January 19th, 2020

When I first met my wife, Patty, I was sick. I'd been going to the GI specialist multiple times a month to monitor blood loss and the intense pain I experienced abdominally. I couldn't walk first thing in the morning. My feet hurt so bad. I started having nightmares about my upcoming wedding. I was engaged to an amazing man... a fun, caring and hardworking engineer. But, I was sick. 

When Patty and I found our dear friend, Peter, dead, we went through life saving steps. We fought the grim reaper- we couldn't believe that he was gone. My heart still knots up to think of that dark experience. I'll share more on that later, but let's just say that a lightbulb went on and I realized I had been living a lie. I wanted to get married, but I wasn't meant to marry this sweet man. I had to make a change. 

Within a few days of deciding that I wasn't ready to get married, many of my symptoms dissolved. Time passed and I still had a great deal of pain, but decided a change of scenery was in order. Patty and I had begun to develop a strong friendship and later, a romance.

I used the little money I'd saved to fly with Patty to Arizona. We found a beautiful book we began to read together- both trying to heal the loss of Peter. It was called, "You Can Heal Your Life." I thought the title was cheesy but I was drawn to the beautiful art and color that graced every page. Literally, the pages taught me that every thought we think creates a reaction in our bodies. The author, Louise Haye, used this process successfully to bring ease to huge groups of people experiencing HIV. 

The companion book has some simple affirmations and thought swaps you can try to replace the negative with healthier seeds. I began to do that very thing. Every day I would repeat, "All is well in my world" when I felt anxious. I wanted to be stronger, so I thought, "My body is a machine that runs with ease." Other examples from the book are: 
My energy level is low.... I am filled with energy and enthusiasm.
I get one illness after another.... Good health is mine now. I release the past.
My back gives me constant pain... Life loves and supports me. I am safe.
These headaches never go away.... I no longer criticize myself; my mind is at peace, and all is well.

In short time, I was on a path to thinking healthier thoughts and making more healthy choices. What we think becomes our words, what we say becomes our action. Our actions become our character. I wanted mine to be strong and energetic, so I chose that. It became my truth. Later, I heard the phrase, "What we feed grows." I use this with my children often. I use it with myself.

Listen carefully to your thoughts and your feelings. Can you replace a thought like "Heart disease runs in my family" to ,"I am not my parents. I am healthy, whole and complete." For more positive words to nurture your health, message and I'll post!

---