Look at the “big picture” of health

Posted on February 8, 2026 by msw blog

When you’ve set goals to “get healthy,” have they tended to focus on making changes to your diet and exercising more? Health does not exclusively hinge on diet and exercise. Of course, eating a variety of nutritious foods and moving your body in ways that support strength, endurance, flexibility and balance contribute to health, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Are you keeping up on preventive health exams? Do you make time to nurture meaningful relationships? Do you get enough quality sleep? Do you tend to your mental health as well as your physical health?

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real-life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Truly caring for your body looks like…

Posted on February 8, 2026 by msw blog

Saying no without apology. Feeding yourself before you’re starving. Crying when you need to. Sleeping when you’re tired. Feeling without fixing. Touching your skin like it belongs to you. Turning down the volume of the world. Turning up the volume of your intuition. Letting softness be strength. Refusing to shrink for approval. Not pretending you’re fine when you’re not. Walking away when your nervous system says enough. Returning—again and again—to the place inside you that still knows. 

That is care. That is resistance. 

That is what caring for your body looks like—Ailey Jolie

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Notice your patterns

Posted on February 7, 2026 by msw blog

Take an honest look at the people you consistently entertain in both friendships and romantic relationships. Do they reflect the love, care, and respect you desire? Do they align with your values? Do they increase or decrease the quality of your mental health? Awareness is the first step in reclaiming control over your choices. – minaa

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…urging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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When Love Conflicts with Personal Growth

Posted on February 7, 2026 by msw blog

Have you ever felt completely torn between someone you love and the life that you want? Especially if these two things are/feel like oil and water?

In my experience, the right partnership expands with you instead of shrinking around you. When you move toward a larger life, the relationship either grows its own legs or it fades under the weight. It isn’t a failure when it fades, though it may feel like a loss. It’s new information. I think it just means the life that wants you is pointing in another direction. Loving someone is one thing, and building a life that suits your soul is another. When they don’t line up, you feel that truth in your body. No getting away from it, really.—Yrsa

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Seniors’ mental health

Posted on February 6, 2026 by msw blog

I love the Op-Ed section of the paper. I believe we all need to write at least one letter on something we’re passionate about in our lifetime. In saying that, I applaud this reader

Re: “Why suicide rates are so high among older adults in Washington” (Nov. 24, Mental Health Project) and “High suicide rate among seniors is a tragedy for entire community” (Dec. 4, Opinion):

We applaud The Seattle Times for highlighting the risk of suicide among older Washingtonians and the editorial board’s call to readers to support seniors’ mental health and social connections. Beyond these excellent suggestions, we would like to offer some perspectives on the role of lethal means in suicide.

At Forefront Suicide Prevention, we’ve long been concerned about suicide among seniors. In the highest risk group, men ages 80-84, a shocking 85% of suicides involve firearm use. Medication overdoses are the most frequent type of suicide attempt.

The good news is that limiting access to firearms and medication in times of crisis can protect people against suicide. We encourage everyone to learn about brave and responsible actions people can take to secure firearms and medications in the home.

Good resources include the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation and our own website (intheforefront.org), which includes resources on suicide prevention among seniors.

Suicide among older adults is an urgent public health problem, but it’s one we can address through raising awareness, connecting with others and keeping each other safe from lethal means in times of crisis.

Rebecca Vaux,

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