(a) elderly

(b) undeserving

(c) disabled for life; and/or

(d) taking advantage of the system

Our social security disability clients are young and old, wealthy and homeless. And their “impairments” – the word that Social Security uses – include: Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, anxiety and depression, ischemic heart disease, degenerative disc disease, Lupus, cancer, asthma, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, HIV/AIDS and interstitial cystitis, to name just a few.

I’ve never met a client who would rather receive disability benefits than feel healthy and be able to work ! Many of my clients could and probably will do some kind of part-time work eventually. Very few of my clients could be described as elderly.

But unfortunately, the labels I described above discourage many people from even applying for disability benefits and that’s a shame. It’s a shame because disability benefits can serve as a bridge to carry a person from one phase of his or her life to the next phase. If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness and it’s reached a stage where you cannot work at your occupation right now, at least not on a full-time basis, disability benefits can help you through to another phase you may well reach – a time when you discover other interests and skills that fit better with the reality of your illness and allow you to return to work.

If you’ve been injured and it’s lasted more than a year and shows no sign of getting better soon, disability benefits can help you through difficult times until you’re able to resume your past or new work. And yes, in some cases, when you are not likely to ever return to work, disability benefits are your right.

Consider this – President Harry Truman, no bleeding-heart liberal, said of Social Security disability:

“It has long been recognized as an inescapable obligation of a democratic society to provide for every individual some measure of basic protection from hardship and want caused by factors beyond his control.”

If you are eligible for Title II, the Social Security Disability Insurance program, it’s because you’ve worked consistently and, by the way, you’ve paid into the system every time you’ve received a paycheck. If the benefits you’re eligible for are under Title XVI, Supplemental Security Income, there’s no shame in that. You’re in good company with people who, for various reasons, don’t have enough of a work history for the Title II program. Maybe they are mothers who have raised kids rather than been in the workforce. Maybe they are too young to have amassed the necessary work history. Maybe they are veterans who suffered an injury in service and haven’t worked since then.

Probably you’ve heard that it’s a long and frustrating process. There’s some truth to that but not enough that you should fail to exercise your right to access these funds. The first step is to contact the Social Security Administration and apply. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers three ways for you to apply for Social Security disability benefits: by telephone (1-800-772-1213), in person at a local Social Security office, or online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability/.

If you get turned down the first time (and nearly two-thirds of applicants do), don’t give up. File an appeal within the time period allowed. Get a lawyer to help you. Keep trying until you get to the hearing stage because this is the stage when many folks finally get a positive decision. And keep seeing your doctor – the evidence of your regular visits and the relationship you are building with your doctor will prove invaluable when your hearing date finally arrives.

Remember that the Social Security disability program was set up for the situation you are facing. President Clinton said it best:

“Social Security. . . reflects some of our deepest values–the duties we owe to our parents, the duties we owe to each other when we’re differently situated in life, the duties we owe to our children and our grandchildren. Indeed, it reflects our determination to move forward across generations and across the income divides in our country, as one America.”– William J. Clinton, February 9, 1998

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Cheryl Coon exclusively focuses her law practice on social security disability at all stages of the process, representing clients from Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, Washington. She can be reached at ccoon@stc-law.com. Her law firm, Swanson Thomas and Coon, can be found at www.stc-law.com.

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As this network’s coordinator, I work at making connections with local professionals who focus on topics and issues I hear about most frequently from the MLWT community.  Recently, I received a comment recommending that I enlist the expertise of an attorney to contribute posts here regarding disability benefits.  I have met with Cheryl personally, as I do with many of the local professionals I have as guests, and must say that between her professional experience in this arena and her personal experience getting through the health care maze and building a supportive community for parents before social media, I believe she will be a great resource here.  As with any of my guests, please recognize that everyone must be their own best advocate and my guests are merely the people I wish to introduce to you~ not necessarily to endorse.

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What do I look for in a doctor? To answer the call in today’s theme,  I reflected back on some of those memorable experiences when talking to my doctor of the moment felt more like dealing with a character from Sesame Street® .  Or, in this situation, I think I’ll refer to it as, “ Sez Me ” Street.

