Glimpse into Motivational Monday- Laughter- week 15 2014

Hello all, on this cloudy Motivational Monday! I spent time yesterday with some of my favourite people in the world, and it really showed me how laughter is the best medicine. It is incredible how much better you feel in a moment of laughter. 

Subsequently, this week's motivational quote is going to be: 

"Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." -Mark Twain 

Be positive in the face of your troubles this week if you have any, and find a way to smile despite them (or in spite of them!). As hard as it is, look for something that keeps you going, and concentrate on the happiness it brings you. Be thankful, be happy to be alive, and laugh hard. 

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." -Khalil Gibran

Glimpse into Motivational Monday - week 11 2014

"Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting."

 

If you are stuck in bed most of the time like I am at the moment, this is especially poignant. It applies to everyone though. Keep smiling, keep positive, don't give up. Cry and complain, because that is healthy too, but at the end of the day, holding onto the faith that things will get better is what will get you through. Make the most of what you can do, and the people who are around you, and keep going.

 

 

Motivation Monday - week 10 2014

As I am nearing a monumental birthday (the big 3-0), I am aware that this is typically a time people reflect on where they are in life and what they have done. Up until the age of about 26, I was happy with everything that I'd done; I felt accomplished, well travelled, educated and happy with how life was. The second half of my 20s started to slow down, and now, I am so unwell that I do not work, can not drive, I live with my parents, and I do the bare minimum in terms of chores or social outings. Nearing my 30th birthday, I could be forgiven for seeing this as a bit of a failing. However, I know that it is absolutely not down to any fault of my own. I am motivated and enthusiastic, and I am only in this situation because of my health issues, which I am doing all in my power to improve.
The saying that I wanted to focus on for this week is, "If you stumble, make it part of the dance." I love this. I may have gone off my planned path, but I am making the most of what I have. This blog for example, was born out of the stumble that has been my bad health. Keeping this blog going is really good for me. I also have become so interested in nutrition and well being due to my health issues. I love to learn as much as I can in this area, and I hope to be well enough soon to expand on this. So if you find that something knocks you during your dance, no matter what it is, do not see it as a failure or disaster. It can be scary and disheartening, but try to incorporate it and take advantage of the new possibilities.


Glimpse into Motivation Monday - weel 9 2014

This week, I would like us to remember the words of Marcus Aurelius...

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

These words have helped me this past week while I have dealt with new information about my health. No matter how difficult things can seem, how unwell you feel, or how lonely you are, ultimately, you are alive and have the opportunity to be happy, no matter the obstacle. 

Glimpse into Motivation Monday - week 8 2014

This week's Motivation Monday...

 

This is especially apparent in chronic illness, due to the ongoing unwell times and loneliness, and then the stressful visits to doctors, endless tests, worry about employment and your lack of independence, and how you will get your life back on track, the loss of friends, and life plans and loved activities. Sometimes it can all feel unbearable. 

What I try to tell myself when I feel like this is that this is just how life goes. This is what it is all about, and by getting through the tough times, we get to the good times. Some things are hard, and they hurt, and they are unfair, but if we can not change them we should not focus on them. It is the hard things that we do have control over which we should put our energy into. Let go of the unchangeable, accept it, and adjust to it, and work on what you can change.

And sometimes, when everything happens at once, it will be the good things. 

 

Just take each ball as it comes. Accept the strikes, and hit the others out of the ball park. We can do it.

Glimpse into Motivation Monday - week 7 2014

Welcome to the new blog series... Motivation Mondays! To get things started, here is an idea to think about this week....

 "Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin.
Beginning makes the conditions perfect."

 

A big part of having a chronic illness is waiting. Waiting for answers, waiting for results, waiting for improvements. It could be easy to fall into the trap of putting your life on pause, and just waiting. As I often say though, this is our life, we only have this one chance, and it is up to you whether you let your illness become you, or whether you let it only be a part of you. If we wait for that miraculous moment when we feel healthy again, we may have let a great chunk of our life ramble past us like a tumble weed. Maybe you can not do the exact thing that you want to do, but find an option that makes you happy. For example, I can not work at the moment due to my health. I love my work as a nurse, so in the meantime, I keep myself happy learning more, and reading and writing about health. In doing so, I have discovered a new path for myself and love the idea of helping people improve their overall wellness through improved nutrition and lifestyle choices. Find your option! Begin, and keep happy and strong, and things will get better!

If you are healthy and thankfully free of a chronic health issue, this still applies to you! What are you putting off which you could do now? What if you put off that dream job until you are more confident, or when the kids are older, or when the sun, moon and earth are at a 45 degree angle, and you find yourself in an unexpected situation that keeps you from that dream job?! Act now. You don't know what could change down the track. Be brave, begin, and the happiness and self love that comes from beginning will make you strong enough to keep going.

Do not wait; begin.