Denise Willis
Bio
I love art as much as writing, and when the world feels dark, I get out my paper and colored pencils and draw while listening to music. When my husband and I were going through a divorce, journaling is what got me through that..
Stories (128)
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That Was Methamphetamine I Just Smoked?
Methamphetamine is a very dangerous, illegal drug that can cause short and long term problems in the brain and problems with emotions. It is very addictive, and people using this drug can have hallucinations and delusions and become paranoid and violent. The physical aspects of long-term addiction are tooth decay, weight loss, and sores where the meth user has picked at his/herself to get rid of the imaginary bugs crawling on them. When someone is addicted to meth, they only care about getting high.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Psyche
Skin & Makeup Tips for Ladies Over 60
As a teenager I never had acne. My sister did, and disgustedly sighed stating that I had skin like a china doll, but it didn't take me long to take care of that, however, and that is why at age sixty seven I am dealing with age spots that make me look like a spotted dalmation, wrinkles beyond my years, and sagging skin.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Blush
How to Grow a Great Mane of Hair
When I was born I had thick black hair and gray eyes. As the years went by, my hair turned dark brown as did my eyes, and when I stood outside it looked like I had red hair. Of course, that wasn't enough for me, I wanted to be a blonde. My mother let me dye my hair when I was in my teens, but she would only let me use browns or black, no blonde.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Blush
When It's Time to Say NO
I remember the first time I told another person "no" when they fully expected me to say yes. There was a moment of silence before I said it, a moment of truth for me to see what I was made of, and then bang! Before I knew it the word "no" just rolled off my tongue, and suddenly I felt very powerful. My heart slowed down, and I stood a little taller, squaring my shoulders as I did. Mildred, the woman to whom I had just told no, had been using me for a long time. She left her two toddler sons with me for what was supposed to be an hour, and turned into four hours. She always had some emergency and needed me to watch the boys. I have raised my children, and I am not very maternal anyhow, so the last job on earth I want to tackle is babysitting.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Humans
Dog Food Health Risks
I have struggled with my dog for the past 13 years regarding her diet. She has a very sensitive digestive system and is always having issues if she eats the wrong thing. She was never happy with dry food, only wet food, so I fed her Purina and Alpo and any other food that was supposed to be good... until she stopped eating it. She was seven, and she had blood in her stool and would not eat, so off we went to the vet. She was diagnosed with colitis, and I was told she was allergic to grain. I began making her food at home, using hamburger well-drained, carrots, and brown rice. She did well on the food, but she was gaining a lot of weight.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Petlife
The Journey Through Heart Failure
When I received a diagnosis of congestive heart failure two years ago, I did not know how to respond except to ask the cardiologist how long I would live. She sort of looked down, and then told me that if I had cancer that was as bad as my heart condition, she would advise me to put my affairs in order. News like that has a huge impact on anyone, but the truth is we are all going to die. We just don't know when. At least I have a vague idea of when and how.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Longevity
Losing My Dad Saved My Life
The new Star Wars movie had just been released, and was playing on the television when my mother called from Durango, CO to tell me my father was in the hospital, and that she would keep me updated. I began packing a suitcase while the Italian man I was living with was in the shower. I was afraid of him but could not get away because he wouldn't let me work, have a car, or have my own money. So, I stuffed everything I could in a suitcase and shoved it under the bed, then lay down and pretended I was sleeping.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Humans
Saying Goodbye to Your Dog
I knew she was getting older when she didn't have the energy to play in the water anymore when she went to the park. I noticed she was not walking so fast when she took a walk, but would slow down and take her time. She slept more, and then the panting and the problems with breathing started. When things started to change, I didn't pay any attention to it, because we had just moved to a new place in another town. I felt it could be that it was warmer where we move and her dark hair attracted the sun, causing her to get warm and pant. I was more focused on her arthritis that was causing her problems when she would try to get into the car or jump on the bed. Her back haunches would give out and she would fall, always embarrassed that she was not able to make the jump.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Petlife
Mental Illness
I have a master's degree in psychology, and yet I am at a loss as to what is wrong with my roommate. Perhaps this is because we have been roommates for over three years, and I am too emotionally involved to be logical when it comes to figuring things out. Plus, I invited her into my home not realizing all the ramifications of her behavior, because I hadn't witnessed it yet, so that makes me a bit off as well if I have the education I have, and yet do not see what is right in front of my face.
By Denise Willis6 years ago in Psyche
Reflections on Life
Today I turned 67. I found myself thinking about my life, the decisions I have made and the consequences of each. I think hormones are to blame for most of my problems, those pesky little urges you get when you see the opposite sex and your eyes are popping out of your head. I believe I was born loving men because when I was just a little girl I remember getting crushes on boys who were a lot older than me. They were maybe as old as seven or eight, but I was only four. Oh, how those pesky hormones ran my life. I believe out of the five marriages I've had, most of them were hormone-driven. Problem is when that urge wears off, and it will, the person you are left with is neither your best friend nor are they someone you have a lot in common with. That leads to boredom and mistrust which can cause all sorts of problems. I never stuck around longer than three years, except for my last husband. He and I were together for about 18 years if you count the times we lived together. I did hate it when he introduced me as his wife and we had already gotten the divorce, but he finally got the message.
By Denise Willis7 years ago in Motivation
Jealousy, the Crippling Emotion
What causes jealousy? Is it lack of self-esteem? Many would agree that lack of confidence is a big part of jealousy. When you don't feel very worthwhile or attractive, it's easy to become insanely jealous, especially if you fear you are going to lose someone you love. Below are some symptoms of jealousy and what the outcome of that emotion usually brings.
By Denise Willis7 years ago in Humans
