Costa Women Blogs

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#LivingInLockdown Your Stories - Dominique White
Dominique is a long term resident of Madrid and bilingual in both Spanish/English language and culture. She gave has brought up both her children here and is very active in the Madrid parent scene. She is also a regular at our Costa Women Events. She has spent the lockdown battling Covid-19 which has left her with an ongoing parade of never ending symptoms. Throughout this she has never lost her love and pride in the city she calls home. Check out this great interview with Dominique organised by Madrid Metropolitan.
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Woman at war
Hi to all, I just recently joined this platform and I am very excited to read your stories and to share mine 🙂 While being in the lockdown, I have had more time to pause, to have this luxury of having more time to enjoy my dear family, although I wish it would be caused by different events. As my first entry I wanted to share a beautiful movie that I enjoyed so much during these extraordinary times. I always have fancied Island and this movie again is a great reassurance. Let me know your thoughts if you watch it. Here is the trailer     Thanks. Best, Zanda    
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Mental Health WellBeing...
  Revisiting Older Posts on Mental Health…   Back in 2012, I answered a Sky News question… Is the NHS failing Mental Health Patients? and wrote about in my blog post Lets keep it Simple, Mental Health.   Five years later in 2017, after more personal experience with Mental Health I wrote another blog post Allowing Compassion to Change Society Taboos… Part I, writing about how our society continues to treat Mental Health based on old beliefs and patterns that leave our vulnerable fellow men, women and children stigmatised.   My Focus in MAY is dedicated to Mental Health…   IAM again inspired to talk about Mental Health, about how Compassionate Mindfulness can transform Mental Health Illness into Mental Health Wellness. In addition to this post, I will focus my Weekly Wednesday live QuietMeTime’s with the Conscious Breath at 5 to 5 (Spanish UTC Time+2) on Facebook and YouTube in May to Mental Health Wellness.   I will speak briefly about how our true passion and compassion no longer flows throughout humanity, having lost all sense of our divine spark that guides us to live a life of unity, community, harmony and freedom, and how through Compassionate Mindfulness with ourselves, we can each reclaim our true magnificent selves and live a life of celebration!   Through an inner journey you will be guided to experience your own sovereign spirit/consciousness who waits patiently to reconnect and integrate with your Body & Mind.   Questioning Mental Health…   Thankfully IAM not the only one who is expanding my consciousness and questioning our ever-increasing experience of Mental Health. Many others are asking similar questions…   Are there spiritual aspects to mental illness? Is psychosis related to spiritual enlightenment or shamanism? Is there a relationship between shamanism, spiritual enlightenment and psychosis? Are these just breakdowns, or can they be breakthroughs?   The Answer is Simple…   It is a knowingness from deep within me that knows that our mass experience of dark days… the feelings of despair, loneliness, helplessness, melancholy, pain, anguish, discouragement, misery, sorrow, wretchedness, shame and guilt, all come from a false belief of being separate, unworthy and non-essential, which over many lifetimes has caused a great fragmentation of our Body, Mind and Spirit.   AND to quite simply heal these dark experiences, is to look at ourselves and our life with ‘Big Compassionate Eyes’, to sense the bigger picture and realise the truth of our being unique, whole, worthy and an essential part of Our Magnificent World that allows us to integrate all of ourself, reuniting our Body, Mind, Spirit and Aspects.   Some People won’t want to Change…   If one enjoys suffering, likes drama, even attention from their perceived separation from spirit, they will not want to heal themselves in all ease and grace and be responsible for their thoughts, words and deeds that will eventually change their circumstances.   It is not to these people that I talk to. It is to the ones who are ready to listen, to resonate with their own inner knowing and choose to remember to change their perception and be uniquely whole themselves. YES… In the click of a finger.   Simple Tips to Practice…   *Observe your thoughts, words and deeds. Write a list of all the negative things and all the positive things. Not to judge yourself, but to become clear of what your mind beliefs.   *Sit with yourself silently, just be with All of Yourself and feel into your Consciousness, your Spirit, your natural loving presence that you are not separate from and is always with you.   *Recognise that your Mind, Body, thoughts, emotions and circumstances is not Who YOU Are. That you are quite naturally the Awareness, Consciousness observing the Human experience life.   *Understand that your Human beliefs and behaviour taken on from society is responsible for creating your circumstance and condition.   *Understand that life is about experiencing contrast, the light and dark and roles of victim and aggressor… AND now it’s been enough!   *Allow yourself to spend time outdoors in nature, be creative and playful and feel the joy that is your natural state of being.   *Allow yourself to wake up each morning with a smile and expect yourself to experience magic in this new day.   *Allow your Mind, Body, Spirit and Aspects (All the roles you’ve ever lived) to all come back home to you now. Embrace the oneness you truly are.   *Allow yourself to be free to live life as a celebration, experiencing all your wishes in every moment!  Just say YES!   *Know that your mind will eventually quieten and quite magically serve you in a new way.   Quiet Me Time with The Conscious Breath…Part 1 Compassionate Mindfulness for Mental Health Wellbeing   Please enjoy my video below, part 1 of a 4 part series I’ve dedicated this month to Mental Health Wellness. I’ve transcribed my words for you to download and read if you like.   I would appreciate you sharing this blog post so that this dedication to Mental Health can be enjoyed far and wide. Thankyou.     Barbara Franken… Creative Visionary & MasterCreatorInspiring New Energy Consciousness   Magical NewEarth   Do you want to be part of my Guest Blogger Feature…    Throughout May, IAM hosting a Guest Blogger Feature to put YOU and your writing talent in the LIGHT. Not only this, your story Magical NewEarth will be part of a Free E-Book we will be publishing worldwide to inspire mass consciousness who is now Awakening.   I know this is an incredible venture that is deeply impacting the world we live in.   For more information and how to apply, please read my post here.     A paperback and Digital Book is available from all Major online stores… Amazon and Apple   I share my own magical journey, exploring Who I AM with the help of nine Elemental Beings and expand from a world of fear, struggle and limitation into a New Energy Consciousness of love, grace and freedom. It is in this loving space that I discover my Divine and ALL LOVING self and allow myself to integrate together as one Body Consciousness… a DivineHumanBeing… and Magnificent Master Creator who expresses and creates heart and soul passion on the physical plane and beyond.   Join my MasterCreator Class and emerge yourself in the celebration of life through dance, song, art, relaxed inner journeys and beyond everything known… preparing yourself for your NEW role on New Earth.   There is no time like the present moment to Sign Up and give YOURSELF this magnificent gift… More Info: MasterCreator Class   Our next class in May 18, 20 & 22 is going to be online via webinar, so my friends from around the world can join!     All the money raised from my books and classes go to my non-profit association The Magnificent Consciousness that holds free local projects in Benalmadena, Spain.
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Hip or Knee Operation Postponed?
If you are waiting for your knee or hip operation it can get a bit disheartening. It can feel like limbo – you aren’t getting better, just . . . . waiting. And often you don’t get a referral to a physiotherapist or other support and help until AFTER the operation. And if that operation is delayed or postponed because of a crisis (here’s looking at you Covid-19!) then you get stuck. And that sensation isn’t going to help your knee or your hip feel any better. What to do while waiting for your knee or hip operation In my opinion, the best thing you can do while you are waiting for your operation is prehab. That’s short for prehabilitation – it’s like rehabiliation but you do it BEFORE your operation. Ok but why? Several reasons actually: It reduces your pain and increases your mobility in the short term. It makes your recovery after the operation faster and more comfortable. The basic premise is that the better shape you are in BEFORE you have surgery, (which is, in case we forget – major trauma to an already unhappy and traumatised area! ), the better shape you will be in coming out. And in the short term we know that these exercises will make you more comfortable and help you become more mobile – so the waiting will be less painful. Let’s be honest – what have you got to lose? Except possibly some of your pain . . . . So follow the links for  Knee Operation Prehab Hip Operation Prehab And follow the instructions to get a detailed video and exercise program to start your prehab today.  And if you have any questions or need modifications just drop me a WhatsApp on 699703936 or email me at reception@theBodyworksClinic.com and I’ll give you some tips and tweaks to personalise it for you. 
