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Martina McGowan MD

life lived by the Book

How to Embrace and Boost Your Creativity in 30 Minutes a Day

To be creative means to be in love with life.

You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.

Osho

While it is certainly true that some people are more creative than others, every person can be innovative and original in their own way. Your creativity lies within you now. It is just waiting to be tapped.

Here are a couple of suggestions for ways to use 30 minutes of your day to unleash your creativity:

1. Think back to your childhood.

  • Did you have an active imagination?
  • Did you pretend to be a teacher or a doctor?
  • Perhaps you played as if you were the greatest race car driver in the world.
  • Assuming certain roles is a good way to demonstrate your creativity.
    • Right now, imagine yourself as the best worker at your job.
      • How would you look, dress, and behave?
      • What would you say to others?
      • How would you relate?
  • Visualize that you are the best at something for at least 10 minutes each day.

2. What is your superpower?

  • For the next 10, 20, or 30 minutes, consider your skills, talents, and knowledge base.
    • Choose one skill to focus on. Think about what makes you good at this particular ability.
  • All our skills count –
    • Maybe you think you’re great when it comes to following instructions.
      • This means you listen well. You pay attention. Everyone can’t do this…
    • Maybe your motivation is intrinsic. This means that you are internally motivated to complete jobs to the desired results.
  • When you know what you good at doing, you feel confident. And when you feel confident, you are not afraid of trying new things. a

3. Take the time to imagine something in your life.

  • Maybe a bigger house, or want to experience a serious relationship again.
    • Give yourself 30 minutes to sit back and really think about this.
      • Think about what that house looks like on the inside.
      • Picture the face of your potential mate.

4. Write out and carry a written copy of your top 3 life goals with you.

  • Giving yourself permission to dream and reach for your desired goals enhances your ability to ponder how you can achieve them.
  • * You hold the creative keys to pursue those goals however you choose. Let your mind run free with it. Think about these questions: what can you do today, tomorrow, next week, and next month to go after what you want?

5. Who is a hero of yours, or someone you admire?

  • Spend time thinking about this individual.
    • What is compelling about them?
    • How can you be more like them?
    • Choose one characteristic you want to work for the next month.
      • If possible, talk to them to learn more about what makes them who they are.
  • Trying on new personality traits lets us stretch ourselves creatively to see what is possible within ourselves.

6. Try a new activity.

  • We nurture and grow our creativity by engaging in creative endeavors.
    • So, buy a block of clay, a jewelry-making kit, or some paints and canvases at your local arts and crafts store and have at it.
  • If you get really engaged, you will probably spend more than a half-hour daily on your new activity. That would be great because you will be expanding your mind along with your skills.
  • If unsure about where to start, sign up for a beginning art class at your local museum or art center. This is exactly how I started painting (local museum),  pottery (local artists guild), and stained glass (a one-person glass shop in an antique mall).
    • If you do a little digging will find free or inexpensive classes near you.
    • There is plenty of YouTube or similar video tasters to try out in the privacy of your home.
    • Go to your local library and browse hobbies.
      • This is where I discovered Zentangle. Which coincidentally, I am starting to teach my granddaughter this week. Don’t know what that is? We’ll share in a future post…
    • Step out of your comfort zone a little and see what happens. I can almost guarantee you that you will surprise yourself!!
    • Working with your hands and mind together opens up new avenues, new thinking patterns, meet new people, and can get your creative juices moving. Some of this may even spill over into work!

You can release your inner creativity by devoting just 30 minutes to any of the above strategies or activities;  or try a combination of 2 or 3 of them.

Believe in yourself!!

Believe that you are creative and prove it by doing some activity every day to cultivate your imagination and originality.

Let me know what you tried in the comments. Or reach out if you need some resources.

Next week we will add an affirmation to help us with our processing. Stay tuned…

Martina

Good, Effective Parenting is Not for the Faint of Heart -Global Day of Parents

June 1 is the Global Day of Parents. This holiday honors parents all over the world for their commitment to their children.

