tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49970762498764332242024-02-21T11:25:35.115-05:00Authentic In My SkinLiving authentically - mind, body, and spirit. K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-36468085328457153062017-08-25T23:06:00.000-04:002018-01-29T19:25:57.635-05:00My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker with Printable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Has your habit tracking gone off track? Do your goals seem like obligations and things that make you groan? Has the fire you had when you first set up your goal tracking system become nothing more than embers and smoke? Well, do not despair! This happened to me earlier this year and by adding a little fun to my agenda, I was back on track, fires blazing! If you think a little fun and creativity is just what you need, keep reading to hear the details and to get a free printable to help you spice things up! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuIk9DYjhR7usu5zUSD74zabSGhyphenhyphentN5fDTBpbLivqJe95neoywjdHowCFpOHKN9mMjqjZMqK8KD5lo8z9nAhDdi_rSeeXVHK97odgs5aOn_uE5LLi6bdL50WSN6WIDiF_oJVFdzF9ADQ/s1600/My+Daily+Feel+Good+Goals+Tracker+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuIk9DYjhR7usu5zUSD74zabSGhyphenhyphentN5fDTBpbLivqJe95neoywjdHowCFpOHKN9mMjqjZMqK8KD5lo8z9nAhDdi_rSeeXVHK97odgs5aOn_uE5LLi6bdL50WSN6WIDiF_oJVFdzF9ADQ/s640/My+Daily+Feel+Good+Goals+Tracker+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="249" /></a></div>
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I started this year with a very large list of goals. Half of these goals were just daily habits I wanted to implement, like recording my health status, writing morning pages, and drinking eight glasses of water each day. I combined goals and habits using <a href="http://halelrod.com/the-miracle-morning/" target="_blank">Level 10 Life</a> and my <a href="https://michaelhyatt.com/lifescore/" target="_blank">LifeScore </a>assessment, created a basic habit tracker, and even a timeline to use in my planner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7y34dSSswtDrnESgusMWOtQN4Kf1LTQzE09fxKKi83IGUDklihSKwpD782xf-FSCyVajjfGQGtQl80jcfwOYZpQemlZI4ePZgdLwxTHOjx5kIG7J5VkF0n1-ijaUv4BAgsznnb_2d3s/s1600/Daily+Fun+Goals%252C+overdoing+it%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker with Printable - Overdoing it - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="1200" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7y34dSSswtDrnESgusMWOtQN4Kf1LTQzE09fxKKi83IGUDklihSKwpD782xf-FSCyVajjfGQGtQl80jcfwOYZpQemlZI4ePZgdLwxTHOjx5kIG7J5VkF0n1-ijaUv4BAgsznnb_2d3s/s400/Daily+Fun+Goals%252C+overdoing+it%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker with Printable - Overdoing it - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="400" /></a></div>
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In spite of my health I have managed to do well, but before you think I'm Superwoman (or still <a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2012/06/my-opinion-about-our-education-system.html" target="_blank">on steroids</a>), I did come to realize pretty early on that I had to scale it <i>way </i>down. I have such a hard time accepting my limitations (can I get an "Amen"). As I mentioned in <a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/07/5-reasons-why-im-not-blogging.html" target="_blank">a previous post</a>, I've never been a good example for time management and now - energy management. A couple of months into the year, my mentor was once again telling me, "Two things."<br />
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"A day?"<br />
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"Yes, two things a day."<br />
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I went home wondering how in the world anyone can get anything accomplished on two things a day and I started revising all my goals and daily habits. Things that started the year as daily items changed to a couple times a week and things that were weekly changed into monthly. I don't know, but I think there might be something to that, you know? Two things just came to mind:<br />
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First Thing</h3>
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<b><i><span style="color: #351c75;">Instead of giving up on your goals because you are "missing the mark," you should instead look at your goals and revise them to be more accurate for your present reality. </span></i></b></h3>
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I think there's a difference between being lazy and being unrealistic. Who doesn't start a fresh year or a new program with gusto and tons of hope and plans that <b>look </b>really good on paper? Goals that make us feel good! Goals that get us excited again for our routine lives because we can see the routine ending and new things on the horizon! We don't <i>plan </i>to do the same things; we plan <i>to do more!</i> I think in our motivation and gusto, we quite possibly, just might, totally could set some unrealistic goals (I have some experience in this...).<br />
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My motto all year has been: Even if I only spend 5 minutes a day working towards my goals, that's still further along than I was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUeH9I_nBT4qgBXPSFh-0w_cv8xnqh6sXvmgOq5THtFrJFsU6xw2hNYnTNaZLGFVLMFKCuj2FEgLnM3F1IHYQK18aD4_IsmV-4E5zM1FjqFDr997Zk353mJuXHlYiLNY6h-gQcCS2-XA/s1600/My+Daily+Feel+Good+Goals%252C+5+Minutes+A+Day%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Daily Feel Good Goals - 5 Minutes A Day - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="810" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUeH9I_nBT4qgBXPSFh-0w_cv8xnqh6sXvmgOq5THtFrJFsU6xw2hNYnTNaZLGFVLMFKCuj2FEgLnM3F1IHYQK18aD4_IsmV-4E5zM1FjqFDr997Zk353mJuXHlYiLNY6h-gQcCS2-XA/s320/My+Daily+Feel+Good+Goals%252C+5+Minutes+A+Day%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="My Daily Feel Good Goals - 5 Minutes A Day - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Please feel free to adopt this motto and do what it says! It has kept me going despite this year's many setbacks. <br />
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If you set a goal to exercise more, but you struggle to find the time and energy, run up and down your stairs for five minutes. Stairs make for a serious workout. If you've set a goal to journal, but have been too busy to even think straight, write for five minutes. Or just make a bullet list of random thoughts (for five minutes, of course). And stop beating yourself up! Yes, you. Stop. You might need to add in five minutes of saying nice things about yourself ... without being sarcastic! š And if you are sick, if you are tired, if you are so overwhelmed by responsibilities that you can't remember your name, work on <i>YOU </i>and <i>YOUR DREAMS</i> for 5 little minutes. <span style="color: #351c75;"><u><i>It's further along than you were.</i></u></span><br />
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Second Thing</h3>
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<b><i><span style="color: #351c75;">All work and no play makes everybody unhappy! For real.</span></i></b></h3>
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I still don't put only two things a day in my planner. I have a master list with everything on it. I pull from that whatever needs accomplished and add them on my weekly page. From the weekly page, I pull tasks and fill up my daily pages. I do this even though I haven't had a single day yet that I got everything accomplished. I do this even though there have been quite a few days that I didn't put anything anywhere because I couldn't get out of bed and while it frustrates me, I don't take it out on myself with wicked name-calling and negative speak, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=capisce&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS750US751&oq=capisce&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">capisce</a>? The entire point is that I'm trying - to the best of my ability.<br />
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I gotta say, though, I wasn't having any fun. No feel good fuzzies and that felt wrong. So I created My Daily Goals Tracker with nothing but fun goals!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWupKUM2jGa1BN8zF9SlB-bFKEqn5yQssNH8vC09cDd_B6AbTcItiGCS7YqsrH2amI3Nu-U9DRZnj2LKNKz6vkq_geI5cd8RSwOsnVi-VhVKuMin28X18uRIPq4jL_Cvkuyp9gY5HbNg8/s1600/Feel+Good+Goals%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker with Printable - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWupKUM2jGa1BN8zF9SlB-bFKEqn5yQssNH8vC09cDd_B6AbTcItiGCS7YqsrH2amI3Nu-U9DRZnj2LKNKz6vkq_geI5cd8RSwOsnVi-VhVKuMin28X18uRIPq4jL_Cvkuyp9gY5HbNg8/s320/Feel+Good+Goals%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker with Printable - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="213" /></a></div>
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I made three sections divided by color. The first section is for my <b style="color: #351c75;">Feel Good Goal</b><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>s</b></span>. These are the goals that feed my soul (or are just necessary, like brushing my teeth). These are the daily habits that keep me going, keep me striving, keep me from giving up. </div>
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<u>My Feel Good Goals</u></h2>
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<li><u>Prayer</u> - <i>Of course prayer is listed and listed first. I can't survive without my Jesus. </i>š</li>
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<li><u>Scripture Writing or Study</u> - <i>On bad brain fog days, when my cognitive abilities are compromised, I'm not able to study the Word, but I feel like I'm still fighting the fight when I <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/hand-copying-scripture/home" rel="" target="_blank">write Scripture</a> out in the <a href="http://amzn.to/2g7gA2G" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pretty journal</a> my sis gave me. </i></li>
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<li><u>Brush Teeth</u> - <i>Okay, brushing my teeth doesn't really feed my soul, but it does make me feel good and sometimes, I just need to remind myself! </i></li>
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<li><u>5 minutes - Exercise</u> - <i>Exercise is such a challenge for me. These five minutes may not seem like much, but for me, it is a great accomplishment. Walking up the hill to my neighbor's house or five minutes of some PT exercises usually lands me in bed. </i></li>
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<li><u>10 Minutes - Read Books</u> - <i>I normally read about 45 books a year, but this year, I haven't even read ten. With everything I've had going on with health and life, this reminds me to sneak a few paragraphs in.</i></li>
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<li><u><a href="http://amzn.to/2wbMGhL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gratitude Journal</a></u><span style="color: #000120;"> - <i>I have kept a gratitude journal on and off since reading <a href="http://amzn.to/2ixbgq3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simple Abundance</a> about twenty years ago. Being grateful truly is great for your soul.</i></span></li>
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<li><u>Daily Planning</u> - <i>With my addled brain, having a daily plan keeps me from looking at my desk with a blank stare (or keeps me from surfing the web when I shouldn't be) and it helps me to stay on track. I'm not perfect with daily planning and I'm inconsistent in that sometimes I plan my day in the morning, sometimes the night before, and sometimes not at all if fibro is wrecking havoc.</i></li>
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The next section is for <b><span style="color: #351c75;">Extra Goals</span></b>. I have this filled with <a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/p/play-therapy.html" target="_blank">play therapy</a> and <a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/p/getting-organized.html" target="_blank">organizational stuff</a> I love to do. The extra goals are all about self-care and nurturing my creativity. And having fun, of course! If any of these get checked off, well, it's like a daily bonus!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f-r_Mw4Gq7PodCZYxzgVAt1J-1aDck03QTKo1KIi3QbDVSPYvqwXUElVeuZxtgU_Khn-F2oY47zLnq8MnfSdlolxagR3w5zBWjfZpKkdNmPGy2bd-nZ55_Lxim-4weG-qlKwCIzC_XI/s1600/My+Extra+Feel+Good+Goals%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin%252C+authenticinmyskin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Extra Daily Feel Good Goals - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f-r_Mw4Gq7PodCZYxzgVAt1J-1aDck03QTKo1KIi3QbDVSPYvqwXUElVeuZxtgU_Khn-F2oY47zLnq8MnfSdlolxagR3w5zBWjfZpKkdNmPGy2bd-nZ55_Lxim-4weG-qlKwCIzC_XI/s320/My+Extra+Feel+Good+Goals%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin%252C+authenticinmyskin.png" title="My Extra Daily Feel Good Goals - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>My Extra Goals</u></h2>
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<li><u><a href="https://thefelicitybee.com/blog/hear-my-voice-august-prayer-prompts" target="_blank">Prayer Writing</a></u> - <i>Similar to Scripture writing, I have a <a href="http://amzn.to/2gcOGCx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">journal</a> to write my favorite prayers in (have you noticed yet that I'm a little obsessed with journals?) and prayers I come across while reading that really move me.</i></li>
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<li><u>Read Favorite Blogs</u> - <i>There are so many wonderful blogs that I wish I could read consistently, sigh. I'm convinced Heaven will be loaded with all the books and magazines and blogs that I didn't get the chance to read while here. Don't you agree?</i> š</li>
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<li><a href="http://tanglepatterns.com/zentangles/what-is-a-zentangle" target="_blank"><u>Zentangle</u> </a>- <i>Oh, how I love this form of <a href="http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/#.WaDQ2lSGO1s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">art therapy</a>! Look, I can barely draw a stick figure, but you need no artistic ability because Zentangle is drawing patterns and shapes using lines, squares, dots... And the millions of patterns all come with step-by-step instruction boxes.</i></li>
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<li><u><a href="http://amzn.to/2wbTzj6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adult Coloring</a></u> - <i>Did you know <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07421656.2016.1166832?journalCode=uart20&" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">coloring lowers cortisol</a> (stress hormone) levels and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16488349/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">relieves cancer symptoms</a>, like pain? Mentally, physically, and emotionally, people are finding relief in their coloring books. Here's a great article <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-nikki-martinez-psyd-lcpc/7-reasons-adult-coloring-books-are-great-for-your-mental-emotional-and-intellectual-health_b_8626136.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></li>
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<li><u>Art Journaling</u> - <i>Much like coloring, art journaling (aka visual journaling) relieves a lot of stress, physical and mental, but art journaling does more. Because it is a form of journaling, it helps you to <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/arts-and-health/201310/visual-journaling-self-regulation-and-stress-reduction-0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">process traumatic experiences and recover from them</a>. </i></li>
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<li><u><a href="http://amzn.to/2venNVn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Binders </a></u>- <i>I'm as bad with binders as I am with journals and I'm constantly updating and revising them. My big, big binder project right now is my prayer binder. I can't wait to finish it and blog about it. I have a binder for my house and finances, a binder for my blog, a binder for <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=how%20to%20draw%20zentangle%20patterns%20tutorials&rs=guide&term_meta[]=zentangle%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=patterns%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=how%20to%20draw%7Cguide%7Cword%7C7&add_refine=tutorials%7Cguide%7Cword%7C0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zentangle patterns</a>, and several more. I just really like being organized.</i> š</li>
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The last section is a write-in section and I use it for client projects or anything urgent that might pop up throughout the day.<br />
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In all, I use My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker in conjunction with my daily planning page. My daily planning page is where all those mundane and boring things (that ADD hates) are planned. You know, call the doctor, fill out the disability papers, balance your accounts. š<br />
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Of course, I always try to keep in mind <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A12-13&version=NASB" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 3:12-13</a>:<br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><i>I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in oneās lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his laborāit is the gift of God.</i></span></div>
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Creating this tracking sheet has reminded me (and <i>allowed </i>me) to play just a bit and to tap into my creativity. God is the most creative Being there ever was and we are created in His image. I believe we meet our Maker in a new way when we schedule time in our chaotic lives to create and explore our artistic side.<br />
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As a side note: Being creative doesn't necessarily mean being artistic. Perhaps cooking for your family and friends is where your imagination takes off. Using God-given and colorful fruits and vegetables combined with just the right herbs and spices for the perfect flavor combination... I just made myself hungry! For another, keeping the home clean and organized may be creative. Creating new systems at home or at work, or writing, dancing, finding a new way to teach an "unteachable" child and seeing his/her eyes light up with understanding for the first time.<br />
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If you think you are not creative, I think you just need to pay closer attention to the things you do. You will find your creativity. The key, however, is to <i><b>do. </b></i>That's where the fun comes in!<br />
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Whether you know your creative or not, this daily goals tracker can help you have a little more fun. It's good for your health so just click the links below for your free printable(s)! I have three PDF options for you to download:<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xn8LOSh5OWYXJcUpsn4UsYO585WzNhne/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker</a> - with color and headings</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gM0eJ9xKyWs5D9WgFkG68IhS-HAx_6T7/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker</a> - with color and no headings</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S38nk3IwwKrURiBW9yTBb2-xzqC65Mk6/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker</a> - no color and no headings - you can use this for many things!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJJY2Qh8m0l5qhuwS1xeaOQYBzdRfdFXvwqqFmCiVbof0C5u8STNq_6U2Nh1yRrDcGXC7NskjpAkJkwvwTdFT6PWiEYLcUNyH5KusZyCwWIAED8E83BbtwODsgI37j_RQJeZAyYlRx1Q/s1600/My+Daily+Feel+Good+Goals+Tracker+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJJY2Qh8m0l5qhuwS1xeaOQYBzdRfdFXvwqqFmCiVbof0C5u8STNq_6U2Nh1yRrDcGXC7NskjpAkJkwvwTdFT6PWiEYLcUNyH5KusZyCwWIAED8E83BbtwODsgI37j_RQJeZAyYlRx1Q/s640/My+Daily+Feel+Good+Goals+Tracker+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="My Daily Feel Good Goals Tracker - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="249" /></a></div>
