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Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Laser Therapy Update: Why I Can’t Exercise My Arms And Back Anymore


I have been doing so well that I decided to try a new exercise routine. After just four days of working my arms and back, my muscle has increased and I’m in pain. Last night my rib slipped out of place and I tossed and turned all night. My chiropractor put my rib back in place and the laser therapy helped to decrease the pain and inflammation in my arm. 

The pain relief was quick. After a few hours of the therapy, my arm doesn’t feel as swollen around the scar, and the numbness in my arm and hand is gone. While there is no cure for my condition, it is such a blessing to have resources to help me deal with it. 

Now, I know with certainty that I can’t exercise my arms and back any more. The scar damaged my muscles. Increasing the muscles, increases the pain.  And it’s just not worth it to me anymore. However, I won’t just give up. I can still walk and work my legs, and my abdominal muscles. 

To improve my health and ease my pain is the whole reason I workout anyway. Even with the disappointments and pain, I am so grateful for all that I’m able to do each day. Last night, I was reminded of what life was like for me for so many years. Then it was devastating for me because I didn’t really have hope that I would get better. Now I know that I have laser therapy to help decrease the pain and soon the muscle will shrink back into the place of comfort. 

Life is hard. The enemy is always trying to drag me down. When I can shift my focus from pain to gratitude, however, he can’t defeat me. It’s hard to feel sorry for myself, when I’m so grateful for my life and all of my abilities. God is so good to me. I could never praise Him enough for allowing me to live. The amniotic bands might have done damage to my body, but all is well with my spirit and my soul. 

Love and blessings, 


Candida

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

What I’ve Learned From Blogging Every Day


When God first put it on my heart to blog every day, I dismissed the thought—quickly. In my mind, I did not think that I’d be able to come up with something to write about every day. For a few years, I struggled to even blog monthly. Sometimes when I open my laptop my mind is completely blank. I stare at the blank page, and pray for something to help someone else. 

God has never let me down. Some of my blogs may be repetitive, some of them may not be that great, but every day I have the words to fill the blank page. When we show up, desiring to help someone else, God will provide. When I just focus on one word at a time, then the next word is always there when I need it. Sometimes I pause and think I have no idea where I am going with this, but it turns out okay. 

Writing every day has taught me discipline, and then helped me to create a writing habit. Before I started blogging every day, I often procrastinated on my writing. I put it off until the last minute. Then, I dreaded it so much. Now, it’s one of the first things that I do each morning. I don’t allow myself to make excuses. I just do it.

Along with my blogging, I have also developed an exercise habit. Once we commit to something, then it becomes easier to do. The commitment overshadows the excuses. We are all stronger than we realize. Honestly, we don’t even know the full extent of our possibilities because our doubts usually have us giving up before we ever get started. This used to happen to me all the time. I would start something with a quitting mindset. The moment the resistance occurred, I quit. This time, however, I didn’t give myself the quitting option. 

Is there any area of your life that needs to change? Decide today to make that change, and then commit to it. The power to change your life is inside you. You just have to be willing to do whatever it takes. 

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Monday, May 29, 2017

Happy Memorial Day

Today, I am so very grateful for all the brave souls who have served, protected, and died for my freedom.The price that so many have paid for me is very much appreciated. Freedom is a beautiful gift and I greatly appreciate their service. For many of us, we have always lived in a world of freedom. We don’t know what life was like without it. 

It’s so easy to get caught up in the complaining. Every once in a while we just need to stop, become quiet, and really meditate on things. 

What does freedom mean to you?

We have the right to act, speak, and think however we chose. We can be a republican or democrat. We can vote. We can go to church and serve the Lord or stay home. We can send our children to school or teach them at home. We can work outside of the home or stay home and raise a family. We can voice our opinions or keep them to ourselves. The list goes on and on. 

We are so blessed to live in a country where we still have freedom. Today, I am grateful for a day off from work, but I am especially grateful for what this day means to me. Let’s take a few minutes and pray for the families who have lost loved ones and those who will be celebrating this day without their loved ones. Without them where would we be?

Love and blessings, 

Candida 

Sunday, May 28, 2017

The Voice Of Gratitude


It takes the same amount of energy to be grateful as it does to be hateful. This is something that I try to remind myself of daily. The same breath that I use to complain could be used to praise my Lord. 

Whatever we do repeatedly will be our default. If we pick apart our days and search for the negativity, then we will surely find something to be upset about. Complaining is a habit. Kind of like a badge of honor. Sometimes we feel as if we need to complain to make ourselves more interesting.

