Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Easy DIY Self-Care Eye Pads

From Makeup and Beauty

This DIY is easy, super quick to get done with, and also at the comfort of your own kitchen platform to relieve your eyes of all the exhaustion and also to get rid of the dullness around the eyes.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

You need:

 

Carrot (Known for its discoloration properties, carrot juice would help you get rid of the darkness and dullness around eyes)

Cucumber (Known for its cooling properties, cucumber would help in distressing your eyes giving them a relaxed effect)


Raw Milk (Known for its anti-tan properties, milk has always come handy in getting rid of dark circles around eyes)

Rose water (For the relaxation it provides to tired eyes)

Round Cotton Pads

Grater

To make the Eye Pads:

 

Grate about a teaspoon full of carrot in a bowl

Now, add some grated cucumber to the carrot.

To this mixture, add about a teaspoon full of raw milk (unheated).

Now, add a teaspoon full of rose water to this.

Now let this mixture rest for about 20 minutes to let the carrot and cucumber soak properly in the milk and rose water mixture.

Now, squeeze out the carrot and cucumber pulp and put the juice in a separate bowl.

Now, take the cotton pads separate the two sheets of cotton, and spread a thin layer of the pulp onto one side of the cotton.

Now take about a teaspoon of the juice extract and spread it over the thin layer.

Now, make a sandwich by closing the thin layer sheet with its other cotton sheet.

You have homemade eye pads ready with all the goodness of natural ingredients which will not only relax your eyes but will also deal with the dark circles and the dullness of your eyes.

I hope you enjoy this easy-to-make self-care treat and remember you are worth it! Self-care is mental health care.

Melinda

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

DIY Moisturizing Mint Body Wash *Great Gift Idea

This gentle body wash is great for sensitive skin because it’s made with coconut oil and aloe vera gel, making it extra soothing. It’s also super refreshing and the cooling effect of mint is a great way to start the day.

Photo by Sohel Patel on Pexels.com

By Kari Peters

 

You Will Need

1/2 cup Castile soap, unscented

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted/jojoba oil

2 TB. aloe vera gel, at room temprature

1 Tb. honey, melted

25 drops peppermint essential oil

5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Funnel

Container

To Make

Whisk together all the ingredients until completely combined. Use a funnel to pour the body wash into your container of choice. I like to use one with a pump handle to make this soap easier to use, as it’s thinner than store-bought body wash. This body wash will separate between uses because no binders or stabilizers are included. Simply shake it together before each use.

Yields 1  1/4 cups

Enjoy! 

Melinda

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

Gluten-Free Peppermint Mocha

Coffee drinks give me a chance to stop & relax, and it’s self-care to me.

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

What you need

1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk

1-2 shots of expresso

1 TB raw cacao powder

1 TS pure maple syrup

1/4 TS teaspoon peppermint extract

How to make

In a small saucepan, warm the coconut milk to your desired temperature over medium to high heat.

Pour the warmed milk into a high-powered blender and add the espresso, cacao powder, maple syrup, and peppermint.

Blend until the drink is combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute.

Pour into a mug and enjoy it immediately.

Serves 1

Double the recipe to make 2 servings.

Enjoy

Melinda

Reference:

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

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

Blogger Highlight-Live & Learn

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

       

Live & Learn

I can’t sleep

I grew up in Ootischenia, a small town in British Columbia, Canada – population of 500.   I grew up fishing, playing hockey and tormenting my younger brothers.  Under firm parental guidance, I learned the “life trades” of discipline, work ethic and execution.  Fast forward more than 20 years of working and leading in large U.S. companies.  A learner.

I have followed David for years, interviewed him twice and his photography will blow your mind! He can be funny and their dog, Wally writes the best post. 

Live & Learn is a site on many topics and tons of photos you have to see. David has inspired me for years. I bet you will want to follow him. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

DIY Health & Wellness Shower Steamers

By Irena Saro & Cyna Riley-Rank

Found in Willow and Sage by Stampington

You will need:

Basic Shower Steamer

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup citric acid

1/3 cup arrowroot powder

1/4 cup kaolin clay

Bowl: Large non-metallic

Spray bottle with water

Nitrile gloves

Silicone mold: cylinder

Headache Shower Steamer

45 drops rosemary essential oil

45 drops peppermint essential oil

30 drops chamomile essential oil

Dried leaves/herbs (optional)

Eucalyptus Shower Steamer

150 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Dried eucalyptus leaves, crushed (optional)

Mica: green (optional)

Peppermint Shower Steamer

120 drops peppermint essential oil

2 TB. menthol crystals Mica: Agua (optional)

How to Make

Add all the dry ingredients to a large, non-metallic bowl and whisk until blended. Drop the essential oils on the dry ingredients, and stir to combine. The essential oils can create droplets, which will dissolve in the following step.

