Life's rough, but here's some stuff! September 2016! Share something positive!

Life’s rough, but here’s some stuff!

The purpose of this series is to illustrate the fact that it’s not all bad!

Share something that happened in your life this past month that made you happy, grateful to be alive.
I know that your hearts and minds may be in places that represent anything but hope, happiness, and gratitude for the breaths you take. I get it.

By no means am I in a great place either. I don’t want any of you to think that I’m preaching positivity 110% of the time, because that’s just not possible, given our situations. That’s not a reality for anyone, even “normal” people with “normal” problems.

No, all I’m trying to say is that I’ve spent enough time in the dark to know that allowing that to be your sole state of mind is not healthy, it’s not productive, and that it’s not going to do a darn thing for you, apart from intensify the suffering, and I don’t want that for you, myself, anyone.

So, as difficult as it may seem, I urge each and every one of you to share something, anything that you can truly say is worthy of a smile, worthy of your appreciation.

We need that in our lives. We can’t stay on the bottom every day.

That way, in the days ahead, you’ll have something to come back to in order to tell yourself, okay, I still had this, I have that, and maybe I’ll have a bit more, if I just stick with it.

Keep in mind that this post is a work-in-progress, so I have not perfected my approach yet. Though, I hope my message is clear.

Anyway, I look forward to your responses!

Awesome PeteZa! I can't work out very well. I do what I can but it's substandard for me and depressing... so I concentrate my effort on our dogs. We do agility and nose work, but the proud moment of September was getting our Australian Cattle Dog here CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title. We hadn't had too much time to practice, and it's a 10 part test that is not easy. She passed with flying colors, and I am so proud of her!!! We rescued her from our vet after someone threw her out of their car. She is amazing!!!

So, we have 2 of 3 dogs now with CGC titles! Next, we work on nose work titles.

This topic puts a smile on my face, too, BTW.

Hey, PeteZa, Grandma's can be ripped fit!! I won't ever get to be a grandma, but when I get to that age I wanna be ripped fit again :) -- Right now, slow and steady wins the pace, and my body wants SLOOOW :(

But, treatment keeps me busy and on my toes, and I live vicariously thru my beautiful 4 leggers :)

I work out with a trainer 2x week, and I do a lot of FIR sauna... right now that's all I have to give.

I'm fighting debilitating foot pain. Thought it was plantar fascitis and then many think stress fracture in my heel. Tests show nothing. I dunno. I wonder if it's bart cause it came on so fierce and sudden... but I can't walk anywhere now. So, it's really slow, LoL... patience and time and treatment will win out!! I believe it because of so many on this forum!

Dare I say it? The past week or so, I've had less back pain.....and less bad days. My flares are shorter duration for the past several days.

Hoping, praying, pleading, begging that things may be turning around for me.

NotQuiteAntonio- God Bless You - You are such a Sweet Heart!! It really is easier to think of this and that that is SO bad on a daily basis with Lyme, but if we really think about it- like you expressed- we have so much to be grateful for everyday! If I wake up and the roof of my mouth feels warm, I am ecstatic! I have been given another day...another day to look at things and people ( who haven't been so nice too me ) in a new light......I give thanks for the many people here in this very forum who have extended a hand to me ad who actually keep in touch on a regular basis...I am grateful for my own family who have come to terms with this complex disease and are right there with me to laugh about this or that.....I am so in love with everyone who shows raw love and who let real emotion shine through and I am so grateful for our pets and animals who cross our paths on a daily basis.....this is my September......I am really grateful....

Before lyme disease my dream....my call.... was to do a public speaking tour in HS around the country to push young girls and young women toward what I call "emotional independence" and fight bullies chauvinistic ideas..... I was hoping to move on with my newly created non profit. But now, I cannot see me doing that. However I am contemplating the idea to begin a series on lyme disease in the local public library. I want to do something meaningful before lyme takes me to the grave with Parkinson or Alzheimers....ya know....lol

NotQuiteAntonia - I love your attitude.
Astermix - You go girl.
Lyme is the Ultimate Bully, it comes along and sits on you, it saps you strength, pins you to the ground until all you can do is flail around helplessly struggling to not be crushed by it. At some level you learn to fight it the same way you stand up to bullies in the playground. You claim your 'emotional independence'. You have to to survive. Its not easy but its more than a physical battle you have to meet it at other levels too. Bullies can win as long as you believe in their power.

multifacetedme, I look forward to these posts just as much as you guys, if not more.

