There must be some really hilarious quips that we, the Fibromyalgia community, set aside for us and the people who know and love us well. What are they?
Put on your "polka-dotted-laugh" hat and point the inquisitive finger back at you. Will you be better off laughing at your:
- brain fog (I can't remember ____!)
- stumbling gait (These must be someone else's shoes....)
- lack of balance in a perfectly stable room (No, I haven't been drinking!)
- word searching ability (Hold on. I'll get it. That word's on the tip of my tongue.)
- word comprehension (What did you say?)
- ability to follow geographical directions ("Honey, I'm in my car. I've forgotten how to get to Mom's house. Give me directions." "Where are you?" "I don't know!")
- ability to go to sleep as soon as your head hits the pillow (Late show? What about the late, late, late, late show?)
- ability to stay focused even when you're in pain or totally exhausted... (Ask me later. I can't think now.)
The list can go on for awhile, as you can imagine.
The point is that happiness, silliness and laughing at life are located anywhere you find them. Sometimes such gems show up in the most unusual places when you're sick and don't feel well. If it's possible to discover humor when your mouth feels full of proverbial marbles or the next time you can't remember your dog's name, then do it. You don't have to be embarassed laughing at yourself.
In the inspirational story, Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins describes how he laughed his way out of a crippling disease that some medical authorities believed to be irreversible. Norman Cousins, the patient, and his doctor partnered in a process to beat the odds. This is a case of the patient taking responsibility for his or her own health and having some fun doing it!
(I urge you to read this classic book. Check out the Amazon store on the left side of the Health Matters Show blog. The book is there, although Amazon provides no picture until you get on the actual website page. Plus, you can purchase either a new or used copy for only $9.95. If you're looking for a bit of cheeriness and a source of hope, you can't find a better book.)
I hope you find something to make your day bright,
Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
