If you are in the hospital for a physical or mental illness you will have 3 different nurses a day. Sometimes if the nurses are working 12 hour shifts you will then have two nurses a day.

At the beginning of each shift each patient is assessed. This assessment includes, but not limited to:

• Vital signs
• Blood sugar reading (if necessary)
• Oxygen saturation reading
• A nervous system assessment
• A cardiac assessment
• A pulmonary assessment
• A gastric assessment
• A urinary assessment
• An assessment for pain

This may sound fairly basic, but if these assessments are not done; the patient could die.

Let me give you an example of a true story.

A man was admitted into a psychiatric hospital. He was psychotic. He was placed on an antipsychotic medication. Days and weeks passed, but he did not get better. He was gaining weight because of the antipsychotic medication. The man’s abdomen was distended. The man only spoke when spoken to. He did not complain.

As the weeks turned into months the man’s condition did not change with the exception that he slept a lot.

One day he began to have a seizure. The psychiatric nurses shipped him off the a medical hospital. The doctors at the medical hospital found that the man had an impacted bowel and it had opened up spilling poisonous waste into the abdominal cavity. The man went to emergency surgery only to die on the table.

The error the psychiatric doctors and nurses made was that NO GASTRIC assessment was done. The gastric assessment consists of listening to bowel sounds with a stethoscope in 4 quadrants of the abdomen. The patient is asked, when was the last time their bowels moved and if they are passing gas. Weight is monitored too. That’s it! If the psychiatric nurses or doctors had assessed this man every day as they were taught in college this death would not have occurred. His problem was PREVENTABLE. 

If you find yourself in the hospital make sure the nurses and doctors are paying close attention to all of your body systems. It is basic, but you life literally depends on it.

Here is a list of famous people who have suffered from Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression.

1. Abraham Lincoln- American President

2. Winston Churchill- Statesmen

3. Virginia Woolf-Author

4. Eugene O’Neill-Author

5. Robert Schumann-Composer

6. John Keats-Poet

7. Tennessee Williams-Author

8. Vincent Van Gogh-Painter, Artist

9. Ernest Hemingway-Author

10. Sylvia Plath-Poet

11. Vivian Leigh-Actress

12. Jimmy Piersall-Shortstop for the Boston Red Socks in 1950’s

13. Patty Duke-Actor

14. Gustav Mahler-Composer

15. Anne Sexton-Poet

16. George Gordon, Lord Byron-Poet

17. William Blake-English Poet

18. William Wordsworth-English Poet

19. Victor Hugo-Author

20. Robert Lowell-American Poet

21. Boris Pastemak-Russian Writer

22. T.S. Elliott-American Poet

23. Emily Dickinson-American Poet

24. Edgar Allan Poe-Author

25. Walt Whitman-American Poet

26. Alfred Lord Tennyson-English Poet

27. Hans Christian Anderson-Author

28. Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

31. Charles Dickens-English Poet

32. William Faulkner- American Author

33. Peter Tchaikovsky- Composer

34. Irving Berlin- Composer

35. Noel Coward-Composer

36. Georgia O’Keefe-Artist

37. Jackson Pollock-Artist

38. Michelangelo-Artist

39. Mike Wallace-TV Personality

40. Art Buchwald-Columnist

41. Bert Yancey-Golfer

44. Pete Harnish- Ball player for the Reds

45. Margo Kidder-Actress (superman’s girlfriend)

46. Sheryl Crow-Pop Singer

47. Meriwether Lewis-Explorer

48. Charlie Parker-Musician

49. Robert Louis Stevenson-Author

50. Leo Tolstoy-Author

51. Thomas Eagleton-Senator from Missouri: Brief VP candidate

52. Lawton Chiles-Late Florida Governor

53. Tipper Gore-Wife of Vice President of the United States

54. Carrie Fisher-Actor (Princess Leila in Star Wars)

55. Rosie O’Donnell-TV Host

56. Martha Manning-Reporter

57. Rosemary Clooney-Singer

58. Meri Danguah- Author, Willow Weep for Me  

59. Ben Stiller-Actor

60. Jane Pauley-TV Personality

Famous people who have suffered from Schizophrenia

1. John Forbes Nash- Economist, Nobel Prize winner 1994.

2. Lionel Aldridge- A defensive end for Vince Lombardi’s legendary Green Bay Packers of the 1960’s, Aldridge played in two Super Bowls.  

