Well Our World Didn’t End On 12/21/12/ By Ellen Sweeney

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

thCABE32H4Well our world didn’t end on 12/21/12. So what’s next? As I see it, we just keep on keeping on and strive for the life we want. We must continue to seek our higher selves and connect with our creator. We must continue to improve our health, mentally and physically. We must continue to strengthen our relationships with our families, spouses, friends and others. We must look into ourselves to see if we are doing our absolute best to make a positive impact on our world and those around us.
The energies that are trying to pull us down and make us fearful and sad, continue to prevail. Turn on the news on any given day and you will see, hear and feel it. Don’t let it daunt you in your determined effort to find peace and happiness. Persevere and you will find your Nirvana!

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Exercises to Relieve Stress at Work Jun 9, 2010 | By Michelle Bolyn

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Nurse Ellen

Michelle Bolyn is a licensed mental health professional and has worked since 2006 as a therapist. Bolyn has been writing mental health, wedding-related and relationship focused articles since 2007. She is published on Suite101.com and Examiner.com. Bolyn received her master’s degree in social work from New York University. Photo Credit stress image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com

Experiencing stress at work is normal. You might feel pressure to finish a project before a tight deadline or to deliver a thoughtful presentation to your coworkers. It might be impossible for you to eliminate stress from your workday, but you do have control over how you respond to stressful situations. Use these exercises at work to decrease anxiety and improve your mood.

Physical Exercise
MayoClinic.com recommends working out at least three times per week in order to have a more positive mood and reduce stress. Even though most people already know the benefits of physical exercise, some don’t do it. Many make excuses that they don’t have the time. You can make time for exercise during your work day. You need to take a couple breaks during the day anyway, including a lunch break, so incorporate exercise into your breaks. Take a walk during your lunch break and stash a set of hand weights under your desk to use when you have short breaks between projects or meetings.

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Usually you’ll find that you can concentrate better and have more energy to accomplish tasks in the morning, so Reader’s Digest suggests completing your most difficult tasks before lunch. If there is something you’re dreading to do, don’t wait until the end of the day to tackle it. You’ll feel stressed out throughout the day whenever you think about it and you might feel too exhausted to handle the situation effectively. Before you leave work each day, write on a sticky note the task that is giving you the most stress. Put it on your computer screen and do it the next morning when you get to the office, before you do anything else, including checking emails.

Deep Breaths
If you need an exercise to do when you only have a couple minutes, try taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Start by looking at the top left corner of your computer, and take one deep breath. Move your eyes to the top right corner and take another breath. Bring your eyes down to the lower right corner and repeat with another deep breath. Finish by moving your eyes to the bottom left corner and taking one more breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat this exercise if you still feel anxious. If you don’t have a computer at work, pick any square object to do this exercise.

Lavender Mist
Discovery Health recommends using a lavender mist to reduce stress. This technique includes combining six to eight tablespoons of water with two to four drops of lavender essential oil. Keep the spray bottle on your desk and spray your work area when you’re feeling anxious. The smell of lavender will help you relax.

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There will always be forces that derail our Peace of Mind , by Ellen Sweeney

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

stock-photo-ominous-figure-in-clouds-of-smoke-99571607 There will always be forces that derail our Peace of Mind. Who would of thought an attack on the Boston Marathon would have happened on such a gorgeous day or even happen period? I guess we become too complacent and really don’t realize the times we are living in. Lurking in every corner it seems, is evil intent; it is pervasive in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, places we gather and places of worship. Everywhere our peace of mind is being derailed.
I am deeply disturbed by these events and I must strive to place everything that happens in perspective. I cannot internalize every terrible thing that happens, which is what I’ve done today. How can the victims of such terrible deeds cope and regain their peace of mind? For sure, all of our peace of mind was derailed today.
As bad as this is, I am always amazed at the resilience of people in the face of adversity, no matter how horrible. I imagine the same resilience will surface to help these people through this as well. All over the world, these acts of horror occur all to frequently and frankly there seems to be no end to the madness. Yet people manage to resume their lives and piece together their broken lives; but do they ever regain their peace of mind?

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“Country music is where it’s at!”

