A Spring Metaphor - Sculpting Our Thoughts on Pain

Though we have an idea of what to expect, spring unfolds differently. This year, we saw new records, and new challenges. In some places, spring came early and gave us a countryside bursting with color and new life, while other places are experiencing a late winter. This change and unpredictability is a metaphor for those of us who live with pain and chronic illness.

Our thought seedlings give life to our spirit and allow us to see challenges as motivators. But, some storms rock the earth beneath our feet. As a migraineur, spring storms throw me to the floor and knock the wind out of me. However, when I stand up again with my partner, challenge -- I will lead; I will rumba in a new direction and thank the spring storm for its nourishment to the earth and for providing me promise of new life. 

I find great strength, comfort, and diversion through poetry and photography, and I am thankful that I have found ways to fill up my thought spaces by writing for others who share this journey with me. The following photo and poem are excerpts from Spring Devotions in the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain series.

               Day 4 – Learning to Rumba to Rumbles

To Rumba with the Universe

by Celeste Cooper

Twinkles of light rumba across the morning dew,

While butterflies dance in the wind.

Tumbleweeds glide across the earth's open fields,

Blown away in time to explore a new path.

Fear cleansed by rain exchanged for the joy of freshness,

The sky opens, the sun bumps against clouds.

Renewal of spirit, the earth in cadence with my wits,

All in rhythm, as if, I rumba with the universe.

Thought Seedlings

Do you rumba? Do you like the name I gave the photo? What would you name it?  

Take a stab at changing up my poem to make it yours. My poems are not perfect, I share them so my readers know they can also express feelings and touch a sense of self. 

"Imperfection is relatable." 

Lauren Conrad

Tell me what you think in your comments, because I love to hear how it speaks from your heart to mine. In healing, Celeste

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Learn more about what’s between the covers of Spring Devotions book edition here. http://www.celestecooper.com/spring-devotions.

Thank you to our readers for your kind thoughts and uplifting reviews of Spring Devotions in the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain Series. Too all our new readers, welcome.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615958664/

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"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."  

Celeste Cooper, RN

Author—Patient—Health Central Chronic Pain Pro —Advocate

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others.

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

A Spring Lesson on Mindfulness: Dealing with Pain and Illness

It comes as no surprise that when we are sedentary, our mind shifts without provocation. And for those of us who live with persistent pain and illness, its source sticks out like a thumb that was just smashed with a huge hammer, red and swollen, throbbing, and begging for attention. But unlike a sore thumb, chronic pain and illness does not heal with time. Want to or not, we must acknowledge it. Through acknowledgement, we learn to accept it. And, when we learn not to scream, ridicule, or judge pain, fatigue or chronic illness, we do better. 

“But only a person in the depths 

of despair neglected to look beyond winter to the spring that inevitably followed, bringing back color and life and hope.”

~Mary Balogh

Biofeedback gives us hard evidence that our mind does have an effect on our body. This mindfulness boosts our defenses against the myriad of problems living with chronic pain and illness can bring to our door. So, what can we do to calm down the brain when it wants to take on a mind of its own? We can learn to be mindful. 

Our pain or other illness is not the villain here; it is the result of a bad character insulting our body. It doesn’t want to exist anymore than we want to experience it. So, being hard on it isn’t helpful, it won’t make it go away, and it won’t make us feel better.

In your journal, or in this book, write down what you think you MUST do. Now, go back and decide what it really is that you NEED to do. I suspect you will find the Must Do's that keep getting pushed to the bottom of your inbox resolve on their own. If you are having trouble giving up the driving force of stress inducing thoughts, pick up a good CD on mindfulness. There is a difference in living a packed life and living a full life.

Ten Lessons from Pain:

1. Acceptance of what is.
2. Compassion for the less fortunate.
3. Change is not a bad word.
4. Humility is a virtue.
5. Strength in not surrendering to stressors.
6. …

Can I make a list of my own ten lessons on pain?

[The above is an excerpt from: Broken Body Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain, SPRING DEVOTIONS, Day Seventy-five]

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Remember, there will be times when no matter what we do to negate it, pain will demand its just course. During these periods, we should be particularly aware so our mind-body interaction can heal. Whatever means you use to become mindful, whether it be prayer, meditation, structured action, silent retreat, creative visualization, T'ai Chi, just do it! Procrastination is not our friend. 


You can find other topics, tips and exercises in our books (Jeff Miller, PhD, coauthor), and more. Take a few minutes to go through the table of contents for Spring Devotions.

 "We are all subject to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune; they are around us, in a space we do not control. This book is a gentle, yet forceful reminder that the best defenses against them reside within- in a space we do control, welling up from resources we can learn to cultivate. Hope here is equally soft and irresistible, much like Spring itself."

 ~Dr. David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, Director,Yale University Prevention Research Center

Read what our other reviewers had to say about Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain, SPRING DEVOTIONS.

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"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see opportunity."  

Celeste Cooper, RN

Connect with Celeste

Celeste’s Website: http://CelesteCooper.com

Learn more about what you can do to help your body function to its potential in the books you can find here on Celeste's  blog. Subscribe to posts by using the information in the upper right hand corner or use the share buttons to share with others. 

Celeste’s other books can also be found at Author Central. 


All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Introducing Spring Devotions, Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain

“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?” …

"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…”

~Frances Hodgson Burnett

As one who lives with chronic pain, I know how important it is to have daily reminders, because as many of us do, I am easily distracted and can lose focus. That’s what inspired me to write this series of books with my co-author, Jeff Miller, PhD. Our readers and reviewers have told us Spring Devotions is inspiring, well written, and offers practical advice in an easy to read format. They appreciate that each day offers visually stimulating photographs thoughtfully connected to inspiring quotes that are carefully positioned to stimulate self-reflection from the thought provoking questions and exercises.  

Spring is just around the corner, so it’s time to prepare for the season of new growth, a time that allows us to plant roots and establish a core from which we can continue to cultivate wisdom and learn ways to treat our body with the care it needs and deserves. 

Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain

SPRING DEVOTIONS

BUY NOW!

The paperback version allows space for documenting personal interactions when applying thoughts and practice and our paperback readers tell us how much they appreciate this. Our Kindle readers tell us they keep their journal close so they can write in it as they address each day. 

Please see what our reviewers have to say, here. And, be sure to check out the Table of Contents too. We want you to know about our books before you buy. While the series does provide opportunities for exploring our spiritual nature, and we feel our readers will find this is important to finding balance, none are Christian Devotionals. We received a poor review from a reader who thought the books were something different. We want to make sure you feel this is the right book/s for you. We want you to feel connected and engaged, inspired and successful in meeting your goals. And we would love for you to write a review for Amazon when you feel it's time to prepare for Summer Devotions, the next in the seasonal sequel. 

Now available in paperback and Kindle at Amazon UK and Amazon Canada. 

Also available at Barnes and Noble in paperback.