I have gotten the green light from returning student department I can finally sign up for my first masters degree classes that start in December. Part of me can't wait and part of me is OMG what am i getting myself into. I have been able to survive the BSN but the MSN is so much more in depth.
On top of that Jessie is struggling with two of her classes this semester and it is hard to understand. She has gotten good grades on her projects but has gotten F on her midterm grades...makes no sense other than she doesn't test very well and that I already knew.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
next step
My daughter has been going to Ai-The Art Institute in Charlotte for graphic Design. She is now getting ready to hopfully get into student housing. This will be a big step for her and me. I will still go over to the school a couple days a week to use their library but less time away from home and less time driving the car. but also less time I get to see Jessie and her friends.
Next week sometime I hope to be starting the paper work at least for the Masters program. The financial issues have been discharged so we are square.
Next week sometime I hope to be starting the paper work at least for the Masters program. The financial issues have been discharged so we are square.
Monday, November 8, 2010
first step done
I have finally graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kaplan with my BSN. Heck I was happy to just get my BSN but to get the other honor was mind blowing for me. I have also just yesterday finished all of the required papers for the financial aid for my MSN so now I can start that sometime in either Nov or Dec. I am looking forward to it as I have finally found my niche, informatics.
I have also survived my younger daughters migration from high school to college as she passed her first semester of art college. She is studying Graphic Design then after she gets her 'day job' she plans on studying vulcanoes.
I have also survived my younger daughters migration from high school to college as she passed her first semester of art college. She is studying Graphic Design then after she gets her 'day job' she plans on studying vulcanoes.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
looking for a capstone place
Well it has been 5 months since I started this blog and sadly no one from class has attempted to stay in touch. I have finished all of my academic classes and am now hunting a location for my capstone-nursing practicum. I have a couple of places to try but so far have been unsuccessful. I hope everyone who was in my class is doing well with their travel through college. My quest for my BSN has stalled due to this practicum and my daughter starts at the local Arts Institute in July. My poor husband is going to go batty with us both in college. :)
Friday, November 20, 2009
How things have changed since we were in class together. I hope that we are able to keep in touch with each other if only on a monthly or weekly nature.
I want to wish you all the best and I hope one day we might cross paths again.
I received an email from Dr. Dacher who was the author of Integral Health. He was very nice and pleased our class used his book.
I want to wish you all the best and I hope one day we might cross paths again.
I received an email from Dr. Dacher who was the author of Integral Health. He was very nice and pleased our class used his book.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Hmm, Physically I would have to say I am about a six. Part of this is because of the GBS and its limits on my mobility. I have been working on more endurance but I still get tired real fast. I do try to go on a 20-30 min walk each night it is not raining to help unwind.
Spiritually-I am about an 8 or so. I have a strong belief and faith that God is in control-even when I don't understand why he allows something’s or doesn't seem to answer when asked why things have happened the way they do. I know he has my best interest at heart I just have to trust him to let me know when the time is right.
Psychological-mental health-I think I still hover about 5-6. I was constantly told by my mother that I was useless and could not do anything right. Even when both of my parents became ill with cancer (not at the same time), she didn't want me to take care of them because she never felt that nursing was the proper field for me-she didn't trust my abilities. Because nursing was the only time I felt like I could accomplish anything i nearly lost my family/husband because I was spending so much time at work instead of with them. After about two years of counseling with my husband, I have begun to realize that God do not make no junk. He made me just the way I am for a specific reason and I should not listen to anyone (like my mother) who think I am anything other than what I am.
I will do my utmost to continue to grow and one way to do this is to get input from my family. I can ask them at regular intervals if they think I am less anxious than I used to be. I also have made use of the post-it note feature on my computer to help remind me to practice the exercises to help with stress relief.
My most sincere wish is that we can all stay in contact with each other via our blogs. I can see this as a great way for us to follow our progress as we all travel that journey toward integral health. Best of luck to everyone.
