2015 is here! Welcome!

Hello everyone, now that 2014 is behind us, hope everyone had a pleasant, fun and great night when ringing in 2015. Here are to new beginnings this year. I can’t believe it is the second day already. Time is already flying by. before you know it, we will be putting up our Christmas/Holiday decorations once again. I remember the days when I always wanted to go out for new years and celebrate outdoors or at a banquet hall full of people, but nowadays, I just want to spend a quiet, fun and relaxing time at home with my loved ones with good food, snacks, a few drinks, and unwinding during the holidays is all that is important. I know its fun to get dressed up and to go to parties and everything, but I just don’t feel it anymore. I’d rather be at home all cozy and warm and just relaxing.

I don’t know if you feel the same way as well. To me, new years is just another day with another year added. We should be grateful for the days we have, for the years we are on the planet, and we should be grateful for all the blessings and everything we have. That is the most important thing that people really should focus on. Some people are so into vanity, materialism, and all that stuff, however the true meaning of the holidays and as well as everyday is to count our blessings and be thankful. There are so many unfortunate things happening in our world today, and we should always look at the bigger picture as things can be worse.

Always think positive, look at life in an optimistic way, be happy, live your life. Health, happiness, and positivity is the most important things in life. everything else is secondary. As 2015 is now here, I wish everyone a blessed year ahead and beyond. Lets create more memories, good times, motivate each other, encourage each other, have each others back, and share our stories with one another.

Many blessings and good times to everyone. Best wishes to all!

Cheers to 2015!

Merry Armenian Christmas — Orthodox Christmas

Armenia

Armenians celebrate Christmas (surb tsnunt, Սուրբ Ծնունդ, meaning “saint birth”) on January 6 as a public holiday in Armenia. It also coincides with the Epiphany. Traditionally, Armenians fast during the week leading up to Christmas. Devout Armenians may even refrain from food for the three days leading up to the Christmas Eve, in order to receive the Eucharist on a “pure” stomach. Christmas Eve is particularly rich in traditions. Families gather for the Christmas Eve dinner (khetum, Խթում), which generally consists of: rice, fish, nevik (նուիկ, a vegetable dish of green chard and chick peas), and yogurt/wheat soup (tanabur, թանապուր). Dessert includes dried fruits and nuts, including rojik, which consists of whole shelled walnuts threaded on a string and encased in grape jelly, bastukh (a paper-like confection of grape jelly, cornstarch, and flour), etc. This lighter menu is designed to ease the stomach off the week-long fast and prepare it for the rather more substantial Christmas Day dinner. Children take presents of fruits, nuts, and other candies to older relatives.

It is frequently asked as to why Armenians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25 with the rest of the world. Obviously, the exact date of Christ’s birth has not been historically established—it is not recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ’s birth on January 6 until the fourth century. According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6 to December 25 in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25. At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. In order to undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designated December 25 as the official date of Christmas and January 6 as the feast of Epiphany. However, Armenia was not affected by this change for the simple fact that there were no such pagan practices in Armenia, on that date, and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6 until today.^[42]

In addition to the Christmas tree (tonatsar, Տօնածառ), Armenians (particularly in the Middle East) also erect the Nativity scene. Christmas in the Armenian tradition is a purely religious affair. Santa Claus does not visit the nice Armenian children on Christmas, but rather on New Year’s Eve. The idea of Santa Claus existed before the Soviet Union and he was named kaghand papik (Կաղանդ Պապիկ), but the Soviet Union had a great impact even on Santa Claus. Now he goes by the more secular name of Grandfather Winter (dzmerr papik, Ձմեռ Պապիկ).

CREDITS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwide

My Experience in Women’s Breast Health – In Younger Women

This year of 2013, I went through a terrifying ordeal a few months back, and it was about my breast health. In March of 2013 I did a self-breast test and I felt a lumpy feeling, I thought okay, women get this sort of thing when their menstrual cycle comes around, but mine came and went and the lump was still there, so in April, I had a full medical examination from my doctor and I asked him to send me to have an ultrasound done, and so I went there and then they said that I need a surgical biopsy done of my left breast, and so the results came back a few days later stating that I do have a Benign Phyllodes Tumor which is Fibroadenoma, which happens to women who are 15-35 years of age and if left untreated, it can get bigger and harder to remove, so mine was caught in time because I saved myself the hassle in the long run. I did a self-test after I showered. It was something that I was really frightened about. I could not believe that this was happening at my age and I just jumped and had to get this problem corrected and for my future. I said at 28? How can this be?

