Tuesday, November 29, 2016

WEGO Health Blog Challenge Day 27: Sunday 11/27 Sunday Selfie! OMG and do not be "shy"? I scare the neighbors most mornings!!

This is my favorite "Selfie of mine" In fact, I am going to have my stylist cut it like this hopefully this week, and will put the Burgundy color in it. My hair is blonde, so it does not "hold red" well... but within about 2 to 3 weeks of washing, it will be the "highlighted blondish red, which I love)




WEGO Health Blog Challenge November 27th Sunday, 2016

Sunday WEGO Blog Challenge - November 20th 2016 - 20th BLOG POST! What has been the Highlight of my Actvist Journey So far?



Sunday WEGO Blog Challenge - November 20th 2016 - 20th BLOG POST!  What has been the Highlight of my Activist Journey So far?


Out of ALL the things I've learned and gotten to do that were highlights in my activism so far, going to the Arthritis Summit in 2014, to do my dream (Stand on the White House Steps and tell my Story to All of CONGRESS) I must say has so far been the real moment that I felt that I WAS MAKING a difference!

Being a writer, since the age of 13 years old, I had two goals, one to have a "book published". I told my kids that if I never got to "see" that happen they had to promise me to try and get at least ONE published. Thus in 2012/13 that goal came through twice! With the self-publishing and I used Amazon; although still a great deal of work, if you want to be frugal yet get your book(s) out there, that was my way to go,

So, I had many poems, short prose, and had began on my story several times. I wanted to tell my journey throughout the chronic illnesses and pain, but also some other very personal terrible things I lived through. I am a huge advocate for Women's Rights, and not being subjected to abuse, rape and such. A piece of the book will include that, plus my journey that began in TX, took me around the Western part of the Nation, to live in Lancaster CA for a short while. Then I came back, and went through an entire series of events; honestly a role of changes, that I am proud I got to go through. Without those, I am not sure I would have survived and been here this morning to be blogging this.

After several years I literally made a circle, and came back to my hometown. That was the one thing, I had hoped I would not have to do, come and stay permanently here. It held many lousy memories, and times that I did not want to face again. I had "been there, done that" and was so hoping all of that was behind me. I can tell you, life just like a wedding band, or the moon, is always a circle. Many of us do exactly what I did,

So, I lived to see two books published, and although they are not "chart toppers" I did get to live that dream.

I desperately needed something in my life, once again that I felt would truly help to change things for others, make a difference, and since I always wanted to be in the medical field, the entire "medical research", being a voice, advocate, activist, and Ambassador, in the realms of what I felt may do just that.

Long before I really "got extremely chronically ill" (I have lived with severe Migraines and joint problems since I was 17 years old), I kind of viewed an "activist" as someone standing on a sidewalk, or on the steps of some place, shouting, screaming, making waves, and that was how you tried to get your point across.

As I became aware of my ongoing health issues, I began to view the act of being an Advocate could be anything but "picketing", and there was non-profits, individuals that especially due to Social Media and the Internet who were making changes in so many ways, but especially when it came to Chronic Pain, Chronic Health Problems, from Autoimmune Illnesses, to Heart Attacks, to Degenerative Joint diseases, and MANY others, such as Fibromyalgia.

I began asking questions, researching some of the non-profits, looking for groups on Facebook, and saw that MANY of these types of opportunities are out there, and in TOO MANY when you are someone who would like to DO IT ALL!

I found out more about the Arthritis Foundation, through Tiffany Westrich-Robertson who had started her own "non-profit" more specifically for "Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases" such as RA, Sjogren's, at the (IFAA) - The International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis". She really began, along with the other advocates there taught me so much about getting into the organizations I felt were the "best fit" for what I wanted to try and accomplish. Thus the Arthritis Foundation (plus I still do Activism) for several other places.

Shortly, right after I attended my 1st "Ambassador Meeting" via the Internet and Phone, I found out that there was a possibility I COULD GO TO TELL CONGRESS MY STORY! Well, those that represented my District. The one person that did that happened to have been from my own home town, he had worked for the same company long years ago, that my Dad, Mom and I had worked for and I "knew" him, and some of his staff. In fact he has an office right here in my hometown.

So, I applied for a "Travel Grant" to go to Washington DC on March 24th, 2014. It was already probably kind of "past due" to even apply, but I did anyway. Tears of joy streamed down my face, when within a couple of weeks, I received notice I had been GRANTED A TRAVEL AWARD, for room, round trip flight, training, and such. I was almost shouting at my neighbors when I found out, telling everyone I could about getting the grant. My MOM was SO PROUD!!! SHE always SUPPORTED ME, AND BRAGGED ABOUT ME, to everyone! Mom was my "greatest fan", from my writing, to my advocacy work, to everything else I ever tried to do that was worth doing.

