I have been learning a lot in my grief support group. One of the things that hit me is the concept of guilt. We have all claimed to have felt guilty at some point in our lives. I have an overwhelming sense of guilt being my dad’s primary caregiver and having to give him the medications the last few days of his life that kept him comfortable, but also kept him asleep. While my rational brain tells me I did what was needed and what he wanted at the end, the irrational part asks myself, “What if I kept him from everyone?” Now I know that’s not the case, but it is something that has played with my mind.
So that is one example. Another might be you got the job promotion but your friend was passed over, or you are economically finding yourself in a better position than your friend or family member. Or, you got pregnant and your friend who has been trying for a long time, has not. You see where I am going?
Well the actual definition of guilt is the intent to do harm. Most things we feel guilty about do not fit this definition. So if we didn’t intend to do harm, what is this feeling? I am learning it’s fear. Fear of what other might think, fear that I am not worthy, etc..
So knowing this is really a fear based emotion and not true guilt, I have something I can work with. I can overcome my fear. And as long as I know I am truly doing the best I can and not intending to cause harm, I will be ok. It takes work, but I have to keep reminding myself I am worth it.
How do we navigate this? That hole that feels so big and ready to swallow me up in a moment. It’s overwhelming on any given day if I allow it. 7 months ago he left us. As I try to piece together the few short weeks of his illness and how we got here, I find myself overwhelmed with this thing called grief. I have irrational fears that someone else I love will leave, and that I will forget him one day. Is that why I hold onto this feeling? So I don’t forget?
People say it will take time. Time heals all wounds, time will restore us. But I don’t believe that. I don’t believe this wound will ever be truly healed. I do believe I will learn to live in this world without the constant presence of tears ready to fall. I will laugh without feeling awkward about it. I will find some peace and serenity with all this. But will I actually fully heal? No. This changed me. I left one person and came home another. Now I have to learn to reconcile the two. Happiness does return.
I still see his face in my mind’s eye. I still hear his last words to me before he fell into that deep sleep. I still feel his presence when I am quiet. Are these the gifts he is giving me to calm my fears? A promise that I will never forget him? I promised him I would tell our story one day. I would tell the story of our last weeks together. One day I will.
I have gone through pain in my life, some of it intense and straggling. This is the worst pain so far. I miss my dad. I miss his voice, I miss his looks. I miss his hugs. I miss our talks. I am happy he is no longer suffering. My sadness is all for me. But I will learn to live with it in time. God is on my side, and so is my dad. I grieve because I had the gift of love.
If you haven’t tried Ningxia yet, you really should! This drink is not only super delicious, but also super good for you, and we have the science to back it up. We recently discovered through new data just how powerful this beverage truly is. Learn what makes this nutrient-rich drink one of Young Living’s most popular products in our new video starring our resident expert, Dr. Mark Bartlett, our executive vice president of science and product development.
I drink an ounce a day and it has helped my body in so many ways. Digestion is better, energy levels are up, brain fog isn’t present, etc. It is filled with antioxidants, which we all need to combat free radicals from our everyday existence.
It has been clinically proven to:
Significantly increase physical energy levels by 34.5% and reduce physical limitations by 36%.
Improve sleep patterns and increase time asleep by an average of 21 minutes following 60 days of continued use.
Significantly reduce daily stress by 23% and improve mental well-being.
supports normal eye health. ( this has been huge for me as I have glaucoma)
supports healthy digestion. ( our health starts in our gut)
supports healthy inflammation response
promotes and supports healthy respiratory function
It’s FULL of :
antioxidants
fiber
amino acids
vitamins/minerals.
If we don’t have our health, then we don’t have much. Do something for you today, you are so worth it!!
Go to my Contact Us page and when you leave your email requesting more information, I will send you a FREE ebook with all the Ningxia information!
If you want your own bundle of Red, just order here!
Here are a few reason why I give Sulferzyme to my dogs!
Science lesson time!
Deficiencies in biological sulfur can result in the less than optimal functioning of our cells, tissue and organs in our bodies. Inorganic sulfur is poorly assimilated. Organic, biologically active sulfur is therefore extremely important for the health of every living organism. MSM is the natural source of biological sulfur to which we are adapted. MSM has been reported to have the following benefits for both us and our dogs.
Chronic Pain
MSM is a natural analgesic and blocks the transfer of pain impulses through the nerve fibers. MSM also blocks the inflammation process by enhancing the activity of cortisol, a natural anti-inflammatory hormone produced by the body.
