Meditation has really helped me through some tough times over the last year. It has also been very helpful when my thoughts keep me up at night. Taking the time for myself each day to meditate has really changed the way I look at things and also the way I view and handle stress. I really love the time for myself and my brain each day. It has been a great addition to my self-care routine. My brain seems much happier because of it.
I created an Instagram page @mendingmindfulmoments if you'd like to see some of the other things I do each day to reduce stress, keep my immune system up and keep my brain and body happy.
MENDING: Meditate, Educate, Nurture, Direction, Intention, Nature, Gratitude. I try to have each of these things in my life each day for me to feel balanced. These are things I've gathered from books that are the main things "happy people" do. Also my own desire for Nature each day was a given, it is a must for me to praise the earth, by looking at a bird, watching a tree in the breeze or nature walk. I love plants, animals and landscapes so much that juts enjoying the wind makes me happier. But taking the moment to enjoy it is very important for your brain.
I think everyone should meditate but I can also see why people think it's silly...it takes a little time to get used to it and it makes you somewhat vulnerable which people have a hard time doing. It's really funny to watch people meditating for the first time, they are usually very resistant to the idea, laugh or giggle through it...but if you try, visualize and breath through it you'll get it eventually.
Come back to the breath. It's very simple.
Right now take a deep breath in and out and feel how much better your body feels after only one breath.
I started out with Apps which I would highly recommend. I love the Calm App. It is amazing. I am used to the instructors and I really feel they have guided me off to sleep often not remembering the sleep story at all.
For me I wanted to be able to unplug. I don't fall asleep with the TV on ever. I try to plug my phone in and turn it off an hour or so before I go to bed also so there aren't messages or emails I read right as I go to bed, those aren't the thoughts I want to drift to in my meditation. I like sleepy time tea or a caffeine free lavender and lemon perhaps and do some stretching then hop in bed for meditation. If you are extremely stressed I'd recommend doing a guided meditation on stress reduction prior to getting in bed.
I'm going to teach you a technique I use that helps me drive off to sleep easily and unguided. With your own brain :)
Try starting on your back...but if you are a side sleeper and can't do it, that's ok too. Side note it helps reduce wrinkles sleeping on your back. First you'll want to get comfortable and take deep breaths, counting 4 on the inhale, hold for 4 then out for 6 seconds. Do a few of these breaths and you will already notice yourself tiring and maybe yawning. Relax your face and maybe stretch out and rotate the ankles, stretch the wrists and fingers then place them gently on your side or chest.
In your mind picture a starry sky with a large moon in the center. Tons and tons of stars everywhere and the moon is over a very calm body of water so you can see the reflection gleaming, even the stars reflecting perfectly in the water. After a few deep breaths let your breathing relax to your normal breathing. As you breath in one of the stars twinkles and you watch it in the reflection. Keep breathing in and out normally and each time picture different stars twinkles back in the reflection.
Breathe, Breathe, Breathe, Breathe....
You'll notice and this it totally normal...that you drift off to thoughts other then the landscape, about whatever you have going on in your life...when you realize you are thinking about that thing...gently bring it back to the moon and the stars and breathing. Breathe, Twinkle, Breathe, Twinkle. And keep doing this until you drift off to sleep.
If for some reason that landscape isn't working I usually have a few in my mind that I can build up sometimes adding more detail I find if I am more stressed or my mind if busy it might need more detail before being able to settle down. I will build up a desert scene and add a cactus and a moon and a mountain side and perhaps a pink sunset with only the north star in the sky. If I drift to another thought when I realize I'm off track I take some deep breaths then build up my landscape. Or I will picture palm trees and clouds swaying in the wing and the clouds slowly floating by as if my breathe is pushing them.
I love guided meditations for the knowledge they bring but I like being able to meditate without guidance and using my brain to create the meditation so it is tailored to me and my thoughts. Maybe you recently went river rafting and use that scene the river flowing or a waterfall, it can be inspired by your landscapes. It really is quite crazy all that can go on inside a mind...so many thoughts and so much detail. I find since I love photography and nature that thinking of a simple scene and bringing my breath back to that scene that it really is a great technique for meditation.
I'm going to record a few of my landscapes and add them to my Instagram if you are interested check them out.
Thank you for your time,
PEACE on Earth
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Same Lemon
there is no doubt about it we have definitely got a huge lemon on our hands, Covid – 19. But it has affected everyone differently. For some they have lost their jobs and are worried about how they’re going to have food on their plate for others they are hunkering down at home ordering stuff and doing projects possibly with income not an issue. Then there’s the essential workers on the front line that are risking their lives in the healthcare industry seeing the affects first hand and being stressed for their own lives and probably taking on a large amount of work and stress without being able to see family. Then there are others that are serving us at supermarkets and food service but not making much over minimum wage but also in a situation where they’re at risk and putting their families at risk. The people that are alone being quarantined are extremely alone seeing posts of family members having fun together and bonding and making them feel even more alone. Since I’m one of them those are the people I’m really worried about today. I think anyone that is with family, friends or roommates needs to think of the lonely singles that are quarantined alone. I find I’m often the one reaching out possibly annoying others because of how alone I am. But it’s because I’m feeling sad and detached and trying to feel connected. Think of your friends that are alone and send them a card, drop a homemade meal by if you cook because meals especially are hard to have alone day after day after day. Flowers can brighten anyone’s day and let them know your thinking of them. Shoot a bowl of lemons for them at this time with a cute note about making lemonade and also hope it’s good digestion. Whatever you can do to brighten someone’s day. Reaching out to someone that’s alone is really important right now. People that are alone or jobless feel the slice is more sour for them so keep that in mind... it may be hard for you, a working single that still has contact through work but imagine the stress for that single friend with the worry for their future and financial security. To them it seems like the lemon is worse and you know why it is. Being aware of that and sensitive to others makes them feel validated more so let them wallow. They’ll listen back but just be sensitive that they might not feel the best if you talk about work maybe keep subjects to things that will make them feel positive instead. Have recipe club where you try new recipes together, book club or a game night with them fun things to take this off everyone’s minds.