Spiritually-I am about an 8 or so. I have a strong belief and faith that God is in control-even when I don't understand why he allows something’s or doesn't seem to answer when asked why things have happened the way they do. I know he has my best interest at heart I just have to trust him to let me know when the time is right.
Psychological-mental health-I think I still hover about 5-6. I was constantly told by my mother that I was useless and could not do anything right. Even when both of my parents became ill with cancer (not at the same time), she didn't want me to take care of them because she never felt that nursing was the proper field for me-she didn't trust my abilities. Because nursing was the only time I felt like I could accomplish anything i nearly lost my family/husband because I was spending so much time at work instead of with them. After about two years of counseling with my husband, I have begun to realize that God do not make no junk. He made me just the way I am for a specific reason and I should not listen to anyone (like my mother) who think I am anything other than what I am.
I will do my utmost to continue to grow and one way to do this is to get input from my family. I can ask them at regular intervals if they think I am less anxious than I used to be. I also have made use of the post-it note feature on my computer to help remind me to practice the exercises to help with stress relief.
My most sincere wish is that we can all stay in contact with each other via our blogs. I can see this as a great way for us to follow our progress as we all travel that journey toward integral health. Best of luck to everyone.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Week 9 Final project Hardest so far
Melanietaylor14 HW420-03 final project
1. Introduction:
Integral medicine not only touches on the actual illness but what part of the mind-body, spirit cycle is out of balance. That is the only true way for a cure to be found. Otherwise, we spend our time and energy patching the several problems. Areas that I need work in are my physical status. It remains weakened due to the GBS. Along with this I need to be mindful of my eating habits to continue to make healthy choices-even when I want to snack. The concept of health is not one free of disease. Rather it is all aspect of what makes us human-at peace with itself-mind, body, spirit. As a nurse this means I need to look to all three components for a need for growth in order to not just treat the symptoms but in an effort to cure/prevent the related disease. In order for health/wellness professionals to be adequately prepared to face their day in their field, they first must have a place of wellness within them. That does not mean they will not have bad days or will not react to stressful situations in a bad way. It just means that we will have a method to help us deal with both the stress and face the stresses that our jobs may throw at us. One of the places I still need work has to do with self-esteem issues. I have to keep in mind that I am worthy of being loved by myself. Otherwise, as it says in our text, you cannot love another until you learn to love yourself first (Dacher, 2008).
2. Assessment:
‡ Physically
First on a scale from 1 to 10 (one being crummy and 10 being great), I find I stay around 4-5. Part of this is due to limitations that continue to persist. Part of this is also because I battle long established bad eating habits. When we first started the exercises, I already knew that I was working at a deficit secondary to my physical limitations of the GBS (Guillian Barre Syndrome).
‡ Psychologically
I continue to battle self-esteem/self-worth issues. I feel like a millstone hung around my husband’s neck. I have been fighting this battle for longer than our two classes and will most likely continue fight it. Right now I think I fluctuate between 4-5. Sometimes I’m even as high as a 6 but not often. What I did not realize was just how ‘crippled’ my psychological/spiritual aspect of my life had become. It has not been an easy journey these weeks of class. I have been forced to look at things from my past and deal with the effect they continue to have on my life. Most of them I cannot go into detail with but they centered on the relationship I had with my mother. Before this class, I would have scored my wellness much higher than I do now. Especially since I have been doing the exercises and realize just how much work needs to be done to attain the next level.
‡ Spiritually
Lately I have been felling a bit abandoned by my God. Again I have been denied social security disability. I am left with no medicine for myself or my daughter and sometimes no food for days at a time. If my brother up north didn’t send us money now and then we would have starved a long time ago. Usually I am a 7 or so but lately it has become less. I sometimes feel like I am being punished for some wrong I have committed. I do understand that we all better for the trials we face and overcome-but lately I have nearly reached my breaking point with no hope in sight. With that in mind, I find I still struggle sometimes with the ‘why’ things happen the way they do.
