No matter what you are celebrating this time of year, it is a good time to reflect on the celebration of life. And, that traditionally comes most commonly in the form of food.

When you are fighting a condition such as IC, that can be challenging until you are much further along into treatment. For some people, they may be a year and a half into treatment and still on list #1 or #2, while others who are just a few months into treatment are already deep into list #3.

What ever your situation may be, it is important to try and make the most of what you have and celebrate your successes and not your failures. Because, everything in life is about perspective. Today I was speaking to someone who is doing fantastic and bashfully she said she is frustrated with her diet. She is sailing through at a very fast pace.

Someone else may be happy to have made it to lis #2 after being on list 1 for months or even over a year. We all have our own gauge when it comes to our situation and, understandably, as we are all humans and individuals.

Life is an evolution of ourselves and our perspectives. Some of us have great change needed physiologically and some emotionally, and some both. Suffering is sometimes something we have to do as a part of that process whether that is that we have been given an illness or have had to deal with something much less debilitating. For the person who has been given something else, they may think that their situation is worse and vice versa.

Keeping perspective and remembering to be grateful for where ever it is you are in your own evolution is so important to maintain your sanity and to allow yourself the room to go through the steps you need to in order to go through your process.

This year has been filled with a lot of emotion and suffering for a lot of people. And, as we bring the year to a close, I hope that each of us allows our hearts to be filled with the light that emanates from the goodness and happiness within us and not the darkness.

This year has also been filled with many successes and happiness. Many people becoming much healthier, several healthy child births, some engagements, and marriages. These life events are common place to most, but were once only dreams to those that were able to make these things happen in their lives.

Through the countless tears, the endless struggles, and the feelings of defeat comes the other side where one may find happiness in life again. So, this holiday, celebrate life-as it is-filled with difficulty and the attainment of one's goals. Celebrate the friendships that come from these things-the hands that were extended, the laughs that brought a smile where there once was a frown.

Have hope, strength, and keep your perspective.