Tag: Faith

Posted in Awareness

Happiness In Daily Meditation

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

If there is one thing common in all of us, it is the urge to be happy and have and enjoy a satisfied in life. Whether a crying baby, an insecure teenager, or a responsible family person, we all seek something that would comfort us especially when under stress.

But the question is: Are we looking for happiness in the right place?

A partner, a new home,car, fame,vacation, money, jewelry material things are nice but the won’t make you “happy”

It’s a quick fix that doesn’t last long.

Cars break down, Bills roll along and there goes the money, that dream vacation seemed like a lifetime ago.

The real source of happiness lies in the clarity of our thoughts.

External factors can only be pleasurable as long as we are happy from the inside.

According to Buddha, meditation trains the mind to “not dwell in the past or contemplate about the future.” It lets the mind settle in the ‘now’ and allows us to see the beauty of the present. Before you read on, here is a link to a 3 minute exercise to try.

It is a science-based, comprehensive exercises will not only help you cultivate a sense of inner peace throughout your daily life but will also give you the tools to enhance the mindfulness of your clients, students or employees.

mindfulness-exercises

You can download their free PDF here

Meditation establishes a secure connection between our internal and external worlds.

It awakens the body and benefits all aspects of the conscious and subconscious layers of the mind.

Out of the numerous perks that meditation gives, a few are listed below.

More Fitness

More Focus

More Happiness

More Peace

More Clarity

More Immunity and so many more benefits

To read more click on provided link PositivePsychology

Posted in Awareness

Make your own hand sanitizer

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

 

When it comes to preventing the spread of infectious diseases like colds , flu, and now COVID-19, nothing beats good old-fashioned hand washing. 

But if water and soap aren’t available, your next best option, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, is to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Unless you have a stockpile of store-bought hand sanitizer, you’ll likely have a hard time finding any at a store or online right now. Due to the rapid spread of t covid19 most retailers can’t keep up with the demand for hand sanitizer.

And you will find price gouging all over the internet and  SHAME on YOU that takes advantage of others !

The good news? All it takes is two-three ingredients to make your own hand sanitizer at home. Read on to find out how.

 

Making your own hand sanitizer is easy to do and only requires a few ingredients:

The key to making an effective, germ-busting hand sanitizer is to stick to a 2:1 proportion of alcohol to aloe vera. This keeps the alcohol content around 60 percent. This is the minimum amount needed to kill most germs, according to the CDCTrusted Source.

 

Hand sanitizer recipe

What you’ll need: 

  • 3/4 cup of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (90-99 percent)
  • 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel (to help keep your hands smooth and to counteract the harshness of alcohol) I like
    Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel Crystal Clear but as long as its pure aloe it should be good and should not cost more than 6 – 8 bucks for a 24 oz size
    isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (90-99 percent) costs 1-2 bucks
    optional for scent
  • 3 drops of essential oil, such as lavender oil, eucalyptus, orange or you can use lemon juice instead. Too much will dry out your skin.

Directions:

  • Pour all ingredients into a bowl, ideally one with a pouring spout like a glass measuring container.
  • Mix with a spoon and then beat with a whisk to turn the sanitizer into a gel.
  • Pour the ingredients into an empty bottle or spray bottles for easy use, and label it “hand sanitizer.”

Keep out of reach of children

The information provided on this site is opinion and entertainment only and is not ever intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.

You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.

Deb Andio

Posted in Awareness

What to do if you suddenly run out of energy-spoons when traveling

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

I love to travel but when I do, I know when I get home I will be wiped out by fatigue for sometimes 2-3-4 days.

This little mini trip was no exception.

Fatigue can often be described in various ways. Sometimes it is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical).

I had the privilege of going to Washington DC the last week of February 2020.

I participated in rare disease week, spoke on Capitol Hill seen so many historical places and also participated in a focus group.

It really was an amazing trip.

It was also exhausting.

I pushed my body to the limit, correction beyond my limit. I walked far too many steps than I was used to. But ya know what I did it, I made it sure it was tiring but I made it.

And I would do it all over again.

Of course I am paying the price now as I was literally exhausted for 3 days after I got back home.

But I enjoyed every minute of it.

A few things also caused me to use up a lot of my saved energy or spoons

Example: On the last night in Washington DC after I attended a focus group , I wanted to go on a bus tour for like an hour or 2, see some monuments at night but I was tired

I called the consiere who said the trolly picks you up at the hotel and brings you back to the hotel. I was sold and went on a night tour, we went to MLK monument, Jefferson,Back to Capitol at night, the White House , Korean War vet and Vietnam memorial, Lincoln monument, Arlington cemetery and lastly the Iwo Jima memorial, one of out lasts stops.

I was feeling great tired yes but invigorated from this tour, a woman younger than me also on the tour who had MS lost her balance when she was walking to the Iwo Jima memorial her cane went flying she fell, and as she was going down she tried to grab onto me and this caused me and a young man to also lose balance and so I fell, and he did to but he kind of rolled.

I however hit the ground so hard knee first I thought I shattered it.

All I did was pray dear GOD protect me , please don’t let this be the way my trip ends.

Thankfully this happened at the end of the tour. I felt pain and numbness but I also felt my knee swelling fast.

The tour bus dropped me off at the Capitol Hilton

I hobbled to my room after the tour starving, ordered room service cleaned my knee which by now was the size of a grapefruit .

