“Strong women aren’t born. They’re forged in the fires they’ve had to walk through. And they’ve shown the world they are warriors.”
This is you.
A strong courageous woman who has been forced to deal with stuff she never wanted to deal with,
and never should have had to deal with.
And you’ve discovered in the fire a strength of will, and inner strength, you never knew you had until you had to stand and fight.
And what a revelation that has been!
A choice or a decision that might seem trivial to the non addict can actually become a life or death situation for the addict in recovery. Especially someone NEW in recovery. I was listening to a gentleman named Kyle share at a meeting the other evening. He stated that he had 20 days clean. He […]
Life and Death decisions 6/30 — The daily addict
Unique personalities can be interesting, but sometimes they can be extremely challenging to deal with. When I say “unique” it is my polite way of saying mean and nasty! I try to get along with everyone and understand why some people behave the way they do because when people are rude and distasteful, I think there must be a reason. I try giving people the benefit of the doubt, but you can only do so much to help others. There are not many people I cannot get along with or at least fake it, but the ones that I struggle with I try to avoid like the plague😊! This might not be the best way to handle things, but how else do you do with challenging people, especially when you work with these people, or they are your supervisor?
Most employers say they offer work-life balance, but how does any…
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Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate your comments each week. Melinda
Wordless Wednesday*Green Hydrangea —
If you read my review of Delta 8 CBD products you know I’ve tried quite a few and found only two that I would buy again. Right now my front runner is Kind Oasis. Not only do they taste great, they actually work for me. Not all the products worked as stated. I take 2 gummies […]
What Are The Different Types Of Hemp Products —
When I started blogging in 2005 the thought of where I was going or what my goals were didn’t enter my mind. I just needed to write and grieve my grandmother’s dementia and death. Flash forward to 2014 when I started Looking for the Light, my goals were more clear. To share my stories in […]
Another WordPress Anniversary —
Hello Tuesday! Although I am not sure how we managed to survive Monday. How did your week start? The first part of yesterday was not bad at all, I actually received praise from a customer. I think we can all agree, that getting a compliment at work is rare because so many people tend to complain instead. That was the highlight of yesterday and then it went downhill rather fast. Honestly, I think I was overwhelmed and it should never have gone that way. Too much was being put on my plate and I found out this was NOT supposed to happen. I know everything happens for a reason, but I never question things at work and I should have much sooner!
We did make it through the first day of the week and we have four to go before the long weekend, so I think we need to help…
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For as long as I can remember, I have been engaged in an ongoing internal battle with my thoughts. Mostly this revolves around my abilities, like what I think I might do well and what I fall short with. I consistently question everything I do, second guess myself, and repeat over and over again until I feel defeated. This only continues to cause me to give up and let go of the dreams I once had and cared deeply about. I realize this is a self-confidence issue and I am doing this to myself without input from anyone else. I am not sure what causes this and I do not know how to change this.
I have mentioned previously I have always “dreamed” of being a writer. I have done several outlines of a book that I would love to write but discouraged myself every time I think about it…
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Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, A Visual Journey. A visual journey I am just another human being that enjoys taking pictures of everything. I look at photography as a very […]
Blogger Highlight-A visual journey —
On June 24th, the US Supreme Court decided amongst themselves and others with the same ideology to overturn a landmark decision made in 1973, Roe vs Wade. As it should have, this incredibly unethical and terribly flawed decision has caused an uprise in the country. We were supposed to be evolving in our lives, not devolving, and creating additional turmoil in a country already overflowing with hatred! The ruling regarding Roe vs Wade was brought into light almost 50 years ago when the thought processes of the people had not advanced to a kinder and more understanding way, which was the way things were in the past.
Please allow me to explain more about the way I feel about what has taken place. I am not pro-abortion, but I am pro-choice and believe women have the right to decide what happens with their bodies. Not all pregnancies were…
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I am challenging the old adage “a leopard can’t change his spots.” A miracle is defined as a change in perception. Wayne Dyer stated : “When you change the way you look at things….the things you look at change.” Recovery produces these changes. I have seen the near dead come back to life. I have […]
People do change 6/25 — The daily addict
Hi, thanks for stopping by today. I love hearing your comments each week. We learn some interesting things. A baby octopus is about the size of a flea when it is born. A sheep, a duck, and a rooster were the first passengers to take a trip in a hot air balloon. In Uganda, around […]
Fun Facts —
“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” ― Jamie Anderson
Grief is just love with no place to go.