In the 1970’s he suffered from schizophrenia and was homeless for 2 1/2 years. He now gives inspirational talks on his battle against paranoid schizophrenia. His story is the subject of numerous newspaper articles.

3. Leo Tolstoy-Author of War and Peace, Tolstoy shared the extent of his own mental illness in My Confession. His experience is also discussed in Dynamics of Creation by Anthony Storr and Inner World of Madness by Bert Kaplan.

This is just a sampling of people who suffered with various mental illnesses. Some have gone undocumented and some under documented. A list would never be complete.

People just like you and me, who happen to be famous, can experience a mental illness.

We, as a people, walk a very fine line between mental wellness and mental illness.

Information  Source: NAMI National.

Examples of antipsychotic medication are: Haldol, Thorazine, Sparine, Prolixin, Mellaril, Serentil, Trilafon, Stelazine, Taractan, Navane, Moban, and Loxitane. These medications are about 40 years old. Some of these medications are still used today, mostly in emergencies instead of long term treatment due to their heavy and dangerous side effect panel.

Examples of Atypical Antipsychotics are Clozaril approved by the FDA in 1990, Risperdal approved by the FDA in 1994, Zyprexa was approved by the FDA in 1996, Seroquel was approved by the FDA in 1997, Geodon was approved by the FDA about 8 years ago, and Abilify was placed on the market about 5 years ago. While some side effects to these newer drugs can be severe they are generally better tolerated for long term care.

While the list of the side effects is long, I will focus on summer time precautions. For the entire list see the article entitled  “Antipsychotic Medication.”

Photo-sensitivity. Use sun block and wear a big floppy hat! You can get a sun burn very easily. That coupled with the potential inability to perspire you got yourself a death stew. Plan outside events carefully. Protect your eyes by wearing sun glasses.

Decreased perspiration. Stay cool in the summer time. Drink plenty of fluids. This can be a very dangerous side effect which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Note while on antipsychotic medication the body does not cool itself properly. You must keep this in mind while planning outdoor activities

WARNING! As stated above if you are on an antipsychotic you are more susceptible for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. You have to be doubly careful during hot summer days.

Heat exhaustion happens if the body gets too hot and hydration is not adequate. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are: heavy sweating, loss of color in the face, lethargy, weakness, muscle cramps nausea and vomiting, and fainting. The skin will be cool and moist. The pulse will be elevated and breathing will be fast and shallow.

Treatment for heat exhaustion is to cool the body. Drink water, lot’s of it. Get into some shade or air conditioning. The immediate goal is to cool the body.  One should rest after an episode of heat exhaustion. If this condition is left untreated one can progress into heat stroke which is completely life threatening.

Heat stroke is an elevated body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. Put in simple terms, the body is unable to cool itself.  Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

Common signs and symptoms of heat stroke include, high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, problems breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and coma.

People who experience heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent damage to the internal organs. First and foremost, cool the person. Get the person to a shady area, remove or loosen clothing, apply cool water to the skin for example, spray the person with cool water from a garden hose. Fan the person to help promote sweating and evaporation. Place ice packs under armpits and on the upper thighs close to the groin. Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102 degrees. Notify emergency services (911) immediately. They can give you further instructions for treatment of the person. Don’t forget to help the affected person to drink lots of water and then something like Gatorade to replace the loss of electrolytes.

Important measures to prevent heat stroke are to avoid becoming dehydrated, to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot humid weather, and to plan ahead. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids such as, water and Gatorade, but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, light colored and loose fitting clothing. Do what it takes to stay cool!

