It's All About The Joy

I would like to bring your attention to what, in my personal opinion, is the best book ever written about  CFS/ME. It is written by a lovely lady called Diane Kerner, and the book is called "My Own Medicine: the Process of Recovery from Chronic Illness" .

I have read an awful lot of information on the internet, and in books over the last few months, as I tried to make sense of my illness. Ninety percent of the literature that I have read is all about "coping" and "learning to live with it"; okay, I understand that approach to a degree, but I had a life BEFORE  I was diagnosed, and yes, perhaps the CFS has come along to teach me that my previous lifestyle was damaging my health, but it doesn't mean I can't ever reclaim my life back. Perhaps even in a better way.

I was so moved by the book, I decided to contact Diane personally, to let her know she had been able to help someone so profoundly. Here is an extract from the email reply I received:

"Thank you for your wonderful letter, Jen. I'm so happy you took the time to write. That is precious. I was just thinking this morning that I want to look for more ways to help others and your e-mail is a reminder that I am helping even when I don't realize it. I'm so happy to read that you found some validation in my words and especially latched on to the joy factor. It's something that is easily overlooked as many just don't equate illness and joy as possibly living together.

You know, I did write that book because I had the same experience as you. No one was talking about life and healing. It was all coping. No hope anywhere. No map. Plus, the way of coping was tedious and time-consuming - a lot to ask of someone being drowned by fatigue.

I have a blog as well at http://whats2love.blogspot.com/. It's purpose is to remind people to take time to see the beauty in the everyday, to rekindle the magic and wonder they carried with them as children and bring it into their present. It's all about the joy."

I guess the last sentence says it all. It's all about the joy. Please try and remember that, even when you have a bad day. I hope if you are reading this blog you are finding it uplifting and optimistic and joyful.

I hope to add posts along a similar vein in the future.

And I will finish by saying a big thank you to Diane for letting me feature her on my little blog :) x

Click here to visit Diane Kerner's very helpful and inspiring website