I’ve been experimenting in the kitchen again. In our family we laugh about my experiments, because I get in the kitchen and just start putting things together. I had a mission with this last one though – to figure out how to make healthy lunches that were quick and easy to put together. One of […]
Fighting Fibro Fatigue with Food: Easy, Healthy Grain Bowls — Reclaiming HOPE
One of the more challenging headache conditions to treat is New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH). NDPH is characterized by a new headache that occurs daily for more than three months. NDPH is most common in young females, although males certainly can and do suffer from NDPH. There are often associated symptoms that can be bothersome […]
New Daily Persistent Headache — Chicago Headache Center & Research Institute
Have a great weekend and thanks for reading, I appreciate all your comments. M
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “-tast-.” Find a word that contains “tast” and use it in your post. Enjoy!
The one thing you never know when you are chronically ill is when you will feel “normal” again, do much needed activities and much needed self-care. I struggle with several chronic illnesses and I’ve hit a good run for the past month and it feels FANTASTIC! I work hard not to over do things but work diligently to take advantage of the time I have for quality time with my loved ones, including my four legged babies.
Thanks for reading and stopping by my blog today. I appreciate all your comments.
Melinda
Here are the rules for SoCS:
Have a great Friday, I appreciate you stopping by today.
52 BCE
The Gallic Wars have raged for eight years, with Julius Caesar leading much of the Roman Republic’s charge against the tribes of Gaul in Western Europe. An inability to band together against their common enemy dooms the Gallic tribes, and the struggle ends at the Battle of Alesia.
1895
Stephen Crane’s novel ‘The Red Badge of Courage‘ is released in book form for the first time. Not yet born when the Civil War ended, the young author weaves a narrative of America’s great cataclysm, now 30 years gone, with such verisimilitude that critics will call him a master of Realism
1942
A new Nazi ‘Wunderwaffen,’ or ‘weapon of wonder,’ is fired in a test flight, and the missile’s top 52.5-mile altitude is so high it becomes the first manmade object to enter outer space. In less than two years Germany will begin launching thousands of V-2 rockets, mainly against Belgium and the UK.
1990
In what will later be celebrated as ‘Unity Day,’ a country torn in two after the Second World War is reunited as the once Soviet-controlled East Germany is dissolved and its territory and citizens merged with the Federal Republic of Germany, formerly known as West Germany.
IDEAS.TED.COM
Sep 11, 2019 / Daryl Chen
This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of great advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.
“Write something good, and feel good about writing it.”
That sentence is from award-winning writer Jacqueline Woodson — she just released Red at the Bone, a novel for adults — in response to the question “What’s the goal of writing when you’re 15?” (Side note: I, the interviewer, did not pose that query; she did. Yep, Woodson is the kind of intimidating and articulate person who can come up with thoughtful questions and during an interview.)
That sentence is great advice for writers of any age. And so, just because I can, I will repeat it: “Write something good, and feel good about writing it.”
Woodson and I are talking about writing because I’m a fan of hers and because I’m a mentor in a writing program for high-schoolers in New York City (Girls Write Now). I wanted to hear what insights and inspiration she had to offer those who aspire to do what she does. Once upon a time, she was a girl with a passion for words — “from the gate, I was like, ‘I want to be a writer — I want to write everything: poetry and short stories and fiction and …’” She’s gone on to write more than 30 books — including Miracle’s Boys, Brown Girl Dreaming and After Tupac and D Foster — that span all those categories and then some. Decades later, she still loves to write and re-write (more on the latter below).
Here’s what she had to say to aspiring writers:
“You don’t need to have a great vocabulary. What you need to have is a creative way of using the words you have. I think sometimes it is detrimental to writers to have too much of a vocabulary because they just rely on the word that they know how to define and they end up breaking the first rule of writing: Show, don’t tell.”
“Writing is about narrative language and creative language and being able to get a point across in a way that is not ordinary. More than having a large vocabulary, one needs a large vision and be able to see the world in a different way than other people see it.”
“Young writers can learn so much from reading picture books and really engaging in the text and how the language is laid on the page. With picture books, [writers] are working with a reader who has a very short attention span and you have to get them from line one and hold them to page 32. That’s a challenge, but it’s also a challenge that’s not going to be intimidating for a young writer. It also allows them to experiment with tone and form, especially poetic form, because picture books are intentional, the line breaks are intentional, and each line is laying down an image.”
