Feel Good Friday

Feel Good Friday!

| Bloomin' Uterus
Analog alarm clock

It’s FRIDAY! Woohooooo!

Today’s quote is one that I found personally affirming as a person with Endometriosis.  I stumbled across it in my research this week and it just struck me as powerful.  The Nezhat doctors wrote in a 2012 article titled “Endometriosis: Ancient Disease, Ancient Treatments“:

“The clock is definitely ticking as we know that millions of women still live lives awash in anguish, just as they did thousands of years ago, and just as they will centuries from now unless we can steer ourselves faster toward the long elusive cure. Four thousand years is long enough; the time has come to end the empire of endometriosis.”

It’s been five years since this quote was published.  And it was referenced in a February 2017 article published in the International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology…which is how I stumbled across it.  And it seemed relevant this week, considering the amount of women who have been sharing their Endo stories with all of us!  We are building an army of Warriors – an army to stand against the “empire of endometriosis!”

One day there will be a cure.  In the meantime, remain positive, hold onto hope, lift each other up, and continue to live your life as best as you are able.

And if you’re interested in some reading, these blogs were updated this week:

Adhesions: What Are They?  Added a study that will be published in the March 2017 edition of Annals of Medicine and Science

Birth Control Pills & Endo.  Added an abstract published in the January 2017 edition of Fertility & Sterility

Chronic Pain Affects Your Brain. Added an abstract published in the January 2017 edition of European Journal of Pain

C-Sections & Endometriosis. Added a 2017 abstract published in the January 2017 edition of Diagnostic Cytopathology

Have a wonderful weekend!

❤ Lisa

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Obituary of Water Freden and Annamatilda Freden

IT’S FRIDAY!!!  A somber one for me.

“He died that day because his body had served its purpose. His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave.” ~Garth Stein

Twenty years ago today, my Gramma Tilly passed away.  Two days later, Grampa followed her and left us as well.  I like to think he died of a broken heart.  I was 17 years old when two of the most important people in my life were suddenly gone.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of them. in some aspect.  They were quirky.  They were wonderful.  They were loving.  Yet they were also a bit on the “grrrr” side if you stepped out of line.  They yelled at each other.  She had this incredible laugh.  You would wake him from a seated nap to him defending, “I wasn’t sleeping – I was inspecting the inside of my eyelids.”  She smelled funny.  He liked his Blackberry Brandy beneath his desk.  She left the butter and mayonnaise out on the counter all the time.  They loved their Jeopardy, Bob Ross, and Wheel of Fortune.  Every morning on my walk to school, she’d poke her head out the door, waving and shouting, “Have a good day, Leesee!” And oh how the family got together to play cards. ❤

I’m so grateful they lived next door when I was growing up.  I truly got to spend a lot of my influential years with these two characters.  And I love them still. Oh, so very much.  And they loved each of us.

Walter & Tilly.  Truly loved, forever missed.

Embrace those that you love today.  Have you lost someone?  Honor them and share your favorite memory in the comments below. I’d love to hear about them. ❤

Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus

arizona-sunrise-1353151490dop

Happy Friday!!

Today’s quote is by American author, Richelle Goodrich:

“Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.”

Be kind to those around you.  Strike up a conversation with a stranger.  Say “hello” when passing someone. Smile.  Hold open the door.  Offer a homeless person a bottle of water, an apple,  or a $1 or $2.  Reach up and get something off a high shelf for someone obviously reaching for it.  Ask someone how their day is going…and truly listen to their response.

Get out there and make someone’s day!  And happy Weekend!

This week we updated the following blog entries:

Bladder & Endometriosis – added Jan. 2017 European Urology article; added Jan. 2017 International Surgery Journal article

Bowel & Endometriosis – added Jan. 2017 Fertility & Sterility article

C-Section Scars & Endometriosis – added Jan. 2017 Journal of Midwifery & Reproductive Health article

Yours,

Lisa

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
Rhino soaking in a muddy watering hole

Welcome to another Friday morning!  I hope you’ve had a great week.

Steven Maraboli once wrote,

“Sometimes life knocks you on your ass… get up, get up, get up!!! Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.”

I know sometimes we’d like to wallow.  Just sit there in our suffering and cry…and that’s okay.  But, always remember that we DO have to get up and move on.  And you don’t have to do it alone – ask for help.  Extend a hand to someone you notice may need assistance “getting up.”  Be there for each other.  And, hopefully, find a little bit of happiness.

