As I’ve said before, Fightin’ the Fibro is one of my favorite blogs. FibroFacialGal doesn’t write often, but I’m always impressed by her whimsical pictures and her posts.
The above picture was from last month’s if my head explodes. The “gnawing, burning, grinding pain” had been going on for six weeks, and she was reaching the limit of her endurance — she was afraid she would start lashing out at people. She writes,
Wisely, I think, I have opted to isolate myself from humanity for a bit until things settle down.
I admire her so much for that. I’ve known a lot of people who do lash at others when even little things go wrong.
Her latest post i didn’t believe him but i sure do now is about the philosophy of one of her college professors:
What you think makes your life.
She didn’t believe him at the time, but she’s now a true believer. And she has had plenty of chances to practice as she’s dealt with fibromyalgia for over 20 years.
I see my role as an active one: to learn all I can, advocate for myself, and make considered and intentional choices given the information at hand. And then learn to let it go (the hardest part!). All I can do is try, and the effort usually reaps some lasting rewards.
….
One of the most difficult things I have dealt with in this chronic illness journey has been the poor treatment of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and systems. There have been so many tests of what to do, say, or how to respond. So many times I needed reminders that all I can control is me, my thoughts, and actions. Nothing more. Anyone else’s ignorance needs to not be my problem or responsibility. A biggie.I can control only how I react, or if I choose to at all. My choice, no matter what happens around me. I have a choice and say in what I take in and what I make of it. I have to remind myself of this fact, more than I would like to admit.
She ends by thanking her professor, adding,
I didn’t believe you then, but I sure do now. Life is funny like that.
I want to thank you, FibroFacialGal, for being such an inspiration. I admire you so much.
May 20, 2015
Utterly fascinating and very inspiring indeed. I am sharing with a friend who is going through more or less what she has gone through with the medical system here.
Yes, she’s a remarkable woman who is doing a great public service.
She is amazing.
The “let it go” practice she mentions is so beneficial, when we can achieve it. It was only because of RA that I read Toni Bernard’s How to Be Sick, a book I may have mentioned previously. It’s based on her Buddhist faith, but anyone dealing with any kind of adversity, whether that person is Buddhist or not, can benefit from the practices she suggests. I’m certainly no expert, but sometimes we gain benefits we didn’t expect when dealing with adversity. I’m not so silly as to say that I wouldn’t go back to my more vigorous self, however! I would love to still be the vigorous grandmother I once was to my five grandchildren, and then I could have learned that lesson in a different way!
I have that book as part of my RX kit for dealing with adversity. At my age it’s best to be prepared!
What a lovely post. I appreciate your kind words, and those of your commenters.
I guess we are all just trying our best, and are works in progress. I often wonder what putting my inner dialogue out into the world might seem like to readers, and am a little freaked out still that I have the courage to put it all out there at all…
Thanks again, your shared voice is important, and very valued!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. A lot of people quote this philosophy, but it’s so much harder to live it the way you do.
What you think makes your life.
Spot on.
Exactly my focus from now on!
I’m so fortunate not to be dealing with physical pain such as her.
A Brave and positive woman!
Thank you for sharing this!
XOXO
Please let us know how it turns out for you. Taking responsibility for ourselves/our thoughts is powerful.
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/category/the-spoon-theory/
now when you just don’t think i can bombard you with anything knew my primary health issue is ME/CFS…
okay i am one of the lucky ones who managed to get some semblance of health back but i make sure my spoons are close at hand for when my own chips are down – sometimes i will send some virtually to another sufferer
whilst in the bad mode i adapted my life to be self managed – which is where i deleted the bigger stressors – short term is fired off smartly – i have a powerful temper and cuss words to match…
I knew about CFS, but this is the first time I’ve heard of ME — so I looked it up. At least the medical profession is beginning to agree that the problems are real, rather than saying it’s the patients’ fault because the doctors don’t know what to do about it!
I’m glad that you’re able to do as much as you can. As I’ve said many times before, I admire you so much!