If we will replace the negative, complaining mindset with one of gratitude, then our life will change. To truly feel thankful in our hearts for something is a blessing. It doesn’t have to be anything big either. We can take the smallest thing, like a good cup of coffee, and be grateful. When we feel the gratitude as we are drinking the coffee, then it just makes it better. 

We can shift our mindset on anything to make it better. I used to hate to go to the grocery story, until I just stopped one day and realized that it is such a blessing to have money to buy food for my kids. While I still might not like the process, I will not complain about it. Somewhere there is a mother without food or water for her child that would love to trade places with me. 

When we can get our minds to look for the positive and feel grateful, then our life will be better. Today, I am thankful for another day. I’m thankful that God woke me up. I’m not in pain. I am warm. I have luxuries to make my life easier. It is my favorite day of the week. I love going to church. I am grateful for a wonderful church to attend and for the peace in my heart. Then I get to spend all day at my parent’s house visiting with my family. Once I start naming a few things, my mind automatically starts searching for more things for me to be grateful for. It’s a beautiful process. 

While I might have been sleepy and a little cranky before, now I am excited for my day. I’m actually smiling as I type this. Today is going to be a wonderful day, and I’m so thankful that God blessed me with it. 

Love and blessings, 


Candida

Saturday, May 27, 2017

What Would You Do If You Couldn’t Fail?


This question has been on my mind all weekend. When it comes to mind, I pause and think for a moment. In thinking of various things, new questions also come to mind. Is the fear of failure holding me back? What do I really want to do with my life? 

Lately, I’ve been taking it easy with my workouts because I didn’t want to hurt myself. Taking it easy, however, doesn’t challenge me or help me to grow. Every day we are either growing or dying. We are not just standing still and holding our own. When we take a break, we are actually causing ourselves more hardships. While we might all need a break from time to time to repair muscles, to get more rest, not get burned out, etc., it’s usually the break that becomes the catalyst for failure. 

When I take a break from my morning routine, exercise program, eating plan, writing, then I only make it harder on myself. After a few weeks the habit is gone and replaced with a new one. All the hard work previously is for nothing. That’s why it is so important for us to notice our routines and monitor our thoughts. If we decide to take a break, then we need to schedule it with a start and end date. The scheduled break let’s our mind know that it is temporary. 

At some point we all have to decide to start over or to create the life we want to live. In the morning, as the sun rises, we all get a new day. It’s ours. We all get to decide how we will use it. I’m tired of quitting. In reality, that is the only way we can fail at anything. As long as we are showing up every day, and giving it our best effort, then we are not failing. 

Failure is only a state of mind. So often we set ourselves up for failure because that it easier. It’s easier to tell someone that we can’t do something than it is for us to put in the work. It’s easier for me to say that I don’t have any new thoughts for a book, than it is for me to sit down and brainstorm. If I show up every day and desire to write a new book, then the thoughts will appear. 

Sometimes I have to get tough with myself and ask myself the really hard questions. Are you going to quit because it’s hard or are you going to keep trying until you figure it out? Suddenly, failure is no longer an option. 

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Friday, May 26, 2017

Do You Need A Speaker For An Event?


Speaking is one of the most terrifying and most rewarding things that I do. Before the event, I am usually nervous, but once I see and connect with the audience, then I relax and share my story. Seeing the reactions from the audience inspires me. To offer someone else hope, through my struggles and hardships, is one of my greatest blessings from God. It brings joy into my heart. 

 From my media kit:

It is Candida’s goal to educate, encourage, and inspire others. She is available to speak at your event on any of the topics listed. She can customize her speech to your specific needs and audience. 

Time: 3o minutes to 1 hour
Price: Contact Candida for pricing information and availability at candidasullivan@yahoo.com.

