Happy Places Archives - LIVING with Fibromyalgia

Free Writing the Night Away

Night Time is the Right Time for a Little Free Writing

Yippee! I write like I tweet…or is it that I tweet like I write?

Hey wait a minute! I tweet and write like I talk. That’s it! No silly, I don’t mean messy. Sheesh. Sure I write messy but, what I’m talking about is this tendency I have to babble in verbal conversation.

When I’m writing, I simply put to paper, or screen if you will, my thoughts exactly as they are flowing. I try not to skip a beat. I try to sound in written word exactly as if I’m talking directly to you.

It’s tough to keep up with the thoughts, especially with pen to paper. I type quicker, but I tend to edit A LOT less when I write it. Once I start editing, the tone of free flowing words dissipates, though spelling errors disappear. Side note – > I was pretty sure I made a spelling mistake when I wrote “disapates”.

What was I originally talking about? Twitter! That’s it!

Twitter and writing, or the tone of writing. Mostly what I was going to say was that I love tweeting because with so few characters, it’s even more fun trying to be witty, and talk about having to think. If you’re looking to sound smart on Twitter, you really do have to put a lot of thought into choosing your words wisely.

That’s sometimes quite challenging. Me? Sometimes I just love a challenge.

Twitter is for me. It’s the place I like to be 🙂

End of free writing here.

Side note: Yup, that is exactly word for word my free writing. I even drew a smiley face. I was hoping for about 300 words and it ended up being 246. I’m going to run it through yoast to see how the SEO ranking is for the keyword “free writing”. Just for curiosity sake though because I’m not going to make any changes. I think it’s fun just the way I wrote it. One spelling mistake and one “I’m” instead of I. Not bad if I do say so myself.

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Writing Makes Me Happy

Writing is Healing

Just keep writing…just keep writing…just keep…you know Dory’s song? I changed it up a little from swimming to writing. But, ya, hum that to yourself while reading this. In fact, good luck getting the song out of your head anytime time soon. Now that you’ve started humming it 😉

By Jove! I think I’ve got it! Scheduling the post, that’s what holds me back every single time! Well, that and sweating the details.

An idea pops into my head, yes! I get inspired about something new to write. Then by the time I grab my lap top, log in to my website and get ready to start typing, the original thought has faded.

Of course, once I do start typing I then have to worry about search engine optimization. Is what I’m writing going to please human visitors? Will google find it? Will it come up in the search results? What’s the keyword phrase I should be using anyway? Guess I better stop writing and do a little research first.

Worrying about SEO sure can be a kill joy, when it comes to writing.

I had a thought and I was inspired to write. So I grabbed my notebook and pen, and wrote. Quicker than expected I’d filled 5 pages. Haven’t typed them up yet, but looks like maybe one spelling error. Get this, not a single line or word scratched out in this free writing session, ha!

Free Writing Your Cares Away

I’d forgotten how liberating free writing can be. Just let the words flow out onto the paper. Sounds cliché, right? Who cares, it’s the truth. Let them flow, and they will flow.

I’m not saying that SEO isn’t important. Writing to please both the web crawling spiders and the human visitors will need to be taken into account, eventually. However, these technicalities don’t have to get in the way of writing.

They can be done after the fact, but not at the expense of the way your words flow.

Who cares when is a good time to post to your blog or social media. Write the content for use at a future date or time. Free write the words when they are flowing. Not only is it more fun to free write, I do believe the finished work is also a wee bit more fun to read.

Did I mention I finished the notebook I was writing in? Well, I did. Timing was good, back to school specials just started (in July, go figure) so I got myself three new notebooks and, not one, but two of my favourite pens. Ahem, right, you may not know that about me yet. I absolutely looooooove stationery and pens.

What can I say? Sometimes it’s the little things in life that mean the most. Take care and remember…just keep writing!

Shelley

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PS – I’ve since typed up what I wrote, soon you’ll be able to read it here. Hopefully by this time next week.

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Diagnosis Emotionally Depleted

Emotionally Smooshed

Ever been so emotionally pummelled that you feel like you just can’t breathe?

No fun, right? That’s where I’m at right now. I know, I know it’s up to me to get myself out of this funk. Rationally, I know that I have the power in me to NOT emotionally react the way that I am. Of course, it’s in there somewhere. Although, it must be real freaking down deep though, because I’m having a hard time reaching it.

Believe me I’m trying. It’s like I’m on that rinse n’ repeat, rinse n’ repeat cycle. A loop if you will. Lie in bed, restless, itty bitty pieces of my heart floating around. My brain pounding, my heart throbbing, my mind rambling on and on and on it goes until almost daylight. Finally, at least some sleep.

Not great sleep, dreams wayyyyyy to emotional for deep sleep, but some sleep.

At this point I wake up groggy, but determined to smile. Exhausted, emotionally and physically. Even so, I drag out the tablet and get to work on a social marketing project.

Determination! I will turn things around and I will feel better today. In a little while, I’ll start smiling again. I will be inspired and I will be inspiring.

Ah it’s noon! I’m feeling and writing better. My pictures are brighter. Also, my posts are happier. There’s an optimistic feel about them that wasn’t there this morning.

And, Off We go Again…

Suddenly I remember, I made it to this point yesterday too. Much earlier, today took longer. STOP! Don’t do this! Must not start thinking about how everything emotionally unravelled yesterday. Most importantly, don’t bring yourself down. You have to do this! You have to emotionally pump yourself back up.

Think happy thoughts! Go to your happy place! You know, all that cliché crap happy stuff. Well, to be fair it isn’t actually crappy. Logically, I know it’s true but it is just tough getting there sometimes.

Then, sometimes it is beyond hell just trying to grasp onto one tiny glimmer of happy at all. Not even going to talk about how hard it can be to stay there.

Nevertheless, it’s the freaking emotional roller coaster ride that’s killer. I think I can, I think I can, runs through my head as I’m pulling myself up that steep never ending hill. I get to the top. Hands on hips, I beam as I survey the beauty surrounding me.

Wouldn’t you know it! Something beyond my control happens and WHAM! It’s a straight shot to the bottom again.

That is of course, the little white lie that I tell myself. It’s beyond my control, is a technicality that I’m using to try and fool myself. There is something that can be done to avoid the emotional wreckage. I know what I should do, I know what I probably have to do. In any case, it’s just not fair!

Then again, who ever said life has to be fair, especially emotionally?

Gentle hugs fibro pals xox

PS – Check it out → www.FunWaysToHeal.com come along on my experimental journey while I reintroduce some joy into my Fibro life.

Optimism What’s That?

Who’s to say what optimism really means…

Hmmm what can I say about optimism? Let’s see, first off for some it may be easier to muster up than others. Take me for example, you try looking at the bright side when everything hurts ALL the time. Not an easy thing to do.

That being said, I try. Goodness knows I try to be optimistic. Sometimes, the best I can come up with is that, this too shall pass. At least that’s something, right? I mean, it’s a glimmer of hope. A reminder that whatever big pile of steaming poop you’re dealing with right now will become a memory, eventually.

Now I realize that may not sound very optimistic to the average person. Believe me though, when your entire body, mind and soul are engulfed in an agonizing flare, knowing that it will pass at some point is pretty much all you have.

With chronic pain, when there is no relief to be had, you hold on to the hope that it will pass sooner rather than later. That my friend, is what I call optimism.

Optimism, It Can Mean Different Things to Different People

According to dictionary.com the noun optimism can mean, a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favourable outcome.

Taking that definition into account, if each time that you are suffering you hang in there because you know the latest flare will eventually end, does that not mean you are optimistic? Optimism is hope and having hope is optimism. Believing that there will be relief and that the flare will end.

Now, I’m not saying the pain ends completely. That’s the tricky part. When the flare ends the pain doesn’t just go away, it lessens. Sometimes a little bit and sometimes a lot. You just never know until the time comes, which it’s going to be. When you’re really lucky the chronic wide spread pain will drop from a 9/10 to a 4/10.

I know, we more than likely don’t sound very positive to the healthy. In fact, it’s probably tough to wrap your mind around just how much optimism it takes for us to get through most days.

When you hear the words “today is going to be a pain rating 3 kind of day”, what we’re really saying is “today is going to be a great day!”

Hang in there baby….

Backyard with Benefits

Backyard Family Adventures…

I kind of have to kick myself in the butt to get outside. Once I do though, I feel so good! Playing in the dirt, just plain makes me happy. I suppose it’s the perfect combination of sunshine, family time and an energy boost from Mother Nature.

My #Reuse Skills Just Keep Getting Better n’ Better…

This winter we finally gave up and laid a cheap dresser to rest. Well, it fell apart AGAIN and enough was enough.

As the various pieces were being tossed into a dump pile, I got an idea. The drawers stacked 2 high might make pretty good garden boxes for the backyard.

Under the deck the dresser wreckage went. It was stacked on top of an old desk, counter, table thingy that I also planned on #repurposing.

The previously enjoyed table was given to us in 2006. It’s seen many uses in its lifetime. In the decade that it’s been with us it has functioned as a retail display, used as a desk by a few of us and last acted as the foundation to Piggly Wiggly the guinea pig’s family home. Now it is going to help us grow food. #ReuseReuseReuse and then reuse some more!

Loving the Healing Power of Sunshine n’ Dirt…

Yesterday the weather was too perfect not to be outside. The sunshine was just right! So out in the backyard we went. Daughter kicking n’ screaming (maybe I’m exaggerating slightly but she was sulking), hubby grumbling and the dog so excited he couldn’t keep still. Two minutes of sun and two improved moods later they were into it.

Won free soil from Russells Farms yippee — Won this Soil from Russells Farms

Daddy n' Daughter time playing in dirt — Team Work

Dirt it's good for the soul — Planting Seeds

Planting veggies — Dirt is Good Medicine

Rubber Ducky Watering Seeds — Rubber Ducky Watering

Mmmm growing veggies — Coming this Summer; Backyard Veggies

Who knew? That a backyard as tiny as ours could be so interesting to explore, felt like I was on a mini safari 😉 Our backyard is covered in these real pretty yellow flowers that the bees and the guinea pigs love (not sure why but the neighbours don’t seem to like them 😉

A family of garden snakes passed through on their way to the hot cement in front. The dog attempted to get the baby snakes to play ball with him (I kid you not). Our friend Robin the bird was hanging out in one corner. There is just so much life happening out there.

Never underestimate the healing power of nature, even in a tiny backyard. Besides at least this way, today I am hurting for a reason 😉

Thanks Russell Farms for the free dirt!