I've invited Carla Gillespie, who is the creator of this effort on facebook to start a Topic about this.
I had the pleasure of getting to know her pretty well last year after and through the exciting facebook interactions going on last FMS Awareness Day, and very much look forward to this year! (We're both big fans of Jon Kabat-Zinn and mindful meditation, but she's REALLY into it -- I'd LOVE to see her writing/ contributing in the Forums about it, actually).
In the mean time I'll get the party started here on Lumigrate, as I'm sure she's very busy with organizing all this. Here's the link to the 'Cause' on facebook
www.facebook.com/event.php [1]
REMEMBER ... The little buttons here (look at the lower area of this page) that say 'print' and 'email' are TOOLS for YOU to use if you chose to help spread the word, and it also lets others know about Lumigrate.com in the process. We can then hope to help them learn about all kinds of 'integrative medicine' concepts and have many with chronic wellness instead of chronic illness!
SUGGESTION -- PLEASE 'Comment' Below if you have suggestions of what YOU'd like to see occur to spread the word around the world. Remember, at Lumigrate .... as the home page model shows.... it's all about YOU being the center of things!
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 [2] 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!
Links:
[1] http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85376507309
[2] http://twitter.com/lumigrate
[3] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/lumigrate-supports-international-fmscfsme-awareness-2010#comment-533
[4] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/fibromyalgia-awareness-day-2009
[5] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/lumigrate-supports-international-fmscfsme-awareness-2010#top
[6] http://www.lumigrate.com/user/login?destination=node/355%23comment-form
[7] http://www.lumigrate.com/user/register?destination=node/355%23comment-form
[8] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/lumigrate-supports-international-fmscfsme-awareness-2010#comment-2675
Comments
We really had a busy day at the office last year, Linda, Alex and I.... Clara called about something to do with counting beans and I think she was surprised when I wouldn't take her call because there was such a FLURY of activity on facebook. It was really FUN and a lot of GRATE connections were formed. We've embedded a little video clip of something Dr. Lepisto said when being recorded that applied to fibromyalgia as well, so please follow the link. 250 people almost viewed this to date (March 11, 2010 is when I'm transferring this here). Lumigrate is really hoping to contribute energy, fun, ideas, collaboration to this year's Awareness Day.
www.lumigrate.com/forum/fibromyalgia-awareness-day-2009 [4]
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 [2] 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!
I'm glad that I saw it on Facebook, and that I could help get the word out to the fibromyalgia community or discuss it on my wall, that Carla Smiley passed on / died sometime in the week of 7/25. (At some point after 2010 she changed her Facebook name to reflect her nickname as her last name.) The comments on my FB wall were, I'm happy to say, filled with other Facebook friends who didn't know of Carla, and one asked what fibromyalgia was, but nicely extended respectful condolences. And many "Likes", that it was essentially a tribute to Carla.
Others who have seen it have said that when they were first on Facebook or first diagnosed and she connected with them, she offered tremendous support and education to them. Clearly, she made an impact over the years, which pre-dated me on Facebook. She was one of the first 'activistis' about FM that I connected with on Facebook, in April 2009, before the first International FB Awareness day that May 12th. I believe at the time I wasn't aware how much she was involved with that -- I was used to such events being put on now via social media but with usual marketing companies and businesses supporting the events. I had much to learn. And I'm sorry she is no longer here to be a teacher to others. I trust others have been inspired and shown how by her example and it's been part of the reason, perhaps, there are so many groups and pages and boards and etc. lead by people with fibromyaligia or other interrelated conditions.
As I reviewed my correspondence and connection with Carla, such as this one reflected, where we would connect and talk about collaborating and in this case, for 2010 I ushered people via the link here to her 'event' on Facebook, I could see that she was having the unfortunate, common, struggle to be keeping the personal life and wellness 'floating' and extend more energies for doing what your 'purposeful activity' is, in her case, the awareness activities and connecting with others about fibromyalgia. I'm so pleased that in 2010 we formed this 'connection' and contributed to her awareness event. I have nothing but the highest respect for anyone who is working to advance things for people with complex, chronic, and perplexing conditions.
Respectfully, and with condolences to all who were touched by Carla "Smiley" G. Gratefully ~ 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 [2] 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!