You see, these past few months have been heavy and today has to be the peak of sadness for me. I just received news that a friend I dearly love lost her full term baby.

But in sadness, I found a tree.

You see, without going through all the details and horrors and complaining, I can say that life has seemed difficult lately.  I care for an aging mother, I’m a mom to two growing, inquiring children, caring for a middle aged body, and try to balance the unique stresses of my life everyday, just like you.

And it is hard sometimes.

I looked out in my backyard. An overgrown forest of weeds, broken branches, fallen trees, decaying wood, and overgrown bush that was almost overcoming my deck.

And I whacked. I took an electric saw and I started whacking and hacking and clearing away the clutter of my yard and the clutter of my head.  When the saw wouldn’t cut through it, I pulled, cut, and dragged the craziness and I cried.

It was then I noticed a Dogwood Tree…in bloom.

It seemed like years when I last saw this tree bloom. I had allowed the overgrowth to take over the small, beautiful tree.

Sometimes when we are caring for others it can seem overwhelming. Sometimes we watch the people we love struggle through life or challenges. Sometimes we struggle on our own with various burdens, sorrows, and seemingly hopeless situations.

Do you feel like it takes over your life and all you want to do is clear it up? Understand it for one moment?

I feel like that sometimes. Today, I was reminded that life is fragile.

Then, like the tree in bloom, I realized that among the clutter in life is the promise of a new day, a new bloom, a new hope.

I just needed to find it.

Do you have a beautiful tree among your forest?

We are each designed and created so uniquely. Even with our special needs, different abilities, sorrows and burdens, we each have the strength within us to see the potential of each new day.

Embrace it.

To learn more about The Legend of the Dogwood tree, click here. 

This Family Friendly, Fun, and Healthy Expo is filled with events, give-a-ways, and so much more.

The Great Gluten Free Expo!

February 24th and 25th, 2012

“Happy Tummies. Healthy Families.”

The Jeff State Culinary Arts and Hospitality Institute, Hoover, AL

This event is a celebration for all people living gluten free PLUS anyone interested in learning more about various food intolerances, autoimmune disorders, Celiac, Autism, and healthy living through diet (GF, CF, EF, SF, even SCD and GAPS!).

This is more than your average vendor fair! Join us for our Gluten Free Gala, 5K Race, Seminars, Cooking Demonstrations, and opportunity to meet dozens of vendors that offer the best in gluten free living!

Entrance is only $5 at the door, ages 12 and older. NEW UPDATE!! The first 100 families will receive a FREE loaf of bread, provided by Rudi’s! And, childcare will be available, upon reservation, by Care with Flair!

Also featuring  the Great Gluten Free Gala, for more information, click here. 

Making Tracks for Celiacs, click here.

For a complete rundown on all events, click here.

Saturday, February 25th

All runners and walkers welcome! On Saturday morning, February 25th, 2012, come out to Veterans Park in Hoover, Al and race for prizes and help proceeds that will benefit the Center For Celiac Research and the Birmingham Celiac Disease Support Group. The one mile fun run will take place after the 5K. And, of course, all post-race snacks are Gluten Free, provided by the Center for Celiac Research.

For information, to enter, or to volunteer, click HERE

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT!

Led by the wonderful Chef Sean Butler of Food Studio B, this fundraiser not only helps local charities but it will be a worry free dinner that caters to your dietary needs! Menus and entertainment will be updated soon. Proceeds from the dinner will help Celiac research, The Bell Center, ARC of Shelby County, and The Therapy Ranch. Friday, February 24th, 2012.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Fasano of the University of Maryland, leading world expert on Celiac Disease!

For information, purchasing tickets, or to volunteer, click HERE

As the mom of daughters, I see firsthand the images on all the media sources and I have to say, I’m not impressed.  You too will know exactly what I am writing about once you see the trailer.

Last night, I watched the Grammy’s. Adele was the night’s winner. I will admit I cheered her on the entire time. It’s not the ridiculous get ups that make me want to watch her and listen to her music. In fact, she was dressed fairly simple for the Grammys. It’s not the over the top flashes, costumes (or lack of any clothing, in some cases), or the dancers running around-pushing and shoving- as if the singer is in need of medical care. No, it is her voice.  Her soulful, gorgeous, melodic voice is the reason I listen to her.

