My Freelance Career in the Making

Why Am I Writing in the Dark? (Written by me for me)

2008-04-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

As I sit here alone, attempting to work to the tunes of Michael Bublé, immersed in both the fatigue and the passions that only a writer could know, and full aware that I’m faced with a deadline, my mind wanders and I’m forced to reflect on a nagging and insistent why. Why am I working in the dark?

As I’m so accustomed to my keyboard (oftentimes I feel as if it’s a part of me), the lack of light doesn’t hinder my actual writing progress. As the figurative “light-bulb-in-the-head” idea goes, my ideas, imagination, and creativity aren’t affected. There’s light enough in there to compete with the sun. So why has my project temporarily derailed? Why, in the middle of a very important writing, did I open a new Word document and begin to ponder the darkness?

The answer is simple. I’m bursting with creative energy, my ideas are flowing, the jobs are coming in, and therefore I have enough light shining within that I realize I don’t need a light environment. Wrong. OK, so try this one on for size: I figure that the light from my monitor is enough so that I can see what I’m doing, read my research notes, and prevent me from suffering a headache from too much light. Boring. And wrong again.

So how about this? When I began this morning, there was sufficient light coming in from the window to where I didn’t feel the need to flip the switch for electric light. I’ve been so busy completing my writings, that I haven’t had a minute to get up and turn the light on. Too simple. And yet again - wrong. One glance at the window confirms my suspicions - The curtains are closed. The outside light wouldn’t have played a part. And I’ve been up and down enough today to have passed that light switch at least a dozen times.

The answer, as you can see, is one which I am trying very hard to ignore. I’m trying to sidestep it, doing a funny little dance all the way around it for fear of it stopping me in my tracks. If I acknowledge the answer, and give it life through words, then it can consume me without guilt. It can take over my days and prevent my easy creativity from finding an outlet. It can destroy.

And it has started forward, marching headstrong and defiant, on its relentless path of destruction. After all, I’m writing this article, right? But by taking a time-out, assessing the situation, and once more taking control of my direction, I am able to put a foot in its path. I am able to push it to the back corners of my mind, where it won’t be needed. And it definitely won’t be used. I’m too strong for that.

I think I’ll turn on the light.

Self-Image: How it Affects the Business World (Written by me for Helium)

2008-04-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Possessing a strong self-image breeds confidence. Confidence breeds success. Success breeds satisfaction, which then strengthens our self-image. It’s a never-ending circle in which we must thrive in order to flourish in the world of business. It is often those who live outside of this circle, or those with a low self-image, that wreck havoc on the inner workings of a successful business. Let’s explore both sides, as well as how they affect the business world.

Self image is defined as the opinion that you have of your own worth, attractiveness, or intelligence. From very early on in our lives, our self worth is developed and measured by our comfort with our physical attributes, peer relations, and most importantly, our home environment. It is affected by how we are treated, and affects how we treat ourselves and others.

Having a negative self image is most often a result of receiving negative communication. “You can’t do it”, “You’re not pretty enough”, “You’re not smart enough” are all forms of negative communication. Negative communication often comes from those who have a negative self-image, thus making it difficult to encourage a positive self image in another. Having a negative self-image will slow our progress as we grow, seek to become self-sufficient and independent, and become our own person.

In business, it is not difficult to detect those employees that have a negative self-image. These are the people who speak very quietly, don’t care about their appearance, appear to be nervous (especially in crowds), cannot make direct eye contact, and display a general lack of confidence. Some might even become critical of others and participate in office gossip. For all intents and purposes, this employee is not good for business success.

People with a low self-image tend to be lacking in performance value. Lacking the confidence required for a “job-well-done”, they complete their tasks at the bare minimum of their capabilities, and are thus unsure of their work. The old line “You can’t do it” possibly sticks in their mind, and they find that, indeed, at times they can’t. They have conditioned themselves to believe that if they’re told they can’t, then they can’t. Simple as that. And to try to overcome this by simply proving they can? Nearly impossible. Their psyches are too damaged by the destructive workings of the low self image.

On the flip side, so to speak, we have those who know they can. They know their worth. They know they have a contribution to make, and they make it. Green light, go! People possessing a positive self-image are often raised to believe they are beautiful (if even in their own way), smart, talented, and resourceful. If there is a limit, they’re not aware of it. Positive communication and the inner drive to succeed keep those with a positive self-image at the top of their game.

