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mimzy-writing-online · 5 years

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A Witch’s Memory, an interview with the author, Mimzy Reiner

What is the premise of the novel?

A Witch’s Memory is a contemporary fantasy novel in the young adult age category. The story has three main characters. Ulric is a werewolf who lost his vision eight months before the start of the novel and is now legally blind. At the start of the novel he is returning to school after missing a full semester. Nobody at his school knows he went blind, not even his best friend Mason. All his classmates know is that he got sick and had to be pulled out of school. Mason is the only one who knows he’s coming back. The only person he’s ever told about his blindness is Anna, a fellow blogger he’s befriended online.

Two months ago Anna and her mismatched family of witches moved from the United Kingdom to the States so that her uncle could get a new job after being fired from his previous job as a university professor teaching Magical History. Anna and her brother Felix both suffer from partial amnesia due to a memory curse. They remember most of their lives but there are holes in their memories, memories of friendships and school subjects and special events that were erased. Neither of them is too thrilled about having to finish secondary school in America, but both want a fresh start away from reminders of their missing memories or the night they were both cursed.

On the first day of school Ulric realizes that the new student in his grade is Anna, his online friend. Anna realizes that Ulric closely resembles a friend she used to have in the U.K. and that the similarities are too eerie to be a coincidence.

And then there’s the matter that Ulric was blinded in an accident within a week of the night Anna and Felix were cursed.

Felix thinks their theory is ridiculous, absurd, and downright idiotic.

Who was deceived more?

More Below: how magic works in this world, the boarding school the novel is set in, the themes of the novel, inspiration, and many (many) pictures/visuals.

Tell us about the world of your novel, about the magic

In this world magic is as normalized as technology and science. There’s no big secret kept away from the humans. Everyone is out in the open with who they are. Witches, fairies, werewolves, and even vampires have a place in the world with no need to hide who they are. The novel focuses on two witches and a werewolf but humans and vampires and fairies have their place in the story. Ulric’s best friend Mason is a vampire. Anna’s roommate at boarding school is a fairy. Felix’s crush is human.

One of my favorite things to do in my writing is to turn the expected trope on its head. Vampires don’t kill when they drink blood because vampires only drink about a pint at a time and the human body can lose as much as two liters and still survive. Werewolves don’t need to transform during the full moon, but refusing to shift is beyond uncomfortable for them. Rather than losing control and blacking out when they transform, werewolves are completely aware and in control of their bodies. A familiar is the soul of a witch who died and was partially preserved in the form of a cat. No witch wants a familiar.

At the same time I also love playing with the stereotypes of magic. Witches do ride brooms in this world. Werewolves howl to find their fellow werewolves in the forest. Some vampires are immortal, but not all. Fairies are every bit as colorful as you see in cartoons, with interesting hair and skin colors.

Mixing the familiar and the unexpected is one of my favorite things.

What themes are present in your novel?

LGBTQA+

Anna, Ulric, and Felix are bisexual, and are at different levels of acceptance/understanding of their sexuality. Ulric’s known he was bi since he was 13. Anna realized it less than a year ago. Felix is only just starting to understand his sexuality. There are also several secondary characters who are LGBT. By my count there are eight characters who identify as queer in some way, whether in gender identity or in sexuality.

I am bi/pansexual and I am gender fluid, and being able to write queer characters means a lot to me.

Disability

Ulric is legally blind and a huge part of the novel is his acceptance of his disability and trying to get as much of his old life back as possible. Going back to school, getting back into athletics (like his school’s running group) and being with his friends is all part of that. I am blind myself and a lot my personal experience went into this novel, both from the technical perspective of how you navigate life with blindness and the emotional perspective of living with a disability.

There are a few secondary characters with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Mental Health

I have a hard focus on recovery and healthy coping mechanisms. Anna and Ulric both live with PTSD and experience it differently. Felix has some self esteem problems he needs to work on. All three characters have varying levels of anxiety but directed at different things. It’s never used as a gimmick or a plot filler. Their mental health is a result of the traumas and influences they’ve experienced in their sixteen years of life.

Family

There is a lot of focus on parental figures and how they are flawed. Parents make mistakes, even when all they want is what’s best for you. This story sees the good and the bad in parents.

Other

There’s a lot of humor and whimsy woven into all the drama. I want magic to be whimsical and have an every day presence. There are some downright ridiculous moments of humor in the story.

What is the setting of the novel?

The novel is set at a boarding school in Pennsylvania called Silverstone Academy, where our three characters attend. There are also moments and scenes taking place in the local, sleepy town of Aberdeen.

Are there any favorite settings for your scenes?

Some of my favorite scenes take place in the library of the school. There’s something about it that makes for a perfect setting for a serious conversation. Inside the library is a reading room with an illusion spell cast on it that turns the walls and ceiling into a sky of stars.

In general I’m a fan of using seemingly average parts of the school campus.

A dark, mostly empty drama theater makes for a perfect place to talk with your friend about all your past crushes.

A pretty courtyard cast in warm afternoon sun is perfect for getting to know someone.

An quiet hallway in the science building is perfect for an argument.

What was the first moment of inspiration for this novel?

This story began some seven years ago but was for a long time left untouched. Then last January I had a dream of Anna trying to get away from danger on a broom she only barely knew how to ride. The memory of Anna on the broom calling out to Ulric stuck with me and I began writing it again, but from scratch. This story has taken a completely different direction from its first draft seven years ago.

Other Posts and Content for A Witch’s Memory

Including Excerpts and tag games about the characters

Anna:

Excerpt of Anna’s 1st Chapter

15 Question Interview with Anna

Felix:

Excerpt of Felix’s 1st Chapter Part One

Excerpt of Felix’s 1st Chapter Part Two

15 Question Interview with Felix

Felix meets Hayden

Ulric:

Excerpt of Ulric’s 1st Chapter

15 Question Interview with Ulric

Mimzy’s parting words:

If you’ve made it this far and have read the whole thing, I don’t know what to say. Thank you for listening. If this story of mine interests you, please follow this blog where I post/reblog writing advice, share progress updates on my novel, and sometimes include excepts of my favorite parts.

If you want to be added to the tag list, just comment on this post.

You can also find me on twitter (link: https://twitter.com/MimzyReiner)

If you want to support this production of this book, you can like and reblog this post and the links above.

I also have a ko-fi and the donations go to a savings account to manage the self publishing costs of A Witch’s Memory, including the audio-book (because if I’m going to write a blind character, I should make the story accessible to the blind).

https://ko-fi.com/mimzyreiner

Thank you and good night :)

#writing community #writing #writeblr #my wip #a witch's memory #my post #mine

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thesickpanda · 5 years

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Medical Gaslighting

As I scroll through my Tumblr feed, I come across innumerable stories from fellow spoonies who have experienced mistreatment, neglect, abuse and disbelief from the medical institution. I recoil in both horror and in painful empathy as I read the stories, because they are all too familiar and terrible.

It's hard to understate how exhausting and upsetting it is to be questioned on your chronic illness, to be lectured by doctors who know nothing about what you’re going through or even the latest research on your particular condition. It's horrible to suffer something so disabling and debilitating, only to be told that you're not disabled enough to qualify for concessions, finance or support. It's bad enough that friends and family often don't believe us or make accommodations, but it is a truly desperate feeling when the very people who took an oath to help you and do no harm actively dismiss, deride or bully you.

I'd like to list my own examples of what I term “medical gaslighting”, both as a personal record and as a contribution to those stories.

Example One:

It is my first year living in Australia. I moved to this country already suffering from debilitating pain. I had previously been diagnosed with Myofascial Pain Syndrome in the UK; however, even the rheumatologist said it did not account for all my symptoms. The pain had grown a great deal worse, and it had started spreading to other parts of my body. I went to go and see my partner's family doctor. I explained how badly my back ached, that I had a two year history of this pain and that I really want to get to the bottom of it and find some relief. His response? "Everybody gets back pain. Take painkillers and just deal with it." I came away from the appointment stunned and disappointed. This was not the first time I have felt as if my condition was not being treated seriously; however, it was the bluntest delivery of this sentiment. Little did I know this was an experience I was going to have repeatedly…

Example Two:

I have been on the waiting list for a public pain clinic for many months. In order to have access to the pain psychologist and physiotherapist, I need to have an assessment by the resident pain clinician. This man is a dinosaur. He looks to be in his 80s. His thinking is about that old, too. He tells me I need to go on anti-depressants. I tell him that I have been on SSRIs before and that I have always had severe side-effects and that they have never made any difference to my pain. I also tell him that I am not suffering from depression. Yes, the pain is wearing me down but I know what depression feels like and I don't currently have it. He tells me that if I want to go on the pain course and have any hope and improving, I absolutely must do what he says. When I try to express my concerns, he bullies and emotionally blackmails me to accept. I don't want to miss out on the rest of the program, especially as I feel desperate and don't know what else to do, so I begrudgingly start taking the antidepressants. And so begins a four-year horror fest of dreadful side-effects, appalling and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms, and of course no pain relief. To say that I hate this man is an understatement. Not only did his “advise” me down the wrong path, he made an already uncomfortable experience so much worse (and with NO warning of the side/withdrawal effects, either…).

Example Three:

I ask the pain psychologist whether or not he thinks severe childhood trauma and PTSD could contribute to my chronic pain. He dismisses the notion out of hand. Turns out, there's plenty of research to suggest this and that it is not a ridiculous notion by any stretch. I knew this, because I had been reading some of the latest peer-reviewed journals on the subject. But as I soon learned, the so-called experts were not keeping abreast of the research. They were, on average 15 years behind it. Not like I would know anything about my own illness!

Example Four:

At a different stage in my life, I do wind up depressed, but that is because I have just lost a close family member, my relationship is breaking down, and the pain has reached agonising levels. I wind up in hospital after an attempted suicide with a knife. I am put in a room and made to wait seven hours before anyone see me. The only person who comes in is a nurse who tells me that I'm not a priority because “there are real sick people” who need real attention from doctors. The room is full of sharp objects.

Example Five:

When I do get a name for my condition, Fibromyalgia, I soon learn that not everybody believes Fibromyalgia is a real illness in and of its own right. My GP in particular likes to tell me it is a diagnosis of exclusion. Now, I understand that many things need to be excluded before one can arrive at the conclusion that it is Fibromyalgia; however, when she says it she puts it in that dustbin of "medically unexplained symptoms" because Fibromyalgia is just a word for that in her books. Meaning, she doesn't recognise it as its own disease and therefore doesn't know anything more about it. There is a lot of research coming out at the moment that indicates Fibromyalgia might be immune based, among other things. It is also being recognised in some parts of the world as its own disease. It is beyond frustrating to be told that I am just one of those people that have aches and pains that aren't really based on anything and therefore don't warrant much support or understanding. This is a recurring problem with my GP and other doctors. I have heard it called “the fakers disease” and have been told by perfect strangers that it's all in my head and that if I just had a positive attitude I could get over it. I know that this is a universal experience faced by all people with chronic illnesses, but getting it from your doctor is particularly hurtful and frustrating.

Example Six:

The disability employment agency that I go to tells me that I'm too ill to put into paid work because I will not make for a reliable worker. The government tells me I'm not disabled enough to qualify for any financial support. All of the burden falls to my partner who, lucky for me, is a great guy. However, the tens of thousands of dollars we spend every year on medical bills mean that we will never have enough for a deposit for our own home, nor can we easily afford appliances, holidays, events or even gifts for family at Xmas. Literally all his disposable income goes on medical expenses. We have very few savings to speak and rent in one most expensive parts of the world. When my partner asks my GP for a carer’s card to give him small concessions on life's little luxuries, like going to the movies, he is told that because I am not in a wheelchair and a paraplegic, I do not qualify and neither does he. We are constantly being told that I am not disabled enough to qualify for anything: not government support, not concessions -zilch. The only thing that we have received from the Roads and Traffic Authority has been a disabled sticker for the car. And thank Christ for that!

Example Seven:

When I tell the exercise physiologist that I am seeing that I don't think it's a good idea for me to do the types of exercises he's giving me in 40° heat (back then we live in a rough area and the local gym has no air-conditioning) he tells me it's fine and I should do what I'm told. He shows me some exercises to do and then rushes off to see one of his five other customers he’s treating at same time in the same hour. I go into a full spasm because guess what? Extreme heat and exercise do not go together. Even the Bureau of Meteorology tells people not to do strenuous activities on 40° days. But my exercise physiologist, who again seems to know nothing about Fibromyalgia, thinks this is just peachy. Twice I go into flare with this man. One day, he is on leave and his immediate boss comes in to take me for my sessions. His boss watches all the exercises that I have been doing for six month. He tells me I'm doing them all wrong. I tell him that this is how his colleague taught me to do them. He again tells me they're all wrong. I terminate their “services” (read: scam). Exercise physiology is not covered by medical insurance so I have literally spent thousands of dollars on a program that has put me into spasms and done little to nothing to help me with my pain.

Example Eight:

I see a number of different psychologists over the years; often this is not by choice as we either move away or they do. I have seen good psychologists and very bad ones. On more than one occasion, psychologists asked me if I “identify with my illness”. I know this trick question. When I go to them to ask for help on how to deal with the psychological ramifications of coping with a debilitating, continuously worsening and disabling illness, something I am not permitted to speak about with friends and family lest they dismiss me/tell me I’m being depressing, I am told that I identify too strongly with my illness. It seems like you are literally not allowed to complain or express dismay about being sick and sore every waking second of your life to anyone. It should not, apparently, be taking any psychological toll on you and if it is it's because you have decided that it must. I have been told this by both able-bodied and disabled psychologists. Ableism is not exclusive to the able-bodied. Disability is a spectrum: people with chronic illnesses of different sorts face different struggles. I feel as if no place is safe. I give up on therapy and start reading self-care books and following these Tumblrs because I get more validation and assistance from the Internet that I have ever had from a real-life human being getting f-ing paid to counsel me.

