Virtual worlds, especially Second Life, provide an invaluable lifeline for many in our community who are isolated for a variety of reasons. I’ve written about this before and personally experience how helpful Second Life can be. The immersive experiences and connections with others have been especially helpful over the past three years as shifting health mandates and recommendations are more often confusing than helpful. The big push for video meetings, aka “zoom meetings” with the onset of the COVID pandemic in 2020 helped some and left many others without the connections they craved and that, as humans, we need. For…
I’m a big believer in self-care for brain injury survivors, or for anyone at all for that matter. Medical professionals are great at their jobs and they help us keep breathing and walking around day to day. I don’t know where I’d be without the professionals who treated me while I was experiencing a major stroke, but I’ll tell you, I wouldn’t be here, breathing and walking around every day. But I also know how important it is for me to participate in my own healthcare decisions. After all, I know myself best. While I follow the doctor’s advice, I…
Did you know that the lotus grows in muddy water? It is said that the muddier the pond, the more beautiful the flower. The lotus flower has great meaning in Buddhism. An open flower, one that has bloomed, represents enlightenment and the muddy water represents the turbulence and challenges of our daily life. The Buddha said that “as a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water, and rises out of the water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world.” Related…
This is the time of year when your immune system takes a beating; flu, common cold, bronchitis, stomach bug, and even COVID. Yes, any virus can sneak in and take control whenever your immune system is weakened. That includes some medications (talk to your doctor about this if you have concerns about your prescriptions). Sure we can get a pill or vaccine or some over-the-counter snake oil, but if we focus on good nutrition and a reasonable amount of daily exercise we create a great foundation for sustained health. Add to that the 10 immune system boosters in this article…