"Oh the places you will go..." with #JotinaBuck

Having a clear vision of what you want and where you will go from your current situation, whatever that maybe, is important. Which is why I was excited to meet and listen to Jotina Buck this year at the Women Empowering Change conference, here in Houston. Her life has been a roller-coaster, as most of our lives. Despite it all, her positive outlook and happy demeanor, have taken her where she is today. A beacon of light and direction. 

I was quickly inspired to start my 30-day affirmation challenge soon after her amazing session. That affirmation challenge came at the perfect time, I was about to start a new job and needed the vision and the positivity. As the weeks at my new job have continued, I realize that I need daily motivation and a clear vision of what I want to accomplish. Enter, Jotina Buck's periscope. My morning drive to work is very short and usually around 7 AM. During this time I realized that Jotina was posting a daily Periscope broadcast. Her teachings of mind mapping, creative visioning, and growth mindset training are a daily re-assignment of where you are going and reminder of where you want to be.

Creating a daily positive mindset is important to remain focused. Change your mindset and how you speak to yourself, it's Jotina's main message. And, it works! Creating those daily reminders for yourself early in the day, will help gear your path throughout. Just this weekend she Periscoped about a speaking engagement where her speech would be focused on "Oh the places you will go...".  If you don't have kids read it, and if you have children read it to them. It's about creating our own path and realizing that all we need is within ourselves.

Jotina's message is one that will truly change how you think and encourage you to rise above. You can watch her on Periscope and follow her posts daily. Truly inspiring!

Solis Mammography’s :: Rethink P.I.N.K. Campaign :: #OctoberAwareness

                                   ::Momma Disclosure:: This is a compensated post. All information provided by PR/Media rep. 

In the month of October, the color pink has become synonymous with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Everything from consumer products to the NFL is splashed in pink. And for this heightened awareness, the team at Solis Mammography applauds the efforts of so many organizations who work hard to create and maintain this public awareness campaign. And yet, in true ironic form, today’s reality is that too many women  avoid getting their annual mammogram because of the fear and anxiety associated with breast cancer. “Based on extensive research we’ve done with women who do – or do not – get their annual mammogram, we’ve learned that the fear and anxiety associated with the pink ribbon causes too many women to stay away,” says Connie Oliver, VP marketing and client relations for Solis Mammography. “We’ve built our patient services model to try to change that.”

Solis Mammography wants women to reclaim the month of October for national breast health, and dispel the fear and anxiety created around pink ribbons. Solis wants women to know that most women – 7 out of 8 – will not get breast cancer, and that their annual mammogram is a way to focus on empowerment, choice and peace of mind. 

As the nation’s largest independent provider of screening and diagnostics for breast health services, Solis wants women to Rethink P.I.N.K. this October and focus on breast health. In this campaign, the color “pink” is rethought and becomes an acronym, “P.I.N.K.”

    • P=Peace of Mind. Solis Mammography has trademarked the Peace of Mind Mammogram™ to reflect their promise of offering such an exceptional experience that women  won’t avoid getting the mammogram they need. The environment of each center and exceptional quality of patient care offered by specialists in breast imaging leads to peace of mind for the patients they serve.

    • I=Incredible Service. Solis Mammography’s entire team is deeply committed to the women and physicians they serve. From online scheduling and fast results delivered by secure email within 24 to 48 hours, the company is proud to cite that 98 percent of their patients would give them a positive recommendation to family or friends.

    • N=Not what you Expect. While many women associate mammograms with pain, Solis’ breast dedicated technologists are highly trained in breast compression and placement. This results in 89 percent of their patients reporting little to no discomfort during their exam.

    • K=Knowledge is Power. Perhaps most central to the Rethink P.I.N.K. campaign is the common statistic most women cite – that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Solis encourages women to remember that this also means 7 in 8 women will NOT get breast cancer. But if you are the 1 in 8, you want to find any anomaly as EARLY as possible, so that your treatment is as EASY as possible.

            The Entire Month of October including Oct. 16 which is National Mammography Day .

***Note – Many Solis centers are offering extended weekday and Saturday hours during the month of October.  

Where: There are 4 centers across Houston. 

Visit our website to find the most convenient center: http://www.solismammo.com//find-a-center/Texas/HOU

One Solis Mammography client says, “I’m concerned about breast health - for myself, my husband, and my kids. I go to Solis every year because they make it easy for me. I’m in and out quickly, I get my results within a day by email, and I get the peace of mind that comes from knowing I’m all clear for another year.”

About Solis Mammography:

Solis Mammography is a specialized healthcare provider focused exclusively on providing women an exceptional mammography experience. Headquartered in Addison, Texas, Solis currently operates 31 centers across four states – Texas, Arizona, Ohio, and North Carolina. The company operates both wholly owned centers and multiple successful joint ventures with hospital partners. Solis provides a complete range of highly specialized breast health services including screening and diagnostic mammography (2D and 3D), computer-aided detection, breast ultrasound, stereotactic biopsy and ultrasound-guided biopsy.