Janssen Ortho Assistance Foundation Program- 1-800-652-6227

RX-Assist-1-401-729-3284 also you can reach them on the web at www.RXassist.org.

www.needymeds.com

Drug card of America- 1-888-299-5383

Esun-1-866-662-1351 or on the web, www.esunhealth.net

Free drug card- 1-866-410-4225

Your RX card-1-866-561-1926

www.truerxsavings.com

1-800-886-8412

Also, most drug companies have programs which will help you obtain free or a reduced priced medication. They typically go by your yearly income. If you have no income you will receive your meds with little problem.

I hope this helps!

THANK YOU for all that you do!!!

Generally, a good number of people do not know what you do. I will try to enlighten the public about your job in this article.

It starts in nursing school. Most nursing instructors are pretty good. The nursing student receives what he or she came for, a good nursing education. However, I noticed a select few nursing instructors who were placed on this earth just to make the life of a nursing student miserable. They challenge the student. They hound the student. They confront the learner. They object. They question the undergraduate over and over until he or she double checks the fact for sure. They test how organized the learner is. The instructors test the nursing student for quick sequential critical thinking. They infuriate the new student. They effectively weed out the students who are not meant to be nurses. They beat you down until you are a little blob in the corner, and then, the instructors nurture you to a confident, knowledgeable, professional and capable nurse.

Here is a shout out for the nursing instructors! If it were not for you, we could not follow our calling, our dreams, and a decent financial future. Thank you!

Nursing school is similar to the military in my opinion. “Hell week” lasts for the duration of the nursing school program. If the nursing student makes it out alive from nursing school, then he or she has really accomplished something.  Pat yourself on the back if this implies to you!  

Taking the Nursing State Board Exam and anticipating a passing grade produces new levels of fear and anxiety.

In the olden days, graduate nurses had to wait 6 weeks for the positive or negative news from the State Nursing Board. Can you imagine what that much anticipation, fear, and anxiety, over such a long period of time, feels like? I can think of an answer, exhausting! Also, the graduate nurse was allowed to work in an RN role for the 6 week wait, however, if the graduate nurse fails the exam; the graduate nurse is immediately demoted to nursing assistant or fired if the hospital has no job openings for assistants.

I watched this system utterly wreck some new graduate’s lives if they happened to fail the exam. As I write these words down, I can see plainly, the system in the olden days really did not work very well!  For the newbie’s, be grateful you are in the techno-revolution!

The new nurse collects his or her shinny new scrubs, shoes, stethoscope, scissors, a pen light, hemostats, calibers, a pen, and other necessities depending on the specialty.

The new nurse arrives on the unit for his or her first day of work as a licensed nurse, full of energy, and ready to try out new skills. Usually, the first few weeks go along swimmingly. The new nurse is typically with a preceptor. As the newbie becomes a custom to the floor or unit the preceptor will give the nurse more responsibilities until he or she takes over the preceptor’s entire assignment. This is sink or swim time ladies and gents. The preceptor will observe all of the newbie’s decisions, correct mistakes before they happen, and grade the new nurse’s performance for the manager. When the nurse gets through this small initial hazing the newbie will go on to the next larger, more severe hazing.

The poor newbie’s, they are so abused! We, the nurses, as a profession, EAT OUR YOUNG! A new nurse will typically get the hardest assignment, or the patient no one else wants to deal with, or the empty hall which will be hit with tons of admissions. This type of assignment is repeated day after day. The person in charge will jump at the chance to make it easier on him or her self. Who wouldn’t in such an intense job? So the newbie’s run up and down the hallways of the unit, so that the nurses with seniority can get some rest. So smile as you run up and down the hallways with hunger pains, a full bladder, and sweat running down your brow! This part of the hazing will change soon enough.

If a nurse is fortunate enough to prove him or her self worthy during the orientation period, the experienced nurse’s, will then step in to teach the tricks of the trade. The good stuff happens in this phase. Patients are grateful to have a confident and competent nurse. The nurse is learning by leaps and bounds! Nurses will learn prioritization, organization, techniques, procedures, patho-physiology and so, so much more. Taking care of people while they are sick, vulnerable and in the hospital becomes a privilege and an honor. Nurses are happy to do the work because of these types of benefits.   

