The Worldwide Lyme Disease protest will take place in 21 different countries on 10th and 11th May 2013. Australia is part of this worldwide protest. If you would like to be involved please add your name to the face-book site:
"We gain strength, courage and confidence by each experience
in which we really stop to look fear in the face...
we must do that which we think we cannot."
Doing the things we think we cannot is the essence of courage.
However, when we think about courage,
it's usually stories of heroism that come to mind,
saving someone from a fire or climbing Mount Everest.
But for millions of people around the world, courage comes in a very different way. It's a quiet voice that gives them the strength to go on for another day, sometimes in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Lose the Lyme - Save the Rhyme
“Lose the Lyme: Save
the Rhyme”
I can’t hustle…
when some strange
disease has attacked my joint and muscle.
I can’t think
straight,
when I’m carrying
all this added weight.
I can’t go on
believing-
in a system that
isn’t seeing.
I can’t dream for
too long,
when I feel
something inside me is so wrong.
I can’t solve a
riddle,
with confusion and
crying - dying in the middle.
I can’t do the
things that I once could do…
If it hasn’t
happened yet, it could happen to you.
I can’t stand the
pain at times…
Am I really a victim
of biological warfare - terrible crimes?
This is a very
critical rhyme,
from a simple soul
suffering with Lyme’s in her prime.
Wouldn’t you know, sprinkles are now coming down on my face:
I can barely feel
the rain, yet I embrace -
God’s Grace is
taking place.
I can almost see in
the cloudy skies - a moving staircase.
Close to the ocean,
I feel the big wind and my heart race.
Healing begins with
a Wounded Healer, at a slow moving pace.
I
was awaken with sudden jolt
Stars, twinkle, cloudy eyes
Sleep like in turbulence
Unnerving feeling
I feel like dying
I
woke up
My whole body is numb
I couldn’t move both my hands
I freak out
My
complaint
Chest pain, heart palpitations
Sore throat, low grade fevers
Joint pain, swollen joint
Back pain, I can’t explain
And left side
Facial numbness.
I
call my doctor
Explain my illusion
He diagnosed me with Anxiety
Prescribe me with Xanax
To help me relax.
I
call again
And this time
He sends me for a second opinion
I was told
That my problem is joint disease
I
went back to see my PCP
He performs all kind of blood work
Everything came negative
Except for Lyme Disease.
He
prescribe two months of antibiotic
I came back for a follow up
He said I was treated.
I
went through
Battery of test.
They all came negative
Non diagnostic.
One
year pass
My right ears is ringing
My vision is failing
My shaft of my legs
Bone pain I couldn’t explain.
I
went to see, for a second opinion
A Neurologist I must see.
Arrogant as he is
Ask me questions
Like am in court of justice.
I
have Anxiety
He ask me to breath
Couple of times
He ask me to look straight
At the sharp dispense
And ask me to breath
In and out…
He
ask in a badgering voice
Is this what you feel?
Is this what you feel?
In confusion
I just wanted him
To leave me alone
And I said, yes.
I
feel humiliated
He didn’t give me a correct diagnosis
He forgot he is a Neurologist, not a Psychiatrist
Telling me, my Anxiety is
Far worst than I think.
I
drove miles, long miles
Countless bends
To see a Lyme Literate.
As
I enter the office
I felt the humility
The look of understanding
Of the Secretary
I
was seated in the room
My mind is roaming
My Anxiety arise
My palms were sweating.
As
She enter the room
Her skin as dark
But She smile
Her teeth as white
I
left with dignity
She doesn’t have all the answers
But she listens to me
And my spirit rise and intact
I am ill with Chronic Lyme.
All
I could say
Doctors who practice
Use your own caution
Please just hear us.
Put a little compassion
Be in our shoes.
Heidy Ramos is
recovering from lyme disease and hopes that her poem helps others who have been
misdiagnosed and mistreated by health care professionals to know that they are
not alone.
I am fighting a Sarc of a battle, now I'm back and stronger than ever. For Sarcoidosis has been a mirror held up in front of me.
It’s forced me to take a good look at myself.
And bluntly asked "Where are you going?"
It’s made me redefine my priorities.
Teaching me that it really is the little things
that make life sweet.
It’s given me the vision to see angels walking among us.
Calling themselves friends and family they’ve touched my life deeper than I ever dreamed possible.
Sarcoidosis asked me
to embrace the change in myself;
The change that forced me to grow and become the
person I always wanted to be but never seemed to have the time to achieve.
Change always involves risk.
Stepping from the known into the unknown.
I had to embrace uncertainty and accept that I was not in control.
It's been the ultimate test of my character.
Forcing me to trust my heart and reach deep inside.
For Strength & Power
I never knew I had.
I came to realize that even though I had Sarcoidosis I was never a victim.
I am a Survivor in
Heart & Spirit
and always will be.
Even if that test takes me to my last breath. Sarcoidosis truly is
a defining moment, a moment that made me redefine the impossible.
And since I did, nothing will ever be the same again
..................
it will be better
BALLAD OF A DEER TICK by Richard Horowitz
One Step at a Time
by Joseph Morris
In the morning with the journey all before us on the road,
It takes courage to begin, that is sure;
For the first step is the hardest, and we always think the load
May be greater than we've power to endure.
When the first mile lies behind us we can say, "Now that is done,
And the second and the third will soon be past."
So we trudge on through the noontime, and the setting of the sun
Finds us coming to our stopping-place at last.
When a man would climb a mountain he's appalled to see the length
Of the slope that reaches up into the sky;
But he starts, and with the climbing he will find he's gained the strength
To attain the very top, however high.
For the climbing of a mountain takes but one step at a time--
Who has courage to do that will reach the goal;
He will stand upon Life's summit and will know that joy sublime
Which is his alone who dares to prove his soul.
My Lyme Poem: How It
Feels To Be Me…
How It Feels To Be
Me…
Do you really wish
to know?
Sometimes I don’t,
but I do.
I alone know how it
feels to be me.
I try to explain, to
share my joy and my pain,
But not everyone
listens.
Will you?
Let me tell you my
secret…
I feel the healing.
It’s like a breath
of fresh air,
But it brings with
it a passing storm.
The pain:
The horrible pain
that smothers,
And entwines itself
within me.
The dizziness:
The endless
sensations,
That in one swift
spin can move me to my knees.
The fatigue:
The blanket of
indescribable tiredness,
That brings with it
aching muscles, un-restful sleep, and complete confusion.
My heart beats fast;
My hands shake;
My stomach turns
inside out.
I’m pained by the
knowledge that tomorrow may be worse than today.
But, I’m comforted
by the future which holds such promise.
I’m reassured by the
voices of my loved ones.
I’m thankful for
every breath, every thought, and every action,
Which have been
taken to help me heal.
I know the journey
will be a long one.
And if you knew how
it feels to be me,
You would listen.
Molly Murphy,
1/29/09
Hope
by Brian Quinn
When all about you is black with gloom,
And all you feel is pending doom.
When your bones are racked with grim despair -
When every breath is a gasp for air.
Keep on going, though you need to grope,
For around the bend is a ray of hope.
A ray of hope is perhaps all that's left,
As your will to live has been bereft.
You've lost it all, it's just no use!
You can end it all, you need no excuse.
But throw away that piece of rope,
And give yourself a chance of hope.
Just give yourself another day,
Brushing aside what your thoughts may say.
This is your life and you can make a new start,
By ignoring the brain - just follow the heart.
Taking baby steps in order to cope,
And minute by minute you'll build on your hope.
Build on your hope,. one day at a time,
Though the road be steep and hard to climb.
The hurts of the past - they should be dead.
The fears of the future are all in your head.
Just live in the present and refuse to mope
Your life will sparkle for your living in hope.
Standing Alone
by Chase
I can see the flower upon which my life grows, blooming into a rose.
See the hope and courage in the strength of the petals.
As long as I am, I will be.
