5 years and 23 days ago I went into surgery thinking I was going to come out an amputee. Frankly, the fact that I was “only” going to lose my left foot was an emotional relief to me…. it could have been much much worse, and more important body parts could have been damaged if things had gone differently.
I know it may sound strange, but I was at peace with the future of a prosthetic (even before the actual complete removal of my foot had taken place). That may account for my literal disappointment when I woke up from surgery and saw my toes peeking out from a well bandaged lower leg…… I knew I was in for a rocky road ahead. Severed tendons, a broken bone, significant soft tissue and connective tissue damage (along with a statement from my surgeon that I’d probably walk with a limp for the rest of my life) did not give much hope for living pain free.
And yet… here I am 🙌🙌🙌…. 5 years and 23 days later…. doing all the things I did before my run in with the bull. Frankly, I’m even more active than I was. Farm chores 👩🌾 5K’s, regular gym Boot Camp workouts 💪 (thank you Fit Body Boot camp), hiking up a glacier, teaching yoga…. ALL these things without pain or impaired flexibility.
Diet, exercise (motion is lotion!), focusing on increased flexibility, clean water intake, toxin free living……. all these are important in recovery and also pain and inflammation management.
The icing on the cake tho….. the special tools in the toolbox…. are these: Agilease or BLM + Sulfurzyme.
Because I had significant bone and ligament damage, I take BLM + Sulfurzyme daily…. every day….. 365 days a year.
I live my life pain free. Yup. Not a day with pain for this gal. 🙌🙌🙌
2 SULFURZYME TWICE A DAY.
1 BLM TWICE A DAY.
👆Game changers for my life 👆…. Because life is too short to spend it sitting on the bench (or on the porch)! 😉
Haven’t tried these yet, and you’re sitting on the sidelines? What are you waiting for? Life is short friends …. make the most of it!
xoxo~ liz
#sharingiscaring
#BLMandSulfurzymeforthewin
#thisismylifewithYL
#ThanksYL
#whatsyourgamechanger
Trauma
C.S. Lewis convo
As a guest writer on Liz’s good medicine blog, I, Stephanie Gregory wanted to share what I learned from one of my favorite thinkers. It is in the format of a conversation, which obviously is not exactly how it went down.
Stephanie : I love reading the work of CS Lewis. I’m listening to one of his books on audio with my 5 year old daughter now, and his writings always inspire me and cause me to reflect. So, I was curious… what fear gripped his world when he was alive? How did he recommend they handle it? After reading his essay, I replaced “coronavirus” with “the Atomic bomb” in his article to reveal his wise advice.
C.S. Lewis : “How are we to live in (a coronavirus) age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, and age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.’ In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation.”
Stephanie : Truly, this virus is an “unknown”, but there is really nothing new under the sun. All ages have experienced dangers. Did we think ourselves too brilliant to not die or suffer?
C.S. Lewis : “Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before (this coronavirus) was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways.”
“The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together.”
Stephanie : OK -remain calm and don’t panic. Pull out “Stress Away” essential oil blend and inhale deeply.🌳 It will help calm the brain and slow down our racing thoughts.
C.S. Lewis : “If we are all going to be destroyed by (this coronavirus), let that (virus) when it comes find us doing sensible and human things-praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts-not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about (this coronavirus). They may break our bodies(a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
Stephanie : Use this time to grow! We are going through this whether we like it or not. How we respond to it is up to us. Peppermint essential oil will help clarify what this looks like for you!
Take time to be quiet and rest. Here is our chance to reevaluate our priorities and take time to think. Take deep breaths and quietly ponder what matters most to us. I’m thinking frankincense here.
Get to know the people that live in our homes or neighborhoods. Social distancing does not have to mean social isolation. Sharing a meal together or just hanging out is an important way to support one another, especially when going through a new hardship. Incorporate lemon 🍋 essential oil in diffusers, roll-ons, or drinks to lighten moods.
