When you're feeling down, need some inspiration, or just a little motivation, scroll through my motivational playlist and pick a song to help boost your spirits. Music has healing power, it can soothe your mind, body, and soul. It can help you to discover who you are, it can help you to understand life and people. It gives you a voice and the courage to live and speak your truth.

Focused! Ashley Wilson, You Rock!! Yay! I did it! After months of contemplating what I can do to better my life in the physical aspect. Since July of 2018, I’ve lost a total of 65 Ibs, with the help of my awesome trainer Jasmine Andrade and God himself. I took a huge step and reached out on faith. When I say I'm GRATEFUL, I TRULY MEAN THAT!! Working on my fitness goals has helped me learn to care for my mind and my body. I am more in tune with myself and have more energy to get things done, which has helped me to improve in all areas of life. Whether it is my career, side events, or even in my time with loved ones. Best of all, I am also inspiring others with their fitness goals. The confidence I get from exercise is not just vanity. Sure, I like how I look and enjoy making progress but the confidence I get runs deeper than that. The better I am at running, the heavier weights I can lift, and the further I can push my body reminds me of how to better tackle other challenges outside of my workouts. Knowing I can reach my fitness goals gives me an I-can-do-anything attitude! That was much needed when I was feeling down. I am considerably MORE HAPPIER, AND MORE JOVIAL. SELF-PITY ran out and was replaced with SELF-CONFIDENCE. I began to master my DESTINY. Over this year, my character changed into a stronger, more powerful, healthier version of MYSELF. I couldn't do any of this until Ashley faced her fears. It’s easy to ignore our fears and hope that they will go away. Unfortunately, it does not work like that. If you want to change your life, learn to master your fears so they can’t control you any longer. Accepting who you are and loving yourself helps you to move forward in your life. Let Your Light Shine! Transformation, Mind, Body & Soul If I have, I have a place for this. I would love to use this for you too. When you see that the light filtering through the clouds is also in you, you’ll know you can’t lose what’s inside. You can’t lose who you are. So, let your light shine. Be the sun in someone else’s storm. It’s part of why you’re here. There’s a light buried in your soul, the same light that gives life to everything around you. When you see yourself in everything, in the light rising through the curtains and the stars studded in the sky, the world is a brighter place, and things are a little less dark. You remember how strong and resilient you are. Because of your life, you’re here, and you’ve got stardust in you. So, when life feels too hard and the world feels hopeless, take heart. The best gift you can give everyone around you is your own courage to shine, to help, to rise, to be true to whom you want to be, and to love even still. Take heart because what’s inside is the most powerful force in the universe. Call it light, call it potential, call it whatever feels right to you, and let your light shine the way toward a life that feels like it’s meant for you. Transformation, Mind, Body & Soul!

Inga Frost Hello! My name is Inga, and I am a single mom and full-time Real Estate Agent in Virginia. On January 23rd of 2019, I found out I was going to be a mother. Initially, I was overwhelmed, because single parenting can be tough and I was not in a position financially to take care of a child, but the love I had for my baby lit a fire in me that no one could put out. I enrolled in Real Estate School online and then took the exam to become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Virginia. A month later (in July) I was helping people achieve their dreams of becoming a homeowner while I was also achieving my goal to be financially prepared to take care of my daughter Bella. Bella was born on October 3, 2019, and being a Real Estate Agent has not only allowed me to financially take care of her, but it has also allowed me to have her with me full-time. It was a huge risk jumping into Real Estate two months prior to my due date but with a plan, strong faith, and a positive attitude I was able to hit the ground running. To all my Queens out there remember that you have the power to create your ending! If you're a Queen Mom, here are some things you'll need to remind yourself of. Please see below.

When it comes to eating right, look at comfort foods like lobster and foie gras. It was expensive, right? Not unless you're rich you can't afford to eat like that every day. So why have junk/comfort food and unhealthy drinks every day? You can't afford to let it affect your health and body now, can you? No! So why not save it for holidays, special occasions, and cheat days? Never deprive and always reward yourself. Please see below some of my meal choices. Oh, and while you're browsing, forget about how it looks and think about how it will taste and how healthy it will be for you. I know this Rainbow Tofu Salad looks plain but it's oh-so colorful and delicious, so why not go for the more healthy, vibrant, and colorful option when it comes to eating clean? Replace your lunch or dinner with a salad. Get fancy with it and go for red cabbage over green cabbage, darker salad greens like kale or romaine rather than iceberg lettuce, and if you want to add a little natural sweetener; go for sweet tomatoes or sundried tomatoes, or try red grapes over green grapes. For added variety, add green beans, corn, boiled eggs, scallion, and diced cucumbers, and then sprinkle your choice of low-calorie, low-sodium, and low-carb or fat-free salad dressing. When grocery shopping, challenge yourself to add a variety of vegetables to your shopping cart. Research has shown that eating colorful veggies may be the latest secret weapon in fighting age-related brain changes such as confusion and memory loss. The secret ingredient is no longer a secret. Flavonoids, Flavonoids are considered to be powerful antioxidants that can protect cells from damage and disease. Ceviche All 3 For Lunch or Dinner Ceviche all 3 is one of the most healthy meal ideas and super delicious. There's no excuse for not wanting to taste this delectable dish! It has an amazing flavor and incredible ingredients, like fresh lime juice, cilantro, tomatoes, red onions, pepper, fish, shrimp, and squid. Also, this dish is not high in calories and is low in fat. If you want to lose weight and eat healthier, eat Ceviche. Oh and please avoid the crackers and try advocates and cucumbers as your side. Yummy! ​ FYI: Ceviche includes raw, uncooked fish as a base element. Please know that raw fish may carry pathogens that can make humans sick. Bacteria like Vibrio parahaemolyticus have caused outbreaks of gastroenteritis in many countries including the US. This is due to improperly cooked seafood. When preparing and storing this meal, use fresh ingredients and store leftovers in the fridge in a glass container. Not recommended for pregnant people or people with liver conditions. Those are some of my favorite healthy meal ideas, I hope you will try them and love them. When eating healthy, remember longevity is key, Don't you agree?

