Sometimes Social Media Is Too Much

Like most of y’all I spend time each day scrolling through social media. I will say that over the last year I have noticed that sometimes it can be simply too much. I mean, at what point in our lives did we decide that it was okay to say or write things about people that we would never say to their faces? That being said I do have some remarks about things I have seen on social media that baffle me in some way.

It’s Just a Gift Idea

In early December I came across an Instagram post (that’s where I do most of scrolling) about an idea for gifts for your neighbors. It was a round bucket filled with treats. The treats were store bought and there was alcohol in there as well. I thought it was a cute idea that could be adapted to your particular neighbors.

People laid into this poor woman about all the sugar in there. Why would she include alcohol? What if her neighbors were on diets? All sorts of remarks. My thoughts when I read those comments where I’m sure she knows her neighbors since they’re her neighbors and all. If not, could I give her my address and she would send me one of those buckets cause I really could have used one at that moment. Lastly, I needed to tell my sister in-law about this idea because a few of her neighbors would love this. 

The Mustard

I am sure that you all have seen The Mustard Lady on social media by now. If not she does a plate filled with raw vegetables, cottage cheese, and mustard. Like a lot of mustard. I have questions but I never ask or make any kind of remark because I have noticed that if you say anything that doesn’t align with what she is doing her followers will attack you. I don’t want to be attacked and I’m not trying to attack her in any way. To each their own. I just have questions, so if you follow her or you know the answer then please help me out. 

Does all that mustard cause acid reflux or make it worse if you have it? I have it and can’t eat a lot of mustard. I love it but that amount worries me. 

What about the electrolytes that she drinks daily? Do we actually need those daily or that much? I mean I know that I give that to the kids or the senior citizens when they have been vomiting out of either end for a long period of time. 

My nurse friend drinks them heavily after a night of super heavy drinking. I honestly don’t know how often we need them. I mean I have some deficiencies and take medications for that, would these interfere with those medications?

She also eats chicken apple sausage everyday. Is that okay? I don’t have high cholesterol but that can’t be good for it right? I don’t think I can eat them though due to the sodium in them? 

There are so many other questions. I know the raw vegetables are good for you and she has lost weight. I think she has some health issues as well, I don’t know. Maybe she just wants to eat this way and I’m for eating what you want.  I have appointments with my doctors and nutritionist this month so I am going to ask them about this diet as well. 

It’s an Eating Disorder

There is another girl I follow. Now she is plus size and is in Binge Eating Recovery. She shares what she eats in a day and while not every meal is the healthiest she isn’t eating that much. However, people can’t seem to stop telling her what to eat. That she isn’t eating the right things to lose weight. She is recovering from an eating disorder. She tells you that in the video. Why do people feel the need to tear her down all the time? 

She is doing amazing and I love that she is getting her relationship with food into a better place. Binge Eating is not pretty. When in the throws of that you can easily eat 10,000 calories in one sitting. The guilt and shame that follows leads to more eating or worse you sticking your fingers down your throat to throw it all up. This girl is beautiful and doing what she needs to. People need to get it together.

Service Dogs and Invisible Disabilities

I know I have said this before but after watching several videos with people getting angry about service dogs and such I need to say it again. First not all disabilities are seen. I am disabled and you cannot see my disability. However, I can fall over in a store having a seizure, my heart can stop, or I could have a stroke. All of which happened in 2023. Don’t assume someone is faking. Most disabled people wouldn’t wish their disability on anyone. 

On that note service dogs cannot be petted when they are out in public. They are medical devices and are working. You wouldn’t ask someone to touch their oxygen line. If a service dog misses a warning someone could die. 

Just what is a service animal?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?

No.  These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person.  Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.  However, some State or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places.  You may check with your State and local government agencies to find out about these laws.

Service dogs are allowed to go pretty much anywhere. They are also not required to have paperwork before being allowed entry. 

Also before you call the manager or someone please note that under the law they are only allowed to ask 2 questions.

When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

You can find the answer to any other questions here. If you are disabled and use a service dog you can get these cards to hand to someone when they question you. It will help them understand the law better and be less embarrassing for you. Sometimes, because I had a woman scream at me about my dog recently. 

I will say the process of getting a service dog is not as easy as most people think. Not to mention these dogs are expensive. They can cost anywhere from $15,000 and up. Mine was just over $20,000 and my insurance didn’t cover it at all. I had some savings and my brother helped me pay for the costs of him. He has helped me have much more freedom. Although it does seem to anger some people.