By Kristin McGuire6 years ago in Longevity
Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts8 days ago in Longevity
The Return of the Aircraft Carrier Truman Is Being Seen as a Snub to the Navy in the War of the Future
The return of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman to active deployment has sparked debate far beyond naval circles. While some see it as a show of enduring American naval power, others interpret the move as a symbolic snub—particularly in the context of how modern warfare is rapidly evolving. In an era dominated by drones, cyber warfare, hypersonic missiles, and artificial intelligence, the decision to once again lean heavily on a traditional aircraft carrier has raised uncomfortable questions about whether the Navy is preparing for the wars of tomorrow or clinging to the strategies of yesterday. A Floating Symbol of 20th-Century Power For decades, aircraft carriers have been the ultimate symbol of U.S. military dominance. These massive floating airbases project power thousands of miles from American shores and allow the U.S. to strike almost anywhere in the world. The Truman, like other Nimitz-class carriers, represents this legacy—housing nearly 5,000 sailors, dozens of fighter jets, and unmatched logistical capability. However, critics argue that what once made carriers indispensable now makes them vulnerable. Their sheer size, cost, and visibility turn them into high-value targets in a battlefield increasingly defined by precision strikes and long-range weapons. The “War of the Future” Looks Very Different Modern conflict is no longer limited to sea, land, and air. Cyber attacks can cripple infrastructure without a single shot fired. Drones can swarm targets at a fraction of the cost of traditional aircraft. Hypersonic missiles can reach targets faster than current defenses can respond. In this context, sending a massive carrier strike group into contested waters can appear less like a strategic necessity and more like a risky gamble. Critics argue that the return of the Truman reflects an outdated mindset—one that prioritizes visible force projection over adaptability and technological evolution. A Snub to Naval Innovation? Many analysts and serving officers believe the Navy’s future lies in distributed lethality—smaller, more agile platforms networked together, harder to detect and cheaper to replace. Unmanned surface vessels, autonomous submarines, and land-based missile systems are increasingly viewed as the backbone of next-generation naval warfare. Against this backdrop, recommitting to a traditional carrier is seen by some as sidelining innovation. It sends a message that, despite years of discussion about transformation, the Navy still defaults to familiar tools when tensions rise. This perception has led to frustration among those advocating for faster modernization. They argue that resources devoted to maintaining and protecting carriers like the Truman could instead accelerate investment in emerging technologies that are more relevant to future conflicts. The Strategic Signal to Allies and Rivals Supporters of the decision counter that the Truman’s return is not about nostalgia—it’s about deterrence. Aircraft carriers remain powerful political tools. Their presence reassures allies, signals commitment, and demonstrates readiness in a way few other assets can. Yet even here, the message is mixed. To technologically advanced rivals, the deployment may signal predictability rather than strength. Adversaries have spent years developing strategies specifically designed to neutralize carriers, including anti-ship ballistic missiles and advanced surveillance systems. Cost Versus Capability The financial reality cannot be ignored. A single carrier strike group costs billions of dollars to build, maintain, and operate. In contrast, drone fleets and missile systems can be produced and deployed at a much lower cost, often with greater strategic flexibility. Critics argue that continuing to rely on carriers drains resources from areas where the Navy needs to grow most urgently. In a future conflict defined by speed, dispersion, and digital dominance, the cost-benefit equation of aircraft carriers looks increasingly questionable. Why the Carrier Still Matters—For Now Despite the criticism, aircraft carriers are not obsolete—yet. They remain unmatched in their ability to sustain prolonged air operations without relying on foreign bases. In regions where access is limited or politically sensitive, carriers still provide options no other platform can. The real issue, many experts say, is not the existence of carriers like the Truman, but over-reliance on them. Using them as one component of a broader, more flexible strategy may still make sense. Treating them as the centerpiece of future war planning may not. A Turning Point for Naval Strategy The return of the USS Harry S. Truman highlights a deeper tension within modern military thinking. It represents a crossroads between tradition and transformation, between proven power and emerging threats. Whether history views this moment as a wise assertion of strength or a missed opportunity for innovation will depend on what comes next. If the Navy pairs legacy platforms with bold technological change, the carrier’s return may be justified. If not, it risks becoming a powerful symbol—not of dominance, but of reluctance to adapt in a rapidly changing world.
By Fiazahmedbrohi 3 days ago in Longevity
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