We all want the very best for our children! We want them to grow into happy, confident, considerate, well-adjusted adults with the skills they will need to create wonderful lives for their families and themselves.

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders,

but they have never failed to imitate them.

James Baldwin

Becoming Better Parents for our Children’s Sake

It is not easy to be a good parent. Most of us do not feel we had some of the best examples to follow, and this is not a skill taught in home ec; although, perhaps it should be discussed. We must choose to either educate ourselves or rely on OTJ training.

While there are many parenting styles, successful parents share attributes that give children the best shot at success and happiness. Most of us have a few of these traits but must work at developing others.

1. Tolerance and Forbearance.

  • Children can be messy, noisy, inattentive, and downright exasperating.
  • They can also be pretty amazing.
  • Patience is an essential quality in parenting.
  • Learning to take a step, take a deep breath (or two), and relaxing before we go charging in is beneficial to many parts of our lives; not just parenting.

2. Multi-tasking and Balancing.

  • Trying to cope with everything-  home, work, and children- requires a great ability to multitask.
  • Children need attention and can pull our attention away from whatever else we are doing.
  • It takes practice learning to regain focus quickly.

3. Supportive Environment

  • Children learn early in life to doubt themselves and become concerned about the opinions of others.
  • One of the best ways to combat this is to encourage your kids. With enough encouragement, our children have the best opportunity to become their best selves.
  • Encouragement and support go hand-in-hand.
  • Children with support grow up to be relaxed and comfortable, with themselves and with others.
  • Without good support, we all know the world can be a very scary place.

4. Problem Resolution.

  • One of the hallmarks of intelligence is problem-solving.
  • Children can provide a unique set of challenges that have to be solved almost continually.
  • A little mental focus can help us navigate the minefield that parenting can involve.

5. Elasticity and Resilience.

  • Many of our parenting attempts will fail.
  • We must be flexible enough to come p with multiple solutions. If one doesn’t work, we can always try something different.
  • Plans often change, too. It helps if you can go with the tide.

6. Leadership.

  • You might be able to boss your kids around, but they will certainly resent it, and they will never forget.
  • Just like at work, it is more effective to use good leadership skills. Save throwing your considerable parental weight around only when necessary.

7. Reliability and Trustworthiness.

  • Kids feel safe when they have reliable and dependable parents.
  • They have to know that you will be there for them.
  • How much can your kids trust your word?

8. Benevolence and Mercy.

  • Children need to develop compassion. And they can only develop it by experiencing it.
  • Kids need understanding and comfort. Are you good at providing those two things?

9. Fun.

  • Our children will give us plenty of opportunities to laugh.
  • Don’t let those moments go to waste!
  • With a great sense of humor, we can preserve our sanity.

10. Self-knowledge.

  • Children, and many adults, are not sure how to act.
  • It up to us to be role models.
  • Children will mimic our reactions, especially in tough situations. It is what they have learned.
  • It is important that we are self-aware enough to know whether we are being good role models.

Parenting is one job that requires our utmost effort and attention.

Great kids tend to have great parents.

Being a great parent isn’t easy, but it’s easier if you build these attributes. You can develop good attributes through practice and determination.

Am I a perfect parent or grandparent? How many ways can I say, no? I make the same mistakes every other parent makes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t give my best to the task daily, willingly admit when I am wrong and vow to continue to improve.

Listen and keep learning, all day, every day!!

Martina

Photo by  Michael Williams Astwood  on  Scopio

World No Tobacco Day (May 31)

It has always been more about a relapse than it is about quitting. I have met hundreds of people who quit cigarettes every day.

But do they succeed at it?

No, they just quit every day.

Neeraj Agnihotri

Tomorrow, May 31st, along with being a national holiday in the States, is World No Tobacco Day

Before we begin, I am an ex-smoker. I don’t preach about quitting smoking because it is tough. And we must each follow our own path for what we know to be healthier choices for ourselves and our families.

My dad smoked, and we are probably pretty lucky that the house never burned down. So, it was probably natural that I tried in my preteen years. It was disgusting and I got in major trouble with my mom, who did not smoke.

