I was just thinking about "To Do Lists" which are tiring and overwhelming for most of us with Fibromyalgia.  

 

Let's make "My Accomplishments Today" list and list the things you have accomplished during the day. At the end of the day our list will make us feel good....

 

Samples:

 

To Do:

• Vacumn
• Clean bathroom 
• Do Washing 
• Plan and cook meals 
• Do Dishes

I Accomplished:

• made bed
• Got dressed
• Straightened Counter Top and cleaned toilet in Bathroom, cleaned sink
• made breakfast
• put dishes in dish washer
• vacuumed one room (do the rest off and on during the week)
• Fixed Lunch
• Put Dishes in Dishwasher
• Washed & dried whites from the dirty clothes basket.
• Folded and hung clothes
• Fixed dinner (hubby put dishes into dishwasher, started dishwasher)
• Played on computer and watched TV

 

Wow, what a different way of looking at what we can accomplish in a day.. The second list would make me feel really good as any accomplishment we can achieve in a day makes this Fibro World a much nicer one.

 

Too often we are beating up on ourselves about how little we got done due to the pain and fatigue of Fibro. Let's start turning it around and find ourselves much happier.

 

Hope you all like this idea, too.
Carol

Even a weed can be a perfect flower....

Sometimes those of us with Fibromyalgia can feel like a weed and forget that we are a beautiful creation of God...in spite of our symptoms from our disease.  We can either shrivel up like a flowering weed or we can shine in this wonderful world of ours.  Just because we are in pain most of the time, fatigued and foggy brained, we are still like a flower to our friends and family.  Our attitudes are up to us.... we can either be negative or positive.

Let's work together to do things that make us still feel like achievers... new hobbies and goals, new friends.  We might not be able to be that "A" type of person we once were but we can brighten our own world and the world of others in simpler ways.

Do you know a mother who is exhausted with the duties of motherhood?  How about inviting her to come have a cup of tea... or taking a pretty cup filled with a mixture of tea bags and let her know you were thinking of her.  Do you know a shut in, whose life could be brightened with a card or a phone call?   A hand written note sent to someone in a nursing home or retirement home, crocheting and knitting hats for kids, or lap robe's for someone ill can brighten our own spirits as well as theirs.
Baking some cookies and taking them to a neighbor who has had a rough time can be an upper for both of you.

The whole message I'm trying to share is that "if it is to be, it's up to me"...  When we forget self and do things for others, we feel so much better (and so do they).  We are able to get above our pain and enjoy life once again.

Have a wonderful day....

Waiting for the Lilacs to Bloom

Just reflecting how lucky I am to live in a 4 season area.  I love God's colors that show in the Spring.

How have you been talking to yourself lately?  Are you being nice to yourself or saying negative things?  Well, it's time to change your thoughts and words to yourself.  I'm doing a program on this subject at my face to face support meeting next week.  For the past few weeks I've been more aware of what I am saying to myself....

Such as:
*  No body can hurt like this, I must be imagining it
*  I'm  such a pansy, can't even do anything for more than 5 or 10 minutes and then have to sit down.
*  It's probably all in my head.
*  Come on, push a little harder, I can do it  (flare time)
*  Maybe I'm just lazy.
*  She/He is thinking I'm taking advantage of her/his help.  I hate it when I can't do thing myself and she/he helps out so much.  It's not fair to her/him.
And it goes on and on.....

How can I change the way I am thinking?  By turning my negatives into positives....like this:

*  I'm hurting today, what can I do to help it?  stretch, take medication, go for a walk, a stretch shower
*  I'm so glad I can still get my housework done, even though it takes me longer and I need to rest here and there.  What I'm doing today will make a difference.
*  Yes it is all in my head... in my central nervous system which is all out of whack.  I will do what I can to make myself better and not be so mean to myself.
*  I would like to push harder but I need to be realistic.  If I break up my household chores into different days and just work on one smaller area, I can feel accomplishments.
*  No, Carol.. you are not lazy. You love things in order but due to Fibromyalgia it is impossible to be like your old self... You were one of those who liked things done and looking good.  You loved your flowers and your home.  But due to this weird disease, syndrome or whatever else they want to call it you just can't do it anymore.  Look at what you do now...  You still have flowers (in pots) and quite a few of them.  You still can pick up in just a few minutes and be ready for company (they will NOT know just what you've done the last few days, nor do they care.  They are coming to see YOU (ME) and that's what counts.  You still love to cook, you just don't spend hours at it.  You've made some pretty darn good dinners in way less than a half hour.
*  I'm so glad she/he helps me.  I know she/he is concerned that I have to live in pain and is more than happy to help out so I have less pain.  They LOVE me... and I LOVE them...

We have to watch our self-talk... it can really bring us down quick.  When we realize what we have been doing we can turn it around and love our selves 100% in spite of Fibromyalgia...

Think about it, my friends.... catch yourself in action.... 

Have a wonderful day... you deserve it!

Spring is showing her colors

A couple weeks ago on a sunny day we had visitors in the back yard.  My little Sparky came scooting in to the house ... Arfing all the way.  Up on the tree limb were 3 smaller raccoons sunning in the sun, napping.  Practically standing on my head I finally got a picture of them.

Our daffodils are out along with heather, forsythia, and flowering trees.  Some of the trees are greening up and the grass is growing.  We are about 6 weeks early for this beginning of Spring but I'll take it with what so many others are going through with weather and earthquakes.

Getting out of the dark days of winter helps most fibromites.  No the pain doesn't disappear but the mood is brighter which makes coping much easier.  Getting out of the house into the fresh air cleanses the spirit. 

On the other hand, Spring is when we really need to remember to pace ourselves.  It is so easy to over do at this time of the year...  we see the dirty windows, the spots on the carpet, what needs painting, the trimming and planting wait for us outside.  PACING is a real key to less pain.  Work 10 minutes, or 20 and then rest for 10.  Then 10-20 minutes more and rest again.  It makes a world of difference.

Thanks for letting me into your world for a few minutes.  How are you and your Fibro doing?  Have you any secrets to share that help you endure the pain?  I'd love to hear from you....

Hints of Spring

I don't know about you but I'm ready for Spring and signs of spring are popping out all over.  Like most of you, we had a crazy winter this year.  We are either getting a false spring or the worst is over.

The barometer going from lows and back and forth.  For us with Fibro, we don't need a barometer, our bodies tell us when it changes.  Doesn't matter if it changes to bad or good, we feel it.    Perhaps we need to listen to it more.  When the pain starts not to overdo and try to do everything in one day.  Get extra rest, eat the foods that are best for us, do our breathing and relaxation exercises and work with it instead of against it.  We can only do this when we accept our pain and decide to do what works best for us to alleviate it.

I've been doing too much sitting, too much wrong eating and not doing right for my body.  And, I am paying heavily for it.  If it is to be, it's up to me.

I just went out to be in the sun, trying to soak up the Natural Vitamin D...  I must start walking.  If you live on a big hill you will understand.  To get in the car and drive to a safe and flat area is something that is easy to put off doing.  If I could walk out my door and walk on flat sidewalks, it would be great.  Hmmm, guess I'm making excuses, do you do that, too?  I have an area less than 2 minutes away that I can walk safely.   We get a lot of rain (I bought a raincoat last year and haven't worn it once)...  excuse again.   I've really got to put in action what I know I have to do for myself. Why do we seem to procrastinate?

This is my year to improve myself.  I'm starting today.  It'll take work not to procrastinate but in the end, it will be so worth it.

What are you doing for yourself this year?