Land of Osbourne

EXPERT RESPONSE: "Anxiety and psychological distress is common in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis.  Psychological evaluation and support by trained experts is highly recommended. It is frequently difficult to discern whether the disease and flares bring about the psychological distress, or if periods of emotional stress can induce disease flares.  There is intense communication between our brain and our intestines, frequently related to as the gut-brain axis. Therefore, it is possible for gut inflammation/stress to induce anxiety, and vice-versa."  Have more questions? Email them to the IBD Help Center at info@ccfa.org or call 888-694-8872 .

depression does not vanish just because your life is technically ‘going well’ depression does not vanish just because good things are happening to/around you depression does not vanish just because you’re surrounded by people who love you depression is an unconditional illness that comes and goes as it pleases, regardless of what might be happening in your life

He was there for me when no one else was;  He gave me hope when I needed it most;  He loved me when no one else would.  He’s not anyone I want to disappear from my life.  I am a better person because of him. He is in by no means perfect, and that's okay, because really, who is? Under that tough guy, swearing, tattooed, biker is a fantastic man. I am thankful for him every day.

There is a big difference between giving up and letting go. Letting go means freeing yourself from something that is no longer serving you.  It means removing toxic people and belief systems from your life so that you can make room for relationships and ideas that are conducive to your well being and happiness. Giving up reduces your life. Letting go expands it. Giving up is imprisoning. Letting go is liberation. Giving up is self-defeat.  Letting go is self-care.So the next time you make the decision to release something or someone that is stifling your happiness and growth, and a person has the audacity to accuse you of giving up or being weak, remind yourself of the difference. Remind yourself that you don’t need anyone’s permission or approval to live your life in the way that feels right. No one has the authority to tell you who to be or how to live. ~Daniell Koepke

“You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering, that’s the sad truth. Maybe they’ll break your heart, maybe you’ll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. That’s the burden.  Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our back, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens that allow us to fly.” Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan 

Wanna hear about my crappy morning?  So, John and I are driving down Central Avenue in North East Minneapolis, and are stopped by a train at 37th & Central.  Okay, no biggie.  But....the train isn't moving.  At all.  There is a semi to the right of us, the median on the left, car in front of us, truck behind us.  We can't move.  We sit in this position for AN HOUR.  The train never moved an inch. Finally, The car in front of us and the semi beside us moved, so we were able to turn around and seek alternate routes. Whew.  ding....ding....ding.....low tire pressure alert  Really? Okay.  Pull in to a gas station, put in 4 quarters to get air for the ailing front tire. Air machine doesn't work.  We drive a mile down the road to another gas station, and after driving in a circle in their lot, they don't have air.  Drive another mile down the road and finally fill th...

  1.  Look at life as a journey and enjoy the ride.  Get the most out of the detours and realize they're sometimes necessary. 2.  Do your best, but if what you're doing has caused you discouragement, try a different approach.  Be passionate about the process, but don't be so attached to the outcome. 3.  Wish the best for everyone, with no personal strings attached.  Applaud someone else's win as much as you would your own. 4.  Trust that there's a divine plan, that we don't always know what's best for us.  A disappointment now could mean a victory later, so don't be disappointed.  There is usually a reason. 5.  Ask no more of yourself than the best that you can do, and be satisfied with that.  Be compassionate towards yourself as well as others.  Know your calling, your gift, and do it well. 6.  Don't worry about something after it's done; it's out of your hands then, too late, over!  Learn the lesson and ...

I know sometimes you feel like giving up.  Every new day there’s seems to be no change in your life.  All the troubles of your heart and worries keep on worsening!  You wonder why everything is happening to you.  You keep on asking yourself why you’re not lucky like other people.  You keep on praying to God but so far He hasn’t answered your prayers.  Now you have started losing hope.  You now think that maybe you were meant to be like that or maybe somebody cursed you. But I tell you what my friend? You weren’t meant to be like that and you weren’t cursed.  God is silent but He watches you day and night.  He listens to your prayers and He has something special for you.  Just stay strong, focused, and hardworking and keep praying to God.  Bear it in your minds that you’re not alone in that hard situation, we are all in the same boat.  So don’t give up my dear friend.  Your time is coming soon...

