A Comment as a Blog Post

Image by Big Grey Mare via Flickr

Today's challenge is to pick someone else's post (from the past or from today) and write a comment to them. Write that comment as your blog post for today, linking back to them to let them know you were inspired.

I read a blog post titled Shit Happens - Use it to Fertilize the Flowers by Wendy at Transform Your Chronic Life, and was truly inspired. So, today I offer this comment to Wendy...

Wendy,

I wanted to let you know that your blog post, Shit Happens - Use it to Fertilize the Flowers, really inspired me.

You're right, shit happens. But, we can keep the things that go wrong from paralyzing or destroying us. I love the idea of using the "shit" as motivation!

I feel like I can relate to many of your examples of "using shit to fertilize the flowers." Sometimes it can be difficult to remember to look for the positives, in the midst of the negatives; so I appreciate the reminder.

New symptoms = Fodder for articles
Cuts in income = Creative ways to use what I already have
Fatigue flares = Good reason to slow down and take better care of myself
Higher pain levels = Excuse to enjoy relaxing activities more often (like massages)

I wanted to let you know that I admire your attitude, especially trying to work and hold it all together while living with chronic pain. I really needed to hear the reminder that we really should be saying, "How can I?" not "I can't."

Blessings,
Jamie


This post was written as part of the National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM).

Let it Be

Today's challenge is to write about something that bothers me or weighs on me. Let it go. Talk out the letting go process and how I'm going to be better to myself for it.

It can be difficult for me to refrain from feeling guilty about so much. I hate that others might view me as lazy... but, they don't know what really goes on with me.

Sometimes, I have difficulty getting much done around the apartment. Even if the dishes aren't put up, the laundry isn't done, there are papers everywhere, and the dust is building up, that doesn't mean that I'm not doing the best I can. It bothers me to no end to not have things picked up the way I'd like them... I'm not sure whether it's the fact that they aren't put away, or if it's that them not being put away is a stark reminder that I have so many limitations.

I'm going to try to remember that, as long as I do the best I can each day, I should feel good about myself. I've always been too hard on myself, but it's more detrimental to my health now more than ever. So, when I have "good" days, I'll do my best to enjoy them and be productive / get things done. But, I'm going to try much harder not to beat myself up for having less productive, "bad" days.


This post was written as part of the National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM).

The Little Engine That Could

Today's prompt is:  When thinking about stigma, awareness, the healthcare system, and other big picture ideas – it’s easy to become overwhelmed. When we feel burned out, doubts creep in and we start thinking, “Maybe I can’t do this.” ... Sometimes we worry we aren’t making enough of a difference. We’re perfectionists and over-achievers – and that’s ok. Because – guess what? You are making a difference and doing great things – no matter how small they may seem at times. Today’s post is about turning our doubts around – turn our “I can’t” into “I can.”

The challenge is to write a list post with 10-15 lines that start each with “I think I can…” Then, write 5 lines at the end that start with "I know I can..."

This challenge was more difficult than I expected, and I'm not really sure why. But, here we go...

I think I can write a book.

I think I can read more frequently.
I think I can help end the stigma of Migraine disease and Invisible Illness.
I think I can begin (and maintain) an exercise routine, starting with walking more.
I think I can get back to cooking more with (and for) my husband.
I think I can help plan an amazing wedding for my sister.
I think I can get my chronic migraines under some level of control.
I think I can make sure people know how much they mean to me.
I think I can make a difference in someone's life.
I think I can set smaller milestones toward meeting larger goals.
I think I can feel less guilty when I choose to take care of myself, even if that means saying "no" or canceling plans with others.
I think I can keep a cleaner house (apartment), and be okay if sometimes I'm unable to.
I think I can can let go of things that have weighed me down in the past.
I think I can continue making small changes to improve my quality of life.
I think I can live a full and meaningful life, despite having chronic pain (I'm working hard on knowing this, rather than just thinking it).

I know I can continue to be an educated patient, and share what I learn with others.
I know I can be a loving and supportive wife.
I know I can love my family.
I know I can lend an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on.
I know I can keep putting one foot in front of the other.


This post was written as part of the National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM).

This One's For You (Shadows)

Today's challenge is to dedicate a song to my condition, and then explain why I picked that song.

I've been thinking about this prompt for a while now, and the song that kept returning to my mind was Shadows by Blue Man Group. If you've never had the opportunity to see the Blue Man Group live, I highly recommend it (WARNING:  Migraineurs take caution... there are A LOT of flashing lights, not to mention the normal sounds and crowds of a concert).

Below, I've included the words to both the intro and the song (there aren't many words in the actual song). If you know me very well, it'll be pretty obvious to you that this would be "a song Jamie would like." Now, let's see if I can put some of how the song moves me (I get goosebumps when I hear it, LOL) into words.

