Good News for the Soul

A women's health blog for mid-life women learning how to manage their health and their life.

Category: Special Thoughts

  • 4 Things I Feel Thankful for About this Year

    This week many Americans will be getting together with their families to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.  Although their annual celebration will look a lot different this year, they are still doing everything possible to keep this tradition alive.  While I don’t celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, I still want to take some time this week to highlight a few things I have every reason to be thankful for this year.

    Thankful to Be Alive

    The first thing I must say that I am thankful for is being able to survive another year.  It’s no secret that this year has been filled with plenty of lives lost due to this virus.  All of this should certainly help you to realize that life is precious.  It shouldn’t be taken for granted.  Take a little time out of your day to be thankful for living another day.

    There are a lot of things that I feel thankful about. These four things in particular stand out to me personally.

    Thankful for my Family and Friends

    If you have some loving family and friends who constantly stayed in touch with you this year, then you should be thankful for them.  I know I am thankful for them.  I appreciate all the Zoom parties with my cousins and friends.  I’m very appreciative of all the food deliveries from my dear friends.  I’m also very appreciative of the encouraging Zoom meetings in helping us endure through all of this.  I’m just extremely thankful for all the interchange of love from me to them and them to me.

    Thankful for my Decent Health

    Another thing that I am thankful for in these perilous times is to be healthy right now.  Many people are suffering through this pandemic and not only physically.  They are suffering mentally as well.  These current times have made a huge impact on people’s mental health.  Many have succumbed to depression and anxiety because of being heavily isolated.  But Jehovah has given me the strength to physically and mentally endure these tense times.

    Thankful for my Relationship with Jehovah

    The final thing that I am thankful for this year and that’s my relationship with Jehovah.  He has blessed me with all of the things above.  He has given both me and my loved ones so much to endure through this pandemic.  He has helped all of us through every trial and tribulation.  That’s why I am eternally thankful to my heavenly Father for everything he has given me.

    Share expressions of thankfulness every day of the year.  You don’t have to wait for a specific day to tell someone, “Thank you.”  Share some things you are thankful for in the comments section below.  As always, send this post to someone you love.    

  • Finding Hope and Strength During this Stay-at-Home Order

    We are now amid another shut down in our city known as Chicago.  This one could be almost as bad as the one in March.  Right now it’s not complete stay-at-home order.  But it still causes us to live our lives even more in our houses if we haven’t been doing this already.  As we strive to get through this, let’s examine different ways we can find a sense of hope and strength in coping with this towards the end of the year.

    Stay Close to your Loved Ones

    During this time of the year, most people are thinking of family gatherings.  Now is the time for us to remain close to our loved ones than ever.  Encourage one another to stay safe during these difficult times.  Remind each other to wash our hands, wear a mask, etc.  Continue to help one another cope with staying at home order.  Strive to encourage one another to think positively at this time.  Praying together is vital.  By sticking close to one another, we will be able to thrive during this time.

    • Family togetherness is part of what we need during these hard times.

    Gather all of your Essentials

    Right now it’s preferred that we stay at home as much as possible.  But if you have to go out, be sure you are buying all that you need for your home.  Go to the grocery store and buy one to two weeks’ worth of groceries at a time.  Be sure to prepare a shopping list before you start shopping.  As always, wear your mask and carry some sanitizing wipes for wiping down the carts before using.

    Stay in Contact with the Elderly Ones

    The coronavirus disease has caused millions of people, young and old, to lose their lives.  But it is still a must that we continue to check on our elderly loved ones.  Make sure that your elderly parents are doing okay by staying in touch with them over the phone or on Zoom.  Go to the grocery store for them.  Pick up their medications at a pharmacy.  Never neglect the elderly ones who need our help at this time.

    The Power of Prayer

    Besides encouraging one another during this time, we all must pray and rely on Jehovah in helping us get through this.  I know I’ve mentioned the importance of praying together earlier.  But this must get mentioned again so that more families do this.  Jehovah gives us strength, hope, and confidence to face any trial that comes our way.  But we first need to take a little time out of our day to talk to him in prayer.

    I know that getting through this shutdown won’t be easy.  But we can accomplish anything with help from our loved ones and Jehovah.  Let’s get through this second shutdown together with faith, love, strength, and hope from him.

