

I lived about 15 minutes from a beach near Corpus Christi about 7 years ago. The truck spent a LOT of time very close to the salty spray. Not close enough to get stuck in the sand but really really close to the waves.
I didn’t get any rust except for those window holder-upper things. One went fairly quickly. The other one lasted a while but it finally gave way and leaked all of it’s oil out and never worked again.
It’s a pain in the butt to hold the window up with one hand while trying to open or close the tailgate.
Not to mention how awful it is to have to climb in there with a heavy window hitting you on the head.
Finding replacements has been it’s own challenge but we may have succeeded. We shall see.
https://amzn.to/3yrWgO4
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
I LOVE the convenience of having a truck but I abhor repairs. How about you? Does anything car related irritate you or do you take it in stride?
This article includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
It’s finally here and it is H.O.T.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the heat. The humidity, though….. I could do without feeling like I could cut the air with a knife. Where’s the cool breeze? Where’s the relief with being in the shade?
I do my best to keep complaints to myself, or at least to a minimum. I prefer to use that privilege in the winter. Cause give me hot weather over cold all day.
Do you have a summer vacation planned?
We have quite a nice vegetable garden going, so we won’t be leaving it for an extended time this summer. The hot weather is good for the okra, peppers, and tomatoes. Mini vacays and mental breaks will suffice for us this summer. We get to eat yummy veggies though! It’s a good trade.
They don’t like the heat either. We currently have them in our bathtub, presumably in search of cool water to drink. They have been inundating the kitchen countertops, stove, and sink too.
While I feel for them and their plight, I don’t apprciate them running around my kitchen. You feel me?
While being mindful of our limited space and our food prep area, we have been using Terro Liquid Ant Bait to keep them at bay. It works like a charm! If the darn things would just stay outside……
I hope your summer is fantastic! Stay cool. Stay well.
Do you have travel plans, or are you staying home and tending your garden this summer?
Having been recently diagnosed with cataracts, I naturally have some questions. The diagnosis wasn’t a complete surprise. I am “of the age”. Plus I smoked for decades.
**If you smoke, this is another reason to stop asap**
———————
In this article:
What are cataracts?
What causes them?
How to know if you have them.
What you can do about it.
What makes them worse.
What to do as prevention.
———————–
What are cataracts? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a cataract is when your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. Proteins in your lens break down and cause things to look blurry, hazy or less colorful. In other words, cataracts are the clouding of the lens of your eye, which is normally clear.
What causes cataracts? Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye’s lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down, causing vision to become hazy or cloudy. Other factors can increase your risk of cataracts, such as genetics, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
How do you know if you have them? An eye doctor can give you a diagnosis. Regular eye exams are recommended, especially when you reach the age of 60. In most cases, that’s when cataracts start developing. However, changes in the lenses of your eyes can start to affect you in your 40s. Reading glasses anyone?
What can you do about them? At first, stronger lighting and eye glasses can help. If impaired vision begins interfering with your usual activities, you may need cataract surgery. Likewise, your eye doctor may recommend it. In the U.S., the average age for cataract surgery is 73.
What makes them worse? Dehydration, alcohol, smoking, and obesity speed up the development of cataracts. Uncontrolled blood sugar or high blood pressure are also contributing factors.
Prevention, please:
Get regular eye exams. They are helpful in early detection.
Quit smoking.
Manage other health problems.
Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruit and veggies.
Wear sunglasses
Reduce alcohol use.
Now we know what cataracts are, what causes them, how to know if you have them. We also know what you can do if you have them, what causes them to get worse, and some preventative practices.
Hopefully, this answers some of your questions, just as it did for me.
Do you know someone with cataracts? Share this post with them. Sharing is caring.
Do you suspect you have cataracts? Tell us in the comments so we know we aren’t alone.
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Being visually impaired or having low vision, doesn’t mean you can’t still journal, write, jot down notes, make lists, etc. As a journal creator with low vision, I have created a book designed just for us. It’s on Amazon. Here’s a link – https://www.amazon.com/Need-Vitamin-Sea-lined-notebook/dp/B09RNFY3GG/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=i+need+vitamin+sea+notebook&qid=1648062359&sr=8-19
Bridges help us cross difficult terrain, sometimes being the only way to get from here to there.
Are there memorable bridges in your life?
Speaking of bridges and crossings, and getting from here to there, I want to introduce you to a new endeavor I recently started. I am creating adult coloring books, journals, and to-do list notebooks. They are available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/author/suzannehorrocks
This new endeavor feels like crossing a bridge because it is a new avenue, a new path, a new road. Having a bridge connecting my wellness journey, my entrepreneurial journey, and my dream of creating a line of blank books is priceless.
What bridge have you built or crossed that changed your life? (Small changes count too.)
It feels so good to get ready for bed.
You filled your diffuser with beautiful oils, you rolled calming nourishing pure-fume on your neck, wrists, anywhere, everywhere.
You fluffed your beautiful sheets and pillows. You have the most delicious book ever written beside your bed.
Your bedroom is cool, it smells inviting and relaxing, the lighting is soft .It’s ready for you to leave your troubles at the door and snuggle into sleepy time.
Feeling clean, cool, relaxed, you climb into bed, the beautiful soft sheets and soft fluffy pillows are waiting for you. You settle in for a few minutes with your favorite author, and feel your tension and busyness of the day melt away.
When you are ready, you turn off your side table lamp and the room goes to a luscious welcoming darkness. The bed is the most comfortable bed ever, your body is clean and fresh, the room is cool and dark.
You snuggle down into the covers, close your eyes, take a few deep breathes, and off you go into a deep restful rejuvenating sleep.
Your lips form a slight smile as you drift off into that deep nourishing sleep.
The morning sun peeks through your curtains, the birds are singing their morning songs, your eyes open and you realize that you are ready, eager to begin your day.
Your body, your mind are ready. Your body, your mind have had a nice long chunk of time to collect, sort, and store the nourishing nuggets from yesterday.
You are ready to glide through today with joy, grace, and ease.
Because you just slept like a baby.
To learn more about how to sleep like a baby night after night, read this post.
This article includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sleep is important for healthy metabolism, a healthy immune system, and healthy organ function, just to name a few things. During restful sleep, your body heals and your brain gets a necessary reboot. Just like your electronics need a reboot, so does your brain.
Up to 90 percent of adults report mental stress and anxiety as the number one reason that they can’t shut their brains off at night in order to easily fall asleep.
According to Dr. Ashley Anderson, there are some lifestyle changes that can help improve the quality of your sleep.
1. Own your morning. Get up early or at least on time. Give yourself time to organize your thoughts, and your day. There are anti-anxiety practices that you can do to start your day on the right foot. Things like deep breathing, meditation, journaling, or spiritual reading can help you begin the day in a calm, stress free mood. Unlike getting up at the last possible minute and rushing to get to work on time.
2. Create space within your day to de-stress. Take a break. Stroll outside. Listen to a short guided meditation. Relax in the sun for a few minutes. Take time to relieve some stress during the day to keep it from piling up at bedtime.
3. Create a good night time routine, especially in the last hour before bed. As parents, we know the importance of a good bed time routine for our kiddos. We need one too! Things like a warm bath, relaxing with a good book, dim the lights, low impact stretching, massage, journaling, etc., set you up for a good night’s sleep. Your brain will get in line with the program and pretty soon, you won’t have any trouble falling asleep.
There are some tools you can use to help you fall asleep easily. Namely essential oils. Cedarwood, Frankincense, Vetiver, Petitgrain, sleep blends, and more.
I work with doTERRA Essential Oils. Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and Vetiver are my go-to oils. doTERRA has curated a sleep wellness program which includes bath salts, some body butter infused with their sleep blend, a gratitude journal, a spritzer/sprayer for the bed linens, and more.
I have been using this program for two months and my sleep has improved noticeably. My energy is more consistent, my memory is better, focusing is easier, my food choices are better. The best thing is my good mood. I wake up looking forward to my day.
With my established bedtime routine, my brain is recognizing the signals and I’m ready for lights out quickly and fall into a deep restful sleep easily. This is after years of not getting enough sleep. The difference is stark.
Getting a good night sleep consistently is one of the best things you can do for yourself, your loved ones, your life.
To learn more about how to #SleepLikeABaby night after night, read this post.
The Rule of 4 = 4 hours a day of serious mental focus.
Your brain can only handle 3 to 4 hours a day of serious mental focus.
Whether you are Jeff Bezos, Charlies Darwin, or you at your best, everyone gets 4 hours a day of focused brain power.
You can work through mindless administrative work or manual labor for longer but concentrated intellectual effort is maxed out at 4 hours.
It’s biological. No need to guilt trip or let your inner mean girl send you negative vibes.
Pick your golden 4 hours and time block it. Protect those 4 hours.
You will get more done with less aggravation. And then you can get the more mindless tasks done outside your brain’s power hours.
It’s good time management.
It relieves guilt and stress.
