Every secret of a writer's soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works. - Virginia Woolf I am taking a writing class. It is a six week, creative nonfiction class on personal essay. Here is a short description of personal essay from my class syllabus: In his introduction to the definitive anthology on the subject, The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present, essayist Phillip Lopate writes, the personal essay “should certainly be celebrated, because it is one of the most approachable and diverting types … [Read more...]
I Do Not Want to Think About Fibromyalgia Everyday
I am realizing today the shift my new writing assignment is forcing me to make with my blog. You see I have tried very hard to make my blog specific to Fibromyalgia, how it affects my life, news and information on Fibromyalgia, etc., but I am realizing that there is a reason I have not been writing about Fibromyalgia everyday. Mainly it is because I do not want to THINK about Fibromyalgia everyday. When I got up this morning my first thought wasn't "I wonder what new and exciting thing happened in the world of Fibromyalgia overnight." No, it was more along the lines of "Mmmm, coffee." and … [Read more...]
Productivity is My New Thing!
Yesterday when I sat down to my blog I looked over at the right hand column and was dismayed to see I had only written 7 posts for the month of April. I was dismayed for several reasons, one because my goal is to write 3 posts a week (a mark which I am not sure if I have ever met), two because I knew at least 3 of the 7 posts were what I consider fluff posts (I'd like you to meet my dog!), and three because I recognized I had been avoiding my blog and that made me really sad. I love my blog. So why would I avoid it? Well mostly because my brain and my body have not been cooperating with my … [Read more...]
Embracing Your Diagnosis as a Gift, Teacher & Blessing
Embracing your diagnosis as a gift, teacher and blessing. Sounds a little convoluted doesn't it? Well yes it is a complex concept, but Hillary Rubin is living proof that it is possible. A few weeks ago I did not know Hillary, but she sent me an e-mail introducing herself and sharing her philosophy on wellness: Personally my journey began back in 1996 when I was working in the fashion industry for Prada in NYC and was diagnosed with MS. Like most I was upset, angry and thought my life was over. At the same time I also found yoga and now from keeping up a healthy lifestyle (left … [Read more...]
Which Came First, The Pain or The Emotion?
We have all heard about the woefully closed-minded doctors who believe Fibromyalgia is just a symptom of depression. Research proves that depression doesn't cause the pain of Fibromyalgia, but there is an undeniable emotional component to the condition. Which came first, the chicken or the egg - Fibromyalgia or emotional distress? I like to believe I was an emotionally stable person on the day I broke the toilet with my head and began my descent into Fibromyalgia hell, but if I am truthful with myself, I was not/am not as strong as I like to believe. So does the fact that I try to control my … [Read more...]