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Remember How Free it Felt to Be a Kid? Yeah… Let’s Tap Back into That!

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Live Free Quote Graphic

Live Free!

I recently caught myself over-fretting about something in particular (a hiatal hernia I have.. very minor but very bothersome). I allowed it to intrude on every single day. I could be having a wonderful, beautiful day with my grandbabies in the yard and my mind would turn to IT…

  • I wonder if I’m lifting too much today.
  • Should I eat more fiber?
  • Should I give up meat?
  • What’s that pain? Is it IT starting to act up?

You know the routine. Give your mental worry wart an inch and she will absolutely take a mile and a half. If you don’t catch yourself, you’ll find that you’re almost like a bird in a cage – and each bar is a worry your mind will not let go of.

Trick is, it doesn’t even have to be a health issue people become “caged by.” It can be weight, growing older, money (many a cage is built by this one alone!), etc.

What’s more, a lot of people build cages made up of bars they take from other people’s lives…

  • Oh man, should he lose weight… why DOES he eat so much?
  • She should absolutely stop dressing like she’s still in her 20s.
  • Why in tarnation does my son listen to that so-called music?!
  • If he wears a mask one more time in this store I’m going to scream.
  • Why do kids like to play video games? I never did!
  • etc etc etc etc…

Left unchecked, a cage is most assuredly built and the builder finds himself or herself caged like a parakeet that can’t taste freedom.

I caught myself one gorgeous afternoon while, ironically, watching a few birds in the tree. I thought of birds I’d seen in a zoo’s “Rain Forest” exhibition once and also in another part of the zoo, in smaller cages. I looked at the birds in front of me and thought, “How wonderful that they’re so FREE!”

At that moment (personally, as a Spiritual person, I believe the Holy Spirit nudged me), I realized that my ridiculous thoughts were caging me and keeping me from truly tasting the freedom I should be feasting on. Since that moment, whenever my mind wants to veer off into the land of “what if”s, I literally say (sometimes out loud, to my cats’ amusement), “No! I’m FREE from that cage!”

Let me tell you, friends, freedom feels beautiful and it is a very addictive feeling.

I’ve also used it in a few other instances, giving sweet FREEDOM to myself in other areas that could become problematic:

  • When I see someone so filled with hate and anger online, instead of fretting over them, I say a quick prayer for them and let it go… again, claiming the “freedom.”
  • When I find myself worrying about something on the world’s stage (of which I have zero control)… well, see above.

One of the things this experience has reminded me of is the feeling we had as children… every day was exciting and filled with wonder. We weren’t weighed down with any of the above nonsense. We were free – children simply aren’t into cage BUILDING… they’re into FLYING FREE.

We could learn a lesson or two from them. In fact, if you’re like me, you often have a word or two you take into a new year as your “focus word” for that year. I already know the word I’ll be carrying into 2023 and I highly recommend you pack it as well… FREEDOM.

Try it, you’ll love it.

This is a very short post and a very quick thought, but I was very anxious to share it with you because it has meant the world to me. In  fact, it has meant experiencing more freedom – and you cannot put a price tag on that. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Managing Bladder Inconsistency in the Elderly

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Most elderly experience some form of bladder inconsistency at one point or another. Many deal with it frequently. Bladder inconsistency is a subject that is not discussed despite being a common problem among adults. Whether the cause is arthritis, other age-related developments, or a degenerative disease, managing bladder inconsistency is possible. 

There are different methods for the severity of bladder incontinence, and finding one that works for you is key! Let’s talk about what we can do. 

Four Common Causes of Bladder Inconsistency

Understanding what is happening is a crucial part of treating bladder inconsistency. Here are four quick common reasons it could be happening. 

  1.  Arthritis and Developed Disorders

Age-developed disorders such as arthritis can cause functional incontinence, where someone may have trouble getting to the bathroom quickly enough. This is actually not a bladder problem but causes incontinence. 

  1.  Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles 

In women, weak pelvic floor muscles commonly cause leakage when sneezing, exercising, and doing daily activities. This is commonly due to giving birth and losing strength in those muscles. 

  1.  Alzheimer’s of Other Diseases

Alzheimer’s and other diseases are commonly classified as urge incontinence. Nerve damage results in an overactive bladder that makes you feel like you have to go a lot. Diabetes, Parkinson’s, a stroke, and a few more are common with this type of incontinence. 