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Nurse Ellen


Well, I’m going to hold my breath and spill the beans about a secret I’ve been holding inside since last year. Country music is where it’s at. I was never a country music(CM) fan until last year when the likes of Jason Aldean , Eric Church , Brantley Gilbert, Darius Rucker, Jake Owen, Hunter Hayes and many others were introduced to those two organs on either side of my head. I, throughout the years liked a few commercial country music artists, but nothing that would make me go out and buy an album. But all that has changed. It took me by storm, causing me to put my beloved smooth jazz, Afro Cuban and reggae on the back burner. I am finding I’m not able to listen for extended periods to those genres w/o switching to one of my CM cds. I use to listen to those genres all day! It’s like…I’ve become addicted to a new drug. I have never been able to listen to cds over and over again like I can with CM. Are there subliminal messages in those cds making me unable to get bored or desire another genre of music?
What has happened to me? I felt like something was wrong and that I needed to find out what happened to me. I started thinking, when did this happen? My kids started asking me when did this happen? I was afraid to tell people about this new found love. People who were close to me knew what kind of music I liked. My family looked at me with a slanted eyes when they heard me blasting this new music. I felt like people who are “coming out of the closet” might feel… like I wouldn’t be accepted.
Finally I just had to say it, ” I love today’s country music and country music is where it’s at.” The guitars, pianos,the percussion and the vocals are wonderful. I never knew there were so many wonderful voices in the CM scene. The lyrics are wonderful to listen to…no negativity, no killing, no illegal activity, although there are some fighting words in some of the songs. Some of the artists do talk a lot about drinking. I worry about their well being regarding that.
OK, I’m out of the closet and now I can fully enjoy the songs about relationships, love, gentler times. It’s just so relaxing and allows you to get away, at least for the moment, from the harsh realities of urban life. I am even considering going to Eric Church’s concert this summer! There it is! I figured it out. CM puts me in a better place; a happier time. Something in the music resonates within me, that is why I have fallen in love with CM and think country music is where it’s at. Ahhh… now that I’ve come out of the musical closet I can exhale.

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Peace on Earth…Do you think this can ever be achieved?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

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Peace on Earth…Do you think this can ever be achieved? Humans have inhabited this Earth for millions of years and yet it’s the same shit, just a different different day. We all have a innate knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. One might argue what is wrong or right can be debated. Well let me shine a light on what I know to be wrong in my spirit: causing anyone or anything to be in or live in fear or dread. I think that pretty much covers everything.
If you cannot maintain peace, you are in violation of a universal law. This world is overrun with violators. The sad thing is that each and everyone of them could change if they just embraced the universal law of peace. Even those who are criminally mentally ill still have an awareness of this truth, but, society places an expectation or should I say lack of expectation on them, excusing them for doing wrong when they have. Our laws should be designed to protect us. There can be no leniency toward the violators, for to do so will continue the chaos.
How can we ensure our peace, making our lives peaceful for the rest of our days? Well it all starts with the One. Recognizing within ourselves, the One, the need to make certain we don’t disturb anyone’s peace. We must ensure that no matter what we have ahead of us for the day, our goal is to maintain and sustain peace. We need to maintain peace within ourselves, our environment, our workplaces and our places of entertainment. When you rise from slumber be conscious of what you plan to do and what your actions could do and make sure to maintain and sustain this universal law. If everyone was conscious of this universal law, then surely the currents in our atmosphere will change and peace will be upon us.
Leaving you in Peace

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Has spring really sprung?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

spring flower Spring is the season between March and May of a calendar year. Whether you believe it or not, spring has really sprung. Happy Spring everyone. Go outside and look up at the nearest tree or look at a bush and you will see fattening buds. Look down and you will see spring flowers or weeds happily growing from the warming soil. Listen to the birds. Do you hear them singing their spring solos and duets? Smell the air. Can’t you smell spring in the air? Do you feel within yourself the soaring energy…the feeling of hopefulness? Don’t you feel like there is going to be an end to the sorrows you may have been experiencing and you will find solutions to the problems you have been dealing with? Feel the warmth of the sun beams on your face. Doesn’t it feel good? Seize the day and bask in the hope that spring brings with it. Yes, it is true. Spring has really sprung! Here is a link to some fun facts about spring: http://www.22facts.com/spring/
Peace and happiness.
Ellen

