Every Woman is a Spiritual Mother

 

On Mother's Day, I wished all of my female patients "Happy Mother's Day!"

 

One young Native American responded, "I'm not a mother, but I've raised several children."

 

"Then you're a mother," I told her. She smiled happily.

 

One of the counselors spoke up. "I don't have any kids."

 

"You counsel our adolescents, don't you? Then you're a mother." She thought about this for a minute then nodded her head and smiled.

 

Biological motherhood is the most precious gift a woman can receive. To create new life, to feel that life growing in the womb, to nurture and love a newborn child, is the most wonderful experience in the world. But our love doesn't end there.

 

Most women, by nature, are empathetic, compassionate, and nurturing. We comfort the sick and dying, tend to the needs of our aging parents, open our homes to neighborhood children, babysit for a friend in need, care for our husbands and children, work tirelessly day and night, if necessary, and strive always to provide a safe, healthy environment. We let a co-worker cry on our shoulder, give advice over cups of coffee and tea, post funny and inspirational quotes on Facebook, and fight for good causes. We defend the helpless and hapless, create harmony and balance, and struggle to make ends meet. We love beauty and calm, tranquility and peace. We are tough when we need to be tough. We provide gentleness in a harsh world.

 

There are plenty of opportunities to "mother" children broken by abuse, neglect, and indifference: a neighbor child living down the street; a homeless child finding refuge in a local shelter; a juvenile delinquent sitting in a cell. 

 

There are plenty of opportunities to "mother" adults broken by alcohol, drugs, and hopelessness. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter or women's domestic abuse home. Go back to school and become a nurse, social worker, or counselor.

 

And don't forget our furry friends! Animals need love and protection, too. And there are so many organizations now that need donations of money and time.

 

Every woman is a spiritual mother. Let me honor all women and their capacity to give love and comfort in a difficult world by saying,

 

  THANK YOU!

 

Dawn Pisturino, RN

 

Copyright 2015 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.





 



Progressive Deep Relaxation

 

 

When we are under stress, it is natural to react by holding tension in the voluntary and involuntary muscles of our body. If we do this long enough, it can lead to stomach pain, asthma attack, tension headaches, migraines, diarrhea, constipation, back pain, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and high blood pressure.

 

By practicing relaxation techniques, we can learn to relax the muscles and counteract the effects of stress on our body.

 

Here's a simple relaxation exercise you can do at home.

 

Lie quietly on your back with your legs spread hip-width apart and your arms at your sides with the palms turned upward. Lie quietly for a few minutes, focusing on your breathing, and allow your body to gradually sink into the floor.

 

Now, stretch out your right leg and raise it about one foot from the floor. Curling the toes under, tightly contract the leg muscles. Hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat on the left leg. Gently move your feet in a circular motion and relax.

 

Focus your attention on the right knee and thigh. Contract the muscles, hold for a few seconds, and release. Repeat on the left knee and thigh.

 

Squeeze the muscles in the buttocks as tightly as you can and release. Relax. Breathe.

 

Inhale deeply through your nose, expanding the abdomen, and bring the air down to the bottom of your lungs. Open your mouth and exhale, forcing the air out of your lungs. Relax.

 

Stretch out your right arm and squeeze your hand into a tight fist. Hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat on the left arm.

 

With your arms at your sides, curl the shoulders up toward your chin. Hold for a few seconds and release. Relax. Then gently roll your head around and return to center. Relax.

 

Stretch out your face, raise the eyebrows, open your mouth, and stick out your tongue. Hold for a few seconds and release. Relax. Then scrunch up your face as tightly as you can. Release, and relax.

 

Lie quietly and mentally scan your body from head to toe. If you feel any tension, repeat the exercise. Then wiggle your fingers and toes, and stretch out your arms and legs. Roll over onto your right side and sit up. Take a few deep breaths. Relax.

 

Dawn Pisturino, RN

March 14, 2007

Published in The Kingman Daily Miner, April 17, 2007

Copyright 2007-2015 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved. 



American Holistic Nurses Association

The American Holistic Nurses Association is a nationally-recognized organization dedicated to helping Nurses become holistic healers, in and out of the healthcare setting. Holistic nurses treat the whole person, help to ease suffering, and facilitate healing.

Holistic nursing has been recognized by the American Nurses Association as a legitimate specialty. Nurses can become board certified through the American Holistic Nurses Association Credentialing Corporation.

Nurses involved in holistic healing may become skilled in many areas of complementary alternative medicine: meditation, yoga, reflexology, energy healing, guided imagery, healing touch, herbal medicines, health and wellness education, life coaching, stress management, research, writing, hypnosis, etc. The possibilities are endless!

For more information, visit the AHNA website: http://www.ahna.org.

Dawn Pisturino, BSNH, RN
Copyright 2015 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

How Negative and Positive Emotions Affect Your Health

Psychoneuroimmunology (try saying that three times!) is a relatively recent branch of medical research that explores the relationship between moods, thoughts, emotions, and the immune system.

Specialists in this field have established strong links between our emotions and the state of our health.

The brain and the immune system send messages to each other through nerve connections and chemical messengers. The messages sent depend a great deal on our emotional and psychological condition.

Negative emotions such as grief, loneliness, depression, and chronic stress can actually weaken the immune system by suppressing the production of immune cells in the body and making us more vulnerable to illness.

