Life Happened...now what? Choices: 6: ~ Enjoy the simplicities in life ~ or ~ keep up with our old pace and break our bodies down©

"To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace."  ~Milan Kundera

Hello my friends ~

Peace.
Peace.of.mind.
Joy.
Find it, we must!

Life passes by
and we miss
the simple joys
by working so hard
breaking down our bodies
our minds...

We all do it.

Whether you have Rheumatoid Arthritis
or are just trying to live life today~
we have to change our mindsets
or we miss the good stuff
and make ourselves suffer.

You know I am right.
And yet, it is so hard to change.

People read this from all over the world ~
Six Continents ~ Whoa...
All over the globe, guess what?
We all put too much pressure on living.

We need to just live.
Live!
Enjoy life.
Pause.  Breathe.  Look around.
Smile.
We are on the right side of the daisies!
YAY!

So we have the chance to thrive!
What are you going to do to take control of your life-story?
The chapters need to change ~
but change can be fantastic
Giving us opportunities to see and appreciate
simplicities we would have otherwise missed.

Your biography.  Your story.
Let's have many, many exciting chapters to write!
If we slow down, listen to our bodies
and truly enjoy our "New Reality"~
We will see the simplicities in life
as the absolute beauty that they are.
Peace. Joy. Fun.

I don't know about you,
but I want to have a long life...
and if I have to learn to stop and enjoy
watching squirrels and chipmunks...
or listen to the birds and smile...
or walk with my dog and cat...
and that is all my body allows...

Well, I am thriving and my biography
will become more vivid with simple blessings!
Hopefully, I will have a few more chapters
to write, because I am doing what my doctor
and my body tell me to do!

Join me on my virtual healing trail
Let's thrive together and learn from one
another.   Imagine, people from all over
the world ~ if you all added your comments,
we could learn so much about you and how
you are thriving!

Healing hugs,
Alicia

Life Happened...now what? Choices: 5: ~ Re-create yourself or Focus on all the things you can't do anymore©

"As soon as you are aware of who and what you are, try to find out why you are.  You were born for a purpose in life.  Find out what it is.   We are all created for a purpose;  That is why you were made!"
~Lenny Moore~  Football Hall of Fame

Hello my friends...
my next chapter in
Life Happened...now what?
Choices: 5: ~
Re-create yourself or Focus on all the things you can't do anymore©

When I knew my health was changing very rapidly~
I re-grouped, re-trained
and became a Certified Professional Coach...

Now this may seem impossible to you~

However, no matter what your obstacle is...
You can Re-create yourself!  You can!

I had coaching as a 5 year plan already...
Many of us don't have a "back-up plan"
for emergency career "switcharoos"!
It doesn't mean you still can't do it!

I mean...many of us went to college
or worked and trained for our lives and
bam ~ now we don't have the energy
and physically our bodies can't take it
anymore.   Now what?

Cry all day?

No way.  Not you!  Not Me!

We have a tremendous opportunity!
Yup, we have a great benefit that others
may never take the time to discover.
We can find out Why we were made...
What is our purpose?

We already know what we can't do...
Right?  Right.  That list is long enough.

What have you always wanted to do,
or have people said you'd be great at?
Perhaps, look at your new life and what
adjustments you can make with it...
Buy a Bed and Breakfast...Sell Crafts,
Go back to College for the career you always
wanted to do ~ one that has less stress on your joints,
and is more flexible.

We have been given an
EMBRACE LIFE sentence...
not a death sentence.
It is all in our perspective, isn't it...

Life for everyone
always is up to each individual
to make it a great day
or focus on negativity.

Me, I don't want to waste precious time
around negativity...I want to THRIVE!
Join me, my friends...
Share with us your discoveries
We are on this journey together!

Healing hugs,
~Alicia

Life Happened...now what? Choices: 4: ~ Communicate with Friends or Isolate©

"So long as we are loved by others I should say that we are almost indispensable;
and no man is useless while he has a friend."  ~  Robert Louis Stevenson

My friends, as I continue to the top 10 of Life Happened, now what...©
This one may be the hardest one.

