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 [1]

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 [2].  

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

Comments

Wed, 04/25/2012 - 1:27pm

#1 [4]

Mardy Ross

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Feb 16 2009

Posts: 2032

The history and perspective from the first FM Awareness for us

Lumigrate had been on the Internet from March 27, 2009 and was just barely getting 'legs' under us when FM Awareness Day came.  I love to look back on our FIRST one.  We still had leased office space, Linda answered the landline and it was the business manager who worked from a home office an hour away and I said 'I'm busy Chatting on Facebook with all these amazing women who are ACTIVE today related to FM Awarenss, I'll call her back later" and it was the next day before poor Clara heard from me.  

I suggested to one gal she write up her story on Lumigrate and I'd do the same; she posted hers before mine, so Toni became the FIRST person with FM to post on Lumigrate about FM, even before me!  I got to meet her in November of 2009, after she'd then used Lumigrate's information to get her life and health going in a better track, I'm proud to say.  Can you tell, we were having FUN?  

  This was after dinner with her family; she's a wonderful cook.  Mother of three with a span of 10 or 15 years, small business owner (home and commercial cleaning) and today, 'framily' here at Lumigrate.com.  

For 2012's Awareness, we're 'coming back around' and working with a woman of similar age who is also a single mother, working outside the home, and with a very similar story BUT in 2009 for Awareness Day she was part of a story in her local newspaper instead of writing on Lumigrate.com as Toni did.  Now that she knows of Lumigrate.com she's going to do BOTH in 2012, and I hope that our Topic about it in this forum will serve to inspire many other GRATE stories around the country and world.  ~~ Mardy

__________________

Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [3] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!

Top [5]

• Login [6] or register [7] to post comments