Enthusiasm

Looking back on my childhood, I realize how curious I was, and that this trait has followed me into adulthood. For many years, I barely remembered being an inquiring child who delighted in stories, facts, and answers to endless questions. In elementary school, I lived in an affluent area. I happily investigated my friends' houses as they led me on tours. I was eager to explore their art, interior design, and music, and meet their family members, who rarely seemed excited to have me tagging along. I had no clue that I might be a nuisance. I was absorbing new information with great enthusiasm and was happy to run home and share it all with my mother, who, if I'm honest, wasn't very interested.

It was years later, after I finished chemotherapy treatment for cancer, that I recognized this part of myself. When my neurologist told me chemobrain was common, but most likely temporary, and there wasn't a lot that could be done for me, I didn't get too discouraged about it. And I was for sure not intimidated by the condition. If I'm honest, I thought of it as a challenge.

It was no surprise to my family that I began searching for the secret to a healthier, happier, and more vibrant life. I started learning about my brain. I read everything I could find online about it, and I listened to every piece of advice from others who had faced my condition. I began using plenty of reminder sticky notes to address short-term memory issues and created lists to help me work through the day, as recommended.

I knew that stress and anxiety were significant factors in my getting sick. Although I tried to appear serene, I was as nervous as a cat on the inside. After that illness, which I will not say was mine, I was presented with a puzzle of how to live a better life that excluded sickness and the negative feelings of anxiety, fear, disappointment, and all of those dark emotions that had crept up during my life. I believed that the power and knowledge to solve my problems were available, waiting to be discovered. And even more so, I realized the answers were right inside me because the power was inside me. I credit this not only to my personality, but to my calling. I am a librarian who loves research! This was my chance to dive down every rabbit hole I wanted.

I was on the brink of a fantastic discovery. I knew I was a mess, but I also knew I could be fixed. What a challenge and a goal. I was excited. After all, humans are very adaptable. If I had been a garden, I would have been described as dry, wilted, and without fruit or blossom. But inside, I had a small, steady fire of determination burning. I wanted to change everything and become an exemplary human. Little did I know that this would be a lifelong journey.

Until then, I lived in a boring vacuum and completely missed the loving nature of God, simply because of my negative thoughts. I determined to get rid of the depression that had settled on me as a result of my early retirement. I wasn't living the joy-filled life I saw others living. I was frustrated and perplexed about how to attain it. I faced a mountain for sure. My short-term memory was affected, I dealt with confusion, and my brain seemed to race from one thought to another to another; I couldn't keep up. With balance issues, I walked into walls more than not. I also had speech issues, often very sure of what I was saying, but met with confused looks as family members reported that I was not making sense. I was desperate for solutions and desperate to keep my mind busy. And on that small fire burned.

I began using my research skills to seek answers. Regaining my physical strength seemed attainable, but my brain was a mystery. I also felt it was time to see if a spiritual journey was in order. I had survived cancer, but what was healing all about? I spent the next several years constantly reading and digging, resulting in vast amounts of information with few tangible outcomes. The more health gurus I listened to, the more confused I became about which diet, exercise, and supplements to follow. I threw my hands in the air, turned away, and explored different religions in search of any hidden secrets I may have missed in my Christian walk. This research led me to investigate Christian Scientists, the New Thought Movement, Unitarians and several other denominations. However, I was disappointed in the widespread disbelief in Jesus Christ as our savior. I couldn't wrap my head around that. One thing I was sure of was Jesus's place in my life. He was my anchor, my savior.

I decided to fully concentrate on neuroplasticity, which helped me because I learned I could create new pathways within my brain and aid my recovery. That was a natural segue to the self-help, positive thinkers of the era before and after World War II. I remembered my dad being a big fan of these fellows, so I bought their old used books. I struck gold. I landed on Norman Vincent Peale because I recognized some of his books from my dad's collection we had donated years before, and he was a Christian. I began poring over his work because I finally realized every change had to start in my mind with my thoughts, emotions, and attitude, without denying my faith, which was my center.

Finally, I landed on his course of action to start. Someone who knew the bible learned how to use it as a guidebook for living. For me, this was the door to answers. So, please follow me if you'd like to read about how I accidentally became an enthusiast for life. The rabbit trails and holes I explored were extensive. Curiosity didn't kill that cat; it led me here with great hope, enthusiasm for the future, and the guidance of great men and women from the past and present to lead me through. Thank you, Dad, and all of your contemporaries, for my enlightenment. And thank you, God, for making me so curious. And thank you that because of my personality, I have stacks of 3x5 cards filled with scriptures, ideas, epiphanies, and affirmations to share with my friends.

I began showing faith in the best way I knew how. I started acting like I was healed, that my brain was getting better, that my walk was steady, and so on. My short-term memory has been and remains a bit of a struggle, but at 66, it's improving. All of my issues have greatly improved because by faith, I believed (imagined my healing), and acted as if I was better, all ultimately leading to healing and improvement, while doing mental exercises to remember conversations, names, places, events, and reading every day to improve and make new pathways in my brain. I did not sit on the porch and sip tea. I asked God to help me, and then I got busy helping myself. The proof that this method is effective is that it has worked. In some ways, I'm far better than I was before I got sick. I became like a dog with a bone, researching ways to repair my brain. I've gained confidence in myself through this path, and I trust God wants the best for me and has been partnering with me for years.

Do I base my beliefs on scripture? Absolutely

Matthew 19:26 - "With God all things are possible." Now, instead of complaining and begging when I talk to God, I present my problems, ask Him to help me and to be my partner, and then I do my part unless He guides me to do nothing and wait. Waiting is hard. That's a practice I work on all of the time because some of God's plans are dependent on His timing, which we don't always understand. I keep a diary of prayers and answers, including dates and explanations of each response. That helps me remember that God does answer my prayers, and honestly, sometimes I completely forget the things He has done for me years before. Journaling is part of my method.

Welcome to the Accidental Enthusiast, which I stumbled into becoming when I read Enthusiasm Makes the Difference by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. I wasn't looking for enthusiasm or something to excite me, but I didn't have any to spare. His book helped me to examine my attitude and begin making changes. In fact, I was once described as apathetic. I have become an enthusiast for life and am much happier. I hope my website inspires you to join me on this path of energy, joy, and enthusiasm.