Affirmations To Instill Positive Values In Your Life

While recovering from a gum infection and then oral surgery, spring marched right into every-one's life without me. But I was not absent from you hearts and your prayers. Your emails and phone calls witness to that fact. And I am so grateful!

I could not wait to get out into the yard to take pictures of the first blooms. I wanted to share the beauty I saw from my windows. But, until today, all I could do was recover and watch from afar. I was in what we who are chronically ill refer to as the dreaded "down time."

Down time is when we are suffering with an illness and our chronic fatigue kicks in. It is almost impossible to do anything other than what is required to live. You know like breathing, eating, going to the bath room. As much as you might want to visit us, and sometimes we want to see you more than you want to visit, it is not a time for company. It is a time for rest and rejuvenation.

Down time can be hard on friends and family. It is impossible for anyone who is not suffering with a chronic illness to understand how important it is to use down time wisely. It means that the person suffering will miss family functions and may have to miss scheduled social affairs. It means that you will not be able to socialize on the phone or the computer. It is self induced isolation. It may be the difference between a short recovery period and not recovering at all.

Those of us who have been ill for a number of years all ready know that during down time, we are really unable to form a thought worthy of conversation. We should be quite and we need to be still. We realize that a lot of feeling are hurt during down time. What the outside love one witness is raw unbound nerves. The words come out cold and uncaring. They are words that are better left unsaid. So when your chronically ill friend or love one says that they will have to bow out of an engagement, count it as a blessing. Then go and enjoy your event.

When they are up again, they will contact you. We always do. We love you!

OK, enough of catching up. Lingering too long on some-one's illness can certainly bring illness to you. One blog that teaches the "Law of Attraction" in every day terms and situations is Carol King at "Law of Attraction Help and "Missing Ingredient Coaching."

Coach Carol's "Missing Ingredient Coaching" site offer individual in depth personalized programs to succeed in attracting your life desires to you. And that includes good health. I have promised to be a better student. The insightful knowledge that Coach Carole offer is priceless.

I am so excited about this "Values Video." As I recovered form my surgery, I formed it in my mind. I could not wait to share the finished product with you. Spring is the perfect time to reinforce your positive values. What better tools than springs blossoms to help demonstrate them.

A special THANK YOU to Carl T at Healing Music Emporium for composing and offering the free mp3 of "In the Sunset." I am sure you will agree that the music is perfect for this video.

Carl offers free music with each post. So, please visit Healing Music Emporium and thank him for this wonderful music.

PLEASE TURN OFF THE MUSIC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BEFORE STARTING THE VIDEO!

When Love Comes To The Rescue

What ever love is missing in your life; love of self, love of family, love of a significant other or love of your higher power, when it arrives, Your joy is visible to both you and those who come into your presence.

When that love is a deep inner love it is good. it often times relieves the tension in your life and, as a result, may even help relieve your pain. It is as if love has come to your rescue.

This MUSIC MONDAY I present to you Oleta Adams singing When Love Comes To the Rescue.




For more great music visit Speedcat Hollydale's site for Music Mondays!

Changing The Way You Think About Your Illness And Your Life

If you have been chronically ill for an extended period, it may be time to examine your thoughts about your illness and your life in general.

As if with some predetermined purpose, several years ago, a tree began to grow in my yard. Living in a wooded area, a new tree was not a novelty. I did not particularly like where it was growing. However, I had stopped performing my own yard work and had a lot more pressing issues than a new tree in my yard.

Still, the tree had one quality that I just loath. Each fall, it produced these large green balls. They seemed to have no useful qualities. The dogs would not even play with them. By inadvertently stepping on one, I had lost my footing. In addition, on more than one occasion, I had been conked on the head by one of these unwanted visitors as it made it's descend to earth.

I had literally cursed the tree and had marked it for future firewood. I had grown to hate the tree.

One bright autumn Saturday morning, a friend called to invite me to lunch. We had not seen each other in a while and I quickly took her up on her offer. Like many who take multiple medications, no longer having the luxury of driving available, we are at the mercy of those who do. She told me the time she would pick me up and I was ready and waiting.

