FITBIT MOTIVATES ME!

I'm in love............................................with my FITBIT!! that is!! The best purchase I have ever made! I purchased this devise last Christmas, along with a second one for my husband. Ever since, we've been competing against each other, and our friends.

It's so easy to use, simply upload the Fitbit to your computer, set up is so simple, literally anyone can do it, also compatible with your phone.

This unit will log your steps, and when you put it into sleep mode, it logs your sleeping pattern. How many times you were awake, home many times you were restless, and how long you actually slept. I suffer from depression, and insomnia, therefore, I felt it was important to see my sleeping patterns, especially when I go to the doctors. My daily step goal is 10,000 steps, my husbands is 5000 (he has cancer) so we're on our way to a healthy lifestyle.

A few weeks ago, my FITBIT wouldn't charge, I was so upset, so I called customer support for assistance. To my surprise the agent was incredible! She tried to reset my devise, after about 10 minutes on the phone, she decided to send me a brand new one, feeling bad about keeping me on the phone, so she also offered me a new band. The best customer service ever! EVER! Seriously? Who does this? FITBIT does! A company that really stands behind their product! I honestly can't say enough about my experience, and the best part, I got my new fitbit in 4 days! FITBIT, if you ever need someone to endorse your product, give me a call because this is not only the best devise I've ever used, but to know that you actually care about your consumer is outstanding! Thank you

                              My brand new FITBIT FLEX, ISN'T IT GORGEOUS!

 

Get lost!

How does our culture perpetuate lies about our self-worth?

In todays society, it's easy to get lost in a crowd, I mean, take a look around you, every where we look, people are wearing the latest styles, haircuts, even the way we talk is part of our "what's in today" look. Can you imagine wearing a layered curly perm, with bell bottoms, or tube tops? No way! and why not? Because commercials, magazines, pop culture dictates what's popular, if you look a certain way, society accepts you! Plain as that! But why do we accept it? It's all a lie, and you know it, but we fall into the trap over and over again.

It's disturbing if you really think about it, I must go through my closet every few months, what's in? does this make me look fat? Oh, this was so yesterday!

 

Bags and bags of unwanted goods are sold during yard sales, consignments stores, thrift stores, or end up in our mountains of garbage, but why? Because it was "so yesterday" the colour is wrong? the leg is too straight, to wide, maxi dresses, no wait, mini dresses, no wait, no mini dresses after 40, 30 is the new 40, buy more, bag more, and who dictates all this? Culture! Society has standards, and if you want to fit in, you'd better have the right hair cut, the right shape, size, and my goodness, you better have the right clothes! are you kidding me?
No wonder we live in such a confused, abused, and commercial society that dictates what we thing is right.
Stop right now, be you, you are beautiful, don't get caught up in all the voices that tell us what we should and shouldn't be wearing, what we should look like! How dare they! Learn to love yourself, at 100 lbs, or 400 lbs, if you look in the mirror, tell yourself, that no one has the right to tell you how to look, if you're happy, if you're healthy, the question is though, why do we listen?

We've become slaves, we've become afraid, but it's all lies, you know that right?

Afraid that we won't be liked, afraid that we'll be looked at, talked about.
Malls are getting bigger, and so is debt! Where does this all end? Seriously, why can't we just accept each other the way we are, be kind, and stop pointing fingers. literally!

Learn to love yourself, you're amazing! and you have so much to offer this world, don't listen to propaganda, it's all about the mighty dollar after all.

Million Dollar Perspective: Early onset Parkinson's and dystonia, the true sto...

Million Dollar Perspective: Early onset Parkinson's and dystonia, the true sto...: My sister has Early Onset Parkinson's disease, diagnosed over 10 years ago. This week she was admitted to hospital with complicatio...

Early onset Parkinson's and dystonia, the true story

My sister has Early Onset Parkinson's disease, diagnosed over 10 years ago. This week she was admitted to hospital with complications,  a disease called Dystonia is often accompanied with the diagnosis of Parkinson's. With dystonia, your muscles in your body contract, causing uncontrollable pain, with Chrissy, her whole body, from head to toe are affected, including respiratory distress.

My sister is my hero, someone who I admire, look up too, my advocate, my sounding board, and my best friend. She's an R.N, who advocates for her patients, a friend who will do anything for you, an Aunt who adores her nieces and nephews, a sister, a daughter, and a mother of 5 outstanding children. This disease had taken so much from her, the life that she once knew is changing. She is the same welcoming, social, active person, helping others with Parkinson's through a support group that she leads, she has written a book called "The Other Side" due to release next month, and still supports me through my depression, and the overwhelming concern for my husband who has cancer.

I am her call to person, the one who usually accompanies her to the hospital emergency room when her husband is working. The most common statements that we here are "She so young, we've never treated someone of this age" to "We don't know how to treat you", and the best one yet "Next time you have an attack, go to Toronto, we just don't know what to do with you". However, that being said, she doesn't have time to go to Toronto, the dystonia hits her all at once, she can't move, her hands and feet curl up, her muscles are so contracted that she often cries quietly, knowing that the pain will last anywhere from forty five minutes to six hours, depending on how fast they see her.


