Monday, August 07, 2006

At this rate....



I had my real age
calculated last year, before the tinnitus, before the anemia, before the GI problems and sedentary weight gain....all I dealt with was the lupus and fibro pain. I was calculated 8 years below my real age of 47. Now, I was calculated only 1 year below my actual age...so I've aged 7 years physically in 1 year! OMGosh! I'm a dog! ;-). Seriously, though...I'm concerned. Here's a last year picture, and a this year picture. Not good....but I'm determined to turn it around! I know you all...you'll want to post sweet nice things, but DON'T!! I gotta get myself together, here. Addendum: Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." -- William Jennings Bryan This brings to mind my one post where I heard the Father's words: "It's your choice." God gives us free will to make choices. I gotta remember that! Yes, we deal with many issues: finances, health, tragedies, etc.; It's how we work with what we have.

13 comments:

karen said...

You can change it, C...even with the M.S. I believe that.

Christine Boles said...

That "gentle and quiet spirit" cultivation the bible mentions in 1 Peter works, though it can be challenging to get into. It makes any woman look amazingly improved (portrait artist talkin here~ :) ~ that training means I can pinpoint little changes on faces quickly; but others quickly notice, too, they just can't figure out what the change is).

Also, meditation or contemplative prayer helps smooth away fine lines~
and I got something yesterday that I'll probably soon be raving over on my blog!~~ A facial massager! It's this little wooden thing I got at World Market, it rolls over your face and causes muscles to untense~ soooo relaxing!

karen said...

Christine...Yep, aging begins from the inside out...stress is a major factor...and I posted my face because I see how the stresses of the last year are reflected in my "look."
I'll have to work on that "gentle and quiet spirit" stuff...God made me more of a Deborah, I'm afraid!
I'll go fetch one of those face massagers! :-) Thanks!

Bar L. said...

Would it help if I posted some mean and nasty things?

I tried. I can't help it - I have to say that I can barely see a differnce in the pics and you are lovely in both. Your smile is beautiful.

Please don't be mad at me.

Helen said...

Karen, I know you said not to post nice things but I just have to!

You look lovely in both pictures and your personality shines through with that lovely smile, I've come to the conclusion that our friends don't notice when we feel that we have changed in appearance, they love us for who we are, but it's how we feel about ourselves isn't it,

So keep smiling Karen, you're luvvverly!!!

Joe said...

I must agree with Barbara and Helen. Please don't be upset with me but I don't see an age difference between the pictures. You do look quite pretty and healthy in both pictures.

Don't let somebody else tell you how old you are or how you feel. Think young... act young... be young.

karen said...

C:
You hang in there, buddy. I know that you are doing everything you can. Your attitude is so good in light of everything you've been through. Good grief...you've been through a hurricane, uprooting your family, your wife's illness, your illness and the deceitful treatment by a church, no less. We're praying for you!

Bar, Helen, Joe...I could never be mad at you! Y'all are community!
You guys are sweet. You said the right things...that it's about how we feel about ourselves that matters the most.
You're right...I look at my friends and they seem unchanged even when they say they have changed. I'll work on a more positive attitude...and a healthy course of action! :-)
I almost deleted this post after I wrote it. I'm glad I didn't. You've encouraged me...thank you!

... Paige said...

I can not see much difference in the photos, the newer one you look a little thinner (yes really)
I am not even gonna calculate my real age, cause I'm old enough to know better. lol
Now get to work!

karen said...

yes, ma'am!! :-)

Gigi said...

HEY......I think you look stunning.....I think what I read here reflects what I see in the photos.....you are a woman AFTER God's heart and THAT IS ATTRACTIVE!!

kc bob said...

Stress is a strange animal and does unexpected stuff to us. When I was forty my hair was mainly brown. My wife had a heart attack (she was 39) and kidney failure - she almost died. The stress and fear was unbelieveable. Within six months my hair was mainly gray.

I am with Barbara, Helen & Joe on the photos and especially agree with BJK in this:

"I think what I read here reflects what I see in the photos.....you are a woman AFTER God's heart and THAT IS ATTRACTIVE!!"

karen said...

becky, thank you.
bob, you look awesome in gray hair...just sorry about the way you got it.
Thanks, everyone..I'm struggling now. I'm tired, and feeling unhappy with myself because I'm tired. Trying to make positive, healthy choices, get enough sleep (is 14 hours too much?).
I'm going to check in and see if some of these meds I'm on are contributing. I shall persevere!!

karen said...

David, I am so glad you came by to "talk to yourself" and to me! I understand a bit of what you're going through, from my friend Chad at Simply..on my links. He has MS. My brother and step mother also have severe ataxias..my step mom's is rapidly progressing probably due to her age. They have many of the MS and MG symptoms. I hate that you all are suffering with this! I try to figure out what God is going to do with this, and can't for the life of me understand. I just know that he places people in certain places to care for one another. And the pure grit that it takes to get through suffering is part of our transformation. Praying for all of you.