Day 5: I Found Inspiration

At this point in my life, there were 2 inspiring forces that guided me through the negative thoughts that would creep through my mind. 

1. Theresa- Those of you who knew her know how amazing and inspirational she was.  Theresa wasn't just a cousin, she was a mentor to me.  She was an amazing spirit- I still see her laughing, crying eyes when her image pops in my mind.  Having a newborn is tough.  Sleep deprivation, wrapped with working full time and raising a family is a struggle in itself.  I found my mantra during those first few months.  It went, "If Theresa can_(insert whatever obstacle she was facing here)__ then I can_(insert whatever hiccup I was facing here)__." I started wearing a LiveStrong bracelet as a reminder to myself.  Eventually, I bought a St. Theresa medal which I still wear today.  Theresa continues to push me through the tough times and I still talk with her often. She still continues to inspire me to DO better, to BE better.

1. The Boy- now BOYS.  At this point of my life-with Theresa's ongoing struggle with cancer, I knew that I needed to change my lifestyle to be the best mother I could be.  That meant making life changes that would keep me in their lives for as long as possible.  My eating and lack of any physical exercise were leading me down a spiral of uncertainty.  I knew my weight was going to hold me back in playing with James and my eating habits would lead to awful mood swings.  That's a playground ride nobody wanted to be around. 

I keep pictures of Theresa and The Boys around places I frequent often.  My fridge, file cabinet at school and in the living room.  A little visual reminder never hurts!