Buying Gifts for Hanuka and other Holidays?

B'SD

14 Kislev, 5779

Fitness workouts and presents for otherwise expensive holidays need not be costly. You can buy affordable exercise tools for yourself or for someone who'd appreciate them. Here's a list of can-do and practical stocking stuffers, etc:

A ball to be placed between the knees and lifted up/down repeatedly, then moved side-to-side, with your doctor's approval. Next, you can crouch while repeatedly tossing the ball into a wall without pictures on it. Toss, toss, toss, to strengthen arm and chest muscles.

A simple dowel/stick that's removable from washing mops, dust mops, and brooms. Use the item to "row" as you sit in a chair far from anything other than open space. Be sure to move from your waist, then to sit up straight before you bend again, to strengthen your core.

Hand weights aka full cans of pantry foods. Make sure that the cans weigh the same amount and are the same size. Use them, one per hand, to stretch, to do repeated lifts and forward "punches."

A stretchy strap available in sporting goods shops and physical therapy offices. Use it to repeatedly stretch your arms away from your chest. Next, sit down on a sturdy chair. Wind the strap securely around your thighs, just above your knees. Hold tightly to the ends, one in each hand. Pull the ends away from your body as you repeatedly separate your knees with all your might. You'll feel the tug in your gut and upper legs, a sign that you're strengthening muscle.

Ready to address some emotional exercises for feeling mentally stronger each day? Read doctor-recommended

Want to cope with medical and/or mental health problems, including the expenses for your care? Buy 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.

Fill your gift list with sensible choices.

Forget about Falling!

B'SD

5 Elul, 5778


One of the side effects of getting older is that our bodies change without our knowledge. Somehow we begin to realize that we gain weight more easily or more slowly than before. Our sense of taste seems to dull. Eyesight does all kinds of unwanted things. Our arms and legs seem to move more slowly though we're trying to make them move faster. We become weaker and less coordinated with age. 

Life seems to become a balancing act, too. We trip and fall more often than before. That's because our brains change over time, too. They are a bit out of sync with our eyesight and that's a recipe for sudden accidents that we didn't see coming.

Here's a medically sound method for preventing trips and falls: Exercise. It makes a person stronger physically and mentally.

You can do light exercises daily (or a few times daily once you build up the stamina) on bare floors. These exercises are not to be done on carpeting, not even on the mat near your kitchen sink.

The presentation is in British English with Hebrew subtitles. You can share this blogpost with anyone who might benefit from it.





There's a bit more to do to prevent pain and broken bones: stop using throw rugs or decorative bamboo mats on your floors. 

People with balancing problems tend to slip, slide and fall down because of them. Bare floors are best for people who need to prevent falling problems.

Be sure to ask your doctors for a physical therapy prescription that focuses on resolving your balance issues, too. 

 


Want a balanced perspective on your medical or mental health coping options? Buy 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.

Fill your time with can-do solutions!

How to Make the MOST of Your Life - Despite Setbacks

B'SD

8 Tishrei, 5774

The meaning of what happens to you is determined by what happens in you.   —   Rabbi David Aaron

Do you find that idea mystifying? Something you resent? I understand. So do many medical and mental health professionals.

Here's a recent headline from the medical world:

Good Attitude Helps Heart to Heal

If your heart aches from inner or outer turmoil, take tiny steps to become more refined, more considerate, and more forgiving, than you are. 

No need to make life harder by taking on too much of the task at one time. 

Gradual progress is the best, most sensible way to go.

Need help to accept what is rather than what you originally wanted? 

Read the inspirational stuff that made clergy of different faiths recommend

The writer of the book re-engineered her life 

after a devastating medical setback 

(that other people could have prevented)

left her with the need to update her goals.

I'm that woman. 

Read the story of 

What happened to me, 

What I chose to do about it,

and 

How that can help you.

You'll find it in 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. 

Find your inner greatness by rising to the challenge. As often as necessary.

 

Here's How to Be Fair - and Helpful - to People with Sensory Issues

B'SD


11 Nisan 5772


One of the maddening things about being a person with sensory issues is that the rest of the world fails to understand our completely sensible coping mechanisms!


Please watch this video to gain insight into why some children wriggle, tap feet or fingers and simply move around so much: Brain Highways: The Proprioceptive System.


Why do I find this topic so important? I have a lingering sensory processing disorder that leaves me with severe vertigo. I use specific techniques I learned in physical and occupational therapy lessons to cope with that. 


I've always sympathized with people who pace, tap, and do other things to ground themselves in their present locations. Squirming in discomfort is, at times, not a sign of emotional distress. It's a sign of coping with missed "This is where I am" placement signals.






