~July COVID-19 Information~

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

~The Truth About COVID-19~

I have honestly debated with myself for the past week if I should or shouldn’t write this because I want to steer clear of negativity as much as I possibly can. I must have started and stopped writing this at least 15 times, but I do feel this information is crucial and really needs to be shared as much as possible for the safety of human lives. There have already been so many people that lost their lives because of this virus and things urgently need to change.

My husband is a wonderful man and has always been very supportive of my writing and dreams of doing more with it. For the first time when I explained to him earlier in the week what I was planning to write about he actually deterred me from writing anything negative about the president. Let me clarify this, he did not deter me from writing negatively about the president because he supports him because like myself he doesn’t support that man at all, he just did not want anything I wrote about to negatively impact my life in any way. What I am actually writing about today is so much bigger and more important than a simple man like the president. I am writing about what most people worldwide have lived in fear of for the past 6 months, COVID-19.

There have been many false claims made and a vast amount of important information that was either not shared or it has been forgotten or it was not taken seriously. When the president of a county isn’t taking something seriously, none of his followers/supporters are going to take it seriously either, which in the United States where I live is an enormous problem.

If you are like me and you do not care much for politics, think about what you would think if your favorite musician was not taking this virus seriously. Would you follow how that person behaved or would you think the musician was out of their mind? Now think about how people you know and care for are behaving towards this virus. Do you have family or friends that are not viewing this virus seriously? Thankfully even though my mother supports the president she does understand the severity of the situation we are in here in the United States.

The COVID-19 numbers in the state I live in are steadily increasing without fail. I tend to think it is because I live in a mostly Republican supporting state with only a few exceptions. Recently, I spoke to one of our neighbors at the mailbox and she flat out said that she thinks the virus is a hoax. Of course, I always keep 6 feet distance between myself and anyone else that doesn’t live in my household.

The many things I find irritating when I do have to leave my house, which is not often, is that so many people do not respect others with social distancing and hardly anyone wears a mask. I just do not understand, except that neither the president nor vice president wears a mask. Nonetheless, people should appreciate the science involved and listen to the experts.

Recently, I saw that the United States has been the worst-affected country with more than 3.6 million diagnosed cases and at least 139,960 deaths. It is terrifying how many innocent or uneducated people have had to lose their lives because of this awful virus. How many people need to die before everyone will do what is necessary? It is easy to wear a mask and if they do not have a mask, wear some kind of face covering. It is even easier and doesn’t cost a thing, practice social distancing. Even in the south where I live in the United States, stores have markings on the ground indicating where 6 feet is, but yet many people still can’t maintain the 6 feet that is required.

I think y’all know by now that I am a very emotional person, which explains why it is hard for me to not breakdown in tears when I hear about someone that lost someone they love to COVID-19. It is the people’s life that has forever changed because they have to learn to live without someone they love.

Some spouses have lost the person they promised to love, honor, and cherish for the rest of their lives. Some parents have lost their child or maybe even grandchildren. How can anyone see this and not understand the urgency of wearing a mask, practice social distancing, disinfect everything they touch, and or wash their hands multiple times a day?

Most of you that have read my posts also know that I have Multiple Sclerosis and that I take a medication that weakens my immune system which means that I am at a very high risk of contracting the virus that is causing so much fear and stress throughout the entire world.

I am thankful for the job that allows me to work in the safety of my home. I am thankful for my husband that always supports me and does his best to protect me. I am thankful that my mother and stepfather are aware and staying safe from the virus. I am thankful for the intelligent people the United States has, even if those people are not always listened to because without these people we would not know what we do know about the dangers this virus has the potential of.

I want to ask each and every one of you to stay safe and follow all the safety protocols that we have been made aware of. I completely understand how uncomfortable it is to wear a mask, but I also think a little discomfort is worth your life and safety. No matter what everyone else is doing or how different you might look, please always wear a mask when you leave your home!

I know parts of this post might have seemed a little negative, but I hope you were able to see the positive within my words. I want to thank you for taking the time to read this information and I hope you will always stay safe! I worry about my family, friends, fellow bloggers, all humankind, and animals because animals can get COVID-19 just like we all can.