CS Lewis suggests that some may panic and kill themselves, while others may decide to live it up and enjoy life while they can. We can do better if we are intentional. If CS Lewis had the knowledge that we have about the power of essential oils, I believe he would have recommended Valor, “Courage” in a bottle.
CS Lewis : “We must resolutely train ourselves to feel that the survival of Man on this Earth, much more of our own nation or culture or class, is not worth having unless it can be had by honourable and merciful means.
The sacrifice is not so great as it seems. Nothing is more likely to destroy a species or a nation than a determination to survive at all costs. Those who care for something else more than civilization are the only people by whom civilization is at all likely to be preserved. Those who want Heaven most have served Earth best. Those who love Man less than God do most for Man.”
Stephanie :
Let us do more than just survive! Let us look beyond ourselves and make a difference in our world for eternity!
Everyone Matters
Whose Life Matters More? How’s that for a politically incorrect intro? Dang it if this hasn’t been on my mind for weeks on end.
I think we can say with near 100% certainty that the numbers regarding CV19 are suspect. Even Dr. Deborah Birx ( the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator) has said that the numbers are inflated by perhaps as much as 25% AND she herself doesn’t even trust the information the CDC is handing out these days. (according to a recent Washington Post article)
To date (and according to the worldmeter.com website), there have been 99,927 deaths due to CV19 in the United States (a .03% death rate in the USA and .07% worldwide if you do the math).
The virus is clearly real, and like all viruses, it is apt to pray on those in the poorest health…. Including those who are laden with organ compromising toxins. No wonder many of the elderly are at risk, considering the average 65-84 year old takes between 15-18 prescription medications each year (in addition to elder vaccinations).
The “Powers that Be” made the decision to lock down the world (except for Sweden who did its own socio-bio-virology experiment and seems to be doing fine) and continue to encourage a no touch 6 foot distancing protocol, tho we know that the virus doesn’t obey the pseudo-science edict that the CDC has ordained.
We also know that a mask of any shape form or fashion is paltry protection unless you are:
1. In a sterile environment.
2. Putting it on properly and then NOT touching the mask the entire time it’s on your face + #1
3. Boiling or sterilizing or using a new mask each and every time + #1 and #2.
4. Your mask is an N95 or greater + #1 & #2 & #3…. And NOT made of cloth.
5. Has been fitted properly for your individual face + #1 & #2 & #3 & #4.
Otherwise you are #attemptingtocatchmosquitoeswithafishingnet
Yes, I know you know all of this, but it is important to recount the facts. 😉
People with high risk comorbidities have cause for concern and therefore it would be prudent to be cautious and careful if they fall within that category.
In addition to limiting social contact and perhaps wearing a mask properly, we can hope they are also attempting to correct the course of their ship by eating organic foods and foregoing the junk,fast, and processed foods, exercising as much as is appropriate and under supervision, exercising their brain thru stimulus outside of television, drinking clean filtered water, getting plenty of sunshine, and removing toxins from their lives as much as possible.
And if they are not, who are we to tell them how to live their lives? #itsaConstitutionalright
Then there are the roughly 18 million Americans who lived with depression and anxiety before CV19 came into the picture.
Who knows how many have since joined them. 😢
Many people rely on daily routines, their jobs, time at the gym, time outdoors, interaction with friends, coworkers, and family members…. The hugs, love, and comaraderie …. Balm for the soul that keeps them afloat instead of drifting. #weareherdanimals
But the stark reality is this: not everyone has a job (unemployment continues to rise quickly) AND…. not everyone is getting (or has gotten) a stimulus check. I personally know quite a few people who are really starting to struggle under the weight of the financial burdens they have. 😢
Alcohol and drug addiction is also on the rise, as people sit at home and look for ways to numb themselves. 😢
I spoke to a friend who is a police officer 👨✈️in Dallas and he remarked that suicide is easily more of an epidemic right now than the virus in Dallas. The numbers he gave me indicated a 400% increase in the incidence of successful suicides these last few months. He cited depression and financial burdens based on evidence at the scenes in most cases. According to the Public Health group, Well Being Trust, we can expect these numbers to exceed death due to CV19.
