Last week was a tough week. It started with a trip to Quest Diagnostics to get my annual bloodwork to see how my Hashimoto's hypothyroid is doing. I'm a notoriously tricky stick. I think about having my blood drawn, and my veins shrivel up into nothing. I have learned over the years that I do pretty well with a butterfly needle, so I always make it a point to politely ask the phlebotomist to use one. This day was different. I got the phlebotomist, who did not like me telling her how to do her job. She told me she would see for herself and determine which needle to use.

If you want to master a sport, you have to consistently practice the skills to excel at that sport. If you're going to master an art form, you have to consistently practice the skills to excel at that art form. If you want to master happiness, you need to consistently practice the skills to excel at being happy! You can excel at happiness by practicing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that lead you to be satisfied. You can't live a life of negativity, misery, and woe and expect a life of joy, bliss, and exuberance to come from it!

This week, I'll be honoring the 7th anniversary of my mother's passing. Whenever I come up on her birth date or death date, I can't help but think about what she (and my father, also gone) would think about my life now.

Yesterday was Doug's and my first wedding anniversary. We have been stressed getting another condo ready for Airbnb, so we decided a weekend getaway would do us some good.  

As I approach my two mark on being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, I think of all the changes I made in my life.  I had already given up gluten, dairy, and soy, as they cause severe pain in my entire body.  I had given up nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, and ALL peppers), which caused severe indigestion.