Wouldn’t it be nice to listen with our ears at what people have to share? Instead, we live in a media pounding society that pushes half dressed women or worse, terribly dress women (think GaGa)  to be the spokesperson for what is fashionable and accepted. Sadly, if you ever hear some of these woman speak, may are talented, intelligent, and ambitious but somehow, the message gets lost in the birdcage over the face or brightly colored hair that gets more attention than the wisdom of the messages or the messengers.

Those images are also absorbed by our girls-our daughters. Our young girls are absorbing the wrong messages on a daily basis. They are so much more than beauty, bodies, and sexual images, they are future doctors, scientists, lawyers, teachers, and leaders and so much more.  They are future mothers who will one day define the future by their example.

And men, DADS, you are in this too!

I recently read a comment on Facebook from a Dad friend of mine regarding the meme that is circulating of a dad berating his daughter about using the computer so much. The comment read, “I had the misfortune today of seeing the YouTube video of the father chastising his daughter about her Facebook activity . It had to be one of the worst displays of fatherhood I have ever seen .”
1. Talk to your daughter face to face and calmly .( You are the adult )
2. If the computer is a problem just take it away . ( You are the parent )
3. If you don’t like her profanity then don’t curse at her . ( You are the role model )
4. Don’t disparage your daughter on Facebook or in public.( You are her protector )
5. Lead her , teach her , love her ( You are her Daddy )

Well said!

Be the first and foremost example in your child’s life. We cannot completely protect our young ladies from the media buzz and blitz that surround them with images of how not to be, but we can the voice of reason for them simply by giving them the one thing they need the most- our time!

To learn more about the movie, Miss Representation, please visit www.missrepresentation.org

To learn more about a special viewing of the movie, please visit al.com.

Promote the potential in our young girls!

A Night Under The Big Top – THE CLUB

8:00 p.m. to Midnight

Silent Auction – Casino Fun & Games – Food & Drink

Dress:  Cocktail Attire

Music by:  The Undergrounders

Hosted by:  The Glenwood Junior Board

Tickets & Information:  Call 205.795.3267 or visit http://www.glenwood.org

Benefitting Glenwood, Autism & Behavioral Health Center – Serving all of Alabama

Listening to that song always gave me a sense of calm, a sense of accomplishment,  and above all, a sense of understanding that I could take on the world if I could only take time to love myself-however imperfect I found myself.

As the reports, gossip, and rumors began to seep into the media about the death of Ms. Houston, I have to stop for a moment and remember this song, and at the time it hit the charts, the singer who gave it to us.  Where did that greatest love of all go?

There is so much beauty in taking time to love yourself. Not just stopping and looking in the mirror and thinking “Hey, I look good”. In fact, that is hardly what I am writing about. I am talking about the love you experience when you stop to acknowledge that YOU are an individual, created uniquely, with qualities, talents, and thoughts that no one other person can possess. You are born with different abilities that are solely and wonderfully you.  You walk in a world carrying your decisions, choices, and accomplishments that no one other person can say they own, because it is what makes you the being that is YOU!

For Whitney Houston, and all the other people in our lives who have come to us through different paths, be it radio, TV, or in personal relationship, they leave with us a gift. It is up to us to recognize that gift, receive it, and cherish it.  That too is a great love.

I am saddened that this talent has left us. As I watched the Grammy’s last night, I watched the “In Memoriam” pictures as they flashed before our eyes. Talented men and women of all musical backgrounds who had shared with us a gift of their talent.

We ALL have the ability to share a talent-whether we are heard on the radio, TV, a choir, a magazine, a blog, a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, by an aging neighbor, a person struggling with challenges, or simply just speaking up and letting people know we love them and they are never alone.

And above all, we all should start with the greatest love of all…learning to love (accept, forgive, embrace, and care for) yourself.

Or in the word of Whitney Houston, 1985…

“And if, by chance, that special place
That you’ve been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love”

Sometimes saying the word is more work than it is worth especially if you are truly depressed.

“During depression, the world disappears. Language itself. One has nothing to say. Nothing” Kate Millet, Author and Sculptor

What is depression?

