This will be my last post for CFS Squared – Tales of CFS. I have enjoyed writing here, for the past two years. But it’s time for me to move on now.

I must say, that this last word stuff is a little daunting. I kind of want to sneak away – and leave you with fun and quirky posts. But, I owe more than that to all of you, and to myself.

On more than one occasion, I have written about Do No Harm. I am going to share a little secret with all of you. Writing and/or following a health blog about chronic illness eats away at the energy you have. It most certainly eats away at mine, which is why I don’t read illness related news blurbs or other blogs. Spending so much time thinking about your illness and how others cope = self harm.

What we should be doing is enjoying life. We should be singing songs to our friends on the phone, hosting dance party in our living rooms, reading Dr Seuss to our favorite 3 year old, playing catch with our dog and his best tennis ball, and throwing fancy dinner parties where we serve pizza and KFC with very expensive wine.

We need to savor the small stuff. Stop analyzing every pain and cough.

Sure, reading about how other people cope with their issues can be somewhat helpful – but this journey is about learning what works for you. My tricks won’t work for everyone. Just like yours won’t always work for me. The best thing to do, is to get out there, and start figuring out what helps. The only way to do that, is to just do it. Be your own Nike advert.

Reading about recent developments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia, is not going to help you get well. The latest drug may make life slightly easier for a little while, but will most likely become less effective. I will say one last thing. And this will be the most important advice that you will hear….

Get out of your head!

Now go outside and have some fun!

It’s been a pleasure.

**Picture Source - flickr

Post from: Blisstree

The Swan Song

Image details: Gordon Brown Participates In UN Security Council Debate served by picapp.com

There is a new poll up on the sidebar. This week’s question is “Do you sleep when you have nothing better to do?”

Could you be doing something better with your time? Sleep isn’t always the right answer with a condition like CFS. Vote in the poll, and let us know what your sleep patterns are like.

If you feel like contributing more of an answer, feel free to leave a comment on this post.

Post from: Blisstree

New Poll- Inquiring Minds Want to Know

I have a lifestyle where I rely on the use of an alarm clock.  I hate being late for anything, so time pieces are very important to me.  I use a simple clock/radio for when I am home.  But have been known to use alarms on my computer or cell phone (when I remembered to use it).  Once upon a time, I used to rely on the sun.  However, the sun doesn’t shine in my neck of the woods very often – so that method didn’t last long, after I moved here.

I have previously written about how I use my current alarm clock in a positive way to rouse me from sleep. However, I have just come across one, that appears to harm people.  Even people without a sleep condition.  For me, it would make me absolutely crazy.

Here is the deal with the Puzzle Alarm Clock,

When the alarm goes off -it shoots 4 puzzle pieces into the air, and then makes this horrible honking sound until you put them back in the proper place.  How ridiculous for someone who lives with brain fog during the middle of the day, not to mention at 5 am.    Most of the time, I am not able to answer the phone, when I have been asleep – how do you expect me to complete a puzzle?

Although, I do think the idea is a fun way to get up – it is absolutely not the right alarm clock for me.

So tell me, what is your most favorite way to get up in the morning?

**Picture Source -  Big Bam Banana

Post from: Blisstree

Alarm Clocks – Helpful or Harmful?

Image details: Schoolboy looking at his lunch with disgust served by picapp.com

People who never achieve happiness are the ones who complain whenever they’re awake, and whenever they’re asleep, they are thinking about what to complain about tomorrow.~Adam Zimbler

Post from: Blisstree

The I’m Tired Quote of the Day

Tonight’s dinner was a simple salad with Renata’s secret dressing – not knowing what is in it, is killing me (I would have taken a picture of it, but remembered to take the pic, only after I had finished eating it) and a sweet potato and spinach quesadilla. I found the recipe on Kath’s Kath Eats blog. The pictures of the food she cooks are infinitely better than mine. She has the yummiest recipes on her site.

My dinner tasted a lot better than it looked.  I need to learn how to cut quesadilla properly.  When I cut it all of the sweet potato squeezes out the sides – so it looks like there is way too much.  It looks very misleading.

Sorry if the picture ruined anyone’s appetite – but it was delicious.

Am definitely going to read up on how to take pictures of food.

