All Categories - On Fire and Over 50

On Fire and Over 50

Life: What is "Really" important to you? What's on your "to do" list?

1/17/2020

Our lives are full to the brim with things that are important to do - but how important?

Are you sure they are as important as they seem or are they just things we want and not need to do?

Sometimes those "important" things in our life only serve to suck up the only available time you have. If you don't accomplish some of those important things, would it really matter? No.

We waste so much time on needless projects that could be used on things that are really important. For example, how many times have you thought about going to gym, then you don't because you thought of something that was seemingly more "important" to do? Was it really more important than doing something that benefit your body and your health?

Most of the things on our "to do" lists are really just things we would like to see done. We usually leave off the most important things and that is ourselves. We fail to put ourselves on the daily "to do" list.

Perhaps we should all reconsider our "to do" lists. Perhaps we should purge that list of things that really don't belong on that list so that we make room for the gym (or whatever else it is we want to do).

When you plan your day, try to do the really important things; but make time for the things that benefit you and that you want to do.

Prioritize your list, be honest about what is important and what is just nice to do. Make time for the gym, dance class, cooking class, a movie, whatever it is you want to do. All work and no fun makes for one dull day.

For 2020, I challenge you to make an actual, physical "to do" list. When we write them down and refer back to the list, we are prone to accomplish more. We have a plan and we have a goal.

Take a long hard look at your "to do" list and only do those really important things. Make time for the things that important to you (like your health). Start the new year getting things done both for your family and for yourself. Make yourself a priority.

Don't end this year in the same place your are now. End the year with accomplishments and goals met.

What's on your "to do" list? Are you on the list somewhere? Do you make a physical list or do you keep it in your head? Do you refer to your list throughout the day to be sure you are target with getting certain things done? Why or why not?

XOXO

Life: Re-evaluating your goals and life at age 50 and beyond

1/10/2020

As I approached the big 5-oh, I started to re-evaluate my life. Where had I wanted to be by the time I was 50? Did I reach that goal? Was I on target or had I missed it altogether? What changes did I want to make by the time I turned 50?

What I discovered was that until about ten years prior, I was right where I wanted to be and was on target with my goals. So, it would seem reasonable that I would continue on that path and everything would be peachy-keen. Wrong!

What I didn't figure into my life was menopause, empty-nest and how it would affect me, and the illnesses that my parents, children, and husband would be experiencing during the next ten years. All of this thrown together ruined my track record on meeting my goals. It all fell apart. I wasn't expecting the effect that menopause would have on me. That was the biggest thing.

During the time from the age of 48 to 59, I was lost. I was taking care of everyone else and forgot to take care of myself. I had minor menopause issues compared to what other women experience, but I was not prepared for them.

Some of the issues I had were hot flashes, I think that is common with most menopausal women. I had morbid thoughts when I closed my eyes at night to sleep. That is common in about half of menopausal women. I had weight gain issues related to the fluctuation in hormones which I could have dealt with had I not been going through so much family stress.

Between the stress and menopause, I gained a lot of weight, I ate poorly, my health was declining (I was sick a lot with allergies and colds), and I was depressed about my life.

After I evaluated my life, put all stressors in their proper place, dealt with the issues of menopause and found myself again, I lost all the weight, I adjusted to the empty nest and love it, and I quit a job that was sucking the life out of me.

At this point I started my blog and started doing the things I always wanted to do. I rarely get sick now, I feel great almost all the time (thankfully), and I am happy almost all the time. There are times when life still gets to me, but I am able to handle it now, both physically and emotionally. I take care of myself now.

The point I am making is this:
There will be times in your life when you feel lost, you will lose your way, and you will suffer the consequences of your actions (or lack of actions). That doesn't mean all is lost. It means it is time to re-evaluate your life and prioritize it to meet your goals.

