Tag: health

Living in Fear

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

photo-1584474263418-b947971ef9dc (1)Bombarded by the daily news briefing and the constant barrage of information about the Coronavirus, we are being told to stay home.

Fear has gripped our nation while our streets and public places remain empty. Businesses are closed for fear of spreading the coronavirus.

We are no longer socially or physically active but deactivated from everything we know and loved about our lives.

We are connected by our devices which keeps us engaged for a period of time.

Jobs are being lost and our lives are on hold. Our ability to pay our bills is at a standstill.

The economies of the world are in a state of limbo. It remains uncertain as to the gravity of damage this quarantine would cause while affecting the future of jobs and companies ability to sustain their existence.

What we took for granted, our freedoms, were stripped away in a matter of months by a virus.

It has created a crisis which may take a considerable amount of time to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

This Pandemic which is making its way around our world from country to country does not care about race, ethnicity, or our cultural differences.

It is a deadly and silent killer that is treacherous, spreading quickly around the world.

People are living in fear without having any knowledge of when this will come to an end.

We are all currently on lockdown, in self quarantine in fear of getting the coronavirus.

“Stay Home” is our new directive by those who are leading the charge. Now we are told to wear masks when we go out and about which is a good idea.

So we hunker down, day after day, in isolation in fear of going outside even to the pharmacy or grocery store.

THE FEAR FACTOR

Am I concerned about getting the Coronavirus?

We all should be cautious… so I do what I can to avoid sickness.

I can’t tell you how many times I walk around my house wiping door knobs and everything in between.

One day goes into the next and after awhile you start questioning what day it is…

We are eating more for comfort in order to deal with our stress and anxieties.

When my job decided to put a considerable amount of workers on furlough, I realized that there is a strong possibility they may not rehire their workers if things continue to deteriorate.

I checked my weight recently. I almost had a heart attack when I got on the scale. In 2 weeks, I gained some extra pounds which was not necessarily on my agenda.

But I’ve come to my senses…. finally! I have decided to do something about it otherwise this body would be unrecognizable.

FEAR even for the bravest among us has temporarily stolen our lives.

I can’t say I blame for feeling like things are spinning out of control.

Someone very close to me was diagnosed with Covid 19. So I’ve been the caretaker for the last two weeks.

I got more concerned about the virus after seeing the numbers of cases in the world going up day after day.

It took 14 days before he showed any signs of improvement. He had the cough, fever and other symptoms. It was like the flu except more intense.

I am so thankful that he is feeling better.

Never give up on the power of prayer. Be strong and have faith.

Eat healthy and take your nutritional supplements like Vitamin C. It is not a cure but will help build up your immune system.

Not everyone will die from this virus, but many people will get sick while others will be asymptomatic.

I understand the fear people are feeling and their reluctance to go out for fear of bringing the virus back to their loved ones.

Are you currently living in fear?

With all the bad news reported daily,  we can’t help but feel like our world is falling apart.

I’m so drained by the amount of information we are supposed to disseminate in order to keep safe.

Have you come to grips with the health crisis?

I feel so overwhelmed by what’s going  that I can’t even think straight.

My life feels like it’s turned upside down and I am paralyzed  to a certain degree by fear.

It does not stop me from getting things done, but it’s constantly on my mind like a dark cloud which wont go away.

Fear of the unknown is powerful. Our world is in crisis. My fear is more connected to the future results of this pandemic on all our lives and entire social structure.

The impact on our children, friends, and family is enormous.

Before the coronavirus was even a byword, I was so optimistic about life.

But are we losing sight to what really matters?

Yes, there is alot going on and there is enough fear to keep us extremely anxious and distress.

Listening to the news all day everyday can keep us all in a state of despair.

My suggestion,  turn off the news channels, youtube videos and other sources which keeps you in a state of perpetual fear.

Find some creative ways to bring back a sense of normalcy into your homes.

Refrain from talking about it as much as possible especially around your children.

Watch some movies or find something else to do in order to keep distracted from our new reality.

Taking on a new project around your home is exactly what you need.

There are alot of people out there who are trying to bring smiles by connecting online through music, comedy and other creative activities to help others through this nightmare.

What really matters is our ability to stay home and spend some much needed time with our loved ones.

Get back to reconnecting in meaningful ways with those you care about. This is the real meaning of life, building relationships.

We can’t control what life throws our way but we can choose how we react to it at any given time.

Fear dominates our landscape for the moment. But don’t let it rule the day. It wont last forever.

We are living in unprecedented times. This has never happened in the history of the world to this extent…

Hope conquers fear……..God is in control of it all.

