The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.

I had no idea what Hashimoto's Thyroidism was when I was diagnosed while a freshman in college. Nearly 30 years later, I still struggle with the disease, trying to find shalom. Hashimoto likes to manifest his terror on people in well-documented ways. Personally, I've struggled with overall body pain, foggy brain, anxiety, moodiness, constipation, and fatigue.

My years of research and tests, failures at numerous (some downright hilarious) homeopathic remedies, while painful and frustrating, gave me many blessings, including spiritual illumination.  One illumination was the mind-spirit-body connection of fear.

i came out of the womb a scaredy-cat, always choosing to "flight" - even when there wasn't a reason to. Some studies show a relationship between Hashimoto's and adrenal fatigue. Basically, cortisol, the flight or fight hormone, is released excessively for too long a time, eventually wearing adrenals down. My cortisol stimulus was alcoholic parents, their divorce, and remarriage to each other. Their story is one of redemption, it took 30 years. My thyroid didn't make it.

Brokenness is a part of life. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, we could all use some repairs. I find the greatest inspiration is not the stories of those "healed", although I love those stories. Rather, my admiration is for those who are committed to the journey not knowing the outcome nor destination. Hope and perseverance is their food, and some days, they go without hope and merely gnaw on perseverance.

This blog is built on the motto Never easy. Sometimes harder. I know I am not alone in this (T-shirts and fan club coming soon). And while never easy sometimes harder is somber, it's more than the fight, the struggle.  It's choosing to look for the light, to be kind, to let go and let God. it's taking our eyes off ourselves and appreciating the moments of joy along the way. 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.