tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15565717989579569692024-02-06T18:12:47.132-08:00Embrace your wings, you earned them!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-47617852982570628002014-05-24T19:21:00.000-07:002014-05-24T19:21:38.383-07:00what i loved this week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mindvalley.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7bvfkty-inRsiuRT6hyTxI0pEEe8rX3zKPW3qbdE5q14MNPNBh5tIgQI2PCtQxNZNHbS0vm_0BRttwWBqKIwiDDdtc0yy_DniTcHYSO9mUnr4EMpKcvMDjmM443xU1N6YLD7HAM9ZlFc/s1600/Arianna-Huffington-12-steps-to-thrive.jpg" height="640" width="518" /></a></div>
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Courtesy of <a href="http://mindvalley.com/">mindvalley.com</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-21367786800607934272014-03-28T08:53:00.001-07:002014-05-24T19:22:21.228-07:00something to savor going into the weekend<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">"Begin
doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this
moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake."</span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-85857576440598914072014-03-21T10:41:00.002-07:002014-05-24T19:21:57.424-07:00wise words for the weekend<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your
life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>~Euripides</b></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-34534359074482299532014-03-19T15:50:00.000-07:002014-05-22T17:03:26.877-07:00false positive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7kExRgtLMC3mNMP0pXP7HEVfsJOITEof-wqCUDCfuhoL_uuTZOisU8ipq-BXjm6fvnaA9wnqechObvkd4k3INKG_58aci1WpAsCG-LuVaxKDAr8V-na5V2ZiEPGs6disHJSbHHqlI_9m/s1600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7kExRgtLMC3mNMP0pXP7HEVfsJOITEof-wqCUDCfuhoL_uuTZOisU8ipq-BXjm6fvnaA9wnqechObvkd4k3INKG_58aci1WpAsCG-LuVaxKDAr8V-na5V2ZiEPGs6disHJSbHHqlI_9m/s1600/image1.jpeg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I had a great weekend. I mean really, <em>really</em> great. We took a little two-day break from the 'burbs and drove a couple hours east to the California desert. I did pretty much everything I love to do: wake up without an alarm clock, read, walk, soak in the sun poolside, dine out, write, and I even snuck in some vintage shopping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh, and NAP...<strong><em>TWO OF THEM</em></strong>. That's almost unheard of in my world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Come Monday, the new work week began and I was *shockingly* feeling pretty good. I felt rested and my mind was sharp. The pain was much lower than it had been in months, and I was in a downright chipper mood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And then my gentle hatha yoga class rolled around Monday evening...and I had the worst trouble focusing. My mind was NOT on the mat. My body was NOT cooperating. I mean, I was fidget central. And my breathing. Ugh, it was all irregular and shallow. Before long, I found myself getting aggitated with the woman next to me breathing a thousand times louder than any human being should. Seriously, she was like a sleestack from Land of the Lost. (If I lost you there with that reference, YouTube it. You won't be disappointed in the outstanding campiness of it). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So now I am once again, slammed back to my </span><a href="http://imgiventofly.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-world-as-you-know-it-takes-turn.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">new reality</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. The three day respite was only temporary. I'm still chronically ill with a disease that has no cure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Looking back, I realize now that the key to this short term "remission" was REST. And a shit ton of it. My body needs, craves -<em> is crying out for</em> - R.E.S.T. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury at this time in my life and career to grant that request. The scary thing is, I'm not sure I have the luxury to deny that request either.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAEK54mtBuPycl1q-29YE-295mrowi8ISVnyy_niqQOhSecrP4JnQCbN8ZRffd3MSRgVIN_fdncd1EsKY69SXtlYXmKa5mo3Sy95Hm76CU-KXKAF4PITWPrFSgaLNKTHmEhEg0yOn4Rm-/s1600/image4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAEK54mtBuPycl1q-29YE-295mrowi8ISVnyy_niqQOhSecrP4JnQCbN8ZRffd3MSRgVIN_fdncd1EsKY69SXtlYXmKa5mo3Sy95Hm76CU-KXKAF4PITWPrFSgaLNKTHmEhEg0yOn4Rm-/s1600/image4.jpeg" height="640" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-48571643835128113122014-03-14T08:00:00.000-07:002014-05-24T19:22:35.932-07:00t.g.i.f.<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“It's not what happens to you,
but how you react to it that matters.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">~Epictetus<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-81121305303206510612014-03-13T13:50:00.001-07:002014-05-22T17:05:06.654-07:00navigating dark, scary waters<div style="text-align: justify;">
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I’m not sure if the confusion and lack of focus I am
experiencing is what’s commonly referred to as “fibro fog”, or if I am just
still in shock over the diagnosis. I’ve coursed through a wave of emotions in
the past week; relief, shame, hope, self-pity, denial, anger, defiance (it
literally took me 10 minutes to think of this word – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stupid effing fog</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It’s one thing to have your body be a total wreck, but quite
