My mission is to provide the world with inspirational, educational, and real life stories. Almost everything created is done so in an editorial way. It's important to me that readers can find articles to read while feeling like they're part of the story.
Getting back to the basics with something as simple as playing a game with your loved ones could help heal a lot of our sadness. It could bring us closer to each other in a world that's trying to divide us. I look forward to hearing what each of you decide on for family game night. Let me know in the comments!
One of my favorite childhood memories was sitting around the kitchen table for family game night. Sometimes it was good old fashioned Rummy, maybe even Monopoly (that was the worst), I was really partial to CandyLand and Yahtzee. Regardless of what game was on that list, it created an escape from the real world - if only for a couple hours.
Households should really get back into that type of bonding experience. Over the past few years, we’ve only had family game night a handful of times. That’s about to change and I’m here to tell you exactly why… and what pulled me back into it. Through the endless ideas that constantly pop up while scrolling Facebook, something intriguing caught my eye. Pretty sure all of you know exactly what I’m talking about. So, curiosity got the best of me and I started looking into these “game” sites… well, then more similar things started popping up and I was reading about each of them too. It was like research on which would be the most fun. Let me break it down for you - I’ll try to keep it short and sweet…
The first thing I came across was something called a ‘Murder Mystery Box’ and it jumped right off the screen and into my subconscious. Apparently, there’s multiple different companies that make the same type of thing… some can be bought outright and others are shipped via monthly subscriptions. The one I decided on is called Murder Mystery in a Box and it’s out of this world. A new ‘case file’ is shipped the last week of every month… and every ‘case’ revolves around the same fictional town. It’s like getting to know an entire community that doesn’t exist… while solving crimes that never happened.
Another thing I came across was a surprise date night book… that looks like so much fun. Realistically, it’s not really our kinda thing. If we were younger and I wasn’t in poor health, that probably would have been purchased too. There’s just going to be a lot of things in there my body would never allow me to handle. So, we went with the ‘brain game’ to start out. If any of you are adventurous though - I highly recommend these date night subscriptions. Friends of mine purchased them and made so many new memories. It’s all about personal preference.
Not every family game night needs to cost money… there’s so many other things to do together. I still have my handy deck of cards (I use them to win against my hubby). We have so many board games… we even have a tabletop cornhole game! One of the next things we’re doing is more messy though. I bought a canvas and am putting it on my art easel, filling up the paint trays… then setting a timer. We’ll each be alternating every 3 minutes painting whatever we want onto it. Not sure how it’ll turn out and it doesn’t even matter… the hubby and I will have a blast making it. Guessing I should wear old clothes though - he’ll probably end up covering me in paint… good thing it washes right off. I’ll keep you guys posted about that one, for sure.
It’s so important to keep making memories within your family unit… one day those memories will be all you have left. In a world full of sadness and violence, we need to have something wholesome and fun to hold onto. Family game night is a way to escape the reality of what surrounds us on the streets and focus solely on those inside our walls. Go grab yourself a pizza… put down your phones… turn off the TV… and find your next adventure. You’ll thank yourself in the long run… I guarantee it.
My mission is to provide the world with inspirational, educational, and real life stories. Almost everything created is done so in an editorial way. It's important to me that readers can find articles to read while feeling like they're part of the story.
There comes a time in life that we each need to come to terms with our own mortality. My time came in December 1999. As a cancer survivor, I am beyond grateful for all the years since then. A few weeks after my 26th birthday, the term ‘stage 3 renal cell carcinoma’ was thrust upon me. I didn’t know what it meant… I didn’t know what to think or do… I didn’t know how to react. The only sense I could make of it was that carcinoma meant cancer. There was no guidance through my journey with it… no advice from the doctors… nothing. Everything that I learned about kidney health, I learned on my own. The only information provided by the medical professionals was that “we’ll know we got it all if it doesn’t come back within 15 years”... I still had to learn how to live and function with only 1 kidney and no support.
Just a fun little story about my newest adventure in crafting. There's probably a lot of you who can relate. The only advice I have is simple - if you want to do it, just do it. Go all in.
