Showing posts with label awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label awareness. Show all posts

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Mesothelioma and it's Awareness

In today's competitive world, there are only a few words that can make anybody's life come to a screeching halt.

Cancer is one such word.

Although sometimes it feels as if a flight attendant is offering, "Can, sir" but I wish it were that simple.

This word has gained so much popularity in all latitudes and longitudes of our planet that it normally does not need translation. As it creates havoc in the body by some cells that have broken the rules of division and thus, continue to create mayhem.

 Result: This clan of unruly cells need to be curbed thus a particular human body goes into chemotherapy with the hope to destroy them. Sure, it sounds like any video game that kids play these days. But, I wish it was that simple.

The journey of chemo and radiation to kill those cells is painful while agonizing over the fear of your loved ones who are rooting over your welfare can be mind-blowing.


This story is about a young lady by the name of Heather Von St. James. She was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma in November of 2005. This was due to an exposure of her dad's work jacket who was a miner and had worked with asbestos. The cancer was in the lining of her left lung thus, making the doctor declare that she had only about 15 months to live.


Such news was devastating since she was a new mom to a precious baby girl of three months, Lily. She needed a life. She wanted more breaths to be able to nurture her daughter and see her grow up into a beautiful young girl.

In her own words that touched my heart:
It was during those long sleepless nights that something replaced the fear: Determination. I wasn’t going to let the cancer win. We were doing everything we could to beat this.

A cancer diagnosis takes away so much in an instant. That loss of control you thought you had over your life is another fear so many face, and we do everything possible to get control of the situation. To some, that can be denial. Others try to learn as much as possible and research every single detail of what they’re facing. I speak from experience when I say that neither way is the healthiest thing to do, but you never know how you will react until faced with the situation.

I don’t know if I ever was in denial… perhaps a healthy case of naivety, but I didn’t deny what I was up against. I didn’t do too much research online because everything I read had me dead and buried within a couple of years. My course of action was to spend as much time with my daughter and family as much as possible, and pray a lot.

10 years later, I can look back and learn a lot about my fears. I now say that fear is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. If you take a long hard look at fear, that is exactly what it is. It builds up to eclipse every rational thought, and when it comes time to face those fears, you realize that they are not what you thought.

When I faced my fears, I found out I was stronger than I ever imagined. 15 years ago, if you told me what I would face and what would happen, I would never have thought I could make it through. But I didn’t do it alone. I had the love and support of my husband every step of the way. Family and friends were there in my darkest times, and most importantly, I had my faith.

I encourage you to face your fears. I still have them, and will the rest of my life. Fear of my cancer coming back, fear of my husband getting sick, fear of my daughter getting sick… so many that if I let them take over, I would never be able to breathe. So I don’t let them, and I exhale.



She will celebrate a decade as a survivor from this heart-wrenching disease in February of the coming year!  She wants people to be aware of Mesothelioma and its number one cause.



Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers may cause an inflammation of internal tissue and disrupt organ function that leads to the development of mesothelioma.

Approximately 80% of mesothelioma cases can be attributed to asbestos exposure. Other potential risk factors include zeolites and radiation exposure.
An estimated 20 million people in the U.S. are in danger of developing mesothelioma at some point in their lives.
The latency period between first exposure to asbestos and developing mesothelioma is typical between 20 and 40 years.

For decades asbestos manufacturers and producers of commercial and consumer goods have known the dangers of asbestos and yet support it's continued use, even to this day around the world. Those affected by these products and exposure to asbestos now suffering from mesothelioma and asbestos related diseases face expensive legal battles against companies that knowingly exposed hardworking men, women and their families to this dangerous toxin. For those struggling, one option is exercising their legal rights with a competent mesothelioma lawyer, to help with both deciding if this is the right step, fully learning their legal rights and how to protect loved ones for the future.

There is an additional link for information about malignant mesothelioma that has been brought up by a lung cancer survivor who also fell victim to asbestos, Virgil Anderson who after a diagnosis of mesothelioma continued to fight for his life with a positive attitude.

