10 Things I Learned From Illness

By on May 8, 2009 in Happiness, Healthy Living, Relationships, Success

When I was 19, my life seemed to have fallen apart:  I was bedridden, unable to move my own limbs most of the time, had to give up university and work, diagnosed with a rare and terrifying illness, and told my life would "only get worse."  I couldn’t even imagine worse.  Unable to get out of bed most days I spent what little time I wasn’t sleeping thinking, praying, and reflecting.  "This can’t be the totality of my life," I often thought, desperately wanting to have a more "normal" existence, go to school, earn a living, and be a contributing human being.  Now, most of you may already realize that the story gets better because I’m sitting here writing this blog and have authored six books as well.  <!–break–>

That experience took my life in a direction I could never have predicted and taught me so many valuable lessons.  Here are some of the things I learned:

1)  My self worth has little to do with how much I earn, how much I know, or how much I do. 

2)  Connection with one’s soul is inherently valuable.

3)  Now that I can work, I am SOOOOO grateful and express this gratitude regularly.  How wonderful it is to express my soul’s purpose through my work.

4)  What a joy it is to be able to get out of bed every morning.

5)  How wonderful it is to nourish my body with healthy foods–they played a significant role in my recovery.

6)  I am a contributing human being as long as I am expressing my soul, its light and love, even if it is only in a positive thought or a smile.

7)  To stop thinking of the things "I can’t do" and focus on the many things "I can do."  I heard an interview with a writer who became disabled from an accident.  He said, "before the accident I could do 10,000 things.  Now, I can do 9,000 things.  It’s incredible to be able to do 9,000 things."

8)  What a miracle life is in all its myriad forms.

9)  To stop judging myself against someone else’s capabilities, beauty, skills, or other attributes.  I am a powerful, beautiful, and worthwhile human being because I choose to express my soul.

10) What bliss it is to be able to put my arms around my husband and hold him.  The body that I once cursed now gives me great joy.  How incredible it is to express my soul through my body.

Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, DAc, CNC is a best-selling and six-time book author, whose works include:  The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, The Brain Wash, and Healing Injuries the Natural Way.  She is a doctor of natural medicine, doctor of acupuncture, holistic nutritionist, and energy medicine practitioner.  Her work has been featured in/on:  Woman’s World, First for Women, Dr. Roizen’s YOU: The Owner’s Manual Radio Show, Gaiam Life, Yahoo! Shine, and The Huffington Post.  www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.

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About Michelle Schoffro Cook

Michelle Schoffro Cook, MSc, PhD, DNM, RNCP, ROHP is an international best-selling and six-time book author, whose works include: The Phytozyme Cure, The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, The Brain Wash, and Healing Injuries the Natural Way. Michelle is a Doctor of Traditional Natural Medicine, Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner, Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner, Holistic Life Coach, Biofeedback Therapist, and Bioenergetic Medicine Practitioner. She has made , over 1000 media appearances, including:  Woman's World, First for Women, Vegetarian Times, Robert Kennedy's Oxygen: Fitness for Women, HELLO! Canada, Glow, YOU: The Owner's Manual Radio Show, The Gary Null Show, Huffington Post, Yahoo! Shine, Gaiam Life, and many others. She is a regular columnist for Intent.com and Care2.com and the publisher of www.WorldsHealthiestDiet.com. Visit www.DrMichelleCook.com to learn more about her work.
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4 Responses to 10 Things I Learned From Illness

  1. Jasmina May 9, 2009 at 9:29 pm #

    Thanks for sharing that Michelle. I have been going through a rather poor health period, where emotions and allergens come into play, so it is good to be reminded to be grateful for the health I do have. This gives me hope, blessings on you, Lisa

  2. michelle.cook May 12, 2009 at 10:58 am #

    I'm glad my post gives you hope. I wish you great success on your healing journey.

    Blessings to you,

    Michelle

    Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, is a best-selling & 6-time book author

    The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, The Brain Wash, and Healing Injuries the Natural Way.
    http://www.TheLifeForceDiet.com

  3. angie.provost May 13, 2009 at 2:09 pm #

    This is just wonderful and I'm going to share it with my children. They are 17 and 18 and of course the "normal" problems of a teenager seem quite large to them. Not so much when you look at a different perspective. Thank you for the wonderful post…oh…and my mother loves your books so there's a high five from a fan!

  4. michelle.cook May 13, 2009 at 2:40 pm #

    Thanks for your kind words Angie! I'm glad you enjoyed my post. It's interesting that you plan to share it with your teenagers because I was 19 when I was completely bedridden. It really shaped my view on life being so young and unable to do the things that most teenagers were doing. But, I look back and realize the Universe was setting me up for a different sort of future. I doubt I would have been involved in holistic healing otherwise. Thank your mom for her interest in my books.

    Cheers,

    Michelle

    Michelle Schoffro Cook, DNM, is a best-selling & 6-time book author

    The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan, The Brain Wash, and Healing Injuries the Natural Way.
    http://www.TheLifeForceDiet.com