Depression can be an illness that robs one of the meaning of their life. It can smother any form of enthusiasm, well-being, sense of purpose, will to achieve and so on.  But one thing to think about, DEPRESSION IS AN ILLNESS!

If you had a cold, would you deny it? Even if it meant you could not breath?

If you had cancer, would you refuse treatment? Even if it meant a possible remission?

Depression, meaning clinical depression, has three primary types (although there are more):

Major Depression- It can last months and if left untreated can reoccur with each episode lasting longer and being more debilitating.

Chronic Depression-It can go on for years. Some people live with it an entire lifetime. Also known as dysthymia (dys meaning disorder and thymia meaning mood), it is a disorder of one’s own mood.

Bipolar Depression- can alternate between being manic or extreme elation, grandiose thoughts, and sometimes inappropriate, destructive behaviors and the polar opposite-unpredicted rapid mood swings.

There are other types of depression including Seasonal Affective Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Atypical Depression, among others. Your medical and mental health professional can determine what kind of depression you may be experiencing and supply the necessary treatment to help you overcome it.

How do you know if you are depressed?

Did you know that sometimes you can be depressed without feeling depressed?  Sometimes it is a very obvious feeling. Persistant sadness or empty mood, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, fatigue, difficult concentrating or making decisions, excessive crying, or chronic aches and pains MAY be obvious signs.

But also, moral problems, lack of cooperation, absenteeism from work, alcohol/drug abuse, and decreased productivity can be signs as well.

The best way to find out if you are depressed is GO TO A DOCTOR!

Seeking help DOES NOT mean you lack character, discipline, common sense, or personal strength.  Depression is an ILLNESS. Seeking help for any illness does not imply a lack of mental, physical, emotional or moral character. In fact, it takes courage to admit something MAY be wrong.

Sometimes treatment can include psychotherapy, counseling, or medication. Sometimes just understanding depression can lead to better treatment and long-term care. Other solutions can be increasing exercise, altering food or nutritional intake and making changes to your diet, or redefining your goals and expectations.

REMEMBER: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Did you know many prominent and famous people suffer depression.

“I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would be not one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or be better it appears to me” From one of Abraham Lincoln’s personal diaries. Abraham Lincoln suffered depression most of his adult life.

“It’s been troubling me. Now, why is it that most of us can talk openly about the illnesses of our bodies, but when it comes to our brain and illnesses of the mind, we clam up. And, because we clam up, people with emotional disorders feel ashamed, stigmatized and don’t seek the help that can make the difference”  Kirk Douglas

Before you go ONE MORE DAY trying to live with DEPRESSION- SEEK HELP!

Some local agencies in Birmingham are:

Creative Wellness- For Families

Oasis Counseling- For Women and Children

Dr. Alan Swindall- Alabaster Family

Gateway Family Services

Grayson and Associates

Also, check with your local medical doctor for a suggestion.

You can also refer to Wellness.com  or NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness.

If you would like to suggest other agencies in the area that offer help and services, please feel free to comment.

Don’t let depression disable you

from living life to your fullest POTENTIAL.

From the seeing eyes of trained dogs helping those with visual impairments, search and rescue dogs, and other service animals to the wonders of compassion and comfort that only Fido and Fluffy can give us after a hard day-animals are amazing!

There is more and more research that shows first hand that pets are more than just companions, they are healers. So it only makes sense that a blog that supports potential and possibilities recognizes the shelters, organizations, and services that help our special animal missionaries find their forever home.

Please join The Animal League of Birmingham for a FUN, FANTABULOUS, and FESTIVE celebration!

For more information visit The Animal League of Birmingham.

Also, check out some of my favorite stories of the animal assistance for people of all abilities!

Damien’s Story

Dogs on Call! 

What are you doing to take care of your heart?

Don’t let Heart Disease catch you or a loved off guard.

St. Vincent’s Health System is offering

4 Heart Tests for $40

EKG

LIPID PROFILE

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

BASIC METABOLIC PROFILE

and even a Tshirt!

Join them

February 18th

6am-11am

To Register, call Dial-A-Nurse

(205) 939-7878

or

(800) 331-6777

Register by February 10th.