Category: Bipolar life

18 October 2023 Good Neighbor

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, history, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Television, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What makes a good neighbor?

When I saw the prompt for today I immediately thought of Fred Rogers Neighborhood program. He showed through that program all the ways to be a good neighbor. He used puppets and people to make his points. One of the most powerful things he did was share a child’s swimming pool with a black police officer – https://youtu.be/v4recJ6qXyk?si=HcUP2OLkmIn4sWkt

He was so gentle and kind. The kind of neighbor I would love to have. I have nice neighbors but they mostly keep to themselves except Marlene. She is an older lady who walks her dog she calls Number 6 and pretty much knows everyone.

Number 6 – she gets lots of walks

https://youtu.be/NB5uSHCIgS0?si=CB8SrUlm6MdV2IAp – Mr Rogers Helpers

I know I have shared this a couple times before but it is so relevant right now. We are getting toxic news at every turn. Mr. Rogers was and remains a helper to this day.

Luke 10:27New International Version

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

17 October 2023 First Time

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What could you try for the first time?

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well in spite of all the stuff going on in this world. I am trying to remain calm and relaxed. I know the more anxious I feel the more I need to pray and lean into my faith. Its just hard to do sometimes. The natural inclination when going through rough times is to be anxious and worry. That, unfortunately, shows a lack of faith. I have to trust Jesus has the wheel of what I’m facing. I am grateful for all my family and friends that are praying for me right now.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw todays prompt was snorkeling or scuba diving. I’ve never done either of these things. There is so much to discover in the underwater realms. I have only ever been a land dweller! I lived in Florida for a couple of years but never did anything but swim in the ocean and do some fishing. I got to see dolphins off in the distance from where I was swimming. I can remember fishing at the shore and a dolphin coming right next to me! I love dolphins! They are such miracles!

Isaiah 43:19New International Version

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

16 October 2023 Waiting and the Unknown

by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

Hello to you. The past few days have been hard for me. I am having to wait and there are lots of unknowns. I can’t really get into specifics but my whole life is affected by what’s going on right now. I’m so grateful for my family and friends! I came up with this poem to describe what’s going on.

The Unknown

I stand at the threshold of the unknown

Only fleeting glimpses of the future

I am being shown

The past rises to my now and when

Erases the clean slate

Of all I have been

Everything comes crashing in fast

The reality I now face

Is something I would only think of last

I have asked God the questions of where and when

The answers are seemingly harsh

Considering where I have already been

God has a plan for me I don’t know what

I just need to keep my faith strong

Stay out of the fear I’m feeling in my gut

Everything happens for a reason

For a moment

For a season

I must trust the process …..

15 October 2023 Putting Off

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Money, Nature, photography, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

Hello to you. How are you? I am doing ok considering what’s going on in my life right now. I can’t really talk about it but let’s just say it’s life changing. I am leaning on my faith, family and friends right now. Yesterday my cousin came and whisked me off on an little adventure. We had Dickeys BBQ and went for a walk.

The big thing have been putting off is end of life planning. I know at some point I’m going to die and I will have property, finances and stuff that will be left behind to deal with. I have a will but it’s old so I need to get everything up to date. So I need to deal with it and hopefully I can do it through the VA so it won’t cost me anything. Ideally I just want to leave everything to my brothers daughter but need to get everything in writing and official.

Yesterday my beautiful cousin Laura came and whisked me off on an adventure. This is one of the sights we saw on a walk together.

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

13 October 2023 Million Dollars

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Leading Life by Example, Money, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?

If I had a million dollars to give away there are so many people and agencies I could think to give it to. For example my family, friends, church, ASPCA and Music and Memory. it’s hard to nail down just one! There is a part of me that would want to buy a plot of land and make it in to a nature preserve or park. I’ve always wanted to do that. One million dollars doesn’t go as far as it use to! Homes here in Idaho are selling for half a million!

Luke 6:20-21New International Version

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

12 October 2023 Guaranteed Success

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion

What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

I would write my biography if I thought I could be a success at putting it together and publishing it. I have an interesting story to tell but am overwhelmed at the thought of trying to go through everything like journals etc. I would want an objective outside person to put things together and help me do it.

Joshua 23:14 (NIV)

Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” If we fall off the path God has set for us, we should not worry about not fulfilling God’s plan.

11 October 2023 Hardest Personal Goal

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Home, Leading Life by Example

What was the hardest personal goal you’ve set for yourself?

As of right now my personal goal presenting the most difficulty is weight loss. I have been heavy before and it took extreme measures to get the weight off. As soon as I started eating normally again and indulging cravings the weight came back with a vengeance! I would like to lose this excess weight at a reasonable rate so I don’t have loose skin issues! So I am praying for wisdom. I think the Factor meals will help. They are a healthy mix of meat and vegetables with reasonable portions.

1 Corinthians 10:31New International Version

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

9 October 2023 Favorite Past Time

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Home, human rights, In the News, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What is your favorite hobby or pastime?

Hello to you. How are you? I am feeling anxious today. I’m planning on spending the day with my Aunt after I get my laundry done. Feeling bad for the people of Israel and all that is going on over there. The world I’m living in is so surreal right now!

My favorite past time that I have held on to over all that I’ve been through is writing. Everything else I used to do – drawing, painting and crocheting has all but shut down. Being on the medication I am on really has closed my creative juices off. Honestly I would rather not be manic and have my life in control than be out of touch with reality.

Psalm 122:6-9New International Version

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lordour God,
I will seek your prosperity.

8 October 2023 Lost Possessions

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, history, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What would you do if you lost all your possessions?

It’s hard to imagine what my life would be like if I loss all my possessions. I think of all the natural disasters where people have lost everything and have to file insurance claims. It can take a really long time to return to some sort of normal and nothing is ever the same again. So much in the way of memories is lost! I think I would be in a severe case of shock! I would, as with anything happening like this, lean heavily on my faith in Jesus and my family, friends and church family. I would have to accept nothing was going to be the same again.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

7 October 2023 Topic Change

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Home, human rights, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, trust, Veteran Affairs, Writing and blogging

What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?

The topic or issue I’ve had the most change about in the past couple of years is spirituality. I have more of a Christ consciousness than I did before. In the past it was simply just God I believed in not so much Jesus. Now after time and experiences the focus has narrowed down to Jesus. I can remember a couple scary lucid dreams I had and the one name I was barely able to say got me free was saying the name Jesus. I have always believed in God but for the longest not just Jesus. I have only just recently declared my belief. Once you say yes to Jesus, you can’t really say no!

I just want to give thanks for my family and friends today. I had something scary happen yesterday and they helped me get through it. I am so blessed to have such a support system!

Psalm 142:7New International Version

7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.