Spray the mixture with a little water and incorporate it immediately to avoid a reaction. If you don’t have a spray bottle, sprinkle water on the mixture using a teaspoon.

Put on nitrile gloves to protect your hands when kneading the mixture as the citric acid can irritate sensitive skin and nail polish. The mixture should feel like damp sand and be wet enough to hold its shape when pressed together. If using a colored mica and dried herbs or flowers, add them to the mixture.

Fill the silicone mold with the mixture, and press firmly into the mold using your fingertips, paying attention to the edges. Let the mixture dry for 24-48 hours. Making shower steamers can be affected by the humidity; in a humid environment, the drying time may be longer. When they feel hard and solid, carefully peel back the mold and gently pop out of the disk. Store the steamers in an airtight container or jar, and ensure that the steamers aren’t exposed to water or moisture. The shelf life is one year.

Before use, let warm water run for several minutes to moisturize the air. It’s best to place the steamer away from the running water and the drain. Ideally, only the bottom of the tabs should be wet. You can also put a shower steamer in a soap dish. Breathe in deeply as the essential oils vaporize.

Melinda

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

DIY Frankincense & Grapefruit Himalayan Salt Scrub

This moisturizing scrub helps to alleviate dry skin during the cold winter months, and the grapefruit and frankincense essential oils provide an invigorating scent. The recipe fills approximately 10, 4-ounce jars and fits perfectly into a stocking or is a thoughtful teacher gift.

Willow and Sage Winter 2021

Fun · Health and Wellbeing

DIY Reusable Dryer Sheets

Not only are the dryer sheets reusable which makes them an inflation buster.
Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Willow and Sage by Stampington

You will need

2 1/2 cups water

2 1/2 cups white vinegar

3-4 TB. vegetable glycerin

Jar with sealed lid: large wide mouth

12 drops of orange essential oil

12 drops of lemon essential oil

7 drops of lavender essential oil

7 drops peppermint essential oil

Cotton quilting squares/washcloths

To Make

Add water, white vinegar, and vegetable glycerin to a large jar. Close the lid and shake vigorously. Add the essential oils. Close the lid and shake again. Add cotton quilting squares or washcloths, and you’re done. Be sure to shake the jar and wring out the cloth before adding them to your load of laundry.

Note

Essential oils last longer in dark glass containers. Since I reused a clear jar, I store my dryer sheets in a dark place to extend shelf life.

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Good Nutrition For Older Adults

The basics of human nutrition are much the same for everyone. The practicalities of achieving good nutrition can, however, vary widely according to your age and lifestyle. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you understand nutrition for older adults.

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

Your need for calories generally decreases

Food is basically fuel for your body. From babyhood through puberty, your body needs food for mental and physical development. As an adult in your prime, you need food to fuel your lifestyle. This is likely to be at least moderately active.

As a senior, however, your activity levels are going to be lower than they were. Even if you keep yourself super-fit for your age, you’re still not going to be able to take the sort of vigorous exercise you could when you were younger. Your appetite will probably drop to reflect this.

The key point to take away is that the less food you eat, the more important it is that what you do eat delivers maximum nourishment. Of course, you can still have the occasional treat. For the most part, however, you really need to focus on nutrient-rich food.

Your food needs to have more of an impact

Your ability to perceive color, texture, and scent can decrease as you age. Medications can also interfere with it. This can negatively impact your ability to taste food. In the past, dental issues could make it more difficult to chew or swallow. Modern dental care means that this is much less of an issue. It can, however, still be a consideration.

This means that meals for seniors generally need to be full of contrast, strong textures, and lively scents. Older people often enjoy food with plenty of herbs and spices. This may come as a surprise if you hated them when you were younger.

Making all this happen while maintaining nutritional value can be very challenging. It’s likely to be particularly difficult if you live alone. This can lead to older people skipping meals, which can bring all kinds of problems. Batch cooking is one potential solution to this issue. It may, however, be more convenient to use DeliverLean CARE.

