Karen & Arthritis » GRATITUDE http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog Inspiration and empowerment for those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis & other autoimmune diseases Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:54:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Gratitude http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=353 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=353#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:06:28 +0000 Karen http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=353 I received this email yesterday. While I would never disclose personal information I do want to share the feeling of how great it is when you make a difference in someone’s else’s life and months down the track they contact you to show their gratitude. People never forget how make them feel. Here is part of the mail….

“Hello- I hope that this finds you well. I emailed you a while back. Your response helped me through a tough spot. Your book, your struggle and your strength, are attempting to get me through another. After reading your book I wanted to say thank you for even responding to my email. I keep it still, and on days like today when I’m struggling to walk I read it.  Thanks for sharing your struggles and supporting others , like my self. I hope you are well.  You are truly an amazing person. Just wanted to say thanks.
M…..”
I responded with a personal reply. This email meant so much to me. :)
]]> http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=353 0 A Brave New World http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=320 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=320#comments Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:16:00 +0000 Karen http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=320

In my book, ‘Enemy Within – A memoir of strength, determination and acceptance’ I write about 9/11. I called the chapter ‘A Brave New World.’ Ten years ago every New Yorker understood that the world had changed. We all had to be brave and courageous. Some faced the adversity without fear and made the ultimate sacrifice. We will never forget.

I went downtown to Tribeca for dinner with my girlfriend on Friday September 9,2011. V lives around the corner from the ‘World Trade Center’. In my book I  write about spending part of September 11 with V and with Char. While V stood outside her place , almost 10 years after 9/11, choppers circled the sky and beams of light made the almost full moon illuminate even more. The city’s energy was all around us. It felt like fear was in the air.  The atmosphere reminded us both that if we allow ourselves to feel the emotions of 9/11 that the pain is really just below the surface. I was struck by the deep sadness that I still felt.

Yes in many ways we are ‘A Brave New World’ and I am proud of the resilience of New Yorkers, but I also realized today 9/11/11 that we’ll never really be healed. I will never forget the pain.

Then I went to church to pay respect to our fallen heroes and I felt moved to take action again.  We all have to do what we can to make the world a better place. A world with hope, love, peace and understanding.  A world with optimism. A world where neighbors and communities look after each other just like we did after 9/11.

I promise to do my part every day to  make the world a kinder, happier place by reaching out to one person in need, or doing an act of kindness, or caring for nature, or writing a thank you card. My feeling is that if we all do this we truly can make a difference and that our world will be a better place.

Michael J Fox is my hero. Go to www.values.com

To buy my book copy and paste

http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Within-strength-determination-acceptance/dp/1741108500

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