SEP - OCT 2 0 2 1
SUICIDE
AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
I want to be like a sunflower so that even on the darkest day I will stand and find the sunlight. UNKNOWN
"LIVE IN SEA, DRI
RALPH WALDO EMERS
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N THE SUNSHINE, SWIM THE INK THE WILD AIR."
SON
CONTENTS
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Suicide Awareness and Statistics
Help Pre
12 I GIVE UP- I'M TIRED OF PUTTING ON THE COSTUME
Written By: AmaRah Lola Chika
36 TODAY I CHOSE LIFE-
24 KATE'S RECOVERY - MY STORY,
MEDITATION
MY WORDS, MY JOURNEY, MY LIFE
Written By: Antonia Rose
Written By: Kate A.
38 FAITH HEALING PRAYER
32 THERE SHE IS- REMEMBER
JOURNAL
Written By: Lisa Van Groningen
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12
event Suicide
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Loss Survior Tool Kit 40 MY FIRST DISH- PASTA WITH
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MEATTBALLS IN POMDORO SAUCE
Resources
Written By: Chef Marcel Bruzual Alvardo
Mental Health Substance Abuse
44 THE YAGE JOURNEY- PART 1 OF ALTERNATIVE HEALING METHODS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
49 DON'T GIVE UP- POEM
Written By: Jeffery Hill
Written By: Anna Sul
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The best scoop in town SCHRANK'S CLUBHOUSE VISALIA GRAND REOPENING SOON! Visit www.breathemagazine.net and Follow Us on Social Media for Updates
A COMMUNITY OF LOVE, SUPPORT, AND DIGNITY CLUBHOUSES ARE A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION OF HOW PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS CAN AND DO LEAD NORMAL, PRODUCTIVE LIVES. WE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF GETTING RID OF THE STIGMA THAT IS ATTACHED TO MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH VARIOUS DIFFERENT INITIATIVES! CLUBHOUSES ARE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS THAT IN TURN SUPPORT THEM IN OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING, ETC. SCHRANK'S CLUBHOUSE IS DBA CLUBHOUSE VISALIA OUR MISSION IS: TO BE A COMMUNITY OF LOVE, UNDERSTANDING, AND SUPPORT TO HELP THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS RECOVER AND BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF SOCIETY. CLUBHOUSE VISALIA'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO: 1. PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. 2. PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN RECOVERY PROCESS BY WORKING AND SOCIALIZING TOGETHER IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT 3. PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE WORK, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ARE MEANINGFUL AND HELPS MEMBERS REGAIN SELF-WORTH, CONFIDENCE, AND PURPOSE 4. REDUCE HOSPITALIZATION, INCARCERATIONS, AND HOMELESSNESS DUE TO LACK OF PROGRAMS, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES. 5. STOP THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS www.breathemagazine.net AND REDUCE AND STOP SUICIDES 6
We're Hiring! Peer Support Specialist- Spanish Speaking Breathe YOU MATTER Staff Breathe YOU MATTER- Ad Sales Person Breathe YOU MATTER- Magazine Editor Writers Photographers Contact Gwen Schrank for details: gwenschrank@gmail.com
TOGETHER, WE CAN DO ANYTHING! J o i n
t h e
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your first steps to success | COS.EDU | Hanford, Tulare, Visalia
Our Team Founder/ Editor- Gwen Schrank Designer: Gwen Schrank Graphic Designer: Juan Carlos Food- Chef Marcel Bruzual Alvardo Writer- Antonia Rose Writer- Lisa Van Groningen Writer- Kate A. Writer- AmaRah Lola Chika Writer- Jeffery Hill Writer- Anna Sul
Welcome
New Contributors AmaRah Lola Chika Writes from her heart, experience and soul.
Partners Starbucks
Tulare County
Jeffery Hill
Kaweah Delta
Writing a series on alternative healing from his experience around the world.
VUSD
College of Sequoias
The Source LGBTQ+
National Institute of Mental Health
Anna Sul
NAMI
Writes from personal struggles with a focus on acceptance and encouragement.
Visalia Wellness Center
Porterville Wellness Center
Suicide Prevention Task Force ACES Aware
New Life Community Church
Breathe Magazine is published Bi-Monthly in 2021 and is available online for free digital download. Views expressed in columns are those of the columnist and not necessarily those of Breathe YOU MATTER Magazine, dvdertisers, or partners. Our goal is to provide mental wellness resources and stop the stigma associated with mental illness by providing a platform for people to share their journeys. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Founder Gwen Schrank via email. gwenschrank@gmail.com.
