Wow, Now What?

Did you ever receive validation about something and then think, Wow, Now What? Weird feeling isn't it? I had my own Wow, Now What moment recently. Give me a few minutes and I will explain. Validation. We all want it. We want a lot of things. Sometimes we wish for things which we don't really understand in our wishfulness. I got validation this last November that I am indeed not well; just like I thought. I got disability due to my lung problem. It was a bittersweet validation. Now as a respiratory therapist I can read a pulmonary function test quite well. I didn't need anyone to tell me how crappy my lungs are; but there's something about folks agreeing with me as to how bad they are that hit me squarely between the eyes.  As I was telling my friend Barb, one minute I was rejoicing and thanking God (knowing I would be financially ok). The next minute I hit bottom when the validation of being as sick as I thought I was hit me. My thought was, "Wow, now what?" At that moment bittersweet was an understatement.

Please do not feel bad for me. Seriously.  Bittersweet validation though it was, crappy lungs do not have to equal a crappy life, quite the contrary; it was both a blessing and an opportunity. A blessing, in that I had been pushing myself to keep going for a long, long time and my body was letting me know it was getting really tired of being pushed. I needed to get off the merry-go-round to save my life. An opportunity, in that I  can write the book which I know is inside me and now give my time to this blog to help you. Well, that sounded presumptious. I really do hope to help you. 

I saw a great deal of suffering in my 34 yrs as a respiratory therapist. A lot of what I saw was unnecessary. A lot of it was quite simply rooted in malnutrition. Lifestyles of primarily processed and fast foods coupled with lack of exercise result in lifestyle disorders.

Fast food places have made it easy to not THINK about what we are eating. People assume if they are getting three meals a day they are covered nutritionally. Well, they aren't. Not if they are primarily eating processed and fast foods. Mindless eating is making us overweight and sick.

Back when I was working on my Masters in Holistic Nutrition I had breakfast with my Sis one morning. I was all excited about what I had been learning. I told my Sis if people just knew how much disease could be prevented and even reversed by just being mindful of what they eat it would change their lives. She said, "Pam, they don't care."

Well, I think you do care.  I think you care about changing the things in your life which don't promote health and wellness. And I care about you.

So I welcome you to go on a journey with me and allow me to help you change those things in your life which aren't making you healthy. It's not just about eating. It's about moving (and not just sitting) and thinking (positively) too. There are a variety of ways to subscribe to this blog. Come join me.

What I Won't Do

What I won't do in this blog is use the word "don't."  "Don't" is negative. Thus I won't tell you what not to do.  What I will ask you to do is to commit to wellness. Not by focusing on the negative things in your lifestyle which you need to change; but by focusing on the new positive habits you will add.

Experiencing peace.
Losing weight.
Being happy.
Feeling gratitude.
Giving forgiveness.
Having more friends.
Being healthier.

The list goes on.....

All of these things start with one positive thought. 

We make life so much more complicated and stressful by speaking negatively to ourselves. What would life look like if you banished the "I can'ts" and the "don'ts?"

What would life look like if you stopped saying "I will be happy when.........?"  Why are you postponing being happy?  Be happy in your skin now! Yes life will always have ups and downs. But frequently we focus more on the "downs" than the "ups".   Love yourself enough to be happy now. Focus on what is good in your life. 

So here is your homework.

 When you wake up tomorrow start the day thinking a happy, positive thought. Yes, even if it's Monday and you're out of coffee. I know you can do it. 

Beginning Words...

So I'm starting all over with blogging. I've made other attempts at blogging. Somehow I kept finding myself blocked, stymied, frustrated, unable to find the right words. Unable to find the right words cos I care so deeply to help you.  So I took some time off and thought about it. Thought about what I wanted to tell you. Thought about what I needed to say and, perhaps, what you need to hear. Thought about the desperation I have felt as a 30 yr (plus) veteran of the healthcare world while observing folks go thru the revolving healthcare door.

You see the one thing most (all, or some) people never do while doing battle with illness is to look within and change the things in their life which do not promote health. Their lifestyle is killing them and they are doing nothing to change it.  And the healthcare world isn't asking them too. 
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It makes me cringe when, as a respiratory therapist, I see patients with drug lists of 15 to 20 prescribed drugs while the subjects of nutrition, exercise and stress reduction have never been broached. 

I think that is medical malpractice.  Outright negligence.

It makes me cringe when I see folks relying only on the physicians script pad. The  next best drug is not the whole answer, maybe not even an answer at all; no matter what they tell you on the tv commercial.

 I can't tell you the number of times I have stood before the health/nutrition section in various bookstores and while looking at the myriad of books asked myself what in the world I could add to the info in those books. Most of those books are saying the same thing. What do I have to add?

Oh so much.

All the years I fought Lupus taught me a lot. All the years I have been a healthcare professional opened my eyes. I've seen the medical world from both sides. I have a unique view and a lot to say.  Some things I can't say till I am no longer working in the healthcare world. But I'm sick of seeing what I'm seeing so I'm going to shout from the rooftop what I can say. 

Sometimes my grammar sucks. I'm not the best writer. But I have a heart for people and much that is important for you to hear. Traversing the revolving door of healthcare is not the life God destined for you.

I hope you will stay tuned...