The flower will never wilt or die.
As my life grows back, I shall become strong.
I shall become only dependent on one.
That one will be me.
I will rise with my petals high.
My life as a flower will bloom and prosper as I grow.
I may not be the pick of the patch, but I am just as beautiful as the rest.
I will stand as one, but not a lonely soul.
The tears will be far from my smile.
Endure
by Bobi
If I can endure for this moment,
whatever is happening to me.
No matter how heavy my heart,
or how dark the moment may be.
If I can but keep on believing,
what I know in my heart to be true.
Then darkness will fade into morning,
and with this dawn a new day, too
Then you still have hope
If you can look at the sunset and smile,
and find beauty in the colours of a small flower,
then you still have hope.
If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
and if the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope.
If you can see the good in other people, and if the rain
breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,
then you still have hope.
If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in
wonder,
and if the soft fur of a favoured pet still feels pleasant
under your fingertips,
then you still have hope.
If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and
optimism,
and if you give people the benefit of the doubt,
then you still have hope.
If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that
have touched your life,
and if receiving an unexpected card or letter
still brings a pleasant surprise,
then you still have hope.
If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and
frustration,
and if you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must
end,
then you still have
hope.
If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and
reflection,
and if you still watch love stories or want the endings to be
happy,
then you still have hope.
If you can look to the past and smile, and when faced with the
bad,
when told everything is futile, you can still look up
and end the conversation with the phrase ...
'yes, but ....'
Then you still have hope.
Hope is such a marvellous thing.
It bends, it twists, it
sometimes hides, but rarely does it break.
It sustains us when nothing else
can.
It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead,
when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.
Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.
Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.
Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the
direction.
Hope is a wonderful thing,
something to be cherished and
nurtured
and something that will refresh us in return.
It can be found in each of us and it can bring light
into the darkest of places.
So never lose hope.
Author Unknown
Always keep hope in your heart ~
Sue
While there's life, there's hope. ~ Cicero
The greatest wealth is health. ~ Virgil
Never lose hope. ~ Author Unknown
“This is the beginning of a new day.
You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important
because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone
forever; in its place is something that you have left
behind... let it be something good.”
Mac Anderson,
Author ~ Finding Joy
Look To this Day
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence.
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendour of achievement
Are but experiences of time.
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision;
And today well-lived, makes
Yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day;
Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn!
What
Hope Means
Hope is bright shining light which keeps darkness at the bay Hope is gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day
Hope is to remain positive
when going gets tough hope is seeking more when others think u had enough
What hope means
Hope is dreaming of tomorrow Hope is simmering under sorrow
Hope is sparkles when tears in our eyes Hope is a beautiful thing & beautiful things never dies
What hope means
Hope is as light as a feather Hope keeps all of us together
Hope is ubiquitous and free of cost hope is the last thing ever lost.....
The Greatest Artist
God is the greatest artist To whom no one can compare, Streaking sunsets very beautiful, Painting rainbows in the air.
Brushing green the hillside scene, Blotting blue the sky above, Splashing flowers 'cross the ground beneath, Shading white clouds with His glove.
Of the wonders God has made There is none that is so fair As the smile He paints upon your face When you realize He's there.
Hope
Hope is a candle in the night
hope is a long respite
Hope is a feather
Once lifted, it'll only get higher
Hope is an oasis in a desert
Hope is a diamond in the dirt
Hope is everywhere
Yet hope is scarcely there
Hope is the dream of better days
Hope is the passion ablaze
Hope is beautiful
And hope is tranquil
Hope is there for everyone
Hope is an asset that all has in abundance
I Care
I’m sending this to let you know I think of you each day, And pray for your recovery, Hoping soon you’ll be okay.
You’re going through a lot right now; You’re treatments can be trying; Remember while you do them It’s your problem you’re defying.
Hold on to your positive attitude, And when things get hard to bear, Know that I am here for you; Remember that I care.
And when you’re well and flourishing, Look back and realize, You learned what you were made of; That’s a reward that satisfies!
Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain Slapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
Do you run through each day On the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply? When the day is done Do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores Running through your head?
You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, Not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time To call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away.
Life is not a race. Do take it slower Hear the music Before the song is over.
A castle, a rainbow, and dreams for me,
An end to this battle that I must fight,
To rid my feelings of depression and fright,
An end to disease is not far away,
It will be here someday... someday.
Stillness of the Dawn I sat in the stillness of the dawn I hear your voice calling me while the beauty of your creations surrounded me.
The gentle breeze was your hand, Of mercy encouraging me not to give up.
The water rocking the dock said you'd carry me in hard times.
The brightness of the sunrise, Was your smile Letting me know, you love me so
From your eyes, were tears of joy They were just for me.
While searching each corner of my soul, You knew I needed you so. I heard your voice in the rustling of the leaves.
Whispering kind words, as a father to his child.
I drank it all in, As if dying of thirst; And only one thing came from my lips,
When the Sun announces the dawning day
Just flex your muscles and start on your way.
Go over, or under, around, or through
Any Obstacles or hurdles that challenge you.
There’s a new day coming.
Cast aside the failures of yesterday.
Forget the peaks and valleys that have paved
your way.
Wipe the sweat from your brow
and the dust from your shoe.
Take a breath and relax
so that you may begin anew.
There’s a new day coming.
Forget the burdens and obstacles
that have held you back.
Focus on your dreams and prepare a plan of
attack.
There are battles awaiting
to challenge your success.
Daring you to stand tall and to give it your best.
There’s a new day coming.
No matter how great the journey,
or how heavy the load
How steep the mountain,
or how rough the road.
When your arms grow weary and legs give way
Stop and rest for a moment,
it will be okay.
There’s a new day coming.
from the setting Sun.
As shadows spring forth
Take a moment and savor the battles you’ve won.
Sleep peacefully tonight and enjoy your rest.
Awaken tomorrow and continue your quest.
There’s always, a new day coming.
Mychal Wynn
Never Let Go Of Hope
One day you will see that it all has finally come together.
What you have always wished for has finally come to
be.
You will look back and laugh at what has passed
and you will ask yourself,
"How did I get through all of that?"
Just never let go of hope.
Just never quit dreaming.
And never let love depart from your life.
~ Jancarl Campi ~
Go After Your Dreams
You're good,
but you're going to be great.
You're the best,
but you're going to get better.
Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard,
but remember: those are always the ones
that lead to the most beautiful views.
Challenges come along inevitably:
how you respond to them determines who you are
deep down inside and everything you're going
to be.
Increase the chances of reaching your goals
by working at them gradually.
The very best you can do
is all that is asked of you.
Realize that you are capable of working
miracles
of your own making.
Remember that opportunities have a reason
for knocking on your door,
and the right ones are there for the taking.
You don't always have to win,
but you do need to
know what it takes to be a winner.
It's up to you to find the key that unlocks
the door to a more fulfilling life.
Understand that increased difficulty brings
you
nearer to the truth of how to survive it;
and get beyond it.
Cross your bridges.
Meet your challenges.
Reach out for your dreams,
and bring them closer and closer to your
heart.
Get rid of the "if only's" and get
on with whatever
you need to do to get things right.
Go after what you want in life,
with all the blessings of all the people who
care about you.
And find out what making your wishes
come true really feels like.
~ Collin McCarty ~
Reaching
Your Dream Takes Courage
Courage is admitting that you're afraid
and facing that fear directly.
It's being strong enough to ask for help
and humble enough to accept it.
Courage is standing up for what you believe in
without worrying about the opinions of others.
It's following your own heart,
living your own life,
and settling for nothing less than the best for yourself.
Courage
is daring to take a first step,
a big leap, or a different path.
It's attempting to do something
that no one has done before and all others thought impossible.
Courage is keeping heart in the face of disappointment
and looking at defeat not as an end but as a new beginning.
It's believing that things will ultimately get better
even as they get worse.
Courage is being responsible for your own actions and admitting
your own mistakes without placing blame on others.