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Founders Note:
Founder- Gwen Schrank Dear Readers, In this September/October issue of Breathe YOU MATTER, we are providing Suicide Awareness and Prevention information with the hope of saving lives. In this issue you will get an understanding of what some who have attempted suicide thought about before their attempt, and you’ll get helpful information about what to do if you have a love one or friend who are having suicidal thoughts. We also want to provide you with HOPE. We want you to know that you are not alone and there are resources available to help you 24/7 during a crisis situation. It is also important for us to provide those who have lost a loved one to suicide some help, support, and resources as well. Our number one goal for creating Breathe YOU MATTER magazine is to help save lives. We care about you and our community. We are here for you. With All My Heart and Love, Gwen Schrank Suicide Attempt Survivor
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HOPE
Have you struggled with thoughts of suicide? Have you had one or more attempts? +
DETAILS
Visit www.sptf.org
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"I'm overwhelmed, the pain is too much, I can't take it anymore."
SUIICIDE ATTEMPT SURVIIVOR
I GIVE UP
Written By AmaRah Lola Chika
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I’M TIRED OF PUTTING ON THE COSTUME
Today I decided to give up! Yes you heard me correctly, I’m letting go and giving up. Giving up the hopes, giving up the dreams, giving up any thought of finding true love. Giving up wanting to live. You see I’ve run a really long race over the years. Funny thing is, I’m wondering if my whole life has been a dream. I go to sleep and wake up….only to be at the very beginning of the start line still trying to move forward, but never reaching the finish line. I don’t have any fight left in me and I give up, I give up I GIVE UP! I struggle daily with inner demons and constantly deal with outward devils. I have always felt alone in this world. I have never experienced love aside from me loving my children. Honestly, huh I’m not even sure I did that right. It’s hard to know, when you yourself have never experienced love; I mean what do I base it on. God I’m tired, tired of crying, tired of struggling, tired of pretending, tired of this realistic costume I pull out of my closet and I put on everyday. It looks so real and lifelike. People can’t tell that it’s not me. It’s amazing how people hate me for who they think I am, but have no earthly nor spiritual clue of the battle that is really going on inside me. Shit, I have enough hate for the unseen battles
going on in my own mental and spiritual world, do they really think I want to deal with their judgemental bullshit in my physical one. At this very moment I’m sitting on a shuttle bus and I’m writing, I’m trying to fight back tears and keep saying to myself. Damn I hope no one looks at me because then they will be able to see that I’m really screaming and crying on the inside. They might discover my costume and realize I’m a fake. Pull yourself together girl!!!!, you can’t allow them to see you this vulnerable. You must keep your composure your dignity; After all that is the only thing that you have control over in your life currently and no one, NO ONE.. can take that away from you. As I take a deep breath and swallow one last time to hold back my tears, we reach our destination. I look up, …” oh shit” I made eye contact and I force a realistic smile, he smiles back. As I get off the bus, I think to myself, YES GIRL! I did it, another day of pretending and no one discovered my secret. I go home, I unzip, I step out of my costume and carefully hang it in the closet, I take another hanger and unzip as I step in and zip up the costume for home as I prepare for my evening and to do it all again tomorrow. “Don’t ever judge a book by its cover!”
SUICIDE AWARENESS AND STATISTICS Major Findings
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As with rates of anxiety and depression, youth ages 11-17 report the highest rates of suicidal ideation of any
age group. In September 2020, 51% (N=21,586) of 11-17-year-olds reported having thoughts of suicide or self-
harm more than half or nearly every day of the previous two weeks. From January to September 2020, 77,470
youth reported experiencing frequent suicidal ideation, including 75,107 since the beginning of the pandemic in March.
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Suicidal ideation is also higher among people who identify as LGBTQ+, especially LGBTQ+ youth. In September
2020, 55 percent (N=11,865) of LGBTQ+ individuals reported frequent suicidal ideation, and 62 percent
(N=7,988) of youth ages 11-17 who identified as LGBTQ+ reported suicidal ideation more than half the days or
nearly every day. From January to September 2020, 27,980 LGBTQ+ youth reported experiencing frequent suicidal ideation.
