A Gratitude Break After 15 Days Of Writing For National Blog Posting Month (Oy!)

After fifteen days of writing for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) I'm taking it a little easier today. As I write this it's late afternoon, and I'm enjoying the view of our mountain so softly lit by the setting sun. The snow barely covers the ground, reminding me that another winter is soon upon us and with it comes the dreaded permanent chill in the air.

The quiet in the house is comforting, the only sound are the bells on my cats' collars. It soothes me in ways I can't explain. And so I reflect.

Recently I was asked to create a gratitude challenge for MultipleSclerosis.net, the health website I write for. Often, the holidays are a difficult time for people living with chronic illness, making it important to remember what we're grateful for instead of focusing on our illness. This issue is not exclusive to those with disabilities. It can also be a lonely or stressful time for others.

I posted three things I am grateful for with accompanying photos. With Thanksgiving coming, I thought I'd write a (very) short gratitude post for my 16th day of NaBloPoMo.

I am grateful that our son had a chance to get to know his great-grandparents.

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And that all four of his grandparents are an integral part of his life.

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I am grateful I have had an opportunity to travel to see loved ones, and to explore new places.

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I am more than grateful for every experience I've had, both good and bad, that helped shape my life to bring me to this moment. Because right now I am grateful to you, dear reader, for your comments, encouragement and support. You have enriched me in ways that I never anticipated or take for granted. I humbly thank you.

Have a wonderful Sunday and an empowering week.

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Life Happens When You're Busy Making Other Plans

We all know the quote that is attributed to John Lennon saying, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." The quote is brilliant because it's honest and true.

An ordinary day can turn on a dime.

A person rarely reaches my age without learning some hard lessons about life after facing illness, financial struggles, toxic relationships or tragedy. These are inevitable as we age, and the lessons we learn forces us to acquire some survival skills.

If you're wise you'll realize that being flexible about the inevitable twists and turns of life is healthier for you. Because the life we plan and the life we lead are, more times than not, two very different things.

Bending instead of breaking is always optimal.

For instance, over the past week I said farewell to a dear friend.

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and cared for a sick one.

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I celebrated some exciting family successes,

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and was mindful of a few happy moments walking by.

lifeIt's important to remain focused on staying healthy while maneuvering the highs and lows of daily life. Eating right, getting plenty of exercise and practicing a stress-reducing activity (such as meditation) will help keep our bodies happy as we age.

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It was the 1980's and big hair was, well, BIG!

Here's what worked for me this week:

Visualizing how I want to look and feel: At 55 I won't feel like I did at 25, 35, or 45. I'm trying to be the best ME I can be at this age. I'm not perfect. I stumble and fall, but I always try to get myself back up to try even harder.

Eating less: I have the Jenny Craig meal plan on my side to help me eat healthy meals, and I add fresh fruits and vegetables to each meal.  This week I ate several meals out, so I'd cut up fresh veggies and carried them in a Zip-Lock bag in my purse. I tried to plan what I'd eat before every outing (a special thanks to Houston's tuna sashimi salad with cilantro viniagrette - a big yum!) Was I perfect? No.  I'm a work in progress. But I'm eating healthier than I was a year ago. That's a step in the right direction!

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Finally met Carol April of ndy (Not Done Yet) and she came bearing gifts and a new friendship.

Feeling better about the way I look: I'm fighting every (single) ounce to get off my body.  It's a battle, and so far I've lost 12 pounds since December.  I don't want to gain any weight back after working so hard to take them off.  That fact continues to motivate me.

I like telling my husband that I'm losing weight: Okay, I admit it.  It feels good to tell my husband my good news.  Do you have any idea what it's like to be married to someone who weighs the same as he did when we met 29 years ago?  He is dedicated to eating right and getting plenty of exercise. He also has great metabolism! This can be maddening at times, so I try to imagine what it feels like to never worry about gaining weight. Ah, Utopia.

What do you do to take care of your health as you age?

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food for this review.  There was no compensation.  All opinions are solely my own.  NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

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