Mental Health Podcast Challenge – e35s1

episode 35 season 1

Episode 35: Mental Health Podcast Challenge

Welcome back to a special episode of Valerie’s Variety Podcast a sensitive episode where I discuss Mental Heath…enjoy the episode

emotional person

wear my heart on my sleeve

lost friends and lost family to cancer

had a breakdown in my kitchen when work got too stressful

love things and people more than I should

When I was in grade 5 just 12 years old I was living in a rough area in Edmonton with rough people. I watched my neighbour take acid when I was 11 years old and have an episode. I watched my other neighbour have an epileptic attack grande mal seizure while me and my sister plus other neighbour kids were around – I remember being so scared and curious that I couldn’t look away or leave but too scared to get to close to this moment

Watched my grandmother die of cancer, lost my grandpa from my moms side he fell off a roof and had a heart attack, found by neighbour kids the same age as my daughter is today.

I have immediate family members that don’t respond to my calls, texts, emails, they aren’t around for important moments, they’re invited, they’ve been reached out to, they’re very important to me, they are included but don’t respond. They suffer from mental illness – they are crushed by their own sense of sadness and loss and can’t find their way out of it to reach out or connect tot he people that love them the most.

Watching my friend struggle with her job and her personal life at the same time. We need balance, if work is difficult your home life needs to be solid.

Sadness envelopes me when I think about my family as a child and miss everyone my heart swellsand biomes heavy – not because they are gone and don’t respond but because of the time we had together as a family – those days have passed.

Becomes heavy when I was 37 years old my husband had open heart surgery, I was looking at being a window at under 40, I was fearful my daughter would grow up without her dad

I have people in my life that are unkind, unkind to the people I love deeply – these people are mean spirited and passive aggressive and cross the line too much to count and as such I choose not to include them to save my heart from further pain.

Mental illness to me is all of these things and if we allow ourselves to be crushed by sadness, hope, disparity, strength….this will happen, mental illness will set in and conquer our lives. What we need to do is to embrace it, live it, let is fester for it’s time and then forgive it leave it by the curb and become more whole than you ever have as this is now part of you. the heavy ness of this moment, this person, this loss, this love. I have my moments, with Christmas just passed and not seeing my mom for another Christmas. BUT reaching out to the people who matter, and who you matter to is the most important.

BUT i have friends that fill up my days, and I’m open to trying, buying, eating, drinking, talking, playing, being together – saying yes when asked. Being the Asker because I need to be purposeful and fulfilled. Love life more and be better, do more and be stronger for it.

Mental Illness is our cognitive thinking skills, can we presume we know what someone is thinking, yes of course, is it accurate to the depths we want to perceive it to be, likely not. It maybe close but it’s not the everything.

For me I need to be with people, from what I know about M.I. is that it’s a lonely spot to be in, it’s cold and isolated. When you’re with people you feel warm and cared for – this matters. You matter. we need to matter to people and to the most important person – ourselves.

I lost one of the most important people to me a year ago and I have this whole in my heart even when I write this – no tears now as time has healed this emotion of breaking my barrier of tears BUT I feel sad that she’s no longer in my life, I feel like a void is truly there – she was a friend, a dear sweet, non deserving friend to be taken by cancer…BUT i’m stronger for knowing her, perhaps better to as she taught me to have more fun in life and enjoy life just a bit more.

Make life easier on ourselves and our best people. Think of these best people and why they are important, how they make you feel – why they are in your life and cherish these moments with them.

Reflect on Mental Illness, use these life trials as a ladder to build up our character, get that fodder in our lives for us to share amongst our best people at the dinner table to better our friendships. you never know who is going through these moments in life so give someone just a bit more patience do a little better to make life easier for someone else. and remember you are not alone.

thank you Valerie Moss, Valerie’s Variety Podcast

Mental Illness Podcast Challenge

stop the stigma

Thank you for listening taking a spot out of your day to be with me and to give me your time, I truly appreciate it. Think about your friends and family who are going through some hard times, give them a text, email or a call to say hi and check in – they may not respond but you can guarantee they loved hearing from you. Thank you to River for putting this Mental Health Podcast challenge out there , thanks to my friend Amber for editing this episode. Thanks to London for the intro and outro. Please share your thoughts with me…in confidence if you have a story you’d like to share about mental illness, I’ve love to be your support to hear your story.

January 15, 2019January 19, 2021

Friends – e34s1

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episode 34 season 1

FRIENDS

what does this mean, trust
Being in the moment, always

What does it mean to have a friend to have trust?

