take care

With all the problems in our lives and around the world, the most important thing we can do every day is take care of ourselves. If we are not content, satisfied and healthy, it's very hard to help anyone else.

Taking care of ourselves is often complicated. Our mental state is most important. Being able to think clearly and contentedly is often not an easy task. Sometimes we need help in the form of family and friends, counseling and even medication. Some people meditate, listen to music, watch TV and movies, write or express their feelings through art, exercise. Each of us need to find whatever works to feel strong enough to get through each day.

Taking care of our physical health is also essential. For some people that simply means eating healthy foods, and getting enough sleep and exercise. As we age, lots of little things start going wrong with our bodies as they were not meant to last forever. For people with disabilities like mine, staying healthy is a whole lot of work. Whatever you can do to stay healthy and prevent problems, the easier life will be.

Caring for ourselves also includes finding things we enjoy that can help us earn a living, that might benefit the world around us and that keep us feeling content.

Wishing you the motivation to do all you can to take care of yourself. You are special and important. You deserve to be as happy and healthy as you can.

Fred Rogers

I recently watched "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" I highly recommend it if you have any affection for Fred Rogers and the show so many of us grew up watching.

The biggest realization I had was that Mr. Rogers built my self-esteem as surely as my mother and grandmother did. I have given my family all the credit, but Mr. Rogers said a lot of the same things. He told me I was likable and special. He told us all the same thing. I can only hope that other viewers felt the same self-esteem building that I did.

The documentary was on DVD. But you can also see many old episodes of his PBS show on Amazon Prime Video. If you need a little self-esteem pick me up, check out one of those episodes. Whether you are a child or an adult, his message remains the same.

You are special and important!

prayers

On the TV show "One Mississippi" they talked about prayers –

God loves all his children but he gives more to the ones who communicate with him.

Hmm… I'm not sure what I think about that. How about you?

the more we learn, the less we know

On a TV show, "Being Erica" as seen on Amazon Prime, they said, "the more we learn, the less we know." I had to pause to understand it.

I think one of our purposes on earth is to learn as much as we can. And my first thought is that as we learn, we know more and can use better actions.

I guess what the TV writer meant was that the more we learn we realize how much more we still don't know. But that's a good thing. It gives us motivation to keep learning and the idea that it is a never-ending process. We should never be so confident to think we "know it all."

So, go forth and learn all you can! Enjoy the process!

the people in our lives

A beautiful way of reminding us to be grateful for the people in our lives:

In our time upon this Earth; So few, the souls, we may come to know; Embrace them as dearly as you can...

(from Espiritu del Alma)

feel happy and safe

I am bothered by the number of songs and movies that claim "Love hurts."

Yes, the loss of love hurts. But love itself does not hurt.

If that is your experience, you are doing it wrong.

Loving someone makes you vulnerable to getting hurt. But the more love you give, the more you receive.

Love should make you feel happy and safe. It should make you want to enjoy every day.

And that is not just romantic love. Enjoy loving friends, family and your fellow humans.

Wishing you love and the happiness it brings! 

diversity

A friend of mine shared a video of a Latino reporter interviewing a white supremacist. I will never share such ignorance, but it's something that needs to be mentioned.

There are too many people in our country who believe in white supremacy. And now we have an administration hiring well-known people from within that group. This administration is making people think that white supremacy is okay. IT IS NOT! And the longer we go without talking about it, we will perpetuate its acceptance.

So I am here to say that anyone who believes one particular race is better than any other is not worthy of the rights and freedoms we have in this country. I do believe in the right to free speech, but there's only so much that we should tolerate.

I have only my voice to make change, so I'm speaking out against racism in any form and in particular the extreme views of white supremacists. Our country is better for its diversity and that should be celebrated.

Thanks for reading.

appreciation

I just wanted to say how nice it is when someone really listens to what you have to say. I have an elderly friend who I call every day as part of a volunteer program. Because of her circumstances I do a lot more than the simple call to her. I speak with her family, her case manager, the grocery store, etc. I do so because I care, but also because she really does not have much help otherwise.

But sometimes she asks for things that I can't do. Even though I can do them sometimes. She argues a bit and I don't think she totally understands. But today she heard my answer of "no" and agreed to do something for herself. Even better, she thanked me for everything that I usually do. So not only did she understand me but she gave me her appreciation. That felt really good.

Here's hoping that you have people and activities that make you feel good, too.

One Day at a Time

I have been watching "One Day at a Time" on Netflix. It's a new version in which the single mother is dealing with Post Traumatic Stress from her time as a military nurse in Afghanistan.

She began taking antidepressants and joined a support group. Things were going very well with her job, her family, etc. She decided that she was doing so well she did not need the antidepressants or the support group. Not long after discontinuing both, her depression returned. Through friends and family she came to realize that while she would rather do without the extra help, she needed it to continue all the good things she had going for her.

I highly recommend therapy and antidepressants if you need them. Let's take away their stigma. There's nothing wrong with a little help. Sometimes life is overwhelming and we can't keep it all together on our own. I certainly need that help. If I didn't use antidepressants and therapy, I would be neglecting my health and overall happiness.

It also makes me happy to see a portrayal of a veteran who is dealing with traumatic stress in a positive way. It is my impression that many veterans don't get the help they so deeply deserve.

Wishing you all whatever help works best for you!

P. S. I also highly recommend TV and movies to help you relax and get your mind off things when necessary.

P. P. S. I enjoy Netflix's "One Day at a Time" and its cast members, but I have seen better TV shows.

A Dog's Purpose

I recently saw the movie "A Dog's Purpose." A nice study of reincarnation and what we learn along the way. This dog came up with a philosophy just like mine.

Have fun. Lick the ones you love. Don't worry about things that already happened. Don't worry about things that could happen. Be here now.

Wishing you all time to appreciate whatever now you have!