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

Living With An Invisible Illness

While from the outside I may seem normal,
It’s the part that you can’t see,
The constant pain and struggles within,
Are ever so apparent to me.
~
Although I may wear a smile,
Often times it's covering the tears,
Yet not tears because of sadness,
As it often may appear.
~
Don’t be too quick to judge though,
Because there is so much more than is known,
What may seem to look like one thing,
Just might turn to prove so wrong.
~
I may sometimes seem unfriendly,
Or too centered around self,
Because sometimes standing takes all I’ve got,
And there is just no energy left.
~
Sometimes my words may sound awkward,
My communication may not always convey,
My true inner thoughts and feelings,
Aren’t always expressed by what I say.
~
You may think that I’m not really listening,
Sometimes my face or speech may not show,
But I do hear every word you say,
I really want you to know.
~
The information doesn’t always process,
As quickly and as clear,
And sometimes it takes me longer,
To interpret what I hear.
~
I possibly miss many opportunities,
To offer needed love or support,
Because sometimes it just takes to long,
For my thoughts and words to sort.
~
So if my actions seem inappropriate,
In the things I say or do,
I hope that you can understand,
That it is not because of you.
~
There are times I get discouraged,
When forced to accept my inability--
It’s hard to admit my limitations,
And it leaves me feeling so guilty.
~
Yet every moment is a reminder
As I look all around,
The effort it takes just to get through the day,
Just picking my feet up off the ground.
~
I am not looking to find pity,
I am just attempting to explain,
That the person that you may often see,
And the real me aren’t exactly the same.
~
You may not see the peace and joy,
When you look upon my face,
But I know that each day I live,
Is because of God’s amazing grace.
~
It is hard to always be cheerful,
When the pain is so very real,
And not everyone can comprehend,
The extend of how I feel.
~
I don’t see it as all bad though,
Although I’d much rather it not be so,
But I know that if I must endure,
God will strengthen me as I go.
~
It may seem as if I take no pride
In the way that I look or dress,
However, there might be much more going on,
Inside of the big mess.
~
My home may not be nice and neat,
My bed not always made,
The laundry may not all be done,
And often it makes me ashamed.
~
But I must only do what I am able,
Each day I have to choose,
What is most important right then,
And the tasks I am able to lose.
~
All the plans and dreams I once held,
Now don’t seem quite so clear,
Yet I feel a peace within,
As my Lord keeps drawing me near.
~
To have a chronic illness,
Or a disability that one must bear,
Somehow puts life into perspective,
And helps to make us more aware.
~
I realize now that each day I live,
Is a gift from God above,
It is hard not to lean on Him,
Or to look to His great love.
~
I now can fully understand,
On my own, there is nothing I can do,
It is only be faith and prayer,
That I can make it through.
~
It may seem an exaggeration,
No one can always feel so bad,
But only those who have walked in these shoes,
Can appreciate the battles that I have had.
~
I see so many people less fortunate than me,
Don’t have to look very far,
There are so many suffering all around,
It doesn’t matter who you are.
~
Circumstances and illnesses can hit unexpectedly,
And you can never really be prepared,
It may be difficult to understand,
Leaving you vulnerable and feeling scared.
~
I must constantly guard my thoughts and mind,
As Satan always tries to bring me down,
He wants me to feel hopeless and unworthy,
And turn my smile into a frown.
~
It is hard not to get depressed,
When I see the burden my family must bare,
The fact I cannot always meet their needs,
No one could be more aware.
~
There are times I feel like giving up,
When I look too far ahead,
But I know if my loved ones were given the choice,
They would just choose to have me here instead.
~
There are so many ups and downs,
New challenges each day,
I must strive to keep my eyes on God,
So that I be not led astray.
~
It would be so difficult to cope,
Without God, my hope would all be gone,
Because through submitting to Him in prayer,
Is when my weaknesses are made strong.
~
So when you see the way I look,
When my insecurities are in view,
Base who I am on what’s inside,
Not by the things that I can do.
~
The greatest lesson that I have ever learned,
Is the reason that I am here on earth,
Is not to live for self and gain,
For in these things are not my worth.
~
God has a purpose for my life,
Although the details I may not see,
He still has it under control,
And is continually watching over me.
~
Maybe one day I will be well,
And my health He will restore,
But if that is not in God’s will,
I will still praise Him ever more.
~
If this suffering can bring honor to Him,
I will gladly accept the call,
Because of His great love for me,
He suffered and gave His all.
~
I have to believe that what I am going through now,
Will somehow work together for good,
And one day it will be revealed,
And all things will be understood.
~
While I still worry about what you think,
More the example that I may show,
I am learning so much more each day,
And this has really helped me to grow.
~
By: Mary Hastings, Written May 2003
******
Remember: Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Community respects all religions, faiths, and beliefs. 

