Just a thought...

"Happiness is
being at peace,
being with loved ones,
being comfortable...
But most of all,
it's having those
loved ones.

Johnny Cash

My Transition

I am currently working to expand my coaching practice in new and creative ways. Now is a good time to suspend my weekly blog post. While I am restructuring, I will update you on my progress and offer a coaching 'blurb.'

During this transition, feel free to provide any comments, suggestions, or thoughts, to ccnwuyak@gmail.com. They will be welcomed and appreciated.

I've always encouraged you to 'consider the possibilities,' so, I have decided to take my own advice. With that in mind, I will be working diligently to improve Consider Coaching Now.

So, just remember, to always 'consider the possibilities!'

Those intricate details

Don't let any condition limit you. Sometimes it's in the intricate details--the problem, or the limiting belief.

So, this is a good week to challenge anything that isn't empowering your life. Look at it -- understand it-- release it.

If it doesn't make you smile, then, do you need it?

This life is a challenge, it's yours to discover, yours to complete. It involves planning and forming those intricate details, to serve as a guide, a resource, a reservoir. All the information, finely tuned, to enhance the experience and delight in attainment.

Think of the possibilities and,

have fun!

Symptoms

About 4 weeks ago I had a heart attack, or something like it. The doctors are not100% sure what happened  but, after a heart catherization, they found no blockage.What a relief!

I think people with compromised immune systems sometimes forget to pay attention to symptoms. They keep on going, because in all actuality, they never feel good. Those with chronic conditions spend their lives feeling less than adequate. I don't just mean because they are physically uncomfortable. When one has to find ways to cope with a condition and handle life as well, they realize the difficulty. It is overwhelming and it does   unsettle one psychologically. Self worth, confidence, ability, and decision making take a hit, if you will.

Health care today focuses on prevention. That's all well and good for some, but, for those with chronic conditions it doesn't apply. As a coach, and an individual with a chronic condition, I know for certain that
much of time doctors know about as much as you do about what's going on. That's why it's imperative that you take command, somehow. Doctors who don't seem interested in hearing from you and, who only view you as a series of test results on a chart are missing the big picture. YOU need to be your own advocate and see that doctors work to look at you as a Whole person. Experts work for you in order for you to make INFORMED decisions.

So, I want  to remind you to pay attention to your symptoms. They are telling you something. Monitor your symptoms, take command, find a coach to talk to, and get a wellness plan, because you need to.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Mirror

A mirror is anything reflecting truly or accurately.

Will a mirror reflect the truth of who you are, or an image of what you think you are, or an image of what you wish to be?

I know there are mirrors that distort, as there are thoughts that distort one's perception.

Makes you wonder what you see in the mirror...

Call in some Laughter

Call in some Laughter this week. Ask for it in your prayers. Think of something that makes you chuckle. Laugh out loud. Just call in the Laughter this week.

I'm grasping for something happy, something that makes me smile. I want it because I need it. Do you? Andy Rooney said, "If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it." So, try to mean it. Laughter is powerful magic. It can turn sadness into silliness, heartache into happiness, and transform a gloomy day into a playful one.

Abraham Lincoln said, "With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh, I should die." Is your situation as wearisome as was Lincolns?

Never forget that" "Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects!"  Arnold H. Glasgow.  And, "Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease from pain." Charlie Chaplin

If life is a stage, and you are the actor, will you be the optimist or the pessimist?  Tom Bodett said, "The difference between an optimist and a pessimist?  An optimist laughs to forget, but a pessimist forgets to laugh."

"It is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you have the power to choose either." Wayne Dyer

All I know, is that I feel better when I laugh. How about you? I shall remember the Irish Proverb:  "A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book/"

So, remember to call in some laughter this week...

Setbacks

To be whole, healthy, and complete. That is the goal. Yet, sometimes there are setbacks. I'm referring, specifically, to setbacks in one's health, although, any setback throws one off course. When it comes to health, there are many reasons why setbacks occur. Often, the reason cannot even be identified.

Before I received the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, medical personnel said to me, " you look fine." Meanwhile, I was in heart failure! How often do you make a judgment about how someone is feeling when, in fact, you have no way of knowing?

Setbacks are a gift, for they inform. They let you know that something is wrong with the way things are.  It's important to go to the source, YOU, and think about why it's happening. That may entail seeking the help of a professional, but, you can be sure, that you have the answer, perhaps, just not the vocabulary or ability to define it. If in healing, you are separating the false from the true, what then, is the reason for the setback? What are you doing or not doing that may be contributing? What are your thoughts about your life, and how are those thoughts causing the symptoms? 