If your canine pals suffer from inflammation in their joints, MSM can help.
Antioxidant
MSM is a strong antioxidant, capable of binding and inactivating harmful free radicals. See my post on my wall describing this process and why we need antioxidants!
Couple MSM with the Wolfberry in Sulferzyme and you are giving your pup a huge benefit! An antioxidant jolt that is so good for her! And yourself.
Neurological Diseases
The brain is extremely sensitive to the effects of toxic materials such as heavy metals and organic compounds. Many of these compounds tend to accumulate in nerve cells where they can cause severe oxidative damage.
Neurological disturbances may be the result. MSM is one of the few antioxidants which can easily pass the blood-brain barrier. It may help prevent and repair oxidative damage and restore cell membrane elasticity and permeability. This allows the nerve cells to start excreting waste products. And means a healthier brain for Spot!
Allergies
Does your furry friend lick his paws obsessively? He may have allergies.
MSM has been shown in studies to alleviate the symptoms of a large number of allergies, including food allergies, contact allergies, inhalation allergies, and others. The major anti-allergic characteristic of MSM is caused by its ability to bind to the cells in mucous and present a natural blocking interface between hosts and allergens.
Besides, MSM may alleviate allergies through detoxification and elimination of free radicals, and improvement of cell permeability. Reduction in paw licking!
Parasites
One of the most amazing discoveries on MSM is its possible antiparasitic action against Giardia, Trichomonas, roundworms, nematodes, Enterobius and other intestinal worms. Animal studies include laboratory mice determined to have pin worms by fecal cast examination. They were given commercial food and drinking water, both containing 2% MSM by weight. After 17 days, fecal examination indicated the feces were free of worms and eggs.
We all know how easily our pets can have these conditions, let’s try to prevent it naturally.
Are There Natural Sources Of MSM?
MSM and its precursors return to the earth in rainwater, which contains a lot of MSM. Fruits and vegetables will absorb this rainwater and MSM can be found in most plants, with a content ranging from 1 to 4 mg/kg.
When animals eat these plants, they also assimilate MSM.
Cooking and heating will destroy most MSM in plants and meats. MSM is also lost when vegetables and fruit are frozen for a lengthy period of time, or when they are irradiated. Due to the realities of the modern food industry, in which a great portion of everything we feed our dogs is either heated, irradiated, or frozen for a period of time to preserve it, it’s no wonder that dogs and humans both suffer from a chronic shortage of MSM.
Is Your Dog Getting Enough MSM?
The therapeutic dosage for dogs is about 50 to 100 mg MSM per 10 pounds of body weight. Even dogs fed a raw, whole food diet might not be getting enough of this supplement, thanks to the industrialization of farming.
Toxicity is not usually an issue with MSM; in fact, it’s similar in toxicity to water. The lethal dose for humans is more than three pounds.
You would have to feed your dog a whole heck of a lot of MSM for toxicity to take place.
If your dog suffers from a chronic inflammatory condition or joint pain (our bulldog has joint issues and our older girl is showing signs of arthritis) you might wish to feed him MSM. Because it’s a synthesized product, extensive distillation is crucial to remove impurities such as heavy metals. Fortunately, you are getting the best with Sulferzyme along with the added Wolfberry powder to help keep your pup’s system in good working order. High quality makes a huge difference!
For our big dogs (50-70lbs), I give them each a teaspoon full of Sulferzyme powder twice a day with their food. They love the flavor and it helps keep them in optimum health along with a healthy diet, exercise and love!!
So the benefits of Sulferzyme powder as opposed to the capsules? No difference except for 2 things. The powder contains the MSM, Wolfberry, probiotics (gut health people!) and stevia to make it taste better if just mixing with water. The capsules have just MSM and wolfberry. I actually use both, but for our dogs I use the powder as it’s easier to mix in their food and with a bulldog, probiotics are a must!
So if you haven’t considered MSM and your dog’s health, I hope this helps educate you a little more in your choices!!
**I am not a vet or a doctor. Please evaluate for yourself what is right for you and your pet and ask a professional if you need more medical guidance.
As we welcome this New Year, I have been giving my business a lot of thought and attention. I am still the same rank I was 7 years ago. And sometimes that rank is sketchy. It’s not the business model that is at fault either. Forbes magazine has done articles on Direct Marketing and how positive it’s business model is. Many people are successful in this business, I actually know many of them. It’s not climbing on the backs of others as many would Iike to believe, nor is it a pyramid scheme. You have to work at it just like any other business. So what is it for me? I am pretty sure I figured out my WHY – I love being of service to others. I honestly do. It motivates me. So I am not stuck there. This business allows me to do that.
