Discover the beautiful art of pysanky as featured in the March/April 2016 issue of Angels on Earth.
8 Allergy Myths and Facts You Need to Know
Allergies are a constant nuisance for those who suffer from them. The itchy eyes, runny nose, inflammation and irritation are enough to drive even the most adventurous among us inside, away from the pollen, grass and other triggers. The best way to be prepared for allergy season (and to combat them year-round) is to be educated on the causes and treatments for those pesky flare-ups. We spoke with Dr. Clifford Bassett, spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, to get the truth about allergies and debunk some harmful myths surrounding them.
7 Ways to Shake a Bad Mood Instantly
Woke up on the wrong side of the bed today? Sometimes a bad mood creeps in out of nowhere. Other days, work, family and world events can be so overwhelming it feels like optimism and joy are far out of reach.
You’re not alone. Bad moods can get the best of any of us from time to time. Thankfully, there are easy ways you can change your mood.
Here are seven easy tips to get into a better mood.
1) Replace negative thoughts with positive ones
We can make our situations worse by dwelling on negative thoughts. When these thoughts come creeping in, stop them immediately by replacing a negative thought with a positive thought. “It’s never going to get any better,” becomes “It won’t be this way forever.” “Bad things always happen to me,” becomes “What lesson can I learn from this situation?” “I wasted the whole day,” becomes “I still have 5 more hours left to make today a great day!”
2) Find a happy place
Once you realize you’re in a mood you need to shake, start by going to your happy place. If you’re able, get out into nature and breathe the fresh air. If not, keep a photo on your phone or computer of a beautiful, favorite place and take a moment to imagine yourself there. What’s the weather like? What does the air smell like? What are you doing while you’re there? How does being there make you feel? You’ll instantly feel calmer, lost in the daydream or the memory of your happy place.
3) Pick up a coloring book
Yes, coloring books are good for adults too! A 2005 study found that when subjects colored mandalas—intricate geometric patterns, as opposed to simple doodling—their anxiety levels dropped significantly. Like meditating, coloring helps adults focus on the present and clear your mind. So grab your kids’ pack of Crayola and go to town on an adult coloring book.
4) Get some exercise
Exercise releases endorphins, which help you feel energized and happier. It also increases your chances of a creating a healthier and steady sleeping pattern—a necessary part of maintaining a good mood. Make sure you take some time to exercise regularly, depending on your physical ability. If you’re able, take some time to go for a walk outside or hit the gym. If exercising regularly isn’t possible for you, a new study shows a hot bath can have similar results to hitting the gym.
5) Practice self-care
Whether it is going for a coffee at your favorite café, enjoying a bath, or catching a movie in the theatre or on Netflix, make sure that once a week you schedule some “me” time. Decompress and recharge your mind, body and spirit. That may mean waking up even earlier, going to bed even later, or getting less done for other people during the day, but you deserve to take a mental break, regularly. So prioritize the time you need to recharge.
6) Spend time with animals
A 2001 study found that pet ownership helped people with high blood pressure decrease their levels of stress. Take some time to play with or cuddle your pet or a neighbor’s. You can also visit and volunteer at your local animal shelter to get some time with a pet that’s sure to boost your mood.
7) Practice gratitude
When you feel a negative attitude taking over, shake it off by listing 5 things you’re grateful for. Whether it’s the rare bit of easy traffic on your way to work or the break in the weather, you won’t have time to harp on the negative things because you’re so busy being grateful.
7 Ways to Get Out of Debt Now
In 2007 I was a newlywed college student who had just returned from a honeymoon in the Caribbean thanks to Mastercard. Upon our return from the sunshine, my husband and I sat down and decided to practice being adults by outlining a budget. The numbers stopped us in our tracks. We were barely making ends meet. And we had debt. Lots of it.
Debt is not the most blissful way to begin a marriage, but, I suspect it’s a reality for more than just us. With roughly $85,000 owed towards our educations and various creditors we were at the bottom of what felt like Mt. Everest. The question was, do we start the difficult trek up now or do we ignore our financial mess and let it poison us later?
In the 3 years that followed, we significantly changed our money habits. Many of our changes were thanks to what we learned in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University course. Bottom line, paying off debt is all about sacrifice. Spending less allows you to pay off more, more quickly. And we committed to that. For 36 months, we chose to rough it in order to find financial freedom.
