Sorry for the delay getting this posted. As you know, I have not been feeling well at all lately and I am having trouble keeping up with things. Today’s big accomplishment was averting a trip to the ER. So I am trying to at least get a few things accomplished tonight because I am so behind on everything.

I can only imagine how good the Peaceful Warrior series of books is after having seen the movie. Yes, it is very true that people tend to “put their masks on” in general but even more so when chronic illness is involved. Sadly, if we don’t hide our pain and other symptoms… we are at risk for being labeled “weak”, “lazy”, “difficult”, etc. It saddens me that this is the case but after decades of interacting with fellow chronically ill patients I know that many people feel this way… that the mask is a needed defense. (Don’t get me wrong… I know it’s better if people can get closer to the real person behind the mask).

I will have to check out this link. I remember you had mentioned it to me awhile back and I had forgotten about it until you just reminded me. I look forward to checking it out some more. Anything you’re so enthusiastic about is always interesting.

Melissa, it really is awesome that your online endometriosis support group has topped 1,000 members. Sad as it is that so many women have endo, it’s wonderful that this group is available as a resource and I know you pour your heart and soul into it. You have helped a great many people!

Your sense of humor and positive attitude makes you a role model for others.

Jeanne

If you liked Peaceful Warrior movie, you would love the books even more. The books go into so much more detail than the movie covers. Let’s just say that the end of the book is quite a nail-biter cliffhanger. The second in the series, which is called The Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior, takes you a bit deeper into the spiritual healing and shamans of the world. Book 3, The Journey of Socrates is about how Socrates ever got to be so cool. They also have come out with a “No Ordinary Moments” which takes the concepts of the warrior series and comes up with little activities designed with the purpose of bringing you closer to the “real you”. We all too common tend to put on the “false me” when we have to deal with people, especially those with a chronic illness who must hide just how much pain we are in.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer is a psychotherapist who actually lives close to me in Toronto. I was recommended to her first book “The Invitation” by a friend and it is a beautiful book. written a lot in prose. I’d like to share the website link as she has an excerpt from the book which I find to be very healing, her website is: http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com. J, I know you regularly don’t accept links in your blog comments and I’m grateful that you have said beforehand it would be okay to link to her works. Her excerpts from “The Invitation” and “The Dance” have been a strong reminder to me to focus on the positive, the can rather than the can’t. It’s amazing to say the least.

Thanks you for your comments about my support group and the success it has found. It really is a great group of ladies and I’m fortunate enough to have met most of them, however I’m saddened that it had to be this dreadful disease that brought us together in the first place :S

Okay, high-ho, high-ho it’s off to get ready for bloodwork we go.
Melissa Ralston´s last blog ..On the Topic of Strength, Courage and Super-Heroes

Great list of things that make you happy.

I have read a couple of the books you listed and they were excellent! I can only imagine how good the others are as I know you have good taste in books! I also saw the movie The Peaceful Warrior and it was really interesting. I have blogged about Dr. Pausch before and he was truly a remarkable man!

Melissa, you help so many people and it’s such a wonderful thing that you share your vast knowledge with others to help them get through some of the crises and/or symptoms that you’ve already experienced or are currently experiencing. I’m glad that people take the time to let you know that you helped them. Your knowledge and talent run deep and people are fortunate to have your support. Congratulations again on your online endometriosis support group, Goddesses_Of_Endometriosis, recently topping 1,000 members!!

Jeanne

Things that make me happy: rainbows, puppy dogs, kitty cats, newborn animals of any kind, newborns period, sunshine, light drizzle in a warm environment…

Books that make me smile:
Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
The Measure of a Man – Sidney Poitier
The Invitation, The Dance, The Call – Oriah Mountain Dreamer
The Peaceful Warrior Series – Dan Millman
The Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield
Anything by the Dalai Lama

The thing that makes me smile most is the gratitude I receive from helping others.

Melissa
Melissa Ralston´s last blog ..On the Topic of Strength, Courage and Super-Heroes

Best of luck to you with everything!

Jeanne

Haha. With all due respect to the people at Marineland… I have been there too and I have to say it was an exhausting experience on many levels.

It also, for me, (coincidence or not… I think not) was day one of a new form of chronic pain that finally led to surgery after 4 years of trying to escape surgery #7 (having had 2 nerve blocks prior to that surgery).

Oh, and the surgery did not help the pain but made it far worse. Oh, and my pain was already off the charts. Oh, and none of my doctors could do anything about it and I was completely non-functional!

THANK GOD FOR MY ACUPUNCTURIST IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO THAT!

In any event, Marineland is not at the top of my list of places to want to go to either. I’ve seen their ads in the U.S. too. I guess when you’re charging what they do you can afford to advertise heavily on TV in more than one country! I’m sorry you paid all that money and waited so long in line for an “almost-touching-the beluga” picture.

Yes, Marineland was a LONG, LONG day for this chronically ill woman! I agree with you too that glossy commercials that make things look “perfect” as in a “fantasy world” are good marketing for the theme park but do not necessarily translate to “reality”. Yes, happiness comes from within… not from spending money at a theme park or anything like that. I love the happiest part of your day ending to that comment.

Take care,

Jeanne

I just had to tease you after our conversation recently about birthdays. That makes perfect sense. It certainly is practical, like you said. You’re too funny.

Jeanne

For those of you who are wondering what on earth I’m talking about, Marineland is an amusement park based upon marine life animals. They put on cute little acts with dolphins, whales, seals and sea lions. Then the other part is the rides.

In my state of chronic illness, I decided that my son and I really needed to go to Marineland last year, which is about a 2 hour drive one way for us. My partner declined his desire to go on the trip with us, so off we went by ourselves. We had to park a zillion miles away, and when you have little legs with you, those zillion miles might as well be forever. Then the park itself is so spread out in it’s attractions that it was more walking. No wonder little legs was in almost a crying state of “my legs hurt” when we left.

the cost of the park was ridiculous. But the killer thing was that we paid an additional like $25 to be able to see and touch a Beluga whale up close and personal. My son swore to me that he would do it, that he wasn’t afraid and that he really wanted to do this. I paid, afterall, I knew after being pushed through the gates to a show during the stampede to get seats for a show, this would be our last visit. So I paid. We waited our hour in line to pay, and then another hour to touch the Beluga. In short Jacob freaked out. But we did get a picture of him *almost* touching the Beluga.

It was a long, long day for someone with a chronic illness, and it certainly did not live up to the commercial claims of happiness. Another reminder that happiness can’t be found in a theme park, but can only come from within. The happiest part of my day was hugging my son and hearing him whisper thank you mommy as he drifted off to sleep.

Take care,
Melissa
Melissa Ralston´s last blog ..Endo and CMP