Freedom Friday: Mindfulness and Meditation

Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Journey

Today, my space opens up to a new venture; and, I want to thank imaniking for her blogging platform, Freedom Friday, to launch this 8-week journey to control and manage my chronic pain condition through mindfulness and meditation.

After reading both the paperback and listening to the audio of the book, “You Are Not Your Pain,” by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penma, I made a personal commitment to give their 8-week program a try; and, to hold myself accountable I pledge to journal about this experience weekly on Freedom Friday.

Prescribed medications and physician care will always be a part of my chronic pain treatment plan; but, I am anxious to find out if adding these new mindfulness and meditation practices will make a difference..

My Chronic Pain History

Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1993, the severe pain I experienced forced me to leave my career of twenty years. In 1996, I returned to the workforce; and, until 2008, with the exception of rare flare-ups, I managed my pain levels with prescribed medications and an exercise routine.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, I was told it was likely related to side-effects of the prescribed medication which had managed my Rheumatoid Arthritis for many years. The medication was discontinued, but the oncologist assured me that the RA pain would be managed with chemotherapy treatment.

While I no longer experienced RA pain, I did have a side-effect to the chemotherapy and ended up with a new pain diagnosis, Peripheral Neuropathy.

After I completed breast cancer treatment, my oncologist and rheumatologist conferred, searched, identified and agreed on a new drug to treat my RA pain. Within days after the first infusion of this drug, I was:

diagnosed with epiglottis;
hospitalized for weeks;
intubated for five days;
released from hospital; and,
diagnosed with a new condition of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

With COPD, nebulizers and inhalers entered my space but they never adequately controlled the coughing and breathing problems. Following two hospitalizations (2012 and 2013) because of severe bronchitis, it was determined that another RA medication I had taken for more than twenty years was attacking my lungs and the drug was discontinued.

My track record with medication hasn’t been great. While I will continue my current medications, I am not open to new ones. And, my rheumatologist hasn’t suggested or prescribed anything new since the epiglottis diagnosis.

Let the Journey Begin

Over the next week, I will complete:

Two 10-minute program meditations, daily;
Spend a little time with nature, daily; and
Spend 1 Hour with nature, on one day.

To better control pain levels as well as improve the quality of my life, I am committed to:

strengthening my current mindfulness and meditation practices through this 8-week program;
continuing my current prescribed medications and health care regime; and,
following my own Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
- Nutrition and Diet
- Healthy Sleep Habits
- Exercise
- Spiritual Uplifting
- Laughter/Humor
- Relaxation/Rest
- Music

Wordless Wednesday – June 17, 2015

Grateful for Overcoming A Fear

I overcame a long-held fear of going into the deep end of a pool last week. This fear dates back to my high school days where I almost failed the required swimming class due to being unable to float or swim in the deep end of the pool. I am not sure how or why it happened, but I passed the class without venturing into deep water.

Last week, due to exacerbated knee pain, I knew it was no longer possible for me to continue walking outside everyday for sixty minutes as part of a 70 Day Fitness Challenge.

I decided to join this challenge after noticing two friends on Facebook, who I had not been in contact with for more than 20 years, that were participating. As a participant in this challenge: daily, I share on Facebook my Fitbit results:

steps, number walked;
exercises, other than walking;
calories burned;
calories eaten;
water. number of ounces; and
sleep, number of hours.

Twelve days into the program, having met my goal of 8,000 steps a day, I didn’t want to let go of my greatest motivator — number of steps walked. These steps were continuously recorded on my Fitbit watch; and, I had developed an addiction to looking at my wrist, throughout the day, to track them.

I entered the challenge to strengthen my lower extremities and improve my balance. If painful knees would prohibit me from accomplishing this, I considered dropping out..

When a fellow challenger heard that I might drop out, she messaged instructions on converting the calories burned in my water aerobic exercises to steps. I saw a problem with this, when she added, “to gain the best results and, at the same time, protect your knees you should exercise in the deep end of the pool.”

A strong desire to continue meeting my goal of 8,000 steps as well as encouragement from fellow challengers, I overcame the fear of going into the deep end of the pool.

And, this is what I posted to Facebook on Day 13 of the Challenge:

“Began the day with my early morning meditation followed by a 20 minute mindfulness walk through the neighborhood. Of course, I paused to rest and take a couple of photos.

In the afternoon, I stepped outside of my comfort zone, donned a waist floater, and ventured to the deep end of the pool for water aerobics. To allay the fear of my feet not landing on a solid surface, I went to ITunes music and selected one of my favorite R&B albums. For 56 minutes and 17 songs, I shimmied, swayed, jumped, floated, walked, and jogged to the soulful music of Mr. Marvin Gaye. I was in throwback mode enjoying the memories of times spent dancing without effort, to R&B music. Today, in deep water, I moved effortlessly for an entire 56 minutes, pain-free.”

I write this post to express my:

thankfulness to the two friends who inspired and encouraged me to participate and, later, stick with this challenge;
gratefulness for overcoming the fear of entering the deep end of the pool.

Who knows, maybe I will take swimming lessons next.

Writers Quote Wednesday 2015

I really, really love Black music and it has been in my life since early childhood. This month, I discovered that June is Black Music Month; and what a surprise to find out its been around since 1979. Upon learning this, I decided for the remaining Writers Quote Wednesday 2015 in June to share quotes from Black music legends.

Last week, I shared a quote by one of America’s leading jazz vocalist, Miss Billy Holiday.

My quote this week is from another legendary jazz singer, Miss Ella Fitzgerald.

I invite you to enjoy “One Number Samba” performed by Miss Fitzgerald, the First Lady of scat singing; and, for readers who want to know a bit more about her click here.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Off Season

Off-Season: Christmas in Florida

How to Make Time for Meditation

Wordless Wednesday, June 10, 2015

National Cancer Survivor’s Day

Misifusa's Blog

National Cancer Survivor’s Day

Today is National Cancer Survivor’s Day ~ the first Sunday in the month of June according to Google. So I found it appropriate to write today as I am also a cancer survivor ~ breast cancer in particular.

I want to honor those who have endured cancer, those who have passed already, those who are enduring the ‘Big C” and those who may be diagnosed in the future. Most of us have had cancer rear its ugly head in our lives directly or in the lives of loved ones and we have been touched by its tentacles in one way or another.

Cancer as with most illnesses changes the lives of not only the patient, but the friends and the families that it touches. It changes us all in ways we could never predict. Cancer can strengthen the bonds of love or it can destroy them. …

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Weekly Photo Challenge – June 5, 2015

Vivid

Writers Quote Wednesday, 2015

In 1979, June was designated as Black Music Month. In recognition, this week for Writers Quote Wednesday 2015, I chose to share a quote and the music from one of America’s jazz legends, Miss Billy Holiday.

Billy Holiday