Tag Archives: Faith

No Sleep In Seattle

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! As I sit here typing this post, it is three o’clock in the morning in my corner of the world. I have attempted to sleep on several occasions tonight but unable to do so.

Since I have been unable to sleep I turned on my favorite podcast Philosophize This. The two podcast I listened to was about Saint Augustine and Buddha while sorting out the end pieces from a jigsaw puzzle that I am going to start. Anyway, I found that both Christianity and Buddhism played a major role in Philosophy especially modern day philosophy. I love listening to this particular podcast as it gives me different points of views in a non judgmental and non conforming way. A way that doesn’t shove shit down your throat. 

Now that I am done discussing religion for the time being, I am going to get going. I am going to work on the jigsaw puzzle while listening to a podcast on philosophy. Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!!

Random Thoughts At Midnight

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is midnight in my corner of the world and I have a lot on my mind. Some things are serious while other things are just normal everyday worries. All the things on my mind are not what is keeping me up.

I am up because I am wanting to and am watching The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Watching something that has humor such as The Tonight Show helps me be able to sleep at night. Being able to laugh before bed has something helpful in it and am grateful that I have learned this about myself.

I have been reading Star Wars: Heir To The Empire book. I am really enjoying it. In fact I am nearly finished with it. I hope to do a book review on it when I am done with the book. The cool thing about this book it is part of a trilogy.

I think I am liking the fact that I am looking into Buddhism. It is giving me a hope and a faith I didn’t have. I am not saying I didn’t have hope; I am saying I am having a new found hope. Having a faith in any particular religion helps folks with their recovery.

Thank you for reading. I will now get back to watching The Tonight Show. Peace Out, World. Goodnight.

DBT Skills Helping Me Through A Rough Moment

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am struggling a little right now. I am struggling with anxiety and PTSD. A struggle that I know I can get through. I can get through with the use of my skills. Specifically, DBT skills.

One of those skills is painting. I will be painting to help express the emotions that I am feeling at the moment. Emotions that I have trouble verbalizing out loud or even on paper or computer screen.

Another skill I can do that is helpful to me is mindfulness. Mindfulness helps calm my anxiety right down. Mindfulness also gives me a sense of peace. A peace the Buddhism is giving me as I look into it.

Looking into Buddhism is giving me a faith and hope that I have been searching for. A faith that has been a long time coming.

Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

Just A Bunch Of Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! My face hurts like hell. After being punched in the face last night I realize how grateful I am that it could have been worse. I could have been more injured than I am.

I saw my therapist today and he saw my eye and how swollen it is. We discussed what happened. We processed what I went through and how I can handle the potential PTSD symptoms.

I now plan on working on one of my workbooks. My workbook specifically geared to strengths and recovery. As I want to learn how to be okay with the strengths I have. I don’t like to acknowledge that I even have any strengths.

After doing my workbook I plan on reading my book; Why Buddhism Is True. I also plan on reading some Buddhist Scriptures. I am finding a sense of peace searching into the Buddhist faith.

Thank you for reading. Have a nice day and Peace Out, World!!!

It’s Been A Good Day

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It has been a good day. I hung out with friends and we went to out favorite restaurant, Red Robin. I got my favorite burger; The Whiskey River Burger with extra cheese and onion straws. It was nice to hang out with two close friends.

After eating we went shopping. I got new sandals as the ones I had the last two summers were worn so much the soles had holes in them. I am liking the new sandals and they are very comfortable.

When I got home I read my book on Buddhism as well as Buddhist scripture. I am finding that looking into the Buddhist faith has been quite helpful for me. It is bringing me a sense of peace I haven’t felt in a long time.

I think I am going to go and eat left over Red Robin for dinner. Thank you for reading. Peace Out, World!!!

 

More Random Thoughts

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I know it’s only Monday but I am already sick and tired of hear about the Royal Wedding. If I don’t know the people involved in the wedding I don’t want to hear about it. I know I can always turn off the news but then I’ll miss what is going on in my corner of the world.

It is suppose to be another warm day in Seattle. It is suppose to get to about eighty five degrees Fahrenheit (29.5 Celsius)  here in Seattle today. I love this type of weather. I plan on enjoying this weather despite having a debilitating migraine.

Dealing with migraines is not the most fun thing to deal with but I have found that practicing my new faith or what I know of it has been helpful. Reading Buddhist Scriptures as well as a book call Why Buddhism Is True has been quite helpful to subsiding the migraines.

I am hoping that looking into Buddhism is going to be the faith path I am suppose to be on. As of right now it appears to be the right path. I just need to find a place of Buddhist worship to attend to.

Thank you for reading. It is greatly appreciated that you reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Random Thoughts At Midnight

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is now midnight in my corner of the world!!! I made it through Mother’s Day without any major problems. It appears that I handled the grief of my grandma better than I thought I would.

It was a beautiful day in Seattle so I decided to go to the Ballard Locks. I did this to enjoy the eighty three degree (Fahrenheit) weather as I love the fact it is finally getting warm outside. While at the Ballard Locks I also read quite a bit. I read a book called Why Buddhism Is True. I am reading this book as I am wanting to figure out if Buddhism is the faith I want to follow.

Spirituality or faith including atheism is key to one being in recovery. Right now I am looking into Buddhism as it appears it might be the best faith for me and my personal goals with my recovery. As many of you know my faith in anything has been one of the the things lacking in my recovery and for me my recovery means the world to me.