You need to be careful with salt and sugar

Adding salt and sugar can be a quick way to pep up a meal. Unfortunately, neither is a particularly healthy approach even when you’re a younger adult. The impact on seniors can be even worse. Salt can impair your kidney function. Sugar is empty calories and can lead to dental issues.

You must get plenty of fiber

Fiber plays a huge role in keeping your digestive system healthy. It’s important for everyone and particularly important for seniors. In simple terms, if your digestive system gets out of sorts, it will almost certainly impact your whole body. This can create a downward spiral and that can be especially dangerous for older adults.

Calcium and protein help keep you strong

Calcium is the building material for bones, teeth, and nails. Protein is the building material for muscle. You need to make sure to get plenty of both to maintain your strength and vigor in your later years.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

 

Everyone needs time to themselves for a while. Perhaps it’s to do deep thinking, to relax, or just enjoy some peace and quiet.

Where is your favorite place to go when you need to be alone?

 

My office with the door shut and enjoying the smell of candles.

 Melinda

Field Guide by Stampington

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Spicy Deviled Eggs

I love deviled eggs at every holiday meal. They are simple to make or will last in the refrigerator for 3 days. What a relief, something you can cook ahead of any meal.

Recipe from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort

You will need

12 eggs

6 tb vegan mayo

1 tsp yellow mustard

4 tsp Sriracha

Pink Himalayan salt

Fresh ground pepper

How to make

Bring a large pot of water and boil eggs for 13 minutes. Remove and run the eggs under cold water to cool them.

Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and scoop the yolks into a medium bowl.

Set the sites aside

Add the mayo, mustard, Sriracha, and a big pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper to the yokes

Mix well

Spoon the yoke mixture into each cavity in the whites

Serve right away or the eggs will last 3 days in the fridge covered up

Makes 12 eggs

Enjoy this dish any time of year.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share-Boz Scaggs – Lido Shuffle-Hit From The 70’s!

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.

 

Melinda

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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Worried Parent? 5 Tips for a Child-Friendly Garden

Children love being outdoors, and allowing them to do that promotes a wide range of skills they can use later in life such as gardening, appreciating nature, and also roleplay. Your children mean everything to you and as a parent, you want to do everything in your power to protect them. So when it comes to creating a safe space in your garden, you’ll want to rest assured that if you need to nip to the bathroom or cook their dinner that they aren’t doing to hurt themselves. This dread can be made worse by things in your garden that they could potentially hurt themselves on.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can make sure your garden is child-friendly so they can continue to learn and thrive – without you being constantly worried.

Put up safety fences

A parent’s worst nightmare is the thought of their child wandering off out of the safety of the garden. If you don’t already, put up some safety fences with a lockable gate to ensure their safety.

This doesn’t just mean the perimeter of your property either, put up safety fences around ponds and flower beds to prevent them from falling in and hurting themselves.

Remove anything dangerous they may pick up

Whether you’ve just moved in and noticed a lot of animal muck, or your pets have had free reign for a while, the last thing you want is for your children to accidentally pick them up or even worse, get it anywhere near their faces. Using a company like Swoop Scoop not only prevents you from the nasty job of clearing this up but also ensures that nothing is missed. While a bit of dirt never did anyone any harm, children shouldn’t pick feces up.

Switch to rounded furniture

If your kids run wild when they’re in the garden, you’re probably constantly flinching when they go anywhere near any sharp-cornered furniture. To avoid this issue altogether, switch to rounded garden furniture.

If this isn’t an expense you can afford, you can add corner protectors to your furniture to prevent any serious damage. And of course, you could ban that area of the garden, but we know what kids are like!

Have a large grassed area

All kids love rolling around outside, but if your garden is paved or has lots of stones, you may be worried your children might hurt themselves. Consider contacting a turf company to create a grassed area for your children to enjoy and eliminate this worry.

Lock all harmful things away

Finally, while this may seem obvious if you have items in your garden that you still want to enjoy but may be harmful, buy a shed to lock them away when the children are playing. These could be items like garden ornaments, BBQs, potentially dangerous garden furniture, or even garden tools. Locking them away will give you the peace of mind that when your children are playing, they’re going to be as safe as possible.

This a collaborative post

Melinda

 

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Moving Forward

Happy Birthday Gramps, I Miss You Every Day

Happy Birthday!

