Healthy Lifestyle Tip of the Day:

Sometimes, avoid some petty profits that can stress you and cause you harm. For example, if it's totally out of your way or you have already worked hard for that day, choose rest instead of running after N10 gain. Many have lost their lives because they didn't listen to warning signs from their body signals. Note: Laziness shouldn't be a lifestyle but sometimes you need to prioritize rest.

FRESH CALIFORNIA AVOCADO AND TURKEY SANDWICH

Ingredients:
8 slices of bread
4 leaves of lettuce
1 lb. turkey, sliced
8 tomato slices
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 ripe, Fresh California Avocados, peeled, seeded and sliced

For further instructions, continue reading by clicking link below:
Recipe/Post Source: California Avocado Commission

Prevent Food Poisoning...

 

Stay Safe

 #StaySafe

My Homemade Face Mask Video

I just made this video in April to help support the global fight against COVID-19. Watch and share. It may help someone.🙏

Video Link

Happy Easter🌻

Hello 🌼! Have you disinfected your phones today?

Wash your hands. Get a clean tissue, put a bit of sanitizer or a disinfectant liquid of your choice(dilute with a bit of water) and wipe your phones. Repeat with another clean tissue & liquid. Place phone on a clean surface. Discard used tissues properly. Wash your hands. Voilà! Your phone is safe to place on your face for that call.

Healthy Minute with Martha
@iroshealthyliving (Facebook/Instagram)
@isHealthyLiving (Twitter)

My 7 Years Blogging Anniversary:

Today is National “Stop the Bleed!” day

🚫 Today is National “Stop the Bleed!” day

— The N°1 cause of preventable trauma death is bleeding. You can learn to control a life-threatening bleed and save a life. Take a Community Emergency Response Team class! 🔰

‪https://www.smgov.net/Departments/OEM/Programs/Santa_Monica_CERT.aspx‬

via #CERTSantaMonica

The trend of sending made-up unscientific WhatsApp messages is on the rise. Please digest with caution and common sense:

Just because someone is a healthcare professional doesn't mean every info they send you is true. Always ask your doctor or do a little research for yourself. The trend of sending made-up unscientific WhatsApp messages is on the rise. Let me tell you this: A true medical research would have a lot sites and actual traceable places to confirm new findings and so on not just names of places and names of hospitals and fake names. Please, if you work in healthcare, be very careful what you share because simple minded people trust you. Don't start making me believe you slept through medical school and copied and pasted all your research assignments, sorry  to sound this way but this menace must end. Thank you. I love you and I care.

Martha I. Iyen

Happy Mothers Day!

Please Don't "Force-Feed" Children:

I had to write this because of a recent news in circulation regarding a Nigerian woman who was recently sentenced to 15years Prison Time for the death of an 8month old baby she was babysitting in America because of force-feeding. I was shocked and saddened by the news. I even got more shock reading comments of some Nigerians who still support this feeding method. After sometime, I decided to write this:

There are many reasons babies don't eat at the time you want them to . From my little experience, I will list a few:
- Baby is thirsty, give water in-between feeding and see if they continue rejecting the food
- Baby is not hungry
- Baby doesn't like the food, try something else
- Baby isn't feeling well
- Baby is wet
- Baby is full
- Baby wants to sleep
- Baby doesn't like the person feeding at the moment
- Baby's mood
- The odor of the food isn't pleasant
- The food temperature
- Environment isn't comfortable
- Kid wants to feed self (signs of maturity)
...
Endless reasons I tell you. Babies and kids are humans too. They are just like you and me. As a parent or child-caregiver it's best to look for cues or signs when feeding or caring for children. There are reasons they cry too.  It's not always because they are hungry for food. That's another day's topic. May God help us to be wise mothers. God bless you all.

- Martha I. Iyen

Happy Easter!

Protect yourself from medical errors:

Being an involved and informed patient can help you avoid medical errors.

Human beings being human beings, medical errors can and do happen—in hospitals, doctors' offices and even in patients' homes. These errors can range from a wrong diagnosis or mistake in medication to surgery performed on the wrong body part—a rare, but possible, event.

