Exhale And Enjoy Life

Simple Advice To Survive The Dark Night Of The Soul

The dark night of the soul is an expression used to describe a period of deep, profound changes that some people will go through in their spiritual journey.

It’s called dark because it usually involves some intense, painful, difficult times. It can actually be traumatic for some people.

I believe it usually happens when you’re not aligned with your life’s purpose. When you’re destined for greater things and you’re not on the right track.

It’s part of one’s spiritual awakening.

Is there a purpose to it?

The dark night of the soul it’s usually life shaking. It shakes you to the deepest level of your soul. You feel hopeless and broken.

Its purpose is to awaken you.

It’s a process of transformation… evolving into a better version of you!

A metamorphosis of you. A time of profound changes to various aspects of your life. A shift in perspective.

Some will call it a rebirth.

22 Hair Questions And My Personal Answers To Them

I started growing my hair in general school… I think maybe 6^th grade. So a lot of time has passed since then and during this time I think I got every possible question about long hair.

And because people still ask me these questions here are 22 hair questions and my personal answers to them.

So get yourself comfortable, grab a soda, beer, popcorn, chips or whatever you like because this is going to be a long post.

Hopefully one you’ll like! So here we go…

When Is It Ok To Judge And Criticize Others?

Look… judging and criticizing whether you like it or not is part of everyday life. It’s part of the world we live in and it’s not going to disappear any time soon.

It’s part of our human nature to judge and criticize and if you tell me you’ve never criticized or judged someone I don’t believe you.

How many times have you heard someone saying “Don’t you judge and criticize me!” ?

Or maybe you said it to someone.

But what exactly is judging and criticizing?

Is there a difference between them? And more importantly …is it ok to judge and criticize?

Well let’s start with criticism…

Criticism can be positive ( also known as constructive criticism ) or negative.

In constructive criticism you express your opinion ( even if it’s a negative one ) without putting the other person down. You don’t do it with the intention of hurting the other person.

You express criticism in a way that is understandable and beneficial, helpful. You point out the faults but in a way that will help the other improve.

* If the other person has the capacity to receive constructive criticism is another story but for now let’s just pretend it has.

With negative criticism you express, give an opinion, objection, approval or disapproval in a way that will hurt the other person or cause some sort of damage.

It’s focused on the bad side of things, constantly finding fault, constantly putting down, condemning, attacking or insulting someone. Some don’t know what they’re doing but often it’s done with the intention of hurting.

Negative criticism can sometimes be destructive for the other person.

Judging can also be positive or negative

In short…

Judging is forming an opinion good or bad about someone or something based on something or nothing and it’s not always expressed verbally.

Sounds weird?

Let me explain…you can judge a person, a situation, a behavior based on facts, evidence, knowledge, feeling and experience. And you can label that situation, behavior or person being good, bad, beneficial, dangerous, trusty or not, etc. This is a good thing that HELPS you in your everyday life.

And then you have judging as a form of putting others down by making assumptions and expressing opinions based on nothing, on appearances, gossip, lack of knowledge, understanding, with the intention of hurting.

Do you see the difference?

Difference between positive and negative criticism

Why Asking People About Marriage And Kids Hurts

We live in this world where we are supposed to get married and have kids. And for so many people if you don’t do it in a certain amount of time ( or at all) they sadly think there’s something wrong with you.

And yeah…

It’s that time of year where we should be focusing on the holidays right?

This might not exactly be the right post for the winter holidays but…

I was thinking that this is also a time of making wishes, hopes and plans for the next year and more importantly it’s that time of the year where families and people get together and you know what’s coming at these gatherings right?

A bunch of unwanted questions about your private life!

Especially those never-ending questions about marriage and kids.

This happens for both men and women. But…since we women have the biological clock ticking, we get more pressure from everyone.

I started getting questions about kids when I was 18. People saying to me ” When I was your age I already had 2 kids! “

When I was 21 a woman asked me if I had kids. I said no. She then looked at me with a sad face and said “What a pity cause you’re pretty!”

Grow A Rose Garden From Cuttings In Water

If you’re like me and love having a rose garden, growing roses in water from cuttings will help you get it!

One of the things that bring me lots of joy is being in the garden around roses. It’s like instant good vibes! Just imagine being surrounded by that amazing smell!

An easy way to propagate roses in your garden is from rose cuttings in water.

Simple Ways To Take Care Of Long Hair In Winter

Cold, crisp air, freezing temperatures, snow…love them or not, they can easily damage your hair if you’re not careful. The longer your hair is the more protection it needs.

So…here are some easy, simple ways to take care of your hair during winter.

Nutrients

I know most people are looking for a fast, quick results solution but that’s not how it works if health is on your mind. Or…not long term anyway.

If you really care about your hair think about it for a moment…

Just how your body needs its nutrients to function properly and be healthy so does your hair. It is part of your body right?

If your hair doesn’t get what it needs how can you expect to have it healthy? How can it grow and be strong if it doesn’t have what it requires?

So pay attention at what you’re eating. Fruits and veggies are your friends!

A healthy and nutritious meal will not only nourish your body but also your hair!

Essential Things To Know When Dealing With Alzheimer’s Disease

I’ve lost my grandma this year because of Alzheimer’s disease. We never had anyone with Alzheimer’s in the family before so it was a totally new experience for us and also painful.

I grew up at the countryside with my grandparents constantly around and I was very close to them. So I thought I should share a few things I learned during this time that maybe it will help you or anyone that is dealing with this type of Dementia.

Before going further with the reading I want to warn you of a few things:

This might be a long post as I’m trying to write as many things as I can in order to help others going through the same situation or wanting to know about Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

It might not be an easy read. It might affect you emotionally or bring back some sad, painful memories if you have been through this before with someone.

