PSS Global Community Update and way overdue...

Happy to share some current #PSS global community stats:

159 different countries all over the world and 50/52 USA states represented on this global blog
3500+ connections on LinkedIn Profile
1600+ professional members on LinkedIn Group
12,000+ followers on main twitter @painspeaks

9600+ followers on Google+

2500+ followers on Instagram
3000+ likes on PSS facebook page
3 blogs followed by over 100,000 pain brothers and pain sisters worldwide

Lots of changes with social media over the last few years and we have continued to grow despite learning curve for many worldwide. We grow stronger together as we unite and our community grows daily.

My family responsibilities have been great over the last 2 years and so my online work has taken a backseat. I am excited about where we go from here. My book is still in the process and has proven to be a catalyst for lots of personal growth which is never simple or easy, however way worth it.

Most of you know I have a hubby and 2 kids. Jason and I celebrated 22 years of marriage on Valentine's Day 2015 right before he required emergency gall bladder removal surgery. This had me as caregiver for several months in the Spring.  Our daughter graduated from college in May and got married in October while our son is enjoying 10th grade, learning to drive and to play the piano. Our 2 fur babies are keeping us busy with itchy skin that requires bathing often and daily coconut oil added to their food. Age brought moodiness for our 13 year old Daisy and teenage angst to our 9 year old Zippy Boy.

I have found writing to be like giving birth = long, slow, and very painful emotionally which meant physical pain for me. This led to me fighting isolation as I'm learning to Painspeak so I can be an example for all of you.

Our 24/7 secret support family on facebook has decreased in size as my spotty participation made some question my commitment. However, I always intended for #PSS to NOT need me, but instead be available for everyone all the time including me as I need support just like all of you. Remember: I originally started PSS because I was seeking others who understood pain and illness. You all know that loneliness happens in a houseful of people who love you if you are the only one who understands and lives with pain and/or illness or a combo of both.

Our families, friends, colleagues, husbands, wives, children and parents ONLY understand what you tell them. If you don't painspeak and figure out what you need, the people in your lives will never get it on their own. Not pulling a Debbie Downer just stating the truth. As you sort your needs, your joy in life will expand and spread to the people who mean the most. Hope can grow anywhere, but you have to plant the seeds and water them daily with your efforts.

and Pain! 

Blessings take on many forms and my hope is that you are looking for miracles everywhere. When you look, you find them. Notice nature and how she is fine without human assistance. Know that you have everything you need in your life. I have found all of these to lead to unexpected blessings: my  disability, my pain, my chronic conditions and anything negative. It is a matter of how you face your obstacles and challenges. Just KNOW we all have them. You are not cursed as I thought I was for several years due to my being age 24 when disability came knocking on me and my family. Isolation is part of pain and illness, but they don't have to paralyze you with fear and suck the joy from you and your family IF you can find others who get it. 

That's where PSS comes in. We are here 24/7 as soon as you login to your computer. You never have to be alone anywhere as PSS went mobile January 2015. Just reach out and grab our support. Some just read posts to know they are not alone and get helpful advice from others worldwide. Others login and post once a year, some every few months, and others enjoy daily posting that lets them share and chat with others who get it. Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters are waiting for you now. They are ready to support  you and you need only to click on your laptop or home computer or cellular phone or tablet or other mobile device to connect anytime you need us and our support. 

God Bless each and every Pain Brother and Pain Sister worldwide! Sending love and hugs out to all of you and wishing you and your families all the best in 2016. May your symptoms and pain always be manageable and KNOW that #PSS aka Pain Sufferers Speak's global community of resources will always be available 24/7 to support you with unconditional love without judgment and without criticism. We have been here non-stop since July 28, 2010 and spread the word as we will never stop welcoming all people of all ages into our ever growing Pain Family. 

Happy New Year's Eve 2016! 

Love Always,

Liz Hall

Founder #PSS

The Old Man AND My Christmas "Gifts" To Each of You

**A LITTLE HISTORY About a poem everyone needs to read**
"When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in GRASS VALLEY, CA. It was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Missouri.

The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world (supposedly), is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet."
**************
Crabby Old Man...

