I am a GP Warrior

August 2, 2017 ~ cotalklady ~ Leave a comment

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month

Gastroparesis Awareness 2017 — Shannon the face of a warrior

What is this?

Paralysis of all or part of the stomach. There is no cure and limited treatment options. Some people can not eat at all and require feeding tubes. For others, like myself, easy to digest food can take hours or days to process.

Common symptoms: Pain, Fatigue, Bloating, Nausea/Vomiting, Dehydration/Malnutrition, Feeling full after a few bites of food.

This is my invisible illness:

I was finally diagnosed in 2015 after several years of dealing with many issues, and no clear answers. It all started because of damage to the vagus nerve from a liver surgery I had back in 2000. My symptoms didn’t start to appear until about 10 years later. I had been tested for many things, but nothing had been a clear answer to all my issues that seemed to come and go. It hasn’t helped that I have had 5 abdominal surgeries in my lifetime, which means I deal with lots of scar tissue problems which only complicates my symptoms.

It wasn’t until 2015 when I was finally tested for Gasteoprisis (GP) which came back positive. I was relieved because now I had a real reason for my flares (times I would have these really bad episodes, of all the symptoms above). Having never heard of this, I quickly became educated on how to better deal with these issues and improved the awareness of my diet. These “flares” can come at any time, sometimes with no warning.

Interestingly enough, I quickly realized that I wasn’t alone. I found a couple of books and several support groups on social media. I realized that my GP is mild compared to so many. However, because mine is caused by damage to the vagus nerve, I can get progressively worse. I am grateful for an understanding husband, and for understanding coworkers, as they all make sure I take care of myself.
I’m telling a bit of my story because this is an invisible disease that has no cure, and so many are affected – it can be anybody, and child, all ages. I hope by telling my story it will bring better awareness. August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month so you will see green ribbons, and hopefully more social media posts about this terrible disease.

What is the Vagus Nerve?

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve. It contains motor and sensory fibers and passes through the neck and thorax to the abdomen.

#GPwarrior #
#GPfight #CureGP2017

If you would like more information about Gastroparesis, please check out the website below.

G-Pact.org

Bucket list item checked!

October 10, 2016 ~ cotalklady ~ Leave a comment

Feel the fear, and do it anyway!

Earlier this year I was compelled to start writing down my bucket list – things I really would like to do, or accomplish before I die.

I have several things on my list, most are places to see, adventures to have, classes to take, places to explore, and few are items on my “want” list.

I am very happy to announce that I have recently checked off one of my bucket list items!

I call this both an adventure item and overcoming my fear of heights! Best of all, I got to check off this bucket list item with my loving husband!

We spent the beginning of this month at the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, thanks to a dear friend and long time balloonist. We had a tremendous time with VIP treatment and a behind the scenes tour. We met some amazing people and spent time with new friends. We have been blessed by being able to take our very first hot air balloon ride at this very large event.

We overcame our “fear of heights” by feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

Processed with Snapseed.

Have you started your bucket list?

Are you taking action to check off those items on your list?

I challenge you to start one today, and start planning a way to check those items off!

Life is to short to not experience those things you wish to experience.

Synergy Team

June 3, 2016June 3, 2016 ~ cotalklady ~ Leave a comment

According to dictionary.com the meaning of Synergy is:

the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.

The Thunderbirds flying high above us yesterday after the AF Academy Graduation

Like the Thunderbirds, it’s nice to say that for the first time in a very long time we have great synergy at work. Being a small business owner has its ups and downs and as changes occur, we see people come and go. We have always had a great team of people that work with us, but with recent changes we have had to say goodbye to some really awesome people. Some took the road on their own and a few we had to let go.

It’s always sad, especially when your company is small, but knowing the new path and direction we are headed, making sure that your team is aligned with you is very important.

We NOW have that team!

I feel really good about our direction and where we are headed. It’s exciting and scary all at the same time. I see the light, I see where we need to be, and together we, our TEAM, is making this happen. I am sure we will continue to have those bumps, but as long as we share the same vision, we can inspire each other to keep moving forward.

My foot and puppy don’t mix

March 1, 2016March 1, 2016 ~ cotalklady ~ Leave a comment

When puppy forces collide with my foot!

