Tags
cold and mouth sores, covid is still here, date canceled, family far away, feeling powerless, taking better care of myself
“In daily life we experience suffering more often than pleasure. If we are patient, in the sense of taking suffering voluntarily upon ourselves, even if we are not capable of doing this physically, then we will not lose our capacity for judgement. We should remember that if a situation cannot be changed, there is no point in worrying about it. If it can be changed, then there is no need to worry about it either, we should simply go about changing it.”
― Dalai Lama XIV, Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Inner Peace: The Essential Life and Teachings
Hello, I hope you all had an amazing weekend!
For the last few days, I have been dealing with feelings of powerlessness.
Family far away. I found out on Saturday that my brother has COVID. My brother takes care of my older parents.
So many thoughts. What if my brother gets so ill and has to go to the hospital? What if my parents get it?
It is the type of situation that I wish I could get on a plane and get there asap. But I can’t. It is not that simple. I have my tickets to Brazil already bought, but they are for April.
Fortunately, from Saturday until now, he is doing much better. So far, my parents haven’t contracted it.
It is so hard to live far away and not be able to just go and be with them. I should be used to that situation already, after living in the US for the past 39 years.
Canceled date. I was going on a date on Sunday and my date canceled. He also contracted COVID. I was looking forward to that date. Not because I thought we were such a good match, but because he seemed so intelligent and I imagined great conversations. I no longer focus on the future of a date, I focus on the moment.
He wanted to talk on the phone until he recovers, I said no. I am not sure why. I keep going with my gut on the phone situation. Sometimes I will give my number and talk on the phone, while other times I insist on meeting in person first.
Two people I know in 2 separate parts of the world getting Covid is to me such a reminder that Covid is not only still around, but it is here to stay. We just need to learn to deal with it.
Cold sores. I have never had a mouth/cold sore until last week. I am glad it was small and not too unsightly. This morning, it seems, I may be getting another one. I am blaming it on the stress of work in the last months. Stress and a possible weak immune system. I have relaxed a bit on all I was doing to take care of myself.
It is all common sense the items on my list below, but it is so easy to relax a bit, and all of a sudden all I am doing is eating cake and watching Netflix.
So, starting now, I am focusing on:
- Eating well. I do eat well, but 2 words: Less sugar!!
- Sleeping well. Get to bed before 11pm.
- Take Vitamin C. I take plenty of vitamins and supplements, but I just realized that I haven’t taken vitamin C in months.
- Exercise more intentionally. I walk on a treadmill every day, sometimes twice a day. Every now and then I do some light weight training. I need to follow a program and a set of exercises.
- Meditate (or just sit still). It does wonders for me when I take some time out of my day to just be still.
I am disappointed that I didn’t handle these feelings of powerlessness better. I have read so much, experienced so much, wrote so much about it. I should be a master at dealing with situations which I have no control of, by now. This is another reminder that some lessons are never done. We are constantly being tested.
I am disappointed when I realized that I had been putting myself and my well-being last. Work has been first for so long. First with my assistant our for 3 months, then the audit for 6 months. There was hardly any time for me in there. 2022 was very tough on me and my psyche.
The rest of 2023 will be all about me! ME! ME! ME!
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” ― The Dalai Lama
good tips Ana Star.. it’d not over til it’s over and it’s still all happening! hope. your brother is on the mend. 🙏🏼
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Thank you Cindy!!
He is much better, thanks heaven!
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Take vitamin D3, it’ll help your immune system. We get it naturally during the warmer months when there is more sun exposure to our skin. However, in the winter there is less exposure to sunlight on our skin, so d3 supplementation helps.
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Thank you Rob!
I just started taking again. I was taking it religiously. Then I had bloodwork done it showed very high levels, so I stopped taking it. And totally forgot about it, until last week. Nothing like a looking on the mirror and seeing a cold sore to make one go hunting for cause and fix.
If I had a pool in the summer, or knew anyone with a pool… 😉
Blessings to you!
