I Need Your Votes To Help Me Continue My Mission Of Ability Despite Disability

I've been overwhelmed by the tremendous support I've received since announcing AN EMPOWERED SPIRIT's nomination for BEST HEALTH BLOG by Healthline. I've heard from so many caring people who truly believe in my mission. Thank you!

But I need your VOTES for AN EMPOWERED SPIRIT to win. Winning allows me to reach more audiences as I write about disability, focusing on our abilities despite living with chronic illness.

You can vote two ways: Type AN EMPOWERED SPIRIT in the search box. Or CLICK on VOTE (which will continue to appear as #3 as long as I stay #3!)

Winning is what health websites notice when I submit my work for publication, when I apply for a speaking engagement, or when I write to someone in need.

Now through January 15 you can vote every 24 hours, either using your Facebook or Twitter account, or both! (CLICK HERE TO VOTE)

Competition is stiff!! A doctor is in 1st place. Can you imagine how many votes he's getting from patients AND staff? Oy.

Simply CLICK on any of the icons you see on this post, or CLICK on the Healthline badge located on the top right-hand side of this blog.

I appreciate your friendship, your dedication to my mission and your ongoing support of my work.

Please help me spread the word by sharing this post or tweeting it on Twitter!

[Tweet "Vote for An Empowered Spirit in Best Blog Contest for @Healthline @cathyches #multiplesclerosis"]

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

Emotional Eating: I'll Have A Bowl Of Pasta With A Side Order Of Ice Cream, Please

Comfort food (noun): Food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking. (Source: Google)

Do you have a favorite comfort food that you lean on in times of stress?

Do you make a big bowl of pasta?

Or sit yourself down with a delicious bowl (or two) of ice cream?

Or do you want something salty like potato chips?

Most people have a favorite food they think will help them feel better for awhile. Food will ease our stress, and every bite will melt away our problems.

That is emotional eating.

Finally, I'm in a groove of eating healthier, learning new ways to deal with stress other than relying on comfort food. I don’t want to slide backward into the pounds I worked very - VERY - hard to take off. (And it is hard work. Every single ounce of it!)

There's so much in our lives that's not in our control. We all would love to have something that is.

So I’m working hard on fighting my urge to reach for comfort food during times of crisis. It's not always easy. I’m filling my plate with more vegetables, eating more fruit (I love summer fruit and will miss nectarines and peaches), eat at regular intervals (including healthy snacks to keep me from feeling hungry between meals) and drink more water.

According to an article in WebMD, Jane Jakubczak, a registered dietitian at The University of Maryland says that emotions trigger eating instead of the physical symptom of hunger initiating it.

Jakubczak goes on to say that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions.

Wow, that’s a lot of overeating.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t crave what my husband and son eat at dinner. The aromatic smell coming from their plates – heck, from the oven – are enough to set my palate in motion. I’ve had bites of their meals and they do taste delicious! And while those bites taste good, I’m also happy to go back to my own delicious meal.

My nightly dessert: Jenny Craig Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. Photo Credit: Jenny Craig

Being on Jenny Craig has allowed me to learn better eating habits, and there's a lot of comfort in that!

What is your favorite comfort food?

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food for this review. There was no compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine: The Sunshine Award

The word "sunshine" always conjures up memories of my beloved grandmother singing this lullaby to me in her sweet, lilting voice:

Over the course of the last (almost) 55 years, the memory of Nanny singing that song brings a smile on my face. It keeps me close to her whenever I hear the word "sunshine." I miss her so.

So, when Lois Alter Mark mentioned me and my blog in one of her blog posts at her award-winning Midlife at the Oasis, I was ecstatic.

Any nod from Lois puts a smile on my face. If you know Lois you know what I mean; she illustrates sunshine in everything she does. Her bubbly personality pours through every word she writes.

Announcing that she was bestowing The Sunshine Award on me created a reaction of the joy I feel for Nanny, and now for this award, and, of course, for my friend Lois.

What? Did you just ask what the heck IS The Sunshine Award? Good question! It's an award passed down from one blogger to the next to spread a little sunshine.

How great is that?

So, now without further ado, I am obligated to answer three questions. Here goes:

#1. Tell us 7 random things about yourself:

In high school I played flute in the band, and we were chosen to go to Disney World in Florida to march down Main Street with Mickey and Snow White. We were sweltering hot in our wool uniforms, but had a lot of fun.

I was Vice President of my senior class and had the honor of choosing the venue for our senior prom. It would have been more fun if I had a boyfriend. (It's not fun going with a guy friend.) Teen hearts are easily broken, yet easily mended when a new boyfriend enters your life a week after the prom.

Nice hairdo, eh?

I talk "baby talk" to animals, and hug and snuggle with them whenever I can. It's embarrassing but I don't care. I love our furry friends. Every single one.

