HELLO my friends!
As you know, this is a blog about THRIVING!
Thriving, not surviving...with Rheumatoid Arthritis or whatever ails you in life.
Today, I had an epiphany! It has been almost 2 years since my dx of RA.
Through trial and error, and four different meds, I am hopeful that my new medicine will put this bone and tendon eating visitor to sleep for a while.
Me...Enthusiastic? Yup ~ that is WHO I AM.
Many people say, I used to be...before RA. I feel, well I know, RA has stolen my joy, enthusiasm and excitement I had for life. It is a broken and tired road, and many people got off the highway when it was getting rough. That didn't help losing my joy for life.
However, I am not this visitor ~ RA, and I can't let this disease define me.
Not anymore. Not this chick. Sure my family and friends and I have to accept
the changes in my abilities and strength...but my light of enthusiasm is still shining.
I was BORN TENACIOUS, ENTHUSIASTIC, TOUGH and RESILIENT, and many times
have been told I was BUBBLY and the LIFE OF THE PARTY!
I have been so attached to my careers, my education, which took me 11 years to get,
and then my entrepreneurial spirit shined with Life Coaching! It was hard to begin the acceptance process. Starting my own business, knowing I needed a career to work with my body, which was breaking faster than I could get my business off the ground. I did get a volunteer Teen Coaching program started 4 years ago. That is my passion! Talk about my light shining! Those teens rock!
This life change had me feeling that I wasn't as worthwhile a person as I was before.
That's because I couldn't physically do my work, I was feeling like a failure. Due to the severe change in my personal life, I sure felt like I had to be a boring person now. I wasn't reliable, and mostly needed friends to come here.
I lost my enthusiasm for life ~ My "Je ne sais quoi". Or perhaps I was just going through the process and accepting my new life. Hello, it is a huge life changer. Huge.
But I am seeing things clearer, and with hope.
So, my friends, what am I ~ what are we going to do about it?
I don't work now...I am officially "disabled". A Type "A" with RA and a busy brain.
Does that make me any less of a friend than I was before I got sick? Nope.
My brain works fine (well...), so I can blog, write a book (which I have started) spend time with friends and family, and rest and rejuvinate my body.
My volunteer program is ready for it's 4th year to coach Teen's to set and achieve goals. Last year I had 100% goal attainment. Not bad for a "dud". :)
I just needed to go through this tough process and get over myself. My family is
wonderful and we embrace the simple life, for that I am blessed.
Me, enthusiastic again?! You Betcha! Thank God!
Healing Hugs,
Alicia
