With another year of blogs firmly behind me, my blogs continue to inspire me to write more so that I can continue to bring about understanding on a disability I didn't know about, while continuing to give myself food for thought on how I can best live my life with everything I deal with.

I'd like to sign off my blog for this year with a massive thank you for all your support. I couldn’t continue to do what I do without your help, love and support, with a special thank you to friends who continue to respond.

I Look forward to writing and continuing our connections with hopefully new connections and contributors in 2019. Stay healthy and safe and have a Happy New Year.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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6 comments on “Bringing 2018 to a close”

  1. You're very welcome. I have been greatly inspired by your blog since your blogs coincide with the issues I'm dealing with at the time. Seeing as it is coming up to a new year, there are a lot of things that need to change, and they don't have a lot to do with resolutions but more like changes that need to happen.

    I had a very tough morning and didn't really even want to get out of bed from being overloaded, I imagine considering how much I had on my mind which does need to be resolved. I'm very much exhausted by the way things have been and have been waiting for people to get back to me in order to help me, but it seems like I'm going to have to do most of it on my own as always.

    I have become very well aware that there are a lot of things that I don't have any idea how to do. There are so many things that my fears, doubts and insecurities have kept me from learning, which I will have to get over, as there are things that only I can do, (like signing my name on paperwork for car loans and possibly buying a home, which would be great.)

    It has been a very long time since I felt like I had control over my own life and it would be nice to finally be able to feel that way again. I have always ended up in the same type of toxic and controlling relationship repeatedly, with the only difference being that it was with different women.

    I know that is a cycle that I will have to break in order to actually be able to live my own life and enjoy what time I do have left.

    1. Thanks for your support throughout the year Randy. I appreciate you taking the time to respond on my blog. I'm pleased my blog has been an inspiration for you. It is my inspiration also.

      Yes, you can use 2019 to make certain changes. You may feel apprehensive first and that may bring a little doubt, but it's important to push through it.

      I know you'll feel free once you're through the other end. I don't think we understand just how much we put ourselves through emotionally, but the more we do it, the easier it gets.

      The hard part is starting and not giving up.

  2. Ilana, you need to know that the CP Diary carried me through some turbulent times this year. I literally rested my head on its wisdom and experience and I sincerely thank you for that.

    Happy New Year to you and our entire family.

  3. I am looking forward to seeing the back of 2018 and moving forward into 2019.

    You know that we couldn't do what we do without your support; I hope your site continues to grow in success in 2019.

    Happy New Year to everyone.

    1. Thank you that's kind. It's something I love to do. The way I see it is, we help and support one another through whatever we have to deal with.

      I wouldn't want to be without it. I am in a much stronger emotional space now because of my blog.

    2. That's Kind. Thanks Tim. Happy New Year to you too. I love what we have here. As you say we're family and family help one another.

      I hope you're beginning to feeling better. Love and best wishes for 2019.

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