Friday, May 11, 2012

A Promise & Challenge

This was reposted on Facebook by an amazing Pain Brother named Joseph Aquilino aka Joey Giggles who lives with the daily pain of RSD and is one of the best advocates I have had the priviledge to meet. I am accepting this challenge and renewing these promises each day. Will you?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"I promise myself
- To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
- To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
- To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
- To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
- To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
- To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
- To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
- To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
- To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
- To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
- To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
- To live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me."
(By: Christian D. Larson,1912, Modified by The Secret 2007)



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Challenges are doable when we let go of fear and go for it! Nothing is set in stone unless you decide it is. Love yourself enough to pat yourself on the back when you meet a challenge head on. Love yourself enough to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again if you fail. You may not do it the 1st, 2nd or 3rd time, but know that you will NEVER do it IF you do NOT try. Have a blessed weekend filled with happiness! Liz xoxo

Thursday, May 10, 2012

An Inspiring Note from Michele Rosenthal

Let's Spread Some Hope!
Michele Rosenthal


"Greetings from I-Believe-In-You Central!

Just a quick note to ask for your help in spreading some hope to people who need it – in a very quick, no muss/no fuss for you way:

I’m on a mission to inspire people to overcome the effects of the past. After life’s challenges so often people lose belief in themselves and instead believe they are defined by their negative experiences. As I bet you know, we choose what defines us and trauma (big ‘T’ or little ‘t’ – divorce, bad boss, car accident, illness, abuse, etc.) can be something we move through rather than become stuck in.

As a Trauma survivor myself I learned the hard way how to reclaim my life. Now, I’m dedicated to helping others do the same. Last week my trauma recovery memoir was released. BEFORE THE WORLD INTRUDED: Conquering the Past and Creating the Future chronicles how I triumphed over trauma – and the unexpected way I did it.

In an effort to inspire people to hope for and believe in moving forward after life’s challenges last week I also launched PROJECT GIVE BACK, a program that offers over $1,900 in complimentary support resources for every person who purchases my memoir. With professional contributors from around the world and at the forefront of their fields, PROJECT GIVE BACK offers resources covering a variety of areas important in rebuilding a life, including relaxation, meditation, mind/body connection, therapeutic writing, spirituality, acceptance and forgiveness, sound sleep, strength in the workplace, mindfulness, confidence, addiction, life coaching, creativity, grief transformation and nutrition.

Please help me spread the word of resilience, redemption and hope to any people, organizations or groups that could benefit from such gifts or the story of how one woman overcame the effects of the past. People can find more info, plus see the gifts and contributors here:
http://www.beforetheworldintruded.com

Thank you for helping me do something good in the world!

Joyfully,
Michele

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

A message from the APF (American Pain Foundation)

This is the APF Logo and this info was posted on APF's FB page at http://www.facebook.com/painfoundation :
"With deep regret and heavy hearts, we sadly inform you that due to irreparable economic circumstances, APF must cease to exist, effective immediately. On May 3, 2012, the Board of Directors formally voted to dissolve the organization.
The Board and staff have worked tirelessly over many months to address a significant gap between available financial resources and funds needed to remain operationa...l. Unfortunately, the economic situation has not changed in any meaningful way, despite our best efforts.

APF hopes to be able to transfer content from various information, education, and support programs to other organizations so that you may continue to benefit from the value these programs have provided to thousands of individuals and families across the country.

Your personal experiences in living with pain and seeking compassion, empathy and medical care often against the odds -- have driven our efforts over these many years. This includes enactment of key provisions of the National Pain Care Policy Act in the Health Reform Bill that led to a landmark report issued in 2011 by the Institutes of Medicine. This report documents the shocking numbers of US citizens that live with pain and calls for immediate changes to address gaps in care. Despite this, the current climate towards improving the plight of people with pain in the US continues to be precarious and hostile.

As you unfortunately know, the need for public outcry around the needs of Americans struggling with pain conditions is greater today than ever before in light of the multi-front assault occurring daily on our right to dignified care. Misguided state and federal policies are impeding access to appropriate and reasonable medical care for people struggling with pain, and deterring even the most compassionate medical providers from treating anyone with pain conditions.

It is therefore critical that each of you raise your voices singularly and together to demand the care you deserve. It is only by continuing to demand attention to the ever-worsening barriers and unacceptable suffering that change will occur.

Elected officials, policy makers, and the media need to keep hearing from each and every one of you so they are not allowed to walk away from the consequences of this over-looked public health and medical problem.

