10 Things I Am Grateful For This Thanksgiving


grateful

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to take some time to talk about the 10 things that I am grateful for in my life. This Thanksgiving, there are over 245,000 families who will be missing their loved ones due to their demise from COVID. This Thanksgiving will not be the same.

My Parents:

The most important thing that I am grateful for in my life is my parents. I am grateful for having the kindest and most supportive parents in my life. They are more than my parents, they are my friends. I can always share my feelings with them without worrying about being judged. I am so grateful to have parents who have supported me every step of my life, from deciding not to go to medical school, to deciding about my life choice. They have supported me during every decision I made in life.

My Sister:

I am also so grateful to have a sister who is not only my sister but also my best friend. You are lucky to have siblings. However, if your sibling is your best friend then that’s the icing on the cake. My sister has been there more me at every step of my life. She brings joy and adventure to my life. It is because of my sister and my parents that made the whole lockdown and pandemic bearable. My family gave my life meaning. My sister is the rock in my life.

Extended Family:

I am very fortunate to have a close relationship with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. My family is so supportive of each other. Last week when my mom was in the hospital, immunocompromised and fighting the infection in her blood, it was my family that came to our side with supportive hands. They video-chatted every day to give us support, prayed for my mom’s swift recovery, and when my mom came home, brought food for us so that we didn’t have to cook. I am grateful to have such a caring family.

Friends:

Besides my parents, sister, and other families, I am extremely grateful to have supportive friends. I am very fortunate to have friends who keep me sane and are a great listener. They have been there for me and supported me. Even when I was having hard times, they listened to me for ours was there to give a supportive shoulder to lean on. What else you can ask for. I am so grateful to have them in my life. I may not see them often, but I am extremely thankful to my friends for being them.

My Life:

I am extremely grateful for my life. No matter how you think it is, your life is a gift. There are so many individuals who didn’t get a chance to make it as far as I did. The pandemic has taken people much younger than me. Natural disasters, disease, poverty claim the lives of thousands of people each year. I am lucky to be alive. I am grateful that I got to live, to survive, be able to dream, to love, to share. I am grateful for my life.

Roof Over My Head and Food On My Table:

There are so many people out there who don’t have a place to live in or praying every day that they don’t get evicted from their homes for their inability to pay rent/mortgage. After the 2008 recession, I visited so many foreclosed homes where the family had to live things behind. I cried each time and could feel the pain of each of the families. Even now, there are so many people who don’t know if they will able to pay next month’s mortgage/rent or be able to put food on their tables. I am devastated by the long lines in front of food banks. I am extremely grateful that I have a place to live in and food to eat.

My Health:

We often take our health for granted. However, watching the devastating effect of the coronavirus pandemic, and my mom’s health deterioration, I no longer take my health for granted. I am blessed with better health than most people in the world. Do I get sick? Yes, I am even currently dealing with a couple of serious health issues, but I consider myself healthier than most people. I try to take of my health through a balanced diet, exercise, meditation. I am so grateful to have a healthy mind and body that allows me to enjoy life.

My Mistakes

Without my mistakes in life, I would not have learned some of the most valuable lessons that I had from them. It is our most difficult situations and mistakes in life that teach us the most. I am who I am because of all the mistakes I have made in life and the lessons that taught me. I am grateful for the pains that I have endured, and what I have learned from the mistakes I made.

My Career:

With so much unemployment, I am grateful for my career and the wonderful mentors that I have met in my career so far. I am stronger because of my experience. I am mindful because of my work and I am grateful to have the chance to make some real difference in the world. My career is my passion and it gives my life dreams and hopes for the future.

My Education:

Not many people are fortunate enough to have two graduate degrees from the University of their dreams. I am fortunate, to be that person. There are places in this world where people are not allowed to have an education, especially girls. The one big example that comes to me is that of the story of Malala, a Nobel peace prize winner. She was shot by the Taliban because she fought to be educated. Not every girl is that fortunate. Hence, I am grateful for given the opportunity to be educated.

My Right to Vote:

Now more than ever, I am grateful for my right to vote. Without that right, we can be certain that our voice will be silenced forever with the death of democracy and liberty. The right to vote is the fundamental way we can ensure that our voice echoes louder in the chamber of democracy. I never take my vote for granted and I make sure that I am grateful for the right to get my voice heard. It’s the bedrock of our society, our democracy. I am grateful to have to opportunity to see first hand how mass exercise of the right to vote will push out any threat to our democracy.