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The Winter Blues by Ellen Sweeney

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

As I look out my window at the wintry scene outside, I feel a depression that settles over me like a thick blanket. I have the winter blues. I guess I feel this way because of the several personal crisis that have occurred since the beginning of the year: my car getting wrecked twice by careless drivers, (this last one was uninsured), basement flooding(for the second time in two weeks), money flowing out of my pockets like water. I don’t see an end in sight. I have been trying to tell myself these are only minor issues, but it sure feels major to me.
Compared to what is going on in other people’s lives, these problems I have are miniscule. I try not to read the news to deeply… just scan, but everyday, there is some tragedy that makes headlines about someone getting shot or raped, killed in an accident and it just worsens the despair I have been feeling.
Before 2013 was ushered in, I woke up one morning feeling expanded and very hopeful for humankind and myself, but that was very short lived. Why is it so impossibly hard for some people to realize that happiness and peace is EVERYONE’s right? Why are people hell bent on perpetuating misery for others? Is there demons walking amongst us and possessing the bodies of those individual who are spiritually weak from evil intentions and thought, drug and alcohol use or mental illness?
If only every thinking human being would realize that the choices they make not only affect them, but others too, and make a conscious effort to treat others as they would want to be treated, then crime would plummet, and maybe totally eliminated…
I can only hope. Well, let me put on some music and try to meditate these blues away.

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Yummy! A polka-dot cake!

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

I saw this yummy polka-dot cake on pinterest.com From the mind of a true artist! Gotta try it!

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Great news! Justice has prevailed after all. By Ellen Sweeney

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Nurse Ellen

th>Well after almost a year, this nightmare is finally over. Justice has prevailed. My son Walter, his daughter Sandy and myself can finally able to breathe. Although these charges that were leveled against my son Walter, by his own son, are dismissed, it was without prejudice, which means they could revisit this if more evidence was found. However, I doubt that would happen because they never had ANY evidence that my son did what he was accused of. Oh, by the way , he had a public defender, which is why this case was not dismissed early on. It was the chief prosecutor that dismissed this case. What unnecessary stress we were put through. Although this was extremely stressful, a few take-aways came out of this.
The first is when you are accused of some type of crime and you are TRULY innocent, DO NOT SPEAK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT;DO NOT GIVE THEM A STATEMENT. SPEAK WITH YOUR LAWYER. THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. SECONDLY, IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD A PAID LAWYER, UTILIZE A PUBLIC DEFENDER. IF YOU UTILIZE A PUBLIC DEFENDER, DO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO WORK ON YOUR BEHALF AND YOU WANT To TAKE IT TO TRIAL. If they do not see it this way, request to be assigned to another. There are some public defenders who are ethical and really will do the right things. IF YOU ARE TRULY INNOCENT, DO NOT TAKE A PLEA. TAKING A PLEA IS AN ADMISSION OF GUILT. If you are innocent ,F-I-G-H-T!
Worthy of note in regards to a public defender, “Problems of excessive case loads and low salaries still plague many state public defenders’ offices. To avoid these problems the American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association [13] have promulgated standards relating to the performance of and appropriate case loads for public defenders. Research has indicated that indigents receive the highest level of representation when assisted by a well funded professional office dedicated to criminal defense. Some of these studies have indicated that the outcomes for properly funded and independent public defender clients are on equal footing as clients of private attorneys in the same jurisdiction.Issues often arise in state jurisdictions with regard to appropriate levels of public defender funding. If attorneys are under-funded, their case loads can become so excessive that they are unable to provide adequate representation. Further, funding issues can keep salaries too low to attract the best legal talent or to keep experienced lawyers on staff. ” (Wikipedia, 2012)
So we are grateful for the out come,but I just can’t shake from my mind that on any given day, any one of us could be accused of a crime we did not commit and have to defend ourselves. A legal fund was not in my savings goal, but I think it will be ow and I will be looking into one of those legal plans.

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What is wrong with our courts?

