On My Journey I've learned...

On My Journey I've learned...

• To celebrate the small wins as much as I do the big.

• To remain teachable.

• To offer myself the same forgiveness I offer others.

• To own my talents and share my gifts.

• To acknowledge my self worth, daily.

• To remain humble.

• To live in gratitude at all times.

• To live from the end.

• To count my blessings.

• To say I love you freely.

• To except love without hesitation.

• To practice daily affirmations.

• To believe in something larger than myself.

• I've learned BELIEVING IS SEEING, and NOT the other way around.

These are just a few that came to mind...each day I add to my list. Today I honor those living with or without illnesses...we all are trying to find our voices on this journey. I dream of a day when

the cure has been brought to light. Until that day comes, I continue to flood by body with this nutrition and know that I am giving my body the fighting chance it deserves. Just 13 months ago I began my holistic wellness journey...I only wish I would have started sooner. I know I have realigned with my true spirit. I am worthy! I am whole & complete...and I am loved.

For those living with Chronic illness...there is hope. I have proudly made it my mission to share this hope, even with those who may not be ready to hear it yet. Because, I know it will help you. I know it can save your life too. Someone cared enough to stick with me until I tried it...and I am forever grateful. When we find something that works, it is our duty to share.

TO YOUR JOURNEY,

Mare

What's your name tag say?

For years I wore a name tag that said “Hello, I am Fibromyaglia & Sarcoidosis.” Like so many living with Fibro and Sarcoid, I fought for years for the Doctors to tell me what was wrong with me. The more I heard “There is nothing wrong with you, the tests don't show anything, you're fine, you look fine... bla bla bla” I began to believe I was crazy. I felt very alone. Was it all in my head? I wanted so badly for the Dr's to give it a name, then at least I would know how to deal with it. Years later a Doctor finally did. Guess what, I still didn't know how to deal with it or pronounce it.

So I packed my bags, put on my name tag, and headed into my cave called fear. I liked it there. It was dark and I didn't have to fight any more. I finally had a name tag with a title and I clung to it for dear life. Hell, I fought a long time to get it, I wasn't going to give it up that easily. It was more a “See, I told you something was wrong with me and I wasn't faking it!” Picture it...a grown 40 something year old woman...sticking out her tongue “I told ya so, I told you so!” Not pretty, right ? It was really kinda sad. I sat in my illnesses, I sat there allowing the pity and the poor Mare's to comfort me.

I hid behind my illness out of fear. I said “I'd do anything to feel better”. But each time someone tried to help...I stayed stuck in my fear. I remember sitting in my cave and thinking this was it. I lost all hope of a normal life. With anger boiling over, I yelled at my higher power “Really, This is it?” Then the day came when the fear became bigger than the illness and I'd had enough. Out from the cave I came “This is NOT what I was put on this earth for...there HAS to be something to learn, some kind of positive to come from this”. I changed my mindset and opened my heart. The first of many steps I took to reclaim my life!

Today, I am fearless and living my truth. Today, I'm helping others living with limitations, see their truth. I help them to embrace their power and gain control of their health and their life. I had to go through the loss and the struggles to appreciate this gift. I had to get past the fear to see just how amazing life truly is. Life is about connecting with your authentic self, standing in your brilliance, knowing YOU have the power to create the life you want, and above all else, being of service and sharing your gift. Want more for others, than yourself. You can't give away what you don't have.

Today I'm still wearing a name tag...but this time I replaced Fibro with FEARLESS, Sarcoid with SERENITY, Limited with LIMITLESS, and Handicapped with CAPABLE! Today I am a woman who stands in her brilliance. I am a woman inspired. I am a woman empowered. I am a woman who remains teachable. I am a woman of service. I am a woman FULL of gratitude. I am a woman who says “YES”. I wear my new name tags proudly as I go confidently in the direction of my dreams!

With love,

Mare

My Journey in 30 days

In the first 30 days of my 90 day program I....

