Has An Injury Turned Your Life Upside Down?

Has an injury turned your life upside down?

The Mess

When it comes to injuries, they can be downright life-changing. It can vary a lot based on the severity of it, but in most cases changes would need to be made in order to get you back on track. It can be hard to see clearly in these times because if the accident was someone else’s fault, you might be left with emotional effects too! There’s a lot that goes into your recovery, and a lot of it relies on you; as you may even be put out of a job. It’s not an easy journey to get back on your feet, but there are plenty of methods you can use to make that path a lot smoother.

Your income

If you’ve been put out of work due to your injury, you might want to look into different methods of making money. Sadly those bills are going to keep coming, and you may receive money from the government, but that doesn’t always cut it. There are many routes you can take when you want to make money outside of your job, and each of them has their own kinds of benefits. Some of them might even be more effort than others, but it all depends on your skill set and capabilities. 

Firstly, you can actually get by on creating media content. There are many content creators out there who produce to an audience and find different forms of payment from them. An example; https://mediashower.com/blog/how-content-creators-can-make-real-money/ digital artists often sell commissions and high prices to fans who like their style and want something of their own to be drawn. It can be quite a good income if you’re getting enough exposure as there are many people out there who can’t do that kind of work themselves; however, not everyone is suited for that kind of work! It can be a difficult talent to pick up, especially if you want to do it professionally, but it can be worth it if it’s something you enjoy doing.

Secondly, there are many jobs you can get online. Like before, this depends on your skillset too, and most of them will involve working with a computer and certain software. An example would be data input, where you essentially spend your time working with numbers and spreadsheets. These kinds of jobs mainly require a lot of writing and experience with their prefered software, so if you’re already a tech savant this might be the ideal role for you! There’s no specific line of work for working online; some will be easier than others; the main struggle would be the availability of jobs out there.

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Online courses

If you’re no longer able to do the job that you used to be working at, then it might turn to plan for something new. There are many online courses out there you can take if you want to start your life in another direction. While it might feel like everything is a mess right now, this could actually be a good opportunity to experiment and try new things. Many people seek these kinds of changes in life, and it’s not always because they’re forced to. Not just that, but online courses are usually quite flexible with times; which makes them a lot less stressful.

Compensation

Not all cases need legal action, but if you've had an accident that wasn’t your fault, it might be time to do something about it for yourself. Many people out there seek compensation for their injuries, and it can be quite a significant amount of money, which might actually be essential to help you put your life back together. You should see https://www.hupy.com/offices/madison-wi-personal-injury-lawyers.cfm if you feel you need professional help. There are many benefits when getting help from a lawyer, and it can save you a lot of time and effort. You get access to many different tools available, and their complete experience with similar cases; which makes you much more likely to build a compelling case.

There’s no good time or reason that you should suffer the consequences of someone else’s mistakes, and you shouldn’t let it go away unsolved. It can be hard enough to recover from your state without the extra money from compensation, and there’s no reason for you to go without it. You may even find yourself in debt from medical bills, which means working from home might not even be enough to keep your finances balanced. You don’t have to let your injury beat you, take the steps you can to get on top of the situation and don’t let your life fall away in the background.

Coping With Your Age Worries

Every year we get older, and considering we’re in the new year now, it’s probably on the forefront of our minds how much time is moving on. You’ve got your resolutions in tow, However, there’s nothing wrong with feeling your way through your worries, although there are ways to work around them! Don’t sweat out already!

It’s been found that a lot of people don’t worry about the situation they may find themselves in later in life until they’re at least 50, but considering the amount of time we have in our lives now, that’s still fairly young! So if you really are worried, no matter what your age is, here’s some some tips for you to think on when it comes to working with the new year. 

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Opportunities Exist Everywhere

Hopefully you’ve been putting savings in an account every time you’ve been handed a paycheck and now you’ve got yourself quite a sizeable fund to fall back on in the case of an emergency. Or maybe you’re using it to save up for a holiday, or maybe you’re looking for investment opportunities to try and make twice the return on your efforts. In all ways, the fact that you’re already in these good habits means you’ve got a lot of skill up your sleeve!

You can still go on holidays with this money in some of your later years, whether that’s backpacking across the Alps or kayaking down the Amazon. Your hobbies will still be there for you to indulge, and we all change with our tastes the more of the world we’re exposed to. So the long and short of it is: you can keep up with everything you want to do as long as you prepare for it now!

There’s Plenty of Care Out There

The idea that our health will fail is a big worry for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be any more than that at the end of the day. Getting in shape and staying in shape isn’t hard when you’ve got a routine down well and you know how far you can push your body. Keep at it and you’ll be doing similar things for years to come!

Even for the much bigger worries over memory, there’s a lot you can look into to make any health concerns go a little smoother. They’re always going to be a rough ride of course, but when the most common fret is over whether or not alzheimers care services will take you in, you can do a lot for yourself to simply know your options in the case of anything life changing occurring. 

It all sounds like a serious matter but it honestly isn’t. Aging is a part of life and we all do it well; let yourself enjoy the new perspective and success you might find as you get older! You’ll become a better person, and staying positive in that way is key to making sure your health ages just as well with you!

Yes, I Was

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The sun has set on the first day of the new year. 