Remember, it’s biological. It’s natural law.
Did you know getting a good night’s sleep is key to living a wellness lifestyle?
Not just one night but night after night after night, having a good sleep routine is vital to living healthy.
I often think of it like rebooting our computers. You know how over time without a reboot or defrag your computer will begin to respond slower and slower until eventually it doesn’t even want to start up?
It’s the same way with humans. During healthy sleep, our brains and bodies get a reboot.
Good sleep can boost your immune system. It helps prevent weight gain. Good sleep can strengthen your heart, increase productivity, and improve your memory. That’s just the beginning.
A good night’s sleep has good affects on every system in your body.
It’s THAT important.
So, are you ready to invest in yourself and getting a good night’s sleep?
Visit this link to explore doTERRA’s Sleep Wellness Program.
I am over halfway into the first kit and both my partner and I are sleeping better. Even he has noticed a difference and he’s only sleeping in the room with the diffuser going. Plus sleeping next to me after I slather on sleep enhancing oils, lol. He calls me his built in diffuser.
The oils you get in your kits are safe, natural, potent, and very effective. There are no negative side effects. You can operate heavy equipment and drive while under the influence of these oils.
doTERRA was founded because of the desire to supply the purest, most potent oils for our health and wellness.
I am living proof that the oils work.
You deserve the best because you are the best.
Sweet dreams friend.
P.S. Here’s the link again. You will be glad you invested in your health and wellness.
This article includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Can we talk about your sleep? Is it good or could you use some help?
Lack of good sleep can affect our health in many ways. Maybe you have experienced some of these at one time or another.
*difficulty maintaining weight or losing excess
*negative emotional responses (anger, fear, etc.)
*lack of motivation
Lack of good sleep has a negative impact on nearly all of your body’s organs and systems.
Just as poor quality sleep has negative effects, getting good sleep has positive effects.
A good night’s sleep can
*boost your immune system
*prevent weight gain
*strengthen your heart
*increase productivity
*improve your memory
Are you ready to learn what you can do to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis?
These are two natural systems in your body. You have to get them working smoothly and keep them working smoothly to enjoy restful, rejuvenating sleep. As part of Earth, we operate on her systems. When we are out of sync, we don’t sleep well.
First off, circadian rhythms. They are a lot like day/night, darkness/light, sleep/wake.
They are a natural process that regulates our sleep/wake cycle. It repeats roughly every 24 hours.
These natural rhythms are behavioral changes. We go from awake and alert to slowing down and sleeping. This change or rhythm isn’t instant. It needs a period to adjust. The triggers – or signals – match the sun cycle. The sun comes up, and we are triggered to wake up which begins to stop our melatonin production (I will get to melatonin production in a minute). The sun goes down, and we are triggered, through our retinas, to wind down and fall asleep. Our melatonin production begins and continues until the sunlight starts again in the morning.
Secondly, circadian rhythm is a behavior while melatonin is a chemical.
Melatonin is known as the hormone of darkness. That’s because it is made in the dark. Literally. When the sun goes down and night falls, our pineal gland begins making melatonin. As we wind down, our melatonin production winds up, allowing our bodies the time it needs to rejuvenate. It’s nature. It’s a cycle. It’s necessary for good living.
Melatonin is a beautiful chemical. It boosts our immune system. It is an antioxidant. It regulates our metabolism, improves our memory, can ease hot flashes, as well as halts cancer cells. Melatonin isn’t just for sleep. But sleep is for melatonin!
It is vital to good health to do all we can to pacify our circadian rhythms and bring on healthy melatonin production.
Remember when your kids were little (or when you were little) and they had a bedtime routine? Maybe they got a bath and/or you read them a story. They were on a sleep schedule. You know it was right for them. The same goes for you! You need a schedule and a good routine. One that helps you relax and eases you into a deep rejuvenating sleep.
Here’s a list of habits to cultivate to ensure you are getting the quality of sleep everyone needs:
Your bedroom is for sleep and sex only.
Make it comfortable and relaxing with good bedding.
Make it dark. Perhaps you need blackout curtains.
Quiet.
Comfy temperature.
Pleasant aromas and ambiance.
Get a good sleep schedule.
Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day.
Budget time for sleep. Put it in the calendar if necessary.
Be careful with naps. You won’t need one soon!
Change your sleep schedule gradually.
Get a good bedtime routine.
Wind down for 30 minutes. (quiet time, reading, journaling, low impact stretching,
relaxation exercises.)
Dim the light in the evening.
Wear blue light blocking glasses after the sun goes down when using
electronic devices or watching tv.
Disconnect from your devices one hour before bed.
Pro-sleep activities to do during the day.
Get sunlight – either directly or at least open your curtains.
Find time to move/exercise.
Avoid caffeine after noon.
Don’t eat too late – preferably at least 2 hours before bed.
I’m going to reiterate these things because they are THAT important. This is where the magic happens.
Make sure your bedroom is comfy and pleasant. With good bedding. And dark. Do. Not. Sleep. With. The. TV. On. Use blackout curtains if your neighbor’s lights are too bright. No electronics in your bedroom! It must be quiet. (Maybe you need earplugs or a white noise machine.) Turn off the TV!!! (Yes, I said it again.) Your bedroom also needs to be a comfortable temperature – approximately 65F or 18.3C. Use pleasant aromas, namely essential oils.
Get on a schedule. Remember your circadian rhythm is there to help you. It is a gift from nature. It’s there. You cannot escape it. You may as well get in sync. So, go to bed on time. Get up on time. Try not to nap. (You won’t need it soon, I promise.) If necessary, budget time for sleep. Put it in your calendar. It’s not time to figure out tomorrow’s challenges or today’s troubles. If you need to adjust your sleep schedule, do it gradually.
Create a good bedtime routine. Dim the lights in the evening. Disconnect from electronices one hour before bed. Use blue light blockers after sundown. Don’t eat less than 2 hours before bed. Take 30 minutes wind down time. Read a book, journal, do low impact stretching, get or give a massage, have sex, take a warm bath. Fill and turn on your diffuser. Annoint yourself with essential oils for sleep, grounding, or anti-anxiety.
Things to do in the day to sleep better at night. Move your body/exercise. Avoid caffeine after noon. Get sunlight, either directly or by opening your curtains. Dont eat within 2 hours of bedtime.
By cultivating these habits, you are setting yourself up for a good night’s sleep, night after night. It takes time to establish these routines. But soon your brain will be trained and you will fall asleep with ease and stay asleep.
It takes practice. You are retraining your brain and your body. One night of good practices won’t do it. Give yourself the time and patience to reset your inner rhythm and strengthen your melatonin production.
You can do this. You will be amazed how much better your feel.
Essential oils are for far more than something that smells nice. The use of plant essences – their oils – have been used medicinally for centuries, long before our modern medical industry came to be.
Hippocrates, “the Father of Medicine”, used plants for healing. Greek doctors became master herbalists. They believed nature was a great healer. Many of the ancient Greek natural remedies are similar to our home remedies today.
The use of essential oils isn’t new. It is a return to ancient ways with a modern delivery. They are usually steam distilled or in the case of citrus oils, cold-pressed. Then they are bottled in dark glass to preserve the oils and shipped to our doors.
This is where doTERRA has stepped in. Their philosophy is potency and purity are the most important aspects of essential oils’ efficacy. doTERRA’s oils are the most tested in the world. To solidify your knowledge, understanding, and trust, see the “Source to You” videos.
Now that I’ve introduced you to essential oils, let me tell you about some that are excellent sleep aids. We have some flowers, a couple of trees, a root, and a blend specially crafted for sleep.
The flowers are Lavender, Magnolia, and Roman Chamomile. The trees are Cedarwood and Petitgrain. The root is Vetiver. doTERRA’s restful blend is Serenity.
Lavender and Roman Chamomile have a reputation for inducing sleep. Magnolia has the same constituent, linalool. Linalool has powerful soothing and relaxing benefits to our emotions and our skin. (Oils are multi-taskers.)
Cedarwood oil is distilled from the needles, leaves, bark, and berries – not the pollen so many of us are allergic to. Petitgrain is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the wild orange tree.
Vetiver is a grass. The oil is distilled from the roots. It’s compounds and constituents provide calming and grounding effects.
An oil blend curated specifically for sleep is doTERRA’s Serenity blend. It’s perfect for de-stressing and unwinding. It melts away tight emotions helping you feel calm and relaxed.
I would like to venture off for a moment and tell you about my experience with sleep.
I became a “two sleep” person. I could only sleep for about five hours at night and was caught in a vicious cycle of not getting enough sleep at night and then needing a nap during the day resulting in not getting good sleep at night and needing a nap the next day. It was a vicious cycle indeed.
I learned that exercise is crucial for me. The need to physically expel excess energy became vital. The second thing I figured out was eating – my diet – what I was asking of my digestive system. Bottom line, I wasn’t giving my digestive system the break it needed to rest and repair. It wasn’t the only system not getting the rejuvenating rest it needed.
