Of the many changes that have come my way over recent months, one was the opportunity offered to work with my home church’s outreach and media committees this past January. Since that time, there have been several events planned, media blitzed and pulled off without any major noticeable general issues (only ones that those of us behind the curtain would even notice had occurred).
That being said, the BIGGEST of these events is now just DAYS away! As with any well planned event, there’s the frantic frenzy of finally pulling everything together and having it all fall into place just as planned. It’s SO GOOD to once again be an active, contributing, and productive part of something again.
The hardest part was actively making myself get out of the house, pull myself up, and getting a grip. I then allowed myself to acknowledge and accept things as they are now, letting go of what was, and learned to embrace, accept and adjust to things accordingly. In doing that, I’m considerably more active and able to do things then I was just over a year ago.
I’m soooooo excited to also be physically able to help with prep, set up and see everyone! So, if you don’t have plans for the 4th, YOU DO NOW!!!!
We all know that with each New Year there are certain ‘expectations‘ that come with it. ‘Standards of Excellence‘ if you will. We’ve come to know them as ‘resolutions‘†.
Resolutions vary from the mundane to the extreme, some are highly thought out, others just a whim. There are the standards of losing weight, quitting smoking, exercise more, spend more time with the family, get that promotion, become healthier, etc, and we all know these very well. I’m not negating any of these, as they are, and will continue to be, valid, but what about those ‘out of the box’ resolutions?
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, yet now(for your own reasons and/or restraints)are held back from or does it require a bit of adaptive thought to yet BE accomplished? Is there a fear that needs conquering? Is there someone you need to reacquaint yourself with? Is there forgiveness you seek or needs to be given? Do you know who you TRULY are and do those around you know ‘you’ too? Have you ever asked another person to describe to you what they see you as, and is theirs and your own self description, for the most part, similar and in tandem?
Everyone desires to be the ‘BEST’ ME they can be. Everyone wants to reach the resolutions they’ve set for themselves. Everyone considers becoming the ‘NEW ME’. I say a new me is in the view of others. Don’t be afraid to ask others who you are. You may just find your new me in the ‘YOU’ they see, but you haven’t, until now.
Happy New Year
Willoweagle
Survivor ~ Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) & Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
†RESOLUTION:. Dictionary. com ~ Resolution
noun
1. A formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.
Compare concurrent resolution, joint resolution.
2. The act of resolving or determining upon an action, course of action, method, procedure, etc.
3. A resolve; a decision or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
Her resolution to clear her parents’ name allowed her no other focus in life.
4. The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose:
She showed her resolution by not attending the meeting.
5. The act or process of resolving or separating something into constituent or elementary parts.
6. The resulting state.
…
First… I WAS:
The Child of ‘one’
Then….I BECAME:
The ‘One’
Now….I AM:
The Mom of ‘one’
Survivors,
Generations times three,
Blood thicker than water,
My family tree…
Willoweagle
Only 3 MORE DAYS!!!!!
Know the Signs and Symptoms of Thrombosis: World Thrombosis Day
Although not a native, as I’m one of ‘those’ Yankees… Worse yet that even after 25+ years ‘here’ I’m still considered,. even on the rare occasion, to this day being publicly proclaimed (albeit done in fun and only by those close enough to get away with it 😉 ), a ‘damned Yankee’: Because I stayed… Lol
Now to get back on point here…
I just came across this funny, yet true, blog post regarding Missouri which has several references back to the Bootheel (the topic originating my net-search)
Even though I could SO expound and expand on several of these not so secret ‘secrets’ of my Missouri Bootheel I’ve asked more than once myself. I was relocated here from the State of Illinois (by the way there is no ‘noise’ in Illinois…we are a quiet yet stealthy people taught in the ways of Chief Illini) where I’d lived the majority of my accumulated 20 life years at that point. To say I experienced culture shock would be an understatement. As, I say this with complete sincerity and adoration when I say that, there is no other place so unique as My Bootheel.. anywhere.
This is absolutely delightful questioning of the obvious that just can’t be read without a smile, and just maybe even a bit of a chuckle, by ANYONE who has ever been both honored and blessed to have ever set foot in God’s Country.
A Citizen of the Bootheel of Missouri:
Where there’s ONLY one Hill and and you give directions for anywhere headed North with words ‘just go over “The Hill” ‘
If you should happen to have the time available to you, this is something I DEFINITELY recommend ‘attending’ no matter whether you should participate or stalk. I only say this as it’s much better to be aware and have information that may (hopefully) NEVER be needed, then to be made INCREDIBLY aware through personal experience. Hope to see you there.
Yeah…so proud I’m leaking out of my eyes!! He’s made it safely to NYC and I am now just waiting for the text/call letting me know he’s at the apartment that just so happened to open up two weeks early. So no couch hopping for the next 15 days either!! I gotta get a kleenex…THIRD GENERATION SURVIVOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***************************
This was my exact post last year on August 23, 2013. I’d just attended his University commencement less than two weeks before. He’d still managed keep up his studies, work a full time job, complete all his therapies post-stroke and still graduate within a just a mere semester later than planned. Then he was on to the next phase of what I secretly refer to as “Royal’s Reign”.
