When Light Dawns: Daily Reflections on Advent and Christmas for Lyme Warriors Devotional
November 29, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has delivered a massive blow to the world and it’s people. In terms of financial impacts, many businesses have been forced to close their doors for extended periods. Entire countries are facing significant losses and while unemployment continues to rise, there are more hardships expected on the horizon. It’s also fair to say that the pandemic could have impacted various aspects of your health. This goes beyond the effects that you could have suffered from if you contracted the virus. It’s important to explore these health impacts and take the right steps to improve your wellbeing.
Mental Health
You might have noticed changes to your mental health over the past few months. Researchers do believe that issues with mental health from depression to suicidal thoughts are on the rise and this is easy to understand. Humans are sociable animals. Without the right levels of socialization, we do experience mental health issues such as depression. That’s why it’s so vital that elderly individuals continue to socialize and interact with people through the later stages of their life. Of course, right now, it can be difficult to socialize effectively, but there are steps that you can take.
For instance, you might want to think about using the technology that is readily available to you. Using the latest technology, you will be able to set up video calls and group calls with friends or family members. You will be able to guarantee that you can still interact with those important to you, even if you are dealing with a second or third lockdown.
In terms of other issues with your mental health, you might find that you are struggling to keep your brain active. This could be an issue if you have been furloughed. One of the easiest ways to ensure that this won’t be a problem is by setting out tasks through the day that will require active engagement. For instance, now could be the perfect time to start that book that you have been talking about writing for years.
Oral Health
Have you noticed that your gums have been bleeding more recently? This could be one of the first signs of gingivitis and it can eventually lead to tooth decay. To cope with this problem, you need to make sure that you are brushing your teeth, using mouthwash and of course, flossing. You should also make sure that you book a trip to see a dentist sooner rather than later. A caring professional dentist will understand your issues and help to work to correct them immediately. They also won’t judge you for letting your oral hygiene slip through the lockdown.
Sleeping Pattern
Sleep is a vital element of your health. Without the right level of sleep, you are going to struggle to get the energy that you need to function effectively through the day. There are a few ways to approach this issue. For instance, you might want to think about ensuring that you do set a schedule for yourself. It’s important that you stick to a time when you should wake up each morning and when you should go to sleep. If you don’t do this, then you might find that you struggle because you’ll be going to be later and later each day. Eventually, you’ll find that your sleeping pattern has gone off the track completely.
You should also ensure that you are staying active throughout the day. If you’re stuck at home, it’s easy for exercise to fall to a low point on your list of priorities. However, exercise can be a great way to stay healthy. Exercise will get your blood pumping through your body which will benefit your muscles as well as your mind. If you are struggling to find the motivation to exercise, then try listening to music. This can help you feel more invigorated and ensure that you are ready to workout the right way.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key impacts that 2020 could have had on your health and your general wellbeing. By taking the right steps, you can improve your health and ensure that you are looking after yourself more. It’s fair to say that the world as a whole is dealing with a new normal. It’s unclear when, if ever things will return to how they previously were. However, by being proactive and taking the right steps you can still improve your health and ensure that you do not succumb to some of the greatest impacts of this pandemic.
Bad days happen to everyone, but we don't have to let them stop us in our tracks. In fact, there are plenty of actions that can help us transform a disastrous day into a wonderful one. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Remind yourself of your values
Goals are all well and good, but you aren't going to hit them every day. In fact, being too goal-driven means you can speed through life without ever really being present. It can also mean that you put yourself under a great deal of pressure as well.
Instead, why not try living by your values? Those things that you hold dear. In fact, we can live by our values much more consistently than we can achieve finite goals all the time.
Of course, to do this, you will need to first identify those values that drive you — something you can do by watching the video below. Also, another advantage of living in this way, we can remind ourselves of our values when we are having a bad day. Then recommit to these and redirect a less than ideal day into a much more meaningful experience.
Take a minute for yourself
Sometimes all we need to turn a bad day around is to take a little time for ourselves - a time where we do less and get in touch with what is happening in our minds and body more.
For some folks sipping a cup of coffee can do the trick, while for others, meditation or yoga can work wonders. Still, others will use tools like CBD oil or dab pens to help them to slow down and recenter themselves. Something that will enable them to re-enter the flow of their day with renewed motivation and focus.
Connect with a loved one
Connecting with loved ones is another wonderful way of changing the trajectory of a bad day. After all, speaking to those that love us most in life can provide some vital perspective. Indeed, we can be our own harshest critics, but communicating with someone that cares for us can remind us not to be unkind to ourselves.
Of course, another benefit of talking to a loved one is that you can express how you are feeling about your day. After all, it's important to never underestimate the cathartic power of being able to name the emotions that we are feeling and identify the reasons that we are feeling them.