Living With Menopause The Dreaded Beast Called Menopause. What Is Menopause? Menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. The term can describe any of the changes you go through just before or after you stop having your period, marking the end of your reproductive years. ​ Menopause Causes: A woman is born with all of her eggs, which are stored in her ovaries. Her ovaries also make the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control her period (menstruation) and the release of eggs (ovulation). Menopause happens when the ovaries no longer release an egg every month and menstruation stops. Menopause is a regular part of aging when it happens after the age of 40. But some women can go through menopause early. It can be the result of surgery, like if their ovaries are removed in a hysterectomy, or damage to their ovaries, such as from chemotherapy. If it happens before age 40, for any reason, it’s called premature menopause. ​ Menopause Symptoms ​ Hot flashes, night sweats, low sex drive, irritability, headaches, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, lack of sleep, emotional changes, mood swings, depression, physical changes, weight gain, hair loss, acne, trouble focusing, and learning. My Menopause Journey by Theresa Woods I must tell you, I’ve been going through it for now almost 7 years. The first sign is when I missed my monthly. I was like no way can I be pregnant over 47! Then I was like duh, there was no way I could be pregnant because my Fiancé and I took measures to make sure of it. After 2 months without it and episodes of passing out from overheating, I decided to visit my OBGYN. That’s when I received the bittersweet news that I was menopausal. I say bittersweet because I was so happy to have no more monthly but then I was like OMG now I have to deal with hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, low sex drive, and so on…...ARGH! My Dr. tried to prescribe me expensive hormonal drugs that could potentially cause cancer if I didn't follow the dosage correctly and he also informed me that my monthly would come back but then go away within about 6 months. I declined to take them until I did my research and I did just that but decided not to because of all the bad reviews. There were some good ones too but still not enough to convince me. I went back to my Dr. and asked if there was a better way. He suggested herbal supplements and said some women have found relief but it was only a temporary fix, I asked how long will it last. He replied, 2 to 12 years depending on the person. I thought my life was over, I didn't know what to do because I was so confused. In the meantime, while I took the time to figure things out, I continued to suffer. Constant overheating is like fire in your body, you have no control over it. For me, it lasts for about a good 2-3 minutes which seems like an eternity! With shortness of breath, flushed, sweaty face, and low energy, I felt down in the dumps and scared to go out in public. Yes, me a social butterfly. Why? Because it was embarrassing having episodes in front of people, I just wanted to run and hide. I would be right in the middle of a conversation and then all of a sudden I could barely breathe and my face and body would be on fire. So needless to say I had to do something. I invested in a bunch of herbal supplements and various fans, all types from handheld Chinese fans and mini-portable rechargeable fans for my purse, mini-motorized desk fans for work and overnight stays, tall floor fan for my bedroom and luckily my house already have ceiling fans. LOL, an absolute must! The other thing that was difficult for me was going to the gym, Lord knows I love working out, it keeps me in shape. However, I sometimes dreaded it due to low energy and hot flashes but I kept pushing through. It's disheartening knowing that I don’t have the stamina I used to and I don’t feel as youthful as I did before it started but because I know that WORKING OUT IS ESSENTIAL TO EVERYDAY LIVING I try to fit it in at least 3-4 times a week, 15 min to an hour per session, even if I have to work-out at home. When you are over 40 and menopausal it’s important to manage your weight because trying to lose those unwanted pounds can be a struggle and where those pounds land, is your lower belly and thighs. Ever since I was a teenager and into my early 40’s, I’ve always been athletic and weighed between 120 to 130 no more than 135. In the 1990s, my highest was about 160 because I decided to just live it up and not worry about what I was eating or drinking. Not a good idea so I blew up but the good thing is, it didn’t take long for me to snap back. My metabolism was much higher back then. 160 was my heaviest ever and I swore that I would never blow up like that again. I didn’t feel good nor did I look good. Now that I’m over 50 and menopausal those skinny Minnie days are over! Before menopause I was 120 to 135, now I’m finding myself at a steady high between 140 to 145 with cellulite and more dimples than before. The good thing is, I can still have some muscle mass and I can still see my abs. People say I look good with weight on but I still would love to be smaller, that's just me. I have, however, been able to get down to 132 to 135 but it’s not consistent and the weight comes back really fast. I wasn't overeating and as a matter of fact, I have great eating habits, anyone who knows me knows that. I eat healthy salads Monday through Thursday and on the weekends I eat within moderation, mostly veggies, seafood, steak, and chicken breast. On cheat days mozzarella sticks, pizza, mac and cheese, and calamari. I have my occasional dirty martinis and skinny margaritas on the weekend as well. Every 6-8 months out of the year I forgo meat, bread, and any flour-based meals and snacks and snacks with sugar. I try to stick with all-natural sugars and carbs that come from fruit and veggies. I walk at least 3-5 days a week and as stated above, I work out as often as I can. I also take multivitamins but with all that, it still wasn't quick enough in losing those extra pounds and keeping them off. It had nothing to do with gaining muscle, I know all about that. The struggle was and is still real! The weight gain, low energy, and hot flashes, also affected my sex drive. My sex drive has always been very high but now that I am menopausal, it’s medium and I’m doing everything to keep it from being low and I mean everything! LOL! On a serious note, when you suffer from menopause your partner suffers too. I’m thankful that my fiancé is loving, mindful, patient, thoughtful, and caring. He understands what I’m going through and he tries to help and encourage me through this process. Even though he was always there for me, it was the last straw and I was desperate so I went back to my OBGYN and asked for the HRT, hormone replacement therapy drugs which consist of 2 prescriptions 2 times a day. One for estrogen/hormones and the other to prevent Cancer. I tried it and didn’t like it, it made me feel crazy, moody, and ill all at the same time. I just couldn’t do it and the fear of it causing cancer freaked me out so I went back to the all-natural route. I went back and did more research and I found my triggers and regulated what I was eating and drinking. I’m not much of a junk food eater but I love my cheat days so I had to cut those things out of my diet and save it for the holidays or special occasions. Also, alcohol is a trigger, especially the surgery cocktails. That wasn't a real problem for me either because I only drink on the weekends and my choice of beverages are dirty martinis, skinny margaritas, and plenty of water. I did, however, cut back on my consumption. Also carbs in chips and mostly anything made of flour. When I’m not doing the 6-8 months no meat, sugar, and carbs diet; I love my tortillas, chips, pasta, and so on but even though I never binged on those, I had to cut back on them as well. I replaced them with whole foods like plant-based all-natural healthy foods containing soy like tofu, hummus, flax seeds, and anything that includes soy isoflavones. According to WebMD, soy products may be a sensible alternative to HRT drugs and are the safest according to research and studies. Many soy products are being marketed as nutritional fire extinguishers and again is a non-drug approach to managing menopausal symptoms. Another alternative for me is all-natural supplements such as Black Cohosh, Maca, Soy Isoflavones, and Estroven Complete Menopause Relief and one surprise I found that works best for me is oral antihistamines used for allergies that contain Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine. It helps my hot flashes and I only take them on the weekends. Lastly, the stress I had to cut the unnecessary stress out of my life, people, places, and things and I try to choose my battles wisely because when I was sad, mad, or depressed it brought on hot flashes and caused my energy levels to be very low. I suffer from depression mostly all my life so for someone like me, it’s important to sleep well, stay focused, positive, prayed up, and most importantly take care of myself and put myself first. The things I’ve mentioned above help me to keep my symptoms under control, it doesn't make them go away completely. I do feel way better than I did when I first was diagnosed however, every day is still a battle and I will continue to keep fighting this until I’m back to normal, whatever that normal may be. Please see below some information that I've compiled on how to control menopausal symptoms. Women Empowering Women!! Hang in there Queen, it won't last for long! Here are some all-natural food suggestions to keep your menopause symptoms under control. Remember that your symptoms won't go away right away. It takes time and patients and most importantly you have to be consistent about your daily wellness routine. Before trying anything, you should always consult your Dr. Estrogen-boosting foods can make a big difference. Studies have shown that it can naturally boost estrogen levels. Here are a few listed below. ​ Tofu, Flaxseeds, Sesame Seeds, Soybeans, Hummus, Chickpeas, Garlic, Dried Fruits, like Apricots, Fennel, Alfalfa Sprouts and Avocado. In no particular order, here are a few more. Walnuts, Blueberries, Oranges, Strawberries, Dates, Plums, Asparagus, Kiwi, Red Beans and Kale. Things To Avoid For Menopause Relief If you can, try to limit alcohol to only on the weekend, one or two drinks a day. Try wine spritzers, vodka tonic, or a skinny margarita, and drink plenty of water. Avoid sugar and carbs in processed foods like chips and cookies and replace them with low or sugar-free, and carb options like cheese chips and cauliflower chips, sugar-free candy, cookies, Jell-O, and pudding. Try to stay away from spicy foods, fast foods, caffeine, and fatty meats like briskets and bacon, instead go for lean meats like chicken, turkey, and ground beef which is 90 percent leaner or better. MY TOP PICKS FOR MENOPAUSE HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS Estroven Complete Menopause Relief for hot flashes & night sweats supports restful sleep, boosts energy, helps to manage daily stress, mood, irritability and menopause-related anxiety, and more. Nature's Bounty Black Cohosh for hot flashes, night sweats, and mild mood changes. Natrol Soy Isoflavones for Hot flashes and night sweats. Nature Life Labs, Organic Red Maca capsules or powder for hot flashes, night sweats, and provides energy and focus. I hope these supplements will bring you some relief but remember, there's no quick remedy and consistency is key!

