Positive Attitude Challenge is Oct. 16th - Oct. 30th

[Bucky]

Thank you everyone for your prayers and thoughts for me and my family. 

There have been many challenges since that day three months ago - and we still have some matters pending to be taken care of.  One day at a time.

I'm ready to resume our Summer Challenge that had to be postponed three days into it.  So, if you've read the note I put on the very first page explaining the Challenge being resumed on Oct. 16th - I'll "see" you on Wednesday.   

Bucky

[Dee]

I would like to participate, am I understanding that we don't yet know what the challenge is, being already somewhat challenged myself I'm not sure if I missed it somewhere in the post(s).   

Looking forward to it,
Dee

[Bucky]

Dee - I'm glad you are going to join in on the Challenge.  Sorry, I guess I should have restated what the Challenge is - so here is what our Summer 2013 Challenge (which is now really Fall 2013 Challenge) is all about:


Starting Oct. 16th starts our new 2 week Summer/Fall 2013 Challenge.  During each "challenge" I try and think of something new.  This particular challenge is an attitude challenge . . . a Positive Attitude Challenge to be more specific.

Many times, having a chronic autoimmune disease can be a challenge in and of itself.  You never know what to expect day to day.  You often wonder, "what new little gift will I have today?".

Studies have shown that there are definitely health benefits of having a positive mental attitude.  A positive outlook on life will help you to feel better and will significantly help to reduce your stress level.  As you may or may not know, stress and a Sjoggie are NOT best friends!

Have you ever been around people who are so negative and find fault in every little thing?  They are not fun to be around and they can put a damper on the occasion in a big hurry.

I've known and seen people who never smile - who always look mad, sad, or angry at the world.  These are people I would prefer not to hang out with.

Flip the coin and have you been around people who are always laughing, smiling and seem genuinely happy?  Are they exempt from the trials of life - absolutely not, but they have learned coping skills to deal with the situation at hand.

I am not a doctor, nurse, therapist or counselor - but, during these next two weeks we'll share with each other things that bring us a positive attitude in life, things that bring us happiness.  Ways we learn to cope with the trials life throws our way.  The different ways we can keep a positive mental attitude.

During this two week challenge, we'll not only look for ways to help our own positive attitude, but we'll also look for ways and opportunities to be positive to others.  Encouragement goes a long way and many times can leave a lasting impression on the recipient that someone showed acknowledgment of a job well done or they cared about the service or help that was given.  Children love to be praised for their efforts - the positive encouragement helps mold their young lives.

The challenge has been issued . . . let's see if we can't really strive to have a positive mental attitude these next two weeks not only for ourselves and our situations, but for our family, co-workers, and strangers we encounter each day.  Then, come back here and post what you've done , what you're thinking, etc.

As I mentioned, I'm hoping we'll have at least 35 members participate in this challenge.  One of the reasons we all come to this site is because each of us wants to be validated as fellow Sjogren's patients - to be around others who understand the challenges of this disease, and who can share ideas and be a support system as we all learn from each other.  I hope you'll join in this challenge.

Bucky

As is my tradition with each challenge, I will close each day with a quote that I've come across along the way:

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life, not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."  - Kahlil Gibran

[Bucky]

Happy Wednesday - October 16, 2013

Day #1 of our 14 day October Challenge.

Today restarts our Positive Attitude Challenge that was suspended in July.

I hope you have read or re-read (if you were a part of this challenge in July) the posts that were made for days 1 - 4 of the July challenge.  There were different ideas shared and ways that members had an opportunity to incorporate some positive attitude to their own daily lives and/or the lives of others.

Daily we are bombarded with heartbreaking stories of tragic events happening worldwide.  One person's whole life might be changed in the blink of an eye - a catastrophe hits without warning. 

I have read here on our forum of members whose life situations changed overnight.  There have been accidents, house fires, divorces, job loss, serious illness issues, flooding, winter storms, power outages that lasted for days, loss of loved ones . . . . the list goes on and on.

How do we cope when such things come into our lives?  I have seen both spectrums of such an event - some people fall to pieces, withdraw from everybody and everything, and their physical symptoms seem to skyrocket then too.  They develop a doom and gloom outlook on life.  Everything in their life is negative.

