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Managing Migraines

Do you try to fight a migraine when you feel it coming? I do and I lose the fight every time.

Migraines can be caused by many different triggers. It could be from fatigue, stress, diet, hormones as well as other factors. The type and severity of migraines varies too. You could have one with auras or not, but a common factor is they are usually debilitating. If you love someone who has migraines you need to realize they are not mere headaches, and they often come without warning.

I hate taking medicine, but after I had a migraine with auras so bad I couldn’t see, I asked my doctor for a prescription. I decided that I was going to find some alternatives to the medicine. Here are a few things that have worked for me. I hope they will help you.

Block out light. Wearing sunglasses, turning off the lights, or lying down and closing your eyes can help since migraines seem to make you light sensitive.

Coke/fries. I heard this from a doctor. When the migraine first starts, chug a coke and eat Mcdonald’s fries. The combination of sugar, carbohydrates, and salt helps soothe your head. The doctor said if you wait too long it won’t work.

Cold compresses. Buy a mask that you can put in the freezer and place over your eyes when the migraine hits.

Drink water. I have stopped a migraine before by drinking several glasses of water.

Discover your triggers. When you have a migraine look for clues about what caused it. Do you have one each time you eat or drink something? Are you going through hormonal changes? My worst migraines were when I was going through menopause and my hormones were wacky, but I have also had them when I was overtired or stressed.

What works for you when you have a migraine?  

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Success Beyond the Numbers

Success Beyond the Numbers

Do you measure success in your life by numbers, or is there something more or equally important? Think of all the times we look at a number to determine how we are doing. We might be concerned with how many social media followers we have, how much money we are making, and how much engagement we see connected to our work.

As a writer, it’s important for me to have followers and subscribers. I need to have an online presence, and several publishers have asked for it, engaging with my readers is crucial do increase those numbers, and writing without engagement is not enough.

When I taught Advanced Placement French, there was always pressure to have a high pass rate, but I have always thought the special moments that class offered were as important as the final grade. The experience can be the important part.

The experience and my reader’s reactions are how I measure my success. It means so much to me when someone takes the time to tell me she liked the book, and several readers have sent me videos that show children listening to or reading the children’s series.

When my numbers our down, I focus on whether I am helping someone with my writing or making them feel something. Two of my books do this the most. I have a children’s book called, What I Hope for You. The theme is the hope of a parent that a child can maintain a joy of life and see the beauty instead of only feeling the burdens. I vend at a local market, and I have had women who start crying while they read the book. I am so touched that the book resonated with them.  

The second book is a self-help called 101 Tips to Lighten Your burden. I was wandering through the farmer’s market that is next to the art market. I stopped at a stand to buy flowers and told the woman and her daughter that I was vending books next door, so they started asking me about my books. When I told them about this book, the daughter said, “I probably need that.” Her mom encouraged her to come with me to look at it. She opened it, but told me she didn’t have any money, so I gifted it to her. She teared up and gave me a bear hug. I watched her walk back, sit down and start reading. Giving her something that might lift her up was more important to me than a sale.

I would love more followers, subscribers, and more sales, but the connections with readers will always be my sign of success. What about you? What’s your definition of success?

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Are you comfortable asking your doctors questions, or do you blindly trust them because you consider them the experts? I always hope I can rely on my doctor’s expertise, but through the years, I have learned that while my doctors have a wealth of medical expertise, I am the expert for my body. Each one of us is unique so a one size fits all remedy is not always going to work. The best way to help your doctors take care of you is to keep open communication with your doctor, do your research and ask good questions. Here are a few questions you may want to ask.

When medication is prescribed. Ask questions about why a medication is being prescribed. We have become a take a pill to solve everything society. Sometimes there may be alternatives to medication. What are the ingredients in the medication and are there side effects? How long do you need to be on the medication, and will the doctor monitor your use?

After the covid shot and the booster, I developed Afib. The doctor in the hospital prescribed me a beta blocker and told me to keep taking it until I saw my cardiologist. It made me so tired because it was slowing my heart down. I have never liked taking medication and one that slowed me down was definitely not on my list. When I went to the cardiologist he found nothing wrong with my heart but told me to keep taking it just in case. I hated the fatigue it caused, so eventually I stopped taking it and thankfully, I have not had an attack since. I would have liked more guidance with the medication.

When a procedure is suggested. My favorite type of doctor is one who provides options because there is often more than one way to solve a medical issue. When your doctor suggests a procedure like surgery, ask what the other options are. Research your medical issue and ask any questions you have before you commit. Ask the doctor what to expect from the procedure and what your recovery will be like.