One thing I have read about and heard over and over is that RA
is a universally isolating disease.   Whoa.   It doesn't discriminate.
You could've been a vibrant, successful, bubbly, outgoing, high heel
wearing woman...and bam.   Can't get out anymore.   Too embarrassed
to say or do anything about it...really.  That would describe me pretty well.

Perhaps you have tried, like I have, to communicate in round-about ways...

But if we are going to THRIVE, yes, THRIVE, my friends...we have
to get over ourselves.   Our fears.   Stop letting RA rule our lives.
I don't know about you, but Rheumatoid Arthritis has been running my 
LIFE.

We need to tell our friends we need help, and be specific.
For instance, I had a friend over yesterday...I was going to Goodwill and
getting "flatter heels" and more comfortable, yet stylish shoes...before I
give away my beautiful heels...(like 50 of them....I digress).
Well, I gave my friend some shoes...I showed her my new shoes and old
ones.   One pair I couldn't wear because they had laces.    She said "Oh my God,
I had no idea your RA was that bad."

Communication.

Now, I can tie my shoes, somedays...but I don't get sneakers or shoes with laces
anymore.
I love to hang with friends...but for now, it is so much easier for me to have friends
here.
Expressing that to my friends.  Helping them understand is crucial for me to not isolate.
I'd love to have friends come over and go grocery shopping and maybe make
a fruit salad together...chill out and enjoy eating it.  
But it is so hard to ask for help.
Yes, I have family, but we all know ~ they carry a lot of the burden...if we could do
some of those things with friends, it could be fun at the same time.  
I don't know about you, but as soon as I am with friends, I turn into a goofball!  
Isn't that what makes life with friends grand?!
What are we so afraid of?  

When we stop getting the invites, it hurts us deeply...we are not cripples,
we are just adjusting to a life that WE DIDN'T ASK FOR....
but we are going to THRIVE...my friends,  WE ARE.
I don't know about you, but fear of not being who I was ~ and admitting that to
myself and others is EXACTLY why it is easier to isolate...

However...we are on this earth for a very short time...and I don't need to tell you
that people with RA... well, I won't finish that sentence...you know what I mean ~
every day is precious.

Let's promise each other...and I mean this
No more isolating  ~
Baby steps, my friends...baby steps ~
and we will thrive and get our life back.
Reach out today and tell a good friend that you want to get together
and what your limitations are ~ be honest
begin your new journey of thriving with RA ~

Share your success stories ~
We all need them to help us
with this challenging disease...
Never forget my friends,
WE are stronger than our disease!

Healing hugs,
Alicia

Life Happened...now what? Choices: 3 ~ Find joy in the little things or stay on the pity pot©

Hey my friends...

Life keeps on happening in my life...how about you?
Here are some more choices we have:

Find joy in the little things
or stay on the pity pot...

Now, my friends we know about the pity pot...
my old, wise friend used to say to me ~
"you can stay on the pity pot for a little bit...
just don't stay so long you get a ring around your bottom!"

That always makes me laugh ~
hope it made you smile too...
It is a funny visual when you are
feeling sad, grumpy, defeated...
~ in other words ~ on the pity pot

Let's all really think about something
right now.
Look out the window ~
what is something that brings you joy?
I just noticed squirrels chasing each other.

Ok...take a peek around your space.
Do you have a favorite picture nearby
that brings back a great memory?
Go there. Right now. Remember. Smile.

How about friends...do you have any cards or notes
from friends...or your mom and dad... ?
give 'em a call...write them a note.
It will make their day and yours too.

If we take time everyday and re-focus
on the joy in the simple things in life...
our time on the pity pot will be minimal.

Our days were meant to be lived!
Sure, we have to modify...like my yoga practice...

but there is joy in the re-creation of you.
There is!  Make sure of it!  It's your choice.

Joy or pity...
Thrive or stagnation...

Which one are you choosing?
We are on this journey together...
let's thrive with the little joys!

Healing hugs,
~Alicia