Please know that although APF will cease to exist, the resolve and commitment among individuals on the Board and staff remain strong."
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Had to share this sad news with all of you! APF has been an amazing resource and a tireless advocate for legislation regarding all types of pain issues. APF will be missed and never forgotten!
**Please do whatever you can to continue spreading the word about pain topics; share your experiences with pain and caregiving; sign petitions in your area for pain related issues and legislation; contact elected officials, policy makers and the media ANYTIME it seems appropriate so that we keep PAIN in the spotlight.** 
Sending love and hugs to each of my Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters all over the world!! xoxo

Friday, May 4, 2012

Some very wise words.....

Doing what works for each of us and what works for me....

After the cancer documentary, which was so inspiring, Oprah is having a discussion with an author of a book called Quantum Wellness. I am so thrilled to discover that while I always thought meditation was some big mystic thing. Actually it is just being still and listening to the voice of one's higher power, mine is God, and I actUally believe that the same God is everybody's higher power, but different faith's call Him a different name. Anyway, the way that I get inspiration for 21 years is just to be still and say, "Use me today, Lord. In whatever way you choose. Your Will in my life be done. Let me be an inspiration for You through my example in whatever way you choose." Early on, it was through my singing voice and now it is through my writing voice. I pray this often and then throughout the day I listen to see if He has any leadings for me. It is just how I roll and come to find out it is meditation! You just be still and know that He is in control of all things and don't tell him what to do, wait on Him and He will gently lead you where you need to go. It is how I found my birthfamily 21 years ago in just six weeks without knowing I was adopted until 32. Well, I have used this tactic for many things. But, this year the leading was strong that I needed to change my way of being in the world. I needed to learn to like myself and to choose to be happy. I could hear that in my head over and over ....you better learn how to get happy or you won't exist anymore. Well, being as how I want to see how this life all turns out, I knew who that voice in my head was. I also call Him the Great Spirit to honor my Cherokee Roots. He is the one and the same. So, the other parts of this book, Quantum Wellness, is choosing happiness, is knowing that when we wallow in the negatives and want to reject God's love that is the ego part acting out. The next thing is choosing fun. Finding whatever means we can to laugh and find inspiration. Because joy is part of being spiritual which is the next thing. Living in a spiritual place. Choosing joy, happy and spirtual things to focus on. Then finally, is everyday doing self work. Asking the universe or God where am I stuck today? What do I need to change so I can recieve the fullness of your blessings? Socrates said, "An unexamined life isn't worth living." So, true, for me. I believe I must look at the past to inform my future. I have been being led down this path anyway without this lady's book which sounds interesting. I am not anything particularly special. Just a grandmother battling her own demons. But, God loves me enough to wake me up and teach me to love myself and to show me that happiness is just something I get to choose regardless of the circumstances in my life. I get to laugh at my own mistakes that could bring me down. I get to love my friends and family who don't have it yet without condition. It was always within me what I sought for so long. Just like the Wizard of Oz...there's no place like home...it is within all of us. Always was..Just be still...and listen to that still smail voice in your gut. It is like your intuitiion...a knowing..it is born of wisdom from your soul which is not your ego. It is perfect just as it is...we were all born perfectly formed..but, the ego, the human side, the hurt feelings, the what about me...all about me...side is simply our humaness rearing it's ugly head. We have a beautiful soul that we can become aware of by just stopping for a minute and it is intertwined with the divine and gives you empathy, understanding, pureness of love, and the ability to grow to truly see how beautiful we all are and that we are all on the same journey to wholeness and awareness. The Great Spirit that loves every single individual will gives the wisdom to know how to get to the same place in our own way. Just lean into healing. Try just listen to that inner voice, it is pure of spirit and wisdom. You'll know truth when you see it or hear it. Your truth and your personal path to your own healing. I just share my way...what works for me...You all have your own paths to choose, but, it will lead you to a place of self acceptance, fun, laughter, whatever inspires you and introspection...which will find each of us peace within. No matter how we get there as individuals. Let it Be...Be Still and Know that I am God....Two different forms of inspiration for me, music and scripture...do whatever works, my friends...
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Thank you, Karen!! Your wise words had to be shared with the world!

Wishing all my Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters all over the world a fabulously blessed day filled with happiness and as little pain as possible! Liz xoxo

****To fully connect with Pain Sufferers Speak and its founder, Liz Hall, click HERE http://xeeme.com/LizHall/