Mardy's Blog Post About Lumigrate's 2009 FMS Awareness Day

If anyone wants to read what my thoughts and experiences were from my first and THE first International Awareness Day, which was 2009 and just six weeks after Lumigrate launched, here's a link to the blog --- Mardy

www.lumigrate.com/blog/fibromyalgia-awareness-day-may-12-2009-lumigrate

NOTE: When updating a few things in late July 2014, I see there have been about 3,000 people see the blog, many likely coming from here and catching the link. There is a short snippet about FM from the initial ND expert on Lumigrate from Grand Junction, Colorado, Christopher Lepisto, ND, which was very much a WOW back in 2009 what he was providing as information. By 2014, thankfully, most people with FM are aware of naturopathy and traditional medicine providers and their approach to environmental medicine. I've learned EVERY day since creating Lumigrate and hope that we're providing a significant amount of information for people who find Lumigrate and wish to be a YOUser, taking control of their wellness as much as they possibly can at each point in time. 

If anyone wishes to see what we did in 2009 and 2010 for Awareness, this was initially in a generic 'fibromyalgia' forum, so you'll see topics about them at this link: www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibromyalgia-chronic-pain-and-chronic-fatigueexhaustion/fibromyalgia.  

We've always done something a little bit different each year depending upon what opportunities present, and what all is going on overall at Lumigrate. A favorite was the Peace Fleece that our Yenta sent to be used for raising money and awareness about fibromyalgia. But that was a lot of work to tote around and get the photos with the various people, but it was very effective!  

Having a drawing for people who would write what they thought fibromyalgia 'was' helped everyone learn, and I realized how many providers who help people with FM hadn't yet gotten to the bottom of 'causes' and it helped them to put their focus on the question to answer. One used it as an opportunity to admit to having had symptoms in the past which would have netted a diagnosis, but they fortunately found their way to solutions and resolved some of the symptoms. 

I enjoyed working with the woman from the midwest who had an article in her local paper in previous years and showcasing how she went about getting another article in the paper for another awareness article when the 'season came'. They were all so busy it ended up being after the fact but you could see the shifting in her treatment and level of wellness due to the increased education and awareness in the years since the initial article. Getting away from highlighting the pills that are prescribed by primary care or specialist physicians, for instance, and talking about the whole person and contributors was much of what I had hoped would show in the new article. 

But ultimately the vast majority of the information we have at Lumigrate is about education, not as much 'awareness' so please read around and use the Search bar and, I hope YOUsers learn much from what we have to offer. I'm updating these topics because someone I had interacted with to collaborate and usher people from Lumigrate to her awareness 2010 event died recently, and I was wanting to be certain that it was apparent how we are all with oars in hand, rowing the various boats we are on social media or in this case, me with Lumigrate. It all adds up and it's very gratifying to see how many people are more educated, aware, and connected to resources for support and education (two different things) to their benefit, in most cases. I do urge people to continue learning and finding good groups and resources for expanding and progressing if that is what is desired. And support and staying where people are at is often what people are chosing to do as well. Many options for a massive number of people affected.  

Gratefully ~ Mardy