What do you see nurses? . . ... . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . When you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . . . Not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .... . . . . With faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . .. . And makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice .. .. . .... . The things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . . Lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . .. . .. . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . .... . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . .. . You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . .... . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . .. . As I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. . . .. With a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . .. ... .. Who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. With wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . ... A lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . .. My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . That I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . .... . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other .. . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . ... . . Have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . To see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children .. . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . Shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . .... . . . Young of their own.
And I think of the years .. . . .. . And the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . ..... And nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . Look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . Grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . Where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . ... . Life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . ... Gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . .. . . That nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . ... . Open and see.
Not a crabby old man . ... . . Look closer . .. . See ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We will all, one day, be there, too!
By: Jim Satnan

****************
I had to share this lovely man's touching wise words with all of you. My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in his late 50's when I was about 8 years old. Our family watched this distinguished agriculture professor who had raised his 5 children (my Mom was one of them) on his Junior College salary while farming in the evenings to make ends meet and keep food on the table. My cousins and I have lots of fond memories of his retirement: fishing with him (which was his hobby and pleasure); going to the city dump to find "treasures" to fix--he would rebuild and refinish broken furniture with only hand tools; helping Papaw work in his beloved yard and garden; playing "hide and go seek" with him while he winked at us as we ran past him even though my grandmother didn't like us running in the house; looking forward to him rolling in the wheelbarrow filled with stockings that "Santa" had carefully filled for each one of us (including the adults); watching Papaw kiss his "sugar" (my Mamaw) every night before bed; and I could go on & on. By the time I was age 15, Papaw lived at a nursing home and my Mamaw visited him every single day even though she could barely walk herself. She resisted the move into the nursing home even when he got violent with her, because he did not know who she was or why she wouldn't give him the keys to his truck. The last time I saw Papaw he was locked in a chair he could have taken apart and rebuilt to perfection only 5 short years before. Alzheimer's robbed him of his mind and memories, but all of us in his family will be "living off" our precious memories of him until we see him again in heaven.
The poem brought back all those wonderful memories, plus living with chronic pain as I have for 16 years, I get that feeling of wanting others to "see me" for who I really am and not be blinded by my disabilities. "See me" for what I can still accomplish and not consider my life already over at age 39. "See" the athlete in me who pushes myself constantly, and not the me who is forced to "sit out" due to pain.  "See me" as a dedicated supermom who could organize and run a girl scout event for 250+ little girls while changing a baby (my son who is 12yrs old now) and selling girl scout cookies out of the back of my minivan. "See me" for the consistently hard worker who never had to be told anything twice by the doctors and lawyers I worked for in my 2 careers, and not the unemployed homebound disabled person. Life does go by fast. Children grow up, and leave home as my 18yr old daughter did in August this year. People who you think you can't live without...Die.  Our bodies change and wither as we grow older and wiser even if we do NOT live with pain or illness.  Money comes and goes no matter how much you plan ahead, because NO ONE knows what the future brings.  Its not predictable at all, and just when you think the "plan" is perfect, Life throws you a curve ball.

I have figured out a few things about this thing we call LIFE due to the huge mistakes I have made.  Hopefully telling you my mess ups, will prevent you from making some of them,

**I respect all religions, faiths, and belief systems and accept you just the way you are and promote this on Pain Sufferers Speaak's Global Community every day of the year. Our community practices unconditional love and support for everyone with NO judgment and NO criticism. There is no wrong way to have faith and practice respect, in my opinion.** 

These are my "gifts" to you and your sweet families all over the world--
1.) Do not waste a minute on depression and the blues. It sucks your energy PLUS sucks all the joy out of your life.
2.) Hold on to hope with both hands. If you lose it, life becomes meaningless and miserable.
3.) The people who are precious to you will NOT be here forever. Tell them how you feel about them every chance you get.
4.) When someone leaves you, let them go. They were not meant to be in your life anymore, and trying to "make" them stay NEVER works.
5.) REAL Love is RARE. NEVER take it for granted or throw it away.
6.) Count on GOD! Humans will be humans, and let you down sometimes no matter how much you love and trust each other.
7.) Pain and illness IS part of everyone's life, but they cannot RUN your life unless you let them.
8.) There will ALWAYS be someone worse off than yourself. Count your blessings.
9.) You CAN love unconditionally and agree to disagree.
10.) Judgment and criticism are NOT necessary. They are both a CHOICE you can and should avoid.
11.) Peace and understanding begin at home. If both do not live with you, I suggest you let them in before you find yourself alone.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ~Ghandi

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to yours!! No matter what you believe or what you celebrate....CHOOSE to make each day in 2012 a day of hope, love, faith, and never forget to pass on smiles. They are contagious and laughter always seems to be close behind. Sending you lots of love, gentle hugs for those who need them, long supportive bone crushing hugs to those who want them, and May God shower each of your homes and families with abundant blessings! Liz xoxo