Isolation, extreme mental distress and economic burdens typically don’t mix well. But since the mainstream media isn’t reporting on this, it leads me to believe that perhaps these lives matter less?
I personally don’t believe it, but if we are to believe the mainstream media in all things, then it must be true.
Dr Caroline Leaf is one of our nation’s foremost authorities on psychology and brain science. #sheisbrilliantandworthfollowing
In her book, Who Switched Off My Brain, she discusses dangers of prolonged lack of touch, also called “cutaneous deprivation”.
Over time, “cutaneous deprivation causes emotional disorders, affects our intellect, and physical growth, and weakens the immune system. Research also shows touch deprivation causes negative change in the brain laying patterns for aggression and violence”.Touch is also considered a powerful healing force that alleviates the symptoms of stress, trauma, and depression. In short, we are wired for loving touch by God. #wiredforloveandtouch
Geez… considering 28% of Americans live alone, and 5% of the elderly live nearly “touchless” in some form of assisted living…. I can only imagine the damage being done.
And yet…. The mainstream media is silent on this topic too, and we are encouraged to continue to exacerbate the problem by social distancing, and the elderly in assisted living continue to go without advocacy and visits from their loved ones.
……. But I suppose the health and wellbeing of the combined 32% of our country’s community who live in relative isolation (roughly 100 million people) is less important than the .03% who may yet still lose their lives to the virus.
Media?…….
I would be remiss if I also didn’t speak for the kids whose lives are traumatized by the very ones they live with. Before the ‘rona shutdown, 4 children die daily in the USA from child abuse and neglect. An estimated 3 million children are living victims of child abuse, and they’ve been locked inside with their abuser for the last many weeks. Who knows what kind of permanent physical and mental damage this has done to these babies during this time? Is that damage fixable? Only God and time will tell.
Media?…. Where are you?Are the lives of these 3 million babies not important too?
Spousal abuse is going on as well… make no mistake about that. An estimated 4.8 million women and 2.9 million men live in an abusive relationship with many having no place to retreat these last many weeks.
I suppose their lives are not quite as important as those who might get a virus that has a .03% mortality rate. I keep expecting to hear media outrage about child and spousal abuse….. But again…. Crickets.
We’ve misplaced our faith in this country and put it on statistics and the advice of man instead of God. #areallybadidea
💗 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)
💗 “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” (1 Cor 10:24)
💗 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
💗 “… love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)
💗 “Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him…” (Mark 1:41)
There is no room for fear in a time such as this. It’s a foothold for the devil and that’s all he needs to turn focus inward instead of outward.
EVERYONE’S life matters and we need to stop thinking of only the 0.03%, and care for and cherish the other 99.97% too.
xoxo~ liz
www.goodmedicine.info
#protectingtherightsofeveryonenotjustaselectfew
#everyonematters
#WWJD
#Weallmatter
#standupforyourrightsasachildofGod
#standupfortherightsofthosewhocannot
#qualityoflifematterstoo
#givegraceandbekind
Trafficking
I really feel strongly that this is a season of personal growth for our entire world…. an awakening of sorts. Even tho I’m still working more than 40hrs/week from home or as an “essential worker” at the pharmacy during our “time alone together”, I’m trying to carve out time to seek knowledge as I am led to it.
Today, after lunch, I spent about 35 minutes at one of my favorite quickie education sources: https://www.prageru.com/ .
Today’s dive into being better versed in the world of current events have left me 😭😭😭😭 . I may be worthless now for the rest of the day 😭, but this was information we ALL need to know exists so that we can put a stop to it collectively.
Child Sex Trafficking. (I hate even typing those words out 😭 ). I first learned about this industry (for sadly, it IS that) in 2016, and it hasn’t left my mind since.
Here are some quick stats:
👤 8 Million children are trafficked each year
👤 Child trafficking is the fastest growing “industry” in the world today.
👤 There’s been a 5000% increase in “dark web” child rape videos in the last few years (little kids… under the age of 12)👤 There are currently an estimated 250,000 children actively trafficked in the USA.
