10 Percent of You Will Drink Yourselves to Death, But 99 Percent of You Probably Don't Know It

About a month ago, the Centers for Disease control told Americans that, in no uncertain terms, one in 10 of us will die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. One in 10. Yes, you read that right. And yes, it's a big number. These are working-age adults we're talking about too, most of whom are not alcoholics. One out of 10 adults sadly and frequently cut down in the primes of their lives. To the media's credit, the publication of this study made headlines (well, at least page four or five headlines) for a day or two. After that however, coverage declined on a sharper trajectory than ticket sales for a botched sequel and, one week out, the story that Al gore might have titled A Buzz Kill of a Truth was left showing on virtually zero screens.



Death and disease are bummers -- I get it. And it's summertime after all -- who wants to talk about premature mortality and preventable illness with the rubbery smell of beach balls in the air? I mean, does anyone really want to discuss how that keg of beer next to Uncle Jerry might as well be the Reaper's own roulette wheel, innocently propped in a tub between the horseshoe pit and a buffet of mayonnaise "salads"? Seriously now, who's going to be up for a quick convo about the eye-popping link between adult beverages and the culling of our population? No thanks, but could you pass the mustard? I like to get all my condiments on the hot dog before the first bite.



If only the explanation was that simple for why this story isn't getting continued traction, why it didn't have legs, it would be an easy situation to remedy. Yes, if talking about a widespread health crisis that also has whopping economic consequences is just too tonally inconsistent with our national priorities to garner sustained interest during barbecue season, I'd have a quick fix for the situation indeed: Hey, CDC, bump that press release back a few months and let's take it again, from the top. The country will totally get behind this issue if you can just wait until the flip-flops are shelved for the year.



Unfortunately though, a quick scan of what is dominating our news headlines this summer will tell you that no, we Americans are not averse to heavy doses of serious news while vacationing. Whether it's the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Russia and the Ukraine, abducted Nigerian school girls, missing/downed Malaysian Airlines flights, immigration debacles in Texas or the Ebola virus, our news tickers are not allergic to the hard stuff. In fact, just the opposite. So why, then, haven't entire segments of newscasts, or veritable blocks of cable news programming been devoted to this story like they have those others? Why aren't the reams of paper or chunks of digital bandwidth reserved for Op-Eds being gobbled up by reactions, insight and advice about this humdinger of a downer, when it seems every flavor and stripe of pundit has got something to say about Gaza, Putin or the dangers of air travel? (*Preemptive disclaimer: I'm not minimizing the importance of those issues, but I am questioning why an issue that directly impacts the lifespan of one in ten Americans is unable to grab and hold our collective attention.)



If you're waiting for me to tell you what it is that's muffling what should otherwise be an ear busting wakeup call, I don't have a clear answer. Maybe it's just that improving the nation's physical health is not a big priority for most Americans, or that we don't seem to care much for our own personal wellbeing either, as evidenced by our choices. Or maybe it's something more diabolical, like the strong influence of the alcohol lobby, whose political contributions recently reached an all-time high, and whose increased advertising dollars have never had them them more snugly aligned with media and entertainment interests than they are now. Or maybe it's because in 2014, 64% of Americans drink, and reporting negative stories about things people like to do won't generate many clicks, sell many papers or snag many viewers. Perhaps it's the unfortunate collision of all these factors, and more, which has resulted in a distressingly flaccid arousal of interest in the forecast of our own liquid obituaries. Obituaries which, by the way, will frequently never reveal that the person died from drinking too much.



The CDC report identifies many types of death attributable to excessive alcohol consumption. Heart disease, cancer and liver disease are among the more slow-burning results of too much booze; violence, accidental falls, car crashes and alcohol poisoning among the more immediate. And you'll note, only one of these leaves behind the type of unambiguous postmortem indictment of the perpetrator that keeps no secrets: alcohol poisoning. As to the rest? Countless grieving families will either never know the killer's true identity, or they'll choose to bury it with their loved one.



Two weeks ago -- roughly two weeks after the CDC study made its perfunctory blip on our national radar -- I was giving a talk to an audience of several hundred attorneys in Los Angeles. Being germane to the subject I was discussing that day, I decided to ask for a quick show of hands about who had heard of this study -- who had heard that one in 10 American deaths are attributable to excessive alcohol consumption. Now, I wasn't exactly expecting a full and hearty crop of palms and digits to suddenly overtake the air, but I also wasn't expecting what I got. Zero, not one. Not one highly educated, presumably well-informed professional in the room knew what I was talking about.



