My book of poetry, "Stripping- My fight to find Me" is a story of the triumph of the human spirit. It is a story of our deep need for connection and the infinite power of love to heal.

Hello,
I am energy. I am infinity. But I am also a poet, author, artist. wife, mother, sleep doctor, and attachment and complex childhood trauma survivor. I healed only when I understood I was broken, not a victim. I learnt that everything I needed was within me. And that my inner life was the essence and driving force of my existence.

Where did Self Love Self Care First® come from?


I needed to find meaning in my suffering so I kept thinking, “What truth did I come out of this journey with? How can I share what I know in forms other than what I receive through my poetry? What is the most foundational and fundamental truth about human existence that I discovered to be true in my suffering? That is where SLSCF® comes from.

I discovered that if we do not know our truth, we cannot love ourselves. The pain and suffering of our lives, the false external messages about life, success and achievement that we receive, and the projections and imposed expectations of others we are subjected to, mangle our truth, distract us from our destined path, and cut deep into our body, mind, and soul. They cause us to not pay attention to ourselves, and to how we live our lives. These feelings and beliefs descend into our unconscious and become habitual patterns that hijack our lives.

SelfLoveSelfCareFirst® is the journey of truthful self-examination and acceptance of our truth. Only when we are ready to find value, love, and compassion for our true selves do we begin to live free.

This blog is a celebration of love, stillness, growth, joy, discovery, and the truth. The conversation is honest, the topics are varied, the perspectives are from many angles, but the common thread weaving the discussions together is Self Love Self Care First®.

You are not moving towards any light. There is no light out there. It is inside you. You must move inwards- not outwards to look for it. No one can guide you there. Only you can give yourself the permission to embark on this journey. Only you can reclaim yourself.

Your freedom is in your hands.

Sunita

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

July 4th, Yellow Balloons, Sober Bars, Healthy Fun and Self Love

Hello,
It's Sunita here.

Let's get right into this Friday's Self Love Self Care First topic as we celebrate July 4th across the country. A holiday where there will be countless home and community barbecues to celebrate our Independence and this long weekend.

Sunny skies, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad... And a cold beer! This time of the year brings to mind the numerous memories we all have of such events. And also, of the alcohol that was served.

Unfortunately for many, it's not just 'a beer' or just 'one day'. Do you know the definition of a binge drinker? I did not until I read Jayne O'Donnell and Laura Ungar's article Fun without alcohol? Sober bars offer social connections without peer pressure to drink in USA Today this week.

Jayne was interviewed on CBS This Morning and along with Dr.Tara Narula, gave startling statistics on how alcohol is a socially permissive addiction. Not only does peer permissiveness prevail in encouraging alcohol consumption at social occasions, but it is challenging for those who wish to abstain to do so.CBS : This Morning- What's behind the trend of booze free bars.




What leads someone to binge drink to a point of health concerns, violence and aggression towards others, black outs and depression ? What causes alcoholism? Why would someone put their life in such disarray and harm? Not to mention them taking their family and loved one's down a path of misery, destruction and pain. This is a very complex question that science is now slowly revealing answers to include  one's environment and biology to be a part of the answer. Addiction ruins lives and is passed on to our next generations. So the tragedy doesn't just end with the person who is addicted to alcohol.

What about our culture? What role does it play in the promotion of alcohol as a harmless social lubricant? How many times do we hear comments like , "Let's have fun" with the invitation to have a drink- or drinks. The list of such casual comments that are a part of our everyday conversation is endless! Sadly and especially, among our youth.

Alcohol consumption is far from 'harmless social fun'. According to the CDC, last year there were 88,000 alcohol related deaths in the US compared to 70,000 deaths from deaths from all drugs, combined.
                                 
You can learn more about the facts about alcohol use by visiting this link Fact Sheets - Alcohol Use and Your Health

So what can one do to avoid alcohol. Or better still, find places where sobriety is supported and alcohol is not part of the fun equation? Looking for sober friends at a concert? Find the Deadheads with a yellow balloon gives you a snapshot view of a way that music festivals have started a trend of the 'yellow balloon'. The balloon signifies that this area is an alcohol free zone and supports those in recovery. Alcohol free 'Sober bars' and other events are now gaining popularity and growing in number. Many of them are run by people who have successfully navigated addiction and want to give back by helping others by offering them a choice of socializing in a alcohol free environment.

And it is not only those who have a problem with alcohol consumption who are flocking to these places. It's anyone who desires to have a healthy and good time while being fully in the conscious moment.

So this weekend, why not try tying a yellow balloon at your front door when entertaining and see how it feels!

Wishing you a week of safe fun!
Love,
Sunita
#selfloveselfcarefirst#yellowballoon#alcoholfree#jayneodonnell#usatoday#taranarula#cbsthismorning#gayleking#soberbars




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