I was hurting scared and a bit pissed off, should I go to the ER? Do I just wait when I get home tomorrow?

I called the George Washington Hospital and was told they are full of flu patients would have at least a 6 hour wait but I could come in.

I chose to wait.

I don’t think the woman on the tour meant to do that. It’s a natural reaction to reach out and stop from falling.

I think I was also so tired I just couldn’t keep myself from falling. That’s what pissed me off.

All my energy just went down the drain. I was hurt exhausted and I mean I was hurt.

I probably should have went to the ER

I chose to tough it out. Hobbled and got 2 buckets full of ice and made my own ice packs from zip lock bags wash cloth and hair scrunchie.

Oh I needed energy and was totally depleted but I had to dig deep and get moving for that ice.

All that great mojo was gone in an instant.

We cannot store up extra energy or “spoons” to use later unfortunately so sometimes we have a tendency to over do it when we feel good. And then when shit happens it’s exhausting.

Room service came with my leg propped up , so I ate and went to bed. The pain was so intense I was worried how the hell was going to make it through the airport the next day.

People see you are doing ok and this can lead them to assumptions – Some people thinking your suddenly well because you had a few good days .

People just don’t realize how much pain a person may be in because it’s an invisible disability.

People also don’t realize that a few goods days is exhausting.

And when you get hurt and you already suffer from chronic pain I swear it’s intensified 10 fold.

I’m usually a happy person and pain or no pain I am grateful that I am alive and can move.

That night I did all I could not to cry.

One thing pain has taught me is how to deal with pain.

I wish I didn’t have pain I hate it because pain is more than an occasional visitor in my body it’s more like a permanent unwelcome tenant.

Every time I feel a bit better something happens and the flipping pain is back all over again.

Most people have no idea what living with chronic pain is like.

I used to get offended when people would not recognize chronic joint pain as a disability.

I would love to see many of those who think that oh joint pain is no big deal do what I do in a day with the level of pain I have and still be as happy as I am.

Because I am happy, I just have to pace myself.

My life is all about pacing.

This is because everything I do cook, clean, sleep, walk, blog, travel, advocate,it all takes time. This gradual approach to every aspect of my life is not only about enlightenment or mindfulness.

It is about pain. Or more specifically, trying minimize it. Minimizing it is the key because I’ve learned it just can’t be avoided, at least not entirely, no matter my effort.

So take those spoons and energy and live your best life . You cannot store spoons but you can learn what to do when your spoons run out .

And remember rest even when your on vacation, eat well so you can be strong and hopefully you come home in the same shape as when you left.

It’s been a week since I’ve been home knee still swollen like a grapefruit

I did ho see my ortho and had xrays. I have a bad bone bruise and a lot of soft tissue swelling

It’s gonna take 4-6 at least I was told weeks and I hope it is back to where it was before the fall.

I’ll keep you updated

Please send positive vibes

Thanks

Deb

Also if you don’t know about spoon theory here is a good link

https://www.healthline.com/health/spoon-theory-chronic-illness-explained-like-never-before#1

Posted in Awareness

Giving Tuesday

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Today is GIVING TUESDAY and I want everyone to research a charity before just giving to one.

Some charities no longer seem to be running.

Example

The NONF – which I used to donate and be a member of

Since 2017 they haven’t filed a tax return so they are no longer active

So I won’t give there until they are active again.

So I now donate to

AF (Arthritis foundation) on occasion

St.Judes Children’s Hospital and

Shriners Hospital

Local Battered women’s shelter

Local rescue mission

To search for a charity in USA look it up here.

Type in a specific name or a partial name like Avascular Necrosis and Osteonecrosis and many will pull up but you will see many if not all are no longer available to donate to.

Look them up via irs or attorney general web sites.

Watch out for charities on social media – not all may be legit.

https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

We have made it through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Sofa Sunday Cyber Monday.

Today is the day to giveback!

Do a good deed

Donate to a cause or charity

But be a smart giver – Do your homework! Font get scammed

Make sure all websites you may want to donate to are secure and legit. https://

https is a must

Look out for fake charities posing as the real deal.

Example the United Way is legit but United Ways mmm nope. etc.

Watch out for social media requests

Giving Tuesday

Created in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y (a New York City cultural center), #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy.

According to the official Giving Tuesday website, it has over 30,000 partners in 68 different countries, and since its inception it has generated and estimated 470% increase in online donations on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

The Giving Tuesday Ask

Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more.

Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. “Join us and be a part of a global celebration of a new tradition of generosity.”

Celebrate Giving Tuesday

There are a number of official online and offline Giving Tuesday events scheduled, and you can join any one (or more!) of them.

Supporting a cause (or causes), can take many forms. It can of course mean cash gifts to organizations in your community, or in your marketspace.

Donations can also be goods and services, including excess inventory or business equipment and supplies.

You or your company can band together to collect donations of goods (like toys over Christmas, or canned goods for a food bank) for a local charity or shelter.

As an individual you can do many things if you don’t have the money, but note even 1 dollar can go a long way at a food bank.

Donate Time many don’t have money to donate and that’s ok. Donate your time instead. Help out at a food bank .

Volunteer in the Hospital be a baby cuddler

Serve food at a mission

Sit with a hospice patient so their family can have a break

Visit a nursing care facility

Volunteer doing something you love

If your a retired teacher help a struggling student.