It's easy to forget about yourself when you have others who depend on you, but you must keep yourself in the game. You must realize that if you don't take care of yourself, you will eventually not be able to take care of anyone else.

You may also wake up one day and discover your life is near the end and you are dissatisfied with the choices you made.

Looking back, what I allowed to happen to me was not necessary. I could have dealt with it all differently, but I let myself become overwhelmed with the issues of others.

Don't let this happen to you. You can take care of others and still take care of you. I learned this lesson the hard way.

When you begin your evaluation of your life and goals up to the age of 50 (or beyond), ask yourself these questions:

What would I change if I could?
Who really needs me and who is just calling me because I will come?
What would make me happy right now? What would make me happy in 5 years?
Am I where I want to be in life now? (the right job, the right home, the right location?)
What did I want to accomplish by this age that I haven't? Can I still do it?
Finally, what steps do I need to take to get myself where I want to be at this age of my life?

Take time this month to look at your life so far.

Re-evaluate where you are and where you want to be.

Lay out a plan.

Make it SMART.

Stick to it.

End the year with your goals met and well on your way to another productive and happy year.

Are you happy with what you have accomplished so far? Do you have any unmet goals or dreams that you still want to pursue and accomplish? Have you ever taken time to evaluate your life and then make adjustments so that you can meet your goals and dreams? Share your stories and your ideas. If you have suggestions, please share those.
XOXO

Life: Where do you want to be a year from now? Setting 2020 Goals (not resolutions)

1/3/2020

Did you set goals at the beginning of 2019?
If so, how many of those goals did you actually accomplish? Are you where you wanted to be at the end of 2019? Are you satisfied with your life? Do you have more goals that you want to accomplish?

Where do you want to be a year from now at the end of 2020?

I am pretty satisfied with my accomplishments for the past year. There are a couple of goals that I made progress on but fell short of accomplishing, but I am happy because I did make progress.

With that progress I will accomplish those goals this year, along with new goals.

In order to accomplish anything that is complicated, you need a plan.

If you go back to my January blogs, you will find information on using the SMART method of setting and accomplishing goals. It works. Its the method I use and as a result, I have accomplished almost every goal I set for myself for the year of 2019.

I suggest you go back and read those blog posts and implement the SMART method today so that you can be successful in moving forward this year.

I want each and every one of you to be where you want to be by the end of 2020.

Start right this minute and make a list of every single thing you would like to do, see, own, accomplish in the next year - everything! Include everything, no matter how small or how big. Get a big piece of paper and fill it up.

Some things you may have on your list could be:
- Pay off my car
- Start a side business
- Clean out my Master bedroom closet
- Sell some of my unwanted books
- Visit Las Vegas
- Dye my hair Green
- Get a tatoo
- Hike the Appalachian trail
- Get a part time job
- Sell my house
- Learn how to paint
- Learn a new language
- Travel to another country
- Learn to Quilt
- Get a dog
- Start a Journal
- and on and on, the possibilities are endless

I want each and every one of you to live a life on fire in 2020!

Don't let your age, health, finances, or anything stop you from making goals.

You can make your goals within your abilities, no matter what they are. But, I suggest that you have a few that push you beyond what you think you can do, even if only a little.

Stretch yourself, challenge yourself, reach higher - you may not make the goal you set for yourself, but you will be farther than you would normally be.

Step outside of those cliches like "step out of your box", "step outside of your comfort zone", or "stop being that someone who's always on the outside looking in".

There is a saying that I love that describes what I am trying to say in a beautiful way:

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
Norman Vincent Peale

Make 2020 a year to remember! A year of bucket lists! A year of adventure or accomplishments! Don't be stagnant a year from now, be fresh!

Is there something you have wanted to do for a long time and never seem to get it done? Have you set goals each year only to fail at accomplishing them? Do you try new things that push you outside your normal day to day or that teach you something new?