So the next question I am asking myself is, why am I stuck in the gap? We do it with so many things in our life too, not just business. Only looking at the desired outcome and not the progress.
Some examples of questions we ask ourselves when stuck in the gap:
• Why have I not lost all 20 lbs I was hoping to? (Not paying attention to the 10 lbs I did lose) • Why am I not living the life I dreamed yet? (Forgetting to look at all the joy actually around me that I have found so far on the journey) • Why do I keep falling back on old behaviors I know longer want to exhibit? (Not looking at the progress made and how much quicker I recognize that behavior now). • Why am I not further along in my business? (Not looking at the wins already achieved)
It’s super easy to get stuck in mindsets. So what is my point? I asked myself why am I not progressing? If I take an honest look, my business has been part of my healing these last 7 years. I have progressed a ton and am truly grateful for the love and friendships resulting! Progress not Perfection is a huge motto for all other areas of my life. But my business shares are the specific issue, I was starting to get stuck in the gap of what progress looks like there. And I realized a fear recently that has kept me stuck in a sharing mindset for my business (my life fears would take a book to acknowledge, so am focusing on one at a time. LOL). I have been sharing to the wrong people.
Yes, you read that correctly. I have been sharing to the wrong people. I have been sharing to the friends and family I fear will not take me seriously. I have been sharing to the audience who just doesn’t care. I have been sharing to people who are not in my niche – I am not young with little kids anymore LOL. I have been sharing inauthentically at times because sometimes I have tried to be someone I am not. Why? Because others are obviously doing well with their photos and words – again, not my niche!
Why have I shared like this? Because deep down, an old fear was still brewing. I want you to like me. If I annoy you with my shares, you won’t like me (my old fear tells me this). I make up everyone’s mind around me before ever giving them a chance. And it’s all because of fear.
This is an awesome revelation for me. I have spent many years working hard to overcome things and my personal and spiritual growth amazes me every single day. So to uncover a fear I thought I had given up is truly AWESOME! Because now I know what I need to do.
I need to stop making up everyone’s mind for them. I need to stay consistent so I am not all over the place. I need to not worry how you all think of me because it’s none of my business anyway – plus I know I am alright LOL. And I need to let the same passion that pushes me personally and spiritually push me in this business.
My brother sells cars, and he does it well! He doesn’t worry if the buyer likes him or not. He wants them to be happy with their purchase and he speaks to their needs. Some buy, some don’t. He doesn’t become someone else every time a new customer walks in to look at BMW’s. He meets them where they are at and stays true to who he is. And no one mocks him or rolls their eyes because he sells cars (cars have been his passion since he was a little kid)! LOL. So why am I allowing an old fear to tell me that will happen to me because I sell oils? I am actually pretty passionate about them and the company! This company allows me to practice principles of living I will no longer ever compromise in my life. Practicing these principles in ALL my affairs is deep seeded in me.
So my conclusion is this, it’s ok if people don’t like me. I don’t need to be everything to everyone. As long as I am true to myself, I am good! I believe this in every other area of my life, so it’s about time I believe it in my business life too! So my prayer around this is to have this revelation influence my business shares. Always looking for the opportunity to be of service.
So what is holding you back? I promise I won’t judge. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk. Lol. Happy New Year friends!
If you are within a certain age group, and happen to be on TikTok, you have most likely heard of this phenomenon going through the internet the last couple of weeks. That phenomenon is a 21 year old boy/man named William White. His charming lip singing of oldies, the smile and charisma, and yes, that eye roll when he seems to be crooning “Mandy” straight to each of us, has got over a million women in a tizzy! But it’s not as creepy as it sounds.
The joke is that TikTok is now CougarTok, implying that all us women have one thought in mind when we see William White on our FYP pages. While there may be that element, I am not judging, the reality is that’s not true for the majority of us. Most of these women know they are old enough to be his mother. He even calls them his Mama Bears. And while he is charming and very attractive, it’s not a sexualized hype that is heating up. This young man has taken all us Gen X women on a trip back in time. A trip to a place where things seemed simpler, even if they weren’t. A time where a cute boy on the cover of a magazine could make us smile and dream of what possibly could be. A time when we could daydream about someone as cute as this singing straight into our hearts and taking away the pain many of us were actually living with.
