I cannot believe at midnight tonight it is going to be 2011.  How amazing LIFE is.  How lucky we are.

Every year since I was a young girl I would make my “resolution” and also silently wish for a new year filled with pure and complete health.  I would wish there to be a cure found for Cystic Fibrosis and that my lungs would work better.  I still make that very same wish after more than 30 years  – I am still here.  Thank You God and Thank You to all who have helped me along the way.  I honor you with my determination to continue to grow, learn, give back, and take as good of care of myself and my gifts as I possibly can.

I also learned something else along the way.  We need to do more than “wish”.  We need to be accountable for ourselves and take action doing whatever we can to make and allow the things we are wishing for to happen.  We can’t always “make them come true” but we can sure help with the process.  I know it is up to me to keep my body as strong as I possibly can so that I can not only live the life I want and do the things I want but so I can fight off and protect myself from any and all obstacles that try to get in my way.  *This is important for every human being, not just the ones who “are sick”.  If you don’t take care of yourself, no matter who you are, “sick will come”.  Don’t let it.

I may have been born “sick”, I am not now and I believe that is because of me-of course with the help of the medical community and loved ones but I made the decision to fight and to do what is difficult to overcome. Those who are living with diseases like CF, Cancer, and Diabetes…don’t call them “sick”, I hated being called that.  They may be fighting a disease or a health challenge but many of those people are healthier than people who are completely clean of illness right now.  They are more fulfilled and doing more each day with their life. There are struggles and miserable days but they find the good to keep going on-that’s being- “healthy”.  It’s a choice how you want to live the life you have been given.  We all have it.

With a STRONG foundation I am able to fight off viruses and infections, train and play hard, and when I do get something, I have more to “battle” with.  This is key and I believe it is why I have been able to live all these years with CF and 16 years post lung transplant the way I have.

So as I sit here and drink my Empower Pro nutrition drink (that I am SO proud of) and plan the goals for my day-including going to the clinic to train before the day gets busy. I know that I am taking care of my foundation, strengthening the bricks, filling in any cracks so that I can have a wonderful and fulfilling 2011 despite any obstacle that comes my way.

I am Strong and I am Powerful.  You are too, it IS inside you.  You know that burning flame that flares when you feel alive, when you experience pure joy?  Think about it, you will remember feeling it.  Fuel that by reminding yourself you can decide to do all you can to change whatever it is you want to, to accomplish the goals and dreams you want.  YOU CAN make a difference in that happening, even if it is only tiny at first, don’t quit!- bigger changes will happen-I have lived it many, many times.

It’s not easy, it can be scary, but it is so empowering when you yourself accomplish something you didn’t think you could. That flame inside you, it will become so strong and powerful you will become addicted to the feeling-feeling that proud.  I wish this feeling for all of you in 2011 and hope that you decide to make it happen.  Please know I am here if you need a little push or a hand to hold-I may need one at some point too.

And those wishes I have silently spoken every year before the next year started, I will speak them again tonight with a smile on my face and great pride for I know I am going to do all I can to have a healthy year with healthy and strong lungs and…that cure for CF I know is coming very soon.

May you ALL turn your wishes into reality and stay committed to your resolutions in 2011 to LIVE LIFE FULLY.

Happy and Healthy 2011! Make it your best year yet and may Peace, Health, Love, and Strength be yours,

Dottie