THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

And then the sky came tumbling down. Everyday we are faced with things that happen in our lives, things that make us happy and ocassionally things that make us sad.
We just have to face each day with what it brings and be thankful that we are alive to live each day.

There are so many emotions flowing through me right now. I guess sometimes in life we are faced with things that we know must happen and things that we know will hurt but we still try to understand that there are things in this world that maybe we can change.

I wish I could change today. I wish I could go back in time and make today never happen. However, it is here and for better or worst it is that thing which will always make us wonder about life and how we live, what we do for ourselves and what we do for others. How much we give and how must we recieve.

I have learnt that giving is to be done freely. You must be willing to do these things and not feel the pressure of life and circumstances. I have given and I have received. AND I want more BUT that will not be so and it is that which makes me sad today and it is that which takes my breath away. However, I am a survivor and I will try to do the best I can with what I have and with what I have learnt.

All that is mentioned above is a reality. It is life. It is the lives of many women the world over. All we can do is meditate on the good and happy things in life and seek to better our inner beings. We must fight for that which we want and we must be able to know when to let go. Life is after all just a passing time of all the emotions possible. If at the end of the day we can say that we feel that we have accomplished something, then we feel satisfied. That is all we can do. THAT IS LIFE AND THAT IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT.

TO LIVE AND BE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE LOVED AND WAS LOVED IS ALL THAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT IN LIFE. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

THIS IS MY BELIZE - THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE EXPOSITION

There are many things that I love about my country. The diversity is one thing that leaves me feeling a sense of pride and love for Belize. As the author of this blog and a poet, it can only help to give life to my work. To all those who view this blog, thank you. To all those who came to my Exposition in Corozal Town, thank you.
A special thank you to the Principal, teachers and students of the following schools:
Our Lady of Guadalupe RC School, Paraiso RC School, Ranchito RC School, Corozal Nazarene School, Cornerstone Pres. Primary School, St. Francis Xavier R.C. School, St. Paul's Anglican School, Church of Christ School, Assembly of God School, ITVET Corozal, and Corozal Junior College. Thank you also to my colleagues: Mr. Guadalupe Cima, Mr. Jose Mai, Mrs. Esther McField, Mrs. Glenda Rosado, Mrs. Norvi Pol, Ms. Eva Chi for sharing the day with me. Thank you also to my students: Roger Augustine, Urian Ramirez and Dione Triminius for helping me during the exposition and last but not least to all the people of Corozal who came to the exposition. You all made me proud to have done this project. Look forward to more wonderful things for Corozal.

Yours With Love,
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

PHOTOS OF THE EXPOSITION OF POEMS BY BRENDA A. YSAGUIRRE

BREAST CANCER

Suddenly it seems as if everyone I know has a relative with cancer. What is happening in this world. How did we get to this stage where we are all falling like flies to the Big "C"? I think we all have to become aware of the dangers out there and the tell tale signs that can save our lives.

So here is a document on BREAST CANCER that I received and believe everyone should read:

Breast Cancer: 3 Ways to Lower the Risk of RecurrenceA new study indicates that lower estrogen levels can help keep cancer from coming back
By Deborah Kotz
Posted March 6, 2008

Many women diagnosed with breast cancer find the hardest thing about treatment is facing its end. After the harrowing chemotherapy, the radiation burns, and the hot flashes from anti-estrogen medications like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, patients then are told there's nothing else they can do to prevent a recurrence; they just have to sit back, wait, and pray for no new breast lumps or painful twinges in their bones.

