Change my profile name???

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

In early September, one of my teams offered sparkpoints for changing our sparkpage to reflect a back to school theme, and more for changing our profile picture.

I managed to do all of that, but switched my picture back when no one attempted to figure out which kid I was in the 4th grade class pic.

Besides, the picture of me playing the harp has a lot of meaning for me. I had learned to play the summer before my cancer diagnosis when I was in such pain, I'd lie o my bed with a smaller harp on top of me and play. It seemed to help me cope with the pain.

And in the summer, I started playing the harp in the picture as a calming sleep inducer during the SP sleep challenge.

So, the harp is important to me.

Then, it seems that there is a rash of people I know completely remaking themselves on SP: their profile pictures, spark page, AND their user name.

I don't know what is prompting that, but for me, I visited fullplatediet.org today. They have developed what they are calling a "game" for people following their diet. I guess they are working toward having something like Spark People.

I do like the way the game awards points for activities relevant to your goals and there are ways to have your goals fit you, as opposed to making your goals fit them. I should think about this some more, but that was my impression today. One thing they led me through was thinking about my user name, and why I would pick it.

So, instead of decluttering the entrance to my studio, I waxed creative with my profile name. I came up with BraveLute. This name is inspired by my 3 favorite harpists.

The BRAVE part of the name comes from Deborah Henson-Conant, a fierce electric harpist:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZNz8IM__9M&
feature=related

And even more phenomenal:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vXtywOlayc

And when I watch these girls playing music from my favorite set of books and movies, I imagine being one of the elves dancing in rings.

So, if I were going to remake myself, I'd take a fierce elfin name because when I'm done with the healthy weight loss, I'd like to look like one of these women, and be able to play like them, too.

Now, if I could find a pic of an elf playing a harp, I'd do it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6iAaVY1G_c

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LVSHOPE 11/1/2012 4:49PM

As long as I can find you. Love the way the harp has been part of your life. Report Inappropriate Comment

SAGELADY2 10/31/2012 6:17PM

BraveLute is good. I've always coveted having a harp. I grew up playing piano and flute. I still have a flute (actually bought it a few years ago since my first husband hocked my pricey one). I'm keeping my name, like it. Even though I don't technically grow herbs for retail any more, I still grow for my own use. I believe in naming yourself what is you on the inside. I'll always be in the dirt, at one with nature. At home in the woods and rivers and oceans. Report Inappropriate Comment

KIWIANN 10/31/2012 9:26AM

BraveLute has a nice ring to it, and it fits the impression you make on SP ! And the videos are amazing - thanks for sharing!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MOSTMOM1 10/31/2012 7:09AM

Fierce Electric Harpist--okay, that has to be one of the coolest titles, ever. For real. BraveLute is cool. Let us know if you do decide to change it. That always throws me for a little while. Music is so powerful, isn't it? Honestly, my little ukulele is good therapy. I totally get how the harp could sustain you. Harp on! (insert elf emoticon here) Report Inappropriate Comment

NELLIEC 10/31/2012 12:54AM

Someone commented to me that I have never changed my screen name and I said that is because I know who I am and am no longer searching for myself. I think the name you chose should be one that really you feel comfortable with. If you do change your name, at least warn us on the friend feed, so we don't get confused! Report Inappropriate Comment

DJ4HEALTH 10/31/2012 12:28AM

I changed mine after about a year but only to shorten it to make it easier for me to remember. I am glad that you like to listen and play the harp. It is such a soothing sound. Report Inappropriate Comment

Soul Collage, The Comforter

Sunday, October 28, 2012

At a weeklong writing workshop at Campbell Folk School in NC, I learned about Soul Collage Cards. That was not the topic for the classes, but I went home, researched the what and the how, and started creating a set of cards. I had no idea what the cards would be as I started each one. I seem to have created "Committee" cards. Then 2 years later I got my cancer diagnosis and I have been amazed at the cards I created, the words that went with them and how much they have meant to me the last 5 years.

I feel there is a friend on SP who might benefit from seeing my cards, so I'm going to post some of them in the next few days.

You can learn more about creating your own cards at www.soulcollage.com

And there appears to be a Soul Collage team here on SP.

www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_i
ndividual.asp?gid=33398




I am the Healer and Comforter.

I am not like the medical doctors you know.
I heal just by being.
Imagine wrapping up in a warm cozy blanket when you’re cold.
Imagine a warm cup of tea flowing throughout your body and soul.
Feel the hope as you see my loving smile.
Take comfort in that rough lick and know that I AM the one who will bring the sunshine back into your life.

--Sue Atkins 2005

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LVSHOPE 11/1/2012 4:52PM

Wow! Such a treasure! Report Inappropriate Comment

Is Life a Mountain

Saturday, October 27, 2012

I received a notice that one of my teams has a new member. I visited Jae_Hennington's SP page to get to know her. I found her SP Page information about her to be very interesting. She talks about life's mountain and must really be worrying about getting old because she referred to how much she hated it several times.

Interesting thoughts about the "Mountain of Life." I have always compared my life journey to a journey west, kind of like the pioneers. Always one more mountain to climb, a new vista at the top, the unknown on the other side. At times struggling for a foothold, at times lazily crossing the flatlands, though possibly a little boring. I looked at the valleys as the down times when times were difficult like grandmother or grandfather or dad's death or my cancer and its return. I looked at the whole journey as an exciting undertaking with risks, and always a sense of expectancy to find out what would happen next and lots of opportunities to help others along the way.

I even had groups of students at school and church do timelines of their life, with time on a horizontal middle line. Then dots above and below the line with absolutely wonder events way above the line and absolutely horrible events toward the bottom. So teenagers might put graduation or getting their driver's license near the top, or breaking up with a boyfriend near the bottom. They then connected the dots showing mountains and valleys.

