Tag: mental health

17 August 2026 Loving Family Little House and Dance Is Life

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Health, Mental Health, Music, Social media, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well. I’m doing better after having a visit with my Aunt and Uncle today. I was having some anxiety and just needed to see some loving faces. My cousins Heidi and Laura were on the phone and prayed with us. Sometimes it’s hard to be alone. My Aunt and I prayed with my cousins and the relief was almost instant. Such a beautiful prayer and gift my Idaho family is. My Auntie spoiled me with a breakfast sandwich and coffee. We watched the first four of eight episodes of the Little House on the Prairie on Netflix. It was good but can’t really compare to the original! Big shoes to fill!

https://youtu.be/jSds4Oi83Eg?is=gMsJMZqKY-dRWBe8 – Official Trailer Netflix Little House On The Prairie

Wanted to mention this – so fun to watch people dancing and having fun. NYCThrasher and Dave the pizza guy were there streaming live: at Pier 76:

What is Dance Is Life?

Dance Is Life is a communitarian dance party that celebrates the tradition of Latin Hustle being danced in the streets, parks, and clubs of NYC. We welcome all other street and club dance styles igniting a diverse space for exchange and creativity. Free and accessible to the public, Dance Is Life encourages freedom of self-expression and human connection through shared joy and movement.

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

Father, I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all Your creatures –
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,

For you are my Father.

prayer of abandonment – charles de foucauld

14 August 2026 Peace

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, history, Home, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Music, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. I hope this finds you well you well and if something, whatever it may be, is disrupting your peace I hope help is on the way. I was going to write something totally different today but decided not to contribute to negativity. So many people are going through so much right now. With the modern news systems bad news is vomited on to us at every turn! Let love, peace and light find you today. You are unconditionally loved! Don’t you forget that!

Spin of the world prayer wheel today:

Violence never again!
War never again!
Terrorism never again!
In God’s name,
may all religions bring upon earth
justice and peace,
forgiveness, life and love!

his holiness pope john paul ii – 01.24.2002

https://youtu.be/k4V3Mo61fJM?is=rYMeeH526uTUne1T – Fix You – Coldplay

5 August 2026 Finding Solace

by saymber, posted in Art and Poetry, Bipolar life, drawing, history, Spirituality and Religion

Hello to you. As I write to you many parts of my country and places abroad are on fire and or are suffering from heat waves. All are in my prayers! I can only imagine how hard it must be for all those who have lost their homes. I have been keeping Venezuela and their earthquake losses and places suffering war in my prayers too. I almost feel guilty that I have it so good! We had a water main leak today and the water was off so they can do the repair. Such a minor inconvenience in the scheme of things!

I wonder how many people are turning to God, finding solace in God in these times. It’s easy to love God when life is going your way. I wonder if you asked any of these poor souls if they believed in Jesus would they still say yes?

Some would ask why does God allow bad things to happen. I would say bad things are a catalyst to change. Many actions go into one thing happening. Many choices and moves have to occur for anything to happen good or bad. Life is a series of choices – the outcome of some of those choices can be bad – or seem bad at the time. If we put God first in our choices things can be manageable. It’s when we don’t figure God into our plans that things go astray. Standing in the ashes of a home without God I can imagine how alone and lost one might feel. I pray that those struggling like that will be comforted.

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel for today:

Oh, children, don’t you weep,
If the road is long.
All of us are prayers of action,
On our way to God,
On our way to God.

Some of us are long and rambling,
Sometimes lost for years,
Some of us are small and holy,
Beautiful and clear.

Oh, children, don’t you weep,
If the road is long.
All of us are prayers of action,
On our way to God,
On our way to God. 

prayers of action – tom rapp – 1973

30 July 2026 Reason

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, drawing, history, Home, Mental Health, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Do you think everything happens for a reason?

Hello to you. It’s another smoky and hazy day as I write to you. I’m getting a bit of cabin fever staying inside so much. We stay inside for the winter and stay inside for the summer! it feels like the whole earth is burning.

