I Used to Be...But I'm Not Anymore.

Today is day 23 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 10 line poem where each line is the phrase "I used to be ____ but I'm not anymore." What did you fill in the blank?

I used to be a maniac running around like a chicken with it's head cut off but I'm not anymore.
I used to be unable to sit and just be but I'm not anymore.
I used to be embarrassed and fearful to talk about my health but I'm not anymore.
I used to be weak allowing whatever may come to knock me down without a fight but I'm not anymore.
I used to be a multi-tasker with seventy zillion things always going on but I'm not anymore.
I used to be full of the opposite of grace, peace, and mercy but I'm not anymore.
I used to be a runner, a swimmer, and one who did yoga but I'm not anymore.
I used to be healthy but I'm not anymore.
I used to be a lover of books full of intricate detail that required all my attention but I'm not anymore.
I used to be willing to go, go, go until I had nothing left but I'm not anymore.

Being Still and Doing Nothing

Today is day 22 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).

Today’s prompt is inspired by the blog “The Things We Forget.” http://thingsweforget.blogspot.com/ The site hasa simple but lovely premise and has been sharing mini motivational sayings written in permanent marker on a Post-It (then stuck somewhere in public for others to see) for a while now. I wanted to bring its tiny form of inspiration to the Health Activist community because I think it fits what we do. For today’s prompt – write yourself a reminder.

A Prayer for Today

Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people.
Amen.



Prayer & Photo Credit

Today is day 21 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).

Health Madlib Poem. Fun with parts of speech! Today’s prompt is inspired by the classic game – and poetry – put together. A website I love to visit for writing prompts (when I want to push myself to be creative) is Language is a Virus. They have a few fun tools – one of which is a poem generator: http://languageisavirus.com/cgi-bin/madlibs.pl. You enter any words you want and they automatically fill the words into a classic poem.

OK, this is crazy yall! Damaris helped me think of words to put into my mad lib that described a day in my life. Here's what happened (with a few grammatical edits):

pink yarn's pink yarn

I walk my tv and all the fans drink bed;
I journal my recliners and all is planned again.
(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)

The books are waking out in snarky and weary,
And the tired purse yawns in:
I mull my cane and all the knitting needles sleep water bottle.

I lied that you sat me into Diet Coke
And recline me zonked, knitted me quite forgetful.
(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)

Medicine reads from the water, Damaris & Russ type:
watch pillow and Kindle Fire's computer:
I mull my cane and all the knitting needles sleep water bottle.

I worked you'd eat the way you write,
But I blog jumbled and I chat your cell phone.
(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)

I should have thinked a Roku instead;
At least when Netflix stretches they organize back again.
I mull my cane and all the knitting needles sleep water bottle.

(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)
- C.C. & Damaris ~ based on Mad Girl's Love Song by Sylvia Plath

OK, did you laugh and cry as much as we did????? The funny thing, a lot of it actually made sense to my brain because my brain is so messed up so much of the time. This was hysterical!

Your turn to write your own mad lib. Make sure & let me know that you posted one so I can read it & laugh with you!


Image Credit

Health Questions

Today is day 20 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 poem (5-15 lines) where every line is a health question.

"You don't look sick. You must be over your illness. Are you?"

"Why do you need a cane?"

"Isn't fibromyalgia just all in your head?"

"Have you tried 'this'? It cured my sister's friend's 3rd cousin so if you would just do it, you'd be better."

"Do you think I have fibromyalgia too? Because every once in a while I get a pain in my back or I get really tired."

"Since you aren't working, could you watch the kids for me/run an errand for me/etc.?"

"Why don't you come to the gym with me? Because if you'd just exercise, you'd get better."

"Aren't you done being sick yet?"

"Don't you know that if you just had more faith, you wouldn't be sick anymore?"

Yes, I or other people I know with fibromyalgia have actually been asked these questions. Sigh...

5 Dinner Guests

Today is day 19 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).

Hosting a dinner party is an intimate affair. Besides the careful selection of ingredients and courses, there’s who to invite. A seemingly simple task, in fact there are many elements to consider. Political and religious views, strong vegan/vegetarian views vs. food-chain eaters, quiet vs. loud personalities. Finding the right combination requires careful thought and planning. So what if you could invite ANYONE, living or deceased, and you knew they would show up… What five people would you want to have dinner with if you could? They can be living or deceased, famous politician or your best friend. They could be an expert in your condition or not know the first thing about health or wellness. What 5 people would you want at your dinner, and why? What would the topics of conversation be?

What a fun prompt for today! I immediately knew who 3 of my 5 guests would be and within another minute or so, I added my other 2 guests. The reason I chose the guests I did is because they are all women I adore and look up to. Their writings inspire me. All of the guests (and me) have gone through some difficult times (we're all still dealing with them in truth) and I know we would all be blessed by sharing our stories and journeys with each other. I can only imagine what the conversation would be like around the table. I know for sure that there would be lots of laughter, probably some tears, and that this dinner party would go late into the night!

In no particular order, the guests at my dinner party would be:
Jamee from A New Kind of Normal (she is one of my amazing BBF's ~ best blogging friends ~ who I would love to see finally! face to face!!!!!)

Shari from Rain Into Rainbows (she is my other amazing BBF ~ best blogging friend ~ who I also am dying to see finally! face to face!!!!!)

Ann from A Holy Experience (her book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are has been life changing for me)

Shauna from shaunaniequist.com (I've heard her speak and had a chance to briefly talk with her about our shared miscarriage experiences. Her books Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life and Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way are simply amazing! I cannot wait to read her new book Bread and Wine.)

Angie from Bring the Rain (Reading her story of grief and how she is living with it has played a big part in my own grief journey. Her books What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms and I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy are in my stack of books to read. So many amazing books, so little time!)

What about you? Who would you invite to your dinner party?

Acrostic

Today is day 18 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 an acrostic poem using the word "Health" or the name of your health condition.

irst thing in the morning, waking from troubled sleep, gently stretch my arms, my legs, is my body yet awake?

nch by inch, I slowly move, trying to bring myself upright.

ut just as every other day, my body chooses to fight.

easoning with it never seems to work. Regardless I must fight on. First one step, then another, while tightly holding on.

utside the world moves rapidly. I once was part of that race. Now victory comes for me, if I can make it at a slow pace.

orning turns to afternoon as I move along.

esterday's many events are felt the entire day strong.

yearning and a longing for more energy and strength.

ike a few years ago when I could function without break after break.

oing to keep moving. I need your grace and peace.

'm still who I was inside before this illness reared it's hate.

fighter, some days strong, some days weak, still needing to be loved and cared about, please don't run away, but walk with me, there's still much journey ahead. Please don't turn you back, please remain my friend.


What about you? Can you make an acrostic out of your health condition or out of something significant in your life?