Speaking Topics
  • Understanding and Celebrating Differences— Candida addresses her scars caused by Amniotic Band Syndrome and her viewpoint on life. She makes sure the kids understand that she survived the trauma and is alive to love and to be loved. She never allows her condition to become pitied or viewed as anything but a blessing.
  • Bullying— Candida knows the effects and turmoil bullying causes. She has lived it and overcome it. She reinforces positive behavior when it comes to any type of bad situations. She encourages the children to fight bullying with kindness. Candida explains to the kids that the ones, who treat us the worst in life, need our kindness the most.  
  • Making a Difference— Candida always encourages the children to strive to make their world a better place. She promotes working hard, helping others, and the benefits of a smile. 
  • Overcoming Circumstances—Candida shares some of her struggles and as well her secrets to overcoming hardships. She offers tips and hope for beating the odds. 
  • Literacy Encouragement—Candida highlights the gifts of reading. She points out the benefits and rallies to get the kids excited about books.
  • Positive Thinking—Candida discusses the power of positive thinking. She uses examples and shows how important it is to train our minds to think for success. 
  • Becoming a Survivor—Candida addresses the fact that bad things do happen to us sometimes, but she uses her life story to teach others how to transform from a victim to a survivor.





Thursday, May 25, 2017

Writing Was Never My Dream

All down through the years as I thought about my future, and dreamed of what I would be when I grew up, writing was never one of my options. I wanted to be a paralegal, and then later a teacher, but never a writer. So often when asked why I write books, I give my short answer. I want to help other people. Today, however, I’d like to give you the long answer. 

From the outside looking in, my life seemed great. Actually, it was pretty great. I had a husband, two healthy children, a job, and my needs were all met. At the end of the day, however, right before I drifted off to sleep I dreamed of more. I wanted something to set my soul on fire. I wanted to do more than wash dishes, clean the house, work at job, spend all of my money on bills, and go to sleep exhausted and uninspired every night. I wanted more, however, I didn’t know how to get it. While I explored several different options, I could never open the doors that I needed. One night completely exhausted and uninspired, I asked God to help me, to give me a dream that would set my soul on fire and enable me to help other people. To this day, I can still take you to that spot. I remember lying my forehead on the carpet, because I was as low as I could possibly go, and crying. 

Later, God blessed me to write my first piece. While it was not earth shattering, it shook me to my very core. Inside the words was so much power and pain. Once I transferred it to paper, the pain left my heart, and God showed me my ability to write and the power behind my words. I didn’t share my writing with anyone or share my experience. I folded the piece of paper and tucked it in my Bible. Terrified of what had just happened. 

While I still dabbled in writing, I spent years trying to run away from my gift. I wrote everything, but what God placed on my heart, and I caused myself lots of misery. Writing was never my choice, it was never my dream. I never wanted to open my heart and allow others to see my vulnerabilities, my fears, and my heartaches. It was, however, my calling. When I stopped fighting it, and allowed my faith to become bigger than my fear, then I was able to embrace the greatness of it. It is the one thing that truly sets my soul on fire and makes me feel alive, successful, and joyful. 

Half the time we don’t even know what we want. We can’t look into the future and see our growth. We don’t know our potential or even the desires of our heart. This is why that it is so important for us to allow God to lead us. While I would have never chosen this for myself, every day I am so thankful for this amazing gift that He has given me and that He didn’t let me quit. Because, at times, I really wanted to quit. I used to ask God over and over again if He really wanted me to continue writing, because I secretly hoped that He would change His mind and give me something easier to do. 

If you don’t know what to do with your life, ask God for guidance and to show you what He created you to do. Yes, it will be scary. You will want to quit almost daily. But if you decide to do it with your whole heart, despite the fears and obstacles that will arise, then God will bless you and give you something greater than you could have ever imagined. Every time I write something that touches another heart, or connect with an audience, I am amazed and so grateful. God knows what we need. He knows what is best for us. We just need to spend time with Him and ask Him to reveal His plan to us. The day you decide to embrace His plan for you, is the day that you will really start living. And it will be better than you ever dreamed possible.

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

You Are Worthy Of Love


How often do we look at reflection in the mirror and tear it down? How often do we make a mistake and then talk down to ourselves? Of all the things that have been said to me in my life, my own hurtful words have been the worst. The biggest bully that I have ever faced has been the one I see in the mirror every day. 

For so many years, the reason that the hurtful words and stares were so painful was because I believed them—deep down in my soul. I didn’t feel good enough or worthy of anyone’s love. I felt so damaged and broken. My scars went deeper than the surface. Every time I had to tell someone what had happened to me, it broke my heart. So often I wanted people to be able to look beyond my scars and see me—the woman underneath the scars. 

All along, however, I held that power. It wasn’t the acceptance that I needed from others. I needed to accept myself. I had to realize for myself that I am worthy of love. God said so when He sent His Son to die for me. Our worthiness has nothing to do with our flesh. If we had been worthy, then Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die for our sins. God doesn’t need us to put ourselves down to lift His name up. Yes, our flesh is sinful, but our hearts are perfected in God’s love. We are made in His image. 