Question:

What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? Please comment below.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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covid

COVID-19 Update and A Plea


COVID 19:

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe! Today I want to share an urgent public health message about saving lives! Please read this message and share with everyone you know. I am not trying to sell anything just want to advocate a crucial public health message.

Current Health Crisis:

Currently, in the US, over 10.6 million people are infected and over 243,000 died from COVID. The upward trajectory of coronavirus cases in the U.S. continued yesterday with the country setting a new mark with more than 160,000 new infections, according to Johns Hopkins University data. This came just days after the US reached 1 million cases in November alone, and COVID-19 hospitalizations surpassed 60,000 for the first time. Hospitalizations have more than doubled in less than two months, the COVID Tracking Project reported Wednesday.

According to the USA today report from Wednesday, Almost 62,000 Americans were hospitalized because of COVID-19 on Tuesday. A record number of 65,368 hospitalization due to COVID occurred on Wednesday. The previous record for hospitalizations was 59,780 on April 12, after which the number began a gradual decline that reached 28,608 on Sept. 20. Since then, however, the number has been rising steadily. Finally, there were 1,893 coronavirus related deaths on Veteran’s Day.

As an Epidemiologist, I can tell you this is devastating and horrifying. Across the US, hospitals are facing severe constraints in the weeks ahead. This is to the point that hospitals are transferring adult COVID patients to pediatric hospitals to take of the patients. Imagine this, you are a pediatric nurse having to take care of an adult patient with COVID. I have worked at a pediatric hospital for a decade and the only adult I have seen in the hospital with unique congenital diseases who have been seeing the same specialist all their lives. As an adult patient, you want to be treated in a place where the healthcare providers are specialized in the adult population.

It has been clearly established, over the past nine months, that wearing masks and social distancing is key to prevent further infection. How hard is that to understand.

Population Behavioral Changes Critical to Combat Coronavirus:

We wear a seatbelt when we drive because it keeps us and everyone else protected. Among drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. Seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash. So why can’t we do the same for the mask? The US is already hitting over 100,000 new cases per day.

From Emergency Medicine Journal – The BMJ

In public health, for every prevention program to be successful, behavioral changes in the population, whether it’s getting vaccine on time, or practice social distancing, is critical. Hence, to combat the COVID pandemic, behavior changes, such as following social distancing, wear masks. washing hands and good hygiene, and avoiding social gathering, are critical.

Below you will find the guidelines provided by CDC on mask-wearing and social distancing:

Current Research On Mask:

According to the CDC, multi-layer cloth masks block the release of exhaled respiratory particles into the environment. Cloth masks not only effectively block most large droplets but they can also block the exhalation of fine droplets and particles which increase in number with the volume of speech. Studies demonstrate that cloth mask materials can also reduce wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets through filtration, including filtration of fine droplets and particles

A study done in Thailand showed that, among more than 1,000 people, who reported having always worn a mask during high-risk exposures experienced a greater than 70% reduced risk of acquiring infection compared with persons who did not wear masks under these circumstances. Similarly, a study of an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, an environment notable for congregate living quarters and close working environments found that the use of face coverings on-board was associated with a 70% reduced risk.

Lesson Learned:

Experimental and epidemiological data support community masking to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The prevention benefit of masking is derived from the combination of source control and personal protection for the mask wearer. The relationship between source control and personal protection is likely complementary and possibly interdependent so that individual benefit increases with increasing community mask use.

My dear lovelies. We are at a critical point of the pandemic with the cold season and the start of the flu season. There is a kid out there who is worried sick about his/her mom/dad fighting to survive in the hospital. Just imagine that. Watching my mom fighting for her life, made me think about this more and more. We have to do better, for the worried children, for the thousands of frontline healthcare professionals, who put their lives and that of their loved ones to take care of the sick. They are exhausted.

My friends, we are all exhausted. However, we all have to do better for our children, our parents, and thousands of essential workers who are keeping the country going. Saying thank you is not enough, we all have to be serious and make a serious behavioral change to combat the pandemic. We have to do this for our families, our neighbors, our community, our country. Now I think about JFK’s famous quote more than ever: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.

Conclusion:

My dear lovelies! Our kids, our families, neighbors, communities, and our country is looking at us with hopeful eyes, asking if we are going to make the right choice for them. I say yes? Are you? I leave the decision up to you. However, before you make a decision just remember the most conservative models show at least another 200,000 COVID-related death by February 1, 2021. Think about it. I am talking about 200,000 parents, children, grandparents, loved ones. I have watched my loved ones fighting for their lives and survived COVID. In fact, my aunt’s entire family is fighting to combat COVID.