"No Pain, No Gain" from A New Perspective

"No Pain, No Gain" used to be my motto back in Jr high in my teens. I played all sports very competitively and never considered the long term effects on my body. Understand that sports is not the reason I have degenerative disc disease, but I will always wonder how much my "No Pain No Gain" attitude from back then still affects me today. I wish I had been encouraged to take care and love my body instead of abusing it. At least I can say with pride that I have encouraged both of my kids to think long term always and love their bodies that they were blessed with. I miss sports but not the body abuse side of it. Loving yourself and encouraging your own healthy self esteem is essential to everyone. Give yourself a hug today and love your body for all the things it does right. Living with illness and pain tends to give us all a reason for self loathing and hatred. FIGHT IT!! Because if you change your perspective, and decide to love your self and find the good in yourself then you will bolster not only your body image and self esteem, but you bonus better health, too. "Keep an optimistic outlook--its proven to prevent a host of heart problems. According to a roundup of Harvard researchers a perennially sunny disposition will help you lower your blood pressure, ward off heart disease, heal faster and live longer. Its not just your heart: multiple studies show that a cheerful outlook can ward off other health problems and add years to your life." (quoted from an article in Prevention Magazine, page 124, of the October 2008 edition) For more see prevention.com

Written By:
Liz Hall
Creator and Administrator for Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Community

LIFE

Life will throw many negatives your way.
Sometimes you'll laugh.
Sometimes you'll cry.
That's the very essence of you being alive!
**
You'll have good days and you'll have bad.
Sometimes you'll feel you're riding high,
While others you'll feel you're in a pit.
Both feelings and all in between, are part of life, my friend.
**
You will have sickness from time to time,
Or even perhaps have a loved one die.
Sometimes you will have plenty,
While others just barely getting by.
**
But in the midst of all the tears and pain,
How you react will make the difference in life.
Remember to smile and wave until the grave!
May not be easy, but it's the only way.
**
Written By: Rogelio Gomez
**

Many Blessings From All Over the World

*********************
Posted by: Mimi Glover

"Mother, Father, God, Goddess, Universal Power.
Remind us daily of the sanctity of all life.
Touch our hearts with the glorious oneness of all creation.
As we strive to respect all the living beings on this planet.
Penetrate our souls with the beauty of this earth,
as we attune ourselves to the rhythm and flow of the seasons.
Awaken our minds, with the knowledge to achieve
a world in perfect harmony. Grant us the wisdom to realize
that we can have heaven on earth." - Jo Poore
*********************

**********************
Posted By: Estee Wesley

 

 LORD,
I INVITE YOU TO LIVE IN MY LIFE TODAY. HERE IS MY FACE - SMILE THROUGH IT. HERE IS MY MOUTH - SPEAK TO SOMEONE WITH IT. HERE ARE MY EARS - LISTEN TO SOMEONE WITH THEM. HERE IS MY HEART - LOVE SOMEONE WITH IT. HERE ARE MY HANDS - TOUCH SOMEONE WITH THEM. HERE ARE MY ARMS - HUG SOMEONE WITH THEM. HERE ARE MY FEET - WALK WITH THEM THIS DAY.
AMEN

********************
Posted By: LouAnn Wilmoth

******************* Posted By: Sharon Johnson ‎ "Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away." --Robert Fulghum ******************** Posted by: Jacqueline Lamoureux  ******************* Posted By: Auntie Stacey Bryce ****************** Posted By: Julie Bame *************** Posted By: Deborah Clemmons ************** Posted By: Patricia Gonzalez Guerra-Lara Seek God, Be FREE from all that Binds U. Love and pray for those who persecute you.. Remember that God loved u first..... Amen.... Thank u Jesus ♥♥ ****************** ******************** ******************** ******************* ************** ************* ************** ****************** ********************** *********************** *************** **************** Posted By: Carolina Breunesse ******************** Posted By: Monique Millender ********************* *************** Posted By: Cindy Blevins **************** These are posts from many Pain Sisters from all over the world!  I got permission from all of them to share these with all of you. I would love to have you send me your favorite blessing, quote, picture, poem, bible verse, anything that has a special meaning for you and your family, your culture, your religion or set of beliefs! Love to include stuff from all of you on Pain Sufferers Speak's Blog! Next post will be from the Pain Brothers! Get those entries to me as soon as possible! Send them to my email: painsufferersspeak@hotmail.com Or my facebook: www.facebook.com/painsufferersspeak Sending you love, hugs and showers of blessings always! Liz : )

Recommended Reading For People With Pain and Illness

One of Pain Sufferers Speak's Support Family members asked me to recommend some non-fiction books for her.  I have tried to find ONLY a few books I love!! Since I am always reading at least two books at a time, this could be a neverending list.  These are definitely some MUST READS for all of us with pain and illness:

1) The Power of Positive Thinking
By: Norman Vincent Peale (For Everyone)

2) Day By Day
By: Billy Graham (For Everyone)

3) Outliers
By: Malcolm Gladwell (This book was instrumental in my forming Pain Sufferers Speak)

4) Blink
By: Malcolm Gladwell (Will help you make decisions in a new way)

5) A Fresh Start--How to let go of emotional baggage and enjoy your life again
By: Leonard Felder, PHD

6) How to Survive the Loss of A Love
By: Melba Colgrove, PHD Harold H Bloomfield, MD and Peter McWilliams (This book literally fell off a shelf and hit me in the head while I was going thru my divorce at age 18)

7) Don't Bet Against Me--Beating the odds against Breast Cancer and in life.
By: Deanna Favre (anyone with any kind of chronic illness MUST READ)

8) Parenting Isn't For Cowards--The "You Can Do It" Guide for Hassled Parents
By: Dr. James C Dobson (MUST READ FOR ALL PARENTS)

9) When God Whispers Your Name
By: Max Lucado (For Everyone)

10) Freeing Your Mind From Memories That Bind--How To Heal the hurts of the past
By: Fred & Florence Littauer

11) Careers For Women Without College Degrees
By: Beatryce Nivens (Great for needing to switch careers due to illness or pain)

12) How To Be Organized In Spite Of Yourself
By: Sunny Schlenger and Roberta Roesch

13) Personal Finance for Dummies
By: Eric Tyson (All of us have to live on tighter budgets once pain or illness causes loss of income)

14) Debt-Free Living
By: Larry Burkett

15) Make The Connection--Ten steps to a better body and a better life
By Bob Greene and Oprah Winfrey

16) Love Hunger--Recovery from food addiction--10 stage life plan for your body, mind and soul
By: Dr Frank Minirith, Dr Paul Meier, Dr Robert Hemfelt & Dr. Sharon Sneed

17) Faith & Doubt
By: John Ortberg (Helped me sort out my faith and anger at God over losing 2 careers.)

18) Love is a Choice--Recovery for codependent relationships
By: Dr Robert Hemfelt, Dr Frank Minirith, and Dr Paul Meier

19) When God Doesn't Make Sense
By: Dr James Dobson (Again so many questions about my faith due to disability at a young age.)

Its not a short list, but I hope these books bring hope and inspiration to all of you!! Enjoy!!

Love, Liz

Thank you and Welcome!

We have become such a beautifully diverse global community!! I LOVE this family we have created!!

 These are the official facebook community page countries with stats:

686 Indonesia
429 Egypt
330 United States
225 India
37 United Kingdom
33 Canada
12 Australia
9 Saudi Arabia
4 Philippines
4 South Africa
3 United Arab Emirates
3 Malaysia
3 Netherlands
2 Denmark
2 Germany
2 Pakistan
2 Hong Kong
1 Austria
1 Cyprus

These are the official country stats from ClustrMaps.com on our BLOG:
Click on the map at the top of our blog to look at the global map!
http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

