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Fighting Depression – 10 Tips
It is dark out at 9 in the morning. The beautiful autumn leaves have fallen. The dark clouds have carpeted the sky. The rain falls like the mood of all those around me. The season is changing. But there is also the season of my heart. The season where my soul feels like it hits the dark side. I will say I’m not there right now. I am blessed. Blessed with experience. Blessed with family. Blessed with very dear friends. Blessed with knowing myself. But that’s not to say that in the future I won’t return, or that I can’t bless a friend with my own thoughts, or share with you the reader…
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40 Ways to Find Solace in a Storm
“I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” ― Oscar Wilde Call your dad Sip a hot cup of coffee Take 10 minutes to soak up some sun on a warm, sunny front porch Feet up & a good book Jump on your bike and take a ride Grab the music player, pop in the ear buds, play your favorite upbeat music and ask the vacuum to dance (Bonus you get some clean floors) Give a lingering hug with someone you love Look through old photos, create a collage of someone you love using Picasa or other photo editor…
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Two Very Different Veteran Day Celebrations
Last week I was privileged to be invited to the 3d Annual USAA Influencer Conference in San Antonio, TX. Today, I was invited to Pine Ridge Elementary School in Ada, MI. Both had Veterans Day celebrations that impacted me but in two very different ways. Both sent and had a wonderful message! USAA is built around veterans and their members are veterans and their families so there is a natural appreciation and their Veterans Day program certainly showed their affiliation. A dignified and respectful ceremony with flag officers, wounded warriors from the nearby medical center, family members, USAA team members and a crowded, standing room only audience. Captain Smiley speaking…
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On this 9/11 in 2012, It is Never too Late for our Veterans to seek Help!
“…he did not get help for more than 3 decades – yep, 35+ years and then he felt like damaged goods.” Today is one we do not forget in the United States. Our service men and women have been at war for 11 years since the terrorists struck at us on 9/11/2001. We have lost so many of our service members following the initial terrorist attack during combat and way too many to Suicide. They survive the ravages of war but then the pain comes through … It hurts, they close up, feel isolated and do not seek help or the help is not enough. Their families feel it too……
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For the Health of It
I just ran across a video that I had to share with you. It is about 9 minutes long but it is going to suck you in. Go ahead watch it. I’ll be right here waiting: Wow! Half an hour of walking a day has all that health-benefit?! This isn’t really rocket-science, folks. In fact, to make it personal I struggled with gestational diabetes while pregnant with my youngest son. The food didn’t impact my sugar-levels as much as the exercise. It was all about getting up and burning the sugar. If I didn’t get up and /move/ around every couple of hours (notice I didn’t say lace up my running shoes, put on…
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“Inspire Others to Seek Help” DoD Blogger Roundtable
Veterans Day is fast approaching and it is a day for our country to celebrate the lives and service of our veterans. They continue to impact our communities, our states and our nation as a whole. Some return from their tours of service ready to serve their local, state or national government in numerous ways, as business leaders, parents, students, role models and much more. But some return with injuries, both visible and invisible, and need assistance to reach their goals, become part of their communities, do those things most Americans take for granted, like driving a car. The DoD Bloggers Roundtable talked with one of those veterans, Maj. Ed…
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Mission Continues: Veterans Regain Community
The Mission Continues therefore there are veterans who are breathing, conversing, working, regaining courage and are part of a stronger community. What is required? Effort, drive, desire and a dream: the ability to answer what can I do to help others? Fellow Amanda Heidenreiter & Meredith Knopp, VP of ProgramsAmanda, a Fellow with Mission Continues, stated a common ‘heart hurting’ grievance: the knowledge that ‘my guys’ were still in combat while she had been medevac’ed home. She no longer had the bond of her unit and she was out of the mission. What she did have was depression, a sense of deep loss and separation. Then, she found her dream.…
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Look Out The Window When Feeling Down
On the road again; travel has been a natural and neccessary part of our married life. Military called, Mom and Dad wanted to see us, siblings got married, nephews graduated, and the ever true PCS ruled.Time has passed, we retired, travel is still in our veins.I love it when travel is for vacation, or for MilitaryAvenue.com. Both have intrigue and still pull at the memories of military life.The last two trips have been to hospitals. Big hospitals far from home. Far from comfort, loving arms or scenic desires. Yet, outside those HUGE walls beauty exists.Ann Arbor hosts the U of M medical center. I do believe more cement has been…
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Staying Healthy: Spend time outdoors
Spring Weather! Today it is supposed to be almost 80 in NE Ohio. Beautiful words to my soul. After a long winter a day like today is a perfect opportunity to break routine and get outdoors! Being outdoors has many health benefits, from breathing fresh air to taking in the sun. A little sunshine feels great, can help lift feelings of depression, and is a great source of Vitamin D, so long as you protect yourself with sunscreen. Being outdoors in good weather also encourages physical activity. Try to spend time outdoors as often as you can. Read a book or newspaper outdoors on your lunch break. Or take a…
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Traumatic Brain Injury and Month of the Military Child
What is DoD doing about Traumatic Brain Injury’s Impact on Our Service Members and Their Families? In March, I read a book about a neurosurgeon’s life, “The Gray Matter” which delved into the intricacies of the brain and how the author, Dr David Levy, had helped save and improve lives through surgery on the brain. We have all been following Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords recovery from a penetrating brain injury in the news and the long road to recovery she is facing. With thousands of service member also having brain injuries from mild to severe the military community has a need for care and support as well. The subject of brain…