What will you do to protect your children, partners, parents, grandparents, neighbors, community, and your country. I leave the ball on your court. What will you do?

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How My Spiritual Beliefs and Meditation Came to My Rescue


Meditation:

meditation

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today I want to share with you the importance of spiritual beliefs and meditation in my life.

Spiritual and Focused & Mindfulness Meditation:

Past week my mom was in the hospital with infection in her blood. Her underlying lung disease and immunosuppressant medications have her very susceptible to infection which has a high probability taking in turn for the worse. My heartrate in the high 120s and 130s told me how stressed I was. Additionally, the anxiety of the outcome of the election, on top of everything else, made me particularly vulnerable to anxiety and uncontrollable stress.

However, during this time of hardship and constant anxiety, my spiritual beliefs, and meditation, came to my rescue. They gave me feelings of optimism towards the future, and get back to the present moment. As you know, I already rely on meditation a lot for intentional living and the past week, spiritual meditation has been an added comport during times of distress.

My Experience Allowed Me to Feel A Special Connection:

The reason I am bringing this up is due to the current health and humanitarian crisis of coronavirus. Over 241,000 individuals have died from COVID-19, and over 10.4 million are infected with the virus. The past week, all I could think of are the over 241,000 families who lost loved one and over 10.4 million who witched their loved ones deal to the pandemic first hand. For the first time, in months, I was succumbed by overwhelming grief and anxiety. I never felt so close to these over 10.4 million families than I felt last week.

Nevertheless, when meditation alone was not addressing my distress, I turned to spiritual healing. Meditation allowed me to acknowledge the stressors but I needed more to be the support for my mom that she needed to fight for her life. I believe in God but I don’t see myself as a very religious person. However, I relied heavily on spiritual guidance. I started praying everyday and such spiritual meditation has given me hope and the strength to go on. It also strengthened my beliefs to help my mom and deal with the anxiety of the election.

How My Experience Helped My Mom?

My dear lovelies! As I have mentioned in previous post, there are various types of meditation and there is not one right or wrong way to meditate. I relied lot more on meditative music, and praying (spiritual meditation) this time around that made all the difference. My new found strength not only helped me but my mom as well. Every time, she her oxygen level dropped, even with supplemental oxygen, meditation came to the rescue, which lowered her high respiration rate (number of breathing per minute) and helped her find comfort.

Music has many wonderful benefits for stress management and overall health. It can help you calm your physiology without making a conscious effort, and that can alleviate stress from your mind. Music can also lift your mood, slow your breathing, and create other stress-inducing changes. I certainly experienced those benefits myself.

Conclusion:

My mom is at home now and relies a lot on spiritual and guided meditations. I have to thank meditation for that, whether in form of guided meditation or spiritual meditation in form of praying. In conclusion, my recent encounter with family crisis and national political turmoil was very educational, as I have learned to address both through both focused and mindfulness meditations and spiritual meditation.

Question:

Have you reached a similar crossroad in your own life. If yes, what did you do to overcome your stressors? Please respond in the comment section below.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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election

History In Making: 2020 Election


Historic Election:

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! I hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, we are likely waiting to witness history in making during the 2020 Election.

Election 2020:

The election 2020 has been a historic one by itself, due to its occurrence during a pandemic that has killed over 231,000 people in the US and infected millions. Having a major election during a deadly pandemic is historic in nature because the safety of the citizens is in concern.

Nevertheless, this election created another history, with the sheer number of votes. The record number of votes makes this election especially historic. No matter the outcome, we all should be grateful and happy for the record number of participants showing our democratic process in action.

election
People wait in a long line on October 13, 2020, to vote at an early voting location at the Renaissance Austin Hotel in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/TNS)

In addition, the hundreds and thousands of volunteers who are working days and nights to count all the votes is remarkable by itself. This is what true democracy is all about. It’s where the citizens stand in lines for hours and send their votes in mail-in record number and all the volunteers working day and night to count every single legal vote.

The biggest history during this election is that if the current trends continue, we are on the verge of having the oldest president during the election, and the first female vice president, or the first African American vice president, and the first Asian American vice president. Every girl who is currently watching TV will be saying “Maybe I can be a vice president too”. In the era of me too movement, and the gender equality fight, it is empowering to see the first vice president, the first vice president of color.

My dear beautiful lovelies! No matter, which side you are on, or who you support, thank you for going out in record numbers and stand in lines for hours to vote. Thank you for sending your mail-in ballot early and on time to cast your ballot. Thank you, for exercising your right to vote and roaring your way to the ballot boxes, and the ballot drop boxes. Thank you.