We have been friends since childhood. Therefore, lunch together is a talkfest. It was wonderful. We immediately turn into nine year olds again. We sat in the restaurant completely oblivious to others around us while still soaking in the accommodating ambiance of the restaurant.

When we returned to my home, I invited her to visit the recent changes in the garden. Each season is a change in the garden for with nature that is the rule, nothing stays the same. As we walked, I described what each tree, bush, and plant did. We collaborated on the best way to grow the ones we had in common.

As we headed back toward the house, she asked me about the dreaded tree. "I don't know what that is." I declared. It just started growing. I have grown to hate it. It drops those green balls on the ground. I grudgingly stated; "The dogs won't even play with them." She bent down, picked one up, and said; "If this is what I think it is," then she abruptly stopped.

"What do you think it is?" I asked.

"I'll show you in a minute." She said.

We walked to a concrete block. She laid it on the concrete block and asked for something to smash it. I quickly obliged by handing her a brick. With one crunch, she stood up and started to smile.

What is it? I asked again. This time a little more impatiently.

Here! I could smell it before I saw it. "It's a walnut!" I said, answering my own question. "Yes!" She replied. Walnuts! We both started to laugh. All those years I had a FREE walnut tree in my yard and did not know it.

Of course, I had help in the cover up. The squirrels did know the value and they were busy taking care of their interest.

As with our health, I had not investigated deeply enough to learn the value of the tree. Often when introduced to techniques or procedures previously unknown or foreign to us, without even investigating the possibilities of the veiled results, we tune out or shout down.

If our doctor or therapist did not suggest it, we are afraid to try it. We are even afraid to discuss it with our medical professionals. The fear of hearing we are wrong or that is just "mom bow jumbo", keeps some of us needlessly tied to our illness. Could it be that we remain chronically ill, to some degree, as much a part of fear of the unknown as the illness its' self?

The easier or less expensive the technique, the harder to believe it could possible work. We would rather curse the technique or procedure than give it an opportunity to work.

The walnut tree was free. Not one day did it require me to water, mulch or fertilize it for it to grow into the fruit-bearing tree it is today. And, subsequently, it is the same with some illness we experience with our body. We could very possibly stop the pain or end the illness, if we would just delve a little deeper into what is really causing the malady.

An injury we understand. We know that, with time, a simple injury will heal on its own-just as the tree grew on its own. However, what about a disease, can it be that easy? Can it be the body's dis-ease? Once we understand it, by mentally putting the body at ease, cure the illness?

Emotion Free Technique (EFT) suggested that it is. Following a post earlier this month, several people agreed that it is just that simple. To give it a chance to work in our own chronic pain-filled lives, would mean that we would have to change the way we think about ourselves as we relate to the rest of the world. We might even have to admit our own preconceived believes and uneducated decisions determine our poor health.

As with the walnut tree, I made decisions concerning the tree based on my limited knowledge of the tree. I had never taken the time to explore a little deeper into what the green balls were. All I knew was come spring they were gone.

I personally like Emotion Free Technique (EFT). However,
EFT is not the only technique that can help stop our pain and/or cure an illness that medicine alone cannot reach. Others diverse treatments include Integrated Medicine (ATTITUDE), Reiki Life, Natural Health, Super Brain Therapy, etc.

You have to know that the squirrels were benefiting from my ignorance about my walnut tree. Who is benefiting from your ignorance about your illness?

Tapping Your Way To Good Health

Because I have suffered with chronic pain for over thirty years, a relative recently sent me an email containing a link to Emotional Freedom Techniques. Or, better known as the Tapping Technique. It is described as an updated version of acupuncture, without the needles.

The website contains a FREE 87 page training manual. Which I am still reading. Both the site and the manual suggest that you complete it before you delve into the techniques. I, also, strongly encourage you to do the same.

As someone who has lived with multiple chronic illnesses, my goal is to share information that could positively affect your health too. If it helps you, I would certainly like to know. So I am placing a poll to the right of this article. There is no personnel information gathered or shared with anyone else. The poll is strictly for this site's information.