This was shared on Pain Sufferers Speak's Support Family Group on Facebook by Auntie Stacey Bryce . We have 345 members in our private community and if you wish to join, just send a request to my email or facebook. 

 http://www.facebook.com/painsufferersspeak

painsufferersspeak@hotmail.com

Love to all my Pain Brothers & Pain Sisters All over the world!!
Liz : )

Monster Inside Of Me

I have been ill now for sixteen long years,
Every time I'm up, my illness reappears.
It is like a monster's just eating at me,
...Oh help me God, I just want to be free.
***
When I get this way I just want to flee,
Free of the pain that is inside of me.
I ask myself if God is even listening,
Because this pain I have is so piercing.
***
Physically, I can do nothing, except for sitting all day,
I have guilt and sadness, and my world is painted grey.
These feelings I have never seem to stray,
They make me feel like I want to hide away.
***
The depression I get is truly the worst,
It makes me feel as though I've been cursed.
Everyday I pray on bended knee,
Why is God not listening to me?
***
Most days I just want it to mend,
The pain is so great, maybe it'll end.
My kids think this monster is such a crime,
They have helped me through my worst of times.
***
I don't understand the reason why,
God makes me feel like I want to die.
One day I will know the answer from our Lord,
And maybe I'll get my just reward.
***
All I can do is continue to pray,
For God to stand by me and not go away.
To protect and guide me through this ghastly ordeal,
To mask and to conceal this pain that's surreal.
~Author Unknown
***

Introducing (and finally going public) Pain Sufferers Speak RAW

Right now you are reading this post on Pain Sufferers Speak's Main Blog For Everyone.

***Now I want to introduce our global community's 2nd Blog for ADULTS ONLY called Pain Sufferers Speak RAW!***

Warning: Some Profanity and Adult Content and Gritty Daily Reality Guaranteed!!

Here is the description for the Blog:
"Unplugged and unsensored. I am gonna cuss, rant, discuss my views on controversial topics, shower chair antics, wheelchairs I wish to leave behind, poop talk, piss, puke, unhealthy relationships in my past. Gonna be a wild RAW unsensored Ride for Pain Sufferers Speak. Still intend to respect privacy, and basic ethics of course.  No lies of omission here 100% Unsensored. This is the REAL WORLD so if you want the REAL DEAL subscribe to my RSS Feed and pull up your big boy pants or big girl panties--This blogs for you! Willing to share only because I refuse to accept that I am the only one this stuff happens to.  Love to have your input, thoughts, comments, questions or snide remarks anytime!"

So come join me for an unsensored ride through life with chronic pain and illness. Its gonna be a bumpy fun ride, Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters!!

Click the link below to go directly to Pain Sufferers Speak RAW "Adults Only" Blog
http://painspeaks.tumblr.com/
The "Multi Elements" to Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Community are: 1) our Main Blog--Pain Sufferers Speak; 2) our "For Adults Only" Blog--Pain Sufferers Speak RAW; 3) Facebook Community Page with over 50 Showcase topics loaded with FREE INFO; 4) Twitter as @painspeaks; 5) our EXCLUSIVE "Members Only Secret Family Support Facebook Group" with 24/7 support for everyone; 6) OPEN GROUP on LinkedIn called Pain Sufferers Speak just for FREE PROMOTION and Expanding Your Professional Network, 7) BranchOut, Facebook's Professional profile builder, 8) Vitality Link profile, 9) We are traded now on Empire Avenue as PAINSPEAKS / Liz Hall, 10) connect.me profile for networking and community growth--We have the rare priviledge of being chosen as a Founding Trust Anchor on their site.

Each part is unique and has different benefits--Join only 1 part OR all---Its up to you!!

Liz : )

Resource Links For All Types of Pain

Resource Links For People in Pain
http://www.ampainsoc.org/people/

Thank you for visiting the American Pain Society web site. APS is a multidisciplinary scientific and professional society. Because of legal restrictions and financial liabilities, APS is not able to offer individual consultations or medical advice. However, you may be interested in reading the position statements found in our Advocacy and Policy Section. You may also look for APS web site content information of interest to you by using our web site search feature.