In the meantime, please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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election day

Election Day: Anxiety is Mounting


election day

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. After a lot of anticipation, the day is finally here. It’s election day.

2020 Election Day is Here:

After months of debates, campaigning, election day is finally here. I am feeling anxious, feeling a butterfly in my stomach. Yes, my friends, I am feeling the election day jitters. Even with intentional living, I am feeling anxious, why? I am human and I am not perfect. I don’t expect to be. With mounts of anxiety running with my veins and heart, I am trying to work.

An unprecedented amount of almost 100 million Americans have cast their vote already. That’s 73% of 2016 total votes. As we have seen already, from our leaders has filed several lawsuits to suppress the vote. If that does not motivate you to exercise your right to vote, then what will? Every day, I have been talking to people and motivating them to vote if they have not so.

My dear lovelies! I am going to be short and to the point today. As you have seen in the news, this election, one roadblock after another has been placed to block people from voting. We have seen the attempt to toss 127,000 votes. When my vote is being suppressed, I rise up!

What will you do? Will you take all that, or will you rise up and show the oppressors, “Not my vote”. If your answer is later, rise up, and go out in record number to vote and say, “this is my vote and I will not let anyone suppress it. Don’t wake up tomorrow regretting your decision not to vote. Go out and vote, if you have not done already.

n the meantime, please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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Less 24 Hours Till The Critical Vote Begins


Vote:

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. With less than 24 hours left till the beginning of the crucial votes. If you have not voted already please do it on Election Day as if your life depends on it.

Why We Vote?

The law does not require all citizens to vote. However, voting is a very important part of any democracy. By voting, we are participating in the democratic process. We vote for leaders to represent us and our ideas, and the leaders support our interests. If we do not vote, we are essentially giving those leaders blanket incentive to represent their own interest over ours.

We have seen that all too often after the 2016 election. In the past four years, we saw how the elected officials put their and their party’s interests before ours. Most of all, they think that they can get away with anything. Moreover, voter suppression is a problem in many parts of the country. Some politicians try to win reelection by making it harder for certain populations and demographics to vote. For example, in Texas, the leaders decided to have one ballot box per county.

Why Does Your Vote Matter?

If you think that your one vote in a sea of millions cannot make much of a difference, consider some of the closest elections in U.S. history. In 2000, Al Gore narrowly lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush. The election came down to a recount in Florida, where Bush had won the popular vote by such a small margin that it triggered an automatic recount and a Supreme Court case (Bush v. Gore). In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state or 537 votes. Now imagine, had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that November, there may have been an entirely different president from 2000–2008.

Similarly, during the 2016 election, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by securing a close Electoral College win. Although the election did not come down to a handful of votes in one state, Trump’s votes in the Electoral College decided a tight race. Clinton had won the national popular vote by nearly three million votes, but the concentration of Trump voters in key districts in “swing” states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan helped seal enough electoral votes to win the presidency.

Your Vote Matters:

Your one vote may not directly elect the president, but if your vote joins enough others in your voting district or county, your vote undoubtedly matters when it comes to electoral results. Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights.

Plea:

It is my utmost plea to you, don’t sit at home this election. If you have not voted yet, please vote. Your vote matters. In 2000, 537 votes decided the outcome of the election. Please don’t let history repeat itself. Vote in honor of the over 230,000 lives lost this year. Vote for your ancestors who didn’t enjoy the same rights and freedoms that we had. Please vote for our future and our children’s future. Together we can overcome and conquer anything.

From Emergency Medicine Journal – The BMJ

Let’s make the political leaders accountable for their actions. I voted to honor my mom, whose progression of pre-existing conditions during the pandemic has landed her in the hospital. Every day I see the faces of all those who lost their battle with COVID-19, and I tell myself enough is enough. With my vote, I am telling Washington, they can’t get away with playing with our lives. If you don’t deliver, you are fired.

My dear lovelies! I have received the official email that my mail-in vote has been officially counted. What will you do? Are you ready to get your voice heard loud and clear? I leave the ball on your court now.

In the meantime, please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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Boxycharm October 2020 Premium Box


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you all are doing well and staying safe. Today, I will share you my review of October 2020 Boxycharm Premium Box.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Brow MVP ($20):

  • Boxycharm

This is an ultra-fine, retractable brow pencil made for hair-like precision, born in a groundbreaking range of 14 long-wear, waterproof, smudge-resistant shades—plus a built-in paddle brush for effortless blending and styling.

  • boxycharm box

I am not a big fan of brow pen but you do a more precise and natural look brow.

