NOW is the time

Life is still overwhelming at this point.

The celebration for Tracy is Sunday.

Knowing that in a couple days things will change yet again and

we will be "post" first funeral technically

is a relief and depressing all at the same time.

And even with all that, my mind constantly circles back to all that we have learned through this journey that I really really want to share so no one else has to go through what we have.

My initial reason for starting this blog was to list in some organized fashion the practical side of dealing with the day to day details of living with ALS.  Tracy was very very good at expressing the emotional roller coaster of his journey.  But he never discussed how to scratch your nose if you have no hands or how to wash someone's hair that can't hold their head up.  I really want to share that.

I feel so strongly that if others diagnosed with ALS could START where we left off they will never have to deal with the harsh symptoms we did.  I hope that the depression that finally overwhelmed Tracy can be squelched by making each challenge easier to face and deal with and allow others to live longer, healthier, happier lives.

I can't wait to get started- so I won't which leads to our Mantra.

The Mantra we (me, I ) adopted because of our ALS journey is-

NOW IS THE TIME.  

Whatever it is- do it NOW.  Now is the only real time. The past is just a memory. The future is just your imaginings.  NOW is the only time that is REAL. 

Tracy had an ALS habit of postponing things, avoiding things, ignoring things that were difficult, unpleasant or scary.

ALS is a STRESS based disease.  FEAR is a driving force in ALL symptoms of ALS.

Fear you say?  Not ME!  I am strong, fit, independent! I am the provider and protector!   HIDING from that fear creates a physical and emotional stress in the mind and body that aggravates the nervous system exacerbating symptoms.  

Why do you think they call it the Nice Guy's Disease?  Because ALSers are known to work through pain and not complain. They love to be over achievers and play it off like it's nothing.

Before you dismiss what I am saying consider this.  WHY would there be a personality associated with this disease?  Even doctors admit there is.  They even admit that MS and Parkinson's also has it's own personality.   

How you have learned to deal with stress from a very very young age sets up the neurological patterns and path ways in your nervous system.  Understanding that when you change your habits and mindset you literally change your physiology and nervous system.

If you haven't read or listened to The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton and even better HIS presentation of that book you should.  It's incredibly insightful and helpful in understanding how to heal ALS as well as many other issues.

So- creating NEW habits changes your mind and body's reactions to events.  If you were one to silently stew about something or put off paying bills and put a smile on your face to get along, you may want to make changes NOW to improve your health quickly, easily and dramatically.  If what you are doing does not make you happier or healthier why do it?

It's tough you say- be happy when you are scared and uncomfortable and people keep pushing doom at you every day.  BUT....if STRESS is killing you, then the opposite of that can heal you.  So understanding that your subconscious is 24/7 reacting, listening, acting upon the constant input from your emotions and thoughts allows you to DO something to help yourself.  I'm not saying it's easy.  I am saying the concept is "simple".  Those who have healed themselves of ALS ALL- every one, have this same idea in common.  YOU MUST HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.  You can't pretend.  It doesn't matter what the public believes.  It matters what YOU actually FEEL. That is what your nervous system acts upon.  Not just what you think, but what you FEEL.  

You can decide if you are going to let yourself cry or not.  Tough guys don't cry we are taught. Cry or not- if you FEEL sad and FEEL like crying but you don't then that electrical charge is held within the body and nervous system.  It's why people go work out hard when they are stressed because they know they feel better when they do.  Being afraid of experiencing those feelings puts stress on your system.  To heal you need to relieve ALL STRESS of every kind.  

Begin NOW to heal yourself.  NOT LATER, NOT TOMORROW.  NOW.  If there is ANY hesitation in you at all about beginning to heal yourself NOW recognize THAT is ALS.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.