a little of everything or a.l.o.e.

Have you ever stepped into a store and felt like you were home?  It's a feeling I can't describe completely but I love when it happens.  It's comforting.  I want to sit down, have a cup of coffee and soak in my surroundings.  I have found a few places in the community that are like this and I really enjoy visiting and shopping there.  When I have the opportunity to sell my handmade goods at such a store it's even better.   It's better because I'm part of something I feel so wonderful about.  What's the store name you ask?  a.l.o.e.   It's a great little place located in the center of Lewisville, NC in a cozy house and it really does have a little bit of everything.

They support local art and have a beautiful blend of different artists selling their work in the store.  Their products grow weekly and are changed out regularly so it's always fresh.  They have jewelry, hand-blown glass, fused glass pendants, soldered pendants, paintings, wind chimes, glass/bead mobiles, stained glass, window art, knitted products, refurbished furniture, painted signs, baby items, gifts for teens, and much more.  Basically, you name it and they have it.

Besides local art and refurbished furniture they also offer spa services- manicures/pedicures and massages.  And if that's not what you are looking for they also have yoga, social gatherings, kids night out events, host birthday parties and they are planning to offer art camps this summer.

So if you need to get out of your house for a breath of fresh air and want to be around good people or products that will inspire you, a.l.o.e. is where you need to go.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Here are a few of my items you can find at a.l.o.e:

(all of the handmade products pictured above are handmade by me and can be found at a.l.o.e in Lewisville, NC.  I have more products at a.l.o.e. than what I have included in this blog post.  Learn more about a.l.o.e at http://www.aloeoflewisville.com/http://www.aloeoflewisville.com or visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/aloeoflewisville)

Frustration

So here I sit, frustrated and angry. Angry that I have been to SEVERAL medical "specialists" and had numerous doctor's visits and I am still undiagnosed. I can feel the frustration in my body....it's stirring and my muscles are a little tense as a result. And somewhere I know it is only going to get worse because next week I'm off to two more specialists. I have gotten used to them looking at me and then uttering the words...."We don't know" and then "Here you can take this pill and see if it helps you..." NO I don't want a pill! I don't want to flood my body with more chemicals, it already has enough from all of the crappy food on the market! I want an answer, I want something that points me to what the cause is so I can get on with my life and make the necessary changes to be healthy. Okay, years of medical school and years in practice and they still can't find what's wrong? Where did HOLISTIC medicine go? I want to know! I envy Eastern medicine that sits and listens to the whole body and analyzes the entire picture instead of viewing the problem with tunnel vision through a peep hole.

I try to be aware of what my body is telling me. It speaks and I don't always listen but I'm trying to get better. It's not fun to have your arms and legs go numb, have your muscles be in pain without doing anything, lose sleep because of pain, have extreme eye pain ~ so excruciating you can't move your eyes in any direction without wanting to cry or not being able to rub your eyes without wanting to scream because it hurts. It's not fun to have to look into your 3 year old eyes that are filled with love and admiration and say "sorry, mommy can't pick you up because my muscles hurt today" or "please get off my lap, your hurting my muscles". It is not fun to see your husband look powerless and see agony in his loving eyes because he can't help you. It's not fun to be tired at the end of the day or middle of the day knowing you really didn't do anything. It's not fun to know you have to work to make money and assist to support your family but are limited to what you can do because of your body, especially when you took for granted the capabilities you once had. The list goes on and on...

Okay, so now the bright side. It's not everyday... THANK GOD! I would go insane if it was. I know what makes my symptoms worse most of the time and other times they are unexplained. I have wonderful friends and family that are supportive. I have people that I have never met that check in with me from time to time to see how I am...THANKS SO MUCH, words could never express the gratitude I have to those of you that send me notes with positive thoughts, energy and wishes. When I think about the amazing love surrounding me, my soul weeps with joy in our connections to one another....connections to those we have met and those we have not but our energy has reached one another across the distance: near or far. I have met these incredible people that have enhanced my thirst for a holistic lifestyle and state of being. A state of well being in it's entirety...mind, body and soul.

I feel a little better.... It's amazing what writing in a journal will do. RELEASE....
Now I must go. Sit and breathe. Sit and re-center myself. Bring myself back and remember....

This does not define me. I am me because of me not because of this.

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