Start spreading the new!

Hello Healthy Heart will continue on a whole new website! I am excited that I have put together a website called Labels, Love, and Living. The site will be packed with three of many of my interests as a writer.

I will post content related to fashion (Labels). Posts relating to my dating life continuing from the Black Carrie Bradshaw (Love). And lastly, building from my blog Hello Healthy Heart, the (Living) section will touch on lifestyle and being health conscious whether mentally or nutrition wise.

Follow the fun topics and conversation at labelsloveandliving.wordpress.com.

From my heart to yours,

-Lish

In the middle

Have you ever been in a situation that had nothing or very little to do with you, but it affects you very closely? You try to be the voice of reason or peacemaker and yet you end up feeling hurt or in the middle. This is how I feel. It is a situation or pivotal time for me right now as I do my very best to focus on what my goals are personally and professionally. But I keep hitting these road blocks or detours. How did I become the scapegoat? It sucks because I do not want to be the excuse as to why individuals are trying to fake it for me. It's a hard discussion to full out disclose and though I have shared this personal present with some I still don't like even bringing it up. It just brings up so many hurtful feelings and it messes up my focus, throwing me off what is priority.

As I type this I feel anxious, disoriented and just blah. I woke up feeling pretty good, maybe somewhat tired but otherwise good. I am the type of person that even the slightest sign of negativity on someone else's end can bring down my mood almost instantly. Today I tried really hard to ignore said negativity and get back to the good mood I was in, but I couldn't block it and I was immediately upset and angry. And now I am trying to pick myself back up.

I prayed for about five minutes not long ago and I asked the Lord for many things but I prayed for the people around me. I prayed for their own strength, their humility, their possible need for forgiveness for their actions, and while I cannot cleanse someone else from their faults I felt the urge to pray for their mishaps. I know in my heart that this situation and impending decision is not my doing, I did not cause the friction. However, it is hurtful that I feel in the middle of this nonsense.

And so, for my own sanity and need to clear this current burning sensation of anxiety surrounding my chest I think that I need to move out of my home more swiftly than planned. No, I do not have the funds to do so but how else can I take that chance I need for ME to experience life as an adult, doing my own thing, exploring a new beginning without apology? In my eyes it is the ONLY way for everyone to be happy, not “sticking around” or attempting to “keep the peace” on my behalf. I cannot take the pressure and angst any longer.

I am ready to run, fly, on my own. I am desperately wanting to get enough cash to get me started, rent a room, and just BE. I am hopeful the restaurant job I went on an interview for is still available so that I have a job lined up. The manager wanted to hire me then back in April of this year but he was not certain of my capability to commute from a long distance away. Prayerfully my circumstances change and I can take on the challenge and new start in a new city.

As this blog surrounds the importance of health it is imperative that I reiterate that mentally one's well being IS serious. It is how we all function and deal with every day life. If I am sitting around down and out or constantly worrying about the “status” of a played out occurrence, how can I cope with it if I don't address it? Especially since I am confronted with it almost daily by those closest to me. I NEED my sanity, I WANT my undeniable happiness.

I no longer want to be in the middle. So I can't think of a better time to untie myself from the same and place myself in front, because I deserve it.

From my heart to yours,

-Lish

Dear summer....

Dear summer,

I have not typed nor have I written many words these last few weeks. Somehow my brain seems locked down, on pause, and unable to really sit down and fuse my thoughts together. Jumbled slightly, and almost feeling like I have nothing to write about. Well, maybe that isn't all the way true because writing is what drives me, it is my outlet to express myself when I cannot verbally say what's going on inside. The summertime sweat of a job that seems vacant, home life that needs a fresh coat of paint, a summer love not quite in site, I haven't given myself the space and time to achieve some goals. Granted I have been coming home after 7pm these last few weeks so the main thing on my mind is rest.

Once home when I thought I would work on a task I'd end up pushing it in the back of my brain, then forgetting the next day or having the same attitude, “I'll do it tomorrow.” But summer as August has crept in already I am aware how time is crucial and that I cannot delay on certain goals. True the biggest goal/dream of all getting a full time job that I will no doubt love, WITH benefits, vacation days, the whole deal. However I cannot predict when that hiring opportunity will come (praying soon), but I can at the very least be proactive.

It has been a struggle with how my emotions are like the rollercoaster I will no longer ride at amusement parks, up then down, spiraling, coasting, speeding up. And with you almost gone summer I envy how much more fun I wanted to have basking in the glory of your steamy air, being carefree and being delighted in my adventures. Truth, you are not yet over so the coulda, woulda I cannot begin to partake in.

