I have a mind
I live in a body
Care and Feeding of YOUR Spirit Mind and Body – I’ve been alone in a cozy cabin in the woods. These past few years have depleted me in every way to the point of PTSD. While I unplugged, drilled down and listened to my inner voice, it became clear that it was time to make some changes. What about the Care and Feeding of YOUR Spirit Mind and Body.
How are you caring for yourself lately?
I believe that we are a 3 part being. That concept has remained a major foundation for life. Each of those parts requires food, nurture, and love. Poor nutrition in any area can cause a serious breakdown in our lives.
I am a spirit, have a mind, and live in a body
I am not my mind. It is the seat of my thinking and knits together my 3 part self.
I am not my body. It is the suit that I am wearing while on this planet for my lifetime.
I am a spirit. The inner essence is what really defines me.
They all 3 make up who we are and how we view ourselves.
Body
Body – Our body is the suit we wear around on this earth. It came into existence birth day. We were created to occupy our spot on the timeline of the universe. The family that we were born into, our genetics, and personality make us unique! We know that shape and size of our body is NOT what defines an individual. When I don’t feel well physically, my body’s aches and pains have a voice all of it’s own.
Body food – Food is our medicine. We spend a lot of time and money caring for our body with liver disease, Hepatitis C, or any illness for sure. Starting off the day brushing our teeth, eating good food, drinking water, coffee or green tea. A lot of energy and money are spent looking good and dressing well. Time is spent checking the mirror, which can be depressing when we are sick. We think about exercise (or not) and trying to stay strong. We spend about 1/3 of our day trying to rest or sleep. Our body consumes a big portion of our time.
Mind
Mind – Our mind is the thinking part of who we are. Surrounding ourselves with positive folks who give us good mental food is important. We can also read good news, listen to good words and music, and watch programs that lift us up – not depress us. There is no room in my life for negative input. Some may struggle with disrespect from adult kids or alcohol depression issues.
Brain food – We use our brains and feed it well especially with brain fog. I know that good food and plant based protein helps. If I don’t, brain fog shuts me down fast, and is so frustrating! Just like the food we eat our body can help or hurt us. The food for our brain has a powerful effect also.
Inner YOU or Spirit
Spirit – This is who we really are. I believe that we are created as spiritual beings. Our spirit is the very essence of who we are. It is the forever part of us. In my opinion, it is the most vital part of who we are. It is the life force. How do you feed your spirit?
Spiritual food – Have fun finding a lot of sources. We can read uplifting books or listen to positive, caring speakers. There is programming on television, the internet, and also in audio-books. Go to my soundcloud or youtube channel. I’m so sensitive to negative input that I get an instant downer around negative situations. Ugly thoughts and ideas can cause me to feel anger, frustration, guilt, or general heaviness like if I feel unforgivenss.
Retreat in France
My focus on being my best self has always been tops for most of my life. When I get too busy or just plain lazy, it seems like any old thing will do. I can eat unhealthy food, shove negative info into my brain, and dwell on negative spiritual thoughts.
I’m going to make a huge confession:
Self care has gone down the drain. I have gotten out of balance and feed one aspect of myself while ignoring another. Some big commitments and promises were made to ME on my retreat. My promises are important to me.
It is not really clear what this will look like as far as the details. You will have to work out the details in your own life too.
I do know that we Have to stay committed to being our best selves when living with Hepatitis C, liver disease, or Cirrhosis or any kind of illness.
You can begin the Care and Feeding of YOU in Spirit, Mind, and Body at my youtube channel. I send love and hugs to you every day no matter where I am. xoxo Karen
14 thoughts on “Care and Feeding of Your Spirit Mind and Body”
Way to go Karen
I bet you got a few personally relevant mother earth encounters, skies, animals, birds, rocks etc
If not you obviously got a lot from your retreat . That’s awesome.
I hope your feeling good and everyone else is too.
Love, Guido
Guido!
So are you back from your walk about? Is that what you Aussie’s call a back woods adventure? Haha! You inspired me to take a break. It was amazing. Coyotes howling at the moon. I filled my pockets with rocks, leaves, and feathers.
Nature offers us so many little treasures as reminders that life is as it should be – we only have to take the time to be still and listen.
Love you,
Karen:)
I love you. Your commitment to yourself holds out inspiration and healing to me and the entire hepatitis C community.
Lucinda –
You are my inspiration! We share our love and lives in this awesome community of caring people. I love you more.
That was very brave of you to share with us that you haven’t been taking as good care of yourself as you should Karen. I’m glad that your time in the woods helped you reflect on a lot of stuff and just help you quiet your mind too.
I am by no means great at all of this either but I watch what I eat mainly to keep my weight in balance but I have a very positive attitude. I’m truly grateful each morning I wake up and God has blessed me with another day on this earth. I’ve faced hardships in my life but nothing like you in the health department. I’ve always watched loved ones suffer and I continue to pray to God each day for my excellent health.