Anyway, by the time I met up with true stress during my medical training, it was an easy habit to fall into. At some other time, I will share my own quitting trials, but that is not our focus today.

Secondhand Smoke

One of the major forces in my quitting was trying not to expose my children to secondhand smoke. It was bad enough that I was compromising my own health, but I did not want to sacrifice theirs.

Studies have found that most adults significantly underestimate their exposure. Here is a link to a CDC report on the effects of secondhand smoke.

Whether we smoke or not, we can all help reduce secondhand smoke and its effects. Consider these steps toward creating a smoke-free environment.

Smokers

1. Begin quitting.

  • Ideally, all smokers would be able to give up tobacco permanently. But, it is often not so simple. 
  • Many of us require more than one attempt before we are successful.
  • Prescription and non-prescription pills, gum, patches, etc. can make the process more comfortable, but not necessarily any easier.
  • And, as the quote above says, we quit every day. This is not one-and-done for the vast majority of smokers. It is a lifelong journey to remain nicotine-free.

2. Go outside.

  • My two first rules on my way to quitting were:
    • No one could smoke in the house. This upset a few friends and relatives, especially in the icy winters of Michigan.
    • Neither of us could smoke if the children were in the car
  • Dispose of ashtrays and lighters or keep them “outside.”

4. Clean up when you come inside.

  • We can’t smell it, but smoke clings to everything-  clothing, hair, skin.
  • Rinse off the residue.
  • Carry sanitizing hand wipes.
  • Spray down your clothes.

7. Find new ways to deal with your stress.

  • If it is taking you longer than you thought to quit, start cutting down by creating substitute habits for responding to stress.
    • Take a short walk after eating
    • Have a cup of tea

Nonsmokers

1. Ban indoor smoking.

  • Enforce a no-smoking policy in your home, vehicles, and anywhere else you and family members spend time.
  • Give your guests advance notice to make compliance smoother.

2. Move on.

  • If your health is your top priority, you can move away if others choose to continue smoking.
  • Find another bench or go for a walk alone.

3. Offer support.

  • If you have family members or friends who are truly ready to try and give up tobacco, help them through those initial cravings.
    • Provide plenty of encouragement along with practical assistance and support.

There are no safe levels of first- or secondhand smoke!

Living with a smoker increases a nonsmoker’s chances of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.

Protect yourself and your loved ones by working to clean up the air you all breathe.

Martina

Why We Self-Sabotage and What To Do Instead

“I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.”

Frank Herbert

Do you embrace your success? Do you envision yourself as being healthier, wealthier, and whatever abundance means to you? Do your successes all feel small and transient, but the greater things you desire always seem just beyond your grasp? You may be a victim of a fear of success.

This fear may be lurking in our subconscious and hard to uncover without serious probing. Yet, this fear can cause us to sabotage our efforts in pursuing our most cherished dreams. 

Is the Fear of Success Sabotaging You?

Exercise:

  • Think of a goal that you want to achieve.
  • Then, take 20-30 minutes and answer the following question: “What would be different if I succeeded?” Make a list of everything you can think of – both the good and bad consequences of achieving your goal.
  • It’s important to take at least 20 minutes to answer the question. The first few answers that come to mind will be superficial. Simply keep writing for at least 20 minutes. Put down everything that comes to mind. Nothing is too ridiculous or too small. If, after 20 minutes, you’re still getting good questions, then keep on going.

As an example, let’s imagine the goal is to save  $250,000 this year. Some of the things you might include on your list:

  • Be able to pay all my bills.
  • Buy a newer car.
  • Go away on a vacation.
  • Pay more taxes.
  • A family member will want a loan.
  • People will treat me differently.
  • Maybe a new house? But where?
  • My partner will want to try to spend it all.

In your excitement, you will quickly write down some of the things you have wanted to buy, and, once you have the money, you can do that. But then, as you dig deeper into your feelings, some of the not-so-positive consequences will begin to appear on your list.

Some of these consequences will reveal things you fear.