In business, a positive self-image goes all the way. Confidence breeds success, remember? From dressing well (to reflect confidence in our physical appearance), to performing well, proudly displaying your positive self image can lend credence to your abilities to succeed in the dog-eat-dog world of business.

The Most Amazing Life Experience: Motherhood (Written by me for Helium)

2008-04-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

“I’ll never do this again! It hurts!” I remember crying and screaming those very words as I labored very pitifully to deliver my first child, my baby girl. I easily recall squeezing my own mother’s hand with so much force I thought I might break her bones. Maybe on some primitive, subconscious level, I blamed her for my being there in the first place. Funny how the mind can twist and distort.

After 13 ½ hours of unrelenting labor, during which I was granted only a temporary respite at even intervals, my baby girl was placed on my stomach for the cord-cutting ceremony and I knew. I knew that I was ready to do this all over again. I knew that she was worth all the pain. And I knew that my heart couldn’t possibly hold more love than it did at that very moment.

Was I ever wrong! I was sure my heart would burst when Kaitlin said “Mama” for the first time. I was almost positive that I would run out of tears when she lost 80% of her hearing at age 3. And I knew tears of unrelenting joy when she gained all of her hearing back at age 4. And then came school days. Nothing could have prepared me for the utter despair I experienced when I helped my baby girl onto the school bus for the very first time. “My baby is growing up. She’s not a baby anymore! What am I going to do without her all day long?” I remember standing there by the side of the road, tears streaming down my face and looking for all the world like I’d lost my mind, and I just didn’t care. I wanted to chase that bus down and wrap my little girl in my arms and never let her go. Desperate thoughts of a very devoted mother: they consumed me.

Of course, after 2 ½ years of mothering a perfect baby girl, I became the very proud parent of a perfect baby boy. Because he was breech, and my labor was assisted, I wasn’t granted pain relief during his delivery. But by the same process, I went through misery and ended at complete happiness. I had a beautiful baby boy, and my little girl was waiting in the hall. I couldn’t wait to introduce them!

Kaitlin took it upon herself to be Ethan’s protector. And even though 12 years have gone by, she still assumes that role. I couldn’t be more proud. Of course, Ethan has pulled quite a few tears from me on his own over the years. From his first words spoken with a lisp (that took 10 years to go away), to watching him play his heart out in a game of basketball, I have always been extremely proud of my baby boy.

But through all the years of watching my children grow and learn and become their own persons, I have never found a more satisfying role for myself. I am a mother, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Arteriosclerosis: Symptoms and Treatment (Written by me for Health and Fitness Magazine)

2008-04-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a common disease affecting millions of people worldwide. It develops when the walls of the arteries become hardened, thicken, and lose their elasticity. This occurs over time, as a result of too much pressure on the arteries. While the cause is greatly unknown, there are certain risk factors, at times coupled with heredity, that would lend credit to the ability of this disease to exacerbate.

Unrelieved stress, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes may contribute to the development of arteriosclerosis. A diet high in cholesterol is a major contributing factor, because it can cause a fatty build-up, called plaque, to harden within the arteries. When this occurs, it is referred to as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the most common type of arteriosclerosis, and the two terms are often used definitive to the other.

When the walls of the arteries become hardened and lose their elasticity, platelets (disk-shaped particles found in abundance in the blood, which play an important role in clotting) will form around the damaged site within the artery as the body attempts to self-repair. At the same time, fatty deposits made mostly of cholesterol will accumulate and harden within the arteries. This greatly reduces blood flow to major organs. As an added risk, these fatty deposits, as well as the blood clots, could dislodge and completely block blood flow to major organs.

Most people are unaware of the presence of arteriosclerosis until it has become severe. The reason for this is simple: noticeable symptoms do not appear until the artery has narrowed considerably or has become blocked. The symptoms will then vary depending on which organ was affected.

The most common symptom of arteriosclerosis to the coronary arteries is angina (chest pain). In a coronary artery, a blood clot could (and most likely would) cause a heart attack. If the blood flow to the heart is repeatedly, or chronically, hampered, fatal heart failure could result.

Sudden dizziness, numbness, and weakness could all be signs of an obstruction in the blood flow within the carotid arteries. Carotid arteries are large arteries on each side of the neck that supply blood flow to the head and the brain. When these arteries become blocked, a stroke is likely the cause of the underlying symptoms. If a stroke occurs, it could cause a loss of speech, paralysis, and sometimes death.

