Happy Place

Today is day 17 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Happy Place. When you need an escape from your condition where do you imagine yourself? Close your eyes and go to your happy place – then describe the sights, sounds, scents, and feelings.

I have tons and tons and tons of pictures pinned on my Pinterest boards of places that I dream of having one day. Most include a nice comfy place to curl up with a book, but not all of them. Here are just a few of the places that I think of when I think of escaping to my happy place.

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An amazing hammock on the porch of a beach house


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How amazing is this open air house built right on, well I guess technically above, the water!!!!!!!


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Rocking chairs on an amazing porch


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More than just porch swings, more like porch beds!


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And who doesn't love an amazing bathtub filled with bubbles!!!!!

What about you? What's your happy place look like?

Pin It!

Today is day 16 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

A picture is worth a thousand words and today’s prompt proves it. Get started by creating a pinboard for your health condition – you can do this on pinterest, on your blog, or in real life. Share your top 3 images in your blog post.

I could have pinned a gazillion things to this board. Picking my top 3 was even harder. These images all inspire me as I walk this journey.

Pin #1:

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Pin #2:

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Pin #3:

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What about you? What have you pinned recently that inspires you?

Writing With Style

Today is day 15 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Like style, writing is personal. So for today’s prompt – what’s your writing style? Do words just flow from your mind to your fingertips? Do you plan your posts? Where do you write best?

I think two posts I have written for the 31 Days to Become a Better Writer challenge answer this prompt extremely well. Instead of rewriting them, I'm going to direct you to them. First, this post titled Brainstorming talks about my process of planning my posts. Second, this post titled My Voice talks about five words that describe my voice and links to posts that show me writing in those different aspects of my voice. Enjoy!

A Prayer for Today

Creator of the universe,
you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory
through the victory of Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,
to the glory of your name.
Amen.



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10 Things I Can't Live Without

Today is day 14 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Write a list of the 10 things you need (or love) most.

First, apologies for not posting the last couple of days. I'm struggling with my health as well as my depression and I'm not doing very well. Only allowed 2 days off though for the HAWMC, so I'm back today with a post.

Second, obvious things for my list are my family and my faith, so I'm going to assume those as a given and list 10 other things.

1. My TENS Unit - this isn't the exact one I have, but a very similar model. It takes the edge off my pain, so I keep it with me wherever I go. It has it's own pink and white bag in my purse.

2. Pillows - I have a pink body pillow, a pink heart floor pillow (about 3 times the size of this one), and some smaller pillows.

3. Reading pillow/book prop - this is perfect for holding a book or my Kindle in bed so that I can lay down and still read.

4. Kindle Fire - I'm able to check email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. as well as read or play games but it's so much more lightweight than my laptop

5. TOMS Shoes - very comfortable, easy to slip on, and yet they provide great support. I wear my TOMS 95% of the time that I have shoes on (I prefer to be barefoot!).

6. Knitting - I taught myself back in 2005 using this kit. It is such a peaceful, calming activity for me.

7. My water bottle - I drink lots of water everyday and I love my insulated water bottle with a straw.

8. Arnica Gel - this provides some pain relief when used on my back, arms, hips, shoulders, etc.

9. Roku - I watch lots of movies and tv shows through Netflix Streaming using our Roku player to distract myself.

10. My blog/Twitter/email friends like Shari and Jamee who support and encourage me while they also live with chronic illnesses.

What would be on your 10 things I can't live without list?

Broken

31 Days to Become a Better Writer - Day 27

Today's Challenge:

Write that post. You know which one I’m talking about. Write it and don’t worry about who reads it.

broken
pained
not whole
not understood
trying to be a fighter
trying to walk on
but the truth
i'm tired
i'm hurting
i cry every day
tears streaming down my face
and then try to put on the brave face
to smile and pretend i'm okay
when i want to just burrow under the covers
and pray and plead and beg for the pain to relent
but it doesn't
so
i have to fight
i have to walk on
even with the tears streaming down my face
not understood
not whole
pained
broken



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Theme Song

Today is day 11 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

We all have one, even if we don’t realize it. It’s the song that comes up on your playlist while you’re walking down the street that makes you smile, a song that perfectly captures the essence of the day/week/month/year that you’re having. Or maybe it’s the song you put on when you’re angry or sad, the one you belt in the car by yourself after a rough day, or the one that helps you calm your nerves. So what’s your health focus/blog’s theme song?

I instantly knew the answer to this prompt/question the moment I saw it on the list for the challenge this month. My BBF (Best Blogging Friend) Shari from Rain Into Rainbows posted this video/song on my Facebook wall a while back and said it made her think of me. Tears!!! Lots of tears!!!! I fell in love with the song from the first listen.

Here are the lyrics to this beautiful song: Walk On by Kellie Coffey

It came out of nowhere, dropped like a stone
Careless betrayal, I could not believe it
I feel abandoned, where did it all go wrong?
Truth hit my blind-spot, I could not see it

         I cry out to heaven to get me through hell
         In the meantime I just keep tellin' myself

                 Walk On, Walk On
                 Don't let this sad set-back break me
                 Walk On, Walk On
                 See where this detour will take me
                 Well I've been beaten down on the ground
                 But I'll pick myself up and dust-off
                 and Walk On

Sun sets behind me and all that's ahead
Is a long stretch of road
God knows where it's going
Cryin' comes easy, out here in the dark
'cause the hardest part is the fear of not knowin'

         I ain't got nothin' left that I could lose
         The only thing that I know I can do

                 Walk On, Walk On
                 Don't let this sad set-back break me
                 Walk On, Walk On
                 See where this detour will take me
                 Well I've been beaten down on the ground
                 But I'll pick myself up and dust-off
                 and Walk On

I don't always do the best at remembering to pick myself up and walk on, but I try and this song and my amazing friend Shari inspire me to keep trying!


Lyrics Copyright 2007 Kellie Coffey