So, on March 24th, I flew to DC, and got to meet with Representative Joe Barton, tell my story, along with some other incredible people I met there. I cannot say enough about not only all of the Ambassadors, but the entire STAFF, are the most caring people. Laura Keivel was also such an inspiration to me from the AF, and she continues to be there for me at times,

On my last day of the Summit, I got a phone call (emergent) but at the time I did not hear my phone ringing. I was waiting to be picked up outside the Hotel, by my "Mother In Law" whom I had never met, (her son and I had been together over 10 years), plus we were going to stay, he was flying in, so we could spend time with her, and he could show me Washington DC!

Tragically, that phone call, came in about the same time my Mother in Law, walked into the Lobby to find me. It was from the Emergency Critical Care Unit in Dallas TX at Baylor Hospital, telling me my husband was in an extremely horrible car accident on the way to the airport in Dallas, to fly out to meet me! I dropped to the floor, and of course no one knew at that moment what was happening. But, a gentleman there that helped me get back to Dallas within about 6 to 8 hours, and I was at Baylor in ICU, my husband at the time, other than many other injuries, had a "broken back" and was headed for major surgery.

I shall end this piece here, but little did I know after March 26th, 2014, just how much more my life would change forevermore. Little did I know I would lose my Mom's sister, my Mom this past June, 2016 to a horrid Lewy Bodies Dementia, and that I became more ill, lost ALL OF MY TEETH TO SJOGREN'S, and the story just continues to go on. My husband went back to Seattle after mending a year here, for reasons, I feel mainly guilt, although it was NOT HIS FAULT! An 18-wheel tractor trailer literally ran over him,  and yes there is much more to that story also. Then my Pug, Tazzy, who was a Christmas Present in 2004 in Seattle, passed away within 24 hours of getting very ill. Thus "loss: had been a large portion of my life, loss of my own health, my own ways, my husband, my Dad in 2005, my Aunt and then my Uncle, and shortly thereafter my Mom.

So, I realize due to the nature of emotions tied into that fateful March 24th-March 26th, 2014, have been a mixture and blend of the good, the great, the bad, and just the plain horrid.

YET; although what happened in March 2014 WAS such a horror, being able to go to Congress, tell my story, and KNOW I HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, has been the "highlight" of my activism so far.....






 
 
 

(by the Way WEGO HEALTH, all of you are also an inspiration to me also) 

















Monday, November 28, 2016

DAY #30! WEGO 30 DAY NOVEMBER 2016 HEALTH BLOG CHALLENGE!!! LAST DAY! REFLECTION, CONGRATULATIONS FOR 30 days of posts, & where do I feel I go from here?


 WEGO HEALTH NOVEMBER 30TH, LAST DAY OF CHALLENGE!!! What this 30 days has taught me, and how I intend on moving past, and take what I have learned "with me"....




I am still not completely through with ALL of my November 30 day Challenge Blog Posts. I got almost all, but still lack about 6 or so, before I can say I did all of them.


I do appreciate WEGO HEALTH and the "challenges" they give us as advocates, activists, and those who want to make things "better", to change the way Health care works for us, for others and for the world.

I hope to go from this past 30 days and take a hard look at myself. I DO definitely do "my part" when it comes to Advocacy, Activism, and being an Ambassador.... whichever you choose to define it, ALL mean you STEP UP to the plate,  take your very best swing, and hope to hit the "ball" right out of the park!

I know that MANY have made that possible with our Congress, with our States Governments, and even around the globe. Each day is a new light, new action when it comes to the way everyone views how "the health care" system should be.

WE have become #1 as, patients, BUT moreover as "activists"... able to give our story out, and know We DID make a difference.

*I've always been the type of person who likes "order".... things to be put away, no clutter, no mess, everything where it should be.. and up until the Lupus, RA, Sjogrens's and LIFE HIT me, I could do that,

A dear friend of mine, taught me a lesson, that was so very simple, YET it totally CHANGED the way I try and do things now.

I was in the car with my friend, and trying to get a lighter of mine to work. I had probably been to stubborn to stop and get another one, or would forget, so I was trying and trying and it just was "finished"... no more "flame" to come out of it... He asked me to "hand it to him"... so I did, and as soon as I handed it to him, it went flying by my face, out the car window (we were at a Stop Sign), and into a "field" by the roadway.

At 1st I was confused, then I wanted to laugh, and then it totally HIT ME! Not literally, but in a "life changing way". When something whether as "small" as a lighter, or as large as an "elephant in the room" is giving you problems, not working, and you are just getting more and more upset, frustrated, and plain down right MAD about it, "throw it out".... it is NOT WORTH trying to "fix" something, that is NOT fixable. Here I was stressing over a 99 cent light, when all I needed to do is pitch it out the window, stop and get a new one, or he happened to have had an extra one he gave me, and go on with life!!!

LIFE, as I have witnessed in the past 11 years, but MORE in the last 3 years or so, is TOO SHORT, to precious, TOO "there one day and gone the next" to allow yourself to be "worried" over "what is NOT working"...and go onto the next phase, where something IS working...

We can "Duct Tape" a sole on our favorite shoe, or "mend a hole in a sock. We can choose to drive ourselves nuts over something so silly as the news, a TV show, and all we need to do is "turn the channel"..