You have Bert and Ernie     

These are the doctor-intern team where listening them talk back and forth to each other makes you wonder which one is going to get that Rubber Duckie put where the sun don’t shine — first.  They banter, speak each other’s language, drift onto tangents that completely go off the topic and treat me like one of the pigeons sitting on the window sill outside their window of knowledge. 

You have Benny the Rabbit 

“My name is Bennie, not Bunny!”  The cantankerous doctor who gets all bent out of shape if you mispronounce a medication or mention something you’ve come across online that made you wonder if it could be associated with symptoms you’d been having lately.  “It’s Ray-NODES, with a long “O” and not Ray-NODS.”  Sheesh, I was only trying to be helpful. 

Of course, there is Oscar, the Grouch 

Do I really need to clarify this one?  I mean, who HASN’T  met this dude? 

And then, there’s Elmo

…who spends too much time making light of my situation, symptoms, challenges, pain, fears and so on.  I don’t care how much you giggle or animate your voice, talk about some other patient who did nothing but complain, or offer up clever come backs that you’ve bestowed on some other poor soul.  Your levity without giving me something I can truly use won’t make me feel like dancing and I’m not going to tickle you with a smile to make you feel better.  Right at this moment, it’s all about me, Bub, and my name isn’t Mrs. Noodle!  I have a tendency to rely a bit too much on self-deprecating humor and I really don’t need you joining in, too. 

Who could forget Big Bird? 

As it is in the Wild Kingdom, most of the male birds get the beautiful plumage so they can dance around and get all the attention.  Top that off with a bird who acts flighty, forgetful, or surprised by any new symptoms and that can really get my feathers ruffled quickly. Or maybe it is a doctor who is way too busy fluffing or puffing up and not really listening to what I’m saying.  When I’ve finally hit my limit with these birds,  I’ve been known to give them  “The Bird” right back. 

Usually my favorite character on the show, but not in this scenario, is The Count 

The doctor who looks at the labs and counts “…1…2…3…ah,ah,ah” when reading off those stupid numbers that imply nothing is really wrong with me.  This doctor assures me that what I’m feeling can’t be Lupus, because my blood work doesn’t back it up.  When pushed, this doc will tell me to go in for more lab work to test things again, if that will make me “feel better.”  What I wouldn’t give to suck his blood and mock him while I’m doing it.

Okay, so enough with the venting.  As it is with the real Sesame Street®  show, there is always something to learn no matter what the topic, character or situation you find yourself dealing with.  What would be that kernel of truth that I can close this tirade here with in order to make everything sunny again? 

In this neighborhood, where ‘Sez Me’ Street is located, there are plenty of opportunities to cooperate, negotiate, communicate and educate with a lot of different characters.  We may not always get along.  We learn new languages and concepts, while offered many chances to practice it all every day.  We may not see eye-to-eye or feel like joining in on all the chaos.

However, the fundamental point in being a part of this neighborhood is that everyone, no matter who you are or what role you play, has a right to their feelings.

As a patient, I can get caught up in burying my feelings and needs in order to placate the doctor role or character.  I need to better embrace my inner child who sees myself as important and believes that I have the right to say what I have to say.  Remember that feeling when you were young and you discovered something SO wonderful or felt something SO awful that you couldn’t wait to share it with anyone within ear shot?  That impulse — that very need to communicate — deserves to be nurtured within all of us.  That is my personal kernel of truth that I want to contribute to this discussion today.  When looking for and choosing the doctor I work with, I have to feel invited to communicate.  Whether they openly ask me to or simply sit and listen to what I have to say, that door to share my experience HAS to be present.  Otherwise, they just don’t belong on my team.

One of the first characters on the show is probably how I like to see myself.  He is a voice of reason and wit trying to explain why something is important, even though those around him may not agree.  He’s the one with the hysterical arm movements, flapping them about shouting when he gets overly excited.  The one that many go to when things get confusing and, despite what challenges he may be facing, is still expected to be the strong one all the time.  The one with a crucial need for organization and coordination, so that he feels things run smoothly. The one who recognizes that he is different, speaks of it openly and sings to himself when he is down.  The one who may not always feel in the right place with those around him, but assures himself and those who sympathize, that it is okay to be different.  I, of course, am referring to Kermit, the Frog. 

