Nalda Parker
Bio
Nalda has led a rich and varied life. She has worked as a college professor, a mental health counselor, a psychosocial rehabilitation therapist, a research assistant, a retail associate, and a starving artist.
Stories (21/0)
Beginnings
With some tasks, there is a set strategy for success. When you create a stained glass panel, there exist a series of steps that each artist learns and follows. Certainly, there are minor variations; some artists cut their pieces with the aid of a lightbox, while others use patterns cut from butcher paper. However, once the design is decided upon and until the piece is hung, there exists a clear formula to be followed.
By Nalda Parker3 years ago in Motivation
So You Want to be a Ghost Writer
I awoke one morning last spring, rolled over, turned on my cell phone, and perused my news feed. I opened a piece on stoic philosophy. A pang of panic shot through me. A bolt of electric pain somewhat akin to jealousy shot through my body. My words stood in bold staring back at my wondering eyes. My hook, for a piece I had just finished and turned in a day or two before, loomed in electronic print as the lead in to a piece in The Daily Stoic. Initially torn between pride and fury, I learned a very important lesson that day.
By Nalda Parker4 years ago in Journal
Buddhism
Buddhism has found its way into mainstream modern society. Despite its age, this philosophy and spiritual practice continues to speak to us because of its elegant simplicity. Buddhism originated in Northern India over 2500 years ago. It consists of the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path. The philosophy of Buddhism had a noble birth.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Futurism
- Top Story - January 2019
14 Free Online Courses for Senior CitizensTop Story - January 2019
According to the Population Referral Bureau, there are over 40 million senior citizens living in the United States today. A senior citizen is anyone who is aged 65 or older. This term is simply a way of segmenting a group of people for demographic purposes.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Education
Rent an RV
It had never occurred to me that one can rent a trailer or RV just like one rents a room in someone's home. It wasn't until I starting writing on UpWork that I realized that people can rent trailers and RV's for trips. This is a clever idea for both the owner and renter. I owned a popup trailer with my husband when the kids were little. The trailer spent most of it's time in the garage. If we were lucky, we took the kids camping a few weekends out of the year.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Wander
New Year Renewal
Each year begins in a fallow phase. We greet the new year from the frozen heart of winter. We stand upon the edge of time looking backward over the past year and forward toward the new. For many, the new year represents a time of contemplation and resolution. Many resolve to break past patterns. Others resolve to begin new habits designed to bring more health, happiness, and longevity. We often gather with friends to celebrate this new opportunity to begin again. Some take the time to contemplate both the past and future, to set goals, and to motivate themselves toward pinnacles left to be obtained.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Motivation
Cultivating Joy on Adult Snow Days
I lingered awake last night having a text conversation with my friend as we waited excitedly for the snow we had been following for over a week. We were both raised in North Carolina so the fascination with snow is a holdover from nights spent with flashlights waiting for the glimpse of the snowflakes that often meant days out of school. Although we are both decades beyond childhood snow days, we continue to share an excitement over snow that most of my friends have lost.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Families
Bringing Joy to Christmas
As a therapist I have known supported many people that over extend themselves in order to buy gifts for their family and find that the next Christmas they are still paying for the gifts from last Christmas. There is nothing like watching people stress out over this circular path from Christmas to Christmas to bring home the fact that there must be a better solution.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Families
The Dark Side of Technology
Research indicates that constant use of technology is associated with increased levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. There are several theories as to why this may be. Certainly one of the theories is that in a world regulated by constant information bombardment, we don't have the traditional work/life balance that has allowed us to keep our stress levels under control. Most people remember the days when they had a 40-hour work week and rarely received calls at home in the evenings and weekends. However, we now live in an era when you may well be working in one capacity and expected to handle incoming texts and calls at the same time. Gone are the days when you could leave your work at work. Now, employers voice distress if they do not receive a response to a text or are unable to reach an employee by phone right away.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Longevity
Week One #NaNoWriMo2018
I started this year's NaNoWriMo with goal setting. This generally helps me to be successful at my goals. However—and I knew this going in—even with goal setting, it takes a great deal of commitment to obtain any goal. So, I'm sure you're already wondering if I am setting up an excuse. The answer is both yes and no. I am setting up an explanation of where I currently am in my ever-evasive quest to complete NaNoWriMo. However, I am also providing you the opportunity to learn through my personal journey.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Journal
Simple Sensuality
I have always found simple things can bring great joy. I fell in love with loofahs as a young girl around the same time I fell in love with french milled soap and silk. It wasn't one of those things I shared with others, it just was part of my self-care routine. However, this past year I shared my love of the loofah with my friend John. It was the beginning of a beautiful adventure.
By Nalda Parker5 years ago in Longevity