Shameful, but I don't fault the audience. After all, if a story breaks and there's nobody there to cover it, did it ever really become a story? Don't believe me? Just ask Donald Sterling, LeBron James or Kim Kardashian. Oh, wait. Never mind.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/UEfCKR

via IFTTT

Not All Nurses Are Created Equal

Most nurses are great! But I've decided that there are two kinds of nurses -- those who are just punching a time clock and getting a paycheck, and those who are nursing from the heart -- helping improve not just your mood, but your health, as well. What's the difference?





Heart-Centered Nurses:



They give you a warm smile and encouraging words. I know, it seems like a small thing. But a smile goes a long way when you're in an unfamiliar setting like the operating room or the Emergency Department. I can remember one surgical nurse who could see I was on edge as soon as I was rolled into the operating room. He smiled big at me, grabbed my hand and said, "There is no need to worry here, our job is to worry for you." I instantly felt more at ease.



They get to know your family. A nurse who is able to connect to not just you but also your family is a treasure. Some of the best nursing staff I have met remembered the names of my family members and got to know them during their shift. This developed a trust and connection between us that seemed to carry us through the bad times in the hospital.



They use touch. When your body is ailing, human touch from caring hands at just the right time can do wonders. A pat on the back or a hand to hold when you're scared can really change your life when you're sick. After open-heart surgery, a very special nurse came in and rubbed my back as I lay in bed weeping after I first saw my surgery site, a blood-red incision down the middle of my chest.



They have your back. Maybe it was part of her job. I'll never really know, but one nurse I had so thoroughly responded to a drastic change in my condition that she saved my life. It involved her in getting very messy and even crying with me as my status declined. Three doctors stood in the room at the same time with us. None of them made a move toward me. They stood watching the monitors while she bailed me out. Later as I re-told the story I realized that she was the hero. I will never forget her.



They have a sense of humor. Wonder if you have a heart-centered nurse in your room? If he or she has a twinkle in the eye, a good story or joke to tell and still does the job like a pro, you do! Most great nurses know that a light-hearted but proficient approach to their care can ease a patient's fears and possibly even speed their recovery. One particular ER nurse I met had to keep long night hours with me over the holidays while we waited for a specialist to show up. When I asked him how he and the other staff managed the intensity of working late in a trauma center, he didn't miss a beat when he said, "Oh, we drink a lot after work!" My whole family erupted in laughter at his quick wit, and we even speculated about having him over for Christmas dinner.



They follow you home. Okay, they don't really follow you home, but you don't cease to exist as a patient or as a person when you leave their floor. Heart-centered nurses check up on you. Once when I was in an out-of-state hospital, my favorite nurse checked up on me as I was moved to a new floor and even called me at home when I was dismissed just to make sure my husband and I were still doing OK. Bravo!



Clock-Punchers:



They offer little or no comfort. Hard to believe, but some nurses keep a stony face even when their patient is obviously suffering. One time I had a nurse who was irritated and angry with me because I was in pain. I delayed pushing the call button after major surgery because of her shaming demeanor. Ultimately I was not able to get up and around as quickly and my dismissal to go home was delayed.



They complain about the organization they work for. If your nurse has nothing good to say about the doctor or hospital he works for -- beware! This individual should probably not be handling your care. Their negative mindset (even if it's justified) could translate into a bad experience for you. Some health care staff take their problems with the institution out on the patients.



They travel from location to location. Be on guard with traveling nurses. Some health care systems hire temp "traveling nurses" that float to multiple hospitals in different cities. The arrangement can offer great personal opportunities for the nurses -- but not necessarily for the patients. I've found that these nurses, perhaps by the nature of their job, are more detached from their patients.



They float from floor to floor. Many hospitals use staff called "float nurses" to cover extra shifts on various floors. While these employees are often very nice, they're oriented toward more general nursing and not fully trained for the specialty of each department. Like the traveling nurses, they won't likely be back your way anytime soon and may not give you the tender and expert care of someone who works on that floor all the time.