Gen X is the generation born between the years 1965 and 1980, roughly. We were born during war, sexual revolution and the birth of feminism. Society had learned that rock and roll was here to stay and the counter culture was in full swing. Times were turbulent, exciting, scary and uncertain. We were the generation born from fire.
Most of our parents came from the ideology that if you can’t see it, it didn’t happen. So while the world was opening up in many ways socially, it also was keeping its darkness and secrets locked up tight. For most of us young girls, this was a time of trauma. Don’t ask, don’t tell. That’s what we learned.
As teenagers, music was changing fast. We saw the birth of disco, punk and Teen Beat magazine. I remember the first video on MTV and the Brat Pack were everywhere. So were many of our traumas. Many of us were taken advantage of, abused and were latch key kids, abandoned while parents worked or partied. Gen X is a feral generation. We did the best we could with raising each other. For many of us, singers such as Rick Springfield and Shaun Cassidy, movie stars like Rob Lowe and the rest of the Brat Pack boys became our fantasy boyfriends. With them, we could daydream of better days. We could dream of romances that were more wholesome and where we were truly loved. We knew these were fantasies, but for those brief moments we could escape whatever pain we were living with. For those brief moments we could listen to them sing and pretend we were ok. Those were cherished moments in this Gen X’s life.
Fast forward 40+ years and many of us are mothers and even grandmothers. Most have had at least 2 marriages and we are doing the best we can to make sure our sons and daughters don’t have to face what we did. Many of us still hold on to secrets and fears. We have thrown ourselves into marriage, children, careers and life looking for that feeling of contentment. Don’t get me wrong, most of us love our families. I wouldn’t change anything about my life, even with all the trauma and confusion. But for many, the longing for simple love has been replaced with keeping busy.
Enter William White aka @whiteyy18. He isn’t new to TikTok. But Memorial Day weekend changed everything. We became Mandy with one eye roll and a wink. All of a sudden we were transported back in time. We started feeling emotions many had forgotten about. We became mesmerized. And his follow count skyrocketed as duet after duet ran through the app.
He doesn’t lip sing particularly well, sometimes he obviously doesn’t know the lyrics, but he has charm and this makes him even more appealing. He is signed with Mode Models in Canada, where he is from. He isn’t arrogant however. He includes his Mama Bears in his new found fame and he continues to give his followers a place where we can go back to the feelings of possibilities. It’s innocent and flirty and a wave that he has pulled us into. Many say they feel seen, they feel appreciated and feel like they did when we were kids and happy in our daydreams. And this young man knows exactly what he is doing and how it’s affecting others.
William’s lives are consistently filled with gratitude. His genuine excitement to make us happy is adorable, and he is always talking about this wave as everyone’s and not just his alone. He also loves his family and gives them credit and respect. He is a breath of fresh air in a world that has over-sexualized almost everything. He has brought over a million women together from every background and political map and created a community. And it all happened with a wink and a smile – and that eye roll – on an app that became a safe haven during Covid for so many Gen Xers. And friends, when women band together we are a force to be reckoned with.
But I cannot press publish on this article without acknowledging the fact that Mr. White’s charm doesn’t just end with Gen X women. It has crossed over to the men as well who see him and appreciate him. It has crossed over into the LGBTQ community with video after video of how he has hypnotized them as well. He doesn’t discriminate. He is helping all of us smile a little brighter.
So William White, this is a huge thank you. Thank you for seeing us. Thank you for caring. Thank you for helping us remember what hope can feel like. Thank you for reminding us we are more than we might have come to believe. And thank you for singing straight to our hearts.
It’s that time of year! Winter time brings out the cozy aspects of the season and one of those is creating yummy treats! At least in this house it is. So yesterday I did just that!
We love hot cocoa with melting marshmallows on top, however I am not a fan of all the ingredients in store bought mallows. So we create our own! This is a super easy recipe that is pretty much fool proof. They come out delicious every time. And you can add other Vitality flavors! We love peppermint, so Peppermint Vitality it is!
Mix together the cornstarch and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Line a 9×5 or larger baking dish with parchment paper and then dust with a layer of the cornstarch/powdered sugar mixture, set aside.
In a small bowl, add the 1/2 cup of cold water and sprinkle the gelatin over it. Allow the gelatin to soften for about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, add the other 1/2 cup of water and the granulated sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir and cook until sugar is dissolved.
Add the gelatin and stir until fully mixed into the sugar water. Bring just to a boil and then remove from heat.
Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer and allow to cool for a few minutes.
Add the vanilla and Peppermint Vitality, then beat on medium -medium high in the mixer for 10-15 minutes, until mixture is white and glossy and has doubled in volume. (You may need to slowly raise the speed to avoid splashing at first.)
