The Fears We Face - My Introduction To The Natural Medicine Community And Officially To Hive

[bulldog-joy]

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I've been told to introduce myself. But where and how I was rather clueless about, also a little fearful to expose myself in a way that will make me vulnerable.

Roaming around the Hive for 8 weeks now I already let some of my guard down and opened up a little bit. But still, it is not so easy.

The Natural Medicine Community might be a good place to do so, because I feel very connected and might be able to offer something to it.

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My name is Anna. I was born in Cottbus, East Germany, behind the wall. The German Democratic Republic (1949-1990) was a repressive regime, built upon mistrust, spying and nepotism.

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_{An old coin from the GDR I was able to keep}

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It wasn't always bad but especially as a child you didn't grasp the system. But you felt it, and for sensitive, curious souls it was destructive.

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_{Me and my twin sister, same but different}

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Some of the experiences made me strong, others broke me, so the topic of mental health issues in early life stages is familiar with me and something I could write about in this community. It sticks with you throughout your life.

Also the experiences of losing your identity with the break down of your country. To this day some German politicians refer to us as migrants and people are filled with prejudices.

I went on a long journey and through deep valleys trying to figure out why I am how I am. Reading all kinds of literature about psychology, physiology, biology until I made my way to spirituality, philosophy and astrology.

I believe in the greater things out there, that there is more than we think or most believe. I believe in the power of nature, in the wisdom of the ancient, in the traditions of old civilizations and the truth of the universe.

I believe in science and rationality but also in the deeper abilities of us. Gut feeling, the connection with the universe and the ways we can get back to old knowledge that has been buried under the modern ego.

I'll take you on my journey through a course by Wim Hof, "The Iceman", that I joined a while ago and wanted to repeat for quite a while now.

There are times in life where we lose track of the things we want to achieve, being thrown out of balance by certain circumstances.

As with a lot of people around the globe, Covid19 was a big game changer.

A good one personally, because I made my way out of a toxic work environment at a bar I was working in lately, but it also has its downsides.

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_{Me in one of the bars I worked at. It was carnival season in Germany in case you wonder about the guests lol.}

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I was working as a bartender most of the times in my life. It was an easy job to hop on and off in between my travels and life stations, and my way to make a living.

You learn a lot about humans working behind the bar. You see the best and the worst of society.

Also in my 'meant to be' profession in the security business.

Being a strong person when needed, and one that likes to protect others from harm, this job just fell in front of me. Like most of the things in my life. I'm not a planner.

Being in my final exams in high school I got my first job in this business and it should follow me through my life.

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_{At the set of "Enemy At The Gates" with Jude Law and Ralph Fiennes in 2000. Me and my K9.}

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After high school and after pursuing an unnecessary vocational training in the food industry I worked as a Security Officer for USAREUR HQ and NATO, Heidelberg.

During that time I got to know my now ex husband and we moved around with the army. "Home is where the Army sends you!" was the motto, and I didn't mind it. My world was filled with training and enjoying life in the States.

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_{Training at Pikes Peak Combat Sports. My family in Colorado Springs.}

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What really mattered was the trauma 3 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan had left us with and which led finally to our divorce.

PTSD is another topic I can contribute too.

After coming back to Germany I met an old friend again, who became my partner in crime to this day.

He was the one introducing me to the world of Personal Protection for Hollywoods famous. It was his profession for 15+ years.

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_{Me in action. The paparazzi called me "The German shepherd" and I could show that you don't have to be a big guy to do this job.}

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I loved this job because it was everything I'm passionate about. The best was working with people from all over the world and building teams with strangers in order to fulfill the best protection possible. It is the 'simple' people that made this job a dream job, the protectees were a nice addition. It is a job shaped by personal sacrifice, ungratefulness by the protectees and a shitty pay...but yet a dream job.

With Trumps executive orders a lot changed for the worse for us and Corona was the final death for our profession.

We not only lost a business that was insecure anyway, but also my job as a bartender. Since then we have been living on 100€/week for the both of us, as all our savings were used up by medical bills and other expenses. I am the only one that could apply for social care in Germany and finding a job now is impossible.

It is getting harder each week and that brings back fears and mental challenges. José is also gone since 2 months to take care of his mum, who injured herself badly at the age of 87.

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_{Me and Joy at Dantes Benaco, a connection to Dante Alighieri and Umberto Eco we also have.}

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My dog gives me support, all my animals have done so and so is being outside. My pets saved me from going down bad lanes in life, between the good times there were quite some bad ones.

