Pamela Leavey

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Category: Health & Wellness

Women and the Presidential Election

Baby boomer aged women, including myself are struggling more in the recession than others, NBC News Economy Watch reports:

A generation of women who flooded the paid labor force in the 1970s has spent the past four decades overcoming a host of obstacles to win its fair share of the American economic pie.

But for many women now approaching what was to have been the end of their careers, the Great Recession has turned out to be the biggest obstacle of their lives.

The recession has been particularly hard for single boomer women like myself:

Incomes for single boomer women have lagged even further behind other households. Since 1970, median incomes for married couples with both spouses in the paid work force have risen steadily – up more than 40 percent to nearly $86,000 (as of 2009). One-income couples and households headed by single men saw little improvement, with median incomes rising to less than $50,000. For single women, the median income, after rising slowly since 1970, barely hit $29,000 in 2009.

While both candidates are working hard and heavy to court the woman’s vote, I personally believe that the candidate that will deliver more for women, including income equality, jobs, education, the right to choice, privacy and health care, is Barack Obama.

Mitt Romney will turn back the clock on women’s issues, and we boomer women can’t afford to go back to the 50’s.

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Daily Affirmations: I am Healthy, Happy & Abundant

I am Healthy, Happy & Abundant. There are positive forces working in my life today and everyday. I remember today and everyday to be thankful for all of my blessings! ~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: River View at Point Shore, Amesbury, MA ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

 

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Daily Affirmations: Healthy and Happy

I am healthy and happy and filled with gratitude today. Each day is a stepping stone towards a continuing happy and healthy life because I face each day with a positive attitude and lots of gratitude! ~~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: New Leaves in Spring ~ Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

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Reflections: Progress

After 11 weeks in some sort of a cast on my right foot, I am finally free. Free!

What a relief… But now the work begins. I got the okay to not sue my air cast any longer on Monday and yesterday I jumped right into PT. I’m done with laying and sitting around and ready to be outdoors walking and enjoying Mother Nature.

Right before I fell, I had been walking 3 – 4 days a week, mostly on the trails at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, and I am itching to get back on those trails.

Years ago I walked 4 – 5 days week, when my daughter was young and it was so healing for me: body, mind and soul. I was just starting to feel the endorphins kick in after about 3 – 4 weeks of walking when I fell.

My physical therapist asked what my goals were yesterday and I told her walking. As we talked more, I explained to her that I have a dream in the back of my mind that I would like to see come to fruition in the next couple of years and that is to walk The Camino.

I explained that I had recently watched The Way, and it renewed my desire to make the trek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f4f_CzD5-o

One day at a time for now… slowly, steadily building up strength, flexibility, balance and agility. Walking The Camino is no walk in the park, it is in fact a pilgrimage or spiritual adventure, depending on your religious views or lack there of.

I can honestly say now that I am starting to build up my strength again, the past 11 weeks were truly a very difficult time in my life. I am grateful to have had a really good orthopedic doctor who immediately recognized my injury as a Lisfranc sprain. it’s a complicated injury, that will takes weeks of PT to finish my recovery.

And then… Well, there’s trails at Parker River, Maudslay and elsewhere where I can make a type of daily pilgrimage to feed my body, mind and soul with the healing, loving nature of the Mother.

And so… the Mid-Life Crisis Adventure continues…

(Photo: Hellcat Swamp Trail ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

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Routine for Stress Relief: The Yoga Solution With Tara Stiles

I love doing yoga, stretching is so important. Unfortunately, I’m limited to what yoga I can do right now because of my foot injury, but I wanted to share this video I found this on YouTube the other night with those who can:

Stressed out? Tara takes us through a routine designed to relax you and help you transition from the stress of work and then remain relaxed. It can also help you sleep better.

Relax and enjoy…

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On The Parker River Path

A few weeks ago I joined the ranks of the unemployed and took to walking 3 – 5 days a week with a dear friend, to clear my head and get grounded. There’s nothing better for freeing your mind than a brisk walk in the cool winter air.

Most of my walks were spent exploring the many trails and pathways at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. The Hellcat Swamps trails have become a favorite, from the observation tower on the Parker River side to the 50 foot dune on the ocean side.

My hikes abruptly stopped on January 8, after a fall in my driveway left me with abrasions, bruises and a badly sprained foot. The following day I ended up with a cast on my right foot which needless to say has kept me from the hikes and trails. The cast is scheduled to come off on January 23 and I am hoping to get the okay from the doctor to start hiking again.

The photo above is from the observation deck atop the 50 foot dune mentioned above. (more…)

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