I hope y’all are having a lovely and safe weekend. I would love to read your comments on the information I have provided. I promise to respond as quickly as I can and within no more than 24 hours. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

What does our world need most??

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

12 Things Our World Needs Now!

Even though we may be oceans or miles apart, we are all still living under the same bright and beautiful sky. Unfortunately, the world we live in has been anything but peaceful for far too long. Countless numbers of people have been and continue to encounter uncertainty, increased stress, and escalated pain, an absence of hope, and inequality. Currently, our world is suffering and to have successful change we need to be united. No matter where you live, our goals are the same.

The things the world is in dire need of can be accomplished if everyone works together in unity. The great things that may happen will take time, patience, and resilience.

The following are what is urgently required for the good of this world:

1. Action-

There are numerous challenges we are facing and these challenges are not going to resolve on their own. People are constantly complaining about everything that isn’t right, but none of that is doing anything beneficial.

We need REAL action on poverty, climate changes, the mental health crisis, COVID-19, racial inequality, reckless and carelessness with the government, and much more. Without people, communities, politicians, and all nations taking action by joining together, the change that is required won’t ever take place.

2. Unity-

The challenges that have spread throughout the entire world will not be able to correct themselves unless we all JOIN TOGETHER! We do not need to live in the same state or even the same country, but we can help one another in achieving a common goal, PEACE & EQUALITY! Each and every one of us is alike concerning having a heart full of love, kindness, and acceptance. We are also uniquely different with adding our support for the greater good of the world.

3. Tolerance-

There is more division between people both within the same country and others. If we are going to successfully join together we will need to learn how to be tolerant to those we disagree with. There must be less of the terminology of us and them and more we and us. Tolerance means we need to put unnecessary loyalties aside and only have loyalty for human lives.

4. Acceptance-

Of course, we do not have to agree with everyone else all of the time. The opinion of others should be accepted with just as much validity as our own. Beneath the difference of opinions and disagreements, there is another human being that deserves respect and kindness.

5. Understanding-

As human beings, we are all a convoluted mixture of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is common for those same humans to do things that gets on our nerves and even upsets us, but we need to try understanding the reason they may have done what they did. Unfortunately, many people go through struggles daily, but normally we are unaware of this. Especially with all that is happening in the world today it is important to try offering our understanding to others because chances are we are also experiencing our own challenging times.

6. Compassion-

There are going to be time we may see someone that is enduring a struggle. Although we might not be aware of the cause for their struggles, it is important to show our sincere, genuine, and wholehearted concerns for them. We have all heard this many times before, but a little compassion indeed goes a long way! It is amazing how helpful it can be when we offer someone who is going through struggles a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen and some comforting warm and supportive words.

7. Forgiveness-

Anyone can do things that they will regret later and whatever was done could hurt another. Honestly, forgiveness is not the easiest thing to do, especially in this day and age. When we forgive it doesn’t mean what was done is forgotten or that we are excusing someone else’s actions because that just isn’t true. When we decide to forgive someone, we are moving on and we are not harboring negative feelings towards that person.

Forgiveness is something necessary between the different cultures, nations, and generations. There is already too much anger, disagreements, and resentment that has been widespread, but this is the time the world and everyone in it needs forgiveness that spreads far and to all!

8. Kindness-

Countless people are suffering and daily more are faced with various misfortunes. Kindness is something that will surpass all faiths, ages, backgrounds, languages, and even reach beyond vast distances. It does not matter how big or small, all acts of kindness can make the world a better place in limitless ways. Bottom line is, the entire world is in an extreme need for a lot more kindness!

9. Trust-

Whether this is true or false, many people believe that everyone is out for themselves with little to no thoughts for anyone else. They also view others as being not trustworthy. Trust is the foundation in all human relationships and without it things can and will rapidly fall apart. We should be able to feel confident and comfortable putting our trust in those that are in our lives, but if we are not able to do this we might need to reevaluate who we are allowing into our lives. Trust takes time to earn and it can be lost quickly. Sadly, once trust has been lost it can take a very long time to earn back and even then can be challenging.