These are just some of countless stories I could tell. Having to fight to be believed every day, from the second you get out of your car in a disabled park and have people challenge you, to trying to explain why, to your friends, you needs to take the lift and not the stairs, to begging your doctor or the government for basic concessions, to sobbing over bills that mount up because of all the mobility aids, medicines and treatments you've been taking… This is exhausting beyond description. And after years and years and years of it, you begin to feel a bit hopeless.

So to all my fellow spoonies posting on these Tumblrs: thank you. I am always sad to read the terrible experiences you go through, but it does give me some sense of connectedness and unity when I know that there are others fighting just like I am fighting. I appreciate the advice that is shared in this space and the posts of validation and comfort that we just don't receive from the people in our lives. Thank goodness for this community. I don't know how I would have coped at all, if not for you.

Feel free to share your own stories of medical gaslighting with me. Sometimes it helps to vent.

#gaslighting #medical gaslighting #chronic illness #spoonie #that spoonie feel #Fibromyalgia #myofascial pain syndrome #chronic pain #ableism

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agirlwithablog143 · 6 years

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Topic: Suicide and its team of Mental Illnesses Suicide is not a mental illness in itself, but a serious potential consequence of treatable mental disorders that include major depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and anxiety disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa.

Depression People who don’t have it just don’t get how hurt we are and no matter what they say we will always have doubt in the back of our minds that they’re lying. The pain grows by itself kind of like cancer is uncontrolled cell growth this is pain that could grow just by someone saying hi to us. We break even though we are already broken. Everyday people with anxiety live in fear because they are scared of society scared of disappointing someone that they care about or sometimes a person they don’t even know and it is so scary but then again we get comfortable here in our hiding spot that the monsters find us in. I’m not scared of the monsters under my bed I’m scared of the monsters hiding in my head in a place where I’m supposed to call home i can’t because it doesn’t feel like home it feels like a place where I have been thrown into without consideration of how I might feel and you can ask me how I feel but I don’t know I’m not sure about anything anymore I’m not even sure if I’m actually alive and I think a lot of depressed people feel this way. People will constantly tell you it’s okay to feel this way but it is not and that is why change needs to start with us before anyone else. And it’s not like we don’t want help we do we are just scared you can’t help us the way we need to be helped which takes us back to step one. Trust, can I trust you to help me or will you hurt me like a lot of other people in my life? We really want to trust but the constant, what if and the reminders of the bad things done to us by people we thought we could trust. Living is just becoming harder each day for us because we are constantly worried about what society thinks about us and I feel like everyone is to blame somehow in someway. People still ponder about suicide, and most of us know who is going through depression but we won’t speak out and then what if the next day that person was no longer here. Now the depression passes on to family members and you and friends. It’s so sick how contagious depression is and right now I feel like we are all suffering from the side effects.

Anorexia Nervosa

Control? Do you possess it? If you do then have control over your mind. Don’t let Ana, Sue, Deb, Mia and Annie or Rex, Dallas, Dan, Bill, and Max control you. You have been aggressively fighting for all this control whilst the wicked demons and terrible illnesses have been taking control. You fight to be thin, but why can’t you fight to be alive? The unbearable pain is intense and every time you don’t eat you let them win while you’re undoubtedly losing. You’re losing to them and don't see it because you are worried about being perfect. You will never be perfect and do you genuinely want to know why? Because everyone naturally has their own definition of perfect and you can’t fit everyone’s ideal person. Not everyone is going to like you and there is nothing you can do about that at all. Anorexia can affect people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, and ethnicities. Historians and psychologists have found evidence of people displaying symptoms of anorexia for hundreds or thousands of years. (Https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.Org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia)I know it hurts so much to the point where you want to end it all because everything is extremely hard and different now. Modern society has changed and so have we. When we were kids all we worried about was typically classic toys and delicious candy and as we grew naturally we sufficiently realized our parents and teachers lied to us. They said no scratch that they falsely promised us we would be happy, and unknown life was innocent fun they never told us about the heartaches and unspeakable misery we have to figure that out ourselves and sometimes I genuinely think that maybe some of our beloved parents failed us. I say that because right now we are unprepared and we’re fighting demons that we don't know how to fight that no one taught us how to fight and we struggle fiercely with self-hate because we look admiringly unto social media and see all the perfect thin models that we so desperately want to be. This fascinating world just seems so familiar because everyone is intentionally acting like someone else and if the influential person we are trying to act like is acting like someone else then who are we acting like now? Who are we? Who are you?

Bulimia Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with bulimia may secretly binge — consuming large amounts of food with a loss of control over the eating — and then purge, trying to get rid of the excess calories in an unhealthy way. To get rid of calories and prevent weight gain, people with bulimia may use alternative methods. For example, you may regularly self-induce vomiting or misuse laxatives, weight-loss supplements, diuretics or enemas after bingeing. Or you may use other ways to rid yourself of calories and prevent weight gain, such as fasting, strict dieting or excessive exercise. If you have bulimia, you're probably preoccupied with your weight and body shape. You may judge yourself severely and harshly for your self-perceived flaws. Because it's related to self-image — and not just about food — bulimia can be hard to overcome. But effective treatment can help you feel better about yourself, adopt healthier eating patterns and reverse serious complications.(

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615

)It hurts and at the tragic moment you don’t have control you eat food back to back constantly and at the end you’re terribly disappointed in yourself you instantly take your dainty fingers and plunged them down your brawny throat sincerely hoping and humbly praying that all the sins you incorrectly think you have voluntarily committed will come back up and flow into the toilet then it becomes a terrible habit and every time you tear your throat apart with the hurtful enzymes in your upset stomach coming back up with the food but you don’t care, do you? You are only thinking about being thin, about being perfect.You got to find a way to let go of all those terrible thoughts that you contain and want to get rid of but you can’t and you feel stuck I say this from personal experience and I know every experience isn’t the same but I know it still hurts though, and that is what I’m trying to connect with you with.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling. Negative symptoms: “Negative” symptoms are associated with disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors. Symptoms include:“Flat affect” (reduced expression of emotions via facial expression or voice tone)Reduced feelings of pleasure in everyday life difficult beginning and sustaining activitiesReduced speaking( https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml )What you see isn’t real, but the pain is, and that’s all you need to know to drive you over the edge. Sometimes it genuinely feels like the fierce pain is intenser than what it really is. Pain is unfortunately apart of life and there is nothing we can do to change that. So you keep forcibly moving and willfully ignore the deepening shadows that with ease keep popping up out of nowhere like it’s Halloween; usually on Halloween we get an impressive trick and a delicious treat but I haven’t found the sweet candy that is allegedly hiding under the floorboards in my room. There are miles and miles of the floorboard in my room and I can never walk far enough to get to it but maybe I'm just imagining terrific things. What if there’s just a yard of floorboard and I'm not walking at all; what if the floor is actually covered in shabby carpet. I’m unsure what the floor is: I'm unsure of what I’m doing. I do imperfectly know I'm terribly scared. You ask yourself if you are real; you can’t feel the unspeakable pain or how scared you are. You start to feel numb, and you don’t know what to do. Then as you promptly enter the local store and anxiously watch as the shelves that pass you by but inevitably come across a razor but all you can undoubtedly see is the blade inside of it. Another remarkable thing you have merely learned from social media, where to get a cutting blade. Your body walks past it but your mind stays with it to engage in a silent conversation about something you can’t hear. Something you don’t want to hear. Talk to someone before your independent mind forcibly pulls you into the mighty deep and you question whether if you’re actually doing this. Because you are!

SuicideNow to thing that I have been avoiding, suicide! It affects a lot of families and even the U.S. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death; each year 44,965 Americans die by suicide and for every suicide 25 attempt. Suicide costs the US 69 billion annually. (

https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/

)

Looking at the 2nd chart makes me think that it only gets worse as you grow older. People around me constantly tell me that things will get better! But when? Something has to change, and it has to start with society; society is so corrupt that it sickens me to leave the house or engage in activities with people. It sickens me to be around myself because of how ignorant I was to the situation from ages 4-8. For 4 years I was blind to these mental illnesses that have been silently taking over and now for six almost 7 years I’ve been suffering from some of the mental illnesses as well. At school, I constantly hear someone saying something bad about someone else and then I can’t help thinking that they are talking about me. The pain comes regardless of what you do to avoid it. I feel like the more you avoid it the harder it comes for you. Suicide is nothing to mess with, and I say this because a lot of people say “you are not choosing between depression and happiness you are choosing between life and death.” but I think we are choosing between depression and happiness because if we make the decision to kill ourselves that means we are no longer happy with life. Then there are unaware people around you falsely telling you to be happy but what if killing yourself makes you happy or not being alive. People constantly say we determine our fate but when we do we are constantly told that is not what they wanted us to do. You are not deciding our fate. My personal opinion is precisely that depression is a lot like tragic death: lonely, painful, numbing, and you sometimes don’t comprehend what is happening!

https://agirlwithablog143.tumblr.com/post/179452400269/schizophrenia

https://agirlwithablog143.tumblr.com/post/179419234664/bulimia

https://agirlwithablog143.tumblr.com/post/179385976189/anorexia-nervosa

https://agirlwithablog143.tumblr.com/post/179350522174/depression

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angst-king · 2 years

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Happy is different than proud pt 1

(mention of abuse) Diiing dong ding doooonngg Finally the final bell rings and I’m free to my sanctuary. I quickly pack my book bag and head towards my locker to exchange my belongings for what I need to take home. While I was at my locker I tried to tune out one of the most infuriating people I’ve ever met. Daring Greenlocke. He’s constantly flirting with the girls in the class, telling stupid jokes, tossing around a little football, or just being a goofball in general. He’s good-looking, don't get me wrong, but. I don’t like his friends and he flirts with my sister, so obviously he likes her.

Literally, I look over and see him flirting with her right now.

I roll my eyes, adjust my book bag and walk down the hall for the art club. Enter the room with minimal casualty from my classmates, only being called a freak which I’m used to. I grab a shirt out of my bookbag that I don’t mind getting dirty and grab what I kneed to throw some pottery.

I’m making another bowl for myself, my sister broke the first one. I’m gonna make myself a bowl set of bowls and plates. They’re gonna be special because it means I’m able to eat my safe foods. I’ve been having harder problems eating by mouth than usual since I moved in with my uncle. It's only been two months since then, and three months since the most recent accident that finally landed him in jail and lead to our mother’s death.

It has been rough but, I’ve tried to be tough for my siblings even if my sister and my new classmates make it hard, I try. I have to deal with lots of harassment from my sister who’s mad because he got sent to jail for his abusive behavior towards almost everyone except her. He treated her like his perfect princess, solely because in his eyes….she was. She wasn’t chronically ill, disabled, or a small powerless infant. She’s really mad at me for not agreeing with her about him not being abusive. She tells me all that time that ‘It's your fault Isabella’s not gonna have a dad’ or ‘Neil won't know how to be a real man, and will be like me.’ I hate that she’s like this, she also says ‘dad wouldn’t have had to be like that if you weren’t ‘sick’.”

In art club, it's my sanctuary from my responsibilities. I don’t have to worry about my younger siblings or be bullied by my peers or sister. It's a space for me to let out my creativity, and I guess I’m good at it too. Or well that’s what uncle victor, Niel, and others have said. I can make something that can make other people proud and it makes me smile. I don’t smile much anymore.

Like i said earlier I’m making bowls for myself, I’m shaking the clay on the wheel. I’m pretty deep into my work when I soon hear a familiar voice. “Finally found the art club.” as well as a few girl voices that soon fully caught his attention. “Oh Daring, what are you doing here? Thought you were going to lift for football.” iI frowned when I heard his voice, why the heck is he here. He doesn’t seem like an art guy at all. “Lifting got canceled, besides I can lift at the local gym if I want. Besides I wanted to try out some art, I’m not very good but I know art is whatever you want it to be and you all are so nice, So I thought I might as well give it a try.” Well, surprise surprise, first time for everything I guess. Hopefully, he doesn- “Oh hey Kamtin!” Dammit!

I looked up with a scowl on my face hoping to scare him off. He doesn’t get the hint at all and comes over to me, good grief. “Whatcha making?” He asks, “A bowl.” I answer flatly at him. “Looks kinda funky, but I bet it's gonna be cool when you’re done with it.” I silently nod and go back to my bowl trying to drown him out with my focus. It's pretty easy, I forgot he was even there a few times, though I did catch him staring.

Its been a month, and he won't stop staring at me, and now. Now he’s talking to me, and I don’t know how to feel! On one side it makes me feel gross, he flirts with so many girls and he doesn’t seem like the type to like guys. Plus he’s on the football team, and they’re all jerks. I don’t trust him, not one bit, nope don’t trust jocks, they’re so dumb, rude, and only care about getting laid and sports. On the other side, he hasn’t been mean to me, or anyone so that’s a plus he’s just getting to know me and learning what type of art he likes. Still doesn’t cancel out the fact he’s an obnoxious dumbass.

Right now he’s on the floor painting shirtless, wait painting shirtless!?!! I do a double take and look over to see the black haired guy on the cool tile floor on top of a canvas wih a tarp underneath him. He’s completely shirtless, hands covered in paint! Why is he shirtless?!! Some of the girls noticed and couldn’t help but stare too, some whispering “hey Kam” My friend Nina whispers for my attention. I turn my gaze towards her hummed. “Hm?” “You noticed too, huh?” She asked pointing to the shirtless guy in the middle of the floor. I nodded still working on my bowl, no not the same one, its another one for the set.

“Damn he’s got a set” “what do you mean, ‘a set’?” “Muscles, seriously isn’t he on like the foot ball, and baseball team?” I nodded trying to turn my mind away from Daring but its hard when everyone is talking about him. “He’s built like a brick house in a good way, and he’s tall, practically a giant. Plus he’s super artistic for being such a huge jock.” “he’s so funny” “he’s so sweet, a lil bit stupid but, sweet.” And more, goddam it was annoying to say the least. This guy is basically in here because of pretty privilege or something and its not helping me ‘escape’.

Its not that I hate Daring, I just don’t like him due to his obnoxiously childish behavior.

