#HAWMC

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Day 5: Ekphrasis Post… WHAT? Ekphrawhatis?

I am participating in the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge. Please visit WEGO Health’s blog and the WEGO Facebook page to find other writers tackling the same topics—or sign up for the challenge yourself!

 

Ekphrasis… what the heck does that mean? That was my first question when I saw this prompt for today. So, of course I looked it up and here’s the definition, “a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art“. So! Now that we are all on the same page… here’s my post for today… enjoy!

The instructions for this posting was to go to flickr.com/explore and write a post inspired by the image. I searched and searched and searched for a photo that inspired me. I was getting frustrated over the whole thing when I realized I am way more inspired by pictures I already have… sometimes you just gotta rebel and do your own thing.

This picture is of my parents on one of our family vacations when I was growing up. It is one of my absolute favorites! Our vacations were spent in a cabin… no tv, no electronics. We played cards and read and just hung out together. Together. What a wonderful concept!

Look at my mom’s feet. They don’t touch the ground!!!! I laugh every single time I look at this photo.

They have been married over 50 years and that alone, is inspiring. Marriage is hard, or I should say… marriage is hard — WORK! That stuff in the movies is so romantic and funny and yes, sometimes, heart wrenching…  marriage is some of that, but let’s be real here… it’s not a romantic comedy most days. Most days marriage requires work. Respect. Love. Trust. and for those of us with chronic pain, with depression, with any chronic health issue – marriage is not easy. The one with the health issues is struggling to get through each day while really trying not to be selfish/ self absorbed… the spouse is trying to support while not complain – in the end both are trying not to build up resentment. The healthy one for having to do everything, including being the relationship cheerleader and the unhealthy one for not having as much freedom as one would like. I am quite sure many marriages do not survive. I am blessed… I have my parents to look to for advice and inspiration and I have a beautiful, loving and supportive husband.

This picture also inspires me with the desire to spend time with my husband and family doing things that don’t require spending a lot of money or even go too far. It makes me want to grab up my fam and go outside and take a hike or picnic.

Most of all… this picture makes me smile and remember some really fun family times growing up. I hope my children have memories like this when they have their families.

I want to be healthy and be able to go on family vacations and take long walks and swim and dance and run on the beach… managing my pain and mental health will, one day, get me there.

Thanks for reading! Stay cool and pain-free.

Tamiko

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Day 4: I write about my health because…

I am participating in the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge. Please visit WEGO Health’s blog and the WEGO Facebook page to find other writers tackling the same topics—or sign up for the challenge yourself!

Writing about my health has helped me in so many ways. When I first started this blog, I was at a very low point. I had been in pain for a very long time and just recently received confirmation that I had Fibromyalgia. I had been living with ADD and depression for a long time and the news was pretty devastating for me. Writing was very cathartic. I felt so empowered when I hit the “publish” button. Whenever I received (and I feel this way today) comments I was over the moon! There were people out there that could actually relate to what I was saying… and all of a sudden I wasn’t so alone. I have gone through some really f’ed up times. When you get down to it, those of us who have been diagnosed with any type of illness that does not have a cure or one that flares up unexpectedly (or if you have depression drops you to an all time low unexpectedly)… you have moments where you feel there is no hope.

I have sat down and written at those low moments. It gives me perspective. I know if I post a blog, there are specific folks who are always there to hold me up with their comments. When I write when I have made it through a rough patch and talk about my experience and how I got through it – I feel awesome knowing that it has helped someone. I have uplifted someone else. There really is no better feeling.

I write for myself and I write for others. Any one of you who know someone who is living with pain (physical or emotional) or if it is yourself… you know how hard it is to make it through each day. I have found with writing I may start a post with a really negative vibe. As I read and re-read it, I realize that is not the message I want to convey. I don’t want to spread negativity. The process of writing makes me realize that things are not as bad as I thought fifteen minutes ago. It’s a type of kick in the butt that I need to get out of a funk. Self-realization through writing. Wow. Crazy, but it works for me.

Thanks so much for stopping by, please leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing today.

Stay cool and hope you all are having a pain-free day!

Tamiko

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Day 1: Health Time Capsule

I am participating in the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge (HAWMC) hosted by WEGO Health. I will be writing a post a day for all 30 days. I hope you’ll join me in writing about health. It’s going to be a lot of fun and I’d love to see what you have to say about each of the topics, too. All you have to do to join is sign up here: http://info.wegohealth.com/HAWMC2012 and you’ll be able to start posting! You can start anytime or decide to just use any of the prompts for your next post. Looking forward to writing with you!

Pretend you’re making a time capsule of you & your health focus that won’t be opened until 2112. What’s in it? What would people think of it when they found it?

Wow I’ve never really thought about anything like this… For the first prompt in what is going to be my attempt to blog every day for the month of April, what to say… what to say…

First of all, in one hundred years I sincerely hope there’s a cure, or at the very least a better way to manage chronic pain and specifically Fibromyalgia and Depression. A way that doesn’t include taking pharmaceuticals… or if pharmaceuticals are still involved – please let there be ZERO side effects!

If I was to create a time capsule, I would include a printout of my blog and others that I know have touched my life. It’s the best way for me to share my experience with these crazy conditions. It is representative of both who I am and how I have felt throughout these years. I would include books on Tai-Chi, Relaxation and Meditation and my favorite quotes and bible verses. Pictures of my family, friends and major events in my life. Pictures to prove that I did live despite my pain. I lived a good life!

I hope when this capsule is opened and the contents reviewed, the first thing that is said is… “Wow! Thank God there’s a cure for this kind of pain!” I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. My hope would be that people would see the advances that have been made in mental health and chronic pain conditions… I can only pray that major advances have been made.

I’m a firm believer you learn from the past experiences of others. The best way for people to see how far they have come is to understand the history of where it all began. Fibromyalgia is still in its infancy in the medical world. There are still so many non-believers… I would be happy if I made my contribution in the learning of others. One hundred years is not as far away as it seems… I just hope it’s a healthier, happier, more peaceful world overall. I hope people have learned to appreciate life more and people’s priorities have shifted from work/ material things to balance/ time with family and friends.

Thanks for reading! Stay cool and pain-free.

Tamiko

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