Celebrate Yourself Today!

[Guest guest]

; What a lovely thought. Thank you for passing it along. To all my RA

friends, may this Mother's Day bring you lots of joy. Words to live by: I

choose the pace that is right for me today; I match my life to my unique

rhythm. We need to learn to slow down our merry-go-round when necessary and

not feel guilty or better yet don't let anyone who doesn't understand RA make

us feel guilty. God Bless each of You.

Blessings,

Jan

[Guest guest]

Hello, Group!

Although today is Mother's Day, we need not be mothers to be allowed to

celebrate ourselves on this occasion. What we have in common and what makes

this day what it is is that we all have mothers and are a unique product of

their nurturing and love. I hope at least a few moments of today are spent

in reflection of your life and appreciation of yourself.

This morning, as I was thumbing through the latest issue of " O " (a

subscription to which was one of last year's Mother's Day gifts from the

kids), I came upon a piece written by Oprah called " What I Know For Sure. "

The main message of the essay is a good one for all of us: one has the right

to choose what is best for oneself and to change one's mind as necessary. So

many of us here are worried about what others will think if we put our needs

first when we must.

Here is the closing paragraph of the article:

" Every day, passion speaks to us through our feelings. That's why when you

allow yourself to become anesthetized by what others think, you literally

block yourself from living the life you were called to live. I promise you

that if you make a choice that doesn't please your mate, your friends, your

mother, or whoever, the world will not fall apart - the people who truly

love you want you to love yourself. And as you become more clear about who

you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the

first time around. "

Honor your spirit by being true to yourself - you are worth it!

[Guest guest]

Thank you for saying that! Cause yesterday I was telling my friend

that I was going to have to make some life changes because of this

illness (she is my 12 step sponsor) and she said to me, " You need to

stop all this thinking and planning regarding this illness cause you

are missing today. " I have to talk about this, but clearly I can't

talk to her. Anyway, I ended up feeling really guilty, and then over

did it today thinking, " I'll show them " . I can't do that, cause I am

hurting myself. I am in so much pain now because of it. What, do

they have to see me crippled before they believe. I feel so alone in

this some days. One friend said, " You just need to take Knox with

Glucosimene in it. " How do I respond to the uneducated people. Or do

I bother. Should I just say, " I'll check with my doctor about that. "

like I have been. Any suggestions?

> ; What a lovely thought. Thank you for passing it along. To all

my RA

> friends, may this Mother's Day bring you lots of joy. Words to live

by: I

> choose the pace that is right for me today; I match my life to my

unique

> rhythm. We need to learn to slow down our merry-go-round when

necessary and

> not feel guilty or better yet don't let anyone who doesn't

understand RA make

> us feel guilty. God Bless each of You.

>

> Blessings,

>

> Jan

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message h

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am behind with my e-mails, so I think we have not met. But I felt bad

for you when I read your note. The bottom line is you don't explain

anything. No one who does not have these diseases can understand what you

are going through. They can try, your family can try to understand but

unless they live with it they won't understand. This is one reason I don't

tell many people what is wrong with me. I come here to this wonderful

group and they live it so they can understand it all.

I have done the same thing you did, over doing it and then paying for it.

We have all done that and will all do it again. Don't listen to people who

just don't get what this is all about.

Hope today is a little better for you. Try to rest and regroup.

Me Mom

----------

> From: cwade@...

>

> Subject: [ ] Re: Celebrate Yourself Today!

> Date: Monday, May 14, 2001 12:20 AM

>

> Thank you for saying that! Cause yesterday I was telling my friend

> that I was going to have to make some life changes because of this

> illness (she is my 12 step sponsor) and she said to me, " You need to

> stop all this thinking and planning regarding this illness cause you

> are missing today. " I have to talk about this, but clearly I can't

> talk to her. Anyway, I ended up feeling really guilty, and then over

> did it today thinking, " I'll show them " . I can't do that, cause I am

> hurting myself. I am in so much pain now because of it. What, do

> they have to see me crippled before they believe. I feel so alone in

> this some days. One friend said, " You just need to take Knox with

> Glucosimene in it. " How do I respond to the uneducated people. Or do

> I bother. Should I just say, " I'll check with my doctor about that. "

> like I have been. Any suggestions?

>

>

>

>

> > ; What a lovely thought. Thank you for passing it along. To all

> my RA

> > friends, may this Mother's Day bring you lots of joy. Words to live

> by: I

> > choose the pace that is right for me today; I match my life to my

> unique

> > rhythm. We need to learn to slow down our merry-go-round when

> necessary and

> > not feel guilty or better yet don't let anyone who doesn't

> understand RA make

> > us feel guilty. God Bless each of You.

> >

> > Blessings,

> >

> > Jan

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message h

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I have to echo what said. She has some very good

advise. We've all

had to learn to deal with people that just don't get it.

They think we have a " little arthritis " and should just take

a few aspirin and we'll be better. Please don't let it get

to you. You've got many people here that understand exactly

how you feel.

hugs,

a

[Guest guest]

Thanks a, sorry for the delayed response. It's been busy at work

and busy at home. Plus my little boy ny turns three this Sunday

and I am having a party for him Friday and then we are off to Boston

for my Sisters College Graduation from BU. (I am so proud of her). I

will be hurt'n for cert'n when I get back. I'm having a bad pain day

today. Got the OK on the MXT and will start that Friday Night (now

that I think about that, I may want to reschedule my start date for

next Friday. Wouldn't want to mess up the trip by being sick or

something). What are your thought on that? I will be taking 4, once

a week to start.

> ,

> I have to echo what said. She has some very good

> advise. We've all

> had to learn to deal with people that just don't get it.

> They think we have a " little arthritis " and should just take

> a few aspirin and we'll be better. Please don't let it get

> to you. You've got many people here that understand exactly

> how you feel.

> hugs,

> a

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

No apologies necessary. This is a very busy time of year

for everyone. You've got a lot going on there. I hope

you can manage to get through everything without a lot of

pain.

I don't blame you for not wanting to take the chance of

starting mtx before something so important. I put off

starting my mtx until after my trip to Florida for the same

reason. If I were in your shoes, I know I would reschedule

it just for the peace of mind. I hope you have a nice

trip, and please wish ny a very happy birthday.

hugs,

a