A Tale of Two Structures

For the last several months my daughter has been fascinated by the house being built down the street.  She always make me slow down as we drive by so she can check on the progress. Yesterday, as we drove by once again, we had a conversation that really struck me.

Mom, the house is happening so fast now.  They took forever and ever doing the floor.  Now the bedrooms are so quick.  It's finally starting to look like a real house.

Forever and ever doing the floor.   

I explained to her how important that "floor" really is, how the builders need to spend a lot of time making sure there is a strong, solid foundation.

She nodded her head, gazed out the window, quiet.

Then came the next question.

What happens if they don't make a strong floor?

I thought for a second, not wanting to give her nightmares of collapsing buildings.

Well, honey, if the floor isn't strong, the rest of the house won't be strong either.  It wouldn't be safe to live in.  

She nods again.

I'm sure glad we have strong floors, mama.  

Me too, baby, me too.  

Her attention turns to her sister as they start to sing Old MacDonald.

I, on the other hand, keep thinking about "floors".

Just last week, I heard about a half-billion dollar hotel in Las Vegas that was built but never opened because of serious construction defects.  Inspectors noted that the building would likely collapse in a major earthquake.  After millions of dollars and months of litigation, a Nevada state judge recently gave the go-ahead to implode the building.

What happens if they don't make a strong floor?

Shiny and beautiful on the outside, the entire project will soon turn to dust.

But isn't it the truth?  When it's all said and done, no matter how things look on the outside, your foundation is what keeps you standing.  I'm thankful my four-year-old reminded me where I need to spend my time.  When my floor - my family, my faith and my health - is taken care of, everything else works out.  I'm strong and can take on everything else.

And unlike the Las Vegas hotel that awaits its fate, you and I can always go back and strengthen our foundation.  Why wait for a collapse or implosion?  We can do something today to make sure we have a strong tomorrow.  Whether it's spending quality time with your family or making changes to your diet and lifestyle, check your floor and see how it passes inspection.  The rest of your house will thank you.

With love,
Kim

Five Minute Friday - STRETCH

It has been far too long.  But this morning, I'm joining Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday.  This is when we stop, drop and write.  No editing or over thinking, just five sweet minutes to write for the love of writing.  Today she asks us to give our best five minutes on:    

S  T  R  E  T  C  H

Ready?

GO!  

It's funny how a simple word can take on such new meaning at different points of our life.  This word brings up all sorts of emotions for me. This time last year, being able to stretch was a daily goal.  Between regular physical therapy sessions, yoga for arthritis classes and daily exercise, I worked hard at maintaining my ability to stretch.  It wasn't that long ago when simply bending down to touch my toes got a standing ovation from my rheumatologist.  Every morning, alone in the bathroom, I made it a point to reach for the ceiling - as high as I could, pulling, stretching, straightening out my spine.  It hurt.  Hard to breathe.  So much work.  Just to stretch.  

But what was the alternative?  

Weakness.  Pain.  Inability.  

Today, while I still stretch to maintain strength, flexibility and range of motion, life is stretching. 

The goal is no longer just stretching my limbs, but stretching my vision - leadership, passion, faith. Stretching, reaching - out of my comfort zone and into places I never imagined - because there is no alternative.  

STOP.  

Hugs and Health, 

Kim

Strong Enough

They say summer doesn't start around here until after the 4th of July.  Sure enough, after months of rain, yesterday was amazing.  The sun made it's entrance and the day was perfect. We powered it out for 12 straight hours of 4th of July fun!

So this morning, on this unofficial 2nd day of summer, I did something I've been wanting to do for weeks - months, even.  Nope, I didn't throw my suit on, pour myself some lemonade and blow up the swimming pool.  I did something even better.

I mowed the lawn.

Yup, you heard me right.  I mowed my lawn - front and back, up and down.


And I loved every second of it.  


You see, last 4th of July, I stayed home with my baby while daddy and big sister went to watch the fire works. I was in the middle of a flare up and all the physical therapy, shots and steroids wasn't going to let this mama enjoy the show. I remember going to bed early last year wondering how many special events I'd miss. I remember thinking, "Next 4th of July, I am going to be there. No matter what. I'm going to celebrate."  


And that I did.  All day and night, with amazing friends.  


So this morning as I drank my green smoothie and stared out the kitchen window, I knew exactly how I wanted to start the day.  


When my oldest daughter saw me rolling out the lawn mower, she said, "Uh, mommy, you better leave that for daddy.  He's the one with the stronger back."  


"Don't worry sweetie.  Mommy is stronger than you think."  


Stronger than I think...


