Looking Inward

"I was nurtured I was sheltered
I was curious and young
I was searching for that something
Trying to find it on the run
Oh and just when I stopped looking
I saw just how far I'd come
In this life"



Now that I have mastered the process of looking inward, I deem it enjoyable rather than overawing or thorny, but why are so many reluctant to take such a rewarding and enlightening journey?

Without question, taking the inner-route opposed to the shallow, outer-route (substance abuse, denial, perfectionism) is challenging, and it is NOT for the closed-minded (those who already have their own agendas and minds made up). It is also not for the fainthearted. Those who give up easily and early on or who are unwilling to explore the unknown will not travel very far down the road of self-discovery. However, if you are one of the valiant inner peace seekers to consider the journey inward and are ready and willing to jump entirely into the ocean of personal-development and ride the wave of zen, you will do well in your healing journey. Therapy is a great place to start!

Whether it is the stigma of mental illness/therapeutic intervention or the difficulty of the process that repels you, know that NOTHING ever worth achieving is done so easily. If you can see difficult situations as life challenging you to do better, live better, BE better, then you will always be evolving... and doesn't that make life worth living?

The Incredible Fighting Woman

With pain in the foreground, I battled my way through Friday and Saturday unwilling to surrender and have pain dictate my participation in life. I won :-)

Friday was impeccable. My beloved parents took my pup and me out for a ride in our convertible (Shorter looooves the wind in his puppy hair). We stopped in a sweet town by the sea where we live to stretch our legs and allow Shorter to explore. I walked (or gimped) two blocks to a farmer's market to grab a snack consisting of the most glorious blackberries I have ever had!!!! Then, my boy love scooped me up for some delicious, organic greens before carting me off to Borders so that I could sit on the floor of the psychology section with steamed soy milk and pick out a new book to read. I felt incredible, almost euphoric, even though my pain continued to increase as the day progressed. By the time I layed me down to sleep, I burned and twitched myself off to dreamland. Ouchy.

Come Saturday morning, I could feel the fury of days gone by but was destined to spend a day at the beach with my besty from high school, and I am so glad I did. I took my pain killers accordingly...back to back even, which I only do in times of great need. In fact, I have only done it twice now. I ended the day exhausted from meds and pain, but content with my decision to push the barrier. The afternoon was marvelous, and my besty is the total package; incredible beauty, brains, and heart. I love you, Tee.

Today, I rest.

I Am Truly Saddened

You may all know Professor Randy Pausch by his "Last Lecture" speech. I am so so very sorry to say that he has passed away after an arduous and inspiring fight with pancreatic cancer. My heart breaks for his family, friends, and those like me who did not know him but were constantly inspired by his inner strength and wisdom. He will truly be missed by all.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and those who love him.

Inner Strength

I have been endlessly mulling over my personal ability to harness inner strength and the quantity of inner strength that is actually avaiable to me. Is it endless? As my life becomes more demanding, will my inner strength match up, or is there an inner-strength-reserve that retains a finite amount to be drained at any moment? With the challeneges of graduate school looming, I find myself questioning, "Am I strong enough?"

Inner strength bestows upon us the courage and strength to endure and overcome inner and outer resistance and opposition. It builds gradually, with each person possessing the ability to harness inner strength to some extent depending on environmental and individual factors. Perhaps as the difficulty of a task expands, so too does your inner strength. I know that I have the ability to achieve and achieve and achieve... I have proved this many times before.

I just want to make sure that while I am achieving, I am doing it happily.

Positive Day

I have been slightly grumpy and uninspired the past few days due to a hormone and pain cocktail. Thank you nature's nightmare for upping the painage while also keeping my mood at the "slightly-less-than-homicidal" level, which is a monthly treat! The good piece of that puzzle is that it will eventually end. Me like endings to discomfort :-) There is a positive peaking around every corner.

Today, I spent the afternoon with a good friend/former AAU basketball teammate. I must admit, I think about my active days and sigh when I am with her only because they were such a treat, but the longing for my better (physical) days are swept away by her charm. What an asset she will continue to be to this world as she finishes her education and enters the work force with the one goal of "helping others." Can we say "bingo?!?!" This girl has the right idea, and I love nothing more than to let time pass by with such good company (and similar goals!).

Shouldn't everyone carry that same goal to fruition?

Supplements

I hopped, skipped, and jumped to the Vitamin Shoppe this afternoon to gather up several more supplements to aid me in my healing expedition. Why was I so bouncy? ...because I drove for the first time in 4+ weeks all by myself! A small step to some, but a large step to RSDkind. The supplements I added specifically for nerve health are turmeric, borage oil, and hops-valerian. I recently added wheat grass and spirulina to my regime for overall health, as well. I am waiting for the results with breath that is bated!

Pain Memory

Here is a brain tickling article on pain memory!


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/73100.php

Another Look

Over the last few years, I have met some remarkable individuals, young and old, who fight chronic pain and illness with the hearts of lions. I decided it was time to give the readers another view of RSD. Almost daily, you hear my musings, but this post is dedicated to a young girl named Felicia who fights RSD daily and intends to win this prolonged, arduous battle. I have presented her with nine questions, and she has answered them as candidly and eloquently as anyone ever could.

This is her story:

(Here is a link to her blog:
http://alessea.blogspot.com/)

1. When were you diagnosed with RSD, and how did you feel when you got that diagnosis and learned about what the disease entailed?

I was finally officially diagnosed with RSD on the 13th of May 08 having been semi-treated since September 07 and had symptoms since March 06.

Initially I was relieved to finally have a doctor tell me those words, give a name to what was happening and write it on paper. I was beginning to doubt myself because for so long I had been getting no-where and being told things ranging from “you need to move to a warmer climate” to “stop focusing on the pain”.

But then when I asked the doctor questions and all he could answer was “we don’t know” I was upset, how can you give someone a diagnosis and then not give them any helpful information? I felt lost as to how I would get the help I needed. But I was proactive and have since been seen by a pain specialist who knows more about RSD and its management, he has helped me understand better and I have been educating myself so I feel more in control now. I still feel angry some times, why me? Haven’t I been through enough already? I’m frustrated because RSD has a mind of its own and it doesn’t like it when you try and ignore it, and I continually get upset with myself due to my limitations and then mad that I am so weak that I can’t just deal with it and continue with my life.



2. What areas of your body are currently affected? Has the disease spread?

Currently the areas affected are my right foot half way up to my knee and then down the front of my thigh.

I guess it has spread, initially it was only my foot but now it’s my thigh as well.



3. What feelings do the words “progressive” and “incurable” stir up within you?

The word “progressive” makes me feel scared of the unknown and helpless to do anything about the potential threat it poses, this condition is so unpredictable. I don’t like to think about the possibilities and try not to dwell on this as it doesn’t help and is certainly not an active coping strategy.



The word “incurable” fires up my fighting streak J I’m going to prove that wrong and beat this thing! The thing is, in the last 10 years the research on pain has come a long way and who knows what the next 10 years will bring?



4. Can you explain, in your own words, what the pain feels like to you?

Imagine being consumed body and mind by pain so big you have no control over anything. You don’t know who you are anymore or what’s going on except that you would do anything to stop it if you could. It’s your constant companion, never leaving your side for a moment. You feel so helpless that crying all night is the only thing left to do.

There are so many pain feelings, like my foot is frozen stuck in ice, the intense burning cold pain like being in snow with no shoes or socks but so much worse and there is no end. The shooting, stabbing pain like someone is repeatedly attacking you. Even just light touch feels like I am being pressed so hard it is so painful, when people forget and touch my foot I have to fight off the response to attack them because of the intensity of the pain; I have done so a few times. The background pain that is just described as PAIN that gets worse as the day goes on, I feel so lucky if the meds have just left me with this for a little while.



5. What helps your pain? What makes your pain worse?
Helps with pain?

Meds, grrrr. I hate taking them, I hate relying on medication to get through the day. I take 3 different pain meds regularly and have another one for when I need it.

I have a TENS unit that seems to help while I am wearing it, means I don’t rely on the extra med so much.

Mirror Visual Therapy is beginning to show signs of helping, fingers crossed it continues to be effective.

Warmth and elevating my leg

Relaxing as much as I can and not fretting about all the things I’m not doing.



Makes it worse?

Just things like wearing shoes and socks and having trousers and sheets and things touching my skin can make the pain unbearable.

Walking too far and being on my feet too much.

Slight cold weather

Sitting with my foot lowered

The feeling of water moving around my foot in the swimming pool, and also in the shower.

People touching my foot!

Doing to much physically or not doing enough, there is a fine line between these boundaries and I continually do too much.

Getting stressed or upset over things, its true that pain is harder to deal with when you stress yourself out.

