It’s all in your head

Rest before you get tired is my mantra to recharge.

Family Picture. Source: Avantgard

Tired. I am always tired. Fa-ti-gue. It’s such a joke that my doctor once said she will charge me $Five bucks every time I say it during a consultation. There were at least five doctors that replaced her until a new one came from the UK. She is just great. She listens and referred me to the Centre for Chronic Disease I completely forgot about until one day I received a call from them. Two years later when I was on the list since September 2018.

I’m finally in. The work of managing unknown ailments takes understanding one’s self-care.

I am not alone.

One of these, does not belong to the other

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Structure is very important to have a good presentation especially if you are vendor in Denmark’s seafood market. It’s important to group the items accordingly: Fishes together. Shellfish together. Lobsters together. Doctors separately. Lobsters will definitely change the structure of … Continue reading →

The only way to explain it

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Well, there is really no good way to explain what creepy or gross or disgusting is when it comes to science and put it into reality. The closes I can project is when I bought a couple of mangoes. One … Continue reading →

Children at Play: 1984 vs 2013

Play is very important, I cannot reiterate that enough.

There are so many benefits in playing.  For one, it’s a great exercise when the body is moving and running around.  Being a playmate, friendship will flourish.  It is an essential part of children’s development since it contributes to their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.  This is the reason I keep telling the kids to go outside and play.  As an adult, I will be the first one to take part with the children.  I still love to play.

Pass forward.

Play have taken a whole new meaning today.  Enter “smart” technologies. Are these technologies making the children smarter?

Ironic.  This time I cannot participate.  I don’t even know how to use a cell phone or iPad.  The children are teaching me how to use them and I refuse to play.

Images copied from children’s Facebook.

Everybody wants to be free

May you be free of cancer.

Parents – To honour and obey

My dear friends, 

Upon reading posts from others, we seem to be in the generation that has aging parents. 

Some with illnesses, some who are dying and some who have rested in peace. I too can receive a phone call at any given time with my mother. I just wanted to reach out and say, our parents’ generation that brought us into this world and taught us all that we know is the last of their kind. 

A generation that has seen and done more for us and America than we can ever imagine. 

I can’t imagine their fear of their children not reaping what they had sown into America as they knew it could give us. Freedom. 

My only thoughts are of our own children today. I struggle to think now too, that they will never have the story book childhood as we had. The simple life. The chores, eating at the dinner table, playing jump rope, earning and learning what we put into, a college degree that puts them in a prospective work place, buying their first home, getting married and doing the cycle all over again with their children.

 

What I do know is what I can do in my world. And that is to honor my parents by teaching my children the same values, dreams, aspirations and determination to will them into a world that may or may not heed to the same values. For we don’t know or never have been in a situation where the kind of survival deals with the survival from our own government and or country. The freedom that are being suppressed or will be taken. Laws that should still apply but are outdated simply because we can’t see eye to eye. But that’s what’s ironic. 

If we were raised on the same moral principles of our great parents’ generation, then where did we go wrong? Is it really because we lack the spiritual need of having God in our hearts? In all that we do and utter from our mouths? 

Some people are sick of hearing about religion or lack thereof, as the cause of our situation. But it’s not religion. It’s what’s in our hearts. That is the beat of our country. What we imitate in our hearts to be can only come from one source. LOVE. And who is love, kindness, generous, honest, humble, truth, respectful, teacher and most of all takes you unconditionally? 

Just like our parents on where they got their inspiration from. GOD. Following our parents teaching is following their values from HIM. 

So where did we go wrong? The answer is right in our faces. I will continue with my ways of my parents. 

Will you honor them too? ~ Maria 

This was written by Maria and we are cousins.

Note:  Maria read all your comments and she wishes to thank all of you for your kind comments. 

Exercise the Right…

Exercise the right to mental fitness, keeps the mind in shape. 

Every day, it is important that I am aware of the importance of physical fitness to good health.  It is equally important to remember that a healthy mind and body go together. 

Mental fitness is part of my daily routine. 

To find the time to relax, dream, be creative or even to let off steam will definitely improve the mental faculties of this brain especially the ability to deal with stressful situation. 

Mental fitness is vital part of my healthy life. 

