#courageous living

[harmonyhealinghub]

Embracing Life with Chronic Pain and Discomfort: A Journey of Resilience

Shaina Tranquilino

December 20, 2023

Living with chronic pain and discomfort can be an incredibly challenging experience, one that affects nearly every aspect of our lives. Whether it stems from a long-term health condition or continues to persist despite medical interventions, the daily battle against pain may seem overwhelming. However, by adopting certain strategies and making necessary adjustments, it is possible to find a renewed sense of hope and live a fulfilling life amidst the struggle. In this blog post, we will explore some practical tips on how to navigate life with chronic pain and discomfort.

1. Educate Yourself:

Knowledge is power when it comes to managing chronic pain conditions. Take the time to research your specific condition, including its causes, symptoms, available treatments, and self-help techniques. Understanding more about your condition will empower you to make informed decisions regarding your healthcare while enabling effective communication with medical professionals.

2. Adopt a Multidisciplinary Approach:

Consulting with various healthcare specialists can provide different perspectives in managing your chronic pain. Consider seeking help from physical therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and alternative medicine practitioners as part of your overall treatment plan. Different therapies might contribute positively to your well-being by addressing physical limitations, emotional challenges, and dietary concerns.

3. Establish a Support Network:

Living with chronic pain can feel isolating at times; therefore, surrounding yourself with supportive family members, friends, or joining support groups can offer comfort and understanding. Connecting with others who share similar experiences provides an outlet for sharing frustrations and obtaining valuable advice.

4. Prioritize Self-Care:

Self-care activities are crucial for maintaining overall well-being while living with chronic pain. Focus on incorporating practices such as gentle exercises (e.g., swimming or yoga), meditation or mindfulness techniques, adequate sleep routines, proper nutrition, and stress reduction strategies into your daily routine. These lifestyle choices can help minimize pain levels, boost mood, and enhance your quality of life.

5. Pace Yourself:

Accepting that you may need to adjust your daily activities can be challenging but is essential when dealing with chronic pain. Prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and break activities into manageable segments. Practicing pacing ensures that you do not overexert yourself, avoiding exacerbation of symptoms while still accomplishing necessary goals.

6. Embrace Alternative Therapies:

Incorporating alternative therapies such as acupuncture, massage therapy, aromatherapy, or heat/cold treatments into your pain management routine can provide additional relief alongside traditional medical interventions. Experiment with various approaches until you find what works best for you, always in consultation with your healthcare provider.

7. Celebrate Small Victories:

Living with chronic pain means there will inevitably be good days and bad days. Instead of focusing solely on the challenges ahead, celebrate each small victory along the way. Whether it's completing a simple task without excessive discomfort or finding moments of respite from pain through effective coping techniques, acknowledging these triumphs helps maintain a positive mindset.

Living with chronic pain and discomfort is undoubtedly an arduous journey; however, it does not have to define who you are or diminish the joy in your life. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, educating yourself about your condition, prioritizing self-care activities and surrounding yourself with a supportive network, you can navigate this path with resilience and hope. Remember that every step forward counts – embrace the journey towards living a fulfilling existence despite chronic pain!

[andthebeanstalk]

Today my therapist introduced me to a concept surrounding disability that she called "hLep".

Which is when you - in this case, you are a disabled person - ask someone for help ("I can't drink almond milk so can you get me some whole milk?", or "Please call Donna and ask her to pick up the car for me."), and they say yes, and then they do something that is not what you asked for but is what they think you should have asked for ("I know you said you wanted whole, but I got you skim milk because it's better for you!", "I didn't want to ruin Donna's day by asking her that, so I spent your money on an expensive towing service!") And then if you get annoyed at them for ignoring what you actually asked for - and often it has already happened repeatedly - they get angry because they "were just helping you! You should be grateful!!"

And my therapist pointed out that this is not "help", it's "hLep".

Sure, it looks like help; it kind of sounds like help too; and if it was adjusted just a little bit, it could be help. But it's not help. It's hLep.

At its best, it is patronizing and makes a person feel unvalued and un-listened-to. Always, it reinforces the false idea that disabled people can't be trusted with our own care. And at its worst, it results in disabled people losing our freedom and control over our lives, and also being unable to actually access what we need to survive.

So please, when a disabled person asks you for help on something, don't be a hLeper, be a helper! In other words: they know better than you what they need, and the best way you can honor the trust they've put in you is to believe that!