It's relying not on others for your success,
but on your own skills and efforts.
Courage is refusing to quit
even when you're intimidated by impossibility.
It's choosing a goal, sticking with it,
and finding solutions to the problems.
Courage is thinking big,
aiming high, and shooting far.
It's taking a dream and doing anything,
risking everything, and
stopping at nothing to it make it a reality.
~ Caroline Kent ~
"The path was worn
and slippery,
My foot
slipped from under me,
knocking the other out of the way,
but I recovered and said to myself,
It's a slip and not a fall."
You cannot stop the waves
but you can learn how to surf
~
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.
Take
These Thoughts With You
On Your Journey To Your Dreams
Don't ever forget that
you are unique.
Be your best self and
not an imitation of someone else.
Find your strength and
use them in a positive way.
Don't listen to those
who ridicule the choices you make.
Travel the road that you
have chosen and don't look back with regret.
You have to take chances
to make your dreams happen.
Remember that there is
plenty of time
to travel another road and
still another in your
journey through life.
Take the time to find
the route
that is right for you.
You will learn something
valuable
from every trip you
take,
so don't be afraid to
make mistakes.
Tell yourself that
you're okay just the way you are.
Make friends who respect
your true self.
Take the time to be
alone, too,
so you can know just how
terrific your own company can be.
Remember that being
alone doesn't always mean being lonely;
it can be a beautiful
experience of finding your creativity,
your heartfelt feelings,
and the calm and quiet
peace deep inside you.
Don't ever forget that
you are special
and you have within you
the ability
to make your dreams come
true.
~ Jacqueline Schiff ~
"The sense of
obligation to continue
is present in all of us. A duty to strive
is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that duty."
Don't
Quit
by:
Unknown Author
When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit. Rest, if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out: Don't give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are It may be near when it seems so far: So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
The
Victor
by:
C. W. Longenecker
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. If you like to win but think you can't, It's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll lose, you're lost. For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow's will. It's all in the state of mind. If you think you are out classed, you are. You've got to think high to rise. You've got to be sure of your-self before You can ever win the prize. Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can.
Always
Have A Dream In Your Heart
Follow your heart,
never surrender your dreams.
Constantly work towards
your goals.
Believe in yourself, and
always be truthful.
Take time to enjoy
life's pleasures.
Keep your mind open to
new experiences.
Think before acting,
but don't forget the joys of spontaneity.
Make your own decisions.
Look out for yourself,
but remember
that you share this universe with others.
Look for the good in
others,
everybody has their own song to sing.
Live each moment to the
fullest,
for a moment too soon becomes a memory.
Look for opportunities,
not guarantees.
Hope for the best.
Give people a chance to
love you,
for that is how you learn to love.
Live your life for
yourself,
but always be considerate of others.
Believe in tomorrow,
for it holds the key
to your dreams.
~ Melissa Ososki ~
Your
Dimension Of Greatness
No one can know the
potential,
Of a life that is committed to win;
With courage - the challenge it faces,
To achieve great success in the end!
So, explore the
Dimension of Greatness,
And believe that the world CAN be won;
By a mind that is fully committed,
KNOWING the task can be done!
Your world has no place
for the skeptic,
No room for the DOUBTER to stand;
To weaken your firm resolution
That you CAN EXCEL in this land!
We must have VISION TO
SEE our potential,
And FAITH TO BELIEVE that we can;
Then COURAGE TO ACT with conviction,
To become what GOD MEANT us to be!
So, possess the strength
and the courage,
To conquer WHATEVER you choose;
It's the person WHO NEVER GETS STARTED,
That is destined FOREVER to lose!
~ Author Unknown ~
You Can
Be Whatever
You Want To Be!
by: Donna Levine
There is inside you all
of the potential
to be whatever you want to be,
all of the energy
to do whatever you want to do.
Imagine yourself as you
would like to be,
doing what you want to do,
and each day, take one step
towards your dream.
And though at times it
may seem too
difficult to continue,
hold on to your dream.
One morning you will
awake to find
that you are the person you dreamed of,
doing what you wanted to do,
simply because you had the courage
to believe in your potential
and to hold on to your dream.
~ Donna Levine ~
Within
You Is The Strength
To Meet Life's Challenges!
You are stronger than
you think,
remember to stand tall.
Every challenge in your
life
helps you to grow.
Every problem you
encounter
strengthens your mind and your soul.
Every trouble you
overcome
increases your understanding of life.
When all your troubles
weigh
heavily on your shoulders,
remember that beneath the burden
you can stand tall,
because you are never given
more than you can handle...
and you are stronger than you think.
~ Lisa Wroble ~
Words
To Live By
It's not how much you
accomplish in life
that really counts,
but how much you give to other.
It's not how high you
build your dreams
that makes a difference,
but how high your faith can climb.
It's not how many goals
you reach,
but how many lives you touch.
It's not who you know
that matters,
but who you are inside.
Believe in the
impossible,
hold tight to the incredible,
and live each day to its fullest potential.
You can make a
difference
in your world.
~ Rebecca Barlow Jordan
~
A Creed
To Live By
Don't undermine your
worth by comparing
yourself with others.
It is because we are
different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by
what other people
deem important.
Only you know what is
best for you.
Don't take for granted
the things closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you
would your life,
for without them life is
meaningless.
Don't let your life slip
through your fingers
by living in the past or for the future.
By living your life one
day at a time,
you live all the days of your life.
Don't give up
when you still have
something to give.
Nothing is really over
until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit
that you are less than
perfect.
It is this fragile
thread
that binds us to each
other.
Don't be afraid to
encounter risks.
It is by taking chances
that we learn how to be
brave.
Don't shut love out of
your life
by saying it's
impossible to find.
The quickest way to
receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose
love
is to hold it too
tightly;
and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your
dreams.
To be without dreams is
to be without hope;
to be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life
so fast that you forget
not only where you've been,
but also where you're
going.
Life is not a race,
but a journey to be
savored
each step of the way.
~ Nancye Sims ~
Don't
give Up!
Your Dreams May Be Closer
Than You Think!
There may be times when
you feel as if you have taken
a million steps towards
your dreams,
and acted on your plans,
only to find
yourself in the same place that you began from.
At times like this, you
must not give up.
You must continue on.
Though you may feel lost, bewildered, and alone,
continue to believe in yourself.
Do not allow
discouragement and doubt
to blur your vision
and wash away your dreams.
Visualize your way
beyond the
detours, standstills, and obstacles.
You will realize your
dreams.
You have worked hard
and taken so many
productive
steps in a positive direction
that you are bound to
succeed.
Whatever the hurt of the
moment
may be, it will pass.
Tomorrow is always a new dawn.
Today, you must pause,
rest, catch your breath,
and then look ahead.
Each step will bring you
closer to your dreams.
The rainbows and the
love
that you deserve are in sight.
Happiness is just around
the next turn.
~ Vicki Silvers ~
You Can
Do Anything
You Believe You Can
Just start somewhere.
Resolve to do something.
You might even write out
what you want to accomplish.
Then explore what you
need to do to reach you goal,
and start doing it, step
by step.
It's the same as if you were planning a trip:
you get a map, make your preparations,
and then start traveling
the right road.
Don't get "bound
up" in any problems
that stand in your way.
Do something every day
to resolve them.
Trust your instincts.
Do one thing at a time.
Remember...
if you sow seeds of
fear, doubt, panic, and procrastination,
it will most likely work
against you.
If you keep doing the
same things you're
doing now, you will keep ending up in similar
places to where you are now.
Once you start making
progress towards your goal,
you will be magically propelled towards eventual reward.
Just keep listening and
taking direction from inside you.
Be patient; your dreams
will not come true overnight.
But start now, and go
with
Love, Courage and Confidence.
Don't be afraid.
You can do anything
you believe you can.
And don't forget to keep
an open mind
and heart to check
yourself along the way.
You can do it!
Go for it,
and good luck.
~ Donna Fargo ~
"We cannot tell what may
happen to us in the strange medley of life.
But we can decide what happens in us...
how we
can take it, what we can do with it...
and that is what really counts in the
end."
Joseph Fort Newton
"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift
us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
“Whilst there is life, there is
living to be done……
in death there is change and new directions”
" B
and sing and dance and play and work every day some" Robert Fulghum
“Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop
your strength.
When you go through hardship and decide not to surrender,
that
is strength."
Arnold Schwarzenegger ~ Actor and Governor of California
~~~
Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over,
it became a butterfly ~ Anon
~~~
Survivor by Merci lujan
I am, and always will be a
survivor
I will conquer anything that dares to cross my path
~~~
It’s the friends that you can
call at 4am that matter
~ Marlene Dietrich
~~~
Letter
from Fra Giovanni
I am your friend
and my love for you goes deep.
There is nothing I can give you
which you have not got,
but there is much, very much
that while I cannot give it,
you can take.
No heaven can come to us
unless our hearts find rest in today.
Take heaven!
No peace lies in the future
which is not hidden
in this present little instant.
Take peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow.
Behind it, yet within our reach is joy.
There is radiance and glory
in the darkness
could we but see
and to see we have only to look.
I beseech you to look!
Life is so generous a
giver,
but we, judging its gifts
by the covering,
cast them away as ugly,
or heavy or hard.
Remove the covering
and you will find beneath it
a living splendor, woven of love,
by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it,
touch the angel's hand
that brings it to you.
Everything we call a trial,
a sorrow, or a duty, believe me,
that angel's hand is there,
the gift is there, and the wonder
of an overshadowing presence.
Our joys, too, be not
content with them as joys.
They, too, conceal diviner gifts.
Life is so full
of meaning and purpose,
so full of beauty
beneath its covering
that you will find earth
but cloaks your heaven.
Courage, then, to claim
it,
that is all.
But courage you have,
and the knowledge that
we are all pilgrims together,
wending through
unknown country, home.
And so, at this time,
I greet you.
Not quite as the world
sends greetings,
but with profound esteem
and with the prayer
that for you
now and forever,
the day breaks,
and the shadows flee away.
letter written by Fra Giovanni, 1513
Dare To
Dream
Let nothing hold you
back from
exploring your wildest fantasies,
wishes, and aspirations.
Don't be afraid to dream
big
and to follow your dreams
wherever they may lead you.
Open your eyes to their
beauty;
open your mind to their magic;
open your heart to their possibilities.
Dare to dream. Whether they are in
color
or in black and white,
whether they are big or small,
easily attainable or almost impossible,
look to your dreams,
and make them become reality.
Wishes and hopes are
nothing
until you take the first step
towards making them something!
Dare to dream,
Because only by dreaming,
will you ever discover
who you are, what you want,
and what you can do.
Don't be afraid to take
risks,
to become involved,
to make commitment.
Do whatever it takes to
make
your dreams come true.
Always believe in miracles,
and always believe in you!
~ Julie Anne Ford ~
Be True to Your Heart
And Your Dreams Will Come True
Stay true to all your
beliefs and goals. Stand tall.
Through all life's
setbacks and disappointments,
your dreams will come true.
When no one else is with
you,
and no one seems to care,
just whisper to yourself,
"I am the controller of my destiny. It's up to me what comes
to pass,
and if I keep my thoughts positive and strong,
my dreams will come true."
When what seem to be
impossible obstacles
stand in your way, just think of all the times
you got through yesterday.
There is a place for you
in this world.
Stay on your chosen
path.
All the power is within you;
be true to what is in your heart.
Be honest within
yourself;
if you are, then you cannot fail.
Your dreams will come
true.
~ Debra Ruegg-Jenkins ~
Anything
Is Possible
Believe in Yourself,
and Remember that
Anything Is Possible
Believe in what makes
you feel good.
Believe in what makes you happy.
Believe in the dreams
you've always wanted to come true,
and give them every chance to.
Life holds no promises
as to what will come your way.
You must search for your
own ideals
and work towards reaching them.
Life makes no guarantees
as to what you'll have.
It just gives you time to make choices
and to take chances and to discover
whatever secrets might
come your way.
If you are willing to
take the opportunities you are given
and utilize the abilities you have,
you will constantly fill your life
with special moments and unforgettable times.
No one knows the
mysteries of life or its ultimate meaning,
but for those who are willing
to believe in their dreams and in themselves,
life is a precious gift in which
anything is possible.
~ Dena DiIaconi ~
Today's
Dreams Are
Tomorrow's Successes
Don't be afraid of high
hopes
or plans that seem to be out of reach.
Life is meant to be
experienced,
and every situation allows for
learning and growth.
Motivation is a positive
starting point,
and action places you on a forward path.
A dream is a blueprint
of a goal not yet achieved;
the only difference between the two
is the effort involved in attaining
what you hope to accomplish.
Let your mind and heart
urge you on;
allow the power of your will
to lead you to your destination.
Don't count the steps
ahead;
just add up the total
of steps already covered,
and multiply it by
faith, confidence, and endurance.
Always remember that
for those who persist,
today's dreams are transformed
into tomorrow's successes.
~ Kelly D. Caron ~
Believe
In Yourself And Your
Dreams Will Come True
Know what you can and
want to do in life.
Set goals for yourself
and work hard to achieve them.
Strive to have fun every
day.
Use your creativity as a
means of expressing your feelings.
Be sensitive in viewing
the world.
Develop a sense of
confidence.
Be honest with yourself
and with others.
Follow your heart and
adhere to your own truths.
Know that the more you
give the more you will receive.
Believe in yourself and
your dreams will come true.
~ Susan Polis Schutz ~
~~~
Happiness lies ahead for those
who cry;
those who hurt,
those who have searched,
and those who tried,
for only
they can appreciate the importance
of people who have touched their lives.
~~~
"Twenty years from now you
will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did
do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade
winds in your sail.
Explore.
Dream.
Discover."
Mark Twain
~~~
"Live one day at a time and make it
a masterpiece." - Dale West
~~~
"The happiest of people don't
necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything
that comes along their way." - Karen S. Magee
~~~
To the world you may be one person,
but to one person you may be the world.
~~~
Hope
Hope is part of
your spirit that won’t give up
It is the ladder
you climb to reach for the stars
Destiny is the
light you reach when you live with intentions
And peace is the
serenity you find when you honour your soul
~~~
The Breath of Spring… By John McLeod
The breath of Spring
Lifting on wings that feel
The pulse of Life
Hope that will bring
A sense of 'real'
After the shadowy, wintry days
Now gone....
The dawn's first
whispering
Of gentle birdsong 'wakening
To splendid day,
The heart takes wing
And soars majestically
On freedom's way....
What joy indeed!
The poet in me
Rejoices midst the gentle need
To happy be....
And counts his blessings!
~
Just One By Unknown
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey.
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true,
One life can make a difference,
You see, it's up to you!
Life is.... by Mother Theresa
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
Life is for Living
by Unknown
Life is a gift we're given each and every day.
Dream about tomorrow, but live for today.
To live a little, you've got to love a whole lot.
Love turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Life's a journey always worth taking.
Take time to smell the roses... and tulips...
and daffodils... and lilacs... and sunflowers...
Count blessings like children count stars.
The secret of a happy life isn't buried in a treasure chest... it lies within your heart.
It's the little moments that make life big.
Don't wait.
Make memories today.
Celebrate your life!
Never Let Go of Hope by Jancarl Campi
One day you will see that
it all has finally come together.
What you have always
wished for has finally come to be.
You will look back and laugh
at what has passed and you will ask yourself,
"How did I get through all
of that?"
Just never let go of hope.
Just never quit dreaming.
And never let love depart from your life.
