How do you stay positive?

[Guest guest]

Peggy,

OK, I'll tell you, in essence, for me and in my experience, my

positive outlook DOES have something to do with God. So, if you don't

want to read the rest, delete this now.

I have been on a 'spiritual growth search' for the last 27 or so

years. Prior to that, and diagnosed at age 10, I figured the God I

knew from 'church' had 'caused' CMT in me, and well, I turned away.

Very FAR away, and I kept walking further.

I walked down the totally wrong road through abuse of alcohol, but

years of living 'my way' didn't prove anything but misery. Then the

miracle occurred.

I found a 'spiritual road' that I could travel at my leisure, but the

more I walked on THAT road, and followed the 'clues' at

each 'destination', I found that I grew enormously in a positive mind

and spirit. God did for me what I couldn't do for myself, so I

starting paying more attention to 'spiritual matters'.

To this day, some of the best ways for me to connect to this 'spirit

of oneness', whom I call God, are:

1) meditation

2) journaling

3) getting outdoors (believe it or not, even in the rain!)

4) listening to certain music

5) helping others

6) hearing motivational speakers, or my favorite authors speak

7) read good books

8) CARE for my total being each day: psyche, soul, and body

9) attending 12 step meetings

10) attending spiritual services of my faith

11) exercise often

12) believe and hope in arrestment for CMT

Simply put, I look back at the despair, hopelessness, depression, and

aloneness I HAD, and I wake up every morning with an attitude of

gratitude for my life NOW and to be of service where I can be that

particular day.

~ Gretchen