Do I think everything happens for a reason? The way I’ve come to understand how things work is this existence is like a chess match. Every move of a piece is carefully thought out. Our Lord knows where every single fragment of this existence is going to go. Each move carefully thought out. To answer a single prayer requires the movement of so many pieces. The Lord has all the time in world – he operates in infinity. One day in our time is forever in his. He exists outside of time whereas our mortal coil is limited by time and circumstances.

I can remember sitting out in my back yard in Texas and I would point at a dead leaf or a blade of grass. I would ask “what are you going to do with this,” and then a breeze would come and move the leaf or blade of grass. Sometimes an insect would land on it. I came to understand that God had a plan for everything in creation – even things that seemed to not be of use anymore.

Sometimes things happen in this shared existence that seem to make no sense at the moment. It’s only when enough time passes that we see the purpose. We can often look back and see Gods plan and have an “aha” moment. We are able to see what happened that seemed horrible while we were living in it was actually for our greater good. If my second husband had not divorced me, I would not have the relationship I have with God, my family and church. At the time I was going through the divorce I wasn’t sure I would make it!

https://youtu.be/HuV2ID4PVgA?is=IM4tOhSr-2uwiQNL – Enigma – Why

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

I would say to young people 
a number of things, and I have only one minute.

I would say — let them remember
that there is a meaning beyond absurdity.

Let them be sure that every little deed counts,
that every word has power,
and that we do — everyone — our share
to redeem the world, in spite of all absurdities,
and all the frustrations, and all the disappointment

And above all, remember that the meaning of life
is to live life as if it were a work of art.

rabbi abraham joshua heschel – 1972

29 July 2026 Home Decor

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

What’s your home decoration style?

Hello to you. It’s another hazy smoky day here today. I haven’t been out walking the past couple of days. I feel bad for all the countries of this world suffering from fires, earthquakes and floods. Mother Earth is speaking and we better start listening!

Today’s prompt is pretty easy for me. One word describes my decoration style. – eclectic. I don’t have a particular style or genre. When I was with Kyle we collected dragon figurines and stuff like McFarland plastic dragons. For awhile we also collected My Little Ponies and stuffed owls. After the divorce and me leaving Texas I gave a bunch of stuffed animals like my bears, to my cousin for the children to play with. When we divorced I kept only one dragon figurine and a couple stuffed dragons we had bought on our first date at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida. The only other collection I have is crystals. Living in a tiny house you have to be careful with accumulating stuff!

These came from Universal Studios
This dragon we picked out at a flea market

I rewatched this yesterday – it’s been posted for 17 years now and it’s still relevant. Its a very good explanation about our current stuff system:

https://youtu.be/9GorqroigqM?is=jLBnLFjlpEQBL_N0 – The Story of Stuff

Spin of the prayer wheel :

Touch the pain of the world 
and release hope into the darkness.

sister simone campbell – sisters of social service

28 July 2026 Surrender

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

Hello there. As I write today is another smoky and hazy day. I haven’t done any walks because of the conditions. After I write this I am going to try and do a 20 min Tai Chi session on YouTube with Don Fiore.

I had a therapy session today and we ended with Alyssa giving me a challenge. She asked me to do a drawing of what surrender looks like for me now. The last big surrender was when I was still married to Ken and lived in Florida. When I turned myself into the care of God, the doors of freedom and recovery flew open.

Here is an abbreviated version of what happened. While stationed in Colorado and then Florida I had started abusing alcohol. One day, in Florida, I met a man who was a broker, can’t remember his name, but he was striking. He was a black man with incredibly blue eyes. He asked me if I had a church home and I said no. He invited me to his mega non- denominational church. I went and the message was about the Holy Spirit being an actual person. The next day I was on my patio drunk and miserable. I simply said “I surrender.” The very next day the Holy Spirit began his work on me. I rode my bike to work and was going to go even with a hangover. As I was getting ready to go I watched the chain on my bike fall off in slow motion. I fixed the chain but was running late now to get to work. I was riding in front of where Ken used to work and all the sudden a Transam about ran me over. I was really shook up now! Had I been there a few seconds earlier I would have been hit!