The first time I had Moh’s surgery for skin cancer on my face, I had no idea it would be as intense as it was. We were in the office from 9-4:30 and I had not brought any food or water. No one talked to me about what to expect and I foolishly did not ask. There were three days when I didn’t want to do much besides lie in bed and it took me a week to get my energy back. The second time was even worse, but this time I called up the office and asked questions.

If a doctor does not let you feel comfortable to ask questions, you need to find someone else. I just broke up with my dermatologist because his answers to my questions were sometimes condescending or defensive. The final straw was when I had to request a biopsy for a spot on my nose that he claimed was fine. My Moh’s surgeon made me an appointment with a new dermatologist before I left his office. I will be keeping him on my care team.

Remember your doctors need to work with you to keep you in good health, so keep open communication, research, and if a doctor isn’t the right fit for you. Break up with him.

A doctor providing consult for a patient by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0
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Don’t Follow All Your Doctor’s Advice

Although I am blessed with some amazing health care providers, I have learned during the last five years that you have to be your own advocate, research, ask good questions, and not blindly trust what a doctor suggests. I will use my own experience to explain what I mean.

Last Wednesday, I had my second Mohs surgery on my face in two months. Both of these were because I was a sun worshipper and I am a runner who loves to be outside, but they are also because I trusted a dermatologist who did not listen to me when I expressed concerns about the spots. Both spots were burned off but returned later. When I expressed concern I was told they were fine until I asked to have a biopsy done on both. I was not excited about being right, but the final straw was when he pointed at a spot near the biopsied area and said, “Look we burned that off and it’s doing so well.” When my Moh’s surgeon came in after the first cut on my nose, he said, “Jen, the spot next to it also had cancer, so I took that too.” I took a deep breath and said, “I’m breaking up with my dermatologist.” He recommended a good one and I will be meeting with her in three weeks.

I was prescribed a painkiller after the surgery. I hate taking medicine, but I was in pain that night so I took two pills and two more later in the early morning. It was too harsh for my stomach and I threw up all day Thursday. When we called the office, they prescribed an anti-nausea pill that wasn’t ready until 6 that night. I was prescribed an ointment and by chance my husband looked at the ingredients right before I took it. “Jen, this has sulfate in it. Aren’t you allergic to that?” I am and it is marked in my chart. Imagine if I had not seen that ingredient. I definitely didn’t need an allergic reaction on top of everything else.

Most doctors want what is best for you, but everyone is different, so what works for someone else might not work for you. After I strained my knee and went through physical training, my orthopedist said, “You are done with distance running.” He told me during our first meeting he thought runners were dumb, but he never realized how much running has done for my mental and physical health. I have done 20 ultra marathons since then, so I’m not done. Please don’t do something that will hurt you, but make sure the restrictions your doctor puts on you are valid ones.

Before covid, I would have followed most of what a doctor suggested. I had the Covid vaccine and the booster and shortly after I developed A-Fib. Three different nurses said it was probably from the vaccines. I haven’t had an attack in three years, so I’m hoping to keep that streak going. Please know I’m not anti-vaccine but I do think we weren’t 100% sure what was in that.

I am in no way a health care expert and I don’t want you to do something against your doctor’s wishes, but I am hoping you will self-advocate, ask questions, and do your research. No one knows you as well as you do.   

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The Prickly Path of Giving Advice to Children

The Prickly Path of Giving Advice to Children

As parents, shouldn’t we guide our children through life, helping them avoid some of the mistakes we made along the way? The answer to that is not always a resounding yes, and when they ask for advice, you should proceed with caution.

There are certain pieces of advice that are universally sound helpful hints. Here are a few I have offered my children.

  • Be money savvy. Always insure you are financially independent because relying on someone else for money can feel like a prison.
  • Self-care is essential for your health and happiness as well as for your ability to function well in all aspects of your life and in your ability to care for others. It is not selfish or a luxury.
  • Mental health is as important as your physical wellbeing. Reach out to loved ones or professionals when you need help.
  • Be transparent. Trying to be something you are not is exhausting. We are all a little messy and you might help someone else by revealing your imperfections.  
  • Positivity is powerful.
  • Be kind. There is a lot of hurt in the world. Kindness eases the pain.

All of that advice is something I would offer anyone, but when your children ask for more personal advice about specifics in their lives it can be a prickly path, and I would suggest you follow these steps.