To meet the information needs of the general public and especially for people in pain, APS has assisted in the launching and development of the American Pain Foundation, a nonprofit information resource and patient advocacy organization serving people with pain. The Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by providing practical information for patients, raising public awareness and understanding of pain, and advocating against barriers to effective treatment.

Most painful conditions can be treated and we hope you will find successful treatment options and compassionate care for your own situation.

Organizations That Can Help

American Pain Foundation

http://www.painfoundation.org/
The American Pain Foundation web site is an online resource for people with pain, their families, friends, caregivers and the general public. This site is devoted to patient information and advocacy, and provides many links to additional resources.

National Pain Foundation

http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/
Treatment Options, Personal Pain Inventory, Personal Pain Journal, Links, Education, Support, etc.

Arthritis Foundation

http://www.arthritis.org/

Pain Center
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/pain_center/default.asp

51 Ways to be Good to your joints: Relieve Stress and Pain
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/51_ways/relieve_stress.asp
Back Pain
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/bank_pain.asp
American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/

Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families
 http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MIT/ content/MIT_7_2x_Pain_Control_
A_Guide_for_People_with_Cancer_and_Their_Families.asp

Myths and Misconceptions About Pain Control
 http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/
NWS_2_1x_Myths_and_Misconceptions_About_Pain_Control.asp

American Chronic Pain Association

http://www.theacpa.org/

American Council for Headache Education

http://www.achenet.org/

Cancer Care

http://cancercare.org/

Chronic Pain Outreach Center, Inc

www.painconnection.org
A resource for people with chronic pain, their families and health care providers

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

http://www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm

The Mayday Pain Project

http://www.painandhealth.org/

The Vulvar Pain Foundation

http://www.vulvarpainfoundation.org/

National Fibromyalgia Association

http://fmaware.org/

National Headache Foundation

http://www.headaches.org/

The TMJ Association

http://www.tmj.org/


Information from the National Institutes of Health

National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

NINDS Chronic Pain Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/chronic_pain.htm

Amid Ongoing Controversy, Researchers Find Opiates Relieve Chronic Pain From Nervous System Damage
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_article_chronic_pain_opioids.htm

NINDS Peripheral Neuropathy Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/peripheralneuropathy_doc.htm

NINDS Trigeminal Neuralgia Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/trigemin_doc.htm

NINDS Central Pain Syndrome Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/centpain_doc.htm
NINDS Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/reflex_sympathetic_dystrophy.htm

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Fact Sheet
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/rsds_fact_sheet.htm

NINDS Shingles Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/shingles_doc.htm

Shingles: Hope Through Research
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/shingles.htm

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/TMDTMJ/default.htm

Pain (oral, facial)
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/HealthInformation/DiseasesAndConditions/PainOralFacial.htm

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

http://www.niams.nih.gov/index.htm

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

http://www.nci.nih.gov/

Panel Calls for Greater Attention to Cancer Patients' Pain, Depression, and Fatigue
http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/symptommgmt

Understanding Cancer Pain
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/understanding-cancer-pain

Pain Control: A Guide for People with Cancer and Their Families
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/paincontrol

Substance Abuse Issues In Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/supportivecare/substanceabuse/Patient

Pain (PDQ®)
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/supportivecare/pain

What You Need To Know About™ Cancer - An Overview
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/overview

Cancer Facts - Cancer: Questions and Answers
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/pdfdraft/6_sites/fs6_7.pdf

National Institutes Of Health State-Of-The-Science Statement - Symptom Management in Cancer: Pain, Depression and Fatigue (FINAL STATEMENT October 26, 2002)
http://consensus.nih.gov/2002/2002CancerPainDepressionFatiguesos022html.htm

Know Your Options: Understanding Treatment Choices for Prostate Cancer - Pain Management
http://www.cancer.gov/CancerInformation/understanding-prostate-cancer-treatment/page8

Found this List of Links and Many More Resources at the American Pain Society and here is their website:
http://www.ampainsoc.org/people/

Hope this provides everyone with many options for help, information, and support as you journey through life with pain and illness. Sending love, gentle hugs, and many blessings to all my Pain Brothers and Pain Sisters all over the world!!

