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I never knew I would find a personal therapy for my Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. I have been blessed with a handicap. This may sound strange but it is really true. Having lost my career as a fitness instructor to daily pain and nerve damage from foot surgery, it was funny how I just kept on going until my body gave out. I was in denial. I really never gave thought to my Rheumatoid arthritis.What can be the most positive result of this?I will tell you, my RA and ‘Fibro’ friends. You learn who you are on the inside. You respect your limitations. You get rid of those myths that the outside has to be beautiful. In my generation, I grew up with the ‘narcissistic mother’ that was very common during those times, to no fault of her own: I was never good enough, pretty enough, thin enough or tall enough, and when I got ill, I looked great to Mother – after all - I had lost weight and looked anorexic! What was missing in this generation was the concept of EXERCISE. Movement. The intrinsic values of feeling strong and healthy. The inner values of exploring our creativity. This was never top priority throughout my childhood, which extended to my adulthood.Suffering from physical pain every day, I have learned that people do not want to hear about it. This is when you learn who your real friends are. Another blessing. I go out of my way for handicapped people. I know their pain: compassion. Yet society does not see our pain when we have RA or other chronic diseases. They do not comprehend that surgery is serious with delayed recovery time. That we hurt badly each and every day. Our pain is invisible. They do not even KNOW what Rheumatoid Arthritis is! Melinda Winner, author of Cooking With Arthritis is a pioneer in creating awareness with this debilitating disease – through her creative cook books and with her humanity. Melinda too, has compassion. Cancer? People bring food to your door. They are there for you. RA? ”What’s that?”
I will tell you what it is, only if you believe me that at my most desperate hours of pain, I was able to lose myself in a craft that may have saved my life, if not my soul and spirit. I have learned to put the pain in the background – with these arthritic hands – and I have learned to make the tools do the jewlery work. Hand wire wrapping sea shells takes patience and practice. It takes vision and hope. I was a disaster for an entire year before something came into place. It was one evening when for some reason I was calm. I wrapped a sterling silver wire around a shell with no restrictions on perfection – unlike my childhood. I just let it go. I let the pain go. I let every painful experience of loneliness, in my newfound disease go. I was free. I was careless. I could breathe.That is when my first wire-wrapped shell came out perfect. It was not intentional. It was the result of letting go. That necklace had so many bidders but I could not sell it. When I finally let THAT necklace sell, I was healed from selfishness. This was a newfound freedom that can only be described through my fist contact with Melinda Winner. The wire-working came in to place. I started closing my eyes when wire wrapping the next series of necklaces. I FELT the shell, and the wire against it. I just let the feeling of the shell guide my hands, as my friend Melinda, has given me a new strength in moving forward. In trusting myself. Guiding me to take on this disease, and not let it control ME. I am more inspired than ever to make each and every one of you feel empowered with your new ‘bling’, to feel beautiful from the inside out. Because that’s what you are.I want to thank everyone who takes the time to look up close at my work: see what you can do with your arthritis and trust me, if I can do it – ANYONE can do anything they set their hearts to, if they REALLY want to. The roadblocks are real: we have pain that is indescribable. I know all of you too well in this aspect. So I have one suggestion: cry! I do all of the time and it feels great. Then be sure to end the pity party before it ends you. Move on at that very moment you let go, when you think the tide will never change.
Tags : therapy for Fibromyalgia, therapy for rheumatoid arthritis with custom made jewelry
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Karen O'Bannon at Nov 04, 2011 08:27:36
Dearest Elizabeth~
As I wipe the tears from my eyes, I believe I had just read the most perfect words about our disease and how to LIVE with it. You have bared your soul and given so much and these words will live on forever. While I have known you for a year, I just got to know an entire new level of you and how blessed I feel!! For those of you reading Lizzy’s Blog as a ‘newcomer’ to Stones in Harmony, a very warm welcome. Lizzy’s jewelry designs are so much more than jewelry. In addition to their beauty, they are a daily reminder that we will NOT allow RA to claim us. I have often wondered how she does it. I know how terribly my hands hurt and I think, “How can Lizzy wrap that wire around or string those pearls?” She just told us. Read what she wrote again. WE are in control of our destiny. WE make choices in how we handle many situations in our lives. Yes, some are out of our control, but her point is to focus on what IS in our control.
Lizzy, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for taking the time to write those beautiful words above. I am forever changed by them. Lovingly, Karen
Lizzy at Nov 04, 2011 09:22:19
Karen,
Every word of it is true and yes, we take the good with the bad, the sometimes ugly and like scrap metal from a junkyard – we can even use THAT material to make something of ourselves: a beautiful belt, necklace, toy or anything that we create as our reality. I firmly believe that it is not what we have that matters as much as what we DO with what we have. As luck would have it, I met you through Health Monitor magazine and I DO enjoy this friendship more immensely than the power RA will ever have over us. That’s one of those blessings that RA gave us: friendship. You give so much to your community and just when I think you’ve burned yourself out from giving, you pass me that golden torch of energy and commitment in the form of positive support. What you have done with your life with RA is truly amazing, and I am honored to call you a friend. Thank you.
MJW at Nov 04, 2011 09:10:20
Well said my friend. Having arthritis has presented me with a new normal life filled with amazingly strong arthritis survivor buddies. Who never seem to give up and continually amaze me with their daily strength and drive to not only pursue their dreams but achieve them as you have done. Congrats on a beautiful new blog and the kind words. Many hugs
Lizzy at Nov 04, 2011 09:30:03
The feeling is mutual, Mel. I’m still using the plant stand to transfer heavy pots of water to the stove. Brilliant. Your cookbook says it all. My long time RA Buddy – how time never passes wherever we meet, through whichever media, on the phone or in a tweet – you were my very first warm hug and welcome into the RA world. I embrace you with open arms.
