B'SD
14 Sivan, 5773
I want to share this lovely video with you. Replay it on days when your self-esteem seems to be in short supply.
A medical, emotional or other crisis - you'd cry too, if it happened to you. Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Boosting Self Esteem - Quick Get the Kids!
Re-visit the video and its upbeat message as needed.
My thanks go to Rabbi Lazer Brody, who posted the video at his Lazer Beams site.
My thanks go to Rabbi Lazer Brody, who posted the video at his Lazer Beams site.
There are many, many self-esteem boosters in
Buy the E-book or print edition today for a brighter look at your medical, disability and/or mental health life. Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.
Fill your soul with life-affirming messages.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Lessons Learned from My Horserides
B'SD
12 Sivan, 5773
I took up horseback riding some time ago. I find the animal therapy experience exhilarating. A recent ride was a gateway to some wonderful experiences.
One of the women in my group did not enjoy riding her "spicey" horse Topaz, a new one at the stable. Topaz had not yet become accustomed to the new routines she's expected to follow. Since my male horse, Rich, is so calm, I switched animals with my fellow rider in the middle of the journey, giving her a better chance to have a pleasant time with our group.
Topaz is a female horse and golly I felt a difference in her body language as soon as I landed in the saddle. She was not obeying my commands. I had to assert myself very definitively with her to clarify who was leading the ride. Once she understood, I was able to love the ride for about 1.5 hours. She responded correctly and immediately to my feet and to my body weight shifting in the saddle "signals." At one point I hardly felt the reins and realized I hadn't used them for more than a half hour. WOW we'd worked as one, just as I do with Rich.
We saw a flock of storks circling above, rode through meadows and saw many shades of greenery during our ride. HOT as blazes, I was glad I'd worn 100% cotton scrubs with my skirt. I wiped my perspiring face repeatedly to keep salt out of my eyes.
Anyway, we rode on in peace and calm all over creation, up, down, through farm fields etc. That let me keep a clear, open mind to think through some thoughts and puzzling problems I want to solve.
At the ride's end, I hugged her head and muzzle; She batted me with her head a few times (a sign that Topaz considers me a safe scratching post). I'm thrilled to report that I mount and dismount without assistance on my regular horse Rich. I even did that with "spicey" Topaz - on the very first try. It took a few lessons to build clumsy practices into smooth "automatic pilot," so to speak. I'm excited that the effort paid off this way.
I am so loving my time with nature I thanked GOD over and over, out loud, during the ride. It was heaven on earth. Here I am on Rich, weeks ago, wearing a lavender-colored sweatshirt (third person from the front of the photo).
I hope to share a photo of me riding pretty Topaz, in a meadow full of grazing goats and sheep, after I upload the picture a friend took of us.
If all turns out as planned, I'll post pictures of this evening's planned ride. I'm wavering between fear and wonder as I resolve to find out if I can ride a horse in darkness. Making that achievement will be so exciting.
The main reason I ride is to find out if this sort of relaxation and introspection can help me to overcome vision limitations that persist almost 8 years past my emergency life-saving brain surgery. Many innovative efforts to heal the long list of visual problems that resulted from my long-gone brain tumor, and the surgery to remove it, have worked.
My vision therapy at a local hospital is paying off. I'm giving animal therapy a chance, too. Here's how it is helping me:
A medical crisis - you'd cry too, if it happened to you. Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."
You can also discover that it's possible to shed tears of joy as your soul grows with and past some of your suffering. I haven't always believed clergy or mental health therapy claims that this was possible. It's been a privilege to learn the truth first-hand. The lessons are in my gut, the very cells of my being.
Ride into your future with ever-developing optimism. Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge to learn ways you can do just that.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Fill your future with pleasant options.
12 Sivan, 5773
I took up horseback riding some time ago. I find the animal therapy experience exhilarating. A recent ride was a gateway to some wonderful experiences.
