Lighten Up!

One of my goals for my life is to be more mindful...meaning being in the present moment more.

At age 25, I was diagnosed with a disabling, chronic pain syndrome called Fibromyalgia. There has been a ton of new research, and there is a lot more information out there about this disease than there used to be. Before that, I never really understood what was wrong with me. I just knew that if I did certain activities, I would hurt...and I hurt if I didn't do anything at all...or I just knew that I was afraid to participate in certain activities for fear of hurting...or rather that I could not do certain things at all. I felt like a 25 year old women trapped inside of an eighty something's body...except that body looked 25!


I'm sure other chronic pain sufferers know what I'm talking about...regardless of what causes your chronic pain...fortunately, mine is non-degenerative.



I never really got answers for my pain. I thought I was going crazy at times. Why do I hurt like this when there is nothing 'wrong' (according to x-rays and blood tests)? So I kind of let it take over my being.......it was my past and present and going to be my future! Pain was who I was...pain kept me on the couch...a lot. I never knew back then what I could be capable of doing today!

I've never really been a quitter though either.

All of these years, I did my own research on FMS (Fibromyalgia). I learned a lot. I have met others who have it. Talking about it with others who have it helps. I have made certain changes in my lifestyle too. And now my doc has found out I have a low thyroid. I'm excited to see how my new thyroid medicine will help me. Even though the symptoms of low thyroid mimic those of FMS, I still don't think I'm completely out of the woods on Fibromyalgia just yet. It will take some time to really adjust to the thyroid meds and see if they are working.

Anyway, I'm just writing about this I guess, to say that I can still do anything i want, even with chronic pain. If I just live in the present moment....all I have to get through is that moment...I don't have get through to that night or to the next morning yet...just that one moment.

Does this make sense?

I read an article about being mindful and in the present moment for chronic pain sufferers and how it helps with chronic pain. It made sense to me. Instead of being afraid or giving up...now, i just keep pushing on...all i have to make it through is this present moment. I'll just do my best. I know it will be different each day, but I will always try and give it my best.

"Come on Sue, you got this....you can do this!"