If you’re feeling the effects of your own debt mountain, trust me, I can easily recall the stress of your circumstances. Debt binds you and instills fear and worry. The “freedom” that credit and low interest provide in the beginning later turn out to be the very shackles that keep us from fulfilling our dreams. Without debt, what would you do? Would you travel more, work less, help out a family member, buy something you’ve been wanting without guilt? Paying off debt and working towards debt freedom opens all those doors. And that’s why I’m excited to share 7 ways you can start paying off debt now.
1) Save $1000 and Then Cut Up Your Credit Cards
Saving what Dave Ramsey calls an “emergency fund” gives you the cushion and peace of mind you need to start living on a ruthless budget. Cutting up your credit cards eliminates the crutch that could put you into more debt. To move towards debt freedom you have to change your perspective of money. Credit cards don’t save you, they hinder you. Say goodbye to them.
2) Have a Plan
You might need to take a class or meet with a financial advisor (one who isn’t trying to sell you something) to really get the debt-pay-off ball rolling. Do what you have to do to make a plan AND EXECUTE IT. From the very beginning, we knew that if we could save or earn an additional $1000 a month we would be out of debt in 4 years. Thanks to our daily sacrifices, job changes, and a small inheritance we beat our goal!
3) Get Savvy About Your Utilities
It takes a little time, but shopping around for the best prices on cable, internet, and phone can save you hundreds each month. Maybe even consider giving up cable or your fancy phone for a time.
4) Reign In the Food Budget
Food is a necessary expense, but there are many ways you can reduce how much you spend each month. Kick off meatless menu days (meat is one of the most expensive things at the grocery store), learn to coupon, grow your own produce, buy in bulk when it makes sense. One thing that was huge for our family was cutting the amount of money we spent on beverages. My husband gave up soda, I cut my morning juice habit, we rarely if ever bought alcohol, and we drank drip coffee brewed at home. Basically, water became our best friend and we paid off debt with what we would have otherwise drank.
5) Become a Seller
I’d venture to say that half the things you own, you don’t need. If you think you can sell one item a week and put that money towards debt, I’d say, “Go for it!” Between Craigslist, Offer Up, and eBay I’ve learned the ropes of earning extra income in a jif. My favorite tip though? If you have something to sell, post it on your Facebook page with a family/friends price. There is nothing better than selling to someone you already know and trust.
6) Learn To Say No
No, we can’t go out to eat, but we’d love to get together for homemade pizza. No, we can’t go to the movies on Tuesday, but if you’d like to join us for a Redbox, we’ll pop the popcorn! No, we aren’t going on vacation this year, but our kids are sure looking forward to setting up the tent in our backyard for a few nights. Saying no doesn’t mean you’re giving up all the fun, it just means you’re teaching yourself to have fun without spending a ton of extra money.
7) Forget What Others Think
You don’t drive the nicest car? Who cares. You exercise outside or at home with a YouTube video instead of at a fancy gym? Not a problem. Your Christmas looks meager compared to others? Um, is that even what Christmas is about? Keeping up with the Joneses is so last year. Paying off debt? That’s what is cool these days! Do it now and do it with a smile on your face. Adulting is hard, delayed gratification isn’t always fun, but the rewards are great and you are worth planning for a future with less money stress.
7 Ways to Fast According to the Bible
Fasting is enjoying a renaissance. From churches starting the year with a Daniel Fast to the growing popularity of Lent, fasting has entered the mainstream. But what is the purpose of fasting? Are there benefits to fasting? And where did it come from? How do you fast according to the Bible?
READ MORE: 10 Inspiring Bible Verses for Fasting
Fasting is an ancient practice, and almost every major religion features fasting in some way. In the Bible alone, fasting is mentioned upwards of 70 times, as a way to pray, petition God or express grief. It’s important to note that you should consult with a medical doctor before fasting to ensure you do so in a healthy way.
Here are a few examples of fasting in Scripture. They can help you learn how to fast according to the Bible.
1. Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness
Matthew 4 records Jesus “being led” into the desert where he fasted for forty days. Luke 4 gets more specific saying Jesus “ate nothing during those days.” While abstaining from all food for 40 days is probably not a realistic or healthy option for most people, the idea of setting aside 40 days to fast and pray is at the heart of Lent. It’s interesting to note that it was after Jesus’ period of fasting that he began his ministry. Some scholars suggest this time of preparation was essential for his future tasks.
2. Moses Receives God’s Instructions
Moses also did a 40 day fast. God instructed him to chisel two stone tablets and come to the top of Mount Sinai. Exodus 34:28 says, “, “Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.” It was during this time that God instructed Moses to record the ten commandments.