I have figured out my energy/stress level. I had realized that I needed to stop eating late at night.
I still needed some help though. That’s where the oils came in.
As a doTERRA Wellness Advocate, I am passionate about these oils. I am dedicated to them. I trust them. I believe in their power.
doTERRA has curated a sleep wellness program. I jumped in. I committed and invested. It worked!
I am sleeping regularly. I am amazed at the changes I feel. My memory is better. Brain fog and forgetfulness are receding. My energy level is high. I am motivated to keep my healthy habits. I make better food choices. I am amazed.
I want this for you too.
Back to the tools. Tools are vital. Can you imagine eating without utensils? Can you imagine styling your hair without a dryer, curler, or even a hairbrush? Tools make life doable.
Essential oils are a supremely effective tool to help ease tension and stress and allow you to gently fall into the restful rejuvenating sleep that your mind, body, and spirit need to function at your optimal level.
Been there. Done that. I hear you. I feel you. It takes practice. It takes getting into a routine.
I am willing to bet that your sleep issues have been with you for a while. They aren’t going away instantly.
You need to create a bedtime routine and stick with it over time. Your brain has to be trained and that takes time. Be patient with yourself. You will turn this around. You will be sleeping like a baby regularly! A deep restful rejuvenating sleep, regularly.
IF you are still having trouble falling asleep, here are some tips:
Use relaxation techniques. Breathing exercises are my #1 choice. I use the 4-7-8 method. Breathe in for the count of four. HOld for the count of seven. Release for the count of eight. Repeat four times. Count at the speed that’s comfortable for you. Over time your counting will become slower as your lungs get used to mindful breaths.
Another relaxation technique is to visualize yourself in a peaceful serene setting.
You can also relax individual body parts. Start with your toes and work your way up. Or start with your neck and work your way down.
Other techniques could be meditation, massage, yoga, tai chi, or sound therapy.
Try different ones or research more relaxation techniques. Remember – you are worth it. You deserve deep restful sleep. It’s worth developing a practice that works for you.
The second helpful tip – is don’t stew in bed. If you need to get up to turn down the lights, just do it. If you forget something, get up and take care of it. If you need to check on the kids or the pets, just do it. Don’t stew!
Keeping a sleep diary could be helpful too. I remember that time I ate a bowl of chili too close to bedtime. Talk about trouble falling asleep! I still remember it, so no need to write that one down. However, keeping a diary can help shed light on recurring disruptions and help you resolve them. A sleep diary can also shed light on what works well.
Helpful tip #4 – Give your new habits time to take effect. It takes time to train your brain. Be patient. Be persistent. You got this, friend.
Set the thermostat to low to mid-60s.
Use soothing background music to block out unwanted noise.
Get blackout curtains. Remember, our pineal gland makes melatonin in the dark.
Congratulations on doing what it takes for you to have regular, deep, restful, and rejuvenating sleep!
It takes time, patience, and practice to make lifestyle changes. Make a commitment, a promise, a pledge to create your best bedtime routine and practices to align with your circadian rhythm and boost your melatonin production.
Life works in rhythms. You can and you will find your groove and sleep easily and well, regularly.
You can and will live your best life.
How is March and Spring going for you so far?
Spring is time for new beginnings and awakenings. The flowers and trees are budding. We just took some of our houseplants outside for the warm half of the year.
Our bodies are ready to liven up after the rest and digest period of winter. Movement and cleansing are good areas to explore this season.
I have been drawn to cilantro recently. Chopping it up along with spinach and cabbage for a salad is amazingly refreshing and energizing. Cilantro is good for detoxing too. Perhaps that’s why it has come to me with such strong feelings this season. Give it a try. Or add some other light and leafy green if cilantro doesn’t float your boat. You can add it to sandwiches or salad. Use it as a garnish or make your own version of pico de gallo or a relish. Yum Yum!!
It’s your choice!
Along the thought line of “you get to choose”, how about choosing to NOT accept that guilt trip? Do you ever feel those? Either from inside your own head or from another person? You get to choose. Thank the guilt trip for reminding you to be mindful and let it go on it’s way. Don’t hang on to it. Seriously, guilt will find a home somewhere. You don’t have to hang on to it.
Life gets to be your choice. Live it as you like.
If you could make a change in your life, what would it be?
Happy Spring!
Natural – existing in or caused by nature, not made or caused by mankind
I preach and teach a lot about healing and natural wellness. So I looked up the definition. It makes perfect sense. Right? Existing in or cause by nature, not mankind.
Take a lemon tree for example.
Imagine taking a lemon tree to Mars vs taking vitamins, minerals, and supplements found in lemons.
The tree, with proper conditions like air, water, and light, will perpetually make more lemons. These lemons will have seeds to make more lemon trees, to make more lemons, to make more trees, to make more lemons, as far into the future as the imagination can see.
If you simply took the vitamins and minerals to Mars, they don’t replicate like a natural living tree. Pills don’t make more pills. They are made by mankind. They are not natural. You would quickly run out.
The difference is obvious.
Since we are of nature, perpetually replicating, doesn’t it make sense that our bodies would respond better to other things “of nature”?
Hence my constant teaching and preaching about choosing natural options first. Real sunshine vs vitamin D supplements. Water vs soda. Fruits and vegetables vs boxed and processed food. Restful sleep vs chemically induced sleep.
We are soooooo lucky to live on this planet. It has the perfect conditions for our species to thrive.
May you have great health and wellness, the natural way.
Since this is a reader supported blog, this article includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
First of all, my sincere apologies for the terrible pictures. I was taking them because it was a good way for Charlie to see what was bothering him on his back. Don’t you just love the new capabilities we have with our phones?
Anyway. Here’s the rest of the story……
This spot had been growing fairly slowly on Charlie’s back for a little while. It was beginning to bother him though. Hitting the chair when he leaned back. And starting to itch.
I took this picture because he wanted to see what it was.
And it not only looks terrible, it didn’t look like anything normal. Neither of us are medical professionals, nor do we specialize in beautiful skin. But this spot was a bit alarming.
Since we are both passionate about aging gracefully, naturally, and in a healthy way, we are into essential oils and natural remedies. So we took that route.
We started trying iodine. It didn’t seem to be making much of a difference so we switched to essential oils.
Lo and behold, we found a perfect formula.
Frankincense and Myrrh diluted with fractionated coconut oil. We applied it once a day. Once!! And that’s when we remembered to.
An incredible 15 days later. 15!! The spot was gone.
We chose Frankincense and Myrrh because they are both very good healers. Frankie heals everything. Let me put that a different way – Frankie helps your body heal itself. Myrrh is like liquid skin. It’s amazing!
The two together are magic. They healed the skin under that spot and it must have fallen off at some point.
No prescriptions drugs. No doctor visits. No cutting or any procedures. We simply put the Frankie/Myrrh/FCO combo on there daily (or at least as often as we could remember. Pretty much daily though.)
It has been about six weeks since the ugly skin thing disappeared. So far, it hasn’t reappeared here nor there, nor anywhere. It’s like magic. Nature works like that, you know?
This blog is reader supported. Therefore, this article includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
It’s February. So what do we expect, right? I believe climate change and global warming are real. But that doesn’t meant I expect February to be a pleasant walk by a soothing stream. I reserve the right to complain though. I grew up in the Southern U.S. so I prefer warm weather. I don’t complain of the heat. Haha, as stated, I reserve the right to complain about the cold.
There are hacks to stay warmish. I am currently wearing booties AND house shoes. I am steps away from donning a knit cap. Keeping my feet (and hands) warm goes a long way in feeling warm all over. Head coverings also are fabulous for keeping your body warm. Heat rises, you know. It escapes out the top of your head. Putting a covering over it slows the escape hatch.
Keeping in mind that I have zero medical training, I believe I can handle temperature fluctuations better since I started taking iodine. Our thyroid is fueled by iodine and it’s our thyroid that regulates body temperature. When it’s hungry, it doesn’t function efficiently. **Side note – do you function at your best when you’re hungry?** Cross my heart, the year I started taking liquid iodine periodically as a supplement, I handled cold weather much better. My hands and feet weren’t absolutely freezing all the time. Do your own research about thyroid health and iodine. I did mine and now winters are 1000% more tolerable.
With February comes Valentine’s Day. So here you go, Happy Valentine’s Day. I recommend doing some research on the origins of this holiday too.
The common theme for this blog post – do research.
You don’t have to believe anything, or everything.
With that, I wish you peace, good health and wealth. Stay warm and have some chocolate.
Time to get ready for work. The shower feels nice. Picking out her oil dressing for the day is nice too. She usually picks flowers or one of the trees. She puts some under her tongue cause she’s afraid of cancer. It took her Dad and he lived a lot healthier than she did.
Time to go. She leaves the house with just enough time to get to the time clock on the dot. She can’t for the life of her understand people that get to work early then wait to clock in. She spends every available second at home. That’s where she gets to be real. That’s where she gets to be herself.
But for the next 8 or 9 hours, she’s under fluorescent lights and forced artificial air, making someone else rich. Oh boy. Why was she born into this life? Why now? She’s too late. Two or three hundred years ago, she would have been right at home.
But would she still be dissatisfied?
Anyway, the time clock says she has to put her dreams in her pocket and pretend she loves this store.
She’s outside feeding the chickens, checking the garden, and greeting the wild animals – the birds, squirrels, lizards, and the cats. She goes inside and grabs another cup of coffee and goes back outside, while it’s still cool and the bugs aren’t too bad.
She has about thirty minutes before she has to get ready for work. She sure wishes she had more control over her work, her day, her life. Two – or even three – days off in a row would be nice. Or even the same start time every shift would be nice.
But she doesn’t have that kind of job.
She likes working with the public anyway. Different faces everyday is nice.
She also wishes the pay was better. Worrying about money is unnerving. Living in fear of the future takes all the fun out of life. Not to mention what if she gets sick? Will doctors even be able to help or will she begin the rapid descent into death or disability?
See, there’s a lot to worry about. She’s not a spring chicken anymore.
If she gets “put” into a nursing home, it will be a sad, sad day. She may not be able to forgive her children for it.
So many worries. The weight of her world gets heavy.
Where did the fun go?
What would you do with a million dollars – every single year? Not once, but every single year. That’s $83,333. every month. It’s mind boggling.
I am beginning to grasp the idea while working diligently this month on my network marketing business, doTERRA.
I’m in a two month training focused on getting our businesses off the ground. We are “launching” in July.
The training is being led by people making a million dollars a year – or more! In one case, she’s making three times that because she has this down so tight that she has achieved the top rank – and therefore the top pay – three times.
And all three accounts pay her every month.
Still. Over and over and over. Every month. Every year.
I am a working person. My collar is as blue as blue can get. We have been taught that work, work, and hard work is the way to live a righteous life. Good hard work makes you a good person.
Wwwweeelllll, come to find out, there’s good people that make a lot of money without working “hard”. Some work smart. Some work with courage. Some work with passion. Most of them don’t even think of it as work.
They make damn good money. And do you know what good people do with good money?
They do good things.
So I ask you – what good things would you do with a million dollars every single year?
Tell me in the comments. What good things would you do?
Am I the only one that has trouble falling asleep?
Let me tell you about blue light and blue light blocking glasses.
The sun emits blue light. It’s what helps you feel energized and keeps you productive in the daylight hours.
When the sun goes down, so does the blue light. As your brain registers the darkness, it releases melatonin – a hormone that regulates sleep – making it easy to fall asleep and to stay there.
In modern society, we are constantly reaching for our cell phones, tablets, or some kind of electronic device which emit blue light.
Do you use an electronic device at night? If so, you are artificially stimulating your brain to believe it’s daylight and you should be alert.
If you are like me, most of your entertainment is on a device – hello farm games, hee hee.
And if you are like me, you play games, catch up with friends, or watch videos at night on a device emitting artificial blue light.
Enter blue light blocking glasses.
These things are amazing at helping you sleep better!
The first night I used them I fell right to sleep. That never happens.
The second night, not only did I fall right to sleep but I had a pleasant dream too.
Wearing these glasses is such an easy fix to help with sleep problems. No medication needed. Safe for all ages.
Will you give them a try?
I talk in detail about how to get a good night’s sleep night after night. https://suzannehorrocks.com/2021/04/06/sleep-like-a-baby/
Here’s a link to check out some blue light blocking glasses on Amazon.
https://amzn.to/3Fnptg7
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.
We put purple dead nettle and onion grass in our salad.
Did you know that plants in the mint family have square stems? Purple dead nettle is part of the mint family. It makes for easy identifying. Plus there’s no toxic twin, so it’s fairly safe for foraging newbies like us.
We only forage from our backyard. We don’t use chemicals so we know they are safe.
A friend of ours eats all of the nettle except for the root, but we only used the leaves and tips. We only used the blades of the onion grass. This was simply our preference this time. We may use the stems of the nettle and the root bulbs of the grass next time. Whatever parts we don’t use goes in our compost bucket.
We soaked the greens in a tub of water to clean them. They looked clean on the surface so I didn’t feel that a simple rinse would be good enough. There wasn’t a lot of dirt but you just never know. We have a cat that has to pee somewhere, you know what I mean…..
Then a quick chop and in they went into our salad.
You would not believe the flavor of these greens. Wow!! You know how much better home grown food taste than the store bought stuff. We could not believe how fresh and powerful the taste and smell of these plants were. It was wonderful.
I’m looking forward to foraging dandelion and plantain too.
How do you feel about foraging? Is it a yay or a nay for you and your family?
Want to up your foraging game? Check out these cool bags.
https://amzn.to/3MVKpxv
As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. – Hippocrates
Since we are under COVID19 quarantine, I though it may be a good time to talk about food as prevention. I love the quote by Hippocrates because it’s simple and true. The simple truth. Can’t get much better than that.
There are three foods in particular that I wanted to talk about – garlic, onions, and mushrooms.
These foods are simple to add to virtually anything that is cooked. Well, except maybe boiled eggs. Although you could certainly put them with the eggs. Any soup, stews, stir frys, tacos, omelettes (speaking of eggs), anything cooked. My secret, especially with the garlic and mushrooms is to mince them. That means to cut them up into very small pieces. If you’ve ever had a bite of pure garlic, you’ll know why very small is key. And if you are like me and don’t particularly dig mushrooms, very small is key here too.
Here’s the health benefits
Garlic – It’s good for your heart. It lowers cholesterol and lowers high blood pressure.
It has cancer fighting characteristics.
It’s a natural antibiotic.
Onions – They are nutrient dense. High in Vitamin C and high in B Vitamins.
They fight inflammation.
They also lower cholesterol and lower high blood pressure.
They are loaded with antioxidants.
Like garlic, onions have cancer fighting compounds.
They help reduce high blood sugar.
They boost bone density.
Mushrooms – Ancient civilizations worldwide have used mushrooms for their healing properties for thousands of years.
They have immune boosting benefits.
They help prevent respiratory infections.
They boost longevity.
There’s as many benefits as there are ways to use these ingredients.
The way I normally use them is to lightly saute them first, then I can add them to the rest of the ingredients, or vice versa.
By mincing them (except onions. I don’t mince onions but I do chop them fairly small) it’s very easy to not even know they are in the dish. And the flavor boost cannot be beaten.
I’ve been cooking with these so long that I’m not sure I would enjoy my cooking without these flavors.
I could probably write a book about garlic, onions, and mushrooms. In fact, there are probably books written about these precious foods. But I will stop for now.
Tell me, do you cook? If so, do you use these ingredients often?
As a reader-supported blog, I earn commission from affiliate links. Here’s one from Amazon for cookbooks featuring onions, mushrooms, and/or garlic.
https://amzn.to/3w2tMsY
Can I tell you a story? It’s from Timeless Simplicity by John Lane.
The rich industrialist was horrified to find the fisherman lying beside his boat, smoking a pipe.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” asked the industrialist.
“Because I have caught enough fish for the day.”
“Why don’t you catch some more?”
“What would I do with them?”
“You could earn more money. Then you could have a motor fitted to your boat to go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would have enough money to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats…maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me.”
“What would I do then?”
“Then you could sit back and enjoy life.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?”
Garth Brooks did a song about it too. You can watch the YouTube recording. Warning that the sound quality is not good. But you can hear Garth’s version of this very cool story. https://bit.ly/2wMO92W
And here’s a meme to go with it. I found this story on Facebook actually in this exact meme.
At the end of this period of social distancing or sheltering in place (whatever it’s called), and we return to normal, perhaps we should look very closely at “normal.”
What do you think? And how are you doing during this pandemic?
You’ve heard that gardening, or hiking, or basically any outdoor activity can help alleviate depression, right?
Yesterday proved it. After checking the news yesterday, I was feeling very down and depressed. I wanted to crawl under the covers and hide for a few hours.
Instead, a fairly rare occurrence – the sun was out! – was happening so I went outside to feel it for a minute. I started piddling in the yard. Not intending to actually accomplish any tasks, but just to feel the warmth.
Next thing you know, we had planted all of our seeds. We had moved the house plants outside and got them all arranged and watered. And we got some light cleaning done. It was still early and bright and warm enough that I got some meditation in the sunlight done. Plus a sun salutation.
Talk about a good afternoon. My spirits were off the charts compared to the low vibration from the morning’s news.
How about you? Does Gaia heal you too?
Times are a bit stressful right now, eh? How are you coping? Well? As good as you can? Terrible? Piece of cake?
This is my first experience with “social distancing”. It may be the first in all of our lifetimes. Fingers crossed that it’s the last. Something tells me it won’t be the last time though. I watched a TEDtalk given by someone that studies epidemiology. Her opinion is that the more we encroach on wildlifes habitats, the more we are risking picking up their diseases. Yikes!!
I have to admit, I’m afraid. I’m afraid of the future and the unknown. I’m afraid that people close to me may get this disease and not recover. As an uninsured person, I’m afraid that I will get the corona virus and not have access to medical care. So, I’ve been feeling quite a bit of anxiety, especially the last two days.
I almost lost my cool when my 88 year old neighbor asked me to take her to H & R Block to get her taxes done. She was aware of our current threat and wanted to get it done before things got worse. Her peace of mind is important, so I agreed to take her. But I waited in the car. Same at the post office and the bank. Maybe I was over-reacting but I would rather err on the side of caution than to under-react and Clarita gets the corona virus. Ya know?
Then yesterday, I had a bad toothache. Of all things. I haven’t had a toothache in a couple of years. But yesterday was my day.
To cope with my anxiety, I am making sure to keep my meditation practice alive and well. I played a sound bath in the background for hours yesterday. I’m eating a lot of produce and trying to cut out processed foods. I’m drinking lots of water. Lots and lots of water. And I’m practicing breathing techniques.
Here’s some tips for easing anxiety naturally, drug and toxin free.
Are you familiar with sound baths? Go to YouTube.com/soundbaths. It should be easy to find one that you like. They are very soothing and they raise your vibration.
Eat more produce which naturally crowds out the processed food. Your body needs nourishment in times of stress.
Get outside. Preferably in the sun. Preferably barefoot in the grass. (It’s not just a movie, lol).
Pick a time and one or two sources of news/updates. Leave it alone outside of your chosen time.
Unplug from electronics at least part of the day.
And take some time to indulge in your hobby! I love adult coloring. I will be pulling out my Sharpies as soon as I hit publish on this blog post. What’s your favorite hobby?
Tell me, how are your coping with “social distancing”?
Of course not. It’s a simple machine that runs on gasoline. It can’t run on anything else – water, sugar, soda, preservatives, oil, plastic… You get the picture.
Where our bodies differ is that we are not simple machines. We are a complex system made of smaller complex systems. Our bodies run on water and oxygen. Not gasoline, plastic, sugar, or oil, but water and oxygen. You’ve heard the statistic, right? Our bodies are 60% water. We. Need. Water. Just like we need oxygen (the O in H2O, see how that works?)
A car engine is a simple machine, made to do one thing, turn the tires (very basic idea yall. I am FAR from a mechanic.) If you ask it to run on anything other than gasoline, the effect is almost immediate. It’s not going to run right. Sometimes it won’t even start. The quality of the gasoline counts too. Bad gas will make the engine grossly underperform.
So, how are our bodies different? Because we are a complex system of complex systems. We have built in systems to help us mitigate the effects of running on bad gas, or on plastic, sugar, vegetable oil, etc. But is that the best use of our bodies?
Shouldn’t we honor our body and treat it like the magnificent gift that it is? Don’t we want to give it the absolute best gasoline available? Don’t we deserve the best?
For our bodies, water and oxygen are the best “gasoline”. Our bodies deserve water. Pure, clean water. Not soda. Not sugar. Not oil. Not plastic. Water. Clean, pure water.
Sure, we can run on soda, but not anywhere near as well as we can run on pure, clean water. Some of our systems (namely our digestive system) are so busy flushing out the bad gas – the toxins or the overload of sugar – that it just can’t keep up. That’s when you end up with pain, or exhaustion, or chronic illnesses.
Thank goodness that’s it’s an easy fix!! Find a way to add in more water. Begin crowding out the bad gas because the good gas is sooooooo good. You will immediately begin to feel better. You will have more energy, better memory, less pain, better sleep and more.
As a wellness guide, I’m here to help you. I have created a program – I Quit Drinking Soda – to guide you in your efforts to ditch the soda drinking habit.
Do you want to know more about the program? Leave a comment and I will send you a link to my Facebook page – I Quit Drinking Soda. Or simply go straight over there now and “like” the page. Turn on all notifications to stay in the loop.
Any questions? Any ideas? Comment below. I would love to hear from you!!
Cheers
Have you heard of Tapping or EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)?
“It is a remarkable healing modality based on the same principles that have been used for thousands of years in acupuncture—but without the needles.” – Brad Yates
I first experienced Brad Yates and his teachings about a year ago while doing personal development as part of my network marketing income stream.
One of the top leaders of my company is an avid believer and practitioner of tapping. She partnered with Brad Yates and developed a packet of 31 days of tapping devoted to stressors specific to network marketing. We got a tapping session about not feeling qualified, not feeling deserving, worrying about what others think, procrastination, fear of being pushy and more. It was incredibly helpful. Amazingly helpful.
But obviously tapping/eft isn’t just helpful for network marketing. What about fear of going to the dentist? How about test performance anxiety? Or performance anxiety in sports or art? Would you like some help around quitting smoking? Or how about abundance mindset? The list goes on and on and on and on.
Seriously yall, sometimes a person needs some help. AmIright?
If there’s something you want, but can’t seem to get, why not? You’ve no doubt heard it said many times before…
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.
In order to get different results, you need to do different things – or, in some cases, do things differently. You’ve got nothing to lose by trying something new or different.
Want to learn more about tapping? Here you go. And here.
In full transparency, I am an affiliate marketer for Brad Yates. By clicking here, you are helping me financially and I can continue to bring helpful healing modalities to you. I wouldn’t recommend a practice that I don’t endorse or practice myself. I highly recommend Brad Yates and his stress reducing techniques.
Thanks for reading and learning yall. I love learning. I bet you love it too.
Instead of me talking to you this week, I would like for you to talk to me. Comment below, or respond in an email (address below or you can go to my contact page.)
Do you love your job?
If yes, CONGRATULATIONS!! Life is good, right? What do you do for a living?
If no, what is keeping you stuck there?
Let me know your answer. Comment below or send me an email @suzannehorrockswc@gmail.com
Thanks!! Cheers!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Are you ready for spring? It’s snowing here today. I’m ready to get out of the house and onto some hiking trails, or at least some walking paths.
But, my nose is to the grindstone. Writing a blog post is one of my Wednesday assignments. And today, I can’t think of a single thing to tell you. Do you ever have those days? Where you have an assignment, but the motivation just isn’t there?
The joys of entrepreneurship. (That’s a hard word to spell, btw.) Being an entrepreneur sure isn’t the easy way out. Of course, I could just give myself the label and never produce any work, but that serves zero purpose, imho. So here I go brain dumping on yall. Thank you for reading this!! I appreciate it more than you know.
Tomorrow is #NoPlasticThursday. My plastic consumption is down pretty far. I’ve been working at it for a while. My only obstacle is packaging. I was in a Whole Food Market a few days ago. I absolutely love looking at their pastries and baked goods. Hello fresh baked sourdough bread. Sliced. Yum. Anyway, I was looking for a baked chocolate dessert. Have you noticed that most of that stuff is packaged in single use plastic? And not just a thin bag. But a hard plastic container with an equally hard plastic lid. There’s more reasons to cook at home. Bake in this instance, I suppose. Anyway, the packaging become as important as the baked good. (It had to be chocolate. If it’s not chocolate, it’s not dessert in my house.) I finally settled on some bite size brownies. They were in a hard container, but, it is reusable. As a matter of fact, it’s in my fridge right now with some leftovers in it. Which leads me to ….
Warning – do not reheat your leftovers in the microwave in a plastic container! While a single instance of warming plastic in the microwave may not be harmful, repeating this practice is where the danger lies. Think heating your lunch five days a week. For more info about the dangers of heating your food in plastic, read this link. Manufacturers and retailers are in tune with demand, so you can find reusable glass containers in your local home good store. They usually come with plastic lids, but at least the bowl is glass.
In other news –
In other news – this is my new favorite drinking glass. It’s a quart mason jar. A quart!! I only need to drink four of these to get in one gallon of water. How cool is that? Discovering, or re-discovering, your favorite drinking container (glass or stainless steel preferably) is a fantastic way to get more water into your body. After all, water is the first medicine. In fact, most modern day medications suggest taking it with water. Not with soda, or coffee, or whatever. But take with water. It’s the first medicine. I would love to see your favorite water glass. Tell/show me in the comments. Or on social media by tagging me and using the hashtag #myfavoriteglass. Showing your stuff may inspire others to find their favorite glass and fill it up with the first medicine aka water. That’s a win for everyone, right?
One last thing before I go, here’s a reminder for ya.
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I am a wellness guide. I help women heading towards retirement take better care of themselves so they can live a good long life.
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Contact me if you want help in quitting a soda drinking habit, or if you would like to switch and ditch the chemical filled products with some natural essential oil based ones.
See ya on social media!! Thanks for reading this. I would love to read your comments.
I wanted to write about reducing plastic today because tomorrow is #NoPlasticThursday sponsored on Instagram by Blue Haus. It’s a fantastic idea.
While I don’t believe that the problem will be solved simply by reducing, reusing, and recycling, I do believe that if we demand differently, remove the consumer demand, change will happen.
So, are you up for it? Are you willing to spend each and every Thursday without single use plastic?
The Zero Waste Chef has some excellent suggestions. You can read them here. But here’s a breakdown of how to get started.
Top three ways to breakup with plastic (according to the Zero Waste Chef)
The Zero Waste Chef goes on to give 50 ways to be plastic free. Here’s a link to her post again. Yes, it’s that good. You should read it.
On a personal level, I try to do my part. I very seldom eat out, especially fast food. I counted the pieces of trash from one meal one day – it was 11. And that was just for one person. Not all of it was plastic, but at least half was. Between the plastic lid, the plastic straw, usually a plastic cup, plastic utensil, plastic ketchup holder, etc, it adds up quickly.
We like to walk for exercise and one day I accepted a challenge to pick up five pieces of trash. Within the length of a football field from our front door, we had picked up 15 pieces of garbage. Perhaps you live in an area that is fairly clean. Do you? If so, can you help clean up another neighborhood?
We went walking again the next day and decided to pick up more trash. Because frankly, it felt tragic how much trash was just thrown out of people’s car windows! My guess is that 98% of trash we picked up was either food wrappers or drink containers.
I had to wonder, why is so much complete junk being sold – and bought?!?! It hurts my heart. This planet is our home. We should treat it better.
Another thing I’m doing to help reduce our demand for single use plastic is to help people stop drinking soda. From the picture above, you can tell how much plastic is used with just this one habit. If you want help to quit drinking soda, comment below or email me for more info.
So, what’s soda have to do with it? Better yet, what does quitting drinking soda have to do with living well?
Good question. One that I need to answer besides the obvious – it’s bad for you. It’s got too much sugar, all 101 reasons that I’ve already researched.
How else will quitting drinking soda improve your life? By being the first step. By showing the Universe, God, your Higher Power, Angels, whomever is your guide, by showing them that you care about your body. That you care about the gift that was given to you at that moment that you became you. You have to start somewhere, right?
I’ve been where you are. I’ve had issues that didn’t require medical intervention, but I knew those conditions weren’t something that I just had to accept. You know, things like depression, low energy, low motivation, chronic pain (or daily pain), sleepless nights, always chilly, never comfortable. You may have these issues too.
I also knew I wasn’t a health freak, or a goodie two-shoes. I wasn’t like that. Basically, I was afraid that I would have to give up my lifestyle completely to be healthy. I was afraid that everything I did/thought was wrong and healthy people, were smarter, more disciplined than me. They had something that I didn’t, and never would, have. They had stuff that I didn’t want, but I wanted to feel good all day everyday. Not just some days, or some parts of the day. I wanted to feel good all day – every day.
You can quit drinking soda. Take the first step. You don’t have to take any more steps after that. Just one. Do this one thing and God, the Universe, your Higher Power will notice. He/she will reward you. She/he will give you the next step. It will be gentle. It will be graceful. It will be painless. It will be easy.
Quitting drinking soda can be gentle, graceful, painless, and easy. Believe me, I have done it. If I can do it, you can too. You can take the first step. That’s all you have to do right now. Take the first step.
Got questions? Comment below or email me. I want to help you. You can take the first step. You can do it. You can quit drinking soda.
I show up for myself. That’s what I do now.
I have dreams and goals. I want them now. Like, right now. I call her my spoiled little bratty self, but that’s not how I would talk to anyone else. So I am learning to not talk to myself, or about myself, with that kind of mean girl language. She’s actually my inner child. She doesn’t have a lot of patience. Haha, understatement.
Anyway, this dream/goal is taking more “work” than I imagined when it was simply a dream. It’s fairly easy to dream, right? Unless you have killed your dreams because of disappointment. I hope that’s not the case, but that’s an issue for another day. In our dreams, the result has already happened. The desire is fulfilled. It’s the stuff in between that stops a lot of people in their tracks. The “work” is real.
By “work” I mean showing up every day whether it feels good, feels in alignment, feels inspiring, or not. Showing up for myself – for my dream – means creating a blog post even though I don’t have a topic picked out. Or it feels like I will just be rambling on about nothing. It is these small building blocks that will make the platform sturdy. It’s the little things.
But you know what I think it is mostly? For me anyway? It’s the discipline. It’s about taking action, imperfect action. It’s the commitment – and the discipline to honor my commitment – to my own dream! Jeez. It seems like a no brainer to show up for my own damn dream.
I’m lucky. I have the determination. I have the drive. I have the heart, the brains, and the courage. I will keep going because the alternative kills my soul. I can’t do that. I won’t do that.
What about you? What’s your dream? Have you started working towards it? I would love to know that I’m not alone. Tell me in the comments.
Peace, friend.
If building a business was easy, everyone would do it. Truer words were never spoken.
When I first started building my wellness business, I was hungry for advice. Since it’s 2020, the “Information Age”, I was always on the internet, especially social media. After all, it was there that I found my wellness path. Surely the business experts were on there too.
I’m a complete newbie at this yall. My collar is blue as blue can get. Although I had always had dreams of creating my own thing and being completely independent, I never did it. I gave a few pathetic attempts, but it was like throwing rocks in the dark expecting to hit something.
Wanna hear the worst advice I ever got? Don’t spend your time doing work that isn’t “producing” income. Ummmm hello. Only 20% of my effort produces any income at all. The other 80% supports the 20%. I kept glossing over the 80% and feeling like shit because I wasn’t getting anywhere.
I finally decided/learned/wised up that organizing my work space was hugely important. Writing in my journal was very important. Keeping up with a planner (even if all it says is call the bank and exercise) is important.
It’s making me feel comfortable. It’s making me feel good in my workspace. Not guilty, but good.
I love to say that my space is a “no guilt trip zone”. I should take my own advice more often. Do you do ignore your own advice?
I quit drinking soda and you can too!
Those tricky makers of these sugary drinks sure know how to hook us and keep us hooked. How else can they keep selling their products?
Did you know that one 12 ounce soda has over 9 teaspoons of sugar? Nine!! Just imagine putting nine teaspoons of sugar in a glass of tea. Yuck! Sure, it can help get you going in the morning, or help keep you going until your next break (and your next soda). But the consequences of ingesting that much sugar at one sitting is, well frankly, keeping you from living a spectacular life – the life of your dreams. If it hasn’t already made you sick, if you don’t already have to live with dis-ease, no worries. There’s a disease waiting for you in the next can/bottle/glass.
The good news is that you can quit!
The answer is here. I Quit Drinking Soda is a program designed to give you all of the information, support, and accountability you need to conquer that beast once and for all.
It is a self-paced online program inside of a private Facebook group. There are some worksheets (yes, you have to do some homework), helpful articles and videos, support from me as your wellness guide, support from other members who are walking in your same shoes, and accountability.
There are also a couple of bonuses. One is a daily diary template. Living mindfully is a gozillion times better than living reactively, unprepared, or unaware. A second bonus is inclusion in another Facebook group focused on the effects of sugar in your body. This group is founded by my teacher at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Joshua Rosenthal.
In addition to all of the above, I will be “live” inside the group once a week to answer any questions, or address concerns. And to celebrate your wins!! I will also be hosting a weekly video conference to provide more support and education.
All of this is included in a one time membership fee of $97. You will have lifetime access to the group, with all of the worksheets, videos, etc.
To join, click on the menu at the top and go to “shop”. You will find the button to pay the fee. Upon notification from PayPal, I will add you to the group (look for the invitation in your notifications) and you will be on your way to living your best life! Woo hoo!!
If you have any questions, you can comment below, or go to the contact page and send me an email.
I can be found on Facebook at SH Wellness and on Instagram at Suzanne.horrocks. I look forward to serving you! Thanks.
**I have created a Facebook page specially for the program called I Quit Drinking Soda. Go over there and “like” it too. Thanks!
Have you heard the saying “growth is outside of your comfort zone”?
Maybe you don’t even want to grow. Perhaps your life is the BEST, MOST FABULOUS life you could ever imagine. If so, congratulations! I would wager that the majority of us couldn’t/wouldn’t say that with complete honesty and sincerity.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone is growth. It is expansion. The box you are in gets bigger. The walls retreat a little. You get more space to move about the cabin. It feels good, yes?
What does stepping outside your comfort zone mean?
Picture this. It’s comfortable to sit there in you slippers, comfy pants that don’t bind, right by the heater, with your favorite beverage within reach. That is comfortable. That’s your comfort zone.
Outside of your comfort zone though, it’s hard walking down the basement steps. It hurts your knees and your hips. Your pants are too tight. And you don’t like to look at your reflection in the mirror. This is outside of your comfort zone. This is uncomfortable.
However, to get rid of the creaky knees and clackey hips, to be comfortable in your skin – and clothes, to love and honor your reflection, you will have to get uncomfortable on purpose.
You have to hmmm…… maybe exercise? That means sweating. That means feeling like you can’t breathe. That means your thighs are on fire. All of that is purposeful uncomfortableness. And all of that begins to lessen the pain of walking down the basement steps. The sweating, burning, gasping for air is – WAY – very very very uncomfortable. But it will end soon. Your endorphins will flood your brain. And you will feel great. Your comfort zone will reach a new high.
And your uncomfortable zone shrank.
For one, you learned that you are going to keep breathing. You learned that your thighs are still there. They didn’t burn up. The sweat will dry. Basically, you didn’t die.
For two, your clothes start fitting better. It will get easier to walk down the steps. And when you look in the mirror, you can congratulate the reflection for being so strong.
You, my friend, have just stretched your comfort zone because you stepped outside of comfort and got seriously uncomfortable. (Believe me, your next workout will be ever so slightly easier too.)
You just experienced growth and expansion. You just stepped closer to you BEST, MOST FABULOUS life. Keep going Sis!
I accepted a challenge last weekend to pick up five pieces of trash that day. I accepted because it’s easy and very good for the planet, as well as good exercise bending down to pick it up. I needed to go for my daily walk anyway, so it was a no-brainer to accept the challenge.
We prepared for our walk, shoes on, house keys, mileage tracker, etc. This time we also brought two plastic bags from the grocery store. (I know I should bring my own bag. That’s a habit I’m trying to develop. Meanwhile, I have way tooooo many of those things.)
The street in front of our house is about 100 feet away from our front door, so we start there with our trash pickup. Within the length of our property line, I had picked up fifteen pieces of trash. Far exceeding the five I had promised to do.
The bag was only about half full, so we turned the corner to get some more trash. Because frankly we were astonished with how much trash was just thrown out. Within ten minutes both my friend Charlie and I had filled up both of our bags.
At this point, I was thinking, well, I came out to get some exercise and to walk. But there is so much trash that I feel like I should spend my time picking it up. It was a dilemma I hadn’t faced before.
We decided to do both – pick up trash and get our walk in. We went back to the house (we hadn’t made it around a second corner yet. We weren’t far from home.) We threw our two original bags in our trash can and went inside for more. We brought three bags with us.
By the time we had walked two blocks, we had two bags filled. We threw those in the local quick shop’s bin because it was probably mostly crappy junk purchased from their store anyway.
We held onto the third bag for a little bit because we were out to get some walking exercise but the trash we were passing became almost like some sort of ghost calling us. It wasn’t too long and we started filling the third bag.
Mind you, we had already filled and properly disposed of four full bags at this point.
The fifth and final bag of garbage was 90% single use plastic beverage bottles!
So, I have two points about this endeavor.
There’s a soapbox with my name on it. But seriously, what is wrong with us today? Can we begin to answer that question?
Why would you do such a thing? Well, living by design – choosing the wise option, the healthy option, the loving option, is living your life with purpose, not by default.
Making a choice that will enhance your physical well being, your mental stability, or your spirit, will prolong your life. Or at least give you more joy while you are here, right?
That’s why I’m hosting a seven day free online event called One Good Choice Today.
For one week, we will make the wise choice and post it in our Facebook group, on Instagram, or you can email me directly.
Choose to park farther away from the door.
Take the stairs.
Drink a glass of water.
Drink another glass of water.
Comment below if you are interested in learning more. We can hook up on social media or via email.
Mindful living is a better way to live, dontcha think?
This is easy. It’s simple. It’s free. It’s online.
Comment below if you would like to join.
The official event will begin on September 9th and conclude on September 15th.
When you join, you will receive an email with a list of suggestions and a link to join the Facebook group.
Do you have a friend or an accountability buddy that interested in living well? Bring them along! Everyone is welcome.
Comment below and we can hook up via email or social media.
Thanks! Cheers!
Thank you Goddesses. Thank you Goddess of Abundance. Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you Goddess of Harmony. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth.
Thank you for this delicious and beautiful bowl of mango and strawberries. It’s a feast for the eyes as much as a feast for my tummy.
Thank you Universe for my opportunity to go to school for health coaching. I learned so much and my life is so much better now.
Thank you Family! Thank you Jes! I love you and it’s comforting to know you love me too.
Thank you Mother Nature for this gorgeous day! The temperature is great. The sky is amazing.
Thank you healers and your helpers. Thank you teachers and students. I add students because without us there would be no need to teachers, right?
Thank you leaders and followers. Thank you dreamers. Thank you hippies and peace freaks.
Thank you musicians. Thank you artists. Thank you storytellers, written and spoken.
This is an abundant Universe. Thank you Goddesses!!
Thank you Goddesses! Thank you Goddess of Abundance! Thank you sooooooo much.
Thank you for teaching me to stop and ask “What is this teaching me?” Thank you Goddess of Wisdom! What a difference that makes. I will try to describe what happened this morning. It feels like a miracle.
We live in a fixer upper house. It’s paid for so no mortgage payment, no rent. My previous self used to look at this as the best I can do. Like this is all that I can afford. This is my lot in life. This is as nice a house as I deserve to live in.
We have a back room that has eleven leaks in the roof. Yep, 11. It doesn’t take much rain either. Last night while we slept it apparently rained pretty hard. We didn’t have our buckets set up. This morning we woke up to a very wet floor. It’s only in one room, mind you. And we don’t use that room for much anyway. So it’s really not that big of a deal.
Anyway, as I was having my morning cuppa coffee, I was pondering this state of affairs. And instead of reacting in my usual bratty way (waaaaa poor me, the places I’m forced to live……), I posed the question – what am I supposed to learn from this.
The answer was – this is a fixer upper and you really dig doing projects like this. Seriously, this is your jam. This is your dream life. Well, not exactly my dream life, but I do really dig projects like this.
While I’m still striving to support myself financially, I’m already living part of my dream life. I can’t go buy a new-to-me car right now. My wardrobe is pretty thin. But, I get to ponder life over coffee for as long as I want to every morning. Every morning.
I don’t have to set an alarm. I get to write blog posts like this! I don’t have to write this post either. I’m choosing to write it. I get to choose how to spend my day.
That’s living the dream. Thank you Goddesses. I’m humbled and grateful.
Thank you Goddess of Abundance. Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you Goddess of Harmony. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth. Thank you all un-named Goddesses and Gods. Thank you Inner Goddess. Thank you Inner Child. Thank you Inner Wild One.
My heart is full. Thank you.
Thank you Goddesses!
Today I am grateful that I am home, in my own home. I’m grateful that I have places to put my things – i.e. bathroom stuff, essential oils on the kitchen window seal, a desk – lots of things to be grateful for.
Thank you Goddess of Abundance! Thank you Goddess of Wisdom! Thank you Goddess of Harmony! Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth!
Thank you for all of the teachers and their helpers! Thank you for all of the artists! Thank you for the internet and our access to friends across the globe.
Thank you friends and family!
Thank you Charlie! Thank you for liking my cooking and sharing meals.
Thank you Goddess of Abundance for all of my opportunities! Thank you for how far I have come in the last couple of years.
Thank you for changing my mindset, my outlook on life, my view point. Thank you for encouragement and understanding.
Thank you for collaboration over competition.
Thank you healers and helpers. May I be one.
Happy Birthday Pat!!
Thank you Goddesses. I am on an amazing learning adventure. You know how I like to learn and you keep giving me new stuff. Thank you!!
Thank you Goddess of Abundance for the abundance of captivating topics. Thank you for all of my blessings too. I have an abundance of those.
Thank you Goddess of Harmony. There is peace in our house and it’s lovely.
Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you for my age and my wisdom. I may have been just as wise when I was younger, but now it is a more conscious wisdom. It feels more conscious anyway. Deliberate. Thoughtful.
Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth. Thank you for holding steady and giving me a point to return to when things get fuzzy.
Thank you past lives, past personalities, past experiences. I’m learning that they have indeed helped create the person writing this – I am a creation. It feels funny to write that. It’s one thing to hear someone say “you are a creation.” It’s quite another to believe that I am a creation. How humbling. Thank you!
Thank you for reading this.
How do I know you can quit smoking? Because I did. A year and a half ago.
I smoked cigarettes since I was 14. I’m pushing 60 now. It was a huge part of my life.
It took a dear friend to really keep me in a pretty uncomfortable conversation. She just wouldn’t let me worm my way out of my reasons why I kept smoking. Until it felt like some stupid huge boulder that I was never going to move. And if I stayed standing on that ridiculous boulder, well, my future was shit.
Why do you smoke? What does it do for you? It feels good. Does it? Does it feel good to cough? Do your lungs hurt sometimes? Well, yes, but smoking is awesome! What is awesome about it? It gives me something to do. What about the money? How much does it cost? Yep, it’s a lot of money. What could you do with that money? I don’t know.
There’s a good one. What could you do with that money? I don’t know. Of course I didn’t know. Because I had been coming up with cigarette money for 40 years. Forty years is a long damn time. Changing that doesn’t happen overnight.