I just have to say puppies are awesome, most of the time! We have had our puppy since she was 8 weeks old, we rescued each other. She was cute, cuddly, and just adorable all 9 pounds of this Lab/Shepherd mix.

Fast forward, she is now 15 months old, she is full grown, still just as cute and adorable as always, only now she is about 55 pounds. She still loves to cuddle, and give kisses. She also loves to run and play even in the house, she doesn’t know how big she is. Well needless to say, my foot and her rapid running had a collision.

Dog okay, foot not so much, good news it’s not broken even though it hurts a lot. Now it’s time for some rest therapy, a boot (yuck) and hopefully it will heal soon. Way too much to do, and besides that who is going to walk the dog?

She even has her own Facebook page now! Check it out! Kota Bacon

When she was small

She’s bigger and silly!

Feeling Special

February 23, 2016 ~ cotalklady ~ 1 Comment

Cole’s Gourmet Popcorn in Colorado Springs

First of all I am very proud of our friends and their 2nd family business. They opened up Cole’s Gourmet popcorn and candy store a year ago February 3, 2015.

We are regular visitors and love popcorn, I have my favorite and purchase it quite often, I love a version of the Chicago mix, my version is Light Carmel and Cheese. We would refer it as “Shannon’s Mix” I think they figured since I ordered it often they finally made it a flavor and put it on the menu! I am excited that they would actually name it “Shannon Mix”

Here’s a photo of one of the owners Cindy and myself with the new popcorn mix.

I am humbled and honored.

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New Beginnings

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 ~ cotalklady ~ Leave a comment

Inspiration, Good Thoughts, Happiness, and Connection

It’s time I face my writing fears and break out of my comfort zone. It’s a new beginning, as each year the calendar gives us a reset button. Well, I really wish it was as easy as that! I want to write about the things that inspire me, the little things that we see or hear and we just let them go by us like they never happened. I want to stop and smell the roses, pay attention to things that make me happy or others happy. The connections that people make and the good that happens.

So let’s start with this, the first few days of 2016

We started off the New Year with our Colorado Auctioneer Association annual conference. I like to say they are my auction family. It was a wonderful feeling watching Josh Larson compete this year and the look on his face when he heard his name as the 2016 Colorado Champion, he was the most relaxed, he was having fun. Great job Josh, you will make us all proud when you represent Colorado this year at the IAC at the National Auctioneers Conference and Show.

Another inspiring connection from the CAA convention was the fun I had watching and listening to Charles Nicholls working with the new and some of us older Auctioneers. I truly loved his passion for teaching in his “mad scientist” kind of way! He helped many of us calm our nerves, breathe, and relax more. I loved a great moment of connection we had in laughter, and his sweet whisper in my ear, when he said that he loved me and that for a moment, I had reminded him of his wife by what I had said, she is waiting in heaven for him. This touched my heart, made me smile and gave me a connection I will always remember. Many of us enjoyed his teachings and his wonderful smile, I would pay to have this man come coach in Colorado again.

I love seeing all our Colorado Auctioneers and their families, the networking and friendships that have grown from a lifetime of conventions. I look forward each year of catching up with them and their families. I am excited that my friend Doug Carpenter was elected into the Colorado Auctioneers Hall of Fame, something I too have had the privilege of being honored by my peers in 2012. He joined the association a couple of years after I did.

Lastly, I am excited that a decision that we made last year in February has happened! We sold off the Storage Auction Kings segment of our business, this was not an easy decision but something we felt was time for us to do. This part of our business was our baby and we are proud of the business we had built, the relationships with our clients and our buyers have been special to us. We are happy to say that it’s staying within the family of one of our Auctioneers Barrett and his wife Tessa, they have purchased the Storage Auction Kings and we couldn’t be happier because we truly feel that the right people are in place to continue with our baby and to take it to an even higher level. I feel like a proud mamma!

2016 has started and it’s going to be a new adventure in so many ways! I look forward to this year, I am trying new things, I’m scared and excited all at the same time!

I am blessed.

Shannon Schur

Auctioneer, Asset Appraiser, Broker-Real Estate, Fund-raising consultant

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