Find out where you fit and what you can do to improve your sensory or medical/disability situation! Buy E-book or print edition EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge to lower your medical costs and emotional distress.


Face Your Medical Problems with Dignity.
Face Your Future with Optimism.

The Opportunity of Adversity

B'SD

5 Adar 5770

Somehow your clergywoman/man's sermons just don't make you feel better about your situation. I understand. Lectures are boring. When fully abled people who never suffered some form of socially unpopular adversity deliver the lectures, it's an invitation to ignore them.

OK, here's a fix for that:




Open YOUR doors. And DANCE!

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

If People with Down Syndrome Ruled the World...

B'SD

12 Kislev 5770

Readers, I responded to a heartwarming online essay, written by a loving father named Rich Mistkowski. I asked his permission to present that essay at my blog. Mr. Mistkowski agreed to let me share his words with you.

Here is the essay, followed by my initial response to it:

If People With Down Syndrome Ruled The World...
Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks! My son Mattie is a big reason for why we are so thankful. He's happy, healthy (the holes in his heart have closed & the baby leukemia is gone), handsome, and has taught me the importance being positive about everything. I received a document from someone last year and I wanted to share it with you, so that you may get an understanding of the life of someone with Down Syndrome. If you know someone with Down Syndrome, then you will get it immediately. If you don't know someone with Down Syndrome, you're in for a treat! If you get a chance, please take a moment to read it. If Down Syndrome People ruled the world, just imagine how different a world we would live in!

http://wp.me/pICQs-g

Great food for thought, hmm, readers?

I hope it helps you to face your medical or any other crisis.

Best, Yocheved.

What Can You Do About FEELING Like You’re FALLING APART?

18 Cheshvan 5768

Gosh it is NORMAL to feel that you're falling apart over a medical crisis. Still, you want to minimize your pain. I hope I can help you with that.

Well, the first thing you can do is to know that you joined a BIG club around the world. Lots of people believe they're "losing it" during a medical crisis. They're not, really. They're simply dealing with a new reality and finding their way through it, one clumsy step at a time. The world just does not have a One-Size-Fits-All coping method. You seek what you need until you find something that helps you to go forward.

Your condition or that of the person you're trying to help is accented by medical realities: changes in brain power, muscle power, self-confidence, medical equipment that seems to tie you up in knots, you name it! The stress goes right for your sense of discouragement, increasing your emotional and physical pain.

"Patience? Confidence? The future? What's that?" you sadly wonder.
Here are some suggestions foreating Back the Blues 1-2-3:
1. Consider working with an Occupational Therapist and/or a Speech Therapist who might be able to recharge your brain, heart and soul with appropriate therapy. Stroke patients often lose word recall, sometimes the ability to speak. They often recover with OT and PT. Think of TV reporter Bob Woodruff and the milestones he's reaching. And if something other than brain power affects you, an OT and PT still might do wonders for your sense of happiness and self-confidence.

2. Coax your relative/friend/self to keep doing whatever is familiar: listening to favorite songs, doing chores you're good at, eating food you enjoy, pursuing hobbies (even new ones) if you/she/he can take the physical strain, stuff like that. Those are confidence-boosters. They'll possibly ignite pleasant memories or create a few.

Here's another take on the confidence-building idea: Your body and your heart need lots of relaxation. Read some books you've been meaning to get to. Give yourself a foot-rub and take a nice bubble bath or just let the shower steam open your pores. Pamper yourself. Relax again and again. And keep telling yourself "I'm healing. In my own good time, I'm healing..."

UPDATE: Actually, you and your body might need a nap. See http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-to.hs.nap01nov01,0,4946284.story

Let your body heal as best it can. A little doctor intervention might be necessary. But a lot of wholesome care for your state of mind can go a long, long way before, during and after the doctor visit.

3. Here's one more idea, simple and colorful, too (and it's terrific for children, too)! Find a large glass jar. Maybe one of those giant pickle jars with a wide mouth. Every time you reach a goal or experience anything at all that fills you with a positive point of view, drop a colored marble into the glass jar. Over time, your collection will grow. It might become big enough to fill the bottom of a fish bowl or an aquarium...


Humor your inner child or one who's already part of your life. Put your marble collection to even more good use and watch the light shine in someone else's eyes. The glimmering fish will cheer up your surroundings (maybe your thoughts, too).

Do you know what's happening? You're keeping your act together so much you're going to inspire the people around you. After all, everybody likes someone with all their marbles!

Now lift your heart a little more so your attitude can go Dancing Through Life. Click on this link, a sort of booster shot for the tough days ahead... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otTLcWYA0ME

To your good health and peace of mind,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life.