COUNSELING

I have been seeing a lot of people recently share their experiences with mental and emotional health issues. Notably for me this year were a local TV sports director from here in the Lehigh Valley, Dan Moscaritolo, and the drummer in my favorite rock band Breaking Benjamin, Shaun Foist. Well, I am a person who battles anxiety, depression at times, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. As a Type 1 diabetic, I see an endocrinologist four times annually. A few years ago, talking to one of my endos, I expressed my feelings to her that, despite the fact that my diabetes is very well-controlled, sometimes "diabetes sucks". She asked me if I wanted to talk to someone about it. I said sure, why not? Well, that was the beginning of my once-monthly counseling sessions. Sure, it started out being primarily about how diabetes affects EVERYTHING in my life and EVERYTHING in my life affects my diabetes. But it became so much more than that. I now talk to my counselor about everything and anything. It is so helpful. I am not at all embarrassed to tell people I see a counselor. In fact, I will tell anyone about it. I would encourage anyone who has any kind of emotional or mental health issues to TALK TO SOMEONE. If you have the resources, find a professional to talk to. If that is not possible, find a trusted family member or friend who will listen. I promise you, it will help you so much and change your life. 

God bless America

 My friend Jakob suggested I post this here in my blog. It is taken from my Facebook page from Sunday, December 13th, 2020, the day after the Army-Navy football game . . .

I saw an older gentleman outside the post office today with an Army sweatshirt and camouflage mask on. I rolled down my window and congratulated him on the football win yesterday. I said it wasn't Navy's year, but at the end of the day, EVERYONE wins -- the USA wins. He agreed. He told me he served 28 years. I thanked him for his service, which he appreciated. I told him my father was retired Navy and Philadelphia Police. He said to thank my dad for his service -- twice. He also told me his father and brother were both Navy men. WE ARE ALL FAMILY. GOD BLESS AMERICA. 🇺🇲❤🤍💙😊

Breaking Benjamin

OK, I feel really silly posting this. It's like I'm a 12-year-old middle school girl. But it IS my blog, right? No judgement allowed? So I will do it. There is a great hard rock band called Breaking Benjamin. I absolutely love their music. Probably more importantly, they are probably some of the nicest people on the planet. They love each other. They adore their wives and families. They cherish their fans. I am so into this band right now, they seriously make my days brighter. The following is something I posted in a Breaking Benjamin fan Facebook group I am in. Thank you in advance for reading. 

** LONG POST ALERT -- I apologize in advance but I felt the need to share this with this wonderful group. ** I am usually good at putting words together – Hell, I was a journalism major, after all, and I still think I'm a good writer.  But I feel like I might start rambling here, so I'm sorry.  I am new to this group. I love hard rock music.  It’s what I listen to in my car.  It’s what I listen to at the gym while most people around me are probably listening to hip hop.  Recently I started listening to a lot more Breaking Benjamin.  I always loved their music, but something sparked a bigger interest in learning more about this band. First of all, I keep discovering songs I have never heard before and I really like them and keep listening to them because I'm hooked. I know this band has a lot of interesting history, including, of course, the lineup change.  I like the original band’s music as much as the music the newer band has made. I will be honest, sometimes I wonder if it's "okay" to like the older music so much since the only original member is Benjamin.  But then I see the current band members who love to play the older stuff as much as the new music and I figure it's OK because they are so passionate about what they do.  I'm not sure if that makes any sense, but whatever.  I’ve been watching a lot of interviews the band has done in recent years, both together and individually.  Has anyone seen the “50ish Questions" interviews done with Aaron, Keith, Shaun, and Jasen?  Really cool stuff.  Each one of these men is so interesting in his own way.  I also found a “NEPA Scene” podcast interview from 2019 with Aaron.  I loved hearing his story about how he hooked up with Ben.  I love hearing these men talk about each other. They truly love each other and are brothers.  Their friendships are beautiful.  I also love hearing them talk about their families – especially Aaron and Jasen.  Listening to Aaron talk about his wife seriously makes me cry -- she sounds like an amazing woman.  And then, of course, they really love their fans.  I know all bands do, but these men are passionate about the people that support them.  Are these men for real? Can they really be this nice? They sure can.  These men are truly inspiring.  I work in healthcare where I help people every day.  I have an 83-year-old father with health issues who lives with me and my boyfriend, and Mike and I both try to help him so he is comfortable and cared for.  I am a Type 1 diabetic diagnosed when I was almost 36 years old and I do my best eery day to take care of myself so I can try to live a "normal" life.  Lately I've been doing better with my own health.  I’ve been going to the gym a lot (listening to lots of Breaking Benjamin, of course) and trying to eat better and I’ve lost about 10 pounds recently.  I know this might sound cheesy, but this band inspires me to BE BETTER AND DO BETTER in my own life.  It’s not just the music, it’s their unbelievable spirit and love for life and each other that are contagious.  Does this make any sense?  2020 has been crazy.  I am grateful to Breaking Benjamin for putting some sunshine in my daily life.  Sadly -- please, don't judge -- I have never seen them play live.  Can you believe this – I work in Allentown, PA, in a medical office in the building attached to the PPL Center arena where they played with Korn January 23rd of this year.  I DID NOT GO TO THE SHOW! WHY? What a dummy I was.  I have no doubt I’ll get to see them play in person – after all, the band’s roots are of course here in PA and they love playing here. They will be back, and I will be there.  We just need a damn COVID vaccine so there can be live music again!  Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this. And again, thank you for letting me be a part of this group.  Love to all! 💖