Seeing Beauty in Hard Places, part 3

Long hours on the road this summer were brightened by a vase of flowers from our garden!

By the way, Elsa and I trained our way into more driving over the past two months than we had been able to do in the previous decade combined! This is another part of our major "rehab" from years of chronic illness. 

Garden flowers also brightened up our hotel room for part of Dad's month at Mayo.

And the first tomatoes from our garden came along to ripen in the window.

Sunsets and a couple of ponds were another bit of beauty we looked for each day.

Did you notice my “garden” in the photo behind the orange juice*? Probably not. It’s all in one’s perspective!

That little patch of wildflowers between a highway and a hotel parking lot was a bright spot in an otherwise ugly setting. Especially compared to our lush flowerbeds back home with rarely the sound of a vehicle on our gravel roads and fresh air blowing across the prairies… that month in an airless hotel room on the edge of a city was not a restful or healing place.

And yet God turned it into a time of healing the nervous system at deeper levels, just because it was so far from peaceful or natural. What mattered was that He had called me to these new challenges, and He was there to meet my needs. By wiring in the truth through brain rewiring (neuroplasticity) methods, my nervous system learned that even there, I was safe with Him!

*The orange juice itself was a brain rewiring win after more than a decade without! I enjoyed it most days at the hotel as well as training with some more "firsts" of a bagel, corn flakes, conventional ice-cream, and a waffle cone! Plus walking up to 3 miles at a time on the paths and sidewalks of our community.

A Year of Rehab

My sister Elsa and I have realized that we are in a major "rehab regimen" in many areas of life after chronic illness. The most recognizable of those areas would be rebuilding strength and balance in our muscles and joints.

After years of chronic fatigue and debilitating pain, my body needs careful training out of harmful, weak postures into healthy and strong positions.

Just as the daily practice of brain rewiring to heal the nervous system is a slow but steady process of forming new, healthy pathways which we want to become automatic, so regular exercise with WholyFit trains the body out of unhealthy patterns and into those that benefit all of life!

Why I Choose WholyFit

I love how WholyFit is a Christ-centered stretching based system built on scientific principles that equips us with holistic practices for wholeness and healing. It even strengthens 5 times faster than other exercise modalities! 

Plus it is a safe way to get back into movement and fitness after years of inactivity and weakness, as proved by the fact that my sister got certified to teach WholyFit last year and has since been helping women through online classes.

NOTE: WholyFit has nothing to do with Yoga beliefs or practices. God created movement and the ways our bodies can strengthen and stretch. WholyFit methods and routines are carefully developed based on safety and effectiveness (unlike some traditional Yoga poses). They are also built to help us memorize and meditate on the word of God as we do our best to take care of this "temple" of our bodies He has given us.

For more info, hear from WholyFit founder Laura Monica: “Why I Quit Yoga and Started WholyFit” 

Does a moderately paced workout for all fitness levels - done on your own schedule from the comfort of your own home - sound interesting to you? If so, read on!

Current Class Details

• On-demand workout video access: September 1 - December 31, 2025

• Includes 16 workouts safe for pregnancy and diastasis recti (20-30 minutes each)

PLUS 6 workouts safe for the general population (1 hour each)

• $60 USD for 4 months total (Sept. - Dec.)

Have more questions? Want to sign up? Or can't make this class work, but want to know of future class offerings? 

Learn more and sign up for email updates on Elsa's webpage HERE.

Or email Elsa at elsa.wholyfit@gmail.com

Sawing and Shedding Old Shells

Photos 1&2: After a chainsaw workout.

3: Before. A painful place to mow.

Yes, muscles that have hardly been used in over a decade put up a fuss for a while. But I still count it a "win" to be able to do something like this! (And thanks to Dad for picking up most of the branches as I had to run to town after sawing and mowing.)

Meanwhile, I got to see a cicada crawl out of its old shell and change those little green ripples into wings! So amazing! A first for me.

A strange shape and slight movement caught my eye at the base of a tree. The legs moved so slowly and looked so weak for the immense job at hand. But I was watching when the old, worthless exoskeleton dropped away and the tender body began to expand and harden! Then I checked back in an hour or so and found delicate wings!

Sometimes healing the limbic system / nervous system and connected physical issues can feel like that painfully slow and weak crawl out of an old, dead shell of a life. And then you break free in one area only to be held back in another. 

But God is at work, bringing new life. Eventually the wings unfurl and harden, and it will be time to fly and sing for joy again! (Yes, I like to think of the shrill sound of a cicada as its God-given song which glorifies Him.)

So, keep persevering on your way out of whatever exuviae God wants to set you free from! It's time to molt and grow!

~ Hannah

Remembering: Beethoven, Muscle Memory and Happiness

Here's a win that surprised me tonight. Despite struggling with new glasses for the past month*, I have recently enjoyed pulling out some of my old piano music from as far back as high school. 