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Other posts you may like:</h2>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/01/getting-organized-part-2-bullet.html" target="_blank">Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling</a></div>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/01/getting-organized-part-2-bullet.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbnHduugfnkHT0BNBYBu0aY0WvonkkEjIM6MhvzDppQyNeDyK8Be_9MP-WS5K0G6LT_S9Kg0kAfnfU7AolyY8vAB0vrfaUzllAizzBUCvIaSC4QzDESGy0899IBkiKXoycZncPY4EF9o/s1600/Getting+Organized-Bullet+Journaling-Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/05/free-online-health-summits-empowering.html" target="_blank">Free Online Health Summits: Empowering You to Take Control of Your Health</a></div>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/05/free-online-health-summits-empowering.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipis_gbwo4-013zMTLYkZhL5MG7TJkIoajCVyI0AhTJ6VU0__5GTBYcdWj2YHlJZuWQESMJpa05YNTlnE6eBp8MUh_FBB0TFNOuCQSnlwYmGdym1oDTj5za0az9OcdazgTCeQAgKxAB1o/s1600/Free+Online+Health+Summits-Empowering+Your+to+Take+Control+of+Your+Health-Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/08/do-not-be-afraid-free-printable-art.html" target="_blank">Do Not Be Afraid: Free Printable Art</a></div>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/08/do-not-be-afraid-free-printable-art.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Do Not Be Afraid: Free Printable Art - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSex3TE1AAzQInJAc898ruIUWUOV9gJW4V_Q8QoC2G7r4lCVnG8ewdRyQZD8SzS43a9FVSWv7gd5r61f1F6Q_-pRquLUF93XD0UvyHCumd_MBso-cVKAKHVljQX2mMbMW0pUOIBP_JCjc/s1600/Do+Not+Be+Afraid-Free+Printable+Art-Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Do Not Be Afraid: Free Printable Art - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" /></a></div>
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-53929158251650739152017-08-01T13:40:00.001-04:002018-01-29T19:29:18.823-05:00Do Not Be Afraid: FREE Printable Art<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Did you know the command God gives us the most in the Bible is fear not? There are some that believe the Bible gives us <a href="http://www1.cbn.com/soultransformation/archive/2011/10/21/fear-not.-365-days-a-year" target="_blank">500+ versions</a> of "do not be afraid," some that think it's exactly one for each day (<a href="http://pastorrick.com/devotional/english/full-post/don-t-be-afraid!" target="_blank">365 versions</a>), and others that believe <a href="https://millyjonesblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/365-do-not-be-afraid-verses/" target="_blank">it's a lot less</a>, but everyone I've read says that it is indeed <a href="https://bodytithe.com/frequent-command-bible/" target="_blank">the command given us most</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjsrr4WcP2qH5gNnu_w3CnI4EkcgynxKjjTahWFMEBY8GBCWBfUkUDhYIV1bVYvWfX6OtynKof3fF2duCPu-CxdmCTmjSkd6Ou0j7iez8v_UFR-2W06v-y-IaJiRDVTDfLBT6HDhihJk/s1600/Do+Not+Be+Afraid+Free+Printable+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Do Not Be Afraid Free Printable - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjsrr4WcP2qH5gNnu_w3CnI4EkcgynxKjjTahWFMEBY8GBCWBfUkUDhYIV1bVYvWfX6OtynKof3fF2duCPu-CxdmCTmjSkd6Ou0j7iez8v_UFR-2W06v-y-IaJiRDVTDfLBT6HDhihJk/s400/Do+Not+Be+Afraid+Free+Printable+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.png" title="Do Not Be Afraid Free Printable - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Two times yesterday, once in conversation with a friend and once while studying the Bible, God's command in Deuteronomy 31,"Do not be afraid," popped up. And not just "fear not," but the reminder that God is with me always: </div>
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<i>The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; </i></div>
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<i>he will never leave you nor forsake you. </i></div>
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<i>Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. </i></div>
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<i><a href="http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/31-8.htm" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 31:8</a></i></div>
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Some might say, "Oh, that's just a coincidence," but because God knows He needs to be very clear when speaking to me (like, flashing neon signs and stuff), He told me again - just as clear - with a different verse when I read my daily devotion:</div>
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<i>Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. </i></div>
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<i>Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, </i></div>
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<i>for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.</i></div>
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One message, three delivery methods. I'm like, "Okay, God, I get it!" And He's like, "Okay, Kathy, third time's a charm!" š I have a tendency to write these things off unless He whacks me in the head a few times.</div>
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Anyhoo... maybe you need this message, too. For all the worries of life, all the struggles and unseen roads, the Lord is with you. When you can't pay your bills, your friends aren't there for you and your family is far away, you are never alone, for the Lord will be with you always. This is His promise.</div>
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I wanted this promise printed in pretty and pinned to my wall where I can read it frequently so I made myself a lovely printable and why not share it? Besides, I did tell you in <a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/07/5-reasons-why-im-not-blogging.html" target="_blank">my last post</a> that I had free printables coming. Granted, those are much more functional, but I'm still writing posts and taking pictures so this will have to do. You can do what I did and print it to hang as wall art (with or without a frame). Or you can put it on the fridge where you will see it daily to remind yourself not to be afraid because He is with you always. You can even put a copy inside of your prayer journal and pray it back to the Lord. Above all, store these words in your heart and let there be peace residing in you. š</div>
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To get your free printable, just click the graphic below.</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1qCKfYxEOBWTWRyTVpYR3Ftdk0/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><img alt="Do Not Be Afraid Free Printable - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqnFwTVLyLsj0LEONuo54ehyj3IAaP7fBOen1Yd4JVZvYkWS67SOKycRGbXoFq5NPFeCYxLT_scmhH0BixEIkEXz1-uTv52QEYyjSGO5nW9LyTGplLfjYfnvYHY_SUAcr1kjBfVTCXdA/s400/Do+Not+Be+Afraid+Free+Printable+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.png" title="Do Not Be Afraid Free Printable - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6ZlNY3FYOHgNWM24wWcbXWeCqo9u-6Z63ZQM8_s0CTAt7dgGwunMFjn5LOmkH4gS8pCDbAIBTeDUsnD_VDpkBbIGmGjImXMRA_XIBAOZQFUbnaz8O1Ss9PgY-cbbKdG8-sOZI0d7gPg/s1600/My+Signature+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Signature - K.Rae - Authentic in MySkin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="711" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6ZlNY3FYOHgNWM24wWcbXWeCqo9u-6Z63ZQM8_s0CTAt7dgGwunMFjn5LOmkH4gS8pCDbAIBTeDUsnD_VDpkBbIGmGjImXMRA_XIBAOZQFUbnaz8O1Ss9PgY-cbbKdG8-sOZI0d7gPg/s200/My+Signature+3.jpg" title="Signature - K.Rae - Authentic in MySkin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="200" /></a></div>
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Please comment if you have any problems with the download or just to tell me what you think of this freebie. I'd love to know your thoughts because it will help me determine if I should continue to create and share these types of printables.</div>
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<i>Disclaimer: The lovely flowers you see and the pink polka dot background are not my creations. They were sent to me free and I combined them for today's print. The flowers came from <a href="http://angiemakes.com/free-watercolor-flowers-clip-art-for-subscribers/" target="_blank">AngieMakes.com</a> and the digital scrapbooking paper (the dot background) is from <a href="http://www.allaboutthehouseprintables.com.au/" target="_blank">All About the House Printables.</a> This pdf print is <b>for personal use only</b>. Please share the link to this page if you would like to share it with anyone.</i></div>
K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-9060812034576867542017-07-11T10:53:00.000-04:002017-08-25T23:42:24.759-04:005 Reasons Why I'm Not Blogging<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY1vpjefvUfOOri0pDc7j0bb-dnstHGfY-Oos4Hb6FL7NEAu14Ei9Y7SSy09_mACG7K5DEgyHDdliF5KeN49IhHjNF9hhK8yBpmu5Um1xNlbjK1LDWFsSzBEBmWrK_JMnh0J0dNsTBYo/s1600/5+Reasons+Why+Im+Not+Blogging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheY1vpjefvUfOOri0pDc7j0bb-dnstHGfY-Oos4Hb6FL7NEAu14Ei9Y7SSy09_mACG7K5DEgyHDdliF5KeN49IhHjNF9hhK8yBpmu5Um1xNlbjK1LDWFsSzBEBmWrK_JMnh0J0dNsTBYo/s320/5+Reasons+Why+Im+Not+Blogging.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">free stock image from <a href="https://www.hautechocolate.ca/" rel="" target="_blank">Haute Chocolate</a></span></td></tr>
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I would like to believe that it hasnāt been two months since my last post, but alas, it has been. Is it just me or does time fly by much faster than it used to? Itās Tuesday, I blink, and now itās Monday of the following week.<br />
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I have not forgotten you, dear one. In fact, if youāve been reading my blog for any length of time, you most likely notice that it looks different. And just to break it down, thereās a list of reasons why I havenāt blogged and I hope some of those reasons make you happy! They are as follows:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reason Why Iām Not Blogging #1: My Health</span></b></h3>
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One of the most maddening, frustrating, and downright disappointing realities of living with chronic illness is not being able to do all the things I want to do, or even half of them for that matter. I have been home-bound more this year than I have since I first went on medical leave (and many days I am bed-bound). Iāve had to <a href="https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">monitor my spoons</a> very carefully, but frankly, I suck at it. Truly. Time management was never one of my strengths and energy management is, apparently, not a strength of mine, either. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPlP0DPDtpmy-OlpeHXJlopoF5zsULuOAp9pUcVjqZuxlP5fZLnxrbDrUSmsutG9DBYbvXuhIqnpdxHPbVWCuuDOYiZMgbNDd1655P0V07jI2B4ZJB1e5VcL2PPxcfG1EMuT0nCObpOE/s1600/Monitor+My+Spoons+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Monitor My Spoons - Authentic in My Skin" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="810" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPlP0DPDtpmy-OlpeHXJlopoF5zsULuOAp9pUcVjqZuxlP5fZLnxrbDrUSmsutG9DBYbvXuhIqnpdxHPbVWCuuDOYiZMgbNDd1655P0V07jI2B4ZJB1e5VcL2PPxcfG1EMuT0nCObpOE/s320/Monitor+My+Spoons+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.png" title="Monitor My Spoons" width="320" /></a></div>
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Iāve also been dealing with some personal things, emotional things, and I'm a little overwhelmed. Iāve had a lot on my plate and there are many days I barely get through. Without the Lord and my faithā¦ oh my! I <i>could not</i> get through without Him. He is faithful (even when I'm not!) and He is good to me. He helps me keep my head up when I'm tired of hurting and tired of being behind and when overwhelm threatens my sanity. He helps me stay focused on this blog, poor health and all, and for that I'm grateful.<br />
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<b>Reason Why Iām Not Blogging #2: My Blog Design</b></h3>
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I started this blog in 2011 as a hobby. I wanted fun and colors and pretty, which is fine, but Iāve not been connecting and relating to my blog at all. It hasnāt been something Iāve been excited to share with people. I havenāt felt that my blog represented me well or the content I wish to share. And I will admit to being a bit embarrassed by it. There, I said it! And while I have plans for a new website with fancy buttons and features, itās currently not in my budget so Iām behind the scenes (still) learning how much I can do with what I got. The best part: Youāll be able to navigate through different pages to find the content that interests you!<br />
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And that takes me to the next reason Iām not blogging:<br />
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<b>Reason Why Iām Not Blogging #3: My Blog Content</b></h3>
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My last post on <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/05/why-i-gave-up-soda.html" target="_blank">giving up soda</a> received more than double the views than any of my previous posts in six years. The information was important to you. It had value and I donāt want to waste your time (or my own) blogging <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2015/06/if-i-die-from-something-poisonous.html" target="_blank">random blather</a>. As I empower myself to live fully in spite of fibromyalgia, by learning about natural living and natural medicine, I want to share <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/05/free-online-health-summits-empowering.html" target="_blank">what Iām learning</a> with you so that you can also be empowered to make your own decisions about your health and the health of your family.<br />
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If youāre going to spend your precious time reading the content on my blog then I want to give you something valuable and helpful in your life with that content. And I have lots of printables planned and canāt wait to give them to you, as well!<br />
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<b>Reason Iām Not Blogging #4: My Faith & Being Authentic</b></h3>
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Iāve been reading some wonderful blogs written by faithful women of God and Iām so grateful to have found them (thank you, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/authenticinmyskin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!). These women encourage me in my struggles and they inspire me in my walk with the Lord. They keep me in His Word and they help me put one foot in front of the other.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy86jn09Qq2I2IcB9JMC6frv-tqx17BsTFJp1F11mzYRK2sxsr4bdc8-n67GoUn0NdeMvz3SdMMp9Wez80EZRNjheY5BLGpSngRfr0HhWK99iZ4nxwvqWL0spXP_AtiADbgWmlxUrZmU/s1600/The+Women+Who+Inspire+Me.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Women Who Inspire Me - Authentic in My Skin" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="810" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuy86jn09Qq2I2IcB9JMC6frv-tqx17BsTFJp1F11mzYRK2sxsr4bdc8-n67GoUn0NdeMvz3SdMMp9Wez80EZRNjheY5BLGpSngRfr0HhWK99iZ4nxwvqWL0spXP_AtiADbgWmlxUrZmU/s400/The+Women+Who+Inspire+Me.png" title="The Women Who Inspire Me" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">free stock image from <a href="https://www.hautechocolate.ca/" target="_blank">Haute Chocolate</a></td></tr>
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I was once asked by a professor who was supposed to be recruiting me for a Masters of Higher Education program if I had ever thought about seminary. He said that I had such a passion for the Word of God that I really should consider it. This professor who knew me for 15 minutes understood me and my faith better than people that have known me forever. I was authentic in my conversations with him and reading the blogs of these women, it has made me see that I have not been authentic when it comes to my faith. I have not been authentic in a lot of ways and I believe itās because I have been caught between two worlds and Iām still trying to figure out who I am.<br />
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Prior to 2009, I was not a Christian. If I heard the name āJesusā I would roll my eyes. I was filled with pain and sorrow for all the traumas in my life and I was so angry at God. I found a letter I began writing to Him back in the 90ās. It was tucked inside <a href="http://amzn.to/2uMzlLM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Artistās Way</a> by Julia Cameron. Writing a letter to God was one of the writing assignments she gives in the book. My letter began, āDear God, I hate you so I must believe you exist.ā<br />
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You can imagine that the life I lived then was very dark and quite the opposite of biblical standardsā¦ and then I became a Christian. Most of my family and closest friends do not share my beliefs and I often find myself reverting back to who I was before Christ when I am around them. Not intentionally, but out of habit.<br />
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For years I have been trying to figure out who I am, the pre-Christ-following Kathy or the Jesus-loving Kathy. The truth is, Iām both of them and I always will be, but Iām learning to live a life where the two mesh and I am real. I know living with a chronic health condition these last six years adds to my confusion, but I imagine when I get there, Iāll be much more confident than I am today for I will know without a doubt who God created me to be. Until that time, Iām learning to live authentically in my skin and these wonderful Christian bloggers - they are my teachers.<br />
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<b>And the Last Reason Iām Not Blogging (#5): My Fried Brain</b></h3>
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I was an honor student in college. I graduated with a 3.85 GPA because I turned two papers in late. The reason I turned them in late was because I had already started struggling with fibromyalgia only I didnāt know it because it took ten months to figure it out. Ten months of seeing every specialist on the planet, having every poke-me-prod-me tests that the insurance would actually cover, working a stressful full-time job, working a part-time job, volunteering with high-risk youth, and taking classes.<br />
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Whew! How did I ever do all that? Iām exhausted just typing it! āThere but for the grace of God go Iā¦ā<br />
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I have an IQ in the 130ās (have? hadā¦ before fibro?). I donāt say that to brag, but to point out that college was easy for me. I love school. I love learning. I love planting my nose in a book and seeing the world. I love the exactitude of math and the words of ā¦ well, everything and every subject. Iām as bad in an office supply store as I am in a bookstore. Yes, I am a geek, but Iām a happy geek!<br />
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The only time school was hard for me was when I was procrastinating, but high IQ or not, throw fibromyalgia into the mix and Iām a drunk six-year old. Itās called ā<a href="http://www.fmaware.org/articles/cognitive-function-fibromyalgia/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fibro-fog</a>.ā<br />
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Fibro-fog has ruined my life more than the pain ever could. People donāt understand this. I have been asked if I was drunk when I was totally sober. Really. People who meet me for the first time during a fog think Iām an idiot (it does wonders for my dating life). When the fibro-fog rolls in, nothing gets done. Iām distracted, forgetful, and seriously cognitively challenged. When fibro-fog rolls in, I can become disoriented and confused. I have forgotten how to use my microwave in a fog, the microwave Iāve had for ten years. When fibro-fog rolls in, I canāt carry on a conversation. This I wish people would get instead of getting upset at me because Iām hard to get on the phone or I take so long to call them back. Speaking takes at least two spoons, sometimes more. I mix people up, forget friendsā names, forget what that thing in front of me is called (it was a garbage can).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj19YIFJahwYd5byKAKcU0SmWMSobDKaUywHW5Xz6reyrwZ3AwKq-0qfRPQvJ4H7F_vPtxwT7celvpqkpQ_Vc2Gc08t_w0pEgs-FIekP3Ar6KrSeN1r98FfdK9s7wtOPt_iS-_6SwFwcM/s1600/Fibro+Fog+-+Reasons+Not+Blogging.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Fibro Fog - Reasons Not Blogging - Authentic in My Skin" border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="415" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj19YIFJahwYd5byKAKcU0SmWMSobDKaUywHW5Xz6reyrwZ3AwKq-0qfRPQvJ4H7F_vPtxwT7celvpqkpQ_Vc2Gc08t_w0pEgs-FIekP3Ar6KrSeN1r98FfdK9s7wtOPt_iS-_6SwFwcM/s320/Fibro+Fog+-+Reasons+Not+Blogging.JPG" title="Fibro Fog - Reasons Not Blogging" width="320" /></a></div>
