Connecting via Creative Force to Heal Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Pain - Learning from Frida Kahlo and Others

Every year since Lumigrate's first year on the Internet, for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day/Month, I've tried to do something a little bit different and report on it here in the forum that's specifically about awareness and getting the word out to others about the condition that's called 'fibromyalgia' (FM). I'm very pleased to see that our 2013 topic, which is a creative piece authored by Sue Ingebretson, one of our expert contributors for several years now, where she compares 13 things about fibromyalgia and the hit PBS show Downton Abbey, has has almost 10,000 views in the past year. That was a record, so far! I think all our previous topics for the years 2009-2013 have been very interesting, so I hope you go and look at what we've done over the years, particularly if you're a new YOUser to Lumigrate and you've not been along for the ride all along. 

I'd say that might have done some awareness raising! (So thank you again, Sue!) When you add it all up over the years, I believe we are making an impact. I only wish we could hear all the stories of how that maybe was printed or emailed or linked on social media and others, from there, shared it along. The conversations that could come from the innovative piece, as 'everyone' is 'into' Downton Abbey! (Or so it seems to me, most are. Fabulous show, though in 2013 I got into the information and became more aware of how many people no longer watch television and why... so the times are a-changin'). You can find the article by  navigating within this forum to see it in the list OR you can Search on words Downton Abbey, Fibromyalgia, Lumigrate (or go to Lumigrate dot com and do so. 

I saw some really interesting information on Facebook today, provided by a woman I'm not really certain now how we connected there, I think it was perhaps through Lumigrate's certified spirituality coach, Beth Patterson, long ago. "D" as I'll call her, had shared two links about Frida Kahlo's long-locked closet being opened and some of the things inside now being displayed and talked about. It seems she had requested nobody open the closet for 15 years after her death in the mid 1950s. The friend who was given the key and instructions actually never opened it, so after she eventually passed over/died after living a very long life compared to her friend Frida, things were opened and the stories are emerging. 

My mother's aunt had a love affair with Lowell Thomas, before he was famous. She turned down the marriage proposal when her father advised: "he's just a radioman, marry an engineer".  After Aunt Esther died, my mother inherited some of her material possessions, including the love letters. I remember she read them over and decided to send them to his secretary. She received a letter of thanks in return. It was rather ironic, as there was a museum about him not far from our home, as he had grown up around Cripple Creek, Colorado. I always wondered if by chance the secretary forwarded the letters onto the museum.

Having been nearby such a situation, I was perhaps more interested in this than others. And after all, it is the week of the day, May 12, that will be celebrated around the world in order to raise awareness about fibromyalgia. Having been giving much thought recently to simplification and material possessions and the state of the world and Earth right now, perhaps this resonated even moreso. Maybe it will with YOU, dear YOUser. 

So I am going to share a few resources about the closeted items, and also about Frieda possibly having fibromyaliga, I found a topic at a mainstream website that I like (thought I caution people, I do not like the things necessarily advertised at the website, nor their information about the 11 points (as that's dusty thinking and has been replaced in recent years), so use your thinking caps and caution about that aspect, but the interviews are marvelous and the history of her life and what she showed through her work and life, I think are marvelously written by the author. Thanks to all who raise awareness and education on this important topic!)

Here are the links, and some of the article about FM and Frida:

http://grey-magazine.com/appearances-can-be-deceiving-the...

 You'll notice, above, that reference is made to abuse, and I this is one of the reasons I really liked this topic and wanted to provide it at Lumigrate (with encouragement, as you see, to go TO the source and see the video and all the trimmings at Everyday Living). This is one of the topics we've provided at Lumigrate since 2011, relative to 'when something bad happens to you', and the shame/blame cycle that can occur, and the very basics of how to break that up with 'self-work', preferably with qualified assistance.

You'll see that a great conversation ensued on the thread between one of our medical experts, pain and neuro-psychology expert Dr Chris Young, and one of our expert 'laywriters' who had fibromaylgia and discusses her opinions and asks questions of Dr Young about her situation relative to abuse in formative years and how it is handled as an adult within the family system. You can see the allopathic approach from that conversation, and then I have provided another perspective from a rather famous blogger about the heart  mending and forgiveness from when it is , essentially. Some people might stick with, and be fueled by the  (anger). When you review some of the significant traits of Frida in the topic, above, do you think about if it was her true personality (one might say 'nature') or the combination of unresolved conflict, which she was working out through her artwork. I encourage YOU to spend some time thinking about this as it applies to YOU.  Here's the link: (and there are OTHER topics at Lumigrate about ACE, just Search it out) www.lumigrate.com/forum/let-go-shameblame-game-better-health-cheryl-young-lmft

"Engagement with our creative force has the potential to heal physical, emotional, and spiritual pain" is such a great ending to this story, above and here.  May the force be with you! Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! 

~ Mardy