm
It can be quite common to have some racing thoughts and to find yourself worrying about different things constantly. In the modern world that we live in, this can be quite a normal feeling. But when you have an anxious mind, it is something that can take over and be quite distressing. There is some good news, though. There are many simple things that you can do to calm your mind and calm your thoughts. If you want to get some inner peace of mind and to truly feel calm, then here are some of the things that you can do to help do just that.
Listen to your favorite music
There have been some studies into music and the impact that it has, and these studies found that relaxing music can help people to be calmer. In the studies, with a focus on children with ADHD, the relaxing music helped them to feel calmer and feel more focused. But if you prefer to listen to more upbeat music, then it can still have a calming impact on you, if it is music that you like and enjoy. It can be a good way to focus on something else for a little while and can help you to have real peace of mind.
Deep breathing
By focusing on your breathing, you will not be focused on other things, as you need to concentrate in order to listen to and be in control of your breathing. By taking some deep breaths, inhaling, and then exhaling, you will not only fill your body with lots of lovely oxygen, but you will have a way to instantly feel calmer. This can be something you can do in the car, at work, on the train, or cooking dinner, so it can be something to implement into your life each day, as the need arises.
Find peace and justice
It can be hard to feel calm and peaceful if you are holding onto a lot of sadness, bitterness, or resentment. If you are harboring feelings like that, then it can be difficult. Instead, think about what can be done instead. You might want to look for top wrongful death attorneys if a situation in your life is leaving you with anger or despair, through the loss of a loved one. You may feel resentful towards an individual and need to practice forgiveness. Doing these things could help to give you the peace and clarity that you are looking for in order to have greater peace of mind.
Get outdoors
Staying indoors too much isn’t a good thing. It can be a trigger for anxieties and not help to calm them in any way. When you spend time in nature, whether that is in the woods, out by the ocean, or walking in a park, you can feel happier and healthier. There is a lot of peace that can come from nature, walking, relaxing, listening to bird songs, and so on.
Learn to be accepting
In order for us all to have peace of mind, then acceptance is something that really is critical. By accepting your situation, as well as realizing that there are many things that you have no control over, you can learn to tolerate different areas of uncertainty in your lives. When you accept what you can control and what you can’t control, it can help give you a clearer mind and reduce some of those anxious feelings that you can have.
Self-care and self-love
There is no getting away from the fact that if we like ourselves, then we can have much greater peace of mind. When we feel happy within ourselves, we can feel more at ease with the world around us, even if there are some elements that are less than ideal. If we take the time for self-care and take steps to improve self-love, then it can give you much more inner peace, which will mean more confidence and fewer insecurities about ourselves.
Check up on your health
It makes a difference to check on your health and to find different ways to look after yourself. By being able to let go and not being able to take care of ourselves in this way, it can indicate a lack of respect for yourself. This can then lead to some consequences of your own impacting not only your level of health but your life overall. By doing what you can to keep healthy and to make the most of what you have, you are being kind to yourself and it will make a difference.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Looking for the Light 