Surviving Tilt-A-World

Have you been feeling it still?  That sense that everything is coming to peace by being cleared out?  For me, I feel like I’m riding turbulent waves with only a small life ring to keep me from drowning.  I have been talking with others who are feeling it as well.  Are you too?

It’s been going on for awhile now.  I wrote about it here at the end of August.  Some of what we’re experiencing with no rhyme or reason as to why are:

Turbulence in relationships

Malfunctioning/breaking of all types of items (locks included)

Miscommunications

Unexplained health problems

Insomnia

Exhaustion of body, mind and soul

Lack of feeling centered

Losses

Bad behaviors

Atmospheric/Climate abnormalities

Appliances, Computers, Electricity problems

Etc., Etc., Etc.

It’s a time for clearing out the old muck to begin again in a new way.  It’s a rearranging and re-balancing of the old stuck ways of thinking and being which causes this upheaval.  Whatever we haven’t dealt with in the past is now center-staging itself in plain sight in order to be dealt with once and for all, even if it’s not what we want to do at this time.

It’s been difficult for most of us.  It’s a matter of staying on course and allowing the flow of energy to take us where we need to heal.  Navigating the hills and valleys as we clear and heal isn’t for the faint of heart.  Staying centered and balanced feels like an arduous task, but we just have to keep on trying to recenter after each crisis.  Staying authentically true to ourselves, opening up those raw wounds to heal them and to forgive takes great effort.  Sleep is kindness to ourselves as it restores our depleting energies as we traverse this difficult time.

We can’t charge through this time quickly.  We can only take baby steps as each clearing comes which means that there’s no way to make it go any faster.  Hold on.  Go with the flow.  Be patient with yourself and others.  Don’t try to force things to work, but instead surrender to the healing.  I truly believe all will re-balance itself, maybe not in the short time we want it to, but yes, in time.  All in good time.

Hold on dear friends.  Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Rest.  Meditate.  Surrender and Grow.  Balance the yin and yang as best you can.  Hold onto trusted friends.  Count your blessings.  We are here for you!  Keep shining your heartlights!  We need more light!

Shine On!

xo

 

Affected By the Moon

I know of many people who are affected by the moon and its cycles, not to mention eclipses, astrological changes and the equinoxes.  As we begin to move from 3D to 5D, there’s an increase in energetic shifts and for some of us, we are sensitive to the changes.  Are you one of them as well?

I’ve seen it in my family members who are more confused recently.  I’ve seen it in horseback riding as my trusty Ty was out of sorts when I rode him this week.  I’ve seen it with our pets as they are more on edge and needier than usual.

In chatting with friends lately, it seems that the surge of instability and sensitivity of our moods has increased lately.  A quickening in anger and frustration along with tearful grieving seem to ebb and flow into normally calm people at a moment’s notice without warning.  Not to mention those who are on either end of the spectrum emotionally.  It’s like the energy in the world is fluctuating at such dramatic heights and dips that there’s a storm brewing and we need to seek shelter and balance in our lives.  With the recent full moon, the lack of love and understanding is causing much unrest and balance is desperately needed.

So if you’re feeling lost at sea lately, you’re not alone.  But how do you anchor yourself with balance and love to be the port to help others who are tossed in the turmoil?

Meditation helps.  Calm interaction with others is necessary.  Fear intensifies the messy storm so steer clear and send out your heartlights first before engaging with others who show even the subtlest signs of being affected negatively by the energetic storms brewing now.  Rest your body, mind and soul.  Nourish them all with higher vibrations and associate yourself with those who embrace love, understanding and kindness.  Hold closely your loving soul family members.  Reach out when you’re feeling low.  Take the necessary time when you’re feeling depleted so that you can recharge your heartlight.  If you’re suffering, reach out to someone who cares and allow them to help you.  But please, do not use your suffering to make them suffer along with you.  Allow them to lift you.  Don’t drag them into the negativity.

