Christopher Dior Simon's Blog, page 12

Lemon Goodness

I’m thirsty on Thursday for God’s goodness as He makes me a channel of His blessings. I’ll trust Providence to resolve my setback with my door closer. Life is good in Jesus. I had strawberries and almonds for breakfast. I’m reading my third book of the day before I begin writing and later proofing the audio.

I’m making it a great day of productivity in my interests. I’ll communicate with many new friends and the old ones. It’s no fun living with a limiting and terminal disease, but I will focus on the good I can do and receive in a day. I’m dealing with setbacks when they come.

Life has hardships. Don’t let them make you hard, insensitive, or bitter. Instead, make your life an oasis of caring, understanding, and encouraging words for the people you encounter who have been beaten down and worn out by the troubles of their world. Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. Josh Billings. Make some lemonade or lemon pound cake out of lemons, Simplysaidbysimon. ALS – Adjusting Life Successfully. Thanks, Jilliane.

I love my life and wife

It may get better, but if you love and are loved, it doesn’t get much better. This morning, I completed reading Change Your Day, Not Your Life by Andy Core. I recommend reading and incorporating the methods listed for positive, possible, powerful living. We can change our lives by living in the moment—bite-size changes—nothing mega, but daily horizons. Huge is our attitude adjustment.

Next, I will read Think Ahead: 7 Decisions You Can Make… by Craig Groeschel. I love it already. I’m a bookworm, self-proclaimed. Currently, I am 46 books ahead of schedule to complete 412 books this year, and I feel good (James Brown), and you knew that I would.

I just finished reading the introduction and will incorporate some of the book’s ideas about pre-deciding as I continue to reach my goals. The book advocates these 7 decision areas: I will be ready, devoted, faithful, an influencer, generous, consistent, and a finisher. I can’t wait to read the rest of it today.

I’ll add, decide that you were diagnosed with a disease or condition, but it doesn’t have you. Determine to be a happy, hungry, and hard-on-for-life person. Smile. Sometimes the real me gets loose. ALS, admittedly is different and more difficult than anything I have ever faced. However, I’m up for the challenge. Do I have any other folk who are in it to win it? The race and battle are not given to purely the strong, Simplysaidbysimon, but to she or he that endures until the end. ALS – Amazing Love Solidified.

The tiger is in my tank

Recently, I reflected upon a book that touched on how we can be more productive. By having four time periods a year instead of one, we can take advantage of human tendency. Often, we procrastinate until the end and then give it a major push. Much as runners have a final kick, we have something left in our tank for the final thrust.

I’m in perhaps my final quarter of life. Guess what I am doing? You are correct. I’m setting up for my final push. When the race is over, it’s over. There is no need to save anything in reserves. I’m told that you can’t take it with you, so what are you saving it for? I’ll have spent it all regarding my energy for living and loving.

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent Van Gogh. Truth is strong and sometime or other will prevail. Mary Astell. I’m having way too much fun. So my new answer to the glass being half empty or half full… It must be the glass of someone else. My glass stays full. – Chris Simon Don’t count the days make the days count. Mohammad Ali.

I’m flat-out reading, writing, and publishing. But, for sure, I am adding to my life’s story daily. Simplysaidbysimon, think it, feel it, love it. It’s your wonderful life as an ALS – Another Living Success. Thanks, Belinda.

Prayers released

I authored this book of conversations with God – Prayers: Simply Said By Simon is a collection of my daily posted prayers. After I received multiple requests for me to make the posts into a book, I did. I have been encouraged by the many responses that indicate how my short, heartfelt prayers have motivated.

https://www.amazon.com/Prayers-Simply-Said-by-Simon/dp/B0D3WLMLB5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TYRFWZ6THM5Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VIGa8He2PWuPd62ALUahWw.xoMiHjxvG0jdU9YlkDYobHQJ-N94X91EuFenQj8k7Ik&dib_tag=se&keywords=Prayers%3A+Simply+Said+By+Simon&qid=1715678938&s=audible&sprefix=prayers+simply+said+by+simon+%2Caudible%2C239&sr=1-1

Staying Alive

Early this morning I listened to Life in a Jar by Jack Mayer. What an amazing story about the heroic efforts for the saving of 2,500 Jewish children during WWII. Now, we need supreme effort to keep on keeping on. This life that we live as terminally diagnosed is not easy, but we can do it. Often, we discover that we are able to do what we have to do.

Mentally, emotionally, and physically we will keep making adjustments. It is motivational to read books that tell of the indomitable spirit some have exhibited to survive. I plan to be in that number. Join me in exclaiming, “I will survive.”

What helps you to make the best of things when life is hard for you? An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves. Lydia M. Child. ALS – Awesome Lively Superman. Thanks, Gwen.

