June 10, 2013 by IdealisticRebel

A Possible Cancer Cluster

Relay for life at fairgrounds

While visiting my daughter and her family; the Fabulous Floozies were making the final preparations along with schools and churches and other groups of men and women who care about the amazingly large amount of deaths due to Cancer. Officials believe there is a possible Cancer Cluster. A study will be beginning at a local college to investigate and see if there is a Cancer Cluster there and what is causing it.

For my daughter, several of her husband’s family have lost their battle with Cancert. Her BBF, Karen died last year after her third struggle with a cancer that started in her breast. She left a Navy husband and two children near the ages of my grands.They are all struggling to carry on. My daughter is struggling with her grief and loss. It breaks my heart.She has another friend who is recovering from a double mastectomy.

The luminaries completely encircled a space larger than a football field.

The luminaires completely encircled a space larger than a football field.

I met survivors, caring people who want to work to help end Cancer’s hold on their town. There were schools, churches, women’s groups, and groups of people who came together to give of themselves to stop this unseen killer, They sold food and pop, bands played and people hugged each other and many tears were shed. There was dancing and singing for 24 hours.

Surviviors walked with crutches, canes and wheelchairs

They work all year to earn money for cancer research. The results of this research has the potential of identifying the cluster and saving the lives of people in this small town. My prayers are with them. My hopes are with them. Please remember these women, men and children who are affected on so many levels.

I am dedicating this blog to Karen and Iris. I pray they find the Cancer Cluster and stop the cruel hold Cancer has on this Eastern North Carolina county and town, I was impressed by the dedication of the thousands of people who live in the county and once again I remembered how much we can accomplish when we work together for good.

All photographs were taken by Barbara Mattio and Copyrighted 2013.

June 7, 2013 by IdealisticRebel

The Benefits of Destressing

Relaxing can relax you and help you remember your priorities

Relaxing can destress you and help you remember your priorities

I just returned from my grandson’s graduation. It was a wonderful time of graduation activities, fun at the beach, and eating fresh seafood. We Americans forget how important resting and relaxing is for our bodies. We talk a lot about stress and how much we need to relax but most of us can’t find the time to make plans to do something wonderful for ourselves. How often have you told yourself you are just too busy?

The seagulls love to clean up food left in the sand.

It occurs to me that perhaps carrying the load of stress most people in the world carry adds to the anger, hatred and lack of peace that we are experiencing these days. The possibility of this being accurate adds even more importance to taking care of our emotional health. We need to be emotionally healthy to add the love, compassion and peace to the world that we crave and pray for so often.

So many activities allow us to decompress.

Even though you may have a really busy schedule, attempt to find things that make you feel good about yourself. Find what makes you smile, laugh, and relax. You are a being of incredible lightness and you should feel that amazing experience as often as possible. Do you remember times in the past when you just knew you shimmered and shined? Take a few minutes and allow yourself to go back to that wonderful feeling.

Castles in the Sand

So let go and give yourself a break. You will immediately feel more peaceful and loving. We were created to experience life and to experience the joy and goodness of life as well as the responsibilities and issues. It is important to find your bliss and clean your house, help out at the food bank, or work for that promotion you want. This summer give yourself permission to play in the sand, to sit and read a book, dance to a little music or sing all the way to work. It is okay to balance your life and take care of yourself so you can take care of the others who are in your life.