Kosas Tinted Oil Foundation ($42)

Clean, comfy makeup and active skincare blend that is made with six nourishing botanical oils to moisturize and even tone.

I myself didn’t like this foundation. After using it, for the first time in years, my face broke out. I will not recommend this perfume. It’s too oily for me.

Illuminati Cosmetics X Is A Eyeshadow ($48)

With multiple formulas ranging from creamy mattes, fine shimmers, rich glitters, and textured holographic shadows going from a soft-pastel day time look, to a sultry-glam night time look has never been easier with our ILLUMINATI X ISA Glam palette!

I like the colors but the glitter ones are very light, while the matte ones are bold. Hence, I am not too enthusiastic about this palette.

Murad Hydrating Toner ($35):

It is an alcohol-free toner that replenishes lost moisture to refresh skin and prepare it for treatment. It balances skin’s pH while lifting impurities

My skin feels soft as if I put lotion on with just the toner. I love that it doesn’t burn and smells so gentle and yummy. It is so refreshing and instantly cooling. I love applying it in the morning before my serum!

Go-To Skincare Exfoliating Swipeys ($35)

Single-use exfoliating pads soaked in an all-natural solution that gets rid of dead skin cells and hydrates the skin.

Exfoliation is an enormously vital part of any skincare routine, but not all exfoliation is equal. A chemical exfoliator, for example, (which uses naturally-occurring acids to remove dead skin cells, usually AHAs or BHAs) tends to give a far more thorough, even result than scrubbing your face with harsh, jagged particles. Which is why we much prefer it.

This product is a combination of the well-documented effectiveness of lactic acid, the most gentle of all AHAs, with ultra-hydrating essential oils to create a face exfoliator that thoroughly removes dead skin cells (the cause of dull skin and congestion), refines skin texture, minimizes the appearance of fine lines and deeply moisturizes. And all in 60 seconds, and using just one sweet, disposable little cotton pad.

My dear lovelies! What do you think about the October 2020 box? Please comment below. If you like what you see, check out the Boxycharm website, and use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII.

In the meantime, please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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covid-19

COVID-19 and Its Detrimental Affect on Health Disparities


Hi there my lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I will updated you on COVID-19 in the US and health disparities it has revealed.

COVID-19 Update

As of the last data from Johns Hopkins University, over 227,000 Americans died from COVID-19, while 8.8 million are infected. In addition, just on 10/27/2020, over 985 people died from COVID-19, while 73,240 individuals were newly infected with COVID-19. That my friend is a big wave coming to down us.

The above figures do not show the number is US for October 27. However, according to CDC, on October 27th, there were 72,183 new infections and 901 death. In other words on October 27th, the United States had 20% of global new cases, and 19.5% of global death due to COVID-19. The US only represent 4% of global population but 20% of global new infections and death.

What is surprising, we hear about eminent hurricane and/or Tsunami warnings, we do everything possible to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our possessions. Why can’t we do the same for COVID-19? After all, COVID is killing so much more than an average hurricane. Why are we putting us and our loved ones on harm’s way? Those who advocate for their 2nd amendment right to carry fire arms, would not hesitate to use that gun to protect themselves and their family. Yet, we are drowning ourselves with accelerant and playing with fires. When did we start losing our basic moral compass?

Virus Spread Prevention:

As Thanksgiving is coming around, we are all struggling to decide what to do. As for me, it’s simple. Do a Zoom Thanksgiving gathering. The most important thing is to keep my loved ones and my extended family safe. I do not want to be responsible for any possible outcome of family gathering. I rather have them be safe and gather virtually from in the comfort of their own socially distant homes.

COVID-19 and Healthcare Vulnerabilities:

COVID-19 has revealed some key vulnerabilities of our healthcare system. It is racial disparities. What is racial disparities? It’s when one race is affected disproportionately than another. We have seen that with various cancers such as cervical cancer (co-authors by me and accepted for publication). No part of the US has been fully spared. Nonetheless the burdens of the pandemic are unequally distributed. At every point, from initial infection to intensive care, COVID-19 exposed disparities by race/ethnicity and immigration status, by income and wealth.

According to CDC, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black individuals are five times more likely, and Latin individuals four times more likely, to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than are non-Hispanic Whites. Low-income Americans are more likely to experience comorbidities, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease that make COVID-19 more burdensome and lethal. Immigrants represent 15 percent of the US labor force; one-third of these workers are undocumented. Almost three-quarters of undocumented immigrants work in essential, often people-facing, roles. Many immigrants face additional risks because they reside in crowded households.

According to a New York Times article, roughly 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the US, at least 77,000, have occurred in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. More than 760 nursing home staff members have died, making this one of the most dangerous occupations in the US. Moreover, according to Health Affairs, Right now, facilities that are less Medicaid-dependent with higher-quality ratings are less likely to report shortages of staff or protective equipment, suggesting that we will see widening COVID-19 disparities within the long-term care population and among the staff who serve them.

Furthermore, disparities are also seen increasing with proficiency and intensity of care. Critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals with fewer than 50 ICU beds were markedly 3 times more likely to die than were patients admitted to larger hospitals according to an article published in the Journal of American Medical Association Internal Medicine, on July, 2020.

From Emergency Medicine Journal – The BMJ

As studies have shown that the frequency of prone positioning (putting patient on their stomach) —a key evidence-based therapy for COVID-19 patients at risk from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)—ranged from almost 5 percent at one hospital to nearly 80 percent at another.

Such disparities align with other social and economic cleavages. Additionally, another study published in Health Affairs on August, 2020 revealed that there was a large gap in access to COVID-19 care by income: 49 percent of the lowest-income communities had no ICU beds in their communities, whereas only 3 percent of the highest-income communities had no ICU beds.

Access to Care:

The failures and successes of our national COVID-19 response underscore the need for a nationally coordinated, administratively capable, emergency response and public health system at every level of government. This disproportionate impact is linked to poverty, crowded housing, and other social determinants. Many low-income workers are ineligible for unemployment insurance or are uninsured. Although people can obtain free testing and some free COVID-19-related care, many avoid medical care, fearing its financial burdens. In addition, many avoid testing, in part due to practical logistical barriers, in part due to fears regarding the implications of a positive result. Without social insurance protections, many continue to work even when they experience symptoms of COVID-19.

When it comes to access care, the submarket Medicaid reimbursement doubly undermines ICU care. Medicaid-dependent hospitals lack funding to support facilities and staff. Hospitals with greater resources are correspondingly hesitant to fill this gap by accepting transfers of Medicaid patients. Long-term federal commitment to provide Medicare rather than Medicaid reimbursement rates—at minimum during public health emergencies—would reduce these barriers. Furthermore, the federal government leaves states and localities to foot the majority of our public health care bill. A state-federal matching formula similar to Medicaid would provide greater incentives for states to do more.

A sustainable funding model requires a geographically and ideologically diverse national coalition that will defend public health investments once the immediate emergency has passed (As mentioned by Eric M. Patashnik on Unhealthy Politics The Battle Over Evidence-Based Medicine (ISBN: 9780691203225). The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides a humbling example. The ACA included supports for worthy endeavors in health care outcomes research and in the prevention and public health fund.

Moreover, Public health requires sustained investment in the social work profession and workforce. Building relationship and engagement with vulnerable people, communities, and groups, helping people gain access to basic resources and reduce personal risks—these are core tasks of the social work profession, shamefully underused and under resourced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My dear lovelies, as mentioned in Health Affairs, we can’t turn back the clock to undo our missteps in addressing COVID-19; nor can we undo decades of public health infrastructure neglect. We can still learn from the tragedy and build on our best responses. We owe that to over 227,000 fellow Americans (and counting), whose lives were so tragically, and often so needlessly, lost this year.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

In the meantime, please check out my other posts about pandemic: COVID-19 and Children, COVID-19 Update, Hypocrisy of Washington, and Wear a Damn Mask.

2020-11-03T00:01:00

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2020 Election Day

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The Hypocrisy of Washington


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to update on COVID-19 and the hypocrisy of Washington leaders, and the current administration.

Coronavirus Update:

Washington

As of this moment, according Johns Hopkins University, 225,239 have died due to the coronavirus in the United States, and 8,636,995 Americans have been infected so far. Worldwide the number is 1,154,857 dead and 43,117,883 infection. As I have mentioned earlier, the US represent only 4% of the world’s population but over 20% of total COVID-19 infection worldwide.

I never thought in my life that the US will be in this situation compared to the rest of the world. For decades, we have warned about another pandemic but did not see the outcome to this extent as the one we are seeing so far. When did we become so complacent?

What is most amazing is that as, frontline essential and health workers sacrificing so much to keep everyone safe, the administration is ignoring the basic CDC and the Task Force recommendation. When did we become complacent to so much hypocrisy?

Washington Politics

As you have seen in the recent news that four of this administration’s inner circle have been infected with COVID-19, exposing the leaders to the virus. If we follow the basic CDC and the Task Force recommendation, if you come in contact with someone who has been infected with the coronavirus, you have to quarantine for at least 14 days. Nevertheless, we see the top of leaders of this administration holding a large rallies, and plan to hold more during the 8 days before the General Election of 2020.