Because that individual’s not around anymore.
They can’t hear your words.
They can’t respond to your words.
You can’t express your love in any way that’s meaningful.
All that love that is inside you, in its pure intensity …
All the feelings that you have, and want to open up and share …
None of that is possible
There’s only silence now.
There’s no-one there to listen.
There’s only emptiness.
Hey! So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments each week. Melinda
Friday Quote 6/24/2022 —
June is Migraine and Headache Awareness month, it’s an important month to educate yourself on what causes migraines and headaches. Once you understand your migraine or headaches you can better manage them. Migraine is not just a bad headache. It’s a disabling neurological disease with different symptoms and different treatment approaches compared to other headache […]
Migraine and Headache Awareness Month —
This is a concept that I was first introduced to in recovery. I was taught when someone was sharing their thoughts and feelings at a meeting to “identify” with the speaker and not “compare” myself to them. Coming into the rooms of recovery there is every walk of life imaginable. Much to my surprise there […]
To identify and not compare 6/24 — The daily addict
Bella Grace Field Guide by Stampington What whimsical things can you do to add some magic to your life? Melinda
Just Pondering —
Happy Friday Eve 😊! How has your week been? It has been far too HOT and I do not think the temperatures are going to get cooler anytime soon. I swear, summer can often feel like we are living in hell, but hotter! It is terrible when you walk aside and feel like you are in a sauna or an oven that is turned up as high as it can go. Of course, there are good things about summer, but it is almost impossible to live near the ocean so you can feel the glorious ocean breeze and hear the waves crashing down!
We have somehow survived most of this week, but we do have a couple left before the weekend returns. This is the home stretch, as we wait “patiently” for the weekend 😊! I think we can all use a little pick-me-up that offers encouragement and strength. I…
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I think three of the most important traits we “should” have as good human beings go hand in hand. The traits I think are the most important and required in life are truth, honesty, and loyalty. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I do believe you cannot have one of these traits without the others because they are firmly linked together. I know it seems obvious what these traits mean, but I am going to explain what each of them means. I am also aware that it seems that truth and honesty are the same, but there is a difference.
What doestruthmean to you? For me, truth means saying what is a fact beyond a shadow of a doubt. According to the dictionary,truthcan mean one of two things. One is that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. Second, is a…
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It is estimated that 20 percent of Americans will have skin cancer at some point in their lives. About 9.500 people are diagnosed with this type of cancer each day. 20% is a high number and I know my sun protection habits can use an overhaul, I’m not disciplined at reapplying sunscreen. This summer I’ll […]
Cancer from the Sun Awareness Month —
Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate your comments each week. Melinda
Wordless Wednesday*Hibiscus —
The other day I received a comment on a post that got me thinking. The person was wondering what addiction had to do with the topic that I had posted about. Such a good comment because it made me realize not everybody knows. Not everybody knows that EVERYTHING that I encounter in this life, every […]
What does addiction have to do with it? 6/21 — The daily addict
It never matters what goes on, life keeps moving on whether we are ready or not. It seems like life is on an endless cycle of time. Life will keep going even when we are suffering from some type of challenge or hardship. The crazy thing is, that we are strong enough to handle it all, even when we cannot see the strength within ourselves. We did not ask for it, but the day we were born was a gift and we can decide what we do with this gift.