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Iāll get off my soap box now. Thereās a great article on <a href="https://themighty.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mighty</a> where fibromyalgia sufferers explain <a href="https://themighty.com/2016/04/what-fibro-fog-feels-like/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">what fibro-fog feels like</a>. I highly recommend it if you would like to understand this better.<br />
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So all this being said, in between bouts of weakness, pain, fatigue, and cognitive shut-downs, Iām trying to research technical things. Technical things.<br />
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Side note: I repel technology. Every gadget Iāve ever owned malfunctions. Laptops, cell phones, tabletsā¦ If you donāt believe me, you can ask my friend Deb. I was at her house last week and we were going to watch a movie. Now this girlās got ALL the gadgets. Her TV is the size of my car and sheās got some fancy <a href="http://amzn.to/2sKWJI1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon contraption</a> that allows her to watch movies that are currently playing in the theaters from the comfort of her couch.<br />
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Iām telling you, that fancy thing wouldnāt work with me in the house. It froze up. The little thinking circle just kept spinning and spinning. She tried rebooting it. Still didnāt work. She said itās never done that before, sheās never seen it do that and I might need to go home so she can watch a movie. (Ah, she was teasing!) I was happy I finally had confirmation of what Iāve already been suspicioned of (yes, I made that word up). I repel technology and technology doesnāt like me.<br />
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I repel technology and all these gadgets and gizmos are like little aliens invading my planet. I still have cassette tapes and a stereo to play them in. I still have VHS tapes and a player for them, as well. I miss my flip-top phone and as for blogging ā Ha! It is taking me some time to learn this stuff. Fibro-fog, technology repellanter (another made up word ā fogs rollinā in), these make for some mentally strenuous days (aka: using a lot of spoons).<br />
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I hope some of these reasons why I haven't been blogging make you excited by what's to come! As I work behind the scenes to create a blog that helps us both live healthier and more authentic lives, please be patient with me and know Iām thinking about you and praying you are well.<br />
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<br />K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-48599390375961628102017-05-08T17:26:00.004-04:002017-09-05T19:46:52.309-04:00Why I Gave Up Soda<i>Why I Gave Up Soda</i> was originally written for my church in May of 2012, but I needed to update it a little and repost it after watching <a href="http://thatsugarfilm.com/" target="_blank">That Sugar Film</a> yesterday. I learned that the Coca-Cola Company funded research on fructose-containing sugar that, would you believe, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45iCOKAVqjI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">showed no correlation between sugar and obesity, diabetes, heart disease...</a>! The scientist who was interviewed in the film, John L Sievenpiper MD, states in the film that sugar isn't bad for us and in the same interview said that yes, <u>COCA-COLA IS FUNDING THE RESEARCH</u>, but that doesn't sway the results or findings. Yeah, okay.<br />
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In this interview, Sievenpiper says, "Let's say we took away added sugar. Well then, what're people gunna do, uh, to get that same feeling in their life that sugar gave them in terms of their values and preferences?" This makes me go, "hmmmm..." because research (not paid for by sugar-pushing companies who care nothing for the people buying their products) shows <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/23/is-sugar-more-addictive-than-cocaine.aspx" target="_blank">sugar is more addictive than cocaine</a><a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/23/is-sugar-more-addictive-than-cocaine.aspx" target="_blank">.</a> Here's what I heard come out of Sievenpiper's mouth:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Let's say we took away cocaine. Well then, what're the addicts gunna do, uh, to get that same feeling that cocaine gave them? </span></b></div>
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Anyway, I get a little fired up because one of my values is justice and because of that value, I can never believe in scientific outcomes that are paid for by the big, corporate makers of poisonous drinks <b><i>marketed to children </i></b>and everyone else in the world. Yes, poisonous drinks (keep reading).<br />
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I drink soda. Okay, I should say that I drank soda until I began researching it for this article and I chose to research soda after hearing yet another person say to me, āIāve lost such and such pounds from eating better and exercising and if drinking diet soda is my only vice, Iām okay with that.ā Although I have fallen off the soda wagon (many times), it really bothers me to hear my fellow brothers and sisters work so hard to get healthy, but then keep drinking soda and think itās okay. Dear One, let me explain that soda, diet or not, is absolutely horrendous for our bodies and we should not be okay with it being a regular part of our diets. I couldnāt say that before because I was drinking soda, too, and did not want to give it up. So I gave myself until graduation ā get through finals and then quit! And to help me along, I began my soda research. Let me share with you what Iāve learned:<br />
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<b><u>What's in Soda and Why?</u></b></h4>
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<b>Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)</b> ā this chemical, first patented as a flame retardant, is now used in soft drinks to prevent the soda flavoring from separating and floating. BVO is linked to the following symptoms: memory loss, nerve disorders, behavioral problems, infertility, and lesions on heart muscles over time. In addition, several neurological, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and dermatological symptoms have been linked to BVO consumption. Although it has been known to have a variety of negative health effects, the <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?FR=180.30" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted</a> a limited amount of this chemical to be used in soft drinks while additional studies are done.*<br />
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<b>Phosphoric Acid</b> ā a key ingredient in soda, phosphoric acid is used in soda as a preservative, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial, slowing the growth of mold and bacteria that can develop. A flavor-enhancer, phosphoric acid also gives soda that nice acidic texture. However, PA is used to remove rust from metal and has been linked to <a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/84/4/936.abstract" target="_blank">lower bone mineral density</a>, kidney problems, and accelerated aging (<a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/" target="_blank">AJCN</a>). Phosphoric acid also assists in removing enamel from your teeth.<br />
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According to a study published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02051.x/full" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Journal of Clinical Practice</a> (IJCP), excess soda appears to cause blood potassium levels to fall to dangerously low levels. āSeveral lines of evidence suggest that the chronic consumption of large amounts of cola soft drinks may adversely affect potassium homeostasis and result in potentially severe conditions such as hypokalaemic myopathy.ā This is a condition involving muscle weakness, cramps, palpitations, and vomiting that is caused by a potassium deficiency. For more adverse side effects, click the IJCP link above.<br />
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<b>Bisphenol A (BPA) </b>ā in soda, BPA is used as a liner inside of the cans to keep the acids from reacting with the metal of the can. According to <a href="https://www.bcpp.org/resource/bisphenol-a/" target="_blank">Breast Cancer Prevention Partners</a> (formerly Breast Cancer Fund) and the International Journal of Andrology, BPA has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, miscarriages, breast and prostate cancer, reproductive dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction and <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2007.00832.x/abstract?userIsAuthenticated=false&deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">diabetes</a>, and neurological and behavioral disorders. Considered an <a href="https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">endocrine disruptor</a> (it messes with your hormones, best I can explain), Canada has banned BPA in certain food products, declaring it toxic to infants and children. And while <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/us-opts-not-to-ban-bpa-in-canned-foods-1.10370" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the FDA has no plans</a> at this time to follow suit, <a href="https://www.campbells.com/connect/faq/#/when-do-you-expect-to-be-finished-with-the-transition-to-bpa-alternatives/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Campbellās Soup</a> is phasing BPA out of itās products.**<br />
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<b>4-Methylimidazole (4-MEI)</b> ā 4-what? Unpronounceable to regular people (like myself), this ingredient is the caramel coloring that makes soda brown. This ingredient contains carcinogens (which means ācancer-causingā in regular people terms) and has been added to a list of chemicals known to the <a href="https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65" rel="" target="_blank">State of California</a> to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.<br />
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I'm not a doctor, chemist, or any sort of scientist, so I included links above for you to do your own research. However, you may not be in to that sort of thing so here are just a few more studies/details for you:<br />
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<a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/" target="_blank">The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN)</a> ā There are many articles on the AJCN website pertaining to studies on the effects of soda on the body. Some results conclude that the consumption of added sugars (caloric sweeteners) to beverages, particularly carbonated soft drinks, has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.<br />
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<a href="http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/" target="_blank">American Stroke Association</a> ā Preliminary studies presented at the International Stroke Conference show that the greater the intake of sugar-sweetened and low-calorie sodas, the significantly higher risk of stroke.<br />
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<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/" target="_blank">National Center for Biotechnology Information</a> ā Daily intake of sugary soft drinks lead to and increases fat storage in the liver and in muscle tissues. This daily intake is likely to enhance the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as determining the level of insulin resistance, possibly predisposing a person to type 2 diabetes.<br />
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<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)</a> ā sweet-tasting soft drinksāregardless of whether they are sweetened with sugar or a calorie-free sugar substituteāmight stimulate the appetite for other sweet, high-carbohydrate foods. Studies show an increase in risk of diabetes with increasing soft drink and fruit drink consumption. For those of you trying to lose weight on artifical sweeteners, HSPH states: "One worry about artificial sweeteners is that they uncouple sweetness and energy. Until recently, sweet taste meant sugar, and thus energy. The human brain responds to sweetness with signals to, at first, eat more and then with signals to slow down and stop eating. By providing a sweet taste without any calories, artificial sweeteners could confuse these intricate feedback loops that involve the brain, stomach, nerves, and hormones. If this happens, it could throw off the body's ability to accurately gauge how many calories are being taken in." Your body also craves what you put in it. Stop drinking sweet sodas and you'll stop craving sweets.<br />
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Well, I hope you are now seriously considering giving up soda... FOR YOUR HEALTH!! I am four days soda free.*** Let me know if you're joining me on this soda-free lifestyle and we'll celebrate together!!<br />
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<i><b>Updates: </b></i></h4>
<i>* <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/04/22/soda-flame-retardant-bvo.aspx" target="_blank">Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Agree to Remove Flame Retardant Chemical from Their Products.</a></i><br />
<i>** Since the first post, research has come out that <a href="https://wellnessmama.com/59970/bpa-free-bottles-sippy-cups/" target="_blank">BPA-free</a> may be just as horrible for us.</i><br />
<i>*** Make that 5 years soda free! Although I did cheat in 2015 by going on a <a href="http://amzn.to/2x8jcEI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monster Java</a> binge. Though it is not soda, it is in a can and probably just as toxic as soda, if not more. In my defense (ahem), the fibro-fatigue was killing me and I was desperate. </i>š<br />
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To this updated post, I wanted to leave you with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7OdX42NjWQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fun video</a>!<br />
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-2398880234893082422017-05-05T20:08:00.003-04:002017-08-21T22:06:41.358-04:00Free Online Health Summits: Empowering You to Take Control of Your Health<i><b>This post will continue to be updated as new summits are available so bookmark this page so you can stay informed! Last update: August 21, 2017</b></i><br />
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I have been learning so much about healing ourselves with food and herbs and the natural things of this earth. I can't get enough of the free online health summits that are going on every week. I feel hopeful that I don't have to be sick and hurting for the rest of my life. I feel empowered to say, "Enough is enough!" And I feel grateful for the hundreds of people behind these health summits and I hope by sharing them, you'll feel hopeful and empowered, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YkYU1j6hF3Y9prq_hRdjYu_rFlyQ5o0-ajWoDt857KZTVAgWO6tD2Jkf2bjSDVjOgpCkq51bGxaDnRIx6zuQwgCqOGETj46DacdDfVxcBi_6gctINJOHSgpsidOkNHt3o9akkO7S_j4/s1600/Free+Online+Health+Summits+-+Empowering+You+to+Take+Control+of+Your+Health.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Free Online Health Summits - Empowering You to Take Control of Your Health - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YkYU1j6hF3Y9prq_hRdjYu_rFlyQ5o0-ajWoDt857KZTVAgWO6tD2Jkf2bjSDVjOgpCkq51bGxaDnRIx6zuQwgCqOGETj46DacdDfVxcBi_6gctINJOHSgpsidOkNHt3o9akkO7S_j4/s320/Free+Online+Health+Summits+-+Empowering+You+to+Take+Control+of+Your+Health.png" title="Free Online Health Summits - Authentic in My Skin" width="320" /></a></h2>
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So what are these health summits, you ask? They are interviews with experts in the field of functional medicine and nutrition, people who want to share their knowledge, what they have learned through not only their degrees and academics and patients, but what they learned in their own health journeys. <a href="http://drhyman.com/about-2/about-dr-mark-hyman/" target="_blank">Dr. Mark Hyman</a>, for instance, was a practicing medical doctor when he became so sick with chronic pain, fatigue, digestive problems, and other ailments and his peers could not help him. He was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the like and took his health in his own hands to heal himself. What he learned about the healing power of foods has made him one of the most sought after functional medicine doctors in the world. <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/about/us-news-rankings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Cleveland Clinic</a> hired him to run their new <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/functional-medicine" target="_blank">Center for Functional Medicine</a>, "<a href="http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2014/09/cleveland_clinic_to_open_cente.html" target="_blank">the first academic medical center in the United States to embrace functional medicine</a>."<br />
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Here are a list of the summits I've watched (click the titles or images for further information):<br />
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<b><a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-thyroid-secret.html" target="_blank">The Thyroid Secret</a></b></h3>
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<a href="https://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-thyroid-secret.html" target="_blank"><img alt="The Thyroid Secret - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEL73LBuoSbovl9tzF_zLj3-pdau6BjoL1dsxvlw5_k1_RBeHfSpnzSeJgTne9Gbkgvhxwxgef-ANDZa9iLIh7NJ7Td5oRIWTW81msSrKuRGLi0P4OryyNMXimkBphN97xBF1tWxPnNw/s1600/The+Thyroid+Secret+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.JPG" title="The Thyroid Secret - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" /></a></div>
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Have you struggled with your health and the doctor's can't figure out what's wrong? You might have a thyroid autoimmune disease. Read my quick review of The Thyroid Secret <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-thyroid-secret.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-9.html" target="_blank">The Sweet Freedom Summit</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-9.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Sweet Freedom Summit - Break Sugar Addiction - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="426" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhdKTLZgMGgCTbJL6D17PF9RwIeW9nUijiUTtUt2jnV0HPU10oge3cj1IVxYzagjfnDzT49keq8VMbbMh3je8ACWHzAJ2ZwpIe8tsdXKKqrwB7zj5z5bBC2k2xzOajU2DVI4sA8AgRlA/s320/Sweet+Freedom+-+Break+Sugar+Addiction+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin+-+authenticinmyskin.com.PNG" title="Sweet Freedom Summit - Break Sugar Addiction - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sugar is more addicting than cocaine and may be the reason you are overweight, fatigued, depressed, and just plain sick. And sugar is in everything - even foods marketed as healthy. Learn the strategy to end your sugar addiction for good! Interviews conducted by the beautiful Sherry Strong, <a href="http://www.returntofood.com/about-2/" target="_blank">Return to Food</a> CEO and Founder. PS. <i><b>This summit was amazing!</b></i> It is tied with <a href="https://www.foodrevolutionsummit.org/ended/?orid=1235768&opid=236" target="_blank">The Food Revolution</a> (read further for that info) for first place on my list of best summits. </div>