 

 

 

 

Letting go

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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Sometimes we hold onto people, and other things in our life so tightly making it very difficult to let go. We believe we are in control only to wake up to feelings of despair, pain and hopelessness.

Just imagine having a tug of war, with you holding onto a rope as tight as you can on one end and the stresses in your life on the other. Who do you think will win that war? At some point, you have to learn to let go. Otherwise the struggles you are carrying will take you down to a life of misery.

Continue reading “Letting go” →

Breaking Free

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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Have you ever tried something which turned out to be a mistake? Well I did it again but this time, I had to admit to the problem. I absolutely hate routines, especially when it comes to diet and exercise.

Self Discovery

On a lazy afternoon, I sat on the couch flipping through the television channels, hoping to find an interesting program. Then I caught a glimpse of a new weight loss program which helps people lose weight by making the right lifestyle choices. I was hooked and ordered the program. I have been looking for something simple in order to maintain my weight without running to a gym or going crazy with other exercise videos. Based on statistics, most people who join gyms pay for memberships but usually don’t follow through to get the results they are seeking. I’ve been there and done that at least three times in my lifetime.

I was so excited to start this program that I downloaded it, rather than waiting for it to come in the mail. The first part of the program, I had to read over 60 pages in order to understand calories and the theory of fat. By the time I was on page 30, I had forgotten what I read a few pages back. Then there was an exercise program and measurements you had to take from your neck down. In order to motivate you, there were several women writing about their positive experience with the program.

So I continued to read on, still excited but I can see myself walking down a steep hill. I knew I was going to get to the bottom after continuing to page 60. Then I began to get a lot of emails from the company with great advice about staying healthy and eating the right foods. Wait there is a catch, you had to buy their supplements in order to maintain your weight to have that perfect body you always wanted. Weeks went by, I didn’t purchase any of their products. I got a friendly email yesterday which read, “we noticed you haven’t purchased any of our supplements, so therefore, we will give you a 30% discount towards your purchase.”

It was a wrap for me at that point. Time to break free from another to-do on my agenda. I have nothing against any of these type of programs and I am glad it works for others. I learned a very important lesson about myself through this experience. If I find another weight loss program, run don’t walk to the nearest exit. If it’s another lazy afternoon, keep your credit card as far away from any device that will allow you place an order for something which does not define who you are at this point of your life.

In life, there is always going to be routines. But the way I look at it, you have to pick your poison. This is just one of them I would rather avoid. My heart is in the right place for the right reasons but I know the truth about what makes me feel  uncomfortable. Anytime I got involved with a program that becomes a routine, especially when it comes to diet and exercise, it doesn’t work. I can’t even handle following recipes. I make my own. So what was I thinking?

In conclusion, I am going the natural route. I will try to eat healthy, walk whenever possible, and purchase my own supplements. Cheat days, absolutely! But I will continue to maintain a healthy weight. Breaking free from this program was the best thing I ever did because I am at peace with myself, accepting who I am and taking responsibility for my actions.

Nugget of truth: Embrace the truth about yourself. Be the person that God created you to be. Acceptance is key, and living out your truth.

 

 

 

 

 

The Munchies

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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Have you ever had a serious munchies attack? I’m talking about the I want it now scenario. Then you open the kitchen closets searching, like a person who hasn’t eaten for days. But this time, like old Mother Hubbard, your closets are bare. What’s next is your attempt to run to the nearest 7eleven in order to purchase something, anything to satisfy your appetite.

Well, I believe this has happened to most of us more often than we are willing to admit. Why does it happen? In my opinion, besides the usual cravings, boredom is at the top of the list. Another reason, is a desire to seek pleasure and solace in junk foods, rather than focus on life troubling issues. In that moment, it’s you and your cookies, chips or whatever appeases your cravings. The results are weight gain in all the wrong places and health related concerns due to eating processed junk foods. But who cares, as long as we get our fix.

 

Guilty like everyone else, from time to time the munchies gets the best of me, especially when I had a difficult day. I had to ask myself, why would I reach for a bag of chips rather than a piece of fruit which is much better for health reasons? We have learned to associate junk foods with areas of our lives which causes discomfort. It’s palatable while giving us some temporary pleasure.

I am not one to tell you to stay away from munching on junk foods, however, eat it in moderation as it can impact your health if you go overboard.  My concern is related to the cause…..

Next time you reach for some junk food, ask yourself first and foremost, what’s really going on? Once you’ve answered that question, try reaching for a healthier snack which nourishes the body. Only you have the power to choose.