life

Five Steps to Help You Recover When Life Plans Alter Your Plans by Chellyz View

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Just when I decided to show up consistently

I knew this was the year of building at least one steady business! Yes, if you know me, I state that every year—is a new time for hope, opportunities, and business ventures. I was excited with a capital E. My other venture Heart Full of Wellness, was gaining traction. I was on the road to growth. Of course, just like that, something happened. If you heard me state this previously well, I must express this again. I felt like I was in an episode of the show Good Times!!!  If you are familiar with this classic sitcom you would recall as soon as the family was about to live that champagne life….shyt happened. The plans of life were altered repeatedly.  

I was showing up regularly for myself. On Saturdays, I attended a Yoga class with one of my Spiritual Sisters at a not-so-faraway but could-be-closer studio. I wanted to build my skillset and confidence level to teach real-life courses instead of virtually. The Zumba class I taught with my other Spiritual Sister at her church was growing. We were teaching Zumba to an actual crowd. I mean, more than five people were showing up. Consistently!

Oh yeah, I was finally using my gym membership. Besides having fees drawn from my bank account, I was spending time at the gym with a group of others, motivating me. Also, I was offered to teach a summer yoga class in a community garden and would receive a monetary donation. I finally felt my wellness business wasn’t just the seed I planted in the ground but was blossoming into something viable and visible.

Outside of my business, I was preparing to lead a Yoga class once a month at the school I was assigned to. However, the unimaginable happened. An injury in my body occurred, which bullied me into sitting down. I knew my body wasn’t feeling its best. I felt like the egotistical enemy in a Rocky or Creed movie. I arrogantly fought the fight against the pain I was feeling in my body a few times and the outcome wasn’t favorable. My body told me to “Sit down somewhere.” So, for now, that is what I must do. Well, not quite. I continue to fight but strategically!

Dealing with the adjustments

Just like that, my schedule and enthusiasm were altered. I had to revise what exercising or “wellness” looked like to me. I needed to alter my business plans with disappointment. Teaching Zumba classes would be placed on hiatus. Also, no teaching Yoga in the Garden this summer. No gym visits. Take it easy is what the physicians were telling my brain, but depression had a conversation with my heart and said another business venture failed. So, I sat there with sadness while pain invaded me. Just like that, on a Saturday morning, things changed from regular routines of activity to rounds of nothingness. The mind is a powerful tool!!! But, of course, you already know that. So, now that I have survived yet another episode of Good Times in my life, what’s next?

Five Steps that are helping me adjust to alterations of everyday life that can help you too!

Honor your strengths

Observe and recognize the changes that have occurred then focus on your strengths. The injuries my body have sustained may change how I show up in the boxing ring of life (figuratively speaking), but it doesn’t mean I can’t appear in those boxing matches differently. For example, instead of showing up on the Yoga mat, I am practicing Chair Yoga which hasn’t been a stranger to me. Chair Yoga and I used to hang out regularly. I welcomed the practice back into my life and saw the practice as my strength, not my weakness. I taught a chair yoga class session to two parents at the school a week ago!

Utilize your support systems

Remember, support systems mean Support!!!! Reach out and rely on them when needed. My sister continues to teach Zumba, and the participants keep showing up. Though I won’t be able to teach Yoga in the Garden this summer, I have reached out to my Yoga Mentor, who is excited to embrace the opportunity. I haven’t returned to Saturday morning Yoga or Zumba classes yet, but I remembered to keep moving. I revisited Walk away the Pounds with Leslie Sansone on YouTube and work out at my own pace in the living room. Also, I mute the talking and tell Amazon to play my favorite tunes be it ratched or not; don’t judge!

The true meaning of practicing wellness

Sadness engulfed me and made me forget what the true meaning of wellness meant. I was concentrating on wellness from an aspect of being physically fit. When I first introduced Heart Full of Wellness to the world, I incorporated the definition of practicing wellness more from a mental perspective. I even wrote a whole book about changing your mindset entitled, “Caterpillar Dreams to Butterfly Visions,” https://a.co/d/aaLIty6 . I have to remove my ego, change my outlook and most likely reread my book again. Practicing wellness also involves sustaining a healthy mindset to cope with the bad times to appreciate the good times. I wasn’t consistently journaling, meditating, and incorporating mindfulness into my daily routine. I spoke eloquently to others about practicing wellness mentally but wasn’t applying it to myself. 