XOXO

Grieving Losses: Thoughts On Loss - On Death - On Living

12/27/2019

I found this from Goodreads: (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6941165.Christina_Rasmussen)

It is full of excellent information on how it feels to experience a death and how to survive a death.

“I have lived in the shadow of loss—the kind of loss that can paralyze you forever.

I have grieved like a professional mourner—in every waking moment, draining every ounce of my life force.

I died—without leaving my body.
But I came back, and now it’s your turn.

I have learned to remember my past—without living in it.

I am strong, electric, and alive, because I chose to dance, to laugh, to love, and to
live again.

I have learned that you can’t re-create the life you once had—you have to
reinvent a life for yourself.

And that reinvention is a gift, not a curse.

I believe your future self is a work of art and that science can help you create it. If you’re lost . . . if you’re gone . . . if you can barely absorb the words on this
page . . . I want you to hold this truth in your heart: when it’s your time to go, you won’t wish you had spent more time grieving; you’ll wish you had spent more time living.

That’s why I’m here. And why you are, too.
Let’s live like our lives depend on it.”

Christina Rasmussen, Second Firsts: Live, Laugh, and Love Again
Christina Rasmussen

Website: https://christinarasmussen.com/
Genre: Self Help
edit data

Christina Rasmussen is on a crusade to change the way we live after loss.

As the founder of The Life Reentry Institute an organization to help people create a pathway back to life after loss, Christina spends her time speaking, coaching, and helping thousands of people rebuild, reclaim, and relaunch their lives using the most powerful tool for personal reinvention: the human mind. Her personal story and fresh approach to life after loss has garnered international attention.

She writes for the Huffington Post, she's been featured as a Woman Working to Do Good in the White House Blog, and she was named the Leading Mom in Business by StartupNation.

Hope this helps someone who is grieving a loss during this holiday season.
My prayer is for God to send his comforting spirit to your heart.

Enjoy this holiday season with your friends and family while you still can. Nothing is promised to us, least of all the amount of time we have on earth. Don't worry what others may say about you:
It's your life, given to you by God.
Live it the way YOU choose.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

XOXO

Grieving Losses: 5 Reasons it is Important to Talk It Out when you are Grieving a Loss

12/20/2019

When you have lost a loved one, it doesn't matter how long ago or how recent it was, you still hurt and you still miss that loved one. When it's recent, people come to your side and ask you what happened, how you are, and other questions. After the funeral or memorial, usually these people begin to disappear and you are left to grieve alone.

Does that mean it's time to move on? To stop talking about it? To put it in your past and forget about it? No! It means you need to find someone who will listen and will support you for the long run. It might be more than one person, it might be a therapist or minister, it might be that you need to join a grief support group. There are many types of support groups available. Some are person to person (physical), some are virtual (internet), and some are connected to another group (such as a church or community outreach).

What you don't want to do is keep everything in your head or bottled up. Even with all the groups in existence, if you can't find one that you feel comfortable with, try journaling. Get a beautiful bound journal and write down everyday what you are feeling. Make it a ritual. Empty your head of all the thoughts of the day. Writing it down often helps us to see the feelings we are harboring and to put some order in them. It may also help to unclutter our minds so that we can think more clearly.

Regardless of how you accomplish this task, do it. Talk it out or write it out. Don't keep your feelings and thoughts in your head to grown and get out of control. You need an outlet for these thoughts and feelings whether it's been 10 minutes or 10 years since you experienced your loss.

It's a step in healing, don't underestimate or overlook it.
Stay Connected.
Have you lost a loved one recently to death? Do you have a person, persons, or group to “talk it out” with? Do you find it helps in your healing? Do you have any suggestions to offer someone else who may be experiencing the same thing?

XOXO

Grieving Losses: One of my Favorite New Books on grieving - Growing through Grief, by Bill Flatt, Ed. D.

