Category Archives: Uncategorized

Make Self-Care A Priority!!

I was tired today. All day. I’m not sure why…but I had a difficult time simply keeping my eyeyes open! I had a headache and felt pukey…so I lied back down this afternoon. Finally, I remembered that, as part of my journey to health and happiness and joy and contentment,  I want, no need to get better at self-care. This may seem simple. But as a women and especially as a mother, I struggle to put myself first! I understand that it will be a better “me” that they will have to live with. It’s also difficult, though I truly understand the importance of self-care, however, there are many many judgers out there. And then I worry about people thinking I’m lazy, and calling me selfish.  Sadly, the more women begin to take care of their own needs first, the more they are labelled as selfish! The sad thing is that numerous studies show that women who take care of their own needs first are happier and more content and, therefore bring patience, understanding, empathy, calmness and happiness to the table. All positive traits that are necessary to keep things moving smoothly, but that damn “selfish” label just gets in my way!! I know that I feel better once all of the things that I need to do are completed. Instead of feeling stressed and worrying about it in the back of my mind (which uses a huge chunk of my energy), I feel ready to take on the day. I just know that there’s a huge difference in my behaviour depending upon whether or not I’ve taken care of myself! I also want to be a positive role-model for my kids. They need to know that it’s important to take care of your own needs. If I was so beat that I couldn’t even keep my eyes open, in the middle of the afternoon, I clearly need to lie down for a rest. So I did. Here’s the thing, even though a part of me did enjoy the well-needed rest, another part felt guilty! Was anyone angry? No. Did they freak out and get mad at me? No. And here’s the takeaway point of the day:

  1. Stop worrying about what others think!!
  2. The only one expending energy on anxiety is you, everyone else could care less!
  3. Stop being your own worst critic
  4. Take care of your needs, FIRST (if you’re feeling good and content, helping others is more effective and enjoyable and you don’t find resentment sneaking up!)
  5. Self-care is ESSENTIAL! Do something kind for or to yourself/take care of yourself everyday

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

App Frustrations!

So, this may not work tonight. Either my phone or my WordPress app is glitchy tonight. I started writing this and it wouldn’t save for me (nope, I lost it all) it’s saying that there’s no internet connection. However, in settings it says that wifi is working and it does work in other apps. So now I’m attempting to write this in my notes section. That way, if it’s still not saving or has problems with the internet connection, I won’t lose whatever I’ve written like I did just beforehand. 
Today was not an exciting day. We had to get groceries (went to Costco). The pet store was second, needed fish food. Then later we watched a bit of the Olympic opening ceremonies (recorded from the night before). There were some cool things, but, I’m sorry to say – but I’m only being honest – I find the opening ceremonies to be pretty boring. “Ah! Sacrilege!!!” you may say. But I’m just telling my view on it. You may disagree 100%, and that’s fine! I’m not one of those people who tend to think that they are right and only right, period! Nor do I need to be right. Nope, I’m actually probably the polar-opposite of that. I believe that there are many ways to accomplish a task. It does not have to be only completed the “right” way. Or, at least, I don’t believe so! I’m good with my opinion being my own and yours being your own. If there are certain things that we must agree upon, likely the answer would be found in the middle ground. I’m not really sure why I’m even talking about this. I guess it just sort of came up. I live with a couple of people in my family who are the type who think they’re always right. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my family, but it can be maddening if you disagree with them on certain things, when it’s their way or the highway…I be like, “well then, maybe I’m going for a drive on that very highway”-lol!! I know it’s not literal, it was just amusing to me – Hee Hee! I’m sooo sleepy tonight and I don’t know why. I’m going to see if the app is working yet!!

Huh. Still not working! Looks like this short-arse post will be sitting here in my notes for a while longer. Hopefully I’m able to actually post this tonight. I hate when I’m behind, even if I’m already done the next get before. 

Well, here goes. I’m going to check. My eyes are soooo tired that they are shutting constantly! Then I totally lose my train of thought! Frustrating!!! Damn!! It’s still not working! Argh! It’s really very frustrating! Oh well, as Jocelyn would say, “positivity”!!! 

Oh! I just remembered something. My daughter was in my settings changing apps and the automatic use of wifi off. So, obviously, this app needs it turned on in order to work correctly! So all I had to do was go under cellular in my settings and find the WordPress app in the list and switch the wifi usage back on! So, thankfully, it is now working. Wow. Talk about boring posts. Gee! Don’t I have a riveting life??!!

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

Tell It Like It Is…

I finally left the house today! Other than checking in on my parent’s house, I’ve been a bit of a hermit since I got home from Nashville. I wish that it wasn’t so damn easy to wear me out! I wish I didn’t get tired as easily as I do and, well, I just wish that my body was healthy 100% – inside and out! I’ve been saying positive, reframed things to myself, in an attempt to attract health into my life. Things like:, “I am healthy and happy”, “I am healthy in body,mind, spirit and soul”, “I am 100%healthy and any remnants of disease is being flushed out of my body”, “I have absolutely no health concerns”etc.etc.  These help in many ways. Learning to reframe negative thoughts and beliefs into more positive and powerful ones help us change our lives bit by bit. If you believe that “we are our thoughts”, like I do. If I hadn’t tried to start reframing what I say and think, if I hadn’t started writing this blog, I’d be the past Jenn, only even wors, I would probably now be about 300lbs, still clinically depressed, taking Ativan for anxiety, completely down and feeling sorry for myself and last, but most definitely not least, I would probably still be practically bed-ridden due to debilitating, cruel pain! If you believe me, thanks for having my back. However, if you’re inclined to believe that thoughts are just thoughts, how could it possibly have such a profound effect on my life, feel free to scroll backwards to my posts at the beginning of this journey. I was really a downer, it was difficult to read (according to numerous family and friends) the depression is what did most of the talking, as well as the pain. They ruled my life. I literally functioned based on what the pain and depression needed. I was told repeatedly how I made people cry. How they couldn’t keep reading. How awful it made them feel. People who were close to me, who I thought knew how acutely I was suffering! Yet, nope! They didn’t. I lost count how many times I heard “I didn’t know it was that bad.” I am always clear when I talk to people about Trigeminal Neuralgia and it’s impact on my life. I don’t stutter or sugar-coat it. I tell people that it is the most painful disorder known to humankind. Then they start reading my posts and they’re suddenly all worried and freaking out, because “I didn’t realize how bad it got.” I mean, what do they imagine when they hear “the most painful disorder known to humankind”, or “It’s often called the suicide disease, because the pain is so unbearable and difficult to treat that many people take their own lives to escape the pain!!” Again, does that not put an awful picture in your mind’s eye? Why the shock then, when I post on bad days? I’m not here to make people feel sorry for me or anything. I wanted to be real about whatever I write; to talk in the moment, about whatever may be flying through my brain. I wanted to just get down how I’m feeling, even when I’m feeling shitty to the max. I didn’t want to holdback, I didn’t want there to be a right and/or wrong with regards to my writing. I hoped people would relate and I thought that it would help me if I had a place to just let it all out. 

I am trying to move away from the annoying habit where I worry tremendously about what others think. I feel weird holding back in my writing. But, of course, I still really do care!  So, if I’ve offended you, upset you, made you cry, or anything else, I do care about you and your emotional reaction! Maybe it means that you now truly get how bad this can be. Maybe it helps you see how depression can suck you down into a black hole. Maybe it introduced you to the true Jenn. Whatever it is, I appreciate the read guys! I tend to say sorry about everything, however, I’m not apologizing for telling it like it is. I’m not sorry for my writing. On the contrary actually, I want to find a way to publish this blog and get it out there. To teach others about TN, Depression and other silent diseases, also, to get my name out there as an “author!!” An actual, real deal author!! For the first time the other day, while I was talking to a lady in Nashville, she asked me what I do and I told her that I’m a writer‼️‼️‼️Yay me!! It felt right to me. However, I need to get something published before calling myself a true writer…right?? Does my poem count??

Anyway, I’m beat! I’m heading off to bed! Night night💤😴💤😴💤😴

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”
“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

Drowning In Stuff‼️

I did a lot of colouring today. I just love adult colouring books! I know that many of them say that they help with focus and mindfulness. However, I had a super lazy day today and was catching up on some of the shows we’d PVR’d while I was away last week. I like that instead of brainlessly watching television like a zombie, I can colour while watching or listening (depending upon how detailed the picture is) to the tv. I feel like I at least did something while excelling at couch-potatoing! However, I didn’t use the colouring books for mindfulness, obviously! I was surrounded by distractions. 