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals do all they can to prevent errors. But they aren't the only ones who can help make healthcare safe. You also have a role to play—a key one. You can make your care significantly safer by being an involved and informed patient. The more you participate in your care, the more likely you are to prevent mistakes.

So how can you be an informed member of your healthcare team? Follow these seven tips from the American Academy of Family Physicians and The Joint Commission, which sets standards for hospitals and other healthcare providers:

1. Speak up. Never be embarrassed if you don't understand something a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional tells you. If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of your care—including its safety or quality—raise them. If you don't understand or still have concerns, ask again.

Speaking up is especially important if you suspect you might be about to have the wrong lab test or procedure. For instance, if you were supposed to have a potassium test and a lab technologist or other medical professional refers to a “chemistry panel,” point out the inconsistency right away.

And always trust your instincts. If something doesn't seem quite right, be sure to say so.

2. Be sure certain procedures are followed.Always watch to see if your doctors, nurses or other caregivers have washed their hands before they examine or touch you. Handwashing is the No. 1 way to fend off potentially dangerous infections.

Healthcare professionals should also wear gloves when taking blood or other samples. And if you're getting a blood transfusion, the nurse should check your identification before starting it.

3. Keep your healthcare team informed. All of your doctors should know about everything you take for health purposes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, such as vitamins and herbs. Your doctors should also know about any allergies you might have and any adverse reactions you have had to medicines.

4. Talk to your pharmacist. Whenever you pick up medicine from the pharmacy, ask whether it is the medicine your doctor prescribed. Research suggests that nearly 90 percent of all medicine errors involve the wrong drug or the wrong dose.

Also, if you have any questions at all about how to safely take a medicine (either prescription or over-the-counter), ask.

5. Ask a trusted friend or family member to act as your advocate. At the doctor's office or during a hospital stay, your advocate can ask questions that might not occur to you when you're under stress.

If you are admitted to the hospital, your advocate can stay with you—even overnight. He or she can help guarantee that you get the right tests, medicines and treatments.

6. Guard against lab mistakes. If possible, make sure any sample you give is labeled with your full name and another piece of identifying information. And don't assume that no news is good news. Call your doctor and ask for test results if they don't arrive when expected.

7. Prepare for surgery and recovery. Is an operation in your future? Then be certain that you, your doctor and your surgeon all agree and are completely clear on what the operation will involve.

Be aware, too, that your surgeon may mark the spot on your body to be operated on. This will eliminate any chance of operating on the wrong body part—for example, the right knee instead of the left one. Should the mark rub off, alert your nurse or a surgeon.

When it's time for you to be discharged, ask your doctor to review the treatment plan you will use at home and when it's safe for you to resume your normal activities.

reviewed 12/7/2018

Source:  https://lmhospital.netreturns.biz/HealthInfo/Story.aspx?StoryId=62a7f110-d4b0-4b52-b3ca-fbaf478994a1

Remedy For A Great Diet:

"Ever wonder what you are to eat when everything now seems like all the health experts are saying "not safe"?  Or, years ago that same thing was great to eat, but some experts just condemn it now? The solution is this :  know the basic facts of what you are eating, try your best to prepare it well(cleaning, cooking, & safe handling), eat everything in moderation, pray before eating, and if you don't trust it -  please don't eat it. God has you in the palm of His Hands, but live responsibly and you will be fine." - Martha I. Iyen

Encouraging All Milestones In Children:

"Sometimes when raising children, there are pressures. Pressures from other parents and community. So, most parents only focus on major developments of children, neglecting other vital ones. When we only focus on the "major/big" milestones of a child(sitting & walking,  etc), we often miss out on the most precious little moments like clapping, singing, pushing the little table to her eating area, holding her spoon, discovering shadows, showing gratitude, greeting,  and so on. ....  Encourage every step of early childhood development. And remember, childhood is once in a lifetime. Allow room for growth."- Martha I. Iyen

Make Out Time To Rest:

In life, you do what you can. Any attempt to do above your means, ability, or capability will lead to stress. Stress can cause so many negative things like mental illness, physical illness, miscarriage, and so on. Stress can also affect your sex life and ability to conceive. ... So, say "no" to stress. Take an example from God, He rested after Creation. Even Jesus took out time to rest from time to  time after speaking to multitudes of people. Jethro(the Father-in-law of Moses) advised Moses to rest and delegate duties to able men who could handle matters for the people, while major matters were brought to Moses. See, all these examples are not in the Bible for fun, they are there to teach us how to rest. God bless you.