12/13/2019

Over the last few months I have participated in group made up of around twenty-five people who are experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one. Some have lost loved ones recently, other longer. The group has been following and using the book by Bill Flatt, Ed. D. titled "Growing through Grief". This is one of the best, if not the best, books on grief that I have read yet.

The group met under the name of "A Time to Mourn" and was led by a minister. It has been and continues to be one of the best learning experiences I have had in the area of grieving. I hope this review helps you and if you want to get a copy of the "big" little book "Growing through Grief", I will put a link in this article where you can purchase it.

Flatt speaks from experience, from the loss of his mother and others, as well as study. He highlights the stages of grief and the importance of each stage. He notes that we may pass through a stage on to the next one or the next few, only to find ourselves back at that same stage later. In other words, we flow in and out of each stage, sometimes many times, before we can permanently move on.

While Flatt doesn't dismiss the stages of grief that were first brought to light in Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' book on Death and Dying, published in 1969, Flatt does group them differently. He believes they are not linear, but rather circular.

As I stated above, we circle back and revisit stages often more than once before really moving on.

Flatt's stages of grief are more groups of stages - Stages of Grief, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

In his book, he groups them into 3 parts that are related to each other instead of each stage individually.

Flatt pushes the point that talking it out is probably the most important thing we can do to help ourselves heal. The problem comes when we decide who we will talk it out with.

Sometimes, the ones closest to us, are not the right ones. Sometimes, people don't want to hear what you have to say for various reasons of their own. Sometimes, the right person or persons to talk it out with are not whom we think they are. There is not a one size fits all in this area.

For example, a friend may need a therapist, another may need a minister, another may need a brother or sister, you may need a friend.

Everyone's needs are different, but one thing is constant, almost everyone can benefit from talking it out with someone; however, there are always exceptions to everything.

There are a few who can heal better within themselves by themselves. They may call on God to listen or another religious entity they believe in, or they may call on no one.

Why would someone not want to be the one you talk it out with? Why don't your children, sister, brother, friend, or other person you are close to want to talk about your loss? Your grief? There are many, many reasons for this.

Often, but not always, it is because of two reasons (but there are numerous others) - (1) by talking about it with you, they are reminded of a loss of their own, or of their own mortality. They don't want to be reminded of a loss and they certainly don't want to be reminded they, too, will one day pass from this earth; (2) They don't know what to say, they think they have to say something profound, or they feel like they need to fix you and they don't know how.

Don't be hurt if someone is not available for your to talk it out with. Keep searching for the "right" person, you will find them.

Don't rule out anyone, it might be someone you wouldn't normally think of. Don't shut any doors, if someone is willing to talk or to listen to you, let them. Don't question why.

Sometimes, you may not think you need to talk it out with anyone, you may think you can go it alone. Some people can, as I mentioned earlier, but most people can't. This is a stage of grieving you must deal with.

Don't let the following keep you from opening up and talking to someone:

- I may lose control if I start talking out loud about this.

- What will this person think of me?

- They are not interested in my pain, I can't put this on them.

- (If you are a man) I am supposed to be able to handle this, I am a man.

- I can't be weak, I must be strong and bear this on my own.

- This is my cross to bear, no one needs to be bothered with it.

As you travel through Flatt's book, you will read about grief in 3 parts. The stages are grouped together like this:

- Stages of Grief Part 1: Shock, Lamentation, Withdrawal.

- Stages of Grief Part 2: Frustration, Panic, Depression.

- Stages of Grief Part 3: Detachment, Adaptation, Reinvestment, Growth.

This is such a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who is grieving a death. In the following weeks, I will be getting into some of the better parts of this book and will post a blog on it.

I do recommend getting your own copy to read, re-read, refer back to, and keep for the future. It is full of helpful insights and information.

You can purchase this "big" little book here:

www.amazon.com/dp/0892253053/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_T1Q7DbF1EH06Q

From Amazon it comes in Kindle format for $6.99 and in a paper version from $4.99 (used) to $6.99 (new).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/381464314641

From eBay it comes in paperback only for $12.66 (new).

