PICTURE YOU! PICTURE ME!!!!
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I got this email today from an inspirational message list that I subscribe to. This one really resonated with me.
"Our thoughts determine our actions, and when our thoughts are negative, our successes are few. What we hold in our mind is certain to be reflected in the day's activities. And we are capable of fueling our thoughts positively, if we choose to.
Positive self-assessment and uplifting pep talks can become habitual if our desire to live up to our potential is great enough. The expectations we privately harbor, be they small or far-reaching, will set the pace for the progress we make today, and every day.
We can greet a challenge with eager anticipation when we've grown accustomed to believing in our capability for success. First, we must expect to handle, with poise, whatever confronts us."
I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thinking. Our thoughts are like magnets - they draw in the same energy that they put forth. If you think, "I'm gonna have a crappy day today", chances are that lots of crappy things will happen to you. If you think, "Wow, what a great day, I feel fabulous!" you will probably have a fabulous day. Like attracts like.
I never used to believe in this stuff. I thought it was all a bunch of BS. I used to be a very angry person, full of fear. Consequently, I drew bad things into my life. People were mean, things didn't go well at work, I'd spill something on a brand-new blouse. Somewhere along the way, I don't know when or how, I started looking at life differently. Maybe it was the weight loss and increased self-esteem and self-confidence that brought about a change of heart. I'd wake up in the morning and think of all the things I'd do that day, and instead of feeling discouraged and grumpy, I'd feel enthusiastic and energetic. I started noticing that when I woke up in a foul mood, I'd have a crappy day. When I woke up feeling energized, I'd have a great day. So I decided to take it one step further. I started giving myself pep talks in the shower as I was getting ready for work. Not the rah-rah, Stuart Smalley kind of crap, but things like, "I feel good today, I have lots of positive energy. I think I'll go out of my way to help someone when they least expect it, and I'm gonna do something nice for myself too." Before I knew what was happening, the negative self-talk inside my head slowly turned around into positive thoughts. Instead of thinking, "I'm too stupid to figure that out," I started turning it around into, "No, I'm not stupid. I've only done this once before, I can't be expected to be a genius or an expert overnight. I need to do this a few times before I get comfortable with it." Eventually, the negative self-talk went away almost entirely. I still have self-defeating thoughts, but I'm quick to recognize them and turn them around right away. The results are a night-and-day difference in my life. I'm calmer, I'm happier, I don't snap at people, and I don't hate myself. I'm a better person to be around, and people like me and are (usually) nicer to me. My life is brighter and I have hope, where before I saw only darkness and despair, and turned to self-destructive things like overeating. I'm happy to say that when the self-defeating thoughts faded away, so did my self-destructive urges. Life can throw curveballs at me, but I'm better at coping with them now. I don't blame it all on myself anymore. It works - it really does. Even with a Negative Nellie type person like I used to be!
OMG I love love love love them!!!! ..... Your work is just AWESOME ....
RNY 2/5/07 no regain having implemented lifestyle changes....
I'm showing off some jewelry I made
I started making jewelry about 6 months post-op. It keeps my hands busy and redirects my focus. Most of the stuff I make these days is with Swarovski crystals and seed beads. I have a couple books with instructions that show you how to sew or weave the beads together. The materials are pretty inexpensive, but the results are stunning. Besides, I love glittery stuff that sparkles! I'm like a magpie that way 
This is my "Princess Barbie" bracelet. I just love girly stuff!
Here's a close-up of it clasped together
And I made some earrings to match. These are a huge hit, and I've made several pairs for people in different colors.
Martita, she's gorgeous! I don't blame your dog for wanting to hump her - he has good taste! LOL
In a way, this "goofy snippet" *is* related to WLS. We are all beautiful, but broken to some degree. We're each here on this journey back to health & wellness. For me, the weight loss helped me regain my self-esteem. It gave me the strength to start loving myself again and to replace the broken tape in my head that repeats negative messages. WLS changed my outsides, but the real work has been changing my insides to match my outsides. It's been one hell of a journey, but SO worth it!
I had the referred left shoulder pain back when I had the Lapband. I wonder if there is some sort of referred pain that is possible with rny. Early on a lot of the band people thought it was gas too, but it really was something different. About the only thing that would help was exercise. Good luck, I hope that you can find a way to put a stop to it.
Susan
Lapband 1/3/2007 (skmsu) revision to VSG 8/22/2012
Congrats!!!!!!