  1. Listen carefully to your child’s request for advice without interrupting and without offering any judgment.
  2. When your child has finished, ask questions for understanding. It’s a technique called empathetic questioning where you repeat what a person has said but in the form of a question. An example would be if my daughter said, “I’m so angry at my stepson right now. How should I discipline him?” I can say, “So, you are feeling angry and want to find the right way to discipline him?” Now, you might ask how repeating the same thing can help, but most of the time when someone asks for personal advice, they don’t want you to solve the problem, they want to talk it out, and asking empathetic questions allows them to talk it out of their system, allowing them to see the situation without the emotion. I would then ask, “What do you think you should do?”  Allow your child to form her own decision. We are here to guide them not to control their every move.
  3. If your child asks again, “What should I do?” Take a deep breath and offer several options she might try. Don’t pinpoint one action because it might come back to bite you.

If your children ask you to make a decision about a relationship they are in I would advise you to change the subject because you cannot win. Of course, if the relationship is abusive in any way, help your child to leave, but the emotions run high in these situations, so like before, let your child talk it out and reach her own decisions.

I hope this helps. Parenting never ends. It remains a glorious, complicated adventure and we learn as we go. Good luck!!

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Your Emergency Emotional Kit

Do you have those days when you wake up in a funk? There might be good reasons for those feelings, or you might be having one of those days when you are feeling off kilter.

Most of us keep a first aid kit for when we have a physical issue. It’s just as important to have an emergency kit for our mental health too. What do you need to ease those hard days? Here are a few ideas.

Make a playlist. Music can heal, so use it to help you when you are struggling. Make a playlist of your favorite songs. You can also make several different ones. One can be upbeat motivational songs, another can be quiet and peaceful, and a third can be a combination. Listen to them depending on your mood.

When I was stressed, I used to listen to I can only imagine by Mercy Me and something about the song always calmed me. Music has power so use it to help your moods.  

Laugh. It’s difficult to stay sad when you are laughing. Do you have someone who makes you laugh so hard that your stomach hurts? I can’t completely explain it, but when my oldest daughter and I are together, hilarious things happen. We start laughing and things go downhill from there. Spend time with your person. Watch funny movies and videos. See the humor even when you are having one of those days when everything seems to be going wrong. Imagine yourself telling the stories of what happened to your friends.

Eat your favorite food. Food is fuel, joy and love. Why do you think guests all seem to congregate in the kitchen? I can make it through a bad day if I know a good meal is in my future. There is also something soothing about cooking. You don’t have to be good at it or make something fancy, just have fun putting something yummy together. Sharing good food with friends is even better.

Retreat. Do you ever feel like life can be a battle? Sometimes we can benefit from a few minutes alone doing nothing except reflecting and being quiet. Let your mind go blank and regroup.

Move. Running has been my escape for years, but if running is not your thing then any movement will do to work out the kinks and soothe your mind.

Sink under the covers. I’m hyperactive, so I don’t lie down often, but after a Mohs surgery I was told to take it easy for a few days. I forgot how fun it is to slip under the blankets and watch television or read.  

Do your favorite thing. Do whatever activity you love to do. It can raise your mood when you can look forward to something fun.

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Managing Menopause

I am so glad that we are finally having conversations about menopause. I don’t know about you, but I was not prepared for this stage of my life. Neither my mother nor my older sister ever mentioned it. Why is it treated like something dirty? It’s not as if women have a choice to have menopause or not.

My experience with menopause started out strangely. When I was 53, my doctor recommended that I stay on birth control pills until I was 60. I’m not sure how he picked at that age, but I trusted him. When I was 58, I started having migraines every time I had a period. I went to my doctor and told him I thought my body was letting me know that it was done with periods. He agreed I should stop, and he told me I should be prepared for menopause.

I asked him what I should expect. He said, “You are going to think the whole world is against you, they probably are not. You may experience mood changes, hot flashes, and night sweats.” Let me tell you what I actually experienced and what I did to handle it in the hope that you can use those strategies too.

First, I asked my family to tell me if I had mood swings, and believe me, they would. I remained even tempered and I believe it was because I am an avid runner. Running has always controlled my stress and my moods.

The hot flashes hit hard though! Although I didn’t always know when one was coming, one always seemed to hit at 8am right before my first class started. I had to dress in layers, and I carried a small fan to help me with the bad ones. The night sweats were pretty bad too. I washed the sheets a lot more than normal. Both the hot flashes and night sweats eventually stopped.

What the doctor neglected to mention was the weight gain and the shifting of body mass. I eat a balanced diet and exercise, but I still gained 5 pounds and watched myself become thicker and develop a menopause belly. I have tried so many things to lose weight and the belly, but nothing seems to work. I have finally decided to wear clothes that hide the belly and stop worrying about the five pounds.