So has dealing with alternative healing methods and natural medicine. Nature provides us with everything we need and discovering old traditions and rituals brings us back to our natural state.

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I just received my salt lamps yesterday. I wanna get more anions in the air and salt lamps are a natural way to do so. Yet another topic I can share my experience with.

After all I'm an autodidact and I have an open mind towards a lot of topics. I can share so many things and being encouraged by people within Hive I might come out of my shell more and more. For the astrologists among us, I'm a Cancer, ascendant Cancer and for the numerologists, I'm a 29/11/2. That might explain a little bit.

I hope you now know a little bit more of me and where I am coming from. I hope to delight the Hive with interesting content, in most of my posts you will find informations and facts about anything, but always validated as good as possible. So clicking and reading might give you new insights period.

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Special thanks to @galenkp and @brittandjosie for encouraging me on opening up.

And of course to everyone who has been supportive so far. @ksteem, @zo3d, @antoniojoseha, @bdmillergallery, @papilloncharity, @chocolatescorpi, @ewkaw and @qwerrie and not to forget @offgridlife who named me the best non-canadian so far lol. And everyone I haven't mentioned yet.

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I hope to be welcomed to the Natural Medicine Community and to get the one or the other post up that will be of interest.

❤️

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About me

_{I'm a studied animal psychologist specialized in dogs and I have a broad interest in a lot of topics.}

_{I'm an autodidact that loves to explore.}

_{You can read more about me on my profile and you are invited to follow @bulldog-joy.}

_{If you like what you read and see leave a vote, tip or comment. I don't mind it. Love to all of you!}

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©bulldog-joy

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Comments

[kaerpediem]

I loved your introduction
You shared so much for someone who was unsure
I can safely say you will find some connections here
And welcome to Hive :)

[bulldog-joy]

🙏 @kaerpediem ...the fears we face and once we face them they don't seem as big anymore. But they only fade with supportive resonance. In the end we all are humans and our deep nature is to cooperate and be part of a group.

[ewkaw]

I guess this is an official welcome then :)
This was one of the best introduction posts I have read in a very long time. So many stories.... and all that makes you being you. So glad you joined us!

[bulldog-joy]

Dziękuję Ci, a little like this cat 🙃...most of all I think this giphy was made for you lol.

[ewkaw]

Aaaa its purrrfect! <3
:D

[minismallholding]

From the cutest rescue bulldog to her fighting fit mamma. Lovely to get to know the human behind the pup. 😊

My grandmother was born in Breslau and ended up stuck outside of Germany after the war. She met and married my grandfather and moved to England. Her mother and a sister were in East Germany and her other siblings were in the West, if they hadn't already died. I met my great grandmother and Tante Elisabeth just once when they got permission to visit their family in the West and they then snuck turn over to England to visit us. I was still quite young, so I don't remember more than one fragment of meeting them, only that it was a particularly special occasion. It was a long time before I realised the true significance of the risk they took.

I think my great grandmother may have died before the wall came down. Either way, I never got a second chance to see them. I gather that even after Germany was reunited it wasn't all roses for those in the East, as we were led to believe over in England.

With everything that is happening in Europe, I'm glad I'm now in Australia. I hope things start to look up for you soon.

[bulldog-joy]

Hi and I will let Joy know that he is the cutest...well he knows it already, I tell him every other second 😄😍...they all are.

Your family story is quite interesting and to bad you couldn't reunite with this side of the family.

I gather that even after Germany was reunited it wasn't all roses for those in the East, as we were led to believe over in England.

True and still to this day Germany is not really united. The trenches are still there and it may take another generation to overcome them. A lot went wrong after the wall came down and I think besides bleeding the jobs it is the psychological issue that is totally underestimated and forgotten. Loosing everything you know from one day to another without a supportive net was devastating for many. Also the devaluation by many on the other side, to this day.

[minismallholding]

It sounds like it will take generations for Germany to equalise.

My sister has a friend from East Germany who worked with her in England for a while. It was from her that we learnt just how hard it was (the suicides and all) and how much the companies in the West abused the situation for their own gain.

!ENGAGE 35

[bulldog-joy]

Oh yeah...they were literally bleeding the east. Pretty much every company was closed or privatized, meaning they left for cheaper production places or hired from other countries. To this day if you do a job in the "west" and the same in the "east" you earn less working in the east. That's why the population shrunk to a minimum because everybody left to find a better paid job or a job period. Me included after high school. There are some cities that are rising within the last years, but only 3. Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden. The rest of the east became a deserted place.

