For over a year I have felt ruined by my disease. It took a toll on my health, my eyesight, my hair, my social life, my hobbies, my ability to do things. I felt like my body was never going to be the same, inside and out.

It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough.

It has been less than a year since my hip replacement and for the first time I am hiking again! For the last three days I have opted outside and it has been amazing and rewarding. Today I went on a beautiful hike, it was 4.5 miles long! Not only do people around me doubt me, but I began to doubt myself. It has been so long since I felt I was able to do things like this. I was crippled most of last year…. I hit the lowest point of my life in 2017. I was injured, constantly ill, and became quite the hermit. I was depressed and felt like my life was over. I never thought I would be able to do these things again.

BUT HERE I AM.

I reached the summit.

I beat the odds.

I just want to put this out in the world for all the people who are feeling like I did last year. It is not the end and it does not have to be forever. I have changed my diet and my lifestyle and altered things to benefit my disease.

We have to look out for ourselves.

We have to take care of ourselves.

Here are a few pictures from my hike today to inspire you to #optoutside

Sometimes this ……………………………………………… can be this again!