Falling down stairs lol!



6. What areas of your life have changed?

What areas of my life haven’t changed?

I have gone from being someone who never sat still to being someone who will sit on the pavement if there is no-where else available.

I no longer play any sports or run and though I sometimes go to my dance club, I am the one who sits on the side watching half the dances and I’m the youngest there!

I am learning that I (yes me) come first, no more do I say yes to everyone, no is now very much part of my vocab.

I think I am becoming more patient, although I still get very frustrated.

I am learning to set more realistic goals and not be so hard on myself in regards to achievements.

Spontaneity and socializing is so hard, it takes all my energy to get through the essential daily tasks with nothing left for going out and having fun. Luckily, I find that even though my studies are hard work, we have a lot of fun, I just miss not having the choice of taking part in the social club events.

I find that I rely on my family much more than I used to, there is nothing nicer than spending a nice quiet day relaxing at home. I think because I have more quiet time to think and grow and understand, I feel stronger in my religion. I am human and forget to ask God for help sometimes but when I do, I feel inner peace and regained strength to go on. Without this aspect of ‘growth’ I’m not sure I would cope as well as I do.



7. How do others respond to you? What helps? What does not help?

On the whole, people just don’t understand (very few do anyway) what this thing means. People with RSD have doctorates in pretending; quite often my outward appearance doesn’t match my inner feelings. I get made to feel like I’m making things up or complaining about nothing, and am somehow to blame for what’s happened.

I hate being dictated to, I feel like the only control I have is being taken away from me and this stresses me out. I also hate the obvious ways people try and stop me from doing things, things I can and should be doing, don’t take away my independence yet please! I know I need help with some things and I know I have trouble asking for help but help me, don’t stop me from doing them completely.

I also feel sad about how I get made to feel like a burden and excluded by some of my so-called friends. I like them and if I was more capable they would include me more I’m sure, it’s just I think they feel like I’m too much hard work and a bit of a drag.

But for goodness sake don’t pity me-I have learnt so much, have so much more to learn and I would never understand had this not happened to me, I don’t need your pity.



I live for my precious family and friends; they treat me like they understand. Just knowing I have people I can count on to put me back on the right path when I wander helps. My pain doc and his wife and also my special physio are amazing; having health professionals who believe me and understand what I am going though makes all the difference. I feel justified and that it’s ok to feel they way I do sometimes and know that I can rely on them to take me seriously. Having others with RSD to talk with helps, no-one knows what we are going though better than a fellow sufferer and being able to share our ups and downs makes things so much more bearable.



8. What are your fears and anxieties concerning the disease?

That even though it has been around since the Civil war, so many health professionals don’t seem to know what it is or even believe that it exists.

That I am going to be put in the ‘mentally ill’ box and, because of the stigma that goes with that label how will I ever be taken seriously? My own student health doctor sent me to a psychologist instead of pain clinic because “I have psychological problems”.

RSD’s unpredictable prognosis and the unreliability of current treatment. I scare myself thinking sometimes, what if the drugs stop working?, what if it spreads?, what if the university decide I cant carry on my degree?, what if those other doctors are right and this is all in my head?, what if I cant get a job because of this?, what if I never meet anybody special because I cant be as social as I want? The world is full of what if’s…



9. How do you feel about the future?

I think it helps that I am a generally bright, bubbly, happy person (reading this probably doesn’t sound much like it) I get so much out of life and am a fighter and have set my heart on reaching some pretty big goals. I have so many good things in my life, I am truly blessed. I have the gift of brightening up other people, knowing I can do that means despite the harrowing thought that I may have to live the rest of my life with chronic pain, I can look forward to a life of sharing fun and laughter with many great people. I also have a pretty big support system now and they only make the future look rosy and inviting.

I’m currently studying a pretty intense program and my dream is to be able to finish it. I know I will because I am so determined to show that I will not be crushed by this. It gives my life so much meaning and motivates me to get up and carry on, I have so much to offer the world.

I am optimistic about the future mostly, sometimes the thought of the future overwhelms me but I am not going to let this beat me, I am not RSD, RSD is not my life-it is not my identity. In a few years I am going to be a successful grad with a lot of knowledge and unique experience to share with my patients. I also hope that one day I will be someone’s wife, someone’s mother; RSD is not going to rob me of that.

Life is always full of hope, never ever forget that. It may be hiding behind a cloud but it its still there.