All LGBTQ+ 2019 Respondents Average Percent Reporting Frequent Suicidal Ideation
Jan 2020
Feb 2020
Mar 2020
Apr 2020
May 2020
June 2020
Jul 2020
Aug 2020
Sep 2020
49% 48% (N=15,586) (781)
51% (901)
52% (1,218)
52% (1,745)
48% (4,822)
48% (5,622)
52% (7,058)
53% (9,657)
55% (11,865)
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Think about your mental health test. What are the main things contributing to your mental health problems right now? Choose up to 3. Coronavirus Current events (news, politics, etc.) Financial Problems Loneliness or isolation Grief or loss of someone or something Past trauma Relationship problems
Percentage, Individuals with Moderate to Severe Anxiety or Depression, May 32.45%
Percentage, Individuals with Moderate to Severe Anxiety or Depression, June 25.50%
Percentage, Individuals with Moderate to Severe Anxiety or Depression, July 26.24%
Percentage, Individuals with Moderate to Severe Anxiety or Depression, August 26.64%
Percentage, Individuals with Moderate to Severe Anxiety or Depression, September 24.53%
24.53% 23.19% 68.81%
31.56% 23.64% 70.70%
26.58% 24.27% 71.35%
26.02% 24.79% 70.77%
26.17% 23.46% 70.69%
26.63% 46.70% 43.17%
25.88% 45.55% 42.74%
26.22% 46.65% 42.77%
26.64% 46.56% 42.61%
26.27% 45.58% 42.05%
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Simple Actions You Can Take To Help Prevent Suicide In the era of Covid-19, as we all try to protect our mental health and cope with uncertainty, it’s more important than ever that we be there for each other and take steps to prevent suicide. You don’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. There are simple things we can all do to safeguard our mental health, . and you don’t have to do it alone. Together, we Here are some actions you can take to help prevent suicide: 1
Learn how to care for you own mental health. Download our self-care guide at afsp.org/KeepGoing.
2
Have a #RealConvo with someone in your life. View our #RealConvo guides at afsp.org/RealConvo.
3
Reach out to your public officials to demand smart mental health legislation. Learn how to advocate and take action to prevent suicide at afsp.org/ActionCenter.
4
Bring suicide education and support programs to your school, workplace and community. Connect with your local chapter representative at afsp.org/Chapters.
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Share the warning signs, and learn what research tells us about suicide. Learn more about the warning signs at afsp.org/Signs.
6
Add crisis resources to your phone, and encourage friends and family to do the same. Find a list of suicide prevention resources at afsp.org/Resources.
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Connect suicide loss survivors to healing resources. Explore loss and healing resources at afsp.org/Loss.
afsp.org/KeepGoing
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Tips for Setting Priorities This School Year Picking two or three achievable goals for your child this fall will help you focus on what matters most — and give yourself permission to let some things go. Here are some tips to help you set priorities, but remember: you don’t have to do it all! Go back to basics Remote learning is still very new and challenging. Getting comfortable with tech and simply showing up every day can be a meaningful learning experience for many kids. Consider your child’s individual needs Every child has different needs, academic and otherwise. Some might need lots of support and structure, while others might benefit from a more relaxed home environment (and less bickering over schoolwork). Emphasize core subjects Reading, writing and math are the foundational academic areas that kids need to keep up with. Especially for children with learning disabilities, structured practice is key. Focus on skills rather than activities Not every remote learning activity will be a good fit for every child and that’s okay. The goal is for your child to learn — whatever that looks like — so check in with teachers about adapting assignments when necessary. Think beyond academics School is about so much more than schoolwork. Consider whether your child might need support around socializing, building independence or staying physically active. Trust your instincts Parents really do know what their kids need most. Whether they’re falling behind in math or need help staying connected with friends, take note of your biggest concerns and give yourself permission to prioritize them — and worry less about everything else.
For additional back-to-school resources for families and educators visit childmind.org/backtoschool.
We know things may feel unsettling and even scary right now. Although we are practicing physical distancing, you can still connect with others and stay healthy. Here are some resources available to assist you through these times: Friendship Line California: 1-888-670-1360 Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255 Mental Health 24/7 Alcohol & Other Drugs Access Line: 1-866-732-4114 K/T AAA Information* & Assistance: 1-800-321-2462 * Please note the K/T AAA Information and Assistance line can also assist with connecting you to other resources such as Food Assistance, Financial Assistance, and Legal Assistance.
