What Mourning and Loss are Teaching Me About Resilience and Recovery

During the last few months, three family members have been critically ill, and I have been challenged and tested. All three of my dear loved have died, two on the same day and the last on June 2nd.

My heart aches with loss. Yet I am slowly healing and using self-care practices that help me recognize the need to live fully by cutting back on some activities and relying more on others. Meditation, prayer, journal writing, yoga, walking in nature, and limiting outside obligations to a bare minimum all help. Daily living while mourning is a balancing act, one that I review one day at a time.

A life skill I'm using to recover my equilibrium is to record and savor quotations that have meaning for me at this time. Each of the ones I've included in this blog post help my heart stay open for healing and give me hope. The wise words displayed below encouraged me to feel my feelings and let them flow through me, especially when I felt vulnerable, overwhelmed, sad, confused, hurt, angry, or afraid.

Mindfulness is paying attention, on purpose, in the present, and non-judgmentally, to the unfolding of experience, moment by moment ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi

Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a new way to stand. Oprah Winfrey

Don’t let your hearts grow numb. Stay alert. It’s your soul which matters. Albert Schweitzer

Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for Your Thoughts and Prayers. They Create Powerful Healing

Perhaps when you are challenged, you'll recall this blog post and these quotations will support you. 

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Carpal Tunnel Symptoms Cured Naturally,

Our bodies have the ability to heal themselves. This is one way I've affirm this to be true.

This post originally appeared on April 10, 2011, with the title "self-empowerment." After you read it, I suggest you keep it on file. Use it if and when you or someone you care about has these symptoms.

This natural carpal tunnel cure worked for me and I attest to the fact that I have not had another attack of CTS (now it's June 26, 2014). I continue to do a select few of the exercises detailed below to help maintain dexterity and prevent a recurrence of a condition that was both painful and debilitating.

Image from Microsoft

In Nov. of 2010, I couldn't use my computer, fold the wash, or prepare a meal. My dominant hand was in so much pain. At first, I tried conventional treatment methods. For several months, I followed Dr's. orders and put my hand in a splint, had an RX, and took an over the counter anti-inflammatory medication, plus rested my hand and wrist. I went to two different acupuncturists, which turned out to be the wrong treatment; it was too harsh for acute symptoms.

After I had Nerve Conduction Studies, the doctor determined I had severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A hand surgeon recommended an operation. However, that did not sit well with me. My body wisdom guided me to explore other options before surgery.

After more research, I finally discovered a treatment that came out of a study from the U of Penn. Results show it's just as effective as surgery to treat symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/280/18/1601.full.pdf


http://www.mycarpaltunnel.com/?c1=PPC&source=Google&kw=carpal

Both of these methods have proven to lessen Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) in me. In fact, after three months of doing these things, I was totally free of pain and
filled with a sense of satisfaction. I kept the faith and stayed on tract, and found a treatment that worked without having to undergo an operation!

Today's quote is by Lewis Carroll. I selected it, because this cure was a gift to me!

"There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents ... and only one for birthday presents, you know."

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In Health and Peace,

Nan

Pins and Needles, In Between, Powerlessness

This is a post about the in-between. Did you ever have moments of vagueness, confusion, and uncertainty? This is one of my most vivid and unsettling. My husband needs an operation. I am sure that it is necessary and will help his condition, but my "agita" doesn't stem only from fear of the unknown.


I am dismayed that a condition that was supposed to have been corrected by surgery in 2001 has reasserted itself. That old powerless state is here once again. Drat!


In order for me to have my wits about me when we go to see the surgeon today, I need to vent right now. I know I can't control my husband's physical condition, but I certainly can send positive vibes his way. I don't like it that he has to undergo this operation and be in the hospital, but if I accept the reality of the situation, I may have less stress, resistance, and find an opening to see the opportunities for healing and health. Yes, I need to find hope and sound thinking. Are there any of you out there who face similar challenges and want to share about it?



Quote for the day-
"God grant me the serenity


to accept the things I cannot change,


Courage to change the things I can,


And wisdom to know the difference." The Serenity Prayer



PS. For those who can help with blogger quirks-this post was written and will be posted on 2/17/10, but I used a draft from 1/30/10 that was taking up space on blogger. I'm not sure what date will appear as the publishing date. If it doesn't print the actual publishing date, how do I change it? Your help is appreciated.