United States (US)	345
Washington (WA) 53 California (CA) 37 Texas (TX) 36 Florida (FL) 19 Illinois (IL) 13 Colorado (CO) 13 New Jersey (NJ) 12 New York (NY) 11 Pennsylvania (PA) 11 Georgia (GA) 10 Tennessee (TN) 9 Virginia (VA) 8 Maryland (MD) 8 Michigan (MI) 6 Massachusetts (MA) 6 Oklahoma (OK) 6 Iowa (IA) 5 North Carolina (NC) 4 Ohio (OH) 4 Missouri (MO) 4 Arizona (AZ) 4 Oregon (OR) 4 Arkansas (AR) 4 Indiana (IN) 3 Wisconsin (WI) 3 Kentucky (KY) 3 Minnesota (MN) 3 Utah (UT) 3 New Hampshire (NH) 2 South Carolina (SC) 2 Alabama (AL) 2 District of Columbia (DC) 2 Vermont (VT) 1 Louisiana (LA) 1 Hawaii (HI) 1 Wyoming (WY) 1 N/A 31
	Canada (CA)	37
British Columbia (BC) 16 Ontario (ON) 11 Alberta (AB) 7 Quebec (QC) 2 Manitoba (MB) 1
	United Kingdom (GB)	37
London 4 Leeds 4 Angus 2 Telford and Wrekin 2 Surrey 2 Wigan 1 St. Helens 1 Cheshire 1 Doncaster 1 Lancashire 1 Edinburgh 1 Somerset 1 Lincolnshire 1 West Sussex 1 Wrexham 1 Milton Keynes 1 Newport 1 Kingston upon Thames 1 Worcestershire 1 Northamptonshire 1 Stoke-on-Trent 1 Bournemouth 1 Birmingham 1 Bristol 1 N/A 4
	Australia (AU)	17
Queensland 5 Victoria 5 New South Wales 5 South Australia 1 Western Australia 1
	Malaysia (MY)	10
Negeri Sembilan 5 Kuala Lumpur 4 Selangor 1
	Netherlands (NL)	8
Noord-Holland 7 Overijssel 1
	France (FR)	7
Rhone-Alpes 7
	Italy (IT)	6
Emilia-Romagna 6
	India (IN)	5
Madhya Pradesh 2 Punjab 1 Delhi 1 Gujarat 1
	Brazil (BR)	4
Sao Paulo 3 Minas Gerais 1
	Philippines (PH)	3
Manila 2 Quezon City 1
	Japan (JP)	3
Chiba 2 Wakayama 1
	Singapore (SG)	3
N/A 3
	Ireland (IE)	2
Dublin 2
	South Africa (ZA)	2
Gauteng 2
	Poland (PL)	2
Slaskie 1 Malopolskie 1
	United Arab Emirates (AE)	2
Dubai 1 Abu Dhabi 1
	Russian Federation (RU)	1
Voronezh 1
	Romania (RO)	1
Bucuresti 1
	Germany (DE)	1
Berlin 1
	Serbia (RS)	1
N/A 1
	Denmark (DK)	1
Hovedstaden 1
	Belgium (BE)	1
Antwerpen 1
	Austria (AT)	1
Wien 1
	Croatia (HR)	1
Zagrebacka 1
	Malta (MT)	1
N/A 1
	Mexico (MX)	1
Jalisco 1
	Saudi Arabia (SA)	1
Makkah 1
	Aruba (AW)	1
N/A 1
	Grenada (GD)	1
Saint George 1
	Chile (CL)	1
Tarapaca 1
	Bangladesh (BD)	1
Dhaka 1
	Taiwan (TW)	1
T'ai-pei 1
	Spain (ES)	1
Murcia 1
	Greece (GR)	1
Attiki 1
	Korea, Republic of (KR)	1
Kyonggi-do 1
	Cyprus (CY)	1
Limassol 1
	Israel (IL)	1
Tel Aviv 1
	Tajikistan (TJ)	1

And these ClustrMap Blog stats are only from July 1, 2011.  There have been 4,719 blog visitors since we started blogging on April 17, 2011.

Each of these numbers represents one of you. Each of you is a valued asset to our community, because you each bring your unique skill sets, knowledge, and wisdom to our collective knowledge. I feel knowledge is power and more powerful IF you share it with others. What you choose to share about yourself, your illness, your family, your pain will most likely ring true for at least one other person. You might bring hope and inspiration to someone who really needs it. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone in your pain is enough to get through a really hard day--I know I have lived with chronic pain and illness for 15 years. I encourage each of you to POST POST POST on the wall here on our facebook community page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pain-Sufferers-Speak/112276272164064

Contact me on Twitter with a Tweet or DM to @painspeaks
http://twitter.com/#!/painspeaks
Join me for LIVE Twitter chats at 10pm CST (Central Standard Time-USA) each night my pain allows.

Feel free to add me as a friend on facebook. My profile is under Liz Hall and the email is:
http://www.facebook.com/painsufferersspeak

Join our community hub and BLOG for daily advocacy and FREE resources for everyone of all ages! We have been recognized and listed in the EduBlogs Directory of Educational websites.
http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in joining our "Members Only" Pain Family Support Group on facebook, request to join by responding to one of the posts on Twitter or one of the posts on the facebook community page or send me an email anytime--I usually add you personally within hours of your request.

Thank you so much for your loyal support of our community and our efforts here at Pain Sufferers Speak. Sending Love and Many Blessings to each of my Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters all over the world!! Wishing you all happiness and lots of pain free and symptom free days!!!

Be sure to let me know if you have a blog, website, or business that our community NEEDS to know about!! Happy to list you on our blog's "Helpful Links" and add your logo or button with a link to your site!

Liz : )
Creator and Administrator of Pain Sufferers Speak