When I sent you and Granny a balloon-a-gram, you sat on the floor for photos with the balloons and we laughed so hard. That is one memory among many I cherish.

Granny had Dementia and she hid her wedding ring. We looked for months after her death, we searched the house looking and one day I found it in a crumpled tissue. She didn’t lose it on purpose, who knows what she was thinking. I called you to the room and we both were thrilled and we cried.

While cleaning out another drawer, I found every card you had given her, you’re not one to cry but I could tell you were shocked and sentimental. He looked at them probably thinking about Granny. I was jumping with joy and we both cried.

Photo by Anna-Louise on Pexels.com

You took great care of Granny and even after she needed hospice, and I know it was hard. I would stay with her while you were running errands and saw her get more violent when you were gone or outside.

We had so much fun going down to the levees to teach me how to parallel park. That was the part of the driving test I failed. When I was very young, I would sit on your lap pretending to drive the truck.

You were always looking after me. The rules were strict and I needed structure, true love, and positive vibes. You only raised your voice one time. You were painting the ceiling and I told you I would wait on the porch until my ride came. You didn’t hear me and thought I left the house without telling you. When I came home you were telling Granny. You talked to me in a normal tone telling me to never leave the house without telling. Granny came to the rescue by calming you down and reminding you I did tell him. End of story.

I admire how important family was to you. With 13 siblings, you spent time with all of them. I even met your parents, they had antique iron headboards which is probably why I fell in love with them.

I miss you every day and learned life lessons from you. You will always be my father.

I love you!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health

The Celebration of Diwali 11/12/23

I’ve never attended a Diwali Celebration but would love to. I’ve seen snapshots of the celebration and it looks like so much fun. The key is Diwali honors the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. Celebrating under the lights seems appropriate.

Here’s the official explanation of Diwali

The word Diwali (or Deepavali as it’s sometimes called) means “row of lights” in an Ancient language of India, called Sanskrit. During this festival, people decorate their homes with lights and oil lamps, called diyas.

For many people, Diwali honors the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into peoples’ homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come!

It’s also a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and different legends based on this theme are associated with Diwali. In northern India, Hindus celebrate the return of the deities (gods) Rama and Sita to the city of Ayodhya, after defeating the evil king Ravana!

I hope you’re surrounded by family and friends enjoying the major celebration.

Enjoy.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Men & Womens Health

Let’s Celebrate And Remember Veterans Day On November 11, 2023

In a perfect world, wars would not happen, but the reality is if you look back in time, we’ve been fighting since the beginning. It is a crazy time in the world and you can bet the Military is working hard to keep Americans safe.

It can be hard for some people to understand the strategic reasons why we are supporting two wars when they are working to make ends meet. I understand why we are at war in Gaza/Iseral and Ukraine but the reality of war is people die, it gets ugly. there’s no cease fire, you shoot to kill.

I grew up with many Veterans in my family and raised by my Grandparents who survived the WWW 2. I will never be able to repay all the Veterans who fought for me and you but know I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifices.

Explanation For Holiday

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

The next time you see a Veteran, thank them, sit with them and if’s your personality give them big hugs!

Another way you can support a 501c charity is to support Veterans. During Desert Storm, I was traveling 5-6 days a week and spent plenty of time at the airport. I would see troops leaving in groves, my eyes would water up and very often I would hug them.

There are several Veteran’s charities you can support. One of my personal concerns is the number of homeless Veterans so I support a charity that works on the ground helping, not an Advocate Charity.

How did so many become homeless? The most important issue for me is repaying the Veterans by getting them in to house or a group home. Veterans need Mental Heath support, PTSD, possible retraining for a job or addiction/alcoholic support. America failed to support them and help them long-term. It’s makes me mad as hell.

Thank a Veteran!

Melinda

References:

History of Veterans Day

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

Just Pondering

What song lyrics perfectly capture who you are as a person?

 

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Video)

 Melinda

Field Guide by Stampington

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

Yummy Roasted Leeks

Leeks are a great side dish and are healthy. This dish is simple and doesn’t take long to cook, the perfect dish this holiday season. Best yet, it’s Gluten-Free.

Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev on Pexels.com

You will need

2 large Leeks, tough green ends trimmed

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Fresh ground black pepper

Pink Himalayan salt

How to cook

Preheat the oven to 425F

Cut the leeks in half lengthwise. Rinse them liberally under cold water, removing all the dirt and sand from them while keeping the halves intact. Pat them dry.