They talk too much. While I love a nurse who encourages me with words and smiles, some just plain talk too much. If your nurse wears you out with a barrage of talking and personal stories, that is the wrong nurse for you. If a nurse shares her personal problems with you, the scales might tip, and she will end up becoming your patient! Be on alert for needy nurses and avoid them at all costs. The plain fact is that too much information can wear you out when you're already exhausted from being sick.



Like I said, most nurses do a fabulous job. But even very good nurses can have a bad day. So, if your nurse is doing a pretty good job, just let it be. If he is taking care of business but not particularly warm and friendly, he is probably just stressed and behind on his tasks. But some are downright incompetent or mean. Once, a nurse didn't believe me when I said that my IV was throbbing with pain. She refused to change it, and I developed red streaks on my arm below the IV and the beginning of an infection. The night nurse who replaced her listened to me and got me the help I needed.



If you need help and don't think your particular nurse is right for you, here's what to do:



Ask to speak to the charge nurse with your concerns. Likely, this will take care of the problem. The charge nurse is the dedicated nurse for the day who oversees any and all concerns on that floor. If she doesn't help you, ask for the nurse manager and explain what you're experiencing. The nurse manager is everyone's boss. She may be able to help. If you still experiencing a sourpuss nurse, call patient affairs and ask that the nurse be re-assigned to someone else. Remember that a rising tide raises all ships, so if you do have a good or even great nurse -- tell her so! Sharing your positive experience will likely cause it to multiply.



This article originally appeared on reimagine.me a new online magazine for those who have been touched by cancer, and an education resource that teaches a powerful set of skills to start feeling better immediately.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1tzK4on

via IFTTT

The tobacco fight is far from over

"The USA remains one of the world's largest and most profitable cigarette markets," proclaimed a recent press release from Imperial Tobacco, one of the world's biggest tobacco companies.



Unfortunately, this statement is correct. Each year, about 14 billion packs of cigarettes are consumed in this country. This translates into about 1,300 Americans deaths daily from tobacco use. For each of these deaths, another 30 people suffer from tobacco-related illnesses. At this rate, roughly two children in every third grade American classroom today will die prematurely from smoking-related causes. That is 5.6 million of our children.



This pointless loss of life must stop. In the five years of the Obama administration, our country has truly reinvigorated its tobacco control efforts. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the first-ever national strategic plan for tobacco control, using scientific data and extensive real-world evidence to outline concrete actions - from clean air policies and higher tobacco taxes to educational media campaigns and tobacco cessation interventions - to help combat the tobacco epidemic at the national, community and individual levels. We have made significant progress toward our objectives.



In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gained the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products through the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. At the local level, we have encouraged states and communities to join the fight and backed it up with more than $200 million in support to promote comprehensive tobacco control, including the expansion of tobacco quitlines.



Recognizing that 99 percent of people who smoke start using tobacco before the age of 26, HHS partnered with the American College Health Association, the University of Michigan, the Association of Schools of Public Health and Legacy to promote the Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative, a movement advocating the voluntary adoption of tobacco-free policies at institutions of higher learning. To date, close to 1,400 university and college campuses have gone tobacco- or smoke-free.



Multimedia campaigns such as the FDA's "The Real Cost" or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Tips from Former Smokers" have educated youth on the health consequences and addictive nature of tobacco use and motivated more than 1.6 million smokers to quit. To complement these efforts, the Affordable Care Act gives more people affordable access to effective tools for quitting by covering screening and cessation interventions without co-pays.



The fight is far from over. According to the Federal Trade Commission, tobacco companies spend a staggering $8.8 billion a year in the U.S. - roughly $1 million per hour - in an attempt to market their deadly products to the American public. Increasingly, tobacco companies are targeting some of our most vulnerable populations - the poor, the homeless, the incarcerated, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people, as well as people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Cigarettes today are more addictive and more deadly than ever, causing asthma, diabetes and various types of cancer, along with other smoking-caused diseases.



Thankfully, we have numerous allies in our fight against tobacco, from nonprofit advocacy organizations to private sector partners like CVS, which recently announced plans to stop selling tobacco products, as well as the rapidly expanding tobacco- and smoke-free campus movement.



As I conclude more than five years of service as the Assistant Secretary for Health, it is my fervent hope that we can someday relegate the tobacco epidemic to the history books. Let us stop this suffering once and for all and give our kids a fighting chance for a healthy future.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1tzK47Z

via IFTTT

Tombstone That Dad Designed For Son Who Had Disabilities Captures Boy's Tenacious Spirit

When Ernest and Anneke Robison’s son died, they wanted his final resting place to represent what his trying yet inspiring life embodied -- hope.