And with that, I was off.  The girls laughed and cheered.  I smiled - thankful.  

Two hours later, sweaty and dirty, I couldn't help but step back and marvel at it all - marvel at strength.



Pushing forward, 
Kim

What a Difference...

This time last year I was wrapping my head around a diagnosis I had never heard of.  It was June 1, 2011, when a rheumatologist told me I had ankylosing spondylitis.  He said there was no cure, but that they could treat me with a new biological medication that would slow the disease down.  Unfortunately the medication would kill my immune system and put me at higher risk for other diseases.  Talk about a rock and a hard place. This time last year I could barely lift my baby or get a bowl off the top shelf without some sort of steroid. The future seemed so uncertain.

And yet - the future comes.  Time never stands still, it passes - one way or the other.

Amazing what can happen in one year.  This June 1st, 2012, I was on an airplane heading to Los Angeles  - on my way to grow my business, share health and hope, and celebrate possibilities.  I should mention that I have been able to decrease my medication (with the goal of completely eliminating it) and have boosted my immune system and overall health naturally.

Healthy.

Happy.

Strong.

Determined.

Thankful.

It was no accident.  It was a year of choices, from what I put in my mouth to what I allowed in my heart.  It was a year of saying "we'll get through this" even when it didn't feel like it.  A year of holding tight to all that mattered and letting go of everything that didn't.  And today, the choices continue.

Where do you want to be one year from now?  Five years from now?  Are you making decisions to get there or are you just hoping things will change on their own?  I'd like to encourage you and say that even as the years pass - our health can get better, our marriages - stronger, our dreams - brighter.  Life, with all its ups and downs, is such an amazing gift.  Decide where you want to go then take a step in that direction.  You won't regret it.

Kim

Abundance

Our family just got back from vacation.  While I spent the days leading up to it doing laundry, packing, re-packing and cleaning the house, my husband worked away at his latest project:  an irrigation system.  He was literally tweaking and testing that thing up until the minute we left for the airport.  We crossed our fingers and hoped that it would keep our garden alive while we were away.   

Eight days later (with not a drop of rain) we got home and rushed to the backyard.  We were amazed. Not only did our garden survive, it flourished.  

I sat and stared.  

Because isn't that what we all want?  To flourish.  It's not a coincidence.  We don't grow on accident.  

I'm new to this gardening thing.  I don't know all the lingo or the tricks for ensuring success, but here's what I have learned.

Soil.  It breathes life or births disease. You can spray and weed and fight, but if the soil isn't rich, if the foundation isn't healthy, we will not thrive.  

Water.  Often times, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, nature takes care of the watering.  But when the dry spells come, when the days are long and hot, you get out that hose and water (you even build an irrigation system if you have to).  One way or the other, we need to be watered.  

Light.  Even when it's gray, the sun is shining.  The clouds eventually clear.  The darkness passes and we grow.  

What happens when all these things work together?  

Abundance.  

And from the harvest...

Caesar Salad - romaine from the garden
(dressing:  1/4 cup olive oil, 3 cloves garlic minced, 1 lime, salt and pepper to taste, Parmesan cheese)

Kale Smoothie (aka: my daily breakfast):
1 cup almond milk, 1/2 banana, Shaklee Cinch Protein, 3 kale leaves, 1 T ground flaxseed, 1 t almond or peanut butter,
1 cup ice.  Blend and enjoy!

Wishing you abundance,

Kim 

A Familiar Face

Yesterday my family and I went to a birthday party. As soon as we arrived I saw someone who looked oddly familiar.  I couldn't place him at first.  He said hello and shook my hand.  The sound of his voice alone made my mind race and emotions swell.  Who was he?  How did I know him?  He was out of place.  Out of context.  Until I heard his name.

It was my neurosurgeon.  The doctor who stood at the side of my hospital bed explaining my options, the procedures.  The one who nodded silently as I cried.  He left a mark - a two inch scar on my back where he removed lesions from my spine.  I haven't seen him since.

Thank you, God.

Needless to say, hearing his voice and seeing his face brought back a lot of memories.  He remembered my husband and me and asked how I was doing.  I got a little choked up when I looked him in the eye and responded, "I'm doing great."  Because really, I am.  Seeing him reminded me how thankful I am for that.  A part of me wanted to sit him down and re-live bits and pieces of the last twenty months.  I wanted to bring back to life the pain, the fear and the uncertainty.  I wanted to walk him through the journey that followed - the seeking, the fighting, the believing, the healing.  But instead, I smiled, took a deep breath and nodded my head.  Somehow I think he understood.

All I know is that I wanted to get home and write.  I wanted to see the words - black and write, running across the page.  I wanted to come back to where it all started.  I wanted, needed, to write.