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" But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord Jeremiah 30:17
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Kate’s Recovery
MY 24
Words Story Journey Life
I started struggling with addiction when I was 12 years old. During this time, my addictive personality started to show where I always seem to want more and more of whatever made me feel good at the time; whether it was games, iPhones, food, or people. I also suffered with mental health as well. When I was 13, I was diagnosed with bipolar which is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day to day tasks.
During this time I was in a relationship at this young age in which my partner introduced me to drugs. I struggled with drug addiction without anyone knowing that I had a problem from the age of 12 until I was 15 in which I went to a drug rehabilitation center for the first time. I remember thinking to myself at the time that there was no way that I was ever going to change. I was there for thirty six days and the same day that I was released, I fed my addiction again. Everything went right back to the way it was except I had a few new tools that helped some things get better. A few months later I was admitted into my second rehabilitation center and little did I know that my life with addiction was about to change. This time I went into rehabilitation with an expectation to change. This time I was eager to heal. This time I made the choice to change. I realized that I was hurting everyone in my life. I started to understand that I was destroying my future plans. I saw that my addiction had gotten stronger and that I needed and wanted to change. I was there for 63 days. I wrote these words today, Friday, July 2nd, 2021 and as of today, I am 100 days sober. This is the longest that I have been sober since I was 12 years old. I want you to know that there is hope. I am living proof that it is possible. Today I am working with my mentors and leaders on starting a Youth AA Group to help myself and others like me continue our healing journey. I have learned that I am worth it and I want you to know that you are worth it too. We are worthy of sobriety. Please join me in sharing your story. We can get through this together.
Visit www.breathemagazine.net and share your journey with me. Click on KATE’S JOURNEY to share.
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PRESENTS
B E L LO V I TA O C TO B E R 2 3 | 6 P M - 8 P M
COSTUME CONTEST
ESCAPE ROOM
LIVE AUCTION
F O O D BY
TACOS LUCHA // QUE CONCHA T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E A T
W W W. T H E S O U R C E L G B T . O R G / G A L A
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"I've Lost Everything" SUICIDE ATTEMPT SURVIVOR
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THERE SHE IS R E M E M B E R Written By Lisa Van Groningen
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There she is. That girl in that room. The one you share so many memories with. Look at her. Seriously… Look at her right now! Do you remember? Do you remember that time you lived with her on S Street in that “high rise” studio apartment? The one she saw driving by one day and decided she was going to live there; and did. It’s the apartment where she parked in her private underground parking garage. The apartment on the highest floor; where she rode the elevator up to her perfect place. Do you remember her balcony that overlooked the pool in the courtyard surrounded by her favorite flower; Birds of Paradise? She talked her way into being approved to live there and hid the fact that her best friend and cat lived with her, because pets were not allowed. What about the lamps? Do you remember the shape of the beautiful solid black bodies leaning back, arms extended back, and above their heads holding the light? She saw them in a store window, and found the price tag. Fifty dollars each. She didn’t skip a beat! She did not have fifty dollars, nor did she have a steady job. Those lamps did not leave her mind. She had to have them.Do you remember what she did next? She found a job that paid fifty five dollars an hour! Without hesitation she began. She danced and she held space for the lonely ones. She set and held boundaries for the handsy ones and coped, but not well, with the warped ones.It didn’t take long. She got those lamps! They stood proudly on her glass coffee tables. They were absolutely stunning.
So was she.
She didn’t realize the power she held then. She is only beginning to see, feel and know it now.
She is you! Remember. Feel it.
Remember and feel what it was like to know what you wanted. Remember and feel what it was like to simply go do and get it. Remember and feel what it was like to see, decide, and acquire it.
It feels good doesn’t it? Pure and simple.
She is still there inside. She always has been. She never left. She craved improvement, she craved maturity, she craved wisdom. She took the hard classes, she learned the difficult lessons and passed the challenging exams. Not at a university, she did this in relationship after relationship, friendship after friendship, apartment after apartment, city after city, job after job.
Look at her. Seriously… Look at her right now! Do you remember? She is here.
She is ABSOFREAKINLUTLY awe inspiring and accomplished. She is even more amazing than you are aware of or can fathom.
She is you and she is perfect.
TOOL KIT #AAS365
ABOUT SUICIDAL GRIEF The loss of a loved one by suicide is often shocking, painful and unexpected. The grief that ensues can be intense, complex, and long term. Grief work is an extremely individual and unique process; each person will experience it in their own way and at their own pace. Grief does not follow a linear path. Grief doesn’t always move in a forward direction. There is no time frame for grief. Survivors should not expect that their lives will return to their prior state. Survivors aim to adjust to life without their loved one.