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS & EARLY DETECTION Breast cancer awareness and early detection month is a yearly campaign that intends to educate people about the importance of early screening, tests, and more. This campaign starts on October 1 and ends on October 31 every year. NBCAM was founded in October of 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries (now part of AstraZeneca, producer of several anti-breast cancer drugs). The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer. (Courtesy of Wikipedia) Early detection is important because when abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer may have begun to spread and be harder to treat. Several screening tests have been shown to detect cancer early and to reduce the number of fatalities. Early diagnosis improves cancer outcomes by providing care at the earliest possible stage and is therefore an important public health strategy in all settings. For some common cancer types, such as cervical, colorectal, lung, and breast cancer, clinical trials have shown that early screening does save lives. Early detection of breast cancer is important as it is associated with an increased number of available treatment options, increased survival, and improved quality of life. While there is no definitive method of preventing breast cancer, early detection provides the best chance of effective treatment. EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER With so many women being diagnosed with breast cancer unexpectedly, it's important to be aware and proactive with this disease and it's important to get checked out. You don't have to wait until your yearly OB/GYN EXAM, check yourself out now and get checked out! Empowered Women Empower! Symptoms and early warning signs of breast cancer include: Skin changes, such as swelling, redness, or other visible differences in one or both breasts An increase in size or change in the shape of the breast(s) Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples Nipple discharge other than breast milk General pain in/on any part of the breast Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast The list goes on and on. There are at least 6 or more breast cancer-type symptoms including male breast cancer symptoms according to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. If you're anything like me, I'm guilty of running to the internet for self-diagnosis. There are so many websites to help you figure out what ale's you. However, I'm smart enough to know that the internet is not the final answer, especially when you know something is just not right. Some illnesses either major or minor mimic other illnesses so it's always best to make an appointment to see a doctor, the experts will determine whether something you notice is cause for concern, and if there is, they will be able to treat it right away. SELF-BREAST EXAM CHECK Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Check your breast as often as you can and don't skip yearly exams. ​ ​ For more information regarding breast cancer symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, please visit...…. https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/breast-cancer/symptoms

My name is Elaine Harrison from Somerset New Jersey, I'm a CNA at a nursing home in N.J. I've been taking care of the elderly for almost 30 years and although my job is demanding, emotional, and exhausting, it's always has been a wonderful experience for me throughout the years. My job is very fulfilling and I love helping and taking care of them while meeting some great and loving people along the way, it has impacted my life in a profound way. However, due to Covid-19, 2020 has been one of my least favorite years yet. This has become our new normal and not in a good way. Caring for the elderly and watching them get sick and then die from it, makes me feel helpless and the sadness I feel for them and their families are unmeasurable. My heart aches as I prayed for them but no matter what, I press on to take care of them. At the same time, I'm always praying that my family and friends are safe and well. However, the virus is rampant and out of control so needless to say, my family and friends were infected and affected as well. I say affected because even if they weren't infected they all were like everyone else in the world, affected by this pandemic in some shape or form and none of us could ever fathom that something like this could happen so close to home. When I say close to home, my mother was infected. Yes, my beloved mother. Rewind to the past. My mom was and still is suffering from dementia, and my family and I had to make the heart-wrenching decision to send her to a nursing home, for her safety and to receive the proper care that she needed. We were not successful with placing her where I worked but we did find an alternative that we were happy with. Fast forward to the present. One day, we received the dreaded call that she tested positive for the virus, we were scared but we also had faith that she would recover from it. So many senior citizens in nursing homes have passed away in N.J. but we had hope and we stayed prayed up and by the grace of God, she recovered. During this time, the hardest part of all; was knowing that she was alone and without us because we were not allowed to visit. They had banned visitations due to the threat of spreading the virus. Understandable but also debilitating, there was nothing we could do about it so we just patiently waited and put our trust in the Lord, the staff, and the Doctors. After she recovered, we were still unable to visit but relieved to know that we could do a video chat. Just to see her beautiful face and that infectious smile, was all we needed. Nothing but tears of joy, for such a priceless moment but I must say, the whole experience was bittersweet because there's more to this story. My aunt, my mom's sister, was in the same nursing home as my mom. Matter of fact, she was there first. Covid-19 was still on the rise and widespread among staff and patients, so they were evacuated and transported to different nursing homes. Sad to say, they separated them. Looking back, years ago my aunt suffered from a stroke and never recovered from it, and just like myself and my siblings, her children had to make the difficult decision to send her to a nursing home as well. Despite her illness, she was a firecracker, always full of life. Seeing both of them together was always a happy moment for us. We loved their love for each other and their bond was unbreakable. However, those moments are now forever embedded as memories. The separation did more harm than good. My aunt passed away within a couple of days of being moved. We were completely shocked and devastated because she was just fine before the move, and we were surprised to find out that it wasn't because of the virus. To this day, we believe she died of a broken heart from being separated from my mom, her beloved sister whom she loved very dearly. God rest her soul. The virus changed everything, the way we mourn and the way we attend funerals. My story is not over yet, the most shocking moment of all is that I also was infected. If I didn't know before, I know now that no one is exempt from catching this ugly virus, not even me a CNA! I thought I was so safe, I was being so careful and because of the stay-at-home order, I didn't leave the house for months except to go to the store and work and back. I thought I was doing everything right, even after the order was lifted. Honestly speaking, I still had some doubts but I still eased back into society because I needed some type of normalcy, I guess it wasn't the right time because unbeknownst to me, I still ended up getting the virus. Funny because I can recall the very moment when it may have happened. The good news is, I fully recovered but looking back at my experience with covid-19, it was like no other illness that I've ever had in my life. I had severe aches and pains throughout my body, I coughed a lot and couldn't breathe at times, I was always sleepy and would sleep every half hour. It was very scary and nothing like flu symptoms and to this day, I still have lingering symptoms! I also quarantined for 15 days in my guest room, while my wonderful husband took care of me day and night. God bless him and I'm so thankful for him. It's great to have survived this without any hospitalization. FYI: Please go to the hospital if you need to, my case was not severe enough to go but please go if you are having symptoms beyond your control. The takeaway, even though I would love to forget, I'll never forget this horrible experience. My message to you today is, you can never be too sure or too trusting of the people or places around you. Always be safe out there, no matter where you're at or who you're with because it can happen to you too!! Lastly, just know that we are all in this together and we will get through this! Hugs and Love by Elaine Marks, Covid-19 Survivor.