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<a href="http://urltag.net/Bo2tn" target="_blank">The Global Stress Summit</a> </h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-7.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZCCApT1AC8qCuUTyXojM6r_VeMewN_BvmLu065qomukv6wnAkHs8WoqEeU6LkzE1YH67ffrgmT2YSOHLd-6cTZd9NZ0Q7HNnlF1gL2OBGCdlR7gmk0YaxY9Pu1wW7tlMnXTbQsTTM2s/s1600/Global+Stress+Summit%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin+authenticinmyskindotcom.PNG" /></a></div>
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We're all overwhelmed and burned out, but did you know stress can be healthy for you? This summit gives you the knowledge and resources to adapt to challenges in an effective way. Interviews conducted by the very talented <a href="https://www.heidihanna.com/aboutme/" target="_blank">Dr. Heidi Hanna</a>, Executive Director of the <a href="https://www.stress.org/" target="_blank">American Institute of Stress</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://www.foodrevolutionsummit.org/?orid=1235768&opid=236" target="_blank">The Food Revolution</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></h3>
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<a href="https://www.foodrevolutionsummit.org/ended/?orid=1235768&opid=236" target="_blank"><img alt="The Food Revolution - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="547" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXCaQgMW98njpRi6OfWWgFIqpr6fwVEOeGxK6i_jkJJcunFmckjmKaITMzL2Qtw8IsnHBJsX7L7yyGX-mFsRK8sbnt4bBrT-s4b3QBawzLr-RtEgVtezTaqtxNw0WuWPoriEyPIBwicI/s320/The+Food+Revolution%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin%252C+authenticinmyskin+dotcom.PNG" title="The Food Revolution - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">"Millions of people are sick or dying from diseases that we know how to prevent and that are caused by crappy food ā while a few unscrupulous food companies are making billions of dollars marketing the worst foods to children." </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Interviews conducted by </span><a href="http://johnrobbins.info/about-john/" target="_blank">John Robbins</a><span style="background-color: white;">, the only son of the founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream empire - he chose to walk away from it and pursue a healthy society. His son, </span><a href="http://oceanrobbins.com/" target="_blank">Ocean</a><span style="background-color: white;">, is his business partner. As I stated above, this is tied with <a href="http://sweetfreedomsummit.com/?idev_id=20946&idev_username=sirinique&utm_source=20946" target="_blank">The Sweet Freedom Summit</a> for first place on my list of favorite summits because it was just phenomenal!</span></div>
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<a href="http://urltag.net/BoRQd" target="_blank">Microbiome Medicine 2 Summit</a> </h3>
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<a href="http://microbiomemedicinesummit.com/?utm_campaign=BIOME17&utm_medium=InviteBox&utm_source=visitor" target="_blank"><img alt=" Microbiome Medicine Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="390" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCZV4887wZ_vDVkw697OeQg0MzeUyGf0cQ2ByC7aLSE8it7fCyKex29XjLNS3U5GAde05bc-EIYt2Z0f4Crmhu3dZFvnU72Evkf8WIA3G7ZGWixbuWm7ca2zHXuOQM1vTszzxcLLLoDE/s320/Microbiome+Medicine+Summit+2%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin%252C+authenticinmyskin+dotcom.PNG" title=" Microbiome Medicine Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Microbiome" is the new word in health. So what is microbiome? Your greatest ally. The control center of your health. Or better yet, click <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Joshua+Lederberg+in+New+Perspectives+Quarterly+2004+The+great+scientific+news+that+greeted+this+century+was+the+campaignto+decode+the+human+genome.+We+must+now+remind+ourselves+that+much+of+thebiological+composition+of+our+bodies+consists+of+genomes+other+than+the+human.+Multitudes+of+bacteria+and+viruses+occupy+our+skin%2C+our+mucous+membranes+and+our+intestinal+tract.+They+are+likely+to+play+a+much+larger+role+in+developing+%E2%80%93+and+resisting+%E2%80%93+disease+than+we+realize.+Understanding+this+cohabitation+of+genomes+within+the+human+body+%E2%80%93+what+I+call+the+microbiome+%E2%80%93+is+central+to+understand-ing+the+dynamics+of+health+and+disease&rlz=1C1QJDB_enUS644US644&oq=Joshua+Lederberg+in+New+Perspectives+Quarterly+2004++The+great+scientific+news+that+greeted+this+century+was+the+campaignto+decode+the+human+genome.+We+must+now+remind+ourselves+that+much+of+thebiological+composition+of+our+bodies+consists+of+genomes+other+than+the+human.+Multitudes+of+bacteria+and+viruses+occupy+our+skin%2C+our+mucous+membranes+and+our+intestinal+tract.+They+are+likely+to+play+a+much+larger+role+in+developing+%E2%80%93+and+resisting+%E2%80%93+disease+than+we+realize.+Understanding+this+cohabitation+of+genomes+within+the+human+body+%E2%80%93+what+I+call+the+microbiome+%E2%80%93+is+central+to+understand-ing+the+dynamics+of+health+and+disease&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. To be honest, I'm looking forward to learning more about it so won't you join me? Interviews to be conducted by <a href="http://kellmancenter.com/team/raphael-kellman/" target="_blank">Dr. Raphael Kellman</a>, author of <a href="http://amzn.to/2p5vb2u" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Microbiome Diet</a>. </div>
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<i>Update: Originally written before the summit began, I later found this summit to be way over my head with scientific medical speak. I think my eyes (and brain) glazed over a lot while trying to learn from the experts, which means I didn't learn as much as I have with other summits. As I am a not a medical doctor or expert (as stated in my disclaimer) it was tough to swallow and very dry. Science geeks and medical people, however, would probably enjoy this. </i></div>
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<a href="http://5xhealth.ontraport.com/t?orid=144444&opid=55&sid=VitSummit2017" target="_blank">That Vitamin Summit 2!!!</a> </h3>
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<a href="https://thatvitaminsummit.com/?oprid=20309" target="_blank"><img alt="That Vitamin Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="357" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivE4K-Ufp6ElWmueCVmk-iEq5vlmV8_iJsOm4IUoBEmF0zCWIFZm1PWeJvq4Q3udagxtiKEuGuQTIACXago4M7AL27MvdXgViRKYaxgw1gMgdkJN77ttb94TComZRfZ6UsKaYNZXg3x1E/s320/That+Vitamin+Summit+2%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin%252C+authenticinmyskin+dotcom.PNG" title="That Vitamin Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes, I'm super excited about this summit that starts on May 18, 2017! Everything you've ever wanted to know (and need to know) about vitamins and supplements. Even as a Certified Nutrition Specialist, I struggled with these so I'll be waiting... Interviews conducted by <a href="http://www.doctoryourself.com/aboutme.html" target="_blank">Andrew Saul</a> whose <a href="http://www.doctoryourself.com/" target="_blank">website </a>is "the largest, non-commercial, natural health resource on the internet."</div>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-11.html" target="_blank">Chronic Lyme Disease Summit 2</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-11.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Chronic Lyme Disease Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="322" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oqJTKUm_tcyCRNBmVDgGzv8APKKLodGwhOyHBJ3YJHy7aC4YYKL7VCVXPJ-nDRndtPNS3p109JeHbXL2hiczpWNyWP6fbfwxvwaQQ9-pGx-vqvENu23DH5Nk4cM9ixLsHa-jDqjGTV0/s320/Chronic+Lyme+Disease+Summit+2%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Chronic Lyme Disease Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Did you know, over 150 symptoms could point to Lyme disease and 300,000+ people per year contract Lyme. Itās a present-day epidemic thatās terribly difficult to diagnose, but this summit has many interviews covering expert protocols that could radically improve the life of someone with Lyme. Hosted by <a href="http://drjaydavidson.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Jay Davidson</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-12.html" target="_blank">Chronic Headache and Migraine Summit</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-12.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Chronic Headache Migraine Summit, Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="249" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk0cxhqU7dKaoBhFT6QZjch2Vc8n4hf13KIqhvfH1_LB6W2Z0gQbyqz6NbQtcI2TgriKRNgj32hiVJjkAdpDP4MOoMgKrvDE54CYpXqye_SO4zKr5KsUSdFYi0rjGoeH7rYBelaZ0otQ/s1600/Chronic+Headache+Migraine+Summit%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Chronic Headache Migraine Summit, Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" /></a></div>
Headache solutions often only address the symptoms, not the cause. This summit gathers world-renowned clinicians and researchers to help you look more deeply at the root causes of your headache (and migraine) pain. Hosted by <a href="http://www.livinglimitlessly.com/about-marta-taylor/" target="_blank">Marta Taylor</a>, <a href="http://www.engineeringradiance.com/erinknight/" target="_blank">Erin Knight</a>, and <a href="http://www.metabolictreatmentcenter.com/corey-schuler/" target="_blank">Dr. Corey Schuler</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-14.html" target="_blank">Immune Defense Summit</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-14.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Immune Defense Summit - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLQ_ZnFyk_SuPutrO15vYvbhL8endAYKYLC3xs7yyl4sF2RfOwl0iPj5kcNCbYO_BXA3HSyylDNq_w1bst4N1aMGpVRQMM83VpDUfQwMX64xvaEjPWi_HY2IfSXIbrFxv5fhNhop13Cc/s1600/Immune+Defense+Summit%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Immune Defense Summit - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" /></a></div>
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Learn about the best protocols to prevent illness and defeat diseases like autoimmune disorders, cancer, heart disease and the looming threat of "superbugs," which are on pace to be MORE deadly than any other health condition. Itās time to give your immune system what it needs to protect your health and these experts can help you. Hosted by Jonathan Landsman, host also of <a href="https://www.naturalhealth365.com/" target="_blank">Natural Health 365</a>.<br />
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The following summits are playing soon so make sure you register:<br />
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-15.html" target="_blank">Interpreting Your Genetics</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-15.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="99" data-original-width="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqtRM_vmuYl1R2-gortSpRk89MpROEJmyHBMZHubc5mtopPyZaAywGHmMvncBljI27OhATrpwpxLQ2XW7mXK7IzIqbqx_1P5pKTDoJMzW4UA5cY_e_BDr8QnuWXce9LSzS0SWQ5DbbfU/s1600/Interpreting+Your+Genetics%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" /></a></div>
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These experts teach you best practices for using genetic/genomic information to alter your lifestyle, guide treatment and create better health! Learn about your predisposition for diseases and how to minimize manifestation, genetic health traits your children are likely to inherit, whether your medications and supplements are right for you, how to unlock previously unsolved health challenges and more. Hosted by James Maskell of <a href="http://goevomed.com/" target="_blank">Evolution of Medicine</a>.<br />
<b><a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-15.html" style="background-color: #ffd966;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">August 21, 2017 ā August 28, 2017</span></a></b><br />
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<a href="https://lu370.isrefer.com/go/grfv/KRae/" target="_blank">GMOs Revealed</a></h3>
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<a href="https://lu370.isrefer.com/go/grfv/KRae/" target="_blank"><img alt="GMOs Revealed - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="396" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfXb7D0fw9kpZ2M9dkIkHPxR0944RTLL2RQXKTWH1F5zfdaM6_iJwffxuCWL1x4X5ze0l4NZMjR14IvbEeqFaBfxnVOMNMnqwFf8PfMu8u9Z4FUnv-lKKAnlvQVoLyzPwSmS6q3QdPow/s320/GMOs+Revealed+Docuseries-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="GMOs Revealed - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
What are we not being told? <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5484035/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GMOs ARE POISON</a>. People and animals that eat genetically modified food crops are consuming high levels of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26927151" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">toxic glyphosate herbicide</a>. There is an unholy marriage of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28627408" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">toxic glyphosate herbicide</a> and foods genetically engineered to tolerate large doses of it. <span style="color: red;"><b>Itās silently poisoning our land, food, and <i>us</i>!</b></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #38761d;">August 22, 2017 - August 31, 2017</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-18.html" target="_blank">Mental Wellness Summit 2</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-18.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mental Wellness Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="375" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqAd75-xif1UYIPPzFgXe0NjhpKClIYvs-V_XLcXyUB9CcYaYj4Tn1NY4jbzOVBtYDmcQ8duFIlr20V-RrFFPXb7l0QCa7xaV54KyKS-mLiNEk3R8Vy5EIDy96Wi7eCSJgsbADjAtTFo/s320/Mental+Wellness+Summit+2%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Mental Wellness Summit 2 - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
It's time we talk about mental health and luckily, it's becoming more and more a necessary conversation instead of the "hush, hush" stigma of days long gone. In this summit, you'll learn effective forms of integrative, holistic care that tap into the natural beauty and strength of your mind, body and spirit. Hosted by <a href="http://www.thedempsterclinic.com/john-dempster-naturopathic-doctor/" target="_blank">Dr. John Dempster</a>, <a href="https://helixhealthcaregroup.com/team_member/ross-mckenzie/" target="_blank">Ross McKenzie</a>, and <a href="http://amzn.to/2vTjtcV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jonas Koffler</a>.<br />
<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-18.html" style="background-color: #ffd966;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">September 25, 2017 ā October 2, 2017</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-17.html" target="_blank">Arthritis Summit</a></h3>
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<a href="http://healthaffiliate.center/20946-17.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Arthritis Summit - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="448" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5uycY1abvGU8fy6fQhfr42toqZzaGQ8xyhxXpot7L9lUPTVJjbhUY7nVroRHUGxDXI-5PzN7_lMrwWb85YuD4FHPUH_li1fba16a-SAeueOkdh_ErwIuB9jrXtvXUWgCSVI7KHtl-HU/s320/Arthritis+Summit%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="Arthritis Summit - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Information Coming Soon - Summit Dates: <span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #38761d;"><b>October 9, 2017 ā October 16, 2017</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://go.thetruthaboutcancer.link/?a_aid=599b56907fe7c" target="_blank">The Truth About Cancer</a><br />
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<a href="http://go.thetruthaboutcancer.link/?a_aid=599b56907fe7c" target="_blank"><img alt="The Truth About Cancer - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="398" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyYAr8l-46vRv2qgBOOkXpRZ0iK2SnVpnZMVU8nFLWMPnMI8gbwoMPTJI5qJJLhj7nNit2GWEXn1pR18U1K_0kkkscOJSHEwnJPEdYVmcsAhhGI0UKi8bWNXtGyRD1EK41FPQMEYKDQ0/s320/The+Truth+About+Cancer%252C+Authentic+in+My+Skin.PNG" title="The Truth About Cancer - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
Youāll discover the most effective ways to prevent and beat cancer ā from 131 of the worldās top experts ā that you wonāt hear about elsewhere. While this summit already aired earlier this year, there will be a special three day live event airing in <span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #38761d;"><b>October </b></span>so stay tuned!<br />
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Even though some of these summits have already aired, you can still register for them (to watch <i>a couple</i> of the expert interviews) and can also purchase them with all interviews, transcripts, and a plethora of bonus gifts from the experts (such as ebooks, health courses, mp3s). </div>
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Empower yourself to take back control of your body and your life!</div>
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-8737804015075078952017-04-01T09:34:00.003-04:002017-08-24T00:33:28.328-04:00It's A Nice IdeaI saw an advertisement today for a fibromyalgia and chronic pain support group. The joke between me and my fellow <a href="https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">spoonies </a>is that it's a nice idea, but who has the energy to go? I couldn't help myself and created a picture for my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sirinique/chronic-humor/" target="_blank">Chronic Humor board</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sirinique/chronic-humor/" target="_blank"><img alt="Chronic Humor: It's A Nice Idea - A support group for fibromyalgia - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-KhYMpqsLG2ONigA96oQ7qKtrfr1R7JUbu3dl3ffFspkpv6FjTbHRQgJIFs5s3zsOsyTrEmEZOEpZgg3LJw69wA6-d_IED-y0qpYgL3tWG8u4RUcJSQ2vRD4XJzOtuVjwDIPt4Q-0ms/s320/FibroHumor.JPG" title="Chronic Humor: It's A Nice Idea - A support group for fibromyalgia - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" width="294" /></a></div>
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Have a blessed day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnJkFW2W10iev0joIP-RLTfOLkyRiyAHDWIe-SjFvmLyEVO99e0dik8oO0IvtQo8AXanwJAE1FcdwT_1I84VIMGCWJwgb_pg1Odq94N_UZCgD2OCPYbw-QzzUgILTPYJ7OaDCX8UPo-0/s1600/My+Signature+738by327pixels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnJkFW2W10iev0joIP-RLTfOLkyRiyAHDWIe-SjFvmLyEVO99e0dik8oO0IvtQo8AXanwJAE1FcdwT_1I84VIMGCWJwgb_pg1Odq94N_UZCgD2OCPYbw-QzzUgILTPYJ7OaDCX8UPo-0/s200/My+Signature+738by327pixels.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-8748902499480698792017-03-30T16:00:00.000-04:002017-08-25T23:23:00.305-04:00The Thyroid Secret<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCj8QsgU6i0iDkf63j1qDUmOb0ZwpoUjHbP51iK74Otb-j-a5hxN7GumeaizJR5WvECHjtpDA7U-Ld-2tqeePDpe3K0mX8OR0XSx9lqtnHKrCSH6u4Itk6UR3ZMnmRBV3ZPh6BhLfBy0/s1600/The+Thyroid+Secret+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Thyroid Secret: A Review - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCj8QsgU6i0iDkf63j1qDUmOb0ZwpoUjHbP51iK74Otb-j-a5hxN7GumeaizJR5WvECHjtpDA7U-Ld-2tqeePDpe3K0mX8OR0XSx9lqtnHKrCSH6u4Itk6UR3ZMnmRBV3ZPh6BhLfBy0/s1600/The+Thyroid+Secret+-+Authentic+in+My+Skin.JPG" title="The Thyroid Secret: A Review - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" /></a></div>
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I watched a documentary called <a href="https://thethyroidsecret.com/gold/" target="_blank">The Thyroid Secret</a> and was blown away! Not only was I blown away, but I feel hopeful again. My fellow <a href="https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank">spoonies </a>and I get our hopes up with every new doctor, with every new prescription or supplement, with anything new we try because it might relieve some of our suffering, but this documentary has confirmed what I've <i>always </i>known going back to my days as a Certified Nutritionist: what the earth produces heals us. When I began to follow Jesus, I was even more convinced that He created every good thing we need to live and thrive and to be healthy.<br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i>He created every good thing we need to live and thrive and to be healthy.</i></span></b></div>
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I was blogging for my church under the heading <a href="http://acacthreads.livejournal.com/tag/healthyforchrist" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Healthy for Christ</a>. I had a great passion to help others live healthier lives and would even do nutrition counseling with people as I did when I was a Certified Nutritionist (only I didn't charge, of course!). My work became so stressful, however, that I didn't have as much time to blog anymore. Then I injured my back and all my health troubles started and I was too bitter and exhausted to blog. The irony of blogging about being healthy when my health was declining, I found it hard to do. </div>
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But God. That is a saying of mine you'll get familiar with if you continue following my posts. It generally means I made some plans for my life, but God had <i>other </i>plans. I fought for a really long time with this one. A <i>really</i> long time. I was resentful, bitter, and completely enmeshed in my disability. I have tried so many things: food elimination, supplements, physical therapy... Nothing works to relieve the pain except massage therapy, which isn't covered by insurance, and steroids, which are just bad, bad, bad for you. What I hate more than the pain is the constant brain fog and fatigue. Some of my favorite pins on my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sirinique/fibromyalgia-awareness/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fibromyalgia Awareness board</a> are:</div>
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<li>"Unless you have to rest after you take a shower, you have no idea what fatigue is." </li>
<li>"Living with Fibromyalgia is like looking both ways crossing a road then getting hit by an airplane."</li>
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And from my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sirinique/chronic-humor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chronic Humor board</a>:</div>
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<li>"Don't worry about walking a mile in my shoes, just try a day thinking in my head."</li>
<li>"I was trying to get out of bed, but I got tired."</li>
<li>"I'm going to use what little energy I have left today to breathe, and maybe blink. That's about it."</li>
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Getting back to <a href="http://thethyroidsecret.com/options" target="_blank">The Thyroid Secret</a>, it is nine episodes hosted by <a href="https://thyroidpharmacist.com/about/" target="_blank">Dr. Izabella Wentz</a>. It is her story and the research she did to heal herself from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. She interviewed a hundred different experts (doctors and naturopaths) in her quest to gather information and spread awareness about thyroid disease. Did you know that 95% of people diagnosed as hypothyroid may actually have Hashimoto's? </div>
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<b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Did you know that 95% of people diagnosed as hypothyroid may actually have Hashimoto's? </span></b></div>
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The Thyroid Secret is so packed full of information and I'll just give a quick list:</div>
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<li>Why conventional medicine misses the mark</li>
<li>Healing your gut</li>
<li>Your adrenals</li>
<li>Stress</li>
<li>Toxins</li>
<li>Healing Foods (like bone broth!)</li>
<li>Weight struggles</li>
<li>Brain fog</li>
<li>Debilitating fatigue</li>
<li>67 patient success stories</li>
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Loaded with tools, tips and techniques from the experts to get rid of brain fog, fatigue, weight struggles and the <i>hundreds </i>of thyroid symptoms that often go undiagnosed. I think anyone suffering from thyroid disease, FM, CFS, EB, Lyme's, or any autoimmune disease should consider purchasing either <a href="http://thethyroidsecret.com/options" target="_blank">The Thyroid Secret</a> or one of <a href="http://amzn.to/2nEHss6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Wentz's books</a>.</div>
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Though I've seen many physicians, I am not a one and I have no connection with Dr. Wentz or The Thyroid Secret. I'm just a consumer who really believes what I learned watching all 9 episodes of this documentary. I purchased the silver package at a discount for watching the free airing of each episode. I don't get paid in any way for sharing this information. I don't get free products (though I wish I did!) for blogging about this. I am, of course, an Amazon affiliate as disclosed on my blog so if you purchase her books through my link, I think I'd get a couple pennies or something. I've never actually received a cent from Amazon to date so I still don't know how that works! š</div>
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Now I'm off to go read either her book, <a href="http://amzn.to/2oe6aAR" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Root Cause</a>, or Dr. David Brady's book, <a href="http://amzn.to/2mTGbim" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fibro Fix</a>. </div>
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Have a blessed day!</div>
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-26517569640850088732017-03-27T17:02:00.003-04:002017-03-27T17:02:36.870-04:00The Wild Side of Jesus<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2naM8Ud" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNLJz0xpVs1-CrGIu64NZuy_KvY3Tr1hJmhKVF85aoSO4kWuNB3JGWhmxHSVHjpsqbiFWagZB29yEqKAmauIvC6Ua9NEz4aM19HCEXcp5if0EVW8HveMhf1E71MQomJaDgyRJh2QD5dw/s200/Untamed.JPG" width="135" /></a><span id="goog_1331426161"></span><span id="goog_1331426162"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<a href="http://amzn.to/2naM8Ud" target="_blank">Untamed: How the Wild Side of Jesus Frees Us to Live and Love with Abandon</a> by Lisa Harper<br />
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My rating: 4 of 5 stars<br />
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Through reading the book Untamed, I have become a fan of the author, Lisa Harper. Her humor is very refreshing and makes such an enjoyable read! I found myself relating to her in so many ways as I see parallels to my relationship with Jesus as it has grown stronger and continues to do so.<br />
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In the first two pages of the book, Harper writes, "Choosing the safe but boring path is an apt metaphor for the years I spent rather numbly and halfheartedly pursuing God." I've definitely been there over the years, trying to avoid pain and chaos. And then I got fibromyalgia, haha! Seriously, though, if chronic illness has turned your relationship with Jesus into lukewarm bath water, Harper invites you to "reawaken the sense of adventure God hard-wired into your soul." You see, if you are reading this post then you still have breath and that means God is not done with you yet!<br />
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Now, Harper has a very sharp sense of humor that some might find offensive or sacrilegious. She talks about paralytics who turn cartwheels, how Tamar's first husband and Onan were stinkers so God killed them, and she calls John the Baptist "Johnny B." I had reached a point that I thought, okay, this might be too much, but then changed my mind when two pages later I was laughing out loud at the vision of John the Baptist "with locust legs stuck between his teeth." I know it's been said before, but it the first time I actually pictured it! Harper was talking about the type of people Jesus hung out with, and right after the locust legs comment, she writes a profound piece that makes your heart swell over the Jesus who loves us:<br />
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"But Jesus is the friend who lovingly sticks by every repentant sinner's side through thick and thin. Even when we blow it or get distracted by other interests, He doesn't stop loving us. In fact, Jesus' unwavering commitment to us is what ultimately compelled Him to lay down His life in exchange for ours. His devotion to broken people like us is remarkable."<br />
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It reminds me of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2061" target="_blank">Isaiah 61</a>:<br />
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<i>"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,</i></div>
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<i> because the Lord has anointed me</i></div>
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<i>to bring good news to the poor;</i></div>
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<i> he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,</i></div>
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<i>to proclaim liberty to the captives,</i></div>
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<i> and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;</i></div>
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<i>to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,</i></div>
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<i> and the day of vengeance of our God;</i></div>
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<i> to comfort all who mourn;</i></div>
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<i>to grant to those who mourn in Zionā</i></div>
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<i> to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,</i></div>
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<i>the oil of gladness instead of mourning,</i></div>
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<i> the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;"</i></div>
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Throughout the book, Harper shares her personal experiences (that I'm sure many can relate to) and connects them to biblical stories, illuminating <b>the true Jesus that loves and accepts us all</b>. The end of each chapter also has questions to help the reader dig deeper, not just within themselves but through God's Word.<br />
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It's funny, sensitive, and I highly recommend <a href="http://amzn.to/2nZmbKM" target="_blank">Untamed</a>.K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-69447148453136491392017-03-21T14:50:00.000-04:002018-01-29T19:30:35.411-05:00My Rough Morning = A Free Printable for You!Dear Readers, I have had a rough start today, one that led to an absolute yelling/screaming/crying break down. I know you've been there. It's that one little trigger and suddenly all the strength and resolve you've managed to possess for weeks or months comes crumbling down.<br />
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That was my morning. I have been stressed out and sad for months now regarding my financial circumstances, but I've kept clinging to the Lord. Like the bleeding woman, I reached out because I knew if I could just touch His garment, all would be well. I reached out, grabbed hold of one of the tassels of his robes and I haven't let go. On some of the worst pain days and frustrating fatigue days, I let Him know, "I'm still holding on." But today was a culmination of all these things (not enough sleep included) and I. broke. down.<br />
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In a nutshell:<br />
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<li>The neighbor's massive Great Dane barked me awake somewhere between 3 and 3:30 a.m. and I couldn't fall back asleep. I was so tired, but you know how it is when you are so very tired, but w i i i i d e awake. </li>
<li>I discovered <i>why </i>the dog was barking at 3 a.m. when the sun started rising and I noticed something in my backyard and went to investigate. Leftover bunny. š¦ </li>
<li>No milk for <a href="http://amzn.to/2noDan6" target="_blank">African tea</a> (my morning addiction) because I ran out yesterday and didn't have the energy to run to the store.</li>
<li>My heater is suddenly not working and baby, it's cold inside!</li>
<li>Money I was supposed to have <i>a week ago</i> did not come and when I called to find out what was going on, I was told I had to wait at least three more business days.</li>
<li>The money that did come in today's mail (also late) was less than half what it was supposed to be. </li>
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And that was it. I was done. I was <b><i>done </i></b>and I was yelling, like, "I'm done with this job! I'm done with these people! I'll go sell my plasma, God, or you better figure this out because I'm DONE!" </div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Aren't you glad He can take it? </span></b></div>
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I mean, hey, He already knows what's in our hearts and our minds so why not just let it out? I actually got that out of a grief book I perused at a book store before I even knew Jesus. And oh, I was grieving, because of course, "the plasma people probably wouldn't even take my blood because it's diseased, and oh, that's right, it isn't a disease...!" You get the drill, and I was crying by this time because I can't support myself. I can't work and when I do, I can't get paid like a normal person without expending <i>more of my precious little energy</i> tracking it down. And this whole time, between the yelling and the crying, I'm trying to read through my furnace manual. Cuz that's gunna happen! </div>
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I knew I needed a break and to calm down so I sat at my desk and made a Scripture printable. This verse helps me hold on to Jesus' tassel and I've been meaning to make it into a printable for a couple weeks now. I couldn't figure out how to make it downloadable since this is officially my first attempt at sharing a printable (and I don't think free blogger is set up to do that) so I ended up making it into a JPEG. I hope you can download it - or at least print it!<br />
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-67923655621326614402017-03-19T16:36:00.000-04:002017-03-19T16:36:12.686-04:00Working Behind the ScenesHello, Dear Readers!<br />
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I know I've been dormant (again), but I'm really here, working behind the scenes (in spite of the incredible fatigue I've had this year). I am currently going through a blogging course to learn all the ins and outs of not just having a blog that I randomly post on, but an actual blogging website. And there's so much to learn!<br />
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I am determined, though. My life sort of depends on it, you see, because I have had no income for the past year. My long-term disability policy closed my case after 24 months because fibromyalgia cannot be tested for - it cannot be medically proven with blood tests - so they consider it a self-diagnosed symptom and therefore not subject to the coverage of "real" health conditions, and after two years of sitting in appeals, I finally have a court date for my SSD claim - May 11th (please keep this in prayer!).<br />
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Yes, I am determined to find a way because when you have an <a href="https://invisibledisabilities.org/what-is-an-invisible-disability/" target="_blank">invisible disability</a> and are unable to work and you've gone through all your savings and all your retirement and you have no husband or rich parents or grandparents... when you are very much alone in this world, it is frightening. I know I sound a little like Debbie-Downer, but this blog is about being <i>authentic </i>and I promise to get to the happy, encouraging stuff in a moment. For now, though, if you haven't been in a situation like this before (and I know many of you have), try putting yourself in my shoes for just a moment before you judge me about feeling afraid and alone. Seriously, I had a record month last month. Yes, I did. I broke the record on how many shut-off notices you can get in one month! I managed to keep the water, gas, and electric on, but the internet was shut off for about a week before someone at church told my roommate and she paid to have it turned back on. It's supposed to be included in her rent, and she frequently works from home. It was a difficult week for us both.<br />
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Only by the grace of God have I managed to keep my home and all my utilities on in the last year. I have three bedrooms and have been trying to rent two of them out (at the same time) for the last seven months, but now that I require first and last month's rent (because of damages incurred by a previous renter), I can't seem to find any interested parties. At least none with permanent jobs, anyway. I've also been working in my home for a friend's insurance business, but can only manage 4-7 hours a week. I usually have to chase him down in order to get paid and that adds to my stress (aka: fibro flare-up) and to my feelings of humiliation, "My water is going to be shut off, can you please pay me?"<br />
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I know God is teaching me through this humbling, frightening, and difficult time. Over and over He tells me, "I am providing for you." When I first lost the disability income, I received a check in the mail for two or three dollars from AT&T. It was a settlement check from an account I had with them 10 years earlier. The next day, I received free Reese's cups at the grocery store and I got so emotional. It was one of those times I wished I was home alone, so I could cry openly and thank Him because I knew it was Him. He typically needs to pound me in the head in order for me to trust that I really heard from Him (instead of things just being my own wishful thinking). And friends, there's no better way to get my attention than with Reese's peanut-butter cups!<br />
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Anyway, He is teaching me to trust <i>Him </i>for my needs and to stop relying on myself. I've been on my own since my senior year in high school so this has been a hard one to get, but I'm learning. And this is why I am so determined this year! I know that <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>because of Him</b></span><span style="color: #351c75;">, I am not alone and my life is not over and </span><b style="color: #351c75;">there is still a purpose for my life! </b>Cranky condition or not. No longer do I want to live a life determined by whatever temper tantrum or hissy fit fibro is having. God created me for a purpose and invisible disabilities, they don't surprise Him:<br />
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<i>For you formed my inward parts;</i></div>
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<i> you knitted me together in my mother's womb.</i></div>
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<i>I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.</i></div>
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<i>Wonderful are your works;</i></div>
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<i> my soul knows it very well.</i></div>
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<i>My frame was not hidden from you,</i></div>
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<i>when I was being made in secret,</i></div>
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<i> intricately woven in the depths of the earth.</i></div>
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<i>Your eyes saw my unformed substance;</i></div>
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<i>in your book were written, every one of them,</i></div>
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<i> the days that were formed for me,</i></div>
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<i> when as yet there was none of them.</i></div>
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<b> <i> </i></b><i>- Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)</i></div>
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He knew all the days of my life before He even formed me.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">He knew all the days of <i>your </i>life before He even formed you!</span></b></div>
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So I prayed and I started researching and getting organized and setting goals. My research took me to some pretty amazing websites and blogs and I discovered people are actually making money by blogging and by doing what they love and helping others do the same.<br />