Matthew developed a number of disabilities when he was born in 1988 due to a lack of oxygen. He was blind, paralyzed from the neck down and spoke only a few words, according to the family’s foundation.



But when the Utah boy passed away 11 years later, his parents were grateful for the happiness their son brought to their lives, which why Ernest designed a particularly moving tombstone to honor him.



It is a statue of Matthew climbing out of his wheelchair and reaching for the sky.







One of the lessons Matthew imparted upon his parents was just how challenging it can be for people with disabilities to live as contributing members of society. It’s not for a lack of motivation, rather a lack of critical equipment.



They decided to do something about it.



In 1993, the Robisons established Ability Found, a nonprofit that gives people with disabilities the medial and rehabilitation equipment they can’t afford but need in order to do something as simple as run an errand or play outside, according to the nonprofit’s website.



The organization helps people with a range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, stroke, cancer and spinal cord injuries.

Post by Ability Found.

In 2000, with their organization well underway, Ernest decided to honor his son in another manner -- by adding the now-well-recognized statue to his son’s tombstone which is located in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.



"Instead of sadness, the statue makes our son Matthew's grave a place of happiness," Ernest told Enjoy Utah, a blog about sites and activities in Utah. "Many others have found that true also."



h/t Reddit Uplifting News



Like Us On Facebook

Follow Us On Twitter



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1rNPuIC

via IFTTT

This Gene Could Tell You Who Is At Risk For Suicide

A new study could be the key to creating a blood test that can screen people for suicide risk. Such a test, experts say, could improve treatment in hospitals, clinics or even help military leaders assess which active-duty members and veterans are most at risk of suicide.



The military is battling a suicide problem; at least 22 veterans commit suicide every day, according to a 2014 study conducted by the Department of Veteran Affairs, while male vets under 30 are three times more likely to commit suicide than their age group in the general population.



"What we envision, potentially, is using this test in psychiatric emergency rooms. For example, it could dictate closeness of monitoring and treatment options, and drive potentially more fast acting treatment in someone who is really high risk," said lead author Zachary Kaminsky, Ph.D. of Johns Hopkins Medicine in a phone interview with The Huffington Post. "In the military, if you were able to identify vulnerable individuals [with a blood test], you may, for example, ask them to turn in firearms when they come back from active duty, or limit access to lethal means."



The new research reveals a genetic mutation that may be able to predict suicide risk with a minimum of 80 percent accuracy. The study, published July 30 on the website of The American Journal of Psychiatry, found that alterations to the gene SKA2 -- which helps regulate the brain's response to stress hormones -- was more common in people who had committed suicide.



Currently suicidality can only be assessed clinically: People at risk of attempting suicide can exhibit warning signs like talking or writing about a desire to commit suicide or trying to access firearms or pills. Other risk factors for suicide include a previous suicide attempt, a family history of attempted or completed suicide and various mental disorders.



But often, medical professionals don't have access to that kind of information, which is why the need for a blood test is so urgent, said Dr. Alexander Niculescu, III, an associate professor of psychiatry and medical neuroscience at the Indiana University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.



"People don't always tell others when they are suicidal, especially if they do not want to be hospitalized," said Niculescu.



In the first part of his study, Kaminsky examined the brain tissue of different groups of people who had died from suicide. He found that in some groups, lower levels of SKA2 were associated with people who had committed suicide. In others, a mutation that changed the way the SKA2 gene worked was also associated with people who had killed themselves.



Both findings are significant, because if the SKA2 gene isn't functioning properly, the body isn't able to suppress the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, throughout the brain.



Kaminsky then confirmed the results with blood samples from three different, ongoing studies. He designed a test to see if he could predict which of the participants had had either suicidal thoughts or attempts in the past. The test was able to predict participants' history of suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts with at least 80 percent accuracy.



Among those with the most severe risk of suicide, Kaminsky was able to predict attempts or suicidal thoughts with 90 percent accuracy. Among the youngest participants, Kaminsky was able to predict past suicidal attempts with 96 percent accuracy.