One of the women in my group did not enjoy riding her "spicey" horse Topaz, a new one at the stable. Topaz had not yet become accustomed to the new routines she's expected to follow. Since my male horse, Rich, is so calm, I switched animals with my fellow rider in the middle of the journey, giving her a better chance to have a pleasant time with our group.
Topaz is a female horse and golly I felt a difference in her body language as soon as I landed in the saddle. She was not obeying my commands. I had to assert myself very definitively with her to clarify who was leading the ride. Once she understood, I was able to love the ride for about 1.5 hours. She responded correctly and immediately to my feet and to my body weight shifting in the saddle "signals." At one point I hardly felt the reins and realized I hadn't used them for more than a half hour. WOW we'd worked as one, just as I do with Rich.
We saw a flock of storks circling above, rode through meadows and saw many shades of greenery during our ride. HOT as blazes, I was glad I'd worn 100% cotton scrubs with my skirt. I wiped my perspiring face repeatedly to keep salt out of my eyes.
Anyway, we rode on in peace and calm all over creation, up, down, through farm fields etc. That let me keep a clear, open mind to think through some thoughts and puzzling problems I want to solve.
At the ride's end, I hugged her head and muzzle; She batted me with her head a few times (a sign that Topaz considers me a safe scratching post). I'm thrilled to report that I mount and dismount without assistance on my regular horse Rich. I even did that with "spicey" Topaz - on the very first try. It took a few lessons to build clumsy practices into smooth "automatic pilot," so to speak. I'm excited that the effort paid off this way.
I am so loving my time with nature I thanked GOD over and over, out loud, during the ride. It was heaven on earth. Here I am on Rich, weeks ago, wearing a lavender-colored sweatshirt (third person from the front of the photo).
I hope to share a photo of me riding pretty Topaz, in a meadow full of grazing goats and sheep, after I upload the picture a friend took of us.
If all turns out as planned, I'll post pictures of this evening's planned ride. I'm wavering between fear and wonder as I resolve to find out if I can ride a horse in darkness. Making that achievement will be so exciting.
The main reason I ride is to find out if this sort of relaxation and introspection can help me to overcome vision limitations that persist almost 8 years past my emergency life-saving brain surgery. Many innovative efforts to heal the long list of visual problems that resulted from my long-gone brain tumor, and the surgery to remove it, have worked.
My vision therapy at a local hospital is paying off. I'm giving animal therapy a chance, too. Here's how it is helping me:
- I've learned that I can develop a new skill
- I've learned to do a sort of introspection that shortens the way to new insights
- I've gained confidence in myself
- I've seen beauty that could only be available to me if I took a safely calculated risk
I've come a long way from the terror and tears
of learning about that long-gone brain tumor.
A medical crisis - you'd cry too, if it happened to you. Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."
You can also discover that it's possible to shed tears of joy as your soul grows with and past some of your suffering. I haven't always believed clergy or mental health therapy claims that this was possible. It's been a privilege to learn the truth first-hand. The lessons are in my gut, the very cells of my being.
Ride into your future with ever-developing optimism. Buy the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge to learn ways you can do just that.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Fill your future with pleasant options.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Friending Disabilities
B'SD
8 Sivan, 5773
The world can be a sweeter place for all of us once we realize the value of friendship for people with and without varying levels of ability.
A disability is not an end. It's a "New Normal."
Want to learn about becoming gainfully employed despite a disability? Read E-book or print edition EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical (or Disability) Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Friendship makes the world a more pleasant place.
8 Sivan, 5773
The world can be a sweeter place for all of us once we realize the value of friendship for people with and without varying levels of ability.
Want to learn about becoming gainfully employed despite a disability? Read E-book or print edition EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical (or Disability) Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Friendship makes the world a more pleasant place.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Humor and Harsh Medical Realities: What do YOU Think?
B'SD
5 Sivan, 5773
I've toyed with the idea of making the EMPOWER Yourself book funny in specific spots. But I've never felt confident about doing that.