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<b>All from the comfort of their homes. </b></div>
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Now granted, I'm never comfortable. I can't even lay down comfortably anymore because of the tailbone pain that isn't really my tailbone, but is a nerve next to my tailbone...<br />
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Anyway, it can be done! I can earn a living for myself using the gifts God gave me. I can blog, I can create printables (I've already created some I can't wait to share with you), I can encourage people and can help others (I hope). So I am working behind the scenes to learn all about it: branding my blog, monetizing my blog, setting up email, and ew - all kinds of techy stuff y'all know I'm <b><span style="color: red;">so not</span> </b>gifted with.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;"><b>Did you know <a href="http://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/plugin/" target="_blank">plugins </a>are not just those toxic smell-goods you plug in the wall? </b></span></div>
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And apparently, I'm going to have to start getting on Facebook <u>more than twice a quarter</u>, which will seriously cut into my Pinterest time, but you gotta do what you gotta do. And I hope you stay tuned because chances are, Authentic in My Skin will be moving and getting a redesign.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFCX62iVDXIlLSV_M4Wgw_e1Y3xZ5duKP5mqJFPtGnhDHLr5u5klJnivtjKuvxYv-4byDtDDiPTStQW-w8Nigl6uqXWm6ZJ1az03HeSJlNyKHmq1tlrxla_LgVakNjl1y9Ju-lhgZQ0g/s1600/My+Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFCX62iVDXIlLSV_M4Wgw_e1Y3xZ5duKP5mqJFPtGnhDHLr5u5klJnivtjKuvxYv-4byDtDDiPTStQW-w8Nigl6uqXWm6ZJ1az03HeSJlNyKHmq1tlrxla_LgVakNjl1y9Ju-lhgZQ0g/s320/My+Signature.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-84002692789480004242017-01-25T22:29:00.001-05:002017-08-24T00:27:48.944-04:00Getting Organized: Printable Planning SystemsI'm really excited about this post, the third in my <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/01/getting-organized-fresh-new-year.html" target="_blank">Getting Organized</a> series, because I'll be covering one of my favorite things: Printable Planning Systems! If you don't have the artistic gene to make pretty <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/01/getting-organized-part-2-bullet.html" target="_blank">bullet journaling pages</a> (like me), the next best thing is to find printable planners.<br />
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In my research, I found so many lovely and efficient planning systems that I had a hard time choosing just one. Some are simply daily/weekly planners while others are full blown, get-my-life-and-home-together planners with cleaning charts, yearly goals, budgeting and more. They range in price starting at FREE and up - the most expensive one I've seen is $55. Always check the price before you order because you will often see "free" or an introductory price for a limited time only. Anyway, here are some of the ones I fell in love with:<br />
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<a href="http://www.theconfidentmom.com/" target="_blank">The Confident Mom</a> - Susan's website is so adorable, I just knew I'd love her Weekly Household Planner! </div>
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<a href="http://www.theconfidentmom.com/downloads/2017-weekly-household-planner/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDwmunWXZn4h7DEj6VzlUcjK5LJrLR4_HJqYRVL4z40mXcOGRA_-V4X7oNC3vCN_cde5hG19ojdeqR_gRch_4sOgu8_SFwwtCTCjQeH-o-5D31WmjFqRV7jbSVM-25cf14YMCGFfzLFvk/s200/ConfidentMomSnipit3.JPG" width="176" /></a> <a href="http://www.theconfidentmom.com/downloads/2017-weekly-household-planner/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38DrJZOxIhHTi5wt87_YWn1eey5s1jnr_FnPHq9tmvMc45alODSIvfTdL48ZQHLgGnDCi389zXjbdMaDVgGb-PCNnvJk46YTssThEOxcuCXrbfSwOq689WmVTjjeEQQXSD9XX6YmN4Cs/s200/ConfidentMomSnipit4.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/" target="_blank">Living Well Spending Less</a> - The <a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2016/11/07/the-planner-that-changed-everything/" target="_blank">Living Well Planner</a> is not only colorful and fun, but packed full of getting your life together goodies!<br />
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<a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2016/11/07/the-planner-that-changed-everything/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLy-P3vVMMP3QBOhO92zjUxAsK3XfX1lfMYduujmY_xdHDEjQ047yxfd_SBPFGThFwcqbpij-SONaArS2l8f8G8zy3I7wCvPZJ6LYaC_J96NXH4-lM222dOPvUp2jgsL0TH95tSmdu5I/s200/LivingWell2.JPG" width="191" /></a> <a href="http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2016/11/07/the-planner-that-changed-everything/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrq30Z-QBQjD6w_xVtBUROBtuQtHCxrFM8_gt486XRi7l5VfE2JqsE-P0b9vorBOl3wdvosFRXcyYadr_2V7ZnSqyTuH221AfUPEnoBY2aIKxXCifAEX1dehqzLgZuccVbdD8eWKcxNhc/s200/LivingWell3.JPG" width="157" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/" target="_blank">Proverbial Homemaker</a> - Perfect for the domestically challenged because you get a homemaking course when you buy the planner!<br />
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<a href="http://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/homemaking-planner.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP34tox2p1CDFWH5EN0JPubqTz9nKvQQn2PFG7jckgaU_8HRtCmiGVePuW-VZCaWt6GqqsP3dityfeVsPI5T_Cp17bOZFTag2rBRmEvdaeqmlg20VssOlYeG0ZkQTeulQCCR0EumT8rM/s320/ProverbialHomemaker2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.thehandmadehome.net/" target="_blank">The Handmade Home</a> - Definitely a favorite of mine, especially since you can print in full letter size or A5 size, and Ashley has added lovely quotes and things to keep you motivated. </div>
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<a href="https://www.thehandmadehome.net/2016/06/free-planner-2017/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxsC6rlnp_Z_6h5dmCJmw1THfUJbL394oZI7ooF6392ZGsQY_ZHUy1Lx30M18vuHfD6r9vLpa0nx37YRPrJih8qpf9XuvBjycGQu14rnrL_nOCcg15PDhbzzJcCcOPORlEROXbARjLlQ/s200/HandmadeHome.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ninahendrick.com/" target="_blank">Nina Hendrick</a> - I came across Nina's website and planner after I had my planner for 2017 ready to go, but the blogger edition planner is on my wish list for 2018!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ninahendrick.com/planner" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77iWUCIQ0H4H5vZCXJliDVzFSJVXaipE9oqnV3fMwGxDQCMj8Av2l46TxKwKDpDI4zSc08zLZSFJRWGRU_DjQKjXA3rTU8Fu0axa1X022ogSyeeh8NMALzzpYFETi0nboiE0WV0KMBwE/s200/NinaHendrick.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.ninahendrick.com/planner" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOjUr2A-AxqVQVpjHmjf3zH-h-a5MO_UQcDdTjNgKsXuhKfsTVrGoNzM14zba9PjAkoQz5dJ2YV9MfqggQSA2gyo17dDlDNWFdIuP1H1ct9xiyOI3DUysG1K4M_JgWt8sTfXbkd-Aom0/s200/NinaHendrick2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.ahousefullofsunshine.com/" target="_blank">A House Full of Sunshine</a> - The <a href="http://www.ahousefullofsunshine.com/dreamsbydesign2017" target="_blank">Dreams by Design</a> is another fabulous planner! And Karen is so cute with her Aussie accent so instead of a picture, here's a video:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Xw2XzEL2EN0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xw2XzEL2EN0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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So there you have it, some of my favorite printable planning systems. Don't you just feel happy now? I do! Happy and motivated because I'm a geek like that and I get excited over planners. It's like that first day of school when I finally got to use my new school supplies... Sigh. I'm a geek, but I'm a happy geek.<br />
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In my next post, I'll be sharing individual planning pages with you. Daily ones, weekly ones, and did I mention that most of them are FREE? So stay tuned!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnJkFW2W10iev0joIP-RLTfOLkyRiyAHDWIe-SjFvmLyEVO99e0dik8oO0IvtQo8AXanwJAE1FcdwT_1I84VIMGCWJwgb_pg1Odq94N_UZCgD2OCPYbw-QzzUgILTPYJ7OaDCX8UPo-0/s1600/My+Signature+738by327pixels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnJkFW2W10iev0joIP-RLTfOLkyRiyAHDWIe-SjFvmLyEVO99e0dik8oO0IvtQo8AXanwJAE1FcdwT_1I84VIMGCWJwgb_pg1Odq94N_UZCgD2OCPYbw-QzzUgILTPYJ7OaDCX8UPo-0/s320/My+Signature+738by327pixels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-90434056299414617152017-01-17T22:49:00.001-05:002017-08-24T00:26:35.261-04:00Getting Organized: Bullet JournalingWelcome to my Getting Organized series! In the <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2017/01/getting-organized-fresh-new-year.html" target="_blank">first post</a> of this series, I shared with you that I was tired of myself and my bad habits and that I was determined to live a better life in 2017. In today's post, I take you to the beginning of my research. What may or may not have worked for me might very well help you in your journey to get organized and live a better life in this new year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJjoY0hPcrp9DJe1jiHW5H-JJSzwg1xPBWro3GVSDKhOaGE_YoQLte1jKI-fjWBXQtNV5O5oXB04SlchmrFVvH4eL-23A6jwLs_AX3CK-rSFCIbMDdFOrLCbn54Fsm_gYqTjSvexEJgw/s1600/Getting+Organized_Bullet+Journaling_Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJjoY0hPcrp9DJe1jiHW5H-JJSzwg1xPBWro3GVSDKhOaGE_YoQLte1jKI-fjWBXQtNV5O5oXB04SlchmrFVvH4eL-23A6jwLs_AX3CK-rSFCIbMDdFOrLCbn54Fsm_gYqTjSvexEJgw/s320/Getting+Organized_Bullet+Journaling_Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="213" /></a></div>
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I began preparing for the new year sometime around mid-November. I first started looking into planning systems and, wow, did I learn a lot! There are so many planning systems and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=printable%20planners" target="_blank">printable planners</a> and then there is the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bullet+journal&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=638&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB7pCL_rrRAhUr6YMKHRN7CK4Q_AUIBygC" target="_blank">bullet journal</a>. If you don't know anything about bullet journaling (aka BuJo), it is <i>the </i>new thing. You can bullet journal everything and anything and I spent a couple of weeks trying to figure out how to do it, what I wanted to include in mine, and what layout worked for me. I tried my hand at a few pages:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X2Q-RGt_NnFmYSFDyRElo0LBNjdHQ_wSyJEyrN7tapjtP0ClNswAoWLwdXPxOE-8Le65VkPiGD4xKSvhWH4OaoCyju1cj0e9LlX-dc4cvrY9WDjX2YoSNRFi1q_bz3nRg2LvGVRJUmw/s1600/My+BuJo+Attempt_Getting+Organized_Bullet+Journaling_Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My BuJo Attempt: Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-X2Q-RGt_NnFmYSFDyRElo0LBNjdHQ_wSyJEyrN7tapjtP0ClNswAoWLwdXPxOE-8Le65VkPiGD4xKSvhWH4OaoCyju1cj0e9LlX-dc4cvrY9WDjX2YoSNRFi1q_bz3nRg2LvGVRJUmw/s320/My+BuJo+Attempt_Getting+Organized_Bullet+Journaling_Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="My BuJo Attempt: Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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Clearly, bullet journaling is not my cup of tea. My planner needs to be functional and efficient, while being pretty and colorful, and I'm just not gifted in the way I need to be to become a member of the BuJo tribe. In additional to lacking the artistic gene apparently needed to BuJo, I knew that there was no way I would realistically sit down every day or week to create the next batch of pages. I have a hard enough time finding energy to balance my checkbook, let alone to create pages that don't meet my standards for pretty.<br />
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However, I really love all the things you could track in a bullet journal. People are not just tracking their schedules with appropriate task lists. They are tracking <i><b>everything</b></i> and that is the appeal for me. One place to record everything because I need every detail in my life in one place where I can view it daily. Otherwise, it's out of sight, out of mind.<br />
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So what are people tracking?<br />
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Dailies by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aka.sinting/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@aka.sinting</a> and <a href="http://sublimereflection.com/" target="_blank">Sublime Reflection</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKKXtd4Br9Y/?taken-by=aka.sinting" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="aka.sinting Instagram photo - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf4OzTeMYtvBUGapNdjOwuAxGQsQ2xqvMaw07oEc0af7HlR_cVhoJCgZZn90XJVPW0jjvQPoizHHOBc0n_W-BJIzzdc0u2ItHYTx-Oc_YlMEa5I6N9i3qVswHrveJTP9LA4RpWX9kvPM/s200/DailyzLayout+aka.sinting.JPG" title="aka.sinting Instagram photo - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://sublimereflection.com/category/bullet-journaling/" target="_blank"><img alt="Sublime Reflection Daily Layout - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrys9D_ULyIDhLn_u8cfUStxconFFQwtlTEx0D855Zn40KEeMpUqn0rSnOBqQpv8qajsnJAmwX5nEcnoOM0FJV89KPocE_aHZmWVIq8xteXuBIbKHzNKlYGFuWO3GzUaL0_pX9DSxEsRI/s200/Daily+sublime+reflection.jpg" title="Sublime Reflection Daily Layout - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" width="200" /></a></div>
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Weeklies by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/beginner_bullet_journal/">@beginner_bullet_journal</a> and <a href="http://www.christina77star.co.uk/">christina77star</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5KQz7DlEW/?taken-by=beginner_bullet_journal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="beginner_bullet_journal Instagram photo - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PN7W3xToAxHBWdg5SlgYe4yk7yBpoRAOQEtDEQgrA-axS7RTQeUA81UZvBP-7-LXF5_vU9N7dd4-7QKiK0Ko2akOKds66g9Kzh6m7-MfRUU9_l5lNzYUBIJAbml-xy87u98zS7uZHgI/s200/Weekly+beginner_bullet_journal.JPG" title="beginner_bullet_journal Instagram photo - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.christina77star.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Christina77star Library - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmU5a5NAuRQWBOtcwqID8h_6RBmeoxEY12sKSGnc2-ixwVPjLboM0EvQRgdhMPKbjjZl2yi-5iSj3m3AKKN-9L1DxBn7JNWC7qAX0wIno8kmpCb_DA8-3D_GlIbpzRVxJI2rHrHqu1ec/s200/Weekly+Spread+Printable+2.jpg" title="Christina77star Library - Getting Organized: Bullet Journaling - Authentic in My Skin authenticinmyskin.com" width="200" /></a></div>
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Monthlies by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/craftyenginerd/">@craftyenginerd</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/my.life.in.a.bullet/">@my.life.in.a.bullet</a></div>
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<a href="http://sublimereflection.com/set-90-day-goals/" target="_blank">Setting Goals</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.findingnorth.stfi.re/gratitude-logs/?sf=gpbwkyw#aa" target="_blank">Gratitude</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bohoberry.com/level-10-life-explained/" target="_blank">Level 10 Life</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20habit%20tracker&rs=remove&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=habit%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=tracker%7Ctyped&remove_refine=layout%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Habit Tracking</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20books&rs=typed&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=books%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Books to Read</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20movies%20tv&rs=typed&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=movies%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=tv%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Movies/TV to Watch</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20savings%20tracker&rs=typed&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=savings%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=tracker%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Savings Goals</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20budgeting&rs=typed&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=budgeting%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Budgeting</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=bullet%20journal%20cleaning%20schedule&etslf=2547&eq=bullet%20journal%20cleaning&term_meta[]=bullet%7Cautocomplete%7C&term_meta[]=journal%7Cautocomplete%7C&term_meta[]=cleaning%7Cautocomplete%7C&term_meta[]=schedule%7Cautocomplete%7C" target="_blank">Cleaning Schedules</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20bucket%20list%20layout&rs=typed&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=bucket%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=list%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=layout%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Bucket Lists</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=bullet%20journal%20health%20tracker&rs=typed&term_meta[]=bullet%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=journal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=health%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=tracker%7Ctyped" target="_blank">Health Tracker</a></div>
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I think you get the idea, but in case you don't, the most extensive list I have found with bullet journal ideas is from <a href="http://www.christina77star.co.uk/2016/06/150-collection-and-list-ideas-for-your.html" target="_blank">Christina</a>. </div>
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You might be asking why I have spent so much time blogging about bullet journaling if it isn't my cup of tea. My answer to that (besides wanting to introduce them to you): <span style="color: #351c75;">INSPIRATION!</span> These BuJo peeps have inspired me. Though not a part of their tribe, I can still admire them for their talent... and steal some of their ideas to incorporate into my own planning system, hehe!<br />
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So stay tuned for my next post because I'll be sharing a lot more on planning systems, my favorite ones, and where you can get <span style="color: #0b5394;">FREE PRINTABLES</span> for your own planner (doing my happy dance because I š printables!). See you soon!<br />
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-79932095198515193402017-01-17T17:33:00.003-05:002017-08-25T23:17:10.882-04:00Getting Organized: A Fresh New Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zSswbkOnXm3ZnjfY0thQkY8eLKKaQE6UMFtZswcbXDp0bol73RdHMbkprrtrq33URTVykhYjoSgWW2V4WvszNQWascsNKrooVEx0TO5MmSHSREEqHwvz3AgXiy50U1VqXHMbOAlPevw/s1600/Getting+Organized_A+Fresh+New+Year_Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Getting Organized: A Fresh New Year - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="810" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zSswbkOnXm3ZnjfY0thQkY8eLKKaQE6UMFtZswcbXDp0bol73RdHMbkprrtrq33URTVykhYjoSgWW2V4WvszNQWascsNKrooVEx0TO5MmSHSREEqHwvz3AgXiy50U1VqXHMbOAlPevw/s320/Getting+Organized_A+Fresh+New+Year_Authentic+in+My+Skin+dot+com.png" title="Getting Organized: A Fresh New Year - Authentic in My Skin - authenticinmyskin.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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I <b>couldn't wait</b> for 2016 to end. Not only was I done with the difficult and unhappy year, but I reached a place where I was done with myself, as well.<br />
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As someone who used to be on top of things, the constant disarray and disorganization of my life has truly driven me crazy. I can't get anywhere on time and when I do arrive, I'm usually missing something I need. Like swim trunks for aqua therapy. I mean, really. I've been going to aqua therapy twice a week for a couple of months now, you'd think I'd remember my swim bottoms, but because I am constantly flying out of the door late for my appointments, I inevitably leave something important at home. Every. Single. Week.<br />