As the saying goes: Prevention is better than cure. Let's be aware of our surroundings and be cautious of what we inhale since the kind of air we breathe in today will be the reason of our safe and healthy life tomorrow.

Mesothelioma is a preventable cancer. For Lung Cancer Awareness Month, please spread the word about the dangers of asbestos and together we can help save lives.


Let's try to avoid any more of Heathers' and/or  Virgils' who  fall victim to such 'can be avoidable' problem.


Mantra for today: We have to be in the present to be able to invoke awareness within us!



Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Wordless Wednesday #98



Dunno if it was an experiment or if my county's representatives ran out of tar to surface the road.

But for one whole week the way to my home looked like this!
Half smooth and the other half was rough and patchy.

What amazed me even further was people were taking turns to drive on the finished road. Unless somebody were in a hurry, they would drive on the scaly patch.

Made me ponder that we all want a smooth, flowing life without any bumps, collisions and jerks. Thus, the above choice thy man makes even while driving his four wheels with the hope that life would also be as smooth as that drive.

Aha! The power of intentions.

Mantra for today: Intentions and awareness is a life lead in bliss. 



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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Wordless Wednesday #84


Spring is in the Air.

Plants are blooming without any inhibitions of color, creed or dogma.

Teaching us to embrace all forms of hues, distortions, and odiousness around us, which will make everything so subtle and exquisite.

Mantra for today: Nature has so many ways to teach us to live in harmony. Awareness is the key!


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Monday, June 30, 2014

Self Tune-up


Ann steps out of her car in her stilettos and walks into a store.

After her usual purchases, she pulls out her ink pad, presses her thumb onto it and then dabs it on the receipt that the clerk puts forward.

"It's high time you learn to write your name, Ann" the cashier exclaimed as she nods in disbelief while putting the receipt in her drawer.

"Oh! Yes, I am getting there, Sam. Maybe next time I will be signing my name." she says with a wink.

The person next in line is observing all this, and could not contain his curiosity. He wants to know more about this person. 'Swipes his credit card, but it is denied, he then quickly pays the assistant and starts following the lady who has gathered a lot of attention by her striking up-to-date physical appearance that tops her confidence even when she was paying via her credit card with a thumb print instead of a signature.

"Excuse me" he shouts

She is courteous, stops and turns back, "Do I know you?"

"eh! not exactly. But I could not resist your spunk to be such a contrast. How do you do it?" he asks meekly

Ann is tempted to say, "None of your business" but then her professional side took over.

She gives a crooked smile and replies in a questionable tone, "Why do you question this? I have worked hard towards it." She pauses and continues, "You could name it as kismet"

The man shrugs his shoulders, scratches his rough, unkempt hair and slides his hands in his tattered jeans while looking down on his dirty shoes as his eyes get watery. He murmurs gently, "I don't believe this"

Ann starts to walk.

This time he shouts, "I don't believe this!"

"What don't you believe?" she asks with an equally eager tone.

"You are uneducated, and you make your transactions with your finger imprint and still enjoy the luxuries of an ordinary man?"

"I told you earlier and am repeating again. It is my hard earned money. And yes, enough of taunting, I am learning to read and write. Will be able to write my name soon." replies an irritating Ann.

The man puts his hands on his hips and nods his head from left to right, "Call it kismet or luck. I were a post graduate and got into a fury of recession. Today, I stand jobless with meagre savings; enough for me to eat for a day. While you roam around with no education and yet a stiff bank balance." he scorns

"Right now it is not about me, but about you," she settles down on a plank next to the store as she places her bags near her.

"What made you reach this point in your life?" she asks with a calm tone as she wraps her arms around her.

"umm" takes a while then finally utters it, "I actually got over confident that no one will touch me, cause of my qualifications and took it easy with my work." came a thoughtful reply

"Okay, so what would be your next step of action"

"Well, duh! it is obvious. I am looking for a job"

"Sure, you are. But not as a jobless person but as a post graduate."she remarks
That came as a sharp spear straight to his heart.

He pauses then narrows his eyes, "how do you know all this?"

She pushes back her hair in delight and while looking for her car keys in her purse she replies, "It is my profession"

"haha...a profession without a qualification. I don't believe it."he sneers

"I help unfold stories within people, and that does not need a certificate. It needs consciousness and awareness," she is crisp in her response.