10. Hope-

Unfortunately, during recent times hope has gotten lost for many people. Although most people desire for things to be better, they have also lost the ability to have true hope that anything will get better than they are currently. Hope is what can invigorate the action necessary to resolve the many problems we are dealing with today. We need people to demonstrate the meaning and benefits of the power of hope through their actions. Once more people believe again and have the hope that tomorrow will bring better times; it will spread throughout our world!

11. Wisdom-

It does seem that most people have a smartphone, tablet, or they have both and have the answers needed at our fingertips anywhere we go. The thing is the knowledge we think we are gaining doesn’t necessarily translate to wisdom. What some are not aware of is there is a significant difference between wisdom and knowledge, which is mainly the quality.

12. Contentment-

While it is great many people want to continue to endeavor with achieving more, it also can turn toxic if it isn’t regulated. This does not mean regulated by stronger powers, it means to regulated the constant wanting more. Instead of always wanting more, there needs to be a time when we can look at all we do have in the present and be thankful for it. Many still don’t understand that more doesn’t mean better and need to realize what it means to simply be at peace with the life we have and all we have in our lives.

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope what was written in this post was beneficial for you and also provides thoughts of pride because you are a kind and loving person. We are all going through many hard times, which can cause stress and frustration. These are things I can completely understand and sincerely wish there was something I could do to give assurance to everyone. When life gets challenging people will either jump into help or run away from the sadness. I wish there was a warm and sunny place we could all hide from what is going on, but regrettably there isn’t. The best way we can cope is to be supportive and understanding, but also feel like you have someone who understands and will offer support!

I know it is only Tuesday, but I hope your week going well and you are feeling the best you possibly can. I know I just wrote a lot, but I do want to know what you think. I promise to respond to all comments as quickly as I can! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Finally, Good News!

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

Good things come, to those that wait!

I hope your weekend is starting off well and you are looking forward to a relaxing and safe couple of days! With things being so uncertain and unsafe at the moment it can be difficult to do the things we want to do. We are forced to take precautions that even though we have been dealing with for several months can still be challenging and extremely frustrating. Wearing a mask everywhere we go outside our homes is uncomfortable and make it difficult to enjoy what we are doing. I keep telling myself a little discomfort is much better than the alternative.

I think y’all already know how much I wanted to find a work from home job. I wanted this in part because of COVID-19, but also for my comfort. It can be so aggravating getting ready every morning, driving through traffic with people that are terrible drivers, going on a half-hour lunch, or maybe an hour lunch, then the drive home with terrible drivers again for five days in a row is simply exhausting! After being unemployed and searching for a work from home job, it finally happened for me! I had an interview on Wednesday and got the offer on Friday afternoon.

It isn’t easy to be patient when we really want things to happen, but I do believe good things happen to those who wait. I am honestly not the most patient person in the world, but I am persistent and very determined and I am learning to be more patient. The good news is, I am going to start on July 6 and it is work I am familiar with because I did it for 3 years before we moved.

Between now and July 6 I am going to keep up with the number of posts I have been doing, but might not be able to do as much once I start working full-time again. Considering I truly love blogging and writing as much as I can I am going to try to keep up, but we will see what the future holds!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I do always appreciate all your support and kind ways. I hope you have a great weekend, but PLEASE stay safe. Unfortunately, things are not back to normal or safe and I am not even sure if they will be anytime soon. It is just better safe than sorry, so please continue practicing all the well known safety protocols. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

All we can learn from cats…

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Positively Alyssa

My husband and I have had one of our precious cats, Chloe, for almost 15 years. It is so hard to believe our sweet little girl is going to be 15 in June. Chloe has brought us so much happiness, laughter, and love . As a kitten, Chloe would climb the artificial tree we had in our apartment. She has always been an indoor cat, so she has never had an opportunity to climb a real tree which is good because I do not think she ever came down from the artificial tree on her own. She has always been a rather small cat and in recent years continues being tiny partially due to having early-stage kidney disease.

