Not that long ago my thoughts, emotions, and daily functions revolved around being sick. It was how I identified myself. I was sick, and living in a state of "I can't." Everything seemed like an enormous task and too big of a risk to take. I was certain that anything outside the safety of the small little zone of comfort I had made for myself would send me spiraling into the depths of my illness. I was sick. That was pretty much the entirety of who I was and the lens with which I viewed the entire world. But I was never happy or content with that state of being. Who is? Who could possibly … [Read more...]
Blueprint Series: What’s Your Trigger?
How can we begin to heal if we do not understand why we are ill? Healing from chronic illness is so much more complicated than just treating the symptoms. Prescription meds may help us cope, but they do not correct the original imbalances that led to dis-ease. And with difficult-to-understand illnesses like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it is not always possible to pinpoint just one specific cause. Often it is a series of causes like a traumatic event experienced while in the midsts of some other type of recurring life stressors. There are many different types of traumas that can … [Read more...]
Sometimes You Just Have to Ask
What are your experiences with asking for help? I think we can all agree it is not an easy thing to do, especially in dealing with chronic illness when you are not even sure at times what it is you really need. Asking for help is something I have never been good at, and accepting unsolicited help is even harder for me. This is something I have been working on as I feel it is due to an unhealthy amount of pride and ego. I never like to seem weak or vulnerable. Very primal of me really, like a pack animal that hides illness or injury to continue to blend in with the herd and not appear like … [Read more...]
5 Reasons Fibromyalgia Awareness Campaigns are a Good Thing
The month of May is recognized as Fibromyalgia Awareness month, with May 12th being the official Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. So what does all this awareness mean? And how is it really benefiting us? If you have been diagnosed longer than a few years, you most likely recognize the shift in the awareness and overall understanding of fibromyalgia. Yes, there are still uneducated nay-sayers out there, but the gap between reality and perception is definitely closing in and this is a very good thing. Awareness is key! So again, what does all this Fibromyalgia Awareness mean and how do we … [Read more...]
Every Architect Needs a Blueprint
Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light. ~Le Corbusier I have been thinking a lot lately about how I can translate the improved health and continued healing I am experiencing into advice and encouragement for others. As the architect of my own health, the best way I can do this is to document my journey and explore the thoughts and philosophies with which I approach my wellness. Like the quote above says, we need to create in the light, and the more knowledge we have, the brighter our lights shine. First I should correct my wording - I … [Read more...]