Several studies have shown that people who are chronically depressed or have a pessimistic outlook on life have a much higher risk of developing heart attack, diabetes, and stroke.

On the flip side, positive emotions such as love, friendship, joy, and serenity boost the immune system by stimulating the production of immune cells.

Age, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition all contribute to the development of disease. But people who generally have positive attitudes, supportive relationships, and a good sense of humor seem to get ill less often -- and fare better when they do become ill.

This has led to new approaches in the treatment of cancer patients. A study done at Stanford University found that women with metastatic breast cancer lived an average of eighteen months longer when involved in a support group that engaged in mind-body therapy such as self-hypnosis.

Prayer, meditation, visualization, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques are all being used by cancer patients to create a more positive environment in which to battle this devastating disease.

Dawn Pisturino
March 23, 2007

Copyright 2007-2015 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

The Wisdom of Emily Dickinson

 

 

 

Painting by Elizabeth Barrett

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/elizabethbarrett.html

 

 

 

THE BRAIN -- IS WIDER THAN THE SKY

 

The Brain -- is wider than the Sky --

For -- put them side by side --

The one the other will contain

With ease -- and You -- beside --

 

The Brain is deeper than the sea --

For -- hold them -- Blue to Blue --

The one the other will absorb --

As Sponges -- Buckets -- do --

 

The Brain is just the weight of God --

For -- Heft them -- Pound for Pound --

And they will differ -- if they do --

As Syllable from Sound --

 

I'M NOBODY -- WHO ARE YOU?

 

I'm Nobody! Who are you?

Are you -- Nobody -- too?

Then there's a pair of us!

Don't tell! they'd banish us -- you know!

 

How dreary -- to be -- Somebody!

How public -- like a Frog --

To tell your name -- the livelong June --

To an admiring Bog!

 

A WORD IS DEAD

 

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live

That day.

 

IN THIS SHORT LIFE

 

In this short Life

That only lasts an hour

How much -- how little -- is

Within our power.

 

I TOOK ONE DRAUGHT OF LIFE

 

I took one Draught of Life --

I'll tell you what I paid --

Precisely an existence --

The market price, they said.

 

They weighed me, Dust by Dust --

They balanced Film with Film,

They handed me my Being's worth --

A single Dram of Heaven!

 

Emily Dickinson

BIO: Born December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, Emily Dickinson was regarded by the people around her as an introverted, reclusive eccentric who wore white clothing and declined to interact with the outside world. After her death on May 15, 1886, scholars, as well as the general public, became more aware of her short, simple, yet emphatic poems, so that today she is viewed as one of America's most important poets.

 

 



What Are You Grateful For?

 

by Dawn Pisturino

 

Like so many people, I get caught up in the stresses and strains of everyday life, wish I could scrap it all, and start all over again. I want a different job, a new husband, more money, increased luxury, a brand new car, a bigger house, a slimmer waist, a younger face. I want to travel to exotic locations,

meet exciting people, try enticing new foods, and lounge on the beach with nary a care in the world.

Maybe, if I hit the lottery or write a bestselling book, this could happen. But until then, how do I keep my perspective and enjoy life?

GRATITUDE

 

The Thanksgiving holiday teaches us to sit back, take a realistic look at our lives, and count our blessings.

 

Do I really want to turn in my well-worn husband for a new model? We're used to each other. We know each other's weaknesses and strengths. We've been to hell and back together and count each other as best friends.

 

Last year, we took some investment savings and paid off our mortgage. As long as we pay the taxes, nobody can take away our house. Do I really want another mortgage? NO! I don't want the stress or the hassle. Being mortgage-free gives me freedom that I didn't have before.

 

Although my job can be very stressful, I make enough money working part-time that I can keep a flexible schedule. My husband and I have learned to live on less. Do I really want to commit myself to a 40 hour a week job? No way! I value my free time. And if I can't afford to vacation on the French Riviera, so what? I'm perfectly happy and content at home with my husband, three cats, and two dogs.

 

I have loving relatives and supportive friends, with the possibility of meeting new people wherever I go. I have a beautiful daughter who's talented, intelligent, and independent. She's been the light of my life. I don't need anything more.  

 

And you know what?  That's okay. I'm grateful for the things I have. And if Fate decides to send me more, well, I'll deal with it whenever it happens.





What are you grateful for?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

Copyright 2014 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.



 

Red Ribbon Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RED RIBBON WEEK IS OCTOBER 23-31, 2014

During Red Ribbon Week, schools and organizations all around the country will be celebrating a drug-free lifestyle.

 

Parents, join in by educating your children about the dangers of drug abuse. Need information? Go to http://redribbon.org

 

Red Ribbon Week was started in 1985 by the National Family Partnership (formerly, the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth) to honor DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, who was tortured and murdered in Mexico in the line of duty.

 

He believed that "one person can make a difference," and sacrificed his life in trying to bring an end to the illegal drug trade.

 

Through its many programs, NFP brings Drug Awareness to the local community about the dangers of drug abuse; reaches out to policy makers on the local, state, and national level about the dangers of the drug trade; and provides free drug prevention literature to those in need of information.

 

Don't Be Left Behind! Join in Now!

 

Dawn Pisturino, RN

Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved.