A lot of my Spark Family have been asking me why I haven't written a blog lately. Some have even voiced concern and that is much appreciated.

I made a commitment long ago that I would always blog honestly. I try to stay positive and upbeat. I believe with all my heart that keeping an attitude of gratitude and counting my blessings are the best ways to keep myself sparking along and on task. I have always heard, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Hence, no blogging lately.

This is not an invitation to a pity party. No one wants to attend one of those and I'm a horrible hostess when it comes down to it. This is simply a picture of my life since my last blog....

My car has broken down on two different occasions. Both times it was out of commission for a week. Currently it is running but the front right brake is stuck, the brake light is on and it's making a horrible noise. My truck has broken down leaving me and family members stranded on several occasions. We have now learned that we can only drive it 1) if we can NOT turn it off during the entire trip or 2) we have at LEAST 3hours to kill between turning it off and needing to restart it...MAYBE it will work then. I took a stretch class in the heated therapy pool at the YMCA and developed not 1 but FOUR (4) infections in the wound on my leg. The doctor prescribed antibiotics (14days worth) that make me sick to my stomach so I have been eating yogurt with every meal and a LOT of plain bagels and rice because they don't upset my stomach. Earlier this week a new "DEEP" spot showed up on the right side of the wound which is still red around the edges & leaking. (at least the leaking is no longer green) TODAY several (by that I mean more than 8) blisters have shown up on the same leg as the wound in a new spot along the line where the compression bandages top off. They resemble the blisters that started the original wound and I am calling the doctor in the morning in hopes that this is not the beginning of a NEW wound. (the original is a venus stasis ulcer for those who don't know) I am still not working, out on FMLA, and received notice this week that if I don't send my company $490 by Nov 30th my insurance will be canceled. Hmm, hard to do without working. I haven't been to the pool since the doctor found the infection (2weeks) and everyone knows that Waterwoman THRIVES on the pool. I could go on but I'm even boring myself. It seems to be a never ending story of Murphy's Law Events. Yes, I feel as if I am the poster child for Murphy's Law at times.

Okay, enough of that. Now to work on my PMA. (Positive Mental Attitude) I was sitting in the truck this morning waiting for my hubby to come out from work and a song played on the radio that hit me squarely between the eyes. The title is SOUNDS LIKE LIFE TO ME ( Darryl Worley, Wynn Varble, Phil O’Donnell ). Basically it's about a man who is whining to his friend about his various bad luck issues and the friend (and singer) is saying "Suck it up". Sounds like good advice to me. I am going to post the chorus for you here and you'll see what I mean:

(Chorus)
Sounds like life to me it ain’t no fantasy
It’s just a common case of everyday reality
Man I know it’s tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
It sounds like life to me

(Chorus)
Sounds like life to me plain old destiny
Yeah the only thing for certain is uncertainty
You gotta hold on tight just enjoy the ride
Get used to all this unpredictability
Sounds like life
Man I know its tough but you gotta suck it up
To hear you talk you’re caught up in some tragedy
Sounds like life to me
Sounds like life
----------------------------
-

So what's the GOOD news in my life? Through out all the struggles, I have stayed within my calorie ranges, have NOT binged, have not fallen into the traps of emotional eating, and have NOT given up my determination to follow my food plan. I have managed to continue to exercise, doing my chair exercises in place of the pool. I admit that I have NOT done my strength exercises per se, but am getting in 90 minutes of chair exercises and many of them are the same basic moves I do when I strength exercise. I have been getting in my 8 glasses of water daily and many days have exceeded that by 4 or more glasses. I have not missed a day of sparking, making sure to visit my spark friends' blogs, actively participating in the threads on my teams, welcoming new folks, sending out goodies and comments and basically trying to spread the spark where ever I go.

I don't share these things as bragging but to show folks that even when things are not going well, we can overcome the blues and spark on! Have I cried a lot? YES. However, I have also been able to "go with the flow" and for the first time I have been able to just deal with things instead of fighting against them or giving up. NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER GIVE IN. NEVER QUIT! Those are the 3 things that have stuck with me because of the positive sparkles that I get from my spark teams and spark friends.

Today I am thankful that FUNNYGRANNY70 sent out an email asking me why I had not blogged. I am thankful that other spark family members have been honestly posting about their struggles and that has helped me to see just how lucky I am and how difficult so many folks are having it. I am thankful that I am able to recognize and embrace the blessings in my life. I am grateful that I found spark people and have been able to stay active and strongly involved since I began this journey. I'm thankful for the special spark friends that I have been able to meet "in real life" who have blessed my life and inspired me. I am thankful that I have let go of so much weight. I am thankful that I have learned that NOT losing weight is okay as long as I am still doing the next right thing. My scale has shown me the same number for 3 weeks now and that has not caused me to freak out, something very new for me. I am thankful that I am learning that the scale is NOT my boss and that numbers are not the big deal in changing my life for the better. I am thankful that so many people are doing this with me and I am assured that I am NOT alone. I am thanful that spark people has so many resources and articles and tools that are helping me daily to grow mentally, emotionally, physically and yes, spiritually! I am thankful that SparkGuy is so dedicated to this site and to US. I am thankful that fellowship and teamwork are the core of spark people and that I have learned that TOGETHER we are going to be successful in changing our lives, ultimately becoming healthier and happier people. I am thankful for my struggles because they make me appreciate the times when sailing is smoother. I am thankful to be alive. I AM THANKFUL.

Thank you for letting me ramble. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for sharing your motivation, inspiration, and advice with me. You light up my life. Bright blessings to you all. Be blessed and be well, Love, Dawn