How do we define happiness?

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - Real Life.

But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first,
some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.  At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.  Happiness is the way.So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.  Happiness is a journey, not a destination!"


I have been really thinking about what defines happiness in one's life. 
When we think to ourselves, "am I happy", we think about our life over all...should we look at the small doses of smiles, eye contact, giving to others, touch, petting an animal, looking at the beauty of nature...and put it into a "whole picture of happiness"? 


I don't think that we can be happy 24/7 unless we take the small doses of life and make them to fit into our happiness cup.  According to Dalai Lama, the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. He also explains that none of this will produce happiness, if your mental attitude is negative.


John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  We will never know the first thing about God as a true and loving friend until we come to the full realization that He wants man to be happy. Many people blame God for the wars and diseases that ravage the human race. These are all the doings of man!


Having RA can cause me to have days of "unhappiness", yet...I am a happy person. 
Having divorce looming causes a great source of unhappiness, but no one can take away the memories and laughter that was shared, not even a piece of paper.

Sometimes the smile on my face hides the pain I feel inside

I define happiness when I make eye contact with a stranger, and they smile.

I define happiness when I sing to the top of my lungs at church.

I define happiness when I get to spend time with Andre.

I define happiness when there is a hug given in truth and honesty.

I define happiness when I know that I will see my son again.

I define happiness when I hear a big belly laugh from a friend or stranger.

I define happiness when I look at beautiful mountains and wide open sky.

I define happiness with love...this story to be continued..

I define happiness with working hard to avoid being co-dependent, it only hurts.

So how do YOU define happiness?

Happy Twenty Ten!!

Last night, I reflected on the last 15 years of life, through my journals.  I laughed out loud and cried equally as much.   Now, I KNOW I am not alone when it comes to reflection of the past and the dreams of the future. 

While reading my journals, I rediscovered that I am a very happy and joyful person all the way to the core of my inner soul.  I "thought" the prior statement was lost somewhere within me, hard to access like a scratched record.  In fact, it was never lost, nor hard to access.  I access it daily. 

The major thing that I keep revisiting in my mind and through the journals, is called "CARE".   My counselor told me once, or five times, that I care too much.  What?!!  How could anyone not care too much for others and life in general?   Looking back on the journals...I told me one thing, yep, I care much, and love deeply.  I still don't think that is necessarily a "bad" thing, but I do know it was a source of unhappiness...especially in the last 2 years. 

My personal opinion is that it's not the caring that causes unhappiness...it's the sense of not being able to immediately fix the things we care about. My own personal belief is that if we dedicate ourselves to handling our part we should be happy that we are making a difference (even if in just a small way) and accept that not every problem can or will be fixed by our efforts alone. We can hope, however, that our action might inspire others to do the same.

I can't fix several things that I "wish" could be fixed

• I can't fix the fact that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia
• I can't fix the broken marriage...lord knows I tried and wanted to.  (this has been a huge source of sadness over what might have been.  But neither of us were the perfect Virgo)
• I can't fix the fact that my son died
• I can't fix the past of myself or others

Although, I WISH I could change all of the above things the fact is..."It is what it is."  and "it" is LIFE.  Say it outloud, Life is what Life is.  Profound, huh?!!

I took this picture in September.  It had a very profound effect on me, because we can have things that can bind us in life, but we do not have to be bound by it to continue to bloom.

What I Can do...

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  Put RA in the back pocket (although, I'd like to hock it!)  and accept the change.  I will not let it define me nor continue to tell me that I am "damaged goods
  
  
  
• 
  
  Allow others back in
  
  
  
• 
  
  Never lose who I am again
  
  
  
• 
  
  Soften my heart and let go of the learned fear to love again
  
  
  
• 
  
  Always, always remember the love, laughter and joy that a child can bring to life daily.  And TEACH them how to love and care for others by example
  
  
  

So with a new year..."We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
Edith Lovejoy Pierce.

50 years of someone's life

The last few weeks have been way too busy for RA comfort, and my unwanted friend is starting to tell me so. I HAVE to keep trudging along, as Sunday is a big day for my parents. They are renewing their vows said oh so long ago.


As I sit here this morning, I find myself thinking about what has gone on in the last 50 years. (I am only 47, so some of it is just imagination)

We all could not discover and share each other's worlds 50 years ago. WOW, now ain't that somethin'!

One thing that I keep thinking about is how far the health care world has come. Yesterday, I seen a little huddled up lady struggling to walk through the store. Of course, I already knew that she had RA, no need to ask another sufferer who was not given the opportunity of medications like Embrel, Rituxan, Orencia or Humara. I asked her if she would let me help her with her grocery cart, as I wanted to talk to her.

As we walked very slowly through the isles, I asked her how long she had RA. She looked up at me the very best she could and said, "a long hard 35 years." I wanted to cry right then and there for many reasons. Some of which were my own selfish, yet, grateful reasons. Selfish because at times I feel "cheated" by RA. Grateful because of the medications that have come along in my lifetime to avoid some of the pain and suffering that little ole Lydia has suffered. Bless her sweet heart.

I asked Lydia what she took for pain and she said, "anything I can find to give me a moment of rest from these ole bones." Then she said, "I eat gin soaked raisins, don't think they work, but they sure taste good and keep my plumbing working." Ah, the words of the wise. I had to laugh at her.

I hope this post finds friends from around the world safe, happy and wise.
Let's see where the next 50 years takes us.

This was a post that I did not publish...why, I dunno know...there are several. So, I am going through the list of "draft" posts and will be publishing them...then I will get back on track!

Eleven years...thin, some would even say skinny. You see, 11 years ago, I had what is called a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. It was, and still is, the best thing I could have ever done for myself...but with risks, which I will refer to my personal risks after the outline.

• The short and long-term risks of vertical banded gastroplasty include:
  Incisional hernia.
  Dehiscence.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Formation of a stricture at the site of the plastic band.
• Damage to the spleen. Due to the close proximity of the stomach.
• Regaining weight. A 10-year follow-up study of 70 patients who had had a VBG found that only 20% (14) of the patients had lost and kept off the loss of 50% of their excess body weight.
• Ongoing vomiting and heartburn. About 20% of patients with VBGs report long-term digestive difficulties.
  Psychological problems. Some people have difficulty adjusting to the changes in their outward appearance and to others' changed reactions to them.

Now, that being said...
On December 29, 2008 I had to have surgery to fix the band eroding through my stomach and esophagus. There were a whole mess of complications going into the surgery and few more thanks to the doc cutting my spleen. Since the repair, I CAN EAT everything without getting sick. I have gained weight, which terrifies me but most importantly, I feel so much better. I am having problems with extremely low energy, from the spleen complications. This is a big issue! And the Rheumatoid and Fibro does not help, as it is a very common complaint among RA and Fibro patients.
Today is one of those days. This last weekend was fast, fun and furious but boy am I paying for it today.

So, do I recommend a lap band type of surgery for morbid obese patients? Yes, I sure do!

Have a beautiful day and a better tomorrow!