I have been away for quite some time and I can't really explain why. I had yet another flare up and was on steroids. For some reason the steroids really messed with my mind set this time. They always warn it can do that but all those time I was on it for previous flares, I never really experienced it until now. It made feel like I was a different person. My emotions were a bit off and I just didn't feel myself. I couldn't focus or keep a train of thought. I couldn't organize daily tasks and believe me I am usually always excellent at my organizational skills. I was constantly distracted and didn't want to deal with my responsibilities. It made me stray off my path, the path I feel was laid out for me. Hopefully, I am returning to my path.
Yes, I am still working on the book. Genius takes time. HaHa! I didn't write for a while. For some reason I had no desire to pick up a pen and put it to paper. Maybe it was because I felt sick and tired of dealing with my illness. I felt like I wasn't Lisa anymore, I was my illness. The book just was a reminder of that. But I am back at it. At my most recent visit to the neurologist, after MRI and bloodwork, another diagnosis was either added or changed. I am atypical MS. Meaning not a normal MS patient with the normal MS. When did anything with MS become normal? I was diagnosed with Neuromelyitis Optica: As known as NMO or Devic's Syndrome/Disease. I rather say syndrome. I hate using the work disease. Make me feel contagious and dirty. I no longer take daily injections, Thank God. But now I am on a med, pilkl form, that is used for organ receiptants so they don't reject the new organ. There is some serious side effects such as lymphoma that scares me. IT lowers your white blood cells and mine are high. You would normally think that was a good thing to fight off infection. Unfortunately, in my case it is attacking my own healthy bodily parts. So the new med makes sense to me so I am hopeful it will work. I just need to stay away from sick people since it will lower my resistance. That's ok, I don't want to be around them anyway. HaHa!. I hope you forgive me for my absence and are still looking forward to the release of my book. I would love to hear any feedback or comments of anything you guys are going through that is difficult or sometimes seems unbearable. We all have a cross to bear, I just wish mine wasn't so heavy.
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What do we do in our daily lives to try to make a change in the world around us? Is it helping a friend, passing along a smile, going green, contributing money to a charitable organization, or just a kind word? Do we do any of these at all or are we just too busy in our own little worlds that we just don't find the time or simply forget? You turn on the news each day to only hear of all the misery and violence out there in the world, but how often do we get to see an uplifting story of a kind, charitable act? It's like we are more proned to pay attention to the horrible things than the good ones. Why is that? Are we so desensitized to the point that we are looking for some sort of sick rush to see if we can still react? That's not a bad thing but it's just a thing we can do without. How about getting a rush from something better? If you contribute to a charity that is great but actually involving yourself mentally and physically into that charity creates more of a feel good rush that you can only get by volunteering. It makes you feel proud and well, just warm and fuzzy inside.
Just by also keeping a more positve vibe in our hearts and soul goes a long way. That warm smile you give a stranger walking along the street can really turn that person's day around. A friendly hello, thank you, or your welcome goes far nowadays in this world that seems to have lost the whole concept of being mannerly. You can hold a door for someone or help carry a bag that someone is having difficulty with. A small act of kindess does indeed make a big change, even if it's towards one person. Because then maybe, that one person passes it along to another, and that person passes it along, and so on. What do all of you out there think? Is this something everyone can consciously remember to do each day or is it just a pipe dream? With Thanksgiving just a day away, I tend to contemplate what I am thankful and grateful for in my life. Sometiimes this is difficult to do with the problems concerning my health and other issues that affect my family. We tend to focus on the negative. It's hard not to when there is so much negativity around. I mean all you have to do is turn on the news and will get an earful of all the horrible events taking place. But I think that if we try to focus on the good in our lives it would not only make us happier people but it will also have a domino effect. If our demeanor is pleasant that in turns rubs off on everyone we are in contact with then they will have the same effect on people they will come in contact with. Almost like a contagion. It's easy to focus on what we don't have and all the ill fortunes that bestow themselves upon us. Yet no one said life was easy. Life is an experience, not a journey with a completion. Life is just about living in the moment and experiencing things. Sometimes these things are bad, sometimes they are good. But hopefully we all have close family and friends to lean on as we are going through it.