What in the freaking hell would I “do” if I didn’t smoke? Thankfully quitting is a process so I didn’t have to figure that out right away. That’s something I can figure out as I go. What would I do instead? What happens at the end of a meal? Do you just sit there? It’s funny now. It wasn’t at all funny then. And yes, you can just sit there. Or you can get up and wash the dishes, go brush your hair, relax and chat with your kids/spouse/dog. There’s a lot of stuff you can “do” at the end of a meal. Believe me. There is. You will find it.
How did I quit? I used nicotine patches and gum plus still smoked. One day I just said “I’m going to see how long I can go without one.” One and a half years later, I still haven’t had one. I didn’t put pressure on myself. I just said I was going to see how long I could go. My inner voice was cool with it because I accepted the idea that I could smoke whenever I wanted and I was going to see every minute smoke free as a success. I wasn’t going to see smoking as a failure. Do you see how that is turned around? I celebrated success – focused on success. Failure wasn’t an issue.
Why am I telling you this? Because I have an aid that can help you. If you are ready to try – again – to quit. I have created an aid made from all natural ingredients. Not addictive nor harmful. There are no side effects except for letting go of cigarettes.
How many times have you quit? Or tried to?
Thank you Goddess of Abundance. Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you Goddess of Harmony. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth.
Thank you Natasha for being in tune and for being my friend.
Thank you Goddess of Harmony for peace in my house.
Thank you doTERRA for giving me a promising future. Thank you for your gifts of the Earth. Thank you for your research, your science, and your desire to help the world live healthier and happier.
Thank you health and wellness industry for upping people’s awareness.
Thank you Rhiannon and my other friends and co-workers. You make the job pleasurable.
Thank you Institute of Integrative Nutrition for helping me heal – and for helping me learn how to take better care of myself.
Thank you Universe for all of my blessings! Thank you Father Sky and Mother Earth! Thank you Mother Nature!
Thank you Goddesses!! Thank you Goddess of Abundance. Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you Goddess of Harmony. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth.
Thank you Goddesses. Thank you Goddess of Abundance. Thank you for me having enough. Enough food. Enough space. Enough of everything. I lack for nothing. Thank you Goddess of Abundance!
Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you for knowing I needed to get back to gratitude journaling. Thank you Goddess of Harmony for peace in my life, in my house, and in my community. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth for, well, teaching me to trust in the truth.
Thank you my online community. Thank you for giving me so much to learn! Thank you for opening a whole new world to me.
Thank you friends! Thank you for the joy and the hugs I got last night while walking around in my community.
Thank you cats for counting on me to show up for you every morning with some food. Thank you for holding me accountable and giving me a reason to develop discipline. Thank you chores. Haha, what?? Yes, I feel grateful for my morning chores – feeding the cats and emptying the expelled RO water bucket. <<I will tell you more about that in a blog post. Ritual and routine are very comforting these days.
Thank you for reading this!
Thank you Goddesses!
Thank you trees for making delicious shade on a hot day.
Thank you Charlie for sharing your home, and especially your kitchen, with me.
Thank you Julie the Yard Cat for bringing your kitten around.
Thank you friends for giving me people to talk to.
Thank you Goddess of Wisdom for teaching me that some issues that I have are perfectly fine. They don’t need fixing. Thank you for teaching me acceptance.
Thank you Goddess of Abundance for ridding me of worry and doubt.
Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth.
Thank you Goddess of Harmony for peace in our house and in my life.
Thank you people that inspire me daily! I’m thinking about my political activists friends. Yall rock!!
Thank you for reading this. Thank you WordPress for making it so easy to make a blog post.
May I take a moment to explain myself?
I had a journaling practice based on Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way. Three pages first thing in the morning. It evolved into the last page always beginning with gratitude. Sometimes the whole page was filled with thanks, sometimes not, but it always started out that way.
My journaling practice – I want to say – evolved. When in reality my practice dissolved. That was just over a month ago.
Well, I’m back to it albeit in a different way. I’m focusing on gratitude. And I’m doing it online now. I loved the act of writing. I enjoyed holding the pen, the feel of the notebook, and my handwriting had improved. But, life is always evolving, and now I’m going online with it.
Thank you for reading this. I would love to hear your comments! Do you journal?
Thank you Goddess of Abundance! Thank you Goddess of Wisdom. Thank you Goddess of Harmony. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth.
Thank you Mother Earth. You have one beautiful sky today! Thank you Father Sky! Thank you Sun. Thank you for being our constant source of energy and warmth.
Thank you Charlie for spending time with me. My diet is so much better when we share our meals. Cooking for two is my sweet spot.
Thank you Internet. Haha, that seems weird to say. But seriously, thank you Internet (and the people that made it happen.)
Thank you doTERRA and your essential oils!
Thank you the Institute of Integrative Nutrition for changing my life.
Thank you ancestors for passing down my cooking skills, my coping skills, and my determination.
Thank you Goddesses! Thank you Inner Goddesses. Thank you Spirit Guides.
Thank you Goddesses.
Thank you Goddess of Abundance. Thank you Goddess of Harmony. Thank you Goddess of Trust and Truth. Thank you Goddess of Wisdom.
Thank you Charlie for living peacefully with me. Thank you for giving me a roof over my head.
Thank you for the kitchen so I can cook food that nourishes me and helps my body to thrive.
Thank you for the internet so I can keep in touch with friends and family. Also so I can keep learning and keep sharing what I have learned.
Thank you for the beautiful weather!!
Thank you for my beautiful desk and all of my colored pens! Thank you for my beautiful space to be creative.
Thank you for my diffuser and my essential oils. Thank you for coming into my life. I’m a definitely healthier – physically and mentally – thanks to the oils.
Thank you Mother Earth and Father Sky.
Thank you Mother Nature and all of your beautiful beings.
Thank you for reading this.
Dry brushing is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves brushing your skin with a natural bristle brush in a specific pattern. This practice has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its numerous health benefits. So, what are the benefits of dry brushing and how can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine?
Dry brushing helps to exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells and unclogging pores. This can leave your skin feeling smoother and softer. Dry brushing also helps to stimulate the lymphatic system, which can aid in the elimination of toxins from the body.
Dry brushing can increase blood flow and circulation to the skin, which can help to improve skin texture and tone. Improved circulation can also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Dry brushing can help to promote lymphatic drainage, which is important for maintaining a healthy immune system. The lymphatic system helps to remove waste and toxins from the body, and dry brushing can help to stimulate this process.
4. Reduces the appearance of cellulite
Dry brushing helps break up fatty deposits thereby reducing the appearance of cellulite. Increasing blog flow (#2) helps too.
Dry brushing can also have a calming effect on the body and mind. The rhythmic brushing motion can help to reduce stress and anxiety, while the release of endorphins can improve mood and promote feelings of we
Dry brushing can also help to enhance digestion and kidney function. The brushing motion can stimulate the digestive organs and promote the release of digestive enzymes. Additionally, the increased circulation can help to improve kidney function and promote the elimination of waste and toxins from the body.
You will need a natural bristle brush with a long handle. Begin by brushing your feet and working your way up your body, using long, sweeping motions towards your heart. Use light pressure and avoid brushing over any areas of broken or irritated skin. After brushing, shower to wash away any dead skin cells.
Dry brushing is a simple and effective way to improve skin health and promote overall well-being. By incorporating this practice into your selfcare routine, you can enjoy the numerous benefits that it has to offer. So why not give it a try? Your skin and body will thank you.
I am finally writing a memoir!!
It’s about a widow (me) determined to get through the grief process with her mental health intact.
I haven’t written a book before and am finding it quite difficult. I see why it’s called a craft. It’s takes a lot of trial and error to “craft” a good sentence, paragraph, or chapter.
I finally created an outline that feels right. One of the chapters is about selling our house.
It’s the first chapter I have really started digging in to and DAMN it’s hard!!
I knew it was going to be therapeutic for me to write it. But trying to keep a reader in mind or to keep the story flowing takes a lot more work than what you see in a book.
I’m going into some rather deep rabbit holes. For one, because the hole opens and I dive right in. I do that because writing this memoir is as much for me as it is for the readers.
So anyway, the advice I have heard says 30,000 to 40,000 words is a good size. With ten chapters, that’s 4,000 words each. I have ten chapters in my outline. I’m going for 4,000 words each.
I hand wrote most of this chapter first.
Then I typed the notes in to a computer file. The word count was just over 2,000 and I have only written about packing up the house. So, yay!!!!
Now I’m beginning to write about the real estate agent and the whole process I went through. I plunged head first into a rabbit hole about judgement, self confidence, and creativity. One just lead seamlessly into the next.
I can see why writing a memoir is therapeutic!! I’m diving deep. Or am I procrastinating? Ohhhhh, another rabbit hole I can distract myself with.
Ok now. I’m going back to the chapter. Thank you for reading this.