Tag: Fibromyalgia

10 Things to Inspire You This Month

February is traditionally the month we celebrate the heart, be it Valentines Day with candy hearts, Go Red for Women, or the American Heart Month. It also happens to be the month of my wedding anniversary, so hearts and celebrations abound for me!

My mother recently suffered a stroke, as a result of a poor-functioning heart. So in honor of mom, I wanted to do something different this month. Heart Disease is responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in the U. S., making it the number one cause. As February is the American Heart Association’s American Heart Month, I wanted to share 10 tips to inspire you to know the signs and to keep your heart healthy.

Read more

Letter Board No. 5


I wrote in my January edition of “10 Things to Inspire You This Month” about how “Done is better than perfect.” Not only that, but I also believe that perfect is boring. We are all flawed human beings. We should embrace our flaws. Love your crooked smile, that mole or scar, or that little love handle. Those little flaws make you unique, wonderful, and YOU!

Continue reading “Letter Board No. 5”

My Doctor Suggested CBD Oil for Pain

“The greatest evil is physical pain.”

If you know me or have read my posts, you know that I avoid drugs and prefer natural approaches and lifestyle choices to cope with my fibromyalgia and chronic back pain. That is not to say I don’t use any drugs, it’s just that I minimize what I take due to my heightened sensitivity to side effects.

There has been a lot written about CBD oil the past few years, especially as more states begin legalizing marijuana. It’s even made its way onto the pages of my beauty magazines. But since I am reluctant to use drugs (legal or otherwise), and I work for the government, I have never considered this as an option until recently.

Continue reading “My Doctor Suggested CBD Oil for Pain”

Letter Board No. 4

This past week has seen some weather extremes across the country. Despite the Polar vortex that gripped parts of the country, Punxsutawney Phil came out of his hole, did not see his shadow, thereby predicting an early spring. I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually believe the Groundhog Day tradition for my weather reports. (And Phil IS usually wrong!)

Continue reading “Letter Board No. 4”

10 Things to Inspire You This Month

Setbacks aren’t failures. They are opportunities to overcome.

Life with chronic pain or a chronic condition is never predictable. You never know if you’ll wake up feeling good or bad. This has been my life for the last 20 years. I count myself lucky that I have been able to cope as well as I have, still work full-time, and find some time for activities I enjoy. So when you suffer a setback like two-weeks and counting of a lower back/disc pain, you just have to prioritize what gets done and what doesn’t. Setbacks aren’t failures. They are opportunities to overcome.

“The beautiful thing about setbacks is, they introduce us to our strengths.”

~ Robin Sharma

Read more

Letter Board No. 3

Living with any chronic illness or chronic pain, self-care is vitally important. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we cannot properly take care of anything else. Our energy and resources (“spoons“) are low. So to add a little humor to my weekly inspiration, I thought I would share this quote this week.

Note: No cupcakes were harmed in the process. And no, my office is not the ideal place for taking pictures. I am still working that out.

I often say that you cannot drink from an empty cup. And so it is that you cannot make everyone happy. Happiness starts within yourself. And that happiness then becomes contagious.

Cheers!

Cynthia

P. S. I was traveling last week and forgot to post or schedule this. D’oh!

Letter Board No. 2

As someone with chronic pain and fibromyalgia, I often feel like I have more than my fair share of hardships. But on the path of life, I cannot let that get me down. I have to believe I am only given that which I can handle.

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

~ C. S. Lewis

Boy, someone must think I can handle A LOT! I missed posting this for #MotivationMonday because of a flare up of my shoulder pain and then somehow after my morning yoga, my back decided to give out. 😦  And while I wanted to post the above quote on my letter board this week, I fell short on Ps and Rs. So this is Plan B… 😃 Always have a Plan B!

There are days when we might feel ordinary. But I feel like everyone has a story to tell and gifts to share. Everyone is remarkable and extraordinary in their own right and will find more of the same along their journey. So remember…. “We meet no ordinary people in our lives.”

I hope you carry that thought with you throughout your day and your encounters. Have an extraordinary day!

Cheers!

Cynthia