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Helping Others: It’s Always the Right Time to Reach Out…

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It’s Always the Right Time to Reach Out and Help Others

While many things are returning to normal in many parts of the world, none of us are completely back to normal. In fact, for a lot of people, normal may look, sound, smell, and certainly feel different for quite a while.

Maybe forever.

Before you let that make you frown, realize that not all change is bad. In fact, some change can be a very good, positive thing.

What if we all come out of this pandemic more willing to reach out and help others than we have ever been willing before? What if the consideration and concern for our neighbors (very near and very far) that we’ve experienced and displayed lasts… well… forever?

I for one certainly hope so!

I have a great deal of correspondence with others through my e-mail and social media. I have noticed over the past year more of us are apt to sign off with things such as…

  • Stay Safe!
  • Be Well!
  • Best Wishes to You and Your Family!
  • Etc..

I also notice many greetings begin with..

  • I hope you’re well…
  • I hope you’re safe…
  • I hope you and your loved ones are well…

It didn’t used to be like this.

When I’m in stores and restaurants (still riding an emotional high that my favorite Mexican restaurant weathered this storm and is open for business!), I see people smiling at one another these days – the warm smiles aren’t just reserved for babies anymore! People seem to genuinely care for others post-pandemic than they did pre-pandemic and that’s something I very, very, VERY much sticks around.

Many people are struggling today – more, perhaps, than ever before. The pandemic introduced a lot of unpleasantness into our lives. Some unpleasantness we could SEE – lockdowns, less family visits, less income, arguments with family members who view the virus differently than we do, and a total upheaval in our daily lives. Other unpleasantnesses couldn’t be seen, but my goodness are they ever felt.

  • the anxiety that comes with coming face to face with your own vulnerability
  • stress from seeing, daily, others sick and suffering
  • being more aware of death than ever before… I mean, we were given daily numbers!
  • arguments within families due to more stress
  • broken relationships because of other’s views on the virus, masks, and vaccines

Make no mistake about it, this pandemic left its vile fingerprints on all of our lives.

It’s worth remembering that you don’t have to always be strong. You can cry when you darn well feel like crying! It’s okay to feel scared and I’m giving you permission to feel angry about the whole thing. Feel the emotions you want to feel and make no attempt to tell others how to deal with their feelings. We all cope differently and we all heal differently.

Finally, I’d love to encourage everyone to reach out and help others in any way possible. If you know someone who seems to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, either ask them what you can do to make the load lighter or (perhaps even better) step up and do something for them that helps lighten their load.

Ideas include mowing their lawn, giving them a gift card to their favorite restaurant (this way you help them and the restaurant), offering to watch their child/children while they treat themselves to a day out. Simply showing up to their house with a Starbucks drink for you and a Starbucks drink for them and sitting to talk with them for an hour may be just the tonic they (and you!) need.

Many are dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, and other emotional and mental strains right now. If you can be a blessing to someone, please don’t hesitate to do so. You may give them exactly what they needed to hang in there and keep fighting.

As a bonus, helping others makes you feel so good!

Stay strong, stay well, and stay safe. I truly care about each and every one of you. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Never Try to Be Someone You’re Not…. Be YOU!

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Quote About Being Yourself

Be Yourself… Always

Something that bumfuzzles and frustrates me nearly to the point of being speechless is when people try to be anyone and everyone except for the only one they’re meant to be… themselves!

Undoubtedly you’ve seen these birds, yourself…

  • The lady who posts pictures of herself from the gym (multiple pics from ONE trip, mind you), talking about how much fitness matters to her… calling herself a gym rat…yet you know, full well (and evidence will bear you out) she went the ONE time. She wants to appear to be fitness-minded when she really isn’t. Why?
  • The man who happens to be a night owl, yet seems convinced that everyone he’s trying to impress in the world expects him to be an early bird. So he shuts off the late night movie he happens to be enjoying, heads to bed, then drags himself out of bed at 5:00 the next morning, crowing to the world, “I’m up! I’m up! I’m UPPPPP! Look, Twitter… I’m up with the roosters!” Why?
  • The girl who really isn’t into name brands or even clothes for that matter. She’d much rather spend her money on books or toys for her dog…. but the “cool girls” wear only the most expensive jeans and she has to fit in, right? Why?
  • The college student who eats just like the rest of us, but thinks he’ll impress more people if he claims to be Keto. Why?

I think the answer to each why is the same – they aren’t completely comfortable in their own skin, so they want to slip into someone else’s skin. Sounds creepy.. and to an extent, it kind of is. Thing is, when people hop on social media and try to paint themselves in a certain way, they’re only making their own self image issues and lack of confidence worse. They’re creating a “them” that doesn’t even exist, so when they look at this fake image (like a false god from Old Testament times!)… there’s nothing there!

If you ever find yourself creating a dream scenario of yourself – stop before you even begin. If you’re eating a hamburger, own it! Say, “I’m eating a hamburger, and if you think that’s something, you should see the fries!”