My name is Sherri, known to my childhood friends and family as Sharon. I've gone through many life-altering situations, yet, I’m still holding on and am here to share pieces of me, with you. Why am I sharing portions of my journey? Because out of my brokenness, God can, and God will use me to make someone else whole. Back in the mid to late ’80s, I experienced what is known today as TDV – Teen Dating Violence. Because I witnessed my mom and grandmother suffer from domestic violence and never spoke against it or their abusers when the first time I was slammed to the ground, kicked, punched, and beaten as if I was a formidable opponent who stood a chance against the young man who days earlier had professed his love for me. I had no idea when he allowed me to get up from the ground and told me to leave his backyard, I was supposed to do just that and never look back nor come back. Life had a way of teaching me lessons I refused to learn the first time around. After 3 years with “Dre” and support from family and good girlfriends, I walked away from him and into the arms of “Steven”. The abuse inflicted by “Dre” was verbal, emotional, and physical. With “Steven” it was 90% physical and lasted a year. Through those tumultuous years, I knew that many people knew what I was enduring. Knowing that, I often thought; what man would want me? The answer was - the one sent by God himself! The Old Me Before Domestic Violence The New Me After Domestic Violence The New Me By the Grace of God Because God wanted me to know what it felt like to be truly and unconditionally loved by a man, He created a MAN just for me! That man was (William) and we married in 1991. Eventually, our careers began to flourish, we purchased our home, began eating well, and ultimately, the happiness ‘weight’ landed on the lower half of my body. By 2010, I was my heaviest to date and needed to do something. After working out on my own, with little success, I hired a personal trainer. With Earl’s guidance, over the course of 8 months, I looked and felt great. By September 2011, our time together had come to an end, but another client mentioned Tadda’s Fitness Camp to me. I found LaTasha’s (owner of T.F.C.) location and with that, my forever fitness home. Through T.F.C., I was introduced to running. Twenty-twelve was the year I participated in my first 5k race. Since then, I have run many 5k’s, several 10k’s, 2-15k’s, a few relays, and 3-half marathons. Because I now have arthritis in both knees, my doctor has strongly advised I retire from running races and running on the pavement altogether. The words concerning my long-term prognosis devastated me, but in the winter of 2019, I was introduced to weight-lifting. I know when something is removed, God allows something else to fill the void left open. I can now say, the passion I had for running, has been transferred to lifting weights. However, there are still days, weeks, and months I struggle to eat right and exercise regularly. The beauty is that each day God blesses me to wake up, and I get another opportunity to try to be better than the day before. Being broken spiritually, physically, and emotionally takes time, work, and dedication, to heal and become whole again. Currently, I work at a shelter for homeless women and children. In April 2016, I became a Widow. To date, I use my voice and platform to motivate others and I never hesitate when asked to speak and share my Journey. By the grace of God, I am so blessed!

A Queen's mental well-being is very important. Fight hard to stay afloat, get help and let the healing begin with my anti-depression suggestions. What does depression feel like? Depression feels like you're sinking in quicksand, no more like drowning. Yeah, that's better, it feels like drowning! Why? Because no matter how hard you swim to save your life, you can't because your arms are tired and the currents keep pulling you in. The shore is right there and you can see it, and everyone you love is screaming out, you can make it! Keep swimming, but you don't, instead; you drown. You simply give up and drown. Depression sucks, it makes you cry, it makes you sad, and it fills your mind with worry and hopelessness. Thoughts of suicide become real when depression takes over your ability and will to live. What does depression look like? Does it look like that woman lying in the bed in the picture below? How do you know if you or your loved one is depressed? This is how. When you can't get out of bed, and you're canceling plans and missing days from work just to lay in bed. Your house is a mess, everything is in chaos in your life, or maybe you're hanging out and binge drinking, getting drunk to oblivion. When your body aches, you can't focus and can't eat or overeat. When you have many sleepless nights and worry about everything. Anxiety kicks into overdrive, and you cry at the drop of a hat. You think the world is against you, and you feel like a loser. You hate yourself and you feel unloved. You look in the mirror and think you're the ugliest person in the world, but through it all, you still show up for work while taking care of the kids and your partner. Instead of making yourself happy, you make everyone else happy, and instead of taking care of yourself, you take care of everyone else. You wear a smile on your face in public, but inside you're dying. This is the hallmark card of depression. Depression comes from so many things in life. To name a few, PTSD/Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, situational depression, and chemical imbalance. You can have everything in the world, be the best-looking person on the block, and have a wonderful family and friends that treat you like a Queen. However, none of that matters, because depression constantly keeps your mind repeating negative thoughts. Negative thoughts can get louder, louder, and unbearable. You may say people with depression are crazy, well they're not. They're mentally ill and need help and a cure. They can get help, but a cure, there might not be one. Medication, therapy, meditation, and prayer are all great remedies until they no longer work. Bouts of depression are just that, they come and go and are brought on by triggers. Loved ones walk on pins and needles because they want to treat them the same as others but with kit gloves on. Is it hard to care for someone who's mentally ill? Yes, it can be. They have working parts, they're smart but broken and unpredictable, and they can be scary at times. You don't know if they'll hurt you, others, or themselves. Some mentally ill people are cutter's and suicidal. A cutter is someone who cuts certain parts of their body to redirect the pain they feel in their head and heart. Someone who is suicidal takes their own life or makes attempts to. In some cases, they take others with them. Sad but true. I myself have suffered from depression most of my life, and I've even made attempts to end my life. So I ask you again, what does depression look like? It looks like me or the person sitting next to you. You never know who's fighting a never-ending battle in their head. Never judge a book by its cover. Never judge anyone who suffers from depression, instead get them help, support and love them and appreciate their existence. Depressed lives matter! Believe In Yourself Because The Best Gift Is You! God is the best gift to our world, and our parents are the best gift to us, and you are the best gift to your parents, and to the world. When I say parents, I mean your caregivers who love, nurture and provide for you. The ones you look up to and the ones you love the most. No matter what you are going through, you are the best gift to them, and it would break their heart to see you broken and unhappy. It would hurt them to know that