Despite all of the flashing lights, I've chosen to dedicate this song to my condition (Chronic Migraine... though I think it would fit anyone, especially those living with chronic pain). The shadow concept can be applied to my life with chronic pain:

Living with Chronic Migraine is like living with the shadow of my past self. It seems like it's so close... right there... within reach. But, I've changed. Sometimes I see glimpses of myself, as I was before the accident; but often it just seems like a memory that follows me around, like a shadow. Sometimes it leads, sometimes it follows, "but we never seem to become one and the same."

If you're sensitive to flashing lights, the strobe-type lighting is centered from 1:55 to 2:15 in the video... I can't watch those parts, but the sounds are good.

http://youtu.be/xvZL4wdVSgc

Shadows by Blue Man Group

Rock concert movement #237. Taking the audience on a Jungian journey into the collective unconscious, by using the shadow as a metaphor for the primal self that gets repressed by the modern persona. And, also by using an underground setting and a labyrinth office design to represent both the depths of the psyche and the dungeon-like isolation of our increasingly mechanistic society, which prevents people from finding satisfying work or meaningful connections with others.

Sometimes my shadow leads

or it follows me

but we never seem

to become one (and the same)

[Repeat (2x)]

One and the same

One and the same

One and the same...

I want to send out a HUGE thank you to my brother and my sister-in-law. I know you didn't want to be stuck in the hospital before having the twins (and I wish you hadn't had to), but I never would've had the opportunity to go to the show, otherwise... It may not be an option for me in the future, so I thank you both from the bottom of my heart.


This post was written as part of the National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM).

Elevator Blog

Today's challenge is to write about what I'd tell a person I was in an elevator with, if they asked about my blog, Health Activism, community, or condition... making a different version for a 30 second elevator ride, 1 minute elevator ride, and 2 minute elevator ride.

30 second elevator ride:

My blog is about my life as someone living with an invisible illness, Chronic Migraine. My chronic migraines started as a result of a car accident 3 years ago, and it took me a long time to even begin to come to terms with the reality of my pain. Writing has always been very cathartic for me, but I was unable to write in a journal (due to other accident-related injuries). I began a blog, so that I could share what I was learning about my condition, and write about my personal battle/journey as a Chronic Migraineur.

1 minute elevator ride:

(continue from 30 second elevator ride) It is important for someone with chronic pain to be an educated patient and to find support. I try to share some of what I learn, so that it can help others better understand Migraine. I've found support through the blogs of other individuals that live with chronic pain, which has been an unexpected benefit of entering the blogging world.

2 minute elevator ride:

(tagging on from the other elevator ride speeches) Migraine is a neurological disease that affects more than 30 million Americans. Despite the number of people it affects, Migraine is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and greatly lacks funding for research. Migraines can vary in intensity, duration, and frequency; and are more than just a headache - the accompanying symptoms (such as sensitivities to light and sound, nausea, visual changes, etc...) can be just as (or more) disabling than the headache pain.

Part of what I write on my blog is about the symptoms I experience. I write about what I deal with, including many of the challenges of having an invisible illness. I try to express my experiences, as well as my faith (one's spiritual life becomes a roller-coaster ride, just like the rest of your life, when you have a chronic illness). If you're interested, here's the link to my blog - feel free to stop by, read, leave a comment, and share.

This post was written as part of the National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM).

Open a Book (The Gift of Pain)

Today's challenge is to open a book, randomly point to a word or passage, and then free write for 10-15 minutes on that word or passage.

I hate to take a section of a book out of context (especially when I haven't even read the book yet), but I love the idea of free writing about a "random" passage. The book I grabbed off my bookshelf was The gift of pain: Why we hurt & what we can do about it by Dr. Paul Brand and Philip Yancey. Again, I haven't read the book yet, but the passage I opened up to was intriguing.

The authors write:

The hurt of pain forces the entire being to attend to the danger. Once aware of the cut on my finger, I forget all about my crowded schedule and the long lines of patients outside -- I run for a bandage. Pain ignores, even mocks all other priorities... [The ultimate end of pain is] to galvanize the entire body. Pain shrinks time to the present moment... What matters to the pain system is that you feel miserable enough to stop whatever you're doing and pay attention right now (pp. 216-218)

How interesting this is, especially when considering what it means for those that live with chronic pain. But, we'll start with first things first. Everyone has experienced pain... being overtaken by the urgent demand for our entire attention by something that has caused us pain. The acute pain brings us into the moment, making everything else around us seem obsolete. Time seems distorted, and our entire attention is on the pain.

So, what happens when the pain is ongoing, such as with chronic pain? There seems to be yet another battle within those living with chronic pain:  how to deal with the pain, while not being completely consumed by it. We need to acknowledge pain, and know our bodies well enough to know when symptoms change and should be attended to. But, even though the pain may be ongoing, we mustn't allow it to overtake and destroy us.


This post was written as part of the National Health Blog Posting Month (NHBPM).