Perfection is only an illusion. No one is perfect. We don’t have perfect lives or perfect families. Life is hard. It is filled with hardships, scars, heartaches, and sin. We overcome it all, however, through God. That is how He set this up. He is our savior. He has grace for our every need. One of the greatest gifts that I have ever given myself is the freedom of perfectionism and total acceptance. Whenever I make mistakes, then I ask for forgiveness of God and then I forgive myself. My imperfections, however, do not define me or take away God’s love from me. The only thing perfect is His love. 

Today if you remember one thing, please remember that you are loved. You have a purpose. Inside of you is a beautiful gift that the world needs. The world doesn’t need you to be like everyone else. The true gift is your uniqueness. It has nothing to do with money, social status, outward appearance, wisdom, or knowledge. Your gift is you! It is your smile, your laughter, and your abilities. Every day is a gift and another opportunity to love and be loved. 

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Overcome Negativity With Gratitude

It’s so easy to complain, get caught up in the victim mindset, and start believing that our situation is hopeless. We read things on social media that rant and paint a picture of hopeless, and we believe them. The world is filled with limitations. Any time that we start agreeing with negativity, instead of fighting against it, then we are hurting ourselves.

I got fired from a job once because I couldn’t wring out a mop good enough. At the time, it devastated me. For a while, it broke my spirit. The negativity from one person was so strong that it could have destroyed my life—if God hadn’t intervened. So often we don’t think about the energy that we are putting into the world or how our behavior affects other people. I never want to convince others of my limiting beliefs. I want to be the dreamer, the encourager, the inventor, the creator, the one who thinks so far outside of the box that I persuade others to do the same. 

The world has enough negative energy. It doesn’t need anymore. We need to lift our heads and stop listening to the enemy. He is the negative thoughts. He is the one who steals our joy. We only get this one life. I don’t want to spend my life whining and complaining. I want to be doing the things that others see as impossible. 

It’s all about our perspective. I’ve had people ask me how I could love a God that allowed my body to be so scarred. I’ve had people ask me how I can be so grateful for the one finger on my left hand and my thumb. It’s simple. We have to find joy in what we have been blessed with. If I can’t be grateful for two fingers, then I wouldn’t be grateful for five. Honestly, I’m thankful that I have a hand at all. When I think of all the things my left hand does for me daily, the value of it becomes priceless. 

I’ve played the victim card. I’ve walked around with my head dropped, complaining about everything. Later, when my perspective changed, I asked God to forgive me for being so ungrateful. 

Any time we are struggling with something, we just need to ask God for the right perspective. The devil shows us the problem with everything. God shows us the possibility in everything. The one we give our attention to will expand in our lives. 

Love and blessings,


Candida

Monday, May 22, 2017

The Power Of Hope


What makes people fight against insurmountable odds? How do they find the strength to battle various diseases, go through treatments, surgeries, overcome hardships, and still remain faithful to God? The answer is simple and yet powerful. Hope gives us strength and helps us to focus on the outcome we desire. When we have hope, we are looking to a power bigger than ourselves. 

God, in His magnificent glory, is all powerful. In an instant, He can fix our problems. After all, He spoke the world into existence. Even if we don’t find healing on this Earth, we have a promise of a better day with Him. Eternity with God will be free of all pain, hardships, sickness, disease, etc. So even if we can’t overcome the infirmities of this world, we know that there is a better day waiting for us. Glimpses of Heaven, through God’s word and His spirit, help us to keep moving forward. 

Through the darkest times of my life, God always gives me a glimpse of a better day. When my legs were numb and walking was extremely hard, God gave me visions of our past accomplishments, and even showed me where we going in the future. Those visions helped me to make it through the difficult moments. Even when life was extremely hard, I had hope of a better day. After my hand surgery, when the pain made me sick and overwhelmed me, I closed my eyes and envisioned my new thumb and all of the things that I would be able to do with it. 

Some moments are so hard to even get through, but as long as we have hope then we can get through the really tough times. It’s when we replace our hope with fear that we are defeated. Whatever we are going through, we need to lift our eyes toward the high hills which cometh our help. God has grace for our every need. He knows the reason for our trial and the outcome. He can help us with our EVERY problem. Just because our situation seems hopeless doesn't mean that it is. Especially when God is our hope. 