I will lend to you for awhile a puppy, God said, For you to love him while he lives and to mourn for him when he is gone. Maybe for 12 or 14 years, or maybe for 2 or 3 But will you, till I call him back take care of him for me? He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and (should his stay be brief) you’ll always have his memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise that he will stay since all from Earth return, But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn. I’ve looked the whole world over in search of teachers true, And from the fold that crowd life’s land I have chosen you. Now will you give him all your love Nor think the labor vain, nor hate me when I come to take my pup back again? I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, They Will Be Done,” For all the joys this pup will bring the risk of grief you’ll run. Will you shelter him with tenderness, Will you love him while you may? And for the happiness you’ll know forever grateful stay? But should I call him back...

So, John and I moved in to our 1st apartment together in October of 1995. Around that time frame, we also bought our first set of furniture together. The one piece of furniture we still own, is this stick lamp.  We bought it at Home Depot for $14.95. We have changed the bulb in it once since we've owned it. Wednesday this week, the bulb burned out again.  Now if you think about it, 2 bulbs since 1995 isn't bad.  Here is how the conversation went when it blew out:  April: Hey....John the stick lamp isn't working! John: What?? (he hurries to the living room to inspect it) April: See? (clicks it on and off) John: Well, its probably the bulb. We changed it once before...remember?  April: (Blank look) ....yeah John: To be honest, I'm ready for a new living room lamp.  April: John, we've had this lamp since we moved in together in 1995. We aren't getting rid of Sticky. (just named it that second) John: (Hesitates) ...

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.      All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.       All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.      All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.           All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.           All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.            All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. All work and no  play make Jack a dull boy.

15 Random Things About Me:  1. I hate talking on the phone. I do it all day long at work, so when I am at home, I have all I can do to NOT turn my phone off. I've gotten rid of my land line, and only have a cell phone. Yes. I am one of THOSE people. (hangs head). I prefer to communicate via email, text or in person.  2. I am not a morning person. I have never been a morning person. I can say with complete confidence that I will NEVER be a morning person.  I admire people who can get up and exercise in the morning. It takes me a good hour to be communicative. My Mom told my husband the best advise on being married to me: "Don't talk to her for the 1st 10 minutes she is awake".  3. I am an introvert. I may come off as cool, or even rude, but the truth is, I am just quiet. I don't talk a lot unless I am comfortable with the person or people.  4. I am a home-body. I love just being at home, hanging out with my husband, John and Boston Terrier, Ozzy....

Isn't it funny how music can evoke certain emotions? Specifically, music that makes you cry.   Here are some songs that make me tear up every time.  How Great Thou Art   - it doesn't matter who sings it, be it a church choir, Elvis Presley, etc. If I hear this song, its guaranteed that I will cry.  When my Grandma Maty died, she wanted it sang at her funeral, all 4 verses. Just thinking about it makes me tear up.   Ashoken Farewell   - its an old civil war song my Dad found years ago that he just loves. I am able to make it through the song most days, some days not. He wants it played at his funeral, and he learned to play it on guitar.   Puff the Magic Dragon  - there is one part in the song, where the verse goes: "without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave...." this is how I felt when my Katie died.  As I type this tears are streaming down my face. Thus, I avoid this song.  Old Rivers  - a ...

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over But had me believing it was always something that I'd done And I don't wanna live that way Reading into every word you say You said that you could let it go And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know And I don't even need your love But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough No you didn't have to stoop so low I guess that I don't need that though Now you're just somebody that I used to know  

Karma  (car-ma) is a word  meaning  the result of a person's actions as well as the actions themselves.  It is a term about the cycle of cause and effect.  According to the theory of  Karma , what happens to a person, happens because they caused it with their actions.

Someday we'll forget the hurt, the reason we cried and who caused us pain.  We will finally realize that the secret of being free is not revenge but letting things unfold in their own way and own time.  After all, what matters is not the first, but the last chapter of our life which shows how well we ran the race.  So smile, laugh, forgive, believe and love all over again.