Mother Teresa....an inspiration

     I have chosen to write this blog about Mother Teresa because she made a huge impact on the lives of so many people with no desire for recognition of her actions.
     Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Macedonia with the name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa, 2012). At the age of twelve, Agnes knew she wanted to be God's servant and at 18 became a nun with a group of missionaries in India. Mother Teresa was first utilized as a teacher in Calcutta and seeing the extreme poverty decided to devote her life to the most desperate souls. She set up schools for the poorest of poor in the slums of Calcutta and was soon joined by other volunteers. In 1950, Mother Teresa started her own order, "The Missionaries of Charity"(Mother Teresa). Over the years this order has grown to provide service and love to the poorest and most hopeless souls. There are now over one million Co-Workers in more than 40 countries following Mother Teresa's example of love and charity. Her most inspiring philosophy was; "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one"(Mother Teresa). Her philosophy is inspirational to me because we can all start with small acts of charity. A large scale project may seem overwhelming, but by providing charitable acts for those near to you we can make a difference. I will leave you with these words from Mother Teresa:

Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

[Reportedly inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta, and attributed to her.]
Reference
Mother Teresa - Biography.( 2012, December). Retrieved from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1979/teresa-bio.html

Tips to Prevent Assault

I chose to blog about this topic mainly because I firmly believe that women should be confident in their abilities to prevent assault. Women are at risk for rape, car jacking, stalking, threats and robbery among many other crimes. A woman who is 21 has a 25% risk of experiencing a violent crime in her life. Unfortunately we are at risk at home as well as in public settings. I have compiled a short list of tips I found most valuable to reduce the risk of assault inside and outside the home.

• Be aware and assertive. Pay attention to what is going on around you as well as other people's actions. Look people in the eye, this give the impression of confidence and strength.
• Don't feel like you have to be polite. Trust your instincts, if you feel something or someone is not right, leave or call someone for help
•  If you think someone is following you, turn around and get a good look at them, memorize the details of the person's appearance.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return
• Bring a friend. Shopping with another person is a good form of self defense
• Carry a police whistle, flashlight, mace or pepper spray
• If attacked call the police immediately
• Check inside and under your car before getting in and keep valuables in the trunk
• Keep your car in working order. Keep the gas tank between half and full and have it serviced regularly
• Keep a cell phone within easy reach
• At home, keep your entry well lighted, have your keys ready before reaching the door
• DON'T GIVE UP! If attacked you don't have to surrender or endure it- FIGHT, SCREAM

Reference

 A Free Guide to Women's Self Defense and Self Protection (n.d.) Retrieved from

defensehttp://www.datehookup.com/content-a-free-guide-to-womens-self-defense-and-self-protection.htm

Women and Heart Disease

     The topic of women and heart disease is increasingly important as I get older. In my research, I have found that although women can experience atypical symptoms they usually experience the same well-known warning signs men experience (Hitti, 2005). Well- known heart disease symptoms include:

• crushing, squeezing or burning in the center of the chest sometimes radiating to the neck, jaw or shoulders
• shortness of breath, dizziness  and sometimes fainting
• nausea, sweating, chills, cold and clammy skin

     Every second counts when treating heart atttack victims so if you experience any of these symptoms call 911 immediately. On average men take about three hours to call for help but often women take longer, up to four hours (Hitti, 2005). Women sometimes suffer different heart attack symptoms according to a study conducted by Jill Quinn and Kathleen King of the University of Rochester's nursing school in New York (Hitti, 2005). In their study which involved 41 women and 59 men they found women to be more likely to experience:

• throat discomfort
• vomiting or indigestion
• sensation of pressing on the chest
• shortness of breath

     Of course not every person has the same risk factors for heart attack. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity are the biggest risk factors for men and women but additional risk factors for women may play a larger role in the developement of heart disease (Mayo, 2012). Additional risk factors women may experience are:

• Metabolic Syndrome (a combination of high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high blood sugar)
• mental stress and depression
• smoking is a greater risk factor for women than men
• low levels of estrogen after menopause (small vessel heart disease)

     There are some things we can all do to prevent heart disease (Mayo, 2012):

• exercise 30-60 minutes a day
• maintain a healthy weight
• quit smoking
• follow a heart healthy diet low in saturated fat, salt and cholesterol

     In my research I found several websites which include a heart disease risk calculator which involes filling out a questionaire on subjects such as diet, family history and other lifestyle indicators. After the information is entered you recieve information on your level of risk for a heart attack and suggestions for the steps to take next. Most importantly if you have any concerns at all or any of the above symptoms talk to your doctor immediately.