• Released 26 lbs, 21.75 inches, and went down 2 pant/shirt sizes!!
• Gained self respect and motivation to live a healthy life style.
• Stuck to a 1,000 - 1,200 cal day, no butter, very high protein (not chicken, it can cause inflammation) organic eggs, fruit, and veggies, no coffee, tea, soda, or alcohol.
• I cleansed twice a week , and enjoyed it!
• Drank 5,270 ounces of water (more then a gallon a day)
• Began a work out program, 4 days a week, plus walking on weekends with my family.
• Became aware! Aware of the excuses and how I justified my unhealthy life style.
• Became an inspiration to my daughters through my actions.

I am proud of who I am, and what I've accomplished. I owned my childhood baggage, and all the reasons I kept the weight on, for far too long. Food was not my enemy, I was. I am also winning my battle over my medical beasts! I'm thrilled I only see my Pharmacist once a month now, I'm down to only for 1 prescription!! Pain and inflammation levels are getting lower every day. My heart is full of gratitude and love. Gods given me the tools, I'm doing the work. I believe!!

Blessings,

Mare

Finding The Positive in The Negative

Do you notice your energy draining just by being around Negative Nelly or Debbie Downer ? Having a rude nurse, a hostel waiter. What about the road hogs...now that's a whole lot of negative, right? Now don't get me wrong, I know we all have bad days, it's part of life. People living with Chronic illness always got a free pass in my book. But then I noticed by allowing the negative in, I had no room for positive. You can't have real joy and anger at the same time, try it...it doesn't work.

For me, I have to walk the walk. I needed to take myself out of toxic relationships in order to allow joy back into my life. That was the easy part. Finding out I too was a Debbie Downer, and I could blame others...well that just didn't add up. Sadly, as much as I wanted to fool myself I couldn't. It was then I decided I had to make a real honest effort at change, I wanted to be a better role model for my girls. I felt if not now, then when?

Dad always said “Crap or get off the pot”. As sweet as that statement was, I decided to put a more motivational spin on it. I left my self notes in various places. “Lets do this Mare”,

“You got this Mare”, “No, you are NOT lazy Mare”, and “You are LOVED”. I love the serenity prayer “God grant me the serenity to except the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”. I just love that ! Some times I add a line, “except _________ I can not change”. It helps.

Having Chronic illness does not mean I need to be chronically crabby. I allow my self time to vent via my journal, or calling a loved one. No matter what I follow it up with “Whats the silver lining, whats the lesson”? This keeps me sane. I won't let the beasts dictate my outlook any more. How I choose to deal with things effects everyone around me. Mom always said “Count to 10”. My serenity prayer is my “counting to 10”.

So, if you're having a downer day, a manic moment, or your beasts are behaving badly, give yourself a break, we all do. We just don't need to bring the rest of the planet down with us. Find your joy..and hang on to it for dear life :) It's all one day at a time....and that works for me.

“ Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice” ~ Wayne Dyer.

It's good to be back !

Feel's like forever since I've written.  Thats what happens when you battle the beasts, right?  Paying to much attention to the Fibro, and then Sarcoid throws a fit.  I imagine it's like having twins.  For me, the squeaky beast gets the most attention. They both run me into the ground...if I let them.  I get overwhelmed at times.


We've set up a "NO BEAST" zone at the dinner table.  That's our sacred family time...no phone calls, no beasts. My Hubby2B and I have date night...and I don't allow Fibro or Sarcoid to join us.  It's vital to have time to honor your whole self, the real you, the healthy you!   I know it's hard to think of ourselves as healthy when we deal with chronic illness, but we can't let our medical beasts win.  They don't own us.  The moment we give up ownership and allow the illness to define us, it's over.  


I am a Woman, a Mother, a Wife2B, a Sister, a Daughter, and an Aunt who lives with Sarcoidosis,  Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Pain.   This is my journey...and I will never surrender. 


"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change" ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer.