Encouragement

I've been thinking about how to encourage my fellow friends with Fibromyalgia.  (FWF)  It's not as easy as encouraging a person who doesn't have it and doesn't understand it because depression is one of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.  In my experience, one of the reasons I get depressed is because I don't feel good, and I can't do the things I'd like to do.  But that's not the only reason for depression with people who have Fibromyalgia.  We don't know everything yet about it, and it's not known which came first, depression or Fibromyalgia.  It's sort of like the chicken and egg question.

In dealing with depression, you can't assume it's only a temporary symptom of Fibromyalgia.  There are many reasons for depression, including life experiences, seasonal effectiveness, and chemical imbalances, and this needs to be seriously addressed.  I learned a long time ago to leave certain things to the experts, and not make any judgements or give advice on depression.  All I can do is deal with my own emotional and physical status day by day.

Back to encouragement: 
I've had many people try to tell me how to deal with my situation, everything from change my diet, take a certain vitamin or health ingredient, take a walk, get more exercise, go to bed earlier, eliminate stress, lighten up, or change my attitude.  To me, these things are not encouraging, but discouraging because they tell me others do not understand what this is like.

What is encouraging is to acknowledge that my feelings are valid, and to be gentle with myself when I feel bad.  I know what is good for me.  I know what I'm supposed to do.  I wish I could exercise more, go to bed earlier, take the right vitamins, etc.  I wish I could change my thinking and change my life just like that. 

So how do I encourage you my FWF?  I encourage you to do what makes you happy, whenever you can.  Find a light hobby that won't make you hurt worse, and do it in small increments.  Enjoy every smile that you find, whether it is a kitten wrestling with some yarn, or an e-card sent by a friend, or a funny TV show.  Smell the roses, look at the stars, feel the breeze. 

I love taking pictures.  I love writing.  I love painting.  I may not be great at some things, but I am not in the business of being great at them.  I am in the business of living each moment of each day and encouraging others, and if I feel bad, I can't do that.  I can't fight the pain and fatigue sometimes, so I rest, or I let someone else help me find a smile.  I enjoy talking to others and listening to others, and I find it fasinating that people are so very different. 

Other things that make me smile: when someone gives me chocolate, pay day, Avon customer pick-up days, Christmas lights, a good dinner that I didn't cook, seeing a family member come home, seeing our dog get excited when I come home, a newborn foal struggle to get up for the first time, watching it snow, a sunny day, listening to the rain, holding a baby, hearing someone I love tell me they love me, getting my newspaper, kids being naturally happy, birds at the feeder, squirrels in the trees, rabbits, fall leaves changing color, seeing the first spring tulips, ...there are so many things to smile about!

I turn to my faith and spiritual studies to continue to learn, and I find some answers.  I certainly don't have all the answers, and I've learned to live with that.  I do have hope, and I think that is an excellent thing.  My hope is that maybe by my sharing with you, somehow it will help someone else.  And that makes me smile.