I do love surprises and I was certainly surprised yesterday!

I opened my email to discover that, along with twenty-one other blogs, this blog has been awarded Best of Rheumatoid Arthritis blogs for 2012! I had to read the email twice before it really sunk in. Now, that's what I call a great surprise!

There have been times when I was ready to quit, but I'm glad I didn't because of the opportunity to deepen some lessons. When someone took the time to thank me for making a giveaway possible, or when I received an email expressing gratitude for a tip, I knew that what I was doing was a worthwhile use of my time.

I've met new people; many of whom have taken the time to tweet one or more of my posts. We'll never know, but thanks to you, it could have been one of those retweets that reverberated out to help someone else. Thank you.

It's a tough disease and it can consume you - not only joint by joint, but through a maze of appointments and other illnesses.

Fortunately, I learned how stress impacts health and well-being. As a result, I now have tools and techniques in place that have made a huge difference to me. Soaking in negative thoughts and emotions trigger a cascade of chemicals, complete with side-effects - the kind that can rewire the operation of your immune system, which is a component of what I suspect happened to me more than thirty-five years ago, when I was diagnosed with what was first thought to be Lupus.

Living better means that I undress my stress on a daily basis. When I do that, the rest naturally falls into place.

For starters, I eat better, sleep more soundly, rarely visit the doctor (it used to be a monthly occurrence!) and have fewer flare-ups. I live more mindfully, but with less racket from the IBSC upstairs - a client shared that one with me - Itty Bitty Sh**** Committee!

One of the ways you can live more mindfully is to immerse yourself in inspirational works, such as reading From Chopin and Beyond (a recent giveaway), or any of the twenty-two blogs that received this award. You can learn to shift how you think and feel and live your life, not just your disease!

Thanks to the editors at Healthline.com for this award. I am honoured by your decision to place me in this group of fine bloggers.