Don’t like working out? Admit it, no one will hate you for it.  I haven’t attempted anything near a “work out” in 6-7 years, but best I can remember I hated it! If you want to let the world know what you’re doing – be honest about it. Sitting in your favorite chair, watching your favorite television show, give it a shout out. Reading a great author, recommend the book. THIS is the way you find like-minded friends and THIS is the way you learn to both meet and like yourself.

Think about it, if the people you’re so worried about impressing wouldn’t like or respect the real you…. why are you even wasting your time with them?


How to Survive Withdrawal: What You Should Know

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Stress Management for Withdrawal

by Sami A

Are you suffering from drug or alcohol addiction? Do you need help stopping your addiction habits? You’re in the right place.

Drugs and alcohol can change your brain’s chemical makeup and cause several physical changes that can be life-threatening when not addressed early. Regular use of mind-altering substances like alcohol or hard drugs can cause dependence to form.

Eventually, it becomes difficult to control the amount and frequency of substance consumption. It equally becomes a challenge to reduce or stop your drug abuse. And the lucky few who manage to kickstart the process have to deal with withdrawal.

So, how can you survive withdrawal and emerge victorious over your substance addiction?

Read on:

What is Withdrawal?

Before we delve into the substance withdrawal process, you must first understand what withdrawal is and how it affects your body’s chemical makeup.

Withdrawal is the combination of mental and physical effects that an addict experiences after they stop using or reduce the intake of a particular substance or substances. These could include recreational drugs, prescriptions, or alcohol.

According to Hollywood Hills Recovery, withdrawal (rehabilitation) not only detoxes the harmful substances out of your system but also removes the toxins from your mind. The withdrawal process can be a very traumatizing time in the addict’s life and that of his/her family.

If you’ve been using a substance with a high dependency potential, then suddenly stop taking it or cut down its use drastically, you may experience different withdrawal symptoms. The duration and intensity of withdrawal symptoms also vary widely, depending on several factors discussed in this post.

Withdrawal can be quite unpleasant and dangerous in some cases. That’s why this topic is particularly sensitive and requires assistance from a medical professional.

Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

The severity of drug withdrawal symptoms varies because of several individual factors, including:

  • The type of drug you’re using
  • How long you’ve been addicted to the substance
  • How much of the drug you’ve been consuming
  • Your general physical and mental state
  • How you’ve been taking the drug

Drug withdrawal symptoms also vary in two categories; physical and physiological withdrawal symptoms.

The physical drug withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue and exhaustion
  • Muscle and bone pain
  • Excessive sweating
  • Shaking and shivering

The physiological drug withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Confusion
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Irritability and agitation
  • Paranoia
  • Intense cravings for the drug

More severe addiction withdrawal symptoms may include rapid heart rate, extreme confusion, elevated body temperature, seizures, visual and/or auditory hallucinations, and uncontrollable shaking.

Identifying Withdrawal

You can recognize withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking or cut back on substance abuse. For example, missing your usual cup of coffee may result in caffeine withdrawal symptoms like headache, fatigue, and irritability.

Such withdrawal symptoms usually indicate dependence on a substance. We advise talking to a professional medic before you reduce or stop taking a drug. This is the best strategy to safely stop taking a medication or drug and minimize potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Your doctor will also know whether your symptoms are due to withdrawal of another condition.

What Causes Withdrawal?

Your brain and body are always working to maintain a balance of state (homeostasis). Taking drugs or alcohol changes this balance, forcing your system to adjust by changing the levels of some neurotransmitters.

These substances will trigger your brain’s reward system, forcing you to start craving the drug or alcohol.

Eventually, your body starts to develop a tolerance and dependence on the substance. At this stage, you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop taking the substance or reduce its consumption.

Withdrawal symptoms are usually the opposite of the effects of using the substance. A good example is alcohol, which is a depressant. If you stop taking it abruptly, you may start experiencing symptoms of overstimulation like restlessness or anxiety.

Treating Withdrawal

Treating withdrawal includes care, support, and medications to ease its symptoms and minimize or prevent possible complications.

With some drugs, you can stop using them abruptly and still manage their withdrawal symptoms. For example, you can quit caffeine without needing assistance to cope with the withdrawal symptoms until they pass.

However, quitting substances like alcohol or hard drugs abruptly could potentially be dangerous. In most situations, you will need medically-assisted withdrawal to ensure your safety while detoxing your system.

How to Cope with Withdrawal

Besides seeking medical support, you also need to cope with the withdrawal process to help you feel better during and after treatment.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Eat well
  • Exercise
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Get enough sleep
  • Use appropriate over the counter medications to relieve symptoms
  • Ask for help from a trusted friend or family member

Stress management activities like meditation and yoga may also help with the withdrawal process.

Don’t let fear prevent you from getting the help you need. Although drug or alcohol withdrawal can be a painful and dangerous process, it is necessary on your road to recovery. Remember, this is your second chance to bounce back from this point in your life.

Sami is the Professional Content Marketer. He writes a lot of articles in his career. His company provides various types of Digital Marketing services i.e. Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Social Media Optimization (SMO), Web design & development, Link Building, Outreach guest post, Content Marketing & blogger outreach.

Perspective Quote

 

Practice Tests Rule: Understanding Microsoft Certbolt AZ-104 Exam and Its Knowledge Requirements

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The role of an Azure administrator has been trending among the IT professionals for quite a while now. The reason behind this is that it provides the individuals with big benefits and advantages related to their future goals. It also grants them the pathways for more advanced credentials. To get this position, you need to pass one test that is Microsoft AZ-104. In this post, we will discuss this certification exam, which is an upgraded and improved version with the new track of obtaining the Microsoft Certbolt Certified: Azure Administrator Associate badge.

Understanding the Microsoft AZ-104 exam

Microsoft Certbolt AZ-104 is an upgraded version of the AZ-103 exam. This test is a new pathway to becoming a certified Azure administrator. It is created for those individuals who have knowledge of administering and managing Azure implementations. The candidates for the AZ-104 exam should be able to work with services for computing, implementing, virtual working, and monitoring in the Cloud-based environment. This is a very important test and passing it will get you well-positioned in the IT sector.

There are small details that you should know about any exam to understand its requirements. Therefore, let’s learn and understand the basic details as well as the knowledge required for the Microsoft AZ-104 test. Thus, you need to know the following aspects:

  • First of all, there will be about 40-60 questions in Microsoft AZ-104;
  • All the questions have different formats, such as multiple choice, drag and drop, active screen, etc.
  • The time duration for the test is 150 minutes;
  • Also, the passing score is 700 points (on a scale of 100-1000);
  • The exam fee is $165;
  • The registration process should be done via the Pearson VUE platform;
  • Lastly, the certification test can be taken in the English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean languages.

Before you can start preparing for the Microsoft AZ-104 exam, it is important to check if you have the required or recommended certificates to go for it.

Generally, to become an Azure administrator, one has to fulfill all the requirements before he or she can appear for Microsoft Certbolt AZ-104. The first fulfillment that should be done is 6 months of experience administering Azure workloads. The second requirement is familiarity in the core Azure services, workloads, security, and governance. This is because the job role of an Azure administrator involves making recommendations of the right services for attaining optimal scalability and performance.

The learners should also have advanced knowledge of operating systems, storage structures, Cloud infrastructure, networking, and virtualization. Moreover, the candidates for this test are required to be experienced in using Azure Portal, Command Line Interface, PowerShell, and ARM templates. You can learn Exam-Labs and all these required skills during your preparation process if you use various prep options, such as courses, books, exam dumps, and so on. You can also take the practice test offered by Microsoft certbolt to evaluate if you are conversant with what the exam covers before appearing for it.

Conclusion

Becoming an Azure administrator is really worth every effort and penny. It increases your job market value and enables you to gain role-specific skills through studying for the Microsoft Certbolt AZ-104 exam. So, don’t waste any of your time and start your preparation today!

Great Alternatives for Alcohol that Aren’t Soda

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Tea

Have you been thinking about making a positive impact on your life through cutting out alcohol, but haven’t figured out how what to replace it with?

While there are many great alternatives to alcoholic drinks, you might like to try something healthier than a sugar-filled option such as soda, so here is a quick list of ideas to help you get started on your journey to a better you.

Kombucha

If you want to learn how to quit drinking while also improving your health, then kombucha is a popular way to consume something that keeps you feeling cool without the destructiveness of a sugar-based soft drink, giving you the probiotics necessary for any healthy lifestyle.

Made from black or green tea, kombucha is a sparkling drink with antioxidants that adds a unique taste that younger drinkers have grown to love in recent years. The best part is you won’t have to worry about the intoxicating nature of other fermented drinks as a kombucha drink will not lead to drunkenness.

Nonalcoholic Beer

One of the great difficulties for many who are trying to rid themselves of alcohol in their lives is deciding if quitting cold turkey is the best method. If you are thinking about slowly cutting alcohol out of your life without dealing with drastic withdrawals, then you might want to consider looking into various nonalcoholic beers.

Although the name says nonalcoholic, that typically means they have less than 0.5 percent ABV, so it would be a great idea to find one of these drinks to help you quit drinking alcohol altogether without suffering from harsher detox methods. Thankfully, there are plenty of breweries out there to choose from and you’ll be sure to find one that suits your tastes.

Hawthorn Tea

One of the multitudes of reasons that many people start drinking alcohol in the first place is the way it makes them feel, so replacing alcohol with a healthier alternative often comes with the need to replace how it affects your mind and body from a physical standpoint.

Instead of consuming a glass of wine at the end of the night, consider getting something else on tap, such as Hawthorn tea, which helps the drinker feel relaxed without the drunkenness and long-term effects caused by beer and liquor.

Mocktails

Another reason that many people continue to consume alcohol despite their desire to quit is that there is a tremendous social aspect to drinking, as cocktail parties have been keeping people intoxicated for decades on end.

One simple solution is to replace those alcoholic cocktails with their nonalcoholic counterparts, cleverly called mocktails, which keeps those wonderful flavors and sparkly colored drinks without the liquor that you’re trying to avoid.

If you are trying to quit alcohol, but are having a difficult time finding the healthiest way to do so, then take your pick from this simple list as they are great alternatives to assist you on your way to sober living without the excess sugar.