Living Through the Depression

We have all suffered with depression at some time in our life. For me it was this spring. I wanted to go to our bi-yearly family reunion. It was not to be. Low blood count and chronic fatigue was the diagnosis.

I was placed on high dosages of iron and multiple vitamins. "Four weeks and you will be your old self." said my doctor. He was so pleased with himself that I became excited too. I would follow his instructions to the letter.

Funny, my four weeks turned into eight. all the way up to the first day of the reunion I was sure I would wake up well and ready to go. I, however, was in no condition to travel. So, I spent that week and the next continuing to build my energy.

This weekend I received the following DVD from an extremely talented duo, "The King and I". I remember when they recorded this song. At that time they were both going through some very blue times. But working together they lived through their state of depression and this week produced this beautiful video.

"Savin Me" reminds us all that the first step in being saved starts from within.



Their web site www.kingandi.info is loaded with colorful language. So if you feel you maybe offended by strong language, PLEASE DO NOT visit their site. I do hope you enjoy Savin Me!



SAVIN ME


This song can be purchased at www.kingandi.biz

Affirmations To Instill Positive Values In Your Life

While recovering from a gum infection and then oral surgery, spring marched right into every-one's life without me. But I was not absent from you hearts and your prayers. Your emails and phone calls witness to that fact. And I am so grateful!

I could not wait to get out into the yard to take pictures of the first blooms. I wanted to share the beauty I saw from my windows. But, until today, all I could do was recover and watch from afar. I was in what we who are chronically ill refer to as the dreaded "down time."

Down time is when we are suffering with an illness and our chronic fatigue kicks in. It is almost impossible to do anything other than what is required to live. You know like breathing, eating, going to the bath room. As much as you might want to visit us, and sometimes we want to see you more than you want to visit, it is not a time for company. It is a time for rest and rejuvenation.

Down time can be hard on friends and family. It is impossible for anyone who is not suffering with a chronic illness to understand how important it is to use down time wisely. It means that the person suffering will miss family functions and may have to miss scheduled social affairs. It means that you will not be able to socialize on the phone or the computer. It is self induced isolation. It may be the difference between a short recovery period and not recovering at all.

Those of us who have been ill for a number of years all ready know that during down time, we are really unable to form a thought worthy of conversation. We should be quite and we need to be still. We realize that a lot of feeling are hurt during down time. What the outside love one witness is raw unbound nerves. The words come out cold and uncaring. They are words that are better left unsaid. So when your chronically ill friend or love one says that they will have to bow out of an engagement, count it as a blessing. Then go and enjoy your event.

When they are up again, they will contact you. We always do. We love you!

OK, enough of catching up. Lingering too long on some-one's illness can certainly bring illness to you. One blog that teaches the "Law of Attraction" in every day terms and situations is Carol King at "Law of Attraction Help and "Missing Ingredient Coaching."

Coach Carol's "Missing Ingredient Coaching" site offer individual in depth personalized programs to succeed in attracting your life desires to you. And that includes good health. I have promised to be a better student. The insightful knowledge that Coach Carole offer is priceless.

I am so excited about this "Values Video." As I recovered form my surgery, I formed it in my mind. I could not wait to share the finished product with you. Spring is the perfect time to reinforce your positive values. What better tools than springs blossoms to help demonstrate them.

A special THANK YOU to Carl T at Healing Music Emporium for composing and offering the free mp3 of "In the Sunset." I am sure you will agree that the music is perfect for this video.

Carl offers free music with each post. So, please visit Healing Music Emporium and thank him for this wonderful music.

PLEASE TURN OFF THE MUSIC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BEFORE STARTING THE VIDEO!

Even the Chronically Ill Can Reach A New Level of Healthy. With Gratitude, There Is Hope.

I resolve to loose weight, I resolve to be rich. I resolve to have peace. I resolve to...fill in the blank. All of us have pulled out our journals at one time or another and jotted down at least one of these New Year's Resolutions. However, most fall by the way side before the end of January. And with good reason. You are acting outside of a natural law. It is the Law of Gratitude.

Wes Hopper offers a free E-book explaining "The Astonishing Power of Gratitude. In it, Wes gives five examples of why people don't succeed in accomplishing their goals. It is short, easy to read, and the information is priceless.

On a recent luncheon at a local "All You Can Eat" restaurant, my attention was drawn to the overweight patrons in the restaurant. It is not the food that is causing the weight gain. It is the quantity of food they are piling on their plates and eating. They are showing a lack of gratitude for the correct amount. To prove their ungratefulness, they eat right past it-right into obesity and in some cases, right into diabetes.

Diana Young who writes "Ask the Dietitian'" post an article entitled, "Five Ways I Plan To Keep My New Year's Resolution." It is packed with good ideas and healthy eating practices. Dian even post a short video clip to get us thinking positive in 2009. Check out her post and find out what a locavore is. You may be one and don't know it!

Not a day goes by that I don't hear someone say or read that someone can help make another a millionaire if only they would buy this program or read that book. The bottom line is, the only person that can propel you to the millionaire status is you. And it starts by being grateful for the money you have today. We show gratitude for our money when we save as well as when we share. I believe both to be equally as important.

Robin, who writes "The Spirit Knows Best," recently post an article entitled "Healing A Broken Heart: A Second Chance." In it, Robin describes what is really important in this life. When a chronic illness becomes critical, you figure it out and you know who to give thanks to. Robin's article is heart wrenching. And Yet, She gives you hope. Because Robin figures it out. Reading it may help you to figure out what is missing in your life.

So, this year as you write your New Year's Resolutions, remember to give thanks for all the blessings you already have. By showing gratitude for what you already have, you open up your life to receive a continuous flow of blessings.

Don't know who to give gratitude to? Wallace Wattles, in "The Science of Getting Rich" uses these terms interchangeably;

"Energy, Power, Infinite, Creative Power, Supreme Intelligence, Think Stuff, Original Substance, Formless Intelligence, Source, Universe, Intelligent Substance, Nature, One Living Substance, Father, and, of course, God.

Joy in the Morning

After suffering for two weeks with a cold that was so bad I began to think it was the flu, I awoke Sunday morning well. I sat in bed waiting on the aches, sneezing and coughing. They never came. It was nothing short of a miracle to me. I had not been able to set up for any length of time. I could not bear to hear my phone ring or any other noise for that matter. Except for checking in with my family to let them know I was OK, my phone was off. I was imposing self-induced isolation. That is the way I cope with illness.

But, on Sunday morning, it was all over. I sat there mediating and giving thanks for my healing. I then went to my favorite spot (the window of the bathroom adjacent to my bedroom), looked out at the new day and was once again the recipient of a breath taking sunrise. The results are the above photos.

Who would not want to witness such beauty? I truly felt the joy of that new morning.

Later, while viewing the results of my mini photo shoot, I was reminded of the many people we encounter in a life time. The airplane vapors streaking across the morning sky reminded me of people who come into our lives. Our paths crossing just that quickly.

Eventually, only we remain with our individual fleeting memories of the encounter. I prayed that the people I had met would remember me fondly. I prayed that once they left my life, for what ever reason, they thought their lives were richer for the experience.

I am grateful for those experiences and I am thankful for the people who helped to create them.

The rest of the day was spent making phone calls to family and friends thanking them for their positive energy. It was a good day. and for that I am so grateful!

"Living With A Chronic Illness" Receives the CHARMED Award

Sheri at Angellviews, surprised "Living With A Chronic Illness with the CHARMED award. There are some rules to accepting this award. This one comes with a note: "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers" Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must chose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So, in the spirit of this award, I am passing it on to eight more bloggers. They were all chosen for their individually charming blog. So Here they are. In no particular order;

1. Heart Failure Solutions

2. Kshitijsharma

3. Cherie's Place

4. Binbrian

5. Santa's Community

6. Depression Help

7. Nuture Our Child With Love and Patience

8. Pam's Garden Space

We are clicking to help fund mammograms and to feed the hungry. No money is required from you. You just click the pink and/or blue buttons to the right of this blog. That is it. The advertisers to the Brest Cancer and Hungry sites will do the rest. THANK YOU FOR CARING!

Autumn Gratitude

There are many ways to help stave off depression and to feel grateful for our lives. This video demonstrates one of them. It gives you short sentences to up lift and encourage you to appreciate and be grateful for just being YOU.

Sometimes we are so sick that we cannot remember to say anything good about ourselves or to anyone else. That attitude serves to keep us in that dark hole of depression longer.

View the video and then think of the beauty that is in your life. The beauty you are grateful for. It might be the bright smile of a child. It might be the tender touch of your significant other. It might be the quite time you spend alone with your Devine Creator-your Source-your God.

Reach deep within and find that place of peace. Remember who you are. Allow the smile that has been waiting to appear on your face to shine through. Let yourself enjoy today. It is the only time we really have. Why not make it the best day of your life.