The frustrating aspect about entering menopause is many doctors are not trained to answer your questions. It’s as if this topic isn’t important, but women suffer all sorts of symptoms. Do your research and keep asking questions.  

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What I Know So Far

What I Know So Far

Living for six decades teaches you about life, people, and perspectives. Not all the lessons are fun, but those are often the situations that teach us the most. Here are a few things I have learned so far.

You can accomplish almost anything with hard work and determination. I took karate for six years. It was in a full contact dojo which was often terrifying and sometimes painful. I believed I was going to fail before I started. I often let frustration overwhelm me, but gradually I learned that if I practiced something enough and asked questions, my body would take over with muscle memory. It was empowering to know I could do almost anything if I had the right attitude and the determination to do it.

Your attitude is your superpower or your kryptonite. You have the power to choose how you react to something. Your actions and reactions have energy. When you send out that energy you can influence things. You can also be a positive example to others. Negativity, on the other hand, can suck the life out of you. When negativity sneaks into your thoughts, change those thoughts into positive ones.

There are places you shouldn’t go. It doesn’t matter what your beliefs about spirituality are, if there is enough evidence that a place is evil, you should stay away. There is a lake near us called Lake Lanier that was formed by flooding a town. I could understand a few water related deaths, but the death toll for Lake Lanier is not only high, but it comes with odd circumstances. The most recent death that I know of was a man who took his kayak out on the lake. He was training for a triathlon. They found his kayak and then recovered his body several days later. They did an interview with a police officer who told the story of a woman they rescued after she fell off a boat. She said it felt like she was swimming through molasses, and she was a lifeguard.

There was a show talking about evil places and they mentioned a forest in Japan where people talk about feeling incredibly sad when they were in there. There is a high suicide rate there.

Ten people could have 10 different perceptions about the same situation. I was at a faculty meeting where the school head proposed a significant change in procedure. When we left several faculty members came to me to tell me their opinion. The first was excited about the change, the second was confused and asked for clarification, the third was angry and couldn’t understand how the head could propose this. Others came in through the day all with different perceptions of the same topic. Don’t expect everyone to jump on board with an idea because everyone is coming from different mindsets.   

Slower is better. I spent the first 25 years of my career running around in a frenzy. I was stressed out, doing too much, saying no too little, and no one was getting the best of me. I wish I could tell you that I no longer do that, but I am wired to move and do. I am trying to slow down though because I know the benefits. Going slower helps you both physically and mentally. It helps you be more present for the people you love, and you can take more time to rest and recharge. If you are moving too fast you miss a lot of the important things in life.

We need more kindness. Everyone is dealing with a burden or two and sometimes they are heavier than usual. A smile, a kind word, a compliment, or a kind act could lift someone up when she needs it the most.

Staying calm can change the situation. People are good at stirring the emotional pot, but you can choose to guard your peace and stay calm. When someone becomes angry, don’t escalate the situation by meeting that emotion. Continue to speak calmly or end the conversation and tell that person you can talk again when he has calmed down. It takes at least two people to have drama so refuse to be part of the group.

My husband and I have very different political views and for some reason he becomes angry every time I bring a topic up to discuss. When I remain calm, I watch him dial down the emotions gradually until he realizes I want a discussion, and I am not trying to attack his opinion.

Comparisons don’t make sense. The next time you compare yourself with someone, ask yourself if you are ready to also take on the mess you don’t see. Everyone has a messy corner, some are only better at hiding it. Fame and money do not guarantee happiness, so be thankful for the blessings you have as well as the burdens you don’t.

Worry is wasted energy. Worry is another word for stress. What if what you worrying about never happens? Stress doesn’t do anyone any good, so manifest some positive outcomes instead.

Be transparent about who you are. Trying to be someone other than yourself is exhausting and people are going to judge you no matter what you do, so do your thing. Being transparent makes the people around you more comfortable too.

You should follow your passion. When I started writing full-time my family did not provide much support. I don’t think they realized how important it was to me. I knew it was something I wanted to do, so I carry on without their interest.

Travel if you can. I know not everyone has enough money in the budget to travel, but if you do I hope you will go to as many places as possible. Travel opens you up to new experiences and perceptions. It is a great learning experience.

Create your space and draw boundaries. Even your family members can treat you as smaller than you are, and it often only takes you describing your boundaries to straighten out the situation. I applied for a business license and was doing a few other things to treat my writing as a business when my husband said this to me. (Imagine the sneer and condescending tone.)

“You’re doing all these things and calling this a business, but you aren’t making a profit.”