Pour into prepared pan (the smaller your pan is, the thicker the marshmallows will be). Use a spatula to smooth the top. Dust with a thin layer of the cornstarch/sugar mixture. Allow to set for several hours, until the marshmallows are not sticky to the touch.
Remove from dish and use a slightly greased knife or pizza cutter to cut into squares. Dust each square in the cornstarch/sugar mixture, then dust off excess powder.
For more information on the essential oils I use, please leave a comment! Also, let me know how your treats turn out!
• Self-organized network of people with common agenda, cause, or interest, who collaborate by sharing ideas, information, and other resources. Virtual communities consist of participants in online discussions on topics of mutual concern, or of those who frequent certain websites.
A community usually has a family feel to it. It is a village where everyone provides their strengths to accomplish what is needed. In business, this is a good thing because these are the people you will spend the majority of your time with if you go into an office. If you are online you want to have that community support as well. The word “community” is one of my favorite words. I have spent most of my life gathering my community of friends and now I have finally found that crossing over into my business.
On February 1, 2018, I co- founded the group, The Well Village with my partner in crime, Lisa Lopez. Over the last few months we have seen our share of growing pains and family “discussions” but we also have developed an amazing group of constant support and friendships. And our village continues to grow. In this business, a person can tend to feel lost and alone as there is no office, no real boss, no place you have to be unless you schedule something. Being a part of The Well Village gives us a place and a support system. We don’t have to do this business alone. We have resources at our fingertips, constant support for the days we celebrate and the days we are feeling frustrated. We help each other grow both professionally and personally. We have fun!
We are 6 months old as The Well Village, although have been doing this business for close to 4 years now, and I am so excited to see where this next year takes us! We are looking at retiring members, we are bringing dad’s and husbands home full time, people are paying off debt and taking stress off their plates. I am watching healthy lifestyle changes that are benefiting families and supporting their wellness. People are actually seeing their doctors less and feeling better than ever. We are continuing to grow strong and solid and we get to celebrate each other’s successes in all areas of life.
We have a thriving business community AND a very active wellness group – The Well Village Discussion. We would love to invite you to our community as well. The wellness group is absolutely FREE and we talk about all areas of wellness for all the stages of our lives. We have professional nurses, nutritionists, yoga instructors, massage therapists and physical therapists just to name a few! We have amazing online classes and support, all FREE!
To join the business community is something special. Where else can you invest $160 and start a full on business working with people who love to help others, and be investing in your own health and wellness??!! Starting today until September 1, you can invest and get $20 back in credit on your account as well! If you just want to make a couple hundred extra dollars a month or start a whole new career path, the choice is your’s! And you don’t have to be a salesperson or sign off on your first born. I promise!!! Our company has been around for almost 30 years and is going no where. And you see the amazing perks I post!
So let me know if you want to check out our Wellness group for free or if you want to dive in and invest in your health with a kit! And if you don’t want to do the business but just want the benefits, that’s fine too!!!!!
We welcome you to the village and would love to share our space with you! Just leave me a comment or contact me through email (or form here under contact tab) with any questions!
We were asked to participate in a review of this service and agreed. We received all the info and signed up. It has been so fun! Emmet has received letters and a video and loves it. Signing up is super easy and takes only a few minutes.
Sign up here and use discount code FAMS17 to receive 25% off your order There are several packages to choose from!
Emmet has been thrilled by his package and I am happy with the quality and attention to detail. Highly recommend!
Last week we had the privilege of visiting the Austin Zoo. This is a beautiful facility focused on animal rescue and rehabilitation. The animals are obviously well cared for and loved. There several scheduled zoo keeper talks throughout the day and very well maintained feeding area as well.
This is zoo is geared more towards the toddler and younger child age group and the facility is set up so kids have plenty of space to run around and easy, and safe, access to all the animals. This is one of Emmet’s and my favorite outings. We usually pack a lunch and stay several hours. It’s a lovely and peaceful environment.
The Zoo is starting up a couple exciting new programs that will actually benefit up to age 13!
Introducing: Homeschool Nature Series & Winter Workshop
Two new education programs are coming to Austin Zoo!
The Homeschool Nature Series will have kids learning about biology and participating in exciting labs! Programs are designed for kids aged 7-13 years old.
The Winter Workshop is fun for the entire family! Join us this holiday season to make animal treats and human sweets!. Come visit us!
For More Information visit the Austin Zoo website!