Everyone has their own worries and I am not any different in that respect, just so happens that while my peers are worrying about if they have enough alcohol for the weekend, I worry about if I have enough meds!

I’m hoping that my new therapy program (good doc, meds, PT, psychologist) will get the pain under more control and then nothing will stop me!

I Really Fucked Up Yesterday,...

...but, boy oh boy, it was fun :-) Let us recapitulate yesterday's events, highlighting the insidious, pain-making moments. A 9AM trip to Shorter's groomer was quite involving. Not only did I have to assist the groomer at times, but when I should have been resting my tootsies, I was chasing after that adorable pug puppy you see in the photographs attached to the previous post. Ouch. I took a pain killer. Then, a trip with Shorty pants and my boyfriend (he drove) to visit his mother at work does not include readily available seating. In my stupidity and excitement, I took myself to a jewelry store to pick up a gorgeous, RSD fighting Australian opal ring! Perfection! I took another pain pill. Our next destination was Whole Foods where I stood and made a flowing plate of crunchy green chi, after which I decided a trip over to the building housing delicious smoothies was quite necessary. Another pain pill. Sounds like a normal day of fun, correct? Wrong.

I swallowed more pain medication than usual to make it to the end of funday, but I fell asleep with both legs burning and twitching. When the twitching enters in, I know I have fucked up good. It's draining, defeating, heart-wrenching, and crippling (in more ways than one), but I was mired by my youth. Pain is the cost, and I pay tremendously. I have been cushioned by this remission-searching bubble where my world is only as demanding as I make it. Come September, the real world is going to require a painful fight on my part for me to remain in it. Sometimes, it seems I am walking in quicksand.

Am I strong enough?

See, I still struggle somedays, too. With this disease, there is an abundance of question marks and little answers to go with.

Shorter Has A New Friend!

Shorter made a new friend today at his groomer's home. A 12 week old puggle! They had a wonderful time romping around! It was brilliant to watch! Talk about tuning out for some time! My pain adores distraction :-)

The Dynamic Duo

To Take Or Not To Take? That Is The Question.

So much for the expiration of the "whole foods-trip-gone-wrong" pain flare :-/ I waver between abhorring my pain medications, perched in pain, repudiating the thought until there is absolutely no other choice but to swallow one and wanting to pop one at the first sign of pain (remember, pain=excruciating enough to need medication...I am always in some form of pain), just pleading to be out of my misery. What's a holistic, wellness focused girl to do? I wait. I delay my satisfaction until standing or walking is necessary (it's probably the wrong avenue to take).

I wish upon a star that, someday, I can be medication free. Until that time, I will juice :-) This morning, my mixture was cucumbers, celery, a peach, and a few strawberries. Yummy!

Shorter is attending his first obedience class this evening. The little sunflower needs to learn some manners.

Green Is My Favorite Color

I just finished a heaping bowl of roasted brussel sprouts (thanks, mom!), blueberries, and pine nuts for my rejuvenating morning munchy...fur baby in toe. He adores taking part in my whole food excellence, especially when blueberries are involved.

I'm excited to reveal that my raw, natural, organic, vegan delicous lifestyle is officially extending into my beauty care products. As I run out of a product, I am replacing it with an all natural substitute. Last night, my boy love carted me off to Whole Foods for a plate of green chi and beauty product replacement. This was a big buy (face wash, face toner, face mask, soap, deodorant), because I held off until a few ran out to make my life with RSD less demanding. The more I can accomplish at one time, the better. Treating myself well feels incredible :-)

Unfortunately, I have a script to seize at my local pharmacy...narcotics...grrrrrr. I fantasize about the day when I no longer have to put such garbage into my body.

I'm reading National Geographics "Green Guide," and it is a fantastic bible for living conciously. It covers everything! I highly recommend it!

As for my pain flare, it's going down day by day and those poisons, uhhh I mean my pain killers, help tremendously. We have a love/hate relationship!

Happy living!

A Friendly Reminder, Brought To You By RSD

This temple of healing was provided with a good ol' jog of the RSD memory Friday evening while rendezvousing with Olivia in NYC. We walked three small city blocks to Whole Foods, grabbed some salads, and walked home. Oh horror of horrors!!!!! How dare we take part in such a monsterous event?!!!?!? As one could see coming from a mile away, a pain flare began in the store of organic goodness and refuses to depart.