    If you have anything you want to add, feel free to leave it in the comments section below.  Also, be sure to like or share this post with someone you love.   

  • How my Father will probably feel about this Pandemic

    This week is an emotional one for me and my family.  We’re actually at the two-year mark since my father passed away.  This year, I decided to reflect on him a little differently from last year’s post.  Recently, I have been wondering how my father will react to this pandemic today.  How will he feel about being quarantined in his house?  What would he think about Zoom?  Let’s examine how my father will feel about all of this madness if he was still here.

    He will Probably Hate this Quarantine order

    A throwback photo of me and my father

    If my father was still here, he will probably be a little befuddled about this stay-at-home order.  He will probably get bored easily just staying in the house every day.  I could see him occasionally leaving in and out of the house and driving somewhere.  I could see me and my mom sometimes reminding him to put on his mask.  I could see him watching TV often.  He wouldn’t know what to do with all of this.

    He will Probably Not Love Zoom Too Much

    I was also hilariously pondering how my father will feel about the popular video conferencing app Zoom.  While my father does like computers and technology, he probably would get tired of the app quickly.  I could see him liking it initially.  But eventually, he probably would miss the face-to-face association with his friends and family.  I could see him being annoyed by the connection issues that the app sometimes has.  Yeah, he would like Zoom, but I can’t see him loving it exactly.

    He will Grow Weary of the COVID-19 News Coverage

    Another thing about my father is that he will grow very tired of the constant pandemic news coverage.  I can’t say I don’t blame him there.  He will start off watching the news coverage and eventually stop watching it.  I could also see him complaining of the phone with his friends about the constant pandemic coverage.  He will take this virus seriously, but will also get annoyed by the incessant coverage.

    He will Draw Close to Jehovah

    However, the most important thing my father will do is draw more closer to Jehovah.  I think he will try to tolerate our Zoom meetings.  I think he will pray a lot.  I think he will study the Bible.  I think he will do all he can to maintain his relationship with God.

    I miss my father every day.  I miss his sense of humor and his laughter.  But I am happy that at least he doesn’t have to deal with this pandemic madness on earth.  See you soon, Dad. 

    Have a deceased loved one that you miss every day?  We all certainly do and that’s why I welcome you to express your love for them in the comments section.  Be sure to like or share this post as well.

  • Why Spirituality is Vital for your Mental Health

    There’s no doubt these difficult times have made an impact on a person’s mental health.  Many have succumbed to depression, stress, and anxiety.  To remedy this, many have turned to self-help books, therapists, and other mental professionals.  However, there is one good source many fail to turn to for help in their mental health state.  This is developing a spiritual need.

    Having a Spiritual need balances you

    Once you turn to God for help in dealing with your mental problems, whether it is a depression or bipolar disorder, you will feel more balanced in your life.  You will feel more grounded in managing your condition despite the challenges.  By letting God in your life, it makes life’s problems a little easier to handle.  This is not to say that it will always be easy.  But it does give your life a strong sense of balance of handling problems better.

    Spirituality gives you Comfort

    When dealing with any mental illness, spirituality could give your heart and mind so much comfort.  It won’t exactly cure your condition.  But it can put your mind at ease when you feel like there’s no way out.  For example, by reading the Bible every day, you start to feel a little better each time.  Lean on it for support in coping with your mental illness.

    It isn’t a healthcare book, but the Bible gives you the necessary comfort in coping with a mental illness.

    A Spiritual Need Gives you Hope

    Coping with any serious illness that we can’t help, whether it’s affecting our brain or another serious organ, can be draining on our soul.  But having a strong sense of spirituality gives you a deep sense of hope.  Hope gives you the ability to develop the assured expectation of something that you don’t see.  It gives you the faith to endure your condition against all odds.

    Having a Spiritual Need helps you Cope

    By having a solid sense of spirituality, this gives you the ability to cope with your mental illness better.  Every day will not be perfect.  You will still have your good days and bad days.  But a healthy reliance on Jehovah will motivate you to take each day at a time.  Stay on top of your treatments.  Rely on loving friends and family to help you to deal with your condition.  Pray constantly each day and you will see your coping skills thrive.  Believe me- things will get better.

    Are you dealing with a mental illness or know someone you love coping with one?  Feel free to share in the comments section below.  Also, be sure to like or share this post with someone you love.              

