Let's approach the topic in a round about fashion. I believe absolutely everyone is entitled to the right to discover the possibility of their own healing... no matter in what form it arrives, where it comes from, where you are physically located in this world or what direction your life has taken so far.

That's the primary reason why I began hosting the Health Matters Show-- to provide quality information and healing tools for people like you, people with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other similar, long term and chronic illnesses. I say this with a great smile on my face, "Welcome to the show."

Certainly not everything works routinely in life, not when you're sick and not when you're trying to recover. There are bumps in the road; sometimes, boulders. Today let's lighten the mood and allow me to share a comical, tongue-in-cheek view of how I get every four years, Olympic fever. It happens like clockwork...

Picture my face with a look of awe and inspiration, even though I'm sitting around in my bathrobe. My mouth hangs open much of the time or at least during every race and event. My backside seemingly glued to the recliner. My eyes transfixed on my television set for literally hours at a time when I normally would be doing something constructive.

What am I talking about? Why watching the Olympics, of course!

Oh, the volleyball, the gymnastics, the cycling, the water polo and basketball all have been fantastic this year. And there are many more events to come.

But nothing has enthralled me more than watching swimming. Why you wonder? Because of my respect for the sport and the people who participate in it, people like Michael Phelps and Dara Torres.

I think swimming is a very physical sport and quite demanding. Even though I am technically recovered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, I function below the activity level and capacity of an average, healthy, adult female my age.

And, even though I consider myself well, that doesn't mean I'm strong or have the ability to do many things for very long. I don't exhibit a normal degree of stamina. No, far from it. After almost 20 years of doing less than the average American, my body is de-conditioned, out of shape and is going to take a lot of effort on my part to improve it.

Me consider swimming? Even the suggestion makes me smile. I'm lucky to get to a warm water pool for water aerobics classes these days. Now, don't let that remark give you the impression that I'm not grateful for the level of health I have; I am very thankful.

Considering the absolutely invalid status that I came from, what I'm doing is a genuine accomplishment. I am happy that I can exercise in any water aerobics class. Sometimes I even can walk on the treadmill or attend a beginner yoga class.

Immediately after I was stricken so badly in 1990 with bone-numbing illness, pain and my Immune System nearly collapsing, I spent months in the bed before I could drive myself to a gym, wrangle on my swimsuit and drive back home again to sleep for hours. That was my exercise for the day! In the beginning, I never participated in class at all.

Today I go to water aerobics several times per week and I can do 90% of the class. I say, "Yeah, for me and, yeah, for anyone who can be physically active, even if it's climbing stairs or doing yoga. Do what you can do."

Therefore... let's not miss the big man with size 14 shoes... "Yeah!" for Michael Phelps, who swims and swims and continues to swim for gold medals and US victory!

I don't know you personally, Michael Phelps, but I admire you. In looking at what you have done and continue to accomplish, I am absolutely certain that your body does not know the meaning of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or (even) chronic fatigue. Certainly, you must be tired... at least a little after all these races.

But I feel confident in stating that you have never known the dead-dog tired level of fatigue common to CFS, the daunted hopes of people who suffer with it, or the prospect of a hazy uncertain future with chronic illness.

Congratulations, Michael Phelps. May your body never let you down! And congratulations to Dara Torres, a gigantically inspiring spit fire of a female swimmer, who at age 41 proves anything is possible!

And, to my listeners, may your bodies uphold you. May you heal to whatever degree is possible... to swim, to run, to walk or just be healthy.

• Reverence your body. You are God's creation.
• Be thankful for your experiences, good and bad.
• Learn your lessons well so that you can move on in life.
• And, finally, revel in your personal accomplishments by aspiring to the level of healing and health that you can obtain. Don't be frightened to move forward.

You Are Great!

Thank you. This is Cinda Crawford, your host of the Health Matters Show at http://www.healthmattersshow.com signing off and headed to water aerobics class. You take care now and come back to join us every Friday at 3 pm for another edition of the Health Matters Show, where people with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and chronic illnesses get information about healing and hope.