After Chloe was an only child for many years and my husband’s grandmother on his father’s side passed away, we took in his late grandmother’s cat . I had always wanted Chloe to have a playmate, so we had two female cats and my poor husband was outnumbered by women! Unfortunately, we were unsure of his grandmother’s cat’s name but kept calling her “little grey” because she was a sweet little grey cat. We did end up changing her name to Lexi, for her official name. Her name was inspired by the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy”. Lexi was very unique and loving in her ways. Chloe and Lexi did not play with each other much but they seemed to have an understanding and were often seen napping close together . Lexi brought us so much joy in the 5 or so years we had her. Sadly, our sweet Lexi had cancer that took her from us way too soon.

The loss of Lexi was heartbreaking for the three of us. It was terribly sad seeing Chloe continue to look for Lexi. We did everything we could to keep her as comfortable as possible by feeding her through a syringe, blankets around the house for her to rest on, and lots of love. The night before Lexi passed away, I was up with her all night. She must have cried every hour on the hour and I tried consoling her best I could. I had to work the following day and went to work on no sleep at all. When I called home to check in on her, my husband told me she wasn’t doing well and had shallow breathing. I immediately explained to my boss what was going on and that I had to leave. I called the veterinary while I raced home and explained what was going on and that I had to change the appointment we had scheduled for the next day to put her to sleep within the next hour. It was a rainy day, but I drove as fast as I could to get home. Unfortunately, I did not make it home in time and she was already gone when I walked in the door.

After losing Lexi, I told my husband I could never have another cat because it is too upsetting when anything happens to them. Funny thing it wasn’t even a year later when my mother-in-law called to tell us about a Himalayan cat that was in a foster home because his owner passed away and he needed a good home. I wasn’t as excited as I should have been because there was no replacing Lexi, but we did go see the orphan cat. My husband and I immediately fell in love with the sweet and beautiful little boy. It was impossible to not love this cat because even though he was scared, he was so sweet! We ended up going home to talk and think about it but went back the following day to bring him home with us.

We introduced Chloe and her new brother, Sundance (he came with the name, his previous owner was an artist and had a unique style) slowly. Sundance stayed in our guest room for a few days so the two could get used to the smell of each other through the closed door. Of course, Chloe was used to Lexi, but we did not want Chloe and Sundance to fight. Sundance did come from a home with other cats and took well to Chloe instantly. Anytime Chloe would act irritable and swing her little paw at him, Sundance would surrender and roll over onto his back. Chloe and Sundance are now inseparable . If you see one of them, it is guaranteed the other is close by!

There is so much we can learn from cats. For starters cats, especially our two amazing cats, share such unconditional love . They are completely non-judgmental and never judge someone based on petty things humans form opinions based on. There will never be a cat that will automatically dislike someone based on the color of their skin, national origin, religious beliefs, or sexual preference. I can’t say an animal would not dislike someone based on their sex though. Our sweet Sundance loves my husband now, but it took time because he seems afraid of all other men.

We can learn to relax more than we do now and even take random naps when we can. I can speak only from our two cats that choose various and sometimes unusual places they find comfortable to rest in. Like my husband, cats are nocturnal creatures. They are very active during the night and can sleep soundly during the daytime hours. I am the direct opposite of my husband and cats, but everything works beautifully for us!

Even though Chloe and Sundance have a ton of toys they love empty boxes. Currently, we have a rather large and long box they enjoy playing hide and seek. The first time I witnessed their game Chloe’s attention was fixated on a small opening and then proceeded to bat at it, then Sundance came flying out. Being able to enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer us is a wonderful thing we can learn from cats!

Beginning almost immediately, kittens do not require to be taught self-love because they already completely and fully love themselves. In many ways kittens are similar to human children, they both love what they find fun and gives them positive feelings. Children and kittens can be incredibly tenacious and slightly demanding (unless they are my very demanding cats!) until they get what they want. With their incessant determination and persistence, Chloe and Sundance would be brilliant salesmen!

I think everyone could learn about self-love from cats. The love a cat has for themselves is a lifetime devotion they are always true to. If you have ever been around a cat, even for only 10 minutes, you have witnessed how much pride they take in grooming and bathing themselves. Our older cat, Chloe, cleans and grooms herself many times throughout the day. Sundance, our younger cat not only keeps himself nice and clean but also enjoys bathing Chloe, which she tolerates for a little while until she has had enough. She does tell him the first few times to stop in a nice kitty way, but if he doesn’t stop she hits multiple times and he runs off.

