Jake_W
02-11-2003, 10:41 PM
Brief bio:
Mother of two sons ages 24 & 28.
Divorced a lifetime ago (24 years)
Grandmother to four (2 boys 2 girls) ages 2 1/2 to 12
Daughter to two mothers
(my brother, sister & I met our birth mother 2 years ago)
Sister to four brothers, one sister, two step sisters, three step brothers
Occupation: Department & Relationship Manager for Institutional Trust Department
Avocations: Expanding my horizons, enjoying the great outdoors, gardening, biking, reading
Joys of my life: My children & grandchildren.
Since my sons are too old to play with mom I enjoy playing with the grandkids and have many opportunities to see the world through a child’s eyes again . They also allow me to practice patience and being in the Now.
Stress has been with me for over 20 years and I used to deal with it by ignoring it and doing more. The more I did the less time I had to think about underlying causes of the stress. At the time it seemed so obvious that I would have stress since I was working full time and raising two boys with little help from their father. As the boys got older I found myself working longer hours rather than coming home to an empty house. I couldn’t or wouldn’t let myself relax. I haven't mastered the art of relaxation but I am making headway.
The first symptoms I ignored were headaches and TMJ problems and ended up having two jaw surgeries. The first was a Teflon implant in the jaw joint. It replaced worn cartilage and tendons from years of grinding my teeth (stress related). Unfortunately the implant fragmented and the body attacked the foreign objects. There was a recall on the implant because of all the problems it created. I was having severe headaches which I attributed to. . . . stress of course.
The reality was about 65% of my jaw disintegrated so I had to have the entire upper jaw replaced. Got that out of the way and then developed pain in my neck and shoulders. Again that attitude of "I can do it myself" had taken its toll. What did I do--dismissed it as muscle strain from too much yard work or moving furniture and kept on going. (Hmmm, there seems to be a pattern developing.)
I had a ruptured disc in my neck. My last surgery was about five years ago to fuse the ruptured disc. I’ve often wondered what the significance is of all my surgeries being from the neck up. I know there is an emotional component to all this that I haven't fully examined. I do recognize that where I have been has been the result of decisions I made and actions I took over the years. If my improved health is the result of my decisions and actions over the past year it stands to reason that I contributed to my poor health because of things I did or did not do.
By the age of 49 I was experiencing middle-age spread, decreasing energy, recurring upper respiratory infections, kidney & bladder infections and a corresponding increase in the number of prescriptions for arthritis, sinusitis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Thankfully I found this program. I completed Level 1 and Level 2 last year and know that I am right where I need to be to continue this journey of rejuvenation.
I will begin the precleanse the first of March and start the formal cleanse on April 4. I love working in the garden and feel an affinity to the earth so it makes sense to begin cleansing and renewing myself at the same time the season changes from Winter to Spring.
I thank you all for sharing this journey with me and offering your support.
Mother of two sons ages 24 & 28.
Divorced a lifetime ago (24 years)
Grandmother to four (2 boys 2 girls) ages 2 1/2 to 12
Daughter to two mothers
(my brother, sister & I met our birth mother 2 years ago)
Sister to four brothers, one sister, two step sisters, three step brothers
Occupation: Department & Relationship Manager for Institutional Trust Department
Avocations: Expanding my horizons, enjoying the great outdoors, gardening, biking, reading
Joys of my life: My children & grandchildren.
Since my sons are too old to play with mom I enjoy playing with the grandkids and have many opportunities to see the world through a child’s eyes again . They also allow me to practice patience and being in the Now.
Stress has been with me for over 20 years and I used to deal with it by ignoring it and doing more. The more I did the less time I had to think about underlying causes of the stress. At the time it seemed so obvious that I would have stress since I was working full time and raising two boys with little help from their father. As the boys got older I found myself working longer hours rather than coming home to an empty house. I couldn’t or wouldn’t let myself relax. I haven't mastered the art of relaxation but I am making headway.
The first symptoms I ignored were headaches and TMJ problems and ended up having two jaw surgeries. The first was a Teflon implant in the jaw joint. It replaced worn cartilage and tendons from years of grinding my teeth (stress related). Unfortunately the implant fragmented and the body attacked the foreign objects. There was a recall on the implant because of all the problems it created. I was having severe headaches which I attributed to. . . . stress of course.
The reality was about 65% of my jaw disintegrated so I had to have the entire upper jaw replaced. Got that out of the way and then developed pain in my neck and shoulders. Again that attitude of "I can do it myself" had taken its toll. What did I do--dismissed it as muscle strain from too much yard work or moving furniture and kept on going. (Hmmm, there seems to be a pattern developing.)
I had a ruptured disc in my neck. My last surgery was about five years ago to fuse the ruptured disc. I’ve often wondered what the significance is of all my surgeries being from the neck up. I know there is an emotional component to all this that I haven't fully examined. I do recognize that where I have been has been the result of decisions I made and actions I took over the years. If my improved health is the result of my decisions and actions over the past year it stands to reason that I contributed to my poor health because of things I did or did not do.
By the age of 49 I was experiencing middle-age spread, decreasing energy, recurring upper respiratory infections, kidney & bladder infections and a corresponding increase in the number of prescriptions for arthritis, sinusitis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Thankfully I found this program. I completed Level 1 and Level 2 last year and know that I am right where I need to be to continue this journey of rejuvenation.
I will begin the precleanse the first of March and start the formal cleanse on April 4. I love working in the garden and feel an affinity to the earth so it makes sense to begin cleansing and renewing myself at the same time the season changes from Winter to Spring.
I thank you all for sharing this journey with me and offering your support.