Category Archives: Health Advocacy

A New Year Resolution for 2016 – Maintaining Good Nutrition

December 31, 2015 andrea sherry horowitz Leave a comment

Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year 2016. So many of us talk about making New Year Resolutions, about diet and the foods we eat, striving for good nutrition and for some weight loss. There are many years in which I have also started out the new year looking to change my diet and “lose weight”. Well this year is no exception for me!

Over the past few weeks as we’ve drawn closer to the new year approaching, this has become a pressing thought. I’m wanting to make some changes to my diet, and wanting to lose weight, the weight which I had gradually gained over a number of years. Sound familiar?

This year, rather than making a resolution, I am setting an intention.

My intention! I am drinking 8+1 = 9 glasses of water each day, I am eating more vegetables (especially leafy greens), snacking on 2 crunchy vegetables each day, and measuring the portions I am eating. A nutritionist once shared with me that the size of a portion is equal to the size of my fist. The visual is helpful whether dining in or dining out. I intend on losing 10 pounds by February 5, 2016,

Here for you, if you are interested, is a link to some Tips on Maintaining Good Nutrition from the National MS Society and there’s more, 5 Tips on fighting fatigue with a good diet as well…

Maintaining Good Nutrition

Again, a Happy New Year to you and yours,

Andrea

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 6

Image April 11, 2015 andrea sherry horowitz Leave a comment

14 Day Blogging Challenge: Day 6

“What is most important to you?”

Most important to me is to spend quality time developing and nurturing deep and personal relationships with family, friends, and community connections. I enjoy getting to know others, deeply, learning what they consider important, what their interests are, what inspires and encourages them. If anyone I know has a problem, I’ll listen and hopefully in some way contribute to problem-solving. I also like to share about our family, pets, matters of interest and importance. Visiting, sharing conversation, innermost thoughts and feelings, over a cup of tea or coffee, lunch, dinner, a summer barbeque together, warms my heart.

Some of my favorite time is when my sister Francine and I sit together in our home art studio, which often becomes the kitchen, where we play with art, we talk, we sometimes sing. Another one of our art studios is a room we have for crafting, and sometimes Francine’s room is our art studio, where we’ll sit and have a coffee while making potholders. During spring, summer, and fall our garden also becomes our art studio, a wonderful place where we can spend time outside together connecting with nature.

Throughout our years together, some of my favorite time with my husband Norman is when we spend time gardening together, and evenings taking a garden stroll, then sitting on our swing for two, and talking with eachother. Sometimes, there’s such a wonderful feeling just snuggling, watching television together, and having the pets want to snuggle with us.

In addition, getting to know folks and connecting through social media has become a wonderful part of my life. It’s such a blessing to make friends through social media and then get to meet eachother, socialize, and sometimes also even collaborate together.

I, furthermore, love seeing and hearing how and what others share, and do to encourage and inspire. It’s helped me in becoming courageous in more publicly sharing about our lives and I am enjoying sharing our art through photographing and posting to my social media sites. I’m filled with gratitude and joy to be connecting and sharing, inspiring, encouraging, and sharing love.

So, what is most important to you?

Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 5

April 10, 2015 andrea sherry horowitz 1 Comment

14 Day Blogging Challenge

Day 5

“Be Bold, Be Brazen, Be You”

to me means…

HAVING CONFIDENCE

in myself,

STEPPING OUT

of my comfort zone,

and

BEING ASSERTIVE,

about things which are meaningful to me.

What does Be Bold, Be Brazen, Be You mean to you?

Art, Health Advocacy, Multiple Scerosis, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 4

April 9, 2015 andrea sherry horowitz 1 Comment

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 4

“One Thing About Myself”

What is voice? Cambridge Dictionary Online expresses the English definition of voice is the sounds that are made when people speak or sing . Voice can be [the right to] an expression of opinion. Voice can be an important quality or opinion that someone expressed, or the person who is able to express it. To voice is to say what you think about a particular subject.

One thing about myself, I hear a voice from within, saying, “Let me out” and I’ve been discovering ways creatively to do just that. When I was a youngster, around the age that children are, when exploring and learning to speak on telephones, I, and probably like many others, would want to answer the phone. My parents didn’t have a problem with my answering the phone; however, once when having received a call, the person who called had a problem with my having answered the phone. A statement was made that “children should be seen and not heard”. I have often thought of that voice and statement, especially when I’ve refrained from expressing myself.

I would describe myself as having a tendancy toward being introverted. I found the definition expressed on URban Dictionary interesting to read. I do tend to be found at home. I’ve often spent time in libraries and quite places. I do like to think, and at times, when I’ll say that I’m thinking, my husband will sometimes then say, “Oh boy we’re in for trouble.” I also enjoy spending time by myself.

Furthermore, I delight in socializing and I love talking to my family and friends. In addition, I love communicating and socializing through social media. So, maybe, I’m not so introverted after all.

While I worked in corporate settings, as a bookkeeper and accounting manager, I mostly worked independently. I have since discovered, and am grateful, that no longer working in a corporate setting, I have the opportunities to “Let my voice be heard” through my writing and the arts in which I am passionately engaged.

What is one thing you’ll share about yourself?

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 3

April 8, 2015 andrea sherry horowitz 1 Comment

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 3

“My Power Words”

Believe

Courage

Hope

Trust

Honor

Encourage

Inspire

Survivor

Caregiver

Carepartner

Patient

Patience

Sensitivity

Empathy

Connecting

Read

Write

Quiet

Nature

Mountains

Valleys

Heat

Cold

Fire

Ice

Water

Fiber

Thread

Yarn

Fabric

Needles

Quilting

Knitting

Crocheting

Beads

Wire

Tools

Art

Creative

Beauty

Electricity

Energy

Poetry

Narrative

Storytelling

Meditation

Breathe

Mother Earth

Sacred Space

My question for you: “What are your power words?

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 2

April 7, 2015 andrea sherry horowitz 1 Comment

14-Day Blogging Challenge: Day 2

“My Greater Purpose and Mission”

My greater purpose and mission is to help others through sharing in a love of living life creatively and continuing to learn, no matter whether one is in health or being the survivor of illness.

Please ask yourself: “What is your greater purpose and mission?”

Art, Health Advocacy, Narrative Writing, Poetic Medicine