It “…isn’t easy being green,”  dealing with some unsavory characters — or to live with a chronic illness.  Yet, it is an adventure worth taking, plenty of smiles and laughter to be shared and lots of friends to meet along the way.  If you get stuck with the way things are going with your doctor, tune in to watch Sesame Street again, like I do.  It’s a whole new experience when keeping this perspective, offers some great basic pointers in working with different characters (doctors)… and is still a lot of fun to watch, too.

“Guest speaker at the next Scleroderma Support Group Meeting in Portland is Naturopathic Physician Serron Wilkie N.D. at 10am Saturday, November 13 at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital.  “How Integrative Care Can Improve Your Health: Natural Treatment for Patients with Scleroderma and Autoimmune Disease“ will be presented by Dr. Wilkie followed by Q&A.

According to the Kwan-Yin Healing Arts Center website, Dr. Wilkie “helps her patients restore a sense of ease, harmony and joy in their lives by creating optimal health and sustainable wellness. Patients who have not been helped by other conventional or alternative treatments often seek out Serron for relief and deep healing.

“She earned her naturopathic medical degree from the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), the oldest school of naturopathic medicine in North America.  There she was honored with the Nature Cure Award for embodying the principles of naturopathic medicine.”  Find out more about Dr. Serron Wilkie N.D. at kwanyinhealingarts.com .

Donna says that she is warmly encouraging people to come to the Nov. 13 meeting for an end-of-the-year gathering.  She hasn’t seen some people for quite a while and would dearly like to touch base as we close out 2010.” 

All Scleroderma Support Group meetings are free and open to the public.  This Oregon Chapter event is scheduled for 10 am at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital (Wistar Morris Room on 1st floor), 1015 NW 22nd Avenue, Portland, OR.  For more information about this or any chapter support group topic, please visit their website.

I got a wake-up call this summer with regard to my health. I have cystic fibrosis, which entails a whole routine of treatments and medications that basically manage my disease.  But this summer I was exposed to mold, not realizing that an allergic response would set off a cascade of inflammatory processes in my lungs that would take months — years? — to recover from.  And the truth is, I don’t know for sure if I will ever regain the lung function I have lost this summer. 

This turn of events has led to a whole new definition of “chronic” to my illness. Before, when I got sick, I would start a regimen of medication and treatment and get better. End of story. Now, I don’t know if I will get better.  This may be my new normal.   And the truth is, this scares the pants off me.  Fear has become an unwelcome companion in my life lately.  And I suspect many of you can identify. 

When an illness that has basically been manageable takes a downward turn, when it feels like there may be no real light at the end of the tunnel but just a long slide into the unknown, this is really scary. There are no two ways around it. Maybe we will get better, maybe we will feel “normal” again, but when the fear takes hold, it is powerful. 

When this fear has the upper hand, my inclination is to pull back from life, to worry all the time, to carry around a constant knot of anxiety in my stomach, to view life as a series of potential problems that may or may not have a solution. My brain keeps throwing out “what if?” scenarios — what if I’d never got in that mold? what if different medications would be better? what if this is the beginning of the end? — which frankly, don’t do anything but keep me in the tailspin of worry and frustration, and feeling like somehow this is my fault.

I have really been studying this fear, and invite you to do so as well.  Because the truth is, when I let fear be in charge, my life feels pretty miserable.  And it feels like it comes down to a choice: fear, withdrawal, and obsessive anxiety; or, a choice to engage life *anyway*, no matter what’s going on with my health.

What does it mean to me to engage life? To me this means, to take a deep breath into that knot of anxiety and ask myself, what would spark my interest in being alive in this moment?  What would feel creative and fun and help me relax a little?  This could be anything, from puttering in the garden to coloring with crayons to browsing at the fabric store.  A happy movie.  An evening with friends.  Soaking up some sunshine. 

What is it for you? What helps you move beyond that fearful routine and feel happy to be alive, even in the smallest way? What loosens up that feeling of being stuck in a sick body, and instead helps quiet those worries as you are absorbed in participating in life?

