About Me and My Love of Holistic Health

You might be wondering me-the author of this website about Holistic Health. Why should you listen to me? That is a great question!

My name is Carmen, and I'm 49 years old. I am a holistic health practitioner, and I live a natural-holistic lifestyle that suits me. I'm not perfect, but I try real hard. I know how difficult it is to sift through all the information, all the while wondering what is real and what is hype. I know most of us are too busy to take good care of ourselves. I've found ways to integrate holistic health into my lifestyle, and I'm happy to share my own experiences.

I've been a registered nurse for about 30 years. I have been a family nurse practitioner for about 8 years now. I grew up in central Illinois, although I've lived most of my adult life in the southwest (United States) and Hawaii.

I have one son who recently returned from Iraq.

He was in the Army Infantry and was hurt when his Humvee was struck by an IED. You can read more about this experience on my page about depression.

Holistic Health and Me

I have 3 dogs-let's just call this "Empty Nest Syndrome Gone Terribly Wrong." If the dog whisperer did a show about me and my dogs, he may decide to do a multi-part show or maybe devote the season to me. Seriously, they bring me great joy, and helped make my son's deployment in Iraq a little easier to take.

Friends, relatives, and even pets are families. These relationships are integral to a healthy, whole life.

Click here for more information about holistic health and spiritual well-being.

Holistic Health and Me

I'm married to a wonderful guy. We have a great time exploring new places and trying out new things. We like to scuba dive, hike, kayak, tennis and bicycle. We just started golfing and now that we live in Texas, we enjoy learning about the Lone Star State. I write about the importance of relationships and finding your own sacred space because I realize just how important our relationships with others, ourselves and nature are to our happiness.

Holistic Health Lifestyle and Happiness: Is this the big secret?

I work almost full time and spend a lot of my other free time writing and researching this website. I love to write and I've published rather dry professional journal articles. Writing this website is more fun. I like to talk, and once I got over the fear of public speaking, I don't turn down the opportunity. There is nothing quite like sharing your passion with others. This website gives me the opportunity to tell you about the different holistic therapies and products that I've personally used. My health hasn't always been perfect, and I've had the opportunity to actually experience various holistic therapies. There is one thing to study techniques or to become a practitioner, and a whole different thing to be the 'patient.' I'm an avid reader, and I'm delighted to share my opinions about books I've read. This website is written with consideration of the busy person, so I've included as much of my own experience as possible.

Holistic Health and Me

Okay, so where did all the interest in holism begin? The first time I ever heard of holistic nursing was in 1992 when I started working on my masters degree in nursing. I was so excited to find something that suited me perfectly.

But this was not where my passion for holism began. (I just didn't know there was a name for it!)

In 1979, I got my first job as a registered nurse. I had been a nurse's aid all through high school and college, but this was different. I was 20 years old, and was so excited about my future. As you might imagine, I was terribly disappointed. I was given jobs like 'medicine' nurse which meant that I delivered medicines to patients I didn't even have time to talk to. I did this the whole shift long-from 3pm to 11pm. When things got slow over the Christmas holidays, I took some time to cut the hair of one of our patients who had been with us a long time.

Now, back in 1979 patients spent a long time in the hospital-especially the orthopedic wing where I worked. One little lady had been there a long time while her fractured hip healed. She was a nursing home resident and had very few, if any visitors. I recruited a bit of help, and we did a little make-over for her. She smiled so much. It was a great night, and I felt I got to deliver patient care the way I thought it could always be. I was so optimistic, even at a time when 'caring' behavior was discouraged.

When time rolled around for my evaluation, I was actually marked down for 'caring too much.' Because I stopped and talked to patients, gave an occasional hug or little chit chat, it seems I didn't have the makings of a good nurse. Passing medicines without the caring drove me nuts and left me empty. I was considered naive. That naive 20 year old went on to get a master's degree in nursing with a focus on holistic nursing, became certified in holistic nursing and interactive imagery and even published papers about it. I even spoke at national conferences about my experience. Times did change! I'm so pleased that I was a part of the movement to bring 'care' back into health care.

I've had so many patients ask me about ways that they can be more healthy that I decided to put it into a website.

It has grown and grown and not only have I shared what I know-I've learned a lot, too! Lucky for you, this website grows a little bit just about every day. I hope you enjoy it and share it with others!

Thoughts about the website? Please feel free to share your comments with me. Thank you!


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