Blogs-and poems they keep us together

When I try to get in touch or chat with Joanne, my fellow fibromite and long-list-of-symptoms buddy, it is not always possible.

Some days, my hands are swollen-which means I cant type much. Some days it is her turn. Some days, it is my crash days, and sometimes, when I am well, she is down. Why dont you just call each other?

Did i mention we dont live in the same countries or time zones? Besides it might freak our family out. We are people who seem to suffer more than out lab tests suggests-may be it is psychological. We both suspect our family members sometimes think that way-secretly, esp when they cant accept or deal with us being sick. So, if we form a band of sick sistas, it probably gonna freak then out!!! Our sick minds will infect each other??

Today I saw "Never Give Up" as her favourite quote! And OMG, that was my super favourite when I was fighting with fate and the school authorities to sit for my exams! Being in an "elite" school meant I was quietly pressurized to give up taking a national exams, as the school could not risk having me fail, and pull down their rankings. I was stubborn and resisted. But that meant I trod down a lonely path. Aged 17. In pain all the time. Living away from home.

I recited this day in day out in my heart-whenever the pain was too much, the pressure too strong, or I was just totally lost in my own tears.

Never give up

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit

The poem saw me through. Tough exams. Tough teens.

As I got older, this became my mantra. An atheist like me actually loved this.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity,
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to see the difference.

This saw me through operations, physiotherapy.............. and many more (including my decision to get married!!!).

I think poem is gonna see me through life. 10 years later, this is still my favourite........

Joanne, it is going to be a long fight for us both. Choose our fights carefully. Optimise our energy to bring us the greatest possible happiness.

Why I blog? To let others know I am alive.. and to share poems. :)