Build A Positive Life

photo credit: Ramona.Forcella

A few years ago, it was recommended by so-called experts that women could dispense with their monthly breast self-exams, as few cancers were found that way anyway.  What??  Not long before that, statistics showed that most breast lumps were discovered by women themselves, often in the shower!  And every single breast cancer survivor I know, and yes, those who did not survive, did indeed discover the original lump themselves.

Two days ago, more so-called experts recommended dumping the idea of yearly mammograms for all women, and recommended that women under 40 need not get them at all.  The reasons for the recommendation?  To spare women the “minimal” pain of the mammogram itself, to prevent false positives and resultant needless biopsies.  And the lamest excuse of all?  To prevent the women “worry” as they waited for test results.   Have these same experts checked the statistics lately of how many women under 40 do indeed contract breast cancer?  The most recent news making case was the breast cancer discovered in a girl 10 years old.

They should probably also check statistics say, over a 10 year period, of how many women’s lives were saved, including those under 40, by early detection of cancerous tumors…by mammogram.

Today, another announcement by “experts” regarding women and cancer:  no one under 21 needs to be checked for cervical cancer.  After 21 years of age, once yearly will do.  After age 30, only once every two years.

I would love to tell them of how many teens I personally know, or know of, who’ve successfully survived treatment of survical cancers caught early…when said women were in their teens.

Another alarming fact:  most tests and studies done on heart disease are done on men, even though heart disease is also the number one killer of women.

How convenient that as we come closer to adopting huge changes regarding drug and insurance companies and over hauling the current and long-standing health care system, that these recommendations are coming day to day.

What is really at the heart of the matter?  Surely not the flimsy reasons given, but rather, as almost any American, male or female could tell you…money.  Money is at the heart of too many matters, including those which can save or cost lives.  Who can put a price on even one life?

Is being a female a “pre-existing condition?”  I read that not long ago in a news article.  I’m leaning toward answering:  yes!

What is your take?

Karen Chaffee Health and Wellness, women breast exams, cancer in women, cervical exams, new recommendations for women and cancer checks, women's health

photo credit: alancleaver_2000

As do many people, I love to burn candles, especially in the colder, darker months of the year.  And vanilla scented?  Those are my favorite.  But have you ever noticed the black oily film that can get on things when you’ve burned a lot of candles or ones that are especially large?  And we’ve all seen the soot that collects on the side of glass candle holders.

Let’s also discuss allergies.  Ever wondered why sometimes you feel stuffy inside your home and sometimes not?  Have you considered that it might be the candles you burn?

Candles, Carcinogens, and Allergies

I was surprised to learn that some candles emit things that are unhealthy, things like carcinogens, which most of us know can be toxic over time.  Think cigarettes or fuel emissions, for instance.  Who knew that an innocent candle, with all of the great atmosphere it can create, was also guilty of emitting carcinogens?

And the scented candles I love best?  Who knew that when synthetic fragrance is used in candles it is also guilty of emitting countless hazardous chemicals into the air?
So next time you wonder if you’re allergic to something in your home, try to figure out if it might be the candles you’re burning.

The worst offenders are paraffin wax candles, as paraffin is a form of petroleum.  Couple that with the chemicals in synthetic fragrances, and you’ve likely discovered the source of your allergy.  It’s the indoor pollution created by those lovely candles we burn.

While burning the occasional popular kind of candles sold in most stores is unlikely to cause you harm, using a lot of them at one time or burning them each day is another matter.

Try these safer alternatives:  soy candles or beeswax candles with cotton wicks.

If you love fragrance, make sure only natural essences are used.  Or buy plain healthy candles for that warm glow of light they provide and scent your home with such things as real cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove, or citrus peels and pine cones set here and there in pretty bowls. 

Do you love to burn candles as much as I do?  Were you already aware of the dangers in some of them? 

If you’ve found alternative ways to create atmosphere and pleasant aromas in your home, please feel free to share them.

Karen Chaffee Health and Wellness are candles safe, burning candles, candles and allergies, candles and carcinogens, candles and indoor polluation, which candles are safest

photo credit: dno1967

Some of the Realities of Life Today

Courteous drivers–remember them?  Letting the other person have the parking space, waving someone through at the four-way stop, driving very slowly through school zones, residential neighborhoods and the like.  Today’s mantras seem to consist of things like road-rage, warp-speed, and talking on the cell or eating while driving.