Elaine Svoboda at Nov 08, 2011 09:39:40
Sweet lady you are a beautiful soul that does beautiful , quality work ! Your story is so heartwarming and inspirational , you touch so many with true & honest words you share from your heart.Thank you for showing that because of our pain we can reach out & encourage others as well as ourselves and move forward rather than remaining stagnant as well as miserable ! Love ya
Lizzy at Nov 09, 2011 12:27:39
Elaine,
Do you realize how thankful I am to receive this comment? How absolutely kind of you. What you do not realize is that on this side of the keyboard is someone who very much thrives from people like you who truly appreciate. Without the you’s, the me’s are just somethings. What is any of this worth anyway without cherished souls such as yourself to appreciate? You do it so gracefully, too. Thank you for these much needed words.
Hugs, my friend.
~Lizzy
Christine Senger-Bryan at Nov 11, 2011 05:10:48
Lizzy, As usual, you manage to inspire us all!! First through your beautiful jewelry and then with you words. Words that flow from your heart, words that come like waves from the sea; from a distance we all see and know the power behind the beautiful wave as it approaches the shore. We admire it, the way it rolls gently in and then we are in awe of the power as it comes crashing a shore with it’s white foam bringing with it the secret beauty that has been hidden from us from so far away. Words are easy to throw out of our mouths. Words of strength, encouragement, love and empowerment are like that wave. Emotion that is first hidden and then so very powerful when it hits home. I thank you for sparking a new wave in me every time I read your blogs, every time I see your work, every time I wear a piece of your jewelry. Despite my limitations, YOU and all you represent inspires a new wave in me. One that often helps me through yet another day of living a life, in a body that only another person who does and lives the same thing can truly understand. You have managed through your thoughts and your work to bring together a group of women from places near and far, women that most will never met face to face, yet we know each other in such an intimate way because we live each other’s life everyday. Our circumstances may, at times, be different, but we share a common bond that is stronger than I believe, any of us could have imagined. Just like that first shell from the sea, you have with strength and love bound us together with something stronger than silver. We have been wrapped with LOVE. For that, I thank you and offer you love in return.
Lizzy at Nov 11, 2011 05:35:22
Dear Christine,
If I’ve inspired you then you have helped me live out my dream with your words. Thank you for the love! I felt that hug through the keyboard – always appreciated dear friend. What I see from what you just wrote is a woman who is cherished for the way she loves her family, friends and horses too. It takes a LOT out of your body with RA and other chronic illnesses to care for horses, let alone gallop with them! I’ve not even mentioned all of the other animals you’ve written about on your farm. But to love unconditionally all those around you is truly a gift of strength and courage and faith. To take children in that are not your own, well that’s an act of God – and all I can say to that is, thank you for coming into my life. Let’s look at RA once again as a blessing in disguise.
Lots of love,
Lizzy
Nina Wikstrom Aguilar at Nov 14, 2011 08:25:49
Dearest friend, min venn, your words also bring tears to my eyes. I am under extreme stress (can you say ex-husband and IRS and Social Security Disability….) so I am having a major RA flare-up. I even felt bad enough to agree to do a steroid-pack! I hurt all over, and the tears come too easily. I don’t have the energy to write a lot, but I want you to know how special you are. Each of us who wear your designs feel specially touched by your love. And although we have never met in person, I feel very loved by you. Tusen kjaeretelig takk. All my love, Nina
Lizzy at Nov 14, 2011 08:37:42
Nina!
Yes we are connected alright: I just sent your package off today! I hope that makes you feel somewhat better. This is one nasty disease we live with, but all the more sweet if we can lift each other up when necessary. I’m very touched by your words. To know that I have any sort of impact on your life or anyone’s with RA for that matter – you know that is the highest honor and I thank you too, my friend for taking the time to compose such beautiful thoughts, – which you’ve so nicely wrapped up in a burrito of love.
Hugs,
Lizzy
sandy grabbe at Nov 17, 2011 09:55:51
Oh Elizabeth thank you for that blog. Amazing words of encouragement! Im excited to get my new necklace in the mail soon. Can’t wait! So glad I found you. Looking foward to being friends and a fellow RA and Fibro encourager. Yes when your in horrific chronic pain all the time and no one sees or gets it you do feel alone. But we know the truth and yes the ones who do know the truth of these diseases are the true friends that will stick by you till the end. Im here always for you if you ever need a friend to vent to. I will listen!
Sandy
Lizzy at Nov 17, 2011 10:36:08
Sandy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You see, this is exactly what I’m talking about. Your words are extremely encouraging and have filled my heart with love. There seems to be a lot of that lacking in a world that seemingly knows nothing of our conditions. I aim to change that!!!! You’d be best aware that I will take you up on the venting so long as the friendship involves mutual venting. lol! Great words. Yes – a teardrop formed in the left hand corner of my right eye. Thank you, Sandy.
Much love!
Lizzy
mjw at Apr 11, 2012 08:43:50
A re-read was the light of my evening. Hugs to you my Dear
Lizzy at Apr 11, 2012 08:52:57
Thank you, MJW! Tell me – what was it that made you re-read it? Surely if it is because it helped you, it would mean the world to me. Thank you. Hugs. Oh, and feel free to share this on your Facebook wall. The more people that are positively affected, the better. I think if you like it, you can hit the like button to the left of this wall and it automatically appears on your wall. My brilliant website developer set this up for me so I’m learning as I go along. Thank you, and hugs. ~Lizzy