Cats tend to live a free and candid life. They can go from sleeping to playing in less than 10 seconds. Cats do not play out their days and respond in a way that feels right at any given time, which can range anywhere from exploring the unknown to attacking the first toy they see and anything in between.

My husband and I treat our two cats very well and we consider them part of our family. We do not and will not have human children, but we do love and treat our cats as our children . Our cats are very spoiled and are never left without anything they want or need. Both of our cats have health conditions, as I said earlier Chloe has early-stage kidney disease and Sundance has asthma. I never knew that animals can pretty much get anything humans can. Between special kidney food for Chloe and the medications for Sundance, they are not cheap. Chloe and Sundance amaze me every day because I can see the love in their eyes when they look at me or my husband. Anyone that says cats do not hold a grudge has obviously never met Chloe because if I ever do something, either unintentional or intentionally it could be a few hours later, but she will get her revenge.

Thank you for visiting my site today! I hope you enjoyed the information provided and of course the fabulous pictures of my two cats! They loved helping me write this post, but they would like to take full credit for every word! I would love to know what you thought about what we can learn from a cat and promise to respond as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Positively Alyssa

I want to wish y’all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Whether you are spending the day with a large family or smaller family, cooking a huge meal or just eating or a large meal, or spending the day alone, I hope your day is full of joy and remembering all you are truly thankful for! I know I don’t need to say this to y’all, but when sending love out for the holiday, never forget to send the same love and thankfulness to those in Heaven !

I always share a Pick Me Up quote to help y’all get through one last day in the week before the weekend arrives. Even though our work week is shorter due to the holiday I do have a quote to share and hope you enjoy it!

Thank you so much for stopping by my site today! I look forward to reading your thoughts about this post, but I also do not want you to miss out on spending time with family, so please do not rush to comment! Of course I am curious, what are y’all thankful for? I will tell you I am thankful for all of my fantastic WordPress friends, family, friends and of course my loving cats! I do know that people in Canada already celebrated Thanksgiving, which I hope y’all enjoyed it. For all of you celebrating Thanksgiving today, I hope your day is filled with lots of love and joy! I hope y’all never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

‘

Always, Alyssa

Good holiday gift idea!

Been a while

Featured

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Positively Alyssa

WOW, it feels like it has been forever since I did anything in the blogging community! While I was on my much needed vacation with my husband last week, I took a short break from doing anything involving a computer. The two of us went to my happy place, the BEACH, not only to celebrate my birthday, but also our 8 year wedding anniversary . We had an amazing time together and had absolutely beautiful weather! It was so great being far away from the stresses of work and be able to just sit back listening to the ocean waves! I honestly find the sight and sounds of the ocean , while reading a great book to be the best way to relax and refresh!

I am very far behind on reading all of your posts, which I already know are fantastic. Unfortunately, I do have to work the weekend so I can’t say I will be able to catch up, but I will still try.

Considering I have been away for almost 2 weeks now, how have y’all been doing? I hope you are feeling well and your month has started off great! October is beautiful and my favorite month, which I am not just saying that because it is the month I was married in. I have always enjoyed the change in weather during October. Normally it isn’t too hot and not that cold, it is just right! Sounds kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but yet so true! Of course the southern states are not always on the same page with my thought process and it was in the high 90’s for the first week of October, but thankfully over the weekend the temperatures are going to drop! It is crazy though because when I say the temperatures are going to drop, I mean drop more than 20 degrees in one day!

Like I already stated, my husband and I had a wonderful vacation. Of course it wasn’t long enough and it was painful to return to work. The insane thing is we didn’t get home until the early morning hours and I had to work that day. I was so exhausted; nothing bothered me at all because my mind was still at the beach and maybe I was half asleep still. Of course things not bothering me only lasted half a day and I will tell you more about this later. My boss is still the same idiot he has always been!

For my birthday we had a lovely dinner at a restaurant that was oceanfront ! Considering we were at the beach during the off season it wasn’t overly crowded, which was great! Thankfully my husband did not tell the waitress it was my birthday, so I didn’t have to deal with the wait staff singing happy birthday to me and embarrassing me. I do not like to be center of attention and would prefer to go unnoticed!