I'm wondering now if I should. Michael J Fox is terrific with this take on a harsh medical life.
If you've ever read
or even if you have not, what do you think?
The 3rd edition is being prepared for publication.
Should it go for the giggles?
Buy the E-book or print edition today for a brighter, lighter look at your medical, disability or mental health life. Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Feed your Inner Giggle.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Life Lessons about Ovarian Cancer and How to Comfort Someone in Distress
B'SD
28 Iyar, 5773
Here are two eloquent essays about important health issues:
1) Ovarian Cancer, aka The Silent Killer, is addressed at If Ovaries Could Speak.
2) Know that awful sensation when you're at a loss for words or just did something you DEEPLY regret while trying to comfort people? Here are 5 Ways to Foster Comfort in Times of Illness or Distress.
Learn more about protecting your health, plus the heart-warming etiquette of what to do and what to say in distressing times, with the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Face awkward situations with increasing courage and gracious behavior.
28 Iyar, 5773
Here are two eloquent essays about important health issues:
1) Ovarian Cancer, aka The Silent Killer, is addressed at If Ovaries Could Speak.
2) Know that awful sensation when you're at a loss for words or just did something you DEEPLY regret while trying to comfort people? Here are 5 Ways to Foster Comfort in Times of Illness or Distress.
Learn more about protecting your health, plus the heart-warming etiquette of what to do and what to say in distressing times, with the E-book or print edition of EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Face awkward situations with increasing courage and gracious behavior.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Life Lessons from a Hospital: If We Could See In Someone's Heart...
B'SD
26 Iyar, 5773
I saw this on Facebook and knew I must share it with you.
I've often wondered how medical professionals deal with the stress they find in their patients. Some doctors are heartwarming geniuses. Others... are not.
I remain sad that the woman whose cruel remark resulted in the first half of the title for
has never, to this day, realized that she reacts to ill people in a destructive, condescending manner. Utterly clueless.
A medical crisis - you'd cry too, if it happened to you. Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."
Learn what to say and how to behave with rude people at your bedside and beyond, plus lots more. Buy the E-book or print edition today for a brighter holiday season: Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Face rudeness with confidence and a healing sense of humor.
26 Iyar, 5773
I saw this on Facebook and knew I must share it with you.
I've often wondered how medical professionals deal with the stress they find in their patients. Some doctors are heartwarming geniuses. Others... are not.
I remain sad that the woman whose cruel remark resulted in the first half of the title for
has never, to this day, realized that she reacts to ill people in a destructive, condescending manner. Utterly clueless.
A medical crisis - you'd cry too, if it happened to you. Use your tissues and handkerchiefs with my blessings borne of experience. GOD gives you Permission to Weep. And you can say that to any critics after explaining that "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."
Learn what to say and how to behave with rude people at your bedside and beyond, plus lots more. Buy the E-book or print edition today for a brighter holiday season: Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Face rudeness with confidence and a healing sense of humor.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month
B'SD
22 Iyar, 5773
With a whole month of international educational initiatives going on, this blog is ready to alert you to several resources for helping people with brain tumors:
The American Brain Tumor Association.
The American Neurological Association (this news item lists brain tumor symptoms)
Brain Tumor Buddies of the UK.
The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
The Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research and Information.
The National Brain Tumor Society.
Need inspiration, maybe more information about dealing with brain tumors? Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Fill yourself with information you need.
22 Iyar, 5773
With a whole month of international educational initiatives going on, this blog is ready to alert you to several resources for helping people with brain tumors:
The American Brain Tumor Association.
The American Neurological Association (this news item lists brain tumor symptoms)
Brain Tumor Buddies of the UK.
The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
The Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research and Information.
The National Brain Tumor Society.
Need inspiration, maybe more information about dealing with brain tumors? Click on the words EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.
Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity. Face Your Future with Optimism.
Fill yourself with information you need.
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