I think this choice, to participate in life anyway, is the most profound gesture of healing we can make.  Because ultimately, with my last breath –be it in 5 years or 50 — I want to feel I’ve lived my life, not just existed in a paralysis of depression and anxiety.  I want to feel like I’ve really been here, like my unique creativity has had a chance to touch other beings, other lives, in a positive way. 

It is not always easy to make this choice; it can feel so much easier to stay stuck in the fretful routine and blame it on our illness.  Fear can be deceptively compelling that way. But I intend to keep trying. Because to me, this gesture of creative participation in life feels like it will bring more healing to my body, and the world, than a whole lifetime of worry ever could.

***

Sarah Nuxoll is an MLWT Guest blogger, a mother of two, a doula and  spiritual practitioner living in Portland, Oregon. Learn more about her and all she offers on her website, Welcome with Love   and be sure to say hello.

Her post reflects many common thoughts and threads about support groups, be them online or in-person, and I’m glad to see she’s putting her thoughts about this issue out there.  With the increasing availability of online support resources, I’ve been tracking to see trends in how in-person support groups will fare.  Although we would assume that everyone is online these days, you will be surprised to know that we actually use the computer less than other countries and I regularly hear from people when I’m in the community that they don’t use the computer for much of anything other than online banking.  As more people catch up with the idea of using Facebook, Twitter or other online social networking sites, I am watching many of the health veterans that I have followed for the last few years dropping off the radar.  There is a changing of the guard, so to speak, with new writers and new voices being added to the conversation of chronic illness advocacy and support…just as it should be.  One voice can’t cover it all.

That’s where I think Leslie’s post brings the idea of support groups as an option to help cope with illness mirrors this change in what we’re seeking in support. 

I did a local research study some years ago for a health foundation here in Oregon to learn a little about lupus support group participation.  What was important about my study is that I also interviewed people who chose not to attend groups, which usually isn’t the case in support group research.  One result from my study showed women who chose not to attend lupus groups had positive views of groups, but didn’t think they needed them, because they had enough family support.

What I discovered, though, is that they worked very hard to not burden their families and sought their emotional support needs from their doctors.

  Anyone here have a 10-20 minute appointment with their doc to sufficiently address their emotional needs?  My guess, and from what I hear from many people here and all over the country, is no. 

What I found, and what I’ve experienced personally in attending groups and living with lupus myself, is that support is a term we all need to define for ourselves.  We also need to recognize that our needs aren’t fixed, but change and adapt.

  I would have to say that the key is in determining what works for you and to make sure that, whatever your support need is at a particular moment, you match it with the right type of source to make it effective.

The wonderful thing about support theses days are the amazing number of options that are available, that weren’t available even a few years ago.  If you don’t want to attend the groups in person, then don’t but be sure to ask yourself what it is you do need.  If you aren’t making a connection with the group you are attending, then seek another to try out.  Personalities, facilitator skills, content and convenience are all factors to consider when opening up your life to others.  If you can’t find a specific group in your area, say a lupus group, then consider attending another group that is similar.  For example, I frequently recommend the local Scleroderma support group to people living with lupus here in the Portland area as a wonderful option, even if it isn’t specifically for lupus.  That’s one reason I work closely with them as a resource partner, because they have their groups open to anyone and the health challenges between people living with scleroderma and those with lupus have more in common than are different.  If you’re in the Portland area and want a supportive environment with an amazing bunch of people and terrific speakers/activities, stop by and meet them .

Online support is great for those who need the convenience or anonymity to reach out to others in time of need.  The more variety we have in our support sources, the more likely we will be able to match our needs with something that works and get us back on our feet much sooner.  There is no right or wrong support resource—only the right or wrong match. 

I would love to hear from you on the types of support sources that you use or what types of support you’re looking for and can’t find, especially if you live here in Oregon or SW Washington.  My goal is to fill some gaps among services already out there.  Your voice will help some of those options become available. 