Donate kindness – lord knows we have a kindness deficit -so many people today are so quick to throw shade and hate- Choose kindness

Be kinder to co-workers

Be kinder to the elderly

Hold open a door

Say please and thank you

Be a better human being

What ever you do give from your heart

Happy Giving Tuesday

Posted in awards,patient leader, Awareness

WEGOHealth Awards2019©

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Wow I am beyond honored I’ve now also been

Nominated for Patient Leader Hero- Healthcare Collaborator – Rookie of The Year and Best In Show Blog

img_3146

Endorsements Now Open If You Would Like to Vote (link below)

I have been nominated for the past few years in various categories

Thank You for considering Endorsing my nominations

It’s deeply appreciated

My Profile and Info WEGOHealth Link

Avascular Necrosis-Osteonecrosis Education

FlexitarianForLife

My Links

https://avascularnecrosiseducation.com/

www.ChronicallyGratefulDebla.com

https://www.facebook.com/AvascularNecrosisEducation/

https://flexitarianforlife.wordpress.com/

 

https://twitter.com/debbiea001

https://twitter.com/OsteonecrosisMe

https://www.instagram.com/chronicallygratefulme/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/deborah_andio/

https://www.facebook.com/ChronicallyGratefulDebla/

 

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Posted in Blessed, God, Life, Life Lessons, Madea, Trees, Wisdom

The Wise Words Of Madea

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

One of Madea’s comedy bits is about understanding relationships. Using the analogy of a trees, “Madea” says that some people are like leaves, some are like the branches on a tree and, then there are those friends who are our roots. Read this: Madea shares how to understand relationships.

Most people are like leaves.

When the wind blows they go to one side of the tree and then the wind blows the other way they are on the other side. They are totally unstable. All they do is take from the tree and only give shade. When the seasons change they wither and fall off the tree. But don’t be angry with them; this is who they are. God put them in your life just for a season.

Some people are like branches on the tree but watch out for them.

They make you think they are your friends but the minute you step out, they break and leave you.

Oh, but God bless  those folks who are the roots.

But find two or three people who are your roots. They are there to help you live and give stability to your life. A tree may have one thousand branches but just a few roots. Hold on to these people.

The lesson is to be able to let people and relationships go.

And learn how to be alone and first love yourself.  You cannot others until you learn to love yourself. you should learn to be at peace with yourself and others. Get rid of the dysfunction and let people go who continue to create drama and dysfunction in your life.

 

1. It’s okay to be depressed and cry for a minute, but don’t stay there too long. Get up and get on with your life. If somebody wants to walk out of your life, let them go. Whatever they are running after, they will see what they had but by then it’ll be too late.
2. Years down the road, you’ll be saying – WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?
3. Some people come into your life to teach you something.
4. Some people are like leaves, branches or the roots of the tree. Make sure you know who are the roots.
5. It won’t be easy, but it would get easier when you learn to love yourself.
6. People need to learn to be by themselves. How are you going to be someone else if you can’t be with yourself?
7. Only 2 places where you will have peace – the grave and your house. Make sure you have peace in your house.
8. This one’s my favorite – Some people come into your life for a lifetime, some come for a season. You’ve got to know which is which…

 

 

 

 

Tyler Perry says

I have this tree analogy when I think of people in my life, be it friends, family, acquaintances, employees, co-workers, whomever…They are all placed inside what I call my tree test. It goes like this:

LEAF PEOPLE
Some people come into your life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can’t depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone. You can’t be angry at them, it’s just who they are.

BRANCH PEOPLE
There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it’s possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it’s tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them. In most cases they can’t handle too much weight. But again, you can’t be mad with them, it’s just who they are.

ROOT PEOPLE
If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don’t let the world know that they are there. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up, come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you.

Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are few roots. Look at your own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? What are you in other people’s lives?

THANK GOD FOR THE ROOTS!

~ I fall, I rise. I make mistakes. I live, I learn. I’ve been hurt, but I’m alive. I’m human, I am not perfect, but I’m thankful.

Posted in Bible, Bone Health

Knowing a Loving God

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

To some the greatest question in life is , does God really exist?

To me my greatest question is do I know him and do enough to show thanks to my God for all he has done for me. Any all the blessings I have had in my life.

To me it’s the greatest subject ever and I love, learning about him , learning and understanding the word. I could listen to a good teacher / preacher talk about God and discuss the Bible all day.

Putting the teachings into my daily life has something I have tried  and worked on my entire life.  Of course I didn’t always do what was right, or when I thought I was doing right maybe I wasn’t.

I can honestly say I never hurt anyone intentionally. But still their are people that I have hurt in my life.

Sometimes what you think is the right thing at the time may not be.

But hopefully we learn from it.

I have come so far that I feel that God really does have my back and will never leave me. I didn’t always feel that way.

My first marriage was abusive and I questioned God often.

But I know it wasn’t his fault that I made the wrong choice. But thank God he stood by me and I survived it. And God was with me in 1985 when a doctor gave me the wrong medication and I was outside on a beautiful spring day and ended up with 2nd degree burns on a lot of my body.

I could have died, but I didn’t. Yes I suffered but I lived and with very faint scaring.

God was with me when I was pregnant with my daughter and was hit and kicked in the back and stomach.

Thankfully she lived and is healthy.

