What keeps us from doing what we need to do in order to meet our goal?  This year on Dec 31 I’ll be 50 years old.  I sometimes look back at my life and wonder about all the things I could have done in 50 years and wonder what happened.  There were so many moments in my life that I had the time given to me and I did nothing with it.  Has that ever happened to you?  You notice that time is on your side yet, you choose to watch TV, or take a nap, or hang out at the mall.  Those times are gone the next day.   There is nothing you can do to bring back that time.  A moment you could have given to your dream, to your goal to your success.

We look at people who  have made their dream come true, or met their goal and we often resent  the fact they made it justifying their success with a comment like “some people just have luck on their side.”

On my 49^th birthday which happened to be this past 31 st of Dec, I promised myself that I would begin a new way of living and would work towards looking and feeling better at 50.  I told all my friends and family that even though I was living with pain due to my fibromyalgia, I was going to find a way to feel better.  I would work hard this year and celebrate my 50^th feeling and looking better than ever.  Then something happened.  Two weeks ago I had to have urgent cervical spine surgery.  I had been living in pain for so many years never imagining it could be something more than what the doctors had told me.

Now I have to stay at home in bed recovering from the surgery.  It was quite critical and if I could have easily lost all mobility in my upper body.   Then I found out I would have to be on medical leave for a month or even more.  I thought to myself… Hmmmm?  I could use this time for my writing.  Nope, the doctor said, cannot be on the computer for more than 20 minutes.  Well… there goes my plan to try and write a few chapters of the book I’m working on.

I have gained 10 lbs over the 15 I already needed to lose and am getting down.  My thoughts race and I question my life, my luck, my destiny.  One month before my surgery you see, my significant other was hospitalized for three weeks.  He was very ill and I spend all that time with him.  It took a lot out of me and I couldn’t help but wonder.  Why us?

So that brings me to today.  I sit here on my bed with my lap top which I’ll have to put down in about five minutes.  But thought… I can’t give up.  I will not lose it and give my power to negativity.  I will keep my dream alive. I will also keep my energy going and will still be better than ever at 50.  So a month was taken from me… I still have 11 left.   I will also help my man with his dreams.  At this very moment he sings and I write.  We will continue.. we will make it!

Tell me.  What is your dream?  How hard has it been to reach it?  I would love to hear your story.

All of us have dreams.  We work to make those dreams come true and at times it feels as though it will never happen.  In truth we must realize that it is rarely about luck.  It is about hard work.  No dream and no goal will happen without hard work.  We need to see it in our mind as if it’s right there.  Think it’s close enough to touch and keep working every single day toward your goal.  Never give up…” NEVER”.  If you do, then you must admit that you may not want it that bad.  Look at yourself  in the mirror and ask yourslef; “How much do I want this?” then asnwer.  Look at your days and see how they are filled.  Do you work towards your dream every day or do you find  that days go by and you have worked very little toward reaching that goal.  Never blame anyone for not reaching your goal, if you don’t work hard it will not happen.  Yes, sometimes there are people who have a little more luck and things come easier.  But always remember that you have the power to make things happen.  You have the power.  You do!! Never forget it.  Click on the link below and see what can happen when we have the desire and the willingness.  When we realize that the power we have is endless. 

You think you can’t ?

How many motivational books, quotes, videos, have you come across?  Most of us are so fed up by the troubles of life that we will try anything we can to change things in our lives.   Is it true that the power of positive thinking can help us find happiness?  It’s no secret that the teachings of the law of attraction have been widely spread. No one can say it’s a bad thing, although some question it. A lot of us will try it because as human beings we have the genuine need to be happy and fulfilled.  Many of the motivational gurus will account much of their own stories of emotional survival, and many will want to teach us how we can to do it ourselves.  We are so desperate to find answers on “how to” that we will follow any sort of instruction, put it to practice and hope for life to change right in from of our eyes.

People in control of their lives will say over and over that it’s up to you and that you have the power to change anything you want. But how do you start using this power when you don’t even have the strength to wake up in the morning. You hear the experts on television, you see the commercials, and you may even spend the last few dollars you have to buy the book, the CD or go to the conference.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with finding ways of getting motivated, hell;  I try it all the time and I also share it all the time. I am living proof that you can make it through pretty much anything.

Desolation!  I’ve lived it and have surpassed it; I now want to others to do the same.  There are many motivational speakers, coaches, mentors that may take advantage and sell their life changing ideas to those in need. It’s no secret that when you’re really hungry…you’ll eat anything.  Many of what you hear and many of the things being practiced and taught by life gurus are not new.  Even many popular books will point out that they’ve existed for centuries.  It’s nothing new folks!   Ask yourself this.. Do I have survival instincts?   When I ask this I don’t mean, what you would do in a moment of physical threat.  I mean; can you survive emotional threat.  We can’t see emotional harm, so we tend to allow it in easily and live in us. Suddenly we are feeling like crap, blaming God, people, and even ourselves for being so stupid and giving people permission to hurt us. Sometimes admitting fault is so hard that we live in denial daily.  We then work hard in finding justifications for negative treatments and our giving consent to those that are harming our essence. We hurt, become confused, feel empty and find no answer.