Goals, especially new ones, are never completely free of fear. Achievement always involves change, and change frequently comes with a bit of apprehension. You may truly want to be successful, but if the feelings of fear outweigh the positive feelings in your mind, progress will be slow and challenging.

The only reason I can’t jump in and engage life is that I’ve told myself I can’t.

Yet I can’t helping wondering would happen if I told myself I could?

Craig D. Lounsbrough

Eliminating Your Fear: “What if…”

If you can find and face these apprehensions, you have the opportunity to root them out or at least minimize their impact so you can make progress better progress.

Looking directly at our fears is very powerful. The fears we refuse to acknowledge will grow stronger. Fears that are examined can be minimized, which will help us take more aggressive actions toward the completion of our heartfelt goals.

Ultimately, if we look closely at our fears, we can see that the perceived side effects are what seems scariest when pursuing goals.

So before you ditch your plans, ask yourself what would happen if you were ultimately successful.

Tackle your fears head-on and you can start achieving your dreams today!

Want to read more about success? What do successful people know and do that you don’t?

Fear can be a useful tool. But do not let it rule your life!!

Chat soon...

Martina

Embracing Life’s New Chapters

I hope you realize that every day is a fresh start for you.

That every sunrise is a new chapter in your life waiting to be written.
 

Juansen Dizon

Life is constantly in motion, full of changes. Changes often occur when we least expect them, and the change can be disruptive to our routines. This often happens when new chapters or new avenues open up to us.

It can feel all too easy to just give up when we don’t feel in control of situations. It’s easy for our confidence to slip when we are going through something new or different.

The good news is that we can choose how we want to approach novel events and remain positive.

Strategies for Approaching Something New:

1. Always keep an open mind.

  • Try expecting the best outcome instead of the worst.
  • Remind yourself that you have encountered more challenging situations in the past and endured.
  • A new chapter in your life could be the answer to setting new goals or finally attaining old ones.

2. Be Bold!

  • Fear often keeps us from going after what we want from life.
    • It can result in disappointment, sadness, and feelings of humiliation.
    • If we are not living the lives we want, then we need to start mustering the courage to move forward.
  • Walk into a situation while repeating the words, “I can conquer this.”
    • Even if you are not feeling terribly brave all the time, speak courage into your life, and begin to believe in yourself.

3. Step by Step.

  • The best way to approach any situation is to break it down into its smallest components.
  • The bigger picture of your new chapter may seem overwhelming.
    • Take time to analyze it, you will recognize that it is easier to take smaller bites and even relish the taste of the newness of each new part.

4. Consider previous missteps.

  • Understand your strengths and abilities, and think about where things have gone astray before.
    • The lessons we learn along life’s journey should be the tools we take into our next chapters.
    • Use these tools as much as possible to help guide you into and through the unknown.

5. Be truthful.

  • If you are taking on something new and expect to be victorious, you definitely do not want to disappoint yourself or others!
    • Be honest about feeling intimidated.

New chapters in life need not be terrifying.  Give yourself every possibility of experiencing fulfillment.

Try these strategies for embracing the new chapters, believing in yourself, and moving as if you already know the outcome!

Martina

@Copyright 2021 Martina Green McGowan, MD

Photo by Constantin Stanciu @ Scopio

Embrace Your Family Ties: International Day Of Families

Time is a precious commodity.

Don’t squander it.

Martina McGowan

Tomorrow, May 15 is International Day of Families. On this worldwide holiday, we recognize and celebrate the importance our families hold in our lives.

Even though these are the people I fall in and out of love with most often, and argue with the most, my family, both blood and chosen, is the single most important source of healing energy in my life.

My family is a source of healing energy for me because I know that with them I can just be myself. No airs, no pretense, no fake stiff upper lip required. While we are always trying to be our best no matter who we are with, we have the underlying assuredness that our families love us unconditionally, always want what is best for us, and want us to be able to be ourselves.

With our families, we can be confident that their love is based solely and permanently rests on the simple fact that we are family. And nothing can ever change that.

We are able to relax with our families. Because they know us inside and out, we are able to let go of any tendency to want to put on a big show. If we are happy or excited about something, we are able to share it with them. If we are sad or anxious, we can share that as well.