I look back on the year that passed. I pause and reminisce about the nice things, and the not so nice things. I have been blessed to have a fairly good 2017. I stayed relatively healthy, except for a bad cold around Christmas-time. I had great opportunities to earn and keep my finances afloat. 

I went back re-read my article, "My Word For the Year." I wanted to know if I did fulfill it and if I gave meaning to my chosen word, which was "BE."

After looking back on the events that happened this past year, I can confidently say that yes, I WAS. 

I WAS steadfast in my beliefs and bravely spoke my mind.

I WAS patient and I persevered until I achieved my goals.

I WAS depressed at times, but survived in the Grace of God. 

I WAS tired but grateful for the fruits of my labor.

I WAS loving and thankful for the love I received in return.

I WAS worried and fearful but I kept my faith.

I WAS blessed with friends who offered help even if I never expected them to.

I WAS always happy to have my family with me.

A year ago, I promised myself that I will BE.

Today, I am thankful that I WAS. 

Making Your Mark On The World: How You Can Leave A Lasting Legacy

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With each passing day, time passes. Where once we lived a carefree life, we begin to realize the reality of our mortality as we get older. Despite our best efforts with skin creams to appear young, we know we are not going to live forever. Sorry, but it’s true. Then we start to take stock of our lives, and a possible mid-life crisis kicks in (if it hasn’t already), and common questions arise. What have I done with my life? Have I been the best I can be? What will I be remembered for when I’ve gone? All good questions and only you can answer them. 

So, here is the crux of the article. What legacy are you leaving behind? We aren’t talking about legacy trusts and will making, though practically this is important. You don’t want your beneficiaries going through probate litigation when you’ve gone. Rather, we are referring to a non-material legacy, where your actions on earth leave a lasting impression. How will people remember you? Will it be for good or bad? We’re betting you’re hoping for the former. So what can you do now to ensure your legacy is a positive one? Here are some ideas.

Create positive memories. Despite your business, you don’t want lasting memories to be about somebody who was barely around when they were alive. Make time for the important people in your life, take holidays together, share stories, have fun. It is often the small moments that create the best memories. Something you have said to make somebody smile. An encouraging word to offer support. These are the things that will be remembered.

Impart positive values. As a good person, there are bound to be values and ideals that you hold close to your heart. Whether they are faith-related or not, you have the power to share a positive message with those near to you. Considering the conflicting viewpoints imposed upon your children at school and your friends at work, they may not receive the moral framework that only you can provide. Therefore, without being heavy-handed, impose good values on to those you come into contact with.

Erase bad memories. If you’re afraid you are going to leave a bad legacy behind, make your amends before it is too late. If you have hurt somebody in the past, make every effort to apologise to them, or change your behavior as you go forward in your relationships. Be somebody that people will talk about with enthusiasm and love, and not in hushed whispers about how unpleasant you were.

Be charitable. You can’t bring about world peace (that would be an amazing legacy), but you can make the world better in your corner of the world. Change one person’s life, and your legacy will roll over as they take the baton and follow your good deed. So, consider volunteering with a charity near you. It may be a homeless shelter, food bank, breakfast club, or a church mission. You can’t save the world, but you do have the power to change individual’s lives for the better.

Finally, leaving a legacy is about being remembered for the good person you were, as well as leaving a positive impact on others that they will take forward into the world. Chances are, you have already made steps to ensure this happens. If not, don’t put off till tomorrow when you can do something to make a difference today. Thanks for reading.

The Secrets To Our Long Lasting Relationship

I met my husband 11 years ago to this day. 

Like many others, both of us were survivors of past tumultuous relationships. We talked about our experiences openly, and we soon found out that these conversations led us to heal. Ours was not the usual "first date getting to know each other" kind of thing. We started out as with a long distance relationship for a year until my husband decided to fly in and establish residence here.

How did we make it work? Of course there is trust and respect for each other. In addition to that, we never had any intent to change each other. Acceptance was what made this relationship strong.

Let me share our secrets to a long lasting relationship. Take a deep breath. Here goes...

Accept each other's uniqueness

My husband is American. I am Filipino. Two people from vastly different cultures living under one roof. It took a whole lot of adjustment for both of us. He could not understand the Filipinos' need to eat rice with every meal, and I could not imagine having native Filipino dishes without it. Pork sisig with mashed potatoes? Nah. I don't think so.

I have written an article a few years ago about how me and my husband are complete opposites and yet somehow manage to keep our relationship healthy. How different are we from one another? Well, for the record, he's handsome and I'm gorgeous. Ha ha.

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Communicate and compromise

Relationships are not always full of the joys of spring every day. In reality, couples disagree and have their "moments" from time to time. Just like we do. I am a tinderbox ready to explode when I am swamped with work, and he is a crabby patty when he's in pain. Through the years, we have learned to avoid getting on each other's nerves during these "moments." The trick is to communicate your need and if it cannot be met, then settle for a compromise.

Learn from each other

It is very important for us to never stop learning from each other. My husband is like my very own Google. I don't need to do a search for something, I simply ask him and he knows! Whenever I compliment him and say, "Oh goodness, you're so smart!" He'd just reply with, "No, I'm not. My brain is just full of useless information."