#oc angst #origional content #original writing

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accessthearts · 5 years

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Colloquium : Accessibility in Art Spaces

On 6:30- 8:30 Friday September 27th in the Einstein Auditorium

Fala texted me earlier today to tell me about this panel being held at NYU. She sent me the above description and urged me to go even though she wouldn’t be able to attend. I appeared in the Einstein Auditorium hallway 10 minutes before the event to find a security guard infant of an ID scan desk. Neither I nor the friend I had brung with me were students of NYU however I approached the desk and asked for directions, the guard sent us on our way to the panel room. Once inside the panel room there was a long table at the back of the room with high quality snacks on it like fancy cheese and fruits and good bread as well as a section with wines. Some students mingled while others grabbed plates and headed to the rows of chairs. Me and my friend felt we did an excellent job disgusting our selves as NYU grad students and were happy with the surprise snacks of such high quality. As everyone settled in the auditorium was roughly 70% full, which I found surprising for a Friday night. The organiser of the event was Abby, an Arts Administration Graduate student at NYU who put this panel together because she had questions regarding the subject.

The first panelist was Kevin Gotkin a visiting assistant professor at NYU in the Media, Culture and Communication Department who on his website has topics ranging from disability, technology, and media. During his time he spoke about disability aesthetics which he intentionally said he was not going to define because the power was in the meaning everyone pulls from it. He said the word could refer to the height at which you hang a painting in terms of view-ability for those who may be reliant on a wheel chair to what representation in aesthetics does disability take up in a space. This concept also promoted a brief description of relational aesthetics which seemed just as broad a vague as the first term. However he did distinguish that liability aesthetics was more relational than relational aesthetics. I interrupted that the reason for this was because those with disabilities are more often interacting and engaging with their environment more than relational aesthetics would typically account for. The example of Park McAurthurs piece Ramps (2014) was brought in as an example to this as McArthurs work was critical of the passing of the Americans with Disability act and its real world implementation. Kevin also explained that there was a difference between artist and the access to artist and it had to do with engagement with its viewers. Kevin also briefly discussed access checks which are when you recognise strengths and weakness’s in your accessibility practice and that it is apart of the process of organising around accessibility to the arts and coming up with tactics. The idea of tactics was interesting to me because it changed my typically used language of best practice and made it so that it emphasised flexible strategy because no one way will work for everyone and really these practices do not even aim to be the best yet they just aim to be identified and utilised as basic standards. In this fight for rights to access Kevin also discussed recent legal activism such as a recent headline titled “ 75 New York Galleries Slammed With Lawsuits”. A title like that represents those with disabilities as greedy and aggressive when the reality is that ableism has been acting as an attacking force that has been normalised. Kevin said the best way to combat this injustice to to put efforts into access work. Access work can take the form of paying interpreters and real time captions fair wages by including them in budgets. Budgets should also make space for the entire ecosystem of access by taking the time, money and other required resources to properly educate the entire gallery on disability and consider its functionality.

Next up was Sasha Davis with her presentation “ Teaching Through Touch” she emphasised the importance of access educators and collecting research from different sources. She also talked about some white guy who collected art from non western countries and began to utilise more tactile tactics in the creation and display of art. This for me was problematic immediately because why is this white guy collecting all of these pieces from other countries and why is he not crediting this cool method of using touch in the creation and display of art as a non colonial practice that I am certain he took from one of the many cultures he stole from. Sasha also talked about utilising brail and large prints in museums written materials also pamphlets that included relevant information such as a map with clearly marked exists. Another practice she mentioned was classes specifically designed for those with disabilities.

The next panelist was Yo-Yo Lin who identified herself as a Taiwanese Artist creating memory scapes. She advocated for the reclamation of mental health trauma. Her platform utilised IP ( interactive projection ), other art, other tech forms for the purpose of activism. Yo-Yo talked about how disability is often contextualised in terms of the medical world and often forgets the lived nuances of the lived experiences. She expresses the nuances of every day through soft data. Soft data is all the stuff that harder to measure that science and tech usually prefer for data collection. Instead soft data can involve contradictions and uncertainty. Yo-Yo talked about her heightened sense of attunement to her body which reminded me of how Kevin, an earlier panelist, had discussed the increased relational nature of disability aesthetics. She said that feeling more attuned to her body gave her greatest awareness of the tactility of the skin and lead her to place contact mics on her bones and joints and utilise the sounds produced in her art/music. In using her own body she evaluated her own place in the world of disability as someone who lives with chronic illness. She said there were many intersections and overlapping between the two groups but in no way were they mutually exclusive. However she did make it cleat the she identified strongly with the “crip community”, the term was one that reclaimed the language around the disability community and was something she felt empowered by using. When creating events for those on the “crip community” she said it was essential to schedule in roughly an hour and a half for everyone to take the time they needed to get into the space, get comfortable and begin to engage with the activit. The importance of creating and holding “crip" communal spaces and time was highlighted.

Following Yo-Yo Lin was Londs who identified themselves as a cultural worker. She began her presentation by introducing a video that she ran while she did her presentation. She introduced the video by explaining what it depicted in detail so that those who preferred to hear what the piece would look like would get the opportunity to and then those who preferred to view what it looked like would be able to. Loads then went on to explain what the video meant and the significance it held. She explained that the video was of her and her autistic brother in a choreographed dance she had designed awhile back. She explained that it was relevant because while she wanted this form of expression to engage with him that she was simpotenosly engaged in an education program called applied behavioural analysis that aimed to change those with disabilities into versions of themselves an ableist society would accept. So although she wanted to work in a creative space with her brother that utilised collective design making she was being paid to enforce top down decision making. And although she wanted her brother to engage and be present on his own terms, she was denying that opportunity to her students. Loads also initially emphasised time and space based disability in museum spaces and referenced her time at The Whitney as her time in a big institution working in access programming however to emphasised the importance of access programming in local communities in particular. She stated that access work and disability studio looked different but held a place of importance in institutions of all sizes.

The panel moved on to the question portion of the panel so here was some relevant information that stood out to me. The questions panel first opened with a portion on language. The agreed upon appropriate terms two refer to people were disabled and non disabled which made the language disability centred. The term chronically ill was also mentioned as ok and an important disinguishment between the two communities. Another panelist made the point that language should not be the centre of this discussion and its best if we all show some humility and just be open about the discussion. A third panelists made the distinction between Identity First language which utilises a people first model or the Disability first language that defines their relationship with the world. Also to be inclusive to neurodiversity and recognise where neurotypical privilege lay. Overall the tone was one that could best be summed up by Fraud. “ Everyone says one million things because they’re nervous.” And to recognise that disability is not a bad word.

Another question was asked in regards to organisations that strive for accessibility and how to expand. The first response was that disability is diverse and the best practice is to ask people what they’ll need to engage. Audio descriptions can be an effective strategy but still needs to be specifically altered to the situation. The recommend way to look at issues of accessibility is to see art as the problem and aiming to ease its problematic nature. It is also immensely encourages to be inclusive in hiring places in order to build systems of accountability. Hiring practices must also question who is being engaged in the community and work to diversify the internal to match whom ever it is serving. Another response was that organisations need case studies written up for them (!!!!!!) Another practice to consider is do you have seating options? Do you have different kinds of seats? In order to see if you’re meeting your own goals for accessibility and inclusion make sure you do some consistent checking in. Take a minute to ask “ what worked - what could use improvement / change? “. Some one asked something about verbal description and the response informed people of a tool called Folk Museum Virtual which was apparently created by people for people in an effort to push to translate visual experiences into audio accessible things. Also in visual description it is stressed that you have a financial plan that includes needs such as audio description where one can have access to an education and visitor service centre, who pays educators fairly This requires those in curatorial roles to take on heightened attention of a more inclusive audience and to have these considerations and conversations very early on in the process and continual through out. Always be taking into consideration how people will engage with the space and the fact that 25% of the population is disabled. Access needs to be thought of as Love. Access as Justice. We need to strive for more hospitable spaces.

The following question dealt with ways of working towards access. Loren works in accessibility at the Whitney and is the first to do so in that institution since the 90’s and the reason they had some one in that position a that time was because a law was passed. The panelist encouraged that in order to create effective change it had to be a change of environment and systems, NOT PEOPLE. Spaces in museums are intended to be intentionally designed and created, this job must be done while keeping access in mind by asking the people it effects. There needs to be a revaluation of the cultural and policy plans in New York City that prioritises a resistance to systematic forms of violence. Systems need to model and enact a shared value and be easy to hold systems accountable.

Another questions was which cultural institutions currently hold respectable practices. The list included:

Particularly their access programming and arts festival with days of study

Other tips were

create and find guidelines so that there is a roadmap in place.

Watch, consider and support everyone

Consider how others are thinking of access and intersectionalities

Resources suggestions to become accessible

Is useful in the barrier money can pose

Be upfront about limitations of access in space

receiving request will confirm what needs to be done.

Be receptive and accommodating to those interested in attending

If a physically accessible space can not be created than perhaps you use the art to investigate the space and build the connection between physical and outside space.

Do not claim accessibility as it is a Frame work of which you move through.

A panelists described the work of arts administrators as “pedological” work in deign that will extend to the artist and hopefully generate an overall exhibition design that works to increase meaningfulness and accessibility. Accessibility must be woven into the fabric of art ( a quote by me ) In order to make this true we must be cutting edge in our design tactics and think of the audience in every step and not just as to meet some standard.

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astersghost · 2 months

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Aster's commentary sitting on the beach ?

I think I got more stares from people for wearing a mask then I did for having bright green colored contacts and sfx scars on my neck. I mean I know I'm in Florida rn but fucking hell yall.

Not a fan of the masses of yt college kids acting like middle schoolers and drinking. They are so obnoxious and really bad at hiding the immense amount of joints they've been smoking like I could smell it in the hallways and they've been smoking on their balcony. It's b a d.

Country music is still a negative for me. Currently listening to a song about a girl "making his speakers go boom boom" in blue jeans. End me. Please.

There aren't enough alternative ppl here or coffee shops that aren't Starbucks.

Anyways we are going home in the next 30 minutes ft. A 6 hr car ride if we r lucky.

Hope y'all have enjoyed whatever this is

#OH ALSO #I got talked to like i was a fucking child by a waitress cus I was visibly disabled and using my cane #not a fan #hi its me your local chronically ill disabled friend #the beach is a nice way for me to relax and force myself to read one of the books ive beej meaning to #but fuck man #being visibly queer and disabled in Florida ks annoying #heds #pots #cane user

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essentialise · 4 years

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How to Live Well with Seronegative Arthritis in 2020

My journey to becoming a coach and helping others began when I became unwell myself, losing the ability to walk due to seronegative arthritis. As part of my mission to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of those of us who have a chronic disease, I recently took part in some research. Conducted by the University of Liverpool, I was interviewed by Jacqui Whitford-Stark, and below, is an exert of our interview. I hope it provides insight and awareness of how I have managed and lived well with seronegative arthritis.

Before Seronegative Arthritis

1 – To begin with can you tell me what your life was like before your diagnosis?

Before the diagnosis I was very active, I had a young son and I was recently married. I was part of social clubs and sports clubs, so I kind of found myself to be, you know, I was in my 20`s I started to get more aware. I started to look after myself better started to be more social, came out of university into work. Then I started my own business, so I had to make a concerted effort as a small business owner to be more social outside, but yeah, I was relatively athletic, I had hobbies and I was fairly easy going.

2 – Can you tell me what it was like after your diagnosis?

Erm, so, initially I very much struggled, I was diagnosed in hospital. I had, my joints had flared to a point where I couldn’t physically move, I spent 4 weeks in hospital while I was diagnosed and treated to get into a settled place to be discharged. I did find it very difficult. I was referred straight to intensive physio and straight for hydrotherapy. I had acupuncture and other physical therapies, which to be honest with a mindset of really wanting to get back up onto my feet and get moving again and get my quality of life back to as good as it could be I feel the NHS supported me physically, a lot, I’m very grateful that. Naturally, I was then discharged, I did find it difficult, mentally, to go from being physically able and disease-free, to then go to having to be helped to shower and do basic functions. I also lost the ability to very easily go out and socialise or even go for a walk to clear my head and I turned into a bit of a hermit. I was able to carry on my business from home luckily because 95% is on the computer and I was so grateful for that. If I had been doing a manual job I would have been looking at long term sick. Looking back, I was very happy with the help I received physically, I struggled to use crutches because it also affected my wrists and my shoulders. So, getting my mobility was a case of very small increments, small gains, getting back onto my feet, getting a gait that was effective. At first, my gait was compromised that left me in additional pain which was then x-rayed then there was concern that I may have had as, but thankfully that was not the case, it was just compacting due to my gait. I think the big thing that really affected me was mentally, erm, I did struggle as a, in some ways a proud man, to go from looking after my son and being very active and helpful around the house to suddenly not being able to do the housework. Having to ask the friends and family to come and help me with, to do things I could not do for myself. Losing that independence, I struggled quite a lot with that at first. Also, they initially thought I might have reactive arthritis before the blood tests, so there was an element where the doctors were saying, you will be ok, you’ll be better in a month. Then came actually no, you have rheumatoid arthritis erm, it’s going to be a chronic ongoing illness. So, I had to shift my mindset from ill be fine in a month too I’m going to have this for the rest of my life erm so mentally I did struggle.

I was isolated because I couldn’t get out and about, I was isolated because my business wasn`t a social one. The social elements I had intertwined before, I couldn’t really attend in the same way. So yeah, I think for about a year my mood was low, I felt elements off frustration and resentment; why me? why so young? I had looked after myself previously. Now looking back, I realise that I probably had flare-ups in years previous, but put them down to sports injuries. The signs were there I suppose but, it’s very easy when you are young to think you are indestructible and to not think about the stiffness in that kind of way.

3 – How does your illness affect your daily life?

I have spent the last 4 years trying to extract as much of my mobility and my pain management and my general stiffness, erm to live a well as I can. I feel I have literally turned myself into a walking experiment. I have spent a year experimenting with my nutrition, seeing what food makes me flare what would make me feel better, and documenting it. Experimenting in different forms of movement and stretching and different forms of exercise to see the things I am limited in, what I can’t do anymore, in terms of physical exercise and certain sports. I kind of really took the initiative to try and get my quality life back to almost what it was, within the limits of my conditions.

I have found many things that help me meditation in the mornings gives me a chance to loosen up and it seems to work quicker than just sitting there wishing it does!

I try to input positive things into my mind I feel that that reinforces that if you are going to live in a positive way you can’t be thinking negatively and pulling yourself back, you are going to have days where you feel a bit down but, using gratitude to realise this is all part of the journey and you are going to find yourself having difficult times, but, really there are other sufferers who are a lot worse than I am.

4 – How do you feel about your illness now compared to when you were first diagnosed?

I’m in a position where medication does control my seronegative arthritis I have not had a flare-up for a few years now I have got myself to a point where I have routine my life where I don’t actually, really think about it every day.

I kind of see it now as, at the time I felt it had taken something away from me, in almost some ways now, I feel it has given something to me. I’m a much more grateful, much more grounded as a person. I’ve come to understand that managing something like this is a responsibility and I’ve taken the accountability to do that and in doing that I’ve become a more rounded person its actually been something that’s developed the way my mind works I look at the world. I think in a strange way, it has its difficulties, but also it has helped my own growth.

5 – How do you see things changing in the future?

I kind of see it as, I’ve been disabled for a few years now, I want to keep it in that place of stability so I can continue to live my life at this, you know, level of activity and movement and enjoying myself. I know there will be future erm, future developments, possible changes in medication. I’m looking at reducing my medication so it has less overall impact in the long term. I’m in some ways quite excited to what the future might bring, I definitely feel that again the physical help is great but I’ve really taken a passion towards the fact that the mental help is not there in the same way. If diagnosed at a young age, you don’t have the life experience to absorb the mental impact. I found that difficult and I appreciate that other people in a similar demographic as me would also find that difficult. I talked to a person who sort of had the same story as me, and he suffered psychologically after his diagnosis, the same as me. I feel the future going forward looking after the psychological aspects of the disease as well as the physiological aspects of the disease is where the biggest development should be.

6 How have your support needs changed as a result of your illness?

My support needs changed in terms of my daily life, significantly, at first, and still to this day there is a slight element but, I feel I have managed to adapt a lot of things I could do before, so I can still do them independently.

7 – Who are the people you feel support you or help you the most?

I was heavily dependent on my wife initially, to help me get around and to do things naturally as a young man you can be quite hot-headed and try to do things for yourself I quickly realised there are things I can do but if you push yourself to far…. one day I tried to shower myself and fell over, so yeah, I did push the boundaries which in some ways you do need to do that but you need to be mindful.

8 – How satisfied are you with the support you have from family, friends, and so on?

My parents and wife`s parents I have been very supportive in helping my life running and keep operating. That it was good to have a support network around me at the time, there are people out there who don’t have that network life must be very hard for them. I think my friends and family being local enough to visit and help kept me sane and kept me going. The emotional support from my family, the practical everyday actionable things that they were doing for me helped me to continue living my life.

9 – How satisfied are you with support from medical professionals?

The physical support was good from the NHS. At the time of diagnosis, I got a lot of support from the seronegative arthritis department and the physiotherapy department at the hospital. I was there quite often, they really took my feedback and tailored things for me the way I need them to be, I was very grateful to them. 18 months into my illness I finally decided to speak to my GP about my emotional health and I explained how I was feeling mentally; the challenges I had faced and how I was trying to move on but I was still struggling in certain areas. I was referred to counselling and I did have one session which really unlocked the last few bits of the chain for me to really push forward and made me dig a bit deeper and feel a bit more settled. I found I just needed to remove the element where I was still feeling a little bit of grief for the mobility I used to have before my illness. I was looking at things I couldn’t do anymore, instead of things I could do which were similar, for example, I used to play team sports before, now I was not able to play team sports at a certain level. I was not physically able to do that now. I still needed a way to satisfy being part of a team the competitive element of things. So, I went to play for a disabled football team, and now I coach the team. It was a case of unlocking the, right if you can’t do this, what can you do that fulfils the same needs you have. That really gave me clarity, I was kind of heading in that direction I just needed the external help to make me dig deeper to question me. I found after that I have been on an upward spiral, it really helped me.

Adjusting to Life With Seronegative Arthritis

10 – If you were to compare yourself to others with rheumatoid arthritis, how well do you feel you have adjusted?

Compared to people that I know, I think my adjustment was slow initially, as in I was just adjusting to things physically, not adjusting to things mentally. I feel I am at a point that I am lucky the damage I have is not as significant as others I know. I feel most people I’ve met have adjusted well. I have met a few who haven’t adjusted mentally, after the initial period, so yeah, I like to feel I have adjusted to a higher-end but it wasn’t the case initially., I really struggled. I suppose, if I look back probably with me being younger, but also coming from a higher level of physical fitness, that went within a week. It was very difficult to catalyse this too but the consultant said this level of physical fitness helped me get back onto my feet again, to gain my mobility. I feel I adapted to a high level.

11 – To what extent would you say you still feel like you lead a full and normal life?

I feel I am able to lead a normal life, I am able to walk, I can`t run, but running is ultimately optional. I am able to drive now which I couldn’t initially, I can drive an automatic car, without adaption which is great. I can play with my children, there are a few things I have to adapt because of my knees, but I don’t see things I can’t do, I can always do something similar. I have recently started some boxing training because the part of the issue I had when I relearned to walk was the connection between my hands and my feet. My consultant suggested dancing or boxing training, this works hands and feet in tandem, now I go to a boxing club and work on my footwork and my arms, naturally I’m not punching anything physically, but I’m doing all the footwork and the hand movements, they put me in the ring and tell me to do a certain shadow box, so I have to then adjust my feet and my hands at the same time, so it’s like dancing. There are others who don’t like contact so you have partners to dance around the ring with, it’s interesting because even the actual boxers need to do this, its all about how not getting punched. You need that control of your hands and feet. It’s an alternative kind of therapy. Its really helped coordination between my hands and feet.

12 – Based on your personal experiences, what advice would you give someone who has recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid seronegative arthritis

I would preface it with the fact that you have to go in with an expectation that you are going to have some challenges along the way, but that is very much reminiscent of life and its, it does take some acclimatisation. I could show a level of compassion and vulnerability at having been there myself, the initial stages are difficult but it definitely gets better as you learn more about seronegative arthritis.

I would advise them to do their research, and to see what works for them, to really experiment and take ownership of the condition. You need to understand that your body is constantly evolving and changing, with an immune system that is active in this way, it brings fatigue, that’s going to be difficult to manage, pain and things that at the end of the day, you will probably see them as negative, but, if you can control that and understand that you can manage this.

A big thing for me was, as I experimented, I realised, some of this is in my control, it’s not completely out of my control. Certain things I eat, if I don’t sleep enough, if I I’m not active enough, if I put myself in a situation where I am cold for too long I will feel it more.

Be a student of your own condition, instead of letting it be the monkey on your back, or being that person who uses the condition as an excuse that you can’t do things. It’s almost as much a mindset as it is physically, if not more, to kind of realise that, you will have difficult days, you will have better days, parts of it is in your control parts of it are not. You can’t resent the parts you can’t control because that is the kind of life we live, it is up and down. if you take that kind of ownership and say I’m going to keep growing as a person because really, I kind of see it as my mind has expanded and I’m more powerful in my head now than I used to be, even if I’m not as powerful physically. Again, it’s like trying to find ways to satisfy a need that you have that you can’t satisfy directly.

I suggest seeing others with chronic illness, socially, if you can, they can understand your journey better, because people close to you, while all well-intentioned, struggle to understand the pain you are going through, or how the impact of your joints moving is. Sometimes, if you have very visible physical joint problems people can be more compassionate, but if it’s not visible it’s sometimes hard to explain it.

Don’t neglect yourself socially, really try to strengthen the areas you can and make sure you are fulfilling your needs to live a naturalised life.

I am very much a fan of people researching their condition and integrating their own thoughts with their consultants. I feel I have gone in and the medical staff are receptive to me, I don’t just go in there and say what can you do for me, I go in and say I’ve looked at this what do you think about this, this is a detailed report of what is going on at the moment. I think you get a lot out of it if you are willing to try yourself to make a difference and work with them. It is difficult to do, especially in the aftermath of what you feel you have lost. Become a student of your condition.

In a strange way, chronic disease has helped me grow as a person, I’ve spoken to people who have said I have almost been so resilient I have bounced back further than where I was at the start. My mindset has developed now, I’m able to conquer things I wasn’t able to conquer before. I feel gratitude now, because of the changing elements of the disease its unstable which gives you that uncertainty in your life, in a way you need a bit of uncertainty in your life to grow, so, in some ways it’s a strange blessing in disguise.

Thank you for reading my interview, and I hope there was some value in there for you. Please contact me if you wish to discuss how I can help you to overcome your challenges through my bespoke coaching programme!

The post How to Live Well with Seronegative Arthritis in 2020 appeared first on Life Coach Preston | Business Coach Preston | Essentialise.

source https://www.essentialise.co.uk/live-well-with-seronegative-arthritis-2020/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=live-well-with-seronegative-arthritis-2020

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sere22world · 4 years

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modern life causes tooth decay, and care is unaffordable

Light gently touches the town on the morning of fall Friday: farmers and miners Bank, grocery store

Letteredsignboard is a yellow brick court that advertises sugar for sale.

In many ways, this is Jonesville, the county seat of Lee County, the poorest county in Virginia, and the farthest Appalachian county here.

On this day, all the attention is focused on the suburbs, where the preparations for the free health clinic will be held on the weekend at the small airport are in progress.

The first group of patients will begin to arrive in a few hours.

They will come from roads and highways, nearby towns and valleys further away from southwest Virginia and Kentucky.

Some people hardly have enough gas to go to Jonesville.

A woman drove from Tennessee with her broken glasses in her arms.

Truck and chestx-

Raymachine has stopped at one end of the runway.

When the sky is a little clear, an old plane will fly on the mountain, bringing folding dental chairs, medical equipment, surgical gauze and glove boxes from Knoxville.

The clinic is organized by the medical volunteer team in remote areas (RAM)

This is a non-profit organization that has led hundreds of missions since its inception in 1985 and has brought medical aid to some of the poorest places on Earth.

This will be Ram\'s first visit to Jonesville.

But health problems in the Appalachian region

Cancer, diabetes, joint injury

Nothing new.

Bad teeth are nothing new.

Toothache is nothing new. In LeeCounty —

Remote, isolated and poor

The shortage of various health care is a long-term problem.

Insufficient staff in main and mental health care.

The shortage of dentists is the worst.

According to federal estimates, about 49 million Americans live in communities designated as dental specialty shortages --

One of them is LeeCounty.

If there is a shortage of local dentists like Li county, there is also a shortage of money to pay them.

\"These people are not forgotten,\" explains John Osborne, head of dental at RAM, a Knoxville dentist.

\"The system has passed.

\"At these free weekend clinics, hundreds, sometimes even thousands of sore teeth are pulled out.

Loss of teeth due to illness may indicate other loss of quality of life.

In terms of oral health, complete tooth loss or tooth loss is called \"the ultimate sign of the burden of disease \".

This is a symbol of failure.

The teeth after tooth extraction will not grow back.

However, when routine care is delayed for a long time, when more complex procedures cannot be realized or selected, the extract meets the urgent need to relieve infection and relieve pain.

The news of the Li County RAM clinic program captured headlines in local newspapers.

People talked about it in churches, gas stations and coffee shops in the United States for a few days. S. 58 bypass.

At the airport this Friday, as volunteers struggled to build a field hospital with tents and folding tables, excitement filled the air.

Volunteer doctors, nurses, dentists and health workers are from out of town \".

A man with a \"friend of coal\" bumper sticker on his truck came here with a pizza.

A member of the high school football team, General Li county, is waiting in a red-numbered jersey to help unload the plane and eat pizza on the runway quietly and hungry.

Then there\'s a deep one.

You can hear the roar of throated, and everyone looks up at the sky.

\"Here comes the plane!

Shouted someone.

WarII-vintageC-World

47 freighters landed smoothly, then glistening on the narrow runway at the foot of the mountain.

Stan Brok, founder of Ram, a skinny, charismatic Englishman

Bornadventurer greeted the crowd in a calm, serious way.

As usual, he was wearing a rustic shirt and trousers, all brown.

Block was known for its water dragon fish in the 1960 s-wrestling co-

Star of Omaha Wild Kingdom TV show mutual aid.

When he launched RAM, his initial goal was to provide health care to people living in remote areas

He visited the third world during his trip.

But when he found out that the United States had someone in urgent need of help, he began organizing clinics closer to home. (

Block died in August 29, 2018 after the book was published. He was 82.

The organization he created, \"Medical in remote areas\", is continuing his work. )

Brok told the football players that the plane they saw was used to invade.

One day, young people of their own age parachuted out of the plane at June parach6, 1944.

\"A lot of young people didn\'t come back,\" he explained, as the football players listened with a shy attention.

Then it\'s time to go to work.

These actions honed by Brock over the years are military-accurate and help convey their urgency.

In the direction of Brok, football players began to transport carefully organized boxes of materials from the plane.

Slowly and methodically, the hospital finally took shape on the weekend.

Areas are set up for medical tests and exams.

Glasses are provided free of charge.

Airport waiting room transformed into asix-

President of dental clinic

When the cold of the evening fell on the mountain, a row of cars and pickup trucks were already formed on the way to the airport.

In the darkness before dawn on Saturday, about 400 people were waiting. Worn-

Out-of-town miners, old farmers, tired housewives, and unemployed workers all took their numbers at the door, wrapped in coats and blankets.

Charlton Strader, a retired construction director with tremor and chronic blocked lung disease, said he had dental benefits in the past, but he lost them.

He said his teeth had begun to \"break \".

\"I have always had a problem that bothers me,\" he said . \".

Randy Peters, a former miner and bed-pad worker with multiple hardening, also suffers from his teeth.

\"I have several broken and several bad tooth decay,\" he said . \".