Although I know we all appreciate our lives, I am sure there are things you wish you could change. One thing that never stops is, that bills come at the same time every single month. Of course, we work to survive, pay bills, and enjoy life, but the darn bills get old! It would be nice if just once the…
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I’ve been blogging since 2005 and started Looking for the Light in 2014. You’ve seen me bury my grandparents, more than one stay in a Psychiatric hospital, countless ECT treatments, heart problems, stalked, going thru withdrawal, Lyme disease, and countless other illnesses and your support does not go unrecognized. It’s kind of corny to post […]
Thank You, You, and You —
Any type of major trauma in your life can cause PTSD, such as sexual assault, child abuse, battleground, or natural disaster. The problem with PTSD is it’s a silent/invisible illness. The symptoms can be severe and more visible or subtle which can make them hard to diagnose. I’ve suffered from PTSD since I was a […]
National PTSD Awareness Month —
Happy Monday, y’all! I hope you had a nice and relaxing weekend! I do not know if it was the heat or fatigue, but I was a little slack from blogging last week. I am going to do my best to back in the swing of things again and do better. It never fails, as the weather causes extremely hot temperatures, I end up feeling more exhausted and my pain levels increase rapidly. I have lived in the south more than 20 years and do not think I will ever get used to how incredibly HOT it gets, but I do think it has been worst in the last decade or so.
I would like to start this new week off being motivated and optimistic. Of course, the weather has been a struggle for me and it has not been easy, but do not want to allow this issue to…
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I had trouble taking a nap today and my mind wandered off to my childhood and growing up. Life was so simple then, it’s a shame kids don’t know that kind of peace today. You knew your bully, they didn’t hide behind a computer. There was all the time in the world when you weren’t […]
I Remember When —
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Natural Goodness. Natural goodness Healthy living| Wellbeing| Parenting I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience about living a healthy life naturally, raising self-reliant and happy […]
Blogger Highlight-Natural Goodness —
Jennifer Freyd was one of the first people to formally identify betrayal trauma. She defined it in the following way:
“Betrayal trauma occurs when the people or institutions on which a person depends for survival significantly violate that person’ s trust or well-being: Childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse perpetrated by a caregiver are examples of betrayal trauma.”
The effects of this are severe and long-lasting. In fact, the associated symptoms are similar to those associated with PTSD. They include:
– Repeatedly experiencing intrusive thoughts and memories related to the traumatic event. These memories and thoughts can occur spontaneously, as well being triggered by environmental cues.
– Experiencing intense and prolonged distress when the person is exposed to any stimulus that reminds them of the traumatic event (or which resembles the traumatic experience).
– Being unable to fall, or to stay, asleep. Having recurring dreams where content or feelings…
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I think we can all agree the past several years dealing with COVID fears has not been easy. The COVID pandemic put our lives on hiatus. All the things we wanted to do and took for granted were halted. It was not easy to be stuck at home all the time and only see the same four walls, day in and day out. While COVID has not vanished from existence, many have taken the necessary precautions by getting the vaccine. I still have hope that life can start becoming closer to the normal we once knew, but I do understand things do not always work out the way we want them to.
The truth is, we are only offered one chance at this life, so we should not waste any time on anger and hate. Instead, we should always continue growing, changing, learning, and striving to improve. Each day we…
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Tomorrow is a special day for fathers around the world. It’s a day we celebrate you for all that you do and who you are. For all the little things or special moments that make us feel better when we’re down, that funny laugh or the gentle way you put on a bandaid. Let’s not […]
Let’s Celebrate All The Fathers Day Tomorrow —
Hi, thanks for stopping by today. I love hearing your comments each week. We learn some interesting things. There is a species of spider called the Hobo Spider. A lion’s roar can be heard from 5 miles away. Saint Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman. The national animal of […]
Fun Facts —
This is an important awareness month for me because I was diagnosed with cancer at 28 years old. I was young, healthy, and had no idea what lay inside. I was very lucky and my cancer only required surgery, all the cancer was found so no chemo or radiation, for that I’m forever grateful. I’m […]
National Cancer Survivors Month —
Hey! So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments each week. Melinda
Friday Quote 6/16/2022 —
June 18 is International Panic Day. Use it as an excuse to panic about everything under the sun, or take the day to evaluate your priorities and eliminate anything that causes you stress and anxiety. It is a fact of life that as we grow older, life can get complicated. This made-up holiday is an […]
International Panic Day June 18th —
“More long walks. More good books. More music. More sunsets. More holding hands. More cuddles. More road trips. More honouring your heart. More being nice to yourself. More laughter. More fun in the moment. More beach. More forest. More memories. More of what brings peace to your life. More of what brings inspiration. More of what makes you feel loved and not alone. Focus on that today.”
