Dog Hugs

It has been a week of ups and downs, physically and emotionally.  I have mentioned our neighbor's dogs before, Dixie, Rebel and Tinkerbell.  Dixie and Rebel are beautiful white and tan bulldogs, Tinkerbell is some sort of itty bitty fluffy dog.  They visit every morning, for their daily treats while Rick and I are having coffee.  We watch them walking up the hill, to sit patiently in front of our greatroom windows,  while I fetch their treats......they know on the weekends,they get extras.

The trio had their treats and were sitting in our yard keeping a watchful eye on chipmunks and other critters that need to be chased.  I walked out to get our Sunday papers......all three followed me down the hill to the box.  It was a warm beautiful morning, and I decided to just sit down in the grass with my buddies.   Tink, jumped up and sat on my lap, Dixie and Rebel, nuzzled me from both sides.
Unconditional love,  along with a a little dog slobber made my morning.  I'm sure the neighbors could hear me laugh, and my dogs who were in the fence were not so happy.....their momma was getting love from those dogs across the street!  That's ok, Dixie and Rebel and Tink went home, and my dogs got hugs all around too.

Thanks to all the doggie hugs this morning, my day got off to a great start and continued that way all day.  Next time you have a bad day, I suggest dog hugs, and plenty of them!

Hard Lessons

We are living beings, for our bodies to thrive and flourish there are certain things we have to have.
Fresh clean water, sunlight and fresh air, foods that are non-processed, healthy fats, exercise.
This past year has been an adventure of sorts, and not necessarily a good one.....though it has had it's moments.  First two years of lung infections, then the crash and burn of my immune system, and this week I find that my  skeletal system is not doing so good either.  I believe with all my heart the major culprit for much of this.......steroids.  Last summer for almost four months, my system was bombarded with them.......my mistake, not questioning the docs about the amount  being given to me, not only then, but throughout the previous years.

I have learned some hard lessons.......here they are, in hopes that they will help some of you.....
No matter how much you trust your physician, ask questions
No matter how much you trust your physician,  get a second opinion
No matter how much you trust your physician, get smart and study your illness
No matter how much you trust your physician, write down your concerns, trust your instincts
No matter how much you trust your physician, ask about side effects of treatments/drugs
No matter how much you trust your physician, ask about alternatives
No matter how much you trust your physician,  make sure that every doc you are seeing knows EVERY thing that is being done by any other doc
No matter how much your trust your physician, if their attitudes and beliefs make your uncomfortable, FIND another doc

Health care is a two-way street, we are responsible for our well-being in many ways.  I   didn't have bad doctors before, but I believe that they, as well as myself, had become complacent about my care.  I will continue to live a healthy lifestyle, but I will never allow myself to become complacent about my healthcare again.  I think that I have a wonderful team (Rick calls them the A-Team) of docs now, but I research everything they recommend, I keep a notebook full of questions,  and I make sure that each one knows what the other is doing.  So if you find yourself with health issues ( and I hope you never do, but life happens that way) remember the lessons that I have learned.  Oh yes, one more thing, always have someone else with you if at all possible when treatments, diagnosis, etc are being discussed, it really helps to have an extra set of ears hearing what is being said.

The Most Important 15 Minutes of Your Day

Today I taught meditation classes, to be honest not many people with addictions are really interested in meditation, stillness, quite often scares them.  But for the time that they spend at our facility, if they come to my class more than once, they will get a meditation class.  Usually when I tell them, we are going to  have a mediation class, I see eyes rolls,  and maybe a few grunts.
I got that today, with both classes.

After class,  every person walked by me and said pretty much the same thing,  "wow, I have never been so relaxed."  They are so surprised that 10 to 15 minutes of stillness, and breath work, can make them feel so good.  They are like most of us, we figure if it is that simple, it just can't work.
Why has complicated been ingrained so deeply in our brains, why are we so skeptical about the simple things.

I try to explain that our bodies, our brains, need stillness, need quiet time, need rest, sleep and relaxation.......and it needs it with no assistance from chemicals or alcohol. I am constantly quoting
"meditate, don't medicate".  Meditation is a practice, and you have to work at it, (practice it).
There are thousands of books, tapes, videos on meditation.......and they are helpful.  But honestly,
you can do this on your own.......sit quietly, spine nice and long, breathe at a slow gentle pace.
You can burn a candle or not, you can listen to soft music or sit outside and listen to nature.
Breathe, be aware of your breath,  when thoughts disrupt you, observe them ( as you would leaves falling in the wind) but always be aware of your breath.  Set a time if you need to,  but everyone deserves 15 minutes, every one needs 15 minutes.  What could be more important than your peace of mind, your relaxation, your time to connect with spirit?

Dreams

"There will always be dreams grander or humbler than your own, but there will never be a dream exactly like your own.....for you are unique and more wondrous than you know."
-   Linda Staten

For all of you tonight, hold tight to your dreams, don't lose them.  Your dreams are a part of you,
a vital piece of who you are.  They might not all come true, but they often are the fuel that drives us on a difficult day,  they are food and comfort for our spirits.

Dreams are the lightest load we carry in our lives, never let anyone convince you that dreams are foolish......foolish are those who dare not dream.  May you always have a dream.

Getting Old??????

It has been an unsettling, trying day.  Frankly, I am really upset with my body tonight.
For years, I have "done all the right things".......and honestly, at this point it doesn't seem to matter.
I had quite a come-apart with a doctor today.......I told him if I had known that all this stuff I had done through the years was not going to work.......and yes, I told him the following....."I would have smoked like a chimney, drank like a fish, never have exercised, and eaten as much of any thing that I damn well pleased."

Of course, his reply, was......"well, just  think of what kind of shape you would be if you hadn't done all the right stuff."  And then.......he had the audacity to tell me I was just getting old.  Ha!

Lots of breath work, lots of "discussing" with Rick.  Thank god, tomorrow is another day.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Let Things Flow

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” 
― Lao Tzu


This quote spoke to my heart tonight.......it was a reminder that I needed to go with the flow.
I am afraid that quite often I am like a salmon, fighting with all my might to swim upstream.
It is time to open my heart and my life to change.  

I hope if you are at a time and place where change is staring you in the face, this quote serves as a gentle reminder to you........don't resist.

Mr. Blue Jay

I saw my first blue jay in our yard today, since the tornadoes came through last year.

I know that many find blue jays annoying, but they are my favorite birds.  I find their color  amazing, and I actually like to hear their not so musical call.  He was sitting on one of the feeders by the bird bath, eating suet and was really being quite nice to the other birds.  I think he knew I was watching him, he preened and jumped from limb to limb on the bushes around the feeding area.

Seeing him, brought a big smile to my face.  I had missed my jays, their loud and sometimes bossy behavior.  But most of all, I had missed their color.  All summer the humming birds, and cardinals had kept the garden filled with color, but it was just not the same without the jays.  To see that burst of brilliant blue, tinged with white and black........just so beautiful!

Welcome back, Mr. Blue Jay