\"So I can\'t eat.

Ernest hodeway, a disabled miner, said he was here to pull his teeth.

\"It won\'t hurt you, but it will,\" he predicted . \"

When he had to leave the coal mine, his dental insurance was over.

Now his teeth are beginning to disappoint him.

\"My teeth have been fine until I start taking arthritis drugs,\" he explained . \".

\"No one wants to lose their teeth.

I heard you have a good life for a few years.

\"He said he had just paid off the $1,500 he owed for pulling out three bad molars teeth, and he was told to pull out these bad molars teeth before knee surgery.

He is still fighting to save his leg. He showed it.

Terrible swelling.

\"I\'m a good person, but I\'m sure I \'ve been tested,\" he said . \".

When the sun rises completely, the city center of Jonesville is empty.

\"Everyone was pulled out of their teeth at Ram,\" said the waitress at the coffee shop . \".

Throughout the day, the patient came out of the dental clinic and clenched the gauze between the remaining teeth.

They sit in the folding chair under the tent to recover, or wait for friends and relatives who are still in service.

\"I \'ve been pulled twice,\" said unemployed nurse Emma Marcy . \".

\"One was infected under the filler.

Marsee\'s daughter, a waitress, is also waiting to be taken care of in the tent.

Marsee says her financial security depends on her smile.

\"It\'s all about appearance,\" said Marsee, a strawberry blonde with golden eyes.

Who wants a waitress with bad teeth \"if you\'re not healthy --

Look at the individual ,[customers]

Don\'t want that person to take care [them].

Everyone in that big tent is struggling.

\"It\'s hard in this area because there\'s no work,\" Marsee said . \".

Even if people are sitting in folding chairs, some people\'s behavior shows fatalism and they are tired of themselves.

Destruction: The girl with her teeth badly rotted drank another Coke.

A thin mother holds a cup of sweet juice waiting for the baby to see the dentist.

The woman who smoked the cigarette coughed so badly.

A study by the Southwest Virginia Federation of graduate medical education found that \"nerves\" are a common complaint in the region.

\"The neural cause that is often reported is that there are too many problems and too few solutions,\" the authors of a study on the problem found (

Southwest Virginia Federation of graduate medical education, \"Report to the Virginia Parliament, January 2008).

The consortium concluded that residents in the area were more likely to commit suicide than people living elsewhere in the state.

Marsee is also familiar with the dark side.

\"Drug abuse in this area is terrible,\" she said . \"

It\'s shown in some hopeless drugs. Black Teeth

The region has long been poor, but people hate to move on.

\"Your roots are here,\" Marsee said . \".

\"It\'s hard to leave it.

\"There is an ancient and beautiful theme --

The green woods are shrouded in the mountains.

The love of family, the good of neighbors, the good of strangers.

When they die, the teeth burn.

This is a very old pain.

There is silent evidence on the human fossil record: the unearthed ancient mummy with a parcel on the lower jaw.

Alaska\'s front teeth, tired of a simple tool, sometimes between 1300 and 1700. D.

Apparently to relieve the abscess.

The teeth of the Danish people in the Middle Ages have a rosary (

Charlotte Roberts and Keith Manchester, Archaeology of diseases, 82).

Decay is a progressive disease that, if not controlled, causes extreme pain and tooth shedding.

There are many factors.

Diet plays a major role.

In a very old age, when there is less and less exquisite food, toothache is a curse of privilege.

When sugar becomes cheaper, tooth decay, the main cause of toothache, becomes more common.

The habit of drinking sweet soda has been widely influenced.

A stable bath of sugar will never allow the teeth to be repaired and remineralised on their own.

Now, hundreds of ordinarythe-

Prescription drugs taken by millions of Americans make teeth more prone to illness.

One of their side effects is dry mouth, which reduces the natural flow of saliva to clean and buffer teeth, helping to protect teeth from decay.

If there is no fluoride to strengthen the teeth, there is not enough regular home care, and there is no timely professional care, the process of the disease will progress.

Severe toothache is not uncommon.

Millions of Americans experience toothache.

A study by the American Dental Association found that economic factors were the main reason why Americans delayed access to the required professional dental care.

Private or even public dental benefits can help pay for services.

But in 2014, it was estimated that there was a complete shortage of Americans.

While the national health care reform plan, which signed into law in 2010, took significant steps to expand access to dental services for children, it did less in addressing the system of adult fragmentation.

Even many working adults with private health insurance do not have adequate dental insurance.

While regular preventive visits can be covered, beneficiaries typically need to pay a percentage of the cost of surgery such as filling, Crown, root canal and implants, which can run to hundreds, thousands of dollars. Among U. S.

A 2015 survey found that for adults struggling with unpaid medical expenses, 12 u202f % of dental bills accounted for the largest share of the bills they paid for the problem.

The researchers concluded: \"Insurance is not a panacea for solving these problems . \"

Most people with dental benefits will lose them after retirement.

Health insurance is a health care program in the United States that covers about 55 million elderly and disabled people, but does not include regular dental services.

Of the more than 1 million residents in nursing homes in the United States, many have particularly severe dental problems.

Since 1987, when federal law sets new standards for institutions receiving health insurance and Medicaid funding, nursing homes are required to provide oral health care services.

However, in the daily cycle of cleaning, turning over and replacing bedridden and disabled patients, simple brushing and dentures care is often overlooked.

The authors of a survey note: \"Clinical studies in most nursing home residents report that oral hygiene is generally inadequate and that related dental, gum, and periodontal conditions are also prevalent . \".

\"Medical and care services are provided almost uniformly, while dental and mental health services are rarely provided.

\"Visits by dental professionals are also rare in many institutions.

Many patients at Louis Anna State dentist Gregory Falls say he has been in his rounds of nursing homes and has not been cared for years.

When he looked at the mouth of a new patient, he was not surprised to find rotten, rampant infections, broken limbs in his teeth, and even cancer in his mouth.

As the dental director of these families, he was given an allowance.

Most patients receive Medicaid, but there are very few adult dental benefits in the state.

Folse estimated that he donated more services than he charged for Medicaid.

He said that he travels 40 to 50,000 miles through the jungle and the Bay every year, drives a pickup truck, carries portable tools and instruments, sets up facilities in nursing homes, community rooms and beauty salons to repair false teeth, tooth extraction.

\"900 patients with severe gum disease or abscess.

Half my patients.

I took all the swollen ones away.

Everyone is in pain.

All the loose teeth

I help them as much as I can.

No money, no money.

Families pay some, nursing homes.

Nobody pays sometimes. I do it.

\"It\'s a challenge for some patients to have dementia and let them open their mouths.

The work is rewarding, he said.

\"I have a patient in a wheelchair.

She had a stroke.

She was happy to have her dentures.

She reached out and grabbed her wallet.

She got inside.

She found a piece of bread. ‘Here doc. Take it.

\"I don\'t want to eat her last piece of bread,\" FRES said with a smile . \".

\"I don\'t know how long it took to put it at the bottom of her wallet.

We have to give up because we are rich.

She gave me her poverty.

\"The rate of tooth damage is a serious economic indicator.

The poor are more likely to suffer from toothache.

Their oral health is worse and it\'s hard to find a dentist who will treat them.

The lack of funding to pay for health care is a major hurdle: one out of every five Americans is covered with Medicaid, a huge federal

The national health care program for the poor.

However, since only a small number of dentists see Medicaid patients, insurance does not guarantee access to treatment.

Under Medicaid, children are entitled to dental care, but often face difficulties in accessing services.

Less than half of dentists see any Medicaid patients in most states included in the 2010 study in the United States. S.

Office of Government Accountability

A 2016 study by the American Dental Association found that in the program\'s database of insured children, the proportion of dentists registered as Medicaid providers nationwide was 42.

But this percentage does not necessarily reflect the percentage of dentists actually participating in this program.

\"That doesn\'t mean you see a child with Medicaid.

That doesn\'t mean you have an open date, \"said Marko Vujicic, an economist who helped lead the study.

\"Think of it as what it is.

This is the best data we have.

\"This is more difficult for adult beneficiaries of Medicaid.

Adult dental benefits are an optional part of the state Medicaid program.

They are the first line of projects during the fiscal tightening period and will eventually become the chopping board for the budget.

Toothache is the destroyer of sleep.

They make it very painful to eat, work and raise children.

It is the poor who are most likely to pray to heaven for relief.

They resort to legal and illegal drugs and civilian remedies.

Some even pulled their teeth out of despair.

In the free clinic in Li county, in the solid, stoic mountain people, Tabitha Hay, her fragile face and dark eyes looked like a lost Tropical was blown away by the storm.

She and her motherin-

Lao and her husband arrived at the clinic after the 13 th.

Bellevue, Florida is an hour\'s drive away. They were self-employed.

They clean the house and take care of the pets. off retirees.

After work on Friday night, they drove all night to Jonesville.

All three of them need to be taken care of, but Tabitha, twenty

Six, the most needed.

She was hurt by a molar tooth that rotted under the filling.

\"I feel like my chin is squashed,\" she said . \".

\"Sometimes the pressure is like an explosion.

I\'m hungry, but I can\'t eat it.

In order to sleep, I have to put a heating pad on it and nothing can eliminate the pain.

\"After missing a week of work, she tried to get back to work the day before her trip.

\"I try to work.

I can\'t do anything.

I cried in the back seat.

A dentist in Florida told her that the cost of the withdrawal would reach $500, she said.

That\'s the money she didn\'t have.

She arrived too late to receive care at the free clinic on Saturday.

She was told to wait until Sunday.

At night, she slept in red Kia with her husband and mother --in-

Face another night of pain.

0 notes

timclymer · 5 years

Text

Suicide in the Church, Part 3

Suicide strikes … AGAIN!

This may wind up being the most important article some have ever read. I hope it will not only help a few readers, but that it will open the eyes of others, helping them understand, motivating them to help. I trust there will be those who will actually clip it, mailing it to someone for what they are worried about, or posting it in the breakroom.

I’ve written quite a bit about suicide over the past few weeks and have received some remarkable feedback. I wrote on the subject because there have been so many suitors lately and folks wanted answers. If you’ve read any of the previous articles, you’ve seen some frightening statistics. This subject remains heavy on my heart and continues to be a concern to many. For me, it started when a man with what a dear friend had been interacting was found in his jail cell with a cable TV wire around his neck. Then, another friend who led a Bible study took his own life. Within days, this was followed by the suicide of another man who, along with his spouse, had prayed with and preceded the previous friend’s wife.

Saturday, I officiated a wedding 2 hours away. Incredibly, on Sunday, the father of the bride took his own life.

My mind is reeling as I write.

Suicide has a frightening air of finality. Filled with hopelessness, despair, and tragedy, it’s a word we like to keep at arms’ length. As a whole, society tends to look down its nose at anyone who would commit this gruesome act. We call them selfish, cowardly … I must admit, after seeing that beautiful young bride and her dashing husband on Saturday, preparing to begin their lives together, if her father were standing alive before me now, I’ve got a hard time refraining from beating the thunder out of him. How could he do that to his precious daughter?

But I recall the day, about 15 years ago, that suicide entered my thoughts in a different way. I had just lost my job with a Dallas ad agency and my wife had left me, taking our kids with her. For the first time in my life, I was all alone on a Thanksgiving, too broke to join any family gatherings taking place across the country. Our church friends had quickly chosen sides and had shunned yours truly. It was Thanksgiving Eve, sleeting and raining, about 16 below zero with the wind chill. I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of a mobile home, my entire world seemingly in shambles all around me. I remember waking up to the whirring sound of ball bearings rolling around in the furnace which was now spewing forth cold air. I was dizzy, disoriented, freezing to death in my sleep, I believe. Taking my own life with the razor sharp meat clever in the kitchen was the most natural thought in the world to me. I formulated a plan to slit my wrists, crawl back onto my mattress, and let them find me in the spring. Truly, I was experiencing the darkest hour of my soul.

But God stepped in. The atmosphere became charged as it does when a frisky puppy runs into a room or a bunch of children run through an open screen door to get a drink from the kitchen sink on a hot summer day. “Joy will come in the morning” suddenly echoed through my mind. I bundled up and made it through the night, only to be awakened next day by a startingling crash as a sheet of ice melted and slid off the metal roof onto the frozen ground. I looked outside and the sun was glazing off the melting ice everywhere.

Life got gradually better. Incredibly better. Today, I would not trade mine for all the world.

Truth is, I discovered another option to suicide. I found it in the Bible, God’s love letter to mankind. You know … that perennially best-selling book most Christians rarely read? The good news about the current state of depression some may be feeling at this moment, is that God really DOES have a plan for your life – a plan that can only be fulfilled when we give everything over to Him. Listen, there IS a purpose for your life; a reason for your existence. Your current, dismal, emotional and spiritual state may be the very springboard you need for discovering just how valuable you are to Him, how your life can be transformed, and how others can be rescued by YOU. Tough times do NOT last. Tough people DO!

Perhaps you’ve asked yourself, “How did I get to this point?” The answer? Gradually, just as drops of water will slowly but surley fill a bucket. Everyone goes through periods in their lives when they feel down. In time, sadness leaves and life goes on. There are instances, however, when tough times, a strained relationship or some other problem, leads to unhappiness that keeps us in bondage. When that happens, life can become a daily struggle with uneasiness, gloom, and emptiness. Ultimately, hopelessness can take hold, creating a feeling of dissatisfaction with everything.

Depression is often associated with a sense of loss that can come with illness, the death of a loved one, sudden unemployment, divorce, and so on. A chronic illness, or permanent disability, can rob one’s independence, making them feel worthless, helpless, and angry. Losing someone you care about, through death or divorce, can leave a tremendous void.

Guilt is another trigger for depression. Perhaps you’re struggling with substance abuse or another addiction or have made some really bad choices that you’re ashamed of that are about to be disclosed. A childhood trauma may have left you feeling damaged and unworthy of God’s love and acceptance. Maybe you feel like a failure because you have not achieved all that you wanted in life.

Whatever the cause, depression often leads to a sense of hopelessness. You may feel as though you’re at the end of your rope. You may think that ending your life is the only way to take control.

Trust me, it’s not.

What’s next? The answer is simple. REALLY simple. You can go on with life as usual, knowing where that may lead, or you can get a life. I’m talkin ‘REAL life. For some, the fact that you’re still reading this shows that you desire another option. So, here’s my answer. Ready? It’s my experience that there is only one real source of hope for a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy.

That source has a name … it’s Jesus Christ.

It is my firm contention that Jesus is the answer to every problem known to mankind. To those who are still with me, that’s either absolute truth or it’s a lie. He said about His followers, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). If that statement is true, logic screams for us to quickly become his followers. We must address the question, “If I’m not living real life, what is THIS?” Through a REAL, experiential relationship with Jesus Christ, overflowing love, forgiveness, peace, and joy can be ours. Interested? That’s a promise from God found in the Bible.

And God does not lie.

Sadly, far too often, even Christians settle for Religion and Church attendance over a relationship with the Creator through Christ’s teachings found in Scripture.

The How-to’s of Overcoming

I failed to mention that all the recent local suicides have been committed by professing Christians. Did Jesus promise his followers a problem-free life on Earth? No. He actually said, “In this life, you will have many troubles ….” He DID promise the power to face life’s trials with confidence, knowing that He will cause ALL things to work for our good.

By the way, the Greek word for “all” means ALL!

He promised either to deliver us from afflictions, or provide the strength to end them, according to His plan for us. Here’s the catch: to set that plan in motion requires giving our lives to Him.

As Bob Dylan sang, “We’re gonna serve somebody.” Even the atheist serves himself, enthroning himself as “lord” of his own life. By placing Jesus Christ on the throne of our lives, spiritually, we become what the Bible calls “born again” and we’re completely transformed as we renew our minds. According to the Scriptures, that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us, His followers. Again, this has been my expereince and, I contend, the very answer that someone somewhere is needing. Your reading of this now is no accident.

Dust off that old Bible and look up the following verses: John 1:12; II Corinthians 5: 17; I Corinthians 2:12; I John 5: 11-13.

Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). He’s knocking right now. Open the door.

Three Keys to Vicorious Living

1) Talk to God. We call it “prayer” but it’s purely conversation with God. TWO-WAY conversation at that. So, be quiet and listen sometimes.

2) Begin reading the Bible. Get to know the Personality of the one who made came up with all those Precepts for living life with Power. You’ll find He’s the kindest person you’ll ever meet. Talk with Him as if He were your best friend. He IS!

3) Make yourself accountable to those who are living the Christian life successfully. Like all babies, even baby Chrsitians should aspire to GROW to maturity. In a nutshell, we become that with which we surround ourselves. Surround yourself with godly people and godly input.

What if You’re Already a Christian?

First, ask yourself if you really ARE a Christian. The word 'Christian’ translates as “Little Christs.” Galatians 5:22 tells us what the fruits of the Spirit are, the evidence that God’s Spirit resides in us. Too many people believe themselves to be Christians simply because they believe in God. Scripture declares that “even the devil believes, and he trembles.” Truth is, without we spend time with Him, how can we know Him at all? What relationship works like that? Logically speaking, Church attendance does not make one a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s make one a cheeseburger. Beside, Church is something we ARE 24/7 (meaning: “the called out ones”); it’s not merely someplace we GO.

To those who DO have a relationship with God, the enemy of our souls can cause any of us to feel depressed and have suicidal thoughts in a moment of weakness. So might a chemical imbalance. It can happen for all of the same reasons mentioned above. The trials of life touch everyone, including Believers in Jesus.

If the situation you are in is something you can not change, know that God’s the Inventor of Divine Intervention. As hard as it may be to do, continue praying for His help and covet the prayers of other victorious Christians. Do not stop. He does hear our prayers, but his perfect plan and ours are not always the same. Trust Him to respond in a way that will be to your best interest. That includes the possibility that He will give you strength and peace to end your trial rather than deliver you from it. He’s so much more concerned about our character than our comfort. His number one goal is to conform us to the image of Christ who, Scriptures tells us, was Himself sent by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be temped by the devil (Jesus is truly our example in EVERY way). Some of God’s greatest answers to prayer come in the form of peace and joy in the mid of great hardship. You can believe that He will see you through every storm in your life.

Along those lines, take a look at these verses: Psalm 23; Psalm 28: 7; Isaiah 43: 2; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:13.

We are spirit-beings having an earthly experience. As such, you must ask God to fill you with His Spirit to help you tackle life by His power. Scripture declares, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” The Bible is full of God’s promises to love, strengthen, heal, and guide.

The Purpose-Driven Life is a Top-Selling book these days. Begin reading God’s Word in a Purpose-Driven manner: to discover new insights about His love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your journey and to reveal truths you’ve never seen before. He’s the consensus teacher, after all. Accept the fact of God’s love for you by faith, NOT by feelings.

Look at these verses and receive them from God directly to you: John 3:16; Romans 5: 8; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Lamentations 3: 22-23.

Today’s culture detests any mention of this word, but here goes: SIN. If you want to walk in victory, acknowledge any sin that might be interfering in your relationship with God. Ask Him to search your heart and pinpoint any problems. Then, confess and repent of your disobedience and receive his forgiveness. Confess means “to agree” and repent means “to change your mind.”

Here are some verses for dealing with sin: I John 1: 9; Psalm 139: 23-24; Galatians 5: 16-25.

Help Yourself to some help!

As part of the Body of Christ, you may wish to consult help from other Body Parts. Professional help in the form of a qualified Christian counselor has proved to be one of the best ways to fight depression and thoughts of suicide. Look in the phone book and make some calls. Ask for references. A good pastoral counselor can help you get a new perspective on your problems. Get a medical check-up. Sometimes depression is caused by a chemical imbalance or other biological factor.

Seek out a support group made of like-minded believers that can minister to the area of difficulty in your life. Interacting with others who are facing similar challenges will help you feel less isolated.

Force yourself to do something the next time you feel down. Inactivity only makes depression worse. Here are some things to try:

Talk it out. Call a friend and open up.

Take a hike. Exercise causes blood and oxygen to circulate faster, which invigorates us. The brain produces endorphins that fight depression.

Help someone else. As you focus your attention on someone else, your own cares will become less burdensome. I often refer people to watch “Patch Adams” with Robin Williams, then report to me on their findings. Do not judge me on that; lives have been saved. God can use anything.

Listen to uplifting music. Choose your favorite songs and start jammin ’!

Here’s the good news: Whatever you’re struggling with at the moment, this too will pass. Whatever it is you’re going through, you’ll go through it. Though things may actually get worse before they get better, they will get better as you place them in God’s hands. Yes, we reap as we sow and there may be some really tough consequences coming to deal with. But whatever you do, deal with it!

Remember, “All things work together for good for those who love God and have been called according to His purpose.” Translation? God takes care of the lives of those who turn their lives over to Him.

Resist any thoughts you may be having about “ending it all.” God has the uncanny ability of taking that which seems really bad and making things turn out really good.

If you’d like to subscribe and receive more of pastor Michael’s articles by eMail, simply write [email protected] and type SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT bar. Or, keep returning to these EzineArticles.com.

Source by Michael Tummillo

from Home Solutions Forev https://homesolutionsforev.com/suicide-in-the-church-part-3-2/ via Home Solutions on WordPress from Home Solutions FOREV https://homesolutionsforev.tumblr.com/post/185952409940 via Tim Clymer on Wordpress

#Home Solutions FOREV

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homesolutionsforev · 5 years

Text

Suicide in the Church, Part 3

Suicide strikes … AGAIN!

I've written quite a bit about suicide over the past few weeks and have received some remarkable feedback. I wrote on the subject because there have been so many suitors lately and folks wanted answers. If you've read any of the previous articles, you've seen some frightening statistics. This subject remains heavy on my heart and continues to be a concern to many. For me, it started when a man with what a dear friend had been interacting was found in his jail cell with a cable TV wire around his neck. Then, another friend who led a Bible study took his own life. Within days, this was followed by the suicide of another man who, along with his spouse, had prayed with and preceded the previous friend's wife.

Saturday, I officiated a wedding 2 hours away. Incredibly, on Sunday, the father of the bride took his own life.

My mind is reeling as I write.

Suicide has a frightening air of finality. Filled with hopelessness, despair, and tragedy, it's a word we like to keep at arms' length. As a whole, society tends to look down its nose at anyone who would commit this gruesome act. We call them selfish, cowardly … I must admit, after seeing that beautiful young bride and her dashing husband on Saturday, preparing to begin their lives together, if her father were standing alive before me now, I've got a hard time refraining from beating the thunder out of him. How could he do that to his precious daughter?

But God stepped in. The atmosphere became charged as it does when a frisky puppy runs into a room or a bunch of children run through an open screen door to get a drink from the kitchen sink on a hot summer day. "Joy will come in the morning" suddenly echoed through my mind. I bundled up and made it through the night, only to be awakened next day by a startingling crash as a sheet of ice melted and slid off the metal roof onto the frozen ground. I looked outside and the sun was glazing off the melting ice everywhere.

Life got gradually better. Incredibly better. Today, I would not trade mine for all the world.

Truth is, I discovered another option to suicide. I found it in the Bible, God's love letter to mankind. You know … that perennially best-selling book most Christians rarely read? The good news about the current state of depression some may be feeling at this moment, is that God really DOES have a plan for your life – a plan that can only be fulfilled when we give everything over to Him. Listen, there IS a purpose for your life; a reason for your existence. Your current, dismal, emotional and spiritual state may be the very springboard you need for discovering just how valuable you are to Him, how your life can be transformed, and how others can be rescued by YOU. Tough times do NOT last. Tough people DO!

Perhaps you've asked yourself, "How did I get to this point?" The answer? Gradually, just as drops of water will slowly but surley fill a bucket. Everyone goes through periods in their lives when they feel down. In time, sadness leaves and life goes on. There are instances, however, when tough times, a strained relationship or some other problem, leads to unhappiness that keeps us in bondage. When that happens, life can become a daily struggle with uneasiness, gloom, and emptiness. Ultimately, hopelessness can take hold, creating a feeling of dissatisfaction with everything.

Depression is often associated with a sense of loss that can come with illness, the death of a loved one, sudden unemployment, divorce, and so on. A chronic illness, or permanent disability, can rob one's independence, making them feel worthless, helpless, and angry. Losing someone you care about, through death or divorce, can leave a tremendous void.

Guilt is another trigger for depression. Perhaps you're struggling with substance abuse or another addiction or have made some really bad choices that you're ashamed of that are about to be disclosed. A childhood trauma may have left you feeling damaged and unworthy of God's love and acceptance. Maybe you feel like a failure because you have not achieved all that you wanted in life.

Whatever the cause, depression often leads to a sense of hopelessness. You may feel as though you're at the end of your rope. You may think that ending your life is the only way to take control.

Trust me, it's not.

What's next? The answer is simple. REALLY simple. You can go on with life as usual, knowing where that may lead, or you can get a life. I'm talkin 'REAL life. For some, the fact that you're still reading this shows that you desire another option. So, here's my answer. Ready? It's my experience that there is only one real source of hope for a life of purpose, fulfillment, and joy.

That source has a name … it's Jesus Christ.

It is my firm contention that Jesus is the answer to every problem known to mankind. To those who are still with me, that's either absolute truth or it's a lie. He said about His followers, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). If that statement is true, logic screams for us to quickly become his followers. We must address the question, "If I'm not living real life, what is THIS?" Through a REAL, experiential relationship with Jesus Christ, overflowing love, forgiveness, peace, and joy can be ours. Interested? That's a promise from God found in the Bible.

And God does not lie.

Sadly, far too often, even Christians settle for Religion and Church attendance over a relationship with the Creator through Christ's teachings found in Scripture.

The How-to's of Overcoming

I failed to mention that all the recent local suicides have been committed by professing Christians. Did Jesus promise his followers a problem-free life on Earth? No. He actually said, "In this life, you will have many troubles …." He DID promise the power to face life's trials with confidence, knowing that He will cause ALL things to work for our good.

By the way, the Greek word for "all" means ALL!

He promised either to deliver us from afflictions, or provide the strength to end them, according to His plan for us. Here's the catch: to set that plan in motion requires giving our lives to Him.

As Bob Dylan sang, "We're gonna serve somebody." Even the atheist serves himself, enthroning himself as "lord" of his own life. By placing Jesus Christ on the throne of our lives, spiritually, we become what the Bible calls "born again" and we're completely transformed as we renew our minds. According to the Scriptures, that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within us, His followers. Again, this has been my expereince and, I contend, the very answer that someone somewhere is needing. Your reading of this now is no accident.

Dust off that old Bible and look up the following verses: John 1:12; II Corinthians 5: 17; I Corinthians 2:12; I John 5: 11-13.

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). He's knocking right now. Open the door.

Three Keys to Vicorious Living

1) Talk to God. We call it "prayer" but it's purely conversation with God. TWO-WAY conversation at that. So, be quiet and listen sometimes.

2) Begin reading the Bible. Get to know the Personality of the one who made came up with all those Precepts for living life with Power. You'll find He's the kindest person you'll ever meet. Talk with Him as if He were your best friend. He IS!

What if You're Already a Christian?

First, ask yourself if you really ARE a Christian. The word 'Christian' translates as "Little Christs." Galatians 5:22 tells us what the fruits of the Spirit are, the evidence that God's Spirit resides in us. Too many people believe themselves to be Christians simply because they believe in God. Scripture declares that "even the devil believes, and he trembles." Truth is, without we spend time with Him, how can we know Him at all? What relationship works like that? Logically speaking, Church attendance does not make one a Christian any more than going to McDonald's make one a cheeseburger. Beside, Church is something we ARE 24/7 (meaning: "the called out ones"); it's not merely someplace we GO.

If the situation you are in is something you can not change, know that God's the Inventor of Divine Intervention. As hard as it may be to do, continue praying for His help and covet the prayers of other victorious Christians. Do not stop. He does hear our prayers, but his perfect plan and ours are not always the same. Trust Him to respond in a way that will be to your best interest. That includes the possibility that He will give you strength and peace to end your trial rather than deliver you from it. He's so much more concerned about our character than our comfort. His number one goal is to conform us to the image of Christ who, Scriptures tells us, was Himself sent by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be temped by the devil (Jesus is truly our example in EVERY way). Some of God's greatest answers to prayer come in the form of peace and joy in the mid of great hardship. You can believe that He will see you through every storm in your life.

Along those lines, take a look at these verses: Psalm 23; Psalm 28: 7; Isaiah 43: 2; Romans 8:28; Philippians 4:13.

We are spirit-beings having an earthly experience. As such, you must ask God to fill you with His Spirit to help you tackle life by His power. Scripture declares, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." The Bible is full of God's promises to love, strengthen, heal, and guide.

The Purpose-Driven Life is a Top-Selling book these days. Begin reading God's Word in a Purpose-Driven manner: to discover new insights about His love for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your journey and to reveal truths you've never seen before. He's the consensus teacher, after all. Accept the fact of God's love for you by faith, NOT by feelings.

Look at these verses and receive them from God directly to you: John 3:16; Romans 5: 8; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 41:10; Lamentations 3: 22-23.

Today's culture detests any mention of this word, but here goes: SIN. If you want to walk in victory, acknowledge any sin that might be interfering in your relationship with God. Ask Him to search your heart and pinpoint any problems. Then, confess and repent of your disobedience and receive his forgiveness. Confess means "to agree" and repent means "to change your mind."

Here are some verses for dealing with sin: I John 1: 9; Psalm 139: 23-24; Galatians 5: 16-25.

Help Yourself to some help!

Force yourself to do something the next time you feel down. Inactivity only makes depression worse. Here are some things to try:

Talk it out. Call a friend and open up.

Take a hike. Exercise causes blood and oxygen to circulate faster, which invigorates us. The brain produces endorphins that fight depression.

Help someone else. As you focus your attention on someone else, your own cares will become less burdensome. I often refer people to watch "Patch Adams" with Robin Williams, then report to me on their findings. Do not judge me on that; lives have been saved. God can use anything.

Listen to uplifting music. Choose your favorite songs and start jammin '!

Here's the good news: Whatever you're struggling with at the moment, this too will pass. Whatever it is you're going through, you'll go through it. Though things may actually get worse before they get better, they will get better as you place them in God's hands. Yes, we reap as we sow and there may be some really tough consequences coming to deal with. But whatever you do, deal with it!

Remember, "All things work together for good for those who love God and have been called according to His purpose." Translation? God takes care of the lives of those who turn their lives over to Him.

Resist any thoughts you may be having about "ending it all." God has the uncanny ability of taking that which seems really bad and making things turn out really good.

If you'd like to subscribe and receive more of pastor Michael's articles by eMail, simply write [email protected] and type SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT bar. Or, keep returning to these EzineArticles.com.

Source by Michael Tummillo

from Home Solutions Forev https://homesolutionsforev.com/suicide-in-the-church-part-3-2/ via Home Solutions on WordPress

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washington auto insurance

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ok i bought a bad car from a dealer that scammed me and im a new driver and it was the first time i had a car and the first time i put on car insurance the reason why im asking is because ive bought the car and after 10 min of driving the car it died on me and there was no warranty dumb of me not to buy a warranty plus it was an old car anyways i got new car insurance and i sold the car and people was telling me that because im a new driver if i cancel my insurance early that i wont be able to open up a new one or it will be harder to open one up in future is that true?

""Car accident person at fault has no insurance, what now?""

had a car accident a week ago, minor injury to wrist havent gone to doctor, other persons fault, person B failed to yield while turning left and drove right in front of me. I have full coverage on my part, however fault being hers i made a claim to insurance she provided to police report. the thing is that the owner of vehicles insurance policy does not have person b listed on that policy but person b has same home address as policy holder so technically theyre insurance will not cover me. they have restricted non standard policy, and i do not have uninsured motorist coverage on my policy nor car rental coverage. their insurance is investigating this in he meanwhile so they say. i am not sure whether i should get my insurance to handle this, if i do i would have expect higher premium, pay deductible, rental car and medical fees out of pocket. I am wondering if i should have patience or start looking for a lawyer and forget my own insurance.""

Good car insurance rate?

Is $400/annually for 1 way car insurance a good deal? I an with triple a, and drive a 94 Honda accord 1 way policy. Ive been with them for a couple years now bcuz they got towing in my policy. Just wondering is this a good price? as my policy renewal deadline is near.?""

How much would car insurance cost me?

I am a 22 year old female in Washington State, had one incident found to be not at fault, i drive a 98 Dodge Stratus""

""If i have insurance for my car, how much more will it cost to own a motorcycle?""

If i have insurance for my car, how much more will it cost to own a motorcycle?""

Car insurance help in NC?

If your insurance is canceled will I have to pay to get the tag legal again,if so how much.Thanks in advance :)""

What should 17year olds be paying for?

What should a 17yr old, still in full time school be paying for if they earn 130 ($260) a month and pay 50 ($100) a month towards car insurance. Should things like a normal haircut be paid for by parents etc? Just wondering about your opinions!""

What should I get first insurance or car register?

So here is what happen. I went to pay for my sticker at dmv the insurance was done. They void my car sticker and gave a orange one that says void. Couple months I started working now I save up to get insurance to get my car sticker. But they when I went to get insurance they all asking for registration paper. So I lost those paper I looked everywhere. What should I do first get registration paper at dmv then go to insurance because then go back to dmv to get the sticker? Or get insurance first then go to the dmv??

""If a car insurance company office is closed, can you still insure the car on their website?""

If a car insurance company office is closed, can you still insure the car on their website?""

Can a 17 year old hold insurance to more than 1 car?

can they have fully comp insurance on more than 1 car

Where can I get babysitting insurance in the UK?

I have scoured the internet but keep being told they won't give me babysitting insurance unless I am a registered childminder. Help please?

What is a good health insurance for age 19 and up?

at the moment i am 18 but will be turning 19 in 10 days...and i was wondering what is a good health insurance to apply to. i have Anthem Blue Cross Healthy Families. I am looking for something similar or almost similar...if someone could please help me. thank you soo much. ps if this helps i live in california....thank you again!!

How much average does a family of four pay annually or monthly for health insurance?

What is the cheapest home insurance in southern california?

I have heard that there is a california state home insurance program that you can get the cheapest property insurance, Does anybody know what it is called and how can i get a quote?""

Car insurance coverage help!?

Currently I have a financed car. And is still currently paying for it monthly. After doing some research and purchasing my car insurance coverage - State Farm. My dad insisted he will help me with all the process. However, after he and I got done with everything. My coverage are, A - Liability P20 - Personal Injury Protection U, W uninsured and underinsured And finally these two: D - 500 Deductible Comprehensive G - 500 Deductible Collision which I learn online it is OPTIONAL to have: ( SO WHY DO I NEED IT EXACTLY THEN? my dad try explaining it but it didn't get through my hot head. ) So can anyone please tell me is it a requirement for me to have those to coverage D & G, if not I would really like to get it off and save some money instead of throwing it out the window. Thanks.""

How expensive would liability insurance be for a pageant?

I am directing a pageant, and I have to have liability insurance to host it at the place we are hosting it. How much would that cost?""

Best motorcycle insurance coverage and cheapest in PA?

What is the cheapest motorcycle insurance i can get in Philadelphia PA? I know i could get a quote but i dont want to get a bunch of junk mail and give my personal information away. Basically, which insurance provider is the best? For the price? And also, what do you think would be my quote and what provider? Im 18 years old, with my first motorcycle, 2007 suzuki gsxr 600 (dont whine, im not wasting money on a 250cc bike) i also took the MSF safety course. (gives me about a 10% discount) ill choose the best answer if i get a good one.""

Is auto insurance legally required to drive your motorcycle in NYC?

I have tried googling the question, and all I get are all ad junk sites trying to get my personal information for free quotes. I cannot seem to find any legal information as to driving a motorcycle uninsured in NYC. I understand it is mandatory to have auto insurance on your car for liability damages, to other parties as well as medical bills. However, I cannot find any information if this applies to motorcycles as well. Do motorcycles fall under this statute as it is an Auto Vehicle? I am not looking forward to any fines and revoking of my license. Thank you in advance.""

How much will insurance be now?

I'm 16, I got in a big car accident.. I flipped over my car twice. Fortunately, I was untouched and I was the only one involved. Naturally, I was taken off the insurance policy and lost my car. Before, I had the good student discount so we paid $350 for half a year as a full time driver. How much would I have to pay to be a full time driver now after the accident? My dad said $2000 but it can't be that much? Will they strip me of my good student discount? How much will it cost to be put on as a part time driver now? Will it go down after a year? Please help?! I've been very depressed as the whole experience was very traumatizing. My mom keeps giving me a tough time about it and I just cry randomly throughout the day and eat all the time to cope. I don't understand how it could happen to me, I'm a model student, I have straight A pluses in all advanced and AP classes and I was even following the law when I had my accident. Tips on coping would be appreciated as well. Thanks.""

""Someone hit my car, but does not have car insurance.?""

I went outside to get in my car, and found that someone hit my drivers side door. A lady came out and told me she saw it happen, but couldn't get any info on the vehicle other than that it belonged to a neighbor's friend. Well I got the girls name and phone # from the neighbor, but they didn't think she has car insurance. Should I even bother calling the girl or should I call the cops and file a hit and run police report? I should note that this girl hit my car about a month ago. I wanted to wait till I had her information. Is it too late to call the cops?""

Car Insurance in India?

Hi, I have bought a new car Ritz and along with that, the dealer has provided me Insurance from royal sundaram. I heard that insurance companies pays only fifty percent of repair ...show more""

Do you believe medical insurance should pay for breast implants?

Vasectomy, chiropractors, accupuncture, penile enlargement, orthopedic shoes? Why? Have you used it for such?""

""What company can I use to purchase private dental insurance in Seattle, WA?""

which dental company can I use to purchase affordable dental care privately, not through an employee? For anyone age 18 and over and would cover basic dental visits and surgery such ...show more""

Can I get insurance now that my wife is pregnant?

My wife is 35 weeks pregnant. I graduated from Respiratory therapy school this past spring. At the time my wife, son and I were on Medicaid. Now that I have a good job I make too much money and am going to get booted off Medicaid. Can we get insurance for my wife?""

""Can a 16yr. old making $800 a month, afford a car that cost $24,000....parents payinng for insurance...?""

Can a 16yr. old making $800 a month, afford a car that cost $24,000....parents payinng for insurance...?""

""What do you think is the best, most reliable, and inexpensive AUTO INSURANCE company?

In the state of FL.

What exactly does term life insurance mean?

I have been paying in to a Chase Life term insurance policy for $100,000.00 for over 10 years. I have recently received a quote for $250,000.00 term policy for LESS than I am paying for the $100K policy. Do I lose anything by changing companies?""

On whos name should be the insurance?

need help with car insurance. the car is registerested on my girlfriend... and current insurance is on her name - but we both included ... now we want to change company... the only thing is that my girlfriend currently is not in country... can I buy insurance on my name with both included even if the car is registered on her name?

Unitrin Direct Auto Insurance (Any good?)?

Asked by: hyphenga-ga I recently responded to an e-mail for a free auto insurance price quote (I'm in California). I wasn't really looking to shop around - and wasn't planning to switch companies to save a buck or two, but I was kinda shocked when the price quote I got from Unitrin Direct (same coverage limits and deductibles) was $510 less than I'm paying now. I called and asked what the catch was and they said they sell direct with no agents/offices and pass the savings onto the customer (logical, but obviously scripted answer). They also touted an A.M. Best Excellent rating, but what good is financial stability if they bungle claims (for example) or have terrible customer service? So I guess I'm looking for a little confidence - or a big fat warning - before I jump into anything. Are they reputable? Is there any objective info available about them? (I'd love any good/bad comments from Unitrin customers out there too.)""

Looking for supplemental health insurance?

my mom currenlty has health insurance through her job, but of course, the health insurance company does not pay for everything of which some of the things her doctors really thinks she needs. Are there any companies that offer resonable supplemental health insurance to help pay for copays, shots, medications, etc., that her current health provider wont pay for? Also, are there any that will accept pre exisiting conditions, or do you have to be perfectly healthy to be eligible. Please help............""

How much will it cost me for insurance and plates etc..?

im buying a 94 supra twin turbo for $18,500. im getting a loan from the bank for the car but what else do i need after i buy it? how much do i need? should $600 be enough for all that stuff?""

Why do you not want to buy insurance?

I'm a believer of having protection and that's why I joined the industry as an agent. I do not like to force sell to buy so I'm here trying to collect the possible reasons to why people are not paying attention to getting themselves covered. Also, what do you understand about insurance?""

Cheapest car insurance companies for young adults?

I'm a 23 year-old student attending to college, my dad has Allstate so he added me into his policy and it looks like I'll be paying $224.11 for six months; driving a 2001 Mazda Millenia. Does this sounds comprehensive? I feel as is too much. Also, what if I put myself as a married person, will that make a big difference? Thank you.""

How much would my car insurance be when I move to california?

I will be 25. I am male and I drive a 2008 Kia optima. Car is paid off. No accidents on my record. (Knock on wood). I want to get the most affordable coverage. So in an estimate, how much am I looking at monthly? I will be living in San Diego""

Can car insurance not pay?

I was recently visiting a friend at his apartment. We heard sirens and looked out---and saw a car on fire next to my motorcycle. The car was totalled as was my motorcyle and another car had damage. The car on fire----his insurance won't pay---they say it was a mechanical failure---and they don't have to pay.

How much will my insurance be?

im 21 never had an accident i have a scion fr-s and plan on getting a yamaha r6 next month and this summer im buying a wrecked supra for a project car once everythings fixed what will my insurance cost?

19 years old and cheapest insurance i've found is 4.5k WHATS GOING ON?

