Awareness Day–May 10th–NFA
National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and the 2nd Annual Walk of FAME
ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 25, 2009) —The National Fibromyalgia Association is pleased to share the components of its 2009 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day campaign, “Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone,” which focuses on the far-reaching effects of this chronic pain disorder—from broken lives to the economic costs for patients and society.
“The 2009 campaign features several exciting elements, including programs that have proven successful in previous campaigns and new opportunities that patients and family members can take part in to further expand FM awareness and outreach efforts,” says Lynne Matallana, president and founder of the National Fibromyalgia Association.
Elements for the 2009 Awareness Day campaign include:
- NFA’s 2nd Annual Walk of FAME (Fibromyalgia Awareness Means Everything)
- Virtual Walker Opportunity
- Walk of FAME Drawing
- Candlelight Observance
- Proclamation Program
- “Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone” Events (i.e. seminars, car shows)
- Pledge to Care Program
- Media and Community Outreach
- Awareness Day Products
- Post-Event Slide Show
The NFA’s Walk of FAME (Fibromyalgia Awareness Means Everything) event is a major component of Awareness Day. This year’s walk will consist of hundreds of buddy-type walks in local communities nationally and worldwide. On or around May 12, teams of three or more patients, family and friends—wearing Walk of FAME T-shirts and equipped with information cards—will walk at an array of popular destinations, including shopping malls, college campuses, and even around Disneyland.
You can learn more about the Walk of FAME and other Awareness Day opportunities on the NFA’s website (click here). Register your Walk of FAME team, take part in the Candlelight Observance, and find out how to obtain a Fibromyalgia Awareness Day proclamation from your local elected officials! Check back often as this section will be continually updated through May 2009.
About the NFA
The National Fibromyalgia Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and execute programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. The NFA focuses on patient support and education, awareness outreach, healthcare provider education, patient advocacy and the facilitation of scientific research. For more information, visit http://www.fmaware.org/
Healthy Relationships
Three Components of Relational Balance
Week of 04/04/05
Are you spread thin relationally? Too many people pulling you in too many directions?
There are three main components to maintaining a relational balance in your life. Neglect or overlook any of the three, and you’ll soon be heading for trouble.
Receiving. To stay healthy, you have to receive from others. You need the help and assistance of others. To practice good self-care, you must learn to let the love of others penetrate.
Attending. Good self-care means that you must learn to attend to your own legitimate needs. That means that you have to understand what your emotions are telling you about your circumstances. Remember, your feelings provide information essential for effective self-care.
All of these sources—signals from the body, mind, and heart—provide helpful information that can guide and direct your self-care process.
Giving. You stop self-care from degenerating into selfishness. Why? Because you realize that you take care of yourself so that you have something to give to others.
Let me say it as strongly as possible: there’s no way that you can really take care of yourself without truly giving and serving others. If you’re not giving—if you’re focused only on receiving—then you’re working against your own best interests.
© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center
Heart Attacks
Heart Attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff th! at you h ave just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this ’sludge’ reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack…
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting . Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let’s be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
Easter Prelude
The Sufferings of His Broken Heart
by Max Lucado
Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.
Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What’s he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?
That’s Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Maybe you’ve seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-white robe. Hands peacefully folded in prayer. A look of serenity on his face. Halo over his head. A spotlight from heaven illuminating his golden-brown hair.
Now, I’m no artist, but I can tell you one thing. The man who painted that picture didn’t use the gospel of Mark as a pattern. When Mark wrote about that painful night, he used phrases like these: “Horror and dismay came over him.” “My heart is ready to break with grief.” “He went a little forward and threw himself on the ground.”
Does this look like the picture of a saintly Jesus resting in the palm of God? Hardly. Mark used black paint to describe this scene. We see an agonizing, straining, and struggling Jesus. We see a “man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) We see a man struggling with fear, wrestling with commitments, and yearning for relief.
We see Jesus in the fog of a broken heart.
The writer of Hebrews would later pen, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)
My, what a portrait! Jesus is in pain. Jesus is on the stage of fear. Jesus is cloaked, not in sainthood, but in humanity.
The next time the fog finds you, you might do well to remember Jesus in the garden. The next time you think that no one understands, reread the fourteenth chapter of Mark. The next time your self-pity convinces you that no one cares, pay a visit to Gethsemane. And the next time you wonder if God really perceives the pain that prevails on this dusty planet, listen to him pleading among the twisted trees.
The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you’ll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.
From
The Great House of God
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2009) Max Lucado
Gary Smally’s thoughts on Pain
“Life has been so hard, I don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning.”
Pain and suffering are not meant to kill or destroy you, they are meant to strengthen your faith.
When I was thirty-five years old, there was a time I was so depressed from what I thought life had “dealt” me, that all I wanted was to crawl under the covers and never show my face again.
I blamed all my miseries on this job, and that person, and those circumstances. I can remember being so discouraged over a heart-breaking ministry situation that I lay upstairs in my daughter Kari’s room, not eating for almost four days. Each of my children would come up and try to encourage me, but I’d just tell them to go away—I didn’t want to face anyone or anything. Norma did her best to break me out of the doldrums as well, but for days I stayed in a darkened room, alone with my misery.
RECALL NOTICE:
The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed “Sub sequential Internal Non-Morality,” or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.
The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers’ Instruction Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently
impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention!
GOD
P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by “Knee mail”.
Because He Lives!
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Get involved!
The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 – How Organizations & Support Groups Can Expand Congressional Sponsorship
by American Pain Foundation
March 5, 2009
“This bill will make pain care and pain management a public health priority.”
The American Pain Foundation applauds the United States House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee for adopting The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 (H.R.756)* on March 4, 2009.
The legislation will now move to the full House for consideration and then to the United States Senate. The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 would combat pain by:
read more…
National Council on Disability
National Council on Disability Issues Invitation for Public Comment - by mail, fax, e-mail, toll-free call line, personal testimony at DC meeting Mar 30-31
by NCD Chair John R. Vaughn
March 7, 2009
“Specific times are designated to receive public comment, supported by a toll-free call-in line, and input is encouraged and greatly appreciated. Individuals or organizations can also provide written comments by e-mail, fax, or mail.”
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), it is my pleasure to invite you to attend NCD’s next quarterly meeting, which will take place at the Academy for Educational Development (AED), 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. – 8th Floor Conference Center, Washington, DC 20009 beginning on Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1, 2009. This meeting is open to the public, and free.