Read more: Five Steps to Help You Recover When Life Plans Alter Your Plans by Chellyz View
Handle yourself with care

The changes in my life have taught me to keep practicing what I preach. “Listen to your body.” I knew I wasn’t feeling my best, but I pushed through the pain, which caused more damage. If you need to sit down somewhere and mind your business, then do that. Being busy all the time does not mean you’re being productive all of the time. Handle yourself with care physically and emotionally. Take a break. Take a deep breath. Take a pause. Take care of yourself!

Take a moment to process your feelings

It’s alright to be emotional!!! Being angry with myself didn’t look good on me, but I gave myself permission to be angry. If I have a moment where I want to feel sad, then that’s what I do. I process my feelings those wanted and unwanted. Life won’t always be a fairytale but there’s always a lesson to learn in every story. Most importantly, while going through the motions of what I thought was most important, I realized to be thankful in spite of life alterations. Nope it ain’t easy! I am not a robot (spoken in my robotic voice). I’m understanding what it means to practice gratitude as each birthday reminds me, I made it through another year. I recall what I am grateful for in my life to help me stay grounded.

Now what happens!

Oh yeah! Beginning physical therapy is leading me in the right direction to recovery! I continue to “pivot.” Hey, you know I must place a buzzword in here. Yes, I allow myself to be creative, so I won’t give up on myself or my business.

I hope this encouraged you when life doesn’t go as expected, but that doesn’t mean to stop showing up. However, if you continue to find yourself unable to adjust to life alterations and challenges, seek professional help. You deserve to enjoy Good Times, and I don’t mean that in a bad way! Until next time……

-Let your heart be full of new ventures that will lead you to the possibilities of limitless conversations!

References

Caterpillar Dreams to Butterfly Visions https://a.co/d/aaLIty6

Featured image for post

Photo by Jeff Stapleton from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-a-cardboard-banner-with-what-now-written-on-it-5802888/

https://www.youtube.com/@LeslieSansonesWalkatHome

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Adding Creativity to Your Life! by Chellyz View

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If you are reading this, then Happy New Year. See, how I did that without adding the s in year! We have reached over 30 days into 2022, and I don’t know about you, but it feels like Day 399. Seriously, I have been tried, tested, and traumatized but still triumphant. So, I have to show gratitude because I am using this platform to write about it. 

You know how I feel about Resolutions. I stopped believing in those a while back. If you don’t remember, check out the post: https://aheartfullofconversations.com/2020/01/03/whats-going-to-keep-you-going-in-the-new-year-chellyz-view/ Hey, I don’t have time for making pledges that I don’t have time to keep. 

I want to talk about my visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts on Saturday, January 15, 2022. I posted a few pictures on the IG page the day after! Check them out at your leisure @aheartfullofconversations. I needed that visit to the DIA for a bit of inspiration; what better way to honor your creativity than to go to a museum to be inspired by other artists who visualized the big picture and allowed it to come to life on canvas or other forms such as a statue or photographs. So, first, I viewed cars from the 1950s to 1960s at the Detroit Style exhibit. 

From DIA Exhibit: Detroit Style Car Design in the Motor City 1950-2020

Then, I stood in awe while viewing the paintings from the Shield of the Nile Reflections exhibit brought to you by Shirley Woodson, who is 86 years young. Next, I perused three floors of artifacts, culture, and portraits that either made me say, hey, I could have done that or left me speechless because of its profound beauty.

Arts of Africa Exhibit at the DIA

Are you showing up today to ask yourself how you can be creative this year? What’s influencing you? Will it be a trip to your local museum? How about encouraging words from a video you just watched on social media? Will you be writing in a journal? Do you think you will be creating a vision board? Oh yeah, I’ve done that also. Check out my board of creativity below!

My Infamous Vision Board

We have a whole year to express our creative side. I don’t want you to reach day 355 and talk about I should have done this, and I should have done that. Be creative. Bring a splash of excitement to your life. Be it wearing bright, bold colors, which I was afraid to do because I felt safe wearing earth tones. It might be deciding to write with a purple pen. Hey, do you still own a pen? Or, it could be trying something new at your favorite restaurant. Cause you know me, I’m either ordering the Fettucine Alfredo with Shrimp or Chicken or the Salmon with Asparagus. Whatever you do, be creative. Enjoy life because it’s been challenging these past couple of years dealing with well; I’m not even mentioning it. 

Alright, keep me posted about how you welcomed a little creativity in 2022. Comment on this post to keep me updated. Until next time, I will check on you in the Spring!  

-Let your heart be full of new ventures that will lead you to the possibilities of limitless conversations!