you think you don't matter when you do. Life is hard, I know, and some people have no one to love them. I want you to know today, above all else, that your Father in heaven loves you, he created you in his image, and he watches you, comforts you, and protects you. You just have to be open to the process and believe and receive it. Your mind is a beautiful thing to waste, your beautiful mind and your beautiful self have so much to offer the world. Hang in there my beloved, soon you will see that you matter, and you are God's gift to the world! You are a Queen, and no matter what, show up as your highest self and believe and receive that! Be well with my anti-depression suggestions! IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION OR HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, PLEASE GET HELP NOW! Help is available. Contact your local therapist, minister or someone you can trust. There are available resources online or speak with a counselor today at The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ HANG IN THERE, BRIGHTER DAYS ARE COMING! To read my story and to learn more, CLICK THE BELOW LINK https://www.todaysqueenlifeandstyle.com/post/what-is-mental-illness-and-what-does-mental-illness-look-like

Eleanor Davis & Mary Ann Neely Eleanor Davis I always knew it was coming. Most of the women in my family, as far as I can remember, from my great-grandmother to my grandmother, my mother, and aunts, were diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away during their fight! My diagnosis was at the age of 50. By accident, I hurt my shoulder at work, so my Dr. ordered me an X-ray. That's when she realized I hadn't had a mammogram, so she suggested I do both while I was there. My results showed a mass, and I had to go back for further testing. That's when my Dr. informed me that the mass was cancer. I Am A Fighter! I knew right away that it wasn't going to be a death sentence for me. My faith in God has always been strong, and since he brought me through it, I knew he would see me through it. It's a New Day, It's a New Dawn, and a New life and I'm Feeling Good! At this point in my life, I changed my way of eating, and I work out daily. On my social media, I started a blog post with videos on vegan and vegetarian meals called Live, Love, and Laugh, Spiritual Food for your Mind, Body, and Soul. God's Mercy and Grace have kept me! I’m not only a breast cancer survivor, I'm a warrior! God and Prayer Brought Me Through In June 1992, at 47 years, I was diagnosed with right breast cancer, and after careful study of my case, it was decided by an oncology team of physicians that I would be given several weeks of radiation treatments. One of the many symptoms is extreme fatigue. However, I was able to tolerate it and continued working without any side effects. In June 1993, breast cancer recurred, and I was devastated. The anxiety and fear of the unknown were very apparent to my husband and I. So, there we were again facing the same crisis, only more intense. This time around, I had to undergo a right breast mastectomy with reconstruction, which involved several tests, MRIs, X-rays, and Acupuncture, which pinpointed the exact location of the cancer, along with five hours of surgery, and finally chemotherapy. To add, the radiation treatment had burned my breast so badly at the surgery site, that it wasn't healing properly. So on top of everything else I had done, they scheduled me to have skin graft surgery. The skin they took from another part of my body was used to repair the burned area. Several weeks later, I started chemotherapy treatments because my veins were so small. There was a port inserted into the left side of my shoulder, and the scar is still there today. My husband calls them my battle scars. Battle scars, yes there were. As you can imagine, I became very, very ill, and suffered many severe side effects, along with an open wound that needed to be washed with a Saline solution twice daily, extreme nausea, loss of hair on every part of my body, darkening of my skin, weight and appetite loss, also an acute sense of smell. I can’t explain it, but I have developed a nervous agitation to this day. But God and prayer brought me through. I have now been healed of cancer for over 27 years. I give all the Glory and Honor to God. I thank my beloved husband and children, as well as Eternal Life Christian Center, my faithful pastor, and special friends, for all the prayers that went up for me.

Maura McGee Hello, my fellow cancer warriors. My name is Maura McGee from the UK. In March 2015, I was terminally diagnosed with stage 3, advanced melanoma skin cancer, and was told I had three months to live. With so many things going on in my life, I had to build resilience. I needed to dig deep and fight no matter how hard it got, and it was hell, but my biggest inspiration was the love I had for my Mum. She saved my life, along with multiple surgeries and clinical trials I was placed in by Bupa Health Insurance which I received while working for Saab. Although I no longer work for them, I am thankful that I landed the job due to my previous work experience while residing in Virginia. At the roughest times in my life, something always turns up. My Mum said I was born aware, but I think it is called faith. Given the brutal early life my Mum endured and; survived and the domino effect it had on us. I refused to die on her watch. I refuse to let that happen because she has suffered enough. Cancer does not discriminate, and in some way, it affects everyone you know and love. In 2021, I lost a beautiful friend in VA just before Christmas. Another Theresa, better known as Mother T. At only 40 years of age and with a teenage son, battled cancer for 13 years and then lost the battle within weeks. It devastated me. She was one of our tribes! Having lost my Mum to cancer in October of 2019, who was my best friend, her dog Gizmo, who was 17 and a half, and my sister in September of 2020, all within 18 months of my Mums passing, I can say I have been in a dark, dark place, but I feel like I am coming back to the light. I owe it to my Mum, my sister sitting in the picture next to me, and all the cancer patients. They were taken away early from this life, where we live, love, and feel everything. When you have lost a loved one, grief is an extraordinary feeling that will stay for a lifetime. Anyone with cancer will tell you that fighting this battle is hard, and many people will quit the clinical trial. I hung right in there and allowed them to give me higher doses. However, they had to stop because it was making my body highly toxic, but it worked just enough to keep me in remission. I go to bed and wake up every day, thanking the universe, God, the moon, and Mother Mary. My life is full of the two ‘Tudes,’ Attitude and Gratitude. The only way to survive this life is to have hope and; faith and to find happiness through it all; you will need an abundance of both. Please see below the pics from the surgeries that I had. Malignant melanoma skin cancer KILLS.! There is still no cure for advanced melanoma, and your survival depends on intrusive surgeries and clinical trial drugs, which can leave you with life-changing side effects. If you are lucky, they will extend your survival rate, but at some point, it will wake up and start to spread again. My groin had to be reopened five months after my first operation to remove all the lymph nodes. Not fun.!! PLEASE use a factor 50 sunscreen with UVA & UVB filters, especially on your children and teenagers. I have never shared my melanoma pictures, but I hope it helps bring awareness of the damage the sun can cause. You can tan, but please do not burn yourself until your skin is red. Tan slowly, it could save your life…..!