Tonight, I moved past the eye issues and other things weighing on the day and tried a Beethoven Sonata. In fact, I had avoided it for 19 years, thinking I could never enjoy casually playing what I had spent two years perfecting and memorizing for part of my final recital and exam. I had completely forgotten what it looked and sounded like... until I started playing. 

Here's the utterly amazing thing about our brains. I still had muscle-memory to play some parts easily! And what struck me was that the parts I remembered best were the sections that made me happiest all those years ago! They gave me the old thrill again, and I'm pretty sure I was smiling through them tonight.

This reminded me how happiness is powerful in our brains!!

TIP: Try take time to purposely remember some happy things in your past... whether years ago or days ago.  Knowing what we do about the neuroplasticity of the brain, this simple act will do more for your health than you can imagine!

Intentionally remembering - especially in light of God's goodness, provision, love... positively affects many parts of the brain, including the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. It even helps our brain release dopamine, positively impacting far more than just mood!

No wonder God told us throughout His word to "remember" as well as to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. [Philippians 4:8] Science is finally catching up to some more of what God has told us all along. 

*Yep, it was time for bifocals along with the double whammy of a prism to pull my left eye into alignment. The combination of a sledding injury 24 years ago along with the neurological complications of Lyme, mold, toxic levels of mercury, etc. these past years, made my optometrist give this a try. 

Food Reintroduction Win: Black-Bottom Birthday Cake!

Huge Win! I enjoyed my first Black-Bottom Cake [my long-time standard] in about a dozen years!

While I am getting back to gluten by way of whole grain rye and einkorn sourdough and the occasional pasta away from home, we chose to use a gluten-free cake mix when adding back cream cheese for now.

But lake time comes before cake on my birthday... despite cold water!

Reset for a New Year

Happy New Year, Friends!

How many places are you hearing about setting goals and focusing on self-improvement these days? Too many, right?!

Too often it seems that lists of goals and “to-do’s” make us feel like we can earn our own health, joy, peace, etc. And then when we fail to live up to them, they seem more impossible than ever.

But what if we instead chose to look more to the One True Source of all we desire? 

The more I learn about neurology, the more amazed I am at the ways God has built us to renew and rewire our minds around His way of truth for life. (See John 14:6) And yes, this deeply impacts us at the physical level as well.

Let me share a bit from a brain rewiring coach who has had a positive impact on my life and faith (and healing journey) the past few months.

I’d like you to meet Brea.

Picture a strong, athletic blonde about my age. Life and love for God and others shine from her eyes. Enthusiasm rings in her voice. But it wasn’t always that way…

About 7 years ago, Brea was homeless, living outdoors in the desert far from her little children, because her body had become sensitive and reactive to everything.

Then she learned of Brain Rewiring. And then she met Jesus in the desert.

To put it mildly… that changed everything.

Last fall I signed up for a group coaching class with Brea to take my rewiring deeper. I saw so many new wins during this time and got the fresh boost and perspective needed to continue in this journey.

That’s why I’m so excited to invite you to join me for her first, free workshop, starting next Monday: New Year New You, 5-Day Reset!

Let’s hear straight from Brea: “I don’t know what kind of 2024 you’ve had. If you’ve been doing your brain retraining practice consistently, then chances are you’re leaving 2024 better than when it started. Perhaps your life has been turned right side up again like many I have coached. Or maybe you can’t tell much of a difference. If so, I invite you to either revisit your journal or simply think back to where you started or ask a close friend or family member. You might just be surprised at how much better you are now! And guess what? If it’s not good, then He’s not done yet!  “If you haven’t started your healing journey with brain retraining, then friend, 2025 can be your year to heal! Wouldn’t that be great?! “You can dip your toe in the brain retraining waters with my free New Year New You 5-Day Reset that starts Jan 6th. This mini-workshop will be delivered via email over the course of the week and includes some special printable handouts and exercises to get your healing journey started.”

Want to join? Simply follow this link to Brea’s website and sign up through the pop-up form. Or email Amber and ask to join the 5-Day Reset: info@breakatrin.com Then let me know how the Reset goes for you! ~ Hannah: BrainRewiringforLife@gmail.com Learn more in my latest newsletter HERE. P.S. - I'm waiting for more snow to get out snowshoeing with my nephew again!

What is Brain Rewiring?

In my last post I mentioned how healing my limbic system (a part of the nervous system) is allowing me to slowly get back to parts of life I have been missing for a decade or more. But I realize many have not even heard of the limbic system... let alone the way it can be healed through the God-given gift of neuroplasticity.

The process of healing the limbic system is often called Brain Rewiring. So what is that?

Check out my latest newsletter at this link to learn more. 

Hannah's Brain Rewiring Newsletter

And if you find it interesting, feel free to sign up for future editions of my newsletter (only once every month or two) by clicking "Subscribe" at the top left corner of the newsletter screen or using the "Sign Up for this Newsletter" button near the end.

