chronic illness — Blog (The Dancing Hummingbird)

Who Is The Woman Behind The Dancing Curtain?

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who had been a client of mine many years ago. I quickly realized that she didn't understand what my focus was. She thought that I was only helping women with issues related to childbirth. This made me realize that there may be some confusion and with so many new people on my list, I thought this would be a good time to clarify who I am.

Who is the woman behind The Dancing Curtain?

I am a holistic health expert, writer, and speaker who advocates for women's health and wellness. With over 20 years as a researcher and over 18 years as a holistic health expert, I have empowered women to heal their chronic conditions, illnesses, and trauma using a holistic approach by deciphering the root cause, and treat using a mind/body/spirit approach, natural recommendations and the natural, sacred medicine of the Earth. My specialty is not only returning women to phenomenal health but to joy.

The Truth About Coffee

When you feel good physically, you feel good emotionally.

Now that I have overcome my chronic illness, I feel good. I am so grateful to be well.

Sometimes, we have setbacks like a chronic illness

or sometimes we have setbacks like a chronic condition.

I had a frozen shoulder.

That was painful and challenging.

Unfortunately, during my chronic illness my doctors didn’t address my health holistically so it took longer to overcome.

Anyone Can Boost Their Immune System

When you feel good physically, you feel good emotionally.

Now that I have overcome my chronic illness, I feel good. I am so grateful to be well.

Sometimes, we have setbacks like a chronic illness

or sometimes we have setbacks like a chronic condition.

I had a frozen shoulder.

That was painful and challenging.

Unfortunately, during my chronic illness my doctors didn’t address my health holistically so it took longer to overcome.

When You Are Sick Remember These Reminders

When you feel good physically, you feel good emotionally.

Now that I have overcome my chronic illness, I feel good. I am so grateful to be well.

Sometimes, we have setbacks like a chronic illness

or sometimes we have setbacks like a chronic condition.

I had a frozen shoulder.

That was painful and challenging.

Unfortunately, during my chronic illness my doctors didn’t address my health holistically so it took longer to overcome.

When You Feel Better, You Feel Happier

When you feel good physically, you feel good emotionally.

Now that I have overcome my chronic illness, I feel good. I am so grateful to be well.

Sometimes, we have setbacks like a chronic illness

or sometimes we have setbacks like a chronic condition.

I had a frozen shoulder.

That was painful and challenging.

Unfortunately, during my chronic illness my doctors didn’t address my health holistically so it took longer to overcome.

Looking Back On My 15-Year Illness

When I was sick with my chronic illness for 15 years, doctors tried to give me medication after medication.

They treated the individual symptoms, not the root cause.

Or

They didn’t treat me at all.

They believed I was just depressed

or

a hypochondriac.

They didn’t know that by offering me more medication they were making me sicker.

People didn’t think I looked sick.

They only believed the doctors

and

my doctors didn’t do the right tests

so they said I was fine.

I have a hard time looking back at pictures of when I was sick, even if it was a happier occasion, like these pics of me on vacation.

I see how sick I was.

Too Tired To Smile

When I was sick with my 15-year illness, I was not the same person I am today.

Today, I smile easily and often.

The little things make me so happy.

I am so grateful for EVERYTHING.

But when I was sick with my chronic illness, I was too sick to smile or laugh.

They say that it takes more muscles to smile than it does to frown.

It’s true. It takes a lot less energy to be emotional-less.

A Glimpse Into My Past

Many people love to look at old pictures when they were younger,

“The good old days…”

But I don’t like to look at pictures of myself when I was sick with my 15-year illness.

At the time, I may have been able to hide that I was sick from others who didn’t know me.

I had a lot of shame for being sick for so long.

Some of my friends on social media may never have known me when I was sick.

They may have never seen me sick.

They may think that I have always been so happy, healthy, and vibrant.

I look at this picture and I don’t recognize myself.

What’s On The Other Side Of Illness?

In 2010, I overcame my 15 year chronic illness. The next year, I moved to San Francisco and lived in California for 5 years.

This pic was of me on New Year’s, less than 5 years after overcoming my chronic illness. This was me celebrating in Hollywood. I had moved to Hollywood three months earlier when this pic was taken. I was so happy to be well and to be living my dreams.

The old me would never have imagined moving across country. Or being so healthy or so joyful.

After I overcame my illness, I focused on doing everything that brought me joy. For so long my days were focused on survival, getting through the day, trying to be well.

Everyone Wants Quick Answers

Years ago, I met a woman in Connecticut while networking. In my circle at the time, it was common for people to do trades, but my experience from the past was all trades were not always equal. Not all services were equal. Some were more expensive than others. Some required more time than others. And some practitioners were more talented and experienced than others. It would be one thing for a massage therapist to get a massage from another massage therapist, but people often traded in different industries. I had been disappointed by trades before and I decided to stop. If someone was interested in my services, they would need to pay me and if I was interested in theirs I would pay them. After all, I did need to pay my bills and I was very good at what I did.

This woman was sick and wanted to do a trade. She had heard about my work and how talented I was as a healer and intuitive and she needed help. She tried everything with doctors and she needed some answers. I told her that I didn’t do trades anymore. I was clear. I was clear with myself and I was clear with her. But even though she was very sick, it was immediately clear that she wasn’t willing to invest in my services. If I wasn’t going to trade with her, she wasn’t willing to pay.

Have You Ever Felt Judgment From A Spiritual Teacher?

Many years ago, when I lived in Connecticut and had a debilitating chronic illness, I attended a gentle yoga class. I enrolled in the class for relaxation and socializing. The teacher said that the class was intended to be slow and gentle unlike many yoga classes which were competitive, high-energy, and athletic. I had chronic fatigue and no stamina, so slow and gentle was definitely my speed plus this class was spiritual, so she seemed to be the right teacher for me at the time to try to muddle through my chronic illness. But even though she seemed spiritual, I was surprised to see that she was judgmental. On one instance, during her yoga class, I’ll never forget it, she asked us to do a pose which I wasn’t able to do. She asked us to thread our fingers through our toes and I just couldn’t do it. She looked at me, shook her head, and started laughing. It would’ve been different if I was laughing and making fun of myself, but I couldn’t do it. I was frustrated. It was preposterous to me and she just looked at me and laughed.

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