“Neighborly” Neighbors:  They waved, they knew you by name, they helped each other with small tasks and large projects.  They kept an eye on one anothers children.  They watched out for your home and watered your plants and collected your mail when you were out of town.

Thank You Notes and Similar Oddities:  These notes or hand-written letters came as welcome treats in the mail, a nice change from bills and flyers.  You knew your gift had been received.  The letters kept you up-to-date with family and friends.  They are becoming rarer under the label of snail mail. 

Internet Etiquette:  Flamers, spammers, con-artists, hackers, and viruses are the base of a very large virtual iceberg.  People wanting your traffic and your money but failing to respond to your comments, people wanting you to link to their blog in exchange to linking to yours when it serves no purpose but that, things like these are the tip. 

Let’s find a way to dupe the search engines.  Let’s trick the average citizen by working to get rich and then sitting back on our laurels by selling them books and videos telling them how to get rich.  That is how we’ll retain and grow our wealth.  Let us dupe the consumer with the latest “tricks of the trade.”

Life’s Other Realities

Honesty:  I posted a tweet on Twitter the other day stating that I would probably never be rich or famous because I was too honest.  That is probably true!  But, there are also many honest people left in the world.  Perhaps they are harder to spot, but yes, they are still there.

Manners:  Neighborhood watches are becoming more and more the norm.  Many people DO say please and thank you.  It may now come in the form of an e-mail or an IM, but the coming at all is what counts.  Most parents are re-awkening efforts to teach courtesy, especially by example, to their children.

Unity:  No matter how unconcerned some may seem sometimes, in times of crises, whether via a natural disaster or the falling of world economics, when it is most needed, people unite.  They pull together to help those in need.  They cut back, lend a hand, volunteer, and go green to help our ailing planet and her citizens.

The Summary

In this world and among us, there is more gratitude than indifference, more honesty than deceit, and more love than hate.  And for that, I am extremely grateful!

Please share your thoughts…and thank you for doing so : ) 

Karen Chaffee Gratitude, Self Development courteous, courtesy, Etiquette, Gratitude, magic words, Manners, polite, politeness

Karen Chaffee Better Blogging Blog Ideas, Blog Post Ideas, Blog Posts, Blogging

“Everything matters, but not everything matters equally,” a preacher once told our congregation. 

The wisdom in that simple statement has stayed with me for years.  Lately, everything seems urgent.   So much to get done each day, and the days zoom by so quickly.  As we juggle home, family and extended family, friends, jobs, and everything else we want to cram in, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all.  That has been me lately.  If you have been feeling similar, let’s discuss it.

Today, as I recalled the wise tidbit from a preacher long ago, I realized that it is time to do some reprioritizing.  What worked months, or even weeks ago, is not working any more. 

We are bombarded daily with how things “should” be done.  How to juggle work and family, how to clean the kitchen or garage quickly and efficiently, how to take proper care of family, how to blog, how to make more money, how to save the earth…you get the idea.

Prioritizing Is Not a One-size-fits-all Garment

The trouble with all that advice is that it will work for a few or maybe even for many.  But will it work for me?  Will it work for you?  Not necessarily.  Customizing our priorities to suit our individual lives and needs, you might say, could be our first priority.

Only we can decide in what order to put things that matter, and which things matter more than others.  Trying on someone elses priority list is fine, as long as the fit is right.  If it confines movement and growth, itches and pinches, doesn’t cover enough, or hangs too loosely and trips us, we’ll know immediately that we are in need of a custom priority designer.

Ways To Customize The Priority Fit

   1.  Go the do-it-yourself route.  No one knows what fits your needs as well as you do.

   2.  When you’re so over-whelmed you’ve lost sight of your needs, there are books, coaches, and courses online and off to get you started and keep you going. 

   3.  Shop around.  Try things on.  Keep what works and toss what doesn’t.

   4.  Take a holistic approach to customizing your priorities.  Factor in body, mind, and spirit.  Neglecting one area leads to the collapse of the entire design.

   5.  Don’t forget to put yourself at the top of your priority list.  Rather than being a selfish thing to do, it is really a necessary thing to care for yourself to accomplish the rest of your priorities.

One Ammendment To The Preacher’s Statement

“Everything matters, but not everything matters equally.  And some things really don’t matter at all.”

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Your input is always appreciated, so feel free to share it in the comment section.

Karen Chaffee 2009

Karen Chaffee Health and Wellness, Self Development Priorities, Self Development, Setting Priorities