You are too important to let a setback keep you off course. Take charge. Health care challenges can be managed. What better way to heal then to ask yourself, what do I need to do to overcome this setback?
And then, just do it. 

Your chronic condition

In coaching, we learn to better manage our lives by being our own best friend. By learning to pay attention to  what is manifesting. When we do look at our patterns, beliefs, and attitudes, we can learn where and what needs attention and/or changed.

Sometimes, we choose to ignore what is happening. How often do you keep going when your body is telling you to rest?  Are you staying in a relationship or job that isn't good for you? Are you ignoring your emotions so you don't have to face what they mean?

Luckily, we all have a body that let's us know when we are hungry, in pain, or feeling well. We have emotions that inform us as to the state of our mental health. We have relationships that either enhance our lives and promote growth, or limit our lives and disturb our equilibrium. It's when we forget to pay attention that we find ourselves facing chronic conditions. If you already have a chronic condition, then, it's crucial that your even more diligent in your self care.

So, I guess the question is:  are you managing your chronic condition, or are you developing one? Maybe two?

A sense of possibilities

So much has changed for me over the last few years.  When I consider what has manifested, I feel a sense of awe. It shows me what's possible.

When you look over the past few years, what happens?  How do you feel? What do you think is possible?

Although I'm not exactly sure what's next, I now know that much is happening. I find myself excited as I imagine what my life can look like and become. "Good things come to those who hustle while they wait."
There is much yet to discover, to learn, to create.

Can you sense the possibilities?

Plan ahead

Where will you be in 5 years? Ever heard that?

I guess some people know or at least have an idea of where they want to be. I'm not sure I do, but, it's been a topic of conversation with my coach. How about you? Do you get a sick feeling in your stomach because you don't have a clue.

Sometimes it's hard to look at where your at as opposed to where you want to be. Maybe your preoccupied and haven't taken a moment to ponder what it means. Often it seems too overwhelming to consider because there will be much to do. The awareness is intimidating and scary. That, in turn, causes anxiety and self doubt.

On the other hand, though, it's important to be your own best friend. How better to take care of yourself than to plan ahead, consider options, and take charge of your future. If you don't, who will?

Tomorrow is the 1st of July. The start of a new month. The start of a month that signifies independence. You are now at liberty to be unrestrained in your thinking. So, make that shift, and plan ahead.

.

Truth in communication

It feels bad when your not feeling heard. Why don't you understand? What's your problem?
Somewhere there is a breakdown in communication, in language. Unfortunately, when this happens, it can result in hurt feelings, unkind words being spoken, and even, the end of the relationship.

Believing someone is wrong means you know the answer and have the ability to judge. That's a huge job and a position that carries alot of weight. You believe that the person isn't listening to you, and you feel ftustrated and angry.

Maybe a question:  Is my position the truth? Is it absolutely the truth? Is it always the truth? Are there mitigating circumstances?  

How wonderful to feel heard, to feel valued, to feel cared for. So, if there's a conflict, why? What's the underlying truth?

"By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth." George Carlin

And then, there's that...

Which Way?

Which decision is the right one? Can I take ownership of this decision and be okay with it? Will it be the best one for the future, for growth? Decisions are scary because they involve risk and heading into the unknown. Dr. Spock said, "Trust yourself, you know more than you think you do!"  But, what about the conflicting voices in you head? One is telling you to do it and the other says to beware. How do you know which voice to listen to?

After spending some time online and going through my library looking for some guidance, I found wisdom in Proverbs, insight from Buddhism, and ways to in decision making models. Seems it comes right down to this: which makes you feel at peace when you consider the consequences of the decision?

I did find a poem by Ernst Holmes that provided a perspective that made me feel a calm. Here it is:

  "She let go of her fear, She let go of her judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the 'right' reasons.  Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go."

   "She didn't ask anyone for advice. She didn't read a book on how to let go...She didn't search the scriptures. She just let go. She let go of all the memories that held her back. She let go of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward. She let go of the planning and all of the calculation on how to do it just right."

   "She didn't promise to let go. She didn't journal about it. She didn't write the projected date in her Day-Timer. She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper. She didn't check the weather report or read her daily horoscope. She just let go."
 
