Fall In Love

“Fall in love with someone who wants you, who waits for you, who understands you. Someone who helps you, and guides you, someone who is your support, your hope. Fall in love with someone who talks with you after a fight. Fall in love with someone who misses you and wants to be with you. Do not fall in love only with a body or with a face; or with the idea of being in love.” –Unknown Quote Origins

Brave Enough To Be Angry

This is incredibly well-written. It also triggered some memories for me that I knew might surface eventually. With many of my close friends coming to me with their stories, which range from offensive to disturbing and terrifying, I find myself a lot quieter.

The other day I was viciously attacked by two women, absolute strangers, for having a definitive opinion about someone/something. These people do not know me, they don’t know where I come from or what I have been through, but like so much on social media; people love to attack from behind a device. They feel safe in saying ugly things because you don’t live next door to them, or across the street. I find that cowardly. I actually expect that from most men (Not all, just most. There was a HUGE argument the other night when some douche bag attacked my cousin on social media. Instead of keeping the horrors of what occurred in Texas to a civilized discussion, and just discussing the facts, which is exactly what was happening until this guy took a cheap shot, an ugly low blow, and then deleted it, like a punk. I wanted to punch him in the face. You can say a lot of things to or about me, but you’ll never say I’m disloyal or that I don’t have your back. In fact, my cousin immediately texted me to say “Thank you for having my back in that discussion.”), but women should know better. I wish we, as women, judged less and respected more. However, we don’t. We collectively preach certain things, but so many do not practice what they preach. I’m not perfect. I can judge without realizing I’m doing it. I’ve often looked at it as intuition, as opposed to making a judgment call, especially when I end up being right.

Yes, women are a force. I wish all of us stood for the same things and truly understood the bonds of sisterhood.

 

Doctors Soak Up Profits With Drug Tests

https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2017/11/6/zj8hhgroy36lfd9m0t3v2xnq7zvl18

I am the Administrator for a small pain group on Facebook. Many of the members have been telling me about this over the past year or so, and it was disgusting to hear each person tell a similar story. Or tell me they’re drug tested twice a year, and paying $3500 for the “privilege”!

When I first met with my current primary care physician, I noticed a pain contract in her office and every restroom was fully stocked for drug tests. It was an immediate turn-off, and her behavior towards me didn’t help matters.

At one appointment I watched a woman pull out roughly twenty prescriptions for the doctor to count the pills. I don’t know about most of you, but I’m extremely careful, and mindful, when I have a controlled substance on my person. I worry about theft, or simply being accused, or arrested for possession, as there are certainly people in this world who are selling their medication. I only take one controlled substance, and it isn’t for pain, but I make sure there are only 4-6 in the prescription bottle if I’m going out. If I’ve just picked it up, I put it in my bag and go straight home.

After receiving little-to-no treatment from this physician since April, I will be leaving to consult with someone further away. I genuinely hope this doctor will be able to help me, without treating me like an addict for suffering from chronic pain. I don’t have anything to hide, but monthly drug testing is, genuinely, taking advantage of the system. Drug test people if you suspect addiction issues, or because it is required by law, otherwise I expect to be treated like a patient.

The only things I’m addicted to are Polar seltzer, hummus, dark chocolate, and warm socks. Yeah, drug test me yesterday!

Sometimes You Have To Lose To Win…

“Life sure can hit you hard! Suddenly, when you least expect it, WHAM; life has a knack for challenging you in ways that you don’t feel prepared for. I feel like life sometimes tests and shapes you in a manner in which you feel least equipped. It seems you don’t get to choose the exercise equipment God challenges and builds your strength with.

When this is happening, it’s easy to drop into a victim mindset. It’s easy to feel stuck, defeated, and like you are a losing player in the game of life. This victim mindset argues (very loudly) that we have lost; that nothing good is on the horizon. Never forget that the volume of an argument does not reflect the validity of the argument. Just because the victim mentality argues that we are losing, doesn’t mean that it’s true. In fact, I have come to realize that during the times in my life where I thought I was losing, I was actually winning.

An empowered perspective helps me see that I can only get stronger when working against resistance. It is when I struggle that I strengthen. It is when challenged to my core that I learn the depth of who I am. It is when we feel broken that we can become experts at mending.

I am who I am because the tears of my past have watered the magnificence of my present. It is from my broken hearts that I learned the measure and power of true love. Every job I was denied for… opened the door to new opportunities. Every relationship that hurt me… led me to my true love. Every mistake I thought would be the end of me… pointed me towards an incredible success. Sometimes when you think you’re losing, you’re winning.”

Steve Maraboli