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Archive for December, 2018

Meditation

Wednesday, December 26th, 2018

Published in the Republican December 2018

Carrie Barrepski

Carrie Writes

Meditation

Carrie Barrepski

The holidays can often leave us feeling exhausted, unfocused and unbalanced due to stress and the craziness of the holidays. This is the time to reflect on the past year while looking forward to the New Year.

Meditation can help us refocus and anchor ourselves. There are many ways to refocus the mind during meditation. The first one, and my favorite, is breathing. Taking deep breaths while counting the breaths can anchor your mind. Deep breathing is a natural cure for stress and relaxation.

The second one that I use frequently is mantra meditation, where you use the phrase, “I am” followed by an adjective, such as strong and healthy. This practice helps to reinforce a positive belief system.

The third method is to use sound meditation while focusing on different sounds surrounding you. The last one is to note the sensations within your body during meditation. Both of these methods can help increase mindfulness.

Meditation can be done anywhere for any amount of time. It can be easily adapted to your lifestyle. Meditation should be a loving and peaceful process that brings you peace of mind.

I prefer to meditate every morning upon awakening. It helps me start my day off on the right foot. My mediation practice is a combination of spirituality and relaxation.

The grinch

Monday, December 24th, 2018

Published in the republican 2018

Carrie Writes
The Grinch
Carrie Barrepski

Last month, my husband and I went to see The Grinch movie in West Springfield. The movie was in 3D and was based on the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
The movie is about a town celebrating Christmas viewed by an outcast who does not understand Christmas. The story tells how the Grinch tried to steal Christmas from decorations to gifts. In the end, the Grinch learns the true meaning of Christmas, of a community coming together to celebrate life.
There are six lessons that can be learned from the Grinch movie. The first one is to care more for people than material items. It is the time and thought of the gift, not the value that counts. The second lesson is to show compassion and empathy to all people because everybody’s situation is unique and different. The next lesson is to respect one another’s culture and traditions. Fourth, we should share the joy of life and focus on the positive aspects while not dwelling on problems. The fifth lesson is to view humanity through the eyes of a child by remembering the good things. Lastly, we should remember to welcome and respect others regardless of their differences.
My wish is for all of my readers to have a peaceful holiday filled with love and joy.

Expressive writing

Sunday, December 16th, 2018

Printed in the Republican 2018

Carrie Writes
Expressive Writing

For people with disabilities, life can be filled with frustration, anger and disappointment. There are many healthy methods to deal with these emotions
and release them. Some of these ways are drawing, playing sports, exercising and meditation.
One excellent tool is called expressive writing.
Expressive writing is a form of therapy that involves
writing about one’s feelings and thoughts about a
particular topic. It is usually done continuously for
fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, where you just jot whatever comes to your mind.
Expressive writing has been proven to improve
your immune system since you are releasing your
negative energy. It can also improve lung function and decrease headaches by returning to a peaceful state. More importantly, it reduces everyday stress and anxiety.
Expressive writing works well when you write about what’s upsetting you and helps you explore your feelings. It can be done privately, something that you do not need to share.
As a writer, I have always written from my heart. It is a way to use my voice in a positive way to help and inspire others. I have always written my feelings and thoughts to help me find my way through my journey. It is my passion and purpose.

Making Our Dreams Come True

Wednesday, December 5th, 2018

Printed in the Republican in 2018

Carrie Writes
Making Our Dreams Come True
Carrie Barrepski

Many people think of disabilities as an obstacle that cannot be overcome. The stereotype is that they are defined by their disability rather than their abilities. I always believed that my disability is a part of me that does not stop me from living my life.
One teenager who was born deaf does not let her hearing loss stop her. Autumn Greenlee is 18 years old. As a child, she received a cochlear implant, which helped her gain a sense of music. As a third grader, she began playing the violin and eventually switched to the viola. Autumn has learned and played music from feeling vibrations and muscle memory.
She mainly plays classical music and most recently she has been offered a music scholarship to the University of Colorado. Autumn feels that “what makes music meaningful isn’t how it sounds but it feels.” Autumn has also said that “I’m sure when I play my instrument it sounds very different to me than it sounds to somebody else.”
I can relate to Autumn because just like her, I use writing as my voice to fulfill my passion of helping others through my words, while Autumn uses music as her voice to express her feelings through the expression of music. Neither of us have let our disability define who we are or what we cannot do.