Why am I blogging about this sensitive topic? I have a platform and I'm not afraid to speak on topics that are uncomfortable, off the table, secret, and unspoken. With research and my own experiences, I find that some people are phobic when it comes to discussing topics that they're uncomfortable with and don't understand. Furthermore, they tend to push sensitive subjects like traumatic life events under the rug rather than cope and heal from them. They find it easier to talk about it privately than publicly. They find it easier to talk about how happy they are when they're not or about how blissful a family home they have when it isn't. Let's be honest, not all social media friends are happy campers. I'm talking about your closest social media friends, not the ones that you have forgotten along the way. Now, of course, some are genuinely joyful. They post about their projects, promotions, accomplishments, birthdays, illnesses, or someone else's. They also post about the loss of loved ones, and on most occasions, they post pictures, jokes, positive quotes, and prayers. These are all meaningful posts. I'm not minimizing any of them, because I'm one of those people. However, if you check my feeds you will notice that I also post about mental health. Oh, the stigma of it all! Look, I'm not the only one. There are others too but you don't see them too often because those types of posts get overlooked. They normally don't pop up in the top popular posts/feeds. Hmm? FB & IG, what's up with that? Especially with the Pandemic and illnesses due to Covid-19. One would expect that mental health would be promoted as well. Thank God for social media Influencers and celebrities that use their platform to address it, like Taraji P. Henson and many others. My fellow queens, let me ask you this? Do you sometimes randomly come across a post where the person says (I hate life, I'm mad as hell, I'm about to snap! Why do people keep FN with me!? How about negative dark quotes or “Please Pray For Me” with nothing to follow? How about people who use social media to fight with family and friends? Oh, and what about people who post encrypted messages that are borderline suicide notes? Well, guess what? I have. Several years ago, I posted a suicide note and one of my family members noticed it immediately and called for help. Paramedics rushed me to the hospital, and I was lucky to have survived my attempt. It happened in the wee hours of the morning, so only a couple of people noticed it and my family had time to remove it before anyone else did. A couple of days later, I was told that one of my long-time, long distant friends posted on my wall and told me how much she loves and appreciates me and how much I inspired her through some of her toughest times. Even though she didn't know about what I did, she was compelled to send me that message. Along with my family and other friends' support, that right there gave me a purpose to live. It's probably hard to fathom why anyone would want to end their life. It's a sin, but when you snap, you're not thinking about that sin or anything else for that matter. You just want the pain to stop, but there are other ways. We simply need to know how to purge severe past pain within to seek atonement and resolve. Sadly enough, most people don't have the will nor the tools in life to know how to. Do you think people need help that uses social media as an outlet? Have you ever tried to help someone on social media? Have you ever wondered if you were to help, would it make a difference in their lives? I know, sometimes we can't help everyone, but we can at least try to help one. So how do we help? There are many obvious ways. My way of helping is through my website, where I know I can reach thousands of people. This is my way of helping and giving back to my community and with hopes, that it will help someone. I became a blogger because I care and I've had some traumatic events happen to me in my life, I want people to know that they are not alone. There is a good deal of self-help/blog websites, but I tried to be unique by creating a diverse, multicultural, women's online blog magazine where I blog on just about everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. My site is all about women empowering women. However, my content is for everyone. We are all Queens and Kings, let's try to fix each other's crowns when they are falling off. I hope you will find a takeaway when reading (Purge Severe Past Pain Within To Seek Atonement And Resolve. I hope you will also take a peek inside (Today's Queen Life and Style) and be inspired. Purge Severe Past Pain Within To Seek Atonement And Resolve What is severe pain when it comes to emotional and mental health? It's psychological pain. Mental or emotional distress or suffering or to make suffer or cause distress to. Mental pain or emotional pain is an unpleasant feeling of a psychological, non-physical origin. Intense and unbearable mental (psychological) pain is defined as an emotionally based extremely aversive feeling which can be experienced as torment. It can be associated with a psychiatric disorder or with severe emotional trauma caused by many forms of abuse or by the passing of a loved one. A pioneer in the field of suicidology, Edwin S. Shneidman, described it as "how much you hurt as a human being causing mental suffering and mental torment. Atonement is a reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ or a confession of sins. Atonement is what a person seeks from another to correct or acknowledge previous wrongdoings, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act or to seek some other form of atonement by expressing feelings of remorse. When you atone, you are taking responsibility and holding yourself accountable for the pain you have caused another. You are aware and can ask for forgiveness, and never afflict that pain upon anyone again. Purge or Purging. Although there are many definitions, here are some examples that we rarely use. To purge is also to rid (someone or something) of an unwanted quality, condition, or feeling. To free someone or something from (an unwanted quality, condition, or feeling). To physically or spiritually remove or expel (something) completely. Atone for or wipe out completely. When you purge you are forever getting rid of and saying goodbye to whatever is that's not good for you. You can lift your hands and say I rebuke you in the name of the Lord, you can lift your hands and say stop, you don't live in my heart, thoughts, or home anymore. You can lift your hands and say Hallelujah, I am free! Psalm 118:5 Out of my distress, I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. Why do we hurt people? Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? Have you ever heard the expression, Hurt people, hurt people? With that being said, the victimizer who caused the affliction is the result of their past hurt from the sins of others who have afflicted pain upon them or in some cases have not had any affliction but instead have an evil entitled spirit and/or chemically imbalanced. So in return, they afflict pain upon you. A stranger or someone you know, and no one can hurt you more than the ones you love and trust. Whether you know the person or not, harming a person for no justification is not only abusive but it's also a form of bullying. When you afflict abuse that causes severe pain, either physical or verbal, you are disrespecting boundaries, you are dishonoring and tormenting which can cause a person to be traumatized for life. Why do we hold onto emotional pain? Because we are afraid to ask for help and in fear of shame or in fear of disbelief from others. Why do we keep the pain behind closed doors? Due to family and friend ties, sometimes it's easier to hold onto the secret and stay in the pain than to do anything about it. Why do we sacrifice our own emotions for the sake of others' happiness? Because feelings are involved we want to avoid conflict, so we hold onto emotional pain to keep the peace and remain connected to the person who caused our pain. Why do we keep holding on to something that happened so long ago? Because we harbor resentment and sometimes we hold onto emotional pain because we don't have the tools in life to release the pain and move on. When I say move on, what I mean is to move on to never talk about it, nor relive the pain again, but is that conceivable? No, it's not because as long as we have a memory, we will always remember those moments that caused us severe pain. This is called PTSD or post-traumatic syndrome. PTSD is a grave psychological illness, it can cause a person to completely snap which can result in hospitalization and suicide. I suffer from PTSD and even though I've struggled to move on from the pain, I have been able to move on with my life because I've always been a functional person. No matter what comes my way, I've always been a goal-oriented, functional, and focused person. I've accomplished many things while still holding onto pain. Some people are unable to do that and those are the people