I keep seeing new wins as I continue to rewire and regulate my nervous system. For example: Last week I got to my 3rd restaurant in a decade!

~ Hannah

"As They Went" - on Thoughts & Obedience

As I read Luke 17, I was once again struck by the three little words:

"As they went..."

"They" = 10 lepers, desperately sick and cut off from everyone and everything they loved.

"Went" = Following Jesus' directions to step out in faith that they would be healed, even though He hadn't come up and touched them or spoken words of assurance as in other cases. He simply sent them off to show themselves to those who could declare them all-clear to live a normal life again.

As a result, they were healed on the way and commended for acting in faith and obedience by stepping out and doing what God had said... even when it didn't make sense. 

Jesus can still do that today! Even when He doesn't heal all at once [though He does that too], He still calls us to have faith and follow His directions. Our Good Shepherd will lead us in the best paths for us when we follow His voice. 

In the words of a hymn I love... Trust and Obey.

So what are we, You and I in the year 2024, told to do? For one thing, "Take every thought captive." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Amazingly, science is finally starting to prove what God has directed all along in His word... that our thoughts matter. We were created with neuroplasticity [brains that can change] for good reason. 

Our thoughts directly affect our body chemistry, immune systems, and so much more. No wonder God's word clearly emphasizes things like:

• Trust - Psalm 62:8

• Hope - Romans 15:13

• Be still - Psalm 46:10

• Praise - Hebrews 13:15

• Eternal Mindset - Colossians 3:1-2

• Do not fear - Isaiah 41:10 [and over 100 more verses on this topic!]

If we care about our health, we need to care about our thoughts as God has directed! When He says...

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent & praiseworthy... think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

...He means it! 

Besides the gift of Neuroplasticity, we were given the gift of Selective Attention. When a thought is hurting us and triggering our stress response, we can choose a different thought.

Not only does God promise to take care of all that worries us when we "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), but He has so designed our bodies that the very act of walking out this life of faith and obedience (starting in our minds) will set in motion physical processes of healing... 

As We Go!

Want to learn more about biblical and scientific Brain Rewiring? You can sign up for my occasional newsletter HERE.

~ Hannah

Getting Back to Concerts!

One of those opportunities to "get back to life" mentioned in my previous post was attending my first concert in nearly a decade!

Thanks to a trumpet-playing, music-major Dad, I enjoyed growing up with the music of the Canadian Brass. So when one of their former members came to our local concert association, it was not to be missed!

Dad actually attended the concert twice as it came to two area towns. Mom went with the first time, and I got to join him for the second. And due to stories told in concert and some talk Dad had with the performer after the first one, Dad brought his own trumpet along for Jens Lindemann to sign the case. [You had to be there to understand. 😊]

Dad's trumpet is a Yamaha bought through the Canadian Brass and tested by one of their members. The special story behind it was that Dad's college trumpet broke around 20 years ago, and he was ready to give up playing for Easter and Christmas anymore. But his mom wouldn't let him stop and bought this trumpet to keep him playing. 

Now Dad practices an hour most days and is getting better than I have heard him in my lifetime!

At the second concert, Dad also had the surprise of finding someone he had played with in college who had since had a professional trumpet career. Dad had him sign the case too... just for fun!

So my first concert was a treat and a successful chance to exposure-train with several of my long-time triggers.

Healing is Not Linear.

Fact #1: “Healing is not linear.”

Fact #2: “Your trajectory is more important than your current state.”

I have been glad to know these two facts once again the last couple weeks.

Pushing too hard through many exciting opportunities to “get back to life” led to my slowly refilling the “stress bucket” I have been working on emptying. At a certain point, it began to overflow in old symptoms.

But I am learning to be patient with myself as I slowly figure out how much I can push and exposure-train with returning strength... and how to rest better when I should not push.

It helps me to view this healing journey as a mountain climb. There are many ups and downs through peaceful valleys, steep inclines and rough ravines, but if my trajectory is always toward the peaks I can glimpse in the distance, I know I’m on the right track!

And I could never do this without my Good Shepherd!

~ Hannah

How Lawn Work is So Exciting!

What you see in these pictures was impossible through most of the past decade of chronic illness. I wasn't strong enough to sit up like this for years.

Even a year ago my legs were too weak to keep the lawn-tractor pedals pressed and my brain too overwhelmed to keep up with the steering.

And though I still have a long way to go, this shows me that I have come a long way in one year of rewiring my brain. I'm not stopping!

Even though it takes a lot of work and perseverance through all the ups and downs of healing, I never could have reached this point with only all the supplements, medications, protocols, and avoidance methods I was using to survive the 9 years prior.

Want to learn more about Brain Rewiring? Check out these accounts:

Instagram: @healing.chronic.hannah

Facebook page: Brain Rewiring for LIFE

YouTube: @BrainRewiringforLIFE

~ Hannah