EDS Fact 5 - The Pains of Being in Pain

The pain associated with EDS is not like the typical pain you experience from being hurt or sick. It has a mind of it's own. Our pain levels can vary from moment to moment let alone day to day. Most people want to leave others alone when they're sick, but what they don't think about is that we're not sick, we're just this way! There is no other way that we have ever been and there is no other way that we will be in the future. We have always been like this, we LIVE like this and we intend to keep doing so.

A good example of this is my current situation. For quite awhile I had let my muscles and tendons stay tight all the time because it was simpler. I ran into problems because of it, but I kept telling myself it was easier this way. I ignored doctor advice telling myself that they didn't understand my condition, which they still don't.

Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance

Today was Memorial Day, a day to remember the men and women who have given their lives while in the service of our country's military. As a child my grandfather pressed upon me the importance of the military in our nation's history and with that a respect for all who have served in the military. None who have served our great nation deserve respect more than those who gave their lives while in the service of it's military. Many men and women have given their lives during our country's short history in order to secure our way of life for generations to come.

My grandfather was a proud man who always saw the good in our country and believed wholeheartedly in the ideal that is America. The ideal that all people no matter their gender, race, age, or any other identifying factors are created equal. That each of us has gifts that we can use to better ourselves and the world. That with hard work and determination you can better your place in the world. My grandfather served in World War II, lived thru the depression, fought for everything he had, and was grateful that we live in a country where you had the opportunity to better your lot in life. From him I learned that loyalty to not only your friends but also other Americans was a good trait to have. I learned that honesty might hurt, but that it was always for the best.

EDS Fact 4 - Disease vs. Syndrome

People seem to think that if you're in pain you have to be sick with something, this is not the case. Many people don't understand the difference between a disease and a syndrome.

EDS Fact 3 - Zebras not Horses

There is a saying that goes 'When you hear hoof beats you think horses' which defines the medical community to the letter. They don't go looking for something unusual if there's an easier explanation. So, the question is, what happens when you don't fall within the realm of the normal?

EDS Fact 1 - Invisible Illness

Invisible illnesses are hard for people to deal with for several reasons. The hardest one for others to understand is that they're invisible! There are no definite signs of inability. You don't look different on days that you feel horrible.

EDS Fact 2 - Flexability and Pain

Being flexible is a good thing, right? Well, not always. There is such a thing as too flexible and with that comes certain drawbacks. Whether from injuries occurred from bending too far or from constant stress being too flexible hurts. For many of us we're in constant pain. We've even learned that there's a wide variety of pains that one can experience and that some are easier to deal with than others.

Introvert or Extrovert... That is the Question

I know that most of us have been asked once or twice in our lives if we're introverts or extroverts. This is a question that many extroverts don't really understand. The world today is focused on extroversion and unless you're really in introvert you don't understand this at all. As an introvert that has worked really hard to figure this out, maybe I can help.

From Coast to Coast

I had a conversation at the grocery store today that gave me the idea for this post. I overheard someone at the checkout saying that they grew up around here (North Carolina) but that they're now living in California. Seeing as I grew up in California and now live around here I couldn't help commenting on how ironic that was. The person I overheard then asked me which I liked better, California or North Carolina, and the only response I could really give him was to shrug.

Hurry up and Wait

One thing that I have always found to be true no matter where you are is that they expect you to hurry up and wait. Whether it is at work, in the store or on the road that it has become the motto of our times. At work you're supposed to hurry up and finish your job so that you can wait on someone else to finish theirs. At the store you're supposed to hurry up and get in line so you can wait to be checked out. Driving down the road you're supposed to hurry up and get to the next signal light or stop sign so you can wait your turn.

365 Days of Writing Challenge

This challenge is simple and personal. I am challenging myself to write something, anything, every day for a year. They say that if you do something every day for a week it is much easier to continue doing it. We will see how this experiment goes.

My goal is a whole year, three hundred and sixty-five days, of writing. I always have a ton of ideas floating around in my head, but it seems that I never end up putting them down anywhere. I also seem to always get interrupted by things going on in life. My new goal in dealing with this is I'm going to blog about it. So, not only are you going to get works of literature and writings about my ideas you will also end up getting writings about my everyday life.