3. Goal development:
‡ Physically
I have a goal of if not losing weight-of not gaining any more. I also have a goal along these lines of maintaining proper diet-eating more veggies and salads. Physically I am working on keeping myself as physically active as my limitations allow. I will continue with my nightly walks with the dog and my daughter. I will continue to go to the local mall to walk there on both floors so that even if the weather is a problem I will be able to get my exercise in. I also (with the doctor’s permission of course) hope to be able to return to our church’s weight room so that I can start some muscle group training. That is something that I really miss and I need the doctor’s okay on it before I can undertake it. I also would like to get back to walking for 20 min on our elevated track at the church. Unfortunately, right now I am unable to climb the steps to get up there but I continue to work toward that goal.
‡ Psychologically
I have the goal of beginning to stop looking at everything as a punishment for some unknown or unremembered wrong. I also have a goal to find one good thing to be thankful for each day. I am continuing to work on the loving-kindness exercise. It seems there are issues that this covers in my past that need to be addressed before I can progress further. I will continue to work at it until it no longer elicits the pain response that it does now.
‡ Spiritually
I have the goal of becoming closer to my God. I have already started to devote time to read the Bible and speck to God each day so that I can return to my former closeness. I also hope to be able to let go of my worries an let Him work His will in my life. I have placed the goal that I should strive to be closer to my Creator and trust that He has my best interest at heart. That He does not allow things to happen to us without a plan in mind so that I should daily search for the meaning or message the He is trying to teach me when setbacks happen.
IV Practices for personal health:
‡ Physical-two exercises
1. Walking-every night that it isn’t raining I plan on walking the dog with my daughter. Right now we are only able to walk once around a short block near our house. I have been trying to walk around the larger block but still find it too fatiguing to do it more than once a week or once every two weeks.
2. Physical Therapy-I will continue to work with my therapist and do the prescribed exercises that they give to me. I will also continue to do my muscle training exercises so that I can retain my function so that whenever the feeling comes back I will be able to make use of my leg muscles.
‡ Psychological-two exercises
1. Reframing-whenever I am greeted with something negative, I will search and ponder until I can find something positive about it. Also I will stop ruminating over those things that I have no control over. I will also make use of HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, and tired) exercise when I am beginning to feel frustrated and anxious. That way should I be able to attribute my frustrations with falling under one of those headings I will first take steps to alleviate them before allowing myself to react to the frustrations.
2. Serenity Prayer-I will ever remember this and how far I have come since I was first awarded my AA coin. I will keep it close and ever remember what it says-finding things to be grateful for even when it seems my life is falling apart. I will also remember to practice my deep breathing exercises so that I can release stress and not allow it to build up to a point that it can become dangerous.
‡ Spiritual-two exercises
1. Meditation-To help me stay centered and grounded I will employ both guided imagery and the Rainbow Meditation to make this possible. To help me be still so that I can more easily hear the words from God. I can also make use of the guided imagery exercise so that I can help keep my mind from staying stuck on past events. It is okay to remember them but we are not supposed to ruminate on them or get stuck in a loop by our past. This guided imagery will help to keep everything in perspective and help me maintain an inner calm-something very needed in today’s stressful world.
2. Prayer-to commune with God and in that exercise help me to give over to Him those things I have no control over. Along with prayer I would also practice gratefulness. With this exercise I would attempt to be grateful for everything that positive that I have instead of focusing on only those things that I may need but do not have. I would also make use of my “worry box” placing a small piece of paper with those things that are out of my control written on it into the box with the admonition I will not ‘take them back’ from the box or attempt to retrieve them into my care because I have given them over to Gods care.
V Commitment:
The way to implement these is to simply do them. To make sure I stay on task, I will in my computer, set reminders that I can check off as I complete. I will need to do this until I have established them as a daily ritual if you will. It is the only way for me to change my old habits into something new and better for my well being. I will also strive to stay in contact with those people who will help me stay on track-those who know I am struggling with these issues and am trying so hard to find some kind of inner peace. After 6 months or so I should become less self critical and looking at everything as a glass 1/2empty. I should feel better physically even though I may not be any stronger. I should not feel so drained or empty. I should be able when I practice the meditation, to let the small things of the day slide off of me like Teflon. I should be aware of them but not be concerned or ruminate about them. The most important thing will be to stay diligent in exercising-at least one strategy in each day. As our text says (Dacher, 2006) we need to “find a quiet time of day and allot 30 min. for this practice [creative visualization]” (p. 144). Each day that we engage in activities that nourish the body, mind, spirit; if we remain diligent we will eventually arrive at a place of peace.