 "She didn't analyze whether she should let go. She didn't call her friends to discuss the matter. She didn't do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment. She didn't call the prayer line. She didn't utter one word. She just let go."

   "No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one praised her or thanked her. No one noticed a thing. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go."

   "There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn't good and it wasn't bad. It was what it was, an it is just that.

   "In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore."

Hmm....

Send 'em the SUNSHINE

Think about the people you know, the people you see when your walking down this street, the people...

Some have ails and procedures pending...
Some are stressed due to the challenges they face...
Some don't even have a home...

It's as if they could use some sunshine--something bright and beautiful to hang onto.

It's summer, a time when we have a chance to have fun and be carefree.

The SUN IS SHINING for you and for me.

But, just in case your not feeling it, or, you know someone who can use it, then,

SEND 'EM SOME SUNSHINE!

  By text, email, letter, your presence, your help, your kindness...

Resentment, is all well?

Oxford defines resentment as feeling indignation at, be aggrieved by. Or, bitter, jealous, envious, or annoyed. Malice.

Those words change emotions, are worrisome, and insidious. They cause defensiveness, concern.  I say, "Ouch!"  A great time to be a Buddhist!

And, what would Buddha say?  "Better than a thousand hollow words, is one that brings peace."

Think of the difference in how you feel when you say the word:  resentment, malice and when you say: peace, calm.

Confucious says:  "The more men meditate on good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large."

So, for this week, just because, let go of all resentments, focus on peace and calm. And know, that all is well.

Lift your Happiness Level

Have you ever considered measuring your happiness? If not, do it now. What level are you? On a scale of 1 being unhappy and 10 being super happy--where are you?

Three day weekends tend to have a positive effect on people, and, since we are celebrating our Veterans this weekend, your happiness level may be up a notch or two. So, why not continue to lift your happiness level a few more points?

Below are some ways:

1. Watch your self talk by remembering to be grateful.
2.  Tell yourself, "I Love YOU!"
3.  Be kind to yourself, indulge in some self-nurturing.
4.  Take a bubble bath.
5.  Take time for a meditative walk in the warm sun.
6.  Sing a song, perphaps, an old time favorite.
7.  Say a prayer.
8.  Buy yourself a present.

What's your level now?  Are you at a 10 yet?

A Prayer of Sorts

A Prayer of Sorts

Asking,
That what is felt does not betray
That what seems real and not self projected illusions
That standing does not mean waiting to get knocked down
That sleep is restful
That pain is quick and pleasure long
That learning can come without mistakes
That practice does make perfect
That what is heard is what is truly said
That giving means growing without emptiness
That love is
That love is returned measure for measure
That angry words choke the speaker
That tears and experience were worth more than gold
That changing wasn't the result of hurting
That at least one answer woul arise from all the asking.

Kevin Pendry
11/23/99
3:03 am

Remembering you Kevin wherever you are. Thank you. Some prayers just need to be shared.

Happy Mother's Day

I still think of you daily.

I think of you in the quiet of the night, remembering.
I think of you in the morning--you would tell me that the day belonged to me.
I think of you when I drink my coffee, for I know you enjoyed it too.

I search my memory for your instruction, I find I still need it.
I search for learning, for you told me to strive for higher ideals.

You always said, "be true to your commitments."  Do you remember our talk?  When I told you what I would arise to?  I maintain my commitment. I know you approve.

Thank you for my life, dear mother. Happy Mother's Day.
I still feel your presence.

A Call To Action

There's a tiny voice inside telling me that expressing myself is necessary for my growth. It's persuasive and causes anxiety, because I know I need to act. I believe we all have that inner voice trying to get our attention and move us. Are we listening? There are so many programs to spark self introspection and enhance self growth, but, all the coaches who help and all the possible results are stymied if we ignore that 'inner voice.' 

What is it that's calling you to action?

A quote by Iyanla Vanzent, says:  "It's going to be easier to be who you are, to say what you really need to say, to do what you need to do or not to do. You no longer need to downsize who you are to make other people feel comfortable. You are now called to find your power, re-create your life and to learn how to drive your desires. This takes courage. You have it. Use it!"

It's definitely a quote to pay attention to, especially since she says it's going to be easier! So, here's a call to action: Listen to your inner voice, determine what you need to do, find your courage, and act!

It's spring, time to grow...

Take a trip

Consider grieving the loss of your family member by taking a trip and spending time together. Sometimes just getting away makes all the difference in the world! A changed perspective, new scenery, time to reflect.

