Controversial opinion post. I am not bothering to cite my sources because I really don't have the energy. I just need to get my thoughts out. Maybe I'm wrong about some of this stuff, but this is where my mind is at.
We have a major economic problem in the USA. Middle class earns around $100k-$150k, depending on if families have children or not. Housing is nearly impossible to afford. Groceries are ridiculously expensive all the sudden. It's very hard to find a job that pays enough to pay off student loans. Medical expenses are enough to put anyone into bankruptcy, even after our overpriced expensive insurance "helps."
...and I think a solution could be for the government to pay couples to have children.
The government already pays for parents to foster children. Why not some stimulus for supporting couples in having their own children too? Maybe only 1 child per couple, just enough to encourage couples to have children. There should be a strict application process to weed out people who would simply try to take advantage and be terrible parents.
Here's why I'm thinking this way:
There is a problem beginning to affect our economy called the "demographic cliff." There are fewer teenagers these days, and the teenagers we do have are not necessarily working or considering college. High School extracurricular activities are so time-consuming now, partially because programs like sports are trying to be as competitive as professional teams, and partially because parents need to keep their children occupied and so they put them in every activity they can. Teenagers are struggling to find time to get their homework done, let alone have a chance to hang out and play.
Have you seen all the "now hiring" signs on fast-food restaurants, grocery stores, and other entry-level low-wage positions? That's because there are fewer teenagers overall, and also because teenagers have less time for work now. Who will fill these positions? Not adults, because these jobs don't pay enough for adults to meet their financial needs: student loan debt, car debt, rent, groceries, insurance, etc. And no, we really don't want these businesses to simply close their doors, but that's what happening because they can't find enough employees to stay open. That's why using robots and AI in place of a human worker is not necessarily a bad thing for business and the economy.
We know that this trend is only going to continue because stores are now selling more adult diapers than baby diapers. The birth rate has been declining since the 70's.
Many people are arguing that we have a global overpopulation crisis, but every economist I read says the exact opposite: we don't have enough people to support the economy, and it's getting worse.
Part of the problem is the rate of infertility is increasing. Men have less testosterone, thyroid diseases are on the rise, and women are finally getting recognition for reproductive diseases like endometriosis (and are being told more frequently not to attempt pregnancy due to complications and risks.) In many cases, couples who want children can't have them. It's not fair, is it?
What will happen if the population thins out too much? I'm no expert, but I have guesses:
We're already seeing tons of smaller colleges closing their doors for good. We're already seeing more and more franchises going bankrupt and closing their stores and restaurants.
This means that the businesses that survive will probably make more money because the population will rely more on them. Unless these businesses decide to pay livable wages and treat people well, then the pay gap will probably increase more. The rich will get richer, and the middle class will disappear until there is only a lower and upper class. People will have less money to support Capitalism, because Capitalism requires people constantly exchanging money. It's soul-crushing and meaningless to rely on people constantly consuming and buying things, but that is precisely what MUST happen to support the economy. Where you shop and how much money you spend is the foundation of your local economy.
Take a step back from reality for a moment. Let your consciousness float in the air over your city and look at what your city is made of. What do you see? It's a lot of retailers and restaurants, right? There are services too, like medical, chiropractic, cleaning, repair, etc. But the majority? Retail. Think about how many people it takes to shop at each and every one of those stores daily to keep those stores open and earning a profit. Now imagine half the amount people suddenly disappear. Who will shop at each and every one of those stores enough to keep them open? So let's say half the retailers close their stores because there isn't enough demand for their businesses? Cities will be full of empty properties. Abandoned buildings. Aren't we already seeing this trend? Fewer businesses, less money exchanging hands, leading to fewer taxes for the local government. When the government has less tax revenue, they're less likely to afford to repair the infrastructure of the city. People start to move out of the city into bigger cities where there are more available jobs and resources. Cities die. Haven't we already been seeing small towns across America shrink and die?
But when we lose our small towns and cities, we have to rely more and more on shipping food into the city. Local food is harder to find, but the food shipped into cities is a little older and less fresh. We have to pay more for our food due to the cost of shipping. But we also need enough people growing the food that gets shipped to bigger cities, right? Who will work those jobs if they're not paid enough to afford life? So that means farmers and ranchers find help from people in other countries willing to work for a low wage, because the dollar will go far when they return to their counties. Less money circulates in our country's economy. And more people have less money.
I haven't even gotten started on the problems with dead soil, mass extinctions of many breeds of insects and animals, microplastics being found in every part of the earth and water we test, etc. We're in an environmental nightmare. And yes, that has a major impact on the economy too. What happens when farming stops working?
I really believe we need a paradigm shift... immediately. Our economy is unsustainable and unstable.
What I've been seeing happening to cope with all the current problems is predatory marketing. Businesses are offering "buy now pay later" options to get you to make purchases you can't afford. Colleges are asking teenagers to sign agreements to $40k+ loans that they may never be able to pay off. People are getting desperate enough to fall into investment traps: "spend $500 to start a dropshipping website that might, if you're super lucky, help you earn $10k a month with very little work!!!" It's BS, most people won't make enough money online like this, but people are falling for it and giving it a try, wasting their money in the attempt. People can't find places to rent that are less than 30% of their income now, and if they do the places are often full of problems like mold and neglect. It's really hard to buy a house because they're almost less affordable than rent. It's all very predatory.