Staying positive, being grateful and acknowledging it every day really does wonders. I can speak from experience so that we’re better equipped to handle when life doesn’t exactly go our way.
I’m definitely here to help you stay on track Karen and if you ever need to talk you have my number.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us and you have a fabulous day.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…Why Effective Consistency in Blogging Is Crucial
Adrienne –
Yes, my time in silence was amazing. I have made myself a promise to do it again soon!
It is obvious from your website that you take good care of yourself. That is one reason I believe that you are able to give so much. Your attitude of gratitude is obvious in all of your words of encouragement.
Because you do not have health issues, your support mean even more to me. Your willingness to offer support and encouragement to those of us who are running a website come from a positive place of giving. I’m humbled by your generosity. xo
I hope your week is awesome. BTW – just when I have a question about the blog, you write about it. You are always a step ahead of what bloggers encounter.
Bless you dear one,
Karen:)
Karen – this was a very inspiring post. It’s easy to get imbalanced in caring for ourselves and over-focusing on one area – often I think that’s the body – and we forget our spirits need nourishing, too. My parents have a cabin that I haven’t been able to go to for the last few years, but when I did, it was very refreshing.
Yolanda – I’m glad you stopped by! How fortunate you are to have memories of the cabin. I hope you’ll steal away some time there soon.
I totally agree that too much time is spent on external rather than internal. I’m guilty of it myself. But when I take carefully attend to all of me, I actually take better care of my body. Not in the “how do I look” sense, but more about how I eat, exercise, etc.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks so much and have an awesome week!
Karen:)
Thank you for this inspiring post to remind us all to take better care of ourselves.
There are two items that I will put on my self-care agenda for this week [and month] – going to sleep earlier [clearly I’m starting tomorrow] and eating breakfast every AM.
I think if we engage in a positive good habit for several days/few weeks in a row, it will then become ingrained and natural 🙂
Dorlee,
You’re so welcome and thanks for coming by! Your thought about sticking with a good habit for several days or weeks is a lot of it. Our brains get so attached to habits! Breakfast is my easy one – I’m with you on that.
Going to bed early will be a challenge for me as well. I’ll think of you when trying to reinforce that habit! lol. Let me know how it goes..
Thanks for commenting. I love checking in on your blog also!
Karen:)
Hi Karen,
You know me, I am Jim Gordon.
Congratulations on your BIG OPERATION. You came through it like a champ. Are you still teaching or will you teach after your recovery is long enough along? I wish you the best in your future endeavors.
I am trying to do something with my life and my health status is getting in the way. I have a variety of conditions caused directly by my 30 year long infection with HCV, stage 2cirrhosis, peripheral neuropathy, HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY (THE BIG ONE), severe arthritis in both hips (not directly related to HCV but it is in this list (I need two hip replacements and I can not walk more than 25 feet at a time). It is that I have an overwhelming desire to become a physician’s assistant. I would aim for doctor but the demands are just too overwhelming. Being a PA also makes huge demands on me but they are a little less than becoming an MD.
Whenever I mention this to anyone the answer I always get is, “you’re never too old”. Well, it is true that I may not be too old (62) but I may well be a little too sick. HOWEVER, this is my one shot on this planet and if I don’t do it now, then when will I? What do you think, Karen?
I don’t know if my post is in the right place n your website but It was the best place I could find. I hope it is ok.
Warmest regards,
Jim
Dear Jim, I agree, it is never too late. Thank you so much for the good wishes for Karen, I know she will be very pleased to hear from you. I am Dee and have been helping her since her transplant. She is working on recovering right now but stops by when she can.
Karen will be going back to work as soon as she is able. She has to keep her health insurance. I am sure she will be writing about that soon.
Were you treated for your HCV? I have heard of people treating and some of their symptoms disappearing. There are new treatments that take much less time and are not as severe as the old ones with Interferon. Off the top of my head Harvoni comes to mind. There are places offering financial assistance to people that can’t afford the tx. Even the drug manufacturers. Are you taking anything for your HE? If not, it is really important that you do. I hope you can hold off on the hip replacements until you can take care of you and your liver. I think it is wonderful that you want to help others. First you need to help yourself. I have heard of many people starting a new chapter of their life in their 60’s going back to school or helping others by volunteering. I say go go for it. You have a lot to give. Are you on lactulose or the antibiotic that could help clear the ammonia? If you can’t get those, inulin is helpful, it is in powder form and can be added to any green or protein drink. I wish you the very best.
Dee
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Mindy recently posted…Mindy
Hello! You are right, Karen pays for this blog herself. She is doing this to help all of the people who have been diagnosed with HCV extra hepatic problems, cancer and cirrhosis. She does this out of the goodness of her heart. She has a huge heart. How nice of you to notice.
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