Video: Breast Cancer Screenings
New research, though, suggests women may be able to lower their risk of recurrence by taking steps to reduce their estrogen levels. A study of more than 300 breast cancer patients found that those whose cancer came back within seven years had estrogen levels on average that were twice as high as those found in women who remained cancer free; this was true even for those taking tamoxifen. (The researchers controlled for other possible explanations such as age, cancer stage, body weight, and exercise habits.) Previous research has shown that women with excess estrogen, which fuels the growth of the most common breast cancers, have a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer in the first place. Of course, estrogen levels are partly determined by genetics. But "based on what we now know, we recommend that patients do whatever they can to reduce their levels," says study leader Cheryl Rock, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of California-San Diego. She suggests the following:
1. Exercise as often as possible: Move fast enough to break into a sweat for 30 minutes on most days of the week. Studies have shown that regular, moderate exercise lowers levels of blood estrogens. Rock admits this can be very hard, especially for the 1 in 4 women who suffers from postchemotherapy fatigue. "It's counterintuitive to say this, but research shows that exercise can actually help reduce this exhaustion," she says. Once they get through the first 10 minutes of, say, brisk walking, she adds, the rest is usually a piece of cake.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Body fat churns out estrogen, and excess fat around the abdomen causes hormonal changes that make breast tissue more vulnerable to estrogen's detrimental effects. Rock recommends aiming for a body mass index of below 25 (145 pounds for a 5-foot-4 woman) and a waist circumference of no more than 35 inches.
3. Increase dietary fiber: The role of fiber in reducing estrogen levels is somewhat less certain, says Rock, but it certainly can't hurt to get the government recommendation of 25 grams per day for women 50 and under and 21 grams for those over 50. Plus, that feeling of fullness you get from eating high-fiber foods can help you shed excess weight. Think whole-grain cereal for breakfast, replace white rice with brown rice, snack on raw vegetables, and top your pizza with broccoli and spinach.

WHEN IT IS TIME TO SHUT UP AND TIME TO FIGHT

Have you ever wondered why there are people who seem to have an never ending list of comments on the things you do or say? Have you ever wondered why they feel they have to tell you how they feel and expect you to take it sitting down, arms folded and with no comments of your own.

It really beats me how some of us can berate others and when faced by the comments of others we are angered to the point of probable war.

Lately I have found that remaining silent is not the answer either. When we do this, we send a message that we can be told whatever they want to tell us and that we are afraid of them.

So enough of that. Stand up, woman. Fight for your rights. Become the SUPERMAMA that you can be. Think carefully what it is that you must do and plan your moves but don't sit back and take it. Those who set out to hurt and anger are in themselves and need to be placed in their own boxes. The person who is able to defend his or her honour is the person we want to be. Stand firm and whole the world in your hands.

THE STRUGGLE IS NEVER WON IF WE SIT BACK AND LET THINGS HAPPEN AROUND US. BECOME A PART OF THE FIGHT! ( Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

COROZAL PREPARES FOR GRAND POETRY EXPOSITION

DEAR READERS,
PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT WRITING THESE PAST FEW DAYS. I AM BUSY GETTING READY FOR MY POETRY EXPOSITION.
HOPEFULLY I WILL BE BACK TO WRITING NEXT WEEK.
BRENDA

BRITISH ANTI-DRINKING DRIVE TARGETS WOMEN

British anti-drinking drive targets women
LONDON (UPI) -- The British government plans a new campaign aimed at convincing middle-age women drinking can be dangerous to their health.

The center of the campaign is a newly found link between heavy drinking and breast cancer, The Daily Telegraph reports. Researchers say consuming 14 units of alcohol a week increases the risk of breast cancer by 60 percent.

Many in Britain are drinking more, and wine glasses have become larger and some wines more alcoholic. That means a woman who drinks one large glass of wine a day could be consuming more than 20 units a week.

A unit is 10 milliliters of pure alcohol -- roughly the equivalent of one small glass of wine.

Previous government campaigns have focused on teenagers and especially on binge drinking. Dawn Primarolo, the public health minister, acknowledged a change in target.

"This group of middle-age women is under everybody's radar," she said. "There is a great deal of harm being caused to them.

People need to be reminded of the health consequences. It is not only the issues around breast cancer but also, increasingly, liver disease, unplanned pregnancies and ruptured bladders. This is dreadful stuff."




Copyright 2008 by United Press International