How To Be A Shinning Example

     Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.  Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.  "T. S. Elliot"

     I saw this quote on facebook this morning, and thought it was a grand quote for my plant based way of life.  Actually a person could use this quote for a great many things in life.  Religion, work, goals, anything! 

     How was your Thanksgiving?  I worked on Thanksgiving Day, but we as employees still had dinner.  Our unit secretary brought in the dinner with all the fixings.  She brought in a roasting pan to cook a turkey and we all chipped in with sides.  The turkey smelled heavenly, and brought back many memories of my childhood.  I work at a hospital, and a lot of our patients made mention that the halls smelled wonderful. 

     Lunch was served around 1:00.  We each took turns going into the conference room to eat.  As I went in there were many other colleagues present.  Was I even tempted to eat turkey?  Actually no I was not.  There were many sides, and of course I brought in the veggie tray.  I filled my plate with veggies, and some of the salads.  They were not all too healthy though because they contained jello, and cool whip.  Even when I went into that room to get a piece of pie later, and no one was around I didn't partake of the turkey.  It really didn't even appeal to me. 

     The next day didn't go as smoothly.  Because I worked Thanksgiving Day, my family had Thanksgiving with me the day after.  My children are not fully plant based and neither is my husband, so again I had to smell turkey for the day.  I did succumb to temptation.  I had a little bit of turkey.  (No one is perfect)  I have to tell you though, it didn't taste as good as I once remembered, and giving thought of eating a dead animal kind of made me sick to my stomach.  That day I spent in the kitchen making yummy sides to go with this turkey dinner.  Everything else was plant based, and those recipes are on the recipe side of this blog.  So my dinner again was pretty much plant based. 

     There are so many vegans that are in your face about this lifestyle.  It's such a turn off to me.  We need to leave a trail or be an quiet example to those we love and associate with.  It goes a lot farther than getting into a yelling match on who is right or wrong. 

     At this holiday season, make goals to be a better person.  Reach for the sky!  Blaze your own trail, and be brave enough to stick to it.  Remember it's okay to flub up once in a while, but try to remember those things that you have learned.  Help those around you see how this lifestyle has changed your life.  Treat them like you would want to be treated. 

 
   P.S.  As far as my pulmonary embolisms are going, I can now breath without too much trouble.  I'm still having issues with kidney stones, but I think that is getting better as well.  Hope your holiday season is wonderful!


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Almost Decided to Give Up!

     Yesterday I went to work as normal.  I arrived at work at 645 am and picked up my shift assignment.  I felt a bit short of breath, but thought nothing of it.  My shift assignment was relatively an easy one.  I just had one patient that was a bit more work than the other ones. 

     As the day progressed, the shortness of breath became worse.  I was having a hard time catching my breath, and when I did I felt relieved and carried on with my day.  Then it became a lot worse, so I went to my nurse and asked if she would do my vitals.  Turns out that my blood pressure was 165/95.  It alarmed her, and she asked me to talk to the charge nurse.  He told me to go to head over to employee health after I spoke to the other charge nurse and he said I can't tell you to go to the emergency department, but I would strongly advise to.  Needless to say he drove me there. 

     After an EKG, an x-ray, some blood tests it was determined that I had suffered a pulmonary embolism or blood clot to my lungs.  REALLY?  Not again!  Yes it's true.  I had suffered this same plight almost 6 years ago, but with that one I had warning.  That one started in my leg, and then went to my lung.  My poor husband was despondent, and we both shed some tears while in the ED.  Needless to say it was a very scary awful day.  On top of this, my poor husband lost his job. 

     Wait a minute!  I'm eating a whole foods plant based diet!  Isn't that supposed to help with all illnesses?  Isn't that supposed to make us feel like we are on top of the world, and exempt from things?  Well that's what I thought until I started talking to people, and digging for answers.  I was ready to throw in the towel and go back to eating a SAD (standard American diet).  Why not, I got sick, and this sickness has killed people, what did I have to lose really!

     There are some illnesses that diet just isn't going to help.  I may be very well predisposed to getting blood clots.  It might be a genetic problem.  I will see a pulmonologist tomorrow and talk with him about why in the world I'm getting these.  Eating this way did not cause my blood to become sticky.  It couldn't have.  There has to be another reason.  Many of my siblings have had them, and my father died from one. 

     Just because we eat this way doesn't mean everything will be peachy.  We all have trials and complications.  There will always be something that diet alone cannot cure.  That doesn't mean though that this diet or lifestyle rather is not a good one.  It truly has changed my life.  It has saved some innocent animals, and made a difference on this good planet we call earth.  We just need to hang tight, continue what we are doing and push forward. 

     Now there are some things that I think I'm going to tweak a bit.  My family likes to go out to eat, but now that my husband lost his job we won't be doing that.  That alone will help to get the oil out of my diet, and since I will be cooking whole foods and I don't have money for processed then I should be able to be SOS (salt, oil, sugar) free.  Okay, none of us are perfect and I have cheated a lot with sugar.  It's truly my downfall.  Now is my chance to really get my butt in gear.  I guess my point to all this is to never ever ever give up.  I wouldn't recommend doing it this way, but it is what it is, and we all get to a better lifestyle one way or another. 

     Cheers!