I have always read that women need to do self tests. So at the end of June, 2013, I had my day surgery to remove the Benign Phyllodes Tumor and apparently it was about 8cm’s in length, then I had my final Day surgery Last month in September, 2013 to remove just a little bit of the tissue around so that it will never come back again. I did not stay overnight in hospital. I was in and out in a few hours. They put me to sleep, checked my blood pressure and everything else before I left to go home from hospital. I asked the doctor if I am at a higher risk in future in developing breast cancer, she said no. She said benign Phyllodes tumor happens and if it is properly surgically removed, there will be no risk. I am so relieved. It was the scariest thing I had ever gone through in my life. I automatically thought that I had the malignant kind and I lost weeks of sleep due to being so worried about the lump I found, but I thought too much and the results came back in my favour and it was a huge blessing. I felt at ease and I can sleep better at nights knowing that this is all over and I had my surgeries and I can go on with my life. in about a couple of weeks I will be visiting my doctor to discuss about my surgery and what happened.

I never really told a lot of my family members or friends about my situation, but I decided to write about it and share with everyone because this is something that cannot be kept secret, because I can be saving someone elses life and I can be preventing a serious health issue to others and give them this advice to go get assessed from your medical professional. Taking preventative measures is crucial.

Spreading and raising awareness on breast health is imperative and It is so important to get checked out, no matter how old you are. It does not matter if you are young or old. Things happen at all ages. It can save your life. Early detection can save you big time. Monthly do a self test, look at your breasts in the mirror before or after you take your shower, if you feel like the shape, colour, and the feeling of your breast is not right, have it checked out right away, if you feel extra sensitive after your periods and warmth or prickling like an orange peal, or nipple discharge or unusual pain again have it checked out. It could be other health problems too that need to be addressed and dealt with accordingly not necessarily in relative to your breasts. It can develop in 1 or both of your breasts and either left or right.

Health is the most important thing above anything else. without it, we have nothing. Health is wealth.

Be aware always because I care about everyone and their best interest. I wish you all the best . My thoughts and prayers to women who are going through the tough one right now.

I Am Back Everyone!

Hello everyone, hope all is going well. I just want to say that I am back on WordPress and ready to resume to my daily blogging routine. I had to take a short break for a few weeks off and on from the daily grind and catch up on so much work and working on a few things in my life, plus been so occupied with family, friends and other responsibilities and that will keep going on and will not stop as my responsibilities have increased, but I have learned a lot to time management and its really great to see. I have received so many messages from fans, followers, and so many others and I appreciate it all. I would like to thank Those who have given me energy to do what I love to do, which is writing and in the next few days I will be writing a lot more and I will be sharing a lot of surprises coming your way.

I am really excited to be working with a printing company which they create banners, advertising, and all sorts of other things and they really love what they see on my blog site and they love the flow of the writing I do, and so they want me to blog for them and I accepted. Blogging is such a powerful tool and the more searchable you are, the more you write, the more you engage will give you so much exposure to the world, and you may never know who catches your blog and starts reading it. It can be your big break. I am really excited to be starting this new chapter in my life, making income, saving up for future, and doing things for myself. I am so happy I was noticed this way.

Thank you to those who believe in me and who want the best for me. I love you all so much and I want the same for you all too. Wishing you all the best, health, success and so much more. Blessings to all. Will be resuming to my writing again tomorrow.

You Know The Feeling Of What Is Meant To Be & What Isn’t Meant To Be?

Have you ever had the feeling of something that isn’t right to do and go at split moment and sometimes you have this feeling that it is meant to be? Have you been in a situation where you had the feeling where something is meant to be or not meant to be? Last night was a prime example of all this. A few friends and I were gone out and we decided to go to this place a little bit out of our ways and it would take a little more time to get there, then the usual spots we go to for hanging out and have a great time, and then all the carpooling and who is picking up who and how all this is going to be arranging a meet up, didn’t go as smooth as we thought, but then afterwards we all met up at the same place, and decided to go somewhere else. I was thinking in my mind that something prevented us from going and plus the weather was bad with the snow and freezing conditions which made us think twice about going there. I think God protected us from harms way and he made us stay put and be more local. Toronto is such a huge city and it does take a while to get to places, but then again were all thankful that we were all together in one spot in the end and thank goodness for cell phones and communication and critical thinking about what to do at a certain moment. Plus Parking was the other issue in the areas that we were supposed to go to which is a hassle sometimes. That’s why I don’t go to places, that don’t have decent parking. I like to think logically and think about where I go before I go to it and I do extensive research about the parking issue and where it is when I haven’t gone there before. I like to research a lot before I go, so as I am prepared. In the end everything worked out for the better, all of us were safe and sound and everybody went home safely. The place we were going to go to was just not meant to be and I believe that we were saved in a huge way. Something bad could have happened on the road as it was our first real taste of winter and what’s to come, so it really was something out of the ordinary. I truly believe in what is meant to be and what isn’t and last night really sealed the deal. It was quite an adventure, but ended up to be a peaceful, yet beautiful night spent with our loved ones(friends), and woke up this morning feeling great. I truly believe no matter where you go, and no matter what happens, sticking together, and figuring out a game plan and figuring out what to do is something very nice, and deciding as a group and giving ideas is very nice. I love my friends a lot and they mean the world to me. It was a lovely night and I will never forget the experience last night. It was something that really made us think in the end, and I told the group, God is here, God is protecting us. Wish you all the best everyone.