So my thought is that we need to shift many many things in our economy... but a great way to start is to encourage people to have children. So many couples are avoiding children because they're a financial nightmare. There's no joy in having children when it's impossible to pay for them. The only way for many couples to afford children is if both parents are working full-time and they're both earning more than the cost of daycare. Well, when the average cost of daycare per year is around $35k... do your jobs pay enough after taxes to cover the cost of daycare? Will you even make a profit? And so, isn't it better to actually have one parent stay home and raise the child?
And what a concept... parents actually being able to parent! Children deserve parents who are able to be parents because they're available: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. How can parents be available when they're working full time and exhausted? Their life isn't focused on their children. It's focused on their job. So.... let's ease the burden. Parenting could actually be financially do-able if parents were given money each month for the cost of raising the child.
Am I crazy? Let me know...
These are the types of thoughts giving me an incredible amount of anxiety and causing me to loose sleep at night. Yes, I could choose to focus on the positive in life, or I could be realistic and dream up solutions to these major problems...
And where do I, a low-skilled 36 year old partially disabled woman fit into this economic picture? It's haunting. And scary.
Anyway... lunch time. I gotta eat to keep surviving... for what, exactly? Well, for hope. I have to have hope.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Thoughts on the Economy and My Place in it
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Music as Medicine
I'm going through probably the worse spell of depression I've ever experienced in my life, although to be fair, it might actually be despair more than depression. Despair is a terrible place to be too. I'm not really capable of talking though the reasons right now. My fingers are icy cold. I'm too emotionally and mentally exhausted too.
What I want to do is share some music I've been listening to that fits my feelings. These artists inspire me a lot to embrace my feelings and use them for growth and motivation.
Aurora said when she was recruited to make music professionally she didn't think she wanted to do it, but her mother told her songs were like medicine to her, and they could be medicine for other people too. So Aurora decided to try making music professionally because she loved the idea of her music being medicine for people. Her mother was right. Music can be the best medicine of all. And her music has been medicine for me. Her youthful perspective helps me to see the world again from before I felt broken, and she and I are very much alike. She might be who helps me return to my youthful passion for building a life worth living.
Something about these Norwegian (and an Icelandic) ladies really resonates with me... And the British make really good music too.
(Please forgive some of the formatting issues - I give up on trying to control Blogger.)
Kalandra - Brave New World
Highasakite - Samurai Swords
Muse - Explorers
This is a lullaby plea written for his son...
Tom Odell - Best Day of My Life
"I don't want to be sad anymore.
Look at all the happy people, baby, what are they doing that I ain't doing?"
Monday, November 13, 2023
Online Store Review - For Days
🔸 Quick reason:
Has a lot of potential to gain stars as they grow. They do some things very well, but have some business practices that I don't feel good about. I won't discourage you from using them because their store is good for what it is, but their services are gimmicky.
🔸 What they do best:
They promote brands I would never have heard of otherwise, brands that I actually might like. It makes me go to the websites of these new-to-me brands and discover! For Days might have a better price, but they only care a limited number of items from each brand. They also offer select items from brands I already love at lower prices.
🔸 What they can improve on:
They mostly offer styles that are too trendy, and therefore not necessarily what the average person might like. I wouldn't wear the vast majority of what they sell because it doesn't flatter my body type (I'm looking at you, cropped shirts and super wide leg pants!) If you like to buy expensive trendy styles and have a body type that looks good in anything, you will probably love their selection.
Their concept has a lot of potential, but their inventory is mostly... not for me.
🔶 Full Review:
When I moved from North Dakota to South Carolina, I needed to downsize my closet because it was too much to move into a smaller space. I tried to donate to thrift stores and other organizations that help those in need, but they were not accepting donations in the 6 months I spent packing. I didn't want to throw away perfectly good clothes. That's when I saw an advertisement for a new brand: Fordays.com
The ad really caught my attention:
Buy a huge Take Back Bag for $20. Stuff it full of clothes I don't want anymore. Mail it to them (the $20 for the bag covers the cost of shipping.) They give you $20 in store credit in exchange. They recycle your clothes for you so they stay out of landfills.
Okay, so I don't profit from this, but it does allow me to exchange clothes I don't want for new clothes I do want. Not a bad concept. It keeps my clothes out of the landfill, and textiles in landfills are causing quite a bit of an environmental crisis. Okay, so I was convinced. I bought 3 Take Back Bags, and I stuffed them each very full.
I did have some trouble with the Take Back Bags. The registration code on them (to link that bag to my account) didn't work on all 3. Customer service took about 5 days to help me. It was resolved in the end, but I couldn't actually ship my bags back until they helped me.
My Closet Cash appeared in my account. $60 to spend to on anything I want in the store. Cool! That was a decent trade!
... kind of.
I have not used my closet cash yet simply because I couldn't find anything I wanted to buy. For Days sells clothes from a wide variety of sustainable brands, so I expected I would have plenty to choose from. But when I really started shopping seriously, I quickly discovered that almost everything on their site was way too expensive and luxurious, or was just weird. Maybe even ugly. Things I actually liked were not in my size. Other things I liked were not things I needed, like more towels.