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WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE
It´s Saturday 15th March – a beautiful sunny day.  I have just met my daughter Jade (who at the time was 35 weeks pregnant) for a lovely healthy breakfast.  It´s my day off, so I plan to enjoy it to the full.  There is talk about lockdown and quarantine, etc., but people are laughing at those in the supermarkets who are wearing masks.    I move on now to catch up with my friend Coral for a couple of beers and tapas.  We sit at a busy pavement café enjoying the sun, watching the world go by.  Then after lunch, I meet up with my boyfriend Florin to go for a hike up the mountains among the nature.  It is hot, but so peaceful….just perfect!  We have dinner, and watch a movie, called “The Flu” – wow!  It seems a bit surreal, and maybe a little farfetched.   My boyfriend goes home.   As it approaches midnight, the police are telling all the bar and restaurant owners they must close NOW!   My daughter and her husband have to close their bar in Marbella – just like that!  BAM!!! Since that day, everything has changed – some things for the better, others not.  I am sure everyone has their own stories, difficulties and triumphs.  For me, it has been like this… The first couple of weeks, I thought this is OK, time to catch up on all the things I didn´t have time to do, a chance to learn new things, spruce up on my Spanish and lose weight.  I always try to look at things in a positive way, so I threw myself into it.  Started a good routine; Getting up early and running up and down my 42 external stairs Logging in and doing 2 or 3 workshops back to back Lunch Building websites Virtual PT Gardening Dinner Bed This was pretty much how I spent those first two weeks.  I had no time to dwell, and at this point, we didn´t really have an idea how long it was going to last.  I was then asked to help with one of the local charities to cook meals for those in need.  I gladly accepted the challenge!  My daughter always says I never know how to cook for just 2 or 3 people, I always make too much – well cooking for 40 is a whole different ball game!  I actually got really stressed.  The day after, I felt quite ill and upset and low.  I spent two full days in bed just crying for no real reason.  I seem to have a low day at least once a week now, although not to that same extent. After those first two weeks, the amount of kindness from people offering classes, seminars, workshops, moral support etc became actually quite overwhelming.  However, nature enjoyed their freedom, and we saw more and more “wild” animals on the streets.  I live on the mountain, and have seen lots of different animals out for a stroll.  Through social media, we saw the best and worst of people too, and we began to see some people publicly breaking under the stress.  I count my blessings I have plenty of indoor and outdoor space, but I know many who don´t.  For me, I found when I started to wobble, I either needed some quiet time just for me to switch off, or a zoom call with my daughter, Coral, or my friend Arlene in Scotland.  It was also very hard not seeing my boyfriend.  He is my rock, and makes me laugh and smile no matter what.  To help me avoid getting to that point, I have found that a routine helps.  It gives me purpose and a reason to get up in the morning.  I also have a range of “positive statement” t-shirts, which actively makes me think which statement I want to choose for that day.  It keeps me focused. Just over one month into lockdown, my daughter contacted me via zoom.  She has to go for a planned Caesarean Section the following morning.  This is particularly hard as it is my first grandchild, a daughter!  Marc, her husband is not allowed into the operating theatre due to the Coronavirus.  He has to wait in the next room.   Sofia Patricia is almost one month old now, and I still have not seen her in the flesh or had a chance to hold and cuddle her.  I can see the various new cases and mortality rates continuing to rise throughout the world, and have no idea where this will end, or indeed how it really started (that´s another blog).  But now the Government are starting to introduced phased in “getting back to a new normal” plan.   I don´t even know how this is going to work either.  I am frightened it is all happening too soon due to pressure from various areas.  There are many questions unanswered and many steps and financial provisions still not in place.  I worry about my daughter and her bar.  She has a high rent to pay due to the location, and 6 people in total full time to pay (including her and her husband).  How can they possibly function if they can only use 30-50% of their outdoor space and still pay all the same outgoings as if the bar was as full as it normally was at this time of year.  For me, my work involves dealing with holiday makers in hotels around swimming pools.  This doesn´t just depend on when Spain relaxes rules, it is also dependent on other countries relaxing theirs and allowing travel.  I don´t see this happening until August at the earliest.   These are the thoughts that go through my head on a daily basis…. This is when I need to stop, sit back and re-focus.  Nothing I think or worry about will change this.  Whatever is going to happen, will happen.  In the meantime, I am thankful for all the help and support and for all the new skills I have learned and been able to put to good use, and for all the new people I have met “socially and through business” online. Monday 11th May hopefully sees the start of some more changes.  Hopefully then I will get to see my daughter and granddaughter and my boyfriend.  I don´t think this extends outside the municipality, so for my other friends – we will continue to meet up on zoom! Copy and past the link below and enjoy “What a difference a day made!”     If something I have said has resonated with you, then please leave me a comment!   PS I still haven´t had time to catch up on all the things I didn´t have time to catch up on before!!!   Lorraine Williamson x
#LivingInLockdown - Day 52
#LivingInLockdown Day 52 – Wednesday May 6th Today has been the complete opposite of yesterday, as in not remotely full. Mainly because I spent most of last night kept awake by a bloody mosquito whining in my ear. It’s bad enough that the little bastards drink your blood and leave you with itchy red lumps over any limb that foolishly escapes the confines of the duvet, but do they have to be so damn noisy? It’s impossible to kill the buggers when it’s dark and you’re half asleep and equally impossible to get back to sleep when it’s buzzing around your ear. Consequently I had about 3.5 hours of sleep last night.   I sensibly turned my alarm clock off and planned to move my daily walk to this evening, but it seems my body is now primed to be awake at 7am, so off I went. I treated myself to a cafe con leche and a chocolate Neapolitano on the way back. When I returned to my bedroom the mosquito was sunning itself in plain sight on the ceiling by the window. I got great satisfaction splatting its blood filled body (my blood!). Safe at last I went back to bed and didn’t wake up until gone midday. Well, that’s one way to fill the time. I’ve spent the rest of the day in the sort of fog you get when your sleep cycle is screwed.   The big question today is whether the Madrid region will move to phase 1 next week. Today is the day that each region must apply to the Ministry of Health to progress from phase zero to phase one on May 11th. It is by no means guaranteed that every region will do so. There is a set of criteria that must be achieved by the health authorities of the region, namely that they have 1.5 ICU beds and 3 critical care beds available per every 100k residents. Obviously the more Covid-19 patients a region currently has in hospital the less beds will be available. Madrid and Cataluña between them account for half of all cases in Spain so we are likely to be the last to complete the phases.   The Madrid council has been gathering the necessary information from the various hospitals and putting their report together all week. It was finally completed yesterday and Madrid Region Vice Premier stated that we did meet the criteria set. Then today the Madrid Region Premier stated that we were not ready to move to Phase One next week. Talk about confusing. I feel these two politicians need to speak to each other and get their stories aligned. Either way it is up to the Department of Health to decide once the application is made. As yet I don’t know if Madrid has submitted the request. They have until midnight tonight, I believe, but it is looking unlikely.   Mind you at one point it looked as if no applications would be necessary. The current state of alarm was due to end on May 10th. The government had applied for an extension until May 25th, but at one point it looked like the opposition parties might not support this. Without the state of alarm the police have no power to enforce the deescalation phases and it would effectively become a free for all. We would be dependant on individuals safely following the guidelines, as is the case in Sweden. Unfortunately I really can’t see the Spanish, or the British for that matter, doing this. We’re a belligerent bunch and tend to do the opposite of what we’re told.    There is concern amongst the right wing parties and some regions that the state of alarm gives the central government too much power and sets a dangerous precedent. This is true. The government argues that without the state of alarm Spain would be unable to effectively manage the quarantine and hundreds of thousands more people could die and the health services overwhelmed. This is also true. You can see the dilemma. Congress has been at loggerheads discussing this for the last two days.    As of about an hour ago the extension to the state of alarm was finally agreed, but we need to make sure these deescalation phases go smoothly as some people have clearly run out of patience.
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