Am I Making A Difference?

It's hard to believe that 2 weeks have gone by since I was in Canada.  It was such a heartwarming experience...And I find myself longing for more.

While I was at the symposium I had this woman come up to me, shake my hand and tell me how much she liked my talk.  She pointed to her daughter - who was sitting by herself, with her baby.  "Can you go over and talk to her...?"

So I did.  I sat with her.  Told her that her baby was beautiful...That NF wasn't the end of the world...That her baby is looking to HER ..And that to HIM...She was his hero!  

I tried.

But....I don't think any of my words helped.  

To HER....This was the end of the world.  To HER, her baby was 'sick'.  To HER, it was all her fault.

I felt bad for her....Mostly because I know exactly how she feels.

I hate NF with so much passion, that sometimes, I just want to throw my computer against the wall, and give up on all this THRIVING crap.

But...

Then I see my kids.  I see them looking at me.  To MY kids...I am their hero.  The one they look to - and learn from.  I see MY attitude reflecting in them.  And THRIVING has become the most important part in how we cope with this diagnosis.

My words may not have impacted this young woman....But....Maybe they did.  All I can do, is set an example....Share my story and live my life.

And on those days where I get so frustrated that I want to give up.....I DON'T.

THRIVE ON.

Speaking!!!

I am still coming off my high, from the amazing weekend I had!  I just can't get enough of this stuff! Sometimes I wish, I could just clear my schedule, and do this full-time!

WAIT....

Why can't I...?

I get so pumped up when I am able to share my story with people....AND have my story actually have an impact!  It's an amazing feeling when someone comes up to you, after you do something like this, and have THEM QUOTE YOU!

Words matter.  And I am so blessed to have people who want to hear what I have to say.

It's quite humbling!

My journey in THRIVING with NF....Has been a long, hard, sometimes even painful road....But at the same time, it has been triumphant and satisfying!

I wanted to THANK Desire'e and the entire BCNF group for having me out to your symposium.  I am blessed to have been able to speak and humbled by the response!


I am READY for MORE!

THRIVE ON!

Vancouver, I Can't Wait to Meet You

I'm so excited!  In a few days, I will be in Vancouver British Columbia!

I have been invited to share my story about how Neurofibromatosis affects my life, as well as the lives of my children....And how we THRIVE throughout the many UPS and DOWNS of this disorder!

What does THRIVING look like?  I get questions like this all the time.  And my simple answer is this....THRIVING means taking control over your actions.  We all get angry...frustrated....sad...ETC....
But what happens after that...?

Thriving for ME....means I use that energy for something GOOD.  Something POSITIVE.

Try it.

I know it's hard to be positive all the time, when faced with the problems of such a complicated disorder...But, it's not about being positive all the time....It just about changing the way you respond....Changing the way you let things affect you.

This will change the way you are treated...I promise you!

If you act like a victim...You will be treated like a victim.

I don't always have it 'all together'...I have days where I shake my fists at God....But, then...I bounce back and realize my attitude and actions are MY RESPONSIBILITY!

Let's THRIVE together!

Today's Periscope. Thriving Even When You Don't Know What You're Doing!

Thriving at the ER

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