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We Loved
Up
Give A Goodnight Kiss
Start Loving Yourself and Your Life
LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT
THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
CREATING MORE TIME AND MONEY
RELAX, HAVE FUN, AND ENJOY LIFE
RELATIONSHIPS
ILLNESS AND GRIEF
YOUR FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
BAD HABITS
YOU AND SOCIETY
SPIRITUALITY
YOUR JOURNAL AND QUESTIONNAIRE
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ILLNESS AND GRIEF
71. Why Are You Sick?
It seems fairly predictable that certain conditions bring on illness. Sure,
sometimes the whole office has the flu, and you get it. But other times, it's
not that simple. Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling really stressed
out, you're inefficient or make mistakes? If you could just calm down and start
over, you'd be more productive, right? Well, illness can work the same way. When
you burn the candle at both ends for too long, something gives. You get sick or
injured. If you have unresolved grief or emotional issues, you get sick. If you
won't slow down, you break your leg, and then you have to. In other words, if
you have some emotional, spiritual, or personal issues that you need to attend
to and you aren't doing it, then often you will become sick so that you will be
forced to re-examine your priorities and deal with those issues. Or maybe there
is just a very good lesson that you will learn from this experience. Sometimes
that lesson is for someone else in your life (a loved one or friend). You might
not see it now, but you'll discover it soon enough. (JE)
72. Find the Hidden Blessings in Illness.
If you can possibly look for the positive side of being sick, then
you might see it as a blessing instead of a curse. It's not fun to be sick: Who
are we kidding? But it does have its advantages. Sounds crazy? For example, if
you are stuck in bed with some rotten virus, you might find yourself having
meaningful conversations with your kids because you finally slowed down and
started to listen to them. Then you could probably see the good side of a bad
thing. If you have a heart attack and your life passes before your eyes, and you
have a renewed appreciation for the preciousness of life itself, then you see
the benefit of your illness. If you have a disease and tons of friends show up
to wish you well, and you realize how precious all these pals are, then you see
the plus side. Every cloud does have a silver lining. (JE)
73. Your Attitude Can Help Cure You.
If your brain can keep your heart pumping for 80+ years, you can be
sure it can help you fight disease. Your attitude toward getting well is
critical. Be determined to fight whatever you get. Don't lie down and die. Don't
give up, and don't think you deserve your suffering. Look for the lesson in your
illness. Try to correct the contributing factors (lifestyle, emotional, etc.),
and then get out there and fight. Get mad at your disease and believe you have
the power to win over your illness. (JE)
74. Lean on God.
You are not alone in your hour of need. God is there for you. God has
a plan. You don't have to understand it yet, but if you can have faith that you
will get past this, you will. Talk to God; pray. Then open your heart and be
observant. God might not appear to you as a big head in the sky; but if you are
watchful and look for signs, answers will reveal themselves, often in unexpected
ways. You'll hear a radio show, find a book, or meet a person who has your same
illness. Just as you cannot see the whole flower until it opens, it is all there
waiting to be revealed. So are the answers to your problem. (JE)
75. Grief Work Takes Time.
Grief is powerful, overwhelming, and all-consuming. No one else can
feel your pain. When someone you love dies, you feel as though you're floating
at the bottom of a lake or are partly dead yourself. You're numb, and things
don't matter like they used to. And even if the person who died was old, and it
was their time, it still feels bad. These feeling are normal, it's okay to have
them, and you need to honor them. Don't rush yourself, don't expect so much of
yourself, and don't blame yourself. It's okay to be angry. It's okay to cry. Cry
an ocean. This life is hard. Grief is work. It's like moving a big pile
of gravel with a teaspoon. But just as you can eventually, and actually do, move
that gravel . . . so you can start to heal. Sometimes it takes a long time, a
year or more for some people. Give yourself that time. Grieving is like
recovering from a serious operation. You don't jump right out of bed and expect
to conduct business as usual; it takes time to heal. You may not be ready yet,
but you will feel better. Really. There's still a lot of living for
you to do. Your time is not up yet. Console yourself with the fact that you
will see your loved one in what seems like the blink of an eye. In the meantime,
there are lots of others who need and want you as a part of their lives here on
earth. Life is for the living. Get back in the game. (JE)
76. Grief Is Not Always about Dying.
Sometimes in life, we need to grieve, and it's not because someone died. It's
because we are experiencing a major change in life. Some of these big life
changes feel as bad as if a loved one has died. When our kids move away from
home, we get a divorce, we have a health problem that changes our way of life,
our parents get a divorce, we lose a job. a pet dies, we have a miscarriage, a
friend moves away . . . these (and other changes) can be biggies for many
people. You are experiencing a loss. Your feelings are valid. Honor them, and
allow yourself time to adjust and heal. It's hard and it hurts, but you will
feel better, and you will learn from these experiences. This is soul work; this
is how you grow. (JE)
77. When Someone Dies Young.
This always seems so unnatural that we feel even more confused, upset and sad.
But have you ever noticed how heroic, and brave some young people seem? It's
almost like they are stronger and have more faith than we do. Maybe that is
their purpose here in life; to teach us something we need to
learn. Maybe they are angels who bring us a much-needed reminder that life is
precious and not to be wasted. (JE)
78. Find Support.
Join a support group, read lots of books, go see a therapist, visit
with your minister, attend an informative lecture, go out to lunch with a friend
or loved one and talk. There are many vehicles to help you in your time of need.
Let yourself be helped. Do not shut people out. You need them and they need you.
Lean on God. (JE)
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Meaning of Love
Home Work
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