This is Me Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

How To Be Funny When You Would Rather Cry

November 10, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

HOW TO BE FUNNY (when you don't feel like it): This is an article by @Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries, and she has rheumatoid arthritis. She shares about a day when she was feeling a bit down but was expected to write an article (for a writing challenge she was doing) about "being funny" when she really DID NOT feel funny! It is sort of like reading her journal as she writes about not being able to be funny--but she actually is funny in her explanation of it. #invisible illness

Have you ever felt moody like you just wanted to cry, but instead wondered how to be funny so you wouldn't depress those around you? Lisa Copen WEGO Health's writing prompt is to write about something funny. Hmmmm. . . Honestly? I am just dried up as far as humor for the moment, and I don't know how to be funny for today's post. In fact, the little bit of humor I had in the last few days I used up on my "descriptive story" post yesterday about how I ended up staying the night at the Bigfoot motel. But we're supposed to be choosing joy, right? (Didn't someone just write about choosing joy only a few days ago? Yes, I know. I hate when I can't tell an author how she hasn't walked in my shoes--because the author is me.) However, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

Why I Stayed The Night At The Bigfoot Motel

November 9, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

I had planned a fun family weekend on the way to my parents-- just us. But we didn't plan on staying at the Bigfoot Motel. WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “share a descriptive story" Day #9. I hope this makes you smile. Lisa Copen We are driving over the mountains toward the Redlands. "We are going to see trees bigger than 2 cars, as old as since Jesus lived on earth," I tell my son with enthusiasm. His head watches a screen in the backseat. I want him to see something God made--not man. He is bored. So I look up the area on my ipad and find something to get his attention. "There are more big foot sightings here than anywhere in the world," I say. "Really?" he perks up. "Do you think Bigfoot really … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Fear, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

How Much Should You Reveal About Your Loved Ones When You Write?

November 8, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REVEAL ABOUT FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHEN YOU BLOG? @Lisa Copen shares some of the things she tries to remember when telling a story online or in public that involves someone else. Can you be honest without hurting one's feelings? This article also has scriptures that back up her viewpoints and help explain what we are accountable. Great article for #writers. #NHBPM @wego health

How do you decide exactly what to reveal about your loved ones, friends or family, when you write about your own experiences online? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “How do you choose to write about others in your blog?" Day #8. Lisa Copen I have asked this question, "How much should you reveal?" in past years to my writers groups. I have wondered, "How did you decide what to reveal, when, and why?" I read books of my writers friends where they share horror stories about a parent, a sibling, motherhood, and I think, "What did your mom think when she read that??" When we write, we often cling to our own experiences. And as writers, we do not just live--we are aware of the little slivers of life. We may think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Friendships, Hurt Feelings, This is Me, What's New?

What Does A Patient’s Dream Medical Office Look Like?

November 7, 2012 By admin 9 Comments

Have you ever walked into a medical office and thought, if I see one more waterfall or People magazine I am going to scream? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “if you could, how would you redesign a medical office?" Day #7. Lisa Copen The medical office. The exam room. The hospital. Oh, how we would like to get our decorator's ideas out at some of those places where we spend so much time. I asked some of you what your dream medical office would look like and some of your answers were the exact opposite of one another. For example, some of you liked the water fountains found in many offices, others of you said you hated those. Maybe you have heard too much water trickling right before painful procedures and its … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Doctor, Founder's Blog, Medical Professional, Organizing, This is Me, What's New?

How to Take the High Road (When Your Doctor Is Mean)

November 6, 2012 By admin 12 Comments

It can be hard to take the high road when it comes to physicians who feel they are in control of your treatment and what you are allowed (or not allowed) to do. WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “write about a time you had to take the high road." Day #6. I was young, 27, and had only had rheumatoid arthritis for a few years. I was learning to navigate the world of medical care, insurance premiums, nursing politics, and doctors who (felt they) had power. According to the Urban Dictionary, to "take the high road" expression refers to "one being a 'class act' during a very difficult time. Those who take the high road, are demonstrating being honest, fair, and selfless while not being completely defenseless." I had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anger, Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

Have You Ever Asked, “What MOVES Me?” I Did!

November 5, 2012 By admin 2 Comments

WHAT MOVES ME? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what really moves you? What do you value? What inspires you? I took a moment to make a list and the randomness of it helped me to see what is really important to me. How about you? @WEGO Health #NHBPM

WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “What moves you?" Day #5. Lisa Copen What moves me? What inspires me? When I am fighting the pain, sitting up at 3 AM while the house snores, when I am at the doctor's office waiting for him to return with the shot, what would feel like a splurge to me? Here are a few things that move me. If you were to ask, "What moves me?" what would your response be? Share some of them below in the comments. (And yes, you will notice festive decor and my son on my list--which is in the photo above.) What moves me? A fresh piece of paper and a new pen Catching a glimpse of my son asleep with his mouth open My mason jars filled with baking ingredients to buttons Watching people come … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Finding Purpose, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

