Blog # 14

One of the many challenges women face daily is finding a balance in their personal, professional, and educational lives. Coinciding with that challenge is developing a strategy that works, and then consistently maintaining it to keep our minds sane, staying on track to achieve our goals, and having some fun in the process. Staying focused on the demands of a hectic and demanding lifestyle, which many people lead in the busy world of life, is the key to any balance and inner harmony. This is similar to the domino effect, for if our inner self is not in harmony, everything else becomes askew and disrupted.

Setting priorities in all areas of our lives is the first step in establishing short and long term goals. Knowing what is important in each area of our life allows this process to be easier and balance more attainable, while keeping focused on the result of our efforts. Using a daily planner is an excellent tool to help guide on a daily basis. A journal is a wonderful companion to the planner to evaluate what is working and what needs fine tuning. Often times we are not aware how much our daily activities, and the choices we make effect us until we sit down and take the time to write about what we are feeling. Most importanly is taking healthy care of ourselves in mind, body, and spirit. Live well, laugh a lot, and love much is a motto that has helped me keep daily life in peespective and in balance.

Michelle Dukes

DB # 13

The admission that an individual has a problem, an unhealthy habit, an attitude that needs adjustment or an issue with drugs or alcohol shows strength and courage. This applies especially to women who continue to be stereotyped as the weaker, emotional sex. The realization that something is interfering with how one feels, functions, and handles life’s challenges shows that the person is thinking about the choices made, and the consequences of those decisions.
Women who have a problem with alcohol and drugs are not weak, quite the contrary! However, the decision to use these substances to cope could be viewed as such.

Using chemicals of any kind, whether it be alcohol, drugs, or prescription drugs has the potential for abuse. Women, especially those who feel they must be the "power" force of their family, and are high achievers, and have high expectiations of themselves are at high risk for using and abusing alcohol and drugs. We live in a fast paced society and want immeditae results, and instant gratification. When we don't have those things we often feel it is a reflection on us .

Michelle Dukes