The past 2+ months, I have learned how to successfully manage my illness so that pain flares are not an option. This plan consists of me barely taking part in any activity that involves walking or standing for more than a few moments. Lucky as I am, my parents assist me with the mundane tasks that are literally 100% impossible for me to accomplish, like food shopping. With successful pain flare management, comes utter disbelief, apprehension, and the necessary cry when I feel pain that I have gone to great lengths for a long period of time to evade. "I forgot how sick I really am," I said to my father as I called him through tears from the floor of Whole Foods.

I spent the next two nights with anxiety ridden thoughts about the future dancing through my head while trying to fall asleep. What if I get worse? How will I manage a life? Who will food shop for me? What if I need a wheelchair? What if I can't finish school? Who will want to marry me? How will I ever get pregnant? STOP!!!!!! You had your time to feel anxious, Maria, and now it is time to continue living!!!!! I look around me and see nothing but love and joy, but I am worrying about a future that is not even promised?! I recognized my feelings, I sat with them several times, and I have officially released them. Goodbye anxiety, hello again life.

What Does RSD Look Like?

This is what RSD looks like. Just because we have an illness doesn't mean we are weak or look "sick."




This is what RSD looks like.

The Lost And The Gained

Before pain and RSD, unwanted, introduced themselves into my life, I was a youthful, bouncy, oblivious, sporty, and agile young girl. As an athlete, I was a coach's delight...you name it, I'll do it (even if it hurts). The world was my oyster, and I made tons of pearl necklaces :-) Buuuttttt, I was also a perfectionist, self-critical, unappreciative of life's most intricate details, and lacked a great deal of self-compassion.

What has been omitted from my life...lost to RSD? A lot. My love for and participation in all things physical, spontaneity, a social life consisting of going out to bars and clubs, immaturity, perfectionism, self-criticism, unappreciativeness (not a word, but I like it), lack of self-compassion... Interesting how most of that list turns out to be a good thing? Let that marinate for a moment.

I miss my athletics terribly. I miss spontaneity even more. But, I do not long for self-criticism, immaturity, perfectionism, etc... Who would? I certainly don't miss going out to bars and mingling with the intoxicated. I'd much rather sit and read a book with my doggy or spend some time with my family. Blue skies mean more, smiles mean more, a cool breeze means more, a good book means more, moments mean more, LIFE means more... and that's the way I like it :-)

(Less pain would be nice, though)

Don't Get Too Excited

My bad mood did not last very long. As predicted, the following day proved to be a sunshiney one, and birds sang sweet songs, colors were brighter, and my love muffin pup smiled at me with his eyes and wiggly tail all day :-)


I have an unpleasant update. Olivia's treatment did not happen to facilitate a slight remission. In fact, it did nothing. Whether she was running on pure anxiety and adrenaline the few days after she was released from the hospital, or she was blessed with a "good" day (that comes few and far between with RSD), her pain returned with retribution in mind. To construct an even more improved situation (sense the sarcasm), she was stripped of her pain medications on her vacation in hell. Fabulous! The poor girl suffered greatly, but today, she was awarded her pain medicine once again.


This started an interesting discussion between us girlys. As RSD patients, our main symptom is 24/7 severe nerve pain that can go as far as covering the entire body if you are one of the lucky ones... Unfortunatley, there is a stigma attached to opiate use, and that leaves rule abiders like Olivia and myself fearful that we are one moment away from being viewed as "drug seekers" when we ask for a new script or need one refilled. A small percentage of opiate abusers have ruined a vital part of the pain experience, pain medicine, for those who use the substances as needed. As much as doctors love to be objective, their "objectiveness" is colored by this unfortunate fact. But, what the heck else are we to do?!?! We have pain from a progressive, INCURABLE disease and we need to moderate our pain!!! We shouldn't have to feel scared to ask for help, but we always are. Grrr...

My healing partner and me :-)

Just Another Day

For how dreadful Olivia's time was in hell...uhhh I mean, the hospital, it seems as if the lidocaine infusion helped her pain afterall! Oh, miracle of miracles!!! And, boy, does she deserve it!

As for me, I'm the same, but continuing to heal from the surgery well and with heart and soul (and great juices too!!!)!!!!

Today was a down in the dumps day. No, I am not immune just because I am enlightened a bit. I missed my period this month for whatever reason (probably two hospital traumas in a row have something to do with it...the last one was oddly light), and that has stressed me out some. My little, 110 pound body has been through a lot though I continue to treat it with veneration. Plus, my pain was bad today and yesterday.

Tomorrow will be better.

Enemy

Isn't is fascinating after inumerable moments, days, weeks, months, years waging a war against my enemy, pain, the real adversary was that little sunflower, ME?!?! This does not mean that pain is officially my play mate, but I will jump off it's back as far as the blame game is concerned. It has seized my most enjoyable activities, but I can be if I no longer do, and that precious verity could only be appreciated when I made peace and called a truce with myself, my most arduous of undertakings.


**This post is quite succint because of the pain in my hands, but I will try to add more of my thoughts later. It's an interesting thought, though, so far.

Something Fantastic

Something fantastic happened in that hospital room two and a half weeks ago that has given me a sense of inner peace and acceptance and filled each and every cell in my body with love and gratitude. Perhaps, when McDreamy cut me open, all of my fears, anxieties, and self-criticsms escaped into the crisp, morning air and were replaced with joy...complete and utter bliss even!

It only took me two "near death-like" experiences in two very different but very similar situations to spontaneously be filled with infinite elation and self-appreciation, which I have been striving for the last three and a half years. It has been a laborious road toward acceptance, one that always seemed to end with a brick wall between me and self-love. Somehow, without any extra effort (as if I could try with any more fevor than I already had been), the universe conspired in my favor and resolved my "how do I love the me I am today" inquiry. In my opinion, the key was that I was finally open to receiving such a gift in the natural progression of illness acceptance. I think the proof is in the posts! My positivity practically jumps off the blog pages pinching cheeks and hugging strangers!

Here's more good news! Olivia is out of the hospital and coming to spend a few days with me soon!

My pain is awful today... I stood too much yesterday... but life is grand, and I will just have to sit all day to make up for it. It's tit for tat with this disease.

Happy 4th!

I Love My Juicer

I'm sitting in my big, comfy recliner drinking a freshy juiced, strawberry and orange mug of bliss (I also have an entire container of freshly made melon juice in the fridge!) with my auburn pup by my side in dreamland. His silky smooth, goldendoodle coat makes it hard for me to stop giving him love and use my hands to type instead of scratch his little belly. Oh, how I love his happy energy around me! And, oh, how I love my juicer :-)

No More Stitches!

It's only been two weeks, and I am walking on a six inch incision without crutches, in a sandal, with minimal swelling, and only a light "soreness." Yes, I am THE temple of healing, my blog reading friends. I am a sight to be seen!A driver on my road to health! You better get your tickets now, because I will be rid of RSD before you know it!!!! Perhaps, I will post some pictures of the incision for those who enjoy gruesome images... (Yes, I think this blog needs more pictures)

Okay, now it's time to get serious. My little peanut, Olivia, is STILL in the hospital, but we can all rest now, because she is feeling better. Also, a zealous congratulations goes out to her, because she received a more than deserved notice that a selected poem will be published in a major literary magazine!!!! Woot woot!!! She's made it! Now, if the both of us could only get healthy, what little cherry blossoms we would be :-)

That day will come with patience and self-compassion.

Today, I am thankful for my boyfriend who sent me a fruit boquet with a lovely, compassionate message attached! Can this day get any better than that?!?!

Spreading The Love

Since my last post was a reminder to the blog reading world to be thankful for the big and small aspects of your lives, today will be a reminder to give a shout out to those you love and those who love you each and every day.

My horoscope today summarizes my blogging thoughts incredibly well, so I will leave my message giving up to the Daily Om (http://www.dailyom.com/):

"You may be more affectionate than usual today. You may want to help the people you care for understand the depth of your emotions or simply remind them of how much you love them. You can make the most of your loving feelings by expressing them through your actions. A gift, a few heartfelt words, or just your presence could warm your loved ones’ hearts and bring smiles to their faces. You may be surprised at the intensity of the responses you receive. Even small expressions of affection can be gestures of great love. The love and gratitude that wthe people most important to you give in return today will likely be equal to the love you’ve given them.

Expressing your affection for the people you love, both in words and in deeds, can make your relationships stronger and ensure that your loved ones never doubt your esteem. When you tell others how much they mean to you, their hearts respond joyfully and a bridge is built between your soul and theirs. Each kind phrase and action you give to your loved ones is a gift that reminds them of the ties that bind you. They will never question the strength of your love and you’ll feel gratified by the strength of their response. The affection you express today will make your loved ones feel wonderful and cement your bond."