For more information, visit www.SolisMammo.com, like them on Facebook, follow them on Pinterest, or subscribe to their YouTube channel.

• The staff at Solis is dedicated to providing you with a warm, caring experience.

• The environment at Solis is comfortable and soothing.

• Solis understands that mammography is an intimate test; they are trained to be gentle AND get the best picture of your breast.

• Solis cares about your time! The mammogram takes 5-10 minutes; your entire visit usually takes between 30-45 minutes.

• Results are delivered to you by secure email in 24-48 hours.

• “Solis is focused on understanding your concerns, anxieties and needs. You’ll never be treated like a number at Solis Mammography!”

• Convenient - Solis has multiple locations, so finding a center and scheduling your appointment is easy. Solis provides: Easy-to-make appointments via phone or computer, walk-in appointments are also available. Use the online appointment calendar to quickly book your appointment - choose the time and the day that work best for you. Click here to schedule.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Other organizations cite every other year as the optimal time to get checked. Solis Mammography encourages women to talk to their doctor, explain their unique health history, and make the choice that’s right for them. When they are ready, however, Solis is there to offer an exceptional experience – eliminating stress and anxiety in every way possible.

Panic Attacks are Uncool!

Photo Credit: Google Search

Panic attacks are uncool.

Back in 2012, I had the most uncool episode. I had to quit my job. I was faced with a horrible feeling of being beside myself. I was laying in the ladies room at my work place with a good friend/co-worker trying to calm me down. Paramedics filled the bathroom and asked of past history. As I write this I tingle and get clamy. It's not cool ya'll! It's the most horrifying feeling ever. To be in a room but nothing makes sense. Your breathing shortens. Your mind clouds and the moment seems endless. I wasn't dying so I went from work to an ambulance to sitting in a downtown ER for hours. Before being sent home with the diagnosis of "crazy person". Not literally but you know what I mean. It was not the most pleasurable experience. And, it was bit embarrassing.

To this day I see people from my old job and they tell me how that was their last memory of me. Me being wheeled out on a stretcher. 

It's not something that I had warning signs for or that slowly came up with different symptoms. I was a Momma of Dos {2}, working full-time with a Husband who was a student and away for almost 2 months in Utah on an Internship assignment. One day I was in "total control"; running a home and getting occasional help with the kids, living alone for 2 months, working as a full-time Assistant Supervisor helping run an office of about 50 employees and "making it all work".  And, the next day I was sitting in my office in a meeting with my supervisor and a group of other employees when I couldn't breath and had lost it.

It's been over 2 years since that happened. I "took it easy" for a while as recommend by my doctor, but how long can you really "take it easy"? Life is hectic. It's hard to always be in relax mode. Despite doctor's recommendations, I never took medication for my "condition". Instead I got a new job, less stressful, and started a new type of lifestyle. Still, life is life. 

These days, the moments of panic come and go. I have learned to control them and manage my day to day with them. I have learned that if  a place is too crowed or stuffy and small, I get a little more nervous and anxious. But, overall I try to make my "overwhelming" situation into one that I can control.

Here are 3 simple ways that I control my panic attacks;

1) ::Breathing Exercises:: Some times I know it's all in my mind, I take deep breaths slowly get up and walk away from the room or what I am thinking and try to relax my mind. It's a rush of nervousness that fills my brain and it quickly travels to all other areas of my being. So, I feel it coming on and I sit back and tell myself it's going to be OK. Some days that works, others I have to get up and walk around or find a quiet place to just relax for a few minutes.

2) ::Asking for Help:: I used to be scared to ask others for help. I hate being a burden. I don't like bothering others, everyone is busy. But, I found that for the most part if I simply ask, people are more than willing to help me. I don't do it often but when I do I make sure that it's for something important. These days, I am always scared people will say no, and they do but I just keep asking around and eventually someone will be available and can help me!  It's also not easy if you don't have too many friends or family that live close by. I have also learned to voice my need for help to my Husband, who then will give me a hand or take on extra time with the kids.

3) ::Take Time Off:: I have learned to just have days where nothing is going on. To relax, catch up on sleep and enjoy the nothingness. It's hard to do as a Momma and some days are better than others. But, even if it's a few extra hours to sleep in or just lay on the couch and relax, I do it. I try to because life becomes busy, very quickly. That's exhausting and draining. And, it affects my level of anxiety. Taking advantage of down time is key in getting your mind clear.

All of these changes help me, the biggest help is seeking medical assistance and/or counseling. I would never have thought of all this on my own, it's something I have learned from different health care professionals.

It has been easier to  manage my everyday. Life can be so stressful but there is always a way.  Never give up on yourself. It might not be easy but it will be worth it.