- © Martha I. Iyen

What Are the Benefits of Hand Washing?

If you know me very well, am a huge fan of hand washing. Below are some benefits of hand washing I got from livestrong.com

-Reduces Risk in Medical Settings. Hand washing is a simple yet vital behavior in hospitals and other medical facilities. ...
-Prevents Eye Infections. The spread of bacterial eye infections, such as trachoma, can be reduced through regular hand washing. ...
-Lowers Respiratory Infection Risk.

via Livestrong.com

Being One, But Many:

So, I have this blender. And it's so cool, but I had issues with cleaning it. I felt it was supposed to come with at least a cleaning brush so I won't cut my hands. While thinking about this, an idea came and I went for this brush for cleaning feeding bottles. I decided to buy a feeding bottle cleaning brush just for cleaning blender with no plans for using it for feeding bottles(not a great idea for babies. But if you have a baby, please note that baby items should strictly be for babies to avoid contamination and etc).

Back to the story, this brush had multiple parts and I realized I could also use it to clean other types of utensils, kitchen cups, bottles, and etc. But it has to be things used for eating to avoid cross-contamination and etc. And I have to replace the brush with a new one after using it for a short while to also avoid bacteria build up and etc. ...

Point of Story:  In life, you as a person may just be a mother, but do you know you are more than that? You are a teacher, a 'nurse's, a companion, a cleaner, a cook, a friend, a 'counsellor', an advicer and more. Don't limit yourself to just one role. You are loaded!

Martha. I. Iyen
Iro's Healthy Living

A Healthy Living Tip:

Preventing Lassa Fever:

#Lassafever is preventable! Maintaining proper personal hygiene & environmental sanitation can prevent the spread of the disease. Know what #LassaFever is and 

WHAT TO DO if you suspect it. #Nigeria

Get credible information from http://ncdc.gov.ng/advisory/lassa-fever

Happy Mother's Day!

For home or first aid remedies, when should you apply HEAT and when should you apply ICE?

"Consider Heat or Ice. Heat helps soothe stiff joints and relax muscles. Cold helps numb sharp pain and r

educe inflammation. Use temperature therapy to complement meds and self-care." - WebMD

Read more at Try Heat or Ice. - WebMD

Photo Credit:  Luca Montevecchi/Shutterstock; Alamy

Happy Easter!

5 Foods All Pregnant Women Need:

These healthy snacks will help provide plenty of important nutrients for pregnancy, including vitamic C, folic acid and calcium.

By Gina Bevinetto from American Baby

Orange juice

Not only is this juice high in vitamin C and folic acid, it's also a good source of potassium, which has been shown to help lower high blood pressure, a particular danger during pregnancy.

Yogurt

A good source of protein, yogurt has more calcium than milk and also contains active cultures that reduce the risk of yeast infections, which are more common while you're expecting. Also, some people who are lactose intolerant can tolerate yogurt.

Broccoli

Known for being a good source of calcium, this veggie is also packed with vitamin C, folate, and vitamin B6.

Lentils

Like beans, lentils are a great source of folate and are rich in iron and protein. They're also full of fiber, which can help prevent constipation and subsequent hemorrhoids.

Figs

Fresh or dried, figs have more fiber than any typical fruit or vegetable, more potassium than bananas, and plenty of calcium and iron.

Copyright 2003 Meredith Corporation.

Source: https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/nutrition/5-great-pregnancy-foods/

Image Source/ Veer

Salt:

Lowering salt consumption saves lives.

 - WHO

Happy 'Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day!

