Creating the New!

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

This is a great Thought For The Day, especially with all of the web site changes we are trying to make.? When you know that change is needed, to sit back and think that you can wait until tomorrow, or if you try to talk yourself out of it, you lose.

You lose the chance to remind yourself how to create something new. When we feel that our confidence is shaky, when it comes to believing that we can be successful, we stay in a place that is not where we need to be. Change is never easy, but change is necessary if you want to achieve your next goal.

No one can change you, but you have to allow new thoughts and new ideas to believe that your next effort is worth it. You may be older, not able to get around as well as you used to, or feel that you have lost your interest. Depression is a lonely place, and if you are clinically depressed you need to see your doctor. Many people with neurological diseases are organically depressed, meaning that their serotonin level is reduced secondary to their disease process, so they feel lousy but don't want to discuss the problem with their doctor or medical professionals because they are embarrassed, that they cant push themselves forward on their own.

If that describes you,get with it! Talk to your doctor and get some guidance. Send us a message through Contact Us and let us know what you are dealing with.

Join Sallycares.com today, and start moving forward! ?Now let's get going! xo Sally

And You're Complaining About What?

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

"When you get ready to complain today, think of Richie Parker, and stand in awe of what you can do, when you imagine how great you can be."

I saw this video and immediately wanted to share it with our Sallycares Community. This is an amazing story of a young man who has invented himself to be able to do more, than many able bodied men.  He was obviously encouraged to take on the next step, whatever that might be, and saw no limits ahead. He created his opportunities. He developed ways to work around his obstacles.  You may not be as creative as Richie, but you have the capacity to go further than you are. If you look at your problems as inconveniences rather than a brick wall, that stops you in your tracks, that is the first step.  Problem solving requires trying to do things differently than you are doing them right now.

Think out of the box. What is a problem that you have, that is keeping you from reaching your goals? How about a person you care for?  Are they having problems feeding themselves, dressing or showering? We're here to help you work on those problems to make things better at home!

Join Sallycares.com today and let us hear from you through Contact Us! Join the Sallycares.com family.
Together we can support each other and accomplish AMAZING things!

"Now, let's get going!" xo Sally

Pet Therapy

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

Believing in You

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

There are many people who believe that the best way to change YOUR perception of YOU, is to use self-affirmation. That would be the process of focusing on your goal, your dream, your focus, and not allow negative thoughts to interfere with what you are trying to change.

Let's use the example of a care partner named Susan, who is feeling tired and frustrated. A family member recently told her that she needed to do a better job of taking care of her husband, because he was developing stiffness in his joints from lack of exercise...and Susan was devastated. She had to admit that she was tired of the whole 24 hour caregiving, but she didn't need any negative comments from family or friends.
She was doing all that she felt she could do.

Being Kind

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

Stand Up! Be Your Own Advocate!

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

Everyone Can Help Someone

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

“We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Ronald Reagan

Do you have anything left to give? Do you feel that your days are filled with giving, and you don’t think you could possibly do more?

There is a saying from somewhere that you may be familiar with and it goes something like this:  

“If you need something done right away just ask someone who has a lot to do. They will get it done.” Why would that be a good idea?

People who are actively involved in organizations, whether it is a non-profit group that does a good service for a community, like Meals on Wheels, or your local humane society, they are busy people.

They don’t add one more commitment to their list because they have little to do. To the contrary, if you ask someone who is an active volunteer, what they do all day, they will give you a list.

I have found that when people retire, and their schedules revolve around their golf game tee time, when they get their hair or nails done, or watching TV, eventually there is an emptiness that they never had when they “worked.”

We all need a purpose. We are at our best when we have something to focus on outside of ourselves and our current circumstances.

I know many caregivers that continue their volunteer work, even if their loved one at home requires a great deal of care. Why?

Getting out and providing a service is motivating to many people. It fills the soul with a sense of changing someone else’s situation. That alone is healing for the person doing the giving and the person who is receiving.

Consider looking around your community and see what you could do to help someone else.

Get up and Get Out!        Get out of your own way!

Don’t allow your present circumstances to promote negativity! You’re the one that controls that!

Send us your thoughts through “Contact Us” and let us know how you are doing.  Join the www.Sallycares.com Community.

