The new Olympic event - Fibromyalgia

"Sometimes you hurt so much, you just want to stop...but you have to keep going".  This is not a direct quote, but it is generally how a commercial started as we were watching the olympic swimming trials.  (btw: Michael Phelps was one of the two to make it for the Individual Medley).  This quote is the general "state of being" for someone with Fibromyalgia...almost everyday.  You can either sit around and hurt, or you can do stuff and hurt...with the possibility of distracting yourself enough to not notice.  It is a strange thing to spend the day doing normal things, and by the end of the day you have exercised as much will power and determination as an Olypmic swimmer.

Had my annual doctor's visit today.  I am perfectly healthy...need a little exercise.  I was reminded by my doctor to take care of myself.  I don't take any medications to manage my condition, but when I do all the "right things", life can be pretty normal.  In case you might be wondering what one does to manage such a condition (disclaimer: this is not an official recommendation):

1) I try to keep stress to a minimum
2) I take vitamins: B, Calcium with D, Magnesium, fish oil, C, and a few other things
3) I exercise as much as possible, which means something different for me than most.  It is important not to "over-do it", or I could be wiped out for days.  Some days it usually means stretching, a little walking, or a little dancing.  Other days, I can doo all kinds of things...which is very exciting to me!
4)  I work on having a strong spiritual life.
5)  I try to get help when I need it (physically, mentally, etc)
6)  I don't eat wheat, sugar, milk, and a bunch of other stuff.

Overall, its all on how you look at it!  Everyday, I get to live like an olympian!

I think, therefore I pray...

"I think, therefore I pray"...seemed like a good title...this is pretty much what I do all day.  I think about stuff, and I pray.  For instance, today I was thinking about the Voyager satellite at the edge of our solar system (something I read on the NASA Facebook page today).  It just got there...its been traveling for 35 years to get to the Heliosphere.  In case you don't know, the Heliosphere is this cool boundary that surrounds the solar system and acts to protect us from the radiation from the rest of the universe.  SO...there is the Sun, the inner planets, the asteroid belt, the outer planets, the scattered disk, the Keiper belt, and then the Heliosphere.  We are just like the little dust-speck in "Horton Hears a Who" floating through the universe.  We ARE HERE!!!  (To quote Dr. Seuss)  We are so small and insignificant, yet Our Lord knows the number of hairs on our head!  We are nothing, but HIS little nothings.  Wow!