Comments on: sunday life: lowering your New Year expectations will make you happier

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:50:59 +0000

Hi Melissa, the issue is quite a bit more complex than this. I’m going to post a rundown of my experiences with thryoid disease here in a week or so, with nutritionists giving their advice. I’ve researched the disease a lot. Sadly, I was misquoted about the link with alcohol. It’s not a direct link…but adrenal fatigue, which was worsened by booze in my case, can cause it.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:50:36 +0000

nice!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 05:41:59 +0000

Hi Melinda, Thanks for your feedback. I think you’re referring to an article in last week’s Sun Herald/Sunday Age about my involvement in Febfast. Two things: first, I was slightly misquoted. Sadly, the journo quoted me a little inaccurately regarding the link between alcohol and Hashimotos. She also painted a picture of me as a problem drinker…which I’m not!!! And, apart from my teens, haven’t been. I’d explained that my high-adrenalin lifestyle had caused me to get auto-immune disease, and that alcohol was a part of that. That said, my research (and you have to do it yourself, don’t you!! Such a loooong journey) has found booze is not good for auto-immune disease – it’s very acidifying, which exacerbates the condition. Along with sugar and gluten, it changes the balance of the gut, which allows protein chains to leak from the gut, which then increases the antibody count in our bodies. And we know what happens from there!
Yes, there is also a hereditary link. My grandmother had it, and, like you, had her thyroid removed. There is much conjecture about the cause and cure of thyroid disease. Western medicine sticks firmly to the hereditary angle and prescribe thyroxin. I personally prefer the broader approach taken by some endocrinologists and nutritionists – that it is a disease that stems from a predisposition and is brought to the surface by factors such as stress, trauma (in my case), diet (including alcohol) etc. And that a cure is to be found in re-balancing the body.
Now, I drink very occasionally, and only a glass of red at a time.
I totally agree that many women are developing this illness. It is my aim to share my story and what has helped for me. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you. Hope this clarifies things.
In wellness,
Sarah

By: melinda miletich

melinda miletich — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:38:56 +0000

Dear Sarah,
I am appalled that in interviews this week you have made claims that Hashimoto’s disease is caused by alcohol abuse. As a journalist I would have expected that you would have widely researched this disease, particularly when there are so many websites about thyroid disease. I was particularly annoyed by your claims, because of the misinfomation it disseminates, leading people to wrongly believe that anyone who develops Hashimoto’s is a closet alcoholic. I have recently had my Thyroid removed because of Hashimoto’s and I would hate to think that my colleagues now think that I have been secretly abusing alcohol when in actual fact I rarely drink.
Had you done your reading and listened to specialists you would have discovered that Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease and appears to have genetic links. Many people, women in particular, will develop Hashimoto’s along with other autoimmune diseases

By: American Pundit Fighting

American Pundit Fighting — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:19:15 +0000

Tis a great concept – “Live life like you’re on holidays”. Forcing yourself to stay out in the city after work, organising to meet up with anyone in your contact list or just roaming the streets by your lonesome.

You quickly realise the only people on the streets on a random monday night are actual tourists and backpackers on holidays. Hey if randoms are spending thousands of dollars and countless hours to fly over here… we shouldn’t be taking home for granted. The hard part is tricking the mind then convincing everyone to party with you. But it’s worth it when done right.

By: melissabugden

melissabugden — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:55:35 +0000

sarah,

i myself was diagnosed with hashimotos when i was 17.please,,,, hasimotos has nothing to do with alcohol.its all about a lack of iodine in your system.i think u should research more…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:16:15 +0000

A follow up, below is my new years resolution, I have it pasted on my fridge and at my desk at work -

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

By: Bron

Bron — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:10:46 +0000

I love the sentiment behind this Sarah. Life should be fun & to ensure that we need to find fun/happiness in the mundane! You should talk to my mate Elliott, he loves random excursions – last year he went on a road trip to the rodeo in Coonamble. And please come on a Western suburbs food safari with me & Si when we get back!

By: jo-living savvy

jo-living savvy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:00:33 +0000

My friend Cat & I remind ourselves that disappointment is when reality doesn’t live up to expectations.
I don’t do New Year’s resolutions either. For me, they are bound up with negativity and guilt, made by picking on failings from the year past, and commanding yourself to ‘do better’. And if you don’t meet those expectations, the negativity and guilt compounds as your friend Kate W know too well.
The end of one year and beginning of a new one is a wonderful time to pause and think about the life you are creating. Rather than making resolutions, I have New Year reflections.

Step #1: I acknowledge what I have achieved in the past 12 months.
Step #2: I celebrate my achievements.
Step #3: I think about what is important to me, and what achievements I want to build on, and make a *short* list of my focus areas for the coming year (brief enough so I can hold them easily in my mind as I go about my day).

I spoke with a fabulous woman the other day and her focus for 2010 is Go get it! Short, sharp and so simple.

By: zz

zz — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:16:29 +0000

Hi Sarah,

Great topic! I love this wonderful trend of people simplifying as a means of enriching their lives.

When it comes to finding happiness, I think it’s not just about “lowering” expectations, which kinda sounds a bit sad and despondent. Maybe we just need to stop expecting other people to be responsible for our happiness. Maybe the daggy road trips, lame Christmas gifts, uneventful holidays are opportunities to learn that joy is NOT something that comes from the outside in.

Here’s my example: My 21st Birthday (four years ago today!) was spent in South Africa with my huge extended family. The gifts were beyond tragic: 2kg candles shaped as faces, a holograhic dolphine cuff-watch, a furry leopard skin and diamonte purse. Topping this bizzare 12 year old themed list was the comemorative plate with my face stretched , so that I resembled a beardless swarmi, across the front from my dearest uncle. The horrific plate was immediately passed around the large circle of Aunties who sporadically exclaimed “oh sooooo beautiful”, “sooooo thoughtful”. This could have sent me over the edge of self-pity and binge eating, but instead I kept a plate-stretched smile on my face and stored the experience as one of the thousands that I would soon share with circles of laughing friends back in Australia.

To be honest, that awful plate has given me more joy than any other gift I have ever received. I still have it, hidden in some dark place! One day soon, I’m going to dust it off and serve a delicious dinner for my husband on it. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he gets to the bottom.