Together we can support each other and accomplish AMAZING things!   “Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally

Change Your Thoughts - and You Change

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

There is no amount of preaching that I can do to impress you with how important this concept is. Your world is that space that immediately surrounds you. People can escape their world by reading thrilling novels, watching soap operas, listening to the news or any number of things.

The point is that if you allow your world to be limited by your feelings of sadness or frustration, sadness and frustration will continue. When you open your mind to look for the positive, you allow change to enter your world.

Some people love to be negative, well maybe they don’t actually love it but they sure perpetuate it! Why is that? I think the answer is different for each person. What I have found in my experience is that being negative is secure. It is comfortable. It reassures you that you have an answer to all of the bad stuff that is happening to you.

When you choose to let some of that go, knowing you don’t want to let it all go at once…that is too scary J… you open yourself up to an unknown feeling. If you can’t run back to what was secure, what do you use to fill up that void?

Start with picturing yourself in a peaceful surrounding. Reassure yourself that the peace you are looking for is possible. When you are called to “action” by the person you care for, and you feel knots in your stomach because in your mind the tape that plays is, “here we go again,” make up something funny.

Do it like this:

Patient: “Hurry up and come here, I need you to get me ________ (fill in the blank)”

You: (in your head)…Isn’t that sweet, they need me…and smile to yourself when you say that.

If you can lower your anxiety level when those moments occur, you will be on your way to developing a greater sense of calm.

Remember that this takes time. Find a smile. Let’s decide how to support you! Join the www.Sallycares.com Family today! We look forward to hearing from you! “Now, let’s get going!”

                                                                                   xo Sally

Family Challenges

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

Family Challenges

"People are pretty forgiving when it comes to other people's families. The only family that ever horrifies you is your own."  Doug Coupland

The concept of family can bring warm emotional sentiment, either from past memories, associated with those we have loved that are no longer with us or our current loved ones that we look forward to spending time with.  Yet some are not so fortunate.  When you have family members that create difficulty, have “issues,” or make your life down-right miserable, those family members do exist too.  How about when you have to take care of those family members when illness strikes? That’s exciting. 

Illness is an interesting thing.  Families really show what they are made of.  Living in Southwest Florida for the past 19 years, I have had an interesting journey of awareness related to aging and family.

The majority of people I have met, who have retired to Florida do not seem to think that they can expect their children to help take care of them. There are some families who have adult children that get involved, and come to Florida to help manage an illness or elective surgery, like a hip or knee replacement.  But as a whole, our society seems to function on everyone “doing their own thing.” And this is what I have seen from families who get along.  When there are poor relationships between parents and children, the older folks (parents) really are on their own.

My point in sharing this thought is that only you know your history with your family relationships.  It is not too late to improve communication with your family members, especially with your children.  I think every family has their stories, good, bad and ugly.  Most children may remember certain times when they were growing up that there were family problems, and it is easy to allow those old memories to excuse your involvement with family members today.

The message here is that family ties are special opportunities.  You have the capability to nourish those relationships, and if you don’t keep in contact with your family members, you can’t expect your family members to always be the ones to work at keeping a relationship active with you.  Pick up the phone and call your sister!  Call your Mother or Father!  They won’t be here forever. 

Even if you don’t love your parents or siblings, you can still be kind. Learn to be Self-less in a Selfish world. You can start where you are.  

The only thing you owe your parents is to provide them with a safe environment as they age, and it doesn’t have to be in your home.

Let us hear from you through Contact Us.  How do your family members relate?  Is it healthy?  Join the www.Sallycares.com Community today!   

                                                                                                “Now, let’s get going”   xo Sally

Sally's Thought of the Weekend: Memorable Moments

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

A Concert For One

Can you think of a moment in your life that you were surprised by someone’s kindness or noticed the willingness of a stranger’s deed, that brought happiness or help to someone in need?

Those types of memories bring more than a smile.  The experience gives us a connection to other people in a way that surpasses our daily experience, and helps us visualize the reality that people can be the gateway to another person’s hope. 

