Five Years Ago

Five years ago a call from my doctor marked the beginning of my descent into sickness.  Of course, I didn't view it as such.  Not having been sick before, I assumed I could just take a few pills and continue on with life as normal.  I had a demanding job, and I was used to managing stressful situations, working long hours, and meeting tight deadlines.  I thought I could just keep going, business as usual, but something had to change.  It took iHart coming home and showing me that I had to let go of my definition of normal.

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Five years ago I was someone who worked 12-15 hour days, went to the gym three times per week, went hiking on weekends.  As if that wasn't enough, I even started taking ballroom and swing dance lessons.  I existed on very little sleep, worked hard and played hard.  I was so busy that I didn't register the ever increasing shortness of breath, the accelerated heart rate, and the incessant fatigue.

 I didn't respect these warning signals.  Instead I just pushed through, not realizing I was burning myself out.  Lucky for me, my daughter came home and brought a new perspective.  Sara looked at me through the iHart Lens and saw that things must change.  With her help, I began my journey to wellness.  

About the author:  Patricia Hart was diagnosed with sarcoidosis five years ago and had to abandon a thirty-five year career, and reformulate her plans for the future.  Her daughter Sara Hart, creative director of the iHart Lens, has been instrumental in helping pave Pat's path to wellness.  To help raise awareness for this mysterious disease, Pat has decided to chronicle her sarcoidosis journey as iHart@Home.  The iHart Lens captures Sara's interest in photography and the arts, yoga and mindfulness, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.  This mother-daughter collaboration embodies the iHart vision to empower women in setting new directions for themselves.  

For more details, visit the iHart Lens website at www.ihartlens.com.  iHart wellness, and you should too!