Hearing such wise words from a middle aged woman, he blushes but is still unconvinced.

Thus, she continues, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Many of times, we dunno what is putting us in a quandary. I help people find themselves and in return get compensated for my service."

He puts his hand in his pocket, but finds some coins. Looks embarrassed.

Ann gets up, and as she presses her remote to open her car she remarks, "No worries, you can pay me when you get employed."

They both part their ways.

Few weeks pass by, and Ann completes her transaction with her signature. The clerk rejoices with a loud cheer!

Fate made Ann and the once unemployed man meet again. This time, he is better clothed, confident, and grounded. He congratulates her on her first signature and pays his dues.

My 2 cents

The mind is a part of our body. It can take us miles away even though the body is stationary. Being alert in our thoughts, and paying heed to them can make us identify what is bothering us. Thus, making us unravel the misconceptions and deciphering the code within a while giving an individual the guts to face it by helping find a solution to the problem.

Many of the times man roams the aisles of known walls, but he is still lonely, afraid and fragile. Tuning the mind and the body to one wavelength can help him find the secret of his agony thus, helping him disentangle and find the road to success.

Mantra for today: Road map to success is to confront your within.


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Colors and the characteristics that we clothe in....

Imagine living in a black and white world...how boring!
Colors bring life and excitement to our surroundings. They affect every part of our lives, our emotions and our health. 
Recently I found this survey that made me immediately want to know my characteristic based on the color of the car that I own.

Seriously?

A survey will now tell me what I actually acquire?

Sure, man argues that sometimes we are unaware of what we actually are thus, no harm in getting a (rosy) picture of what we are clothed in..
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What your Car color says about you?

The latest research shows that people who own
  • light blue or sunny yellow cars have slightly below average confidence about their lives, and they have modest mood swings.
  • white vehicles have average confidence about their lives, and they have modest mood swings.
  • emerald green vehicles have the most upbeat attitude about life, but they also have some of the most pronounced mood swings.
  • dark blue or silver vehicles have above average confidence about the course of their lives, and they also have consistent moods.
  • black vehicles have the most downbeat attitude about the course of their life, but they have consistent moods.
  • red, bright yellow, or orange vehicles have below average confidence about their lives, and they have the most pronounced mood swings.
Source:-http://www.squidoo.com

Colors
Meaning
Black
Evil, Falsehood
Gray
Formal, conservative
Blue
loyalty, faith
Turquoise
Serene, Creative
Green
Love, Joy
Purple
Temperance, royalty
Lavender
Grace
Red
Magnanimity, Fortitude
White
Purity, Truth, hope
Ivory
Elegance
Brown
Wholesomeness, Earthiness
Beige
Conservative, relaxing
Orange
Energy, spontaneity
Yellow
Faith, glory

My 2 cents
All the above characteristics are just out of the world and they give a wonderful feeling just knowing that we have acquired them by merely owning a car of that color.

Our soul is black and white and it acquires a color/characteristic by awareness. Thus, we can bring in the above traits by consciousness.

Mantra for today: Man is intelligent to acquire any attribute by awareness. Wearing a particular color or owning does not make a difference!




Monday, January 6, 2014

Blue Print for Success

Man works hard and then is hungry for a favorable outcome.

Sure, we all want success for the exhausting work we put in towards a project.

Alas, some get it, and some keep striving hard to attain that goal. Unfortunately, this is Life!

It can suck for some, but it can be lucky for a handful.

Blame it on whom?

I would vouch for our thoughts in the above.

Seriously?

Yes, our thoughts have the power to make or break us. Keep a guard on your ideas cause if this security alarm fails to ring off; this formation of mental objects can either take us to the heights of divinity and success or could make us run astray and lead to our downfall.

The actions that follow thereafter if/when our thoughts are not watched over; can lead us to fill upon our bucket of karma, which could either be a good or an ugly thing.

Destiny also plays an important role when thoughts are allowed to process.

Every soul on this planet desires to succeed and fortunately, we have the potential within us. It is just the awareness that tends to get misplaced in the humdrum of life.

