Life is what you make of it.  You can choose to dwell on the bad or you can choose to focus on the good.  When you have a chronic illness it’s sometimes easier just to dwell on the bad.  When you’re in pain and exhausted it’s hard to see the bright side of things.  We’re only human and most of the time we let hard times get the best of us.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  If we choose to be positive, even though it can be so hard to do, the bad things won’t seem so bad anymore.  A positive attitude goes a long way.

I let things get to me when I should just ignore it and move on. Like when someone tells me that it can’t be that bad having Fibromyalgia. It’s rude and it hurts, but there is no need to shove their heads in a toilet and flush it.  Unfortunately many people choose to speak out of ignorance, but I can choose not to let it get me down. 

It’s so much easier just to be happy.  Optimism is a beautiful concept and if more people could be optimistic then the world would be so much happier!  You can’t lead a fulfilling life without hope…without happiness.  Stop dwelling on the bad in this world and start focusing on the good…it’s good for your health!

Is learning the hard way a good way to learn? I think so.  If it wasn’t for all those mistakes I made growing up I don’t think I would be the person I am today.  My mom admitted that the other day.  She had to throw in that I did almost kill her with all my insanity though.  I don’t blame her.  I put her through absolute hell.  I was a typical teenager who didn’t listen and I thought I knew everything.  I was wrong and I can admit that now. 

I look back and to be honest I don’t know if I would change anything.  I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason.  I did insane things that put my life in danger, but if those things wouldn’t have happened would I be who I am today?  If I hadn’t allowed myself to remain in an abusive relationship would I be happy in my marriage now to a man who treats me like a queen?

Parents want to shelter their kids from everything, but sometimes they need to fall so that they learn from their mistakes and realize that they don’t know everything.  Sometimes it can be torture to learn the hard way, but the lessons learned are those that you carry with you for the rest of your life.  Those are the ones that have the ability to set you free if you choose to let them.

When I started this blog I had no idea that every other post would be about Fibromyalgia.  My whole intention was for it to be about my happy, sad, crazy life.  A few days after I started the blog I found out that Fibromyalgia would be a part of my happy, sad, crazy life.   I started the blog on July 5, 2009 and on July 15, 2009 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  I had no idea that in one visit to a Rheumatologist I would actually get a diagnosis.  I had been through so many doctors who dismissed me as crazy that when he actually gave me a diagnosis I was in shock.  I didn’t even ask him any questions about it.  I was feeling a million different emotions and my head was spinning.  I was relieved to finally know what I’m up against, I was sad that it wasn’t something that could be fixed and I was happy that a doctor really believed me  and I was finally going to be able to get on with my life.

Right now there may be a lot of posts about Fibromyalgia.  It’s just because I’m still adjusting to this whole situation. Fibromyalgia is a part of my life and although I hate it, I have to learn to live with it.  This diagnosis meant that I had to let go of my old life and start a new one.  I’m scared and uncertain about the future, but I find strength in reading about others who are leading happy, successful lives with this invisible monster.  I remind myself every day that I have Fibromyalgia…Fibromyalgia doesn’t have me.  

I don’t like being sick, but I’m thankful that I have Fibromyalgia. That sounds pretty crazy huh? If I didn’t have this highly painful and frustrating illness I would not be the person that I am today. I’m strong…I’m optimistic…I have hope…I love to laugh and make others laugh…I don’t worry about the little things…this is all because I’m sick. I got hit with a reality that I couldn’t hide from so I faced it head on and I’m a better person for it.

I’m in so much pain right now that I want to bang my head in the toilet seat, but I’m happy. Fibromyalgia does not dictate my happiness. I don’t feel good, but I can still be happy. I can still laugh. Only those who have a chronic illness can understand that. We don’t choose to be sick, but we can choose to be happy. I don’t know about you, but it’s so much easier to be happy than miserable.