I had a terrible pregnancy so deathly sick every day with morning sickness for months and months. But I made it.

Many years ago I was taught that God is good and will never leave you , but when you are faced with trouble , grief, pain, despair , illness, temptation it challenges our faith.

And often we say we believe then in the next breath question or doubt him. I was this way off and on until I woke up one day. I felt the power of God many times in me and working in my life.

It seems like some blame God for being ill, or that he is punishing them. See this is not the God I know.

My God is always there. When I am sick I find strength in him.

When I am sad , he gives me hope.

When I am stressed he gives me peace.

I learned to trust in God as he will never let me down.

Knowing a Loving God- is getting in the word –reading it-learning it- believing it-

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV) this means John Chapter3 verse 16= John3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

All love comes from God.

He doesn’t expect us to be or live perfect. He never asks to get rid of your baggage before accepting us.

So if you’re a married man or woman ,divorced or single, the lonely, the poor the rich, the  adult or child ,student or in the workforce or non-believer he loves you. If your ill he loves you, if your dying he loves you,  if you’re a drunk or drug addict he loves you, a criminal he loves you. Understand he loves you just as you are  , right where you are. Nothing can or will change that ever.

When you call on him he won’t say…..well Debbie you didn’t make it to church 2 weeks in a row so no I won’t help you or be there. Or Deb remember how you were 35-40 years ago? Well have you really changed? You didn’t always do what was best…you thought you did but you were wrong so I probavle shouldn’t help you right now.

Or If a criminal or addict calls on him he won’t say well look at you call on me when you get yourself together.

He won’t tell the homeless man or woman call on me when you clean yourself up.

He won’t tell the mentally ill person wow off your meds again? Call on me when you get it together if you can get it together

God wants you right now , today and tomorrow ,just as you are right where you are and just as you are period. God loves us to much too ever leave us.

And when we talk to him he transforms us with grace and shows us the person we are , not the one we think we are. Even if we backslid he is there for us .

That is what John 3:16 means to me

 

But if we look at this is the Gospel the gospel come from the word EUANGELION

And in that word is Angel which means messenger

So the Gospel actually means ”The Good Message”

John 3:16

Outline

  1. The surpassing quality of Gods love – For God So loved the world the focus word is So its all the agonies, all the merci, it’s the truth that makes the devil tremble. So is the biggest little word.
  1. To prove the love – look at Luke 23:43

Luke 23:43 New International Version (NIV)

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”                     God gave his only begotten son for us- he was sent here to die for us-  just think about that .

In john 3:16 it also says whoever and that means everyone…..

 

  1. The special promise of God’s Love – Look at  Romans 10:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This means if we will not parish- no fear from death. I know a few people that are so afraid of dying. When you believe you are freed from being afraif of death or you should be . Some people go through life afraid of death. Hey I don’t want to die but I am not afraid of it.

Because I am saved by the grace of God.

You need to receive God’s gift of eternal life from our Lord. You see the word death in the Bible doesn’t mean the end- it means separation. So everyone you know will either eternally be in the presence of God or live in the absence of God.. When we die our spirit is separated from the body and the spirit goes to be with the Lord. You only get to go with God if you believe. So make the decision to receive that gift today right now.

Now should not perish means –it doesn’t mean to be annihilated.

2 Corinthians 5:8 New International Version (NIV)

8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

 

So all this is in one area of the Bible …..as I said I love learning and understanding the Bible.

And I wanted to share this with you .

 

If you want to know God and have him work in your life

We have to choose him and enjoy everlasting life please say this prayer with me.

 

Dear God, I admit I’ve sinned and fallen short of your glory.  I realize the penalty for my sin is death, and I believe it was paid by the blood of your only son Jesus Christ.  I’m willing to repent of my sins, and I now confess Christ as my Savior and make Him the Lord of my life. Lead me to understand your word and be with me always . Thank You Lord  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

If you have just said that prayer you have become saved – born again and welcome to the family. May I suggest that you reach out to a good bible based church , if you have the ability to get a bible start to read it. God Bless You

John316

Posted in Awareness, Blessed, Faith, God, Grateful, Gratitude

~My Tools For Life~

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Tools for Life

Living by Faith When Your Body Hurts or When You Are Stressed To The Max

When we have chronic stress it can bring on chronic illness and also make our pain worse.

The pain people feel with chronic conditions or chronic pain can make us feel isolated and sometimes helpless, especially if its cause is an illness or physical condition for which there’s no cure or really any effective medical treatment. Chronic stress also can be debilitating.

It seems that in times of despair, that’s when we have to keep finding ways to nurture our spirit, to help us not only cope with the pain, and worry but also discover moments of peace and at times grace so it can allow us to move us through and beyond the helplessness and hopelessness we may feel.

Here are a few life tools that can help you get started toward more peace in spite of and in the midst of pain , worry and stress.

1. We have to just breathe

The act of breathing is not only a physical process, but it can also be a tool to cope with pain and worry .

Go to a quiet place, breathe in slowly and deeply, then let the breath out, expelling stress and pain with it. You will feel the sharpness of the pain start to subside as relaxation and calmness move in its place.

I have used this for physical pain, emotional pain. I do this as I pray.

I give it all to God .

I do think for a few breaths in and out and then I just sit in quiet and thank God for helping me , removing any pain or worry I may have.