Woodson recommends checking out the illustrated books that have been named recipients of the Caldecott Medal or the Coretta Scott King Book Award.
“Writing is visceral. If you write something down and don’t feel some kind of way, then it’s not working. It’s not doing what you wanted to do.”
“When I first write something, I show it to three people I trust. I tell them: ‘Tell me every single thing you love about it.’ That’s all I want to hear because it’s embryonic. It’s so fragile at that point because it’s so new that I’m not ready for questions, I’m not ready for it to be evaluated in any way. I just want to know what you love, because that’s going to make me excited to go back and write more of it.”
“Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop talks about the importance of kids having both mirrors and windows in their fiction. (editor’s note: Bishop is referring to kids having the chance to read books that reflect them and their lives and books that give them portals onto different kinds of lives.) I think especially in our culture kids get a lot of books by white writers, no matter their color, so they can’t even imagine themselves as an Asian girl, a black girl, someone who is indigenous [and] being able to have a narrative. It’s hard to have a writer believe, ‘Yeah, I have license to tell a story without getting in trouble.’ To see parts of her narrative in cultures as close to hers as possible is helpful.”
“As a kid, you have a right to be in the world fully and you have a right to see representations of yourself wherever you go. And if you don’t, write your way out. (editor’s note: like Alexander Hamilton.) Figure out why that is so, and rather than fixating on the dilemma of it, challenge it. Write the challenge, and that’s where your writing’s going to break through and create something new.”
“Writing is a lot of work. When I look at Brown Girl Dreaming, I rewrote that book 33 times. When I look at Another Brooklyn, I rewrote that about 16 times. I think people like the idea of being writers; I don’t think they like being re-writers.
but what if you don’t like to re-write?
“You’re not going to like everything. There are some things that are going to be painful and you don’t want to do them, but the end result is going to be something that is better. I love re-writing now, but I’m old. I love it because I know when I finish re-writing, it’s going to be better than it was when I first wrote it.”
“It happens with every single piece. Your writing gets to this point, and it’s so fabulous and you love it. And then it falls apart. That’s the point where you have to start scaffolding it and building it and trying to figure out what is this piece trying to say and how is it trying to say it. A lot of people stop when the piece falls apart and think they’re going to start another one and they’re all going to fall apart.”
don’t stop.
“It’s going to be the difference between finishing something and having a whole bunch of half-finished things in your drawer. For people who are starting out writing, know that your piece of writing is going to fall apart and it’s going to get really hard. But it’s the best place to be, because now your work is ahead of you. And you know what you have to do to make it better.”
“Whenever kids start asking me about their stuff getting published, I’m like, ‘That’s not what you should worry about. You should worry about writing the best piece that you possibly can.’ Writing is such a process. It’s an ongoing process, and you don’t write something in September and have it published by December. It takes much longer. If you really want to invest in the world of writing, you have to invest time and labor and faith in it.”
Jacqueline Woodson spoke at TED2019 in Vancouver; her talk will be posted here shortly.
Happy Rosh Hashanah, I pray you have the opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Sending my blessings.
Melinda
Neem oil. It’s a thick, tan-colored oil extracted from the mechanically-pressed (or chemically-processed) seed of the neem tree. Neem is one of those plants that is almost certainly under-utilized across most of the world. It’s all-natural and vegan. You can use neem oil for organic pest control but wait, there’s more… Don’t eat the neem […]
Here’s how neem oil can do double duty for organic gardeners — farmstand culture
Essential oils can be used to soothe and help heal many ailments, and they are a great resource for relieving pain. Specific oils treat certain types of pain naturally without causing uncomfortable side effects that sometimes come with medications. Here we’ve broken down which oils are best to use when targeting each type of pain. Make sure to properly dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil before applying to skin.
TMJ
Wen dealing with jaw point pain, combine wintergreen and lavender essential oils to utilize the analgesic effects and help ease muscle tension.
NECK AND SHOULDER
This pain often stems from strain or prolonged sitting. Try using chamomile, lavender, and frankincense essential oils for their anti-inflammatory benefits.
NERVE
To help ease nerve pain, it’s best to use essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling, such as eucalyptus essential oil.
