Guest Post: Conquering Self-Doubt about Your Writing Skills
Guest blogger Ryan Rivera exercises daily to keep his anxiety well under control. | Photo courtesy of Ryan Rivera.
By Ryan Rivera
At some point, most writers feel they are not cut out for this thing they are pursuing. Whether they regard it as their passion or something they’ve always wanted to do, some often feel they do not possess enough skills to produce material that’s worth reading. Self-doubt can be crippling, and writers are not exempt from being bogged down by this feeling. Once it sets in, your vision is clouded with thoughts of inefficiency, not being good enough, and just not being meant to do it. This will hinder you from reaching your maximum potential.
At the same time, you can use it to propel yourself toward improvement. Conquering self-doubt is no easy feat. It comes in bouts, which can be hard to shake off your system. It can be healthy on occasion, if you learn to use it to your advantage. Claim those ill thoughts and unleash your power over them. You must kill it before it kills you. (more…)
Avoiding radioactive iodine therapy for Graves Disease
Image of a thyroid gland | The surgeon must be careful not to damage or remove the parathyroid glands. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
About 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, which is also commonly referred to as hyperactive thyroid. I saw an endocrinologist who sent me for testing and then immediately sent me for radioactive iodine therapy treatment. I was only 23 at the time, so I did as my doctor told me without asking many questions.
It wasn’t until later when I occasionally ran into someone else with the disease that I found out there were other options. I also learned far too late that radioactive iodine therapy can be very dangerous and have a negative impact on your health, leading to long-lasting health problems, and even cancer. (more…)
On the DIY bandwagon
This is my homemade powdered laundry detergent. You can download and print a copy of my label (for free) from my portfolio website. Just click the image above to get there.
Hello. My name is Mandy. And I’m a Pinterest addict.
It shouldn’t surprise you that I am on the DIY bandwagon as well. With my son and I each being diagnosed with asthma in the past two winters, I’m especially interested in the homemade cleaning products that are currently making their rounds. I can’t help but wonder if there might be some chemical in our lives that is exacerbating our breathing problems. I’ve always had a bit of a nagging cough in the winter time, but this year, it seems like I’m fighting a never-ending battle to keep bronchitis at bay.
Needless to say, I’ve become very interested in all of the DIY homemade cleaning product recipes I’ve encountered on Pinterest. Many of these recipes call for natural ingredients like vinegar and lemon juice instead of the many unpronounceable chemicals found in most store-bought cleaning products. (more…)
I need a new bike
No more mountain biking for me, I guess. | Polar mountain bike. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I used to ride my bike everywhere when I was younger. First it was a ten-speed racing bike (I had a crush on a senior who was into bicycle racing,) and then a mountain bike when mountain bikes were first popular. I was in great shape back then and could hop on my bike and ride to a destination 10 miles distant like it was nothing. Then I had kids.
Kids are a pain to bike-ride with until they’re old enough to ride their own bikes and keep up with the grown ups. But by the time that happens, the grown ups realize they can no longer keep up with the kids. I bought a new bike last year (or maybe the year before, I can’t remember,) so I could ride with my kids who are soon turning 6 and 13, and I hate it. (more…)