I have learned when I am angry enough that I want to inflict physical harm, the best thing for me to do is take some time to think it through and collect my thoughts, so at the time all I said was, “I’m only trying to do what I’m supposed to do to legally sell my books.”

The next day, I entered the kitchen and said, “I need to tell you how what you said last night made me feel. I have already written and published six books with two more at the publisher. I haven’t figured out how to market them yet, but I need you to give me a chance and stop saying shit like you did last night.”

He apologized and has been much more supportive. People will treat you the way you let them, so stand up for what you want.

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My Evolution with Running and Age

Running has always been like my best friend. Anytime life threw me curveballs, I would head out for a run and feel the stress melt away with the miles. It has saved me both physically and mentally for over forty years. I knew as I aged my relationship with running would probably have to change, but I thought those changes would all be physical. I had no idea how my mind shifts in regard to running would change.

When I was younger, running was preparing for races, so I ran hills, did long runs and raced every Saturday so I could count that as my speed work. Racing for me was about how fast I could run and doing my best to place on the podium. If there was someone in my age group ahead of me, I would do anything to beat her. A year ago, I felt a shift both mentally and physically.

 I saw my 5k times drop, but I was surprised that being slower didn’t bother me. I realized that somewhere in my quest for medals, I lost my love of racing. When I used to race for speed, I was hyper focused on arriving at the finish line as soon as possible. Now that I am running slower, I can make connections during the race. At a recent race I was running near a man for the first half mile. When we reached the first bridge, he started to walk. I said, “C’mon, run with me.” He started to run and told me his goal was to run to the first bridge. I told him he needed a new goal. We ran the rest of the race together at an easy pace. When we crossed the finish, he said, “I have never run that far! Thank you for pushing me!” Even though I’m not an elite runner, I can still be an encourager, and that has become more important to me than who I can beat.

Physically, running distance has become more difficult, so I adjusted my training by mixing running and walking with quality strength training. Tough races drain my energy more than they used to, so rest is an essential component. While I used to prefer short, fast 5k races, I now am in love with ultra-marathons because endurance is more important than speed.

I thought the physical changes that come with age would discourage me, but I have rediscovered my love for running. All I have to do is train in a way that works for my body. As long as I show up at the start and eventually cross the finish line, I can count my run as a win.

As a younger runner, I compared myself to runners and beat myself up if I felt I should be faster or stronger. My attitude has changed with age and when I race, I am only competing with myself as I try to do the best I can. I am happy and supportive of the runners who do great things instead of beating myself up because I feel like those feats are out of reach.

Each run brings me joy now. I am more grateful for each moment, each new connection with one of the best communities there is. I am joying being creative with my training, and I continue to be inspired by the other runners and their stories. I know my running will continue to evolve, but one thing that will always remain the same is running’s ability to save me.

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Everyone is Watching

Do you often feel invisible, thinking that no one really notices what you say or do? What if I told you that you are wrong, that everyone is watching and you have the power to influence others and potentially make a huge difference?

When I was a teacher mentor, I told the new teachers they needed to realize their students were always watching them and listening to what they said. Unfortunately, what they heard was rarely the material being taught. They were listening to your opinions, your values, and your attitude.

The same is true of the people you interact with every day. The way you react to situations could have a domino effect. Let’s say life throws you a curve ball and instead of allowing the challenge to crush you, you rise up to meet it calmly and bravely and figure out a way to break through whatever the issue is. You might not realize it, but you can save someone else who is also struggling by the way you react. Someone might say, “Well look at the way she handled it. She refuses to let it stop her. She is going to keep moving forward. I can do it if she can.” You can be an inspiration for others. It also helps you to stay strong when you realize you can help others with your actions.

Have you ever done an act of kindness and watched the ripple effect when others follow your example? Do something simple like holding a door for someone or saying thank you and watch what happens. It’s almost as if people need to be reminded sometimes. Show them how a good human should act.

Your attitude can change people. Do you see life as a burden or blessing? Are you positive or negative? I know the power of positivity and instead of convincing others that it works, I show them. My best friend and family are still amazed when I speak something into existence. We have gone to restaurants numerous times when the parking lot and the lobby have been packed. I say, “We are going to get right in and be seated.” We walk in and every time they somehow have a table for us. I love hearing someone say, “How did that happen?” The best part is they now all do it too.

Your words are powerful, and you never know when they are exactly what someone needs to hear at an important moment. Have you ever had that happen when you needed some advice or inspiration and suddenly it’s right in front of you? Your words can be what someone needs, and you might be surprised to know someone is listening to you in particular because your thoughts speak to that person.

Who is watching and listening to you? Be the best person you can be, and you will end up helping others as well as yourself.