Creating Intrinsic Joy

I find myself at night lately contemplating the twists and turns and strange paths my life has taken. I wonder how I managed to make it through everything, why I had to go through it to begin with and how I still have managed to seek joy. I know the answers to these questions, but they run through my mind nonetheless. None of us are promised a pain free life. In fact, someone well known said that YES, we will have difficulty, we will face adversity, but it will be ok because the world has been overcome. Love is in control in the end. In my life that comes to my faith - I believe that I survived what I have and still have breath in my lungs and joy in my heart because my God has control and will change what was meant to cause harm into something beautiful and good. I also believe that nothing protects us from challenges in life. We will ALL have some of our own. The question is what will we do with them. Will we stagnate or blame others or other things for life being terrible? Or will...

This is what it feels like... Inside the Mind of a Chronically Ill Person Debating If They Should Post on Facebook

I've spent the last few months much like I usually do this time of the year, hibernating and introspecting. It's hard to deal with many people when I am going through this metamorphosis. I need the quiet and solitude in order to allow myself not only to grieve losses if necessary but also to get the fire inside hot enough for the Phoenix to rise from the ashes of what was and is no longer. Redefining yourself, your view of success and quality of life, and your goals and dreams isn't easy. It means analyzing what is really possible and accepting the reality that some things just cannot be. I have fought it in the past only to eventually crash and burn but have always risen out of it as that fiery bird... Phoenix... As I come out of my shell this week I am accepting there are things I cannot do: putting helping others before staying well myself, pushing constantly without real rest, pushing for huge goals instead of breaking it down into smaller pieces. Trading the great th...