The day after my birthday we went to another oceanfront restaurant to celebrate our 8 year wedding anniversary ! Back to back celebrations were nice and peaceful! It is so hard to believe we have already been married for 8 years , I mean where does the time go? I still remember the day my husband proposed like it was yesterday and that was 9 years ago!

I don’t know about you, but before last week there were times I was awake at sunrise, but never actually watched the sunrise. Standing out on the beach in the early morning hours watching the sun come up was a beautiful sight and pretty powerful! It really is amazing to watch as the sun slowly makes its way up to shine light on us all around the world! To think the sun I watched come up will also be seen on the other side of the world at some point.

The weather was so clear we were even able to watch the sunset! The sun sets slowly over the horizons and it is quite magical, especially near the ocean! Of course I do think everything is magical and hypnotizing when I am at the beach!

I hope y’all have a wonderful weekend and you are able to enjoy every moment of it. I will be back to my normal routine next week and maybe even some extra surprises. I want to thank you for stopping by my site today and please know that I always appreciate your comments. Please never forget that no matter how busy I am, I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

The Disability Award

Posted on May 4, 2019 by Positively Alyssa

I was at a complete loss for words when I learned that Melinda at https://lookingforthelight.blog/, choose to nominated me for this award because there are so many others with amazing stories of their own. I never in a million years would have thought that I would have such an honor to be nominated for The Disability Award, in part because I hate admitting to having a disability. I will admit that when I read this, it did bring on many emotions and tears, but I then was delighted to be part of this award. Melinda has an amazing site of her own with fabulous knowledge she continues to share. She is dedicated to helping others with disabilities, chronic illnesses and all that comes along with those struggles. Melinda has also gone above and beyond with helping me reblog my posts when I am not able to. Thank you so much Melinda for this amazing opportunity and please anyone that hasn’t viewed her site, check her out and I know you will be happy you did so!

To my Nominees: Please answer the questions, choose your own nominees, and develop your own set of questions. Honestly, Melinda’s questions were so amazing that I wanted to use the same questions, but y’all are of course can choose your own questions if you want. Please display the award badge on your blog. I also do not want to add any pressure onto your already busy life, so if you choose to not participate in this award, I completely understand! I will of course LOVE reading your answers and seeing who you decide to nominate for this award!

My amazing nominees are:

https://msmommy.blog/

invisiblyme.com

https://reclaiminghope.blog/

https://funshinesunshineblog.wordpress.com/

https://mymsrollercoasterride.wordpress.com/

https://makingitthroughtherain.com/

https://brokenlifesite.wordpress.com/

My questions from Melinda are:

What was the first sign of your illness?

The first sign I encountered to this not so fun illness was I lost vision in my left eye. I had absolutely NO idea what was going on and went to my eye doctor. Not only was I in complete and total shock, but I was horrified when of all people an eye doctor told me he suspected MS.

What is your worst symptom and how do you cope with it?

It is a little difficult to say which of the various symptoms I live with being worst because none of them is at all easy. However, the constant pain can be quite trying and cause me to not do as much as before. I feel that due to pain I end up being forced to limit time on my feet and take breaks more than before.

What one thing about you has changed, as a result of your struggles?

I think the only thing about me that has changed since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis is I have learned to push past pain. I was always strong with this type of issue, but now that I have pain every minute of every day the strength has only grown.

What words of advice or encouragement would you give to someone else suffering?

The advice and words of encouragement I would offer is, let everyone know they are not allow and never will be. This is something I wish I was told all those years ago because being diagnosed with a chronic illness can be a very lonely feeling.

Name one good thing that has come out of having a chronic illness.

It seems crazy to say something good that has come out of this chronic illness, but I would say it has taught me to never give up and to always know others struggle in life and need someone to understand. I have made some amazing friends through the blogging community that live with something similar and we are there for one another.

What one thing do you disagree with that is widely accepted as true about your condition?