Pray.  Listen to spiritual music.  Eat heart healthy meals.  Drink plenty of water.  Stay away from negatively charged beverages/foods such as alcohol.  You don’t need to add to what may be negatively churning up in you to be affected even more by drinking or over-eating.

Exercise.  Commune with Nature.  Read something that makes you feel good.  Watch a feel good show. Spend some quality time alone gardening or writing in your journal.  Sing music that makes you smile and uplifts your mood.  Spend time with your family and pets.  There’s nothing better than a heartfelt hug to shift your mood.  There’s also what we call fur therapy (petting your sweet pets) and absorbing their peaceful energy into your heart.

Don’t be tempted to start a fight with someone else whom you’ve been meaning to give a piece of your mind.  It won’t fare well for either of you.  Stay clear from anxiety issues.

We are riding out the fluctuations of energy changes as they open up to a myriad of possibilities in the near future.  So relax into the experience.  Steer yourself into calm waters and do your best to enjoy the ride.

Shine On!

xo

 

 

 

When Was the Last Time You Felt Carefree?

I found myself pondering this very question today without a definitive answer.  In fact, I was unable to remember the last time I felt carefree.  When you ask yourself the same question, what is your answer?  Can you answer the question immediately or are you like me, wondering and hard pressed to remember that far back in your memories?

To be honest, there have been moments of joy and childish happiness recently, but the word carefree doesn’t ring a bell for any time recently.  I think when we get bogged down with life, adulthood and being responsible for so many people, situations and such, we find ourselves hard-pressed to take the much time needed to recoup a little childish wonder and release ourselves from the day to day drudgery in order to feel carefree even if it is only for a few precious moments.

I chose a photo of falling leaves as a carefree moment because it seems fitting to me.  Dancing, colorful leaves, in crisp cool air, feels carefree to me. (Thanks Canva!)

What photo would you use to show carefree?

The Daily Post Prompt gave me the impetus and gentle reminder to find more carefree moments in my life.  Perhaps finding a daily carefree moment is a new goal!  How about you?

What makes you feel carefree?

Shine On!

xo

How To Pick Yourself Up

There are times in all of our lives when all of our best laid plans and dreams go kapluey. (Does anyone know how to spell that word correctly?  Please advise!)  It hardly ever happens at a convenient time because, let’s be frank, whoever says, “I want upheaval in my life right now!  Woo Hoo!  Bring it on!”  To my knowledge, those people are few and far between, as the majority of us would prefer smooth sailing.

But that’s not always possible, nor is it probably beneficial, because even in nature, a little rain must fall from time to time to grow us, a little sun must shine to heal us and a little wind must blow to help us to connect with others.

Ok, am I being too spiritual for you?  Do you think I don’t understand all that you’re enduring?  I may not, but I have endured much in this life so far and I have found that in sharing our stories, we help ourselves and others to find peace.

Maybe that’s not the way for you.  Perhaps the darkness feels too heavy right now for you.  I have been there and I understand.  I have felt the weight of sadness in my life.  We all have.  But it’s what you do with your sadness that makes the difference.

There’s a time and a place to sink into the sad, poor me bubble.  I do not deny that fact.  But there is a time when we must be like the little donkey, see my post ~ https://misifusa.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/fridays-burro/ ~ and take what we are given and use the experiences to find our heartlight again, to reignite it and to grow!

I can hear some of you now ~ she doesn’t get what I’m dealing with here, I’m just barely surviving, this is too pie in the sky baloney, she doesn’t know me, she doesn’t have a clue, etc.

Yes, I know and you are right.  I do not understand whatever you are dealing with at this time.  But then again, maybe I’ve experienced something similar.

The difference is what we do when the chips are down and how we react when our path gets strewn with debris, disappointments and such.  We can get angry, get resentful and be hurtful.  We can wallow in an all-out pity party.  We can turn the other cheek.  We can walk away.  We can hang on with all we’ve got.  We can share our strive with trusted friends.  We can take pills to make the pain go away.  We can attend to fixing the situation at hand.  We can ignore it.  We can allow our hearts to harden.  We can be doormats.  We can put up walls and shut everyone out.