Since living in Calgary for the last 20 years I look around and feel totally amazed by the people I’ve met. Friendships that I savour. So many people impact me on a daily basis. Recently I went on a trip to Vancouver. The night before I left I got to enjoy my friend’s company. This friend isn’t like just any friend. She’s my best friend. When I think of her and be with her there’s usually tears. Happy and sad. She’s a deep thinker she’s sensitive and grounded. She’s empowered more now then ever. She’s the kind of friend who When you reach out to her no matter what time/day or moment she’s there. I adore her so. Amber.

This evening gave me reflection on the beauty of this friendship.

I want to know about your friend.

Who do you have in your life, the guys listening to this – who do you truly connect with? Colleagues? Your kids? Wife? Ladies who do you have? Tell me your story about your friend that you cannot live without. What’s different that stands out that makes this connection between you two – a string that binds your souls together? That person.

Moving to Calgary and Chestermere where I became a mom surrounded by a group of women going through the ins and outs of being a new mom, parent to this little perfect being. Having this group to share our moments with in a safe place environment with each other is our moment. I’ve met people that have moved me to my core. Things that people have done these little things that have made my heart redder and fuller. I love how life introduces us to these moments that when they happen you are different maybe smarter maybe prouder maybe better perhaps.

The older I get the more I look for the deeper meaning of life – no this isn’t a country song – not quantity but quality. I love things and I’m passionate excitable heart on my sleeve – all the time. I love silly moments. Drinking to much – sewing all night long. Getting lost in music for hours. Having dance parties. Being girly and pretty with my daughter. Karaoke-ing with my dad. My husband means more to me now then yesterday and even when we met. He gets me and makes me feel amazing. I hope I return the sentiments as deeply.

Trust is where this lies for me. It’s my measuring stick. Trust is it. You betray my trust and I can’t forgive you. It’s not that I haven’t tried it’s that it’s broken forever. That twig has snapped. the last 5 years has put this trust module /tactic / bad sore to the test. What do you measure this with. What’s your sizing chart? What’s your breaking stick?

You know when you lean on people for direction and leadership and they betray you? I am always shocked by this how can they do this to me? They are selfish or pull this rug out from under you and you are once again in your own two feet- it’s you in the end. Trust yourself first.

While listening to A Star is Born Soundtrack with the sun on my face sitting in seat 10 a the mountains couldn’t be clearer. Love Calgary for this Dec day that’s sunny/ Chinook in the horizon and being lucky enough to be travelling to Vancouver to celebrate another Christmas with this company. My seat mates are headed to Maui.

Calgary feels betrayed by Canada. Calgary has done so much for this amazing country. We-Calgary gives back like no other province. We are the givers and have always been a ‘have’ province. Now, I’m not the one who talk politics, talks government but I have come across two amazing write-ups lately that I wanted to shares with you as the timing is incredible for our Calgary and our world.

The first is written by anonymous my friend from junior high Shawn shared this in fb and I wanted to pay it forward as I think it sums up the betrayal Calgary and Alberta feels from Canada. In terms that are sharp and to the point!

by Anonymous

As we stand tall in yet another bust where the layoff papers again start to roll out. People watch the pumps dip below a $1.00 yet again. With the excitement of cheap gas without a care as to what’s happening behind that dollar.
We watch those rigs get stacked and trucks head home and the people of this province again can do nothing but watch as the government holds the men and women of this province at a hostage state.
No pipelines they said. No rail cars they said. No coal they said. Thousands of people laid off, and downtown Calgary sitting at a 50% vacancy rate.
Some people across the country far too satisfied at the thought of the energy sector being shut down. Yay solar panels and windmills.
Well I hate to bring the bad news Canada but windmills won’t be paying you $19 billion in equalization payments.
Some of you may not understand what an equalization payment is so I want you to think of it as child support. Alberta makes more money than the rest of the country. So we pay you child support so your province can do just a little better in life. We take care of our “have not” children. That’s right Quebec… you should really rethink the divorce as you see about 62% of that number alone.
Alberta has carried this country and many of the other provinces for years.
Now, as Alberta struggles no one is around. Not even the government that has cut off our ability to transport but has said they will not revisit the equalization payments.
So you want Albertas tax payers to pay about $3 billion towards equalization payments… on unemployment? Because that’s the reality. You will not be getting $3 billion from tax payers to hand over to the provinces who so terribly voted red when no one has a damn job.
You will not be seeing anything but Alberta crash and burn just a little more. No pun intended but hey while on that topic, thanks for the help on the Fort Mac fires! ?
If that is satisfactory to you and if the number at the pumps is making you happy, well just wait because as we have seen time and time again the energy sector is just the first domino. It will travel down, and soon all industries will face difficult times. Every single person across this country will face the reality of Alberta struggling.
When you face a lay-off, when you face the choice of food or electricity, and have to turn to social assistance for just a little help along the way… just remember Alberta was there for you.
Where are you?