The hazing fades out soon after orientation, but will go on if the nurse messes up royally or consistently. Petty conflicts with staff continue throughout your career. In my opinion, some conflicts occur because of the preponderance of women in the profession. Women are ruthless while sniping at each other.

Nurses help sick patients and their families with love, compassion, and professionalism. The responsibilities nurses have are vast.

The minute the nurse listens to report and accepts the assignment, it’s on!  All nurses need to be prepared for ANY emergency at any time during the shift. This takes ultra-organization! Because the patient is so sick while in the hospital these days, emergencies happen frequently and are common place.

Nurses have to be attentive to the various sounds on the unit like the IV machine, the call lights, the heart monitor, the ventilator, and the cell phone the nurse carries in his or her pocket. Each one of these sounds will generate new tasks, which will need to be addressed immediately or in a timely fashion. Having polished time management skills becomes paramount when dealing with the copious interruptions.

A typical assignment will include (depending on the unit and shift) 1-15 patients. On occasion it is necessary to assign 2 up to 5 nurses on one patient.

Nurses are responsible for the wellbeing of each patient he or she agrees to care for during the next 8, 12, or 16 hours. Nurses are responsible for the administration of medications. Nurses will know the intricate details about each medicine he or she gives during a shift. In other words, the nurse will know the what, the when, the how, and especially the why to each medicine given throughout the shift. Nurses check for the benefits of the drugs and the adverse side effects to the medications.

A nurse will assess and re-assess the patient during the entire shift.

Nurses give updates to the patient’s family members frequently throughout a shift. Some times the family will need more care than the patient does.

Nurses will perform most treatments. Examples of treatments are, the nurse will assess, monitor, and maintain clear respirations while the patient is on a ventilator. The nurse will assess, monitor, and maintain adequate cardiac function and output. The nurse will assess, monitor, and maintain baseline neurological status. I could use the previous sentence for each system in the body and for each piece of equipment used to aid in healing of the body. The list would go on for miles! The nurses reading this article know that the words assess, monitor, and maintain translates into a whole bunch of work!

Other duties nurses perform include, maintaining IV access, keeping the line or lines patent and working properly through the shift. Nurses draw blood from central lines for laboratory analysis. Nurses keep track of tracings from the cardiac monitor. Nurses assess and treat various levels of pain, nutritional status, hydration status, and elimination status. Nurses assess, monitor, and maintain tubes, tubes, and more tubes! Tubes protruding from every orifice of the body and then some! Nurses monitor vital signs, blood sugars, and oxygen saturation levels regularly. The nurse will interpret various laboratory results, and share the information collaboratively. Nurses are able to iterate up to date info about their patient at any given point during the shift. These examples just scratch the surface of what a nurse accomplishes during any given shift.

Nurses alleviate the patient’s fear by teaching. In my opinion, teaching is the most important job the nurse has to accomplish. In this day and age the patient needs to know about their illness, medications and how to care for themselves at home.

Another important layer of nursing is listening. A nurse will actively listen to the patient’s concerns. Nurses get a lot of their information by observing. The nurse will check for congruency while talking with their patient’s. If the conversation does not match up with non-verbal communication; nurses dig deeper.

Occasionally nurses will get time to empty their bladder, but rarely will have time to eat. During and at the end of the shift the nurse will chart. Nurses must write down everything that happened to the patient during the shift. If the information was not written down then the assumption is made that the work was not done. Impeccable charting is a must! The last task the nurse will do is to give report to the next shift. After the transfer of patient’s is complete the tired nurse gets to leave. At this point I was usually limping home after a 12 hour shift! My body ached! I would go home, eat, shower, and sleep fast. After 7 hours of sleep I would go back and do it again.   

Nurses work hard. There’s no glamour in the trenches. Actually, it’s pretty gross when a nurse gets ‘slimed’ by a projectile mucous glob from a new tracheotomy!!! 