I am in no way connected with the organization or the people who own emofree.com. I do think that if there is a technique that will help with or cure your chronic illness, it is worth looking into. So, we are looking into it.



Introduction to EFT




What is EFT?


How To Use The Pressure Points


Stop Needing A Doctor


After viewing the above videos, completing the training manual and trying the technique, PLEASE return to this blog and take the EFT poll!!!

What is Pranic Healing and Can It Stop Your Chronic Pain?

After reading my previous post on the devastation chronic pain has on one's life, several weeks ago, Valerie at CureDepression With Umbrellas (Don't you just love the title of her blog site?), sent me an email concerning the possibility of Pranic Healing helping with my chronic pain.

As someone who lives almost constantly in chronic pain, I have to admit that I am open minded when it comes to stopping pain. I will read until I can no longer see straight, try it and tell the world whether it worked for me or not. So that is exactly what I did with Valerie's suggestion.

After searching several sites, this is the one that helped me the most. It is titled The Ancient Science and Art of Panic Healing. It contained three CBS news reports on the subject.

CBS PRANIC HEALING VIDEOS

1. Healing Hands




2. Teaching People to Heal Themselves




3. The Art to Heal the Body

I can tell you that with the combination of my pain medications and Pranic Healing, my back pain is better. It is better than it has been in months. That is what integrated medicine is about. It is a combination of Eastern and Western medication with faith to achieve the ultimate healing process.

For the new practitioners, I would love to hear your experiences. For those of you who practice Pranic Healing on yourself and/or others, any additional instructions are certainly welcome!

The HealthCentral Network Approves Video For Pain Awareness Month!

The following is a copy of the letter I received from Brightcove TV. On September 13, 2008.

My Life In Chronic Pain has premiered on Brightcove.tv
WATCH NOW

On September 15, 2008, I received this email;

Congratulations, your video has been approved! We like the video you've recently uploaded and are delighted to feature it on our website. You will receive a follow-up email from ChronicPainConnection.com once your video has been published to the 2008 APF Pain and Creativity Exhibit.

I am excited. Not just for me, but for the millions of people living in chronic pain who cannot make a video, or write a poem, or draw a picture or do much more than answer their email on their computer.

These are the voices crying out for help and not getting any response. The millions of people who are under medicated and suffering needlessly. The medication and other medical procedures exist. But not for them. They have

• 
  
  no insurance and could not afford insurance at any price


• 
  
  have insurance but cannot afford their deductible for the office visit


• 
  
  have medicare and cannot afford their 20% for the surgery


• 
  
  are not aware that adequate therapeutic procedures are available


• 
  
  have a doctor who is not educated sufficiently to handle their chronic condition

The kind of pain I am talking about is not the kind of pain you feel when you stump your toe and it hurts for a day or two. It is not the kind of pain you get from a broken arm. Once the arm heals, you pain will go away. I am talking about a pain that has taken on a life of its own.

The injury, if any, heals but the pain continues. Some how the chemical make up of your brain has changed and you are in constant never ending pain. It is a pain you may have for the rest of your life.

Only working with your doctors and finding the right combination of medication, meditation, exercise, and nutrition will give you an acceptable quality of life. And, this may take years. But once you find that combination, the wait and the work is worth it!

Listen as these two doctors discuss their understanding of chronic pain.

What is Chronic Pain and What Does Your Chronic Pain Look Like?

The American Pain Foundation (APF) is a non profit educational, research and advocacy organization working to eliminate the epidemic of under treatment of pain in America. In celebration of September being Pain Awareness Month, it recently asked its members and others suffering with chronic pain, to submit entries for the 2ND Annual "Pain and Creativity Exhibit".

Submissions could include photographs, photographs of still art, videos, music, and/or writings that reflect your experience in pain.

The APF will show selected submissions at the awards dinner in Baltimore, Maryland on October 23, 2008.

The question I answered is "What Does Chronic Pain Look Like and How Has It Influenced Your Life?"

When I am in unbearable pain and close my eyes, this picture is what I visualize my pain to be. The words explain how the pain has influenced my life. This is my submission.