– butterfliesandpebbles
“Listen to your gut” they say. For me a lot of times this means ignoring what the other prominent players in my life are saying and truly listening to myself. When I first got clean I had no idea how to listen to my gut or what that even was. But over time and after […]
My gut 6/16 — The daily addict
Karen Horney: “Stress is often a result of the tension between what is and what you believe should be. It’s called the “tyranny of the shoulds,” which dictates how we think, act, and feel. These “should” beliefs—are referred to as Icebergs… Stress is often a result of the tension between what is and what you […] […]
A Discussion of Self-Hatred — Guest Blogger DocTalk —
I want to send a special thanks to Marketing & Ecommerce Executive Laura Sebright at Tigger Publishing for sending me Life After Care From Lost Cause to MBE by Mark Edwards. About the Author Mark Edwards spent the majority of his childhood in foster and then in a children’s home. Following this, he was sectioned under the Mental […]
Book Review-Life After Care From Lost Cause To MBE by Mark Edwards —
Thanks for stopping by today, I appreciate your comments each week. Melinda
Wordless Wednesday*Hydrangea —
Happy Half-Way through the week! I was, unfortunately, unable to work on Monday because of an awful migraine that was making me extremely nauseous. I get migraines too much and I would rank this one of the worst I have had in a long time. I thought I was going to be able to work, but after twenty minutes decided there was no way I could make it through the day. I was miserable with pain that went into my neck and shoulders. I could hardly see straight much less do anything else. I am used to dealing with pain, but it was so bad nothing helped. I ended up being on the couch with my cats and an ice pack all day with NO relief. Thankfully, I was able to work yesterday, but still had a slight headache throughout the day.
Talking about headaches/migraines, do you get these frequently?…
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World Elder Abuse awareness is a day I can get behind every day of the year. The senseless acts of abuse of violence our elderly have to endure are unimaginable. Around 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year. Rates of elder abuse […]
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15th —
What does it mean to function well in life? What does it mean to have good mental health? It means we exhibit the following traits:
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Are you planning on taking a road trip with your family soon? If so, it’s crucial to design and ensure you’re prepared for the journey. There are a few things you’ll need to consider before hitting the open road, such as the route you’ll be taking, your budget, and what to do in an emergency. […]
4 Essential Considerations Before Taking on Your Next Family Road Trip —
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Hens Blooms. Hens Blooms Finding Inspiration in the Gifts of Life “I believe in God, love and life! Married to my friend, mentor and rock. […]
Blogger Highlight Hens Blooms —
I was listening to Dr. Gabor Mate give his explanation of addiction on a youtube video. Gabor stated that “Addiction is a response to human suffering.” I understand this perspective. I have heard it said many times in recovery that the drink and drugs are but symptoms of the disease. So it is like sneezing […]
Addiction is a response 6/13 — The daily addict
We are all simply just human beings, merely trying to survive this crazy life with some sanity. Often, we tend to be completely oblivious to how short our lives are because sometimes life feels painfully long and overwhelmingly complicated. We can be blind to understand how to accomplish our dreams as they can seem impossible for us to reach. We all have an exciting combination of small, large, and every type of dream in between, which all have remarkable meaning to us.
To some people, I know one of my “dreams” seem small and not a big deal. However, it was a dream to be in the same room with an author that I admire. This stems from my strong desire to write and have the ability to write a novel someday. On Friday evening my husband and I drove 3 hours north of where we live for a James…
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During the past two-plus years of living with the pandemic Domestic Violence has increased dramatically. We have to keep the topic of Dometic Violence in our lawmaker’s front mirror in order to enact change. Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com I flipped to the National Geographic channel to find Alaska State Troopers one day. Watching […]
(Updated) What can we learn from Alaska’s law on Domestic Violence —
Welcome to the weekend edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend. 1987 President Reagan challenges Gorbachev to “Tear down this wall” On June 12, 1987, in one of his most famous Cold War speeches, President Ronald Reagan challenges Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down” the […]
Today in History June 12, 2022 —
Looking for sleep last night I rolled into a question: How can I look at the sadistic raper with compassion? I have always held him as a monster. The man was a true sadist. He thrilled at taking me to the brink of death. I presume he’s long dead, probably swept away by AIDS. So […]
Monster? — Owning It
Survivors Blog Here Mental Health Collaborative 
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