References
Dacher, E. S. (2006) Integral health: the path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publishers
Schlitz, M; Amorok, T; Micozzi, M. S. (2005) Consciousness & healing: integral approaches to mind-body medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone
1. Introduction:
Integral medicine not only touches on the actual illness but what part of the mind-body, spirit cycle is out of balance. That is the only true way for a cure to be found. Otherwise, we spend our time and energy patching the several problems. Areas that I need work in are my physical status. It remains weakened due to the GBS. Along with this I need to be mindful of my eating habits to continue to make healthy choices-even when I want to snack. The concept of health is not one free of disease. Rather it is all aspect of what makes us human-at peace with itself-mind, body, spirit. As a nurse this means I need to look to all three components for a need for growth in order to not just treat the symptoms but in an effort to cure/prevent the related disease. In order for health/wellness professionals to be adequately prepared to face their day in their field, they first must have a place of wellness within them. That does not mean they will not have bad days or will not react to stressful situations in a bad way. It just means that we will have a method to help us deal with both the stress and face the stresses that our jobs may throw at us. One of the places I still need work has to do with self-esteem issues. I have to keep in mind that I am worthy of being loved by myself. Otherwise, as it says in our text, you cannot love another until you learn to love yourself first (Dacher, 2008).
2. Assessment:
‡ Physically
First on a scale from 1 to 10 (one being crummy and 10 being great), I find I stay around 4-5. Part of this is due to limitations that continue to persist. Part of this is also because I battle long established bad eating habits. When we first started the exercises, I already knew that I was working at a deficit secondary to my physical limitations of the GBS (Guillian Barre Syndrome).
‡ Psychologically
I continue to battle self-esteem/self-worth issues. I feel like a millstone hung around my husband’s neck. I have been fighting this battle for longer than our two classes and will most likely continue fight it. Right now I think I fluctuate between 4-5. Sometimes I’m even as high as a 6 but not often. What I did not realize was just how ‘crippled’ my psychological/spiritual aspect of my life had become. It has not been an easy journey these weeks of class. I have been forced to look at things from my past and deal with the effect they continue to have on my life. Most of them I cannot go into detail with but they centered on the relationship I had with my mother. Before this class, I would have scored my wellness much higher than I do now. Especially since I have been doing the exercises and realize just how much work needs to be done to attain the next level.
‡ Spiritually
Lately I have been felling a bit abandoned by my God. Again I have been denied social security disability. I am left with no medicine for myself or my daughter and sometimes no food for days at a time. If my brother up north didn’t send us money now and then we would have starved a long time ago. Usually I am a 7 or so but lately it has become less. I sometimes feel like I am being punished for some wrong I have committed. I do understand that we all better for the trials we face and overcome-but lately I have nearly reached my breaking point with no hope in sight. With that in mind, I find I still struggle sometimes with the ‘why’ things happen the way they do.
3. Goal development:
‡ Physically
I have a goal of if not losing weight-of not gaining any more. I also have a goal along these lines of maintaining proper diet-eating more veggies and salads. Physically I am working on keeping myself as physically active as my limitations allow. I will continue with my nightly walks with the dog and my daughter. I will continue to go to the local mall to walk there on both floors so that even if the weather is a problem I will be able to get my exercise in. I also (with the doctor’s permission of course) hope to be able to return to our church’s weight room so that I can start some muscle group training. That is something that I really miss and I need the doctor’s okay on it before I can undertake it. I also would like to get back to walking for 20 min on our elevated track at the church. Unfortunately, right now I am unable to climb the steps to get up there but I continue to work toward that goal.
