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Senior Women: 8 Ways to Improve Your Emotional Health
“I’m alone, but I’m not lonely. I like who I am. I like who I’m becoming.”—Deena Kastor Today, because of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the digital mental health market is exploding. Stress and anxiety have accelerated the demand for virtual behavioral health services. According to the European Connected Health Alliance, more than 380,000 health apps are available through Apple and Android operating systems, and around 20,000 of them address mental health. But what about emotional health? Emotional Health Vs. Mental Health In researching this topic, I did not find apps specifically to help with emotional health. I believe this is because mental health and emotional health are two terms often…
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Emotional Recovery After Caregiving Ends
“Take your time healing, as long as you want. Nobody else knows what you’ve been through. How could they know how long it will take to heal you?”—Abertoli. Meet Wendy: “Mom passed away on May 12th. My family came down for two weeks from South Carolina. They took me on a three-day vacation to Key West, Florida. I enjoyed it, but at the same time, my heart was breaking because she was not there with me. “I still cry every day. I try to avoid letting anyone see me cry, but the crying comes out of nowhere, and so does the sadness. No one understands my feelings unless they have…
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Do You Sound as Great as You Look? How to Improve Your Speaking Voice
“The human voice is the most perfect instrument of all.”—Arvo Part. Introduction: When you get together with friends, your language is probably appropriate for the occasion. However, in some situations, such as on the job, you may need to use a different way of speaking that emphasizes your seriousness. Fair or not, people will always think your voice reflects your personality. Many feel the same way, as did the British statesman Benjamin Disraeli, who said, “There is no index of character so sure as the human voice.” In other words, Your Voice Is Your Image. Is this fair? Maybe not, but that’s life. Take Edith, a customer service associate who…
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Are You Living Your Truth: Here’s How
“Strength comes from living your truth. To be true and authentic is your path to happiness, peace, and joy. You may be mocked by others but they have no power over you… for you have discovered the power within.”—Idlehearts.com Sophia’s Story: “How do I get the people I care about the most to treat me with kindness and respect—maybe even appreciation? “It is so hard for me to continue giving my 25-year-old daughter help with daily chores like cleaning, cooking, and other household tasks, in addition to financial support during her illness, and especially to be patient and kind with her. “I also give my daughter the emotional support she…
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The Fear of Not Being Good Enough
“Above all things, never think that you’re not good enough yourself. A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning.”—Issac Asimov. Michelle’s Story: “My mum moved into residential care two weeks ago, and she loves it. She has company and is well cared for. “I fully supported her decision. But my brothers? Oh no! One stopped talking to me. The other doesn’t understand why I haven’t found a job yet and moved out of the family home, and he wants me to pay for Mum’s residential care. “According to my brothers, I can never do anything right. And they…
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Challenges to Following Your Bliss
“Follow your bliss, and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”—Joseph Campbell. Joseph Campbell, author of The Power of Myth, is most famous for the well-known advice to “follow your bliss,” which is a call to pursue what brings us the greatest joy and satisfaction. “Bliss” and “Happiness” are related but have nuanced differences. Bliss: This term often refers to perfect joy and contentment with an almost transcendent or euphoric quality. It implies a higher degree of emotional and spiritual fulfillment than general happiness. For example, one might say, “She was in a state of bliss after the meditation retreat.” Happiness: Happiness is a broader…
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Empowering Women’s Minds: 7 Ways to Nurture Your Brain Health Today, Tomorrow, and into Your Future
“Everything we do, every thought we’ve ever had, is produced by the human brain. But exactly how it operates remains one of the biggest mysteries, and it seems the more we probe its secrets, the more surprises we find.”—Neil deGrasse Tyson. Do you enjoy watching television? I do. Television can be entertaining and instructive. What about reading? I am a bookworm, a bibliophile, a bookaholic! Because I read so much in different genres, I have broadened my knowledge on various topics—not that I pretend to be the most intelligent person in the room—far from it! But beyond entertainment, my thirst for knowledge has improved my skills in several areas. “Empower”…
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Celebrate Your Uniqueness! Break Free from Societal Expectations
“What sets you apart can sometimes feel like a burden and it’s not. And a lot of the time, it’s what makes you great.”—Emma Stone. Are you a woman aged 55+? Are you often expected to fulfill specific roles? For example: Older women might be expected to take on nurturing roles within the family. While not universal, older women are often expected to take an active role in the lives of their grandchildren. Older women may be expected to retire from their careers and focus on more leisurely activities. There is an emphasis on senior women maintaining their health and fitness as they age. Women in later years are often…
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Family Caregivers: Why Kindness Matters
“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”—Albert Schweitzer. Are you caring for an ill loved one—a parent, child, or sibling? If so, you are one of the 53 million US adults doing so. You are a “Family Caregiver.” Shelly’s Story: “Mom is becoming increasingly incontinent. She hates being cleaned up and changed. She insists on keeping her soaked in Depends diaper. She fights me tooth and nail when I am trying to help her. She screams, cries, and gets us both worked up. “I know this is due to the disease, but in the heat of the moment,…
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7 Keys to Stop Passive-Aggressive Behavior
“We cannot become peacemakers without communication. Silence is a passive-aggressive grenade thrown by insecure people who don’t want the accountability of starting it.” Shannon L. Alder. Meet Barbara: “Rant alert! As if caring for your loved ones through terminal illness or behavior issues isn’t bad enough—or even navigating health care systems that promise to offer help but are broken, at best. “But what gets me is when your f*****g siblings can’t find any f*****g compassion or consideration or even give you a f*****g chance to get back up on your feet after you’ve been knocked down time and time again for years—whether it be emotionally, physically, financially or mentally. “My…
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Harmful Myths and Stereotypes About Older Women Versus the Real Truth
“Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths.”—Joseph Campbell. What is myth? “A widely held but false belief or idea.”—Oxford Languages According to Oxford Languages, other popular terms for myth are misconception, fallacy, mistaken belief, false notion, and misbelief. Myths are stories that create stereotypes. Stereotypes are only valid if we allow them to affect the way we live. Example: Older women are content to stay home, chat with friends, shop online, and watch soap operas on TV. Does it not anger you to hear that many consider older women irrelevant, unmotivated, and unimportant?!? How dare they!!! Yes, such beliefs get me riled up! Have you heard the stories about…