He is trying to learn to understand Filipino, but after more than a decade, he only understands a few words. That's okay. I never grow tired of trying how to teach him how to properly pronounce the names of the cities or municipalities when he reads a news item about it. Our cultural differences are our bridge of learning. We are like toddlers, always curious about anything and everything related to being American and being Filipino.

Find humor in everything

Both me and my husband suffer from chronic illnesses. Although these are not life-threatening, there are days when things go bad. There's the back pains, the joint pains, the fluctuating blood sugar levels, the migraine headaches. During those bad days, we make it a point to find ways to distract our attention away from the pain. I greet my husband with, "Hello, Stephen!" when his joints are stiff. He says, "You're so sweet" when my blood sugar reading is high.

Our bodies are no longer the same ones when we first met. Eleven years ago I was fit and slim and he was fit and strong. Now, we don't look anything like we did before. Does that matter? Nope, not one bit. We may be old, but we are still in shape. He is now shaped like a long rectangle, and I am shaped like a trapezoid.

Keep the Faith

Putting God in the center of the relationship strengthens the bond between couples. My husband and I are both Christians. Although he's Protestant and I'm Catholic, we still believe in the same God. He reads the Bible almost every day and it is such an admirable trait.  He encourages me to read the Bible, and lets me know what to read when I encounter trials, need guidance or to praise and thank God for blessings received.

One of the biggest blessings I received is having my Poppa bear in my life. And I thank God immensely for that.

Little things are important to keep the spark alive

Simple, heartfelt tokens of affection go a long way. A warm hug as we  pass each other on the way to the kitchen, a kiss on the forehead to wake one up, or even just holding hands while watching a silly sitcom means a lot to us. Couples have terms of endearment for each other. Well, we do too, and we call each other "Poppa bear" and "Momma bear." We live in a "bear cave," and our kids are the "bear cubs."

Doing housework may be the most mundane task, however, the efforts we put in is enough to show how much we care for each other, and for our family.

The bears go through a huge pile of clothes in a week and laundry day means back-breaking labor for me. I know how important it is to keep choose the right laundry products for our clothes to be clean, fresh smelling and if possible, bacteria free too. So, I do not scrimp on laundry detergent. I also choose a good fabric conditioner that will give our clothes a long lasting fragrance.

Del is my fabric conditioner of choice for the longest time now. When I learned they had two new variants, Del Forever Joy and Del Forever Love. I just had to get some and try it!

My take on them? I give them a 10 out of 10! It does make our clothes smell fresher, longer! I just love opening my closet and discovering that my clothes still smell fresh and fragrant, even after two weeks have passed! It is true that Del Forever Joy and Love now has 15x longer lasting bangooooo versus a regular detergent brand based on consumer test in Metro Manila. Fantastic!

I also found out that Team Kramer, an adorable celebrity family with three active kids, also trusts Del to keep their clothes smelling mabango the whole day! Now that I am using Del too, I can be sure that  my sons won't smell stinky and sweaty when they come home from sports practice. My daughter will smell like she just came out of the shower even after her long commute to work. For me and my husband? We enjoy this new scent! More hugs, more closeness, more love!

Give no less than 100% in everything you do.

Whatever you do to keep the relationship strong, give it your best and give it 100%. Give your full attention and really listen to what your spouse is saying. It means a lot to a person when they know you are actively listening to them.

From cooking, to cleaning the house, to running the business, do it out of the goodness of your heart. Things done haphazardly will only be reason for misunderstanding.

I used to hate doing the laundry, however, I have found an hassle free way to get the task done. I soak the clothes overnight, run the wash cycle in the morning and finish off with Del fabric conditioner. I am hooked on their two new scents! I used Del Forever Love last week when I washed our beddings and curtains. Now our bedroom smells like a flower garden in full bloom! I love it! Check out Del's Facebook page and read about how people are raving about their products. You just have to believe in Forever!

For the record, I am not a marriage counselor or a psychologist. The secrets to our long lasting relationship are simple and come naturally. What works for us may be different from yours, as we all know that every relationship is unique.

Now that I have shared with you the secrets to our long lasting relationship, I would love to hear about yours. Share them in the comments below.

Live. Love. Stay Blessed.

Suffer No More: A Surefire Guide To Staying Safe When Living Alone

More people than ever are now opting to live alone. It makes sense when you consider that starting a family happens much later in life than it used to. Single twenty-somethings now flock to solo apartments as they lead busy professional lives. And, as can be seen on articles like the one found at https://lonerwolf.com/living-alone/, living alone can actually improve your quality of life. It’s a fantastic way to discover who you are. It’s also much better for unwinding after busy workdays. Plus, you can watch whatever you want on television!

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But, living alone isn’t without its pitfalls. And, no; we’re not talking about loneliness. In fact, if you have an active social life, living alone shouldn’t leave you lonely at all. Instead, we’re talking about safety. There’s no getting around the fact that you find safety in numbers. Thus, when you live alone, that security may feel harder to come by. While you’re not at any more risk for living alone, you may feel unsafe. After all, there’s something spooky about returning to an empty apartment. And, there’s no one beside you when you hear a bump in the night.

To ensure this doesn’t ruin the haven of your home, all you need to do is take the necessary precautions. With these in place, you won’t have any reason to worry. 

Install a security system

The best thing you can do to improve your safety is install a security system like the ones found at https://homesecuritysystem.co/. By opting for a design which contacts the police when triggered, you can rest easy that you aren’t in this alone. Systems like these also protect your apartment when you aren’t in it. And, with many systems now hooking up to our phones, you can keep an eye on things when you’re out and about. 

Get to know your neighbors

Few of us get to know our neighbors these days. Community spirit simply isn’t what it once was. Now, we lock our doors and do nothing more than nod to our neighbors when we see them. But, when you’re living alone, it’s worth developing friendships with those around you. All it takes is a knock on the door and an invite round for coffee. They’re sure to react kindly to your efforts. And, you’re sure to feel much safer knowing you’re on talking terms with those around you. If you’re ever worried about something, you can go around to your neighbor’s instead of suffering alone. 

Keep in regular contact with loved ones

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It’s also worth developing a regular contact routine with loved ones. In the modern age, this doesn’t mean an hour-long phone call of an evening. Who has time for that? Instead, nightly chats through text, or even on Facebook, are all it takes. This is an easy way to check in with everyone. It’ll help put you at ease because you’ll feel more connected to the outside world. It also ensures that your loved ones will notice if you stop posting!

Clearing Your Mind (And Your Cellar): The Emotional Aspect Of Selling Your Home

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Our home is our pride and joy, and we generally do all we can to maintain the upkeep. From cleaning our home to having your partner undertake the essential maintenance, so when it comes to the process of selling your home, it should be easier on your finances. But what is the emotional impact of selling your home? It can be a difficult process. You may have friends that have been through the mill when it comes to dealing with estate agents, people viewing the home, and the hidden costs that crop up now and again. So if you are about to sell your home, how can you best prepare yourself in an emotional sense to deal with the onslaught?

The Importance Of A Clear Conscience

Hopefully, because the essential maintenance is done on a regular basis, this means that you have your home completely safe and foolproof. However, there are things we can overlook, and you don't want it to get to the point where potential buyers are being turned away by something you haven't noticed. So in this respect, it's best to get a professional in, such as a home inspection company, to go through every aspect of your home and give you that peace of mind. You don't want to vacate your home after the realization that you just sold a death trap, so make it your responsibility to get your home up to code. There's always going to be someone who will notice a little issue, and not by your home for that reason. 

Feeling In Limbo

If you start the home selling process and it takes longer than you think, or there are some sticking points, such as the price being offered for much lower than you anticipated, it can drag on and on and so you may feel a bit trapped by the process. Feeling in limbo is very common, and the best solution to this is to look to the future, rather than the past or present troubles. It's better to focus your energies on your next dream home. It's a fact of life that you will encounter people that will make low offers, and some parts of the process will drag on. But if you are feeling trapped by the process, apart from taking your house off the market, you're best to just take yourself out of the process for a while. These things don't happen overnight, so don't emotionally invest yourself in the process in the hopes that you will sell up in the space of a month, it rarely happens, so by lowering your expectations at the outset, this will serve you better in terms of your state of mind.

The whole process of selling your home requires a lot of pre-planning and a lot of patience. It is one of the most stressful things in life, but if you approach the process with a clear head and be realistic about your expectations, the emotional stress of selling your home won't “hit home” as much.

321... 3 Issues We All Have To Deal With In The 21st Century (And How To Cope With Them)

The turn of the new millennium appears to have brought new problems with it. It's not just the youth of today that are facing extreme pressures due to common issues like social media and the Fear Of Missing Out, adults are facing many issues too. And here are some that are all too common now.

Debt

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It seems to be easier now to get a credit card, the amount of times you have a credit card application shoved through your letterbox shows how easy it can be to rack up masses of debt. There have been more than enough news stories circulating about people who have suffered at the hands of debt problems and have tried to dig themselves out, only to find themselves worse off. For anybody that is getting weighed down with debt, it's always important to remember that you can get help to either consolidate your debts or to get advice. There are sites like debtrelief.xyz that provide a lot of information on what you can do to escape the clutches of debt. The millennial generation, people between the ages of 21 and 34 years old, hold nearly a third of the USA's consumer debt. So this shows that people in their 30s, not just younger people, are struggling financially.

Our Carbon Footprint

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You can't escape it, we see everywhere the impact of our carbon footprint, from our own increased utility bills to the local authorities and governments enforcing crackdowns on waste. We've all seen the importance of why we should recycle now, but a lot of us are still not doing everything we can to minimize our carbon footprint. Very simply, the best way to do it is to cut back on your overall energy expenditure. But if you want to get a better idea of how much of a carbon footprint you have, you should head over to carbonfootprint.com where you can calculate exactly what your impact is on the planet overall. Your carbon footprint is the one thing that you have a responsibility for, so start to think about this.

General Anxiety

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This is something we're all slowly succumbing to as the years roll on, feeling trapped by anxiety is, unfortunately, becoming all too common. Many people would argue that the speed of life is too much now, and we are piling needless pressure on ourselves in every aspect of our lives, from our career to our personal lives, but others would argue it's the use of technology that is having a negative impact on how we function. A lot has been spoken of the dopamine hits that we get when we check social media, all the way through to the melatonin hormone being disrupted by our smartphones, which impacts on our quality of sleep. But if we endeavor to make changes in our lives for the better, from practicing mindfulness, all the way through to making better habits in our day-to-day lives, these will be the things that will help us live a more purposeful life.

The 21st century hasn't been easy so far, but if you look at these three things and ask yourself if you can minimize these, not only will you be benefiting the planet, but you will be benefiting yourself.

Ensure That Your Elderly Relatives Still Feel Young At Heart

Getting older and entering your golden years can be challenging for anyone; people can become frustrated that their bodies don’t do what they used to be able to, and with the health deteriorations that can occur in old age. Therefore, it’s vital that you do all you can to ensure that your elderly loved ones are able to feel young at heart and enjoy a great quality of life. You’ll want your older family members to remain a part of family life for years to come, and enjoy lasting memories with them. The following are some things to consider if you have ageing loved ones and want to make sure that they a leading a full and happy life.

Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-elderly-man-old-34761/

Communication

One of the most debilitating things to any person’s welfare is the feeling of loneliness and isolation. Therefore, keeping up a regular line of communication with your loved ones is a crucial part of making them feel needed and a key part of your family. Ensure that you phone or video call the seniors in your family on a regular basis; set a time each week, so that it’s something that doesn't get forgotten in busy household life. The odd call here and there, or a greetings card during the holidays, will make your relatives feel like an afterthought; so make as much effort as possible to contact them as much as you can.

If the distance is not too far; ensure that you visit your older family members and have face-to-face contact. As people age and their families grow up; their social life can often become narrow, so occasions where they mingle and go places will lessen. Be the one to invite your relative over for lunch at the weekends, or to watch your kid’s football practise at the school. You can learn more at www.agingcare.com on how to keep the elderly active, so pick up some advice and tips. Keeping someone as an integral part of family life will keep them feeling young and able, and will be a positive part of them getting older.

You should enjoy the various members of your family; older relatives can often provide an insight into life that you won’t have because they have been through more experience. Advice is another benefit of a mature loved one; learn from their hindsight and ideas on life. Grandchildren will always help to keep their grandparents young; there’s nothing quite like the innocence and humor of kids to keep an elderly person laughing and sharing stories. Therefore, make sure that you keep your ageing parents close to your family, by making them an integral part of bringing up your children.

It’s essential that you make allowances for health and mobility issues; don’t make your loved ones feel like a burden, if they have any problems, just accept them and adapt your plans so they can get involved successfully and enjoy their time with you. Many of the older generation don’t want to feel like a burden to their families, so make sure that you remind them of how important they are in your lives and you’re thankful for all they do and have done. Making your elderly relatives feel appreciated is the best way to keep up communication with them, and will prevent them from feeling isolated and unloved.

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Care

As mentioned earlier; your ageing family may be experiencing certain health and mobility issues, that prevents them from doing what they want to each day. You don’t want a person to deteriorate because they are under stimulated and depressed from a lack of normal life, so make sure that you’re doing all that you can to keep them active, well-fed, and thinking regularly. Simple gestures, like bringing over a hearty home-cooked meal and staying to watch a movie with them, each week, will be something they will look forward to and keep them in the loop of everyday life and entertainment.

Sometimes, you loved ones will need more care than you’re able to give them so that they can have a great quality of life. Therefore, it’s essential that you know when and where to seek expert help, care, and advice for your family. Whether your parent is afflicted by bad memory or mobility issues; there are a number of facilities that can assist them and will give the peace of mind that they’re being well looked after. You can learn more at www.parcprovence.com about how qualified carers can enrich your family member’s lifestyle and what their environment will be like. Care homes and facilities will still allow you to visit and communicate with your parent or relative regularly, so don’t be fearful to research into utilizing one.

Your elderly loved one’s needs will change with time, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about seeking help outside of your family environment. Often, nurses and carers become a new member of your family, and you’ll begin to put your faith and trust in them to look after your relative and to make sure that their needs are being met. Don’t be nervous to ask questions, and keep checking on the progress of your family member. You may be able to spot an issue that a professional can’t, as you’ve known them your whole life, so speak up and change things if needed.

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Understanding

The best thing that you can do for the senior members of your family is to understand their process and changing needs. It can be difficult to relate what someone is going through if you haven’t experienced any of it for yourself. However, putting yourself into the shoes of your loved ones may help you to see how daily life could be a struggle and a challenge. You have the power to help to enrich their life and encourage them to stay young at heart; so it’s worth taking every opportunity to do so. You’ll end up getting just as much out of helping and enjoying your elderly family members as they do; just give them your love, time, and patience.

15 Words That Changed My Mindset From "Stressed" to "Blessed"

A year ago, I quit my post as a Quality Assurance Specialist in the Business Process Outsourcing industry.

The pay was good, but it was not worth all the stress and the toll it had on my health. I hung up the towel after a decade of working the night shift.

My job as a QA with various companies were all memorable, but the best ones were the unexpected responses from the agents either during a live call, or during coaching sessions.

During one ordinary shift, I came across a bad call and gave an agent Auto-Fail. I approached her station and took her in for immediate coaching. She cried and said she wanted to quit. I told her, "Hey, its just a bump in the road. Now you know what you shouldn't do. This job brings food to the table and sends you kids through school. Don't give up! I'll be here if you need help or when you need advice. Remember, every time you encounter difficulties, just F.I.G.O. - Forget It and Go On."

Touching base with my friends who still work in that company told me this girl is now a Team Leader. I guess I did something right.

Three years later, in another company, I got to do the task of being a Virtual QA (which means the agents I handle are off-shore), I came across a most unforgettable statement from one of the agents assigned to me. Markus was very upbeat in handling the customer's concerns and while the customer was waiting for her order to be completed, the customer asked him, "So how are you doing today?" I was expecting a canned response in the likes of. "I'm doing good. Thank you for asking." But no! Markus responded with something that hit home. He said, "Well, I'm breathing, I'm employed, and I get paid on Friday. Everything's good. All is good."

Wow.

That was one wake up call for me. Why worry about the unimportant stuff when waking up is already a blessing in itself. Being able to breathe, walk, talk, interact, love and be surrounded with family and friends is a blessing! Doing what you love to do and get paid for it is a bonus! God is really good!

So now I go about living my life, my perfectly imperfect life. And when I get frustrated or depressed, All I have to do is remember Markus' words and carry on through the day. Fifteen words that touched my heart and made me be thankful of even the tiniest thing. 

Blessings sent! Have a great day.

My Word For The Year: BE

This is the first time I have tried having a Word for the Year. I have seen a lot of people doing it and after spending several days pondering on the most appropriate word for me, I found the perfect word.

BE.

A word of only two letters. It is a verb, an action word, defined in many ways, such as, "exist," "occur," "to have a state, quality, identity, nature or role."

Powerful, raw, intriguing.

This is how my year will start and end.

I will BE.

To snoop or not to snoop: Should parents spy on their kids’ chats and emails?

With the extensive application of mobile technologies, every parent’s mind is overwhelmed with the question: Whether to snoop or not to snoop their kids’ online activities. While countries like UK have advisors like who are urging parents to monitor their children’s emails, U.S. on the other hand is yet to get over the Edward Snowden crisis. It’s unfortunate that there isn’t much that we see government doing about kids’ online safety, and that’s why parents have to ask themselves whether it’s all right to monitor their kids’ online world.

The breach of trust, which is a possibility with spying on our kids, is in fact contingent upon how we define ‘spying in the first place”.

People have dramatically varying views about what’s the appropriate behavior for monitoring kids’ online behavior. Monitoring kids’ mobile-phone-related activities is pertinent nowadays to keep them safe against online predators, harassers, bullies, and unsolicited access to pornographic content. And sadly, the risks are uncountable, but the solutions are very limited. 

Natasha Furijanic, who has an eight-year-old son, says that monitoring may sound like intruding with our kids’ privacy, but it’s actually equivalent of saving their lives.On the contrary, mothers like Angelica, who is an educational psychologist believes that she would never spy on her daughter, because “that’s a violation of trust and an invasion of privacy”.

There are both easy and hard ways to find what’s there on your children’s computers, cell phones and tablets, but most parents who do spy on their kids’ online activity use tools like email spying software, because it’s an easy and convenient way of doing that. 

“I use xnspy email spying software to monitor my kids’ emails from his cell phone. The app is really convenient and easy to use, because all I had to do was to download it onto my son’s smartphone to start monitoring”, says Monica, mother of three. 

Day, who is the author of “Her Next Chapter” believes that spying on kids is an easy way of sabotaging the parent-child relationship. Her book talks about the mother-daughter bonding and reflects on the beliefs of openness and trust that parents and kids should have with each other.

While there are numerous ways to monitor our kids’ emails and online activity, the most convenient way for parents is to use an email spying software. These apps can be easily installed onto a cell phone; all parents have to do is to download the app onto the device they wish to monitor.

“It’s usually presumed that kids would retaliate to the idea of being monitored, but what really bugs them is the intrusion and constant questioning. I am using an app to monitor my kids and they are perfectly fine with it; they like the idea that I can check on their GPS location, contacts or multimedia without having to ask them for their device or calling them. It’s simple if you know how to bargain with your kids. They need to know that why digital safety matters, and when parents are able to do that, using a monitoring app on their phones is not a big deal then”, added Monica. 

But not every child thinks like that of Monica’s; there are parents who do think that monitoring kids’ email or smartphone is a breach of their privacy, and if there is something they should be doing, it’s to ask them about it. 

“I think parents should rather just focus on providing their kids the digital education they need. I don’t want an app to snoop into my phone; I want my privacy. There are things that aren’t risky but embarrassing and that’s why parents don’t need to know them. If we know the risks, we could be careful”, says Joe, a high school student. 

Apps like https://xnspy.com/ have been in the limelight for their pros and cons. Where kids find it intrusive, parents find this IM chat spying app highly convenient to keep check on the digital safety of their kids. 

What do you think about the use of mobile spying software on your kids’ electronic devices? Let me know in the comments.

Three Important Questions I Ask Myself Before I Make A Purchase

How many times have you purchased something just because it was on sale? Was there a time when something fancy caught your eye in the store window on your way home from work and you just happened to have received your paycheck? 

I have been guilty of it many times in the past and most of the time I regretted my purchase. I guess with age comes reason and I have learned my lesson. Experience is indeed the best teacher. 

For me to avoid buying on impulse, I ask myself three questions before putting an item in my cart. It works pretty well for me so I am sharing it with you.

"Do I NEED it or do I WANT it?"

Photo credit: http://fami.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/needwant.jpg

There is really a difference between "need" and "want." Simply put, a "need" is essential for survival. These are the basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and water. To stress the extreme, a "need," if not met, may cause an individual to die. In contrast, a "want" is something we desire, or a wish, which is not going to negatively affect our well being even if this "want" is not met. Simply put, "I want a new car," will not be detrimental to our survival if we don't get it.

In mommy language, we can say, "I need to buy bread," and this would mean just enough for the family's consumption. If you see a sale for bread and say, "I want to buy bread," even if you still have 7 loaves at home, you still go ahead and buy 7 more loaves just because they are on sale. Now that is definitely impulse buying. 

"How often will I use it in the next 30 days?"

Photo credit: http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/y2ldv5eufb3jcrtfouye.jpg

This is the question I ask myself when I am tempted to purchase a new outfit, shoes, sneakers, or a quirky kitchen gadget. Just when I am ready to whip out some cash, or my debit card, I stop and think long and hard. Being a work at home professional, new clothes are not a necessity. It is just so tempting at times to purchase a new pair of jeans, which, come to think of it, may only be worn once in the next 30 days. 

One time I was window shopping in the mall when I came across a good sized crowd watching a product demonstration of a vegetable chopper. It was amazing because it did not need electricity to use it. Simply pull a cord and the two sharp blades inside the container will spin and chop your veggies. Guess what. I bought one. And I regretted it because I came home realizing that my purchase was just a manual food processor. How many times did I use it? ONCE. I returned to using my trusted high powered food processor. Money down the drain. Lesson learned: Stay away from product demonstrations. 

"If I buy it, will it change the world?"

Photo credit: https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/china-impulse-buying.jpeg

Funny but true. This is the question I ask myself when faced with a major purchase. A new refrigerator, or washer-dryer combo, or a new oven. Some appliances, even if they are still working good may not be using electricity effectively, so replacing them with the new ones will be beneficial in the long run, giving me savings in my electric bill. 

However, when vanity strikes, this question repeats itself in my head over and over until it makes me turn my back and leave the store. A new phone? Maybe ditch my tablet and get a slimmer, newer model? Maybe those fancy hair irons?

My response to the question is a definite NO, it will not change the world if I give in to vanity. I may have the money to spend but still, NO. 

If I would want to effect change in the world, I would rather buy products from companies that donate part of their sales to worthy causes. I could check out those worthy causes by reading things like K9s For Warriors reviews and so on and make my purchasing decisions based on that. I would choose products that are environment friendly and those that do engage in animal testing. 

It is so easy to be tempted to purchase on impulse. The huge discounts being offered for goods that are not really essential for our daily survival. It is only wise to be frugal with our hard earned money. Save for a rainy day. Save for your child's college education. Save for retirement. Save for that well-deserved vacation you've been planning for years. 

Focus on your blessings. Your family, friends, food on the table, a roof over your head, and clothes on your back. More importantly, practice the these three virtues - Faith, Hope, and Love so you will be able to make the right choices and live a happy fulfilled life. 

Change The Way You See Beauty

I love taking photographs. My interest in the art started when I was still in grade school and I absolutely adored my very first instamatic camera.

I am now a mother to three young adults, and a grandmother to an adorable little 8-month old baby boy. Although I have not taken my love for photography to a professional level, I still enjoy walking around the neighborhood with a digicam in my pocket and my smartphone ready to capture an extraordinarily beautiful moment. 

My photos have always been random, candid shots of mundane and ordinary things. There is so much beauty in stuff we usually take for granted. I guess I just have a different perception of "beauty." 

Take for example this first photo. I saw this beautiful butterfly (Papilio demoleus or "Lemon Butterfly") laying on the sidewalk. I took pictures of it and was amazed because it kept still, like it was allowing me to take pictures of it. Sadly, after a couple of shots, I found out that the butterfly was dead. Its wings spread out as if in flight. Beautiful, even in death.

Nature for me, is one of my choice subjects to depict beauty. I love flower photographs, especially after a downpour. The petals look fresher, the leaves greener. This next photo was taken while I was walking to the grocery store. I chanced upon this lovely cluster of little red flowers. My friend, a professional photographer said, "Anything red is always beautiful in photographs." Indeed, he was right!

The miracle of life in itself is a thing of beauty. A lone, wild pepper plant thriving and surviving in a small patch of soil along the side of a street bears fruit. The beauty of life unfolding in the most difficult of situations.

There is so much beauty around me and my heart just fills with joy just to witness these simple things. It is in these little joys that my faith in God is strengthened. 

"He hath made everything beautiful in His time." 

(Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Its been raining for days on end, but I always make it a point to look at the world from a different angle. Rain provides water, which supports life. If I could only hear it, I am sure there is a joyful song sung by all creatures of the earth every time it rains. I have captured some of these moments using my trusty little digicam.

A snail doing its happy rain dance:

A caterpillar finding its way to a tree branch, to hie away for a time and grow its wings.

And mushrooms sprouting on a log:

I have changed the way I look at beauty by using my heart instead of my eyes. My faith guides me to see things differently and to appreciate these blessings. I know there are so much more around me waiting to be appreciated for their unique beauty.

