Melissa Roth -- Freespeak Blog

I am free of congestive thoughts.   Assimilation, elimination and circulation.  It is how our bodies process and function and it is how I want my mind to work.  I know that what I believe determines my perceptions and my attitude.  Am I happy or sad?  Am I feeling creative and positive or am I feeling listless and mad?   My emotional state stems from my thoughts. If my mind works like my body, thoughts would constantly be circulating through and what is not needed would be eliminated.  What is necessary to a full and joyous life would be assimilated.  Think of a game of solitaire where the cards keep coming up as you deal from the pile.  The first time the eight of clubs comes up, you don't need it, but by the time it comes around again it fits.    Various messages, lessons, and ideas have come up more than once in my life.  I remember reading books that other people recommended and thinking they were full of...

My big plans for New Year's Day include watching the Mummers Parade.  It is the most amazing parade ever.   It is huge and is held on New Year's Day in Philadelphia.   I grew up watching it and then had to suffer withdrawal for years because it was not televised in this part of the country.  Now, thanks to the Internet, it is online.  I can watch at phl17.com and listen to Steve Hightower announce.  He is an expert on the parade and has been the announcer for years.  What is unique about the Mummers Parade is that they put on a show – a performance.  There are full marching bands, string bands, everyone in costume and they stop and act out a little play to music, while playing and while marching.  There are sets and backdrops.  It is like tiny little musical performances in the street and there are scores of them.  The parade lasts for six hours.  It is a spectacle for sure.  When I was a child, I was fa...

I have been learning to use a new invoicing software program for the last few weeks.  I have no manual and no tutorials.   And, need I say, I am not an accountant.  I am intimidated by the program, the terminology, the lack of a help that is helpful, and trying to figure out how to create a logo, where does it go?  What the heck are these fields?  I know the program can do what I need and I know it is probably easy –once you know how to do it.  And therein lies the key.  I don't know how to do it.  I have been fumbling through for the past 3 weeks and so far, no light at the end of the tunnel.   I have managed to create 5 invoices and I am hopeful that our clients are not looking too closely at the formatting.  The numbers are correct, the dates and amounts are accurate and that is as much as I have accomplished.   Every time I think I have it down and go to print an invoice, I see something that didn't appea...

Last weekend I injured my low back.  I am sure it was the accumulation of years of not bending over correctly, injuries from car accidents that weren't treated, lack of exercise, and age.  Still, when it happened I was stretching.  I was doing yoga poses and pilates stretches.  While I was stretching, it felt wonderful.  I could feel my body respond and relax.  About 20 minutes later, the pain started.  I have had many aches and pains but never in that particular spot.  I couldn't find a position that didn't hurt.  I struggled for about 3 hours until finally my husband suggested I lie flat on my back with lumbar support.  That, plus mega meds helped me through the night and the next day.  By Sunday I was able to get up and go see a chiropractor.  Sadly, it was not a magic fix.  It is better.  I can find positions that don't hurt for minutes at a time.  I have had to be very careful how I move, how I bend, wh...

I have spent the last two months trying to obtain the health care my doctor is recommending.  Now, note that I am saying health care as opposed to health insurance.  They are not synonymous.  The media uses the terms interchangeably as though obtaining health insurance automatically means you will have health care.  It is not so. I went without health insurance for 20 years.  I have now had health insurance for 1 year.  Other than getting some preventative tests done and a flu shot (which I will do without from now on), there hasn't been much difference.  At least not in my health care.  I am still the person who is responsible for each decision, for 90% of the research, for finding the best prices, calling to check prices, and taking care of myself.    Don't misunderstand me, I think it is commendable that we, as a nation, have attempted to provide health care coverage for everyone.  I also believe that we have an ext...