Walking through the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas is a wonderland this holiday season. The botanical garden offers a stunning array of holiday designs to fill both your eyes and heart with imagination. Playful childhood memories flow easily and swirl around the festive chamber evoking feelings of joy and happiness. Passing through the garden I fine myself breathing easily and walking slowly – I am relaxed. The visual scene that awaits me is unexpected. Ceilings are not…..
IMPRESSIONS, FIRST Entering a room with an expectant audience or speaking in a public forum presents an opportunity. Walking to the middle of the stage focuses attention. People often form a lasting impression within the first 3 seconds of viewing the presenter or person entering their field of vision. Our eyes, our mind, our past experience, our attitudes, our prejudices form an opinion -instantly. Before we have heard the subject matter or met the person being introduced our entire physical…..
Having the unique opportunity of viewing the botanical gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV is a true pleasure. Every few months the staff work tirelessly to present a visual floral feast to celebrate the current recognized holiday. Without regard to religion or country or creed – each worldwide ethnic traditional celebration is displayed. Here in the United States we are entering one of our periods of traditional celebration – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. These are our traditions,…..
Jennifer Brea was a PhD student at Harvard when her body began to rebel against her. She was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In her TED talk launched January, 2017 entitled “UNREST,” she describes her harrowing journey through symptom management and finally correct diagnosis. This debilitating disease stole her energetic, promise-filled life. Her heart felt sympathy for the other yet unidentified people who carry the invisible disability is heart breaking. Jennifer was forced to give up a youthful, promising professional…..
This cartoon appears in a recent 2017 edition of Reader’s Digest. Obviously, it offers a relaxed slat on life. This viewpoint is reinforced in a recent interview with Art Garfunkel (11/4/2017) when he states that he has reached a period in his life when he is “comfortable with life.” Certainly, this is a broad term cultivated after weathering life’s many trials and challenges. Often we wonder: “why am I enduring this horrible situation?” There seems no rhyme or reason for…..
Fatigue is not part of this flower. It takes work, energy, timing, systemic nutrition, scheduled strategies, clean gardening devices and focused problem solving to bring this rose from its’ basic root system to a full, healthy, vibrant bloom. Its’ blood red color and sturdy stems are supported by a responsive root system that draws nutrition from a fertile soil enriched with vital nutrients. We are like the vibrant flower. There are tools and strategies which we use to maintain and…..
The comedian Eddie Izzard once said, “CAESAR – did he ever think that he would end up as a salad?” Well, did any of us when we graduated from high school ever believe that we would change from the youthful, energetic, hopeful teenager that we were on that fateful day of our high school graduation? Probably not. However, William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, said “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”…..
A basic definition of the blood system is a red liquid that circulates in the heart, veins and arteries of man and animals. It’s also a portal system that stabilizes our body functions – nutrition, hydration, elimination, circulation. Each of these systems functions in a balanced manner. When this balance is disrupted the system breaks down. Healthy blood coagulates, or clots. In a recent article (published by Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada) this process is…..
I was relaxing on the shore of a beautiful tropical beach. The serene scene offered soothing moments of rejuvenation. The warm sun and the flow of the waves brought a feeling of muscle relaxation and mental freedom. Into this milieu rushed a barking, energetic Jack Russell terrier followed closely by its’ owner. The owner was dutifully carrying a bundle of beach-appropriate packages. As I was observing peace-intruding couple, I was expecting to see the dog owner unpack a variety of…..
Dialysis is the separation of unequal, diluted substances through a membrane. This membrane often has numerous, minuscule permeable tentacles interwoven through flexible fibers. This process often purifies the substance. Medicine uses this process to purify the blood of someone who has experienced kidney failure. It replaces the process that a body’s functioning kidney would perform. The patient usually has a permanent shunt implanted into their body for easy access of the chronic procedure. Since impurities are filtered out of the…..
This festive door is decorated for a Mardi Gras celebration. The wreath is a collection of bright colors and varied textures. Visitors would immediately know that the people in this home are in a festive mood and ready for a holiday party. When people walk by you on a public street can they immediately sense what is going on inside? Are you healthy? Do you exercise on a regular basis? Have you taken time to reflect on your personal needs? …..
I overheard a conversation: “My doctor said that I have a little sugar in my blood. I don’t know how it got there. My doc said that I need to get it out.” I admit that I was ease-dropping. The couple was talking about the husband’s recent diagnosis of diabetes. The man needed more information about his medical condition. Hopefully, the doctor was following up with education classes. Possibly, the doctor was referring to the term “A1c.” This is a…..
I recently took a trip to a tropical island. It offered a chance to physically and mentally relax. The option to focus on my health and wellness presented itself in a most unexpected manner. As I was standing on the sandy beach I was gently reminded that life, as well as nature, has a certain “ebb and flow” to it. This cycle doesn’t depend on a human intervention or a mechanical manipulation. No one has to set a clock or…..
We all have routines that we practice when the warm weather engulfs us. Beach visits, holidays at the theme park, playing at the community park, checking out books on the library summer reading list, enjoying outdoor sports, spending time with our family pets, enjoying more time in the sun and just relaxing in the lazy days of summer – all of these activities offer enjoyment. Some people pick a more sedentary list such as bird watching, gardening or feeding multi-colored humming birds. On a recent…..
