{"id":1934,"date":"2016-01-11T23:11:01","date_gmt":"2016-01-11T23:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1934"},"modified":"2016-01-09T23:22:26","modified_gmt":"2016-01-09T23:22:26","slug":"new-year-new-you-nothing-wrong-with-the-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2016\/01\/new-year-new-you-nothing-wrong-with-the-old.html","title":{"rendered":"New Year, New You? Nothing Wrong with the Old!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>
Image courtesy of piyato\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve said it more than a few times, and I expect you have, too, when your chronic illnesss, new diagnosis, or ongoing pain sets you on edge.<\/p>\n

“Can’t you just give me a new body?”<\/p>\n

All news reports of cloning and other scientific activity aside, sometimes with the advent of a new year, we actually dive into a brand new exercise, grooming, diet, or rehab program in order to meet the oft-repeated maxim “It’s a new year, so make it a new you.”<\/p>\n

But do we really have to be “all new” in order to be improved? Do we really need to jettison our “old” selves in order to be happy, productive, prayerful and praiseful?<\/p>\n

Oh, say it isn’t so!<\/p>\n

And really, it isn’t.<\/p>\n

In fact, as much as we’d like to redo what’s ailing us, we are who we are – which is pretty awesome. Why awesome? Because we are, each of us, unique and loved by God. Our names, bodies, souls – everything is unique and precious. \u00a0And God has a splendid purpose for each of us, just as we are and with the situations given to us by Him.<\/p>\n

Yes, we can take certain things into our own hands and be responsible for some aspects of our health. And, yes, we can make improvements in how we take care of our lives, spirits, and the surroundings in which we move and live.<\/p>\n

But fundamentally, by embracing the individual gems that we are, we can be much more positive about the future. And as we take good care, we can move ahead even more strongly – just as God made us.<\/p>\n

This year, embrace who you are, be caring and kind and responsible toward yourself.<\/p>\n

And shine in the life and person that God so lovingly has given!<\/p>\n

Joys,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve said it more than a few times, and I expect you have, too, when your chronic illnesss, new diagnosis, or ongoing pain sets you on edge. “Can’t you just give me a new body?” All news reports of cloning and other scientific activity aside, sometimes with the advent of a new year, we actually…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,360,43,1242,4,1047,578],"tags":[1993,1997,1996,270,1995,1994,1992],"class_list":["post-1934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-determination","category-encouragement-in-life","category-food-for-thought","category-words-of-encouragemnent-and-info-for-all","category-good","category-goodness","tag-a-new-you","tag-learning-to-love-who-you-are","tag-made-in-gods-eyes","tag-new-year","tag-not-liking-yourself","tag-redoing-yourself","tag-remaking-ourselves"],"yoast_head":"\nNew Year, New You? 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A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1934"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1935,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1934\/revisions\/1935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}