On the National Day of Encouragement, I am uplifted by the tender acts, small and large, others have done to encourage me. Will you join me today and this week in encouraging someone? Simple, no cost ideas: call someone and say, “I love you” or “Thank you”; email an inspirational phrase, story, or faith quote; find a postcard or note card you never used and mail a simple message; say a prayer for someone; or smile at a stranger or an employee.
Coraggio = enCOURAGEment!
Proclaim it and claim it!
No matter how you might feel this morning, speak positive intentions for yourself:
I Am Healthy!
I Am Joyous!
I Am Focused!
I Am Vibrant!
You may recall Marilyn, the 2017 recipient because of her courage to keep hope despite needing a ventilator to breathe. Myasthenia weakened her diaphragm and she courageously tried a novel diaphragm pacer procedure to stimulate the muscle and help her inhale. I ran into her at a MG-MI support meet and she has been ventilator free and smiling from dimple to dimple! Yay for Coraggio and Marilyn’s hopeful determination! Spread the word about this innovation for vent-dependent myasthenics!
Homage on Int’l Women’s Day to my Hungarian grandmother, who fled the advancing Russian/Soviet army at the end of WWII, my barely 7-year old mother and other daughter at her side, not knowing if she would be reunited with her husband.
The world had been falsely told the Russians were liberators, instead it invaded Hungary, confiscated her estate, and continued decades of brutal occupation.
Despite losing nearly all of her worldly possessions and status, her faith and determination were unshakeable, and she lived her life as refugee and displaced person, with elegant grace and gratitude.
LEAD with LOVE!
Over the past week we celebrated leaders, valentines and acts of kindness.
The collection of these commemorative days encourages us to LEAD with LOVE.
You won’t want to miss the 2021 Coraggio award recipient, especially on the milestone 45 year anniversary of MG-MI. Teaser: the recipient also celebrated a milestone…a 100th Birthday, served as a WWII Air Force pilot, and determinedly attended his local MG meetings…walker and all! October 2nd at 12:05 PM. Registration for the virtual conference is still open! https://mg-mi.org/annual-conference.shtml
A friend made a summer camp Wishing Boat named Coraggio and painted in the Coraggio book colors. Her wish was for her friends that were facing health challenges to be well. On this National Day of Encouragement, may you find the courage to Believe, that no matter what life challenge you are facing, All Will be Well.
Immigrating from Italy and Hungary, all four grandparents were appreciative for the work opportunities the USA afforded. No matter whether the job was below their education, skills, or social status, they performed with the utmost work ethic and with kindness to others.
On Labor Day let their legacy remind us that no matter the task at hand,
we can give it our all and with kindness to others.
For those joining us for the MG Wellness and Fitness gathering in the Saginaw, MI park tonight…stay cool! The wonderful Dr. Hafer-Macko shared that she likes the flexifreeze.com cooling vest to reduce core body temps. Looking for quick cooling ideas from items you have around the house? Throw a damp dish towel in the freezer now – you can wrap it around your neck to cool you. Bring any ice pack in a cinch sack or the MG-MI bag, and hold it close to your body. Frozen water bottles serve two purposes: holding it will cool you and you can hydrate as the water melts!
Lisa Gigliotti is an attorney who has lived for more than twenty-five years with severe rheumatoid arthritis and serious myasthenia gravis. Through those years’ thirteen major surgeries and use of a wheelchair Lisa has maintained a fulfilling and positive life.
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