Treat yourself
Finally, sometimes to turn a bad day into a good one, all we need is to be a little kinder to ourselves. A fantastic way of doing this is to give yourself a little treat like your favorite candy bar, some extra time on a beloved hobby or even permission to slump in front of the TV and watch our favorite show.
Other options include taking a long, hot bubble bath, playing a computer game, or even sitting down to read a beloved book. It's probably best to stay off social media though, as too much Facebook or Instagram might just make a bad day, worse.
Devastatingly, after getting numerous estimates and having numerous mold experts in to look at her home it has been found that there is mold throughout the entire downstairs and that everything in the downstairs (including furniture, cherished items, household items, family pictures, items in our father's office, etc. are completely ruined.
This has been an unexpected and devastating blow to our mom who has already suffered so much and will also cost a significant amount of money that is truly staggering. She has also been advised that this should be done immediately for the sake of health reasons and the amount of mold.
Over the course of the last year and a half so many people have asked for ways that they can practically help or support our mom. She does NOT know yet that we are holding this fundraiser for her and we would like to help offset the financial burden that she is facing with surprising her with this help which would be an incredible gift. The estimates for the entire project are near $50000 and we would like to help offset her costs and help with raising $15000.
We understand that there are so many people suffering and in the midst of this busy holiday season we appreciate your kindness in joining with us to help her. Please share this with those that know our mom and most of all we appreciate your support and love of our family over this last decade and the suffering journey that we have walked.
With grateful hearts,
Emily and Rebecca (Beth's daughters)
It is no secret that good oral hygiene is important. Not only can poor dental hygiene lead to tooth loss and infection, but it can also have a negative effect on your confidence and in turn, your mental health. After all, nobody wants to be embarrassed about their smile because it looks different from everybody else’s. We all deserve to feel comfortable in our own skin - and poor dental hygiene can get in the way of this.
Therefore, if you have felt uneasy about your smile for a long time - and even try to avoid smiling all together - it is important you seek treatment than can restore your pearly whites and bring an effortless smile to your face whenever you look in the mirror. Seeking treatment can also help manage any pain you may be feeling as a result of poor dental hygiene, such as toothache.
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
What is a Periodontist?
If you have suffered from gum disease or a similar condition, you may benefit from visiting a periodontist. Although they have the same qualifications as your regular dentist, a periodontist specialize in caring for your gums, and can therefore offer a more specialized form of treatment.
You may need to visit a periodontist if you have the following symptoms:
Receding gums
Bleeding gums (particularly after brushing your teeth)
Discoloured gums (pale in color, or bright red)
Sensitive teeth
Loose or ‘wobbly’ teeth
Persistent bad breath
Swollen gums
Tender gums
Pain when eating/chewing food
Photo by Rudi Fargo on Unsplash
What kind of treatments to Periodontists offer?
The services offered by periodontist will vary depending on the issues you are facing and the clinic you attend. Therefore, it is important that you take the time to research local periodontists to find your perfect match. For example, Nicky M. Hakimi is an Auburn Periodontics Expert, who provides a wide range of high-quality treatments, including:
Esthetic Crown Lengthening
Frenectomy
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Pocket Reduction Therapy
Bone Grafting Regeneration
Sinus Lift
Dental Implants
Periodontal Plastic Surgery
Single Tooth Replacement
Conscious sedation
When you get in touch with a Periodontist, they will be on hand to answer any questions you might have about the treatment they have on offer. During this stage, feel free to ask them as many questions as you’d like, especially if you are feeling particularly worried or anxious - they are experts in their field with years of industry experience and as such, will be able to put any of your worries to bed in no time at all.
You should also discuss with them your dream smile - what do you want it to look like? What changes would you like to see after you have completed your treatment program?
Are Periodontists expensive?
Dental treatments can be expensive, however, many periodontists will offer an affordable care plan that allows you to achieve your dream smile at a reasonable price. Be sure to discuss your options with them beforehand, and get in touch with your insurance to find out what kinds of treatments are covered by your plan.
There is no denying that violin lessons online present you with a great way to learn this instrument. Plus, more and more people have been learning new instruments online during the lockdown, as it has been a good opportunity to acquire a new skill.
The violin is one of the most magical instruments to play, and by learning online you will be able to learn at your own pace and enjoy lessons that are entirely catered to you. But, how do you make the most of these lessons? Read on to discover more.
Practice every day
Practising every day may seem like an impossible challenge. However, if you can only practice for ten minutes, so be it. The main thing is that you are practicing regularly. It is much more beneficial to do short online music lessons every day, as opposed to doing one long lesson on the weekend.
