Every Step We Take....

Recently, I started using this health app on my phone. This covers my work day today.

It got me thinking about steps. The steps we take every where we go.

What steps do you take when your stressed?

Sad?
Hurt?
Lonely?
Happy?
Scared?
Hopeful?

Do the steps you take, enrich your life or deplete it?

Are you happy with the direction of your steps?

Do you take purposeful steps or wasted ones?

Every step we take, in each moment of our days, makes up our lives.

So, if your not happy with the current direction of your steps, maybe it is time to take some steps in a new direction.

Anyone can try to influence our steps but..

Ultimately, we get to choose where our steps will take us.



Until Next Time,
~It is what it is~

http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Stay High and Numb........

I was driving home last night and this song came on the radio. I thought how appropriate!!!!

The past 3 months, I have been offered anything I wanted to get for pain management. I am constantly saying NO! I did agree to a very mild muscle relaxer (which I only take half a pill on the extreme bad days) a very pumped up aspirin, steroids, and that's it. I want a cure, not a pill to mask the problem.

I grew up in the late 60's & 70's.  My parents are not into medication to get better. I suppose I get it from them. I can handle pain, we all can. I believe it is how we are taught about how to handle the pain, is how we develop what our bodies can handle and are able to discover what the problem is. Believe me, I was a tom-boy as kid. I climbed trees, cut the grass, chopped wood, anything outdoors and I would be there. I also had a few accidents along the way. Broken bones, stitches, scrapes, and bad bruises. The only time I got something for the pain was when I went to the hospital, which wasn't often.

I may have a higher tolerance than others. My kids see me at my worse and are baffled as to why I go to work.  They also know that if they have a head cold, sniffles, or something minor, they are going to tough it out. I go old school. Boil water with lemon and ginger. Ma's tea. Add organic honey, bought from a local dealer, when cooled. Warm/Hot bath when a fever strikes, with ibuprofen, if needed.

You can't be tough, if you do not let your body and mind know what pain is. The body was created to heal itself. Think about that for a minute. What does the doctor really do for you? They set broken bones, give stitches, remove body parts, clean up infections, and other things I am sure. But it is the body that heals itself, not the doctor or the medication. They are just the tools to heal the body.

I grew up with one family doctor that saw each member of my family. If he couldn't solve the problem we went to the hospital because it was serious!!!!

But somewhere along the way, someone, somewhere decided that we need medication to get through the day and needed to see a slew of doctors to get healed. And if that doesn't work, we can give you the pill that will cause your body to grow dependent upon, and it will keep you coming back to me, with no real cure insight, ever.

They get money in their pockets, while we become broke paying for the medication, while becoming addicted to the medication that was going to make me feel better, not heal my body.

Yeah, sounds about right for today's society...........................


Until Next Time,
~It is what it is~




**I do not own the rights to this song.
    I am not talking about chronic pain or people with life threatening aliments.

Carpal Tunnel or Broken & Bruised Bones?????

"Today's Generation Will Shape Our Future"

Last night's dinner conversation was about "Generations". I don't remember exactly what the topic we were discussing but my 14 year old stated, clearly, "It's the way my generation is." My 21 yr old and 19 yr old, gave looks, got extremely uncomfortable, as they knew the words that their younger brother spoke, were as dangerous as being left in a burning building, with no way out!.

You see, I have developed an open relationship with all my kids. Any and all topics get discussed at the dinner table. It started with the notion of, all us are here, together, let's all go around the table and talk about our day. Even when we have company over for the meal. Topics from, politics, religion, sex, relationships, society, you name it, we cover it. Nothing is off limits. The goal was to get my kids talking in a comfortable format. Teach them, how we all have different opinions and thoughts. How to hold an intelligent discussion with people, while breaking bread, and learn to be accepting of others opinion's while maintaining your own thoughts and belief's.

The conversation started with me asking my son why his answer was acceptable for him to say? My generation never referred, to my parents thoughts or ways, as being generational. My parents just didn't' get what I was going through at the time, because they were old. Hey, I was a kid. It seems, by using the, "My generation" is just a blatant excuse, he was not willing to see that he was blaming the differences in our generations, for the reason of my not understanding.

I pointed out that, it was previous "Generations" that invented the internet, that he relies way too much on today. That when we had video games, it was used for entertainment last. That we still played outside most of the time. We played board games or created games. That we could entertain ourselves, by ourselves, because we had no other choice but to be creative. That we read books with may different genres.

But, I am not posting this to be long winded. My son, had some valid points that he made. There are many good things about the invention of the internet. There is also a major loss. I asked him, other than improving upon an invention that was already invented, what else will his, "generation", invent?

If the generation that played outside, invented the internet that brought all of us inside, what will his generation invent, that will combine both worlds, to bring balance to ones life?

What invention could he think of that would allow, all of us to find the balance that we all need?

What invention could he invent, that would be generational-less?

That would break the barrier of, Generations altogether?

How cool would it be to think of our parents as a well of experience and a fountain of information, instead of being old or so last generation?

Do that and maybe he would have invented a balance of life that make his kids know playing outside with creativity and the knowledge of creativity that the internet world brings.

A balance between the generation that had bruises and broken bones when they played, not carpal tunnel.

Why? Because maybe then we would have a society that showed respect, tolerance, acceptance and kindness.

That's Why.



Until Next Time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Ugh, Mom!!!!!

We were trying to have a chill night at my house this evening. No activities going on, it's been a rainy day, and we had a hearty beef stew for dinner.  All was good except for my daughter, she was in a mood.

One sister and three brothers. I am the witness to all that goes on between them. Tonight, they kept asking her if she was ok? Yeah. 10 minutes later, "You sure your ok?" Yes! 10 minutes later, "You don't seem ok, are you ok?" YES!!!

I get the looks from both of them. The "Mom what is her problem!! Look" The, "Mom are you going to let her talk to me like that, I was just asking. Look" Then the, "Mom, why can't they just leave me alone?!! Look."

My daughter is tired. Being tired she wants to be left alone. Her brothers can't stand that she is not in a good mood and think that they are being helpful by showing concern for her.

I know this is how she gets. She has had a busy weekend, week, and the weather doesn't help with her Scoliosis. This has happened before and they should know by now, but when do siblings learn???

I can remember a few annoying moments with my sister's growing up. I can laugh at them now but got really irritated back then.

What they all do not realize is, how lucky they are to have each other now.

Lives are changing daily, as they all are going their different ways. Phone calls, e-mails, texts, and skyping will be their form of communication during these next few years as they all grow up.

When they do get settled into their adult lives and get together for visits. The stories will be rehashed and exaggerated.

Laughter and love will be evident by the bond that they share.

As it is for siblings anywhere. A bond built on, love and annoyance.


Until Next Time,
~It is what it is~

Give me your time or do not call me your friend.....

As I am trying to gather my thoughts about this post, a friend is texting me. A friend who has grown so much this past year, with great news. I am so proud of them.

I am not sure I would use the term best friend to describe friends but I liked the meaning of this picture. I  think we have friends that come into our lives for different reasons. I am certain I have posted about friendships before and how I feel we need a village of friends to get us through our lives.

 It is important to make time for those friends we hold in high regards or close to our hearts. We shouldn't take them for granted. There are so many ways to stay in touch these days, that it sends a clear message when you don't.

Keep an open dialog with them. I can't tell you how often I have had personal and meaningful chats via text. Always state how you feel, so there are no misunderstandings. It doesn't matter how often you talk, it is what's talked about, that matters.

There seems to be trust issues amongst friends these days and that is just sad. The bigger issue is, allowing ourselves to become vulnerable with them. Everybody ughly cries, has a dark side, and will do things that are unthinkable. Does that make them less trustworthy or not worth having as a friend? NO!!!

Bottom line here is this, if you value someone, think of someone to be trustworthy, know they have your best interests at heart, and respect them, then they are your tribe. Period.

Don't lose them. They are hard to find these days but easier to hold on too.


Until Next Time,
~It is what it is~


http://www.facebook.com/Jackiesview

Give me a Vampire or a Werewolf any day....

Life has a put way too many "Real Ugly Humans" in our paths. And no, I am not talking about a person's appearance here.

It deeply saddens me to see the ugly in a person's character. I am talking about people who are vindictive, malicious, mean, and the worst are the one's who shout from the roof tops about how great they are.

They will find your weakness and exploit it. Pretend to have your back while twisting the knife into it. They believe they are superior to us, real humans. They get some profound satisfaction in seeing our demise from their doing.

I will allow those to do whatever it is they  need to do to feed their own self worth, at my expense.

You see, they can only harm you, if you believe in them.  At the end of the day, I will still be surrounded by, those that know my worth and value it, by me just being me.

The ugly, well, at the end of the day, all that they will be surrounded with, is people who are just like them.

And that's why I am going to keep out hanging with my pack.....


Until Next Time,
~It is what it is~

Count to 10 and move on.....

Karma. Karma. Karma.

I am not a vindictive person, by any means, at all. I am not perfect either. I may cast a threat, in a heated state of mind. I always regret it, usually immediately too. Never carry through with it. I cool down and feel horrible by my actions, sincerely and humbly apologize, hope we can get past it, and move on.

My realness as a person, I forget that some people are NOT like me, at all. That for some, they are truly vindictive. That their thinking is not something I could ever truly understand.

I no longer react, in the heat of the moment. I wait it out. Analyze it and then react to it, if it warrants a reaction.

But there are situations that just make me count to 10 and say, "I do not deserve this. They will get it back, ten fold." Then I walk away.

I am a very strong person. I can let a lot fly by. I realized that, for some people, they are not where I am. Immaturity, hate for others, jealousy, and who really knows why some people are the way they are. But I do not have to worry about them. Just me.

So, let them hate the world, feel wronged, or however they think, and worry about You.

Build your world with kind people. When you come across a bad apple, look at it as a reminder of who you are, what you have and if you have to....

Count to 10, remember that Karma has a way of balancing the scales and move on.



Until next time,
~It is what it is~