As humans, I know for myself, I've wasted too much of my life, "watching" the channel that I did not like, when all I had to do is change it.

Decisions, even where to go out to eat for me, are always "stressful".... everything in my life, I "question" up, down and sideways, I always "sleep on it" before I make a change, buy something, make a decision that ultimately could change my entire life, well what is left of it...

Yet, I've learned in the past year that "letting go"... of what I cannot do a thing about, and trying to "mend" what I can, or if it is TOO stressful, pitch it out the window, and drive away, Tomorrow is still will NOT work, but your mind WILL!

WEGO's Annual Blog for November Challenge did just that for me. I find myself "throwing out" what does not work, and moving on to the greater thing right in front of me. Making "right" what I can, and walking away from what I cannot do a thing about....


WEGO Health Blog 2016 November 29th Challenge - Have I checked out some others bloggers and #HAWMC Fellow bloggers -Choose a few I liked and repost to my Blog!

This is a very difficult choice to make because EVERYONE'S are GREAT! Information, giving of "self" in an unselfish way, bearing your own health burden's and life challenges for ALL to see - - - - - - - - -  

 

WEGO HEALTH

I am always so thrilled to participate and interact with ALL of the people there. ALL of you ROCK!!!

So, it is a "trying" time to make sure I give "back" to those who gave me so much, either through their own blog posts, or their comments about mine! I've learned a great deal about illnesses, about other bloggers, about how there are those that do CARE, and they "give of themselves" often "Bearing their Souls" about life, pain, chronic illnesses, being a caretaker, and the REST of what WEGO Health Helps to Teach us!


So, Here are a few of my re-posts:

Day #4 What Superpower would you like to have: Kristen's re-post form the FB Page : 
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hawmc?source=feed_text&story_id=223721238058496

Kristen WEGO - My superpower would be patience! Yes I count that as a superpower. Challenging yoga class this morning and a challenging first time working with clay this afternoon. Finding myself frustrated and pushing for perfection but remembering to have patience and to accept where I'm at 👌🏼My vase may be crap but at least I'm rockin my awesome Bipolar tee from @GabeHoward to help #Stompstigma


Day #1 on Julie Cerrone's  - FB Link - https://www.facebook.com/itsjustabaddaynotlife/

 Her Blog Repost I liked is at:




Day #29 - "What I Wished I had known Before:



Day #4 by one her blog (re-post) Blog Name - Inflamed and Untamed!

Day #11 - Your Top Ten - From Blog "Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer" Re-Post

These are just a very few that touched me in one way or the other - I could name almost everyone I got to read, and will be reading over the next weeks, so I can really get to know so many of these great people and awesome Bloggers!!!!!! Rhia
 

"GIVING TUESDAY" A TIME TO GIVE BACK" TO SO MANY THAT HELP US IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS! November 29th, 2016

"GIVING TUESDAY" A TIME TO GIVE BACK" TO SO MANY THAT HELP US IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS! November 29th, 2016

#GivingTuesday.
Browse charities and tools to get involved on our website:
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Sunday, November 27, 2016

Saturday WEGO Blog challenge - November 19th - How to Pull yourself out of a "rut" when things seem to just not fall in place? Health, skills, writing tools, life. being sick, other problems

WEGO HEALTH BLOG CHALLENGE FOR SATURDAY NOVEMBER #19! YES, I AM BEHIND!




I believe I've been pulling myself out of a rut so many years, I have to find MANY WAYS to try and continue to move on day to day, week to week, month to month... and hope the years continue to come also.

I used to gripe about birthdays, now that I've been so chronically ill, I am THANKFUL for them when they happen.


I have to admit, one of my "ways" I remain half "sane" is to talk to myself! I know that sounds more nuts than I will admit, BUT, I've found if I "talk" to myself, through a bad day, lousy situation, too many irons in the fire, I tend to be able to "move forward" past whatever is giving me too much hell at that time.

My advocacy work helps, and the blogging, and friends on Facebook (those that Truly LISTEN) that also gives me a way to purge whatever may be going on. There is ONE HUGE problem with purging online, especially Facebook! "Some" people that may not know why I write some of what I do, or they take is ALL LITERALLY, then I have "issues" to deal with. The true friends that know what is going on with my life, AND they know that my writing, is usually my #1 (first) to getting rid of whatever is eating me up inside.

I am the type of person, who can be totally upset, distraught, and appearing as if I am going to come apart a the seams, BUT once I can "say" it, whether Social Media, my blog, or talking to myself or my two fur-kids, it is gone. I don't harbor over problems that are in the past. Life is worth trying not to feel frustrated, upset and alone. As the years go on, I really have come to realize we are only here for a brief time, and allowing STUFF that we usually cannot do a thing about disrupt even an hour of a day, is an hour lost, that I can never get back.

So, I FUSS about it, throw it out with the bathwater, LOL, and for me it is usually over and done. You could ask me in a couple of hours what I was bummed about, and I probably will say honestly, I don't recall.


WEGO Health