When the enemy tries to convince us that we are defeated, we need to remember the power of our God. The same God who parted the Red Sea for Moses and the children of Israel, appeared in the fiery furnace and protected the Hebrew children, delivered Daniel from the Lion’s Den, and carried our sins to Calvary is our God. 

Have a wonderful day!

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Getting Comfortable With The Uncomfortable


This morning, I would have loved to sleep in. When my alarm sounded, I wanted to snuggle with my husband and go back to sleep. Instead, I climbed out of bed. I am teaching myself discipline and how to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. 

Lately, I’ve realized how unsafe my comfort zone really is. It is the stealer of our dreams. When we only do the things that are comfortable in our lives and easy, then we never see what we are capable of. While it’s hard to write a book, it’s amazing when it helps someone else in some way. I could never put into words how it makes me feel to receive an email from someone telling me that my book helped them. That is priceless and worth every moment. 

My ultimate goal is to live the life that God created me to live. I want Him to be satisfied with me. This flesh is so weak. If given the choice, my flesh would always choose the easier path. My heart, however, wants to do the big, scary, (what seems to be) impossible things. 

God needs us all. We all need to show up every day, ready and willing to do His work. So many people don’t know our Lord. They don’t know His goodness. We need to be a glimpse of Him. Every day we need to be telling others, through our words as well as our actions, about our amazing God. 

This world is not our home. We are just passing through. The things of this world don’t even matter. What matters is if we know the Lord. The world is filled with so much suffering. It breaks my heart what other people endure. We need to lead them to the Lord and show them how to overcome it all. Now is not the time for us to give up. We need to be ready and willing to serve God and be a good solider in His army. 

Love and blessings,


Candida 

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Taking A Leap Of Faith



It takes courage to just be ourselves. Sometimes, however, we need our courage to go deeper than ourselves. We need to explore and be willing to grow. Lately, I have become content with my life. I like being boring. I enjoy staying home. My idea of fun is to read on a Friday night. I don’t like parties or really even shopping. I hate when I’m the center of attention. I’m an introvert to my core. 

Honestly, I never ever dreamed that I would be doing TV interviews, sharing my story on stage in front of hundreds of people, doing live videos or sharing my deepest heartaches. It is so hard for me to push the “Go live” button on Facebook or do videos on Snapchat.  All of that was never part of the life that I had envisioned for myself. I wanted to be the person behind the screen writing that no one ever saw. God, however, had other plans for me. 

While I have done many things that He has asked of me, I am still holding back. In the last few weeks, I am seeing this more and more. So many wonderful opportunities have come my way in the last few years, and I have found a reason to refuse each and every one. Even when I agreed, I still hoped that the person who wanted to interview me would change their mind. Or that the trip to California that I had agreed to would never happen. I had a reason to not go to Sweden, New York, Texas, and Florida. Even Virginia Beach was too far. 

I believe that God has big, amazing things for me and I am standing in my own way. I believe that once I agree in my heart to do it all, He will start to open the doors for me. Sometimes I still feel like the little girl who shoved her hands in her pockets. I feel so small and so unworthy to do this job. I’m just being real. But I’m working on myself. 

I’m learning to be brave and self-compassionate and how to acquire coping mechanisms. It’s not easy to open my heart and allow others to see my deepest fears and heartaches. Hiding in the shadows, however, is not comfortable anymore either. Right now, it’s really quite painful because I want to do it. Every level of success has a new devil. The enemy knows how to lure me away. He knows how to make me sabotage myself. My Lord, however, knows the ways that I take. He knows how to help me to overcome it all. God knows exactly how much pressure to apply, how much courage and heartache that I need, and how to help me to become willing to do it all. 

In order for God to use us, I mean really use us, we have to come willing in our hearts and desire His will. It’s so much more that just wanting to do it. So I’m working on getting out of my comfort zone. I started with this vulnerable post. It doesn’t matter what other people think of me. At the end of the day, it all comes down to this. What do you think of yourself? Are you living the life that God created you to live? That one really hurts me to answer. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m on my way. Sharing this is my acceptance. Lord, I’m ready when you are.

Love and blessings, 

Candida





Friday, May 19, 2017

The Power Of Our Story


The Bible is filled with stories. God gave examples of how we should live our lives. We remember stories. When we hear what someone else went through, and how they overcame it, then it gives us hope for our own lives. 

Even though I am an author, blogger, speaker, I am first a storyteller. I love to tell how God works in my life. Sometimes He truly amazes me. I can take things and make them so complicated, by my Lord makes things simple. When I’m trying to so hard to do something and it  just seems so hard, then I have learned to seek guidance from my Lord. 

When I first started writing, I tried to write like other people. In trying to create something magnificent, I made it so hard on myself. Instead of embracing my gift, I tried to recreate it. My writing is different. Most often times it is emotional, raw, and vulnerable.

It takes all aspects of the story to make it beautiful. If we only skip to the blessing and leave out the hardship, then we take away the power of the story. Some of my favorite stories in the Bible are the ones of overcoming. I love the story of the three Hebrew children and the fiery furnace. While they were cast in the midst of the fiery furnace, not one hair on their head was singed and they didn’t even smell like smoke. That is powerful!

God has given me my own powerful stories. Living with Amniotic Band Syndrome has not been easy. I have endured many hardships, but my Lord has helped me to overcome every single one of them. Not only has he helped me to overcome my scars and the hardships they cause me, but He has helped me to embrace them with a grateful heart. 

Do you know someone who needs a speaker for an event or who would benefit from hearing my story of overcoming? In a world filled with heartache and tragedy, we all need hope. Sometimes all we need to change is our perspective on our situation. 

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Thursday, May 18, 2017

God Works Out Of Our Sight


God is amazing! At any given moment, He could be arranging hundreds of things to our benefit. Our problem is we can't always see Him working in our lives, so we assume that we are alone and He has forgotten about our problem. If we only knew the times that He guides us and protects us along our journey, then our faith would be so much greater. 

I worry about things beyond my control and forget to give my Lord credit for the amazing things He does for me daily. He woke me up this morning, this day is a gift, the breath that just entered my lungs is priceless. My Lord spoke the world into existence, and yet I am fearful of small things. He already knows my journey. He knows the desires of my heart, and He loves me unconditionally. 

Worry and fear are of the devil. My Lord doesn’t want me to live my life in misery. He wants me to find joy in each moment and to be content in whatever state that He blesses me to be in. Every state is important and necessary for my journey. So often we try yo rush through the hard times, but every once in a while, we just need to pause and absorb the lesson. The struggles are gifts as well. 

One day, this trial that I am in right now will be over, and I will be so grateful for the beautiful gifts that it brought into my life. Instead of waiting until it is over to praise my Lord, I’m going to start praising Him right now. This is happening for me and not to me. My God will use this to bless me and help me to grow. 

Whatever you are going through, my sweet friend, just hold on. Help is on the way. Good always overpowers evil. This situation is no exception. God will use this in a mighty way. We just have to trust Him.

Love and blessings, 


Candida 

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Paying It Forward


A few years ago, I was miserable. I literally spent most of my days in bed, reading books, and trying to escape my life. I have never forgotten the pain of being financially broke, physically and emotionally wounded, with no clue of how to rebuild my life. My health was in shambles and I didn’t believe that I could heal. Doctor after doctor gave me a hopeless diagnosis, but one gave me hope. 

Through a change to my diet and an exercise routine, I was able to start the healing process. It didn’t happen over night. In fact, it took years, but it did happen. I cut out inflammation causing foods and adapted an exercise routine that enabled me to fight back. Every day I felt as if I was fighting for my life—at least the quality of it anyway. 

That is why I am a Beachbody coach. I want to pay that hope forward. I want to reach those who feel hopeless. I want to show them how to rebuild their life. I want to show them that it is possible, at any age, under any circumstances to change our lives. It is about building physical, mental, and spiritual strength. We can overcome our circumstances. 

Will it be easy? No, it won’t be. But it will be worth it. 

The harder that we fight for something the more valuable that it becomes to us. I see my health as a priceless gift. I’ve fought so hard to get to where I am today. And I never want to go back to that life again. While I can’t control what happens to me, I can decide how I want to handle it. Exercising and eating healthy is hard. Being sick, in pain, and miserable is also hard. Every day I get to choose which one is harder for me. When I don’t want to do my workout, I remember the feeling of lying in the bed, barely able to walk, crying in pain, and that is all I need to get up and push play on my workout. 

I also know that there is someone out there in the same shape that I was in. So I'm going to keep posting, keep inviting others to join me on my journey, and keep praying that God will lead me to those who need my help. I want to be there for those who are scarred, who feel broken, and who just need someone to care. 

Love and blessings,


Candida 

Author shares message through Zippy the zebra