There are goals and dreams I know can be reality and sometimes the smallest things I turn into a project. I just thought of how I think of the items I want to achieve as a “list” or “tasks.” It sounds so generic and cliché, and yes it is what it is but I keep thinking that the labeling of these items is so standard and not fun. Perhaps I am thinking of it too hard or maybe I need to think of these lists as something else? Not sure but I guess the main thing is to just stick to a plan and get er done!

I CANNOT sit back anymore and waste time. I know I get tired easily from the headache of job searching but I do have a lot of positive goals that I need to keep working towards like my book of poetry, my writing in general, and my support group Blossom. These are things that mean a lot to me. But as I said, somewhere summer I stumbled, I got stuck, fearful, tired, and simply didn't give myself the time, energy, or space to work on what could be going right.

As my neck is still a bit stiff from a muscle strain somehow from last night while sleeping, all I want to do is lay down and count some sheep. Just sitting up right now is a little annoying with some pain but I need to get some things accomplished. The main thing is to not be upset if one or two things don't get done. I am beginning again to start somewhere, right here, and I can't stop.

Thanks for listening summer. From my heart to yours....

-Lish

Fruit Cleanse

Summer has arrived and I am feeling the heat in many areas of my life. But before I delve into all of what's on my mind I want to focus on one of the things I would like to explore: A cleansing of my body, the inside. Whether to think about it literally or figuratively I am in need of it. After having a conversation with a co-worker of mine about a water involved cleanse she was doing I felt the inspiration to give it a try. Now I know some of you have heard different things when it comes to people doing a cleanse of whether it's the juicing detox or a full-blown no food just water and other ingredients. Though on my end I am not looking to "detox" per se or diet, I am looking to feel good and well-nourished.

My co-worker explained her reasons of the cleanse and that she was not trying out a diet, still eating what she wants just being smarter and more health conscious. I feel that I have been a lot better in that regard as I am eating more fruits and veggies, even though now with the warmer air my bananas (my favorite) turn brown too fast! So with the convo with my co-worker I thought I'd try out a fruit cleanse, still of course eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But I will incorporate the drinking of the chilled water in a jug throughout the day, especially if I am out and about.

Per my co-worker and other advice I came across online the fruit cleanse or with other items of your choice (mint, cucumber etc.) it is quite easy to prepare. First:

-Use a clean jar or jug of your choice

-Cut/slice your fruit/vegetable items and place into jar/jug (add one thing with another like lemon & lime, lemon & mint, just strawberries, oranges & lemon, just watermelon, whatever you like!)

-Fill your jar/jug up with water, let the fruit sit in the water for about 30 minutes before drinking

Voila!

There was only one aspect I didn't get a sense of if one should drink it chilled or just slightly. For myself I would think to have the water nice and chilled. Tomorrow I will try the fruit cleanse using strawberries.

In my research I found this about what various fruits can help with:

-Orange & Lemon water: Citrus fruits help digestion especially in room temp (or warm) water. This water can help heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, loss of appetite, vomiting & constipation. -Cucumber, lime & mint (ginger optional): Good water for water-weight management, hydration, cleansing, controlling appetite, improving mood & energy. -Strawberry, orange & mint: protects immune system, vitamin rich, prevents wrinkles. Mint also helps with bad breath and digestion.

Here's to healthy eating AND drinking. From my heart to yours,

*Lish

27 and more reasons to keep growing

I just turned....ok let me start again. I just turned....TWENTY-SEVEN! Someone older than me might be thinking, "Girl, please." But it is a new age that I haven't quite become accustomed to saying aloud. My birthday was May 1st and it was a lovely day might I add. A day at the spa and dinner with my sister was just what I needed in starting off my odd yet evenly earned new age. It's only been a few weeks so it always takes a minute to remember that you're a year older. I don't usually become obsessed with age but I definitely have paid attention since entering my 20's.

I vividly remember turning 21 and now I am 27, yeah, where did the years go? They've past on of course though gliding into my mid-twenties has really made me feel nostalgic. As I currently live in my parents home I have lately thought about my being just 14 when we moved into our house. That's 12 whole years since I've gone through and grown through so many experiences. I know that I have outgrown my room and certain tidbits of old habits but I feel so "almost there" "almost living on my own." It is scary but it is time.

Who wants to really speed up time? Not I. But I still feel ready. If anything I want it to slow down steadily and allow me to smell the beautiful roses that my life has to offer. Even if the roses prick me with their thorns or need constant attention and water, I want to embrace that.

So as I ponder and work towards being more persistent in my daily goals I want to be at a place of stability and comfort. For my own health and dream-filled nature I want to keep growing. To be 27 is a blessing and plenty ammunition to deliver my best, progressing towards the next step.

How does your new or almost new age speak to you?

From my heart to yours,

*Lish 

Winter Blues

Baby, it is cold outside and has been ever since Old Man Winter showed up this season. I could go on and on about the snowstorms of 2014's winter's past and how just about anyone I've spoken to is completely over IT and the cold weather. But I don't want to necessarily complain about how cold it is blah, blah, blah, it's winter I know, it's a given. However this past weekend it was quite lovely, not only were there warmer temps but I just had such a great weekend all the way through. Though there is something that can be said about when it's cold outside and how it can affect someone's mood. I am not saying that just because of warmer air I enjoyed my weekend, but it may have contributed to it, right?

Since the chilling air this winter I have wanted to stay inside and be at home. It is a like a process lately just to go out. First, gather the energy to actually go somewhere, get dressed (warmly), then actually GO outside, start my car, wait for it to heat up, find that I have no gas because I used most of it from turning on the heat inside. A process! But with spring on the way and then summer I am sure most people will find something new to whine about, (allergies, how HOT it is, vacation cut short, crowded beaches, mosquito's, again how HOT it is), and whatever else people complain about during summer. Point being, why are we complaining? Spring, summer, fall, winter, it's the same as last year and the year before that. Of course things change weather wise and whatnot but it's not a complete difference.

I know myself, and I can fall victim and get caught up in the winter blues hoopla. Sometimes with good reason and other times it is because what I am surrounded by. So I want to change the color, my mood my endurance, my happiness, my capabilities into something bright and worth it. It is winter and blue can be a beautiful hue, but it is all how I create it, my choice.

For my own mental well-being I am becoming more in charge of how I express myself and control my healthy mind. Winter is still brewing, but so are my objectives to sound off as my best self.

From my heart to yours,

*Lish

My Hunger Games

You know that feeling you get when it's time to eat some food, your stomach begins to growl or the hunger pains begin? That's me right about now. Not only could I use a late night snack but I am also hungry for something else, change, positive changes to be exact. I can't help but shake the emotions that when I have been eating food, large meals sometimes, and I still feel hungry after, I begin to feel like it means something more. What bugs me is that I'm not sure if it is all in my head or is my body sending me subliminal messages. I couldn't possibly be hungry for food ALL of the time, so I honestly feel something bigger is happening.

I am so hungry to move on with my life filled with romance, a promising career, and feeling like a better Elishia loving myself unconditionally, not second guessing. The steps sometimes hardened as stone and money woes has made it difficult to keep focused on what I am aiming for. 

It is tough to be a champion for your own self when you need an extra supply of cheerleaders along the way. I'm not saying I haven't had any support, I have plenty. Though at times I want an extra boost of someone telling me, "Don't quit, keep going." When other people around me are dealing with their own issues I think it rubs off on me, especially at home. But I want to be better about speaking things into the atmosphere, saying positive phrases and mantras to myself as much as possible everyday. Perhaps I need to be my own cheerleader a bit more.

So this hunger, this hunger stems from too many months of feeling without. Too many bad memories of when things were completely going wrong. 

I am hungry to be filled up and full. Full of my own power that I know is within me. Full of joy that naysayers will have to fight hard to try and take from me. I want to be full of positive energy that I carry with me always. Yeah, it ain't gonna be picture perfect. But it doesn't mean it has to be all bad either, I don't want to feel downtrodden. I am not a damsel. In distress? Maybe occasionally. However I'm not looking to be saved. I'm looking to search for my own true self, my talents and dreams and explore them, share them. 

Being hungry could be a motivation, shows my determination. To be full, oh I want that so bad.

From my heart to yours,

*LISH

Your heart to follow

Happy 2014! It's a new year, can you believe it? Well here we are, no turning back but looking forward, that's the attitude to have! At Day 6 of January I am already brewing with a handful of ideas that I want to achieve. This issue that comes about is that there are too many! I'm not saying that they aren't attainable but sometimes I feel like I pile on too much, too fast, and without a concrete plan of action. I'm no perfectionist but I like to have organization, it keeps me balanced. With that being said I still struggle with how to level out and how to approach my many projects, aspirations, and thoughts. I know it's possible!

As I think about the women in my life there seems to be some crossover going on where it isn't just me but also they have their own certain area that seems to be a challenge. And it's ok, none of us are saints let's be real! I want to flesh out these areas and hopefully inspire you. I am not a "fixer" or trained motivator but I think I have some words of encouragement to pass along. Heck, we all need it every so often, right?!

These descriptions/types that I came up with aren't necessarily all of the women that I know. But more of what I've noticed from articles I have read that pinpoint what some women seem to be dealing with. Or, these descriptions are of people that I encounter(ed). I'm not trying to group anyone into a box or category but more so place a name on any emotions or feelings. 

Queen of Ideas

I definitely fall under this group without question. The "Queen of Ideas" is just that, she always has a new venture up her dainty sleeves. It is her favorite avenue to walk down and burst with hearty excitement because of how fabulous it sounds. That's cool, but queens sometime need to sit on their idea thrones and just be still for a bit.

Tips: Write down what those ideas are (big & tiny) and really plan how you can finish them. Try spacing those ideas out. Start off small, even if it is as simple as revamping your room or closet by switching things around. Don't fret if everything on your list or plans aren't completed. Breathe, and begin again. 

Money Grubber

Yes, of course most people LOVE money but the "Money Grubber" craves it and spends it often, maybe too often. Her challenge is learning how to save her dough without devouring it as fast as she's gotten it. Whether you're the money grubber that works really hard for the money but it burns in your pocket or bank account and you're itching to spend it. Or you're the money grubber that can't tell yourself no, no more swiping that credit card, no more going out to dinner every other day. You struggle with savoring your financial abundance.

Tips: Keep track in a journal of all of your expenses that you have to pay for each month. Whether in your savings account or in your own home put aside "play money" or merely savings inside a jar or wherever you'd like. Prioritize those shopping trips and nights out so that you aren't over spending. And if money isn't really something you've had a lot of lately maybe it's time to try a different path/job. No one likes to be broke! 

First Lady

Are you the woman who puts every one's needs before her own? You make sure the people closest to you are alright and just about forget about your own well-being. Maybe you're caring for a family member or you're a single mother that has to do it all. Or a person who's sporting one too many hats. You're drained all of the time and hardly have a free moment of peace by yourself. That's a no go.

Tips: Consider being selfish. Might sound bad but you've GOT to learn how to put yourself first, you deserve to be the first lady and feel sane. True, you might think God is first, or if you're a parent or a Jackie-of-all-trades and there are some things that you feel should be put before you. But you need solace as well and to feel stress-free. If you can get assistance with your child or children, ASK even if you have a spouse/partner. If you feel over-worked maybe ask your boss for a better schedule or take a personal day, vacation/stay-cation, SOMETHING! You can be number one.

Pretty Passive

She's the one where not much stimulates her, never really has a strong reaction to problems or even good things. It's not that the "Pretty Passive" person is dull or un-emotional but she's laid-back and would much rather be low-key as far any participation goes. But being passive sometimes has its turbulent moments where you almost don't care enough about anything. There could be a reason the passive gal acts this way, she may not want to be known as a docile dame but it's become her personality trait somehow.

Tips: If you're dealing with trying to be more energized with every occurrence in your life try to first admit it, then confront it. Discover if being passive is just you (nothing wrong if so), or are you hiding from addressing something else? Create a daily mantra for yourself to help motivate your moods. 

Career Connoisseur

Her motto is her own, the phrases pay in her eyes. Whether she's experienced, mid-level or just starting out the "Career Connoisseur" is all about that, her career and not much else. Maybe she adds in her relationship if she's off the market, or time to socialize with friends, and spend some free time (when she has it) with family. However this career woman is consumed by her job and making money matter. It isn't that she doesn't have other hobbies she just loves what she does. It's a beautiful thing of course, especially if she's worked twice as hard to get where she is, she's proud.

Tips: Keep the momentum going, work it girl! But also find the time to slow down and get your rest on. You are your biggest competition, remember that. Don't be hesitant to take on a less challenging task like maybe a yoga class, learning a new recipe, or catching up on your favorite t.v. shows or a movie you haven't watched in a long time. It's ok to settle down and take in the view that you made possible for yourself.


Which description somewhat fits you? Or perhaps it is a little bit of all mentioned. As I said before none of these types/descriptions are to define anyone, simply to open ourselves to how we can be better and glistening in positive changes. You are on your own path, follow it. It is your heart to follow.

From my heart to yours,

*Lish