COMMON EMOTIONS EXPERIENCED IN GRIEF ARE:
RESOURCES FOR SUICIDE LOSS SURVIVORS
Shock
Confusion
Sadness
Pain
Helplessness
Guilt
Depression
Loneliness
Shame
Rejection
Despair
Denial
Denial
Hopelessness
Disbelief
Stress
Anger
Self-blame
Numbness
Anxiety Abandonment
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS These feelings are normal reactions and the expression of them is a natural part of grieving. At first, and periodically during the following days/months of grieving, survivors may feel overwhelmed by their emotions. It is important to take things one day at a time. These feelings are normal reactions and the expression of them is a natural part of grieving. At first, and periodically during the following days/months of grieving, survivors may feel overwhelmed by their emotions. It is important to take things one day at a time. Crying is the expression of sadness; it is therefore a natural reaction after the loss of a loved one.
DEFINTION:
Survivors often struggle with the reasons why the suicide occurred and
A survivor of suicide is a family member or friend of
whether they should have done something to prevent the suicide or help
a person who died by suicide. Anyone who is close to
their loved one. Feelings of guilt typically ensue if the survivor believes their
someone who died by suicide or feels affected by it
loved one’s suicide could have been prevented.
is a survivor. You do not have to be a family member to feel the impact of a suicide.
At times, especially if the loved one had a longstanding mental or psychiatric disorder, the survivor may experience relief.
SOME FACTS: There are currently over 47,000 suicides annually in
PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION
the USA. Every death by suicide leaves behind at least 130 people who report they knew the person who died. Of those, it is likely at least a third feel very
There is a stigma attached to suicide, partly due to the misunderstanding
close to the person who died & might need
surrounding it. As such, family members and friends of the survivor may not
intervention or services. This creates about 1 million
know what to say or how and when to provide assistance. They may rely on the
new people a year in the US who are directly
survivor’s initiative to talk about the loved one or to ask for help.
impacted by the suicide of someone close to them.
Shame or embarrassment might prevent the survivor from reaching out for help. Stigma, ignorance and uncertainty might prevent others from giving the necessary support and understanding. Ongoing support remains important to maintain family and friendship relations during the grieving process.
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HEALING Survivors sometimes feel that others are blaming them for the suicide. Survivors may feel the need to deny what happened or hide their feelings. This will most likely exacerbate and complicate the grieving process. When the time is right, survivors will begin to enjoy life again. Healing does occur. Many survivors find that the best help comes from attending a support group for survivors of suicide where they can openly share their own story and their feelings with fellow survivors without pressure or fear of judgment and shame. Support groups can be a helpful source of guidance and understanding as well as a support in the healing process.
CHILDREN AS SURVIVORS It is a myth that children don’t grieve. Children may experience the same range of feelings as do adults; the expression of that grief might be different as children have fewer tools for communicating their feelings. Children are especially vulnerable to feelings of guilt and abandonment. It is important for them to know that the death was not their fault and that someone is there to take care of them. Secrecy about the suicide in the hopes of protecting children may cause further complications. Explain the situation and answer children’s questions honestly and with age-appropriate responses.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SUICIDOLOGY
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) offers a variety of resources and programs to survivors in an attempt to lessen the pain as they travel their special path of grief. www.suicidology.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
AAS Support Group Directory American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Survivors of Suicide The Link Counseling Center
Survivors of Suicide Loss Peer Support Group
Have you lost a friend, family member, loved one, or someone close to suicide? Join our peer support group to help cope with the ever-changing mix of emotions we must grapple with after losing someone to suicide.
VISALIA 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 3rd Thursday of each month
Messengers Church 1436 S Woodland St. Visalia, CA 93277
www.sptf.org/sos
TODAY I CHOOSE LIFE
MEDITATION Written By Antonia Rose
TO BEGIN YOUR MEDITATION. You want to start with some breathing to help relax your body. Allow yourself to relax deep into the area you are seated.
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Relax
RELAX Pay close attention to your body. From your head to your toes, give yourself the permission to Unwind Let Go Let all tension disappear as you feel yourself relax deeper. Breathe normally. Together, Today as a community,
We choose life.
