Everyone has a story.....
Everyone has a story. Everyone has a beginning. But the funny thing
about life is it's ability to throw curve balls all through the middle part of life. As luck would have it, I was thrown a rather challenging one......
After the birth of my twin boys I had noticed a new level of fatigue. I know, I know what you're thinking, of course I should be exhausted. Four boys 7 and under, twin infants, a house that won't clean itself, and at some point I really needed a shower! Well, as time went on I hadn't noticed any fatigue relief. My body was always sore without explanation. I often felt as if I was coming down with something. Granted I did have four "carrier monkeys" living at home, and trust me my boys loved to share the germ of the week with the household, so kind! It wasn't until my ongoing symptoms over the last 9 years had become intolerable and I felt as if I was going crazy that I finally went to the doctor to discuss it all.
Bloodwork drawn, results were in...... queue the ton of bricks!
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. The bloodwork confirmed that Lupus was my culprit as well as Fibromyalgia. Every symptom I had been suffering with had been validated just like that! But with that validation that I wasn't crazy, came a new suffering. Reality!!
Have you ever been sick and couldn't get over it and have tried everything? Then on a last ditch effort you try something else and it works!! Well I really thought that would be the case for me. Once I had the validation, I then realized there would never be a way to get rid of it.
Life sentence without the possibility of parole! Queue depression......
I chose to let that diagnosis define me and retreated from my life. Why should I struggle to do simple things and pretend that I feel ok? It wasn't until one day I stumbled across a guy on Facebook making a wreath that my creative light started to glimmer. As all creatives know, this creative bug that's implanted in us never goes away. It may be dimmed by the "middle" of life, but it is always anxiously awaiting to be used. The more I watched this talented man, the more intrigued I was to attempt this wreathing thing. So heck, what did I have to loose? Wasn't like I was doing anything else with my life. I mustered up the strength to go to the store, buy some supplies, got back in bed and began.
That's it!! I did it! AND IT LOOKED PRETTY AMAZING!
Queue creative passion and gratitude.....
I will forever be indebted to Damon Oates of Deco Exchange. He reminded me that I have a creative God given talent. I was reminded that there's more to life than feeling sorry for yourself. I always knew that I had greater things to be doing, but didn't really know what I wanted to be when I grew up, (at almost 40 mind you). I had hopes of doing something with my talent but life always seemed to get in the way.
So here I am in the present. I have my creative business up and running, ideas are pouring out, and I can't wait to see where this adventure takes me. I couldn't have done any of this without my supportive husband, family, and now Damon Oates as my business coach. I think I finally have the perfect recipe for the second half of my life. I've kicked my diagnosis to the curb and am ready for the here and now! Stay tuned........ you never know what amazing things are to come.
Tiffany