OR

We can look inside of ourselves and work on healing.

It’s a choice dear friends.  That’s what life is all about ~ choices.  We have the freedom to choose every single moment of everyday.  We can choose again if we find that our initial choice isn’t what we want.  That’s the beauty of life school.

So how do we pick ourselves up after we stumble?

We choose to pick ourselves up.  That’s step one and a very important step in life.  The first one is sometimes the hardest step (you’ve heard the expression, that first step is a lulu!) but it’s the beginning after an ending and it’s a baby step for sure.

But it is always, a step in the right direction and that’s how we pick ourselves up!

Shine On!

xo

 

Tips to Survive MRI Breast Scan From Someone Who Knows

It’s hard enough to have questionable health issues, but to endure testing to find out the results is an added necessary burden.  Have you ever had an MRI?  You can have them for all different health problems.  I have endured MRI’s for brain and breast scans, neither of which are fun.  But then, no test is fun, there I said it.  I feel for you.  I’ve been there.  I don’t know what’s harder, the test itself, the wait time for the answer or the dealing with whatever the result is.

But below are a few tips that may help you or a loved one in case you need an MRI, in no particular order:

You can’t have any metal on you when you are in the MRI machine.  Watches must come off because they will be stopped by the machine.  You can probably keep your gold jewelry on, but the technician may tell you to take it all off and put it in your locker where your clothes are because you’ve changed into that fashionable hospital gown.  You know the one, right?  Lucky for us, they will probably give you two like they gave me.  First one opens in the front, second opens in the back so there’s no peek-a-boo affect!  Oh-la-la!

Go to the bathroom right before you have the procedure.  Remember how your Mom told to you to go pee-pee before you left the house?  Well, you will be in the MRI machine, not able to move for a bit so better to try to go again before you get strapped down for at least 30 minutes.  Because, it’s so uncomfortable to have to resist the urge to stop an MRI because you need to go.  You know how it is, if you need to go and you are strapped into a loud cranky machine and aren’t allowed to move, your mind will fill up with thoughts of the bathroom and it will be hard to stay calm and not move.  And you can’t just get up, run to the potty and finish the test.  Nope, you have to stay there, from start to finish in the same position.

When they put you in the machine, you will be asked to NOT MOVE for the entire time.  So make sure you are as comfortable as humanly possible before the professional leaves the room.  I’ve had MRI’s where I had to be in a certain position that was very uncomfortable in order to have the test.  Sometimes you just have to be in that position no matter what, but occasionally, you can have the position adjusted BEFORE the test begins.  The key here is BEFORE because you can’t change position once it starts.  It never hurts to ask.

Make sure they give you earplugs ~ the machine clanks LOUDLY and you are in a tube which makes the sound reverberate.  Earplugs don’t seem to help, but it’s even worse when you don’t have them.  Years ago, they didn’t give you earplugs and it felt deafening to be in the machine.

TELL the professional if you are a claustrophobic.  THIS IS IMPORTANT!  Some tests will allow a relaxing medicine (prescription from your doctor before you go to the MRI) to be taken 30 minutes prior to help with the phobia and there are cases in which you can request an OPEN MRI which would help immensely if you are indeed claustrophobic.

For the breast scans, I have gone by myself before and since I know what to expect, it’s not as bad.  Ok, it’s not great either.  Breast scans have the patient laying face down (like the photo above) so you can see nothing except the sheet that covers the platform on which you are laying.  Your arms are above your head so that the radiologist can see your breasts.  I will tell you that for me, it is terribly uncomfortable to have my right side that way.  In fact, my back muscles went into spasm once and I called to the technician.  She came in and helped me to reposition myself and made sure I was still in position for the best possible test results, but I was able to have my arm oustretched to get into the machine and then under her supervision, was able to bend my arm against the machine so that it was comfortable once I was fully in the machine.  It made a world of difference for me.