Nevertheless, nurses choose to be in this profession. Nurses are there because they want to be and to provide care to the patient.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world in nursing, but the benefits or gifts definitely out weigh the negative parts of the job. Our gifts include, watching a patient get better, watching a patient wake from a coma, watching a psychotic patient become lucid again, watching a patient survive a complicated surgery, or watching a patient fight an infection and win!, watching a child go into remission, Watching a mother give birth without complications, or watching a patient die with dignity intact. These are examples of the good stuff or gifts nurses receive everyday.

Happy Nurse’s Day to all you nurses in the trenches out there. I know what you do and how hard you work. Thank you!

The swine flu is not so different from other flu viruses. The symptoms you may experience from this flu are as follows:

Headache

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Fever

Dehydration

Chills

Lethargy

If you should get the flu you will need to treat the symptoms for comfort and good health.

One of the most important issues to remember is that you loose a lot of fluids when sick with the flu. Increased sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea can cause you to become dehydrated.

You must replace your lost fluids. Sipping on water, ice, popsicles, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or ANY FLUID that you can hold down will be helpful. Even if you vomit up the fluid in 5 minutes, some of the ingested fluid will stay in your body. So keep drinking!

If you have a headache or a fever, take some Tylenol or Motrin for comfort. (Do not take these medications if you are allergic or have had problems with these meds before.)

Cool your body with tepid water if you have a high fever. If chills occur and you begin to shiver, dry your body immediately. Shivering will cause the body temperature to go up.

For vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea ask your doctor for a prescription to lesson these symptoms. If that is not possible remember to stay hydrated and get some Kaopectate, or Pepto-Bismol. Of course do not take these meds if you are allergic to them.

Listen to your body. If you feel tired, then sleep.

The flu virus is air borne. Wearing a mask will decrease the amount of air borne virus particles in the air. Also, by wearing a mask when you do not have the flu can protect you from breathing in the virus.

Major health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) agree that hand washing and hand sanitizing with an alcohol-based hand rub are especially critical to minimize the spread of germs during times of illness outbreak.

The CDC recommends:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

If you or someone in your household is in a high risk category, then take extra precautions to prevent  spreading the virus.

Remember antibiotics do not kill viruses. Do not take antibiotics unless you have a bacterial infection.

Keep in mind that this flu lasts for 24 to 72 hours.

Good luck! No need to freak out! Just get better!

In the 1800’s this disorder was called moral insanity. By the 1900’s the name of this disorder was changed to sociopath or psychopathic personality disorder. More recently, the name of this disorder has been changed to antisocial personality disorder.

The essential feature of antisocial personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others, that begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood. For this diagnosis to be given, the individual must be 18 years of age and must have had a history of symptoms of conduct disorder before the age of 15. The specific behaviors characteristic of conduct disorder fall into one of 4 categories: aggression toward people and animal, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft, or serious violation of the rules.  

 DSM-IV (Diagnostic Statistic Manual 4^th addition) 

As with most disorders one must fit into strict criteria to be diagnosed with this disorder.

1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
2. Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
3. Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
5. Reckless disregard for safety of self and others.
6. Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
7. Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
8. The individual must be 18 years of age and evidence of conduct disorder in earlier years. DSM-IV (Diagnostic Statistic Manual 4^th addition) 

Characteristics of a typical person affected with antisocial personality disorder are:

• A sociopath is persuasive, charming, and is superficial.