  1.  Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladders result in the elderly having issues trying to empty them. This results in overflow and leakage. Diabetes can also be a factor in this type of incontinence. Doctors usually suggest insertable devices in this case. 

What Are The Options?

Here are the most common options that address all levels of incontinence. 

  • Women particularly struggle with this as their pelvic floor muscles weaken after birth. Premium absorbent underwear for women is a great way to tackle the problem. Protective underwear isn’t just for women, either. Men can find several boxer briefs and other solutions that are great for light to heavy incontinence. 

 

  • Approaching your lifestyle with health in mind is another chance to combat bladder inconsistency. Interestingly enough, diet and exercise can have a majorly positive impact even for the elderly. There are direct and indirect correlations, such as strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. This helps with bladder control. Indirectly, changing your diet can help improve mild cases. 

 

  • Medications and technology have developed over the years to help individuals with bladder incontinence. There are many common medications available now, such as tolterodine (Detrol), darifenacin (Enablex), oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), fesoterodine (Toviaz), solifenacin (Vesicare) and trospium chloride. Since elderly folks may be taking medication already, it is critical to consult a doctor for ultimate safety. 

 

  • Medication isn’t the only solution. Technology has developed a number of creams and devices that are useful for older adults. Some may make less sense than others. A catheter is a device that is inserted to help empty the bladder naturally and stop leakage. Options similar to tampons are another popular way to have absorbency. 

One Size Does Not Fit All

Regardless of the reason why incontinence has developed, not everyone will like or feel comfortable with each option listed above. It can take both some trial and error and an adjustment period. Some of the recommendations are less invasive than others. But sometimes, heavy incontinence flows require some extra assistance. 

The important thing here is to talk with a doctor and your loved ones to find a solution that doesn’t impair your daily life. The idea is to feel comfortable and confident that bladder incontinence will not stop you no matter where you go. 

WhatIf Foods and Their Planet-Positive Mindset: In Our Spotlight for Vegan Month!

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WhatIF Plant Milk

WhatIF Plant Milk

I’d like to share the press release below with you in honor of November being World Vegan Month! While I am not a vegan or vegetarian, I am very, very interested in sustainability and healthy eating. For these reasons, I find myself drawn to many of the same delicious products my vegan/vegetarian friends (and my beautiful daughter Brittany) are drawn to.

I have not, yet, tried WhatIF Foods, but when I do I will add reviews to the self help blog and let you know all about them! Although the press release says they are available on Amazon, I’ve been unable (personally) to find them. They are absolutely on the WhatIF Website and Cergular (linked to below). ~ Joi (“Joy“)

WhatIF Foods and Their Planet-Positive Mission

Press Release and image used with permission.

WhatIF Foods is a “planet-positive” food and beverage company like no other. Their brand philosophy centers around a simple query: “What if sustainability is not enough?”.  WhatIF Foods seeks to transform the agri-food industry by advocating the practice of regenerative agriculture and lifestyle principles and practices to revive nature, restore lands and provide for the community. WhatIF Food’s planet-positive approach is a call to everyone to adopt a way of life that’s regenerative instead of simply being sustainable.

WhatIF Foods has completely integrated regenerative practices into its entire manufacturing and supply chain to replenish and restore natural resources — all while seeking to deliver balanced and healthy diets to everyone through their various natural, plant-based products.

The brand specializes in the production of noodles and plant milk products from a unique and underutilized West African crop known as Bambara groundnut or BamNut. Their products are available on their website, Amazon.com and select online retailers such as Cerqular.

WhatIF Foods is the only company in the world to utilize the Bambara groundnut in convenient food formats for the mass market. Their plant-based instant noodles are sold at $12.50 a pack which contains 5 noodles, oil and sauce sachets and seasoning packets, all of which are free of palm oil, artificial coloring and flavoring. WhatIF Foods’ BamNut Milk is offered in retail at $5.49 a carton and comes in three variants — BamNut Milk Airy, Barista and Everyday.

The Bambara groundnut was found to have special regenerative properties that allow it to rejuvenate depleted soils, essentially allowing the planet to recover itself. This low-maintenance, yet highly nutritious crop is central to everything that WhatIF Foods stands for in light of its advocacy to promote a healthy diet while transforming the agri-food industry and promoting regenerative business and agriculture.

Their many initiatives and innovations in regenerative agricultural practices haven’t gone unnoticed. WhatIF Foods is a finalist in the 2020 Liveability Challenge and part of the 2020 MIT Solve Class.

WhatIF Foods operates beyond being a food and beverage purveyor. The brand’s ultimate goal is to create a generation of regeneration advocates — passionately inviting people from all walks of life to join the #REgeneration. Learn more about their work and join the movement through their website and Amazon.

 

Quotes of the Day: Because We Could All Use A Little Dose of Inspiration and Motivation…

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"Nothing Great was Ever Achieved Without Enthusiasm." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Nothing Great was Ever Achieved Without Enthusiasm.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

A while back I had a feature on the self help blog called “Quotes of the Day.” I’d post a great inspirational or motivational quote, along with a graphic (almost always starring an animal or two… what can I say… I’m a modern day Snow White, completely obsessed with animals).

Life gets pretty busy sometimes, causing us to often pull away from certain routines. Unfortunately, I dropped this one and simply never picked it back up.

Until now!

I was sitting and spending time with my beloved journal/planner this morning and was in the process of writing down my daily morning entries…

  • Bible verse of the day
  • Vocabulary word of the day (sign up at Dictionary.com!)
  • Quote of the day (one I pull from daily reading that inspires or motivates me)

It occurred to me just how much I enjoy having a particularly inspiring or motivating quote to carry around with me throughout the day and I thought of you.

Yes, you!

I want to make sure you have one each day for your pocket, to pull out whenever you need a little company. I will post them as often as possible on Mondays – Fridays, beginning today with a wonderful quote above from Ralph Waldo Emerson. My life is beautifully busy, so I doubt there will EVER be a whole week with “Quotes of the Day,” but I’ll try to get as many done as possible.

Have a wonderful, enthusiastic rest of the week! ~ Joi (“Joy“)

The Health Benefits of Green Tea (Time to Pour Another Cup!)

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Benefits of Green Tea

If you read a great deal about health and nutrition, you’re familiar with phrases such as  “…..could help reduce….,”  “….has the potential to….,”  “…might decrease your risk for…”  Writers and researchers have to pull out fence-riding words to protect themselves as well as their readers.

I perfectly understand that.  I keep a bag of fence-riding words by my desk.

Being familiar with the terminology makes me pay extra attention to the words used in health reports.  When a particular research produces data with clear cut facts, I sit up and take notice.

You may already know that my drinks of choice are coffee and tea. I drink at least 6 glasses of iced tea daily (a delicious assortment of raspberry, raspberry-peach, black, green tea..) as well as a mug of hot tea in the evening.

I believe strongly in the benefits of tea, so I feel even better about being such a fanatic.

I really love it when my love of health and nutritional information collides with my love for green tea.  And if you’ll notice in the information that follows, the words DO NOT ride a fence.

Green tea is known for being loaded with antioxidants and, of course, antioxidants are (in turn) are known for being loaded with many health benefits….

  • Lower your risk of heart disease
  • Help you lose fat
  • Protection against cancer
  • Improve your brain health

Green Tea Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease

In an issue of the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, researchers reported that people who drink green tea have better blood vessel function just 30 minutes later. Inside of an hour, your heart is already enjoying benefits.

For the study, researchers gave either green tea, hot water, or a beverage containing the same caffeine as green tea to a group of volunteers. The researchers measured the volunteer’s blood flow 30, 90, and 120 minutes after drinking their beverages.

After drinking green tea, the volunteers experienced significantly increased artery widening. The widening was evident after just 30 minutes. The other beverages (the caffeinated beverage and hot water did not produce any significant changes in the same individuals).

Read more about the health benefits of green tea on WebMD.

If you haven’t, yet, fallen in love with green tea, please give it another shot.

A Few Ideas to Help You Fall in Love with Green Tea:

  • Brew it yourself, then sweeten it with honey and lemon.
  • Add a little unsweetened fruit juice.
  • My favorite way to fix green tea: Combine your green tea bag(s) with bags of raspberry, peach, strawberry, or other berry teas. This combo is outstanding: Green tea, raspberry tea, AND peach tee. Trust me… it’s addictive.
  • Two words: Flavored Syrups (read about some of the absolute best flavored syrups for tea here)
  • Use the best bags of green tea – experiment until you find one you love (which means you’ll drink it!). My personal favorite is Tazo (Amazon link).

While on the subject of healthy eating (it couldn’t be more vital, you know), I’d like to share a few links with you: