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4/23/2020 0 Comments THE VILLAGE MENTALITY As previously mentioned, I lost one sister to breast cancer. Also, another sister was diagnosed with the disease in 2014. It was after the second diagnosis that I realized the need to try and preserve my own health and take a synergistic approach to my daily living and my body as a whole. Not only did I want to learn more about breast cancer, but anything that could expose me to hazards and chemicals that could negatively impact my quality of life. My internet search overwhelmed me with information. It was too much information for me to retain and digest. Additionally, the information was constantly changing. I decided, to adopt the Village mentally of my ancestors: pray, seek knowledge, and work in a group environment to discuss and share with others what has been learned. You became a member of this Village when you entered this blog.
On this site we will talk about readying ourselves for medical storms before the storm is upon us. We will take a look at some of the available scientific research that is available to us as well as going back into the ancestral vaults of our grandmothers and great grandmothers. Women who pressed their ears close to nature to hear thus what the spirit revealed to them. Today, we need their wisdom more than ever. Many doctors are overburdened by their caseloads. This sometimes results in our being shuffled through the medical system as quickly as possible and given prescription drugs that often create their own chemical treasure trove of maladies. In some instances, you can't get a medical appointment right away and have to wait weeks. A few years ago, a friend shared with me that she went to her doctor with a list of concerns. She was told that she had too many concerns to discuss in a single visit and that she should make another appointment. What do you do when you have a lot of medical concerns? Do you take a long list to your doctor like my friend or do you let them fall by the wayside? Little issues can develop into bigger issues later on. Last week, I read one statistic that said people 65 and older are 70 percent likely to need a long term stay in a medical facility. This alone, could wipe out any built up savings. If you have not already done so, perhaps now is the time to take measures to keep yourselves as healthy as possible. One concern in the lives of many older adults, is the current pandemic. Covid-19 has exposed many inequities in our health care system for African Americans. We should be concerned about this; however, being concerned is not enough. We have to be more proactive in educating ourselves. How do we do this when so little is known about this virus? One thing we can do is follow the scientific guidelines of what is presumably known. Also, follow your natural instincts, and do not allow yourself to be pressured by the influences of others to take chances you are not comfortable with. This site, is a call to action for all women who have the common goal of living the best life possible. A life free of sickness and disease that impacts our quality of life. Another goal is to manage any sickness or illness that have already befallen us. I am so excited to be sharing this platform with you. So, lend us your voices and ears, listen to your spirit, and speak thus what has been recited to you. Get ready and be prepared to learn things here you never knew or even thought about.
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4/23/2020 0 Comments WRITING YOUR WAY TO HEALTHYou do not have to be a pro to write. There are many genres of writing whereby you can try your hand. It can be in the form of a play, a short story, a poem, or even a song. It is up to you how you want to express and release your thoughts.
“Poetry is like a tide that ebbs and flow and expands your mind in order to grow.” On this site, we write, share, and express thoughts that help us care for and nurture our physical and mental health during our journey here. It is important that we all know just how special we are. Has anyone ever told you that you are special? Did you believe them? If so why? Share with us why you know that you are special in 100 words or less and I will share some interesting facts with you in a follow up article.  Robert H. Schuller, a well known minister, shared some of his pearls of wisdom about life: “Never cut a tree down in the wintertime, make a negative decision in the low time or make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait and be patient. The storm will pass and the spring will come.” Has Covid-19 impacted your mood and your patience? If you are like me with an active social life, you have been impacted. Now the question becomes, how do we remain patient and navigate our lives during these restrictive new rules and uncertain times? Not only must we figure out how to remain patient but how to keep ourselves safe. During a pandemic, there is no such thing as a guarantee of safety because our safety depends on enclaves and the villages of the world. It is therefore, incumbent on each of us to determine what safety looks like to us and the level of risk we are willing to take to feel safe. For me, the question is not only about my level of patience and risks, but how do I survive amidst this pandemic. As an African American woman, over age sixty, I am in a high-risk category. I know first-hand the destructive force of this virus and have lost relatives and friends to it. I have also prayed for others who thankfully recovered. I understand that leaving my home entails some level of risk. Not only when leaving my home but when receiving packages at my door. For many, the Covid-19 has not reached home yet because they have not witnessed first-hand the experience of standing in long food lines, being prevented from seeing a loved one in the hospital on a respirator or have not experienced a friend or family member's body being stored in a tractor trailer freezer. They have somehow managed to insulate themselves from the carnage that has spilled into our daily lives. They cannot be confined or inconvenienced and feel the need to bust free, and live in a pretend normal world. However, deny as they may, they are still amongst us walking, and breathing the same air in a real pandemic environment. Just as smoke drifts and circulates in a crowded room, they too are not immune from the pandemic's reach. Today, I am asking the question, what level of risk are you willing to take and what rewards will you receive for the risk taken? Let's hope that your rewards are worth the risk. I do not end this article with "Be safe" but rather "manage your own survival." Patricia Crews |
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