Thank you so much for reading. Have a great night of sleep and Peace Out, World!!!

Sunday Night Random Thoughts

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! I am sitting here at my laptop on what I am going to be posting about. Usually, I have some idea but not so much at the moment. I just hope I don’t offend anyone with whatever come out of my head through my hands onto the post. It is my hope that I don’t say anything offensive.

As many of you know today was the first Mother’s Day without my grandma being around. I painted a picture of what is suppose to look like a yellow rose. My grandma’s favorite flower was the yellow rose. My painting didn’t come out as desired but hey it’s that healing part of creating that was helpful to me.

I also read a book called Why Buddhism is True. I am looking into Buddhism to see if it is the right faith for me especially in regards to my recovery. One of the key principles to recovery is faith even if you consider yourself an atheist it counts. I also read some Buddhist Scriptures as well which gave me some peace.

Thank you for reading. You all are quite awesome or reading my blog. Have a good night. Peace Out, World!!!

Therapy, Education, Books, Religion & Recovery

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! I saw my temporary therapist today. We discussed a melt down I had earlier today in day treatment at my request. My therapist and I talked about what I could have done differently. We came up with some wonderful ideas collectively and I am happy with what we came up with.

My therapist and I also discussed me going back to school and how it could affect my disability checks. To find out it wont affect it all. He will help me fill out the proper paper work to get money such as grants and/or scholarships. I’ll start out taking one class at a time to see how things go. I plan to go to a local community college that offers both two and four year degrees. I plan on getting an Associates of Applied Science degree in Social and Human Services and then transfer to their (the community college) Bachelor’s of Applied Science degree in Applied Behavior Science. My therapist likes the idea on how I am setting small goals with my education to ultimately reach my bigger educational goals. I am hoping that one day to get my Masters in Social Work from either the University of Washington (UW) or Smith College.

Another topic my therapist and discussed was my blog and blogging. We talked about giving him pseudo name. My therapist “doesn’t care” if I use his real name however out of respect for his former, current (counting me) and future clients I am choosing to give him a pseudo name. He “respects” my choice in giving him a pseudo name. I am going to give him the pseudo name of Gilbert. The name Gilbert in the name of one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite books; Anne of Green Gables. Yes, Gilbert is being named after the character, Gilbert Blythe of Anne of Green Gables. So, when the name Gilbert comes up in any of my post, I am talking about my temporary therapist.

Changing the topic drastically, I am switching it to religion. Earlier this evening I met with the Mormon missionaries. In fact the missionaries I met with were female which is unusual but not all that uncommon especially in a major metropolitan area. We discussed Joseph Smith and all that jazz regarding the Mormon faith. I was upfront with two young ladies that I most likely wont join their church but might visit it on occasion. They were “thrilled” that I was “being honest” with them about that.

Now switching back to the topic of recovery. It appears that my recovery is starting get back on track. I am saying this because I finally have hope back and I am being future oriented. Both are very good signs in recovery.

Speaking of recovery part of mine is making sure I eat on the regular basis and I am realizing I haven’t had dinner yet. That means I’m going to end this post and get some food. Thank you for reading. It’s very much appreciated. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 15: Take a Cue from Your Reader

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! Today’s assignment for Finding Your Everyday Inspiration is to take a cue from you my reader. A few days ago I asked you to give me some suggestions. I didn’t get as many suggestions as I would have liked however I did get some.

It appears from what I received from the feedback I got is that the answers were all different however one thing everyone was in agreement with. That something is to continue with what I do in regards to sharing my journey. I guess it gives people “hope” even those individuals who “don’t struggle with mental illness.”

Another common theme amongst most of the feedback I received was the education piece of my blog. The part of my blog that I’ve pretty much failed to do. Something, I hope to start doing it again. It is my plan to start it no later than the New Year (2018). Yes, I realize that the New Year is two and half months away but it gives me time to do research. Research that realistically will be hindered by the upcoming holidays which is why I’m giving myself two and half months. An idea I have is to get suggestions from you on what type of educational topics you would like me to discuss regarding anything to do with mental health (i.e. Treatments, Peers, Clinicians, Diagnosis).

Education and sharing my personal journey may have been a common theme amongst the suggestions, I received however I got some ideas that are all great. Some are a little bit controversial however those topics are necessary to the subjects of mental health and/or a persons recovery.

One such controversial topic is one’s faith, spirituality, and/or religion. One thing that is in agreement among those who have a mental health diagnosis is that one’s faith is key to one’s recovery. Yes, faith or religion can be a controversial topic however spirituality is a topic that needs to be continued to be discussed. Discussed so those who don’t have lived experience know that it plays a major role in recovery and the treatment they may need and/or desire.

Another such controversial topic is politics. Politics play a major role in mental health. Maybe not directly to one’s diagnosis but in other ways. Ways that it could and have effected those with a mental health diagnosis. In one such political topic related to mental health is health care. Having the proper health care and insurance is key to one’s recovery and treatment.

Since we are on the topic of health care someone did bring up the topic of it and how both mental health and physical health can effect each other. This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. It’s near and dear to my heart for many reason and I am more than sure that when the physical health topic is brought up again, those reasons will be more clear.

As I end this particular post, I want to remind you that if you have any suggestions on any topics or educational topics related to mental health you will like me to bring up, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I want to thank you for reading. I hope everyone has a great rest of their day. Peace Out!!!