I'm a sucker for all romance movies. I love a happy ending.

My brothers call me Shif, a shortened version of my Hebrew name, Shifra. I love that they call me that.

I've wanted to be a writer since I was a young girl. My mother encouraged me by subscribing to the magazine, The Writer.

I didn't start drinking coffee until I turned 40. Now I am making up for lost time, and have fallen in love with Starbucks' soy lattes. Yum.

#2. Answer the following questions:

If you could go back in time ten years and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?

Buy Google, Apple and Priceline stock.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Chocolate. There is no other flavor.

If you were to take me on a date, where would we go and why?

To an old-time movie house to see a classic movie. Then a romantic candlelight dinner.

Above all else, what are you afraid of?

Heights.

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

I've thought about this. Like Jessica Fletcher in "Murder She Wrote" I'd write juicy novels, become a widely acclaimed and Pulitzer Prize winning author, then travel the world promoting my books while meeting fascinating people. However, I have no desire to solve any murders.

What has been your favorite age to be and why?

Every age has been wonderful, but if I had to choose one I'd have to say when my son was young. The world was Utopian, and the memory of that time is magical.

Coffee or tea?

I enjoy a nicely brewed cup of tea, but I love to drink coffee. With a smidgen of Trader Joe's soy creamer, or a Starbucks grande soy latte.

#3. List 11 blogs that bring sunshine to your life. (This is a difficult question to answer since there are so many blogs I enjoy, particular from the hundreds in my blogging community, Midlife Boulevard.)

Books Is Wonderful for its fascinating book reviews, and there's always a cup of sunshine with every word.

My So-Called Midlife for the wealth of knowledge I gain about health and wellness during midlife.

Grandma's Briefs because I enjoy reading about being a hip and fun grandmother, with a side order of love.

The Carpool Goddess because life with her is funny, interesting and sweet.

Apart From My Art because her fascinating life as an artist, the wife of a movie producer, and her world of creativity is endlessly fascinating. Plus she's the youngest 72 year old who's ever lived.

Fabulous Blogging for the information I learn about the technical side of blogging, made easy for a non-techie person like me. To me, that's fabulous.

Empty House, Full Mind because I always learn golden nuggets of information about any topic that's covered. Plus anyone who loves Frank Sinatra, Broadway and movies as much as I do is my instant BFF.

Musings on Motherhood and Midlife because being a midlife mom to a young child takes a lot of energy and wisdom.

The Fur Files because life in Canada is so different from my own, and Amanda Fox is endlessly entertaining.

Tao Flashes because living a spiritual life is important to me, and I turn to Lisa G. Froman for inspiration and courage.

Did you feel the sunshine? Do you feel warmer now? YOU are my sunshine, my only sunshine. YOU make me happy, when skies are gray.

Other posts you might enjoy:

A Post About Nothing But Friendship

Call me crazy, but this post is for me. Right now, I need to write for the sake of writing, to find words, sentences and paragraphs that will lift my spirit and soothe my soul.

I hope it will lift your spirits, too.

Writing is cathartic for many; I am no exception.

This week I wrote about ways to cope with stress, including being silly with friends and spending time with loved ones.

Life is getting in the way of taking my own advice.

BFF My three closest friends live far away. We've known each other since grade school. The last time we were all together was thirteen years ago. Two are identical twins. The four of us drove to New England to spend a long night of partying to celebrate their fortieth birthday. It was pure Nirvana.

My other friend lives close by, but as a filmmaker she's constantly travelling the world. We are as close as sisters. So I know when I don't hear from her for awhile, she's firmly ensconced on a movie set.

I took two enjoyable philosophy courses in college. Boston College is a Jesuit school, and this Jewish girl learned a lot from the taskmasters who were my professors. I am deeply indebted to them. Besties

I remember learning about Plato's Perfect Plane, interpreting his theory to mean we are all meant to find an ideal world to live in. My ideal world would be living near my best friends who lend me comfort, understanding and unconditional love. As I've written before, like Lucy and Ethel or Mary and Rhoda, they are my BFF, my besties, my BFFL. They are my comrades in arms as we journey through midlife together.

I have one more new bestie who is my MS bestie, yet she's so much more. We met through our shared job as Peer Advocates for Teva. She calls me her Yankee and I tell her she's my midwestern mama. We laugh, cry and empower each other. She's my new BFFL.

We are each blessed if we have one best friend for life. I've been blessed four times.

I've also made new, good friends since turning 50, ones I hold dear in my heart. They hold my hand as I learn this new thing called blogging. I hope they hold me close to their hearts as well. They are each intelligent, compassionate and extraordinary women. I am blessed once again.

There, I finished my post. I was right. It WAS cathartic. I've felt my friends surrounding me with outstretched arms, loving souls and understanding hearts. To each of you, I say thank you.

OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY: