humanity
Advocates, icons, influencers, and more. All about humanity.
Dance to True Self
A year ago on a campsite, this handsome outdoorsman with a manbun and telescope told me about this group called Circus Collective in Denver, CO and a Sunday event they host, yoga followed by ecstatic dance - ecstatic dance being a free form movement. It was a substance free, rave-like event where people would dance, move, stretch and howl to the music. I finally pushed myself to get there, 13 months later ready to explore a new facet of myself. The yoga class was an Acro class, which laid a solid foundation for trust and for new experiences, many people having never done it.
By Makayla Greathouse5 years ago in Longevity
The Little Autism Pandemic Battle Plan That Could
The rest of the story is often the best story. Once upon a pandemic—March 2020, to be exact—a plan was hatched. It was a simple plan, a messy blueprint, sketched out in haste on a single sheet of paper: three columns, three layers of comfort—and solutions. Maybe because of its simplicity, it was an effective plan.
By Teresa Hedley5 years ago in Longevity
I Survived
It was a warm June morning in Vans Ant County, Texas as a five year old little girl awoke and started to search for her mom. She went through every room of her older brother's house and couldn't find her beloved mother. She went to the front door, unlocked it, and stepped outside not knowing what was about to happen. The little girl thought that her mother was feeding the horses in the 2 1/2 acre pasture. She walked out to the pasture and noticed that the white horse they have had for 4 years was startled. While petting it's mane hoping it would calm it down, everything went black. She could feel pressure on her back and couldn't move. Fearing the worst as she felt something tearing into her head and pulling her hair. She managed to put her arms over her face to protect anything she could. Her screams echoed through the area as she was being dragged across the pasture. She refused to give up and kicked something as she flipped over. She came face to face with the bloody muzzle of a black panther snarling and showing it's teeth. She tried to roll back over but was too late. The panther had clawed her neck and she was covered in her own blood as it ripped off the nightgown she was wearing. Her screams got softer and just as soon as she thought hope was lost her father and older brother came running out with a shotgun. Fear coursed through their veins as they saw her in a pool of blood. They shot near the panther and as it ran off, her father ran over to pick her up in his arms. Her brother had grabbed his car keys from the house as they rushed down the street and interstate going 100 mph. Her father is begging her, "please stay with me baby girl." With the last bit of energy she could summon she whispered, "daddy where were you?" "I hollered but no one came." With tears in their eyes they try to get to the closest hospital when lights started flashing in their rear view mirror. They pulled over hoping that the state trooper would help, but they didn't know what they were about to see. The state troopers separated, one to each side and as they looked through the car at the little girl's bloody body, their faces turned white. They ran to the police car and radioed for an ambulance and emergency helicopter. The ambulance and helicopter got there at the same time as the paramedics, doctors, her brother, and the troopers tried to pry the dying girl from her father's worried arms. He finally let go when a young, female paramedic looked him in the eyes and said, "sir I can't save her if you don't let go." The helicopter raced to the hospital as the girl flat lined twice, they brought her back each time she left. They had finally reached the hospital where the young girl had flat lined multiple times while going through over 30 surgeries and 20 blood transfusions. They saved her by taking the two lower back muscles and putting it where the muscle was missing on her skull, used veins and skin from her thighs to rebuild her scalp. They stitched her back together. She suffers from flashbacks and PTSD, but she still puts the biggest smile on her face as she helps anyone she can. That five year old little girl is now 22 years old with a handsome 4 year old baby boy. I am that girl.
By Jade DeMoss5 years ago in Longevity
Covid
Anyone else dislike covid-19 aside from myself? I mean seriously think about it. It's still a potential risk. Our entire culture has had to change because of it. It severely affects our seniors, children, and everyone with preexisting conditions. Yes, it still affects everyone else in the world too, but those are the less likely to survive it if they catch it. We did a complete 180 on the idea of wearing masks. Now it's a regular thing. At one time it was completely forbidden inside most stores, theatres, and many other places. People that would cause shooting typically wore a mask of some kind. Now everyone is wearing them.
By Brittany Seebo5 years ago in Longevity
My Faces of Pain
My name is not important. However, my PAIN is very important.I am but one face in pain out of millions.A accident (cut of my left hand) triggered the monster that lives in me now. It has crippled my entire body.CRPS, also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is a pain disease with no cure and is very misunderstood. Almost allof my "faces of pain", were treated with alternative treatment modalities before being placed on medications only.All the faces of pain share pain from diseases and injuries we never heard of and certainly never wanted. My pain was treated by: 50 plus stellate ganglion blocks( a needle injection into your neck),physical/occupational/aqua therapy,hypnosis,acupuncture and psychological visits. Before my accident to my hand that caused this burning, terrible beast of a disease, I was 100% healthy and was not taking any prescription medications or developed any mental disorders. I have now over 20 plus diagnosis from the disease and take over 15 prescription medications to this day since August of 2009.For me, all I underwent caused my disease to spread from my left hand to now encompass my whole body in just over three years! ( I have had it for now 12 years with no signs of remission)It is all very well documented in my medical records. My disease has crippled my body horribly. For all of my faces of pain, I suffer even more now because I functioned and functioned well on often high-dose opioid pain medication.Do I want all my faces of pain dead? That's a stupid question. So what has daily life been like since my diagnosis?I cried, took pain medicine, slept and cried some more.Weeks went by and the pain progressively got worse: pins and needles, burning sensation, color and temperature changes, and atrophy. As the months passed, the nerve damage spread up my left side from head to toe. I went to numerous pain specialists and underwent multiple nerve blocks (stellate ganglion blocks) over the next 3 to 5 years. I was literally exhausted from being in pain every day. The thought of having to wake up day after day in pain made me feel hopeless.Nerve pain is hard to explain. It is like pins and needles times one thousand 24/7. It’s like coming inside after being out in the snow when you were little and experiencing that burning/re-warming feeling 24/7. It’s the feeling of having rubber bands cutting off circulation 24/7. It’s exhausting and it’s exhausting being exhausted 24/7. So what advice would I give to newly diagnosed RSDS/CRPS (reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome) positive people?Do not give up! If one doctor does not listen or understand, go to a second. If thirteen doctors do not listen, go to the fourteenth. Do your own research and listen to your body! So what is one thing I wish those without CRPS/RSD could understand?When I would go to doctor’s appointments and try to explain the pain and frustrations, I would often hear “well you look great, just keep doing what you are doing.” The biggest misconception one can have is thinking that just because someone looks great means they feel great. Just because I tried to hide my pain and actually get dressed and do my hair and throw a little mascara on does not mean I felt great. Just because I looked great does not mean my body was not screaming for help.So what encouragement would I give to "Warriors",who have had CRPS/RSD for many years?I would put it this way....RSD continues to be studied and is becoming more recognized in the medical field. With more knowledge comes more treatments and the possibility of a cure. What I also would like to add is this..I hope that each and every one of you "warriors", is you can find something that provides relief! Do not give up! You are a Warrior for a reason!
By Jenny Hudson5 years ago in Longevity
