msgr hopeful: Happy 1 Year Anniversary The Positive Pear ? The Positive Pear

It was one year ago today that I launched The Positive Pear and I?m happy that I did. I remember being excited about the opportunity to offer my knowledge and experience in the form of a blog, to help fellow sufferers who also lived with Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyaglia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. After all, I?d worked with healthy people in the Health, Wellness & Fitness Industries for many years, so helping people in this manner had always been easy. I naturally assumed that my online experience would be similar and the information that I provided would be welcomed as it had been with my clients. However this was not always the case. Though there were many who appreciated my efforts and expressed their?gratitude?for the information that I provided, there were a few, who forced me to question at times if I?d made the right decision in launching a blog. Surprisingly these individuals?we?re not the people who were searching for the information that I was providing, instead this small group consisted of people who had established themselves as ?leaders? in these communities of ailing people. They didn?t seem to appreciate my?presence. They worked hard at making this effort as challenging for me as possible. I was at times harassed, bullied and the competitive?behavior?was intense and surprisingly still exists on a small-scale. When the negativity continued to trickle in, I came close to shutting The Positive Pear and returning to?focusing solely on my actual Health, Wellness & Fitness clients.?However the emails, comments and private messages began to pour in from so many fellow sufferers explaining how the information that I provided here on The Positive Pear helped them, changed their lives or made them happy that they weren?t alone in taking a natural approach to managing their disease or conditions and I knew at that point that if I?persevered?that eventually the good would far outweigh the bad and you know what? It has. I didn?t quit!

I?ve never spoken publicly at any point during ?those negative experiences. Though I did channel some of that negativity through positive posts and?encouragement?for others, so why speak of it now? It?s all apart of letting go, healing and continuing ?to move forward. Like human kind, I?m flawed and imperfect and I?ve made my fair share of mistakes. Though I?ve never once?blamed anyone else for where I?ve fallen short and when I was aware that I?d hurt someone or?inadvertently?caused them harm, ?I?ve always owned my actions and made amends. I also hold others accountable to this same standard. However many do not see their own shortcomings, but it?s not my place to force anyone else to face their mistakes or own their actions. I?ve continued to move forward and this is the final step toward completely and?totally?freeing myself and in the process perhaps freeing these individuals as well, through the act of forgiveness. Having a forgiving heart is without question incredibly powerful and it is without question a necessary tool in life, because we are all imperfect beings who frequently make mistakes. ?As much as I?m a realist, I am also an eternal optimist, so I?m always in the kitchen making lemonade out life?s?proverbial?lemons and trust me when I say I?ve had my fair share of lemons. Overcoming adversity associated with running a blog and not necessarily being accepted by some in a small community of people, has not been the most challenging issue I?ve ever encountered during my?existence,?nor over this past year for that matter and it?s certainly not the last of life?s challenges by any means. A year later if there was one word that I could use to describe the strength I?ve gained from all of my experiences, I would have to go with ?gratitude? and not just the feeling of?gratefulness?that one tends to feel around Thanksgiving, but truly operating from a place of?gratitude?in every thought and deed. I am grateful for all of my experiences in life, both good and bad, and I?m grateful that I choose to?focus on the good in my life. Truly appreciating what has worked for me, rather than what has not and rather than focus on anything which might be lacking in my life, I choose to focus on how I?ve been blessed with an abundance, a home, food, clothing, the ability to care for myself naturally & holistically and to have a platform to share this with others. I?m grateful for great friends including many beautiful, peaceful people?who have been in my life for many years and others whom I?ve met since launching The Positive Pear. My beautiful family and an incredible support system and this gratitude is reflected throughout the many posts on this blog. I hope that my example has and will continue to inspire others to keep moving forward with strength, dignity and of course gratitude, in spite of whatever might come?their?way. (?Be Positive & Surround Yourself with Positive People?) ?The purpose of this blog has been to educate people, while empowering them to take a holistic approach to managing their health, instead of relying solely on doctors and medication. Each post has been apart of The Positive Pear?s ?whole body? approach to a healthy lifestyle, which is divided into four major categories: Positive Mental Attitude, Healthy Nutrition: with an?emphasis on ?Healing Foods,??Exercise & Symptom Management: through Alternative Therapies & Natural Supplements. It?s exciting to know that the goals I set forth when launching this blog have been achieved and I know this by the positive feedback from many who use this blog as a resource and by their continued support.

Thank you for your continued support: It?s Sunday November 11, 2012 and this blog has several hundred followers along with over 1500 Facebook Fans, 800 Twitter followers and hundreds of other friends in other areas of the web. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support over the past year and for your continued support moving forward. I?d like to especially thank you for every like, comment, re-tweet, mention, +K, Google+, shared post, email referral and the many award nominations. Though it?s been my goal to encourage you through knowledge and positive messages your support has both encouraged and motivated me and I?m eternally grateful and appreciative. ?Thank you! Here?s to another year of The Positive Pear with great additions and exciting changes moving forward.