When speaking to a dear friend this October, the idea of a spider web came up– specifically with ideology as it relates to the truly invaluable support system we have among one another as comrades who live with pain or illness- I’d go so far as to say as a human race in general but that’s a conversation deserving of its own space and time.
This got me reflecting upon the web in different aspects:
- How it can be a spider-eat-spider world out there in terms of advocacy efforts and beyond
- The entrapment we get in– when fixating on a problem, imaging the worst, jumping to conclusions- contributing to our own unnecessary suffering. This doesn’t invalidate experiences but rather keeps them in perspective and thereby presenting the gain in more of a conscious sense of control over our thought process.
Talk about trick-or-treat, if you didn’t already know this about me – I am a Coca-Cola head — they be like “is Pepsi ok?” and I feel as though anyone who declares they taste the same are not to be trusted!
Jokes aside, despite it having toned down through the years, a perfectly iced one is an oasis sometimes even though I’m aware of the health risks… It’s a conscious choice as to whether I grab a bottle of water or soda out of the fridge. This example to illustrate a similar process is required as to where our minds go.
What’s really scary is the anxiety/depression that can accompany us throughout this life and the extent that impacts the overall sense of well-being or in other words, a severe lack thereof, intertwining messages of bodily harm on a cellular level which by default impacts each fiber of our being.
When we step out of whatever *costume* it is we present to the outside world– fully removing the mask- we’re left to face what’s genuinely terrifying, ourselves… How many of us don’t want to reflect because it feels like something straight out of a horror film? Don’t even need a show-of-hands, I see you.
That is how we all feel at some point or another in our lives, it can take us to the depths but we do possess an opportunity to unravel the less than helpful patterns regardless of what we’re experiencing – after having lived in a fight or flight response for any period of time, we must blow the light out on that lantern and find the enchantment there is in harnessing our own inner magic.
The ‘potion’ that is body chemistry; consists of every aspect including but not limited to nutrition, exercise, sense of purpose, environmental, varying per individual and it is up to us, to commit to the best quality of life regardless of circumstance, by experimenting until we get it as close to “right” as possible.
Much like a cauldron full of a frog’s tongue and whatever else, the recipe for what is best for us personally is a science experiment which includes repetitive trail/error, similarly to how all the cute chicks running from a murderer trip and fall in the movies? That’s been us– it’s about that time to kill off any part that’s withholding the ability to break through the deception that is weakness or fear, because we’ve made it this far for a reason, thus we have what it takes to proceed onward.
What’ll never work is us being the bad guys to each other – already feels like there are knives searing through our veins at times, last thing we need to be doing is backstabbing one another- isn’t a life in on-going pain and/or with persistent illness enough of a hell on earth as it is?
Removal of ego and judgements, inwardly and out, allows for space to cultivate a safety net… A secure place to hold edges while we continue learning how to adjust moment by moment in what can feel like a haunted house of a vessel. It’s important that there’s a set standard of excellence among how we relate to, correspond with, approach and treat one another as well as ourselves from the inside/out.
We’re deserving of it~ period. To those who are reading this, I am grateful to be slaying these demons with you.
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Author: Mia Maysack is the author of ‘A Guide To Reclaim Your Mind’, founder of Keepin’ Our Heads Up, a Human Connection Network and Peace & Love, a Holistic Health Practice. She is also a Pain News Network columnist, Patient Leader Hero + Hero of Hope Awards nominee and Association of Migraine Disorders Advocacy Award Winner.
