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.