Yesterday I attended a panel discussion at a Public Library entitled: Writer’s Workshop. The roundtable dialogue presented various options for authors. The main topic centered around developing a strong social media presence and building a lasting readership for independent authors. The topic of “support” was prominent among both the presenters and audience. Having attended many conferences over my thirty-five years in the nursing profession, I have often found the idea of support a lacking issue. In the professional world, colleagues often attempt to compete and corrupt their fellow…..
I recently enjoyed a conversation with a health conscious friend. The topic of nutrition centered around carbohydrates. My friend immediately said, “I never eat bread, it’s got carbs in it.” Well, that began our extended discussion about “simple” and “complex” carbohydrates and their place in a well balanced nutrition plan. I say “nutrition plan” instead of “diet” because that’s what it is a – life long plan to improve and maintain good nutrition. Our bodies need “complex” carbohydrates for brain…..
The bright lights of Las Vegas will certainly be shining as we celebrate Independence Day. This city seems to take great joy in displaying the ability of expression. Just looking at the glittering lights makes me feel happy. The scene reflects an oasis in the desert which beckons far and wide with possibilities and potential. It’s a part of America that grabs you by the collar and says, “come here and have a good time.” However, the responsible adult in…..
These neurotransmitters are electric signals within the nervous system that interact with our opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain. They act similarly to drugs such as morphine and codeine. At least 20 different types of endorphins have been identified in humans according to a website – MedicineNet.com (7-25-2017). When our bodies sense stress and/or pain these endorphins are released to interact with the targeted receptors to decrease our perception of distress. This natural process does not lead…..
Children and animals seem to innately understand that exercise and moving their bodies are automatic – part of life. If they want to get from one place to another, they simply move their legs and feet in that direction and go. When they see something good and happy they join the activity. Their brain tells them to use their bodies to go to the happy thing. Medscape (June09,2017) states that “senior citizens who enjoy dog ownership increase their physical activity…..
“Be open to improving,” this was a statement in a medical article that caught my eye. As I read the article it discussed the idea of expanding our everyday thoughts and actions to include ideas that we hadn’t tried before or that seemed to difficult to perform. What a great idea. Since our bodies and minds are made to move, what better way to test the limits of both. If we only do what is “known” and what we are…..
During the summer months some families celebrate reunions. In today’s society the definition of family seems to include an extended vocabulary. The definition may include the traditional – mom, day and the kids. Or the blended family may be more current with a step mother, step brothers and sisters. Possibly, a set of two mothers who are raising an adopted, foreign-born child, is the most descriptive of family. Or even the more extended definition should include the “family” we belong to in our public life – school and work. If we…..
” Summer time and the livin’ is easy…the frogs are jumpin’ and the cotton is high.” Well, as we all know, the lyrics from this song in “Porgy and Bess” is introducing the audience to not only a new way of life but a change in the seasons. The axis has turned and we are in the throws of summer time. It’s time to consider that during this time of year, we are all prone to the health issues that come…..
Whenever we are not at our best we need to recover. Sometimes it’s because we are ill or we have been a little sad or we have been physically injured. This process can be from a perceived or actual problem. It is a time of replenishment and redemption and rescue. Our body and our mind need to quiet – to be still. This is a difficult process in our society, especially today. Our society is geared toward achieving, doing, producing…..
Whenever we are not at our best we need to recover. Sometimes it’s because we are ill or we have been a little sad or we have were physically injured. This process can be from a perceived or actual problem. It is a time of replenishment and redemption and rescue. Our body and our mind need to quiet – to be still. This is a difficult process in our society, especially today. Our society is geared toward achieving, doing, producing and showing…..
An unseen physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity is a general definition of invisible disabilities. We often see a person using the blue and white disability placard in a public parking area and we question the use. The person appears to be able to walk and move without using major appliances such as a wheelchair or crutches. How can the person be “disabled?” We automatically make a judgment based on what we assume is that person’s…..
Civility is described as: a polite act or expression (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus). In today’s society this idea seems to have taken on a character of it’s own. Wouldn’t it be nice if courtesy and civility were interchangeable. It could be our calling card. We could be kind to people that we meet and be sociable at the same time. Each person who met us would believe that we valued their opinion and truly wanted to spend time with them……
New Year resolutions may be testing our limits right about this time of year. Sure we started out with the best intentions. Energy levels high, resolve resolute, motivation staunch and we’re positive that this year all of our stated goals will be reached. So, a few months has tested our intentions. Nature seems to have kept its’ promise – flowers are blooming, the grass is growing, weeds are popping out in the most unwanted places, birds and bees are busy with…..
An awakening of the day – a slight chill lingers from the evening veil. This is my favorite part of the day. Easter heralds an awakening of spring and the morning of that day is the cumulative invitation to all the earth to being anew. We use symbols to represent this invitation – new born chicks, cute little bunnies, soft baskets filled with sweets, colorful Sunday costumes and varieties of attractive flowers. These hallmarks represent an “open arms” attitude to the day. We…..