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© 2012 TSM
We had a light snowfall last night so I went out to shovel the sidewalk this morning.  It was only a couple inches of fluffy white so the going was easy.  As I scooped up and tossed each airy load, I began to get a rhythm going.  And of course I started to think about ME/CFS – my daily thankfulness for my return to full health is never far from the front burner.  I had developed two mantras during my struggle back from ME/CFS.  The first was Attitude, Attitude, Attitude.  It took me a long time to finally cut myself some slack about being sick and then about feeling like I was letting my family and loved ones down.  Not to mention dumping my anger at the medical community.

Once I started to accept the reality of my illness and my personal challenges, my mantra switched to what I could actually DO about my situation.  That’s when I took up my second mantra.  So this morning, as I tossed aside the snow, I began to softly, slowly chant, “Pace… Pace… Pace…”  Being attentive to my daily routines, my choices for energy expenditure and reluctantly pulling back on my own reins whether I liked it or not, were key to pacing myself back to health.  Yes - Of course I screwed up sometimes and wanted to kick myself but mostly I was firm in my commitment.  And I did my best to communicate that to others around me.

How are you doing with pacing?  What challenges you the most?  Please COMMENT or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them.  You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays.  And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha
 


Comments

OM
01/22/2012 4:43pm

Read your book and it is helpful. My biggest challenge is resting when my body says REST!

Reply
Tim B
01/23/2012 1:15am

Again your words have a ringing truth for me. Your book is the only one I have found where I remember the emphasis on alternating periods of activity (at much less frantic pace) and rest. The past couple of weeks have been stressful so I have earnestly been delegating as much of the work as I can over the past year. I'm close to retirement age anyway, I certainly don't want to be working at 80!

What you say also corresponds to my own inner sense of energy, when I feel I am pushing too much, or just suddenly feel much more tired. I am getting better and better at listening to what my body is telling me rather than just forging ahead.

Reply
Martha
01/23/2012 8:39am

Thanks Tim. We have all fallen victim to 'forging ahead'. The key is to break that cycle and it's not easy to do. More in tomorrow's blog...

Reply
Martha
01/23/2012 8:55am

Thanks OM. For many ME/CFS sufferers, we are sick of the REST message sent by our bodies. Unfortunately, we need to listen if we hope to get better.

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