Thanks, Leslie, for contributing to this important conversation~

The thing about pain is that when you don’t have it for awhile, you really do forget what it is like to live with it.  I’ve been so fortunate to have made it through the pain I had right before my diagnosis and left it behind for nearly a decade.  I am grateful for every day, believe me.  I know that there are so many out there who are begging for a month, day or even hour without being held hostage by their bodies.  When my headaches started in, I first blamed lack of sleep and intended to tough it out without meds.  By the fourth day, I was taking any sinus, cold or allergy pill within reach.  I gave in to the pounding temples, throbbing eyeballs and the sharp jolts of pain that felt like what I only imagine an exploding vessel would feel like.  However, the worst thing wasn’t about having to take the pills or even having the pain again.  It was being reminded that my life can be brought to a complete stop whenever my body demands it.

While my head was exploding, I felt like I couldn’t do anything.  Read, spend time at the computer working or goofing off on Twitter, watch TV or sleep.  I couldn’t plant my garden or catch up on any house chores because bending down and moving around just made my head hurt worse.  I was just stuck sitting and fuming about the prison term I was being forced to serve without any explanations.  Living with an illness can get like that and I was seeing myself as unproductive, not getting to the things that I knew I wanted to do. 

 The challenge, though, went beyond the pain as I began to truly notice my response to it.  I realized that the things I do most often were those things I couldn’t do during my body’s rebellion and it left me aware of how limited my coping tools were in a ‘pinch’.  My head was pushing me to step outside the ‘box’ and force me to explore some new skills. 

 I brought out my art supplies, took walks, made soups and had long talks with my daughters. The third day into it, I noticed no headache until noon, then 3PM, then a day without and so on until now, where it’s been three pain-free days.    

This month is awareness month for many illnesses that involve chronic pain such as Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Lyme disease, and, of course, Lupus.  Every day, there will be bloggers, news research articles, internet conferences and radio programs, ad campaigns and updates/tweets on the popular social networking sites.  Awareness isn’t limited to online activity either.  For example, The Pacific NW Chapter Oregon Branch is holding their walks this month (http://www.arthritis.org/chapters/pacific-northwest/events.php).  Also, this weekend, there will be a local health event here in Portland hosted by the Jewish Family & Child Service.  ”A Day of Empowerment, Solutions, and Support for Individuals with Acute or Chronic Illness or Disability and their Friends and Family ” will be held on Sunday, May 16th, from 10AM to 2PM.  For those of us who are struggling with our health, this event offers a variety of presenters and exhibitors (including MLWT as both) to help find some supportive resources.  For us like me, who are blessed with having more of our time pain or challenge-free, it is a valuable reminder of how we still have to prepare for when our bodies rebel.  Living well is grounded on strengthening individual empowerment and, even though we may never be able to control our pain or symptoms completely, we can control our responses to it.  Not simply by thinking more positive, but being willing to think outside your own box.  

Hope to see you this Sunday~ it looks like there will be some great presenters and exhibitors to explore.  MLWT Guest blogger and new parent support practitioner, Sarah Nuxoll, will be sitting with me at the MLWT table enjoying the event, too.  Stop by and say hello~

Today, this post is a catch up response and I need to write it all out, so that I can make some room in my head for the piles still sitting on my desk.  Hang with me today and maybe there is something that will be interesting or useful for you, too.

The first thing I want to mention is that March is Worldwide Red Cross Month.  Although we with lupus are not exactly the donor pool they’re looking for and deal with more than our share of lab work, there are still several ways to contribute back to our community.  The Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross has a blog ,written by locals, offering opportunities to learn more about what’s available here.  In fact, I have recently signed up to take an Adult CPR class in April (as my first step towards some certification credentials.)  Their blog offers other things such as free tickets, local event information and even little snippets like the recent post about a landmark I remember from my childhood growing up in Forest Grove .  The blog is full of information and is now included within my favorites.  I recommend you check it out.

Another postponed task is the “Part 2” of my conversation with Roxanne Black (now Black-Weisheit)—author of the book “Unexpected Blessings: Stories of Hope and Healing” .  It will be posted as soon as I dig it out of the drafts file of my emails, where it’s been sitting and (amazingly enough) never sent itself to her for review.  Go figure.  As soon as she gives the okay, it’ll get it posted.  The book discussion for February and March concludes this week officially, but the discussions on Shelfari.com are continuous. To catch all the discussions so far, click here .  If you don’t get the book we’re covering while we’re discussing it, you can join in later no problem.  Fortunately, I have been able to get the authors of the books to do open question and answer, so if you have any comments or topics you want to cover at any time, please feel free to join in. If you don’t want to join up officially, email me and I’ll do the work in getting your note out there for you (and anonymous is fine.) This book has been less of a discussion and more as a recommended reference book.  Those who haven’t participated in the discussions, but have mentioned to me through the other networks I (Ning communities, Facebook, Twitter) and emails, mention how they use the book as a quick source for inspiration or food for thought.  It is a light read, but one that can easily shed some ‘light’ on those days where all we seem to see is the dark. 