My wish is to be able to immortalize moments of beauty with a better smartphone camera. I have come to know that Huawei P9's camera will be able to provide me with clearer, crisper photos. Engineered with Leica technology, I am sure it will give me print-ready photos! I can give my digicam a rest and just have one device with me every time. Huawei P9's primary camera's specifications are Dual 12 MP, f/2.2, 27 mm, Leica optics, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash. Although I do not take "selfies," it is also good to know that its secondary camera has these features -  8 MP, f/1.9, autofocus, 1080p. These features alone are reason enough to dream of owning one! Huawei P9 will definitely Change The Way You See Mobile Photography!

Until that dream materializes, I will continue on my journey of life, taking photos along the way and sharing it with others so that they too, may change the way they see beauty.

How I Make Worklife Easier

After a decade of working in a call center as a Quality Analyst, I have decided it was time to quit. Last March 2016, I turned my back on the highly stressful graveyard shift, the commute at ungodly hours and the lack of sleep.

I am now a Work at Home Mom-Freelancer-Blogger-Virtual Assistant-Social Media Manager-Nanny all rolled into one. You may say, "Lucky you. You get to stay home and work." Hold your horses, people. Working at home is not as easy as you think. Although I get to work in my pajamas and never have to worry about commuting, home based jobs can be as stressful as office based jobs. For you to be successful in this field, you have to be the Master of Multi-Tasking.

My work station at home.
I am in the process of completing social media chore threads for two clients

My daily tasks include taking care of my grandson from 7:00 am to 11:00 am; and from 6:00 pm to 10:30pm. So between the hours of 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, I focus on my online tasks, making sure that every assigned task is complete and error free. 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm is spent preparing dinner for the family. Nothing special. I am lucky my children are not picky eaters. From 10:30 pm till 1:00 am, I do my online writing assignments and update my blog. Bedtime for me is usually around 1:30 am.

Doing my data entry job while my grandson is asleep in his crib.

Saturdays are dedicated to household chores - doing laundry, cleaning the house, replacing bed sheets and pillow cases, and grocery shopping. 

As you have probably noticed, I only have one day a week for myself.

How can I do all of these and not bog down due to stress? Well, here are some tips I can share with you.

1. Plan for the day ahead. Before going to bed at night, make sure all the stuff you need in the morning is ready. Fill the coffee maker, make sure the ingredients for a easy to make breakfast is thawed, sliced, and in the fridge. Sort the laundry and soak the whites if necessary. Nothing is more convenient than waking up in the morning and just flicking a switch. Hassle and stress free first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day.

2. Focus on the task at hand. Even if you are multi-tasking (doing the laundry while completing a social media chore thread), you must learn the "switch-on, switch off" technique.

3. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. There are times that it is impossible for me to sit down at the dinner table to have lunch or dinner, and when this happens, I make myself a sandwich and have it while I am working on something. If I cannot have three full meals a day, I do a "Six small meals" a day plan. That would mean sandwiches, salads, a glass of milk, fruit, dairy or cereal. 

4. Dedicate a few minutes a day for "me time." I usually sit on the couch, put my legs up on a stool and just close my eyes. I don't sleep or nap, I just try to shut my mind off things. It is very relaxing and I feel recharged and ready to accomplish more.

5. I take my rest day seriously. When I mean rest, I mean it. Sundays are when my sons take over the household chores and make meals for the family. I make them learn their ways in the kitchen. I know their future wives will thank me for it!

6. Lastly, I always remember to take my maintenance medication on schedule and of course, my vitamins. I take a multi-vitamin mineral supplement and 1-2 capsules of  the non-acidic vitamin C supplement, FERN-C. 

As we all know, multi-vitamin and mineral deficiency can lead to illness and we don't want that, especially if we are the bread winners in the family. Vitamin C is naturally found in most fruits and vegetables. However, we need to take supplements to fulfill the Recommended Dietary Allowance to reap its full benefits. 

The best benefit we can get from Vitamin C is an increased body resistance against infection and stress. It also acts as an anti-oxidant, thereby helping our body get rid of harmful free radicals. It has been shown to fight and prevent cancer, protect against cataracts, lower blood cholesterol and promotes cardiovascular health. Moreover, Vitamin C is known to speed up healing of wounds. 

Vitamin C preparations are either in the form of Ascorbic Acid or Sodium Ascorbate. As a consumer, we may not usually pay attention to this and purchase any available over the counter preparation. However, did you know that FERN-C (Sodium Ascorbate) is quickly absorbed than Ascorbic Acid? It is true. The low acidity of Fern-C makes absorption easier with less stomach irritation! 

So whether you're a blue collar, white collar or work at home professional, you can stay healthy and reduce stress by taking 1-2 capsules daily of FERN-C, the Number 1 Sodium Ascorbate preparation in the market today. Mabisa, Maaasahan at Subok Na!

Make it a habit. I did and now I am more confident in meeting my work deadlines without the stress! I can achieve my dreams because I know Worklife ay Easy with FERN-C!

Gusto mo ba maging milyonaryo? Simple lang, mag FERN-C para maiwasan ang stress at pagkapagod. Magbanat ng buto. Magdasal. Magtiwala.

To learn more about FERN-C, Number 1 Sodium Ascorbate preparation in the Philippines, follow them on their social media channels:

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Stay happy, healthy and stress free while you workity with FERN-C!