Being thankful for even the little things in your life can change your attiude. Think of the things that you take for granted each and every day. Your spouse, children, family, friends, the roof over your head, the food on your table, etc. These are basic necessities that tons of people don't even have. Yet there are still people who focus so much on materialistic needs and possesions they sadly lose sight of what really matters. These people buy and buy things to fill some type of void. It provides a temporary happiness, because when that new possesion loses its interest then these people are off buying something else. It does not provide REAL and LASTING happiness. That only comes from those little things we take for granted that I spoke of. I wish a HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you and hope you are surrounded by love ones, share plenty of laughter, and make new memories. Remember, these are the things that really matter and that we keep within ourselves. This is what TRUE HAPPINESS IS! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the realization of the holidays is quickly approaching. As I begin to prepare for the holidays in my traditional ways I can't help but think of the traditional Christmas card. Years ago, I remember Christmas cards pouring into our family home right after Thanksgiving. These cards would be from family, friends, and people we haven't seen or spoken to in months. All of these cards were generic store bought ones but each were hand-written, each member of our family addressed to and signed personally. What do we have now-a-days? We have either emails, pre-stamped cards, and picture cards made on sites like Snapfish. I guess I shouldn't complain since a moderate effort is put into these kinds of Christmas greetings. But it is just not the same! And I have noticed the cards/greetings seems to be diminishing year by year.
Why? I assume it is mainly because of the hecticness of the holidays and these are simpler solutions. But I feel there is no thought or feeling in these type of Christmas greetings. How can you string up a bunch of e-mails and picture cards around your house the way we used to? I remember when I was younger we would get like 30 or more cards. Now we are lucky if there are more than 10. I still make the effort each year to buy some boxes of Christmas cards, personally hand write each one, and mail to all family, friends, and people I know but haven't talked to in a while. It is the one time of year to reach out to those you haven't socialized with after a long time. It lets them know they are still in your thoughts and you wish them well. Isn't that a part of of what Christmas is about. It's also about actual human contact which because of the advancement of technology we are beginning to lose. A personal Christmas card is like an actual human touch,as if hand to hand, and is much more meaningful than any computer generated card. Have you ever noticed that if you do happen to get a personal written letter, for some reason, it leaves more of an effect than a typed letter? Why is that? Mostly because we realize that person took the time and effort in crafting that letter and it resonates with us. Such as a personal thank you card for a gift, or a letter from a family letter in the military, or even just a birthday card. I think this year we should all consider the more personal approach to our Christmas greetings. I know it is more time consuming and maybe even more of a hassle, but it just might touch someone's life in the slightest positive way. And to me that is one of the main purposes of Christmas. Well, it is Sunday night, October 29, 2012. Hurricane Sandy is making it's way towards us here in Phildaelphia, PA. As I was doing my regular weekly food shopping Saturday I could see that people were in a panic. They were stocking up on water, non-perishables, batteries, flashlights, etc. Everyone seems to go into a panic here for a storm or any type of snow storm. I guess they think we will be living without power and food for weeks at a time. I myself really don't get into this panic. I prepare ofcourse but not in the drastic measures that others do. Maybe I am naive. I don't know really.
I can tell it will be coming soon because the temperature is dropping and the winds are picking up. My kids' schools are closed for Monday and Tuesday. Seems like we are preparing more for this one than we did for Hurricane Irene. And that one was a nasty one. Guess Philadelphia learned its lesson and doesn't want to make the same mistake twice. As on the home-front I am stocked just fine from my weekly food shopping adventure. We have flashlights and canldes but we always had those. I stored the patio furniture in the shed just in case. And my husband brought home some sand bags to put by our one basement door that seems to let in water whenever it is a heavy rain. So at this point it's just a wait and see process. I honestly don't feel like it is going to be as bad as they are saying. But I guess I should never under estimate mother naure. Yet even with these precautions, since my husband works for a utility company, he still has to go to work in what could be nasty weather. Utility companies are like hospitals and emergency personel, they always have to be on hand and ready to deal with any situation that arises. Just makes me concerned for my husband out in that rainy mess. It makes me nervous. But I know he is smart and he has been doing this for twenty years so that is some relief. For all my friends out there in Philly, hold on tight, and I wish you the best. |
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