Friday Facts and Continued Personal Growth
- Susan Pryde
- Sep 8, 2023
- 4 min read
So many topics have run through my mind this past week, abor Day has brought the promise of a new season and a shift in the weather. It's filled with excitement as Neil and I find ourselves in a new location. There's also a sudden feeling of urgency to explore the area we're in before we head south to get ahead of the cold and snow that will soon arrive.
The past few years have been full of change and reflection for our family, some sad, with the loss of a dear sister and friend, some of it frightening and challenging with my illness. Despite those challenges, we have found ourselves in a season of beauty and new beginnings. The focus on living authentically and fully has brought many blessings.
For me, the growth of my cirrhosis support group has been a beautiful and fulfilling surprise. It is small and intimate and filled with loving and motivated people from all walks of life. I adore the camaraderie that is growing, and it is quite magical to share in their accomplishments, victories, and wins. I also love the support when fear or challenges arise, witnessing people working together to lift each other up and cross the bridges in their path.
My personal journey is hinged on self-growth in all ways, and I find it a never-ending uphill climb. It seems that as we reach a certain level in our development, a new one appears before us. In the past, this looked like a locked door. I would stand in front of it, peer longingly through the keyhole, then turn and go back to my old ways. These last few years, I have learned that I have the key to that door and all that stands beyond it. The only thing that holds me back is that little niggle of self-doubt, which seems to linger. I think it serves to keep me humble, in truth; I'm okay with that. I never want to lose the very reason I decided to become an open book. I wanted to help others like me to feel better in all ways. I had hoped to be able to do that, but I didn't believe that I could in the beginning. Now that others are thriving WITH me, I know that together we are creating a wave of strength and love that is beyond my expectations. It only takes one to create the ripple, and I see it clearly.
So today, I would like to share another article about the regression of cirrhosis. After all, that's what this blog is all about, healing to the best of our ability. Every time I find more evidence that we can heal, I will share it. I believe with my whole heart that we need to take whatever evidence we can find and do our best to make it happen for us. I searched high and low for this evidence when I was first diagnosed, and when I found it, I ran with it. I cannot express how important hope was for me.
The abstract from this article reads:
"The hepatic repair complex in the setting of cirrhosis has received increasing attention, as it implies the regression of cirrhosis, which was traditionally taken to be an irreversible state. In this brief review, the patterns of fibrosis, the existing staging systems for chronic liver disease and the histopathological features of cirrhosis regression are discussed."
The other thing that has been on my mind quite a bit as I heal is how to address adversity, judgment, and unkindness as my journey unfolds. Having a public blog, doing ads for a weight loss company, and writing a book has taken me to another level of exposure. When I began to heal, these new projects grew organically as I was quite drawn to continue to grow and follow where my heart led. Much of that was due to a growing need that I saw in people just like me, who were seeking answers and support. As I began to succeed in my healing, I wanted to share that and help unlock the potential that we all have inside of us. Keeping those successes to myself would never benefit another human being, so off I went full of happiness and hope. What I did not anticipate was the pushback that comes with opening up and wearing your heart on your sleeve. I think all who follow me can attest to the emotional pain that some situations caused me. I do not want to dwell on that today, rather I would like to acknowledge that it is the next phase in my self-growth.
Pain becomes an opportunity to explore a way around and above it. When it hits a nerve, does this mean that there is something that I need to address internally? What can I do to improve my message or how I deal with adversity? Rather than react instantly to a negative review, or an unkind keyboard warrior commenting on my appearance I need to look inside to see what makes me respond in a physical way to such criticism. Which ones do I take to heart and improve on, and which ones do I learn how to not "react" to? I can feel this is going to be a hard road for me. I will never understand people who are wired to hurt others, and who are emboldened by seeing others in pain. So my goal is to learn to rebuff those feelings yet not become hard or unkind in the process.
Growth is a continual process, and these are just some of the things I am experiencing right now. In hindsight, the healing I have already accomplished far outweighs the challenges of today, and I need to keep that in mind, always. The work I am doing is important and fulfilling, and I never want to get to a point where I feel it isn't. There have been moments when I want to crawl back into mediocrity, but I won't let that happen.
And now for a face-to-face Friday, I haven't done one in awhile. Still happily maintaining a healthy weight and BMI after almost two full years at goal.
Love, Sue
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