10 Tips for Healthy Fasting:

By: Cherie Calbom

Many people think about fasting in January for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you need to renew your body and soul. Did you gain weight during the holiday season? Maybe you're feeling sluggish or toxic and need to cleanse your body in short order. Or maybe you want to fast for spiritual reasons, such as a breakthrough in your personal life or for revival in this land.

Whatever your reasons for fasting, here are 10 tips to ensure you fast smart.

1) Prepare Your Mind

Before you begin, think about why you want to fast. What do you want to achieve? It's important to have the right mindset before you start or you may lose heart early on. Pray for discipline and a strong will to complete the fast.

2) Stock Up

Shop for everything you'll need before the day you begin. Not having everything you need on your first day is a sure way to fail. If you're doing a juice fast, for example, look at the recipes you'll be using, and make sure your shopping list has all the ingredients.

3) Drink Water

Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of purified water while you are fasting so you can flush away toxins and waste. This will also help you stay energized. Dehydration can cause you to feel tired and hungry.

4) Go Easy

Gentle exercise, such as walking, is good, but don't overexert yourself. Your body is working hard to eliminate toxins, remove damaged cells and restore vitality. This important work is often not completed when we eat regular meals. That's because the body focuses its attention on digestion throughout the day. Fasting frees your body from this daily chore so it can work on cleansing, repairing and healing. It's like taking a week's vacation to thoroughly clean your home.

While all this important work is going on inside, you want to give your body the rest it needs. Take more breaks. Avoid exhausting work. Go for walks. Get fresh air and sun. Go to bed early, as powerful healing hormones are released while you sleep. Relax before bed by taking a bath, reading a good book or listening to beautiful music.

5) Choose a Plan

Many people think fasting means a strict water fast. Some people even try to follow the model of some biblical heroes—no food or water, which can be dangerous. But there is more than one type of fast. Choose the one that is best for you.

Water fast. A strict water fast for more than two or three days is not recommended unless you can completely rest and are medically supervised.

Juice fast. Freshly made juice is rich in antioxidants that bind toxins so they don't damage cells—and those antioxidants are critical, especially during a fast.

Unlike in biblical times, where the air, soil and water were virtually pure, we have thousands of different chemicals pouring into our atmosphere every year. Most of our food is sprayed with pesticides and packaged with preservatives, additives, dyes and fillers. (Therefore, you ought to choose organic produce.) Our water is treated with chemicals, and our air is assaulted with industrial pollution.

Toxins are stored mainly in our fat cells. When we fast, those toxins are released in greater amounts. Without antioxidants to bind up free radicals, our cells can be damaged.

On the juice fast, you can drink vegetable juices, purified water, coconut water, veggie broth and herbal teas throughout the day. I emphasize vegetable juice because fruit juice has too much sugar, which can cause spikes and dips in blood sugar, leaving you tired. However, you can use a little fruit to flavor and sweeten veggie juice recipes.

All this will keep you healthy, energized and hydrated. To keep from boredom, try new juice and green smoothie recipes, such as those in my book The Juice Lady's Big Book of Juices and Green Smoothies.

Daniel fast. As described in Daniel 10:3, the prophet abstained for three weeks from delicacies, meat and wine, which would include all animal products and alcohol. This is a vegan diet, in other words, and includes abstaining from rich foods and desserts.

One meal a day. Everyone can fast for one meal or from certain foods. You can deny yourself coffee, sweets, soda pop, fast food, snack foods and junk food. None of these things are good for your body anyway. And if you can't do a strict fast because of your age or health, choose instead to give up some of your favorite foods. You could also fast one meal a day and drink a veggie juice instead.

6) Be Wise

You may have a physical condition that would make water or juice fasting unwise or dangerous. Seek medical advice first. However, be aware that many doctors have little knowledge of fasting or training in nutrition. People who should not do a strict water or juice fast include women who are pregnant or nursing, people who are anorexic or bulimic, anyone who is emaciated or underweight, and those who are on dialysis.