2. Place some music

Put on your favorite piece of music – instrumental or vocal – sit back, and close your eyes. Let the music carry you away from your immediate pain to a place of calm.

3. Take a walk or go out into nature

Pain can be son isolating and make us feel alone. Enjoy the outdoors, a glance outside at a garden, a quiet moment surrounded by flowers or trees or ocean any of these things can renew our senses. It will make you see you are part of this big beautiful world God created. Be grateful.

4. Laugh more

When have you laughed your ass off? Has it been that long ago? Put in a good comedy. And it will release tension from your entire body.

5. Never give up or lose hope

Each day, there are new advances in medicine and in therapies to ease pain, inside and out. New cures are on the horizon.

In closing I don’t ever want you to pray and then as soon as your finished worry about it.

When you pray give it to God.

Allow him to work in your life.

Trust in him.

Posted in Bible, Faith

Are You Walking With God

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

I have always been a believer and sure like everyone else there were times in my life I questioned things.

But I always knew in my heart God was in my heart and my creator .

I will never be perfect only God is perfect but I have tried to walk with God , I still need some work.

Because again I am not perfect.

Are you walking with God ?

When you come to the end of your life what do you want to be remembered for?

Your kindness -your love -your generosity-your wisdom – your skills-your faithfulness to God

Or do you want to be remembered as a hateful selfish angry person who has so much stinginess and greed in their heart

I want to be remembered by my walk with God

It means – to keep him in the center of our thinking- in every thing we do- and think – our relationships and plans and finances in every area of our life.

Try not to allow sin to temp you. And trust me it will , it will tempt to the point that you will convince yourself sin is ok.

You are persuading yourself to do the wrong thing.

Defeat the devil and sin before he defeats you.

Genesis 5: 21-24

I think when they talk about years it means seasons.

Temptation is all around us, as even Jesus was tempted in the desert, so Christians can protect themselves against stumbling in their walk through memorizing Scriptures about temptation.

Luke 22:40

On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

When we are going through problems, grief, sadness, illness, addiction job loss, loneliness god will carry us through. We just have to get in our bible and pray. He will show you the path.

To walk with Hod we must do the following

1. Accept Jesus as our personal savior

2. We must learn to pray and listen to God. Pray is essential he will show you things.

3. We have to Trust him. If you don’t trust in the Lord you can’t walk with the Lord. Look at Proverbs 3:5-6

4. Agree with him. Have u ever disagreed with God? Of course we have we have to stop that.

5. We have to agree with God and Obey him. Obedience is essential. Stop making excuses and try it. Partial obedience is actually disobedience. Wake up every day and surrender your life to god and obey him. It’s easy to say your walking with god but are you really?

6. Walk in the same direction as god wants you – that’s where we pray and everyday get up and say thank you god for this day and help me walk with you.

7. You can’t have all your old friends and walk with God. Some people are not really your friends

8. Stay in step with God- you can’t get ahead of God you use your Bible as your compass. Instep means God and you are together.

9. It’s not easy to live a Godly life but it’s the best way to walk.

10. Listening and thinking about God are not the same thing. As a parent you teach your kids to listen to you. So you are safe. God knows what’s best,you can trust him in everything things will happen in his timing. Please try this.

11. We have to live God – if we live him we will wait on his timing and we will obey him.

12. Forsake sin- keep your heart clean all the time. Stop having sex if you can not afford to have possible children. Stop doing drugs that are illegal or not meant for you. Stop questioning God. You can’t have sin and holiness at the same time. God knows we are not perfect but we have to try to be the best person we can be.

13.Follow the simple steps and don’t forget to talk to god right before you go to sleep.

14.This is walking with God. Ask God to show you what he wants for you. Start stopping all the sin in your life. Go back a few years ago to when you heart was pure and with God. Get back on that path.

I want to be remembered as a woman who helped people and who loved and walked with God.

God will never leave his sons and daughters.

One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:

one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him

he looked back, at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of his life

there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:

“LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you,

you’d walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life

there is only one set of footprints.

I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The LORD replied:

“My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you,

During your times of trial and suffering,

when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Posted in Ahlbacks Disease, Avascular Necrosis, Awareness, Bone Health, Chronic Pain, Factor V Leiden, Inflammation, Osteonecrosis, Pain, Rare Disease Day, RareDisease, SONK, SPONK, The Mighty, Uncategorized, WegoHealth

Rare Disease Day Is Today

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Rare Disease Day 28 February 2018

#ShowYourRare

#AvascularNecrosis

#Osteonecrosis

#RareDiseaseDay

Debbie in TheMighty2016

https://themighty.com/2016/07/receiving-an-osteonecrosis-diagnosis-what-to-know/

http://www.ChronicallyGratefulDebla.com

Posted in Ahlbacks Disease, Ancestry, Arthritis, Awareness, Blessed, Bone Health, Chronic Pain, Coping with Stress, Diagnosed, God, Life, Mindfulness, Opinions, Positivity, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Vision

Walking With God

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Make sure you are doing what is important to God—not just what is important to everyone else you know.

We gave a tendency to worry more about what other people think vs what God thinks

From an early age we work to get the approval from others,whether it was proving to our parents that we could ride a bike without training wheels, or struggling to get that C to an A.

Through the years it can become a problem for us as it can cripple us emotionally and spiritually.

We need to get to the point where we don’t care what the media says, how colleagues feel about us, or live in state of constant fear or agony of what others think.

