Life Happened...now what? Choices: 9. Live in faith ~ or ~ live in fear of your future©

Hello again my friends!
I hope you are doing ok,
hanging in there and
utilizing some of the tools
in the blog that we are sharing.

I am trying to finish up the top 10
and get to some of your ideas for topics!

So, here we are...
together again ~
and we have a couple of choices
all. the. time.

Fear or Faith.

Now I don't mean you have to believe in God
or any Religious being...that isn't what this is about.

To me, this disease is so all encompassing,
taking on so many areas of my life ~
how about you?
If I didn't have faith, for instance, in my Doctors ~
I'd be in big trouble...

and yet, I have fear too ~
but it is a 4 letter word, fear is.
It can take a calm moment
and spin it out of control.

When you list out the things we think about
from the second we wake up...
if we didn't keep some kind of faith,
I don't know about you, but I'd stay in bed.

Like, faith that even though when I wake up
I can't walk well, and put my full weight on my feet
or hips...
I have faith that with my food and medicine
and time,
I will "ungel" and move a bit better in a few hours.

When I get stabbing pain in my lower back
and I can't stand up straight ~
I have to have faith that it will pass
Or I will just cry in pain and fear that I will be cripple.

Every morning my hands hardly close and are numb ~
with fear, now come on ~ we could come up with doozies ~
But I now wake my hands up slowly, every single day...
they wake up first...and dance a special dance...
I guess I should call them my dance of faith~
that once I do this and they have time and medicine
I can use them again later.

My foggy brain, my fatigue, my memory
it is freakin' me out, quite frankly...
I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about.
What are we going to do about it?
Use some of my other tools, and have faith, right? right.

Changing my medicines again ~
Ok, I am a little afraid ~ so I am not starting it yet.
I am getting educated, praying, talking to my other Doc
and when I feel comfortable ~ I will make a decision
to be a guinea pig again...I mean, try ANOTHER medicine.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a tough foe...
But we are tougher, aren't we?
Well, we have a lot on our plates everyday
but if we live more in faith, than fear...
our lives will be more enriched and we will thrive.

Healing hugs,

~alicia

Life Happened...now what? Choices: 8. Rest ~ listen to your body ~ or ~ fall at the end of the day, exhausted ~ depleted©

Hello my friends.

Rest?  Slow down? Listen to my body? 

HA!

Well, let me tell you something about me.

Shhhh, don't tell anyone.

I tell my body off everyday.

Who wants to listen to a body like mine? Who?

With a mind that goes a million miles an hour...

Has an entrepreneurial spirit ~

Is very alive!  enthusiastic!  energetic!

But a body that is busted up, bruised, stiff,

slow, battered, sick and weak.

Heck, I walk and feel like an elderly woman.

This is a giant "difference of opinion", if you will...

My mind has been trying to win this argument.

But my body 

is a great debater.

It is now forcing my mind to give in.

How, you may ask...

I just hit walls now.

*BAM* and I am down and out...

for a nap.

I am a one way ticket  ~  anywhere.

Perhaps I may make plans to go someplace local

but I might hit the wall on the way home ~ 

*bam* while driving is not a safe idea.

So I don't travel.   Even to my doctors in Boston ~

Or to see my Mom.

So, I am making a new decision.   

This first year of my new diagnosis with Rheumatoid Arthritis

has been challenging, eye-opening, enriching, scary ~ 

but a journey of continuous learning, and of self-awareness.

One of the biggest tools in my 

"Toolbox for Life"

has been resting.   

Yup.  

My body won.

My body won the debate.    

Trust me when I say, my mind is a great debater, 

and didn't want to lose this one...

However, since I have been taking naps often~

Meditating everyday, 

truly listening to my body when it is crashing...

I am getting better.  

Not even close to where 

I want to be...but baby steps.

Now, imagine if I listen to my body ~

Before it crashes.

Healing hugs, 

~Alicia 

Life Happened...now what? Choices: 7: ~ Exercise every day ~ or ~ Let your body stiffen up faster, advancing your disease©

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book."  ~Irish Proverb


Hello my friends ~ 
Sorry it has been a while since I wrote.
That's the thing with RA...
Sometimes you don't have the energy for
much more than the basics.


However, exercise is key
no matter what!
You have to keep moving
in the right direction ~
doing a little exercise 
everyday.


Back in the good ol' days
I rode my bike all day long  ~
Hiked mountains ~
Power walked ~
Gymnastics ~
Went to the gym ~
Had a rowing machine ~
A step for step aerobics ~
You name it, I did it. 


Not anymore.  Oh no.
That's ok.   I am creative.
I've discovered what I can do...
you can too.
Most importantly ~ discover
what you love to do ~
and do it every single day.


Yoga is my physical medicine
along with meditation for my 
mind/body wellness.
On my mat, I am perfect
however my day goes.


Some days I am up for 
a gentle yoga class
others days ~ it is a modified
stretch routine
followed by relaxation pose
"savasana"


But, no matter what
I am on the mat everyday.
If I get off my routine ~
my body will stiffen up so fast ~
I will be in so much pain...
It isn't worth it.
Yoga is the exercise that truly helps me.
It has for ten years now.


A long time ago 
my doctor said to me ~
"if you hadn't been doing yoga
all these years, your joints would
be stiff and stuck"   Amazing. 
Thank God I am proactive for my
own health and wellness!


You have to be too!  You have 
so much to gain!


I also walk my dog (and cat)
a bit each day.   Again, to the 
best of my ability.   Now, let 
me tell you a little something I noticed.
My health has a direct effect on my dog's 
girth.   Tyles is getting chunky because
this winter was tough on me.   
We all need our exercise, especially our pets!
They can be our excuse/cure!


So, my friends, choose health.
Choose an exercise you love and will
stick to.   Trust me...I worked as a Diabetes
Specialist for many years and one thing I heard
over and over from National experts was "exercise
is as important as diet" for your health.


So, my friends, 
Keep moving ... Keep moving...
keep moving in the right direction!
And we will thrive ~ darn it all...we will.


Healing hugs, 
Alicia   


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