READ MORE: 7 Lent Bible Verses for Reflection and Guidance
3. Esther’s Three-Day Fast on Behalf of Her People
When Esther’s cousin Mordecai pleaded with her to go before her husband, the King, to save the Jewish people, she knew it was a dangerous task. She instructed Mordecai to:
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
The King heeded Esther’s plea and spared the Jews. Esther 9 records that Queen Esther instructed the Jews to fast for three days each year to celebrate their rescue. Today, this celebration is known as Purim.
4. Daniel is Tested
The Bible mentions two times Daniel turned to fasting. In Daniel 1, when Daniel entered King Nebuchadnezzar’s court, Daniel asked a guard to, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” The guard was so impressed with how healthy Daniel and his friends looked after the ten days, that he changed the diet of the whole court.
Later, after receiving a vision from God, Daniel was so overwhelmed that he embarked on a three week fast.
Daniel 10:3 says, “I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.”
READ MORE: How to Observe Lent in a Different Way This Year
5. Ezra and the Israelites Fasts for Safety
When Ezra and the Israelites were journeying to Jerusalem, they were at great risk for being robbed and ambushed along the way. Before setting out, Ezra “proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”
Their prayers were answered. Ezra 8:23 says, “We fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”
6. Jesus’ Teaching on Fasting
Jesus did not tell people to fast, in Matthew 6, He gave the disciples very specific instructions on how not to fast, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”
7. Fasting as the Foundation of the Church
The New Testament records several examples of fasting, one of the most prominent being when God chose Paul and Barnabas as missionaries. Acts 12:2–3 says, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
On their trip, Paul and Barnabas chose leaders for new churches and “with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord” (Acts 14:23).
Now that you’ve learned how to fast according the to Bible, think about how you will spend your own fast. What lessons will you pull from Scripture? What lessons will you learn in your fast?
READ MORE ABOUT FASTING AND LENT:
7 Ways to Boost Your Positive Self-Talk
What is Positive Self-Talk?
Positive self-talk practice of replacing negative thoughts with affirmations, prayers and more optimistic approaches to stressful situations and challenging life events. These negative thoughts can be limiting statements, harsh language, and self-criticism Positive self-talk is simply being able to reframe the narrative, to take stock of your own inner monologue, and evaluate whether it’s helping or hurting your overall outlook on life.
READ MORE: 12 Positive Habits You Can Start This New Year
Research has shown that more positive self-talk can increase your mood, strengthen your relationships, and boost your confidence. Who doesn’t want all of those things in the new year? Here are some seven tips for practicing positive self-talk:
1. Identify Patterns of Negative Self-Talk First
The first step in perfecting positive self-talk is to measure just how big of a problem negative self-talk is in your life. We all beat ourselves up from time to time, but if critiquing yourself has evolved into constantly self-sabotaging your own confidence, that inner monologue might be the reason you feel lonely, depressed, and unmotivated.
Generally, negative self-talk falls into a few categories. Personalizing is when you blame yourself for everything that goes wrong. Polarizing is when you create non-existent sides, i.e. everything is either good or bad, right or wrong. Magnifying is when you choose to only focus on the negative of a situation, often making it worse in your mind than it might be in reality. Catastrophizing is when you always expect the worst to happen in any situation. Once you’re aware of these categories, it’s easier to label your personal brand of negative self-talk and take steps to address it.
It’s also key to identify the situations, people and events that might spark more negative self-talk. If you don’t feel confident in your public speaking skills, for example, a presentation at work might trigger negative thinking.
Checking in with yourself, especially during difficult times, will help you pinpoint what form your negative self-talk takes, making you more prepared to snuff out those unhelpful thoughts.
2. Craft Positive Affirmations Instead
There’s a reason so many people love creating vision boards, especially at the start of a new year. They fall into the category of positive affirmation, which is when you reinforce the good in your life by constantly reminding yourself of it. That might mean sticking to a couple of go-to statements to boost your confidence when you’re feeling low. It might look like slapping post-it notes with inspiring messages in places you’ll be sure to see them daily. Or it might help to create vision boards, filled with images and sayings that you can turn to when you need to be reminded not to engage in negative self-talk.
3. Turn Limiting Statements Into Questions
Self-limiting statements like “I can’t do this” or “It’s impossible” are notorious for creating more stress in already-stressful environments. What’s worse? They can convince you to give up trying to fix a problem because you’re defeated before ever even attempting to solve anything. Instead of responding to challenges and adversity this way, turn those statements into questions. “How can I accomplish this?” “What can I do to make this possible?” By reframing the statement into a question you automatically set yourself and your abilities up as the answer, which will empower you to tackle the problem head-on.