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Nurse Ellen

gavel What is wrong with our courts? Courts are supposed to be the place where the innocent are vindicated and the guilty are sentenced.This has been one miserable year. When your blood family member turns on you, it can be devastating. My 16 y/o grandson has turned out to be a demon seed. He has been dragging his father through the court system for a year now for falsely accusing him of beating and trying to kill him. This kid ran away from home and was using drugs for three days. We filed missing person reports and did what we were supposed to do as parent and guardian. He was returned home by the transit police and a social worker at 3 am on the third day.
His father filed unruly and then he ran again, this time being gone for another 3 days and being captured by the police when he was caught stealing from a department store. His dad was called to pick him up at the station and then a few minutes later was told to meet them at the hospital, but wouldn’t say why. Upon arriving at the hospital, we were told he had some bruising and an injured eye. He had told the hospital his father had tried to kill him. Upon hearing this my son and I both said he could not return to our home,so the DCFS had to scramble and take custody of him. After several meetings with DCFS it was decided by them to take temporary custody and as a result of their investigation, the accusation against his father was unsubstantiated. Then that weekend, he received a call from a detective who said he was investigating the case. A BIG MISTAKE WE MADE WAS GOING DOWN TO TELL HIM OUR STORY WITHOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION, because the next thing we knew he was getting a notice from the court for arraignment on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, child endangering and domestic violence.
This kid did this because he wanted freedom to come and go as he pleased. He was frequently grounded to the house because if we let him have a little leeway, he would always get into a fight or have neighbors calling about something he did. He didn’t want to follow the rules. My son raised this child and his sister as a single parent with of course my help. Their mother abandoned them when he was 3 months old and his sister was 15 months. I sacrificed myself to help raise him and his sister and this is the thanks we get.
This has been ridiculous. There is no evidence to continue my son’s trial against him and the courts continue to pursue this. Me, my other son and granddaughter are witnesses, and have to go to court every time, only for one side or the other asking for a continuance. The biggest problem is my son has a public defender, which is a danger in itself. They have a large caseload and they really can’t give a case their full attention. My son is unemployed and I just don’t have the money to afford a lawyer.
On the other hand, my grandson has been misbehaving so badly under the foster care system and they just allow him to do so. Knowing this, the court has not dropped these charges.

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Getting Healthy by Ellen Sweeney

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Nurse Ellen

Why is our food so unhealthy? Did you now the foods we eat can make us well, keep us healthy or can make us sick? Did you know that food additives and chemicals can cause obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and even cancer? In the USA, our food supply is so adulterated and contaminated, is it any wonder that we are such a fat and sick nation? Well you have the power to change all this unhealthiness now. So come along and learn how to make yourself healthy once again, as well as enjoying the multitudes of foods that are out there for your enjoyment.
A brief history Once upon a time our food and livestock were grown following the laws of nature. Land was allowed to rest, crops were rotated, livestock were allowed to roam and graze on their natural foods. Poison chemicals and unhealthy breeding practices did not exist. During 1800′s America, the industrial age was ushered in. In an article from enotes.com, “Thomas Malthus first proposed in his 1798 Essay on the Principle of Population that food production could only increase arithmetically, while population would increase geometrically. Malthus wrote that population would exceed food production at some point, and an apocalypse would ensue. While population growth has borne out his thesis for the past two hundred years, a number of scientific advances have allowed agricultural production to keep pace with it. A few major and thousands of minor refinements in agricultural practices have steadily improved productivity.”
No doubt all the advances made in agriculture have vastly benefited mankind, but the scientific tinkering is now having a reverse effect on the food supply and the health of our nation. As the saying goes, what goes up must come down. Now we are seeing the downside of all this advancement.
Do you think there would be starvation in the world today if everyone was taught how to grow their own food, obtain potable water supplies and the like? Ii think not. Do you think there would be the levels of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer in America if we were all taught how to grow our own food and livestock without poisonous chemicals and fertilizers? I think not.
We have become a nation of lazy; grab it off the shelf people. It’s not our fault. We are creatures of habit and often will take the path of least resistance. We all do. That is why it is so hard to change our unhealthy behaviors. It can be done and it is going to take work…hard work and the will to change. I assure you it can be done. Visit this blog weekly for more information and recommendations on healthy eating, Next week we will discuss GMOs (genetically modified organisms) that is now being used in the global food supply as well as here in the USA.

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