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/growing-through-grief-bill-flatt/1001661983

From Barnes and Noble it comes in paperback new and used from $1.99 to $6.99.

Hope this helps, stay tuned for future blogs on this important topic. Let me know if you have a specific topic and I will try to cover that in the future.

XOXO

Grieving Losses: December is a wonderful month - for most people - but not for all.

12/6/2019

(NOTE: I have added a new "category" to my blog!)

“Grief, no matter how you try to cater to its wail,
has a way of fading away.”
V.C. Andrews, Flowers in the Attic

If you ask a child what Christmas means to them, you will most likely get a response like "Santa!" or "I want to go see Christmas lights, please?" Children see the good things in everything. As children grow older, they change and by the time they are our age, a lot has changed.

As we get older, for many over 50s, Christmas takes on a whole new meaning. It stops being about the Santa, lights, gifts, and parties and becomes what it was meant to be. It slowly transitions from the material to the spiritual and mental. The time we have left on this precious earth begins to become more about spiritual things, family and friends, and reflection.

“To ease a grieving heart is the world's greatest pleasure, more so, when the heart is yours.”
Radhika Mundra
Indian Author and Blogger

For some, Christmas becomes a stressful holiday. The holiday season can become a time of increased sadness and a feeling of loneliness. The causes for this stress are numerous, recent divorces, the death of a spouse or child, the loss of friends through illness and death, physical distance from family members, family squabbles (which can occur at any age), a personal illness, and many other reasons.

After the age of 50, we have most likely lost a friend or two or family members through to illness or death. It changes things in a big way. The whole left by the missing person stays with you throughout the whole season. Does this mean that your holiday is ruined or not enjoyable? No. It means it is only different.

This month I have added a new blog category "Grieving Losses". In this category, you will find blog articles that offer help, not only for surviving the holidays, but for other times of the year, as well.

I will also include some extras from time to time that will be not only helpful, but also interesting. I will be posting a new article in this category next week, but you can now easily find past articles just by clicking on the "Grieving Losses" in the "Category" area on the right side of the blog.

Grieving losses is more than just about the people we have lost, it is also the loss of our health, loss of mobility, loss of our youthful beauty (but gaining our "Golden" beauty, : ) ) or anything in our lives that changes in a negative way.

“Grieving is an expression of gratitude,
and that expression doesn't have to be rushed.”
Carolyn Wells, Start Again, Inspiration from the Sunny Side of Adversity

While there is a difference in grieving a death and grieving a life event, the emotion is the same only more intense and longer lasting with a death. The emotion is the same, but the intensity is different.

The grieving process is basically the same, except that with life events you are not grieving the loss of a relationship. The stages of grief can be similar, but you experience additional stages of loss with a death.
It is easier to put a recovery plan together with life events than with a death. Often a death will cause the griever to experience depression and not just sadness or disappointment.

“It's not that I want to forget
It's just that sometimes
It hurts to remember”
A.H. Lueders
Self-Published Author

Forgetting is hard if not impossible when it's a death, but life events they will pass.

We never forget our loved ones or their passing.

A life event will pass and we will forget most of the time.

Remember to check out my December blogs under “Grieving Losses” for help in getting through the holiday season. During this month of December, I will be posting a blog (maybe two) about grieving and surviving the holidays and how to dig ourselves out the depression hole.

Have you experienced a life event that felt like your world was coming to an end? What did you do to get past it? Have you experienced a death that left you feeling like your world did end? How were you able to survive? Did you do it alone or with help? Please comment on this important article. Help someone else.

XOXO

Health and Wellness: Part 4 - Integrative Medicine, Cannabis, and CBD Oil - What's UP?

11/29/2019

Over the last few years there has been a lot of discussion about the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes, CBD oil, and their part in Integrative Medicine.