As I’m trying to wrap my brain around the murderous rampage of innocent lives yesterday in Uvalde, Texas… my heart is breaking and my soul is devastated. Times have changed since the days of my youth. Discipline is lacking and respect for others has drifted to the wayside. After reading numerous articles… thousands of comments… one thing stands out - blame is being placed where it shouldn’t be. This act of evil wasn’t political or demographic. Yesterday was about the hatred and mental illness trapped within an 18 year old individual… a man who should have never been able to get his hands on a firearm. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. The blame solely rests on his shoulders.
Hi again, everyone. My mommy said that you all liked getting to meet me and that’s the coolest thing ever. She told me that I could come back and tell everyone all about my adventures. It’s been so much fun living in this house. I tried to be sneaky yesterday and followed my man human (AKA Daddy) outside… I ran back in so fast. Think I’ll just stay in here where I’m not shivering. I’m not sure what being a kitten means, but my lady human (AKA Mommy) says I’m doing a great job of being one. Then she gives me lots of ear rubs… I like those.
When my mommy said she was going to write a story introducing me to everyone, I was so excited… I had the zoomies like crazy. I don’t know what she means by a story, but she sure makes it sound exciting. It’s so strange not roaming around outside. I like it though because these people give me all kinds of snacks. No more trash cans for me, I’m royalty now.
The headlines involving drunk driving crashes seem to be never ending. Lives become completely destroyed because of one's inability to find a ride. We live in a time of Uber and Lyft… there’s no excuses. If a person can afford to hit up a club to get their party groove on, they can surely afford a ride home. If not, maybe they should just stay at home and kick back a few.
Every city throughout the country deals with homeless communities and encampments. There’s a lot of speculation regarding those who live that lifestyle. Some do it by choice… others have been forced into that situation. Regardless of why they live that way, as fellow humans we should be offering compassion. Each one of them has a story to tell - if only people would be willing to listen. It’s vital to see and understand life through their eyes (and experiences)... not what we “think” their life should be like. I hope more people are willing to do that after reading what is being said here. Here comes another “eye opening” piece about humanity.
Hey, ya’ll… it’s me again… the lady who finally started telling her story. Let me start this newest one by explaining the physical aftermath of domestic violence. Let me tell you about my inability to walk today… my pain. Most of my walking issues have to do with the weather and how cold it is. It’s kind of the same with someone who has prior broken bones. This is something I’ve had to live with for three years now. It’s my secret that I refuse to keep a secret anymore. This is my day of dealing with not being able to walk… my day of 15 puncture wounds and a brain injury that keeps reminding me. It’s just another day… one I’m still struggling through. It’s something I need to learn how to live with.
The editorials that I’ve written lately have focused on my experience with mental illness… my perception and my daily life. What I haven’t focused on is the struggle my husband has to endure living with those issues. One thing I didn’t tell you is that my husband is a crack addict in recovery. He’s been sober since the day we met and that makes me so proud. My editorials haven’t covered addiction… and they should have. You see… not only is my husband an addict, he also suffers from depression. He’s the sober one… the one who kicked his habit without looking back. It amazes me how he tackles the urges without breaking. The urges don’t happen very often… mainly during extremely stressful times. Hearing him tell his story is eye-opening.
Putting one foot in front of the other on a daily basis is challenging to anyone who suffers with mental illness. It’s an even bigger struggle if there’s no support system in place that you can rely on. I became aware of this through my personal issues and my observations of the world around me. We are living in a time of fear… of the unknown… a time of chaos. Finding services to help those currently struggling with mental illness is difficult. There’s no quick trip to the emergency room if the brain hurts. It’s a process that takes a lot of time… time that some people think they don’t have. We need to do better in tackling this problem.
Everyone has a story to tell and memories that trigger how each of our stories evolve. Some of us stroll through life every day in “guard” mode… always looking over our shoulders. We all process trauma in different ways. Based on my personal experiences, I made the choice to go into seclusion. My mental illness is treated through music, art and literary therapies. Seeking out professional services is the smartest way to deal with PTSD… my brain hasn’t hit that point yet. So, here’s a stroll through my PTSD lifestyle - while trying to maintain some sanity.