Until yesterday. I finally found some clothes from Happy Earth, one of my favorite brands, at a really good sale price. So I added two pieces to my cart, then tried to pay with my Closet Cash. It wouldn't work yesterday. The closet cash has to be redeemed on a different website, then it's supposed to magically show up as an option when you go to your cart. It never showed up yesterday.
Wide Leg Herringbone Flex Pants - Calathea Green – For Days
Today I was able to choose to pay with Closet Cash, now that they've sold a lot of their inventory at that great price. But, I didn't buy them.
Because I'm only allowed to use $20 of my Closet Cash per transaction.
Whoa.... wait. WHAT!? That's terrible business for a sustainably-minded company! That forces me to buy each item in a separate transaction so I can get a $20 discount on each item. If I want something that costs $50, I only get $20 off, so I have to pay $30 for it even though I have more Closet Cash. This might get them more business, but it pisses off customers. It also means they have to do more shipping in more shipping bags, which is so not sustainable! That kind of ruins their whole model.
So now I'm sitting here wondering how badly I want those Happy Earth pants that I've been pining over for a while. I have zero budget for clothes because money is very tight, and I'd still have to pay $40 after using my $20.
If I don't buy things that cost exactly $20, then I'm not going to be able to spend my Closet Cash. And trust me, they have almost nothing for $20. They have a ton of $150+ pants though. I feel lied to. I feel like this company doesn't care about me, the customer. The only silver lining is that if they actually do recycle the clothes I sent them, then I am morally rewarded for doing a better thing than sending them to the landfill.
🔸 Conclusion:
This site is probably best when treated like a search engine for brands that fit your values.
You might like their Take Back Bag (their featured service) if you like their selection, and you're willing to only get a $20 discount per order.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Time Change - Sleep Must Be A Top Priority
Daylight Savings Time should always stay in effect. We should never end it because it really negatively affects our circadian rhythm! What do I use to deal with the time change and get enough sleep?
First, I want to take you on a journey back to 2018, when I wrote a post about my blue light blocking glasses. You can review it here:
https://kindlingheatlh.blogspot.com/2018/12/product-review-computer-glasses-gamma.html
Quick highlights:
- Helps me sleep even after using screens
- Reduces symptoms that cause pain and keep me awake
- Prevents the bad mood I get from too much screen time
These glasses are still very useful for me, but this week I've noticed how much more I need them after Daylight Savings Time ended. It's dark by 5:30 pm now, and any screen time when it's dark outside strains my eyes even more than in the daylight. These glasses reduce my squinting, tears, headaches, strains, and poor mood caused by screens. I'm not exaggerating. These make that much of a difference for me.
I'd like to highly recommend the Gunnar Brand, although I want to explain why I'm recommending the specific pairs I'll show you. In order for them to work most effectively, the lenses should not be small. They should wrap around your sides, and they should cover a large surface area around your eyes. The point is to block blue light from your eyes, and that won't happen as well if you're using small lenses for the sake of their aesthetics. I have also found that I dislike a thick frame, because I'm always looking at it when I wear them. I notice the glasses the least when the frame is small.
I know many people claim (especially biohacker Dave Asprey) they need the TrueDark glasses, which have a deep red tint to the lenses. While this is probably the healthiest and best choice because it reduces harmful light the most, I'm not a fan of making my vision red. Why look at a screen at all if I'm just going to see red? If I want to read e-books in bed I think they'd be ideal. For anything else, I feel like Gunnar gets it right: the amber tint is enough to relieve symptoms, without affecting the color we see on the screen much.
Style I prefer:
Good sale price:
My next tip: sleeping on a new schedule. Sleep couldn't be more important, and I prioritize it above all else in my life. Without quality sleep I simply cannot do anything with my days.
Training your body to change a sleep schedule is extremely difficult, and I'd like to say it's an inhumane practice to make us do this 2x per year. Did you know that the time change in the fall has been linked to higher risks of heart attacks, traffic accidents, and other cardiovascular events?
Personally, I sleep so poorly that I don't have a good solid sleep time. I tend to fall asleep around midnight and wake up around 8. Now I'm falling asleep around 11 and waking up around 7. I get tired at different times in the evening, and it's almost impossible for me to fall asleep when I'm not so tired that my eyes are crossing. Even if I do fall asleep, I'm likely to wake up again.
If I break any of these habits, odds are I won't sleep that night:
- Caffeine after 2 pm
- Exercise too late in the evening, and not enough in the day time
- Doing something stimulating after 9 pm, such as a video game or listening to music
- Eating dinner after 7:30/8 pm
- Not taking my supplements 20 minutes before I want to be sleeping
So let me talk about supplements I use in the evening. I am not able to link you to some that I rely on, because some are from my Naturopathic Doctor and others are from my Acupuncturist. I have, however, found good alternatives when I can't buy from them. I'll link you to those, because they do help me:
Organic India Holy Basil. This is a cortisol suppressant that is effective at lowering my body's reaction to stress. It tends to make me lose interest in whatever is stimulating me, helping me to switch gears into a relaxed state:
Now 3-in-1 Sleep Regimen. I need melatonin, but you may not. This could be wrong for you. I am someone who really cannot fall asleep without taking melatonin (and before you say it's because my body is reliant on it, you should know I had these problems years before I started to use it. It makes it possible for me to sleep.) I need to take 3-4 of these a night, which is 9-12 mg of melatonin. If I take less it has zero effect on me. I always start with 3, and if it's not working then I take a 4th. This also has 5-HTP (promotes melatonin production and reduces anxiety) and L-Theanine (promotes muscle relaxation and reduces body's reaction to anxiety.)
