Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges.
In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines.
Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.
Food for thought: "I never write to disappear and escape. The truth is exactly the opposite. Most people strike me as escaping and disappearing in one way or another - into their jobs, their daily routines, their delusions about ...
Something inspirational: “Anyone can learn to fight. Hardly anyone learns to think.” TAMSYN MUIR, Gideon the Ninth Muir's quote reminds us that fighting is not just about physical strength; it can mean arguing, resisting ...
Food for thought: “All that you touch You Change. All that you Change Changes you.” OCTAVIA E. BUTLER, Parable of the Sower This quote reminds us that everything we do has an impact, and every experience changes ...
Yes, that sounds like my entire childhood. My parents always took the easy way out, which meant we so often didn't get the things we needed like decent food and housing.
We grew up living like gypsies, which is the best way to describe it. We would stay in one area long enough for the bills to pile up and then off we went down the highway to God knows where.
The only thing they ever really showed us, was how to run away from our problems instead of dealing with them head on like most people do. This is why I get so annoyed when people say things like, 'they did the best they could with what they had' which I think is such a crock!
I'm finally facing my demons head on, like I should have so long ago,even though I know it's not going to be a pleasant experience.
People usually pick the easier, softer way, unfortunately, but I don't have that luxury anymore.
The irony is that if what we're avoiding is wrong, that thing can never be easier or softer, by just ignoring it. But I'm pleased you are facing your demons head-on Randy.
That is the way to do it. Rather that and get through what you have to deal with, than run. When we run, things catch up. Sadly, your parents did what they could with what they were given. It would never be good enough.
But you know that which is why you're working on changing it.
I try and do and say everything I believe in. Sometimes I don't to avoid conflict or argument. We live in a very argumentative world, where we're condemned for believing such things even when they're for good intentions.
Thanks Bonnie. I absolutely love your response and you're absolutely spot on. Perhaps that is the reason why you should continue to do and say everything you believe in.
Whether other people agree with you or not is immaterial. What matters is that your thoughts concur with that of the universe. If you work by those principles, you will never go wrong.
Sadly, when we do and others don't that's when conflict and arguments can and do occur, particularly when others think we're being self-righteous. In reality of course we're not, we're just applying the universal laws, which they tend not to work by.
Thanks Bonnnie. It's a good perspective, but also thinking out loud, perhaps this quote isn't so clear cut and we need to be a little bit more knowledgeable before making decisions.
We tend to make decisions on what we think is best. Perhaps what we think is best, isn't so best, but that's not always a slur on us.
We tend to act on the information we have, or the information we take from other people, which leads us to our decisions.
While I don't agree that all people behave in this way I understand the point he is trying to make.
This quote is to the point on repentance. People act as if their beliefs, excuse their sins or that repentance makes it okay to repeat those sins.
Nothing can or ever will make it okay. We should be governed by the universal laws which have nothing to do with religion.
If we sin, we are accountable and responsible.
Yes, that sounds like my entire childhood. My parents always took the easy way out, which meant we so often didn't get the things we needed like decent food and housing.
We grew up living like gypsies, which is the best way to describe it. We would stay in one area long enough for the bills to pile up and then off we went down the highway to God knows where.
The only thing they ever really showed us, was how to run away from our problems instead of dealing with them head on like most people do. This is why I get so annoyed when people say things like, 'they did the best they could with what they had' which I think is such a crock!
I'm finally facing my demons head on, like I should have so long ago,even though I know it's not going to be a pleasant experience.
People usually pick the easier, softer way, unfortunately, but I don't have that luxury anymore.
The irony is that if what we're avoiding is wrong, that thing can never be easier or softer, by just ignoring it. But I'm pleased you are facing your demons head-on Randy.
That is the way to do it. Rather that and get through what you have to deal with, than run. When we run, things catch up. Sadly, your parents did what they could with what they were given. It would never be good enough.
But you know that which is why you're working on changing it.
I try and do and say everything I believe in. Sometimes I don't to avoid conflict or argument. We live in a very argumentative world, where we're condemned for believing such things even when they're for good intentions.
Sad really.
Thanks Bonnie. I absolutely love your response and you're absolutely spot on. Perhaps that is the reason why you should continue to do and say everything you believe in.
Whether other people agree with you or not is immaterial. What matters is that your thoughts concur with that of the universe. If you work by those principles, you will never go wrong.
Sadly, when we do and others don't that's when conflict and arguments can and do occur, particularly when others think we're being self-righteous. In reality of course we're not, we're just applying the universal laws, which they tend not to work by.
You're absolutely right Ilana! Great perspective! I will practice that one.
Thanks Bonnnie. It's a good perspective, but also thinking out loud, perhaps this quote isn't so clear cut and we need to be a little bit more knowledgeable before making decisions.
We tend to make decisions on what we think is best. Perhaps what we think is best, isn't so best, but that's not always a slur on us.
We tend to act on the information we have, or the information we take from other people, which leads us to our decisions.