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Have you ever been there, driving yourself crazy because of all the bad habits you've somehow acquired? Are you so frazzled and forgetful and just exhausted from trying? Are you there now, ready to live a different life, a better life? My dearest friend of 102-years says God isn't done with her yet. "There's life after 100!" she tells everyone, "I'm still growing."<br />
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Dear Reader, as long as you have breath in your lungs, there's still hope. And I'm choosing to be hopeful in 2017. I'm choosing to grow and to learn and to live a better life. Are you choosing to live your life differently this year? I'd love to hear from you. Have you already put steps in place to do so or has the idea sounded good, but overwhelming?<br />
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It doesn't happen over night. It takes work and planning and discipline, but even though the ball has already dropped, it is never too late to start something new. Over the next little while, I'll be sharing with you my journey to getting organized, changing my habits, and setting goals. By doing so, I hope to encourage you and to give you enough information so you can go out and conquer your part of the world! So stay tuned for the next post in this Getting Organized series.<br />
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-84409228710353862682016-12-26T19:38:00.000-05:002017-08-25T23:41:26.321-04:00My Easy Envelope SystemThe first time I heard of the 'envelope system' was when a friend was dating a guy who knew someone who taught <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey</a> money courses. Well, those of you who know me know that before I do anything, I have to research it first. Not only do I have to get all my questions answered, but then I have to make sure I understand the answers, which results in more questions, all in an attempt to do it correctly. Once this is resolved, then I have to create a system because everything needs a plan and a system to be effective. I've been labeled 'type A personality,' but really what I am is a High C (<a href="https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc/overview/conscientiousness/" target="_blank">DISC</a>) personality.<br />
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Now, there are <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=envelope+system&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=638&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBzbzKi5PRAhXh24MKHcRWDAAQ_AUIBygC" target="_blank">a million different ways</a> to do this envelope system and if they work for you, then great, but I needed something a little less complex:</div>
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-62399646062871440712016-11-12T12:43:00.001-05:002017-08-25T23:42:10.272-04:00The Chain Is Already BrokenThe Lord gave me a word for a friend today as I prayed for her. He said, "I have already broken the chain, but you are still holding it." Though for my friend, it has made me wonder what chains has He broken for me am I still carrying around and clinging to? How about you?<br />
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<i>O, how light our burdens be,</i></div>
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<i>if we but drop chains broken by Thee.</i></div>
K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-9169993676294577862015-07-21T22:56:00.000-04:002017-08-25T23:33:31.827-04:00My Confession and ApologyI have recently been so upset over all the vicious things people spew on social media, more upset than usual. Whether I read a book review on Goodreads that curses out the Bible (and Christians) or whether I read an article posted on Facebook bashing the gay community (often by professed Christians), it just breaks my heart and I know it breaks the heart of Jesus. Today, I was reading the Bible and just wanted to share a verse, but the following is what came out:<br />
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<i>"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35</i><br />
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Regardless of race, gender, age, sexuality, socioeconomic status, religion....... you get the idea. It is only through love, not hatred, that people can see Jesus. Hatred in the name of Jesus defiles his love and isn't FOR his name at all, but is AGAINST his name.<br />
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And like my brave and loving friend, Erika Chambers, I am filled with a desire to confess and apologize to any that do not believe in Jesus (and to any that do).<br />
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I confess and apologize for being judgmental to you instead of being supportive. I apologize for not listening when you needed me to. I apologize for making you feel uncomfortable or unworthy because I recognize that I have done so. I apologize for doubting you, for acting superior to you, for not loving you as Jesus loves you. And he does love you, just as he loved me - even when I was cursing his name and the name of his father. And I did. Too much trauma I have been through all the way back to my birth and after I lost my great aunt and uncle - my surrogate parents - I hated God. I hated him and cursed him and threw all my religious artifacts (many from my beloved great aunt) in a box I shoved in a closet. I kept them because of her, not for any God-is-real reason.<br />
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I know many of my long-time friends are unaware that their "always has been spiritual" friend (me) had done such a thing, but that is because I was trying Buddhism and Wicca and other things out so I guess I still seemed spiritual. But I cursed God and told him to leave me the %$#@ alone, get the $%&@ out of my life because he was nothing to me and I lived many years hating all things religious.<br />
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But God loved me still. He loved me still and he wants me to love others as he has loved me.<br />
I am not perfect and I am better than no one. I am deeply flawed, but because of Jesus, I am better than I used to be. A massive work in progress, I am vowing to love you more and I wholeheartedly apologize for all the times I haven't.<br />
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One thing specifically I feel I must confess is my absolute anger at parents of obese children. I have made hurtful comments and posted articles not in a helpful and loving manner, but in an angry and derogatory way that does nothing but cause pain. I have not loved like Jesus. Meanwhile, I lie in bed sipping my Java Monster or sit with Netflix while binging on alcohol (which, thankfully, I have recently given up) or ice-cream. I confess to being a health hypocrite and apologize to those parents, Christian or not, that I have hurt and scorned, again from my judgmental and superior disdain.<br />
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I am posting this with nothing but a desire to love you more and if these words are somehow offensive to you, I ask that you please refrain from mean and nasty remarks, but as I am trying to be better, to love better, explaining to me in a helpful way would be welcome. I will have to delete any hateful-type of comments that may be posted because nowadays, you never know what words may be triggers and again, that is not my intention.<br />
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<br />K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-39224552460349910722015-06-27T07:49:00.003-04:002017-08-25T23:19:19.561-04:00Vacation Interrupted - A Writers at Work AssignmentOnce a month, I attend Writers at Work (W@W). W@W is a place for writers, both published and unpublished, to write, learn, critique, and just have plain fun with one another. It is really a great group of people, led by an amazingly talented woman, and I feel blessed to be a part of it. For the first time since I moved to da 'burgh ten years ago, I have found my people or as we in W@W say, my tribe. Each month, we meet at a local library and we're given an assignment to work on until the following month. While I generally am not fond of the assignments, they really make one write outside of the box.<br />
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A couple of months ago, the library asked if we would have an evening of readings for patrons and their children. It was held on Thursday evening and we each read something we wrote as part of a W@W assignment. Since most of the work I've done for the group contains a lot of cuss words, I really had to comb through my files to find one that would be appropriate for children. For the July 2012 assignment, I wrote a story titled Vacation Interrupted. The story had the following requirements: </div>
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"The assignment for next time is to write a story, poem or article including the following:</div>
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animal: meerkat</div>
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clothing: T-shirt</div>
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activity: walking</div>
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weather: balmy weather</div>
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location: Kenya, Africa</div>
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situation: an interrupted vacation</div>
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750 word limit"</div>
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So here is what I wrote:</div>
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Walking along the moonlit path between quaint cottages, I am overcome with a deep sense of gratitude. On all sides surrounding me are the most unique and colorful flowers, and various trees in more shades of green than I knew existed. Through deep reds, brilliant blues, bright yellows, and majestic purples, I meander speechlessly. Grand thoughts (too much to bear) flow through my soul and I breathe in the balmy Kenyan air with a peaceful sigh. It is here at the Sopa Lodge I return to every year. It is only here that I can refresh from my chaotic life. Being here ā¦ completes me.<br />
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To be in this land that is still just as God created it is to bring me closer to Him. My heart stays behind each year when I leave, but while I am here, I am renewed as I spend my days in the safari wilds and spend my evenings as I am now, in quiet, joyful solitude.<br />
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"Well, hello there, pretty lady," a southern, United States voice frightens me out of my reverie. I turn to see a man wearing a stained T-shirt displaying a picture of a meerkat on it. It reads "Meerkat Manor" in giant letters.<br />
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Trying not to encourage him, I merely nod and continue along my way, but it is not to be.<br />
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"Where you from, Miss?" He has now turned and is following in my direction.<br />
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Quite irritated, I reply, "Noh Ahn-gles." My hope is that he would assume I was not an American and that he would leave me alone.<br />
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To my great relief, he tipped his head and replied, "Well, good evenin' then," and turned around to head back to wherever he came from.<br />
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Though I was alone again, the annoying southerner has somehow managed to ruin my peace of mind. No longer feeling the calm of a few moments before, I decide to head back to my cozy cottage for a glass of red wine before calling it a night.<br />
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The next morning, as is customary at the Sopa, I am taken to my assigned table for breakfast. I wait patiently for a server to take my drink order before getting up to partake of the delectable breakfast buffet. As I wait, I smile and reminisce of my first morning here when I had woken up early in desperate need of coffee. There was none to be found, not in my room, not in the lobby. I showered and got ready quickly, my body rebelling over doing these things without caffeine to jolt it awake. Having settled in the dining room, I was ready to jump out of my skin waiting for that first cup that took 20 minutes to get to me. In Africa, they are in no hurry. They live a leisurely life and have no concern for the caffeine addictions of Americans.<br />
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Still smiling, excited for a full day of safari, I stand as the waiter approaches, readying myself for the buffet line. "Jambo! May I please have a pot of chai?" I ask my waiter.<br />
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"Well, ain't this somethinā?" the Southern drawl asks. "No habla unglase, hu?" I turn to see the southerner, who has been sat at the table next to mine. Not only do I feel embarrassed to have been caught in a lie, but it is clear to me that this will be a vacation interrupted time and time again.</div>
K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-17622428802817578282015-06-22T12:51:00.001-04:002017-07-16T21:03:00.145-04:00For the Love of Reading GlassesI spent a couple of weeks in Utah with family this past Christmas and because my eyes have an astigmatism that shifts, I have a hard time reading when wearing my contacts. It's like I am very drunk, you know, when the room is spinning and everything is blurry. My sister wanted me to read something she wrote and I told her I couldn't.<br />
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She handed me her reading glasses and said, "Try these."<br />
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I told her <i>several </i>times, "Trust me, these aren't going to help," but she continued to encourage me to just try them so I did.<br />
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Lo and behold!!! I could read! I could read the words as clear as if I were sitting in the ophthalmologist's chair, you know, when the one is better than the two and the three is better than the four. Oh, for a bookworm, this was as close to a miracle as me attempting yard work, getting pricked by something sharp through my thick gloves and not dying from it (if you read my previous post, you'd know I don't <i>do </i>yard work).<br />
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Okay, so I'm fairly young and the idea of wearing reading glasses made me feel... well, resignation. I'm not sure I would've come home after the holiday and bought a pair of reading glasses, even if they did make reading possible. I just wasn't there yet, you know? Buying reading glasses was like saying, "I'm old." Just don't think I woulda, but when I opened my sister's Christmas gift, neatly tucked in a box full of goodies were a pair of zebra printed reading glasses in a zebra printed carrying case.<br />
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Zebra print. My sister knows me well. After my mission trip and safari in Kenya, I am in love with everything African. It was such a magical time for me. The mission part was magical, too, but the safari! The animals were migrating and there were thousands of zebras and elephants and giraffes and topis and wildebeests and a bazillion more animal species. Seeing the world just as God created it, with a lioness hunting gazelles and vultures cleaning up the mess, with elephant herds protecting their young from our vehicles and the hilarious <a href="http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/soundfx/animals/animals_sounds/safari_sounds/safari_hippo2_wav.shtml" target="_blank">snorting sounds</a> the hippos make while bathing themselves in the rivers. Just magical. I felt God in that place. All over Africa, really, I felt God's presence. So naturally, I was only too happy to wear my stylish zebra reading glasses!<br />
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I have since come to love reading glasses and even recently bought another pair. I was at the book store and forgot to bring my zebra readers. The clerk was going to let me borrow a pair while I was browsing, but the beautifully marbled purples and blues and greens that framed them left me reluctant to let them go. I'm wearing them now as I type this.<br />
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So folks, don't think of reading glasses as the end of your youth. Instead, think of them as just another way to look cool. Reading glasses are just another way to express the colorful you that the world doesn't always see. AND, with your fashionable readers, now you'll be able to see the world in the words you can once again read.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaFox26TxviaDiKNHi4KIN_bNxVewKwmgBlnrXKATIJZUW31lLQEVc75oVXT1F8pakDxZteZqjJ714GhIWao4u0nnsUR2y62nE4V249Omw442N99C5KJQKNKDpvdItdx7e6THat85CKQ/s1600/ZebraReaders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaFox26TxviaDiKNHi4KIN_bNxVewKwmgBlnrXKATIJZUW31lLQEVc75oVXT1F8pakDxZteZqjJ714GhIWao4u0nnsUR2y62nE4V249Omw442N99C5KJQKNKDpvdItdx7e6THat85CKQ/s320/ZebraReaders.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>(A friend took this photo at a writer's get-together held a few days after I wrote the above post. I was preparing to read the story I wrote to the group. We all later read some of our work at our local library two days later. You can read my story <a href="http://authenticinmyskin.blogspot.com/2015/06/vacation-interrupted-writers-at-work.html" target="_blank">here </a>on my blog.)</i><br />
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K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-63349246554689987742015-06-21T14:35:00.002-04:002017-08-25T23:18:37.875-04:00If I Die from Something PoisonousI attempted yard work today. Everyone who knows me knows I <b><i>don't </i></b>do yard work. However, my little yard boy graduated high school so there is no one else to do it and the weeds were as tall as my neighbor's children. The weeds were lurking around my A/C unit like some of the stalker-like men I've had the misfortune of knowing.<br />
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So I attempted yard work. Got my sunny and colorful gloves out of storage. They look almost new. Got my little, red cutters (also out of storage), and outside I went to take some anger out on the vicious <a href="http://littleshop.wikia.com/wiki/Audrey_II" target="_blank">Audrey II-like</a> weeds. I began hacking away when something mysterious pierced me right through my gloves. I'm sure it's nothing but a very strong thorn, but if by chance I am found dead in a few days (or weeks or months since I live alone), it should be noted that I attempted yard work today and nothing more.K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-27861030224455111752015-06-10T16:26:00.003-04:002017-08-25T23:29:58.701-04:00What to Write When Your Brain Is Highjacked?<em>NOTE (written after I posted the below verbiage): Being technologically challenged, I can't figure out why this blog, when posted, has 2-3 spaces between each paragraph when my editing page has no paragraph spacing and is spaced just as the previous post was spaced. I have OCD and this is driving me nuts!</em><br />
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I realized today that the reason I don't blog is because of my health situation. I'm not <em>choosing</em> not to blog because of it. Rather, certain health conditions frequently highjack my brain and writing something that might actually mean something to someone else just hasn't been possible (there are days I'm lucky I remember my name). However, I really want to make a habit of blogging, kind of like the bible study my church is doing, <a href="http://www.acac.net/index.cfm/PageID/1393/index.html" target="_blank">91 Weeks with Jesus</a> (a.k.a. Know the Word). For approximately twenty minutes a day, five days a week, you read portions of the Bible and listen to audio commentary on it. About 1,000 people at my church are doing the study together and there has been something really powerful about it. For most of the 19 weeks that we've been doing the study, I have kept up. It's the only routine in my life that I've been able to maintain week after week. Okay, 91 Weeks <em>and</em> morning coffee.<br />
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So what <em>can</em> I handle as far as blogging is concerned? I haven't been able to blog about <a href="http://acacthreads.livejournal.com/tag/healthyforchrist" target="_blank">health and nutrition</a> because the research requires too much ... well, thinking. I haven't been able to interview people and write about it for the senior newsletter I report for because again, that requires a creativity and intellect that slips in and out whenever if feels instead of whenever I would like it to. I haven't been able to blog any <a href="http://belovedbooksblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">book reviews</a> because I've struggled for almost a year now with getting my beloved books even read. So sad.<br />
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Random thoughts. Random thoughts are about all I can handle right now. Random thoughts float around my head like garbage floats around on the waves of the beaches of Virginia. Non-stop floating. Day and night the disorganized thoughts in my head tease me as they come and go and meander in and out of my head. "Look at me," they shout before disappearing behind the murky clouds that fill the Pittsburgh skies day after day after day.<br />
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But writing is the thing I enjoy the most next to studying the cultural history and Christian theology found in the Holy Bible. My idea is to blog random thoughts when I have them and if, by chance, I wrest control of my brain out of the hands of chronic illness, then I will blog something intellectual.<br />
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Stay tuned!<br />
<br />K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-66351749270443554322015-03-20T10:14:00.000-04:002017-08-25T23:40:14.812-04:00Keeping A Journal & Genealogy<div dir="ltr">
I received my first journal for Christmas when I was ten years old. As a writer from as far back as I can remember, this was one of the greatest gifts I've ever received. I faithfully wrote in a journal on a daily basis until my late twenties. Since then, my entries have been scarce and sporadic, but I have managed to save most of these journals over the years. </div>
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Recently, it was in talking with a long-lost aunt that I rediscovered this treasure trove of history. We were talking about a bible in my possession that was passed down since before I was born. It is a memorial bible in honor of my grandmother and one I have never used because I didn't want to ruin it. My aunt told me that yes, I should absolutely use it and that my grandmother would want me to.</div>
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This started the digging in my garage for the boxes containing memorabilia as far back as my birth. I uncovered a wealth of riches that have blessed me tremendously. All week, I have been pestering family members and friends with photos and text messages containing tidbits of the jewels unearthed in these boxes. An heirloom plate I did not even realize I had, a cherished Lady and the Tramp record my sisters and I played until it wouldn't play anymore, and all the beloved journals I've kept since I was ten years old.</div>
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I opened one journal from high school and immediately sent quotes of it to my dear friend who was a "bff" back then. For my beloved sisters, I've shared lots of photos (via Facebook) of the many journal entries about our times together or how I missed them when we were apart. To their surprise, they also received a photo of a doll we each had at birth. My sister from another mother has gotten non-stop texts about our crazy twenties as I read through these journals documenting our escapades. </div>
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We've shared some of those good memories with a laugh, some of those really bad ones with a tear, but the most precious gift from this "journey into the past" is the recording of visits and conversations with departed loved ones. In these journals are words I had long since forgotten, stories told to me of the days gone by, the days before my own, stories I couldn't otherwise hear again.</div>
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This is the purpose of today's blog, to remind you of the preciousness of life and the importance of somehow recording the "mundane" that may one day become treasures to you (and the generations that follow). I have often wished I had recorded conversations I had with my grandfather, my great aunts and uncles, and even friends who left this world way too soon. As I began a quest of researching my genealogy late last year, I have wished even more that I could remember those conversations detailing the history of my family. There are few left that can remember enough to answer my many questions and those left often tell different versions of what they remember. However, in these journals recording the daily events in my life, I have found some answers. There are certainly many entries detailing events, emotions, experiences that I'd rather burn than have another come across, but they are littered throughout cherished memories and history that I would otherwise be without.</div>
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In all of this, I have become inspired to journal again in the consistent manner I did as a child and as a young woman. I have been reminded of how important it was for me as I grew and learned and lived. As a writer, it kept my words flowing as it cleared my mind to focus on my art. Most importantly, I want to add to the memories, to the history of my family, the conversations and moments that may one day bless me again.</div>
K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-24750990123011072412014-06-14T11:43:00.001-04:002017-08-25T23:31:46.935-04:00A New Day and the Sun is ShiningSince my last post, things have changed quite rapidly in my health. I believe that because I finally faced my fears and shared transparently in this blog, many have been praying for me. For those of you faithful friends, I thank you more than I can say. I had a reassessment of my muscle strength last week and I have improved at 23%. Let me add that when I first began seeing this doctor, some of my muscles were only working at 16-25%. My doctor said that at first assessment, he wants 25-35% improvement, but for the condition that I was in, 23% is really good.<br />
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In addition to this, my lower back pain has subsided enough that I am being weaned off the back brace. As I type this now, I am free of it and I credit your prayers for this. I still wear it a little each day, but I am amazed that I can drive and sit without it and without the excruciating pain of doing so.<br />
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Side note: A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. To make matters worse, she overheard her boss say that fibromyalgia is not a real condition, but is in the head. I want to smack people who say this, especially since the ones who say this are typically the ones with no medical education. My new doctor, the one who has helped me so much, did his dissertation on fibromyalgia. I'd like these ignorant people to tell him it isn't a real condition. I'd like these people to feel my physical pain and to live with the impossible, debilitating fatigue that has plagued me these last years for just one day. <i>One</i> day and they would change their tunes.<br />
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While there is no way to "test for" fibromyalgia, it is assumed that the physical injury I sustained in my lower back is what produced this enigmatic condition in me - and people, it is NOT in my head! Anyone who knows me knows that I am not one to be idle. I was a very active woman, one who has worked one or two jobs <i>while</i> attending college and getting A's <i>and</i> volunteering <i>and</i> having an active social life. I danced, I ran, I worked out. Being laid up in bed is not my idea of a good time, especially when the fatigue has even kept me from reading my beloved books. Again, anyone who knows me knows if I'm not out and about, my nose is in a book, but sometimes, even books are kept from me because the fibro-fog makes it impossible to focus.<br />
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Anyway, back to the good news...<br />
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So then I had a follow-up with my PCP. He is overseeing the medical leave and has been my doctor since before the back injury. He said, "In three years, this is the most positive appointment we've had." I realized then that he has never seen me in any other mood than miserable in three years. Sad, miserable, crying - this is all he has known of me. So many tests and exams and drugs and doctor referrals... But on Tuesday, he was smiling, I was smiling... <br />
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<i><b>AND</b></i> he is allowing me to go back to work part-time, two four-hour shifts a week! I went straight to work and let my boss know. There really isn't anything he could do, however, since my position has been filled, but he sent me to his boss and that was encouraging because his boss is the pastor who has walked with me through this whole ordeal. He has helped me in so many ways over the months and he told me, "You have made my day." He was smiling, I was smiling...<br />
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He said he will check with our department heads to see if there are any gaps I can fill for eight hours a week. All empty positions were eliminated due to budget cuts, but no matter what the outcome, I am trusting God. I haven't been paid in over three months because one UPMC office has held up my disability claim. I won't get into the ridiculousness of it all because my feelings about the incompetence of UPMC will have me flying through the roof, so let me just share that I have instead learned to lean on God and trust in Him and His provision. Until this month, all my bills have been paid, but trusting in Him also includes whether or not a position is found for me at my current/previous job or whether God has something else for me. I have only been praying about being obedient to Him and doing <i>His Will</i>, not Kathy's will. I still think He has some stuff for me to learn about taking it easy because I was doing so much on Tuesday and Wednesday that I couldn't get out of bed on Thursday and most of Friday. The hurricane weather those two days didn't help, I'm sure, but I know I still have a tendency to overdue it, especially on the days I feel good and hopeful. Yesterday, I was depressed about it, about the debilitating fatigue hitting me again. But today, today is a new day, and the sun is shining.K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-70016653560849890572014-05-22T12:01:00.001-04:002017-08-25T23:40:54.948-04:00My Bed, My Brace, & My BurdenThere are many days I rarely leave my bed. In the midst of the good and the bad, it has become my place - my place of peace, my place of pity; the place I want to be most on the good days and least on the bad. I begrudge my bed when I have no choice but to be here and delight in it when I am able to choose it of my own cognition. <br />
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On days like today, it is with apathy that I am here typing. My body is as it always is, sluggish and thick, and I fantasize there is someone who will soon bring me coffee. But there is no one so I pop a couple Excedrin with the bottled water on my nightstand knowing the caffeine injection will shortly give me a gust. Then will I be able to rise from my bed and hobble my way down the stairs to the coffee pot or the Klondikes or the new scenery. What I want most is to shower, but it is too much too soon and so I sit in my stink until my body gives me the okay to exert the energy a shower requires.<br />
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For too long, I can't sit without my brace. As I tried exercising without a therapist and tried rinsing out my tub without a clue, I sat last Thursday without my brace. Feeling strong, feeling the pain scale of nine reduced to a five, I wanted to be ... me. The me I once was, active, strong, but the brace that was such a blessing and brought me such joy is now a noose around my neck; a monkey on my back, and I spent three days back up the scale at nine. <br />
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I am impatient. I want to be free of it. I want to be free of this body that is such a contradiction to my mind. I want to run and dance and walk with grace. I want to speak my mind at the time I want to speak it, to free the imprisoned words and memories held without ransom behind some invisible shroud. I want my friends to remember who I am, to remember I exist, or I want to make new ones in a world I haven't seen for awhile. I want to work and play and write and learn. I want to care about something, and I really, really want to take a shower.K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-2574314914939450382013-06-18T22:42:00.000-04:002017-01-24T23:18:53.425-05:00My Balcony Flower PotI once had a green thumb. Friends would walk in my home and feel the beauty of the outside in the confines of whichever apartment I currently occupied. I even recall feeling a tad upset when I visited Utah for the first time after I moved across the country. My dear friend Adam asked if he could have all my luscious plants because there was no way they would survive the 1,800+ miles in the back of my U-haul. He promised to take very good care of them so I relented, but when I returned for my first vacation home, there were none left alive to visit.<br />
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I once had a green thumb. Give me any withering, growing thing and I would have it blooming in a short period of time. Eventually, the relocating and traveling so much in the corporate world took it's toll on my nature friends and they became fewer and fewer. Then one day I chose to settle and bought a house with many, many stairs and levels. I worked full-time, part-time, and worked diligently to finish my degree as an honor student. In my "spare" time, I didn't take care of plants (that required many trips up and down many stairs), but instead volunteered for various non-profit organizations that were near to my heart (or just happened to be short a few hands). It wasn't long before only one green friend remained.<br />
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I can proudly say this one green friend is still thriving in my home. It might have something to do with being on the same level as the kitchen or with the promise I made to my best friend that I wouldn't kill it. For fun, I periodically email her pictures so she knows I kept my promise.<br />
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On my balcony, however, there is a large flower pot. I must say it was blooming quite beautifully and for some time! Of course, the plant had long died and the bloomers were very lively weeds.<br />
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That flower pot, now trimmed of Seymour (sounds way better than <a href="http://littleshop.wikia.com/wiki/Audrey_II" target="_blank">Audrey II</a>), still sits on my balcony filled to the brim with rich soil. It, unfortunately, does not hold anything more precious than some cigarette butts (etc., etc.).<br />
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"What is that?" asked my neighbor, Audra, to her husband. Gene picked up something from their yard as I balanced our other neighbor Christy's baby on my hip.<br />
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"I think it's a clump of deer fur," Gene replied, analyzing the mass.<br />
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With a sheepish grin, I piped up, "No, it's not deer fur. It's Zeusy fur." I was brushing him on the balcony and stuffing the fur balls pulled off the brush into my flower pot. Apparently with strong winds, cat fur travels! I would have been happier knowing it traveled on the <em>other</em> side of my house (to the neighbor I don't care for), but c'est la vie.<br />
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Tonight, my flower pot boasts a fancy blue pen. The damn thing is practically new but skips like Raggedy Ann on Raggedy Andy's face. So, I pitched it into the garbage abyss of my balcony flower pot.<br />
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And I just felt you all should know.K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4997076249876433224.post-22947226025949780392013-06-15T16:17:00.000-04:002017-08-25T23:37:50.257-04:00Recommendations for the RoadIt has been interesting, taking a journey going nowhere. I have fought and screamed, ranted and raved, smoked a cigarette or two while camping out in my aunt's studio apartment. We were worried about me and there was no one I could trust myself with but her. I deactivated my Facebook account and praised God many drunken evenings for doing so!! Tried changing my phone number even, but work and house-hunters have kept me too busy to make it to Verizon. Instead, it's been turned off most days.<br />
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I don't know if I would recommend this to anyone. Let's face it (or let me face it, admit it): some day I would like to marry and have baby-Raes running around (or baby-whomever is strong enough to marry me). Yes, love and babies, but ain't gunna happen if I don't let a man in (into my heart, gutters-heads!). So, I've had to go inside my heart all by myself and <u><strong>IT IS PAINFUL</strong></u>. It hurts. It's like everything you have ever felt in your life exploding at the drop of a comment, a sound, my unshed tears. Swearing became my new language, so offensive, so automatic, and Pandora's box was opened and dumped out on my balcony. My neighbors know a lot more about me now.<br />
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Would I recommend this? You hate yourself until you realize you hate everyone else instead until you realize you don't hate anyone, you're just really, really hurt. Bruised, not broken, but's it's the large, dark bruise on your calf that starts turning green. Unlike the last time, I didn't have a big sister near to rush me to the hospital.<br />
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So, although necessary in my life to truly live, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is alone (praise God I had my aunt). If someone does choose to take this kind of journey (and you have someone like an aunt or a therapist), here is my advice:<br />
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When in this phase of your healing, do not listen to metal no matter how much you love Quiet Riot. I learned from experience, trust me. I would not recommend it.<br />
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I would, however, recommend journaling. Lots and lots of journaling (especially when your therapist seems to be out of the country every time you need her most). No need for systems and fancy stuff. Girlfriend, when you goin' crazy, just grab the nearest napkin and take it out on that. I wrote some pretty ugly stuff in notebooks, but for once, the ugly stuff wasn't about me. Yes, there were a few pages directed at the man currently holding my jewelry hostage, but I can't even be mad at him for long. He has no clue who I am and I have no clue who he is. I misdiagnosed us from the start, protected myself accordingly, and scared him away like I do best, before we could ever decide if we wanted to give us a chance. Journal.<br />
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Lastly, don't try finding a safe place in someone who has never gone through the stuff you've gone through. No matter <em>how much</em> they love you, they'll never get it and they'll never be able to understand the chaotic, inner roller coaster you are on. Seriously, it can ruin a friendship.<br />
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Why blog about this? Really, I don't know. I believe God gave me the gift of writing for a reason, but when I've shut down all that made me vulnerable, my words couldn't get through the steel demeanors I built around me. Without vulnerability, I couldn't write, but I'm writing again and I thank God for it. I even found a poem I wrote forever ago about how writing has saved my life. Maybe blogging about this is a way to remind someone else how writing can save lives. And there's no need for me to share all the personal stuff in my notebooks. I think a nice summary blog post will suffice. If not, of course, you can always go talk to my neighbors! ;-)K.Raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107423719679698228noreply@blogger.com1