I am doing my best to stay focused on the priority at hand. It has been difficult these last 10 weeks since the surgery to repair my multiple hernias and the removal of my gallbladder. This recovery stage continues to be challenging, and at times, the pain and various symptoms feel as if I just had the surgery. The continued assurance of my physicians that my recovery is going to be longer due to the extent of the surgery, my Adrenal Insufficiency, and my steroids do not provide me with any confidence but, at times, anxiety instead. I admit with any pulling, numbness, or pain that I feel, I cannot help but wonder what is going on inside of me. I wish I could take a peek inside to make sure everything is intact. For now, I do what I can do, which is continue to place my fear and anxiety in the hands of God.

I continue to focus on the work responsibilities of my two employers, which I enjoy and have been blessed to have. I also make it a point to feed my creative side and try new things that force me out of my comfort zone. I also try to practice silence and mindfulness to calm my mind. I recently discovered the YouTube audio screensavers to help with sleep and stress. At night, I use the snowy winter ambiance and, during the day, the cozy beach house ambiance. I never used to like the sounds of silence, but now I gravitate towards it when I hear too much outside noise.

Making space for what matters most is one of the points we share with our clients when they call Alamo Organizers for their home organization needs. This same statement applies to our lives. Making time and space for what matters most to me is priority one. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ is my number one priority, hands down because, without Him, I would definitely not be alive today after all the surgeries, life-and-death situations, and challenges that I have faced throughout my life. In the Bible, I am reminded of the scripture Lamentations 3:22-23, which states, “The love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”

My next priority is my health, which is the daily management of my disease, let alone any additional issues that come along, like right now with recovery and post-op side effects of surgery. I cannot live in fear of what may or may not happen when it comes to my current situation. I continue to strive to keep my focus on what matters most.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” -Maya Angelou