The penniless widow sat in her dark, dingy apartment shivering. Her few resources include a well-worn shawl, home-made candles, her favorite rocking chair, companion books and an unused wooden match. Most of her elderly friends are unable to climb the wooden stairs to her second-floor lodgings. A knock at the door startles her and pierces the silence of the secluded room. “Martha, why are you sitting here in the dark. If you would just light the candle, the room would…..
Patents are an official documents conferring a right or privilege. This document secures to the inventor a term of years exclusive rights to the invention. According to a report by PHARMA there are a number of prescription drug patents set to expire in 2018. The National Pharmaceutical Services, the FDA’s Orange Book, Drugs.com, and The Center for Biosimilars lists over 26 nationally known brand name medications that are targeted to “go off patent” in 2018. As we all know, there…..
Pentimento – the Italian word meaning “repeat or change your mind.” It’s appropriate for this time of year. This idea suggests that you leave your stumbles for other to see – not for the achievement of perfection but for the creation of something better. The artist Anwar Matisse used this idea in his drawings until a satisfactory design developed. By practicing re-solution (to resolve yourself), drawing over or retracing our past lives as Matisse did with his art, we begin…..
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…..
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…..
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…..
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…..
“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…..
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…..
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…..
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…..
The vibrancy of springtime pulsates the earth. Every living thing feels the urgency to respond. Flowers, trees, grass, even weeds naturally respond to the beckoning call. Likewise, mankind responds to the summons. Our attitudes are lighter, our outlooks become happier, our thoughts seem to sway to ideas of fancy. We, as humans, go through a physical change in that our body is awaken to the possibilities around us. This awareness stimulates and increases our energy level and we begin to…..
I recently read an article about a women shopping in retail stores for clothes that fit. This woman is a “real woman” who possesses all the curves and crevices that women possess. I’m not talking about an overly large woman or an obese female just an average woman in today’s society. You guessed it. Most of the retail stores possess a wide variety of the latest chic attire posed in the most alluring positions. However, the majority of sizes range from “0” through “10.” These clothes are…..
Today’s environment is stressful. The pace of life is fast, multiple options compete for our precious time, our attention span seems to be shortened as we age, and instant gratification is expected. We are even told how to manage our sleep – dark, quiet room with no electronic distractions. Often we feel as though someone has set us down in the middle of a raging tornado and said: “Now function at your peak, have a positive outlook and soothe your…..
When we use the power of our mind to perform an action or deliver a response we are making sense. This may seem like an obvious statement but in reality a cascade of reactions occur before a visual action is observed. Most of these reactions are invisible to the “naked” eye. They occur within our brain. A stimulus initiates a response which triggers a cascade – much like a line of positioned dominoes. When the first one tips over, it…..
Am I productive? Pondering this question, gives me a moment of pause. The word productive means – ” having the quality or power of producing esp. in abundance – : effective in bringing about.”(Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus) Each person can interpret that definition for themselves. As I go through my day, I try to determine if there is a positive difference that occurs by the actions that I perform. That is the standard for me when judging my productivity. Interacting with nature,…..
What is a brand? Well, most often we think of the large corporate names that filled our visual world every day – Nike, Saltines, Newton, Sherwin-Williams, etc. However, just for a moment take that same idea and bring it a little closer to home. Think of yourself as a brand. How do others see you? When you enter their field of vision what do they see? Are you a trim, put-together person, well dressed, with obvious thought about your wardrobe and…..
The concept of truth is something that causes me to pause. It is an idea that permeates every aspect of society. Whether we talk about advertising, friendships, legal issues, promises, or just everyday discussions, truth seems to be a precious commodity. The issue resembles the tap root of a great oak. When the root system of a healthy tree is based is solid, firm soil its’ branches reach forth toward the warm sun and send out new growth which, in turn…..
This is the front cover of my recently published book. It was reviewed on Google Books. “This book reveals a life of struggle. Information in this publication was obviously hard won. The writer …has invested time and attention into their family of birth in order to reveal the cause of abuse. Children who suffer at the hands of their abuser often grow into adulthood with unanswered questions. These issues often affect their transitions into their adult years. This book deserves…..