On the other hand, I have seen people who looked for ways to manage when life throws them a curveball.  They seek out other peoples help, encouragement, and some times resources to help them pick the pieces up and continue on - to look at the positive side of things.  A word of encouragement to a person in this situation makes a world of difference to them.

It goes without saying that a person who is dealing with Sjogren's will not have 365 pain-free or symptom-free days in a year.  It's just the nature of this disease that our bodies will hurt.  How do we handle that?  Do we gripe, whine, and complain to anybody who will listen?  Or, do we look for ways to relieve our symptoms by modifying how we do things, by getting physical therapy for aches and pains, by resting when we need to?

My goal for this Positive Attitude Challenge is for each of us to look for ways to keep a positive attitude in whatever situations we might be in.  Not only for ourselves - but for other people we encounter in our daily lives.

We do need to think about how our actions and life events and the actions of others influence our attitudes.

Encouragement, a helping hand and words of praise go a long way.

For example: when I was at work on Monday, I went up to the two cleaning ladies and thanked them for all the hard work they do for the company to keep things clean.  Anybody who has a job of physical labor often feels unappreciated (I know this first hand) and a little bit of positive affirmation of a job well done is HUGE.  Both ladies responded, "thank you so much - that means a lot to us."  My actions only took a few minutes, but I'm sure the ladies will long remember that someone noticed and cared.

So, for the next 14 days - try and practice having a positive attitude.  Then, come back here and post what you've done or what you're thinking, etc. to keep a Positive Attitude.

Bucky

"Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and expectations."    Brian Tracy

[Velcro]

Hi there Bucky!  I will have to withdraw from participating now, nothing wrong, we're are leaving on vacation in 7 days and will be gone for 10, so I will not get the opportunity to post.

But here's my all-encompassing positive for the next two weeks because I do believe positive attitudes can make our overall health better.

I am going to Disney World!  Yes, I'm excited like a 4 year old.  I have never been.  We were supposed to go when I was 8, but my Father had an accident 3 days before we were leaving and we had to cancel the trip.  My DH, when we were dating, heard the story and promised he would take me some day.  Well that day has come.  We will be going to the beach for 3 days, then Disney for 6.  We are going to the Disney Halloween party one night, where we get to dress up and trick or treat like kids.

Here's my positive out of all of this.  I debated and so did DH about making this trip due to being afraid of it making me sick.  Well guess what?  LET IT!  I refuse to sit around and not do anything fun with my life simply because this disease may rear it's ugly head.  So we are going!  I triple dog dare my AI's to try something!  I will whip them on top of the head with a pair of Mickey Ears!  I am excited beyond all get out and I will spend my days, oohing and ahhhing, smiling an laughing.  That's how life should be.

[slccom]

Velcro, use a scooter! You can call around Orlando and rent one a whole lot cheaper than from Disney.

Sharon

[Velcro]

Thanks Sharon.  We did find a place that someone recommended that would even deliver it to our resort and pick it up.  If I need to, I will.

[Bucky]

Velcro - I can tell how excited you are to be finally heading off to Disney World!!   

It's a HUGE place - so, just pace yourself and enjoy!!!

You can still participate in the challenge up until you leave for vacation - or not - it's up to you.

Have a great vacation!!!

Bucky

[Bucky]

Day #2 of our 14 day October Challenge.

Was day #1 of the Positive Attitude Challenge a walk in the park??   

Ha - definitely not for me!!

Each morning when I'm driving into work I'm going over the days upcoming plans.  As you know, the best laid plans can fall apart quickly.

Things were going well at work until the lights flickered and half the power went out.  Of course the "half" that went out involved all the computers and copy machine.  Like most businesses, the vast majority of our work is done via a computer.

It was off for probably 30 minutes.  Then, the power comes back on . . . Yay!!  That didn"t last long and it was off again.    The second time it was off for an hour and a half.

There's not a whole lot you can do when the power goes out - you are at the mercy of the electric company.  It was a town-wide outage, so that was one positive thing as our company wasn't the only one without power.

There will be instances in our lives where things happen that we have absolutely no control over.  None of us like to be inconvenienced - but, it happens.  When these unexpected events happen - how do we react to them? 

