What a Difference a Decade Makes

Although my blog is about aromatherapy and relaxation, I chose to post what I was feeling on my blog. It relaxed me to write.





Well, it’s not entirely been a decade, but hey, close enough, right? I remember very vividly the night of November 4, 2000, while watching the election results and seeing those counts in Florida for Al Gore disappear right before my eyes. I was wondering what was going on. I didn’t dare allow myself to believe the next turn of events would lead to the worst eight years, in my eyes, in U.S. history.
The networks decided to pay George W. Bush a visit, where he spent the entire interview griping about Florida, and how he won Florida because his brother assured him that he was going to deliver the state to him. So, the networks all pulled Florida from Gore’s column, and thus beginning the longest election night of my life. It lasted for a few weeks. Well, after declaring that Bush was president, then taking it back, so on and so forth.
We spent countless days in Florida. Back and forth to court. I remember coming home every day from work to turn on cable news to watch these events unfold. It seemed it would never end. Oh, but end it did. The Supreme Court virtually handed the presidency to Bush in their late night decision that was unprecedented. They left no way for the recount to continue, thus, delegitimizing Bush forever. It was the worst display of disenfranchisement that I could remember. I wasn’t old enough to remember the Voting Rights act or what happened to African Americans during the Civil Rights era. For me, this was what got me interested in our electorate process and caring about who was at the helm to lead and protect America.
I definitely felt disenfranchised, and I felt cheated. I didn’t think this new administration that was coming in to power would benefit us. Little did I know at the time, that I would be proven right. I look back at all the things that have transpired over the last nine years, and wonder what might have been if the right man had been given his rightful place in history. I know people will say that Bush kept us safe since 9/11. However, 9/11 should never have happened in the first place. If it had not happened, we wouldn’t be fighting two wars with thousands upon thousands of American Soldiers dead or wounded.
When the election of 2004 approached us, I thought, here is our chance to set things on the right path. Again, I was disheartened. I know that I wept for mankind the day that John Kerry conceded the presidency. I felt in my soul that things were only going to get worse from here on out. I wonder how many of us came to the realization that after 9/11, we basically gave up all our civil liberties and our rights. With the passage of the Patriot Act, we basically put ourselves in a position to be deemed an enemy of the state for speaking out against our government. Although the constitution gave us the right of freedom of speech, we no longer were guaranteed protection by the constitution. I no longer recognized the America of my childhood. When did it all go wrong.
One day it dawned on me that the last eight years were not just a power grab, but a coup de tat on a massive scale, and we were just pawns in this game. A lot of it came to light after Wall Street crashed. With the fall of each bank, mortgage company, brokerage house, company, it all makes sense now. The American economy and the American name has been weakened so badly, that it will take years for us to recover. We are not the great nation we once were. We lost a lot of allies around the world with our “go it alone” attitude. We used to welcome immigrants to our country and people used to say “America the great”, but not anymore. We just look like bullies who aggressively seized control and demanded respect. You have to earn respect.
I, for one, was looking forward to the election of 2008. I wasn’t sure early on who I was going to support. I had lost faith in the electorate process from the previous two elections, and was not sure how I felt about the choices. I will honestly admit that I didn’t know who Barack Obama was up until about a year and half ago. I had heard about his speech at the 2004 democratic convention, and I remember my husband saying, “there’s your first black president.” I didn’t pay much attention. My first choice was settled on Hillary Clinton. I liked Hillary and I figured she would be the next democratic nominee.
Well, when they held the debates before the South Carolina primary, I was appalled at the display by Bill and Hillary Clinton. They decided to play the race card and attack Obama. I don’t think they realized that what they were doing would backfire in the way it did. I began to look at Obama in a whole new light. I watched how he held his composure and didn’t get rattled by the display. I began to do my research on the man, and came to like the fact they he was intelligent. I find his demeanor to be nothing less than genuine. I didn’t realize at the time that he would become so popular so fast. I followed blogs about him. All my favorite internet media sites favored him to win. I was amazed. People weren’t looking at his color. They saw something in this man that could bring change to a country that so badly needed it.
When November 4, 2008 rolled around, I was up early and at the polls at 6 am. The line was already a block and a half long. We got in and out in about an hour. There was some confusion, but not anything major that couldn’t be dealt with. I couldn’t wait to get home to watch the results. When the networks announced he won at 11pm, I fell on my knees and wept. This time I wept for joy. I was overcome with emotions that our national nightmare was finally over. I realized that we were going to bring back honesty and integrity to the highest office in our country. I was happy and elated that someone with intellect was going to do his best to lead us back to the greatness we once were. He was asking us as a people to pitch in and help. He reminded us that it takes a village and not one man. See, I didn’t look at him as the savior. I looked at him as someone who genuinely cared about the plight of his fellow countrymen. He makes me want to be a better person, someone who will help my neighbor when he is hurting. I am so grateful that I have lived to see this new chapter in American History unfold.
I don’t think that all our problems can be solved because of the election of President Obama. I do believe that we can set a new course that puts us on a path to restoring our great name. By opening the dialogue with not just our allies, but our enemies as well to show good faith and honor and belief that America is the greatest country. I am so proud to be called American today.

What is Aromatherapy

What is Aromatherapy

I have found several different definitions of aromatherapy and it's uses. Some from simple " it's using different aromas from plant extract to oils to stimulate the senses" kind of thing. I guess I just wanted to know how it could benefit me in my quest to relieve my stress. The stress exacerbates my illness and therefore causes me to not function as I would like to.

One definition of aromatherapy is ...

Aromatherapy is healing therapy using essential oils, these are plant
hormones/essences and are extracted from many species of herbs and aromatic
plants. The oils have many healing properties and when carefully blended can
have a very positive effect on a persons health and well being. Aromatherapy can
be used in many different ways the most effective being through therapeutic
massage when the oils are absorbed through the skin.
By using therapeutic
massage this can benefit people in many ways, for stress relief, relaxation,
relief of tension, time out from the demands of work and family life; soothing
tired, aching muscles, improving circulation, aiding the removal of toxins and
wastes from the body, increasing immunity, improving skin tone, texture and
appearanceas well as having an effect on many medical conditions.

So I wanted to know what those medical conditions were. One in particular was for chronic pain. I suffer with chronic pain in my joints from a connective tissue disease and this debilitates me to some degree. I do notice that the weather and stress can play a part in this process. Whatever it takes to help aid in relieving these symptoms.

Relaxation to help Relieve Stress

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with a connective tissue disease. It was something that I suspected, but when you receive the news, the reality sets in. One thing I learned about the disease is that certain things can trigger a relapse of the symptoms, the main one being stress. I know a lot of people who are stressed about work, finances, kids, you name it. I found that relaxation is the key to reducing my stress. That's why I created a website that offered different products that helps relieve stress. Aromatherapy is an alternative way to help fight off those triggers. I have looked for all of my favorite things that I use to relax. Some of those are scented candles, bath and body products for long hot baths, scented oils. Scents can have an effect on the senses that seem to make all those stressful situations seem less important for awhile. For me, my favorite are scented candles. I love the scent of blueberry, melon, apples just to name a few. My store offers all these and different and unique candle holders, and incense and oil warmers and burners that can assist in helping those who need to relieve some stress by using aromatherapy. This by no means is a medical opinion. It's what I found helps me.