The next book discussion in April will be “Little Bee” by Chris Cleeve.  This will be our last discussion until Fall, as we will be shifting towards different seasonal activities.  This next book isn’t  lupus focused, but is about the enduring relationship forged between two women and the story that materializes from a single choice.  A couple of people have requested it and I have heard that it’s a good one.

You may also have noticed that we’ve added an email registration on the right side of the site.  This acts as a sign-up for events, workshops and target get-togethers, community social events, participation in the P.O.R.T program  and local research projects, and for future notices or invitations.  As I would expect from any site when handling my own contact information, your name and email information is never sold to any third party, nor will there be any marketing solicitations.  This registration is merely a means to connect with you out there both locally and nationally, to help build up our services and information data base.  Of course, you can withdraw your information at anytime by emailing me directly. 

With the weather improving (fingers crossed), I’ve had conversations with readers who are interested in partnering up for outings including quick walks, meeting up for coffee/tea, and other opportunities to get out to enjoy the Portland-metro area with individuals who have lupus or lupus-related illnesses.  MLWT partners with other chapters including the Arthritis Foundation Oregon Chapter , the Oregon Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation , and a few local support groups including fibromyalgia and Living Well with Chronic Conditions , so the get-togethers aren’t limited to lupus only.  There are other social groups offering similar ‘meet-ups’ for activities, but there is still the concern about the varying degrees of ability we experience from day-to-day that the general group participants/leaders don’t account for (because they just aren’t aware, not because they’re clueless.)  Meetup.com offers quite a variety of opportunities.  I belong to the Portland Women’s Outdoor Club  and I really encourage you to join one!  Our P.O.R.T. program is a more defined social gathering designed for those who feel support groups aren’t for them.  Support comes in many forms and MLWT aims to provide as much variety in offering support opportunities for individuals to find the type that works best for them.

In addition to keeping these outings quick, and targeted towards the level of ability for that day, some of these gatherings will include a local professional or a  MLWT Guest blogger who will join in with the group as we do an activity and talk about topics within their specific expertise.  So, as a means to really sneak in the exercise we (I) often push aside, these local gatherings will incorporate a short educational aspect and opportunity to meet potential local health connections.  These new gatherings offer an additional benefit:  they connect participants directly to the outside community (and form the foundation for our P.O.R.T. program.)  So, even if you have limited energy or experience severe health challenges, the goal is to offer a variety of opportunities to help you bridge with others in-person, which is extremely important and necessary for our overall health.  Some of us have Skype, which is the ability to have audio and video when speaking with others through the internet, but that is still no substitute for the real thing (which we will be hearing more about that in future research, I guarantee.)

Finally, MLWT will be offering a class on a topic for anyone living with chronic illness (pending final review), a workshop on bridging our health and work selves, and specific products that are designed through collaborations with local businesses.  I’m currently completing some professional certifications that will be filling out the rest of this MLWT project in order to offer more specific support services.  It all seems to be taking awhile, which is why it is sometimes really quiet here regarding posts.  However, it is wonderful to be coming up on our second year and seeing this project become a more established community service.  I want to thank many of you who have contributed your time, expertise, energy and stories (locally, nationally and internationally).  You have been key in its fruition. 

As always, if you know of someone with lupus, who may have lupus or you yourself have lupus and want to make a health connection, the MLWT lupus “hub” is here to direct you to available resources within our  community.  Referrals are made only to area organizations, foundations, chapters and other professional sources who all have particular strengths to offer and take their missions about health and wellness very seriously. 

Whew!  Now, back to work.  Wishing all of you a wonderful week ahead!