Storms By Margie DeMerell
There will be storms,
child
There will be storms
And with each tempest
You will seem to stand alone
Against cruel winds
But with time, the rage and fury
Shall subside And when the sky clears
You will find yourself
Clinging to someone
You would have never known
But for storms.
To Believe... By Unknown
To believe is to know that
every day is a new beginning.
It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams
really do come true.
To believe is to see
angels dancing among the clouds, To know the wonder of a stardust sky and the
wisdom of the man in the moon.
To believe is to know the
value of a nurturing heart, The innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of
an aging hand, for it is through their teachings we learn to love.
To believe is to find the
strength and courage that lies within us.
When it is time to pick up the pieces
and begin again.
To believe is to know we
are not alone, That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.
To
believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, And all
our hopes and dreams are within reach.
If only we believe.
~~~
Hope is a thing we all
need to have
Always keep it close to your
heart
Along with Love,
Courage and Peace
Sioux
When Things Go Wrong
By Unknown
When things go wrong as
they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
Then give them to all of my friends so they will truly see
with you its beauty on the days you're feeling blue.
But all these things I'm finding are impossible for me,
Author - Unknown
Write your own Hope Poem
If hope could be a color
it would be …………………
if hope could be a taste
it would taste just like …………………
If hope could be a smell
it would smell just like …………………
If hope could be a sound
it would sound like…………………
If hope could be a feeling
it would feel like…………………
If hope could be an animal
it would be a…………………
~~~
“The best remedy for those who
are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be
quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel
that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the
simple beauty of nature. As long as this exists, and it certainly always will,
I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the
circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all
troubles” Anne Frank (1929-1945) – Diary
Time’s Flight
by
Madeleine Kuderick
Time
is a dove's white feather
floating
on the wind
It
has no destination
It
rises up, then down again.
No
human hand can hold it
as
it spirals along its way
We
can only hope to feel its caress
as
it awakens each new day.
So
have picnics in December.
Stay
tucked in bed 'til Noon.
The
downy white and feathery flight
is
over far too soon.
Have
lots of hugs and kisses.
Live
well each present day.
For
future plans and memories grand,
too
soon shall fly away.
Remember
to smile at babies,
and
hold hands when you're afraid.
Carry grandma's groceries up the steps,
and don't think twice about the trip you've
made.
For when the feather finally comes to rest,
it's not about the place it has chosen to land.
It is all about the journey,
and your choice to understand.
RAINBOWS
If I could catch a rainbow
I would do it just for you.
And share with you it's beauty
On the days you're feeling blue.
If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own.
A place to find serenity
A place to be alone.
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea.
But all these things I'm finding
are impossible for me,
I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair
But let me be...what I know best,
a friend that's always there.
~Khahlil Gibran~
The Star
Catcher
The star catcher grinned and whispered a plan,
I'll catch all the stars I possibly can.
Then give them to all of my friends so they will truly see
How sparkling and special they are to me.
If I could catch a rainbow...
I would do it just for you,
And share with you its beauty on the days you're feeling blue...
If I could build a mountain you could call your very own,
A place to find serenity, a place to be alone...
If I could take your troubles I would toss them in the sea...
But all these things I'm finding are impossible for me,
I cannot build a mountain or catch a rainbow fair,
But let me be what I know best, a friend that's always there.
I sit staring out my window again Stuck in this room By an illness that won’t let me free I look out at the rain And feel Blue with sadness for All that was, is and never will be Red with frustration and anger Hating the pain and endless days Green with envy Because everyone’s life has moved on While I am stopped here since that fateful day Yellow with fear That this is the way It will always be Then he calls Come look out this window And I see A rainbow stretched across the sky The colors transform Into Hope
Annie is a young Canadian woman
struggling with Fibromyalgia, CFS, and autoimmune issues. She blogs daily at
www.fragileannie.com and monthly for The Fight Like Club in the hopes of
raising awareness of central sensitization disorders (and hopefully subsequent research)!
Amberlin Wu was born a strong spirited child, ready for the world ahead of her. She had passions to become a leader, a lover, a healer, a dancer. So much inside of her. She, like so many, became ill at a very young age. She was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She was pushed around in the medical system, and the more that she needed help, the more battle scars she began collecting. You see, our modern medical system is full of too much ego, and not enough compassion. Amberlin’s illness was a mysterious one, and doctors brushed her off when they did not have the answers. Amberlin, like so many of us, once thought that doctors were there to help you through your process of illness. She believed that people became doctors because they were compassionate.
Amberlin was so compassionate that she herself even attended medical school at one point. She was too ill to continue, so she danced. But then, she was too ill to continue dancing, so she began advocating. She fought for the rights of all people like her, with this mystery disease. But when she went to rally her medical troops, her battle field was nearly empty. ...Where were the doctors she grew up with? Where were those healthy allies she had devoted so much of her life to? She was pushed aside by so many people she trusted, and thus began her collection of battle scars. Ironically, she prepared for a war, ready to face the opposition on the other side of her; little did she know that her battle scars would come from her own side of the war. The sad thing is, when we become so ill that we need our friends and neighbors to carry us, we have a hard time fighting a fight. And without the support of the medical community, she faced a losing battle, against her own team.
Still, she did not give up. She began finding little peaks of light in the corners of this dark battle field. She began finding other wounded fighters like her. She stretched her arms and extended her own light into the souls of these other fighters. The more that she shared her light, the stronger they became. In turn, these other wounded soldiers shared their own light. And a miraculous thing occurred. A light.
A beautiful light.
Among the wreckage of this dim army, began to grow a seed of light, that grew to a garden of hope and strength. She was connected to them all, every last beautiful bloom, Amberlin was connected. She began to see an army forming. People began rising above their suffering and bringing their voices together as one harmonious chorus. “Louder. Louder. Sing your truth, louder!” the people cried.
An army arose, a beautiful brigade of invisible fighters. There were children, mothers, fathers, teachers, and yes, even some doctors. Together, they were strong, and Amberlin was on that very front line. The people beside her, the people behind her, the light all around her. “Share your stories, tell your truths!” she cried again. “Tell your truths!” The people began holding hands and marching forward. They shared their truths, and they shared their growing light with the world ahead of them. Amberlin, along with so many, now had a mission; a dangerous, scary, magnificent and valiant mission. One with hope now, and one with a real army. An army of survivors.
Together they were strong! And together they remain strong. ...Amberlin grew too weak to continue fighting this war for health and compassion. She, like so many others, began her completion of this circle in life. Her own personal battle was fought, and she fought so damn hard. She was a true soldier, a warrior... a hero. My hero. Amberlin, my hero forever.
One last thing to mention about this story. Just as she approached the end of her circle of life, she reached out her hand once more. She held the weight of her life in her hands, and she told the people, “Be a light. Be your own light of strength. Tell your stories, and remember to love the ones around you. Love this life and hold tightly to each other. Always remember me, and always... be a light.”
Amberlin now has been released from her body. She is free to dance and play among the light. She rejoices in us all, we who are able to stay and fight. She wants us to continue to tell our stories, continue our fight. And she wants us to remember her light. Feel her light, guiding us, and comforting us.
We will find a cure for these waring diseases, we will no longer be invisible. We just have to continue shining our own lights among the dark corners of this world. Now is not the time to give up, my friends! Now is just the time to pick up our spirits, pull together and fight this fight in honor of Amberlin, and in honor of ourselves! Who is with me?! Are you in?!
Let’s go win this battle with our light. And let us remember to give ourselves moments of laughter, dance and play along the way.
Amberlin, I will love you forever, my old friend, my new angel. I will never give up.
And now, I leave you with a painting that I created. Every painting that I make has a story behind it. Amberlin loved this one so much. She inspired me to create art in my canvas, and art in my life. This piece now has such a different meaning to me. This one’s for you, m’dear...
She is a wise and old woman, alone in her body. She is ill and her life has been lived. When she was young, she had dreams of a life ahead, full and rich with laughter and singing. She lies now, alone and still. She drifts off into her slumber and she finds that she is young again. Young forever. ...Now, she dances.