Then someone sends us some YouTube motivational video, or a name of a great book.  We hear and read what we already know but never put into practice.  Don’t get me wrong, the books are great, I myself have many. The seminars are fantastic and I go as often as I can; and as far as YouTube… I love it!

But when we are hurting and we want things to change in our lives; there must come a time when you ask… “How bad do I want it?” How bad do you want your life to change?  I’ve got news for you… It won’t, unless you do it yourself!  Stop the pity party and wake up.  As for me, I loved my party.  It was mine and feeling sorry for myself meant others could maybe have some sort of sympathy for me.  Yes I was in control but it was the wrong kind.  Feeling sorry for myself meant one thing.. At least I feel something.  Then I realized it was really not a good way to constantly be feeling.   I had to do something; so I began to look at myself and ask… “Do you REALLY want your life to change?”  I accepted that I had valid reasons for feeling so bad.  My first step was admitting there is nothing wrong with feeling sad.  I had lived through some pretty rough times and many people have taken a lot from me and my spirit.  Many people have hurt me.   The second step was realizing that I had and owned the power to change it.  Own…own…own… You own your power.   Then came the question; how do I want to live my life and can I use this power to make it happen.  The choices we make have plenty to do with the happiness in our lives.  We tend to put up with bad relationships because we would rather do that than be alone.  Are we happy?  No, but at least we’re not alone.

Get yourself out of that pothole. Believe in you and that being WITH you can be a truly wonderful experience. Trust in the strength you have.  Don’t underestimate the decisions you can make once you have taken yourself out of the pothole.  The first question however, is “Do I Really Want To” Being sad, and feeling helpless tends to give us more attention. We’ll get the pat on back, a hug; have friends and family worry about us.  So, in turn we feel that others care and at least have that.  If we are strong and fearless the chance is no one will give us that hug, no one will pay attention to our needs because they will think we have none.  It’s not that way at all.  As a matter of fact, I love that I can be strong and show others that strength.  I love writing but never did it for others to enjoy and learn.  I did it for my comfort and shame on me for that. Today I love expressing myself with my words on paper, I love the reactions from people, and I love voicing my strength. I love finding ways to be happy even if it’s by simply walking in the park.  I have no money but I have so much more.  I find the beauty in others and know for a fact that people can be so very beautiful!  Don’t give up on yourself.  Don’t give up on your dreams even when they have to rest for a while.  Don’t give up on you… even when others have.  I didn’t make it this far to give up.
I did after all…make it this far!   If you believe it; you can become it.

Fibromyalgia (new lat., fibro-, fibrous tissue, Gk. myo-, muscle, Gk. algos-, pain, meaning muscle and connective tissue pain) is also referred to as FM or FMS. Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure.  Fibromyalgia symptoms are not restricted to pain, leading to the use of the alternative term fibromyalgia syndrome for the condition. Other core symptoms include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some patients may also report difficulty with swallowing, bowel and bladder abnormalities, numbness and tingling, and cognitive dysfunction.  From:  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WOW… Sometimes I can’t believe I was diagnosed with this a few years ago. When they told me I had no clue what it was. “I have what? What in the world is that, and how do you spell it?”  I did research and tried to educate myself, was chosen to be a part of a three month study which gave me a chance to ask many questions to many doctors. Ultimately, there’s not much I can do but learn to live with pain.

There are days when I don’t even think about it.  When you go to pain management doctors they teach you to, not get rid of the pain, but rather live with the pain to the best of your ability.  That’s what I have done.  Sometimes people don’t really take it into consideration because you truly look healthy.  It’s hard for most folks to understand what’s it’s like to live with pain everyday of your life.  Some days are worse than others and some things help more than others.  I always say that everyone is different so what you do will react different.  I am still learning and finding ways to live a better life.  I have decided not to take medications.  I tried anti depressants, muscle relaxers, and other meds.  If they helped in some way, in another way it would mess me up.  By no means am I telling anyone NOT to take medication. If your doctor and you have discussed it and you feel better than by all means do so.  I however found ways to help my body without them.  It has not cured it, and it will not take pain away completely, but some of the things I do have helped.

• Eat lots of raw vegetables.
• Exercise at least 3 times a week.  I do it 5 and I try to stay away from too much weight training.  I might do that once a week.  The other days I walk 30 minutes and bike 20.
• Massage in the shower.  The hot water helps your muscles and tissues.
• Of course drink lots of water.  If you retain water, you hurt more.
• I try to get plenty of rest.  And before bed I try to really relax my body.
• I try to learn from others what works for the.  I hear yoga can really help.  I also hear the acupuncture helps.  Has anyone tried it?  Let me know.

How can we begin living our dream.  On this blog are many of the things I love.  Music, writing, art and more.  I post the beautiful things others have to share.  Their talents and their dreams. Join me in sharing dreams and hopes. Join me in  I am doing this so I can forget the physical pain I live with every single day of my life.   I will believe I I can become healthier. I must!  I sometimes wonder why.  Why are some of us given so many challenges and some don’t.  Not sure.  No one knows, but one thing is for sure… we must continue thriving for what we can.  Hope an faith is free.  Let’s do it.