5 Things You Should Know…

As an initial post, I decided it might be worthwhile to fill people in on some of the important things about me and my life. Many of you are friends, and I’d guess you know at least some of these things, but maybe not all of them.  I am generally a very open book so most of the people that know me really know me.  Part of my goal in publishing a blog is brutal honesty, because it’s not really an outlet if it’s not truthful… So here goes nothing.

1. I didn’t grow up in the easiest situation. I appreciate that there is almost no “traditional” family anymore, so this nothing that I expect people to feel sorry for me about. There were several things that were a part of my upbringing that have shaped who I am and that is why I even bring this up. My parents got divorced when I was in 6^th grade and their marriage wasn’t pretty for several years prior to that. For a long time, I thought that marriage was an awful institution because of the things I had seen and heard up to that point.

There were also issues with addiction in my family and because of that, I feel like I’m constantly doing things to keep myself in check. If there is one thing that can destroy relationships and cause a lot of hurt, its addiction. Thankfully, some of those problems have been resolved, but it certainly has not been easy.

I also had certain family members that caused major family rifts over the years. At some point I will write more about what it’s like to love a narcissist, but for now let’s just say it’s a challenge at best and I’ve eliminated or severely restricted family relationships because of it.

 2.  I am independent, often to a fault. I am sure that it makes my husband crazy. I am someone who absolutely loves being married but also needs probably more personal space than the average. Thankfully, my job helps with my need for alone time. I travel… A LOT… in my job. I often spend 2-3 nights a week on the road and that ensures that I get my fill of time to myself.

I am almost certain that my relationship with my husband is better because of my time away. That whole “absence makes the heart grow fonder” bit. In our situation, quality is certainly priority over quantity regarding our time together. We make it a priority to do lots of fun things together and really enjoy each other’s company. The best part? There isn’t a ton to fight about when you aren’t home much…

3. I have a rare disease. I don’t talk about it a lot because I worry it will impact how people treat me. It is called Fabry’s disease and it is a genetic thing that has been passed down in my family for years, unbeknownst to all of us. I was diagnosed in October of 2013 and I have been dealing with it since.

You can google the name, but I will give you an extraordinarily high level overview. Basically, all humans have enzymes in their body that break down waste materials so that they can be disposed of by the body. Enzymes come from different strands of our DNA. I essentially have a broken DNA strand and therefore do not produce enough of one enzyme. This means that I have metabolic waste that can possibly accumulate in my major organs like my heart, kidneys, brain, liver, etc. This can cause damage to the organs.

At this time, I have deferred treatment, but I work with my doctor to ensure that nothing major is happening in my body that warrants jumping into a treatment called enzyme replacement therapy. At some point I will probably have to seek out treatment, but for the time being, I really try to just live a healthy life.

In all of this, the most important thing for you to know is that the person typing this is 1 in possibly 100,000. I am pretty damn special… just ask me, I will tell you!

4. I really work hard to take care of myself. I love working out, and mostly eat healthy. I like to lift weights… HEAVY weights. I absolutely dread the idea of running, but I do it, sometimes… mostly in short bursts when someone or something is chasing me.

I used to be very unhealthy and I have made it a priority to take care of myself. That said, I still binge eat chocolate on occasion and drink entirely too much wine. I also love ice cream and cheesecake WAYYYYY more than I should. AND… *gasp*… I cannot stand kale. That crap has absolutely no place in life, except in the trash. I guess you could say I really do try to be healthy but I am also realistic.

Will I occasionally write about fitness and diet? Sure! Do I recognize that it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea? Of course! There is also a solid chance that you will occasionally see a post about my overindulgence in some crazy dessert or that time I went on a totally sushi binge (and not the healthy stuff either).

5. I am very lucky to be surrounded by incredible friends and family. I absolutely cannot wait to share them with all of you. My people are my world and I would do anything for them. I am not someone who can say they have one best friend. I have too many to count and they all mean so much to me for different reasons. To call one person a “best friend” seems impossible because of that.

My family will always be number 1 for me. I am so blessed to have the family I do. We have our issues, but they are fun and loving and always have my best intentions at heart. My family likes to play practical jokes and tease each other. Sarcasm is our second language. We show love by making fun of each other, but we also fiercely support one another and I always feel like they have my back.

I am married to the most amazing man. Mostly because he puts up with me, and, let’s be real, he deserves an award for that. He supports my career and all my choices, even when they cause major changes to our lives. For that I am eternally grateful. He’s the most incredible human and I feel so lucky to be married to him.

 I am sure that I will elaborate on certain things about myself that you see here over time, but this is my icebreaker. I would not say that to know me is to love me, but give me a chance and you might just find a place in your heart for me. I am so excited to be embarking on a much-needed adventure in self-expression.