Place leeks cut side up in a medium baking dish. Coat them with the olive oil and season with 2 big pinches of salt and 1 big pinch of pepper.

Roast until they are tender and golden brown, 35 minutes, and serve immediately.

Serves 4

I have more recipes and DIY projects on the way. Right now I’m working on a Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.

Enjoy!

Melinda

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort

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

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Stressed-Out Friend

This year has been turbulent, to say the least. The risk of illness, and losing your job, it’s enough to make the calmest of people feel stressed and anxious inside. 

Everyone has undoubtedly experienced struggles this year, your friends included. And so, if you’re wondering what thoughtful gifts to buy this year to cheer up your closest, the solution lies in getting them something that will help bring on relaxation. And below, we’ve got just the ticket, in the form of 10 gift ideas to consider giving this year.

 

Photo by Kim Stiver from Pexels – CC0 Licence

Pajamas

Pajamas are the ultimate pieces of clothing associated with relaxation and sleep. Gift your friend some super-soft pajamas to snuggle into this Christmas, and you’re sure to increase their comfort and make them feel more relaxed in an instant.

Vape Pen

Vape pens such as bloom farms rose gold highlighter are a sleek and handy gift for your friends who like to vape. Don’t forget to add CBD solutions to the present, too (CBD calms nerves and anxiety).

Weighted Blanket

Find a snuggly blanket for your friend, preferably one that feels heavy. Heavy blankets help to reduce anxiety in sufferers because they emulate the feeling of a big warm hug.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is an essential oil that can help your best friend unwind. Lavender is a natural sleep aid, which can tempt over-thinkers and anxious friends to sleep with ease. 

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate will never go down a miss with anyone. The delicious edible is also proven to positively impact a person’s well-being, improving their mood and immunity. 

Therapy Putty

Therapy putty is the perfect gift for your friend who needs stress relief on the go. Squishing therapy putty between your fingers is great for reducing stress levels and can help your friend feel more at ease.

Journal

Stress and anxiety strike at any moment. Often at inconvenient times when there’s no one around to talk to, to help rationalize and organize their thoughts. As a remedy, gift a journal to your overthinking friend so that they can write down what they feel when you’re not around to listen. 

Plant

A few indoor plants are well-known for reducing stress. Greenery, in general, is excellent for your well-being. Snake and basil plants have calming properties that put their owners at ease. If your friend has office space at home, suggest they pop it on their desk to help them manage their stress throughout the day.

Bath Bomb

A scented bath bomb will encourage your friend to use your gift by taking a hot bath, which is all part of your ploy to help them relieve stress. 

Candle

A soothing aroma can make a world of difference to how we feel. And having flickering candles around the room is relaxing to see. From tea lights to a large Yankee candle, there are a lot of candles out there that would make an ideal relaxing gift for your friend.

Suppose your friend is going through a rough patch or seems particularly down or stressed as of late. You don’t need to wait until Christmas to send them one of the thoughtful gifts above. For most of the ideas above you can order online and get sent directly to your friend. It’s just a case of picking your gifts and shipping them over.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight-Cindy Knoke

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series. I’ve enjoyed sharing their site with you. This week we highlight the blog of Cindy Knoke.         

 

Cindy Knoke

Photography, Birds and Travel

My closest neighbors are coyotes (packs and packs of them and they are HUNGRY), rattlers (lots and lots of them and they are MEAN), and free range cows/bulls (the bulls aren’t too friendly either).


Forget cell phones. They don’t work out here. Forget GPS, it misdirects.
It’s best not to wander too much out here, the people (and their dogs) are kinda twitchy.

To reach The Holler turn right at the reeking chicken farm, proceed down a bunch of pot-holed semi-streets/dirt roads, past the abandoned refrigerators and occupied old RV’s and then things get kinda dicey.


My friends usual reaction to the trip to The Holler is, “You’ve got to be kidding!” Or, “Next time let’s meet half way.”

I have known Cindy for many years, she’s kind, smart, loves to travel, and is an excellent photographer. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

 

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

How Do You Heal From Trauma?

I had a conversation with my Therapist about healing from trauma recently. I asked her, if a traumatic memory is triggered and there is no emotion or pain associated with it does that mean it’s not traumatic anymore. She explained that the memory is still traumatic until I attach a memory to it.