When I got to work I remembered I had my annual physical exam so I left again. At the appointment there was a questionnaire and alcohol use was one of the questions. I had the courage to be honest. Because I was honest, within a couple days I was in rehab in Maryland! At first Ken and I were mad because we didn’t think I was an alcoholic. Later I realized it was to get the alcohol out of my system to see what was really going on. There is much more to my story of this surrender – let’s just say when the Holy Spirit is in charge nothing is impossible!

I feel like I’ve been doing what God wants me to do right now. My physical conditions prevent me from over doing it like I used to do. What would happen if I surrendered again? Would I be healed so I could be a worthy vessel of the Holy Spirit or how I am now is forever? This drawing is how I view Surrender right now:

Putting to crude drawing what Surrender looks like today

Spin of the World Prayer Wheel:

Let my heart be the vessel of God’s Love.

Let my thoughts be the blossom of God’s Love.

Let my words be the expression of God’s Love.

Let my actions be the fulfillment of God’s Love.

willingness – david ridge

16 July 2026 Gods Forge

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

Do you think we’re shaped more by our experiences or by who we are?

Hello to you on this hot Thursday. We gathered a little later than normal for prayer today. It was so we could participate in the 21 days of prayer. There weren’t any new petitions but more of us to go over the ones we had. Afterwards Jeannie and I went to the Sunrise for a late breakfast. We had a wonderful visit and delicious breakfast. I got a hug from the manager Emma – I just love her! With Jeannie’s schedule it was the last day we could do this for her summer break. I was going to get groceries afterwards but decided to go tomorrow morning when it’s cooler. I really don’t like doing it!

Today’s prompt made me reflect on my own life and all that I’ve been through. I believe I have been put through Gods forge that has shaped and molded me into who I am. If I haven’t gone through what I have I think I would be a much weaker person. I have quite a laundry list! I have been divorced twice both times my being bipolar was a main cause, anorexic, bulemic, alcoholic, abused, an abuser, suicide attempt, obese, unjustly arrested, an adulterer, had fibroid cysts which resulted in me choosing to have a hysterectomy without ever being a mother, survived storms, been in and out of mental health institutions, dealt with the grief of loss of many people and pets I’ve loved to include losing my mother when I was just 10 months old to suicide. These are just a few of the things I’ve been through! Just about every tragedy you can come up with I have gone through either directly or indirectly. The way I look at it is Gods forge has shaped me into who I am today. Sometimes I have felt a bit like Job from the Bible!

Spin of the Prayer Wheel for today:

I see no stranger, I see no enemy
Wherever I look, God is all I see

I don’t think of us and them
No one do I hate or condemn
I see God’s image – each one a friend.

Of any religion, caste or race
All I see is God’s shining face
His smiling face, His gracious face.

Accept as beautiful all His design
I learnt this truth in sangat divine

One Word resounds in me and you
Waheguru … Waheguru …
In him, in her, in me and you
Waheguru … Waheguru …

Beholding in every being His light
I bloom like a flower in joy and delight.

adi granth – guru arjun dev ji – ca. 1604 ce.

14 July 2026 A Beginning

by saymber, posted in Bipolar life, Food, Health, Leading Life by Example, Mental Health, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you. I’m just back from the MOVE orientation at Caldwells VA. After going through everything, I had the option of asking to be put on a GLP-1 but I decided I’m going to take the 16 week class starting on 6 Jan of next year. I want the weight loss to be lasting and going to a class will make me stay accountable! I have already started a food journal to track my calories. I need to make lifestyle changes and going to a class each week I hope will help me achieve that goal. Another benefit to go to class will be getting me out of the house another day of the week. I am proud of myself for taking this step – it’s a beginning.