     Family faces are
      magic mirrors
       Looking at
      people who
     belong to us,
   we see the past,
         present,
        and future.

  Gail Lumet Buckley

A trip,it makes your loss, your grief, your work, your vision, and your life easier.

So, I say, this week, plan a trip. You will feel much better because of it.

Death is a teacher?

Leave it to good fortune, a friend, and USA Today!  My dear friend brought me a copy of an April issue of the USA Today newspaper so I could read an article about the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. And, there in the same section was an article about a new book, by Erica Brown, entitled:  Happier Endings: Overcoming the Fear of Death. Seems like everywhere I go and whatever I read, there is a reference to death.  When something is on your mind, you find it everywhere.

In the article, Erica Brown, shares a few spiritual tips for easing the final passage. USA Today's Craig Wilson asked Erica the question, So we're supposed to be happy about dying?  Erica replies, "Only if you hate living.  Otherwise, it's an unavoidable reality, so we might as well get better at it.  As a society, we stink at it now."  Then he asked, We have to learn how to die, how?  Erica says to "do a life retrospective.  Pass down your hard-earned wisdom.  Give away your possessions while you are still here to get pleasure from the exchange(because otherwise you may cause all kinds of family wars you never intended).  How can death be a teacher?  "Death is a teacher if it helps us answer the question: when is the last time you did something for the first time?"  Erica says death is an issue that some tend to avoid, but, an issue that you have to talk about.

With the recent passing of my mother, I find much comfort in the fact that she always told me death is the beginning of something new and wonderful.  And, I remember once when close to death myself, I felt peace, calm, and divinity. So, for me, I look at death with excitement, expectation and curiosity.

So, we are just left to smile at good fortune, gather information from friends and the newspapers, and, if your lucky, go see a Rolling Stones concert!

Gone From My Sight

Grieving a loss takes it's toll, especially when you say the final goodbye to someone and attend the funeral. Since this post is a day late for that very reason, I thought I'd just post a thought about dying by Henry Van Dyke. It's something to think about.
     I am standing upon the seashore.  A ship at the side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.  She is an object of beauty and strength.  I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with each other.

     Then someone says:  "There she is gone!"

     "Gone where?'

     Gone from my sight.  That is all.  She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

     Her diminished size is in me, not in her.  And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"  There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:
"Here she comes?"

     And that is dying.

A Flicker of Remembrance

I recognize that flicker in your eye, when your were remembering the times with your beloved. The laughs, the tears, the many conversations.

I remember listening to you speak about how Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's 5 stages of grieving gave you insight. You told me about the denial, then the anger, and how you bargainned with God. Then you were depressed for a time. Yet, you understood why your beloved had to go. So, that was your acceptance.

And, when you thought about the places you used to go, you'd pause, becoming distracted. A feeling of emptiness engulfed you as your thoughts swayed to and fro. A flicker of their presence. You told me it helped to read books about coping like, "I'm Sorry For Your Loss," by Lillian L. Meyers, Ph.D.

So, I thought I'd tell you, as I consider my loss, that I noticed a flicker in my eye today. I was remembering the laughs, the tears, and the many conversations with my beloved mother, who, just recently passed. I, like you, have those flickers of remembrance. I guess we all do.

Resurrection

It's Easter Sunday. This day, with it's meaning and traditions invites comfort and hope. In the context of grieving and loss, today provides a possible solution to mourning, in resurrection.

But awating the renewal is alway hard, as we seek to understand a loss. Why do some linger and others die easily? Like, the Alzheimer patient whose body is crippled and whose mind is gone Or, the one who goes to bed perfectly healthy one night and never wakes up. It makes no sense. The ones who are left to watch the scenario shake their heads in bewilderment as the loss disturbs their equilibibrium and rational.

It's hard for us humans to not have an answer. We seek  answers in all we do, from which car to buy, to which state of consciousness best supports our beliefs. We seem to need reports, explanations, examples, and concrete reasoning. Tis the dilemma with loss, as their are no clearly defined ways to endure.

David Underwood, LCSW, BCD, during a talk about grief and loss, said, "as with everything in life, we write the narrative and give it meaning. Our style of grieving reflects the distinctly different experiences each of us has." And, so it is, we find our own answers to the questions  by choosing the explanation that relieves us.

I guess, knowing that at some point their is renewal or resurrection, we can hope that our chosen story will support us until that actual truth is known. Of course, that is, if we do learn the truth. 

