Let me share with you what I do to thrive with RA! ©

“Once you make the unequivocal internal commitment to do something ~ when you absolutely know this is the time and the place to act ~ the world around you will shift in all sorts of apparently miraculous ways to make it happen.” ~ Sarah Susanka


Hello again, my friends!
I saw my doc today ~
shared with him my blog, 
our blog.


One of the pieces of advice 
he gave me was this...
"Tell them the inspiring 
things you do everyday, 
no matter what.   Explain 
to them how you do it and 
how they can do it too!"


Dr. K. thought a lot of my 
story, right now, although
difficult, is remarkable in 
that I am not giving up my 
workouts and daily routine.


So, my friends, I am going to 
lay it out for you and hope it helps you!

• No matter what ~ you must move your body.   There are great video's like Peggy Cappy - Yoga for Arthritis.   Perfect ~ even if all you can do is finger exercises...and they are awesome!
• Find a Yoga studio and meet with the instructor.   Even if yoga is not your "thing" ~ trust me when I say, I tried everything...and for 10 years, yoga is what I can consistently do ~ modified every day.   A great instructor will guide you to the appropriate classes...like Gentle Yoga.
• If you have a pet, go for walks.   If you don't ~ go for walks.  Bundle up and walk or Leslie Sansone has great walking tapes for people of all ages and builds.   Just move...  NOTE:  MY PRIOR PCP Told me that if I hadn't been doing yoga, my joints would've seized up a long time ago.   Use your muscles and joints....all of them!   
• Dance!  Play your favorite music and shake that booty of yours!   You'll smile and burn calories...but most of all, you will have fun.
• Find someone to hang with who likes to do these things with you...but if you must do it alone, that is fine too.    You will get to know yourself better, and really have an opportunity to ....
• Meditate.   Give it a go.   It is helpful...it really is.  Not just Savasana at the end of yoga.  Real Meditation.   Email me if you want some names of ones I like.
• Enjoy your friends and family at your pace ~ if they understand.
• Embrace each day as a blessing and a gift to unrap...not as "oh, I am sick again, or in so much pain."  Wait until you are loosened up enough and take out the mat to work out.   
• Make working out a DAILY GIFT to yourself.   Truly.  I have for over 10 years.   Modified, modified and then modified again.   But I NEVER quit....
• Finally ~ Never quit, and if you feel like it ~ email me and let's talk.  Share your fears and pain with those who know.   This is a Universally Isolating Disease.   I have been left alone by so many people that loved the "old me".   I am learning to accept the new me... I imagine it must be hard for them to accept the new me too.

Keep me posted on your progress!   Let me know what you do, and how it is working for you.   We all can learn so much from each other.    I love doing Chair Yoga now...because I didn't have to give up yoga or Down Dog.   You guys all know, I am not a QUITTER...and neither are YOU!  

Thriving with RA...we will.

Healing hugs, 

Alicia

You know, I know you know! ©

"You may never know what results come of your action, 
but if you do nothing there will be no result."
Mahatma Gandhi


Hello my friends!
It has been a while, 
and I have missed you all.
Truly.


I have truly missed writing.
Sometimes life throws you 
so much, that you feel like
"no way, I can't do that anymore!"


Yeah, that was how I was feeling
after my Mom passed away.
Just days after I began my new medicine
and I told my Ma that it would "cure me" 
and I could visit her more! 


Then my feet acted up and 
with all my mourning and pain
~ it was overwhelming, to put
it mildly.   Then the Holidays, 
Birthdays...


You know, I know you know.


Many of you tell me privately
that you couldn't even get out
the words I put out here.
Well here they are ~ pain and all.


I truly wasn't going to write again.
Figured, I was a "has been".
Lost my careers, losing more 
mobility, lost my biggest cheerleader
(who had chronic illness~my Ma)....
so why bother...
Plus, I was in a bad space.


You know, I know you know.


But I can't do that!  
I made a committment to you all.
That we could and would thrive 
with this disease.   
How could I leave you?
I just needed time.


You know, I know you know.


So, my dear friends, 
I am back!   
Maybe not writing as much 
as I did, or as quick...
But I am here...
Not giving up...or in.
I was thinking about it though.


You know, I know you know.


Healing hugs, 
Alicia 
PS... write away ... let us all know that you do know.  xo

"Are you here for your Mom or your Grandma?" .... ahh no, for me. ©

Hello my special friends!
So nice to *see* you today!
I hope you are doing well today...
and if you are struggling...
grab the bootstraps...and pick yourself up by them.

A dear friend says that to me
every now and then...
I like having people around me
that don't coddle me ~
that empathize ~
but will listen and then help me
take action.

That is what today's blog is about.
ACTION.

