COCO ECO |
LIFE
BE YOUR OWN
TRAILBLAZER WRITTEN by: Kelly Gallagher PHOTOGRAPHY by: Kelly Gallagher
2011 was a bit of a struggle for almost everyone I know, on numerous levels. Despite this being the supposed time of ascension, anxious thoughts about 2012 predictions, a failing economy, the housing market crash and increasing unemployment rates have rocked our cosmic serenity. Personal turbulence was at an all-time high, making it a constant challenge to get “self ” centered and even more difficult to get “heart” centered. Setting goals, spending time in nature and completing tasks ahead of deadlines were just a few of the altruistic insights I was sharing with you in my last column, “Attitude Adjustment.” I wish I had taken more of my own advice. Despite all my great intentions, I still felt like I was hurled into January like a hailstorm. Happy 2012! 98
EMOTIONAL HEART Now that it is a new year, let’s get back on the quest for balance and peace. As February approaches and the color red springs up everywhere, my heart is set on having a healthy happy heart this Valentine’s Day, with or without a man in my life. It’s time for us all to be our own Valentine. Not that there isn’t a fabulous man in my life, but I finally realized it isn’t his job to make me happy. It is my job to get a grip, take care of myself, improve my heart health and share what I know with all of you. I am not a doctor, I am not a psychologist, but I am a five-time cancer survivor thriver, powered by my fifth pacemaker and a new heart valve. My heart was broken on so many levels that I thought I would reveal some tidbits of what I’ve learned about the journey of the heart. My physical heart issues came from prior cancer treatment. They call it “Radiation Induced Cardiac Disease.” Sexy huh? On an emotional level, there literally is a syndrome called “Broken Heart Syndrome”. The emotional pain impacts the physical body to the point of destruction. My doctors told me if I didn’t lose the toxic people in my life, I could never get well. My perceived problem: I was adopted and have abandonment issues. Any time anyone did something that my psyche interpreted as being discarded or given away, my heart perceived abandonment further impacting my already radiated heart. I was so resistant to opening my heart that it literally took a skill saw to crack it. I don’t recommend this method of opening your heart. It hurts. There are other ways to heal emotional wounds, consequently improving one’s physical health. In addition, improving your physical health assists in the emotional healing. The heart is complicated and connected to
| COCO ECO MAGAZINE | January / February 2012
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