We're all familiar with the expression "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade". I always thought it was a cute saying, and while I thought I could relate to it now and then I never really lived it. Until last year. 2011 served me up a big ole bushel of lemons with the rapid onset and diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. I've detailed the onset of my RA already in My Story so let's jump ahead a bit to the lemonade recipe I've been working on.
I'm an optimistic person by nature, so when I became ill I knew that somewhere in my future there had to be a reason, a silver lining, a recipe for "lemonade". My illness forced me to make some really big changes, really fast. I had to re-order my priorities so I could take better care of myself. In one year's time I changed every single part of my life outside of my personal relationships. The process was painful, but it was necessary.
On a personal level my lemonade recipe has included making more time for family, moving to a smaller house to lighten my financial burden, and saying no to projects and commitments that would spread me too thin. My recipe also involved a very important change in attitude and perspective. As trite as it may seem, I no longer sweat the small stuff. I worry less and trust more. I don't put my time or energy into toxic people. I know that the only things that truly matter in this world are relationships and health. On the professional side I restructured my business to allow me more control over my time. I closed my storefront, downsized my custom cakes business, and canceled many of my commitments. I found a new professional path that has greater personal meaning and allows me to help others with chronic illnesses. I'm launching a new business offering culinary wellness services, going back to my culinary roots to work again as a personal chef and instructor, but with a twist- now my food is all about health and healing. I've gone back to school to study nutrition and become a holistic health coach. I've never been happier, or healthier. My lemonade is tasting pretty damn good right now. And moreover, I've learned to be thankful for the lemons I was handed.
In hindsight I realize that the personal and professional changes I made in response to my health crisis had been necessary for quite some time, I just couldn't or wouldn't see it. Life does have a way of kicking us in the ass when we're not paying attention to the more gentle hints it serves us, and I got one heck of an ass-kicking last year. I'm telling you all this in the hope that someone out there may relate to it, perhaps someone who has just been handed some lemons and is having a hard time understanding the "why?" of it all. Hang in there, take care of yourself, and look for the silver lining. It's there, and so is that lemonade recipe that will make your life so much sweeter.
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