I think I should start a little series about that topic, but I don't have a lot of pics anymore.

[minismallholding]

I second a series, even if you don't have many pics. Are you able to travel much at the moment. It would be interesting even to see pics of what it's still like today in places.

[bulldog-joy]

Good morning, I'm not able to travel and haven't been in my hometown in years. I may ask my parents if they have some and I'm sure I will find the one or the other in the www. I just know that my hometown is def not the same. The part of the city I grew up in, was built in the 80s and I remember the construction site. 20000+ people lived there and with the beginning of 2000 they tore almost everything down. So nothing from my childhood is there anymore. It is kinda like with Detroit lol, not as bad of course but same story. Our city even lost the status of a big city due to the shrinking of the population.

[misterengagement]

Thank you for your engagement on this post, you have recieved ENGAGE tokens.

[drrune]

Wilkommen, ich heisse Javier, ich bin aus Venezuela und ich studiere auch Astrologie sowie viele andere Praktiken.

I don't speak German (yet) but have been practicing it for a while. Got to say, this is literally THE best introduction post I've read thus far. It's magnetic and powerful in its honesty. I'm truly rejoiced to read your words, I'm positive that you'll have so much important information to share here, and that this community can in turn offer you much for your own self-discovery and healing.

[bulldog-joy]

Hola Javier, encantada de conocerte. 😊

Thanks so much for the welcome! I'm probably going to repeat myself here in the comments but I didn't expect a resonance like that. It gives me hope to have find a place of less judgement and a lot of understanding. I'm looking forward to become a part of it. 😌

[riverflows]

Oh gosh, pleased to meet you. I don't know anyone that went into an introduce yourself task without at least a little bit of trepidation, but boy this platform helps you step out of your shell! Hivers are an incredibly accepting lot, and you find yourself a home here pretty fast.

Your introduction is incredible - you've led quite the interesting life! My grandmother was German, but from Munich (Grandpa was Slovakian) and she immigrated after ww2. Still, a very different time and place from yours. I'm sorry work is thin on the ground - it's been a really tough year for Europe, and you guys have been in lockdown for so long!

I'm a Cancer moon, so I kinda get it - there's a few astrologists on HIVE you might love, and I have to say @drrune is pretty insightful if you ever need guidance there.

You sound like a super courageous person who is on the path with the best of us - welcome !!

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[galenkp]

Nice work @riverflows.

[bulldog-joy]

Hello cancer moon 🦀🌕, thanks so much for the welcome!

you've led quite the interesting life

I didn't see it this way if it wasn't for others to tell me lol. We all have our little stories 😇.

I'm sorry work is thin on the ground

It is what it is and probably could be worse I suppose. But not everyone is understanding of the situation and not all have been hit in the same way.

As long as we have a roof above the head and sth to eat on the table it is ok, but yeah...it def hurts to start from scratch whenever this is over. We wanted to leave since a while but Corona shook our plans and now we have no clue how to follow up with the plan. It is not my place where I am at, felt it for long but things will fall into place eventually. 😌

[riverflows]

Yeah we can be zen about it all we like but the reality is that it's anxiety inducing too!

I went thru so much anger last year about COVID, but now I'm in a pretty priveleged place next to some so I shouldn't stomp my feet.

Something will reveal itself, I'm sure.

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[bulldog-joy]

I admire the people that really can be 'zen' about it or rather acceptant of any situation. I accepted it but the sorrows are growing and taking over. That's why I wanna go back to my course. Gotta get my Amygdala under control lol.

[justinparke]

Wow! You've had/have quite an exciting and interesting life, and I think the Natural Medicine Community is blessed to have your vibes. I can't believe I've missed so much of your content, but then again, I do the #plantbased curations for Natural Medicine, so I tend to look at a lot edible posts.

I have some reading to do on your past posts to see what you've blogging about, but I really like your formatting and writing style you've shared with us in this post.

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[bulldog-joy]

Hi and thanks,

I can't believe I've missed so much of your content

There is so much within Hive that is worth reading so it is just normal to miss out on things lol and that is fine as you are focused on other topics 😇.

I'm not a blogger per se and just trying to figure this thing out. Haven't been on social media before and I'm all over with my thoughts and topics lol.

But eventually I will find my little spot, and if not I will just roam around throwing something in here and there 😄.

[olgavita]

It is really the best introduction I have ever read. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" - I believe, Anna, it's about you. Your life has been so thrilling and different, like waves in the rough sea. What to wish a person like you? I don't think a quiet blue lagoon matches your nature... so choose any wish for youself and let it be from me 🤗

[bulldog-joy]

Hi and thanks for your praise 😊.

