Finding Cold Air

Cold air finding its way through door cracks presents another common problem. To check for gaps, Cuevas recommends turning off the lights at night and having someone outside point a flashlight at the door. Wherever beams of light make their way inside is where there’s a gap that needs to be filled.

If the issue is weather-stripping in the door frame, you can take out the old one and replace it with a new one. You can do the same with the door’s rubber seal at its base, but you’ll need to take the door off its hinges first. If the issue is spacing between the threshold connected to the floor and the door, try loosening the threshold’s screws with two or three turns. This will help raise its level.

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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Sensory Rest

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re bombarded with screens, lights, and loud noises. The purpose of sensory rest is to “decrease the amount of sensory load on your brain,” Wu says. Turning off notifications and taking a break from social media can give your nervous system a chance to recover, Zwarensteyn says. 

Whether you enjoy being alone or having company, your home can offer a place of sensory rest by being clean and organized. “A quiet and comfortable space designated for sleep allows us to leave our mental clutter at the door,” Wu says. Here are some examples of sensory rest:

  • Putting your phone away before bedtime
  • Setting a time to stop checking work emails
  • Spending time alone
  • Using noise-canceling headphones
  • Choosing furniture and decor with clean lines, smooth surfaces, and calming colors

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Something to Celebrate

“Something to Celebrate” (1999, fiction, 313 pages) is a trio of stories of African American love and romance during the Christmas season. The First Noel, written by Felica Mason, centers on protagonist Kia, a young woman struggling to raise her sister’s son after tragedy strikes. Due to life’s circumstances, she never had time to find love and has given up on faith.  During this Christmas season Kia finds love, renewed spirit, and hope. Kwanzaa Kupendi, written by Margie Walker, comes with a disclaimer as this story discusses suicide. I welcome this story as many individuals suffer from mental health crises during the holiday season.  Walker weaves a powerful story. The protagonist, Michelle Craig, has a lot to deal with regarding her past and her family relationships, but her friends and Dr. Simon Stevenson are there for her. Through their dedication and friendship, Michelle comes to realize that life is worth living and love makes it even better. The final story Truly Everlasting, written by Brenda Jackson, is a great, humorous, and steamy story about two childhood friends that grow up knowing everything about each other but never dated. A little boy’s letter to Santa brings the two together and shows what a little patience and love could achieve. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re traveling this season or need a little holiday magic.

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The Gift of Giving

My mother was an excellent cook an taught my siblings and me everything she could so we would be self-sufficient. As she got older, she didn’t want material gifts, so one year my husband and I gifted her a day of cooking. We made batches of chicken soup, black beans as well as sofrito to season with all of which we froze in batches for her to enjoy. She loved being able to defrost whatever she wanted for dinner after a busy day of teaching.

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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Holidays

I’m going to focus on the delight in my granddaughter’s eyes. She says “wow” every time I show her a Christmas decoration that I’ve had since her mother was a little girl. I’m going to focus on being grateful for my children’s health and my own, which I know is a gift. I’m going to focus on my ability to make a cozy home and invite others into it to feel at home. I’m going to focus on doing what I can to make our world kinder and more compassionate. On some days that’s really hard. I have to dig down really deep and remind myself not to jump into the fray just to prove a point, but I know it’s important to stay my course and rise above the noise. Regardless of how someone else might treat me on social media or in person, I always try to remind myself that their anger and their stuff is about them, not me.

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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