Happy Mother’s Day

It is a monumental memory for me when I say Happy Mother’s Day. I recall your unabated desire to have a child and my hesitant response. However, after your unbending desire finally registered, I prayed. In my prayer I asked that God would change my heart as a gift to you and a sacrifice to Him.

To my amazement, you quickly became pregnant. Oh, the joy and then the anxiety of wanting to birth a healthy child. This uncertainty was evident even in the delivery room when you asked me, “Does she have everything?” I can confidently say all these years later, yes Baby, she has everything and more.

You birthed this amazing daughter, Kayla. Truly a beautiful inside and out daughter. We thought we gave her life, but she’s given us meaningful lives as her parents. What a thrilling adventure it’s been. Thank you, Honey, for helping me to see what we needed to be our family. Thanks, Kayla, for making us proud parents. Thank You, God, for being real in our lives. You answered my prayer and gave me a dream. I’ll write about this amazing story soon, but for now, Happy Mother’s Day, Jennifer and all mothers with and without children. Simplysaidbysimon, you are ALS – Altogether Ladies Spectacular.

It gets better and better

Another nurse helped me with my things and potted some flowers, and placed the drawer labels my sister brought me. I’ll have more deliveries soon for my enjoyment and excitement. Most of them are practical instruments for my comfort.

I have pretty much used up my allocated space for vegetables, flowers, snacks, and photos. I’m now organizing for the ultimate convenience. I still have a few electronically challenging obstacles to hurdle. My writing will be an ongoing, purposeful, and meaningful offering to my life and others. I’m 42 books ahead of my Good Reads goal of 412 books read for the year.

My room and space is compact. Like my life, I am on a mission to plan, organize, and utilize every bit of it. For example, in my room, I will have my throw pillows stuffed with my animal bedspreads. The extra animal pairs of bedspreads, curtains, and pillowcases will go inside a satin pillowcase and be stored over my head on a shelf. If I make too much room, I will be tempted to purchase more. Smile.

An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves. Lydia M. Child. The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. Thomas Jefferson. My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. Dalai Lama. Simplysaidbysimon, make this world a better place, if you can by ALS – Alluring Loving Sacrifice.

TGIF

Good morning, my Facebook, WordPress, and LinkedIn friends. I’d imagine you made it safely through another week. What do you have planned for this weekend?

I just received my package, which was signed for yesterday. I’ll have Miracle Man make arrangements for the new artificial flowers inside the package.

My day has begun with my praise playlist. Jennifer will come and bring me some lemon blueberry pound cake, dip, carrot juice, and my concoction. I am excited about this day. You have a lovely day. Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay. Simone de Beauvoir. Simplysaidbysimon, life is good until the last drop. Live it today as ALS – Amazing Lasting Superstars.

It’s the little big things

My Baby does me right, right, right. Thanks to all of our caregivers who add to our simple comforts of life. You can’t be paid enough to show our gratitude.

Unfortunately, one bad staff member’s performance can spoil the overall team’s grade. For all of you who care, thank you, thank you, thank you in my best Gomer Pyle voice. And, here’s a little sumptin’, sumptin’ until you’re better paid. Banana nut bread and lemon blueberry pound cake made with love by my darling wife. Ain’t nothing like the real thing, Baby. So glad I’ve got the real thing. Smile.

Thankfulness increases the quality of life and lengthens the life expectancy. If you want an attitude adjustment, listen to ALS: A Life Surrendered, or some other encouraging book. What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent Van Gogh. Try to be like the turtle – at ease in your own shell. Bill Copeland. Simplysaidbysimon you have everything you need within you to make it a great day with ALS – Always Leaving Smiles.

Dead’s Not Really Dead

“Let him live” are words from a humorous Frankenstein movie. This is also the hope and prayer of many when their loved one is in critical condition. I recently had someone undergo some brief difficulties that caused alarm. Everyone close to him was on full alert, calling on warriors everywhere to send positive energy to his aide. This person recovered quickly and returned cautiously to work.

For many others, this is not the case. They experienced a full cardiac arrest and many lost their battle. But, as I understand it from Erasing Death by Sam Parnia and Josh Young, the line of death has been pushed back. Having listened to much of this book, I learned that because of the advantages of modern technology and science, and the advancement in understanding what is necessary for advanced resuscitation, you are not really dead when you’re dead. I’ll explain briefly.

Through the usage of cooling the body, “pumping in enzymes”, helping the body to maintain normal pressure rates, etc., a nonbreathing person for hours can be revived without brain damage. Say what? It ain’t over ’till it’s over.

For those of us living with a terminal disease, let me proclaim it ain’t over! As it were, let me use a defibrillator of hope and encouragement to shock us to the realization that we still have a lot of life to live. I’m not going out without a fight, Simplysaidbysimon. So, just live, Baby, with ALS – Awesome Life Supporters. All the people who make our lives worth living.