Everyone has trauma in their life. It could be the death of a loved one, a horrific car accident, losing your job, or any other trauma you can think of including chronic illnesses. Many people push the trauma down and go about their business. When I was younger most of my worst traumas were in a box. It’s a survival method and not the recommended way to heal!

I started seeing my Therapist 30 years ago, and we’ve slowly talked through most of my trauma. Healing is a slow process but a necessary one. I’m sharing my slimmed-down description of the process. Healing also includes self-care, lots of self-care, and giving yourself grace. 

Healing Process

The first step is acknowledging the trauma. 

You need to talk to a Therapist about the trauma in great detail. This can be difficult which means you may talk about one trauma for a month or more.

Once you’ve talked through the trauma it’s easy to think you’re healed. Not so.

The final step to healing is taking each trauma and adding emotion to it. This is a tough part. You have to mentally go back to the trauma and feel the emotion felt at the time and process it.

 

 

She reminded me that I had to relive the trauma and feel the emotion. I didn’t have to think about it, I’m not going back. Why? My daily life is not affected, the memories rarely come up, if at all, and I can deal with that. In the future, if a memory hits hard and stays with me, I will take the next step.

We all deserve to live our best life and you have to make your own decisions. You’re in charge, if you are not ready to talk, don’t talk. Please know that all traumatic memories stay with you until you process them. Once you are ready to talk, go at your own speed, healing is no marathon.

At times of trauma and stress, individuals may turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism in an attempt to ease pain or escape overwhelming emotions related to their experiences. While such substances may provide temporary relief, reliance on substances often complicates healing journeys further, leading to further emotional and physical problems. Recognizing such tendencies is key, as this allows individuals to explore healthier coping strategies. Getting assistance from professionals such as therapists, support groups, and facilities like Woburn Addiction Treatment may lead to more constructive routes toward healing while stressing that healthy alternatives exist despite the challenges you experience.

To achieve healing of any type, you have to feel positive toward your Therapist in order to build trust in them. It may take seeing several before meeting a person you click with. Once you trust them, stay with them.

My version of healing from trauma may sound easy but I assure you it’s not. My mother left me in the bathtub at six months old and went downstairs to talk with my Granny before being asked where I was. The trauma builds from there and I survived with the help of my Grandparents and my Therapist.

The process of dealing with trauma can bring up other unpleasant emotions relating to these memories, such as anxiety. Going back and reliving events from the past prevents you from repressing them as you normally would. It feels like blood-letting while you’re doing it, but it is also one of those things that’s essential. If you don’t go through it (preferably with the help of a therapist), it’ll all stay inside you and you won’t get better. 

Even if you’re not ready to deal with the tough stuff, there are many benefits to having a Therapist to talk to. My Therapist has helped me deal with so much more than trauma. 

Melinda

Men & Womens Health · Survivor

Repost From 2015-Guilt is the Shadow in the Mirror

All Gramps said is your daddy has done away with himself. I screamed then said I’m on the way. Calling right back to ask were they sure he’s dead? Yes. I think years of abuse left a permanent hole in my heart. I go there to do actions requiring no emotions. It’s like autopilot, it has served me well. I started to think about work, and who I needed to call. I’m driving with emergency lights on going at 100 mph calling my work team. I stayed on autopilot until I pulled up to my grandparents.

Estranged since I was a teen, I thought it odd when he started calling. He sounded delusional and extremely paranoid. Nothing made sense, he was not talking in sentences. I pieced together he didn’t have any money and couldn’t work. Why he could not work must have come from the madness.

I would do anything to avoid my granny being hurt. I paid his bills. Over the next several months the phone calls were my hell on earth. He would threaten to kill himself then go off on what didn’t sound like words. I couldn’t make out anything he was saying as he yelled on the phone. I would keep trying to redirect him back to our conversation. I did not tell anyone what Daddy said. He was mentally ill. It had been years since we talked, maybe this was his norm. I didn’t know.

Everyone was sitting on the floor when I entered the door. The first words out of my mouth were “he told me”. I felt overwhelming guilt, I let my family down. I knew it wasn’t logical but emotions rarely are. My mind scrambled, my father sexually abused me and I’m feeling guilty. I forgave my father, cut him out of my life, paid bills, and felt guilty.