Be aware of medications and their effects while you fast. For example, a vegetable juice fast can lower your blood pressure quickly, so you would need to cut back on medication, for which you should seek your physician's advice. People with diabetes or hypoglycemia can modify a vegetable juice fast and include green smoothies made with avocado for extra protein and fat. This would also be my recommendation for anyone who is elderly or weak.

During your fast, if you become so hungry you could eat the plaster off your wall, you may have parasites or yeast overgrowth. It could be that freeloaders in your body are screaming for food. You may need to do a parasite cleanse or a yeast-control diet to get this infection under control before continuing any other kind of fast.

Please note: Children under the age of 15 should not do a strict water or juice fast.

7) Determine the Length

You can fast from one day to an extended period of time, like Jesus did for 40 days. Most people can easily handle a three-day fast. If you work, start on Friday. Then you'll have the weekend to complete the fast at home.

8) Know the Symptoms

As your body releases toxins, you might get some detox reactions, such as headaches, tiredness, foggy brain or bad breath. (Chew parsley for your breath.) This can be part of your body ridding itself of toxins that could cause disease, which is a good thing. Don't quit your fast when this happens. The symptoms should pass rather quickly.

9) Pray

Fasting and prayer are linked throughout the Bible. Whenever we fast, we are admonished to pray, which facilitates our spiritual growth and renewal.

10) Break Smart

How you break a fast is as important as the fast itself. Break your fast the first day with only vegetable juices, green smoothies, raw fruits and vegetables, veggie soups, dehydrated vegan foods or steamed vegetables. Never break a fast with a heavy meal like a burger and fries or steak and potatoes, as you can harm your body and end up with stomach cramps and digestive issues.

Bonus: Know the Benefits

The ancient discipline of fasting offers health benefits no other therapy can provide. On the physical side, it rapidly rids the body of waste and toxins—like changing old water in an aquarium. It can eliminate edema and lower blood pressure. A study published by the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine in 2002 found that 90 percent of 174 patients with high blood pressure who incorporated fasting achieved normal blood pressure. Each of the participants who had been on antihypertensive medications were able to get off their drugs.

Fasting also helps rebalance your body's pH level. The typical American diet is mostly acid forming. A slightly acidic body contributes to weight gain, cancer and a host of other diseases. Fasting facilitates weight loss—water weight first, then fat. This ancient practice appears to reset the metabolism, much like a computer reboot.

A fast also gives your digestive tract a rest. This helps your digestive system heal, which can lead to significant health improvements. Allergy symptoms often improve with fasting. Autoimmune disorders may heal. Fasting improves insulin sensitivity by lowering blood sugar, which helps diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

In addition, fasting is part of our spiritual heritage. It was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament. The Orthodox Church still has four main fast periods during the calendar year.

However, fasting is one of the most neglected spiritual disciplines of the 21st century. It is rarely discussed in most nonliturgical churches or on Christian TV. Yet Scripture admonishes us to fast and pray.

According to Scripture, when God's people fast with the right motive, seeking Him with a broken, repentant and contrite spirit, God hears from heaven (2 Chron. 7:14). He promised He will heal our lives, our churches, our communities and our nation.

Our land is in desperate need of healing. Repentance, fasting and prayer are the only hope for our nation. Fasting and prayer can bring revival and a change of direction in our country. It can also rekindle our love for Christ. Fasting is a powerful spiritual tool to make a difference in our lives.

Source:  https://www.charismamag.com/life/health/19376-10-tips-for-healthy-fasting

Image Credit:   (© istockphoto/ AlexPro9500; Pugovica88)

Cherie Calbom, M.S., C.N., is the author of more than 20 books, including The Juice Lady's Big Book of Juices and Green Smoothies and her most recent, Remedies for Stress and Adrenal Fatigue, releasing this month. She holds a Master of Science degree in whole foods nutrition from Bastyr University. Cherie and her husband, John, offer juice health retreats throughout the year, along with health and healing conferences. For more information, visit juiceladycherie.com

https://www.charismamag.com/life/health/19376-10-tips-for-healthy-fasting

Happy New Year!

                                                                                       - Iro's Healthy Living

IrosHealthyLiving@gmail.com

It has been a splendid year. Thanks for following!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving, USA!