Right basically i'm 19, recently past my test tried looking at every single type of car there is even with pass plus discount and it's barely even gone below 6000 (4500 wasn't even what i found, it was my sister that probably got one of my details wrong) I've even tried having parents as named drivers and i cant think of anything else i've not already tried. Even friends i know have had it less than 2000 and at the moment i'll be happy to get below 3000 Pleaseee help!""

Where is the cheapest place to find car insurance for an 18 year old?

Hey, was just wondering where the best place to look for cheap young drivers car insurance? I understand that I am still going to be paying a significant amount money for it but surely there must be some cheaper than 2000? Also does anyone know which type of car is the cheapest to insure? Thanks""

How much average does a family of four pay annually or monthly for health insurance?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-much-car-insurance-marta-grim"

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ellenlucasonlinedatingblog · 6 years

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Sexuality in Color: On HIV/AIDS

December 1st of every year is World AIDS Day.

Traditionally, on this day, the president of the United States issues a proclamation acknowledging the historical impact HIV and AIDS have had on millions of people, as well as addressing the progress and vision of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, a comprehensive government plan to address HIV-related health outcomes in the U.S. and abroad. The most recent strategy was released in 2010, when it was updated to reflect goals all the way out to 2020.

Below is the statement that President Trump released — read through it and see if you can spot some of the glaring omissions.

The first documented cases of the human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) 36 years ago became the leading edge of an epidemic that swept across the United States and around the globe, devastating millions of individuals, families, and communities. As a Nation, we felt fear and uncertainty as we struggled to understand this new disease. In the decades since — through public and private American leadership, innovation, investment, and compassion — we have ushered in a new, hopeful era of prevention and treatment. Today, on World AIDS Day, we honor those who have lost their lives to AIDS, we celebrate the remarkable progress we have made in combatting this disease, and we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat.

Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, more than 76 million people around the world have become infected with HIV and 35 million have died from AIDS. As of 2014, 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. On this day, we pray for all those living with HIV, and those who have lost loved ones to AIDS.

As we remember those who have died and those who are suffering, we commend the immense effort people have made to control and end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In the United States, sustained public and private investments in HIV prevention anything d treatment have yielded major successes. The number of annual HIV infections fell 18 percent between 2008 and 2014, saving an estimated $14.9 billion in lifetime medical costs. We have also experienced successes around the globe. Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and its data-driven investments in partnership with more than 50 countries, we are supporting more than 13.3 million people with lifesaving antiretroviral treatment. We remain deeply committed to supporting adolescent girls and young women through this program, who are up to 14 times more likely to contract HIV than young men in some sub-Saharan African countries. Our efforts also include the DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS‑free, Mentored, and Safe) public-private partnership, which has resulted in a 25–40 percent decline in new HIV infections among young women in districts in 10 highly affected African countries during the last 2 years.

While we have made considerable progress in recent decades, tens of thousands of Americans are infected with HIV every year. My Administration will continue to invest in testing initiatives to help people who are unaware they are living with HIV learn their status. Internationally, we will rapidly implement the recent PEPFAR Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017-2020), which uses data to guide investments and efforts in more than 50 countries to reach epidemic control.

Due to America's leadership and private sector philanthropy and innovation, we have saved and improved millions of lives and shifted the HIV/AIDS epidemic from crisis toward control. We are proud to continue our work with many partners, including governments, private-sector companies, philanthropic organizations, multilateral institutions, civil society and faith-based organizations, people living with HIV, and many others.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 1, 2017, as World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in appropriate activities to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to provide support and compassion to those living with HIV.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

In reading through this year's proclamation, I found myself getting incredibly frustrated, and I really struggled to finish it, even though the text is not all that long or complicated. It wasn't until I went back and reread Barack Obama's 2016 World AIDS Day proclamation did it finally click — President Trump never mentioned queer and trans people or people of color.

While it's true that the practice of issuing a World AIDS Day proclamation is largely ceremonial — it's not as if the statement enacts new policies or legislation — it can and does set the tone for HIV prevention and treatment work to follow. In contrast to last year, this year's proclamation made no mention of the disproportionate incidence of HIV within communities of color, especially among queer and trans folks, sex workers, and those who inject drugs intravenously. While it's true that HIV is not what it used to be (a rapidly-spreading, close-to-fatal disease with no known treatment or effective strategy for prevention), that does not mean that it is not still a problem.

As an HIV Testing Counselor, I hear folks talk this way all the time — they say to me, "But things aren't the way that they were in the 80's, right?," and I usually try to gently push back against that idea by talking about all the different folks for whom HIV can be life-threatening and practically untreatable (folks who are houseless or homeless, queer and trans youth, incarcerated populations, those with other disabilities or chronic illnesses, folks who are undocumented or can't afford healthcare, etc.). A friend of mine who works in HIV prevention for the Public Health Department takes a more cynical-sounding stance: he likes to say that it's no longer an epidemic for the people who matter. I have to agree with him — not that communities who are disproportionately affected by HIV don't matter, but rather, over time, as the threat of HIV has reduced among people who are white, powerful, and affluent, the "crisis" has shifted out of the public narrative, and the subsequently those populations have been left to combat these issues on their own, without major institutional support. By excluding these specific populations, Donald Trump has once again made an already marginalized group of people feel even less visible and supported by the institution that is supposed to serve and protect them.

The folks at Southern Poverty Law Center brought up another important observation about the President's proclamation:

In his statement, Pres. Trump urged other leaders “to provide support and compassion to those living with HIV.” But his administration's efforts to repeal or weaken the #ACA would worsen quality of life for those suffering from the disease. #WorldAIDSDayhttps://t.co/KrADjNzhSW

— SPLC (@splcenter) December 1, 2017

While urging the public to provide support and compassion, President Trump is also simultaneously responsible for pushing to weaken/repeal the Affordable Care Act, effectively denying subsidized and no-cost treatment for millions of Americans. One of the key elements of the ACA that benefitted folks living with HIV is that no one could be turned away or charged more for health insurance due to a pre-existing condition, and President Trump is attempting to get rid of that clause. Those populations dealing with higher rates of HIV and more complicating factors (low income, lack of insurance or coverage, homelessness, substance use issues) are left without the aid of government-funded healthcare programs, and are essentially hung out to dry. For these folks, social services like the ACA, Medicaid, and needle exchange programs (which may be endangered thanks to our current vice president) aren't a convenience or a luxury; they mark the difference between life and death. This "poor people are not my problem" approach to public health is one that I frequently see reflected in this administration, and is one that is incredibly damaging to the welfare of marginalized communities.

For World AIDS Day this year, I encourage you to think about the role that HIV plays in your community (or doesn't), and to ask yourself what you can do to reduce stigma and improve access to HIV testing, treatment, and care in marginalized communities around you: Get tested for HIV. Educate yourself about how it can and cannot be spread. Learn about the negative impacts of HIV criminalization. Read about how PEP and PrEP medications reduce HIV transmission dramatically. Learn about how consistent barrier use and low risk activities can reduce the spread of HIV and other STIs. Find and volunteer at a local HIV services organization. And above all, keep resisting.

Know of a blog, organization, or resource that belongs here? Send it to our curator, Al (that's me!), at al AT scarleteen DOT com. Interested in contributing as a guest writer for our Sexuality in Color series, or any other part of Scarleteen? Check out our information for writers and then take it from there! Experienced queer and trans writers of color of varied abilities and backgrounds are always strongly encouraged to apply.

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sexual health

HIV

AIDS

stigma

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Trump

ACA

people of color

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topinforma · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Mortgage News

New Post has been published on http://bit.ly/2htmng3

Boomers Eye Work in Aging Market

Are you considering a second-act business when you leave your career job? Look no further than your own age group for customers. As the number of older people grows, so do the opportunities to serve them. And many older folks themselves are developing products and services—or taking jobs—in what’s known as the longevity economy.

SEE ALSO: 11 Smart Moves to Make Your Money Last in Retirement

That’s what Barbara Green decided to do after decades as a certified public accountant in private practice and later as an auditor for the U.S. Department of Defense. For many of those years, Green also managed her mother’s finances as well as those of an intellectually disabled sister. When she left her government job in 2010, Green decided to start a business helping older people with diminishing capacity manage their day-to-day financial affairs. “I knew there was a need for it, but I wasn’t sure I could find clients who would pay for it,” says Green, 73, who lives in Arlington, Va. “I have more clients than I can possibly want.”

Most of Green’s clients are in their eighties and nineties. She pays bills, consolidates numerous checking and investment accounts, helps manage rental properties, and hires professional organizers to get rid of stuff. When one wealthy client told Green that she did not understand what her financial adviser was talking about, Green began attending meetings with her.

Green also consults with family members. She worked with one daughter to persuade her mother to stop ordering boxes of vitamin supplements. “Older people will not believe that younger people know what they are talking about,” she says. “Because I am old, they will listen to me.”

SEE ALSO: 7 Great Part-Time Jobs for Retirees

The inclination of many older individuals to take advice and help from their peers offers aging boomers a big advantage in the growing senior-oriented market. Just think of a service or product that you or your aging parents could use, and it may be a niche that you can fill. If you’re detail-oriented, you could become a senior move manager, advising people who are downsizing to smaller homes. Someone with a flair for writing could become a personal historian, helping retirees tell their life stories. Other possible solo businesses useful to older clients: personal assistant, fitness coach, driver, handyman and photo organizer.

Nancy Collamer, author of Second-Act Careers (Ten-Speed Press, $15), says people who already have expertise can “customize a business for the senior market.” For example, a travel agent can design trips for grandparents or high-end adventure vacations for active boomers. A personal chef Collamer knew decided, after being diagnosed with cancer, to train as a nutritionist and counsel others who had to change their diets because of illness.

Services that help people age in place could be winners, Collamer says. Someone with a design or construction background could become certified as an aging-in-place specialist. These professionals remodel cabinetry, change door knobs to levers and widen doorways for wheelchairs. Services that provide caregiving, companion care and adult day care “will go through the roof,” Collamer says.

SEE ALSO: 6 Reasons to Work Past Retirement Age

The health care field is rife with opportunities for older workers interested in delivering non-medical services. Some fields require short-term training or certification. A nutrition counselor, for example, could focus on the dietary needs of seniors, while a diabetes coach could help those with the disease take better care of themselves.

As Green found with her daily money management business, academic research shows that older individuals who coach seniors on fall prevention or how to manage a chronic illness are more likely than younger coaches to coax clients to follow instructions.

The success of peer-to-peer counseling is central to the dementia-care coach program at ReServe, which places professionals age 55 and older in part-time positions with nonprofit organizations. The organization created a two-day training program two years ago for clients at its New York City affiliate, says ReServe national director Laura Traynor. Dementia-care coaches provide support for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. Most of the 23 coaches are in their sixties and have had some caregiving experience, either personally or professionally, Traynor says.

Cristina Pastor, 61, a freelance writer who lives in Rahway, N.J., began working part time as a dementia-care coach in 2015. She visits one of her clients, a 90-year-old who lives alone, three times a week. Pastor takes the woman to the bank so she has someone with her when she takes the cash home. They also visit the park. “We walk and we sing because she loves to sing,” Pastor says. She leaves reminders for turning off the TV and brushing her teeth.

As the “eyes and ears for the family,” Pastor passes along information about what her client is eating and whether she is taking her medicine. After Pastor reported suspicions to the family that a neighbor was borrowing money, relatives intervened. Pastor says she enjoys the work “because I love the stories [clients] tell me. There is so much I can learn from them.”

Boomers Helping Boomers Find Their Way

As many baby boomers try to plot their retirement years, some older individuals are going into business to guide them. Eloise Stiglitz, 68, is one of a growing number of retirement coaches.

SEE ALSO: 12 Reasons You Will Go Broke in Retirement

Stiglitz is a psychologist who spent most of her career in private practice and in university management positions. In later years, she ran two senior centers in San Diego. When Stiglitz and her husband moved to Orlando, Fla., last December, she did a “little soul-searching about my strengths and what I love to do.” She decided her strength was helping people change, and she loves working with older people. She started her new business, Embrace Your Aging.

Now she helps new retirees and those approaching retirement do their own soul-searching. That could lead to second-act jobs, volunteering or new recreational activities. Stiglitz also works with people in their seventies and eighties. Some are pondering a move to a smaller home, while others are trying to manage when an illness limits mobility. “I help them shift their thinking into a more positive framework” in order to make the most out of their lives, she says.

To prepare for her new career, Stiglitz looked at the local competition, took webinars on aging issues and created a website. To get the word out, she contacted people she knew by e-mail and LinkedIn (see Network With the Help of LinkedIn). She also “reached out” to nonprofits, the local senior center and the local library. “My thought is to use as many avenues as possible,” she says. For now, Stiglitz spends about 10 to 20 hours a week on her new venture, which gives her time to pursue photography and cooking.

Those with some technology background—or at least a good idea and access to people with tech knowhow—could grab a piece of the longevity economy. Tavis Schriefer says he thought up his venture after spending years helping care for his mother, who lives alone. “She had a problem with telemarketers and scammers,” he says. In 2016, Schriefer, 53, launched his company to address telephone-related frauds that target people with cognitive impairments. The teleCalm service was designed, he says, “to protect people and still keep them connected.”

With teleCalm, a family caregiver will attach a regular phone to a special adapter, which is then connected to a high-speed Internet connection. Only calls from approved telephone numbers—say, those of a parent’s friends and relatives—will ring. Other calls will go directly to voicemail. Caregivers can listen to the messages on a smartphone app.

A serial entrepreneur in the electronics field, Schriefer has raised more than $150,000 for his Dallas-based firm from family, friends and a few angel investors. He’s marketing the service on social media and through referrals from home care companies and elder law attorneys.

If you’re mulling a second-act career in the aging market, Collamer says, “there’s literally an association for every business you can imagine.” Associations of daily money managers, senior move managers, patient advocates, personal historians and photo organizers conduct national conferences and offer training and marketing tips. You can also get on their referral directories if you meet their criteria.

Community colleges and many professional organizations offer certificates and short-term training in certain fields. Collamer’s website (www.mylifestylecareer.com) offers links to resources on hot job fields, business development and marketing.

SEE ALSO: 9 Expensive Mistakes of the Newly Retired

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