Look after your violin
It is important to take good care of your instrument. Whenever you are not playing, make sure you keep your violin in its case. The last thing you want is for it to be broken. This will mean that you need to buy a new one, and if this is something you cannot afford, you will not be able to do any music lessons online until you save up for a new one. Aside from this, after playing, remove any extra dust by wiping with a soft cloth. You should also loosen the bow before you put the violin away.
Make sure your lessons are tailored to suit you
Everyone has different reasons for wanting to learn to play the violin. There are some people who dream about being the next big thing in the music. However, there are then people who simply learn to play the violin for fun. There are then those who learn to play an instrument to help them with their overall wellbeing. This could be to help them with hearing problems, for example, as some of the most popular hearing aids today can be tuned for different activities and playing and listening to music can help you improve your hearing. There are then those who learn an instrument to help them with their overall happiness and to prevent bouts of depression. Therefore, it is vital to make sure your lessons are tailored to your overall goals.
Ask questions
Just because you are practicing online does not mean you cannot ask questions. A lot of websites will give you the ability to submit queries to dedicated musicians and tutors. Moreover, you can even submit recordings of you playing in some cases, and they can grade it for you. There are also plenty of online forums where violinists will be more than happy to assist.
Listen to violin music regularly
To get the most from your violin lessons online, it is important to listen to violin music regularly to develop your ear. This will give you some much-needed inspiration as well.
When you get to your 50s, you’re in the prime of your life. You should be ready to take on the world, and this means feeling fit and well. For many, they fear that age brings illness and yet it doesn't have to be that way as with anything, prevention is better than cure, and it makes sense to speak to the doctor before any issues are present!
Age doesn't have to mean illness for you, and whether you take on opticians appointments or a regular HIS appointment, you need to go beyond that and speak to your regular doctor to know what else you should be doing. So, with that in mind, here are some of the health tests that you should be getting over the age of 50!
Colon cancer screening is something that all over 50s should be aware of. No one wants to go for a colonoscopy, but if it could pick up something and potentially save your life, you need to grit your teeth and go for it. Any bowel changes should be watched for as you get older, and informing your doctor is vital so that you can get the help you need as early as possible. Intervention can change everything - especially as you get older.
Have you ever heard of the middle aged spread? A few extra pounds across the middle of your stomach is very normal for your middle age. You need to be careful of weight gain as you get older as it can put more pressure on your joints and make you susceptible for diabetes and heart disease.
Take care of your senses! If your eyesight is failing or you need help with your hearing, get the help you need and don't wait around. Your eyes and hearing can deteriorate quickly and you could use hearing aids and glasses to help with both.
Have you had a blood test lately to look at your blood sugar levels? Untreated diabetes is a killer and it can destroy your health entirely. It can lead to kidney failure and heart disease, and it can even lead to blindness. Don't let your blood sugar shoot up if you can help it!
Women need to book a mammogram when they turn 50. Regular breast screenings will prevent you from dealing with the risks of breast cancer. As we age, cancer is a shadow that hangs over us and our health, and a mammogram can help you to pick up any issues.
Vision tests are vital as you get older. Sight loss isn't just caused by age, though, but by things like cataracts. You need to ensure that you can see everything, as the struggle is real! Cataracts can lead to an operation and this can be scary. You can catch this early and get some help right away!
Health is important to keep an eye on and you need to think about keeping your health in check as you age. Being 50 isn't the end of life: it’s the beginning of adventure.
Happy Thursday friends! I hope that your week has been going well. It has been a busy week at school. If you missed my Instagram post (click HERE), then the school that I work at had to make the difficult decision to go to virtual learning and a stressful 48 hours later we embarked on this new adventure that will last through the Thanksgiving Break. I am grateful for the safety decision that my school made, but I deeply miss my students and it has been a struggle for all of us in this new adjustment. So we are taking things one day at a time and definitely appreciate your thoughts and prayers for all of us. In the meantime I appreciate your patience with the delay in a few blog posts in this unexpected change and season.
Today I am excited to share about a beautiful drive overlooking Lake Champlain that we took when we were in upstate New York back in October. Because we were up in New York for my grandmother's funeral we were observing COVID guidelines and had a delightful time following the guidelines and spending lots and lots of time out in the outdoors and in the Adirondack Mountains (which y'all know I love). One day we decided that we would take a drive up along Lake Champlain and it was simply gorgeous.
The lake and the mountains were alive and deep with color. It was so stunning and a beautiful fall day.
Villas are available across Turkey. There are some areas more in tune with vibrant metropolitan Turkey, such as Istanbul, but there are also a variety of villas in more sedate locations and beach resorts. Basically, there is something for everyone if you’re willing to search for it.