BACK
This type of pain can stem from various causes like inflammation or menstral cramps and it’s ideal to use ginger, wintergreen, thyme, or lavender essential oils for relief.
HIP
To naturally reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, apply a combination of lavender, frankincense, and wintergreen essential oils.
LEG
Weather growing pains or extended use fatigue, try rosemary essential oil to reduce swelling and wintergreen essential oil to increase blood flow.
KNEE
Rosemary, wintergreen, ginger, and frankincense essential oils are best for treating swollen knee joints.
*DON’T FORGET TO USE A CARRIER OIL TO PROPERLY DILUTE
You will need:
YIELDS 12 oz.
1 cup fine sea salt
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
Bowl
15-20 drops citrus essential oils
Jar
To Make:
Mix together the sea salt and the grapeseed oil in a bowl or jar. Add essential oils, and mix well. Transfer to a jar for storing or gifting. As you use the scrub, the oil and salt may separate: give a quick stir before using it. To use, gently massage a bit of the salt scrub onto wet skin using a circular motion. Rinse with warm water.
Notes:
Citrus essential oils can cause possible skin sensitivity, particularly in sunlight.
If you’re pregnant or taking prescription medications, please consult your physician before using essential oils.
Unknown Author
Monday, May 26, 2014
Mom Upset That 9-Year-Old Girl Brought “Overweight” Notice Home From School
Great video, please see the kids reaction to letter.
The mother of a third-grade girl says she’s upset that the city Department of Education sent home a health assessment in her daughter’s book bag that categorizes the 9-year-old as “overweight.” Roseanne Colletti reports. Each year, 870,000 New York City public school students in kindergarten through grade 12 are handed their Fitnessgram assessments and told to bring them home without peeking inside.
Laura Bruij Williams says her daughter, Gwendolyn Williams, looked at hers, and asked her about it one night while getting ready for bed at their Staten Island home. Gwendolyn is 4 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 66 pounds.
The analysis said her Body Mass Index is “overweight.” “She said ‘Mom, school told me that I’m overweight,'” Williams told NBC 4 New York. “I was very angry and upset because I don’t want this to be the kind of thing that sticks with her.”
The Department of Education says the assessments are “based on whether an individual student is in the Healthy Fitness Zone for their age and sex.” They are supposed to be sealed and given to parents only, so that the adults can start conversations with their kids about good eating habits and exercise. Williams, who says her daughter is active and healthy, said she would have preferred the assessment be given directly to parents so that children aren’t even tempted to look. She said a friend of Gwendolyn’s was in tears about her assessment. “I think they should be sent to parents, mailed home or have them finished for conferences,” Williams said.
Sometimes we think magazines and media portraying extremely thin girls and women result in body image issues. I have not seen any studies yet know first hand how it feels to have a warped sense of your body. I had unhealthy body image issues by fifth grade and dreaded P.E. class. I was probably 10 pounds under weight but wanted to look like my Farrah poster. I would not take part in sports because I imagined how fat I looked in the short shorts running track or playing basketball. I think most teacher’s understand the pressure on all kids today. This school and Teacher became part of the problem. Talk to the school Principle and Teacher to discuss their process for communicating with parents. If you feel the process it lacking or potentially harmful to your child let them know. Then write a letter to School Board addressing concerns. I would be the soft-spoken mother who loses it, the school is bullying the kids and parents. The scars on the kids that can last a lifetime. Not all parents would recognize weight issues that young and could miss an opportunity to save their kids and themselves much grief. You pay taxes for your child’s education, speak up and hold school accountable.
Warrior
Fibromyalgia is a condition that consists of widespread muscle pain, cognitive failures and fatigue. Because there is no standard blood test or other medical test to identify Fibro, doctors rely on Patient stories and history to make a determination, along with using the “tender point” test. When you have Fibromyalgia, there are particular tender points […]
7 Conditions That Can Mimic Fibromyalgia (And Getting The Right Diagnosis) — There Is Always Hope
Sydney Australia
When I ask a group of participants to think of all the words associated with someone who has mental illness here’s what I get: crazy, looney, nuts, attention seeking, dangerous, violent, etc. Then I ask the question what are words you hear about a cancer survivor. Those words are: hero, warrior, brave, strong, etc. Then […]
The bias of mental illness — Shedding Light on Mental Health
Keep speaking out.
My personal path into patient advocacy began with speaking at conferences about my struggle with complex regional pain syndrome, and, then, writing a book about it. But I know first-hand that speaking up isn’t easy–it can leave you feeling vulnerable and exposed, and it requires your already-limited energy and time.
That’s why I’m so grateful to each pain warrior who has participated in our #LetsTalkAboutPain campaign. Whether commenting on a Daily Challenge post on social media, sharing a video as part of our Storyathon, attending an online event, or participating in any other way — your efforts make a difference.
There’s one week left for Pain Awareness Month. Let’s make it count!
Sincerely,
Nicole HemmenwayInterim CEO, U.S. Pain
| Hi, Tomorrow is World Gorilla Day! You are part of a special few to get a sneak peek at Portia’s messagefor tomorrow, World Gorilla Day! Share, post and talk about gorillas as much as possible. The more we get the word out there, the more people we can get behind saving our closest relative (there are still only 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild!). Let’s show everyone that there’s hope, and together we can do something about it! We’ve attached some images for you to post! Happy (early) #WorldGorillaDay! Love, The Ellen Fund Team |
Chronic pain – A complex issue that affects everyone differently. The one thing we all have in common? Chronic pain is a chronic pain in the ass to deal with! Chronic Pain : A Chronic Problem Pain can affect you physically, socially and psychologically, impacting everything from sleep and mental wellbeing, to work and relationships. […]
Chronic Pain Awareness Month : September 2019 — Invisibly Me
| Dear Subscriber, There are a number of things that can block your recovery from Lyme disease. If you have been on antibiotics for six to nine months and you are not getting better, there are additional steps to take. In Treatment Stuck? Try These Steps at Six Months and Beyond I describe how to move your treatment forward. In my Seattle practice, I discovered ways to move the treatments forward of my patients. In Treatment Stuck? Try These Steps at Six Months and Beyond I describe my formula. Read and watch this article to see if effective treatments are right for you. In Health, Marty Ross MD Read or Watch NowSpread the Word! ShareTweetForwardQuality Matters. You can find the various supplements I use effectively in my Seattle practice at Marty Ross MD Supplements. Look Now |
This is a repost from 2014 discussing a Gluten-Free diet. The information is an overview and may help if you’ve been told to start your Gluten-Free journey.
I hope this answers some of your questions and starts you on your way to less inflammation in your life.
Have a great day and always thank you for reading, I appreciate you. I love reading your comments so keep them coming.
Melinda
This week I want to give a brief overview on Gluten Free Diet and Epstein Barr Virus. Both where the top searches in last weeks post. I hope the information is helpful. The CDC is a great place to get up to date information. Have a great weekend. :) M
Gluten Free What does it mean?
My doctor follows The Mayo Clinic, Gluten-free diet: What’s allowed, what’s not. All information taken from The Mayo Clinic outline.
A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines. Switching to a gluten-free diet is a big change at first, it takes some getting used to. Many specialty grocery stores sell gluten-free foods. We shop at Whole Foods and have found a large selection of gluten-free products, including brownies. Here are some surprises I discovered. My husband eats many gluten-free products but not exclusively. The Mayo Clinic strongly warns to watch for cross contamination. An example is if one is eating gluten-free bread and the other is not, the toaster could cause cross contamination. Another contamination point is using the same utensils to cook gluten-free and non gluten-free. Yes, it is that detailed. Be careful with grains such as oats which can get contaminated with wheat during the growing and processing. I treated myself to ham lunch meat and cheese last week. Wrong, no processed meats. You have to look for vitamins and medicine that use gluten as a binding agent. Remembering all this information is why I have started eating only items marked gluten-free. I don’t want to work that hard. A gluten-free diet helps people with Lyme Disease to reduce inflammation in the body.
Epstein Barr Virus
The information is from The Center for Disease Control. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family. It is one of the most common human viruses. EBV is found all over the world. Most people get infected with EBV at some point in their lives. EBV spreads most commonly through bodily fluids, primarily saliva. EBV can cause infectious mononucleosis, also called mono, and other illnesses. After you get an EBV infection, the virus becomes latent (inactive) in your body. In some cases, the virus may reactivate. This does not always cause symptoms, but people with compromised immune systems are more likely to develop symptoms if EBV reactivates.
EBV is spread by saliva through: Using the same eating utensils, toothbrushes, sharing drinks and food, kissing and having contact with toys children have drooled on
The first time you get infected with EBV (primary EBV infection) you can spread the virus for weeks and even before you have symptoms. Once the virus is in your body, it stays there in a latent (inactive) state. If the virus reactivates, you can potentially spread EBV to others no matter how much time has passed since the initial infection.
General challenges:
The neuropathy in legs and hands is like getting stabbed with big needles. My hands and legs go to sleep very quickly while sitting down.
The fatigue has taken its toll the past four days. I have spent more time sleeping than awake. Today is the first time I’ve felt good in a week.
I have revolted against the supplements this week. With my sleep schedule it wasn’t worth trying to keep up..
The blinding headaches are a daily occurrence, the pain meds help, not crazy about taking pain pills. I will get well and don’t want a drug habit to break. After starting antibiotic treatment in a couple of weeks, may change my mind.
The edema causes my ankle bone to disappear and legs tight up to shin. Anything I bump into leaves a huge bruise.
The lab work did show Chronic Lyme Disease which means I’ve had Lyme for a year or more. I have to wait until 9/17/14 to get the complete run down.
I still have several test to complete for the Cardiologist. Didn’t do well on the pulmonary part of stress test. One breathing exercise only scored 55%.
From Mary Frances McFadden, Jackson Township, New Jersey
Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of black pepper
1 teaspoon celery seed
Fresh herbs of your choice (parsley, rosemary, thyme, dill or other)
Peel one or two cucumbers and slice into rounds. Use English cucumbers or peel if skin is tough. Place in bowl. Throughly mix or shake ingredients for dressing and pour over cucumbers. Chill well in refrigerator before serving.
Peel and grate two carrots and one half green cabbage and place in bowl. Pour dressing over bowl and refrigerate.
The word Wrap, the first thing that came to mind is this great song.
When I think of Rap songs there is one that stands out above all, you can’t get it out of your head.
Have a great weekend and thanks for reading, I appreciate all your comments. M
Here are the rules for SoCS:
I borrowed the graphic from my friend Joanna and want to share with you. We can’t have enough days of peace these days. M
Realizing your parent or any loved one may have dementia is a tough one. I live with the regretful feeling that I should have recognized it sooner. At the time I was absorbed with my own life drama, but that’s no excuse. My hope is that what I learned as a daughter, observer and eventual […]
Remembering Mom Part 3 – How to Help Your Dementia Loved One — Hindsight: My Journey
Charles Trepany, USA TODAYPublished 10:22 a.m. ET Sept. 5, 2019
Billie Eilish is getting real on her mental health.
The “Bury a Friend” songstress confessed in her cover story for Elle magazine that, despite early career success, she hasn’t always been happy.
“Two years ago, I felt like nothing mattered; every single thing was pointless,” she said in the article published Thursday. “Not just in my life, but everything in the whole world. I was fully clinically depressed. It’s insane to look back and not be anymore.”
Eilish has been accused by trolls of faking her depression, which she admitted have been painful to read.
“It hurt me to see that,” she said. “I was a 16-year-old girl who was really unstable. I’m in the happiest place of my life, and I didn’t think that I would even make it to this age.”
More: Billie Eilish, 17, rips Nylon Germany for topless cover: I ‘did not consent in any way’
The 17-year-old said her mental health has since improved, calling happiness a “crazy” feeling.
“I haven’t been happy for years,” she said. “I didn’t think I would be happy again. And here I am—I’ve gotten to a point where I’m finally okay. It’s not because I’m famous. It’s not because I have a little more money. It’s so many different things: growing up, people coming into your life, certain people leaving your life.”
More: Believe the hype: Billie Eilish proves she’s a once-in-a-generation talent at NYC concert
The singer added she wants people to know there’s hope on the other side of depression.
“For anybody who isn’t doing well, it will get better,” she said. “Have hope. I did this (expletive) with fame riding on my shoulders. And I love fame! Being famous is great, but it was horrible for a year. Now I love what I do, and I’m me again. The good me. And I love the eyes on me.”
Looking for the Light 