We all have the capability to be that person for someone else.  You may not have money or much time to do more than you do each day, but you need to realize what a gift you can be to someone else who is hurting.  A simple smile.  An understanding thoughtful pause, when you let another person go ahead of you in line in a grocery store, because they have kids with them that are tired and fussy.  Allowing a person to go ahead of you in traffic because they are obviously in a bigger hurry than you are, are all simple examples of random acts of kindness that you can give another person.  They don’t cost a thing.  They require understanding and a sense of awareness that the person you are looking at needs to know that their situation is recognized and supported by you.

You don’t need to know the person. You don’t need a thank you.  You need compassion and a chance to realize that you have a gift to give to someone every day.  It is your gift of kindness.

Watch and share this video over the weekend and let’s start to think about how you handle your next opportunity to show kindness to someone you do not know. 

Have a great weekend!  Send us a message on Contact Us and let us know about your Memorable Moments!  Consider joining www.Sallycares.com and become part of the Sallycares.com Community!                       

“Now, let’s get going!” xo Sally

What Happens When You Open Your Mouth?

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

What Happens When You Open Your Mouth?

“When you open your mouth you let the world know who you are.” Les Brown

Don’t we all wish for perfection? Wouldn’t it be amazing if every time we opened our mouth a kind or witty saying would spring forth and people would think we were just the nicest, brightest, sweetest person they ever knew?

Well, here we are back to reality and to my knowledge there has only been one Mother Teresa. It does not mean that we do not benefit from striving to do better each day. In fact when we wake up each morning that is exactly what we should do. We should STRIVE to be the best we can be.

Working at a goal doesn’t mean that we will achieve that goal in 24 hours. It may take longer. A week. A month. A year. Who knows how long it will take? The point is that you want to actively STRIVE to be better when dealing with your circumstances. Actually you want to work at being better every day.

So remember this: Whatever we say, that is what we are. That is what people hear. You are basically affirming to the world who you are-by what you say.

Family members, co-workers, neighbors, your dog or cat, I don’t care who it is, look to you for your wisdom and caring. They do not look for nor want to listen to negative comments, and develop a negative feeling about you!

Don’t give people anything less than your best. You do not need to resort to negative comments. That’s too easy. Learning to change what comes out of your mouth - priceless!

Tell us how you are able to stay positive! Let us know your thoughts through Contact Us.

Join www.Sallycares.com today and be part of the Sallycares.com Community!

                                                               “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

You Are Better Than Your Circumstances

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

It is easy to let our problems consume us. If we focus on our problems we become that focus. If we change our focus we open ourselves up to learn how to think differently. You have all the power!

Your situation does not define who you are. How you handle the challenges that come your way, defines who you are. I have heard that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle tangled Christmas lights. Do you know of anything that causes you more grief than tangled Christmas lights, when you finally found the energy to put them up?

The Art of Procrastination

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

The Art of Procrastination

There are a lot of people out there who think procrastination is a bad thing. Not me.
But there is a certain art to it. You see, you have to decide what is REALLY important, and what isn't a big deal. The REALLY important stuff has to do with breathing and surviving. The other things just kind of drain you...if you let them.

I have worked with many people who just have a fit if the bed isn't made and the counters aren't clean. In fact they can't seem to think straight if everything isn't neat and tidy...and then they try to manage "everything else."

Stop Negative Thinking

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

Thought for the Day: When you choose to think the worst and focus on the difficult stuff – STOP IT!

We all think negative thoughts. Some days more than others. Many times we think that our lives have very few positive things to focus on. Maybe our lives have changed drastically. Our social world has collapsed. Friends (or people we thought were friends) no longer call, visit, or include us in their plans.

So what do we do? We feel sad. We cry. We don't think anyone understands what we are going through or dealing
with every day. We decide to have a Pity Party, and feel like the guest of honor.

That's ok. You can do that. But ask yourself, "do I feel better now?" If you feel better after you leave your Pity Party, and turn into a nice person who can have positive thoughts and treat others nicely...then throw yourself a Pity Party at least once a week.

Usually, for most of us, negative thinking breeds more negative thinking and the outcome is...you guessed it...more negativity! Lovely.  That is not going to help you.

Whether you are a patient or a care partner, it is time to make a conscious decision, to work on, yes work on, developing the skills to look at life in a positive way. Recognize that you have positive energy deep down in there somewhere, and with a little bit of help and nurturing, you can turn this around!