We can speak the truth around them because we know that our relationship is based on authenticity and trust.

Life can be so challenging so we should truly cherish our family’s support.

I, for one,  love having this group of people with whom I can laugh or cry, share my deepest, darkest fears or fondest, craziest dreams and ideas, and who will always be a lynchpin in my life, no matter what.

Question (for your heart, your journal, or share in the chat):

  • How do you show your family that you care about their lives?

Enjoy this time with your family. 

Chat soon…

Martina

Brain Fog and How to Clear it

“… a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone,

if it is to keep its edge.”

George R.R. Martin

Everyone has a little brain fog on occasion. And we all seem more susceptible to it right now as we are released from extended lockdown, get vaccinated, and return to “normal” life.

However, if you find that you are regularly suffering from serious brain fog, there are steps you can take toward improvement. Brain fog, at a minimum, can be frustrating, and at its worst, can limit or ruin your creativity and productivity.

Here are a few steps that can improve your mental clarity:

1. Exercise BODY and MIND.

  • Our brains, just like our bodies, need stimulation daily. Most of us tend to feel better and think more clearly after exercise? Plan some mental and physical exercise into your daily schedule.
  • Mental exercise can be as simple as working a few brain-teasers or math problems.
  • And, physical exercise needn’t be demanding, but it can be helpful to push yourself enough that you’re breathing hard. Remember to choose exercises that are age-and health status-appropriate.  I just started doing Tai Chi again, and it works for me.

2. Handle stress.

  • Stress is a distraction. This morning I was upset about something and couldn’t think my way through the simplest of routine tasks. Once I let it go, it was smooth sailing the rest of the day.
  • Stress also results in abnormal levels of hormones and neurotransmitters that can cloud your thinking as well as your judgment.
  • Stress is tough on the body and the mind.
  • Actively work to lower stress levels to reach your best thinking.

3. See Your Doctor

  • Get a checkup if you’re having issues with mind fog and nothing else seems to be helping.
  • You may have an underlying medical condition contributing to your mental fog.
  • Your medications may need adjusting.

4. Look into a healthier diet.

  • Unhealthy food can leave us feeling drained, especially mentally.
  • There may also be some foods considered healthy but just don’t sit well with our systems.
  • It important that you take note of how you feel after eating different foods and use that information to make changes. Experiment and see what you discover.

5. Get enough ZZZzs

  • Sleep the right number of hours for you.
  • After many years of insomnia, probably professionally induced, I now use an app to monitor the quality of my sleep. This has also helped me make adjustments in my nighttime regimen
  • If you’ve ever missed out on a few hours of sleep, you know how compromised your ability to think clearly can be.
  • A lack of sleep is a major cause of brain fog.
  • Some people suffer from brain fog if they sleep too long.
    •  It’s not easy to reach 100% alertness if you sleep too long.

6. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

  •  An early sign of dehydration is brain fog.
  • A tall glass of water every few hours isn’t a bad idea.
  • Let your thirst guide you. But not so much that you are up all not going to the bathroom.

Brain fog doesn’t have to be an everyday issue. Take some steps to minimize it. If you try all of these tips and aren’t satisfied with your progress, schedule an appointment with your physician.

Brain fog can potentially be a serious issue but is usually harmless.

Take an active part in maintaining or improving your health!

Chat soon …

Martina

Photo by brijith vijayan on Scopio

Mother’s Day 2021

Poem: Song for the Mis(t)born

Today is Mother’s Day. It is a joyous, happy day for many. And for those to whom it is a day of celebration, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.

Too often, I feel, we overlook or fail to show proper sensitivity to those who desire, but do not have living children in their lives. Those who have never had children, or have had pregnancies that have not come to fruition, or have lost their children, or fostered children who have been returned to their families, or currently have poor relationships with your teenage or adult children, or any other number of situations or circumstances we do not acknowledge on this day.

If you have watched any news or been on social media at all, you have also witnessed and shared some of the pain of mothers (and fathers) who continue to lose their children to violence.