Because hope cannot be contained.  Should not be contained.

So let me say this.  I am not doing well on accident.  I didn't get lucky.   I made changes to every part of my life.  I learned to be weak, to be strong. I fought for my future, my faith, my family.  I read everything I could get my hands on.  I juiced.  I fasted.  I believed. I made tough decisions. I surrounded myself with amazing people.  I prayed - for purpose.  I chose joy.  I gave thanks.

I don't forget the nights I poured over my keyboard with tears in my eyes or the days I was angry and frustrated and in pain.  But for now, I am reminded how far we have come and for that, I am thankful.



With love, 
Kim

Earth Day Starts at Home

If you're anything like me, April 22nd has come and gone for many years.  While I always have good intentions, I have never done anything grand on Earth Day.   Sure, my family and I recycle, occasionally compost, and do our part to use less and be green.  Still, I wish I could say I planted a bunch of trees, organized masses of people for clean-up projects or drafted a bipartisan bill that would save the earth once and for all. 

Nope. 

Isn't it funny that when we fail to do the "large" things, we often ignore, and ultimately fail, to do the small.  But actually it's those small acts that really make a huge impact.  And like so many things in life, those actions almost always begin at home. 

The simple act of choosing nontoxic, earth friendly household products not only impacts your family's health, it also helps our planet. I have been using Shaklee cleaning products since the late 90's. In fact, I have been using Basic H longer than I have been married (and we're getting ready to celebrate our 10th anniversary!)  For almost 60 years Shaklee has been a leader in environmental stewardship.  Click here to read about their impressive environmental heritage.

From an environmental standpoint, switching from conventional cleaners to Shaklee's Get Clean Starter Kit eliminates 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills and eliminates 248 pounds of greenhouse gases.  This is the environmental equivalent of planting 10 trees.  

From an economic point of view, you would need to spend over $3400 to get the same cleaning power as what you'll find in the Get Clean Starter kit. The products are highly concentrated, which means they last longer and ultimately save you money.

And as for your health, Get Clean products are nontoxic and natural and do not contain any harmful ingredients.  In fact, did you know:

- Approximately 20 million Americans have asthma (including 1 out of every 13 school-aged children).

- Asthma rates in children under age 5 have increased 160% from 1980 to 1994.

- Common household cleaners give off fumes that can potentially increase the risk of children developing asthma.  

- The average U.S. household generates more than 20 pounds of hazardous waste each year.  

- Many household cleaning products are designated as hazardous waste by the EPA and improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health.

Check out Shaklee CEO, Roger Barnett and his wife Sloan on Oprah (by the way, in 2007, Oprah gave away the Get Clean Starter Kit as one of her favorite things).  

If you are interested in making a difference in your health, your home and our planet, click here to get your Get Clean Starter Kit today.  The good news is that for the month of April, you will receive FREE membership ($19.95 value) with the purchase of any product.  That means you will receive member pricing (15% off retail) and all the other benefits that come with Shaklee membership. 

Please feel free to email me at kim@thriving365.com with any questions or leave a comment below.  

Cheers to healthy homes, healthy families and a healthy planet!

Kim 

A Change of Tune

In the last few months I've had several conversations with people on the topic of "what ifs."  In fact, these conversations have become so regular I figured I'd write about it.

The conversation/email/text usually starts with the question, "How do you deal with all the what ifs?"  You know the endless questions with no answers:

- What if I never get better?
- What if I can never do the things I once did?
- What if my spouse isn't in it for the long haul?
- What if I lose my job? my friends? my future?
- What if....?

The list goes on and on.

First of all, let me say that I think it's perfectly normal for these questions to cross your mind. After all, when facing any sort of life challenge you can't help but wonder what you're up against. In fact, sometimes these "what ifs" can prompt us to move and act and plan accordingly. But here is what I have learned:   More often than not, these kinds of what ifs can be paralyzing. They zap you of your energy, strip you of hope and make your mind run in maddening circles.

So what do we do?  How do we avoid sitting under that looming gray cloud?  Maybe the answer is found when we change the conversation, adjust the tune and shift our thinking.

Instead of "What if I never get better?" ask, "What if health is just a few steps away?"

Instead of "What if I can never do the things I once did?" ask, "What if I learn incredible new things, things I never imagined doing?"  

Instead of thinking that life as you knew it is over, think "What if something great is right on the horizon?" 

This line of thinking makes me want to move forward, look for answers, fight for hope, believe. And this is so important because actions follow thinking. While I do consider myself an optimistic person, I am no Miss Sally Sunshine seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. I'm a realist, but a realist who believes in the power of hope.