‡ Psychologically
I have the goal of beginning to stop looking at everything as a punishment for some unknown or unremembered wrong. I also have a goal to find one good thing to be thankful for each day. I am continuing to work on the loving-kindness exercise. It seems there are issues that this covers in my past that need to be addressed before I can progress further. I will continue to work at it until it no longer elicits the pain response that it does now.
‡ Spiritually
I have the goal of becoming closer to my God. I have already started to devote time to read the Bible and speck to God each day so that I can return to my former closeness. I also hope to be able to let go of my worries an let Him work His will in my life. I have placed the goal that I should strive to be closer to my Creator and trust that He has my best interest at heart. That He does not allow things to happen to us without a plan in mind so that I should daily search for the meaning or message the He is trying to teach me when setbacks happen.
IV Practices for personal health:
‡ Physical-two exercises
1. Walking-every night that it isn’t raining I plan on walking the dog with my daughter. Right now we are only able to walk once around a short block near our house. I have been trying to walk around the larger block but still find it too fatiguing to do it more than once a week or once every two weeks.
2. Physical Therapy-I will continue to work with my therapist and do the prescribed exercises that they give to me. I will also continue to do my muscle training exercises so that I can retain my function so that whenever the feeling comes back I will be able to make use of my leg muscles.
‡ Psychological-two exercises
1. Reframing-whenever I am greeted with something negative, I will search and ponder until I can find something positive about it. Also I will stop ruminating over those things that I have no control over. I will also make use of HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, and tired) exercise when I am beginning to feel frustrated and anxious. That way should I be able to attribute my frustrations with falling under one of those headings I will first take steps to alleviate them before allowing myself to react to the frustrations.
2. Serenity Prayer-I will ever remember this and how far I have come since I was first awarded my AA coin. I will keep it close and ever remember what it says-finding things to be grateful for even when it seems my life is falling apart. I will also remember to practice my deep breathing exercises so that I can release stress and not allow it to build up to a point that it can become dangerous.
‡ Spiritual-two exercises
1. Meditation-To help me stay centered and grounded I will employ both guided imagery and the Rainbow Meditation to make this possible. To help me be still so that I can more easily hear the words from God. I can also make use of the guided imagery exercise so that I can help keep my mind from staying stuck on past events. It is okay to remember them but we are not supposed to ruminate on them or get stuck in a loop by our past. This guided imagery will help to keep everything in perspective and help me maintain an inner calm-something very needed in today’s stressful world.
2. Prayer-to commune with God and in that exercise help me to give over to Him those things I have no control over. Along with prayer I would also practice gratefulness. With this exercise I would attempt to be grateful for everything that positive that I have instead of focusing on only those things that I may need but do not have. I would also make use of my “worry box” placing a small piece of paper with those things that are out of my control written on it into the box with the admonition I will not ‘take them back’ from the box or attempt to retrieve them into my care because I have given them over to Gods care.
V Commitment:
The way to implement these is to simply do them. To make sure I stay on task, I will in my computer, set reminders that I can check off as I complete. I will need to do this until I have established them as a daily ritual if you will. It is the only way for me to change my old habits into something new and better for my well being. I will also strive to stay in contact with those people who will help me stay on track-those who know I am struggling with these issues and am trying so hard to find some kind of inner peace. After 6 months or so I should become less self critical and looking at everything as a glass 1/2empty. I should feel better physically even though I may not be any stronger. I should not feel so drained or empty. I should be able when I practice the meditation, to let the small things of the day slide off of me like Teflon. I should be aware of them but not be concerned or ruminate about them. The most important thing will be to stay diligent in exercising-at least one strategy in each day. As our text says (Dacher, 2006) we need to “find a quiet time of day and allot 30 min. for this practice [creative visualization]” (p. 144). Each day that we engage in activities that nourish the body, mind, spirit; if we remain diligent we will eventually arrive at a place of peace.
References
Dacher, E. S. (2006) Integral health: the path to human flourishing. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publishers
Schlitz, M; Amorok, T; Micozzi, M. S. (2005) Consciousness & healing: integral approaches to mind-body medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)