She knows that her body is weak, but her spirit is not. She still has a life to live and a song to dance to. All of life, around her and throughout her, is a beautiful rhythm that connects all things living. She sees it, she feels it, she becomes it. She is no longer alone. She is no longer ill. She is no longer quiet, and no longer still. She is the wise, young spirit, free in her body. She has forgotten her pain, and found her rhythm once again. She knows that her suffering has led her into a life of strength, bravery, love and music forever. ...Now, she dances.
This painting is about hope. Even when we are tired and we are ill, there is always a spirit among our hurting bodies. Suffering brings wisdom, and patience brings strength. When you are scared and lonely, remember that in spirit, there is always a living rhythm that sings of hope. When we listen for the music among the quiet suffering, finally... the spirit dances.
Sending Love,
Dr Franky Dolan
"Be a light. Be your
own light of strength.
Tell your stories,
and remember to love the ones around you.
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.
A Poem to my Sarcoidosis
I really want to
make this point, as to all that you have taken.
My eyesight is almost non-existant. My faith in Drs. shaken.
You've become almost drug resistant. You robbed me of so many things. I can no longer safely drive a car.
You can't imagine how much that stings. I've tried so hard to do all the tasks I've always done before.
You took away my independence. Just getting dressed is now a chore.
You make me hurt from head to toe. You sometimes take my breath away. I often wonder if I will make it through another day.
You may beat me up and cause a lot of pain. But I will not ever give in to you. I will fight through the cold and rain. I am stronger than you are in every way. I will somehow find the strength to defeat you and live to fight another day
Many Sarcoidosis sufferers are only too aware of
the similarities between our condition and that of the cancerous condition
called Lymphoma.
Both present with similar symptoms like fatigue, muscle aches
and pains, enlarged lymph nodes, loss of weight and loss of energy.
In many
cases it is not until a biopsy of the lymph nodes is taken that the doctor can
make the diagnosis.
We, in the mean time, along with our family and friends, are faced with the possibility of having the “ Big C”.
When Sarcoidosis is diagnosed, it brings with it a
confusing sense of relief with the attitude of… “ Ah sure it could have been
worse…”
When people ask me how I am, I feel… “ Well I
better not complain because at least its not cancer…”
There are so few people
who actually know about the seriousness of Sarcoidosis and the effect it can
have on the different organs involved and the complications it brings to a
sufferers life that sometimes its just easier to answer…
“ Yeah, Im doing
Fine “
Ever wondered what
“Fine” means to someone with Sarcoidosis?? Well for me it goes something like this…
“F” represents the Fatigue I suffer daily without
Failing, the Fight I must put up to muster the energy to
carry out normal daily tasks that we all take for granted, the Forty winks I have to take to keep me going if
I need to do anything ‘exciting’ like going to do the weekly
shopping. It stands for the Fake smile I put on when at
times I just want to cry with Frustration, For the Faulty Immune System I have that is
causing all this Frenzy. And this Foreign life I am now living, Fuming that my Former Life is on hold…
“I” represents the Imbalance that’s now in my life
because of the Illness, Inhalers I must take just to help with the
shortness of breath, the Impact it has on my Identity, my Independence
altering depending on the degree of the Muscle and Joint
pains which varies from day to day. Imagine the Idea of an Incurable Illness, treated
by Drugs that leave you Immunosuppressed, which in turn renders you
Isolated, Introduces you to Insomnia, leaving you Irritable
and feeling like you are going Insane??
“N” represents the Nuisance things I must do,
which are now Necessary for me to be “Normal” the Negative Nonsense thoughts that leave me
Nauseated and Numb
“E” represents the Enormity that this illness has
had on my life, and the Effect of this emotional roller coaster, the Expectation of Energy from the treatment Im on
which quickly Evaporates leaving me Exhausted again, the Emphasis on Eye Care, done in Earnest. It stands for the Employment and Education which I
Enjoyed and had to postpone, leaving me Empty and Envious. I wish I could Escape the Expectations of those
who don’t understand the condition.
Sometimes my own Expectations leave me feeling
like I want to Explode.
Even though I know the condition wont last an
Eternity; Sometimes I already feel ‘Enough is Enough’..
So next time you ask how I am doing and I answer
“FINE”, you may have a better understanding of what it really means to me…
Its important not to
forget though, that fortunately “F” also stands for the Family and Friends that
are there by my side, keeping the fun things going, doing endless favours for
me, considering my fears, helping me to keep the faith and look forward to the
future, helping me to stay focused that someday, sooner or later, everything
really will work out just’
One day soon
The choice will come
That this life of mine
Will soon be gone
Doc's tell me
Get things in novice
But we know not
The day, nor hour
Or, of which order
No longer can I keep
The fight going on
With Sarcoidosis
Abusing my lungs
Now my heart
Slowly beats
The body is tired
To take more
Match's to defeat
But my mind
Is not weak
It's clear as day
Hope you get
What I'm trying to say
Not saying I'm giving up
But this spell of Voodoo
Of the disease, that kills
Is taking over
Shorter breathes in between
When I walk or speak
Calling all my Angels
Watching over me
Just let me have
A little more time
With the family
To fight like soldiers
In a desert field
Build me up to bloom
Like a flower
On a Spring mourning hill
What come
What may
Everlasting prayer's
In a whisper
Without fear
I'll take that bow
Just not today
A little bit later
~~~
I have
this disease called Sarcoidosis, there's not much known of it.
I've had this disease a very long time, since in my 20's, I'm now 47.
Have wanted to write something of this along time now.
I hope one day more attention will be applied to it,because a lot of people die from this.
I have Sarcoidosis
the mystery disease
it's symptoms are no mystery
to get through them, no breeze
I have swollen glands, swollen feet,
swollen hands
every joint in my body aches
there's no cure, that's the breaks
I have a bad cough, nothing comes up it's dry
how'd I get this disease? no one knows why
I get short of breath
can't get enough rest
for I'm fatigued all the time
and sometimes do whine
The Prednisone made me really depressed
now I have to see a shrink and I'm very distressed
I got the ol' moon face and widow's hump
40 pound weight gain and the skin bumps
There is one more thing I'd like to say
A cure is what I ask from God each day when I pray.
My Life Turned Upside Down
I can feel it within - something is wrong
I am losing energy and not feeling as strong
Complex symptoms - of which there are many
Yes doctor, I too, wish there weren't any
I know there's a lot, but they are all true
Isn't there anything at all - you can do?
I know it's all happening, I sit there and plead
No matter what I said, I just couldn't succeed
Then into my search the right person came
A doctor who finally gave my ghost a name
The force of its strike can put you to bed
No physical boundaries excluded - not even the head.
It just sneaks right up - can make you feel like dirt
Creating problems to even button pants or a shirt
No Known Cause - Not Contagious - they can't figure it out
For Research - For Knowledge - use us we all shout !!!
I do at times sit - with my head in a wonder
What else in my life may I have to encumber?
My body - My life - are at times in a tizzy
This disease of many symptoms, the days that I feel like a sissy
They say there's no cure - so for now - that's the breaks
YES - I continue to fight - no matter what it takes!
It can happen to Anyone - so don't even feel smug
If you meet a person with Sarcoidosis - Please give them a HUG.
Dale C. Lucarelli
a woman of love and strength
and mother of three
We and Mr. Prednisone
- we're holding hands
He's only in our lives - due to physical demands
This LOVE/HATE affair - it is like NO other
Reaching for that bottle - we say worse than - Oh Brother!
This hellacious disease goes on the attack
Then it's hit the ol' "P" drug - to give it a smack
Alternatives? there are few - times we have to surrender
Up the dose? Oh my! Lovely! Another Prednisone bender!!
The wishing to fight with just strong mental power
Our tears of defeat - wash away in the shower
Damn this disease - it doesn't follow any rules
Please convince us it's being studied in medical schools!
Disease symptoms - drug side effects - some choice!
Let the pharmaceutical companies give us a voice
We search to gain knowledge - with great frustration
If Mr. "P" - *?*?*? - allows us the concentration.
With vengeance - SARC patients - do fight back
Many trying several drugs - to cut us some slack
We put people in space - they can walk on the moon
Let us hope for the - ULTIMATE - Sarcoidosis drug soon!
Dale C. Lucarelli
Chippewa Falls, WI.
It is called Sarcoidosis.
Doctor, can you help?
There is a mystery disease; it's real and out there
With no clue regarding the why, how or where
Researchers seek answers, and then only find
Scant funding and attention, which tighten the bind
The symptoms play havoc with your life
Causing daily hardships and emotional strife
You make the doctor appointment, then there you are
Conveying symptoms that sound quite bizarre
Those with Sarcoidosis, unitively proclaim
That doctors treat or look at them like they are insane
Difficulty finding the good doctor-patient relationship
Just that look: Did you come by vehicle or by spaceship?
The disease is what's crazy, not those who are afflicted
Please listen to us; the symptoms can't all be predicted
You feel great frustration, you say, "Hey, I'm no nut!"
The appointment is over, out the door you do strut
People, in all areas of health care professions
Listen to your patients make their symptom confessions
You do not know them, as they know their own selves
Time out! High and mighty attitudes belong on the shelves
Doctors please, try to be more ... diplomatic
It's not our fault that Sarcoidosis is so symptomatic
Please play detective, you'll gain knowledge, too
Let's all work together, finding out what to do!
Sarcoidosis -- it's a multiple system disease
The symptoms are real, not just whims on a breeze
This disease is horrific! The treatments are few
We need our strength to fight the symptoms -- not fight with you, too.
Dale C. Lucarelli
Chippewa Falls, WI. USA
Sarcoid WHAT?
You are like a
butterfly
flittin' all around...
Then one day you awake
feeling knocked to the ground
You arrive for the doctor appointment
follow the medical routine
You explain so many symptoms
you just want to scream
Some patients get listened to
examined with great concern
Others get that disbelieving look
and do a slow burn...
There's some who get diagnosed right away
but then, for the majority of us all
The road to get answers
is a very long haul...
No matter the timing
when given the name to your ghost
Public and medical reaction is -- SarcoidWHAT ??
and your body -- the host ??
You feel like you've entered the Twilight Zone
Sarc demons invading -- behind you a locked gate
But please don't give up
though the frustration is great
With unity and strong voices
we continue to shout
"It is called SARCOIDOSIS"
and we will get awareness out!
Ms. Dale C. ( Thurlow) Lucarelli
Lehigh Acres, FL.
I have
I
have...Sarcoidosis"
say.....whaaat?
So many I have contact with
Are afflicted with this disease
It is called. . ."Sarcoidosis"
"Say.....whaaat?? - if you please?"
"Sar-coy-doh-sis" we repeat - "Ask whatever you would
like."
We strive to educate with words
This disease of multi-symptoms
Which to some ... may sound absurd
But hey! Vicious and unyielding - it can surely be!
No rules - No cure -- so, quite daunting
And where it may strike you next
Is a fear that can be haunting...
Any part of you - it can attack
From your toes -- up to your head
A persistent irritating cough - to serious neuro involvement
Knocking your butt - right into bed!
For some it's completely debilitating
And trust me. . .selective - it is not
Be you...black-white-yellow-orange
Or purple - with pink polka dots!
No matter... in the mild form-to severely chronic
Sarcoidosis challenges your daily living
The damage being done to your body
May be permanent and unforgiving
For the lives that are touched by this disease
Be it yourself - a loved one- or a friend
Please spread the word with hope and prayer
That medical research will find an end
Ms. Dale C Thurlow
Lehigh Acres, FL USA
Living With Chronic Illness * Ms.
Dale C. Thurlow
CHRONIC
ILLNESS - it can rip right into the "core of your being."
It can be over whelming and your worst enemy.
Unfortunately
- statistics show the numbers are high - in the devastation
done to lives - from the interruption of chronic illness.
Be it a spouse, a lover, family, friends, and/or your own self worth - it
can all be altered drastically.
Like
the dropping of a bomb - into your life - when all was normal one day -
and then destruction happened. You had no warning......no clue...... no time
for preparation......no power to control its wrath and evil.
The war taking place within your body. This battle waged against you -
by the invasion of chronic disease and the drugs used to combat it.
It is happening - your life changing before your very eyes - the stress
of living with something so " alien."
You
want to scream...."What is happening to me?"
But wait........no matter what has happened - you are still - YOU inside.
Your spirit and your soul is your strength - and you can still fight and you
can still win - because your attitude is stronger than any illness - any sharp
words - or the loss of what you once thought was concrete love.
You
cannot control the behavior of others - but you can still go forth
radiating all the goodness you have within your own heart.
Of course...we all have times of feeling sadness.
You miss "that person" you used to be.
And now...these foreign feelings are happening to you.
You may be feeling - upset - out of control - un-worthy - inadequate
- LOST - and your brain is screaming. "I am sick of being sick !
With chronic illness - there is NO consistency - of how you can feel.
It can change so rapidly in minutes - hours - or on a day to day basis.
The difficulty you begin to think - YOU cause to people - because you are
sick.
The
stress it puts in the relationships
with a spouse - a child - a friend, etc.
"Well
- yesterday you were feeling ok!" "And now today - when I need you
or we have plans - you say...you can't!"
Like...you are doing this by choice?
Chronic illness does change your life - in many ways.
Some of you may have a spouse - a special someone - the devotion
of your family - the friendships built of strength.
And
some of you...may feel very very alone.....
But no matter your
situation - please... love yourself - be good to yourself
and live each day for the gift it is.
The Well of Love
"The well of love that waters
your garden is at times filled with your tears.
And it is good
that it is so,
For no water is
purer than these precious droplets released in your moments of surrender.
Tears are seed
drops of joy shed by your soul’s physician.
You may curse
your physician’s medicine, but the cure for your suffering is in your tears.
Weep until
seeds of joy take root in the womb of your soul…
Bless grief,
as it softens
the sinew that shields your deprived heart.
Yield to pain,
For armor must
be torn from you to expose your innocent strength.
I would have
you find innocence with joy rather than pain.
But what joy is
there that knows not pain?
Verily pain is
your necessity.
As your needs
subside,
Joy will lift
you with pure delight to your home in love.
Be patient…
For time has a
way of putting wings on tears.
Your pain is
your need for love.
I am the love
you need.
Drink the vital
elixir from my well-spring
that one day your heart may become
A fountain
where all whose dreams of love have died may drink."
“Should my
voice fade in your ears,
and my love vanish
in your memory,
then I will
return again.
And with a
richer heart
and lips more
yielding to the spirit will I speak.
Yea I shall
return with the tide . . .
A little while,
a moments rest
upon the wind,
and another
woman shall bear me.”
Hajjar Gibran
an ancestral descendant of Kahlil Gibran
Life can seem
ungrateful and not always kind.
Life can pull at your heartstrings and play with your mind...
Life can be blissful and happy and free...
Life can put beauty in the things that you see...
Life can place challenges right at your feet...
Life can make good of the hardships we meet...
Life can overwhelm you and make your head spin...
Life can reward those determined to win...
Life can be hurtful and not always fair...
Life can surround you with people who care...
Life clearly does offer its Up and its Downs...
Life's days can bring you both smiles and frowns...
Life teaches us to take the good with the bad...
Life is a mixture of happy and sad...
So...
Take the Life
that you have and give it your best...
Think positive; be happy let God do the rest...
Take the challenges that Life has laid at your feet...
Take pride and be thankful for each one you meet...
To yourself give forgiveness if you stumble and fall...
Take each day that is dealt you and give it your all...