• They are manipulative and cunning.
  Sociopaths do not recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet they are covertly hostile; seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
• Grandiose sense of self.
  A sociopath feels entitled to certain things as their right.
• Pathological lying.
  A sociopath has no problem lying coolly and easily. It is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. A sociopath can create a complex belief about their powers and abilities. A sociopath is extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.
• Lack of remorse, shame or guilt.
•  A sociopath does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
• Shallow emotions.
  When a sociopath shows what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion, this behavior usually means they have a self serving motive. They become outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a typical person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
• Incapacity for love.
• Need for stimulation.
  Sociopaths love to live on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical abuse are normal behaviors for a sociopath. Promiscuity and gambling are common.
• Heartless and lack of empathy, or sympathy.
  Sociopaths are unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others’ feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
• Impulsive.
  Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. A sociopath believes they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, and no concern for their impact on others.
• Early behavior problems/juvenile delinquency.
  A sociopath usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet gets through by conning others. They have problems making and keeping friends. It is common for the sociopath to display deviant behaviors, such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
• Irresponsible and unreliable.
  A sociopath is not concerned about wrecking peoples’ lives and dreams. They are typically oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. They do not accept blame, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.
• Promiscuous sexual behavior.
  Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out are all common in a sociopath.
• Parasitic/cling-on Lifestyle.
  A sociopath tends to move around a lot. They have a poor work ethic but will exploit others effectively.
• Versatile.
  Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

There you have it in a nut shell. If you have a sociopath in your life, it is best just to drop that person from your life like a hot potato! Nothing good will come from a relationship with a sociopath.

If you have come into conflict with such a person or persons, do the following immediately!

 Notify your friends and relatives of what has happened.
 Do not be vague. Name names, and specify dates and circumstances. Identify witnesses if possible and provide supporting documentation if any is available.

Inform the police. The police will do nothing with this information except to keep it on file, since they are powerless to act until a crime has been committed. Unfortunately, that often is usually too late for the victim. Nevertheless, place the information in their hands.

Obviously, if you are assaulted or threatened before witnesses, you can get a    restraining order, but those are palliative at best. If you have been assaulted you can press charges with the prosecuting attorney and the sociopath will go to jail. This may give you enough time to go into hiding.

Notify local and national law enforcement agencies including the FBI. It is not uncommon for the sociopath to have outstanding warrants nationally because the sociopath moves around a lot.

Make sure that several of your friends have the information in the event something happens to you. That way, an appropriate investigation will follow if you are harmed. Instruct friends to take such an incident to the newspapers and other media.

If you are dealing with someone who has considerable money, you must realize that they probably won’t try to harm you themselves; they will contract with someone to make the hit. The sociopath is a coward and will not expose him or herself to personal danger if he or she can avoid it.

And again, drop the person from your life and run the other direction as fast as you can!

As you discipline your children, explain why his or her behavior is inappropriate and then smile and say “I love you.”

At work, as you are passing someone in the hallway give that person direct eye contact and smile. This simple behavior connects you with people and it has an energizing effect.

Having a genuine smile on your face makes it difficult to be, as my grandmother would say, “cross.”

The most important smile of the day is the one you give yourself in the mirror!

Love yourself and the people who are important to you.

One summer day I was walking on the nature trail. The air was moist and warm. The leaves of towering oak tress gave me shade to cool my body. I spied a sapling. I pulled it out of the ground and took it home with me.  

Feeling excited, I showed my father my new possession. I asked him if we could plant it in our yard. He said “yes.” With shovel in hand we walked to the back yard and picked a place to plant the tree. My father dug a small hole and I placed the seedling into the earth. Being ever so careful I placed loose soil around the plant. My father and I stood over the new addition to our yard and admired it. My father said “it might grow or it might not; it is up to you kid.”  

I checked on the new tree every day. I lugged water out to the back yard to water it. That summer the tree doubled its size and was very healthy before autumn and winter hit.  

That winter, I was removed from the violent people in that house.  Many years went by. I often thought of the special time my father and I had planting that tree; I also wondered if the tree had survived.  

The man has long since been dead, but the tree and the memory lives on. 

Submitted by: An Adult Child of an Alcoholic.

I have found these simple words to be beneficial. To me these words say, count your blessings before you complain. Most of the time, blessing or things you are grateful for, will out weigh the things that bring you stress.

As Americans, we have wonderful possibilities for the future. Stay focused. Love yourself and the people who are important to you. Remember you live in a community. Help another person.

Smile!