Please share

Have you ever gone through grief and loss? And, how did you deal with it?

As I mentioned last week, I attended two functions that explored the subject of grief and loss. The recurring theme of both portrayed grief and loss as universal and no one way to deal with it. So how can we deal with a loss?

I spoke to a Transitions Coach from Baltimore, Maryland, Mrs. Ida Crawford, for some thoughts and ideas. She said, "that grief and loss are a part of life and how someone goes through it determines how they come out. If you bottle up those feelings, you can get stuck and that's the wrong way." She talked about the hardest loss being the loss of a child, as one "can lose all hope in life when that happens. Sadness is okay just be mindful of how long you stay in grief." I asked her if she thought there was a certain amount of time, and she said it's an individual pace, but to stay aware, and "don't let your life dwindle away." Often feelings of guilt can arise, but, the bottom line is, "when our day comes, it has nothing to do with us. By accepting the inenvitibility, you can come to terms with it and move on without being consumed."

It seems any words of wisdom during times of loss are needed. Any comfort important. Please share.

Grief and Loss

Last week, I wrote about  my feelings as I slowly lose my mother to illness and age. I told of finding solace through a walk and in nature. Looking back, I note that my meditative walks always bring me relief.  But yet, I am still very aware of the emptiness.

The feelings of grief and loss are universal. We all know them, feel them, and wonder what to do with them. We look for words and ways to overcome the emptiness and disruption it causes in our lives. If only there was a clearly defined way to address these feelings.

Yesterday, I attended a program on grief and loss. The speaker, David Underwood, LCSW, BCD, spoke about the phenoemon, the variety of losses experienced throughout a life cycle, approaches to coping, and how Adlerian Psychology applies. Among the many losses are, the loss of youth, death of a loved one, the loss of health, the loss of a dream, death due to suicide, loss of possessions, loss of hope, catastrophic losses, etc. He suggested that each individual's perspectives and experiences will effect how they cope. He talked about finding sources of strength, like in spiritual or religious beliefs, friends and family, groups, or professional services. Also, he discussed attaching meaning to losses with questions like: Is suffering always senseless or are we strengthened by the experience? Does everything happen for a reason? There was much more to the program all of which invites discussion and information.

I feel compelled to devote a series of posts to the topic of grief and loss. I invite responses and perspectives on the subject.

I ask life why?

I'm thinking of how my mother is slowly fading with illness and age.  I watch.  As uncertainty and unrest envelope me, I decide to leave her side for respite.  There is a walking trail nearby and I go for a walk.  The brisk air revives me and I speak to life, asking why?  It responds with the wind and a chirping bird.

As I walk, my thoughts on my mom, I consider the things left unsaid, undone, and unresolved.  I ask life why?  I hear the wind and the chirping bird.

My pace increases and I begin to cry.  I thank God I have a tissue to wipe my tears and blow my nose.  I think about the people I love, the people I know, and the people I have known.  I realize my love is deep, my experiences many.  I again, ask life why?  I recognize the wind and the chirping bird.

I continue the pace.  I take deep breaths and feel my body respond with vigor and splendor and I smile.  I remember my mother loved to go on walks.  She always said, "I love the wind in my face!"  I do too, mom.
I don't ask why, for I understand.

I walk slowly.  As I embrace the strength, teachings, memories, and wisdom of my mother, I ask life why?
It reveals something grand to sustain me.  My mother, a walk, the wind, and the chirping birds. I find calm.

Honor

Quick is a measure of how often we discredit our abilities and our worth. Often we do it in our thoughts about another in regard to their ability, appearance, beliefs, etc. We pronounce by silent disclosure or aloud, our discontentment with ourselves and others. The idea  that we must meet some grand expectation, that usually we create, is a belief we somehow embrace and allow to guide our perspective.

A shift provides an opportunity to change a perspective by questioning the validity of the thinking and expectation. A decision to reevaluate current opinions and replace them with alternative ideas. For example, instead of being quick to discredit ourselves or another, what if, instead, we were to honor ourselves and each other. Honor our abilities and call ourselves worthwhile and honor each other as being worthwhile.

To honor is to respect. It's applicable always, not just when one thinks of religion or country. Maybe,  including words that reflect higher ideals into our daily thoughts will portray a distinctive demeanor. With a daily behavior of honoring oneself and others.

So, shall we honor or discredit?