To the women (and men) who stand in this space of “mothering” and shepherding, I offer you my heart, empathy, and a bit of my work. There are a thousand strings to pull from the complex topic of parenting. I offer only one, with more to come.

There are no cards, that I know of to honor and acknowledge the heartbreak or awkwardness this day can represent. But I have tried to put some of those feelings into a poem. Below is the first half of the piece.

Perhaps some of what I have written will apply to your situation. Or, more importantly, I hope it will encourage you to write a poem, a note, or a journal entry to this child, and to yourself.

At the very least, I hope it will let you know that there are many who stand beside you, think of you warmly on this day, and have a listening ear and a willing shoulder you can share…

Today will be the first time I share this piece in its entirety.

Join us over on Cultivating Voices Live, with Sandy Yannone as host, at 3:00 pm EST.

Song for the Mis(t)born

The iron after-scent of birth
Rising from my place of lying-in
I yield to the temptation
of gazing into your shining face
one more time

Moving blindly through the maze
To the room
where they seek
to temper your incandescent light

I wait impatiently as they unwrap
the swaddling you now wear
and not the cheerful onesie
I have in my bag
Here you are
The product of my now empty womb
Prematurely ready for my benediction

So many dreams and visions
I ‘ve held for you
For us
Crawling along the floor
Learning to walk
Standing in swings
Winning almost every contest
as I proudly stand by

But here you are
Chilly to my touch
All but bereft of the warmth we once shared
Almost beyond the reach of my love

What shall I wish for you now,
my love?

To be continued…

©Copyright 2020 Martina Green McGowan, MD

It is a good day for many, and it is a hard day for many.

Be sensitive and supportive.

Reach out if you need a shoulder…

UPDATE:

Post-event recording link, in case you missed the show.

Thank you for your support.

Martina

Photo by  Sasha O’Shaughnessy  on  Scopio

Chat later in the week…

National Day of Prayer: How to Use Prayer and Meditation to Calm Your Anxiety 

The first Thursday of May is National Day of Prayer. People of many faiths come together and pray for their country on this day.

Prayer, solitude, meditation, spirituality are all important facets of our everyday lives.  Many of our lives are also stressful and anxiety-provoking.

Feeling anxious occasionally is perfectly normal.  When our anxiety becomes overpowering or all-encompassing, we may feel tempted to look for easy, quick comfort in prescriptive medications, alcohol, drugs, sex, or other unhealthy activities. Each of these methods comes with its own inherent issues. 

We are capable of pulling ourselves through anxious moments without the use of mind-altering or mind-numbing drugs. Our worries can be transformed into peace with a few simple strategies. Two of those strategies are prayer and meditation.

Before we wander way off course:

I grew up in a family with a Christian background. I was taught early on that even Christians meditate. As a child, I learned that prayer is asking and supplication, while meditation is being quiet enough, still enough to listen and hear. Listening and hearing are not the same things. And, I do both- prayer and meditation.

So, Which is Better: Prayer or Meditation?

The answer is very simple: Use whichever you prefer. Some people feel a close connection with a higher power and want to reach out to that power. Others do not. Some people only want to focus on calming their racing thoughts and frantic breathing to return to normalcy and rationality. 

If you “enjoy” praying, that’s great. If you prefer meditation instead, then do that! Whichever technique makes you feel the most comfortable is acceptable for you. You may wish to employ different techniques for different situations, or depending on your environment. The goal is that you get better, feel better, and know best what will make you feel at ease.

How to Get Started

You can start either path with a deep, calming breath. Or a few. This deep breathing will help center you and help bring you into the moment. Pull the air deep down into your diaphragm, and let it out slowly. Do this several times and you will begin to feel calmer.

Avoid breathing from your upper chest only and you’ll already be on the road to feeling calmer and less anxious. It’s a simple thing to do and a great way to get started. The more you practice, the easier it will come to you. Ultimately, you will have the ability to feel calmer without thinking about how you are breathing.