I think that my trip to Nashville must have taken a lot out of me, because I’m still just feeling lazy and tired and a bit burnt-out. I know that I have a lot to get done, but it just isn’t happening. My bedroom is like a maze. Walking is hazardous! There are a bunch of full laundry baskets (at least the clothes in them are clean), dog beds, king sized bed (in a room that is probably not meant for one) kids toys, clothing piles, book piles and about a million stuffed animals!! I’m shocked that, with his asthma, my hubby can actually breath in here! It’s worse than normal with all of my stuff from my trip strewn about! I now people are like, “Oh yah! I know what you mean. My rooms bad too man!” Then I go to heir house and there’s like just a few items of clothes out of place, but that’s about it. Nope! Not even close to what I have to tackle! It’s so so bad right now that I want to just scream!! Argh! I need to attempt to do something about it tomorrow. Besides, I need to wash most of the things that I had on my trip as we’re leaving for my parent’s BC house in a week! Lots and lots to do!! Including, going to bed now!!  Night all😘

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

Come Together 

I’m starting to, finally, feel more like myself! Yay! I’m still feeling more tired than generally, but not as much. The past few days, if I was sitting in any one place for too long, I’d find it difficult to keep my eyes open! Then I’d do that thing where you nod off a bit, then jerk awake. I feel like this has kept me from going over how my trip went. All you got was, “I’m so tired”,”I’m just exhausted”, “I’m going to bed”…etc etc! 

One of the big lessons that I’ve learned and relearned is that I must take care of myself first (I don’t mean in a selfish, I’m most important and do things only for myself, way!!) And self-care (especially for women caregivers – I’m not saying some men don’t do this, but it is absolutely more common with women!) is often easier said than done. Personally, I’ve always excelled at putting others needs before my own. Then in the end I find myself completely done in. I don’t finish things or even start things that I know I need to do and sometimes it’s just things around the house (and technically these things are for everyone, not just me!). More often, it’s things like drawing or painting, writing my blog, or just writing in general. I’ve needed to do my nails for weeks, but it just doesn’t get completed. It’s really frustrating. I used to say, and this was from like college/university years, that if my nails are a mess, then I haven’t been taking any time for my self. I just know that, when I’m happy and content, after doing a “me” thing, everyone else is also happy. But if I’m feeling scattered and rushed and uncomfortable, those feelings also translate into my world. Probably due, in part, to the law of attraction. I’m attracting “like”emotions back to me. So my point is. I need to put some of my needs first. Happy mom = Happy family 

I do really believe in the law of attraction. I think I just can’t overpower our money issues with the law of attraction, because my husband is always thinking about money, complaining about money, worrying about money, stressed because of money; I’m not even exaggerating! He is obsessed with money and our lack thereof…So when I’m attempting to use the law of attraction to attract money and prosperity to us our two energies probably meet and cancel each other’s out. Actually, his energy is probably more powerful than mine. He just sees that things are bad, that they’re always bad and always will be!!! Because, regardless of income, we are always short on money. I have to work on hiring my wavelength in order to overpower his negative energy. Positive energy far out weighs negative energy, I’ve read. So I have to crank out oodles of positivity!!  You may turn around and call me “new age”or like a “hippy-dippy”, however I completely believe in the law of attraction and the power of our minds. It just feels like I’m going against a brick wall. If my hubby would only watch The Secret, maybe he’d believe in it a bit more. There is research and evidence on this stuff. It’s not just mumbo-jumbo, it’s a Law of Nature!!! It does work. And it works exactly. I need to find a way to open his eyes to this truth and then use the law of attraction to our advantage!! We really need to come together on this one!!  Huh.  I just noticed that I t’s really late! I must head to bed now!! I’m going to keep positive, right now I’m positively tired!! LOL 

 1:29 am…blech!!!! Zzzzzzz❗️

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

The Choice 

Thoughts are jumbled here and there

Disappointment’s hard to bear

What you want is still unknown

Sorry if your cover’s blown

Time is passing, running out

Find your way right through the doubt

Choosing only appears to be hard

Once it’s done you can move forward

Figuring out your first step is best

Following will come all the rest

It’s always most difficult at the start

The rest falls in place, part by part

So stand up tall and confident

And you’ll appear most cognizant 

Forget your past uncertainties 

Your ready to face an eternity 

You will persevere and go so far

Your on your way, you’ll be a star

JKC

To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

“Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

Please Let me sleep!