The other person is not going to worry about it, or stay awake at night upset that you’re offended. You can’t be responsible for other people’s words, actions, or decisions as hurtful as they can be.

We all want to be congratulated for a job well-done from even acquaintances, but what happens when they don’t, or you are not acknowledged in some way.

Some think it’s painful not to always be told great job ….. for me personally I learned a long time ago you can’t please everyone and more often it’s our family and friends that seem to be the most critical.

They always feel the need to judge you in some way.

But learn to regroup, refocus, and rise above petty people, sin, and caring what others think of you.

They don’t really know your story, but Christ does.

So, where do we begin and do we need to take ownership?

Look if you are working hard doing or trying to do the right thing , being a good citizen, being kind, respectful to all people. And taking good care of yourself . Be proud of yourself and always strive to do better. But realize you will never please everyone.

Maybe just don’t worry so much about those critical people in your life and certainly lose those who are bad for you. You know those few co workers or friends that egg you on to do shit that you know is wrong or unproductive or unprofessional.

It’s really better to mind your own business and focus on work or school verses having to be someone your not.

In Philippians 4:6-7, we are told to relax, and go to God for relief and strength. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our minds can dictate our feelings and vice-versa, so every time we are worried about what others think switch to a scripture, prayer or praise.

You can say “I trust the God not my feelings.”

Add your name to a scripture. It can really personalize it and help you grow closer to the Lord.

1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your [insert your name] anxieties on Him, because He cares for you [insert your name].”

Worrying about what others think is human, but when it’s to a point where our joy is being choked, then we need to become proactive, not reactive.

Take people out of your courtroom of justice, and offer them to God, and also humble yourself.  It’s simply not worth it for your health, or hindering your walk

Posted in Arthritis, Avascular Necrosis, Awareness, Blessed, Bone Health, BreakThroughCrew, Cardiovascular, Chronic Pain, Coping with Stress, Diagnosed, Eat Healthy, Energy, exercise, Factor V Leiden, Food Is Thy Medicine, Heart Disease, Hypothyroidism, Inflammation, Life, Mindfulness, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Positivity, SONK, StopTheClot, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Vision, Weather, WegoHealth, Winter, Women

1 year ago I decided to take my health back

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

Happy Anniversary To My Health….

I was always pretty healthy ….until I wasn’t.

I gained weight , injured my knee gained more weight was diagnosed with one thing after another and it was really exhausting.

First osteoarthritis and hypothyroidism at age 45

They torn meniscus age 51

Then thanks to the meniscus tear Osteonecrosis set in my knee….

Then she 53 diagnosed officially with spondylolisthesis and a bilateral pars fracture

I had the spondylolisthesis before but my former PCP never told me I had it. But I seen it on an old Mri.

The pain every where was exhausting and some days it still is.

But I decided the heck with all these doctors and I decided to eat mostly plant based but I do still eat chicken fish or turkey now and then and rarely beef.

I ride my recumbent bike 2x a day and I walk when I can. And some days even when I should rest I go walk anyway.

Today’s pictures and videos are from my morning walk : and it’s also one year ago I quit smoking……so it’s a great day !

Pain or no pain I’m not going to just sit around.

Sitting is death

Moving is life

And ya know after I’m done I feel so much better.

1 year since I’ve quit smoking after being a smoker for 40 years. My lungs are feel better my walking speed has improved my distance has improved

1 year since I started eating a healthy mostly plant based but I’m not a vegan and it’s good clean healthy real colorful food . I am using food as medicine in a way to fight pain and inflammation . Now sure I eat a cookie or 2 now and then just not every day. And all my other choices are good so I don’t deprive myself of a treat now and then.

And for having Osteonecrosis,Osteoarthritis, Spondylolisthesis with a bilateral pats fracture in my L5 S1 I feel pretty darn good today even in this cold weather.

Just need to drop some weight one step and one day at a time.

I have taken my life back and no one is going to stop me !

Tomorrow I may be in pain and that’s ok. I can accept that but as long as I know I am doing all I can to combat my pain and keep my body moving and providing it with the best nutrients possible(most of the time)

It’s a win win for me ,one day at a time !

Keep your meds , keep your cigarettes keep your junk fast food.

Body Heal Thy Self

Posted in Arthritis, Avascular Necrosis, Awareness, Blessed, Bone Health, Cardiovascular, Chronic Pain, Diagnosed, Disclaimer, Eat Healthy, Factor V Leiden, Flush not Blush, Food, Homemade Syrups,Tinctures,Rubs, Inflammation, Life, Meditation, Mindfulness, OA, osteoarthritis, Osteonecrosis, Pain, Positivity, Rosacea, Stem Cell, StopTheClot, Support Group, Hope, Uncategorized, Vegetables, Vision, WegoHealth

I Am A Patient Leader to Help and Empower Others ~ WEGOHealth Awards 2017

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

 I would really appreciate your vote. Please read my story and why I became a patient leader and advocate. ThankYou.

I am so excited to announce that I have been nominated for several of the WEGO Health Awards in the

6th

Annual WEGO Health Awards.

WEGO Health is a mission driven company connecting healthcare with the experience, skills, and insights of patient leaders. They are the world’s largest network of patient leaders, working across virtually all health conditions and topics.

Click link below to learn more about their

Patient Leader Network.

https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/12801

The WEGO Health Awards were created to celebrate those who tirelessly support the mission of WEGO Health: to empower the patient voice.