I don't think a quiet blue lagoon matches your nature

Well it does indeed fit my nature...the action stuff used to be my counterweight but I would love to be in a quiet blue lagoon watching fishis all day and contemplating about things. Then hop on a plane to have some adventures just to get back to my quiet blue lagoon 🌴🌊🐠

[olgavita]

Sounds exciting! So let this dream of yours come true 🐠🌴🍹❤️

[littlehyper-nm]

but I would love to be in a quiet blue lagoon watching fishis all day and contemplating about things. Then hop on a plane to have some adventures just to get back to my quiet blue lagoon 🌴🌊🐠

That's how life feels to me, as of late.
Every day feels like another tide haha

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[zo3d]

Well done! Well done!!! Well done!!!! So proud off you for opening up and telling your story! Your story is powerful and amazing. It might be hard right now, but things are definitely going to change. Praying for you friend xoxo

[bulldog-joy]

It's good for something and time will tell what it is. Maybe to follow my biggest quest, myself. And people like you are part of it, even though we don't "know" each other and have never met, but the strings are knotted together 🤗

A great mind that has left the physical world...as so many.

[galenkp]

Hey Anna, I'm pleased to have pushed you a little into writing this, and hopefully, more posts on your life, thoughts, trials, tribulations and triumphs. I'll be honest, I was probably going to krav maga your ass if you did not...Figuratively speaking of course although...All things considered it might have been the old G-dog who came off second best.

A great little introduction that I hope @riverflows sees.

Now...Off to hone my fighting skills...Just in case!

In all seriousness, telling your story may help people...Maybe even you or me. I hope you deploy it.

[bulldog-joy]

I was probably going to krav maga your ass

😄 you prob win that fight, I haven't been that much out of shape in a long long time lol.

telling your story may help people...Maybe even you or me

Logging in this morning I was a little overwhelmed and to be honest shed a small tear. I didn't expected what I read in the comments and if it wouldn't have been for your words lately I maybe wouldn't have made this step.

It might start a different healing process, for me and hopefully others as well.

[galenkp]

When we get knocked down in life, physically, mentally or emotionally we have a choice. Stay down, or get up and take a step...Then another and another. This is what you did, and that it was something I said that helped you find that courage makes me happy.

All I did was offer you a hand...You got up and took that step.

Respect Anna.

[offgridlife]

Best “non-Canadian Canadian” ... I made you an honorary Canadian in our little Hive Canada Group.
https://hive.blog/trending/hive-154369
All are welcome ... especially ones who know more about Canada than most Canadians. Hey, today is National National Anthem day ... so I had to share that video you posted. I’m still laughing up here.
O Canada :

Source: https://nationaltoday.com/national-anthem-day/

[bulldog-joy]

Oh yeah..."Non - Canadian Canadian" of course, damn typos 😂. Yup the vid still cracks me up too 🎶 😂

[brittandjosie]

Yeaaaahhh great ! Thanks for doing this
And so detailed this is gonna be a great journey and I will follow it Ofcourse. I wish you well and if you need anything just let me know 😉

[bulldog-joy]

Digging into the online world you need good ppl around as you can only rely on the words. So thanks for being supportive 🤗! See you around 😉!

[ksteem]

Great post and appreciate your feeling comfortable enough with us to put yourself out there, or maybe it was a stretch or test. Either way, Welcome, I know there have been several of us enjoying your posts. Now we know there was a protective sheepdog next to the bulldog! Glad to have you on board. There is also a martialarts community you may enjoy, posts are still pretty sparse.

[bulldog-joy]

You to me since early days 🤗

[ksteem]

Lol, Hugs. I'll try not to be over-protective. I don't really think you need it after reading your post! Maybe you can be MY bodyguard, I get out of breath these days with just 10 min on my Wing Chun dummy! Definitely see us as sparring and shooting buds if you get back to Colorado!

[bdmillergallery]

Sorry I got here a little late, life has been busy here for me. Putting yourself out there in spaces like these can be daunting, but I am glad you did. I like learning about other peoples lives, their experiences and their culture. Sounds like you have me beat on being interesting. You've had quite the experienced life!

"The German Shepard" crazy life there.. as well as your combat training and time spent in some pretty awful areas. It's crazy where life takes us.. or does not take us. Those books have been written, and it appears your off writing new books.