The object here to get the test done in the shortest amount of time with the best results while you are as comfortable as possible.  To get all 3 pieces is a huge win-win.  Your technician is a big help in this because they want you to have a good experience and they need to get the job done. 

Working together is key here.

You are not alone in the MRI machine.  You have a ball in your hand to squeeze in case you need help and your technician (who is in the next room) will respond.  There is also an audio whereby you can hear the technician tell you what to expect  ~ test for 8 minutes, the contrast is now starting, etc. and you can respond verbally as well.

You can have an MRI with and without contrast.  Without getting too technical, with contrast means that you will have an IV inserted before you go into the MRI machine room.  Once you are settled into position in the machine, the technician will connect your IV to the contrast for use later as the first set of MRI images will be without the contrast.

My advice is to drink water before you go to the test and to drink water afterwards to flush your system of the contrast.  Drinking water before hydrates you (hence take the potty break right before) and allows your veins to be nice and plump so that the IV is inserted quickly, easily and pretty painlessly.  If you don’t hydrate, then it’s harder to find a good vein, the prick hurts more and veins can get blown, which means you have to get stuck again in a different vein.  That, my friends, is never fun and I’ve had a ton of experience with that piece.

When the technician tells you the contrast is coming, you will feel it in your veins.  You may have felt something already, a little bit of cold fluid which is the saline solution to make sure that all flows properly.  You will know the contrast is entering your veins because you will taste a metallic ink in your mouth and may even feel a warmth in your body.  You may even feel like you’ve (ahem) peed yourself (for lack of a better term), but don’t worry.  It’s simply the sensation because remember, you’ve already gone potty before you got into the machine.  Once the contrast is delivered, the machine will clank again as it repeats the same imaging as before, only this time with the contrast in your body.

So what do you do while you are waiting for the whole episode to be over?  It’s loud in the machine and time for me, feels like it stops completely.  I have tried to sing songs to myself ~ made up rap songs to the rat-a-tat-tat of the clanking machine ~ I’ve tried to find a mantra to say along with the rhythmic clanging ~ I can do this…I am healthy…All is well…God please be with me…etc.  I have tried to pray the rosary even, but as my mind has a hard time focusing I only almost prayed 2 mysteries.  But perhaps you’ll find something to do to make the time go by easier.

I have had techs who have been diligent in telling me, “Ok, this test is for 8 minutes…now this one is for 10” and so on…and I have had others whom I thought had left the building as I hardly ever heard from them so I guess it’s just the luck of the draw.  My favorite line from any of them has always been, “Ok, the test is over.  Stay still, I’m coming in,” as I drew a huge sigh of relief that it was over.

I’ve been woozy afterwards with all of the fears now over, the test now over and I am now having to stand up after being face down for 45 minutes.  Take your time.  If you feel light-headed, TELL the professional as if you faint, the EMS come and it’s a big deal.  If you can take your time and simply stay calmer, it helps.  I know that those of us who are fainters (yup, me too) don’t always have any notice that they are going down, but if you do, please tell them.  Believe me, you don’t want the EMS there because you fainted because the test was finally over.  You want to do a happy dance that it’s over and get out of there!

I hope you found a tidbit or two to help you through ~ I have been there, done that, so if you have any questions or want to share your experience below, please do!  I am here for you if you need a friend.  I understand ~ here’s my hand, hold on.  We’ll get you through this together!

Shine On!

xo

P.S.  Thanks to my sweet readers who shared their experiences below and gently reminded me about the contrast sensation.  You rock Rhonda and Cordelia’s Mom. ♥

 

 

Cancer Connections

You gain strength, courage, and confidence

by every experience in which you really stop

to look fear in the face.

You are able to say to yourself,

“I lived through this horror.

I can take the next thing that comes along.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Sitting in the oncologist office waiting room, I had some time to look around at all the other people there waiting patiently for their names to be called.  I’ve done this before and I seem to do it every time I’m there.  I smile at the others in the room, because I figure if you are here, then we’ve got a connection.  Because let’s face it, there are plenty of other places to sit in this big ole world and I bet you wouldn’t choose the oncology waiting room to hang out in if you didn’t need to be there.  Or if your loved one didn’t need to be there.