This brand new year be the change within you and see how you can make your blue print for success.

Mantra for today: Man's thoughts are the channel while destiny is an agent for success.



Monday, July 22, 2013

Can you be Sensitive and Sensible at the same time?

Being sensitive and sensible...they are usually two sides of a coin. Thus, how can a human trod upon a path adapting both the adjectives in his life?

Man usually thinks from his heart, which makes him sensitive. Such emotional people tend to make  decisions, which are just beneficial to the heart but are not practical or sensible.

How can we acquire both the S's in our life and help balance it out?

Play the brain game!

Our brain has two important portions: left and right chambers. The right brain is best at creative tasks such as music, intuition, creativity, reading and expressing emotions. The left brain involves logic, language and analytical thinking such as logic, critical thinking and reasoning.

The next time when your heart gets emotional over an issue. Your right brain is working. Before you come to a conclusion, be aware of your thoughts and prior to making a decision. Let their be a transmission happening from your right brain to the left brain.

This will help you analyze the situation and make a sensible decision.

The thoughts are all up in your brain. How you execute them, depends on your reasoning.

You are an intelligent soul, thus use your brain to the fullest and attain your goals in life by having the two S's beside you.

Mantra for today: Being Sensible and yet being sensitive to the needs around can make an individual acquire trait which is supreme. Awareness is the key factor behind it.



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Are we heading towards adversity?

We all say that time is not constant and is moving fast.

Just yesterday, we felt that we celebrated the new year and welcomed 2013, and today we are standing in the month of June. In no time, we will be celebrating another year, 2014.

As time is ticking, man is making ecological changes for the worst turn around.
Result: Earth's resources are getting depleted by the hour.

Quakes, Floods, Droughts are becoming common. Man is facing the consequences by the wrath of Mother Nature.

When nature strikes, no man made technology can stand up to its fury. Man has to bow down and wait up, for it to pass.

Recently, a state in India got a heavy downpour which resulted in floods. This is the year when tourists are high in that part of the country, and it has resulted in a havoc. Heavy rains have caused all rescue operations to come to a halt until Mother Nature calms down. Over 1,000 are missing and things are in a mess.

My concern is that just we are leaving our foot prints on the ecological front and making a mess, Mother Nature is shouting back at us.

Mantra for today: Nurture your Awareness before we get extinct.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Power of I AM

Man is a powerful being. His intelligence today has made distances shorter, and life easy. The proof is in front of us.

Conclusion: His ability to invent many gadgets has not only helped him but also mankind.

Thus, giving him the ability to declare himself as a smart individual.

Unfortunately, being smart also tends to bring in ego. This ego drains his relationship with another Homo Sapien, and that gives rise to hatred and crime.

If only a man can draw a line between his accomplishments and his ego.

This world would be a better place to live. Unfortunately, that awareness is missing.

He is treading on a path of I AM where his intelligence overrides his personality making him turn into an animal.

Being aware of one's actions and conduct is the key!

Mantra for today:  (Lao Tzu) The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Fear Factor

Fear is a noun that causes apprehensions when the mind is confused over something.

I was in turmoil when my family went camping over the memorial day weekend. We accompanied our kids boy scouts troop.

Company and the food was in abundance. However, lights out was ordered at 10pm. We went to our respective tents to retire for the evening.

Usually a new place, does not make me sleep immediately. I was tossing around consciously, but with my eyes shut, so that my mind does not drift away to other places while I try to lull my body to sleep.

Suddenly, I hear foot steps around my tent. I could not refrain myself from keeping my eyes shut; I immediately opened them and tried to follow those footsteps by my ears while trying hard to come to a conclusion. There were 5 tents around my tent so, initially I thought it must be one of the persons from the tent, but this noise was very near my tent and would not go. I thought of it as a bear.

I did not want to sit up and wake up my family over it. My heart was beating fast that I could not breathe. My mind was racing relentlessly, and I could not think straight.

Then, I quickly forced my eyes shut, and took deep breaths. I told myself that I ought to remain calm and think straight. Grounded my self and started thinking of strategies to face this situation.

