Every day begins with an act of courage and hope:
getting out of bed.
– Mason Cooley
Tag Archives: Positive Attitude
Wanted
It feels so good to be wanted.
The most exhilarating of all sensations.
In the desert, you can remember …
“In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain”
(And no noisy and flashy distractions or temptations.)
Sleepy weekend afternoon.
A gathering of friends.
A two-hour ride away from Tel-Aviv.
Peaceful quiet outside.
Sandy soft yet bright light.
A warm-dry breeze caressing body and soul.
Disturbing political issues seem far away…
“…
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound
I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
‘Cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain”
America, A Horse with No Name – Lyrics and Explanation
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Text or Talk?
Text messaging is a great invention.
However, due to the lack of facial and emotional expression, eye contact, voice and tone nuances, body language, and to delays in responses when texting, it bears a great potential for misinterpretation and misunderstandings.
It is amazing how upset a text can make the person receiving it, while the sender meant something completely different. And it happens all the time.
Just recently, I totally misunderstood the tone and the intention of two short text messages I received from someone very close. I was so hurt that I felt like cutting off the relation on spot. Ok, we are talking about a quite complex liaison and I admit being a bit impulsive at times. And, I had a dear friend by my side who herself is going through a sad period, and thus, she backed me up in my end-of-the-world and end-whatever-is-bad for-you mood.
Ironically, texting is supposed to be a quick means of communication, but when it causes a misunderstanding between two people, especially a couple, it can take very long to fix the damage.
So before letting a text that hurt or really annoyed you which you received from someone who’s important to you, turn into an argument or a broken heart, pick up the phone or meet face to face and talk about it.
(I sorted things out in person with “my” texter …)
Floor Relax-Restart
For quite some time now I have been unblessed with various back pains, hip hurt, knee problems, and other bone aches. These stem from early childhood ailments and accidents, from biking injuries, from my tendency to stumble into and over things, and from getting old.
Three things have proven very relaxing and soothing for my entire body (and soul!!):
- WARMTH – summer; hot showers and baths in winter; a cozy blanket; bone-penetrating warming sun rays; a hot-water bottle (the old-fashioned rubber ones); thermal springs.
- SWIMMING – I mean head-under-water swimming (and back swimming). Desperately trying to keep your head above the water to avoid hair getting wet or because you haven’t learned to breathe right while swimming will cause even more back and neck pain. I swim only in summer-warm water – many of the heated indoor swimming-pools are not warm enough for me, something that probably varies from country to country (and from person to person).
- Unwinding, unbending, stretching, and loosening up on THE FLOOR.
Just lying on the floor (at home I have a small, thin carpet – when not at home, I find something else to lie on) with eyes closed, turning from side to side, stretching in all directions, consciously relaxing each and every part of the body, exploring where it hurts, doing some exercises to relieve the pain. I have my exercise routine, everyone can compose his own, from classes or the internet – there are many great you-tube videos. In summer, I enjoy just lying there and daydreaming away… I can even fall asleep on the floor. Gravity is no longer a burden on my body because I’m as close to Earth as I can get.
The benefits of flooring, in simple words, and a great stretching exercise video: http://antranik.org/lie-on-your-back-for-comfort-now/
(Featured picture from here: http://www.orientalcarpetbrokers.com/about/news/)
Feeling Gut
When we hear the word bacteria many of us instinctively think yuck, dirty, bad.
But actually, the 1.5 – 2 kilos – about three to five pounds – of microbiota (bacteria and other microorganisms) living in our gut and all over us, are good and vital for us.
Our gut’s “inhabitants” are responsible for supporting the digestion of what we eat, for helping with the production of some vitamins, for warding off dangerous, intrusive microorganisms (the “bad” bacteria) that can cause serious illness, and they are connected to obesity and skin conditions, just to name a few of their functions.
A newborn’s digestive system, which is sterile before birth, is quickly colonized by microorganisms from the mother (vaginal, faecal, skin, breast, etc.), the environment, the air etc. From the third day, the composition of baby’s intestinal microbiota is dependent on its food.
And here is the hottest stuff about our gut bugs, the gut-brain connection:
++ There is increasing evidence that intestinal bacteria play a major role in brain chemistry and mental health, in influencing our mood and our feelings, and they have even found to be connected to hyperactivity and autism;
++ The intake of probiotic foods or supplements has shown to improve mood and may even be effective in treating anxiety and depression;
++ FMT – fecal microbiota transplantation (yes, the transplantation of poop!), which is currently used to treat life threatening infections, may also prove to be an effective treatment for emotional and mental disorders.
The way to a happy heart is through your gut.
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Sources:
https://relaxattranquilityblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/5-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system-naturally/
http://www.nature.com/news/the-tantalizing-links-between-gut-microbes-and-the-brain-1.18557
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150728110734.htm
http://www.gutmicrobiotawatch.org/en/2015/08/05/microbes-with-the-blues-gut-microbiota-may-be-linked-to-depression/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201309/gut-bacteria-transplant-new-treatment-anxiety
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201309/gut-bacteria-transplant-new-treatment-anxiety
What A Year
I have just completed one year of psychotherapy* with an amazing clinical social worker, accompanied by psychiatric/psychological follow-up. Today, at 54, I am as mentally and emotionally strong as maybe never before in my life.
Until less than a year ago my life was a mess. And that of my son even more. Our home was a mess, and I am not even going to begin detailing.
After another psychiatric hospitalization of several months, my 26-year-old son (who is struggling with psychotic OCD) has been living in supervised housing for the past 6 months and he is learning to live an independent and socially healthy life.
I have moved to a new apartment with my cat and have begun studying psychology and working with children with special needs.
The love of my life (who is also coping with emotional-mental complexity) has evolved into my best friend.
Things are far from perfect, but they are steadily improving.
AND, most days are sunny and warm in this country.
* State-funded, I didn’t pay a penny.