Take that first step. Decide that you are not happy feeling the way you do. Learn how to change that negative focus into a hopeful focus. Developing a positive outlook doesn't happen overnight. Look at the investment of time and
energy you have made into the Pity Parties of the past! All that time! All that energy!  f we can harness it and turn it around, you may start to look forward to each day.

Let's make that a goal! Contact Us and tell us what your goal is. Can you relate to this? Give us your feedback and comment. It's time to make a change...your health will appreciate it! Join Sallycares.com today!

                                                                                                                   "Now, let's get going" xo Sally

Recharging your Batteries

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

Thought for the Day: When you think you have no Energy left to give...You need to Recharge your Batteries!

Also known as …”It’s all about your Energy”

Don’t you wish that these energy drinks could be given intravenously? (not really ?) There are so many things that drain us and zap our energy.  Stress, people, doctors, family, kids, the list goes on.

Here are a few suggestions to help your energy blahs:

• Evaluate your nutrition, and take an honest look at the fuel you are giving your body….it may need some improvement.
• Are you taking whatever vitamins you need to be taking, if your nutrition is not all that it is cracked up to be?
• Are you exercising…at all? Even walking helps release endorphins to improve energy and encourages a sense of well-being, and that includes walking between the bedroom and kitchen too!
• Get a pedometer and actually see how much you are walking or running around each day.
• Start to chart your activity and see if you can incorporate some exercises for you, whether you are the patient or care partner.  No one lost points for exercising in a seated position!

Here is the reality:  your body cannot perform well, if it is running on empty.  Tell us what you need help with, associated with taking care of YOU!  If you are going to be “IN IT TO WIN IT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES”… unless everything is perfect, then you are doing a great job J!

What is preventing you from doing the right thing to maintain your health?  There are enough books out there to tell you what to do, and I’ll bet you all could tell stories about what you’ve tried and failed at, when working on a diet or your nutrition.  But this isn’t about what we did that didn’t work.  We have to develop a plan that WILL WORK for you and for so many others out there that need support from YOU, to believe that they have what it takes to be better.

Tell us your stories on our blog, or through Contact US.  We want to help you make the difference for you!

 “Now, let’s get going”  xo Sally

Look Forward

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

 Thought for the Day:  If you think you don’t have much to look forward to…start thinking of new things!             

 If you wake up each morning and think you have nothing to look forward to, then you don’t have anything to look forward to.  Our thoughts make us who we are. 

If you are not spiritual, it is more difficult.  If you are spiritual…sometimes it is still difficult, but you have hope. Hope of a better life. The belief that there is an opportunity to grow, somehow, from the challenges that you face comes from believing that there is a plan for your life.

Right now you are living one part of that plan.  There is more to come, and the learning that you can experience may be more than one type.  You may have already demonstrated more patience than you ever believed possible.  You may have decided that a little dust here and there is not the end of the world.

The question at hand is WHAT do you look forward to?  If your answer is a bit shaky, well, think of things that you can control.  Do you look forward to working in your garden?  Reading a good book? Working on a hobby? 

If you cannot remember the last time you did something that you enjoyed, then YOU need to change YOU.  The internet is an amazing tool that can allow you to communicate with people near and far.  You can communicate with people who are experiencing a circumstance like yours, or maybe their situation is more difficult than yours.  It is often said that if you put your problems up against three other people’s problems, you would take yours back.  There are many people out there who have challenges that are more difficult than yours, but somehow they seem to not be as affected.

Learn to look forward to each day.  Every morning presents a new opportunity for growth.  You can do this!  Send us your thoughts through Contact Us.  Let us know what gets you stuck. 

Let’s get you unstuck! 

Join the Sallycares.com Community.

Get Over It

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Category: Thoughts Collection

Written by Sally Thimm OTRL

We all know people who complain. We may be living with one or two of them. Why do we say "can't"? Well, an aggravated patient or care partner would have a quick answer.

"I just cannot do it."

First we have to decide if you physically can't do something, and if there is a reason for it. People who are paralyzed can't do some things. People who have dementia realistically can't handle certain activities. What is it that you are sure can't be done?