What Makes You feel Proud?

Are you proud of yourself?


I don't know if a lot of my readers realize that I have been struggling with Chronic Fatigue for the past two years. 

It's been a whirlwind of surgeries, tears, frustration, and very SMALL accomplishments along the way.
Life has a good way of sucking you down into this swirling black abyss...but WE are the ones who can pull ourselves out of it. We just have to make the right choice.

Today I did my first workout in two years. (before I got sick, I had been a lifelong surfer/skimboarder/runner, as well as a forward on my highschool all-male ice hockey team. I was in the BEST shape of my life.) My doctor told me that a way to deal with early CFS is to try to beat it to the punch. I've been avoiding this for awhile now...working out used to be one of my favorite things ever. It made me feel GREAT. Endorphins have a way of doing that to people...So today, I pulled myself up off the writing couch, and decided enough was enough. I walked my dogs around the block twice. I did 10 push-ups. I did 10 crunches.

I collapsed on the floor and felt like I was going to die. But it was a BEAUTIFUL feeling. Because it means I am taking a stand against something that has been trying to bring me down for so long now. It means I choose not to let it defeat me.

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.  ~David Brinkley

It means I am proud of myself. Just like I was in the above picture. I surfed a good wave. Just like I was when I became a Christian. I was finally where I needed to be. Proud like when I finished my novel and signed with a great agent... And so many other times in life...it's been awhile since I've felt proud of who I am and who I am becoming...but for the first time since becoming ill, I feel GREAT! Yeah, I may still be sick. I may still have days where sleeping seems better than anything else, or pulling myself out of bed in the morning sort of hurts like a guy getting kicked in the balls (sorry mom), but I am happy with where I am! It's the small WINS in life that just make everything so much easier. And today....today was an epic small win. Don't focus on the hard times. Focus on how hard you have worked to get through them. :)
(My agent and I are going on sub super soon. That is probably adding to it, but hey...a little extra push/shove can't hurt.)

So I want to know... What makes YOU feel proud of yourself? Go out and DO it! I promise the outcome can only take you up!
(Like this guy. Although he doesn't seem too proud of himself here.)

-Lindsay