Finding A Common Ground:

"We can't all be concerned with the same things. Let's respect each other. For example, some are hungry, but they have good health. Some are sick, and don't even feel like eating. Life is like that. Respect the fact that people have things they are dealing with and it's important to them. You may think someone has it better than you, and you get angry because they refused to help you. That's a selfish way of thinking. Let us love and pray for one another and do the best we can." - Iro

Hygiene, Food Handling, & Packaging:

"When everyone in the food business gets these three things right, then you know change has really come to Nigeria. Visited a bakery more than once and I had to seriously stop buying their bread. If you touch your nose or scratch your hair and don't have a strong urge to go wash your hands with soap before handling a customer's food, then you know you shouldn't be in that line of business. I volunteered at a hospital not quite long ago and the cases of food related issues was alarming. Please let's change."  - Iro

For Your Taste Buds or Your Health:

"Saw a food recipe on my news feed that someone shared and I was screaming inside my mind because it wasn't a recipe of a nutritious meal, but a recipe for a heart attack and stroke. I tell you this, you have to choose nutrition over your taste buds. Why would someone put butter and mayo plus eggs and other fatty stuff in Tuna Sandwich? Africans, please stick to foods you know and if you don't know, learn how to make it properly. Also, must you over fry your stew? It's not healthy! I kind of wonder if those tomatoes still have any nutrient left. Anyway, it's your belly and your body. I wonder why I care sometimes. At least don't say I didn't tell you. Am guilty sometimes, but God is helping me too. When you know better, please do better."  - Iro

September 11th or 9/11:

It's not easy to forget that day. I got to class that day thinking we were going to watch some documentary, but to my surprise, my US-History teacher told us that this is actually 'LIVE' News and the twin towers were burning. I was shocked because I was privileged to visit the world trade center a Summer before that. I have never been in a building so tall apart from the statue of liberty. Today, we remember that day so strongly. May God be with all the families of all those affected by that great tragedy and heal every heart.
Iro

Now that Facebook is experiencing some technical issues, I think it's wise for people to learn a few things from this:

1.)  It's best to always have old-fashioned methods as a back-up plan. I mean, write down people's addresses incase you have to mail a letter.
Also, know their email addresses too. Make albums with your photos and etc
2.)  WhatsApp and instagram are owned by Facebook, so be prepared just incase
3.)  Hopefully you have been writing down your bank balances and etc.
4.)  Have a life outside social media because, am sure some people will have some health issues because of Facebook. So, don't be one of them.
5.)  Read your bible and pray. Don't only get your inspirations from forwarded "feel-good" messages.

You are blessed.

Iro
(Martha's Place)

Staying Cool During Summer

Staying Cool During Summer
By Deborah Davis

Happy Independence Day!

Life Saving Stretches for Desk Job workers

Life Saving Stretches for Desk Job workers.
By Ankur Tandon

Mother's Day!

Why do I do the things I do?
It gives me Joy! And hopefully you feel Joy too 🌹🌼🌸🌳🌿🌽🌲🌴🍓🍒🍉🍉🍑

Happy Mother's Day!  Please stay healthy ☺
With Love,

From Iro

Mental Health Awareness Month

Image via Article:  Department of Health | Myths, misunderstandings and facts about mental illness

By Arnold Heil

Skincare Tips

Skincare Tips

Image Credit:  College of Nursing in Bangalore

Mediterranean-style: the healthy fats and healthy carbs diet

Healthbeat

Mediterranean-style: the healthy fats and healthy carbs diet

healthy fats Just as there are "good carbs" and "bad carbs," there are good fats and bad fats. Mediterranean-style diets emphasize healthy fats and healthy carbs.

Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol are the bad guys. Good fats are monounsaturated (found in olive oil, for example) and polyunsaturated (found in such foods as fish, canola oil, and walnuts). The Mediterranean diet advocated by Mollie Katzen and Harvard professor Walter Willett in Eat, Drink, & Weigh Less has a moderate amount of fat, but much of it comes from healthful monounsaturated fats and unsaturated omega-3 fats. It is high in carbohydrates, but most of the carbs come from unrefined, fiber-rich foods. It is also high in fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish, with only modest amounts of meat and cheese.