Liz : )

My Story & Diagnosis

Hello Pain Brothers & Sisters!! I'm already in the process of writing my first book (of course) called Pain Sufferers Speak. Within the last year, I started Pain Sufferers Speak's 4 Elements: our Exclusive "Members Only" Pain Family, Community Fan Page, Blog plus I host Twitter chats every night that pain allows me to at 10pm CST-USA. Its been therapy for me after 15 years living with chronic pain, 2 back surgeries, partial hysterectomy, 2 kids, & hubby of 18.5 years. Life never gives us what we think, but I am super blessed to have gone through everything!! One chapter in the book is planned to have loads of my pain peeps and their stories. (Please message me your story to be considered for the book if you want.) Its a timely topic it seems as pain has invaded every section of the globe's society. However, at first it was to help me come back and talk about my pain after 18 months in hermitville and severe depression after losing 2 careers (8 yrs in healthcare as rehabilitation tech for head injury hospital, Home Health Aide Dispatcher & Home Health Aide for Disabled & Elderly Clients + 9 years as Nationally Certified Paralegal with most of my time in Bankruptcy & Social Security Law plus a little Real Estate Law). Took me 38 months and many trips to food banks and my parents help to finally win Social Security disability. Was turned down 4 times and 3 of those were with my attorney's help!! I refused disability after the first back surgery at age 24, because I just couldn't accept being disabled that young. It was emergency surgery in 1996 (age 24) because my right leg went completely numb. I have degenerative disc disease that effects 4 discs in my back (L5/S1, L4/L5 and 2 cervical discs in my neck), neuropathy (nerve damage and nerve pain) in both legs with balance and falling issues, carpel tunnel in both wrists and arms with nerve damage, occasional panic attacks since age 16, plus chronic fever blisters on my eyes, nose and mouth.... and a partridge and a pear tree. LOL I am so blessed to have such a big supportive real family and now over 200 Pain Brothers & Sisters in my self-created Pain Sufferers Speak "Members Only" Pain family. My hubby has had to take care of me off and on after surgeries, etc. He works out of our home as a mobile mechanic on cars and trucks so that he has time to chauffeur the kids since I have not driven for last 4 years on doctor's recommendation. I am mostly homebound due to falling and the car being so painful. My disabilities DO NOT define me!!! I keep my faith in God, my positive attitude plus I keep HOPE alive by always trying to do new things and test my limits to see what I CAN do. Life is challenging to everyone, and these just happen to be my challenges. I love to network with other bloggers, advocates of all kinds, and fellow chronic pain and chronic illness peeps. My book should be finished by the end of this year and hopefully published next year. I love to read (always have at least 2 books Im busy with), watch movies (Netflix ROCKS!!), host gamenights for friends and family, yoga, swimming when pain allows, cooking when carpel tunnel allows, blogging as often as I can, and I LOVE Twitter and Facebook. I am most proud of my 2 children (Jocelynn-17 and off to college in Aug, and Scott-11 who starts Jr High in Aug), my husband and our marriage of 18 years (loads of consistent work and lots of fighting through issues), and last but not least the repair of my relationship with both of my parents after tumultuous teen years. I practice unconditional love and acceptance of everyone in my life and carry my positive attitude as a shield against depression's pull. My faith sustains me and grounds me and is my ever present joy in life.

Hope you will enjoy Pain Sufferers Speak's Global Pain Community AND Choose to Join ALL "4 Elements" and Share our Global Pain Community with all of your friends and family!

1.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Exclusive "Members Only" Facebook Pain Family

http://www.facebook.com/groups/painsufferersspeak

2.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Facebook Community Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pain-Sufferers-Speak/112276272164064

3.) Pain Sufferers Speak's Blog **You are here now.** : )

http://painsufferersspeak.blogspot.com/

4.) Follow Pain Sufferers Speak's Founder & Administrator, Liz Hall, for nightly chats on Twitter as @painspeaks at 10pm CST-USA!

http://twitter.com/#!/painspeaks

A poem about chronic pain

 November 7, 2006

This pain is present every day
Unyielding, oppressive, still there.
Why doesn’t it take a day off,
Who said, “Life is always fair?”

Inhabited by the unwanted
I feel victimized, possessed.
I ask myself all those questions,
“What did I do? Was I too stressed?”

How much is psychological?
How much is left to chance?
Will it get worse or better?
Should I take a reflective glance?

Depression displaced by anger
I felt helpless, betrayed by fate.
Blaming myself, my parents, my genes
I faced my own Watergate.

I began to count my losses,
Labored through my grief,
My life, my body, my ego
All vandalized by this thief.

What can I expect to change?
What is always to be?
It seems all I valued before
Is now questioned, constantly.

Daily pain has rocked my world
As war, earthquake and flood,
As my own Richter scale responds
By changes deep within my blood.