As we continue living life under these “new normal” guidelines, emotions seem to be taking a toll on a lot of people. It’s difficult to fathom that so much of society has forgotten what it means to be kind. There seems to be more judgement and hatred than before this pandemic descended upon us. It really did bring out the worst in some folks. What a shame.
There are many resources in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for those seeking assistance - either financial, mental health, food availability, and housing among numerous other issues. One thing that stands out is the lack of resources provided to those reentering society after incarceration. Whether an offender is handed a 6 month sentence or a 12 year sentence, it boils down to the fact that they will emerge from those walls as institutionalized individuals. We need to break that cycle, we need to curb the recidivism rates - there is one man who stepped up to the plate and started making that change. Kevin Dolphin isn’t only breaking the generational cycle, he’s Breaking the Chainz… literally.
It’s going on a week now since the senseless murder of Krystal occurred at the Mulberry Street homeless encampment. Those of us who knew her still don’t have answers, the community she resided with still don’t have closure. One thing about those living in the area around Krystal, they all looked out for her. Everyone in the outreaches looked out for her. Feed the Harrisburg Homeless and The Eclipse Project: Helping Harrisburg’s Homeless are really going through it mentally right now. There may not be answers that can be provided at this moment, but I can assure you… the detectives with the Harrisburg City Police Department aren’t turning a blind eye to Krystal’s case. They want answers and justice the same as each of us. Give them a chance to do their job before jumping to conclusions.
They say the mirror is the heart of the soul… it shows who we are and who we don’t want to be. It holds our secrets behind it for no one else to see. The mirror keeps our wishes and secrets safe. Sounds crazy, I know. Think about it for a minute - if you have a minute to spare. We all have moments where we try to rationalize reality… a reality we try to accept as our own. Maybe those moments don’t belong to us. Maybe it’s what we wish and dream for. The mirror that holds our hopes and dreams could also hold our escape from reality… to real life.
There’s a certain stigma surrounding mental health. It’s time we squash that old time mentality behind it. Depression shouldn’t be a secret hidden in the darkest corners of your brain… it shouldn’t define you. You are NOT your mental illness… I am NOT my mental illness. Some days, it’s a challenge to explain the way our brains process certain situations. We need to find the words to describe it… no matter how stressful that makes us. That’s the only way others will understand.
As the old adage goes - out with the old, in with the new. Let’s hope that 2022 believes that… this past year sure didn’t. I’m not saying 2021 was all doomsday and destruction (that title was given to 2020) - but, it sure didn’t carry with it the love, hope and blessings from years past. What we saw the most of in Central Pennsylvania was family-owned businesses closing their doors - some were bought out by big-box chains. Central Pennsylvania carried with it murder and violence on all new levels. The hatred became contagious and the shootings just kept multiplying. Innocent bystanders were gunned down, so many families destroyed… children left orphaned. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that ONLY impacted my area, it affected the entire country… and it’s depressing.
Today is a somber day in the entertainment industry. It’s a day we should be celebrating another year coming to an end… instead, we are saying good-bye to a legend. A woman who graced the big screen with beauty, finesse, and a whole lot of spunk - Betty White has entered into a new world where death no longer exists. There are already thousands of articles covering her untimely passing… so, my tribute will be paid to her in another way. Here is my letter to Betty White…
Most of our lives revolve around social media - it’s how we find out what’s happening around us while still keeping up with the hustle and bustle of daily life. There is so much information thrown out into cyberspace that everything is literally at our fingertips. The most important of these is our constant access to news related topics. One individual decided to make an impact on his hometown… Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Matt Moyer began his local coverage of events approximately a year ago. About 6 months later, his Facebook page was launched and is quickly gaining the momentum and notoriety it deserves. Local Channel 5 Ratchet News Station offers the community a first hand account of the happenings going on. Matt covers topics of every type and also dedicates his time to helping improve the living conditions within Harrisburg. His short 6 months of being in front of the camera for his viewers has gained his news channel over 15,000 followers already. He’s on his way to the top and taking the community with him.