Being upset and having a negative attitude to the situation isn't going to change anything.  It is what it is, the power will come back on when the electric company can fix the problem.  It was nice to have all the company noise generated by all the various machines, radios and television go silent.  I can still continue to work on non-computer work at my desk.  The power outage wasn't all that much of a big deal to me.  In fact, I was thinking . . . hmmm, maybe, I'll go home early today if the power doesn't come back on.     It's all in the attitude.

How was your day?

Bucky

"Take charge of your attitude.  Don't let someone else choose it for you."   Anonymous

[Velcro]

Thanks Bucky! 

Sometimes I think it's the smallest things that I appreciate most.  I ran by Walmart during lunch to pick up some things.  As I was walking down an aisle, an elderly female that was about 5' tall was trying very hard to reach a top shelf and get something.  I noticed it and stopped and asked if I could get it for her.  She nodded and I got it down and handed it to her.  She hugged me.  I mean literally just grabbed me and hugged me and told me I was very sweet to do that for her.

Ok, I'll admit, I teared up because sometimes we forget that something so small can mean so much to someone else.  Made my day.

[Bucky]

Ok, I'll admit, I teared up because sometimes we forget that something so small can mean so much to someone else.  Made my day.

That hits the nail on the head . . . you never know how such a simple, kind gesture can be huge to a person.

Hugs are always good too!   

Bucky

[Bucky]

Day #3 of our 14 day October Positive Attitude Challenge

I hope if you have come here to this thread and read about our Positive Attitude Challenge and haven't committed to joining in - join in.  You can join in anywhere along our 14 day challenge.

Everything I read mentions about the lasting effect having a positive attitude can have in your life's outlook on things whether it's a job, relationship, school, friends, etc.

Yesterday, for example, I saw a short video of a teacher who had shaved his head to help support one of his third grade students who was losing his hair to alopecia and the young boy was apprehensive about getting his head shaved.   That teacher has left such a long lasting positive attitude for his student. 

Choose to have a positive attitude.  Be someone who others want to be with, because you lift their energy, attitude, and spirit.

Bucky

"When a storm is coming, all other birds seek shelter.  The Eagle alone, avoids the storm by flying above it.  So, in the storms of life . . . . may your heart soar like an Eagle."    (Words to Inspire the Soul)

[Linda196]

Sorry, Bucky, I didn't officially "sign on" but this is how we try to live our lives anyway (we bing my family, community and myself).

We have a very proactive "Pay it Forward" community, and it shows! It's once again become commonplace to see what I grew up knowing as common courtesy. Doors are held open, things picked up for people who drop them, and when a tall person automatically grabs something off a high shelf for someone, the shorter person is most likely to grab something from a low one for them. It's not uncommon to drive through a pick up window to find your coffee, or toll, or parking has already been paid by the car ahead. I can't remember the last time I saw someone cut in line (although still sometimes a problem when driving).

Kind of gives credence to the Canadian stereotypes, but hey, there's worse things to be known for than being polite!

As the signs around town say, "Pay It Forward Lives Here"

[Velcro]

My positive for today is going to sound silly, but again, a good reminder for myself that positives can come from anywhere.  I have got to the point where I don't watch TV.  I just haven't been able to find a new show that holds my interest in several years.

Found one!  I started watching the new "Once Upon A Time In Wonderland" this week, and I love it!  I guess it stirs really good childhood memories.  What does a TV show have to do with a positive?  I realized after the hour it took to watch it, that not once did I worry about my diseases.

[Dee]

I have made an effort to engage in only positive interaction with and thoughts about circumstances of a discouraged family member whose situation has me so stressed sometimes because I can't fix it.  That hasn't been beneficial for either of us.

This sounds easy but really I had to just let go of all the negative aspects and just be positive only, that's it. Actually I had some relief once I made the decision.

Our interaction is better and this person has actually talked with me more in the last couple days, and that makes me feel better, hopefully makes both of us feel better. I guess I seem more approachable when I am being positive. Well duh.

Anyway so far so good. Next week I am going to do my best to read a daily affirmation or devotional and apply it during that day -this helped me some years ago, even if only to repeat it when having down moments.

I also took an oh well attitude about my car repairs today, which is better than the attitude I had before which caused me stress. I had to shell out some serious dough but oh well.

Have a wonderful weekend all!

Dee