 

 “One reason why men and women lose their heads so often is that they use them so little! It is the same with everything. If we have anything that is valuable, it must be put to some sort of use. If a man’s muscles are neglected, he soon has none, or rather none worth mentioning. The more the mind is used the more flexible it becomes, and the more it takes upon itself new interests.”— George Matthew Adams (Renowned Newspaper Columnist, Author, Writer, Philosopher) ‪#‎quote ‪#‎health
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Courage of Ordinary People

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Every year, six ordinary people are awarded the Courage to Comeback Award.  The 2013 recipients are: Youth category is Lourenco:  Courage defined smiling teen Medical category is Cindy:  Rare congenital condition Addiction’s recipient is Thea:  Battle to get clean Mental Health … Continue reading →

Awareness, Awareness, Awareness

It’s all about awareness.  Be aware that you are not alone. 

There is nothing to be embarrassed about, no need to hide, hiding is futile.  Numerous people, even celebrities have declared to the whole world about how mental they are.  I do not suggest you to do the same.  The message that I want to impart is that there is help out there. 

Patty Duke wrote her memoir “The Brilliant Madness” is an excellent book how this illness became manageable.  Even William Styron wrote “Darkness Visible”, his memoir of madness.  They are both good reads. 

It’s Mental Health Week from May 6 to 12, 2013 in our community.  Let’s learn, talk, engage, reflect and be involved how we are affected by this disease.  The Canadian census states that one in every three Canadians will experience problems with their mental well-being.  That is a high ratio.  I hope they are wrong. 

So, I encourage you to be involved in your community especially to your loved ones.  Be open about it.  Mental illness is just as common as an ordinary headache or cold. 

Personally, I do not call this mental illness, I call it brain disease.  And that is another story.

 

Related Articles:

• Brilliant Madness
• Patty Duke: YouTube
• Darkness Visible
• CMHA: Mental Health Week
• D for Depression

A Promise – A Vow

I made a promise – I vowed that one day, when Stacey had won her fight, when she was healthy again, when she was ready, I would ride with her in the Ride to Conquer Cancer which she never had a chance to complete. In December 2012, I received a text message from Stacey, which simply read: “Let’s do this!”I am looking for your support for one more ride on June 15, 2013 – to thank and support the doctors that saved my Dad, to help keep a promise to a friend, to help celebrate Stacey Olynyk’s victory over cancer and to help dedicate this ride to her twin sister Karen – inspired by her unimaginable strength, courage, bravery and fight.

Thanks for your support! “LET”S DO THIS!” ~~ Mike

Mike is my cousin and I am so proud of him.  I wrote about his dad when I started blogging titled “Love and Valor”.  I also featured our Grandmother and his family (before he was born) in Mosaic of Cultures.

I received an e-mail from him tonight “ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT TO GO!”  Oh dear, here I go again, the greatest procrastinator of all.  I haven’t done anything in terms of supporting him.  I have until May 11.  Well, I thrive on pressure. 

It’s either I go to Victoria to cheer him and his team, go see my Aunt to buy some tickets, use the snail mail for the donation or donate on-line.  Too many choices.  I’ll sleep over it and tomorrow, with a fresh mind, I’ll decide. 

Without any further ado, my bragging rights.  Meet Mr. Mike Gonzalez and The Team Spaghetti Factory.  Let’s conquer CANCER! 

 

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Act of Charity ~ Cat Kind

My cats eat more than I do and their food cost more than my grocery bill.  It’s so disconcerting when I spend so much money on wet food, then Maurice will take one sniff and walks away.  Cajoling, stroking or sweet talks does not work at all if he doesn’t like his supper. 

It’s really important to make them happy since they are my loving and loyal companion.  Should I have my own, of course, I will do the same.  Therefore, these cats are my “children”. 

Thank goodness, I found Henri, the “catherapist”.  I could learn a lot from him not to mention a few new language. 

Jouir de       =^.^=

April is Daffodil Month

April is a very special month.  It’s the time when Daffodil is in bloom.  Daffodil is a bright flower and a symbol of support for people living with cancer or cancer survivor.  Daffodil is a very special flower. 