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I picked out a beautiful 2000 piece puzzle of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany for my mom this year for Christmas.  It has been years since I did one and thought that it would give us something fun to do together.  The together part is working out fine, but the “fun”?  We’re still waiting for that to kick in.

As I painfully search for pieces with the exact patterns, shapes, images, etc., I hunch over a disaster that frustrates me into a punishing backache.  I have it set up on a table in our house that takes up the most part of our family room.  There is no way to walk by the thing without looking at the embarrassing lack of progress and returning to that hunched position with a dire need to redeem myself by finding “just one more piece.”  After about an hour of work and 15 minutes of trying to stand up straight, it occurred to me that this death wish of a ‘gift’ feels uncomfortably familiar.

The new year is upon us and, although I resist at the start, I usually end up with at least a few ‘resolutions’ or goals that I put out into the Universe hoping I make my way to them within the next 365 or less days.  “Hoping” is the operative word there.  Every year, I tend to look at the entire year all at once, in all of its possibilities.  And, every year, I find myself overwhelmed with all of the work involved.  Unlike the puzzle, I shudder recognizing all the pieces of my life floating around looking for a place to belong.  I lose steam quickly and create some pretty amazing excuses, distractions and impressive cases of sudden amnesia—all in an effort to completely avoid getting anywhere in my big picture.

The thing is, my life is consumed by these unmet goals or resolutions just like that table is fully present in my family room. I can’t get through a day without noticing how little progress I’m getting to something that really could be beautiful, too.

Now, this doesn’t mean that I don’t accomplish things, because I certainly do.  What I’m not happy with is that they aren’t the ones my heart is aiming for and are often downsized for various reasons.  For the last two years, I’ve come up with some general goals allowing myself to ease up on some of the pressure in completing them.  That hasn’t been working out.  I’ve noticed lately several people talking about choosing only one word to focus on for your year, giving yourself something to look for in every day whether it be peace, joy, laughter, gratitude, and so forth.  The only work would be to find something in every day that reflects the word you choose.

I don’t trust myself in doing that.  I have been generally stating goals such as “better health” or “get in shape” thinking that they cover the bases. In reality, they leave me off the hook and unmotivated.

Perhaps I just need to focus on a visual reminder to get me through this year.  Puzzle.                                                                 (image: Buffalo Games)

This year, I chose only five goals that I want to see myself accomplish and complete.  I am viewing each goal as if it were a part of a big puzzle.  With Neuschwanstein, I am breaking the whole thing down by working on the sections of the picture: castle, lake, and branches.  With my goals, I’m using the same process and one that is recommended whenever we put together our action plans to address personal goals.  By having objectives that are specific and measurable, I’ll have direction, more focus and know when I’ve completed the tasks.  That will eventually make up the goal, because each image will become clear with every piece I place.  One of my five goals is still about improving my health, but I think I’ve come up with a more targeted action plan and already see positive progress.  Eureka!

One objective I’m using to measure my progress this year to “Build More Health Opportunities” (both for this project and myself) is choosing resources that get me to be more physically active and outdoors.  My current gym membership—you know, the one I made a big deal about starting last year?—expires in March and I’m not going to admit to you how many times I actually ended up going.  Let’s just say they were pretty darned expensive workouts.  The good news is that I do better with actual deadlines imposed on me by others AND I’ve found a way to integrate the gym experience more into my daily life.  That’s a whole ‘nother post, though.

This past week, I went to my first PDX Meetup.com group called Portland Women’s Outdoor Club .  The registration for this group grew so quickly and, I suspect, will continue to do so, as many of us celebrate in the realization that we can find others at similar physical and skill levels to motivate us to get out there.  There is a great mix of skill levels, interests and ages among the women who attended the first meeting.  I was happy to hear that the activities that I want to take part in more often and learn for the first time were shared by the majority of gals there.  Beginning mountain climbing/repelling, hiking, backpacking, and snowshoeing (although I really need to work on my stamina for that one!).  It was easy to find someone who had a lot of experience in this group in these particular activities who could lead the rest of us newbies.  There are also some pretty creative gals in coming up with some other options when the Oregon winter just isn’t something we feel like experiencing.  I haven’t gone to one of the activities yet, but my curiosity is peaked about this Wednesday’s gathering to learn how to make a coke can alcohol stove (for those ultralight backpackers  in all of us.)