People living in Mediterranean countries have a lower-than-expected rate of heart disease. But the traditional lifestyle in the region also includes lots of physical activity, regular meal patterns, wine, and good social support. It's hard to know what relative role these different factors play — but there is growing evidence that in and of itself, the Mediterranean diet can reduce cardiovascular risk and the development of diabetes.

For more on weight loss strategies, including best foods to eat and avoid, buy Lose Weight and Keep it Off, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

Source:  - Harvard Health Publications
(Harvard Medical School)
Website: Mediterranean-style: the healthy fats and healthy carbs diet

Happy Easter!

Therapeutic Writing (Part 1):

"I have always believed that if you are ever in a situation where you can't fully explain what's going on in your life or mind, just WRITE. Writing helps your mind think clearly. This doesn't happen overnight, it takes practice. Sometimes the feelings are so strong it gives your loved ones concern when you start because you haven't cultivated the skill yet. The best thing anyone can ever do for you is to give you a pen and a long paper or a digital writing device. Another thing in life is, God won't let you go through something if he knows you won't use it for His Glory. Ask God for wisdom on how you can use the hard times in your life to help others later when you come out of it. Do you also know that prayer is not always verbal? You can also write to God; get a prayer notebook. It helps too."

- Iro

When It Comes To Charity, Cash Isn't Everything(Part 1):

"Over the past few years, I have come to realize that charitable giving is more than giving money. Please don't get me wrong. Everyone needs money, but there are other important things a charitable organization needs too. Such as, time, food, volunteers, supplies like diapers, feminine products, clothing, and so much more. Spending time in downtown Seattle Washington made me to understand more about this. I didn't have much money then, but I found great opportunities to give my time and most times my voice. I didn't know there were so many under privileged people in America, until I went to Seattle. That was where I had a strong urge to be a part of something more than myself. The amazing thing is, the more you get involved in charitable giving, your heart gets softer and your love for God and humanity grows. You also get blessed in so many ways. I once got a free bus ticket from one State to another. God also blessed me with a new phone too when my phone was stolen. Are you called to be a helping hand to reach the unreached? Please answer that call."

God bless you

Iro

Gifted People, Great God

There are gifted people God brings your way, you miss out when you misunderstand the way their mind works. This man I married kind of understands me most time. He just gets amazed about my life stories. Great Place in Federal Way, Washington State... I could always go here to pray, have long walks, breathe in fresh air, think clearly, eat wild blackberries. I could connect with God here even though some people didn't understand what I was doing..... I was so happy when I found this picture today. Thank You Jesus. You've really been so faithful. Words are never enough. Your splendor is beyond comparison. No man compares to you. Your ways are past finding out. Am in Awe of your amazing Grace towards me. I could write of your love forever.

Couples & Friendships

It's always nice when couples try to make friends with other couples maybe so their kids could play together and maybe go on outings together and etc. But it gets scary when a couple begins to notice some red flags like how a spouse treats his partner in terms of or may be how they value a woman's opinion and etc. Environment and exposure gives/teaches you a certain way to tolerate & relate with people, but never tolerate evil communication. It pollutes faster than the speed of light. My remedy, minimize interactions and begin to pray for that couple. Am very sensitive about certain issues and I don't think I have to complicate my life by tolerating certain people. You have a choice too. #Couples #friendships

- Iro

His #Favor, His #Wisdom, His Great #Grace towards Me:

I get so excited when I think about the great plans God has for us. I feel like a little kid waiting to unwrap a Christmas or a Birthday gift from God everyday. The favor of God takes me places and makes me dine with people I never thought I would dine with. Years ago, I once got a job offer because the people felt I was a Japanese immigrant. Somehow, the Lord made them to think my name was Japanese. When I went for interview, we all laughed together and I was hired because I told them they could just view me as a Black Japanese, no difference. The manager just laughed so hard, I got hired. That's God for you. He can do the same for you. Just rest in him.
- Iro