themanypathsofme-blog

[themanypathsofme-blog]

BREAST CANCER WALK

Today was the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The walk started at Frontier field and continued to Liberty Pole Way. This was my first year participating and I have to say it was a beautiful experience and as cold as it was outside, the energy was warm and nice...peaceful. Every year people from all walks of life join together to remember loved ones, friends or just people in general who have either fought breast cancer and won the fight, people who are still fighting or those who fought a good fight and lost the battle against this horrible disease. Breast cancer does not discriminate....it does not care what race you are, your sexual orientation, how educated you are, what neighborhood you live in or what you look like. This is a disease that effects every social status. I lost a family member to breast cancer years ago and let me tell you, she fought a good fight before she succumbed. It was estimated that over 13,000 people were at the event today. What was so beautiful to me was that on this day, race and social class did not matter. We were all there to show support to those that we loved and lost or are still fighting the fight. I saw people of all ages, men, women and even family pets were there with pink sweaters and little bandanas around their necks were making that walk. There was what I believe was a school band playing while some people danced and others stood on the sidelines cheering the walkers on. I was an amazing experience that I would encourage others to try at least once. 

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Domestic violence during the holidays

When most people think of the holidays, they think of happy times with family and friends. Unfortunately, for many families, the holidays are filled with fear and pain. Domestic violence is a problem that doesn't take a break for the holidays. It’s a problem that runs across the globe and effects people of all races and economic backgrounds. Many victims are silent and will stay with their abusers, sometimes for years out of fear and shame.

Abuse is more than just physical, it can also be verbal, emotional or sexual. Any combination of these are not only traumatic for the adult victims, but have devastating effects on the children that are living in homes where the abuse is taking place. Working as a Health Navigator in a school, I have to be especially aware of possible signs that may indicate that a child may be witnessing violence in the home. Some signs include; the child is withdrawn, a change in eating habits, may be physically or verbally aggressive toward other children, have problems sleeping during nap time or the child is unable to stay awake throughout the day. Children who grow up in abusive homes will often continue the cycle of violence by either becoming an abuser or gravitating towards abusers when they become adults.

It’s important to remember that the scars of domestic violence are not always going to be visible, but they are still there in the mind and the spirit of the victims. Breaking the cycle of domestic violence is possible with awareness and the willingness to be open and honest a problem that continues to grow in our community and communities across the nation.

So, if someone who is in an abusive situation comes to you for help, remember to be kind, be patient, be non-judgmental and most important.....be aware.

*  NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

    1-800-799-7233 or www.thehotline.org

* WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER

   (585) 222-SAFE

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Winter Beauty

The winter season is upon us, and cold weather can be harsh on your body, skin and hair. Although vitamins should be taken daily throughout the year, its especially important to take them during the winter months. With so many different ones to chose from, how do we know which ones take? Most people take vitamins according to their specific needs, but there are a few that I swear by and have been taking for years.

Multi Vitamin: A combination of different vitamins that are needed to give you the boost you need.

Vitamin D: Helps support your immune system, bone health as well as muscle health. Vitamin D can be found in milk, tofu, eggs and mushrooms.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is for more than just fighting off colds, it can help reduce stress, improve blood flow and may help with inflammation caused by arthritis.Vitamin C can be found in citrus foods, pineapple, peppers and strawberries.

Biotin ( Vitamin H) Biotin is part of the B complex vitamin group and is a great way to strengthen nails, keeps your hair and skin strong and healthy. Biotin can be found in foods like egg yolks, sardines, nut butters and cauliflower.

As with any medication or vitamin regimen, you may want to check with your doctor before taking certain vitamins.

Here is a simple recipe for a deep conditioning hair treatment with ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. 

                             DEEP CONDITIONING TREATMENT FOR HAIR

                                       1/2 cup of your favorite conditioner

                                        2 tbsp. raw honey

                                        2 tbsp. olive oil

                                        2 tbsp. mayonnaise

Add last three ingredients to conditioner and stir well. Cover your entire head with ALL of the cream mixture and comb through. Cover head with either a plastic or shower cap. Leave on for 30 min to an hour ( the longer the better).

Rinse hair with warm water and style as usual.

This conditioning treatment can be used as often as once a week to once a month, and will leave your hair soft, strong and healthy.

[themanypathsofme-blog]

JOURNEYS

Journey.....a word that most people hear and use often in their daily lives. The general definition of  journey is the act of traveling from one place to another. Ask yourself, are we taking several small journeys depending on who we are as individuals, who we want to be and how much we want to grow or are we just taking one big journey called life? One of the most important and fulfilling journeys I have take in my life is a spiritual journey. Just as we need to eat food to nourish our bodies, we also need to feed our soul. Journeys are like fingerprints. Each one different and unique and fitting that individuals need as they grow and evolve. My blog will reflect both my past and my present experiences. I’ll share poetry, short stories, inspirational quotes as well as tips on nutrition, health and beauty. Welcome to my blog...my journey...the many paths of me.