Now, my definition of "the dream" may not be what you are thinking. For many of us, the typical idea of the dream is summed up in one or more of the following words: beautiful home, fancy cars, perfect job, loving family, money, and so on. While I do not deny the desire I have for many of those "dreams," they were not the thing on my mind yesterday. I had in mind something more like this: a fun time doing things around town with my kids.
You see, when you live with a digestive disorder, the basic daily tasks that many take for granted are a major deal. For example, going to the grocery store alone can take everything out of you when you are experiencing a flare up. So, when my kids were young, or perhaps more like when my oldest child was a baby, I dreamed of days like this. I dreamed of days when I could ride around town accomplishing my to do list with my little darling(s) tagging along. I dreamed of having fun laughing and singing in the car with them as I completed the required mundane tasks like grocery shopping and oil changes. I dreamed of how great it would be to live life- a normal life- with my little loves.
Unfortunately, for the first several years of their lives, this did not happen. Instead, I struggled DAILY with feeling good. In fact, after I would make it through a work day, I would often have to crash for a while in front of the TV because that is how fatigued poor digestion would make me. Plus, many days, I dealt with the pain of my digestive issues, which also took my energy. I reached a point where I knew the decisions I was making to improve my health were not enough so my wellness journey began. Two years later, I have an amazing moment when I realize that I am FINALLY beginning to see my little sweet dream come true.
So what are some of the things that have made the difference for me? Here's a concise list of what I have been doing that has made all the difference:
1. First, I simply believed. I believed that if God willed for me to experience better health, I could with His help. I chose to depend on Christ to heal me and make me whole. Maybe someday I can share one of my most amazing prayer experiences in which I believe He was showing me that He would provide the healing.
2. Next, I found essential oils. Ok, so this is becoming really popular.
Let me establish my disclaimer right now that this blog is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose any illness, nor is it meant to replace professional medical attention or advice. Advice and testimonies are all based on use of Young Living brand of oils specifically. Use and application of this information is done solely at your own risk.
With that being said, I found a Facebook post one day of a friend who used these oils and so I decided to try it. My first thoughts were that this was simply a good smell to put in the air to be enjoyed kind of like scented candles. I had NO idea how much more they were! In a nutshell, I found that I could support normal digestion as well as all other body systems and their normal functions with the use of these oils. This became part of my journey to wellness and as I continue to seek out better health, they will continue to be a part of my regimen. If you want to learn more about them, please visit my site: www.yl4life.org/naturalblessings
If you want me to sponsor you when you purchase a product, include my ID: 2335169 or go here: https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/new-start?sponsorid=2335169&enrollerid=2335169&isocountrycode=US&culture=en-US&type=member
3. Third, I learned the value of healthy emotions, breathing exercises, and physical exercise. Many of you already understand the importance of these things, and I did as well, but I still did not ACT as though they were important. Deep breathing is a very beneficial tool for relieving stress, calming nerves, etc. I found an app titled Pacifica, which I enjoyed for a while until I learned to incorporate the deep breathing on my own. Also, I continue to work on the healthy emotions and the physical exercise (this being the last piece I still struggle to included regularly). Truly all of these things contribute to calming you, which is important since stress is a trigger for Crohn's.
4. Finally, I began the diet change. Some of you might be scratching your heads right now because if digestive issues are my problem, why is this last on the list? Two reasons: first, the treatment I was receiving did not emphasize this as a top priority for better health and secondly because I simply love some unhealthy foods such as processed foods and sugars. While I will not say that I am the model for perfect diet choices right now, I can say I have made many changes. I have tried diet in the past and failed because I was looking too far into the future, imagining that I would have to eat like this forever and that made me so discouraged that I quit. While I probably should eat like this forever, I do not THINK like that any more. Instead I think, TODAY I am eating like this. Somehow that change in thinking keeps me going and when I do "cheat" on my diet, I am able to get back on it pretty quickly.
So what diet changes have I made? Here's a list of some things I'm trying: the anti-inflammatory diet which includes eliminating all grains, sugar, and processed foods; limiting and/or no coffee. You can Google "anti-inflammatory diet" to get ideas of what that would include. If you're just starting to think about diet being part of your next step, that may all seem overwhelming. Start small. Focus on removing a couple things at a time. Only think about this diet for TODAY. And give yourself grace when you mess up.
Guys, I cannot explain to you how incredible it was when I realized yesterday I was living my little dream. I praise Jesus for this miracle and wish the same for you. If you have similar struggles, I would love to hear from you. Maybe I can somehow encourage you on your wellness journey. Feel free to write to me at naturalblessings2015@gmail.com
Thanks for reading. Blessings! <3
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