BELIEVE IN ANGELS and HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF

Coping with a disability is never an easy thing. Yet, the struggle brings great lessons for me and has taught me what truly is important to me. The things most people care about, money, success etc, take a back burner to health, friends who understand, whether I am able to gove back to others and mu kids. I have found a great deal of comfort and strength in these things listed below. My online friends have been a wealth of support as well. Even though I am in partial remission, I have found that doing things outside my home must be very limited. At one point I was volunteering but even that caused my illness to return so now I limit my volunteer time to online when I feel up to it.

Meditate/Pray: The Dogma is not as important as the discipline of taking time to visualize healing and well-being. To take time to count one's blessings and be thankful for what you have gives perspective.
Read books about folks who are themselves struggling and surviving. ie: other folks who are struggling and yet have made a life for themsleves, Personally I prefer:Black history, Native American History, English and American history, Poems of Maya Angelou, Classics of English and American Lit..(Dickens,Hardy, Austen, Pat Conroy,Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Tom Robbins,are a few of my favorite authors. The Celstine Prophecy is a must read for anyone struggling to make sense of life. If you ever think you cannot face another day read "Amazing Grace" By Jonathan Kozol. What those kids are dealing with will make you count your blessings
When the weather permits, I take my kids or just myself on drives up the Blue Ridge Parkway a few miles from my home.Or to a local lake nearby and feed the ducks. Communing with nature helps

The Pisgah National Forest is close to my home. Sometimes I go there and just sit by river , marvel at nature and thank God I am not bedridden anymore.There were many years when that was not possible

Do positive affirmations about my survival: example; "I will survive and succeed" " I will not allow my circumstance to dictate my mood" "I am always in the right place at the right time , doing the right thing" The last was given me by a lady many , many years ago. In essence it means: " no matter what happens , it must be what I am meant to experience at present"
Listen to music (all kinds)
Read to my son or play Candyland or Scrabble with kids
call friends I also call the friends online who have been gracious enough to give me their number. I try to call or write other folks I know are struggling and offer support. Taking myself out of my own pain to help others has been the best way I have found to copeService to others helps to refocus your energies in a positive direction.
WRiting about social and political issues.
Make collages with political themes and do water colours of landscapes. Work on crochet or other crafts gives me a sense of accomplishment.
TRY TO REMEMBER EVERYDAY THAT THERE ARE OTHERS MUCH WORSE OFF THAN ME!!!!!! COUNT MY BLESSINGS!!!!

These are just a few of the ways of dealing with my lot.. My children keep me focused and my houseplants and garden give me a sense of accomplishment.The positive feedback that I have gotten from this page from those that take the time to sign guestbook has been welcome insipration! Thanks to you who sign book!

I strongly urge those of you with disabilities to find something that makes you laugh or smile. Don't let pride keep you from asking for help. Reach out to others if you can and offer an ear. There is always something, if you will look for it that can bring comfort and help you cope! Personally , as for laughter, I like MONTY PYTHON and all British Comedy. The dark wit lightens the load!

I pray for all of us who struggle, no matter what the struggle is, to be comforted in the knowledge that we are not alone! Write to me if you need to vent! I always have an ear for those in trouble and will help if I am able


I am the listed support group leader for CFIDS/Fibromyalgia for Western North Carolina. I am quite open to calls, letters and questions regarding this disorder. Please feel free to contact me either by e-mail or letter or phone. Following are the ways to get in touch with me. E-mail : archaic_earth_mother@hotmail.com,snail mail: M.G.Bagby ,P.O> Box 18688, Asheville, North Carolina 28814 .I apologize to those who have contacted me and have not heard from me. Soon I hope to catch up on mail and answer any requests. CFIDS/Fibro can come and go on a whim. So I hope ye all will bear with me and understand I have to pace myself at times..

Those of you out there dealing with CFIDS /Fibromyalgia and any other long term debilitating illnesses,give yerself a break sometimes from worrying about your health. Be good to you!!!! And Know you all are in my prayers! GOD Bless. Peace love and light will come our way someday! There will be a cure someday for this.