One of my idols is Florence Nightingale. She was born into a upper class, British family in Florence Italy. Inspired by what she took as a call from God in February 1837, Florence made a decision to enter nursing in 1844, despite the intense anger and distress of her mother and sister. She rebelled against the expected role for a woman of her status, which was to become a wife and mother. Nightingale worked hard to educate herself in the art and science of nursing, in spite of opposition from her family and the restrictive societal code for affluent young English women.
Florence Nightingale's most famous contribution came during the Crimean War, which became her central focus when reports began to filter back to Britain about the horrific conditions for the wounded. Nightingale arrived early in November 1854 at Selimiye Barracks in Scutari (modern-day Uskudar in Istanbul). She and her nurses found wounded soldiers being badly cared for by overworked medical staff in the face of official indifference. Medicines were in short supply, hygiene was being neglected, and mass infection were common, many of them fatal. There was no equipment to process food for the patients.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was asserted that Nightingale reduced the death rate from 42% to 2% either by making improvements in hygiene herself or by calling for the Sanitary Commission.
She was an incredible women who embodied Hope, Courage, Vision and Will! I believe that we are able to achieve almost anything if we live our lives with these four components. An article I read about Nightingale says "she began with Hope—the scaffold of being and oxygen for the soul. She believed in the meaning of human life, giving people permission and urging them to believe in the better part of themselves"(Goertz, 2010, p.69)
That is what Hope is, it is the oxygen for our soul. We have to take our lives in our own hands. We only have one life and we should believe that we have the potential to heal ourselves, and to become great beings. I live everyday with the hope that I will be cured and the hope that I can become the best person that God made me to be. Without hope we cannot breathe, we cannot heal, and we cannot live. It is so vital that we incorporate this in our lives.
The article continues to say "She also demonstrated its twin, Courage—the fuel that renews the energy of hope. Every new departure of human mind and spirit is an act of courage—arising from a life of authenticity" (Goertz, 2010, p.69).
Courage is what will make us continue to fight this disease. We need to embody courage so that we can have the energy to believe that we can heal ourselves. You cannot live without courage, because if you did you would never achieve anything. It takes courage to be able to go to work, go to school or raise a family. I know that I have to have the courage to be able to do whatever it takes for me to be healed. Taking medication is not the solution to healing and curing myself but I have to have faith and courage that I can do with out those medications.
"Nightingale had Vision—wings that carry us to new realms of possibility. We are lifted beyond rationality, propelled into a compassionate response to issues of the times" (Goertz, 2010, p. 69).
I have a Vision that I will live free from Lupus. I try to remember to look at myself in the mirror every morning and say "I am free of Lupus. I am incredible, I love myself and I empower myself. I control my life, not Lupus!" Without vision, we are not able to go the distance. We need to have a vision of peace within ourselves and a vision where we live a life of beauty!
"She also had Will—the intention to follow through on her compelling vision with commitment
and passion. She was tirelessly inspired to shape new order as an artist molds clay into an exquisite
work of art" (Goertz,2010, p.69).
When we make our vision for our life we have to be determined to follow through and make that commitment. I see myself free from Lupus but I just don't think it, I live my life as if I were free of Lupus. I am committed to healing and curing myself so I eat a gluten-free, no sugar, low fat, blood-type oriented diet. I take my Omega-3, MSM, Sulferzyme powder, Essentialzyme, Vit C, Cholrella, and my essential oils. I do a gallbladder/liver cleanse every three weeks until I stop having stones come out. I exercise, I try not to complain and live my life with a mindset to serve others. I have the power and the will to heal!!
Life is beautiful and sometimes life throws us something that is unexpected, but we have to live life step by step by becoming the beings we are meant to be. Lupus stinks but Lupus has brought connection, desire, and inspiration to my life.
I will not look Lupus in the eye and curse it out but instead I will embrace it, thank it and say goodbye!
Thank you for reading. God is with you!
If you would like to know where I get my supplements you can check out youngliving.com or e-mail me.
References
- Bostridge, Mark (2008). Florence Nightingale: The Woman and Her Legend. London: Viking.
- Gill, G. The extraordinary upbringing and curious life of Miss Florence Nightingale Random House, New York (2005)
- Goertz, Joellen. (2010). Reflection in Transformation Leadership. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 14, 68-69
- McDonald, Lynn ed., Collected Works of Florence Nightingale. Wilfrid Laurier University Press
You are amazing and doing incredible things! I am proud to have you as a sister. I am sure you will bring a lot of hope and guidance to others you suffer with this disease as well. Love you!
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