I love taking time to slow down during the holidays as everything around me speeds up. This is the time of year when the days grow short, the nights long. A period when we are designed to hibernate, sleep, and rest. As the year draws to a close, I reach for my inner stillness, go inside in the midst of all the holiday hoopla, and reflect on what has been.
This year, I hit a couple of bumps that were frightening. In March, upon my return from a trip out of the country, I wound up with a stomach bug that turned into a severe MS attack. For the first time since my MS Diagnosis in 2006 I found myself hospitalized, and on top of that, suffering from a nasty case of transverse myelitis. All of my doctors, conventional to alternative, hypothesized that my immune system went into overdrive in fighting off the stomach bug and ended up attacking my myelin sheaths. This created total numbness from my diaphragm down. I had some other symptoms, which I will not go into here, which were also terrifying. I was stunned, and in a complete state of shock.
On the bright side, once I realize I am in shock, my response is generally a good one. I go inside, dig deep and find the healing spaces in my life. I simply focus as much as I can on a positive outcome. This means going into a conscious state of denial and putting myself in a very forward looking place.
In order to do this, I hunker down with my nuclear family, which consists of my incredible husband, and our two amazing boys, who as of this writing are, 17 and almost 16. We have an incredible understanding whereby they intuitively know that I don’t want to share or elaborate upon the details of what’s going on in my body. This synchronicity and intuitive connection are a lifeline for me during challenging times. It is the external counterpart to my inward diet of faith, reflection, and prayer, during good times and otherwise.
In order to dive deep, I further support myself by going on a restricted social media diet. I can’t effectively implement my healing plan if I’m focusing on what to post on Instagram. So, if you were wondering why I shared so little this past spring, on all channels, including this site, well, now you know. For me, healing is internal, as opposed to a play-by-play reality show where my emotions unravel in the universe of social media.
I’m not one to dwell. I like to focus, fix, and move ahead. However, I do like to keep you, my faithful readers, in the loop. That is my intention with this year end update. Moreover, I’d like to share some of my discoveries with you. Below you will find my game plan for moving ahead during the challenging times of life.
Navigating the Ups and Downs of Life
- Conscious Compartmentalization
- Connect Only with People Who Nourish Me
- Social Media Diet
- Research Bio-Medical Therapies
- Spend Time in Nature
You may notice that in addition to the above, I also refrained from answering comments here, which can take hours each day. For those of you that were frustrated, it may help to remember that there are 25,000 of you every day on this website, and there is only one of me. I simply cannot spread myself too thin, whether healthy or ill.
As the new year emerges, I look forward to sharing more with you. Not about the trauma I went through last year. The world has enough of that. I plan to divulge my healing secrets and the resources that have resulted from my research. You will find out how I survive the ups and downs of my mundane, yet incredible life. You will learn how I get my body, mind, and soul, into a place of balance. For a sneak peek at some of the strategies that I deployed during the past year click on the links below. And stay tuned, because there is much, much more to come!
- Natural Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
- How Busy People Can Slow Down and Listen Within
- The Complete Guide to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Five Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep
Thanks for being my dear online family and have a blessed 2016!
Love,
Elana
Ruth Hirsch says
Dear Elana,
Again, a big thank You for your generosity of spirit.
and for modeling going inward and allowing a healing,
for caring for yourself with wisdom and compassion.
wishing you, your family and friends, and your readers Moments of Joy, Delight and Peace in the months ahead,
Ruth Hirsch, Hudson Valley
Ellen says
Refuah shelaima!
Do you want to share your Hebrew name, for davening?
Elana says
Ellen, awww, thanks so much! Elana Bat Ezra :-)
Petra Mercier says
Thank you Elana for sharing. May all your dreams come true in 2016!!!
Bruna Tamai says
Hi Elana
I have only been following your blog and recipes for just less than a year, but I find your attitude to life very inspiring , and of course also your recipes very good :)
wishing you well in this 2016 and wishing for more people to search more on our inside rather than looking for outside temporary fixes.
thank you :)
ea says
‘Just’ loads of love, care, health and happy moments to you!
esther says
Elana- Writing is also therapeutic. And you do it so well. We all have challenges in life- some greater than others, all according to one”s so called ‘ability’ to cope with whatever is thrown our way.
Keep up tbe good work. You are an inspiration to all of your readers.
Refuah shlema. Good health and get better.
Sending lots of hugs.
Penny says
I have been living with MS since 2002/203, and thankfully has been in remission since 2005-2006. I also have Epstein Barr(Not Mono but the chronic) and have been dealing with a sudden attack over a month ago. I can’t even go to our church cause being around people right now I seem to be sensitive to catching whatever is going around. Yes, sick over the Holidays sadly, but it has given me more time for writing, reading, and reflecting. It started out with horrible fatigue to where I couldn’t even lift my pinky without being in pain and exhaustion. I went to the doctor and found out I had also an attack of Intersitital cystosis , (Ms Flare possibly doing that). I was given 4 antibiotic shots four days in a row, when I broke out in the worst rash on my arms and hands. I was having a severe allergic reaction to the shots, so then I was put on Medrol Pack with Vestril which weekend my immune system. I am slowly recovering. I have at least 7 or 8 other auto-immune diseases and now adrenal fatigue and possible thyroid. I am so sorry for what you went through. I do hope you are feeling better. Hang in there soul sister and feel free to read my blog where i share about this as well as my coaching.
https://musicofthembscoach.wordpress.com/
Ps…the rash is slowly healing as well. Still, I have kept the faith and remained positive. Hasn’t been easy for me when I am hurting and no doctor understands me here.
Joanna says
Elana, I’m so sorry to hear of your illness and difficulties, and now that I know about them, I’m inspired by you. I love your recipes (the ones I’ve tried so far) and your attitude.
Sh-yehiya lach rak briute v-dvarim tovim b’2016,
Joanna
Heather says
Wishing you all the best, peace, & healing in 2016. Thanks for keeping it real.
Best,
Heather
Ele says
Wow, what an inspiration you are – thank you for the update – bring on 2016!