In close contact

I remember thinking about how I want my life to be. My mental pictures portrayed a life full of challenge and excitment along with passion and friendship. As a look back, all that has occurred. So, it's true what they say: our thoughts create our reality. The quote that comes to mind is:  "You will never become who you want to by remaining who you are."

Having said that I say, what are you thinking about your life? What are your mental pictures? Who are you now and what will you become?

They are noteworthy questions to ponder and I commit to staying in close contact with the question, what it means, how it develops, the images I create, and the possible outcomes. They may change from time to time as I reinvent my image. Like you, I will think hard about what is possible and remember this quote: "Courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined." Leo Rosten.

Imagine your life... Stay in close contact with the image for it's creating your future.

Those tiny shifts

Looking back at the times when you didn't take action, what did you learn about yourself? What results do you wish had occured but didn't?

With those questions in mind, think about those chances that were available for action:

-Your sitting at your desk trying to decide whether to email the information you promised or, do it later, then you typed another email.
-Your at the doorway, hesitating, should I take that item to a friend in need? Then, you walk out the door without it.
-Someone says something to you that astounds you, but, rather than speak up, you remain silent.

Those missed moments when a small action, helping another, speaking out, would have been a shift that  changed outcomes, perhaps set you apart, or sparked awareness. We all do it and think, "I wish I did that."
It's those tiny shifts that can cause small differences and make changes for the better.

This week, pay attention and be aware of those times when you can "shift" into something greater or allow for something more for yourself or another. See how it feels.

What about you?

I have moments when I wonder, what about me:
-doesn't meet standards?
-doesn't fit in?
-doesn't measure up?
-needs changed, rearranged?
-wants to cry, stop, just give up?

Then, I realize, we all ask ourselves that question.

Our culture is tough on us, with  expectations galore. Our expectations are hard on us, with internal wants, beliefs.

If you take some quiet time, away from all the expectations-all the questions, what will be revealed?
Would you realize things about you that:
-measure up?
-manage everything?
-handle all difficulties?
-helps others?
-keep going no matter what?
-keeps faith, courage, and enthusiam close?

There's an energy shift when you consider the positive. You feel hopeful and imagine possibilities.

 I think I'll focus on what's good about me. What about you?

A Truth of Sickness

The following is taken from "A Course In Miracles."  Within the text you will find a language filled with wisdom that will challenge old beliefs and change perspective. It is healing. It stimulates introspection.

"Sickness is a decision. It is not a thing that happens to you, quite unsought, which makes you weak and brings you suffering. It is a choice you make, a plan you lay, when for an instant truth arises in your own deluded mind, and all your world appears to totter and prepare to fall. Now are you sick, that truth may go away and threaten your establishments no more."

Yet, you can decide to examine and challenge those ills, and:

"Healing will flash across your open mind, as peace and truth arise to take the place of war and vain imaginings."

Once you discover your truth:

"Now is the body healed, because the source of sickness has been opened to relief."

May we all be followers of truth.

Mistakes

Thank God for coaches, for they consistently make my life more manageable. I will be forever grateful for the help in correcting my mistakes and rectifying my missteps. For example, yesterday I made a few spelling and grammatical errors on my blog. Who came to the rescue?  My coaching peers. They are my friends, and let me say, your friends too.

Why? Because coaches help you, they care, they're honest and ethical, they guide you toward your highest good, and they challenge you to become more -- to become better.

Since my transplant, as I put one foot in front of the other, coaches have been with me through my inconsistencies, hardships, pain, imbalances, and mistakes. And, with each stumble came learning and growth.

As I continue to grow and misspell words, I hope you know that, as a coach, I remain committed to supporting you and my fellow coaches. And, that's no mistake!

That weight issue

With only one week left in January, I thought I would be remiss if I didn't mention diets. We are all perpetually on one! Christmas, with all the cookies and treats, causes those pounds to accumulate and before you know it, there's an extra 10 pounds! It's sure easier to gain it than to lose it.

Here's a cheer: you can do it! You can slowly take those pounds off. If you need a little extra support, call your coach. He/she has endless ways to motivate and hold your hand as you say no to that piece of cake and yes to the gym. Don't forget that you can even use your TV, as cable and on demand provide every type of exercise. For me, the hardest part is coming off the sugar. So, I bought a yoga mat and a kettlebell to help me. The yoga is to relax me in the midst of that strong desire for sugar, and the kettlebell is to help with some twisting and muscle building. Remember that building muscle creates an appetite, so you will need plenty of protein.