With 16 award categories, the WEGO Health Awards are the only awards across all conditions and platforms, that recognize the over 100,000 yep one hundred thousand inspiring Patient Leaders who raise awareness, share information, and support their communities but often without recognition.

I was diagnosed with osteonecrosis also known as avascular necrosis in late 2014. I was told it was due to the trauma I suffered to my knee(medial meniscus tear)

I remember how I felt, I remember how afraid I was and also a feeling of hopelessness.

If doctors couldn’t help or fix me or even try what was I to do.

I never want anyone to feel that way starving for answers to questions about a new diagnosis and no place to go and no one willing to take the time to explain your new diagnosis. I new others had to be feeling the same way as I was and what an awful feeling that was . Sure I have support from my family but they don’t really understand the pain no one can unless you have it.

So I started the support group Avascular Necrosis/Osteonecrosis Support Int’l to be a safe haven if you will, for anyone that suffers from the disease. On occasion we also allow a family member in the group if the member is comfortable with that so they can also see how this disease/disorder effects people, so they can learn from awareness and education, to have an idea just the type of pain their family member has.

The physical and psychological effects can be debilitating and isolating. Especially when you have what I refer to as a flare up of pain. You can’t plan to go to that wedding next month, you don’t know how you’ll feel in an hour.

The pain can be constant day and night pain or come at any time out of nowhere or in waves and they’re quite perturbing. It’s like a hot lightning bolt and a sledge hammer hitting you at the same time and it can be shocking to those around you,because you end up maybe screaming or yelling,sometimes swearing or just overall mood change because the pain is so intense words truly cannot describe. Some words are hot stabbing shooting debilitating and yet frozen , tourniquet like cutting off your blood supply cold pain that’s what we feel.

Its not just the pain that affects us , but also the sadness or depression that can often come with it. When we think about the future and pain gets in the way of all our plans expectations, it’s a bit shattering.

Everything seems to sort of fall apart and right now you can see only the broken image of the new you .

It’s like looking in a shattered mirror all these different fragments that no longer make you whole.

My life became very fragmented and it was a moment to moment thing because I didn’t know how I would make it through that particular day or make it through what’s going to happen tomorrow. When I was first diagnosed my mind was all over the place.

I’m not terminal but I felt like I was , because my life as I once knew it was done…over.

No doctor I saw had any plan of action to help me in fact I was told we will wait until the joint collapses then replace the knee . Talk about mind blowing!

Osteonecrosis took my career in optical which I loved. It took my hiking in the woods away which I enjoyed. It limits me which I hate. But it’s also given me a new purpose and that is spreading awareness, discussing new treatments, the chance to educate , and reaching out to others. I am a patient leader and activist. Making the invisible, visible

If you allow it, the pain and mental shit you go through when you live in pain and with a rare disorder to boot whether it’s constant or sporadic it can be toxic to the mind and soul sucking.

God forbid don’t ask for pain meds.

When I was first diagnosed my first Ortho said the pain will get intense as if it wasn’t already but I don’t give pain meds. I wondered how bad will it get? I’m already in such pain I can barely stand it. Thankfully my family doctor gave me some pain medicine.

It helped but I don’t want to take it. I’d much rather find out how to fix me.

I’m not some junkie looking for a fix, hell I don’t even want to be at a doctors office.

I would much rather be working or frankly doing anything but sitting in a doctors office.

There is so much stigma that goes along with having chronic pain .

The generalization that everyone is claiming they are in pain just to get drugs is unfair and incorrect, and I think we have to be very careful because pain for most of us is invisible,to others.

When we are out of balance mind ,body , and spirit it makes it so hard to focus.

It makes anything and everything worse.

So we have to change our mind set,respect and do what we can to help our body,and interact with others.

Usually I think people will find that in a support group even if they don’t talk they can listen to people who have the similar experiences, frustrations , challenges,pain, treatments or lack of treatment availability or just simple acknowledgement of I know what your going through, many days is a great help.

And it’s very hard to find that outside a support group.

I never insist a new member speak unless they want to. Some are just so devastated by the diagnosis that they have no words. When I see a new member especially a newly diagnosed one, my heart just knows how much fear they have and how afraid they are. I always let them know that can say anything here and it will remain here. But if they are not ready that’s fine to.

I also offer to send them a copy of a booklet I wrote about avn/on.

I know later their words will come. Right now they need to know they are not alone.

I also raise awareness by several

FB pages

Instagram

Twitter

Personal Blog on word press and blogger

Chronicallygratefuldebla.com

That’s why I am a patient leader and activist.

Here is the link to my WegoHealth profile.

I would appreciate your vote.

You can vote daily up until September 1, 2017.

Here is link

https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/12801

Thank you

Current Nominations in The 6th annual WEGO Health Awards

#WEGOHealthAwards

#PatientLeader

Please share this if you would be so kind.

Social Footprint

https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/12801

chronicallygratefuldebla.wordpress.com

facebook.com/debbie.briglovichandio

youtube.com/user/debbieandio

twitter.com/debbiea001

instagram.com/debbiea_1962

facebook.com/groups/deadbonediseaseavn

facebook.com/chronicallygrateful.me

facebook.com/avascularnecrosisrarediseasedayfeb29

facebook.com/osteonecrosis-avascular-necrosis-support-913679995417381

facebook.com/onavascular-necrosis-knowledge-752404224891578

facebook.com/yummygoodness

twitter.com/osteonecrosisme

facebook.com/chronicallygrateful.me

facebook.com/morningtalk.health

blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4338585393508080811

www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/487444359646285508/

What is osteonecrosis?  The term literally means bone death -osteo =bone necrosis=death.

