Four Year Blog Anniversary and an Important Lesson Learned
Today is my four year blog anniversary, or as I like to call it blogoversary! …
To celebrate, instead of sharing a DIY project with you all I thought I’d take a look back at this past year and share a bit about my journey. Four years and an important lesson learned the hard way!
The first one I shared was the girls’ bedroom. We had a blast painting it and decorating too! But most importantly the girls had final say in what went into the room.
Sine the blog is primarily about DIY projects I always try to show them in the context of my home and how you too can come up with creative solutions to use what you already have.
A year later, it still looks pretty much the same but the bookcases are full of stuff, as to be expected. And there are a lot more candles in the room since one of my girls has taken up candle making.
To this day, I still sit on the couch facing it and marvel at its beauty. And also what a waste it had been sitting in the foyer collecting dust all those years.
And we so needed it because things were difficult. It was hard adjusting to life here after living in Greece. In New York, people are so busy with their work and my girls had to get used to the fast paced rhythm of the city and so many cultural changes. Tatou really helped to ease the transition.
I can lie and say that this came as a shock but in all honesty, I had been abusing my body for years. Overdosing on sweets and lack of exercise was not the way to stay healthy. One of my girls loves to bake and well, as you can guess, I’m not one to resist a chocolate chip cookie, or five! And her cheesecakes are irresistible!
I ignored the signs. I was constantly tired and sluggish. I was always hungry which made no sense at all because I was eating all day long. And sitting in front of the computer certainly didn’t help matters at all.
I went into the doctor’s office for a referral and instead came out with a huge headache and enough prescriptions to make it a full-time job. Saying I was depressed about this was an understatement. But I knew I, and no one else, was to blame. I should have known better. But I just kept on sweeping my bad health habits under the rug. Not even a trip to the Botanical Gardens helped me to feel better!
Imagine walking around with a grenade inside you and not knowing about it, or even worse, keeping your head in the sand out of stupidity. That was me!! That trip to the doctor’s office was a wake-up call of the upmost urgency!
And I started walking everywhere, with my pupster and without. Like I said, this had become my full time job. That’s why I wasn’t working on new projects over the summer but instead sharing some oldies but goodies.
I kept on dragging on the color selections. But I figured once the room is done I will be better able to organize my life.
And that’s exactly what happened. I found a spot for all my medicine and put myself on a schedule. Discipline was the key here!
Ha! I say “that’s it” like it was a small thing, but in fact it was life changing!
I now had tons of energy because I didn’t have to worry about that sugar high and low. So much so, that instead of finishing the bedroom, I tackled another project!
In a two day period I painted the kitchen (ok it is the size of your closet, but still), the dining room, the entryway and the living room. For the living room I went all out and did a cloudy effect accent wall that has me swooning to this day!
No way would I have tried anything like this in my previous state! But now, I had so much energy I didn’t know what to do with it. And mind you, I’m no spring chicken.
And the dining room needs a bit more work too. Maybe I’ll get my girl to help me with some artwork.
But no matter what projects I am working on I never, ever slack off on my health. I was given this gift of good health and I am not about to throw it away or take it for granted like I had before.
As mothers, most of us are stuck in a sandwich situation. We have children to look out for and on the other end, we also have elderly parents to take care of. Too often we get so caught up in taking care of everyone else we neglect ourselves to the point where we can no longer function. That is exactly what happened to me. I was no good to anyone at that point.
I am so grateful to my family for rallying around me and helping me to get on board with my new lifestyle. They are all so good about this, they have all started eating healthier along with me. And once the weather warms up a bit there will be plenty of walks with Tatou!
I hope that you can all learn from my hard-earned mistake and go to the doctor and get your checkups every year. Moms are truly the backbone of the family and if we are not well then nothing works properly. Am I right?
I honestly have no idea how long I had the diabetes, maybe since my time in Greece where there is a pastry shop on every corner? Maybe it hit me later. I fooled myself into thinking it was the Greek heat that made me feel sluggish all the time but then I never questioned why I felt this way in winter too.
