Today’s quote is from an anonymous reader of my blog who wrote me shortly after Bloomin’ Uterus came to be. She simply emailed me one day:
“Endo is such a stupid disease, but your image symbol for endo gives it so much more meaning to me. I am a woman. I have an invisible illness, I still have value, and I am still beautiful!”
I’ve shared this in the past. But why am I sharing it again today? Because today is special. Today is the third year, to the DAY, that I received my Endometriosis diagnosis.
Well, it’s been an extremely busy week for me; sorry I haven’t done much blogging. BUT it’s Friday! Another week is passed.
Today’s quote was provided to me by my Mum, and is from Mahatma Gandhi:
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
Whether it be helping a friend through a hard time, sparking up a conversation with a stranger, helping out with a non-profit, volunteering at an animal shelter, reaching out to those in need, or even something as grand as writing your Congressman ~ the action doesn’t have to be momentous to make a difference.
Have a wonderful weekend. And go shake the world a bit…
What a week. So much tragedy in the news: explosions, shootings, fires…so much death and despair. Well, it’s Friday – so let’s turn end it on a positive note; shall we? I couldn’t decide on one quote today, so I’m sharing a few with you.
“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
“A person’s tragedy does not make up their entire life. A story carves deep grooves into our brains each time we tell it. But we aren’t one story. We can change our stories. We can write our own.” ― Amy Poehler
“All I could think about as I stood there was that sometimes life gave you a tragedy that burned everything you knew to the ground and changed you completely. But somehow, if you really wanted to, you could learn how to hold your breath as you made your way through the smoke left in its wake and you could keep going. And sometimes, sometimes, you could grow something beautiful from the ashes that were left behind. If you were lucky.” ― Mariana Zapata, Wait for It
I hope you have an incredible weekend. Spent some time with friends and loved ones.
Blogs I’ve Updated This Week:
C-Sections and Endometriosis – added a new study from the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada who developed a mass in her c-section scar.
Ongoing Research Studies re: Endometriosis – updated new studies (and deleted completed studies) around the globe that YOU may be able to participate in to further research for Endometriosis.
And it is! Boring adventures, fun adventures, adventurous adventures! But adventures, nonetheless! If you can’t squeeze a wondrous new adventure in every day – try to at least once a week….or once a month. Have fun! Learn new things. Go exploring! Help a friend. Read a book. Step outside your comfort zone…ADVENTURE!!!!
Have a glorious weekend – and may it be filled with some sort of wonder.
❤ Lisa
Blogs I’ve updated this week:
C-Sections & Endometriosis – added a case study of a 37-year-old woman who developed a painful, leaking lump in her cesarean scar, published in the Feb. 2017 edition of Case Reports in Obstetrics & Gynecology
Endometriosis & The Lungs – added a case study of a 20-year-old who woman continued to cough up blood every month when she wasn’t on birth control pills, published in 2017 by The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.
Endometriosis On Your Skin – added a case study of a 30-year-old woman who developed painful, bleeding bumps in her belly button after stopping Depo Provera, published in the May 2017 edition of Journal of Rare Disorders: Diagnosis & Therapy.
Support Group – updated to reflect our June 22, 2017 support group meeting
It’s FRIDAY! Even better yet – It’s National Donut Day! 🙂 I hope you’re all reading this with a donut in hand.
Growing up, I loved Pooh. I still do…so today’s quote is from the series written by A.A. Milne:
“What day is it?” It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. My favorite day,” said Pooh.”
I feel like every day should truly be an adventure. A special day. A favorite day! Try to do something nice for yourself, or others, every day – it doesn’t have to be a huge thing…just something small. Possibly as simple as a smile.
Learn a new skill. Or call up an old friend or family member you haven’t spoken with in a while. Hold the door open for someone. Sing in the car cruisin’ down the highway. Try new foods. Visit an animal shelter and pet all the critters. Love yourself.
Today’s quote is from an illustrator named by Pablo:
“Never underestimate the difference YOU can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help. This week reach to someone that might need a lift”
It goes hand-in-hand with my webinar this week, as well as how I try to live my life daily. Reach out any way that you can to whomever may need it. And if you truly feel that you have nothing to give, offer at least your ear or your shoulder. Sometimes that’s all someone may really need.
Have a wonderful and safe weekend!
❤ Lisa
BLOGS I’VE UPDATED THIS WEEK:
Kenya: Endometriosis Care & Support – added several new resources for women in Kenya looking for further information about Endometriosis or searching for support groups.
Endometriosis & The Lungs – added 2017 case studies from ATS Journals that were discussed at a 2017 conference including a 47-year-old woman found to have Endometriosis on her pleural lining, a 31-year-old woman who suffered a collapsed lung from Endometriosis lesions, a 35-year-old woman with a collapsed lung (while NOT on her period), a 43-year-old woman who had a ablation surgery several years prior who now suffered from a collapsed lung, likely due to Endometriosis, and a 32-year-old woman with fluid in her lining and a collapsed lung.
Endometriosis & Wine – added an April 2017 study of resveratrol and Endometriosis, published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
“We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.”
I absolutely loved the simplicity, but bold truth, of this quote. Be there for one another, in all things. Nobody should go through (fill in the blank) feeling alone.
And have wonderful weekend!
BLOGS I’VE UPDATED THIS WEEK:
Endometriosis & Leg Pain/Sciatica – added an April 2017 study published in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology which followed up with women five years after a resection of sciatic nerve due to Endometriosis.
Endometriosis & the Bowel – added an April 2017 letter to the editor of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology about using high-intensity ultrasound to remove deep infiltrating endometriosis from the rectosigmoid colon.
At the 1992 Republic National Convention, Barbara Bush said, “To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.” And it is so very, very, very true. To each of the EndoSisters I’ve met in person, hugged in person, cried with in person; I consider you family. We are knit together by lesions, adhesions, pain, and strength. And to those I’ve only virtually-met or hugged…the same goes for you. 😉 We truly are Sisters.
“Family” means so much more than shared genes and lineage. Be there for each other. Support one another. Reach out for help when you need it.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
BLOGS I’VE UPDATED THIS WEEK:
Natural Products that I’ve Fallen in Love With – added Anders Farms’ wool dryer balls, Natural Value Bathroom Tissue (Tooooilet Pappppper!), and Seventh Generation’s disinfecting bathroom cleaner.
Bloomin' Uterus 