  • Why Self-Care is a Must for Every Woman

    Last weekend, I attended a little self-pampering Zoom party with my friends.  We painted our nails, did our hair, and engaged in some beauty talk.  It was fun and a great way to unwind together virtually.

    Now and then, we as women must take some time out of our busy lives to treat ourselves despite being mostly at home.  Even if we’re not going out socially very often, we can still beautify ourselves sometimes.  Here are several reasons why this is vital for us.

    Self –Care makes us Feel Good

    When you get your hair done, get a manicure, or a facial, you begin to feel different.  You will start to feel better about yourself physically and mentally.  So instead of paying for someone else to do your hair or nails, consider looking up some YouTube videos to learn how to do these things.  Buy some base coat, top coat, and your favorite color nail polish.  Buy a nail filer and clipper and start doing it yourself today.

    During the party, one of my friends taught us how to make our sugar scrub to exfoliate our skin.  Sugar scrubs are typically expensive at stores like Bath & Body Works.  But if you make it yourself, you will be saving yourself a nice amount of money.

    My little homemade sugar body scrub. It was pretty easy to make.

    Self-Care gives you Peace of Mind

    Another thing about self-care is that it gives you peace of mind.  By taking some time out for ourselves, we would give our minds the inner calm and serenity it needs.  We deal with so much regularly.  By practicing self-care, we give ourselves a chance to step away and breathe a little bit.  We will start to avoid burnout and feel more at peace in our lives.  Turn to self-care to put your mind at ease for a little while.

    Self-Care Makes you Happy

    Once you set aside a day to take care of yourself, you will feel a lot happier.  If you don’t have a day like this for yourself, you are depriving yourself of happiness.  You are also depriving yourself of a balanced life.  Every woman needs to maintain a sense of balance between work and fun.  This is especially important now that more women are working from home.  Strive to maintain a balanced schedule for your work so you can leave time for relaxation.

    Self-Care gives you More Confidence

    When you devote some time to just unwind and relax, you come out feeling more confident in yourself.  Whether you’re devoting a day to pampering yourself or you’re just laying on the couch watching TV or sketching on a drawing pad, self-care rejuvenates you with a feeling you can do anything.  After you devote a day or two to self-care, you will walk away feeling more focused and assured in your work.  Self-care is good for the heart, mind, and soul.

    What types of things do you do for self-care or to unwind at home?  Feel free to share in the comments section below.  Also, be sure to like or share this blog post with the next woman you know.       

  • How the Quality of our Homes Impact our Health

    In recent months, I’ve learned a lot about how I could be efficient in my usage of energy, water, and waste in the apartment I live in or the building I work in.  However, I was also reminded of the importance of maintaining the quality of residential buildings.  If you don’t go about doing this, you will be reducing the comfort of the home and impacting the health of the residents.

    Healthy Homes Means Healthy People

    Healthy homes leads to healthy people.

    We spend the vast majority of our time indoors.  Because of this, we must work on the maintenance of our homes.  Poor quality of housing helps contribute to health problems such as chronic diseases, injuries, and detrimental effects on childhood development.  Some of the main contributors to poor quality housing are lead paint, poor indoor air quality, and other hazards.  Let’s examine these poor building practices closely and how they affect our livelihood:

    • Water leaks, poor ventilation, and a pest infestation can cause an increase in mold, mites, and other health allergens.
    • Cold indoor conditions have been associated with health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
    • Lead poisoning affects the brain and nervous system.
    • Diseases such as Legionnaire’s Disease have been linked to poor indoor air quality.

    Preventing Poor Quality in Homes

    To avoid all of these things from happening, we must work on maintaining the look of our homes.  Water leaks must be repaired at all times.  If you’re dealing with poor indoor air quality in your home, here are a few tips to improving in this aspect:

    • Minimize contaminants- Consider using green cleaning products and HEPA vacuums.  Disposed of unused paint, solvents, and other chemicals.
    • Control moisture- Identify and repair leaks promptly.  Keep humidity levels below 60 percent by increasing ventilation.
    • Properly ventilate your home- Verify that filters are in place, fit properly, and are being changed according to the preventative maintenance schedule.