 I will go ahead and cross this objective off, because I’ve signed up with an opportunity and met some of these gals—my biggest hurdles.  I am really excited and encourage any of you locally to check this group out.  The more people, the more options, more opportunities and all the more likely I will take part.

I hope to see you, too!

The LFA Pacific NW Chapter will be hosting their annual Mad Hatter Walk N Roll for Lupus event on that day at Magnuson Park at Sandpoint Way.  Step out to join your community – both the lupus community as well as your Seattle one – and present lupus with energy and fun, something we know there is usually so little of in our daily lives.  Get your families involved, even if you didn’t raise funds (which doesn’t have to be much and does help our PNW).  The more we are present, the better our ‘present’ feels knowing we aren’t alone in this. 

A special guest will be on hand to offer up her recent book, Despite Lupus (Four-legged Press, 2009) – Sara Gorman will have some of her books on hand to sign and sell.  She is an AWESOME gal – just meeting her is a gift in itself.  We will be having her join in on our November group book discussions to be mentioned later.  For now – go say hello to her and all the others who are there to spread the word:

Life is ours and we want you to see that we are living as well as we can, despite lupus~

At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~ Jean Houston

We’ve all heard the cliche “Laughter is the best medicine”.  Well, I am here to tell you that it is not just a cliche.  Science has stepped up to prove the health benefits of laughter that humans have suspected for millennia.  Even the Bible had an inkling of the benefits of laughter.  Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”  What’s more is that those benefits can be directly related to autoimmune diseases such as Lupus.

First, let’s detail some of the amazing benefits of mirthful, hearty laughter.

Laughter is a great pain reliever. Science has shown that it increases endorphins, one of our body’s natural pain killers.  A fellow Laughter Yoga colleague was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2004 and uses laughter daily as a tool to help decrease her pain.  She has not been successful in halting the disease, but as she says on her web site “I consider Laughter Yoga a part of my “inner pharmacy” and so far I’ve not found it necessary to take any prescription drugs.”  She is now speaking to the likes of the Arizona American Parkinson’s Disease Association Conference and other such associations in hopes of helping others through the use of Laughter Yoga.

A recent study at Stanford University concluded that laughter stimulates the parts of our brain that use the “feel good” chemical messenger dopamine.  Laughter raises our serotonin levels, our natural anti-depressant.  Laughter lowers the stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol, which in turn lowers blood pressure by allowing blood vessels to dilate.

Laughter strengthens the immune system by increasing Natural Killer (NK) Cells.  NK cells are one of the functions of the immune system that tend to be naturally depressed in people with SLE, Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases.  Treatments such as interferon and interleukin are often used in an attempt to increase NK cells, so that they in turn can do their job:  killing infected-viruses, attacking tumor cells and keeping B cells in check.

Laughter also increases the amount of oxygen that reaches our brain and other vital organs.  Lack of oxygen in cells has been linked to cancer.

Last, but not least laughter counts as a form of exercise!  It is an aerobic activity, because it increases pulmonary and cardiovascular function.

Some of the other amazing research surrounding laughter indicates that it is the physical act of laughing and not the intellectual or emotional interpretation that we attach to it that produces these amazing benefits.  So you can choose to laugh just for the health of it!  Your body will produce happy chemicals regardless!

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If you are looking for more ways to get some laughter in your life on a regular basis check out Portland Laughter Yoga’s event schedule.   A new 6 week series begins on October 14^th.

When Andrea discovered Laughter Yoga she knew immediately that she wanted to be part of this global movement!  Helping people through laughter was something that spoke directly to her heart.  Andrea loves it for its ease and simplicity.  Laughter has so many physical, spiritual, emotional and social benefits and anyone can do it!

Andréa is the founder of Portland Laughter Yoga and Soaring Eagle Wellness, a holistic health counseling practice.  She is a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader & Teacher through Dr. Kataria’s School of Laughter Yoga.  She is also a certified Health Counselor and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC.  To learn more about her journey visit her website Soaring Eagle Wellness.