Sharing with others daily words, thoughts and meditations that bring myself hope and renewal during my own daily battles and frustrations with COPD/Asthma.  Sharing, because as we all know – without that horizon of hope, our daily renewal of faith and fight can dim in a hurry.

Take, read, meditate and hopefully find some of the same hope in your daily battles with a chronic illness and/or disability as I have within mine….

The Word – “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”  (Proverbs 3:8, NIV)

The Thought – One thing that is true for many with a chronic illness and/or disability, they do not take advantage of their own human body to help in healing, and that seems especially true when it comes to the emotions tied to the chronic illness and/or disability.

Over my many years I have heard many say, “turn to the ‘Great Spirits’ for wisdom and guidance to overcome your despairs.”  And while that may be very truthful, it is also necessary to use our own healing abilities to work as well and until we take the time and find the courage to try them, many of us may never know what healing can be done with just our own mind and body.

I remember hearing or reading about using your body to change your mood, and since my realization of living out my human form of life with a chronic illness, I have also found that there is much truth to that statement.

It is invigorating to come to the realization that when I was feeling the most despair over both my own situation as well as those of close family and friends, my body was not doing its part as well – I was not taking care of the mechanical functioning part of my life.

To many this may sound strange, but it is truth – having been established by both physical scientists as well as psychiatrists and students of the human personality.  They have found that when you get into despair the best thing to do is push the body back into functionality as best you can.

Are you in despair today, then try this – stand up straight, stretch your body, take a deep breath or two, throw your shoulders back, lift your chin up, open your eyes wide and say to yourself aloud “Great Spirits fill me with strength to carry forward into this day and zap me with wisdom of hope, faith, love and the feeling of grace.  Close your eyes and slowly reach toward the sky as best you can while taking another slow, deep breath – hold it for the count of five and slowly return your arms to your side while letting your deep breath out slowly.

Now open the eyes and take another slow, deep cleansing type of breath and tell me – did you feel your mood change, can you feel the tingle of hope and the smile of faith that all will be okay because you are doing your best and with the help of the ‘Great Spirits’ and the healing power of your own body, the four fundamentals of life and happiness, which are hope, faith, love and grace, will come forth within your travels and battles.

The Meditation/Prayer –  Oh ‘Great Spirits’, we can’t help but smile and feel joy when giving you gratitude for all the positives that your surround us with in our travels of this time on earth we call life.  We say thank you for giving us the guidance and wisdom of knowing that much of our healing over despair, hurts and pain can come from within our own mushy, mechanical form called a body.  Just as we use stretching and exercising of our bodies to help battle off pain, hurts and despair – may we stretch our minds to seek and grasp the four fundamentals of life which are hope, faith, love and grace.

With that we all say Hallelujah, Amen.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer – This writing may not be reused in any manner without written permission.)

(More ‘Living 4 Today’ writings can be found at either wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.)