Fibromyalgia Support Group

Who is your hero/heroine? How does your hero/heroine inspire you to cope better with all your challenges?

Have several heroes. Their words as well as their actions from all these heroes of mine help me to cope better with all the challenges that face on a daily basis with my fibromyalgia, for sure.

One hero that particular like is Norman Cousins who healed himself of a rare degenerative condition, confounding the medics, with just humour therapy- prescribed himself lots of funny movies to watch, positivity and vitamins. Try to fill my life with as much humour/laughter as possible too as have found too that it is one of the best medicines. Collect jokes or funny quotes from magazines, online, from friends and family and if see anything funny write it down. Also, take myself more lightly these days. Watch the news less as it tends to be too biased towards the negative and also seek out positive news stories( inspirational or funny).Every day think of at least 5 reasons to be grateful- started this after watching an Oprah show( another of my heroes). When you count your blessings you spend less time thinking of your woes so it lifts your spirits. Sure, not every day you can be bright and sunny- have to keep it real as well as be real. So important not to be a shiny happy person like in the REM song if you just want to cry or express frustrations. It is okay to cry or give your self permission to vent your feelings whatever the spectrum happens to be as long as you are respectful to self + others whilst you do so.

The late Christopher Reeve was a truly inspirational guy and adored reading his books especially the book Still Me. He never gave up on his life inspite of the extraordinary challenges. His courage now lives on in his phenomenal wife and his children who continue his vision to this day.“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”- Christopher Reeve

“Love bravely, live bravely, be courageous, there’s really nothing to lose.” – Jewel Kilcher

When read inspirational words from heroic people or read heroic stories then feel a surge of courage within self to be able to face any/all challenges that come my way with the Fibromyalgia or just with life itself.

Interested to hear whom your heroes are and as to how they help you to cope better or even be better in this life with all its myriad of challenges.

“I do not ask to walk smooth paths nor bear an easy load. I pray for strength and fortitude to climb the rock strewn road.

Give me such courage and I can scale the hardest peaks alone,

And transform every stumbling block into a stepping stone.” _ Gale Brook Burket

My Nana, late grandma, was an inspiration to me too. Miss her big time yet often feel her close to me like an angel. She was very wise- she was the embodiement of this Chinese Proverb:- He who smiles rather than rages is always the wiser, as she rarely responded to anger with anger or went down to someone elses level. She was always calm and always smiling even though much would be happening under the surface. It is easier to lose control when others do and much harder to keep a cool head about you. Try my upmost to be like her and to let her legacy live on in me. My aunty recently said that I am more like her than anyone else in the family in looks as well as personality which took as a great compliment. Yet, she was not as loquacious/chatty as I or as extrovert !

In Britain we have The Pride Of Britain Awards- an award ceremony for ordinary brave citizens of the UK where the awards are given my celebrities- it is very moving( smile, laugh and cry when you hear the stories). Is there anything similar to this in the USA?

Must sign off now as have talked too much already!! Warmest wishes to you all and look forward to reading your words on this topic, hugs, Clarita

MAN IN A HOLE- AUTHOR UNKNOWN

A man is walking along the road & falls in the hole.

He can’t get out

A minister walks by

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, help me get out!”

“Ok, so he writes a prayer & throws it down to the man.”

A doctor comes by

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, help me get out.”

“Ok, so he writes a prescription & throws it down the hole.”

A friend comes by, asks,

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, help me get out of here!”

“Ok, and he jumps in the hole with the man.”

“Hey, why did you do that? Now we’re both in the hole!”

“Yeah” says the friend, “but I’ve been here before & know how to get out.”

Weakness or Strength?

Source- BestInspiration.com

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take for example your biggest strength. Take for example, the story of one 10 year old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei”, the boy finally said, “ Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know.” The sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teaching/teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No”, the sensei insisted. “ Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons”, the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in judo. And second, the only known defence for that move, is your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

Source:- Bits and Pieces, August 15, 1996, Economic Press Inc.

Clarita darlin'!

Your wonderful! I simply just love reading your posts! So uplifting and very true. Love the weakness and strength one. I totally agree with what you said.

Thank you so much for sharing!

fessy

Thanks for sharing with us.

My mom is my hero, she has passed on but she is still my hero. The list of reasons why she is my hero is way too long but she went through alot in her life and still managed to be the strongest, most selfless, loving woman I will ever know in my life. I miss her so much but I know she is watching over me

Connie

mammy/Connie- That was beautiful, many thanks for sharing your story here about your mom being your hero. Feel sure your mom is watching over you, too. Fessy- thaks for your kind words. Love the graphic, too! Big hugs to you both, Love Clarita

what if you dont have ahero/heroine?

Adewyn- Then find someone, would say to you as it is good to look to others for inspiration. It is not a case of putting others on a pedestal - far from it,yet having heroes to my mind is looking at someone who is braver or wiser than yourself then wanting to aspire to their words or actions. Drawing strength or courage from these words or hearing their stories, too. Whether you are spiritual or just philosophical it is good to have role models. Naturally, we can all be our own heroes- everyone can be heroic/act heroic, in our own lives.Even animals can be our heroes. Some animals are quite heroic in their love/actions to us- whether it be pets or even wild animals. Firmly believe if we do not look to who is at a higher level than us in terms of courage or wisdom then it is harder for us to achieve/be that more brave or wise.If you are religous then you follow the teachings of your leader as well as read the wise teachings from holy books. When you are talking to someone really inspirational you have that A-ha eureka moment. Have several heroes/heroines from all walks of life & enjoy reading about heroic individuals as well as animals as it lifts my spirits if nothing else. Hope that helps- Adewyn.

Some quotes for you all:-

“Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.”- David Thomas

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. . . . It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more.

- Erica Jong

It's better to live one day as a lion, than a hundred as a sheep.

-- Benito Mussollini

“When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they’ll remember you and be kind to someone else. And it will become like wildfire.”- Whoopi Goldberg

“ Only a life lived for others is worth living.” – Albert Einstein

“Courage is contagious

When a brave man takes a stand

The spines of others are stiffened.”- Brian G Jett

“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise;

Risking more than others think is safe;

Dreaming more than others think is practical;

And expecting more than others think is possible.” – author unknown

I would say Maya Angelou, after listening to Phenomenal Woman, I realized for the first time in my life that I am a woman Phenomenally! It was the first understanding I had of what being a woman meant.

I don't know Clarita, but I'd have to say Tim Minchin gets me through the day. Here's one of his quotes "If anyone can show me of one example in the history of the world of a single psychic who has been able to prove under reasonable experimental conditions that they are able to read minds, and if anyone can show me one example in the history of the world of a single astrologer who has been able to prove under reasonable conditions that they predict events by interpreting signs, and if anyone can show me one example in the history of the world of a homeopathic practitioner who has been able to prove under reasonable experimental conditions that solutions made infitely of good stuff dissolved repeatedly into relatively huge quantites of water have consistently medicinal value than a similarly administered placebo, and if anyone can show me just one example in the entire history of the world of a single spiritual of religious person who has been able to prove either logically or empirically the existence of a higher power that has any consciousness or interest in the human race or ability to punish or reward humans for their moral choices or that there is any reason other than fear to believe in any version of an afterlife, I will give you my piano, one of my legs...and my wife.

Tim Minchin