Thank you so much for your time, creativity, words, and effort on your posts during my FIRST ‘Shine Brightly’ Challenge.
Let me just tell you, this was NO easy task! There were 24 post made during the challenge and they all were great!
CATEGORY #1: You Currently Own An Ali Jacket
#1st WINNER is Stephanie Martin. Stephanie won for two reasons. One, she posted the most throughout the contest and two (the much more important reason), she faced her fears and started writing and performing music again. She has been working hard and has written enough songs that she will be performing LIVE in October (I can’t wait to see her in action)! I am so proud of your strong mind Stephanie, you go girl!
#2nd WINNER is Mickey Lytle. Mickey won for being the most creative! Saying she feels presidential when wearing her jacket and putting the jacket on Mount Rushmore was great! Thank you for being so original Mickey, loved it!
CATEGORY #2: WIN an Ali Jacket
#1st WINNER to win an Ali Jacket is Angela Riemer. Angela won because she is a shining example of what a strong mind and strong body can get you through in life – even major health issues. Thank you Angela for being so real and for sharing your amazing story with us. I am so happy you are doing well!
Here’s Angela’l entry…
#ShineBrightly #AliJacket
I would love to own an Ali Jacket with “strong mind, strong body” printed on it! Why?? Because when I wear it, it will be a reminder to myself as well as an example/conversation starter with others that I am living proof that our God given minds and bodies are capable of being pushed to the limits. And with faith and endurance can accomplish the seemingly impossible!
I know, it Sounds like I am little full of myself right?, however I promise that is not the case at all!! I am just very proud of how far I have come!!!
In 1998 at the age of 19 years old I was diagnosed with Chron’s Disease, which is a painful autoimmune disease that effects your intestines and makes it very difficult to eat because of the way your body begins to process food incorrectly . Within two years of diagnosis I had dropped down to 79 lbs and was in the hospital being fed through a tube because my stomach couldn’t handle solid food. while I was in the hospital I had an unexpected seizure. After they wheeled me in to perform an MRI to see why I’d had the seizure they discovered that I had a tumor just to the right of the center of my brain and had to operate on it right away.
They did the surgery and although the surgery was a success and the tumor was not cancerous, I was told that because i had been so anemic and malnourished due to the Chron’s Disease and had to have two blood transfusions that there was no way that they would be able to do the surgery that I had needed on my intestines in order to get me well because of the high probability of death during the operation. Several months later I was able to find a surgeon who was willing to do the risky surgery and I survived, however the surgery was so extensive that it took a total of 12 surgeries (both in-patient and out patient) over the course of the next two years in order for my body to begin to heal.
Doctors had to remove my rectum because it was so diseased which made walking for long periods of time and for long distances a bit of a challenge at times and because of the colostomy that was now on my stomach I was no longer able to exert at all. I couldn’t lift push or pull anything over 20lbs. without causing an abdominal hernia. If this wasn’t bad enough, to top things off my short term memory and cognitive logic and reasoning skills as well as retention skills were badly affected by the brain surgery, and because of the brain surgery I also experienced frequent migraines that were so sever, headache medicine didn’t touch them.
With all of these things combined I was no longer able to work and at age 24 I applied for social security disability. When I was in the disability trial and I heard the judge declare me disabled my heart sank. I kept a brave face while in court however when I got out in my car I sobbed like a baby. I was faced with the realization that I would now spend the rest of my life as disabled and wouldnt get to experience a lot of the things that I had dreamed of experiencing and it was very tough for me to accept.
There are some people who would probably have simply learned to deal with health problems and limitations like this. However I am not one to be ok with wearing a label of any kind! so, for the next several years, I worked my tail off to do what I could to get better in spite of what I was told by doctors and in spite of the label I had now been given. I went to humiliating cognitive therapy for over a year and brought my cognitive skills back to almost normal. and I went to see a nutritionist who gave me a diet plan and prescribed supplements that allowed my body to completely heal.
In 2012 I am very proud to announce that I got off of social security disability and am now healthy and strong and working again!!!
The last time that I went to the GI doctor he came in the room shaking his head and said “you are a very surprising young lady” because he couldn’t believe that I had made such a complete turn around, my blood tests were completely normal and I have, in the doctors words, “no evidence of disease in my body”. It takes a strong mind, strong body and a lot of hard work to get where I am today! And wearing an Ali Jacket that expressed this would make me proud! Thats why I wold love to win an #AliJacket!
Sincerely,
Angela Riemer
#2nd WINNER to win an Ali Jacket is Mary Boettcher. Mary won for showing us how important our food really is, and how strong you need to be physically to grow your own food. I also loved that she does some of the exercise we do in class while gardening, showing there are no excuses and that you don’t need a gym membership to get your workouts in.
Here’s Mary’s entry…
Strong bodies and strong minds need nutritious food. Our grocery stores are full of refined grains, food grown with pesticides and commercial fertilizers and dairy /meat products from confined animals raised on processed feed. Commercial farming practices are inhumane to animals and the end product is unhealthy for people. The whole process is unsustainable; our soil and water sources are polluted and the bees -the important pollinators and beneficial insects/birds –the providers of pest control are disappearing.
How do I promote a strong body and strong mind? I grow much of my own food and work to be a good steward of the land I use. Gardening is physical- one squats and lunges and lifts and pulls and crawls. I work to be a good steward of land through healthy growing practices-good soil health by composting, natural fertilizers and no pesticides. These activities connect me with nature and promote a feeling that I will leave the land in good shape for the next generation. It nurtures a strong mind.
When the garden is asleep- and even when it’s not- exercise that works all the muscles is important. Ali’s classes offer a fun and varied work-out that tones and strengthens the body. She teaches exercises that can easily be done elsewhere (I have done planks and Crab Walks in the garden aisles). A bonus in Ali’s classes that I have not found in others is her focus on well-being. Her classes encourage thoughts about what we can do to make our lives happy and fulfilling; these thoughts continue well after the class has finished. It is the well-being focus that nourishes my body and mind and keeps me wanting to return for more.
Why do I want an #AliJacket? Ali’s classes offer strong bodies and strong minds and I wish to promote her classes to others. I will wear the jacket proudly and will spread The Good Word. – Mary #ShineBrightly #StrongMindStrongBody
Stephanie, Mickey, Angela and Mary, I will be contacting you this week about your prizes. Thank you!!
As you can see from the winners above, I had no easy task on hand.
Thank you again for your entries, they were so much fun to read and see.
Your light is unique and the world needs it, thank you for shining yours.
Keep On Shining,
Ali
P.S. There is a ‘Shine Brightly’ Album on my Facebook Page if you’d like to see the other entries.
P.S.S. Next jacket order will be placed September 26th. Order yours today!