Take the love that you're given and return it with care...
Have faith that when needed it will always be there...
Take time to find the beauty in the things that you see...
Take Life's simple pleasures let them set your heart free...
The idea here is simply to even the score...
As you are met and faced with Life's Tug of War
We are the
leaves of one branch, the
drops of one sea, the
flowers of one garden.
Jean Baptiste Henry Lacordaire
What I need to
live has been given to me by the earth. Why I need to live has been
given to me by you.
Anonymous
I love people.
I love my family, my children… but inside myself is a place where I live all
alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up.
Pearl S. Buck
Bahá'u'lláh said, “The earth is but
one country and mankind its citizens,” and that, as foretold in all the sacred
scriptures of the past, now is the time for humanity to live in unity.
“Everything we
call a trial, a sorrow or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there, the
gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys, too, be
not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.”
Fra Giovanni 1513
Courage you
have, and the knowledge that we are all pilgrims together, wending through
unknown country, home.”
Fra Giovanni 1513
“Life is so
full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that
you will find earth but cloaks your heaven.”
Fra Giovanni 1513
“Life is so
generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by the covering, cast them away as
ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a
living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.”
Fra Giovanni 1513
“The gloom of this
world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach, is joy. There is a radiance
and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see, we have only to look.
I beseech you to look!
Life is so generous a giver, but we,
judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy, or hard.
Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it, a living splendor, woven of
love, by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel’s
hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty,
believe me, that angel’s hand is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence.
Our joys too; be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner
gifts.
And so, at this time, I greet you.
Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the
prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee
away.”
Fra Giovanni 1513
Within Our Reach: Joy
by Fra Giovanni Giocondo
There is nothing I can give you which you have not. But there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take heaven!
No peace lies in the future which
is not hidden in this present little instant.
Take peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. There is radiance and glory in darkness, could we but see. And to see, we have only to look. I beseech you to look!
Life is so generous a giver. But we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor woven of love by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it,
and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you.
Everything we call a trial, a sorrow or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there. The gift is there and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Your joys, too, be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.
Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty beneath its covering, that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage then to claim it; that is all! But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending through unknown country home.
Take Me To Heaven
By Veni
I can't get enough of you when you speak to me softly
When you kiss my bare neck with your soft lips
I can't stop myself, I fall in love with you slowly
Again and again, it feels the world stops to exist
The river is high and it overflows with emotion
The sea is so deep just like your brown eyes
I just want to escape with you, run far away, run till the pain is all over
So we can lay down on the grass and just look at the sky
Don't you know that for us the sky is the limit?
Don't you know how happy we'll be if they just let us be?
We can climb mountains together and at some point nothing will matter
All that will matter is that I have you and that you have me
Now would you take my hand and take me to heaven?
Take me to some place where they will let us belong
Make me forget the world as if it did not matter
Stand by me, help me be strong
The Crazy Ones
Dear CDC,
I am writing to you with possibly the biggest health oversight of our time; millions of people are suffering and being forced into isolation and ridicule by those whom they entrust their health to. We need more emphasis on research and advocacy for specific Neuroimmune diseases referred to as Invisible Diseases; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Lyme Disease. These diseases have been invisible for too long! And we need your help! Millions of people are suffering with very serious physical disabilities directly due to the above illnesses, which often develop into full POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and other serious dysautonomias. We are in a state of medical emergency and we NEED YOUR HELP!
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), Fibromyalgia and Chronic Lyme Disease all have the same myriad of symptoms, according to your definitions. Yet there are no direct medical answers as to why or how. Many people who have been told that they have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) actually have Lyme Disease, and many who have been (falsely) diagnosed with Lyme Disease in fact have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Within both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lyme, there are countless people who fit the diagnoses of Fibromyalgia. Countless Fibromyalgia sufferers eventually are diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or even Lyme Disease as well. These are your listed criteria for a diagnoses of CFS:
1.Have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis; and
2.Concurrently have four or more of the following symptoms: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle pain; multi-joint pain without swelling or redness; headaches of a new type, pattern or severity; unrefreshing sleep; and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours.
Your definition for Fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia is a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread pain, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbance, fatigue and often psychological distress. People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms; such as,
◦Morning stiffness
◦Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
◦Headaches, including migraines
◦Irritable bowel syndrome
◦Problems with thinking and memory (sometimes called "fibro fog")
◦Painful menstrual periods and other pain syndromes
Your definition for Lyme Disease:
•For most patients, the expanding EM lesion is accompanied by other acute symptoms, particularly fatigue, fever, headache, mildly stiff neck, arthralgia, or myalgia. These symptoms are typically intermittent. The diagnosis of EM must be made by a physician. Laboratory confirmation is recommended for persons with no known exposure.
•Late manifestations. Late manifestations include any of the following when an alternate explanation is not found:
1.Musculoskeletal system. Recurrent, brief attacks (weeks or months) of objective joint swelling in one or a few joints, sometimes followed by chronic arthritis in one or a few joints. Manifestations not considered as criteria for diagnosis include chronic progressive arthritis not preceded by brief attacks and chronic symmetrical polyarthritis. Additionally, arthralgia, myalgia, or fibromyalgia syndromes alone are not criteria for musculoskeletal involvement.
2.Nervous system. Any of the following, alone or in combination: lymphocytic meningitis; cranial neuritis, particularly facial palsy (may be bilateral); radiculoneuropathy; or, rarely, encephalomyelitis. Encephalomyelitis must be confirmed by demonstration of antibody production against B. burgdorferi in the CSF, evidenced by a higher titer of antibody in CSF than in serum. Headache, fatigue, paresthesia, or mildly stiff neck alone are not criteria for neurologic involvement.
3.Cardiovascular system. Acute onset of high-grade (2nd-degree or 3rd-degree) atrioventricular conduction defects that resolve in days to weeks and are sometimes associated with myocarditis. Palpitations, bradycardia, bundle branch block, or myocarditis alone are not criteria for cardiovascular involvement.
Lyme Disease is often reported to have false-negative blood tests, as well as false-positives. As you recommend, two separate tests should be taken to help determine a final diagnoses of Lyme Disease, due to the lack of accuracy. Your list of symptoms for all of these diseases are incredibly similar. What is also very similar is the tremendous number of people suffering, with very little research or advocacy from the CDC.
Please help us! As you know, every year the number of people diagnosed with one of these invisible diseases grows larger and larger. Yet still, we are without any significant treatment. People are suffering and we passionately urge you to help us make these diseases invisible NO MORE.
We need more research and advocacy. We need a new name for chronic fatigue syndrome. We need better testing and treatment, that is not so toxic or harmful. We need your help to let the public know that people with these illnesses deserve respect and kindness; and not the ridicule and shame that is pressed upon them by undereducated doctors and uninformed community members. Please, we need your help. The true shame does not lie on those suffering with these invisible diseases; but on those who have the ability to help, and do nothing about it.
With the new XMRV retrovirus findings from the Whittemore-Peterson Institute, we need more public awareness and research funding now more than ever. This is the time to push full-throttle and save people’s lives; not just by keeping them alive, but by giving them their lives BACK.
Sincerely,
People who care
"Our voices will come together as one harmonious chorus across the globe, rising above the ashes of our suffering and shake the ground below us.
We will be heard .....
We will be seen!"
~ Dr Franky Dolan
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.
And sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all. ~ Emily Dickinson
... And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. .~ 5 Romans 5
When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God. ~Charles L. Allen Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. ~ George IIes Hope is not a dream but a way of making dreams become reality. ~ Anonymous
Wherever your road leads, let hope guide your way ...
Hope is the bright shining light which keeps darkness at the bay
Hope is the gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day
Hope is to remain positive when it gets tough
Hope is seeking more when others think of having enough
Hope is dreaming of tomorrow
Hope is simmering under sorrow
Hope is sparkles when tears in our eyes
Hope is a beautiful thing and beautiful things never dies
