Let’s Make 2010 A Birds Nest of Unexpected Blessings

To be quite blunt, 2009 was mostly a sucky year for me and I am glad it is finally over. Not that some good things didn’t happen: Randy and I continued to grow closer to each other and stronger in our marriage covenant, I turned 50 bathed in a surprisingly abundant overflow of love, I found a church I really like (Southpoint Community Church, a bit bigger and louder than I would have imagined myself choosing but the women there are incredible and the sermons exciting, pragmatic and life-altering), Rigger (our yellow lab) got a new knee and is now walking – and running again - without limping, we are 95 percent through with redecorating our home in Jacksonville which means that I don’t wake up with strange men (sometimes wearing tight jeans with tool bets, but still…) knocking on my door in the morning before I have even had time to brush my teeth, we finally hired a top notch Chief Operating Officer for our medical practice so I don’t have to pull my hair out on a daily basis fretting over phone systems, staffing issues (and whining employees…I hate whining) and the New York Times has run two front page expose articles on how the pharmaceutical industry has for decades conspired to promote synthetic hormones (such as Premarin and Prempro)despite the undeniable scientific data substantiating that these drugs are carcinogenic. I should also mention that Oprah came out with two shows touting the benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT) and the “Oprah factor” has helped the average person become aware of the solid medical science supporting the safety and efficacy of BHRT. Oh, and my fifth and our third book, In the Mood Again, was officially released on December 29th.

So what was so bad about 2009? Well, I overworked, over-reached, over-reacted and, finally, my over-burdened self just fell apart. Health issues, crying jags and anxiety attacks splintered my self-esteem and my previously constant gift at strategic thinking. “My bad” as some of our younger employees would say.

I ended the year taking time off. I got quiet. Real quiet. And I rarely checked emails or voice mails. I napped some but mostly I listened for that still small voice to give me guidance. And I remembered this story:

When I was in my early 20’s I was practicing as a speech pathologist working with children under seven with language delays. I had this great idea to do this interactive activity where I would bring in birds nests, the children would take them apart, we would name aloud all the things we found inside (such as sticks, twine, mud, twistie ties and tampon strings…didn’t count on finding the last article, I must admit), then put the birds nests back together. Everything went fine, the children were engaged and unusually articulate, well that was the case until it came time to reconstruct the nests. An hour and a half later, I had a room full of muddy children and a pile of non-cohesive fragments all over the place.

Finally one little boy looked up to say, “Miss Genie, I think only God can make a birds nest.”

You know, I figured then he was right. Today I know it for a fact.

Now here is my metaphor for you and for me: No matter what in your life was broken or damaged in 2009, or in all the years before, it can be molded together into a home for new life. Probably not by your efforts alone, however. I am slowly once again learning to trust a Divine Power in a much more childlike way and, whoever you may call “God,” I know that that Power is available to you as well.

Now, I honestly don’t mean this as a commercial but the truth is that – if your hormones are out of balance – you are going to have a hard time quieting down and tuning into listen to anything except your own neurosis and depression. See, that is one of the core things that was wrong with me. Yes, I know I write everyday about the critical importance of hormone balance but the reality was that I was the cobbler’s wife without any shoes. It suddenly occurred to Randy – after living through another rather unattractive meltdown I was having – that it had been awhile since his peri-menopausal wife had had her hormone levels tested. Guess what? I am now at the age where I not only need progesterone, but bioidentical estrogen as well. Who would have guessed?

It’s been almost six weeks now on my new BHRT prescription and I am calmer, saner, no longer craving Cheetos and once again optimistic. I am also once again sleeping through the night, not sending erratic emails at 2 and 3 a.m., well, not every night anyway. The cacophony of voices in my head no longer constantly screams in panic and I am able to reconnect to my daily morning rituals of praying, journaling and walking. I am beginning to feel – and act – like myself again. Thank heavens, and Randy and Patti Landry, A.R.N.P.. Literally!

So if your life feels like it is falling apart, or you feel like the best parts of you are fraying at the edges, I have three words of wisdom: 
 

1. LEARN: Go to our website, www.hormonewell.com and take our hormone imbalance quiz. See if your hormones – or lack of – could be silently sabotaging your sanity, health, waistline, relationships, productivity, creativity and even your sex life.
2. TEST: Take responsibility for your hormone health. Some of you may be able to safely and effectively re-balance your hormones with over-the-counter bioidentical formulations. Others may need to see a qualified and knowledgeable medical professional for a prescription of bioidentical hormones. If you are unsure of the best first step, consider having your hormone levels tested to find out exactly what is going on at a cellular level with your hormone production.
3. READ: Read The One Life Solution, Reclaim Your Personal Life While Achieving Greater Professional Success by Dr. Henry Cloud. No, we don’t sell this book. My copy was a gift from Debbie Austin, a pastor’s wife but fabulous woman and friend on her own. Anyway, this book is sort of becoming my new operating “bible”. I’m sure you can purchase it for yourself on Amazon (I am not going to pay any attention when our marketing consultants tell me not to direct you to another website; this is a really good book!)

As a once-again hormonally-balanced, happy and mostly sane woman, I have great faith that 2010 will be year full of unexpected blessings…for you and for me. This is going to be good. 

Start the New Year off with a few extra dollars in your pocket!  Use the coupon code BIRD on any order over $50 (excluding shipping) and receive $10.00 your order, or use coupon code NEST on any order over $100 (excluding shipping) and receive $20.00 off your order from now until 1/15/2010!