4. Start Journaling Your Self-Talk
Don’t think of this kind of self-talk journaling as a chore. Instead, when journaling to address negative self-thoughts, the focus should be on recording the inner-chatter when it becomes obvious to you. That might mean carrying around a notebook and jotting down negative thoughts whenever they arise. It might mean taking written stock of your day once it’s over. Or it might mean chronicling a situation that felt particularly stressful to you, breaking down what happened, how you handled it, and how you felt afterward, before coming back to that entry later to reflect on what you could’ve done differently.
Whatever form of journaling fits your lifestyle is what you should try when combating negative self-talk.
5. Try Changing Your Perspective
Much like turning self-limiting statements into questions, changing your perspective involves stepping away from a situation and re-centering yourself. Some experts even suggest addressing yourself in the third person when doing this, because we tend to be more forgiving of others than we are of ourselves. So, instead of thinking “I ruined that dinner date” or “I messed up that presentation” come at the problem from an outsider’s perspective. “Why does [your name] feel like she ruined dinner?” “What about the presentation made [your name] feel like he didn’t perform well?” Some distance can help bring focus to the situations that inspire negative self-talk.
6. Practice Meditating
Meditating is helpful in so many aspects of life, but when it comes to perfecting self-talk, it can be an especially useful tool for creating positivity and reducing stress. When we talk about meditating in terms of self-talk, this might just mean taking five minutes to back away from a stressful encounter or a particularly rough day to check in with yourself. Close your eyes, focus on your breathing, clear your mind, and be at peace with yourself. For some, meditating for longer intervals, more regularly, or while practicing guided imagery—when you create peaceful scenarios to help calm your mind—might do the trick, but if you’re just starting out or if meditating doesn’t come easily to you, try committing five minutes to sitting with yourself and tuning into your body’s natural rhythm.
7. Ask for Help
For some, perfecting positive self-talk means seeking help; not only to identify patterns of negative self-talk but to address why they seem to be controlling your life. This could mean you need the guidance of a professional—a therapist or psychiatrist—to navigate any issues, but it could also just require you to confide in someone you trust: a friend, a family member, a co-worker. Telling someone about your negative self-talk patterns and your goal to practice positive self-talk instead will keep you accountable and give you a safety net if you ever struggle on your journey.
7 Ways to Be More Resilient
The whole thing had caught me off guard. The auto repairman I’d long trusted, had done good work in the past and always treated me fairly, duped me. He took off with my money and my car parts, never to be seen again.
It split my heart wide open. My virtues—my trusting nature, belief in the goodness of people and the wonder of the world at large—had made me vulnerable. I’d bounced back from worse events, but this one somehow had me in its grip. A long look inside, however, taught me new lessons in the power and protection of resilience. I hope what I learned will help you, too.
1. It’s our reaction to tough times, not the tough times themselves that write our life story. I recalled a comment from my earlier years that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. That’s resilience in a nutshell. I wanted this momentary trial to become a triumph so I revisited circumstances in my past that with God’s help I had pulled through—challenging surgeries, completing nursing school under duress, the decade when both my parents battled bone cancer. There was strength there, that I hadn’t begun to tap.
2. Seek peace. As Sheila Walsh once said: “Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ.” This mental shift gave me strength and kept my eyes on things above. When I chose peace, I no longer relived my shortcomings and my trust in others was no longer in tatters. It was also a huge step toward more resilience.
3. Open yourself up to community. At times like this, it’s important to stay connected to people and not be afraid to ask for help. As I heard others’ stories, those also snookered by this car repairman, I didn’t feel so alone. Opening my heart and mind to the resources all around me was a lesson from the very heart of God.
4. Look for opportunities to grow. It’s important that we never stop growing and learning. I needed to learn to trust my own instincts, as much as I trust others. While dealing with the car repairman, I experienced a strong gut feeling that something was amiss. There were many unanswered questions and unquestioned answers. But I ignored them to my own peril. The American designer, Eleanor McMillen Brown, taught her young charges that when one thing changes, rethink everything. Great advice for interior design and in becoming a more resilient person.
5. Reach down deep inside. When I finally opened myself to my own power, I discovered things I didn’t know I knew about myself. For starters, I looked at the place I call home, an old log cabin I’d named The Leaning Log. As I recounted the thrifty finds I’d reimagined, I realized I had a gift for making do and making over. The thought of it snuggled up in my spirit. I could, and would, do the same whenever life threw me a curve. I also took a hard look at how I could become even stronger in the future. Resilience isn’t something we’re born with, but if we believe in ourselves, can be learned and enhanced.