All I know is that I feel half my age or at least half of what I felt like before. Maybe before I felt like an 80 year old and now I feel my age? Either way I have loads of energy and then some.
And I am not special or Hercules. Like I mentioned before all I did was to cut out my sugar intake, watch my carbs and try to eat lots of fruits and veggies. And for exercise I would walk where ever possible. Even the shopping mall counts here!
I have been given a second chance at life. This is a miracle for me! My doctor jokes that I should be the poster child for diabetes! At my age I should be winding down and yet I am going in the opposite direction! I have lots of plans and a new road to follow for the future.
I’ll say it again! We all need to take care of ourselves. If you are feeling tired or sluggish go for a checkup, have your blood glucose levels checked. Take care of yourself because no one will do it for you!!
It has been such a roller coaster year for me but I needed to hit rock bottom! It was a wake-up call that really got me on the right path to wellness. I hope my hard-earned lesson will also help to motivate you in your wellness journey! I am celebrating my four years on the blog with a clean bill of health, how about you?
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This blog is for entertainment purposes only; my DIY tutorials are not professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
I love it when I get your comments and I will try to reply to every one of them.
I am so glad you are now feeling much healthier, Mary, and that your family have settled in well in New York. It’s wonderful of you to share so openly and honestly. Your projects are really inspiring! Congratulations on your 4 year blogging anniversary too. Thank you so much for being a part of The Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Thank you for your well wishes April. It is good to have been involved in this wonderful community for four years.
Happy 4th Blogaversary, Mary! Wow, how time flies, feels like we just met here in blogland. High fives to you my friend. Wow, that’s impressive totally reversing Type II diabetes and so quickly! You are going to be my inspiration because I’m heading (or may already be) where you started. Sitting at a computer for over five years and neglecting my health has caught up to me. Hearing your story is the motivation I need to put myself back on the list. Thank you for sharing and congratulations!!!
Thank you so much Marie. I have found the best think I can do for myself is move. Anything but sitting is good. And of course I had to cut out my beloved sweets but it was worth the sacrifice. I hope my story motivates you and anyone else out there to take better care of yourselves. It is very achievable with just a little work.
I am so excited for you! I know how hard it is to keep at it. I’m glad you found out and went after it! Congrats! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate It!
It actually has proven easier then I originally expected. Mainly because cutting out all the sweets has given me so much more energy now. That is a huge benefit!!
Congratulations Mary! A big milestone for you and a triumph in winning your health back! Thank you for your honest post – hope it will be an eye-opener for most of us who neglect the signs our bodies is sending to us!
As for the future – I wish you many, many fruitful years blogging!
Thank you so much Maya. I hope my message of hope reaches everyone and helps them along on their health journey too.
We are so busy with our lives that we tend to forget important things like health. I am so happy to hear you are on the good track again and filled with energy! Congratulations for that and of course on the blogoversary.
Thank you Pili, I feel like a new person and have also found a new purpose in my life.
Congrats on the blogging milestone! And congrats on making the decision to take better care of yourself. Most of these things creep up on us and some don’t take them seriously. Good on you for making it a learning/healing experience.
That it exactly what had happened to me Betty it had creeped up on me and I kidded myself into thinking I was immune. I now feel like a new person and the transformation has been painless.
Hi, Mary! New person here. I do know that an 11 is serious BUT! I am so happy with how you stayed right on and are taking care of it in so many ways, including customizing part of your bedroom for your pills ;> and using the platform you have here, also! i am presently watching a friend slowly die of this disease by refusing to manage it beyond taking pills, and if he would just get a good grip on it, he might even live to see 55. Bless you, dear Mary!
Jeannee I am heartbroken to hear this. It was such an easy fix, much easier than I had expected. And it does not feel like a sacrifice at all since I have loads of energy now. I hope our friend might read my post and reconsider. It was the best thing that ever happened to me and really kicked my butt in the right direction. I Thank you for your sweet comment from the bottom of my heart Jeannee!