April is also a wet month here in Vancouver.  Before the rain ruins these beautiful flowers, I took pictures of them in my garden and in the neighbouring properties.  They are so proud looking and a delight to look at. 

I am sharing these pictures for those people who are directly or indirectly affected with Cancer that I am thinking of you.  Cancer is just another common disease such as cold.  Cancer Society is working hard to fight cancer, finding a cure and enhance the quality of life that is living with cancer. 

 “It’s meant to be a symbol of hope for people who are facing cancer and it’s uniting us in the fight against Cancer,” 

Show your support by and make a difference in your own way no matter how big or small. 

 Wear a daffodil pin · Make a donation · Volunteer · Spread the word

 

 

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Hey, I don’t think that way….

Heavy graded lenses, my eyes can see all the visible surrounding changes
drums of my ears can still hear the faintest whistling of the hummingbirds
Tasty morsels I can still taste with the buds of my tongue
olfactory nerves will follow the aroma of night blossoms. 

Not too concerned that there are laugh lines on my face
artic colour hair adds beauty and wisdom to black hair
Slow moving walking motion gives me more time to relax
speech will slow due to slower thinking process 

Thanks to my brain, these senses still register
As time goes by ~
the brain will deteriorate due to ageing process 

 

This is one thing I cannot see
~ My Brain ~
for the change is very gradual

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The Evolution of Medicine

In Canada, I pay medical premium for a minimal cost.  The amount of taxes that is taken out of my income is about 30%.  That’s a lot of money considering my income is so little.  I assume the tax is used in part for the medical system. 

Sometime in the 90’s, I was hospitalized for 4 months.  Should I have paid the cost of hospitalization, I would become “mental” thinking how I am going to pay the bill.  I am grateful that it was fully paid by the government. 

My knowledge in medical system is next to nothing; therefore, there is nothing intelligent I can contribute to this post except for insane Medical Humour. 

The Evolution of Medicine 

I have an earache … 

2000 BC – Here, eat this root. 

1000 AD – That root is heathen. Here, say this prayer. 

1850 AD – That prayer is superstition. Here, drink this potion. 

1940 AD – That potion is snake oil. Here, swallow this pill. 

1985 AD – That pill is ineffective. Here, take this antibiotic. 

2000 AD – That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root. 

Suggestion for the Automated Switchboard of a Psychiatric Hospital. 

Thank you for calling.

 If you are obsessive-compulsive, press  ‘1’  repeatedly. 

If you are co-dependent, ask someone else to press  ‘2’. 

If you have multiple personalities, press  ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘5’  and  ‘6’. 

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want;  just stay on the line and we will trace the call. 

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a voice will tell you which number to press. 

If you are depressed, it doesn’t matter which number you press, we won’t answer your call anyway. 

If you are a GP, forget about referring a patient because there aren’t any beds.  

 

Source: Humour MedJokes

 

This is in response to Daily Prompt: Healthcare.  Come and join us, it will expand your mind.

DP: Clean Slate – Simplicity

“Daily Post: Clean Slate – Explore the room you’re in as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Pretend you know nothing. What do you see? Who is the person who lives there?” 

The place is the tiniest room in a three storey older tenement.  It’s a bachelor suite measuring around 500 square feet or less, big enough for a simple life.

Room 306 is the back part of the third floor of Royal Manor.  She just loves that name and she started feeling regal already.  Seeing the bright living room with balcony, plenty of natural light is very conducive to a healthy living for the new tenant requires natural light in order to survive the long winter ahead.

A balcony, she feels so blessedly rich.  She can picture what plants to grow, eventually.  No animals allowed is the agreement she signed for.  That is just fine by her since she doesn’t want any responsibilities.  All she wants is to take care of herself and live a life of solitude.
The tenant is a minimalist.  All she brought with her is an old bed and three dressers for her clothes.  She loves dressing up.  No sofa, no chairs, no table for she threw in the towel.  A clean slate, a new beginning.

Ah, she can now breathe.  No more stuff that suffocates her life.

Over the years, the room is gradually filling up and it has maintained its simplicity in life.  A sofa, plants, folding dinning table, a cat.  Plenty of light and life. She now loves living the life what God has intended for her. 

Living room