6. Stay focused of the long-term. A failure is merely one way of not doing something. As I moved toward a more resilient life, I celebrated each tiny step and built on them. I remained confident in my ability to become a victor instead of a victim.
7. Know what you can count on. A faith-filled life is one that never really lets us down. I believe there’s nothing like finding a way to reach out to God that complements one’s personal communication style. That vehicle may be a nature walk, journaling or meditating in a favorite chair with a cup of tea. But it connects us to the greatest strength of all. As I asked God to put the fight of resilience inside my spirit, I sensed that times of adversity help us build our capacity for bouncing back and finding deeper purpose and meaning in every day. It helped me develop a guiding mantra and to repeat it to myself often. I vowed that when life threatens to break me, I would create art with the pieces.
To be sure, adapting these lessons when things don’t go well doesn’t mean we don’t face hurdles. But this I do know. An ever-faithful God is calling us to leave behind our regrets and mistakes toward a more resilient, abundant life.
7 Ways Church Can Make You Happier
A Pew Research Center survey released earlier this year made the discovery that “people who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged” than people who don’t attend or aren’t part of any congregation.
Pew polls are great. They’re thorough, trustworthy and exhaustive. In this case they studied not just the United States but 25 other countries representing a wide variety of religions.
After reading the data I had to ask myself, “How does church make me happier?” What is it about regular church attendance that is so crucial to my well-being?
1) Church is a social network.
As Jesus said to His disciples, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” He understood how we find and experience the love of God in community.
To buy a copy of Rick’s latest book, Prayer Works, click here.
2) Church offers support.
In the 30-some years that my family has been part of a congregation, we’ve had milestones to celebrate and trials to endure. Our church family has always been there with phone calls, hospital visits, cakes, cards, casseroles and many prayers. You couldn’t put a price on support like that.
3) Church gives you purpose.
Happiness thrives when you have a sense of purpose, when you know what life is for. Isn’t that what I get week after week, sermon after sermon, class after class, studying one Scriptural passage after another?
4) Church reaffirms healthy habits.
The U.S. was one of the few countries cited in the Pew survey where being part of a congregation made people healthier. They were certainly far less likely to drink excessively or smoke. I also thought about the many 12-step groups that meet in church basements. The members might not be part of the congregation, but they come for healing.
5) Church is a place to sing.
Sad songs help us process our emotions, and joyful songs make us smile. Nobody expects perfect singing in our church. Making a joyful noise is good enough.
6) Church fosters inner healing.
Whenever we gather as a congregation we say the Lord’s Prayer. We ask for God’s forgiveness and offer forgiveness for the things done to us. God understands the corrosive power of unaddressed anger. Again and again, we’re shown a way to put it to rest.
7) Church can change your point of view.
Jesus didn’t leave behind any books or establish any system of governance. But He reminded His followers that we could always find Him in community. In over 2000 years we have done that, growing in faith in congregations around the world.
7 Tips for Transitioning Back Into Civilian Life
Today’s guest blogger is Debbie Simler-Goff.
Whenever I speak to the Comprehensive Work Therapy Group (CWTG) at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, I show a family picture of my son, Jeremy, in his First Calvary uniform fresh out of boot camp with my son-in-law Shane, in his Marine Corp blues.
As I speak to these military servicemen and women who are trying to re-enter civilian life, the picture demonstrates that I’m not just another person from the professional world come to give them tips on how to get a civilian job. Instead, I’m one of them. I’m a military mom, and I understand the transition they’re going through and how difficult re-adjustment can be.
Read More: Ballet Eases Iraq Veteran’s Anxiety
Life’s transitions are never easy. But a soldier’s transition to being a civilian again is even more complex. The military invests an enormous amount of time and resources in preparing a soldier for battle, but comparatively little in helping that same soldier transition back into civilian life. There are some programs in place, but it’s important to remember that the rest of the family is also working toward a return to normal life.
Here are 7 tips for re-adjustment to help you and your soldier:
1. Educate yourself on the difficulties your soldier may face during the Re-Adjustment period. This tip sheet from the VA is a good place to start: Common Challenges During Re-Adjustment.
2. Establish or maintain your spiritual disciplines. This will keep you operating out of the best side of yourself and will flood your home with God’s peace.