So, get creative with your cooking. Make your exercise program fun. And, be kind to yourself. No matter how much you weigh, you are beautiful. I propose that your tell yourself that a least 10 times per day, "I am beautiful!" Or, "I am handsome!" That sure is a nice thing to hear, is it not?

As you head into the last week of January, the weight issue a mere passing thought, continue with your plan to make 2013 your best year yet!

Martin Luther King

To acknowledge and honor the day, I thank Mary Allen for her Daily Gem, a reminder-a gem.


"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." 

Martin Luther KIng

Side effects of medication

Whether your are dealing with a medical condition, or know someone who is, it's likely the medication is causing noticable side effects. Yet, when you think about it, how wonderful medication can be. Consider the drugs that allow transplanted organs to work in the human body, or, drugs that keep blood pressure stable. Medication prolongs and, often, exhances life.

But, what about the side effects? You can't always measure the effect, but, you can be sure there is one.  It could be an effect that makes you sleepy, irritable, itchy, cranky, or lethargic. The effect may damage your organs or cause other serious medical conditions. One pill can lead to another, and another, and another.

Thus, it's of utmost importance to pay close attention to your medications. Make sure you read all the literature on the drug, so your informed. Be consistent with the time and dosages prescribed. Pay attention to any side effects and write them down so you can communicate your experience to your doctor. Dont't be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist for an alternative drug to replace a drug making you ill.

Remember, it's up to you to manage your medicine once you leave the medical facility. How you manage your medicine determines how well your days go. If you find yourself becoming inconsistent, confused, or sick, contact someone who can help, a spouse, a family member, your doctor, or your coach.

So, stay in charge and manage your medication's side effects, so they don't manage you.

A Big Smile

Do you keep anything in your current memory that makes you smile? Coaching has taught me to keep such memories close so that I may call upon them at a moments notice to create a shift in perspective. It works if you remember to 'remember!'

Yesterday, I found myself so caught up in thoughts about situations that it didn't occur to me to seek out a pleasant memory. It was evening and I was on my way home. I stopped at a grocery store to purchase a few items. I went to the checkout and saw a teenager at the cash register. She was sitting a distance from the register so I wasn't sure if she was open, even though the light was on. I thought, "she reminds me of my nieces who are young and beautiful and full of life." I approached and asked if she was available to ''ring up' my order?"  With a yawn, she said, "yes" and added that she was really tired. I asked if she stayed up too late the night before? She said, "not really I was just busy coloring." I was stunned by the answer. I asked her age. She said, "19." I thought, "wow, a 19 year old staying home on a Friday night to color!" She explained that, "Amazon has these really cool adult coloring books," and she loves the creative arts. She also told me that she would be starting school again on Monday, pursuing a nursing degree.

Perhaps the knowledge that there is a beautiful 19 year old that stayed at home to color on a Friday night isn't that great a revelation for you reader. And, there have been times spent on Friday nights with my young nieces that delighted me beyond measure. But, on this particular evening, when my mind was so unclear and fuzzy because of my thoughts, and no one dear to me nearby, that I, felt an internal shift. I experienced a warm and peaceful calm. A sort of renewal. A grand reality.

How lucky we are to have memories. How easy to use them for whatever we decide. I don't know about you, but, I love the ones that bring about a big smile for me. I will keep this one close.

I hope you have many memories that bring, for you, a big smile...

Tis a New Year

The greatest wonder of life came when I saw the surgeon who placed within me a new heart.
The greatest understanding of life came to me post transplant.
The realization that I was more than any illness was exhilarating.
The greatest strength of existence came through healing and benevolence.
So it is, with this God given grace, I live to see another year, 2013.

So, I say, for those who deal with illness, pain, or act as caretakers there is grace to persevere.
It is a new year.

I wish to remind all that ours is not a tired, forsaken, or hopeless world. In fact, it is a world crying for direction, leadership, and education. How many times have we thrown up our hands in defeat only to get back up and try again? And, with every new attempt comes another triumph.
                                 Perseverance, secret of all triumphs."  Victor Hugo

Think of this new year as the year with much to do. To begin to consider the wonders of your life. To begin to understand much and on many levels. To remember to realize what you are capable of. To ask for, gain, and achieve strength through healing and benevolence. To know that it is important for each to assist with direction, leadership, and education in this world.

We have the God given grace to do it in 2013.