When issues, and things do not go our way and. When it looks like there won’t be a solution right away. It can feel a little unsettling. At this point, It is good to know we are not alone
We are never alone
Know that Small steps can become great progress confidence lies in knowledge and experience you have gained
LET GO Everything you have done up to this point has brought you to your individual path. Embracing and honoring yourself Is an important part of self love.
Think of something that brings you joy Something you can do for yourself Think of something you can do today that brings laughter and spontaneity. Today let’s make life happy I am abundant, I am rich, I am at peace
I am Enough I Belong My gifts are needed in this world There is a space for me There is a space for my talent Breathe Relax
I AM ENOUGH Today I choose to live the beautiful life I have been given I will honor the person I am Every part of me is special and unique. Today I acknowledge I have a beautiful spirit I am filled with amazing ideas, love and light to share. Yes Today Today I choose Life
M
y Time With The Lord
Whatever your belief system, there's power in prayer. Inside church or out, prayer and meditation can influence our mindset, as science has proven again and again, can have huge impacts on the conditions of our bodies. Spirituality has a proven therapeutic effect on people with anxiety, and has been shown to help with blood pressure, sleep, and breathing issues. In the Bible, Jesus has the divine power to heal, and he invittes his apostles to do the same: "And hee called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority... to heal every disease and every affliction." (Matthew 10:1) This is the basis for, and the beginning of, faith healing. (Credit: Delmaine Donson)
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Faithful To My Roots Pasta With Meatballs In Pomodoro Sauce My First Dish By Chef Marcel Bruzual Alvarado
Today I want to share my first dish that led to a lifestyle of cooking and has marked my life forever. It was my mother and my grandmother who influenced this great path of cooking. Every dish made at home during my childhood awakened in me the feeling of knowing how good flavors came together to create something so delicious. A meal with feeling, creativity, and knowledge that mark my roots. My mother’s side of the family was very good at seasoning foods in a way that held special memories in my heart. My aunt was a selftaught pastry maker who made delicacies with wonderful flavors. My love for being in the kitchen began as I participated with my mother and grandma in the shopping and preparations of putting my little knowledge and heart into each dish. Good food and aroma is always faithful to my roots while highlighting the seasoning of my mother, grandmother, aunt, and family meals together. I will never forget pasta that we always made most weekends when the family gathered for any reason. Today’s recipe is none other than the pasta with meatballs that I prepared as a child with my family, my first dish, my first recipe and my oldest memory in a kitchen.
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Pasta with Meatballs In Pomodoro Sauce 4 Servings
MEATBALLS Ingredients
• 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef • 1/2 cup bread crumbs • 1/4 cup milk • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1 small onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup) • 1 egg
Preparation
• Heat oven to 400 ° F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil; spray with cooking spray. • In a large bowl, mix all ingredients. Shape mixture into 24 (1 1/2-inch) meatballs. Place each meatball 1 inch apart in pan. • Bake uncovered 18 to 22 minutes or until temperature reaches 160 ° F and no longer pink in center.
POMODORO SAUCE
THE PASTA
Ingredients
Preparation
• 3 cups • 1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes • ½ cup olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, chopped • ¼ teaspoon sugar • Kosher salt
Preparation
Pulse tomatoes with juices in a blender to form a coarse purée. Heat oil in amedium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring often,until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add tomato purée and sugar and season with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently until sauceis slightly thickened, 10-15 minutes. DO AHEAD: Sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill, or freeze forup to 3 months.
Simply take the pasta you have in your pantry and it will be enough, you will need 500 grams of pasta. Once everything is prepared, we are going to submerge the meatballs in thePomodoro sauce for 12 minutes to allow the sauce to infuse with the meatballs, then we are going to serve the pasta in a deep plate and bathe with the sauce and then top with as many Meatballs as you can eat, haha, I recommend 3 or 4 per plate. You can put some chopped basil on top and curiously your dish will have the colors of the Italian flag (green, white and red). Now just enjoy a simple dish that is also very technical as well as sophisticated.
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S
unflowers
With irresistible charm, they stand tall, unabashedly seeking the source of their sustenance. Sunflowers show us the beauty of staying connected with all that nourishes and sustains us.
"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone." ~Ronald Reagan
THE “MEDICINE” CALLED ME! Written by Jeffery Hill
It was 2016 and I recall standing in line waiting to get access to a travel conference when I overheard a conversation, “Mushrooms will make you face your fear”! A friend was in line talking to another guy about psychedelics and mentioned the letters “DMT” DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) a hallucinogenic tryptamine molecule that occurs naturally in many plants, animals and humans. It is also referred to as the “spirit molecule” due to the intense psychedelic experience.