Over the past week, I’ve updated several past blog entries with new studies.  If you’re interested in giving them another looksy:

Bladder & Endometriosis: added 2 2017 studies

C-sections & Endometriosis: added Jan. 2017 study

Cervical Endometriosis: added Jan. 2017 study

Lungs & Endometriosis: added Dec. 2016 study

I hope you have an incredible week coming up!  And find time to rest.

Yours,

Lisa

Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus
rain hitting a puddle

We did it! Wrapped up another week! And here in SoCal, it’s a soggy one! YAY! I love the rain!

Today’s quote is inspired by our present state of rain.  Written by Tony Hillerman,

“From where we stand the rain seems random. If we could stand somewhere else, we would see the order in it.”

a storm cloud and falling rain onto a small desert town

Again, it’s all about perspective.  Take a step away from your present chaos, try to look from the outside…see if there is, in fact, order and reason to whatever it is you may be going through.  Or at least a purpose.  Muddle through it, get wet, fight.  It will cease, and you will pull through it.

Feel Good Fridays

| Bloomin' Uterus
two soccer plays hugging

We made it through yet another week! They fly by sometimes, eh?

Today’s quote is from America author, Maya Anglelou:

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

This one hit me hard…and is very close to home.  I feel so many struggles in my life have made me who I am today – a stronger and better person.  And I hope the same for you.

❤ Lisa

Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus
Motorcycle overloaded with plastic bags and unknown items

*whew* it’s Friday!  The first week of 2017 is drawing to a close!  Here’s to hoping you all had a safe and happy holiday.

Today’s words of inspiration are from retired football coach and sportscaster, Lou Holtz,

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”

Too many News Year’s resolutions on your plate?  Shuffle them around and spread them out over 2017.

Feel like Life is just TOO much to bear?  Prioritize where you truly need to focus your attention, tackle the small things first, make some progress…even if it’s just ONE thing.  And if it’s an emotional package rather than a physical one, take deep breaths, write it all out, and acknowledge all of the muckity-muck that you’re feeling. Embrace it.  And…then try to begin to release it from your life.  Nothing beats a good cry in the shower…

Feel like you don’t have any control over anything?  Let life take you where it must, but control the things only you can: Yourself.  How you treat yourself. How you think about yourself.  How you treat others.  Manage day by day until the quagmire on No-Control subsides.

Got hit with a side of bad news? Make time in your life to mourn, to grieve, to be upset – but don’t harbor those feelings.  It’s healthy to let them take their natural course, but let them go.  Don’t battle the bad news alone; bring in a trust friend or loved one.  And move passed it.

Whatever it is you’re going through right now, you CAN handle it.  A change of perspective, a slight altering of priorities, a lot of deep breaths and self-love…all of these things will help.

May 2017 prove to be a great year for you – and may you remain fluid, roll with the punches, shift those loads, and stand tall.

❤

Lisa

Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus
Notepad with written notes and a ballpoint pen resting atop it

Well, I’ve been sitting back and having a restful week.  Spent a few days at a family cabin with no internet or TV, just reading by the fire.  It’s been glorious!

So tomorrow marks the end of 2016.  I thought it only fitting to share Melody Beattie‘s words:

“Make New Year’s goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you’re interested in fully living life in the year to come.

Goals give us direction. They put a powerful force into play on a universal, conscious, and subconscious level. Goals give our life direction.

What would you like to have happen in your life this year? What would you like to do, to accomplish? What good would you like to attract into your life? What particular areas of growth would you like to have happen to you? What blocks, or character defects, would you like to have removed?

What would you like to attain? Little things and big things? Where would you like to go? What would you like to have happen in friendship and love? What would you like to have happen in your family life?

What problems would you like to see solved? What decisions would you like to make? What would you like to happen in your career?

Write it down. Take a piece of paper, a few hours of your time, and write it all down – as an affirmation of you, your life, and your ability to choose. Then let it go.

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.”

Have a glorious New Year!!

Feel Good Fridays!

| Bloomin' Uterus
Box wrapped in glittery red wrapping paper with a golden bow and Christmas lights twinkling behind it

It’s Friday! Made it through another week; this one may have been filled with rushing around to get ready for Christmas (if you celebrate) or packing for holiday travels.  *whew* breathe…

Anthony J. D’Angelo imparts a bit of wisdom on us today:

“The greatest gift you can give yourself is a little bit of your own attention.”

Something we may often forget as we strive to please others.  Slow down, take a moment, pamper yourself.  Whether it be with physical gifts, quality time, relaxation, a good book, a soak in the tub, a fancy meal, a haircut, or even just a moment to breathe – just try to do something nice for yourself this season.

You’re important, too. Very.

Happy holidays! Merry Christmas!!!!!

Yours, Lisa