Spin of the prayer wheel today:

This is the beginning of a new day.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something I have traded for it.
I want it to be a gain, not a loss;
good, not evil;
success, not failure —
in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it today.

author unknown

13 July 2026 Learner

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

Are you a lifelong learner?

Hello to you. There has been difficult news today. Another person was shot and killed by ICE agents in Biddeford Maine:

https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-maine-immigration-dhs-f26f8c2256aa6f0748582ea4adbb515c

I feel so bad for his little girl who is only 3 years old! Her dad was shot right in front of her. When is enough enough?!! My prayers go out to her and her mother.

Changing gears…..

Todays prompt is so true of me. All my life so far I’ve been in school – life school. I have experienced both the good and bad lessons life has to teach. I believe we don’t go through things for no reason – especially difficult things. When we approach difficult things as learning opportunities we grow as people. We become the sort of person that can then turn around and use what we’ve learned to help other people facing similar challenges. When we face difficulties we can choose to shut down and become bitter or we can bloom where we are planted.

Turning to God during trials makes the load lighter. There has been so many times when I turned my trials over to God that doors previously closed flew open! The way was made smoother than it would be on my own. These past couple of years I have really been using the power of prayer to help me and others get through difficult times.

Spin of the Prayer Wheel today:

God, help me to be 
a pure vehicle for your love,
and light, 
and wisdom.

steven sadleir

12 July 2026 Remarkably Bright Creatures

by saymber, posted in animals, Bipolar life, Mental Health, Movies, Nature, Spirituality and Religion, Veteran Affairs

Hello to you! I hope this finds you well. I have had a really good day. For church we were in John and Hebrews. Jesus is the perfect bridge and anchor of the soul:

https://youtu.be/zIrqMc2_Fj8?is=2YG6o5Uzo6LzaG3q – High Priestly Prayer Part 1 – Jason Boyd

I got to sit with my friend Jeannie and we got caught up on things. Her brother-in- law Roy is still not doing good – still losing weight. His daughter has been here and that’s made a nice break for Jeannie. He needs practically everything care!

I went over to my Aunt and Uncles in the early afternoon and that helped me so much. Sundays can be lonesome for me ! We had fajitas for linner and watched a wonderful movie on Netflix called Remarkably Bright Creatures starring Sally Field and an Octopus named Marcellus. Sally was perfect for this role as a widow named Tova. This is one of those movies you can watch more than once. My Aunt and Uncle loved this movie and so did I!

Here is from the Internet about it:

The feature film adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 bestselling novel Remarkably Bright Creatures is an emotional drama directed by Olivia Newman. Starring Sally Field as a grieving widow, Lewis Pullman as a wayward young man, and Alfred Molina as the voice of an observant, elderly octopus, the film was released on Netflix on May 8, 2026. [1]

The Plot and Themes

Set in the Pacific Northwest town of Sowell Bay, the story follows Tova Sullivan (Field), an elderly woman who cleans a local aquarium at night to help process the lingering grief of her husband’s passing and the mysterious disappearance of her son years ago. While working, she forms an unlikely bond with Marcellus, an intelligent, captive Giant Pacific Octopus who longs to return to the wild. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Their routine is altered when Cameron (Pullman), a directionless young man looking for his estranged father, arrives in town and is taken under Tova’s wing. Through their intertwining lives, narrated in part by the dry and opinionated Marcellus, the characters help each other navigate grief, family dysfunction, and the search for purpose

https://youtu.be/b14IFe4an5k?is=Rfni_4-ySfoUd7Zs – official trailer Remarkably Bright Creatures

Spin of the Prayer Wheel for today:

I lift these hands, dear God, to You,
in praise and thanks for all you do.
You light the path through all my days
and bless me with your loving ways…

I lift these hands dear God, to You,
in troubled hours when joys are few.
You bear me up on eagles’wings and see
me through each test life brings.

I lift these hands, dear God, to You,
please grant me wisdom, patience, too.
Then fill my heart with love and caring,
precious gifts you’ve made for sharing.

poet – emily matthews