While it appears that cannabis and CBD oil have positive outcomes for most ailments, there are other considerations. Those other considerations are the reason for the slow progress in the legalization or non legalization of these substances.

As with alcohol, the legalization meant that there needed to be new laws in regard to drinking and driving. There had to be an enforceable age limit to purchase. There had to be rules put in place to protect the person drinking and also the public.

Cannabis is a botanical that offers a lot of therapeutic potential. Due to the nature of cannabis, it has not been accepted widely as a medicine. Cannabis is basically one of two kinds - hemp and marijuana. The latter has a high Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level and thus makes the consumer "high", similar to alcohol and other mind altering medications.

The psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, was approved for the treatment of chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting in 1986. It has also been found to help with sleep, mood, and anxiety.

There is no published human trial data for it's use in tumor/cancer treatment. However, there is data on it's effectiveness for tumor/cancer treatment on rodents that shows promise.

The future of cannabis as a tumor/cancer treatment may be just around the corner. In the meantime, it still remains the most effective treatment of cancer treatments and symptoms of treatments.

Cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) is a whole other thing. Most pure CDB oils contain little to no THC. Without the THC it does not produce any psychoactive symptoms. This is why it is approved for use without a prescription or legal requirements. You can purchase CBD/Hemp oil over the counter almost anywhere and everywhere. However, the purity of this oil can vary greatly depending on how it was produced, so going to reputable dealer is the safest choice when purchasing.

Some of the reported benefits of CBD/Hemp oil are: relief from pain (most types, while some are resistant), nausea, seizures, anxiety, sleeping issues, and a host of other ailments.

I have family members and friends who use CBD/Hemp oils and all of them have told me that it changed their lives. A few have lived with certain pains (hip, shoulder, knee, etc.) for years and no longer feel any pain. A few have had difficulty falling and staying asleep and now sleep soundly.

The positive effects of CBD/Hemp oil are numerous and no one reports of any negative side effects.

Does this mean it works for everyone? No.

Hemp Oil is described as cannabis with a very low THC content (0.3% or less according to the recently passed 2018 Farm Bill). It is considered an industrial resource that is used for paper, clothing, biofuel, and consumable oils.

CBD/Hemp oil has been found to be safe for normal use, but the long term effects are not known. Time will reveal if this "miracle" in a bottle has any negative long term effects. As of this writing, it looks as though there are no negative side effects to be found.

CBD oil is mixed with a "carrier" oil that dilutes the horrible flavor of the hemp to make it easier to take. If you use straight Hemp oil, you will find that it tastes really bad. When mixed with a carrier oil, you take it by a dropper full (either a full or a portion of the dropper), if you take the pure Hemp, you take it by a single drop at a time.

Pure Hemp is potent and you don't want to take more than you need.

The expense is the biggest hurdle to vast majority of the population using it. For example, good CBD oil (not the questionable stuff found in gas stations for $20 a bottle) can run $60 to over $500 a bottle.

A bottle of CBD oil can usually last from 6 weeks to 90 days. A bottle of pure Hemp can cost about the same, but it lasts 3 to 4 times as long.

Most people find it hard to afford good CBD oil or pure Hemp. Hopefully, over time and with increased competition, the cost will come down without affecting the quality.

Difference between
Hemp oil and CBD oil:

"CBD oil is made using either hemp or cannabis.
The difference is hemp is bred to be highly fibrous for industrial use and
contain minimal THC to comply with law,
whereas cannabis is bred for its diverse cannabinoid content."

Reference: www.cannabis.info/en/blog/difference-cbd-oil-cannabis-oil

The true value of cannabis, CBD, or Hemp is still to be determined. If you ask people who use these substances, most will say “yes, it helps me”, however, a few will say “No, it didn't do anything for me.” Time will prove the value and uses for these once taboo alternative medicines and their effectiveness.