Susan
Lapband 1/3/2007 (skmsu) revision to VSG 8/22/2012
I have found the mold to my broken doll ... I have to fire up my kiln in order to bake her ... I am looking to find a completely made doll in her liking though not from any link with disclaimers that it is not the poster's work but pictures of the original... I bought the mold I am looking for a complete doll...
This is what I posted on the board ... this is the link to the original dollmaker who only sells the mold ... not the finished parts nor completed project ... I am in the market for a finished doll ... preferably a 36" doll... http://www.mysticmolds.com/jade.jpg
I shared with you my broken doll ... a very special doll given to me by my son who passed her in the window of a shop when he was with his group of friends .. her hair caught his eyes because it favored my favorite extended hair look of always ... he bought her for me (a rare gift that he got on his own without bumming money off me to buy a gift for me *eyeroll* LOL) ... his friends jeered and mocked him playfully as he walked across town with this 36" porcelain doll for me.
Well my dog Chip has developed a 'fatal attraction' to my doll ... knocked her over and broke her face ... I tried taking her to the doll hospital further north from us on yesterday and to our chagrin her face cannot be fixed it has to be replaced at a cost that is MORE than the price of the doll's mold from the original maker that I found online. My doll is an original GWEN ROSS "JADE" 36" from Mystic Mold Co. copyright 1991. I went to her site and bought the molds for head and shoulder and hands. So I have to fire up my kiln (if I can find it) or rent a kiln... and pour and bake and paint her ... I need 4-6 weeks for shipping time ... so I am going to practice, practice, practice in the interim.
Meanwhile I could not leave my doll dismantled ... and with my good old friend Mr. Duct Tape and some Epoxy glue I took the half arsed piecing together that I did and tried to match the tiny broken pieces like a jigsaw puzzle and get the doll a semblance of a face back.... TOTAL FAIL ... so I position her to hide her broken temporarily UNTIL I can make a new one and that itself is going to be hit or miss because I have not fired up my kiln in a while ... it must have cobwebs on it wherever it is buried in my basement storage space...
SO this is the broken doll no thanks to my little humper toy poodle Chip...
This is my temporary fix ... I have to allow it to dry well and I will sand it down with my Dremel sander with my Dremel nail drill...
I secured her broken shoulders that holds her head and anchor in place with duct tape in the back and used Epoxy to secure the pieces together .... then I put the doll back together and dressed her and put her on her stand ... using her hand I covered her scar until her remake....
and do you see that darn dog under the stool???? well he stayed there ALL NIGHT LONG ... he only jumps her when I stand her on the floor ... OMG MY LITTLE TOY POODLE HAS A FATAL ATTRACTION YIKES!!!
Is my goofy snippet related to WLS? You bet! I make dolls as a hobby ... and I also paint ... and this gives me an awesome opportunity to entertain myself once I find, buy or rent a kiln ... for I will be practicing pouring and molding which I have not done for EONS .... I used to once love doing awesome crafts in ceramics ... and here it is one other fun activity and another of multiple projects I have on my table ... MORE FUN ON MY JOURNEY.... I cried for my broken doll ... I failed at this lopsided fixing of her ... but I am picking up the pieces... putting them together ... AND BUILDING SOMETHING NEW ... WIN WIN!!!!
Thanks for allowing me to share a goofy thread.... fixing the broken... until creating something new...
This is my empowerment collage today .... 6 years and almost 5 months post-op I am living my life like it's golden... hodling my broken doll together until remaking her...
Enjoying my fruit of the day - a delicious orange! Thanks for allowing me to share... SNIPPETS OF MY JOURNEY IN PICS!
I would really appreciate it if anyone runs across in their internet searches can find me a 36" 'Jade' by Gwen Ross doll completely made ... NOT THE MOLDS (I already ordered those) ...I have found links but they have disclaimers that it is the picture of other people's work or it is the mold ... I want one where I do not have to bake and pour... I would love to buy the doll as my son is very hurt that his special gift to me is broken... I don't care what the clothing looks like as long as I can get the head ... Thank you bunches!!!!
RNY 2/5/07 no regain having implemented lifestyle changes....
CONGRATS ON YOUR 5- SURGIVERSARY!!!!!!!! I am soooooooooooooooo happy for you!!!
"I ♥ my RNY!"
DITTO!!!
RNY 2/5/07 no regain having implemented lifestyle changes....
Hi Martita -
Thanks for creating this group! It's good seeing you online again.
Jeanne
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