👤 The USA is the NUMBER 1 consumer of child rape videos in the world. 😭
👤 There are more people (30 million adults and children) currently being trafficked in the world than there has ever been in any time in history.
” It takes guts to listen, and it takes guts to engage.”
https://www.prageru.com/…/the-candace-owens-show-tim-ball…/…
I encourage everyone to take a listen to this video and be changed forever. Ignorance is not bliss. Collective ignorance is a large part of why this beast exists and it must stop.
Join me, won’t you? If we all take an hour or so out of our “at home experience” to work on something that will improve other people’s lives…… imagine how much better the 🌎world will be when we all step outside collectively, and breathe a big sigh of relief. Even if we were to have to stay cooped up for a month or two…. it’s a small price to pay if we collectively make the world better when it’s all over…. isn’t it?
hugs and love friends~ liz
#knowbetterdobetter
#useQuarantinetimewell
#bethehandsandfeetofJesus
At the Wolf’s Table
📚 For as long as I can remember, I’ve read before bedtime. It quiets my mind. I read and research nonstop these days, but there’s a difference between reading for business and reading for pleasure (I love both!). Business reading puts my brain in high gear while pleasure reading slows it down 😴.
📖I thought I’d start sharing some of what I’ve been reading. I am a history buff so historical fiction is the genre I tend to gravitate towards. Historical fiction brings important moments to life for me in a way that I can easily remember them later. A good historical fiction writer will have done thorough research on their topic or time period and will have accurate facts and prominent figures…. Filling in the blanks of the story with characters. (I am a very picky reader and often fact check my historical fiction authors! 😉 )
📖 At The Wolf’s Table (by Rosella Postorino) was originally written in Italian and has since been translated into English. Its protagonist is a young German bride (Rosa) whose husband goes off to fight during WWII for the Germans. She returns to live with her parents in Berlin until they are killed in air raid bombings, at which time she moves out to the country to live with her in-laws (whom she had not previously met).
📖 She’s not there long before she is conscripted by the German govt to go to work as one of Hitler’s food tasters. She, along with several other German women go to Hitler’s headquarters twice a day to eat his meals before he does to ensure that what he eats has not been tainted or poisoned. Over time, friendships and alliances form between some of the women and the German guards that they spend hours each day with.
📖 At the Wolf’s Table is such an interesting story as it is one told from the perspective of a German woman who has not entirely bought in to Hitler’s teachings largely because of what her father taught her when she was younger. She seems to be neither for nor against Hitler’s agenda as she is more mentally attuned towards grieving the loss of her parents and the absence of her new husband. Her life has been turned upside down by her own country’s actions, and for a great part of the book, it seems as tho she is drifting thru all she is experiencing. No doubt……. she has been subjected to great loss and upheaval…. and she risks her life daily performing a job she did not want. PTSD and emotional overload? Umm yes.
📖 An incident finally shakes her awake when a friend turns out to be a Jew in hiding. Instead of turning her in, she awakens and starts fighting the system as best she can while still struggling to survive intact herself. It is so tragic to watch (or read in this case) how asleep the German people were. They were not bad people, but many years of subversive leadership and indoctrinating propaganda had led them to believe what they were doing was right. I wonder how long it took German citizens to wake up once they realized the truth of what had been happening under their noses on their own soil, and I wonder how many of them suffered mentally afterwards from the part they unwittingly played in the destruction of so many lives (including their own)?
📚 This book is based on the life of Margot Wolk, Hitler’s last living food taster who died in 2014. It was a compelling read, and one I recommend. History can so easily repeat itself, and its best that we know it well lest we find ourselves repeating it.
Info on Margot Wolk: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margot_W%C3%B6lk
A short video on Ms. Wolk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcZyBqJCzk
Tell me….. What are you reading these days?
xoxo~ liz
#somanybookssolittletime
#bibliophilesunite
#justgivemeagoodbookandImahappygirl
#ThanksYL