          1. It’s nice to be home again with my family. I can tell that they all really missed me. Not that they actually ended up seeing me all that much.
          2. I was, and still am, really tired. I slept straight from about 1:00am to 12:30 pm last night.. I’m still feeling so done in and wiped out! I got up for a few hours, probably until about 4:30 or 5:00.
          3. I then had a long nap until about 7:30 or 8:00. 
          4. Then I had a late supper with my fam and we watched the few episodes that I missed, on, “Big Brother”.( Yes, I’m hooked! It’s pretty silly I know and it may be, but we all watch it together. 
          5. I’m still so tired that I’m just fell asleep and dropped my iPad on the floor!! Argh!
          6. I’m going to bed to try to solve my sleep problems!!
          7. Night all‼️

          😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴😴
          To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”
          “Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

          Home Time!

          Just got home from Nashville and finally am going to sleep! I’m sooooo exhausted. I haven’t slept since FRIDAY ‼️‼️Saturday night was the Beachbody celebration. We didn’t get back to the hotel until almost midnight. We had to leave for the airport by about 2:00-2:30. Which is why I got no sleep and my posts are all mixed up!!  Today was sooo long. We had an 8 hour layover in Chicago!! Crazy long! I just posted the two posts from the past couple nights. I was so tired when I wrote them. They were sort of on the same day…it’s hard to figure it out when you get NO sleep! My brain isn’t functioning at normal capacity! I think I may sleep for days. In my own bed! Yay! It always feels so great to come home. I had fun, but I was ready to be home. I’m too tired to write much more. Besides, it’s 1:00am and I’m going into my millionth hour with no sleep and I am practically salivating at the thought of going to bed! And on that note, goodnight 😘

          To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

          “Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

          Busy, Late, Airport At 2:00am – NO SLEEP!!

          No Wifi

          To Nashville say goodbye 

          Writing this in notes

          At the airport where I should have wifi

          So today will be like nothing written 

          AGAIN!!  

          Sorry😢💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤

          To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”
          “Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”

          Knowledge Is Power…Never Quit Learning‼️

          Sitting in the afternoon session. I could stay or leave…not that it’s bad. The information is good, I’m just tired, or rather, exhausted!! A nap would be nice, but I also feel a sense of the time running out. So many kind people and inspiring people. Learning about all of the nutrients, the  enzymes, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, fibre, protein, veggies from around the world that are in this spectacular drink that I have every day. The time, effort, energy; they travelled around the world to create this drink that I take for granted and just drink casually everyday. Strange. I feel like an observer in this group. Like a newbie who doesn’t quite fit in yet. Yet. That’s the key word, yet. Can I do this business? Can I be successful? Can I, finally, help support my family? I can’t continue doing nothing…I need to do something!! 

          This is what I got out of this afternoon’s course:

          Lean in: into the storm, into the doubters, into the quitters, face it, lean into it, grow your mindset.   Lead with purpose: why am I here? Seriously Why am I here? Lead from your heart, with purpose, be clear with what you’re doing this for. What do you want?   Leave Your Mark:  create your own destiny, do it anyway, don’t run away, change your own life, be your own solution, say, “why not me?”  You can do this! Give yourself permission to go all in!! You can do it yourself, do not settle for mediocre, improve the world, take control, do it and do it big!

          Chalene Johnson. Yay!!! I LOVE her! She is so inspiring and real and kind and has the most incredible energy and spirit. She’s just so real!! Oh – I already said that!! Oops! It’s just so true!   Your story inspires!  It is the unique ingredient that you have. Serve others and help people. How will you stand out? With your story! If you don’t think your story is any good, rewrite it. Be your own author. Lead with your story. Give it hope. Give others hope. 

          What is my story? I will turn it into a story with health at the end. A story of vitality and prosperity. I can not only tell mystory, I can write it! I am the author of my life!!

          Now off to bed. Need to be well rested for more learning tomorrow 💤💤💤

          To help with research and treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia please go to http://www.tnnme.com (Trigeminal Neuralgia and Me) to sign a petition to have the World Health Organization (WHO) add Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) to their “Health topic list.”

          “Hopefully one day I’ll get it right, or at least have fun, while about it I write!!”