There are a few things that I strongly disagree with regarding my condition, but I am only going to share two of them. One is that heat is bad for me and cold is better. The thing is a heating pad gives me a lot of relief. Cold weather causes me to tense up and hurt WAY more. I do think being in the heat too long is not good, but also being cold too long is not good either. I also think with it being 2019 there must be a cure, but the pharmaceutical companies do not want it released because they would not make as much money off ALL of our MANY prescriptions.

If you could change only one aspect of your illness, what would it be?

There are many things I wish I could change about this illness, but the main one is that I wish it did not happen to anyone! No one deserves to face the difficulties any chronic illness imposes on their life, well unless they want to mess with the abilities of insurance we should have!

Name the one thing that works best for you for symptom relief.

The funny this is, even though all doctors tell me heat is horrible for me a heating pad on my legs or back eases the pain for a short amount of time. Of course, pain medication does help the pain, but I refuse to allow myself to be another statistic and become addicted.

Based on your experience, what is one thing that you would tell someone newly diagnosed with chronic illness?

The one thing I would tell someone that was newly diagnosed is something I wish I had been told is, do your own research and learn as much as you can about whatever illness you were diagnosed with. The truth is we are the only one that knows our body better than anyone ever could because no amount of schooling could teach that!

Why did you start blogging?

There were several reasons why I wanted to start blogging. One reason was to be an advocate to illnesses and spread the awareness that is needed. Another reason is because of the pure love I have for writing and I also want to be able to help as many people as I can to know they are not alone in this battle.

Thank y’all for stopping by my site today and thank you to my nominees for being the incredible people you are! Life isn’t easy and living with a chronic illness tries to make things even more difficult, but together we prove these illnesses wrong! I hope if y’all have some free time you will check out my nominees sites and definitely view Melinda’s! I know you will never be disappointment you did so and will feel a sense of encouragement by reading what these individuals share! Thank you once again Melinda for all you do for everyone and the added help you have offered me!

I hope your weekend has started off great and only continues to get better. I do always appreciate the support you offer by reading and commenting on my posts. Never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

New fabulous friends!

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Positively Alyssa

After a lot of soul-searching and debate with myself due to fear of ridicule and possible judgments, I finally entered the blogging community in July 2017. I must say, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made and have never once regretted this adventure!

There are numerous reasons I started and continue blogging as much as I can. For starters, I have had the opportunity to connect with over 1,500 amazing people world-wide. Some of the people I have bonded with also have Multiple Sclerosis or other chronic illnesses that are not easy to live with, but others just enjoy writing and spreading cheer just as much as I do and this alone is a wonderful thing!

Those that battle life with a chronic illness have shared what they are going through and how they manage these hard times. It is great to be able to gain knowledge and strength from a person that really understands my struggles. Of course as much as I do hate knowing others are forced to deal with the painful issues I deal with, it is also unbelievable to be able to join together knowing we are not alone with this fight and how much we can help one another through various issues.

Another reason I wanted to be part of this community is because I really wanted to raise as much awareness about Multiple Sclerosis as I can. All those years ago when I was diagnosed, it would have been VERY helpful if I had this outlet. I was pretty young and absolutely terrified when I heard the doctor tell me what I was going to be living with. I felt like I had no one to talk to that could fully understand how I was feeling and sadly this was a lonely feeling. I have always wanted to help those that have been newly diagnosed and those who have lived with MS for years. I wanted assure them they are a not alone and their life didn’t end when they were diagnosed. I want everyone to know that even though some things may need to be altered, life can still move forward to live a happy life!

Another thing blogging has given me is the opportunity to do something I have always loved and enjoyed, I am able to write about anything I want! Writing has always been the best therapy for me. There have been difficult times throughout my life when writing has helped me more than anything else could and still does to this day! I honestly think that writing is the most healthy outlet a person can have!

The friends I have made through my blogging journey have been a true blessing to my life. Even though I have not met any of them in person, I still feel like I have known them for years, if that makes any sense. I really want to thank all my blogging friends from the bottom of my heart for all the happiness and hope y’all have brought into my life. So many of you have been with me since day one or at least week one and read about the difficult times life has thrown my way and opened new chapters of life with me. Y’all have offered me so much kindness, support and fantastic words of wisdom that have helped me so much! There really aren’t words that could even begin to describe how thankful I am for you!

I am looking forward to getting to know you even more by continuing to read your brilliant posts! I sincerely hope y’all will continue to enjoy what I share as well and I love reading your comments! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Fellow Blogger Recognition!

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Positively Alyssa

Good afternoon y’all! I have been a little slack for the past week or so with continuing my fellow blogger recognition posts and I am so sorry for this! I was fighting a nasty stomach bug that as soon as I thought I was in the clear, reared its ugly head again. I do not think there are many people I would wish this on! However, I do want to share many more incredible people with y’all as I am very sure you will love to read their fabulous posts!

The fellow blogger I would like to recognize today not only writes outstanding poetry, but also is very encouraging by handling all she endures daily with much grace. Lorraine at https://blindwilderness.wordpress.com/ battles with what cancer left behind for her to live with, blindness and wheelchair bound, which she does with much power!

I truly admire the massive amounts of strength and courage this lovely lady holds within her and how much this shines through with every word she writes. I can’t even begin to imagine how painful and difficult it must have been to relive her story and share it through several posts she wrote. Lorraine is a fighter and hasn’t let anything she deals with hold her down! Lorraine gives me SO much hope!

Something that I will never forget is a powerful comment Lorraine left me on a post I wrote last week, “Rain, please stay away”. When I read what Lorraine wrote how she thinks rain is amazing because not being able to see it, she can feel it and enjoys the sound. This brought tears to my eyes, not necessarily out of sadness, but more out of admiration. These simple words were so moving and I just adore Lorraine’s dazzling love for life! I often think that through no fault of our own, we may take our senses for granted because we haven’t been forced to live without them. Unfortunately, I am guilty of this and really want start being far more appreciative of what I do have in life and never assume these senses will be with me forever.

I have absolutely NO doubts when I tell you this, you will enjoy reading Lorraine’s brilliant arts of what she writes. If y’all haven’t already visited her site https://blindwilderness.wordpress.com/I do strongly encourage you to do so! Of course those of you already familiar with her, I am sure you will agree with every words I have said in this post!

Not only is Lorraine a fantastic writer, but she is also a wonderful friend with a very loving heart! Her modesty makes her that much more rare and inspiring! Thank you so much Lorraine for always sharing such amazing poetry and for being the incredible person YOU are!

Thank y’all for stopping by my site today! I hope you are having a lovely weekend and you are feeling the absolute best you can! Hopefully the weather you are having is better than the never-ending rain I am still experiencing. A little rain can be nice, but when it has done nothing but rain for well over a week, it is TOO MUCH!! My mind and comfort needs a little sunshine! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Fellow Blogger Recognition!

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Positively Alyssa

Good morning y’all! I hope you are having a very pleasant week so far! It really amazes me just how fast February is flying by, but I guess that is just the way life works. I am going to continue on with something that I find pretty exciting by recognizing fellow bloggers that I find astounding. In my personal opinion, I think you will see them the same way!

The very special person I want to give a sincere shout out to today is, Kim at https://itrippedoverastone.com. Kim battles life with an illness I was partially familiar with because I do have a friend that has the same illness, Fibromyalgia. Even though I was aware of the basic information about this illness, Kim has taught me MUCH more.

Like Multiple Sclerosis, which y’all know I deal with, Fibromyalgia is a very unpredictable illness. Kim never allows for anything to hold her down and fights her way through anything and everything with kindness and grace, which I do admire wholeheartedly. It seems like no matter what the hardships are she endures, she keeps a firm hold onto the internal energy she possess.

I am sure I have thanked Kim numerous times before now, but I want to say how much I value her and all she is able to share. It can’t hurt to say it again though, thank you Kim for being the fabulous person you are! I do firmly believe if you haven’t already viewed Kim’s site, where she shares brilliant knowledge with every post, you will be as thankful as I am for HER! Now of course if you already have visited Kim’s site, you will probably agree with everything word I have shared!

Thank y’all for taking the time to stop by my site today. I do always appreciate your support and view you fantastic comments as way of creating tender communication. Again, if you weren’t already aware of Kim’s site, https://itrippedoverastone.com please try to take a few moments to drop by. I know you will love and value her as much as I already do! Please remember that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa