Fire and Hilarity

Welcome!

I recently decided to start a blog about my life with fibromyalgia. However, I want this to be a different kind of chronic illness blog — something a bit... special. Informative. Light. Encouraging. Maybe even enlightening. Or, if that's too lofty and pretentious, I'd be happy to provide some sense of solidarity and humour to anyone else going through a similar experience!

I was inspired to start putting fingertips to keyboard a few weeks ago after scanning over another fibromyalgia blog. The blogger had been suffering from a bucketload of chronic illnesses for most of her life — poor old duck. I could empathise with many of the symptoms, hardships, and complaints that she described, and I really did feel for her. She was barely able to leave the house, her husband of many years had left her, her grown children weren't terribly supportive — all of which seem to be tragic but common consequences of chronic illness. However, the more I read, the more I realised that, while I could empathise with this woman and all she was going through, I absolutely despised the way she viewed the world and her existence. Talk about a sad panda!

The last three posts I read from her blog revolved around the fact that her host site had changed formats, and how this had turned her world upside down to the point that she felt she couldn't get out of bed or leave the house due to the extreme disruption and duress it had caused her.

I try really really hard in my life not to be judgemental. Really, I do. But, all I could think was, "REALLY?!?!" *insert appropriately shocked, rolly-eyed emoticon smiley face here*

One of her followers had a similar reaction as I, and politely questioned her on whether she was, perhaps, maybe, overreacting just a little. At which point, she let loose with an avalanche of typical keyboard-warrior self-righteousness, accusing her confronter of heartlessness and insensitivity, and that they could never understand how a chronic illness such as hers could rob someone of their strength, sense of self and power, and ability to cope with even the smallest of changes in life. She then invited him to refrain from commenting or reading her blog ever again.

I mean.... REALLY?!?!

What a load of codswallop! Don't get me wrong, I understand on a very real and personal level where her tirade was coming from. But, there's no need to be such a bloody victim about it, particularly when we are talking about a simple change of format to your blog site! God knows what I would have been reading if something serious had happened, like, oh I don't know, she had been forced to flip her mattress or switch to recycled toilet paper.

The thing that got to me the most was that this blog had thousands of followers. Thousands! And, following what? A blogger who, even after half a lifetime to learn how to accept and cope with her situation, still hasn't managed to put on her big girl pants, grow up, and talk about anything but how crappy her life is? Just a classic case of misery loving company, I suppose. (Okay, so that was all a bit judgemental. Oops. I'll keep trying, and I wish the poor old duck all the best!)

It was at this moment that I decided to view my own experience with fibromyalgia in a different light, and hopefully, include others in my new-found attitude towards this stupid sucky condition.

So, if you struggle with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia (FM), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, myofascial pain disorder, depression and anxiety, or any other equally as sucky illness, or you know or care for someone with these conditions, and, you're wanting to inject a bit more positivity and humour into your situation, I hope you'll stick with me, and that we can teach each other how to laugh, learn, and be positive in order to cope until we're either better or dead. Preferably better.

I want to tell the story of a chronic pain condition. My plan is to be open about the reality of fibromyalgia and it consequences, its different methods of treatment, both the physical and emotional toll it can take on a person and the people around them. All of it; the good, the bad, and the ugly. The rules are there will be no whinging, whining, self-pitying, or solidarity through negativity. I will be positive, informative, light-hearted, and infectious. (Joyfully infectious, that is. Fibromyalgia isn't contagious, as far as I'm aware.) YOU MIGHT BE SICK BUT YOU WILL BE HAPPY ABOUT IT!

Of course, there will be days where I fail at this task. If you experience a chronic illness, you will know that, like everyone else out there, I will also have my bad days and weak moments. But, I promise to do my best to see the silver lining. Or, if I'm feeling truly down on myself and have nothing nice to say, I'll post a bunch of pretty motivational pictures with encouraging cliches. Everybody loves those. And, please, if I'm having a bad day, be sure to poke fun at me. If you can't laugh, you'll cry, and crying makes you ugly. There's no sense in both feeling crap and looking ugly... at least, not both on the same day!

I overheard a comment at a coffee shop the other day about fire walking, and it got me thinking. Walking over hot coals has long been used in many cultures as a symbolic action of strength and courage, as a rite of passage, and to test one's faith. Despite valiant efforts, science has not been able to debunk the obvious; the fire walker really is walking slowly, barefoot across a red-hot fiery bed of glowing embers that often measure more than five hundred degrees Celsius. It sounds impossible. But, it's not! I've seen it! And, it was awesome!

The most common explanation for fire walkers being able to perform this amazing but risky act safely is the ability to control their thoughts and emotions while walking over the coals. Their success and safety rely on the principle of "mind over matter", and for centuries, it has worked. They are able to endure the physical sensation and discomfort of the coals because, mentally, they are strong and focused on positivity, success, love — all things that are in total contradiction to what they would be experiencing physically if they were to focus on the pain they were in, instead.

I believe the key to coping with a chronic illness is very similar to walking over hot coals. Yes, being sick is crappy. Yep, much of the time, it hurts physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yes, it is very easy to want to vent, whinge, cry, and throw a tantrum at the unfairness of it all. Yep, sometimes it feels like the easiest option would be to give up. But, just like fire walkers, we can endure all of this pain.  We, too, can successfully walk over the hot coals of our stupid illnesses with positive thinking, strength in each other, our friends and families, and support networks, and patience, belief, and love for ourselves.

I can't wait. Bring on the fire and the hilarity of chronic illness!