2020...Buh-Bye

2020, what more can I say? A hell of a lot more than I have chosen to, and I’ll spare you many details and keep this as short and concise as I possibly can. 

I’m still hanging on to my crown as the queen of positivity, because everyday, friends, I choose my attitude. I have no time for BS and negative energy, but I did shed some tears this year, limited association with friends (some not due to social distancing) as the world was struck by a pandemic, friends lost family members and jobs, and parents gave commencement speeches and homeschooled their children. This shit is all super sad. Working from home, watching the news, canceling flights...SMH.

Our lives literally changed. I’m still shook. I’d be lying if I said this had no impact on me. I left my partner, rediscovered a part of my inner self, increased my vitamin D levels (woot) and got a promotion. My life slowed completely down. Completely! For every negative there is a positive. People always have shared learnings from their toughest experiences and moments in life. Have you ever noticed that?

I started the year off in the Alps, followed by a business trip in Germany, with high hopes for the year overall. Plans were delayed and canceled once I returned home, things happened continually that were completely out of my control and comfort zone. So, I started focusing on what was urgent and important, then I flipped the script and pushed the reset button. It works when I’m focusing on my thyroid health regimen, so why not apply my principles to my life during a pandemic?! 

I read a lot of books! Oh, check out Mark Pilja’s, The Hashimoto’s Handbook. Mark reached out to me during this time. It really made my heart happy. His book is a great resource. He took the opportunity to provide a resource to all. He talks about our immune system, which everyone now is enthralled with, and discusses how it reacts to foreign pathogens. He dives in a little deeper to discuss chronic inflammation too. It is intriguing! He also covers, in brief for those of you thinking about new year’s resolutions, tackling weight from a sensitivities perspective! Love it! Food lists, ways to unwind and manage anxiety - he provides what we all can benefit from - thyroid health issues or not! Please read! He is @healthjuvenate on Instagram. Thank you, Mark!

Virtual Happy Hours continue to be had, books continue to be read, and masks continue to be worn, in my world. I am blessed, well and thankful for 2020. But I would be lying if I didn’t say, I’m beyond ready for 2021. I’m just keeping it real!

Be well!

Shemeka

Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association

Some of our thyroid health friends have lost their thyroids due to cancer, so let's take a moment to share dialogue about Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. The Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., www.thyca.org, has free materials available to you year-round, so I thought I would note a few.

Free education, support, and awareness flyers can be accessed at www.thyca.org. There are several resources that you can use for educational purposes, and to raise awareness. You can also e-mail thyca@thyca.org with your address and asking them to mail you brochures, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) Neck Check cards, and plastic wallet cards.

Thank you, ThyCa!

Ten Tips on How To Help http://www.thyca.org/how-to-help/awareness/awareness-tips/#sthash.LvaXsbKI.dpuf

Dear Thyroid

I have days when I get hit with panic, anxiety, and fatigue (waking up at 5AM only to fall asleep again for a "nap" by 830/9AM), resting as the time goes by. It's days like this where I now know that it's my disease - hypothyroidism - that's causing me a minor setback in my day to day living. There were days when I would forget that I'm sick because I'd look great, but felt crummy.

 I've come to a point of acceptance and acknowledgment, and it's been a journey, one that I'm blogging about and sharing with others, particularly several advocates within the thyroid community. The community I refer to consists of people who I have reached out to, such as thyroid health bloggers, advocates and those who have connected with me as well to share their stories, dialogue and allow me to thyrant (thanks friends at Dear Thyroid).

The friends at Dear Thyroid provide an amazing outlet for thyrants, support and people resources, they are known mostly for their Dear Thyroid Letters.  I've had my public thyrants, but my letter is one I'm working on, cause I struggle with my hypothyroidism. Do you? Have you written your letter? If not, what are you waiting on? Make new friends at the Dear Thyroid Organization. Write on!