In ‘celebration’ of the pivotal one year landmark post stroke, a much anticipated, hard earned, very much deserved trip was taken. As a media student, there was a definitive destination for this adventure: NYC!!! Within that one week, he feel totally in love with it. On returning home, he worked like a madman to obtain his next plan of action. He was going to go back to the city he had so desperately fallen in love with, make his presence known, and, in time, reign over ‘his’ Empire.
You see, his entire outlook had changed. Not just on one, but on so many levels. Dreams, aspirations, achievements, and Life as a whole became opportunities to be grasped with both hands. There was no time for regrets. Regrets, for him, became defined as opportunities not taken.
It’s now nearly a year since he left middle America for the largest city in the US. In this year, his accomplishments have been many, and his star has risen rapidly. Not that it’s been without it’s difficulties and sacrifices, but it has been amazing!
As a mom, he makes me more proud than words can express, he gives me more reasons to gush and brag than should (and probably is) be tolerated, but most of all, he continues to awe and inspire me daily. Operation “Royal’s Reign”, although still in progress, has, to date, been a completely and utterly successful undertaking and I’m confident it will continue to be until it’s fully achieved!
♦♥ Royal’s Related Links:♣♠
A Mother’s Story: I reflect and share my son’s stroke experience from my point of view on the two year anniversary of the event.
A Dad’s Tribute Song To His Son A Father puts pen to paper and composes this song in retrospect and reflection after his eldest son suffered a life threatening stroke.
There is another side to DVT/PE recovery that remains extremely hidden. So much so that even Survivors themselves barely acknowledge it’s existence. It’s only in finding another Survivor that, with time, once total and complete trust has been mutually proven and gained, that one of them will, in tentatively quiet and wavering voice, will broach the subject of that which cannot be named fearing that they’re the only one it’s happening to.
I brushed on this slightly last night when posting the latest findings regarding a statement from his wife that was released giving, to some degree, what precipitated events leading up to Robin Williams’ passing.
(See below)
Here, even while coping with what I refer to as the “yucks”, my friend, Sara (Blood Clot Recovery Network) wrote the following article in which she details just this specific topic. In her doing so, she’s explained the unexplainable in it’s simplest form that anyone can learn from and a starting point from where understanding begins..
As I lay here wide awake (I’ve now got my sleep schedule flipped, guess it’s bound to happen when you have no where to be) I couldn’t help but notice what date and time it is. Two down, one to go. At this time 11 months ago, I wasn’t asleep than either. Although, I WAS totally incoherent of my surroundings and the frenzied activities going on around me. I still don’t remember any of it. I’ve been told that I don’t want to, but there are several who will never forget. I was a guest on not just one, but two med-evac helicopter flights which ended at Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. For the third time in less then a year, I was again fighting for my life against my own body. Next month will be the last on of my one year clotting anniversaries, and yet it’s the most significant due to the fact there’s been no recurrences this time. A one year recovery mark is huge for any survivor. It’s as though you’ve held your breath just waiting.. hoping… praying… that when day 365 comes around you’ll be in the clear. Right now, it’s bittersweet… I’m happy to have made it clot free…. Yet, I also know that my recovery is still ongoing due to the circumstances those clots incited. I’ve made it quite the distance to get to this point, and even though I know there’s still so far to go, today I WILL NOT let that be my concern. Instead, I will just ~ BREATHE IN…. BREATHE OUT…. REPEAT and continue on with Living ~ Not Just Surviving!!!!
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’ve come to know that I’m not the only one who does this. It’s a common thread that links the majority of us that were fortunate to survive our embolism experiences. It’s what we believe as being a kindness to those that surround us as a way of keeping their minds at more at ease knowing that they are already overwhelmed, confused, and concerned for our well being. Only to then have major melt downs that can range from anger to sadness and loss, and may even go as far as self loathing/pity due to no longer being what we were before and trying to process, comprehend, and embrace the concept that we will never be again.
This brings up the question of, that, in reality, are we really being kind and considerate, or are we doing them a disservice by not sharing what’s going on both mentally and physically after such life changing events?
What do you think? Kindness or disservice maybe both?
Please share your thoughts and/or experiences regarding this subject.
Художник Андрей Крайнов и Кº - это творческая группа профессиональных белгородских художников, создающая произведения искусства на любой вкус и со вкусом. Мы можем выполнить для вас живописные полотна с пейзажами, портретами, натюрмортами, а также настенные фрески с барельефами и разные стилистические элементы оформления интерьера, вплоть до скульптуры, настенной декоративной фактуры и художественной мозаики. Тел.: +7 903-642-70-70
Living ~ Not Just Surviving 