Two Minute Video: It Got Better

This week on the blog I reflected on my latest travels with my in-laws. Lots of good news! My overall feeling can be summed up by this collage posted over my desk:

Here's the video. Enjoy!

Vacation Inspiration

In Key Largo we stayed at a hotel, and there at the breakfast buffet I came across this:

It was on a coffee cup sleeve, with a message reminding the reader to relax:

Since when do corporate hotel chains have stress-reduction messages on their coffee sleeves?! I think this is a wonderful development. I flipped through the sleeve stack and found that there were four or five different versions, all aimed at making the world a better place: one on saving water (that one was a little obvious), one on sleeping well, etc. Each had that same little logo at the bottom.

Take Care

We owe it to one another.

I love the dual meaning of "Take Care," both of others (water saving tips) and oneself (breathing deeply, sleeping well), and the implication that the two are one and the same.

What would happen if we did not care for ourselves? We would be reliant on others for our wellbeing - disempowering for us and burdensome to others.

Caring for ourselves is caring for others.

Caring for ourselves makes the world a better place.

Amen to that, sister.

More Good Times

My husband and I wisely tacked on a few extra days to our trip, so we could be together after my in-laws had returned home.

This was a great idea.

We got to connect and have some quiet time to recover from the hustle and bustle of family before we returned home. We had originally planned on staying in Miami, but on a whim drove an hour south and spent the weekend in Key Largo. It was our first time in the Keys and we had a great time, snorkeling, kayaking, splashing in the hotel pool, watching the sunset, and singing the Beach Boys "Kokomo" ("...Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go to the Kokomo...")

Here's another postcard I picked up:

And here's a gorgeous image I snapped of, believe it or not, the cover of the Florida Keys Visitor Guide in our hotel room (I wish I remembered to write down the artist's name!) I find the colors and texture of this painting so inspiring and beautiful. It makes me grateful for art and artists.

Thank you artists.

The time in Key Largo gave me time to reflect on the trip, and made me realize how far my husband and I have come from the deep and dark times of the pain days.

As much as I would never wish chronic pain on anyone, I am so grateful to myself for making lemonade out of this big kahuna of a lemon. I have learned so much about myself and life, way more than I could write here in this one post.

Within this post I can say that all of these lessons have brought me to a place where I can enjoy time with my in-laws, an area of life that is a struggle for many married folks. I am grateful for that.

Again my dears, there is light, there is hope. While pelvic pain is all bad, it's effects don't have to be. You have the choice to create beauty out of the misery you are in.

Much love...

Good Times

Hey all! Last week's posts were inspired by a trip to Florida with my in-laws. This week I thought I would share some images from the trip and thoughts I had, for funsies....

Here's one of the postcards I sent out:

We started out in Orlando cuz the in-laws had to hit up the theme parks and the outlets. Theme parks and shopping? This is exactly the kind of trip I would  never take. But as my sister says, we have family so we hang out with people we never would otherwise, so off I went, determined to go with the flow and have tons of fun.

And gosh darn it I did. 

I screamed on the roller coasters, stared in awe at penguins and dolphins, and went on every ride at the water park. I made up fairytales featuring my niece and her favorite Disney princess, Cinderella, as the heroines. I ate my weight in candy, and went along to the outlets and happily got some great finds.

It was really great having an opportunity to be with my in-laws in an energetic and happy, pain-free state, something I have (almost) never experienced.  This trip was even more fun than my first trip with them - before I developed vulvodynia - because I have grown so much and become a much stronger, more relaxed person. 

I share this to let you know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that you too can heal your body, mind, and soul. Pelvic pain won't necessarily be around forever. Keep truckin', darling.

Good things await!

Two Minute Video: Family Visits

For the full blog posts, check out the story about my family, his family, and my Top Ten Tips for dealing with chronic pelvic pain during family visits.