New Picture

If you can FLY so can I.

As you know I have not been posting on my blog for a while. Each early spring I plunge into that dark world of SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder.  I have members of my family that also experience this. It seemed to be pretty harsh this year and I just quit doing most of the things I usually love to do. No writing, no reading, and no exercise of any type.  I have always been a walker and I just dreaded even thinking about it.  I made sure that I continued with my vitamins and healthy eating. Getting sleep and just hanging on. I knew that it should lift. If it does not I know to go to my Doctor and get some help. It just happens and I hang on.  I could tell it was starting to lift as I became more interested about walking and did get out and go a few times last week.
      I always like to watch for things in nature that might motivate or encourage me. The last week I have had a little Mourning Dove hoping around my yard. As I watch closely it seemed to tilt to the one side. Finally it walked out onto the sidewalk so I could have a better view. The little bird was missing its foot! It had a leg but no foot and was walking around on that stump. I watch as that bird interacted with other birds and moved along eating as it went. Then off it flew to the top of the fence. It was always sitting on the top of my tall cinder block fence and I realized that it could not hold onto a perch or wire with its one foot. Its life was very different from the other Doves but it didn't seem to have a problem surviving at all.  As I watched that bird I realized that I needed to get out and get going. To do the things I love and let my body tamper down the depression for another year. (Or forever!!) If that little bird can survive and thrive with the loss of a foot then I should be able to do more to help myself. One time a Doctor told me that the best thing for SAD was to exercise and power through it. At that time exercise was a long lost dream. It was really hard to exercise when I was close to 300 pounds   I took the medication that he offered instead.  Now I have a healthy strong body. I can do many things that I never dreamt I would ever do again a few years ago. I had lost that fighting drive for a few months but the spark has been kindled by a little Dove.  I keep saying to myself, " if that little Dove can FLY so can I."  Finally Loving Yourself.

Skeleton Update

This is a copy of my bone scan I did the other day. The left starting line is when I had my baseline done in 2010.  The drastic drop was recorded one year ago. I wrote about the fear, sadness, and determination about it in a previous blog. This past week I returned to do a yearly follow up to see how the Ol' bones were doing. My Doctor called me about 2 hours after the scan excited to share the results. He wanted me to come in and get my other test results but when I was there all he could do was shake his head and keep telling me how amazed he was at this result.  The Rx he had put me on one year ago is very slow to show progress.  He said he had never seen anything like this. What had I done?  I told him I went home and did hours of research. Increased my Calcium and Vit D. I started doing exercises with small weights that would stress and pull the back muscles and wake those bones up to get them rebuilding. I did those exercises often and at least 3 times a week. I continued to walk.  Apparently my bones liked what I was doing. He reassured me that it was not the Rx keeping the old bone from being absorb but was new bone growth.  I gained inches and width along my vertebrae!  I'm not shrinking I'm growing. The side effects of the Rx and the achy back muscles from exercise  seem to be less of a problem when I can see this kind of improvement.  I was so ready to just stop doing what I enjoy for fear of breaking my back. I will continue to be cautious (after all I'm getting up there!) but not be as nervous about a break.  My Doctor told me go out and surf, and ski, and enjoy my new back! Watch out! I might dig out my old roller skates!

Addict

Most of recovery from drug addiction or any addiction is from the support an addict receives. It is also a very important process that keeps the recovering addict remembering how bad it can be when living in an addiction.  Each day is a challenge but each day is a new day to live a full and happy life. I really thought this statement explained a lot in a few short words. Thank you to "Anonymous" for sharing this with us.

Tender Reminders

Every week I get the chance to sit with people who have come in that day to Weightwatchers ready to change their lives. Most of them are coming in to literally save their lives.  Others to add quality and time to their lives. Each person's story is different. Each has a different journey they want to follow. They are all ages, sizes, and shapes. Men and Women joining into a group that can give them a common goal. Lose Weight.
As I sit and listen to their stories and watch them they all have that same look in their eyes. Some bury it very deep but the look is there. Sadness with a little swirl of hope. I want to use a recent encounter to show you how incredibly special these moments are to me. I sat with 3 people the other day. A man and two women. One had a journey of several years to reach a healthy weight. One had about 15 pounds to lose. One had a little over 60 pounds to lose. All sat and expressed their feelings and the tears were falling from all 3.  As we sat there together and could feel the emotions of that moment I was reminded once again of how hard a person can be on themselves. The world is good enough at dishing out the pain. I was reminded at how it hurts both mentally and physically to begin a healthy journey. How very very hard it is to walk into a room and get on a scale and be screaming silently in your head. Please don't laugh! Please don't say anything hurtful.  Don't stare at me!  PLEASE help me!
We sat. We cried. We learned. Most important we shared. We each talked about the hope we had to improve our  health. All 4 of us left lifted up and ready to face this journey together.
 They taught me so much I had forgotten and I don't want to forget. Thank you for the reminders.  I can see me in their eyes. The me I use to be. I only hope that they can see what I can see. The beautiful incredible hope, courage, and strength that just swirls slightly in the back of  their sad eyes. Grab hold of that hope and let it grow.  Just keep swimming.

A Simple Start

I received a message the other day that has made my day, week, and year!  Let me explain. When I write this blog I just let things roll out of my head. I am sure some of it doesn't make much of an impact. Occasionally a comment will impact someone tremendously.  I feel that the person that it impacts was just simply ready to hear it.  The timing is just right that an idea can be read, tried, and bloom into a beautiful result. So, back to the message. I am adding the total letter and want to be sure to give credit to the writer.  I mentioned an idea but she took it and embraced it. She did the work and the rewards.  I just want to thank her for letting me know!

Happy New Year to a New You!

Almost a New Year

I have not been writing a lot on my blog lately. I have been busy enjoying the holidays and spending time with my Grands.    I have been feeling a little bit guilty that I have not been putting updates on here but I don't want to just randomly write and post.
      I want you all to know that I treasure your friendships. Some of you I have never even met but you continue to lift me up to become a better person. Your comments and messages are very much appreciated and motivating. I only hope I have been able to lift you up too. 
      I wish you health, strength, happiness, and most of all peace in this New Year.
      Now I need to go because I am being called on to engineer a light saber out of a gift wrap tube and empty toilet paper rolls.  I am going to go play and "Just keep swimming!"