Given that the long term effects of CBD oil are not yet known, would you be willing to try it? Do you use CBD oil for anything now? If you were diagnosed with cancer or another serious disease would you be willing to give CBD oil an chance to help with the side effects of your other treatments? What do you think of all the hype surrounding what CBD oil can or can't do? Please share your thoughts on this “wonder” drug?

XOXO

SPECIAL: Thanksgiving - As we age, we are more thankful!

11/22/2019

The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I am. I am healthy, I am physically active, and mentally sound (well, most people think I am, anyway, lol), and I have a loving family. I know that there are people in my age group who have it a lot worse than I do and yet, they are happy, content, and thankful.

When we were young, we skipped through life and sometimes we stopped long enough to "smell the flowers", but most of the time we were skipping from place, one person, one event to another and not taking a lot of time in between. That's one of the beautiful things about getting older, we have learned to slow down and appreciate every step in life.

Thankfulness comes from within. You can have a huge meal on the table and your family gathered and still not be thankful.

It can seem like this holiday marks the beginning of the rush season of Christmas shopping and parties. But, I encourage you to take time to look at your life and see all the wonderful things you have to be thankful for.

If nothing else, you live in a country where you can still worship God or whomever you worship in any manner you choose. You can still decide where you want to live, you are not restricted to one region.

You have choices and opportunities that many in the world do not have. Remember that!

Now for a little background on this lovely holiday:

"Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated on various dates
in the United States, Canada, some of the Caribbean islands, and Liberia.
It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the
blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.
Similarly named festival holidays occur in Germany and Japan"
According to Wikipedia

It is celebrated on the following dates in these countries:

1st Thursday in November Liberia

Last Wednesday in November Norfolk Island, Australia

2nd Monday in October Canada

4th Thursday in November United States

It also celebrated on various dates during this same time period in many other countries such as: the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Grenada, India, the Netherlands, Saint Lucia, the Caribbean Islands, just to name a few.

In the United States, it was observed from the time of the founding fathers until the Lincoln era on various dates determined on a state by state basis. The last Thursday in November was the recognized date in the United States by the 19th century. It aligned with and eventually replaced the existing holiday of Evacuation Day.

This was a day that commemorated the British exit from the United States following the Revolutionary War. It became a national holiday by a presidential proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. It was not fully realized, however, until the reconstruction era was over in the 1870s following the civil war. Lincoln designated the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed another presidential proclamation on October 31, 1039 that changed Thanksgiving Holiday to the fourth Thursday in November.

And that's this day came to be.
Remember, EVERY morning that you wake up on this side of the dirt (🙂), it's a good day.

Be thankful for every blessing in your life this Thanksgiving holiday, no matter how big or how small that blessing is.

Do you have any unusual Thanksgiving traditions? Do you share a meal with family and/or friends? Do you take inventory of your blessings on a daily basis? Are you aware of all the many blessings in your life? Are you thankful to be alive and over 50?

XOXO

Health and Wellness: Part 3: The Case for Better Healing with Integrative Medicine

11/15/2019

A brochure from Novant Health says this about Integrative Medicine:

"Integrative medicine
is healing-oriented medicine
that considers the whole person
- body, mind and spirit,
along with family, community and environment."

Many physicians are now in agreement that it takes more than one type of care to heal a person. The majority of physicians believe in treating the whole person. They are finding that it leads to more cures, more lives saved, less cost, easier recovery times, and more.

A doctor treats a cancer patient with chemotherapy and/or radiation. Hopefully, the cancer is killed and the patient heals to return to normal life. What actually happens a lot of the times is the medicine to treat the cancer (chemotherapy and radiation) create a whole new set of symptoms and problems.

Chemo can and most of the times does, make the patient sick. They lose their appetite and when they do eat, they may not hold it down very long. Even if they manage to keep food down long enough to digest it, they may not get the nutrients they need from it.

Nausea is also a big side effect of chemotherapy. Chemo can make sleeping restless and yet, the patient is extremely fatigued.