another to have your mind so far out in lala land that it’s downright SCARY. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>What if this doesn’t go away? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>How can I continue to work? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span>How will I function day-to-day? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>What the hell is going on?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span>Is there a cure? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span>Is there a cause?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is a scary, dark place to be. I truly wouldn’t wish
this on anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-5053347854442190752014-03-12T08:00:00.000-07:002014-03-13T15:45:27.899-07:00setting ground rules<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear FM,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we’re going to live together forever, you and I, we’re
going to have to establish some ground rules. Mmmm-K?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>I have YOU, you do not have ME.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>As much as you try and discourage me from staying active with your pain inducing tactics, I am not going to stop.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>You can suck my energy dry, but you can’t take
my fight and I will persevere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and I will
kick your butt in mile 26.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Stay away from my kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we will never learn to like one another, we can play
nice if you acknowledge from the get-go that <strong><em>I am the boss</em></strong>. Capice?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ShanLeigh</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-86246702558287318802014-03-11T08:00:00.000-07:002014-03-11T09:18:37.206-07:00would you rather<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Would you rather live without pain, or live without
pleasure? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never imagined that I would actually be faced with that decision. I
mean, it’s like a bad college drinking game – except I’m playing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for reals</i> this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my whopping 6 days of post-</span><a href="http://imgiventofly.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-world-as-you-know-it-takes-turn.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">diagnosis</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> research, I’ve unearthed
a ton of different theories, diets, exercise plans, get-well-fast gimmicks,
naturopathic remedies and detox regimes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Rheumatologist suggested to cut back intake of “inflammatory” foods.
Um, do you know what that consists of? Pretty much <strong><u>EVERYTHING</u></strong>. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Dairy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Meat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Sugar </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Additives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Synthetic sweeteners<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Wheat and refined grains<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Fried foods<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Tomatoes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Hydrogenated and trans fats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Processed, packaged, prepared food<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Alcohol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Caffeine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I’ve already tried the gluten-free thing, and factually elt worse
after two months of strict adherence. (Not to mention my grocery bill
skyrocketed.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One down (check).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Next?</i> I will be
cutting my morning cup(s) of coffee. This one is not going to be fun. I dread
the headaches already…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-83251291613212967342014-03-10T13:43:00.000-07:002014-05-12T15:24:16.464-07:00street sign wisdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlQU3JGB14Fu4Co6U_ZCNvVJOOz4f2wJ9zQqAxcvBXniHlk_EZNfXOF7bqnakZRgXo5ab8N9btcX6n6607lXrmfQ-OWF-gNuM3rLxAQf9WGbtXrnyPlrWsZ79iFm29X4df-91YOQPKGzz/s1600/lemons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlQU3JGB14Fu4Co6U_ZCNvVJOOz4f2wJ9zQqAxcvBXniHlk_EZNfXOF7bqnakZRgXo5ab8N9btcX6n6607lXrmfQ-OWF-gNuM3rLxAQf9WGbtXrnyPlrWsZ79iFm29X4df-91YOQPKGzz/s1600/lemons.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exactly. Happy Monday to you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">xo</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-48743227336963427432014-03-06T11:59:00.000-08:002014-03-28T10:24:59.133-07:00the air i tasted and breathed has taken a turn<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd1ZXXeoixKEc8-y8uUBae2SXw9EpKop_JBINAXsz2PDxLwjiD8BPMDF4wUxAEZChztt5A2tBQoG5Ce-Ce4NJafn9JNo44ooPkY_09vk3x0gY_RRyAKJa5oF71laWk_Urv4UgMmpVJ3UN/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd1ZXXeoixKEc8-y8uUBae2SXw9EpKop_JBINAXsz2PDxLwjiD8BPMDF4wUxAEZChztt5A2tBQoG5Ce-Ce4NJafn9JNo44ooPkY_09vk3x0gY_RRyAKJa5oF71laWk_Urv4UgMmpVJ3UN/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></span></strong></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>"Fibromyalgia."</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's what Dr. W said yesterday at 11:54 am PST...my life is forever changed because of it, and it still hasn't quite settled into my reality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm in research mode, ingesting copious amounts of information, research, personal stories, treatments, alternatives, support sites. You name it, I'm stalking it. This is my way of connecting the dots and coming to terms with my prognosis. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took 40 years to put all of this together. From the time I was two years old, I would wake at night crying hysterically that my "legs hurt". The doctors said it was just growing pains. I got orange flavored baby aspirin tabs and the nauseating smell of Ben-Gay vaporub all over my extremities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my pre-teen years, participating in organized sports, I complained of pain in my legs, knees, feet and toes. By this time, I could more effectively communicate the type of pain and pinpoint where. The doctor said my tendons were too short and that stretching would help. Along with pain relievers and more of that blasted Ben-Gay crap. After that, I simply learned to live with it. It was manageable to a certain degree, and only flared up a few days every month or so. Tylenol and Advil became my best friends. {I'm so sorry, kidneys and liver}.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 27, I sought help for dibilitating headaches. The doctor told me they were tension headaches caused by stress. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When my back began to give me serious trouble in my 30's, it was diagnosed as muscle spasms and treated with muscle relaxers and massage therapy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the past twenty years, I've sought help many times for extreme anxiety and panic attacks, insomnia, fatigue, TMJ and depression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, at the age of 42, all of these symptons (and others) have collided into one singular diagnosis: <strong>fibromyalgia</strong>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forty years of suffering was not "all in my head" or just part of my sensitive nature (aka weak tolerance). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not crazy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a disease. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has a name.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Fibromyalgia.</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say not knowing is half the battle. I say the battle begins the moment you "know". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For more information, please visits </span><a href="http://www.fmaware.org/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.fmaware.org</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556571798957956969.post-83395619223742762502014-02-05T16:55:00.002-08:002014-03-28T10:25:16.683-07:00start where you are<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSErrl-lTV4-pp0xyv0vWe3tqbnw4Tqk7b-Csh0YbrfUO8W4DtiNLqoVdOD9KZXxDSsrflBf5mNRezfDTx1sedqLFMSPGQWG4lndhPi9dqDqMPL7lRPbQ1QltQQnYc3p7Z4-wdQBBTPnf/s1600/converse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSErrl-lTV4-pp0xyv0vWe3tqbnw4Tqk7b-Csh0YbrfUO8W4DtiNLqoVdOD9KZXxDSsrflBf5mNRezfDTx1sedqLFMSPGQWG4lndhPi9dqDqMPL7lRPbQ1QltQQnYc3p7Z4-wdQBBTPnf/s1600/converse.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually, writing this initial post was supposed to be much
easier than it has turned out to be. I have officially stared at a blank page over
a week now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">{drums fingertips on mouse for eight
millionth time}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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So, rather than continue to stare and grow more and more
anxious about whether the blinking curser may be causing irreparable eye damage,
I shall dive right in, “stream-of-conscious” style. Wherever I am will surface,
and the ice will be broken. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think. At least that’s the plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">where am i? <o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Literally</u>:: Well, I am in California.
Southern California, to be exact. Orange County, to be even more exact. (Um, please
don’t hold that against me.) I am a transplant from the great Pacific Northwest,
a true Seattle girl at heart, although I have now officially lived away from my
hometown longer than in my hometown (22 versus 20 years). So, yep oh great mathematician
that you are, that makes me 42. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Mentally</u>:: I am in a great
transitional phase mentally. That sounds rather odd, I realize, but that’s the
best way to describe my evolution. I am 42, remember. That’s technically
mid-life. And mid-life is rough, or at least it is for this old bird. It’s the
shits to still wake up, halfway through your life, not knowing what the hell
you are doing, where you want to go, what you want to do. What is my purpose?
What is my true path? I’m working on it, but I’m such a total work in progress.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Physically</u>:: Meh. Again, I’m
a work in progress. I recently removed gluten from my diet, began exercising
3-4 times a week, practicing yoga twice per week, and visiting a masseuse every
other week. I’ve lost 10 lbs. since the start of 2014. I can now fit into my
wardrobe again after a 5 month downward slide of emotional eating paired with no physical activity whatsoever. I quit smoking exactly 381 days
ago. After all this, you’d think I’d be more than “meh”. I should be all like “YAY
ME! I’m fan-freaking-tastic!” But, alas, I am not. I suffer from chronic pain
in my back, shoulders, neck, hips, legs, wrists, elbows, palms, fingers - every joint, bone, and muscle.
Everywhere. <strong>Every. Single. Day.</strong> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Spiritually</u>:: Yea, so let me
get back to you on that one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So folks, this is where I am today; in the present tense. Tomorrow
I may or may not be in the same place. That’s why I am here. This little
corner of the interwebs is mine to document my messy, real, honest and ongoing journey. I hope to connect with
like-minded souls who want to share in this all-encompassing trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">where are <strong>YOU</strong> today?</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818442322608046722noreply@blogger.com1