After viewing this video, pleas click on the title of this article to view an additional video explaning what chronic pain is.

September is Chronic Pain Awareness Month! Take Power Over the Source of Your Chronic Pain.

With September here, summer is quickly waving us goodbye and autumn is shouting in HELLO! This is our month. It is Chronic Pain Awareness Month. September also includes National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (Sept. 8th - 14, 2008)!

Chronic Pain Awareness Month helps to draw attention to; the importance of educating the general public of the growing number of people who suffer with chronic pain and its under treatment, to create an awareness of the opportunities and the beneficial programs that are presently available to us, spotlight the need for our congressional leaders to pass legislation to fund more research into ways to control or eliminate chronic pain and to give us an opportunity to work with grass root organizations within our communities in whatever capacity our illness allows.

LINKS THAT GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE BACK YOUR POWER

Chronic Pain Connection

The Arthritis Foundation

American Pain Foundation

Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc.

Dr. Geoff's MedBlog

Hopekeepers Magazine

Cancer Care On Line Support Group

Power Over Pain Action Network

Giving Yourself Approval to be Human While Suffering With Chronic Pain

Anyone reading the list of books on my Shelfari Book Shelf, at the bottom of my blog, is well aware that I have read a reasonable amount of self help books. I thought I had evolved into a non judgemental decent human being. So, why could I not have compassion for a recent acquaintance following their surgery?

It stayed in my head most of the day. What is wrong with you? Where is all that spiritual growth and evolution you have engrossed yourself in all these years?

You have been through what they are going through. You know how difficult the surgery is to recover from. You know the healing will take much longer than the six weeks that the surgeon allots for recovery. You know that the rehabilitation is painful and will take dedication and determination for them to obtain a full recovery. I felt terrible. Not for them. But, because I felt no compassion for them.

While talking to my sister, I casually mentioned the surgery. I then added, "and I don't know what is wrong with me. I don't feel any compassion for them". I thought my sister would be perplexed. But, she simply said, "I was just reading an article this morning about people with chronic illness not allowing themselves to be human". I also believe that when we ask for answers we receive them. So, I was not surprised that the answer was coming from the only person I had talked to all day!

Not allowing myself to be human. I had not heard those words pertaining to me before. She went on, "We have to be who we are at the moment and not beat ourselves over the head because we think we are not behaving in the proper way. Humm! Not behaving in the proper way.

That was me alright. I thought with all my reading, and courses, and education, I should feel something for them. And I did but, it was not nice. It was callous.

So, now you know how I felt, I thought, when you said, " Oh, It can't be that bad. You need to get out of that bed and get moving. That is the best thing for you. That bed just takes all your energy".

I don't remember much more of the phone conversation with my sister. I was stuck at "let yourself be human".

I thought of other instances when we don't let our self be human.

• When we do more than our bodies can tolerate. Eventually opening ourselves up to a physical and/or mental breakdown.




• When we multi task for no reason. Talking to your child, talking on the phone and looking at TV adds up to not doing any of them very well. If you are talking to your child, talk to your child. If your are talking on the phone, talk on the phone. If you are watching TV, watch TV. But be there, be attentive and be present with what ever you are doing.




• When we allow cyber space to overshadow our personal lives. Now I like blogging. However, if someone says do you want to go...and my pain is minimal, I am half way to the front door.




• When we neglect our families while they are with us to do meaningless task. Be there for them while they are there with you. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. And what if it never comes?

The words "Your greatest adversary is your greatest teacher" flowed in and through my mind. In allowing myself to be human, I accepted the fact that I was angry with them for not validating my pain. In doing so, I was honoring what I felt and was able to release the anger. I gave myself permission to forgive their hurtful but, I am sure, well meaning words. That gave me closure of the situation. I was then able to humanly pick up the phone and talk to them compassionately.

In her book "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up" by Iyanla Vanzant, her formula for compassion is

Support + Comfort + Nourishment = COMPASSION.

I love the Charles Huttle's quote "You have no patient but yourself" It reminds me that there is way too much about me that is in need of repair to judge or criticize others. I repeat his quote to myself often.