The Chosen People
When I made my video ‘Why Me?’, it was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek title.
Basically, as many people pointed out, FM can happen to anyone – so why not me?
At the age of 34, I embarked on a six-year adventure to study law – my friends wondered why I would do it.
At 40, I graduated, was admitted; but was only able to practice for one month – why me? I asked.
In February of this year, I discovered Facebook pages (rather than personal sites) and I quickly became addicted – my friends wonder why I would do it.
At about the same time, I discovered the wonderful world of blogging; and in March, I wrote my first blog post. Whoa! Have I come a long way since then. But my friends wonder why I do it.
I cannot even work part-time; I cannot drive more than 10 kilometres; I cannot participate in my favourite activity – retail therapy; I am lucky if I can read one chapter in a book; but, worse than all of that, I experience excruciating pain, forget things most of the time and almost always have a headache. Some of my ‘friends’ think that it is all in my head, others think that I am just being lazy… yes, I am misunderstood. I wonder why my friends do that!
LIGHT BULB MOMENT – I have the answers:
I can research most topics as I studied so much. I can ask questions (no matter how silly) as I learnt that there are NO silly questions – just silly people who don’t ask questions. I can create visual material to raise awareness about FM as I like to think that I am a creative person. I can reach out to millions suffering from FM, force their families and friends to accept and understand them as I have already established a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter personality and a Pinterest persona. I have a background in hospitality so I will get my International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Symposium/Luncheon off the ground – even if I have to raise the money myself (one bracelet at a time!)
I am one of the chosen ones – I can combine all my experience to raise awareness of our condition; and touch the lives of many.
If I did not have FM, would I have ever thought of doing so? Would I have even heard of the condition?
So, I know why I have FM. As one of the chosen, why do YOU have FM?
Posted on August 18, 2012, in Fibromyalgia, Fibromyalgia Awareness, Things I Have Lost and tagged answers, Awareness, bệnh đau cơ xơ, Blogging, chosen ones, chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, 線維筋痛, 纤维肌痛, Facebook, Fibromyalgia Awareness, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Fibromyalgie, friends, International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day Symposium/Luncheon, La fibromyalgie, law, LIGHTBULB MOMENT, misunderstood, pain, Personal, philosophy, Pinterest, Social Media, struggle, Thoughts, Twitter, فيبروميالغيا, video, Why Me?, פיברומיאלגיה. Bookmark the permalink. 9 Comments.
I obviously have FM because I was a bad person in another life.
Seriously, I agree with you because I deeply believe everything happens for a reason. The reason you have it is to build the Fibromyalgia Foundation for the rest of us so we can get EVERYTHING under one virtual roof!
I have no idea why I have fm but you have certainly put a more positive spin on it than I have been doing. I thank you for that and will think about just why I have fm other than the obvious answer of that I must just tick God off somehow which wouldd hàve been my answer before. Thanks.
Wow I asked myself that same question many times over the last nearly 20 years but never in such a positive light. I worked in a law firm for 15 years as a law clerk so I had a stressful job, am a single mum and always on the go. I have now been forced to stop as I am unable to work, I too have headaches on a daily basis and many other symptoms that are associated with fm but the one thing I think it is teaching me is how to just be and know that it is ok.
I have no idea why I have it. I think I was a terrible person in another life and that this is my punishment. I think that the devil has my life in his hands and makes my life misreble. I think I just don’t deserve to have a good life. I’m now 21 and have been diagnosed with FM for 2 years. I wish there was something to cure it! Some magic what could take it away.
I wonder if I did this to myself and I see it as a punishment for something I did or didn’t do. What though, I don’t know. I think I’m basically a good person, but there has to be some reason why I have this awful disease.
I’ve always had high stress jobs and I worked a lot. Then I came home and worked a lot. I seldom took vacations and found it hard to relax. I’ve had numerous invasions into my body (surgeries) and maybe my body had enough with the eye surgeries and got stuck in the pain.
There have been some benefits. I was able to be home ALL the time during my dog Bailey’s final months. I am so grateful for that. I’m also helping more and more people work with their difficult dogs. It’s so rewarding.
I should be able to devote more time to the quiet things I love to do – gardening, crafting, cooking,- but that is a work in progress..
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I would like to address this to Anne. Honey if you feel the devil is doing this…cast him out! God does not make you ill, he can heal you if you ask. I too have FM and I deal with pain every day, but with a smile, at least most days. I am still working but each day gets harder for me. AS many people have said before, you just have to make the most of it! I hope you feel better and can get some help with your FM. I take Savella and I also take Alive, it helps me cope with the pain. Not a cure, but a coping method.
Take care of yourself Anne and I hope you feel better.
I don’t believe having this illness is a because I did or didn’t do something. I believe it’s because my body and spirit have been through a lot of trauma and stress. The more stress the worse I got. But I also believe we can turn life’s challenges from stumbling blocks into stepping stones. Nobody asks for this or any other disease, no one wants, cancer, MS, heart problems, chronic fatigue, arthritis or Fibromyalgia. We can either let it bring us down or help us find ways for our spirit to be stronger to raise us up. I believe God wants us to take our challenges in life and become stronger and better because of them. Some days it’s hard to look beyond the pain and fatigue. But we all have days when we can accomplish something good. Feel good about what you can do and don’t beat yourself up when you can’t do. God doesn’t punish us by giving us a disease but he does want us to rise above it the best we can. Look beyond today tomorrow may be brighter and if it isn’t maybe the next day. This is your life’s challenge don’t let anyone put you down including yourself because of it. Don’t try to take large steps because it will only bring you down or make you worse. Take small steps and pray like crazy.
I’m really happy that you found the reason you have FM, i spent a lot of time thinking it was a punishment but I’ve changed my mind recently. i’m 28 but i’ve grown more as a person in the last two years since my diagnosis than at any time before. It’s been tough and I still have moments of doubt but I’m hoping that getting FM has been a test that I pass every day I wake up determined to improve my situation and raise awareness of FM. I have to believe that there is a silver lining to my FM cloud
I believe I have FM because I am blessed. I know it sounds crazy, but having FM keeps me humble and reminds me everyday that I have to lean on God for strength and not on myself. If God had not given this to me, I may very well have left Him and gone off on my merry way and ignored His greatness. Having FM has forced me to slow down (sometimes more than I would like, lol) and enjoy seeing life instead of racing through it as so many of my peers seem to. I’m finally able to be up and about today after having spent the last 5 days unable to be up becuase of pain and I am extremely grateful. The sun is shining, the grass here is green (believe or not!). The trees are beautiful. My gardens look great:) I have so much to be thankful for.