                                                          

Like Parkinson's, there is no cure for dystonia, there are medications for temporary relief, but they don't usually last.   She is usually treated with heavy narcotics, which leaves her restless and confused, that's when the dyskinesia kicks in, usually form the Levodopa.  Dyskinesia is characterized by involuntary muscle movements, and diminished voluntary movements. Dyskinesia can be anything from a slight tremor of the hands to an uncontrollable movement of the upper body or lower extremities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyskinesia

While she was admitted to hospital this week, she has since been transferred to Toronto by ambulance, where her neurologist practices, we are hoping and praying that they will introduce newer medications, take away some of the others, and treat this the best way possible. To allow her to continue to make a difference to those also suffering from this disease, to continue on her second book, to be a wife, mother, and someone who plays an active role in her community.

I want to sincerely thank the nurses and doctors who cared for her, with the respect and love she deserves. They advocated for her, sympathized with her continued pain, and did everything in there power to get her to the hospital in Toronto. My only prayer now, is for her continued care, and a possible remission.

When it rains.......go to the beach

When it rains, it's cleansing, nourishing, and fresh, however, when I'm depressed, it reminds me of all the tears I wish I could allow to fall. There are some days that my mind is consumed by life's struggles, they are so deep, hidden from everyone including myself. When Joe asks me what's the matter? I usually reply by saying "I'm just tired", but really, what I want to say is "sometimes I can't handle this" "sometimes I just need someone to take care of me" I so tired, mentally, emotionally, and physically, yet I can't relax, sleep, or stop the thoughts from coming.

So what do I do when I feel like this? I get into the car, say that I have some errands to run, head off to get a coffee, and sit at the beach. There's something about the sounds of the waves, the quiet, watching the birds that allows me some time to refocus, to pray, and to just be still. It's hard to explain how overwhelmed I feel sometimes, but just getting out to be alone is my only way to release some of this anxiety and stress. I watch the water, and just listen to the waves, the birds chirping, feel the sand between my toes, and much to my surprise, it's usually quiet.

No one knows that I'm here, I usually don't say. This is my

place of peace.

I don't have to listen to why I didn't to this, or why I did that, that I've done something wrong, or spent too much money. No one talks to me here, no one complains, there's no arguing, it's me and mother nature. So I will keep this to myself, once again. Fighting my fight, alone.

 

 

 

anxiety coping techniques,

If you suffer from anxiety, as I do, you know what it's like to feel uneasy, worried, and out of control. You're constantly trying to control your surroundings so you're prepared for whatever hits you. Although with all the uncertainty around you, you're never really in control are you?

So what does one do when your anxiety becomes chronic? or in my case, have pre-anticipatory anxiety too? First thing, seek professional advice, a family doctor will refer you to a psychiatrist, where you'll be diagnosed, probably prescribed medication, coping techniques, and often group counselling.

I have a particularly hard time planning anything, which becomes quite difficult when you have a family, especially when you have young kids. I've missed out on a lot, especially family events like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and birthdays. In fact, I became so horrified about having panic attacks, that I became agoraphobic for 2 years. I couldn't even leave the house to do simple tasks like getting groceries, or picking my kids up from school, those were the hardest times in my life, but trying to get a grip on anxiety will do that.

 You feel isolated, and alone, people try to understand, but you know you're constantly letting them down. You feel fatigued because you're trying so hard to survive, some people may label you as lazy, but anxiety affects your whole body, it's not just a feeling, it's real.

So how do I cope? here are some techniques that have helped me............................

• Keep a journal, this will help you get those feelings out
• Keep a running record of when you experience a panic attack, where you were, time, what you were feeling, and your reaction.
• Take your medication on time, as prescribed.
• I was lucky to have a therapist who came to my home once a week, where we practiced cognitive therapy.
• Practice yoga, I know you've heard this before, but it really helps, especially the breathing.
• Moderate caffeine intake, caffeine can mimic panic attacks, did you know that? the first time I went to see my psychiatrist, I had a coffee with me, the first thing he said, "that's the first thing that needs to go."
• Eat healthy, stay away from chocolate, for me, chocolate has the same affect as caffeine, not good.
• Walk, I know, you've heard this one before, when I became agoraphobic, this is one of the first things my therapist tried to get me to do. Remember, I couldn't leave the house, so walking away from my safe place was the worst feeling ever! However, with time, and lots of help, I finally managed to walk around the block. My therapist would talk with me, trying to get my attention away from my feelings.
• Read, I started reading the bible, which I still do on a daily basis, believe me or not, this offered me a connection with God, knowing that He was with me always.
• Don't be too hard on yourself, you're not crazy, this isn't just in your head, you need help, it's out there. Seek it.
• Be kind to yourself, negative self talk is common, but try to reverse it with positive affirmations. Developing a positive mindset, can actually change the way you think! "I love myself completely", "I will get through this", "I am safe"
• Find a hobby! During the summer, I love to garden, just having my hands in the soil, getting together with nature, and seeing the results come to life is uplifting, and getting some much needed vitamin D certainly lifts your mood too. During the winter, although not a hobby, I go out to shovel the snow, just moving, being outside is a mood lifter too. But my real hobby is making jewelry, I order all my materials on line, make necklaces and bracelet's that I end up keeping or giving as gifts. It doesn't really matter what you choose, just do something. Life is hard enough, do something you enjoy.
• Photography, another one of my passions, allows me to see things in a new perspective. It's amazing how differently things look through a lens, which has also altered how I see myself.

Breathe, and let go. Let all your anxieties flow out of you with every exhale, breath in confidence and healing.

Just for today, love who you are, love all your mistakes, be one with yourself.

 
 

You're unique, there's no one else like you, you were created with a special purpose, find your talents, grow, and share  your journey.