A Couple

I was given the opportunity to read two great books by a husband and wife team. “50 Ways to Yay! By Alexi Panos and “Love Louder” by Preston Smiles.

Rocking at life is no easy accomplishment. Like you, I struggle with making choices and living the best life I can. When you have a chronic illness and have limited amount of energy making tough choices becomes an intricate part of your everyday life. Every now and again I need reminders, encouragement, and bursts of inspiration to remind myself why I am making difficult choices to rock at my life despite being chronically ill.

Part of my management plan is reading great books that remind me of the skills I have in my tool bag for the challenges and obstacles that pop up. One of the great tips that I learned is making a tool bag with tips, ideas, motivation, encouragement, and inspiration so when those moments when you feel cruddy, and don’t feel so motivated in pursuing your assignment. You can take a small breather and work through the pain with your tools that you find in your bag.

In Panos and Smiles books they give you wonderful tips and help you explore your tool bag. I was reminded and encouraged to keep on going. Or like Dory from “Finding Nemo” keep on swimming.

From Alexi Panos book “50 Ways to YaY! These 4 things revved up my engine to keep on moving forward.

1. What you choose to surround yourself with you become. Meaning, if you are surrounded with people who are always complaining, blaming, and not taking responsibility for their lives. Guess what? You will become that person. Yet, when you surround yourself with honorable, responsible, goal oriented, and encouraging people. You become that person yourself.
2. You only have one body, so take care of it. This means to me making a wellness plan that includes nutrition, movement, spiritual, and your mind. All these things are connected and are part of a wellness plan. This will keep me moving towards the life I want to live.
3. Embrace the wonders of life. There are so many wonderful things in the world. Some of my favorite wonders are simple things like, the way the rain falls, the roar of the ocean, and the way the seasons change. There are so many wonderful things in the world. Focus on that instead of the toxic negativity that seems to be the main focus of this world we live in.
4. Things begin in uncertainty. I know this simple statement to be true. When I first started feeling the effects of my tracheal stenosis I was uncertain, I was fearful, and I didn’t know it would lead me to writing my blog, or writing for Wellness Works NW, or even lead me to becoming a boss and hiring people to help me with everyday living. I’m no longer afraid of uncertainty. I find it to be a big blessing. I find it to be a driving force for me to keep on moving forward.

From Preston Smiles book “Love Louder” I was reminded of these 4 things.

1. Stop comparing yourself. The comparison game is dangerous. I know I play this game often. When it comes to moving, breathing, walking, and just being a 41 year old woman. I compare myself to the contemporaries in my life. It’s not fair. We are born with assignments and their assignment is not mine and my assignment is not theirs. I must remind myself of this when the comparison monster rears its ugly head.
2. Possibility is everywhere. That is why I chose possible as one of my focus words. Jesus says, all things are possible.
3. Small steps lead you to your possibilities. Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither will I achieve my goals in one day. It’s small every day activities that make my wellness goals happen for me.
4. Hurt people, hurt people. That is how the destructive patterns in relationships start. I know this to be true. Forgiveness and letting go of wounds is key to allowing love to flow through. I’m still working on this key advice. I’ve been hurt and I know I have hurt people. I repented to Jesus and I have sought his forgiveness and my own forgiveness and am letting it go and moving towards loving people.

As you can tell, I learned a lot from these two books. I want to purchase these two books for all my nieces and nephews. I know these would be an asset as they start their own lives.