"We have found a gene that we think could be really important for consistently identifying a range of behaviors from suicidal thoughts to attempts to completions," Kaminsky said in a press release. "We need to study this in a larger sample but we believe that we might be able to monitor the blood to identify those at risk of suicide."



The study discloses that Kaminsky, along with co-author Holly Wilcox, Ph.D. holds a patent to "evaluate risk of suicidal behavior" using the SKA2 gene. Another researcher on the study, Dr. Jennifer Payne, received legal consulting fees from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson, as well as research support from Corcept Therapeutics.



Niculescu has also been on the hunt to find biomarkers linked with suicide risk, and he called Kaminsky's study a "great" corroboration of what Niculescu and other research groups have discovered in the field. Such corroboration across different research departments, said Niculescu, is key to eventually developing a blood test for suicide risk.



"I am glad to see that their top finding, SKA2, was shown in their study to interact with our top finding from last year, SAT1," wrote Niculescu in an email to HuffPost. "We have taken a look at SKA2 in our datasets, and see that indeed it is decreased in expression in the blood of suicide victims, consistent with what Dr. Kaminsky and colleagues are reporting."



"I think that in the future, like in other areas of medicine, a combination of clinical data and blood tests will ensure sensitivity and specificity in predicting who is at risk, and avoiding this preventable tragedy that is suicide," said Niculescu.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1uM5Kzo

via IFTTT

Vitaminwater Goes Back To Old Recipe After Grossing Everyone Out

NEW YORK (AP) — Coca-Cola is reversing course after fans of Vitaminwater complained about the drink's new sweetener.

The Atlanta-based company promised Thursday the drink would go back to its previous taste after fans flooded Vitaminwater's Facebook page with negative comments. The reversal comes just a few months after Coca-Cola had changed the sweetener in the drink to a mix of sugar and stevia, a low-calorie sweetener known for its metallic aftertaste.

Vitaminwater will revert to its older recipe, shown on the left.

"Our fans haven't had the greatest things to say about it," said a statement posted on Vitaminwater's website.

The statement said the Vitaminwater that people "loved" would start appearing on shelves this fall and be available nationwide by winter. Previously, Coca-Cola sweetened Vitaminwater with a mix of sugar and crystalline fructose. The change didn't alter the calorie count, which remained at 120 calories per bottle.

In explaining the change without providing specific details, Coca-Cola had previously said it was "always innovating and evolving" its products. The move came after sales volume for Vitaminwater declined 18 percent in 2013, according to Beverage Digest, an industry tracker.

Despite its lack of popularity in some circles, Coca-Cola Co. still sees potential for stevia. The company has introduced a reduced-calorie version of its namesake cola using the sweetener in Argentina and plans to eventually roll out a version in the U.S.

And Coca-Cola still uses stevia in Vitaminwater Zero, a version for the drink that has no calories.

Here's a look back at what Vitaminwater’s fans said about the brand's switch to artificial sweetener.

Post by Chelsey Slenders.

Post by Stephanie Landy.

Post by Andrew Lamming.

Post by Dotchi Latham.

from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1zApl4y

via IFTTT

On the Days I Struggle the Most With My Little Ones

There are days when everyone needs and wants to be held and there isn't a second I can find to myself. One of the children in the group is either unhappy, throwing a tantrum, crying or shrieking, and I think, Please go play. Mommy needs a break. Just two minutes to myself. I can't hold you right now. My arms are about to break.



I know I will want each moment back that I took for granted -- and be begging for the opportunity to chase one of my children down, to have them let me hold them at all.



The incessant one mores -- when I'm asked to color one more picture, read one more book or play one more game, after the previous hours of devoting every last breath of energy left in my body -- find me answering at times with a slouch and a sigh.



Yet, I know there will come a time when I'd give anything to be able to sit down and not only do these one more time, but a thousand more times.








There are mornings, afternoons and evenings when I feel like a slave in my own kitchen. When it feels like it's more of a war zone. I don't get to sit down, as someone always needs another refill, a second helping -- or naturally, there is a mess that needs immediate attention.



And yes, one day, I will look around my kitchen and wish for it to be filled with little people who need me to wait on them hand and foot... all too soon, it will be empty, quiet and lifeless.







There are moments I feel like I can't change one more diaper, help one more time on the potty, wipe one more messy mouth or clean up one more disaster. As soon as I get one of these tasks accomplished, the next is already awaiting me.



But I know that ultimately, my need to be needed is far greater than anything else. I will not only miss this, but yearn for it one day.



There are nights when the babies just won't go down for bed... or for that matter, stay asleep. The times they prolong the inevitable at tuck ins and ask for one more kiss, one more hug, one more drink of water or have just one more thing to tell you, but... for the fifteenth time.



There will come a time I would give anything to have made sure I took each one of those extra hugs and kisses and realize that I'm pacing the halls with an emptiness that can't be replaced.



The hundreds of times I'm asked daily, Mommy look! Mommy just watch me! Mommy.... Mommy? Come here! Mommy can you help me with this? There are times I think I could crumble and often, at my breaking point, I wonder, How is it possible for one human being to meet all of these tiny people's needs all at once, every single day, all day and all night long? I feel so defeated at times simply because there aren't five of me to go around.



One day, I will be praying to have those requests and sweet demands back.







There are never-ending pleas where I'm asked to watch the same show or movie over and over or listen to the same songs again and again. At times, my head aches and spins from it, and I'm certain it will burst if it sees or hears something one more time. I realize at times my much needed social, adult vices are no longer met; they're simply a thing of the past.



But yes, at some point, I will laugh to myself and want it back.



There are ever-too-early awakenings when I'd give anything to have my kids sleep in and not have each day begin at 65 mph by 5:30 a.m.. Most days, when I'm trying to get my eyes to open and remind my legs to put themselves one in front of the other, I'm not sure which direction I'm heading or what needs done first. I'm just doing my head count to make sure everyone is accounted for and made it through another night.



But this, too, will be an exhausting time that I will look back on and smile and think, They were my reason to carry on and pull myself out of bed every day. I will find a point when I need to have these mornings again.



There are daily games where I have someone playing peek-a-boo during my two-minute shower or have thumping feet and squeals running through our halls to the point it sounds like someone is being seriously hurt and our house will surely come crashing down.



One day, the peace and silence will be deafening. I will miss this.








There is running from one event and appointment to the next. The constant in and out of the car seats to keep up with our schedule. And while we're traveling, the unremitting battles in the backseat that are sometimes enough to make it impossible to even attempt to drive safely. All so often I think to myself that I must be one of the most courageous people on this earth to put these tiny people in the car and take all of them out in public alone.



One day, I will turn around and find complete emptiness behind me, with no one asking or needing me to take them anywhere or pick them up. I surely will want it all back.








The daily cleaning the toothpaste out of the sink, switching the shoes that are on the wrong feet, fixing the shirts that are misbuttoned, keeping up with the never ending loads of laundry, tripping over and picking up the sea of toys that lay scattered through the house or once again scrubbing the crayon that has found its way onto our wall.



Yes, all of this, every single last thing, I will want it all back.



That's the crazy thing about motherhood -- the most tiring and sometimes most dreadful duties are actually where we can find the biggest blessings hidden.



The days of Help, Mommy....Mommy, please....Just one more! I need to at times beg myself to embrace this, all of this... the struggles, the exhaustion, the wearing of the 50 hats to just survive one day with my little ones because one day, this will all begin to slow down and eventually come to a complete stop. There is no pause button. There is no rewind button. And unfortunately, there is no do-over button.



In our moments of exhaustion and despair wishing, Oh when they're old enough for this. We just have to push it out a little longer to make it through this stage.

There will come a time I will be sick thinking that I could have wished any amount of time away and would walk to the ends of the earth to be back here; right here, right now.



I'm given one shot with my children. They are given one childhood with me. The amazing, yet scary part of all of this, I'm the author of this part of their lives. I determine how their chapters are being written out. Every day, I will go down in flames trying to give them one hell of a story to reread and look back on one day and think, "I remember being happy. When I think of my childhood, I simply remember happiness."



And if we're really lucky enough, they will know in their hearts that their mother, well she was a huge contributor to that happiness.



As I have my failed attempts and times I only wish I could take back, I simply must try to learn from my mistakes, hoping by God that it bettered me as a parent, move on and try to make the next chapter a little better than the last one was.



Thank God every day we're given a brand new page to write on. Make today a good one.






Photographs above taken by Ashley Kostok Photography



************************




To follow Long more closely,



Instagram



Author Page



101 Moments of Motherhood



Beachbody Coach Contact



In the Moment Photography



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://ift.tt/1xGKreF

via IFTTT