Why is it that the current administration and Washington politicians are acting as if they are above everyone else in the United States? My dear lovelies! I try to focus on the big picture, not the politics of things. My focus has always been health, healthcare equity, and population health. Now, things I care about the most are put in jeopardy. Over quarter million Americans are dead and millions are infected with a deadly virus that do not look at politics, race, socioeconomic status or anything else for that matter. So, why does this nations coronavirus task force leader have little regards for the lives of its people?

Everyday, we see the current administration campaigning among large crowd, with little social distancing and blatant regard for the public health guidelines. I cannot imagine what the family of the quarter million Americans are going through.

Moreover, those who survived, many will have a lasting health impact on their health due to COVID-19. My aunt spent over two months in the ICU fighting for her life with ventilator. She was able to beat the virus, but at what cost? She needs to use supplemental oxygen all the time; her other organs are affected. I have also seen a relative loosing her life to the disease.

We know the cost of the pandemic or our daily lives, but we all are taking so much steps and making sacrifices to battle this pandemic and keep our loved ones safe. Why can’t the Washington leaders understand that and show a little sympathy and compassion? Why can’t they lead by example? What has the world has come to? There is a little regards from one another. Has the life of millions of people become dispensable?

My dear lovelies! I am not endorsing one party over another, but lives matter to me. I don’t support one over another, but as part of living with intension, I try to make every decision based on my core values, one of which my compassion for others. Their struggles matter.

In the meantime, please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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My Top 20 Ultimate Motivational Quotes to Inspire Productivity


Motivational Quotes

Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today I will share with you my top 20 motivational quotes that inspire me to get more done every day. Hope these inspiring quotes motivate you to get more things done every day. It is exactly what it does for me.

Motivational Quote One:

“You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.

– Tonny Robbins

Motivational Quotes

Looking at this quote always motivates me to do what do. Even if I feel tired I remind myself if I don’t take any action, things will not get done even if I know what do you. Living with ADHD doesn’t make things easy. Hence, I always have all these inspirational, motivational quotes on the wall so that I can take a look at them throughout the day.

Motivational Quote Two:

“Life is short. Do stuff that matters.”

– Siqi Chen

This is one quote I tell myself all the time. If we have learned from the current pandemic if life is short. It motivates me to do things that matter to me, i.e., spending time with my family, share and connect with others through my blog and YouTube channel.

Motivational Quote Three:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done”.

– Nelson Mandela

This is one of my favorite motivational quotes. My grandfather used to tell me that there is nothing impossible in life if we have the motivation to and in turn, actually take the first step to take the appropriate action.

Motivational Quote Four:

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work”.

– Stephen King

Stephen King is one of my favorite writers with his description stories that awaken our vivid imagination. I love this quote because I know from my experience that waiting for inspiration does not take us to the finish like but working towards it does.

We landed on the moon, invented cures for the most life-threatening diseases because the great heroes got up and went to work on the cure. Even during this current pandemic, our healthcare, and frontline heroes did not wait for inspiration. Instead, they got up and went to work every day so that we could stay home.

Motivational Quote Five:

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

– Franklin Delano Roosevelt 

This is another of my most favorite motivational quotes. Every time I used to get nervous about taking a step, I used to remind myself of the above words of FDR. I would keep going a small step at a time until the finish line.

Motivational Quote Six:

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life”.

– Muhammad Ali

I have seen the importance of the above words of Muhammad Ali in real life. I was stuck on my current job with a low salary because I didn’t want to take the risk to move forward. To me, it was not about money but I just did not want to take any risk if when opportunities arrived. As a result I staying in the same position without any movement and low wage. It took me further and further away from a public health career.

However, when I decided to take the risk, it allowed me to experience the other side of healthcare, meet different people, get exposed to racism at work, and then get the chance to work with some amazing scientists and researchers of this country. If I didn’t decide to finally take the step to explore further, I would not have grown as a person, a public health professional, and a stronger individual.

Motivational Quote Seven:

“Where there’s a will there’s a way”

– English Proverb

This has to be my favorite motivational quote. Since, I can remember whenever I was stuff on something, my grandfather used always say, “when there’s a will there’s a way”. These few words helped me through some very rough times in my life. I always reminded myself complacency is not an option if I want to make changes.

