Respect for your elders, right?

So here's my conundrum. You're supposed to respect your elders, right? Especially if they are family. Then it's double respect. But, what if someone is so awful...so mean and nasty that they don't deserve the respect that you'd show a bug?

Can you help it that your family member is so awful? No. Can you help it that you're related to them at all? Usually, no. But where do you draw the line. Do you suck it up because you're supposed to? If someone is all alone in this world you feel sorry for them. If they're all alone in this world because they alienated themselves, then you shouldn't feel sorry for them, in my humble opinion. Now, the way I see it, you can't leave them to the wolves. But you also don't have to continuously show them sympathy and respect when they do nothing to deserve it.

I'm sorry, but if you can't treat others with a little dignity - a little humanity, then you'll get very little in return. And if you're narcissistic and think you are OWED all these things, then let me tell you: you need to get to a psychologist - STAT. Get some help. Get some drugs. Get off your high horse and MAYBE you'll earn your family back.

Just saying.

Do you believe?

The human brain controls more than many realize. So much that you feel, see, and even smell are rooted in your brain. In fact, many things that may seem like a health problem can actually be psycho-semantic. It's a shame, because if your mind is toxic, so is your body. This can be seen in those that suffer from depression, as an example. Because of depression, many people physically hurt - all over. They may suffer from generalized pain or even headaches, stomach aches, and so on. There is no physical problem and the only way to treat it is to treat the depression.

Having accepted these assertions, it seems obvious that if one can address problems at the root - and at the brain at the same time, the chances of 'fixing' the problem increase significantly. Now, one of the tricks when dealing with matters rooted in the brain, you must WANT the change you are seeking and you must also believe that the change can be made.

I recently tried this for myself. I have bitten my fingernails for - I cannot tell you how long. It has always been more than just a habit. When I asked doctors, their only solution was to 'break the habit'. However, after a lot research, self-reflection, and counseling, I realized this was far greater than 'just a habit'. It was ingrained. it was a sort of release that lead back to anxiety as a child as well as general anxiety as an adult. Essentially, I could not control it because it was literally by brain telling me to bite my fingernails because it would make me feel better.

So I decided to try all sorts of things. Nothing worked. Using bitter tasting polishes on my nails. Nope. Tried putting colored polish on, the idea was that you wouldn't want to mess it up. Nope, didn't matter. Tried sheer willpower. Yeah, that worked for about a hour. Finally I discovered hypnosis. I was a tad skeptical but knew the power of hypnosis, so I was willing to try it. I googled "free hypnosis nail biting" and found several results. I tried one within a few hours. It was a 30 minute session and it was amazing. I can't tell you the state of relaxation I felt. I wasn't asleep, but also wasn't fully awake. I can recall most of what was said. All I can say at this point is that for the first few days after I did it, I felt amazing. Very relaxed every day. I wasn't even stressed in traffic. I was in a happier mood in general. The best part - I had NO desire to bite my nails. It has been more than a week now and the desire to bite them has not returned. I seriously have not even begun to bite them. Since they are growing in now, my cuticles are a mess, and I've been trying to clean them up so I don't feel the need to pick or bite them. The relaxation I felt for several days after has waned, but I think I'll just do the hypnosis again. They say you can do it every day for as long as you need it, or just as needed. The feeling was amazing, so I don't mind doing it again here and there to keep it.

Anyway, I guess my whole point to this story is this: Believe in the powers of your mind.

Where, oh where, has she gone??

Where have I been, you ask??

Or did you notice I was gone?

:)

Well, I went overseas. I just couldn't post that ahead of time. You know, for fear of the whole "broadcasting when you'll be away from your house and people break in" kind of thing.

We went to Ireland and to Scotland. It was quite interesting. I did enjoy being there, however, could have stood to spend a bit less time in Ireland. Now, don't get me wrong, it was absolutely beautiful. And the people were so lovely. It was an adventure in and of itself just learning the different ways they do things. You know, like the toilet flusher is on the wrong side of the tank. And also when you ask for the bathroom, they look at you like you're crazy. You ask for the toilet. Which is so crass to Americans. It's odd, isn't it?

The food was amazing. I'm not just saying that. The meat was so fresh and tasteful. It's apparent the differences in grass fed, free range, antibiotic free meat. I wish we would go back to that. You wouldn't believe how much you could tell the difference. And even better, they didn't cook everything in grease and fat. Even the pizza didn't come with fat pooled on top. And you know what? It tasted great. Not just great...it was BETTER than any pizza I've ever had in the US.

On another note, the shopping was nice. The fashion is so different, I felt like I was in another world though.

To the not so great stuff. We walked our arses off. About 8 miles a day. And it was cold, windy, cloudy, rainy. Even the house we stayed in in Ireland was always damp. The sofa, the carpet, everything. And good luck trying to get a hot bath. You may get a few minutes of hot water, but you better make it snappy. Basically we were just pretty uncomfortable after a few days.

But then we went to Scotland. Perfect! The only downfall was that it was more expensive there than in Ireland. It was probably best we were only able to stay there a couple of days. But really, the architecture was stunning, the people were also pretty nice, and the weather was a tad better. Best part of Scotland? The whiskey, of course!

So, overall, yes I'd recommend each place to travelers. However, you may consider a shorter stay and travel amongst other places closeby. A short 2 day trop to Brussels, Amsterdam or London would have been easy and broken up the monotony.

The pictures above - the first one is one tiny part of Edinburgh, Scotland. The second is in Ireland, at the Cliffs of Moher :)