Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. I love Martin Luther King Jr’s quote – “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Someone once told me that you cannot offer hope. I don’t agree with that. I believe that “hope” is powerful and can make a difference in life.
My mom’s only brother is my Uncle. He never married nor does he have any kids. He lives by himself, lives on a limited income, and does not have a vehicle. A couple of years ago I started having lunch with my Uncle. I simply started taking him lunch and hoped that he would have something to look forward to during the week. What happened? I actually grew in the process, and I started looking forward to our lunch dates. Each visit I would learn about him and learn lessons from him just by observing him. Sometimes we would sit in silence. Sometimes we would talk. I always left with more that I came with as far as peace, simplicity, and gratitude.
My Aunt was taking care of his financial responsibilities and paying his bills up until July of this last year. When she became ill, I stepped up and let the family know that I would take over this responsibility. I have learned that sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. This journey has opened my eyes and has me asking lots of questions and conducting a lot of research.
My Uncle is 79 years old and currently in the hospital. The last two days his demeanor has changed. I don’t see the sparkle in his eyes. I found some ways to spread sunshine and bring hope to him that I hope to share with him in the days ahead.
- I will stay connected. I will continue to visit him even though today he told me to go away.
- I will let him know that his journey may not be easy, but he has what it will take to get through it.
- I will sit quietly with him and pray for him.
My family has always been important to me. I respect my Uncle and I am thankful that we shared so many times breaking bread together. My family is strong, and we have a strong connection and look after each other. Family is a source of support and love. My hope is that my Uncle does not lose his strength and willpower before we can get him moved from the hospital to another facility to provide skilled nursing.
Throughout this I have learned to continue to hope for the best. Hope can increase happiness and reduce stress and improve our quality of life. Hope is important. My Uncle is important to me.
Til then,
Kelle Cathey
#Family #Hope #Faith #Lifebalance
Mental Health Awareness Month (May 1 – May 31)
In 2011 if you asked me about mental health, I would not have had any idea what you were talking about except relating the word mental to a movie that I had seen of someone being put in a straitjacket and put in isolation.
In 2011, my dad committed suicide and I quickly learned about “all things mental” and I continue to learn and share to create more awareness around the subject of mental health.
Did you know that awareness of mental health began in the US in 1949? We have come so far in society. There is more awareness now about mental health. The month is to bring attention to the importance of mental health and the resources available to support it. Did you know nearly one in five Americans lives with a mental health condition according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Recently you have been seeing my post on social media about #selfcaresunday because I am committed to motivating you to take better care of yourself. Mental health is essential for our overall health.
Self-care is taking care of you. Self-care should promote health and happiness for you. Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. A well-balanced life includes a self-care routine. Three areas that I would like to mention are physical, mental, and emotional. Below are three areas and three tips for goals that are FREE.
Physical includes diet and exercise. There is a mind and body connection. Eat health and stay active.
- Goal example
- Walk 45 minutes a day.
- Get sufficient sleep.
- Focus on positivity.
Mental practice mindfulness through activity. It is the ability to process thoughts and feelings. Setting mental health goals can boost self-esteem and confidence. Bonus tip: Setting mental health goals can help you to pinpoint and brainstorm habits, behaviors, routines, and actions. This can support you feeling good mentally.
- Goal example
- Make time for mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of becoming self-aware in the present moment.
- Find new ways to manage stress, anxiety, or depression.
- Daily say 1-3 affirmations
Emotional is the ability to cope with life and handle our emotions. It is the state we are influenced by external factors such as stress/trauma. Bonus: Learn good coping mechanisms.
- Goal example
- Watch/read something uplifting.
- Dedicate 15 minutes a day to you.
- Take time for reflection.
My challenge is for you to identify self-care needs and to create a self-care plan. To start simply start with gratitude. Gratitude is a form of self-care.
If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis and needs help dial 988 or call 800-273-8255.
#breakthestigma #selfcaresunday #mentalhealthawarenessmonth
Til then,
Kelle Cathey
www.kellecathey.com
My heart aches again. Someone very close to me is struggling and it breaks my heart. I want to empathize with you - if you have ever been -or/are - in a situation like this.
My family suffers from generational addiction. We all have addictions of some kind, but mental illness and drug/alcohol has robbed by family of years of happiness. This type of addiction causes an enormous amount of dysfunction and a high level of stress to the entire family.
Both of my grandpa’s drank. My dad had trauma in his life. He was a recovering alcoholic who lost his sobriety and ended up committing suicide.
For as long as I can remember my family has been my why. My family has always been important to me. I will never give up on my family. I am worn down and exhausted from the years of being on the sober side and finding the resources to support those struggling. I will never give up on them. I can’t fix it for them, but I can be the constant guide for support and unconditional love. *
You would think after all these years I would know exactly what to do, who to call, etc. Wrong! Every day, every person, every situation has been different. It is like starting over every time someone is struggling. I even volunteered for years at the crisis hotline and every evening every caller was unique.