Please keep in mind, I am no expert, therefore I can only speak to my specific experiences. Research and close conversations with participants. Please do your own research and due diligence before taking any spiritual journeys. The medicine is not for everyone initially… you need to have clear intentions as to why you would like to partake on these paths. Participating in psychedelics can be a very liberating and a powerful spiritual awakening; however, if abused, you could have adverse effects. I know You-tubers make videos about using this “recreationally” but I will say you might be better off doing an actual ceremony with a Shaman - Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner who is believed to interact with a spirit world through altered states of consciousness (similar to a medicine man) or trained professional in working with the medicine. This is a very sacred process and should be treated as such. Now that I have given you disclaimers, let’s get to it. Since that initial conversation I have watched several videos, read articles and a range of conversations with people who’ve taken the journey. My research started with watching several Joe Rogan videos, especially when he discussed this with Mike Tyson. I was so drawn to the information and stories…mainly because people often had a hard time explaining what actually happened when they “were in”, a term I use when referring to the work the medicine is doing for you. Another good video is with Tony Robbins and Mike Tyson.
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If there’s one thing that made me more intrigued to participate is the point that Ego death is a “complete loss of subjective self-identity”. I am not sure why that had my attention (maybe because I struggle with the ego far too often), but before you judge, we all struggle with this. The first step is admitting. Since DMT, Ayahuasca and the likes are Schedule 1 (illegal) in the USA I knew my journey would take place out of the country. I researched countries but wanted to find someone with the inside scoop. My wife and I were in top destinations to participate with the medicine in Colombia and Peru. But for some reason, we never got the invite or information needed. Somehow we accidentally ended up in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and with a random (not so random) string of events….we found ourselves with everything we needed. I knew at this time, the medicine was calling me to it. I am not a stranger to Astral Projecting and I have done meditation and dream work as a novice. I noticed in my research the way people describe their (DMT/Aya) journeys seemed eerily similar to AP (Astral Projecting). You have to prepare your mind, body and spirit to receive the medicine if you want the best outcome. You have to change your diet to basically a mixture between pescatarian and more towards vegan as you get closer to the day of your ceremony. You have to abstain from alcohol, sex, drugs and even traditional prescription medicines. The day of the journey I had my gifts and bags packed for the journey. I had taken various types of healing medicines and although similar, they will have different effects. Aya is more of a liquid while Yage (Colombian
Aya) is more of a thick syrup. DMT normally comes from a specific frog that lives underground for 9 months out of the year until the rainy season, then it emerges. The venom from the frog is secreted and crystallized making it easy to smoke. Out of all the journeys, Bufo (5 MeO DMT) (Google Bufo Alvarius) normally taken during the day, was the quickest “trip”. I was given a high dose to ensure my body/mind wouldn’t attempt to resist. Imagine getting 1000 years worth of information with 10-20 minutes, coming back to your body and trying to make sense of it all. There’s a reason this is called the God molecule. You ascend to the point of true energy and knowingness of everything. In my words, you see how very small you are (ego) yet how big you are when you think of how energy works. Remember, energy is never created or destroyed, it’s only transferred. Aya/Yage are slower processes. They are normally taken at night by swallowing the medicine. It normally takes about 40-80 minutes for the medicine to really produce effects. During this time the music is played to help usher in the spirits. It’s important to note that every person will have a different experience with the medicine and every time you take it, your personal experience will be different. No two experiences are the same. Sometimes you’ll go into the future, sometimes the past and sometimes you’ll do work in the present. Prior to any of the ceremonies you should suspend expectations but definitely set your intentions. The medicine will guide you on your journey within. To be continued….
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It’s Not Only You Written By Anna Sul
If someone is feeling emotional today or sad or mad or lonely and it would make you feel less alone knowing that you are not the only one. If you don’t want to bring anyone down by sharing how you feel. If you don’t want someone else to feel like they have to fix it so you stay quiet.
I want you to know that I feel you. It’s not only you. If a real hug would break you into a million pieces. If help would be too heavy to bear. If more ideas and strategies would overwhelm you.
Know that you are not the only one. My no eye contact non-instructional spiritual cyber attack hug is stealthy and painless and that sending it to you is beneficial for me.
It’s Not Only You.
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