I felt alienated from other
Those so vital, healthy and tanned
While I was despondent, alone
An alien in my own homeland.

For awhile I wallowed and floundered
Kicked by the foot of fate,
Then one day I passed a mirror and said,
“This is your life. It’s getting late!”

Suddenly that’s when it hit me.
I’d had enough of that pit.
My life was leading me around
Instead of me living it.

I began to look for solutions
If this pain is always to be.
I had to find some hope in my life,
Imprisoned, I longed to be free.

I took a personal inventory
Of all that I have left,
Gradually I stopped asking, “Why?”
And began feeling less bereft.

Instinctively I reached out to joy
Laughter felt so delicious inside.
As it rippled through my body,
Bringing its healing tide.

I’ve learned to love each day
Even the dark side and strife
For hidden within the heartache
Is a seed of renewal, called life.

- Sue Falkner Wood
___________________________________________________


Sue Falkner-Wood is a retired registered nurse living in Astoria, Ore., with her husband, who is also an R.N. Sue left nursing in 1990 due to chronic pain and other symptoms related to what was eventually diagnosed as relapsing polychondritis/mixed collagen disease, a progressive inflammatory condition involving the cartilage and connective tissue and leading to degeneration of the joints. Unable to practice nursing anymore, Sue turned to writing to vent her pent-up energy, and she has been very successful at it. She wrote a humor column for six years for her local paper in California, and has published articles and poems in the Fresno Bee, Nurseweek, arthritis, lupus and chronic pain newsletters, and a college literary magazine. Sue takes a glass-half-full approach to her disease and says she tries to do something useful every day.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/life-with-chronic-pain/?ht_archive=2011

This poem is word for word what living with chronic pain for 15 years has meant to me.  So happy to pass it on for others to gain insight and HOPE from. Your perspective does matter and its something you can control. I hope you pick to be a survivor with a positive attitude and find an attitude of gratitude for your life.

Have a meaningful week!! Love to all!!
Liz : )

Speaking of Pain

Hope this update finds you positive and ready to face your life's challenges one by one. Remember its not complaining to speak about your journey with pain--Instead view it as an opportunity to help someone else through what may be the hardest thing they have ever faced in their lifetime--Pain, sufferering, illness, isolation, depression, worry, fear, etc. All humans experience and have to deal with pain. Our bodies manifest our pain as stress which causes the same chemical response in everyone from babies to senior citzens. We encourage our children to tell someone why they are sorry and communicate their physical symptoms to us. As adults, we receive unhealthy encouragement to suppress, hide, and be silent about our pains and complaints. Its a scientific fact that sharing and communicating about anything negative in your life is the best thing for you and your body. Its surprising how many of us are willing to post our complaints on our facebook wall, but we won't discuss them openly with friends and family even when we feel safe to do so. Pain Sufferers Speak was started to help others through sharing. Sharing your story, your links, your opinions, and your knowledge with the group is the only way we can develop and grow together as a community. Its my passion to connect people so that we can bolster each other in an abundantly forgiving and safe environment. No one will critcise you or judge you, because that will get them band from the group permanently. So feel free to say what you think and feel, share your stories, advice, what works for you, what doesn't work for you, what excercises or diet has helped you, etc. The more we give to our community the better we all will be served by it. The Showcases (available on the group only) are each specific to a particular condition, disease, syndrome, or other topic for discussion. I designed it this way so we have a collective knowledge base organized by topic. One stop shopping... if you will. Introduce yourself, tell what you feel comfortable with about your story, and see what responses you get. I am looking forward to reading your posts, continuing to do webresearch daily, answering questions or finding someone for you that can answer your questions, and generally enjoying our unique community filled with people who get it and aren't afraid to speak about the commonly dreaded subject of pain. Its normal to feel all alone in your pain, because truly the only way for someone else to completely understand how you feel is for that person to be INSIDE your body at the precise moment of your pain. However, if you can find someone else that has your condition, your symptoms, your diagnosis....than they get where you are coming from. Through shared experiences we can help each other cope with the hard stuff life throws at all of us. It is my wish that these connections happen for you on Pain Sufferers Speak. If you have a suggestion for a Showcase, send me a message or suggest it on the wall of the group or community fan page. In order to experience the maximum benefits of our community, Join the facebook group & community fan page, follow this blog, and follow us on Twitter as @painspeaks. Talk to you soon and have a wonderful Friday and weekend!!

Liz : )