2015 Had Many Challenges But I End The Year With Joy And Gratitude

Me with two of my grand boys at Christmas.

Boy, What a Year

Ah, the last day of the year. A month ago I would have said, “hooray, let’s get this one over with.” But I end the year with joy and gratitude. Let me explain.

I started the year learning the tango in Buenos Aires and cooking in Rio de Janeiro. What a wonderful beginning to the year. I then returned in February to do several medical procedures that were going to improve my life.

No matter how many vitamins we take, no matter how much we exercise, no matter how good a diet we have – shit happens. In my case, I had a surgery to fix a Morton’s neuroma in my foot so that I could run again. It didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped, to put it mildly (but that’s an entire blog post in itself). Then I had 2 cataract surgeries that gave me excellent vision until one of my retina’s tore which required a fun laser procedure to tack it back up. Finally, several mysterious freckles showed up which required skin biopsies.

By now I’m thinking that 2015 is not a banner year. How embarrassing for someone who writes a health blog. How did this happen to me? I eat well, work out regularly, take healthful tinctures and critical supplements every day. I was feeling pretty down - thinking that perhaps at 67 you are just supposed to fall apart no matter what. But something interesting happened to me.

While I was waiting for my biopsy results, I had this very long discussion with the universe. At the end, I made a promise that if the results were negative, I would stop sweating the small stuff. I would be more positive about life and not let things upset me. I would spend more of my time doing things that fed my soul. In short, I made the decision to be happier and more joyful.

Now you have to understand a little about me to know what a big deal this was. My mother, bless her soul, was extremely accomplished and I have the utmost respect for her. But she was not often joyful. She worried about and anticipated a negative outcome for just about everything. Were she alive today, she would be worried that ISIS would invade New Rochelle. A lifetime of these negative tapes are hard to erase and many of them rubbed off on me. Not that I was a grumpy bear, but I was quick to dwell a bit on the negative. But after getting the negative biopsy report I was hoping for, I decided to erase those tapes, as best I could. 

I made the decision to choose joy and to embrace gratitude. Yes, it turns out, it’s a decision. I’m not saying that it always works but it works a lot more when you’ve made the decision. Try it!

I am Filled with Joy and Gratitude

So as I sit here today, the last day of the year, soaking my New Year’s black-eyed peas, reflecting back on 2015, I am filled with joy and gratitude. 

I am grateful that I survived my health issues and I end the year healthy and fit.

I am grateful that I will continue my journey to discover how food, herbs, and lifestyle can lead to a healthier life and that I get to share what I learn with you.

I am grateful that I have a wonderful husband, family and good friends.

I am grateful that I live in California (I need not explain.)

I am grateful that I got to spend the holidays with my kids, grandkids, and got to watch Star Wars in 3D at an IMAX theatre. 

I’m grateful that I could fly in and out of Minneapolis at Christmas without having my flights cancelled or delayed due to snow.

I am grateful for you and your interest in my work. This provides me the inspiration to continue.

My Best Wishes to You

As you reflect the past year, I hope you celebrate the good things that have happened in your life. And I hope the challenging things you may have experienced have made you stronger. Most of all, I hope you have many interesting and joyful things to look forward to in 2016 and people you love to share them with. 

Happy New Year and I’ll see you next year!

Joanne