If I focused my thoughts on what I was told - there is no cure, you will have to live with this disease for the rest of your life - I would have done nothing.  Why bother?  Instead, I asked, What if I could be the small percentage of those who go into remission?  What if I let this pain teach me something? What if this makes me a better mom, wife, woman?  What if God's best is right around the corner?  What if...?  And then came the actions.  The looking for answers, trying alternatives, the changes - inside and out.  I put my energy into not just feeling better, but being better, living better.  All of a sudden I didn't have time to wonder if I'd ever be "cured" - I was too busy living my life and living it well.

If you've been paralyzed by "what ifs" I would encourage you to change the conversation.  After all, what if a simple shift in your thoughts could set you on a new and amazing course?  It's at least worth a try.

Kim

When Healing Happens

There was a time - not that long ago - when I dreaded the question, "How are you?"  Most of the time, I answered with a polite, "I'm fine, thanks."  But the truth was, while I was doing my best to move forward, find solutions and stay positive, I was also very afraid.  Afraid of the disease getting out control, afraid of the complications and the long list of "what ifs."

But today, when someone asks, "How are you?" I can't help but smile (and get a little teary-eyed).  I can't help but think about where I've been and where I'm going.  For months, I have blogged about my journey.  Many of you have been reading from the beginning, when there was lots of pain and little answers.  You have seen me through the fears, doubts and struggles. You have seen me vulnerable and honest, broken and afraid, resilient and determined. You have seen it all and you have so graciously journeyed with me.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the end of 2011 had me seriously re-evaluating the future. The risks of my treatment plan were outweighing the benefits and it was time for a change of plans.  Little did I know that those change of plans would dramatically change my life.  Since the beginning of 2012, I have been on a nutritional program that has made an incredible difference in my health.  I have been able to cut my medication dosage in half, my blood work has been normal (for the first time in over a year), my inflammation has decreased and the pain has subsided (not only does my husband NOT need to help me out of bed, I am up to 20 minutes on the elliptical).  And get this, I haven't been sick at all in 2012.  Keep in mind, I was the girl who was told she would have to wear a mask on airplanes or crowded places.  My immune system was weak and that resulted in constant sickness, infections and food poisoning.  Today, I am getting stronger - cell by cell - I am healing.  Let me say that again.

I. Am. Healing.

It is so powerful, humbling, liberating to write those words.

The good news doesn't stop there.  My quest for health, wellness and prevention led me to start my own business, Thriving 365.  Yes, from Thrive Out Loud to Thriving 365 I am living and breathing health and hope. I have partnered with Shaklee, the #1 natural nutrition company in the U.S., and am now able to share natural, alternative solutions with others.  I wasn't looking to start a business.  I was simply looking for answers and this is where it led me.  Please click here to visit my website and read my story.

This post has been a long time coming.  Several months ago, during a very dark time, I wrote, "I know something great is on the horizon.  I just know it."  It seemed crazy at the time, because the horizon looked anything but great.  And yet, here we are.  I know that this journey is not over.  Healing is a process, but there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

With Love,
Kim 

Feeling the Love

On Valentine's Day I got the most amazing gift.  And I mean AH. MAZE. ING.

It came in the mail.

A check.

And in the memo section, the words:  VITAMIX.

I told you - amazing.  If you read my blog you would know how much I've been wanting to get a Vitamix.  In fact, a few weeks ago the girls and I watched the Vitamix guy at Costco for almost an hour.  We were in awe and devoured every sample.  Needless to say, it completely blew my mind when a relative that I haven't seen in years emailed me saying she wanted to give me and my family a Vitamix.  Her generosity left me speechless.  I didn't quite know how to respond, let alone receive such a gift.  In the end, I simply said thank you - sincerely and humbly - thank you.  

This post isn't so much about the Vitamix (which I LOVE and use everyday - I'm blending everything I get my hands on) it's more about learning how to receive.  Whether it comes by way of encouraging words, small acts of kindness or generous gifts, learning to receive has been one of my greatest lessons.  I lived most of my life in the "no, no, no thank you" camp - thinking it was polite and more acceptable to turn down such offers. It wasn't until I was in position where I couldn't do things for myself that I started to learn how to receive, how to open up and let others in, how to graciously say thank you.

Thank you Aunty Cathy for your incredible thoughtfulness and generosity. I can't wait to post pictures of all our fun creations (I'm still learning how to use this powerful beauty).   Hopefully one day we can cheers with a (perfectly blended) green juice.  Until then, please know that I am overflowing with thanks.

Feeling the love,
Kim