Also, I want to be very clear that the "getting angry at a disabled person's attempts to point out harmful behavior" part of this makes the whole thing WAY worse. Like it'd be one thing if my roommate bought me some passive-aggressive skim milk, but then they heard what I had to say, and they apologized and did better in the future - our relationship could bounce back from that. But it is very much another thing to have a crying shouting match with someone who is furious at you for saying something they did was ableist. Like, Christ, Jessica, remind me to never ask for your support ever again! You make me feel like if I asked you to call 911, you'd order a pizza because you know I'll feel better once I eat something!!

Edit: crediting my therapist by name with her permission - this term was coined by Nahime Aguirre Mtanous!

Edit again: I made an optional follow-up to this post after seeing the responses. Might help somebody. CW for me frankly talking about how dangerous hLep really is.

[preacherman316]

Psalm 73

In a 2003 Parade Magazine column, Ask Marilyn, Marilyn vos Savant gave an interesting perspective on contentment. A reader was bothered that her neighbor’s yard looked better than her own. So, she did something unusual. She walked over to her neighbor’s house to look at her own yard. When she did, the grass in her yard looked greener. “Why does this occur?” the reader asked Continue reading…

[merakiui]

a silly shoujo concept with jade where he picks up your notebook after you've left it in class. resourceful eel that he is, he flips through the pages out of curiosity. he's certain he'll just find your notes or doodles you've made out of boredom, but it never hurts to pry just a little. he won't tell a soul if he finds anything embarrassing. certainly not!

to his surprise, he finds a bucket list of sorts, which details all of the things you hope to accomplish by the end of your time at nrc. you're quite methodical about this list. there are academic goals. personal goals. social goals. you've checked some of them off: do well on this year's midterm. commit to an exercise routine. make more friends. etc. etc.

but then he happens upon the romantic goals. things like holding hands, kissing, cuddling, going on dates, sharing meals... he reads through every item on this specific list and finds himself blushing like a lovestruck maiden. it's not because of the nature of this list but, rather, the notes you've made in the margin: possible people to try this with: jade leech?

and his name is the only one you've written! :O is this...an indirect love confession? do you have feelings for him? is now a good time to hopefully try to kindle a deeper bond with you after he's spent so much time pining from the sidelines??????

tl;dr - jade wants to be the one to complete the goals on your romance list, but you're too prideful (and suspicious of him) to admit you'd ever think of him in such a light! that's too embarrassing! too much opportunity to be exploited. and jade's a bit of a shameless coward.

so he decides there's only one solution: he's going to try to court you. the mer way. the human way would be much too obvious, after all. ^^;;;;

[siplifeslowly]

Stay Unreduced

When hard things happen in our lives, we have a choice. We can allow them to rob us of the abundant life God designed for us to live in the midst of the pain we are not spared from in a broken world. Or, we can choose to not be reduced by them. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”– Maya Angelou Choosing the Abundant, Unreduced…

[canisalbus]

The little Courage the cowardly dog-esque paws on this drawing just sent me for some reason I'm so sorry I just had to quickly doodle a little Machete the cowardly dog XD

.

[spongebobssquarepants]

When Courage the Cowardly Dog opened that door with the girl playing the violin

[charmwasjess]

I legitimately didn't remember how fucking batshit funny some of the Dooku sections in Claudia Gray's Master and Apprentice were. Qui-Gon's remembering his first mission with Dooku in flashback: okay, seems straightforward enough. They land in an ongoing crisis in a battle zone, Dooku goes to talk to the generals. Then, next scene, we smashcut directly to:

"Don't be afraid." Dooku's voice rang out over even the howling winds of Shurrapak. Qui-Gon clung to the carbon-fibre-rope riggings of the Shurrapakan ship, salt spray stinging his face and hands as they rounded the cape to approach the battle from an angle the enemy wouldn't expect. "They're shielded against skycraft and energy weapons. Not against seafaring vessels!" He made this sound majestic, courageous, brilliant -- nothing like the last-minute, last-ditch attempt it really was. Qui-Gon took a deep breath and stared up at the stars. Big mistake. The stars weren't moving and his stomach was, and the queasiness that swept through him made him feel weak.

Dooku has been on this planet for less than 24 hours. There are already other Jedi there ahead of him with established generals working on the battle plans, which according to the scene just before this, are complete enough that its conceivable Dooku and Qui-Gon will miss the action. So naturally, the plan he then comes up with is "ABANDON ALL OTHER PLANS, WE ATTACK THE FORTIFIED BATTLEFIELD WITH OLD TIMEY ROPE-RIGGED SAILING SHIPS!"

And at his side?? A seasick twelve year old who has never left the Temple or seen battle!!! Who can't swim! And backing them up?? Rael fucking Averross, who Dooku was just nagging for being too eager to get into the fighting. Sure, Dooku. That's Rael's problem.

This is the most disaster lineage shit I've ever read. This could absolutely be an Anakin and Obi-Wan Clone Wars arc.

Bonus Rael and Qui-Gon Content, from earlier in the chapter:

"C'mon, then, let's go talk to the generals." Rael made it sound like the most natural thing for a twelve-year-old to do.

Rael, you crazy motherfucker, never change.

[nobeerreviews]

And in another year everything will be different yet again. It is always like that, and always will be; you are forever standing on the brink, in a place where you cannot see ahead; there is nothing of which to be certain except what lies behind. This should be terrifying, but somehow it is not.

-- Penelope Lively

(Bistrița, Romania)

[charlieconwayy]

Movies That Made Me: Back to the Future (1985)

[harmonyhealinghub]

Be Strong and of Good Courage: Navigating Life with Resilience Shaina Tranquilino March 3, 2024

We often encounter challenges that test our strength, resilience, and courage. The phrase "Be strong and of good courage" resonates deeply, inspiring individuals to face adversity with determination and fortitude. Whether you're navigating personal struggles, professional challenges, or societal uncertainties, embracing strength and courage can be the compass that guides you through the storms of life.

Understanding Strength:

Strength is not just about physical prowess; it encompasses mental, emotional, and spiritual fortitude as well. Being strong means acknowledging vulnerability and using it as a catalyst for growth. It involves developing a resilient mindset that views setbacks as opportunities to learn and evolve. Strength is the foundation upon which courage is built, providing the inner power to face difficulties head-on.

Cultivating Courage:

Courage is the force that propels us forward when faced with uncertainty or fear. It's the ability to confront challenges, make tough decisions, and persevere in the face of adversity. Cultivating courage requires self-awareness and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. It involves embracing vulnerability, as author Brené Brown emphasizes, and understanding that courage is born from the willingness to be imperfect and take risks.

Lessons from History:

Throughout history, countless individuals have embodied the spirit of being strong and of good courage. From leaders who fought for justice, pioneers who explored uncharted territories, to ordinary people who faced extraordinary circumstances, their stories inspire us to tap into our inner reservoirs of strength. Take, for example, the civil rights movement, where leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated remarkable courage in the face of systemic oppression.

Overcoming Personal Challenges:

Each person faces unique challenges in their journey, whether it be overcoming personal insecurities, recovering from failures, or navigating complex relationships. Being strong and of good courage means acknowledging these challenges and committing to personal growth. It involves seeking support when needed, learning from experiences, and using setbacks as stepping stones toward a brighter future.

Facing Professional Hurdles:

In the professional realm, challenges are inevitable. Whether you're an entrepreneur striving to build a business, a professional climbing the corporate ladder, or someone navigating the complexities of the job market, strength and courage are essential. Resilience in the face of setbacks, adaptability in a rapidly changing world, and the courage to pursue innovative ideas are all vital components of success.

Navigating Uncertain Times:

The world is constantly evolving, presenting new challenges and uncertainties. In times of global crises or societal upheaval, being strong and of good courage becomes even more crucial. Embracing change, standing up for what is right, and fostering a sense of community are powerful expressions of courage that can contribute to positive transformations on a larger scale.

"Be strong and of good courage" serves as a timeless mantra that empowers individuals to face life's challenges with resilience and determination. In a world filled with uncertainties, cultivating inner strength and courage becomes a guiding principle for personal growth and societal progress. So, as you navigate the twists and turns of your own journey, remember that within you lies the power to be strong and of good courage.

[saintchaser]

this might be a controversial opinion or something but i don’t think sirius was the kind of person who runs away from his problems

[casdeans-pie]

I fully admire Misha's commitment to living his truth no matter what though, because if it were me and the literal WB were telling me just to go with it and news outlets were reporting on it and the internet was in shambles and celebrations over it I would be like, Well guess I'm bisexual now.

[peopleofsmokecitiesofsong]

I haven't watched recently enough to get into it but something something nine and twelve as inverted reflections

[nomlioart]

i was supposed to do it earlier but i was really lazy lol, but here you go

my pepstavo hcs in a nutshell

a lil more in the tags 👁️ 

[duckkyy93]

Is kinnporsche the concert stupid and is just for cash grab? Yes. Did they just turn the series into a musical? Yes. Is the whole cast unhinged and kissing live infront of millions of people? Yes. Is it a live whorehouse? Yes. Do they think they are kpop idols and dancing to kpop music eventho they can’t really dance? Yes. Did I buy two tickets to watch it and I don’t regret it??? Definitely yes!!