Now Magnesium Citrate Softgels. This certainly does help me sleep better once I fall asleep, but it doesn't put me to sleep. This is a blend with magnesium citrate, malate, and glycinate. They all absorb differently because each type binds to different receptors and is used differently in the body. Citrate is best for calming the nerves and softening the bowel. Malate creates ATP energy in the muscles, which can reduce stiffness and soreness in the muscles. Glycinate builds up levels in your body well, unlike citrate, but it has a similar effect at citrate in that it calms the nervous system.
BUT... if you're someone who doesn't get enough minerals and electrolytes during the day time, you will probably find this formula more helpful than the magnesium softgels above. Your body needs all the minerals!
I've used a lot of herbs too, such as valerian with hops and passionflower. The trouble is, I use the one from my Naturopathic Doctor. I also don't need them as much as I need these. I take the herbs too when nothing else is helping and I can't fall asleep. Even if I don't fully sleep, I can at least keep my body so relaxed that I'm getting some level of rest.
This product is different from what I take, but I have used it with good results. Skullcap can work magic for my nerves. I trust Oregon Wild Harvest, and I don't trust many supplement brands with herbs. If the herbs are not organic or wild harvested then I assume they're going to contain concentrated levels of pesticides.
There are a few other things that help me to relax and prepare my body for sleep:
Magnesium Chloride bath. Not Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate.) The reason is because espom salts don't absorb well enough for me to notice that I feel more relaxed. They do help my muscles if they're sore, but they don't relax me as well as magnesium chloride. Our bodies have an easier time absorbing the chloride form. Yes, it's more expensive, but it's worth paying for what actually works. Why pay less for something that doesn't work well enough?
Acupressure Mat. Read my 2015 blog post about my mat here. I gave that one to my husband, and then bought a new one for myself. But I have to be honest and say I don't love the new one I bought for myself. The spikes are not as long or as sharp, and it doesn't help as much. It has magnets built into the spikes, which is not entirely a gimmick, but isn't worth it if the spikes don't work well. I'd like to buy a better one someday. Unfortunately the brand I bought first is no longer in business, so I cannot link to it. I'll link you to the one I'll probably buy next. It's affordable, has a foam core (the coconut fiber core ones don't have the right kind of support), it's cotton (no polyester), and the reviews show me that it's probably effective.
(Don't get the full length version. You actually don't want to have the mat under your upper back at the same time as your mid to lower back. One of my acupuncturists explained to me that you don't want to draw the qi to your kidneys when you're working on other points. It can mess you up. All I do is put the mat under my upper back and use the neck the pillow. It's very effective for me.)
And finally... a good silk sleep mask by Alaska Bear. Any light at all disrupts my sleep, and it's surprising how much of a difference this mask makes for me. I choose silk because it doesn't cause my skin to break out, it's super breathable, and it's gentle on my skin. I've tried other styles, but I prefer this one because the two straps help keep the mask flat against my face so less light gets in.
Tell me: What habits help you survive the time change?
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Tea Is Amazing When Done Right
1. Yes, conventional tea bags are filled with plastic and bleach that do in fact break down into the hot water. Microplastic consumption is not well studied yet, but there are some concerns that are obvious and others perhaps not so obvious. We have been finding microplastics in our organs, including our hearts. Plastic may be a post for another day, but I will point out that it is a source of xenoestrogens, which can make hormonal problems much worse. (If you're like me, this is seriously bad for endometriosis.)
2. Conventional tea has a serious pesticide problem. It's heavily sprayed, and cannot be properly washed without losing the oils that make it flavorful. You end up steeping plastic-lined leaves coated in pesticides in hot water, then drinking it.
3. Fresh loose leaf organic tea is the highest quality, yes, but not necessarily the best thing for everyone. It takes more education, time, and equipment to make it well. It's messy if you don't have the right equipment. And... paper bags are actually better than stainless steel tea balls. I know I know, that sounds absurd, but the reason is because metals can deactivate properties of herbs. Brewing tea in metal can weaken the strength of the herbs. If all you care about is the flavor and caffeine, then this isn't an issue. If you drink tea for the benefits, such as trying to relieve cold symptoms, then metal is not the best way to brew tea.
4. There are brands that use certified organic or wildcrafted leaves and herbs (meaning you don't need to worry about the pesticides and the natural oils will still be in the leaves), and they do not use plastics or bleach in their bags. I want to share some of my favorites with you!
5. Pay attention to the bag, even in organic brands. Some use paper, some use hemp, and some use a nylon-like substance made from corn. The corn-based "plastic" bags are difficult to distinguish from synthetic plastic, so I wouldn't trust a brand that doesn't prove it or certify it.