…..

Barack Obama written by R.K. Burrice

The second is one of London’s reading books. She’s in grade 2 and it was my time to pick the book and read. I chose Barack Obama written by R.K. Burrice.. By the end of the story I was choked up. Here’s what I learnt about Barack Obama: he’s kind to the core. His mom is white and his dad also named Barack left when he was young. He was raised by his grandparents from the age of 10. He went to Harvard to become a lawyer so he could help change laws. Volunteered to help people learn about jobs- street people low income people – all people, he was collaborative and positive. He wanted to empower people – everybody he worked at all kinds of charities donating his smarts and his personal time. Did I mention he’s kind to the core? He’s always smiling. We miss you Obama. London asked me why this made me have an emotional reaction – hmm how do you explain this one to a 7 year old. I just said he was a kind man and the current president is very different. How would you have answered this?

—

In closing, Be someone people can trust and Rely on. have integrity – be a good person even if no ones watching or measuring. Be that best friend! I’ve been reading this book called Skeletons in my closet it’s written by a Calgary Detective Dave Sweets. He wrote don’t be average be a bit better than average – a bit better is easy. A bit better doesn’t take much effort but the results will show ten fold.

Thanks for listening to the podcast today which as produced and written by me, Valerie Moss, intro and outro recorded by London Moss. Music for this show is provided through GarageBand and today I chose:

Reflection Apreggio
Deep Connection Percussion Snaps
True Heart Plucky Synth
Free Fall Snaps 01
Record Player Scratching
Airplane-134 and Airplane-204 (recorded by me on my flight to Vancouver)
Truck Engine Pull Away 02
Recollection Plus Melody
Tascam 40

If you like this podcast and have a second to give me a rating on iTunes or your podcast app to provide me some feedback I’d love to hear from Leave me a comment on my blog or join my facebook group at Valerei’s Variety Pod – https://www.facebook.com/ValeriesVarietyPod/ or send me a text/email to Valerie@ValerieMoss.ca – I would love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening.

January 8, 2019January 19, 2021

TmTs – Pure Vietnamese Kitchen – e33s1

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episode 33 season 1

100th: 33 Pure Vietnamese Kitchen — a top pick for Vietnamese

Welcome back to Vsquared and this weeks TMT episode, we are reviewing a fabulous Vietnamese restaurant. The food here is likely the best Vietnamese we’ve come upon and this is with us searching hard for the best spot. I’ve been under the weather with a head cold and always need a nice bowl of chicken noodle soup – preferably my dads soup but..in a pinch this one works great.

The place is call Pure, Contemporary Vietnamese Kitchen + Bar located at 815 – 8 Avenue SW

Parking

To get to this downtown spot, there generally plenty of street parking 0 but Parking was a challenge on this day and if I was driving, I would have given up, but since Jeff was driving and wanting to keep his wife happy – we persevered. Finding parking a few blocks away and walking into this great place was worth it!

Starter

We started with an appetizer, the salt and pepper squid – lightly fried with a medley of peppers sliced just so, and other spices sprinkled on top the 3 of us gobbled this up!

Soup

I ordered the Chicken Noodle soup, now when you think of this soup you picture Lipton – red and yellow box from when were were kids likely, but this soup is filled with medleys like green onions, friend dried onion, cilantro, mint and more, plus sprouts already placed in the soup and a separate dish of crispy chicken, with a side of pea shoot salad topped with a light airy sweet dressing , it’s so good. London and I shared the soup.

Lemongrass

Jeff ordered the Lemongrass Shrimp vermicelli bowl, lots of bits of nuts, seasoning, fresh lemon grass, mint and cilantro sprinkled throughout, a single vegetarian spring roll cut diagonally on the side topped with carrots julienned amongst other vegetables. Truly a work of art on his plate.

Dishes

Love the dishes here, they are all pottery style with beautiful shapes and colours, they split up my soup into two gorgeous bowls for us to share, matching side plate for the chicken. Charming dinnerware, makes it feel more like home when you eat off of dishes that are so pretty.

Thanks for listening to this TmT segment and this quick restaurant review, enjoy your time when you stop in and eat here, it won’t disappoint. Let me know how your experience was. Where is your favourite Vietnamese place and why? We are always searching for the next best eatery – so please let me know.

Thanks for listening. The intro and outro for this podcast is recorded by London Moss, the music I chose for the background is call Pure Love Synth 01 nicely reflecting the name of our chosen restaurant today, the bubbling soup is also recorded by me Valerie Moss.