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Making It Through the Storm: Fighting to Reach the Finish Line

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Facing Challenges with Hope and Gratitude

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH I wanted to take a moment to share an update and express my heartfelt gratitude. Thanks to the incredible generosity of others, I was able to make my rent payment with a 24-hour extension. Your kindness made a huge difference, and I can't thank you enough for stepping in when I needed help. The very next day, I received my paycheck, which allowed me to catch up on my electric and gas bills, pay for Uber rides, and grab some groceries. That support not only helped me get through last week but also left me with a little extra for other essentials, including transportation to and from work this week. Mosie and I had a few days where we could relax and practice some stress reduction.  Tonight, I am waiting for a payment from an outside organization to be credited to my account. This organization helps with eviction prevention in our area and has served many families, working on the front lines of the rental crisis in Ada County. They have been an invaluab...

Update: Navigating Mediation and Overwhelming Stress

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH   Update: Navigating Mediation and Overwhelming Stress I want to share an update on what’s been happening over the past few weeks. In a desperate bid to avoid eviction, I participated in mediation and signed an agreement requiring weekly payments. I have to make these payments or else I can still be evicted. Even though I paid several thousand dollars already in less than two weeks. Those initial payments drained every bit of money I had. Without the generous help of people stepping in at critical moments, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get to work or even afford a meal over the past two weeks.  I feel like giving up a lot of days. I pray  and wonder how I will make it through this time. Still, I keep looking for those rays of hope.   Now, I’m facing another urgent challenge: my next payment is due this week—the day before I get paid. I reached out to several contacts who are supposed to be helping me for guidance, but they all s...

COVID Saved My Life: Rebuilding During A Pandemic

A Night That Changed Everything One night in February 2020 changed everything for me. I had been with my ex for 12 years, and as I sat in my home office working on my second poetry book, There's Only Reality , I was haunted by old wounds—mean words from college acquaintances who insisted I wasn’t meant to be loved. That evening, while listening to relationship advice on Audible, my ex walked in and casually announced he’d been openly dating someone else. I replied softly, “Okay, I guess we’re done.” With that, he demanded I move out of the home we’d built together so his new girlfriend could move in. I pleaded for time until October, but the reality was sinking in fast. This picture was taken at holiday time in 2020. Women from college kept reaching out to list my flaws and blame me for my failed relationships. Their words were especially cruel as I struggled to survive.   Starting Over Amidst a Pandemic When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, the world seemed to freeze while I was forc...

Starting Over: A Journey of Betrayal, Heartache, and Hope

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH  One night in February 2020 changed everything. I was living with my ex—someone I’d been with for twelve years—while working on my second poetry book, There's Only Reality . I poured my heart onto those pages, even as cruel voices from my past reminded me I wasn’t meant to be loved. I’ll never forget the hurtful words from some college acquaintances: “Some people just weren’t meant to be loved, Jeanette.” Even though love is a human right, their bitterness cut deeply. My dog, Mosie, has been with me through this massive life change. She was an anniversary gift years before, but she turned out to be my source of hope and salvation.  This photo was taken in 2020, shortly after I moved to Idaho.  That evening, while listening to He’s Not That Interested, He’s Only Passing Time on Audible, my ex unexpectedly entered my home office. Wrapped in the comfort of my writing chair, I was unprepared when he said, “I just want to tell you that I've be...

Finally Past the Poverty Line: Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fryer

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH The last few years of my life have been the hardest I’ve ever experienced. I’ve known struggle before—I’ve lived through things most people couldn’t imagine—but what I’ve been enduring since 2020 has pushed me to the brink in ways I never thought possible. I’ve faced cruelty, judgment, and a lot of people who acted like I didn’t deserve help, but through it all, I’m still standing. When my ex kicked me out of our home so his girlfriend (now wife) could move in, I left with nothing but two suitcases, six boxes, and my little dog. That was my entire life—packed into a few bags. Starting over from scratch at nearly 50 years old, in the middle of a pandemic, with no car, no job, and no stable income, was a harsh reality. But I fought—because I had no other choice. Through it all, my dog, Mosie, has been by my side. The last few years have tested me in ways I never imagined, but I’m still fighting. This is my reality now—fighting for every inch while trying ...

How a Calendar Can Improve Your Health

  How a Calendar Can Improve Your Health In today’s fast-paced world, staying on top of everything can feel overwhelming. Between work, social obligations, health goals, and personal responsibilities, it’s easy to feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. That’s where the humble calendar comes in—a simple but powerful tool that can do wonders for your mental and physical health. Here’s how: The image in this post was designed using AI tools to complement the content. 1. Stay Organized and Stress Less One of the biggest benefits of using a calendar is its ability to keep you organized. When you have a clear plan for your day, week, or month, it can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Instead of worrying about forgetting important appointments or double-booking yourself, you’ll know exactly what’s coming up. This sense of preparedness can help you feel more in control of your life, allowing you to focus on the present moment instead of stressing about what you mi...