Posted in Arthritis, AtomicBlonde, Avascular Necrosis, Awareness, Bone Health, Chronic Pain, Diagnosed, Disclaimer, Factor V Leiden, Flush not Blush, Happiness, Inflammation, Life, Meditation, Mindfulness, OA, Osteonecrosis, Positivity, Rosacea, Stem Cell, Support Group, Hope, Uncategorized, WegoHealth

From Optometric Tech /Optician To Professional Patient & Patient Leader

Posted on by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

If you have a chronic condition or illness you may already know and understand what it feels like to be a professional patient.

Between the physical pain and symptoms and emotional symptoms, the constant doctor appointments in search of that one person knowledgeable enough to help vs refer you to yet someone else and the numerous tests and procedures (not to mention having to keeping track of all of it & all the bills that go with it ) having a chronic condition can become a full-time job and to be honest it’s more exhausting than a good day’s work.

Speaking of work.
You may find yourself needing to cut back on hours at work , go to part time or stop working altogether.

Although this may be a necessity for you and your health, other people don’t always understand why you’re not working.
They may have these crazy misconceptions that you’re now somehow slower , lazy on vacation or lucky not to have to go to work .

Those of us with chronic conditions know, this is so wrong .
And we need to say this for those who don’t understand what we feel or go through. Maybe then people will be less judgmental.

So here is what most people don’t know or understand about not working due to chronic condition or illness.

I personally would much rather be at work.
People look so surprised when I tell them that, some act as if I’m off on some luxurious vacation.
They have no idea that I’m probably home.

So yes, I’d rather be at work because being at work means I’m healthy again.

Logically I know that one good day doesn’t mean I have to ability to hold my full time job again , but its nice to hope I will be back to work someday.

I wish people knew how much I miss my job. I stayed far longer than I should have and probably did more damage to my knee than I needed to, because it was such an important part of my life.

I lost 90 percent of my social life when I left my career and now being at home mostly all day every day is incredibly isolating, not to mention how guilty you feel not doing your part. Every day I hope that I’ll be able to work again someday soon , there are only so many episodes of a tv show a person can watch , I am writing a book and I do take classes.

Being on disability and trying to get the best treatment is a full-time job.
I fill out paperwork constantly new doctors , more questions than answers.

Researching new treatments and the cost only to find great new Like about stem cell injections helping my Osteonecrosis but then being let down seeing that it’s 5-10k and never covered by insurance.

Then the frustration and sadness sets in because I live in America and I paid into Medicare and my share of taxes. And yet the government continues to hold up proven treatment that could help tens of thousands and yet some countries allow the cost of stem cells for their patients.

I also think many people see me and because I wear a little makeup and curl my hair, I think she doesn’t look disabled or ill. They don’t see me on the days I can barely move .
The days I need help going to the store because it gets so cold in the winter here in Ohio I am literally like concrete and in a great deal of pain.
Thank God Giant Eagle grocery store has a new shop for you curbside express.
You will be utilizing it this winter.

I try to be positive even when I’m in pain. I have a disease that is called Osteonecrosis due to trauma to the bone which has left me with a lack of blood supply to the knee.If you don’t have AVN/ON you won’t ever understand my pain.
I also have Spondylolisthesis L5S1 spine issues.
And Osteoarthritis another painful bone condition then add Spondylolisthesis,Hypothyroidism and Rosacea to the mix

Even though I get disability I do feel guilt now and then. I feel like I’m not contributing financially to my marriage and to be honest I miss working and making my own money.

My husband reminds me that he loves me and I would be doing the same for him if it were reversed and he’s right.

Being home all the time can be really lonely. If I had the energy and the physical stamina to be out and work, everyday life would be more fun again.

The isolation from limited human interaction is challenging so I started to take a few classes here or there, attend a seminar for this or that and meet new people. I’m going to be a health coach.

I find things to keep me and my mind busy.
I have a support group for Osteonecrosis.

I find that the spondylolisthesis is the more st painful of the few conditions I have, and the pain from Osteonecrosis is being managed mostly but it has its flares.

Osteoarthritis the stiffness is really indescribable.

But I make my own pain rubs and herbal remedies you can find many in this blog. But more will be in my book.

I became a patient leader and advocate.
I wrote a booklet about the Avascular Necrosis/Osteonecrosis
And I blog and I’m writing a regular ebook and it should be completed by the end of the year.
link to blog ChronicallyGratefulDebla.com

I would love to find a decent work from home job.

Trust me, I would love to hold down a regular job in the optical field again.

No one realizes that a job does more for you than just pay your bills. It is part of what gives you self-esteem.

People always want you to be there for them, but are they ever there for you? Most of the time no.

I’m bored out of my absolute mind. I loved working and until my pain got bad, my job actually took my mind off it for the most part.

So next time you see your friend or family member that’s on disability don’t envy them.

Maybe remember to call them a little more often.

And let’s hope someday the government will help people get their life back by adding stem cell injections to all forums of insurance.