Numi is one of my favorites! Their teas are full of rich flavor, and they use tea leaf and herb combinations that are really interesting. They're creative, and they source from the best areas in the world. You really will taste the flavor difference. If you are someone who doesn't like black tea because it tastes weak, then you really ought to try Numi's breakfast blend because it's not weak at all.
The Sampler:
This is an awesome place to start. Try a good variety of their teas!
Breakfast Blend! This is so full and rich, with complex flavors that mingle perfectly. There are bitter elements, but it's so smooth! I drink this on days when I need a little extra caffeine (caffeine helps my POTS, not hurt it like it does for many.) I'm linking to a 3-pack because that's simply how it's sold on Amazon, but the price is actually really good. You would probably pay about $7-8 for one box in a retail store.
Japanese Green Tea Variety Pack. I love green tea more than any other type. The issue is, I tend to drink Matcha every morning. So I don't drink bagged green teas as often. They're so good, but I shouldn't drink that much caffeine in a day! Ha!
This brand is not for everyone, but it will be amazing for some. The reason is because they include Tuli (Holy Basil) in all of their teas. Holy Basil is quite amazing in its ability to lower cortisol levels. Feeling stressed? Holy Basil will calm you down. If you have high cortisol in the mornings, you will probably feel better drinking their green tea. If you're like me and have low morning cortisol, then you'll feel a lot worse in the morning if you drink it. (I made this mistake when I was a church secretary. I bought the tea thinking it would wake me up, but my eyes were crossing so bad that day. I learned about Holy Basil after.)
If you're like me and have high night time cortisol, then I HIGHLY recommend their Tulsi Sleep. This one is a staple for me each evening:
This brand is awesome. They offer a really pleasant full-bodied cup of tea without any worry. They are certified in many areas, including using compostable paper tea bags. The brand is trustworthy, good quality, and offers a good variety. Choice Tea is not quite as rich as Numi, but I think many will prefer that anyway.
My personal favorite from their is their decaf black tea, for days when I don't want more caffeine, but I want to warm up in the afternoon. I may add some coconut milk and peppermint to it occasionally too. 🤤
Who is a fan of Darjeeling and Oolong tea!? ME! Haha! They offer it - fully organic, kosher, non-GMO, compostable... it's one of the primary reasons I love Choice so much. They offer the best Chinese Teas at high standards! That's not easy to find in other brands.
Stay tuned for more posts about tea! I drink A LOT of tea, and I do have more great recommendations.
I'd love to hear from you - what kind of tea do you like best? If you don't like tea, why not?
(Hahahaha - I'm not saying the song is good, I'm just saying it's appropriate. 😆)
Derailment... ha!
I've been thinking of ways to refine my plan for advertising products I use to manage my illnesses (and just live a healthy life in general.) I wanted to do a big social media campaign along with this blog, but I think it's overwhelming me. So I'll do one step at a time instead of doing all the work all at once.
One problem I'm having, which was actually a surprise to me, is that Raynaud's is really affecting me. My fingers and toes are going numb for a little while almost every day. It makes it difficult to use the computer or phone. I feel like hot baths are not hot enough to help, and a heating pad on my hands or feet only helps while it's on them. I think my regular acupuncture and chiropractic therapies in North Dakota were keeping this problem at bay. I'm struggling to do that here in South Carolina, because the nearest acupuncture clinic is 30 minutes away and I'm not always capable of driving that far. Especially not regularly. I found a chiropractor in the tiny town I live in, but she's not traditional. I like the results I get from her, but she doesn't actually do physical manipulations. Her method feels good, but I'm still assessing it.
Also... can I just say that life is stressful? Wow. I think I need to find some purpose before I collapse under the weight of looking for the point of living like this. I'm not afraid of hard work to live. I would be very happy managing a small farm to support myself and barter as needed. I'd be happy being self-sustaining. I'm afraid of working hard and not benefiting from it. Working a mind-numbing job that I don't agree with for $10/hr, just to pay inflated rent? I wasn't built to mentally survive those types of conditions. I'm built to make the world a better place for a wage that can sustain me. I'm too old to go back to minimum-wage high school level jobs. So I've been considering getting a degree or certification so I can qualify to work at home in a decent job. The problem is that I'm already in too much debt to take out more. I'm also genuinely unsure if I can handle it with my health like this. And I need money now, not later. It's certainly a conundrum...
Anyway, I want to try this project. Even if I can't make much money, I want to be a source of information for people. Educating gives me purpose. So I'm going to simplify my approach... here we go!
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Fresh Start, New Venture! Introducing: Kindling Health
Full Transparency: I joined my first affiliate program to start monetizing on what products I recommend. Why? Don't I have a real job? Not anymore and not yet - I just moved! I'd love it if you all use my links to buy products if you're genuinely interested in using them! I'm not doing this to waste your money! Besides, the whole point of this blog is that my energy levels are far too low to live like healthy people do. I do need to find ways to make ends meet, and I really do enjoy selling and promoting products that fit my values and needs. Thanks for your support in advance!
Let me catch you all up. It's super EXCITING!!
I just moved from North Dakota to South Carolina!!! Heck YES! My husband finished his doctoral degree and was able to land his first full-time associate professor job here. He no longer needs to work adjunct for several universities at a time! I'm so proud of him for making his dreams come true! It was all very good timing, as we needed to find a new home to live in anyway.
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| I really do love where I live! |
This move is wonderful for so many reasons, but it does mean I need to start over. I need a new job, new doctors, new acupuncturist, and a new chiropractor. But... there are SO MANY opportunities and options here! I'll write a different post about the transition, how the weather has affected me, etc. Just know that, although North Dakota treated me very well, South Carolina might be the place where I can manage my health best. After the 2nd worst winter on record in North Dakota (by a 1/4 inch of snow), it was definitely time to find a warmer place. And you know what? Starting over can be extremely healthy! It's invigorating!
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| The Peachoid, made famous in House of Cards on Netflix, is the monument of my new city. |
I'm honestly really sad about leaving my job in Bismarck, ND (I worked for Terry's Health Products - TerrysHP.com, a locally owned health products store.) I loved what I did there: technically selling natural products, but for me it was about helping people in need know what to buy to alleviate their symptoms or improve their health. I loved learning about herbs, supplements, ingredients, health conditions, environmental concerns, and how to make the world a better place. I loved educating our customers too! In the last year I was promoted to running the social media accounts, which I really enjoyed a lot! So I've been thinking... why not continue that work on my own? There is no natural products store in the small town I moved to, although there are two 30 minutes away from me. That's too far to drive in my condition. But with your support I can promote and sell through my own personal brand! ;)
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| I took this before my last shift at my job. It was hard to admit it was the last day! |
The owner wrote this really sweet post about me leaving... it left me in tears. I didn't want to quit and leave behind my "family" there, but I'm happy to be in South Carolina now.
Right now I just have this blog. I'm just beginning this journey. I'll start building TikTok, Insta, and Facebook accounts soon. But I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED to share products and ways to save money on high-end organic clothing with you all!! My brain is spinning with ideas!
Short-term goals: Just focus on promoting what I already use to help me manage my health. Tools, foods, clothes, supplements, apps, etc. I have high standards and am strict about quality and ingredients, and I want all my thoughtful consideration of each product to help you make easier decisions on what to buy. I hope to build up my base this way, but also I want time to build up my accounts as slowly as I need to. My health is not exactly stable at this point, after the stress of the move and being without acupuncture.
Long-term goals: I'd love to earn enough from this venture to be able to buy products I'm interested in, but don't necessarily need or I can't afford, and then test and review them for you all. We really do need people trying out products with big claims and then reviewing them. Social Media is full of products with potential, but are untested. And I'd like to help my husband save up enough money to buy a house. And, ultimately, I want to not need to apply for disability in South Carolina.
My weaknesses and hurdles: I have very limited energy, and every day looks different. I have times when I feel capable, and times when I don't. I understand that consistency is a critical part of success doing affiliate marking. My mental health can be very sour at times - I can go to very dark places easily. However... I can promote what works for me during these rough times. Am I stuck in bed all day? I'll record video of what I use to help me manage it. Am I angry and depressed? I'll record myself in that state and show you how I lift myself back up. My weaknesses are weaknesses so many people have, so instead of putting on a professional/ fake influencer demeanor, I'll be super real with you all. I want to be the real thing in the internet sea of fakeness.
You might be wondering why an introverted person with chronic fatigue and pain wants to do a SOCIAL venture like this. Because there are too many people who suffer with similar health complaints and they don't know what to buy to help. So many people want advice, but can't afford the right kind of doctors. I've poured a lot time, money, and effort into educating myself. I have worked in the natural industry for a little over 8 years. I've worked with natural doctors who have taught me an incredible amount. I cannot and will not replace doctors (please get help!), but I can give advice on what to buy. The market is over-saturated with products full of claims, greenwashing, and hidden problems. I feel that I'm the right person to help people with chronic illnesses weed this stuff out. I enjoy this kind of work, and it's even better because I live my life this way. I use these products, I think about this stuff every day, and I feel passionately about helping educate people on better ways to survive this toxic world and find ways to heal.
This venture isn't really about me. I need to feel like my work is helpful to people, so I intend for it to satisfy my need to be helpful and build a healthier world, but this venture is about those who need guidance and direction to manage their health. I genuinely care, and I need my work to be about what I care about.
That being the case, I really want your feedback and input! I'll be super forthcoming: I'm terrible at replying quickly. It takes a lot of energy, and sometimes I really can't find the strength to think. I do read everything though. So please do leave comments with your ideas!
And as for my first promotion...
This post was fueled by:
Four Sigmatic Protect (formerly called Defend). I have been drinking this every morning in my matcha since the pandemic started. I have trouble tolerating some herbs that boost the immune system, probably because I'm auto-immune, but this has never caused me problems. It's a fact that I never had Covid, but is it because I've been drinking this? Who knows!? Ha! But what I can say is that this mushroom blend wakes up my brain and clears the darkness away. It makes it easier for me to start connecting with the world around me in my mornings. Caffeine can help me move and warm up, but it doesn't always get my brain to connect with reality.