Actually, I'd meant to post this a few days ago, at least, so as to give people more time to participate. But, I just got caught up with things, you know?

Plus, I've been inspired by my composition class to get it formatted in a nice, clear, succinct way, something that will remain consistent, just like the positivity that we share here every month. Though, I didn't get around to brushing it up as much as I'd like to have either.

But, a work-in-progress. Similar to us, right?

All that said, your responses, as usual, I love them! It's great hearing from you, and, not to play favorites, some of the old faces from months past especially!

I like that people are sticking with the trend and coming around every month. Still, I definitely want to see the newer folks come around in October as well!

I wish I could respond to each and every one of you at length, but I would probably be here for the next couple hours. Just know that I have read and appreciate everything you guys said, every one that contributed.

Also, special thanks to the compliments paid to me! It's nice to hear.

I can definitely relate.

ArtAngel, what you said really helped me. Lyme, one of the coinfections, something or other really had its way with me today. I'm always picking myself back up whenever it comes to knock me flat, of course, but your words just reinforced that in me. That's exactly how I feel about it.

Artermix, similar to you, I wanted to write about various injustices. I could see myself doing speeches though too. I am not really sure I will ever have as a clear and sharp a voice as I used to though. So, nowadays, I'd just like to have a mid-level job in healthcare sector. I used to wanna be some world renowned creative type, but now I'd settle for average person guy. lol

But, I ever get a little of that voice back, I will definitely say a few things.

Also, Annette, didn't get a bike this month, but I did get a skateboard. It's kind of getting out of season to try to learn to ride, at least here in the midwest, but I would eventually like to.

Don't really have much of a contribution myself, aside from that. I passed certain skills testing session to get a certain certification this month, which I'm pretty proud myself for doing. I was really worried about not being able to perform well, but I barely missed any points.

Though, I feel like I kind of lucked out. I wanted to have to work harder for it.

All the same, good news.

Maybe I'll have an entry relevant to that in next month's share-and-tell?

Anyway, anyone who hasn't shared yet, feel free! There's time yet!

Its great to hear everyone's stories.

Recently, I was interviewed for a book called 7 steps to healing. I am the case study in the chapter "never give up". The author said that I had discovered 6 of the 7 steps to healing on my own. I think that is worth a pat on the back. I had to write my story and reflecting upon the last 4 years of trying to find answers against physicians and even my spouse who didn't support me, and it made me realize how strong I am and what I've been through and I'm excited to be an inspiration for others. I, too, want to pay it forward somehow. Also, this forum has saved my life.

1)I met a great functional medicine chiropractor by mistake this week.

I needed a special tricky adjustment from the one guy I know who can do this, but he was booked so I took a chance on his colleague. Functional chiropractors are kind of new, but many try to sell you on whatever their specialty heath plan is that they devised (turn off). After he asked with deep interest about my complicated whole health story (infection, immune, ongoing structural correction), I found he was actually very knowledgeable in a lot of what we know here (the stuff beyond lyme) and more, but doesn't advertise in that direction.

2)Another note: Its good to hear about those wanting to spread their stories / health knowledge through print/workshops/public speaking ect.

I did approach a couple small town newspapers for spring lyme awareness, but they would not do a story on this without using my real name, they say that builds honesty with their reading audience. So I declined, I dont need a target on my back from employers or who ever.. I asked the editor if hes OK with a couple more kids getting infected because the paper wont use an alias's name for a lyme awareness article. No comment.

Astroman - The editor of this book is my old college roommate who is also the person that diagnosed me with Lyme. I think I've mentioned before that she edits Horowitz's books and she said to me last summer that my list of symptoms sounded exactly like the people in the book...She told me about Igenix and LLMDs and pretty much saved my life!

You'll have to share some of what you're doing with me, Yazz. I've also had a lot of GI problems over the years, and have been taking measures to correct them, but I could always use some fresh insight.

That actually reminds me, I've lost the link to a thread a made wherein Pirouette gave me some gut advice, or at least I think it was P. There are two people I'd consider experts on two issues that I feel are central to my health situation, GI and chemical sensitivities, who have offered suggestions to me, but.. yeah, you just made me realize I have forgotten how to get back to that info. I've just been kind of running off of habits I formed from their suggestions, but I am due for a recap. I feel I may be forgetting some things. So, yeah, thank you for the reminder.

Anyway, about that.

Everyone else, thank you again for participating. I've read and treasure every one. Hugs and kisses, all around!

Those are two real friends!