I consider myself to be a spiritual person although I’m not a member of any established religion. It’s sad that in these times that statement alone might be cause for a “religious” person to think less of me.

We are living in extremely difficult and sad times. My feeling is that most of the hate and divisiveness in the world today is really about something else entirely — FEAR. Also some stems from people desperate to protect their material wealth.

We fear what we don’t know or understand. We hear stories and rumors about bad things done by people of ethnic, racial or religious groups other than our own, and sadly sometimes the stories are facts. But if we stop and think things through, how many “bad” people do we actually know, or even ever encounter? How many kind and loving people do we know? I would guess we all know many more of the latter than of the former.

Who said, “Love thy neighbor”? Who said, “Love thine enemies”? Who tried to teach others to be tolerant, understanding and forgiving? Everyone knows there are people of every color, ethnic and religious persuasion who do bad things.

Perhaps the next time we each meet or encounter someone different from ourselves, we could just stop and think about who that person really is; look past any obvious physical, sexual or religious differences and into his or her eyes and then further into his or her soul; see them as another human being with the same feelings, strengths, weaknesses, fears and capacity for love that we each have.

My biggest fear is that if we don’t all start learning to do this, humanity — the group of which we are all members — has no hope of survival.

I choose Peace and Love over fear and hate — anytime.

Still Standing (c)2010

During my migraine years, debilitating attacks have often not only prevented me from pursuing or enjoying hobbies but also from simply engaging in everyday, normal activities!

I most wanted to spend any time not  in migraine hell with my family, enjoying my children, or needed to spend that time and energy at work, on chores, and doing regular life stuff.

Many of the activities I enjoy — reading, writing, music, art, hiking, tennis, travel, photography — are severely and negatively impacted by migraine pain and illness. Once I crocheted snowflakes for Christmas gifts and remember bawling while trying to concentrate on the stitches through the pain. I recall taking college courses and struggling to memorize material for exams through blinding migraine pain.

Not wanting to be entirely negative, though, I have to say that having hobbies we love are generally helpful to all of us. So during healthy times, enjoying those activities most likely has a positive influence on our life outlook and might on some level improve our disorder symptoms.

Bottom line is that we need to relax and enjoy what we can when we can, and I feel it’s important to not feel pressured — internally or externally — to engage in hobbies or extra activities and then feel guilty or inadequate when we just aren’t able to participate. And reversely, rejoice and take pleasure when we can!

This is posted for the October 2010 Headache Blog Carnival at Somebody Heal Me with the topic, “How do your hobbies help you cope with your headache disorder?”

“VOICE OF THE LIBERTY BELL”
by Gloriana Casey for 7 /4/ 2009

In Philadelphia, I live,
a grand and giant bell.
And long my life, and journeys made.
the stories I can tell.

On Market Street I sit in rest,
between streets 5th and 6th.
At times to travel cross the land,
from East to West, miles ticked.

My birth in London’s Whitechapel,
in 1751.
To honor Penn’s State charter,
set in 1701.

Charter of Privileges was the name,
for Penn was fair and wise.
Religion free and people too,
my purpose, from his eyes.

When first I rang, Myself I cracked,
two men named Pass and Stow,
Were hired then to remold me
My rebirth, it was slow.

They thought perhaps more copper was
the best way to repair.
With tin and lead and arsenic too,
the mix was almost there.

Then silver, gold, and zinc came next,
but just a little bit.
My new self tolled, but people frowned
at just the sound of it!

Another bell was ordered then,
and London sent the next.
But this tone too was just not good,
with people highly vexed.

This new bell went to State House roof,
with clock to sound the hour.
But I remained in my same place,
and kept the ringer’s power.

I tolled for Franklin’s England trip,
to plead the peoples’ fears
And rang when King George gained the throne,
I tolled for many years.

For Sugar and the Stamp Acts too,
rang loud to tell the crowd
To speak of king’s unfairness then,
in voices clear and loud.

My bell self once a fugitive,
the British came to town.
I hid in Allentown’s old church,
and wouldn’t be melt down.

I rang in 1776,
from Independence Hall,
To hear the Constitution read
out loud to raise the call.

Abolitionists, they gave my name
as “Liberty, ” it’s fact
A symbol against slavery,
inhuman, heinous act.

In 1846 I made,
My final bell voice chime,
And never more you heard from me,
perhaps now is the time,

To tell you now why I, cannot speak,
my message fine and clear.
I represent what’s best in life,
and all that you hold dear.

I am a bell and that is much,
my medium to teach.
But sadly now, I see lost hope,
with furies let unleashed.

Remember this to change your life,
though mute remains my tongue,
Do not sit back and curse your life,
Democracy’s not done.

So join and write, petition, act
toward Washington D.C.
For only you can raise the HOPE,
and keep the “Land of Free.”

Where once the Common Good, it reigned,
I see a land in need,
Speak up and make your ideas heard,
to change our course with speed.

Involvement, not complaining will
then right our country’s fate.
Citizenhood, is needed now,
before it is too late.

“These are the times that try (our) souls,
so true did Tom Paine say
Our forefathers, they had the grit,
those truths you know today.

You think of me but do forget,
that while my voice gave ring
It’s only from the PEOPLES’ voice
Democracy can sing.

The Book"

A migrainiac’s journey.” That’s what I wanted to call my blog. So why didn’t I? Because I don’t want to in any way contribute to the misconceptions and stereotypes of migraine disease and the millions of people who have it. Migraine is not psychological. It is a physical, neurobiological disease. Those of us who live with migraine are just like people who live with epilepsy, diabetes, Parkinson’s or any other major disease or disorder. Another reason is that I wanted this blog to also be about other aspects of LIFE, the  larger journey we share.

Last year I compiled, edited and published the book, Migraine Expressions: A Creative Journey through Life with Migraine to try and help dispel the myths of migraine via the words and art of people who live with it.

But I, personally, am a migrainiac (thanks to Ingrid in Sweden for introducing that term to me!) in the sense that I am crazy to find and wrap my brain around migrainia – all things migraine-related. I have been a migrainiac for 40 years in my quest to discover the most I can and best manage my life all these years.

I thank my sister, Donna, for my subtitle’s concept word, mindbloggering, which is a tongue stumble between blogging and mind-boggling that gave us a good laugh. It’s appropriate because this blog will be about many topics in addition to migraine and my shameless efforts to further promote Migraine Expressions.

Please join me on this journey so we can travel together and share the view from all directions!