    By following these tips, you will be elevating the comfort of your home and living healthy.  Take care of your health and your home. If you got anything out of this post, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.  Also, be sure to like or share this post with someone you know.

  • 4 Hair Care Reminders for Women Doing it from Home

    Most women, like myself, have been trying to do their own hair despite most hair salons reopening right now.  For some of us, it has been an interesting learning process.  Some women have been learning how to give themselves looks using hair tutorials on YouTube.  I, myself, learned how to fix my hair into a crochet braided look. 

    It isn’t perfect, but it was my best shot at doing my hair in this new look😊.

    However, there have been some women opting to go to the hair salons, which is fine, too.  Just make sure that your salon is monitoring how many customers are in the waiting room.  Also, be sure that they are keeping their salon clean as we continue to stave off this virus.

    But during this whole ordeal, there are four hair care reminders we all must follow if we’re going to be doing this from home.  We may have heard of these reminders before, but it bears necessary to still repeat them. 

    Nourish your Hair with the Right Products

    A woman’s hair comes in different textures.  Depending on the type of hair you have, you must use the right products.  If you have thick, coarse hair, opt for shampoos, conditioner, and moisturizers that are suitable for that type of hair.  If you have thin, fine hair, look for products that are formulated to that type of hair.  Also, if you have any allergies, you must look at the ingredients the product has.  Please make sure that this product doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals.

    Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle is Key

    Your hair’s health is not only dependent on the proper use of the right products.  Sometimes, we don’t stop and think about what we are putting in our bodies.  Some of the best foods for hair health include ones with a steady diet of protein such as lean meats and beans.  Berries and dark chocolate are also foods to put in your diet.  However, any foods containing high levels of sugar are to be avoided.  It upregulates inflammation throughout the body, which is a big contributor to hair loss.

    Find a Style that Suits you                     

    Of course, it is also important to pick the right style that fits your face shape, lifestyle, and personality.  What may work and look cute on one girl may not look the same on you.  So you have to know what hairstyles fit you.  You also have to choose a style that you will feel comfortable with.

    Women in black shirt using a laptop computer
    Picking the right style is important to maintaining proper hair care

    Keep Things Simple

    When doing your hair at home, don’t try to do something beyond your abilities.  If you’re not particularly skilled at cutting or dying your hair, don’t attempt to try these things at home.  Safety is important.  So don’t try to pick a style that will cause your hair to fall out.

    Doing your hair from home is quite a complicated journey.  But a women’s hair is part of what makes her who she is.  If we, as women, follow these simple hair care reminders, we will make this journey an easier one.  Have any hair advice you would like to add?  Leave it in the comments.  Also, feel free to like or share this post with the next girl you know.

  • A World Fallen Apart

    This week, many of us are shaken by the incessant riots all over America of people protesting over the death of George Floyd.  Millions of people broken into stores and destroyed our streets because of the unjust death of this man.  What did they accomplish by burning our streets down?  Did this chaotic protest bring about actual justice for this man?  But all of this just shows that we’re in the midst of a world falling apart.  It is truly passing away.

    Black Lives Matter protesters in Washington, D.C.

    A World that is Really Sick

    Between a widespread virus, the horrible display of injustice this young man has suffered, and the riots, we can’t help but agree that this world is truly in turmoil.  One may describe this world as being in a sickly condition.  I’ve never seen this world in this big of a lost state.  It’ll be a long time before it could ever recover from its condition.

    Politicians and Legal Authorities could only do so much

    These politicians and legal authorities are doing the best they can.  I respect their efforts.  But they have proven, time and time again, that they could only do so much to solve the problem.  It has to take a greater source of power to alleviate racism and injustice within this world.  A greater source that could bring about the true peace and security this world desperately needs.

    Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer

    Now more than ever, there’s nothing left for us to do than to talk to that greater source.  Even if you’re at a loss of words, don’t be afraid to approach God in helping you to deal with these hard times.  There shouldn’t be any shame in turning to him for help.  You can always count on God to be there for you when life gets you down.

    I hope this post caused you to reflect on far this world has fallen.  We are truly in the last days and it’s important that we must allow love to conquer all.  Protesting isn’t the answer!

    Want some more healthy encouragement in your life?  Sign up to get my “5 Words of Encouragement list” today.  Also, please share this post with someone you love.

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