Post from: Blisstree

Eating With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Enjoy!

Post from: Blisstree

Boogie Woogie Yourself to Sleep

OK People, there is a new poll up on the sidebar.  This week, its all about colour.  A few moments I wrote about the colour green, and how it has impacted my life.  Now I want to know what colour does for you.  After you have voted, please come back to this post, and let me know why you chose your colour.

There has to be a reason….right?

**Picture source- flickr 

Post from: Blisstree

New Poll- Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Other sites that I use occasionally are: 

Flickr is an interesting site. One that I love looking through. I don’t take enough good pictures to use it properly though, hopefully that will be remedied, but in the meantime – I love looking at the works of people with a talented eye. Some readers of CFS Squared use this site, to showcase their talent – and I am in awe of them.

I use a site called Good Reads, to keep track of the books I am reading.  I have tried others before, but the maintenance was too much.  This one, doesn’t take up too much time – and the people are friendly, and don’t force themselves upon you.  I like that.  But I always end up feeling guilty that I don’t read enough.

And finally, I was invited to a networking site called Alopecia World – because of the Baldiness blog that I write.  Unfortunately, I have not spent enough time there, to know how it will work for me.  However, it does sound like an interesting idea.  I won’t be able to spend any time there though, until I have completely recovered from my facebook experience.

What social networking tools do you use – and how do you use them, so they don’t overwhelm your life.  If you don’t use online social networking sites- tell us what kind of activities you do to reach out to people.   I am all for real life interaction- so let us know what you are doing.

Post from: Blisstree

Is Social Networking Tiring You Out?

Like I said earlier, its springtime. And this week, I am going to concentrate on activities that revolve around this season.

Spring is an optimum time to start an exercise program. Definitely better than Jan 1. Reason being the days are longer, and the weather is better. Exercise doesn’t feel so much like a sentence when you are able to do it outside. And by far the best exercise for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is walking. Why? Because the pace can be varied to fit your needs, and you can walk as long or as short as you need.

All you need is a pair of good shoes, and a bottle of water. Anything else is unnecessary. Although things like an ipod can make it a bit more enjoyable, if the scenic route you are taking isn’t so scenic. Music also can help you pick up the pace a bit. If you are interested in making your walking program serious – you might want to get yourself a pedometer, and all those other little toys.

How to start? Well make sure you stretch well first…and then just head out your door. Start slowly. Walk for 10 minutes. That isn’t so far. If you aren’t able to do 10, then how about 7 min? When you get home, make sure you stretch your muscles – as you really don’t want cramping. And I repeat: Drink plenty of water, before, during and after your walk.

I personally like walking to music (sometime podcasts, but they tend to distract me). Here is a list of 10 songs, that I like walking to – the pace changes a lot on these. So find an order that works for you. This list is in no particular order.

1. Bathtime in Clerkenwell – (The Real) Tuesday Weld

2. Flood Pt. 1 – The Acorn

3. How It Should Be (Sha Sha) – Ben Kweller

4. Maggie’s Farm – Bob Dylan

5. Delia’s Gone – Johnny Cash (slow pace, when it gets difficult – its slow but steady)

6. The 59th St Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Simon and Garfunkel

7. Everybody’s Going to be Happy – The Kinks

8. Bolero – Pink Martini – (helps when you need to groove a bit – but still keep a somewhat slow pace)

9. Flowers On The Wall – The Statler Brothers

10. Part 1 Koln Concert – Keith Jarrett – really good cool down music, almost meditative.

Remember that the best way to choose music for your walk, is to pick music that is going to make you smile. You will be more inclined to complete your walk, if you are happy with how its going. So if you would rather walk to the big band sounds of Glen Miller, or walk to thrash metal – that is your choice.

The point is – get walking!

**Picture Source – Flickr

Post from: Blisstree

Walk For Good Health

I blame it on the very popular Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptom – Brain Fog. Actually, I just wasn’t paying attention. I was multitasking. Something that I should never ever do, while cooking.

I am sure whatever great post I was going to write about, will turn up sometime later this week. In the meantime, I invite you to leave a comment making fun of my horrible culinary skills – and lack of presence.

I hope you all had very nice dinners.

Post from: Blisstree

Insightful Post Has Gone Up In Smoke