Next Steps:  

1. Breathe rhythmically

  • Use your breathing like a mantra or a chant.
  • Inhale while feeding yourself positive thoughts and feelings.
  • Exhale anything negative you’re thinking or feeling.
  • Breathing is the rhythm of life. Use it to your advantage.


2. Pray or meditate at the same time each day.

  • Spend a few minutes every day. Use the time of day that works best for you, consistently.
  • It doesn’t have to be a long time.
  • Say good things to yourself.
  • You can focus on anything you want to make stronger or better, or more of in your life – your health, finances, family members, friends, etc.
  • Try not to fall down the negative thinking tunnel during this time. 


3.  Pray or meditate with others.

  • Join a church, take up yoga, or find a support group for anxiety.
  • You are not the only one struggling.
  • Find somewhere you can share your feelings.

4. Manage yourself, manage your expectations. Keep it positive!

  • When you start your journey toward personal peace through prayer or meditation, expect to conquer your anxiety.
  • Avoid the trap of assuming you’ll do it in one day, or even in one week. It took time to get where you are, and it’ll take time to get back to where you want to be.

The important thing is to make that first step and then enjoy and appreciate your journey. Every journey begins with a single first step.  Daily, intentionally make some time to think about and interact with others, rather than focusing only on your personal worries.

Use what works best for you and what benefits your mental and physical health.

You’ve got this!

Martina

Photo by  Jonathan Mercedes  on  Scopio

Embracing Real Life Where It Finds Us: Rising from the Ashes

Celebrate endings

and you will manage the uncertainties.

Efrat Cybulkiewicz

2020 was a tough year for everyone. And, 2021 has started out barely better for many of us. But the difficulties and hardships did not keep us from hoping, turning our hands to something new, and continuing to dream of a better, different world.

The lockdown has brought opportunity. Because of the lockdown and increased Zoom-ing, I have met some amazing people in all parts of the world and have been able to spend quality time with them. This aspect of the lockdown has been a boon for us bona fide introverts. And, I am looking forward to the lifting of quarantines to travel so I can meet face-to-face, and spend time hugging time many of these humans getting my oxytocin fix. Or as one of my friends puts it, “hugging some necks.” They are folks who have taught me, nurtured me, supported me, listened to me, and have shared their lives with me.

I will talk about all of these things more in the coming months, but, in addition to a slew of readings (thanks to everyone who has invited or endured these), here is a short list of what I have been up to:

I birthed a poetry book, “i am the rage.” The book is available “everywhere,” including your local bookseller. Click here for information or purchase.

I would like to announce the launch of Peggy Robles-Alvarado‘s new online literary magazine, La Libreta. Check it out. It is filled with great poetry, audio, and visual content. And, yes, I have a couple of pieces inside. Peggy also teaches and facilitates generative writing classes.

Martina McGowan, Poetry Editor

I have also been working with The Elevation Review magazine as a Poetry Editor. Thank you, Thomas Kneeland, editor for this opportunity. Check out all the good things Thomas is up to. Writing is just a part…

This has been a very different kind of year for me, as I am sure it has been for you. Lots of terrible things came to our doorsteps- fear, hoarding, disease, death, and violence have all come into our homes. I have watched more people being shot this year than when I worked in an inner-city ER in Houston. It continues to be heart-wrenching. And, when I cannot view it any longer, I take a break from social media and the news.

It has been months of sacrificing and bracing for whatever is next. A year of isolation, loneliness, and lack of human touch, from which we are just beginning to recover. And, don’t get me wrong. I am not an everything-is-positive Pollyanna. We should never lie to ourselves. But, we do need to keep working, trying to make things better for people beyond ourselves, serving the greater good, and, yes, hoping.

What challenges, revelations, successes, and celebrations can we share with you, or help spread the word?

Or, what can we try to help you with?

Let us know in the chat.

Going forward, my plan is to spotlight more people I have met along this long life’s journey, like Peggy, Thomas, and you, highlighting the lives and work of others.

My ultimate goal is to publish others in the future.

We rise together!!

Let’s talk…

Martina

Photo by David Rubin on Scopio

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