I am glad you shared snippets of your past. I commend you for it. I agree with you totally about our dogs keeping us grounded and being there for us in our times of need. Bless their little hearts. Joy looks comfy and centered there with his mommy at Dantes Benaco. What a beautiful place.

[bulldog-joy]

Hey...I was wondering already tztzt...lol just kidding, there is no mandatory response pressure here 🤗. But I am happy you did anyway 😊. And I'm sure I beat no one on being interesting. The grass seems always greener on the other side but aren't we all interesting 😉?

The pic with Joy is my fav of me and him as of now. My other half shot it secretly. We were just looking in the distance together, enjoying the scenery in a very special place.

What books I'm writing, not sure if I write them period. I may be the actor in a script written by the universe.

[littlehyper-nm]

What an intro! Welcome to the club. I'm sure you'll fit in perfectly and am already looking forward to reading your future content. It's clear to me that you've got a story to tell/ knowledge to share and the personal touch to it is what I, as a storyteller and creative, love to discover.

Me in one of the bars I worked at. It was carnival season in Germany in case you wonder about the guests lol.

This made me laugh.

A hug from a Dutchman in Portugal,

Vincent

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[bulldog-joy]

Ok, Hi Vincent :)!

Had to use my Stasi genes to check out who is writing here...and there 😄 😉 . Thanks for the welcome and for all your other comments. I'm a little all over sometimes and depending of my state of being I'm the smart ass, the funny one with a touch of irony and sarcasm, or the serious, deep going rather depressed one lol. A typical human so to say. But unlike others I don't have a particular topic but I am sure I will add the one or the other post to this community.

Maybe even tomorrow as I feel a little sickly. The weather lol. At a certain age you feel it 😂 .

How is it in Portugal? Could check the weather myself I suppose lol.

[littlehyper-nm]

Had to use my Stasi genes to check out who is writing here...and there

Hahaha

You're welcome.

I'm a little all over sometimes and depending of my state of being I'm the smart ass, the funny one with a touch of irony and sarcasm, or the serious, deep going rather depressed one lol.

You sound just like me ;<)

Maybe even tomorrow as I feel a little sickly. The weather lol. At a certain age you feel it 😂 .

Not sure about your age but I'm 39 ( my age hits me, now I write this down ) and I sure feel it but I believe some are more sensitive to it than others.

Spring has seriously started here lately. Around 20 Degrees Celsius in the afternoon ( so T-Shirt and shorts for me ). It was about time ;<)

A hug und bis bald!

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[bulldog-joy]

Du Jüngling 😆, add 2 in July for me 😱🤫.

We had 20 last week too and at night it dropped to -5. I have some metal in my feet and these changes make me a living weather frog lol.

I will notice before the world goes down 😂.

[moonyoga]

I resonated a lot with your story, really felt every word of yours, and got really intrigued, cannot wait to read more from you!
I am glad to hear you will be coming out of your shell and sharing more, I sense incredible potential on you. I am honored to meet you and see your soul shinning through the content you share :)

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Posted on NaturalMedicine.io

[bulldog-joy]

Jeez, I'm blushing. I'm not so different from the rest but thanks for your words 😌.

[naturalmedicine]

Maybe everyone should spend some time on Hive first before making their introduction, at least your belated intro makes me think so. What an intro, and of course you holding back the paparazzi from Kanye West is hilarious, and I'm sure it will be a family legend for many generations. Your life is an amazing story, and I can only look forward to all future content from you.

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[bulldog-joy]

Thanks again, with the intro it is either or probably. I'm not experienced with soc med, for some an early one might work, for others a later one is a better fit.

Lol, yeah the paparazzi shot, snippets, but I barely talk about the job per se. Discretion is key. I have 2 pics I am willing to show because they are out in getty images etc anyway. Often people don't really believe when you mention the job description, esp when you are a woman and not a big dude, so having the one or other pic with celebs most know can be a helper.

And Kimye are out in the public anyway, their life is an open book. ;)

[kaliphae]

I believe in the greater things out there, that there is more than we think or most believe. I believe in the power of nature, in the wisdom of the ancient, in the traditions of old civilizations and the truth of the universe.

Amen sister!
I’m very moved by your story... sorry if I don't find much words, but I am so looking forward to read from you here 🙏🌸

And hey, I am a 29/11/2 too! Which made a lot of sense when I finished reading your post 😜

Much Love,
Kali

[bulldog-joy]

Hello fellow 29/11/2 😌, no need for a lot of words. Curious to see where the path is leading to. 🙃