3. Establish morning and evening routines with your soldier–especially if you have children. Structure is familiar and comforting to your soldier so even something as simple as bringing him or her their morning coffee, or reading the paper together in the evening is helpful.
4. Be flexible. Remember you both are adjusting to a new normal.
5. Lower your expectations. Both of you have changed over the course of a military career. Allow for missteps and misjudgments.
6. Give yourself permission to cry. Change is hard.
7. Rely on the unchanging God. “I am the Lord, I change not…” (Malachi 3:6)
Being reunited is a time for joy. Remembering that even good change can bring challenges helps manage our expectations as we once again come together as a family.
Debbie Simler-Goff is the mother of a Purple Heart Veteran, We Honor Veteran’s Chairman and a hospice bereavement coordinator.
7 Tips for Coping With the Emotions of Caregiving
Home Instead Senior Care interviewed more than 1,000 family caregivers and found that most, like Marilyn Strube, experience a wide range of emotions, from love and accomplishment to resentment and being overwhelmed. It’s normal for major life events to bring conflicting feelings. People tend to hide emotions they think are negative. But anger and frustration are just as natural as joy and love, and you have a right to feel how you feel.
In fact, it only stresses you out more to keep emotions buried. Caregivers who hide their feelings are more likely to suffer fatigue, high blood pressure and depression, the interviews showed. Here’s how to cope with the emotions of caregiving:
Acknowledge all your feelings. Remember, there are no good or bad emotions; there are just emotions. Maybe 30 percent of what you feel is anger, 20 percent is guilt and the rest is love.
Get practical spiritual advice for everyday challenges in Spiritual Remedies
Find an outlet. Vent to someone nonjudgmental who is not a family member— a therapist, a pastor, a friend.
Keep a journal. Write down everything you’re feeling. Do you need to hold on to these feelings? Or is that holding you back?
Join a support group. Share your story with others. Support groups are condition-specific (if you’re looking for resources on a particular disease) or relationship-oriented (if you want to talk to other family caregivers). No group in your area? Try an online forum (look on caregiveraction.org).
Take breaks every day. Even if it’s for 15 minutes here and there, do something you enjoy that’s not related to caregiving. Listen to music, watch your favorite show, exercise, read, go to church, visit a museum, get together with friends.
Set up respite care. You need time to recharge. Can family, friends or volunteers from your faith community fill in for a few hours every week? Or use the respite locator at archrespite.org. If you’re considering professional respite care, contact Home Instead Senior Care at (866) 996-1085 or homeinstead.com/guideposts for a free consultation.
See your loved one through new eyes. Listen to him or her as though you’ve just met. Pretend you are strangers who don’t have any history together. Try this for 24 hours. You’ll come away with a new appreciation for your loved one. And vice versa.
For more tips and resources for family caregivers, visit caregiverstress.com.
10 Things You May Not Know About Saint Valentine
You know the Valentine’s Day traditions: giving candy, roses, and greeting cards. But how much do you know about Saint Valentine, the man who inspired this day celebrating love? While details about his life are hard to confirm, discover a few surprising facts about the saint (or saints) behind the celebrations.
7 Things You Can Learn in Hard Times
I’ve never heard of anyone attending a “Congratulations on Your Difficult Times” party before. Maybe that’s because job losses, health situations, messed-up family relationships and disappointments are just plain hard to face.
So how can we cope when we’re reeling from the pink slip we’ve just received, or we’ve just gotten one of “those” phone calls from the doctor, or we’re grieving the loss of a loved one?
Here are some things God’s shown me when I’ve taken one of those unplanned—and unwanted—journeys:
1. I am never alone when I go through hard times.
2. His grace is sufficient. It will be there when I need it.
3. He will provide all that I need.
4. What I learn from those dark days isn’t wasted. God can use me if I’ll let Him.
5. Even when I don’t understand what God is doing, I can still trust Him.
6. Hardships draw me closer to Him in a way that often doesn’t happen when times are good.
7. Hugs, cards, a casserole or dessert, or some heartfelt words go a long way to help soothe a breaking heart.
Have you ever been reading your Bible and felt like God put a spotlight on a verse? That’s what happened recently as I read Psalm 119:71, “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.”
Wow, I’d never thought of it like that before, “My suffering was good for me.” That phrase was a sweet reminder that God has a purpose in all that He does. And if He has a difficult circumstance for me to go through, I’d be foolish to complain about it.
Lord, during difficult moments in life, help me learn the lessons you want me to learn. Help me find the nuggets you want me to discover. And when I get to the end of those hard times, help me look back and see how those days of suffering were truly good for me. Amen.