This is just my experience. You have to understand that even though this disease has its defined symptoms and stages, in the same time, for each person it’s different. So this is just me saying things from my perspective/experience.

So having these things said, if you’re ok and want to know more here we go…

Look For Early Signs

Since we never had Alzheimer’s in the family before and grandma being healthy and in good shape, a very active person, we didn’t get the early signs. We thought just like most people that it’s just old age.

Which is OK and normal because most of the time that’s exactly what it is…old age.

When it’s not just old age it’s tricky to get the early signs so here’s what you need to know, understand and pay attention to.

Do Your Research!

Document yourself about Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

It’s important to understand what Alzheimer’s is. Also there’s some confusion between Dementia and Alzheimer’s and they are used interchangeably.

To put it more simply Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. It’s a degenerative brain disease.

Dementia is the name given to describe symptoms or diseases which damage the brain. There are different types of dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia.

It is essential for you to know what you can expect and what you’re dealing with. There is so much information on the internet and so many people sharing their experiences that can help you and prepare you.

Knowing what you’re dealing with will give you a better way to manage the situation.

It helped me in the beginning because I knew what to expect, helped me understand, prepare and recognize what was happening.

You also have to know that although there is no actual treatment available for now …you can SOMETIMES slow down the symptoms or the progression and keep it under control with the right treatment.

Also your attitude, the way you take care of them and a healthy diet/lifestyle is very important in making things a little better for them.

Easy And Natural Tips To Improve Your Health

While this craziness with COVID has been affecting all of us, the way each of us is experiencing it is different.

We are all different and have different life circumstances.

Some people are still in lockdown with their lovely families, others are all alone with no one to care about them.

Some are stuck with violent people in an unhealthy environment and can be risky for their physical and mental health.

There are people who don’t mind spending so much time alone and they are ok with it, but for those who are not used to being alone and away from their loved ones it can be pretty challenging and depressing.

Some made the best of this period of time by enjoying the break from the busy, stressful, fast life. Others are full of fear and uncertainty about what the future brings.

And let’s not forget those who have lost someone they loved during this time.

Fear, anxiety, unknown, lost jobs, financial problems, loneliness, uncertainty, constant worry, etc… they all had a big impact on everyone’s life.

BUT in all of this, people realized how important health is and they keep searching for ways to improve their health. So why not take advantage of the natural ways you can keep yourself healthy?

As easy as they might seem you would be surprised to find out how many people ignore them!

Here are some healthy tips anyone can do!

Nourish Your Body

How many times do you just grab whatever you can get in a hurry and how many times do you actually have a nutritious, healthy meal?

Think about it!

Health is right there on your plate!

Food can be medicine but it can also be poison to your body. Take care of your health by choosing healthy food and drinks.

If you’re spending more time at home this year due to COVID why not try to cook your own food?

There are so many yummy, healthy and delicious recipes to try. Plus, they are not that complicated. You’ll learn something new and who knows maybe you’ll enjoy cooking so much that you’ll turn it into a passion!

Give it a try. It might become a delicious habit!

Why I Like Origins Checks And Balances Frothy Face Wash

You’re the happiest when you’re feeling healthy and comfortable in your own skin right? We all try everyday to have that healthy glowing, good looking skin… and because some of you asked me on Instagram if I could share a little bit more about the products that I use here’s a review of my favorite product for everyday face wash.

Before starting I just want to mention that this is not a sponsored post. I bought this product myself and I’m just sharing my experience with it in hope that it will also help other people improve their face skin condition.

That being said let’s move on to the review.

My skin is oily, sensitive with the occasional breakouts that most of us get. In the past years it has been quite a challenge for me to find a product that would work with my skin.

I know that most people don’t like oily skin but I actually love it! Yes, sometimes it can get pretty oily but it never bothered me.

Oily skin has got lots of benefits and there’s nothing better than your own natural barrier to protect your skin.

I said it was a challenge to find a good product because most of the products I tried would just mess up my skin.

I wanted something that would clean my skin, to really feel that my skin is clean and fresh BUT without drying it to the point it hurts.

Most products I used would clean the face but it would also strip my skin of its natural oils to the point that, after washing my face instead of feeling clean, hydrated and healthy it would feel tight, get red patches, burning sensation and cracked skin.

Not to mention ending up with more breakouts!

I tried all types of products over the years.

Products I used for oily and combination skin would make my skin so dry that would hurt.

I tried sensitive skin products without getting a difference in my skin and the normal skin, dry skin products didn’t clean my skin, just clogged my pores.

All changed when I bought the Origins Checks and Balances frothy face wash!

Coronavirus And Social Distancing – How Not To Freak Out When Isolated

We’re social beings. And even those who love spending time alone have moments when they search for human interaction.

It’s in our nature.

All over the world people are using social distancing, isolation due to coronavirus for their own protection and others.

As the days and weeks of isolation go by so many people are freaking out. Social distancing can have a huge impact on your mental health.

Anxiety and depression can easily kick in.

If you’re having a hard time coping with social distancing or isolation, here are a few tips for you that will hopefully make things a little better.

Use Technology If You Have Access

While nothing is better than real life interaction and people always talk about keeping the balance between online and offline, now…technology might be for some the only way to see, hear, talk and connect with their loved ones.

So use it!

There are so many apps that allow you to interact with other people. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, TikTok … everyone is online these days.

Create groups, forums, watch movies together, share photos and stories or just simply talk!

Not only that you can see the people you love and talk with them but you can also use technology to learn and develop new hobbies that will keep you busy and stress free.

Learn to paint or take an online class in photography or whatever you like!