Jae talks about how time is flying now that she is older. Perhaps that little bundle she is holding is responsible for all of this worry about time left.

For me, sometimes Mondays came around a little too quickly, but I've always looked at my life that I was just one day older, every day. Most times when someone asks my age, I have to do the math or I tell them when I was born and make them do the subtracting. Sometimes in the valleys time seemed to drag too long. Like waiting to finish radiation treatments. Like waiting to lose the desired weight. Now there's something that seemed to happen faster that the speed of light--putting on the pounds while I was taking steroids. My head was spinning. Every Monday I'd go for chemotherapy. Scales first which always registered 1-2 more pounds added. Then the steroid added to the mix to help my body handle the effects of chemotherapy. 70 pounds later, I finally said ENOUGH!! Let's see if I can do this without the steroid.

But I do understand my body not being able to do what it used to do. I was blaming that on all the radiation and chemotherapy. But I think I need to blame it on not taking care of myself, not eating properly. Thinking that I was invincible. I smoked before we knew how horrific its effects were, and had a difficult time stopping once we DID understand the dangers, even with the prescription for nicorette gum and chomping that for a whole year.

I definitely ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I'm still waiting to see how much of that I can blame on the food manufacturers like I blame my smoking and subsequent addiction on the cigarette manufacturers who knew exactly what they were doing.

Well, I'm eating healthy whole foods, being active, losing weight, following doctor's orders, asking questions, searching for answers, and continue to be a child of the 60's. I've even planted a fall garden with LOTS of salad greens, for the first time in my life. Now, I believe harvesting my first salad will be a mountaintop experience.

I am going to work hard to keep on moving and thinking and remembering and contributing and loving. My age has no bearing on those things. I used to equate memory loss with old age. But my middle school students couldn't remember what day it was. We understood each other, even though there was about 3 generations separating us.

How do you look at aging and your life's journey?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

-VIXEN- 10/27/2012 7:27PM

I am pretty darn happy about aging simply because I get the opportunity to do so. I have lost friends and family members who didn't get to make it past what is considered middle age, so I have chosen to celebrate the journey and honor it by committing to a healthy lifestyle and an attitude of gratitude. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

DINGESSD 10/27/2012 5:17PM

age can be as you would have it to be Report Inappropriate Comment

Rumor Has It . . .

Thursday, October 25, 2012

I saw a young friend today at the checkout. I haven't seen her in a while. Her son was along in the cart and I heard all about everyone he has (like siblings, a mom, a grandma). His mom asked me how I was doing because rumor has it that I had died.

I told her to put the rumor to rest because I feel better than I have in ten years. I was so startled by her comment that I didn't tell her about my stellar PET scan report I had just received at the oncologist this morning.

I have so much to be thankful for:
I have no cancer anywhere,
I have been able to retire,
I'm losing weight with the help of Spark People,
my doctors have "fixed" all the cronic ailments that I thought were going to plague me because of the long term chemotherapy
The place in NC where I can go now for extended periods since I'm not tied to the doctors in Florida as tightly, long enough so that people wonder if I died.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SAGELADY2 10/27/2012 10:39AM

Good news on your life in general. Glad to hear you are progressing in a lot of areas in your life. It's good to have a fun place to get away to. Mine will be in FL hopefully sooner rather than later. :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

CHRISTINASP 10/27/2012 3:49AM

Wow that may be shocking to hear what that woman said! Yes you have so much to be thankful and I like it that you list it! Report Inappropriate Comment

STONECOT 10/26/2012 8:53AM

Glorious to wake up in the morning and know you're alive isn't it. I'm waiting for my five year all clear, hopefully next week, and boy, am I going to celebrate! Report Inappropriate Comment

KIWIANN 10/26/2012 8:46AM

Glad that rumor was not true!! for your clean PET scan!! That is FABULOUS news!! And I am so happy to see you back on SP - I've missed you!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDA! 10/25/2012 11:42PM

Great blog! Report Inappropriate Comment

One Word Response Blog a la Nuttmegg9

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_j
ournal_individual.asp?blog_id=5111370

Thanks to Nuttmegg9 for giving me this challenge of answering each question with only one word. We'll see.

Where is your cell phone?
booth

Spouse?
None

Your hair?
Independent

Your mother?
caregiver

Your father?
missed

Your favorite thing?
harp

Your dream last night?
nightmare

Favorite drink?
cocoa

What room are you in?
living

Your hobby?
living

Your fear?
loneliness

Where do you want to be in 6 years?
Here

Where were you last night?
Here

Something that you aren't?
political

Muffins?
Nutty

Wish list item?
Health

Last thing you did?
breathed

What are you wearing?
vintage

Your pets?
barkers

Friends?
far

Your life?
full

Your mood?
expectant

Missing someone?
Yes

Drinking?
Tea

Your car?
Prius

Something you're not wearing?
sock

Your favorite store?
Amazon

Your favorite color?
teal

When is the last time you cried?
movie

Where do you go over and over?
bathroom

Five people who email me regularly?
Sparkpeople

Favorite place to eat?
Home

Favorite place I'd like to be right now?
Hawaii

I guess what makes this difficult is my desire to explain and describe, AND inability to choose just one thing. Interesting that Most of my answers were different from Nuttmegg9's answers.

www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
urnal_individual.asp?blog_id=5111370

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LITTLEWIND53 10/26/2012 10:58AM

That would be very hard for me to do in just one word -- hard to do in 10 or less even.... (21) Report Inappropriate Comment

JANETTEB553 10/24/2012 11:23PM

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