Motivational Quote Eight:

“Don’t allow our doubts of today limit our tomorrow.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

This so true. I have seen it first hand. In order to nurture and awake your spiritual self, you first and foremost need to under that what you think will manifest on your outcome. For example, if you approach preparing for an example with the attitude, “I’m going to do bad on the exam”, that negative attitude with manifest on your preparation and the outcome. Hence, if you start something with the attitude that you will succeed, it will manifest in a successful outcome, because your positive attitude and motivation will lead to the result your are seeking. Hence, before starting anything just remind yourself the above words.

Motivational Quote Nine:

“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

-Oprah Winfrey

This is similar to FDR’s quote. As I have mentioned above, how you approach your actions will manifest in the outcome. If you do your best and have the positive attitude during your action, you will be in the best position for a successful outcome.

Motivational Quote Ten:

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he wo conquers that fear.”

– Nelson Mandela

The biggest evidence of the above words are seen during horrific pandemic. Healthcare workers and other frontline staff triumphed over their fear of catching the virus and/or giving it to their loved ones with COVID-19. It is their relentless bravery that have saved many lives, and allowed us to stay home. Similarly, it is the bravery of our service men and women that keep us safe at home.

Motivational Quote Eleven:

“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.”

– Yvon Chouinard

Your journey in life is more important than your destination. It is those moments that help us grow as a person, and learn. I would not change anything about my journeys, because it was during those times, good and bad, I have learned the important lessons of life and grow as a person.

Motivational Quote Twelve:

“There is no royal, flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it. For if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard.”

– C.J. Walker

The above motivational quote inspires me every day to work hard to achieve my goals. If we are motivated and work hard to achieve our goals we will be successful. It is up to us to create the path towards success. I have seen it happening each and every moment of my life.

Motivational Quote Thirteen:

“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”

– Henry Ford

This is a short much very inspiring motivational quote. Whenever I am stuck on a hard project, I remind myself to break it into small parts and handle one by one. Before I know it, I have finished the project with ease.

Motivational Quote Fourteen:

“All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them,”

– Walt Disney

This is my favorite Walt Disney quote. Throughout history, from Gandhi to Martin Luther King, Jr to all the successful people in this world have got this done, not because they sat on the sideline, but because they decided to get and pursue their goals. They decided to take action.

Motivational Quote Fifteen:

“The hunger for change is the desire to make a change.”

– Laila Gifty Akita

In our current life, we all hungry for change. What are tired of seeing people dying due to a lack of leadership. We are tired of all the negativity and divisiveness. We are tired. However, in order to show our hunger for change we can to desire and work to make the change.

Marching is not enough, we need to take our frustration to the polling place where our voices will be heard loud and clear. Our votes are our voice, our weapon against absurdity. Remember that before deciding to sit at home and not vote for this election. Remember some states were won/lost by only about 10,000 votes. Do you want to be on the right or wrong side of history?

Motivational Quote Sixteen:

“To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.”

– Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

There is a big difference between talking the talk and walking the walk. Those who are successful take the courage to act in accordance with their dreams. They act on their pursuit and they break their goals into small pieces and address one at a time until they have completed the who. They are courageous.

Motivational Quote Seventeen:

While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior.

– Henry Link

We cannot be complacent, we need to learn from our mistakes and take actions for our own betterment. I still remember my grandfather telling me “if you fail try and try again…this is how you will learn”. I cannot me afraid of making mistake. It is our mistake that makes us better.

Motivational Quote Eighteen:

“If spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.

– Bruce Lee

The above words are so true. Every time, when I spend too much time dwelling to something, I never get it done. I just become exhausted and give up. As Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe mentioned, “To think is easy. To act is hard. But the hardest thing in the world is to act in accordance with your thinking.”

Motivational Quote Nineteen:

“You cant be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.”

– Tina Fey

As shown above, acting in accordance with our thinking is the hardest thing to do. As FDR said, “the only fear we should fear is fear itself.” Additionally. as seen this years and during the past four years. The marches, seen all over the years the past few years is hard. However, taking actions based on those beliefs is the hardest. We need to take the ultimate action, vote, to get our voice hard louder and anything else.

Motivational Quote Twenty:

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”

-Pablo Picasso

Motivational Quote

One thing we have learned this year, is life is short and transient. Over 223,000 Americans and over 1.1 million people worldwide died due to COVID-19. Hence, we always have to think that we may not be here tomorrow. We should not leave anything for tomorrow, and it is uncertain. When leaving a task for tomorrow, think if there will be regrets for not getting those think being undone. Just remember you have not have tomorrow.

My dear lovelies! What quotes inspire and motivate you everyday? Please comment below.

In the meantime, please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernij. Are you on Bloglovin? Also please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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