rambling and wandering, aimlessly in the middle of a street. You would never know that I was in so much pain, not unless you're one of the closest people to me. Like me, there are so many beautiful and wonderful Queens holding on to past pain. It could be you or the person right next to you, a family member, or a friend. They greet you with a smile and look forward to spending precious moments with loved ones, and each day they show up and try to be normal. All for the sake of making everyone happy, they mask their pain. They walk around like their lives are so perfect by portraying an image or a character that they think others want to see them as. They tend to be those people who do the most and love the hardest. They are also, easily, disappointed. They shut down and in some cases never return to being the same. Why? Because they are now blocking their heart from ever being hurt again. Even though they may still love and care for you, they can no longer trust you with their heart. Usually, they resort to these measures because they've already been down that road before. They have absorbed all options and have decided to let go and let God. Why should we purge to seek atonement? Although it's not a perfect world, hearts are built to live and love, and that's why it's important to purge and seek atonement because you must speak your truth and then heal. If not with them, then a therapist, counselor, or minister. Because it is only then that you will learn to live and love in a way that you've never done before. Whether they're still in your life or not, and if you haven't had one already, take that first step and ask them for that sit-down and know that there’s nothing wrong with holding them accountable for the pain that they've caused you. You can call them of course, but then you might set yourself up for a disconnect, it's easier to hang up the phone than to leave. When face to face, there are levels of emotions to witness, and if the vibe is good, positive emotions lead to touching. If the emotions are reciprocated, you can hold hands, hug it out, laugh, and cry. Oh, the mighty power of touching! My fellow Queen, I'm asking you? Have you ever wanted to let someone know the damage they've caused you? Have you ever wanted to let them know why you are the way you are Queen, are you afraid to ask them for an apology because you fear you may never receive one? Is important for you to speak your truth, is it important for you to be set free? Are you sick and tired of being weary and holding your peace? Queen, you don't have to be muted anymore toward somebody who's mistreated you, verbally, physically, mentally, and or sexually. Even if you know they are nearby, you don't have to be silent if you are still connected to them in some way. You may love or hate them but I want you to know today that you don't have to mask those hurtful feelings and you don't have to be afraid to disrupt those connected relationships or the lifestyle that you’ve created surrounding them. It's not about them, it's about you and your healing. Sit face to face and let them gaze upon the Queen that you are. With style and grace, come to the table, prayed up, be peaceful, and focused, and be prepared for the outcome. Let me ask you this, even if you don't want nor desire a sit-down if given the opportunity would you take it? I would and I have because holding onto severe past pain can cause so much damage. It can cause sickness and depression. It can affect your relationship with God and your everyday well-being and interaction with people in general. Holding on to pain can make you suicidal because it's embedded in your memory. Without processing the event that caused the pain, you may have forgiven someone and sincerely meant it at the time. However, because we failed to process it, our memory keeps reliving those hurtful moments over and over again, and with that comes new pain that ignites the slightest triggers; that can send you over the edge! Those are just a few reasons why it's necessary to purge to seek atonement, but wait there's more! Foremost it's necessary to be well and fully engaged in life. It's important to love yourself and to breathe again. It's essential to build and bond better relationships with others and with yourself. It's okay to renew your broken heart and restore your faith. When purging you are setting yourself free and your spirit will be lifted. Your mind, soul, and heart will have a revival. It may bond that relationship and make it stronger. It may even help you to remove that toxic person from your life for good. Even though the process may be unnerving, the pain in your heart, mind, body, and soul will cease. As long as you are willing to let it go, it will go, one at a time. Get out of your way so that you can let yourself triumphantly get through the fearless journey of resolve. Remember that when you have resolved to have that sit-down, it's about purging. It's about forgiveness and coming full circle with one's self. It doesn't mean that your truth is their truth and vice versa, so be prepared for renunciation. It doesn't mean you have to accept that person back into your life, it doesn't mean that you will pick up where you left off as if nothing ever happened. Things will take time, remember Rome wasn't built in a day. If anything, accept the consequences, forgive, leave in peace, and wish them well. As I stated previously, I had my sit down and I must tell you, the outcome was a wonderful revival, and we are in a much better place now and by the grace of God, I am healed! My Queen, I pray for the same for you. If you decide to purge to seek atonement, my advice to you is, to choose wisely and discern that spirit first, some spirits are not worth a chat. Also, not everyone is as approachable, accepting, and receiving as the next. 1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Furthermore, choose your meeting place wisely, where you feel secure and comfortable. Come in peace and no matter what, stay composed. If at any time, you feel any hostility or threatened, leave immediately. Let's hope and pray it doesn't resort to that. Remember, it's the process of sorting through the pain. Coming to the point of forgiveness may be labor-intensive because it can be easier to harbor resentment than it is to cultivate love. Above all else chose love because, with it, you can still walk away to agree to disagree. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. If you choose not to have a sit-down, I encourage you to get help. Help is just a prayer and phone call away. Ask the Lord for help and then let the holy spirit guide you. Speak with someone you know and trust or a therapist, counselor, or preacher. You can even Google help hotlines. Help is out there so please get help and be well my beloved. As part of the healing process, if you are abusing substances to dull the pain of abuse or need resources on how to stop the abuse, please click on the link below or visit any self-help website that you are comfortable with. As long as you get help, that's all that matters. https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/alcohol-abuse/alcohol-hotline/ A special message to anyone who's reading that has mistreated someone. I challenge you to make amends and have that uncomfortable conversation. The choice is yours. Perhaps there's an underlying issue within you and not necessarily an actual issue with the person that you hurt. Whether you hurt them, verbally, mentally, physically, or sexually, find it within yourself to purge and atone. Set yourself free and ask the Lord for forgiveness and then forgive yourself. Hebrews 12:14-15, Strive for peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it, many become defiled. If peace is impossible between you and the afflicted one or the person who has afflicted that pain on you, then have peace within yourself. Call on the holy spirit of God and ask for forgiveness and be at peace with yourself and any decisions that you have made. My fellow Queen, trust and believe in the process and know that there is nothing more important than you. With prayer, hope, and faith, you can annihilate whatever demons that may come your way. If you want to heal, you must trust in and repeatedly work through the process until the desired forgiveness settles permanently into your heart. It may take time, maybe weeks, months, or years, but no matter what keep pushing through it. If you must, because you have absorbed all options; as stated earlier, then let go and let God. Choose to be at peace with yourself and others. Surround yourself with people who have your best interest at hand and immerse yourself with positive energy. And, don't forget to smile, and hug yourself daily. Because Queen, you are loved, and wonderfully, fearfully created in the eyes of the lord. You are on your way to wellness! What is wellness? Wellness is an individual pursuit. We have self-responsibility for our own choices, behaviors, and lifestyles, but it's also significantly influenced by the physical, social, and cultural environments in which we live. Wellness is also associated with an active process of being aware and making choices that lead toward an outcome of optimal holistic health and well-being. Wellness is about more than just physical health. Most models of wellness include at least 6 dimensions. Physical: A healthy body through exercise, nutrition, sleep, etc. Mental: Engagement with the world through learning, problem-solving, creativity, etc. Emotional: Being in touch with, aware of, accepting of, and able to express one’s feelings (and those of others). Spiritual: Our search for meaning and purpose in human existence. Social: Connecting with, interacting with, and contributing to other people and our communities. Environmental: A healthy physical environment free of hazards; awareness of the role we play in bettering rather than denigrating the natural environment. https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/

So I will just get straight to the point! I tried to kill myself but thank God I was saved and I'm here today to fulfill my dreams and to be here for the loved ones in my life. I realize that I am a child of God, I am a Queen, I have a purpose, I do matter, and I am beautiful, gifted, and talented! Thank God and Thank God for my family, my friends, prayer warriors, medication, and therapy. I asked you today, what does mental illness look like? It looks like you, me, and anyone in the world. I have attempted suicide a couple of times in my life and as early as my childhood, I suffered from mental illness. I never knew why or what was happening to me. I've had some very happy moments in my life and I've had some very traumatic moments too. Even when I'm happy, mental illness strikes, and for no apparent reason. In the past, I couldn't understand it, it was unexplainable, an ongoing battle from therapy to hospitalization. After several years of going through this, finally I went to see a specialist and was clinically diagnosed. Now I understand in my life what I need to do to make sure that I am well and safe. If you suffer from mental illness please get help it's no joke. If you know someone who suffers from mental illness, I'm asking you today to be sensitive to what you say to people who are mentally ill, it could trigger them. Be kind, be patient, be thoughtful, and don't judge them. Instead, love them, support them, and get them help. We are not exempt from mental illness. While some experience mental illness only once in their life (depending on the illness, environment, life stressors, and genetics), others battle mental illness for the rest of their lives. Some of us think that we don't have a problem and truly believe that everyone else is the problem. Unfortunately, these myths and illusions force us to suffer in silence and not seek treatment. Mental illness affects everyday functional people, and it's not limited to the homeless man talking to himself. It impacts a person’s emotions, perceptions, and behaviors. Afro-Americans suffer from mental illness just like their white counterparts. Afro-Americans are more likely to be at risk for developing a mental condition than any nationality. In fact, when you think of everyday stressors, systematic racism such as police brutality, education and health care gaps, and sexism that impacts Afro-American women. This is a perfect time to shed light on what many deem a nonexistent problem. Schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, dissociative identity disorder/multiple personality disorder, bulimia, ADHD, OCD, and social anxiety are examples of mental illnesses that people battle daily. Mental illness is just as serious as any other disease and those affected by it should not be judged or outcast. Mental illness is a flaw in brain chemistry, not a character flaw, a rich people problem, or a white people problem. Don't be part of the problem, get educated and help someone today! Please scroll down and see the list of people who have committed suicide or have tried. Please also scroll down to see images of them as well. May they find healing and may they rest in peace! Attempted---- Oprah, Halle Berry, Tamar Braxton, Fantasia, Drew Barrymore, Elton John, Owen Wilson, Princess Diana of Wales, Eminem, Mike Tyson Suicides---- 1. Anthony Bourdain Producer | Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Died June 8, 2018, at age 61, by hanging himself 2. Stephanie Adams Self-made millionaire, Actress/Secret Lives of Women. Play Boy Bunny She died May 18, 2018, at age 47, by jumping out of a 25th-floor hotel window after first throwing her 7-year-old son out of the window in a murder-suicide 3. Simone Battle Actress | Zoey 101 Died September 5, 2014, at age 25, by hanging herself 4. Kurt Cobain Singer-songwriter, Soundtrack | Moulin Rouge! Died on April 5, 1994, at age 27, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound; his body lay undiscovered for at least 3 days. 5. Don Cornelius Soul Train Host, Soundtrack | Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Died February 1, 2012, age 75, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 6. Margot Kidder Actress | Superman Died May 13, 2018, age 69, of a drug and alcohol overdose 7. Marilyn Monroe Actress | Some Like It Hot Died August 4, 1962, age 36, of an overdose of barbiturates 8. Rob Pilatus Singer from the group Milli Vanilli, Actor | Das Erbe der Guldenburgs Died April 2, 1998, age 32, of an alcohol and drug overdose 9. Mark Salling Actor | Glee Died on January 30, 2018, at age 35, by hanging himself from a tree in a local park 10. Jas Waters Writer | What Men Want, "This Is Us" and "Hood Adjacent with James Davis" Died June 9, 2020, age 39 by hanging herself 11. Robin Williams Actor | Mrs. Doubtfire Was an Oscar winner and 4-time Oscar nominee. Died on August 11, 2014, at age 63, by hanging himself. To learn more, CLICK THE BELOW LINK https://www.todaysqueenlifeandstyle.com/post/anti-depression

The Future is Female Definition: Women will make a comeback. The phrase implies they will claim power from the hands of men and use that power to assert themselves as the prominent people of the future. This slogan was created by lesbian feminist Kristen Hogan in 1972 but since then it has taken on many different meanings for women. Hillary Clinton has used it often during her campaign for president and in recent years it has become an anthem for women who advocate for more female everything. My take on it: The past, present, and the future is female. We give birth to boys that become men. We raise our boys to become men and in some cases, we raise our men to become a man!! Funny but true. From the beginning of time, where would they be without us? They would be extinct! You see, men need us and that's one of our many superpowers. We are superwomen and we hold many positions in this world! I believe that the majority of us are prominent figures in the world. Let's get into it! We're billionaires, entrepreneurs, CEO's and bosses. We're single parents playing the role of mother and father. Yes, men are too but the statistics show that there are more women than men who are single parents. We're household technicians, such as taking care of the daily operations in our homes like cooking, cleaning, managing and paying bills, taking care of the children, and disciplining them. On top of all that, we take care of our partners from everything to stroking their egos to serving them and satisfying them sexually. They say a way to a man's heart is food and a way to keep him is to make love often. Excuse my French but yes, there's power in the pussy and a delicious home-cooked meal! However, when those things fail those superpowers are no longer working for us. What we have to realize is that our power comes in many different forms. It comes from our outward and inward beauty, our strength, our self-love, our self-worth, our power in prayer, and our power in numbers. Because when we choose to demand respect, fight back, and fight back together, there's zero tolerance. We become in control, we take back our power and we become powerful and not powerless! A perfect example is the Me Too Movement; we banded together and publicly spoke out about sex trafficking, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct, and with our voices, we took down men from very high places. To name a few, Matt Lauer, Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein, R. Kelly, and Harvey Weinstein; the list goes on and on. Women have also built a bridge of equality, that’s why we’re able to vote. When we take back our voices and stand together, we can be very powerful human beings! Female power is now! Like Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, we're running for president. Like Jackie O and Michelle Obama, we're first ladies of our country and like Lady Diana, Meghan Markle, and Queen Elizabeth we are princesses and queens in other countries. Lastly, like you and me, we are modern-day self-appointed Queens! We really do run the world! The past, present, and future is female! We run this motha! The Future Is Female. What does it mean to you?