References

Hitti, M. (2005). Men vs. Women: Confusion Over Heart Symptoms. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20050218/men-vs-women-confusion-over-heart-symptoms
Mayo Clinic staff. (2012). Heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-healthy-diet/NU00196

The Talk

     As the parents of two young girls, the subject of this blog is very important to me. My oldest daughter is 9 years of age, and I have often contemplated how to handle the "birds and the bees" discussion with her. I know soon her friends will be starting to discuss the subject and I would prefer to give her sound information before she hears various stories from her peers. As a Catholic family, I believe abstaining from sex until marriage to be the right thing to do. However, I am not naive, as I was once a teenager myself. I would like my daughters to be prepared with accurate information so they can make an informed decision about their own best interests for their bodies, minds and souls.
I found a book I found very helpful written specifically for teens thinking about becoming sexually active. The book is Pure Love by Jason Evert, and I used allot of his viewpoints when writing this dialogue. I bought a copy to give my daughter for when she is ready to have some difficult questions answered.

Mom: " I know that your friends must be starting to talk about sex. Are there any questions that you would like to ask?"
Child: " No"
Mom: "I know that it's embarrassing to talk about this with your mom, but no matter what you say I won't laugh or get upset. I got a book for you called Pure Love. This book is discusses some things you need to think about before you have sex with someone. You know that I feel the best thing is to wait for sex until you are married, right?
Child: "Yes, but no one does that any more."
Mom: " I know that many of your friends will have sex in high school and that is their decision but you have to do what is best for you and your body."
Child: "I know."
Mom: " You know that by having sex, you open up a whole new set of feelings as well as possible problems. Of course you can get pregnant or STD from sex but even more important is how it may affect your attitude toward love and intimacy and your relationships. A lot of people think using sex to get or hold on to a boyfriend is the only option. But if the man values you he will want to do what is the best for you."
Child: " What if we both want to do it?"
Mom: "Once sex is involved in the relationship it often forces everything else aside. You start worshipping each other's bodies rather than the person inside. True love is something that is meant to last forever and to be shared between a husband and a wife, and giving each other the gift of sex is the ultimate sign of your love for each other."
Child: "I don't know if I can wait until I get married."
Mom: " It can be hard. What I want you to do is to think about what is important for you. Are you having sex just to keep the guy? Do you really want to have sex? Do you truly love this man? If you have sex what might change in your relationship? What would God want you to do?"
If you still decide to have sex, use protection. Always use a condom and tell me when you decide so we can start you an birth control pills. I want you to wait, but it's important that you protect yourself if you decide to have sex."
Child: " Well don't worry, I don't even have a boyfriend."
Mom: "I just want you to know I am here any time you want to talk about it, I won't judge you or get mad. Sex is a big step and you really need to think about it and talk about it if you think you are ready."
Child: "OK, thanks, I will let you know if I think it's time."
Mom: "I'm always here for you, and read the book it may answer some questions you haven't even thought about yet."

Reference:
Evert, J. (2008). Pure Love (1st ed.). San Diego, CA: Catholic Answers Press.

The Poverty Epidemic

     I will start this blog by telling you that I count my blessings every day to have been born into a free nation which values individual thought, creativity and determination. As wonderful as our country is, I can't help feeling embarrassed of the staggering statistics I discovered about the state of the nation's poverty level.
     According to the US Census Bureau, 46.2 million Americans live in poverty which is an increase of 2.6 million in only 12 months. Among those most affected are the children living in poverty. The mother featured in the documentary Unnatural Causes represents a huge portion of parents, single or married, who are just trying to feed their children, give them clothes on their back and shelter over their head. When she said "somethin's goin' to lose so that something else can be gained," I can't help but feel she is sacrificing her health for her children to be able to eat. I was blessed to be raised in a home with food always on the table and no threat of going hungry. Without adequate nutrition, rest and basic human needs how can these children grow up to help us turn poverty into history?
     Much of the information I researched when preparing for this blog pointed at the welfare reform law passed in 1996. 1996! For sixteen years our government has upheld this law which left many families unprotected when the political downturn began. Now the ball is rolling, how can our nation dig itself out of this pit? I wish I had the answer.

This is me:)

     Hi, my name is Courtney Hughes. This is my third semester at TWU and I have enjoyed my classes so far. I am a 1999 graduate of Collin County Community College in the field of Dental Hygiene. I have been a practicing dental hygienist in Argyle Texas for almost thirteen years. It was always my goal to return to school to earn my Bachelor’s degree and I finally took the plunge last year. I would also like to pursue my Master’s Degree in Health Science in the future.

      I live in Lindsay Texas, a small community near Gainesville, with my family. I have a wonderful husband and two gorgeous girls ages six and nine. We enjoy a lot of outdoor activities together, mainly; swimming, riding bikes and taking walks. I have many benefits with my current career such as flexibility, a great part time schedule and independence. I plan to continue with my current career after I graduate and possibly expand into teaching or community health while still working in private practice.