The noise was still coming, and I was confused that why hadn't this animal attacked yet?

I got up slowly while taking deep breaths, and I noticed a distinctive smell in the air. This smell usually occurs when it rains.

It was the RAIN

I mocked at myself on how the mind can make up things and take an individual into a trauma. This trauma avoids a man to use his senses.

Did you have any such occasion when your mind took over your senses?

Mantra for today: Controlling one's mind is tough, but awareness is the key!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Awareness of Violence

Lately, a few children wrote a letter to the President requesting to bring changes with regards 
to Gun Laws.

These are children in the age group of 8 to 10 years old.

Requesting President, Obama to make alterations so that no child becomes a victim to these

 senseless people who  tend to  possess an ammunition.

What is this trying to tell the adults of our planet?

Children get the vibes of negativity around them and unfortunately, there is plenty hidden 

in each nook and corner of our society, which they can sense it even though

We as parents try to keep it hidden, to protect their innocence.

Shame on us, for ruining their innocence cause of our asinine acts. 


 What has resulted from the above?
Exposure of violence has no age group, and cruelty cannot be hidden any longer. 


 Mantra for today: Think before you act. Your actions can be louder than 
you can anticipate.




Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Is Worry a Choice?

Our mind is so vulnerable that it wanders miles while the body is seated.

This mind is susceptible to negative thoughts.
Getting tensed over big or small things will not help us come to a solution.

Why?

Because man fears failure and does not want to fall when his community is walking. This fear of failure always concerns him and he is constantly anxious over petty things, that he forgets to live in the present. There are times that man does not realize what is worrying him, he just keeps lamenting that, "he is very tensed"

when asked, "what are you tensed about?"

"I don't know" comes the reply.

How do we make worry a choice?

Awareness is the key to be liberated from tensions in our life.

Next time, you are thinking about something, you will notice your heart is pumping extraordinarily fast.

Realize it.

Then analzyse your problem.

Thinking about the problem will definately give you a solution to it. Man is an intelligent soul and he will either come up with an answer to his problem or will hang it on in his closet and wait up till time comes.

Do not carry this tension with you. You have a choice to either solve it now or later. Why carry this extra burden on your shoulders and then complain of aches and pains.

Mantra for today:Be conscious of your thoughts.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!


Friday, October 12, 2012

What Are You Thinking?

The Power of Mind

Mind?
Thoughts come from your mind and even if mind is a Four-letter word, it is an important part of our body and can do wonders. It can nurture new thoughts. Humans are fortunate to have a mind of their own, but most are not aware of it and prefer to follow others than make their own path.



Why?
Mind can only think if it is at peace and is in harmony with the body. This quiet mind when is not overwhelmed with distraction then can actually think and come up with a zillion of ideas to solve a problem in his life.


Wonders of Mind
  • It can travel miles, while; the body is sitting in one place.
  • It can make plans for the future while the body is at rest.
  • It can innovate.
  • It can nurture positive or negative feelings in one self.
  • It can make the body heal.
  • It can make a sick person live for an extended period of time.
  • It can make us see beautiful or ugly things.
  • This mind can make us be at peace or make us restless and give us sleepless nights.
  • This mind can make us achieve anything.


Can we control our Mind?
It is difficult to control our mind at times. But we ought to be aware of our thoughts in the beginning. This awareness of our thoughts will make us be aware of our actions whether good or bad and this will gradually lead us to controlling our thoughts.

It is a reversible cycle.

Our thoughts lead us to actions. But, if our thoughts are monitored, then our actions will be performed consciously.
Awareness is the key to freedom!
If a man is Aware of his surroundings then he can make decisions relevant to them. Decisions can be good or bad at that time, but with time a person learns. This self-learning is a key to self-realization. That makes the person very independent and confident in whatever situation he is in. Whatever challenges; Life will offer can be faced with determination and valor.
Thus, next time when you are in a situation calm yourself by taking deep breathes and come in harmony within yourself. Then be aware of your thoughts and this gradual nurturing of the thoughts can help make your life beautiful and content in whatever state you are.

Mantra for today: Awareness