Chemo alone or radiation alone only treats one aspect of the cancer. If you provide additional treatments that are effective, non-invasive, non-toxic, and healthy, the body can heal itself (if not completely, at least improve quality of life.

Here are a few "alternative" treatments that can make the patient happier, healthier, and give the body what it needs to heal itself:

1. A healthy diet. One diet does not fit all. All cancers feed on sugar, so eliminating processed sugar is the first step. Some cancers feed on fat, you need to find out if this is the case and if it is, then eat more vegetables and proteins - go easy on the fats. Some are just the opposite and feed on carbohydrates. In this case eating less vegetables, more proteins , and more healthy fats. If you have doctors advice.

2. Movement: Either as personal exercise or as physical therapy. This could include movement as stretching for 30 minutes, yoga, Tai Chi, walking, or any other low impact movement that gets you moving. It can include a physical therapist and professional trainers or coaches.

You can also do your own exercise program with elipticals, treadmills, weights, cardio dance/Zumba classes, and other activities. Just as long as you move. If you have cancer or an illness the doctor may recommend certain activities for you, you should follow your doctor's advice.

3. Herbs: Ask your doctor before trying any herbal treatments about the interaction with your prescribed medications. For example: if you take blood thinners then you probably want to stay away from turmeric (which can also thin the blood).

Herbs are natural, but they can also be toxic if you combine with other herbs or with medications. Some are harmless and you can take without any interactions. Always check with your doctor first if you are on medications. ALWAYS.

4. Body Work: This includes:
all types of massages,
hot stones,
cupping,
acupuncture and acupressure,
Homeopathic,
Naturopathic,
Ayurvedic,
Chiropractic,
Osteopathic,
Hydrotherapy,
Reflexology,
and other other body therapies found in Chinese and Oriental medicines.

5. Supplements: Dietary supplements such as vitamins, mega vitamins, minerals, etc. Sometimes Again, you should consult your doctor if you are taking medicines and other treatments before adding to your diet. Usually, they are safe, but occasionally certain vitamins and minerals can interact with medicines and herbs.

6. External energies such as:
Electromagnetic therapy,
Reiki (transfer of energy from practitioner to patient through the laying on of hands),
Oigong (Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control related to Tai Chi, but more intense).

7. Mind: Studies have found that patients with good emotional and mental health heal better. There are therapies aimed at improving these elements. Here are a few:
Meditation
Biofeedback
Hypnosis

8. Senses: Therapies that incorporate the senses include:
Art
Dance
Music
Visualization
Guided Imagery
Aromatherapy

As you can see, there are many alternative medicine choices. The combination is the key to healing and applying with traditional/modern medicines and treatments. As you will see in the following photo, combining traditional/modern medicine with alternative medicine can greatly improve the patients chances for a complete healing.

In the photo below, this patient had rectal cancer.

The photo on the left is after months of radiation without any additional treatments.

The photo on the right is the same patient with rectal cancer after a few months of radiation and a diet change. The diet change alone, gave the body the boost it needed so that the radiation could do it's job. As you can see, it's amazing!

Sometimes, all it takes is a small tweak that provides our bodies with what it needs to heal itself, the way God made it.

A word of advice (from a novice writer only and with no medical education):

ALWAYS consider every option available to you when you are faced with an illness or disease. If your doctor refuses to consider other options, get a second opinion. NEVER take the first options with out investigating you. other choices.
Always consult your doctor before adding or taking away any treatments or medicines.
ALWAYS!

I hope you found this article helpful. I hope that it makes a difference in your life now or in the future. In future blogs, I will go into a deeper study on some of these alternative therapies and how they help us heal ourselves.

Have you ever used Alternative Medicine (or Complimentary Medicine) in conjunction with traditional/modern medicine? Would you consider alternative medicines in the future? What are your thoughts on Integrative medicine?

XOXO