Send #WarmWishes: The Mighty's Holiday Card Drive

Some good things to start your month. Take care of yourselves and one another 💜
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Last night was a delightful change of pace, a bit of low key fun that I hadn't experienced in quite some time 🧡. This time last year, I was still fresh out of hospital around Halloween and not very able to participate, so this year felt especially liberating and enjoyable. There was a moment of slight panic when my husband mentioned AFTER I’d drawn it on that my cat nose wasn't quite working. But with a little effort, I think I managed to pull it off in the end!

One of my favorite Halloween traditions is creating little bags filled with a blend of treats and toys. I have a soft spot for the timid little kiddos who are reluctant to let go of their parents' hands and walk up to the door to claim their treat for their effort of dressing up. Kneeling to their height, I try to offer words of encouragement, in an attempt to ease their unease.

Then there's another group that tugs at my heartstrings: the children without costumes. Whether their parents handed them a mere grocery bag or it was their own last minute invention, I empathise deeply with these kids because I see myself in them—as I too was once one of them, the neglected child. So, when they return, hoping for more treats, I understand their actions are not driven by greed but that for many of them, Halloween may as well be Christmas. So I give them the second bag, hoping to add a little more joy to their night.

On reflection; I think the thing that makes Halloween great, is that it transcends the simple joys of dressing up and indulging in treats.

It's a chance for community interaction and connection. While some might criticise the commercial nature of these holidays, for my part, I hope I never view the world with such cynicism. Especially at Halloween, when we have the opportunity to spread kindness not just within our own families, but throughout our community.

After all—as us Mighties know far too well—the world can always do with more kindness 🫶

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Inspired by the haunting cadence of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," this reinterpretation attempts to echo the very real struggles faced by our chronic illness community. In the bleak months to come, I wish for you, my fellow Mighties, that the coming year gifts you with many spoons, and that your inner light continues to prevail wherever darkness may lurk 🖤

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a faint and symptom of forgotten health lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the weak December,
And each separate dying ember writhed ghost like upon the floor.
From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for my lost health's morrow,
For the rare and radiant treasure of the health I had before —
Nameless here forevermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me — filled me with harrowing terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;
Some spectral figure entreating entrance at my chamber door;
This it is, and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven, sent from Odin's vast halls of yore.
Not the least greeting made he; not an instant stopped or stayed he;
But, with the air of a lord or lady, perched above my chamber door —
Perched upon a bust of Hippocrates just above my chamber door —
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

"Art thou Huginn or Muninn?" I inquired with voice thinning,
Seeking wisdom from the raven, as in ancient Norse lore.
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art Odin's haven,
Ghostly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Hellish shore —
Is there hope or respite on the cold and distant Hellish shore?”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art no cowardly craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the health-filled shore —
Tell me what thy lordly name is on this Night’s Hellish shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning — little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door —
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such a name as “Nevermore.”

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the pallid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered — not a feather then he fluttered —
Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before —
On the morrow he will leave me, as my health has flown before.”
The bird responded, “Nevermore.”

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Just wanted to share a picture of the two pumpkins, my husband and I, carved for this Halloween/Autumn season. Having fibromyalgia, costochondritis, chronic pain and fatigue, and seasonal depression makes the colder months of the year really challenging for me. So I/we try to find some happiness through small joys of life. Pumpkin carving is one creative endeavor that we both enjoy!

My pain and fatigue makes the actual carving process challenging for me. So my contribution to our team effort is drawing the actual picture on the pumpkin, while my hubby does the tedious job of carving the pumpkins.

Being cat lovers and having two kitties as our furry companions, we decided to make ‘celebrating cats everywhere’ as our theme for this project. Anyways, I hope to bring some joy or smiles to my fellow-Mighties this Halloween :-) #Fibromyalgia #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicFatigue #CheckInWithMe #Depression #Anxiety #WarmWishes

Wanting everyone to have a happy holiday wish,
Wishing everyone some holiday cheer and to be included in celebrating this important day 🎆

Did you get to celebrate with any special food/fun/sunshine/relaxation… this holiday weekend?

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I’m a sucker for pictures of cure animals, especially if they look silly or include lil grabbies. Sometimes I use images like anti-depressants.
How about you? How do you react?

#apathy #Depression #Anxiety #Fibromyalgia #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Pain #MightyPets #CheerMeOn #WarmWishes #laughteristhebestmedicine