Featured Image by Ashray Dravidian on Unsplash

We Are Not All Safe While Staying at Home by Chellyz View

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Raising Hands

 

We Are Not All Safe While Staying at Home by Chellyz View

Attention: This post is not directed to those who are intentionally going out just for the sake of going out, but for those who may not have a safe or comfortable space to call home.

Today, I am going to simply keep things simple! I wrote a post at the end of March about staying at home during this crisis. I know this is a matter of life or death, but everyone’s space is different. So, at this moment, I am not here to go on a rampage or soapbox about what people should or should not do. Those of us who are grown and reside in a safe and comfortable space know what’s up. Those of us who are not grown and have a safe and comfy space to live in should take heed to wisdom when our elders are trying to drop those nuggets (and not the ones from that fast food place).

Since the occurrence of the PANDEMIC, I have been looking around my home. I had to stop myself from complaining and appearing to be a tad bit ungrateful. I noticed all the flaws, the leaks, and the unfinished projects that were projected to be finished but never were. I began to feel a little frustrated. Staying at home made me realize the foundation of the inside and outside of my house, desperately needed to be fixed. I sat still for a moment, and I spoke to the Holy Spirit. I offered my thank you’s and lifted praises for having a safe place to stay. Shortly after, I made a mental note of what needed to be repaired. Some could be salvaged now, while other repairs would be completed after this partial social isolation from the world.

Next, I thought about my children. Things are not perfect, but I believe they are like me and didn’t realize how blessed they are. The two of them have their own room, own iPhone, own game console, own Smart TV, and their own iPad with the options of unlimited snacks! Well, until I tell them, “Don’t y’all snack on another nothing. You are not hungry. You are bored.” Then, I had to politely walk away from the fridge and preach the same sermon to myself.

My children don’t have the worries of sharing or fighting over who would enjoy which series or movies to watch or games to play. They don’t have to fuss unless they are restless and need to take their frustration out on someone, which is known as typical sibling rivalry.  The children, Hub, and I have enough space to scatter ourselves if we feel overwhelmed by being enclosed under one roof. Now and then, we stream and watch movies together or play board games. On a couple of Sundays, we rode out to Belle Isle just to change the scenery. Thus far, the income flows. My overdue bills are from my lack of not being a good steward over my finances. I will post about that at a later time.

Then, I thought about the rest of the world as the #stayathome movement is stressed. Some people are struck hard, and the punches sting. Some people couldn’t apply for unemployment because they may have been paid under the table, not worked long enough, or just didn’t qualify. Some households are busting through the seams because the Head of the Household has their children. Another family member may be living there with their children, then there might be an elderly family member or cousin or friend or two all sharing one common space. Living conditions may not be ideal. Stretching food has been extended to the limits. People are becoming too restless and anxious because the walls are caving in as the people are overflowing in the home.

No back porch to chill on if you are living in an apartment building.
For some, there are no long drives for a change of scenery if there’s no reliable transportation. No time to take a whole day to catch up on laundry because there is no washer or dryer. No catching up on long-overdue home improvement projects if you are renting because the landlord owns the home. The list goes on and on.

Then, I thought about the problems that haven’t disappeared though COVID has appeared. Abuse lurking leading to fists and words scarring innocent souls. Addictions brewing leading to children being neglected. The cycle of poverty is prevalent, and the reflection of pain is shown on the face of a man, woman, or child who longs to escape, but the chance of COVID attacking them is on the other side of the door. Someone out there feels trapped more than ever.

I want people to be safe, but I don’t want us to ignore the issue that everyone doesn’t have the option of feeling safe in a comfortable space. What do we do?

I can tell you what I must do! I am more thankful, I am praying for healing, I am requesting protection for those who need it, I am providing resources when possible, I am pleading for a cure, I am asking for Mercy, and I am taking this life one day at a time. Cause staying safe in a comfortable space ain’t an option for everyone.

-Let your heart be full of new ventures that will lead you to the possibilities of limitless conversations!

 

Photo by Luis Dalvan from Pexels

Dear Coronavirus, you suck! Sincerely, Everyone by Klassy K

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Dear Coronavirus

Dear Coronavirus, you suck! Sincerely, Everyone by Klassy K

Dear Home Skillets, we are gathered here today to live through this thing called life. I know we have dealt with a lot of viruses, and it’s been a very long time, but I’m here to tell ya, it’s something else, the coronavirus. I wondered what Prince was thinking when he wrote the song, “Let’s go crazy,” cause that’s exactly what is going on in the world today. From school closures, travel restrictions, some businesses local and private shutting down, college institutions, etc. Even all sporting events canceled, including NFL, NBA, College: March Madness, golf events, etc.  It makes you wonder. How did this happen so quickly?

The coronavirus pandemic started in late January of this year, supposedly started in China.  But how do we know if that’s actually true? If you go to the CDC website, it will show you how many other countries, including the United States that are infected. I know some of you are wondering, how did so many people from China travel to the different parts of the world? Was it transported by airplane, boat, car, train, etc. one could only assume? But one could also argue, was it airborne? If not, how would you explain it, because the virus spread so damn quickly? It went from 22 cases in China back in January to over 90,000 cases around the world? Really?

But the real question I want to ask is why your President just recently addressed the nation only a couple of weeks ago? Why did he go on national T.V. and tell us what we already knew? But what’s so sad about all of this, it’s something that we ALL should do daily, wash your hands, cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough and if you/or your child is sick, STAY HOME!  So, once this is all over, I betcha you will re-think next time about bringing your ill child to school, daycare, or over the babysitter’s house because you don’t want to guess what somebody else “might” get. This coronavirus is nothing like a common cold or flu. I know Spring is coming up and some of you may start sneezing, you may say you have allergies, but that does qualify under the coronavirus as well.

It seems like ever since ex-Piston Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson were traded, the coronavirus came out the blue. Just kidding, but now Piston player Christian Wood recently tested positive along with Two Utah Jazz players. Now, Kevin Durant! Don’t know when we will be getting some sports entertainment! Sports could ease the craziness that is going on, but others may not even care. However, we gotta be careful. I was looking at WWE the other night, and they played in an empty arena. But, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I guess in the meantime, all you die-hard sports fans can watch re-runs on YouTube, pray to God for a cure, or that the virus will soon subside. Well, I guess all of us should do that.

I have to say this is truly an eye-opener for me, this is nothing like the other viruses that we have encountered, like SARS, Ebola, etc. Somehow, we have not heard about them anymore? It’s also crazy that some new virus surfaces around elections or every other two or four years and who came up with the name? Corona? Like the “foreign” beer?  Hey, home skillets, it makes you wonder. But please reach out to your love ones, stop driving your car on E, buy food in bulk (especially toilet paper), if you can afford it, have some rainy day money in your bank account or under your mattress. God helps us all!  

– Klassy K’s Sport Korner: A contributor writer      for http://www.aheartfullofconversations.com

See the Other Side by Butch Ford

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Thoughtful man looking out the window in bedroom at home

See the Other Side by Butch Ford

During my professional career in Human Services…I’ve had the distinct honor of working in the inner-city Public Schools System, the Clinical Psychiatric Field and in Juvenile Detention.  I was blessed to have met some incredible people throughout my journey.  In each of those positions, I encountered individuals dealing with extreme challenges.  A lot of them beyond our comprehension.  Most of them precipitated by social, emotional, and/or economic conditions.  Often…to no fault of their own.  They were commonly judged unfairly and, in most cases, categorized by what was only visible to the naked eye.  All they truly desired was someone to care, who was willing to put forth the effort to help them work through their obstacles.  Or someone to listen to their story.  Sadly, most of the clients couldn’t see beyond their current circumstance.

I always made a point to talk to them regularly, taking the necessary time to familiarize myself with them as well as their cases…to be a support system.  I was always professional; I spoke to them respectfully and I treated them with dignity and class…looking beyond their diagnosis or their charges.  These core values proved to be extremely helpful and were vital in establishing a healthy rapport needed to build trust with the clients.  It was amazing to see how barriers would crumble as we got to the root of several of their issues.

One strategy that I found beneficial was my suggestion for the clients to travel and visit different cities, states or even countries.  My belief was…a change of scenery could potentially lead to a change of lifestyle, a difference of philosophy or perhaps a totally new mindset altogether.  In life, people take on the qualities and mentality of what’s familiar to them or what’s common in their natural habitat.  And as humans we adapt to these surroundings.  The adage is…If you want a different outcome, you must make the necessary changes that are required.

Let Today Be The Start Of Something New. Inspiring Creative Motivation Quote Poster Template. Vector Typography

During my time as a civil servant, I would recommend to the clients that they try to see the other side.  Meaning…see how people in other areas geographically, live differently.  I would encourage them to read and do research of other cultures.  This was a hit with the clients, because their faces would light up with anticipation.  For this was unfathomable to many of them.  The idea of new beginnings never occurred to them.  I think this applies for everyone.  There is more to life than what you presently know.  Everyone should take the time to see the other side.  It could be life changing.  I wonder how many will attempt to try something new.

 

Butch Ford