How to Practice Authentic Leadership When Chronically Ill

November 4, 2012 By admin 12 Comments

HOW TO PRACTISE AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP WHEN CHRONICALLY ILL:

What is authentic leadership and why would you care? Because when we are authentic, and show our struggles, not just our accomplishments, God is glorified, not our level of endurance. WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “How do you decide what to share, not share?" Day #4. Lisa Copen Authentic. Vulnerable. Caring. Concerned. But still ill, weak, tired. And yet, leading. The term "authentic leadership" was coined by Bill George in his 2003 book by the same name. He describes it as a style of leadership that is consistent with the leader's personality and core values, while also being honest. One who is an example of authentic leadership draws inspiration from her (or his) own experiences. Authentic leadership is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Finding Purpose, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

How Do You Balance Parenting When You are a Sick Mom?

November 3, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

If you are a sick mom who lives with a chronic illness, do you ever wonder how other moms do it all and still smile? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “I don't know about this, but I'd like to” I chose to write about parenting when ill. I would like to know how moms hold it all together. Day #3. "There were two things about Mama. One is she always expected the best out of me. And the other is that then no matter what I did, whatever I came home with, she acted like it was the moon I had just hung up in the sky and plugged in all the stars. Like I was that good." The Bean Trees: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver Illness. . . and children--our role as a parent. Most people have just one of these challenges. They parent. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Parenting, This is Me, What's New?

Refusing to Live Under The Circumstances of Our Illness

November 2, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

ARE YOU LIVING UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR ILLNESS? Ever notice how much of our illness is UNDER? We are undergoing treatment, our disease is underestimated and we feel underappreciated. This is an interesting article on how we can get out from UNDER our circumstances and instead learn to live OVER! #WEGO #NHBPM

Are you living under the circumstances of your illness? Too often we forget that we have a choice to be under--or over--the situations in our life. WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge "What is the weirdest thing about your illness?" I chose to write about how we live under the circumstances of our diseases. Day #2. Lisa Copen "How are you?" we are asked. "Okay," we reply. "Under the circumstances." Illness places us living "under" everything. The words that describe our life can feel abnormal. Many begin with "un" and we are always under. Illness is unidentified, unknown, uncharted, unnamed, underhanded, underestimated. We learn to live "under the weather." We survive by realizing the name for our illness is an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Founder's Blog, Reflection, This is Me, What's New?, Worry

Why I Write About My Illness

November 1, 2012 By admin 10 Comments

Why do I blog? Why do I write? And why do I want to share some very personal emotional details about my illness? I have decided to try my best to take part if WEGO Health's National Blog Post Month. This is the first day. Lisa Copen Why I write about my health. . . I write to receive--hope, joy, endurance. I write to give--the source of that hope, joy, and endurance. The joy of writing is that as you share, you can bless. As you process, you discover. Why do I write about my illness online? Because I have a voice, and writing forces me to find it. When I reveal it, others say I have given their scattered thoughts a voice. When I know others will read it, I avoid shortcuts and dig deeper. Here is why I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Finding Purpose, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

You Can Depend on Me–Usually

October 29, 2012 By admin 9 Comments

Can people depend on you? When they question their dependence --and your feelings are hurt-- is it your problem. . . or theirs? By Lisa Copen "Are you coming?" I am asked. I had called earlier in the week to see if the event was on for Saturday evening--merely hours away now. But days had passed since my call. I didn't know if it was happening or not. And I hate not knowing. I call again Saturday by 9:30 AM, leave a message. But things need done. Grocery shopping, couponing, cleaning the fridge. Weeks of extra pain have resulted in procrastination. I haven't been to the grocery store in weeks. Stuff . . . needs. . . done. "I have to know," I tell my husband. "Now. I have to pace myself if we are going." As we both are scrubbing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Hurt Feelings, This is Me, What's New?

How to Deal With Grief In a Walk In Closet of Emotions

March 22, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

HOW TO DEAL WITH GRIEF (and old shoes!) I love this article, poetic even. Lisa describes how her "trip" into a walk in closet brought back a lot of bittersweet memories about her life before rheumatoid arthritis. Touching and sweet, and oh so familiar!

Have you ever seen a glimpse into your old life--before illness? It can be hard to know how to deal with grief that we are hit with by something as simple as clothes or shoes we find in a walk in closet. By Lisa Copen A walk in closet I have not walked into for . . . years. My husband uses most of it, but my clothes--in about 10 different sizes--sit on the bars. The wire baskets hold old t-shirts. An Old Navy shirt, size small, mocks me with the year 2004 on it. The day previously I started throwing them into bags. I have become sick of the clutter all over my house and have been purging for months. But this closet has overwhelmed me. I had no plans to take care of the closet this weekend. . . and I have discovered that this works … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Fashion, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: Closet, Clothing, Foot, Footwear, Old Navy, San Diego, Shoe, Shopping