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Yes, there are advantages to an all-over tan. 😉
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Are you saying what I think you are saying? lol
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Depends on what you’re thinking. 😉
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Touchè!
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Kudos for being proactive Ana with your plans. Thankfully, I’ve learned to be more gentle and accepting of myself and foibles. I hope your brother continues to get better.
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Thank you Brad!
Sometimes I am too nice to myself, then it leads to being disappointed with myself.
I guess I need to aim for moderation and balance in all things.
Blessings to you!
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As you say we are constantly learning and being tested. This time you learnt more again about yourself. So on the positive note, you made alist and change something, so it is a good outcome for you. I do hope your brother will be all and your parents too. I do know how it is when you are further away from your loved ones.
Keep strong and indeed think ‘you’ yourself, it is important.
Hugs
Ute
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Hi Ute,
I know that you understand being far from family. Thank you for the kind words and wishes.
Blessings to you!
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I hope your brother gets well soon! Covid is nasty! I’ve had it but it wasn’t extremely bad! I only had a mild case, thank god!
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Thank you Carol anne. I had some lingering issues from it. It feels like it will never go away.
Or perhaps, the mind fogginess is just age related 🙂
Blessings!
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Sending lots of well wishes to you and your brother. Rest up and take great care of yourself. You deserve it. 🥰
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Hi Avigail,
Thank you for the kind words and wishes!
Blessings to you!
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I understand the pull of family from far away, Ana. We moved away from my wife’s family last summer, in part because my wife was no longer able to tolerate the high altitudes of Colorado without affecting her health. So like you, we rely on her siblings to care for her aging mother. So far, so good, but we never know when an urgent matter might force us onto an airplane. The worry and potential inconveniences are the price we pay in pursuit of healthier golden years.
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Hi Dave,
You are right, there is always a price to pay for our choices. I have lived with the knowledge that I may get a phone call at any point, and I am just too far. Now that my sister is here, and my brother is there alone taking care of my parents, it is harder. Somehow, my sister being there was almost as if I was.
We can only do the best we can, without totally neglecting our life and wishes.
I am glad that your wife’s family is doing well.
Blessing to you!
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I’m not sure if this would apply in your situation but I used to get canker sores in my mouth pretty frequently (though only rarely in a visible part of the lip) until some years ago I switched to a toothpaste that doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulfate or other surfactants. Now I hardly ever get them, and when I do it’s usually because I was chewing distractedly and managed to bite my lip … 😬
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Hi James,
It is so good that you mentioned that. I do recall now, that years ago a friend of mine developed sores around her mouth. It took months and many trips to the doctor to finally realize that she had become allergic to the toothpaste that she had been using for decades.
I used to alternate among 3 toothpastes but lately I have been using only Sensodyne Pronamel. I am going to switch it up and see what happens.
Thank you so much! Blessings to you!
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I hope your brother is feeling much better. Don’t worry too too much Ana. Sending encouraging vibes
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Thank you for the kind words. I feel them and they do make me stronger!
All is much better now!
Blessings!
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Thank you for sharing!!.. often times we work so hard to succeed that we often forget what is important, and sometimes things happen and life reminds us of what is important, as Marilyn Monroe said;
“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together” ( Marilyn Monroe)… 🙂
So as you venture down life’s path, do not forget what is important, you and family, for as Steve Jobs said “And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary” (Steve Jobs).. 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again..
May the love that you give
Always return to you,
That family and friends are many
And always remain true,
May your mind only know peace
No suffering or strife,
May your heart only know love and happiness
On your journey through life.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)
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We’re all on a journey, Ana. It’s good that you can notice where you can improve at least 💜
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Hi KE,
That is so right, and a great reminder! Thank you!
Always trying to improve!!
Blessings!
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soooo much Covid going on around me and I keep dodging the bullet. Oh I got right to your page this time.. yayyyy! 💗
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Hi Cindy,
Yayyy indeed – I think some of my blogging issues are getting fixed!
I am glad that you continue to escape it!
Blessings to you!
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Hip Hip Hooray!!!❣️
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