Hi everyone:

A year ago today, I had my first, life changing meeting with Dr. B. 

A lot has changed since then and I was reminiscing a lot about the first days of the IC diet. Although no one in my family has said anything to me today yet, I am really excited about this day and I feel as if it is more special to me than my ordinary birthday.

Birthday Wishes:

1. To try not to ask so much on a daily basis of Dr. B.

2. To be in radical acceptance about my joint pain issues, working with them rather than reacting against them.

3. To stop viewing my self as physically and thus psychologically limited and focus on what I can do.

4. To continue to work on my positive frame of mind. There is a lot of inflammation up there that my health requires I be vigilant about.

5. To continue to work on feeling feelings and not pushing them down with too much food.

6. To remember that even as frustrating and scary as my joint pain issues are that maybe I am not terminally unique and as Dr. b and others have reminded me countless times, that I am not going to stay stuck here.

7. To remember that I am lucky to have found ICAMA. Where would I be healthwise now if I had not started treatment.

8. To be grateful that my bladder is mostly good and I have a wide food palette to choose from.

10. To appreciate that my head is clear, my energy is good and I do not have chronic fatigue or fibro or other scary stuff. 

11. To appreciate that my severe food allergies are GONE and my sinuses are getting better.

12. Normal or near normal "elimination".

13. No UTIs since starting the diet. It has been a year since I gave one of those pesky urine cups to the doc.

14. No antibiotics for a year!! First one in at least 20.

15. Learning that there is a calmer place in myself and continue to actively seek on a daily basis.

16. Remembering that kindness is good medicine and the prison of self is not good for me.

17. Continuing to cultivate forgiveness and love for my 85 year old mom.  This week I found a note  circa 1936 that she had written to her "prechis mother" who was a caustic individual who never gave her the love she so clearly sought. I ache for that little girl who was sidelined and never got what she needed.  I am appreciating the things she has given us in later life and understanding that she wishes she had been better equipped.

18. Being exposed to what it is like to not exercise after years of compulsion. Hoping to return to it in a more balanced, non-self torturing way.

19. To remember not to be a martyr or a victim.

20. BEST FOR LAST- Laine, Mimi, Ally, Denise, Lisa Ann, Angela, Nadia, Sarah C, RG, Christina, Lynn in Dr. B's office  and other generous hearts, thank you so much for your fellowship and friendship.

Bless you all.

Bonnie

21. Oops- forgot to thank my hubby for putting up with the difficulties attendant in the last year and for joining me in healthful eating and my wonderful children who have been there for me in all sorts of life affirming ways.

i