My grandparents and I went to Daddy’s the next morning. The disarray would alert anyone that something was wrong. On his coffee table, his lockbox was open with every card I had given him, every school photo. The divorce paperwork to my mother laid on the table, his Bible open to Job. You could see tear stains on the pages. The house had papers scattered everywhere, dishes piled up, and everything thrown around. My father had reached the bottom long ago and no one knew.

I found a shoebox full of cassette tapes from recorded phone conversations. It took seven months to listen to every tape. I would have a couple of drinks, listen and cry. Like a tornado in my head, being in the house my sexual abuse took place, Daddy putting 357 mags to my head, being a drug addict, and my boyfriend and I planning how to kill my father. These are the times the hole in my heart is useful. Granny didn’t know about the abuse and went to her grave not knowing. To help my granny cope, I would not cry or show emotion around her. I wanted to piece her heart back together. Holding emotions inside extended my grieving process a long seven years.

A couple of weeks later the morgue called asking me to pick up the gun. I rang the side doorbell, and someone brought the original suicide note, autopsy report, and gun with dried blood. My mind could not prepare for reading the autopsy report. Every detail of how he shot himself. The trajectory of the bullet, lobes damaged, bones crushed, and exit wounds.

I believe my father died so I could live. Learning about his mental illness pointed me to my own. Through Ancestry, I connected with Daddy’s half-brother and several family members. There were over ten suicides in only three generations and many now with severe mental illness.

Daddy

1940-1992 

Melinda

Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Fan Favorite! Gluten Free Coffee Energy Bites

“These are great for a morning or afternoon snack when you just need a little pick me up. I like to take them to the office with me.” Kristin Cavallari from her cookbook True Comfort.

All recipes are Gluten-Free and free of Refined sugar.

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Makes 14

1/4 cup finely chopped raw almonds

2/3 cup almond flour

1/2 cup creamy raw almond butter

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

1/4 cup vanilla protein powder

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 to 2 teaspoons almond milk

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

To Make

In a large bowl, combine the almonds, almond flour, almond butter, coffee granules, protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and almond milk.

Roll the dough into golf ball size balls and place them on a baking sheet.

Place the shredded coconut in a shallow dish.

Roll each ball into the coconut and then return to the baking sheet.

Place the baking sheet in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour for the bites to firm up before you eat.

These bites keep well in a ziplock bag in the fridge for up to 14 days.

Here’s a great Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. My archives contain many Gluten Free recipes. 

Enjoy!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share Double Shot-John Mellencamp -Pink Houses

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.

Have a great weekend!

Melinda

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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share-John Mellencamp – Hurts So Good

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m so glad you’ve joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.

Have a great weekend!

Melinda

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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Celebrate Life · Fun · Travel

Wordless Wednesday *Hi From Down Under

I’m so glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday. Thank you for stopping by my blog.

 

The final test for scuba certification was in 1987, it was so cold that two people had to pull out of the test.

Melinda

Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

EatingWell.com

Ivy Odom

November 2019

Kids and adults alike will love this easy peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, which–unlike most cookie recipes–doesn’t call for flour. These gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and, with only five simple ingredients, they can easily be whipped up by young chefs and enjoyed as an after-school treat. They’re also perfect for a holiday party or a cookie swap.

Photo by Anton Uniqueton on Pexels.com

Total:45 mins Servings:15 

Nutrition Profile:

Ingredient Checklist

  • 1 large egg  
  • ¼ teaspoon salt 
  • 1 cup smooth natural peanut butter 
  • ½ cup light brown sugar 
  • ⅓ cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

  • Step 1
  • Position rack in the middle of oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk egg and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in peanut butter, brown sugar, and chocolate chips until combined. Place slightly rounded tablespoons of dough about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  • Step 2
  • Use a fork to flatten each cookie to a 1 3/4-inch diameter by gently pressing in a crisscross pattern. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until just set, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

Tips 

Equipment: Parchment paper

To make ahead: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Nutrition Facts 

Serving Size: 2 Cookies Per Serving: 159 calories; protein 4.3g; carbohydrates 12g; dietary fiber 1.3g; sugars 9g; fat 10g; saturated fat 2.1g; cholesterol 12.4mg; vitamin a iu 18IU; folate 2mcg; calcium 3.1mg; iron 0.4mg; magnesium 4.7mg; potassium 18.1mg; sodium 99.9mg; added sugar 8g. Exchanges: 

2 1/2 Fat, 1/2 Other Carbohydrate

Melinda