Surround Yourself with People who Support You – Leave the Naysayers behind

An interesting topic of conversation has been sparked on a facebook post by Jeff Brown this morning.

I want to highlight the beauty of surrounding yourself with People who Support You.

Friday evening – May 25, 2012.  An evening that was the culmination of a seven year journey.  An evening of celebration, love, inspiration, hope and support.  The evening I celebrated the launch of A Quiet Strong Voice, surrounded with 150 family, friends and new friends.

I observed a friend, her eyes held pain in them, she seemed not herself.  Knowing her story, I was worried about her, yet I held her accountable – knowing she would reach out to our mutual friends if she needed help.  On Monday, I checked in with her.

“Are you okay?  Something was wrong on Friday night, is there anything I can help you with?” I asked her.

In a long conversation, she shared with me what was going on for her.  At first I was touched to the core with her commitment to supporting me, and then I got a little mad with her.

“Your health is more important than ANY party.  I know how much you support me, you have done so, time and time again.”

Jo-Ann Vacing - Regional Business Development Director for eWomen Network Alberta, is a person who supports me.  She has done so for over three years now.  Jo, is the reason I support, promote and join in eWomen Network events.  She has supported me through ALL my ups and downs, she has been there with valuable business advice and most importantly she has always been there as a friend.

With her permission, this is what she shared with a few close friends (supportive friends) about what was wrong on Friday night.

Ladies this is a collective thank you for your concern last Friday.

While at the fabulous book launch I was in pain and many of you darn people can read me! Darn you, some of you asked me if I was OK? I don’t do lying well!

Good thing is YOU know me enough to know something was off, bad thing is LOL you can read me!

Short note I was in the hospital Saturday and Sunday. Emergency this and that, CT Scan and Ultrasound and the Docs discovered I like to grow my own friends NINE stones and a Cyst of sorts.

So they are on it and I know we have FABULOUS CARE here and at least the pain is now gone.

I have spoken to some of you, the PAIN was irradiated when they OVER medicated me… Important to share here I take NOTHING.

After much negotiating with me to take something, I was in the NO camp, they were in the don’t be a fool camp!

I had this lovely medical cocktail: Morphine, Gravol, Percocet, Toradal ( hopefully spelling right) in any event had them all in a 2-3 hour period so as they said I would have pain relief … I had that and some … could see my hands but could not get them to my face try as I may.

If you know me well I don’t take any meds because I have one kidney and because I am STUBBORN …so fast forward after the above I slept for 12 hours straight …that is WEIRD!

The pain was masked those 12 hours and when returned I opted for an Advil (1 )I have to say it was weird and disconcerting to not FEEL anything.

In any event I just wanted to let you know I am in good hands and back at my desk doing what I love that is serving others.

Surround Yourself with People who Support You

The morale of this story – leave the naysayers behind.  Focus your attention and intention on the people who are ALWAYS there, in the good times and the bad.  The people who will lift you up when you are down, and stand beside you and hold you up in celebration.

There will always be naysayers.  There will always be someone who says hurtful things, or does things to bring you down.  The beauty of this is, YOU choose who you want to give your energy and attention to.

Choose the people who Support You.  Celebrate them and show your gratitude to them.