If you’ve decided that you want a specific type of property for sale in Turkey or you want to be in a specific location, then talk to agencies and find out what your chances are. If you’ve fallen in love with a place and want to relocate there then you may just have to wait for the perfect opportunity. However, when looking at property prices, make sure you compare rates for shipping and factor in all costs.
Villas are generally what people think of when they consider relocating to somewhere like Turkey. They have visions of open plan rooms with panoramic views and beautiful places to relax in the sun. This may be a dream, but that doesn’t also mean it can’t be your reality. People often choose to move to Turkey after spending time there in one way or another. It’s quite unusual to just wake up one day and decide you want to relocate to somewhere you’ve never been. However, Turkey can have that effect on some people. It’s a country with a wondrous history that captures the imagination, and it’s no wonder so many people fulfill their dream of moving there.
If you’re searching for property in the Aydin Province on the Aegean Sea you’ll land right in the middle of that history, with the Temple of Apollo and other ruins nearby. If you’re hoping to find villas for sale in Altinkum, for instance, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to experience ancient history, along with experiencing the other side of Turkey including beach resorts and the like. The same applies if you search for villas for sale in Didim, which is nearby. The history of this area cannot be underestimated and it leaves the passing tourist with a sense of reverence. Just imagine how it would feel to actually live nearby. If it’s your goal to immerse yourself in the culture of Turkey rather than just the resorts, then villas in this province could be perfect for you.
Kas and Belek are both situated in Antalya Province. Located on the southwest Mediterranean coast of Turkey, it is intensely popular with tourists and expats alike. For many, it sums up what they expect Turkey to be like, and, indeed, it takes over a 30% share of all tourists who visit the country. It’s the fastest-growing province in Turkey, partly due to the tourism boom and urbanization. As such, there are plenty of opportunities for property developers and plenty of properties to move into.
If you’re searching for villas for sale in Belek you may have been enticed by spending time there on holiday. It’s an excellent tourism hub with numerous five-star hotels to its name but it also has a few quirks. These include the fact that it’s a spa town renowned for its waters, along with its developing role as a center of golf. If you’re someone who particularly enjoys golf, then Belek may be the place for you. Villas for sale in Kas are popular, as are all other villages over that side of the province. It’s a quieter option with narrow streets and small, quiet cafes. It allows a different pace of life to Belek and its particular quirk is that it’s one of the best scuba diving locations in Turkey. There are over a dozen dive centers in the area so if this is something you’d like to participate in then definitely consider Kas.
Travelling is one of the most amazing things that you can do for your wellness, but just because travelling feeds your soul that doesn’t mean that it’s good for the rest of your body, like your skin and hair, for instance. A common issue that many travel addicts have is failing to take their beauty routines seriously as a result of travelling so much.
Of course, when you’re climbing a mountain in Peru, trekking through the Brazillian rainforest, or exploring the outback in Australia, your beauty routine isn’t exactly the first thing on your mind, is it? That being said, just because your beauty routine may not be at the forefront of your mind, that doesn’t mean that it’s not important.
If you want to make sure that not only does your skin and hair look good, but that it also feels good, then you need to take your beauty routine a little more seriously. Wondering how you can go about doing that? Below is a guide to some of the beauty must-haves that every travel lover needs to pack into their suitcase.
Image credit: Pixabay
Makeup essentials
When it comes to your makeup essentials for travelling, the key is to keep it your makeup bag light and minimalist. You only want to pack the bare essentials - there’s no point carting products around that you don’t need. The best products to take are light coverage products, such as concealer, a tinted moisturiser - with SPF protection of course, and a powder palette with blush, highlighter and translucent powder in it. These essentials will allow you to create a wonderfully fresh, natural look quickly and easily. You could also pack an eyeliner pencil, a lipstick shade you love, and a mascara wand.
Skincare must-haves
As for your skincare itself, it’s a good idea to pack a range of easy-to-transport essentials. These could include items such as moisturiser, cleanser, an exfoliating product, and facial cleansing wipes. A handy hack for ease when travelling is to pack solid versions of these essentials, instead of liquid ones. There are lots of companies that sell solid products like solid moisturiser bars, solid cleansing bars, and solid exfoliating bars. You can pack these in tins and not have to worry about leaks or product explosions occurring. They’re cost-effective and they’re good for the environment too.
Pack a wash bag
In regards to your shower essentials, it’s a good idea to pack them into a wash bag that is big enough to hold everything securely and is also waterproof so can be taken to the shower block with you. Some must-haves for your wash bag include shampoo and natural conditioner by Grahams Natural, shower gel or soap - soap can be easily transported in a tin and won’t burst as a shower gel tub can, and of course, a washcloth. If you don’t want to take full-sized versions of these, you can always opt to pack mini versions instead.
There you have it, a guide to some of the beauty essentials that every travel addict needs to pack before their next big trip.