Cancer evens us out.  Strange to say, right?  But I find that those of us who have endured cancer find it easier to simply connect with someone else who has been in the same boat.  It’s that common ground that we search for when we connect with someone else.  By simply being in the same doctor’s office, we can pretty much bet we’ve got or had the Big C and we’re hoping to get better and stay healthy.

Cancer isn’t choosy.  It doesn’t discriminate between races or genders.  Old or young, it matters not.  It comes in changing the lives of its patients and those who surround them.  Cancer bonds people.  Cancer breaks people down.  Cancer divides. Cancer unifies.  Cancer conquers some people and yet, there are others who conquer cancer.  It’s an equal-opportunity disease for which there’s no cure, yet.

Cancer connects people in ways that they might not necessarily connect.  The fear of death and the horror of cancer treatments, etc.  give you a bird’s eye view of what you are truly made of and there’s no place for sissy’s with cancer.  No matter with whom you talk, we’ve all had sleepless nights filled with worry and repeatedly question at every tumor marker test, if cancer has returned.  Many of us have endured surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, blood tests, needles, being poked and prodded by countless professionals and staff.  We’ve lost our hair, body parts and our dignity.  But I’ve learned that we don’t lose our loving hearts, nor our need for comfort or our precious souls to cancer.   It’s given me a new outlook on life.  Sure cancer has weakened parts of my life, but it also strengthened me.  It’s given me lessons on human nature that I would have never understood had I not endured the cancer.  It’s made me appreciate the little things and be unafraid of dying.  It’s changed my life in good and bad ways, but I try to concentrate on the good in my life at every turn.

What has cancer done in your life?

Shine On!

xo

Never Give Up!

Remember when you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer,never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

Shine On!

xo

How To Find Gratitude In Having A Tough Life

Many of us have had difficulties in our lives, some not of our own making, but all the same, ours.  We’ve had health problems, family issues, dysfunctional relationships, financial difficulties etc.  You know who you are and what you’ve had.  So when you want to raise the white flag in surrender after you’ve hit the wall crying, “UNCLE!” I understand.  I’ve been there.  When you want to toss your toys from your crib like a toddler with a tantrum, I understand.  I’ve been there.  You may even want to throw a pity party the size of Yankee Stadium,  I understand.  I’ve been there.  When you want to cry, “Why me, Lord?” and fall to you knees, I understand.  I’ve been there.

It’s frustrating.  It’s depressing.  It’s mind-blowing.  It’s all encompassing and exhausting.  You can drag yourself through life feeling overwhelmed and bemoaning your difficult situations as having a tough life.  You can just add up everything and proclaim “I’ve had a hard life” and allow that blanket statement to define you.

Or….you can find gratitude and use your power for good!

You can inspire others to keep shining their heartlights!

What????  Some of you may be asking ~ Has she lost her mind?  Feel gratitude for the poop I’ve endured?  Does she not know what I’ve had to deal with?  Blah Blah Blah…(Insert complaints all around).  I didn’t deserve this, I didn’t ask for it!  I’m not finding the good in the poop, etc.  This was awful.  She doesn’t understand.  Use my power for good?  No way! Etc.

Slow down dearest readers.  Deep breath.  We’ve all gone through hardships, heartaches and endured what we deemed awful.  We can let those things define us or we can define ourselves by what we’ve endured and use our wisdom from living through hell for good and be grateful that our suffering helps others who may be walking similar paths.  We can use our power for good.  We can inspire others and help them when they stumble.  For you are here, right now!  You’ve endured unthinkable things and yet you are still here reading my post!  I’m so proud of you for sticking with this life and continuing on!  (Or have you left and stopped reading?)

Does that make sense to you?  Or do you still think I’m full of hooey?

