Giving Thanks!

Well, made it back to Atlanta safely, but my what a storm! The ride was pretty bumpy. My big book of abstracts from the ACR meeting drew some attention from the people seated around me on the plane. I started to hear all about their sore, stiff joints and people they knew who had arthritis. Since one in three people are said to have some form of arthritis, it never surprises me that people have such a familiarity with the diseases. What surprises me is the misinformation they share. One man on the plane was telling me all about the acai berry juice he sells through a network marketing company. He was able to tell me how great business was and how much better he feels after drinking a little bit of the juice twice per day, but he was unable to tell me what the juice reportedly does for the body or what studies show about the ingredient. Other people want to know what can be done for their sore knees, but they bristle when I say weight loss. They're willing to experience side effects from medication or rehabilitation and soreness after surgery but not willing to work through a few hunger pangs as they cut back on calories or initial soreness as they get into an exercise program. Why is changing one's lifestyle so hard? I've surely struggled with it myself, so I don't have any answers either. Have theories? Post a comment. I'd love to develop a discussion around this topic.

It's hard to believe that this week is Thanksgiving already -- wasn't it just summer?? I'm hosting about 16 people at my house on Thursday, and one tradition in the Siegfried home is that before we eat our Thanksgiving dinner, everyone at the table shares what they are most thankful for in their life. We've had guests say "good friends," "good food," and "family," and the kids have given thanks for their warm beds, clothing, friends, toys and pets. But this year, I'm giving thanks for good health. While I was at ACR last week and on the phone with my editor, Marcy O'Koon Moss, she asked how I was managing at the conference this year. Honestly, until she asked, I hadn't thought of how good I felt. In years past, especially last year, walking around the convention center left me totally drained, swollen and in so much pain it hurt to walk. I'd use a brace at night to help my ankle and took pain medication to get through the busy days. But this year, I've started taking sulfasalazine for my RA, and didn't realize that I wasn't swollen, stiff or in pain until Marcy asked. I had much more energy this year, was able to hike all over the convention center during the day and then walk outside at night for exercise. I took the brace along with me this year, but didn't use it. So, I'm giving thanks this year that my health is getting back on track. And now that I can see it's moving in a positive direction, I'm more determined than ever to keep it going that way. And that attitude is making it much less of a struggle to make those necessary lifestyle changes. Maybe I'm on to something here!

Take care.