Today I saw a sticker on a car window that read TOMORROW NEEDS *YOU* Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255. This is an excellent message. I 💘 it so I am sharing.
We all handle “things” differently.
Today… I am so over it! I am writing in a place of pure exhaustion from several years of back/back to breakdowns. Not mine! But people I love are struggling.
I am tired of the drama.
I am tired of worrying; it is human to worry!
I am tired of the negativity.
I am tired of lies.
I am tired of the pain.
I am tired of addiction.
I am tired of the drain.
I do pray and ask for prayer.
I am careful what I say. I choose my words wisely. I have learned about boundaries. There is a fine line with mental health around boundaries, especially when you lose someone to suicide it’s a little more delicate. There are no go backs. Life is so short. I am responsible for me and my choices and how I handle these delicate situations.
Three things that I would like to remind you of today if you are in a situation. 1) *practice self-care (take care of yourself) step away when you must. 2) Ask for help 3) Call 911 if you or someone you love is in a life-threatening situation.
We are not meant to walk alone in this journey. With over thirty years dealing with these types of situations I feel I have learned a lot and became a better person because of these experiences. Today, I just needed to vent.
Til then,
Praying for peace and calm,
Kelle Cathey
Success is different for everyone.
What does success look like to you?
What do you enjoy doing and what would it feel like if you lived successfully?
One of the definitions of success is one that succeeds.
One thing that I found in researching this topic is that success is achievable! Success is believing and action!
Success -
- takes dedication every day
- takes believing in yourself
- it is what your heart desires
- starts with you, and it starts with a dream
- takes time sitting still to define success
- depending on the season of life the definition of success can change
"Action is the foundational key to all success." - Pablo Picasso
To succeed use your time wisely.
Most people are searching for something. I believe we already have within us what we need to be successful. We need to stop searching and soul search to find what really matters to us. What are our values. We need to sit still and think about the future. What is success?
“Success doesn’t come to you. You go for it.” – Marva Collins
The first thing one must do is to define what success looks like for them. This process is hard for so many people. I surveyed the “humans” closest to me and was disappointed that they don’t feel that success is achievable and accept the life they are currently living.
There is no magic wand and there is no luck. Success is achievable. Success takes action.
One must first know what success looks like and then believe that it is possible to achieve success.
I read and believe that the most important work that we will ever do is deciding what we really want, get clarity, set our priorities, and make a life plan. Success is doing what you were designed to do. It is enjoying what you do and it doesn’t feel like work.
What does success look like to you?
Click this link for Tips for Success Checklist.pdf
There are seven steps to success. Click and open this link to learn about the seven steps to success #CanvaDesignChallenge Magazine Cover with 3D Elements.jpg
Til then,
I wish you success,
Kelle Cathey
Counting it all joy!
It seems like everything I touch today - there is an issue. Have you ever had days like this? I had a Zoom call and had sound issues and then I started to work on my website and the mouse kept sticking. The computer is moving slow. My to do list is growing. How do you handle obstacles like this? Do you keep going or do you quit?
Today I am a little emotional. We recently lost a family member, we have one that is struggling with coping with life in general, and one that is fighting for his life. I guess you can say I have a lot on my mind. 😊
I get up at 4 a.m. and have my coffee and quite time. Around 6ish I start getting ready for the day. I go to my day job and put in a full day’s work. When I come home in the evenings and have a list of to do's to work on my dream, the last thing that I want to experience is an obstacle. It is in these times that I push harder and strive to overcome whatever obstacle gets in my way. Determination sets in! There is also balance.
Several years ago, I decided to count it all joy no matter what is happening! The good days as well as the days that I struggle; I count it all joy. The days I struggle are the days that I push through and learn. I may not always accomplish everything on my to do list, but I am ok with that. Rome was not built in a day!
There is a difference between a struggle and an obstacle. A struggle is to proceed with great effort. An obstacle is something that stands in the way. I think it is important that we understand the difference.
The most important thing to remember when you struggle is to be flexible, focus on find solutions, and not stress. Here are a few tips that I use:
- Practice slow breathing.
- Smile or laugh (sometimes I laugh outload)
- Slow down!
- Think through the situation!
- Stop and take a break.
- Ask for help.
- Journal
- Pray
- Take time for self-care.
- Reprioritize
There are times when you need a guide along the way and my passion is being the guide. To find out more and schedule a discovery call click here https://calendly.com/cathey96/30min
I am not sure where you are in your journey, but we all have struggles and obstacles. I feel it is how we handle what comes our way that matters. Let me encourage you today; if you are taking action and working towards being a better version of yourself - give yourself some grace today and count it all joy!
Til then,
Kelle Cathey