I am a young looking - healthy looking (on the outside)
44 year old woman.   My PCP told me my insides are like
those of a 80 year old.   Ok, tough to hear, but at least
I look ok.

My RA is taking a fast course and it is hard to stay ahead
of it.   However, I plan on always fighting back and doing
everything I can to help myself stay as healthy as I can.

I have a new tool in my "Toolbox for Life"©!
Working out at the Senior Center.   Yup.  The Senior Center.
You heard right.   For the "older" generation...not for me.
But, it is for me.  Perfectly for me.   Because I am 80 on 
the inside, and my feet and hands are really battling with
a Gentle Yoga class...so it was recommended to do this.

What would you do?   I am serious.   Would you go?

I did.  My son and I went today with my prescription from
my doc (I had unanimous support from 3 docs - sheesh).
We were met by a wonderfully beautiful 80 something
woman who said...
"ARE YOU HERE FOR YOUR MOM OR YOUR GRANDMA?"
PRICELESS..."No, just for little ol'...or little, young me with RA."

Oh my.

My friends...I have an opportunity to get out, get social interaction,
and get help with classes at my level...leaving my ego at the door.
I love yoga, I love working out everyday of my life...but in the last six
months, my body is breaking down too quick for my modifications.

Here is my answer.   Whala!   So, I am working out at a Senior Center
at 44 years old, and you know what?

I am excited about it!  Yup...you heard right.

Tell us - or email me what you are doing to move your RA life in the right
direction.   Let's not waste any time, my friends.   Thriving is possible.
We will figure out how to have our life be perfect for us now.   Some
people never take the time to figure it out....make sure you do.

Simple joys, my friends, simple joys.

Healing hugs,
Alicia

Life Period©

Life period

My friends, I truly hope this blog finds you
in good spirits, and in a good place.

I am away ~ replenishing my heart, my soul
looking at a lake and mountains...my favorite place.
I am taking my mom with me.

For those of you who follow me know that
my mom was my official "blog consultant"!
Oh, she loved my blog...but loved the position!

I had a bucket list this year...during my battle with RA
It had one thing on it.
Go visit ma - when she isn't in a hospital.

One day I felt well enough, and she was well enough,
and I went for it.   To everyone's surprise...including mine.
Travelling was difficult, but we had a blast...a simple blast.

We spoke nearly everyday until her phone recently started to act up.
Then I sent her money to buy a new phone.   It didn't make it
in time.

You see, my mom and I had a similar life.   Simple.  But full of pain,
fatigue and complicated medical issues that are difficult for others
to understand.   And yet, we still try to bring joy to others and keep
an optimistic outlook.   But with each other, we understood.

Life period.

We both lived the same life.   We got there differently, but we feel
the same pain and limitations put on our lives.  Nothing we wanted.
We were both go getters....with spirit!

On Sept 4th, suddenly, my mom passed away - a non-smoker.  Bless
her soul.   She had to die suddenly to be able to stay off the cigarettes.

I have taken some time to reflect, write, paint, and just grieve...I lost
my dad at 16, so I know death.   But losing my Mom now, whoa this is tough.  

Two days before she died, I was getting a new infusion...my 4th treatment.  On the way home from Boston, I called ~ I said "Ma, I feel it working!  I know I'll be able to visit you more now!"

Life period.

What is my point? I have decided to take my mom with me everywhere and show her the things I love.  She didn't travel much.  I am going to ask her for strength so I can heal my body.

Life period is difficult.   Many have it easier, many have it harder. Who is the judge?  Not me.  I have to be thankful for the great lessons I have learned everyday from my ma.  She turned into the woman she always wanted to be. For that I am so grateful for her spirit.  She had a goal, and that was to make others smile.  Pure and simple joy - and she lived in a nursing home since 59...died at 64.  Bless her.

Everyday is a battle with pain and fatigue...and modifying my ability to walk, to exercise...sometimes to just cook or walk the dog.   And yet, I plan to get through this and live in the now.   I have to get better, and if this is my hand I am dealt ~ I am on the path of acceptance of my new life I never saw coming.  But it is life period.

I do have so many blessings, and I have to focus on those and stay in today - not yesterday's sadness - or tomorrows worries.  You all know what I mean.

Without my mom as mutual support...it will be difficult, but if you have lost someone too, we can always have them with us...just talk to them in your heart and take them with you always.  That is what I am going to do.  

I was going to stop blogging...but even my daughter said - "you should
write, mom".   So, my friends...it isn't my best, but it is from my heart.

So, Ma...is it blog worthy?  Can I hit publish...?  Ok - here it goes.   Thanks Ma ~
you can still help me from heaven.

Healing hugs,
Alicia