Arteriosclerosis can present many complications. Among the more serious, and possibly life-threatening, is the risk for heart attack and stroke. However, there are a few other complications that deserve considerable attention. While some of these may appear to be non-life-threatening, it is important to seek medical attention should one of these complications arise. These include, and may not be limited to, damage to organs, insufficient blood flow to the legs and feet, transit ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke), and a very serious risk for aneurysms.

Coronary heart disease is responsible for roughly half a million deaths per year in America alone. The cause? Atherosclerosis, the most common type of arteriosclerosis. When the arteries to the heart become restricted or narrow, the blood flow to the heart is diminished. The most telling symptom of coronary heart disease is angina pectoris, or chest pain. Often, this pain can radiate to other parts of the body, such as the neck and back. Coronary heart disease often leads to heart attack when the blood flow to a part of the heart has almost or completely stopped. This causes the death of the affected heart tissue, hence the heart attack.

Many treatment options are available for arteriosclerosis, and their application is usually gauged by the extent of the illness. Most common are the medicines used to reverse or slow down the effects of bad cholesterol and the medicines designed to stop blood clotting. For more serious cases, surgery and other invasive procedures are deemed necessary. One such procedure is angioplasty, in which a doctor inserts a catheter into the blocked part of the artery, and inserts a balloon to be inflated within the artery walls. This compresses the blockage against the artery walls, providing a newly opened area for blood flow. A stent may be inserted to keep the artery open. Another procedure, endarterectomy, is performed to remove the fatty deposits from the artery. Other procedures can include gene therapy and bypass surgery.

Noting the seriousness of the complications should encourage us to take proper measures toward the prevention of arteriosclerosis. Proper diet, exercise, a nicotine-free lifestyle, and stress management are all effective ways, especially when combined, to reduce or slow down the progression of this disease.

Are You Aware of Your Thyroid? (Written by me for Helium)

2008-03-31T15:29:00.000-07:00

We are an exhausted people, no doubt about that. We go to work, run errands, handle our children, perform our domestic duties and eventually fall into bed asleep before we can even find comfort. We are also a weight-obsessed culture. Whether we're fixated on finding the ultimate weight-loss solution, or we're actively trying to gain weight, weight issues affect most of us at one time or another. Yet another all-American passion: depression. It seems we've all found times of utter despair in our lives, and have been reluctant to seek professional help. Oftentimes, this sense of despondency attacks us for no apparant reason, thus supporting the "I don't need help...it'll go away" cop-out.
While these are very common issues, they could speak volumes on a little bowtie scale. Enter the thyroid gland. Shaped like a bowtie, with two lobes on each side of the isthmus (a narrow part that connects two parts of a structure.), the thyroid gland controls the release of hormones that regulate physiological functions of the body. It controls the rate at which the body carries on its necessary functions. OK, you say. Big deal. Everything my body does is controlled by something. What does it matter what it is? Well, it matters because its over- or under-activity could go unnoticed for far too long, allowing us stubborn-minded individuals to lay blame for our symptoms on life and stress.
Thyroid disease is a very common ailment, affecting millions of Americans. More common in women, than in men, it is easy for the symptoms to go unnoticed. After all, women carry the great load in the stress department, what with full-time jobs, strained relationships, and the greater responsibility of raising children. So we do get tired, we do gain weight, we do lose weight, and we do feel depressed. But understanding that there very well could be a medical cause, instead of a life cause, for these problems can bring perspective where it is much-needed.
Let's quicky explore the two most common thyroid conditions: hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. This is also called an over-active thyroid. Its symptoms include, but are not limited to, insomnia, hand tremors, nervousness, loss of weight-despite a normal/healthy appetite, excessive sweating, irregular menstruation, trouble concentrating, and enlarging eyes.
Hypothyroidism is just the opposite: its blame lies in not enough thyroid hormone being released into the body. Symtoms include fatigue or exhaustion, poor cold tolerance, constipation, carpal-tunnel syndrome, poor appetite, weight gain, dry skin, depression, and loss of intellect.
While some symptoms may seem severe, there are medical solutions available. From taking hormone supplements to having your thyroid removed, many treatment plans are available.
Maybe it's time to pay more attention to those pesky little "life problems".