There are many mushroom brands to choose from these days, but the reason I choose Four Sigmatic is because they organically grow their mushrooms on logs and only use the fruiting bodies, not mycelium. This is very important because we can measure the nutrition in the fruiting bodies, but mycelium is not a good source of nutrition. Other brands grow in moldy conditions, on food sources like oats (which I cannot eat), and may not use the fruiting bodies. Not only that, but mushrooms are an environmental sponge, so if they're not grown organically in proper conditions they can be full of contaminants you don't want in your body. If you're interested, read more about their process here.
Thanks so much everyone!! Let's make this world a healthier place together!
Permanent Toe Nail Removal Surgery
Ha - I discovered this unfinished post as a draft. I'll publish it unfinished, nearly a year after the event. I should write an update on this situation, as my toe has not healed yet...
The post:
Ooooookkkkkkkkk..... this is not a pleasant one. Permanent toenail removal.
I'm NOT going to share photos of the wound. Unlike other bloggers... I didn't want to see their photos.
It would make you squeamish. I want to share my story to be helpful, and I know that gross photos will scare people away. I am going to share a few photos of bandages, shoes, and how my toenail used to be. These shouldn't be too much for anyone.
PART 1: The Story
I had my left big toenails (yes plural) removed on October 18th. The damage began in 2018. The nail broke off the cuticle, a new nail grew in under it and pushed the original dead nail up. Then that new nail would break off and the cycle would repeat. I had 3 nails on my toe ever since, until this surgery. The nails were curling more and more as the years went on, and the pinching feeling was becoming unbearable at times. I didn't have a choice. It had to be done.
Why did this happen? Well a Pulmonologist and Neurologist both thought that it was a side effect from taking Metaprolol to manage my tachycardia from POTS. Metaprolol did help lower my tachycardia, but it worsened my already poor circulation. My feet are normally icy and purple, but Metaprolol amplified the problem. I was going numb from cold, and my fatigue intensified too much. I had to stop taking it. These doctors said I probably cut off oxygen to my toes and I'm very lucky I only damaged the big toenail. I have had streaks on my other nails ever since, but I didn't lose them.
My surgery was a horrible experience. Be warned, this story is something of a nightmare!
It wasn't exactly planned - my appointment got moved up a few weeks early, and I only wanted him to trim the sides down to reduce the pinching. I thought I could hold off on the surgery for another year, at least. Nope, he took a look and said I can't wait. So I had to get mentally prepared VERY quickly. I agreed to it, I knew it was coming eventually and already accepted the fate of my toe, but I didn't know it was going to be right then and there.
The podiatrist has good bedside manner and has been good with me since I started working with him in 2018. I thought he was a good doctor. The trouble is that he works as quickly as possible, and he leaves the room quickly every time he isn't needed to do something for me immediately. He injected the numbing serum, I waited 10 minutes, then he came in and immediately started to put the tool under my nail. I could feel it! He didn't test my toe before starting the operation. He injected more numbing serum in a few spots closer to the nail until I was numb. Then he asked me to explain what POTS was. I looked away while talking, and in what was probably less than 2 minutes he said he was done. The top two nails came off very easily, almost without effort from him. That could have been a problem for me if I hadn't gone in for the surgery. And then he was gone and I never saw him again.
His nurse is incredibly kind and friendly, gave me the attention I needed to pull myself together, and I loved her, but... and I don't know how much of this is her or the fault of the hospital being stingy...
She sprayed the wound with cold alcohol, then put gauze directly on the wound then wrapped it tight. Gauze absorbs blood and the blood will stick and dry to it. I'll follow up on this point soon. Then she did not give me a post-op shoe. She stuffed my sock back on my foot, then stuffed my foot into the boot I came in wearing. Which is a tad narrow because my feet at are a tad narrow, but they were no longer a tad narrow after swelling up my toe and putting a thick bandage on me. My big swollen toe was STUFFED into my tight shoe. Was as tight as possible. And I wasn't given a mobility aid. I walked myself to my car. I drove myself, not expecting this surgery.
I was not prescribed antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, which I later learned is the gold standard of this surgery. No mobility aids. I was given bandages with padding smaller than the size of my nail bed. And told to go home and soak in epsom salt water. She told me to take aspirin or ibuprofen as needed... and let me tell you, I WISH I was given something stronger. I needed a lot over 3 weeks, which is so bad for my liver.
I made it home, pulled my boot off with a very uncomfortable tug, rested, and the numbing serum slowly wore off. I needed extra of it and it wore off within about 1.5 hours. I was told it could take up to the rest of the day to wear off, but no, that's not how my body is.
Then it was time to change the bandage and soak in a foot bath. The gauze was glued to my wound, and I didn't know how bad it was going to be. She did put a thin amount of antibiotic gel over the cuticle, so it should have prevented the sticking, right? No, because the worst wound was up higher where the dead nail was attached. So I pulled at it a little. OUCH. I definitely swore loudly. So, not knowing what else to do, I sprayed it down with water until it detached. I was bleeding, but I did exactly what my instructions told me to do: put my foot into a foot bath with SALT. Epsom salt. To reduce swelling and clean it. An open wound on the most sensitive area of the body. In epsom salt. I screamed so loudly that I'm sure the entire block could hear me. I shook so hard from the shock of the pain that my husband had to hold me still. OUCH. OUCH. OUCH. No swear words were strong enough for that situation.
But I continued to follow my instructions, and I put gauze on the wound and bandaged it. Guess what happened when I had to change that bandage? Yep. Screaming and crying.
So... the wound kept getting ripped open, despite my soaking the wrappings to peel them off. The wound couldn't heal.
That's when I sought advice from friends who are medical professionals and got creative with the supplies I had.
My husband bought me whatever he could find at CVS. I couldn't do the foot baths for the first week, even without adding epsom salt. I tried and it had me in tears every time. So instead I sprayed iodine liberally all over my foot and the wound. I let it soak in, then I sprayed an antibiotic with lidocaine mix. I used witch hazel soaked pads with alcohol in them to clean all around the wound, but I couldn't touch the wound itself. Way too painful. Cleaning the wound with any pressure was going to have me in tears.
I used extra large bandages and tented it over the nail bed, so that the pad could not touch the wound. That was the only method that was working for me. The trouble was when I accidently moved my toe in such a way that the padding did touch the wound, which was still bleeding after more than a week, and the padding stuck the wound... then rippped at it. There went any healing progress! I tried a different method of bandaging the wound with smaller bandages, and the adhesive touched the wound just enough that I couldn't rip it off. The only way I could get the bandages off in both situations was to soak my whole foot in a foot bath. It stung like crazy! But eventually, after about 10 minutes each time, the bandages released and popped off into the water. And that's when I realized I was able to tolerate the foot baths well enough to do them to clean my toe out. But not with epsom salt. I used colloidal silver in the water instead.
So I thought through it. I decided to put antibiotic gel directly only the pad of the bandages, and I painted it with a sterile pad to coat the entire pad. That worked to prevent the pad from sticking to the wound. That is what I should have been doing the whole time, and I never should have attempted a smaller bandage.
But then... about 2 weeks into this nightmare, I started to get a lot of pus. White, not yellow, but a lot. Everyone told me it was time to see a doctor - a different doctor. I mailed my podiatrist photos of my pus covered toe on a Thursday evening, thinking I would get a response the next day. At 11 am the next day the message showed it was read, but I never got a reply (at all - not even by today.).
So by Friday afternoon I decided to go to the walk-in clinic, and it was a very good thing I did! The doctor was an ER doctor and the nurse had podiatry experience. Both excellent! I told them how I was I treated - I mean, not treated. They couldn't say much, but they did tell me how to take care of myself correctly. The nurse swabbed my toe bed to do a culture - OUCH OUCH OUCH. Holy @#$%^. And then the doctor put me on antibiotics. She attempted to put me on an anti-inflammatory, but I was allergic to all of them. She wrote me a note to prevent me from going to work and told me to get off my feet no matter what! The nurse taught me how to bandage properly, and even gave me scissors to cut bandages exactly right. Then she told me where to go to buy a proper pair of shoes to recover in (I'll get into the shoe issue in the next part of my blog.)
That was exactly 1 week ago. I took my antibiotics, got my proper shoes, bandaged correctly, got off my feet as much as possible, let it breathe more, was able to clean it in foot baths, and elevated it more often. In the last 48 hours I have FINALLY started to heal. I was at a 8-10/10 level of pain managed only with ibprofen for 2.5 weeks. In the last 48 hours the pain level went down gradually, and I haven't taken pain killers in this time. I now am at a 2-3/10 level of pain when resting, and it goes up to a 5/10 when touched or walking too much. The tenderness on the nail bed is 50% reduced.
PART II: Complications and Solutions
Shoes:
MAKE SURE YOU GET A POST-OP SHOE BEFORE THIS SURGERY. Don't rely on your doctor to give you mobility aids. And trust me, you will need it. Think through this: you have to put all your body weight on your foot to walk, which increases pressure on the wound, which is on the most sensitive part of your body. Consider using a cane too. You're not being a baby. Keep weight off that toe if you want to heal!
I couldn't find a post-op shoe in town. I spent a week looking and asking around, and it meant I was hobbling around on the side of my foot without a shoe, which lead to ankle pain. All I could find were expensive boots for ankle recovery. I tried all the shoes I own. The ONLY shoe that I could make work was a Teva sandal, and it wasn't comfortable at all, but it was all I had. I went to work wearing that sandal and it was borderline not acceptable for all the walking I had to do.
The nurse at the walk-in clinic sent me to The Uniform Center on 3rd street in Bismarck. Their new shoe store, Happy Soles, was phenomenal. The lady who helped me has been through the surgery too, and her daughter has POTS. She understood!! She was able to fit me in an open-toed slipper that's been saving me. It has a thick sole that isn't flexible, so it's keeping me stable, and I don't feel the ground. It has Velcro straps on top so that I don't have to slide in and out. I strap it on. It was a game changer for my recovery!!! The velcro is very impotent: I couldn't slide into slippers because of the size of the bandage and the pressure. I needed straps that come fully open so I could simply step onto the sole and then strap in.
POTS:
Okay - this really really really complicated issues. I wasn't prepared for the biggest issue at all: blood pooling in my feet.