It’s what I try to do everyday when I write my blog.  I choose to continue to inspire those around me.  So come along, connect with me.  Reach out your hand.  We are a Soul Family.  We are here for each other, to support, to love, to praise, to respect and to find kindness at every turn.  Use your power for good in this world and you will remain happy in this life.  Turn on your heartlights so I can see you!  We learn from each other’s mistakes.  We hold hands and move forward, one baby step at a time. ♥

Shine On!

xo

What To Do When You’re Wounded

Turn your wounds into wisdom. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Wounds hurt, whether they are spiritual, mental, emotional or physical wounds and it takes time to heal them.  Not all wounds are alike and the same type of wound on one of us can heal faster on one than on another with no clear rhyme nor reason.  It just happens that way.  You can help your wounds to heal faster and better when you choose to connect with yourself and with others.

I’ve been wounded.  I don’t think there’s anyone who has escaped being wounded in one form or another.  Sometimes the wounds are small and at others, they are gaping holes in our psyche.  But what do you do when you’re wounded?

For me, I’ve turned my wounds into wisdom as Oprah so aptly puts it.  I’ve reached out to connect with my soul family and I’ve looked inward while the stillness in my heart, soul and mind searched for my dimmed heartlight.  I embraced my wounds, bandaging the gushers until the flow of sadness ebbed and I could take a moment for observation at the entire scenario of my life.  When I was ready, I was able to look at my wound with a fresh perspective.

And I chose to heal.

Honestly, I am not fully healed.  I am somewhere walking on life’s path, neither in the light nor the darkness of negativity.  I’m in the grey area of healing.  But I am here, choosing to face the light and turn my back on the abyss.  The wounds prickle and tingle as they heal and sometimes are freshly poked, causing more wisdom to flow as I re-bandage the sores.  The shallow ones heal as lessons are learned.  The deeper wounds remain, but I do not allow them to be infected with negativity.  I draw out the venom when needed so that the cuts stay clean and the opportunity for healing compassion remains alive and well.

It’s a process.  It’s slow at times and at others, I feel the impact of miraculous healing.  But the wisdom I’ve extracted from my wounds has been a priceless gift, one that I don’t recommend enduring, but I am willing to share my wisdom from it.  It has been enlightening.  It has been memorable.  It has been a gift that I never wanted, but I was taught to never look a gift horse in the mouth, so I did the best I could to accept the gift with the gentleness of a compassionate heartlit soul.

And so my heartlight shines on…and I am ever grateful.

Shine On!+

xo

Who’s In Your Family?

When asked the above question, most people will, without thinking, rattle off a list of names which includes parents, siblings, spouse, children, grandparents, inlaws and may even begin to delve into further branches of the family tree.  An occasional animal lover may include pets, both present and past as leaves in the family tree.  We consider family as the blood-line or those connected through marriage or living situations.

I get it.  Because that’s what we’ve been taught.

But what if everyone in the world were a part of your family?  What if your family wasn’t confined to your DNA gene pool and instead based on loving connections with other souls?  What if kindness, understanding, friendship and love were the basis of family?  Could you imagine your soul family then?  Would it include those in your traditional family unit?

I am a leaf/branch/part of a traditional family unit.   I could rattle off names of family members both past and present with ease.  But I am learning about soul family units as well and I’m finding it really interesting so I want to share what I know from connecting with others.

A Soul Family is one which may or may not have DNA included in the dynamic.  In fact, many times, those who are part of a soul family do not share genetics nor any other branch of the traditional family unit as we know it.  They are souls who connect on a deeper level if you will.  I’m not saying that traditional family members do not have the ability to do this as well, because I have witnessed it myself.  But there are ties that bind us in a soul family that defy earthly rules.  For we are all souls with earthly bodies.  Just because you aren’t related to someone doesn’t preclude being a part of a soul family.  We are all connected as energy and expanding our loving connections only helps to heal and raise the vibrations of peace to this world.

Have you ever heard of a soul family?  Do you have anyone in your lifetime with whom you’ve connected like family and yet there’s no traditional family tree involved?

Shine On!

xo