New Year, New Me?

How many times have you heard the phrase, “New Year, New You”? Every year, we all make plans to start over in the new year. We act as if a new calendar is a clean slate and when we flip the page from December to January, life magically starts over.

No magical calendars. Every day is a gift and we make our own magic. When you have a chronic illness like Crohn’s, your goals for the new year are a little different. A new calendar brings thoughts like . . . Will I have another surgery, this year? Or, is this the year I stay out of the hospital? What new medicines will I start? What medicines will quit working? What new symptoms will I develop?

For me, a lot of years, January did mean surgery. Thankfully, that is not the case, this year. However, I do have a procedure in a few days. One complication of Crohn’s is chronic strictures.

Strictures are a narrowing of the intestine. Strictures can be caused when scar tissue builds up. I have a procedure every three to four months to dilate the stricture. It’s a simple outpatient procedure with anesthesia.

So, not a new me in the new year. But, I get to feel better for a few months.

There’s more than one way to be a new you for the new year. All makeovers are not physical.

Rather than change the outward you, change the inner you. When you have a positive outlook, you smile more. And, there’s not much that’s more attractive than a nice smile. When your smile comes from the inside, not even a mask can hide the glow of a positive attitude.

Reflection: What magic will you create in the new year? Carry the best of 2020 into the new year . . . whatever that means for you.